Chapter 11: Absence...

A/N: Kataang is so close to being official! Also, with them becoming official, the rest of the Gaang will start to show up more which is when drama will start to unfold... Also, little blurb about me: I'll often times realize I forgot to include something in a chapter and go change it a few chapters later but update a new chapter and the old one together so if something is confusing, I might have added something to another chapter like I did with Iroh on our main characters last week or the edit I made to Chapter 9 this week. Dates for this chapter are January 18th - 25th, 2019.

Last Time:

"Starting on Monday, you may not talk to your partner until this class the following Monday. An entire week. You will continue your talks for today and the weekend, but starting on Monday, it stops."

Murmurs and gasps rippled through the class, and Aang and Katara glanced at each other nervously.

"This is meant to hopefully show you just how much this project has helped. They say 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' and hopefully this week-long separation will help you all be more grateful for the comfort and support your partner has provided."

The airbender and the waterbender gulped.

Rrrrriiiiiiinnnnnggggg!

The bell rung, the class was dismissed, and neither Aang nor Katara could find it in themselves to rip apart their still interlocked fingers, not wanting to have to let go.

Needless to say, Aang and Katara spent as much time with each other as they could that Friday, despite the odds against them with basketball games on Aang's side and a waterbending competition for Katara's. Every spare minute was spent with each other, be it by text or in person, as the fated week of separation drew closer.

Both benders were filled with dread as Monday came right around the corner. It was as if neither really knew what they had been missing before the other came along, and now that they had each other, they didn't want to let go. While a week wouldn't normally seem like much, their already deeply rooted friendship had formed in less than that, giving the mere seven days the illusion of an eternity apart.

Days were spent talking about anything and everything, while sleepovers at each others' houses were primarily cuddling and taking comfort in each other's presence, both teens trying to mask their feelings for one another while in the intimate embraces. Katara, because she didn't want to scare him off of their friendship, even if he already knew, and Aang, because he knew once Katara found out that she wouldn't hold back, which meant he couldn't either, and it would all only end in hurt for them both.

However, on Sunday night, Aang couldn't help but make one small slip-up.

"Katara?" he whispered, pushing the hair out of her delicate features, "Are you awake?"

Satisfied with the lack of response, the airbender ever so gently, ever so lovingly, pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering for a few moments.

Aang smiled as he admired the the waterbender's peaceful expression, his thumb stroking her cheek lightly, at one point daringly adventuring down to stroke her bottom lip, as he nuzzled her opposite cheek sweetly.

"Goodnight, Katara."

What he failed to notice as he laid down for bed next to her, cradling the girl in his arms, however, was the small smile and blush that adorned Katara's face as she silently thanked her mother for all the years she had had to pretend to be asleep so that she could read past her bedtime.

Finally, the fated Monday arrived.

Instead of their usual arriving early and parking far away from the school, the two opted to come as late as possible, sliding into their seats for Psychology just as the bell rang in order to savor every last moment, the waterbender opting to stay silent on her knowledge of the night before and the airbender not acknowledging it, blissfully oblivious.

"Now, everyone," Iroh said as he settled down the class. "As you all know, today is the beginning of our week of separation. For this week, I want you to take notes on how not having an outlet feels and its effect on you as a person."

"Also for this week, you are to have no contact with your partner, whether it be in person or by texting, to truly see how this project has changed you."

The old firebender went on a little more on what that week would entail before diving into that week's class topic of reading body language and the effects of certain teas on one's reflexes.

"Spirits," Katara and Aang both inwardly sighed. "This is going to be a long week."

(A/N: Another blurb of the all-knowing Iroh)

At last, the bell rang and Iroh was left alone in the classroom to his own thoughts.

Truth be told, the 'week of separation' was never part of Iroh's original plan, but seeing how some of his brightest pupils, Katara and Aang, had seemed to grow ever closer and ever happier twinkle in their eyes let the firebender know that he had done the right thing partnering them together.

"Ah," he sighed, "If only the young ones would admit to each other. Perhaps this week will give them what they both need in order to become one. After all, 'you have to look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self reveal itself.' Here, their true selves long to be together, but their other selves, masks, destroy them from the inside. It is, in the end, the world against happiness. A dilemma."

