#ntlaa

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Aang’s POV

Today was finally the day. More than 7 long years have passed, since I made this promise to her. I would take her to see the air temples. So far she had only been to the Western Air Temple when we all had to find refuge after the failed invasion on the day of the black sun. 

I remember the look on her face when she first entered the temple. So much joy radiated off her face, the wonder visible in her eyes, her smile everlasting. Today, however, we were starting on a journey to my home; the Southern Air Temple. 

It would only take a few days for use to travel to the Air Temple. Appa had his saddle on him, ready to leave. Momo had already found its place, scattering through the bags to find something to eat. 

“Aang.” Katara’s voice was quiet, it sounded sad. It immediately stopped me before I could step outside of our house to join the rest of the team. The new city we were building was still in its early stages of development, but we had created a nice place for us all to stay. We had spent years here; happy moments when we were simply enjoying some time together, frustrating moments when we tried to smooth over some terms of negotiations to create this new nation in the first place, so many memories were created here. Sometimes we were all here together, sometimes it was just Katara, Sokka, Toph, Y/N and myself. Zuko spent most of his time back at the Fire Nation, only to come here for further negotiations with me and the Earth King or when important decisions had to be made. He had a lot on his plate, but he always seemed to relax a bit when he spent several days here with us, even despite him still having a job to do. Suki was often all over the world with the Kyoshi Warriors, protecting peace and world leaders. But for the last week, the whole team was together again. Enjoying each other's company and reminiscing about old times. Probably, for the last time in a long time. 

“What’s the matter? Is everything alright?” I was worried by her tone of voice. 

“We need to talk before you leave.” Her shoulders dropped. She looked defeated as she led me back to the room and closed the door behind me, making sure we could have a private moment.

“What’s wrong? You look… troubled by something. You have looked troubled for the last few days. But you cut me off every time I asked you about it.”

“I wasn’t ready to talk before, but it has to be done.” She didn’t just look sad anymore, she looked serious and determined. 

“What has to be done?” I instinctively stepped forward to her, trying to make contact with her, but she shook her head and even took a step backward. 

“We need to break up.” Her voice was somehow steady but her expression was breaking. 

“What?!” My voice was louder, not harsh or mean, but raised by the surprise and disbelief of her comment. I paused for a moment. Then again I stepped forward, reaching out for her, shaking my head. This time she didn’t stop me and I closed the distance between us. “What do you mean?” It was merely a whisper. 

“We have to.” That was all she said, tears forming in her eyes.

“Why? Have I done something wrong?” I questioned myself, my voice low and near breaking point. “I thought we were happy.” The tears she was holding back, were now falling down. I raised my hand to cup her cheek and to catch the tears. I finally started to realize that she was serious. “Why?” I asked again, pleading this time. Wiping one of her tears away. 

“You are going away with Y/N for a long time.” She started, trying to steady her voice and control her breathing. I stepped away from her, creating a little bit of distance. I started to feel the ache in my heart.

“What does that have to do with anything? We have been apart before.” I shook my head, not understanding why Y/N had something to do with this.

“I know you like her.”

“Of course I like her, she is my friend.”

“She is special to you.” I knew what she meant with that. You were an airbender. We were the last airbenders.

“Yes of course she is, but still I don’t understand what that has to do with us.” At that last word I was pointing at her and myself. 

“You are going away on a long journey together and I don’t want to be in the way of what could be.” Tears were again rolling down her cheeks.

“In the way of what?!” I was losing my cool. To me she was talking in riddles.

“In the way of you two getting together.” It felt as though all the air left my lungs. 

“What makes you think we are going to get together? What makes you think I want to get together with her?” I raised my voice again. I was getting angry with her, because this was just too crazy to even comprehend. 

“She is the other last airbender.”

“So?!”

“So, in time…” she paused, carefully choosing her words. “...at some point in the future, when you are both ready, you can start a family and achieve what you want most; a new generation of airbenders.” I was now violently shaking my head at her words, fist clutched tightly at my sides.

“But that is what I want with you!” I shouted out my confession, throwing my arms in the air. We were both taken by surprise at my outburst. I quickly tried to control myself, trying to steady my breath again so I could lower my voice.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to shout.” I stated, my breathing still heavy though. “But what you are saying is mad. I don’t want any of that with Y/N. I want us to become a family at some point. For you to be the mother of my child or children.” I spoke the words softer, gentler this time. I needed them to land, so I paused for a second, giving her time to take in the words. “Don’t you want that?” I quietly took another step towards her, but quickly stopped when I saw her expression.

“No, not anymore.” She said it so dead serious, that it hurt. It felt like she stabbed a sharp knife to my chest. This time she spoke with no emotions in her voice or written all over her face. She just stood there, as an empty shell of who she used to be. 

“You don’t mean that.” I spoke softly, it was close to a whisper. Now it was my turn to let my tears fall down. I had been holding them in, pushing them away, but now I couldn’t fight it anymore.

“I do. I don’t see my future with you anymore, but I do see a future for you with her.” She was resolute. “Don’t argue with me about this. We might be done, but it could be a new beginning for you.”

“So what, huh?! You are pushing me away so you can push me into her arms?!” I aggressively pointed my arm towards the courtyard where Y/N was waiting for me. I wasn’t even trying to hide my tears anymore. I wasn’t just hurt but I was also mad. I was breaking, rapid breathing mixed with sobs, my glossy eyes fixed on Katara, my jaw and shoulders tightened, but my knees were buckling; making me unsteady on my feet. It felt as though the floor was going to disappear from underneath me at any point now.

“It wouldn’t be a bad thing Aang. Just listen to me.” She spoke softly. She was trying to calm me down, trying to get me to breathe again despite the tears and sobs. When I had slightly calmed down, she continued. “With her you have a better chance to get what you want most. In the future she can either give you a non-bender or an air bender. The odds are in her favor…, compared to me.” The last bit was barely audible. “You can use this time you have with her to grow closer to each other, fall in love with each other. And then somewhere along the line… Like I mentioned before, when you are both ready, you can take the next step.” 

I was slowly dying with every word she spoke. But Katara continued nonetheless. “I know she can fall in love with you, because you are so easy to fall in love with. And Y/N is a pretty girl, I see the way you sometimes look at her. If you let yourself and without me involved, you can also easily fall in love with her. And if not with her, then with the dream you have.” 

She took a deep breath and walked up to me. She reached out, trying to comfort me even though she was the one shattering me to pieces. I shook my head softly with tears still in my eyes, signalling to her that I didn’t want her closer. I didn’t want to feel her near me, I didn’t want to feel her touch. She hurt me more than I ever thought possible. I couldn’t let her comfort me. At this point I wasn’t slowly dying anymore, I was already disceased. I was hollow, I had drowned. I couldn’t breathe anymore, the air felt thick, tears still falling from my eyes. I needed to leave the room, I had to get out, get some fresh air. I abruptly turned around, started walking away from Katara and towards the door.

“Aang.” I stopped instinctively at her soft voice. I kept my back turned to her. “I… I know this is hurting you, but I don’t do this to hurt you. I do this so you have the best possible chance to get everything you want. I do this because I love you.” Her voice broke in the end. I could hear a sob. Normally I would sprint to her and hold her close and try to cheer her up, but now I just continued to walk to the door. But I stopped before opening it. 

“No.” My voice surprisingly rigid. I still had my back at her, not being able to face her; door handle in my hand. “You do this because you are scared. You do this because this is easier. You do this so you could possibly never disappoint me. That is not love. That is selfish.” I signed, my heart aching and bleeding. “Goodbye Katara.” A final tear fell from the corner of my eye as I straightened my back and walked away from the room. Away from the women I have loved for so many years, the women with whom I have been through so much with, the women with whom I have traveled the world with, the women who has helped me save the world, the women with whom I have been trying to rebuild the world, the women I thought was going to be by my side until the very end, the women I still love despite the pain she has just caused.

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Reader’s POV

I was surrounded by my friends. Laughing and reminiscing about the fun we had last night. I was waiting for Aang who was saying his goodbyes to Katara. 

Sokka had his arm around Suki’s shoulder. He was amicably telling the story of how he had almost ruined dinner by not paying enough attention. His voice filled the courtyard, along with our laughter. Toph was leaning against Appa, playing with some rocks in her hands with a smirk on her face. I was standing next to Zuko. Hearing him laugh always brought me joy. He was mostly quite serious, I knew he felt like he had to be because of his role as Fire Lord, but when he was with the group he always seemed to relax. He was a different person when he was with the group, he could truly just be himself. This version of Zuko was very dear to me. I truly loved seeing him being able to relax. His features would be softer, his shoulders less stiff, his back not as straight, this tone of voice not so serious, he would let his hair down; metaphorically and literally. His hair had grown longer, it almost touched his shoulders by now. It framed his face, no crown on his head, no additional burden weighing him down.

Sokka continued talking as I felt a little nudge in my arm. The contact warm and familiar. I looked to my left, looking straight at Zuko. 

“Are you not going to miss this?” His eyes smiled as he shifted his gaze to Sokka. 

“After some time… Perhaps.” I giggled and he smiled back at me. After a moment of silence I spoke again. “I will miss this, I will miss them.” I looked up at him. When Zuko joined the group all these years ago, we were almost the same height. Now I had to look up to meet his eyes, despite also have grown taller myself. “I will miss you.” I confessed, my tone softer than just before whilst I slightly brushed my shoulder against his upper arm. I didn’t know why I did this, I immediately felt awkward and I felt heat rushing to my cheeks. I quickly turned my head, back to facing the rest of my friends, hoping no one and especially Zuko would notice my flushed cheeks. 

I felt his warmth closer than before, meaning he was leaning closer to me. 

“I will miss you too.” He spoke quietly, the words only meant for my ears. It made me blush even more. I knew I quickly had to change the subject or my awkwardness would take over.

“Are you still planning on leaving later today?”

“Yes, I need to get back. Work is undoubtedly piling up. Uncle is surely doing all he can in my absence, but I don’t want to abuse his generosity of handling things when I am gone. So it is only fair to go back as soon as I can.” Whenever Zuko was going to be away from the palace for a longer time, his uncle would support Zuko by taking over. He had done so for several months when we were scattering through the Earth Kingdom in search of Zuko’s mother. He also helped out every time Zuko would have a short break. Zuko hardly granted himself a vacation. But now he had spent more than a week with his old friends, without any work responsibilities or disturbances, knowing it would be for the last time for some time to come.

“I am sure he is happy to help you.”

“I know, but still. He would want to go back to the Jasmin Dragon as soon as possible. He feels more at home in Ba Sing Se.” After a short break he continued. “Did you know that he introduced a tea appreciation day at some point when he was interim Fire Lord.” He chuckled at the memory. I giggled with him. 

“Iroh certainly knows how to lighten everyone's spirit.” I told him as I looked at him again. He looked so fondly when he spoke about his uncle or when someone else spoke dearly of him. He was clearly proud to be his nephew. 

“I also want to return to Druk.” 

“Ah, yes your baby dragon.”

“He is not a baby anymore.” He almost sounded offended, but I heard the smile in his voice. “He has grown a lot, but he is not just quite ready for our first flight.”

“I can’t wait to see that happen.” Zuko hummed softly in agreement. 

“What are you looking forward to the most?” He asked me after a moment of silence. The rest of the group was talking amongst themselves; not caring that we were having a private chat. 

“The Eastern Air Temple.” I said and I was beaming.

“Of course it is. The temple where your great grandmother came from.”

“Yes, my grandmother has told me amazing stories that her mother shared with her of the place.” I smiled at my memory of my grandmother. 

“I have been there once… uhm… a long time ago.” He scratched his neck. “Back when I was living a different life.” A very subtle way of referring to his time chasing his now best friend. He signed. “It was beautiful. That was all I wanted to say. The Eastern Air Temple was absolutely beautiful. Incredibly impressive.”

“I can’t wait to witness it myself. But first we are going to the Southern Air Temple. Aang wants to show me his home first and we obvisiously will be trying to restore it to its former glory. He also has collected some air nomad items that he wants to display and store there.”

“Well, he will take you there if he’s ever going to show up again. He is taking a long time to say goodbye to Katara.” Zuko's gaze drifted towards the door that led from the courtyard to the house. 

“It certainly is a long goodbye. I wonder what they could possibly be doing.” Suki responded to Zuko’s comment. She had a smirk on her face, grinning at her own comment. Sokka just looked disgusted in return. 

“Oh, he is coming.” Toph stated, feeling Aang’s movements close to the door to the courtyard, before it opened. 

Aang was looking down at the ground and quickly moved towards Appa. He looked distressed and as he came closer I could see his eyes were red as though he had been crying. I was the only one really looking at him, the others were still joking at his expense.

“Y/N.” He called out to me after he swiftly hopped on Appa. I looked up at him in response. “Say your final goodbyes, we are leaving.” His voice sounded almost earnest. 

I turned around to Zuko first, given he still stood next to me. I gave him a hug, being embraced by his warmth. The hug was short, too short for my liking, but it was tight and tender at the same time. It felt as though he didn’t want to let me go. I knew I didn’t want to let him go just yet. I wanted to stay in his warmth just a little bit longer, but I also felt everyone’s eyes on us. I let go of him and a deep breath escaped me when his warmth was leaving. Despite being sad about losing his touch, I quickly went over to Sokka, who gave me a big bear hug, he also gave me a quick peck on the cheek. 

“Have a safe trip and enjoy.” Sokka beamed and then turned to Aang. “No hug for you then, huh? You will miss them.” He exclaimed loudly. Aang slightly turned around and stated that he would survive without a final hug. 

I embraced Suki tightly, before I walked over to Toph. Toph still, after all these years, was not the biggest hugger, so she just gave me a nudge at my shoulder. 

“Bye, Ballerina.”

“Bye, Toph.” I smiled.

I looked around one more time, searching for Katara.

“Is Katara not coming to say goodbye?” I asked Aang.

“No. She decided to stay inside.” I dropped my head, sad that my friend wasn’t here. I gracefully jumped up on Appa’s back and turned towards the door one more time. It stayed closed. 

Behind me I could hear Zuko talk to Aang. “Have a safe journey and take good care of her.” I again felt a small blush appearing on my cheeks. He didn’t say Take good care of each other. No, with his statement he showcased to only care for my wellbeing. He walked over to Appa’s side and looked up at me. 

“Stay safe, but mostly enjoy all you are going to see and learn.” I nodded and smiled at him. “Goodbye Y/N.”

“Goodbye Zuko.” I will miss you most.

“Appa, yip yip.” Aang's voice cut sharply through it all.

I watched as our friends got smaller and smaller. Sokka continued to wave, using both of his arms. Then, they disappeared when we entered the clouds. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next chapter: Burning Through The Silence

A/N: I really hope you guys like the first chapter. I can tell you, that posting it makes me very nervous.

I have already started working on the next chapter. I strive to post every week or maybe sooner if I completed it faster than I thought I would.

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Reader’s POV

The cold had gotten so much worse. My airways were blocked and therefore breathing had gotten more difficult, my nose was constantly running, making me sniff every few minutes. My throat and ribs hurt from all the coughing. 

I knew I didn’t have the right to be frustrated with Aang. He was being sweet to me. But he had also told me off, like I was a little child. He scolded me about staying out in the rain. I knew he only did that because he was concerned about my wellbeing. Yet, I answered his concern with stubbornness and frustration. 

I had to reset and change my whole mindset to be a successful airbender. Still, I was born and raised in the Earth Kingdom. We were known to be rigid, head strong and proud. Those principles and beliefs are not easily forgotten and are nested deep within my core. And the attitude, mindset and actions formed by those principles and beliefs would slip out when things didn’t go my way. Or… when I was being lectured about my own actions. No matter how righteous and justified the lecturing was. 

I might be an airbender, but I will also always be an Earth Kingdom Citizen.

Every week we would go to the market nearest to the Eastern Air Temple, gathering supplies, food and anything else we might need. The whole trip would take several hours. Aang had insisted on going by himself this time.

“If you refuse to listen to me, then please, listen to your body.” He pleaded with me. “You clearly don’t feel well.”

“I am fine Aang, it is just a cold. I won’t die from a runny nose.” I countered. 

“You have been coughing all night. You think I didn’t hear you? I know you hardly slept. I can see you wince whenever you inhale too deeply. Please stay here.” I crossed my arms in response, frustration growing inside me.

“Stop treating me like I am fragile.” Hand pressed to my chest as another cough threatened to break through. “I am coming with you.” I added, voice quieter, but firm.

He realised I had set my mind on joining him, helping him gather all the provisions. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to talk me out of it; he accepted his defeat reluctantly. 

The flight over on Appa was quiet. I knew I was behaving irrational, but I didn’t want him to treat me like I could break at any moment. We split up upon arrival. Aang would collect tools and other equipment we needed for the repairs of the temple, I would gather the food for the upcoming week. 

I always loved ‘market-day’. Finding myself among other people again. The market was busy, loud and alive. I spoke to a few people, saw some small children running around and playing an unknown game. The sun was pleasantly shining even though its warmth was still lacking. It was a nice day. Despite the vibrant energy that swirled around the market, I felt my own body getting more and more tired the more groceries I had gathered as I carried it back to Appa.

“Here, let me help you.” Aang was done faster than me. He was more efficient, still kind to everyone around him, but efficient nonetheless. I, on the other hand, always had lengthy conversations with strangers about anything and nothing. So it was no surprise he was done before me and that he came to find me. Without waiting for permission, he took a few bags filled with food away from me. “Don’t get mad.” He started. “I know you are strong enough to carry it by yourself, but there is nothing wrong with sharing the load from time to time.” That earned him a quiet smile. He looked satisfied, we both knew peace had been restored. 

On the way back, I felt my body was still not recovering from the tiredness, eyelids getting heavier, a shiver down my spine. In the distance, the air temple emerged between the snow-covered mountains. ‘Aang was right. I should really listen to my body. I should probably lay down for a little when we are back.’

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Aang’s POV

“Are you alright?” I looked at her, trying to hide any concern this time. I didn’t want a repeat of earlier. “You look a bit flushed.” I carried most of the supplies inside. She didn’t only look flushed, she also looked exhausted. Though she was probably too stubborn to admit that.

