A/N: I have no idea what's got into me XD I think I'm trying to make up for the radio-silence that will sure to commence soon. A shorter chapter but it does drop some plot elements so I think you'll enjoy it.
Monday Evening:
Aang's POV:
As I walk down the corridor leading to my room, I can't help but be relieved that the day is done. Mondays are always packed with lectures and seminars which is always draining. Not because I don't know the stuff, but because I have to pretend that I'm not bored of already knowing it all. 'Sometimes I wonder if I should've just skipped uni altogether. But then again, lectures do provide a perfect distraction.'
As I drag my feet forward, my eyes accidently falls on Katara's closed door. Somehow we've managed to avoid each other since our...her shouting tirade. Though I can't help but wonder how did the funeral go or if she's hurting alone. My feet falters at the thought. 'Grieving alone isn't good for anyone. I should know.' I chew my lip, not wanting to face another potential argument, but that empathetic nature of mine won't leave me alone, especially since I know what's it like to go through this.
I take a deep breath and swivel my feet until they're pointed towards her door. Taking slow steps, I begin to doubt whether this is a good idea. 'I mean, she doesn't want to be friends, so why am I trying? Is it because a part of me hopes that she said it in a fit of grief and that she didn't mean it? Because spirits knows how often people say things they don't mean when they're grieving. Gah! Rejection shouldn't hurt this bad.'
My feet stop in front of the closed door and with a hesitant hand I slowly knock on the wooden surface. Silence rings out for a few moments before I hear something like shuffling on the other side.
"Who is it?" A muffled voice echoes out a moment later.
"It's Aang. I...I wanted to see if you were alright." I say cautiously. No sounds comes forth for several seconds.
"I'm fine." Comes the curt response and I don't know why I expected anything different.
"You know, I'm always free to talk if you need it." I add, not really sure why I'm still trying.
"I said I'm fine Aang! Just leave me alone." Katara hollers.
"But..." I start, only to be shot down again.
"What part of 'I'm fine' don't you understand?! Go away!" The waterbender spits out. My hands subconsciously clench into fists as I glare at the door.
"You aren't the only person who's lost someone!" I shout before I can stop myself. My covered tattoos flash white in sync with my rage and I have to take in a deep breath to settle them. Further down the corridor I hear a door opening.
"Would you keep the shouting down? Some people are trying to be gloomy in silence." Mai orders before shutting her door again. I shake my head and start stalking back to my room just as I hear the soft click of a door opening behind me.
"Aang, wait." Katara calls out, but I don't stop.
"You wanted to be alone, so be alone." I mutter bitterly as I open my room and slam the door behind me without a backward glance. I throw myself onto my bed just as I hear a knock at my door.
"Aang, please." The waterbender pleads, but I ignore her and opt to stare at the ceiling.
A sigh echoes through the cracks of my door, but I refuse to budge. My limit of being mistreated has been pushed well past the line for the last time. But it seems I've underestimated the girl's stubbornness.
"I...I don't know what you know or how you know it. Maybe Sokka told you. I didn't mean to snap, I just...I found something and it stirred up some unwanted feelings. You just knocked at the wrong time is all." Katara explains quietly. I chew my bottom lip as I push myself up into a sitting position to stare at the wooden surface. "I'm sorry." She whispers before the sounds of footsteps echo from under my door until they fade completely.
I drop my face into my hand as I rub my weary eyes. Confliction arises within me, but I shove it down, deciding the best thing that I can do right now is to give the med student some space. At least until she can sort out her muddled feelings. Just as I flop back onto my bed, a ping from my laptop echoes throughout the room. I groan and push myself off the bed and take a seat at my desk to open the Skype app. Taking in a deep breath, I click answer call and an old man appears on my screen a moment later.
"Ah Aang, it's good to see you again." The elderly man greets. My lips twitch into a small smile as I bow my head to him.
"Hi Avatar Roku, it's good to see you too." I return softly, only for the man to chuckle.
"What did I tell you about calling me Avatar? Roku is just fine." The Fire Nation citizen corrects, making my smile broaden further.
"Sorry sir." I apologise and watch as the man shakes his head in surrender.
"I suppose that will do for now. How's university? Not too boring I hope?" Roku queries with a knowing look. My eyes crinkle in amusement.
"It keeps me busy." I say smoothly, before asking the real question that's on my mind. "Has something happened?" I query anxiously, prompting the man to quirk his eyebrow.
"What makes you think that something has happened?" The Avatar questions curiously.
