Fanfiction - Avatar (Zuko/Aang)

[fannish_nan]

Title: The Rise and Fall of a Fire Nation Prince - Chapter Two
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Pairing: Zuko/Aang
Rating: Overall, R. This part, probably PG.
Disclaimer: Don't own, not making money.
Notes: Chapter Two! In which Zuko gets angry with Aang (and a few other people), Sokka and Katara attempt to gather allies, and Aang concocts A Plan. Oh, and Iroh drinks some tea.

Beta-ed by chrissy_sky. :D

Previous Parts:
Prologue
Chapter One, Part One
Chapter One, Part Two



“So, then. The Fire Nation snuck up on you, attacked Sokka and beat him until he went unconscious, and then ganged up on you and kidnapped Aang?” Suki said, shortening Katara and Sokka’s convoluted explanation of what had happened.

Sokka rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, that’s pretty much it,” he said. He and Katara had arrived at Kyoshi Island five days after Aang had been captured. They were tired, hungry, and worried, but happy to see the Kyoshi Warriors.

Suki shook her head, exchanging a glance with Tien, another of the Kyoshi Warriors. “They fight without honor,” she said with disgust.

“So…you’ll help us?” Katara said hopefully and the two women looked at her, surprise clear in their eyes.

“Of course we will!” Tien said, nodding. “This is incredibly important.” She looked at Suki. “I’ll speak to the other girls about this.”

“We still need them to go to Ba Sing Se and help the refugees,” Suki said. “Tell them that since you and I won’t be with them that Su Yen will be in charge.”

Tien nodded. “How much should I tell them?” she asked. “I mean, should I leave some details out to keep them from worrying too much?”

Suki thought for a moment, tapping her fingers against her bright lips. “Don’t make it sound quite as bad as it is. If you do, they’ll want to come with us,” she said and Tien nodded, hurrying away to talk to the other warriors.

During this exchange, Sokka watched Suki with a dreamy expression on his face. Katara poked him roughly in the ribs with her elbow. “Sokka, stop it!” she whispered. “You’re almost drooling!”

Sokka rubbed his chin absently, before glaring at her. “Leave me alone,” he said, cheeks reddening. They were interrupted when Suki turned back to them.

“Tien and I will go with you,” she said, nodding. “We would be honored to help you find the Avatar.” She bowed her head and Katara waved her hand.

“There’s no need to be so formal, Suki,” she said. “We’re all friends here.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Though at least one of us would like to be more, she thought and had to swallow the laugh that threatened to erupt. Now’s not the time to think about that, she admonished herself.

Suki smiled and nodded, eyes straying over to Sokka. He cleared his throat and looked away. Katara raised her eyebrow and looked over and Suki. She grinned suddenly and put one hand on her hip.

“Well, I’m getting thirsty,” she said. “Suki, where can I get some water?”

“Oh!” Suki said, startled. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me.” She pointed to a small hut to the left, surrounded by small bushes. “There you can get something better than water. We’re calling it Sweetshu and it will revitalize your spirit,” she said, smiling at Katara.

Katara smiled back. “Thanks,” she said and walked away. She glanced over her shoulder at Sokka and Suki, who were talking in low voices. Both of their faces were pink and neither looked at the other for very long.

Katara rolled her eyes and turned around. Sokka, can’t you do anything right? she thought fondly, ducking under the low swinging curtain of the hut’s entrance.

***

Aang pulled on the weird Fire Nation robe and shrugged. It had been a day since he spent the night at the healers’ quarters and he had to admit that he was feeling much better. Sure, he was still feeling pretty weak--Though I guess that’s normal now, he thought ruefully--and the occasional dizziness made him sit down, but on the whole, Aang was feeling much better.

After he and Zuko had sat and talked for a while, Aang had slept for a few hours before Qua Jin ordered him back to his rooms. “You’re as well as you can be, little Aang,” the old man had said. “It’s time for you to find your place in this palace.”

Aang had gone to his room after that and stayed there for the day. He just wasn’t comfortable in the palace. On the way to his room, he’d tried smiling and talking to people, but they kept looking at him like he was some sort of weird, unusual…thing. I guess I kind of am, he thought, a small smile curling on his lips at that thought. Still, it was hard to be comfortable around people who wouldn’t stop staring at you, so Aang had decided to stay in his room for a little while.

He was lonely though. And bored. He sighed heavily and looked around the room. I want someone to talk to. Or to play with. Something! He wished he could find Ty Lee. She seemed like she would be a lot of fun to hang around with. Or that Zuko would stop being so weird and just visit him.

After they’d spoken in the healers’ quarters, Zuko hurried out, looking disturbed about something. Aang didn’t know why, but he was pretty sure it had something to do with him. “I wonder what that was all about,” Aang said, voice loud in the previous quiet of the room. He didn’t understand royals at all.

