A/N:

Ashley Barbosa: I'm glad you enjoyed it. This chapter may be a little painful but not much angst, Just a lot of drama. There'll be mmore Ty Lee x Aang later on

XoGXo: I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far :)

Bay42220: I really enjoyed writing Suki and Aang's relationship, plus Aang and Katara's growing relationship plus Ty Lee x Aang. There'll be more later on, but for now, this should suffice.

jonners2314: I wanted to add more on Suki and Aang's sisterly/brotherly relationship since I alluded to it in SYTFAD. Plus, it was fun to write. Also, yeah, Ty Lee like Jin caught feelings for him and he's unfortunately not going to take it well. Suki will rip him a new one, sure, but Sokka may get in the way. I won't say more, you'll have to find out :)

one sad kataang writer: You found that chapter depressing? That chapter was one of the more laid back ones in this book lol. With all the Kataang fluff and Ty LeexAang smut and Suki and Aang banter, I thought it would lighten the mood lol. I don't know if he'll recite it to her, I might make her find it and have her read it to herself thought.

nateC183: I'm pleased you're enjoying this so far. Hope you like this one just as much :)

TheQuietReader23: Yep, what Aang's thinks of Zuko - especially after stealing Katara is always interesting to see :) I enjoy writing cocky Aang, its so fun because he's the Avatar so there's endless possibilties to what he could say and how he could tease. Its around this time that Katara begins to realise she has an attraction for Aang, and it'll only get deeper as the book continues. Katara is still cOnFuSeD ;D Though, she's trying to kiss Aang because she can't control herself lol. That's it. Once the Zutara breakup happens, then she'll be more direct with Aang and her feelings. Oh, his reaction is not what she is going to expect at all. He will lash out and it won't be pretty, But, they'll bounce back eventually. Yeah, Ty Lee is going to be crushed. Sorry, but its essential to the story for Aang to be a dick. Yeah, I love a sisterly/brotherly Sukaang. Its great and fun to write; I always imagined she became an older sister for him after Book 3. Oh yeah, she will set him straight, and it'll get frisky and drama will rise. Katara's confession? Maybe 2 more chapters, then she confesses and it all goes to shit.

Chapter 7: Poison In My Veins

It had been a long day…

'You're sulking again…'

Yeah, well… it's been a long day, so give me a break.

'I would… if you didn't look like every 16-year-old nowadays who act like their heart is breaking with every breath they take as they sulk in their room listening to XXXTENTACION and sad lofi-playlists while they stalk their crush on Instagram.'

I have no idea what you're talking about. You still hitting that cactus juice?

'Nah, just smoking some grass.'

Why would you smoke grass? What'll you gain from that?

'Forget about it.'

Anyways, I'm not as weak as to mope around and act like I'm going to kill myself just because the girl I liked didn't like me back. I'm not that pathetic…

….

Anymore.

'Never said you were, but are you sure you just like her?'

Like I said, I don't love her anymore.

'You can feed yourself all the bullshit you want, it won't make it true.'

Aren't you the one who constantly told me that I needed to get over her? Why are you constantly trying to convince me that I'm still in love with her? Seems counterproductive and contradictory.

'I did tell you to get over her, however, along the way I realised that you never will… and that's the tragedy.'

….

'What? No witty comeback this time?'

Fuck you.

'It'd be pretty hard for you to fuck yourself. Still, you know I'm right.'

Maybe, but what I know for sure is that all you have ever done is judge me… and I'm getting sick and tired of it. Your commentary is doing nothing but pissing me off even more, and after all the bullshit I just went through, I don't need anyone or anything adding more fuel to the fire.

As the pale, and very naked earthbender snuggled up to me, I recounted all the events that led me here.

It was the last day of my stay at the Fire Nation. It had been a few days since Katara's birthday – Suki and Sokka had left the Fire Nation yesterday via Appa – Toph and I were leaving for Kyoshi Island tomorrow morning via ship.

I had spent the entire day with Katara – nothing too interesting, just a couple teenagers messing around, embarrassing everyone and themselves with their antics. Zuko and Ty Lee had to visit the Boiling Rock because Azula was being transferred there due to security issues at the Asylum. Normally, I would've tagged along as you can never be too safe, especially with Azula – but her state of mind had been better than before, and she seemed almost harmless now. Calm, even. So, with no altercations between them, Zuko, Ty Lee and the other Kyoshi Warriors helped transfer Azula to the Boiling Rock while I kept a rather bored and depressed waterbender company.

