Chapter 21: Everything Good
Aang
Arriving in Ba Sing Se is a sort of whirlwind. Upon docking the ships in the city's port, we are met with royal escorts sent by the Earth King. Toph announces then she will be paying her parents a visit in the city. According to Katara, she had been planning that for a while, but Sokka joining her comes as a surprise to all of us with the exception of Suki; she and the Kyoshi warriors will stay with the Earth King to aid humanitarian efforts. Watching them go creates a dull ache in my chest that settles with Katara's reassurance we will see them again soon.
In the carriage prepared for us, there is no Ju Di. Though the circumstances of our arrival are different than the last, my mood is dark regardless. Despite leading a group of experienced fighters against the Fire Nation army for the liberation of Ba Sing Se on Sozin's comet, the Earth King has expressed his desire to put Iroh on trial for his siege of the city . . . Zuko has been in a right mood since he found out. I'm not sure where I stand on the matter, but there is a level of unease that I can't pinpoint. And then, there's my supposed betrothal brewing. Truth be told, I'm 99% thinking Bumi is pulling my leg. The thing is, with Bumi, the one percent thought is usually the truth.
On a brighter note, Hakoda will be staying with us for formal peace talks as an ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe until the Head Chief arrives in two months time. Sokka and Katara were ecstatic when Hakoda told us the news. Official peace talks will commence next month. In the meantime: Zuko, Katara, and I have scheduled an audience with the Earth King later this week. Needless to say, we will be here for some time. And so, we've been given a house in the upper ring to stay.
Katara and I sit across from each other. Zuko and Mai are next to me. Hakoda and Iroh sit beside Katara. The ride is quiet. I suppose I'm not the only one lost in thought. Iroh grunts softly as the ride jumps harshly. It's been pretty bumpy so far. My eyes linger outside the carriage on scorched doors, broken windows, and pale faces. Shame bubbles in my stomach and anger lodges in my throat. This will never happen again. Zuko meets my gaze in a silent promise.
Katara's eyes are misty and determined. A sort of peace washes over me. She's too good for this world. Beside her, Hakoda's eyes linger on a barefooted boy in robes that look more like rags than actual clothing. In a dark alley we pass, two hungry looking men glare at each other until some people pull them apart. Sullenly, they begin picking scraps—destruction clearly left over from Sozin's comet.
Hakoda mutters softly, "Yu Dao had some flaws, but this is something else."
Katara looks at her dad. My body twists in his direction at the comment. Zuko voices my question, "How so?"
"Fire Nation citizens . . . " Hakoda trails off uncertainly. Zuko frowns. My brows furrow. The Fire Nation has occupied Yu Dao for decades. Iroh says it's one of the first colonies the Fire Nation claimed. Some of the people we met there were earth benders born of mixed bending couples and considered themselves Fire Nation citizens. I think of the family of four in the restaurant Katara and I visited.
"In Yu Dao, there's a clear inequality in the distribution of wealth between . . . earthbenders and firebenders. It's not perfect, but it's thriving. There's pride in the city. They've built families together." Hakoda's face appears equal parts amazed and confused.
The thought circles in my head. Come think of it, a lot of the traditional Fire Nation citizens there seemed to have more money to spare in comparison to those clearly embracing their Earth Kingdom ancestry. The two men chatting amicably across the street of the food shop Katara and I went to circle in my mind. The man getting his shoes polished had been dressed in fine Fire Nation robes; the man polishing shoes was in shabby earth kingdom robes that showed more wear than work alone would give.
"Now look at this city. It's all earth benders, but they're separated by walls and the wealth gap is even larger between their citizens." Hakoda sounds like he wants to be irritated, but is too tired for the emotion.
As if to prove his point, the carriage rolls relatively smoothly by houses that are spotless, bright, and well taken care of. Even what shows fire damage is being diligently worked on already. A scowl shapes my lips before I can hold it back. Beside me, I feel Zuko cross his arms.
"Azula was right." Mai deadpans. Her eyes watch the building pass disdainfully.
