This was a challenging chapter. I struggle with multi-character transitions. I really appreciate everyone who is tuning in. I know I've been setting up A LOT of strings here. Trust me when I say that we're building the loom and we'll start weaving soon. And the Kataang will heat up.

It's gonna be dope.

CH 12 | The Weight

"Azula knows about you, doesn't she?"

"Azula knows who you are."

Katara's stomach lurched watching Aang's face contort from sad to exhausted to horrified before he stood up with a woosh. He was shaking his head in disbelief at Toph.

"—How?"

"Iroh." Toph responded blandly. "How much trouble are we in, Aang?" asked Toph calmly sipping her tea.

"What is going ON." Sokka demanded. Suki was equally flabbergasted. She knew going to the carnival was a bad idea, but THIS…

The airbender felt like he had no air to breathe. All his well-planned efforts to deny Azula's subjugation of his person, to maintain his anonymity, to deny authority of this archaic spiritual role he never wanted, apparently undone. Iroh and Azula had known he was the Avatar since the day he awoke from the iceberg. He fumed to know that Iroh had now decided that it was time to expose him regardless of how adamant Aang had been about letting the Avatar tradition die.

"We don't live in a world that is unbalanced by war. A thousand years ago, perhaps it made sense to have an Avatar—someone who could arbitrate between leaders who otherwise would burn each other to the ground. The world doesn't need me like that anymore, and more importantly—I'm not…I'm not an asset like that." Aang had explained to Iroh.

Iroh had nodded empathetically and sipped his tea with a pensive expression before responding. "I can only give you my advice, Aang. No one can force you to take on your duties publicly as the Avatar. However, I fear that by avoiding your identity as the Avatar is a choice that would not lead you to the path you desire—it is wise to seek inner peace. But you already have light and peace within you, and I believe your service to the world is what will reunite you with it."

He took one more hesitant sip and added, "That the world is no longer involved in direct war is not a testament to balance—it is an expression of the Fire Nation's absolute rule. You know this."

"Toph…please." Aang began, but the earthbender held her hand up. "I won't. Not tonight. You have a week. Get your shit together. Go see Guru Pathik. Go flush out your constipated chakras or whatever you airbenders do. Then we are all going to sit down and have the come-to-Hei-Bai moment." Aang sighed desperately. "Okay."

Without any further explanation, Aang skipped the stairs with a gust and Toph set her teacup down, apparently heading to bed. "Goodnight, Suki."

"Suyin." Suki corrected, dazed.

"Uh huh. Goodnight Suki." Toph repeated.

- - - - - - - - - -\

Katara lay on her bedroll hours later, suspecting that like her, no one else in the house was actually sleeping. The weight of the entire day's events sat like a bag of sand on her chest. Less than 24 hours ago she was elatedly observing ottersharks as her train made its way into Yu Dao. Now sleep alluded her as she contemplated having stumbled onto some wild, angst-ridden ferris wheel.

I am such an idiot. I caught feelings for the first boy I set my eyes on, who turned out to be my roommate, who turned out to be an enigma wrapped in baggage. I'm the most stereotypical, naïve small-town girl trope. She thought savagely.

Yet, even as she troubled herself with these thoughts, she knew they weren't entirely true. Yes, he had been the first person she'd met, and yes, he was an absolute mess. Their afternoon was genuine though, of that she was certain. She'd flown with Aang and he made her feel weightless. His laugh, his smile, and his joy were like breaths of air for the drowning. She couldn't help wanting to comfort him, be there for him.

I'm a mess too. If he knew what I've done…

Giving up on sleep, she padded back upstairs and up the metal spiral to Sokka and Aang's room, cringing when it creaked under her weight. As she suspected, Sokka was wide awake, fiddling with his phone. Aang's bed was empty. "Hey, sis." He said, sitting up when he saw her head poke up from the stairs. Katara seated herself at the foot of his bedroll. "Hey. Can't sleep, either?" Sokka laughed softly and ran his fingers through his unbound hair. "Trust me when I say, even as different as things are here in comparison to home, that day was extra."

They chuckled together, some of the stress breaking. She hesitated, "Is he up there?" motioning to the roof.

"Uh huh. I think you should give him some space, though."

Katara waved him off and pulled the trap cord down. She found Aang sitting cross-legged on the building's ledge. The evening was uncharacteristically bright, a nearly full moon sinking lazily away from the approaching dawn. Dropping down next to him, she slipped her hand into his. Aang swallowed hard and gazed at the water tribe angel. Her eyes were undemanding and full of comfort. She should be running for the hills.

I'm such a mess. If she knew half of what I've done…

Still, he allowed himself to linger with her, basking in her reassuring energy. He wanted the kiss that was stolen from earlier. "You're leaving, aren't you?" she asked quietly. She had noticed his small knapsack, a water bottle, and his glider behind him. Aang nodded softly, "just for a while."

Katara appraised him with those sapphire eyes and Aang was a puddle. "Before you go…" she whispered, leaning over to grab his water bottle. With deft fingers, she bended a handful of water from its opening and Aang watched with wonder as she spun it into a glowing, swirling orb. He couldn't take his eyes off her face as she worked the water over his bruised cheek, then down his arms over the shining burn marks, then finally working over the angry blisters on his wrist and hand. Her deep concentration was altogether intoxicating. If she promised to heal him from now on, he would probably maim himself on the regular just to watch how her brow knit together while focused.

When she withdrew, he observed new skin, pink and tight over his hand. "Wait." He added as she made to discard the water into the gutter. Pulling his shirt aside, he exposed the black bruise and deep tear at the base of his neck. He searched her eyes questioningly, his heart racing with vulnerability. Showing her Azula's teeth marks was tantamount to admitting he'd given up his body. Katara's breath hitched at the sight of the ugly wound. It was mean and possessive. She could feel outrage on Aang's behalf—she could see his hands trembling with shame and sadness.

Moving her orb over the ravaged skin, Katara kept her eyes locked on Aang's. His deep grey depths were unlike anything she'd ever seen. He was younger than her, but those eyes looked as old as the sky.

When Katara moved the water off his shoulder to inspect, she leaned in and kissed the clean skin where his injury had been. His eyes watered and his chest ached with gratitude at her forgiving gesture. Aang took her face in his hands, and they leaned in with palpable tension. The air was syrupy as though the water in the air had stilled just to watch.

Katara awoke from his spell and at the last moment moved to rest her forehead against his, sighing almost painfully. "We should probably…"

"—just be friends?" Aang finished for her.

She nodded and then stood to leave, squeezing his shoulder once before turning towards the ladder.

"Katara?"

I love you.

You are the stuff of forever.

I think you just saved me.

"Thank you."