Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender does not belong to me.
The Boy in the Zoot Suit
Chapter 3
Gyatso loved telling stories. Aang could remember them quite well. Most of his stories were about the all powerful Avatar; the only person in the world who could master all four elements. He talked of how the Avatar could preserve peace, settle national desputes, and save the world. Aang couldn't help but be happy he wasn't the Avatar. What person wants the responsibility of the world on their shoulders? But for some reason, uncle Gyatso always looked so full of hope whenever he told these stories. His voice was always full with cheer and happiness.
The stories stopped when he died.
Aang can remember holding his hand in the hospitial as he took in his last few breaths. Aang felt horrible too. Like Gyatso's death was his fault. He should have never eavesdropped on that secret conversation. He should have never ran away from home because of it. Then maybe, just maybe, Gyatso would not have been shot.
He watched his uncle's eyes close and his stomach stop rising. For those few minutes, he wished he had died with him.
The morning sun was just beginning to rise. Stirring colors of purple, orange, blue, red, and yellow. Chicago's sky always looked magnificant when it played with colors.
Aang looked up at the girl across from him. Her back was leaned up against the dusty red brick wall, her hair cascaded down in lose waves around her carmel brown face; stopping at her elbows, arms laid out neatly beside her. With every breath her chest rose and with every exhale her chest gradually descended.
Aang took off his fedora hat and placed it on his lap. His hair had grown to his ears and he absolutely couldn't stand it. He put a hand up to his head, feeling it's soft texture, and scratched. A contemp sigh leaving his lips.
Sunday always had this kind of affect on him. No matter the circumstances he could always find a little bit of happiness on Sunday. Though, with a night like Saturday, you'd think he'd be pretty mad.
It wasn't the part of saving a young beautiful girl's life that angered him, but how stubborn she was after he had saved her life.
"I told you once and I'll tell you again: I'm good now," Katara's voice was filled with determination. She jumped up to her now strong legs and headed out of the dark ally way. Aang stared after her and let out a fustrated sigh. He lazily put a hand up to his strong shoulder and held onto it, watching her feet hit the ground and make puddle splash.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" he called after her, slowly following her through the darkness. "You really shouldn't be walking these streets. Especially not at night. Please listen to me here ma'am. People like that guy you met are all around here, if you go out there, there's a huge possibility you'll never see daylight again."
Katara stopped walking. She spun around to face him, his strong bare chest glistening under the street lights. She did her best not to drool at the sight. She turned her focus to his eyes, but they were no help either. Those stormy eyes could make any girl fall under his spell. So instead she looked at the cap laid neatly ontop of his head.
"And why do you care so much? You don't know me, I don't know you. How do I know your not like every other guy out there on these streets?" She narrowed her eyes and placed both hands on her hips.
Aang nodded his head and tilted his black fedora cap up toward the night sky, his eyes looking up at the stars. He leaned his bare back against the cold dusty red brick wall and folded his arms.
"Your right. You don't know me. I don't know you. I could be just like every other guy on this street, but then again, I could be different. Go ahead. Try to find your car. If we die tonight, don't blame me." His stormy eyes looked at her from the corner of his eyes for a quick second before his gaze went back up toward the stars.
"What do you mean by we?" Katara narrowed her eyes, drawing her now folded arms even closer to her chest.
"Exactly what I said. I'm not letting you go out there on those streets alone. I'm going with you miss..." he waited for her to fill in the blank.
"I'm not telling you my name." Katara frowned, her nose crinkling just slightly and her blue eyes sparkling under the light of the moon. Aang couldn't help but smile. She looked beautiful even when she was mad.
"That's fine with me ma'am. So let's go." He walked up to her and extended his arm. "Lead the way m'lady."
Katara looked him directly in the eyes and tried her best not to kiss him. "You look here. I'm going by myself, and that's final. I don't need your help. Thank you for earlier though. I really do appreciate it, but I got it now. Okay?" She didn't mean to but ended up poking him the chest with her finger. Her eyes widened for a quick second, quickly she grabbed her hand and looked away.
Aang chuckled lightly. "Okay ma'am. Whatever you say."
Katara smiled at the young man and shook his hand. "Thank you for all that you have done." She started walking away but soon turned around for a brief second to see the boy standing right where she left him. "You sure you don't want your jacket back?" Aang shook his head and smiled.
"You can keep it."
Katara didn't make it far. She was at the point where the quiet ally met the street. She looked down both sides of the street. A wide two lane highway didnt leave much space for the sidewalks. Across the street were a group of young men. They all wore threatening looks, their grills shimmered under the moon and blinking street lights. She sucked in her breath and made the best decision she could at the moment.
I should turn around right now before I get myself killed.
Soon as she turned around she was almost face to face with the boy in the, well now torn, zoot suit. She jumped slightly. She was two inches shorter than him. She looked up at him and he smiled, his beautiful white teeth could light up any dark night.
"I told you I wasn't gonna let you go out on these streets by yourself."
Katara rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but be a little thankful that he was right behind her.
Katara's eyes fluttered open and lazily stared at him. Her blue eyes had him hooked. An ocean meeting smooth gray clouds. Who knew the encounter could be so amazing.
"Goodmorning ma'am. How was your sleep?" his voice was calm and soothing as it reached her ears. Like a sweet low melody that she wouldn't mind listening to forever.
She lazily rubbed the sleep from her eyes and glanced around to see her surroundings. Large dumpsters were laid out all around them. The smell was horrible. She gazed up toward the sky, seeing that morning was just beginning to come into play.
She looked down at her once injured hands, arms, and legs. They were completely healed. The only sign that she had a rough night being her torn and bloodied jeans.
"Hi," she smiled lightly at her hero, "It was fairly decent, I guess you could say. How was yours?"
"Oh. It was good," he lied. Aang got no sleep whatsoever last night. He watched over her like a hawk the entire time. In fact he had to fight off a few guys who wanted to cause her harm. Part of him could not understand this new behavior. He had never been like this before.
"What happened?" Katara got up from her spot and kneeled in front of his criss crossed legs. She ran a finger over his bruised eye. It twitched lightly when she did so. She quickly pulled back. "I'm sorry. Did that hurt?"
Aang looked away from her eyes. "Not really. I'm okay," he said quietly.
Katara narrowed her eyes, clearly seeing past this lie. His lip was bruised, his left eye was purple and swolen, and a long scratch ran down one of his arms.
Katara frowned and shook her head. She would have noticed that last night. There were street lights down here anyways, so its not like she was completely blind to her surroundings. Colors continued swirling in the sky as the sun was still in the stage of rising.
"No your not," she got up from her spot on the ground and pulled him up with her. "You're coming with me. You saved my life last night, I owe you one."
Aang smiled. "No you don't miss. I saved you because I wanted to. You owe me nothing."
Katara frowned and Aang recognized the same look from last night appear across her beautiful features. A look of determination. "Don't argue with me damn it. I don't have work today and you're coming with me. Do you understand?"
Aang sighed and rolled his eyes. He wasn't in the mood to argue. "Yes ma'am," he chuckled. Katara patted her pocket and sighed in relief. She lightly tugged at his arm pulling him out of the ally. Fortunately, her keys were still intact. Hopefully her car was still present as well.
Perfect plan, she thought to herself. Maybe this guy knows Ozai. I can get top secret details! I can finally get his crew and him locked up for good. Plus, he's a waterbender. I know that because he used healing on me. But what were those fighting moves he used? I guess I'll find out soon enough. All I have to do is make him think I'm his friend...
