Aang jumped to his feet, "What are you doing here Katara?"
Katara wore a slate blue dress, decorated with textured white dots. Wide straps formed with a tying detail that flowed into a surplice bodice with a plunging V-cut back. The skirt of her dress fell to her feet. She let her hair flowing down and kept her signature hair loopies on each side. She wore mascara on her eyes and smiled at him with light red lips.
"I'm here for our date", Katara smiled as she pulled her hand back, "I'm sure you remember what I told you last night."
His mind flashbacked to the night before.
"I'm not going to give up on you!"
Katara was a woman of her word. Aang always knew that and had even admired her for it among her other traits. He just didn't expect her to be so quick about it. He remembered how eager Toph had been to rush him to this date. She had helped Katara set this up. It made him wonder who else was in on this set up. Was Suki aware of this arrangement?
"So other than Toph, who else knows about our blind date?" Aang narrowed his eyes at her.
"Suki" Katara sighed, knowing she couldn't dodge the question.
Aang groaned into his palms. To think he had just apologized to the Kyoshi warrior in the morning just for her to go behind his back with Toph and Katara. It now made sense why she had urged him to give the water bender a chance.
"Please don't be mad at her or Toph", Katara insisted, "They…don't want to see either of us unhappy and only wish to help."
"Katara I already made it clear how I felt. I told you—"
"I know what you said! But I told you I wouldn't give up on you…on us. At least for tonight can you just be here with me? I know I forced you into this situation with Suki and Toph's help but I want to have a fun date with you."
She wrapped her arms around herself and gazed at him pleading expression. The air bender dropped his hands and looked back towards her. From the tone of her voice, he knew that Katara was being sincere. A part of him was glad that his blind date wasn't with a stranger, but he hadn't expected it to be with Katara. The other part wanted to walk away and go back home. He couldn't have made it any clearer to her and anyone else that he did not wish to pursue a relationship with Katara. Aang still wasn't certain if anything good would come out of it.
He knew that Katara would never intentionally hurt him but he remained uncertain with his own feelings and fears. If he walked away, he would only hurt her again. Aang didn't want to make her cry again.
With that in mind, Aang let out a deep breath and relented.
"I suppose one date wouldn't hurt", Aang stepped toward the chair beside his and pulled it back for her. Katara happily to her seat as the air bender returned to his.
"You look handsome in those new threads Aang. The tailor exceeded my expectations after I gave her my instructions", Katara said.
"You got this outfit made for me?" Aang asked.
Katara nodded, "I had thought about making clothes like what you used to wear but I decided to make tiny changes with the color and your shawl. I hope you like it."
"I love it", Aang replied, "I'm not sure if I can thank you enough for going out of your way to have this made for me."
"Just knowing you love it is enough for me Aang. I'd do anything for you after all." Katara smiled softly.
Her words had somehow made the air bender feel both happy and guilty at the same time. He had already rejected her and yet here she was with him, determined to do what it took for him to accept her feelings. It was baffling to Aang why Katara would go so far for him even if he already knew why.
"So um…how do I look?" Katara asked as she nervously twirled strands of hair behind her ear.
"Beautiful", Aang said automatically. His eyes widened as he realized he blurted it out so casually. Katara was just as surprised, and it showed when her face flushed red. Nonetheless she was happy to hear it.
"Thank you", she responded. At that moment, the waitress from earlier arrived at their table and handed the restaurant menu. A male waiter came by and handed a covered plate to the waitress who placed it on their table and glanced towards Aang.
"Avatar Aang, at Master Katara's request we've made a special treat for you in particular", the waitress pulled off the cover to reveal egg custard tarts, "we hope you enjoy it. I will return for your orders."
Katara giggled at the sight of Aang salivating over the aroma of the custard tarts. He couldn't remember the last time he had any since their time traversing through the Great Divide.
"Good call to have them make some for you" Katara said.
"You know me too well", Aang chuckled. The two dined in on their early desert. In his haste, Aang managed to have bits of the custard tart on his cheek. Katara reached her hand out and wiped them off.
"Thanks", Aang said with an embarrassed expression.
"No problem", Katara smiled softly, "I heard Kuei summoned you earlier. Did he need to discuss anything important with you?"
"Yes", Aang nodded, "apparently there are people from villages north of Ba Sing Se going missing. No one can figure out why so he asked if we could investigate."
"That's troubling" Katara responded, "Do you think it might be spirit- related? Like what happened with Hei Bai."
"That's what I'm thinking."
"Alright so whats the plan?"
"None at the moment", Aang shrugged, "I wanted to go over it with everyone first but then this happened."
"Oh spirits this date couldn't have been done at a terrible time", Katara winced, "maybe we should head back and—"
"It's okay Katara. We can still discuss it tonight with the others after we're done. I was already thinking of waiting until tomorrow to head out so that we're all prepared."
"If you say so. Anything else from Kuei?"
