Fire War Renaissance--Ch.2

Chapter Two: Peacefully Ill

"Have any of you seen Aang? The meeting starts in less than an hour." Zuko had been running frantically through the palace looking for the Avatar, the two would usually discuss what terms they'd be on during the meeting so they wouldn't be the ones arguing when the time came to make a decision.

"I think I saw him wandering around looking for the bathroom a couple of hours ago." Mai responded, and Katara came inside just as the terms of Aang were mentioned.

"What about Aang?" She asked, taking some breakfast from the maid. Normally Katara would make breakfast herself, she rather enjoyed the past time, but she didn't mind being waited on for a little while.

"Zuko can't find him and the meeting is about to start," Mai repeated, sighing a little.

"Well he got a good night's sleep, he should be up by now. Did you check to see if he was in the courtyard?"

"Yes, about five times."

"Well how about the garden? Or the turtle-duck pond?" Zuko just nodded, Katara suspected if Aang were missing he'd be somewhere outside. She did recall him saying that he loved the palace but he still needed the fresh air only outside could provide. "Hmm, that's odd you'd think he'd be outside."

"Maybe he's exploring the palace?" Mai added. Katara and Zuko just looked around showing no indication that they had heard her, so she stood putting her plate away and heading down the long hallway. She heard some coughing near the bathroom she had last saw him in and entered without the slightest change of expressions. Just as she suspected she found him inside, looking at himself in the mirror and frequently cover his mouth to silence the violent coughs.

"I thought I'd find you I here." Mai announced, crossing her arms over her chest when the young Avatar gasped only to let out another cough.

"Oh, Mai it's you." He said in a groggy voice. He suddenly found himself blushing at his state of undress. He was only in his pants, which was normal for his gender of course, but he still didn't know Mai very well and felt a little uncomfortable with her seeing him. Aang never really had a problem with Katara seeing him in that manner from the very beginning—remembering back to when he rode the elephant Koi and willingly striped down to his underwear in the bitter winter—and when Toph joined the group he never saw it a nuisance since she couldn't "see" him anyway.

"You know everyone's looking for you." She stated and Aang just hung his head over the sink more. He was still getting used to the idea of indoor plumbing when staying at the palace, being more used to a wash basin than a sink. "I suppose the Avatar's out of commission for the day?"

"You could say that," his cheeks fluttered a little and before he knew it he was releasing the contents of last night dinner in the sink as well.

"Maybe you should get some rest?" Mai questioned, a hint of concern in her voice as she made her way more into the bathroom. Aang laughed a little self consciously.

"You sound like Katara." He marveled, smiling genuinely at the girl before him.

"Well we girl friends all act the same to some extent. Zuko can be just as stubborn as you sometimes." A mix of annoyance and amusement crossed the Avatar's face and he just let out few more of his dinner but jumped when he felt Mai's hand on his back. Strangely it felt like a mothers touch, a little similar to Katara's and then he realized that she had been right. He silently wondered if Suki was the same way. Once he was sure he was done he washed out the sink and then looked at his reflection once more.

"Aw man, I look even more pale than I normally do, and if being with Katara isn't weird enough." He touched his cheek and his skin just got lighter when she removed his hand.

"Well, you are sick, and I think Katara doesn't care about skin comparison in your relationship, I think that's one of the most interesting things about you two the fact that you're so different with so much in common." Aang would've smiled but he just coughed again. "Okay time for the Avatar's nap." Mai teased; grabbing his shoulders and leading him back to his room.

"But, what about the meeting?" Aang asked when he was comfortably back in bed, the covers pulled up to his nose.

"I don't think the peace court would want you throwing up all over the treaties, everyone gets sick, even you." She closed the blinds before leaving and a corner of her brain laughed at how the power savior of the world was still sometimes like a child with the need for a mother. As soon as she closed the door behind her Katara ran up.

"I can't find him anywhere Mai; I'm starting to get worried." Katara looked on verge of breaking down for some odd reason. Mai never knew she took things about Aang so seriously.

"No need to worry I found him in the bathroom. He's not feeling well so I told him to lie down." Before she could finish Katara bolted in his room, leaving the door slightly open which Mai couldn't help but stare into. She privately always wanted to see how the Avatar loved.

