Katara
Nohran had gone to bed after the campfire, I think. I didn't follow after him. Everything had gotten so confusing in the last few days. I really did think I liked it here but I missed home. I missed Aang. And all the others of course. It had been so long since all of us were together. Right after the war, we still got together often. Without Aang. So we actually hadn't all been together. If Aang wasn't with us, then we weren't complete. The thought of it made me sad.
I rubbed my eyes and headed towards my chambers. I entered quietly and fell into the covers of the bed. I fell asleep almost instantly.
The sunrays beamed through the open window. I stirred around, hearing the laughter of children. I stretchedout my arms, as I got up and headed over to the window. The children were playing with their staffs and showing each other new tricks. A smile came upon my face. It was refreshing to see this place so peaceful. I tried to run my fingers through my hair but could barely get them halfway through. My comb was sitting on the drawer across the room. I took it and got ready for the day.
I closed my door and headed down the hall. I had gotten up pretty late today. I passed a door on my way. I stopped to look at it. Since I got here, I had wondered what was behind it. I was allowed into every room expect this one. I tried to shrug it off and continued. As I was walking down the hall, I ran into Ren.
„Hey Ren. What are you up to?" She smiled and stopped walking. Her jolly attitude could lighten up my mood instantly. It was refreshing to see some life brought to this place.
„I was just heading to play with the other kids." She was a nice kid. Maybe she knew what was behind that door. She began to take a few steps forward and swung her hands from side to side.
„Wait, Ren!" I caught up to her ,as she stopped and turned her head.
„Do you happen to know what's behind that door?" I pointed toward it and her eyes widend. Now it's clear that she must know something.
„Uhm, no. Nohran doesn't let anyone in there." There was a pause. She looked down and then met my eyes again. Why did she look so scared?
„It's where the Avatar used to stay when he came here." She semi-whispered. Now my eyes widend. When it was late at night I used to wonder where Aang would have slept but I just brushed it off and told myself that it's not healthy to think about him so much.
„Really?" She nodded and looked around. My words echoed through tue empty halls.
„He hasn't been here in a long time. The room just stays locked." I bit my lip. The curiosity was getting to me. I just wish he were here now.
„And Nohran has the key." It came out like a question. She nodded. I thought about what I wanted to ask her. I needed to know what was in that room. I missed him too much.
„Would you help me get that key?" I kneeled down to her level. Her eyebrows shot up. It was a mission I needed to succeed in. Maybe I could gain some closure just being in his room.
„But Nohran says it's not allowed. What if I got in trouble?" I put a hand on her shoulder. Why was she so afraid of what he might do?
„You won't. I'll make sure of it." She still didn't seem convinced. My reassurance didn't seem to help much.
„You see, Aang- the Avatar is a very good friend of mine. I just miss him a lot. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I went in there." She bit her lip and thought for a second. It was the truth after all.
„Well, if he is your good friend I'm sure Nohran wouldn't mind giving you the key." She persisted. It was getting harder to convince her but I knew something we as girls shared in common.
„I'm just afraid he would get jealous. You know how boys are." I said sarcastically. She laughed and nodded happily. We have found common ground and she seemed to trust me a bit more.
„Okay, I'll help you." I got back up and gave her another smile. That wasn't too hard.
„He keeps the keys in his chamber somewhere. I think in the drawer next to his bed." She said, fiddling with her fingers. I needed those keys.
„Okay. I can distract him long enough for you to take them." She nodded and gave me a half convincing half smile.
„It's our secret mission." I whispered as we began walking towards the other kids. She laughed and put up a finger up to her mouth, signifying that she would keep quite. When we reached the other kids, Nohran was there looking at them playing. When he caught my eye, he came to me.
„I see you're finally awake." I put a hand over my mouth as I yawned. I looked behind him to see Ren making her way towards his chamber in the distance.
„Yeah, I was really tired yesterday." His gaze dropped and he bit his lip. It was a subtle approach to let him know that I still remembered last nights events.
„Yeah about yesterday, I'm sorry about the way I reacted." I had forgotten about that. At least it wasn't so fresh in my mind. What I really remembered was the mention of my first kiss with Aang. Heat came to my cheeks apron remembering those tunnel mazes.
„Don't worry about it." It was not a big deal. I was worried about something else at the moment.
