Zuko ain't so bad [zukaang]

Lemurs only want nuts

Zuko's POV

I have no idea why I'm doing this. There's no reason for me to. I have absolutely no reason to do this. Except there is a reason. That reason is Aang. Unfortunately.

Currently I'm walking along the canyon's edge. Looking for that mysterious ladder that led to the exact middle of the canyon. The ladder was close to the sky bison's cave. The cave where another animal lived. The flying lemur.

I doubt that the lemur was taken along with the giant hulking bison. Lemurs are relatively easy to track. Of course I've never thought that I'd actually be tracking a flying lemur. That might be a bit difficult.

So here I am, walking along the edge of a cliff, looking for a lemur, because if I don't the lemur will give evidence of the Avatar's residence. Yeah. That's it. Not at all because it will make Aang happy.

Nope.

The dusty trail is obviously packed down enough that Annabelle has been using this route for some time. I have never seen it though. I doubt anyone has. The trail veered off slightly to the right. Directly off the edge of the cliff. There was no ladder. I walked towards the edge and looked down the fifty feet. The ladder was a heap of splinters and broken twigs.

"So much for that." I mutter bitterly. I look around for an alternative way down. All there is, is the occasional swamp tree, brave enough to grow so close to the canyon's edge. I was about to turn around when I heard rustling in the swamp tree's vines. I looked up slowly, it was probably wind or something.

It was not wind.

There was a small face in the vines. The face was not human. "CRAWWWW!!" The lizard bird screamed. Flying out of the tree, it's beady eyes locked on me.

"Shit," I curse under my breath. I immediately try to remember what Pops saying about avoiding lizard birds. Something about not moving unless it sees you, then you run. The bird cried out its ugly cry again, and swooped up. Preparing to dive down. A beak never looked so sharp before. I turn and bolted away from the tree. I hear the bird cawing again, and the rustling of feathers. I keep running along Annabelle's beaten path. I focus on placing one foot in front of the other, and not the increasingly close sound of an angry lizard bird.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit." I hissed under my breath as I ran along the edge. Suddenly there was a noise that wasn't me cussing or the lizard bird. It sounded something like a high pitched war cry.

"EEEEEEEPPPP!!" Followed by a thud. I whirled around, to see the flying lemur attacking the lizard bird. Screeching their battle cry. It pounded the bird's head with a rock about twice as big as their tiny fist. the bird retaliating with its sharp beak, and talons.

The two tousled and turned, flipping around each other in the air. I just stood there, watching like an idiot. The lemur screeched again. And pounded the bird again with the rock. The crack that followed, seemed to echo. I inwardly cringed.

The bird fell to the ground with a huff. The lemur, still flapping it's bat like wings, looked down at it and screeched again. The lemur then averted their attention to me. It landed next to the lizard, staring straight at me with its lime green eyes. I slowly waddled up to me. I looked down at the lemur, when it stopped directly at my feet. The lemur reached to my waist, ears included.

 It looked up at me and blinked. I blinked back.

It then walked closer sniffing my pocket, scratching at it with their tiny paw. The lemur made a questioning noise. Still pawing at my pocket. It reached in, I felt the candied nuts that I was going to give Kwasi. I had completely forgotten about them.

I pulled them out, their glossy coating shining. I kneeled down to the lemurs height. And handed him the candies. He crowed happily and ate the nuts munching loudly. I stood up and the lemur looked back up at me again.

He then jumped, flying slightly. He lowered himself onto my shoulder. It put me slightly off balance, but I steadied myself out. I reached up to the lemur and scratched his ear. He crowed happily again, and nuzzled into my hand. I chuckled softly.

I started towards the toad shack, with a lemur clinging to my shoulder. No one was out in main street, they all had jobs to attend to. The only ones who were out were Mary and Hope. Watching me with a curious gleam in their eyes. I shook my head, and entered the toad shack.

The place was dark, all of the windows had the curtains drawn tight. I made my way to the bedroom. The lemur looking around curiously. I walked into the bedroom, to find Aang not sleeping, but sitting up in bed. He was sitting monk style, not facing me. He was muttering something. I looked over his shoulder, to see a few rocks. Aang was glaring at them.

The lemur, screeched loud and clear. Aang whipped around to face us. The lemur quickly hopped off my shoulder. And flew to their master. Aang looked down at the lemur which had sat flown down in front of him in the bed. He looked up to me, a curious expression on his face. He looked back down at the lemur, then back up at me.

"Am I hallucinating?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

"No." I said shortly. Aang nodded and turned his attention back to the lemur. A wide relieved grin broke across his features. He scooped the lemur up, hugging him like a teddy bear. The lemur croaked trying with all its might to get out of the tight embrace.

"I missed you Momo." Aang murmured into the lemur's fur. He looked up at me gratefully, finally letting the poor lemur go. "Thanks Zuko." That's the second time he's said that to me today. I can't for the life of me figure out the oddly giddy feeling when he says that.

I smile softly at him. "It's no problem Aang." 

(A/N) 
You guys probably thought I forgot about Momo, he's the most important character

Side note, do you think I should write a chapter about Toph getting her first period? Cause I am sorely tempted to. {hah get it?}

Word count: 1097

{unedited}