Normally, when spending a day with me, she'd be excited and full of energy – 'I' was her 'way' of forgetting her completely monotonous life here in the Palace – a distraction. Yeah, I knew – it wasn't difficult for me to recognise that I was the freedom Katara was so desperately seeking within these walls. She felt closed in, and much like the element I bend, I could tell that she was attracted to the idea of me; the thought of being free, one with the air, following the breeze, allowing it to guide me – she dreamt of a life where the walls closing around her would shatter instead.

They never did.

Even though I felt bad for her, I couldn't really do much except be there for her. If I tried to convince her to leave with me, she might interpret it as me trying to separate her from Zuko, or me trying to claim her when their relationship was so fragile – neither of which was true. Their relationship was their problem and I wanted nothing to do with her romantically – all it ever brought me was baseless hope which always led to heartbreak and then a falling out… and I was sick of distancing myself from her. Katara was my best friend, so of course I didn't want to complicate our relationship like she had been doing; unknowingly or subconsciously – or maybe both – trying to find any excuse to get close to me, to touch me, to kiss me – on the cheek. Though, there were a few occasions where she'd been leaning a little too close to my lips. I had stopped her of course.

Either way, I ignored whatever complications were arising between Katara and Zuko – so, my whole day had been spent trying to cheer her up. And after a couple of tickle fights, I had succeeded. Katara seemed to be in a much better mood, that is until Zuko arrived later that night.

I was passing by the throne room when I heard them arguing.

"You were gone the whole day! What did you want me to do?! Sulk around and wait for you to come back?!" I heard Katara shout.

"I offered you to come along –"

"You know how I feel about Azula. You know what she does to me…" Katara interrupted her boyfriend (ewww) before trailing off.

Using my seismic sense, I noticed that they were both on equal footing, Katara stood on the left while Zuko stood across from her – they were quite close to each other and only got closer the more they argued as Zuko kept backing her up until she would eventually collide against the war table behind her.

"That's fine, but you didn't need to spend the whole day with him! You could've spent some time with Toph – "

"Aang's my best friend, why wouldn't I want to spend the day with him?! I haven't seen him in months, and the one time I do, and am actually happy, you want me to stay away?!"

If they got any louder then I may have had to break it up, but I wanted to see where this was going. Why did Zuko have a problem with Katara hanging out with me? It wasn't like there was anything going on between us?

"I do want you to be happy, but it isn't the same with him. He used to love you and – "

"Exactly, used to. He doesn't anymore," she trailed off, sadness lurking just beneath her tone. "He dated Jin for like a year and a half and was making out with Ty Lee just the other day."

I could sense some envy underneath her anger, and evidently, so did Zuko.

"And if I remember correctly, you were awfully happy when you heard Jin and Aang had broken up…" My eyes widened; my suspicions were true. "And you seemed quite upset the other night, which was also the same night you told me you caught Ty Lee and Aang."

Damn, nice catch Zuko! Call her out on her bullshit!

Wait, Katara's my best friend; why am I suddenly against her and siding with the man who took her from me.

'Well, he didn't really take her; she wasn't yours to begin with.'

Didn't I tell you to fuck off?

"Get to the point Zuko!" Katara screamed, she gasped when I sensed that she had finally collided against the table behind her.

"You like him! I can tell; I see the way you look at him," So do I. "And you spend all your time with him instead of your own boyfriend!"

"Oh, you talk a big game for someone who's neglected his girlfriend for months on end."

"This is not about me! It's about you and your infatuation for Aang!"

"I don't have an infatuation for Aang!"

"Don't bullshit me, Katara!"

"I'm not!"

"I can get Toph in here right now and she'll say that you're lying."

I chuckled to myself. Good luck trying to boss Toph around Zuko.

I heard Katara chuckle too as she responded, "Good luck trying to command her, Zuko."

'Well, seems like she read your mind. Or you just think alike.'

Great minds often do.

"Don't change the topic Katara – "

"Aang's leaving tomorrow, and I just wanted to spend some time with him before he left. So – wait, what are you so worried about anyways?!"

"I just… I don't like how he's always around you."

"He's my best friend – "

"You've said that!"

"So, what's wrong with us spending time together? Its not like he'll steal me away or anything…" She trailed off, her voice sounding somewhat unsure, concerned and yet hopeful. Why that was, I had no idea. She chose Zuko, so why on earth would she be hopeful about me stealing her away.

