Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything related to the series nor do I own any other media, entertainment, etc mentioned in this story. This is purely a work of entertainment. I claim nothing as my own.
"Limit Sky"
Modern AU. A great evil descends upon the small port town of Yu Dao.
Hope lies in the hands of it's youth, afflicted with the woes of life and powers they don't quite understand.
~ The Boy in the Air ~
A new day. The sun peeks in through her curtains. Grandmother is downstairs, hollering for her. She is dressed and ready to go within 15 minutes. Her backpack strapped firmly to her back, she straightens out her cobalt skirt and adjusts her matching tie. Next, she slips on her faux fur-lined boots and coat.
Next, she is down the stairs, kissing Gran-Gran goodbye, and out the door — but not without seizing a warm buttered piece of toast from her.
When she arrives at school, she is greeted by teachers and classmates alike. She waves in kind, attending each class and taking notes.
As final period concludes, she leans on her palm and stares out the window. Her eyes drink in the grey rolling clouds creeping on the horizon. Soon, they will swallow the port and then the rest of the town will follow.
The bell rings.
Another blur of over sensation. The herd of classmates, the song of the people around her.
Nonetheless, once its all over, she arrives. On the Catapult Bridge. It's already dark, the view is still, captured in a time capsule of snow and frost. The wind stirs her long braided hair, and in that moment, she stares off into the abyss of life, silent. Until the breeze catches her skirt, and she slams her hands down with a shriek.
She heads home. The wheels of her bike kick up the grit of the earth and snow as she treads the dirt path, on her way to the pavement. She drinks in the calm. The town basks in the stillness of the night.
She rides faster, glancing at her watch. A sigh flees her.
The front door clamors behind her and she winces as she removes her boots.
"Katara, that you dear?"
"Yes, Gran-Gran!" She enters the kitchen and hugs her grandmother. While her face is still buried in the waterfall of silver cascading her grandmother's back, she sniffs the air. "Something smells delightful."
Gran-Gran pulls away to cup her face, "Go freshen up. Dinner will be ready shortly."
"OK," she looks around. "No Dad huh?"
Grandmother shakes her head, shooing her from the kitchen. "Your brother called as well. He's staying after school to study a bit longer."
Katara drops her gaze to the floor, but only for a moment. "Looks like it's you and me again, Gran-Gran."
"Indeed! Now shoo, go get changed."
Katara climbs the stairs to her bedroom. With every step, the enthusiasm depletes. The wood creaks as she opens the door and slides in.
Blue. The curtains, the sheets, the rug… The room is bathed in grey and shadows. She flicks on the bedside lamp and drops onto the bed. She doesn't stay long. Eventually, she is on her feet again and at her closet.
After changing, her gaze travels to the window. Wet crystals of the sky have begun to fall.
Not much later, she's back downstairs, huddled in front of the TV with Gran-Gran, watching The Imperial Coroner once they've finished dinner. She snuggles into her grandmother and sighs as the world fades to black.
Another day comes and goes.
Katara climbs out of the pool, gasping for air and shivering. She glances around, watching as the water glistens across the walls under the dim lights. She wrings out her hair and stares at the waters as they grow still.
Soon, she's on the bridge, gazing down at the frozen wetlands beneath. She lifts her head to the vault above. The clouds have mingled with darkness again. Thick and full of motion. It takes a moment for her to notice her own hand stretched up to the heavens.
"Anywhere but here…" she murmurs. "Anywhere but here."
Arriving home, she finds Gran-Gran enjoying a steady slumber on the armchair. Tiptoeing into the kitchen, she heats up leftovers and settles down at the kitchen table to enjoy them.
The walls are wood but lined with checkered tiles that match the floor. The sink is porcelain and cleaned of dishes. Katara finishes her meal and pulls a sticky note from her bag. She scribbles a small note and sticks it to the wall beneath the light switch.
"Thanks for cleaning the kitchen Gran-Gran, tomorrows on me"
She creeps upstairs and peeks through the crack of her brothers room. The glow of the lamp inside reveals he too has taken to slumber. She closes the door with a soft click and drifts off to her own room.
Katara climbs into bed, drifting off to sleep not long after.
Another day comes.
Today, She wakes up from a dream, drenched in sweat.
She heads off to school.
A blizzard seizes the town.
