when fire meets air

Chapter 14: Aang

He took a deep breath and spoke to him for the first time.
"Hello Zuko," the name took his breath away. Those eyes, those beautiful golden eyes, they sent him back to when he was merely a boy, his head in the clouds and his heart going in to flutters as his face flushed.
"Aang." His voice was void of emotion, as dark as a black hole. It was lower, no more of that boyish rasp that he had when they had last seen each other, but it's obvious... he was older, an adult now.
"Listen, I..." he was cut off by Zuko, another blizzard escaping his mouth.
"Don't. I dont need your apologies, there's nothing you can say to change anything." He could practically hear his heart snapping in two.
It may have been years since they had seen each other, and he may have tried to block out the heart ache, but seeing him again... well, it brought back the feelings that he had so desperately tried to hide.
"Alright," his voice was quiet, broken, "the fire nation is currently preparing for your return, your uncle is excited to see you. You'll be staying with me for the time being." He saw a grimace spread across Zuko's face and felt his heart twinge.
"Don't worry, it's only for five days. Then you can," his heart hurt as he chose his next words, "never see me again, if you want to." Zuko didn't respond, he only nodded and headed off toward Appa.

The beast greeted him with a kiss, pressing his tongue up against the fire lord's clothed body. Aang could almost see a smile play on his lips, but he knew that it may just be his hopeful mind using the light to play tricks. He hopped into the saddle on Appa's back with ease, almost as if he had been at his size for the past six years. I guess some things are never forgotten... Aang thought to himself as he hopped onto the saddle behind him.

The two rode in silence, the air around them frigid, not only because they were at a high altitude, but because he could feel Zuko glaring ice daggers into the back of his head as they flew. Though he physically felt cold, his blood started to boil with uncharacteristic anger as he he watched their former friendship disappear amongst the clouds.

"We are going to be spending five days together, would it be at all possible that you could maybe talk to me?" He snapped, his voice crackling with irritation and emotion and the rage of a teenager.

Zuko laughed, his voice portraying more anger than humour, but other than that, he remained quiet.

"You being silent is going to make this next little while very tense, you know that right?" Aang continued, hoping to irritate him into saying something. 

"Well it isn't like you are going to have no-one to talk to. I'm sure little Mrs. Avatar will be happy to share your anger." He snapped, and Aang could feel the air around them starting to heat up with Zuko's anger and irritation.

"What?" Aang scoffed and shook his head, his eyes rolling back into his head with sheer irritation. "There is no Mrs. Avatar... There is no one. I live alone." He tried so desperately to sound angry, but his voice betrayed him as he felt his isolation creeping up in his throat like bile. After the war had ended, Aang had stayed with Katara, Toph and Sokka, but as they got older, they moved on. Sokka had become chief of the Southern Water Tribe, which meant he had to live down there. Katara moved to Ba Sing Sei, as she had met an Earth bender who had stolen her heart. Toph went on to lead the Earth Kingdom army, and so they hardly saw her.

"Ha," Zuko laughed, his eyes surprised but his mouth displayed that he was happy that he was alone. "So, the "Gaang" left you. Shocking, I thought they'd always stick by their poster-boy for balance." His words sent daggers into Aang's chest, hurting him in ways that he never thought Zuko could. 

"Yeah well," He turned around to face the direction that they were travelling. "We grew up, and they moved on with their lives." The sadness in his voice would even be evident to a deaf man.

They travelled the rest of the trip in silence, both of them too angry to utter a word, as the only thing that they would be able to say to each other would be words of war and anger and hatred.

And Aang couldn't bear to hear those come from the man he loved most.

When they arrived at Aang's home, Zuko quickly gathered his things and waited for Aang to tell him where to go.

"First door at the end of the hall. Don't worry, it's as far away from me as possible." He said through a clenched jaw. "I will come and get you when dinner is ready, you don't have to eat with me but you can if you want."

Zuko nodded, and left towards his room with no other words escaping his frowning lips.

Aang didn't know if he could make it through these next five days, not when the only person he has had in his house in months hates him.

You may have made a mistake all those years ago, but I don't think it was as bad as the one I did.

Heyooooo,

Holy shit, I can't believe that this book has gained over one thousands reads in the past month, I'm honestly so honoured!!

The next couple chapters are going to probably be filled with a lot of tension and anger, and maybe something else, I don't know, we shall see!!

Also, if you guys really like my writing, I may publish part of the first chapter of my original novel on here, just so that you guys can get a glimpse of what is most likely going to be out this summer!! Published and everything!!! All 400 and something pages of it!!! Ahh!!

Anywho, feel free to check in on my art instagram, maraagainstsociety, and keep on leaving those votes and comments!!

Cheers,

Dylan!!