The Avatar Abandoned

Summary: Aang wasn't frozen for 100 years, he wasn't even born in the Eastern Air Temple. He was born into a family of travelling Air Nomads who were living in the Earth Kingdom of Ba Sing Se. However, when he was five, his parents discovered him playing with little figures made of fire; even though he was an Air Bender. Knowing their son could only be the Avatar - the first in over 100 years, they panicked and abandoned him in the Fire Nation, hoping they would never have to see him again.

Chapter Summary: Momo accidentally steals from Zuko and Aang gets the blame, but instead of being killed as is the usual punishment, for some reason Zuko doesn't take Aangs life, and instead takes him home and makes him his servant.

Warnings: AU/AR, slash, Zukaang.

Notes: Okay, so yeah, obviously an AU story, here's some other info that is required: Aang wasn't frozen for 100 years, but he was born 100 years late.So he's actually only 12 for real. Also, Zuko is 16, and in case you're wondering why this is relevant, this story shall be a Zukaang slash :) So, no likey, no read-y. A quick note about Zuko, he has the scar still, but he was never banished - everyone thinks the Avatar was killed for evers, permanent-like, so there was no need for Zuko to be sent on his quest. Also, Aang has hair, because of two things. 1) I think he looks cute like that, and 2) if he was never a monk, he'd never have shaved his hair off. And erm, for the same reason (he wasn't a monk) he has no airbender tatoos, so he just passes as a regular firebender kid. So yeah, and one final thing, Aang will have Momo as his pet, but no Appa. Though, he may turn up later, I'll see what I can do. ;D

A/N: This idea has been bugging me for a while now, so I thought I'd write it up! :) No haters of this pairing, no haters in general, in fact. Constructive criticism is welcome though!

Quick note, I'm looking for a beta, anyone offering? :D

So, read on, and click the little 'Review' button on the bottom of the page when you've finished! :D

Chapter 1

Aang sighed, closing his eyes and tipped his head back. He had only made five bronze pieces today. That was barely enough to feed himself this evening, let alone tomorrow morning. He opened his eyes as Momo landed on his shoulder, holding a tiny handful of berries, which he held out to Aang. The young boy smiled.

'I'm okay Momo, thanks. I have enough for some bread tonight, and I can always save some for tomorrow,' Aang said, chuckling slightly as Momo gave his version of a shrug and started stuffing his cheeks with the berries. 'Come on. Lets go get some bread.'

He stood, brushing the strands of hair that covered his forehead back, brushing off his faded brown pants and grimy red top. They weren't as bad as they usually were, thanks to the fact it had rained a few days ago (a rare thing in the nation that worshiped the Sun) and he had managed to bend a bit of the water through his clothes (making sure he wasn't seen at the time of course) cleaning off most of the grime and filth that came with living in the streets.

He wandered through the winding streets of the Fire Nation Capital, looking for the stall he normally bought his bread from. The old woman there was always kind to him - she had lost her son in the war, and Aang reminded her of him. He smiled as he entered the shop.

'Hey, Bayanai(1),' Aang said, walking up to the counter.

'Hello there, Aang, Momo,' the old shop-keeper said, smiling at the boy and the lemur. 'Here for some food?' The pair nodded eagerly. 'Well, come into the back and I'll pour us some tea and maybe bring out a packet of SootSnaps,' Bayanai said kindly at the young bare-footed boy, holding the beaded curtain leading into the backroom open.

Aang walked into the small room and sat in his usual spot beside the table. Sometimes he felt bad for taking advantage of Bayanai, but the old woman always insisted that Aang have something to eat when she found out he didn't have a family and he refused to stay with her.

Bayanai turned the 'Open' sign around on the door and smiled as she wound her way through the shelves of produce to the back room.

----

'Thanks Bayanai! I'll be back soon, okay?' Aang called to the woman who was more like a mother than a friend to him, clutching the two small loaves of bread to his chest. Bayanai had insisted on giving him two loaves of bread when he couldn't even afford to pay for one, although Aang wouldn't let her just give them to him and had insisted on giving her his five bronze pieces. Momo was perched on top of his head, crunching a SootSnap.

Turning, Aang started to make his way to the little niche he had in the streets of the Fire Nation - the closest thing he had to call a home. He was only a few streets away from his corner of the city when rough hands bundled him up against the wall. Panicking, Momo flew off before a fist could grab him.

'What the - ?!' Aang started to shout, when a small dagger was pressed against his throat.

'Shut up now, or we'll shut you up,' a voiced hissed in his ear, making Aang freeze. A pair of hands tugged the loaves of bread from his grasp and quickly searched his pockets. 'Is this all you have?' a second voice asked incredulously.