“Yeah.” She looked around, her eyes anything but focused. “Yes, I am alright. I just think I am going to lie down for a little while if that is okay with you.”

“Yes, of course. Go.” I watched her walk away, stumbling a bit as her feet were not really cooperating. ‘Do you need any help?’ I wanted to do more than just ask her that. I wanted to support her body up the stairs. Hell, I would carry her up myself. But her sharp words from this morning returned to me. ‘Stop treating me as if I am fragile.’ So I did what I thought was the next best thing. “Let me know if you need anything.” She raised her hand in response and walked up the steps.

After I had stored away all the groceries, tools and equipment, I started on preparing dinner. Normally this would be the time she came down from her room to help me prepare or set the table and put cushions down for us to sit on. But there was no movement coming from the floor above me, no steps coming down the stairs; just quiet. 

I ate alone, Momo kept me company. I saved her plenty of food. I made a bowl for her, placed it on a platter together with a cup of tea. Carefully I walked up the stairs, trying to remember all the steps that creaked. I softly knocked on her door; loud enough for her to hear it, but quietly enough not to disturb anyone. I opened it and peeked my head through it. She was fast asleep, tugged away under her blanket. Her chest was steadily but sharply rising and falling. I walked in and placed the platter on her desk. Her face still flushed. I gently placed a hand on her forehead, trying not to wake her. She didn’t feel extremely warm. Maybe her cheeks were just rosy from sleep. I turned around and moved to the door.

“Aang?” An incredibly soft, hoarse voice called out my name. 

“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.” The apology not just spoken, but also heard in my tone of voice. “I brought you some food. Do you want to eat something?”

“No, just some water please.”

“I brought tea.” I immediately turned to get it and I quickly handed her the clay cup. 

“Thank you.” I saw she was shaking slightly as she brought the cup to her lips, taking a few sips of the perfectly tempered tea. 

“Are you cold?” 

“No, not really.”

“But you are shaking.”

“I am just tired.”

“Then, rest.” I accepted the cup she handed back to me and placed it on the small table next to her bed. I squatted down beside her. “Let me know if you need anything.” I repeated my words from earlier, my voice low and soft. She nodded faintly. I got up and placed a tender kiss on her forehead, my lips barely grazing her skin and I walked away, letting her rest. 

Before I went to bed myself later that night, I had again peeked inside her room. This time staying by the door, because I didn’t want to wake her up again. The sight of her sleeping and laying still had comforted me enough to head across the hall to my own room, I kept my own door open just in case.

I couldn’t have been asleep for very long, maybe two hours or so, when I roughly woke up from my slumber. I heard noise coming from across the hallway, coming from Y/N’s room. It sounded as though she was stumbling and falling over. I threw my covers away from me, jumped out of bed, no time to put my shirt on and quickly moved to her room. As I opened the door, I saw her bed was empty, the noises came from the adjacent bathroom; gagging noises. I walked in and saw her on her knees, head hanging over a bucket. I slid next to her, removing her hair from her face, brushing it back and I held it in place. Circling my hand over her back. 

“I got you. I am here.” I cooed softly. After another wave of nausea hit her, she got quiet, her whole body trembling and shaking. For a moment she leaned completely into me. I never stopped making those circular motions. Unlike before, her skin was radiating, sweatbeats visible at her temple and forehead. There were damp patches on the back of her shirt. She was clearly experiencing a very bad fever. When she caught her breath again, I slowly helped her on her feet, supporting her on her walk back to her bed. 

I gently laid her down. She curled up in her bed, her hands shaking as she pulled her sheets closer to her face. 

“We need to bring your fever down, Y/N.” I went to the bathroom and wetted a cloth. I delicately placed it on her forehead. She looked at me, her expression unfocused, her eyes glossy and cheeks flushed. She was burning up. I stayed with, sitting beside her. 

She was ailing. I moved the covers away from her slightly, exposing her upper body, so that her body heat could escape.

After some time, I touched the damp cloth, it was warm already and therefore no longer serving its purpose. 

“What can I do?” My voice cut through the room, a question more directed towards myself than her. She squirmed in her bed, clearly in great discomfort. 

I hadn’t thought of Katara for weeks now, maybe even months, but at this very moment I wished she was here. She could easily help Y/N. A fever was nothing compared to all the wounds and aches Katara had healed over the years. I, on the other hand, was not gifted with healing powers. “But I can bend water.” I said out loud as an idea formed in my mind. “I will be right back.” I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and then I quickly left to set my plan in motion. 

I sprinted to the pantry downstairs and grabbed a bucket. I went outside to the pond, dipped the bucket into it to collect water. The night’s air was cold and so was the water. I was still only wearing my trousers, but I had no trouble keeping my body warm. Once my bucket was full with the ice cold water, I returned inside, back to Y/N.

I hurried up the stairs, to her room and there she laid painfully twisting and turning on her mattress. I placed the bucket next to her bed. 

“Y/N.” I gently said her name. No response other than ragged breaths escaping from her. “I am going to move you slightly, just so I can lay behind you.” Still no response. She just moved along, no fighting it. I carefully laid down and adjusted her so she laid over my chest. The heat she radiated onto me was almost unbearingly warm. I called the water to me and I quickly moved my hands and started circling them at either side of her body. The cold water formed a layer over us, wetting our clothes. I stayed focused on my movements making sure the water would continuously move over her, cooling her down.

I hurried up the stairs, to her room and there she laid painfully twisting and turning on her mattress. I placed the bucket next to her bed and I turned the snow into cold water. 

“Y/N.” I gently said her name. No response other than ragged breaths escaping from her. “I am going to move you slightly, just so I can lay behind you.” Still no response. She just moved along, no fighting it. I carefully laid down and adjusted her so she laid over my chest. The heat she radiated onto me was almost unbearingly warm. I called the water to me and I quickly moved my hands and started circling them around her body. The cold water formed a layer over us, wetting our clothes. I stayed focused on my movements making sure the water would continuously move, cooling her down. 

After about an hour, I felt her ease slightly, she was a little less tense. Because she partly laid on top of my chest I could feel her body relax, her breathing was less laboured and uneven. The inhales were still deep, but more steady than before. 

“I’ll take care of you. You just rest.” 

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Reader’s POV

I woke up early the next morning. I felt drenched, fabric of my sleep attire heavy. My head wasn’t laying on my pillow, I was laying on something more vast and it moved up and down ever so comfortingly. My eyes fluttered open, giving them time to adjust. Faint light was starting to break through the window, so that shapes could become visible. I tried to process what was happening. I saw clearly defined muscles, arms moving above me, my head was moving along to a steady rhythm of breathing. I inhaled sharply when I realised I was laying on Aang's chest.

 “Good morning.” His voice sounded gentle but tired. I heard a splash of water hitting something. I realised I didn’t just feel drenched, I was drenched.

“What happened?” I placed my hand on his broad, steady chest to be able to lift myself slightly so I could look at him. He had circles under his eyes, his eyelids heavy as he blinked slowly. He looked completely drained, like he hadn’t slept all night. Despite all that, a sweet, kind smile on his face and a grateful expression in his eyes.

“You were very ill. You were so hot, it was like you were burning from the inside out. Like you were caught in a fire.” His voice low, barely able to speak due to exhaustion. “I had to cool you down.” He paused to inhale deeply through his nose. I moved up along with this breath filling his lungs. “I bended a halo of cold water around you.”

“You waterbended all night?” He nodded, whilst closing his eyes for a moment.

“I stopped from time to time to check if you were still hot. And every time I did, you were. It took some time for your body to finally relax and for you to quietly fall asleep. So I didn’t dare to stop.” 

“I don’t know what to say, Aang.” I paused for a moment. “Thank you.”

“No problem. The most important thing is that you are alright.” He paused, exhaustion taken over. “You are alright, right?” He questioned.

“Yes, I am. I feel fine.” He gave me a faint smile. 

I moved away from him, leaving his chest, his eyes were falling shut, but opened abruptly when he felt me leaving. He wanted to protest.

“Shh. Let’s go.” I grabbed his hand. He involuntarily got up from the bed and followed me. Every muscle, every joint, every limb was tired. I guided him to his room, to a bed that wasn’t soaked by cold water. I looked at his trousers. “Don’t move.” I walked around him as I bended air from my palms to dry them. His bedsheets were on the floor, clearly he had discarded them in a hurry. I gently eased him down until he sat on the edge of his bed. 

“Thank you for last night. Truly. But now you rest.” I spoke softly as I guided him to lay on his mattress. I grabbed the sheets and gently laid them over him. I gave him a sweet kiss on his forehead, just like he had done to me yesterday and wanted to walk away.

“Stay.” It was barely audible. Every fiber in me knew I had to turn him down, because through this all, my head and hand on his chest and just now supporting his naked upper body, I had felt my stomach turning and my pulse skipping unevenly. “Please stay.” A little louder this time. 

“I am still soaked.”

“Then either dry it off, change into something else or just take it off.” I don’t know if he actually knew what he just implied, but with his last words; I felt a hunger rise in me again. 

“I will be right back.” I left to change out of my wet clothes and I put on a similar outfit; a simple sleeveless shirt and long trousers. For a heartbeat I seriously doubted whether I should return to him at all. I pushed the thought away and walked back to his room.

To my surprise he still had his eyes open, although barely. He had his gaze fixed on the open door. A small smile tugged at his lips the moment I entered the room.

“You came back.” He almost sounded surprised, but mostly pleased as he hummed slightly as I moved closer. He opened his frame, extending his arm. The motion slow as though the tiredness restricted him from moving faster. I pulled the sheet down and I gently slipped in the bed next to him. His arm wrapped around me, pulling me back into the position I had woken up from not too long ago. I carefully lowered my head onto his chest. Hearing his heart beating; a strong, steady pulse. I placed my hand on his torso. 

“Get some rest.” He hummed in response.

“You too. You need more rest too.” He said and he sounded drowsy. I felt he was right, my fever might be gone and I felt a lot better than I did the evening before, but my strength hadn’t returned to me yet. And rather quickly I felt myself drifting away into a deep slumber.

Hours later I woke up again, bright light coming in through the window. My awareness returned slowly and with it came a burning heaviness in my chest. I became aware of every detail; the warmth beneath me, the rise and fall of his torso. My first instinct was to pull away. But my second was to stay exactly where I was. And so I stayed perfectly still on Aang’s chest, afraid that any movement or sound would break the moment. I didn’t look up at his face, but his breathing clearly indicated that he was still asleep. 

Without my permission, my hand moved slightly over his chest. I couldn’t tell myself if it was just an adjustment of my hand or whether it was more. Aang didn’t respond. My whole body was aching to touch him more. So I decided to move my hand again, slower and more deliberate this time. I had been wanting to do this, touch him, graze his skin, since that one day in the courtyard in the Southern Air Temple. I was trailing the lines of his chest. The sensation completely new to me, unfamiliar yet impossible to ignore. I had never touched anyone else before, but I craved to feel what it was like.

I moved my hands to his collarbone which stood out beneath his skin. My fingers followed the clear outline of it. Then I moved up to his shoulders, broader than ever before and well-defined. My fingers trailed down to his upper arm, which was firm and solid; biceps and triceps clearly toned. Before, I had only known how his arms moved around so gracefully during sparring sessions. Now I was feeling the bespoke muscles underneath his skin, solid like rocks.

The muscles in his shoulder and arm spoke of strength without effort. He could easily lift me with one arm. My fingers kept grazing his skin back from his upper arm, to his shoulder, to his collarbone and to his chest. With my index finger I was drawing shapes, whilst I barely touched him, my touch ever so light. 

A slight, faint shift beneath me drew me back to the room and away from my thoughts. I felt it before I saw it. There was a subtle change in his breathing. No longer slow and steady, but much deeper. I suddenly noticed everything, the warmth coming from Aang’s body, the spike in his heartbeat, the closeness between us, the fact he hadn’t moved. I froze, my finger still hovering over his torso.

“Don’t stop on my behalf.” His voice low, deeper than I had ever heard it before. 

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Aang’s POV

The soft movement across my body had woken me up. My eyes slowly opened, as I tried to place the sensation I felt along my skin. Her finger was barely grazing me, but the trail she was creating was burning. I watched as her index finger gracefully went back from my upper arm to my chest. I followed the movements she drew with her finger over my torso, not knowing if they actually meant anything.

Her own eyes never followed her fingers, head laying absolutely still, maybe afraid to wake me. She was just feeling me. And I let her. Until she suddenly stopped, finger not moving anymore, remaining in its position. She was aware I was awake. Maybe she felt caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to do or maybe she was just scared about my reaction. If only she knew how badly I wanted her to continue. I decided to make the first move, breaking the silence.

“Don’t stop on my behalf.” I heard a slight gasp, she placed her hand down back on my chest and she looked up slowly. Her expression apologetic. She did feel caught doing something she thought she wasn’t allowed to do. “I don’t want you to stop.” My words settled heavily in the quiet room. Her eyes widened in disbelief. My lips curved faintly, not quite a smile, but enough to get a reaction from her; her eyes changed. No longer disbelief or freight, but something darker settled in. “I really don’t want you to stop.” My voice dropped an octave, as I spoke the words slowly; making sure she heard every one of them. 

Her hand began to move, again trailing over my bare torso. She adjusted herself slightly upward, making that she could watch her own movements this time. My gaze flickered between her eyes and her hand, closely following everything she did. She was moving antagonizingly slow. Every inch of skin she touched was on fire. Instead of going up, she went down this time. First the palm of her hand went over my abdomen. Then her fingertips brushed lightly over the firm lines of the muscles of my stomach. A shiver ran through me. The longer her hand and fingertips were grazing my bare body, the more hitched my own breath became. She slowly moved her hand and thus her gaze up. Her fingers lingered near my neck and I swallowed deeply. ‘Does she actually realise what she is doing to me?’

She kept avoiding my gaze because her focus was solely on her fingers. The tip of her fingers now ghosted over my jawline, then it was just the tip of her thumb brushing against my lips; its movement slowly and slightly parted my lower lip from my upper lip.

I was getting nervous, heart fluttering. The tension in my whole body almost unbearable and uncontrollable, my skin unbelievably sensitive due to her touch. My pulse was racing, breath catching more and more, a warmth spreading through every joint, tendon and muscle of my body. A throbbing feeling between my legs. I wanted to join in on the action, I too wanted to trace every inch of her skin, every curve of her body. I wanted to still my own hunger, I needed more than this. 

Finally our eyes locked as she cupped my face and caressed my cheek. I wanted to move, but I had taken things too far once before. I didn’t want to do anything that she wasn’t ready for. But, Spirits, I so desperately hoped that she was. 

I had stayed still all this time, but now I very carefully propped myself up slightly. Her upper body remained on my chest as her hand left my cheek to rest again on my torso. I slowly moved my arm, bringing my hand closer to her face, she stayed still. She didn’t move forward, but she also wasn’t moving away from me. I took it as a sign to continue. I placed my hand on her cheek, fingers resting underneath her earlobe. My big hand could almost reach the back of her neck. My thumb stayed on her cheekbone, slowly swiping from left to right. 

Her breathing sharp, her chest was moving up and down in rapid motions. There was an expression in her eyes that was new to me, something terribly close to desire. She could probably read the same expression from my face. Her eyes darted away from my eyes to my lips, it was only for a heartbeat, but it happened. I moved closer to her, still holding on to her cheek and fingers still grazing the side of her neck. I gave her all the room and time she needed to move away from me. But instead she leant in slightly closer. I looked deep into her eyes.

“May I?” I whispered, voice deep, drenched with a burning desire. She gave a little but firm nod. Despite the permission, I still moved as slowly as I could, every ounce of restraint I could muster was being used. Our faces were now so close, I could feel her warm breath against my skin, noses almost rubbing, as I ghosted over her lips with my own. I gave her more time to change her mind. But she didn’t, she leaned forward. Her lips touched mine. More than anything, I wanted her to enjoy our first kiss, I wanted her to feel safe under my touch. My hand on her cheek didn’t grip or move; it simply stayed there, caressing her skin. I could feel my own heartbeat in my chest, loud and uneven. I kissed her slow, gentle and tender. It wasn’t rushed, it was careful, it was soft, it was loving; it was a moment shared. A moment where everything else seemed to disappear. 

I pulled back only slightly, close enough to still feel her near, not wanting to break whatever fragile new trust had just formed between us.

“Was that okay?” I asked quietly, my voice almost uncertain and desperate to get her approval.

“It was.” Words spoken softly, but without hesitation. A shy, small smile formed at her lips. I watched her face for a second longer, searching for any sign of doubt, any flicker of discomfort. But there wasn’t any. Then she spoke again. “Can you show me more?” 

I paused for a heartbeat. Her words landed a little heavier than I had expected, it ignited something in my stomach. Her words not just laced with curiosity. It was also laced with trust, offered a little more openly this time. I swallowed deeply.

“Yeah…Yeah, I can” I said quietly. “I would like that.”

I still didn’t rush, I didn’t let myself get carried away by the feeling in my chest. I was very aware of how easily this could tip from careful to careless if I wasn’t able to restrain myself. I moved a little closer, slowly and carefully. My hand shifted slightly, placing my fingers more at the back of her neck as I gently pulled her in. I started the kiss slowly, then gently swiping my tongue against her lower lip. She parted her lips slightly, giving me enough room to slip my tongue in her mouth. Our tongues started moving in sync, not a battle for dominance, but more like a dance. I deepened the kiss more and placed my arm around her waist. As I pulled away from the kiss, I propped myself up even more and turned us around, so that she was laying on the bed. 

“If anything feels too fast,” I started softly, meeting her eyes, “you tell me. Okay?” After a little nod, I leaned in again, my body hovering over hers, one knee resting between her legs. I didn’t move all at once, but just enough to close the distance gradually, making sure she had every time to meet me halfway or to turn me away. I kissed her again, this time a bit hungrier. I moved my hand, which had remained on the small of her back after I had turned her around, to her hips. Over the fabric of her shirt, I slowly moved up, not breaking the kiss. Then my big hands gently cupped one of her breasts. She gasped a little in my mouth. I broke away from her, giving her some room.

“Have you ever been touched before?” I asked respectfully. She shook her head slightly, her eyes averting mine as though she was embarrassed. 