A sudden knock at the door pulled Aang from his thoughts and he blinked. It’s not Zuko; I’m pretty sure he would barge in with that ‘I can do whatever I want’ expression on his face. Does Ty Lee know where my room is? Aang thought as he got up and walked over to the door. Sliding it open, he blinked at his visitor.

“General Iroh?” he said. “Uhm…hi!” he said, bowing to the old man before sliding the door open all the way. “Is something wrong?”

“Of course not,” Iroh said, waving off Aang’s concern. “I was wondering if you would like to have a cup of tea with me?” he said, smiling. “I know you have been in your room all day and cannot imagine you’re having a good time.”

Aang grinned widely and stepped outside of his room, sliding the door behind him. “I’ve been bored out of my mind,” he said. “But how did you know I’d been in my room all day?”

Iroh laughed and winked at him. “A little birdie told me,” he said. Aang cocked his head, not really understanding. “The servant girl, Seha, she told me.”

Aang grinned. “Well, thank you for inviting me for tea,” he said. “I’ve been kind of lonely.” He felt silly admitting that to Iroh but he was sure the old man wouldn’t laugh at him for it. On the contrary, Iroh looked like he understood completely.

“You are an outsider in a palace full of would-be enemies,” he said as they rounded the corner. “But remember that you have friends here.” he smiled at Aang. “And one friend is more powerful than ten enemies.”

Aang smiled. “I like that,” he said. “So, what kind of tea are we going to be drinking?” he asked as they made their way to an area of the palace that Aang had never been to. It was very comfortable, with a high ceiling and several long, low sitting seats. There were also a lot of fluffy, soft looking pillows of various shades of red sitting around. At the far end of the room, several Fire Nation nobles that Aang didn’t recognized were sitting. They were too far away for him to hear what they were saying, but they spotted him and immediately started whispering among themselves.

Aang looked away from them, automatically uncomfortable and Iroh put his hand in his shoulder. “Do not let them see your fear, little Avatar,” he murmured, before looking in the direction of the whisperers. Whatever was in his gaze did the trick, because they all looked away, thoroughly uncomfortable expressions on their faces.

“Wow,” Aang said, eyes wide. He looked at Iroh, but whatever had been in his gaze was gone now. “You’ve got to teach me how to do that,” he said and Iroh laughed out loud.

“There is nothing to teach,” he said as they sat on one of the low-slung sofas. “You must be comfortable with yourself and your surroundings.” A young man came by and Iroh smiled. “You asked, Aang, what kind of tea we’re having,” he said. “Well of course, ginseng tea is my favorite tea.” He nodded to the young man who bowed low before scurrying away.

“So…what do you do around here now that you’re not a general?” Aang asked, blinking as the boy came back already, sitting two cups of steaming tea on the small table in front of them. He picked his up and blew on it.

Iroh laughed. “Much of what I am doing now, except that now I have company,” he said. Aang grinned and took a sip of his tea. “Wow, this is really good!” he said, taking another, longer gulp. Iroh winced and gently pulled the cup away from Aang.

“Tea is to be savored,” he advised. “Take your time sipping it.”

“Sorry,” he said, fingering the cup. “I guess I don’t have very good manners, huh?” Aang grinned widely at that and Iroh chuckled.

“It is alright, Aang,” he said. “You have many other charms that make up for that minor flaw.” Aang ducked his head at the compliment and Iroh laughed again.

A few seconds later, quick, loud footsteps signaled them that someone was coming. “Who’s that?” Aang said and Iroh merely shook his head, taking a slow sip from his tea.

“Uncle! Avatar!” Zuko said loudly, walking into the sitting room. He stopped in front of them and put his hands on his hips. “What are you two doing?!” he asked, eyes narrowed.

Iroh looked up at him with mild surprise. “Why, I think it’s rather obvious,” he said, gesturing with his teacup.

“Yeah!” Aang interjected, taking another sip of his tea, grinning at Iroh’s murmur of approval.

Zuko sighed deeply, clearly trying to reign in his temper. “I meant, what are you doing out here?” he said slowly, hands slowly curling into fists. Aang blinked up at him.

“I… Did you want me to stay in my room?” he asked, one eyebrow slowly raising. “All by myself?” He looked up at Zuko, eyes wide at the thought of staying by himself so much, and Zuko faltered.

“Well, no, of course not,” he stuttered. “But…you must find some way of informing me that you’re leaving your room,” he ordered.

Aang blinked and cocked his head to one side. “Were you looking for me?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

Zuko scowled. “Nothing’s wrong,” he said. He glanced at Iroh, scowling deepening. “I’ll leave you two to your tea,” he said, turning abruptly.

“Wait!” Aang said and Zuko glanced at him. “Uhm…why don’t you have some tea with us?” he asked, looking at Iroh. “That’s okay, isn’t it?” he asked him.

Iroh smiled at Aang and raised an eyebrow at Zuko. “Surely you don’t mind having a bit of tea with your uncle?” he asked and Zuko shook his head, blinking.

“Of course not,” he said, sitting down stiffly beside Aang. The same serving boy hurried over and Zuko told him roughly that he wanted the same as Iroh and the Avatar.

