Day #5: Warmth

*

There was no doubt that going to see that play had been a mistake for all of them, but Aang's reaction had definitely been the worst by far. Seeing himself played by a woman had lowered the tone, and every little thing about the show had offended him afterwards. Once they'd gotten back to the house, he'd gone off...somewhere. Wherever he'd gone, he hadn't said a word to them.

After everyone else had gone to sleep, Zuko snuck out and headed for a familiar spot on the beach. The same place he'd gone to mope and feel sorry for himself just weeks ago, somehow he had a feeling Aang might be there. Sure enough, he was. Sitting by the same empty campfire circle.

The picture was so familiar it made his chest tighten. Shivering, he wrapped the makeshift blanket-cloak around himself and approached the Airbender.

"Hey."

Aang slowly turned around.

"Oh, hi Zuko. Sorry I kinda stormed off like that," he said.

"Well...look, it was a terrible play," Zuko said. "In the end no one really liked it!"

"But no one else whined and ran out of the theater the way I did," Aang said stiffly. "And that's not even the worst part, you didn't see how I acted with Katara afterwards!"

"Yeah, about that...you guys were acting kind of funny after the play," Zuko said. "What happened?"

"Well, without going into the gory details, I acted like a jerk and an idiot and she probably hates me now!" Aang snapped. "And I deserve that! After all she's done for me, I had no right to-"

"Aang." Zuko's voice was stern. "You're not a jerk or an idiot, she doesn't hate you. She's worried about you, just like everyone else," he said. "What's going on? I know being played by a woman isn't the most flattering thing, but still."

"This isn't even about that." Aang turned his back to Zuko, staring down at the sand. "That play opened my eyes, Zuko. It made me realize how stupid and immature I am, how much I've failed everyone I love. My people, Ba Sing Se, then the Invasion...seeing myself killed by the Fire Lord on stage only drove the point home. I can't do this, I'm not good enough to bring balance to the world. I'm not wise or strong or decisive like the others, I'm just a useless kid."

Zuko sat down and pulled the Airbender into an embrace, wrapping them both in the blanket.

"Those stupid writers didn't know what they were talking about," he said, "they just wanted to make everyone but my father and Azula look as bad as possible. You're not a stupid useless kid any more than Momo is a flying rabbitmonkey"

"Okay, fine, so the playwright's an idiot," Aang mumbled, pressing closer to Zuko, and Zuko realized just how cold it was and how long Aang must have been out here. "But that doesn't change the fact that I'm scared, Zuko, if I fail this time it's over and I'll lose everything!"

"Stop it!" Zuko tightened his embrace. "You're not going to fail, okay? We won't let you...no, we don't have to not let you, we know you won't," he said. "We believe in you."

That seemed to be at least enough to make Aang relax. Tentatively, Zuko brushed his lips against his forehead, the same comforting gesture his mother and uncle used to give whenever he was upset. But he didn't feel very motherly or fatherly at the moment, not with Aang's lithe body snuggled so closely against his own.

"Zuko?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we stay here a little longer?" Aang asked. "I'm not ready to face them, especially her...and you feel so warm..."

Zuko smiled, closing his eyes.

"Sure, why not?"

They didn't come back until much later that night. If anyone noticed them sneaking in, they didn't say a word about it the next morning. But Aang definitely seemed to be feeling better.

That spot is definitely magic, Zuko thought.