Chapter Eight

Katara wasn't sure what to make of this. The two of them knew each other. Aang and Suki looked as if their worlds had turned topsy turvy. On her end, something hot was residing in her chest. She pressed it in confusion, but she wasn't sure what to name this emotion that was slowly enveloping her. All she knew was that it bothered her, seeing these two look at one another in confusion but recognition.

Suki blinked owlishly for a moment. "Aang," she said, then grinned at him, ran around the counter, and sprinted towards him. "Aang!" she yelled gleefully, enveloping him in her arms tightly. "You're here!"

Aang tensed, breath catching, and for a moment Katara thought he was going to push the girl off of him. He didn't like to be touched most of the time, and this sudden hug would probably make him have a panic attack like before. But slowly, and to her shock, his entire body loosened, then he wrapped his arms around Suki, tentatively at first. Once he was hugging, though, a small smile graced his lips as his arms tightened around her.

Tears came to his eyes and trailed down his cheeks as he whispered, "It really is you, Suki."

Sokka looked dumbfounded at this turn of events. He raised his hands, shaking them about as he said loudly, "Wait a minute! Hold up!" He pointed a wavering finger in their direction. "You guys know each other?!"

Suki looked at him, still clutching Aang closely as he wiped his face. "Sokka, this is the friend I was telling you about, the one who had disappeared a couple of years ago." She loosened her hold, though remained close as they look at the shocked siblings. "When you called about Aang, I didn't believe that this was the same kid I knew. Nobody had heard from him in months."

Sokka looked at Katara, a question in his gaze, and she said, "Aang knows what we guessed."

He nodded, then turned back to the other two. "But you said you had lived in New York. Aang is from Detroit."

Aang jumped in, a grin on his face that made him appear younger than seventeen. "I was born there and my family stayed until I was thirteen. That's when we moved."

Suki nodded, clutching his arm, and that feeling rose in Katara's chest once more. 'Jealousy,' she realized. Suki had know Aang far longer than she and Sokka did. It kind of made her feel mad about it, but she knew, rationally, that it shouldn't. Aang must have had friends before he met them. Who wouldn't like the guy? He was emotional, sweet, shy, good-looking...

She mentally shook herself of those thoughts as Suki said, "We met at Central Park a week after he arrived. We became friends pretty quickly."

Aang chuckled, nudging her playfully. "You mean you jogged into me," he teased.

Suki laughed, pushing him back. "Like you were paying attention, bookworm."

He stuck his tongue out at her and even Katara couldn't help but giggle. This was the most animated she had seen him act. It was like a sun rising above the clouds of gloom. Before anyone can add anything, a male voice called, "Come on, Suki! We need a hand!"

Suki rolled her eyes at them and called back, "One second, Ethan! I'm on my way!" She looked back at the trio in apology. "I'll be done with my shift in a couple of hours." She turned to Aang, affection in her gaze. "We have a spot where we usually meet for get-togethers. We can talk more there."

Katara could see some his apprehension return. "I suppose, Suks," he said softly, "but it's a long story."

Suks? Katara was unsure of what to make of that. Were they just friends or had they been something more before Aang had disappeared? That green monster residing in her chest reared its ugly head again, but she stomped it down. It didn't matter right then. Aang and Suki had obviously been close before this, and if that helped Aang start to heal, than good.

Suki hugged him again and said something in his ear, but Katara couldn't make out what it was. He nodded and let her go. She waved to the siblings and her gaze lingered on Sokka. There was a blush to her cheeks as she said, "I'll see you guys at our spot."

Sokka grinned, his face a little red. "Yeah, Suki, we'll see you later."

She nodded before walking away.

(***)

Since it was busy inside the shop, the three teenagers decided to go out and explore. There were a line of stores along the promenade, ranging from media, art, clothes, and eateries. Aang, feeling lighter than he had in years, walked along with the siblings as he looked around. This place was huge. There was so much to look at, it took his hyperactive brain a moment to take it all in.

Back in New York, there had been tall buildings and crowded walkways. Everything was larger-than-life. Here, the crowds were a little more open, and the buildings not so high. The people didn't seem to be in as much of a rush like people from home. But there was something in the air that left a pleasant taste on his tongue. Freedom. All this time being on his own, Aang always feared that someone would take him away again, to earn a profit from his body. Living on the streets had been a tough deal, and the fear never went away.

