Response to reviews:
AlfaVictor: I'm so glad you like it! I enjoy the grief aspect, too, didn't see him really get to grief on the show since they were in a war and all. I appreciate the feedback, I do agree with both and I'm working on making the flow better. I'm new to writing, especially fiction, so thanks for letting me know your thoughts.
I'm still so amazed by all of the positive responses to this. It makes me so happy to read your reviews, thank you!
A/N: A little citrus in this chapter, so be prepared.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender
Zuko: Hey man, down for some COD tonight?
Aang turned away from his laptop and reached for his phone. He smiled and quickly texted back.
Aang: Sure! I'll let Gyatso now. Hmu when you're on your way.
A pang of guilt hit Aang as he wanted to add "I'm assuming I can't go over to your house since your dad wants to kill me and everyone else". He frowned and shook his head, regretting even thinking about it. It's been four days since his birthday party and he was still uncomfortable with the new information he gleaned from Azula. While his friendship with Zuko hasn't changed since that night, there was a certain level of awkwardness between the two from not addressing the elephant in the room. Aang didn't want to bring it up and as far as he could tell, Zuko didn't want to either. He wondered how long they could go on this way. Things would have to be brought to the light eventually. Aang began thinking back to Monday afternoon when he met Zuko, Mai, Katara, Sokka, Suki, and Azula at the basement of the Jasmine Dragon. He wasn't sure why Zuko's uncle was so nice to them, especially since he was Principal Ozai's brother. The jolly old man insisted everyone call him "Uncle Iroh" and Aang couldn't help feel an instant comfort with him. He gave him and his friends free tea and snacks for their meeting, for which Sokka was undeniably grateful.
"Katara, it'll be okay, she'll be here. She's only a couple minutes late," Aang said while tightening his arm around her waist. His girlfriend gave him a frown, but couldn't resist the small smile forming on her face. The waterbender made ice little ice daggers underneath the table, "I'll try, but she gets five more minutes before we start without her, " she smiled at her boyfriend, "You're so optimistic, I keep forgetting that." He felt a darkness fall over him as his smile faltered, "Yeah, I kind of have to be." Katara noticed the serious tone squeezed Aang's hand in reassurance. She reminded herself that Aang had been through so much that if he didn't have hope then he would barely be able to function. The heavy door was swung open dramatically by a sighing teenage girl. "Oh, great, the Royal Bitch is here," a bored Toph said loudly from her seat at the table. Azula smirked while bending lighting at her fingertips, "Okay, that's it!"
Before Azula could strike, an exasperated Zuko ran to stand in front of his sister with his arms folded. "Azula, you're only gonna make things worse. Do you want to stop Dad or not?" The crackling of the lighting stopped as her hands fell at her sides. She whispered with a scowl on her face, "Fine, but that gross pothead needs to quit it, or I'm done." Zuko nodded and walked apprehensively back to the group at the table. After the siblings sat down, Zuko addressed the group to break the silence. "I think we need some ground rules. What do you think, Aang?", he asked looking directly at his friend.
Aang gulped at everyone staring at him expectantly. He felt like a bright spotlight was on him and he should just be a leader automatically. He turned towards Katara who was giving him an encouraging smile. "She's perfect," he thought to himself. Aang knew he would have to be a leader on some level, he just didn't think it would be so soon. He steeled himself and cleared his throat to keep his nerves at bay. "I think that's a great idea, Zuko. I think the first rule should be to leave whatever feelings you have about each other outside of the room. I'm not asking all of us to be friends, but we have to respect each other. So, I think that and taking turns talking are great rules to start. Anyone object to that?," he asked, staring at Toph and Azula. Both of the girls looked away from Aang but made no objection. Aang breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, so let's get started."
Azula came prepared with print outs of her dad's emails, just as Sokka asked. This made Aang happy to see people who disliked each other put aside their differences for this cause. Toph made progress with surveillance devices from Teo's dad, who happily obliged in exchange for an afternoon with Aang. "That kid is pretty cool but it's a shame about his creepy dad, Aang. You down to entertain some old dude with a hard-on for airbenders?",Toph asked with a grin. Teo's dad did have a weird obsession with airbenders but Aang thought he could manage. "It's okay, Toph. I think having to talk to him for an afternoon will be worth it." He smiled and sought an update from Zuko and Mai, who both visibly showed no emotion at all. They told the group that since talking with other Fire Nation kids, they found out a lot of parents meet up with Ozai Friday nights at a different location every week. Suki nodded at this information, "Perfect, can you send me the names of these parents so I can research them?" The gloomy couple obliged.