Katara narrows her eyes, "Excuse me?"
"Arrogant fools get a taste of power and forget they can bleed." Mai drawls tonelessly.
Iroh narrows his eyes sharply at Mai. Mai's attention is fixated outside the carriage as we enter the upper ring untouched by the destruction.
"A contact had mentioned rumors floating around. Some upper class citizens had made a deal with Azula to save themselves and their homes from the destruction . . ." Iroh watches Mai carefully.
Mai scoffs. A sick expression flashes on her face before it blanks. Her voice is a void of emotion as she speaks, "Not rumors, but verified information. Azula appreciated the cunning of the people that had the nerve to ask, so she planned to honor those deals in exchange for their service and loyalty to the Fire Nation. Ozai, however, was set on annihilation. He knew that people would escape. Making them believe that they could buy their survival would make it easier to round them up after the comet. The elite of the fire nation would reside in their homes."
Bile rises to my throat. Katara covers her horrified gasp with her hands. Iroh is green. Hakoda's hands are balled tightly and pale. Zuko breaks the silence with a question he strings together in a fragile monotone voice, "Was that her idea?"
Mai closes her eyes. She reaches blindly for his hand and gives it a squeeze.
"She thought your father was being too theatrical, but she didn't care what happened to them."
I clench my jaw. How dare she? How dare they? How dare he? This carriage feels too enclosed. My skin itches. Even my robes lay uncomfortably over my skin.
"That's horrible." Katara murmurs shakily.
As the carriage rolls to a stop, I reach for the door. My fingers fumble with the handle of the door. I vaguely register Katara's voice but it's distant and my own breathing is loud. When the carriage driver opens the door, I fling myself out and stumble to the back where our luggage is. Each step is foreign and awkward as I reach for my staff. My body has developed a mind of its own. Katara's hands stop me in my tracks. Her worried face breaks through my daze. We're standing in front of a house and it's not the one we stayed in last time. It's bigger and reeks luxury. The grass is unrealistically green.
All I do is give her stress. I breathe deeply and pull her hands from my shoulders. Holding them gently, I tell her softly, "It's okay, Katara. I just need a moment alone."
"Aang—"
"We'll talk later." I tell her. I almost fly off then. I look at her: pale faced, her hands are clasped over her heart, and her focus is entirely on me. Romantic or no, she loves me and it's obvious. It hits me like a water whip; sharp, but the shock is surprisingly short lived. I've always known. I just never realized the intensity matched my own. I ask her already knowing the answer, "You'll wait for me, right?"
Her shoulders relax. Blue eyes shine with sincerity that breaks my heart as she nods.
I snap my glider open and fly. I'm no different than those cowards: selfish and self-centered to the end.
Toph
Sokka walks casually behind me. Whistling, he is nonchalance personified. I'm surprised he hasn't complained about the amount of stairs we've climbed to reach the main terminal of the railway. I cross my arms. When I decided on make this trip. I meant to go alone. Saying goodbye to everybody, Katara especially, heightened my nerves. I didn't think about Sokka joining me until we'd gone and walked away. Now to be precise.
"You know, we could have just hitched a ride with everyone else," says Sokka.
If I was going directly to the upper ring, then yes. I am not. I ignore him and walk toward a ticket counter, "A ticket to Mochou station please."
"Make that two!"
I narrow my eyes. Sokka reaches behind me to grab the tickets from the counter. Every inch of me wants to stomp my feet.
"So where are we going?"
"We?" I raise a brow. "Why are you here, Sokka?"
He shrugs, "To eat good food at your parents' house."
Liar.
I push down the warmth in my stomach. Scoffing, I tell him, "Hope you're not hungry then. We need to do some shopping first."
His heart rate spikes. Happily, he throws an arm around my shoulder, "You picked the perfect guy for the job."
He doubles over when I dig my elbow into his stomach. I didn't get a choice.
Smirking, I yell behind me, "Hurry up, Sokka!"
Grumbling, his steps rush to catch up with me.
