Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA or A:LOK.
A/N: Off to a late start but still going for it! Happy Kataang Week :3
Day 1: Smile
He had been rather quiet all night, not exactly sure when or how long he slept if he actually did, and by the time they reached an Earth Kingdom town the next day, the morning sun was high over their heads and they landed with growling stomachs. Golden light spilled intensely over the tattooed monk who sat near Appa, his back leaning against the bison's fur while the Water Tribe siblings bickered in the near distance. Situated in his lap was an untouched jelly pastry wrapped in a few leaves the group had gathered earlier.
All morning, he hadn't been as cheerful even with the newfound company of Momo. No jokes, no vacation suggestions, none of the usual goofy wake-up pranks on Sokka. Only an attempted grin every now and then assuring his friends that he would be okay.
"Sokka and I. We're your family now."
He sighed, feeling warmth seep into him and comfort him with the promise provided in those words, and true to their sincerity, Katara and Sokka had been understanding about what happened. It hadn't been a full twenty four hours since the devastation they witnessed at the temple, and they figured Aang needed the time to reflect and let it all sink in, so the warrior went off hunting while Katara sought to interact with the townsfolk.
Aang had gradually tried his best to get his mind off of the Air Temple. Really, he did. He had volunteered to help Katara set up camp properly, conversed of his plans to still ride the koi fish and the hopping llamas, helped her carry the few supplies they were able to get with what little money was left. And yet no matter what he did, with every blink, he could still see the Southern Air Temple flaring before him. His home, his way of life, his people- all consumed by the play of power that had ravaged the world for the last century. Fleeting thoughts entered his mind at will, such as the unbelievable amount of power he apparently displayed when he felt his heart sink low enough in front of Gyatso's bones.
A shudder chilled him despite the air being hot. He could only be grateful that at this very moment, he had pieces of home with him in Appa and Momo. That he wasn't completely alone.
A shadow approached him, acting as cool shade against the blistering heat. "You haven't touched your cake." Katara, the oceans of her eyes swirling with concern.
"I'm not really hungry," he mumbled, scooting so she could sit beside him.
"Still thinking about what happened?"
"I'll be fine."
A small pause followed as her arm found its way around his shoulders. "I know that me losing my mom isn't the same degree of loss as having to lose an entire culture and way of life, everyone that you've known...but there's always another door open when one closes."
"Still, losing loved ones is extremely painful. I can't imagine how hard it was for you and Sokka when you lost your mother." A broken huff. "But what hurts the most in my case is that...I wasn't there. I couldn't do...anything…"
"I know it's hard, I do," she said. "I felt the exact same way. I felt like I couldn't do anything, either, and I was actually there when the raid happened. Trust me, I know exactly how you feel."
"But you were really young. I wasn't. For me, it was my responsibility to protect." He stared at the ground. "All this time, I'd been running away from my identity as the Avatar, and by the time I accepted it, by the time I started thinking that it's time I did something to protect the world...everything just…fell apart and...there's still so much I don't know. I don't know how Roku is going to help me."
She held him closer, and he sank into her arms like he did at the temple, tempted to lose himself to sorrow. "To tell you the truth, we're all too young to even be actively involved in the war right now. We're all being forced to grow up quickly."
He nodded slowly.
"When my dad left me and Sokka behind to go fight in the war, all the men in the tribe left, too." A sigh. "I can still clearly remember how bummed out Sokka was because he wasn't allowed to go to fight. And he was around, what, ten at the time? The minimum age to go to war in the tribes is sixteen, the same age Avatars usually find out about their true identity."
"This whole Avatar thing... maybe the monks made a mistake."
"The only mistake they made was telling you before you turned sixteen."
"So it's not fair for you to be hard on yourself and think you couldn't do anything about what happened. As an airbender or as the Avatar," she said. "But there will be a way for you to succeed, Aang. Several ways, I'm sure. I know you can do this. Just watch. You'll be one of the greatest Avatars in all of history."
That certainly lifted his spirits up, but another fear dawned over him. "But the thought of me being constantly targeted thanks to the war...if anything happens-"
"Aang, please, don't say things like that," she stopped him, her heart tugging painfully at the mere possibility of this boy being in danger. "Nothing's going to happen to you. Sokka and I promise that we will do everything we can to protect you."
"It's not that, Katara." He looked up. "If anything happens to you and Sokka...you're all I have left. I can't lose you guys."
