Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its content. This is a work of fan fiction.
This can be read as a stand alone fic, but if you're interested the events in this fic do take place almost immediately after one of my other fics, "The Reunion."
TW: allusions to PTSD symptoms
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"So uh here's your room" Zuko said to Aang gesturing to the large room at the end of the hall with one hand as he held his shoulder with the other.
"You know Katara can probably do more healing on that lightning wound if you want" Aang said, feeling pride swell in his chest for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint.
"She already offered and I said no. We had a long day and everyone just needs some sleep" Zuko answered.
"Okay, goodnight Zuko!" The young avatar said. "Goodnight Aang" replied Zuko, walking slowly down the hall back towards his room.
The room was even bigger than it had seemed from the hallway and the bed was large enough for Appa to sleep in. Aang had never realized how big the fire palace was, and he wasn't sure he even liked it. This wasn't how the monks lived and it wasn't how he had been living for the past year.
He typically slept on Appa during the gaang's travels. In fact even when they were staying at ember island and the western air temple he still slept outside with his Bison.
Katara was also never far when he fell asleep. Often choosing to stay outside with Aang, not wanting him to be alone. This most of the time resulted with Sokka choosing to sleep outside too. Wanting to make sure his sister was safe, even though everyone knew she could take care of herself just fine. Aang smiled at this thought.
Katara was right down the hall, but she still seemed so far away. They all did. After endless nights of sharing tents, placing sleeping bags right next to each other, and even sharing cramped rooms, this big room with its big bed felt very lonely. And Aang felt small for the first time in a long while.
--
Katara carefully took out her hair loops as she sat in front of a large vanity. Her hair was wet and matted, and only after she started brushing it did she realize that Azula had burned a chunk of it off in the crossfires. She let out a slight laugh at this, she knew she was lucky to have this be her only battle scar from the war...well at least the only physical battle scar. The mental wounds she had endured she suspected would never fully heal, just like the one with her mom would always be a bit of a sore spot.
After brushing out her hair, bathing the day away, and changing out of her very dirty clothes, she climbed into the large bed in the middle of the room. Katara couldn't remember a time where she slept in a bed so soft, she practically sank into it. Silk sheets and soft blankets enveloped her, but she found herself missing the familiarity of her sleeping bag. Even back home in the Southern Water Tribe they most often slept on cots with furs to keep them warm. The bed felt too big for one person.
Katara was exhausted though. She had been up for almost 36 hours straight, and could feel sleep pulling at her. Looking around at her unfamiliar surroundings, and thinking about the events that had just unfolded she let out a deep sigh. She pulled one of the silk cased pillows to her body and slowly closed her eyes, allowing sleep to overtake her tired body.
--
Sokka and Suki stood in the hallway staring at each other. Zuko had managed to find some crutches for Sokka and Katara had done a little bit of healing and wrapped his leg. He was feeling a lot better.
"you know you really scared me there for a second" Suki said, trying to stall as she didn't want to leave Sokka's side. "You scared me too" Sokka answered, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. She smiled and blushed as his fingers grazed her cheek.
"You should really get some sleep, Sokka" Suki said, looking down. " I guess" Sokka said, reluctant to leave the brave woman standing before him; even if just for a night. The couple stood there for a few more moments.
"Do you need help?" Asked Suki as she gestured to his foot. "Uh...no, I think I'll be okay" Sokka answered, completely missing her attempt to spend a little more time with him before they both went to bed. She smiled at him and nodded.
"Goodnight Sokka" Suki said, placing a light kiss on his lips. "Goodnight" Sokka said, smiling. The two turned and went towards their rooms which were across the hall from each other. Both doors clicked shut almost in sync.
--
Toph settled down in the bed which actually reminded her a lot of home. Back home she had a large, very soft, likely very expensive bed, similar to the one she was in now. However, despite the familiarity, when she tried to fall asleep she couldn't.
Even before she joined up with Aang and the others she often would go outside at night, and would occasionally fall asleep out there. She would tell her parents the next day that she must have been sleepwalking. As angry as she was at them, on this night she missed them.
Toph pushed the thoughts of her family aside and tried to get comfortable in the bed. However, the feeling of dangling in the air with only Sokka's hand between her life and her death kept overwhelming her every time she tried to sleep. But, eventually exhaustion overtook her and she fell into a restless sleep.
--
Zuko, unlike the rest of the group, had fallen asleep quickly, but was plagued by dreams of Azula's sobs. Maybe that was his fault for deciding to sleep in her room, but he didn't want to sleep in his, no way would he sleep in his dad's, and all the guest rooms were filled with his friends. He missed hearing the crackle of fire outside a tent, or hearing Sokka and Suki's laughs echo as they stayed up just to spend time together.