“I will go slow. Okay?” A nod. “May I continue?” Another nod. I cupped her breast again, gently moving my hand over it, squeezing it ever so delicately. Her body responded to my touch, another little gasp escaped her, her back arched slightly bringing her body closer to mine. I leaned down more and kissed her again. So far every kiss remained gentle to some extant, but they grew hungrier each time our lips came together. My hand still cheerising her breast through the fabric. My hand traced from her chest to her bare arm, to her hand. I guided her hand to the back of my neck.

“You may touch me too.” I lowered my head and I spoke softly in her ear; it wasn’t a command, it was an invitation. A hitched breath escaped from her as my lips were on her neck; leaving a trail of tender kisses. Her hand started moving over my shoulder blade, tracing its muscles. She followed the tattoo on my spine to my lower back; flinching as she touched my scar. 

“It’s okay.” I assured her as I planted another kiss, this time on her collarbone. “It doesn’t hurt.” I murmured against her skin. I moved my hand from her breast to her hips and I grabbed them lightly. I repositioned myself a little lower. My head now hovering over her chest. I looked at the curves of her breast, longing to hold them bare in my hands, having my lips touch them. The hand on her hips, tugged at the hem of her shirt, touching the bare soft skin of her toned belly; she let me. I propped up, and guided her along with me. She sat up, I was on my knees; still one knee between her legs. Both my hands grabbed the fabric of her shirt and moved it upward; exposing more and more skin. She responded by lifting her arms and in one smooth movement I discarded her shirt from her and threw it next to the bed.

She laid back down, looking unsure. She covered her whole chest with her arms. The whole scene of it; her face flushed, the trail of my wet kisses on her neck, her plump lips, her arms safely wrapped around her bare upper body, it was endearing and arousing at the same time. 

“Was this too fast?” I asked softly, whilst holding her gaze. Uncertainty still lingered in her expression as she looked back at me. 

“No…no. I…I just feel so exposed.”

“I understand.” I said quietly. “Being this exposed for the first time can make you feel vulnerable.” I paused before I continued to reassure her. “But you don’t have to hide yourself from me.” I let the silence settle for a moment. “I just want to cherish you.” She let out a deep breath as though she had been holding it for too long. The tension in her whole upper body lessened, not gone completely, but that new fragile trust we were forming between us took over.

I held her gaze as she lowered her arms. I didn’t look down straight away, I gave her a moment to let it all sink in. Then, slowly my gaze traced down. I was looking at her bare upper body for the first time. I didn’t want to pry, not look at it too long and make her feel uncomfortable again. But, Spirits, it was hard to look away from it. So instead of looking I moved.

"You are beautiful." I bent down and kissed her again. I cupped the side of her face, before that hand slowly, but deliberately trailed down. First to her neck, her collarbone and then it moved along the curves of her breast. 

The sensation of feeling her bare, delicate skin, hyphed my own senses. My heart felt like it could escape my chest and as I lightly brushed over her hardened nipple, I felt my stomach turn and my own erection throb and twitch involuntarily. I didn’t know how much more restrain I had left in my body, especially when she moaned like that for the first time. The sound was heaven to me. I wanted to hear more of it. I lowered my head and placed kisses on her exposed curves. A quick swipe of my tongue over her nipple. Arousal and desire were growing inside every part of my body. 

More boldly I placed my lips over her nipple and I started sucking at the skin, letting my tongue go over the hardened nipple again and again, kissing her curves. Instinctively, my arm moved down and I laid my hand to rest on her knee. The sounds she was making became louder. And every time a moan escaped from her, I responded with a satisfied hum. I let that hum vibrate through her skin. Her hands were freely roaming my shoulder blades and ever so often she slightly dipped her fingers in my skin, in response to my actions. My hand glided up from her knee to her thigh. I let it rest there for a second. My face moved away from her breast, and back to her lips. I wanted to feel her moans against my lips. Slowly I moved my hand to her inner thigh, inching closer to the warmth between her legs. With each move upward I felt her body twitch more and more. My fingers ghosted over her warmth, putting just enough pressure on the fabric that she could feel the sensation rush through her. I kept kissing her deeply, tongues dancing again as I traced my fingers to the hem of her trousers. I tugged at them, lowering just a small bit of the fabric ever so slightly. 

That is when I felt it. Her hand moved quickly from the back of my neck to my chest. It gave me the smallest push, but more than enough for me to notice and feel it. She broke the kiss and looked at me. No more desire in her eyes. 

“Aang. Stop.” My whole body aching in arousal, desperation, in need of and longing for a release.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next chapter: Still Waters Run Deep

A/N: OMG, it was really dificult to cut this off. Nonetheless, I hope you have enjoyed reading it. But trust me, we will get much more of this between Aang and reader.

If you want to be added to the taglist, let me know.

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Reader’s POV

It was a four day journey on Appa from the Eastern Air Temple to Cranefish Town. We were almost there, just a few more hours. The whole trip had been rather quiet. Our thoughts were occupied by the same thing: whatever awaited us at the end of this journey. 

I was worried. Worried about the abductions, worried about the threats mentioned in the letters. Worried about Zuko. 

At some point I started to wish for, dream of a future with him. At first, I had thought it was nothing more than a teenage crush. Just a fleeting infatuation that would fade with time. 

It never had. The flutter in my stomach had survived every year that passed. It was there whenever I thought about him. Whenever I saw him. Whenever our eyes met. Whenever he stood close to me. Even when his hawks arrived carrying his messages, I felt it.

I spent the last few weeks worrying about him, reading each new letter with the hope that the situation had improved, that everything was resolved and he was finally again out of harm's way. But instead, each update seemed grimmer than the one before. With every message, it became harder to ignore the feeling that something big was about to happen. 

Even now, when we were almost in Cranefish Town, I could still feel that familiar flutter in my chest when I thought of him. I was wondering whether he was safe; I was hoping he was. 

Even now, when Aang and I had settled into something much closer to what friendship should be, my heart still betrayed me. Whenever my eyes had drifted toward the Fire Nation, whenever I had watched a sunset alone, or whenever one of Zuko’s letters rested in my hands, my pulse quickened just a little. No matter how much time had passed, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that I had to move on, some part of me still carried him with me. That same part knew, I always would.

I had waited so long for him to make up his mind. There had been many moments where he or I let the distance between us disappear. There were moments when we sought each other out, lingered a little longer than necessary. Moments when he looked at me like he wanted to say something he couldn’t quite bring himself to say. 

Every time, I had been ready. Ready to meet him halfway. But those moments, the closeness, never lasted. Something or someone would interrupt them, or he would retreat into himself, and afterward he would act as though nothing had happened. 

If he had given me even the slightest indication of how he truly felt, I probably would have spent a lifetime waiting for him. But he never did. 

And then there was Aang. Patient, open and honest. He never pulled away from me. He never left me guessing. Instead he was actively choosing to reach out to me, to open up and express his feelings. 

And after waiting so long for someone who never seemed able to decide whether he wanted me close or far away, it was refreshing that someone didn’t make me guess and put in so much effort to hold me close. 

I looked at Aang as I tried to bury my feelings for our friend somewhere deep within me. I tried to push my concerns for his wellbeing away. 

“We should tell Katara.” I was sitting next to him on Appa’s head. We sat close together. 

“About?” He asked plainly. 

“About us.” I looked at him. “We should tell her instead of her sensing it or seeing something.”

“Yeah, you are right.” He kept his eyes forward, scanning the sky. 

“So, I think we should keep our distance a bit, when we land. Then we can tell her together.”

“No.” He stated quickly, snapping his head toward me. “No. You don’t have to do that. I will tell her.” 

“Don’t you think it is better that we tell her together?” I hesitantly asked him. 

“No, I think it is fine if I just tell her by myself. It should come from me.” He said it with much conviction. 

I didn’t argue. He sounded so convinced that he should be the one to break the news. More than that, I wasn’t particularly eager to be the person who had to tell my friend I was now involved with her ex boyfriend.

The thought alone made my stomach twist with guilt. No matter how things had ended between them, no matter how complicated the situation was, I felt weighed down by the fear of hurting someone I cared about. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aang’s POV

“What are you guys doing here?!” We were greeted by a loud Sokka. He and Suki were in the courtyard sparring. Toph sat outside on a stone bench, one foot on the ground so she could watch Sokka and Suki. 

It was already evening when we landed. The sun slowly set lower. Everything looked exactly the same as we left it, the flowers at the edges of the courtyard had started blooming, the tiles worn from all the sparring sessions we had over the years, the heavy oak door to the house closed just like when we set off on our journey. 

Appa landed in the middle of the courtyard. Y/N no longer at my side, but back on the saddle. After our conversation, she chose a place as far away from me as possible and Momo had joined her. We both jumped off of Appa gracefully, Sokka already enveloping me in a hug the second my feet touched the ground. Suki did the same to Y/N. Toph approached us slowly. 

“I am so happy to see you!” I heard Suki say. Sokka had his hands now on my upper arms as he looked at me with great joy. 

“What are you guys doing here?” He asked again, words softer spoken this time. From the corner of my eye I saw Toph standing next to Y/N, giving her a firm nudge against her shoulder. I returned my gaze back to Sokka. 

“We have been getting letters from Zuko, keeping us updated on what is happening in the Fire Nation. It feels like something big is coming. We wanted the team together and ready in case he needs us.”

“Ah.” Sokka looked serious and then he grinned slightly. “Is Zuko now your scroll buddy too?”

“Sokka.” I exhaled. “This is serious.” I sounded a bit stern. “Surely you guys know what is happening over there.”

“We do.” Suki spoke as she, Toph and Y/N joined us. “We have been monitoring it. We even reached out to Zuko to ask if he needed our help.” She said seriously. “He declined. He mentioned that a Constable Sung and his team were on it.”  

“We know about Constable Sung, but things are clearly not improving. If anything, it is getting grimmer. We agreed that we should go back.”

“Of course Y/N would want to come back to help her boyfriend.” I snapped my head in Toph’s direction. 

“Toph!” Y/N exclaimed. I could see she grew flustered, her ears burning. 

“What?!” Toph countered, feigning innocence. “Spirits. You two are always dancing around each other.” She continued. “I can’t be the only one that noticed?” 

“There is nothing between me and Zuko. He is my friend.” Y/N stated clearly.

“Sure. If you say so.” She let out a deep breath as she moved her hands up in surrender.

My gaze turned from Y/N to the heavy oak door as it opened. Katara appeared in the doorway. I noticed her immediately across the courtyard. 

“Aang.” I read my name on her lips as she spoke breathlessly. My mind stopped for a heartbeat. I couldn’t think, the air felt thinner. She looked different, and yet completely unchanged in the ways that mattered. The same kind eyes. The same presence that stirred something in me that I thought I had buried months ago. The same look that made me feel both relief and ache in the same breath. I shook my head, dismissing whatever her presence had awakened in me. 

She walked in our direction, I instinctively moved closer to Y/N. I know we decided to keep our distance from each other, but she kept me anchored when all the pain Katara made me feel and all the love we had shared, washed over me. Y/N looked at me moving closer, a small kind smile on her face. 

“Hi Katara.” Y/N mentioned as she stepped forward to greet her old friend. The whole thing looked a bit awkward. The hug not as tight as it once was, the smile not as genuine. I had never told Y/N the real reason we broke up. Of course, I hadn’t. How could I? All Y/N knew was that Katara had broken my heart. 

“Hi Y/N.” She let go of Y/N and then she looked at me. A faint smile touched her lips, though it never reached her eyes. “Hello Aang.” She barely looked me in my eyes. 

“Hi Katara.” I tried to hide all emotions in my voice. 

A heavy tension hung in the air between all of us standing there. 

“How about we help you guys with your supplies?” Sokka tried to cut through the silence with a forced smile. 

“I will help.” Suki added quickly, happy to be able to go anywhere else but here. Y/N gave me a short look, an encouraging smile and she turned away from us too and followed our friends. Toph disappeared to the back of the courtyard, not helping the group unpack but clearly trying to get away from the tension between Katara and me. 

“How have you been?” The question was innocent enough, but it landed heavier than it should have.

“I have been fine.”

“Good.” She said quietly, almost a whisper. “How has your time been at the Air Temples? I heard from Sokka that you were now at the Eastern Air Temple.” I shook my head, not really interested in small talk.

“We should talk.” I said quietly but firmly. Without waiting for a response, I turned and led the way back to the house. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader’s POV

I was carrying a bag with my clothes to the back of the hall. I was bringing my items to my old room. Aang and Katara were alone in the room they had once shared. He was supposed to be telling her that the two of us were getting together; that things had happened between us. Their voices were raised, I could clearly hear anger in their words. 

As I passed I overheard a little snippet of their conversation and it was enough for me to invade their private talk and keep on listening.

‘Is she in love with you?’ Those words had stopped me in my tracks as I made my way down the hallway toward my old bedroom. Since hearing that one question, I haven’t moved. I stood frozen outside the door, staring at nothing in particular, but I was intensely listening. Slowly, I lowered my bag to the floor beside me.

I didn’t even know what I felt for Aang. Was it love? I didn’t think so. I knew what it was like to be hopelessly in love with someone. I knew what it felt like to have your thoughts consumed by a person, to wait for them even when common sense told you not to. What I felt for Aang wasn’t that. Not yet at least. 

But when I thought of him, about the way he made me smile without trying, about how safe I felt around him, I couldn’t deny that my feelings were growing into something deeper than friendship, sheer lust and pure desire. Given enough time, I had no doubt that I would fall in love with him.

“I don’t think she is in love with me. Not yet at least.” Aang now sounded sad, frustrated and confused all at once. “But things are developing and with some more time I think she will be.”

“So our plan is working?” Katara spoke slowly, anger beneath the words spoken.

‘What plan is working?’ I thought to myself.

“Don’t you dare say this is our plan. It was yours!” His tone suddenly harsh and sharp. He was truly mad. He hardly ever raised his voice, only when pure anger took over. 

“You agreed to it.” Katara countered fiercely.

“I did not! You decided to break up with me. I tried to reason with you, but you didn’t give me much of a choice.” I could hear his voice breaking. I could hear his pain. But I just stood there, confused, unable to make sense of what I was hearing. 

“Hi ther…” Sokka approached me, carrying another bag.

“Shhh.” I hissed, signaling with my hands he had to quiet down. 

“What are you doing?” He spoke in the softest whisper I had ever heard from him. I pointed first at my ear and then at the door. He just nodded but looked displeased. I know eavesdropping doesn’t deserve any praise, but I needed to understand what this plan was they kept arguing about and why they were getting so mad at each other and what it all had to do with me. Despite his clear displeasure, he also didn’t move. Instead, he tilted his head, listening intently to the angry words being exchanged.

“You didn’t have to go through with it.” She said, placing strong emphasis on the word have. Her voice was sharp, controlled anger barely holding its shape. She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone softer now, heavy with sadness. “You could have chosen to fight for us. To fight for me.” 

“You made it very clear there was nothing left to fight for!” Aang shot back, his anger still burning. There was no trace of sorrow in his voice. “You told me to do it. You pushed me in Y/N's arms!” His voice rose further, his breath hitched. “Now you don’t get to be mad that I actually found my way to them.” 

Sokka stared at me, disbelief in his eyes. His mouth dropped as he pointed first at me, then toward Aang behind the closed door. I just placed my index finger to my lips, silently urging him to stay quiet. Because whatever was happening beyond the door, Aang still had more to say.

“You suggested I should try to make her fall in love with me.” Aang said, his voice still sharp. “You told me we should use this time together, to grow closer and we should become a couple, so that we…” He stopped. The silence that followed felt endless. I didn’t breathe. I couldn’t. My entire body went still as I waited for the rest of the sentence. I hung on every word he said. My heart hammered against my ribs. I placed my hand on my chest, hoping that would somehow slow it down. ‘So that we… What?!’ The question screamed inside my head. 

It became more and more evident that whatever was growing between me and Aang had been orchestrated since the start of our trip. Something planned; something that had taken shape long before I ever realised I was part of it. Each word felt like a stab to my heart, because every moment we shared now felt staged, it felt like a lie. A big fat lie. Every moment I had thought was real began to fracture. I just didn’t realise that the final twist of that knife in my heart was yet to come. “So that in time,” Aang continued, voice now dangerously low, “Y/N and I could start a family of airbenders.” The last bit of the sentence he stated mockingly. 

I looked at Sokka. We were both frozen, eyes wide, breath caught in our throats. He shook his head in disbelief, as if he tried to reject what he had just heard. Inside me, something shifted; it was not just shock anymore. I just felt anger rising inside me, but I was also paralyzed for a moment. 

“You told me to open my heart to her and try to fall in love with Y/N!” Aang’s voice cut through again, sharp with frustration.

“And have you?” Katara asked softly, as if the answer would break her. Before he could answer, my hand slammed against the door; it bursted open with a violent crack. Silence hit instantly. I stood in the doorway, breath uneven, eyes locked on Aang.

“Y/N?” Aang’s voice cracked the second he saw me. Shock, confusion and something close to fear written all over his face.

“You did what?!” My voice cut through the room. My eyes wide, my expression sharp, jaw locked as my gaze drilled into Aang.

“Y/N, I… I…” He was too stunned and overwhelmed to speak, completely caught off guard. His shoulders dropped, but the tension in his body didn’t leave him; it became tighter. He couldn’t meet my eyes. His gaze kept slipping away, like looking at me directly would make it real. But it was already real, real to me.  

“All these months together… It was just a lie!”

"No!" He blurted out immediately. “It wa…” I cut him off.

“All that lingering around me, being closer to me than you had to be.” I went on, my voice rising; shaking now with something between anger and hurt. “Whispering in my ear. All these innocent touches, your hands on my arms, shoulders, waist, wherever! The tight hugs that were held just a heartbeat too long. Your eyes scanning my body, holding my gaze.” I had to stop for air. My chest was tight, my heart pounding and racing fast as though it could escape my chest at any moment now. “You were doing all of it to build up to us being together! All the kindness and patience you showed me.” My voice was breaking, my hands trembled at my sides. “All of it… You just wanted to get me into your bed!”

“No, really, it…” He tried again, but I wasn’t done yet.

