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!

Hope you are doing well, I myself am one snyde comment away from commiting war crimes against my coworkers. Yes, it's that bad. And I don't deal well with bitches with a superiority stick up their flat asses. It's a joyride, really, and I don't particularly care to mask my distaste for them. Does that make the situation even worse and enlarges said stick? Yes it does. Do I care? No I do not. Do I make it on purpose sometimes? Yes. Yes I do.

My weekly obsession is... my package that has not arrived yet. I bought a handful of Christmas gifts online, and I am *impatiently* waiting for them to arrive. I need them. Mostly because one of them is to be shipped off to Italy and I want it to arrive in time! Yes I have friends all over the world. Discord makes that happen. MOVING ON, 30th November is almost here and so is Lianne Kay's book!

Brain Fart, good.

Dommie, guess you just have to wait and find out!

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 XXII: The Broken Heart

X—X

"And then he said he wouldn't mind spending that time with me." Suki sighed happily.

"Ah, that is so romantic." Katara swooned.

"Why?" Toph asked.

"Because in our tribe, we have a legend about newlyweds that get together beneath the northern lights," she explained. "Gran Gran used to tell me that lovers came true beneath the lights."

"Hm." the blind young woman frowned. "Nope, still don't get it."

"It's a beautiful light show, Toph."

"What the fuck is a 'light show'?"

"Hm... Toph, are you serious?"

"Did you forget I'm blind? Again?"

Katara froze and Suki cursed. "I'm sorry Toph."

The young woman laughed. "I swear, you're amazing. You've known me for how long?"

"I forget sometimes!" Suki exclaimed.

"I'm getting pruney, I'm getting out of here." Katara declared.

"Please try to keep it down, Sugar Queen. I have sensitive ears," she commented.

"I don't snore!"

"I'm not talking about that kind of noise," she smirked. "Is Sparky that good?"

"I-!" she turned red.

"I mean, for you to break up with Aang and immediately get engaged afterward, the dude must have made you squirt!" Suki commented.

"Oh, no, we're not even starting to have this conversation!"

"Do you have anyone else to have this conversation with?" Toph raised an eyebrow.

"...I hate you."

"Yeah, but you're gonna talk!" Suki grabbed her arm. "Well? Is he that good in the sac?"

"He's... resilient." Katara blushed. "I swear, that dude's stamina keeps fucking me over."

"Hehe."

"Shut up, Toph!" the waterbender threw water at her.

"Is he good with his hands?"

"His hands... not really. But his tongue? La, he's divine." she bit her lip.

The three girls kept exchanging tales and stories until their skins were all wrinkly and the sun had fallen behind the horizon. When they finally left the bathhouse and walked to their rooms, they passed by Aang, looking exhausted and somewhat gloomy. Katara motioned the girls to go on without her and walked to the Avatar, taking his hand.

"Hey there."

He looked up to her, eyes widened as if he had not realized she was there. "Katara. Hi."

"Are you okay?" she frowned.

"Hm..." he gulped. "Yeah, don't worry."

"Talk to me, Aang."

"I'm just worried."

"About Rea?" she guessed.

"...is it that easy to tell?"

"You've been walking around aimlessly ever since the meeting ended, Aang."

"I'm worried about her. I haven't seen her all day. Mako told me he hadn't seen her since he greeted her at the barrier. Tenna said she went to the clinic after delivering the goods she brought to Nian Zhen. I went to the clinic and Master told me she had indeed dropped by but she was gone. I..."

"Aang. Relax. She'll come around eventually."

"I'm worried."

"Tell you what. If you still haven't found her by tomorrow noon, I'll gather everyone and we'll go search for her. Okay?"

"Thank you, Katara." he smiled softly. "Can I, hm... ask you something?"

"Of course."

"... do you think there's a chance that I'm in love with Ahria?" he tried.

Katara smiled brightly and squeezed his hand. "I think that the very fact you need to ask that question is revealing all on its own."

He shook his head. "First Yangchen, then Yue, then Toph, and now you?"

"Well then... you have enough opinions to start answering your question." She saw him nod. "Are you going to get some sleep now?"

"No, I... I need a bath," he admitted. "A lot of running around."

"Okay then." she smiled. "Goodnight, Aang."

"Goodnight Katara."

Aang gathered a change of clothes and moved to the bathhouse. He was exhausted, truth to be told, but he could not go to bed feeling the sweat plastered on his back. He disrobed and got a towel, walking inside the bath. He took a deep breath and entered, immediately sighing when the hot water came in contact with his sore body.

