Author's P.O.V.

Ember Island Resort

The group of young adults sat around the blazing camp fire, the buffet of food being partaken of by the other youths staying in the resort that had decided to join them. Toph and Sokka were chowing down on grilled duck-eel fillets, Yami feeding Momo and Appa generous slices of melon while between sips of her sake. Aang watched her from the corner of his eye, Katara perched on his knee while she chattered away with Ty Lee. Mai seemed characteristically uninterested in Zuko's political conversations over at the fire pit; eventually he just resigned to her silence and listened to the other two girls while cooking, just as bored until some guys he knew came along and he excused himself to speak to them. Mai didn't seem to really mind and took the time to sharpen her nails.

"-don't you think so, Aang?", Ty Lee asked, her question snapping the young Avatar out of his musings.

"Huh, what? What were you saying?", he tried not to look too guilty as the girls' attention was turned to him.

The girls looked at one another and then back at him; Katara sighed, "Spacing out again, are we?"

Aang flushed, "Sorry. I was just thinking."

"Well we were just asking you about what your plans for the future united nations' fashion would be. As the Avatar, I'm sure you wouldn't have everyone walking around in brown, or worse, rainbow!", Ty Lee shuddered at the thought. "What's your opinion?"

"Ah, well..."

"I think that nations should be able to wear whatever they please. I mean, I love this red theme from the Fire Nation, but I am still a fan of Water Tribe colors. They just suit me better.", she said, leaning back to adjust her breasts in quite an obvious manner. Aang blanched, averting his eyes from her suggestive glance. "Don't you think, sweety?"

"Uh, yes, yes-of course!", he smiled, flushing again as she kissed his cheek. He couldn't help but feel a wave of remorse in his gut, the sensation of amber eyes making him fidget in his seat. He tried his best to smile. "You look beautiful in anything you wear."

"Oh!", she flopped down onto his lap and kissing him heartily on the lips. "You say the sweetest things!"

"Get a room, you two!", Ty Lee giggled at Aang's hot flush. "But, not before you taste tonight's Fire Nation-style barbecued rabbitbull. Courtesy of sous-chef Zuko! Who knew he could cook, huh?"

Zuko scoffed and rolled his eyes with a small smile." You pick up a few things while in exile with a hungry old man. And don't worry, Aang, Yami. There's enough veggie meat on this grill to feed a village." Yami suddenly looked up at the mention of her name, smiling at Zuko's words, the same smile wavering as her eyes fell upon Aang. She turned back to slip the last of the melon to her furry companions. A few minutes later Zuko and a few servants had successfully laid out a smorgasbord of dishes from all four nations, each broad platter piled a foot high at the least.

"It's beautiful...!", Sokka wiped the tears from his eyes before whipping out two steak knives. "Tonight, we dine as KINGS! No offense, Zuko."

"None taken. Dig in, everyone!"

As everyone filled their plates and began to eat, the wine flowing as free as water, spirits began to rise even higher that night. Yami had decided to hang back until everyone had partaken, chatting with Toph until even she could not take the chance of missing out on the generous portions of meat. Eventually, at the objections of her stomach, Yami made her way to the buffet table and began filling her plate. As she reached for the portion of barbecued veggie meat, a pale hand met hers midway, startling her. "We need to talk."

"There's nothing for us to talk about, Aang.", she sighed, flicking his hand away and taking her share. She regretted looking up at him instantly when she saw the hurt in his eyes. Quickly looking away, she took a breath and set down her plate. "What is it?"

"You won't talk to me, you won't look at me. You'll hardly stay in the same room as me! I thought we were friends." Aang flinched when she jerked away from his touch again. "

Aadita snorted. "Yeah. Friends." She began to walk away, but he grabbed her elbow and when she turned to retort, she saw a fire behind his eyes that she had not seen in a long time. The girl's heart began to pound, her chest tightening.

"Is everything okay here?"

Aadita whipped her head around to see Zuko standing there, an eyebrow raised in question at the tense situation. She looked back at Aang, the fury in his eyes only barely concealed as he slowly let go of her arm and took his plate. "Yeah. Everything's fine."

"Okay...well, Aadita, have you tried the vegetarian barbecue? I think you'd really like it.", Zuko said, smiling down at her.

"I was just about to now. Come. You can tell me how you did it. It smells heavenly!", she looked back over her shoulder as she walked, being sure Zuko followed.

"Excuse me.", Aang interjected before Zuko could do so, turning on his heel and striding back toward the others around the campfire. Zuko shrugged and caught up with Aadita, settling the two a ways away from the group. The conversation was light and comfortable as the two ate, both blissfully unaware of the dark stare they were receiving from the young Avatar. Especially so when Zuko's hand lingered just a bit too long on her shoulder. At that point, Aang simply had to turn away, for the bonfire had begun to rage a bit too high for anyone's liking.

