Katara steadied her breath and kept the water swirling around her like a ring circling a planet. Azula was taking a moment to collect herself too, but within a moment it was back on. Katara unleashed a barrage of ice spikes from the water in front of her, forcing Azula to leap out of the way in a series of acrobatics that rivaled even Aang's. The crowd cheered as Azula hit back with a few well-placed fire fists.
Aang worked on clenching and unclenching his jaw while he watched the fight play out. He and Toph were waiting on the sidelines just below, with On Ji as the self-appointed moral support while they waited for their own match. He hated seeing Katara fight. Well, that wasn't true. He loved seeing her with her element, and he knew that she loved it. But seeing her against someone like Azula unnerved him.
Toph graciously (and surprisingly) did not comment on his anxiety, but On Ji noticed it right away. She gripped his arm and shook him a little to get his attention. "Relax, Aang." She laughed at his nerves. "Look at her, she's fine."
It was true. Katara had managed to tire Azula out while keeping her at a distance. With an arm of water, she lifted Azula by a leg and slammed her back into the ground. Finally, after the longest match yet, it was called in Katara's favor. Sokka's cheering could be heard even from where Toph and Aang stood, making all of them laugh.
Katara walked her way over to them, hands on her hips and still breathing a little hard. "Fuck that," she breathed when she made it to her friends.
"You killed that, Sweetness." Toph smirked, punching her on the shoulder from her seat on the bench.
She looked up and smiled. "You're welcome. Now you only have me to worry about."
Aang could see Azula behind her, yelling at who he assumed were her firebending instructors. As Toph walked off to talk to her old friend, The Boulder, On Ji gushed to Katara. "You make me wish I was a bender! You make it look so graceful." Katara flushed from the attention and looked at Aang to diffuse the situation for her but his gaze was trained just behind Katara's right ear.
Before either of them could react, Aang had sent the two girls tumbling backward with a blast of air. Katara managed to right herself but still went flying. His remaining hand caught the lightning Azula had intended for Katara and let it leave his body up towards the sky, the arena flashing as it dissipated. The energy that had flowed through his body was exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. It was over in an instant, Toph had encased her limbs in rock. Azula looked annoyed but was still calm and without remorse. But the peace-loving monk felt something he hadn't really felt before and the flickering of a bright light blocked his vision.
She had gone after Katara. He was going into the Avatar State.
(TW: Brief mention of sexual assault)
He'd gone into it before but never had been able to control it. The first time had been a nightmare. At a frat party freshman year, he'd turned a corner and found a nearly unconscious Katara pinned to a wall. Explaining why he had leveled a frat house to the ground had been awkward to explain to the university.
(All good)
He could feel the arena shake under his feet and gripped the sides of his head. It always felt like his head would explode with all the energy at once. Before he went over the edge of control, he felt warm, grounding arms around him. His breathing slowed and the barrage of voices in his head released their hold on his body.
Aang hugged Katara back, who had been holding him fiercely from the moment she had stood back up. "There you are," she said, letting out a hard breath.
Azula, having been freed from her bonds, walked by them on her way out. "Relax, Avatar. I was only aiming for her shoulder."
Toph walked up to the pair, a look of disdain on her face as they watched her leave. "Talk about unhinged, jeez."
Zuko ran up to them in a fashion probably a bit unbecoming of the crown prince. "Aang, are you okay?"
He nodded, though his iron grip around Katara hadn't faltered. That smell of her hair was so calming, even though she was totally sweaty. "Good thing you taught me that redirection this week, Sifu Hotman." He let out a laugh. "Sorry, Katara. That caught me by surprise."
"Me too. Appreciate the save, though…" she looked towards the door and smirked. "Sore loser." For a moment, Katara let herself enjoy the feeling of his arms, the heartbeat on his neck.
Suki cleared her throat, bringing their attention to where she was crouched next to On Ji. She was still sitting by the wall of the arena where Aang's air blast had sent her. He reluctantly extricated him from Katara's embrace to follow Suki's lead. Katara wrapped herself in her own arms, hugging herself to make up for the loss of his.
"Are you okay?" Aang held a hand out to On Ji. "I'm sorry that was a little rough, I hope you know I wasn't trying to hurt either of you," he said gently.
On Ji gripped his hand, nodding. She was shaking slightly. "Yeah, yeah. I just wasn't expecting it, I guess. Is she always like that?"