'Why do you think, genius?'

Not like I even want to steal her away in the first place…

'You sure about that buddy?'

She made her choice – I told her that night, I'd never go back to where we were. I'll never allow myself to feel that way again.

'And why is that?'

…

'No! Do not shut me out again!'

Sorry, but I have a situation between the Fire Lord and Lady Katara that I need to handle.

"I know, he can't steal you away…"

Well, I can if I wanted to.

"What makes you so sure?"

"I wouldn't let him."

"You really think you can stop the Avatar?" Katara laughed genuinely before she responded, "No offence Zuko, but he'd pummel you."

'Well, she ain't lying.'

No, she's not – I thought with a smirk.

"Stop siding with him!"

"Why!? Does it bother you oh great Fire Lord?!"

"You're my girlfriend…"

"And?" Katara threatened, "That doesn't mean that –"

For a while there was silence- standing there, for a brief moment, I feared that they were trying to strangle each other, that is until I heard panting and low moans echo across the room. I assumed that, instead of working through their issues, Katara and Zuko decided to end the argument by fucking each other to exhaustion and silence. Grimacing somewhat, I turned around and took my leave, walking out onto the pavement where Azula fought Zuko and Katara during the war – a place where Toph was currently practicing some late night earthbending. Stepping onto the stairs, I had a thought: it was funny.

'What was?'

My 12-year-old, naïve, completely in love, stupid and idiotic self would've been crumbling and crying at the mere thought of Katara and Zuko kissing, let alone having sex.

'What has that got to do with anything?'

Well, normally I'd either be angry, sad or confused – now, I feel nothing. Mere disgust maybe, but other than that, nothing. So, this clearly means I've gotten over her. Therefore, your theory about me being forever under her thumb is incorrect.

'You've matured, sure. You can handle yourself around them, I'll give you that. But you're not over her; you're merely distracting yourself so you won't have to think about it. Watch, I bet that if you see Katara tonight – and you don't take my advice – you will blow up on her and hurt her again.'

Well, you're –

"What are you doing here Twinkle Toes?" I heard Toph ask as she stopped throwing boulders around for a moment.

"Nothing," I shrugged, "Couldn't sleep."

Toph simply smirked as she turned to face me completely, "What? Can't fall asleep unless you're taking it up in ass from Ty Lee?"

I groaned and reddened as Toph broke into short laughter, "Very funny, Toph." Toph simply continued laughing as I took a moment to glance at her. I noticed: she was quite beautiful.

'Since when did you have a thing for Toph?'

I don't, but I can't deny that she's grown to be quite attractive. I had never seen Toph in this light; mostly because I had always identified her either as my good friend or earthbending Sifu. Now however, under the bright moonlight, while she was surprising only wearing her top-wrappings and shorts, I couldn't help but eye her for a while.

"Must be depressing; to only have your right hand to satisfy you while Ty Lee's at the Boiling Rock." Toph began laughing again.

I was about to simply shrug it off and walk away until I decided to challenge myself; could I actually tease Toph back to the point where she's flustered?

'Well, let's find out.'

"Its funny, you seem so interested in my sex life… almost to the point where you seem like you want to be a part of it."

I smirked when I felt Toph's heartbeat pick up its pace when she immediately halted her laughter. "If I was a lesbian, I would probably be seeing Azula instead of you, Twinkle Toes." Toph grinned when I groaned again, before thinking of a reply.

"Is that so? Well, I am surprised that you've chosen to name your new vibrator 'Azula'. Tell me, did 'Sokka' break too easily?" When Toph hid her blushing face and had no reply, I grinned and decided to add insult to injury, knowing she would appreciate it – oddly. "Ha, I guess you didn't see that one coming."

At that, Toph laughed, good-naturedly too.

'Huh, I guess you were right.'

"Good one Twinkle Toes. You got me there." As soon as she spoke, she hurled a boulder at me. Luckily, I had great reflexes and was able to dodge it in time. Toph probably guessed that I was confused as she simply shrugged before grinning at me when I regained my bearings. "What? You've learnt how to talk like a man…" Standing proud, Toph stomped her feet and shot out two boulders that floated by her side, "Now, lets see if you can fight like one."

With that, she punched and kicked the two boulders at me. Respecting my Sifu's silent wishes whenever we sparred, I chose to use only earthbending – though, it was more or less because she'd complain my ear off if I beat her using any element besides earth.

