Kissyyou: I do not own the Avatar the Last Airbender! Boy X Boy WARNING!

Once the fire in the pit went out, Aang got cold and he shifts over to the next heat source.

Zuko woke up to arms full of Aang in the morning. The younger boy was resting his head on his chest and his arms wrapped around Zuko's waist. The older boy looked down and took in the peaceful face of the other male. He slowly brought up his hand and gently caress Aang's cheek.

Aang stirred a little and slowly blinks and looks up at Zuko. "...Mm...Good morning, Zuko."

"...Good morning," Zuko looks away as he retracted his hand. "Sorry...I woke you up."

Aang leans against Zuko's chest some more as he stretches his back and legs. "You were so warm…" Aang said drowsily with his eyelids drooping down contently as he unconsciously nuzzle against Zuko's chest.

"Nn…" Zuko tries to lean back to provide more room, but can't move because Aang has his arms wrapped around him. Zuko tries to move Aang off of him, but the smaller boy clinged to him tighter and whimpered. He looks over to the window and realized that he have to head out soon to unpack the groceries and set up his fruit stall. But when he looks down at Aang, he makes excuses to push his duties back.

Aang suddenly shot his eyes wide open, "Oh crap! You need to set up your stall!" The smaller boy scrambles to sit up and gently supports Zuko to sit up as well.

Aang then starts unbuttoning Zuko's clothes and Zuko batted Aang's hands away, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to take off your clothes so I can look at your shoulder again! There is no way I am going to let you work when it is still injured."

They both look at each other in silence. "...What if I refuse…" Zuko stated while staring Aang down.

"Then I will strip you." The younger boy looks up determined.

Zuko stares at Aang for a couple of minutes but he soon he gave up and sighs, "Fine…" The older boy slowly slips off his shirt and shifts away from Aang so he can take a better look at the shoulder. The boy took out some of the water from his container and bended over the bruised area.

"It was a good thing I was able to look at it yesterday night, it definitely got better. I just want to make sure that the muscles are not harmed."

They sat in silence for a while as Aang heals the wound. "So...um…" Aang shifts uncomfortably. "After I heal you...you will be good to go and...I'll disappear from your life so you don't have to worry about me bothering you anymore…"

"...You were not bothering me."

"But I told you that I'll leave today," Aang said as he puts the water back in his travel jug.

Zuko turns around and stares at the younger boy. "You are more than welcomed to stay here if you have nowhere else to go."

"R-Really?"

"Yes."

Aang's eyes look so relieved, "Thank you."

"So...what's that over there?" Aang pointed to the huge intimidating pillar in the distance.

"Oh, that's a dungeon, have you seen one before?" Zuko sets down a sack of oranges.

"I think I have...but I don't know what it is."

"They are huge castles that are full of treasures and wealth...I have always wanted to clear one someday…"

"Hmm…" Aang hums in thought, "why don't we go?"

"What?"

"You heard me. Why don't we go clear that dungeon together?"

Zuko was speechless. He have not thought of the reason why he did not tried to clear it before. "I-I...not now...I have to sell-"

"But if you gain treasures from the dungeon, you won't need to work anymore!" Aang stands in front of Zuko, "What's stopping you?"

"I…" Zuko thought to himself. "I guess because I have some unfinished business to do before I jump head first into the dungeon. I don't want to risk anything since I might not have a chance to escape or survive.

"I see...but you have me! I'll protect you!" Aang nods understandingly.

Zuko scoffs, "Of course you will."

"It's true though!"

Zuko looks down at the smaller boy puffing out his cheeks in irritation. "I'll believe you once it happens," Zuko said as he walks away to open up his stall. Aang is still puffing his cheeks but he moves to help Zuko set up his fruits.

After the stall is all set up, the younger boy moves to sit next to Zuko on a bench. "So...is there a reason why you cover your face when we are out in public?"

The question caught Zuko off-guard, "...I'm kind of...banished..."

"Oh..." Aang paused for a moment, "Are you like 'wanted'?"

"...not really, but it would be really bad if people recognize me."

Aang nods in understanding, "Then...what do you mean by 'unfinished business'? Oh, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I don't mean to intrude."

"..." Zuko stayed quiet.

"Sorry! My curiosity gets the best of me! I'm sorry!"

"...I'll tell you about it once we get home."

Aang looks up at the older boy and smiles, "Okay then!"

Halfway into the day, Zuko realizes that the soldiers have not passed by on their rounds and that made Zuko uncomfortable, "Hmm…"

"Mm?" Aang was playing with a stray dog as he looks up at him. "What's wrong Zuko?"

"The guards haven't come by today."

The stall owner next to them yelled, "Hey, don't jinx it! I was having a nice day and I don't need them to come by and ruin it!"

Aang quickly ran behind the stand and gestures for Zuko to lean down. Zuko awkwardly arches down to Aang, "So, you know how you were attacked yesterday?" Zuko nods. "Well...in order for me to get him off of you...I airbended him to the other side of town...so...he might have a couple of fractured bones depending on how he landed since I sent him flying pretty far."

"Wait a minute…'airbended'? I thought you were a waterbender."

"Well...maybe I'm more than a water and air bender?" Aang shrugs.

"We are definitely having a talk once we get home. But back to the guards, even if you injure one of them, there's a whole army of them. I'm worried why any of them haven't passed by here already."

"Hopefully they forgot?" Aang shrugs again.

"Let's hope so," Zuko frowns but they continued their day. Once they finished packing up the stall, Zuko took Aang to go shopping for dinner. Zuko brought another fish and Aang gathered together a couple of carrots and potatoes for Zuko to make soup again.

