The Avatar Abandoned
Summary: Aang wasn't frozen for 100 years, he wasn't even born in the Eastern Air Temple. He was born into a family of travelling Air Nomads who were living in the Earth Kingdom of Ba Sing Se. However, when he was five, his parents discovered him playing with little figures made of fire; even though he was an Air Bender. Knowing their son could only be the Avatar - the first in over 100 years, they panicked and abandoned him in the Fire Nation, hoping they would never have to see him again.
Chapter Summary: In which Iroh employs tactful parking, Aang and Zuko have a serious discussion and Azula changes her mind.
Warnings: AU/AR, slash, Zukaang. Possible rating increase again.
A/N: Yay, chapter 8! Much worship to the epic VixenReborn for listening to my ideas and helping me in my hour of lameness. All credit due! Also, I'd just like to say, I feel quite mean for interupting Aang and Zuko in the last chapter, so I'll make it up to them this time. But, just so you know, if I could have a third Genre for this fic, it would be humour. ;)
Thanks to the following people for reviewing!
I LUV SETH - Oooh, you get to find out in this chapter!
Shinichi1412 - Thank you! I'm glad you like it so much! And yes, Aang did kick major Fire Lord booteh. xD
CJ - I'm uploading! I work as quick as I can, I swear!
Karma Roo - Haha, I try my best. And yes, drama is fun.
Aang looked up at Zuko, his already big grey eyes seeming to take over most of his face. The Prince - or rather, the ex-Prince - fell tohis knees beside Aang and hugged him tightly.
'Why didn't you tell me?' Zuko whispered as Aang clutched his shirt like a frightened child.
'At first it was because I didn't know what you would do to me. And then when you said you wanted to help the Avatar end the War, it was because no good ever came to me from being the Avatar. And I didn't want you to just use me as a way to end the War,' Aang mumbled, suckered to Zukos chest like a Squidfish(1).
A shocked look came onto Zukos face as he heard the last statement. He gently tugged Aang off his chest, cupping the boys face in his hands. 'Aang, I would never do that, not just to you, I would never do that to anyone. Using people is what started this War, and I want to end it, but I would never use anyone to do it. It's a vile thing,' he said, wincing slightly as Aang encompassed him in a bone-snapping bearhug.
'Thank you so much!' Aang mumbled loudly, his face, once again, smooshed into Zukos chest.
Zuko rubbed Aangs back soothingly, trying to save his ribs. 'What did you mean by 'no good ever came to be from being the Avatar'? Surely it helped you on the streets?'
Aang snorted, letting go of Zuko. 'Sure it helped me. Whenever it rained I could waterbend a bit of it though my clothes, and I could get rid of most of the dirt that way, and when I had no place to hide from the cold in Winter I could pull a bit of Earth over me to make a kind of shelter, but what do you think put me on the streets in the first place?' asked Aang bitterly.
'What? But you said that your parents didn't want the stress of having a child with them.'
'Yeah, but I couldn't tell you the truth, could I? I couldn't tell you that when my Air Nomad parents found out I was the Avatar, they got scared and dumped me in the Fire Nation, hoping they wouldn't ever have to see me again. I mean, what kind of parents leave a defenceless five year old to take care of itself?'
A tear wound its way down Aangs cheek as he let his head thump hollowly against the metal wall he was leaning against. Zuko slid over to his side, pulling the young Airbender against him again, and carefully thumbed away his tears.
They sat in silence for a while, Aang letting his eyes dry themselves. Zuko just let Aangs small body lean against his, too deep in thought to do anything more than run his had up and down the younger boys arm gently.
'You won't leave me, will you Zuko?' Aang asked, a hint of desparation in his voice. 'Now that you know, you won't leave me like they did, will you?'
'No, I won't. I couldn't.' The ex-Prince tilted the young Avatars head to face him, his hands gentle but firm. 'I'll never leave you, Aang. I love you.' And with that, he placed his lips softly over Aangs, the younger boys'. Sparks instantly flew behind they eyes of both the boys, and they moaned into the gentle kiss, deepening it almost instantly.