There was but the air bender wasn't sure if he should speak about it with Katara. Kuei's warning of the earth nobles coming after him for his hand in marriage was a rather sensitive topic. Aang didn't want to think about how far the nobles would go to reach him. However, before he could say anything, loud yelling could be heard from the restaurant lobby.
"Sir you cannot go to him! The Avatar is already—" The waitress cried out.
"I WILL GO WHERE I PLEASE!" A deep booming voice said. Aang and Katara turned to see a bulky man wearing noble earth kingdom armor strolling towards them. His eyes emerald eyes shined under the light of the restaurant. He sported a long grey beard covering his pale face. Long enough to flow down to his abdomen. Aang's eyes widened as he noticed the symbols on the man's chest plate.
Suya
'Oh monkey feathers" Aang thought as the man stopped at the table, standing in between the air bender and Katara, who watched the man with a raised eyebrow.
"Can we help you?" She asked only to be ignored as the man watched Aang with steel gaze.
"Avatar Aang, allow me to introduce myself", he bowed, "I am known as Jian Suya."
'Oh no…' The air bender instantly recognized the name. Kuei had warned him of the noblemen, but Aang still hadn't expected to encounter him this quickly.
"Um hello…nice to meet you Jian", Aang greeted back, "I'm afraid I'm in the middle of—"
"I seek an alliance with you Avatar. The Suya clan has a great history here in Ba Sing Se and I wish to extend one of my three daughters' hand in marriage to you" Jian continued bluntly, "As the last of your people I am sure you understand the importance for you to reproduce the next generation of air benders."
Of course, Aang knew that. Every day he was reminded of the thought, but it didn't mean he needed to hear it from everyone else. It was rather annoying and frustrating for him to deal with. He certainly didn't need anyone offering their daughters to him either.
"I am aware of that Jian but—"
"Then there is no more for us to discuss here. Of course, I will let you to choose which of my daughters for you to wed and you can go on from there to reproduce children worthy of Suya clan and the Avatar."
"I'm sorry Jian but I am not interested." Aang rejected.
"I assure you Avatar that my daughters are quite beautiful. If that is what you are worried about." Jian insisted.
"It is not."
"Then you should accept my offer! My clan has power in the earth kingdom. We can offer you so much if you would accept us."
"I said I am not interested." Aang denied him again, feeling more annoyed with Jian's insistence.
"You must and you will! There is no one more suited for you than the women of the Suya clan. I insist you come to place of residence and—"
"That's enough!" Katara cried out as she slammed her palms on the table and stood from her chair, "Aang has already told you politely that he doesn't want to. Now leave him alone!"
Jian glanced back at her and sneered, "And who are you to tell me what to do?"
"Master Katara of the southern water tribe, that's who I am", Katara answered him with narrow eyes.
"That means nothing to me girl! I have business to discuss with the Avatar so why don't you go off and mind your own."
"The Avatar's name is Aang, and he's already rejected your so-called business with him. We are on a date and you're bothering us."
Jian scoffed and turned back to Aang, "Is this truly the kind of girl you would rather spend time with? This water savage is no better than my daughters."
"Don't talk about Katara that way!" Aang jumped to his feet, "I will not have you disrespect her."
"You are a fool for choosing to spend time with her rather than my own offspring! I am offering you an alliance with the Suya clan, and you would throw it away for this water harlot?! You have a duty to breed new air benders and it cannot be with someone of a low class." Jian went on.
"That's it!" Katara gathered the water from vase on their table and bent it towards Jian. The water forcing him to the wall behind him. She froze the water, freezing the earth nobleman to the wall. The water bender stomped her way to him.
"Just because he's the avatar doesn't mean Aang still isn't human and he's not some breeding animal for you to force to have children! What Aang decides to do is up to him. Not some gaudy nobleman like you can make him do anything he doesn't want to do."
"Unhand me from this ice you wench!" Jian demanded.
"No. You can stay there until it melts for all I care. Aang and I are leaving", Katara turned around. When she got close enough to Aang she grabbed his hand, dragging him out of the restaurant with her. The two walked down the street and dashed through a few alleyways to lose any possible pursuers. Katara grimaced and Aang pursed his lips, feeling guilt for how their lovely dinner date was interrupted. It had barely begun and was ruined by a selfish earth nobleman chasing after Aang. Before he could say anything, the water bender broke the silence in the air.
"Can you believe the nerve of that guy?! Who does he think he talking to us like that?!"
"Yeah…that man is certainly something else", Aang replied, "I'm really sorry about this Katara."
Katara halted and turned to him, "you have nothing to apologize for Aang. He barged into our date. If anyone should be sorry it's that jerk Jian."
"Maybe so", Aang shrugged, "but King Kuei warned me about this kind of thing happening and to especially look out for Jian Suya."
"Kuei warned you?" Katara wondered.
