Chapter 47: The Second Bracelet

Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to my husband.

The teenagers spent the morning and afternoon relaxing and playing on the Ember Island beach, then flew back to the palace, arriving at nightfall. The following morning, Aang visited Zuko in his office.

"Look what Katara gave me the other night." He held up his arm with the jeweled gold bracelet on it.

Zuko leaned back in his chair, surprised and charmed. "That doesn't look like your style."

"It's not. It was Kyoshi's. That's why I love it, even though otherwise I wouldn't really like it at all." He explained, blushing. "But that probably doesn't make much sense."

"No, it doesn't. But that's normal for you."

"We said I love you for the first time." The airbender said wonderingly. "And that we'll be together forever." His smile was shining, as if from a bottomless well of happiness deep inside. It was incredibly sweet.

"I'm surprised it took you two that long." Zuko remarked.

"I know! I should have said it a lot sooner, and now she planned this whole big thing, and gave me the most thoughtful present ever…."

"So now you want to do something for her?" Zuko guessed.

"I have to! I hate asking you for money, but..."

"You have money of your own now." Zuko informed him.

"I do?"

"The play is already a big hit, and you did a lot of consulting on the script, not to mention they're profiting on your story. You're going to get a cut of the box office."

"Oh. Do you think it will be enough to get something really nice for Katara? As nice as this?" He held up his wrist again.

"Well, I guess she doesn't have any past lives you can mine for sentimental items, and that thing is priceless because of its history, but how about something just as pretty? I have an idea. Joshu," Zuko stood and called to his assistant. "Cancel my morning meetings. We're going to town."

"Where are we going?"

"To a jeweler I know. He's been helping me sell some old family pieces. Nothing that belonged to the last three Fire Lords has any significance for me, so I'm selling it all and using the money to pay the scholars working on the art repatriation project."

Zuko led Aang through the palace halls, to the front hall, where he asked a butler to summon a coach. "I got rid of the palanquins too," he told his friend. "They were kind of degrading for the bearers. We're down to four ostrich horse drawn coaches. One for me, one for Mai, one for Nozomi, one for special occasions. I've been downsizing. Economizing. After traveling the world and experiencing poverty as a refugee, it felt almost obscene to live in a palace. One guy doesn't need so much!"

"I bet you have a good plan for the savings." Aang prompted him to go on. This sounded like another example of his friend's good judgement as a leader.

"The anniversary celebrations. The reparations tour. Travel, food, hosting guests. Making sure I don't ever have to tax my people just to fund my lifestyle."

The carriage arrived and the two climbed in. When they were closed in the carriage, the Fire Lord awkwardly offered himself as a confidant to his younger friend. "I know you might not be able to talk to Sokka about Katara. Especially as you two get older, and more serious. And maybe you'll have some questions….."

"We don't have sex, if that's what you're asking." Aang informed him. "We decided a long time ago to take things slowly."

"That was a long time ago. That can only work for so long."

"The monks did give us a sex talk. We actually had some pretty comprehensive sex education at the monastery, as strange as that might sound to you. I know how it works."

"Yeah, you know how it works. Like, mechanically." Zuko vividly remembered when his own understanding had been merely theoretical in the same way. It had felt like a set up for failure and embarrassment. Luckily, Mai had been patient enough to show him exactly what to do. "I hope you don't think that's all there is to it."

"I know that."

"For example, you should know, it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing thing. There are things you can do that are fun and bonding and that…..release pressure that aren't intercourse. Things people often do before sex, as foreplay, but can be just as great as the main event. Like with hands or mouths. It's a good way to…..practice, so that when you're ready to go all the way, you have an idea how it's done. You can learn how to make each other feel good."

Aang recalled something his girlfriend had said a long time ago, about reevaluating their rules in a year. A new realm of possibilities might be about to open up. "That….uh….does sound like fun. I'll keep that in mind."