"Are you okay Aang? Mai told me you were sick." Aang just nodded, though it wasn't very visible with half of his face under the covers, but Katara got the message by the glazed over look in his eyes. "You see I told you all this would catch up to you, now look your sick and you're

going to let everyone at the meeting down." Her voice sounded more concerned than her disappointed words lead him to believe. She just looked at him intently and without another word kissed his forehead.

"I'm sorry," Aang whispered, pulling the covers more up towards his eyes. But Katara just rolled her eyes but an out of place smile appeared along with it. She wrapped her arms around him even though the covers were between them, lying down next to him.

"Don't apologize," she whispered as well, snuggling her head into the covers to find his neck and kissed it, shivering at how warm it was due to his fever.

"You'll get sick if you-" Katara cut him off with yet another kiss on his mouth this time.

"It's okay, I'll stay here with you, anything you need I'll get it for you." Aang smiled under the covers feeling all too warm that he began to sweat a little but didn't dare to break away from her. Her words did remind him of the time when he had first woke up from the incident in Ba Sing Si when she insisted to tend to him whether he thought it was necessary or not and just leaned into her further.

In the hall Mai smiled widely at the touching moment before her. Just something as simple as one of them having a small cold brought them closer that her head was spinning from the surge of love that the two were giving off. She hoped one day that her and Zuko would become that close, and almost envied Aang and Katara for the fact that they had such a strong connection so early in their relationship. Closing the door silently behind her Mai went off to find her own boyfriend craving his company before he went off to the peace court meeting.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"So Aang's finally sick huh?" Sokka said. He and Toph were going to take the place of Aang at the meeting along with Zuko hoping the three of them would be enough.

"Yep, but why did you say finally?" Toph question before Zuko could ask.

"Well, Katara and I got sick once, but no matter what kind of weather and fights he got into he never got sick. Well, unless you count the whole scar on the back as sick."

"I guess the Avatar just doesn't have the same body defenses as we do, maybe his are stronger?" Zuko contributed, making Aang seem like some god.

"I just think he's lucky and time finally caught up to him." Toph smirked.

"Yeah, but Zuko's idea is cooler." Sokka rubbed his hands together in delight and Toph just blew a little of her up from her face, Zuko colored in amusement.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"I've never seen two people like it before." Mai commented, still pondering on seeing Aang and Katara from that morning. Zuko, her, Sokka, and Suki were all enjoying a lovely night under the stars, just the two couples together telling stories and giving insight into their relationships.

"I'm not surprised. When I first saw them way back on their first visit to Kyoshi I sensed they'd be together, in a way they sort of inspired me to go after Sokka." Suki explained and Sokka just gave her a slight peck while pulled her closer.

"When my sister loves she loves hard, and I'm sure Aang is just as serious about it too. I know I should be worried but right now I just feel calm about the whole matter, I know they're serious but I also know how mature they are, they know their limits and what not but I'm sure a little more down the line in their relationship they'll need to be talked to when those urges come about." The whole group snickered a bit, knowing exactly what those urges Sokka was talking about where.

"They've probably already had some spurs themselves; they just have enough respect not to do it around other people." Zuko added feeling satisfied when Sokka stilled at the realization.

"Well, look at us, all sitting here, two couples talking about Aang and Katara, they'd be happy about how much of an inspiration they are." Suki concluded leaning a little more into Sokka as the four toasted the Avatar and his lover.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Does that feel any better?" Katara asked when she feed Aang the last of his noodles. She hoped the warm grain would settle his stomach. Aang nodded and blushed from the combination of his fever and Katara's general kindness. Katara actually found it rather cute and kissed one of his burning cheeks because of it. He sighed in contentment and whispered "I love you" to her gently. She just smiled more and returned the comment.

"I'm kind of tired, Katara." Aang announced after she checked his fever.

"Alright you sleep; I'll stay in here a little longer."

"Why? I'll just be sleeping." She went under the covers next to him and pulled him against her collar bone, making him blush at the area of her that was right below his face.

"Just helping you fall asleep faster. When you're sick it's harder and a little more challenging to settle your body when all it wants to do is act up, maybe a warm body will help." She winked at him making his mind wonder at the possibilities, but then realized that he was sick and just enjoyed the comfort.

Maybe being sick isn't all that bad.

To be continued...