Deciding to stand my ground, I planted my feet and tore the boulders into smaller shards when they collided with my fists. While they were still floating mid-air, I incorporated some subtle waterbending and bended the earth shards to become small, scattered spikes. Toph, sensing what I was doing, bended a wall of earth that protected her from the various spikes I shot at her. When my attack ran its duration, she bended a pilar underneath her and raised herself to gain the high ground.

'Its over Anakin! I have the high ground!'

Dude, what the fuck are you on about? I'm currently busy, if you can't tell.

'No! You're supposed to say, "You underestimate my power! Then leap over me and I cut you in half and -'

I'm trying not to be buried six feet under by a pissed of earthbender whom I teased relentlessly, can you not distract me and keep your delusions to yourself?

Shaking away my thoughts, I launched myself towards Toph. She, however, intercepted me be raising another earth wall that shielded her. However, mid-air, I changed stances and bent my knees, thus landing on said wall with ease. When I regained my balance, I straightened up and pushed off of the wall, thus using my earthbending to shoot it towards Toph. She somehow saw this coming as she had already launched herself at the wall and shot it right back at me. When I landed on my feet, I realised that I wouldn't have enough time to move out of the way. So, I simply folded my arms and sank into the earth. While I was down below, I sensed Toph land directly underneath me. She didn't know I was there, and by the time she had realised it, I had already shot myself back up and had lifted her off her feet from behind – my arms wrapped around her tight.

"Aang!" She squealed and squirmed, trying to escape my embrace. Unfortunately for her, my arms were locked tight around her mid-riff and I had lifted her off her feet, so she couldn't sense the earth or use it to pummel me. "Let me go right now, Aang!"

"Aang huh…" I chuckled, loosening my grip somewhat to allow her to better breathe. "Not Twinkle Toes?"

"You drop me right this instant and I'll show you how twinkly your toes can get when I crush them with my might."

I laughed as she continued to squirm in my grip. She knew what I wanted her to acknowledge, so after a few moments of hopelessly trying to escape, she hesitantly sighed and relaxed. "Fine, fine… you win."

Laughing for a while longer, I eased Toph back onto her feet.

"You're an asshole," she muttered.

Expecting her to turn back around to berate me for holding her without her permission, I was definitely surprised when I felt her lean back into me instead. My arms were still around her, but as I was about to let her go, she gripped onto my wrists and forced them around her naked mid-riff again. Her breathing grew somewhat heavy, and her pale skin was also heating up despite the somewhat chilly air. Due to my firebending and airbending, I was a natural hotspot. So, Toph must've recognised this as she shivered before she turned around in my embrace. This whole thing was surprising me, yet I was even more shocked when she dug her face into my half exposed chest. With her arms wrapped around my torso, I felt Toph's hot breath land on my shoulder as she shivered beneath me – I was a few inches taller than her by now.

This was all so confusing to me; sure, Toph was pretty. And yeah, I did tease her, but I never expected her to initiate such an intimate embrace. Sure, it wasn't at all lust-filled or completely romantic, but it was intimate. And intimate for Toph spoke volumes, unlike Katara who is naturally affectionate and thus intimate with almost everyone she cares for – Toph is not similar to Katara in that sense, so naturally, I was confused.

My confusion was cleared however, when I felt Toph grin into my shoulder before she pulled away and launched a small boulder at me. Not expecting it at all, I was shot a few feet away as the boulder collided against my abdomen. As I laid on the floor, groaning in pain, I barely noticed Toph's laughter audibly increasing in volume as she drew closer. When I opened my eyes, she was standing above me with a shit eating grin tugging at her lips.

"You play dirty," I groaned, feeling the bruise that was surely forming around my ribs.

"Oh, relax," Toph snorted. "Think of it as a… graduation present; you finally bested your Sifu and have thus passed The Greatest Earthbender: Toph Beifong's Earthbending School."

I simply chuckled as I sat up slowly, grimacing slightly at the bruise I'd later have to heal – that is if Katara doesn't first. "And how's that going for you by the way?"

"Its great," she sighed. "I'm teaching a bunch of lily livers but… I'll shape em' up soon enough. Here," Toph offered me her hand, trying to help me up after knocking me down.

