Aang's first night was a restless slumber.
He dreamed he was standing on the edge of the Temple grounds; the wind rushing up and over his face. It was a biting wind; not warm and inviting, but foreboding.
In the distance, Momo and the other lemurs swooped and ducked, like a thick rainstorm settling around him, making it difficult to see.
The wind whipped against his eyes and he squinted, a heavy fog and a warning of a coming storm rolling in from the direction of the south.
Beside him, Aang saw shapes of people, teetering on the edge of the earth, threatening to fall at any second.
"Stop!" Aang called, lunging for the first person. It was Toph. She turned and gave Aang a wide, unsettling grin as she tumbled over the edge, waving as she went.
Farther down, Sokka jumped after her, diving for her. Aang ran but felt vines tangle around his ankles, making him run in one spot, unmoving.
"Sorry, brother…" he heard the whisper of the apology as he spun around, grasping vines in his fists as he tried to free himself. He fell against the ground as he watched Zuko take a step off the edge, disappearing through the clouds below.
Finally, there was just one person left on the ledge with him.
"Why?" he breathed. Katara turned, eyes full of sorrow.
"If you could have saved your people, wouldn't you have?" she asked. She closed her eyes, leaning forward. Aang managed to free himself from the weeds, grasping for Katara as she let the space beneath her feet vanish away.
He grasped for her, and the woven fabric of her tunic slid across his fingers, just barely missing her as he threw himself to save her.
"No!" Aang cried. He spun around, and his glider seemed to materialize in front of him. He took a running jump off the cliff, trying to beat time and make it to the bottom before they fell.
But he was too late.
An image of the earth met his eyes and he managed to pull up at the last moment, ungracefully stumbling across the earth, a crash landing he hadn't done since he was very young.
"Fuck," he cursed, lifting an elbow to see it bruised and bloody, caked with dirt. He lifted himself up and limped toward the place he'd seen the bodies; all four of his friends, mangled and looking blankly up to the sky.
There was someone else there too…standing, and just…watching. Examining their bodies with a curious interest, a sort of general detachment.
"Yue?" Aang whispered, "Oh, Yue! I'm so glad to see you-"
He broke off abruptly. When Yue looked up at him, her eyes were black and still, unsettlingly inhuman in nature.
This wasn't Yue.
"Who are you?" Aang demanded. When not-Yue cocked her head, saying nothing, Aang felt angry, "Answer me!"
"I am Yue," a voice said, and it was in Yue's tone, but it wasn't her. There was something sharp about this voice, so strange to hear from the lips that usually spoke so softly, so quietly.
"You're not! What are you; a demon?" Aang stalked toward her, but Yue took three swift steps back, making much bigger strides across the moss than she ought to have been able to.
"You wish to know who I am, Avatar?"
"That's what I asked, didn't I?" Aang replied hotly. Yue was silent, and for a moment, Aang thought she was ignoring him. Finally, she spoke, her voice like gravel and coarse sand.
"I am vengeance. I am who you wish you could be. I am what they won't be able to do," Yue said, waving a hand toward Katara, Zuko, Toph, and Sokka. "They will fail, and so will you. But I will not."
The figure turned sharply on Yue's heels, disappearing into the misty forests. Aang took off after her, shoving through the vines and thorns, but the deeper he went, the thicker the forest became. And the vines were out for blood; wreathing around his wrists and neck, choking the air out of him.
"Help me…help!" Aang called out, unable to do anything - not bend, not summon Avatars, not even move. He felt a sense of dread fill his chest.
Is this what true death feels like? No in-between, no waiting rooms, nothing more?
He felt himself shaking.
No…he was being shaken.
Aang shot up, gasping for air, hands scratching at his neck to rid himself of invisible vines.
"Aang! Oh!"
He felt pressure around him and panicked until he realized it was just Ty Lee.
"Ty-"
"You were crying for help!" Ty Lee said, pulling back, but keeping her arms around him, "Was it a nightmare?"
In the dim light, Aang felt the contents of his dream fill his mind.
He sprang up, stumbling out of his temporary bed near the medical wing, skirting around corners as he ran to the bunk room.
"What's wrong?" Ty Lee called after him, keeping up with him.
Aang tore into the room, and was aghast to see that his fear was right; their beds were made too precisely, certain things left specifically and thoughtfully, but important items - a waterskin, scrolls, and bed sets - were gone.
"Get Iroh!" Aang snapped, "They're gone!"
