A/N - Gah, Sorry about the lag between this and the last chapter. Work and such got in the way. Anyway, enough talk. Enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 3: Envious

Aang and Zuko had meandered back to the makeshift base camp that the group had set up. The fire was now nothing more than embers and Aang realized how long they had been gone. He glanced at the Fire Bender, remembering why he had taken him to the Endless Echo Chamber in the first place.

"So, do you think that was enough to put you to sleep for the night?"

Zuko smiled, suddenly remembering why as well, "Yeah, I think that did the trick. Thank you, Aang."

"You're welcome! It was…nice. To share part of the Air Nomad culture with someone I mean. I guess I hadn't really thought about it, but this whole time traveling with Katara and Sokka and Toph, I hadn't really gotten the chance to talk about it much."

Aang's face turned a bit pensive. He really hadn't given it much attention. But now as the thought dawned on him, he suddenly felt as if he had betrayed his culture by not sharing it with a world that had all but completely forgot his people. Being in the temple was starting to bring all sorts of memories and thoughts to light within the young Air Bender.

After a moment of contemplation he spoke again, "It's important to share things that are part of yourself…with people you care about…I guess I just never really thought to.."

Without thinking, Zuko abruptly spoke, "Does that mean you care about me?"

Aang's head shot up, his eyes wide. Zuko quickly realized what he had just said and began to blush, "I mean! I um..! You don't have to care or anything I was just..because you said, right then!"

Aang averted his eyes and begin to scratch the arrow on the back of his head, "Well I mean, yeah. I care about you, Zuko."

Now Zuko's blush couldn't have gotten any redder, and he thanked the spirits Aang had turned his gaze. But why had he? In embarrassment? Shame? Was he lying and didn't want Zuko to realize? No…the last one couldn't be true. Aang was…well, Aang after all. All he knew was he had to answer back…

"Well I uh…care about you too, Aang."

Aang brought his eyes back to Zuko's. Either he didn't notice the blush or he didn't say anything. Either way the prince was grateful. A smirk crossed his mischievous face, "Well I just hope it's not an "I need to capture the Avatar to restore my honor" kind of caring!"

Aang had meant for the joke to relieve tension but clearly it had hit a chord with Zuko, whose face lost its blush and looked instead like he had just gotten socked square in the gut.

"Aww come on Sifu Hotman, I was just kidding!"

Zuko turned away. Overdramatic? Maybe a bit. But he truly couldn't face Aang in that moment, "Only it's true. You have no reason to trust me, after all I've done…"

Aang put a hand on Zuko's shoulder from where he now stood, behind him, "Hey wait! This is a perfect example of the Air Nomad culture I was talking about! The monks always taught us to forgive, to let our anger go and move on. I'm sure everyone will realize that soon enough!"

"I don't really care what the others think about me, as long as I've earned your forgiveness…"

The Avatar was taken aback, he hadn't expected that response. He had though that Katara was the root of his current distress, because of her earlier reaction around the campfire. This changed things…

He floated around to the other side of Zuko, so that they were now standing face to face. The Fire Bender had his head turned, averting his eyes as Aang had moments before, "Zuko?"

Zuko moved his head slightly in acknowledgement, but continued to look away. Clearly the burden of all the accumulated guilt was now weighing on him heavily.

Aang put his hand to Zuko's chin, gently turning it another inch to meet his grey eyes, "I do forgive you Zuko. I wouldn't have taken you to this sacred place if I didn't. I can tell you've changed. I don't know how, but I can just can."

Zuko couldn't help but smile at Aang's genuine words and the look of concern on his face, "Maybe it's the Avatar powers?"

Aang laughed lightly, "Could be! Or maybe I'm just a good judge of character."

"Maybe you are." Staring back into Aang's face he could suddenly see the fatigue in his drooping eyes. Being the world's last hope must have been stressful enough without the traitor prince of the fire nation keeping him up late with his problems.

Aang lightly rubbed the corner of his eye while taking a sharp inhaled breath before it could manifest into a yawn.

Zuko smiled softly at the shorter boy. He felt compelled to want to care for him, to relieve some of those stresses and pressures. But unfortunately the only way he knew to do that at the moment was to teach him the art of Fire Bending. And with the amount of time they had left, there was no way that could be a gentle process.

It would be a labor of love – but it simply had to happen, one way or another. The Avatar had to learn. And he would. Zuko just hoped when all was said and done Aang didn't despise him.

Aang's head was now starting to droop and Zuko laughed lightly. He placed his index finger on the center of Aang's forehead, right on the point of the arrow, and gently pushed his head back to its upright position, "You're tired, Avatar."

Aang smiled, "What gave it away?"

"I'm sorry I kept you up."

