Summary: This is a ATLA fanfiction in a somewhat AU- they still have their bending! Katara and Sokka find themselves in summer camp when their father is called off to battle in the summer. Katara finds herself caught up in new and old friend ships, new romances and an adventure that may change her perspective on life! Zutara; Sukka; Jetzula; Taang!
A/N: This is my first ATLA Fanfiction! I hope you all enjoy and reviews are very much welcome. All the above pairings will be in the story but mainly Zutara! I hope you enjoy!
Katara: Finally! Summer!
Suki: IKR! I have SO many plans this summer!
Katara: Me 2! I was planning on spending all day, everyday at the BEACH!
Suki: Everyday?!
Katara: Well…not everyday…but I will be around water so I can practice my bending…
Suki: Ugh! It's not fair! You and your magic water!
Katara frowned at her phone, she was concerned that her friend was being corrupted by her teen brother. The 15 years old girl rolled her eyes before typing her next text carefully.
Katara: Magic water? Suki? Are you hanging out with my brother to much?
The water-bender rolled her eyes as Suki sent a short text back in response.
Suki: uhh…no.
Katara glanced up from her phone long enough to see her father stride in, Navy uniform and all. The brunette girl smiled up from her lounging position on the couch and her father grimaced in response. Katara frowned, concerned, "Dad?" Ignoring Suki's text the water-bender dropped her phone and stood walking over to her dad, hands reached out in concern. Shaking his head Hakoda held up a firm hand, looking away, "Are you okay?" The warrior looked up at his daughter and Katara was shocked to see his eyes were brimmed with unshed tears.
"I'll be fine. Just…call Sokka." He gave her tight lipped grin before, before turning and slowly climbing up the stairs to his room. Katara felt her heart beating rapidly against her chest, the last time her father had been so secluded was when…closing her eyes against the tears that welled up in her eyes she forced the thought out of her mind and reached for her phone to locate her brother.
Suki: Kat?
Heasitating the girl contemplated how she should respond, deciding her fingers quickly flew over her screen in 3 simple letters
Katara: GTG
A couple seconds passed before a response popped up,
Suki: Okay?
Sighing Katara exited the contact and dialed up her brother's number, letting it ring.
30 minutes later the whole family was gathered in the living room. Katara was gnawing on a hang nail on her index figure nervously. Sokka was lounging on the recliner, feet over the arm and head over the other, hanging over the edge. He held his phone in his hand and his thumbs were moving quickly across the screen, he was grinning like an idiot and Katara could have sworn she saw Suki's name in the contact name. Hakoda was sitting on the couch across from Katara's and beside Sokka's, with his head bowed, his fingers laced, elbows resting on his knees and his forehead on his fingers; he seemed to be bracing himself for something. This is what had Katara nervous. Her father was never queit, always quick with a laugh or a joke. Glancing back over at Sokka she tried to make herself relax, maybe the news wasn't bad. Maybe all he had to say was that-
"The Navy is calling me off." Katara's back went rigid, eyes widening and shock pulsing through her veins. Tears flooded the brunette girl's eyes as her eyes focused in on her father, desperate for him to just look her in the eyes, laugh and point at her, declaring it was all a joke. Katara barley heard a small clank that Sokka's phone made as he dropped it in surprise, barley aware as he stood up and demanded Hakoda tell them that he was joking. Her father was desperately trying to look everywhere but his kids.
His eyes met hers suddenly and sorrow was evident in his eyes and Katara stood, knowing he had to go,
"When?" she chocked out. Emptiness was already sinking into her, an emptiness in her heart that only parents could fill. Last time her father had left her mother had been there to comfort her but now… Hakoda glared at the floor like it was its fault.
"Tomorrow." He whispered hoarsely and somehow through Sokka's ranting she heard in loud and clear. Shock and grief seized her heart and squeezed it in the most excruciating pain that any person could feel. Sokka had taken a breath and he seemed to catch the words lingering in the air and his eyes widened,
"Tomorrow?! As in tomorrow?!" he practically screamed. Hakoda nodded and Sokka collapsed in a chair.
The boy opened his mouth to start ranting again but suddenly Hakoda erupted from his chair, "That's enough Sokka." He growled, "I don't want this anymore then you do." Sokka opened his mouth to object but Hakoda swept on, "And both of you will be going to summer camp while I'm gone." Katara gasped at the sudden announcement but Hakoda only spared her a glance before his eyes narrowed back on Sokka, "And you will enjoy summer camp, and you will look after you sister." He demanded and Katara didn't hear Sokka's response for she had fled up stairs and slammed the door behind her.
