Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who have joined me on this journey, and for all your kind words. This will be the final chapter of this story, and I hope you enjoy it just like all the others! It won't, however, be my last story in this "filling-the-gaps" universe I'm making. I have announced this a few times already, but I will be working on two more stories like this one that will focus on moments from the show that were left out, such as the time between the defeat of Ozai and the Tea Shop, and the years between the Finale and the Promise. So stay tuned!
And again, thank you all so much for your kind words. It has really boosted my confidence as a writer.
A leathery taste had settled in his mouth and his joints moaned as he slowly sat up from his pile of sheets and blankets. He stretched his wooden muscles while his spine and arms responded with joyful pops. The light faded as he slumped back into his bedding and covered his face. Katara will never go for me. Why am I so bad at talking to her now? I used to talk to her about anything, now I can barely get a word out. All I want to do is go back to how it was when we were in Ba Sing Se. Everything seemed so perfect. He turned on his side and closed his eyes.
Three loud knocks beat on his door and he covered his ears.
"Trying to sleep here!" Sokka and Zuko walked in before he finished speaking and stood over him. Sokka crossed his arms.
"You should come with us to find some melons and potatoes for tomorrow." Aang rolled his eyes and slumped to the floor.
"Doesn't sound like too much fun." Sokka touched his shoulder.
"C'mon Aang, when was the last time we hung out? And with Zuko?" Aang groaned, burrowing further into the blankets and Sokka sighed. "We need to talk about you-know-who." Aang bolted out of the blankets and to the other side of the room.
"What do you mean? I have no idea who you could be talking about." His eyes darted to every possible exit in the room and Sokka closed the distance to block his escape.
"Aang I know you like Katara." Aang looked past him and locked eyes with Zuko.
"You told him!?" He shrugged while Aang glared deep enough Zuko thought he might unlock the Avatar state.
"Hey, I figured it out on my own!" Sokka turned and pursed his lips.
"Yeah, after I told you." Zuko crossed his arms.
"You don't need to get all technical on me Zuko." He turned to Aang. "Anyway, I want to talk with you about it."
Aang glanced to the balcony outside his room and looked at his glider. If I move fast enough I should be able to grab it and run before they can touch me. He thought about how he left Katara earlier, and how he wanted their relationship to be. But that wouldn't be right. I want to heal the rift with Katara. Hopefully Sokka will help. He relaxed his shoulders.
"Okay."
"Why don't we go to the beach and talk it out over a fire?" Zuko put an arm around Aang and ushered him towards the door.
"That would be nice." Aang formed a weak smile on his lips as he reached for his staff, but Zuko grabbed it and threw it behind him.
"Nope. No flying away tonight buddy."
"Fine." He sighed and closed the door. Zuko looked back at Sokka who was grinning mischievously and he chuckled.
"What?" Aang turned to them.
"Oh, nothing."
Katara was laying on her back and swirling a droplet of water in the air when Suki and Toph walked in eating mochi.
"Katara?" She looked over but did not speak. "Me and Toph were going to go down to the beach, do you wanna come? We have Sokka's mochi." Katara sat up.
"Will the boys be there?"
"Nope. Girl's night. C'mon." Toph grabbed Katara's arms and placed her brass bracelets on them.
"What are you doing?" Suki threw her Fire Nation attire to her from across the room.
"Let's make it official and dress up a little!" Katara grinned and picked up the red garments. As they threw open the front doors dressed in crimson and gold, Toph and Suki linked pinkies behind Katara's back and shook them once.
"This stuff is delicious." Katara inhaled a mochi while they descended the narrow path to the Fire Lord's private beachfront. The sky hummed softly with crimson over the horizon as the small pin pricks of stars glowed to life in the night steadily covering them as they strolled to the silk sand coastline shifting and swaying to the beat of the tide as it crashed and receded wistfully dragging small clams and round scarlet pebbles through the undertow. Katara looked up and closed her eyes. The breeze lilted through her hair and her fingers while she breathed in deeply and tried to let go of her pain.
