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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
- 39
- 40
- 41
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter 40
Second Step, Losing Balance

Soon after his talk with Jun, Aang wandered to the outskirts of the camp. Midday usually found Zuko in the middle of meditation and it seemed that the firebender was true to the habit as Aang found him sitting cross-legged on the best possible spot where he could enjoy the late summer sun.
“Zuko?” Aang queried softly when he reached the prince, his tone hesitant since he did not know how Zuko would react to him interrupting his meditation. “Can I ask you something?” He sat down to wait for the reply.
A hum came from Zuko, followed by the teen uttering: “Go right ahead.”
Aang waited a while longer, until the golden eyes slid open, before he spoke: “I was wondering if you knew what it means for someone to be considered a man.”
Head tilting to the side, Zuko frowned in a displeased manner before questioning: “Did someone make a comment to you or something?”
“Nothing like that”, Aang hurried to calm the firebender, not very keen on the thought of Zuko rushing off to defend him against an imaginary insult. “It came up in a conversation.”
“Well, in that case…” Zuko muttered and ran a hand through his hair. “When people say that someone’s a man, they mean that he’s someone dependable and strong, someone mature.”
“Okay…” Aang trailed off as he wondered if there was a chance of Jun having meant something else with ‘man’, since the amused tone did not go together with what Zuko had just said. He scratched at his chin nervously. “But, um, is it possible for girls to mean something different?”
“Oh, girls”, Zuko growled out in a displeased manner. “You want to know what girls mean.” The tone Zuko spoke with was enough to tell Aang that some unpleasant memory was attached there. “To girls the concept of being a man is different. Girls think that a manly person is handsome and physically powerful, someone who can make them feel safe.”
“Ah, I see”, Aang replied and wondered why Zuko seemed so upset about something that did not sound all that bad. He watched Zuko in thought and thought about how Jun had claimed that the prince was not manly. The firebender had grown considerably stronger lately, both physically and mentally, and he was reliable and had an aura of safety around him. And as for his looks…
Aang felt his cheeks begin to burn and he instantly lowered his gaze from Zuko’s face. Why was he thinking about Zuko in such a way? There was no way the firebender would appreciate it.
“Now how about you tell me who you’ve been talking to?” Zuko suggested then and Aang’s cheeks flushed anew from embarrassment.
“No one important!” the boy hurried to answer. “Just forget about it.”
“I don’t think so”, Zuko murmured and leaned in to be face to face with Aang. “Tell me who it was.”
Zuko was so close Aang could smell the scent of burned wood that always clung to the firebender’s clothes. In addition to that Aang could see the other’s eyes so clearly that he could make out the spots colored pure sunlight among the dark gold and, by the spirits, Aang could feel the teen’s hot breath on his face.
“Tell me”, Zuko pressed insistently and every syllable blew a new puff of hot, hot, hot air over Aang’s cheeks.
“It was Jun!” Aang shouted out, sure that at least half of the camp could hear the outburst. “It was Jun, so just get out of my face please!” ‘Back off, before I kiss you!’
Truth be told, Aang really did not need to tell Zuko to move away, because the firebender had done exactly that as soon as the Avatar had first snapped. Now the prince was watching Aang with a mixture of surprise and thoughtful curiosity, apparently trying to figure out the reason for Aang being so jumpy.
“I make you nervous”, Zuko commented. The words were not a question, but an observation, and Aang stayed silent to allow the firebender to try and figure the situation out himself. “I take it this topic of manhood involved talking about me as well?”
“Yeah”, Aang replied awkwardly while rubbing the back of his neck. That was how it went and there was no need for Zuko to find out just how the topic had come up. It had been nothing more than a misunderstanding, a very stupid misunderstanding.
“Maybe I should have a talk with Jun”, Zuko commented and made to stand up, but Aang leaped up to stop him. The airbender managed to grasp a hold of the taller teen’s arm before he lost his balance and fell sideways. His grip on Zuko’s arm remained, however, and the firebender ended up tumbling to the ground along with him.
The scent of burned wood mixed with that of lilies, the faint trace of flowery fragrance only distinguishable now that Aang’s face was buried in the front of Zuko’s shirt. The airbender lay on top of the other male and felt the other’s heartbeat speed up from adrenaline until it matched his own.
“A-Aang”, Zuko uttered in a startled manner and Aang fumbled as he tried to get off of the older boy.
“I’m sorry”, Aang said hurriedly and managed to finally look Zuko in the eye. “Can’t you just forget about the whole thing? I’m sure Jun meant no harm to anyone.”
“Are you kidding?” Zuko queried incredulously. “This is Jun we’re talking about. She’s made for trouble.” The firebender looked at Aang’s pleading expression and released a resigned sigh. “Fine. I’ll let it slide, this once.”
“Thanks, Zuko”, Aang said with a wide grin and managed to finally stand up. “I appreciate it.”
“Right, right. Forgive and forget and so on”, Zuko murmured and stood up as well, able to do so with ease when Aang’s weight was off of him. “As you wish.”
“Great”, Aang cheered, the happiness covering up any relief he might have been feeling. He really did not want Jun to recount their conversation to Zuko; that would result in trouble that could not be solved with a pair of wide eyes.
To be continued...
- 39
- 40
- 41
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Memories from Western Airtemple