Seven Steps to Heaven
By Nikkel
(c) to Nickelodeon, Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko
Light
Aang was dressed formally today. An elaborate orange tuxedo-like suit, threaded with white and yellow, bearing the symbol of the Air Nomads on his back. That bald head of his seemed shiner than usual. Sitting on my bed in my usual hospital attire, I raised an eyebrow.
"If you're here to take me out on a date, I'm not particularly dressed for it," I quipped.
"Haha, no. Tonight your brother's holding a gala to celebrate the peace between the four nations." Aang was grinning, but I found myself frowning.
"He would do something like that," I snapped.
Aang reached a hand behind his head and scratched the back of his neck. "Well . . . He probably would have invited you."
I shook my head, and set my feet on the floor, standing up. "That's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?"
"Holding a gala for all four nations? Doesn't that sound a little ridiculous to you?"
"Um, no, not really . . ."
"Well it is. And do you know why? Because Zuko is the Fire Lord, and the Fire Lord serves to the Fire Nation. Not to the Earth Kingdom or the Water Tribes. The Fire Nation. Has he no national pride? No honor in his own country?!"
My fists clenched and my skin felt warm. I still cannot bend, but I could certainly feel the fire rushing through my veins.
"He is celebrating the Fire Nation," Aang replied, unfazed by my rage. "He's celebrating it along with the other nations."
I glowered at him. "You don't get it."
"No, you don't get it," Aang retaliated, and before I could interject, he spoke again. "Celebrating your country is one thing. Celebrating the fact that we're all human and here to be alive is another. He's holding the gala in honor of life."
I fell silent. Once again, he had said the word "human"; I could only assume, by now, that he included me in that "all". That was when he walked up to me and grabbed my hand.
"Remember what I said to you? That day I brought you the roast duck?"
I nodded. "You said . . . that I'm as human as everyone else."
"I did. And you are. That's what we are celebrating tonight . . . And would you like to come to the gala with me?"
He said it so sweetly, so calmly, and so romantically . . . I had to refuse.
"No thanks." I let go of his hands and sat back down on the bed. "You've taught me enough tonight, Avatar. I'm going to need some rest."
Author's Note: Posted this morning because I posted so late last night. Aang is such a sweetheart. I also feel like I should post a note or something, explaining what each chakra is in each chapter. This one is Light, which focuses on illusion and is blocked by separation. Like in the show, I used the example of the four nations, and Azula's nationality. She may have a strong loyalty to the Fire Nation, but in the end, she is still human.