They were quiet for a moment before Iroh sighed. “Zuko,” he said. “Clearly you were looking for Aang. Why don’t you tell him whatever it was that you were searching him out for?”

Zuko scowled. “It’s nothing,” he muttered, glaring down at the table.

Aang glanced at Iroh, who was staring at Zuko with a startling amount of intensity before transferring his gaze to Aang. “So Aang, what are you planning to do this afternoon?” he asked, taking a sip of his tea.

Aang shrugged. “I guess I’ll go back to my room,” he said, holding his cup. “I don’t really know anyone here and everyone keeps staring at me.”

“Who stares at you?!” Zuko said, frowning.

Aang shook his head, a weak grin on his lips. “It’s nothing,” he said, waving it off. “I just…”

“What?” Zuko demanded, brow furrowed. Aang looked at Iroh for support, but Iroh was consumed with his tea and was no help at all.

“I just feel a bit lonely,” Aang said. It’s one thing to tell Iroh this but telling Zuko is an entirely different story, he thought, feeling mildly humiliated. He chanced a glanced at Zuko but couldn’t read anything other than the same old anger in his face.

“You feel lonely?” Zuko repeated and Aang looked away.

“It’s nothing, I’m just not used to being alone all the time,” he said. “I always had at least Momo or Appa with me.” He raised an eyebrow and stared at Zuko pointedly. “But since the only person besides you and Iroh who doesn’t treat me like a weirdo is Ty Lee…”

“You’re not hanging around with Ty Lee,” Zuko said firmly and Iroh laughed.

“Ty Lee is a very nice girl,” he said, eyeing Zuko. “Why don’t you want Aang to spend time with her? They’re close to the same age, they’re both frie-”

“Ty Lee is Azula’s friend,” Zuko interrupted, glaring at Iroh now. “She can’t be trusted.” He glanced at Aang and frowned at the disappointed expression on his face. It angered him, that expression. “You’re with Uncle and me right now,” he said. “That is enough.”

“Zuko, that’s not very fair,” Iroh said and Zuko scowled.

“Well I don’t have to be fair, do I?” he said and immediately closed up, taking a healthy gulp of his tea.

Iroh frowned at him and looked at Aang. Aang shrugged. “You’re not supposed to drink tea like that,” he said blandly, taking a sip of his own. Iroh hid a smile behind his hands and Zuko blinked.

“What?” Zuko said. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re drinking it like it’s your enemy,” he said, setting his own teacup down. “You’re supposed to, uh, savor it.” He grinned lopsidedly at Zuko.

Zuko rolled his eyes. “What would you know about savoring something?” he asked, and Aang waved a hand in the air nonchalantly.

“I know lots of things!” he said, picking his of tea again. “Look. You have to smell the tea,” here he took a sniff and sighed. “You have to taste the tea,” and he stuck his tongue out and tasted the tea. “And then, only then, do you actually get to drink the tea.” He raised the cup with great flair and took a sip, pinkie up.

Iroh laughed uproariously, patting Aang on the back. “Very good, Aang!” he said, clapping. “You show signs of becoming a great connoisseur of tea!”

Aang bowed his head, a grin on his lips, and looked at Zuko. “See, that’s how you savor tea!” he said.

Zuko rolled his eyes. “That’s stupid,” he said, looking away from Aang.

Aang sighed and shrugged. “Well, so?” he asked. Zuko blinked and opened his mouth, but someone cleared their throat.

“Excuse me, Prince Zuko?” An older man stepped forward, someone Aang didn’t recognize. “Fire Lord Ozai wants an audience with you,” he said, bowing. “Immediately.”

Zuko stood up, tea forgotten. “Did he say what it was about?” he asked, and the man shook his head.

“No, my Lord,” he said, and glanced at Iroh. “But he also wants General Iroh to be there as well.”

Iroh sighed and stood up. “I am not sure why he would want me there,” he said, and looked down at Aang. “I apologize, Aang,” he said. “I did not know that our time would be cut short like this.”

Aang smiled weakly. “It’s okay,” he said, standing as well. “You guys better get going. Fire Lord Ozai doesn’t seem like someone who likes it when people are late.”

“You’re right about that,” Iroh said, smiling, and turned away. Zuko did as well and they started walking away before Zuko turned abruptly. “Where are you going to go now?” he asked suspiciously, and Aang blinked.

“I…guess I’ll just go back to my room,” Aang said, shrugging. “I don’t really feel comfortable being by myself here.” His hand strayed up and fingered the collar unconsciously.

Zuko eyed the motion for a second before nodding sharply. “Fine,” he said, turning and leaving the room, Iroh and the messenger walking behind him.

Aang sighed and picked up the teacups. The server boy appeared beside him. “I’ll take those,” he said, taking the teacups away from Aang gently but efficiently. Aang blinked and smiled.