I accepted graciously, however, I think Toph underestimated just how strong she was as she practically yanked me onto her. When I did stand up, Toph unintentionally flung me onto her. So, to balance myself, I placed a hand on her shoulder while she laid her hand flat on my now naked stomach to stop me from falling on top of her. However, again, the weirdest thing happened: as I stilled myself, I felt Toph's breathing become somewhat ragged as her hand began trancing my now exposed abs. I had no idea if she was toying with me again, if she knew what she was doing, or if she had no idea and was subconsciously ogling me in her own way. Yet, I did nothing to stop her.

I didn't want to.

While her other hand rested against my side, her current adventurous hand travelled up my abdomen and reached my chest. She raked her nails over my firm muscles as her head rose from its dipped position. The sight I saw made me gasp internally; her lips where parted, her cheeks rosy, and her eyes – though they retained their glassy exterior – I sensed a misty, lust-filled, haze within her light green fields.

Dangerously, her hand ventured up to my neck, while the hand that was originally resting by my ribs began tracing my abs. At this point, I was sure that she either knew exactly what she was doing and was not playing around, or she had no clue and was just lost in the moment. However, when her fingers glided across my sharp jawline, palmed my rosy cheek and traced my light-blue arrow before hooking around my neck, I knew that I did not care at all if she was conscious or not – Toph clearly wanted something, and I smirked knowing that something was me.

Without a moments notice, Toph tightened her grip on my neck and pulled me towards her lips while her other pale hand continued playing with my abs. Her lips were soft, a sharp yet pleasurable contrast to her hard and calloused hands that continued to rake over my body. When her tongue stroked min, I deepened the kiss as I tilted my head when my hands wrapped around pale, soft, skinny waist, tugging her closer as now both her arms were wrapped around my neck.

Growing emboldened, I trailed down and caressed her fleshy thigh before pulling it up and hooking it around my leg. I continued caressing her thigh while she slipped her tongue out of my mouth and took my bottom lip in her teeth. She bit down on my lip teasingly, causing me to groan and forcing my hands to travel down to her plush rear and squeeze with all the might within me. She moaned and scraped her nails against my back and sides, scratching and marking me – though I didn't mind at all. In fact, I actually enjoyed it. Jin and Ty Lee were similar in the regard that they treated sex like love making, where they wanted it to flow and seem like a dance. I had no objection to that, in fact, I often enjoyed it – as long as they didn't catch feelings. Yet, Toph was being as rough with me as I usually am with them, and I was enjoying it greatly. With Toph, it felt more like a battle, like a feud to see who could eat the other up first, have them surrender and fulfil their desire… and that sounded perfect to me.

When she began rubbing me through my trousers, I groaned and pulled her hand away – not allowing her that much control as I hooked her arm around my neck. When she tried to protest and play around with me, my hands found her dark strands of hair and tugged them down – thus tilting her head up and allowing me access to the sensitive skin of her pale neck. Toph moaned and groaned and pressed herself harder against me when my lips, tongue and teeth kissed, and sucked, and nipped at the susceptible skin of her neck. With my hands still tugging her hair, Toph continued scratching before she spoke for the first time, warningly.

"Aang…" she sounded somewhat disappointed, and I knew why. "We need to stop, its Sugar Queen…" She moaned again when I sucked on her pale collarbone, "Katara's coming."

"So what?" I fired back, "We should show her how it's done." I commented as I leaned up and nipped at her earlobe, causing her to groan as she tried to contain herself. "Let her have a front row seat."

"She's trembling…" I halted, and Toph sighed. "She's crying, Aang."

I too sighed as I pulled away, though, our arms were still locked around each other. "She probably had another fight with Zuko."

"Help her Twinkle Toes, talk to her..." Toph unwrapped her hands around me, and began walking away while I groaned. I wanted to help Katara, but I was also greatly enjoying my time with Toph. And now she was walking away. However, just before she turned a corner and walked through the door that led to our sleeping quarters, she glanced back at me and smirked, "We'll continue this later, Avatar."

I smiled – I certainly hope so.

'Not to blame her or anything… but Katara basically cockblocked you.'

Don't remind me.

"A-Aang?" Came Katara's muffled whisper, "What a-are you doing h-here? Its late."

I turned around and walked up the steps, trying my best to ignore the pain in my barely beating heart as I stared at Katara's vividly, tear-stained cheeks. Without another word, I walked up to her and drew her close, holding her in my arms as she trembled beside me. She was stiff at first, but she soon surrendered and wrapped her arms around my torso and dug her face into my naked chest, her body trembling and voice muffled as she cried, more streaks racing down her face and now travelling down my chest – though I didn't mind. Katara needed me, and there was no way I was going to leave her if she needed me this badly.

