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first meeting
When Katara had her maids dress her this morning, she should have requested for more layers. The chill in the air was not just due to the climate off her homeland but as to who was the attending guest. She could feel her eyes widen as the Air Nomads sauntered effortlessly into the council halls. When he walked in, she couldn't tear the gaze away.
“People of the Southern Water Tribe, welcome Avatar Aang and the Air Nomads.”
Katara meets his piercing grays and feels as if she's in a trance. A cold chill fills her back as she summons a shy smile. Aang sees how she carries herself but swears he can hear her heart thundering in her chest. It almost felt as if they were the only two in the room until the thundering announcement ushered in a sobering reality that was tethered to her.
”Avatar Aang, this is my daughter Katara of the Southern Waters. And her fiance, Tarik, commander of our Coastal Defenses.”
first time
“Avatar Aang, I’ve never flown on a bison before!” "Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it in no time.”
She didn't want to outwardly double the Avatar of all people, but Katara bit back her words as her eyes clenched tighter. Strong breezes kissed her cheeks as she held onto the handle of the bison's saddle. Right as they settled into a cadence, Katara felt the wind die down. Peeling one, two eyes open she was met with a tapestry of lights in the sky. As a child, Katara felt as if she could spend hours under the lights. Once her engagement was announced, the visits became too few.
”Ohmygosh, this is so beautiful!”
Aang laughed softly to himself as he admired the childlike wonder to her face. Pinks and bright blues made her glow as if she was a spirit herself. Even as a princess with every privilege to her disposal, something urged him that she did't get too many of the freedoms she desired.
Once they landed and dismounted, Katara motioned for him towards a thawed stream of water that flowed slowly. It had been to the suggestion of her father to be a proper diplomat and show the Avatar more treasures of their land as well as their arts within bending.
”The Southern style of bending is about being connected to the flow of the water. You let it guide you.” Aang followed along to the movements, memorizing every push and pull of her hands as water fell under her control.
”I was taught by Master Pakku of the Northern Water Tribe. Their movements are different than yours. He noticed her face scrunch in disgust at the mention of the elderly master. “Hah! I know Master Pakku. He believes that water should be controlled and forced to conform.”
Even though Aang thought it would be uncouth of him to give in to what he truly thought, the sober voice in his mind told him to just keep the peace for now. “Quite the diplomatic way of putting that. He can be…difficult.”
Katara's sharp laugh was laden with sarcasm as she faced Aang. "Difficult is putting it lightly. But either way, that stays between us, Avatar.” Aang smiled knowingly at her quip as he nodded in agreement.
Bending only passed the time until their attention turned elsewhere. Given the distance between them and the louder parts of the city, a small spirit portal was also part of home as smaller creatures passed through at their leisure
“You’ve been holding out on me. This place is incredible.” Katara admired the boyish lightheartedness to his laugh. It felt...intimate to see an all powerful individual be comfortable.
”Well, it’s not exactly on the official tour.” Aang turned to her a toothy grin as a butterfly spirit landed on his cloak. "So you only bring important guests here?”
Katara looked over her shoulder with a coy smile. “No, just the ones I think will appreciate it. There’s more to this place than meets the eye.” The banter felt as if it was familiar between two of the deepest friends, or that of a besotted couple.
“I see you’re giving the Avatar a tour of the beautiful city.” He kissed Katara’s cheek but she felt herself flinch at the gesture. “My finance hasn’t been talking your ear off, has she, Avatar Aang?”
Aang was not unfamiliar to….jealousy but this felt more like being cornered. He had last encountered this feeling when the Dai Li felt more inclined to pressure talking points to their agenda.
“Not at all. I’ve quite enjoyed being around her.” Tarik narrowed his eyes at their brief exchange. To any other, it would have seemed purely diplomatic but there was a different intimacy he felt excluded from. “I’m glad to hear it.”
second time
“Gyatso, did you ever want something that you knew you couldn’t have?” The elderly monk sipped on his tea as his pupil, and charge, interjected in the quiet afternoon.