"Of course, I'm not-encouraging you to do anything either of you don't want to." Zuko cautioned. "There's nothing wrong with waiting. I care about Katara too, and obviously I'd be upset if you hurt her, but I know you would never. I think of her as a sister, but I can be a lot more objective than Sokka. I don't get the oogies about you two the way he does. After all, she's 16 now. That's the age of consent. Girls her age get engaged in the Water Tribe." He paused. "What about you? Did the Air Nomads have any rules about that kind of thing? Age limits?"

"No one was allowed to participate in the fertility festivals until they were at least fourteen." Aang answered.

Zuko's eyebrows raised. He recalled one of the slanders against the Air Nomads: that they were promiscuous libertines who didn't respect family bonds, that they would sleep with anyone, or indeed anything, that for them sex was as casual as a handshake. In getting to know Aang and observing his relationship with Katara, Zuko had concluded that the stereotype must have been yet another lie, but now he wondered if maybe there was some grain of truth in it. Or perhaps the people of his country had only seen the airbenders that way because they were particularly repressed, themselves. Zuko's own mind was opening on this issue: his relationship with Mai represented a rejection of traditional sexual morality. He'd had to accept that he and his girlfriend could make their own rules, as long as they respected each other, so he could certainly extend the same privilege of self-determination to a people long dead, and to his friends. He just hoped Katara could be comfortable with such practices. But then, he was sure Aang would never do anything to upset the waterbender. This little excursion was happening exactly because he loved her and wanted to make her happy.

"Maybe that seems young to you. I've gotten the impression that my people's customs concerning sex would be considered permissive by other cultures." Aang smoothly changed the subject away from himself. "What's the Fire Nation age of consent?"

"At sixteen, sex with a minor is no longer automatically a crime. We're considered adults in all matters at age eighteen."

"Huh." The airbender realized he'd never thought of it that way. "You know, I guess I am too."

"What do you mean?"

"When an Air Nomad becomes a master airbender and gets his tattoos, he's considered an adult. I just never thought of it in the context of sex because most people don't get their tattoos until they're much older anyway, like 18 or 20. I'm the youngest ever. I wasn't really thinking about joining in the fertility festivals back then, before the iceberg, but I guess I would have been allowed if I'd asked. Although the older girls probably wouldn't have been interested." He laughed.

"So I was wrong, the very first thing I said to you." Zuko mused, a wry smile on his face.

"What was that?" Aang tried to remember.

"You're just a child!" Zuko put false haughty scorn in his voice. Aang laughed, remembering. "You weren't a child even then. Your people had already acknowledged you as a man with those tattoos. I guess it's kind of similar here in the Fire Nation. By definition, only an adult can fight an Agni Kai, so challenging a boy means recognizing him as a man. My father didn't know when he gave me this scar, that he was also giving me the legal status necessary to usurp him. If he had never tried to "discipline" me, I couldn't have taken his throne at only 17."

"Don't you love it when the bad guys defeat themselves?" Aang smiled.

"It does make things easier. And more poetic." The firebender smirked back. "But that was one of the first laws I changed, by the way. I made it illegal to challenge a child to an Agni Kai. I wrote the law with an exception for myself, since I was still 17 at the time. So no one could say I was afraid to fight. But I haven't been challenged yet. Everyone is probably afraid they'd have to face you, if I lost."

"I don't know, you're pretty intimidating all by yourself. But, yeah, anyone who went after you would have to deal with me. Feel free to spread that around if you want."

The coach stopped. They had arrived at the jeweler's shop.

"How may I help you, my lord?" The proprietor greeted his monarch with a bow.

"My friend here wants to give his girlfriend a present." Zuko gestured to the airbender.

Aang looked around the room at the display cases filled with sparkling baubles. He didn't even know what most of them were called. His companion could see he was overwhelmed.

"What about something modeled on this. A matching piece." Zuko suggested, pointing to Aang's bracelet. The jeweler examined his wrist gravely.

"This one has an emerald for earth, Kyoshi's native element, and ruby for fire, because Rangi was a firebender." Aang explained.

