Reacquainted
It had been a couple of hours since the pair had been reunited and Aang awoke from a nap he and Ava had decided to take. He looked down beside him and smiled at the sleeping form. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, enjoying her scent. He leaned over and began tracing lines around her face, memorizing every detail again.
"You're going to go cross-eyed from staring at me", she whispered before opening her eyes.
"Then let me be cross-eyed", he began to stand up but was pulled back down. She embraced him from behind.
"How did you feel?" Ava inquired.
"Like my world had ended and I was living in a nightmare. To live in a world without you…"Aang began to cry as he held her hands to his chest, "And you?"
Ava sighed. She did not want to reveal her emotions. She had pent them up inside for so long, but this was her soul mate, there was no reason to be guarded around him. She wasn't alone anymore.
"Gyatso was worried. He had been worried since you left, but it wasn't for your leaving. He was almost afraid of something that was coming. I was terrified the day the Fire Nation arrived. You could see their fires burning for miles from the temple. Gyatso pretty much threw me on a flying bison and sent me off. The bison was shot down and I ended up travelling to a small village. They sent world to Omashu's king letting him know that I was alive and needed protection. The Kyoshi warriors escorted me back to their island where I stayed for a few days until Bumi came and got me. I kept waiting for you to show, but…"Ava began to tear up, "I assumed you were dead until recently. I kept trying to figure out why I didn't age, why I had been left behind."
"Thinking you were dead was bad enough but no knowing for a hundred years", Aang shook his head and pulled the girl into a tight embrace, "I never meant to hurt you."
"Funny isn't it?" Ava laughed, "You left to find a place that we could be together and we were separated anyway."
"Seems the world was against me", the Avatar sounded defeated.
"Enough of this", the Chalice kissed his cheek and pulled from his embrace, "Properly introduce me to your friends."
"Can't we just stay here for a bit longer? I don't feel like sharing you right away", Aang admitted, "What have you done these last hundred years?"
"I'm not exactly the same Ava from long ago. I don't practice our teachings anymore. I led a campaign against the firebenders for a few years", Ava worried at her confession, "I've killed Fire Nation soldiers, Aang."
"You sought revenge for our people?" he was surprised. He couldn't imagine HIS Ava killing anyone or being vengeful.
"I did a lot of things I'm not proud of", she whispered and looked away.
"What other things?" Aang was beginning to wonder if this was still HIS Ava.
"I eat meat. I love it! It's quite delicious!" she laughed, but realized Aang was being serious, "I gave no mercy when our people were not afforded this option. I took my vengeance out and my heart grew dark. It was many years before I learned to laugh again, to be human, instead of the mindless killing machine, with Bumi's help."
"You never were with anyone else?" Aang was curious.
"No", the Chalice was a little angry by the question, "Bumi did ask me to marry him for a while, but I always said no."
"What?" the Avatar's eyes flickered as he stood up and began to march out of the hall.
"Aang?" Ava called after him and then it dawned on her and she began running behind him.
"Hey, Aang!" Sokka greeted the airbender and was surprised to receive no response. It was then he noticed Ava running down the hall calling after the Avatar.
"What's going on?" the water tribe boy stopped the girl.
"I think he's looking for Bumi", Ava sighed and asked a passing guard where the king was.
"He's in the garden, milady", he seemed confused.
Ava took off in the opposite direction of Aang and ran to the gardens. When she saw the king she started to call his name when she saw Aang appear on the other side. He noticed her as well and the two began running towards Bumi. Unfortunately, Aang was the first to greet the king…with a fist in the face. Ava stood where she stopped once Aang's knuckles made contact.
"Aang!" she screamed as she ran up and began checking on Bumi, who simply smiled showing his bloody mouth.
"How dare you!" she galred at the Avatar.
"How dare I? How dare HE!", Aang pointed at Bumi, "He knew, he knew you were to be MY wife."
"Yes, but you had been gone almost five years when I asked her", Bumi explained, "For all we knew, you were dead."
Ava helped her old friend up and scowled, "If you would have listened to the rest, it's been over eighty years since he last asked me to marry him."
"I'm sorry, it's just…I wouldn't be able to angry, even if you had married. This is all a lot to take in", Aang fell to the ground in defeat and rested his elbows on his elevated knees, cupping his head down in shame.
"I'm sorry, Bumi. I shouldn't have hit you. It's just frustrating to hear this because I should have been here. I should be your husband and we should have grandkids by now and…you should have never suffered", the Avatar growled.
The king finished brushing off the dirt from his robes and began laughing.
"The two of you are made for each other, always dwelling on the past. So you were separated for over a hundred years, you have found each other again! So I fell in love with Ava and asked her to marry me, she said no! The two of you must move on if you are going to bring the world into balance."
Ava walked over to Aang and offered her hand to him. He was confused by her gesture. He had just punched her best friend in the face and now she was smiling at him.
"We have to be together. If we are parted then so is our cause", she announced, "So I ask you, Avatar, shall we?"
"Challenge accepted", he said as she pulled him up into her embrace.
Bumi hugged both of his friends tightly and announced that they had to stay the night as he pointed to the setting sun.