Ty Lee gave a choked gasp. "Gone?" she echoed, "But…but…" Her lip quivered, "You can't think…they'd just…"
Somewhere, Aang was furious. Furious because he understood. Katara's question, even in his dream, haunted him.
If he had known what the Fire Nation was doing more than 100 years ago, he would have done everything in his power too to keep them safe. He would have been reckless. He would have been unreasonable. He would have done something as stupid as taking off when there were absurd bounties on his head.
And part of him was angry that they didn't think to ask him. Or, at least, that Zuko hadn't.
Yes, duh, he was the Avatar and of course, he could not go, but part of him wanted to simply be Kuzon…Zuko's brother in every way that mattered. He wanted to be asked to join in, to help because he would have…even if he knew he shouldn't.
He saw Aiga coming around the bend.
Aang grasped her tightly without thinking, fingers digging into her arms.
"What do you know!"
"Avatar-" Aiga sputtered, terrified, "I don't…I'm not-"
"You helped them! You let them leave!" Aang accused, "I see it in your eyes. Why?" he demanded.
Aiga swallowed hard, her gray eyes shimmering as she met Aang's, but locked her jaw tightly.
"Answer me!"
"Avatar Aang!"
There was a sharp, disappointed snap from behind. Aang felt someone hauling him off Aiga, and Ursa rushed forward to aid her as she slipped against the wall.
It was scarcely dawn, but the commotion had people peeking out of their rooms, curious and concerned. Jeong-Jeong dragged Aang away like he was a misbehaving child.
"What on earth would possess you?" Shen asked with a long sigh, glancing between Aiga and Aang, "To lose your sense, boy!"
"She took them down; she let them leave!" Aang yelled.
"Perhaps this is a conversation for elsewhere," Pakku said with a narrowed-eyed stare, "Before we continue…"
Ty Lee hovered behind the White Lotus, wringing her hands as she stared at Aang, her eyes milky and full of worry.
"Aang…" she whispered, slipping beside him, "Your elbow…"
Aang looked at his arm, stunned into silence to see it torn up, full of grass and dirt…just like his dream.
"What did you do?" she asked.
"I don't…I don't know…" he croaked, unwilling to share more, because his true worry was that it had not been a dream, at least, not entirely. There was the very real possibility that parts of him were ghost-walking into the spirit realm, which could have disastrous consequences if it was unchecked.
The White Lotus sat Aang down on one end of the meeting room, Aiga far on the other. Ty Lee wrapped Aang's arm carefully, and Aang tried to ignore the look of disappointment in her gaze.
"What in the name of Tui and La," Pakku exploded, "would possess you to lay your hands on anyone like that?"
"Katara is gone! So is Zuko, and Sokka, and Toph. Aiga took them down on Appa; she helped them, I know it!" Aang said evenly, "It's like they're asking Azula to just waltz out of the forest and kill them! It's stupid; it's asinine, it's-,"
"We get the point, Aang," Iroh said, cutting him off.
He saw everyone break into worried murmurs. Ursa slipped away and returned moments later, her face drawn into a tight scowl.
"He is right. There is no sign of them."
"They went to save the Southern Water Tribe, surely," Bumi snapped his fingers.
"Foolishly! It could very well be a trap!" Pakku said, as though they were around to hear his anger.
"Of course, it could be," Shen snorted, "We should have kept better guard on them. We all know Katara has a history of running away on ill-thought-out plots."
"Katara is one of the bravest people I know!" Ty Lee snapped, startling everyone in the room, "How dare you speak of her like she's a child who knows not better? She's been through war like the rest of us enough!"
Aang pulled Ty Lee's shoulder back, a curl of pride in his chest, none less, pleased to see slack-jaws.
"Shen misspeaks," Iroh tried to smooth carefully. "Katara is brave, there is no denying that. However, her love for her tribe clouds her thoughts, sometimes. Sokka would no doubt fall into that worry too; even the best of minds are kidnapped in moments like these. And those that love them would not hesitate to join them."
"And Zuko has been angry…" Ursa added eyebrows knitted, "Itching for a fight since he arrived."
There was a general murmuring among them.
"Do not place the blame on Aiga, Aang," Iroh said with a long, regretful sigh. "It was my fault. I was distracted last night…Katara was up late at night, and I thought nothing of it."
"Iroh, it was a difficult night for us both," Ursa assured, but Iroh waved her away.
