Katara couldn't help but close her eyes and lean into the feeling of the air brushing against her face. Riding on Appa was something that she had done a million times by now, but somehow this time if felt different, new. Because it's over, the Waterbender thought to herself, we finally won. After a year of trying to stop the 100 year war, the misfit group of teenagers had finally done it. Looking around, she noticed that Toph and Zuko seemed lost in conversation- or really, Toph was still just trying to get the 'life changing field trip' talk from him. She glanced at her brother, who was enthralled with something that Suki was saying, his eyes seemed to sparkle and he watched her talk. Seeing that open display of affection made her instantly search for the pair of grey eyes that instantly made her heart beat a little faster. And a faint blush spread across her cheeks when she found those grey eyes looking back for her.
She made her way to the edge of the saddle and climbed over, knowing that if something were to happen steady hands would always catch her. Or at least pluck her out of the sky. When she climbed on Appa's head, Aang moved himself over and patted the empty space next to him, which she very gladly claimed. The two sat in silence for a while, enjoying the company, the wind, and the relief. The stayed in comfortable silence until the Airbender sighed deeply and glanced at the girl next to him. "I can't believe that it's really over."
Katara gave him a comforting nudge but nodded her head in agreement. "I keep thinking that, too. It almost does't seem real. I keep expecting to see someone chasing us or something."
Aang chuckled in agreement, giving a quick glance around as if to reassure himself that they really were safe. "Honestly, it might sound bad, but I'm not really sure what comes next. It feels like my whole destiny has already completed itself and I don't really know where to go from here." He looked down at his lap, unable to meet her eyes.
Katara simply rested her hand on top of his, "I don't think that your destiny was just to stop the war, Aang. I don't think that was any of our destinies, not alone. The war may be over, but there's still so much work to do. There's balance to be restored and peace to be found." She looked down for a brief second while her blush ravished her cheeks. "And besides that, you're worth more than just your destiny. This year has been so difficult for you. It's time that you find your own happiness, too."
Emotion flooded the airbender's chest. This wonderful, selfless, amazing person who he cherished more than anything in the world always gave him the support that he needed. How could he be so lucky to find someone like her, or really, to be found by someone like her? She's saved him in more ways than he could ever begin to describe. He gently brought his hand up, cupping the smooth skin of her cheek, smoothing his thumb over it. "I've already found my happiness, Katara."
She smiled widely tears brimming her eyes as the meaning behind his words hit her, causing her heart to soar. She wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him down into a passionate kiss. He seemed to be frozen while his brain processed what was happening, but before long her returned her kiss with equal passion, wrapping the arm that wasn't cupping her face around her waist to pull her into him. The couple stayed like this for what felt like eternity before they were split apart with a shrill screech of 'oogies!' from the water tribe warrior.
The two jumped apart and guiltily looked at the audience watching them from Appa's saddle. Their friends were all smirking at them, except for Sokka, who looked genuinely traumatized. "That is my sister you were kissing like that!" He screeched, throwing his hands up on his head.
Katara rolled her eyes while her friends snickered, "As if you and Suki don't do the same thing like all of the time, Sokka."
"That's not the same thing!"
"Settle down, Snoozles," Toph cut in, "you're going to burst my eardrums." That even got a chuckle out of Aang. Sokka sent her an exasperated look and shook his head, looking to Suki for reinforcement. But the Kyoshi worrier simple raised her hands and her eyebrows as if to say 'leave me out of this'. Eventually Sokka sighed and slumped his shoulders. He knew when he was outnumbered... for now at least.
"So what's the plan now?" Zuko asked, leaning back against Appa's saddle after a few moments of silence. The gang all looked around at each other, not wanting to be the first ones to respond. Katara and Aang glanced at each other and Aang gave Appa a command to steer without him. The couple climbed over the saddle to join the circle their friends were sitting in. The group simply looked from one other for a while. They were each pondering how far they had come in the short time they had known each other. They had all grown so much and become so close, but they had to face the reality that their paths may have to part for a while.