Zuko sighed, a little exasperated. "Azula isn't used to losing."
"I see why you don't get along," Sokka said in a high-pitched voice.
Suki quickly forced herself to brighten. "But Aang here saved the day, so we can forget all about her now. And there's a bottle of vodka with our name on it back in the box!"
Aang and Suki helped On Ji up on shaky legs, and he blew the dust off her clothes and hair. An official ran up to the whole group, clearly in a panic. "Avatar Aang, we are so sorry for that. We have voted unanimously to give you as much time as you need before your match with Toph Beifong."
He rubbed On Ji's arm lightly and shook his head with a smile. He felt "Don't worry about it. I think we could all use 15 minutes." He bowed to the official. "Thank you for your generosity." The official nodded, starting back towards the referee booth.
"I don't know Twinkle Toes. I'm ready to go right now!" Toph challenged.
Katara rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Toph, because you aren't the one who was literally struck by lightning five minutes ago." Her arms had been around him just a few minutes before, so she knew that he was feeling a little weak.
Aang laughed and clasped his hands together. "I actually feel okay now, but I really asked for that 15 minutes because I thought we could all do for a shot. Toph?"
"Oh yeah, let's make our match a little more interesting."
After depositing On Ji into the care of Katara, Suki, and Ty Lee, and all taking a shot (or in On Ji's case, a few), Toph and Aang faced each other in the arena. Like the match before, it was long but much more lighthearted. After training together for well over a year, the two knew each other's moves well. Sokka had bet heavily on Toph and was making that quite obvious from the Royal Box. Suki noticed with excitement how Satoru hung on Toph's every move, tensing before each blow he thought might land. But after a long back and forth, Aang managed to clip Toph on the shoulder with a well-directed slice of air from his scooter, and the match was called in his favor. She grumbled but accepted his hand up.
They broke for dinner, as the final match wouldn't be until that evening when most people were off from work and they could rake in the most ticket sales. When Aang and Toph returned to the Royal Box, Sokka was waiting for them. "I can't believe you, Aang! Do you know how much money I just lost? And Toph, really? Taken out by a little bit of air? Seriously!"
Aang brought up his hands in defense. "Sokka, I also bet against myself in this match, I can't believe I managed to hit her either."
Toph punched his arm. "Yeah, that's right. It won't happen ever again, Airhead."
They sat down at the table for a nice dinner of roasted duck and tofu with all sorts of sides. Sokka was quickly able to forget his losses at the betting booth as he stuffed his face. Aang was happy to see that On Ji seemed to be in much higher spirits than before, even if she was a little drunk. Quickly, the collective intoxication of the group had increased markedly and speculation about who would win became the main topic of conversation.
"I'm sorry sis," Sokka said, his hands up. "You know I think you're a better waterbender than Aang but he's got three more elements on his side." Sokka shrugged but winced slightly at Katara's shocked response.
She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back into her chair. "Wow, Sokka. And to think I ever washed your clothes during the semester."
Ty Lee giggled. "You really don't do your own laundry?" The women at the table, and Zuko, suddenly turned on him, admonishing him for his lack of adult skills.
"Well, I think she's got this one in the bag." Toph declared, grabbing a roasted duck leg with her hand.
Katara grinned. "Thank you, Toph."
"What makes you so sure, Toph?" Teo asked, balancing a spoon in his hand. "I think I might be with Sokka on this one."
"Oh, what," Suki started, narrowing her eyes at Teo. "You don't think a girl could win?"
A drunken set of ooh's washed over the table as he threw his hands in the air. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, I never said that, Suki. I just think that Aang might possess a tactical advantage given the fact that he can bend more than just water!"
Now it was Katara's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Just water?"
Teo clapped his hands over his face. "I'm going to stop talking now."
Aang patted Teo on the back. "We're just teasing you, Teo."
"Team Katara!" On Ji said, raising her sloshing glass with a giggle. Suki, Katara, Teo (mainly out of fear), Ty Lee, and Toph raised their glasses as well.
Aang turned back towards his date, feigning offense. "I can't believe you would say that after I saved your life today, On Ji."
She made a face. "Azula was aiming for Katara, anyways." He laughed and squeezed her hand under the table. He was glad she could joke about what had happened.
Ty Lee turned to Mai. "Who do you think will win?"
"I really don't care who wins." Mai took a bite of the fruit tart in front of her, leaning back into Zuko's chest.