"So do you want an exact replica of this, or a new one to represent you and Katara?" Zuko asked. "Traditionally the Water Tribe is represented by pearl, moonstone, or sapphire…."

"Sapphire," Aang chose quickly, thinking of Katara's eyes, and her alias.

"For air…..what's a yellow stone? Topaz? Citrine?" Zuko asked the jeweler. Aang was glad Zuko was with him; he'd never even heard of either of those kinds of gems.

The jeweler answered, "Citrine, my lord. It's lighter. And only comes in that beautiful golden yellow color, while topaz can have many shades."

"And, what do you think if it were silver instead of gold?" Zuko asked Aang. "That might complement her favorite outfits a little better." And it would be cheaper.

"Great! I wouldn't have thought of that." Aang was suddenly grateful for his friend's good taste and fashion sense. "I think she'll really like it!"

"How long will it take?"

"A couple of days. The Fire Lord's friends are first priority clients. You'll have to leave this here so we can use it as a model."

"Oh. I guess if Katara asks why I'm not wearing it, I can say I didn't want it to get damaged, and left it in my room for safekeeping or something."

"And my lord, your other package is ready." The jeweler put a small box on the counter for him.

"Perfect." Zuko grinned and picked it up. Aang looked at him inquisitively, so he explained. "I was having an old family heirloom cleaned and restored to give to Mai." He opened the box to show him, and the airbender's jaw dropped in wonder at the sparkle of the rubies.

"Wow! She'll love those, Zuko!"

"I hope so. They're even older than your bracelet." One corner of the firebender's mouth pulled up smugly. Just about the only time he really enjoyed his wealth was when he got to do things like this.

Tonight there would be a firework display to celebrate the anniversary of Zuko's coronation; it was part of a week-long celebration that would also include a formal ball. Aang had scouted out the best location for him to watch the fireworks with Katara. One of the highest roofs of the palace, inaccessible except by flying, had a waist-high ledge, and just enough space for them to sit down and get comfortable. He even brought a few cushions, candles, flowers, fruit, and pastries up for good measure. He stood back and surveyed the effect with satisfaction: it was the perfect little love nest.

After nightfall, he flew up to the rooftop with Katara, just before the fireworks display was scheduled to begin. She exclaimed over the way he had set up the space, and then stood near the edge, watching in wonder as the sparks lit up the sky. They were so far from the site of the blasts that the sound of the fireworks only reached them as faint pops, but their view was perfect.

Appreciating the beauty of her face lit with wonder, Aang stepped close behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She glanced at him with a smile, then leaned back into him. For a few minutes they looked on at the colorful explosions, enjoying the comfort of their closeness. Then, as the display was ending, Aang held a box in front of her. Startled, she turned to look at him, breaking their embrace. Encouraged by his eyes, she took the box from his hand and opened it.

"It matches yours!" She exclaimed, when she saw the silver bracelet.

"I had Zuko's jeweler make it for you."

She touched the gems. "Sapphire and….."

"Citrine. They're supposed to symbolize our people. Just like on Kyoshi's bracelet."

"I love it." Katara put it on and kissed him, her fingers cradling his chin. "I wasn't expecting any presents."

"Neither was I." He indicated the gold on his own wrist. He led her by the hand back to the cushions, and they curled up there, cuddling in each other's arms. Once they were comfortable, Aang explained his gift. "I wanted to give you this to thank you for taking the initiative and for loving me. And I wanted to say I'm sorry for not telling you l love you a lot sooner."

"Why did you wait?" There wasn't even a hint of resentment in her question. She was simply curious.

"I didn't want to push you, and I was afraid you wouldn't say it back. I just hope it didn't make you feel insecure or unloved."

"I did feel a little insecure before we decided to be exclusive." She admitted. "And I've been worried about our future, but we had some talks about that recently, and made some agreements, and some…..promises." She blushed prettily. "And that made me feel a lot better. I think I felt confused more than anything. You've always made me feel so loved, and that's why it just didn't make sense that you didn't say it, especially the longer we were together. I thought it might have been because of….our differences, and that made me worried, because it was important to me that we say it eventually, and I wondered if your not saying it by now meant you never would, and then I would spiral….."