"I think I need to go back to Kyoshi island," Suki said, quietly, leaning into Sokka unconsciously, looking for that support. "At least for a little bit. Someone," she shot a teasing glance to Zuko, "left me a bit of a mess to clean up. I need to make sure that the girls have some direction while we rebuild." She glanced nervously at her boyfriend, and was met with an understanding smile, much to her relief. The warrior pressed a silent kiss to the top of her head for extra reassurance.
"I think I need to go back home for a bit, too," Toph said, the lack of excitement shining through in her tone. "I'm probably going to be grounded for the rest of my life for running away, but I need to face the music at some point." That earned her a chuckle from the group. "Seems like Sparky is the new Fire Lord. Or is it technically Katara?"
Zuko couldn't help but found a little at that comment, while Katara shot a glare at her friend, even if she couldn't see it. "We all know that Zuko has more than earned that title," Katara reassured her friend. "We took down Azula together. I would have been dead if he hadn't have jumped in front of her lightening for me." The firebender sent her a thankful look.
Aang on the other hand felt a chill go up his spine. He imagined that it was a difficult battle, especially knowing Azula's skill level. But hearing that Katara nearly died shook him to his core. He knew that they day he lost her would be dangerous for everyone, given how unstable he was in the avatar state and her being hurt was a sure way to trigger it. He tried to push those thoughts out of his head by pulling her closer to him, feeling her safe and warm beside him.
"Katara and I better get back, to the Souther Water Tribe, too," Sokka said, nodding towards his sister. "Our dad's going to need help getting the warriors readjusted to normal life. And I'm sure GranGran misses us." Katara hummed in agreement at his last comment, but didn't say anything else.
With everyone's plans mapped out, all eyes fell to the Avatar, who felt his heartbeat pick up. Where was he going to go? He didn't have a home really left anymore, the Fire Nation had stolen that from him long ago. He guessed he could go to the temples and try and rebuild them himself. Maybe that was his duty. But the thought of doing that alone left him feeling empty and unsure. Especially if Katara wasn't there. He would think about it later, he decided, now is time to celebrate. "Well before we all go our separate ways, it seems like we need to get the new Fire Lord, to his coronation. It sounds like kind of a big deal."
Zuko beamed at Aang, and then at the rest of his friends as well. "It really would mean the world to have all of your support that day." His friends all expressed their excitement and that there was nowhere they would rather be. The scarred teen felt a sense of acceptance that he had been searching for pretty much his whole life and openly smiled.
Aang airbended himself out of the saddle and onto Appa's head commanding the bison to fly faster towards the Fire Nation, "Your wish is my command, Sifu Hotman!"
And Aang even heard Zuko laughing as the wind carried them away.
The ceremony was amazing. Intense and emotional and so full of hope. Katara had little doubt of the growth Zuko had shown in these last few months together. Even though she had distrusted him the most out of everyone- for obvious and justified reasons, she felt- she had come to seriously cherish her friendship with him. Even now, at the ceremony she found herself on the dance floor with him, twirling and laughing, before slowing it down. "You did great, Zuko. You're going to be an amazing leader.'
He smiled down at her, and this time it matched his eyes. "Thank you, Katara. Your opinion truly means a lot to me."
"As it should," she said laughing, and then caught sight of a certain someone out of the corner of her eye. "And I couldn't help but notice that Mai could't seem to stop staring at you the whole time."
Zuko's smile grew brighter than Katara thought that it possibly could. It was the kind of smile that she hoped Aang had when he looked at her. "She somehow managed to forgive me for everything I put her through. I don't know how I got so lucky."
"It's not luck," Katara corrected, "you earned this, Zuko. You deserve this."
He shook his head lightly, but his smile didn't fade. "And what about you, Katara? Are you really going to be happy just going back to the Souther Water Tribe?"
The waterbender was taken by surprise by his question. It was one that she had been asking herself since they had all had that conversation the day the war ended. "I'm not sure. On one hand I do have a responsibility there. One the other..."
"Aang may not be there." Zuko finished for her. She looked down, but nodded, the emotions she was feeling seeming overwhelming. "Well, if my opinion means anything to you, I think that you also have a responsibility to yourself. I'm not saying that you need to abandon your tribe, but maybe you could find a way to divide your time."
