So I hesitated uploading this for a while (I wrote it about a month ago) because I felt that it was just too unlike Aang or Katara, but now I've realized that I've published a lot of one-shots that aren't typical Kataang *cough cough chapter twenty four cough cough* so why not? Enjoy!
When They Fought
It was the one-year anniversary of the defeat of Firelord Ozai, and the end of the war, and the whole world was preparing for the festivities. Ba Sing Se would be hosting the formal event, and everyone who was anyone was going to be in attendance.
Among those would be the new Firelord, Zuko, and the Avatar. In fact, there was going to be a special awards ceremony that evening, commemorating the actions and sacrifices of the Avatar, and those who had stuck by him through it all. The Gaang thought it was wholly unnecessary, they didn't need to be rewarded for doing what was right, but the Earth King along with the entire nation had insisted.
Except there was just a slight little problem.
"What is going on?" Suki asked, coming to stand beside Toph, who was gazing nowhere. "The lovebirds are fighting," she explained. Suki drew in a sharp breath. Katara and Aang never fought, as far as she knew, and if they did, it was always over something silly. She stepped closer, towards the source of all the commotion. She couldn't hear very clearly what exactly was being said, but she got the sense that it wasn't some silly little quarrel.
Toph caught Suki's arm. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you. I can feel their rage," she warned. That only made Suki want to go in more. "Toph, we have to be at the ceremony in an hour, and we can't have the star of the night in bad spirits," she said, but Toph held tightly. Suki was annoyed. After all, she was an elite warrior, and nobody told her what to do. She groaned, and then twisted around, kicking Toph's arm with her leg. Toph let go immediately, crying out in pain, allowing Suki to escape into the temple.
As soon as she entered, she knew something was terribly wrong. Aang and Katara were circling each other, arms raised, screaming awful things. Neither of them noticed Suki, giving her time to listen in and evaluate the situation.
"How dare you say that about me! Just because I don't share the same morals or principles as you does not mean I'm a lesser person, and it definitely does not mean that I have a tainted soul!" Katara shouted, her eyes glaring daggers at Aang, who glared back just as hard. Neither of them seemed upset, just angry beyond belief. Aang retorted quickly. "You're twisting my words, Katara! I only said that you should've considered forgiveness, instead of using blood-bending! Blood-bending, Katara! How could you even do that? It isn't you!" he shouted back.
Katara's eyes flared with anger, and her fists clenched together, as the two continued to circle each other. Suki was going to have to step in sooner or later. "Quit telling me who I am, Aang! In case you haven't figured it out, I am my own person, and I don't need the Avatar telling me what is or isn't right! I can figure it out on my own!" she screamed. Aang narrowed his eyes, his fists clenching too. "Maybe a little guidance wouldn't be too bad for you," he said.
Suki knew at that moment that Aang had crossed the line. Katara was a fiercely independent woman who did not like to be told how to behave and what to do. While she could be a little bossy, Suki knew that Katara always had the right idea in her mind. At that moment, Katara's eyes narrowed, and her face became a veil of anger as she lifted her hands above her head, conjuring water from the small pools that decorated the temple. She pulled them up, and shoved them directly at Aang, who in turn bent a gust of wind in Katara's direction. The two elements collided, creating quite a loud explosion, and drenching Suki.
Fed up, Suki jumped into the center of the circle, holding out her arms. "Enough!" she cried. She knew that she was laughably outgunned, but if she could just get a few words of reason in, then perhaps she could break up this lovers' fight. She looked back at forth between Aang and Katara, both of who were breathing heavily, but not trying to come after Suki. Suki tried to look authoritative, but she knew that she was virtually powerless against a Master waterbender and the Avatar. But she had to try.
"Look at you guys," she said, stepping back so that Katara and Aang could see each other. While their glares faltered a bit, they still held firm. Suki sighed. She had to create an environment that would force one or the other to talk. But she couldn't do it alone. She needed another bender. She glanced towards the door of the temple slightly, where Toph still stood. Zuko and Ty Lee had joined her to investigate the commotion.
As if reading Suki's mind, Ty Lee and Toph ran into the temple. It only took a split second, but suddenly, Suki had Katara in her clutches, one hand holding her hands behind her back, and the other around her throat, bending her uncomfortably. Toph stood slightly in front of Suki, preparing to fight off Aang. Ty Lee pressed the nerves on Katara, rendering her bending useless. Aang's eyes widened, and he made to run at Suki, but she stopped him.
"Maybe now you'll listen to me!" she exclaimed. Zuko and Sokka entered the temple, last, their eyes flickering between the two sides, trying to decipher what was going on. Katara was struggling, but Suki managed to keep her still. Aang narrowed his eyes, lowering his arms and standing up straight. "Fine, but only if you let Katara go," he said. Suki shook her head. "No, because then you two will just start fighting again," she said. Katara protested this, but one squeeze from Suki shut her up. "I don't want to have to do this, but seeing Katara in this position is sometimes the only way to get you to listen, Aang," she pointed out. Aang narrowed her eyes, but didn't try to attack. Suki knew she had to speak quickly, because Ty Lee's chi block wouldn't last forever, and neither would Aang's patience.
"Aang, this is your girlfriend, and like it or not, it's your job to support her through all of her decisions, even if you don't personally agree with them. What you're not supposed to do is question her, or make her doubt her principles," she said. Aang's stance faltered, his eyes lost some of the anger, and his shoulders began to slump. Suki looked down at Katara, who was still struggling, but only slightly.
"However," she continued. "That doesn't mean you're allowed to shut down Aang's feelings on a particular issue. He has to right to express what he thinks, and if you don't agree with it, then you both need to calmly and in a civil manner work through those issues together, not try and kill each other over it," Suki said, and then nodded to Ty Lee and Toph, who nodded back. Suki released Katara, who stumbled a bit before regaining her balance. She tried to stay angry at Aang, but eventually, her face softened, and her look of anger was replaced with one of defeat. Aang's eyes softened too, and his face became clouded with guilt. Suki brushed off her hands.
"You two need to remember also that what happened in the past can never be changed. However, just like the Guru told you Aang, you shape your own destiny, and so you two need to work together to solve any differences in opinion their may be between you," Suki said. Katara and Aang stared at her, clinging to her words. But Suki didn't have much more to say. She swallowed, before crossing her arms. "And if I ever see you fighting each other again, I won't hesitate to show you exactly what I'm capable of," she warned, before turning around and leaving Aang and Katara to themselves. The others followed after her. Sokka caught up to her, wrapping his arm around Suki's waist.
"You sounded very wise in there, Suki," he complimented. Suki smiled a bit. "I just told them what they needed to hear, really," she explained. Sokka kissed her cheek lightly. Suki turned around to look into the temple and smiled softly to see that Aang and Katara were embracing.