ik i don’t get a lot of ppl seeing my posts anywhere but i felt like sharing the (probably) last part of a kataang-centered fic im writing that i haven’t published yet and idk if ill ever get to. whoever sees this pleaaaseeee leave constructive criticism plssss🙏🙏🙏 (there’s a weird blank space at the bottom idk what’s happened there)
anyways here’s the link to the first 3 chapters link
and the chapter is under the cut!
“Katara.” Aang’s soft voice tore through the heavy silence. Katara startled awake at the edge of Aang’s bed, immediately reaching for her healing water.
“What is it, Aang? Where does it hurt?” Katara asked frantically. Aang stretched out an arm and lowered her aged hands. She looked up at him, his tired eyes trained intently on her.
“There’s not much time left.”
“Don’t say that, sweetie. Don’t worry, we have all the time-”
“Katara,” Aang interrupted. His voice was firm, and tinged with pain.
“What, Aang,” Katara managed through tears. She was nearly drowning, sitting at the edge of her husband’s deathbed. She knew it was coming. They’d known for years that his time would be cut short, life depleted by all that time in the iceberg. But still, it tore at her heart and left her with the blackest dread sunk deep in her stomach.
“I need to ask you something,” Aang said. Katara nodded and Aang motioned for her to lean in closer, and whispered into her ear.
“Will you go penguin sledding with me?” Katara leaned back, her expression shifting in confusion. She settled on a concerned yet incredulous sort of smile before responding.
“Aang, sweetie. What are you talking about?” Katara’s voice shook with laughter forced through a throat tight with sorrow. “We’re not in the south pole anymore, and you’re in no shape even if we could,” Katara said. Aang just smiled at her, wiping away the bittersweet memories threatening to spill over her cheeks.
“Not here, Katara. In the spirit world,” Aang said, a mischievous grin forming. His expression quickly fell as a wave of dizziness struck him. He blinked hard before smiling again at Katara.
“Aang, you know I have no clue how to get there,” Katara said.
“Please, I want you to try.” Katara looked into her husband’s eyes, bright and hopeful as the day she found him. Katara took a deep breath.
“Okay,” Katara said. “I’ll try.” Aang smiled the widest he had in weeks, and rushed to prop himself up against the headboard to meditate. Aang nearly fell over and Katara had to steady him with pillows. He looked up at his wife and simply admired her as she took a meditation position across from him on the bed. “So… What do I do?” Katara asked. Aang took a shaky breath in.
“Close your eyes and try to clear your mind. Focus on your breathing and the flow of your chi connecting with the spirit world. Just try to visualize it.” Aang instructed. He noticed just the act of sitting up and saying a few sentences had him winded. Katara looked at him dubiously before closing her eyes and settling into focus. Aang took a few more moments to take in his wife, then he followed suit.
Aang easily slipped into the spirit world, and sat amongst the spirit penguins waiting for Katara. He saw a flicker of light, undoubtedly Katara attempting to enter. He rushed over and when he saw her form flicker again, he took her wrist and wrapped her in his arms to keep her there. She made a startled noise as she took in her surroundings from over Aang’s shoulder. When she looked at Aang, she gasped.
“Sweetie! You look like you’re twelve again!” Katara’s hand was over her mouth. Aang laughed and examined his hands.
“The spirit world tends to do that… I guess we really are just the same kids we were fifty-four years ago,” Aang said, watching his wife register her own teenage form. She looked up in elation.
“This is amazing, Aang!” Katara exclaimed, twirling and jumping in awe. The very sky brightened with the sound of her laughter. Aang ran over to the penguins and motioned to Katara.
“Let’s go!” Aang called, already hopping on the back of a penguin. Katara sprinted over and jumped on another one.
They flew across magical landscapes, bobbing and weaving in perfect rhythm as they watched the sky shift to colors that couldn’t possibly exist, and watched each other in all their childish joy. Katara and Aang slid on ice soft as silk— their eyes trained on each other’s faces so intently Aang barely registered the cliff in time.
“Katara! Watch out!” Aang called as Katara slid backwards off the steep edge and screamed. Aang slid to a stop in shock. A thick fog made it impossible to see where Katara fell. There was silence for a moment. But right as the worst thoughts came to him, Katara’s voice cut through the sound of his panicked breathing. She and her penguin flew out of the fog, lifted by a dragon-bird spirit. The spirit turned her head up and cawed. Her mate shot up out of the chasm, answering the call. The spirit took Aang and his spirit penguin in her talons with an almost motherly care.