"I'm so sorry I put you through that." Aang shook his head at himself, his chest aching in sympathy with her.

"I put myself through it too." Katara reminded him, chagrined. "I could have said it anytime myself just as easily. That's why I decided to plan it."

"It was a great surprise," he assured her.

"It shouldn't have been that much of a surprise to you either. I hope I didn't make you doubt my feelings by waiting for you to say it first."

"Not at all. You make me feel loved too." He nuzzled his head against hers. "Sokka made me doubt you for a while, but that wasn't your fault."

She groaned at the thought of her brother interfering in her love life. "Oh no, what did he do?"

"He told me that you'd want to get married someday, and since you didn't bring it up to me after I told you that Air Nomads don't get married, and then you didn't want to have your fortune told, he thought that meant you were going to break up with me soon. So I decided to try to change your mind by becoming the best boyfriend ever."

Tears came to her eyes at the thought of how that must have made him feel, and at his sweet determination to win her over, though she was already his. Her empathy with his lovestruck anxiety distracted her from her simultaneous dismay and relief at the matter-of-fact way he discussed the impossibility of his ever marrying. "Well, he was wrong." She told him stoutly. "And you are the best boyfriend ever."

"So you told me." Aang squeezed his girlfriend around the waist. "Sokka did kind of take it back, after he and Suki got back together. I think it was more about his own state of mind than it was about us." He clarified. He didn't want the siblings to get in a fight over something so silly.

"Of course it was. Is that why you were so surprised? Because of what Sokka said?"

"That was part of it." He acknowledged. "And that from the beginning, I accepted that you didn't feel as strongly about me, and I didn't mind. I was just happy to get to be with you under any conditions. I hoped that eventually you'd love me back, but I didn't need it or look for it."

"You would have settled for that?" The idea troubled Katara.

"For me, any relationship with you is the opposite of settling."

"But you shouldn't just…..be ok with it if our feelings weren't equal that way." She pushed. She hated to think of him selling himself short, even to her, simply accepting a pittance of affection in return for his invaluable love.

"Maybe it would have become painful after a while." He allowed. "Especially if you were indifferent to me, or if I could tell you were looking around for someone better. But even if being with you were difficult that way, it would still be better than not being with you."

She thought of another night on another rooftop, and realized she felt the same. She nodded, looking away. "I think I understand that. It would be painful."

"I mean, to me, that's what love is." Aang went on. "Letting the other person set the terms. Putting their needs first. Not demanding more than they can give."

Her throat tight, she nodded, thinking of what he would need her to allow him to do someday. She was determined to love him in the same selfless way he was describing. She just hoped she would have the strength to survive it when the time came. She held him around the middle for a minute, gathering herself. Then, rallying, Katara turned back to him, insistent. "But I want you to know now that we're not like that. Not anymore, at least. Maybe when we started this, you were more sure of your feelings than I was, and I'm sorry if that made you suffer in any way. But now, I know I love you every bit as much as you love me. Any risk or sacrifice you would make for me, I would do the same for you. And I need you to accept that."

"I do accept it. Joyfully." His smile let her see just how happy she had made him. "Maybe the hard part for us now will be setting the terms when we both want to let the other do that. It seems like a good problem to have. We'll figure it out." He said complacently.

She could feel his contentment, and that turned her attention away from any thought of future troubles. The hints he'd just given of the hidden inner life of his love intrigued her, and made her want to know more. Finally, it seemed permissible to ask! "When did you first know you loved me?" Katara wondered, changing the subject to something happier. For so long, she had not allowed herself to discuss their love. She felt like she'd been fasting, and was now gorging herself.

