A/N. Well, I'm going from one extreme, to the next. Mature themes, but not what you want, you filthy minded people!
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.
Aang watched as Katara pulled the sheet of paper from the lemur's paws, while Momo was chittering loudly, trying to defend his newfound property. As she was bend over, he couldn't help but think of three nights ago, when she and him… Well, it had been wonderful, until reality had come crashing down in the form of Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe.
And of course, the mood had been ruined when his friend had left their room. Well… Maybe it was better. They didn't want to arouse suspicion, and it was better… If someone else learned about what Katara meant to him… Well, it would be way too dangerous, for her…
"Need meat, gone fishing. Back in a few days. Sokka and Zuko. One more thing : Aang, practice your firebending while I'm gone. Do twenty sets of fire fists and ten sets of hot squats every time you hear a badger frog croak…" The waterbender looked at him with a compassionate gaze. Spirits… Not that. Not homework.
His heart had lifted, just for a second, when he had heard that Zuko had left with Sokka. But no! Of course he was going to have to train, even when the teacher wasn't here. These last few days… They had been a living nightmare. Every day Aang was woken up by the firebender banging on their door, without any regard of the fact that Katara was also sleeping in there…
And then that Sun Meditation… Sure, Aang liked meditation, and it actually cleared his head after a long day, or to get an angle on a serious problem… But he had never been forced to do it, every day at the same time. At the temple when he had been younger, meditation had never been a chore, but rather a treat.
But Sun Meditation felt like a chore.
His mornings had been filled with getting bruises from Toph and to bend the water in the fountain with Katara… Then, lunch. After the meager food, Zuko would torture him during the whole afternoon and evening until the sun went down. He would be so exhausted that during dinner, he would nearly not feel the waterbender heal the many small blisters and burn wounds. And after dinner, he would collapse onto the blankets of their bed and wake up from a deep slumber to hear Zuko knocking on the door, for Sun Meditation.
That had been his life these last few days.
And now, he was supposed to do training each time a badger frog croaked? Spirits, the temple was filled with those creatures! So, his whole day would be punching the air and doing squats. Oh. Joy.
Aang watched as Katara began to walk towards the supply corner, probably to assess their resources for the time that Sokka and Zuko wouldn't be here. It would make things a bit easier, now that there were two fewer mouths to feed… He still wanted to down to the orchards, maybe today… That would make things better, certainly if the others brought back an ample supply of fish. Not that he would be eating that, of course, but it would make it better for the others.
"So… I gather you and Katara are okay?" Toph spoke as the airbender watched the waterbender look through the bags of their food.
"We were never not okay… But talking about it was a good idea." Aang didn't need to explain to the blind girl what was going on. If there was one person who could guess what the situation was about, it was Toph.
"Yeah, I thought so… She told me about the necklace, you know… So, you talked about that I hope?" The blind girl asked as she came to stand next to him.
"We did… And it is alright." He didn't really want to go into the whole business again. He hated the fact that circumstances forced him to wait. Because Katara hadn't said no. She had said, wait for the right moment. That counted as a yes, didn't it? Spirits, he hoped it counted as a yes.
"I can feel your little heartbeat Twinkletoes. And… I also sensed it a few nights ago." At that, a wicked grin appeared on the lips of the earthbender.
"I wouldn't know what you mean." He grumbled, knowing full well what she meant.
"Sure… it isn't really fair. You get to have a vacation, screw the girl you love and even get away with it." She elbowed him in the ribs, still with that grin.
"You know, my vacation was to learn firebending, and I got stuck in goo and had to talk to a dragon. And… About that other part… We didn't manage to do much. Because Sokka entered." He answered, putting his hands deep in his pockets, still irritated at the interruption of his friend. And the fact that it had sobered them both of the lust they had felt. Spirits, why had Sokka come to talk, just to leave five minutes later...
"Wait… Meathead saw? Oh spirits, this is the best!" Toph laughed aloud, and from the corner of his eyes, Aang saw Haru coming out of the corridor where the bedroom was that the earthbender shared with Sokka.
