Chapter 3 – Autumn Roses
A small leaf fell on the wooden bench next to Zuko. He looked at it and tried to think, but his brain was incapable of doing so. His hands were nervously playing with each other and he was looking everywhere around with extreme awareness of his surroundings; Zuko was waiting for Aang.
Aang and Zuko were from opposite gangs. But during the summer, Aang and Zuko had spent as much of their time as possible with each other, and had grown very close. So close that Zuko had gone to the point where he started questioning what was happening between them. So close that Zuko even thought he'd found the answer. And the answer grew so big and so beautiful that it demanded to be shared. And this is why, that day, Zuko had arrived early on their meeting ("date?" he thought, amused) and was so nervous while waiting for the younger male to come and sit by his side.
Aang arrived a few minutes later and Zuko had rarely been so happy to see him. He got up and hugged him, smiling. When they broke their embrace, the two boys went to sit on the usual wooden bench, which was slightly wet as it was early in the morning. Zuko was sitting left from Aang and looking at him with more nervousness than ever, although he tried to hide it. "So, how've you been?" Aang asked with a smile which made Zuko's heart melt. After a few seconds of Zuko not answering and just looking at him, Aang gave him a gentle smile and looked at the nearby trees instead. "It's okay, if you don't want to talk." He said and leaned back on the bench. Zuko was looking at Aang and didn't know what to do. How could the younger male be so confident? Zuko was waiting for a sign of what to do. Then Aang scooted closer to him. That was all Zuko needed and he put his trembling fingers on Aang's right shoulder while getting closer to him and feeling his warmth, and he felt such a fragile and beautiful being under his hands and his mouth got close to Aang's ear and his forehead rested on the side of Aang's face and he took one last breath and whispered "I love you" into his ear
Aang was trembling
Zuko had let go and was sitting looking at Aang; his brain was completely shut down after he'd done the most daring thing in his entire life. And Aang was looking at Zuko with eyes that showed how his mind was fighting to understand what Zuko had just said, and to measure the implications of it. Zuko looked deep into Aang's eyes. Aang made a half-believed inquiring gesture with his head and a small smile of incomprehension was on his face. Then he saw Zuko wasn't moving. "Oh." He said simply. "So, I… uh…" he said softly. "I…" he was looking Zuko in the eyes now, and it was clear that he was afraid. However, he was still not looking away and seemed to be getting closer to the blue-eyed boy.
Aang was hesitating. Yet still he was moving closer to Zuko, without even thinking about it. Then he did and realized what he was doing. And he felt so… confused, yet so happy that he sat on Zuko's lap facing him and shyly got even closer. His face was inches from Zuko's now and he was breathing heavily. Zuko just looked him in the eyes without daring to move. Aang looked at Zuko's eyes, then his lips, then his eyes again, then he closed his eyes and kissed Zuko once, shyly, then twice, then Zuko grabbed Aang's head and kissed him deeply.
Then the kiss broke and there was such fulfilment in Aang's eyes that Zuko laughed softly and kissed him again, this time using his tongue. Aang didn't expect this and took a few moments to shyly allow entrance to Zuko inside of his mouth. The feeling was strange and sweet and Aang was surprised at how good it felt. A few seconds later, Aang's tongue was dancing with Zuko's. After some time, the kiss got slower and lighter until the two boys pulled away. Then Aang buried himself in Zuko's right shoulder and he held him tightly and whispered "I love you too, Zuko". Zuko held his head and kissed it, then stroked his back.
Zuko smiled. The smell of autumn roses was intense in the air.