A special task

We got soaked

"What now?" I yelled back.

I hoped I didn't sound as irritated as I was, but Katara was driving me insane. I remember clearly why we broke up now, I can't believe I was ever sad about it. Not to mention the weather was putting me in a bad mood. We were so close to Republic City but it had started to rain. It was only lightly drizzling, but it was oddly loud and violent like a storm.

"We need to take cover somewhere, we can't keep on flying!" She shouted over the wind.

To my surprise she didn't even sound bitter, just concerned.

"Do you see those buildings? We're too close to Republic City, we can't stop."

"Yes we can and we will, we can't stay in the rain, you'll get sick!"

"Are you seriously mothering me right now?"

"Spirits, can you please GROW UP Aang, why are you yelling at me for caring about your well being!"

The last part took my surprise. Did she just say she cared about me, or uh my well being? I looked back at her and her ears had reddened.

"I didn't mean to say- look I could care less about you Aang, if you get sick it just means I have to take care of you, which I do not want to do!"

"Great well I'm not going to get sick, what I am going to do is fly to Republic City, and not take a break!"

"YOU KNOW WHAT FINE, BE STUBBORN, I REALLY COULDN'T CARE LESS!"

"I THINK YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT KATARA."

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

She waved her hand and instantly water came crashing down on me. At first at thought she had bended it towards me, until I realized it was the rain. I hadn't noticed it before but Katara was bending the water away from me. It wasn't drizzling, it really was storming. She had kept us dry for so long. I turned back to see she was soaking wet. I wondered why she had stopped bending the water away from herself, she could've easily continued to stay dry, but now she was letting us both be soaked. I steered Appa off course, Republic City would have to wait.

I pulled us slightly off course to the mountains. Mountains always felt like home, and there was always a home for a nomad. That's what Gyasto used to say. I couldn't see any villages but I saw a cave, which would have to do. I turned around to see Katara. She was sitting hugging her knees staring behind us. Her long brown hair was drenched and she looked cold. I guess I felt bad or whatever.

I bended the water away from her, like she had done for me. I was just returning the favor, nothing else. I'm not sure she even noticed. She wiped her eyes, was she crying? It was probably just the rain. I shouldn't feel bad for anything, this is Katara we're talking about. Appa landed outside the cave, which he reluctantly entered.

He still hated going underground, but he hated storms even more. Katara wordlessly grabbed our supplies and marched into the cave. Once inside she rolled out her sleeping bag in the farthest corner of the cave, farthest away from me.

"We should make a fire."

"Y-yeah we should." I wanted to face palm for sounding so stupid.

She nodded gathering some wood, when had she even gotten wood? She put it in the center making a small pile, and then gestured at me. Right, I could fire bender. I shot some fire into the pile staring at her closely. Her expression was hard to read, it was extremely guarded. She huddled near the fire, bending water out of her hair. We sat in silence. It was odd, I found myself thinking of things to say before reminding myself, I requested to have us not speak to each other.

She pulled food out of her sack, and began eating it. She put some between us, which I think meant she was sharing it. I cautiously reached for it, and ate it when she didn't react. She stood up putting out the fire.

"G-GOODNIGHT KATARA!" I shouted.

I wanted to die right there. I had not intended to shout it, nor mess up on the words. I felt my whole body heat up as I swelled from embarrassment.

She looked at me carefully.

"Night" she murmured before turning around and heading to her sleeping back.

She slept facing the wall. I couldn't sleep, but I saw her shoulders rose and fell, she always feel asleep early. The night was painfully long and I found myself staring up the ceiling in silence. I never thought I'd be missing our fights.