„I hope this doesn't change the way you feel about me." The way I feel about him? I blinked a few times. His eyes reeked of sympathy and I didn't like it.
„No, not at all. I still like you." He let out a breath and smiled. Trying to stay nice and focused on the task at hand, I smiled too.
„That's great, really." There was a moment of silence. It lingered and he cleared his throat.
„Well, I have to get back to my chambers." Panic washed across my face as he started to walk towards his chamber. I ran up to him.
„Uh, but I still want to talk." He looked over at me and smiled. I was holding him by the shirt and keeping him in place which seemed to intimate if a placing.
„We can still talk, later. I have to get my keys and head over to Kelsang. He's probably already waiting for me." My eyes shot up and I grabbed his free hand.
„I could get your keys." I said enthusiastically. He laughed and squeezed it tightly.
„You wouldn't be able to find them. I keep them hidden." He smirked. He whispered that last sentence which really didn't help my situation.
„You don't say." I looked behind him to see the door open. Ren was probably still there. Then I saw her sneak out, just as Nohran was about to turn around. I quickly cupped his face and landed a deep kiss. He was stunned at first but then he relaxed into it and held me by my waist. His grip was strong and too intimate. As he was trying to deepen the kiss I pulled away and breathed in fresh air. He was still really close to my face and I felt his breath on my neck. That wasn't a pleasant feeling but something that needed to be done in order to get into Aangs room. My eyes shot up and I pulled away. He was about to speak but I didn't let him.
„Let's go on a date." I blurted out. Still out of breath, I needed him to be distracted for a few more seconds.
„After you're done of course. Just you and I ." He smiled and nodded.
„I'd love to. I'll get you when I'm not busy." He gave me a kiss in the cheek. I saw Ren walking in the distance. I smiled and quickly walke towards her. When I caught up her, she wiggled the keys in her hand. I breathed a sigh of relief.
„I thought you didn't get them. Nohran said he kept them hidden." She placed the keys in my hand and shot up a big smile.
„Yeah, I didn't find them at first. Then I looked in the cupboard and they were there." I placed the keys in my pocket and got down to her level. I rumbled her hair and she laughed while trying to fix it.
„Thank you, Ren." She gave me a big smile and walked towards the other kids.
That was my queue to head towards that room. Now that I knew that Nohran was busy, he wouldn't get in the way. He will notice his keys missing though. That shouldn't be a problem since Aangs room is a lot further away and he wouldn't look for his keys here.
The closer I got to the room, the more nervous I got. When I finally got there and turned the key, the door swung open and light filled the room.
It did look different from the other rooms. The hard bed had no covers or anything. The people here still kept blankets and covers on the hard beds but Aang never did. He stayed true to the nomadic life. I looked around more. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I noticed the big cupboard tucked away in a corner. It wasn't in my peripheral vision so I almost missed it. I walked up to it and gently open it. There were some boxes there. I contemplated opening them, but then I remembered that it would probably be my only chance see what's inside. I opend the first one and saw some clothes, Aang's clothes.
I picked up an old tunic. I put it close to my body and it still had his scent on it. I closed my eyes and imaged him in front of me wearing that tunic. Just holding his personal belongings in my hands soothed me in a way. It made me feel more connected to him.
I placed it down and took another box out. I opened it and found hundreds of letters inside. Why would they keep their old letters in his chamber? The thought quickly faded when I realized that it wasn't the letters from the air acolytes. Aang had written all of these letters. And they were all addressed to me. A hundred thoughts plagued my mind as I rummaged through them. There were so many. I started reading one.
Dear Katara,
You will most likely never read this letter. I haven't been brave enough to send you any of my letters. I hope you are well. Missing you is a constant feeling. I'm starting to really regret running away. I don't know if I mean from the air temple or from you. The last few months have been so hard. I feel so lost. I wish you were here. Everything is so confusing and I hope you don't hate me for leaving. When all of this over is then, I will come back. I will come back to you, I promise.
Yours truly
Aang
It was set 4 months after he left. 4 months after i rejected him. I cringed at the memory of it. I picked up another letter.
Dear Katara,
Happy birthday. I am sorry for not being there with you. I will be there for your next one and you shall recieve the biggest gift of all time. I heard 16 is the age when a girl becomes a women in the water tribe. I am so proud of you and the person you have become. Perhaps you will be at my birthday when I become a man. Perhaps I will finally be able to face you then.
