A/N: The name of this story was actually picked by my very beloved Canadian. Some of you might know him as the writer of Bloodsworn. So Naming credit goes solely to him on this case.

A few things to note: I like this car. If you have not seen this car, you should google this car and look and drool a little.

Also, I'm highly aware of Zuko being a bit stiff and in business mode and Aang being some what out of character. Zuko can be helped. Aang... well, he has been locked in a monastery for a bit too long and from Zuko's POV, its hard to see what he thinks. That should all hopefully start to even out as the story goes.


Zuko climbed into his Ferrari 458 Italia. He strapped himself in and set off for the airport. Late morning/mid day traffic caught up to him. He let music flood the car and tried not to think about the job ahead of him. The ride wasn't nearly long enough for his liking. Locking the doors, he strode into the airport.

Leafing through the papers in the envelope Mai had given him, he found flight plans. His watch told him he still had twenty minutes before 'Aang' made it in. He took a seat where he would be able to watch the exiting people. There was a brief moment where he realized that he had no idea what he was looking for when this person arrived, but that was quickly pushed from his mind when he remembered he was picking up a monk. He wasn't disappointed in the least when saw the robes and bald head leave the crowd.

On closer inspection he realized it wasn't a robe at all, but a toga like shirt that came down and covered the top of the pants the he wore. Zuko assumed they were pants, but they could have been long shorts, because the knee high shoes had the rest tucked into them. He wouldn't exactly call them boots, but he wasn't entirely sure they could be called anything else. The clothes were like nothing he had ever seen. He was so hung up on to the details in the clothes that it took him a minute to even notice the tattoo.

Zuko had no idea how he had missed the tattoo. It was a big blue arrow on the middle of the monks bald head. If Zuko had to guess, it probably went not only on his forehead, but down the back of his head.

"Aang," Zuko called out.

Confused silver eyes turned toward him. Zuko tried not to let his shock show on his face. The monk was younger then he had expected. Zuko guessed that the boy had to be at least three or four years younger then him. He had to be about a head shorter than him too.

Zuko motioned the monk over to him. Gracefully, the monk managed to weave around the people. Zuko was reminded of water picking its way past boulders. The monk seemed to have a fluid movement about him. Zuko was sure his eyes were lingering, but he couldn't seem to pull them away. He wondered vaguely if the monks training allowed him to become so agile. Aang moved to stand before him. Silver eyes expectant.

Giving a light bow, Zuko said, "I'm here to pick you up. I'll be your bodyguard for the duration that you'll have me. As I was informed that you like to keep things discreet, I shall stick with only calling you Aang and you may call me Zuko."

With a hand sign Zuko didn't quite catch, Aang bowed back to him. The boy looked hesitant, but then put his hand out to shake. Zuko smiled at the initiative the boy was taking. It assured him that he might not have as hard a time at this as he first thought. Zuko shook his hand firmly. Zuko was rewarded by a huge grin from the boy. It was easy to tell that it was the type of smile that people often found themselves smiling back at.

After collecting Aang's single piece of luggage, they made their way from the airport out to Zuko's car. Zuko hadn't even realized that he had lost Aang's attention as he stuffed the luggage in the car. It was easy to see how impressed Aang was with the vehicle. His eyes looked the size of saucers.

"Aang," Zuko said holding the passenger door open.

The monk visibly shook himself and climbed in. Zuko made his way over to the drivers side and climbed in. He started the car up and headed into traffic. He had already checked where Aang's hotel was located and knew how to get there.

"Do all clients get this... luxury?"

The corners of Zuko's mouth quirked up in a smile. He forgot about the effect his car often had on people.

"No, just the clients I get to drive around," Zuko answered. He hesitated before saying, "Your English is pretty good it seems. I wasn't entirely sure that you understood me, but Mai didn't say anything about you not knowing English, so I just assumed."

"I have studied extensively," Aang replied quietly, but Zuko caught the proud smile the monk wore.

"Do you get a chance to practice it often?"

Aang looked hesitant and Zuko thought about retracting the question, but as the smile returned, Aang said at last, "My elder, he speaks English perfectly. He taught me. We talk in it often. It was his idea to send me here to see and learn and decide."

Zuko didn't need to know Aang to know the worry that seemed to be filling his features. He could only guess at what it was, but Zuko had a feeling that this decision would be weighing heavily on him. He searched for a topic, but was saved when Aang began talking again.

"Your car is so very red, did you pick that?"

Shaking his head, Zuko said, "No. This car was a gift from my family. A celebration that business was going well. My sister picked it out. She thinks it matches me. My friends just think she wanted to kill me with the monthly insurance bill."

It was common knowledge on the job that it was easier to talk to a person that you were not sure you were ever going to see again. Zuko often found himself saying things to clients that he wouldn't even tell Mai on her best days. His family was a topic that he very seldom approached, but he found that as passing conversation with a client, it wasn't so bad to mention here and there.

They had little time else to talk before they made it to Aang's hotel. The main office was on the outskirts of town, while the airport was on the opposite outskirts. The hotel however, was located at the very heart of the city. Zuko had clients in this particular hotel before, but was surprised that it was here that he was bringing a monk.

Zuko drove up to the entrance and got the luggage from his car. He carefully threatened the life of the Valet boy if anything happened to his car and handed his keys over. He walked into the entrance and around the indoor fountain to the front desk with Aang trailing behind. The monk was too busy staring at everything to pay much attention. Zuko finished talking to the clerks and getting Aang's room sorted. All the reservations were in place. Aang's elder seemed to have taken care of everything for him. Zuko turned to find Aang, but he didn't have far to look.