Yet imbalance plagued her pathways as she remembered her last conversation with Aang. Nothing is going to get better if we don't solve this, I just don't know how. She grabbed another mochi and felt Suki's touch on her shoulder.
"So… did you tell him?" Katara snapped out of her trance and looked at Suki incredulously.
"What? No. I got nervous and upset… he just seemed so dejected and mad at me." She looked away and began walking towards the beach again.
"I'm sorry." Suki looked down and walked with her as Toph rolled her eyes.
"Give me a break sugar queen." She gathered a small wave of sand around her and circled Suki and Katara. "Both of you are being dumb. Just tell him how you feel and get over it already. How hard can it be?" Katara crossed her arms.
"You've never been in this situation Toph. And besides, it's Aang. My best friend, and I'm worried I'll distract him." Toph stopped and put her hands on her hips.
"Well you've done a real good job of doing that lately." Katara walked past her. "Besides I don't even know what you see in him. It's Aang. He's so lady-like and goofy and…" Katara smirked as she looked out at the forest embracing the house.
"And he always knows how to make me laugh, he's stubborn but cares about what I think, and ever since I met him he's put himself between innocent people and danger." She turned around and Suki and Toph were smiling at her.
"See! Just tell him already." Suki laughed. "I think he has a right to know, and he also needs to respect where you're at."
"Please. So we can get on with our lives." Katara laughed nervously.
"Ok. I think I can do it."
"Good." They began walking down the beach again. Katara looked to the ocean and the distant cliffs marking the end of the Fire Lord's property.
"Where are we going anyway?"
Sokka was rambling about one of the street performances him and Suki saw in Ember Island's merchant district while Zuko laughed as he attempted a reenactment. Aang struggled to produce an obligatory smile as they looked at him to react, but the events of the day were weighing on him. The shoreline called him to reminisce of the many days he and Katara had spent training the minute details of waterbending; the exact angle of the right foot when executing the final step of the water whip, the appropriate strain in the arms when controlling the octopus form, and even the simple action of controlling the incoming tide by maintaining the breath and focusing on the chi paths opening and releasing. Sokka shoulder-checked Aang and sent him stumbling forward.
"Hey! What was that for?" He let out a long sigh.
"I was trying to ask you if you thought I was doing the dance right. Zuko apparently doesn't know anything about his homeland."
"Hey I know some things!"
"Like what?" Zuko tried to think of something to respond with.
"Well, uh, I was banished for three years, you can't expect me to know everything." He rolled his eyes and Sokka shrugged.
"I guess that's fair." Aang did not seem to notice their argument as they made their way to the water's edge. He took off his sandals and dipped his feet into the cold tide as it lazily rolled over the waterlogged sand.
Man. This kid is taking this rough. Sokka put a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"So, Aang. My man. You going to tell me why you like my sister or am I going to have to figure it out?"
"Er, y-yes." He wanted to run, but he pushed the habit down. Sokka turned him around.
"Aang, you don't need to be nervous. Let loose. You're with friends." He raised an eyebrow but also let a smirk materialize on his lips. Aang shifted nervously as Zuko came alongside him and they ushered him down the edge of the water.
"Come on Aang. The girls are gone, we're out here by ourselves. Just let it out!" Aang grinned and shrugged.
"Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"I mean not really." Zuko laughed as Sokka spun around and hit him on the head.
"C'mon he's finally opening up!"
"I was just kidding Sokka." Sokka glared at him as he turned to Aang again. "Yes, we want to hear it."
Aang looked down the beach and then at his toes.
The world came into view from what felt like a new birth for him. He expected to see the blue sky of an Earth Kingdom beach, or even the ceiling to his room, covered in the ancient paintings of his ancestors and the tri-swirl design of his nation covering every inch. Instead, he saw her piercing ocean eyes staring at him in wonder, a tender breeze rustling the hair loops indicative of the Southern Water tribe. He saw beauty, love, and a behind them a ferocity disguising deep anguish.