“Come on, Aang!” Katara called, motioning for him to come over to the middle of the huge canyon with her. The spirit looked down at the Avatar, who was smiling at her. She saw his spirit form fading in and out as his life force dwindled and his soul was pulled towards his inevitable reincarnation. A great sadness filled the bird, seeing his own mate still so full of life waiting for him over the chasm. She flew fast to the other spirit, sharing a knowing glance with her as the Avatar and his wife let out whoops and shouts as they circled in the air.
Aang let his hands come free from the penguins fluffy down and extended a hand to Katara, eyes bright. He took her hand as the sky radiated soft oranges and pinks. They spun around, hand in hand high above the ground . Nothing mattered except this moment, this person before them. Everything was simply perfect— until Katara saw her husband flickering.
“Aang?” Katara called as he phased in and out, trying to stay calm as she signaled to the dragon-bird spirits to set them down on the other side of the canyon.
“Don’t worry Katara—” He flickered again. “I’m okay!” His form stabilized again, but he looked pale. “But we should probably get to land, just in case.” He smiled, trying to be reassuring– but tears already began to burn in the back of Katara’s throat as she remembered their time together was nearly up.
The dragon-birds gently dropped them off on the cliffside and danced off into the distance together, and the penguins did the same. Now it was just Katara and Aang, clutching each other like it was the last thing they’d ever do. For one of them, it was.
“Aang, sweetie. What’s happening?” Katara asked as Aang flickered again, trying to caress the side of her face.
“My time is up,” Aang huffed, dropping to the ground. “And the next Avatar is waiting.” b Katara took a deep breath, sitting next to him.
“Please, hold on a bit longer for me, sweetie,” Katara begged as his form lightened. Aang held her with tears in his eyes.
“Anything for my forever girl,” Aang replied as he watched Katara wipe her tears briskly, as if to hide them from him. She could feel herself breaking as she cradled him in her arms.
“I love you, Aang,” Katara said, more like a plea than a confession.
“I love you more than anything, Katara,” Aang replied, kissing her as hard as he could as his energy faded even further. He looked out towards the horizon. “Will you watch the sunset with me?” Aang whispered, placing a hand on her cheek.
“Of course I will, sweetie,” Katara responded as she held him. They watched the sky dance with vibrant colors as they whispered memories to each other. The kind that don’t ever seem to matter when they occur, but are looked back on with the most love.
“Katara?” Aang asked. He was nearly gone now, and Katara couldn’t hold back her quiet sobs anymore.
“Yes, Aang?” Katara replied between breaths.
“Thank you for penguin sledding with me.” Aang kissed her, feather-light and soft enough to inhale. When Katara opened her eyes, she found herself back in the material world with Aang.
Katara could only watch as the love of her life took his final breath.
(Katara’s version of an emotionally-triggered ‘avatar state’) (blood-healing?)
Sokka, Zuko, and Toph were all waiting outside when they heard it. A throat-tearing, gut-wrenching scream, riddled with rage and sorrow. They ran in and saw Katara clinging to Aang with all her strength, begging him to come back.
“Please, Aang just one more breath sweetie…” Katara trailed off and buried her face in Aang’s neck. She screamed again. A cry of denial and disbelief. The rest of the Gaang moved to pull Katara from Aang’s body.
“Katara, he’s gone,” Sokka said, voice shaking as he grabbed his sister’s wrist. She didn’t budge. Sokka nodded towards Zuko signaling for some help. Zuko and Toph rushed in.
“Katara, please. Just come with us to the other room while the gurus take care of his burial,” Zuko reasoned, joining Sokka’s effort to pry Katara away. They’d just barely dragged a hysterical Katara away from his bed when she fought herself free and bent all the water nearby onto Aang.
“Katara, what are you doing? It’s not going to work!” Zuko shouted from the ground where Katara shoved him.
“I brought him back before, this needs to work,” Katara replied through tears. “It has to,” she whispered before slapping them all back with a splash of water. She was older now, much more experienced with healing. She could bring him back.
She knew she couldn’t.
She had to.
“Katara, we know you’re hurting. He was our friend too. We all lost him today,” Sokka ventured, trying to talk some sense into her. “It isn’t going to work.” Katara ignored him, the water glowing brighter to no avail.
