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I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Chapter 5
So, we arrived at Ba Sing Se. The way here, to be honest, was not what I expected it to be. I thought I would spend this time with Aang, introducing us as a couple. We would kiss (I blushed inwardly), hug and spend a lot of time together. However, the behavior of the airbender refuted this. No, his behavior and attitude towards me was completely normal, but that's what was confusing. He acted like we were just friends. It's as if our conversation on the shore of the lake in the Caldera never happened. At first, I was perplexed about this, but then I realized that he was just giving me exactly what I asked him for: time and space. I also thought about the fact that I never told him the cherished words, so he allocated space for himself.
Right now, we were at Iroh's Jasmine Dragon Tearoom, where he allowed us to stay. I was in my room, next to Sokka, Suki and Toph, who wanted to hear about what happened at the celebration in the Nation of Fire. However, when I said that I had hit Haru in the face, Toph intervened, who said that after that she gave him a good beating, and then chained him in metal and locked him in the closet. Despite the fact that I was very angry at Haru, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him, but I threw this thought out of my head, since it wasn't up to him right now.
- So, as we understand, you eventually found Aang? - Suki asked.
- Yes, in the end I found him, - I confirmed, deciding to omit the part where I communicated with Uncle Iroh and the one where Yue helped me. – He was at the city lake.
- And how did it go? - Sokka asked. - I hope he didn't lower his gaze?
- N-no, - I said, slightly embarrassed. – But he paid me a compliment.
- I knew he would do it! - Suki exclaimed.
- Compliments are, of course, good, — Toph remarked. - But have you figured out your relationship or not?
"Well, to some extent, yes..." I muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The blind girl asked irritably.
- W-we kissed, - I said and blushed, and my brother twisted his face, - and he confessed his love to me…
- Congratulations! - Suki exclaimed. – Wait, what does "he confessed his love to me" mean?
- I-I couldn't answer him the same... - I muttered, lowering my head.
- What?! - Toph exclaimed loudly, standing up. – Damn it, Sweetness! Why didn't you do it?
"I don't know..." I whispered.
- I can't hear! - Toph said.
- I don't know! - I also exclaimed, looking at her. – I do not know why I did not do it! I really love him, but for some reason I couldn't confess my love to him!
- So, you don't know, - the earthbender immediately calmed down. – Let me ask you, what are you waiting for?
- W-what?
- I'm asking, what are you waiting for, Katara? Are you waiting for Aang to reincarnate?
The thought that one day Aang would die, and his place would be taken by the next Avatar, who would be a completely different person, made my stomachache painfully.
"I agree with Toph, Katara," Sokka added. – We already had a similar conversation on Ember Island, remember?
- Yes! I confessed my feelings, in a way, when we kissed! - I spoke.
"Look at this from Aang's side, Katara," the Kyoshi warrior offered, drawing my attention. – That's right, you kissed, and Aang, I think, liked it…
- Suki! Not you either, - my brother pleaded.
"Ah, the point is, Katara, he's just afraid."
"Afraid? I don't want to hurt him, Suki," I was surprised.
"But how would he know that?" – she replied. – You haven't shown your feelings for him for a long time, how can he be sure that this kiss meant as much to you as it did to him?
- But I…
"You didn't tell him you loved him in words, did you? Now you've switched places, Katara. This time he keeps his feelings and emotions close by, protecting his heart. And it's you who should open up to him.
"I see the point," I said after a moment's thought. – But when we were at the lake, and Aang confessed his love to me, and I didn't say the same, he said that he was ready to wait for me.
"He said he'd wait, Katara," Sokka said. "But he never said you were a couple. Yes, and he behaved friendly towards you, and I have never seen him try to be alone with you.
- Sokka wants to say, - Suki summed up. – That Aang needs to hear confessions from you if you want a healthy relationship.
- You'll excuse me, but my limit on such conversations is exhausted, - Toph intervened, getting up from the floor on which she was lying. – And I'll tell you what: either confess your love to him and live happily ever after, which we all wish you, or let Aang go so that he can move on. It's time to act, Honey, - and with these words, the earthbender left.