"You don't tend to call unless you have news." I point out, eliciting another chuckle from the man.
"Sharp as ever I see." Roku praises, before sobering up. "Unfortunately yes. The Triple Z Society struck again, killing a nurse on duty." The man discloses, his face sombre. I grimace at the news, wishing my annoying hunch was incorrect.
"Let me guess, her funeral was on Saturday." I mumble, surprising the man as he stares at me in shock.
"How did you...?" He trails off, leaving me to fill in the gap. I rub my tired eyes before answering.
"Her kids are students at my university." I mutter. I watch as the man combs his fingers through his beard in thought.
"I see." Is all he says, but I'm already shaking my head and pushing my chair back.
"Why aren't we doing something about this? I could put up with them ruining my life, but it's not fair that they're ruining Sokka's and Katara's!" I shout in frustration, pulling off my beanie to reveal the blue arrow on my forehead. The rest of the tattoo is hidden underneath my messy hair to help keep me indistinguishable from prying eyes. Roku regards me in silence for several seconds before interlocking his fingers together to lean his chin against.
"Sokka and Katara huh?" He repeats back and I slap my face when I realise I let their names slip. "They wouldn't happen to be friends of yours?" The Avatar probes, prompting me to avert my eyes.
"No, they're not." I utter stiffly.
"Judging by how passionate you became, I would infer otherwise." Roku notes, causing me to snap my eyes back to the man.
"They're not! They're just people I know, that's it." I insist firmly, only for the Fire Nation citizen to raise an eyebrow at me.
"There's nothing wrong with making new friends. In fact I encourage it; it will do you good." The Avatar reassures, but I jerk my head in disagreement.
"Friends only get in the way. Besides, all they seem to do is hurt you." I mutter. The man observes me for several moments before sighing.
"Do I sense a rift going on between you and these students?" He queries lightly. I scrunch my nose up at his correct deduction.
"It doesn't matter. Listen Avatar Roku, I want to stop them. They can't be allowed to hurt anyone else." I state seriously. A flash of amusement crosses his amber eyes as he watches me.
"Interesting that you didn't hold quite the same passion when your loved ones were taken away from you. Yet here you are, caring about these students whom you've known for a matter of weeks." The Avatar muses and I have to try hard not to vehemently deny his words.
"Roku." I express seriously. I watch as he shakes his head before releasing a quiet sigh.
"I told you Aang, we're limited in what we can do until we know who runs the organisation. Without solid proof, our hands are tied." Roku explains tiredly, but I shake my head.
"No. No, we can't let them keep hurting people! Before, it was just me. Why are they targeting innocent nurses?" I ask, my voice small as the man runs his hands down his beard.
"So far they've had an agenda of getting close to significant people. So the question is, what more do you know about these students' parents. Do any of them hold important positions?" The Avatar asks and I find myself unable to answer. My head dips down in embarrassment.
"I...I don't know. I don't know much about them." I admit with an ashamed face.
"Then perhaps finding out more will help. The more information we have, the more likely we'll be able to make the right links." Roku suggests, but I'm already biting my lip at the idea.
"Those aren't just simple questions I can ask. Sokka nearly accused me of having something to do with this. The last thing I need is for them to make any ridiculous connections." I mutter sourly as the man gazes at me in interest.
"You're a charming young man with adept social skills. I have no doubt that you'll be able to ask the right questions without arousing suspicion." The Avatar says offhandedly.
"Easy for you to say." I grumble, eliciting a laugh from the powerful bender.
"It's good to see that your wit hasn't changed since I first met you." Roku voices joyfully and I can't help but allow the corner of my lips to twitch slightly.
"It hasn't been that long. Only two years." I remind as a wave of sombreness washes over me. The man must've detected the melancholy in my voice as his eyes softens.
"It's their memorial in a couple of weeks, isn't it?" The Avatar expresses gently. The back of my throat burns at the reminder, so I swiftly avert my eyes.
"Yeah. Yeah it is." I whisper.
"And the other memorial is next month?" Roku murmurs quietly. This time I have to turn away from the screen completely as tears sting my eyes.
"Yes." I force out between rigid lips.
"Aang, it's Ok to miss them." The man voices kindly, but I shake my head fiercely.
"But it's been enough time. This shouldn't still hurt." I argue emotionally as I turn back to face my laptop. Roku scrutinises me carefully before sighing.
"My dear boy, in your situation I don't think there will ever be enough time." The Avatar admits. My stomach churns at the ugly truth that I've been trying to ignore. "I think you need to talk to someone about it." He continues and I freeze at the very idea.
