A/N: Thanks and much appreciation to Lightbrightfury, Black Dragon Master, Auren02, BrightWatcher, Sharpe, AsahixMe, devilfiredog18, and IrishDreamer4 for reviewing the last chapter, short as it was. Thanks also to EmmyB3 for leaving reviews on chapters 8 and 9.

Now we move on to another favourite of mine, with a special guest :)

CONTENT WARNING: For descriptions of drowning, a bit more graphic than the last time it came up. Also, PTSD flashbacks.

*Time check: about a month since chapter 13, so over 8 months post-finale.

14. It comes and goes in waves

The waves are gentle tonight.

He stands on the shore of Air Temple Island, feeling the breeze on his face. Over the calm of Yue Bay, he sees the twinkling lights of the city he calls home.

It's been a while since he's been here. He hasn't stepped foot on this island for…what's it been — four, five months? Not since he stopped seeing Kya for his arm, at any rate.

So much has happened since then — and honestly, he doesn't remember much of the intervening period before his near-fatal encounter with Shady Shin and Two-Toed Ping (he barely even remembers that fight). Everything after he woke up in the hospital, though, is clear in his mind. From his friends' renewed efforts to make sure he knows he's loved, to Suyin's and Huan's and Hyung's pearls of wisdom in Zaofu, to his mind healer's (Erin, she told me to call her Erin) patient efforts over the past few weeks to get his head screwed on right again — he remembers, he appreciates, and he relies on.

Tenzin had reached out to invite him for dinner tonight. Pema's cooking was wonderful, as usual — so much so that he'd eaten perhaps a little too much, which was why he'd asked for and received permission to walk off the sumptuous meal. He's made a half-circuit around the island already, and so here he is, looking out at the bay under the light of the moon.

It's been three years, eight months, and five days since he last stepped into water. He's avoided it since the first time he tried to go swimming after the Red Monsoon incident, and found out the hard way that submerging himself took him right back to his near-drowning. He still doesn't know how he got himself out of the pool, only that he'd never dared try again. Erin has been strongly hinting that his aversion to water is an obstacle that he needs to overcome in his recovery, but so far he's resisted her attempts to get him underwater. They've been working on imagined scenarios instead, with her steady voice anchoring his breathing to reality while he pictures water behind closed eyes.

Tonight, though, the waves lap quietly against the beach, and he feels like he might be ready to try it for real.

Quickly, before he can change his mind, he shucks off his shoes and strips down to his undershirt and boxers. Using his breath to steady his nerves and ward off the chill of the air, he wades into the water.

"What are you doing?!"

He startles badly, whirls around to face the shore — his bare foot slips on a rock and he splashes backwards into the water. His head ducks under the surface.

He's trapped under a beam and he can't get loose.

There is no one around.

He fails to generate fire to propel him free.

He loses precious air in a panicked scream. The water swallows his flames when he tries again. He tugs, frantic and hard.

The beam won't budge.

There is NO ONE around.

His lungs are burning; he has to breathe.

HE CAN'T BREATHE.

Desperate flailing. Heavy water. Pressure on his chest. Fire in his lungs. Dizziness and terror and no one is around Agni I don't want to die HELP PLEASE ANYONE HELP

Someone grabs his arm and yanks him out. Cold air stings his wet face. He chokes and gasps and sucks in huge lungfuls of air until he's lightheaded from too much oxygen (better than too little). His stomach roils threateningly and he fights not to vomit.

"Mako. Mako!" There are hands on his shoulders. Anxious green eyes. Familiar brown face.

He focuses on the face. "Kai?" His stomach settles, his coughing slows.

Kai heaves a sigh of relief. "You're okay, Mako."

He lets Kai pull him out of the water, which was only chest-deep where he went under. He flushes in shame.

"Mind telling me what you were trying to do?"

He glances askance at Kai, easily recognising the suspicion in the teen's voice.

"Not trying to drown myself," he growls. Steam hisses from his skin as he warms himself.

Kai seems reassured by the conviction, holding up his hands in placation. "Okay, I believe you. Sorry," he apologises. "I just…I saw you in there, and I thought maybe…"

"Who on earth takes off their clothes to kill themselves?" he demands.

"Sorry," Kai says again. "We're all just…keeping an eye out." At least he has the grace to look contrite about it.

He groans. "I'm not suicidal." He never was, contrary to what everybody seems to think. "And I'm getting better."