"You're going clothes shopping?" Sokka's question is laced in disbelief. His whole body droops.
"Fancy clothes shopping!" The stars in his tone are unmistakable. Running around the admittedly small store, he browses through fabrics and styles. Like a child, he makes noises of surprise and amazement.
The rustling of fabric is followed by rushed steps to what I assume is a mirror. Vibrantly, he says, "Look Toph, wouldn't I just look dignified in these?"
I pause and wait. The realization doesn't come. Fighting the urge to face palm, I smile brightly, "You totally would Sokka! That shade of blue would totally make your eyes pop!"
"You really think so?" His voice is dreamy.
I frown. That did not go how I was planning.
"Miss Bei Fong." The dressmaker bows as he approaches us to the store front, "Your orders are ready, if you wish to take them."
I nod. This man was often in charge of my wardrobe when my family came to the city. Not that anything special was ever made for me. I was my parent's shameful secret after all. The great Bei Fong family had given birth to a useless earthbender after generations of nonbenders.
"They're the design and color I asked for?" I murmur softly.
The man taps his foot somewhat impatiently. An undertone of haughtiness weaves into his voice, "Yes, Miss Bei Fong. I assure you all is in order."
The silence that follows is heavy. For the first time since I left my parent's home, I feel small.
"Would you . . ." Sokka's voice startles me. Gently, he asks, "Would you like me to take a look at them for you?"
Ah, he remembers at last. I hesitate before nodding. The dressmaker leaves and returns with three large boxes. Sokka is uncharacteristically careful as he opens each one.
"Who is this for?"
"Two are for my parents."
He nods. The fabric rustles. Sokka whistles, "These are nice! I didn't think this shade of green existed in clothes! Look at the stitching!"
The dressmaker's heart beat stutters at the praise. His voice is hesitant and somewhat sheepish, ". . . Thank you . . . Uh . . . Lord Bei Fong does have quite the exquisite taste. And Miss Bei Fong has always been fond of my stitching from what Lady Bei Fong has mentioned."
I blink. I move to the table where the clothes are spread out. Feeling over the dress robes in Sokka's hands, he's right. The stitches are uniform and exact but twist and turn in various patterns. Tracing the patterns gave me something to do during long etiquette lessons.
"Everlasting sage, for my father. My mother has a preference for chestnut brown." My fingers move over the textures of the fabric. My mother's obsession with this man's clothes is justified even based on touch alone. Although, I'm tempted to believe Madam Shin may have just added some extra emphasis on the need for texture.
"That is correct, Miss Bei Fong." The dressmaker replies softly, the earlier impatience gone, "I did my best to incorporate the instructions from the seamstress you chose the fabrics with."
"I've only arrived in the city recently. I thank you for your accommodation. Madam shin mentioned you generally prefer to work with the client directly. I didn't know."
"Yes, well . . . It has always been an honor to work for a member of the Bei Fong family. Double it when she is one of the saviors of the world." He bows.
Katara and Suki said this period business lasted a week at a time and that I may feel more emotional than I normal would. I'm no longer bleeding, so then, why do my eyes tear up?
Clearing my throat I tell him, "I would like to change into my robes now."
Aang
The damage to the lower ring of the city is disproportionately more extensive to that of the upper ring. Even the middle ring saved itself from much of the comet's fire. In the bright afternoon sun, the difference is stark from above the city. Angry tears fly from my eyes against the wind. Everyone made it seem that the world would be saved if I killed Ozai, but it's not.
I land over a wrecked home in the lower ring. The base of the house is all that's left. Fractured remains of scorched picture frames lay amongst the rubble. My body trembles with contained rage.
People knew this would happen and they didn't care! My teeth clench hard on each other. It doesn't matter that Ozai is dead. It doesn't matter that Azula has lost her mind. It doesn't matter because the world is full of people that will sacrifice others for their own gain. Who is to say that the next Ozai isn't amongst the folk in the Earth Kingdom or the Water Tribes?
