: Let's Go Together :

Summary: Zuko has rescued/captured Aang after the incident with Azula. Since then, he's be wondering around the earth kingdom, looking to find his way to bring the avatar home to his father. But will a certain light-hearted boy raise his spirits in hopes to restore his own honor himself? ZukAang :D

Warning(s): Yaoi, possible (and most likely) lemon (or lemons) in later chapters :D

Pairing: The cutest most amazing pairing in avatar history, I present to you, ZukAang! -Applause-

Genre: Romance/Adventure with a Happy Ending on the side :)

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: --You know the drill-- Of course I don't own Avatar, for if I did, Katara would've died a long, long time ago --that is, unless I'd given her mercy... which is unlikely -- and ZukAang would be the main pairing! (With a side of jealous Sokka, of course)

Chapter 1: The Awakening

Aang awoke to the sound of clashing pots and murmured cursing. Yawning a bit before beginning to doze back of to sleep he let his eyelids flutter closed again, darkening his already clouded vision. Then he felt something... there was something wrong with his hands. He felt something rough brushing against his soft -- and as Toph called it -- baby skin. Rope! His eyelids shot open again, this time, his vision clear. He was starring at a rock wall, the room smelled strongly of rat, and there was a certain dampness in the atmosphere that perturbed him... what was he doing in a cave?

A deep voice from behind startled him, "Finally awake, are you?"

He cringed, recongnizing that voice immediately. Zuko. Well that explains it. He didn't even have to turn around. Psh, he could sense this guy even if he were a mile away, let alone a few feet. They had what you might call a determined killler/less than willing victim kind of bond.

Still. What the hell is he doing here? Aang wondered... What the hell am I doing here??

"If you're wondering what you're doing here, don't. You should be meeting with my father soon," Zuko said dully.

"Still going on with that whole 'restore your honor' thing I see. Must get tiring, never actually succeeding or anything," Aang teased with a mock-tone of Zuko.

Zuko glared -- though not directly toward Aang. Continuing to cook his own dinner, he coldy replied," As if you're one to talk. You've been out for weeks. While being held captive, no less. And, oh yeah, you're side of the war is losing."

Aang knit his brows together in disbelief, lips curving into a frown, "You're lying!" he shouted loudly, attempting to flip onto his other side to get a full view of Zuko's humorless face. He cried out in pain as he rolled over his back, suddenly noticing the open gash upon his back.

"I wouldn't try moving if I were you. You're wounded pretty bad," Zuko said without much care, flipping whatever it was that he was frying atop the fire.

"What," Aang breathed, still in pain, sweat dripping down his face, "happened?"

"You mean you don't remember?"

"You?" he asked in disbelief. "You did this to me?!"

Zuko stared at him for a moment before mumbling, "I'm the reason you're still alive." His eyebrow twitching for the lack of credit he was getting.

Aang tried to think back to the last thing he could remember before he passed out...

They were deep underground, below the Earth King's Palace in Basingse. Aang was in the avatar state and Katara was fighting against the Dai Lee guards with her water-bending. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot straight from Azula's hand and clear through Aang's chest, instantly removing him from the avatar state as he quickly began to fall.

"Aang!" Katara cried out, but was by far outnumbered by the surrounding guards.

Zuko had a suprised look on his face, an almost troubled look that, if you looked at it right, could have read 'This wasn't supposed to happen..." Though Aang thought it to be merely from shame for not being able to kill Aang himself.

-Black Out-

Aang blinked open, his vision still a bit blurred. As his vision began to clear he was suprised to find a rather distraught Zuko staring at him. Oh, but of course, what would his father think? After all, it was said that Fire Lord Ozai had wanted the avatar alive, wasn't it?

Aang looked away because, for some odd reason, it was hard to see the banished prince's expression so, well, distraught. Aang didn't know why -- or rather, how it was even possible -- but he felt his heart go out to Zuko at that moment...

Upon regaining conciousness, Aang felt something rubbing at his back. Something soothing his sores. It felt good. He turned his head back to see what it could be, only to find Zuko rubbing his back with --

"What is that?" Aang asked, cringing at the smell the horrid looking -- plant was it? -- thing gave off.