"I knew I liked you since the day you found me in the iceberg. You were the prettiest, sweetest girl I'd ever met: of course I instantly had the biggest crush of my life! For a while that's all it was: it was like my feelings could only grow as fast as my maturity level could keep up. There was one kind of turning point, though. Do you remember when Appa was gone and I tried to just turn off all my emotions?" She nodded eagerly, her hand in his, encouraging him. "When you showed me that new baby, it was like the world was gray and you turned the color back on. All the love and happiness I ever remembered from my life in the Air Temples, and from Appa, came flooding back, all at once, and it kind of….attached to you. That was when I knew. I would have told you before I left for the guru if Sokka hadn't interrupted us. That probably would have been a mistake." He looked down sheepishly.

"No, it wouldn't have been a mistake. But I really don't know how I might have responded then."

"It doesn't matter. Our story is perfect. Everything that brought us to this moment. What about you? When did you know?" He asked.

"That friendship love has been there all along. I hope at least you always knew that. It was when you...died, that I first understood how important you are to me. But nearly losing you scared me so much that I kind of pushed that feeling down and tried to ignore it for a long time. I didn't really decide that it was finally safe to give in to that….desire, that curiosity, until about a minute before I kissed you at Iroh's tea shop. And then, I guess I've been slowly falling for you since we became a couple. Or gradually coming to the realization that I've loved you for a long time. But I didn't know for sure that I was there until…..well, it was in Ba Sing Se." Katara hoped he wouldn't ask for details, because she still wanted to keep that box closed, but he didn't press.

Instead, he started making more pledges to her. "To make up for making you wait so long to hear those words, I want to promise that from now on, I'm never going to miss a chance to show my love for you because of protecting myself. I will hold nothing back. I won't be reserved about my feelings anymore. And I also want you to know that I will do anything, make any compromise, to make you happy."

She wasn't sure what he meant by that; she was almost afraid to ask in case it was a compromise she couldn't allow, regardless of how much she might want it. She put that concern aside. Either way, they didn't have to work out the details tonight. Instead of worrying about the significance of his promised compromise, she asked him another playful question to fill in any remaining gaps in her understanding of their journey. "Tell me, why do you love me?"

"Because you're so kind, so giving. Because you are so determined and so passionate. Because you will never, ever turn your back on people who need you. You never give up on anything or anyone you care about, and you especially never gave up on me, not even when I turned into a rage-filled monster, or when I flew away from you, or when I was at death's door." Once he got started talking about his love for her, Aang found he had a lot to say. "And on top of all that, you have the most beautiful blue eyes, and a smile that just turns me to jelly inside. I love you for deep reasons, and shallow reasons, and every reason, and no reason. It's as easy and natural as breathing. You're part of me, like the water that makes up my body. I feel like loving you has become central to who I am. I wouldn't be me if I didn't love you."

"And I love you because of who you are," Katara replied, eager to reciprocate. "An inspiring hero, of course, but more than that, my goofy, sweet, adorable friend. The kindest, strongest person I've ever known. You have suffered more and endured more than anyone should ever have to, but through it all you have shown so much grace and wisdom. As I watched you grow into the amazing young man you are today, I found loving you impossible to resist. And so I didn't resist it. I wanted to love you, I chose to love you, because of everything you brought into my life: fun, laughter, opportunity, adventure, meaning, purpose. Struggle and hardship, too, sometimes, but that was the war more than you. It hasn't always been easy, but it's been worth it. I don't just love you, I admire you. I'm proud of you, and I'm proud to be with you."

Overwhelmed by her declarations, he could only respond by kissing her. He framed her face with his hands, pulling her lips to his so that she could taste his love as well as hear it. The touch of his tongue to hers made her melt into a boneless puddle of bliss. Their joined lips repeated silently all they had just proclaimed in words, continuing the conversation for several more minutes.

But eventually, they did need to fly back to the palace to sleep. The fireworks in the sky had long been over, and Aang figured the ones on the rooftop were winding down as well. He stood, pulling her hand to help her stand up as well. Finding themselves in a new position, they kissed again, and rested their foreheads together with delirious smiles.

