Greetings, avid readers!
I'd like to start with thanking all the reads, favs and follows in this story. Even if silent, your support means a lot. As for the ones that took their time to write a review, thank you as well!
Summer is here, so is the dust cloud from the fires in Canada, and I miss the blue skies. But I honestly hope and pray for the health of those forests. I can't wait for my vacation (which is only in August) and I'm super excited for this Thursday!
My weekly obsession is... BLANKIES! I had someone so generously gift me their couch and I cannot wait to buy blankies and pillows for it. Yes, hubby will murder me with his eyes. And maybe thoughts. I think Ms. LiAnne Kay already published tHE GOODAMN BOOK, but I can't find it anywhere, so if anyone can help a broke one out...?
Brain Fart, Sokka is my first love, without a doubt!
Dommie, The reason why I gave Suki sunflower eyes is because it is cannon she has different eye colors throughout the show. So, in order to keep all those... differences in one - sunflower eyes!
This is my first try at a Avatar fanfiction. Go easy on me. Reviews and flames are always welcomed, for they keep my cat and I warm at night.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar nor any of the characters. Such credit should go to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I do own a... certain amount of characters that will be recognized further into the story.
Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!
Chapter XII: The Mystery Hearts
X—X
"Gran Gran!" Katara exclaimed, rushing to help the elderly lady grab the heavy bowl.
"Ah, my dear Katara." the woman smiled. "Your brother told me you had returned."
"It's good to see you, Gran Gran. What are you doing here?"
"Helping the clinic, my dear." she leaned on her cane as she looked up to the beautiful young woman. "Won't you assist your helpless grandmother?"
"You're hardly helpless, Gran Gran." Katara giggled. "But of course."
The two set off to help the injured. A couple of broken bones, some infections, a few cases of hypothermia, and one severe case of hiccups. The two worked side by side, or rather, Katara healed as Gran Gran instructed and talked her ears off with her patient. The waterbender had a smile on her face as she healed, and even laughed alongside some of the jokes Gran Gran told.
Once everyone was fixed up and ready to rest, Katara took her grandmother back to her house and stayed for a hot beverage. The two sat beside the bright light, talking quietly about their endeavors, how was Sokka faring with the leadership of the tribe, and how Suki had taken it upon herself to beat the cocky tribesmen into respecting women.
"You know I always saw your brother settling down with a quiet, tribeswoman that could cook." Gran Gran commented, "But there is something about this Suki girl that I like."
"Suki is not like most girls, Gran Gran, but Sokka isn't like most guys. If he's to become Chief, he needs a strong woman by his side, don't you agree?"
"Oh, but of course, my dear." she smiled. "Although she can't cook to save her life, she is hard-headed and stubborn as they come... she's a good soul. And she tries. That is all one could ask for, no?"
"Of course, Gran Gran. And Sokka loves her. And what matters is his happiness." she smiled.
"What about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You and Aang... how are you?"
"We're... okay. We're okay." she nodded. "Travelling the world, bringing peace and looking for the air nomads."
"It would seem that you found them."
"We did."
"What are you doing, Katara?"
She looked up to the elder. "What do you mean?"
"Where's the smile I saw on your face when you were healing? Where is the love in your eyes when talking about Aang? Where's the ambition?"
"Gran Gran..."
"You are following him like a puppy. You are not the same Katara he met, that fought by his side. That taught him."
"He needs me."
"As a girlfriend, not as a mother." Gran Gran declared, and Katara flinched. The elder sighed and took her hand. "My dear... won't you tell me the truth?"
"Always, Gran Gran."
"Are you happy?"
"... he needs me," she whispered.
"You're not answering my question, Kat."
"I don't want to answer your question."
"Your heart... it is not in your chest. But it is not in Aang's hands either." the elder squeezed her hand. "Where is it, my dear?"
"With someone I can't have."
"Ah! Master Waterbender Katara can't have someone? If you can't have him, who could possibly?" Gran Gran sighed. "Where did your bravery go, Kat?"
"...he needs me."
"You're going to wear those words out."