"There is no excuse. If you wish to place blame, place it on me. Aiga is Katara's handmaid; oftentimes a bond closer than blood. We cannot fault her for what has already been done and what we all know she would choose to do many times again."
"But…" Aang closed his fists and opened them again. "When are we going after them?"
Shen swallowed. "We're not."
To Aang's horror, there were nods of agreement.
"We're just going to let them walk into what's probably a trap? Or let them arrive just in time to watch the South slaughtered? Are you fucking serious?"
Bumi let out a bark of laughter as everyone stiffened at Aang's language, giving him a subtle thumbs up.
"Aang, we cannot allocate more resources for people who are going on a suicide mission," Jeong-Jeong replied. "If they wish to see this through, just four of them, they are far from our help. There is so much to do here still…refugees arriving by the day, interception of information about Azula's plans, keeping you safe…who would you send?" His question was rhetorical and somewhat patronizing. "Surely, it would not be you. So would you send Ty Lee to her death after them? Suki? Mai? Who are you sacrificing on people who don't want to be helped?"
Aang felt tears in the corner of his eye.
Iroh saw his expression and gently waved away everyone else.
"It is hardly fair to ask someone as young as you to make these choices, nor is it any fairer to ask any of you here such things. But we are in a dark reality. You are afraid for your friends, I know this."
Aang dug deep and found Iroh, as usual, was right. It was not anger he felt…it was cold fear.
He was sure his dream was an omen of their future fates, more than just a manifestation of a warning.
"What now?" Aang asked.
"We continue on, like always. We focus on safety first, and intel second. We make sure that the party that everyone's been speaking of happens without fail. And we have faith…" Iroh put his hands on Aang's cheeks, "That my nephew, Katara, Sokka, and Toph are smarter than anyone in this room would give them credit for, and they will come back safely to us. Okay?"
Aang released the anger in his body, feeling it draining away and leaving just an emptiness in the bottom of his stomach.
"Okay."
XXX
Mai woke at dawn to the whispers.
It moved through the entire encampment, from one mouth to the next. It started as a gentle buzz, like an insect on its lazy way. Then, it grew into a low din, something in the background, still easily ignored.
However, by the time breakfast was well on its way, only a mere few hours after, the news was wholly unavoidable.
Katara, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, and Yue were gone…though, as the gossip seemed to indicate, the latter's leaving was not tied to the former's.
Mai cut into her meal slowly and deliberately, mulling over the news to herself.
"Left in the middle of the night-" some of the airbenders were saying as they passed, "I heard that someone sent a letter to Zuko, telling him where to find his crazy sister."
"No! That's not right. I heard that news came to Lady Bei Fong that her parents are in grave danger."
"I heard-"
Mai stood sharply, her chair pushing out with such a screech that it paused the trio of girls in their path. They stood, eyes wide, staring at Mai.
"I think gossip is so unbecoming, don't you?" Mai asked evenly, waiting not for their answer. "In any case, whatever the reason is, there is still work to do. And debating the reason will not bring them back, nor matter in the end."
"Sorry, Lady Mai," one of the airbenders curtseyed quickly.
Mai watched them leave, settling back down for her meal with a roll of her eyes.
Just as she was lifting her first bite to her mouth, Ratana slammed her tray down next to her.
"Have you heard?" she demanded.
"Gee, I don't think I have," Mai said sarcastically.
"How have you not? It's absurd! It's unbelievable! It's-"
"All over camp," Mai broke in, "Of course I've heard."
"Oh." Ratana frowned, "You should have just said so in the first place."
The other remaining ladies from the Choice flocked to the table. It was not an uncommon occurrence, as they were all tied together with an experience that nearly no one else would understand.
Suki gave a long sigh. "I wish that Yue could have told us what was going on. Maybe if she'd let us in, we could have helped her…"
"Some people don't want to be saved," Cillia murmured comfortingly, the best she could. "We all tried. You know that. It's not like we just ignored her…"
Besu was scowling. "Wish I coulda gone with 'em," she muttered sourly, picking at her grapes.
"To be killed!" On Ji was shivering. "We all know that's what's going to happen, right?" she asked, and when no one answered, she gripped her water glass tighter, "Right?" her voice pitched.