He could at least do one of those things, so despite the summer's heat that was beginning to creep upon the fire nation, he started a fire in the fire place just to hear the sound. He hadn't gotten to talk to his dad or Azula before they had been taken away. He had been too scared, but now he wished he had. He hated the reality that was his family. He thought about Mai, and how there was every possibility she was dead; Azula was ruthless and likely showed her no mercy. Tears began to streak his face, and eventually, so worn out from the previous days' events, he silently cried himself back to sleep.
--
Aang awoke to a piercing scream that he immediately knew belonged to Katara. He sprang from his bed and raced down the hall to her room which was thankfully only a few doors down, but it felt like forever. Everyone who wanted to hurt them was locked up, who could possibly be hurting her now? It didn't matter, he would fight whoever it was with everything he had just to keep her safe.
The door was open when he arrived, but having a look inside he didn't see anyone besides a bump in the bed that he could only assume was Katara. As his own heartbeat began to slow he heard her rapid breathing and sobs, and as his eyes continued to adjust he realized she was curled into a ball. His heart broke hearing and seeing her this way. Was she even awake? Aang wondered. "Katara?" He said quietly into the dark.
--
Katara held Aang's lifeless body in her arms, trying to use the nearby water to revive him, but this wasn't spirit water and there was no bringing him back this time. Ozai was just around the corner, her brother and Suki captured. They had lost. A scream came from inside of her, deep and full of guilt and grief.
The dark bedroom began to reveal itself as her eyes adjusted. It was a dream? Oh thank goodness! She thought. Or...was it a dream? Was that the reality? Had she dreamed of them winning? She was in the fire palace, but maybe it was a trick. Having difficulty differentiating her nightmares from her reality she curled into a ball and began to silently sob, her breathing becoming more labored with every tear.
"Katara?" Came a gentle and familiar voice. Aang! She quickly wiped her eyes and sat up to see him standing in the doorway. How long had he been there? Did he know she was crying?
"Yeah?" She said in what was barely a whisper, her voice cracking.
"I heard you scream, is everything okay?" Aang asked gently, still standing in the doorway. When Katara only let out a deep sigh and wrapped her arms around her knees he asked, "can I come in?" "Please" she said nodding.
"Can you light one of the lamps?" Katara asked as Aang walked toward the bed.
Aang nodded and produced a small flame in his hand that illuminated his face before gently placing it inside the lamp on the bedside table. Only then did he see Katara's tear streaked face and red, puffy eyes. Before he could think twice he went and sat down next to her on the bed and wrapping her in a comforting hug. She laid her head on his shoulder and began to cry again. Aang rubbed his hand over her back.
After her tears had slowed, Katara pulled away with her hands still on Aang's shoulders. "You're okay" Katara finally said, looking somewhat at him in disbelief. "Yeah!" Aang said, giving Katara his signature crooked smile. The memories of their reunion slowly began to come back to her, and she gave a soft smile. "I dreamt that you weren't" she admitted, taking his hands in hers. "It's okay Katara. It was just a dream, I'm right here" he assured her, giving a small smile and rubbing his thumbs over her hands.
--
The door closed behind Suki and she just stood there for a few moments. She remembered her first night back with the gaang after Sokka had rescued her. How good it felt to be back with people who loved her, who she knew she could trust. Avatar Kyoshi had been right, her friends had been coming for her. She smiled at the memory of riding back in the airship with her head on Sokka's shoulder.
Before thinking twice she turned on her heels and opened the door to her room. Little did she know Sokka had just done the same thing.
The two of them stood starting at each other from their doorways. "I...uh..." Sokka started, not really knowing what to say or how to say it. "I don't want to sleep alone" Suki said for the both of them. "Me neither" Sokka answered with a soft smile.
"Do you uh, do you wanna come in?" Sokka asked, gesturing to his room. Suki nodded and walked over to him, following him into the room.
They settled into the bed, staring at each other for a few moments. "I can't believe we did this" Suki said, referring to the day they had just had. Sokka nodded, "me too, I really thought Toph and I were goners until you showed up."
"I'm glad you trusted a girl to save you" my Suki said, teasing. Sokka blushed, "yeah...did I ever apologize for that?" "Kinda" Suki answered with a smile, knowing Sokka had done a lot of growth since their first interaction. "I'm sorry" Sokka said, looking embarrassed. Suki smiled at him.
Sokka took Suki's hand in his, and the two slowly began to drift off to sleep in the comfort of knowing the other person was there with them.
They were almost asleep when a scream woke them both up with a jump. "Katara!" Sokka said with panic in his voice, and got out of bed quickly.
--
Aang and Katara stayed like that for a while until finally Aang said, "you should really get some sleep." He began to stand up, but Katara's hand grabbed his, keeping him from getting up and leaving.