"What if I do it? What if I leave him? What if we break up? He's the freaking Avatar, Gran Gran, I should feel lucky that he even looks my way, let alone fucking date me!" Katara stood up. "I should feel blessed that he wants me by his side, that I get to accompany him, that I get to see the world! Not here... pining for someone I can't fucking have!"
"Are you done?"
"No! And then I have you talking my ear off, telling me to basically follow my heart and go after him, and then I have Rea telling me the exact same thing, even though I fucking can't take her advice because I don't know why but I have the feeling Aang is crushing on her, and I just fucking can't figure this shit out because I know what I want, but I am an adult that has responsibilities and I have to grow out of this stupid fucking crush that I have on this stupid fucking prince and I just need someone to tell me to knock it the fuck off and be with Aang!"
"...are you done now?"
"Yes." she collapsed back on her chair.
"Language."
"Forgive me, Gran Gran." Katara lowered her head.
"Oh, when the heart speaks, it speaks without a filter, my dear." Gran Gran smiled. "So you are forgiven. But let that be the last time."
"Yes, Gran Gran."
"As to... someone telling you to be with Aang, I'd advise the exact opposite, given that I can see your heart is not in it. You are making it worse by remaining by his side out of obligation. You think he would want that?"
"...no."
"Then why?" Katara opened her mouth to answer "And if you say it is your duty, I will hit you with a cane."
She closed her mouth again.
"Rea... is that the new air nomad?"
"Yes."
"...Katara."
"Yes, Gran Gran?"
"Open your eyes. It's time to act. You're breaking your own heart, and his in turn."
–X–
"You called?"
Katara looked up to see Ahria poke her head inside the room. The waterbender motioned her inside, and Toph came inside first, and she closed the door behind herself. Katara had to stop herself from laughing at the sight of the two short women being swallowed by the thick clothing.
"Laugh all you want, Sugar Queen," Toph grumbled. "I will get my revenge."
"I'm sorry, but you two look adorable."
"I feel like a sausage." Ahria pouted.
"An adorable sausage."
Toph flipped her the bird and sat down on a chair. Ahria shed her thick coat and lay down on the bed next to Katara. "Now what?"
"Left leg?" she raised her hands.
"Yes."
"Anything I should know about the injury?"
"Doesn't your waterbending tell you everything you need to know?"
"...just trying to make conversation." Katara frowned.
"... I didn't get any infections, but the bone did tear the skin." she declared.
"Ouch." Toph let out.
"And the muscle healed?"
"Sort of."
"Let's check it out, shall we?"
Her hands glowed white and she ran her hands over her covered legs. A frown appeared on her face and, with a silent request, Katara stripped Ahria off her pants and placed her warm hands on her skin. Toph cocked her head, trying to figure out what the hell had happened from the way the waterbender's heartbeat had picked up.
"Rea."
"Yeah?" The airbender raised her head and noticed her frown. "Oh. It's fine if you can't."
"No. I can." Katara cleared her throat. "But..."
A moment of silence. "But what?"
"Your leg... it healed, but it didn't heal properly."
"What does that mean, Katara?"
"... I have to break it again, and then heal it properly."
Silence fell between them. Katara pulled her hands away and folded them over her lap, waiting for Ahria's decision. It was not an easy one to make. It was one thing to pop a joint back in its place, another to break a bone and heal it back up correctly. She heard Toph shuffle in her chair and saw Ahria sit up on the bed. Her face was blank, eyes fixed on the scar on her thigh, surely where she had said the bone had pierced through the skin.
"Toph."
"Yeah, Jumpy?"
"Do me a favor. Go, get Aang, and get him as far away as possible from here."
"Why?" the earthbender frowned, but still got up.
"Please. Just trust me."
She nodded and put her hoodie back on, exiting the room. Katara turned back to her.
"He's going to feel it, and he's going to come barging in, and you need all the focus you can get, right?"
"Yes." she nodded. "This is going to hurt, Rea."
"Surely it won't hurt more than it did the first it got broken."
Toph sighed. Finding Aang was easy, he was playing with the children and levitating them off the ground before throwing them into massive snowbanks. Getting him away from playtime was the hard part. The children begged; Aang begged as well, but Toph simply rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Twinkle Toes. We're going."
