I don't hate Haru and the couple Katara&Haru and their fans. I believe that everyone likes their own and I didn't want to offend anyone.

Enjoy reading!

I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Chapter 4

"So how are you going to help me with Aang?" I asked as I sat down on the bed.

We were in my room, where Suki dragged me right after the Coronation.

"We'll give you a romantic reunion that you haven't had since Comet," Suki replied, standing next to the door as if waiting for someone.

- Yes, we didn't have that, but we already had an interaction, although not very pleasant, - I reminded. – And I'm still not sure why Aang would have to agree to this "event".

"Don't worry about it, Katara," the Kyoshi warrior said seriously. – Toph is currently working on a solution to this problem.

- Is Toph talking to Aang? - I asked, to which the girl nodded. – Wow, I didn't expect this from her.

"We all want you to be happy," Suki clarified. – And remember true love does not disappear just like that.

Hearing these words again, I felt a surge of strength again.

"Thanks, Suki," I said.

"Please, Katara," the girl smiled when someone knocked on our door.

Suki opened the door, and I saw Sokka, who came in, carrying a dress with him.

"I never thought that I would bring my sister a dress for a date myself," he said irritably, to which the Kyoshi warrior hit him on the arm. – Ah! What was that for?

"Be nice," the girl asked, and my brother nodded.

"Is this dress for me?" I asked, not believing my eyes. – It's just great, Sokka! - I exclaimed. – Where did you get it? Wait, and if it doesn't suit me?

- Don't worry, Katara, there are hidden suspenders here that you can use, - my brother clarified, putting the dress on the bed.

- We're going to arrange a date for you now, and you get ready for the celebration. I'll see you there, - after these words, they left.

I walked into a room full of guests, looking around. Suki, who was wearing a green dress, but still with fans on the sides and Kyoshi warrior makeup, came up to me.

"You look lovely, Katara!" Suki exclaimed, smiling.

"I agree with her, sis," Sokka added, coming up to us. – You know, if it was a date with someone other than Aang, I would never let you go to him in such an outfit.

I could only smile at the compliments.

I was wearing an azure dress that accentuated the color of my eyes. The dress was topless, revealing my neck, which was wearing my mother's necklace, and shoulders, over which my thick brown hair was flowing, reaching to the waist. The dress was somewhat tight around the hips, but there was a cutout on the left, so I could walk freely.

"Aang won't be able to ignore you and your beauty," Suki encouraged.

I blushed at the thought of going on a date with Aang in such a dress.

"And he'd better not lower his gaze below your neck," my brother warned.

- Sokka! - I chided, but nevertheless, I blushed again.

- I'm serious! – he replied.

"Okay, stop," Suki interrupted us. - Sokka, you will still have time to give a lecture to Aang, this is not about that. She turned to me now but was interrupted.

- You look great in this dress, Sweetness! - Toph exclaimed.

- Really? Thank you, Toph... - I began but stopped. – Are you serious?

"I'm glad you're in shape, Honey," the blind girl said with a grin. – So, on business. The Twinkletoes are with Sparky right now, they're talking to some generals. Regarding his condition: I molested him quite a lot, so he confessed that he loves you. However, the boy is on the verge of a breakdown. Therefore, we will all be there to help you in case of a problem.

- Help? - I was surprised.

"Yes, Katara," Suki replied. – No offense, but things have been difficult between you lately.

"That's right," I muttered, feeling a pang of guilt that things weren't so simple between us. – So, what's the plan?

- Zuko gave us a room where we arranged everything for your date, - Sokka explained. – The symbol of the Water Tribe is hanging on the door, so you can't go wrong with the door. First, we'll call you there, and then Aang.

"Are you sure Aang will go there?" I asked.

"We'll tell him that Sokka wants to talk to him about something. We haven't come up with a topic yet, as I personally can't imagine Sokka being serious."

- Hey! - Sokka exclaimed, and I grinned. – I can be serious whenever I want!

"Of course, Meathead," Toph assured him.

- In general, I have to wait for your signal, right?

- Yes. And while you're waiting, you can go have some fun, but not anything serious, Katara, - Suki said, after which she and Sokka left.

"I'll keep an eye on you with the help of the bend of the earth," Toph said.

"Thanks, Toph," I said.

"Please, Katara," the girl said softly. – Good luck, - she walked away after these words.

Before I could move away, Haru came up to me.

