What is this, me updating this story twice in one month? This one is a request that's kind of a sequel to my genderbent one-shot 'Relieving the Tension' but not really because it mainly focus on Kataang. It takes place after the Southern Raiders and if I haven't made it obvious, it features a genderbent everyone. So to who left this request, hope the wait was worth it.

Lending a Shoulder

It had been an interesting few days for the members of Team Avatar. They'd been forced to pack up their camp and flee the Western Air Temple after Zuka's crazy brother, Azul had attacked. Following that, they'd camped out which saw tempers flare between Princess Zuka and Kataro. There had been tension between the two of them ever since Zuka had changed sides and joined their group. Despite most of Team Avatar welcoming Zuka with a fair chance, Kataro and Suko were yet to warm up to the firebender, for reasons of their own.

For Suko, it was because he shared his own past with Zuka that certainly hadn't ended well and Kataro still felt betrayed by Zuka's actions at Ba Sing Se. When the tension between Kataro and Zuka finally boiled over, Zuka decided that it was time for her to mend some faces with Kataro which saw the two of them head off in a search of the man who murdered Kataro's mother.

The whole time, Zuka had seen a different side of Kataro that she hadn't yet seen before because Kataro always seemed like the nurturing father figure of the group. At least to the others. But it seemed like Kataro had completely switched off his emotions as he let his desire to find justice get the better of him. It had almost shocked Zuka how far Kataro was willing to go to get to the truth, especially when he somehow managed to use waterbending to manipulate the captains body. Even though he hadn't shown it, Zuka could see that doing something like that had affected Kataro but Zuka wasn't sure if talking to him about it was a good idea, since they were barely starting to be friends.

So when the group all met up at Ember Island and Kataro had gone to take some time to himself, Zuka decided to pull Anna aside. If there was anyone who could talk to Kataro when he was like this, it was Anna. Though it might have seemed strange that Zuka was taking such an interest in Kataro's well-being, Zuka just wanted him to feel better because he deserved to feel at ease after everything that he'd just done.

"What's up, Hotman?" Anna asked Zuka when she pulled her aside.

Zuka rolled her eyes, "How many times have I told you not to call me Hotman, Anna?"

"Was I supposed to be counting?" Anna wondered.

"Never mind that," Zuka grumbled. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about Kataro."

"What about him?" Anna questioned, trying not to show her obvious interest.

"During our little 'field trip' as you called it, we hunted down the leader of the Southern Raiders because the man who had killed Kataro's mother previously held that position. As soon as we busted in and had him cornered, Kataro used this weird waterbending technique that allowed her to manipulate the captains body," Zuka answered.

"Oh," Anna paled, recognising the technique as bloodbending.

"Afterwards, I could tell that he was bothered about it but I didn't know how to approach the subject because you know, he was still barely talking to me before we left. So I think he could probably use a shoulder to lean on right about now," Zuka finished.

Anna nodded, "Thank you, Zuka. I know what I need to do."

With a little bit of hesitance, Anna headed towards the docks where Kataro had been sitting after they arrived. Hearing that Kataro had resorted to bloodbending had left Anna a little bit unsettled, because he had sworn to her that he would never use that dark technique ever again. Unless Zuka's descriptions were way off, Kataro had used bloodbending and Anna didn't like that.

After she found Kataro sitting at the docks, Anna sat down quietly beside him. For a moment, there was nothing but silence until Kataro was the one to break it.

"What do you want, Anna?" he asked irritably.

"I wanted to see how you were doing after… everything," Anna replied.

"I'm fine," Kataro snapped.

Anna sighed, "Don't give me that, Kataro. I've known you long enough to know when you're really bothered about something. Is this about the man who killed your mother?"

"Yes, and no," Kataro grumbled.

"You can talk to me about it if you want," Anna offered.

"I did something really bad, Anna. Something that I'm ashamed of," Kataro stated.

"What?" Anna inquired, even though she already knew the answer.

"I used bloodbending while trying to find the man who killed my mother. I had been so consumed by my hatred and rage that I allowed my emotions to get the better of my morality. As soon as I saw the man who I thought had done the deed, I just did it. I regretted it as soon as I did it, and not just because the man had been innocent," Kataro answered.

