Today is a very special day, being the 15th anniversary of the debut of the Avatar franchise. It is one of my favourite series of all time, and I started a tradition 5 years ago to write something related to it during major milestones. 5 years ago, it was my epilogue to the Korra series, which is enjoyable but for different reasons. This time, I'm going back to the original series, with our favourite lead characters finally getting married. It'll be in my Avatar AU universe of "bending but no Avatar" and there will be some references to things happening in that series. But overall, you can still enjoy the fic without having to go through the past 2 stories.
Warning: This story will include a lot of innuendo and explicit details, though not necessarily sexual ones. Our characters are in their 20's, so they are legal adults, and they are going to consummate their marriage. There will also be discussions between a child Aang and his guardian Gyatso about certain body parts and somewhat controversial cultural practices (ex: male circumcision). While I personally have certain views about certain body modification, I still believe the job of a parent or guardian is to have frank and open discussions with their child about their bodies, even if the topic is distasteful to some. If this is not your cup of tea, then please feel free to stop reading now. Otherwise, you take full responsibility of anything you read and I will not be held accountable for how you feel about that.
Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko own Avatar.
The avenue along the waterfront of Republic City was as beautiful as ever, with the shining lights of the buildings reflecting in the water. It was a typical evening in the early spring, where a slight chill was still present in the night. The fact that those strolling along the avenue still had on relatively thick jackets, with some people able to see their breaths, was a testament to the cool weather. But for two special people, the weather was not an impediment to them.
"So Katara, did you enjoy dinner tonight?" the taller individual, a young man with a bald head decorated by a blue arrow tattoo, asked his companion. Despite his height and appearance, Aang Anil's twenty-second birthday was still a couple of months away. It didn't help that he skipped a grade in elementary school, which allowed him to finish university just after he turned twenty-one last year. "It's been a while since we had a date like this, right?" he pointed out.
The woman in blue, twenty-three-year-old Katara Kuruk, turned back to Aang with a smile. She leaned a little closer to Aang, allowing her body to feel Aang's left arm around her shoulder. "It's not easy when I'm juggling my medical school schedule and scheduling a future internship," she replied, staring at the bay in front of them. Staying true to her dream, Katara finished her four years of undergrad, and then immediately applied for medical school. Her high academics allowed her to get in with ease, and now the water bender was more than halfway through her second year. "Did you forget that Republic City University is one of the only schools in the world to have a three-year medical program instead of four years?" Katara pointed out.
"I recall, and that's because it's a full-year program instead of eight months," Aang responded. The air bender leaned his body forward, feeling the metal handrail of the wall lining the waterfront press against his midriffs. "After your second year, you have to do your internship and calculate your hours so you can prepare for graduation."
Katara shifted her body so that she faced Aang. She placed a hand on Aang's left breast, feeling his heartbeat underneath his shirt. "That's why I'm always on the go, but even then I try to make time for you," Katara stated, a small smile permeating her face, "I mean, it's almost ten years since we've known each other, so don't think I forgot about this important event."
"And I assure you I didn't forget it either," Aang declared. Placing an arm around her shoulder again, Aang led her away from the waterfront and to a park just down from the avenue. While Katara enjoyed the scene, Aang reached into his right pants pocket and pulled out his cellphone. He scrolled to the text messages section and found the exact one he wanted.
The act was not lost on Katara, who glanced over at her boyfriend. "Did the Department of Foreign Affairs give you back an exam score or something?" she asked.
Aang shook his head. "I'm not writing the next exam until next week, and even then they won't send me a score this late into the evening," Aang answered. Unlike Katara, Aang did not go into medicine. Instead, he graduated with a degree in international relations and wanted to join the Foreign Service. His calm nature and levelheadedness in resolving issues made him a perfect fit for being a foreign diplomat or negotiator, and that meant challenging the Foreign Service Examinations. "Let me take this very quickly, and I'll be right back," Aang stated.
Katara stood awkwardly while Aang took a few steps away from her, his eyes boring directly into his phone while his fingers danced on the screen. She wasn't sure what text message Aang received that caused him to trot off in a hurry, but it would not surprise her if it was one of Aang's friends who also challenged for the Foreign Service. To join the United Republic's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, one had to make a full application that addressed everything from college grades to out-of-school experience. The most important part was a statement of interest outlining why the candidate wanted to join the Foreign Service, as it was the only way to distinguish a candidate from countless others.
If that wasn't bad enough, the examination process was even worse, as each candidate had to write three exams. There was a two-month period between exams, so the candidates had time to prepare, but the wide range of questions asked was enough to intimidate most people. Aang already wrote the first two, focusing on reasoning and judgment. The third and most intimidating one was in a week, and while Katara was confident of Aang's abilities, she did wonder why he was so nonchalant about it. Why didn't she ask him about it earlier, just so they could reschedule their date to after the exam was done?
Just then, Aang trotted back to Katara. "I want to show you something special," he declared, suddenly grabbing Katara by the hand, "Will you come this way with me?"
Katara tried not to fall behind Aang's quick footsteps, almost jogging along him as Aang pulled her into a more wooded area. They had been to this park enough times before, so Katara wasn't sure what surprise he had in store. "What's going on? Where are we going?" she asked.