"He didn't see it, at least he knocked! Spirits, I would have been skinned alive if he had seen… that. And you know… You can also find someone to screw… You know…" If she was going to tease him, he was quite able to tease her right back.
"Yeah?" She scoffed, "Don't make me laugh. There is no one here to do that!" Yeah, Toph always liked to tease him about that, but Aang had found to chink in her armour. As long as they talked about him, she found it funny. But the moment that the teasing turned against her, she would become very protective and even a little… shy?
It was a word that he wouldn't immediately associate with the blind girl, but it was true.
But then again, he wasn't any better.
"There is…" And he pointed his chin to Haru. Aang knew that she could feel his movements, and would now to whom he was referring. The airbender had still not abandoned his hopes for that. And why not? Haru would soften Toph slightly, seen that the young man was the kindest person Aang could imagine, and the blind girl would feel the love she deserved.
What was the downside?
"Ah Twinkletoes… You still have so much to learn. You may be an expert on Katara, but about other people… You are blissfully ignorant." Toph shook her head, smiling. And Aang had to admit, he didn't like that smile.
It was her Oh boy have I a story for you my poor soul smile.
"Why?" He asked as smoothly as possible.
"Haru doesn't like me. He has said all but five words to me since arriving here, and that was to ask where to piss. So, not very romantic. But if you aren't as blind as me, you would maybe want to look at who he is talking to now." Toph grinned, and the airbender turned around.
Katara was still counting their supplies… And Haru had joined her. At first sight, Aang saw nothing out of the ordinary. The earthbender was nice, and he had probably offered to help her.
Then he saw the look in the pale green eyes.
Ah.
Aang knew he had nothing to worry about. Nothing at all! He trusted Katara with his life, and he loved her with more than his own life. And she had been quite clear to him that she couldn't even imagine being with someone else.
So, that didn't worry him, at all.
But still, he felt that slight pang in his heart. Sure, Haru didn't know… And in his mind, he was probably doing nothing wrong. And he didn't. In his mind, the waterbender was single, and there was nothing stopping him from at least trying…
And still, Aang felt slightly jealous. Haru, even if he had no chance whatsoever, had the freedom of at least trying to show his feelings to Katara. The airbender had that luxury only late at night, in total silence, with a hug or a look.
While all he wanted was to shout from the rooftops that he loved her… Let the world know how much she meant to him… That was what made him jealous. Not because he feared that anything would happen, Katara wasn't like that at all…
It was just that Haru could at least try and show his feelings.
"So, your little matchmaking was not quite that successful, was it?" Toph laughed as she slapped his shoulder, and walked away.
Aang sighed. Sure, this thing could be added to his worries. Why not? It was not as if it was a big deal. But for some reason, it irritated him more than the fact that he had to face the Fire Lord in a few weeks.
Hearing a badger frog croak his ugly song, he rolled his eyes. No. Not in the morning. Zuko and he always trained in the afternoons! He was going to do his homework, but not at the only moment of the day that was purely his.
In an hour, he and Katara would train their waterbending, and then, he would gently warn her about Haru. Really, it wasn't anything really important, but it was better if she knew, so that she could let him down kindly…
Spirits, he didn't want to think like this.
Grabbing his glider that had been propped up against the fountain, he looked over the great abyss at the edge of the terrasse. If he remembered right, he had heard Sokka talking yesterday evening at dinner about the buildings they had explored.
His mind had been a bit far away, between the dream of sleep and the fact that Katara had her hands over him to heal his many small wounds from the day… And they would have told him if there was something to be found, no? If his mind remembered correctly, he had heard them talk softly about the Meditation Building, the one that had been behind the school.
The Duke passed him, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Hey, would you warn the others that I have gone to that building over there?" Aang bent down to the child, and pointed to the great stone structure in the distance, "So that they know not to worry?"
