zebradonkey: He does have a spine. In fact it shows up a lot along with all those lovely tattoos (sorry mind wandered off into shirtless Aang land.) I find it cool that so many people are standing up for him especially in light of the Zutara bashing. Keep the badboy, I'll take the bald monk anyday!
skyhigh18: I know I'm die hard too but I seem to be inspiring a lot of Maang. Oops! You made some valuable points that are now making me sweat a bit (ok a lot. Oh god! What do I do? runs screaming)
1. Aang does have a breaking point but remember the love of the air nomads is invested in Katara. After she grovels enough he might take her back and maybe trust her a bit.
2. Zuko and Aang will probably always be slight enemies. I mean it was his woman.
3. Mai is more forgiving because of Aang. So maybe about 10 feet.
4. Sokka will just tolerate Zuko because of Mai and Toph well she cares about Aang as long as he's happy she'll deal with Katara (fanfic idea- pushing aside for later)
5. Darn smart reviewers. She'll kiss and throw roses on the ground beneath his feet.
my trancey inspiration: Aang is my fave too (waves Aang Fangirl flag proudly) He will smack the fire out of her, I promise. Maang hasn't been really done. They can be quite compatible wait til Katara hears about it. Fireworks!!!
NightStar: You know that hate and love are a thin line. Just letting you know.
Sironblood1: I don't know what happened all of a sudden Mai was all close and I can't explain it.
coolmac1718: I will definitely address the whole Maang and how Zutara feel about it. Never fear. As for the kiss if you noticed she didn't get a chance. Aang did move away. It's hard for him because he loves her so much and that makes him a little reckless.
Darn you guys have me trained. (note to self - watch my descriptions. Scarring my viewers)
Hope this clears up a few things. (sheepish smile)
The fire was tricky and she cursed the fact that she'd always let one of the boys light it. She grabbed the kettle from her pack and began collecting what little vegetation she could find. Unbeknownst to everyone she had studied up on her plants.
Since Aang didn't eat meat she figured that they might run into this problem at some point. Not every area they stayed at would have a town and market. It felt like ages since they had be an us.
"Mai gave it to me." Katara said.
Aang had just entered the clearing with an arm full of branches. He set about breaking them down methodically and very slowly. It made it obvious he'd heard her. 'Did he have any inclination to talk to me at all?'
"The necklace. Mai gave it to me the first week I was at the palace. She said it meant I was an honorary member of the Fire Court." She touched the pendant. "I guess that's why I'm still wearing it."
"We need a fire." he supplied.
"I couldn't build one. So could you… um you know," she waved her hands awkwardly. It made her feel dirty to ask him to use fire. "I haven't seen her since that day when you took her." Katara muttered.
She didn't bother to hide how much that little incident had bothered her when she first heard about it. Aang's features betrayed nothing but she had gotten his attention. Hell Zuko had kept her up half the night complaining. In fact if she recalled correctly they had started fighting because Zuko wouldn't shut up.
"He took her, he took Mai. That little hypocrite after how wounded he acted and all along he was planning on taking my Mai. Some friend he turned out to be, I mean she was engaged to me. How do just do that to your host?"
"Who took Mai? What are you talking about?" Katara had begun but his words had just made a dent. "Your Mai?" Katara rounded on him, "What do you mean your Mai?"
Zuko backed up a little having been on the tail end of Katara's wrath a few too many times. "You know what I mean. Besides it was your Aang that took her. What about that?" Zuko yelled right back.
"He is not my Aang. Wait, Aang took Mai?" she grabbed Zuko by the shoulders. "Are you sure it was Aang?" she asked not liking the sudden irritation with the dark haired girl.
"Of course it was him. Unless you know someone else who has a flying bison. The bastard had the gall to smile at me. I've never seen Mai take to any one like she did him. I swear Katara, it looked like she was in love." He looked broken for a second but recovered, "She practically glided onto that furry beast." Zuko couldn't contain his rage and punched the wall leaving a smoking hole behind.
A douse of water slammed him into the curtains and he exclaimed outraged to be the recipient of her ferocity. "Did you have to throw it so hard." he remarked feeling the bump that would no doubt show up from cracking his head against his bedroom wall.
"Oh, did I hurt poor Zuko. Stop being a baby." she snarled flinging her water pouch violently on the table. "After how he swore that---he just left without saying good bye and with her," she sniffed.
Zuko and her glanced at each other and each felt the cracks in their relationship begin to show.
"You miss her?" Aang asked incredulously.