After clearing a series of trees, Aang stopped in front of some shrubs. Katara could hear some rustling from behind it, but she wasn't sure if it was someone hiding in there or the winds blowing through it. She tried to open her mouth, but Aang interrupted her before she spoke. "Katara, I brought you here because this is a special place," Aang explained, turning his body so that he faced her completely, "Do you realize that if you look right across the water right now, you can see Air Temple Island, where Air Nomad training and tattooing takes place?"
Katara glanced over the bay and indeed, the island was in clear sight. She could even see the series of poles that Air Nomads stood on for balancing training. She turned back to Aang, who now held both her hands inside his. "I've always been big on carrying on Air Nomad traditions, and I've always tried to learn your Water Tribe traditions," Aang described, his grey eyes never leaving Katara's blue ones, "For the last ten years, I really think we did well in mixing and matching our traditions, while still respecting each other's cultures. Do you agree?"
Katara nodded vigorously. "Of course, Aang," she exclaimed, both anxious and grateful at the same time, "But what does that have to do with what we're doing here?"
Aang sucked in his breath while tilting his eyes to the shrubs. The branches shook more than ever, which signalled to Aang that this was his cue. "I figure what better way it is for me to say what I'm about to say, in Republic City's holiest spot for Air Nomads, while saying it in the most traditional Water Tribe method," Aang explained. Turning to the shrubs, he called, "You can come out now, and bring the signs with you."
To Katara's surprise, four familiar faces popped out from behind the bushes. Zuko, Suki, Sokka, and Toph all lifted a sign each, and each sign had one word written in glowing lights. The water bender focused her eyes on the signs and read them aloud. "Will…you…marry…me?"
Before Katara could even react, Aang beat her to the punch. "We're both heading into the next stage in our lives, and I can't imagine us heading there without each other. I want us to keep supporting each other for the rest of our lives," Aang declared. The air bender then got down on one knee and pulled out a betrothal necklace, one that mixed orange and blue together "Katara Kuruk, sweetie, I love you more than anything in the world. Will you marry me?"
With overjoyed emotions, Katara leaped into Aang and held him in a tight embrace. "Yes, of course I will!" she shouted, smothering his mouth with a fierce kiss. As Aang struggled to put the betrothal necklace around Katara's neck, he could hear his four friends behind him. Three of them were clearly cheering, but one sounded more like groaning about oogies.
Aang turned in time to see Suki and Toph both smack Sokka in the back of the head, all the while Zuko flashing a thumb-up sign at Aang. Looking at Katara again, Aang gave her another deep kiss, knowing that tonight would be the first night of both their lives.
Katara had not stopped smiling since she accepted Aang's proposal in the park the previous night. Now with a shiny new betrothal necklace around her collar, Katara could not help but rub the pendant piece again and again. And as she sat at the dining room table at Hakoda's home, she could not help but reminisce when she still lived here. She moved out shortly after she finished her undergraduate degree, but she still recalled the details of everything as if she lived here yesterday. "You didn't do much redecorating, Dad," she commented.
Hakoda smiled and shook his head. "I'm not as young and energetic as I used to," he replied, putting an arm around the lady sitting to his right, "Besides, I have my attention on someone else at the moment, someone who isn't in a rush to renovate this place."
Indeed, beside Hakoda was a woman with reddish-brown hair. She wore mainly blue clothing, just like Katara and Sokka did. "I told Hakoda that with my background in architecture and design, I can do renovations in a heartbeat, so we shouldn't rush it right now," she stated.
"You're the best, Malina," Hakoda responded, leaning over and kissing the woman on the cheek. Indeed, shortly after both Sokka and Katara finished their undergraduate degrees, Hakoda introduced Malina into the siblings' lives. While Katara was bit sceptical in the beginning, she warmed up to Malina after a year, not seeing Malina as a replacement for Kya, but a new start for their family. "We've been discussing the differences between Northern Water Tribe and Southern Water Tribe weddings, but it looks like we'll have to add Air Nomad weddings into the talk now," Hakoda described, giving his future son-in-law a serene look.
Aang could not help but smile at the support he received. He was so nervous the morning of the proposal, fearing that Hakoda would not agree with his plan. Even with Sokka showing his support, Aang almost lost his mind when he finally went to Hakoda. "I'm so glad you gave me your blessing, Hakoda," Aang responded, firmly holding Katara's hand, "And I promise you I will love and cherish Katara for the rest of our lives."
"You're so amazing, Sweetie," Katara chimed in. She was at one end of the table, with Hakoda to her direct right and Aang to her direct left. Leaning to her left, she planted a kiss right on Aang's lips, to which the air bender reciprocated in kind.
"Okay, that's a bit too much for the oogies," Sokka called out. Everyone glanced at the male Kuruk sibling seated to Aang's left, who wrapped a hand around his own throat and pretended to gag. After watching Aang and Katara sheepishly unlock their lips, Sokka turned back to the table. "Seriously though, what are we including in the wedding plans? Do we want to do something similar to what Gran Gran and Grampakku did at their wedding?"
Katara winced. Much as she loved both Kanna and Pakku, she wasn't sure if she wanted her own wedding to go that way. "Gran Gran and Pakku married just after we both entered university, and they did that at the Misty Palms Oasis," she recalled, pulling out her phone and scrolling through the photos section, "Gran Gran liked the resort, but Pakku was disappointed with it. Besides, I'm not sure if marrying in a desert resort is something Aang and I want."