"As long as that's really what Aang wants, that is," she said, gnawing on her lip, feeling immensely unsure of herself. Now that the war was over what would he want? In pure airbender fashion he had avoided giving any hint to what his plans were that day and she hadn't gotten a chance to bring it up to him again.
Zuko gave a soft chuckle, his eyes looking over her shoulder now. "Trust me Katara, if it has anything to do with you, Aang will want it." Without warning he swooped down and placed a quick, chaste kiss to her cheek, making her freeze in shock for a moment.
Just seconds later she heard a throat clearing behind her. "Mind if I cut in?" Aang asked, his voice seeming slightly strained. Zuko gave Katara a quick wink and nodded his head, pulling away so his friend could take his place. Katara smiled, realizing exactly what the new Fire Lord was up to. Aang wound his arms around his girlfriend and pulled her in close. Katara followed suit and wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing into his eyes. "So... what were you and Zuko talking about?" His voice sounded so unsure that it gave Katara the control not to chuckle at his unneeded jealousy.
She planted a warm, reassuring kiss on his cheek. "We were talking about the ceremony, and how he and Mai have officially gotten back together."
The relief on his face was almost tangible and once again she had to stifle her giggle. "Oh that's great, he must be over the moon!" He said, the happiness for his friend shining through.
Katara smiled and rested her head against his shoulder, pulling herself even closer to him, "He really is." The pair stayed like for a while, gently swaying to the music, cherishing the fact that they were able to hold each other in their arms. But Zuko's words kept echoing in Katara's mind and she couldn't seem to get them out. So she took a deep breath and lifted her head, gazing into the silver eyes she loved so much. "Aang what do you plan on doing next? I noticed that you didn't say when we were all talking about it, and I know you're unsure about your destiny. I just... I'm not sure where your head is with it all."
Aang took a shaky breath. He knew that he had been avoiding this subject with her the last few days, but he just wasn't sure where this conversation would lead them. "I'm really not sure, Katara. I feel like I have a responsibility to myself and my people to try and rebuild what was lost. If I can rebuild the temples and try to get people to become Air Acolytes then I might have a chance of at least saving our culture. But..." He looked down and swallowed hard, trying to gather the courage to say what he wanted to. "I also know how important to me you are, too. And I know the responsibility you have to your tribe. But I don't want to be where you aren't, Katara. Because when it comes down to it... you're my home."
Katara couldn't stop the tears that were running down her face. Aang was worried that he said too much, until he saw the corners of her lips raise into a smile. She planted a strong kiss on his lips before pulling back and cupping his face. "You're my home, too, Aang. And I want to be where you are, too. And I really think that we can make this work. We can divide our time, we have Appa. We can travel back and forth between the Southern Water tribe and the temples. Sokka is most likely going to have the majority of the responsibilities. I'm willing to try if you are."
The Avatar grinned widely, before scooping his love up and spinning her in a circle. "I'd do anything in the world for you, Katara. That's an Avatar promise."
Katara let out a laugh and smiled. "I'm going to hold you to that."
The rest of the night was just as magical. They all danced and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. And when morning came, they all made plans to go their separate ways. The group traveled together on Appa and one by one the friends said their goodbyes as they were dropped off to start their new beginnings. When it was just the siblings and the Avatar they decided to spend some time in the Southern Water Tribe before the couple traveled to start the journey of rebuilding the temples.
When Appa landed Sokka jumped right out, beyond excited to be home. Aang wound his arm around Katara and gently lifted them out of the saddle and to the ground using his airbending. When their feat touched the ice floor they shared a glance at each other and joined hands.
"Together," Katara reassured him.
Aang smiled and brought her hand up to his lips to press a sweet kiss to it. "Together." He echoed.
And for three years they were in it together. They traveled back and forth, staying be each others side. Occasionally they would separate, when life got busy for both of them, but in the beginning it was a rare occurrence. But as time progressed, they seemed faced with that challenge more and more, and the strain seemed to grow and grow between them.
Because the problem with beginnings is at some point, they all most come to an end.