Work Text:
Katara woke up to find a dim light coming from the other room. She walked up to see Aang bent over dozens of notes, drafts, and paperwork.
“Aang, it’s the middle of the night. Have you slept?” She said while resting her hand on his shoulder.
“No, I haven’t. I will right when I finish this.” He smiled, but katara saw through the thinly veiled mask. He looked like a living zombie.
She pulled his face towards her and said, “work can wait. You need to sleep. Just because you are the avatar doesn't mean you aren’t a human too.”
“But I have to-“ he looked back at the papers.
“It can wait.”
“I’m going to forget.” Suddenly all the delicately set up barriers crashed in on him. Heavy tears fell across his face. He covered his face with his hands. “If I forget a single thing about the airnomads it’ll be gone from history. What happens when the new avatar comes? Will they even know what to do? Will all of my peoples history disintegrate. So many things are already gone. I’m supposed to be the one who brings balance but everyone is in the brink of fighting each other. How am I supposed to stop this? How?” Katara hugged him.
“You are doing your best. The air nomads are here for you. I’m here for you. We will perserve your history. It will be okay.” He fell deeper into her arms for the first time in a while the pressures of the world didn’t phase him. He was not the avatar in that moment. He wasn’t the only survivor who had to carry the torch of an entire group of people. He was just Aang.
“I love you. I love you more than I can put to words.”
“I know.” She whispered. She took his face in her hands and kissed him.
“Now let’s get you to bed, my love.”
“That’s new. My love. I like the sound of that.”
She pulled him by his shirt sleeve closer to her. “You think? My dad used to call my mom my love. I think it fits us quite well.”
“Yes my love.” He gave her a kiss on her nose that made her face scrunch up in a way he found unbelievably adorable.
“I’ve been awake for forty eight hours.” He fell into bed and just like she expected he fell right asleep.
“How can a seventeen year old carry all the weight of the world on his shoulders?” She snuggled up close to him. “I swear that as long as I live, you will never be alone. I may not be able to take away all the pain, but you will never be alone.” She kissed his hand and fell asleep in his arms. It will be okay. Despite everything, it will be okay.