Prompt: Protection

"Avatar Card"

Summary: It has been over two years after the war, but the world is still not at peace. There is a peace meeting about some finer details of republic city, but Aang cannot attend because he needs to deal with anti-harmony rebels. Aang insists on going alone, but Katara is having none of it. Set a few months after "SKW 3: Dance"

Aang may be the protector of balance in the world, but Katara protected him. It was little more than two years after the war and Aang and Katara were engaged to be married. Much to their mutual frustration, they were unable to set a date yet as tensions were starting to rise again about the location and other finer points of republic city. Worse yet, anti-harmony rebels were taking advantage of the political bickering to start recruiting again. The marriage of the avatar would have given the rebels an irresistible opportunity to stage a demonstration or worse a violent incident. Either way both Katara and Aang agreed to delay it for the foreseeable future.

"Aang I don't see why you think you should go alone on this mission, Sokka can represent the Southern Watertribe fine in this week's peace talks." Katara huffed.

"I told you Katara, it's just a small group of rebels, maybe a dozen or so. Besides they said they wanted peace."

Katara crossed her arms over her chest, "You and I both know that's a lie, they just want to hurt that Avatar, they want to hurt you Aang, and that's something I will never let happen."

"Katara," Aang called exasperated, "even if that were true, which it isn't, I'll be fine."

Katara's anger flared, she stomped her foot down and put her face up in Aang's, "Aang, I don't care if you can handle them, I know you're the Avatar, but why can't you accept that I'm coming with you."

Aang took a step back, still trying to defuse the situation, but his patience was wearing thin, "Katara, I don't want you being put in harm's way for nothing, when the rocks start flying they won't be aimed at me; they'll be aimed at you."

This stopped Katara in her tracks, "uhh, uhh, really?"

"Yes, and when the rocks start flying I won't be able to protect you, if I was alone I would just escape, getting away is as easy as breathing for me." Aang explained.

Still Katara wasn't giving up, shooting back, "who said anything about protecting you, I think I'm the one who will do the protecting."

"I'm the avatar, protecting people is my job," Aang yelled.

Katara's eyes narrowed, "don't you dare, don't you dare think you can play the avatar card on me."

Aang knew at that point he crossed a line, hurriedly he exclaimed, "sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I meant that this is a job that the Avatar should do."

This is clearly the wrong thing to say, Katara went from angry to full blown furious, "oh and I'm not good enough for you," she cried mockingly, "am I some damsel in distress that you need to save." Katara glared at him with scathing eyes before whispering, "I thought you were better," with that she turned around and stomped out of the room.

Aang crumpled on the ground, he had never made Katara that angry before, he did not get why she would not let him go alone. Aang knew he was being stupid though, he should never have pushed Katara away like that, but sometimes he just let his fear get to him. Aang was so worried about her, when they were dating people usually continued to target him, which was fine since he was a master of evasion, but since they got engaged people became more aggressive toward Katara. Though the two of them had not had been in battles since they got engaged on the two year anniversary of the 100-year war, Aang noticed the change. It had been looks on the street, threatening letters that suddenly included Katara's name, and intelligence reports that claimed that the anti-harmony rebels spoke Katara's name almost as much as Aang's. This made Aang fear that she would get hurt even though he was more often than not the one who got injured. Aang may be more than happy to put himself in harm's way, but he hated when any of his friends, especially Katara was when it was not necessary. Katara was oblivious to this, she only helped him with the most important of his letters, which was mostly republic city or world peace news, comparably the anti-harmony rebels were low on the priority list, leaving him to carry the burden alone.

Katara was furious, but most of all she was hurt. Why had Aang acted like that, thinking that since he was the Avatar he needed to do everything alone? She thought that Aang had gotten over that stupid idea during the war, he had always accepted, even depended on her help in the years after it. What had changed, why was he being so overprotective? Aang had never done this before, even on dangerous missions, but they had not done anything but peace talks since… since… 'we got engaged'. Suddenly Katara felt very foolish, why did she not ask him more about the rebels? What if something had changed? What if Aang really had a reason besides his lone hero complex? Katara needed to find out more about these rebels before she dismissed him for being a stupid jerk. Aang deserved better, besides it hurt her too much to be mad at him.

Katara was not ready to talk to Aang quite yet; he was still a jerk and she was still angry, but that did not stop her from asking Sokka about it. Fortunately, for her Sokka took a keen interest in the rebels, mostly because he enjoyed the opportunity to knock a few heads.

