Aang stared up at the darkened house. Considering his options as he traced over the many windows, noting who slept in which one, unconsciously. He thought he should sleep, even though his stomach was his knots. He turned towards the ocean, thinking of Katara and how they often practiced water bending together at this time of night. They probably would have if not for the fight they had.
The house was muggy, as Aang moved through it he opened many windows in the kitchen and living room. He continued up the stairs. In front of his room he stopped, the door across from his, Katara's, was slightly opened, he didn't want to pry, so he turned his back, trying not to think of her in there. In his room he opened the window and prepared himself for bed. In his mind Zuko's words kept repeating, "Let her go," as the rest of the night's events replayed painstakingly slow. After an hour of trying to sleep, his breathing became steady and slow, and he fell into an un-restful slumber.
The Eastern Air Temple became clear from the fog in his brain. The brilliant mountains piercing high into the sky with Guru Pathik at the base, meditating. The Guru opened his eyes, surprised to see Aang standing before him.
"Ah, so you have come back. Are we going to reopen your last chakra?" he asked. Aang shook his head.
"I can't just yet," he couldn't meet the Guru's eyes, but he felt them boring into his head.
"Well at the very least, come and meditate with me Aang," he gestured in front of himself, but Aang didn't move.
"I can't. My mind is too full right now,"
"Well then, maybe we could talk about it. Would you like some onion banana juice?" he held out the small green cup for him.
Aang took it and sat in front of the Guru. He took a small sip and the juice tasted better which he chalked up to this being a dream. Aang regaled the Guru telling him of the heartbreak of this past night, and at the end the Guru spoke, "Well, you have gotten your answer. It is exactly like what your friend Zuko told you, you must let her go,"
Aang sighed. "I just don't think I'm ready yet. I still have some many feelings for her. She kept me going after... well, everything that has happened in the past year," he looked down at the cup in his hands, now empty.
"You will never be as ready as you think Aang, you must do it. Not only to master the Avatar State but also let go," Aang nodded, not fully comprehending what the Guru was saying, but listening, storing it in his brain for a later date. "Just remember," Aang looked up, "By continuing to choose attachment, the chakra will stay locked. You must reopen it through meditation and the practices I went over with you. It is not enough just to say it," Aang placed the cup on the ground and rose. The Guru did as well.
"You have given me a lot to think about. Thank you," they bowed to one another, and Aang woke, feeling heavier than before.
After trying to get back to sleep, he realized it was futile. The sun would be coming up in a few hours and even though it was earlier than normal, he went down to the beach to meditate, Momo slowing flying behind Aang as they left the house.
It the quiet between night and day that made Aang feel the most comfortable. The only sound was the soft crunch of wet sand beneath his feet, the waves lapping against the rocky shore, and the soft flapping of Momo's wings. He walked for a long while, Momo eventually getting tired and resting on his shoulders. He walked until he spotted a cave with a small inlet of water beside it. He approached and sat down in lotus. He tried to find a new spot every time he meditated. He liked the exploration and experiences different surroundings could give him during his meditation. He took a deep breath, Momo was still resting on his shoulders. He closed his eyes and thought of the Guru's words. Maybe trying to unlock his chakra would help him forget about tonight. He imagined all of his attachments, Katara being at the forefront, with the rest of Team Avatar, closely behind her. He took a deep breath and was able to send everyone else away, except Katara. He tried again, doubting that this would work.
Instead of disappearing, she came closer to him. She reached out her hand as if to say, 'Choose me,' he reached out to touch her but pulled back, the Guru's words were joined by Zuko's, "Let her go,". She stared at him puzzled, and frowned. He thought back to how angry she was, and the vileness that was in her eyes as she rejected him.
"I'm sorry Katara. I have to let you go," the Katara of his mind looked pained but nodded and backed away. Not completely gone, but further away than she was before.