"What I want to know-" Ratana twirled her fork, "Is, kindly, what the actual fuck?" At her course language, the table quieted. "I mean, really!" she huffed, "Katara goes on this long speech about how she's going to 'take care of us' and how 'important we are to her'. She does it for two days and decides she's done and takes off, leaving us to fend for ourselves?" At everyone's sullen faces, Ratana threw her hands up, "You shouldn't be sad, you should be furious!"
"What's going to happen to our ball?" On Ji asked. "I was really looking forward to cooking for it…I've been coming up with recipes all week."
"It'll still happen," Suki said swiftly. "Aiga told me that she's taking over, at least in that aspect. And General Iroh still thinks it's worth our time."
"Can you keep a secret?" Cillia asked, leaning in. Everyone exchanged looks before nodding, creating a little circle for her to speak. "It's the Southern Water Tribe. Azula's going after it. That's why they left; I bet my life on it."
Besu let out a string of cuss words, On Ji was startled so much that she knocked over her water glass, and Ratana's lips stretched to a thin, but troubled frown. Suki leaned back.
"Spirits…can you blame her?" She swallowed hard, "I would hate to be in any of their shoes. Even if they're lucky…Azula is…" She looked uncertainly at Mai, as though still under the illusion that Mai would defend her former friend. "Well…"
"Brutal," Mai finished, and that was the kindest way to put it, not that Azula deserved any inch of that.
"If she'd just told us, I would have been okay," Cillia mused, playing with a strand of her hair absently. "I would have told her to go…"
"Yeah," Ratana finally relented, "Yeah, I guess me too."
Mai tried to tune everyone out, slowly eating her meal, but it all spun around in circles; Katara, Katara, Katara…
In a fit of unusual emotion, Mai slammed her breakfast knife on the table, sinking it into the wood. Everyone paused, staring at her.
Mai felt embarrassment wash over her as she stuttered out a quick excuse, grabbing her skirts and swiftly exiting the dining hall.
She felt something cave in her stomach like it was rolling itself inside out, and she pressed her hands against the carved hollowed-out walls, biting back something of a sob.
"Agni, are you okay, Mai?"
Mai looked up to see Ty Lee kneeling down near her.
Mai forced herself to stand. "I'm fine."
Ty Lee blocked her path. "I know you too well, Mai. Spill," she said firmly, crossing her arms and staring her childhood friend down.
Mai held her jaw taut, trying not to cry. She heard her father's voice in her head, berating her for any show of emotion as a child, telling her she was too weak to show anyone those feelings and thoughts. So she'd learned to shove it down, keep it far away from those that would use it against her.
She knew she must be very dysregulated to have her emotions threatening to show at this moment.
"He left…" Mai finally said, as much as she could muster without her voice wavering, "Without saying anything."
"Oh, Mai…"
Something in Ty Lee's voice - not pity but merely understanding - caused everything to break in Mai. She felt herself quiver as Ty Lee caught her, helping her to Ty Lee's bunk room. It was empty, with most of the inhabitants having absconded early in the evening and Aang somewhere else.
Mai could tell which bed was Zuko's right away, with his smell still lingering in the air. It was something she was so used to, as it had been a comfort since they were very young.
Sometimes, Mai thought about the fact that if the cursed Choice didn't exist at all, it was very likely she would have married Zuko…he would have never met Katara, and perhaps, they could have been happy.
She was not cruel or immature enough to try to ruin a choice that Zuko had clearly made, but she would be lying to say she had left all her affection for him at the door. No, in truth, parts of her still yearned for Zuko, and she often replayed every interaction they had in the Palace, wondering if she had been more of this or less of that and if it would have made any difference at all.
Or, had she lost to Katara the moment she arrived at the palace doors, even if none of them knew it yet?
You see, Mai could respect parts of Katara but she would admit that they would likely never be best friends, not like how Katara so clearly affected the rest of the girls here. Mai was here, and only ever had been here, for Zuko.
"Did our friendship mean nothing?" Mai asked, feeling salty tears on her cheeks. She wanted to stop herself, but trying to force them back in seemed only to make her cry harder. "That he would leave me here, without so much of an explanation? I know, Ty Lee - I know that he did not choose me and I have to live with that, but how could he be so blind to not see that I exist here for only him?" she blubbered.
"Oh, honey, oh…" Ty Lee rubbed her back, clicking her tongue, "Zuko's an idiot…we've always known that."
"But…" Mai could not put into words the depth of her feeling of betrayal from him. "I gave everything for him. I asked not much in return; just respect," she said. "Am I a fool, Ty?"