Katara found him leaning over a pile of letters from the other world leaders about the coming peace talks. "Sokka."

"Sorry sis, I would love to talk but I got a lot of work to do," Sokka said adgitated.

"No," Katara cried, slamming a hand down on the scroll he was reading, "we're going to talk and we're going to talk now."

"Whoa, there is no need to push Katara," replied a surprised Sokka, throwing his hands up. "What's this about?"

"What do you think, Sokka, it's about Aang," answered Katara.

Sokka blinked, "uh, sorry sis, I know you two are engaged, but the oogies."

Katara's eyes narrowed, "this isn't about oogies, this is about anti-harmony rebels"

Sokka sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what to say, "oh. What about it?"

"About how Aang thinks he can just run off and play hero, why does he think he can just leave me behind," tears threatening to fall.

Sokka looked at his sister with wide eyes, he hated to see her like this, "Katara," Sokka explained calmly, "Katara, the rebels are targeting you, ever since the engagement. Aang and I discussed it and I convinced Aang to make you stay."

"You what?" Katara yelled. "How could you, how could Aang, how could anyone tell me what I can and cannot do."

"Katara," Sokka begged, "be reasonable."

Katara threw her hands up, "I can't believe you too ganged up on me, this is unbelievable."

Sokka cowered in front of his sister, "there were reports from the rebel's most violent wing that you were as much of a target as Aang, he said you could handle yourself, but I told him I needed you for the peace talks."

"I can handle myself, Sokka," exclaimed Katara, "I've been protecting Aang since the war and I'm not about to stop because of some stupid death threats."

"No, it's too dangerous, I'm your brother and I want you by my side." Sokka yelled, his overprotective instinct getting the better of him.

Katara glared at him, "no, you can't tell me what to do." She replied icily.

Katara turned and exited the door, unbelievably upset at the two men she loved most in her life. She was so upset that she walked headfirst into Aang's chest.

"oof, sorry Katara, I wasn't paying attention."

Katara glared at him, "I'm still mad at you."

Aang hung his head, "I know, I wanted to apologize, I should have told you about the letters."

"What letters?" Katara asked, confused.

"The ones threatening your life."

Katara had no idea it had come to this, she knew how hard it was when Aang started to receive letters threatening his own life, they came a few weeks before one brazen group tried to assassinate him. The experience had shaken Aang, but nothing compared to how it upset Katara. She hadn't let him out of her sight for weeks. "I didn't know it had come to that." Katara admitted.

"You can come. I'm bringing the acolytes too." Aang said simply as if it was nothing.

"Really, why."

"If the rebels want a fight then at least we will fight on even terms."

"Oh Aang, thank you," Katara cried wrapping her arms around her airbender, "But what about the peace talks?"

Aang smiled, "Xing Ying can handle it alone, I briefed her thoroughly."

Sokka appeared at the doorway, "how did you guys make up so fast? I thought Katara was going to waterbend me out of the house."

Katara turned around, wrapping an arm around Aang's middle as she did so, "that's because Aang said I could go" sticking her tongue out at Sokka.

Sokka's mouth went agape, as he glanced over at Aang, "but I thought we talked about this."

"Sokka, I changed my mind, I am allowed to do that," Aang explained, "besides, I can't think of a safer place for Katara except by my side."

Katara glared at Aang, "that goes double for you airhead."

Aang chuckled, "I know, how could I forget." Aang placed a soft kiss on Katara's forehead, causing her to hum in pleasure.

"Oh Koh! The oogies, why is the world so cruel to poor old Sokka."

"Oh sush up Sokka, you can go someplace else." Katara snapped.

"Actually Sokka, I really think you should go, see the town, maybe you should just leave for Yu Dao now, I'm sure Xing Ying is eagerly awaiting you."

Sokka looked confused, "why, the peace talks are not for a few more days?"

Aang smiled at Sokka then looked down at Katara, who also looked confused. Aang nudged her, and then she got the picture. "Yeah, Sokka, we're kicking you out of the house."

Sokka blinked, then cried, "oh the oogies," and ran into his study to grab his scrolls and beat a hasty retreat.

"Thanks Aang," Katara said, clinging tightly to her Avatar, "but you know I wasn't going to let you go without me."

"I know, I'm sorry I was so stupid as to think you couldn't handle yourself."

"Yeah, if you do that again I'm not going to forgive you so easily."

"What," Aang replied fainting surprise, "you could never stay mad at me, not with my irresistible charm."

"Shush up and kiss me."