Sokka laughed and clapped his hands together, "So, after Suki does her research, we should be able to find their hideouts and really get some dirt," he paused with a smile on his face, "Guys, we're awesome! We need a name..how about the Gaang? Get it, because Aang...Gang...huh?" Aang immediately smiled at Sokka, "I like it!" Suki kissed Sokka on the cheek, "Sounds good to me." Katara stuck her tongue out, "Eh, I think it needs work." Toph shook her head with a chuckle, "I'd keep working on that name, Snoozles." Mai, Azula, and Zuko all remained silent with serious facial expressions. Azula grew impatient, "Are we done here?" The group nodded and sighed with relief as Azula quickly left the basement. Katara looked over to Aang, "Ugh, I can't wait until this is over. She's the worst!" He rubbed her back tenderly, "It shouldn't be for that much longer, let's enjoy the tea."
Even though the circumstances were unfortunate, Aang smiled to himself thinking of that day. He really did have friends and even a girlfriend. It was unbearable being lonely and he was so happy to be loved and to be known for who he truly is. Aang quietly leaped out of bed and made his way downstairs to plead with Gyatso to order pizza for dinner. "Sure, Aang, you're glad I'm in a good mood," Gyatso grinned. Aang shook his head, "You're always in a good mood, but thanks anyway!"
Aang and Zuko grabbed bites of pizza inbetween the video game's gunshots and the firebender's fits of rage. "Ugh!" He kicked the controller across the room. "Dammit! Sorry, Aang, I think I need a break before I ruin anything else," Zuko groaned. Aang tried not to laugh at his friend who tried so hard to appear serious but in reality, he was the most emotional person he has ever met. "Yeah, let's not break any of my stuff, please." A few moments passed while they hungrily ate their dinner. Aang sipped his water, thinking of a question but unsure if he should ask. "Aang, you alright?" Zuko saw his friend looking confused and a little sad. "Uh, yeah, but, um, no...I mean", he decided just to come out with it, "So, I know what your dad's like, but, I don't think I know much about your mom. Is she similar to your dad or…" Aang didn't know how to end that thought without bringing to the surface all that they wished to stay hidden.
Zuko understood his friend's rambling, "Or if she's an evil racist like my dad? No, she's...the opposite. She's really nice and probably the only person in my family beside my uncle who isn't an asshole." Aang somehow looked even more confused. As Aang opened his mouth to speak, he was cut off by Zuko. "And I know what you're thinking, 'how did they even end up together'? It was an arranged marriage. My grandfather wanted his grandkids to have Avatar blood to be strong benders, so my dad married my mom." Aang remained in a state of confusion, "Wait, which Avatar are you related to?" Recognition crossed Zuko's face, "Wow, you really don't know? I guess you don't learn much about them. Avatar Ruko is my great-grandfather." The airbender's mouth gaped wide open. Zuko's mouth curled up ever so slightly at his friend's shock.
Aang asked himself, "What are the odds that I'm friends with my past life's great-grandson? Is this destiny?" He shook himself from these thoughts. "All those times I've talked to Roku, he never even mentioned it. I guess I didn't know you at that point so it makes sense." Zuko half-smiled, "Yeah, almost feels fateful, you know? The guy who wants to kill the Avatar is trying to be taken down by his son, who is a descendant of the Avatar. Greek Tragedy feels." Aang's eyes widened, "Wow, Zuko, I didn't know you read." "Of course I read!", he yelled. Aang stifled a laugh, "Okay, okay, sorry. I just figured you were all video games and listening to metal. That's really cool, we have something else in common." Aang swore he saw a whole smile for a fraction of a second on his friend's face. "Yeah, my whole life is a terrible Greek tragedy. Best to prepare myself for when things go left, you know?" Aang had forgotten his friend's dark sense of humor and smiled weakly.
