Avatar: The Last Airbender

How Could You?

Betrayal

Aang hated it when he couldn't sleep. His body was exhausted, but his mind was racing around at a million miles a second. He was thinking about many things: the war, Sozin's Comet, his final battle with the Fire Lord, his plans for after the way…the list went on and on. Of course, sleep was the last thing on his mind. After rolling around in his bed for several minutes and finally deciding that sleep was just impossible right now, Aang sighed and jumped to his feet. He dimly remembered Katara saying something about a lunar eclipse tonight. Aang usually went to sleep first out of the group, so it was still barely light out. He assumed that she had mentioned it because she was interested in watching it. If he recalled what she said to him about it, the moon would appear larger tonight then it did most of the time. Aang wondered if the moon's larger appearance would have any effect on his bending.

Suddenly, he got a feeling of elation. What if he asked Katara to Waterbend with him tonight? To Aang, it was the perfect idea. He started walking towards the lake, his steps light and bouncy. Surely Katara would want to spar under a lunar eclipse. Aang entered the tree cover, pushing low-hanging pine and spruce branches out of his way. His feeling of euphoria increased with every step he took. Maybe Katara had had the same idea as him; and she would welcome the company. Aang happily pushed the last few branches out of his face…and froze.

There, sitting on the shore of the mirror smooth lake sat Katara. But she wasn't alone. She was leaning into Zuko's chest, his arm around her waist. Aang suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. What was Katara doing with him? She hated him, even if he had been with them for two weeks. As he watched, completely and totally speechless, Zuko slowly turned his head and tentatively placed a kiss on the top of Katara's head. Aang smiled to himself; surely Zuko had gone too far this time. But he was again in for an unpleasant surprise. Katara giggled, a sound that he adored, but made his heart ache this time, and brought her hand up to rest on Zuko's back. With her other hand, she took a hold of Zuko's own and, in a moment that would forever more be pressed into Aang's brain, she brought her lips to his.

Aang's already cracking heart broke in two with a bittersweet smashing sound that he was sure the couple by the lake could hear. Aang could feel the tears side down his cheeks as he watched the two intensify the kiss, their hands running through each other's hair, over each other's bodies. Finally, just when he was sure that the rest of him would break into innumerable pieces, Zuko broke the kiss. Katara stared at him; her bottom lip protruding a little passed her upper one, obviously pouting because the kiss was over. Zuko stood up, his hand still intertwined with hers.

"Listen Katara, I need to get back and wake your brother. It's his turn to keep watch, and I don't think he'll take too kindly if he wakes up and both of us are gone."

Katara nodded, still a little disappointed that he had to break their tender moment for Sokka, but she quickly got over it when Zuko leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

"Love you."

Now it was her turn to kiss him.

"Love you too."

And his turn again.

"Good night."

And, finally, the last kiss was hers.

"Sleep tight."

And with that, Zuko got up and started to walk away. Aang watched him leave, wondering how he intended to get to camp by going that way, but he really didn't care. He felt devastated, furious, and betrayed all at once. And he was determined to have it out with the Waterbender. Aang stepped out of the trees and began to walk towards the object of his, emotional, destruction. He stopped when he was within five feet of her and loudly cleared his throat.

Katara jumped and started to mutter all sorts of excuses until she turned around and saw Aang standing there glaring at her. She brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face, her brain working overtime, trying to think of something to say.

"Hey, Aang. Didn't see you there."

Aang didn't move; didn't react in any way. Katara sighed and tried again.

"Want to watch the moon with me? It's beautiful."

It really was beautiful; Aang was tempted to simply forget what he had seen and join his friend, but he shook his head and kept up his glare at her. Katara stared inquisitively at him, one eyebrow cocked, her smile somehow infuriating Aang. He closed his eyes for a second, and then reopened them and pointed an accusing finger at Katara.

"You."

Katara looked puzzled, but then she pointed at herself.

"Yes, me. Katara."