The helmeted child nodded, still half asleep, and went towards the others who still stood around the supplies. Aang shook his head, smiling at the quite sweet child. Sure, he acted tough and mature, but at essence, it was still a child that had been dragged into this war, and probably not by choice.
Popping open his glider, he jumped into the canyon. The stress of training that had been building up these last few days seemed to disappear as the wind flew around him, and Aang couldn't help but laugh aloud. This was how it was supposed to be here. With love, laughter and wind surrounding each person.
He turned sharply left as from the corner of his eye, Aang thought to see a flash of blue at the terrasse, but when he turned his head fully, it wasn't visible. Well, surely his imagination. The airbender began to fly at a breakneck speed towards the terrasse of the meditation building. When he landed there, Aang laughed once more.
This place hadn't changed a bit! There were still those pillars with the life of Yangchen! At least those still stood! As he looked at them, Aang heard the familiar bellow of Appa, and turned around.
His bison was indeed flying up from the Great Terrasse, and, watching Appa, he saw that there was indeed someone in blue at the head. So, his imagination hadn't played any tricks on him. But… Why did she join him there?
Was it… Well, this building was technically far away from the others… Did she want to finish what they had started a few days ago?
But just then, Appa approached, and Aang could see the expression on Katara's face. Worry.
Oh… Of course. He had probably not been listening very well the day before when Sokka had talked about the building. Of course… When he had been away with Zuko, the others had found something here… Feeling his slight joy sank deep into his stomach, as stone that had been dropped into the water, Aang knew. He knew that the little joy he had been feeling these last few days couldn't have lasted.
Well, who would it be? Not Jinora, Katara would have told him if that had been the case. No, it had to be some of the other nuns, perhaps even some of the novices. Spirits, that sounded cold, even in his head. Aang should be terrified, crying and hoping that his fear wasn't true. But it was just not possible to feel like that anymore… He had felt it over and over again, and feared that he was becoming numb to the effect of tragedy…
The bison landed close to him, and the waterbender slid off the animal's head. Momo perched on one of the horns, looking at him with unhidden curiosity. Aang couldn't help but shake his head at Katara.
Please tell me you are not here… because of someone.
"Aang…" And the tone in her voice told him enough.
"How many?" The airbender sighed. There had been a beautiful room for when the whole temple would meditate together, led by the Mother Superior, an older woman named Kaashi. And he feared that that room was probably the place where he would see whatever was waiting for him.
"Just one, but please, before you enter… You should know something." And her voice sounded so desperately sad.
"What?" He heard himself whisper. If Katara had come here to warn him, that meant it was probably something horrible. If it were just the bones, he would be fine. At least, Aang thought. Surely, after seeing so much death, some bones couldn't hurt him, no?
"She isn't… Well, she kind of dried up. I mean, the nun is mummified… You would probably recognize her." Katara took a step towards him, but Aang stepped back.
He would recognize her?
"Is it?"
"No! No, not her. I checked… The pendant is different… But Aang, there… there is more." The waterbender said as she pressed her hands together. And the airbender knew that gesture. She always wrung her hands together when she was nervous, or dreaded something.
"She was… Well, she hung from one of the beams. They executed her by the noose…"
The moment she said noose, Aang felt his own breath being knocked out of his lungs. They had done what? Those soldiers had hung an Air Nomad! An airbender! They had taken something sacred from her!
"What?" He could hear the anger seeping into his voice, but he didn't care.
"We got her down, but Aang… Tui and La, I know this is horrible, but Haru told us… it is a favoured tactic of the Fire Nation… To terrorize a town. They would pick out a random person, and kill them. So… At least, maybe it wasn't directed at the woman in particular."
That was supposed to make it better? Those soldiers would have known! They were in a freaking Air Temple! The air in someone's lungs, the invisible source of life! Sacred! Sacred! Aang turned around, looking at the stairs leading down to the great meditation hall. Hundreds of people could fit in there. And she had been alone in there for a century! Those soldiers hadn't even had the decency to cut her down. They had left her to rot!
