Hey, everyone! I'm on fire! Thanks to those of you who reviewed, I am happy to entertain. Let's keep the updates coming…enjoy Chapter 20!
I don't own Avatar: The last Airbender. (Maybe one day…)
Aang couldn't sleep. It was just not going to happen.
He wasn't sure why he couldn't sleep. He didn't have any important Avatar business coming up, and he and his friends were peacefully settled in the safe Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. So why couldn't he just shut his eyes?
He lay on his bed for hours, tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable. But he just couldn't keep his eyes closed for more than a minute or two. In fact, he felt even more awake every time he tried to sleep.
He sighed exhaustedly and rolled out of bed. Maybe he was just a little thirsty.
So he quietly made his way to the kitchen. Or, at least, he tried to quietly make his way into the kitchen. Before he was halfway down the hallway, he tripped over his own two feet and fell flat on his face.
Meanwhile, Katara was having trouble sleeping, as well. Only she knew exactly why she couldn't fall asleep.
Though Aang had talked to her about this issue earlier that day, Katara couldn't help but still feel terrified about that fateful day a year ago when he was shot by Azula. Still worried that he would slip away from her…and he wouldn't come back.
After countless hours of rolling around and fluffing her pillow, Katara heard a THUD coming from the hallway.
She gasped softly and pulled her blanket up to her chin. What was that?
As Aang was pulling himself up, he heard a small sound coming from Katara's room.
Feeling guilty for waking her, he approached her room to apologize.
Footsteps, getting louder…coming closer. Katara shivered, figuring there was an intruder in the house. She shakily grabbed her water skin and prepared as best she could for a fight.
Suddenly, a head popped into her doorway. "Katara?"
And, immediately recognizing that voice, Katara put down her water skin. "Aang?"
"Yeah…sorry for waking you," came his soft reply.
"I wasn't asleep," she said.
"Oh. What were you doing up?" he asked.
"Nothing, just…thinking," she answered. "Why were you up?"
He walked into her room. "I couldn't sleep. What were you thinking about?"
She hesitated. "Um…you."
He sat on her bed, next to her. "Is that…a good thing?"
Katara sighed. "Not really."
"Well…what's wrong?" Aang asked her.
Now, she figured she might as well spill. "I-I just can't stop thinking about that day in the Crystal Catacombs."
A frown came across Aang's face. "Katara, I know that it was scary, but—"
She cut him off. "You probably have no idea what I was going through. Aang, when you died that day, I wasn't sure if I'd ever see my best friend again. Don't you know how terrible that feeling is?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Look, this isn't a competition, but I lost my whole nation and everything I had. I understand where you're coming from, but I've suffered before, too. And I got through it."
"But did you feel the same way about anyone in that temple as you do about me? Did anyone in the temple love you the way I do?" Katara demanded. She wasn't angry, she was merely making a point. "Aang, if I were to lose you, I'd fall apart."
"We already talked about this Katara," said Aang as he put a hand on her back. "It's all over. Everything is over. Azula is never going to hurt us again."
"I know," she replied, "but it could be someone else. Someone who's still loyal to Ozai and wants to see you gone."
"I can take care of myself," Aang insisted. "I'm the Avatar. I could smash anyone into a pancake and then burn them to a crisp! I'm not a helpless little kid anymore."
"You're right," Katara conceded. "I just…worry about you."
"I know you do," he said, putting his head on her shoulder. "But it's not worth losing sleep over."
"Yeah…I'm sorry," she responded.
"For what?" Aang asked. "You didn't wake me up or anything. And besides…" He lay them down so they were facing each other and wrapped his arms around her. "…I was getting kinda lonely back in my room."
"Are you implying that you want to stay here tonight?" Katara asked with a smirk.
"Well…" Aang said in mock hesitation. "…Maybe."
"I hope so," she replied, "because I was starting to feel a little lonely myself. I'd love some company."
Aang smiled and pecked her on the lips. "I think I might be able to help with that."