We remained like that for a while, pinned against each other, our arms tightening as we held onto each for dear life. I would've stayed like this for eternity, but I couldn't bear it. It was too much, too soon.

"What's wrong, Katara?" I broke the silence, my voice barely above a whisper as I didn't want to alert her.

She didn't respond, instead, she simply shook her head and dug further into my chest, her red and heated cheek stroking my right peck with naked need while she did so.

"Katara? Do you-"

"Just… Just hold me, Aang…" she pleaded, her big, blue, world shattering, ocean eyes capturing mine as she stared at me. "Please?"

Gaining control over my breathing as I had lost myself there for a moment, I simply nodded and kissed her forehead. She smiled and dug her face into the nape of my neck while mine rested atop hers. We remained in that position for a while, neither of us daring to break the comfortable silence that had befallen upon us. In that moment, again, I don't know what or why but – similar to how it had when Katara and I talked when we were searching for Zuko's mother – something in me snapped.

This was exactly what I wanted. This was all that I ever wanted. Her, in my arms. Not Zuko's. And yet, now that I had her here… I hated it. I despised it. I resented it. Holding her like this, close, and warm, and connected, it felt amazing… and disgusting. She was with Zuko. She chose him. She rejected me and chose him. She got together with him and basically, kindly told me to 'get over it'. Yet, here she was; crying on my shoulder, in my arms, holding me close. She was doing the exact opposite of what she initially desired; I mean, Zuko was her boyfriend. She should be crying on his shoulder. He should be comforting her, holding her, keeping her warm. However, yet again, here she was, digging her face into my chest… after just having had sex with him.

That did it for me.

I pulled away from her and gave her an annoyed yet somewhat understanding look. "What happened Katara? Why were you crying?"

She didn't respond at first, choosing to stay quiet and trying to fall back into my arms. However, when I didn't allow it, she sighed and dipped her head.

'Dude, she needs you right now. Don't be a dick. She came her crying her eyes out, just let her be, don't push her.'

"I had a fight with Zuko…" here voice seemed broken – she seemed broken.

"Did he hurt you?" She shook her head. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Is Ty lee your girlfriend?" Katara suddenly asked, surprising me as it had absolutely nothing to do with her and Zuko.

I wanted to say that it was none of her business, but the mental image of her tear-stained face was engraved into my brain, so I decided to be nice for once. "No, she's not."

"So… so why are you two – I – I mean are you two –"

"Katara," I sighed warningly, "What does this have to do with you and Zuko?"

"It doesn't", she answered, though I sensed that her heart rate had picked up – she wasn't lying, but she wasn't being completely honest either. "I was just… I don't know… curious, I guess."

"Are you sure that's all it was? Your curiosity?" I teased, causing her to blush as she tried to hide her face. I chuckled somewhat before continuing, "I like her," at that, Katara's ears perked up and her eyes found mine, a certain emotion swirling within her blue orbs, one I couldn't yet identify. "But we're not dating."

She sighed, relief – that's what that was – before she retorted. "So, what? You two are just 'messing around'?" Katara asked, air quoting and donning a slightly confused and disgusted expression.

"What if we are? Is there a problem?"

"N-no, not really…"

"Katara," I sighed again, I was sick of her constantly running around the issue instead of facing it head on – she was more of an airbender than me in that moment. "What are you trying to say? Get to the point?"

Katara quirked her eyebrow up, seeming somewhat surprised by the heavy annoyance displayed in my voice as she spoke, "I just never thought you were that kind of person."

"What kind?" I inquired, folding my arms across my chest as I glazed at her defiantly.

"The kind that sleeps around."

"Does that bother you, Katara?" I challenged, testing to see if she would fall into my trap.

"Well, sorta – yeah."

"Why?"

….

Silence: just what I had predicted.

'Damn. You sure got her there. But, I'd say pull away from this conversation, I don't think you'll like where its heading.'

No, if she thinks she has a say in my love-life then she's got another thing coming.

'What love life? You've only ever loved one girl, and she's standing right in front of you.'

…

'I told you, if you don't listen to me, you'll end up hurting her.'

"Why Katara? Why does it bother you?"