Aang leaned his head over to view the photos. Katara and Sokka went to the wedding without him, but Aang could tell how awkward it must have felt. "Why would a master water bender like Pakku marry in a place with little to no water?" he questioned.
Hakoda cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention back to the table. "When Mom and Pakku come later tonight, we can ask them about it," he proposed, "But I do agree with Katara in that the Misty Palms Oasis wedding seems to focus more on Northern Water Tribe traditions. But since Pakku is from there and Mom grew up there before she moved south, I can understand why. That's why I want to see what Katara and Aang want for their wedding, and if we can incorporate any Air Nomad traditions into it. You realize that's why Gyatso is here?"
Indeed, sitting at the other end of the table across from Katara, and not saying a single word so far, was Aang's long-time guardian. He merely smiled at the loving couple while his hands were wrapped around a cup of warm tea. "I'm good with whatever Aang wants to include, since it is his wedding after all," the older air bender announced.
Hakoda nodded. He pulled out his tablet and flipped through several sets of notes, all the while Malina read them with him. "I did some research of my own into Air Nomad weddings, and while I have some understanding of what certain things mean, I don't know how much of each trait to include," he explained, "For example, there is this comment about the bride having an arrow attached to her back. I'm guessing it has something to do with Sky Bison?"
Gyatso nodded. "As you know, Sky Bison are the most important animals to the Air Nomad culture. They are the original air benders, and our tattoos mimic the pattern they have on their fur," Aang's guardian pointed out, "Getting our arrows is a complete rebirth for us, taking us from our growth years to our mature years. So a tattooed Air Nomad is both an air bending master and a spiritually mature person. But in our culture, weddings are a permanent bond, and that means the bride must wear an extra arrow on her."
Katara glanced at Aang, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Can we make sure my arrow is a blue one? I want it to be as similar to your tattoos," she suggested.
That got a chuckle from the group, but Hakoda quickly steered the topic back to the wedding. "I also see that the bride and groom have to be separated before the wedding and be spiritually cleansed," Hakoda soldiered on, scrolling to the next set of notes, "I assume Gyatso will cleanse Aang, but what will happen with Katara?"
"We can have some of the Air Acolytes come to your home to cleanse Katara, if you wish," Gyatso proposed, taking a sip of his tea, "But I'm wondering how we can fit that in before rearranging your house for the Water Tribe part of the ceremony. I believe you will put a block of ice at the front door that Aang must cross, and then replaced by a white carpet after that?"
Hakoda nodded. "How Pakku and Katara managed to create and maintain a block of ice for Mom's wedding at the Misty Palms Oasis is still beyond me," he murmured, rubbing his forehead as he recalled the strange scene years ago, "But yes, the white carpet represents the parties' purity, and we're supposed to have the couple stand on it while a respected elder serves as master of ceremonies. I think we can easily have Pakku serve that role, and he can talk about the couple's honour and respect for each other with ease."
Sokka shot a suspicious look at Aang and Katara before turning back to Hakoda. "If you have Pakku talk about how much Aang and Katara honour and respect each other, please ask him to leave as much of the oogies out as possible," he requested.
That earned him a good whack across the forehead from Katara, who reached across Aang's body to hit her brother. While the entire group chuckled, Hakoda turned to Gyatso to ask one more thing. "There's still the reception, and I know we have to serve some vegetarian dishes for you," he declared, pointing at his screen again, "Is there any particular dish that Air Nomads must have for weddings? Or do you just want to do a couple of Aang's favourites instead?"
To say Katara had a hectic week would be an understatement. The water bender not only had medical school to deal with, she also had to address a summer internship at a hospital. The good news was that she had some offers for interviews, meaning the prospects for getting some experience were bright. However, the long period of time it would take to process her application and contact her references did not make Katara feel more relaxed.
But right now, Katara's anxiety could not be stronger than that of her fiancé Aang. Today, Aang had to write the third and final portion of his diplomat exam. Even though he was in good spirits for most of the previous week, even telling all their friends and families about how he proposed to Katara, Katara knew that Aang was not free of stress. "He's just too positive of a person to let something like this get him down," she commented, taking a seat on a table at the cafeteria of her medical faculty.
From across the table, Sokka and Suki also sat down. Katara's brother had been in a common-law relationship with Suki for a little over a year now, living together but not really having wedding plans. She knew that they were both busy with their careers, with Sokka now an associate in a mid-sized engineering firm. Maybe marriage was still in their future plans, but for now it seemed like both sides were happy with what they were doing.
"Aang's always been a crazy guy, but I think he's really mellowed out," Suki responded, taking a sip of her coffee, "I think he wants to take this seriously, because it's something he believes strongly in doing. And I think he also wants you to support him all the way."
"I've supported Aang for as long as I've remembered," Katara replied, straightening a few strands of loose hair, "Do you remember when Azula ran Gyatso over with her car, and Gyatso was in a coma? We had a cross-country race to run, and Aang nearly gave up. I was the one who told him he should continue with it, or he would regret it for the rest of his life."
Sokka nodded. He recalled how traumatizing that was for Aang, but somehow the air bender pulled through. "I recall seeing Aang at the hospital when Gyatso was doing therapy," Sokka recalled, "Because Gyatso was in a coma for so long, his body had to get used to moving again. They had him walk between these parallel bars, and Gyatso almost fell a few times."