The world is painted grey.
She hangs her head.
Months pass…
She awakens to a bright sunny morning. A grin spreads over her warm brown cheeks as she hops out of bed, showers and dresses for school. In the midst of hurry, she crashes into her brother on the way down the stairs.
"Geez, Katara!" Her brother complains, an agonized groan pouring out of him before he continues, "It's just a birthday. Are you 14 or 4?!"
Katara helps him to his feet, cheeks flushed in pink. "Sorry, Sokka. I'm just excited! After summer, I'll finally be in high school!" As she muses aloud, she descends the stairs and cups her hands against her cheek.
"Trust me, Katara, high schools not all it's cracked out to be," Sokka says, following her down the stairs. "I mean sure, the babes are great and all but it's more work and less sleep."
Katara rolls her eyes, not losing her smile. "You're just lazy. Besides, I'm sure you would get plenty more sleep if you weren't up all night playing Fortnite."
"Fortnite is lame now. I'm playing retro games now!"
"Like what?"
"Resident Evil, the old ones." He clarifies.
"Does that count as retro?"
He shrugs.
The siblings enter the kitchen and are greeted by Gran-Gran. She seats them down and continues making breakfast. Katara's mouth waters as the aroma of warm pancakes and butter on the stove fills the air. Sokka hasn't stopped watching Gran-Gran since they arrived.
It isn't long before Gran-Gran places a stack of pancakes in front of Katara, topped off with whip cream and cherries. Katara rises to hug her grandmother with an audible squeeze. "Thanks Gran!"
Gran-Gran chuckles, "Of course! Happy Birthday, dear!"
It also isn't long before Sokka complains. "Come on, Gran! Where's mine?"
"Sokka, it's your sister's birthday. Did you even give her a blessing yet?"
Sokka turns his entire body to Katara and frowns at her smirking face, "Happy Birthday, dear!"
Katara proceeds to fling a slab of butter at him, to which he catches in his mouth. Gran-Gran shakes her head and hands Sokka his breakfast as well. It is bacon, sausages and sliced ham with pineapple on the side. Once Gran has turned her back, Katara reaches over and steals a slice of ham from her brother, provoking him to squeal with anger.
Gran-Gran serves Katara her own plate of ham and soon the siblings finish their breakfast and head out the door.
"Have a good day at school, sis." Sokka says as they head down the narrow path outside the house. The fork in the road ahead will send them on separate journeys.
Katara hugs him once they reach the fork, "You too, Sokka." She pauses, her hands lingering on his shoulders.
Sokka pulls her in for another embrace, holding her longer this time. "I'm sure he'll be home today."
She sniffles, her hand moving to caress the charm on the choker around her neck. "I hope so…"
On her lunch break, Katara sits on the bleachers with her friends. As they discuss various topics, Katara throws back her head and soaks up the warm rays of the sun. Her sapphire eyes trace over the clear blue sky and a blissful hum escapes her. Soon, she notices the chatter of her friends has died off and she looks to them. Their unified gaze resting upon her brings a blush to her face.
"Sorry, where you guys talking to me?"
"We were, but you're clearly not interested." One of them comments. She fixes the bangs kissing her freckled face.
Katara shrugs, "Sorry Nutha. I'm just so happy it isn't snowing today."
Another friend bares a striking resemblance to Nutha, albeit with longer hair and a cheerful gleam in her eye, speaks up after gazing above too. "It is nice! Not too cold either! Pretty rare for February."
The only male among the friends takes a seat beside Katara on the bleachers. He chuckles so soft it is like a whisper. Katara's eyes are drawn to the long chocolate locks flowing down his back as he settles next to her. "So, what are you girls planning to do for Katara's birthday?" He asks.
"Prolly just go to the mall." Nutha answers. "She wants to be home before 6 o'clock so she can see her dad though, so we won't be out shopping too long."
"Window shopping doesn't take long anyway."
The girls laugh at him.
"Two more years and I'll be working part-time somewhere!" Katara says, "By the way Haru, how are things at your mom's shop?"
"Good! With dad finally back, we're able to get a lot more done. I took today off in case you guys wanted to… I dunno, hang out somewhere?"
"You could come with us to the mall," suggests Nutha. "I need someone to talk to. All Katara and Niyok do is giggle and gossip about every high school boy they see walk by."