The monk stood entranced at the fountain. Aang knelt on the side of the fountain. His silver gaze full of wonder and curiosity as he stared up at the water falling down from the top. His mouth parted as he was too lost in the sight before him to even notice. Slowly and cautiously, Aang reached out his hand. He stopped just before touching the water and pulled his hand back. He clutched it to himself and seemed to take a deep breath and reached out again. The water fell off his fingers and Aang's voice rang out and echoed through the lobby with a laugh of pure delight.

It took Zuko a moment to break out of the spell he felt he was under. It took him far less to realize that everyone in the lobby was making eyes at the monk. Most of which he was pretty sure his own matched. He cursed himself as he made his way over to Aang.

"I should really show you to your room now. I'm sure you'll want to shower after your long journey," Zuko said.

Zuko got a full blast of Aang's joy and delight as excited silver eyes looked at him. The full grin Aang gave him was open and innocent. In the span of one look, Zuko was sure his brain had melted down to his toes.

"I would like a shower," Aang admitted.

It took just a moment longer then Aang to notice Zuko was acting oddly, for the the words to really sink and what they meant before Zuko was leading the way up to Aang's room. When they made it up to Aang's room, Zuko was completely impressed. Aang's elder had gone all out. Aang was in the suite at the top with the jacuzzi tub and everything. Something seemed off though. Monks were supposed to be broke. He brushed it off. Aang probably just had a doting order that wanted to take proper care of him. It was likely that the order had funds set aside for such things.

Aang ran around the room in a quick lap before heading off directly to the bathroom. Zuko placed his luggage on the bed and gave the room a quick once over. Leaning against the bed post, he opened the envelope to find the paper about expenses. Before he could get to it, he heard his name being called. Zuko turned toward the bathroom and struggled to keep his thoughts in line at the towel clad monk that met his sight.

"I'm not sure how to work the shower," Aang said, voice upset.

Under most circumstances, Zuko would take this as a sign that the person was trying to hint at something, but if there was one thing he could easily guess at, it was that the monk had no idea what so ever of his charm. He wasn't even sure what the monk rules were about people interacting with him, let alone looking at anyone in such a way. Zuko was an easily attached type of person though. It had taken him ages to learn, but in every job there was a certain line that you never crossed to maintain a certain distance and keep things professional. He had been doing his best to keep that distance and knew he was about to give that up. Something in his mind warned him that if he met that same mind numbing look again, he wasn't going to be able stay professional, no matter the distance.

He walked into the bathroom past Aang and took one look at the shower. It was a series of knobs. Two of which Zuko was willing to bet were hot and cold, but what the rest were for, Zuko honestly had no idea. He looked at Aang who was looking at him hopefully.

"I have no idea. I bet I can figure it out though."

A few minutes and a soaking wet shirt later, Zuko managed to get it all sorted out.

"Come over and feel this. Tell me if its too warm.," Zuko told him.

Aang brushed up against Zuko as he reached his hand into the shower. Zuko noticed for the first time, the tattoo on his arm as he tried to ignore how close their bodies were.

"How's the water," Zuko asked, eyes trying to travel and follow the tattoo.

"It's hot, but I like it," Aang said quietly.

"Right," Zuko said and tried to pretend that didn't come out hoarse. He cleared his throat and said, "This is hot, if it gets too warm, turn towards the wall. Too cold, turn towards the door."

"I'm sorry your shirt got wet," Aang said trying to move away from Zuko.

"Don't worry, I keep a few changes of clothes in my car just in case. In my line of work, anything can happen pretty suddenly, so its good to keep a few things handy," Zuko explained.

"That must be nice to have clothes on the go too," Aang said slowly backing closer to the sink.

Aang's light movement didn't even phase Zuko, it wasn't until he looked in the mirror behind the monk and saw the blue line tattoo that covered his back that Zuko had to fight the urge to grab hold of him.

"Oh, my markings," Aang said as if he just figured out what Zuko was staring at.

Aang held up both of his hands for Zuko to see. The blue arrows were all the same pale shade. They matched the one on his forehead. Zuko didn't think before he took one of the monk's hand in his own. He use one hand to travel the length of the blue line up and around to Aang's elbow and lifted Aang's arm to trace it down to the inside of the arm. He shifted Aang around and ran his fingers lightly down the back of Aang's scalp to his back and down along the time stopping when he reached the towel. His eyes fell even lower and caught sight of the arrows that covered Aang's feet. Zuko stooped to follow the line up to the knees. The towel stopped his line of vision and Zuko found his hand moving higher.

"Zu-Zuko..."

The breathy tone that Aang said his name was nothing unfamiliar to Zuko. What really stopped him was the realization that the tone came from his client. If there was one thing Zuko knew, it was that at times, things happened on the job. He could forgive that, he couldn't forgive that he'd just felt up a monk and had every intention of keep going if he hadn't been called.

Putting on his best business smile, Zuko rose to his feet and said, "Those are some very interesting tattoos you have. Thanks for letting me get a good look at them. Sorry for delaying you in your shower. I'm going to go grab my clothes from the car, so I'll be leaving you alone for a few minutes. Keep the door locked, I have a key."

Aang nodded while clutching at his towel. Zuko could see the flush covering the monk's face. He gave a slight bow and closed the bathroom door behind him.

Zuko walked all the way to his car in the parking garage. He hoped the walk might clear his head, but he fished his phone out of his pocket and dialed Mai's number just in case.


FN: I have no set time that I'm posting these; just as I get them finished editing. I wont even lie, reviews make me feel more inclined to actually edit.

This chapter goes out with appreciation to my Ducky and to BlackPhoenix64.