Suki and Katara both nodded. The good news was that Gyatso recovered well, and up to this point there were no significant health problems. But the fact was that Gyatso was getting up there in age, and Aang might require support again if Gyatso was no longer around. Even so, there was no stopping Aang from adding new love to old love, and if Katara was to be part of that new love, then she was more than happy to oblige.
Shaking her head a few times, Katara focused back on the issue at hand. "What I'm saying is that this diplomat exam is really important to him, and I want to be there when he succeeds," she insisted, her fingers dancing on the screen of her cellphone. She checked the time and saw that Aang still had a bit to go before it was over. "I know he wanted me to do well in medical school, and he waited the entire time outside the exam hall when I wrote my MCAT. Now that I'm in medical school, I wonder if I should have done the same for you."
Sokka winced. "It's this type of sappiness that really brings out the oogies in you two," he remarked in a snarky way. That earned dark looks from the two young women near him, to which Sokka relented a bit. "Katara, all I'm saying is that Aang knows you care about him, just like how you know he cares about you. You don't have to go out of your way to show it."
"I don't know, Sokka," Suki disagreed with her boyfriend, placing a hand on his shoulder while giving him a hopeful look, "I sometimes think a girl likes it when a guy goes out of his way to show how much he cares for her. I mean, I'm not exactly that type of person, but I have friends who certainly feel that way. Ty Lee is a perfect example."
Katara tilted her head back and forth. She could see both of their points, but she wasn't sure where she fell on the spectrum. It was clear that Sokka was the jokester but also had a caring side, given how he grieved over his first girlfriend Yue for the longest time. Katara didn't see all the open displays of affection between them that often, but he knew Sokka cared for Yue a lot. Even today, when Sokka had Suki in his life, Katara could see the little things they did that showed how much they cared for each other. The love between them was real and persistent.
However, Katara also knew that some people did like grander gestures as a way to show love. She thought Suki's example of Ty Lee was a bit farfetched, given how Ty Lee was a bit starved for affection due to her being one of seven children. Even so, Suki herself didn't mind these grand gestures too much, even though she was fine without it. Besides, it was clear that Aang and Katara displayed more public signs of affection than Sokka and Suki did, often holding hands or hugging or kissing in public. And even though everyone found Sokka's comments about oogies tiresome after a decade, Katara could see how that display of affection came across.
Shaking her head a few times, Katara focused back on the twosome before her. "I think Aang and I relate to each other pretty well that way, except we have limits to what we do," she described, "There are cultural reasons why Aang doesn't explore the physical side of our relationship, and I'll respect his decision on this part."
The rest of the afternoon for the threesome was fairly uneventful, with Sokka and Suki mainly talking about their work and Katara talking about medical school. Katara almost lost track of time before a chime rang out on her cellphone. The water bender pulled it out and clicked on messages, reading the text carefully before a huge smile spread across her face. "Aang said he's done the exam and he's on his way here," Katara announced.
Sokka and Suki both smiled back, knowing how much this must mean to Aang. As they whispered between themselves, Katara texted Aang back, letting the air bender know about their location. "It shouldn't take him too long to drive over here," Katara stated, putting her phone away, "Or if he wants to, he can Air Scooter it over here, and it'll be even quicker!"
Sokka and Suki chuckled, getting out of their seats and heading for the exit. Katara followed suit, parking themselves just outside the building and watching for Aang. Before long, the familiar bald head with a blue arrow tattoo appeared, moving through the crowd and heading straight for their direction. Even from afar, Katara could see the look of relief on Aang's face when he arrived. "Sweetie, how did it go?" she asked, rushing in and tightly embracing Aang.
Aang did not answer that question, instead locking lips with Katara. Sokka immediately made faces at them, all the while Suki just enjoyed the show. By the time Aang and Katara released to come up for air, Aang only gave a huge grin. "It's done, and I can't be happier," the air bender responded, "It's with the examination panel right now, so let's hope for the best."
Katara smiled again, leaning in for another kiss. It only ended when Sokka cleared his throat in an obnoxiously loud way, earning him dark looks from the two females in the group. "Now that Aang's done, should we go and celebrate? I'm sure there's a good restaurant nearby that serves meat and vegetarian dishes," he proposed.
"It's been a while since we've had dinner together," Gyatso commented, spooning some vegetables onto his plate. Ever since Aang moved into his own place, Gyatso had stayed in his old home all by himself. While they still talked fairly regularly, Aang had not visited much due to his focus on the Foreign Service exams. "I'm glad your exams are over, and I know how hard you worked on those. That's why you deserve a nice reward, like me cooking dinner for you."
Aang chuckled as he finished filling up his plate. Gyatso had been his guardian, mentor, and friend for the longest time, having taken Aang in even before Aang received his tattoos. "I'm glad we have the chance to meet up tonight. Very soon, I'll be married and I may not have as much time to visit," Aang responded, "How do you feel about all this?"
"I'm happy, but it's also bittersweet because I now know you've really grown up," Gyatso responded. He placed his hand on the side of Aang's face, tilting the latter's head closer to him. Even though Aang was taller, stronger, and more mature than when Gyatso first took him in, Aang's grey eyes would always have that mischievous twinkle in them. It reminded Gyatso that no matter how much Aang grew, he would always be Gyatso's little boy. "But knowing that Hakoda's family is so accepting of you, I know you and Katara will be a great couple."
