Freedom [ATLA Katara x Male Reader]

Chapter 21: [Avatar Day]

"I feel like I've lost part of my identity," Sokka mumbled sadly for the umpteenth time. He gestured to Aang. "Imagine if you lost your arrow, or Katara lost her... hair loopies, or Y/n lost his... Y/n-ness."

"My Y/n-ness?" you repeated, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know, but you get the idea!" he yelled angrily.

"For what it's worth, I really am sorry about your boomerang, Sokka," Aang apologised genuinely.

"Me too," Katara agreed. "But really, what did you expect when you threw it at a rhino?"

"I thought it would come back!"

"You threw it into its mouth, Sokka," you said tiredly, having had this conversation several times already.

"I didn't know it was going to eat it!" the boy defended, waving his arms around to protest his innocence.

"Well, if it really means that much to you, we could always track the rhino down, wait for it to take a dump and then get your boomerang back," you suggested dryly, crossing your arms.

Sokka cringed, shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, I'm gonna have to pass on that one."

"Thought so."

Sokka sighed, approaching the merchant who handed him a basket full of supplies. "Here's your produce, ponytail guy."

Your friend looked dejected at the nickname. "I used to be the boomerang guy..."

Aang and Katara followed Sokka with looks of sympathy as he walked away. The merchant headed towards Katara, who gave him some money.

"Hey, Water Tribe money!" the merchant exclaimed in surprise.

"I hope that's okay," Katara said.

"So long as it's money." The merchant closed his shop whilst Katara walked over to you and Aang, who were trying to console a crying Sokka. "Have a nice Avatar Day!"

The actual Avatar turned to him, interested. "Avatar Day?"

"You guys are going to the festival, right?" the merchant asked. You all looked at each other, wondering what to do. You shrugged, Aang and Katara smiled at each other and tears still ran down Sokka's face.

. . .

Later, you did in fact find yourselves at the festival. Several festive, green lanterns hung over the busy street you stood in. You and your friends looked around, fascinated.

"There's a holiday for the Avatar," Aang commented, surprised. "Who knew?"

You all turned around as a large effigy of Avatar Kyoshi rolled past. Katara pointed it out. "Look! They made a giant Kyoshi float!"

"And here comes Avatar Roku!" Sokka exclaimed as a Roku effigy passed.

"Having a huge festival in your honour is great, but frankly, it's just nice to be appreciated," Aang said, looking around in wonder.

"And it's nice to appreciate their deep-fried festival food!" Sokka took a bite out of the food-on-a-stick he was holding.

"It's filth, Sokka," you chided, taking a bite of your own deep-fried meal. Your eyes went wide. "But it's really, really good filth."

Katara pointed at a giant float of Aang that came into view. "Aang, look!"

The Avatar's eyes went wide. "That's the biggest me I've ever seen!"

Aang's float pulled up besides that of the other two Avatars on the main square. A villager carrying a torch came running down the street. Katara pointed him out.