A/N - Hello again all! We're back for Chapter 2 and the boys are started to get better acquainted. Hope you enjoy, please review and let me know what you think!

Chapter 2: Sifu Hotman

Aang and Zuko walked quietly through the Western Air Temple, both feeling slightly on edge. It wasn't every day you took a leisurely stroll with someone who only a short time ago you called the enemy.

It didn't help Aang that as he looked around he was flooded with memories. But they were different from the ones that came to him when he first returned to his home at the Southern Temple – memories of growing up, friends, teachers…

This temple had been home to female Air Nomads, and Aang and his peers were only permitted to come on special occasions a couple times each year. And when they did, there was always much blushing and giggling.

Aang didn't have courtship on his mind back then, more interested in riding animals with girls than dating them. But his friends certainly noticed them, and their entire personality would shift into something that always made Aang feel...uncomfortable.

Lost in the past, he was startled when Zuko suddenly broke his chain of thought.

"So where to first?"

"Huh? Oh..umm, well I'm not as familiar with this temple as I was my own…But I definitely remember where the funnest spots are!"

Zuko smirked, having to ask a question twice used to drive him up the wall. But for some reason, not so much anymore, "So where to then!"

"Oh. Well…"

Aang scanned their surroundings, deciding where to take the rebel prince first. As he did, Zuko looked out at the sky. The temple seemed to be soothing his body and soul. It was just, more peaceful here, than the fire nation. He took at deep breath, wanting to bring the calmness into his whole body…

And that's when Aang nearly jerked his arm out of its socket and took off running, practically dragging Zuko along for the ride.

The peaceful breath Zuko had been savoring was choked out of his throat, leaving him with only enough left to yell, "Aang, what are you doing?"

"You'll see Hotman!"

Hotman?

Zuko was dragged down hallway after hallway after corridor after tunnel, Aang's Air Bender running making it incredibly difficult to keep up. Everything became a blur.

Just when he thought he wouldn't be able to keep up the pace any longer, they came to an abrupt stop.

"We're here!"

Zuko fell forward and would have hit the ground, had Aang not grabbed him with lighting fast reflexes around his chest and waist. He let go before the Fire Bender had time to comprehend what was happening, leaving him bewildered and exhausted.

He looked up and was immediately taken aback. The room was filled with hollow cone structures of all shapes and sizes. Coming up from the ground, but also protruding from the walls and ceiling. They resembled a tent, with an entrance in the front, but made out of earth.

They were similar to the structure he had seen Toph make to sleep in the night before. But these were more refined, much smoother and artistic. If Air Benders had made them he wasn't sure how…

On the top of each structure there was a funnel that emptied out to the sky. They almost reminded Zuko of…

"They're bullhorns."

"That's right!" Aang beamed at his friend's perceptiveness. Friend? Already? Well sure, he didn't see why not...

Zuko walked to the nearest structure and ran his hand along it. It was smooth like glass, but clearly made of earth packed almost to the point of being stone. It was certainly an anomaly.

"What is this place?"

"It's called the Endless Echo Chamber. Want to see how it works?"

Aang raised and lowered his eyebrows mischievously.

"Umm…yes?"

"Alright then, here we go!"

Aang created an air scooter and quickly rode up the side of the chamber to one of the structures jutting out from the wall. He went inside the entrance and filled his lungs as far as they'd go, then he shouted, "ZUKOOOO!"

The sound burst out of the structure and immediately caught in another one, then another one, and another, until the entire room was resonating with Zuko's name.

Zuko looked around the chamber, it felt as if Aang was everywhere at once. And indeed the echos did seem endless, with no finish in sight.

But by the third or fourth minute the sounds had finally begun to subside. Zuko looked toward the structure where Aang had been but he was nowhere to be seen. He scanned the room for him as the last dwindling sounds chimed out of existence. Still the Avatar was nowhere in sight.

Zuko whispered, so that his voice wouldn't get picked up and carried through the chamber, "Aang?"

No response. He tried again, slightly louder, "Aang?"

"YES?"

Zuko nearly jumped out of his skin as the Avatar suddenly appeared right behind him, unaware that it was revenge from startling him earlier.

