Prompt: "I can't lose you again!" Kataang, of course

"I can't lose you again!"

The words echo in the space between them. Aang's back is turned against her as he stares down at the Fire Nation forces gathering beneath the cliffside they stand upon. The bloodred light of Sozin's Comet silhouettes his form, and in this moment, Katara doesn't see Aang, but the Avatar.

(she wishes with everything she has that he wasn't)

"Aang." Her voice breaks. "Please."

Aang doesn't acknowledge her at all, continuing to stare down at the enemy forces. Against the glow of the comet, he looks so small, too small, and in desperation, Katara seizes his hand, which had been resting by his side.

(he's only a kid)

"Don't do this," she begs, feeling the warmth of her tears slip down her cheeks. Her voice breaks again, and she silently curses herself for this weakness, this weakness he had rendered in her so long ago.

Aang finally turns to look at her.

There is always one moment, just one moment, where time stands still for far too long, like the world is holding its breath, where the clarity of the moment will forever be imprinted into its subjects.

And right now, looking into Aang's eyes, Katara knows that that look of solemness, weariness, resignation, and so much more—it will haunt her for the rest of her life.

"There's no other way."

Her temper inadvertently flares at his defeated tone. "To Agni there isn't!" Katara snaps, snatching her hand away and glaring at him. His orange and yellow robes blur with the tears that mists her eyes. "There's always another way, you know there is!"

Aang, having nothing to say, just looks at her with an infinite weariness in those gray eyes, and something in her chest shrivels. "I—I won't let you do this." Her voice wavers despite her best attempt at seeming confident, and she can feel herself crumbling under his sad, so very sad gaze.

Again, she reaches out to grasp him, to hold him tightly in her arms and never let him leave to face this danger by himself, but she finds herself faltering, her strength weakening. She collapses onto her hands and knees in front of him. A sob forces its way out of her mouth, and she squeezes her eyes shut, wishing this is all just a nightmare.

(why couldn't it just be a nightmare?)

Aang drops to his knees in front of her and tentatively reaches out, unsure if his touch is welcome. Katara snatches his hand and presses it to her chest, over her heart, trying to memorize the feel of his skin against hers. Her fingernails pierce into his skin, but Aang pays no heed to the pain.

"I know," she gasps between sobs, "that you have to do this. I know it's your duty as the Avatar to save the world." She looks up at him with red-rimmed eyes and tear stains streaking down her cheeks, begging him to understand. "But you shouldn't have to do it alone."

Aang pulls her into his embrace, cradling her against him. She presses her face into his neck, her fingers clawing at his robes, as though desperately trying to reassure herself he is here. He can feel the wet warmth of her tears on his neck, the shuddering sobs that resonate throughout his body where they're pressed together, the anguish that presses down on the both of them like a yoke.

"I can't—" She lets out a gasping sob. "I can't lose you. N-not again."

(lightning striking a hovering figure)

"Don't leave me," she whispers into his skin. She exhales a shuddering breath, tears thick in her voice. "Not again. Promise me you won't leave me again."

And Aang doesn't know what to say, except he knows that he can never make such a promise—not now, and maybe not ever. As long as he lives, the Avatar will always have enemies.

But sitting here, with Katara crying against him right before he is about to embark on his most dangerous task yet, knowing that not coming back alive would break her… it is easier to pretend that he will come back, easier to believe that everything will be okay.

So he gathers her up in his arms and kisses her on the forehead. "It'll be okay," he whispers into her hair, closing his eyes and feeling his own tears run down his cheeks. "I'll come back to you. I promise."

He hopes she can't hear the lie in his words.