i get emotional thinking about this certain scene between aang and katara in one of the very first episodes, in the episode katara claims she hasn’t gone penguin sledding since she was a kid and aang responds with “you still are a kid!” that was probably the first time since her mother’s passing that katara genuinely had time to be a kid and even then katara’s village was untrusting of aang and the fun he brought, so some moments were bittersweet. (despite the village’s concerns being more than justified of course)
because of her mother’s passing and her father’s absence due to the war, both her and sokka didn’t really have the time to be kids. but when aang stumbles upon them that changes. (more so they stumble upon aang hehe)
yes, they go on so many adventures with serious results but in between those moments, good or bad. they enjoy each other’s company. they laugh and play, that was something that katara and sokka didn’t have before aang. they had duties that restricted them of childhood innocence, whether aang intends to do this or not, he makes room for laughter, the silliness he brings out of his friends makes me so happy.