“I gave you everything, every part of me.” I said, quieter now. The anger now collapsing into something far more fragile. “I have been my most vulnerable with you. I let you see parts of me I have never shown anyone… I trusted you with them.” My voice wavered. My breathing was ragged. “I trusted you with all of me.” I felt tears pricking in the corner of my eyes. I didn’t want them to fall, but I couldn’t hold them in any longer. “But it was all part of a plan.” The words barely made it out. And then I truly broke. A sob escaped me before I could stop it; it was raw and sharp. I looked at him with so much sadness, until even the look of him broke me and I looked away. 

He stepped forward. Two strides before I even registered his movement, gaze blurred by my tears and mind clouded with everything I had just heard. He stopped moving when he saw my expression. Anger rose in me again, my hands curled into fists at my side, gaze hardening, pushing the sadness away. 

“Don’t you dare comfort me!” I shouted at him. I felt a storm growing inside me and before I really knew it, the palm of my hand found his cheek. A surprised gasp came from Katara, who until now, had been extremely quiet. I shot her a look and she quickly looked away as if she was afraid to become a part of this moment. I looked back at Aang, he just stood there; an empty shell of the man I knew. The contact of my hand on his cheek hadn’t been hard, no redness appeared, but it had made an impact nonetheless. “Why?” My voice broke on the word, anger being taken over by hurt. “How could you?” I was sobbing now, fully undone. 

He looked as broken as I felt. I was angry, mad, sad, hurt, all at the same time. Tears were now flooding down. All that remained was a void where happiness and joy had once been. 

Then, I felt the tender hands of Sokka coming from behind me as he placed them on my arms. I turned around instantly to face him. I buried my face in his chest and sobbed more, the sound muffled against his shirt as he pulled me in without hesitation. His arms wrapped around me tightly as I fell apart, my tears were caught by his shirt. I felt that he shook his head toward his sister and his friend. 

“Come with me.” He spoke softly. He guided me away from the room, away from them. 

“Y/N.” I heard Aang cry out to me, but I ignored it. I passed Suki and Toph on the way out. I had no idea how long they had been standing there. 

I heard Aang’s footsteps following us into the hallway. 

“Don’t.” Sokka’s voice cut through the hallway. It was sharp, clear and final. It made Aang freeze where he stood. Without loosening his hold on me, Sokka kept his grip steady and gentle as he led me down the hall to my room.

Sokka sat me down on my bed and he joined me. “I am so sorry, Y/N.” He said quietly, his voice low and apologetic, even though he had nothing to be sorry for. “I didn’t know.” His gaze dropped to the floor as he spoke. Then, carefully, he placed a gentle hand on my knees. His way of letting me know he was there for me. 

That was all it took. Before I could stop it, everything came crashing out of me. I buried my face in my hands and sobbed. My whole body was shaking as the pain poured through me without restraint. My breathing was uneven, broken. Getting air got more and more difficult. Something good, something innocent had been ripped out of me. 

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Aang’s POV

I heard her crying in her room. The sounds coming from beyond the door shattered my heart far more than any of the words she had spoken to me. 

I stood at her door for a long moment, my hand hovering over the door handle. Part of me wanted to walk in and tell her everything. I wanted to apologize, to beg for her forgiveness, to pull her in my arms and never let her go. But more than anything, I wanted her to know the truth. Yes, there had once been a plan orchestrated by Katara. A plan neither me or Y/N should have been a part of. But somewhere along the way, everything had changed. 

My feelings for her were real. Every smile she had drawn from me, every conversation that had kept us awake long after midnight, every moment I had spent with her at either temple, in the courtyard training, in the kitchen cooking together, intimate moments in bed; they had all been genuine. What I felt for her had long since grown into something far beyond any plan. 

But no matter how desperately I wanted to tell her that, I wasn’t sure she would believe me anymore. So instead, I slowly slid down until I was sitting on the floor, my knees drawn to my chest, my back resting against her door. I let my own tears fall, silently letting them slip down my cheeks.

On the other side of the door, I could still hear her sobs; broken, uneven, and full of hurt. Each one felt like a knife twisting deeper into my chest. Knowing I was the reason for them made it almost unbearable. I heard Sokka trying to comfort her. Sweet words were spoken to her. I was glad she wasn’t alone, that she had a true friend with her. 

“I am sorry. I am so sorry.” I whispered through my own sobs, though I knew she wouldn’t be able to hear me. 

I sat there for what felt like hours, listening to how over time her sobs grew quieter. Whether she had cried herself to sleep or simply ran out of tears, I didn’t know. I wiped my face and stared down the empty hallway. 

Katara hadn’t left her room, probably seeking refuge from the mess she had helped create. Suki and Toph had heard Y/N shouting at me from the courtyard. After they had entered the house, they had been outside the room listening to every painful word. Neither of them had made a noise. 

When Y/N was unable to say more, Sokka had guided her away from us. I shouted out to her, followed them into the hallway. Suki and Toph kept their distance. Toph had muttered something under her breath before retreating to her room. Suki had lingered for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she too disappeared into her room, leaving me alone in the hallway. 

Slowly I rose, unsteady on my feet. My joints protested after sitting on the cold floor for so long and took one more look at the door. There was nothing left to say. Not tonight. Maybe not ever. My hand brushed against the wood one last time.

“I never meant to hurt you.” I whispered and then I turned away. I walked through the empty hallway, putting more distance between myself and her as I headed toward Zuko’s room. I never had a bedroom of my own in this house. Before, Katara and I had shared a room. And from tonight onward I would have shared Y/N’s room. The thought hit me like a punch to the chest. If none of this had happened, I would have been falling asleep beside her instead of walking away from her. 

But right now, that future was gone, slipping through my fingers before it had even really begun. 

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Reader’s POV

The next morning I woke up early. The sun was only just beginning to peek through the window, its light thin and pale against the room. I wasn’t sure when I had finally fallen asleep. My eyes still heavy, not from sleep but from everything I had cried about the night before. 

A blanket was draped over me, tucked carefully around my shoulders. I blinked slowly, trying to get rid of the heaviness, before my gaze drifted to the side. Sokka was still here. He had fallen asleep in the chair beside the bed, slouched slightly forward, his arms resting loosely in his lap. His head had tipped to one side, like he had only meant to close his eyes for a moment. However he never quite managed to open them again. His neck would surely bother and hurt him when he woke up. 

For a second, I just watched him. The anger from last night still lingered somewhere beneath me. It was dull and distant now, buried under exhaustion, pain and the feelings of betrayal. 

Carefully, I shifted under the blanket. The movement must have been enough. Sokka stirred almost immediately. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, before snapping to me. 

“You are awake.” He said quietly, straightening a little in the chair; moving his head from left to right and placing a hand at the back of his neck. A little grunt escaped him as his neck cracked loud enough for me to hear it. 

I didn’t answer him right away. My throat felt tight. I was… empty.  Outside, the morning light crept a little further into the room, birds were singing; as if nothing had changed at all. 

We were both startled when we heard a knock at the door. 

“It’s Suki.” She spoke as she opened it, peaking through the opening. She looked distraught; her expression was tight and unsettled. She showed us a rolled up letter. “The hawk just arrived.” I recognized the seal straight away; Zuko's. My eyes caught the black ribbon that was carefully wrapped around the parchment. A black ribbon meant trouble. Both Sokka and I were immediately fully awake.

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Next chapter: Beneath the Shattered Earth

A/N: As stated before... I dreaded this chapter. This confrontation had been part of my outline for the story from the very first chapter. But writing it was tough. I have grown to love their relationship. So honestly this chapter was quite painful. We also don't really get a break, because a mission is awaiting the team.

If you want to be added to the taglist, just let me know!

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Aang’s POV

“Appa, yip yip.” I wanted to leave as quickly as possible. I wanted to create distance between us and the group, between me and Katara. I wanted the sky to swallow me up, for the clouds to hide me from the world. I could hear Y/N shooting another bye, whilst I was urging Appa to take us higher and higher. 

“Come on boy, take us away from here.” Tears were forming again. 

“I can’t believe we are actually on our way. After all these years, I am finally on my way to visit a new Air Temple.” Y/N was scooting closer to me, coming from the edge of the saddle to Appa’s head now that our friends were out of sight. 

“I want to see where you used to play airball, where you meditated. I want to fly around the temple. And - Oh - I really want to see the Avatar Statue Sanctuary. Am I even allowed in there?” There was an abundance of joy in her voice. I felt bad that I couldn’t reciprocate it with the same enthousiasm. Not only could I not reciprocate her joy, I was feeling numb, I was empty, I was feeling nothing but sadness. 

“Hey.” No longer was she filling the sky with happiness. She was now right behind me and she noticed. Of course she noticed, she always did. “What’s the matter?” I didn’t dare speak, afraid my voice would fail me. I also didn’t dare turn around, anxious to show her my tears. 

She placed her hand on my shoulder, her touch soft but deliberate; if I wasn’t going to respond to words, then she made sure I was going to respond to her touch. She slowly turned my shoulder in her direction. She wasn’t forcing it, but she was very consciously making me face her. I gradually moved with her, head still down. Her hand left my shoulder, only to reach for my wet cheek, then to my chin so she could lift my head up. My gaze cautiously meeting hers.

“Oh Aang.” Next thing I knew she sat beside me on Appa’s head and wrapped me in her arms. Her embrace felt tender and safe. And before I knew it and without my own permission I was clasping onto her, sobbing in the crook of her neck. Letting it all out what I was bottling up inside, all the emotions I had tried to hide. And Y/N just held me, soothingly she moved her hands up and down over my back, never letting go. She wasn’t trying to make me believe everything was going to be fine. No 'It will be okay' or 'It is going to be alright'. She just let me be for some time, before she finally spoke. 

“Some pain is too deep for words. Crying is a way for your eyes to speak what your mouth can’t yet explain." She let her words land before she spoke again. "So just let your tears fall and trust that after some time you can finally speak the words out loud.” Words carefully chosen, but they hit their target; it immediately softened everything. I could breathe again, the sobs were gone and the tears weren’t streaming down anymore. I released my grip on her, I hadn’t even realised I had the back of her shirt clutched in my fist. She too let me go. I saw I had left a wet patch on her shoulder, where I had buried my face in. I felt so small, but I also felt seen. 

“Thank you.” I simply stated. She gave me a small smile, filled with compassion. However, it was written all over her face that she would like an explanation, just so that she could try and fix it. But she never pried or assumed to know what the cause of my pain was and I was grateful for that. 

For a good while we sat in silence next to each other. She had waited for me to speak. Waited to see if I was ready to talk. But I wasn’t just yet. And when she realised that and when she was certain I was calm again, she stood up. Giving me space to process all my emotions by myself. The pain still there, but I felt slightly lighter. She reached for one of our bags, retrieving a flask filled with water. No words spoken, just a simple nudge at my arm to get my attention. She offered me a sip first. I gladly accepted, not realising how dry my throat had gotten. I offered her a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes. She gave me a small smile in return, one that did meet her eyes. Surely she knew I was grateful. I wasn’t just grateful for the offering of water, but I was grateful for her, her wise words, her presence, her safe and loving embrace from earlier, her not prying, her understanding of what I needed. 

We flew until the sun was slowly setting, before I told Appa to land on a patch of no man’s land. There was lush green grass for Appa to eat. There were trees filled with apples and to provide shade for the warm sun that would come out again tomorrow morning. The moment we landed Momo flew to the trees and had the first apple in his little claws. Appa was roaring at him and Momo threw some apples in his direction. 

Y/N was unloading our sleeping bags and the bags with provision whilst I was setting up camp. After she handed me some wooden blocks, I created a fire. A source of warmth we would need now that the temperatures would drop a bit in the night, but also to heat up the food. Then with earth bending I created something that would represent two tents. 

“I wouldn’t mind sleeping under the stars tonight.” She spoke as she looked up to the sky. “There are hardly any clouds and if it stays this clear we should be able to see so many constellations.” In response to her words and in agreement with what was said, I let the two tents disappear again. They seemingly had never been there. She chuckled, which made me smile in return. 

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Reader’s POV

It was the first real smile from him I had seen since this morning, since before his talk with Katara. I didn’t know or understand what was going on and I desperately wanted to know. I wanted to help, I wanted to fix it. But I understood that whatever happened, it was something he had to progress himself first. Our friendship was strong enough that I trusted him to tell me when he was ready to. 

I got some food out of the bags, a pot over the fire to heat up our dinner. I filled two cups with water and handed them to Aang. He looked unsure of what to do.

“Can you heat them up? Then I can make us some tea.” He understood and he let the warmth from his palms heat up the water. Zuko left us with a little woven bag filled with herbs and leaves, given to him by Iroh for us. It was apparently a brew to keep us warm on the colder nights. Even though during the day the sun was still warm in late summer, it chilled down more and more as soon as it hid itself behind the horizon.  

With the cup of tea in my hand, I looked west towards the setting sun. In the distance we could see outline of the Fire Nation and I thought of Zuko. He wouldn’t have yet reached his home, since the journey by airship would take at least a whole day, but he was on his way there. I shifted my gaze to the sky and it was filled with layers of different colors. Deep shades of orange and red melted with the few clouds that were in return colored in a soft pink and peach. Near the horizon the sun was setting lower and lower with each passing minute. As daylight slowly disappeared, we sat in silence. Enjoying our warm tea, the heath from the fire and the display of all the colors in the sky. 

Nautical twilight set in when we started eating our dinner. My stomach was happy to get some substance, but Aang barely ate. After he eventually finished his bowl of veggie noodles, we were almost completely surrounded by darkness.

Next to me Aang signed deeply. I could feel the emotions it carried. Sometimes the strongest messages are the ones not spoken. I could feel his pain. He stared into the flames without speaking. Right now, the campfire was the primary source of light. The campfire flickered softly across his face. His eyes looked heavy and distant. He looked lost in his memories; memories that hurt too much for him to share. His hands started trembling, making him place his the latest cup of tea down on the floor. He took a long breath as he struggled to find the words. The silence around us grew heavy, merely broken by the sound of his uneven breathing and the crackling sounds of the fire. I did not dare to make a noise or even shift my own position next to him. 

“Katara.” It was all he said, maybe it was all he was able to say. His voice broken and strained. 

“You don’t have to say anything you don’t yet want to share.” I placed a hand on his knee, simply letting him know I was here for him. Momo flew from Appa’s back and landed on the other side of Aang. 

“Hi Momo.” Aang stated as he gave a quick pet on his head, his gaze didn’t leave the dancing flames of the fire. 

I was afraid of the news he was going to share. Because I simply couldn’t believe his pain was caused by being parted from her for a long time. Sure, our travel plans were extensive, but it is not as though they have not spent time apart before. So surely this was bigger than just being separated from each other. 

“She broke up with me.” It was the news I had feared, but hearing the conformation still hit in a way I didn’t expect. I also didn't really know what to say. I had always imagined them to be together forever. After the war was over, there was finally room for feelings to be expressed and they had always seemed happy to be in each other’s presence. They grew up together, grew into the people they are today and I just always thought they would grow old together. 

“I am so sorry, Aang.” It was all I could say. 

“She also gave me the most dumbfounded reason.” I looked at him, he sounded mad. Hoping he would continue, but he didn’t.

“That must hurt a lot.” His hands still trembling whilst he rested them on his lap. I moved to reach for his hands. Linking my fingers through the hand nearest to me, squeezing his hand. I just held his hand in mine, while he let some tears escape from his eyes.

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Aang’s POV

The next morning I woke up to the first rays of sunshine. The soft rays gently pushed back the darkness. Then, warm colors began to unfold, the same pink and peach colors we saw last night returned and started blending into a variety of rich tones of orange. 

As the sun lifted higher, the light grew stronger, spilling its rays over the land and enveloping everything in its warmth. I breathed in the fresh air and somehow I felt a little lighter than I did the night before. 

Y/N was still asleep. She looked peaceful, her face relaxed, her chest rising and falling at a consistent and steady pace. I smiled at the sight, but I was also envious of her still being free from the weight of emotions. I turned to my back, looking back up to the sky. Birds were flying through my line of sight. On my left side, Appa was still quiet, Momo was out of sight, probably sleeping on Appa’s back. The sky was bright, some clouds adding more texture to the blue canvas. I heard some movement to my right. Y/N had woken up and with the sleep still in her eyes she looked at me and smiled.

“Good morning.” She quietly spoke, her voice still hoarse, but also ever so gentle. 

“Good morning.” I smiled back at her. “Slept well?”

“Yes. It felt like old times.” She stretched her arm up in the air. “Falling asleep under the stars and waking up to the sound and sight of birds flying, feeling the warmth of the sunshine. I actually missed this.” I hummed in agreement. Sleeping under the stars brought back memories of years past, but it also reminded me of Katara. I shook my head, trying to erase the thoughts. 

I opened my sleeping bag and jumped up, making myself do something to evade the memories. I walked over to Appa, he had woken up by now as well. I gave his face a big hug. I shooted up into the sky, landing on a branch and getting some apples. I threw one to Momo, one to Y/N who was now sitting up straight in her sleeping bag. Both of them simply catching it. Then I laid a few in front of Appa and I kept one for myself, taking a big bite out of it when my feet were back on the ground.

“How did you sleep?” The question was simple enough, but my answer wasn’t. 

“It took me a while to fall asleep, my mind going everywhere and nowhere all at once.” I answered in all honesty. “But at some point exhaustion took hold of me.” Factually that statement was also true, but the full truth I kept to myself. 'Once I focused on your steady breathing I found myself being able to relax and drift away, letting exhaustion overcome me.'

“We should pack our bags so we can continue our journey to the Air Temple.” I continued so that for now there was no room anymore for further questions. She wanted to ask more, but the comment of us continuing our journey made her smile. She got up immediately and started rolling up her sleeping bag.  Not much later, there was no evidence that there was ever a campsite here. We hopped on Appa and I took the reins. Today we would fly all day, with a few stops obviously for Appa to rest and tomorrow we would reach the Southern Air Temple. 'Tomorrow I will be home again.'

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Next chapter: The Bones Of The Mountain

A/N: Thanks again for reading! I received so many kindhearted and sweet messages. That really means a lot to me. So thank you!

I personally can't wait for the next chapter!