Aang nodded, happy that Sweetie was so willing to spend the rest of her life with him. But that only brought up another issue, something that he knew only Gyatso could solve. "When we were with Hakoda last time, you saw how much he wanted the wedding to be about both of us," Aang recalled, "Will you help me fit both Air Nomad and Water Tribe traditions in?"
Gyatso swallowed his bite of food before taking a swig of water. "I think we can narrow it down to the most important ones, or the ones you feel are most meaningful to you and Katara," Gyatso suggested, "If we do the full ceremony for both of you, it will be too much."
Aang nodded. Rubbing the spot where the blue arrow ended on his forehead, Aang dug deep into his mind for the details of Air Nomad traditions regarding marriage. "I know we believe in celibacy before marriage, and I assure you Katara and I are both virgins right now," he insisted, causing Gyatso to emit some laughter, "We have to sever as many bonds as possible to achieve maximum freedom, and creating a baby is a bond between two people. That's why we shouldn't engage in sex unless we're certain that both sides want to create this relationship."
"Yes, and that's why divorce rates amongst Air Nomads are lower compared to any of the other three ethnic groups," Gyatso pointed out. He took another bite of food, chewing it thoughtfully before continuing, "To us, marriage and sex go hand-in-hand, and sex only comes into the picture after marriage. But of course, who you marry and what gender they are is completely up to you, and our culture will not reject you because of your choice."
It's now Aang's turn to swallow his food and take a sip of water. "I know the Water Tribes are stricter with marriage. In the past, they practiced arranged marriages, and even today there are weddings in the Northern Water Tribe with arranged couples," he commented, "But Hakoda is from the Southern Water Tribe, so they're freer with marriages. And Hakoda himself does accept other cultures too, hence his willingness to include Air Nomad traditions."
"And one Air Nomad traditions is to prepare a dowry to Katara's whole family. That includes Sokka, Hakoda, and Kanna," Gyatso pointed out, "Both Air Nomads and Water Tribes include dowry in weddings, but Water Tribes tend to use animals or meats. Maybe we can replace that with vegetables or fruits that we plant ourselves?"
"Does that include fruit tarts? Maybe we should surprise them by launching them out our second story window and have them land on their heads instead!" Aang exclaimed. That caused a wave of uncontrollable laughter out of both air benders, as they recalled the trick they played on some senior monks they once hosted in Republic City when Aang was young. They told the senior monks that there were tarts and cakes prepared for everyone, and when the monks came to get them, Aang and Gyatso use air bending to propel those at the targets. "What a sticky mess that was! I'm so shocked they took it so well," Aang declared amidst snorts of laughter.
"Well, Hakoda does has a pretty good sense of humour, so maybe he'll be okay with it," Gyatso responded, the grin still wide across his face while he gently wiped his eyes, "Since the Water Tribes live in regions with little to no agriculture, what vegetables fit them best?"
Aang rubbed his bald head again. This would definitely require some thought, but given that their wedding was still months away, there was still time to address this. "I heard that Air Nomads and Water Tribes have one thing in common, which is how musical we can be," Aang pointed out, "Katara said traditional Water Tribe courtship involves riding across the tundra and singing songs. Maybe we should include a musical theme of sorts in it?"
"I'm more concerned about the spiritual purification that will take place before your separation," Gyatso chimed in. That got Aang to take a more solemn tone, as he knew how important Air Nomads take their spirituality. "You have to separate from Katara the day before the wedding, and you'll both have to be purified. Does Hakoda want to do anything spiritual with Katara, or do the Water Tribes take a less formal approach towards their blessings?"
"They do have blessings, but that happens during the ceremony. I'm supposed to stand on a white mat with Katara while an elder, most likely Pakku, gives the blessings," Aang reported, rubbing his chin in thought, "I still have to figure out the bit about attaching an arrow onto Katara's back. But that will be after I clear the block of ice and get blessed at Katara's first."
"There's actually a special way you can tie an arrow onto Katara's back, and it's part of the genius that is Air Nomad robes," Gyatso pointed out, "Air Nomad robes tend to be wrapped around the body, so it's easy to tie an arrow into the robes. But if Katara doesn't wear those in the ceremony, then you may have to figure out another way to do it."
Aang pressed his lips together. Even though Gyatso made it clear that Aang could include whatever Air Nomad traditions he wanted in the wedding, there were still lots of details yet to be confirmed. Aang wanted to respect both cultures, but also wanted this to be a wedding to truly call their own. He wanted a ceremony that his people would be proud of, but he also wanted a ceremony that he and Katara would be proud of. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing by mixing all this together?" he asked Gyatso.
Gyatso inhaled and exhaled deeply. Aang dipped his head slightly, trying to gauge his guardian's face. After a few seconds of silence, with nothing but wave-like breathing from the older air bender, Gyatso finally spoke. "I think the way you're approaching it is that you want to preserve and celebrate your traditions, but also allow them to grow with you," he commented, "The end result may be something that isn't entirely Air Nomad, but it still is Air Nomad."
Aang smiled as he heard that. It was like Gyatso was encouraging him through his current goal of becoming a diplomat. Understanding differences, balancing competing interests, learning about cultures, respecting traditions, and also searching for new paths were all part of his goals. If Aang could spend his life doing this to achieve peace, then he could certainly do the same with his wedding. "Thanks, Gyatso," he stated, "I think I have a better idea what to do now."