Suddenly, the War Ship jolted violently, breaking the kiss for the boys, sending both of them sprawling across the deck with a yell. The ship crashed into a forest, smashing through the trees and undergrowth, Zuko and Aang sliding across the deck, still yelling. Skiding one final time, the War Ship came to a halt, the sixteen and twelve year-olds' journeys halted by the metal rail at the front of the ship.
Groaning, Zuko pushed himself up, rubbing his head. Iroh stuck his head out of the window in the control room.
'We have arrived!' the old man said cheerfully.
'We crashed!' Zuko shouted back.
'That is incorrect. I did not crash the ship - I meerly used tactful parking,' Iroh corrected.
Zuko exploded. 'WHAT?! Aang and I could have died, and you call it TACTFUL PARKING?!'
Aang was bent over double with laughter. Seeing Zuko furious was just too funny, especially as it seemed Iroh saw nothing wrong with his 'parking' of the ship.
'Come now, Zuko. We are near Ba Sing Se. If the Earth Kingdom found a Fire Nation War Ship carefully parked, then they would imediatly triple security, making it impossible for us to hide in the city. It just so happens, that I have packed some Earth Kingdom clothes, so we can blend in perfectly. I shall fetch them,' and with that, Iroh turned and walked into the ship.
Having calmed down, Aang pushed himself to his feet and walked over to Zuko, threading his fingers through the Princes, smiling up at him. Zuko sighed, a slight smile tugging at his own lips.
'Come on. Lets go see what my Uncle brought for us.'
----
Azula groaned painfully. Her head was throbbing - her whole body was throbbing. She wanted nothing more than to go and lie down in her room on the ship -
Azula snapped her eyes open. The ship! What had happened? She remembered fighting her father and being knocked unconsious. Had her Uncle, Zuko and Aang gotten away? Hopefully, or she would have been imprisoned for nothing.
For there was no doubt that's where she was, in a prison. Her arms and legs were bound to the small uncomfortable wooden chair she was sat on. A small lamp on what looked like a circular rail infront of her illuminated the tiny bricked cell she was in. She heard steps coming from behind her - she knew those footsteps. Father.
The Fire Lord laid a hand on his daughters shoulder. 'My dear Azula ... I thought I had taught you better than to turn on me ... especially after what happened to your mother. You really should have considered your actions.'
'I did consider them Father. And I know I took the correct course of action.'
Ozai let out a humourless chuckle. 'I'm sure you feel that way at the moment. But we can rectify that.'
He stepped into the middle of the metal circle and clicked his fingers. The lamp began to rotate slowly.
'You are my obediant daughter.'
Azulas eyes followed the lamp.
'You will not question what I ask of you.'
Round and round went the lamp.
'You will obey any command I give you.'
And round and round ...
'You feel nothing but hatred for your traitorous Uncle and brother.'
And round ... and round ...
'You will do whatever it takes to remove their stain from the glorious Fire Nation Empire.'
And ... round ...
'And you will kill Aang.'
Azulas eyes were nothing but black pupils, glazed, unseeing, uncaring pools of black.
'Yes ... Father ... '
Ozai smirked.
(1) That would be a cross between a Squid and a Starfish. :D
A/N: OH MY SWEET MAMA, AZULA IS HYPNOTIZED! :O What crazy plot twist comes next?!?! You'll have to come back and find out! Because I don't know! I can't wait until the author updates next! (Person comes on and whispers in my ear) ... What? ... Wait, what? I'm the author? (Looks around) Ahaha, yes, I knew that! Erm ... I'll just ... leave now ... Eheh. (Sweatdrop)
Quick note: wh00p, we made 800 hits so far! Lets crank it up, people!
Anyways, as always, leave a review! If I get to 50+ reviews for this fic I'll throw in a lemon, you lucky people! ;D So get reviewin'! Just a reminder, I would love 4 reviews before I update, I accept anonymous reviews, blah blah, LOVE ME IN REVIEW FORM! Ahaha!