Zukaang Week Day 1
Silent Confessionals 1/3
Theme: Motive
Characters: Zuko & Aang
Rating: K
Warnings: slash
Summary: “You’re not what I want.”
Other parts:
Duty
Warmth
“Human beings have wants and desires which influence their behavior. Only unsatisfied needs influence behavior, satisfied needs do not.” ~ Abraham Maslow’s Need hierarchy theory
Zuko’s life followed a specific routine. Aang was certain of this even though he didn’t spend as much time observing said routine as he would have liked to. They both had their duties to take care of, which kept them apart, sometimes for great lengths of time. But every time Aang got some time for himself, he tended to spend it in the Fire Nation, near his friend.
The routine Zuko had chosen for himself was one easily spotted by even the castle servants, and it brought forth different kinds of feelings. Many servants were unnerved by it, as the routine was one the former Fire Lord Ozai had been seen indulging himself in often during his reign as well.
No one knew why Ozai had made it a habit to sit by the pond in the palace garden, doing nothing but staring into the water. There was no soul in the entire castle who knew why his son was repeating this pattern, all the way to the smallest detail of wearing a deep scowl on his face while standing by the water’s edge.
It was a rather shameful thing to admit, but not even Aang knew what it was that Zuko expected to see in the water, or if he was waiting for anything at all. Were it anything else about Zuko, Aang would have known the answer, but this was the one subject Aang had never dared to breach.
The reason for the hesitation was the expression on Zuko’s face. To anyone else it was an angry one, but Aang recognized the yearning and pain for what it was.
What was it that both of the Fire Lords yearned for from here?
Aang walked over to Zuko and watched the pond with his friend for a few moments. A couple of turtleducks came by and made a few nips at the helm of Zuko’s robes, but the firebender paid them no mind.
“Zuko.” There was a chance of Zuko ignoring even him, but to Aang’s relief the Fire Lord did turn his face to him with an expression of curiosity that held a hint of melancholy. Aang slid closer to the other, wanting to feel the body warmth that would assure him that the other was still alive. “Where did you go? You were miles away.”
“It’s not a matter of where but when.” Zuko smiled gently, a tad bit secretively. “But I should apologise. I shouldn’t have been neglecting you. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Aang grabbed Zuko’s arm. “Now come on, I’ll take you on a flight with Appa.”
The flying trip was a success in a lot of ways, Aang would muse afterwards. He especially liked the conclusion, the feeling of Zuko’s lips pressed against his own for the first time.
&
It had been another tiring trip, and Aang was happy to be back in the Fire Nation, the place that had been slowly becoming like his second home. But his peaceful mood was shattered when he arrived in the palace garden, only to see no sign of Zuko.
It took the Avatar some time to find his friend, who was sitting on the windowsill of his bedroom. Aang was rather worried over this anomaly; Zuko would only break his routine for something dire.
“Zuko?” Aang called and Zuko jumped in surprise, gripping the windowsill to steady himself as he turned his head to look at Aang. “What are you doing here? You’re usually in the garden at this time of the day.”
A pause followed, as Zuko thought his answer over with a frown. Then the firebender turned around and patted the sill next to him. “Come sit with me and we’ll talk.”
Aang did as the other asked and waited in silence until Zuko spoke: “It was a substitute, for something I’ve wanted really badly for a while.” Zuko looked over to Aang, and smiled tenderly. “Ever since your last visit I haven’t felt any need to go back there.” The older male’s fingers brushed against Aang’s cheek. “You’re not what I want, but I think you’re what I need.”
“What was it that you wanted?” Aang grabbed the hand caressing his face and kissed the warm fingers. Zuko’s smile widened and his eyes shone with affection.
“What everyone wants in this world.”
“And that is?” Aang prompted curiously, but Zuko only laughed.
“You’ll understand when you’re older.” The Fire Lord smirked in a teasing manner and Aang leaned back on his hands with a sigh. He was not going to play this game.
“I’ll tell you some day.” It was a small admission, but Aang knew that Zuko didn’t make empty promises. So he gave Zuko a small smile, all the while silently thinking that he’d wait however long it took.
---
Author’s Notes: This piece has a lot of holes. That’s actually on purpose. This is a bit of a continuum story, getting another piece every other day. So half of the themes for Zukaang week are actually going to be set in this verse. ;)
Theme: Motive
Characters: Zuko & Aang
Rating: K
Warnings: slash
Summary: “You’re not what I want.”