I lift a large beam from the rubble and toss it. A small pink bundle comes into view. It's tied up in a rumpled red ribbon and coated in ash. A note is tucked under the ribbon.
To my dearest Song,
We may be losing battles, but so long the Avatar lives, the war is not over. Until he finally ends this torture, let us pray to the spirits that we see each other again before little Jing outgrows this parka. I want to see my granddaughter while she's still young.
Love,
Your mom.
I clutch the bundle to my chest and scream.
Did the airbenders have this blind trust in me too? When I disappeared, were they too waiting for me to appear and save them? Did some of them manage to escape the fires and become persecuted by the Fire Nation? Were they too betrayed by people seeking their own gain in exchange? And, if they were . . . Did those betrayers sacrifice their morals and integrity only to be stabbed in the back?
Bitterly, I wonder. If I sacrifice my love for Katara, would it make me different from those people?
Katara
After Aang leaves, I avoid the others and put my focus into getting our belongings into the oversized home we were given to stay. I choose a room for Aang and myself next to each other.
This house gets some type of maintenance because the dusting I do is minimal and the bedsheets appear fresh. When I'm satisfied, the sun is no longer high in the sky. I pass by the living room where my dad, Iroh, Zuko and Mai have ordered food. A frown stretches my dad's lips when I decline a portion.
Mai looks more gloomy than I've seen her lately, but while I don't blame her for Aang's state; I can't find it in me to reassure her. Maybe because she seemed perfectly fine to aid Azula in her cruelty . . . She turned her back on the monster for Zuko, but would she have let the world burn otherwise?
Silently, I drag my feet outside. The sun is setting. Aang is still not back. I sit myself down on the stairs to the front porch. The war is over. The Fire Lord is dead. I thought it would fix everything, but it didn't.
I close my eyes. I thought once the war was over I could actually think. I thought that when there was peace, my feelings would be clear. I would know what I felt for Aang. I wrap my arms around my legs and rest my head on my knees. Tears sting my eyes. I love Aang. I want him for myself. I don't want to share his time with the world. I want his future to be intertwined with mine. I know that now.
I look at the setting sun. In another world, under these pink skies, Aang would be here with me. He would be happy and bright and everything good. We'd be sipping tea with our friends. Heck, Iroh would probably own the tea shop. The world would be at peace and so would he. In that world, I could love him freely. I could take him in my arms and kiss him and it wouldn't be a selfish wish. My shoulders shake with effort as I hold back my emotions.
"Are you alright, Katara?"
I hear my dad take a seat next to me. I bite my lip. No. I'm not. The love of my life flew off to who knows where. This world sucks. People are evil. And I haven't felt this boy crazy since my stupid crush on Jet. I groan. Ugh, how embarrassing. Why does Aang even like me? He witnessed that fiasco! Of everything that could come out of my mouth, the last thing I want does.
"I had a crush on a guy that used me to wipe out an entire town."
I lift my head when the sound of my dad spitting his tea out reaches my ears. I smack his back immediately as he coughs. His hands grasp my shoulders, eyes full of concern, "What happened?"
I swallow, "Don't worry, it didn't work. Sokka has good instincts. He got the people out before the dam exploded and killed the town."
He stares at me as I pull his hands from my arms to his lap.
The last rays of sunlight just barely peak in the moonlight. I chew on my lip. "His name was Jet and he was charming, a vigilante of sorts. When he asked Aang and I to fill the river that emptied into a reservoir of the nearby town because the Fire Nation was trying to burn down the forest he was using as a hideout, I didn't question it. Turns out he was going to blow the dam so he could wipe out that town. Sokka didn't trust him from the beginning and tried to warn me especially, but I didn't listen. Aang realized first what he was trying to do and tried to stop it. I still refused to believe it but then . . . He attacked Aang."
"It was the first time I had been 'in love' and I was like Sokka on cactus juice."
Dad listens patiently. Sokka and I mentioned our trip to the desert a while ago. Apparently, cactus juice is used in some illegal substances found in the city's black market.
