A/N: Guys, your support is unreal. I can't begin to explain how much it means to me. Over 90 reviews? That's wow…speechless right now. Just thank you SO much!
3 Days Later...
Aang's POV:
It's early evening when I take Appa's reins for the first time in what feels like a lifetime ago, but was only a couple or so weeks. I turn my head behind me as I watch everyone climb on board. Once we're set I pull on the reins.
"Appa, yip yip!" Soon enough we're up in the skies and everyone's chattering washes over me. 'If I close my eyes it almost seems like nothing ever changed...like I haven't changed.'
"I didn't realise how much I've missed flying." The familiar voice resonates close to my ear and turning my head to the right I see Katara leaning on the saddle's edge.
"Yeah?" I respond as I twist round to face her but I wince when my stomach twinges in discomfort.
"Are you sure you're alright to travel? We can wait another couple of days for you to recover." The Master Waterbender asks as obvious concern leaks into her voice and she leans closer towards me.
"I'll be fine. Besides we couldn't wait any longer. It's a 3 day journey and the celebration is in 5 days. I promised Kyla I'd see her before then." I say with an encouraging smile as Katara looks at me dubiously.
"If you insist, but let me keep you company."
"Alright." I coincide and move over to one side as Katara steps onto Appa's head and sits beside me. Moments later she takes the reins from my hands and I throw her a questioning look.
"You looked busy minded. I thought I'd take the reins to give you some time to yourself." I smile softly at the gesture.
"I'm just enjoying being up in the air again. I didn't realise I'd miss it after a couple of weeks." I confess and breathe in a deep portion of fresh air. My Sifu covers a hand over her mouth to hide her laughter.
"You really love your freedom." Katara says, looking amused. "It is relaxing. Up here it's like all the problems and the cares of the world just fades away." I hum in response and lean back onto Appa's hump.
"I couldn't have explained it better myself." I murmur lightly and soon I find my eyes fluttering to a close.
Zuko's POV:
I watch as Katara wraps an arm around the sleeping Airbender and pulls him close to her as his head rolls onto her shoulder. I look back to Sokka and Toph.
"It's good to see them getting along again." I say with a warm smile. My words cause Sokka to look up to see the two up front and his eyes soften at the display.
"It is. Though I feel there's still a lot of issues for them to work through before they're both really at peace with one another again."
"You really have one heck of a sunny disposition don't ya Snoozles?" Toph quickly retorts as Sokka shrugs.
"I'm just saying it like it is. Besides we all know that there's going to be some heat when Katara meets Kyla." The pony-tailed warrior states in a hushed whisper as his eyes glance back to his sister.
"Can't you cut out the drama for once? I'm really sick of it." At Toph's rough rebuttal, Sokka and I share a surprised look at each other.
"Are you alright?" I finally settle on asking.
"Yeah, why shouldn't I be?" Sokka and I share another look at this.
"I don't know. You seem snappier than usual and that's saying something for you."
"Gee thanks Snoozles." The blind Earthbender replies dryly.
"So what's going on?" I prod again, but it seems I've reached the limit for Toph's patience.
"Nothing's wrong! How many times do I have to say it?! I'm going to sleep if that will stop you guys from bugging me." Within moments Toph tucks herself into one corner with her back to us.
"What's her problem?" I whisper in puzzlement.
"Beats me. I've since learnt that with Toph you should just leave her be until she gets herself out of whatever rut she put herself in." I nod slowly in agreement with Sokka's words and finally divert my attention away from the irritable earthbender. I move my eyes back to Sokka.
"So how have things been going with you and Aang? I haven't had much chance to talk with him with all the mess I've needed to sort out." I question, trying not to let my guilt of leaving Aang to the wayside for the last couple of weeks show through.
"Surprisingly well, it's like we were never apart. I won't lie and say that I'm over what he did because I'm not and I think it will take me a while to get over it. But unfortunately I know why he did it. He was just doing what he always does. And as much as I hate to admit it, it's part of who he is and it's not going to change." I watch as Sokka pauses and bites his lip in deep thought, as if he's contemplating whether to tell me something. "Actually we managed to get onto the topic of his scars." My eyes bulge at this.