- It seems to me that there is nothing left to say, - Sokka remarked. – Toph said everything clearly and clearly.
"I'll tell him tonight," I decided. – When does Aang come back from the meeting?
"Considering it's only noon, I think it's a couple more hours for sure," my brother replied, glancing out the window. – Do you need help?
"No, thanks, I can handle it," I clarified. – Aang said that he doesn't need luxury dates and the like. He only needs me," I blushed at the utterance of the last phrase.
- Well, - Suki intervened, standing next to Sokka, and taking his hand, - if anything happens, we are ready to help, - they left my room.
I leaned back on the bed and began to think about how exactly I could declare my love.
"I should take a shower first," I decided. Undressing and getting out of bed, I went to the closet to get towels from it, and then went to wash.
After getting out of the bath, I took out a skin lotion from the bedside table. Bending the liquid, I applied it to the skin, trying to apply a thin layer so that it absorbs better.
"Now I need to think about the outfit," I went back to the closet, but now I opened another door to see the dresses that were hanging.
However, to my chagrin, the outfits were exclusively green. At first, I was upset, but I remembered that Aang had complimented me while I was in one of them, when we were preparing to enter the palace. Despite the fact that the previous stay in Ba Sing Se was overshadowed by the loss of Appa and severe stress for all of us, especially for the conqueror of the air, I couldn't help but smile. Rummaging through things, I found the dress.
"Fine!" - I was delighted when it turned out to be my size.
- How was the meeting, Zuko? - I heard Iroh's voice from behind the door.
"Actually, it wasn't bad," the firebender replied. – Do you need help in the Tearoom?
- I would be grateful, - the former general laughed kindly. – Then I could close earlier so that we could spend this evening with family and friends…
"So Aang should be here too," I thought when the voices outside the door had died down. After getting dressed, I thought about my hairstyle for a while. As a result, I decided to stop at my pigtails, but not to braid the rest of my hair, as usual, but to leave them loose (I knew that Aang would like it).
I left the room and went to the tearoom, but I was met on the way by the one for whom I was dressing up so.
"Katara..." he whispered, and the way he did it made my heart soar. – You look great, - he scratched his head, looking shy (however, I already knew this gesture, and I knew that it meant exactly that).
"Thank you," I said, blushing.
There was silence between us, and no one knew what to say.
"Actually, I was on my way to tell you that we're all going to the Tearoom," he said after a while. – Iroh said that he has a special room for special guests.
"Show me the way," I asked, to which he smiled and nodded.
When we entered, the first thing I noticed was that there was an exit to the balcony. The room itself was quite nice. In one corner there were sofas and a table to it, in another there was a table with several chairs, in the third there was another door, and the fourth corner and the center of the room was carpeted and were not filled with any furniture. The room had a high white ceiling and green walls.
"It's cute," Aang said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
- I agree, - I confirmed and went to the sofa to sit down.
"Sit with me," I suggested, patting the seat next to me.
Aang hesitated for a while whether to sit down, but then he sat down next to her. I don't think for a second, I put my palm on top of his.
"Aang..." I started but was interrupted.
- You don't know anything about this, Sokka! - Toph exclaimed as she entered the room.
- Actually, I took lessons from Master Piandao! – reminds me of my brother.
"Yeah," the blind girl agrees, sitting down next to me. "Is there someone else here?"
- Yes, I'm here and Aang, Toph, - I answer. "You didn't know?"
- You don't touch the floor with your feet, so I couldn't see you. And the sofa is made of fabrics and wood," she clarified, then turned her head to Sokka. – To continue: I'm pretty sure he told you that it wasn't very nice.
"That's not what he said," my brother replies. – He just said that I didn't correspond to reality.
- What are you talking about? - Aang asked.
- Sokka bought a set for drawing, - the blind girl reported.
— That's cool! – the airbender said enthusiastically, which made me smile (my hand was still lying on top of him hand).
- Thanks, dude! – Sokka thanked me. "But weren't you supposed to come later?"