Aang gave her a puzzled look, "stay, please?" Katara finally said with a blush. Aang nodded, and he sat on the bed above the blankets as she settled under those same blankets. He gently played with her hair as Katara started to drift off.
"Aang?" Katara's half asleep voice came a few minutes later. "I'm still here" Aang assured her. "There's something I need to tell you" she said as she sat up again. She blushed as she looked at him. Could this finally be it? Aang wondered.
"I-" Katara was cut off before she could begin as Sokka and Suki made their way to her room breathlessly.
"Katara! Are you okay?" Sokka asked, obviously struggling to get to her as quickly as his injured leg could carry him. His eyes widened at the sight of Aang already with her.
"I'm fine Sokka!" She said, annoyed. "Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"
"Your door was open!" Sokka retorted.
"She just had a bad dream, Sokka" Aang said gently, "I also came into to see if she was okay, and..." he trailed off.
Toph showed up in the doorway a few moments later, "what's going on?" She demanded.
"I had a bad dream" Katara answered, "everyone just wanted to make sure I was okay."
"Are you?" Asked Toph, understanding the bad dream thing all too well.
"I think so" Katara said, and looked around the room at all the friends that had shown up for her. She really was lucky.
"Well I guess we should all get back to bed" Toph said, but no one moved.
Silence filled the room until Sokka said, "don't you guys think these rooms are a little too big for one person" the group quietly chattered in agreement.
"One of these beds is big enough for Appa" Aang said with a smile, "surely they're big enough for all of us...if that's okay with you?" Aang said looking at Katara.
Before she could answer Sokka cut in with, "alright enough of the oogies! I'm coming in," and slid himself between Aang and Katara on the bed. "Sokka" Katara complained, but one look from Aang made her smile and relax. Now that the war was over they had all the time in the world to figure out how they felt for each other, now it was nice to be surrounded by friends and family.
Suki slid in next to Katara, and the two of them shared a glance that displayed both of their playful annoyance with Sokka who turned over to face Katara. "Do you think you could switch with-" he started, but Katara cut him off, "no" she said smartly. He sighed in defeat and the two girls laughed.
Toph jumped on top of everyone which made the group all grunt in a collective "oof." "Ahhh, this is more like it" Toph said with a smile which made the whole gaang laugh.
--
Zuko woke up in a cold sweat, and got up out of bed. He left the room and began to wander the halls to try to clear his mind. All night every time he had fallen asleep he had heard Azula's screaming, making for a not very peaceful night's sleep.
Zuko jumped when he saw a figure moving slowly down the hallway, "who's there?" He said, trying to sound intimidating.
"Zuko, relax it's me!" Said Sokka with a slight laugh. "I just had to use the bathroom."
"Oh, sorry buddy" Zuko said.
"It's okay, I think we're all a little on edge" Sokka said as he made his way closer to Zuko, who was only just now beginning to realize that all the rooms he had given his friends were empty.
"Where is everyone?" Zuko asked, concerned.
"Come on" Sokka said, gesturing for Zuko to follow him.
"I don't exactly know how it happened, but somehow we all ended up in Katara's room. I think after the events of the past day we were all a little too on edge to sleep by ourselves" said Sokka.
Zuko nodded, "can I join?"
"Nooo, I was just taking you back with me to show you what you couldn't join" Sokka said with a sarcastic tone that was completely missed on Zuko.
"Oh, okay. I'll head back to my room then" said Zuko.
Sokka grabbed his wrist, "buddy, I was just kidding. Of course you can join us" Sokka said laughing.
"Oh... right" Zuko said sheepishly.
--
the gaang was all still asleep when the two friends arrived at Katara's room. Aang and Katara had taken up the space Sokka had been keeping between them, and Aang's arm was draped over his sister's waist. Rolling his eyes, but also smiling at the two of them, Sokka decided to just let it be and take the spot at the other side of the bed next to Suki.
Toph still was laid across everyone, light snores coming from the small earth bender.
Zuko grabbed a throw blanket and pillow off of a chair in the room, and settled at the end of the bed.
Soon enough the entire gaang was fast asleep, sleeping better than any of them had in weeks. They slept long into the next day, understandably exhausted from winning a war they probably shouldn't have had to be a part of in the first place. However, it had given them this, a family, and they all knew deep down that that is what they'd always be.
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the end:)
I hope you guys enjoyed and as always thank you so incredibly much for reading and reviewing
Sorry Aang and Katara didn't admit their love for each other in this one, it's coming, I promise!
I'm working on more Kataang fics and a Sukka fan fic, so look out for those ;)
Again, thank you so so much for reading and I hope you have a great day/night :)
