"Are you going to say something about it? You know, to the headmaster or something?"

"No. I—it wouldn't matter." Arik hated looking weak in front of Rozin. If his friend attended the Firebending Academy, then he would understand. But Rozin wasn't a firebender. He had dutifully followed in his grandfather's footsteps by attending military school. He was even scheduled to graduate this year with honors. Arik was excited for him, he really was. But he was even more excited that there wasn't a war going on, and Rozin wasn't likely to be deployed any time soon. Because when he really thought about it, he wasn't sure what he would do without him. The past five years living in the Fire Nation only made sense because of Rozin.

"It's not the same guy who… burned you, is it?" Rozin's emerald eyes flashed with both concern and rage at the same time. Arik could get lost in those eyes. So expressive, so alive.

"No, no. He was expelled. Fire Lord Zuko made sure of it." That was the part he needed to somehow convey to Rozin. That he had to be on his best behavior at school because he represented the Fire Lord. Rozin never seemed to understand this, though.

"Still. Whoever did this, they can't get away with it. Arik, you have to say something. I wish I was there to, I dunno—"

Rozin was about to cross that line. He'd toed it before. "No!" Arik cut him off. "I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself."

"Then, fight back. I know you're a powerful bender. I've seen you on the training grounds. Why don't you just put this asshole in his place?"

Arik sighed. They'd been through this over and over. "I told you. The school rules say—"

"Fuck the rules."

"That's easy for you to say when your grandfather can just bail you out of trouble! I've got… nobody! And I'm only allowed in the Academy as a goodwill gesture to the Fire Lord. People are waiting for me to slip up, Rozin. When I do, I'm out of there. I have to be careful."

"OK, OK, I get it." Rozin raised his hands and took a few steps back. Neither of them had realized how close they had gotten, but Arik was the first to miss it. Rozin was his best friend. He could tell him anything, and he knew what he wanted to say next.

"Hey, I'm sorry. Thanks for, uhh, being there for me. With this… with everything. I don't know what I'd do without you, I…" Admittedly, it was harder than Arik thought it would be. He had feelings for Rozin, but he wasn't sure how to express them.

Rozin had taken some steps backward, but reversed that motion now, and ran a thumb across the bruise on Arik's cheekbone—the one that started this whole conversation. "I just don't want to see you hurt, that's all," he said.

Arik leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. "I know," he whispered.

After a few seconds, Arik reluctantly allowed his eyes to flutter open and found Rozin's close and staring and expectant. He knew this was it. His friend's hand was already cupping his face, so surely that was a sign. They had such a solid friendship, though, and he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. But for the better part of a year now, he had wanted it to be more. He suspected that Rozin did, too, but both of them were afraid. Of what, he didn't know, but he'd had half his face burned off at one point, and then been punched in the face at least a dozen times since then. This boy was now caressing his face, so for all else he had endured, his next move was worth the risk, he figured.

So, Arik made his move. Maybe it wasn't all that risky, but in his mind, he was risking everything and nothing at the same time. He reached out to graze Rozin's face—his perfect, beautiful face—before placing a hand behind his friend's neck and pulling him closer. With his mixed heritage upbringing, he didn't even know which god to petition before he took the plunge.

His prayers were answered. Rozin kissed him back.