Four! Enjoy! Oh, and by the way for those who are worried about the grammar, I have been trying to connect with a beta reader, but so far none have made a connection with me yet. :(

Aang: Don't forget the disclaimer!

Zuko: Don't look at me, cause I'm not doing it!

Justice333: Okay, okay! Avatar the last airbender doesn't belong to me, alright...(sniff)... But I do own Shen, leader of the LL Phoenix group! :D

Preparation

Aang looked at the list again with irritation. He didn't understand why Zuko needed to get this much supplies for the wedding banquet.

"Zuko, I don't think we need to get all this. This is a water tribe wedding after all."

Zuko glared at Aang causing the young airbender to flinch slightly.

"Jeez, Aang. RELAX. I'm just doing my part for the event. See look it says here that I have to bring the food."

It had been two weeks since the wedding invitation had been sent out and Sokka had sent Aang and Zuko a list along with the invitation. Sokka and Suki wanted to have a wedding full of "international variety" by having the gang supply different elements and items from different nations. Aang was going to bring the desert by making one of his air nomad fruit pies. Zuko was going to bring the rest of the food because the fire nation had some of the best assortments of meats and other delicacies that Sokka liked. Toph was going to supply the wedding outfits (though Aang didn't really understand how since she was blind) and Katara would be in charge of the decorations.

"Look, Aang. You just worry about your pies. I'll deal with the rest, alright. Besides, you know Sokka eats like a horse."

Aang smiled instantly. "Yeah, he does."

"Speaking of which, what are you going to wear to the wedding?"

"Wasn't Toph going to do the outfits?"

"She's doing the outfits for Sokka and Suki. Everyone else wears their own clothes."

"Oh, I'll just wear my ceremonial robe. That should be good enough. Plus it goes with the airbender theme for me since I will be making the desert."

Zuko frowned. "Don't you have anything else? This is a celebration, Aang, not a meeting!"

"What's wrong with my ceremonial robe? It's the most formal thing I can think of."

Zuko sighed roughly. "Well the robe is not going to cut it."

Aang stared at Zuko closely. The powerful Fire lord had bags under his eyes and his dark course hair seemed messy. Zuko's posture suggested that the he didn't have that much sleep. As for Zuko's eyes, they looked red and dry.

Aang stopped staring and turned his head slowly. "You okay, Zuko?"

"What! Of course I'm okay! You think I'd be standing here getting you ready if I wasn't?"

"I...I was just checking..."

"Well you can stop checking and you can help me find a servant to shop for all this stuff!"

Zuko was about to stomp away when Aang grabbed his arm lightly.

"Wait. Zuko what are we supposed to do about the LL Phoenix and those other rebels? We can't just leave the fire nation if they are still around!"

Aang couldn't see Zuko's facial expression because he was turned away from him. But Aang did notice Zuko's body tensing up upon hearing his words.

"Don't worry about that. I've taken care of it. They won't be a threat while we're away."

"But, Zuko..."

Before Aang could move Zuko had him pinned to the wall, his hands held in place by Zuko's muscular ones. Zuko's face was now very close to Aang's. They both stared at each other, amber against grey.

"Listen very closely, Aang. I AM TAKING CARE OF IT. You got that?"

Aang was too afraid to speak due to Zuko's proximity. He was about to reply when he suddenly felt his energy slip away. The energy came back in a wave of heat, and Aang felt himself tense up as his body moved against his will. Aang suddenly pushed Zuko away, causing the surprised ruler to crash into the table. Zuko slowly got up as Aang fumed at him. Zuko noticed that Aang's eyes were dark yellow instead of his natural grey color.

"Don't you dare TOUCH ME!"Aang screamed as he breathed loudly through his mouth.

Zuko slowly raised his hands up, trying to calm Aang down. Aang was about to charge at Zuko but before he could do that his energy slipped and returned to him back in another wave of heat. Aang's eyes had returned to its deep shade of grey as he stumbled backwards, rubbing his eyes swiftly before looking back at Zuko.

"I..I'm sorry Zuko. I didn't mean to offend you, but we can't just leave the fire nation while the people suffer from these rebellions. I wasn't trying to undermine your control."

Zuko still had his hands over his head while he stared at Aang.

"You okay?" Aang asked while raising one of his eyebrows.

"Yeah, I'm just minding my boundaries. You don't have to be so sensitive. How else am I supposed to get through to that thick skull of yours?"

Zuko stomped away as Aang continued to stare at him.

A servant walked over to Aang's position.

"Don't worry, Avatar. This is Fire Lord Zuko's normal behavior. He often gets stressed out over all the problems and regulations included in his daily workload. His mood will improve in due time."

Aang sighed as he continued to stare after Zuko. "So, it's not because of me, right?"

"Oh no. The Fire Lord only had three hours of sleep last night. It has nothing to do with you."

Aang gave the servant a small smile. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Avatar."

"Oh, you don't have to call me that. Just Aang is fine."

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that, Avatar. It is simply not my place to refer to you as an equal."

Aang frowned at the statement as the servant gave him a small smile. The servant was about to walk away when his arm brushed against Aang's.

"Oh, you're burning up. I suggest you have another visit with Judis, Avatar. He has been eagerly awaiting your next appointment."

Aang mumbled something unintelligible. "I'm sure he does..."

Aang walked sullenly with the servant as he headed over to the medical center.

oooOOOooOOOOooo

"Stop staring you fool, and get over here!"

Shen frowned as the young boy ran away screaming into the village. Young men these days don't know how to stand up for themselves. Nonbenders are even more pitiful, they can barely fight without running to hide behind something. Where is the fierce pride and strength our nation once had? If Fire Lord Ozai was in charge then it least our citizens could fight with dignity...