"Why?"
"Because I'm telling you we are!" she grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him in a random direction.
He eventually followed willingly, leading them away from the village. Toph could sense his heartbeat, rapid and worried. He knew something was up, but he was naïve enough to trust his master. Toph tried to fill the air with some basic conversation, but the more she talked, the more Aang worried.
"Will you calm down?! You're acting like I'm taking you out here to kill you!"
"I-I'm sorry, Toph." he lowered his head. "It's just... something feels off."
"The only thing you're going to feel is my fist on your face if you don't knock it off, Twinkle Toes!"
She found a rock nearby and threw it at Aang's head. The Avatar dodged and made a water whip, smirking. "You're on ice, Toph. You can't sense that well."
"I hit you, didn't I?"
The two fell into sparring poses but before either could make the first move, an earth-shattering scream echoed through the air. Aang froze and turned back to the village, and Toph knew she was done for. She got in front of him, pushing him back, but the Avatar kept trying to sidestep her.
"Let me go, Toph!"
"You can't go!"
"Let go!" he screamed.
Toph raised her foot and kicked him away. Aang flew back a few meters, but it was not long before Toph felt her legs being frozen to the ground and Aang zip past her, flying to the village. His heart was trying to beat out of his chest. He knew exactly who that was, and that scream was nothing if not filled with pain. He tracked her to a small structure and barged inside.
He panted as he observed the scene before him. Katara was leaning over Ahria, her hands glowing white over her left leg, tears streaming down her face. Ahria herself was lying on a simple bed, body slumped over it, as her unfocused eyes looked around the room. She appeared to be fading in and out of consciousness.
He walked up to her and cradled her face in his hands. She looked so defenseless lying on that table, so soft and breakable. Aang gulped when her head fell against his arm and she sighed. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, and a dopey smile appeared on her face.
"Hey, handsome."
He couldn't help but smile back. "Hey yourself."
"It's okay." she must have noticed the worry in his eyes. "Really."
"Are you alright?"
"Droplet promised to take care of me. Don't worry. This time is better." she licked her lips. "This time there's light. I'm not scared this time."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Aang." She closed her eyes with a sigh.
He looked up at Katara. "She's fine. Just fell asleep. And all healed up."
"What happened?" he didn't recognize his own voice.
"Her leg... it was broken in three different places. Old fractures too, years old. But when it healed, it didn't heal properly. I'm guessing she didn't have any medical attention. So... I had to break it again for it to heal."
He looked back down at the resting young woman. "How could you hurt her?"
"There was no other way, Aang."
"There's always another way." He turned to Katara, and the waterbender gasped when she saw the tears in his eyes. "She didn't have to suffer. Not again."
"Twinkle Toes," Toph called. Aang jumped. He hadn't even realized Toph had gotten herself free and followed him. "It was the only way. And Skipper agreed to it."
"Can I... be alone for a moment?"
The two masters nodded and left the room, closing the door softly. Suki was on the other side, arms crossed and a worried expression on her face. She brought them along to her quarters and poured them hot beverages.
"Everyone heard that scream, and it was hard to miss a yellow and orange blur fly like a tornado to the clinic." Suki sat down with them. "How is she?"
"Okay now." Katara cradled her mug to her chest.
"And Aang?"
"...healing."
"Don't be sad, Katara." Suki placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's just worried. She's literally living proof that the airbenders didn't all die."
"...it's more than that. He doesn't know it, but I see it. There's something in his eyes when he looks at her. More than hope."
"Well, Sweetness, you're in luck, because that's exactly what you've been hoping for," Toph commented.
"Zip it, Toph."
"Zuko?" Suki raised an eyebrow.
The waterbender simply sunk into her chair, hiding behind her mug.
"Figured."
A/N: Told you I was bringing longer ones! What do you guys think? How did Ahria break her leg? I think I'm getting to the point of no return where I can't drop the story... but still. Keep in mind, I'll keep this story up or drop it depending on your feedback.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to review if you want, or if you don't, I hope you liked it!
First to review gets a cookie!
Lots of love from this weirdo,
LoneeWolf :)