-1A New Enemy chapter 2: Jumping to conclusions
By SoulfulZen
Disclaimer: Don't own shit.
Summary: After getting separated from Katara, Toft and Sokka, Aang finds Zuko, and they both gain a new mortal enemy: ginger schnapps. Really half-assed. Aang/Zuko drunken fluffiness! Oneshot. I have not a clue what the currency in Avatar is, so I'm just saying gold. I guess one gold would be about two bucks. I'll leave what the actual currency is to people who like this show more than I do. Oh yeah, don't jump to conclusions like the two idiot fugitive benders do.
Zuko shot awake. He looked around for half a moment, then he felt a splitting pain in his head. Hangover. Last night came back to him. But wait… when did he go up to his room? And where was… Oh shit. He saw the avatar next to him, nude. His mind shot to the worst possible conclusions. He saw Aang move just a tiny bit, and within under a second, he was dressed and shuddering in the corner of the room. The kid was twelve! He didn't want to twist his mind. Zuko stared at the air bender for a moment. Something in him suddenly thought that he was cute. Damn his mind! He slapped himself.
Aang yawned and arose from the bed. Pain shot through his entire body, as the drinking of the night before came back to him. He saw Zuko in the corner, scared out of his mind. He whipped around, looking for Azula. Then he saw his current state of dress, and felt a pain in his rear end. His back stiffened and he shuddered. "Zuko. What happened last night? I don't really remember."
"Truth be told, I don't either." They both shuddered as the same twisted image passed through their minds. That was one image nobody needed to see. Aang had just finished putting his clothes on, when they heard something similar in size and determination to an angry rhinoceros in the bar downstairs. Zuko quickly mentioned to Aang something about "bitch sister" and "run like hell". While the avatar grabbed his glider/staff, Zuko blew a large hole in the wall. The monk took off, the rogue prince hanging by his feet. A few minutes later, Aang figured it was a little safer to talk.
"Look, whatever happened last night… Let's just never speak of it again." Zuko agreed thoroughly.
"You know, I think there's a lesson behind this. Alcohol is fine in reasonable amounts, but getting blasted is not the answer." he said, trying to find something positive out of this whole fiasco
"Because of crap like that?"
"That and liver atrophy." Aang chuckled. Zuko was actually a nice guy when the time struck him to be. He remembered that time Zuko had saved him from Zhao, and what he had said to Zuko when he awoke. They probably would have been friends. Then it hit Aang: he still needed a fire bending teacher. And what was he carrying? Why, a fire bender! Maybe he could get Zuko to teach him.
"Hey Zuko. When I find Katara, Toft and Sokka, would you teach me fire bending?" Zuko was vaguely surprised. Then he remembered that Aang would need to master all four elements to be able to defeat the fire lord. His mind began planning how he would use Aang to take over the fire kingdom and bring reformation and peace. He would become the kindest, most powerful fire lord ever.
"I'll think about it," he said in his usual cold voice.
"Besides, it would be easier to escape from Azula if all five of us traveled together," the monk remarked. All five… Zuko hadn't even agreed to teach him, and Aang was already including him in his plans. Weird.
It was another day before the two benders found Aang's companions. Katara, Sokka, and Toft prepared to defend themselves when they saw Zuko walk out of the forest behind Aang. "Hey! Hold up! Zuko's coming with us. He's going to teach me fire bending! Right?" Zuko thought quickly. Hmm… capture the monk and get his father's praise, or help him and get his father's throne. Praise or throne, praise or throne. No-brainer.
"That's the idea." Everyone but Aang was a bit unsure about the idea. Katara was the first to speak.
"Well, if you're helping us, then I'm willing to trust you," Katara smiled. Sokka started wigging out, but nobody paid attention to him.
Toft piped up. "I think that if we're going to trust him, we should all four of us take a moment to meditate and focus." The benders sat down and meditated. Four hours later, night had fallen. The four were STILL meditating, focusing the elements around them (I guess there'd be something special about one bender of each element sitting in a cardinal circle). Sokka was just trying to light a fire.
"Dammit! These sticks just won't light!" Zuko's hand shot up, and he ignited a large blaze. "You know, I think you'll fit in just fine," Sokka mused, grinning. "Just fine."
The end! The story's over! But wait! It's in three parts! Next chapter explains what REALLY went on that night in the bar (between 1 and 2). It'll be fucking hilarious.