Katara snapped from her memories. She was not happy with how often her mistakes seemed to be popping up to torment her lately. She sidestepped his question to gather her thoughts. He glared at her but sent a short burst into the pit she had dug. Together they set the branches until a merry fire glowed.
'What could she say that wouldn't set off their fragile connection.' Mutely she set the kettle and sat back waiting for him to say anything else. "One of many things you didn't seem to care about when you were being friendly with Zuko." Aang had no such worry.
"I've had enough of you insinuations if you want to know something just ask," She shouted. Her plan of apologies and soft talks thrown out the proverbial window. She stared at him over the pit and he spaced his legs far apart as if he was going to attack, which he did.
"Did you sleep with him?" he asked.
"What! I'm not answering that. That is none of your business." She unleashed a string of water but it hit a puff of air which almost extinguished their little fire.
"I guess it's not now. Tell me, did you at least wait until you stomped on my heart or were you too eager to have a piece of the dangerous Firelord. After all that is your type right? I guess I lucked out."
This time the water whip hit its mark but he didn't back down. "You know I see Mai all the time. She lives with me at the Western Air temple." he saw her lip quiver but he was sick of being the nice guy. It hadn't gotten him anything but her playing with him.
"Every time I finish a mission I go home. To her." He threw the letter at her. She picked up the letter and read it. It was so familiar. Like a married couple of many years. What she had hoped they still had a chance of being. But now seeing the delicate black writing, the way it described everyday life. The possibility of not being with him made the knife twist in her heart.
Fate was cruel and Katara was to be the example of what happened when you messed with it.
"Did you expect me to pine away for you. Poor little Aang. The stupid trusting little boy that believed that once he saved the world he would get the girl. I grew up Katara, so should you." He took the letter from her grasp and tucked it into his robes.
"I promise, I will take you home and you never have to think anymore about it. So don't worry your pretty little head. You should go to sleep we have a long journey ahead of us." Aang stalked away and she heard him earthbend a tent for himself. The rock slabs cracking against each other.
She lost herself in arranging camp while he was gone. He had left in such a sour mood, she didn't think she would ever have a chance to get him to open up. Appa had returned and was dozing completely uncaring of the ruckus he had created. Katara glumly cut the plants and stirred them into the pot using her bending to thicken it into a hearty stew.
She wasn't hungry and she doubted Aang would eat anything she gave him but it gave her something to occupy her time. She felt the warm fuzzy coat at her back and she threw herself on the bison. "I've hurt him so badly. I don't deserve him. I should just let Mai make him happy but I don't want to. I love him. I was so blind. Help me Appa. You know him best, what do I do?"
Appa's giant tongue licked her and despite herself she felt calmer. He pushed his nose against the boiling pot of stew and whipped his tail in Aang's direction. "You're right. I guess I have to start all over don't I."
Appa shook his shaggy head and Katara dipped a bowl into the stew.
Feeling the nudge at her back again she bended some into his mouth. "I know, I know. I didn't forget. Ok, I just have to be brave and show him. I can do this right?" Appa blinking giant brown eyes at her.
"Great I am seeking advice from a giant flying ball of fluff. Katara you need to make up with Aang. He's already beginning to drive you crazy." she said to herself as she carefully balanced the two bowls of soup in her hands.
It was awkward to knock at the door but she managed a weak smile when he poked his head out. "You hungry?" she could tell he was going to send her away so she stepped into the tent quickly.
"Please, I know you don't really want me around but just pretend for tonight that were friends again. Besides if you want to travel as quickly as you say then you have to keep up your strength." she spit this all out in one big rush of air afraid that if she paused he would shoot her down again.
"You're right." he said grudgingly taking the bowl from her hands. A stiff thank you later he dug into his stew with gusto. She secretly was pleased to see him enjoy it so much.
"I never slept with him. With Zuko I mean." he raised an eyebrow but kept his concentration on his soup. "He wanted me too but I wanted the right moment. I guess there never was a right one." She put her bowl down and covered his hands, the soup bowl suspended between them. "I never betrayed you in that way. Aang. I know it probably doesn't mean anything to you now but I just didn't want you to think I was that kind of girl." Katara said quietly.
"What kind of girl are you?" he whispered.
"A broken-hearted one. Good night Aang," she said gathering his empty bowl and her full one.
"It might rain tonight. Do you want an earth tent?" he asked stepping outside with her.
"That would be lovely. Thank you." she put some water on the bowls and doused the fire. The sound of earthen slabs coming together was music to her ears.