"Shall we have yet another feast? And this time you can't say no!" the king pinched Ava's cheek and walked away to go have his servants prepare for the night's festivities.
"What was that about?" Aang was confused.
"He throws a feast every week to celebrate not being controlled by the Fire Nation. I never attend", she stated matter-of-factly.
"Well, you will with me tonight", Aang smiled as he squeezed her hand. Just then one of her chambermaids ran up and started hugging her.
"Oh, Milady! I'm so happy for you! Come let's get you and the other girl ready. My Lord, the king requests that you and your male companion meet with him in the Great Hall so that you may have a change of clothes for the feast!" the woman smiled at her mistress and tore her away.
Aang stood dumbfounded trying to register what was being said, when another servant came out to the gardens to retrieve him.
Ava smiled and patiently listened to her ladies in waiting gossiping about what had transpired during the day. She noticed that Katara was being quiet and hardly spoke when her maids would ask her something.
"I do apologize if you seemed a little overwhelmed. They can be that way some times. I fear we have yet to be properly introduced, I was waiting for Aang to do so but he didn't. I am Ava", the girl smiled warmly.
"I'm Katar of the Southern Water Tribe", the girl meekly smiled back.
"Don't worry. I don't bite hard", Ava laughed, hoping to break some of the tension but she could tell that the girl simply was not comfortable to relax.
"How shall we do your hair?" the top chambermaid looked in the mirror, tossing Ava's hair about.
"I can't stand to have it down, it gets in my way", the Chalice then turned to Katara, "What do you think?"
"I really couldn't tell you, Milady", Katara avoided eye contact. It was bad enough that she would most likely have to suffer the rest of this journey with her and now the girl was being over-friendly.
"I'm not trying to waltz in on your dance here, my dear", Ava cut the politeness and trying to act like the girl's age. She was far older even though she appeared to be the same age. "I am trying to get to know the young woman who has kept Aang's interests at heart in my absence."
Katara immediately blushed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I see the way you look at him. It's the same way I look at him", Ava leaned in after dismissing the women who were helping them prepare.
"I know that you think you see some twinge of something there, but I assure you, Milady, there is nothing there", Katara was trying to play it cool. She knew that this girl was not stupid and knew court games being in Bumi's court for so long.
"I do not hold a grudge against you. He is quite breathtaking in every sense, but should you cross the line at any time without him sending me away first, I will make you regret the day that you ever laid eyes on me", Ava gave a wicked smile.
Katara was completely shocked. The way that Aang had portrayed this girl was innocent and sweet. In this moment the girl was anything but that. She looked forward and decided that she would speak her mind. "All I ask is that we be civil for his sake."
"We shall be civil", Ava motioned for the chambermaids to return, "In fact I wouldn't mind being friends, so long as you know, he's MINE."
"Understood", Katara smiled.
By the time the preparations were done, the girls were ready. Ava wore a black kimono with golden branches reaching everywhere dotted by silver cherry blossoms. Her hair had been pinned up in a bun with silver chopsticks that had the airbender symbol hanging from a piece of leather attached at both ends. She had a little eye makeup with a clear gloss over her lips. Katara had been dressed in a beautiful blue kimono that was dark at the bottom and was lighter the higher up it went with current designs here and there. Her hair was curled and hanging in a sweeping motion behind the nape of her neck. She too wore some eye makeup and a light pink gloss on her lips. They waited until they were told to meet the guys at the stairs.
Aang was nervous, he felt like he was going to some type of ball, rather than a feast. Bumi tried to assure his old friend that this was a feast and nothing more, although he did admit there was dancing. Sokka seemed completely bored with having to dress nicely for a feast, he was simply ready for the food.
"I don't know about leaving Katara alone with Ava", Sokka admitted as he checked himself out in the mirror.
"Why do you say that?" Aang smiled, making sure he had nothing in his teeth.
"Honestly Aang, are you that blind?" Bumi started laughing as he handed his servant back the shirt that they had picked out and shook his head no.
"What do you mean?" the Avatar wasn't sure what they were getting at. Ava would make sure to make Katara feel fine.
"I don't know if you haven't noticed, but my sister kind of has a thing for you", Sokka stepped down from the stool he had been placed on and started to put his shoes on.
"I had noticed, but I don't think Ava would make her feel uncomfortable about it", Aang followed suit.
"Ava is not the same Ava", Bumi walked up to both young boys, "She's been playing cat and mouse games with my court since she quit her Fire Nation conquests."
"So what she's more cunning or something?" Aang waved his arms about and started laughing, "I know Ava and I am sure she is trying to make Katara feel right at home."
His theory was proven wrong as the men approached the bottom of the stairs and was catching the last half of what seemed to be a very heated argument between the two girls.
"What is your problem?" Ava sighed as she looked down and saw Aang. She decided to end this argument by walking down the stairs but was surprised when Katara had the nerve to touch her by pulling on her shoulder to make her look at her.
"My problem is you saying that I have feelings for Aang when I don't! You don't need to threaten something that isn't there!" Katara growled.