Aang nodded, "Apparently a lot of nobles want me to marry their daughters and have air bending children with them. Kuei and Tomoe informed me so that I would be prepared to evade them. Though I didn't think that Jian would approach me this quickly."
"It seems like he would force you to do it if he could", Katara said.
"Yeah…him and a lot of people I guess", Aang muttered. Much to Katara's chagrin, the air bender pulled his hand back from her and crossed his arms. They both stood in an empty alley, void of any citizens.
The air bender leaned his back on a nearby fence wall and let out a deep sigh. Frustration rose as he thought of the way others watched him, knowing that he was the last air bender in the world. He knew how they all viewed him. Someone who could sire a breed of air benders for the first time in over a hundred years.
After ending the war, he heard the whispers they shared at the functions he attended. They all spoke of his other duty as the only air bender to wed and bring forth new air benders. But that wasn't what he had wanted. He was still young after all and deemed that he did not have to worry about such matters so early on. He was only a teenager after all.
However, that didn't matter to the people who often asked him when he planned have children or how many wives he would want. He would tell them that it was simply not the time for him but was met with resistance.
It didn't help that he was still mending his heart after what had happened with Katara and Zuko. It also didn't help that is what some of his blind dates had come with the intention of marrying him for his title as Avatar.
The worst of them being Mira. The way she had scoffed at him wanting to be in love and calling it a childish notion. He briefly wondered what became of her after their blind date.
Katara watched Aang as he held an annoyed expression on his face.
"I want to ask you something…"
Aang turned to her, seeing her blush as she twirled a strand of hair.
"With all this talk of marriage, have you given any thought to it before?"
"I have", he admitted, "it isn't that I don't want to get married…I have to. I understand how important it is for me to have children since I'm the only air bender in the world if you don't count Appa. I would love to be a dad…but if I am going to have any children then I want to do that with someone I love. Not just anyone from a wealthy family. And I especially don't want to be married right now, I'm still just a kid and…"
He stopped himself from saying more and looked down to his feet, unsure of what more to say. The air bender felt a hand resting gently on his shoulder as Katara smiled softly.
"Don't bottle in your feelings Aang. You know you can tell me anything."
Aang gave her a small smile as he continued, "I thought after the way…after I've fulfilled my duty and ended the war that I wouldn't feel so pressured anymore. For a while I did but it came back with a new expectation from the world. Everyone is forcing me to make a decision to find someone to wed but it isn't that simple. I try not to think about it much because it stresses me out so much, but I can't do that if I'm constantly reminded by others that I'm the last of my people and that it's up to me to bring back a culture that's been considered dead for over a hundred years. Whether it's though meetings, functions, or on blind dates, I'm forced to think about it. Ugh! It's enough to make me pull my hair out if I had any!"
"Have you discussed this with anyone else? Suki?" Katara asked.
He shook his head, "I avoid talking about it because I don't want to."
"Even so you shouldn't have to hold all this stress and turmoil to yourself. Me and the others are here for you, you know that don't you?"
"I know…I just hate being a burden." Aang lamented.
"How could you think that?" Katara asked incredulously and placed both hands on his shoulder, "You have never been nor will never be a burden to us. We all love you and that will never change."
The air bender truly appreciated her words.
"Thank you for that. I just can't help but feel that way sometimes", Aang smiled.
"You're welcome", she pulled her hands back and clasped them together, "Although I should be the one apologizing to you."
"What for?" Aang asked with a confused expression.
"I pretty much forced this blind date on to you."
"That is nothing to be sorry about. It's fine Katara."
"No, it isn't!" Katara exclaimed, "I set this up so that I could show you how I feel about you, but I wasn't taking your feelings into consideration. I'm no different from Jian or any of the other nobles that come after you."
"Hold on! You are nothing like them" Aang asserted and grabbed the water bender's hands, raising them up. "Jian and the others like him only want me for their own selfish gain. I know your intentions are pure. I believed you when you told me of your feelings unlike all those other girls who throw themselves at me."
Katara's blue eyes matched with Aang's own gray eyes.
"You believe me, but you don't trust me with your heart, do you?" Her words leaving the air bender speechless.
"I—"
"It's okay Aang. I understand why you wouldn't after what I did. All I ask is for an opportunity to make up for it."
He wanted to assure her. To tell her that he did trust her. He just wasn't sure of it himself now that Katara mentioned it. Aang wanted to be cautious, but he never wanted to make Katara feel that he couldn't trust her. He could say one thing.
"Even so there is no one I'd rather be spending time with than you right now Katara. If you'd like, we can continue our date elsewhere."
"I'd like that very much", Katara replied with a soft smile. She knew that he was going to evade her on the subject. It was something they could discuss down the line when Aang eventually did come to trust her again.
For now the two could resume their night out.
Aang let go of her hands and offered his arm to her, "shall we?"
"We shall", Katara giggled and wrapped her arm around his.
Hope you liked this chapter. Will plan to put out ch 31 around christmas time. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought.