Chapter Text
Aang opened his eyes, the connection between Zuko and he was still wide open. Would he always be able to feel him there? It was a strange feeling, like he was constantly with him.
He'd have to get used to this. Having someone so close.
The rest of the gang was staring at him expectantly when he opened his eyes, and Aang returned the stare with a weird look. "Do you always stare at me like that when I meditate?" He asked curiously, slightly annoyed.
"Did you find Zuko?" Sakka dodged his question.
Aang rolled his eyes and got up, "yeah yeah," a little more annoyed, "I found Zuko, he's on his way back." He grabbed a water bottle, feeling dehydrated he uncapped the lid and took a long swig.
"How do you know?" Suki asked, her big eyes staring at him.
Aang recapped the lid and put the bottle next to him. It was probably not the best idea to be telling the group about this mated connection that Zuko and he had.
Not the right time to tell them.
"I just know guy's." Is all he said, hoping they would leave it at that, he usually didnt have to explain how he knew things sinse they understood he had a spiritual connection with the universe.
They let it go, shrugging it off and going over to the snacks that they had stashed.
Aang sighed in relief, fallowing them, he was famished.
None of them noticed the owl perched on a tree just outside the cave. Watching them. It hooted before flying away. Stretching its wings out for the first time sinse landing there 2 hours ago.
Aang had already eaten around 10 wall nuts and a bunch if dry seeds before Zuko stepped into the cave.
Toph smiled, seeing him before anyone else did, "Hi, Zuko." She turned her head and said to him flatly, "your in a world of trouble." She cracked a few nuts under a rock, the sound of the shells busting under the weight of it made Zuko wince. Toph lifted the rock, allowing Momo to eat the nuts that were now free and sitting on the ground waiting for the lemor.
"Um." He felt like it was a month ago, when he was first trying to earn the trust of the Avatar and his friends. He felt out of place, like he didn't belong. His legs felt wobbly with how nervous he was as anxiety crawled its way up his throat, choking him. "Yeah, I guess I am." He scratched the back of his head, not bothering to avoid the angry looks he was getting. He diserved it.
Suki said nothing as Sakka got up, the anger never leaving his face. "What the BEEP Zuko?"-
-"Sakka! For crying out loud, there is a monk in the room." Toph said angrily.
Sakka ignored the earthbender, chosing instead to poke his favorite firebender in the chest harshly, "Who tries to eat the Avatar and then just runs away? Where the Fu-"
"MONK!"
He sucked in a noisy breath in irritation, his eye brows folding as he mustered up the effort to control his language, "-For the love of Meat and all things fattening, Zuko. Where did you go?"
At any other time, Zuko would have been laughing on the inside at Sakka's reaction to his anger. But he didn't feel like laughing.
Nobody but him and Aang knew what really happened, and he'd like to keep it that way. "I just needed to get away for a bit. I felt so terrible."
Sakka was going to say something else but Toph beat him to it, "yeah well you should feel terrible. Lucky for all of us, you didn't kill him, and we'll get to that later." She took a swig of her own water, before continueing, "what I want to know, is how his wounds spontaneously healed while you were gone." She threw her hands up, looking like she was going to have a break down. "Does anyone else think thats weird by the way? How bout we focus on what is going on with Aang's body for a second."
"Yes." Sakka agreed. "What did you do to Aang? Is he like you now?"
"Um guys, I'm over here." Aang waved his very uninjured arms around, voice sounding much less tired and raspy.
That was the first time Zuko had seen Aang sinse he left the cave. And as the boy stood up and walked over, it was like seeing him for the first time ever.
After everything that happened. The fear of watching him get shot, worrying about his bloodloss, and then attacking him and almost killing him. Trying to kill himself after. Betraying his friends only for Aang to forgive him as if it was nothing.
He inspected the boys healed woumds, nodding in aproval that his skin was once again white and unblemished.
Aang smiled at him.
Relax, Zuko. Nobody here is going to stay mad.
Zuko blinked.
"Zuko didn't kill me, which means I'm not like him. Though I did read that the saliva of a vampire heals." Aang explained.
"So your still you?" Sakka clarified. Sighing in relief at Aang's nod. Sakka looked between Aang and Zuko. Muttering under his breath that they should just put a leash on the fire bender. As if Zuko couldnt hear him. Thought it didnt matter, Zuko knew Sakka well enough to know he didn't mean it.
When Sakka and Suki turned away and a confused Toph stayed, Aang remembered she was a lie detecter.
He quickly held up a finger to his lips and told her to "shhh"
She wouldn't dream of saying anything though, Aang almost never lied, and when he did it was for a good reason.
She kept her mouth shut, but she was going to get the truth out of him later, she promised herself.
Aang nodded as if understanding by her silence.
"Okay then." Sakka said as he went back over to his nuts. "Now that I know Aang is completely fine- because I know Aang wouldnt lie to me- I can get over what happened." He looked up at Zuko. "He didn't mean it."
Zuko smiled, "Thank you Sakka." He had been scared his watertribe friend wouldn't forgive him that easily, he had already been skeptical about him the whole time.
Toph humphed, "I can get over it too. I was just mad cause you gave us all a good scare." She punched him the shoulder, "don't you attack Aang of all people ever again."
He rubbed his shoulder feigning hurt and smiled at her too, "I wont, I promise."
Zuko glanced at Suki, and they made eye contact. But she didn't say anything, though she looked like she wanted to, but she looked down and ignored him instead.
Zuko pouted, but accepted it. Suki didnt know him that well. The only experiance she had with him was when he burnt down her villaige and then all the rumors and stories she must have heard about him, and then she hasnt spent a lot of time with him as he only resqued her with Sakka a couple weeks ago. She wouldn't be so easy to persuade. She probably hated him right now, or was at least afraid he would turn on them.
