AN: So I usually do these at the end, but I decided to put one at the beginning and end this time. First, I want to make this clear. This was originally written for my collection of one-shots titled "Insecurities", but I cut it and decided to post it separately. I will explain more in the AN at the bottom. Enjoy!

Indecision

No one had noticed the way he dragged his leg into the meeting room, or how a wince escaped his mouth every time he was required to stand. How could they? The entire world was turning upside down over the course of three days! Aang had defeated Phoenix King Ozai, and due to all other members of the royal family being unfit to rule; Zuko was declared Fire Lord. It didn't matter all that much though. There were pockets of the Fire Nation's military that refused to stand down, and much of the nobility still wouldn't acknowledge Zuko as their liege. Aang was so tired, he just wanted a chance to breath and recover. The meetings wouldn't stop for some time though.

A rather dour looking nobleman interrupted Zuko once again, "The soldiers in the Zu Xing province should be treated as traitors! They are refusing a direct order from their Fire Lord."

Aang found it hard not to roll his eyes. All these nobles cared about was currying favor with the new Fire Lord, and the only way they knew how to do that was by sending more soldiers to die somewhere.

Zuko finally spoke once again after taking a deep breath, "My first actions during my reign will not be to send Fire Nation soldiers to kill other Fire Nation soldiers."

The noble no doubt had a response to that, but truthfully the Avatar had stopped listening. He was thinking about much more important matters like azure eyes and waterbending forms. A small sigh escaped his mouth. Aang hadn't had a chance to have any form of meaningful conversation with Katara since his battle with Ozai. They were being pulled apart in so many different directions. She was helping where she could in the hospitals, healing all kinds of injured people, while Aang was required at every meeting to approve every action that the Fire Nation was going to take. On the other hand, maybe they hadn't talked much since because they were dreading it. It would mean things between them would get so awkward, and Aang wanted to take it all back. That wouldn't solve the way Aang felt about her or how Katara didn't feel exactly the same way about him, but at least they could still be friends. Aang could live with being just friends, or maybe learn too.

Hearing his name snapped him back to reality.

"Avatar Aang would surely support such an action!" the dour nobleman's voice was raised just slightly too high to be considered respectful.

Aang shook his head to clear his thoughts before addressing the man, "And, what would that be?"

"Were you not listening? I suggested that to combat the Fire Nation troops that refuse to stand down we could place traps among the Earth Kingdom and let rumors fly that these traps are safe havens for true sons of the Fire Nation. Its proven to be quite affective in the past actually. The Fire Nation used similar tactics on the Ai-"the man trailed off as he realized who he was talking to.

Aang's brows furrowed, and he could feel his aggravation beginning to rise, "Please, continue what you were saying."

A look of panic crossed the man's face, "I apologize Avatar Aang, I must have misspoken."

The frustration continued to boil and swirl within Aang. He has spent his days in these council meetings, trying to figure out the most proper way forward in a sea of mistakes all while still injured from the most pivotal battle he had ever taken part off, and he can't even seek proper medical treatment because that will most likely bring him face to face with his best friend that doesn't reciprocate his feelings. Which will probably cause a conversation that will somehow be the most awkward and humiliating thing that he has ever had to do, and now some nobleman had the audacity to suggest using some Air Nomad killing tactic to hunt down his own nation's soldiers! Aang was done. He needed rest.

Zuko's eyes narrowed as Aang stood from the table. A nervous energy spread like wildfire as the thirteen-year-old came to his modest height. Aang made sure to grip his glider tightly as he stood, so the way he swayed wasn't obvious.

"Air Nomads. You were going to say Air Nomads."

The man tugged on his collar, "My most humble apologi- "

The Avatar raised his hand to silence him, "You are not speaking right now. I am." The man could only nod his head in response. Aang continued, "There will be no action taken against the remaining Fire Nation Soldiers. I will personally invite them to a negotiation and reach a peaceful outcome." Although seemingly none of the nobles seemed at easy with this development none dared to speak. "I would like to thank you for your time, unfortunately I am needed elsewhere." Aang didn't wait for a response before turning and slowly making his way towards the doors of the conference room. His steps were deliberate and careful, Aang had to make sure Zuko didn't notice his pain.

Birds were singing a light tune and the sun was shining especially brightly as Aang emerged into the courtyard. Normally, the airbender would enjoy his surroundings on a day like this, but it was just so hard. It seemed like the whole world was able to celebrate the victory except for him. Aang supposed that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he could at least talk to Katara, but he just wasn't sure what to say anymore. He cringed as his mind wandered to that night at Ember Island, it would come to mind every once and a while. An apology was probably what he should lead with, but he didn't want to apologize for the way that he felt about Katara. Still, he had pushed her when he shouldn't have, and his own emotions didn't give him a right to violate her boundaries. Aang made up his mind, when they finally had a chance to speak, he would apologize.

Aang's leg was throbbing as he continued his steady walk through the courtyard, he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear his name being called by a familiar voice.

"Aang! Stop!" The shouts finally penetrated the Avatar's thoughts. He slowly turned around to be greeted by Zuko running towards him.

The older boy stopped just short of him before giving him a glare, "Aang, what happened back there?"

Aang lowered his gaze not being able to meet his friend's eyes, "Nothing… I just got frustrated." He felt some regret about how he handled things in the council room, but right now he just wanted to be left alone.

"Well, great. The Avatar got angry and because of that managed to offend most of the Fire Nation nobles that are actually on our side!" Zuko's frustration was plain to see.

Aang's head was beginning to pound with a renewed ferocity. "Maybe, we shouldn't be discussing how best to use Air Nomad extermination tactics on more people then!" Zuko looked surprised that Aang was yelling, but that didn't deter him from continuing.