"You look great, Katara," he said, looking me up and down.

I felt uncomfortable and wanted to gently brush him off, but also didn't want to offend him.

- Do you want to dance? - he asked.

"But the music isn't playing," I said, and as luck would have it, a slow melody started playing.

Haru came up to me and put his hand on my waist.

"One dance, Katara, please," he begged.

"One dance won't hurt, right?" I thought uncertainly, biting my lip.

"Only one, Haru," I agreed with a sigh, taking a position for the dance.

So, we started dancing. I felt uncomfortable, so I looked around.

"I wish this melody would end soon... Ugh! Why did I agree..." - I stood up like a pillar.

I looked straight into Aang's eyes. Surprisingly, he did not look away like last time, but just smiled sadly.

I started to push Haru away, but he held on tight.

"The dance isn't over yet, Katara," he said in confusion.

"I have to go," I answered quickly.

"I like you, Katara," he whispered, to which I turned my head to him.

"That's what I don't needed..."

- Haru, you're a good friend, but I love Aang, I'm sorry, - I said, breaking out of his grip.

"You taught me never to give up, Katara," he clarified. – You inspired me to never lose hope. Be honest with yourself, you need a man, not a boy. Aang saved the world, and he doesn't need a babysitter anymore," he whispered at the end, then kissed me.

His lips were cold and nasty, not like Aang's. I broke free and with all my strength gave the conqueror of the earth a slap in the face, so much so that he fell to the floor.

- I love Aang, Haru! I'm not going to leave him because of…

"Aang," flashed through my head. I turned my head to where he had been standing before, but the conqueror of the air was no longer there.

"Haru, you idiot! If I didn't have to go now, you'd be so dead right now," I growled, feeling tears in my eyes.

I wanted to run to look for Aang, but Toph ran up to me.

- What did you do?! – she screamed.

- Haru ruined everything! – I clarified.

- Haru?... – the blind girl turned her head towards the conqueror of the earth, and I could bet that he gasped in fear of her.

"Find Aang, Katara," she said without turning around. "And I'll give a lecture to our friend," she added in a low voice, cracking her knuckles.

I didn't need to be told twice, so I rushed to the balcony to first inspect the surroundings visible from there.

When I entered, I didn't find the one I was looking for. Although I knew I couldn't stop looking, I felt tears start to flow from my eyes.

"Yue, help me," I whispered, hoping for help.

- What is such a beautiful girl doing alone? a voice asked from behind me.

I turned around, expecting some more impudent guy, but I only saw General Iroh.

- Iroh? - I asked, to which he smiled kindly.

"You're quite perceptive, Master Katara," Iroh said, smiling as he approached me.

I smiled through my tears, giggling. When he heard me, he immediately realized what state I was in.

"You're crying," he said. – But why?

- I'm afraid I've lost someone I love madly. And I can't blame anyone but myself. I made so many mistakes," I explained, leaning on the parapet, and looking at the moon.

"I take it you're talking about Avatar Aang," he asked.

- Yes, but how do you know? - I was surprised, turning my head.

- When the young Avatar and I went to rescue you and Zuko, he asked for advice. He mentioned the choice between strength and love. He chose love. And then I met you at the White Lotus Camp. It wasn't hard to guess that you are not indifferent to each other," explained Iroh. – And I can say that the young Avatar has good taste, - and he laughed loudly.

I blushed at this statement.

"But now back to the point," Uncle Zuko said, becoming serious, but at the same time his kindness was felt. "Why do you think you've lost him?"

- He confessed his feelings to me, and I refused him because I was too scared. And then everything became too much…

- What was your fear?

- I-I was afraid of losing Aang again. I already lost my mom during the Fire Nation raid. If I had lost him too, I would have broken down. That's why I hid my feelings, my love for him, so that he could focus on the battle with Ozai and not be distracted, and so that in the event of his death," I shuddered, "it wouldn't hurt so much. And now I have to pay for my actions.

- Your thoughts are clear to me, but fear should never prevent true love from opening up, - said Iroh, somewhat saddened. "When I lost my son, Lu Teng, I thought there was no more love in my life. I lifted the siege of Ba Sing Se and retired from military affairs, going on a journey, wanting to find peace for my soul, but I could not do it. Then, when I returned to the Nation of Fire, I began to get attached to Zuko. He never had a real father, and now I didn't have a son. I began to take care of him as my own. And then I fell in love with my nephew, and it didn't matter to me that he wasn't my son," he said. – If I hid my emotions, feelings behind the fear of losing someone again, I would never get close to Zuko. I found peace for my old soul. Don't let your fear rule your life, Master Katara, because…

I didn't listen to him any further, lost in my thoughts, thinking over what I had heard.