“Thank you,” he said, and the server boy blinked at him, startled. As if the gratitude was completely unexpected. It made Aang curious, but he didn’t say anything else. He nodded to the server boy and left the sitting room, pausing just outside the room.

Wait. Do I remember how to get to my room? Aang thought, brow furrowing. Did he go right or left? He shrugged and turned right, walking slowly through the long, spacious hallway. He encountered few Fire Nation royals and whenever he did, they gawked as he walked past.

The walls of the hallway that he was currently walking through had large, glassless, arching windows at both sides and Aang leaned out of the one of the windows in the left, looking out at the clear, bright sunlight streaming down. The palace was a nice enough place, he had to admit. It’s too bad the people living here aren’t the friendliest in the world, he thought with a grin.

“Hey, Aang!” Startled, Aang turned around quickly. Ty Lee stood there, on outside of the hallway, leaning on through the window. She waved at him and Aang grinned. “How’re you doing?” she asked,

Aang grinned happily and walked over to her. “Hi!” he said. “I’m okay. Kind of bored right now though,” he said, shrugging. Ty Lee giggled and hopped through the window, perching on the sill.

“Yeah, this place can be pretty boring,” she said, resting her elbows on her knees. “Will Zuko let you come out and play today?” she asked with a devilish grin.

Aang blinked and an answering grin formed on his lips. “Well, I’m not supposed to hang out with you, you know,” he said. “Something about you being a bad influence or something, since you’re Zuko’s sister’s friend.”

Ty Lee huffed. “Azula doesn’t own me!” she said. “I can be both of your friends.” She jumped off the sill and took Aang’s hand. “Come on!” she said. “You’re bored, right? And lonely?” She grinned at him. “We can play circus!”

Aang blinked as she pulled him along. “But I don’t know how to do cartwheels and stuff!” he protested and she laughed.

“I’ll teach you, silly!” she said as they hurried down the maze-like hallways. Several people stopped whatever they were doing to watch the two of them make their way past them.

Ty Lee came to a small staircase and, at the foot of it, a door. “Come on!” she said, letting go of Aang and stepping down the stairs lightly, as if she were made of air. Aang paused at the top, holding onto the handrail, feeling jealous of her gracefulness. I used to move like that, he thought.

“Wait for a second, okay?” he said, panting slightly and touching the collar. “This thing’s really wearing me out.” He leaned against the handrail and bowed his head.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Ty Lee stood in front on him, a smile on her face. “It’s okay, I don’t mind waiting!” she said, bouncing from foot to foot. “It’s gonna be nice to get to hang out with someone who’ll actually play and won’t get mad at me if I do something better than them.” She raised an eyebrow. “You won’t, will you?” she asked.

Aang shook his head. “No way,” he said. “I don’t think so, anyway. I’ve actually…never been bad at something before.” He blinked, trying to remember but couldn’t. “Nope.” Which actually sounded pretty conceited, when Aang really thought about it. Still, it was the truth and there was nothing he could do to change that.

Ty Lee laughed. “Better get ready then!” she said. “Because there’s no way you’re better at me than acrobats!”

Aang laughed. “Probably,” he said. “But we’ll never know since you’ve got an unfair advantage. You’re not stuck with one of these!” he poked the collar and Ty Lee shrugged.

“Yeah, well. Don’t think that just ‘cause you have that thing around your neck I’m going to go easy on you!” she said, grinning. “Because I’m not!”

Aang laughed and stepped down the stairs. “Good!” he said, opening the door and motioning her through. “That wouldn’t be much fun at all!”

***

“Zuko, it’s been a week since the Avatar has arrived,” Ozai said, standing near the window of his private sitting room, hands behind his back, looking out it. “Every morning he’s had the sedative collar refilled. I trust that he’s settled?”

Zuko nodded. “Yes, he’s doing well,” he said cautiously, completely unprepared for this questioning. Why does Father want to know? he thought. He had thought that, after everything got settled with that Ozai wouldn’t care any more about the now-harmless Avatar. Zuko chanced a glance at Uncle Iroh, who shrugged quickly. Apparently, he thought Ozai wouldn’t care, either.

That wasn’t the case as all. “Has he complained about the collar or asked either of you to take it off?” Ozai asked, turning to look at face them. “Has he tried to bargain with you?”

Zuko shook his head. “He seems to have adapted well to it,” he said, resisting the urge to shrug. Clearly, the Avatar had been rubbing off on him. Zuko couldn’t find it in him to be upset with that thought. “He’s not mentioned it at all.” Except to make jokes; Zuko was loathed to tell his father about that. And he refused to think about that though; three years ago, Zuko would never have kept something like that away from his father.

“What about you, Iroh?” Ozai asked. “I understand you’ve been spending time with him? Has he said anything to you?”

Iroh shook his head. “No, nothing aside from the normal responses of a twelve year old child,” he said. “He has made no mention of the collar or a planned escape of any kind.”

Ozai frowned. “What are the normal responses?” he asked.