Zuko looked up, a familiar frown meeting Aang's curious gaze. Aang still wasn't sure of what was happening. "It's inner palm tree bark, which should help you heal faster, and willow leaves to ease the pain," he answered, looking back to what he was doing, being careful so as not to hurt Aang. "Or that's what my uncle told me, at least," he added a bit late.

"Oh," Aang said simply, still confused by the whole situation. "Um, may I ask why it is you're doing this? Helping me, I mean."

"I'm not helping you," he replied quickly, trying to keep his cool, but ultimately failing. He let out a deep sigh, "My father just says he wants you alive, that's all."

"Oh..." said Aang, his spirits crushed. He had hoped they could become friends, but it looked like Zuko had other plans.

Zuko continued his ministrations on Aang's wound, occasionally hitting a sore spot and half-heartedly apologizing.

--Time skip--

Aang sighed, wishing he could lie down, but knowing it would hurt too much. He'd even tried to stand, the results were none-the-more pleasing. The herbs Zuko had rubbed on his back did indeed help, but didn't entirely take the pain away, not enough to be comfortable, at least. Zuko had left in search of some herb of some sort which was supposed to help ease that pain. Yeah, that or knock me out again for the next few weeks, Aang thought as his frustration began to rise. He missed Appa. He missed Sokka. He missed Katara, Toph, and Momo. Where were all his friends? He began to pull at his hair in frustration. Wait. His hair? Aang's eyes shot open as his hands began roaming all over his fluffy head. He had hair.

Aang was soon pulled from his thoughts as he heard a familiar voice to his right. "Finally noticed you're head, did you?"

Aang frowned. "Well, yeah, I haven't exactly been concious for the last --"

"Three weeks," Zuko interrupted.

Aang's eyes widened. "Three... weeks?" he gasped, shocked to say the least. "But... how?"

Zuko shot him a questioning look from where he was seated, stirring what appeared to be tea in a pretty white cup. "Do you even remember what happened?"

"Yes," Aang said boldly, then losing his sureness, he gave in. "...No," he sighed, shifting his gaze to the cold cave floor, the fire's reflection dancing across it's shadow.

Zuko continued to stare at him, a thoughtful frown gracing his features. He got up and walked over to Aang, seeing Aang couldn't very well go to him. Handing him the tea cup, he said, "Here, drink this, it should help you feel better by sundown."

Upon accepting the good smelling cup of... whatever it was... he couldn't help but question, "Sundown? But it's already dark."

Zuko looked to his left, the way, Aang assumed, was the exit. "No, it's just this place. No light can reach here. It's only mid-day outside."

"What, so you're just gonna keep me locked up in here? That hardly seems fair, expecially since --"

"We travel at night," he interrupted, swiftly disappearing into shadow.

Aang contemplated calling to him, but soon decided against it, shaking his head slightly. He was probably off to pick some herbs... or something...

A few minutes later, Aang felt his vision go fuzzy and a certain relaxation, that wasn't there before, embrace his muscles. He felt sleepy. Intensly sleepy. He noticed someone appear before the fire. "Zuko..."

--Zuko POV--

Zuko looked up from his spot in the dark, the exit was a long way from where he sat, he preffered to be closer to Aang. Upon noticing the herbs were beggining to take effect, Zuko began to make his way back to the fire. He almost felt bad for doing this, as if it were wrong, wrong to feel-- But he was simply getting ahead of himself, Aang was, well, what would you call him? An enemy? No, Zuko was the enemy. Not that he was the enemy by choice. He was, after all, only doing this to please his father and restore his honor. Only for some odd reason... it didn't feel right.

He stood before the fire as Aang once again passed out, whispering his name in the same suprised manor. Oh well, it's not like he's going to remember and of this anyways. Zuko grabbed the rest of his stuff and slung it over his shoulder before carefully lifting Aang a carrying him out of the cave. For, as Zuko said earlier, at night was when they travelled.

End Chapter 1: The Awakening

So how'd you like it? Love it? Hate it? Aw, well, what can I say, it's my first fic. Well, my first fic published at least :D Anywho, you'd really make my day by reviewing ;) Reviews are very much appriciated. Love you all,

xMysterious Darknessx