A/N. So, this chapter concludes the Western Air Temple drama! Next one will be a Zuko centered one (because I feel like the Sun Warriors will be cool through his eyes lol) and then, we'll see!
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.
"No way."
Yeah… Aang had known that convincing Katara would be a hard thing to do. Sure… He didn't want to go with Zuko to some ruins, he had seen enough of those to last a lifetime. But if that was the only way to learn firebending? There was no choice anymore. They had to improvise, do risky things… If they wanted to defeat the Fire Lord before the comet.
Even if that risk was going with Zuko, alone, to a place he didn't know.
"I told them the same thing." Sokka grumbled.
"You want the Avatar to learn firebending. This is the only way I can imagine." The scarred prince interjected, but Aang saw the angry look in Katara's blue eyes.
"You don't think we are actually that stupid?" The venom in her voice was quite clear, and from behind her, the airbender saw Haru, Teo and The Duke appear from the guest quarters. Ah… so the only one who wasn't here was Toph. Well, maybe it was better. The blind girl would surely just irritate people even further…
"I have been honest with you all since I came here. I could have kidnapped the Avatar at any moment if I wished! I spent the whole day alone with him, since sunrise!" Zuko answered, gesturing at him.
Aang resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. Yes, they had spent the day together, but not alone. Sokka had followed them from a distance, as they had agreed. But maybe Zuko hadn't noticed? The water tribe boy had a real skill at blending into the environment, so that was more than possible… And if Zuko had noticed, and was lying? If that was the case, the firebender would have used that information to appear to be on their side, only to betray as soon as they let their guard down.
"No! You are not travelling alone with Aang!" Katara said, before turning around, as if with that, the discussion was finished. The airbender sighed softly, before grabbing her arm gently.
"I already agreed." He spoke up for the first time, making the waterbender whip her head around, to look at him with a surprised… and hurt look.
"What?"
"I already agreed to go. Katara, I need to learn this so that I can defeat Ozai. Zuko is not a threat whatsoever without his bending." Aang released her arm, and she took a step backwards, creating some space between them.
Why didn't you ask me? Her eyes screamed at him.
"It is not him I'm worried about! Who says these Sun Warriors even existed? No, this is a trap! His sister is surely waiting somewhere, and he is going to lead you straight to her! No. If you go, we all go." She answered, and he saw how her eyes flickered towards Zuko. And when those beautiful eyes settled on the firebender, Aang realized why most people feared fighting Katara. She looked like she could take on the world, and would probably do it if needed.
"The Sun Warriors didn't permit non firebenders into their territory. Taking the Avatar is already a stretch, but at least he is a quarter firebender. Taking waterbenders, earthbenders and non benders… That would be disrespectful towards that civilization." To his credit, Zuko didn't flinch under Katara's stare.
Aang closed his eyes. That… That had been the one thing not to say.
"Disrespectful?" Katara asked, before erupting into laughter, "Disrespectful he says. No, because walking around in the temple your granddad or something burned down, with everyone in it isn't disrespectful towards the Air Nomads. Because invading the Water Tribes and burning down Kyoshi Island are so respectful. Please, tell me, how are we the impolite people in this story?"
Yeah… She had a point.
"Exactly. Don't you think it is time to begin respecting people's cultures once more?" The firebender bit back.
"Well, in my culture, if someone attacks our home, we are in our right to kill him. Make him suffer like he did to our home. So be happy I'm not respecting my own culture at this very moment." Katara muttered darkly.
"Alright, let's just discuss this, instead of arguing among ourselves." Aang stepped between the two. He felt bad for stopping Katara, because he knew she hated being deprived of her own opinion. But they needed to think rationally about this. If this was the only way to learn firebending.
"He just wants you alone so he can capture the Avatar and regain his damned honour." Katara spoke angrily, before turning to her brother, "You agree, don't you?"
"I do… theoretically. On the one hand, this could be a trap, but, if so, Aang can easily escape. He would have Appa, and Zuko can't bend. I've seen him try." Sokka spoke, and the airbender saw how Zuko frowned at that. So, he had not known they had been followed by the water tribe boy, "But on the other hand, if this works… Maybe they'll learn firebending like no one else is capable of. It could give Aang an edge in the fight against Ozai… And it would prove that Zuko is at least slightly trustworthy."
"Are… Are you saying you want to risk his life, just to see if this idiot is trustworthy?" Katara sputtered, now not only irritated…. But Aang saw that she was just plain angry now.
"I won't be at risk, Tara… We will just visit the ruins, maybe find some old murals, and then, we come back here. Two days, three, tops!" Aang spoke, but he realized he had just called her by the name he used… He used when they were alone.
Monkeyfeathers.
Zuko stared from him, to the waterbender. Aang saw the ember eyes narrow slightly.