'Yes, I don't have a family or any where to stay either,' replied Aang hurridly, knowing that if they found out later they'd probably beat him to within an inch of his life.

'I think he's telling the truth. I've seen him around the town square, begging,' the first voice whispered to the other, although there really was no point considering Aang was right beside them.

'What? You always pick the ones with barely anything worth stealing!' the second voice hissed back.

'Hey, well at least he has something!' replied the first voice. Deciding to take what they had a run, the thieves knocked Aang down and bolted before he could stop them. The twelve-year-old hit the floor with a thump and an 'oof'. He wrapped one arm around his waist as he pushed himself up with the other, a tear winding its way down his cheek. Momo jumped down from the rooftop, landing beside his master, looking up at him with his big green eyes, curiously.

'What am I going to do Momo? I haven't had anything proper to eat since the day before yesterday, and I don't even have any money to buy scraps.' Aang let his head fall back against the wall, hearing his head 'thunk' against the brick and plaster.

Momo tilted his head to the right, before taking off. Aang didn't even have the energy to care. All he could think about was the empty feeling in his stomach and how his body was trembling from exhaustion. He closed his eyes and a few more tears escaped from under his eyelids and crept down his cheeks.

----

Aang woke with a start. Momo had landed in his lap and jolted him awake - although he didn't remember falling asleep. Judging by the colour of the sky he hadn't been asleep for too long; maybe an half an hour, an hour? He looked back at Momo as the flying lemur monkey jumped up and down slightly, clearly excited about something. A small leather pouch lay under Momos tiny paws. Aang picked it up curiously.

'What ... ?' he half asked, flipping open the flap that was keeping the contents of it hidden. His eyes widened as he stared at the small gold coins that winked back at him. 'Holy Agni, Momo! Where did you find this?!' he shouted, half fearfully, half excitedly.

A teenager skidded around the corner, fury in his liguid amber eyes. Aang froze. He recognised the boy that stood in front of him.

'You!' the teen cried, his tone accusing. 'Your pet stole my money! And I want it back.'

'P-prin-Prince Zuk-ko!' Aang stuttered, his grey eyes wide. There was no mistaking that scar. It could only be the Fire Prince. Aang dropped to his knees infront of the angered teenager, holding out the pouch and the money, his thin frame trembling. 'I am so sorry, I didn't know Momo had stolen from you, I didn't even know Momo had stolen anything of anyones, he's never done anything like that before, I swear!' Aang babbled, sweat dripping down his face in panic.

Zuko glared at the twelve year old, snatching the little pouch from him. 'Did you take anything from here?' he snapped.

'No, I didn't, you have my word,' replied Aang instantly, still shivering. He knew what the penalty for stealing was - your hands would be severely burned, and that was only for stealing from a middle-class citizen. Aang dreaded to think what the punishment for stealing from one of the Royal Family would be - death at the most merciful, probably.

Zuko looked down at the shaking form at his feet. He knew that he should feel furious that this little peasant had stolen from him, but yet ... he didn't. He was angry, certainly. But not furious. And he couldn't bring himself to harm the small boy in anyway. His eyes narrowed.

'You do realise that stealing from one of the Royal Family is punishable by death?' he asked.

Aang swallowed and nodded nervously, his eyes still on the floor. 'Y-yes, Sir.'

'However, I am feeling ... merciful.' Zuko glared, the word tasting foreign in his mouth. 'I think I can find a more suitable punishment for you,' the Fire Prince said, his voice almost a purr, a smirk winding it's way onto his lips. Aang looked up, fear flickering in his eyes.

Three fully armoured guards dashed around the corner. 'Prince Zuko! Is he the one that stole from you?'

Zuko let his gaze linger on Aang, before turning sharply. 'Yes, he is. Help him up. We are taking him back to the palace with us.'

The guards exchanged confused glances. 'But ... ' one of them began.

'Are you questioning me?!' Zuko roared, fire shooting from his fists at the floor.

'No, Sir, of course not!' the three soldiers replied, two grabbing Aangs arms, the other grabbing Momo.

'And don't hurt him. He is to be treated as our ... guest,' Zuko added, starting back towards the Palace.

(1) This name? I used an Avatar name generator and I put in my name ... Ahaha ... I'm so weird. :D

Next chapter: Aang finds out his punishment and Zuko starts wondering about Aang.

A/N: Sooo? What do you think? :D Likes? Dislikes? Tell me what you think in a review! Any ideas you'd like to see, mebeh? Well, I think I did quite well, I got over 2000 words, all in all - well, 2,092 words, to be exactement. Ahaha, french, how I hate you.

Anyways, drop me a line and I'll thank you in the next chapter! Also, first reviewer gets a bag of cookies, and all reviewers after that get a cookie each!