Title: Heaven, Hell, and Everything In-Between
Author: RedNovember
Warnings: Implied Z/K (don't read if allergic) and swearing
Word Count: 500+
Comments: I've gotten over my angsty little emo phase to actually write something today. Worked a bit more on chapter 6 of LTE but am still getting nowhere with el fin of THATP. However, did manage to waste time on another One-Shot.

Heaven, Hell, and Everything In-Between

He watches her from behind the foliage. He watches her yell good-naturedly at her brother, at the bison, at the Avatar. He watches her hug them, bestow her touch upon them and see how they accept it so casually. He watches her care for them, tend to their little injuries and fuss about them not sleeping enough. He watches the boys shrug her off carelessly as if too used to her attentions by now. He watches her continue to shove them the apples, snapping at them to eat or You'll lose your strength. He watches her become so caught up in the well-being of others that she forgets herself.

His first thought is for the boys. You don't know how good you've got it.

His second thought is for himself. A Prince should never be jealous of what lowly commoners have.

His third thought is for her. If you don't watch it, you'll collapse from exhaustion.

The hidden gold eyes continue to follow the girl, and he tells himself to stop obsessing.

The Air bending boy is the one he should be tracking. Instead, she commands his thoughts, draws his attention, and haunts his dreams to the point where he knows he can't stop obsessing even if he really wanted to. Which he, perversely, does not.

Damn her to hell.

Eventually those two annoying little parasites leave and she's left alone in the clearing, humming something to herself while placing the apples back into a bag. He doesn't give a shit why the boys are gone and have left her by herself. All he knows is that she is alone and This Is His Chance.

He steps out of the cover of darkness and she turns in the sunlight, eyes catching on his figure.

She doesn't scream for help, or glare at him, or tell him that he's a bastardly little fucker who should just leave her and her friends alone.

What she does is reach into her bag and draw out an apple, holding it out in her hand towards him.

Before he touches that scarlet temptation (because he knows he will oh he knows he can't resist) he thinks about the paradise that is awaiting him at home if he does as his Father wishes. He could grasp her wrist and hold her hostage and the Avatar would do anything he asked. He could go home to a royal welcome, a lifetime of honor until the day he passes away. He could stay forever in his Eden if he just pleases his Father.

She's looking at him, an indescribable face, and that silent inquiry next to the blood-red offering like a warm living heart in the palm of her hand is tugging, pulling him every which way until-

he snatches it biting it tasting it the sweetness oh my the ecstasy.

She smiles, and he thinks to himself, Will we burn in heaven like we do down here?

Further Comments: Many religious references. Sorry if I offend. I am agnostic myself, but believe we can all learn a great many things from every faith of the world.
Written: 2:01 AM on August 24, 2005
Inspired by: Sarach McLachlan CD, Surfacing
Dedicated to: My wonderful supportive LJ friends who still talk to me even though I get bitchy and insecure sometimes. You know who you are.