"No!" Ty Lee's eyes were wide, "I don't think that's too much to ask. He should respect your friendship. It was rude of him to leave without anything."
"I would have gone with him," Mai said, "If he wanted me to. I could have helped."
"You surely could have. But perhaps he did not want to put such pressure on you?" Ty Lee suggested.
"I am a warrior. We both are. We are not meant to sit and wait for something to come to us," Mai snarled, shaking her head. "We're meant to be the ones out there, fighting."
"Sometimes, I think, that is the easy way," Ty Lee said carefully. "It is much harder to do what Iroh is doing…to wait, to plan, to save people. It does not matter if you are the hero if there is no one left to see it, right?" she prompted, "And, striking when one is angry will lead to missteps."
"I just want to do something…" Mai said, "And I want to feel…appreciated."
"You think you aren't?" Ty Lee laughed, her giggle like a wood nymph. "Mai, girl, you're crazy!"
"Katara has always been closer to Zuko, though she has her friends. Toph and Sokka have been a pair since the Agni Kai. You have made your choice clear, and I am genuinely happy for you. And the rest of the girls are bonded, but I was here to honor Zuko…and now…" She looked down. "I feel othered, left out."
"Those girls love you," Ty Lee insisted, "As I do. Do you know three of them tried to come after you? I stopped them, knowing you were probably feeling the depth of your emotions and it might be better if I helped. But they're all worried. They care for you."
Mai raised her eyes in disbelief.
"Don't believe me? Come with me." Ty Lee demanded. It was so forceful it was all Mai could do was follow her, back to her own bunk room.
The Choice girls were pacing, whispering to themselves. As soon as Mai entered, On Ji came rocketing forward, hugging her.
"I know you're not a hugger, but I think you need it," she said, embracing Mai tighter.
"This whole situation sucks, you know?" Cillia said kindly to Mai. "It's okay to have some complicated emotions with it…anger, sadness, regret…whatever it is."
"And if you don't want to talk, that's fine too," Suki added meaningfully, "But if you do…maybe it's best if we're honest with each other. Maybe we could have helped Yue or made Katara see that she didn't have to leave in the night like that?"
"Perhaps…" Mai said, the idea of opening up her worst nightmare. But Ty Lee was nudging her shoulder, nodding at the suggestion.
"One thing is clear…we gotta look out for ourselves," Besu said. "And I had a thought…that Azula may go after people she thinks would be loyal to Zuko rather than her."
"The contestants of the Choice that were left to go home," Mai said at once, understanding her meaning.
"Right. I don't know how to contact them, but I feel awful just leaving them out there, alone. We're stronger together," Besu pointed out. "I think between us, we can make smart guesses about who would side with us, and who might cower to Azula…"
"And, I think a lot of us have more talents than anyone might realize," Cillia added, eyes gleaming. "I think the most satisfying idea in my mind is that Azlua would be taken down in part by a bunch of girls who came to marry her brother."
"I think…" Mai paused, thinking, "I think, yes, we should look out for one another. And I think we can figure out a way to get their attention. Last I heard, Mika had gone with her family to their summer house on Ember Island…"
XXX
The traveling continued through the forest, mostly at night, always on foot.
Katara had thought, despite the gravity of the situation they were walking into and the fear she knew still blanketed her and Sokka, that their first night of quiet whispers in the dark would bind them all together, make the long, arduous hours feel easier.
It had…except, well, for Zuko.
If anything, Katara felt him dragging farther away, like with each step he grew more and more detached from her, from their mission, and from their partnership.
Fear gripped Katara; was Zuko resentful that this had been the tipping point to urge them out of camp - for her family - when his own sister was on some dastardly plot that was equally as urgent?
Or was he wishing he'd remained, honoring his duty to those he'd left behind, or for his mother's sake?
She'd learned from her mistakes since she entered the Choice. She was not the young girl making missteps left and right, so she simply asked him as they rolled out their bedding one night.
Zuko scowled, taken aback by her question.
"What?" he echoed, "No. Of course, I think it's important we do this. I could never let you go alone."
She knew that this should satisfy her. She should take his words at face value and rest easy in the knowledge that all was well.
Except for the very fact she could see it wasn't.
She watched how Toph and Sokka acted with each other, and part of her heart yearned for it. They joked during their walks, keeping themselves occupied in their own little world with each other. They sat close during meals, sharing food and keeping only one plate. At night, they curled into each other's arms, so tightly that even a herd of gopher-moose couldn't shake them apart.