"It's been a while since we have a guy's night, at least ever since you proposed to Katara and had to write your Foreign Service exam," Zuko commented, finishing the plating of his final dish of the night. It was a relatively easy week for the fire bender, who had to give up some of his university dreams after graduation. As it stood, his estranged father got into legal trouble with his company, leading to things going haywire. With Azula still mentally unstable, the board of directors required someone to take charge, and the first name mentioned was his.
"Well, your CEO job isn't exactly making you a free man either, Zuko," Aang replied, placing his napkin on his lap. Zuko went from being interested in politics to leaning about business techniques on the fly, and for the first year Aang could see it doing a number on the fire bender. "How are things with you and Mai? Are you back on the right track?" he asked.
Zuko placed the dish on the table and exhaled deeply. The change in work expectations and schedules caused a rift between him and his long-time girlfriend Mai. While they were still on friendly terms, it was clear that they didn't see eye to eye on some things. Both sides still hoped to have a long-term relationship with the other, but for now they both required some space. "It's getting there, but not quite," Zuko muttered before taking a seat next to Aang.
The two young men seated across from Aang and Zuko glanced at the fire bender nervously. Like Zuko, Haru and Teo had known Aang since they were children. Both were excited to hear that Aang was the first in their group to get married, even before Zuko and Sokka. "And where's Sokka tonight anyway?" Teo asked, rubbing his hands on the sidebars of his wheelchair, "You would think he wouldn't ditch a fellow engineer."
"Katara told me that he's got an event with Suki," Haru explained, flipping through the messages on his phone. Like Zuko, Haru took over his father's business, continuing on the corner store that Tyro started years ago. While Tyro was still active in running the business, it was clear that Haru's role would be increased in the future. "It's something about celebrating Kyoshi Island heritage, and we all know how much interest Suki has in her home island."
"Speaking of heritage, how is the planning stage of your wedding?" Zuko inquired, turning to face the bald man to his right, "Sokka told me you want to combine your Air Nomad and Water Tribe heritage, but I want more details from you."
Aang glanced at the entire group and smiled. He had done a lot more research into both his own Air Nomad culture and Katara's Water Tribe culture in the past week. "It's amazing how much more you can get done after I finished Foreign Service exam," the air bender stated, pulling out his cellphone, "Both Gyatso and Hakoda are so generous in helping me out."
Aang flipped his phone over to show everyone the screen. On it were several baskets of fruits and vegetables, along with fruit pies and tarts, all of which were done in classic Air Nomad style. "My dowry to Katara will feature a lot of food, but no meat, since Water Tribe dowry usually involves meat of skins of animals," Aang reported, "Hakoda is okay with it, since we can use that to prepare the wedding ceremony feast. I'll those to everyone before I pick Katara up."
"Won't Sokka get upset if you give him nothing but fruits and vegetables? He's the meat guy and I can't possibly imagine him taking this well," Teo remarked, causing some chuckles amongst the group, "What if he pulls out his other weapon, sarcasm, on you?"
"Then he'll have to deal with an ice block shoved down his pants, courtesy of what I have to walk through in order to pick up Katara," Aang answered, flipping to another photo. This one had an ice block but with an interesting design on each side. "Water Tribe grooms must step over an ice block before picking up the bride, and the dowry is presented to the bride's family then. Tradition is that if the bride's family is displeased, the wedding may be stopped. It's more fun and games now, where the father of the bride challenges the groom a bit. But in the past when arranged marriages were the norm, this was a very important step."
Haru swallowed his bite of food before leaning his head closer to Aang's phone. "What does the bride give the groom? I'm sure Katara won't give you meat and skins," Haru queried.
"Both Air Nomad and Water Tribe cultures have the bride giving a dowry consisting of clothing, furnishings, even household decorations," Aang described, flipping to another photo on his phone, "I've been to weddings in the past where Air Nomads married within their own race, and the bride's present to the groom was a sculpture of a Sky Bison. I heard Sokka might ask his old industrial arts teacher, Mr. Piandao, to help him with making one for Katara."
Zuko, Haru, and Teo all nodded, impressed by the sheer amount of culture Aang and Katara had already included in their wedding. While it was a wonderful coincidence that both Air Nomads and Water Tribes had dowry and presents, it was also fantastic to hear how much thought they put into the items included. They all had special meaning to their specific cultures and heritage, and they showed so much respect for the other culture. It was clear that these two were meant for each other, no matter what challenges they would face in the future.
Shaking his head, Zuko turned back to Aang's phone. "What about other cultural or traditional details? Do you plan to include anything else from your culture into the wedding?" he asked, "I don't think you will tattoo Katara the way you're tattooed, right?"
Aang shook his head. "Air Nomads get their tattoos for mastering air bending only. There are no other tattoos for any other ceremony," the air bender described, "The only thing we have to do is consummate our marriage and stay together in our home for three consecutive days."
"I think that might let Katara see another aspect of Air Nomad culture regarding the air bending exam that most people don't think about," Teo chimed in, a mischievous smirk lining his face, "Is it true that Air Nomad boys who get their tattoos are also circumcised?"
Aang froze for a second, caught totally off guard by the question. But once he caught on, he let out a nervous chuckle. "Yes, you're right," he replied, rubbing the back of his head, "It's to demonstrate that Air Nomad boys physically, spiritually, and sexually mature. In other words, they are now reborn as air bending masters. Girls are not circumcised because they have the natural ability to carry a child, so their sex organs are not altered when they are tattooed."