"That's really good to hear." Kai's voice is sincere, and it eases some of his annoyance.

"Were you following me?" he asks suspiciously.

"Pema told me to," Kai says at once. "She was a little, uh, concerned when you excused yourself from the table."

He huffs as he sits on the beach and pulls on his coat — just the coat. For whatever reason, he doesn't feel quite ready to put on all his clothes yet.

"So…what were you doing?"

He hesitates, then admits, "Trying to see if I could not panic underwater." Haltingly, he tells Kai about the Red Monsoon gambling dens. The airbender's eyes widen in comprehension.

"Oh. Oh." Kai looks guilty. "Shit. I messed it up, didn't I? I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't you," he sighs. "I think I'm just not ready yet."

"But you were! You were doing fine until I startled you and made you go completely under before you worked up to it."

"Yeah, well, whatever it was, I panicked." He tries to sound nonchalant about it, but he's not sure how well it works.

"Mako, you have to try again. Look, I'll help this time, instead of screwing it up for you." Kai seems determined to make up for his blunder.

He considers it for a moment, but the flashback is too recent in his mind, the terror too fresh. He shakes his head. "I can't."

"Mako." Kai touches his arm. "Yes, you can. You were doing it. You can't give up now."

"I'm not giving up," he exclaims. Kai blinks at him and he deflates. "Just…not now. I'm not ready to try again so soon."

"Then why haven't you put your clothes back on?"

No clue.

Kai exhales, then stands up and offers his hand. "Come on, Mako. I know you have it in you."

He stares at the hand, trying to think of a reason to convince Kai why this isn't a good idea.

"You were ready tonight," Kai prods. "Do you really wanna let a skinny airbender derail all your efforts?"

Said airbender smirks with just enough challenge to temper the trepidation in his lungs, and he finds himself grasping Kai's arm and shedding his coat again.

"If I half-drown again…" he begins, unsure if he's joking or not.

"You won't," Kai says confidently.

He holds on to that assurance as he steps into the surf again. Kai wades with him back out to where he'd been (and since when is Kai almost as tall as he is?).

"Ready?" Kai asks.

Unconsciously, he grips the younger boy's hand more tightly, and Kai understands that he shouldn't let go just yet.

He inhales deeply, and slowly sinks beneath the waves.

There's water everywhere and he can't breathe.

There's no one —

Yes, there is. Kai's hand is a solid, reassuring presence.

He can't breathe —

The surface is just above him; all he has to do is stand up.

He stands. His breath comes heavier than it normally would, but not in hyperventilation.

Kai smiles encouragingly, and he tries again.

He's underwater and —

He isn't trapped. He's here voluntarily.

But there's no one —

Kai's hand is firm on his.

He rises again, pleased to find that his breathing stays normal this time.

"I'm gonna let go now, okay?"

What?

Kai releases his hand and backs away slightly — still within an arm's reach, but far enough that when he's underwater he wouldn't find him easily.

"Go on," Kai tells him encouragingly. "I'll be right here."

Kai's eyes hold nothing but unwavering faith and confident hope, and it gives him courage. He stares at the waves rolling gently around his chest, and very deliberately submerges.

Water. Dark. Pressure.

It's okay, it's okay, there's nothing pinning him…

No one around.

Kai. Where's Kai?

He's alone and he can't breathe.

It's water, of course he can't breathe —

He can't breathe.

He starts flailing. I can't do this, I need to breathe, need to —

A gentle touch. Not enough to make him feel restrained, just enough to remind him that he has company. His rising panic stills.

He isn't alone.

He can't breathe —

Because he's holding his breath deliberately.

The water —

Is tranquil. And shallow. And clear. No debris or churning movements from collapsed dens.

It's the same bay that —

But not the same situation.

Gradually, he allows himself to relax. His heart rate calms and his lungs stop screaming. He closes his eyes and focuses on the feel of the water — cool, serene, welcoming. A pleasant companion, rather than a malevolent death trap.

The touch on his shoulder withdraws, but he doesn't panic this time. He knows Kai is still nearby.

He stays submerged for a few seconds more before purposefully finding the floor with his feet. Water streams down his face as he plants his stance in the sand beneath the bay.

Kai's gaze is proud, and his brilliant smile matches his own.

This time, when he laughs, he laughs in elation, and Kai joins him.

A/N: Lyric from 'Waves' by Dean Lewis.

Over to you :D