For Catie, who technically proofed, but this is largely unbeta-ed.

Zuko/Aang are our newest passion. they're the most adorable dysfunctional couple ever.

It was cold, where they were. It hadn't snowed yet, but it was cold enough to, and the ground was practically frozen solid. It made the fire that Zuko was sitting at hiss, melting the ice in the soil beneath it.

He sighed poking the fire with a stick before tossing it on top, getting ready to sleep. He frowned at the Avatar, who was curled tightly around his staff a few feet away. He wasn't shivering, but he barely looked like he was breathing, either.

This wouldn't do. Why had the kid come so unprepared, anyway? This was a training mission, not one of his silly adventures.

Zuko grimaced a bit, standing up abruptly and going to lay out his bedroll, close enough to the fire to get some warmth. He hesitated a bit before grabbing the top blanket, quickly going to place it gently over the sleeping Avatar, hoping not to disturb him.

"nnn… Zuko?" The sleepy mumble startled him, made him snatch back his hands as if he had been burned. Aang raised a hand to rub at his eyes, frowning in confusion. "Whatcha doin?"

He stood, turning his back. "You need your rest. Go back to sleep," he said flatly, going back over to his side of camp and lying down, folding his arms over his chest.

Aang said nothing and Zuko thanked all of his ancestors for that small favor, concentrating on his breathing, blocking out the quiet snapping of the fire. There was a technique that would allow him to warm the air around him, if only he could remember the trick of maintaining it while he was asleep….

He opened his eyes, half-sitting up in surprise as he was covered with a soft blanket and another, warm body settled down next to his. He looked down at the Avatar, who was curled up next to him, lying on his side and facing him.

"What are you..?"

The boy shrugged, grinning. "You need your sleep too. Otherwise I'll crush you in practice tomorrow."

"You? You're nothing but a-" he started, but the Avatar had already closed his eyes, starting to snore faintly.

Zuko frowned but laid back down, reluctantly, glaring up at the stars. They weren't touching, but he could feel the other boy's warmth radiating out, soothingly.

He closed his eyes, breathing, filling his lungs with air so cold it cut. The snores next to him tapered off into steady breathing, which probably meant that the Avatar was truly asleep now. He let himself relax too, not cold at all anymore.