Shit.
Shit.
Katara's blue eyes widened slightly, for she had probably seen the same thing.
"Yes, Tara. Air Head here can defend himself, and we will have Zuko's air balloon if something goes wrong and we need to follow." Sokka spoke up, and Aang could have kissed his friend. Of course, the firebender would believe that that was something everyone called Katara.
"Two seconds ago, you were against it!" The waterbender narrowed her eyes, turning to her brother. Aang saw how Sokka looked at him.
Great job, now she is angry with me!
"Katara, come on, you know there is no other choice… I need to go." The airbender sighed, and the waterbender just nodded curtly. She always did that when there was something she didn't agree with… Sokka chose that moment to turn tail and run, joining Haru and Teo near the fountain. Zuko stayed for a few heartbeats, before quickly going to the pillar where he had spent the evening before, away from the others.
"I just don't see why we can't just go together. We could stay on the edge of the Sun Warrior territory." Katara sighed, as soon as the others were out of earshot. Aang had to resist the tentation of enveloping her in his arms… Because he knew that would be a step too far. Zuko, and all the others, would realize what was happening then.
"It's an island… There is no way to stay close, Appa would get tired swimming or flying around… Katara, the only way we visit that place is Zuko and me, alone…" Aang walked, slowly, towards the edge of the terrasse. In his youth, the terrasse had been secured by a wooden fence, in case some of the smaller children who had lived here got ideas of jumping off. But now, the fence had probably rotten away. Sitting down in the edge, Aang let his legs dangle into the canyon.
Katara had followed him, and he saw her hesitate, looking from the spot next to him to the canyon.
"You know you won't fall all the way down." He whispered.
"Not all the way?" The waterbender muttered, before sitting down.
"He is right, you know?" The airbender said softly as he let his legs move towards the front and back.
"Who, that traitor? How can he be right about anything?" Katara answered, irritation in her voice.
"About respecting the cultures… This world hasn't done that for a long time… And it's time to heal that wound… I have to admit, Zuko has not done one thing to disrespect this place. It was him this morning that suggested getting out of the temple for firebending. Because he found it of poor taste." Aang said, as he looked over his shoulder. He saw how Toph came towards the others, walking slowly on her toes. Sokka, at the same time, was herding the others towards the place where they prepared dinner. The water tribe boy nodded discreetly, and the airbender understood.
Sokka was creating space between Katara and him so they could talk more easily.
"Aang, he did that probably so he would have you alone, far away from us. He probably noticed Sokka following you and decided he needed to get you away from us. Like, really away." The waterbender sighed, scooting slightly closer to him.
"Sokka was discreet, I don't think Zuko saw him… But Katara, as he said… Who knows, if this is legit, we may learn things even Ozai doesn't know! The Sun Warriors were apparently the first to learn firebending, from the dragons themselves… And when he told me about it, I asked how he knew about this place. Zuko said his uncle used to tell bedtime stories about the Sun Warriors. Apparently, Iroh also went there… And when we helped each other in Ba Sing Se, I saw him firebend… It was unlike anything I had ever seen. The flames looked… alive." The airbender explained, remembering how the small flames had looked when he and Iroh had dug that tunnel to free Katara and Zuko…
"Iroh told him about it?" she said, her voice slightly softer now, as Aang saw how she extended her hand towards his knee, before hesitating. He glanced behind them, seeing that the others had begun to talk among themselves… Even Zuko was there, with Toph next to him.
The airbender slowly put his own hand on hers.
"Yes, apparently, Iroh had wanted Zuko to visit the place… When he felt like his purpose was gone… Or so he says. Katara, I don't trust him either… But if we are to end this war, we need to do it quickly. And Zuko is the best shot at learning firebending I have." He sighed, as he felt how she closed her fingers around his thumb, slowly caressing the skin with her own thumb.
"I just would have liked you learned firebending from someone else. Someone like Iroh, or Jeong Jeong. Someone who cares. Zuko doesn't care about anything. He is just here because, if his story is to be believed, he has nowhere else to go." Katara whispered. Following her gaze, Aang saw how she was looking at the sun disappearing behind the other side of the canyon.
"I know… Tara, I really need you to agree. If you say no, I understand, and I won't go. Zuko could go alone, learn the secrets the Sun Warriors ruins would have to offer, and come back." He suggested. It would be a good alternative, but it would mean letting the prince out of their sight for several days, while he knew where they were.
"You should go… Just… if the slightest thing smells fishy, you turn back. The moment you hesitate about his story, you throw him off Appa, and came back here. Alright? Promise me." Katara's hand squeezed his fingers, and he saw how her face turned to him. Her beautiful blue eyes fixed his own, and he felt a slight pang in his stomach.