He let himself fall back against the wall. Four people had now tried to make him see what his feelings for Ahria were. One is an occurrence. Two is a coincidence. Three is a pattern. He took the time to wash himself as he pondered on their words. Yangchen had not exactly said he was in love with her, she simply told him she was special. Yue on the other hand, was the first to question his feelings and his, admittedly, jealousy.

He had not been mad at her for going with that boy to visit the city. Logically, he knew that he was the best for her to get to know the Tribe in all its glory. He had not been mad at the boy for suggesting, he had simply tried to be nice, though his eyes had longed in Ahria's figure for longer than he felt comfortable with. He just wanted Ahria to have picked him.

He heard the water spatter and turned his head to look at the bamboo wall. He saw a pair of legs through the water, legs that he knew all too well. Legs that he had caught himself staring at more often since Katara and him had ended their relationship. Not that he did not stare before. It just... became more often. He gulped and kept quiet.

He heard her whisper about home and longing. He heard Old Mako's name. He heard sniffles and splashing of water. He heard her call his name, lament their situation, her situation. That was odd. She knew he and Katara had broken up, why would she be lamenting them? And finally, she heard words filled with a poison he did not know she was capable of.

Betrayal of family.

He moved, swimming under the barrier to get to her. She gasped when she saw him rise from under the water. He locked eyes with her, trying to ignore how she crossed her arms over her chest, cupping herself to hide from his view. He walked slowly to her, slowly but surely entering her personal space. She looked at his stretched hand, to his eyes, and back to his hand.

"Aang," she whispered.

"Where have you been?" he gulped. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Why?" she frowned.

"Because I'm worried about you. You disappeared."

"I just... had to handle some things." she looked away. "That's all."

"Are you mad at me?" he let out.

"What? No!" she exclaimed. "No, of course not. Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because you're trying to walk away." he grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. "What is going on, Ahria?"

"There's nothing you can do. This is my fault, I'm the one to blame here." she released one arm to grab his bicep, trailing her fingers over the blue ink. "Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

"Talk to me."

"You did great." she smiled. "I heard talking on the streets. People are seeing the truth. Leaders of all Nations, together to reach a common goal. I have friends saying they want to see the world. I have families wondering if the Elders knew, and why would they not free them."

"That's what we wanted."

"I hear people asking for the barrier to be brought down. The barrier the first airbenders created to protect us." she gulped. "I hear my dream come true... but I don't think I'll be around to see it."

"Why not?"

"...the Elders are angry," Ahria whispered. "I'm scared of what they can do."

"Boqin is not going to touch you, Ahria." Aang declared, and she watched his right-hand arrow glow for a moment. "I won't let him."

"You can't protect me, Aang." she smiled up to him. "It's okay."

"It's not okay!" he exclaimed, grabbing her arms. "I will not watch you become the sacrificial lamb because a bunch of old geezers can't handle the idea of the world changing! You will not be harmed; I will never let them touch you!"

"Aang-!"

"No! I'm not giving you up, Ahria! I-I can't! And I don't care what anyone says, you are not walking away from this, you are not going to be made an example of, and I am not letting you walk away from me!"

"You hold no responsibility for what I do, Aang." she shook her head.

"You're not leaving me."

"And if I want to?" she raised an eyebrow.

"T-that's different." he gulped. "If you want to walk away, I... of course you can. But if you're walking away because you're being forced, then that's-! I won't let you."

"Why not?"

"I just... I just found you. You can't leave me."

"There are a lot of airbenders here, Aang. Most single that would appease your tastes." she licked her lips. "You can choose from them."

"I don't want them, I want you." he declared, and she froze.

"...what?"

"I... want you with me. Not... anyone else." he gulped. "You said I wouldn't get rid of you that easily. You promised."

"And you're not, but Aang-!"

"Don't leave me." he raised his hands to cradle her face. "Please, Ahria."

"Don't do this to me," she begged, grabbing his wrists. "Don't give me hope."

"Don't leave me." he leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers. "You promised you'd stay."

"I'm not good enough for you." she gulped, looking away.

"I decide if you're good enough or not."

"I'm... scarred and bruised."

"So am I." he brushed his thumbs under her eyes, wiping the tears that threatened to fall. "And I'm still not letting you go."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Why?" he looked into her eyes, brilliant with unshed tears.

"For falling in love with you."

Aang froze, and that was all Ahria needed to pull away from his embrace and leave the pool, wrapping herself with a towel. She looked back at the young man, who watched her with desperation in his eyes and smiled sadly before leaving. The second that door closed behind her, Aang felt his legs give from beneath him and let the water take him.

A/N: Welp, I did drop that bomb. Now what? I wonder. I got 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 :)