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Memories from Western Airtemple	By : DarthAnimus Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality > Slash - Male/Male Views: 16187 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own "Avatar: the Last Airbender" or the characters. I don't make any profit out of writing this.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Author's Notes: For some reason AFF cut off the last five or so paragraphs of the previous chapter. If it's not too much of a bother I wish you'd check the real ending of the chapter out now that I have fixed the problem.

Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter 16
When the Cries Are Silenced

It should have felt awkward to hold the other like this, Aang realized when Zuko’s breaths against his chest started to even out slowly. The young Avatar knew that it should not have been so comfortable to cradle the fire prince in his arms. Aang should have found the very thought of Zuko shedding tears bizarre; he should not have been able to empathise with the other so easily. But the truth was that Aang accepted Zuko’s weakness without a moment’s hesitation and willingly gave the teen the comfort he needed even though the other must have been starting to feel uncomfortable with the position of pretty much laying on top of Aang because of the difference in height between them.

Suddenly Aang heard Zuko’s breath catch, a small quiet hiss that the boy would have missed if it had not been for their close proximity. But the change in the prince was only momentary and Zuko immediately forced his breathing to continue in a steady rhythm that Aang recognized to be faked for the sole reason that it was too slow. Aang had learned to be in tune with the way Zuko breathed, since breathing held such an important part in their exercises. And Zuko only breathed this slowly when he was concentrating on something.

“What is it, Zuko?” Aang questioned as he lifted a hand to bury it in the fire prince unruly locks. “Is something wrong?”

Instead of getting an immediate response from Zuko, Aang was knocked off balance by the slightest bit when the firebender’s body jerked violently in his grasp. Yelping in surprise Aang recovered just in time to realize that Zuko had been in such a hurry to extract himself from his embrace but for what reason, Aang did not know. The teen was even refusing to meet Aang’s eyes.

“Zuko –“ Aang started, about to press the older boy for answers, but was cut off when Zuko grumbled in an embarrassed tone: “Sorry about that.” The golden eyes flickered up momentarily before going back to the floor. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Zuko”, Aang spoke with a sad smile, not understanding why the teen had to be so closed off all the time. “There’s no need to apologise. There’s nothing wrong with needing to be comforted and I honestly didn’t mind.”

Slowly Zuko shook his head, clearly disagreeing with Aang’s words. The action brought a deep frown on the airbender’s face and Aang brought his hand to the side of Zuko’s face, his fingers brushing against the rough skin of the other’s scar, turning the teen’s face to him as he spoke seriously: “You needed to get all that off of your chest. It’s not good to bottle things up.”

The stern expression on Zuko’s face was like stone when the firebender replied: “I’m used to it.”

A short laugh escaped Aang’s mouth before the Avatar uttered with displeasure: “No wonder you’re so messed up.”

Only after the words had passed his lips did Aang realize that he had probably chosen the worst possible statement to utter. Actually, he was pretty sure that only Sokka would have said something so thoughtless and that thought had Aang gasping and reaching out to grasp Zuko’s arm before the firebender had made the first move to get up and storm off. And, judging from the thoroughly angered expression on the prince’s face, that was exactly what Zuko had been about to do.

"I'm sorry!" Aang exclaimed, desperate to fix the mistake he had made. "I didn't mean it, but you aren't making this easy for me at all."

“I hardly make things easy for people”, Zuko muttered with a tinge of regret in his voice. He placed a hand on top of the one Aang was holding onto him with and his golden eyes met Aang’s stormy grey ones. “I…thank you for your effort.”

“Ugh”, Aang uttered with no small amount of distaste at the way Zuko was talking. He stood up from the stone floor before starting to speak: “Zuko, don’t distance yourself from me. After the way we just connected, it would really hurt. You don’t want to hurt me, do you?” It was very close to being a low blow; Aang knew this. But he did not want Zuko to close himself off and he was only speaking the truth.

