Author's Notes: This was originally for the Zukaang Week theme 'storms'.
Hints of Tenderness
It was understandable. Aang had ended up detached from the world for a hundred years; he had lost all the people he had known while growing up and it had taken him a lot of time and effort to come into terms with his guilt over being unable to do anything to help any of them. The hundred hopeless years without the Avatar had begun with a stormy night, so it was natural that Aang would relive those memories whenever it stormed.
Still, even though he understood the feelings that motivated this behavior, that did not mean that Zuko was completely fine with it. Firstly, it was really frustrating to be snapped awake from much needed sleep by a frightened Avatar crawling into his bed in the middle of the night. And secondly, Aang's feet were cold.
Groaning in protest, Zuko rolled over to his back and turned his head to look at the person who had slumped down beside him. Aang blinked at him in surprise, apparently not having expected to find him awake. "Hi Zuko."
"Aang." Zuko really didn't feel up to lengthy greetings. "What are you doing?"
"There's a storm outside." It should have been all the answer needed, and in a way it was. But Zuko still had to wonder why there was a need for this anyway.
"I told you earlier today that there was going to be a storm tonight." Zuko rubbed his face tiredly. "That's what winter in Fire Nation is like, lots of rain and storms. You should have just left."
"I didn't want to leave you." Aang huddled closer, bringing an arm around Zuko's waist, and suddenly the firebender was all out of arguments. With a sigh Zuko rolled over and returned Aang's one-armed embrace.
"Fine, I get it." Zuko tilted his head to the side to accommodate Aang when the Avatar pressed his forehead into the crook of his chin. "Just…wear socks next time."