Disclaimer: You get the idea I don't own jack about this except the story itself
A/N: So this took a bit, I took forever writing and and then my friend took forever to read and help edit. Anywho this chapter bases mostly around Zuko hope you dudes enjoy it
It was a dark night as Zuko laid on a patch of grass in a small clearing of the forest outside the temple, it was even darker due to the fact that it was cloudy that evening covering the moonlight and stars from sight. To solve the problem the teen started a fire roughly twenty or so minutes ago not too far to his right with some branches he found lying under some trees in the woods. The former prince has a bright smile upon his face as he looked upward at the abyss above him. "He doesn't hate me." He softly mentioned to himself then inhaled the soft air which surrounded him noticing the smell of the flame next to him as it burned through the wood. "He actually thinks I'm sweet." He continued the reassuring conversation with himself closing his eyes then turning to his side. Upon opening his gaze he noticed that he wasn't alone, the intruder in question was none other then the young avatar. The firebender sat up quickly a blush finding a home on his features, his face one of panic and fear as he stared at the bald monk. "Aang!" he stated quickly out of shock feeling an immense weight in the pit of his gut.
The tattooed hero stood by a tree not too far off from the fire the scarred teen had made, his hand resting upon the bark of the trunk. The younger teen made his way over to his teacher by the fire, sitting upon the cold ground to the firebender's side. "Were you talking about me?" the older teen couldn't speak so instead he just nodded in response to the question. "Of course I don't hate you. How could I hate you?" the airbender then pulled his knees close to his chest draping his arms around them for support. A few moments passed by and neither of the boy's spoke, Zuko thought that the silence would surely kill him if it continued. Luckily the younger teen broke the emptiness. "Tell how this all started."
The former prince felt hesitant, worry soaked into his aura as he looked about trying to make sure no one else was around to hear the two as they conversed. "Well, I guess it goes something like this…"
~Flashback~
The firebender and his student stood side by side on the stone balcony they used for training. This was to be another of the older teen's dawn to dusk training sessions, the sun itself had just risen over the peeks giving everything a harsh golden orange glow. Aang stood there half asleep eyes barely able to stay open, ever since the former prince had joined them the young airbender's sleep had diminished more and more everyday all for the sake of training. The older teen stood in the ready position then took the first stance, he swung his right arm up and his left arm flowed downward in a spiraling formation, he then pulled his right arm back clenching his fist, positioning his left arm forward palm open. At this moment the strict teacher noticed that the young hero wasn't paying any attention. "Hey wake up!" he ordered and the bald monk stood up straight trying his hardest to pay attention to what the former prince was trying to teach him.
The tattooed boy yawned and rubbed his eyes after a few more minutes passed, unable to focus on anything the older boy was trying to teach him. "Come on Zuko, can't we wait a bit longer I'm still tired." The bald monk pouted giving his best puppy dog eyes to the scarred teen.
The firebender looked at the younger teen beside him lightly blushing at the sight. 'It has to be the elevation or maybe I'm ill or something because the avatar seems so innocent and just so cute.' He thought to himself staring at the young monk before him. The sun had put a softness upon the two standing on the balcony and the silence that followed this moment was little and yet comforting. The former prince broke the moment by glaring straight ahead and replying to the young hero's previous uttering. "The firelord won't just let you get more sleep, you have to learn to always be ready for a fight." He then glanced over at the avatar standing next to him. 'I also doubt he would show you mercy just because of your looks…'
~End Flashback~
The fire near the teenage boy's crackled after the ex-prince finished his recollection of that day. "So that's how it happened? You just started to feel that way?" the tattooed youth hugged his legs closer looking over to Zuko.
The former prince's stare never left the flame as he nodded his head slowly, as if unsure himself. "You know if you want, I don't have to be your firbending teacher anymore."
"No don't go!" the airbender practically yelled looking intensely at the older teen with fear and guilt swimming in his eyes. Aang then scooted closer the dark haired teen resting his head upon to elder's shoulder. "I really like having you around, things just seem happier with you here." The scarred teen looked at the avatar his eyes wide with shock at the particular situation the two were in.
'I never thought something like this would ever happen.' the former prince thought to himself as he gazed at the younger teen relaxed on his shoulder. He smiled a shy smile at the feeling of warmth and comfort to his side. The monk then looked up at the taller male wrapping his thin arm around the boy's waist.
The airbender opened his mouth starting his speech; the tone was soft, kind and reassuring. It soothed the former prince to hear the avatar talk to him in this manner; it was as if the tattooed hero knew just how to please the firebender. "Zuko, I'm really confused about things right now. I… I don't know what to tell you exactly right now." It pained the older teen to hear the words, no matter how sweet the pitch. The avatar's face also showed that he too was filled with sorrow when he spoke. "As of right now… at this moment, it isn't a yes."
