More Kataang goodness? I think so! I saw the prompt for today and I was like "Oh my god I know just what to do!" and then I was like crap I have another good idea! I was so torn….That is a first for me! And since I haven't done anything sad yet, I had to do it. And what better setting than in season three when things are finally heating up? By the way, none of these one shots are related.
Katara felt like a monster. The worst part of that statement was that it was the truth. To make things worse, she didn't do it against her will. Part of her said it was to save two people she loved and the other part said the circumstances didn't change anything. She didn't know which part of herself to side with.
The full moon hung over the trees of their camp. The feeling that coursed through her veins was like none other she had felt before. She had always felt stronger on a full moon like tonight, but everything was amplified now. Her hands were shaking and her nerves felt on end. A fire consumed her body.
To person who loved the feel of power, this would have been the most amazing feeling ever to be experienced. To the humble Katara, the feeling scared her. She was a stranger in her own body. She felt unsure about all of her movements to the point that she sat down outside of camp and didn't move. She didn't want to risk bloodbending again. She didn't want to be tempted.
Maybe that was the worst part about it. She felt the drive to bend blood. She wanted to. Every muscle in her body tensed and readied for the time when that came. Against her own self, she wanted it more than anything. This was no longer a spark in her like when she first bloodbending. This was a full on fire.
Katara had felt confused before but never like this. It was her mind and body fighting against each other. The inner strife was enough to make her insane. And things only got worse when a certain monk showed up.
"Katara," the pull to bloodbend increased with his presence. Another spark ignited in her body. She was sure it was the spark that came along with the urge to bloodbend now but she doubted that for one second. "I know you probably want to be alone but sitting out here isn't going to help anything," He moved closer to stand behind her. She was sitting in a thick patch of grass facing away from him. Her hair blew slightly with the warm wind but her body remained stiff, "You're just running away from it. And you can't run away from yourself."
"Your infinite wisdom gets a little old sometimes," she whispered. Her voice was almost lost in the wind but Aang caught it. At first Katara managed a small smile, just enough to turn up the corners of her mouth, but it quickly disappeared.
"So I've been told," Aang said still standing behind her. He knew Katara liked to work things out for herself sometimes. She was a very strong, independent person. It was one of the many things Aang adored about Katara. But now was one of the times he knew she couldn't do it alone. She was only going to beat herself up and make things worse. "May I sit?"
She nodded, but just barely. She was afraid of being close to Aang right now. She was unstable. The new flame that came with bloodbending made her very aware of the blood coursing through his veins. Her body and mind fought again and sent Katara into mass confusion once again. The battle raging in her was nowhere near its peak and she knew it would continue for a while.
"Do you want to talk?" Aang asked quietly sitting down next to her in the cool grass. Most fire nation nights were hot but tonight it was only warm. It was perfect weather to sit out in. Aang only wished they could enjoy it under better circumstances.
"About?" Katara asked shortly. She was afraid her voice would show how weak and confused she was really feeling. If she kept it to short sentences, she might keep safe. She couldn't let him know anything.
"How you're feeling," Aang paused and glanced over at her. Her knees were drawn up to her chest and her arms tight around them. She never looked so insecure. Aang heart broke for her. "I know you're hurting," He reached over and put a hand lightly on her shoulder.
Katara shrugged his hand off. His warm body was so close to her and it made her senses tingle. Katara had a small crush on Aang. If you could call it that, it was pretty serious. And her turmoil only made her feel worse. She loved Aang and the desire to bloodbend him left her feeling betrayed. She wanted to run away from him, but she knew that he would only follow.
"I don't know what it feels like," Aang began taking his hand back slowly. He would have to take a different approach with her, "But I'm sure it makes you feel terrible. And I don't know what's going through your mind but it's probably nothing good."
"I feel like a monster," she choked out. Her throat was thick and her body still tense. The word 'monster' could describe how bad she felt towards herself. She drew her knees closer to herself and sighed.
"You're not," Aang saw her about to protest but he held up a hand to stop her, "You sacrificed your spiritual needs for us. You didn't want to bloodbend but you did anyways to save us." He put his hand on her shoulder again and she didn't protest this time. She welcomed it. "That was really brave and noble of you and I'm grateful. Personally, I'm not ready to die."
Katara looked mildly impressed. In wisdom, he was beyond his years. She also couldn't help but smile at the last part. He could always make her smile, even in the worst times, "I don't think you dying again would be a good thing." He shrugged with a goofy grin. Here they were, under the worst possible circumstances and they were smiling. If there was one thing she loved about Aang, it was his attitude. "You don't think this makes me a monster?"
Aang saw her glance up at him for a moment but return back to her position. He rubbed his thumb over the exposed surface of her shoulder, "Not at all. I think you're the complete opposite."
She looked up at him, finally releasing the grip on her knees. His hand slipped down her back on accident but he left it there. For that moment, Katara forget about the urge to bloodbend him across the forest and looked him in those big gray eyes. He gave her a small grin that she couldn't help but return. Looking at him under the light of the moon made her heart skip. A new spark started in her. She couldn't identify this one. She had felt it before but she could never place it. This spark only ignited in Aang's presence.
He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and the urge to bloodbend was back. It was masked somewhat by the new spark in her. The confusion in her mind in body was too much to bear but she held her ground anyway. She had to have some control over herself. "I still think your infinite wisdom gets old sometimes," she smiled a little wider.
Aang's heart swelled with pride at the sight of Katara cheering up. She was the strongest person he knew and he couldn't believe he could be here with her. He smiled at her and shrugged, "It's an Avatar thing, and I think I'm stuck with it."
She laughed and put a hand on his knee. The new spark was taking her over now and she didn't mind this one. Bloodbending was going to be a part of her being now. She was a bloodbender. It was a fact of her life. She had much confusion to sort through and two new feelings to juggle.
But Katara loved a challenge.
I haven't written something sad in a while so I'm pretty pleased with myself. Review and tell me what you think! I LOVE reviews and everyone who does! Thanks for reading!