Aang shook his head to lose any lingering thoughts of her, and then spoke again.

"You and him."

Katara didn't respond, her only indication that she heard him was a confused expression. Aang took it on himself to continue.

"What did I do, Katara? Was it something I said or did? Is it the way I look?"

Now Katara was really confused, a point she didn't hesitate to make. Aang rounded on her, his voice growing in volume.

"You chose him over me, Katara! Only two weeks ago, he tried to kill you! His sister killed me! Does that mean anything to you?!?"

Katara looked at the ground, avoiding Aang's gaze.

"Aang, I don't know what to s-"

"That's because there's nothing to say!"

Katara glanced up, meeting Aang's furious stare with her own.

"Why are you acting like this?"

Aang literally exploded with anger. The modest amount of Firebending that he had learned blossomed inside him, fueled by his rage, and lit up his body with its hellish glow. Katara backed up a step, and then two, and then several more. The air around her friend was too hot to stand in.

"Why am I acting like this? Maybe it's because I was just deigned the one thing in the world that I have always wanted. I have never asked for anything. The world asks the Avatar to solve its problems and then I get cheated out of the one thing that I want? How is that fair?" Aang stomped his foot on the ground, which shock violently underneath them. Katara let out a frightened squeal and backed up a few more steps, only stopping because she was ankle deep in the lake. She was more concerned, however with her friend's situation then her own. She had never seen Aang this angry; never seen his eyes this full or rage, pain and hurt. Her heart went out to him.

"Aang, I want to understand and help you. But I don't understand."

"No, you don't! You can't possibly! I was frozen for a hundred years! And the first thing that I saw when I woke up was your face. Now everything I close my eyes, all I can see is your face. Every time I dream, it's about you! Everything I have done is for you!"

Aang shouted the last word so loud it made Katara wince. He couldn't see it, but it was tearing her up inside, to see her best friend like this. When she finally looked up, it was to see Aang with a smirk on his face.

"I guess…all that we can ever be is friends." The Avatar said in a small, sad voice. He turned his back on Katara, who just stood with the gently waves of the lake lapping at her ankles and watched him shuffle away. Katara couldn't hold back the tears that started to fall; she started to sniffle, and then began to sob. Finally she collapsed, right there in the lake, ignoring the bitter cold, her cries echoing across the glassy surface of the lake. She was sure that Aang could still hear her; almost prayed that he would return to comfort her, but he never did. Finally, she rose and started the long journey back to camp.

-----

When she broke through the trees surrounding that camp, she found Aang packing things into a single backpack. Katara approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Aang-" she started, but Aang shook her hand off. Katara backed up a few steps, and then put her hands on her hips. She glanced over at Sokka's still sleeping figure. Rolling her eyes and deciding that Zuko, who was fast asleep, had forgotten to wake him up...or that Sokka had simply fallen asleep again.

"Aang, you're being ridicules."

Aang suddenly spun around, his grey eyes blazing. Katara gasped, and Aang gave her another smirk. "Yes." He said, one hand under his chin. "Maybe I am acting ridicules." He started towards Katara, his arms outstretched. Katara gave the first real smile she had that night and started to walk to him, intending to engulf him in her arms. Again, Aang surprised her. Roughly grabbing her hand, he turned around and forced her hand under his shirt, to rest on the scar on his back.

"Do you feel it, Katara?" he asked, watching over his shoulder for her reaction. Not sure what to do, she just nodded. "Do you have any idea how much it hurts?" His tone was, again, furious. Katara shook her head. Aang threw he hand off of his person in disgust.

"If…he hadn't turned on us, then there's a good chance that it never would have happened."

"But Aang…" started Katara, finally finding her voice. "It wasn't Zuko who gave you that scar. You're acting like it's all his fault." Aang whipped around so fast that she was certain he had used his Airbending to assist him.

"No, it wasn't him who struck, but he's as much to blame as Azula in my opinion."

