Hobby
In the peacetime, an unexpected thing happened that Katara hadn't predicted: Aang was becoming bored out his mind.
It was a horrible consequence of living so many months on the run, constantly on the move and with too much happening too fast. Their schedule had been chaotic and danger had seemed to lurk at every turn, under every pebble. So now that there wasn't anything or anyone chasing them, nothing to fear in the dark corners of uncertainty or in a room, it seemed to open up blocks of time they didn't know how to deal with.
There were only so many moves Katara could do and practice, even beginning to make a few moves and sequences of her own. Now that warriors weren't needed, Sokka simply lounged around most of the time with Toph joining him. Katara was truly worrying about their whispers of supposed plans of producing cactus juice for the masses.
Now, she had to admit, her and Aang weren't any better. Most days they lied in the shade of trees or went on leisurely walks and flights on Appa, holding hands and stealing kisses. The way she could always make him blush and he could make her breathless without bending, it was amazing. But it was still only part of their life and they didn't want to focus solely on that. True, they knew that they were never to entirely tire of themselves, but it was only healthy to have other activities rather than making out. Katara liked that activity though... very much.
The only thing that seemed to change daily was what matters needed to be discussed in the once fire war-room. The four of them would trudge in and Zuko would conduct the talks and debates on how to rebuild and heal with his council and representatives from the other nations (poor Aang, he had to represent the air benders and be the Avatar; tough double-standard). They had decided to stay at the palace until everything was dealt with; being unable to travel far was what Katara thought affected Aang the most.
The peace wore thin, and Katara watched as Aang became even more edgy, even jitterier in his everyday nothing activities. He seemed to begin to overreact to things, one market day blowing an entire cabbage cart into the air when one had fallen onto the ground from behind him.
So she had gone to Iroh, one of the wisest people she had come to know. When he simply smiled and gave her a pipa, she had raised an eyebrow and asked Zuko, who was next to his uncle, if he was serious. The young lord had simply sighed and nodded, saying it was probably the truth if his uncle was suggesting it.
Katara was just as surprised at Aang's slow breakdown when he took an instant liking to it. His grey eyes had seemed to glimmer in excitement when she pulled it out from behind her back to him.
He would take it wherever he went, fingers attentive to the strings and sounds he could produce. Katara had to admit, he was angry-Hei-Bai-Spirit awful; the way he would twang the strings and place his fingers too low on the frets and cause high-pitched notes that had Momo rolling on the ground in what seemed like pain.
But over time his ears began to understand and his fingers complied; there were suddenly melodies and harmony.
They started out simple and plain, but Katara enjoyed them immensely as they walked through markets or the palace. Over time they became elaborate and his fingers were dancing up and down the frets, the strings humming in what seemed like joy as Aang played the instrument with skill and precision. It had been just like bending; time and practice and dedication. Katara grinned in secret as he now had to do something without pure talent, it was hilarious how his tongue always seemed stuck out in concentration.
Yet Katara didn't care very much if he was good or bad (although Sokka and her ears seemed to differ), what mattered was it kept him intent on everything around and engaged in the slow-paced life they'd established. The way it made simply lying in the shade on afternoons or late nights of full moons even more enjoyable; it kept Aang oddly grounded.
And when on one certain night Aang had floated up to her window with the pipa, eyes closed as he played a melody that had her hands grasping for him closer, Katara knew that she owed Iroh a lifetime amount of tea.
AN: A pipa is the Avatar world's guitar, to put it simply. Other than that, hope you guys liked it and reviews would be lovely! Thank you for the ones people have already left, they give me great inspiration!