"But some Air Nomads who are mixed race don't get circumcised," Haru pointed out, alluding to his own culture, "The United Earth States believes in the sanctity of the body, meaning you don't alter your body from when you're born to when you die. It's also why getting a tattoo is frowned upon until around thirty years ago."
Aang nodded, recalling that this was true for not just the United Earth States, but also the Fire Nation. He had heard of stories where air benders with a parent from either of these nations took the exam, but requested to be exempt from circumcision. "It was around when Gyatso got his tattoos that the monks decided to make this rite optional," Aang pointed out.
"And that's where you lost Haru, Teo, and me, since circumcising boys are rare in our cultures," Zuko commented with a chuckle and a shake of the head, "Maybe you should have your best man tell a funny story about your tattoo ceremony at your wedding."
Aang tilted his head at Zuko, a mischievous grin on his own face. "Just for you, Zuko, I'll give you a freebie," Aang proposed. That got everyone's attention, as they leaned closer to the air bender at the table. "I actually have a pretty funny story from when I was six years old. My parents were still alive but they left me with Gyatso for a week. That's when I learned what happens in a tattooing ceremony, including circumcision. Let's just say I confused circumcision with another word starting with 'c' and ending with a 'shun' pronunciation…"
"Aang, are you going to come out?" Gyatso asked, gently rapping his knuckles on the closed bedroom door. He was left watching after Aang for the week when both Aang's parents were asked to adjudicate air bending exams. With Aang's father in the Southern Air Temple, and Aang's mother in the Eastern Air Temple, six-year-old Aang had to stay in Republic City by himself, hence family friend Gyatso had to become the babysitter. "You just ran out of your bath and didn't even dry yourself properly, and you didn't put your clothes on either."
There was no response from inside, which caused Gyatso to pinch his nose. "Aang, I promise you nothing will happen to you if you come out," Gyatso reassured the younger air bender, "What I said earlier won't happen to you until you get your tattoos, and even then it isn't what you originally think it is. Now will you please open the door?"
After what seemed like eternity, the door finally clicked and was pulled open. Before Gyatso stood the bald boy who was completely naked. His skin still dripped with water due to him not being properly dried off. The only thing covering his private parts was a small hand towel, and even then it barely did the job. But above all, the most unusual thing was the look on Aang's face. "You promise that you won't cut my pee-pee off?" Aang asked.
Gyatso let out a sound that was a mix of a chuckle and an awkward cough. "Aang, no one will cut it off when you get your tattoos," he explained, "I know you have questions about the tattooing ceremony, and since your parents told me you'll start your training, we agreed to tell you about it. Once you master thirty-six techniques of air bending, you will get your tattoos."
"Yeah, and then you said something about 'serration' or something like that," Aang replied, nearly dropping the hand towel when he tried to readjust his grip, "Then they'll cut my pee-pee off after I get my tattoos. If they do that, then I don't want my tattoos!"
Gyatso knelt down so he can be eye level with Aang. He placed a hand on Aang's shoulder and stared into the youngster's grey eyes. "What I said was circumcision, not serration or anything like that," Gyatso described, "After you get your tattoos, the skin covering the tip of your penis is cut off. It won't affect you peeing, and it won't change who you are. This is how we Air Nomads show that you're a grown boy. You're born when you're no longer inside your mom's belly, and you're reborn as an air bending master when you get your tattoos."
Aang moved his hands around a bit, placing one hand underneath the towel. He reached for where his penis attached to his body, even jiggled it a little, just to ensure that it was still connected to him. "Will it hurt if they do that?" Aang queried, his voice less shrill and hostile.
"Unfortunately it will hurt a bit, but we have ways of making it less painful," Gyatso further pointed out, "And after cutting the skin off, we can bandage it for a little while, just until you heal up a bit. It won't be a big problem after a week or so, and you'll be fine after that."
Aang's body relaxed a bit, slightly lowering the towel but still keeping his private parts covered. However, his left hand was still placed protectively on the sensitive organ. "What if I don't want to cut the skin off? Will I not get my tattoos then?" he demanded.
"It's completely optional, and you can forgo it if you want to. But it's completely up to you, and you can always decide when you do your exam," Gyatso responded. Standing back up, he wrapped his arm around Aang's shoulder and guided him back to the bathroom. "Let's get you dried up and dressed. I don't think you want to stay naked for the rest of the day, right?"
Aang obeyed his guardian, slowly but surely edging back into the bathroom. He did not take his hand off the towel until he was in clear view of his clothing, immediately reaching for his briefs. "Do they do anything else other than cutting that skin off?" he questioned.
Gyatso chuckled. "I think you've had too much excitement for one day, so let's relax for now, alright?" the older air bender answered, reaching into the bathtub and pulling on the drain, "When your parents get back, they'll explain more in detail what goes on in this event."
As Gyatso washed the bathtub, Aang explored other parts of his body while he dried himself. There were other protruding parts, the most obvious being his outie belly button. He reached for the lump on his midriffs and gently pulled on it. Knowing it represented his birth, Aang wondered if it would be affected during his rebirth as an Air Nomad. "Why don't they look at doing something with my belly button instead?" he wondered, pulling on the fleshy knot.
Zuko, Haru, and Teo could not stop laughing at Aang's story, slapping the table and clutching their stomachs the entire time. In return, Aang had red streaks on his cheeks that were brighter than the briefs he wore back then. "So let me get this straight," Zuko eked up in a wave of chuckles, "You were told what circumcision was about, but then called it serration, and then thought it was actually castration? How many more words are you mixing up?"
