The Wind and The Flame

Chapter Eleven: Keeping A Secret

(Chapter Title Inspired by the Bleachers song "Keeping A Secret" from the Love, Simon soundtrack. I believe it goes well with this chapter and the "secrets" that are both kept, revealed and shared.)

Zuko POV

Aang pulls away from me as the fire vortex slowly dissipates and the dragons curl their bodies, fly up, circle one time and go into their caves.

He doesn't look at me as he heads for the steps.

"Aang wait", I call out to him.
"Not now Zuko", Aang says sharply.
"What did you see in the flames?", I ask, desperately. "What made you-do that?"

Aang looks back at me, this strange look in his eyes. "Not. Now."

I sigh and walk down with him. The walk down felt longer this time. I catch up to him, changing the subject but eager to let him know this wasn't over. "Their fire was beautiful. I saw so many colors, colors I've never imagined."

Aang nods to me as we come to a stop in front of the chief, "Like firebending harmony." The edge in his voice was gone, replaced with the childish innocence I had fallen for.

The Sun Warrior chief nods to us. "Yes. They judged you, and gave you visions of the meaning of firebending. Legend says that the fire of the dragons also reveals yourself to yourself. It shows your feelings within."

I glance at Aang, who avoided my look and stared at the ground. "I can't believe there are still living dragons. My uncle Iroh said he faced the last dragon and killed it."

Aang finally looks at me, "So your uncle lied."

The chief smiles, "Actually, it wasn't a total lie. Iroh was the last outsider to face the masters." He raises his hand above slightly, gesturing to the mountains. "They deemed him worthy and passed the secret onto him as well."

I was surprised. Not because I didn't expect something like that from him, but just the sheerness of keeping such a huge secret. I never could've done it. "He must have lied to protect them, so no one else would hunt them."

Aang huffs but gives me a glance, "Sometimes people lie to protect those they care about."
I look back at him with a look of confusion.

Aang continues, "All this time, I thought firebending was destruction. Since I hurt Katara, I've been too afraid and hesitant. But now I know what it really is ... it's energy, and life." He smiles, "and it's love."

"Yeah. It's like the Sun, but inside of you. Do you guys realize this?", I say to the chief. As soon as I say it though, I hear how dumb it sounds.

"Well, our civilization is called the Sun Warriors ... so yeah", the chief says plainly.

I was still amazed, and then I realized something eye opening.
"That's why my firebending was so weak before. Because for so many years, hunting you was my drive ... it was my purpose", I say sorrowfully, looking at Aang. "So when I joined you, I lost sight of my inner fire. But now, I have a new drive."
I love Aang. If my dragon fire visions showed me anything it's that I clearly have feelings for him, and if his kiss showed me anything, it's that he might too, even if he isn't ready to face them. But we are in the middle of a war...if Aang is to survive it to even one day come close to realizing those feelings...
"I have to help you defeat my father and restore balance to the world."

I try firebending, for the first time since reaffirming my new purpose, and deliver two fire blasts more powerful than in the Western Air Temple.
Aang smiles, clearly jubilant for me as he bends a similar blast. No fear was on his face, only happiness.
I loved that for him.

The chief walks toward us with a serious look that made me think we did something wrong. "Now that you have learned the secrets, and you know about our tribe's existence, we have no choice but to imprison you here forever!"

My face immediately pales, as does Aangs. Being trapped here?? Forever?? With Aang? Well, that last part doesn't seem so bad..but the world would fall. I just can't imagine Sokka as the new Avatar.

The chief smiles, "Just kidding. But seriously, don't tell anyone!"

As we flew back to the Western Air Temple, Aang was twirling fire between his fingers with wonder and ease. I felt good for him but my heart ached.
"So, that was a successful day", I say, attempting to make conversation.

"Yeah", he replies simply.

"It feels good knowing there are still dragons in the world", I say, meaning it, but still trying to get him to talk.

"Maybe that's a sign that things can return to normal one day", Aang says, a glimmer of hope in his words.

I chuckle, "I'm not sure I know what normal is anymore. That fire was something else. Magical."

Aang gets quiet.

"Are you alright?", I ask, moving closer in the saddle towards him, concerned.

"What did you see in the fire Zuko?", he asks, barely a whisper.

I think to myself how best to answer. "Memories mostly. I guess things based on my feelings. Why do you ask?"
Is he going to tell me what he saw?

Aang looks straight ahead at nothing but clouds.
"Just..just wondering."

I nod, "Oh. Okay."

He turns to me briefly, "Zuko?"

"Yes Aang?"

"Please don't tell anyone about today."

I was about to ask what he meant seeing as we had both just sworn to never tell anyone about the Sun Warriors, but when I looked in his eyes, I knew what he meant. He was trembling in fear too.

"I-I promise I won't."

"I just..I need to figure things out..my path is so cloudy and uncertain."

I can get that. "I understand Aang. Can you make me a promise too?"

He nods.

"When you figure things out, will you...let me know?"

He looks off to the side.."We're back."

Much later, Aang and I demonstrated the Dancing Dragon to the rest of the team. He had wanted to, so I guess I went along with it.

"With this technique the dragons showed us, Zuko and I will be unstoppable."

We finish our form and Team Avatar applauds.

Sokka chuckles, "Yeah, that's a great dance you two learned there."

I groan, annoyed. "It's not a dance. It's a firebending form!"

Sokka moves his fingers in a dancing manner. "We'll just tap-dance our way to victory over the Fire Lord."

I walk towards him, "It's a sacred form that happens to be thousands of years old!"

Katara chimes in "Oh, yeah‌? What's your little form called‌?"

I sigh, "The Dancing Dragon."

The team laughs, even Aang as he smiles at me. I guess it's okay to laugh sometimes.
I'll have to work on that.

I already have Aang around to make me smile. I just hope that...well..I don't know what to hope anymore. I can just wish for the best and see what life throws at us.
For right now though, I guess we're keeping a secret.

Aang POV

I sit at the campfire across from Zuko as everyone laughs at his unintentional joke. I stare at the flames, remembering. These flames aren't made of dragonfire but I can still see the memory of me kissing Zuko when he was sleep back when he rescued me as the Blue Spirit...then I remember his face when I kissed him surrounded by the fire..

What is this feeling I have...
And why do I both fear it..and long for it..and him....