And here is Chapter 2! I am considering this a complete fanfic unless I think of another addition to the story in this time and context.
Cheesy tidbit of info for you –The way I describe Katara's feelings for Aang in this chapter was inspired by how I described my feelings about my fiancé years ago when I was asked why I love him.
Anywhooooo, I have a couple of other (mainly Kataang) fics in the works right now, so those will be posted in a few weeks. If you have an idea for a story and want to request a fic-let or one-shot, send me a message. I like inspiration.
I realized after posting my first chapter that I hadn't put in a disclaimer, so here it is:
I do not own ATLA or any of its characters. If I did, this would not be a fanfiction, it would have been in the show.
After arriving at Zuko's palace, the gang had all taken some time to clean up and change into fresh clothes provided by the royal attendants. Katara had immediately given her brother and friends a healing session each. Aang had insisted they all go before him while he checked on Appa, citing Sokka's need for a proper splint and the extended time apart he had spent from his bison. There was no argument there.
Katara made sure Sokka, Toph, and Suki were as well as she could get them before rushing to the airbender. Once she and Aang had reunited for a healing session in the room made up for him in the palace, Katara realized now how much she had truly missed him.
There was no fighting the smile on her face.
She soaked up the feeling of having him next to her again, of watching his expressions change as they chatted, of the intimacy of their healing session, of the comfort of his presence.
They talked about the battles they had engaged in on the day of the comet. She told him what had been going on in the two days since the comet, he told her of his encounter with the giant lion turtle. They talked about the surrealness of the war ending.
"I'm so proud of you, Aang. I was so happy to get that letter from Sokka," she looked at him almost bashfully, "I knew you'd do it. I knew you'd come back."
He blushed.
"There was a lot keeping me going through that battle, Katara. A big part of that was knowing the people I love were counting on me…," his voice trailed.
Neither broached the unspoken, yet painfully obvious feelings floating between them. Without missing a beat, they changed the topic and continued chatting.
After what was likely hours of talking, Aang slipped into a deep slumber. Katara had to admit, her eyelids were becoming heavier too. The Fire Nation Palace beds were much more comfortable than the linen blankets and hard ground they slept on throughout their journey. They were even more comfortable than Appa's furry belly.
But she was not ready to retreat to her room.
Aang stirred in his sleep and Katara held her breath. Her heart was pounding, so loud she thought it might wake him. Wake him and create a potentially awkward situation.
Not that this was a completely new situation. She had slept near him before. After traveling together for so long, it was inevitable that their sleeping arrangements would be near each other on occasion. While he had been unconscious after the horrible battle in Ba Sing Se, she had slept in his room every night, hoping to be awoken by his voice.
Katara had no problem sleeping near Aang.
It had been odd at first. Naturally. He had been a complete stranger.
She had only ever slept next to her brother and father in the home they shared back in the Southern Water Tribe. And Aang was neither father or brother, nor was he technically family—
She held her gaze on him for a moment. She watched as his chest rose and fell softly with each breath.
A soft sigh escaped her.
–But he felt like family to her. Perhaps that was why it felt so easy. Lying near him, hearing his rhythmic breathing, made Katara feel safe. It made her feel at home.
Her lack of sleep had caught up with her, and as Aang seemed to sink deeper into the bed, she felt herself becoming increasingly drowsy. All the emotion of the last few days was catching up with her. She sat on the bed next to him, leaning her torso on the headrest for support. Her musings taking hold as the comfort of his presence lulled her.
Yes, Aang felt like family. But in a different way… One she couldn't quite put her finger on until today.
He had always felt like family in the way that family felt safe and familiar and comforting, like home. Even just hours after meeting him, Katara knew she could trust him.
And throughout their entire journey, that had not faltered. Not when he whisked her away from her tribe, not when he disappeared into the spirit world, not when he permitted Zuko to join their group, and not even when he had completely vanished before having to face Ozai. She knew if her life had to be in anyone's hands, she would choose his a thousand times over.
Even when he was scared to the bone, she knew he wouldn't let her down.
Katara watched Aang sleep. Admittedly, as she had so many times before. His breathing, the way he slept with one arm supporting his head, the other open to his side. He made a little grumble in his sleep and shifted slightly. His arm opening more as if welcoming her to snuggle up to him.
Her heart jumped and began to pound again. She was beginning to get used to the thumping in her chest that Aang incited.
Katara bit her lip nervously, suddenly not feeling so drowsy anymore. She was acutely aware of the situation. She took a deep breath, pledging to rest her eyes for just a moment before leaving to her room. Quietly, hesitantly, she scooted closer to him and wedged herself between his arm and his torso, head just barely resting on his arm. Katara kept her body tense, waiting for Aang to wake up, to realize she had just invaded his space.
But he didn't. Instead, he seemed to relax even more in his slumber and tightened his arm ever so slightly around her. An inaudible mumble escaped him, and an uncharacteristically giddy feeling rose up within her.
She relaxed and made herself more comfortable. Soon, her breathing matched his and her heart rate slowed to a steady beat. A sleepy smile tugged at her lips. For the first time in days, she felt completely at peace.
This was it. Why it was always so easy with him, why he felt like family. He was her safe place, her source of comfort and support.
Aang was her home.