Chapter Text
When news that the Avatar’s capture had been made of high importance reached to him, Zuko knew that Zhao had enough resources to catch him first.
So, Zuko did something impulsive.
He broke into Pohuai Stronghold, freed the Avatar, and escaped with him. At least, that’s what Zuko wanted to happen. He remembered an arrow hitting his head, probably chipping off a part of his mask. He knew the Avatar would leave him for dead.
The first thing he could see was sunlight. Sunlight and trees. Spirits, his head hurt.
Maybe the Avatar didn’t leave me behind after all. He’s probably long gone now.
With all his might, Zuko turned his head to confirm his suspicions.
He was not alone.
The Avatar stayed?
There he was in the flesh. The airbender was sitting across from him, hugging his knees. His clothes were torn. Dried mud covered the edge of his sleeves. He looked.. sad.
Zuko blinked. Making sure this wasn’t a hallucination from the head trauma.
The Avatar was still there.
“You know what the worst part about being born a hundred years ago is?”
Why is he here? Why did he stay?
“I miss all the friends I used to hang out with.”
Friends? Right. All the airbenders were dead.
Zuko felt the slightest pang of sympathy.
“Before the war started, I used to always visit my friend, Kuzon.”
Kuzon? Kuzon the Traitor?
“The two of us, we got in and out of so much trouble together. He was one of the best friends I ever had,”
Zuko then felt the Avatar’s eyes on him.
“and he was from the Fire Nation. Just like you. If we knew each other back then, do you think we could’ve been friends too?”
The Avatar smiled at him.
Foolish. Zuko thought. The Avatar and Crown Prince? Being friends? Mortal enemies? The Air Savages wouldn’t accept the Fire Nation’s proposal of sharing their greatness. They could never be friends.
And yet, Zuko thought more about it. If the Air Nation and Fire Nation had worked together. It could’ve been possible.
“I don’t know.” was all that Zuko could say.
The Avatar’s eyes widened. He didn’t expect the Prince to respond.
Then came more silence.
“Is it still warm?” The Avatar asked.
Zuko looked at him with confusion, “What?”
“The Fire Nation. I always remembered it being warm.”
Zuko felt numb. He remembered it being warm too—but it’s been so long. He wasn’t sure.
“I haven’t been there in three years.” Zuko said.
The Avatar’s face flashed with concern. “What? You haven’t been home in three years?”
Was it really that shocking?
“I was banished.”
“I’m sorry.”
Zuko hated it when people felt pity for him.
“Is there a way you can get back? To go home?”
Was he really that foolish?
“By capturing you, Avatar. Then I can restore my rightful place to the throne.”
There was then more silence.
“Aang. My name is Aang, not Avatar.”
“You think I care!?” Zuko yelled. His eyes ignited with the firebender spark.
Aang—the Avatar looked startled. “Sorry! It’s just that you don’t see me calling you ‘Fire Nation Prince’.”
“I’d rather you refer to me as Prince Zuko.”
“And I’d rather you call me Avatar Aang.”
Zuko could see the grinning smile on the Avatar’s face. Of course, he was trying to banter with him. He didn’t respect him.
Zuko scowled back at the bald teen. His hand then went back to his head. He felt a small bandage. Did the Avatar patch him up?
He noticed the Avatar getting closer. His hand reached for his shoulder. No. Zuko would never accept weakness. Never to the enemy.
His fist punched with flames. The Avatar jumped. He probably was expecting an attack.
Before Zuko knew it, the Avatar was in the trees, jumping from tree branch to tree branch. Soon he was out of sight.
Zuko stared at the trees, subconsciously feeling his scar. He was so close to admitting weakness to the Avatar—to the enemy. And yet, Zuko couldn’t help but wonder..
Could he and the Avatar ever be friends?
——
Aang flew across Ba Sing Se with his glider. There were two things on his mind: Find Appa and meet the Earth King. The second option was going to take a month so Aang decided to spend his time in Ba Sing Se looking for his animal companion.
He had checked the Upper and Middle Ring. Next was the Lower Ring—the one with the most criminals. But if it was true Appa was sold to the Black Market then maybe it was the right place to look.
Aang decided to land on Lantern Road. Flying all day was getting exhausting and this area was one of the better parts of the city.
The Avatar looked around. He wasn’t particularly hungry but something to drink would be nice.
He scanned the area. Restaurants, meat kiosks, noodle shops.. Tea!
There Aang saw a tea shop. It looked simple and quaint. There weren’t people crowding it like the places at the Upper Ring.
Aang read the sign, “Pao Family Tea House.” Aang smiled. He hadn’t had tea in a long time. You didn’t really have time to brew it when constantly traveling.
He opened the door and entered.
Wow. Aang thought. No one’s noticing me.
There he could see only a couple and a girl with braids sitting at the tables.
Aang slowly walked to the counter. There was no one there. He saw a bell and rang it.
“Hello?”
——
Zuko and his uncle were in the backroom. While his uncle made tea, Zuko just sat back and grimaced.
Last night they were almost caught. That Jet guy was calling them firebenders. He was right but Zuko did not want to imagine what would’ve happened if people believed him.
He was a bit worried though. Instead of arresting him and uncle, the police arrested Jet. That made no sense. He’d heard that mentioning the war was illegal. Was that really true?
Zuko heard the doorbell chime. Either someone left or someone had entered.
Zuko stood up—then stopped in his tracks. It couldn’t be..
Bald head, blue arrow, the signature airbender uniform. There he was, standing behind the counter. He was tapping his finger on the wooden surface, waiting.
“The Avatar.”