- ...Now the world will change. And how it will change will depend largely on the Avatar," I heard Iroh finish.

- How does it depend on Aang? - I asked.

- Avatars are also people, Master Katara, Aang has been in the ice for a hundred years, lost his entire nation, and now, as I understand from your words, he thinks that the only thing he fought for has turned away from him. That everything important to him turned out to be just a dummy.

"But I would never-" I began, but Iroh interrupted me.

"I understand, but the young Avatar doesn't know that. And now we can only hope that Aang will be able to build a bright future, returning the world to its former beauty, which was before this terrible war. Or he can turn away from him, not wanting to live in a world in which, in his opinion, he has no place or happiness," explained Iroh. "Even the smallest ripple can lead to destructive waves, Master Katara. The longer you do nothing, the more deadly it becomes.

When I realized the information I received, my eyes widened.

- He will close himself off from the world! It will close from me! And I won't be able to get it back again! I exclaimed.

"You're right, Katara. Go and find Aang's Avatar and fix your mistakes before it's too late!" Uncle Zuko thundered.

I quickly summoned water from the pond under the balcony and froze it to slide down the ice into the palace garden. "Where can you be, Aang? I would like any, even the smallest sign of where you are," I thought, looking around. It was at this moment that the moonlight showed me a message on the grass. I liked it and read: "City Lake".

"Thank you, Yue!", I whispered, glancing at the moon, and then rushed to my destination.

When I got to the city lake, I didn't immediately notice Aang. It wasn't until I looked around for the second time that I saw him. He was sitting under a lonely tree, with his bare torso and his eyes closed. His robe was lying nearby. I cautiously approached him and sat down next to him, trying not to disturb him. It wasn't until I got close enough that I noticed the wounds and burns on his body. "I haven't healed you, Aang," I thought, and was about to summon water from the lake, when suddenly the young conqueror of the air spoke.

"I'm sorry," he said without moving.

- You? But for what? - I asked in surprise, intending to apologize myself.

- First of all, for a kiss at the performance. You told me it wasn't the time, but I didn't listen and kissed you anyway. I put myself above, and because of this, everything between us became so difficult, - he sighed. – Then I behaved terribly towards you, although it's not your fault that you don't feel the same. It's just that I was so angry at the whole situation ... - now Aang took my hand but did not look at me. – I'm sorry that I'm interrupting your personal life. Just say the word and I'll disappear… I will do everything to make you happy, Katara... - he whispered, trying to hide his own pain in his voice, but I heard her.

Now I was sobbing silently, holding on to his hand with all my might. How could this boy, this wonderful boy, fall in love with me, a simple girl from the Water Tribe, and let me go for my happiness, even if it was worth his own.

Aang was a monk. He was taught to give up a lot, not to have any material values and earthly attachments. He always refused something if someone else needed it. But I planned, no matter what, to always be with him in his life, sharing both grief and happiness. To be his constant in the past, present and future.

- Oh, Aang... - I whispered, feeling my eyes fill with tears, and rushed to hug him, to which he responded, to my delight.

I heard him groan very softly, but he didn't let go. He burrowed into my hair and inhaled its scent, making me giggle.

I sensed that he wanted to say something and shushed him.

"Don't say anything, Aang. It was all my fault from the beginning, I was acting like a bitch," I began. – After our kiss on the boat on the day of the Invasion, I was scared. I was afraid that I would cross the line, after which I would not be able to return. That's why I've been avoiding you and talking about it. And then you kissed me in the theater, confessing your feelings, and I got mad at you for having to step out of my comfort zone on this issue. And when you disappeared, I was madly scared that I would not see you again and would not say what I had been hiding in my heart for so long… I was so fixated on winning the war, protecting you and my heart, that I completely forgot that you also have feelings.… That you're an emotional boy who just wanted to know how I feel about you… I'm sorry that I forgot that you are also a person ... the guys even prepared a romantic date for us, at which I would reveal my feelings… It really didn't go the way it was supposed to go," I smiled bitterly.

