disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: the Last Airbender, but Bryke sure does. And Nick or Viacom or whatever.
notes: I should be sleeping but this has been tugging at me for days so I had to write it.
They didn't say it out loud.
It had just always been there.
[It was like they were made of apologies.]
When he had watched her from across the fire, it was in his eyes.
[They pleaded with her but she was unrelenting.]
When they had gone to Yon Rha together, it was in her eyes.
[She refused to look into his but he still tried.]
When she had hugged him afterwards, it was in her arms.
[They gripped him a little too tight but he didn't mind.]
When he had spoken with her outside of his uncle's tent, it was in his whole body.
[It leaned and was weak with fear but she held him up.]
When she had demanded to join him in the capital, it was in her voice.
[It was brash but he knew she meant well.]
When he took lightening for her, it was in his voice.
[It was loud and terrified and justified all in one and she hated it.]
When she saved him, it was in her tears.
[They fell hard on his face and shoulder and he could feel the ocean in them.]
When she saw him with Mai, it was in his eyes.
[They looked more hurt than she felt and she couldn't help it.]
When he saw her with Aang, it was in her fingers.
[They danced all over and he knew exactly why.]
When they wrote to each other, it was in their letters.
[Hers were always beautiful and she always thought his read tiredly.]
When their children met, it was in their voices.
[They sounded like what she imagined his had sounded like when he was younger.]
When Aang was sick, it was in his hands.
[They wrung and held together and for once she wished they would hold her, instead.]
When Mai left, it was in her frown.
[It was hard and she couldn't believe someone would hurt him like this.]
But when Aang died, he said it out loud.
And then the whole world had come down. Because with the words, came the realization that it should've been said long before. That if it had been said long before, there would have been less secrets. Less secret kisses. Less of a secret that her son could've been, might've been his. Less secret ways to say I love you in their letters. Less secret glances when their families were around.
But while they were made of apologies, they were also made of secrets. And they always would be.
notes: I have no idea what this became but now I can wake up in 4 hours a little more satisfied and a little more sleep deprived.