Shen, leader of the LL Phoenix, was currently in the middle of a dark alley next to some of the shops in one of the villages surrounding the fire nation palace. Shen and his fellow group members were not able to find the red dragon. Instead, they had gone into hiding to prevent being captured by the imperial guards. Shen's arm was wrapped up in a sling since the bruise he had received from the blue dragon had gotten infected. His group members had recently left him after they were chased down by the royal guards. Unfortunately, for Shen, the alley was the only hiding option at the moment.

Shen sighed. This couldn't continue. The guards had been getting way more suspicious as of late. Many rebels across the country were being beaten to death for any act, even if it was just spreading controversial views to the public. Shen needed to form a new identity, which meant getting a new job. But first he needed to change his appearance.

Shen took one of the daggers in his pockets out and began to quickly shave his head. The dagger was very sharp so the process was not too difficult, though it was quite painful for Shen since he couldn't see what he was doing.

Once his head was bare, Shen now looked regretfully at his attire. The gold cape was drenched in mud as was the dark shirt and pants. His hat had gotten lost somewhere and his staff was broken. He was going to have to make new designs for his group, but that would come later. For now, he would have to get new clothes. Just as Shen was thinking this, he spotted a small shop straight across from the alley. It was not that well kept and quite broken down. There was a young man sweeping in the area, oblivious to the young kids going through the back of the shop raiding the snack pantry.

"Hmmph, look at that fool. Idiot can't even see the rascals robbing him."

Shen continued to glare at the store, his irritation growing. Some people just don't know how to run a business, he thought to himself. A peculiar smile formed on his face.

"I think I'll pay that young man a visit." Shen said as he pushed himself up and walked over towards the small shop.

oooOOoooOOOooo

"Hmmm. Well, it appears to me Aang, that you have a very nasty fever. Your skin is burning up a storm!"

"But I don't feel hot…"

Aang shifted uncomfortably on the stale bed in the middle of the room. He had been sitting in the same position for about an hour, and he was now starting to get tired. Aang was really starting to hate the doctor now more than ever. He felt perfectly fine, not sick in the slightest. But the doctor was still checking up on him as if he had a disease. The doctor had already asked for two blood samples and pieces of Aang's hair and nails. It was all starting to freak Aang out, but the doctor was acting like a kid who had received a well deserved present.

"I have to say that your body chemistry is amazing, Aang, even for an Avatar's according to my studies. It's completely mind blowing considering the power you possess."

The young airbender resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Can I go now?"

"Yes, yes. After you take some herbal tea. We need to get that temperature down. Tell me Aang, are you feeling any other symptoms?"

Aang hesitated. "Well, I have been feeling more tired lately and...uh...my temper does seem to flare up more often. But it's just stress…"

"Far from it young one. Those feelings are definitely a sign of something. I haven't figured it out yet, but don't worry. This case will be solved soon enough."

The doctor's face was full of excitement as he started swiftly scrawling on a scroll of paper while Aang looked on with a sense of foreboding.

"Look, I really appreciate this, but I don't think we need to solve anything. I'M FINE."

The doctor continued writing as he briefly looked up to say, "Thank you, for your visit, Avatar Aang." Then the doctor quickly stepped out of the medical room as Aang sat up, scowling. Aang stared at the herbal tea lying on the desk. Without looking to see if the doctor was coming back, he grabbed the tea cup and quickly made a small hole in the room using earthbending. Then he carefully poured the tea into the hole and covered the hole back up while placing the cup back on the desk.

"So much for that." Aang smirked as he stepped out of the medical room.

As he walked back into the living room he spotted Zuko sitting on the couch. Aang walked over to him, preparing to talk about what had happened between them earlier, but as he got closer he realized that Zuko was sleeping. Aang smiled at Zuko, observing how peaceful the young man looked when his face was serene without anger or strictness.

"Sleep well," Aang said as he went upstairs to his bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~the next morning~~~~~~~~~~

"Aang, wake up!"

Zuko stared at the young airbender who was still snoring.

"Come on, I don't have time for this!"

Zuko started shoving Aang's shoulders. He stopped almost immediately once he felt Aang's blazing skin. Zuko swore loudly, shaking his hands.

"Man! Don't tell me you have a fever!"

Zuko looked at Aang as he pondered on how to wake up the sleeping airbender. Finally, he settled for using the blankets to push Aang off the bed and onto the hard floor. Aang's body fell with a huge thump, but the young boy was still snoring away. Zuko swore again as he ran down the stairs and returned with a very cold bucket of water. He threw it all at Aang and started banging the bucket around for extra measure. When the water hit Aang's body, it caused him to tense up. Then Aang slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"It's about time! Do you know how long I've been up here? We're definitely going to have to train an extra hour today."

Aang turned to face Zuko. Zuko flinched as he noticed Aang's facial expression. It was completely blank, but his eyes appeared to be glowing slightly. They were dark and yellow in color, not grey.

"Aang...okay, you seriously need to quit doing that. The eyes are definitely starting to creep me out..."

Aang slowly rose up. Suddenly, Aang's fist shot forward and connected with Zuko's stomach. Zuko collapsed onto the floor in a heap, coughing. Before he could speak, Aang slammed Zuko into the wall, holding him tightly to keep the firebender from falling.

"Aang...what are you DOING?"

Aang smiled. "Pay Back."

Zuko scowled. "We don't have time for this. In case you've forgotten, we're headed for the northern water tribe today. You need to hurry up and make those pies!"

Aang shook his head. "I have to do what now?"

"Make the pies! You already made the filling right?"

Aang gasped. "The filling! Oh man!"

Aang ran down the stairs.

This chapter was a little harder to write. And it didn't help that my computer started messing up towards the end. Hope you guys enjoyed it though!

Last Edit: June 29 2012