They seemed like they loved each other. By the spirits, of course, they did!
Walking with Zuko lately felt more like walking with a good friend, or a roommate. He'd hardly touched her in any way other than strictly platonic, he was withdrawn into his own thoughts. He slept away from her, facing whatever entrance they'd chosen, and despite Katara's check-ins, he put on a good face that it was all fine.
Katara knew to expect war to be brutal…but she would not let her love for Zuko, and their relationship, be one of the casualties.
A week into traveling, pacing quickly and surely well on their way to catching up to the Dai Lee in time, Katara put the idea into Sokka's head that maybe he and Toph deserved a night alone. She couched it so that it seemed like it was his idea, a benefit to them. And, since they were so coupley already, it wasn't strange for her to suggest it.
"I guess we have been pretty PDA, huh?" Sokka chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. Katara was grateful he didn't say anything about their lack thereof, though she thought maybe he was just too busy between Toph and his own worry to notice.
"You deserve it," Katara said earnestly, "Because who knows what will happen when we…" She trailed off, swallowing hard. Sokka's eyes darkened for a second.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Yeah."
Katara woke up earlier than usual to forage that afternoon, to cook a meal for Zuko, instead of relying on dried food packs as they had been.
While that simmered, she waved Sokka and Toph away. Luckily, Sokka explained it to Zuko as entirely his idea, so there was nothing suspicious on Katara's end.
"I'm going to go wash up," Zuko said after a beat of silence, "Uhm, dinner smells great."
If he understood this was a romance attempt, he didn't seem to convey it.
Once alone, in the cave they'd found for the night, she pulled her travel pack and dug to the bottom. In there, scrunched and unworn, had been a red stringy top that had been folded into a sweater, something she'd forgotten about until unearthing it a day into the trip. A remnant from the Fire Nation, previously a useless scrap of fabric…until today.
If she wore a black skirt but tied up the sides of it, well, it was passable for something decisively sexy.
Just as she was tying up the back of her top, she heard footsteps. Too short to be Zuko. She turned to see Toph.
"Sorry, forgot my- ah!" Toph jumped and spun around, covering her eyes as though she had seen something inappropriate. "Spirits, Kat, why are you topless? My poor feet don't need to see that!"
"I'm not topless, I'm wearing a…" She paused. Calling it a 'shirt' was generous. "...Something."
Toph drug her foot across the dusty floor, "Barely anything. Goshdarnit, girl!"
Katara felt her cheeks flush. "It's for Zuko. Red. Flirty…uhm…" She tried to explain. At Toph's blank stare, blanker than it usually was, she felt the words come all rushing out, "We just haven't been connecting lately, you know? And I just thought, well, maybe we all needed a night like this?"
Toph winced. "Gee, Sugar Queen, how can I put this nicely? You seem…desperate. In a not-good sort of way."
"I just want us to feel like a couple," Katara whispered brokenly, feeling dejected. Toph was right. This was desperate.
"I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm also not saying you're right." Toph sighed. "I just think it's so clear that something is going on with him, and I'm not sure this is what he can handle right now."
"So it's not just me," Katara whispered, shaking her head. "I've tried to get him to open up but-"
"He's particularly good at pretending to be dandy. Yeah. I know." Toph grabbed a blanket from the ground, gingerly placing it over Katara's shoulders, "You two will have your day. I just know it," she said, the kindest and most empathic Katara had ever seen her. "But not tonight. Not like this. Whatever is bothering him is bigger than any of this," she said.
Katara felt like crying but found truth in her words. She fished a knit top from her bag, put it on, and untied her skirt so it didn't seem so provocative anymore.
"I'm worried about him."
"Me too," Toph said, "But he loves you. And just being here is enough for him right now. Things are tense and tough, but, well, just keep on keeping on."
"Thank you for your wisdom."
Toph grinned. "I know. I should write motivational books or some shit, right?"
Katara shoved her shoulder, "Go. At least one couple here should enjoy their evening."
"Sokka has big plans, actually-"
"Ew. Shoo," Katara let out a trill of laughter, "I very specifically do not want to know, but wish you the best."
Toph lingered, just a moment. "One day, we'll all have kids and things will be good and that moment will feel so far away from all of this, you know that right? And we'll think it was crazy we were ever here."
Katara closed her eyes, holding on to that idea.
Spirits…she couldn't wait for that day to come.