Zuko coughed and switched topics, "Sooooo," rubbing the back of his neck, "Before my memory got hazy at the party, I remember seeing you come downstairs with Katara looking the happiest I have ever seen you both." Aang groaned at being playfully being nudged in the ribs by Zuko. Trying to hold back a big smile, "It was not great at first, I cried in front of her," he frowned, "but then it was really good." Zuko raised his eyebrows with a crooked smile, "Ohhh okay, you used a condom, right?" "Zuko, we didn't do that! We got close, though. I didn't know anything could feel that amazing. I made her cum, actually." Zuko's mouth gaped at this, "On your first time?! Wow, proud of you man," he slapped his friend on the back, "And let me tell you, when you do decide to go all the way, it will feel like a hundred times better." Aang felt like his head floated in the clouds where he imagined what sex with Katara would feel like. He was only snapped out of it by the angel in question texting him.
Katara: Hey! I'm just leaving Toph's house now. You gonna be around later?
Aang felt a blush appear on his cheeks but he didn't care. His mind was fixated on Katara and what the end of the night could bring. The beating of his heart raced faster as he texted her back.
Aang: Yeah, Zuko's here but he'll be leaving soon. Want to come over here?
Aang looked up at Zuko, who was finishing off the rest of the pizza. "Hey, man, I still have homework to finish and Gyatso really gets on me about that. You cool if we call it a night?" Zuko looked at his phone and saw that it was 9:15pm. He smirked and put a heavy hand on his friends shoulder, "Sure, man. Tell Katara I said 'hi' when she comes over." Aang blushed and stammered for a few moments, fiddling with his fingers. He hated how good Zuko was at this.
A few minutes after Zuko left, Aang "got ready for bed" so as to not arouse any suspicion from Gyatso. While his guardian was pretty lenient and gave Aang a wide breadth of freedom, he still had to appear to have some rules, such as no friends or girlfriends after 10pm on a school tonight. The lithe airbender put on flannel pajama bottoms without a shirt. After Aang brushed his teeth and turned off his bedroom light, he received a text.
Katara: Hey sweetie, I'm outside
Aang couldn't hold back his smile as he read her text. They haven't had alone time since saturday. He ran to the window, excited to see his girlfriend in a non-school setting. Aang opened the window and looked down sweetly at Katara climbing up the ladder and through the window. He felt sweat on his forehead as his eyes fixated on the cleavage from her tank top and her thighs in her booty shorts. He incredulously wondered how he got to be with someone like her. She smiled as she looked up to meet her boyfriend's gray eyes. She giggled as she made her way into his bedroom, sending his heart aflutter at the magical sound. "Katara, I missed you!", he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered next to his ear, "I missed you, too".
Without a chance to speak, Aang kissed Katara on the lips. She returned the kiss and opened her eyes wide at his tongue slipping into her mouth. She was still not used to this demonstrative side of Aang, or him being near her with his shirt off. She ran her hand up his firm chest, feeling heat pool in the bottom of her stomach as she felt his muscles. He pressed his body into hers as his kisses became rougher. She enjoyed the increase in confidence that Aang showed in the last few days. In this moment, she felt desired by his sweet tasting lips. Unequivocally, she knew he wanted her, and this made her want him even more.
Aang pulled Katara backwards towards his bed, gently laying Katara down on her back. He crawled on top of her, legs nestled in between hers. He shivered as she ran her fingers through his dark, silky hair. Aang felt Katara smile during the kiss. He knew his reaction prompted her to continue her marvelous raking through his hair. They kissed for a few minutes before Aang ran his hand up underneath Katara's shirt. When he reached her breasts, there was no bra and he noticed himself blushing.
He shook it off and cupped her naked breast. She gasped and gripped his hair tighter. Aang broke the kiss, leaning back, "Is this okay?" Katara quickly nodded for Aang to continue. He alternated between rubbing his thumb across her nipple and lightly pinching her hardened nipple. He breathed in her lavender scent as he trailed kisses from her lips to her jaw. Aang felt blood rushing to his member as he saw Katara arch her back and moan. He began to kiss her neck but abruptly pulled away. She whined until she saw the confused look on his face as he glanced at her necklace. Aang was trying to push his anxious thoughts to the back of his mind. He thought about what he learned in training as the Avatar about the Water Tribes. He knew that they proposed with necklaces like this and they often arranged marriages. He chose to look into her blue eyes to take his mind off of his worry. He asked with a raised eyebrow, "That necklace, has it always been there before?"