Iroh thought for a moment. “He has expressed dismay over his capture, of course. Fear, doubt. All very normal response, like I said.” He paused. “What is it that you are looking for?”

Zuko tensed at that, knowing his father didn’t like to be questioned in such a way, but Ozai didn’t get angry like Zuko had thought. “I want to make sure that the Avatar doesn’t have some sort of contingency plan,” Ozai said. “I want to make sure that he won’t do some sort of mystical Avatar thing to get himself out of this mess.” He shook his head and smiled; it wasn’t a pleasant expression. “I want to make sure that he’ll stay ours.”

Mine. He’s mine. Zuko was startled at the force of this thought and he mentally shook himself. Stop it, he admonished himself. This is Father. Still, the possessive nature of his thoughts didn’t stop as Ozai continued talking.

“The Avatar is proof that the Fire Nation is unstoppable,” Ozai said, walking to the middle of the room. “He is proof that we will succeed in this war.” He glanced at Zuko. “He is our trophy,” he said.

Zuko tensed at that and Iroh bowed his head. “Yes, of course,” he said. “But you have already told us this. What is the reason for this meeting?” Despite the question, there was a certain amount of respect in his tone. Enough that Ozai merely raised an eyebrow at the question.

“A trophy that stays locked in his room is a trophy not worth having,” Ozai said. “Zuko. I want you to take the Avatar out into the city.” He turned his back on them again, walking back to the window and looking out it. “I want this done soon.”

Zuko bowed but it was a useless gesture. “Of course, Father,” he said and Ozai turned abruptly.

“Stop calling me that,” he snapped and Zuko blinked confused. “You are a man now, not a child. You will call me Lord Ozai, the same as everyone else.”

Zuko paused. “But…Azula calls you Father,” he said and Ozai frowned, eyes narrowing dangerously.

“Are you questioning me?” he asked, voice already beginning to raise. “You will do what I say, Zuko.”

Zuko bowed his head again. “Of course, Fath-Lord Ozai,” he said, the title slipping bitterly out of his mouth. “I would never question you.”

“Of course not,” Ozai said dismissively. “You remember what happened last time you did.” He turned away from them, yet again. “You two may leave.”

Zuko froze when his father mentioned his banishment and only the feel of Iroh’s hand on his shoulder awoke him. He left the room with Iroh behind him. Zuko’s thoughts were scattered like leaves in the wind. What… Why did he…? What did he mean? Zuko couldn’t believe what had just happened in there. I thought he was proud of me.

Iroh touched his shoulder again. “Prince Zuko…” he said but Zuko jerked out from his reach. Iroh frowned and folded his hands in his robe. “Prince Zuko, do not let his harsh words hurt you,” he said, his voice little more than a whisper. “You have done well for the Fire Nation. Do not let his words take your pride away.”

But Zuko wasn’t interested in listening. “Leave me alone,” he muttered, turning away from Iroh and walking quickly down the hallway.

Iroh watched him leave before sighing deeply. Prince Zuko, you must let someone in. Iroh thought that perhaps the little Avatar would be able to scale the walls Zuko had built around himself. Zuko needs someone, Iroh thought. He shook his head and took the hallway opposite the one Zuko took.

***

“Come on, see if you can do this one!” Ty Lee said, holding her hands over her head. Aang stood back, hands on his hips as he watched. “Watch carefully!” she instructed, taking a step back and throwing herself forward in a graceful arc. Her hands came in rough contact with the ground and she pushed herself up in to the air, doing a single flip and landing on her feet, raising her hands back into the air with a grin.

Aang clapped and cheered. “Way to go!” he said, pumping one fist in the air. “Let me try!” He put his hands in the air and took a step back, and attempted the same move as her. However, when his hands touched the ground and he pushed into the air, he overshot his flip and landed heavily on his back. The air rushed out of his lungs quickly and he could vaguely hear Ty Lee’s laugher. Owwww… he thought, sitting up painfully.

Ty Lee squatted beside him, peals of laughter still bubbling from her throat. “Are, are you o-okay?” she managed, face red. He grinned painfully at her, taking deep breaths of air.

“Yeah,” he said, blinking at the raspy quality his voice had taken. He cleared it and tried again. “Yeah, except for the shooting pain through my chest,” he said and Ty Lee laughed again, standing.

“You’ll be okay,” she said, holding her hand out for him to take. He did and she pulled him up. “You just have to catch your breath again,” she informed him.

He put one hand to his chest, breathing heavily. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” he said, still breathing heavily. She shrugged nonchalantly.

“Yeah, well. I do have a lot of experience with acrobats and acrobat-related injuries,” she said, shrugging and grinning at him. “You could almost call me an expert!”

Aang grinned. “Yeah, I could…” his comment trailed off as a very familiar person stalked through a windowed hallway. “Hey, Zuko!” he called out, waving his hands.

“Oh, don’t call him over here,” Ty Lee said, crossing her arms over her chest. “He’s no fun.”

