It took less than an hour to bring down something that had existed for more than four years. The ease of it surprised Katara. Just as her sudden revelation had surprised her earlier that morning...
The air in the swamp was so humid. She didn't even notice the humidity—or lack thereof—in other parts of the world, just the swamp. Hoping to avoid the heat, she had gotten up early to go to the village for supplies. Her plan was hopeless, however, and she was drenched in sweat before she had gone half of the mile into town. Even as she admired the trees and wildlife around her, her lungs fought to breathe in air instead of moisture. Of course, she could bend the moist air away from her skin, but the headache brought on from the concentration wasn't worth the effort.
Seeing the town took her by surprise, as it always did. The swamp people were a good, but uncivilized people. Outside of the village, the people lived in huts, if they had a shelter at all. But the village was filled with quaint and surprisingly straight little houses and shops. Today was market day, so she expected the crowd, but underneath the common chatter was a thinly veiled layer of excitement.
She went to the fruit stall first, picking just a few of her favorites. When she went to the vendor to pay, he looked at her doubtfully. His name was Shin, she thought. They hadn't been there long so she wasn't sure. But he hadalways seemed OK, and fair enough with his prices, so his next words surprised her. "Is that it?" he asked, but not in the usual "helpful-shop-boy" way. It seemed as if he specifically thought she should spend more at his shop.
She bristled and her reply was a waspish, "Yeah. Is there a problem?"
"No, ma'am," he replied respectfully before explaining himself. "It's just that I heard the Avatar would be home today. I know he eats no meat, and when he is home, you buy more fruit."
Katara looked around in surprise, now understanding the undercurrent of excitement she had sensed from the market day crowd. Of course they would be excited about Aang's return.
The realization crashed around her like a sudden storm. They were wasting their lives away, she and Aang. Katara wasn't like these people. Aang's return held no excitement for her. Well, no more excitement than a visit from Sokka and Suki or Toph might bring. She didn't love Aang, not like that anyway.
She managed to babble out an apology to Shin and execute a normal-looking retreat from the market, but when she reached the path that led to their cabin, she was running. Katara was appalled. How could this have happened? After the comet, it had seemed inevitable that she would end up with Aang. He had wanted her as no other boy had. After she and Zuko had defeated Azula it was his safety she'd feared for.
And then, after the relationship started, it continued. There was nothing to stop it. No fights, and everyone was so happy for them, saying that they had seen it all along. Aang was strong and wise, a truly good person. Exactly the kind of man she wanted to spend her life with. But today was the day she realized that he wasn't the specific person that she wanted beside her forever.
He found her sitting on her knees in the main room. The room functioned as both kitchen and living area. Katara hadn't bothered to light a candle when the sun set, so the room was almost black. Aang's steps on the wooden floor echoed through the room, and the darkness served to emphasize the empty, hollow sound. The fruit was scattered around the room from where she had dropped the bag coming through the door. Not bothering to tidy up, she had settled down to wait for him.
"Katara?" he asked uncertainly.
Slowly and carefully she stated the words she had to say, "Aang, I'm moving out."
His answering sigh was not one of sorrow, it was one of relief.
She looked up at him in surprise. "How long?" she demanded as he folded himself into a sitting position across the room from her.
"I've known for almost a year now," he told her.
Katara sucked in her breath, "That long?" Aang only nodded. "Then why? Why didn't you…?"
"End it?" he finished the question for her. "Part of me wanted to. But I'd worked so hard for the relationship. I all but forced you into it. And I couldn't bear to have you in pain because of my fickleness. So I toughed it out, it wasn't all that hard. I do love you, Katara. Just not like I thought I did."
"Me either," she whispered.
There was silence between them for a few moments. The only sounds were the swamp crickets and the sound of Appa feeding in the barn. "What will we tell everyone?" Katara spoke first.
"The truth, I suppose. It's not really anyone's business but yours and mine."
Katara scoffed. "Aang, you're the Avatar. It's everyone's business what you do!"
"We'll work it out," he promised, pulling her in for a hug. It was a comfortable hug. Until now, Katara hadn't realized how stiff their embraces were.
Since the end of the war, they hadtraveled the world, living a few months in one place and a few in another. Traditionally, Avatars lived in their home nations. But the air nation was no more. The air folk had been nomads, so it was a nomadic life they hadchosen, and the world had welcomed them. They hadlived in a mansion in the fire nation, a cave near Ba Sing Se. This latest home, a small cabin in the swamp, had only one bedroom. This fact was suddenly awkward instead of cozy.
"Don't worry." Aang patted her head patronizingly as he released her. Normally she would have teased him about his age when he did something like that, but tonight it just seemed natural. "I'll sleep in the stable with Appa."
Even though it was late when she finally went to bed, it took Katara a long time to fall sleep. She lay awake a long time, turning the situation over in her mind. Part of her cringed at the embarrassment. They haddeclared themselves to one another, so what would the world say when they took it all back?
Aang was right, she decided. All that mattered was them and their feelings. Even as she put her fears to rest, Katara smiled wide in anticipation. Suddenly tomorrow felt new and different, exciting. It was like being freed from something she hadn't known she was tied to.
When she woke, she kicked the blanket off and prepared to face the day. She was nineteen years old and nothing about her future was decided yet.
But the day was more than half gone, and the house was empty. She found a note from Aang tacked to the door:
Katara,
I'm sorry to leave like this, but you were sleeping so peacefully… I know we left things sort of open-ended, but I'll be back soon. There are reports of squatters in the Southern Air Temple, and I have to go check them out. I know you'll understand. Don't worry. I'll be home in two weeks, probably less. We'll sort this all out then!
Your Friend,
Aang
Katara sighed. The future didn't seem any less bright, just not as immediate as it had earlier. Still, she picked up her basket and set off for the village. She hadn't gotten everything she wanted at market yesterday.