When they got home, Zuko went to make dinner while Aang watches him. The older boy was peeling the vegetables when he remembered what they need to talk about. "So...you are both a waterbender and an airbender? How is that even possible? I heard only the Avatar can master all elements."

"Well you hit it right on the nose...I am the Avatar."

"You-WHAT?"

"But I can explain! I have only mastered airbending, I just learned waterbending and earthbending! I am trying to find a teacher for firebending at the moment."

"You…" Zuko facepalms himself. "I guess my dad was right after all...even though he was insane...STILL insane."

"Your dad?"

"Yeah...he banished me from home and told me to hunt down the Avatar. I can only go back home once I capture you."

"O-Oh…" Aang gulps nervously.

"Don't be worried, I was pretty desperate at the beginning but I gave up on returning home. I have looked for you for the past 3 years but my uncle was able to convince me to move on with my life. He lives upstairs at his tea shop in the next town over. But I did not want to work in a tea shop so that's why I'm here. I'm working to help support him."

"So...you won't capture me?"

"I won't. I don't strive to go home anymore."

Aang steps closer to the older boy. "Thanks Zuko," he shined the brightest smile. Zuko felt a little uncomfortable because he haven't had anyone thank him like that before. Also Aang is a very good-looking kid...did he just think the Avatar was good-looking? "So, we are going tonight, yes?" Aang steps in closer nearly pressing himself in between Zuko and the vegetables.

"...I still have unfinished business."

"Well you can do them once we clear the dungeon."

"How can you be so sure that we will survive the dungeon?"

"Because I can't die. Just like you, I have obligations to attend to. So I can't die yet."

"...I see...um...Aang, I need you to step back a little or I can't finish cutting the vegetables for your soup."

"Oh sorry. But I like being close to you," Aang looks up into his eyes, a small blush made its way onto his cheek as he smiles at Zuko. "Has anyone told you that you are very handsome?"

Zuko looks taken back at the confession and looks away embarrassed, "...Are you sure you are not overlooking something?"

"Zuko. I like you and that means that I like your scar too," Aang lifts his hand slowly, giving Zuko time to stop him if he dislikes it.

The older boy braced himself, trying not to flinch at the gesture. Aang's hand gently caress his scarred cheekbone and lightly traces the edge of the scar. The hand felt cool to the touch and gentle. Zuko found himself closing his eyes at the sensation. For some reason, he felt at ease with the younger boy. Aang brought his hand to the curve of his neck, tracing the strong jawline and slowly ran his thumb across the plump bottom lip. Zuko opens his eyes in curiosity and looks down to see Aang mesmerized. "You are very handsome indeed," Aang grins brightly with flushing pink cheeks as he withdrew his hand. Zuko fought the urge to grab the retreating hand and put it back on his face.

"It's weird that you think so."

"Why do you think it's weird?" Aang steps in again and Zuko unconsciously steps towards him too.

"I see my scar as my failure. I still have a hard time looking at myself in the reflection."

"Well, from my point of view, you don't seem like a bad person. It is unfortunate that you had to go through a painful and upsetting experience. I want you to know that I see a person who is kind enough to give a guy like me shelter and take care of my meals. You are not like a lot of other strangers I have met on the road."

Zuko looks down at this adorable boy. Aang doesn't judge people by their appearances and he feels the corners of his lips curl upward as he whispers, "...thank you."

"Don't mention it," Aang leans up and places a chastise kiss on the corner of Zuko's mouth. "Now, let me stop interrupting your dinner preparations. I'll be outside if you need me," Aang retreats quickly, trying to ignore his hot cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Zuko stared at the fleeting back in shock. 'He did say that he...liked me…' Zuko thought as he also tries to ignore heat rising on his face and continued to make their dinner.

After he laid out dinner, he went to find Aang and found the small boy passed out sleeping on a pile of hay near the ostrich horses. He gently gathered Aang up in his arms and brought him inside. Once Zuko closes the door behind him, he whispers into Aang's ear, "Wake up...dinner is ready."

"Mm…" Aang stirred as he looked up at Zuko with his gray eyes glistening with sleep. "Zuko…" Aang buries his face into Zuko's chest. "You smell good...like musky cedar wood…did you know that you smell like a firebender?"

Zuko stiffens at the statement. He hoped that it was just Aang sleep talking and he was not aware of what he was saying. "Zuko?" Aang slowly rubs his eyes. Zuko stayed silent with his bangs over his eyes. "Zuko. Are you a firebender?" Aang looks up at him while gripping onto Zuko's cloak.

"I…" Zuko paused.

Aang stares at Zuko in concern for a couple of moments, "...you don't have to answer that." Zuko blinks a couple of times in confusion. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business, so I shouldn't have asked," Aang looks down at his lap ashamed.

"...Hey," Zuko leans in and rests his head against Aang's. "Yes, it is none of your business, but I don't mind telling you." He took a deep breath, taking in Aang's calming scent of wildflowers. "Yes, I am a firebender. I was labeled a traitor and was banished from the Fire Nation."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"I don't mind telling you...I feel a little bit better now that I have told you."

Aang shifts his head a bit to look into Zuko's golden eyes, "Thank you for trusting me. I will keep your secret," Aang smiles fondly at Zuko. "Oh um...I like being close to you and everything but I'm worried that I'm heavy...you can let me down now."

"You are not heavy...you feel like you are all bones. I'm going to make sure you eat lots," Zuko walks them over to the dinner table.

"Z-Zuko!" Aang blushes cutely as he was settled onto Zuko's lap. The older boy was holding out a spoon to feed him. "I-I can feed myself," Aang leans away.

"I won't feel better if I don't feed you a couple of bites."

Aang looks down at his lap embarrassed for a moment before looking up and opening his mouth, "Aahhh."

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