“Aang”, Zuko spoke, his tone of voice catching the airbender’s attention better than hearing his name. It was with that same tone that Aang did not recognize that Zuko continued: “Getting too close will probably hurt as well, and I don’t know which pain will be worse.”

“I know”, Aang spoke with conviction in his voice, even though there was no way he could be sure. He only knew what he wanted from the teen. “Building a wall between us will be the single most hurtful act you can commit.”

“Aang, I…” Zuko started, but trailed off immediately. The firebender’s eyes glanced around, as if the teen was looking for answers in the statues surrounding them. In the end the golden eyes fell on Aang’s own again. A sigh came from Zuko, followed by him speaking: “I understand.” The black-haired boy reached out with one hand and brought his arm around Aang’s shoulders, pulling the airbender into am awkward hug of sorts. Aang could not stop himself from grinning, especially so when Zuko muttered gently: “Thank you, for everything.”

“Don’t mention it, Zuko”, Aang replied sincerely. “That’s what friends are for.”

“R-right”, came from Zuko, followed by the prince quickly pulling back and coughing nervously into his hand. “I…I feel like resting for a while now.”

“Alright”, Aang answered. “I’ll go tell the others you’re okay.” With that Aang backed away from the other boy, thinking that Zuko would need some time to himself in order to regain his composure. He did not make it far until he heard Zuko utter a short sentence that caused his heart to ache: “Like any of them will care.”

When Aang found the rest of the group again, Katara was busy making lunch. She merely spared Aang a glance and a short greeting, not querying about Zuko’s condition in the slightest. Somehow, Aang felt personally injured about that, but the feeling disappeared when he needed to focus on Sokka and Toph, who immediately crowded him with questions about Zuko.

“He’s fine, guys”, Aang said, lifting his hands in a calming gesture. “He said he was tired so he’s probably in his room resting by now.”

Toph sighed in relief while Sokka nodded his head sternly before leaping towards Katara and grabbing one of the pieces of bread beside the girl, even as his sister voiced her complaints. Sokka ignored this, however, and brandished Aang with the piece of food as he said: “Here. I have some knowledge about having an upset stomach so I know that dry bread is the best option for nourishment.” The tan teen smiled in an embarrassed manner as Aang grabbed the bread. “Make sure Zuko eats it, alright?”

“Don’t worry, I will”, Aang promised before darting off with the bread, Katara’s scolding for Sokka fading out of his hearing range quickly. In no time the airbender made it to Zuko’s room and the boy glanced in to see that Zuko was already lying in his bed on his back. The golden eyes turned to Aang immediately upon the Avatar’s entrance, followed by the prince’s words of: “Was there still something, Aang?”

“Sokka sent you this”, Aang spoke as he handed the bread to the prince, who looked at it with a pair of raised eyebrows. When Zuko’s hand closed around the offering anyway Aang continued: “He says that you probably won’t be able to hold anything else down.”

“Ah”, Zuko uttered as a manner of giving recognition. “I suppose I should think of a way to show my gratitude.” The prince turned the bread around in his hand and Aang could not help but think of Zuko as a terribly isolated person. The way the firebender seemed to be almost amazed by small gestures of caring almost brought tears of compassion to Aang’s eyes but the boy contained himself, knowing full well that Zuko might not handle any more additional tears to this day well.

Sitting beside Zuko on the bed as the prince ate his bread in silence, Aang could not help but ask, just to be sure: “Are you really alright now?”

The hand holding the bread lowered and Zuko stared straight ahead in silence, unmoving. Just as Aang felt his heart begin to wrench at what he thought to be an ashamed refusal, Zuko spoke. The firebender’s voice sounded amazed as the teen said: “I think I am.”

Aang smiled and leaned his head against Zuko’s arm and shoulder lightly. The airbender closed his eyes slowly while breathing out gratefully: “I’m glad.”

To be continued...
Ending Notes: For some reason AFF cut off the last five or so paragraphs of the previous chapter. If it's not too much of a bother I wish you'd check the real ending of the chapter out now that I have fixed the problem.
- 15
- 16
- 17
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Memories from Western Airtemple