"Well, in my opinion, he was wrong to turn on us, but he is not to blame for what happened to you. Even if he had joined us, Azula had her army of Dai Li." said Katara, her hands on her hips. "I think you're being unfair. Nothing has changed. Yes, me and Zuko are together, but you're still my best friend and student."

"Oh great, so you mean that I get to hear all the juicy details about you and Zuko?"

"No, Aang…that's…not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean, Katara?" When she didn't answer, he just sighed. He squeezed his eyes closed for a second, and then opened them. To Katara, he spoke one word.

"Choose."

Katara was taken aback. She had expected yelling, of course, and maybe some crying, but not this.

"What?"

"Choose, Katara. Me or Zuko."

Katara's eyes were filling with moisture. Had he just asked her to do what she thought he had?

"But, I don't want to choose. I want you both."

Aang turned away, his lithe body shaking.

"But not in the same way. I understand. It's over. Zuko won, I lost."

Katara's tears came at that moment, too fast and thick for her to control or halt. She searched for something, anything to say.

"Aang…I…I'm sorry. I promise to still be your friend and teach you Waterbending and stuff."

Aang whirred on her, his demeanor dark, his voice cold and hard.

"What? So you're still teach me Waterbending? Well, isn't that a relief. Not only do I lose the girl that I love, but I get to save the world so she and someone else can be happy together. Now, tell me, why should I do that? Why should I save the world when I am miserable?"

Katara opened and closed her mouth several times, each time failing to find words to convey exactly what she was feeling. When she finally found her voice, she lowered her head and spoke to the ground.

"You don't need me to be happy."

Aang froze. He knew she was right. In time, he would get over her. In time, he might find someone else. But time, it seemed, was not meant to be on his side. He rounded on Katara, snapping at his best friend in the world.

"Oh? And I suppose that means that you don't need Zuko either. Or Sokka, for that matter."

Katara reacted as if struck. How dare he! Against her better nature, she found herself yelling back at the young Avatar.

"For your information, I need both of you! You two are my family, Aang. We've been together for so long now. Please!"

Aang's gaze softened somewhat, before he forced it back into an ugly grimace.

"Don't worry, Katara. You won't miss me. You have Sokka and Toph and…Zuko." He spat the name out, before bending down and picking up his staff. Katara watched him as he slung the backpack over his shoulders and started to walk away. She ran over to him and grabbed his wrist.

"Aang, please, the world still needs you. I still need you."

Aang stopped walking, but he torn his hand out of Katara's grip.

"Need me for what? Of yes, I remember, you need me so you and Zuko can teach me the elements so I can save the world for you. And then what, you two go back to the Fire Nation and get married? Are you planning to invite me to the wedding? I hope I can be the best man."

His voice was dripping sarcasm now. Katara couldn't meet his gaze. She could almost feel the hurt radiating off him, and she was feeling so guilty that she was the cause of it. She sniffed and a tear slid down her cheek. She slowly looked up to see Aang staring, disgusted, at her. She tried one last time to talk him into staying.

"Aang…please…"

"No, Katara! I gave the world a chance! I gave you a chance! If I can't have what I've always wanted, then why should the world have what it wants?"

Aang paused for a second, catching his breath.

"Why should I end this war? Why should I care anymore? I was a fool to believe in love! Now I understand why Gyatso and the other monks were celibate. Love only causes heartbreak and devastation."

Aang turned on his heel and started to march away, his pace a little faster then it needed to be. He could feel the cerulean eyes of the girl he still loved on his retreating figure. He found himself praying, asking the spirits Please, let her forget about me. I was never good enough. Aang could feel the tears begin. He could feel all the hurt blossoming in his chest, ready to be released. He started to walk faster, lest she hear his sniffles.

Behind him, Katara sank to her knees and buried her head in her hands. Her mind cried out for the young Airbender who meant more to her then anyone.

Oh, Aang. I love you so much. Please come back. Please forgive me.