With love
Aang
My eyes swelled with tears. Suddenly I remembered what he told me when we saw each other again after 3 years.
I wrote to you every day.
He really hadn't lied about that. But why has he never sent any of the letters to me? Was he afraid that I was not going to forgive him? I read as many letter as I could. One of them stood out. I looked over it and it had some spots that were dried up. Like water had dropped onto them and it had dried. Could he have been crying while writing this?
My dearest Katara,
My heart cannot bare to be apart from you much longer. I now know what a big mistake I made. I should've never left. I should've waited for you. I long to hold you in these cold nights. Growing up I slept on hard beds to strengthen myself, I woke up before the sun to meditate, I fasted so that the feeling of hunger was constant, bathed in freezing water so that my body could adjust to the coldest temperatures. The monks taught me that comfort was a luxury that I should not indulge in. So I can not help but feel guilty for wanting you to to hold me. Because in your arms I have found the most comfortable place in the world. I love you more than life itself.
Always and forever
Aang
My tears stained the letter in my hands. I could not bear to read more. I placed the letter down and sobbed into the palm of my hands. Then I looked up. One particular letter caught my eye. I opened it and my breathing stopped for a second. The date on the paper was from the last week. Aang wrote me last week. Why was this letter here? I wiped my tears and wanted to read it when I heard the door open. Nohran. There was shock in his eyes.
„Katara? What are you doing here?" I got up with the letter in my hands. Before I could take a few steps, he did so and attempted to get closer.
„What is this Nohran?" I waved the letter in and he took a step back. Guild washed over his face and he opened his mouth as if to speak.
„You kept his letters from me? How could you? You had no right!" At this point I was screaming. I didn't care though. For all I cared, the whole Air temple could know.
„This is exactly why I didn't want you to see them. You're irrational." He did not just say that. How could he allow himself to speak this way.
„Look, it was for your own good." I wiped my tears again and shook my head. He began walking towards me again but I swung my arms down and bit my teeth.
„It was not for you to decide! You don't get to decide what's good for me." He came closer but I took a step back. It disgusted me to look at him right now.
„I'm sorry, okay? I thought I was helping you." I bit my lip hard. I couldn't listen to him any longer. I tried to walk away but he grabbed my hand.
„Don't touch me." I firmly said and walked away. I wiped my face and walked towards some commotion. The kids were huddled up. As I got closer I had to rub my eyes to process what I was saying. We're the kids playing with Appa? No, that couldn't be. I got closer and then my eyes met a familiar face.
Aang. He saw me too and his smile dropped. I dropped the letter in my hand and ran towards him. I jumped into his arms and held him close. He cradled me and held my hair. I pulled away and looked at him again to convince myself it was real. Please let this be real.
„Katara, what happend?" I didn't answer his question. I just buried my head into his tunic and breathed in his scent. Then I heard someone running towards us. I looked back to see Nohran. That's when I pulled away from Aang. He cupped my face and wiped my tears. Worry was not enough to describe the expression on his face.
„I missed you." I said in a low tone. His smile was the response that he had missed me too. Nohran came out to us and looked over at Kyiosana. I turned and took Aang by his arm. I led him towards a more secluded part of the temple.
„Why are you here?" I finally asked. He started fixing up my hair which probably looked really frizzy. I tried breathing through my clogged nostrils and sniffed as he began talking.
„I was worried about you. You hadn't answered any of my letters. I thought something was wrong." He placed his hands down. He had come all this way to see if I was okay?
„I didn't get any of your letters." He raised an eyebrow. I turned my head to the side and looked at the ground below us.
„Nohran kept them all in your chamber. I just found them all." His mouth opened as if to say something. He stuttered from surprise I would guess.
„But why?" I shook my head. I placed my hands up and rubbed my eyes.
„He said it was for my own good." I looked down but he gently picked up my chin. My eyes locked with his. He had always been too gentle.
„But I wrote you letters too, Aang. Didn't you recieve them?" He shook his head and looked in the distance. I followed and saw Kyiosana and Nohran talking about something.
„Kyiosana. She probably intercepted them." He rubbed his eyes and looked at me again. He bit his lip and carefully placed a hand over my cheek.