Sokka shoulder checked him.
"Aang, all you said was 'er,' c'mon we need details!" Aang laughed nervously and rubbed his head.
"Well I guess it started from the first moment you guys found me. I'd never seen anything more beautiful in the world than Katara looking down at me. I guess it grew from there."
"That's adorable!" Sokka grabbed him by the shoulder and punched him in the gut while he grinned wildly. Aang laughed and Zuko let out a short chuckle. Aang pushed him away.
"So you're ok with it?"
"Of course not." Aang felt the bottom fall out from beneath him and he tried to run, but Zuko grabbed him with a steel grip and nonchalantly set him in front of Sokka as he raised an eyebrow and let out a loud cackle.
"Oh man that was great. I really hope you always get this scared Aang." He noticed that his words did not necessarily comfort the young avatar so he set his hand on his shoulder. "Aang can I tell you something?"
"Er, sure?"
"You're the only guy I really would want to be with her. I know you genuinely care about her and you'll protect her better than I ever could."
"Not like she needs protecting." Zuko mumbled while Aang nodded.
"Of course. I mean her emotions. You're a sensitive guy." Aang grimaced but Sokka pushed it further. "That's a good thing Aang. You'll actually be emotionally available where guys like me probably won't be. That's something I need to work on." Aang beamed.
"Thanks Sokka." They were silent as they walked the shoreline. Zuko felt a small weight begin to form in the pit of his stomach. The Comet can't be more than just a week away, and we're out here on the beach talking about girls. I know Aang needs this, but we really should be focusing on finishing his training. Zuko bumped Aang.
"Just be sure to check your emotions. Remember what we're here for. You have to be focused right now. No distractions."
"I know, I know. I just like her so much." Aang grimaced and rubbed his head again. Sokka made a face that resembled his expression after eating the mucus off the walls of the buzzard wasp nest in their journey though the desert. They turned to him as he shook his head.
"What?"
"Aang, I know I told you I approve, but let's not go giving me oogies right now." Zuko and Aang looked at each other incredulously then looked back at Sokka.
"What?"
"Oogies. It's the feeling you get when your best friend likes your sister." Zuko rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Really Sokka? How old are you?"
"I'm the older brother and I have a right to be uncomfortable." He crossed his arms while Aang tried to avoid eye-contact.
"Oh stop being so flighty Aang. But seriously, don't gross me out, ok?" Aang nodded quickly. Sokka walked away from them and stood near the outcropping they had decided on for the staging ground. We're in the right spot, where are they? As he looked around, a small trail of earth sprang out of the ground and hit him on the knee. He tried to stay quiet to keep Aang in the dark. I'm going to get Toph for that. He limped over to Zuko and Aang.
"Aang I'm going to need you to stand in this spot." He grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him to a large rock.
"Er, ok. What are we doing?"
"Er, new game we invented." Zuko looked away quickly.
"Yeah! It's called—NOW TOPH!"
Aang felt the quick clasp of a metal arm band grab his right forearm and drag him to the top of a newly materialized pillar of stone and before he could blink he was standing inches away from Katara's face and they were bonded together with Toph's metalbending. They both blushed and looked down at the beach.
"What's going on? Let us down!" Katara avoided looking at Aang. The four others gathered at the bottom and laughed.
"Not until you two figure things out!" Zuko yelled back up.
"And I'll sense you trying to bend Aang, and believe me, you do not want to try it." Toph pointed a finger at him.
"We'll be over here at the fire whenever you guys are done." Suki winked at Katara.
"And no kissing!" Sokka shuffled away with the others, leaving Katara and Aang in palpable silence.