“Sokka’s right, Katara. We all want him back but it’s not possible, okay?” Toph said, standing to the side. She walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You need to stop,” Toph managed as her voice shook. Katara straightened.
“No.” She slammed them back with the entirety of the water she was using, and placed her hands on Aang’s chi points.
“Katara, what are you doing?” Sokka yelled, now frozen to the ground.
“I’m doing what has to be done.” She closed her eyes and reached into the energy- or lack thereof in the water of Aang’s body. Zuko’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Zuko, firebend yourself out of here and stop her!” Sokka whisper-screamed to Zuko. But Zuko shook his head and whispered back.
“Let her do this. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive herself if she doesn’t do everything in her power to save him,” Zuko exhaled in awe as he saw a glow out of the corner of his eye and turned away from Sokka.
Slowly, one small capillary began to glow beneath Katara’s hands. Then it branched out, reaching an artery, then a muscle, then a bone, until all of Aang glowed with blue light. Minutes passed and the blanket grew damp with hopelessness and grief. The ice around Toph, Sokka, and Zuko melted and splashed to the ground as Katara fell to her knees and the glow faded away. They all rushed to her side, and sat there together until the gurus walked in. Aang had requested a traditional Air Nomad rite for after his passing, and they would carry it out for him. When Katara stood and turned her gaze to Aang for the last time, she couldn’t help but see his old teacher there, too. They had died in the same slack meditation position. Aang would have seen it fitting.
Thinking about kataang angst. Just, what if Aang took Katara's words during the EIP as her trying to spare his feelings, and decides he needs to start moving on, but of course, once the war ends and Katara's no longer worried about people dying, she wants to finally be with Aang but is now confused why Aang's determined to act friendly with her and no longer shows interest and seems to ignore her hints, Aang meanwhile, is assuming said hints don't mean anything and he's just wanting to read into it and is determined to show he can totally be a good frind and just a good friend. Eventually Katara just, accepts that things must have changed for Aang after the war and he no longer loved her like that. (Of course he still does.)
Just, I'm a stickler for the 'narrowly missed eachother' angst trope. The angst of knowing they were so close, yet for some reason or another, the oppertunity is missed and they both have to or force themselves to move on. Just, UGH, things really could have gone so wrong had Aang misinterpreted what Katara said ToT
Heyyyy. Could you do an Aang Pov where a few years after the war the Kataang relationship is strained because they are always traveling and Katara feels neglected because Aang is always in conferences? I'm in the mood for a lot of anguish, pain and tears, but there's not enough in this fandom
Okay! It’s angst and tears with an open ended hopeful? ending!
I hope you enjoy !!! This is my first time writing an ATLA fic so please! Be kind 🤍
🔥🌬💧🪨
I returned to the home Katara and I shared in the city we’ve now named Republic City. I have been gone for a few weeks as my ongoing search for lost airbender history continues. I decided to maintain a semi-permanent home in the city to show my allegiance to the new ways we have chosen to govern the world, post war.
We know that balance can only be maintained through hard work. I know Katara has missed being in the south but my job as the Avatar makes it hard to be selfish and put our wants above the needs of the world.
When I arrive home there’s a flurry of movement in the bedroom. I can hear Katara pacing back and forth. She’s moving frantically and hasn’t noticed I’ve arrived.
“Gone for weeks and not even sending a carrier eagle to tell me when he will get back” she mumbles. “I’m sick of being left behind, let’s see if he likes it huh, I’ll just take a little vacation back to Wolf Cove…” she’s still talking softly under her breath when she turns the corner out of our room, almost walking right through me and colliding with my chest.
“Baby? Are you going somewhere?” I ask gently, holding her shoulders steady and feeling as they rise and fall with her deep breaths. “Yes. I’m leaving. Going home for a while.” She barks out, only anger lacing her tone as she speaks.
“Leaving? I thought we agreed to make this our new home? I understand if you need to visit your family, but, you’ll come back? Right?” I ask, trying and failing not to sound like a pathetic lizard-guppy.
“No, You agreed to make this your home Aang, I don’t remember really being included in that conversation. Or really any conversation lately, it’s like you don’t even have time for me anymore.”
Her shoulders loosen slightly but she doesn’t lose the edge in her eyes, “but I’m going home, back to Wolf Cove to be with people that care about me, that actually notice when I’m around. People that want to talk to me and include me in their plans, that used to be you. I guess not anymore.” She shakes my hands from atop of her shoulders and tries to maneuver around me.