Aang blinked at her. “Yeah, but he looks mad and I want to know why,” he said and she snorted.

“He always looks mad,” she said, cocking her head to one side. “It’s probably nothing serious.” She grinned. “Come on, let’s try some more flips!”

Aang shook his head, apologetic. “I think I should go see what’s wrong with him,” he said. “But we should hang out again sometime!”

Ty Lee raised her eyebrows. “Yeah, if he lets you,” she said, before waving. “Good luck!”

Aang grinned at her. “Thanks,” he said, before turning and running to the hallway. Slipping in awkwardly--I really have to get used to be so weak--he ran after Zuko. “Hey, Zuko!” he said, turning a corner. H could see Zuko at the far end of the hallway. “Zuko?” he called out, running to catch up to the older boy.

Zuko paused and Aang caught up with him. “What’s wrong, Zuko?” Aang asked and Zuko turned on him.

“Don’t talk to me so casually!” he demanded, voice little more than a hiss and Aang took a step back, eyes wide. “We are not friends so stop speaking to me like that!”

Aang blinked. “What do you want me to call you?” he asked.

“By my rightful title,” Zuko said and his eyes widened He stepped towards Aang. “Who were you with?” he asked, a dangerous tone to his voice. “You told me that you were going back to your room. But I saw you outside. Who was with you?”

Aang gulped and wished that he hadn’t worried about Zuko. “I was just with some girl,” he hedged and Zuko shook his head.

“No, you were with someone in particular. Who was it?” Aang didn’t say anything and Zuko advanced on him, gripping his shoulders painfully. “Who were you with?!”

“I was with Ty Lee!” Aang said, fidgeting and squirming against Zuko’s hold. “I was hanging out with Ty Lee!” He frowned up at Zuko. “She’s really nice and she didn’t even say anything about you except that you were grouchy and always mad and I already knew both of those. So what?!”

Zuko glared and pushed Aang back against the wall. “So what? So what?! I expressly told you to stay away from her!” he said, shaking Aang slightly. “I told you to stay away from her and you didn’t listen to me!”

Aang raised his hands and pushed against Zuko’s chest with all of his strength. Zuko countered by leaning his body weight against Aang, nearly crushing him to the wall. This brought them in incredibly close contact and Zuko flushed, feeling Aang’s smaller body in intimate contact with his own. What… he though absently, staring hard into Aang’s wide gray eyes. Why am I so close to him?

“Zuko!” Aang yelled. “You’re not being fair.” He struggled against Zuko again, small hands curled into fists against Zuko’s chest and Zuko hissed.

“Stop it!” Zuko said, voice sounding strangled and Aang did, staring up and Zuko in confusion. Zuko’s grip had gone lax on his shoulders. “Just. Stop for a moment,” Zuko repeated, voice no louder than a murmur. His hands stayed on Aang’s shoulders and he stayed where he was, flush against Aang.

What? What is this? Zuko thought, almost panicked. His hands moved, almost unconsciously, down to Aang’s waist and paused. What am I doing?

Aang had the same question. “What are you doing?” He stared up at Zuko, breath quickening. He didn’t understand but that trembling, quivery feeling he got whenever Katara kissed him was back in the pit of his stomach.

Zuko thought about that for a moment before shaking his head. “Nothing,” he said finally, taking a step away from Aang. “I’m not doing anything. Get back to your room.” Zuko didn’t move though, still staring hard at Aang as if his face held all the answers.

Aang frowned. “Something’s wrong with you,” he said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest as if warding off the weird feelings he was having. “Did it go badly with your father?” he asked.

“If I wanted to talk about it, would I talk about it with you?” Zuko said scathingly but Aang shrugged.

“Why not?” he asked and Zuko sighed, suddenly feeling so tired.

“Fine,” he said, changing his mind about where he was going. I don’t want him in my rooms, Zuko thought with suddenly insight. It wasn’t that it sounded like a bad idea; no, it suddenly seemed like a very good idea, and that was an incredibly bad idea.

Zuko sighed and cast a glare at Aang. “Why can’t you just listen to me and leave me alone?” he asked and Aang shrugged and grinned.

“That really wouldn’t be much fun, would it?” he said, and Zuko rolled his eyes, fighting the insane urge to smile.

“Fine. Let’s go…to the libraries,” Zuko said, and Aang blinked, eyebrows raised in interest. He followed Zuko wordlessly for a few moments before speaking up.

“Why are we going to the libraries?” he asked and Zuko rounded on him, eyes narrowed.

“It’s either the library or you leaving me alone,” he threatened and Aang raised his hands in surrender, the ultimatum clear. Zuko glared at him for a moment before turning away and continuing his angry march down the hallway. Aang followed, eyebrows raised.

“Zuko…?” he said, but the older boy ignored him, except for a quickly shot glare over his shoulder. Aang sighed deeply and followed.