"I told you Avatar Roku, I'm not doing that." I state sharply.
"Please Aang, what you're doing isn't healthy. This blame and strain you put yourself under will make it impossible for you to heal." The Fire nation citizen pleads, but I cross my arms roughly over my chest.
"It's impossible to heal no matter what happens!" I retort, only for the man to shake his head in disagreement.
"That's not true." He protests as I clench my jaws together.
"You didn't see what I saw. There's no healing from that." I utter stiffly as unwanted images crop up in my mind's eye, forcing me to screw my eyes tight in an attempt to block them out.
"I won't push you, but I do ask that you consider it again." Roku urges. I re-open my eyes before scanning the man's concerned face. A soft exhale escapes past my lips.
"I'll promise that I won't completely trash the idea." I end up saying with a small smile, eliciting a sigh from the bender.
"I suppose I have no other choice but to take it. Now, are you sure I can't change your mind about training?" The man asks instead, prompting me to run a hazard hand through my messy black hair.
"Jeez Roku, you're in a pushy mood today, aren't you?" I quip with a wiry smile, making the man grin.
"What can I say? I take the opportunity when I can." The man expresses with a smug face. I roll my eyes at him before shaking my head.
"No. Not until that gang is put away. The last thing I need is to put more of a target on my head than I already have. I'll take over from you as the Avatar when the time is right. For now, you're doing a great job." I insist stubbornly as disappointment shines on the elderly man's face.
"If you insist, but I still feel you should be ready to take up the mantle in case something were to happen to me." Roku mutters, his words gripping my heart with unparalleled fear.
"Don't say that. Nothing is going to happen to you." I utter with such vehement passion that it surprises the man. He gazes at me for a few moments before opening his mouth.
"I'd like to promise you that young airbender, but there are no guarantees which is why we must always be ready." The Avatar voices wisely, leaving me feeling queasy. "Anyway, I know I've taken enough of your time so I'll sign off. It was good to see you Aang." Roku bids with a gentle smile.
"It was good to see you too Roku. Take care." I say with warm eyes and watch as he ends the call, leaving me with my stirring thoughts.
An exhale escapes me as I shut the lid of my laptop and crawl back into bed, feeling unsure if I'm making any of the right decisions. My hand digs underneath my pillow in a moment of rarity to pull out the photo I always keep there. I gaze at the smiling couple who lifts a child into mid-air between them. Immediately, I find that I can't look at it anymore and tuck the picture back under my pillow.
My grey orbs flicker to the plain ceiling and for the thousandth time I wish I still had Gyatso to share me his wisdom. 'How do I stop a tyrannical gang that seeks power and operates from the shadows?' I drag my hand down my face in aggravation. 'I suppose I need to do some digging, but who to ask?' My mind automatically snaps to Katara and with a groan I bury my face into my pillow. 'No. I'm keeping my distance from her. That just leaves me Sokka whose way too bright to slip past. Not to mention I don't want to face him after last week's conversation.'
"Aurgh, why does this have to be so hard?!" I complain.
'You're a charming social man with adept social skills.'
The man's voice echoes in my mind. I blow a puff of air out. 'Alright Roku, let's see how this goes.' I decide as my eyes flicker to my door. 'I need to do this so no one else will suffer like this ever again.' I try to convince myself, but still doubts plague my mind. Finally, I decide to call it a night and switch off the lights, resolving to come up with a tactical solution later.
A/N: I actually wasn't sure if I was going to put an avatar in this AU, because I wanted this story to be based on Aang's prodigy status coming from him alone and not because of 10,000 lifetimes worth of knowledge, so as such I've shaken it up a bit. The Avatar is like a peacekeeper (as seen in the show), but he works more in the shadows and not many people knows he exists. Also, the whole connection to the past lives doesn't exist, instead it's the current avatar's duty to find the next avatar before he dies to teach him all he knows. I thought that would be a more realistic take to occur in this modern world. I haven't really decided whether the spirit world exists in this AU, but it's likely? I'll explain more of this world as the chapters go on, but I hope it's not too weird or annoying for you guys?
I just want to stress the avatar isn't something that will have a major role in the story, I only added it in because, well it's so core to the show and it felt wrong not to have it involved in some form. However, Aang's intellect is the main driver of this plot and no he's not a genius because he's the avatar, being the avatar was just an extra perk. I promise I'll explain more later, but you're free to ask any questions in the reviews. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and hope to see you next time ;)
13/4/21