Never Forget Chapter Ten

The first rays of dawn seeped into the room, slipping through the cracks of the shutter and splashing across the room. A beam of golden dawn kissed Zuko's face. He winced and groaned as his eyes crept open. The storm had passed in the middle of the night, and a hot, steamy day was now in the making. Zuko looked down to see his sleeping lover curled into his chest. Zuko smiled, running his hand down the young boy's back. Slowly, carefully, he sat up, trying not to make a sound, being careful to be absolutely silent so as not to wake Aang—

"We're back!" Sokka exclaimed, as he threw the front door open. Katara, Suki, and Toph crowded behind him as they all looked at the scene before them: Zuko was standing, half-hunched in his underwear, while Aang slowly sat up, confused.

"Zuko?" Aang whispered, still mostly asleep as he fell back down into the blankets.

"Um…it's not what you think!" Zuko exclaimed quickly, reaching for a sheet to wrap around his naked torso. "We were just…there was a storm and…Aang was…I just…" Zuko sighed and collapsed on a chair behind him, his face red with shame.

The others stood gawking at the two boys. Suddenly, the fog cleared from Aang's mind as he realized what was going on.

"AAH!" He exclaimed, jumping up. "WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING BACK SO SOON?"

"What…in…the…world… Why are you two in your underwear?" Katara exclaimed. "Where you guys sleeping out here? TOGETHER?"

"HA! I KNEW IT!" Toph yelled. "I knew Twinkle Toes had the hots for Zuko."

An awkward silence passed. Suddenly, Sokka, Katara, Toph, and Suki burst into laughter. Aang, relieved that his friends seemed to be taking it okay, smiled and went over to Zuko, and then looked at his friends.

"Well, I finally told him," was all he said. Zuko's face was still red as he glanced up, then looked at Aang.

"Wait...do you mean they knew? What did you tell them?" Zuko whispered.

"That Aang had a big ol' crush on you, that's what!" Sokka said. Aang blushed and smiled, then nodded.

Katara faked a smile, and looked at Aang. "Well, I'm glad you've finally gotten to tell Zuko everything. I hope you two are feeling much better."

"Well, a little sore after last ni—" Aang stopped, catching himself. Everyone grew wide-eyed for a moment.

"Um, I think we should get dressed. C'mon Aang!" Zuko said as he quickly rushed Aang and him into his bedroom, an uneasy laughter echoing from the living room. "Aang?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking about what I said!" Aang sat down on the bed and looked at Zuko. He smiled; chuckled; burst into hysterical laughter, falling backwards on the bed.

Zuko stood for a moment watching in disbelief. He couldn't believe what had just happened; and then he realized, everyone was laughing. He laid down beside Aang, and began laughing with him, the tension and fear falling from his body.

Aang rolled over and smiled down at his lover, then kissed him passionately. "Don't worry, Zuko. Everything will be okay; they're not going to run you off or anything. They've known I've had a crush on you for a while, now. Well, Sokka and Katara did, and I guess Toph figured it out."

"I just can't believe it. That wasn't how I was planning to tell them, you know."

"Well, when life gives you papayas…" Aang smiled and stood up, reaching for some clothes. He tossed them to Zuko, "Now, get dressed, we have some work to do today."

Katara watched as the two new lovers trained. They seemed so happy, so perfect for one another. She almost couldn't believe the events of this morning, but she was happy that Aang had finally found someone to love.

She watched as Zuko tried to show Aang a firebending form, and when the young airbender fell, Zuko reached down and pulled him up into his chest, both of them laughing.

She just wished she didn't have to feel like this. What was it, jealousy? (The better question, jealous of whom? Of Zuko for getting Aang, or Aang for getting Zuko…) She didn't know, but something in her heart made her feel awful, and she wanted it to go away. She had felt like this day would come sooner or later, but then again, it felt like it wouldn't. When Aang kissed her before the invasion, she felt like she had found the guy for her. And then he turned around and fell in love with someone else—another man for that matter! But, she figured, she would just have to let it go. When Aang came out, she knew she had to detach herself, then and there. Besides, there were plenty of other fish in the sea, and she had told herself that if Aang didn't want her, then she had to let him go.