Katara reached up to touch her necklace, almost forgetting she was wearing it. Her fingers ran across the cold, steel circle with the symbol for water engraved into it as she answered. "Oh! Yes..I mean no. It belonged to my mom. After she died, I didn't sleep well and had a lot of nightmares. My dad gave it to me. It helps me sleep at night, knowing that she is with me." She saw him relax and exhale on top of her. When a nervous look came upon his face, it clicked for her what he was going to ask. "Well, it's a beautiful necklace. I'm glad you still have a piece of her," he cleared his throat, "Was their marriage arranged?" Katara almost smiled right then but forced her face muscles to still. Normally she would draw it out and make him sweat, but she was feeling generous. "No, they were a love match. Arranged marriages are not as common now unless you're rich or royalty. My parents didn't believe in it and neither do I." She made a point to smile as she locked eyes with him. A small gust of wind escaped Aang's mouth at her response, "Ohhh, good. Uh, I mean, good to know!" She leaned up and kissed him on the lips before he broke away and rolled off of her, much to her dismay.
Aang's head was trying to remember all of the information he had just learned. He smiled knowing he wanted to make her a necklace from scratch one day. He was certain she was the one. As he started getting lost in her beautiful eyes, she snapped him back to reality. "So, I've always wondered, what's it like to be in the Avatar State? Can you just turn it on and off or what?", she asked as she cupped his cheek. Aang's mouth instantly went dry. His face fell into a frown. Katara's thumb ran across his cheek in a soothing manner. "Are you okay? You don't have to talk about it, I was just curious." She frowned and all Aang could feel was overwhelming guilt. He was unsure if he should tell her or not. He wanted to be honest, but he also didn't feel like having a panic attack right now. He closed his eyes as he breathed slowly in, and slowly out.
Finally opening his eyes to look at her, Aang began searching for any sign of understanding in Katara's eyes. "I have entered the Avatar State a few times, usually fueled by emotion. The last time...was kind of bad. I wasn't really controlling it. It's not something I'm proud of, so could we drop it for now?" She stared back at him with a warm smile and a nod. "Of course, Aang, whenever you're ready." He nuzzled his face into her soft hand and sighed with a sense of relief. "You do bring up a good point. I am going to have to master it eventually, especially if this thing with Ozai gets bigger. I'll look into it, thanks, sweetie."
The couple kissed as Katara attempted to hold back a yawn and failed. Aang chuckled at her while lighty running his hand up her arm, "I guess it is kind of late." She blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed at yawning during the kiss. "Yeah, sorry, my waterbending practice today was pretty exhausting. I'll sneak out and see you when you pick me up tomorrow?" Aang smiled and pulled Katara off the bed and onto her feet. He kissed her passionately, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her knees almost buckled at this kiss, feeling as if they were the only two people on Earth. They reluctantly broke the kiss before Aang walked Katara over to his window. "Parting is such sweet sorrow," he stated as he gave her a final kiss. She grinned as she leaned through the window trying to steady herself on the ladder. She cautiously walked down the steps of the ladder, trying to forget who sexy he was and that she might be in love with him.
At the Hitori house, an agitated Ozai was talking on the phone in his office. "Zhao, tell the council this will all be over in 6 months before the solar eclipse happens" He paused for a few moments listening to Zhao on the other end of the phone as he grew angrier. He clenched through his teeth in a forceful whisper, "Don't you think I know that? We have to do this right this time since your hubris got the best of you and messed up last year. No mistakes means I'll be double checking everything." Ozai paused as an upturned smile formed on his lips, "Good, good. Nothing can go wrong now. Everything's in its right place. I'm pleased." As Ozai laughed menacingly and put his phone down, he was blissfully unaware that his wife, Ursa, was upstairs frantically packing bags and waking their children up from their sleep.
Confusion and hushed whispers filled the hallway as Azula, Zuko, and their mother hurriedly crept through the house. Zuko and Azula did not have anytime to react while they were hastily pushed into a car driven by their Uncle Iroh. "We'll explain everything later, kids. But we must go now before we're found out." The black car quickly sped away with heavy silence amongst the family. After 20 minutes, Iroh pulled into a gated estate with a big house on top of the hill. He drove the car around the back of the house, getting out of the car after making sure he wasn't followed. Zuko's door opened and he gasped as he looked up at a familiar man in a white robe. "Master Jeong Jeong?"