Slightly opening his arms to look into my eyes, Aang whispered: "I don't need luxurious dates and ways of recognition, Katara. You just need to open up to me."

Emboldened, I pressed my lips to his. His lips were soft and tender. He didn't answer for a few seconds, but then he answered with such force that I was surprised. My hands were on his chest, and Aang's hands were in my hair, pulling me closer.

After a while, we pulled away and pressed our foreheads together to take a breath of air.

- You are very beautiful in this dress, Katara, - whispered airbender.

"Thank you," I said, blushing.

After a while, I remembered the healing again.

"You need healing, Aang," I said.

"Good," Aang replied.

I called the water from the lake to my hands, after which they lit up with a soft blue light. I started with his back, healing every cut, be it small or big.

"You didn't tell me what happened to you after you disappeared," I mentioned in a whisper.

"Of course," he said, and began. – After I ran away from you during an argument, I tried to contact the past Avatars to get some advice, but it was all in vain. At some point I fell asleep and woke up already on some island in the ocean. I tried to talk to my past lives again, and they came. Everyone, even the Avatar of the air Nomads, Yangchen, told me to kill Ozai, but I didn't want to do it! Then I noticed that the island was moving, and it turned out to be a Giant Lion Turtle! She gave me the knowledge so I could defeat Ozai without killing him! After that, she dropped me off in the Ulong Forest, where I met the Fire Lord. A fight ensued, but in the end, he pinned me down – I had to hide in a stone shelter, but he broke it. I flew into a rock where there was a ledge right across my lightning scar-right now I was working on it and saw that the scar had skinned off- and I was suddenly able to enter the Avatar state. Now it was the other way around–I was chasing Ozai. As a result, I chained him lying on a rock and was about to kill him, but I came out of the Avatar state in time. He tried to fight back, but I shackled him again and lowered him to his knees, after which I performed a trick with bending Energy. At the end, I took his bend of fire, and then Sokka arrived. Actually, that's it," he finished.

"While we were all pressuring him about killing Ozai, he was able to find another way to save himself," I thought, feeling a pang of guilt that I doubted him.

"It must have been very hard," I asked.

"Not so much difficult as dangerous," Aang replied. "Only a person with an indomitable soul can do this. Otherwise, he will be corrupted and destroyed. I almost lost, but in the end, I stood up and won," he explained. – And how did it go with you and Zuko?

- In short, we arrived during the coronation of Azula, so Zuko summoned her to Agni Kai. He seemed to be winning, but Azula broke the rules and attacked me by sending lightning. Zuko saved me, after which I continued this fight. I froze her and me in ice, then defrosted and chained her up. That's how I defeated her," I said.

- Wow… You really are the most powerful waterbender, Katara. Defeating Azula during the Comet is worth a lot, - Aang complimented.

- Thank you ... - I said, and then added: - turn around, your back is finished.

He turned around, and I started. Aang sat quietly, watching my movements with his eyes. There was something intimate about that moment. A thin layer of water separated my hand from his soft skin. The two of us were sitting on the shore of the lake in the moonlight while I was healing him, and he was without a robe. And a few moments ago, we were kissing.

It took me a while to heal all of his injuries. He started to get up, but I stopped him.

"Wait," I said, slowly lowering him, holding his hand.

Calling water to the tip of my finger, I began to slowly heal his small scratches and cuts on his face. A cut on the nose passing through the left cheek, scratches above the eye and others. He kept looking, so I tried not to pay attention, as it was a little distracting. When I finished, I stared at his lips for a while. They were neither too thin nor too full. Perfect.

"I love you, Katara," he suddenly whispered, and I was somewhat taken aback, but I felt my heart warm up.

I wanted to respond in kind, but I couldn't. Aang was silent for a while, obviously expecting the same, but not hearing the cherished words, he sighed and smiled sadly but tenderly and whispered: "I've been waiting for you for a hundred years, Katara, I can wait a little longer." Then he kissed me very gently and languidly on the cheek, slowly got up, took his robe, looked at me (there was a spark of love in his eyes – I finally saw it), and slowly walked towards the palace.

Waiting until he disappeared from sight, I raised my eyes to the moon and whispered: "Why is everything so complicated, Yue? " When I didn't get an answer, I got up, shook out my dress and headed to the palace, planning to go to bed, since tomorrow afternoon we were supposed to fly to Ba Sing Se.