Hello again! Thank you guys for the follows and reviews! Things are about to get very dramatic and busy from this point on!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Avatar: The Last Airbender, or any of the charaters.
Chapter rating: T
Chapter 3: Decisions
"Aang we need to talk." He kept walking, ignoring me as we got closer to my house.
"Katara you will have so much fun! We will be able to travel just like before, except this time we will be looking for more air benders!" I grabbed his arm, forcing him to look my way.
"Aang listen to me!" His expression remained unchanged, his excitement obviously overflowing out of his pores. I couldn't tell him. Not just yet….
"Katara? What's wrong" I let go of his arm and let it fall to my side. I felt so guilty. For now I just needed to post pone it until I could talk with him properly.
"Well, about the trip….can it wait? I don't want to leave…" his face immediately fell. I twitched at those big grey orbs that held so much disappointment. "Im needed here Aang, I fell bad discussing this right now. We can talk about it tomorrow."
"But…Katara…" He reached for my hand before Toph bended the earth beneath the snow as a wall stood between the two of us. "Twinkle toes, she said later. Let's just go inside for now and get some food." I felt the breath I had subconsciously held release. I could rely on Toph to stop an argument, but whose side she would take was debatable. The wall quickly fell apart and into the ground as Aang stood on the other side. His face was facing to the left hiding from me. I looked up at Toph who was now standing at the door.
"Aang…let's go inside first yeah? You guys must be hungry." He took a deep breath before finally meeting my gaze. He nodded and turned to Toph.
"Toph couldn't stop talking about eating on the way here." He chuckled lightly, Toph placed her hands and her hips with a scowl on her face.
"Well excuusee me! Who decided to take forever in Ba Sing Se again?" I laughed. Things really hadn't changed much. We walked past the threshold into my house. Sokka was on his stomach reading another letter, probably from Suki.
"Sokka! Toph and Aang are-" Toph pushed past me and Aang before jumping on Sokka's back. "SNOOZLES!"
Sokka coughed, the wind knocked out of him from her attack. He sighed before mumbling something along the lines of "Hey Toph…" Aang was the next to greet Sokka, kneeling down to be as close to eye level with her brother on the floor.
"Hey Sokka!"
Sokka smiled and cracked his back when Toph finally made her way off of his back. "Hey Aang! How was Ba Sing Se?" Aang's face lit up with a big goofy grin stretching from one side of his face to the other.
"Amazing! I might even have some leads to some Air Benders!" I took that as my cue to leave before he brought the subject up again. I walked into the main room and noticed the familiar red envelope on the counter. Picking it up I noticed it really was from Zuko, I smiled rushing back into the other room peeking from around the side of the wall.
"Sokka! Is this mine?" Sokka looked over from behind his shoulder.
"Yeah, I went out early this morning and noticed Zuko's hawk when I was getting my letter from Suki. I grabbed it for you but I must have missed you this while I was making my rounds." I began to open my letter, allowing the trio to return to their conversation.
"A letter from Zuko?" Aang asked. I nodded my head without looking at him. I pinched the fold of the white paper before opening it. "Do you guys send them often?" I looked at them before reading the letter. Aang had a confused expression whereas Toph had a small smile.
"You two have always been close, no surprise there." Sokka nodded in agreement. I closed the letter and placed it back in the envelope. I would have to read it later.
"He's always understood me, and Aang yes we do. I don't think there's been a period of time since I left where I haven't received one." Aang didn't smile, but he didn't frown either. He just continued to look at me questionably. I opened my mouth to ask if they kept in touch but Sokka beat me to it.
"Katara and Zuko literally never stop talking about each other, he makes me question if Im really his best friend or if she is. Gah! They even dream about each other!" Sokka! I looked at Aang and Toph terrified at how they had interpreted that information.
"They dream about each other?" Aang asked quietly, as if he didn't want to believe it to be true
"Woooww Sugar Queen and Sparky, wonder what the dreams are about! Nothing inappropriate I hope," she said teasingly. I gave her a harsh look, not that she would know.
"IT ISN'T LIKE THAT! They are actually-" Aang stood up.
"But you dream about him?" I looked at Sokka next before taking a seat on the floor next to him. The cat was out of the bag now so I had to tell them.
"Yes, not like that though. I've been having nightmares." Aang sat back down. Worry etched onto his face as he leaned closer, willing me to continue. I sighed. "I keep dreaming about that day we faced Azula. But every time I dream about it, instead of dreaming about him being healed. He dies right in front of me…" Toph fell back and laced her hands together behind her head.
"How long has that been going on?" I smiled.
"It was pretty bad. About six months, starting the day Sokka and I got back." Sokka placed his head in his hand giving me a small smile. Besides him and Zuko I had never spoken about this."Sokka would hear me wake up in the middle of the night screaming his name. I was never loud enough for our dad to hear but since Sokka's room is right next door…he could hear it." I nudged him with my left shoulder. "But I'm okay now." Toph sat back up quickly.