But why was it so hard?

The two boys finished their training and sat down, dripping in sweat. "Hey, do you guys want something to drink?" She asked.

"Sure, I'd love some water!" Aang said.

"Yeah, me too! Thanks Katara!" Zuko finished, wiping the sweat from his face with a towel. She went into the kitchen and filled a couple glasses with water, then brought them back out to the boys.

"Hey, Aang, can I talk to you for a second?" She asked, handing them their drinks.

Zuko looked at Aang, as if he knew this was coming. "Of course."

The two walked down to the beach, the sea breezes blowing gently across the sand, the sounds of the ocean all around them. They walked for a while without really talking about anything. Aang looked concerned.

Suddenly, Katara stopped and turned towards Aang. She grabbed him and gave him a long, warm hug, then kissed him on the cheek. "Aang, I couldn't be happier for you. I'm so glad that you and Zuko have finally opened up to each other." She said. Aang smiled, hoping that the conversation would stay happy. "So, did he remember that you were that boy from the festival?"

Aang nodded. "He had been searching for me—well, for Kuzon—and he had an idea it was me, but he never told me. He couldn't make up his mind, and he was afraid of what might happen if he was wrong."

Katara looked at him a moment, understanding just how wrong she had been. "You know, when we first got into the Fire Nation—when you came out—on that day, I knew that you were in love with Zuko."

"You did? How?"

"I heard you talking about him in your tent one night. And ever since that day, I was looking forward to the moment that we could get rid of him so that he wouldn't be mucking up our lives. I was jealous. And when he joined our group, I felt like I had lost, and I needed to stop Zuko from getting close to you. But then, I forgave him; and I realized that it wasn't my place to tell you who you could and couldn't love."

Aang stood in silence, going over everything he had just heard. "Katara, I…I never knew. Why didn't you talk to me about it?"

"Because I was hoping it would just die and get taken care of. I wanted it to just go away. But, now I see how stupid I was for trying to do that. It's time I moved on."

"I'm sorry…"

"Oh, Aang, don't be. I couldn't be happier with the way things turned out. Everything is how it's meant to be; I know it."

Aang smiled and embraced her friend.

"But can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, of course!"

"Um…did you guys…ahem…did you two really…you know, when we found you two in a giant bed in your underwear…"

"Katara!" Aang gasped, smiling widely and blushing. She smiled and looked at him, still wanting an answer. He sighed and nodded slowly.

"How was it?"

"Katara!" Aang exclaimed, his face an even deeper crimson.

"Oh, Aang, I'm just messing with you."

"I know." Aang kissed Katara on the cheek. "Katara, I'm glad you're okay with all this." They smiled at each other. He knew that Katara was upset, but he was glad to hear that at least she hadn't given up hope.

"But if you could do me a favor?" She continued.

"Sure, anything!"

"If you see any hot guys around," she stopped as Aang blushed again, "let me know?"

Aang laughed. "Of course, Katara. Weird, but I'll do it."

The two laughed as they started to walk back to the beach house. The sun was getting lower, although it was still beating down on the earth with brutal heat. Katara felt better, and she knew her heart would move on. Especially now that she had two other "girls" to help her keep an eye out for hot guys.

"The war will end soon, and not in our favor. It is important that we keep our ties to the Fire Lord strong while we can, so that way when he falls—and he will fall—we will be there to catch him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now go."

Long Feng sat in his cell, staring at the back wall. He knew that the Avatar would defeat the Fire Lord—Long Feng had seen his power with his own eyes, and knew that no one could stand a chance against the Avatar. The problem would be raising an army to secure Ozai's new empire; but Long Feng was already working on the solution.