Chapter 2
ZUKO
The first ray of dawn struck Zuko's face. His body absorbed the sun's energy. Slowly, he opened his eyes and…-GASP!-
"Aang?" he said quietly. The small body didn't stir, except for the slow rise and fall of his chest. He then felt Aang's hand wrapped around his waist, clutching his shirt. He moved it and slowly got up.
It was around six o' clock in the morning. Everyone else was asleep. He rose with the sun every morning. He stretched as he walked slowly over to the fountain and began to undress. Since he was alone in the mornings, he took this time to bathe in peace. He heated the water, and slowly slipped in.
"Ahhhhh…Finally." He said aloud, forgetting about the still sleeping Aang. Aang's eyes slowly opened. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked around.
AANG
The slight noise woke Aang from his peaceful sleep. He looked around and saw the sun barley creeping over the horizon. He saw Zuko's empty mat in front of him.
'I've been here all night?…What am I going to tell him?'
He looked over to the fountain and saw Zuko's bare chest through the rising steam. His head was resting against the stone wall of the fountain, his eyes closed.
'He's so cute…wait what?! Don't think that, it's wrong! And yet…'
Zuko stretched and began to sit up. Aang quickly rolled over and pretended to just be waking up.
ZUKO
Aang was rolling and stretching when Zuko looked over.
'Thank the spirits I've got my trunks on.'
Aang sat up and looked around until he saw Zuko.
"Um…good…morning?" Aang said, an embarrassed look on his face.
"Morning." Zuko replied.
"So, you saw me sleeping here?"
Zuko nodded.
"I'm sorry,…I just…"
"It's alright. You fell asleep. It doesn't bother me."
"I was so tired, I just collapsed and fell asleep right there. I don't know why I was so close to you though."
"It was chilly last night. I was warm, so you moved closer to me. Many people do that in their sleep."
"You were very peaceful when you slept. So calm and relaxed."
"I haven't been calm in a long time. I guess my conscious is starting to clear. That was the first good sleep I had in a long time."
There was an uneasy silence.
"You're up early, huh?" Aang asked to break the silence.
"I rise with the sun every day. I can't help it…uh, care to join me?" he asked. "Soak away your troubles?"
"Sure, I-I guess." Aang said as he walked over to the fountain. He removed his tunic and shyly slid off his pants. He slowly dropped into the steaming water. He let out a deep sigh as all of his muscles relaxed.
Zuko shot in a burst of steam, heating it even more. Aang slipped under the water and floated just below the surface, his face just breaking the surface. He drifted lazily towards Zuko. Then he shot up and bent a stream of water into Zuko's face.
"Aah!" Zuko yelled as Aang sat laughing at him. "Why you little..!" he yelled as he dunked Aang under the water.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Zuko laughed as Aang slowly peeked his head out of the water. Then, he stood up and bent a large wall of water towards Zuko.
"Aang?!" Zuko yelled as he was swept out of the pool and onto the cold stone floor. Aang was laughing hysterically.
"Just like old times, eh?" he said between laughs.
Zuko scowled, but anger subsided to joy as he joined in, laughing harder and harder. Aang looked down at the nearly nude teen sprawled out on the floor, his chest heaving.
'Cute…' he thought.
Zuko noticed him scanning his body. He could feel his face getting hot.
"Well, there goes our bath." he said.
"The fountain will fill it back up in a few hours. Don't worry."
They dried off and got dressed. Surely the rest of the gang heard the commotion and were waking up.
"What was all that racket?" Katara asked as she scowled at Zuko.
"Relax. It was just a friendly battle."
"Yeah, that I won!" Aang said triumphantly.
Zuko looked at him with a smirk on his face. "Only because you threw a tidal wave at me!"
Katara continued to scowl at Zuko as she walked over to start a fire.
"Here, let me." Zuko offered.
"I'm not helpless. I can do it by myself!"
"Katara, Zuko's just trying to help." Aang said.
"Yeah, I don't understand why you should snap at me! I know I've done some horrible things, but I want to make it up to everyone."
"Good luck, 'cause your going to need it." Katara growled.
"Whatever. C'mon Aang, we need to begin your lessons while the sun is rising."
THE NEXT SCENE FOLLOWS "THE FIREBENDING MASTERS"
