A/N. You can all see where this is going…
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender
Closing the book, he had on his knees, Aang sighed. It was still early, the sun was just appearing above the horizon. For the last few nights, he had finally slept. Without nightmares, without waking up in the middle of the night, screaming.
The day after… After Toph had given him that wine… Had been interesting. The blind girl had just smiled and done some training with him, without the usual banter and crude jokes. Sokka had looked at him funny but had said nothing more about whatever had happened.
For Aang didn't exactly remember everything. He did recall drinking something that Toph had given him and talking to everyone. About what, he hadn't a clue. And when he asked Katara, she had just smiled shyly and shrugged, saying it was nothing important. Sure…
He had spent the last three days' training… But not as much as had been planned. Apparently, Katara had put a stop to the excessive training schedule, and had forced everyone to have a more lay back approach… That surprised him, for Katara was normally the one who would overthink most things… While he was the more laid-back person… But at the really crucial moments, the waterbender was able to keep a cool head and do what was needed.
And taking a step back from all the training and so on… It had been good. Really good. He felt so much calmer and surer of himself than a few days ago! And… It had given him time to finish something.
Opening the pouch that had laid next to him, he let the stone roll out of it into his hand. The yellow stone was now smooth, and a perfect circle. It was a bit thin, but it was resistant. And he hadn't even used earthbending! Alright, just once, to flatten the surface once more when he had made an error and had let the tool scrape a bit too much away… But otherwise, he had done everything by hand!
The symbol he had carved into it was good, if he said so himself… the lower part of the design were waves, and if he had recalled correctly, looked like the ancient symbol of the Southern Water Tribe… And just above the waves, he had carved some of the spiralling wind patterns that people often associated with the Air Nomads… Not that they really had symbols or marks… But it had been the accepted symbol of the Air Nomads.
Was it perfect? No… But he was rather proud of what he had made. He had also finally managed to find a moment to attach the silken band to it, so it was finished… He wasn't going to use it, of course. Aang knew that they weren't there yet… But it would be nice to have, just in case… Who knew? If the war ended in three days' time… Who knew what their world would look like?
The day after tomorrow… He would finally get to confront the Fire Lord. He was still not quite sure how to do this… Maybe he could put him in an earthen prison until the others decided what to do? For Aang knew one thing. He would never kill Ozai. Never. He would give him to the authorities of the invasion, people like Hakoda, Tyro and so on… But he would give him a fair trial. Where the man could defend his actions. And even though Aang knew Ozai's fate would be decided way before… At least he would have tried to give the man a chance. A chance to see the error of his ways.
Sighing, he put the new necklace in the pouch, slipping it inside his pocket. Standing up, he stretched and grabbed the book. Air People's Ideas on Lovemaking… He was kind of hoping that something would happen today or tonight… Tomorrow afternoon, Hakoda would arrive… And the day after that, the invasion would happen… So, if something was going to happen… It would be today.
He walked over to their bags and supplies, and put away the book, grabbing a shirt. Katara had said that she was making him a tunic with the materials they had bought a few days ago. And that meant… Getting rid of his disguise.
Finally! Finally, he was able to get this hair off! He had been hating it for several weeks now, it was getting in the way, and it was itchy! Sure… There were moments he had actually liked it, like when Katara had run her fingers through it…
But it was just not him. Not his identity nor his traditions. No, for him to be simply Aang… He needed to shave.
It was already warm, this early… It was actually one of the warmest summers he had ever witnessed, and the Fire Nation was already known for its hot summers… So Aang threw the shirt back to the bags, knowing he would not even wear it today. Looking down, he saw the blue line of his tattoos snake around his arms and smiled. In a few days, he could show them. Without hesitation, without fear. He was going to be an Air Nomad once more. No more Kuzon, the young man from the colonies. No. He was Aang from the Southern Air Temple. And he refused to hide it one minute longer. So, he grabbed the razor from his chest. His chest, filled with Air Nomad scrolls, the relics of his people… But he wasn't going to be one! He was going to fight in this invasion, not only as the Avatar, but also as a representative of the fourth nation. As an Air Nomad.
Standing up and going towards the small river beside their campsite, Aang walked past a sleeping Sokka, who was snoring slightly. The airbender stopped, grinned, and blew a small current of air in his friend's ear.
Sokka groaned and turned around, still sleeping. Changing the air current, he managed to get back at irritating the sleeping water tribe warrior. After a mere minute, Sokka opened his eyes, and looked straight at him.
"Air Head… Why are you waking me up…" He heard his friend groan.
"Oh… You know… I am sure you heard quite some awkward things when I was drunk… So, see this as my way to get back at you! And… I wanted to know what I said. Without Katara or Toph knowing…"
Aang heard yet again how Sokka groaned, opened his sleeping bag and managed to stand up, still looking very sleepy.
