Chapter Text
In the back of a carriage, Lee sat covered with a cloth, camouflaged with the sacks and crates of vegetables. Aito sat next to him, alert, an arm around Lee's shoulder, pulling him in and keeping him steady. The wheels would hitch every now and then from the debris on the path.
They were both extremely lucky to find Aito's relative where they were stationed. He was willing to bring them back to where they belonged after they strayed from the rest of the division during battle.
Aito peered down at Lee, who seemed out of it. He placed his hand on Lee's forehead and was disappointed to find he was still burning up. He removed the cloth so he could get some air, then took a deep breath himself.
For a moment, he allowed himself to be calm and thankful that they had made it this far.
He gently shook Lee by the shoulders. No response.
"Hey, you doing okay?"
No response. Lee continued to stare blankly at the floor of the carriage.
Aito snapped next to Lee's right ear, and the younger turned his head slightly. He snapped next to the left ear, and once again received no response.
He retrieved his water skin from his pack and poured some on a smaller cloth, then placed it on Lee's forehead to hopefully reduce his fever.
The rest of the trip was spent changing Lee's cloth and watching the endless rocky landscape pass by. Aito stole an apple and offered one half to Lee, who held it loosely in his hand. He took a small bite after a while.
It was quiet, save for the hooves of the ostrich horses clacking against the road, and the sound of Lee's breathing as he napped on Aito's shoulder.
With a bit of childish curiosity, Aito asked the sleeping boy, "We're friends, right?"
He was interrupted by the clang of small, bullet-like rocks ricocheting off the carriage. Aito dodged, then shouted to his cousin. "Hey, park us over by the rocks!" He threw Lee over his shoulder. "Lee, ride's over!"
The carriage left them behind, and Aito brought Lee to cover behind large rocks. The enemy army rapidly approaching, Aito tried to wake Lee from his dazed state, and still, nothing. He groaned.
Gently, he tucked away Lee's messy hair, then placed his helmet on his head. He stared at him for a moment.
Eyes closed, Lee could've been mistaken for an angel. In these few seconds, he was away from the world that had caused him so much strife, instead dreaming about a place where he found peace.
He couldn't dream for long, Aito knew that, and he shook him. Lee woke up, a soft groan of pain leaving him.
"I'll be back soon," Aito said. "If I don't come back in-" He glanced behind him at the enemy. "-ten minutes, then leave without me."
Lee gave him a confused look. He barely registered the words, in his groggy state.
Aito sighed. He shifted to Lee's right side. "Listen. Wait ten minutes, and if I don't come back, save yourself."
Aito turned and began to walk away. Lee reached out for him, his hand shaking, but Aito didn't look back.
Lee waited five minutes before gathering all his strength and rising from his seat. He stumbled several times before regaining his footing. He trudged forward, watching the dust settle from their attackers, shuffling until he hit the dirt. He crawled on his stomach.
He was covered with mud and dirt and soaked with rain by the time he reached Aito, lying on his back with his arms and legs spread out, a knife just barely out of his grasp. The sight of his blood, being carried by the runoff, made Lee pick up his pace, though not by much.
Aito was still alive, but...
Lee plopped himself in the dirt next to Aito, sitting over him. His lips parted, and he didn't speak until a few seconds later.
"Aito."
Aito stared back at him. His lips slowly curled into a soft smile. He struggled to see over the blood in his eyes, yet he knew Lee was safe, for now.
"For the...both of us..."
"Both of us?"
Aito grabbed Lee by the shirt and brought him in for a hug. Lee rested his head on Aito's chest, feeling his arm wrapped weakly around him. He was slipping away, out of his grasp.
"Live," Aito breathed.
He chuckled softly. "That's right...you're gonna...you're gonnna..."
Lee sat up, coming back with his face coated in a layer of Aito's blood. He returned Aito's gaze, seeing his smile grow as he turned his head to the side and watched the rain sprinkle down into a small pool.
With his other hand, Aito ripped his dog tags from his neck and placed them in Lee's palm.
Aito. Fire Nation Army. 41st Division.
Lee tried to shake his head in protest. As if that would stop the hands of fate.
Aito let out a soft breath. And that was it.
Lee held Aito's tags close to his chest. He looked up at the sky, gray clouds blocking the sun. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he squeezed the tags a little tighter.
His heartwretching scream turned sob echoed for miles. He threw himself down into Aito's arms, holding his hand so tightly he felt it would break.
Letting the rain wash over both of them, Lee remained unmoving. He peered up at Aito.
Eyes closed, he could've been mistaken for an angel. He was far away from the world that had caused him so much strife, instead floating up in the clouds above.
The seconds stretched into minutes that stretched into hours, and yet Lee didn't seem to notice. He felt like he did back in the carriage, dissociated, out of it, his illness wrecking havoc on his body and weakening his spirits further.
This would be a nice place to die, he thought.
But then the face of someone dear to him, waiting for his return in Capital City, flashed in his mind. A fire was lit in his heart.
As the storm cleared and sunlight poked through the clouds, Lee rose. Aito's tags in his hand, and their final conversation repeating in his mind, Lee's determination burned like raging flames.
He forced himself away from Aito's final resting place and took his first few steps that would lead him back home.