I will try to upload the next chapter before this coming weekend. I am going on a week long holiday. So I highly, highly doubt that I will be able to write and post anything during that time.

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Aang’s POV

I was confused. It had been three days since Y/N and I had laid in bed together, since we had kissed for the first time, since we had explored each other's body. I had felt the pleasure rushing through her, heard the moans that were escaping her. But she had stopped me. Even though it was agonizing for me, I had respected it. Of course, I had respected it. But I had expected that there would be something more between us; not in the way of taking a next step, because I would wait as long as needed for her to be ready. But I had at least expected for us to grow closer together. 

Maybe she was just shy, not a side I really knew of her. But to be fair that morning I had gotten to know her in an entirely different way. After she had stopped me, I had excused myself and went to my bathroom. After I had gotten back she already had her shirt back on and she was sitting at the edge of the bed. She looked a bit lost in her thoughts. I walked over to her and sat next to her. She avoided my gaze and she apologised. ‘What for?’ I had asked her. ‘I don’t really know. I am just sorry.’ She confessed. ‘Don’t be.’ I bumped her arm with my own, trying to lift the tension a bit. ‘Truly, don’t be. I liked it.’ I said more seriously now. ‘Did you like it?’ I was anxious for her response, afraid it might be a rejection. A shy smile appeared on her face and she nodded faintly but firmly. A quiet smile escaped from my lips. 

Once we were down again together, prepping some breakfast - given the time of day I could better say lunch - I had kissed her. She had reciprocated the kiss, but not with the same enthusiasm as before. Every kiss and every touch since then has felt like that. I gave her some room, I gave her time to process whatever she was feeling, process what had happened between us. 

But at dinner on the third day I felt like we had to talk. Everything was well between us. We were still laughing, training, working, meditating, cooking, and living together like before. But maybe that was the problem. It seemed like nothing had changed, even though, for me at least, everything had changed. 

I was playing with the food in my bowl. She sat on a cushion on the opposite side of the table, telling me something Momo had done today.

“Y/N.” I interrupted her, my voice low and sad. I looked at her and I couldn’t hide my heartache. “We need to talk.” She put her bowl down. The words I needed to say weighted me down; afraid of her reaction. But we had to talk, the words had to be spoken out loud and despite what her reaction would be, I deserved to know. “Do you regret it?”

“What?” She questioned, not fully sure of what I meant.

“Do you regret it?” I simply repeated it. “Do you regret what we did?” I wanted to look at her, but I was afraid of what I might see.

“Why do you say that?” Her voice soft.

“Because I feel as though you do.” And there it was. The thing I feared most right now. I was afraid she didn’t feel the same way. That she had always just wanted to remain friends, that I had crossed a line I couldn’t come back from, that the feelings I had developed for her over time needed to be tucked away again. 

“Aang.” The sound of my name so sweet as it left her lips. “Aang, look at me.” I slowly looked up to see she was now sitting next to me. I had been so lost in my own thoughts that I hadn’t even noticed she got up, moved around the table and was now by my side. Her eyes kind, her expression almost endearing. She reached out to me, cupped the side of my face. She moved closer. Her lips touched mine, she kissed me slowly at first. Then she leaned in more, the hand on my cheek moved to the back of my neck and she pulled me closer to her. She nudged her tongue against my lower lip; asking for permission to enter. Our tongues were dancing again. Both her arms now around my neck, her chest was pressed against my side. Her hand roaming my shoulder blades. It transported me back to that morning. She broke the kiss, moved away from me ever so slightly. “Does that answer your question?” A coy smile tugged at her lips. I returned it with a small smile of my own, but in truth, it wasn’t enough. 

“No, it actually doesn’t.” I shook my head slightly. ”It doesn’t explain your behavior since it happened. I felt like you weren’t really there. It felt as if you were moving away from me more than that you grew closer to me. It felt as though you pretended nothing had happened. And a kiss, even as nice as this one, doesn’t explain any of it.”

“Aang, I was confused. You have been my friend, just my friend, for so long. And now I have been having all these feelings I can’t really describe. I laid in your arms, we kissed. You have seen my bare chest, you have touched me in a way I didn’t know was possible.” She paused, her eyes quickly darting all around the room, but not meeting my eyes. “You asked me that morning if I had ever been touched.” A deep breath. “I hadn’t even been kissed.” My eyes widened in disbelief.

“You haven’t?”

“No Aang. When did I have the time to do that?” She sounded a bit frustrated and the frustration became more and more feelable as she continued. “I was still a kid when I joined you on your journey, I have followed you around everywhere, I have been with you and the group ever since. Apart from the few times I went back home to see my parents and that one time that I spent several weeks with Zuko at the palace.” She was still agitated. 

“I am sorry.” I raised my hands in surrender. “No need to get all defensive. I just figured that something had happened when you weren’t with the group. Or when you were, but just none of us knew.” 

“Oh… Yeah, because I am the best secret keeper of the group.” She huffed.

“No. No, you are not.” A breathless chuckle escaped me. She stopped for a second to control her breathing.

“When did I have time to find someone that mattered enough to me and I mattered enough to them, to let them kiss me.” She spoke softer now. 

“I didn’t know. I just assumed. You are a pretty girl… I have seen guys turn their head when you walk by.” I confessed. 

“None of those guys mattered.” 

“And I do matter?”

“Yes. Yes, of course you do.” I smiled, fully this time. 

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Reader’s POV

I had told Aang that no one had mattered to me enough that I wanted to be kissed by them. Truth is, I had found someone that mattered a long time ago. Someone that mattered more than anyone. I just didn’t matter to him; not like that anyway. Sure we had shared our shallow feelings to each other, I had even written things to him that were deeper than just shallow.

I had once thought, when I stayed with him at the palace, that I had mattered to him like that. But that was probably just more wishful thinking on my part and a vivid imagination. 

‘It is a beautiful night.’ He spoke as he joined me on a bench in the garden. The sky was clear and dark. The stars were shining bright. The moon hung low above the trees, its light shining through the leaves and onto the pond in front of me. The waters gently lapped against the stones on the edge. For a moment neither of us spoke, we just enjoyed the quiet. 

There was no one in the garden but us. Only a handful of servants and guards were still in the palace behind us; everyone else had either gone home, or had returned to their quarters. 

‘I am really proud of you.’ 

‘What? Why is that?” The words hit me unexpectedly. 

‘You were amazing today when you presented your proposal to the court.’

‘It was our proposal.’

‘Yes, but the way you spoke… You made them listen to you. Trust me, that is not always easy. Especially for an outsider.’

‘I am an outsider now, am I?’

‘Not to me, of course. You are more ‘in’ than anyone.’ He scratched the back of his neck as he smiled timidly. ‘I meant you are an outsider to the court.’ I looked at him, he was slightly flustered. 

‘Well, we made a good proposal. They would be foolish not to listen.’ I chuckled contentedly. 

‘I am also sorry I missed dinner.’ His tone apologetic. 

‘Don’t be. I understand that you are busy.’ My tone gentle, but the truth was that I did miss him at dinner whenever he couldn’t join. It had become a sort of tradition. We would sit down, joined by his mother Ursa, her husband Noren and Zuko’s sister Kiyi. During all these weeks, I had truly felt like I became part of his family. But tonight, it had been just the four of us. It was still a pleasant meal, accompanied by lots of laughter and lively conversation - mostly from Kiyi - but I couldn’t stop glancing at the empty seat at the top of the table, the seat next to me. 

‘I still am sorry. I promised you when you arrived that I would make as much time as I could to spend time with you. And this is the second dinner this week I have missed.’

‘You are here now.’ I moved closer to him and in that moment it felt right to give his hand nearest to mine a gentle squeeze. 

He responded instantly. My touch only lasted a heartbeat, afraid that more would make feelings rise inside me. But before my hand had returned to me, he had turned his around, palm now facing up and he closed his fingers around my wrist. Then he let them slide down and intertwined his fingers with mine. He moved closer, so our shoulders were nearly brushing against one another, our hands resting in his lap.  

A warm rush spread through me so suddenly that it stole the air from my lungs. My heart fluttered wildly and furiously; impossible to calm down. I had imagined what it might feel like to hold his hand. I had wondered about it during quiet moments together; when both of our hands were close to each other while leaning on balcony railings or tables. I had always figured his hands would be rougher, given that they could hold, create and eliminate flames. But his hands were far gentler and softer than I could have imagined. 

Having our fingers intertwined, resting on his lap had felt so natural. As though we had done this a million times before, that it was something our hands already knew without needing experience. 

The warmth of his touch was intoxicating, it seeped deeply into my skin and it made my heart burn as well. 

I kept my eyes fixed ahead, afraid that if I looked at him, he would see every feeling written openly across my face. Excitement rushed through me like how fire should live within a firebender; bright and alive. But beneath it, there was something softer growing, something deeper than the fleeting thrill of just being near him and holding his hand. 

I have liked him so much, for so long. And he doesn’t even know. The thought made my heart beat faster; it was still small enough to deny, still fragile enough I could hide it away. But when his thumb brushed absentmindedly across the back of my hand, warmth spreading where he touched me, those feelings swelled quietly; growing harder and harder to ignore. 

I had been able to hold my gaze forward all this time, but when his thumb started making those circular motions, I looked at him with surprise. He was already looking at me and my breath caught when I finally met his eyes. For a moment, everything faded away; the busyness of the day, the missed dinners, the meetings we had to prepare for our proposal, the palace, the garden, the pond. It was just us.

He was closer now than before. He was close enough that I could see the hesitation in his eyes, like there was a quiet conflict growing inside of him or like he was standing on the edge of something he wasn’t sure he was allowed to step into. 

I stayed absolutely still. I even held my breath. Afraid that anything would break this moment. 

He leaned in first. Slowly and carefully, the shift in his body barely even visible. We were so close that I could feel his warmth, more than ever before. I could almost imagine what it would be like if the distance disappeared entirely.

But then he stopped. He pulled back completely, his fingers let go of mine. The distance between us was respectable again. He didn’t look at me, he turned around and looked at the guard who was approaching us. I was so lost in the moment I hadn’t heard his footsteps. But Zuko did and as a result, there was again an empty space between us. 

He had wished me goodnight as he left with the guard who seemed to have something important to discuss. The next morning Zuko acted as though nothing had happened. Just several days later I was supposed to leave again, having finished the final tasks of my stay. During that time he kept a respectable distance between us. He was never cold, always friendly and amicable, but more from afar. We never spoke of that night again. 

Since my feelings for Zuko arose all these years ago, we were still teenagers, he was the only one that mattered. I had kept my distance from everyone else, because I didn’t want anyone else. 

But ever since it was just me and Aang, ever since that training session, ever since all those innocent touches started, ever since he came just a little closer to me than necessary, the desire of wanting to be touched, kissed, aroused had clouded my mind. Aang was willing to give me all of that and I didn’t want to keep waiting on the small chance that anything might ever happen between me and Zuko. 

So when I told him he mattered to me, I kissed him again. I was glued to his side. He uncrossed his legs, so his legs were now straight as he still sat on the cushion. He wrapped an arm around my waist and he was trying to move me. But I couldn’t get any closer. He broke away from me, our foreheads still touching. I looked at him a bit confused.

“Come sit on me.” He whispered breathlessly. I eased my body and let him guide me. One leg swung over him, knees at both of his sides and I let my body weight rest on his lap. He kissed me hungrily, more so than he had ever done before. Our tongues weren’t dancing anymore, it felt more that there was a fight going on. His hands roamed my body, never staying in the same place for long. But with every embrace or touch he pulled me impossibly closer to him. 

I didn’t give my body permission to react, but it did anyway. Sounds escaped me, a throbbing feeling burned between my legs and before I could even register it, my hips moved against his abdomen. He responded with a deep groan. Whilst my hips had moved I felt something hard on him; something that twitched at the contact.

He moved his hands underneath my shirt, one hand resting between my shoulder blades, the other cupped and squeezed my breast. He started nibbling on my earlobe, I had never known that it was so sensitive. I hissed at the sensation. He hummed contentedly whilst he was now trailing kisses on my neck, sucking at the skin ever so slightly; not enough to leave marks. 

Both his hands now moved to my thighs that straddled his lap. One hand was moving up and down on my leg and touching my butt cheek, slightly squeezing it. The other came closer and closer to where I felt the throbbing sensation between my legs. He put a little bit of pressure on my trousers. Enough for me to feel his touch. I felt things stir inside me, tension building, something burning from within, sounds wanting to escape my lips. It was the same sensation I had felt before, when Aang had touched me in his bed. I felt a flush of embarrassment wash over me. I broke away from him. “Stop, please.” 

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Aang’s POV

I tried not to groan at her words or look discontent or express any form of disappointment. I let my arms fall down my sides and I watched as she stood up. Her face all flustered. She looked embarrassed for some reason. 

“Sorry.” And she walked away in the direction of the garden. My own erection painfully throbbing beneath my trousers. I swallowed deeply before I got up. I left the bowls on the table, not bothering to clean up and I went upstairs to my room. There on the edge of the bed, with my trousers down, I moved up and down my pulsing and aching erection. My movements rapid and deliberate. Soon I felt my release wash over me, cum escaping from my length. I shuddered as I tried to control my heavy breathing. 

I went to find her after all that build up tension had left my body. She was still in the garden. Arms wrapped around herself as she took in the chill air.

“Please don’t get sick again.” I chuckled as I moved to close the distance.

“I am sorry.” She said when I was near her. I was now behind her and bowed down slightly. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her flush against me and I placed my head on her shoulder. I shared my warmth with her.

“Don’t be sorry.”

“Well, I am. I know you want more.” I tilted my head slightly, so I could look at her face.

“We will get there, when we get there.” I placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “There is no rush.” Another kiss. “You set the pace.” One more peck. “And I will follow.” She turned her head so that she was looking at me; a small curve tugged at the corners of her mouth, which in return made me smile. This time I placed a tender kiss on her lips. We both gazed up, looking at the clear sky. Some clouds covered the dark canvas that was lit with stars. I pointed out a few constellations as we scanned the beautiful night sky. We talked about the normal things again, every sense of possible tension had left our bodies. We were just ourselves again.

“May I ask something?” My tone a bit more serious than during our light conversations about the stars.

“Of course.” She tilted her head so she could look at my expression, which was probably displaying some hesitation.

“You can say no.” I paused, she kept her gaze fixated on me. When I didn’t continue, she spoke.

“Okay, noted. What is your question?” She sounded curious.

“I was wondering… If you might stay with me… tonight?” She looked surprised by my request, even a little caught off guard. I moved around her, so I could properly look at her and show her my intentions were pure. “Nothing needs to happen. That is not why I am asking it.” I was stumbling over my own words. “I don’t want anything from you. I just would like you to be there.” I explained. “I would like to wake up next to you. So you are the first thing I see when I open my eyes.” A shy smile appeared on her face.

“Okay.” It was a simple reply, but it meant so much to me. She reached up, slightly standing on her tiptoes, as she placed a playful, but innocent peck on my lips. 

That night we slept in my room. I kept my word. I hadn’t touched her, other than having my arm wrapped around her as she laid with her head on my torso again.

The following night was similar to the previous night. I had placed some kisses on her face, the last one on her nose, before we laid still and drifted into a sweet slumber. 

On the third night we slept in her room. She had instigated a deep kiss that led to her touching my bare chest and my hands roaming her body. For a moment it had felt like she was ready for more. It felt as though there was arousal growing between us. So my touches became bolder as she had pressed her body flush on mine and her hands were moving so much more naturally on my chest, shoulders, arms, back. I had instinctively moved my hand back to the space between her legs. And just when I thought she was going to let me tug at the waistband of her trousers, she stopped me again. I apologised for overstepping, gave her a reassuring kiss and I excused myself; telling her I had to use the bathroom and letting her know I would be right back. I returned to my own room to once again get my own release, before I returned to her. I picked up the sheets and jumped in her bed. I kissed her once more, before I pulled her close to me, listening to her steady breathing as I fell asleep. 

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Reader’s POV

Light peaked through the window of my room as I woke up. I was laying on my side, knees slightly angled. I felt a strong arm around me and his body pressed behind me, exactly following my posture. There was no space between us. Aang was often the one awake first. But this time it seemed that he was still asleep. The way he was holding me, I couldn’t really turn around enough to look at his face. His breathing was steady, but still, I couldn’t quite tell.

To see if he was awake, I moved my body a little. The only movement I could really do, while pressed together, was to dip down slightly. Meaning my lower body would dip slightly and touch his lower abdomen and upper legs. No sound escaped from him, but I did feel something twitch beneath me as I dipped. So I did it a second time. And there it was again, he was responding to my touch. This time he did make a noise. Although, it was more of a groan. 

“Good morning.” His voice heavy with sleep, deeper than I had ever heard it before. He pressed a little kiss on my shoulder.

“Aang. What is that?” 

“What?”

“That.” I said as I made the same movement for the third time. He moved away from me, his body no longer pressed flush against mine.

“That… that is me.” He said a bit shaky and almost apologetic, like he had been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to do. “That is my body’s involuntary reaction to you being so close to me.”

“That’s because of me?” I asked in disbelief. 

“Ohhh, yes.” He laughed breathlessly.  “You have that power over me.”

“And that just happens when I am near?” I asked curiously.

“Well, I have some control over it. But not when I am asleep.” I turned around to face him, he was still on his side, his somewhat embarrassed gaze met my eyes.

“May I touch it?” The question left me before I really knew what I had asked for.

“Y-y… yes.” He stuttered. “Y-you may.” He was clearly taken by surprise. 

I moved my hand down until I came across a big bulge that I could easily feel underneath the fabric of his trousers. He winced.

“Did I hurt you?” I quickly retracted my hand.

“No, no.” He started. “Well, yes and no.” He paused again. “I have wanted this for so long, feeling your touch there. Trust me, it feels pleasant, thrilling even. But it is also very sensitive.” I moved my hand back towards the place it had just rested on. I was touching him carefully. My hand traced the bulge up and down. He exhaled slowly, a sound of pleasure escaping him.

“Can I be touched down there as well?” I curiously asked him, moving my gaze from his lower body to mine.

