Recovery: Modern Azulaang AU

I Like Him, Don't I?

Azula

As anticipated, I woke up with an excruciating headache. I get up from my spot on the floor in Aang's living room, where we all decided to sleep, and head to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I notice it's only about 8am and head to sit on the alcove. The sky is grey with storm clouds right now since it's been raining all night. Most places had their neon signs on, even though it was early morning, since the fog had also started to roll in. It's kinda of a pretty view. I sit there for a few minutes before Aang starts to wake up as well, groaning in the process,

"Morning," I say quietly as to not wake up the others,

"Mornin'"

"You're up early," I comment,

He walks to the kitchen and starts heating water,

"Coffee or tea?" he asks,

"Tea, please,"

He makes two cups of tea and hands me one, taking a seat beside me,

"And yeah, I always wake up early when I drink somehow. Why are you up?" he asks, sipping his tea.

I sip my own tea,

"I always wake up early in general," I say, making him chuckle,

"Did you have fun last night? You looked kinda uncomfortable at first,"

"I was," I say nonchalantly, "but I ended up having a lot of fun. I've never just hung out with people like that,"

"Well now you can," he says, smiling,

"Thanks," I smile back,

"Really though. You can hang with any of us anytime. We like you,"

I feel a blush creep onto my face as I give him a curt smile,

"I like you guys too. I'm really sorry about-"

He cuts me off,

"No need. It's in the past. What matters now is that you're trying to be a better person. And you already are," he says, smiling at me again.

His words basically made it impossible not to tear up as I try to wipe them away before he can see, but it's too late,

"Hey, are you okay? Did I say something wrong?" he asks, his face contorting in concern,

"No, no. I just... needed to hear that I guess..."

Without hesitation, Aang wraps me in a hug and I hug him back, full on crying now. He rubs my back with his hand as I quietly cry in his arms, him whispering comforting words,

"It's okay to cry. I'm here. We're all here."

I pull away and wipe the tears from my face, noticing that I had stained his shirt with my tears,

"Oops, sorry," I giggle,

"It's fine. It's just tears." he smiles.

Aang and I spend a few hours just talking, and the next ones to wake up is a cuddling Zuko and Katara. They sit and talk with us for a bit, Katara not being quite as friendly as last night but friendly nonetheless. Soon, Sokka and Suki wake up as well and we learn that him and Katara have to leave to spend Christmas day with their family. Zuko and Suki tagging along for obvious reasons. Zuko had been reluctant at first, not wanting me to be on my own, but I had insisted that he should go. Telling him it's important to spend time with his girlfirend's family.

Toph wakes up not long after the four leave, clearly wanting more sleep,

"Morning, Toph! Want breakfast?" Aang asks, clearly too cheerfully for Toph as she winces at his words,

"Mm... as much as I don't want to, I've got to go home. I promised my mom," she says in a tired voice.

Once she leaves, it's just me and Aang again,

"Want me to take you home?"

"I guess..." I reply hesitantly,

I don't really feel like being alone...

"Actually," I say, Aang looking back at me curiously, "I don't really feel like being alone," I say shyly.

I look up at Aang to see that he's also smiling,

"Good. Neither do I,"

Aang lets me shower, and afterwards, he asks me what I wanna do,

"I'm not so sure. What fun things usually happen on christmas?" I ask,

"Hmm, lotsa things. Come on, I'll take you out on the town. Christmas in Republic City's the best." he says, offering me his hand which I take, blushing once more.

We spend the day just getting up to random things. We watched some christmas performances in the park, took a ride on a ferry, and at night we watched the firework show. Right now we were back at his apartment, marathoning some old movies that I told him I had never seen. We got some snacks before coming and were absolutely tearing into them,

"It's pretty late. D'you wanna stay over?" Aang asks in the middle of the final movie we were gonna watch,

"Hm, guess... it would be easier, and I'm pretty tired." I reply.

After we finish the movie and the snacks, Aang shows me to the guest room where I'll be sleeping. We say our goodnights and after changing into the sleeping clothes I had brought with me the night of the party, I head to bed. I wasn't asleep very long before I was woken up by another nightmare. My heart beats like crazy and I start feeling anxious, seeing as I'm not in my room. I quickly remember where I am and decide to go to the alcove, only to see Aang already sitting there, watching the night sky.

He notices my presence and gives me his signature grin,

"I expected you to be asleep by now," he says, patting the space next to him, signalling for me to sit down.

"I was... nightmare..." I say hesitantly,

"Oh. Wanna talk about it?"

I shake my head,

"Not really,"

"I'm glad you came out," he says all of a sudden.

I look at him, confused,

"I... kinda had you on my mind... that's why I couldn't sleep..." he says shyly, blushing,

"Why?" I askafter a few sconds, barely above a whisper,

"I..." he begins, "here we go," he mutters under his breath, "Azula...."

"Yeah?" I ask.

What's he gonna say??

"I..."

"Mhm?" At this point my heart is beating out of my chest in anticipation,

He sighs as if he was holding his breath,

"Okay. I can't say it,"

Seriously??

"So, I'm just gonna do this,"

Before I can register what he meant, I feeel his lips on mine. I'm taken by surprise at first, but I begin to melt into the kiss, my skin feeling like I'm on fire. We kiss for a few minutes and he pulls away just as the kiss starts to get more heated.

Aww...
Wait, shit...
I like him, don't I?
Obviously.
Spirits help me...

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I won't do that aga-"

I cut him off with a quick but passionate kiss. When we pull away, we lean our foreheads on each other's,

"I'd be a little disappointed if you didn't do that again," I say, smiling at him as he chuckles at my remark.

He lays down on the alcove, pulling me down with him. A comfortable silent takes over us as we both stare at the sky and the still bustling Republic City. And soon, I start to feel my eyes grow heavy and I fall asleep, right there in his arms.

No nightmares plagued my sleep that night. Just peace... peace... and happiness.