Freedom [ATLA Katara x Male Reader]

Chapter 36: [The Awakening, Part 2]

You and your friends stood near the edge of the ship, watching the waves crash against the hull. You and Sokka wore Fire Nation armour, the helmets resting at your feet for the time being. The sea breeze gently tousled your hair that had started to grow out again over the past three weeks. 

"Hey, guys..." Sokka began, turning to the three of you with a grin forming on his face. "Why couldn't the pirates play cards?"

You, Toph and Katara barely managed to suppress groans. For the past two weeks, Sokka had made it tradition to tell at least one terrible pirate joke a day in an attempt to lift the mood.  

"I don't know, Sokka," Katara replied, exasperated. "Why couldn't the pirates play cards?"

"Because they were standing on the deck!" Sokka cackled and you all audibly groaned that time, face-palming so hard you would be wearing your hand print for days. 

Katara shook her head, disappointed. "That was terrible, Sokka."

"Seriously," Toph agreed. "My parents could make a better joke than that, and they're the most stuck-up folks around."

"I would rather walk the plank and plummet into a ring of sharks than hear another one of your 'jokes'," you said, clutching your head in despair. 

"Oh, come on, that one was pretty good!" Sokka insisted, and you all actively voiced your disagreement. Then you all fell into a strange silence, as you often did these days. 

"You know, this being a Fire Nation ship and Sokka's bad jokes aside," you began, earning a sound of protest from the boy, "It's kinda nice to be back on the water again."

"Reason number five hundred why you're more of a 'water boy' than me," Sokka said, only slightly teasingly. You scoffed, elbowing him in the side. 

"I will never understand how a firebender can love the water so much," Toph commented. 

"Hey, ships usually have a name, right?" Katara asked, and you nodded in confirmation. "I just realised, we never asked the name of yours."

You were about to answer, but Sokka cut in before you had the chance. "Wait, don't tell us! I bet I can guess it."

You quirked an eyebrow at him, crossing your arms over your chest. "Go ahead, water boy."

He shot you an irritated glance. "Thank you very much, water boy." He paused for a moment, thoughtful. "Okay, I think I've got it... Breezin'. Wait, no! Devocean. Nonononono! I've got it for sure this time... Fantasea."

Katara grinned. "That's totally it. It was totally called Fantasea."

You looked horrified. "All of those are terrible names."

Sokka turned to you, offended. "What was it actually called then?"

"Freedom."

Sokka cursed under his breath. "Damn it, I should have got that."

Before any of you could say anything more, there was suddenly a loud thud, followed by a very familiar voice. 

"Momo?" Aang said, confused. The lemur ran towards the boy, jumping onto his shoulder and licking his face. You all turned to witness the events, eyes going wide and smiles splitting your faces. 

"Twinkle Toes!" Toph exclaimed. "That's got to be you!"

"Aang, you're awake!" Katara said as you all raced over to him. 

"Are you sure?" Aang rubbed his eyes. "I feel like I'm dreaming."

Katara hugged him. "You're not dreaming. You're finally awake."