- We managed to solve today's issues faster, - Aang replied. – By the way, you are also invited to the next meeting, which will be in three days.
- We? - I was surprised. – But why?
"You're heroes too," he explained. – I couldn't have done it without all of you. Especially without you, Katara... - he said softly, stroking the back of my palm with his thumb.
"Aang..." I whispered softly, turning to him, and putting my free hand on his cheek.
I do not know if I would have dared to kiss Aang now or not, but we were interrupted anyway.
- Who wants a beautiful jasmine tea? I'm not at the right time? - Iroh said when he saw us.
"Don't worry, Iroh," I replied, taking my hands away from Aang. "I wouldn't mind a cup of tea."
- Can I do the same? - the airbender asked, raising his hand.
"Of course, young Avatar," Iroh said, chuckling, and then left.
- Where are the Suki? - I asked, noticing that she wasn't there.
- She decided to go shopping to buy souvenirs for her friends from Kyoshi, - Sokka explained.
After a while, Iroh came in with a tray.
"Tea for Master Katara," he handed me a mug, "for Avatar Aang," he also handed him a drink.
"Thank you, Iroh," Aang said, and I nodded in agreement.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then left again.
"You know," Toph said suddenly, "I had never heard of your journey before you met me.
- Really? – Well, we can tell you…
"I'll tell you the whole story," Sokka interrupted. – Starting with how my sister got angry and blew up a huge iceberg where Aang was, ending with our arrival in Goaling!
So, my brother didn't lie and started the story from the beginning. That is, from the moment he didn't want to take me fishing because of his sexist views and because of my "stupid game with water".
At some point, Suki came, then Mei and Zuko. None of them interrupted my brother, they just sat on the sofa or on a chair and listened to the story. Then Iroh appeared. Also, Toph didn't say a word during the story, surprising me. However, even I was pleased to listen, as Sokka told very well, he did not lose the thread of the narrative and did not make stupid comments, which was rare.
When he started talking about the cave of Two Lovers, I couldn't help but look at Aang. It looks like he had the same idea because our eyes met. We both blushed and looked away, continuing to listen. I carefully raised my hand and gently touched my lips with the tips of my fingers, remembering how tremulously and gently we touched lips in that cave. I smiled at that.
"... and so, we came to visit you, Toph," Sokka said. – You know what happened next.
- Wow... - Toph muttered when my brother finished his story.
"It was interesting," May said, to which we turned our heads to her. "Hey, even I know a lot about good stories."
"It's already evening, guys," Suki clarified, then looked directly at me, clearly hinting.
"I wouldn't mind having tea right now," Sokka remarked.
"I'm going to put the kettle on," Iroh said and started to get up.
"Let me, Uncle," Zuko stopped him. – I'll do everything, and you rest.
- Thank you, nephew, - the former general thanked, smiling gently, to which Zuko smiled in response, and then left.
- I have an idea! - Sokka exclaimed, and then ran out of the room to return a few minutes later with some kind of bag and canvas.
"Don't tell me what you're going to draw?" Toph asked sarcastically.
- That's exactly what I'm going to do! – my brother answered, not noticing the affectation in the question.
Since the story has already been told, everyone went about their business. Iroh moved away. Mei and Suki brought Pai Sho from some room and sat down to play, Aang with the help of his bend created an air ball, which Momo was chasing, and Toph was just lying on the floor.
"I brought tea," Zuko announced, entering the room.
- Zuko, don't move, I want to capture this moment in the picture while all my friends are gathered, - Sokka said.
—It's cute, Sokka, - I remarked, walking up to him to look at the canvas.
- Why do I have ears like Momo? - I asked irritably, also noticing other mistakes.
"It's your pigtails, Katara," he replied.
- Hey, my hairstyle is not like that, - said the firebender, also looking at my brother's art.
- Why am I firebender? - Suki asked when she saw herself.
- And I don't have such a big belly. I've lost weight after all, - Iroh laughed kindly, coming up to us.
