Chapter Text
I try to concentrate, I really do. But there are so many interesting things to see in Republic City: Air Temple Island surrounded by the vastness of the ocean, the small leaves falling from the trees in the light autumn breeze, or Momo chasing a bug...
"Once again, thank you for your time, Avatar Aang."
Right. I had spaced out and completely forgotten that I was accompanying the noble daughter of the Fa family. I had practically been cornered by her after an important council meeting ended, and now here I was on an impromptu date, walking through the gardens.
"You are very welcome, Lady Fa. It’s a pleasure to accompany you," I offered with a polite, albeit fake smile. "I know your father’s message must be urgent if he sent you as his messenger."
"Oh, of course, but before we get to that, I would love to chat with you for a bit. It’s not a privilege everyone gets," she smiled coquettishly, fluttering her eyelashes as she slipped her arm through mine.
"Well, sure. What would you like to talk about?" I tried my best to sound friendly, but these impromptu dates were starting to push my buttons.
"I’d love to talk about... spirituality and the changes in the world. I’ve been told there’s a lovely restaurant nearby that serves amazing vegetarian dumplings. We could talk over there."
"But aren't we talking right now?" I tried to sound casual, though I knew exactly what she was angling for.
"Yes, but we could talk more, Avatar Aang." She was making those strange faces again, batting her eyelashes as if she had caught a speck of dust in her eye.
"I appreciate the offer, but why don't we just sit down and have some tea instead, Lady Fa?"
"Of course, but I think you can start calling me by my name," she said in a sugary voice as we headed toward a small area where tea and juice were always kept ready for guests.
Yikes. How could I tell her that I didn't even remember her name? That would definitely make her snap, and I’d find myself buried under a mountain of formal complaints from the Earth Kingdom nobility all over again.
Lady Fa stepped closer with a practiced smile to hand me a cup, but suddenly, the liquid spilled all over her arms. She let out a small shriek and tried to apologize, her cheeks flushing bright red with embarrassment.
"It's alright, Lady Fa, let me help you." With a subtle flick of my wrist, I used waterbending to lift the spilled tea right off her dress. Deep down, I hoped she’d be vain enough about her appearance to take her leave.
"Thank you so much, you are a true gentleman."
"My pleasure, Lady Fa" I replied half-heartedly while plotting another way to escape. She seemed dead set on staying put. How long would it take for her to get the hint that I just wasn't interested?
"Getting back to our conversation... I wanted to talk about, um... oh, right, spirituality!"
I noticed the young lady's face go pale as she desperately tried to read the hidden notes written on her wrist. It was obvious the tea had smudged most of the ink.
"Sure, what questions do you have about it?"
"Uh... about how your soul combines... uh, flows... yeah, like... like a ghost in this world or the other world?" The lady stammered, completely failing to decipher her ruined notes. I sighed and braced myself to give her a vague answer.
"AANG! BUDDY! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Sokka. My friend, Councilman of Republic City and at this exact moment my absolute savior. He came to the rescue in a horrific situation. I grinned from ear to ear and waved at him from a distance.
"Excuse me Lady Fa but Councilman Sokka must be looking for me for something urgent." I stood up quickly and, with a small gust of air, propelled myself forward to run toward him.
I almost crashed into Sokka, but I threw an arm over his shoulder and dragged him along with me inside the building. I dodged several public officials while hauling my friend away.
"Whoa, hey Aang, buddy! Remember I can't run as fast as you!" he complained.
"Sorry, but this is a life-or-death situation." I kept pushing him forward until we finally locked ourselves inside his office.
"Whew ,seriously man you need to start setting boundaries" Sokka panted. "If you hate being cornered so much, just say: 'No, I'm not interested. I'm practically a living deity, I have zero interest in dating any woman.'"
"I'm straight, Sokka."
"Are you sure about that?"
I blasted him with a sharp gust of wind that knocked him right into his seat. He glared at me but raised his hands in surrender. We had already been down this road before.
"Just because Air Nomads didn't have issues with same-sex relationships doesn't mean I'm attracted to men," I clarified.
"Hey, you never know. If your culture was that open-minded, maybe your radar took a different turn over the years. I could ask Zuko to kiss you, just to see if you feel a spark," my friend suggested, the gears already turning in his head as he cooked up a master plan to "discover" my sexuality.
"Ugh, Sokka, I am positive a kiss from Zuko wouldn't have the same effect on me as it did on you. Plus, it would be incredibly awkward. I repeat: I like women."
"I told you we were drunk!" Sokka blushed furiously and looked away.
"Riiight. Of course that has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you realized you're bisexual," I said sarcastically.
"Hey, give me a break, the man is highly attractive," he defended himself before shaking his head. "Anyway, let's not get sidetracked. Why don't you just turn down these set-up 'non-dates'? You don't have to force yourself into anything, you know?" I felt Sokka's hand rest on my shoulder, trying to comfort me.
"It's complicated. I don't really want to talk about it right now."
"Well, since you're free, why don't you tag along to welcome my sister? She should be arriving in half an hour, but we can grab some stuffed clams and rice seaweed while we wait." Sokka cracked the door open, waiting for my nod before heading out.
"Your sister?"
"Yeah, you know. Waterbender and healer," he started making weird hand gestures around his own head. "Has those two little hair loopies that tangle on the sides. Hasn't changed her hair in years."
"Katara?" I asked, taken aback. I remembered a fourteen-year-old girl with striking blue eyes; she had been brave enough to stand up to Master Pakku for forbidding her from practicing waterbending according to Northern traditions, even when she barely knew the basics.
"Yeah, that's the one."
"She was pretty cute," I smiled at the thought of her, her laugh and how gracefully she used to move when we trained together in the same class.
"Ugh, no, please. I already have enough on my plate with her current suitors, I don't need my best friend becoming one of them." Sokka pulled a disgusted face as we walked side by side toward the pier.
"Don't worry, Sokka. Remember, I'm just a humble monk who isn't attracted to anyone," I teased.
"I sure hope so, buddy. For your sake and hers," Sokka sighed.