Loyalty \ˈlȯi(-ə)l-tē\
1 : The quality or state or an instance of being loyal
2 : Unanswering in allegiance as a : faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government b : faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due c : faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product
His loyalty astounded her. Even amazed and surprised her at times.
It'd been 100 years since he'd lived in the Southern Air Temple as a monk, yet he still held fast and true to his diet of vegetables and fruits. His meditation exercises hadn't changed from what they were, and she was sure they never would. He wore his arrows with pride and his peoples' colors with honor. Everything about him was still Air Nomad, even though he was pledging his allegiance, his loyalty, to an extinct race.
He was no doubt faithful to his cause. It hadn't taken much convincing for him to master all four elements and he always knew he would defeat the Fire Lord no matter the obstacles. With the support of his friends and "family", his head was held high with loyalty to his duty.
Being the Avatar had done a lot of things for Aang. It had opened doors he'd have never gone through without the destiny of the world lying on his shoulders. It had driven him to unthinkable acts, forcing him to do unspeakable things that a monk should never fall fate to (namely, be responsible for another man's life, even if that life was worth taking…).
But what Katara didn't realize, was that Aang's loyalty didn't stop with his Avatarial duties…
It had been Katara's encouraging smile and poetic embrace that had been the only reason he had found to continue his existence after that terrible day. That terrible day that he had seen the light leave Ozai's eyes and his skin turn ashen grey as his final breath had escaped his lips…
She was the wind the beneath him, lifting him so that he could reach his goals. Her words had brought him comfort and her smile had given him hope. When barriers lie in his path, she was the one who gave him the strength to go on. Everything he had done, every battle, every victory was because of her.
To say his loyalty to her was strong would be an understatement. Undying, everlasting, unconditional… Despite all the hardships they had faced, her voice was still the one he fell asleep to, her face was still the one he dreamed about, and her smile was still the one he woke up to. His love for her stretched miles and fueled their unspoken bond. A bond of friendship that had blossomed into so much more... And after the world was saved and the battle won, it was only to her that his loyalty lay.