Haru blanches, "Ugh, that doesn't sound fun at all."
"Tell me about it."
The school bell rings out across the vicinity and the friends pack up their things to return inside the building. As they depart, Katara notices a tall, olive skinned man with grey hair, beard and mustache approaching from the school doors. She waves her friends goodbye and jogs up to him.
"Mr. Pakku! Did you need something?"
"Katara, first, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday." Katara blushes and gives him a courteous bow. "Secondly, I want to remind you that you do have swim lessons today."
"Um, Sir, is it ok if I pass today? Since it's my birthday, my friends and I made some plans."
Mr. Pakku sighs, "Very well. Enjoy your day."
Katara gives him a quick hug before she scurries off to class, holding down her skirt as she goes.
"Hey sis, call me down when Dad gets here, OK?"
"Kk." She responds without looking at him.
Sokka shrugs and heads upstairs.
Katara waits on the couch, peeking out the window every other minute. The sun has begun to melt beyond the horizon. She sees the neighbors lighting lanterns and hanging them. The porch light comes on and Katara jumps from her seat, only to see her Gran-Gran trot away from the light switch. With a sigh, she drops back down onto the couch and returns to the window.
Gran-Gran settles into the armchair and yawns. The sound of inhuman growls pour out from Sokka's 40 inch TV upstairs.
"Gran…"
"Yes, dear?"
"…Has he called today?" she asks, not taking her eyes away from the window.
Gran hums a sigh, "He hasn't…" upon seeing the child's shoulders drop, she continues, "But it's still early, dear. It's only a little after seven. He should be walking through the door at any moment."
Sokka yawns as he finally shuts down his PC after another You Died screen unfolds before him. He looks at the clock, seeing it is already half past midnight. He blinks, removes his gaming headphones, rubs his eyes, and then turns to his cracked bedroom door just in time to see his little sister race past in tears.
He lowers his head as he hears the door slam shut.
A month later.
Rain saturates the earth. Katara and Sokka huddle beneath his dark umbrella. Katara keeps a firm grip on her skirt as they proceed. The wind eventually destroys the umbrella. Katara drops her bike and the siblings are forced to gather beneath Sokka's jacket.
"I knew we should've waited this out somewhere!" Sokka complains. They scurry to the safety of a nearby market. They stand just outside of it, appreciating the canopy shelter.
"You could have!" She yells, yet won't look his way.
"Yeah, right! With how late you get home lately, it's only a matter of time before you bring a boy home or worse, he brings you home!"
She frowns and her fists clench the fabric of her skirt. "There is no boy, Sokka!"
"Then why are you always getting home so late?!"
Katara sighs, but never answers him.
Sokka scoffs, "Just as I thought!"
Another day comes…
"Katara!"
The sound of Mr. Pakku's booming voice pulls her instantly from her fixation on the ceiling and also plunges her into the pool. She resurfaces shortly after, coughing and wiping her hair from her face and eyes. She turns to see him at the edge of the pool along with the other swimmers. Each is looking at her with an assortment of expressions.
Her eyes find her teachers and she falters under the weight of his stare.
"Katara, if you're not going to be present today, at least do us the honor of not showing up at all."
With that, he and the other students leave her alone in the pool. She watches them go and drops her tear filled eyes to the crystal blue waters under her chin.
The school bell rings. But today, she has departed early. Destination the same as every day before. The Catapult Bridge.
Today, she's too early for the dusk to beacon her.
She waits on the bridge, soaking in the dismal tempest and blues. The wind stirs her hair. A drop of rain kisses her cheek and her gaze is drawn to the tumultuous skies overhead. More droplets follow, but she stands unabated.
Not long after her eyes flutter to a close, they snap open.
The rain has ceased altogether. Stillness captures the world.
Her breath escapes her.
She sees it.
A silhouette descends from the abyss above, the clouds funnel around them.
She is directly beneath them. Her legs are rendered still.
Stillness.
The figure overhead plummets down toward her.
Katara's eyes crush shut as she braces for impact.
Her back slams against the wood with a harsh thud. Breath is taken from her once again.
When her eyes reopen, her watery blues meet another's grey like clouds on an autumn afternoon.
They lay there for a time, staring at one another. Her eyes travel from his to the blue arrow on his shiny head.
