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They kind of forgot about him. Aang thought he heard Zuko groaning after the whole fighting thing, and knew they weren't that far from shelter, and he was probably ready to cause more damage in minutes.
They shouldn't had forgotten about Zuko so easily, though, he almost caused them to lose everything. But the situation was dire, they were about to lose the moon forever and there was so much hanging in the balance, if they lost the moon not only they would lose the battle and perhaps the city and the tribe, but the world could change in horrible, horrible ways and who knew how deep and devastating the damage may become.
When Aang remembered, after everything was fixed, after they got the moon back, he went back with Appa, Katara and Sokka to where they last saw him and they were ready for a fight. Maybe Zuko had already left and was just right behind them, who knew with how sneaky that guy could be.
Maybe he was part of the retreating fire troops, although Zuko had always been more of a free agent, what with him being banished and all that. Hell, they didn't even know if the rest of the fire nation would even accept him, specially after he saved Aang while wearing that blue spirit mask.
Still, he may only be a boy, but they took him and the threat he posed seriously. They were ready for a fight, they were ready to take him down again.
What they weren't that ready for was the fact that he hadn't moved. He remained where they'd left him, forgotten in the snow, only know there was even less colour on his skin, all of him a stark white with an ashen grey tinge - except for the parts that were becoming blue, like the tips of his fingers or even his lips.
He wasn't even fighting them as they approached, either. Zuko's movements were weak and had no coordination, and whatever he tried to say came mumbled and wrong. He clearly didn't know where he was or who they were, he just kept on shivering, cold and pale and bruised as he was.
This was bad, this was so very bad.
Of course Zuko was a threat who had been getting in the way, who meant to give Aang to his mortal enemy before he was ready for a proper fight, who had done all sorts of terrible things. If something... irreparable had happened to him it would be on him and no one else. If he hadn't kept on following Aang and getting himself out there he wouldn't be hurt like this, or whatever had caused his previous bruises.
Still... they had left him there, abandoned in the snow, and he clearly had been hurt before, not by them. Some part of Aang suspected it was probably other people from the fire nation, probably to get back at him for freeing him when he'd been captured. That was kind of treason, wasn't it?
Zuko didn't seem to have a lot of people with him, behind him, on his side. Which was surely richly deserved, of course. Sokka and Katara had no doubt about it, that he brought all of this on himself.
Aang... he was more conflicted. He preferred when he had to fight platoons, nameless soldiers in uniforms. They were all people, of course, but they didn't have a face, a name, angry mismatched eyes that seemed to have so much more than they should behind them. More hatred, but also more pain... more loneliness.
It did sometimes feel like Zuko had been cornered into having to do this, same as what happened to Aang and saving the world. Sure, he would gladly do it, but it wasn't like he'd had much of a chance, much ability to choose.
And he was just a teenager. Whatever he had done so far could be fixed, right? Aang had also made mistakes, they all had. It came with being a child, right? They were just learning how life worked, how they worked and who they were.
Death should not be part of that equation.
Aang found himself hugging Zuko, blowing warm air on his head and chest, trying to undo the damage all that snow had made, for hours. Zuko had been left on the snow just like he'd been on that iceberg and there was something wrong about that, something unfair.
"Zuko? Can you hear me?"
"I don't think he can, dear child." a kind voice said not far from them.
An old man from the fire nation.
"Could you give him to me? He's my nephew, and I would be ever so grateful if you allowed him to heal properly rather than keep him captive."
So, this was the one person who Zuko had with him. Seemed harmless enough, but Aang knew better than to trust appearances, specially with people from the fire nation.
But it was done.
Despite the protests of Sokka and Katara, and the knowledge that this would cause them trouble in the future, Aang decided to let Zuko go with his uncle, to offer him this chance to get better and be better. Even if it was dangerous. Even if it seemingly made no sense.
It was not important. What mattered the most, what mattered really was there was nodeath in the snow, that he was remembered and not abandoned. Whatever the future may hold for them, and however many times they had to fight Zuko again, he wouldn't be gone because he'd been forgotten in the snow.
It would not be happening again.
Zuko was handed off to his uncle, who took his nephew in his arms with all the care in the world, smiled gently and said
“The world is lucky to have you as an Avatar, young man. May we meet again under better circumstances.”
Which.... how could the circumstances be better? Would Zuko be ever against chasing the Avatar?
Perhaps not, but he was just a boy and he deserved this chance.
And maybe with time.... who knew where the future might lead them. Maybe this kindness would be remembered, and tip the scales a bit earlier that they would have otherwise. Maybe this act of kindness was what got them insight into firebending and other fire nation techniques.
But still, Aang had not do it for that (even though maybe he would explain it like that to Sokka and Katara to see if he could make them the least bit less angry) he had done it for Zuko and all the other kids with too many responsibilities who had too many responsibilities and had been cornered into see them through, yes or yes.
It was hard, and it was unpleasant, but they should get a fighting chance... or two.