"I wasn't the one that suggested it!"

Anger was starting to seep into Aang at an uncontrolled pace, his head was starting to feel light, why couldn't people just give him some space, "Well you sure didn't voice your disapproval!" Aang voice was dripping with contempt.

Zuko looked wounded, "What's gotten into you! We have plenty of work to do without you acting like thi-!"

Aang could see Zuko's mouth continue to move, but the words came out muffled and unclear. Slowly, he could feel his knees beginning to buckle and any attempt to fortify them was met with less than promising results. It felt like sandpaper was in his mouth and every breath Aang drew was shallower than the last. A dull throbbing pain was surrounding him slowly.

His knees finally gave out as he managed to get a sentence out, "Zuko, plea- "

Aang's world went dark.

The room was blurry and dangerously quiet. Aang's stomach lurched violently as he tried to adjust his body. A cool sensation washed over him.

His eyes slowly drifted close.

A slow, steady melody filled Aang's dreams. It had reminded him of aimlessly drifting the skies on Appa's back, his arms around Katara as they effortlessly bended the clouds around them.

Aang's eyes flew open as coherent thoughts finally penetrated the hazy fog that had settled over him the last few days. The fierce, raw pain that had inhabited his legs were now gone and were replaced by a steady throbbing. He slowly raised himself up on his forearms.

A grunt escaped his mouth as something slammed into him. Katara's chestnut hair was thrown into his face as the force of the hug caused the injured Airbender to fall back into his sheets. Aang could feel her tears start to pool on his torso.

"Thank the spirts, you're finally awake." Her voice sounded raw, but full of relief.

Aang was confused. He didn't really remember what had happened.

"Um…Thanks?"

Katara slowly withdrew from the hug and looked slightly embarrassed. Aang suddenly wished he had said nothing at all.

"Sorry…" Katara began to play with the ends of her hair. "We were really worried. Zuko sent for me after you collapsed."

Memories flooded back. Aang looked around the room to find that they had placed him inside one of the large guest rooms at the palace. Usually Aang slept in the stables with Appa, but he guessed that they brought him here to heal. His eyes refocused on his own legs. The burns that he had acquired from his fight with Ozai were bandaged up and the swelling was down considerably. Katara followed his line of sight.

She spoke in a hurt and quiet tone, "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

Aang couldn't look her in the eyes anymore. The memories of Ember Island and the awkward silences since were still fresh in his mind. He wante… no… needed to have this conversation with her, but not now.

"We got busy, and I forgot to mention it."

Katara's frustration was palpable, "What do you mean you forgot? That seems like the kind of thing that you should mention to your best friend!"

Aang couldn't help but raise his own voice, "Are we best friends?!"

Shock overtook Katara's features only to be replaced momentarily by anger, "Of course were friends! Did you hit your head on the way down too?"

Aang looked away from her again. His heart dropped, "So, you finally made a decision."

Katara was about to speak, but Aang interrupted her. "Wait, please. Before you say anything just let me say something."

He forced himself to look into her eyes, no matter how much it hurt he had to say it to her. A flurry of emotions stared back at him, but he swallowed the lump in his throat and continued.

"I'm sorry. I didn't tell you about my burn because … because I was scared." Katara's eyes widened slightly at his confession. "A lot of things happened at the end of the war, and I was afraid of the conversation we were going to have…the one we're having right now. Befo…" The words caught in his throat. He forced himself to take a deep breath and continue on, " Before you tell me that you don't think of me as more than a friend, let me just say, I won't ever regret our friendship… and… and maybe you don't love me the same way I love you, but that's okay. I want you to be with someone that you love…even if that's not me."

He took another breath before saying his final part, "I'm sorry for kissing you. Well, not for kissing you because I couldn't ever regret kissing you, but I'm sorry for kissing you after you said you were confused. We never talked about it that night, but I just want you to know that I didn't mean to hurt you that night."

Aang finally broke off eye contact with her. He had wanted to make sure the sincerity in his eyes, but he couldn't look at her for this next part. Aang didn't want to see her eyes as she told him that they would never be together.

He waited for a while, but the room stayed silent.

Maybe she left? Maybe I scared her off?

Aang turned his head back towards Katara only to be stopped short. Surprise overtook him as her lips captured his. He stayed wide eyed until he finally relaxed into the kiss, confident that this wasn't a fever dream.

She broke off the kiss but remained close taking Aang's head into her hands.

"I made my decision a long time ago."

"But…I thought you were confused."

Katara sighed, "I was confused. We were so close to the end of the war Aang, and I didn't want to see you get hurt. I don't want to see anyone I love get hurt anymore."

For the first time in three days, Aang finally smiled again.

Katara couldn't help, but giggle at the wide smile that graced the airbender's face.

"So… does this mean we can be together?"

"Yes."

The two embraced careful not to aggravate any of Aang's wounds.

AN: Thanks for reading! So, the reason this was cut was mainly because I didn't like the way I wrote this. It felt really wooden and I think I fell in love with the concept, but not the execution. I must have rewrote this at least 10 times and I'm still not satisficed with it. Anyways, I hope you guys got some enjoyment out of it.

One more thing, I think I owe you guys an apology. In the last chapter of "Insecurities" I said that this and "The Ocean Between Us" would get posted shortly after which just didn't happen. I got really busy at work, but I was finally able to get this all done. The first chapter of "The Ocean Between Us" will definitely get posted either tonight or tomorrow morning. I promise!

Anyways, Thanks for reading again! Consider checking out my collection of one-shots if you haven't yet. I'm super tired from work, so I'm going to take a nap and then get back to writing.