I wonder what’s wrong with him? Aang thought as he followed, eyes on Zuko’s back. Something must have gone wrong with the thing with his father. Aang really didn’t think he would be able to help with that type of thing. The monks rarely got angry with him. Okay well, Monk Gyatso didn’t get mad at me, Aang amended with a grin that was quickly stifled when Zuko looked at him suspiciously. Aang blinked at him and smiled, the very picture of innocence. Zuko didn’t buy it; he rolled his eyes and ignored Aang for the rest of the walk to the library.

Aang glanced ahead and saw that the hallway they were walking in was coming to an end; at the end of it was a tall arched doorway. The door looked like it was permanently propped open and Zuko walked through it swiftly, clearly not impressed with the size of the doorway as well as the size of the room and the rows and rows of books.

Aang was. He looked up at the room with wide eyes, mouth open a bit. “Wow,” he breathed, standing at the doorway. “It’s huge!”

Zuko sat down at one of the tables, and glanced at Aang. “Stop gawking,” he said. “You look idiotic.” He opened the book and frowned down at it.

Aang shrugged. “Sorry,” he said, sitting across from Zuko. “It’s just that this is a really huge room. And all of these books!” He through his hands in the air, arms stretching out. “There’re so many!”

Zuko raised an eyebrow and looked around. “I suppose,” he said stiffly. “It doesn’t mean you have to gawp at them like they’re particularly violent spirits.” He paused for a moment before adding, grudgingly, “I didn’t know you liked books.”

“Why would you?” Aang said, looked at him. “You’ve only been interested in capturing me, not knowing what my hobbies are.” He picked at a book sitting in front of him; it was pale blue and very large. It could very well have weighed as much as Aang did.

Zuko blinked at that, but couldn’t argue. “Do you like books?” he asked.

Aang grinned. “Not really,” he said, shrugging. “But I wanted to know what was wrong with you and since you were going to the library, so was I.” He eyed Zuko. “There is something wrong, too. I can tell.”

Zuko glared. “Don’t act like you know me so well, Avatar,” he said darkly and Aang shook his head.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with knowing you,” he said. “You’re grouchier than usual. It’s really obvious that something’s bothering you.”

“It’s none of your business,” Zuko said immediately, tensing up. “So just stay out of it.” He rested his elbows on the table and clasped his hands in front of his forehead, looking for all intents and purposes like he wasn’t sitting across from anyone at all.

Aang rolled his eyes. That’s mature, he thought, musing over the fact that, even though Zuko was older than him by at least four years, he was acting more like a child than Aang did. Ha! I wonder what he would say if I told him that? Aang knew better than that though. So he opened the cover of the heavy book. “Okay,” he said easily, and squinted to read the tiny print.

Zuko glanced over his hands at the Avatar, who was reading. His lips moved as his eyes traveled over the words and Zuko stared at him for a moment before looking back down. “Why do you care anyway?” he asked. “I captured you, I imprisoned you, so why do you care if something is bothering me?”

“Why do you care if something happens to me?” Aang asked, raising his eyes to look at Zuko. “Qua Jin told me how you burst into the healing place and demanded them to help me. I wouldn’t have died from this,” he gestured at the collar. “So why were you so worried?”

Zuko shook his head. “That. You’re my responsibility,” he protested. “It’s my duty to look after you!”

Aang raised his eyebrows. “Okay. But you could have ‘looked after’ me just fine in the dungeon,” he said, before turning his attention back to the book.

Zuko stared at him, confused. “What? What does that mean?” he asked, but Aang shook his head, attempting to look interested in the book.

Zuko scowled and resisted the urge to demand Aang to explain. “My father,” he began slowly, “has told to no longer call him ‘Father.’ I’m to address him as Fire Lord Ozai.”

Aang looked at him, brow furrowed as he tried to figure this out. “That’s a bad thing because…” he trailed off, not quite understanding. He’d always called Gyatso, ‘Monk Gyatso’.

“Because he’s my father and he wants me to call him by his title,” Zuko raged, voice echoing in the large library room. He winced and lowered his voice. “And… Azula is still allowed to call him Father. It is only me who has to change.”

Aang nodded. “Prince Zuko,” he said. “Do you really believe the Fire Nation is right? About the war, I mean.”

“Of course I do,” Zuko said sharply. “And if you say otherwise, Avatar, it will be seen as treasonous.”

“Not if I say otherwise,” Aang countered. “I’m a prisoner and I’ve never pledged any kind of allegiance to the Fire Nation.” He grinned. “So it’s okay for me to say stuff!”

Zuko leaned closer. “The Fire Nation is correct in this war,” he said. “We are the superior benders.”

Aang cocked his head to one side. “Yeah, maybe,” he said. “But even if you are, why do you think that gives you the right to completely take everyone over?”

“We’re claiming our rightful place over the other nations!” Zuko said, an angry thundercloud on his brow. “This is our right as the dominate benders.” He shook his head. “Why are you asking me this now, Avatar? I have more important things to worry about then whether or not you think our war is justified.”

“Like your father?” Aang prodded.

