EMBLEM

~Chapter One

Disclaimer: The Characters do not belong to me, I'm not even sure where this Story is headed

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His hand was tightly fisted around her wrist as he led her through the Fire Nation Palace in the dead of night.

"Aang, where are we going?" she asked, her voice a little timid but no less enthused about this sudden invitation to have her follow him.

"Don't worry," he said looking back at her suddenly speeding up a bit. "I just want to show you something."

"Does it have to be in the middle of the night?"

"It's better that way!" he grinned.

She shook her head in annoyance from his childhood antics. Even though his 13th birthday had long passed, he still possessed the same attitude as his 12 year old self, just a little more on the gentleman side. Although romantic, it was nothing special to her that he would drag her around the once most feared place in the entire world. Nothing special, he's done it before.

As he slowed his pace, she couldn't help but see him in the pale light of the sunrise. The arrows that ran intertwined with his own spiritual energy – chi, that path that she once used to save his life. He brought her through great metal doors and into the under-construction courtyard, a slow process of fix up still being done from the very final Agni-Kai of Sozin's Comet. The air ship was still there on location, where her brother had landed it about four and a half months ago.

"Remember this place?" he asked, though his voice was low she could hear the excitement played through his words.

"Yes, of course, how could I forget, but I have no idea what this has to do with waking me up before dawn. We've been here millions of times, Aang. You, know, I think your over tired. I should get you back to bed before you crash. You have meetings tomorrow, you know," Katara ranted, sighing and folding her arms around her shoulders.

Aand smiled, "I know I have meetings tomorrow, which is why I opted to show you now. I knew I wouldn't get another chance."

"What do you mean?" Katara asked.

He shushed her and turned her towards the sun and held her tight around the waist. A ray of light slowly flooded over the burned roofs of the surrounding buildings and directly hit the middle of the fire emblem on the airship. It was joined by several other rays of sun and soon the whole courtyard was filled with a red glowing light. Katara awed at how the light invaded every corner of each shadow until the first clouds of the day rolled over the sun and shadowed up the courtyard. Although the sunrise was beautiful she couldn't help but wonder why Aang had wanted her to see it. The Fire emblem had lit up the entire courtyard. Was he being cryptic again? Did he see something she didn't?

She turned to face the young face of the Avatar? "Why?" she started

"I wanted you to see the light. It's how I defeated Ozai and brought balance back to the world. Everyone keeps misunderstanding when I try to explain it. I can't wake everyone up before sunrise but I wanted to show you exactly what I mean when I say 'I took away his bending'. I wanted you to understand, Katara, that sometimes power can corrupt people and lead them into darkness."

"I understand that, Aang," she said holding him tight. "I always did understand that. You can't become corrupt if you have someone to care about you. What are you worried about? The Nations? Zuko? The Earth King? Who's corrupt, Aang?"

The airbender shook his head at all her questions. "I never said I thought someone was corrupt I just want you to know what I was talking about."

"Alright, if you say so. We should probably be getting back." She separated herself from his grip and grabbed his arm instead linking their hands together and guiding him back to the guest rooms.

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Noon, came and went and the meeting still raged on. An angry flower pot sometimes flew out of the room followed by a crazy "That's an expensive vase!" from Zuko and a quick "Everyone, calm down!" from Aang. Of course, the flying plates and tea pots, Zuko seemed to care less about. Nevertheless, Katara stood just outside of firing range incase someone needed her healing abilities. Besides with most of her friends in that meeting, it was pretty boring walking around the palace all day. Mai and Suki had already stopped by twice to see how the meeting was going and offered the waterbender to come weapons shopping with them at Piandos but Katara politely declined saying that the meeting was almost over and then she and Aang were going to do something together. The warriors nodded and left having no idea that she and the airbender had planned nothing that day, but they didn't need to know. Even if Aang was in that meeting room all day she would still hand around because something he said that morning couldn't seem to leave her mind alone. She had been thinking about it all day.

It was only a Fire Nation emblem, right? What was he talking about? Why does everything have to be a puzzle with him?

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Aang had to keep his hands laced together to keep from bending himself straight out of his seat. He was antsy and board and just couldn't focus on anything except for the fact that his earthbending was telling him Katara was right outside the room. He had asked for another pillow but no matter how far he put himself from the floor, his senses just knew she was there and it was driving him mad.

