Words in Silence

For #4 - our distance and that person

There were words in silence: heavy, hurtful words that echoed over the fire and around their tiny camp and out into the woods until everyone knew what was going on without really knowing at all.

With every step closer to Ozai's defeat, every league further into Fire Nation territory, their danger multiplied. They were coming across patrols at least once every two days. Most they could circle around, but some confrontations could not be avoided. They were traveling hard, and on little sleep; with Azula hounding them and an entire nation to cross, it could only be expected that the mood was tense and emotions were running high.

Aang accepted this. He had expected it; Katara's endless mothering, Sokka's increased sarcasm, Toph's inability to contain her irritation. He'd even known that counting on the Fire Nation Prince would be a gamble, and that it was a gamble he had to make because they couldn't hope to get through the city and into the palace without him.

What he had not counted on was Katara jumping to Zuko's defense; Katara taking a hit that had been meant for the traitor, a hit that could have been avoided if Zuko had been smarter, if he hadn't gotten angry. Aang hadn't counted on having his heart stop – having everything inside him go absolutely still and then begin to accelerate as the avatar state tried to assert itself.

But she'd sat up with a cough, wiping blood from her nose and calling that she was all right, and reality had reasserted itself and he was back in control of his body and all its powers.

Zuko called her on it at dinner - because he could never just accept help when it was given - and rather than watch them start another fight, like they had done almost every night, Aang stepped in.

Then – and this was what really caught him off guard – Katara had defended Zuko, and something inside Aang had gone sour. He knew, immediately, that there was no basis for any type of jealous emotion over such a small act. She hadn't meant anything by it. Katara was just doing what she did best: helping someone pick up their pieces.

Still, it stung. Really, she might as well have kissed him.

Don't think that! He told himself immediately after. You'll make it happen, you moron! You want that about as much as a kick in the head…

The night was quiet as he kept a look out for Fire Nation patrols.

AN: I do in no way, shape, or form condone Zutara. This is the closest we'll get to it, I think...