And for the first time in what felt forever, Aang felt the rush of energy through his veins. Quickly glancing at his tattoos, he didn't see the familiar white light. At least he wasn't in the Avatar State. At least, there was that.
He heard the footsteps of the waterbender behind him as he walked down the stairs, seeing the footprints into the dusts that his friends had probably made when they had discovered this place. He observed that at the entrance, a whole set of footprints were visible. They had probably stared in horror at whatever they had found.
Aang passed the entrance, and immediately, his eyes were pulled to the faded orange and yellow figure in the middle of the room. He didn't slow his pace, hearing his footsteps echo through the empty space. He quickly glanced behind him, and Katara had stayed in the doorway, not stepping inside the room.
And he could appreciate that she had done that. As much as he needed her at moments like this, sometimes, it was better to just know that she was there, while he could process the pain in silence.
Arriving at the small figure lying on the ground, he felt his stomach turn as he saw the grey skin, the empty sockets, the lips that had been stretched into a ghostly grin by time and decay. The hair had lost any colour, not exactly dark, not white, just… devoid of colour.
He knelt at the right side of the nun, biting his lip. The pendant that rested on her chest was facing with its back at him, so he took the old wooden circle and turned it around.
One symbol of air.
Just one.
And he knew who it was. There had been just one nun wearing such a pendant.
"Kaashi…" He whispered. They had hung the Mother Superior from a beam. Of her own Temple! How had they dared! These people were nearly holy people!
He heard the rustling of leaves, and, looking around, saw that all the small leaves and debris were being pushed away in a wide circle. Away from him.
Breathe in. Breathe out. He needed to be calm!
Footsteps approached as he turned his gaze back to the woman lying in front of him. And Aang felt wetness make a path over his cheek. He had not exactly loved this woman. She had been far too strict, and had always made it clear that she didn't like the presence of men in her temple, even if it were other Air Nomads. She had tolerated him, but Jinora had always said that under the rigid exterior, hid a caring, loving person, who would do anything for the children. She had even told him once that she had discovered the older woman distributing sweets to the smallest children, those whose parents had given them to the temple when they had been born.
As Jinora had said, to those who wouldn't remember that the strict woman was actually a softy.
And for that, he wept. He wept that he wouldn't hear those stories anymore. That those stories wouldn't be repeated in the centuries to come. That his people, with all their weaknesses and failures, were gone, and there wouldn't be a Mother Superior who would give sweets to the children just for the sake of seeing happy faces.
Slowly, arms snaked over his shoulders, pulling him towards the body of the waterbender. Yes… He needed her now.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Her voice whispered softly, and he could hear the sadness in it.
"It… She was the Head Nun here. I was not overly fond of her… But she was a compassionate, good person. Who had become strict after raising hundreds of Air Nomads. She was… Well, I respected her, probably more than any of the other nuns here."
It was true, even though he had not liked her, Aang had never denied the greatness of the woman.
"She once…" He chuckled, feeling bad to laugh at this moment, "She once threw me off the Great Terrasse for doing the Air Scooter there. Dumping my glider after me as I hurled towards the bottom of the canyon."
It may have sounded a bit extreme, but Air Nomads always did that to rowdy children, who needed to cool off. And it wasn't as if he would have possibly been hurt by that. He had seen it done too many children, but never to those whose bending wasn't good enough to actually get hurt by such a punishment.
"Such a nice woman." Katara chuckled softly beside him. Yeah… Kaashi had been alright.
"Do you… You know… want to bury her?" The waterbender grew serious, and Aang exhaled gently. He knew he couldn't do that.
"The death of a Mother Superior… Well, it was supposed to be done by the leading Air Nomad, the oldest of the temples…" And with a startled feeling, Aang realized… he was the oldest. And the leading one… By fact that there was no one else…
"Aang…" Katara whispered, and the airbender knew what she was going to say. Or at least, what she wanted to say.