"They just stopped?" I nodded, looking at Aang who had sighed in relief.
"Actually I wasn't planning on telling anyone but a certain someone couldn't keep his mouth shut," he looked at me apologetically "anyways, Zuko found out and said some stuff to me that sort of reassured me." Aang frowned.
"That's all it took? Why didn't you tell me about this Katara!?" Sokka got up and walked to the door leading to the kitchen. Understanding the awkward atmosphere.
"I'm going to make us some tea," I nodded and continued.
"Aang it wasn't something I wanted to tell anyone, Sokka and Zuko just happened to find out. And to your other question…no that wasn't all. He got me a bracelet-" I felt for my wrist. It wasn't there. Looking on my other I noticed it wasn't on me at all.
No no no no!
"Where is it!?"
Aang looked around but gave up quickly, he had never seen it before so he had no clue what to look for. I stood up quickly patting myself down before thinking carefully where I had it last.
Yesterday I definitely had it when I returned home from my class, I had it during dinner...and I definitely…took it off when I got in the bath. Of course, I had left it on the side of my bed on the nightstand. I sighed with relief.
"Katara where was the last place you had it?" Toph asked, beginning to stand up. Sokka had just returned with tea on a tray.
"Had what?" I grabbed Toph's hand forcing her to stay seated.
"My bracelet, it's okay I left it on my nightstand. I just panicked sorry." Toph crossed her arms, thinking hard about something.
"It must be pretty special to you if it made you freak out that much." I laughed a little.
"Well back to what I was explaining before, it's actually that bracelet that's stopped the nightmares. I haven't had one since I got it. I'll go get it real quick!" I stood up brushing the lint off of my blue dress.
"Hey Katara I forgot the fire flakes in the kitchen can you grab those when you head back."
"Sure!" I practically ran to my bedroom, feeling like I was chasing after a part of me that I had left behind. Just like I had remembered it sat on my nightstand. Grabbing it quickly, I latched it back onto my left hand. There, much better. Walking back out of my room I turned to the right into the kitchen and grabbed the fire flakes from the table. I quickly walked back into the living room handing Sokka his flakes and sat down in the same spot.
I held my wrist up for Aang and Toph to see.
"Katara I can't actually see it. Take it off so I can feel it. Don't worry I'll be careful," I unlatched the bracelet and handed it to her to feel. Aang's gaze hardened.
"It's really pretty Katara. Do you like bracelets?" I brought a hand up to my chin, now that I had thought about it I never really wore anything besides my mum's necklace.
"I don't prefer wearing any type of jewelry, but this one is special. Just like my mother's necklace." Toph was still fiddling with it feeling around at the charms.
"Is there letters on it as well? Your initials?" She handed the bracelet back to me. I reattached it to my wrist.
"Yeah, the cool part is when the sun hits it the flames glow red like their alive, and then against the moonlight it's the water and snowflakes. I wish you could see it Toph." She smiled before reaching over and taking a fire flake out of the bag.
"I'll just take your word for it Sugar Queen." Sokka began making a fuss on how she was taking too many fire flakes. I sighed, honestly he was a bottomless pit. Aang had remained quiet during the whole conversation, thinking hard about something.
"Aang?" His focus returned to the present and looked at me.
"Well that was really nice of him. I'm glad the nightmares have stopped. I wonder why they were so bad though. The same thing happened to me and you weren't nearly as bad." Sokka stopped stuffing the fire flakes into his mouth. He was right. Why did I have nightmares about Zuko dying? Did I care for him more than Aang…?
"Well, I…I'm not really sure. Maybe because back when you were hurt I wasn't watching. Not to mention I had spirit water with me. When it was me and Zuko, Azula was aiming at me. I thought I was going to die, so when Zuko jumped in front I just…" my voice got caught in my throat. I could feel the tears in the back of my eyes, fighting to fight past my stubbornness and roll down my face. I took a couple of shaky breaths."It's just different Aang, I was going to die…so that fear of Zuko dying in my place frightens the crap out of me." Sokka crunched on a fire flake, the noise carried through the room as we sat in silence.
"Katara…I'm so sorry, I didn-" Toph stood up abruptly.
"Well that got depressing fast, come on Twinkle Toes, Sugar Queen said she's doing better so let's not bring it up again." Aang nodded and I sighed in relief. I really didn't want to start reliving that scene again. I reached for the bracelet, immediately feeling like Zuko was here comforting me. "Does anyone have any good news that they can share?"
"Actually yes! Sokka has been training to become Chief! Our dad says he should be ready by next winter when he turns 18!" Aang and Toph looked over to Sokka who was rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"No way…" Aang said.
"Yeah it's true, in fact we are going to head over to the Northern Water Tribe in two days to talk about trade and stuff with Chief Arnook." Toph punched Sokka in the arm.
