make It exist first, you can make It good later

Dustin watches Steve closely because in a real battle you should be ready to attack. Even though Steve looks relaxed and happy to take a breath. He runs his hand through his hair, brushing clammy locks back from forehead. Dustin would like to do so, but only because he hasn’t his own hair. Steve’s truly royal face looks good despite sweat and… Steve shakes his head, like he usually does, that his hair covers his scar. Dustin never feels enough courage to ask him about it, and maybe now is the right time?.. As seems through his intention Steve tenses for a moment and says before Dustin.

“Do you hear that?”

Dustin frowns and then his mouth drops open in surprise. How could Steve hear it before him? Dustin is ready to ask, but Steve points his head.

“Let’s check it out.” His eyes sparkling.

Dustin grins and without hesitation follows Steve into the woods. Steve is so boring and serious, but Dustin knows he is not. He just worried about the comet too much. “You have to be ready to face my father…” Steve often says. If you are afraid of your father it doesn’t mean I am afraid too Dustin thinks internally. When Steve allows himself to have some fun, when he is easy and carefree, Dustin is ready to follow him wherever he leads.

They make their way through the shrubbery, Steve slows down. They knee, looking on a small glade through leaves.

Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. And then low purr.

Dustin can’t hide wide smile. There is a wolflizard with three pups. They are still small so their skin is soft and smooth.

“They are so cute!” Dustin whispers, almost squeaking too. “Look, one has a yellow spot on his back!”

“Where?” Steve whispers back, shaking his head to his hair doesn't cover his left eye.

“C’mon.” Dustin tugs his arm. “We can move closer. We from the downwind side, they can’t smell us.”

“They still can hear us.” Steve tries to resist, but can’t do it strongly because he doesn’t want to make more noises. “Dustin! Dustin, stop!..”

Dustin grins watching Steve’s half-concerned, half-playful face, and doesn’t notice the dry twigs under his step.

Crack.

Dustin and Steve break eye contact and look in shock at the glade. Mother-wolf looks directly at them, her mouth is open and they perfectly see all two rows of her sharp fangs. She growls, not purring anymore.

“Run!” Steve commands and grabs Dustin’s hand.

They run without looking back, perfectly hearing how the wolflizard breaks through branches behind them. Dustin wraps his hand around Steve.

“Be ready!”

“What?! Wait! Dustin!”

“Jump!”

They run into more clear space and Steve jumps as been told. Dustin uses earthbend to give their jump more force. In the air he switches to the airbend to make the fly more smooth and long, and at the landing he uses earthbend again to make it easy and soft. Dustin is even a little upset that there is no water under them, he could make an ice road and they would slide on it, leaving the wolflizard far behind them. Not like a mother would be tracing them that far and leaving her pups, but still…

Steve takes his breath. Brushing his hair again from his forehead.

“Whew!” He catches Dustin’s gaze. “That was cool!”

Dustin can’t hide his smile, but he tries to hide sparks that are dancing under his fingers. Steve smiles back and then does a completely unexpected thing – strokes Dustin’s bald head like he ruffles his hair. Dustin pushes his hand, but he is already blushing.

“What was that?” He puffs.

“Nothing. Great job.” Steve grins, enjoying himself.

“But seriously, Steve, how did you hear them before me? I am an airbender. I can sense the wind with each part of my being.”

“I just have quite a good sense of hearing, that is all. They were closer to me and from my right side, so..”

“Wait!” Dustin’s eyes widened in realization. “You tell me you had an even better sense of hearing before your burn?”

“Kinda?” Steve doesn’t look pleasant and he covers his scar with hair again. Dustin bites his tongue. He should think better before asking.

They return to their training spot, but long after it Dustin still feels Steve’s touch to his head and it gives him goosebumps. Dustin thinks, maybe he could ask Steve to do it again or it would be too wierd?..

But Steve does it anyway, without asking, after a couple days. He confidently strokes Dustin's head after another training, but then stops and looks at Dustin in surprise.

“Did you stopped shaving your head?”

“Yeah.” Dustin shrugs nonchalantly, but he watches Steve’s reaction closely.

“But why? I know it is important in your culture, and you said it is helpful for airbending too. Can feel wind streams better with your skin or something.” For some reason Steve takes it seriously, but Dustin is actually glad that he has the opportunity to explain himself.

“You are right, it helps with airbending, and not only with it. But since your burn damages your sense of hearing, I feel it is fair to dull my senses too. If I knew, I would have done it earlier.”

“What? No! You will need all your power to defeat my father.” Dustin doesn’t like that Steve is too concerned again. Stop worrying, I will defeat your father for your sake.

“Take it as part of the training. I will shave before the final battle and my senses become sharp as never before. Unless you fall in love with my curls.” Dustin grins. Oh, Steve looks pretty when he blushes.