"He knew the right words to say. The right moments to keep silence. He used me and he hurt Aang and he hurt Sokka and it was my stupid fault! That village was destroyed and those people almost died . . . He was a liar and I trusted him. He was sick and I trusted him!" I cry into my hands.
My dad's hand falls gently on my back. One pat. Two pats. Three.
"I dated a woman that tried killing your mother."
I lift my head. Finally meeting his eyes, a smile pulls on his lips, "She was beautiful. And insane. We had broken up because she wanted to pursue an acting career here. When it didn't work out, she came back to the south looking for me. I was already hopelessly in love with your mother and we were engaged. She didn't really want me back, but she thought I would be destroyed. When I wasn't, I suppose she felt jealous that my dream of starting a family worked out and hers didn't."
"That wasn't your fault! Or mom's!"
"It wasn't. I still felt so guilty. She was a very vibrant woman when she talked about her big dreams of making it in Ba Sing Se. She was an entirely different person when she returned. She turned bitter and cold, but sometimes I could still catch glimpses of the woman I once liked so much. Your mother was wary of her from the beginning, but I thought it was jealousy. I turned out to be wrong. I felt even more guilty then."
Anger pools in my stomach, turning to fully face my dad, I ask, "How were you supposed to know she was a complete psychopath?"
"Your mother said the same thing." He smiles fondly. His eyes harden as he tells me seriously, "How were you supposed to know the guy had so much hatred in his heart? Did you know him long?"
I open my mouth and close it. An uncomfortable feeling settles in my chest. I play with my fingers, "No. I actually met him again here and he seemed to be trying to be different . . . But he, he might be dead now. The Dai Li ended up brainwashing him and . . . Well, he fought back and . . . It didn't end well."
My dad's eyes widen. "That must have been hard."
Not as hard as when I almost lost Aang. I dart my eyes away from his to my feet in shame. The thought is cruel, but it's also true. Anything I felt for Jet is not-
I can't even bring myself to think it. They're not the same. They're not comparable. When Azula struck Aang, I thought my heart had shattered. Thinking I almost used the special water from the spirit Oasis in the north on Zuko's scar instead of Aang plagued my sleep for weeks until Aang finally woke up. I hadn't even thought of using it on Jet!
"What is it? Talk to me, Katara."
My lip trembles and I'm spilling everything, "The night Ba Sing Se fell . . . Aang died. The only reason he lived was thanks to the special healing properties of water from the north Pakku gave me. I almost used that on Zuko! I would have lost Aang forever had it not been for it, dad! Since I—we lost mom, I hadn't felt that kind of pain. I don't know what I would have done if he didn't wake up."
The rush of relief and joy the flowed through me when Aang opened his eyes, however brief, will never leave my memory. He was alive and would heal. I would make sure of it.
"Is that when you realized you were in love with Aang."
It shouldn't take me by surprise he knows. How could he not? Even Zuko guessed it. The only one that couldn't see it was probably me. I shake my head, "I don't know when it happened. At first, I saw us as friends. Aang is really sweet and easy to talk to and fun to be around. I feel free around him. But . . ."
"But?"
I don't know why this matters. I didn't think it always, but it did come to mind sometimes when I was thinking of Aang and his feelings for me. Blushing, I mumble, "He once said that he wouldn't want to kiss me."
Dad is quiet. I sneak a glance at him. He has an eyebrow raised, "I find that hard to believe."
"It's true!" I exclaim while turning to him fully.
"I believe you." He says calmly. He explains, "I just don't think he meant it."
"Well he did k-" I press my lips together.
His eyes scrutinize me when I keep my silence. He crosses his arms, "Well, if he is just messing around with-"
"He's not messing around!" My voice comes out loudly. I soften my tone when his eyes widen. "He's not like that. If any . . . If anything, I'm the one that couldn't give him a clear answer."
He coughs awkwardly.