Ty Lee rolled her eyes but still smiled. "And you, Zuko?"
Zuko groaned, not wanting to get on anyone's bad side as always. "Well I know the arguments for Aang winning, but what are they for Katara, Toph? I haven't been around you guys as long."
Toph snorted and started laughing. "I just think she'll win this one." Her and Suki exchanged a glance and both burst into drunken laughter again.
"Am I missing something?" Aang asked, looking suspiciously at Katara who only shrugged, unsure herself.
Zuko just looked at her imploringly as the rest of the table pushed Toph to explain herself. In a rare show of physical touch, she and Suki were grabbing each other as they laughed. Satoru started a light chanting of her name until she finally relented. "Okay, okay, okay, enough. Come on, we all know Aang turns into a puddle around Sugar Queen." Katara loudly choked on her drink, and the table fell into a moment of silence as Aang felt his face redden and On Ji's grip on his hand falter.
Luckily, they were saved from the moment when the same official from before poked his head into the room. "We're starting to get ready, are you two ready to go?"
"Yep!" Katara stood up quickly and walked out the door.
Aang took a long last sip of his water before grinning at the group. "See you guys in a bit!"
Unfortunately, both contenders were distracted by Toph's comments as they walked into the arena to begin their match.
He doesn't turn into a puddle around me, come on. How would we get any training done? And he's practically dating On Ji anyway.
I do not turn into a puddle around Katara. Just because she's beautiful doesn't mea- focus, Aang!
"Welcome back, folks!" The announcers now boomed over the arena so they could be heard over the crowd. "Tonight, Avatar Aang faces his beautiful waterbending master, Master Katara for the finale! Who will win?"
Katara rolled her eyes, sending a glare toward the announcers' booth. They walked towards each other in the center of the ring smiling as they bowed.
"Sifu," Aang said respectfully as he leaned towards her - eyes twinkling, Katara noticed, but quickly shook it off.
"Avatar Aang." She laughed. They straightened back up and walked back towards the starting positions. Katara was wearing her usual light blue dress, slits up to her waist to accommodate her deep bending stances. Aang wore only his pants, as he usually did for training.
The bell rang and Katara was immediately on the offense. Water crashed over his head, but he was able to ride it out with a well-timed burst of air and a water surfboard before making the earth under her feet shake and break apart. She took the opportunity to freeze ice under her feet and ride it back toward Aang. The crowd cheered, its swelled size making the roar almost deafening.
Katara's hair whipped around behind her and Aang almost couldn't help but smile. It was quickly wiped off his face when a dozen spindles of water whipped straight at his chest, sending him flying. He rolled and lifted a rock into the air, kicking it back toward her. Katara spun, letting the rock fly past her head as she brought a wave behind Aang's back. He redirected it towards her, breaking apart bits of the ice wave she balanced on.
Their fight was playful, like with Aang and Toph's, but there was an edge to it that neither had felt in their previous matches. Their competition the last few days was now coming to a head and they both felt it. Bending cleared the mind but it also opened a pathway for the pent-up frustration they had both been feeling. Katara and Aang hit harder than they usually did. Each was surprised by the others' intensity. It was like they were speaking through their bending. She could feel her unjustified resentment towards Aang for "choosing" On Ji rise as she worked with her natural element, and Aang could feel his frustration about her mixed signals and his stubborn feelings for her, his bending tending toward the more rooted elements like earth.
Katara shot up a spike of ice, and Aang tumbled off of his air wheel. He caught himself with a roll and pushed off the ground with an earthbending boost. Katara sent a stream of water to where he landed, but instead of landing, he sunk completely into the ground. She looked around, maintaining her stance but waiting for any sign of movement.
Unfortunately for Katara, it came from behind her, and Aang spun her around and knocked her onto her back before she could react. Though he held a fire knife to her neck, he was kind enough to cushion their fall with a small blast of air.
Their chests touched, most of his weight pushing down so she couldn't move. Aang felt his feelings dissipate almost instantly when he felt her heartbeat under his. He looked at her, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face. She tried to move her arm to bend, but she was pinned. Her face pinched together in frustration, cheeks red from their sudden closeness, but the pit in her stomach unraveled. The bell rang. Aang smiled and Katara pushed him off, shoving him on the shoulder slightly with a laugh.