They turned to each other but looked away quickly. The silvery rays from the crescent moon showered them in vivid white and gray, their shadows bouncing off the floor of the stone pillar. Cat owls hooted in the distance while a small flame erupted to life a hundred yards down the beach. The earth stood still and silent, unspoken words forming and reforming in both their mouths as they tried to break the quiet. Katara looked back at Aang and breathed in. You can do this. You both can.
"Can we sit down?" Aang looked back at her.
"Sure." His eyes were doleful but were less hopeless than before. Their fused hands made sitting difficult, eliciting chuckles from both as they sat cross-legged. Thankfully, Toph had left their right hands free, so they could lean back when they were sitting. Aang intermittently looked at Katara and the night sky. He was sweating, the compulsion to speak beginning to overwhelm him. Katara traded glimpses of Aang and the moon, the silence also pressing her to speak. I can't take this anymore. She breathed in.
"Hey—"
"Katara—" They both bit their tongues and smiled awkwardly. Katara relented.
"You first." Aang shifted uncomfortably and closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and exhaled.
"I'm really sorry about the play. I shouldn't have kissed you, or the time at the invasion. You didn't deserve that." He shifted again and took another deep breath.
"Thanks." Katara frowned and looked away. "I'm sorry I've been cold to you."
"Me too. I was really lame this morning, and this afternoon."
"Yeah, you were." Aang chuckled half-heartedly but Katara was still looking away. She stood up abruptly, lifting Aang's hand with her.
"Aang, I can't do this anymore. Beating around the lychee nut bush." She looked into his eyes and demanded his focus.
"What do you mean?" He finally maintained eye contact with her, a twinge of fear and anger hidden in his grey irises.
"Obviously we're mad at each other."
"Okay…" Aang was still shielding his emotions.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going to admit why you're mad at me?"
"I already did. And I apologized just now. What more do you want?" He stood up and matched Katara's glare.
"I know you're still upset at me, I can tell. I just want to know why."
"I'm not upset!"
"Then why are you yelling?" She cut through his façade and he relented his raised voice and pride. Tears formed and he turned around to hide them.
"Because… I love you Katara! Okay?" His shoulders slumped and her stomach dropped. She beamed uncontrollably as elation moved through her veins. "But you don't feel the same. So what's the point?"
"Aang—"
"It's okay Katara. I shouldn't be mad at you. You deserve better, I just need to let this go."
"No, Aang…" She grabbed him by the shoulder and embraced him tightly with her right arm, her eyes watering as she did so. "I love you too."
Aang was dumbfounded. His arms were limp as she let go of him and he stared at her with widened and puzzled eyes.
"But…but I thought you were confused?" Katara laughed and wiped the tear tracts from her cheeks.
"I was, but after talking with Suki and Toph I realized why. I've loved you for a long time, ever since we kissed in the cave." Aang's addled expression turned to absolute glee. "But when you went down in Ba Sing Se…" Sobs unconsciously leapt up her throat and she sat down again. Aang sat next to her and held her shoulder with his right hand. She reached up and grabbed it with hers.
"Ever since I lost my mom, I've never let anyone get close to me, until I met you. And when I thought we had lost you, I didn't think I would be able to go on." She took her hand away and dried her eyes. "And since then, I—I guess I tried to push you away so I wouldn't feel that pain again if you went down against Ozai." She let out a deep breath and looked at Aang who was intently watching her.
"I'm so sorry that you've been carrying that Katara. I didn't know." She laid her head on his shoulder. A wave of happiness and joy overcame him as he looked down at her.
"It's okay. It feels great to finally tell you." Their eyes met as she sat up and the space between them began to narrow until a loud bout of laughter ripped through the air from down the beach, echoing through the cliffs. Their eyes widened and Katara quickly looked away as Aang took his right hand from hers. The waves mumbled on the shore quietly as they quelled the excitement inside of them. Aang turned back.
"So… you love me?" Katara's eyes crinkled and her lips nearly reached her ears while she tried to hide her burning cheeks by turning away.