"I need… Could you get my chest from Appa?" They had not removed the Air Nomad chest, strapped on the bison's saddle, in case they needed to flee or move suddenly.
She nodded and stood up. As her footsteps receded, Aang turned his eyes back to the nun.
"Malä i yado, Ama Kaashi?"
Do you remember me, Mother Kaashi?
"Young Aang…" He whispered, having switched to his native language rather easily, "I'm so sorry this happened to you… I can't give you back your life, believe me, I tried when I found Brother Gyatso… But the least I can do is give you rest… If you would allow me."
The wind blew softly through the room, and Aang hoped that was a good sign.
Hearing the shuffles at the bottom of the stairs, he stood up, seeing Katara walk into the room with his chest. It felt wrong, to have only that left. There were a few supplies in there, and he had been saving them for a special occasion… He had hoped for something like the ceremony Air Nomads normally did before… Well, if they married.
But this was much more important. His own wishes didn't matter.
As Katara put down the chest, Aang sighed and opened it. During the months of travel, the once filled chest had become emptier and emptier. Now, it held just four candles, his flute, a few scrolls, two books and his sewing kit. Everything that remained of his culture…
No.
Not everything.
"Can I do something?" Katara asked softly, but Aang shook his head. No… he needed to do this.
Pulling out all the candles from the wooden chest, his heart ached at the sight of the empty space… But that was not important. He put a candle just above the head of the nun, one at her feet, one at the right hand and the last one at the left hand.
Oh… He didn't have…
And no. He wouldn't firebend for this.
Turning to Katara, Aang saw her already searching through that big pocket in her dress, where she always stashed the most impossible things. Most of the time, when she pulled something out, he wanted to laugh and tease her that she hid a whole household inside her dress.
But this time, he was glad.
She stepped forward, a flint and steel in her hand. As he took them, he let his fingers glance over her hand, a smiled softly at the waterbender. He didn't need to explain…
As he lit the candles, Aang knew he wasn't supposed to do that. This ritual had been presided over by the oldest Air Nomad, but the candles had been lit by the people closest to the person… He supposed that he was the only one who could claim that title…
At the last candle, he hesitated.
"Who lay her here?" He asked softly.
"I did… I had wanted to cover he with something, but we didn't have any cloth we could use with us… I also took of the noose, I guessed that was alright?" The waterbender answered gently, and Aang nodded, stepping away from the last candle. And handing the flint and steel to Katara.
"Could you light the last one?" It was not unheard of… At the funeral of Yangchen, Aang had heard, the people who lit the candles had been the friends she had made all over the world. And Katara had shown kindness to someone, without knowing who it had been…
"Are you sure?" She asked hesitantly. He nodded.
As Katara bend down to light the last candle, Aang looked over the rest of the room. It seemed… peaceful. And that was good… At least, Kaashi would have that.
"And now?" She asked him, and he nodded, without even knowing why.
"Now, we come back tomorrow. An Air Nomad funeral… well, it takes time. I'll need to find a suitable place… For her to rest." In the past, Aang knew, there had been cremations for the higher nuns and monks, but he didn't feel like Kaashi would appreciate it. So… The next choice, used by most Air Nomads, had been Sky burials…
And he wasn't quite ready to explain that, yet. Even to Katara.
"Come on, we'll go back to the others then…" Katara pulled his arm gently. Aang knew what she was doing. He always felt better when spending time with friends. As if the sadness of this place couldn't hurt him, as long as people laughed and talked with him and each other.
And from a distance, he heard a badger frog croak.
Joy.
Answers :
Alyssa: Yeah, I didn't like it either! But if I continued, I would have had to cut the scene in two chapters, and I really wanted to move on to after the Boiling Rock… I have some chapters planned that are going to be important (And one which is just a personal favourite of mine, just because of the level of awkwardness!)
Handler: Oh my god, that is seriously so nice! I love to read that someone enjoys the story, but your review was heartwarming! Hope to see what you think of the coming chapters!