AtLA Rewritten: Edition 1

Chapter 13

Athlea's cheeks went red and her eyes moved to the Prince. She raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you were so hesitant to spend time with me," she teased with a playful smile.

Zuko shrugged a shoulder, looking down at her as she turned away. "You're okay, I guess," he teased some more.

"We can either go and get some drinks or... we can get away, and I can take you somewhere better. I'm not very fond of noise," she admitted as she looked at him. "You choose," she finally said.

He raised an eyebrow. "How about we get some drinks and then go to your secret, only mildly suspicious location?"

Athlea looked at him as they held hands and he led her to a shake stand. She giggled, a smile adorning her lips as she looked forward. "Only a mildly suspicious location, huh? Maybe you'll like it. It's quiet... and peaceful... and nice," she said.

He led her to a shake stand and ordered two milkshakes. "You better not complain about this flavor," he informed her. "Strawberry is elite. Now where is your quiet space that will not potentially put me in any danger?"

Athlea held onto the shake and sipped from the straw, her blue eyes on him. She raised an eyebrow. "I like strawberry." she said with a nod.

He nodded. "Good, because I'm not interested in the energy of people who don't like strawberry milkshakes."

"I am not going to murder you, silly." She rolled her eyes. She looked around and then back at him. "Well then... follow me." Zuko smirked before following her. She started walking while holding onto his hand, leaving the festival and leading him through some small alleyways. They reached a shabby, seemingly abandoned building that towered over the warehouses closest to the water. She took her first step up onto the stairs that wrapped around the building, testing them to make sure they were still sturdy. Her eyes moved back to Zuko. "I would always come here to escape reality when I was younger," she said calmly. "You'll like it upstairs, trust me." She nodded.

Zuko made a face. "Hm, or you could viciously attack me with lightning and prove that I really do suck at bending now," he offered as a counter-argument. He smirked before following her. She was a stride ahead, their fingers still linked. The alleyways were indeed very suspicious, but he decided it was alright to trust her. He still remained on edge, as usual. He looked up at the building, blinking. "I can already imagine my murder," he muttered. As they walked up the steps he continued. "First you seduce me with your ankles, then suddenly I'm struggling to remember how to redirect lightning."

Athlea led him up the flights of stairs around the building to the top. The sun was just starting to set on the horizon, turning the sky and water a flaming red. and then blinked. "No, lightning is dangerous. Deadly. Wait--what's with my ankles?" she eventually asked, confused. She shook her head.

Once up, Athlea moved to railing and leaned against it, overlooking the water, the wind blowing through her black hair. A pleased, satisfied look crossed her face. The music could still be heard but not as loudly; the waves could be heard crashing against the building, and it was pleasant. Her eyes closed, and she smiled.

Zuko let go of her hand and leaned against the edge of the building, a waist-high railing, looking out at the sunset, his arms crossed against the metal. He shook his head. He looked over his shoulder at her, grinning. "Nothing," he responded. He stared out at the waves, sighing. After a moment he responded to her lightning comment. "It shows how power-hungry people are. The more they use it, the less human they are," he muttered.

There was a moment of silence, and the waves filled it. "It's relaxing," Athlea sighed.

"Yes, it is." After a moment, he said, "Did you know that Toph can metal bend? She's the only earth bender that I have ever met to do it." The thought of lightning brought it to his mind.

Athlea opened her eyes as she heard him speak, looking at the sky and watching its beautiful colours, orange and pink against baby blue. The colours reflecting on the water made it even better. She blinked a few times. "Wait... That's actually amazing." She looked forward and moved closer to him, her eyes still gazing forward. "Seems that our team is diverse." She slowly turned her head to look at him, a smile adorning her face. After a moment she turned around, leaning against the railing with her back, elbows resting on it, her head slightly tilted back. She closed her eyes again.

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. "She's really skilled. And Katara is a healer. My sister killed Aang once," he continued casually, "and Katara brought him back to life. And Sokka once organized an entire army in an attack." He slid closer to her and turned as well, his arm against hers. Her eyes opened.

Athlea looked at him with a smile. "The team is great. You did some shit, but I think they care for you, considering they listened to you when you wanted to come find me. They want to help you and Aang both."

Zuko shrugged a shoulder. "Aang, Sokka, and Toph were all willing to accept me. Katara took a lot of convincing." He looked down. "I sort of, uh, got imprisoned with her, and we bonded over fire nation taking our mothers. And then I turned on her again."

She paused. "You know... it was very cute of you to do what you did." She looked forward, smiling. "Coming up behind me in the kitchen before we got interrupted. And then the kiss on the cheek," she said softly.

He raised an eyebrow, looking down at her. "I just tazed you while you were doing dishes," he pointed out. "And I don't remember that in the garden." He frowned, tilting his head on one side. "That could have been anyone. We all had blindfolds."

Athlea looked at him with a smile. "Mhm... sure, anyone. Toph was with Aang and Katara. Sokka was asleep. Therefore, it was you." She pointed her index finger at his chest and touched it, then poked him three times.

Zuko shrugged. "You don't have proof," he insisted. He looked down at her finger, smirking and looking back up at her.

She turned to face him and moved closer, a playful smile across her face. "Do you like me, Zuko?" She leaned in, her face inches from his, and looked into his eyes.

He smirked, but it slowly faded as she moved closer and spoke. He pressed a finger against her chin, lifting it toward him a bit. "Maybe a little," he admitted teasingly, his eyes flitting between her eyes. She blinked.

She smiled. "Is that so?" She moved in front of him, placing her hands on the railings on either side of him, trapping him and looking up at him with a playful smirk. "What are you going to do now, Prince Zuko?" she asked, biting her lower lip.

His smile didn't leave his face as she cornered him. "I have some ideas, Master Athlea," he murmured.

Athlea looked at him, and she raised an eyebrow. "You really won't quit calling me Master, huh?" she asked with a smile.

"Nope," he responded quietly, grinning. He waited just a moment before he brushed his finger across her lower lip, making her blush, and then he leaned down to kiss her.

***

A/N ABOUT FECKING TIME