Avatar: Harmony of Elements

The Sun Warriors

Dusk loomed in the distance as the glorious late afternoon sun slowly approached its finishing line in the distant horizon. The sky was a display of vibrant shades of blue with hints of orange cascading from the dazzling sun casting shimmering glow over the entire landscape below. Appa quietly flew over the clouds, with two travelers on his back. They had left their camp at the mysterious air nomad abode sometime mid-afternoon. Despite all Aang's effort to persuade Katara, she had outrightly refused to allow him to travel alone with the fire prince. She wanted them all to go along, but Aang knew it wouldn't be safe. If there were fire nation soldiers waiting to ambush them at the Western Air Temple, they'd all be walking into the trap and Aang couldn't allow that. He knew he could handle himself in such a situation having done so before, but he didn't want to put everyone else in danger. Having expected this reaction, Zuko just wanted to be on his way away from them all. Aang, however, wouldn't let him go and astonishingly contrived a plan to sneak past the rest of the gang as they explored the surrounding slopes and valleys around the monument. Now, he dolefully sat atop Appa's head wallowing in feelings of guilt and utter fear wondering how Katara will react when she found out. The thought made him shudder. What have I done? She is going to kill me! Raged his distraught thoughts.

"That was unexpected." Zuko said in a small voice, staring at Aang's bald head as he sat in the saddle behind Aang with his arms folded over his chest.

Disrupted from his anxious thoughts, Aang responded with a jump. "Huh!"

"What you just did. Leaving your friends behind to help me." Zuko answered.

Aang released his grip on Appa's leash and turned around to face Zuko.

"I know right!!" Aang exclaimed, his wide grey eyes showing tension. "I have never done something like this before!" He flung his arms with anxiety.

Zuko looked at him seriously for a moment, thinking about the consequences of their act. "They'll assume I kidnapped you." He said bitterly, not too pleased with the fact that he will eventually be blamed for this.

Aang's expression tensed, and he furrowed his brows. He slumped his shoulders and lowered his head, "I am sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. We shouldn't have left without telling them." He said with a troubled sigh, imagining what the reaction of his friends would be when they find out, especially Katara.

"Well, you did try to tell them." Zuko tried to ease the Aang's concern when he saw how much stress the boy was in. "Let's just get to the temple. I'll get my stuff and you can go back before they freak out too much."

"You won't come back with me?" Aang asked, surprised.

Zuko glanced at the Avatar. "Will your friend let me live if I go back?" He asked, wryly.

Aang raised his eyebrows, acknowledging Zuko's concern. "I have a feeling she wont even let me live when I go back!" He responded, amusingly.

Zuko again glanced at the Avatar, admiring the boy's humor in such situation. "Even though it was all your idea, she'll most definitely kill me before she kills you." Zuko answered, adding his own touch of humor.

A tiny smile graced Aang's lips. He had never seen the fire prince so mellow, let alone making jokes about getting humorously killed by a water-bender who had been his enemy for so long.

Aang sprawled himself on his back, with arms under his head. "Well in that case, I don't have to worry at all." He said with mischievous smirk. "While she is killing you, I'll run away again!" He laughed.

Zuko glared down at the Avatar's bald head but couldn't help but smile. He was enjoying this dynamic that was slowly building between them. He wondered if his relationship with his cousin, Lu Ten, would have been the same if he was still alive. Sighing, he turned his gaze to the landscape below. If Lu Ten had been alive, he probably wouldn't be here.