Black Eyes
Chapter 3: Calm before the Storm
Part 1
Authors Notes: Hey everybody thank you for the reviews, the bad and the good ones. I would like to apologize for the errors in chapter 2; I am usually extremely rushed when I am writing a chapter so my ability to proof read, which is usually pretty good, relies solely on spell-check.
Also I am now taking ideas for small things you would like to see in the story such as a subplot, though keep in mind that these cannot get in the way of the main plotline. Lastly I would like to bring up another point that may come up with some of you later. This story will not be short therefore the character relationship development will be slow, and everything will take time to develop. Now before I make you all really annoyed, on with the story. Oh- wait one more thing… just kidding.
Katara slowly lowered herself to her knees beside the unconscious form of Aang. The young Avatar had been out for days now and Katara had begun to lose hope that he would come back.
For awhile after he had collapsed his tattoos had still glowed, meaning he was in the spirit world. Soon after they had returned to their normal state, signaling that his spirit had returned to his body. Even then he did not awaken. He just continued to lie still, completely unmoving except for the slow rise and fall of his breath.
Katara gently brought her hand down and glided a single finger across his jaw bone. In response she received a sharp intake of breath from the young Avatar. Katara jerked her hand back in surprise and her eyes widened in excitement, when nothing happened she sighed in defeat. This was not the first time this had happened, it was as if he could respond to the slightest touch and whispers but he could not move or open his eyes.
"Aang, I know you probably can't hear me but please come back to me. I…I need you. We all need you." Then in a voice she could barely hear herself, "I couldn't survive without you here with me Aang."
She heard the tent flap shuffle open behind her. She turned to see the newcomer and was surprised to find Zuko. The young prince had a somber expression on his face as he stared down at the Avatar.
"How is he?" He asked quietly, Katara looked down at Aang then back to Zuko.
"I'm not sure he….he hasn't awoken yet, but he seems to respond to the slightest touch. It's like he's here but he just can't come completely. Does that sound as confusing as I think it did?" Zuko gave a ghost of a smile and went to one knee at Aang's feet.
"You know I could watch him for awhile, you haven't left his side in days. Have you even slept?" Katara shook her head slowly at the question she also realized herself that she hadn't slept since this had happened.
"I…I could use a break I guess, but you better come and get me if he wakes up!" She finished in an overly earnest voice, almost motherly. The tone made his smile grow a little.
"I'll make sure you are the first to know." He replied quickly. Katara gave a nod of approval then got up slowly. She staggered slightly from exhaustion but finally made her way out of the large tent. Several moments passed after she left before he said what he had come to say.
He had wanted to say this for a long time but he had never been able to express his feelings to anyone that was paying attention. His heart had always been a closed thing except for the hate that he had allowed himself to feel.
"You saved my life Ava…" He shook his head at the name then continued, "You saved my life Aang, but not in the way that you think. You didn't save me from physical danger but you saved me from myself. I was a lost person, I had always been so angry at everyone. I was really just angry at myself. On the day of black sun when you and my father fought you helped me realize that I was fighting for the wrong side and I had been all along." Zuko paused for a second and allowed a tear to fall down his face, something that he had seldom allowed to happen.
"The moment my father found out that I failed to kill you was when you walked into the room. He had directed all of his anger at me he had me down. He was about to kill me but you… you saved me. You saved someone who had always chased you, someone who had wanted you dead." He paused and allowed himself a brief moment to reminisce on that fateful day.
"You showed me a selflessness that had always been around me, but I never understood it until then. So, thank you Aang." With that Zuko crossed his arms and legs. He sat in a sort of meditative position and then closed his eyes and allowed himself to sleep.
Aang's eyes gradually opened and his focus came in to the dark tent that he had been sleeping in. He slowly rose up from the pillow and groaned from the stiffness in his body. He slowly looked around the tent and wasn't surprised to see Zuko, considering he had heard him talking earlier. Although he couldn't make out what the young prince had said he had definitely heard him.
Zuko was still asleep, the slow rise and fall of his breath had steam coming out of it every so often. It must have been the equivalent of an airbender snore. Aang got up, slowly making sure he did not disturb the firebender, and walked out of the tent. He then went across the sandy ground and onto the beach. The surf waded in and out over his feet, he could feel the moon push the ocean in and then pull itself back out in an eternal dance.
"How are you?" Came a quiet voice from behind him. He turned and saw Katara standing there, her stunning eyes fixed upon him. It was as if she could see into his soul and tear away his secrets.
"I'm fine Katara, I'm sorry I woke you." Katara smiled and walked closer to him, and then she gently closed her arms around him. Aang's breath caught slightly at the intimate contact with the waterbender.
"I'm glad you did," she whispered in his ear. Then she pulled back and looked into his grey eyes. Aang couldn't help from getting that feeling again, that feeling she could see straight through him. "Would you care for some company Avatar Aang?" she asked in an overly playful voice, a big smile on her face.
"I would very much like some company Katara of the water tribe." Aang's smile matched the waterbenders at this point. Then they both sat down side-by side on the beach and watched the sun rise.
Some time passed before either spoke, then Katara broke the silence.
"Why did you go to the spirit world for so long?" Aang's content smile vanished from his features, leaving no trace of his earlier happiness. The reminder of his talk with the first Avatar left a dark place of dread in his heart. He looked at the waterbender and began the story of the first two Avatars and how they hated one another, and finished with the return of Carom.
"What are you going to do Aang?" was all Katara could say.
"I'm going to wait." The short reply got him a look of puzzlement, so he continued. "I'm going to let Carom make the first move, until then I will enjoy the time that I have with my friends." Katara smiled again and her eyes began to water. She was about to hug him but she was interrupted by a loud shout.
"Aang's awake! Aang's awake!" Yelled Sokka from behind the two. They turned to see the water tribe warrior running all out toward them only to fall on his face about halfway there. Katara's eyebrow went up, and then it was accompanied by smile when she saw Toph who was a little further down the beach. The earthbender had tripped Sokka with a little rock sticking out of the ground.
Sokka stood up quickly and spun around on the earthbender. "What was that for?" He yelled waving his arms around like a crazy man.
Toph's reply was in a matter of fact tone, "Because you talk to loud." Everyone began to laugh, but Sokka lowered his arms in defeat then continued his walk over to Aang.
Author's notes: Well there you have it Katara now knows about Carom, and Aang plans on having fun while he waits for the dark Avatar. Now the part with Zuko was inspired by the episode Siege of the north part 2 of season one, when Zuko talks about his life to an unconscious Aang.
The next chapter is going to be a continuation of this one it will be of the group having some fun before it all begins, then chapter 5 will be from Carom's point of view and his official intro, these chapters you will also find out about what has happened to Azula because she isn't dead and I have very special plans for her. Also next chapter is some mention of Iroh and what has happened to him. Oh and please review.