“Yes. Yes you can.” He sounded as though there was excitement rushing through him. “And to be fair, I have tried several times. But you always stop me.” He followed my gaze before he looked at me again. “Why do you stop me?” He asked bluntly, before he quickly reframed it. “I don’t mean to rush you. Because if you are not ready, I will wait. I will wait as long as you need me to.” He let his words hang in the room for a moment. “But do you know why you stop me?” I felt awkward, embarrassed, heat moved to the back of my neck and my cheeks.

“I… I…” Not really knowing how to say it, explain to him what the reason was. I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, trying to find the courage to speak the words. I exhaled deeply. Aang’s gaze on me, not pushing or prying, just waiting. “Every time your hand lands there,” my eyes darted down again, “I feel this sensation in my body that I don't quite have the words for to explain. Everything gets warm and tense. I feel like I am about to lose control. I feel like I am about to… about to scream.” I let the words escape me as the heat at my neck and cheeks rose even more. I looked at him. He was grinning; a proud smile on display. “Why are you looking so smug? Are you happy about how embarrassed I feel?”

“No, no! Absolutely not.” He quickly stated, but not being able to subdue the proud smile. “But I am quite proud of the fact that you feel like you want to scream.”

“This is not funny Aang.” I buried my face in my hands. He was quick to remove them again and hold them tightly in his.

“No it is not.” He said softly. “But you can’t blame me for enjoying hearing the effect I apparently have on you.” He moved our hands to his lip and he placed a gentle kiss on both my hands before he looked at me again. “So, if I understand correctly, you feel embarrassed in that moment?”

“Yes.” I looked away.

“Vulnerable even?” His voice so soft, it was more of a whisper now.

“Yes.” I quietly and faintly nodded.

“But does it also not feel good?”

“Good?” I looked at him with surprise. “What? No… I-I don’t know.” I stumbled over my own words and emotions. “I have only ever really felt embarrassed.” I confessed. 

“There is absolutely no need for that. I understand, but truly there is no need.” Another kiss on my hand.

“Did Katara scream when you touched her?” He grimaced at her name.

“What… I… I… Uhm…” His jaw tightened and his whole body stiffened and then he sighed. “How about we leave her out of this conversation.”

“I just want to know, Aang. I don’t know any of this and I feel like an idiot not knowing anything.”

“I would like to focus on you and your feelings. I like to focus on us. What our reaction is to each other. You already felt how my body reacts to you.” He tilted his head to his lower body. “And I would like to know what your reaction is to me.” His focus back on me. “What you were describing, the sensation you feel when I touch you, that you don’t have the words for. The feeling of losing control, the fact that you want to scream, it is your body being close to its… release.”

“Release?” 

“Yes, the arousal you are feeling within your core, it needs to go somewhere.” He explained. “That is your release. And if that feeling makes you want to scream, you should scream.” He paused for a second, choosing the words he wanted to use. “I understand that it might feel embarrassing at first, but it is supposed to feel good. It is supposed to bring you pleasure.” He moved so he was closer to me. “So next time you feel the urge to stop me… Well, no. You should still stop me when you feel I go too far… But please don’t stop me just because you feel embarrassed of how your body reacts. Because I would like to make you feel good about it.”

“How?” It was a simple question, but it was layered with so much more. 

“What?”  

“How?” I repeated. “Tell me what you would do to me.”

“I can just show you.” He moved closer, his arms already moving.

“No. Tell me first.” He stopped immediately. 

“Okay.” He sat up next to me as he cleared his throat. “Well, if you were to let me, I would take off your clothes. Discard you of your trousers and panties. So that you would be fully exposed to me.” He let the words linger for a moment. I already felt heat rising in me. “Have you ever touched yourself down there?” He asked curiously, but with a lot of sincerity. I averted my gaze again, feeling another rush of embarrassment coming over me.

“No, I haven't.” I sighed. “Like I said, I don't know anything. I wouldn't know what to do.”

“That’s okay. I will guide you through it.” He stated kindly and patiently, before he continued where he had left off. “When you are exposed to me, my hands will slowly make their way down there.” He looked down to the area he was referring to. “There is a little nob.”

“A nob?” I frowned faintly. 

“Yes, a little nob between your walls. It is sensitive. Touching it would make you feel things, such as arousal building up.” A short pause, giving me space to question him, but I just looked at him intently wanting him to continue. “I could brush over it, roll it between my fingers. I could even put my mouth on it and suck on it or lick it.” 

“Your face down there?” My eyes squinted, my brows furrowed. 

“Yes, I could… If you would want me to.” He gave me a cheeky smile, and he continued again. “After touching that little nob, my fingers would go down to your entrance.”

“My entrance?” I again required more information.

“Yes, a… hole… a place for me to enter your body.”

“With your fingers?”

“Yes… Well…, yes. In the current situation I am describing, with my fingers.” It seemed like he wanted to say more, so I gave him a little curious nod for him to proceed. “Well, it could also be with my tongue or just… me.” He looked a bit awkward, thus he quickly resumed his story. “But we will get to that at another time. Let’s just for now focus on my fingers.” I watched his hands and fingers closely as he was moving them and making gestures. “I would first put one finger in. And after some time, a second and maybe even a third.”

“How big is this entrance?” I asked quite shockingly. 

“It will gradually move with me, if you let it.” He clarified. “I will push my finger or fingers in and out of you. It will create tension. It should, hopefully, arouse you. I will move deeper inside you, looking for the spot that brings you the most pleasure.” He kept his gaze on me, it seemed that his eyes had gotten darker by only thinking of what he would do to me. And to be fair, I had trouble controlling the desire that brewed inside me, the throbbing feeling I experienced as he explained the things he could do to me. “And then when you let yourself and I am doing it right, you might feel your muscle tense up, or your body move involuntarily. You might feel something tightening in your core, something that, as you said it, makes you want to scream. And when it does, you should let it. I understand that it could make you feel vulnerable, but please, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed or awkward, because it is natural.” He emphasized his last word. “It is something I hope you will like. That the sensation pleasures you, that it feels good.” 

“You asked if I ever touched myself?”

“Yes.”

“That implies that I could do this to myself. By myself?”

“Well, yes. You could use your own fingers to do all of that. Is that what you want? To feel yourself first…alone?”

“No. I want you to show me.” 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aang’s POV

I had eased her into it. I started by slowly kissing her. Touching her in all the places I had already touched her before. She had lifted her arms, as I took off her shirt. I kissed, wettened  and caressed her skin. But now my fingers were grazing the waistband of her trousers. I looked down at her, whilst I was on my knees by her feet.

“Do you trust me?” 

“I do.” 

I gently slipped my finger underneath the fabric and slowly pulled it down. I looked up and I received a small affirmative nod. She lifted her hips slightly so they weren’t laying on the mattress anymore, giving me room to move her trousers down further. My hand brushed over her panties. I still wanted to give her the time and space to change her mind as I stopped for a second. But instead she lifted her hips again, a clear signal I could continue. Once I discarded them, threw them next to her trousers on the floor, I looked at her from where I was perched on my knees. 

I started at the top; taking in the way her tousled hair framed around her face, before my gaze settled on her eyes, I could see uncertainty and vulnerability seep through them, but it was softened by the quiet determination beneath. Then my eyes lowered to her neck, her chest and her breast. She was taking in deep, rapid breaths. I looked down to her belly button, her toned abdomen before my eyes finally rested on the place between her legs. 

“You look beautiful.” I whispered breathlessly. She got flustered. I lowered my body to her, my chest bare, but my trousers still on. I placed my arms at either side of her face and one knee between her legs, hovering over her. I kissed her deeply before I made any other move. My kiss earned me a moan against my lips. Then slowly, when her body was more relaxed, I moved my right arm away from the side of her face where it had been resting. I placed it on her knee and there it trailed upwards patiently. My fingers barely grazed her skin. When I reached between her legs, her breath hitched, a sharp gasp escaped her and a deep flush crept across her face. I didn’t move, I just felt her heat, the dampness. I never broke eye contact. Scanning her face constantly to see if there was any sign of hesitation, any hint that she wanted me to stop. There was none. 

So I did as I explained to her early. I first brushed her clit. At the first touch a sound escaped from her, one I hadn’t heard before. But it was intoxicating. I continued to move my fingers on it and rolled it between them. She moaned and I dived in to kiss her. Smothering the moans against my lips.

“Are you okay?” I could see she was enjoying it, but I still found it important to check in with her; getting reassurance that she was actually okay with what I was doing. 

“Yes.” It was barely a whisper. My own erection was pulsing, I felt pre-cum leak from it. It felt as though one touch from her would be enough to set that burning feeling free. But I knew I had to restrain myself. This wasn’t about me. This was all about her and making her feel good. Letting Y/N experience the pleasure of being touched could bring. 

I slid my hand down, moving up and down the length of her folds; feeling how wet she was. Panting groans tumbled out of her, she breathed quickly through her nose. She tilted her head back into the pillow as she shut her eyes. Her teeth sank into her lower lip, biting it hard as she fought to stay composed.

I gently moved inside her with one finger. Her eyes shot open, her head snapped forward and a loud gasp followed. She was tight, but so wet. My finger was quickly coated with a layer of her slickness. I moved in and out of her with ease. The sensation of feeling my finger in her walls, was better than I could have ever imagined. I moved in deeper and I found the right spot. Her hips involuntarily jerked upward and when I pulled out completely a long, broken moan filled the silence in the room. 

“Did that feel good?” I asked her quietly, catching my own breath and trying to control the tightening I felt in my own body. I kept my hand close to her heat. She simply nodded, eyes closed. “May I continue with more fingers?”

“Yes… Please.” She pleaded, sounding almost desperate now for my touch.

In my earlier explanation I had told her I could also use my mouth and tongue, but for now I thought it better to continue with just my hand before taking it a step further. But, Spirits, I wanted to taste her. 

I placed two fingers at her entrance and moved them gradually inside of her. She moved with me. Her back arching as I stretched her walls to fit them among my fingers, more broken whimpers leaving her. I started moving again, going deeper with each thrust of my fingers. Making sure that I hit the most sensitive spot over and over again, when her folds had completely accepted the presence of my fingers. As I kept touching the right spot, she dipped her fingers deep in the flesh of my shoulder blades. I felt her nails digging in my skin. A painful, ragged hiss seeped out of me. I ignored it. Her sounds, her moving along with me, how good she felt, how completely undone she looked had clouded anything and everything. 

I felt her clamping around me. I sat up, fingers still inside her, my eyes on her whole body. One of her hands was holding onto the sheets tightly, her knuckles white. Her chest rising and falling quickly with how uncontrollable her breathing had gotten. Her gaze fixated on me, darting back and forward between my face, chest and lower body. Her eyes were dark and filled with lust and desperation. Her lips slightly parted, whimpered sounds stumbling out of her. By sitting up, I no longer had to balance on my other arm. With my now free hand I reached for her face. Letting my thumb brush over her parted lips, before I dipped the tip of it in her mouth.

“Lick it.” I told her. My voice had dropped, darker and lower than before, as desire overpowered my restraint. Her tongue swiped round the tip of my thumb, wettening my skin. As I pulled it out, I moved my hand to her clit and I made circular motion with my thumb. 

Her walls tightened intensely around my fingers. She was close.

“Let go. I got you.” My words and the added sensation of my thumb on her clit, sent her over the edge. Her legs went stiff, her eyes rolled back in her head, and a loud moan escaped her lungs as a wave of pleasure rolled through her, as her release washed over her. Her whole body trembled and I slowly let her ride it out, before I pulled my fingers out of her. They were thickly coated with her cum. Without really thinking about it, I brought my fingers to my lips, licking them clean. I still got to taste her. And then I bowed down and kissed her, tongue deep in her throat. I wanted her to taste herself too. When our breathing was a bit more controlled, I looked deeply in her eyes.

“Are you alright?” A contented and satisfied smile tugged at the corners of her lips, which in return made me smile proudly.

“Yes. I am.” She paused for a moment. “I didn’t know it could feel like that.”

“Like what?”

“That good.” Another proud smile on my face as she happily looked at me. She cupped my cheek, put her other arm around my neck, propped her tired body up a little as she pulled me down towards her at the same time and planted a kiss on my lips. 

“You did so well.” I murmured at her lips. A light giggle escaped her. We laid quietly for a moment, both catching our breaths and calming our heartbeat.

“What about you?” She asked quietly. 

“I liked it too.”

“That is nice to hear, but not what I meant, actually.” I followed her gaze down to the visible bulge in my trousers, to the painful erection that was begging for its own release. 

“How do I take care of you?” Her voice genuine and sincere. 

“Would you like to do that?” I questioned her, a bit startled and caught off guard by her question. 

“Yes.” She kissed me again. “I think you really deserve it. You have shown me nothing but patience, gentleness, kindness and tenderness.” She cooed. One more kiss. “So tell me.”

“You could place your hand on it, wrap your fingers around it.” My breath hitched by the thought alone. “And then move up and down its length.” My cheeks got a bit flushed. “I don’t think it will take long.” I confessed. “Because it is aching for a release.” She moved up, I moved along backwards with her. She gently guided me down to lay on the mattress. My feet now resting next to our pillows and my head on the back of the bed. She pulled the waistband of my trousers and my underpants down at the same time. Now it was my turn to lift my hips, so she could discard me of my clothes. She looked at my pulsing erection for a moment, having never seen one before. Pre cum was sliding down the tip. She slowly moved her hand towards it and carefully wrapped her fingers around it. That sensation alone made me tilt my head backwards, close my eyes as I let out a breathless groan. 

Like I had told her, she moved her hand up and down. Instinctively she tightened her hold, not in a squeezing way, but her touch was less hesitant. She kept moving and noticed by the change in my breathing and the sounds I was making, that the faster she moved the closer it brought me to the edge. Like I had already thought, it didn’t take long for my aching erection to release all the pressure that had been building up. White strands of cum were erupting out of me with force, landing on my abdomen and chest and dripping down my length. I moaned loudly as it happened, heavy breathing. I looked at her as she looked at the cum covering me. Her hand still on me and every slight movement of her fingers sent a shiver of sensitivity rushing through me. I placed my hand over her and gently guided her fingers away from it. 

“Was that alright?” She asked me sincerely. 

“That was amazing.” I spoke honestly. She laid down next to me, both our heads at the back of the bed, only inches away from each other.

“Did that hurt you?”

“Your touch?” I furrowed my brows. “No, absolutely not.”  

“Good.” A gentle smile. “But I was referring to what came out of you.”

“No.” I offered her a soft smile in response. “Same as with your release, it is pleasurable. It felt good.”

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next chapter: No Time to Breathe

A/N: I first stopped this chapter at "No. I want you to show me." With the intent of not writing their 'first time' together, but I really couldn't resist to write more. And I didn't want to leave you guys hanging, after the cliffhanger of chapter 7. Hope you like it. More of this in the next chapter.

If you want to be added to the taglist, just let me know.

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Reader’s POV

Aang was finishing all the painting work that still had to be done by himself. I had argued with him, but he wouldn’t budge. There was nothing I could say for him to allow me back on the ledge with him. Thankfully he only had to finalise the last part of the highest spire and one smaller spire. Nonetheless, it was still a lot of work for one man alone. 

I stayed on the ground and was busy working on the Floating Garden. The garden was built directly along the mountainside, specifically at the base of the temple grounds so that it sat just above the top of the clouds. Though small in size, the garden was designed vertically to take advantage of the available space, with spiralling footpaths providing wide views of the surrounding mountains beyond the temple. While there was plenty of space for trees and flower beds. Other landmarks included shrines, benches and statues of animals and Air Nomads. The Floating Garden served as both a botanical feature and a meeting spot for the Air Nomads that used to live here. It would certainly be a beautiful site in spring. Now the trees were leafless and no flowers were growing. The water in the ponds underneath the bridges was now frozen. 

I walked through a sky-blue torii gate that marked one of the gardens’ entrances as I headed to one of the statues. It was dated, overgrown with moss and it needed some love. 

By the time I had completely cleaned up three statues I heard a familiar voice behind me. 

“They look like new again.” I turned around to see Aang in his normal attire, but he had paint on his hands, pants and even some on his cheek. He was carrying a platter with two cups, a teapot and food. “Ready for a break?”

“Yes please.” I said smiling at the sight of him. We moved to one of the benches and he poured the tea in the clay cups. I sat next to him, with the bench between both my legs so my face was looking straight at Aang's side profile. As I slowly drank my tea I kept my gaze on his face. My eyes following his features; his strong jaw, his sharp cheekbones and his friendly eyes. He noticed I was looking and it looked as though he almost felt awkward.

“Why are you staring at me?” 

“Do you know you have paint smudged on your cheek?” I giggled slightly. 

“Seriously?” 

“Mm-hm.” I nodded. “Right…here.” My hand went to this cheek and with my index finger I playfully pooked at his cheek. “It matches the color of your arrow.” Aang licked his hand and then rubbed his cheek at the place my finger just touched him. 

“Is it gone?” He asked after his vigorous attempt of cleaning his cheek.

“No, not quite.” He wanted to repeat his actions, until my voice stopped him. “Wait… Let me.” I placed the tip of my thumb between my lips and I let my tongue move over it. Aang watched my actions closely, eyes following my thumb and lingering on my lips. Without hesitation I rubbed my thumb over the little blue smudge that was still on his skin. The moment my finger touched his face he stiffened. 

“There.” I whispered. I didn’t even know why it came out as a whisper.

“Thanks.” He swallowed and released his breath. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aang’s POV

It was well over four months ago since we first arrived at the Southern Air Temple. In that time we had restored the whole place. Restructuring and strengthening buildings, cleaning courtyards and statues, removing weeds and fallen leaves, painting the vibrant blue colors on the buildings, cutting down vines that grew in places it wasn’t supposed to, creating a place where I could store all the airbending items I had collected during my travels. 

Even though months had passed since Katara broke up with me, I still held on to the pain in my shattered heart and to the anger I felt towards her selfishness. ‘I do this because I love you.’ No, she did not. She did it to protect herself. 

Despite the pain, being back home had lifted my spirits. Being here with Y/N and her unstoppable and undeniable positivity and kindness, made me feel lighter and happier. 

I don’t exactly know when, but the thought of Katara and the pain she had inflicted upon me, had disappeared to the background. ‘If you let yourself and without me involved, you can also easily fall in love with her. And if not with her, then with the dream you have.’