Even now, some of that fear lingered, but after seeing his old friend, in the one place where his family might be, Aang couldn't help feeling hopeful. Growing up, he'd had a best friend back in Detroit, a boy a year younger than himself, Kuzon. After moving away, they had kept in touch until the kidnapping. Those freaks took everything from him on that first day, including his phone.

He wondered how his old friend was doing.

His eye caught the store's name as they passed it and paused. "Art Gecko," he said, reading it. There was a painted gecko on either side of the words, which held the colors of deep indigo, red, and purple.

The siblings came to his side. "You like art?" Sokka asked curiously.

He nodded, remembering. "Before I was taken, I used to draw all the time. My parents used to tell me that it helps with stress." He chuckled at the images of parents. "The would always have some new art supply for my birthday because I ran out by then."

Katara looked up at the sign. "I bet they were beautiful pictures."

He smiled at her, though a bout of melancholy encased his heart. "Yeah, they were pretty good." But the smile faded as he looked down. "I really miss it," he murmured. Right then, he wanted more than anything to hold a sketchbook again. He wanted to draw things that he had seen, and images brought to life from his mind.

He almost missed the look the other two shared. Sokka place his arm around Aang's shoulder. "Well, then, my friend, let's get you something."

Aang looked at him, startled. "I can't accept that," he protested. "You guys are doing enough, trying to to help me."

Katara grasped his arm and propelled them forward. "It's okay. Think of it as a way of helping you get better."

Aang wanted to protest more, but they were already inside the building. The sight of so much crafting supplies made his breath catch. From fabrics to sketch works and paint, the entire store was a menagerie of the visual arts. Looking around, Aang was almost overwhelmed by everything he saw.

"What did you normally draw with?" Katara asked him.

He blinked, blushing as he realized how much he had been gawking. "Graphite pencils, mostly. I like the shading those make." Though he knew he shouldn't let them buy stuff for him, it was still a nice gesture. He had to find some way to repay them for their kindness.

"Why don't you go look around, see what you like?" she said. "I was going to find sewing equipment."

Aang looked at her, curious. "What do you like to make, Katara?"

She smiled at him and raised her wrist, showing off an incredible bracelet. "I make jewelry."

He gently grasped her arm, looking it over, and couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it before. The design was of a beaded eagle feather among turquoise and sky blue beads. It wrapped around her wrist like a mini band.

Aang touched it gently, awed. "You made this?"

Katara blushed, pleased. "I want to be a professional designer after high school." She shrugged when he looked up from the design. "I sell my jewelry online and in person, during art shows and festivals." She grinned at him, making his heart pound. "People are willing to pay a pretty penny for stuff like this."

Aang smiled at her, releasing her wrist, though he was loathe to do it. Feeling her skin against his made him feel like a live-wire. "You have a gift, Katara," he said earnestly. "I think you'd make a great jewelry designer."

She positively beamed at him. "Thanks, Aang." She gestured to the back of the store. "I'm going to look for what I need. You do the same." She walked away, smiling, and Aang watched her go for a moment. He wondered where his inhibitions were. Just two weeks he had promised himself that no one would touch him. But now, he was craving more contact. Maybe it was because he had seen Suki, his old friend from New York. Perhaps it was Katara's sense of warmth or Sokka's brotherly affection.

Whatever the reason, Aang wanted to be close to the three of them. Touching still scared him, but at least he was starting to become accustomed to it.

Deciding to go along with their idea, Aang look around once more and spotted a box that contained thirty sketch items, from graphite, charcoal, erasers, and sharpeners. It was on sale for twenty dollars. Aang bit his lip in uncertainty. They didn't say if they had a budget limit. He didn't want them to overpay for him. Aang furrowed his brow in thought. It was a beautiful set, one that had everything he needed. If he got a job, he could pay back what they used.

Settled, he grabbed the case and held it close to his chest, his fingers tingling. Now all he needed was a sketchbook. Looking down the isle, he spotted a UCreate one for five dollars. Smiling, he went over and grabbed it, and realized this was the last one. Holding it close, he could feel an eerie but familiar tingling in his fingers.

He was anxious to start drawing again.

Aang went in search of Katara and Sokka, finding them in the sewing section. In a basket on Katara's arm, there were threads of different colors, glass beads, and clasps. When he came close, Sokka spotted him first and smiled. "Find what you wanted, kiddo?"

