Set My Heart On Fire (UPDATED AND CONTINUING!)

18. Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

The words rang through the room, effervescent. The audience was still, so still they could hear the guitar's string's vibrations slow steadily, until every noise that sent them all into a trance ceased once and for all. That silence was followed by another. That reflective silence where the audience mulls over what had just occurred. They held their breath. And then they applaud.

People smiled at the two lovely performers, their hands clapping enthusiastically in appreciation for the incredible song they just heard. Some people in the audience were even jumping up and yelling "Encore!" A few roses were even thrown, something Katara only experienced in the movies. But she smiled happily and looked up to her partner.

Zuko half-smiled at her, a smile Katara knew to be one of the most joyous and genuine ones he had. His eyes gleaming with delight, Zuko took Katara's hand and nodded to her that they should bow. Katara nodded back with a laugh, her eyes tearing up in joy. The two teens turned toward the audience and bowed gracefully. They rose, their hands grasping tight as they brought them above their heads.

"This is surreal." Katara thought to herself. Everything was going so wonderfully. Here she was on a stage, playing a beautiful song with the beautiful boy she crafted that song with, and not only that but hearing that boy sing with her in a voice that she never thought she'd hear, one that was so bewilderingly brilliant that it sent her heart racing. And now they stood side by side, hand in hand, reveling in what they created.

She couldn't be happier.

___________________________

"Darn it, I'm so late!" Aang exclaimed as he turned the corner and approached the presentation hall doors. He ran as fast as he could, almost tripping on his nicest penny loafers as he tried to make it in time to see Katara's performance. He knew he definitely missed at least half of it, but hoped to God he could at least see some of it. She'd worked so hard on it, and he wanted to be there for her when the time came for her to finally perform.

He wrenched the glass door open and ran to the huge crowd surrounding the stage. The crowd was thick, much to Aang's annoyance. He maneuvered himself into the nooks and crannies between people, making his way to the front of the stage.  He made futile attempts to get as close to the stage as possible, but from what he could hear, the audience was already applauding.

Aang finally got to the front to see Katara and Zuko, hand in hand, smiling brightly and breathing heavily. They bowed once then proceeded to leave the stage. The applause died down and the huge crowd he tried so hard to dodge dissipated. He was left alone.

Aang felt completely empty. It was done. And he missed it.

_____________

As Katara stepped into the calm darkness of the backstage, she immediately felt warm and familiar arms wrap around her.

"My little girl, you were amazing!" Hakoda said loudly and proudly, squeezing his daughter tightly and lifting her off her feet. Katara felt her circulation slowly cut off from her upper torso.

"Th-thanks dad." Katara managed to squeak out. Hakoda, hearing her voice weaken, released his daughter. Katara exhaled in relief, but still grinned up at his glowing father. 

"I saw so much of your mother when you were up there. She'd be so proud of you, Katara." Katara's father said. Katara's chest felt full. She smiled.

"That was awesome, Katara!" Sokka said as he walked over with a bouquet of lillies. He handed them to his sister. Katara breathed in the sweet scent of her favorite flowers.

"Oh my god, that was incredible!" said Suki, who approached them with a tissue covered in tears held in her hands, her eyes red. Katara was shocked at how emotional Suki actually got due to her and Zuko's performance, it was totally unexpected.