A/N: sorry for posting mostly at night (i just have more time to write at night), but i wanted to get another chapter out, mostly because i feel bad for Katara even though i made that happen to her- also i apologize that this chapter is a little short. anyways, hope you guys enjoy this chapter! (this one is a bit happier i promise)

disclaimer: i do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of it's characters.

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Aang, Toph and Sokka had made it to the tiny hut within 5 minutes of flying, when they had arrived at the small hut, it looked like it was abandoned. even though Sokka wanted to leave since it looked abandoned, Aang insisted on going inside. Aang was the first one to walk inside the tiny hut, he looked around and almost decided to leave, after Sokka and Toph had left the hut, Aang heard muffled crying somewhere in the hut.

Aang immediately looked around again closer, when he saw what looked like a little closet built into one of the walls. he quickly ran over to it and opened the closet door and was shocked at what he saw. he saw Katara tied up and thrown in a closet, with large bruises and cuts on her skin, she had a blindfold on and some cloth in her mouth, muffling her voice if she tried to yell for help.

Aang knew from how she was sitting that she was terrified, she was shaking and flinched when she heard the closet door open, so he knew he had to be careful with his movements, even if he wanted to just scoop her up and protect her. he carefully bent down to her level, seeing her flinch as she heard him sit on the ground.

"Sweetie, it's okay, it's me" he said in a soft voice, trying not to scare her more. her head perked up at him after hearing him speak, he decided to continue "i'm gonna get you out of this, okay sweetie?" he spoke in the same soft tone. she nodded to him signaling him it was okay to untie her now.

he quickly untied her, making him frown as he saw how beat up her body was. "sweetie, who did this to you?" Aang asked her, trying to keep his anger out of his voice. "Cheng and Bai, they're the ones who took me i'm pretty sure. Bai is the one who broke into our room" she explained in reply, seeing in his eyes how bad he felt about all this happening.

Aang couldn't take seeing her so scared, and so he gently scooped her up into his arms and put her on his lap, slowly and gently starting to rock her back and fourth while holding her tightly. he kissed her forehead gently, seeing her start to relax, making him feel better knowing she was safe now and was with him, away from those monsters who did this to her.

Katara immediately felt comforted once Aang had picked her up and started rocking her back and fourth, she had snuggled into him and dug her face in the crook of his neck. and since her short energy supply didn't last long from crying for hours and for not getting much sleep in almost a week, she quickly fell sleep once in Aang's arms.

Sokka decided to go back inside the hut to go get Aang to leave, but when he walked in he saw something far from what he expected. when he walked in, he saw Aang sitting on the floor facing a closet, with his back turned to him. it looked like Aang was holding something so he walked over to the young airbender and then saw a beat up and asleep Katara in the younger boy's arms.

"we found her?" Sokka asked, disbelief shown in his voice.

"we found her, and i'm not letting anyone take her this time." Aang said, as he gently scooped her back up in his arms so he could stand up while holding her.

Sokka was about to reply when two men walked through the door, laughing and talking about money they'd make off of their "catch", who they assumed was Katara. clearly oblivious that Sokka and Aang were in the room.

Aang had figured these were the men who took Katara and started getting angry again, and so he spoke up to interrupt the men's laughter. "sorry to interrupt, but why the hell did you kidnap my girlfriend?" the young Avatar asked the men, leaving Sokka shocked by what Aang had just said.

both of the men looked up and there eyes widened in fear, knowing they had just pissed off the Avatar. they knew almost either way they would get in trouble, either by the buyer for Katara, or by the Avatar himself. not wanting to get beat up by the Avatar, the two men made a run for it, only to be stopped by Toph with her sandbending at the doorway along with her saying "i've been working on my sandbending."

the two men stared in shock as they looked at Toph and Sokka, along with Aang who was holding Katara. they both knew who they all were, they were all legends for ending the 100 year war. they knew the Avatar was with Katara, but not his friends. either way, they both knew they were in deep trouble

"shit" is all the two men said, earning them even more of bigger stares filled with anger and disappointment.

to be continued...