Aang scoffed, rolling his eyes in some annoyance. "You do know I'm a year younger than you, right? I'm hardly a kiddo." He would have air quoted the word, but his hands were kind of full of his findings.

Sokka smirked at him, arms crossed. "Sure, Aang, whatever helps you sleep at night." He thought for a moment before adding deviously, "Or maybe you only need Katara's pillow."

Katara choked on air and Aang felt his face flush red in embarrassment. The girl looked sharply at her brother, cheeks tinted. "Sokka, don't be a perve. He was having a nightmare, for crying out loud!"

Sokka laughed, raising his hands. "Relax, sis, I was just teasing." He looked at Aang again, this time a little more seriously. "Anyway, is that what you want, Aang?"

Still feeling like his face was on fire, Aang reluctantly held out the supplies. "The pencils kit is twenty bucks and the sketchbook is five. Is that okay?" He was hoping it was, because now that he had found them, he was loathe to release them.

But he needn't have worried because Sokka grabbed them, saying, "That's not too bad. We got this."

Katara grabbed one more bag of crystal beads to go along with the glass ones and nodded to herself. "I think I'm set."

Sokka led the way to the storefront, where an older woman was reading a book. She looked up, gaze blue and warm. Her hair was mostly silver, with strands of brown in it. The wrinkles on her face said she had seen many laughs and heartbreaks. She said, "Hello, Sokka, Katara." Her eyes fell on Aang, and smiled warmly at him. Something about her put him at ease. "Who is this young man?"

Katara answered. "This is Aang. He's staying with us for the time being until he gets back on his feet." She moved over to him, holding his shoulder and gesturing to the elderly woman. "Aang, this is Kanna, our grandmother."

"Call me Gran Gran,"she said, reaching a hand out to him.

Aang shook her weathered hand, for once not feeling afraid. Her hand was warm and comforting. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am," he said, smiling back and meaning it.

Gran Gran hummed in appreciation. "Manners. How wonderful." She looked at her grandson in playful reproach. "Why don't you have them, Sokka?"

He groaned. "Gran!" he complained.

She chuckled before gesturing them to place everything on the counter so she could ring them up. Katara bought her own stuff first, then Sokka placed Aang's art kit on the counter. Aang looked on curiously as Kanna seemed to add a discount that was already there. She caught his look and smirked slightly. "I own the store, so I can add discounts."

Aang blinked at her and blushed. "Oh, uh...thanks."

Kanna nodded and bagged everything up before handing the merchandise over. Sokka only had to pay $12.50 for the items. "Thanks, Gran," Sokka said, handing the bag over to Aang, who held it close.

Katara went over on the side of the counter and hugged the old woman. "We'll see you later, Gran Gran. Love you," she added, letting go.

Squeezing her hand she said, "I love you too, dear." She gestured them out as more people started entering the store. "Run along now, children."

They were about to leave when Kanna added, "It was nice to meet you, Aang."

Aang smiled back, holding his treasure. "You, too, Ms. Kanna."

They left the store, keeping close together to avoid getting separated in the crowd. He turned to Sokka, wishing he knew how to repay his kindness for getting him something he had missed almost as much as his parents. "Thank you, Sokka. This means a lot to me."

The older boy grinned at him and waved his hand nonchalantly. "That's what friends are for, buddy."

Aang grinned back. Friends. They really were becoming his friends. He didn't have to be afraid with them. He was starting to feel like he belonged here. When his gray-eyed gaze clashed with Katara's mesmerizing blue ones he could feel his heart begin to gallop. Taking a deep breath, he paused and wrapped his arms around her, bag clutched in one hand.

She laughed, hugging him back, but seeming shocked. "What's this for?" she asked.

Other than wanting her arms around him, of course. Aang couldn't tell her that he was beginning to have a crush on her. Instead he whispered, "For taking me in, and for last night. I was really afraid." At least that was the truth. He had been so scared of the memory that still haunted him. Katara was his personal ray of light, his bright beacon. Despite knowing her for a two days, Aang felt as if he was slowly coming back together again.

Katara tightened her arms around him as well. Her heart was pounding against his, like it wanted to reach out and hug it, too. But all she said in earnest was, "You're welcome."

Sokka interrupted their moment by groaning, "Oogies, guys! Come on!"

They laughed, letting go, and together, three set off to explore the city.