"We'll be safe here," Aang said as he pulled Zuko into the abandoned shack. The prince was too exhausted and humiliated to say anything at this point and simply allowed himself to be led by the hand.

To say this hadn't been a good night would be an understatement. Zhao and his men had led a surprise ambush that ended with a captured Sokka, Katara and Iroh ordering Zuko and Aang to run and save themselves. Relieved as he was to have escaped with his life, Aang still wished he'd stayed behind either to fight off Zhao or rescue his friends.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Zuko glared at him as he began to remove his armor.

"Since when did you care?" he snapped, dragging himself to the opposite corner of the shack and lying down. "I'm going to sleep. Talk to me again and I'll burn you."

It's just as well. He's my enemy, Aang reminded himself as he leaned against the wall. Just because they happened to share an enemy in Zhao didn't mean they were allies. The moment this ordeal was over Zuko would just go back to trying to capture him like always. I'll just use this time to figure out a way to rescue Katara and Sokka.

But no ideas would come, all he felt was tired and cold and worried. And he knew somewhere deep down Zuko had to be worried too, even if his pride refused to let him show it.

As he continued to watch Zuko, Aang felt a surge of defiance coupled with concern, and made his way over to the prince's corner. Without a word, he laid down beside him and huddled closely, trying to keep them both warm.

"What the-" Zuko's eyes snapped open, frowning angrily he noticed Aang curled up against his side. "Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Aang didn't even bat an eyelash or tremble in fear.

"You looked cold," he said. Zuko's frown deepened as he tried to push Aang away.

"Well, I'm not," he snapped. "Go back to your corner."

"Mm, no, I don't think so." A hint of a smirk played at Aang's features.

"Are you doing this just to annoy me?" Zuko asked.

"Maaaaybe." Aang laughed to himself, this was actually kind of fun. But then, to his shock, Zuko growled and pulled him into a near-crushing embrace, rolling onto his side. "Aaah!"

"Two can play at this game," he taunted, and Aang found himself blushing.

"T-that's fine," he said, "we need to stay warm anyway!"

They fell silent, studying each other's faces and trying to gague each other's expressions, as if searching for weaknesses. Suddenly, Aang felt the surprisingly gentle touch of Zuko's fingers against his cheek.

"Avatar," he whispered. Aang's heartbeat sped up, their noses were touching and he could practically taste the prince's breath. Then, he felt Zuko's lips press against his in a bruising kiss; after a moment's shock he returned the kiss with equal fervor. This was wrong, in every sense of the word. They were enemies, they were boys, yet here they were. Aang dug his fingers into Zuko's back, pulling him closer, trying to meld their clothed flesh together.

"Zuko," he gasped when they finally came up for air. "I-"

"Aang!"

"Prince Zuko!"

They sprang apart and bolted out of the shack, where they were embraced by their respective loved ones. Sokka happily explained how he'd busted them out of the prison hold of Zhao's ship, and Aang sighed with relief. Good old Sokka!

"We'd best leave, though, before Zhao discovers we've escaped," Iroh said. "Stay well!"

"Thank you, General Iroh," Katara said. But as they parted ways, Aang and Zuko exchanged a furitive last glance, each wondering if the other would give what had happened in the shack another thought after tonight.