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Rebuilding	By : voyager Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Slash - Male/Male > Aang/Zuko Views: 2674 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Avatar The Last Airbender is the property of Nickelodeon. I don't own or profit from the characters or settings of this story. Warning: Deals with adult situations, and characters dying

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5

Harmony and

Resolve

The next day Zuko knelt before the fire sages and they placed the Fire-lord's flame-shaped diadem in his hair, saying "All hail Firelord Zuko!" The new Firelord then stood before the huge crowd, made up of representatives of all the nations, Fire, Earth, Water, and the Air Nomads his uncle had rescued. Aang was there beside him, and after Zuko made a short speech he held up a hand to silence the cheers of the crowd and said "My friends, the real hero is the Avatar," Zuko gestured for the boy, correction, young man, to come forward, he hugged him and gestured out at the crowd.

Enormous cheers and applause erupted from the crowd in the Fire-nation's capital for the Avatar and the new Firelord; and the loudest of all the cheers came from their family, on the dais behind them; Katara and Sokka, and their father, Hakoda were there; as was Toph. Zuko's uncle and his mother were there, too. After the celebration in the Plaza, Aang and Zuko gathered inside along with the rest of the family for the formal betrothal ceremony. There would be a public celebration, for the people, later. This service was just for family, however

A fire sage asked Aang if he would commit himself fully, body and soul, to Zuko. Aang said that yes, he would, he was then handed a necklace made up of jade beads attached to an ivory disc into which was carved the Fire-nation flame emblem against the triple swirls that symbolized the Air Nomads. Aang placed the necklace around Zuko's neck; this declared that Zuko was an honorary Air Nomad, and part of Aang's family, and clan.

Then, one of the Air Nomad monks asked Zuko the same question, to which he replied that yes, he would. He was then handed a golden pendant with a ruby and a garnet carved in the shape of a fire-lilies, the symbol of passion in the Fire-nation. Zuko pinned the broach to Aang's collar, to symbolize that just as two fires can merge to become brighter, Aang and Zuko were also to become one. Aang and Zuko wrapped their arms around each other, and with their families as witnesses, sealed their covenant with a kiss.

They were engaged, Katara couldn't believe, that the silly little kid she had rescued from the ice a year ago, and the sullen prince who was angry at the world, were now a couple. She loved them both, and was glad that could find happiness with each other. 'The two of them coming together like this might be the best thing they could do to help the healing process in the world,' Katara thought. She and Sokka and Hakoda walked over to the happy couple and offered their congratulations.

Toph and Teo came up next; the two of them seemed to have hit it off, Katara thought. It was a good match; the young lady who couldn't see, but who was loyal and tough as nails, and the young man who couldn't walk, but who was also very loyal and certifiably brilliant.

Mai and Ty-lee were here, as well, and they each gave a gift to the couple; Ty-lee hugged both of them and Mai, who was far less demonstrative, gave them each a light kiss on the cheek. Zuko had to admit he was very glad to see them here. He'd heard that Azula had had them arrested for some bogus reason or another. Being the new Fire-lord (to-be, at the time), Zuko pulled some strings to have them released.

Zuko was also concerned that Mai might be jealous; the last serious relationship Zuko had been in prior to Aang was with her. He was uncertain how she'd react. Zuko thanked each of them and glanced at Aang who was looking a little overwhelmed by it all, Zuko caught his eye and gave him a soft smile. Aang smiled back. 'If someone had told me, a year ago,' Aang thought, 'that Zuko would be the Fire-lord, and I'd be his consort, I would have said they were crazy!'

Zuko and Aang walked around the room and talked to everyone, Haru was standing next to Katara with an arm around her waist, Aang whispered to Zuko "They make a cute couple, don't you think; she's liked him since the day they met." As if she heard him, Katara looked up and blushed, slightly. It had taken Aang and Katara some time to sort out the nature of their feelings for each other, just like it had for Zuko and Mai. Now they had a comfortable understanding, and she considered him as much a brother as Sokka. He hoped she was able to find as much happiness and contentment with Haru as he found with Zuko.

