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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
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Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter 37
Moonlight's Embrace

The camp was silent, so silent that it seemed unnatural to Aang, who had grown accustomed to hearing the sounds of animals even during the darkest hours of the night. But the camp was so large that there were no animals near enough to the tent Aang shared with Sokka for the Avatar to hear the comfort of those sounds of constant life. The only sound of life Aang could hear was Sokka’s snoring, and that was not very comforting. The situation was not new to Aang, but it was more bothersome than what was usual, because the boy was also worried about Zuko’s continued absence. Aang wondered if the prince was going to be accompanying them that night at all.
Just as Aang thought about that, the boy heard sounds of movement at the entrance of the tent as the flap was moved aside. A familiar voice thanked someone before more shuffling followed and Aang could now feel another’s presence nearby. Then the same voice from before queried: “Aang? What are you doing still awake?”
How had the other known, Aang wondered as he turned around to peer up at Zuko’s curious face. The prince gave a slight smile before he spoke in an amused tone: “You were holding your breath. Were you waiting for me?”
Aang had not even realized that he had stilled his breath as he focused on listening to Zuko. Now his breathing started off as normal and he felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
“You vanished without saying a word”, Aang explained. “Of course I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, Aang”, Zuko offered gently and Aang looked over to see the other giving him an apologetic smile. “I won’t do that to you again.” The prince sat down on the ground. “I spoke with my uncle.”
There was a lightness in Zuko’s voice, one Aang could not remember ever hearing from the other before. That more than anything told Aang that the prince had managed to set things right between him and his uncle.
“I’m happy for you, Zuko”, Aang said and wondered if it would be fine to touch the other to show his sincerity. Zuko made the decision for him, Aang found out, when the other’s arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace and the boy found himself pulled against the prince’s warm frame.
Even though it was not the first time Aang had been held by Zuko, Aang noticed a clear difference between this time and the previous ones. Usually Zuko’s hold was loose, even at its securest, a clear sign of the other’s discomfort at open displays of affection. But this time Zuko was truly holding Aang tightly, almost desperately. And the usual scent of ashes that clung to Zuko’s clothes after firebending practise was dulled now, and there was a slight hint of a herbal aroma, one that must have come from his visit to his uncle. But even with that last anomaly, this was still purely Zuko Aang had wrapped around him in such a manner and Aang clung to the fabric of the other’s shirt.
“Thank you Aang, for being there for me and for believing in me all this way”, Zuko spoke softly, the close proximity allowing Aang to feel each word breathed against his temple and ear. “There’s no way I could have gotten this far without you.”
“There’s no need to thank me Zuko”, Aang assured the prince gently. “You yourself made the right choice, and that’s what everything comes down to. No one can make your choices for you.”
A chuckle came from Zuko, Aang feeling the action from the body against his more than hearing it with his ears. The prince pulled back and Aang was suddenly much more aware of the coolness of the night air than he had been when he’d been lying down waiting for word of Zuko. The Avatar looked at his companion, the other’s expression one of amusement, mixed with an embarrassed reddening on his cheeks, and Zuko let out another short chuckle before uttering: “You think way too highly of me, Aang.”
The words were humble, but Zuko’s tone was more amused than self-reprimanding. And from that Aang could notice the difference between the Zuko who had first joined them, completely lacking any confidence, and the Zuko of now. It was a nice realization, and as Aang made the comparison he truly saw how much Zuko had changed during the short amount of time. They had started off as not even friends and now they were…
That was where Aang’s thoughts trailed off. His first thought would have been to call Zuko a friend but now Aang felt that Zuko had somehow surpassed that title. But what was there to call him, other than a friend? A companion?
“I think it would be best if I let you sleep now”, Zuko offered with a grin. “Do you want me to stay here beside you? Just to make sure I won’t vanish?” There was humour in the prince’s tone, but somehow Aang could not find it in himself to be amused. He really would not have minded Zuko’s comforting presence, even though his previous conversation with Katara had reassured him of their mission’s success.
“Aang?” Zuko’s voice questioned, the tone suddenly worried. The prince had apparently caught on to the shift in the boy’s mood. “Is there something wrong?” The other frowned. “Were you really that worried?”
Yes. Aang really had been worried, about a number of things. But Zuko was here now, and all Aang could remember was that need to see and hear the other before. The boy gave the firebender a reassuring smile, used to conjuring one up in moments.
“It’s really nothing”, Aang assured the other. “But, I think I would like to have you close tonight.”
Aang was not sure if Zuko would agree, when Aang offered no explanation to his request, but he did hope for it. The two of them connected in a manner that was different from any other. And it seemed that their connection was working its magic at that time as well, when Zuko gave a reassuring smile and spoke his consent.
When Aang lied on his bedding with Zuko’s arm heavy on top of him, the boy found it much easier to allow the silence to slip away from his focus. The steady, deep breaths from the body next to his were like a calming lullaby and Aang wondered when it was that he had grown so dependant on having Zuko by his side.
Chancing a glance at his companion’s sleeping face, Aang allowed himself the luxury of observing Zuko’s face at its naked, expressionless state. Even as Aang drew comfort from the other simply being there, the boy was aware of the protectiveness that was stirring in his chest. It was true that Zuko calmed him and made him feel stronger, but it was also because of those emotions that Aang felt the need to guard the other from anything that might harm him.
A sigh came from Aang then, its tone betraying a slight hint of the resignation the boy felt. It was the duty of the Avatar to protect the whole world, and yet Aang singled Zuko out from the surrounding world. It made the burden easier to bear, to think he was doing this all for one person. And Zuko was his one person.
To be continued...
- 36
- 37
- 38
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Memories from Western Airtemple