"You're still not a master waterbender, even if you did get me, that time." The pair helped each other up, Aang laughing at her retort. He bowed, smiling, and pulled her into a hug.
"Avatar Aang is the winner of the competition!" The official from before ran into the arena, pushing a wreath of flowers around his neck and a microphone in his hand. "What do you have to say, Avatar?"
He looked back at Katara, and up at his friends in the booth. "Well, thank you, everyone, it was a lot of fun. Everyone I faced was a great bender! But I can assure you, this was definitely a fluke. Either of my masters normally would have kicked my ass. I lost a lot of money betting against myself tonight!" Katara laughed next to him, and the crowd rumbled. "I'm completely humbled to serve as your Avatar, and I hope I can serve you well. Have a good night!"
Aang slung a friendly arm around Katara's shoulders as they sauntered back to the box, and gave her the wreath around his neck. She flushed at the show of intimacy. "Yeah, I'll kick your ass next time."
The final evening of their trip, Sokka convinced everyone to join him for a pro-bending night on the beach, an elaborately planned screening.
With the (forced) help of Teo, he had set up a bed of blankets and pillows on the beach in front of Zuko's home. It faced a blow-up movie screen he had found in town, and he enlisted Suki and Katara to help him make a huge spread of food and Toph to provide copious amounts of alcohol.
As the sun fell, friends and others they had met throughout the week slowly trickled in. Even Satoru showed, much to Katara and Suki's excitement. Sokka and Aang took over bartending, handing out drinks left and right until the match was going to start. As the announcers came on, Sokka stepped in front of the screen.
"Alright everybody, you don't know this, but we placed all these cushions very intentionally! There is a great divide here!"
No one laughed at his half joke so he continued. "I hope you are all ready to drink, we're playing pro-beering, AKA the pro-bending drinking game. Instead of taking players, each side will take a team. Rules are simple: anyone on your side gets knocked back, take a sip; any time your team loses a point, take a drink; and every time your team loses a match, finish your drink or take a shot!"
"What do we get if we win?" Toph asked in her unconvincing "other person" voice.
Sokka grinned, wheels turning. "I'm glad you asked, Not Toph. The winners get… drunk? A date with Appa?"
Aang called back without even looking up from his pouring. "Appa's taken, Sokka."
Sokka's hands raised in the air in defeat. "Alright, alright, we'll figure something out. Cheers!" Sokka settled into a set of pillows where Suki and Katara sat, throwing an arm around Suki just as the first round began.
On Ji let out a small scream as Aang landed next to her with drinks in hand.
"I'm sorry," Aang laughed. "I forgot you're not used to my airbending."
She plucked the drink out of his hand. "Oh, I think we'll have time for that." On Ji smiled and pulled him in for a long kiss. Aang sighed. She was great! This was great. He pulled her closer on the pillows they were sharing and turned to the screen.
The match was nearly even, meaning that both sides had to drink quite a lot. Ruon Jian and Chan yelled at the screen, Ty Lee laughing and pointing when they had to drink. Katara rolled her eyes as Sokka screamed as if the players could hear him. But that was her brother.
"Ooooooh Toph! Smoochie smoochie, someone's in loooove!" Sokka jeered at her while Suki tried to pull him back down. That was her brother too. All attention turned to Toph, who was cuddled up with Sarotu in front of Aang and On Ji. He cried out as a rock hit him in the back of the head, making him fall face-first into the sand.
Mai turned toward Toph with an actual smile. "Finally, something fun to watch."
"You had that one coming, Sokka," Aang called, sitting up from his position with On Ji.
At that moment, Katara realized that of the entire crew, she was the only one alone.
Aang knew exactly what On Ji was doing. He felt her press closer to him, run her fingers lightly just at the edge of appropriateness. She nuzzled his neck and let her breath linger there. Their drunkenness made it tingle ever so slightly more than usual. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying it. In the privacy of their pillow nook, it felt a little dangerous but safe. They knew it wouldn't go anywhere there, but the temptation was what made it fun.
It certainly wouldn't be his first time, but Aang had been hesitating to go all the way with On Ji. There was always a good excuse. They were too drunk, too tired, or had exams. On the very last night of their trip, he knew there wasn't much in their way. Aang didn't think intimacy was wrong if it was with someone you cared about. And he cared about On Ji! So when she looked up at him through her eyelashes and suggested they sneak back to the house, he didn't protest.