The look on her face softened. "I trust that you will protect us, Aang, the way we'll protect you. And I also know that no matter what, we'll be here for you. We're in this together."
"And I'm really thankful for that," he said sincerely. "For you guys. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't calmed me down earlier. I could've hurt you."
"But you didn't. You listened. And you accepted us as your family. Don't ever see yourself as a threat. The world needs you, Sokka needs you, I need you."
He smiled, then, his stormy eyes shining. "And I need you, too-"
"Momo, I need that, put it down!"
Katara scowled at her brother who was almost to the point of wrestling with the lemur for a piece of fruit again. She ended up dropping her glare, however, as Aang watched the two in amusement and continued wistfully, "And I definitely consider myself lucky. It's not everyday you run into people who are willing to stay by your side."
"Well, it's not everyday you run into the Avatar who saves your village and is willing to take you to the North Pole to help you master waterbending," she smiled, nudging him softly. "And help your brother kick Fire Nation butts on the way."
"I guess so," he chuckled. "But I need to learn waterbending, too, so you could say it's a mutual benefit."
"Of course."
"Momo, get back here!"
"Yeah, Sokka's a downright idiot sometimes," Katara mumbled as she watched the warrior flail around. "But if he makes up his mind to protect someone, he'll do it one way or another." She smiled. "And if you ever need to talk...not just about this but anything else...you know I'm always here."
"I know. Thank you, Katara. What you said really means a lot to me-"
"Hey, there's not enough jelly in this."
The waterbender groaned and looked up again, pure annoyance crossing over her expression. "What now, Sokka?"
"Where'd you guys get these pastries, huh? How am I supposed to eat them without enough jelly in them?"
"What do you mean, there's loads of it."
"Yeah, Sokka. Try it for yourself and see."
"I can tell just by looking that it could use a little more," the warrior said, peering into the cake skeptically. "And it's starting to smell bad, too."
"I can't believe you," Katara stood up. "Those townsfolk were nice enough to give us something to eat, and instead of showing appreciation, you're complaining about it?"
"I'm not complaining. I'm just saying it looks a little dry-"
"The more you argue, the drier they'll get, so eat up and stop screeching like a deranged hyena-bat!"
"Guys, I think we should-" Aang began but was cut off by more of the bickering.
"But I still think they're- gaaah! HEY!" the warrior yelled as Katara, who had clearly had enough, encased her pastry in a ball of water and shoved it in her brother's face across the five-foot distance. The cream spilled through the pastry and splattered his cheekbones.
"Mmmph!"
"Seriously, Sokka, you need to learn to grow up, I swear."
"Me?! Katara, I've had enough of your magic water- Mmmphmppfmph! Stop it, Momo!"
Momo, who had just then taken a break from harassing Sokka, instantly attacked the warrior again and began licking the remnants of the cake off of Sokka's eyes and nose. He took a seat on top of the teen's head, the juices travelling up the warrior's hair with the motion of the lemur's sticky feet.
"Ugh, Momo, you're making it even worse! Stupid bending, stupid lemur, stupid cakes."
The waterbender continued griping to herself until she saw that the monk was laughing wistfully at the scene, wiping away the tiny traces of moisture left in his eyes. For a moment, he was suddenly reminded of the aim practices he had with Gyatso, the propelling of the fruit pies which always happened to land on the high monks and attracted the lemurs to pick off of their heads. He beamed in his usual cheerful manner as Katara flashed him a wide smile of her own.
"Say, Aang, you might be a master airbender and all, but you should still keep in touch with your aims."
"My aims?" he raised his eyebrows curiously.
"Well yeah. In fact, I need to practice my waterbending aims, too." She gestured to the container of pastries nearby and pointing to a struggling Sokka as he pried Momo off of him and tried to clean up the mess on his head, oblivious to the duo's conversation and intentions.
"We can't concern ourselves with what was. We must act on what is."
Appa roared, seeming to nudge Aang forward, and soon enough, the airbender was mirroring Katara's wide smirk.
"It would be fun...but poor Sokka…"
"Eh, he'll be okay."
"The cakes might go to waste, though."
"You forget, we have two containers of them. Sokka thinks there's only one."
"Ready?"
"Ready."
"One...two...three!"
Five or six cakes came crashing down on Sokka's head from the direction of Appa's saddle, and needless to say that Momo did not leave Sokka alone for the rest of the day and Sokka vowed to never again touch a jelly pastry in his life...well, not anytime soon, at least.