- It seems to me that everything looks fine! - Toph said, which made us all laugh.
"Thank you, Toph," my brother said, but then he realized. – Hey…
I looked around, not listening to the continuation of the dialogue, as I noticed that only Aang did not come up to Sokka to look at the picture. Not finding him in the room, I moved away from the table and looked out onto the balcony, where the airbender turned out to be. I turned around to say that I needed to move away. I was met by a kind look from Suki. She smiled and nodded, hinting that I should go. I smiled back, then turned to go out to the balcony.
The sunset of Ba Sing Se was beautiful. The sky was almost cloudless, revealing a view of the slowly setting sun. The sky itself had a whole spectrum of very different shades: pink, orange, scarlet, in places it was still blue, and somewhere there was even green light. Knowing that the war was finally over, and the long-awaited peace had come added to the pleasure of watching.
Taking a deep breath, I began to approach Aang, who was standing tall in his robes and looking at the sunset. Now he was no longer the little boy I had met almost a year ago.
He was forced to grow up quickly in this war, faster than any of us. He left his childhood and shouldered the fate of the whole world. Sometimes it became hard for him to carry this burden, but he never gave up and got back on his feet, continuing to move forward. And now this boy has become a fully realized Avatar, who was able to study all the elements in less than a year, when previous Avatars needed years to do it. He was able to defeat the strongest man in the world when he was at the peak of his strength. Aang didn't just stop him, he also saved a part of himself by finding a way to end this terrible war without killing. This proved his infinite humanity and immeasurable strength.
"I'm so proud of him," I thought, feeling moisture in my eyes, but suppressing them, since now was not the time for tears.
When I got close enough, Aang turned to me. There was deep love and strong affection in his eyes. And I could finally let go of my fears and truly open my heart to him.
I walked up to him and stood next to him. We hugged, and then watched the sunset.
"It's time," I decided and turned to face him, and after a second, he turned too.
I closed my eyes and kissed him gently, placing my palms on his cheeks. I tried to convey all my feelings through a kiss. I put all my love, affection, trust, tenderness, and care into it. Aang responded just as strongly. He put his arm around my waist, and I put my hands on his shoulders. There was less and less space between us, we were getting closer and closer. After everything we've been through together, it felt... so right, like this was where I belonged from the very beginning.
"And let it stay that way," I thought.
Even though I didn't want to break the kiss, I also knew that I still had to tell Aang the cherished words that he needed to hear.
"Aang..." I whispered, pulling away enough to look into his eyes.
"Katara..." he whispered back, also looking into my eyes.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then opened my eyes again and said:
- I love you, Aang.
The next second, the airbender hugged me, and I felt a little moisture on my neck. I didn't have time to worry about the reasons, as he whispered back, his voice trembling a little: "I love you too, Katara. So much."
I hugged him even tighter. After I confessed my love to him, a weight seemed to be lifted from my shoulders. I turned my head and pulled him into another kiss, wanting to confirm my words with action. Aang didn't keep me waiting and immediately responded by running his hands through my hair to be closer. I put my hands on his chest, feeling his kind and tender heart beating. I was almost sure that my own heart was beating at the same frequency.
After a while, we pulled away and turned towards the sunset, holding hands. I turned my head to look at this wonderful boy whom I loved with all my heart. He smiled softly, and his eyes were able to contain all the love in this world. I smiled tenderly, knowing that I would spend my whole life with him.
With Aang. My Aang.
That's the end of the "Aftermath of the play on Ember Island"! Katara and Aang are finally together!
Thank you to everyone who read and wrote comments on this story! I hope you enjoyed it!
KatAangLover : special thanks to you! =)
So, now about something else. If someone wants to continue following my stories, then I inform you: now there will be a couple of oneshots, as I have some ideas. The next story will be in a while, it will be called "Love and Ice" (the name may change). She will talk about the reunion of Katara and Aang after she left him 3 years ago. The Avatar had to return to the Southern Water Tribe, as high spiritual activity and sudden changes in weather conditions were noticed. However, the airbender did not come alone, but with ... Azula?