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"You're back." Katara said, dryly. Her voice was hoarse, and her bun disheveled. She was seated on their couch, her back towards him.
Aang gently nudged the door shut and carefully leaned his glider against the wall. He set Appa's whistle down onto their dresser and turned to Katara. The outline of her cheek glistened from the flame of a lit candle—the rest of their bedroom was engulfed in darkness. He quietly walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders, pressing his lips atop her head. "Is everything okay?"
She didn't respond immediately, but slowly stood and spun around to face him. Her shoulders slumped just slightly. "You were gone almost a week and didn't even bother to tell me." Aang lowered his head, rubbing the back of his neck. He saw the dark circles under her eyes. "I know, I'm sorry."
"And your acolytes have been here in Republic City all week. I had to find out from them where you'd gone."
Aang shut his eyes and took a deep breath. His chest faintly rose and fell; his breathing was the only sound in the room. "I needed to do this alone Katara, I just...I need to preserve what's left of the Air Temples." Katara crossed her arms and dropped her gaze to the wooden floorboards. "That doesn't mean you can just run off, Aang. Do you know how worried I was?" She bit her lip; her bun slowly unraveled, falling to her shoulders.
Aang frowned, shifting his attention to the window—the bright lights of Republic City streamed through the panes and casted squares onto their floor. "If I don't do this right...what'll be left of my culture?" He trailed off, bringing his focus back to Katara. "I thought you would understand."
Katara raised her head and arched her eyebrow. "Aang, I do understand. And I know you're hurting, but—"
"You still have the Southern Water Tribe to call home, I don't even have that. All I want is for you to be there for me, Katara. Is that too much to ask?"
Katara rubbed her temples and squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to hold back tears. Her head spun with hurt; she gripped onto the back of a chair. "Okay, you're right, I don't know what you're going through. But don't you dare insinuate that I haven't been there for you." Her eyes stung; a tear rolled down her cheek. "Fourteen years, Aang. I fought alongside you during the war. I was there when this city was just a village. And I was with you when we were going after Sonam's staff."
Her chest was heavy; her mouth was dry. She brought her voice down to a faint whisper. "But you still keep pushing me away."
Aang's lips quivered and he swallowed hard. His jaw tensed and he opened his mouth to speak, but his throat seized up—instead, came a stifled sob. Katara's expression softened. She leaned forward and cupped his cheek in her palm, brushing away a stray tear with her thumb. He dropped his head and buried his nose in her shoulder, melting into her touch.
He'd always been a master airbender, so he'd never experienced a sense of suffocation quite like this.
She stroked his bicep, gradually trailing her fingers down along his forearm, tracing his tattoo, and squeezing his wrist. He slowly pulled himself back to meet her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Katara gave him a subtle nod, and he leaned in to gently place his lips on her forehead. She sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, and tugged on his collar. "Come with me."
She took his hand, leading him to their balcony.
The silence from moments earlier was swiftly drowned out by the perpetual bustle of Republic City, a city that never slept. The air grew cold around them and circled their tower, weaving between their bodies. Aang felt the fresh air permeate his lungs and his breathing returned to a steady tempo. Katara looped her arm around his, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm here." She peered down into the streets. Aang laid his head on hers and his eyes drifted shut.
Grief comes and goes in waves.
They both knew it would take time. Aang knew it would take time.
But he had Katara by his side.
And maybe that's all that mattered right now.