Burning Ice

Chapter One

By SensitiveKnight

All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything related to it.


He becomes rigid as he hears a slight rustle from the leaves behind him.

"Not this again, oh Agni anything but this!"

Slowly he feels the warmth of another body just beyond his own. He notices his heart beat racing. The warm breath on his neck, the heat of another's body pressing into his was driving him mad. Slowly he turns around and sees her once again.

The first thing he noticed was her dark blue eyes widen slightly at his turning and then glaze over with some emotion his heart desired but his brain would not believe. Her hand tanned from her time traveling outside, slowly came up and caressed the scar on his face. Soft as it always was, her warm touch caused his body to explode with goose bumps and as always, he ignored them. This time this was going to be different. This time he'd make sure to go all the way. He'd make sure he felt her lips on his before the night was over. No matter what, he'd make sure of it.

His hand rose and cupped her hand, holding it against his face and slowly he brought it to his lips, as he did every other time, and kissed it. As he opened his eyes, he saw her open her eyes too. She slowly tugged her hand out of his hold and to her side, but he wasn't done. No, not this time. His left arm shot out and grabbed her right forearm. Tugging her to him with one quick pull, she gasped in surprise. He brought his other arm around her, to prevent her from running away this time, and moved the other one from her arm, to her chin. Tilting it slightly, he felt her breath coming out raggedly, getting quicker and quicker. His blood pressure sky rocketed and his heart pounding, he leans in, eyes closing.

Yes!

He will have tasted those pink puffs of sky that have been haunting his dreams and his thoughts for so long. He'll have tasted the first of the forbidden fruit and the blood in his brain pounded with the thought of all the knowledge to come in. He felt her nose touch his, felt her let out a small breath, a sigh, and leaned in further.

Her hand lightly grasped his hair and he moaned, but didn't stop to turn around. He was still moving forward with the intention of having that kiss and he felt her soft lips touching his own. Thinking that this is what heaven must be like, he leans in a bit further.

SWOOSH!

Quickly turning his head, he spots a gigantic fireball hurtling towards him, pushing her out of the way, he falls back.

It passes by, the warm air, turning the tip of his nose dark red.

"NOOOOO!!!"

He shouts with frustration, falling on to the floor.

Doooomm

He jerks up and is blinded by some bright warm light. Without thought, without breathing a second more, he sends out five rapid blasts one behind the other. Panting he rolls to the side and falls off. His body quickly hits the floor with a thud and he hears someone,

"Zuko what are you doing?"

Getting up from behind the thick soft wall in front of him, Zuko sticks his head up an inch. There standing in a loose red and black bathrobe, tied together in the front with a sash, was the old man he had come to consider a father.

Iroh had dropped the tea tray on the ground and was splashing some dark black tea from the pot onto the curtains.

"I come in here bearing tea for you, pull open the curtains and what happens? You shoot at me with fireballs!? "

"Hehehe…"

"What were you thinking?"

"Well, see Uncle I was having this dream and then well see, I kind of-"

"Enough, I need some more tea, I can tell this is going to be a long day"

Sighing, Iroh calls a servant to bring him more tea. Muttering under his breath as he heads to the only visible door in the room, he stops.

"Zuko, get dressed today is a big day and your presence is needed immediately-"

"I know, uncle, I know. I'll be there soon."

"Good, now if you don't mind, I must find that white lotus piece. I wonder if while I wait, I can get in a quick Pai Sho game or two with Lee… "

Iroh closes the door behind him and Zuko stands up, shaken but okay. He walks to the left side wall, next to the window with the curtains now in ashes, and pushes against the wall. Slowly and soundlessly it opens to reveal a fully furnished….

(to be continued)