"I've never felt like this before. It's exciting and fun and sweet . . . And it scares me. What if I get hurt again? What if the illusion disappears? What if Aang gets taken from me or doesn't like me anymore or . . . What if he thinks I'm too clingy or I get in the way of his job? He's the Avatar and he has a large responsibility . . . What if I become so blind with love that I can't focus on what's important, like with Jet?"
His name lingers in the air for a moment.
"What's important?"
"Huh?"
My dad looks at me for a moment and asks again, "What's important to you?"
I'm confused.
"Aang defeating the Fire Lord was important before he did it."
I nod.
"Now that the Fire Lord is dead. The Fire Nation has a new Fire Lord with no intent to continue the war. So, what's important now?"
"Aang needs to heal," I answer confidently. "He's lost and hurt, but the world still needs an Avatar to keep order. He needs to heal so he can do that."
"You know that's not how it works, right?"
His words are delivered kindly and his silence is patient.
My mouth runs dry.
"Internal scars don't heal just because the world needs them to heal." He says gently. I look at my hands, "We can't . . . I can't be happy until I know he's okay."
"Because his pain is yours?"
"Because his pain is mine." I repeat after him. A flash of acceptance flashes in his gaze.
He turns away from me to look at the moon. "Has it occurred to you that he may feel the same?"
"I-"
"Your mother used to say that love is selfless. Do you remember?" He asks suddenly.
"I remember . . . That's why . . . That's why I don't want to add another stress to him."
He smiles sadly. He grabs my hands, "Katara, you must learn to be a little selfish to love another."
I stare at my dad aghast.
"To love is to give and to take."
"But what about Aang?"
"What about you?" He stares at me intensely, "Don't you think Aang cares about your feelings too? Don't you think that he wants to be your problem? Don't you think he wants you to be his problem?"
He gives my hands a squeeze before letting go, "Haven't you ever wondered if he selfishly wants your love and attention all for himself."
I cross my arms, "So mom lied. Love is selfish?"
"No. Love is both. Selfish and selfless desires and acts."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Forget the world and hog Aang's time like an attention starved puppy? I look away to the moon.
"You're already selfless, so learn to be a little selfish." He pats my back as he stands and walks back inside.
I look at the moon. Would Aang really want to add me to his list of problems? Is it okay to be a little selfish Yue?
"Katara?"
I jump to my feet and throw myself at him, "Aang, you're back!"
His breath tickles my neck. "I'm so sorry, Katara."
I pull away just enough to look at his face, "What for?"
I grunt softly as he pulls me back into an embrace of his own and squeezes. He's warm and a welcome reminder of everything good in this world. He just found out just how calculated the Fire Lord's cruelty was. As if planning to consume the world fire wasn't enough. What in the world is he apologizing to me for?
"For leaving like that, I just needed to make sure . . . I needed to see with my own eyes that people really can be that cruel, even a hundred years after the genocide of my people."
I clench my eyes shut and dig my face into his neck. His shoulders shake as he voices softly, "I don't regret killing the Fire Lord, Katara. I don't think I ever will."
I squeeze him tighter. He pulls away from our hug and looking me in the eyes, he says clearly, "Every life is precious, Katara. Even his. I shouldn't have done it and I will never be swayed into killing another. But I'm glad he's dead and I would do it again if it was the only way to protect the world you live in."
There are those that would burn the world for the people they love, and then there's Aang. My love would kill to protect the world I live in because he's always been so inherently good. The bright sun of all things warm. My stomach swirls because suddenly I make sense. When I told Zuko his life would be forfeit at my hands, I meant it. Aang protects the world. I will protect the good in it.
The moon shines brightly. It was useless in the end. I'm drunk on it. This isn't the sunset at the tea shop. Aang isn't at his happiest or brightest moment, but he's here next to me. He's everything good still even if he's rougher around the edges now. And I'm so hopelessly in love with him. So I let his words linger in the air and I let my dad's words give me strength, this is the most selfish thing I'll ever do. In exchange, I'll dedicate my life to the world as well. Although, I suppose that's a given.