"Yeah, I guess I kind of do." Aang mimicked her smile and leaned back.
"And it was in the Cave of Two Lovers?" She turned back and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah." She laughed at him as he smacked his head.
"Wow! I thought I was such an idiot back there!"
"Well, you were that too." Aang stood up as they laughed.
"I can't believe this!" He tried to airbend but realizing he was still attached to Katara, he gave her a wild smirk instead, which she returned. Her eyes shifted and seemed to drift somewhere else.
"What is it?"
"I don't want to get too ahead of ourselves. We still need to figure 'us' out while we're still in this war." Aang sat down.
"Yeah I agree." Katara shifted and grabbed her left arm.
"So… what do you think we should do?" Aang leaned on his right hand and stared at the fire in the distance.
"I talked with Zuko earlier, and he told me that I've been letting this distract me. And I know he's right."
"Yeah. Me too. And we need to be all-in when the Comet comes. It's going to be the hardest thing we've had to do."
"Yeah and honestly I've missed you Katara. I need my friend back." She squeezed his hand in the metal. "What do we do about us then?" He moved his eyes back up to meet hers. She tugged on her hair and pursed her lips.
"I think…we need to wait to move forward with anything until after the war's over. I just don't think I'm ready for a relationship while we have this Comet weighing over our heads." Aang grimaced slightly but nodded.
"I think you're right. Guru Pathik told me that I need let go of my attachments, and I didn't understand him then, but I think I do now. He meant that I needed to let go to focus my energies on the task ahead of me and letting this go—" He grabbed her other hand. "will give both of us more focus."
"And that's why we need to be apart, until the war's over." She hardened her expression into the fierce determination Aang admired about her and looked him in the eye. A smirk slipped onto his lips as he led himself through the timeline leading to the end of the war.
"Then when it's over? How will I know you're ready?" She giggled and felt her cheeks burn as she turned to the small flames at the end of the coastline.
"You'll know." She turned back and winked at him.
"What if I don't—" She hugged him.
"You will Aang. I know it." She let go of him, stood, and looked over the edge of the pillar. "Do you think Toph will let us down now?" Aang shook off the permanent smile making his cheeks sore and joined Katara.
"I don't know." He shrugged and she turned to him.
"Maybe we can just stay up here for a while."
"Sounds good to me."
They swung their hands together and tried to see if they could spot any of the others at the fire.
"What do you think they're talking about over there?" Aang moved his gaze to Katara as her profile reflected the vibrant ivory rays of the moon, causing him to lose his breath as she looked at him.
"Probably arguing about the mochi we stole from Sokka." They laughed loudly and Katara put her hand on Aang's arm.
"It's good to have my friend back."
"Yeah, it is." She grinned while she darted her eyes away mischievously.
"What is it?"
"You know you don't have to be sorry about kissing me." Aang raised an eyebrow while Katara leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
"They were good." He let out an abrupt giggle as his eyes swam with confusion and delight.
"Hey I said no kissing! Aang I'm coming up there." Sokka attempted to climb the pillar but fell down pathetically.
"We didn't kiss Sokka. Calm down." Katara rolled her eyes.
"Are you two done up there?" Toph was crossing her arms as she kicked Sokka with sandbending.
Aang and Katara looked at each other and nodded.
"You can bring us down." Toph assumed a horse stance and brought her right fist down swiftly, lowering the pillar and with her left, undid the metal clasp around their hands. Aang and Katara didn't notice they were free until Sokka ran over and broke up their hands and put his arms on both of their shoulders.
"That's enough love turtle ducks."
"Give me a break…" Katara smacked her forehead.
"No, I need to lay down some ground rules."
"What do you mean?" Aang arched an eyebrow and laughed.
"Well you guys are together now aren't you?" Aang and Katara leaned behind Sokka's head and smirked while their cheeks flushed. Katara looked back at Sokka.
"No, just friends… for now." She winked at Aang who reddened even further.