"It is early, isn't it? Tui and La, the sun is just up… Why are you in such a good mood, at such an early hour…" But Aang just shrugged, walking towards the river. From behind him, he heard how Sokka grumbled, but followed him towards it.
Aang crouched down, and froze a small part of the river, smoothing it to make a small mirror. He wanted to shave it all off. Not forget one hair. He was going to be an Air Nomad once more.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Sokka asked from behind him. The water tribe boy came into Aang's view, and crouched down next to him, cupping some water in his hand and throwing it against his face. As Sokka was rubbing his wet hands against his face, Aang plunged his head into the river. He didn't know much about really shaving off so much hair… But he guessed that if it was wet, it would be easier.
Pulling his head out of the cold water, Aang laughed aloud. Spirits, it felt good.
"Yes Sokka! This is a good idea!" He grinned, putting the razor to his forehead, just above his arrow. And began sliding it over his skin. Finally! The airbender saw the dark hair fall into the river. Let the world know that he was alive. That he was going to correct the mistakes he had committed a century ago. And that he would dedicate his life to rebuilding the world he had abandoned.
"I missed your bald head." Sokka smiled at him, and Aang felt a relief at the sight. It was alright. Everything was going to be like it had been.
He let the razor slide and cut. It took a while, but as the sun slowly got higher, Aang managed to remove most of his hair. Looking into the icy mirror, he finally recognized himself. Or at least… Part of himself. His face had got leaner and there was a slight shadow of peachy hair over his cheeks. Spirits… He had lost any semblance of a child. Of course, he was an adult since he had been twelve, in the eyes of the Air Nomads, due to him having been named an airbending master at that age… But now he actually looked the part.
"Yes, you've got very handsome my young friend. Now stop gaping at yourself and come on. We have breakfast to prepare, or the girls will skin us living!" Sokka laughed, stood up, holing his hand out, and Aang grabbed it. Spirits, he felt the soft air currents flow past his head, over the soft exposed skin... Finally.
"So… Have plans for today?" Sokka sounded disinterested, but the airbender knew his friend better than that. He was always curious, and always wanted to know every single detail of everything. So, this question had a reason…
"No, not really… Some training and Appa needs a bath before the invasion. We don't want him giving a bad impression, do we?" Aang laughed, looking at the bison who was just waking up. Appa had rolled around in some mud yesterday, and it had got everywhere. So, that was his day… Except he really wanted to spend it with Katara…
"So, that's… That's all? I thought… You know… My dad arrives tomorrow… And you and Katara are still dancing around each other… I was kind of hoping that you would talk to her. When Toph got you drunk… You kind of told her you loved her." Sokka smiled tentatively, as they opened the supplies to get breakfast underway.
Well… At least, that wasn't too embarrassing! Sure, Toph and Sokka had never heard him say that directly to Katara, but she knew, and he had said it often to her in private. So, no worry. That was not awkward at all!
"She knew that already. That isn't so horrible, is it?" Aang asked, as he pulled some bread out of a bag.
"Seriously… She knew? Well, yeah, she didn't act surprised as you said it, so I could have known… But what you said after, that made her a stumbling mess!" The water tribe boy laughed, and then cringed. Oh Spirits… What had he said?
"Ehm… Why?" Did Aang want to know what he had done?
"Well… You know how you never talk about… The physical nature of any relationship… Yeah… That went kind of out the window." Sokka grimaced, but Aang saw the slight amusement in the ice blue eyes.
Oh no… Not that! Had he told the others that he and Katara had already slept together? Oh spirits, this was not good… Spirits, if he had talked, he could very well forget anything he had planned for today. Spirits, if he had said anything, that would be humiliating for him, but also for the waterbender…
"Wh-What did I say?" He asked. Better to keep his mouth shut, and know exactly what he had said, before trying to explain things to Sokka he actually didn't know…
"Well, apparently Katara's…" The water tribe boy shuddered, "rear is nice and soft… And as many questions I have, I don't want them answered!"
Aang laughed aloud. Spirits, was that all? That could mean anything! Hah, that was just a bit awkward for him, because Toph would surely use it to tease him to no end! He could live with that, no problem!
"Aang… Katara asked us to leave you alone today… So that you and her… Could have the day to yourself. And I don't know what that means to you, but I have one question." Sokka turned serious and looked him the eyes.
"Sure… What?" Had Katara really asked that? Spirits… If that was the case, he wasn't the only one who had thought about… Well, getting together before the invasion… That meant she wanted to! Wanted to… spend time together. Before Hakoda arrived. Aang tried not to be carried away by his imagination. But it was too late.
"Please, for the love of Tui and La, go somewhere where I can't hear… Whatever you two are going to do!" His friend laughed, but Aang still felt a bit… awkward? Was Sokka seriously giving him the thumbs up to… To do that?