"Way to go Snoozles! Who knew you had it in you, if anyone I thought Sugar Queen over here would take over and you would head over to Kyoshi with Suki!" I looked to my brother who was blushing like crazy.
"Actually Suki is coming over here tomorrow. I forgot to tell you guys. She will be coming with us and she really wanted to see Katara again." I smiled, Suki was so beautiful in everything she did. It wasn't hard to believe that Sokka had fallen head over heels in love with her.
What was surprising was that she loved him…
"I'm so glad she found time to come over! I hope she can take the cold again, it might be more tolerable since last time. It's still early February." Toph shivered lightly in her spot.
"It's still pretty cold Sugar Queen…" I shrugged. After living in the South Pole you learn that early spring and summer was the warmest time of the year.
"The Northern Water Tribe?" Sokka and I looked at each other before nodding.
"Yes Aang, in two days we will be leaving…me included." Aang frowned again, he began to open his mouth into protest but I stopped him. "I'm going Aang, my tribe comes first. I have a priority as the Chiefs' daughter to attend this meeting. Not to mention Chief Arnook specifically asked for me the last time my father went." He leaned back dejected. I wasn't planning on telling him like this but it was probably for the best. The sooner he knew the better. I got up brushing the crumbs off of my dress.
"Well, I have to go change real quick, Im teaching water bending again at the school in thirty minutes." Toph got up with me.
"Can I come?"
"Of course, Aang did you want to come as well?" He had thought about it for a minute before getting up as well.
"Might as well, nothing else better to do." I gave him a warm smile before slipping into my room to change. I walked over to my drawers pulling out some navy blue satin pants that Zuko had given me for my 15th birthday a couple of months ago. On top I wore my long sleeved blue shirt and my coat over it. February or not, I would still get cold without some type of jacket. I walked back into the main room where Toph and Aang waited patiently.
"Okay I'm ready, let's go." We walked outside and into the village. I heard heavy footsteps behind us as we approached the middle of the tribe. Glancing over my shoulder was Sokka waving his space sword around.
"HEYY!" We stopped, waiting for him to finally catch up with us. When he did he was breathing heavily. "Geeze! Why didn't you wait?" I looked at him confused, placing a hand on my hip.
"Uhm, I didn't know you were coming?" He finally took a steady breath and we resumed walking. "Why are you coming?"
"Today Im supposed to train a couple of new guys how to use a sword. Since we have more non benders here they need to know other ways to protect themselves." I looked around our tribe as we walked north towards the training grounds. Over the past six months our tribe had grown significantly. People from the Northern Water Tribe had decided to come here in hopes of something different, not that there was anything wrong in the North, but we were more comfortable with our small size. Along with that influx of people where warriors, some were young men who wanted to start a new life over here. Non benders. However, we also got a healthy increase of water benders. I smiled, it had been too long since there were water benders in our tribe. Many of the younger generation had actually realized they were water benders. Thus the need for me to teach as many as I could whenever I had time.
I stretched my arms above my head, "Well I guess that's one way for you to show your potential as Chief." Toph snickered and Aang shook his head.
"As long as Snoozles doesn't mess it up! I can see it now…" Aang gave her a look, "Toph stop Sokka will be fine. Right?" Sokka nodded crossing his arms in frustration.
"I've done it before and they all improved greatly. Im surprised you didn't know about it lil sis." I shrugged, I might know a lot but not everything.
"Dad never mentioned it, I'm sure Suki will love it though. When does she come?" Sokka pulled the letter out of his pocket. It must have been the one he got today.
Letter? Ugh I knew I had forgotten something. I would have to read Zuko's letter when I got home.
"Around tomorrow afternoon she said. Apparently Zuko left a ship for her at Kyoshi to make the trip easier." I smiled, having Suki around would make my job so much easier especially with keeping Sokka entertained.
"I haven't seen Suki since Sozin's, it would be nice to see her again," Aang smiled. Toph poked Sokka in the ribs as we reached the top of the stairs.
"You going to give her a huge hug and kiss when she comes off that boat Snoozles?" Aang blushed, any type of intimacy was too much for him. I was surprised he had kissed me three times…three times in which I never pushed him away. I looked down, I really needed to tell Aang that I wasn't interested like Zuko had told me too.
"Actually…I was going to ask her to marry me."
OH HO HO! Sokka is becoming a man! A marriage proposal in the next chapter and someone gets a little ahead of themselves.
Poor Aang...just kidding no regrets. I promise you guys will get Zutara. I want this to be a love that develops over time. I feel like they are too young at the moment, with the exception of Sokka and Suki which will be explained.
Right now in the story its February, Aang turned 13 a couple of months ago
Katara just turned 15 in December.
Sokka is 16 but will be 17 in a couple of months.
Suki is 16 in a month.
Zuko will be turning 17 in July.
Toph turned 13 in January.
Also I will be writing my other Zutara later today the next chapter will have a preview if I get enough reviews~
Ciao~ Rae-Tan