Other parts:
Duty
Warmth
“Human beings have wants and desires which influence their behavior. Only unsatisfied needs influence behavior, satisfied needs do not.” ~ Abraham Maslow’s Need hierarchy theory
Zuko’s life followed a specific routine. Aang was certain of this even though he didn’t spend as much time observing said routine as he would have liked to. They both had their duties to take care of, which kept them apart, sometimes for great lengths of time. But every time Aang got some time for himself, he tended to spend it in the Fire Nation, near his friend.
The routine Zuko had chosen for himself was one easily spotted by even the castle servants, and it brought forth different kinds of feelings. Many servants were unnerved by it, as the routine was one the former Fire Lord Ozai had been seen indulging himself in often during his reign as well.
No one knew why Ozai had made it a habit to sit by the pond in the palace garden, doing nothing but staring into the water. There was no soul in the entire castle who knew why his son was repeating this pattern, all the way to the smallest detail of wearing a deep scowl on his face while standing by the water’s edge.
It was a rather shameful thing to admit, but not even Aang knew what it was that Zuko expected to see in the water, or if he was waiting for anything at all. Were it anything else about Zuko, Aang would have known the answer, but this was the one subject Aang had never dared to breach.
The reason for the hesitation was the expression on Zuko’s face. To anyone else it was an angry one, but Aang recognized the yearning and pain for what it was.
What was it that both of the Fire Lords yearned for from here?
Aang walked over to Zuko and watched the pond with his friend for a few moments. A couple of turtleducks came by and made a few nips at the helm of Zuko’s robes, but the firebender paid them no mind.
“Zuko.” There was a chance of Zuko ignoring even him, but to Aang’s relief the Fire Lord did turn his face to him with an expression of curiosity that held a hint of melancholy. Aang slid closer to the other, wanting to feel the body warmth that would assure him that the other was still alive. “Where did you go? You were miles away.”
“It’s not a matter of where but when.” Zuko smiled gently, a tad bit secretively. “But I should apologise. I shouldn’t have been neglecting you. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Aang grabbed Zuko’s arm. “Now come on, I’ll take you on a flight with Appa.”
The flying trip was a success in a lot of ways, Aang would muse afterwards. He especially liked the conclusion, the feeling of Zuko’s lips pressed against his own for the first time.
&
It had been another tiring trip, and Aang was happy to be back in the Fire Nation, the place that had been slowly becoming like his second home. But his peaceful mood was shattered when he arrived in the palace garden, only to see no sign of Zuko.
It took the Avatar some time to find his friend, who was sitting on the windowsill of his bedroom. Aang was rather worried over this anomaly; Zuko would only break his routine for something dire.
“Zuko?” Aang called and Zuko jumped in surprise, gripping the windowsill to steady himself as he turned his head to look at Aang. “What are you doing here? You’re usually in the garden at this time of the day.”
A pause followed, as Zuko thought his answer over with a frown. Then the firebender turned around and patted the sill next to him. “Come sit with me and we’ll talk.”
Aang did as the other asked and waited in silence until Zuko spoke: “It was a substitute, for something I’ve wanted really badly for a while.” Zuko looked over to Aang, and smiled tenderly. “Ever since your last visit I haven’t felt any need to go back there.” The older male’s fingers brushed against Aang’s cheek. “You’re not what I want, but I think you’re what I need.”
“What was it that you wanted?” Aang grabbed the hand caressing his face and kissed the warm fingers. Zuko’s smile widened and his eyes shone with affection.
“What everyone wants in this world.”
“And that is?” Aang prompted curiously, but Zuko only laughed.
“You’ll understand when you’re older.” The Fire Lord smirked in a teasing manner and Aang leaned back on his hands with a sigh. He was not going to play this game.
“I’ll tell you some day.” It was a small admission, but Aang knew that Zuko didn’t make empty promises. So he gave Zuko a small smile, all the while silently thinking that he’d wait however long it took.
---
Author’s Notes: This piece has a lot of holes. That’s actually on purpose. This is a bit of a continuum story, getting another piece every other day. So half of the themes for Zukaang week are actually going to be set in this verse. ;)