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Unusual Circumstances	By : voyager Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Slash - Male/Male > Aang/Zuko Views: 5138 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is the property of Nickelodeon, Mike DiMartino and Bryan Koneitzko. I earn no profit from this, other than pure enjoyment

Chapter List
- 10
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- 12
Chapter 11

New Living Arrangements,

Some Downtime, and a Tough Choice

(Set Between 'The Southern Raiders' and 'Sozin's Comet Pt. 1')

As the gang settled into their new temporary quarters, Zuko came out to the courtyard in the center of the building, where Aang had laid out his sleeping mat. "Why are you out here, Aang? There are plenty of rooms in the house."

"The Air-Nomads always slept outdoors whenever possible, Zuko," Aang explained, "My people always liked wide open spaces, and tended to avoid enclosed areas." "I guess that would make sense," Zuko said; "Fire-benders tend to like open spaces as well," he explained to Aang, "unless you use caution, fire-bending indoors can have unfortunate consequences."

"Even outdoors, it can away from you," Aang agreed; "do you remember what I told you about burning Katara, the day you arrived?" "Yes, I do;" Zuko replied, "I didn't want to ask about the details, you seemed so distraught over it."

"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to tell you, after all, we're kind of, I don't know dating, aren't we," asked Aang, in an almost naïve sounding way. "It sounds like a silly way to say it; but I don't know what else to call it, so I guess so," Zuko replied.

Aang told Zuko the story of his very first fire-bending lessons, "I met a fire-bending master, a former general named Jeong-Jeong, who had left the Fire-Nation." Zuko nodded, he'd heard rumors about a high-ranking deserter shortly before his own exile. "He tried to instill in me a sense of patience and discipline. I was over-eager, and totally impatient, so I wouldn't listen to him. I tried to imitate a move that a Fire juggler had demonstrated at a local festival; I lost control of it. The fire got away from me, and Katara threw up her hands to protect her face."

Here Aang paused and looked at Zuko, he reached his hand up to touch the burned side of his companion's face. "Katara's hands were badly burned, Sokka was furious at me, and at Jeong-Jeong. Luckily for all of us, Katara discovered her healing abilities shortly after; and, within a few minutes, she was alright again." "After that," Aang continued, "I never wanted to fire-bend again."

"Fire-bending, in and of itself, isn't something to fear, Aang." Zuko explained, "It's a power that must be controlled, and used wisely, just like any of the other bending disciplines. It can be wild, and unpredictable, but no more so than strong winds, earthquakes, or waves in the ocean. I know you to be an excellent air-bender, I've also watched you practicing your water and earth forms with Katara and Toph. If you can master those forms, you can master fire, as well."

"Wow, Sparky, I'm impressed," Toph's voice said; "You almost sounded like your Uncle Iroh, just then." Zuko and Aang spun around to see Aang's other two teachers standing there behind them. Zuko pretended to be mad, "How long were you two standing there spying on us?" He tried to put a little of the 'old Zuko's' scowl into it, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.

Katara caught the smirk, and Toph sensed Zuko's mood, and the three of them along with Aang began to laugh. Sokka and Suki, hearing the laughter came to see what was up. They found their friends doubled over with cackling and belly laughs. "Who would've imagined, ten months ago, you guys sitting around having a laugh with old 'hot-pants' over there!" Sokka joked, joining in the fun. "Sokka, be nice," his girlfriend gently chided, pretending to swat him on the head. "Who's ready for a day at the beach," Sokka asked.

Just then, a blast of thunder split the air. "So much for our day at the beach," Sokka said with equal parts disappointment and sarcasm. As the downpour began, everybody gathered back inside and played pai-sho, or explored the mansion. Aang realized that Zuko did not accompany them; and went to look for him.

