Aang felt awful.
Not only was he worried and paranoid about Roku and Toph's fate, he had also just upset his closest friend (crush?), who he would now be unable to protect from aforementioned fate, thanks to a combination of unfortunate circumstances.
Things couldn't get any worse.
Groaning, he buried his face in his hands. It wasn't fair! He didn't deserve this torture! It should've been someone else suffering through this - a murderer or a chronic liar. Not him.
He needed someone to talk to. But who? Who could help him with something like this?
Kana was out of the question. Telling her anything Spirit related would just make her think he had received brain damage from the fall.
Katara could probably help. But, then again, she could also become even more worried about him, and that would only hinder him further.
There was no way in hell he would ever seek Zuko's help. Not in a million years. But who else was there?
Glancing out the window at the now dark horizon, Aang saw the pale white moon glowing in the night sky.
There was only one person he could talk to about his problem.
XxXxXx
Aang carefully opened the window in Sokka's bedroom. This task was easier said than done, as he was simultaneously balancing a plate of Kana's freshly baked cookies in one hand. Once the window was opened wide enough, he climbed out onto the roof below, which sheltered the house's small front porch. He took a deep breath, enjoying the cool night air, then cleared his throat to get the other boy's attention.
Sokka turned around, his face breaking into a smile. "Cookies!" Seeing who carried them, he wrinkled his forehead and asked, "Aren't you supposed to stay inside?"
"If you promise not to tell Kana or Katara, I'll give you the whole plate."
Sokka bit his lip, clearly torn between which to choose; cookies, or responsibility?
A moment later, he reached out and snatched the plate from Aang's hands, saying, "Alright, deal. But if you faint again, I'm not catching you."
Aang grinned, taking a seat beside his brother-figure. He watched as Sokka took a big bite out of one of the cookies, smiling as a he took a moment to savour its sweet taste. Kana always baked the best cookies, and this time was no exception.
As he took another bite, he looked up to the sky. Slowly, his smile faded. Aang followed, his gaze, staring up at the moon. It was full that night, bathing the world below in a soft light.
Ever since he was young, Sokka had always felt an odd attachment to the moon ('Yue', he called it), going so far as to say he was in love. This was why he was the only person Aang could talk to about his dilemma.
"What's it like to love someone you can never have?" he asked, turning his gaze to the older boy.
"Is this about Katara?" Sokka asked, keeping his eyes locked on Yue.
"... Yeah," Aang lied. It was easier than going into a huge explanation about what had happened with Toph and Roku. "I mean, how do you handle knowing you can never be with the one you love?"
He sighed, though not out of annoyance. "I don't. Not really. It's always hard to deal with that kind of thing, but I guess I manage because... Because I know she's happy." A sad smile pulled at his lips. "I can feel it."
Aang stared down at his hands silently. After a moment, he asked, "Do you think Katara's happy?"
He was sincerely curious about the answer. Even if he had moved on and started liking Toph, he still cared deeply about the older girl and her feelings.
"Yeah," Sokka said, finally facing him. "Yeah, I do. I hate admitting it, but I know it's true. Besides, Zuko's not so bad, once you get to know him."
Aang sighed, realizing he was right, but not wanting to believe it.
"Is there anything else you wanna talk about?"
There were a lot of things, but none were anything Sokka could help with. He knew nothing about Toph, nothing about Roku, and nothing about the affairs of the Spirit World or the duties of the Avatar. Still, talking had made Aang feel better, even if it didn't improve his current situation. At least he no longer needed to worry about Katara or her happiness.
"No," he said, getting to his feet. "I'm fine now. Thanks for talking to me." He smiled, then turned and clambered back through the window.
XxXxXx
When the doctor finally called with the news that Aang seemed perfectly fine, the Avatar was beyond anxious. It was already Friday and he still had no idea how he was going to get Toph to move on.
It wouldn't be easy. If there was one thing he had learned about the Spirit, it was that she was stubborn. She would never let go of what she had if she didn't see good reason to do so, meaning he would have to be very persuasive.
There was another method he could use, but it wasn't one he liked. It required an odd ceremony (which was often characterized as 'dark magic'), and it would permanently banish her from the realm of the living – whether she liked it or not. Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine. He could never bring himself to do something like that, especially not to a friend.
So the second option was definitely a no. He would just have to find some way to reason with her and make the outcome of moving on sound wonderfully fantastic.
However, he didn't exactly know what happened, and he didn't want to lie. What if it turned out to be horrible or painful? Then Toph would hate him! Or, at least, whatever was left of her current self would.
Burying his face in his hands, he groaned on frustration. This was way too confusing.
"Are you okay?" Kana asked fretfully, seeing his slumped form at the kitchen table. "Do you need to stay home?"
Resting his hands on the table, Aang forced a smile, saying, "I'm fine, just worried about all the school work I missed." Glancing at the clock, he feigned surprise and said, "O, jeez, is that the time? I'm gonna be late!"
Then he was out of his chair and running down the hall, ignoring Kana's calls of "You forgot to eat!" as he rushed out the door.
He needed to get to school early. It would give him time to think and time to talk.
Author's Notes: I know this chapter is a bit filler-y, but I've been dying to write this scene and couldn't bear to get rid of it. Plus, this is all I have written at the moment, and I figure it's better than nothing. .
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.