The next day preparations began for the public ceremony to celebrate the nuptials between the Avatar and the Fire-lord. Zuko had to admit feeling a little ambivalent about this. Taking vows with another man in front of their immediate families, people who'd love and accept them regardless was one thing. But repeating those same vows, in public; before the people he was expected to rule, was another matter entirely. Zuko had talked to Aang about it that evening, after their private ceremony. Aang was optimistic, as always; and he encouraged Zuko to try and think positively.

While the preparations were being made, the Avatar and the Firelord had little to do, beyond showing up for the fitting of their formal attire. Aang hated the outfit. It was a suit, in Fire-nation style, but in Air-nomad colors. It looked hideous. Zuko also was not thrilled about the outfits. He was going to have to wear the formal ceremonial robes of a Fire-lord; which were even heavier and more uncomfortable than the normal robes his royal advisors insisted he had to wear as a symbol of his new office.

Zuko much preferred the lightweight tunic with trousers and boots that he had often worn while he was in exile. Zuko wore those garments now, as he slipped out of the palace, in his robes of office he'd be recognized immediately; and his scar might still give him away, but he still had a better chance of blending in with the bustling crowds of the city without his royal accoutrements. His royal counselors, not to mention the head of palace security would be having palpitations if they knew the Firelord was outside the palace, unescorted. Zuko smiled, 'Let them sweat for a while,' he thought to himself. Zuko was far more capable than most of taking care of himself; besides, a large wing shaped shadow that occasionally came into view let him know that he didn't leave the palace completely alone, after all. Zuko smiled again, he felt warmth in the core of his being, which had nothing to do with walking in the tropical sun, or being a fire-bender.

Overhead, Aang saw Zuko pause, briefly and then continue walking. The Avatar smiled, Zuko knew he was here; what's more, Zuko knew than Aang knew he knew. It made Aang happy to realize just how well he and Zuko were able to read each other. Even back when they were still adversaries, there had always been a strange spiritual connection between them. Aang wondered if it had something to do with his past life being Zuko's ancestor. He resolved to ask Roku about it the next time they saw him.

Aang's smile faded when he realized where Zuko was headed, a hilltop fortress, originally built to guard the entrance to the harbor, which had been converted into a prison facility. It housed those members of the Fire-nation government and the upper echelons of the military, who refused to acknowledge the end of the war, or Zuko as the new head-of-state. There was also one very special prisoner incarcerated here, and he was the only reason Aang could think of for his consort to be visiting this place. Aang alighted on the path in front of Zuko, with a half stubborn, half hurt look on his face. "Were you just going to go and see Ozai, and not say anything to me, or your mother?" "I'm tired of fighting Aang, and I'm tired of running," was Zuko's reply. "If you and I are going to heal the world; I have to start by trying to heal the wounds between the members of my family." "I suppose that makes sense," Aang agreed, "But why not say anything?" "Because, I was afraid you'd try to talk me out of this, and that I'd be all too willing to let you."

Aang decided that Zuko's points were all valid ones, but he was still a little nervous about letting him go in to see his father alone. Aang knew what a master of manipulation Ozai was, hell, he'd been inside the man's mind. The Avatar understood all too well what the ex-Firelord was capable of. "Do you want me to go in with you," he asked Zuko.

"I'd appreciate that, Aang, are you sure you want to do this?" "As sure as you are," Aang answered. The guards at the gate snapped to attention and ordered the two of them to stop. When they recognized their new Firelord, and that he was accompanied by the Avatar, they stood even more rigidly at attention. The higher ranking one of them said, with a stammer, "Our-our apologies; Avatar, Your Majesty. Zuko sighed; he was going to have to get his people out of the mindset that the Firelord was this omnipotent god-king that they had to be afraid of. "It's alright sergeant, you were just doing your job." "We're here to see Ozai, show us to his cell, please." The guards opened the gates and ushered them inside. They both were thinking, 'I hope we know what we're doing.'
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Rebuilding