My fingers trace his jaw as I cup his cheek tenderly. His eyes sparkle prettily under the moonlight and when I lean down I'm briefly surprised that our heights are not nearly as different as I remember. It's a thought that entirely vanishes when my lips find his. A soft noise of surprise passes between us but my hands are soon wrapped around his neck and his hold me tightly around the waist.
The first time we 'kissed' was in the cave of two lovers and I still question if it happened. It was the lightest of touches, softer than air. I smile. I can feel Aang's lips curl against mine just the slightest bit. The second time we 'kissed' was a surprise and I barely closed my eyes before it was over. Still, my heart fluttered a little. The third time, I was too flustered . . . And frankly, I felt hurt that Aang would disregard my feelings like that. I should ask him what that was about, but maybe not at this moment.
His lips pull away from me slightly. Eyes half lidded, his cheeks are flushed and I'm breathless. His lips move as I catch a breath. Leaning down, our lips collide again. The same way I need air to breathe, I want this.
His lips falter, but he's not pulling away. I can feel his eye lashes fluttering. Something about it tickles my humor. I laugh effectively breaking our kiss, but we stay tightly pressed together, "Aang, do you not-"
"NO!" He tightens his hold, "WAIT, NO! I MEAN YES! YES! I WANT TO!"
Giggling, I raise a brow. His cheeks darken. Lowering his voice, he says, "I really really want to kiss you I mean."
I blush. Clearing my throat, I whisper, "Well, then? I'm not stopping you."
"No, you seem pretty enthusiastic actually."
I gape. His eyes widen. One of his hands leaves my waist and rises to face palm himself, then smacks his mouth. He rests his forehead on my shoulder. Peeking at me, he asks, "Does this mean we're together now?"
I blink. My heart races, "Do you not . . . You don't want to?"
He straightens, "What? Of course, I do!"
I relax.
"You said you were confused." Aang says. "I know that doesn't mean no, but then I messed up by kissing you. I'm sorry by the way. I just thought maybe it would help. Stupid, I know. But, we never talked about it after . . . And well, we didn't say anything in Yu Dao. And for a while, I really thought you had a thing for Zuko . . ."
My mouth twists in disgust. "Zuko? Really? Why would you think that?"
He shrugs. "He's tall and handsome. He's got some real nice hair. He's the tall, dark, and handsome package!"
I humph, "First of all, I'm going to need you to stop listening to Sokka's love advice. I really don't know how he got Suki falling for him. Second, you're handsome! And you've got time to get taller, not that I care. You have nice hair too, but if you don't wanna grow it out I have plenty for the both of us! And really, I like your sunny personality! Surely you think me better than Sokka's nonsense?"
"I mean. Jet and Haru kinda fit too. . ."
"Jet was insane and I didn't have a thing for Haru. He had a thing for me."
"So Toph was right, you did have a secret thing with Haru!" He narrows his eyes accusingly.
I scowl, "Aang, the only secret thing I've had with anyone is you."
"Really?"
"Really."
He grins, "Okay, we're together now and you can't take it back. Deal?"
"Deal." I curl my pinky with his.
Sheepishly, he whispers through a shy smile and rosy cheeks, "Do you still want to . . . ?
My laughter is much too loud and blends with his.
Dear . . . Ew, no. He's hardly dear to me. A feeling entirely mutual I would assume. I crumble the paper and toss it into the overflowing bin beside my desk. Yet, another privilege I've earned. I suppose being the Fire Lord's sister comes with some privileges even in this wretched place. I blow my uneven bangs out of my face.
Avatar,
Since our last encounter, I've had much time to think. There is not much else to do here. As a result, I have a question you must answer. If not my father, then who is worth throwing my life away for? Zuko?
Princess Azula of the Fire Nation
Yay! Confirmed Kataang at last! I hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter. It's been a long time since I wrote a kiss scene, so I'm feeling a little shy! Hehe, thank you as always for all the lovely reviews and jazz. Let know your thoughts! Until next time!
Quote of the Chapter:
I hope my love inspires you to build bridges instead of burning them
Pyrenees