"Don't be. Any time you have trouble sleeping you can count on me to be there to help pass the time! We're friends now Zuko, that's what friends do…"

Zuko paused, unsure of what to say. So instead of responding with words he moved his arm to Aang's shoulder, and positioned him so he was facing the direction of his room, "Go to sleep now, tomorrow we start your training, and you'll need as much rest as you can still manage to get."

Aang smiled sleepily, "Alright, Sifu Hotman. Whatever you say, you're the boss."

Zuko hesitated once more, there was that word again, "Hotman". If only Aang knew.

He gave the boy's shoulder a squeeze and a gentle push towards his room, "Good night…hotman."

Aang walked off, waving over his shoulder as he went, head still drooped. Zuko really hoped he made it to his bed before passing out on the floor. He followed him with his eyes until he turned a corned a disappeared.

Zuko let out a breath he didn't realized he had been holding. What…just happened?

As he made his way to his own room he felt a whirlwind of emotions he couldn't even begin to decipher. Imagining what Uncle would say in this situation was useless, because he'd never had this sort of problem in his entire life.

Was he…feeling things…for Aang? The idea sounded positively insane.

As Zuko entered his own room he immediately flopped down on his cot and began deep breathing exercises in an attempt to both clear his mind and fall asleep.

But he didn't get much of a chance before he saw a silhouette standing in the light of his slightly opened doorway. Through his scarred eye he couldn't make them out,

"Aang, that you?"

The figure pushed the door open the remainder of the way, and he quickly realized it wasn't Aang,

"Nope, sorry. Disappointed?"

Was he? Spirits he didn't know. But there was no time for thinking about that when an angry Water Bender stood in your doorway.

"Katara? Sorry, I just thought Aang was the only one still awake so.."

"Oh, I know what you were thinking, Prince Zuko."

Zuko paused. He wasn't sure what to say, or more importantly, what she wanted to him to say.

"Um..so can I help you with something, Katara?"

Katara took a few steps into his room. She only wore her blue outer robe loosely tired about her. Zuko guessed it was her sleeping attire.

"Did you have fun on your little outing with Aang?"

Zuko tried to choose his words carefully, "Well. I would say it was enjoyable, yes."

A few more swift strides and Katara was now standing beside his bed, hovering over him, hands on her hips. The little light that managed to enter the room glowed in her blue eyes and radiated with something Zuko couldn't place. But seeing his recent track record with her if he had to guess, he'd say it was rage.

"Listen Zuko, I don't know why Aang felt the need to take you anywhere in this temple, but he's obviously a little too naïve about people. You and I both know that."

"Aang is wiser than you think, Katara. He is the Avatar after all."

Katara's eyes grew wide and ominous at the response, "You're right, he is the Avatar. So you'd better not get any ideas about him Zuko. If I see you wander off with him alone again, you're going to have a big problem."

"Katara, I swear I'm not going to hurt him. Those days are over. I've changed, honestly! He trusts me, and I hope eventually you will too."

"Aang trusts everyone, you're nothing special Zuko!"

Zuko looked at Katara in surprise. There was something off about the whole situation. He had thought she was worried about Aang's safety. And maybe she was, initially. But something had changed. It wasn't about that anymore…

"You…you're jealous of me?"

"What? How dare you! What in the world would I have to be jealous of you for, Zuko?"

"You're jealous because Aang shared something with me that he hasn't with you, something intimate."

"Aang would have showed me around the temple if I would have asked!"

"But you didn't ask…"

Katara suddenly lurched forward, pointing an accusatory finger at Zuko's face, "I wasn't joking Zuko, if I see you wander off with him again, I won't allow it."

"I have to train him, Katara. You know that."

"Keep it to training then. And only training."

Zuko felt his fiery temper coming back to life as Katara's finger came dangerously close to touching him. He wanted to jump up off the bed, loom over Katara and tell her he could take anything she dished out and give it back to her, ten fold!

But he was supposed to be making peace, so he refrained. Besides, she was Aang's close friend. Remaining enemies would probably just upset him, and with the image of the sleepy Avatar still fresh in his mind he certainly didn't want to add to his problems.

"Right. Whatever you say."

Without another word Katara turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, all but slamming the door behind her.

Zuko let out an exasperated sigh and fell back onto the bed, his head hitting the pillow with a thud. This was just what he needed – a jealous, protective Water Bending Master watching his every move and just waiting for an opportune moment to strike.

He wasn't really sure how he felt for Aang, or what Aang though about him. He wasn't sure about a lot of things in that moment. But he was sure of one thing: Fire Bending was controlled by emotions.

And tomorrow was going to be interesting…

A/N - Ohhh snap, Katara is in the picture again. Please don't think I dislike her by the way, I really think she's a great character! Only she could cause so much drama in such a short convo! Please let me know what you think, I've been loving the feedback. Thank you so much to all who have left some!