"It just does, okay!" She raised her voice slightly. "I never expected you to – I just don't like that you're – Urgh!" Katara huffed and groaned as she too folded her arms across her chest while glancing away, glaring at a random boulder that Toph and I had formed as she spoke. "I thought you'd only sleep with the girl you loved."

"I thought so too," I responded sadly, yet my voice was laced with anger and annoyance when I continued. "But things change."

"You clearly did," she replied coldly – and that set me off.

'Dude, relax. You know how she gets sometimes. Don't be an ass-'

"I changed for the better I'd say," I gritted, clenching my fists as I attempted to contain my annoyance.

"I'd hardly agree."

"Why? Because I don't trail behind you like lost puppy anymore?" I challenged, glaring at her dangerously as she glared back.

"That is not why?!"

"Then what?!"

"You've – you're… you've grown angrier. You're more aggressive. You get irritated at the smallest of things and sometimes… you s-speak to me as if… as if y-you hate me." Her voice began trembling, and a pang of hurt shot through my heart as I realised that I had caused this. "The Aang I know wasn't like that. He would never do half the things he does now."

'Oh boy, here he goes again.'

"And the Katara I knew wouldn't have done half the things she has," I retorted. "But I guess my perception of you was flawed, so, it's safe to that say your perception of me was too."

I wanted to continue arguing, to continue laying into her all the bullshit she has put me through – but then I realised: its not her fault. Its not her fault that I stupidly fell in love. It's not her fault that she couldn't love me back. Its not her fault that she fell for Zuko. Its not her fault that I was such a baby about it for so long. And its not her fault that she and Zuko are fighting – or, at least, not completely.

"My perspective isn't flawed, Aang," Katara continued gently, a complete contrast to her earlier more hostile tone. "I know the real you, I've seen him; he dances with me when we're waterbending, he laughs with me when we're teasing Sokka, he flies with me when we're in the air on Appa, he comforts me when I'm crying in his arms…" She trailed off – tears rolling down her tan cheeks again as she glances at me, her gaze soft and concerned now. "He is my best friend, he's the Aang I remember. And I know I started this by asking about you and Ty Lee and… I'm sorry." She sighed, "It was none of my business and I shouldn't have prodded. And I shouldn't have judged you, you're the most kind, understanding and compassionate person I know and… I just – I shouldn't have said anything." She sniffed and wiped a tear away as she dipped her head to escape my gaze, "I'm sorry."

Instantly, I wrapped my arms around her again. I know I said that I hated it – holding her like this – but I, for the life of me, could not stay away. It's a contradiction and hypocritical, I know. But I don't know what's wrong with me. I want to stay away from her, to keep her at arm's length, to not allow her to get too close like last time – at the same time, I just can't help myself from pulling her closer.

"Its alright, Katara," I whispered while stroking her hair. "Its fine. I'm sorry for yelling and for… everything I said. You were right, I get annoyed and angry easily these days and I… I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Aang," Katara responded pulling away from the embrace to look at me fully. "I shouldn't have said anything in the first place. And, even if you aren't dating Ty Lee, I hope you do find someone for yourself."

"Well, I'm not really looking for a serious relationship right now so… it might take a while for that to happen," I replied sadly, ignoring the ache in my heart that yearned to remain attached to her. But I couldn't. I couldn't remain – in her presence, in her arms. It was too comfortable, too warm – too dangerous.

She was poison.

Deciding that I had enough drama for the night, I opted to take on Toph's offer and made my way over to the sleeping quarters. However, as I turned around, Katara said something that yet again irritated me.

"Either way, when you are ready, I'm sure you'll find someone… I mean, you're the Avatar after all. You'll easily find someone who you'd want to be with for life, Aang."

Groaning somewhat, I clenched my jaw and my fists as I looked at her over my shoulder. Though I was highly irritated, it wasn't conveyed in the slightest through my voice. Instead, my tone was laced with sadness and anger and pain and… betrayal… and I could sense that she knew exactly who it was for.

"I don't know why you seem to think its so easy for the Avatar to get the girl he wants."

She knew what I meant. I didn't need to turn around to make sure she understood. Her silence told me everything. She knew exactly who I was talking about… and she knew it was entirely too late to do anything about it. Or, at least, that's what I made her believe.

With that, I left for Toph's room, not daring to glance back and see the shocked yet saddened expression on Katara's face. I was glad I would be leaving tomorrow morning. I couldn't stay away from her; I didn't want to. I wanted to keep her close, but I needed to distance myself. It was dangerous. She was dangerous.

She was poison.