Iroh sipped his tea slowly, "Yes, a dilemma indeed."

The hours passed excruciatingly, agonizingly, slowly, each tick of the clock seeming like an eternity.

By the spirits, it had only been three hours without talking and looking at Katara, at least not when anyone else was looking, and Aang was already driving himself to the brink of insanity.

"Come on, Aang," he told himself, "Get yourself together! She's only a girl."

"A beautiful, entrancing, loving, generous, kind, freaking amazing girl!" the other side of him said.

"Whose side are you on?"

"Yours! Whose side are you on?"

"Yours! I am you!"

"Ugh," Aang groaned aloud, muttering, "This is giving me a headache. I hope Katara's having it easier than me."

With that, he made a quick excuse about feeling sick to his friends and rushed back to his locker, finding an empty classroom to bide the time until the next period.

Contrary to what Aang was thinking, the waterbender was, in fact, not having an easier time, choosing to take out her frustrations in the waterbending arena, determined to make her body as exhausted as her emotions were.

"Stupid boys," she muttered.

She sent a waterwhip at the dummy in front of her.

"Stupid Psychology project," she said a little louder.

Sharp, thin, icy shurikens spiraled towards the prone dummy.

"Stupid feelings," Katara started raising her voice, her frustration growing.

Gloves of ice shot towards the dummy in short punches of her fist.

"Stupid Aang!" she exclaimed.

A flurry of fatally sharp darts zapped towards the already abused dummy.

"STUPID KISS!" Katara yelled, her anger at its limits.

A 15-foot tall tsunami wave splashed down forcefully against the dummy as the waterbender's knees buckled, her limp body falling to the floor in exhaustion, panting.

The following days passed much like the first, Aang trying in vain to figuratively wait out the storm and Katara taking out her feelings on the poor, already in pieces, waterbending dummy in the bending arena, not having her usual listener to vent to.

However, despite their mutual frustrations, the two were also hurting and longing for one another, their hearts and minds both yearning incessantly.

Finally, Katara, ever the one to follow her heart, decided, "Screw the project!" that fateful Friday the 25th and set out to find Aang, instantly resolving to be the one to take the blame, if necessary.

Upon going to Aang's house and finding him strangely absent, the girl set out for searching his favorite place, like the pond in the woods where he liked to meditate.

The waterbender ran as fast as she could, ready to come clean about her knowledge of the kiss he gave her, but froze when she actually found what she was looking for.

There sat Aang, in a full lotus position, appearing to be meditating. As if it were magic, all the things she had to say to him suddenly disappeared, and she was left speechless as she watched him, entranced.

Abruptly, the airbender stood up and kicked a stone into the pond in front of him, choosing to talk to a little frog that had found its way next to him.

"Argh! It's no use."

The frog croaked in agreement.

"I must be obsessed with her! She's so smart and beautiful and amazing, and I just can't help but feel drawn to her like a fly to honey."

The amphibian's tongue shot out to catch one of the aforementioned insects.

Aang chuckled slightly manically.

"And here I am, talking to a frog, all the while I can practically feel her vibrations but know it can't possibly be her!"

At this, the frog jumped off, as if to say, 'Not my problem.'

"Great." The airbender sighed and fell back against the grass, mentally exhausted.

"Seriously," he continued, "How can I feel her vibrations if she's not even here?!" He put his head in his hands and groaned pathetically.

Watching this exchange, Katara decided to cut in.

"No going back now."

The waterbender cleared her throat.

"Aang?"

All at once, time stopped.

The airbender-in-question's head snapped to see the source of the noise and the two stared at each other for what seemed like a millenium.

"Katara?"

A/N: Anybody get the Iroh quote reference? No, just me? *dodges assorted rotten fruit at cliffhanger* I know, I know, but I might just publish the next chapter tomorrow if I have time!

Answer to Last Chapter's Question: I personally think I'm most like Katara. In my friend group, I'm usually the 'mom' of the group, making sure everyone stays focused and am pretty darn stubborn in general, although I'm not as in touch with my emotions as Katara is in A:TLA.

This Chapter's Question: What is your favorite fandom (A:TLA and LOK not included)?