To be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was develop feelings for Y/N. I tried reminding myself she was my friend and that that was also all I was to her. But I couldn’t deny anymore that there was something more. When I would hear her voice, a smile would appear on my face. I couldn’t help it, even if I tried to stay serious. Her voice had a way of calming me and bringing me joy all at the same time. Whenever she giggled, whether it was Momo stealing some food off my plate or her gliding freely through the air, that simple sound meant so much to me. She effortlessly made everything feel okay and made my heart flutter more and more every time I saw her.

Months of spending every day together, made us grow so much closer to each other. The shift from friendship to something deeper hadn’t arrived as a single moment. When we arrived at the temple we became part of each other’s rhythm. I was always up first, I would meditate and Y/N would later join me. Afterwards we would have lunch together. Then we would either do some chores around the temples, train, fly on Appa through the clouds, go to the market or just have some fun together. After dinner, we often sat together telling stories or sharing memories; either in the main living area by the fire or in one of our bedrooms; laying on the bed next to each other. 

In the beginning her presence was familiar, nice. But now it is deeper; it is needed. I started to learn more details about her. Not about her life or her person, I had known about her life and who she was for years, but I learned more about her mannerisms. How her voice sounded when she was tired but pretending she wasn’t, how she circled her finger over the rim of her cup whenever she was deep in thought. Small details that I hadn’t noticed before, were now impossible for me not to see.

I had always cared for her. I had always liked her. But always as a friend. Now that line was blurring. I started noticing how close our bodies had gotten during those late night conversations and how natural that had felt for me. I kept catching myself looking at her when she wasn't paying attention. How I sometimes waited a fraction longer than necessary before responding or handing her something, solely to just stay in the moment a little longer. 

For some time, I had thought that the shift in my feelings was simply because we were the only two people here. But it wasn’t due to the lack of people; it was her. Ever since that day, a few weeks ago, when she almost fell from the spire, when my heart had almost escaped my chest from fright, after I had held her trembling body so closely to mine up on the ledge and then again later in her bedroom after her confession shattered my heart with every word she spoke, my feelings became more clear. For some time, I was able to dismiss them as if it was nothing. But not anymore.

Every day there was a slight flutter in my stomach whenever I heard her voice for the first time. Heat crept up my neck whenever she directed her kind smile that always reached her eyes to me. The quiet comfort I felt by simply being near her, yet the tension running through every fiber of my being when her hands innocently touched me. All of it should have been enough for me to realise I was actually falling for her. And by now, it was too late to easily forget about the feelings spurred on by her. 

Whenever I thought of her, whenever I was near her, I felt a feeling rising in my chest. A need to be even closer to her, to steal some glances, to touch her skin. And I was waiting for my chance to do just that. I needed to do something, be bolder in my actions, to find out if she felt something for me too.

I was standing in front of her, arms in an attacking battle stance. We were both trying to steady our heavy breathing. It was our favorite time of the week; training in the courtyard. 

“Your footing is off.” I stated as I lowered my gaze at her legs and feet.

“I believe I am doing just fine.” She playfully countered my remark.

“No, I need just one move to bring you out of balance.”

“I would like to see you try.” She challenged me. I relaxed my body and stood straight. 

“Don’t move.” I said gently whilst I stepped forward. She kept her body in place. “Let me correct you.” I moved behind her, my body close to hers. Even though it was still freezing outside, I felt the heat radiating off of her, as always she gave everything during our sparring sessions. Her eyes followed me closely as I walked around her. I moved her arms down, so she could relax her upper body for a moment, then I settled my hands lightly on her waist, trying to sway her weight to her left foot. She didn’t move, so I slightly tightened my grip. “Please Y/N. Let me correct you.”

“Fine.” She huffed, giving in. I quietly laughed, but my stomach turned in anticipation. I felt her body relax as her stubbornness faded. She moved along with my movements.

“Widen your stance.” I softly spoke the words near her ear. “You are leaning too much onto your front foot.” I swallowed and tried to focus on literally anything except of how close I was and how her body moved between my hands. I needed to compose myself. “Now, reposition your arms.” She moved her arms forward. My fingers left her waist and moved toward her upper body. “Relax your shoulders.”

“They are relaxed.”

“No, they are not.” Another quiet huff escaped my lips. I moved some damp strands of her hair from the side of her neck to the center of her back, so that all her hair was hanging in one place and exposing her shoulders as much as I could. As I did I barely let my fingers graze her skin. I suddenly was very aware of the tension between us. I decided to be bold as I took one more small step closer to her, my chest now nearly touching her back. With every inhale I took, my chest brushed against her back. “They are incredibly tense and stiff.” I placed my hands on both sides. Her breath hitched at my touch and I noticed it straight away. “See?” I whispered, leaning closer to her ear than needed on purpose, fingers pressing lightly into the tense muscles of her shoulders. “Don’t fight it. Just relax.” I continued calmly, sliding one hand down her raised arm to adjust her elbow. “Loosen this too. You will lose speed when your joints are locked.” I told her, my voice had dropped lower now. Her breathing was ragged, her chest was heavily rising and falling. Given how close I was I could see that her cheeks were slightly flustered and she was radiating heat under my touch. “You are not even trying Y/N.” I let her name roll from my lips as I placed my hands back on her waist. “Where is your focus?” 

I tried to remain as composed as I could be, but I can’t lie, I was rather enjoying this. It spurred me on how her body responded to my touch, how her breath hitched when I whispered near her ear, how I could feel her heartbeat pounding faster and faster through the vibration of the earth. Whatever there was between us, I was feeling it was not one-sided. I felt the heat rising in my own body, my stomach flipping. I couldn’t help myself; a satisfied grin appeared on my face, which I quickly hid again as she turned her head. 

She turned it just enough to glance back at me over her left shoulder and I looked straight back at her. I didn’t move. I let my body and face rest in the same position. By tilting and turning her head, our faces were now dangerously close to each other. She didn’t break eye contact and held my gaze. Then, slowly, she blinked and something in her expression shifted.

“You are right.” She said. I scanned her face closely. “My stance was incorrect. But right now…” She paused for a second, a sly smile on her lips. “... So is yours.” In a heartbeat she moved. Her right hand moved swiftly to my left hand that was still on the left side of her waist. She placed her hand gently on my wrist. Her movements were careful, but quick and deliberate. In one smooth motion, she spun away from me, like a dance movement. The abrupt loss of her body made the air feel colder again. Then, without remorse, she let a gust of air escape from her left hand as she released the grip on my wrist from her right hand. The sudden gust made me stumble backwards and before I could really fathom what had happened I was sitting on the ground. She was standing in front of me, laughing out loud. I too had to chuckle. 

“That was…”

“Efficient?” She stated. I shook my head slightly, still trying to recover from how easily she had escaped me. 

“...cheating.” Her eyes flicked up to meet mine. This time she looked satisfied. All the tension from before was gone. 

“Don’t correct someone’s stance, whilst being unable to hold your own.” She held out her hand. A flicker of lightning between us as I grabbed hold of it.

“Noted.” I stated with a smile.

“Good.” Her expression was challenging, teasing. “Now, are we actually going to continue sparring or what?” She picked up her attacking stance again, correct this time, as if nothing had happened.

I scoffed, but I couldn’t quite hide the grin on my face. “Fine. Let’s go.”

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader’s POV

I was back in my room. I had just washed up, the sweat from training long gone, hair still damp, and the warmth of his touches still lingered against my skin. 

‘What even was that?’ I thought back on the sparring session. Of his body behind me, his chest touching my back with every heavy inhale. Of his fingers softly digging in my waist to move me. Of his warm breath against my ear as he spoke. Of how close his face was to mine when I finally turned my head. Of how his eyes were slightly darker than before. 

I remembered my own ragged breathing, my heartbeat racing, my cheeks flustering, my stomach turning, my knees nearly buckling from all the tension that had lingered around us. 

I felt something inside of me that I had never felt before. The only way I could describe it was: pure desire. Yes, I wanted his hands on my body, but I also wanted to touch him back. Placing my hand on his chest, feeling the outline of his growing muscles. 

When we set off on our journey Aang was still slightly gangly and lean. But during these few months, due to all the heavy work, the long hours of training, the way he took care of his body, his frame had grown a bit broader and a bit more muscular; the muscles in his arms, shoulders and chest became more prominent. When our faces were so close to each other, I had to restrain myself by not looking down. I had wanted to look at his lips so badly; at the curve of his lips, at the corners of his mouth that had curled upwards into an infuriatingly soft, cheeky smile. Instead, I had forced my gaze to stay locked on his eyes. I knew I had to do something, break away from him, because I truly believed myself capable of kissing him at that moment. I knew I had to control my desires, because one wrong move could ruin everything, the friendship that we had built over all these years. A misstep would be something I couldn’t take back. 

The rest of training had continued as normal. Everything was normal again between us at the end, but I was still dreading to go down for dinner. I felt that one look in his eyes or one simple, innocent touch could falter the restraint I had been able to show. 

When I entered the room Aang already had a fire burning and a pot was already hanging over the fire. 

“Can I help?” My voice was still a bit shaky. He turned around and graced me with a kind smile.

“You can show me your knifeskills.” He said as he threw me a vegetable. He was back to his playful self, which instantly relaxed me a bit. I stood next to him, grabbed a knife and started chopping. We were working side by side in silence. Where silence between us had always been comfortable, this silence felt slightly loaded, unspoken words and feelings lingering around us. Nonetheless, we both pretended that wasn’t the case. 

We each sat on a cushion on the opposite side of a low table. Not much was spoken as we both ate our rice with vegetables. When Aang placed his bowl on the table he looked carefully at me. 

“Earlier I thought back on the day we met.” He said out of the blue. “I had to think about the girl who could barely make any burst of wind. That same girl can now create large tornados and kick my butt on a regular basis.” He chuckled and his comment made me giggle as well. He looked up at me, his gaze very endearing. “That girl has come a very long way.” The compliment was truly genuine. I thought back to the day we met.

I had known for years I was an airbender. My non-bending parents were mortified when they found out. The Fire Nation was patrolling the world to find and eliminate the Avatar who was supposed to be the last airbender. And here I was, being able to create tiny gusts from the palm of my hands. My grandmother on the other hand was ecstatic when my mother, her daughter, shared the news with her. 

My grandmother’s mother was an Air Nomad, but she had lived most of her life in the Earth Kingdom. She used to be one of the women who took care of the Sky Bisons that were born at the Eastern Air Temple. But when she was in her early twenties, she left her home to travel the world. She brought little stuff with her, just some clothing, her amulet and an airbending scroll. 

During her travels she stayed in Tu Zin, where she met my great grandfather. From the stories their daughter, my grandmother, had told me, they fell in love instantly. Making that she chose to settle down in the Earth Kingdom village. Just one year after she had left the temple the Fire Nation attacked all four Air Temples, eliminating the airbenders with the help of the arrival of Sozin’s comet. My great grandmother never received a word from any of her old friends, with whom she had stayed in contact with through letters whilst she was living in Tu Zin. Six years after the genocide of her people, my great grandmother gave birth to a daughter. And like her mother, she also turned out to be an airbender.

For the longest of times, my great grandmother and grandmother were the last airbenders. The villagers of Tu Zin knew my great grandmother was an airbender. Although since the start of the war, she never showed her skills in public anymore. The Fire Nation had travelled through our village several times during her lifetime, but none of the villagers ever shared her secret with the soldiers. 

Due to the war, my grandmother was hardly taught any airbending by my great grandmother. She was only taught how to control it, how to subdue the storm brewing inside her. So as far as the villagers knew, my grandmother was a non-bender.

My great grandmother did share stories of the Air Temples with her daughter. How she and the other airbenders had to wear bells on their sleeves, so they would learn how to move without making them ring. How spirits would visit the temple. How she once sneezed during a group meditation and airbended incense into everyone’s faces. 

My grandmother in return told the stories to me. Like her mother taught her, she taught me to control the storm I felt deep within me. But that didn’t stop me from secretly wanting to be able to do much more. The scroll my great grandmother had brought with her from the temple, depicted certain airbending moves. One day my grandmother showed me the scroll, telling me it was one of her greatest possessions. Before I left her house that afternoon, I stole the scroll. 

The following day I went to an area outside of our village and tried to complete one of the moves. It looked so simple in the pictures drawn onto the parchment, but I was unsuccessful. After a few hours of trying and failing, I returned home. Upon arrival, my mother saw the scroll and ripped it out of my hands. She was furious and afraid all at once. I was just six years old and didn’t quite understand the risk I had taken. The day after the incident my father started training me daily in Martial Arts, just so I could have an outlet for my pent up energy. 

My grandmother did let me keep the scroll, but I had to promise that I would never show it to anybody or let anybody ever know I could air bend. She died a year later. I kept my promise to her for seven long years. I kept it until the Avatar arrived in Tu Zin. 

I had heard the commotion at the market I was visiting with my mother. The Avatar was in our village. They were only here to gather supplies and to then carry onward. It felt like a dream come true. I had wanted to meet him ever since we learned the Avatar had returned. He was the only other airbender in this world. He could teach me so much. I loved Martial Arts, but it was just simply not enough. I wanted, more than anything, to be myself. 

Whilst doing our own shopping, I noticed the group of youngsters walking past the market stalls. They were trying to keep a low profile, but it turned out that that was impossible in our tight community. 

“No, we are not spending our money on this useless tool.” I heard the girl furiously tell the boy who was clearly not the Avatar. Even though my great grandmother was a more than capable airbender, she had never received airbending tattoos. It turned out that that had saved her, whilst living in the Earth Kingdom during the war. But I had heard the stories of the arrow-shaped tattoos master airbenders would receive. And the small boy was unable to hide all of the tattoos that covered his body. He looked so young to be the Avatar. He looked like he was my age.

“Put that back. We need to buy food for the upcoming trip.” The boy grunted but listened. 

I was trembling, we were so close to them. My mother was focused on the pieces of fruits and vegetables stalled out in front of her. The group moved towards us, clearly heading to the stall we were standing at. I made eye contact with the Avatar. I simply bowed lightly to him, not breaking eye contact. He gave me a small nod in return. 

“Hello Avatar.” I spoke. “It is truly an honor to meet you.” He wanted to say something back, but the moment was interrupted by my startled mother. She quickly grabbed the collar of my shirt and pulled me away from the stall. It all happened so fast, she forgot her basket filled with the products we had already bought for dinner. For as long as I could I kept eye contact with the Avatar. 

“Well that was weird.” I heard the older boy say.

“No, what was weird was their heartbeats." The small girl said. "The second the mother heard the word Avatar, it spiked through the roof, and the girl….” I couldn’t hear any more, I was already dragged too far away.

After we got home, my mother had informed my father of the arrival of the Avatar and what I did. 

“I was just being polite. I was just showing respect to the Avatar. Nothing more.” It was obviously a lie, I wanted so much more. 

“You know you shouldn’t have talked to them, you know you should have stayed clear from them. Especially the Avatar. Don’t think we don’t know what you want. But you can’t Y/N! Maybe if this war will ever end, you can be free to do what you want, but for now you are a secret!” My mother scolded me sternly. Before she could continue, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

She looked through the window. Concern covered her face. 

“Go to your room, Y/N.”

“Why?”

“Just go.” I turned around and walked up the stairs. My mother waited with opening the door until she saw me closing the door to my room behind me. But I hadn’t closed it completely, the door was ever so slightly ajar. I couldn’t see anything, but I could hear the voices.

“Hello madam.” A friendly voice said. “I believe this is yours.”

“Yes, you forgot it at the stall. You left so suddenly.” The second voice was from the older boy who travelled with the Avatar. So maybe the first voice was from the Avatar himself. 

“Ah, right.” My mother stuttered. “Right, thank you.” Another short pause. “Thank you very much indeed. Goodbye now.” And she closed the door. I quickly ran to my window. I saw the group of four circle around the house as if they were looking for something. Then the tallest girl saw me behind the window and pointed at me whilst she alerted her friends. I opened my window. 

“Are you okay?” The Avatar asked me. His voice wasn’t loud. I think he understood he wasn’t supposed to draw attention from anyone else in the house. I quietly nodded. I raised my hand, indicating to him he had to wait a moment. I walked towards my desk and grabbed the scroll I had hidden away in a secret compartment. I quickly wrote a note: ‘I need to talk to you. Please meet me tomorrow at first light at the North Entrance of the village.’ I attached the note to the airbending scroll and I returned to the window. He was patiently waiting. And I threw my most priced possession down to him. He read the note and opened the scroll. Eyes widening as he realised what it was. He looked up with great anticipation and he nodded; just one firm movement of his head, but a clear signal he would be there tomorrow morning. 

I had hardly slept that night, I had been awake for hours before I could get ready to meet the Avatar. When it wasn’t a school day, I always started training at first light. The first hour without my father and later I would join him at the Martial Arts Academy. So my parents wouldn’t be surprised at me leaving this early.

I quietly got dressed in my training attire, walked down the stairs, grabbed an apple from the pantry and then left the house. I quickly ran towards the North Entrance and I waited. The first rays of sunshine were beginning to touch the top of the trees behind me. Somewhere high in the branches, birds called to one another in soft chirps and bright whistles. Other than that, it was quiet. The world not yet awake. But then I heard footsteps. I turned around and saw the four youngsters approaching me.

“This is an airbending scroll. Where did you get this from?” He held the scroll in his hands. There was no accusation in his tone, but spiked interest. 

“It once belonged to my great grandmother, who handed it down to my grandmother, who gave it to me.” I spoke without hesitation. “It is the most valuable item I own.” I added.

“Why is it so valuable to you?”

“Because it is the only tangible link to my heritage. I am an airbender.” 

“What?!” The older boy shouted. His voice shattered through the silence of the morning. The whole group looked like they were in genuine shock. 

"Ssst." I hushed him, ushering him to calm down. “Nobody knows. Nobody can know.”

“How is this possible?” The tallest girl asked me. I told them my story. 

“....However, since both my parents are non-benders, we all expected that I would be a non-bender too. But clearly the bending gene skipped a generation, because here I am.” I let a small gust of air escape from the palm of my hand as I spoke the last bit of the sentence. 