"Um, did somebody piss off the fire, or something? It looks kinda angry.", Sokka said, fanning the flames with Suki's fan, yelping when the flames grew even brighter.

"You can't put out a fire like that, Sokka!", Mai yelled, snatching back the fan and tossing it to Ty Lee.'

"Hey, it was worth a shot!"

Aadita giggled at the groups antics, covering her mouth as she chewed. "You have sesame seeds all over your face."

"What?"

Zuko licked his thumb and brushed the corner of her mouth with it, snickering as she blushed. "Calm down, it's almost gone."

"I could've gotten it myself..." she said, tucking a curl behind her ear.

"Yeah, but then I wouldn't have been able to embarrass you."

"Who said I was embarrassed?!",she pouted, picking up her drink as she finished her food.

"Your face. You're blushing, Aadita."

She blushed harder, turning away from him. " Hmph! Well don't get used to it." She took a sip.

"No promises."

He refilled both of their cups with sake and tried not to sputter his at the adorable fury on her face.

Most of the group had retired to their rooms for the night, a few too inebriated to walk and having to be carried by their friends, others simply falling asleep where they fell. Toph had managed to drag a drunken Sokka away from Ty Lee's ponytail before he decided to fornicate with it, Suki shaking her head at his idiocy. When a rather handsome young man winked at the Earthbending master, however, she promptly dropped him and drooled off in that direction, Suki and Katara giggling behind her. Mai and Ty Lee had already managed to stumble into the resort, each prodding at Haru's muscles as he actually giggled. Aang had departed earlier on, muttering something about having a stomach ache, so the group had let him go. Even their furry friend's had retired for the evening in a particularly cozy sand castle Toph had built them. Only Zuko and Aadita remained, still nursing rather recent cups of sake, now reclining against the rocks a little further up the beach.

Aadita was snickering at the joke Zuko was telling, her sour mood long gone with her sobriety. Zuko was rapidly gesturing and laughing along with her, reaching to refill their cups but frowning when only a drop slid out of the neck of the bottle. Aadita Airbended herself to her feet, pulling Zuko up with her by the hand, looking off toward the receding group. "We should head back. Its late."

"What's the rush?", he smirked, offering her his hand. She placed her hand in his after a momentary pause, letting him lead her further down the beach. They came to a inlet where the sand met the sea. A large cliff overlooking the sea hung overhead and blocked out the moon, only the glow of it illuminating the outline of the two. It was a particularly humid night, the breeze coming from the sea seeming to have halted. Aadita looked up at the clouded sky, and then at the sparkling water below. Zuko's hands on her shoulders made her jump and spin toward him, her eyes widening at his sudden proximity. The girl blushed darkly at the intimate look n your eyes. "I'm glad that you decided to spend the evening with me, Aadita."

She swallowed a lump in her throat. "O-Of course! It was pretty fun to actually have a conversation with you. We never talk much." Averting her eyes to the pebbles beneath her toes, she bit her lower lip. Her chest suddenly felt tight and she didn't know why.

"I'm glad that we got the chance."

When his other hand came up to her shoulder, she felt her breath quicken, her heart beginning to beat rapidly in her chest. His golden eyes met her own in the darkness, a very clear intent within his. Even with their systems full of alcohol, the body language was clear. The young Fire Lord let his fingers skim down her arms, his lips against her temple giving her chills as they made a path of intention down her back and to her waist, steering her back toward the wall of the cliff. She finally lifted her hands to his biceps, her body on fire as she looked down to where he was throbbing against her thigh. His lips made their way down her jaw, coming around to the corner of her mouth to kiss her. Aadita turned her head away and reached up to pull him down into her neck, closing her eyes as she felt him hoist her up against the wall. Wrapping her legs around the Fire Lord's waist, she gasped at the feeling of him nibbling her neck.

Zuko chuckled at the sound she emitted when he ground his hips into her clothed sex, her entire body shuddering as he pressed into her harder. Sharp nails dug into his back as he kissed her cleavage, just above the line where her dress covered her breasts. Grabbing her ass, he pulled her further against him, taken aback when she arched her back and expertly undulated her body against his. He smirked against the young bender's skin and hurriedly reached between the two of them to loosen his belt, his knuckles against her sensitive womanhood, even through the fabric of his clothes making her inner walls clench. Her eyes fluttered shut as a flash of darkness passed overhead, his strong hands sliding under her dress and up her thighs-