The water-girl collapsed gracefully on her queen sized bed and grabbed a picture of her mother, clutching it to her chest. Chocking back sobs Katara finally gained a little control and slowly released the picture and held in out a little so she could gaze at the woman in the picture. Kya was standing proud in the picture, beside Hakoda. Both parents were in Navy uniforms and Kya had he hair in a graceful bun resting on top of her head. Hakoda was stoic but Kya's eyes were full of mirth and mischief, a gentle smile tugged at her lips, as if she was trying to hold back a full smile. Katara sighed and scooted up her bed, resting her head on her pillow and staring at another picture on her nightstand beside her bed. This picture was just of her mother and she wasn't in her Navy uniform. Instead she was wearing a light blue blouse with a white skirt. In this picture she was standing in front of a snow-blossom tree. A Water-Tribe tree that bloomed small white flowers during the winter.
A blossom was tucked behind her ear, holding back a strand of hair and she was smiling at the camera, flashing pearly white teeth. Kya's posture was relaxed and her eyes were loving and kind. A blue ribbon was tied around her neck with a silver stone with two waves swirling together. Katara smiled lovingly at the picture and reached forward stroking the picture, "Oh mom…" she sighed. The teen fell asleep staring at the picture of her mom.
"Katara!" the said girl suddenly jerked up, drawing up water in a weak stream that wavered and she held it up, aimed at her intruder. With a startled yelp the intruder collapsed on the other side of her bed, and peaked over the edge, it was Sokka.
"Sokka?" she asked groggily and looked over at the clock, 5:00am? She narrowed her eyes, "Why are you waking me up so early?" she demanded, a threatening edge in her voice, she was not a morning voice. She still held the water in the air, with her fingers curled slightly. Sokka stood up nervously, he fidgeted uncertainly glancing from Katara to the water and back. Arching an eye brow she continued to hold it and stared at him challengingly. Sokka shifted,
"I-uh..ehem," he began, clearing his throat, "I woke you up early because you didn't pack last night… You fell asleep before you could and I uhh…" he was clenching his fists and twiddling his fingers and Katara narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "I know you take a while to pack so…We leave at 9!" he yelled over his shoulder as he ran out of the room. Katara's face was red in anger at being woke up so early and she shot a stream of water at the boy, it was weak but It got the message across.
Groaning Katara rolled out of her bed and walked out and towards her bathroom. She turned on the sink, splashing water on her sleep-pale face. Grumbling she dried off her face, now some-what awake and grimaced at her reflection. Her hair was limp and her face was oily, shuddering she decided to take a shower after she packed for her forced summer vacation.
Not really focusing on what she was doing she flung open a couple of suit cases and began throwing stuff in them. After 30 minutes of packing she went over what she had packed: 7 pairs of jeans – 4 pairs of shorts – a thin jacket - 9 t-shirts with different logos and pictures on them – 5 long sleeved shirts all plain – A matching pair of blue pajama shirt and pants - 2 loose pairs of shorts and t-shirts for back up sleep wear – 7 pairs of underwear (top and bottom included) – 3 tank-tops all blue but different shades – 2 skirts one white and one light blue- 2 blouses – 2 swim suites (one bikini and one one-piece) - 2 towels (one bath and one beach) – toiletries - shoes (ranging from tennis shoes to dress shoes) – And a picture of her mom. After her inspection she sighed realizing she had no idea what this camp was about, explaining the variety of clothes. Glancing back over her shoulder at her clock she was surprised to see that 3 hours had already passed, leaving her an hour before they left. With a huff she stood and grabbed her phone charger and stuffed it in one of her four bags along with $100 dollars in her wallet and tossed a pillow on top of the pile of bags.
Now rushing, Katara grabbed a pair of boot-cut jeans and a white t-shirt with waves reaching delicately across the stomach and chest with swirls, along with a light black jacket with a blue swirly K above the left breast, and ran towards the bathroom for a shower.
By the time Katara was finished and her hair was braided down her back it was 8:45am. Her bags were already in the back of her brother's red Ford Pick-up truck. Katara watched as her brother hugged her dad good-bye and ran off, hopping into the drivers seat of the truck. Katara smiled sadly as she fell into her father's open, waiting embrace. She blinked back rapid tears and she wrapped her arms around her father's neck and buried her face into the crook of his neck. His arms wrapped around her middle, securely as he held his daughter, "I love you daddy." She whispered holding tighter. Hakoda responded likewise, clutching her tighter,
"I love you too, Kat. Watch over your brother?" he asked gently, drawing away so he could look her in the face. Katara nodded wordlessly,
"When will you be back?" she asked. He smiled,
"Tui and La willing I should be back 2 months' time. Katara nodded and hugged him one last time before drawing away. He rested his hands on her shoulders and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, "You look more and more like your mother every day." He whispered and Katara nodded, "Have fun Kat." He reuested. Katara nodded before turning away and hopping into the truck. She fought the urge to look back because she knew if she did look back she wouldn't keep going forward, instead she let Sokka drive away and she didn't turn back.