“Incredible.” The words were spoken so softly, barely audible. The Avatar’s eyes were filled with joy, excitement and hope. He stepped forward. “I am Aang.”

“Y/N.”

“Y/N, it is truly an honor to meet you.” He said the same words to me that I had spoken to him yesterday at the market. He accompanied the words with a small bow.

“I don’t think I ever thanked you.” I stated after reliving the memory. He looked puzzled at me.

“For persuading your parents so you could come with us?” He asked, before he continued. “Well, it wasn’t easy. I had to make an awful lot of promises. But we got there in the end.” A small smirk on his face. 

“No, not that. Well, that too, obviously. But I don’t think I ever thanked you for giving me back my scroll that morning we spoke at the Northern Entrance.” He looked surprised, brows furrowed.

“I was never going to keep that.” He said innocently and he lightly shook his head. He stood up from his cushion and moved from his side of the table to sit next to me; his knees almost brushing mine.

“Maybe I should leave it here.” I looked at him and I paused for a second. “Let it be a part of the relics, statues and scrolls you have already collected and stored here. Letting it be part of what will be a vast collection of Airbending items.”

“Are you ready to part ways with it?” His question was simple, but the thought of not having the scroll with me at all times, the one thing I still had of my grandmother, was difficult to progress. I swallowed audibly; a clear indication of how hard it would be for me to part ways with the scroll. He placed a tender hand on my thigh. “Then don’t.” He said softly.

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Next chapter: Burning Within

A/N: this was fun to write. I also love that we now know a bit more about the backstory of Reader. Next chapter we are leaving the Southern Air Temple and Reader finally gets to see the Eastern Air Temple, the place her great grandmother came from.

If you want to be added to the taglist, just let me know.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader’s POV

The tradition of exchanging letters began years ago. One day a messenger hawk landed at my parent’s house. After we ended the 100 year war and the first steps towards peace were made, I returned home to see my parents and spent time with them again. 

The hawk had arrived out of the blue and it had carried a letter from Zuko. The note was innocent enough. He was simply checking in, asking how I was doing and what it was like being back home. Despite the simplicity of the message, I still felt a strange, fluttery feeling in my stomach and heat rising to my cheeks. He had sent this message, in the hope that I would address a letter back to him. He had thought of me and that somehow spurred him into action to reach out and write to me.

At first I thought he had sent letters to all of us. That is what I told myself. Because believing that was easier and made more sense to me than believing I alone could matter enough for him to write to. 

It wasn’t until after I had returned to the place that would later become the United Republic of Nations and we were all complete, I found out I was the only one that frequently sent letters to and received letters from Zuko. 

“You exchanged letters?” Sokka claimed as we were waiting on Zuko’s airship to land. I was surprised that he was surprised.

“Yes.” I simply stated. “Every other week a hawk would arrive with a letter and before it returned back to the palace, I would put my letter back to Zuko in its capsule.” Before I could continue, Sokka spoke again.

“Every other week?!” 

“You didn’t keep in touch?” 

“Yes, but it was the occasional letter. Definitely not every other week. I feel left out.” He pouted.

“None of you?” I looked around at the others. Both Katara and Aang shook their heads.

“I can’t read… or write for that matter. So no point in sending letters.” Toph said without any sentiment. 

“Apperently, it is just you.” Suki nudged my shoulder.

“So you two are like scroll-buddies.” It wasn’t a question, Sokka just made a statement. “What do you even write about everytime?”

“Just about the daily stuff, ordinary things. Sometimes about more serious things.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“How serious were these things?” Toph smirked.

“I don’t know… He wrote some things that he was struggling with in the palace. Advisors who were working against him rather than doing him any favors. The troubles he had with dissolving the colonies.” At my final statement I looked at Aang, but he avoided my gaze. 

“So he really shared his troubles with you?” Surprise flickered through Sokka’s voice once more. Zuko wasn’t known to be very outspoken, especially not about his feelings or emotions. The fact he was sharing them with me, even though it was through written words rather than spoken ones, it was still something worth noting. 

By this time the doors of the airship opened and Zuko came into sight. He looked down at us and we instantly locked eyes. A genuine smile spread across his face. He was barely down before Sokka spoke, teasing Zuko; mischief laced his voice, a smirk on his voice.

“So where are all my letters?” Zuko’s gaze landed upon me, his cheeks flushed. 

All these years later, the letters still came. Surely, there had been months, even years where the letters didn’t arrive as frequently as they did in the beginning. But we also simply saw each other more. We went on peace missions together, went to look for his mother, even went on a search to find an escaped Azula. I had also spent some time with Zuko at the palace strategizing about future steps the Fire Nation could make which would offer more stability between nations or which trade negotiation should be prioritized.

But within a month after Aang and I had arrived at the Southern Air Temple the letters came again every other week. This time he always sent two letters; one for Aang and one for me. Aang had once asked me what Zuko wrote in his letters to me. I remained quite vague about it, the letters always felt personal; something between me and Zuko. I didn’t go too much in depth. Aang never asked me again. I also never asked Aang what Zuko wrote to him. 

When the hawk had made his presence known, the almost intimate moment Aang and I shared, was broken. I slowly and gently released my grip on Aang's frame. He did the same, letting me go. 

“I will retrieve the letters.” I left my room and walked to the window down the hall, where the hawk always waited. Quiet anticipation blooming, heart fluttering before I could stop it. I opened the little capsule on its back and I immediately saw both letters bore the symbol of the Fire Lord. The first glimpse of familiar handwriting; Zuko’s. Both my name and Aang’s carefully and delicately written on the outside of the paper. Even before reading the content of the letter, I already felt warmth unfolding somewhere deep within my chest. 

I gave the hawk some seeds we had stored in a cabinet next to the window. “Wait here and get some rest, I will return with our letters.” 

I walked back to my room, Aang was no longer there. I continued walking down the hall and reached his room. The door was open, Aang wasn’t here either. I entered his bedroom and carefully placed his letter from Zuko on the desk. I returned to my own room quickly, so I could read the letter addressed to me. 

Dear Y/N,

As always I was happy to receive your reply. The day the hawk returns is always my favorite day. Hearing from you and Aang brings me much joy. 

I can’t believe how much progress you are making at the temple. I am glad to read that it is still going well. Although I do hope it is not becoming too much for either of you. Rebuilding something that was once lost and destroyed is never simple. 

Let’s say that things here remain steady. There is always something to resolve, something to decide, matters to attend to. And I notice everyday that I still have to learn more and more. I have the feeling that I am constantly trying to balance what is expected of me with what I believe is right. In all honesty, it is tiring. 

Some days feel steadier than others. But on the difficult ones I find myself thinking of you more. It is easier for me to write this rather than saying it out loud, but I need you to know how much I miss you. There are moments when I suddenly think of you and the emptiness becomes harder to ignore than before. I miss your advice and guidance you gave me during the period you stayed here. You are always so calm, so straightforward and you always know what to say to make me feel lighter again. I keep myself busy through the days, but somehow my heart still ends up missing you the most. But no matter how much time passes without you near me, a part of me is still waiting for your presence again.

Still, I hope you are well. That you are not pushing yourself beyond what you can carry. I know you tend to forget about yourself from time to time. 

As ever, I hope you will write back. I would like to hear about your days again.

Yours,

Zuko

I read the last two words again. ‘Yours, Zuko.’ That was new. Every other letter I had ever received just ended with ‘Zuko’. It was just one simple word added, but it felt like so much more, especially in combination with everything he wrote before that. He missed me, he missed me most. He was thinking about me, even on his busiest of days. It was impossible to ignore. I kept looking at the sheet of paper, at that one word. Yours. 

A small, traitorous warmth crept up my neck before I could stop it. My skin betrayed me by showing a feeling I wanted to keep hiding within my body. I tried to tell myself it was just one word, a word. Just ink on paper. Something people wrote without thinking. Except… Zuko wasn’t someone who spoke or wrote without thinking. And if that was still true, it was deliberate. He decided to write it and he decided to let it in. He hadn’t rewrote the letter for all of his feelings to be left out. In that case I would simply never know ‘Yours’ could ever be an addition to Zuko’s ending. But he made the conscious decision to add the word and the words that are easier written than spoken and to send the letter as is. 

“Yours.” I whispered under my breath. 

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Zuko’s POV

Uncle once told me that if I want to know where my heart is, to look where my mind goes. 'When it wanders, it returns to the people you think about, the dreams you buried and the life you secretly ache for' - Uncle had explained. 

After my banishment my mind always wandered to Aang. Or better said the Avatar. Back then he wasn’t a person to me yet. He was an object of my desires. I needed to capture the Avatar to regain my honor, to return to my home, my family. Capturing him would restore what I had lost. Catching him would make my dream of being the perfect prince, the perfect son come true. That was the life I wanted back then, the life of the perfect crown prince. A life where my father would be proud of me, where he would accept me. 

After joining Aang’s team, my mind wandered to my father. I had betrayed him, turned on him as the ruler of my nation. But I realised it was he who had betrayed and turned on me first, his own son. I often thought of his cruelty; to me, to my mother, uncle and even to Azula, but mostly I thought of his cruelty to the rest of the world. The fear he spread, the lives he and his forefathers ruined and ended. I wanted to stop his inhumane violence; I no longer craved his validation or his approval. I wanted a world of peace and freedom.

I still want that to this day. I have been steadily building that world, with plenty of help of course. My heart felt like there was finally some room to look beyond that particular dream. Because now when I let my mind wander to find what my heart desires most, it would bring me to her. Time and time again. I see visions of her. She was the person I missed the most when I was back home, the person I hoped to receive word from the most. Recently, I couldn’t even pinpoint exactly when, I started dreaming of a life we could have together.

But she was an ocean away from me. A long-awaited dream was finally becoming a reality for her. The first time we properly spoke was back at the Western Air Temple. I had just joined the team and from the beginning she had been the most welcoming. 

“I believe I have to thank you.” I had been wanting to speak to her, preferably when she was alone. And I got the chance when I found her sitting at the edge of the cliff. Her feet dangling over the edge, she looked relaxed despite the danger of falling. The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the sky in beautiful colors. A cool wind swept from the edge of the cliff through to the temple ruins. As the air hit her, she took in a deep breath, strands of her hair stirred as she stared silently across the endless clouds. She turned around, slightly startled at the sudden sound of my voice, but as soon as she saw me she gave me a small, yet friendly smile.

“May I join you?” She nodded in return and patted the earth to her left side as she extended the invitation. I sat down, but I crossed my legs instead of letting them hang over the edge. 

“What are you exactly thanking me for?” Her voice soft, the words kindly rolling from her lips. 

“I know you spoke on my behalf and tried to convince everyone before about letting me help the Avatar… letting me help Aang in defeating my father.”

“It wasn’t just me. It was Toph too.” She stated.

“I know. I thanked her first. And apologised again for burning her feet.” I grimaced at the memory. “It was she who said she just jumped in on your arguments on why the group should give me a chance.” 

“Aang needs a firebender teacher.” It was a simple truth. She returned her gaze forward, fixed again on the pink colored clouds. “And from the stories my friends told me about you and from what I have seen myself, you clearly know how to firebend.” Her voice wasn’t harsh at all at the underlying accusations of all the troubles and suffering I had caused. A harsh tone would have been justified and I would have accepted it without defending myself. But to my surprise her tone of voice was light. I could see her lips turning slightly upward from where I was sitting. She turned to me before she spoke.

“But do you also know how to be a teacher?” It wasn’t necessarily doubt I heard in her voice, she sounded genuinely curious if I thought I would be up for the task.

“I arguably had one of the best teachers within the Fire Nation.”

“I am sure that the crown prince had the best teachers assigned to him, but I…” I cut her off before she could continue.

“I was actually referring to my Uncle, not to some teacher from the academy. Uncle has taught me more about firebending and about life in general than anyone else.” She looked at me for a moment in silence, before I spoke again. “When I was younger, I thought power came from anger. My father believed that too, he probably still does. But Uncle explained to me that firebending is about breathing, about energy. That every flame starts here.” I rested my hand against my chest, placing it over my heart. “He made me practise firebending forms over and over again until I basically hated practising with him. Not because he was strict, but because he always wanted me to slow down. I was too impatient. He used to make me sit for hours, drinking tea, while he talked about balance, patience, steady breathing and feelings.” I let out a quiet breath of amusement. “At the time, I thought it was boring and unimportant. But I just didn’t understand yet why any of it mattered.” 

“And now you do?”

“I think so. I thought strength meant never hesitating. Never showing weakness.” I looked down at my hands resting on my still crossed legs. “But Uncle…” I paused for a second, my voice tightening slightly beneath it all. “... Uncle is the strongest person I know. And he is gentle, yet fierce when he has to be to protect what he holds close. He always saw good in people, even when they didn’t deserve it. Even when I didn’t deserve it.” I felt my heart aching. I didn’t even know why I was telling her all of this, but somehow the words just escaped my lips and they continued escaping. “He wasn’t just teaching me how to fight, how to breathe or how to reflect. In hindsight, he also made me think about what kind of person I wanted to become.” For a moment, the only sound was the wind. I looked up at the horizon, the sun setting lower every second. “I wouldn’t have survived or be here with you without his constant guidance and wisdom.” My voice softer than before. “And right now, I don’t even know where he is. I went to set him free from prison on the day of the black sun, but he was gone already.”

I felt the gentle touch of a soft hand on my own. I looked up at Y/N with surprise. Her face carried an immediate sense of warmth and tenderness. Her eyes were soft and bright with genuine interest. There was an openness in her expression, it made me feel welcome and also instantly made me feel lighter. 

“It sounds like you indeed had the best teacher.” A friendly smile. “And you listened, heeded his words. All of his lessons made you into who you are today, his lessons brought you here… to us.” I smiled at her kind words and I simply nodded. Together we sat in silence, watching the sunset together.

I had sent the letters to both Aang and Y/N five days ago. By now, the hawk should be on its way back to the palace. I was nervous. In my letter to Y/N it had added some very personal touches. In the moment all I wrote felt right. When I sealed the letter with my symbol and when I let the hawk fly away, it still felt right. But now, I was rethinking all of it. I paced the length of my chambers. Candles were burning low, the sky outside was pitch black. ‘It was too much. I said too much.’ - I thought.

I stopped pacing and stood still in front of the large glass window. I looked outside, somewhere beyond the dark hills and the ocean, my hawk was flying through the night sky. Hopefully it had two letters in its capsule, or at least Y/N’s letter. 

‘What possessed me to write that last part?’ The memory alone made heat creep up my neck. ‘I need you to know that I miss you… You always know what to say to make me feel lighter again… Yours.’ I groaned and let my forehead thunk lightly against the window. ‘Spirits.’

I had obviously shared my feelings before with her. But in those instances I wrote about my feelings concerning troubles I was facing, about certain people I had to work with but who from time to time were more working against me. I stayed away from sharing my feelings about her. All this time I had been careful. Careful with my words. Until I wasn’t. Worse still, I knew Y/N would notice it. She was far too perceptive not to. 

A knock sounded at the door, pulling me from my thoughts. “My lord?” A voice called from beyond the door. “Forgive the interruption, but the hawk…” I only needed to hear the word hawk. 

“Enter.” The door opened just enough for a young servant to slip inside. He bowed quickly.

“The hawk has returned, Fire Lord. She arrived moments ago and the guards sent me immediately to hand you the letters.” I crossed the room so fast, the servant nearly stumbled backward in surprise. I failed to appear composed. He quickly handed the two letters to me and with another bow, he left the room. 

A strange mixture of relief and nervous anticipation hit me all at once. I looked down at the letters in my hands, thumb brushing lightly over the seal. Suddenly I was aware of everything all at once; how fast my heart was beating, how warm the room felt, how eagerly my fingers had gripped the letter. I walked over to my desk and sat down. I swallowed once before breaking the seal, unable to stop the small smile pulling at the corner of my mouth as I saw her handwriting.  

Dear Zuko,

The day your letter arrives is also my favorite day. You have no idea how much better your letter has made my day. 

The restoration of the temple is almost complete. When I look back on these months, there were times it felt impossible to imagine it restored to what it once was and now I don’t have to imagine it anymore. 

Aang will finalise the last painting labor. There was a little incident today; I slipped and almost fell. But don’t worry, I am fine. Aang’s quick thinking saved me. But I will admit, my heart was bursting out of my chest when both my feet were back on the ledge. Now he doesn’t want me up there anymore; afraid I might be careless again. Other than that one teensy-tiny incident, I am well. It won’t be too long now, before we head to the Eastern Air Temple.

You speak of balancing expectations with what you believe is right as though you are failing at it. But with everything I have seen, and I have seen it from up close, and with every story you have shared, you clearly never stop trying to do what is right. I know the burden cannot be easy to carry every day. I understand it must be tiring. But I am still sorry to read it. I wish so vigorously that it would be easier, that people around you were kinder and more willing to help you. Please remember that there are plenty of people who want to help you, I am always willing to help you. You don’t have to carry all of it on your own.

I hope there are still moments where you allow yourself peace amidst everything demanded of you. You might be Fire Lord, but you are also still just a human; you are allowed to be tired and you deserve to rest.

You mentioned that some things are easier to write down than to speak the words. I understand the feeling. And since you were brave enough to write honestly first, I will attempt to do the same. 

I wish you were here. Or I was there. Or we were somewhere else entirely. Sometimes I just want to sit with you for a while, in silence, watching the sunset again. Just like old days. 

I miss you too, Zuko.

Yours,

Y/N

I didn’t move for a long moment, her letter held in my hands, close to my heart; careful not to crease it. A quiet breath left me before I realised I was holding it. My shoulders slowly eased. The tension my body has gotten so used to didn’t fully disappear, but as usual, I felt lighter. 

My gaze dropped back to the paper, words dancing in my mind. It felt as though my heart would escape my chest. I leaned back in my chair and read her letter again. For a brief moment, I wasn’t the Fire Lord anymore. Not a man who had to bear the responsibility of helping rebuild and reshape the world. I was just Zuko.

“She wishes we were together somewhere.” I smiled contently.

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Next chapter: A Brewing Storm

A/N: next chapter we will get some teasing. Aang needs to explore certain things.

Also we get Reader's backstory!!

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