"Ehm… W-what do you mean?" The airbender smiled weakly, trying not to blush. But unfortunately, that was in vain.
"Seriously?" Sokka deadpanned, rolling his eyes, "You know perfectly well what I mean. You are both adults in our cultures, so please, don't act as if you haven't thought about… that… I just don't want to hear it. You do whatever you want, or don't do anything. It is up to you two. Just spare my ears." With that, Sokka turned and went to wake the others.
Had… Had the water tribe boy just encouraged him to… sleep with Katara? Really? Sure… Sokka had been quite mature about everything and had never objected to them having a relationship. Aang had always dreaded his friend's reaction. Or at least, he had done so before Ba Sing Se… But to see how he was actually encouraging it? Well… How could Aang not feel thankful for that?
"Hey Twinkletoes." Toph sat down on a fallen tree, where they ate their meal since coming to the Black Cliffs.
"Morning Toph!" He handed her the bread, and the blind girl took it. As always, she was quite a mess after waking up. And it didn't help that she had used the fact that they weren't seeing other people to… Well, forgo washing up. Hopefully, she would do so before the invasion…
"Your head feels rounder. Like before. You shaved off your hair, didn't you?" she asked, as she put some of the bread in her mouth, chewing loudly.
"Indeed! It feels so much more normal like this!" He laughed and saw the small smile from the earthbender.
"I never really asked why you keep your head bald." She spoke.
"Air Nomads always did… Or at least, the men did. The women just shaved the part above their forehead to show the arrow tattoos. But you also feel the air better, so you can manipulate the air currents around yourself easier." Aang explained, passing a hand over the exposed skin of his head.
Sokka came back, with Katara following him. The waterbender just smiled at him, saying nothing about his hair, or lack of. She knew. She knew how much he had hated it.
"So, what do we do today?" Toph asked, as everyone was eating.
"You and I are going to finish that armour… Metalbending will perhaps go faster…" Sokka sighed. Aang knew the water tribe boy had hoped to do it by hand, but it had been painfully slow. So, metalbending it was going to be.
"And you?" Toph grinned towards Katara.
"You know what I said a few days ago Toph. That hasn't changed." Katara spoke surprisingly calmly, but Aang's heart nearly stopped. Sokka had been right. She had said it! Oh Spirits… They were going to spend the day together…
"Oh, so while I do all the work, listening to Meathead over there, you two are going to fu-" Toph stopped suddenly, smiled, and held in whatever she had wanted to say. How? The blind girl would never let a chance to say fuck pass… But when he looked at Katara, Aang saw how she had just fixed the earthbender. And apparently, Toph had sensed it, and had shut up… Spirits, how had Katara managed that?
"While you two do something that will take an hour, I am going to spend time with… Aang." She looked at him, and the airbender saw the question in her eyes.
Should we tell them?
He nodded. If not now, then when? After the invasion? No, that would make it seem like some sort of thing they had just decided on after winning the war. And that was not it. Despite the war, despite everything that happened around them… Their love had blossomed. So why hide it?
"We have something to say to you." Katara said, nodding at him.
Exhaling softly, Aang smiled.
"We have ehm… Kind of been together… Well, since spending that week near Piandao's castle…" He said softly. A silence settled among his friends. Toph just grinned, and Sokka had his mouth open, as if he was going to speak. Then closed it. And opened it again, without making a sound.
"I knew it!" Toph finally spoke, shaking her head, and continuing to eat.
"You knew!? And you didn't think to inform me? I spent hours talking to these two, trying to make them get together… Tui and La, why didn't you say this earlier?" Sokka groaned. Aang could understand his friend. He had been talking to him, and apparently to Katara, about how it would be good that they would get in a relationship… While they were already in one.
"Meathead… In the inn, when we got our stuff… You didn't find it suspicious that Aang's clothes and chest were in Katara's room?" Toph rolled her misty eyes.
Oh Spirits… Aang had forgotten that. It had not been important at that moment… Sokka turned to him, sputtering.
"You… You mean you two have…. Oh oogies!"
"Hey, just a few moments ago, you were saying we had to do that out of your earshot! You didn't object to it!" Aang felt he had to at least say something. He knew Sokka and was aware that the water tribe boy always acted a little theatrical with people around.
"You said what now?" Katara sounded utterly surprised.
"In theory I didn't mind! But knowing you two have been doing… that… is different!" Sokka winced, as it hurt him physically.
"We haven't been doing that!" Katara sighed. But Aang knew that she had just committed a mistake. Of course, in the inn, nothing had happened. But it had happened before. Meaning… Katara had lied. And meaning… Toph knew.