„Is that why you were crying?" He stroked my cheek. I looked away. I didn't want him to know I read his other letters. It wouldn't change anything if he knew.
„Yeah, it's just all so different from home." I started fixing his tunic that had wrinkled due to me hugging him. A smile came across his face.
„You could always come with us." He proposed. I dropped my arms down. His eyes were hopeful and frill of reassurance. It was so hard not to drown in them.
„After this we're heading over to could drop you off at the South Pole." I sighed and looked at him. The look on his face seemed so inviting.
„Aang, that's on the other side of the world. You wouldn't be dropping me off on your way there. You would have to fly all the way to the South Pole to bring me there." He stepped closer and held my shoulders gently. His eyes grew wider and eyebrows as well.
„I will do that. You don't have to worry anymore." I put my hand over his and placed it down. I couldn't be the reason for his change in course.
„It's fine, Aang. You don't have to worry. You can go to Zuko. I promise to send you letters and I'll make sure Nohran doesn't keep your letters from me." He smiled for a second before his smile disappeared. He cleared his throat and took a small step back. Confusing grew in me as I wanted him close.
„So, are you and Nohran-uh dating?" My eyes wandered. I don't really know. I mean after today it was safe to assume we weren't, I guess. But then I remembered him and Kyiosana. Something inside me made me want to say yes.
„Yes, we are. I wrote it in one of my letters to you." He nodded which didn't really seem that genuine. It wasn't a complete lie, I guess.
„I'm happy for you. He seems great. Other than that thing with the letters." He remarked. With Aang being here, I did want to keep my mind off of other things.
„Yeah, he's good though. But how long do you plan to stay here?" I hoped he would stay at least a few days. It would do our relationship some good.
„Not long. I was hoping to leave today. I just came here to make sure you were okay." I shook off the redness growing on my cheeks. How can someone be so sweet and charming at the same time?
„That's a shame. I hoped you would stay longer." He took my hand in his. It was so fast and unmediated that I had to press my lips shut to avoid speaking as to not ruin the moment.
„You can come with me, Katara. I'll take you wherever you want to go." His offer seemed so inviting. I looked back to see Nohran looking at us. I turned back to Aang and squeezed his hand before letting go.
„Let me talk to him." He nodded and I made my way over to Nohran. He stood with his arms crossed. Kyiosana looked over but then preceded to walk away.
„So, Aang offered for me to go with him to the Fire Nation." He quickly uncrossed his arms and his eyes widend.
„Wait what? Katara, I'm sorry for what I did. I really do regret it. Don't leave m-„ I interrupted him. It was sad to see him become so attached.
„Let me talk." That shut him up. He scrunched his face and listend.
„I wanted to ask if you wanted to come with me." His face lit up. My question want enthusiastic or awfully polite but it seemed to bring him happiness.
„Yes, of course. I told I wanted to travel the world, like a real air nomad. Wait here I just need to take care of some things." He ran off to some of the older kids. He talked to them for a while. I laughed and walked back to my own room.
I began packing my stuff in my chamber. When I was done, I looked back to see Aang leaning against the door frame.
„What are doing?" I asked jokingly. He walked over to me. A few years ago, I would've been the one looking down at him but now he was towering over me. Nohran was tall but Aang was taller. I should've felt intimidated but I knew Aang. He could never intimidate me. He could make me feel extremely flustered though.
„Do you really want him to come?" He meant Nohran. I placed my bag down and looked up at him.
„He's made a mistake but he's been through a lot, Aang. I think he'd appreciate me taking him with us." He put his hands onto his torso. I did feel pity for Nohran. Maybe that was the real reason I was letting him come.
„It's not that I don't trust your judgement, it's just-„ He stumbled over his words.
„I know." I interrupted. I took my bag and wanted to walk past him. He quickly held my hand and took the bag. I'm sure he didn't mean to hold my hand and was just reaching for the bag but it gave me butterflies. His touch was electric and sent shivers down my spine.
„Let me." He took my back and threw it over his shoulder. I nudged him and we began walking out of the chamber. When we got to Appa, the others were already there. I started saying goodbye to everyone.
When I was done, Aang came down and headed me up. He knows he doesn't have to do that. I've been getting onto Appa by myself for years. I don't know why he does it. My question gets answered as he holds me close and places me down. I really did miss him. When everyone sat down we took off.
I looked forward to seeing Zuko again.