He took his mind off the ground and into the pitcher of water sitting 8 feet in front of him. He rested both his hands on the table and tapped his fingers. The water in the pitcher danced with his rhythm until he had a whole number running from his fingers. The only problem was the moving water still reminded him of Katara. Suddenly his concentration was interrupted by a hard smack on his back. He jerked forward and so did the water, tipping the pitcher over and splashing water all over the table and papers that littered the surface. Luckily the closest waterbender, which happened to be Pakku, quickly dried the papers before there could be any permanent damage. After that all eyes were on Aang.

The airbender zoomed from the meeting room as soon as the council was dismissed. He wasn't one to hang around after the embarrassing torture of having to ask the council to repeat the question that he was supposed to answer, and besides, a certain someone was still lounging around outside the meeting room.

Aang bowled into Katara as soon as he was free and swung her around so she was in between anyone who was coming out of the chamber and himself.

"Aang, what are you doing?"

"Just missing you," he said cheekily, staying hidden behind her until all the council had filed out.

"Right, don't believe that for a second but I'll accept it. I missed you too," she said running her hands up and down his arms and the soft orange cloth that covered his shoulders.

"Now, let's get out of here before Zuko-" "Aang!" "Monkeyfeathers!" The Avatar grabbed Katara's hands and pulled her forward but Zuko grabbed his arm before he could run for it.

"Hi, Zuko," Aang said rubbing the back of his neck. The Fire Lord only scowled and dropped his arm as Katara walked over.

"What happened?" she asked them both.

"Aang decided to pay more attention to the water jug than to the four generals of the Fire Nation telling him about reconnaissance missions and The White Lotus' report on the evacuation of troops. He ultimately led to making a fool of himself, and me," Zuko explained.

Katara folded her arms and looked at him sternly. The Avatar shrunk underneath her gaze. "The water made me think of how pretty you were...?" he tried.

Katara sighed, "Aang."

"Okay, okay, I was bored! Like really bored!"

"Nice job today, Twinkletoes," Toph clapped suddenly appearing out of the empty meeting room, "I really enjoyed the way General Shu jumped backwards when the water spilled onto his plate."

"Toph that's not funny," Katara sighed. She turned on Aang.

"I'm sorry, Katara," he said before she could say anything to him. "I'll pay more attention next time."

"There may not be a next time, if you were listening to The White Lotus' report," Zuko said. "They might need your help in the Earth Kingdom."

"Is it really getting that bad?" Katara asked, Aang's lecture totally forgotten.

"All the soldiers want to do is come back home but the Earth Kingdom still thinks my people are there for capture. There were a lot of homes and families destroyed by the Fire Nation."

"Yeah, we know, almost every family we met in the Earth Kingdom was travelling to Ba Sing Se because their villages were destroyed," Katara said. Zuko hung his head and the Avatar stared at his friend, concerned.

Two women suddenly came from around the corner following a very excited Sokka who was carrying a very straight pointy object. The warrior ran up to the small group and swung his stick around randomly. Aang flew out of the way as the sharp point nearly nicked his shoulder. He stepped protectively closer to his girlfriend.

"Sokka, watch where your swinging that thing!" Katara emphasized on the long piece of metal in her brother's hands.

"But look Katara, it's Space Sword! Master Piando went looking for it and he found it! Actually found it!"

Toph smiled remembering that that space sword had saved both their lives. "Did he find Boomerang too?" she asked.

Sokka looked down at her. "No, unfortunately not but I can always get another one at the South Pole but this," he pulled the sleek black sword from the brown paper covering, "is one of a kind." Suki cleared her throat in an attempt to get her boyfriend's mind off his sword and on her. Sokka quickly covered his behind from getting kicked. "Just like my girl!" he added quickly. Suki rolled her eyes but accepted his one armed hug around her shoulders, smiling as he pulled her closer to him. They led the way down the hall quickly followed by Toph and then by Zuko and Mai, whose hands had laced themselves together through the conversation and bringing up the rear was Katara and Aang as they walked side by side, Katara smiling at her brother's happiness and Aang smiling because at least she was happy.

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"Whatcha' thinking about?" Katara asked the young airbender as she found him meditating up in his room that overlooked most of the capital city.

"Many things," he said as she sat beside him on a cushion, "but only one right now."

