Chapter Text
"The people here still need your protection. You're an airbender, but...you're also the Avatar."
Katara carefully wrapped her arms around Aang. He'd harbored this feeling of guilt for so long, but he knew she was right. He spun around.
"Whoever this Sonam person is...I need to find out more."
Katara raised an eyebrow. "What you need is to rest. You can't keep going on like this."
Her arms fell.
She knew being with Aang meant seeing him put himself in dangerous situations, but her worry for him never went away after all these years. Every week she prays to the Spirits she doesn't need to see him come home with new bruises.
Unfortunately this week her prayers weren't answered.
"Please, Aang."
Aang's eyes met hers, and he'd realized—he'd been so preoccupied at the Air Temple, that he was been spending less and less time in Republic City, with her. Katara understood, she'd avoided saying anything, but she knew how much this had meant to him. The city was asleep, and silence filled the air.
Aang brushed a hair loopy out of her face and held her cheek in his palm. "I've missed you, so much, Katara."
He slowly leaned in and they both shared a deep kiss, his arms wrapping around her chest. Suddenly, the only thing that mattered to Aang was holding Katara in his arms. But before anything else could happen, she pulled away and shut her eyes. "Not now, let's wait for your back to heal."
There was a pause, but Aang sighed and nodded reluctantly.