"This is the final test," he heard the Guru's voice say. Katara began to cry, and she held out her hand once again. At first Aang hesitated, he had to let her go, but rejecting the girl of his dreams did not feel good. He closed his eyes, her weeping invading his senses, until they over took him. He ran forward and wrapped her in his arms. At once his mediation broke, and he was pulled back to reality, Momo now in front of him, drinking from the pool. He closed his eyes, trying to get back into the zone, but it didn't work. He sighed, frustrated that he had failed even if he felt lighter than before. He had let go of her, but not fully. That final step was too much for him tonight, and was something he had to work on. He sat in silence watching Momo putter around the cave until the creature became tired and rested in his lap. On his walk back to the house, the sun slowly began to rise, just barely peeking out from behind the horizon. He sat on the beach, admiring it for a couple moments, before heading into the house.
The house was quiet, the inhabitants were only rising now. He walked to his room to get ready for the day and looked to Katara's again. The door was in the same position as last night, slightly ajar. He hoped her anger from the night before had worn off so he could apologize. He knocked lightly, knowing Katara would be up, or at least just rising now. When there was no response he pushed the door open slowly, and saw her bed empty, the sheets thrown aside. It was weird but he didn't think anything of it.
He walked across the room, opened the blinds for her, and then made her bed, throwing the sheets up gently. If she was already awake and had left early, he was sure she would appreciate a brightly lit room and a made bed when she got back. He smiled, hoping to catch her later and apologize. He really felt terrible about last night, but both his dream and the meditation had helped. He whistled while walking across the hall. He dressed quickly and made his way down stairs for breakfast. Though tired from the events of last night, everyone rose without complaint.
At breakfast, the group gathered around a large table. They waited for Katara who entered through the front doors and sat down quietly beside Aang. Everyone began digging in.
After the prolonged silence, Sokka said, "So what happened last night, Katara?" her eyes shot up from her plate, glaring at her brother across the table. "You seemed pretty angry with someone," he continued to pick at what he knew would annoy Katara, bringing up her anger last night and how it resulted in the group splitting up. Katara continued to glare at him until a nervous Suki beside him, stepped on his foot, shutting him up. Katara took a breath and then spoke,
"I was just frustrated with the play," Sokka started to bud in, but she stopped him. "That's it," she looked everyone in the eye, daring them to continue the conversation. To Aang's relief, Katara had deflected Sokka, who went back to eating.
Zuko looked nervously between Katara and Aang, and noticed that the tension between them was gone. At the end of the meal, Sokka spoke up again,
"We've all been pretty stressed lately, so I was thinking we could have a beach day," the group nodded in agreement.
"After Aang and I do some fire bending practice," Zuko interjected. Aang sighed and stood. Everyone was in agreement, and went off to their respective rooms to put on bathing suits. Aang held back as Katara cleared the table. When she was finished he pulled her aside into an unused hallway, so they wouldn't be disturbed.
"Um...," he started, Katara leaning in, but stopping him before he could continue.
"I'm really sorry about what I said last night. That, I would never love you. I was just so angry and wasn't thinking straight after the...," he nodded before replying.
"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have forced you to make a decision. I'm also sorry I kissed you," she smiled down at him and pulled him in for a brief hug.
"We've both apologized and everything's forgiven," she let him go. He started to walk away, thinking their conversation was done, but she blocked his way, continuing. "I also wanted to say that I appreciate that you told me about your feelings. I'm still feeling confused and...," he nodded. "I think we should wait until after the war is over before talking about this anymore," he nodded again, in agreement. They grinned at each other for a while before Aang heard Zuko.
"I have to go, I think Zuko's calling me," Katara blushed, but the darkness of the hall almost completely hid it. Without breaking eye contact, Katara nodded and replied, "Yeah, I should go too. I need to get dressed for the 'beach day'," they walked in separate directions. Aang went to the front yard and saw Zuko standing, stretching out his arms, impatiently. The rest of the group lounged on the steps to watch.
"Are you ready for the fire duel of your life, Young Avatar?" the Fire Prince asked. Aang nodded and took his stance, they began their duel and out of the corner of his eye, Aang noticed Katara coming down the stairs. He didn't have time to fully appreciate the way she looked as she smiled and sat beside Toph on the steps, but he knew would get to later.
Later in the fight after knocking Zuko down, Aang stopped and flashed a devious, but handsome smile at her. He didn't catch her response, but had a feeling that it was the cause of the blush that spread across her face.