Katara blushed. "And what might that one thing be?"

Aang sighed and looked away. "I may have to leave for the Earth Kingdom soon."

"Oh," Katara said, disappointment etched onto her face.

"I don't know how long it will be," Aang carried on not noticing her expression change. "I don't know what I'll do without you."

Katara's head snapped towards his face, "What do you mean?"

Aang cringed, "In the Earth Kingdom, away from you and–"

"Whoa, 'away from me' are you saying that I wouldn't want to come with you?" she said standing up now.

Aang was shocked, "Don't get angry. I didn't think you'd want to come! It would be all military and soldier junk, you wouldn't want to be there."

"And if something happens to you, I wouldn't want to be there," Katara said.

"That's not what I meant," Aang said desperately.

"Well, it's what you saying!" she screamed.

"Fine!" Aang flew up from his seat startling her with his sudden movement. "If you absolutely need to come with me all you had to do was ask! I guess I don't know what I'm thinking anymore! Maybe I should just stay here and you go to all the meetings. Let's trade places, Katara. You can be the Avatar and I'll just waste my time all day! You can take all the responsibility that comes with being the world's only hope for peace and I'll just stand here beside you!" During his rage Aang had advanced quickly onto the waterbender so that now her back was against the door and her eyes were wide with terror on the words Aang had just unloaded on her. She didn't know what to think of him there. He was still breathing heavily, his eyes darting back and forth through hers waiting to see what she would say to him. Honestly, his words scared her, he scared her right now, and she didn't know if she wanted to talk to him about the lashing he had just unleashed or leave the room to escape another word beating.

She ran. Flew from the room before he had time to catch the tears in her eyes.

Aang sat down on the edge of his bed, and held his hands in his head, fearful of the problems that would be guaranteed to rise the next morning.

...

"And he just lashed out on you like that?" Suki said astonished as Katara came running into her room and collapsed explaining the entire story.

Katara nodded miserably, "Maybe, it's my own fault for getting angry with him in the first place. He's always under so much pressure and maybe I'm not doing enough for him."

"Katara, that's a lie. You do so much for him in a single day. He should be grateful for you! He's not allowed to just use you as a punching bag."

"He doesn't, Suki. And I know he's grateful! He's just being so odd lately, like he knows something. I'm almost positive, he wants me to guess what it is. It's like a little game to him, being all mysterious and cryptic! It drives me insane when he makes me solve his puzzles!" Katara explained.

"Why don't you just ask him to explain himself to you?" Suki asked.

"It doesn't work that way, he'll deny everything!"

"Then it's not worth it. Just leave him hanging. Sooner or later, he'll get bored of you not playing and just come out and tell you," Suki said.

"Unless it's something really important!" Katara rolled onto her back. "He'll just leave and then I'll have to go find him." Katara sighed. "I should go talk to him now. He's most likely cooled down." Katara swung her legs over the side of the double bed and slipped her shoes back on.

"Want me to come with you?" Suki asked getting off the bed too.

Katara shook her head. "No, I'll be fine, this is Aang we're talking about right. The worst he could do is knock me over, apologizing." She smiled and waved Suki a good-night then went back up to Aang's room. The door was shut tight and there was no noise coming from the dark room. "Aang?" she asked, trying the door handle. The light wood door slowly swung open. All the light in the airbenders room had been snuffed out. There were pillows spread all across the room and the blankets of the bed looked torn and tussled. Katara found the young airbender collapsed on his bed, dry stains of tears running along his cheeks. He had cried himself to sleep.

She silently rushed to his side, fixing his bed up neatly and making sure he was comfortable before settling down beside him to coax him into good dreams. The airbender stirred a bit as she cuddled him in her arms, but didn't wake. He sighed softly into her long sleeved coat and she took up the motion of sliding the back of her hand along his back.

I really haven't written in a while... this was a total cause of procrastination. If the story continues it will be Kataang, Maiko, and Sukka, and possibly around 8 chapters long... Review if you liked it and if you didn't offer advice, and if your too lazy to decide if you liked it or not feel free to just leave (cause that's what I do and I'm not expecting anything better). If you like Kataang raise the awareness because I'm noticing lately that there are next to no Kataang fanfics being written. Go watch the movie that comes out in 2 months, and join the fight against Racebenders!