"Fine, I guess you don't have any feelings for Aang, which suits me fine, but you touch me again, little mermaid, and I will break your fingers", Ava's voice was cold and calculating.
"Little mermaid? Really? You couldn't be more original? You…you..", Katara was at a loss for words.
"What's wrong, penguin got your tongue?" Ava laughed as she turned around and began walking down the stairs again.
Katara in a fit of rage descended the stairs faster and put herself between Ava and Aang. "Don't think that you can just walk all over me. I won't stand for it!"
"Get out of my way or your pride will fall faster than your ass", Ava warned.
Aang stood in shock of the way Ava was speaking to Katara. He knew that there might be that somewhat awkwardness between them, but not full scale war. He had to end this before it ended up being a bloody fight, which the mood Ava was in, she would show little mercy on her opponent.
"STOP!" he yelled over the two girls, "This is ridiculous! You're supposed to be getting along."
Both girls rolled their eyes as they turned their backs on one another. Katara had a smirk on her face as she saw Aang pull Ava away and get onto her, but she was more or less pissed when her brother attempted to do the same.
"What the hell is your problem?" Sokka whispered as she yanked her arm away from him.
"She's been poking and prodding since we got dressed. She keeps threatening me about if I should cross a line with Aang", she started and noticed the look on her brother's face.
"Listen, Katara, you can't make her mad! She's killed people before for god sakes. Not to mention she is one of the two most powerful beings in this world. I've seen the way you look at him, I'm not saying you can't have feelings for the guy but at least be better about hiding them!" he warned.
"What are you talking about?" Katara threw her hands up in the air.
"Truce!" her brother demanded and walked behind her as she approached the middle.
"Why are you giving her such a hard time?" Aang started accusing Ava.
"Don't you see the longing looks she gives you as if your word would make everything in the world right?" Ava hissed, "I am not going to idly sit by and watch that!"
"Ava, all I ask is that you be civil. You don't have to be the best of friends and you don't have to be kind, but show some respect to her would you?" the Avatar decreed.
She could feel his spirit trying to dominate hers and let her know that he meant business. She rolled her eyes and began to walk towards the middle and meet Katara.
Both girls stuck their hands out and shook with the men around them praying this would be the end of the bickering. "Truce", they both announced in unison. The king simply smiled at the newly formed tentative allegiance and led the party over to the banquet table. He had Ava and Aang sit on the right of him with Katara and Sokka on the left. The music stopped for the king to make his announcement.
"My loyal subjects of Omashu, we have survived yet another week without Fire Nation rule. So long as we keep our spirits high as well as our defenses then we shall not falter to the dying dragons!", he yelled and then continued after the cheers, "Tonight we also say farewell to our beloved, Lady Ava."
The crowd grew silent. All eyes were on the frame of the girl who had been by the king's side for so long. The entire city had known of Ava's position and being that one of the high ranking officials in the Order of the Lotus Blossom was their leader, they were already in the know. It was a well-kept secret in Omashu that they had housed the Chalice for over a hundred years and now she was leaving them. Sobs could be heard throughout the crowd.
"We shall miss our Lady! She had brightened the heart of all who came to be here in Omashu. She had seen the rise and fall of this great city and has been a welcomed companion to this old man for many a year now. We bid her farewell and safe journey as she joins the Avatar in his quest against Lord Ozai.", he raised his wine glass for a toast, "To our champion!"
"To our champion!" the crowd cheered back.
"Champion?" Katara questioned Bumi as soon as he took his seat.
"Yes, you see, my dear, my defenses would not be wholly what they are today if it wasn't for that woman right there", he pointed at Ava as she and Aang began dancing with the city as the music began again, "She drove the Fire Nation to edge of the Earth Kingdom and helped Ba Sing Se in their siege by General Iroh, the brother of Lord Ozai."
"She truly is a warrior of great caliber, but she is also human, very much so being the epitome of the human spirit. She has known love, pain, sorrow, revenge, jealousy..", the king continued and winked at the water tribe girl, "She has been many things and has seen much in the hundred years she was separated from Aang."
"So, he's as much her anchor in this world as she is to him?" Katara was beginning to see the importance of their relationship, even though it pained her.
"When you get upset what do you think of?" the king inquired.
"The sound of the ocean and waves breaking. It helps me with my temper, most of the time", she sheepishly admitted.
"And you young man, what do you think of when you are upset?" Bumi asked Sokka.
"I think of penguin sledding and how funny I must have looked", Sokka started laughing and crying at the same time. Both Katara and Bumi looked at each other with perplexed looks on their faces.
"It is only natural for man to find solace in a forest, find comfort in the ocean sounds, or riding animals…we adhere to nature", Bumi explained, "He is all of that for her as nature and the spirits have need of man for nurturing, as she is for him."
The rest of the night went without any drama from either Katara or Ava. It was beginning to get late as the feast began to wind down. Bumi allowed Aang and Ava to have a room together for the night, knowing nothing dishonorable would happen. The couple snuggled into the blankets on the giant bed in Ava's room. Ava closed her eyes and relished in the fact of Aang's arms being around her. She breathed in his scent and smiled.