Quickly looking towards the earthbender, Aang saw how Toph opened her mouth, eyebrows raised high, and with the most delighted look in her eyes, as if she was had just heard that she was being named best earthbender of the world in an official capacity.
Oh shit. Monkeyfeathers! He had to shut her up before she actually told Sokka that they had done it. Not that the water tribe boy would be actually surprised, he gathered… But for Sokka's wellbeing, it was perhaps better not to mention what had already happened…
"Shouldn't you get going on that armour? You know, Appa would surely love to try it on before the invasion!" Aang tried, but he saw the suspicious look his friend gave him. Yeah… really smooth Air Head.
"Yes! And maybe you could prepare something interesting for The Mechanist! I'm sure he would love to know everything about how you made your space sword!" Katara had apparently also seen Toph's look, and was now helping him. They needed to get rid of Sokka, talk quickly to Toph… And then, get away from them!
"That's true… But don't think this conversation is over! And oh… I'm happy for you guys." The last part was said smiling kindly, as he stood up and began to walk to the pile of metal that he had been hammering for a few days now.
As Sokka went out of earshot, Aang turned to Toph.
"For everything that is holy Toph, please don't tell him!" He nearly begged. Sure, it wasn't very dignified… But he didn't want to look at Sokka being disgusted for days on straight… And certainly not when Hakoda would arrive the following day!
"So… When did you two manage to get away from my all seeing feet?" Toph grinned, putting a fist under her chin, as if she was listening to the most interesting conversation in the world.
"We're not going to tell you that!" Katara protested, but the earthbender just turned her head, and spoke softly.
"Oh Sokka…"
The water tribe boy didn't hear, but Aang groaned, nonetheless. Yeah. She had all the power here.
"Alright! When you were drunk after the party in the cave!" The airbender saw how Katara blushed furiously, and he himself was probably not any better…
"Oh so that were those weird vibrations! I thought it was just the alcohol playing tricks! Nicely done Twinkletoes!" Toph smiled wickedly, moving a hand up for a high five. He didn't comply.
"Just… Just don't say anything to Sokka please!" Katara sighed.
"Of course not, I'm not that evil! But… If you could like… Go far away from here to do whatever you two want to do, I wouldn't object. I don't want to feel you two screwing each other senseless." Toph shook her head, standing up.
"Yeah… We'll go to the other side of the island if need be!" Katara smiled weakly.
Wait… She didn't say that Toph was wrong! Was he going to be screwed senseless?
Please Spirits, yes!
Calm down.
Spirits no!
"Should be far enough. So, see you tomorrow morning. And don't dare come back before." And with that, Toph walked over to Sokka.
A sort of awkwardness settles as soon as the blind girl was gone. So… What now?
"Ehm… Yeah… I kind of asked the others to give us this day off… Because… you know… if something happened during the invasion… I wanted to spend the day…. And night… with you." Katara was wringing her hand together as she said that, a sign Aang had become accustomed too if she was nervous. Putting a hand on hers, he just smiled.
"Let's do that. Let's take some stuff, some things to eat… and get out of here. Surely the others won't mind." He stood up, extending a hand to help her up. As Aang pulled her up, she smiled at him.
"Good to see you… Like you are supposed to look like. Although… I will miss the hair I suppose." Katara walked towards the bags, and Aang saw a flash of blue and something yellow and orange being put in a bag.
"Tomorrow, I want to show the invasion force who we are. A master waterbender, and an Air Nomad. So, I'll take the clothes with us…" Katara explained.
She had said Air Nomad, and not Avatar.
"Yeah… And maybe… We should take something else…" Aang grabbed his own bag, producing the book he had put there just an hour or so before.
"I mean… if… If you want! We don't need to! Just in case!" He realized how sure he had sounded of himself as he had taken the book. Spirits, that was probably way too needy!
But Katara smiled at him, extending a hand so that she could take the book.
"Yeah… That would be an interesting plan…." He saw how she blushed as she said that, "And… maybe this." She produced a small pouch.
"What… What is that?" He asked. His heart had nearly stopped, as the pouch looked much like the one in which he kept the necklace… But it wasn't it.
"Well… ehm… The herbs that prevent… you know… What I got in Jang Hui."
Oh… oh! Of course! The herbs that prevented pregnancy!
Wait! That meant… yes!
"Well, should we go?" He asked. Spirits, he really wanted to get away as fast as possible.
"Lets!" Katara grinned.
This was going to be interesting.
Answers :
Rak : Yeah, drunk Aang was fun to write. In many fics, he doesn't drink, but I don't want to go that direction. There will be another chapter in the future where Drunk Aang will make an appearance! And indeed, that is exactly what Katara would do! And for Zuko, I wanted to show how the Fire Nation was already aware of the plans, or at least, had some suspicions. And of course, I needed to show why he choose to join the Gaang.