"I guessed as much." The ex-prince managed to mumble out of his emotional anguish. He felt a lump in the back of his throat, usually signaling the warning before one would break down and weep. He choked the feelings back not allowing the opportunity for tears to arise. The firebender then returned his gaze to the flame trying to find what little comfort the element he has lived with his whole life could give him. The bald monk tightened his grip around the dark haired boy, the palm of his hand rubbing at the dark cloth of the firebender's tunic. 'Why is he holding me if he doesn't want to be with me?' the fire popped again sending a few sparks outside the warmth of the flame, the ember's floated in the air momentarily until they dispersed and rested upon the cold dew covered grass losing their heat and distinguishing. 'Whatever the reason may be, please don't let go…'
The airbender nuzzled the former prince's shoulder a small smile spreading over the young teen's face as he leaned closer to the older boy's ear whispering. "But it isn't a no either." The firebender swiftly turned his head to look at the tattooed boy holding him; the thing that he noticed most was the younger boy's smile. It was the smile that could melt the scarred teen's heart, it was the one thing that allowed his spirit to take flight and feel unrestrained. The smile that was unique to the young avatar that was holding tightly onto the exiled prince.
"So…" Zuko started looking into the deep grey pools that gazed back up at him intently and full of life. For a moment the fire bender got lost in the sight before him, of the young hero pressed firmly against him, a shy smile upon his features as they stared at one another. "What exactly is the answer then?" the dark hair teen asked resting his forehead against the shorter boy's, their noses barely graced each others presence but made enough contact to give both boy's a warm blush.
The beautiful grey orbs the former prince had grown to love within no time at all lightly closed shut and a toothy grin made its home upon the younger teen's face as he replied. "I'm just not ready yet I guess." The airbender then nuzzled his brow against the warm and soft older boy's. The two sat in that position taking in the blissful moment until the younger boy pulled back slightly looking into the former princes golden eyes.
Embarrassed by the bald monk's gaze the firebender leaned back supporting himself with the palms of his hands, placing them upon the damp grass behind him. He then inhaled a breath slowly and after holding the air in for a second he gently released the oxygen. The tattooed youth repositioned himself so that both his arms were wrapped around the scarred teen's waist and then he rested his head upon the exiled prince's chest. The older teen looked down at the young hero snuggled into his chest with a genuinely happy smile, one that never crossed the firebender's lips before. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?" he asked longing for the airbender to reply, the scarred prince loved the younger teen's tone of voice it calmed him easier then anything else was able to.
The younger teen stared off for a few moments with a face that clearly showed that he was thinking up a reply. "Oh I know." He exclaimed looking back at the firebender's soft expression. "What did you do as you noticed?" the monk asked a smile spreading over him once more as he gazed deep into the former princes amber pool's.
The older boy stared at the young hero, their gazes locked on one another seemingly unable to break. The exiled prince did however look away and stared up at the sky, he now noticed that some clouds had parted to reveal the bright twinkling of stars and a quarter of the waxing crescent moon that shined brilliantly against the dark background of the night. He parted his lips and as soon as he did the tattooed youth pressed against his chest snuggled closer to his frame, the fire bender felt the airbender's warmth and felt his heart ignite further filling him with untold confidence as he started his recollection. "Well let's see…"
~Flashback~
The scarred prince stood alone next to his bend that calm and almost endless night. A slight breeze found its way into his bedroom from the window he stared out at, sending a chill over his flesh. The teen was shirtless, his arms crossed over his chest to try and reduce the nip of the cold that the darkness gave, a glare plastered on his face as he looked out the small portal. He breathed heavily; it was deep as if trying to use the cool air the ice over his confused rage.
'How can I be thinking these thoughts? Especially about the avatar.' The former prince internally asked himself huffing and placing the palms of his hands upon the windowsill. The firebender's anger melted from his face and was replaced by an expression that showed his great turmoil and the slightest hints of shame. He didn't get to find anything to relieve him of these feelings as he gazed out the window, since the temple was in a large trench it offered little to look upon, and the view from his bedroom window offered even less to search for. 'I'm the PRINCE and HE is the avatar.' The dark haired boy continued his ramblings in his mind relaxing his shoulder's feeling the weight of his problems increase. 'This can't be right; I mean we're both guys. What will the public think? The king cannot be betrothed to another man, can he?' his features contorted into a look of frustration as he couldn't find the answers he wanted. "Why did things have to go this way?" he growled clenching his fists, pressing them firmly against the stone sill of his bedroom window. Minutes passed in which the exiled prince merely stared off with all his anger, that is until a soft breeze fluttered through the opening he rested against wrapping itself around his form. The teen softened, his shoulders slumped, his expression showing his somewhat happy defeat and he softly sigh his next statement into the darkness. "I wish I didn't have to fall in love with him…"
~End Flashback~
Within the time the firebender had taken to tell his story to the younger airbender the two had shifted to a reclining position on the grass, the former prince had his arms behind his head and the bald monk was cuddled closer to the older boy's chest. The monk enjoyed the feeling of being this close to the scarred teen who had been teaching him the ways of firebending, he loved being able to hear the dark haired teen's heart beat and the feeling of the heat radiating off his body. The younger teen kept his grasp around the older, filling the two with the blissful emotions of security and comfort as they lay in the cold night.