He'd have to work for her trust.
That was okay, after everything he did to her and Aangs group, especially after what happened tonight, he could accept this.
"We should all get some sleep." Aang said. He wasn't tired, but he was sure everyone else was.
Sakka smiled, "that sounds like a great idea." He put a nut in his mouth
Toph got up to fallow but stopped, "Zuko, are you hungry?" She asked lowly, trying not to let the non benders hear, she wasnt an idiot she knew the the nonbenders couldnt get past them feeding Zuko just yet. They always made Zuko upset, unable to control their emotions which he could always smell so clearly.
Zuko was about to nod out of habit, but he didn't feel hungry at all. And for the first time he was able to actually enjoy being full. Amd satisfied.
Geez it was a great feeling.
Even when he was human he hardly ever felt like this. He felt strong, rested. Aangs blood made him feel powerful.
"Im fine." He said.
She gave him a funny look, she wasnt used to not feeling his heart beat, and definatly not used to being unable to tell if someone was lying.
She shrugged though, he would tell her if he was hungry.
"Aang you should rest. I'll stay up with Zuko." The earthbender said.
He probably should, the airbender thought. He just didnt feel tired. "Are you sure? Im not tired."
"Shut up twinkle toes, you've had a longer day then any of us. Just try." She lightly pushed him towards Appa before sitting herself closer to the fire.
Zuko sat on the wall of the cave, Toph must have cleared out most of the rubble he caused at some point. He felt bad, making her have to clean up his mess.
Stop.
Zuko looked over to where Aang rested on Appa, he was on his side, resting his head on his hands. He had his eyes open, hooded and staring right at him.
Quit blaming yourself.
The light from the fire lit up Aangs skin beautifully, he noticed, momentarily distracted.
The monk smirked and rolled his eyes.
Aww thats nice.
Zuko rolled his eyes, he was really gonna have to control his thoughts now. He cant be thinking about things like that anymore now that Aang could hear every thought.
Every thought.
Zuko breathed in and out.
Dont worry, you can hear all of mine too. You just have to be patient enough to listen. It doesn't require much focus.
What are we gonna do now? My summer home is no longer safe.
We can go to the Southern Air temple. Its abandoned. Safe.
Isn't that your home? Are you sure you wanna do that?
Zuko didnt like the sad hooded look the Avatar had. Or the feeling of powerful longing that corrupted his heart.
I'm sure, we'll be safe there for a while.
Zuko sighed, if thats what the Avatar thought they should do then he would fallow him. He just hoped that being in the ruins of his home wouldn't change anything about the boy.
-gonna be so hard, seeing that place again, I miss Gyotso.
Zuko started. Strange, so far he wasn't only able to hear Aangs thoughts if they were directed at him. Did that change just by watching the boy?
Aang looked over at him again.
You heard that, huh? Good job.
Zuko blinked, so now he could hear all of Aang's thoughts if he wanted to? He was curious what the Avatar thought on the inside while he interacted with the people around him.
He smirked. This should be fun.
Aang rolled his eyes at him again, the grey looking dark against the darkness of the cave. Light from the fire making them sparkle brightly.
Bright eyes.
I don't care, I'm an open book. You on the other hand have very interesting thoughts, have you always looked at me like that?
He didn't feel uncomfortable, and Zuko knew this from the connection they had that Aang actually enjoyed it a bit.
Oh really. Zuko thought, smirking evily and dodging the boys question.
So Aang liked it, huh?
Dont make me blush.
Well it wasn't Zuko's fault his eyes were so damn big and pretty. Anyone, gay or not, would think so.
Shut up.
Aang turned around and closed his eyes, but Zuko knew just by smelling him, and hearing the rise in his pulse that he was blushing. The jump in his heart beat was loud enough for Zuko to know exactly what was happening. And it didn't help Aang's case when Zuko could feel what Aang was feeling. He knew Aang was getting that warm fuzzy feeling that people only ever get when they have a crush.
Aang was embarrassed, but flattered. And blushing like a dork, but trying to hide it even though he knew it was a worthless effort.
Tough, Aang. You can't hide from me no more. Zuko smiled, starting to really like this bond that they shared. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, being connected to his best friend this way.
Not if it brought him this much amusment and joy.
The comfort it brought was nice. And if this soulmate thing was true, what's the harm? He could accept being tied to someone so good, so charishable. He didn't feel very far above just a small crush for the Avatar at the moment, letting him know it wasn't to happen immediately but over time. But if this was an unbreakable bond, supposed to bring great love and happiness, then bring it on.
It wouldn't be so bad, growing to love him like that.
Your not so bad yourself, Zuko.
The firebender smiled. A true, honestly happy smile.
This is fine.
He could live like this.
-.-.-.-
Far off in the distance, away from where the group of protagonists resided in a cave. An owl hooted and morfed into a tall dark, cloaked figure.
The figure hissed.
"So he can fight my control so easily huh. Damn. He almost killed him too. If he had just listened to me a minute longer my problems would be over." He punched a tree angryly. The sound of the trunk breaking was loud, but not loud enough to alarm any of the villiages on the island. He was much too far away.
"So he's thats atrong after a few short days. This is bad."
But then the figure got an idea. And his face changed from anger to relaxed aloofness. "No matter. If the boy wont kill him, then I'll just have to take matters into my own two bloody hands."
He smirked evily, plotting something terrible before clapping his hands and disapearing to his own home. Leaving the woods dark.
Empty.
Innocent.
As of they weren't just in the presents of the darkest sprite in existance.