There he was. Taller than remembered, but still. Standing, right there.
The Avatar.
Dare he speak? Dare he call out? Or just attack.
After all that time, was he a man yet? Did he want back into Daddy's arms? His sister's wrath and his own murder upon return?
Or would the Avatar himself bring him home? Could he do that?
Too many questions and so little time. Slipping away like the dirt and filth he lived in. He was. Perhaps it would be best to follow.
He knew his way around Ba Sing Se. These filthy streets were his, dare he say it, home. Zuko coughed. In his hand was that poster. The creature the Avatar traveled on. Lost. The Avatar couldn't leave the city, even such a large place couldn't hide him for long.
It hadn't.
"Excuse me, but, have you seen him?"
The merchant shrugged. The customer gawked.
"What is that?"
"My flying bison, Appa."
"If I had seen that, I think would have remembered."
Aang scowled and crumpled the poster. "His names Appa."
So, a temper. Greater than his? Smirking and pulling down the hat, Zuko moved. Followed twenty feet behind. Always behind, not in the know. But still the same. He was still smiling. The Avatar and I are so similar, now, always perhaps.
"Sir, have you seen him?" Aang pointed at the poster.
The man lowered his head and whispered. "I can't tell you."
Aang smiled. "So, you have seen him?"
The man stood up, straight and balanced. "No, but even if I had, I couldn't tell you."
Angry Aang again. "Why not?"
The man left. Aang stood and Zuko sat down. Tired and restless. Watching with his head down, hiding. If it had been sunnier, the shadows would have been greater. Hiding would have been easier.
His clothes were plain, green and brown and earthy. The dirt and even the earth itself lay on his naked body. His naked lips. His non-virgin lips. He blushed. Would Jin accept him? Everyone hated him, automatically. For being Fire Nation, nothing but his heritage. It wasn't his fault, but, he couldn't pretend. Pretend to be happy and the same. Pretend to like Jin and her kiss, lips, figure. There was nothing, no flames allowed.
"Excuse me, sir?"
No, here he was, vulnerable and standing above him. Taller and dirtier. Real now for he had reality grasped.
"What?" Don't let him see. Heart beating loudly. Surely he can hear? Does he not have ears? The Avatar has ears stupid.
"Err… have you seen him?"
There was a poster in his hand, identical to the one in his pocket. He too was searching.
"No, I haven't, I'm sorry," he choked. Hoping not to sound familiar, recognizable.
With his ears, the Avatar could hear.
"Zuko?"
No. It never will be again.
Uhh… strangeness. This pairing is so your-my-rival-boy love. Ohh, also spoilers for Lake Laogai. It's on Turbo Nick and I only saw the first half (up until where Zuko finds the poster), so, this story could be completely null and void. But isn't it anyway for the slash?
Avatar belongs to Mike + Bryan, winners for life.