I turn around, letting her pass but quickly follow her as she makes her way to the front door. “I‘ll go with you! We can make it a fun trip, celebrating our anniversary that’s coming up soon.”
She huffs an annoyed breath and stops just before the door. “Surprised you would have even remembered, I seem to be the last thing on your mind lately. It’s just your precious Republic City!” Her voice rings out with the last of her sentence, her emotions taking control and I’m taken aback by her outburst.
“What do you want me to say Katara? I thought you understood that this was my life.” My power pulses as my heart rate elevates. “I have a duty to restore harmony after the war, I owe it to the nations after being gone for a hundred years while people suffered under the Fire Nations rule” this fight between Katara and feels as though it’s been repeating for months.
“Duty! Honor! That’s all you care about Aang, all you talk about since the war ended. You didn’t find redemption in defeating the Fire Lord? You helped the nations unify and yet still you are gone for weeks on end dealing with every issue that pops up.” Katara’s eyes gleam with tears “I’m going home Aang. Alone”
“Katara please, don’t just leave, let's talk about this.” I gasp her arm in a silent plea for her to stay, “I’m sorry if-“ I try to apologize but she just holds a hand up in exhausted defeat. “I know Aang, I know you’re sorry. And if we talk you’ll make promises to me that you’ll never keep. I just need some time, sokka sent me a message about some hunters that haven’t returned from their hunt so I’ll help him with that. Spending some time with my family is what I need right now.” She moves her hand to lay on top of mine that’s circling her arm. “I thought we were family.” I say in an almost silent voice.
“I had always thought we were Aang, I love you but I can’t do this if you’re never around. We were a team and now you do everything on your own. Maybe I need to be alone for a while too”
Leaving out the front door I follow behind to see a small fire nation airship hovering overhead, “what is this?” I ask, confusion written all over my face. We both look up as our friend Zuko slides down the rope ladder. I try to fight down the hot fire of jealousy that boils in my gut. “You called Zuko? If you wait just a day Appa could take you and we could talk, I don’t want you to leave like this”
I am practically begging but she ignores my pleas and offers a sad greeting to our friend. “Hi Zuko, thank you for offering to take me today” she tells him calmly and he offers her a gentle smile. When his gaze shifts to me it’s a mix of understanding and conflict. “Aang, how are you? You’ve just returned from the eastern air temple? Any luck in your search.” He asks politely.
“The search goes well, thank you friend.” I bow my head slightly towards him as a sign of respect.
Katara turns to me with tears shimmering in her eyes, “continue your search Aang and your job as Avatar but search for where I am meant to fit into any of it as well. I will not force myself in your life. I need time..” the tears have began streaking down her golden brown skin and I gently swipe them away. “I will always have room for you in my life, my love, but I understand I have failed you. I will work to prove to you that it’s true.” I wrap my arms tightly around her and bury my nose into her hair, breathing in her scent and committing it to memory not knowing how long she will need to be away, not knowing how long it will take to win her back.
“I will miss you Katara” I whisper to her and all she can offer is a broken sob as she disengages from our embrace and rushes towards the ladder to head up into the ship.
Zuko approaches me and we share a friendly hand shake, “I will ensure she arrives at the South Pole safely and report back once I’ve arrived back,” he tells me and I let out a ragged breath. “I can’t believe I’m losing her like this Zuko, I failed her more than anything else.” My voice is raw and full of emotion that I can’t contain. “You will not lose her my friend. I have struggled with the same things in my relationship with Mai, prove you can be just as committed to her as you are to being the Avatar.”
“I want to! That’s why I don’t want her to leave!” I lose control of my air for a moment and send a gust and shift the ladder as it hangs causing it to sway.
“You have to let her make her own choices Aang, let her decide and make an effort to be what she needs.” Zuko puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes slightly, “you need to be the man you are not the Avatar right now, she doesn’t need the Avatar. She needs you.” His grip lightens and he back up towards the ladder, offering a smile and a goodbye he heads up and within a few minutes the ship is moving and out of my sight taking my greatest love further and further away
Finally I will update my channel on YouTube ✨💁🏽♀️
Not wanting to brag but this is the best i have ever i'm doing despite believing that the other is unbeatable in a matter of likes, reblog, feedback... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA i'm so proud of me finally i doing something instead of spending all day lying in bed