"Not that I'm saying that this is how I feel, but anyone else would've thought that he'd deserve it," Anna said carefully.

"But he didn't. Bloodbending is such a cruel technique. You've experienced this yourself, Anna, so you would know. But you don't know what it's like to have that much power. I know that Hama probably relished in having that sort of power over her enemies, but for me it just felt so dirty and wrong. It certainly doesn't make me feel good at all that I had used bloodbending on an innocent person," Kataro mumbled.

"Some would say that the captain deserved it," Anna pointed out. She certainly wasn't agreeing with what she was saying, Anna just wanted to understand Kataro's intentions so that she knew why he had done it.

"Even if he did, it still makes it wrong. Bloodbending is something that should only be resorted to if it is a last resort. That wasn't a last resort. I was just using it because I had let the hatred overrule my morality because I wanted him to feel the pain that I felt about losing my mother. Spirits, I'm becoming just like Hama," Kataro's eyes widened at the realisation.

"No, Kataro, no. You're nothing like that monster," Anna reassured him as she wrapped his arms around the older boy. "There is a fine difference between you and Hama. The difference is that like you said, Hama relished in the feeling of having that power and control over someone whereas you resent it. Even after using it on someone who in your eyes might have deserved it, you still felt guilty about doing so.

"But she had let her hatred control what she did. I became exactly like that when I allowed my hatred towards Zuka and the man who killed my mother get the better of me," Kataro insisted.

"Stop making yourself out to be such a bad person, Kataro, because you're not. Anyone could understand why you were angry with Zuka. I probably would've been angry with him like you if it wasn't for my forgiving nature. As for what you did with the captain and even though I don't agree with it, you thought that you were giving him justice. Granted, everyone has different perceptions on what justice is but that's what you thought was right," Anna said.

"It was still wrong though," Kataro continued to make himself feel bad.

"Yes, and you realised that. Hama never realised that her actions were wrong. Now you can use this as an opportunity to grow and make yourself a strong person," Anna reassured him.

"Why do you have to be so wise?" Kataro muttered.

"Well, I am kind of the Avatar so I have to show some worldly knowledge," Anna joked, earning a laugh from Kataro.

"You're a dork," Kataro commented in a jokingly matter.

"Why don't we head up to the house? The others are probably wondering what's taking us so long," Anna suggested.

Kataro nodded, "Yeah, we should go."

Being the gentlemen that he is, Kataro helped Anna up from where she had been sitting and turned to head off. Before Kataro could even take a few steps ahead, he suddenly found himself being pulled into Anna's arms as she entangled him in a hug.

At first, Kataro was somewhat uncomfortable with the unexpected action before he relaxed into it, feeling comforted by Anna's hug. There was just something about her touch that soothed him, and Kataro knew that Anna probably felt the same way.

"What was that for?" Kataro asked once Anna pulled away.

"You looked like you could've used a hug, so I gave you one. It seems like you enjoyed it, though," Anna joked suggestively.

Kataro found himself blushing, "What? Of course, I enjoyed it. You know I enjoy hugs."

"Especially mine," Anna smirked. "Don't feel nervous about asking for a hug in the future, because they come for free!'

"I certainly won't," Kataro murmured.

Despite Anna's actions appearing to be seemingly innocent, Kataro had certainly picked up on some of the implications with her words. Whether or not it was intentional, Anna always seemed to have the ability to make a situation awkward. Even though Kataro hated the awkwardness, he much preferred the awkwardness to the way he was feeling just before.

If there was one thing Kataro appreciated Anna for, it was her ability to make him feel better no matter what the situation was. That was exactly what he had just done and Kataro was surprised that it had taken so little of her to get him out like this. Who knew a few wise words from the Avatar and a quick hug would be enough to make him feel better?

I'm not sure if that was exactly what the person who requested this wanted, but I tried my best. You guys can expect another one-shot for this collection around Christmas before I settle into the new year. Man, time sure does fly by fast when you're writing fanfiction.