"Oh ok." His face accepted the answer but his widened as they neared the fire. "Wait what does that last part mean?" They wiggled from out of Sokka's arms and took a seat near the fire.
"Sokka just calm down." Toph walked from behind him and sat next to Katara.
"What does that last part mean!?"
"Sokka, they can make their own decisions. Come sit next to me already." Suki glowered at him as he tried to protest, but he walked back and took his seat next to her.
"Well just don't go making any kissy faces in front of me." He stuck his tongue out and closed his eyes. "Oogie!" Toph and Katara belly laughed.
"Sokka you're ridiculous. What about you and Suki?" Katara pointed at them with an open palm.
"That's different." He put his arm around Suki and she kissed his cheek. "Besides, I'm the older brother and I'm entitled to my emotions." Zuko's eyes seemed like they were about to roll out of his head.
"You are so insecure Sokka. Get a grip." Sokka narrowed his eyes at Zuko and walked over to him.
"Insecure huh? Bold talk coming from the guy with anger issues." Zuko cackled and stood up to meet him.
"Well if your dad tried to sear your face off you'd probably be a lot less sarcastic."
"And maybe we'd all be better off." Toph put her hands behind her head and shot a toothy grin at the two teenagers while a raucous bout of laughter erupted from everyone, even Sokka. He sat back down next to Suki and took her hand. Aang tried to meet Katara's eyes as she let the last laughs leave her mouth. She flicked a glance his way and beamed as she turned away. Aang followed suit as Zuko jabbed him with his elbow.
"You won't be distracted anymore, right?" Aang rubbed his side and watched Katara as she let out another giggle from Suki informing Sokka they had eaten all his mochi.
"No. Not at all." She swung her head over and winked at him, sending elated energy coursing through his chi paths.
The air grew colder and Katara shivered. Aang stood up.
"Do you guys want to sleep out here tonight?" Everyone nodded as Zuko and Toph fetched everyone their bedding, while Aang grabbed Appa and Momo. Appa roared and licked him as he entered the empty wing of the house they converted into a makeshift barn and Momo chattered nervously as he landed on his shoulder. Zuko was silent as they made their way back to the beachfront.
"What's wrong?" Aang caught up to his stride.
"Nothing. We just lost a few days of training is all." He rarely spoke the rest of the night, but Aang chose to ignore it. For the first time, it seemed like their plans would finally work. As he sat cross-legged and listening to Suki's stories of her adventures with the Kyoshi Warriors, an overwhelming peace settled in his bones.
Katara was wrapped in one of her blankets from the Southern Water Tribe and was laying down next to Toph. She slowed her breathing and focused on the chi flows within her and realized the feeling of imbalance had drifted away. Suki finished her story and laid down.
"Anyway, I hope we can find the rest of them once we finish this war. I'm going to bed." She yawned and laid down. The others followed suit. Sokka stretched and dove into his sleeping bag.
"Yeah. Nighttime for me too. See you all in the morning." Aang leaned on Appa's course yet plump fur and looked out at his friends. Katara met his gaze as they started to drift off.
"Goodnight." She smiled as she closed her eyes.
"Goodnight, Katara." He turned to his side and began to snore while the fire sat soulless and damp from the water they had bended onto it.
His forehead was dripping when he got up to splash his face. The lychee nut farmer had been progressively sleeping worse as the summer dragged on, and the heat became more unbearable. He walked outside for respite, but the air was just as stale and dry outside as it was in. He looked up at the heavens, glowing and laid out like the ancient celestial gods dancing and cavorting in a frozen sacred ceremony for the awe of the great expanse before them. His mouth hung open and he tasted dirt, so he licked his lips and closed it. As he walked in he noticed on the horizon a distant orange light, vibrant and pulsing. It seemed larger than the other stars, though not by much. The Comet. May it pass quickly as it comes. He settled next to his wife as his bones creaked and popped, slumbering into the stale night.