Aang found Zuko in his usual place, that is to say off on his own, out on the porch. "I thought I'd find you out here, Mr. I wanna be grumpy and as far away from people having fun as possible." Zuko favored Aang with a not quite smile, and said, "I was just thinking." "About what, Zuko," Aang gently prodded. "About my family, what happened to my mom, where we went wrong, that sort of thing; I don't know if we're going to be able to defeat my father without taking his life, Aang." Honestly, Aang had considered that possibility, himself; and, it was not something about which he liked to think. "Do you really think it'll come to that, Zuko?" "I think it's a possibility you should be prepared for, Aang."

Another blast of thunder rattled the house. "Zuko, I've never told anyone this, but ever since I was caught in the storm after leaving the air temple, I've been afraid of lightning." "How would you like to learn to redirect lightning, Aang?" Aang's face lit up at the suggestion. "You know how to do that?"

"Uncle taught me the technique," Zuko informed him, "And it's certainly something that would be useful to know when dealing with either Ozai, or Azula." "And, I think it'll be easier for you to learn than it was for me, because it is a technique based on water-bending." Aang's face lit up again. It always amazed Zuko, how easily Aang could go from being depressed or afraid, to experiencing seemingly boundless happiness.

"Lightning is a pure expression of fire; it isn't dependent on anger or other emotions" Zuko said, repeating the words of his uncle. "When you allow the energy to travel along this line, down the arm, through the stomach, up and out through the other arm." "The stomach path is crucial, Aang, If the lightning passes through your heart, it can be fatal!" "Have you ever used the technique, Zuko?"

"Only once, on the day of the eclipse; my father charged a lightning attack at me, and I redirected it back at him." "What was it like?" Aang asked "Terrifying and exhilarating at the same time." You feel so powerful, holding so much energy in your body, but one mistake, and it's all over." "Well there's always Katara, some spirit water and her healing hands." "Actually, Aang;" Katara, who had just come back out to the porch informed him, "I used the last of the spirit water, after Azula shot you in Ba-Sing-Se." "Oh," the young avatar said, in a voice barely above a whisper. "Aang," I know you aren't a violent person, and you've never taken a life," Zuko told him; "But, you just may have to take Ozai's life before he takes yours!" Katara watched, wide eyed, Aang looked at her, and saw that she was leaning toward agreeing with Zuko on this.

Aang wanted to shout at his companions for suggesting such a thing, the idea of taking a life was abhorrent to him! "I can't just go around wiping out people I don't like, Zuko. This goes against everything I was taught by monk Gyatso, it's a violation of everything my people stood for!" "Then don't," Zuko said, quietly, and simply. "I spent so long trying to reclaim what I thought was my destiny." "What I didn't realize is that you create your own destiny, out of the choices you make." "Whatever you need to do, I'll support you; and, so will Katara, Sokka, and all the others." Zuko spoke with such conviction, that Aang knew it to be the truth. Zuko was not generally one for public displays of affection, but without shame, he put an arm around the little avatar. "Thanks, Zuko, Katara; knowing that you'll support me, no matter what, makes this all seem a little less scary." "Isn't that why you put me on the payroll in the first place, Aang?" Zuko asked in another of his rare displays of humor. Aang gave them a weak smile of gratitude; however, he also understood that they just may be right about this. "Thanks, guys, would you mind giving me some time to think?" Zuko and Katara nodded, and Zuko said, "We'll be in the library, if you need us, Aang."

Aang heard the rain starting to let up, and decided to stay on the porch to try to meditate. He had been out there for about half an hour, or so he guessed; it was hard to keep track of time when he was in a deep meditative state. He heard the door to the house open behind him. He heard the deliberately measured footsteps, and picked up the faint odor of charcoal and smoke that always accompanied a certain fire-bending prince. "What do you need, Zuko?"

"Nothing, I just came to see how you were doing." Zuko seemed to be very critical of himself for what he perceived as his lack of social skills; but Aang noticed that he always managed to say exactly the right thing at the right time. "Would you just please stay here, for a little while, Zuko?" Aang asked. "Sure," was all Zuko needed to say. Aang knew with absolute certainty; that regardless of what the next several days brought their way, Zuko would always be by his side, providing a quiet, and strong; core of support. Aang thought, 'I've never been in love, I wonder if it is like this for everyone?'
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Unusual Circumstances