"Uh, hi there!" He greets.
"…Who are you?" Her voice is just a whisper.
He levitates off of her, and answers after he's helped her to her feet. "I'm Aang! Sorry if I hurt you. Are you alright?"
Katara doesn't respond, only blinks and her eyes travel up and down his form. He is dressed in a pair of grey and cobalt plaid slacks and wears a slate grey blazer over his white dress shirt, topped off with a cobalt tie as well.
Aang smiles, revealing bright pearly teeth in his mouth. "You're probably wondering what the heck just happened." She nods her head. His gaze travels to the heavens and he pauses, looking around. "I should ask you the same thing. It was just raining, but the sun's coming out now."
She looks up too. The sun has begun to pierce through those foreboding skies, and she flinches when it teases her eyes. She gasps and turns her attention back to the young boy before her.
"You were in the air! How?!"
He rubs the back of his head, "I dunno, I just can."
Her hands come up to cover her ears. Her legs tremble as she backs away from him. His gaze remains firm on her and doesn't shift. His features soon fault with concern.
"Are you OK?"
She gasps and loses her footing. She blinks and he has reappeared beside her. His arm grasps her around the waist and she is lulled to her feet again. He doesn't let go. They stare at one another once more. His cheeks turn pink as she wiggles away from him and his grasp.
"I'm dreaming, aren't I?" She whimpers.
She covers her ears again. He approaches, but stops and tilts his head to the side at her. He says something, but she shakes her head and continues to back away. His eyes widen and he takes a drastic step toward her, arms outstretched.
She drops to a fetal position, grasping her ears tight.
"No!" She screams, standing and turning on her heels to flee, but her middle crashes into the railing of the bridge. The wind is knocked out of her and she's hurled over, plunging into the wetland beneath.
When she awakes, she finds herself at home, tucked snug into her bed. The early dawn wind swirls her curtains and the sun peaks through. She sits up and cradles her throbbing head with one hand while the other tears the blankets from her body. The smell of cinnamon and butter have crept their way into the room. She leans over to find her purse on the floor. She pulls her phone from it and finds it dead.
Katara squeaks and lunges from the bed. She's ready within 15 minutes, stumbling down the stairs and sliding into the kitchen.
Gran Gran looks at her, grabbing her by her backpack before she can seize the french toast from the toaster and beat it out of the house.
"Katara dear, it's Saturday. You don't have school today."
With a dramatic pause, Katara turns to Gran and let's out an audible, "Oh…"
Removing her bag, she sits down at the sturdy wood table. Her eyes dance everywhere as she stuffs a piece of toast into her mouth. Her grandmother sits across from her and offers a kind, half smile. Katara finishes her breakfast before she notices Grandmother hasn't taken her eyes off her.
"What's wrong, Gran?"
She shakes her head, "Nothing… we'll talk about it another time."
Katara watches her leave the kitchen and then slips out the back door. She comes around the side of the house, her eyes falling upon her bike resting against the wooden fence separating their yard from the neighbors. A gleam comes to her eyes as she jogs over, taking off on it in an instant.
Katara returns to the Catapult Bridge. She finds the skies are blue and cloudless, the frogs are singing beneath the bridge and a tranquil breeze catches her braid and skirt.
And there she lingers. Until dusk shadows the trees.
The storm clouds roll in not long after that.
"Katara? Katara are you OK?"
Thursday, the third week after the day she met the boy in the air, she sees clouds roll over the port. Her features light up as she watches from the classroom window.
Niyok looks to Haru sitting behind her. He just shrugs, following Katara's line of focus.
The school bell rings for dismissal a few hours later and she races out of the building toward her bike.
When she arrives at the Catapult Bridge however, her head drops. The skies have cleared.
A month comes and goes.
Middle School Graduation is on the horizon.
In the mornings, there has been rain. Yet whenever she returns to the bridge, the sun has come out and scattered the clouds.
Katara leans over the railing of the bridge and sighs aloud. "It must have been a dream…."
Another day comes and goes…
Katara opens the front door of her home and finds Gran-Gran sitting in the armchair. Upon seeing her, her grandmother rises to her feet and draws near. She looks her up and down before taking her by the hand and leading her to the sofa. Katara discards her backpack on the floor and looks up at her grandmother.