They stumbled through the empty house, kissing and giggling as they went. He airbent the door closed and she pulled him onto the bed. She kissed him, albeit a little sloppy, and slipped her tongue in his mouth. He let his hand fall on her waist and their legs tangle. He felt like he wasn't in his own body, like it wasn't him doing this right now.
"You really are a little monk, Aang. You don't have to be so shy." On Ji peppered hot kisses to his neck and slipped his robe off his shoulder. The comment rubbed him the wrong way, but he just chuckled awkwardly, letting her pull back to bring her red shirt over her head, and bringing a light kiss to her lips again. She grabbed his hand in hers and brought it to her chest. He let her tongue back in his mouth. He knew what the motions all were, and he was liking it. But when her hands started to pull down the waist of his pants, something deep in his stomach wanted her to stop and wanted her to stop now. Aang pulled away sharply and made On Ji wince. "Did I do something wrong?"
He moved back to her, regretting his reaction, and grabbed her hands in his. He smiled lightly. "Not at all, I'm sorry. I'm jumpy when I'm drunk."
She nodded, still feeling a little embarrassed. "Do you just want to watch something instead? Cuddle?"
"I think that sounds really great." He laid back down next to her and let her settle on his chest.
"Aang?" On Ji bit her lip. "You know I like you, right? We don't have to...rush anything."
His stomach twinged. "I know, On Ji. I like you too."
Aang waited until On Ji had fallen into a peaceful slumber to leave the beach house. He couldn't sleep. He really liked On Ji, but it had just felt so wrong to be that intimate with her. While he had slept around a little bit as a freshman, now, sex without feelings felt empty, and he avoided it entirely. She was really pretty and fun to talk to. But he was coming around to the idea that it might end there for him. Maybe he just couldn't have deeper feelings for her.
As much as he wanted it out of his head, he couldn't shake how kissing Katara had felt all those months ago, and how it felt during the body shot. Everyone he kissed now was automatically compared to her, even when he didn't want to be comparing. It wasn't just the physical aspect with that kiss. Kissing On Ji was great, sure. But kissing Katara? It had been like magic. In his gut, it had felt right. It was more than the physical act, which carried a pleasure by itself, but it was one that had touched his soul, too.
Aang continued his meditations as he walked down to the beach, hoping a swim might clear his head. Katara didn't want him. On Ji did. He owed her, a girl he definitely liked, a real chance. He wasn't giving her that with Katara running through his mind all the time. When he made it to the beach, he realized she wasn't just in his mind. She was everywhere, apparently. Sitting right on the beach he'd gone to for solitude. She didn't seem to notice him approaching, looking up at the full moon above.
"Full moon?" he asked. Katara jumped and looked up at him, nodding. He noticed right away her eyes were filled with tears and rushed to kneel down next to her. "What's wrong? Don't cry, Katara."
She looked back down, hoping he'd let it go. She'd seen him go up with On Ji and then watched everyone else leave with their person. She'd been left alone and felt it. And though she considered going out to find someone, it wasn't about the warm body. She wanted him, she wanted a real connection. But the only person she had potentially felt that for had just slept with someone else.
The moon had a way of filling her with strength while simultaneously breaking down all her walls. It always made her feel overwhelmed. The moon was so bright and close tonight. Her blood ran hotter than usual on these nights. She decided she'd use an airbender tactic and ignore his question. "Just the moon. Why are you up?"
"I…I'm just too drunk to sleep." It wasn't exactly the truth, but it wasn't a lie either. His head felt muddled.
"Would bending help?" Aang lifted a tendril of water up, waving it in front of Katara as if teasing her. Katara decided it would. She grabbed Aang's hand and pulled him into the water until they were knee deep, starting her flowing movements. For a while, under the moon, they moved as one through their stances. It was most everyone's last night on Ember Island, so everything had been packed away and students went to bed early in preparation for the long journey back to their respective schools. The only thing they could hear were the waves lapping on the shore. It went on for ages, they rehearsed the forms they knew until their arms ached.
In the moonlight she looked incredible. The water shimmered and lit her skin while she moved the water gracefully around herself and him. Every feeling that he'd felt for her the past three years began flooding back to him. He felt a longing for her that he had never felt with On Ji. He wanted to be near her, to touch her, to meld into her. The end of their dance found them bowing, face to face. Katara noticed a darkening in Aang's face, one she had never seen before, as they looked at each other. "Aang?"