"You know I promise that. Always." He whispered. Spirits, how he wanted to kiss her at that moment. But… but yes, there were still the others. And the threat that hung above them if anyone learned about it. Well, anyone else.
"How have you been today? Better than yesterday?" Katara changed the subject, and Aang knew what that meant with her. Even if she didn't like it, she would allow them to go tomorrow. And no further discussion was needed…
The airbender sighed softly, looking from left to right. In the light of the setting sun, the temple buildings all looked golden-coloured, with near-black roofs. As his eyes racked over the buildings, he saw the fallen tiles, the overgrown terrasses, the ruins of the school, and all the other signs of decay from a hundred years of neglect.
"I don't think I could call it better… But I've grown so used to it Katara… I'm afraid it will make me care less. I see this temple, and can only ask myself… Why did everything need to change? Everything here is gone." Aang said, as the hollow feeling in his stomach settled in once more. That feeling he had every time he saw how little was left of his own time.
"It won't, you are the most compassionate person I have ever met. No one can grow used to this much. It just… make you numb. If the sadness is too great. No one should feel this much. Aang, you lost so much, but you have also gained some things. Don't forget that."
The airbender felt a smile come to his face, remembering the words of Guru Pathik. The love the Air Nomads had for you hasn't left this world, it is just reborn, into new love. And that was exactly it. Yes, he had lost so much… But he had also found Katara. And Sokka, Toph and all their friends. Even… perhaps even Zuko. Maybe.
But it didn't change the fact that sitting here, seeing the place he had loved before being reduced to this… It hurt.
"This place… Like you said yesterday, it has a lot of good memories. And there were many people I loved here." Would… Should he tell her? "There was Sister Talla." That was a safe subject. For now.
"Sister Talla was already old when I visited this place for the first time, but she liked to give sweets to the children. She was… She was guardian to several children, like Gyatso was to me." He spoke quietly. For some reason, telling Katara this… it felt good. But then again, it had always been like that. Whenever he had told her about his culture, or even his life before… It felt like the wound hurt less.
"Is she also on the mosaic?" Katara asked with a small smile.
"No, only the active nuns are on there. Those who had a duty of teaching and care. Talla stopped doing that when she passed eighty." He still hesitated. Should he tell her about… about her?
"When… When she stopped, the council of nuns let her choose whoever was to replace her. Talla… Talla choose her favourite." He inhaled softly, before breathing out. Yes… She should know.
"Jinora."
He felt a slight lump form in his throat, but managed to swallow it away, before turning to Katara.
"You probably saw her on the mosaic. She is the young woman on the far right side." He smiled, but it didn't feel right. Not like something joyous.
"Yeah, I saw her. She was a very beautiful woman. And she seemed fun to be around." Katara answered softly, pressing her fingers against his own once more. Aang nodded.
"She was… Jinora always knew how to make you laugh, and it was never dull with her. She… Katara, how can I say this…"
How could he say it? Tell the woman he loved that he had family he never told her about? Tell her that he had kept such a thing away from her? Even if the sense of family wasn't the same with the Air Nomads… How could he tell her?
Looking in her eyes, he saw only one thing. Compassion… and understanding.
"Air Nomads… We were separated from our parents at a young age. Not because they didn't want us, but because they thought that everyone had the right to become… Become their own person. My people thought that that would make you… the perfect version of yourself. So, even though I knew my mother… It was never really like how you see your parents. I knew who my father was, and I even met him a few times. A man from the valleys below the Eastern Air Temple, who fell in love with my mother."
As he explained, he felt the hollow feeling lift even more. It had always been easy to talk to Katara. She understood… She didn't judge the customs of his people, that some would find weird or disturbing. No… Katara knew better.
"That meant that people were often related, without knowing it. For the people living in the temples, that didn't matter, because everyone was your family, by blood or by choice. Most of the time, that didn't matter, but sometimes it did. The monks and nuns kept a detailed record on which child was related to another. Just in case." He continued to explain.
"During my first visit here, some of the girls picked on me, because I was the only boy in a temple filled with girls. But there was one who never did… She and I became friends, and when I was around eleven years old, I told Gyatso I had a crush on her. Of course, in my childish innocence, I mistook friendship for love."
So, here came the difficult part…
"That evening, Gyatso wrote a letter to Sister Talla, explaining the situation. And he told me… That I should remain friends with her. He explained that Jinora was… she was my sister."
It actually felt so good, telling her this…
Aang looked at Katara, who stared at him with those big ocean blue eyes, and… he was surprised to see them filled with tears.
"I would have told you about all this sooner! Bu-" Whatever he had wanted to say was cut off by the waterbender's arms around him, enveloping him in a crushing hug. She nestled her head against his chest, still keeping a tight grip on him.