A smile had made its permanent stay upon the exiled prince's features and he finished his tale. "And well, that's how things went for awhile. I'd just contemplate it and usually get angered, that was until…" he trailed off leaving the airbender curious to what had happened. The tattooed youth moved so he mounted the former prince, placing his hands upon the ground on either side of the older boy's head. He moved his face close to Zuko's, making the firebender blush heavily, and when the teen's lips were just barely an inch apart the young hero spoke.
"Until what?" was the only thing to leave his lips. The scarred teen gulped nervously, he had wanted for Aang to close the gap between the two, but he also felt the terror that came with being so close to another so romantically. "Come on Zuko, tell me. It may help me decide how I feel about you." The airbender whispered rubbing his nose against the taller boy's. The nervous teen looked deep into the grey pools of beauty in front of him and stuttered starting to explain another moment in time to the avatar that had taken position atop of his form.
~Flashback~
The firebender stood panting, shirtless, and sweaty in a massive empty room that was well out of the way of anywhere the other inhabitants of the temple usually strayed. It was late in the night and darkness filled the room nicely, the only times of sight the former prince got was when he paused long enough to let his eyes adjust and when the flames of his bending soared through out the air illuminating all the corners of the place he went to get away. Considering the time the scarred teen figured no one was awake, he figured he could let loose and go all out if need be. The teen reeled his right arm back fist clenched, positioning his left arm straight in front of him to steady his balance and aim his concentration. A droplet of the perspiration trailed down his right forearm, his muscled tensed, his face suddenly changed from a look of deep concentration to that of anger. In a moment of a second the teenage boy shot his right arm forward, pulling his left arm back to his side, fire shot from the end of his punch flooding the domain with a bright orange glow. The flames licked at the wall leaving scorch marks upon it, he released the tightly secured air in his lungs and glared ahead of him. The confused firebender was furious at most everything, such as how he had these strong feelings for the avatar, or how he didn't have his uncle around to guide him through this mess, also how he didn't know what to do now. He clenched his teeth swinging his leg around sending a ray of flames with it, the flames crossed the previous markings on the stone and deepened its black ash farther.
"This isn't fair!" the former prince yelled stomping on the ground sending a faint wave of heat before him. He then plopped himself on the cold unfeeling floor of the vacant room, he breathed heavy as he sprawled out on the stone, his limbs out in all directions.
"What's not fair?" a young feminine voice queried from the shadows to the firebender's right. He shot up narrowing his vision to try and get a better sight; he soon noticed Toph standing leaning against the frame of the doorway to the hallway. The scarred teen turned his gaze to the rock tile scowling; he hated himself for being caught in a moment of weakness such as this. "Come on Firecracker, you can tell me." the exiled prince never spoke his response the great earthbender, instead he got up from his position on the ground and started off to the doorway she stood at. As the exiled prince passed the blind girl she stomped the ground and clenched her hands to her side causing the stone to shift slightly. "Fine ignore me, but if you want to be with Twinkle toes more then your girl back home then that means that you love him more."
Zuko spun around staring wide eyed, gawking at the younger teen in the doorway. A cold sweat formed on the back of his neck and he replied shakily to her statement. "How'd you-"
The earthbender took her chance to be rude and give the scarred teen not only the cold shoulder but a brusque shove as she left him alone just outside the reclusive room. She started off down the hallway leaving the dumbfounded firebender behind as she vanished into the darkness of the corridor. The former prince stood still for a long time fear gripping at his throat all the while, when he could move once more he started off slowly and nervously back to his bedroom with one thought on his mind. 'I do love him then, and there's nothing that can change it.'
~End Flashback~
At this point the young airbender remained atop the dark haired teen, but repositioned himself so he was resting his head upon the older's chest. The bald monk's breathing was soft and steady, his eyes closed and the sweetest smirk on his face. The firebender wrapped his arms snugly around the frail form atop of him, his vision fixed at the boy's facial expression. 'Is he asleep' he wondered as a smile slowly made its home on his face.
"So, do you want me more then her?" the younger teen managed to yawn out on the verge of slipping into a slumber. The scarred teen closed his eyes and leaned his head back rubbing the airbender's shoulder as he replied with a softness and sincerity that was rare to find in the former prince.
"Yeah, I do Aang." He gave the avatar a gentle squeeze closing what small room could have been between the two as they slipped into a slumber.