That got another howl of laughs from the group, to which Aang could only drop his tattooed forehead onto the table. "And that's why if you want to roast me at the wedding, this would be a good one," he muttered, "Because if Gyatso doesn't tell it, someone else will."
Haru was the first to react. He sat back up straight, all the while wiping a tear from his eye. "Seriously though, will Katara get the joke and all? I mean, she is a medical student, so I'm sure she's familiar with the surgical procedures and such," the earth bender pointed out.
"And what position do those from the Water Tribes take towards that?" Teo chimed in, pulling on his wheelchair and straightened himself out, "The United Earth States and, to an extent, the Fire Nation do not practice circumcision. But I haven't heard much about that from the Water Tribes. Are they fairly neutral about it?"
Aang too lifted his head. Instead of embarrassment, Aang had a thoughtful look on his face. "I actually haven't heard anything about it either, but they do have a pretty communal atmosphere about it," the air bender proposed, tapping his chin in thought, "I can't see anyone reject a boy if the parents allowed or refused circumcision, but I can also see the tribe not wanting to get involved if an argument over circumcision destroys the group dynamic."
"I would think Katara would take the health perspective on this, advising a parent whether or not to cut based on health benefits and risks," Zuko hypothesized. Even though Katara was more emotionally connected to people than everyone else was, the fire bender also knew how observant and analytical Katara could be. She made some mistakes when she was younger that led to her being manipulated by some unsavoury people, and the past years had only shown that Katara was intent to not make that mistake again. "But I'm surprised you're asking me to tell that story at your wedding. Didn't she already know the story?"
Aang smiled. "Katara is somewhat aware of our cultural traditions, but I just think it'll be funnier if it came from the best man's roast," the air bender responded, "And since we're such good friends, I think it's only right that you're my best man, you know?"
Zuko gripped Aang's shoulder in a brotherly show of affection. "It's only right after how much we went through together. I'm more than honoured to be your best man, and I'll make sure my uncle serves only the best food when he caters to the wedding," he announced.
There's a lot of different sources of inspiration for my version of Air Nomad and Water Tribes cultures, so let's go over them in detail:
1.) Air Nomad culture is, to no one's surprise, based on Tibetan Buddhism. Buddhist monks are celibate in nature, but Air Nomads believe in a sort of free love culture (as shown in "Turf Wars"). The only way I can reconcile that is to have Air Nomads believe in free love, but draw the line at sexual activities. Air Nomads have to detach themselves in order to achieve maximum freedom. By engaging in sex, they are creating a bond, which runs against that. So unless Air Nomads are certain they will marry and start a family, sexual activities before marriage are frowned upon due to the potential bond created.
2.) There are other aspects of Chinese ethnic minorities that I included in Air Nomads. I looked at places in China where there are large populations of ethnic Tibetans, and the province of Qinghai came to mind. Qinghai is particularly interesting because they have a large population of Han Chinese, Tibetans, and Hui (Muslims). On top of that, there are also other religious minorities in China, particularly a vibrant Jewish community is Kaifeng. This is where the whole thing with circumcision came in, as this is a Jewish and Islamic tradition for boys. My resource for incorporating circumcision into Air Nomad culture is none other than my good friend Kelev, who is Jewish and is a mother of 2 girls.
3.) The United Earth States and the Fire Nation not circumcising their boys is based on the fact that Chinese Muslims (especially the Hui) and Jews have lower circumcision rates than similar religious groups in the world. This is because the majority of Chinese (Han) are influenced by Confucian principles regarding the sanctity of the body, where the body is returned to the earth in the same state as it came. Things like tattoos and circumcision are frowned upon, and Han Chinese tend to stay away from that. Since Air Nomads already tattoo their bodies, I figure circumcision will fit in well with that. But for Zuko, Haru, and Teo, this would be something vastly different from their beliefs.
4.) Gyatso's discussion with Aang about his air bending training runs along the same vein as Air Nomad beliefs. Given Air Nomads believe in free love (without sex), I figure Gyatso should be quite open about discussing body issues with Aang. Aang's confusion with circumcision, castration, and serration is meant to embarrass him, but overall I don't think Gyatso would shy away from those topics. Moreover, my personal belief is that any parent or guardian, whether they believe in free love or not, should have frank and open discussions with their children about their bodies. Not only will it protect them in the future, but it'll also allow them respect other people's bodies as well.
5.) Kanna and Pakku marrying in a simple ceremony at Misty Palms Oasis is from "North and South, Part 1" where they did the same thing. Aang and Gyatso talking about throwing fruit pies at certain Air Nomads is from "the Southern Air Temple" where they launched them from a balcony at several meditating monks. Zuko taking over his father's company is from "Sozin's Comet, Part 4" where he took his father's throne and also from "Rebel Spirit" in Korra where Asami did the same thing. And Aang choosing Zuko to be his best man is from "the Avatar and the Fire Lord" where Roku (the Avatar) chose Sozin (the Fire Lord) as his best man.
I hope the first chapter captures your attention so far. As mentioned before, there will be some innuendo and sensitive topics in this story. If this is not your cup of tea, then you may want to hold off on reading. I will explain more cultural traditions later on, but I hope at least I have your interest. Thanks for reading and see you in a month!