The Fire Bender spun around on his heel to face his verbal assailant, "DON'T DO THAT!"

Aang chuckled under his breath. Zuko must be getting more comfortable with him if he was letting his old fiery personality show again. This was the fire nation prince he was used to, not the awkward shy one that had arrived a couple days prior.

"What's so funny, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Aang grinned, "Sorry, Sifu Hotman!"

Zuko blanched, his anger instantly subsiding. He thought about what Aang had just called him, "Sifu huh? I like the sound of that…but what's with this 'Hotman' thing?"

"Oh you don't know what Hotman means? That's what we used to call people in the fire nation 100 years ago. It was like a greeting."

Zuko stared at Aang, confused, "Mmm hmm…"

"Your turn Zuko, try out the Echo Chamber!"

"Oh, okay."

Zuko walked over to a nearby structure and ducked his head under the entrance door as he entered. Crouching down, he suddenly felt uncomfortable, not sure what to say. He looked out towards Aang, who stood in the same spot, staring expectantly with a grin still plastered on his face.

Zuko couldn't help but smile back, "What should I say?"

"Say whatever you feel!"

Oye…Air Benders. "I don't feel anything, Aang."

Aang's smile disappeared; he looked thoughtful as he walked towards the structure Zuko was hunkered down in. He stepped inside himself and sat cross-legged next to the Fire Bender.

"What do you mean you don't feel anything? You have to feel something."

Zuko sighed, "No I don't, Aang."

"Are you sad?"

"No."

"Hungry?"

"What? No!"

"Angry?"

"I'm getting there…"

"Happy?"

Zuko paused, he hadn't thought about that. Was he happy? He was on the right path now - that certainly was reason to be happy. But then there was his uncle, and Katara sure wasn't getting won over any time soon. So was he happy?

He looked into the Avatar's face, into big soulful grey eyes radiating genuine concern. Concern he had rarely seen in his life, sans from his lost mother and uncle.

"To be honest, I don't really know Aang. But I think I'm getting there." He smiled warmly at the Avatar.

Aang seemed to understand and accept this answer, "Well, when you know for sure, we should come back and use the Echo Chamber."

Zuko raised his eyebrow, "What, I can't just do it now?"

"The echo chamber is for releasing emotions. It won't work right if you don't feel something behind what you yell."

"Uh, I'm pretty sure the sound will still bounce even if I'm not all weepy about it."

"Oh yeah? Try it!"

Zuko looked at Aang doubtingly, "Fine, but only to prove you wrong!"

He took a deep breath, preparing to yell, but then he got a glimpse of Aang's cocky face.

"Stop looking at me!"

Zuko blushed and swiftly turned to face the wall of the chamber so the Avatar couldn't watch him.

Aang giggled but quickly clamped a hand over his mouth before the prince could hear.

Zuko took a deep breath again, held it a moment, then let out a deep yell, "AHHHH!"

A few seconds passed, and nothing happened. Zuko though he was imagining things. He stuck his head out of the structure, but indeed Aang had been correct. Nothing was echoing back.

"What the…"

"See, told ya!"

"How in the world, does this place work?"

"It's a secret, but if you're lucky maybe I'll tell ya sometime!"

Aang stood up and exit the structure, he extended an arm to help Zuko up. He took his hand and stood as well,

"This place is certainly a mystery."

"You just have to keep an open mind Sifu Hotman. Do that and I'm sure it'll work for you next time!"

Zuko smiled at the Avatar, "I'll try to do that. Hey Aang, about saying 'Hotman' all the time…"

"What's that matter, you don't like it?"

Zuko thought about this a moment,"…No, it's fine. I kind of like it."

Aang smiled back at the prince as he led them out of the Echo Chamber.

Zuko decided not to tell Aang that the meaning of the term "Hotman" had changed in the last century. Indeed, it had been a general greeting before. But nowadays it was used by fire nation youths as a term of endearment for their…boyfriend.

But for some reason, Zuko didn't mind it. Maybe he'd tell Aang another time. Maybe…

A/N - Aww Zuzu, you just might be starting to like Aang. I can't say I blame you. I mean how could you not, amiright? Please review and let me know what you think!