He closed the small distance between them and grabbed her face in his hands. Before she realized what was happening, his lips were on hers, light and sweet. She felt butterflies reach her stomach, her hands cold. Aang pulled back before she could react. He grabbed the top of his head for nonexistent hair with a stricken expression on his face. "Katara, I'm so sorry. I-I'm drunk and you just look so beautiful, it must have gone to my head… I don't know what to say."
Katara didn't say anything for a moment, looking out at the moon's reflection in the still water. He had just kissed her again. And this time, she knew exactly what she wanted. Aang's heart seized, sure he had ruined their strained friendship until she looked back up at him. She took a step towards him cautiously before placing shaky hands on either side of his jaw. His heart pounded in his ears. He stayed completely frozen, eyes wide until she pressed her lips to his.
He didn't think he'd ever be able to breathe again. He needed her more now than he had ever needed anything, and the feeling was mutual. Once it had started, it was like they couldn't stop. His arms wrapped around her waist and brought their bare stomachs tight together. She bit his lip hard, making him groan and bring a hand up to wrap in her long, tangled hair, trying to bring their tongues even closer.
They stumbled towards shore, taking it in stride when Katara slipped. He lowered himself down with her in the light surf and knotted their hands together just next to her head in the sand. She started rubbing his leg with her foot, unable to help herself from pushing up against him lightly. The bucking of her hips lit a flame in him, and he pushed himself harder against her. Their heads swam as their skin touched and errant hands found their way around to sensitive places. Katara could feel the way he was trying to breathe her in, practically become one. Aang knew with absolute certainty why similar behavior had felt so mechanical with On Ji earlier.
On Ji. Shit.
Aang sprang back breathing heavily and collapsed onto his back in the sand. He stared at the sky with wide-open eyes, feeling the total guilt of what had happened seep into his bones. His entire body felt like it was on fire. His feelings about On Ji may have been confused, but they had not come to Ember Island together with the expectation of being with anyone else.
Katara reached out to touch him but he recoiled, standing up, trying to ignore the look of hurt on her face. She cringed. She had never wanted to put him in this position in the first place. But now that it had happened, she needed to explain how she felt.
"This is...that was...I-This-" Aang stumbled through various sentences, unable to finish any one.
As she sat up, he noticed all of the sand in her beautiful mess of hair. The look in her eyes was killing him. "Aang," It killed him, even more, the way she said his name like that "it was-"
"-wrong, Katara. It was wrong." The dreamy expression was instantly wiped from her face. Panic continued to flow through him, worsening with each second, and her own body followed suit. This couldn't be happening, they both wanted each other! "I mean I almost just…" he gestured back towards the beach house wildly, "with On Ji- I brought On Ji, Katara."
She bit her lip and looked back toward the water. A wave of nausea flowed through her. She didn't know if she could handle his answer, but she had to know. "Did you just sleep with her? And then did this, here... with me?"
The pain in her voice made him wince. "What? No, Katara, not at all, I haven't slept with her." She breathed a silent breath of relief. "This just-"
"Aang, I'm sorry, I was confused before, I didn't expect you to kiss me after the play."
He laughed bitterly. "You really didn't know how I felt about you? Come on, Katara." He couldn't believe this was happening the way it was. As much as he wanted to gather her up in his arms and kiss her senseless, he couldn't shake the horrible, guilty feeling rolling through his entire being. He felt like he was being torn in half, regretting the anger in his voice.
"Like I said," she balled her fists in the sand. "I didn't expect you to-"
Aang yelled in frustration, his hands straight in the air. "This is so fucked up!"
She jumped. He never cursed. In fact, this may have been the first time she'd ever heard the word come out of his mouth. She looked at him, mouth open, unable to string together words. "But...I..." The moon brought her a little courage. "I didn't know how I felt, before. Didn't it just feel so right?"
He strode towards her with renewed intensity, eyes wild and wide. "It isn't right, Katara! Not now." He turned around, hands back on his forehead.
She tugged on her hair, starting to shiver from the cool breeze from the sea. "Aang-"
He stopped short, turning back to face her. "What are you doing, Katara? You jump me after I start seeing someone?" Katara just looked at him. The hurt was clear in both of their eyes. He met her gaze. She could feel the pain even with the few feet between them.
Before she could answer, he shook his head. "I can't do this."
He left Katara to quietly let out her tears, begging for the full moon to set.