Proximity
Disclaimer: AtLA is property of VIACOM and Nickelodeon. No profit is made from this story.
A/N: Set during CROD.
There is an almighty sound of crystal shattering and earth collapsing. There is a flash of blue, and out of the corner of his eye Aang recognizes Katara's blue dress.
And then he sees who she's standing next to.
Zuko!
There feet are thisclose and from the angle she's standing at – they're both standing at – he can tell that they were facing each other. And they weren't very far apart when doing so.
As quickly as possible, he gets himself out of there – of course Katara will follow him. Literally running out of the cavern, Aang doesn't look backwards. Seeing it again – remember just how close they were – will only make it true.
And, because he is running and has his back turned, Aang doesn't see the way Katara and Zuko's eyes refuse to leave each other's. The way her steps purposefully slow, the way he strains his eyes sideways so that the golden ones stay locked into the blue for as long as possible.
And then they're torn apart and everything is gone.
Lameo-ending. I know ...