“That depends. Are we talking about something or someone?” Aang could feel his chest tighten as he panicked internally at the insinuation. Learning how to bend the elements and diplomatic meetings were easier than affairs of the heart!
“I’ve seen the way you look at her, Aang.” Though he was was looking ahead at the other monks and young children tend to the sky bison, Aang tried to avert his blushing face as Gyatso looked pointedly.
“The heart is very persistent, even if the mind knows otherwise. I've always told you to follow your heart, but you're not just the boy we raised anymore. You're the Avatar. A breeze passing by won't bother anyone, but a storm following the same direction creates a very different outcome."
A deep heavy sigh left his chest and his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Tell me about it.” I'm not a storm, Gyatso, but okay I'll become like the breeze.
Despite the longing within, Aang immediately felt the heartache lift the instant he returned back to Southern Water Tribe and saw the light return back to Katara's eyes as they greeted each other. He reasoning to visit was under the guise of wanting to immerse more with the tribal culture but professionalism evaporated before the two
"Hey this pendant has a polar bear dog. They’re your favorite, right?”
Katara’s laugh was purely innocent, but it was so refrehsing to hear in her voice. “They are! Temperamental but very loyal. I’m surprised that you remembered that." A loud clattering noise interrupted their exchange before Tarik pulled away from one of the stands. He came from behind Katara and settled to her side.
“It seems that the Avatar has been paying close attention. He’s gotten to know you rather well, hasn’t he, Katara?”
Katara shot him an exasperated look as she tried to keep the annoyance steady and quiet in her voice. “What are you insinuating? Are you trying to offend him?”
”I’m only trying to protect you.” She could only feel aggravated at such weighted words. Katara didn't know whether to feel insulted or angry at his implication. “Protecting me or the arrangement you’ve made with my father?!” Their argument went back and forth in hushed whispers as Aang studied them both. There was guilt on behalf of Katara and the headaches he seemed to bring her but annoyance at such a....nuisance. It ended just as Katara whipped her head around to face Aang. Her smile was tight but there was a deep fatigue that was underlying.
"Avatar Aang, I need to go pick something up for my mother, please excuse me.”
“Princess Katara, I have to apologize. I think I might have ruffled a few feathers today. If you would prefer not to meet anymore, I understand.”
Katara turned to give him an apologetic look as Tarik walked ahead of her. "Don't be foolish. I am sure we will cross paths again."
third time
“That was the most fun I’ve had in ages! I can’t believe we flew through that cloud-!” Katara giggled in excitement just as Appa landed back in the snow. Her throat felt so cold from the heigh but breathless laughs deep from her chest felt sobering after such a long time.
Aang noted her analysing the situation before deciding to find a way to jump down. "Stay there, I’ll help you get d—!” “Ah!” “Katara!”
Luckily, she fell into the Avatar's arms before anything more embarassing happened. He could feel how strong she felt in his arms. Taut muscles and curves fit perfectly against his nimble hands. Aang didn't want to put her down just yet, not when touching her felt so natural and the unconscions desire to run his hands over every inch of her body. “Are you okay?”
Katara tried to peel her eyes away but she couldn't. Aang was just so...considerate and mindful of all things, and his eyes felt as if they stared into your deepest layers to see the real you.
“I-I…” She quickly kicked her legs down to regain her composure. “I’m fine. Let’s head back…it’s getting colder.”
Aang felt his heart sink as she walked away from him. Back straightened and head held high to play the role that she was born into. “I’m sorry, Gyatso. I don’t think I can just be the breeze.”
Foolishly, Aang felt a small token of appreciation was enough to dissipate the tension between them.
“Princess Katara, that day at the market after you left, I saw this and thought of you.” She cradled the necklace reverently
”Avatar Aang, it’s beautiful. But I can’t wear it.” She could feel her heartache growing as the reasoning threatened to reveal itself. Aang grimaced as he tried to force down his disappointment. He had imagined this going better in his head. “Why not?”
She touched the pendant perched at the base of her neck as her lips tugged downward. “The necklace I’m wearing…it’s a betrothal necklace. Tarik carved it for me when he proposed.”