“Yes, like Fa-Fire Lord Ozai,” Zuko said, almost bitterly.

Aang sighed and stood up. “You’re not the only one who’s having family problems,” he said. “And even if you are, it’s because of your father.”

Zuko stood up quickly, knocking his chair over. “How dare you?!” he said. “What do you know of it, Avatar?! You’ve never had a family!”

Aang sighed and shook his head. “Yeah I did,” he said. “And both times, they were taken from me by the Fire Nation.”

Zuko paused. “You’re talking about the monks, aren’t you,” he said. “And those two water tribe people.”

Aang nodded. “Yeah. So you might be thinking that what your father is doing is unfair. You’re right, it’s not. But what’s happened with my families were things that happened to us, not because of us.” Zuko wasn’t sure what to do with this unexpected turn in the Avatar’s mood.

“So anyway,” Aang continued, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you alone to do whatever it was you wanted to do before I started bothering you.” He left the room quickly and Zuko watched him go.

An unfamiliar feeling folded over Zuko, threatening to choke him. Guilt. I’ve nothing to feel guilty about! he thought, righting his chair and sitting back down. I haven’t done anything wrong. Nothing at all! The feeling didn’t go away though and Zuko frowned down at the book, not reading it.

Meanwhile, Aang walked swiftly through the hallways, ignoring the fatigue that was darkening his vision. What was that about? he questioned himself, but he knew what it was. He wanted Zuko to see, wanted the other boy to realize what he was doing, what the Fire Nation was doing, was wrong.

Aang made it to his room without incident and slid the door open. Closing it behind him, he walked over to the bed and laid down, curling onto his side. That’s what I’ll do, he thought. I’ll make Zuko see what they’re doing is wrong. Aang knew that this would be very difficult. Zuko was extremely loyal to the Fire Nation and to his father.

Fire Lord Ozai, Aang corrected himself. The Fire Lord seemed like a very cruel man and Aang knew immediately that someone like that didn’t deserve all the loyalty that he had. And since Zuko’s next in line, I’ll have to make him see that!

It was an exciting idea, an awfully big mission that Aang was throwing himself into. Probably an impossible one, he thought, before dismissing that thought. Nothing’s really impossible, anyway. A hard mission, that’s for sure. But not impossible. Aang was having trouble thinking; the activities of the day wearing on him. He yawned and rolled over to lay on his back. Looking out the window, Aang saw that the sun was near its setting.

At least I made it through the day awake, he thought before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep, ideas for what he was planning slipping from his mind.

***

“Look, I do think the four of us are pretty strong,” Sokka said, rubbing the back of his head. “But I think that, if we’re seriously planning on getting Aang back from the Fire Nation, we’re going to need more help.” He looked at Suki and Tien for support. “Come on, you guys! You’ve got to agree with me!”

He, Katara, Suki and Tien were atop Appa, heading north away from Kyoshi Island. Momo had taken an immediate liking to Suki and was curled around her neck, napping. Tien was leaning against the saddle beside Suki. Katara was sitting opposite them and Sokka was sitting to the front with the reigns.

Tien rubbed her chin. “He has a point,” she said, glancing at Suki. “We’re not strong enough to defend ourselves should something happen while sneaking into the Fire Nation.”

Suki shrugged, and opened her mouth to say something, but Katara interrupted her. “We don’t have that kind of time!” she said. “We don’t have time to find someone powerful, figure out if we can trust them, and then convince them to help us.”

“It may not take much convincing,” Suki said. “After all, we’re rescuing the Avatar. There are plenty of people who would want to be part of something like that.”

Katara shook her head. “I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” she said and Suki smiled at her, though the expression was somber.

“It would be better for us to be late and be able to free him, than to be early and all of us get captured,” she said gently.

“Exactly!” Sokka said, nodding. “We have to plan this, not just push forward.”

Katara sighed deeply and nodded. “Okay. You guys are right,” she said. “Does anyone have any ideas about where we can go and find someone quickly?”

Sokka grinned broadly at that and reached into his tunic. Pulling out a crumbled piece of parchment, he pulled it out with flair and handed it back to Suki. “I think this place would be a definite help,” he said.

Suki, Katara, and Tien bent over the paper. “Earth Rumble VI,” Suki read aloud and Katara gasped and stared up at Sokka.

“You’ve got to be kidding!” she cried, taking the paper from Suki and shaking it. “You want to go to a tournament to find help?!”

“It makes sense!” Sokka said. “No, listen! I’m not going there for entertainment, I swear!” He heard Katara snort and hurried on. “Look, there will be lots of earthbenders there, right? And they’ll have to be powerful. I mean, they joined a tournament.” He glanced back at Katara. “C’mon, it’s the only place we’ve got to look right now.”

Katara glared at the paper before sighing. “You’re right,” she said, glancing at Tien and Suki, who both shrugged.

Sokka grinned. “I usually am,” he said. “C’mon Appa, yip yip! Let’s go to the Earth Rumble VI!”


End Chapter Two