Book One: Water

Chapter Four: A Friend.

"I have a secret to share."

After the trio had become official, they travelled for about half a day before camping in a nearby island before continuing their trip to the Southern Air Temple, where Aang wanted so eagerly to visit despite his comrades' warnings. They hadn't talked about the war or any other depressing topics but instead they focused on getting to know one another better. They had playful conversations about their childhoods, favorite activities, mild fluffy not so sensitive topics. It was a unanimous, unspoken decision suggested by Sokka and they all agreed by having small talk.

Now, after Sokka had embarrassed himself by telling an exaggerated story of how he once took down ten Fire Nation soldiers alone with the help of his trusty boomerang, Katara decided to play a prank on her egotistic brother. She started by fiddling with the hem of her tunic in a shy bashful manner.

"What?" Aang asked, hoping it would be something as light-hearted and as funny as the one Sokka just said. He was enjoying the whole silly, youthful and childish aura that filled the air. It reminded him of his days at the temple. He didn't know how much he missed it until he got a taste of his former every day life. It only made him more impatient to return home, praying that what Katara told him about his people wasn't true.

She looked away, trying her very best to hide her mischievous smirk. "Well, it's really embarrassing…" she trailed, raising the suspense.

The two boys looked at her, anticipant that her confession would serve another round of friendly teasing and laughter.

She glanced at her older brother who was now pinching his knees in crippling expectation of what she intended to be a half-truth. "It's about a boy." She said it so fast that they barely understood. Well, Aang barely understood, Sokka was wide-eyed.

He furrowed his brows. "What boy?"

She then took a dreadfully long pause. Aang was already losing interest in what she had to say, excusing himself from their small circle that surrounded the slowly burning fire that blandly lit up the darkness. He stood up and went to check on Appa, making sure the bison was comfortable and ready for a good night's rest. After that, he informed the siblings that he was going to take a quick bath in the river not too far from them, but the two Water Tribe siblings were so involved in their bickering about Katara's not-so-funny joke that they unknowingly ignored him. He could only smile at their enviable relationship.

With only himself, he took a short stroll to the clear flowing river and began stripping. Butt naked, he slowly entered the water, the coldness of the water instantly calming his haywire nerves. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't very much still nervous about the future. He tried not to think about it too much but in spite of his efforts, the thought of how the future and fate of the entire world rested in his unsure hands always crept in. What if he couldn't do it? What if he failed? When the Monks told him of his identity and even after two years of isolation, he didn't and doesn't still know anything about being the Avatar. It made him feel doubtful of his abilities and capacity to save the world. Maybe he wasn't the right Avatar to end this war. Maybe he just had to pass this on to the next Avatar after him. The Monks told him that the Avatar is reincarnated into the next nation in the cycle once the existing Avatar dies. Well, all he had to do was die. That way the world would get a better and more capable Avatar to save them. If only dying were as easy as he contemplated it.

He also couldn't help but think about his people. His dream, Katara's explanation, and the state of the world, all pointed to one thing. The inescapable fate of his people. He wanted so bad not to believe it. But nothing was pointing to his own assumptions. Everything said "they're all gone." It pained him deeply but if he couldn't avoid the future – or past – that was already set in stone, he could at least avoid how he felt about it. He might as well act as if nothing was said or foreseen. Act indifferently.

He sighed and sunk deeper into the cool water; half of his face covered with only his nose upwards above for air.

"I don't want to do this." He mumbled solemnly. "I don't want to die either."

Interrupting his train of hesitant thoughts, he heard rustling from behind him. Instinctively, he grabbed his clothes and climbed out of the river. Before he could put on his undergarments, his heard his name being called by a familiar voice.

"Why do you feel the need to play with my protectiveness like that, Katara?" Sokka whined.

The younger one just giggled at her brother's gullibility. She only lied about a fling that she had a year ago with some random boy she made up, nothing but a harmless prank. She expected him to be smarter than this. He knew almost everyone in the entire Southern Water Tribe and should've know that the only eligible bachelor in the whole tribe was Tarik, and she didn't think of him that way. Also, she felt that if he could tell exaggerated stories about his bravery then she could tell exaggerated stories about her nonexistent love life.

"Because it's fun to see you all grumpy about me with boys." She teased. She then turned serious. "But, if I ever get that glorious opportunity one day, you will not interfere like that!" she warned.

Sokka rolled his eyes. "As if the glorious opportunity will actually ever come!" now it was his turn to tease.

"Of course, it will!"

"Not in these times. How can you like someone in the middle of a war? It's ridiculous and irrelevant."

She sighed. "You're right. My head was in the clouds, again."

Sokka nodded. He loved being right. "Yeah, just like all those times when you'd be listening to Gran-Gran's stories about the Avatar with stars in your eyes and…head in the clouds." He pointed out, expecting another admittance.

Instead, she rolled her eyes. "If you think about it, my head actually wasn't in the clouds... I was right to remain hopeful because look-" she pointed to where she assumed Aang was sleeping but was met with an empty space. "Where is he?" she turned to her brother.

