Set: #4
Week 1: Mercury (Communication, intellect, reasoning, travel)
Genres: Angst/Hurt/Comfort
Rating: T
Setting: Republic City (post-comics)
Author's Note: Another Sokkla Saturdays means I am back, baby! I'm here with another round of short stories (no more than 500 words per story). You'll notice a common theme with this year's entries in that they will all start the same way, with each main character having a secret. However, each chapter is still its own story - the chapters are not related to each other and will contradict each other. With that out of the way, let Sokkla Saturdays begin! And thank you, as always, for reading.
Mercury
Communication, intellect, reasoning, travel
Katara had a secret…
…a secret so disgraceful that she couldn't even bring herself to tell her husband. Surely Aang would think he'd married a monster. He'd be right.
Tears streamed down her face. Could she really do this? Could she really abandon her husband and kids just like that? It's not like it would be forever! She just needed some spirits-damn quiet. A break from all the clinging, the crying, the sleepless nights. With her 4-year-old and 1-month-old, she couldn't remember a time when she wasn't needed, when she wasn't being touched. Even Aang's touch was starting to infuriate her.
She had to go. Her bag was packed. Aang had the kids. This was her chance. While everyone was out celebrating the winter solstice at the Glacier Spirits Festival in the heart of Republic City, she would slip into the darkness and disappear. She would finally be free, she would…
Sokka stood at her doorway. "Going somewhere?"
Tears continued to roll down her cheeks.
"Katara…"
"I just… I'm going home. To be with Dad. I just need a break! I just need someone to take care of me for once."
"It's okay, it's okay." He approached her slowly, his arms open. "I'm here."
"Don't touch me!"
"Alright," he backed off. "No hugs."
"I can't do this anymore. I-I'm a failure!"
"You're not a failure. You're going through a hard time. You felt like this after Bumi too, remember? And you overcame it. You've been a fantastic mom, you are a fantastic – "
"Mom… she'd be ashamed of me."
"No. No, she wouldn't. She'd understand – "
"I named my daughter after her, and yet, every time I hold her, all I feel is… nothing! How is this possible?! It's been a month! Why can't I bond with her?! She just… cries… all the damn time. I can't take it anymore!"
"I know. I'm going to help you."
"How?" she asked. "How did you know I needed help? That I was like… this?"
"Brother's intuition. Well, that, and it's not like you to miss a party."
She sighed. "You and Azula make it look so easy."
"Well, we only have one! For now," he chuckled.
She groaned.
"You and Aang are trying to raise two kids all on your own! Do you know how much help Azula and I have at the palace? We have servants, a wet nurse, masseuses, you name it! And you deserve that help too… which is why I'm not gonna stop you from leaving. In fact, I want you to come back with us to the Fire Nation. You can rest and relax – you won't have to worry about a thing. And besides, it would be a great opportunity for Bumi to bond with his cousin, and Izumi too."
"When you put it like that, it seems like a no-brainer."
"Of course it's a no-brainer. It was Azula's idea."
She laughed. For the first time in a long time, she laughed. It felt easier to breathe.