"Katara, dear," she begins, not releasing the child's hand. "Your teacher's have called. They are concerned about you."
"I'm fine, Gran-Gran," she responds with a heavy sigh. "Just tired."
"Dear, I know it's the end of the school year and you're ready for summer break, but you still have two weeks to go."
Katara rises from the couch and gives her a small smile, "I know. To be honest Gran…" she stops and shakes her head before leaning down to hug her, "Never mind. I'll be fine, Gran-Gran. You're right, summer break is coming. Soon I'll be in High School! Everything is going to be just fine!"
Gran still has concern on her face, "Did your brother ever talk to you about what happened a few weeks ago?"
Katara pauses, "No, what do you mean?"
"The day we found you unconscious on the porch, soaking wet."
She stiffens, mouth parting after a moment, "What?"
"Just as I said dear," she says. "I suggest you talk to your brother. He's the one who actually found you there." She stands and pulls Katara into another hug. "I'm worried about you dear. You stay out until sundown every day and return home absolutely sullen. I just want you to know, there's no boy in the world worth losing your sanity over."
Her granddaughter is silent in her arms for a period of time. At last, she returns her embrace and Gran-Gran's shoulder is wet from tears. "You're right Gran. I can't let this get me down anymore. Whether I see him again or not."
"Who dear?"
Katara pulls away with a squeak, "Um, no one! Seriously, no one!" She turns her attention to the stairs nearby and then smiles at Gran-Gran. "Thanks Gran, for everything. I need to go talk to Sokka."
"Is that really what happened?"
Katara tries to pry answers from her brother in-between him getting brutalized by the Nemesis on Resident Evil 3. Sokka fails the dodge once again and slams his hand on the keyboard. "Yes! For the love of meat, Katara! That's all that happened!"
"You found me sitting against the front door, soaking wet, covered in lily pads and unconscious."
Katara flinches when she sees Jill's face get obliterated by the Nemesis tentacle. She turns back to Sokka and watches his face turn boiling red. "Yes! Now get out! You're ruining my speed run attempts!"
"OK, OK! But…. What about my bike? How did it get home?"
"I don't know! You must've brought it home with you! I just know that you gotta cut this weirdo stuff out stat because once you're in high school with me, I can't have you embarrassing me!"
It's her turn to scoff, "Embarass you? Please, you're the one who still can't get a girlfriend!"
"Well if it makes me end up like you, napping on porches and stuff, it might not be worth it!"
With a huff, Katara storms out of his room, slamming the door shut behind her.
She crawls into her bed, stuffing her face into the soft pillow before turning over to lay on her back.
"What if it was a dream…?" she mutters, eyes fluttering closed.
Eighth grade graduation comes and goes.
In the aftermath, Katara and her friends hit up a local burger place and gush over the coming summer vacation and first year in high school.
"Sokka tells me they have a swim team at Yu Dao High too!" Katara explains, "Mr. Pakku is a reference for me, so it should be easy to join."
"I just hope we get similar classes," says Nutha. "I feel like it's gonna be hard to make new friends."
"If you keep scowling all the time, of course it will be." Katara teases, sticking out her tongue at her friend. Nutha goes to grab her tongue and Katara pulls away with a laugh. "But really, I hope so too."
The friends chat some more before sundown and then begin to make their way home.
Katara makes a stop on the Catapult bridge. She listens to the bellowing frogs and watches the falling daylight as the crickets come alive. A warm breeze flutters her long braid. She wears jeans and a blue t-shirt today, yet she still finds her hands landing on her thighs.
She looks on the horizon as clouds of nightfall kiss the day goodbye. She smiles and looks to the heavens.
Her hand stretches out.
"What a beautiful dream it was."
A/N: So, that's Chapter 1! I hope you enjoyed it!
Is Aang a figment of Katara's imagination or is he a real boy? Hmmm…. What do you think?
Some notes:
Characters will age throughout this story.
This story will also feature as many characters from the Avatar universe as possible. If you haven't read the comics, please do for your own benefit. They're really good!
Is Bending and Avatar in this story? Hmmmmm… NO SPOILERS!
Chapter 2 will be posted soon! I already have chapters up to 4 completed and posted on AO3. I'll be posting them here over the next few days.
Take care everyone! Be safe and blessed!