Sokka's expression changed from shocked to worried to a half smirk. He folded his arms and laughed mockingly. "It seems your head was in the clouds, sis." He only meant it as a joke. He was genuinely worried about Aang but couldn't help taunt his sister.

She growled at him. "This isn't the time for this, Sokka! I'll check further into the woods; you check that rocky area." She instructed and then took off.

As Katara ventured into the woods, she couldn't help but think the worst. What if he had been captured by the Fire Nation again? What if Prince Zuko caught up to them already? She certainly wasn't ready to fight again, not tonight.

She searched for a while then was getting close to the river when she heard a voice. It sounded small, like the person was in pain, but not being hurt physically. She heard the person mumble again. She couldn't make out what they said but it still sounded as sad and as hopeless as the first one. She moved closer to the source of the despondent whispers, pushing past the bushes roughly. She arrived at the river and saw, barely, the blue arrow on his head.

"Aang?"

He froze. He closed his eyes, thinking she'd go away if he remained immobile and didn't respond. This was probably the most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to him…ever. He wished he could just shrink or atomize. He just needed to vanish from this wrong situation.

Katara stood there, not sure if she saw right or not. It was nighttime so she might just be imagining things. But why would she imagine this. On impulse, to avoid any more awkwardness, she turned around sputtering some uncoordinated apology, her face beet red.

"It's okay." He managed to mutter, now fully clothed.

She was still looking away even though she knew he was no longer bare, trying to avoid confronting him. She could only whisper in a breath, "Sokka and I were looking for you. I- we- didn't know you were um, here…" she trailed.

He nodded slowly, drying himself with a small breeze. He had forgotten, being so flustered and all.

"I'm sorry you had to see me like that." He finally said after a long minute of uncomfortable silence.

She turned around abruptly, stumbling on her words. "N-No! I'm sorry. I just…walked in on you! I should've been more careful."

He looked away. This inopportune situation had just tainted them, her more than him. He sighed. "Well, it happened and we can't change it. Let's just put this behind us. Please?" he tried to act on one of his teachings from the temples. Past is past – you cannot change it. Instead of focusing on what was, we should open our minds to the possibility of a better future. If they both let it go, maybe they could look back one day and laugh at the situation instead of dwell on it infinitely.

She nodded, her cheeks still very red. He held out his hand for a friendly shake to seal the deal but she rejected it, tersely saying. "Sorry. I'm just really, really weirded out and confused." She scurried back to their campsite.

"Confused?"

Upon returning to the campsite, the waterbender noticed her brother wasn't back yet. If she'd already found Aang, then what was he still doing? She didn't want to start worrying about someone again after her concern caused her her innocence. She groaned and went to search for her brother in the direction she'd sent him. Before she could even begin searching, Sokka emerged from the darkness with a dead boar-pig in his arms, grinning victoriously.

"What is this?" she asked as he set the carcass on floor.

"Dinner!" Sokka boasted of his triumphant catch after he didn't find Aang. He looked around the fire and didn't spot the airbender. "Where is he? Didn't you find him?"

As if on cue, Aang returned and sat by the fire, explaining where he'd been. He didn't even bother asking Sokka about the bleeding boar-pig by his side. He wasn't going to eat it anyway. He was a vegetarian. He retired to his makeshift bed – Appa's leg and bid both siblings goodnight, barely sparing them a look.

"Must have been a real cold bath. It washed out his personality too." Sokka commented snidely.

Katara stared intensely at the crackling fire, regretting why she'd been so mean and rejecting his offer to put this behind them. Wasn't that what she wanted? To just act as if this didn't ruin the curiosity, she had for what manhood actually meant? Now she could never be curious. Now she had been soiled. The innocence forever gone. She might as well forget about it. No man would ever want to marry her knowing that she'd been soiled mentally. But at least she could be nicer to her friend who was just as much of a victim as she was.

"Wait, I'll go too!"

The next morning, Aang awoke first – him being an early riser – Katara second and as usual, Sokka last. They split the morning chores between themselves, which included fetching water, gathering food, tidying up camp and making a fire. Aang had volunteered to fetch water, hoping for more time to revive his personality privately. Since he was freed from his ice prison, he had been feeling rather apprehensive and scared of the future. The truth in his dream was becoming more and more realistic and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't avoid the unavoidable because his inner self, his truth, knew that in a few days from now, he'd cry. So, he was isolating himself to meditate, in order to achieve some level of peace, so that he'd remain fairly sane enough to be around other unburdened teens.

He picked up the container and was about to leave when Katara offered to join him. At first, he was shocked, then confused, then unwilling.

He gave her one of his innocently beautiful smiles. "That's okay, Katara. I can carry it on my own."

She took the container from him. "I know you can, but we'll take turns." Before he could complain, she was already halfway into the forest and all he could do was follow after her.

When they reached the bank, Katara came to an abrupt stop and turned to face him, a look of resolve in her deep blue eyes. "I'm sorry I was so mean yesterday. It was just an unfortunate experience for both of us and I hope you forgive me." She ended with a friendly smile.

Aang was never angry at her. Heck, he didn't even notice she was being mean. He just assumed that she was too stunned to speak and that was understandable. He nodded, replicating her smile. "I was never mad at you, Katara. I was madder at myself for, um…personal reasons. I just hope we can finally put this whole ordeal behind us!"