"But… You're not angry?" He had thought Katara would throw him into the canyon for keeping such a secret from her… But here she was, hugging him like her life depended on it…
"No." Her voice sounded muffled, and he felt the hot breath on his exposed chest, "Never." Relief flooded through the airbender. Of course, she wasn't angry with him.
"You should not keep those kinds of things to yourself. You know that Sokka, Toph and I would always understand." Katara whispered, and he saw how she looked up from his chest area to his face. The tears had flowed over her cheeks and had left small trails over that tanned skinned. Aang couldn't resist, and softly used a thumb to wipe away the tear.
"I just… I didn't want you all to worry about me… There was no reason to burden anyone with all of that." He whispered back, already knowing her answer.
"Aang, no burden should be carried alone… And certainly not one as heavy as this one."
It was true… Anytime something weighed on his mind, Katara had always been there… And even after everything that had happened… She still was. Realizing that they had been holding on to each other for a rather long time, he softly took her hands from his back, breaking the embrace. It was still too risky…
"The night before last… When… When I left. I went to the classroom she used. I had wanted to show you that place, because she loved it… But, you know…" He gestured at the ruins of the school. It was such a relief to be able to explain it to Katara. Why he had been so upset about the loss of that building…
"I… I kind of figured it out actually." The waterbender whispered, "Or at least, that you were related to the girl on the mosaic… She looked a lot like you. Same eyes…" a finger gently caressed her cheekbone "your nose… and your smile." A watery smile broke through the waterbender's face.
"People used to say that yeah… Apparently, we looked a lot like our mother." Aang couldn't help but smile back. Closing his eyes, he tried to conjure an image of his mother in his head. It was difficult… Sokka had been right about that, when they had been talking with Toph near Fire Fountain. The water Tribe boy could only think of Katara's face when he tried to remember his mother… And Aang understood what he meant. Jinora had looked exactly like their mother, so it was her face he saw…
"It was not like what you and Sokka share. Sure, Jinora was my sister by blood, and by choice… But most importantly, she was a good friend. That was what we shared. She was one of my best friends. And I miss her, so much. Walking around in this place, without hearing her laugh, sing and yell at me… It feels wrong." He explained.
Indeed, he had taken care to watch Sokka and Katara interact, and their relation was so unique that Aang had realized since a long time that what had bound him to Jinora wasn't love for a sister, like Sokka loved the waterbender… But rather a friendship, like he felt towards Toph.
"Aang… One other thing. If you go to the Sun Warriors ruins with Zuko… I need you to know something." Katara whispered, looking over her shoulder. The airbender also glanced over, to see that the others were apparently arguing about something near the campfire.
"About the necklace…"
It felt like his stomach dropped all the way down to the bottom of the canyon. Why did she choose to talk about that, now?
"Katara, there is no need. I understand…" He quickly spoke, before remembering what Sokka had told him the day before.
Has she actually said no?
Eh…
Talk to her.
"No, I will explain. I know you understand the Water Tribe customs about… about that. But... I didn't mean to say no." Katara whispered.
Wait, what now?
Looking at her, he saw the slightest blush on her face.
Did that mean… yes?
Apparently, his question was clear in his eyes, because Katara continued.
"I just think that with the war, it is too dangerous. I would do anything for you… As I know you would do for me. Just… Just imagine that the Fire Nation learns about it. They already know too much… But if they knew this… Aang, I don't want to be the reason we lose." The waterbender said softly, fixing her gaze on his face.
Yeah… He could understand that. The moment Azula had threatened Katara… He had felt that same desperation. To keep her safe. And this would put them in immense danger… And Hakoda had been right, all those months ago. If this war was lost, and their secret would be known to the world… She would be in so much danger… Even more than now. Because the Fire Nation would want to make sure that the only person who could even claim his legacy was dead.
"Yeah… I know. I don't want to put you in any more danger than you already are…" The airbender said softly.
She hadn't said no… It was… It was just wait for the right moment.
At least, it was not a no. And, for the moment, he could live with that. As long as she was safe and happy. Or as happy as they could be, with just more than a month until the Comet, being hunted down by the Fire Nation, in a temple filled with death and with someone they didn't trust sleeping just a few yards away from their bedroom door.
Answers :
Kalaong : Now I want to know all about silk making lol! I'll go look this up, because it is really interesting! Thank for the info, I love to know these things!
Rak : Toph is just too easy, on the one hand she is kind an helpful, in her own way. On the other hand, she won't back down from a chance to tease the hell out of people. Oh, with Haru, it is going to be even worst, but then i'll show the guy mercy, because I don't want a ship war lol! Of course, I was going to resolve a big part of the drama, because I don't want to drag it out. But, don't forget, just some talking won't change the fundamental problems.