Aang felt as if an inanimate object was mocking him, dangling the prospect of what he could not have.
Katara smiled sadly at his crestfallen expression. “Tarik is going to be the next chief since my brother refused the position. Marrying the next chief should be an honor for me…and it’s exactly what is expected of me. I have a duty to me tribe. That’s the only reason why.” The tiniest bit of hope crept in his heart at the thought of her potentially wearing it at her private discretion, but it was a bittersweet loss.
“I understand.”
fourth time
“Mother, please tell me, what was it like when you married Father?”
Kya hummed amusingly as she folded away one of the robes she had worn during the visiting feasts . “Well, I had just turned 18. Your father was much older and very serious. But as we got to know each other, slowly, eventually we fell in love.”
Katara mulled over her mother's words before she let out a disappointed sigh. Perhaps it was mistake to bring this up. Kya noted her daughter’s disappointed demeanor as Katara folded into herself. It was a little tick she had from childhood that always happened whenever she was in trouble with her brother for pranks.
“Is that what’s bothering you? That you won’t fall in love with Tarik?” Katara felt a sharp electric jolt through her body being put on the spot. Her heart was racing as she wished she could take back those words immediately but it just kept pouring out of her mouth.
‘What if, Tarik isn’t the one for me? What if there’s someone else? Is duty to the tribe that important?” Kya knew there was something deeper to her daughter's words. Had it been something...or someone...that shifted her mood?
"It's the only way I've ever known." Kya knew that her daughter didn't need a Queen right now. She just needed her mother. Taking her daughter's hands into hers, Kya cradled them as she comforted Katara. "Tell me, what's on your ming, my little water panda."
fifth time
"I think that's the final revision for the North and South Pole Treaty." Katara examined the document once, twice over before it started to crinkle in her hand.
"Once both tribes sign it, the other Air Nomads and I will head out." Katara inhaled sharply as she slowly lowered down the document before her.
"I'll be sad to see you go..., but your Avatar duties are more important." Aang could sense the slight tone of panic to her voice as she tried to keep a facade. "Maybe--I can come back." He tried to choose his words carefully before something foolish came out of his mouth. "Just to see you."
Katara felt her breath hitch as his words began to sink in. "Aang, as much as I'd like to, I can't." She sighed heavily before trying to compose what she was about to say next. "I can't do that to my father. It was already so difficult for him when Sokka decided to step away from becoming chief and I don't blame him for doing that, he's doing what's right for him. But I don't know if I'm that brave."
Aang could feel his heart shatter with every word. He alerted his eyes away from her as he swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I don't have it in me to do something like that. Besides, the Water Tribe is all I've ever known. Your world is so different, Aang. We're just...not meant to be."
at last
It was still mere hours until he would leave with his people. Katara's eyes were heavy from unshed tears the night before and the ones that already ran damp down her cheeks. Their conversation from the night before still echoed throughout her mind. She hadn't eaten for the remainder of the day nor did she meet the betrothed for breakfast. Nothing could satiate what was clawing at her very self with each passing second. This was foolish! It was no life to live and Katara felt she could scream into a pillow or the robes of her clothes!
She needed to see him one last time. Just a goodbye, anything until it was the official ceremony as they departed. Racing from her rooms, she hustled to the guest quarters and wracked at the door before she could even catch her breath. Aang's heavy footsteps rushed to the door as he opened it to the flushed face of the woman he so desired.
It was an eternity until Katara could muster the words to respond back. Every chance encounter they had, all the intimate conversations, every second....she could feel herself panicking at the thought of him being gone. Just to leave her here with the responsibilities and missing on what she feels could be more in life.
Katara grasped his hand into hers, interlocking their hands together. With her other free hand, she pulled the collar of his robes just as their lips met. Tasting him was something she had thought about for the longest time. Images of how he would have sounded and how his body would feel curled into hers paled in comparison to how overwhelming he felt with her.
"Don't go."
Aang inhaled deeply before pulling into her. He kissed her back as if his life depended on it. "Never. I'm not ready to say goodbye yet."
He pulled her in as the door shut with a gust of wind.