"I think we're the same height now." Katara exclaimed, leaning back a little.

Aang touched the tops of their heads with his palm, measuring. "You're right!" He grinned at her. "You did want somebody tall."

"Well, I'm done growing, but you're not." She laughed. "It's too bad. I'd gotten used to you being a little shorter. When I have to crane my neck to look up at you, I'm going to miss this."

"I think I miss every day I spend with you as it passes, but I'm sure there are even happier days ahead." They kissed another time, pressing their smiles together, as each one's gladness deepened the other's. When their lips came apart, the Avatar sighed in contentment. "I'd be lost without you, Katara. When I look back on my hardest times, my darkest moments, I realize you're the one who got me through it. Not with your healing or waterbending, although those are amazing, but with the strength of your heart." He lightly touched two fingertips to the bit of skin between her necklace and the V-shaped collar of her dress.

His expression of gratitude cracked her heart open still further, making it impossible for her to leave the rooftop without showing him her love in a new way. She felt so close to him it barely made sense that they had two separate bodies. She wanted to give him more. She looked him in the eye, took his wrist in her hand and moved it down and to the left. She pressed his palm to her, watched his eyes widen in surprise and delight, and then kissed him again.

For a second he was frozen, and then when her hand covered his, moving it against her breast a little, he unfroze, moaning and taking her up. He pulled away just enough to look in her eyes to verify consent, then used his other hand as well. She draped her elbows loosely over his shoulders, opening her chest to him and allowing space for his hands to explore. He couldn't help looking down for a second at his hands roving over her chest, then, embarrassed, back up at her face, where he could see her eyes half-lidded, lips parted, expelling shallow breaths. She felt his eyes on her and opened hers. She seemed a little embarrassed too, at how much she was enjoying it, and rested her temple and cheek against his, so that he couldn't see her, but could feel the heat of her blush.

"Don't stop," she encouraged him in a whisper. "It's so good."

He slid one hand behind her back so he could sandwich her body between them and press her more firmly, without pushing her over. In his gentle grip, she was the perfect size and shape; her rapid heartbeat matched his as they discovered how well they fit together in yet another place.

"You feel incredible," he whispered back, then shifted his chin so he could kiss her some more.

But their kiss mostly consisted of their unmoving lips simply resting against each other, as they both concentrated their attention elsewhere. His fingers squeezed and stroked her breasts over her clothes, learning their dimensions and sensitivities, as he paid close attention to her reactions.

"I love your hands on me," she gasped, weak with a sensation of fulfillment. She felt completely safe sharing one more part of herself with him because their trust was so deep and so perfectly mutual. He would always catch her, always affirm and support her, and this was just the physical expression of his constant devotion.

"My hands love your body," he responded ardently. He had imagined touching her like this plenty of times, but in none of his dreams had she offered herself, or shivered in pleasure under his palm as she was now.

"I love the way this feels," Her frenzied murmur drove him to even greater heights of passion, until she felt his lips and fingers both trembling with emotion against her.

Though she knew they could have stayed there all night, caressing and being caressed, she felt some responsibility to put an end to it before it went too far, since she'd been the one to start it. He'd gotten the message, anyway. Finally sated, she ran her hands from his shoulders down his arms, and when they reached his elbows, his hands dropped from her chest to her waist, wrapping around her in a tight, intimate hug. They held each other that way, heart to heart, for a moment.

"That is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me." He announced emphatically to the space behind her shoulder.

Katara pulled away to look at him in disbelief, and couldn't help laughing at his wide-eyed sincerity. "Aang, you have met a lion turtle!" She reminded him. "You've been to the spirit world, and defeated a tyrant to end a century-long war."

He lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes at her, the picture of seriousness. "I said what I said."

Author's Note: Leave me a review!

And if you haven't had a chance to read them yet, check out my Maiko stories, Weathering the Storm and Healing Invisible Scars, full versions available on An Archive of Our Own.

Next chapter: Zuko and Mai, and Sokka and Suki discuss the meaning of jewelry