"How did you manage to do that?! That's one thing he's been keeping under lock and key for years. Katara said she only found out when she was healing him and Toph found out probably because of how pushy she is." I exclaim in shock but then I see another look of indecision cross the Watertribe man's face.
"I opened up to him about something so I guess it might have made him more comfortable to do the same." I narrow my eyes upon hearing this.
"You're not one to hide things, what did you tell him?" I ask carefully but Sokka turns his head to the side and I watch his eyes following a passing cloud.
"I'll tell you some other time." The pony-tailed warrior states with distracted eyes. I frown and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Sokka." I say firmly as my voice edges onto a note of warning.
"I promise. Just let me finish." I sigh and release my hold on him.
"Alright. I'll hold you to that. So what happened?"
"He plucked up the courage to show me." Upon hearing this I can't help but let my jaw drop wide open.
"He what?!" I echo out, louder than intended but a quick sweep to both directions I find Toph is still asleep and Katara giving no mind to us.
"Yeah, he said if he could just show it to one person he might be able to stop actively trying to hide them from everyone else, including Katara." Sokka states expressionless.
"So?!" I prompt as my curiosity gets the better of me.
"He didn't get the chance. Katara came in and I think he chickened out after that. But the worst thing is I...I actually felt a rush of relief. I'm such a terrible friend! I was so scared of what I might see and I didn't think I'd be able to handle it if it's as bad as he says it is. I didn't make the effort to go and see him and I know how much this is ripping him apart. I'm so pathetic!" The pony-tailed warrior admits as he hunches forward in shame. I open my mouth but close it a moment later as words seem to fail me. I take him by the shoulders and give him a brief squeeze.
"Sokka that's understandable. It's because you're a great friend that you don't want to see the pain he's been through, you don't want to imagine it. Don't beat yourself up over it. Besides, you just need to push through your discomfort for Aang. He needs you." I reassure earnestly and finally Sokka lifts his eyes to meet mine.
"You're right. I just don't want to fall apart in front of him otherwise he'll draw back into his shell for sure. I'm just so angry, disappointed and confused and I don't even know if it's at myself, at Aang or both." I furrow my eyebrows deeply at Sokka's confession and I try to pat his shoulder but it comes out a little more awkward than I would've liked. 'I didn't even realise how deep Sokka's emotions ran regarding all of this. I spent all my time focusing on Aang that I forgot how badly everyone else was affected. Some screw up I am.'
"Sokka, it will be alright. You'll see." I settle on saying, finding myself at loss on what else to say. My response draws out a weary sigh from the Watertribe man.
"Alright. I hope you're right. Thanks for listening to my whining." Sokka says as a small smile makes its way up his face to which I respond in kind.
"Anytime." And with that Sokka lies down and falls asleep a few moments later. I shake my head and stare at the starry night. 'I don't know what I am going to do with this lot.'
Toph's POV:
I try to control my rapid breathing when silence finally falls, but it seems I needn't bother with the gentle wind flowing past us. A stark contrast of what I feel inside, especially after what I just heard. 'Aang finally worked up the guts to show someone his scars after denying the mere thought of it for so long? What on earth did Sokka tell him?! And why was he so mysterious about it?' I slowly bring a hand to massage my aching temple. 'It seems that Twinkletoes isn't the only one to be harbouring secrets. I wonder who else is, is everyone? Aurgh I hate not knowing things and I hate how everything is.'
My mind thinks back to the little spat I had with Zuko and Sokka, thinking about it just makes me sigh in annoyance at myself. 'I don't like snapping at them without a good reason for it. But it's not like I can tell them everything. Especially not the fact that I'm getting...jealous with Aang's and Katara's newfound closeness. It never bothered me before and it shouldn't bother me, but for some reason it does. I saw Aang nearly every other month over the 3 years with no emotions or slip ups but as soon as Katara gets in the picture, his carefully built walls crumble down almost instantly. I know they have a bond. But...is it so bad to want him to able to confide in to me in a similar way?'
A/N: I think this has to be one of the shortest chapters I have ever written, which I apologise for because I know how much you guys love long chapters, but good news is that next chapter is extra-long AND we get to see Kyla for the first time! I'm sure you guys are wondering what she's like especially after seeing a brief view of her in her letter. So keep your eyes peeled!
15/9/19