She equally nodded and bent down to bail the water into the container, using an easy bending form that even she could handle. After she was done filing up the container, Aang carried it on their way back to camp. The atmosphere wasn't tense anymore but Katara could feel him distancing himself, not physically but emotionally and mentally. She intended to not pry into the subject if it was something that he wasn't willing to share, but she found herself being too caring.

"Hey," she started softly. He hummed in response. "What's on your mind?"

He shrugged as if his mind was actually blank. "Nothing. Just how happy I am to have friends like you and Sokka." He wasn't lying per se but stating his feelings from another time now. He had had this thought after they'd officially become a team. He'd lay down, relaxing on Appa's head as they cruised the evening skies, having travelled a long distance. He looked up and something or rather someone inside him; like some part of him, told him that this was his new family. Then he didn't understand and he still fully doesn't but he knew then, to appreciate them – at least while he still had them.

Katara smiled. "We're happy to be your friend too, Aang. I'm especially happy because you're the first male friend I've had, other than my brother, in years. The South's not really full of teenagers, you know."

Aang nodded. "I noticed."

She kicked her feet. "So, that's why I was all flustered and confused and…mean." She explained, looking at her smallish feet.

Aang rose a brow. "Because?" he trailed.

"Because well, I didn't think that'd be my first encounter with— you know what? We agreed it was behind us and it is. I'm not bringing it up again." She said speed walking to the now visible campsite.

Aang sighed and followed her. At this point, he knew for sure that he had more understanding of being the avatar than girls. And he knew absolutely nothing about being the avatar.

"Okay, so, in order to get to the North Pole, we'll need a map." Sokka started as he rummaged through one of Aang's bags strapped to Appa's saddle.

Breakfast had already been eaten and midday was approaching. Sokka thought it would be a good idea to create a travel schedule so they'd be able to track their time.

Katara then brought out a piece of paper from her bag. "But Sokka, we already have a map." She gestured to the paper she held.

Sokka looked at her incredulously. "I meant one that wasn't decades old from the village!" he sighed in exasperation and continued searching while Katara released an angry puff of air. "A-ha!" he cried once he found it. He climbed down from the bison and sat by his sister.

He spread it out and groaned in an annoyance at what he saw. "What the-

"What?" Katara asked.

"Aang, what did you write all over this thing?" Sokka eyed the airbender who sat in a meditative position on top of a slightly distanced boulder.

Aang ignored him, deep in his spiritual practice. He inhaled deeply and after a short while, exhaled with the same intensity.

"Aang!" Sokka yelled louder. "Aang!" and louder. "Aang!" And louder. "Aan-

"What do you want, Sokka?!" Aang yelled, airbending himself to a standing position. "Can't you see I'm busy?!"

Sokka flinched slightly, not expecting that kind of reaction from him. He cleared his throat, shaking the surprise off himself. "I just wanted to make a small inquiry, if you're levelheaded enough, that is." He needled.

Aang sighed and sat by them, his head hanging in shame. "I'm sorry. I was just- never mind. What is it?"

Sokka shrugged and flattened the creased map. "How old is this map? Also, what are all these markings? I can barely see anything underneath them." He complained pointing at what he disliked.

Aang looked away flushing. "Uh, well, the map's probably outdated and those markings are uh, well…" he trailed, embarrassment written all over his face.

Sokka whined as he closed up the map. "Oh right! This is even more outdated than the ones back home!" he got up, murmuring something along the lines of 'a hundred damned years?!'

After Sokka left, Katara continued observing the antique map until something dawned on her. Aang was about returning to his previous activity when she said, "Hey Aang, have you been to all these places before?"

He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned back. He surrendered. "Yeah. All over the world actually."

She gasped in disbelief, sparkles in her eyes. How she longed for the opportunity to travel the world! "Really? That's awesome- but why do you look so glum about it?"

He looked away, again. "I uh, wanted to visit some of these places before we reach the North Pole. But I don't know…"

She smiled warmly at him. He wanted to travel about, not like some military force on a serious mission, but as a nomad because that was his nature. She placed a slender finger on her chin, looking decisively at the map. "Well, there's no rush, is there? I'm sure we can make a few fun pitstops."

As soon as she said those words, Aang felt his ears twitch from the intensity of his grin. He repressed the feeling to pull the young waterbender into a hug, assuming it to be inappropriate for some reason. He breathed. "Really?"

"Really."

Just then, his frown dissipated. "But what if Sokka-

She cut him off. "Sokka won't mind. So, where do you want to go first? Where's this?" she immediately started browsing through, a rare look of excitement on her perfect features. "What's koi fish? Are they real? What about this?"

Aang watched her be amazed, a warmth suddenly generating in his stomach. She looked so beautiful as she was captivated by the creatures he had planned to ride. He looked away so she wouldn't catch him staring. He felt strange and that bothered him.

She looked up and he looked lost in thought. "So?"

He blinked, returning to reality. He smiled at her. "The Southern Air Temple."

A/N: Welp. Here's one for the week or two...

Hope you liked it. If you did, review, review!

Love all my readers...