In His Element(s) || avatar / bnha

Exit, Pursued By Bear

As all things do, Aang's time in the world of quirks and heroes had come to an end.

There was a pleased humming in the back of his mind as the World Spirit took satisfaction in the reordering of their world, free of outside influences and troubles.

Thank you, came the whisper, deep and methodical and resonating with millions of voices. You have given me much. I am grateful.

It was the least I could do, Aang replied honestly. I learned so much in return.

A low, thoughtful rumble.

Both our worlds are tied by fate, now, the World Spirit mused. Not even I know what is to come.

Aang blinked, returning himself to the moment as the presence faded from the back of his mind.

"Hey." Sokka nudged him. "You ok?"

Aang smiled up at him.

"Yeah."

He felt more like himself than he had in awhile, back in his robes and cleanly shaven once more.

A familiar grin flashed in return.

"Go on." Sokka jerked his head in the direction of the students. "Say goodbye to your friends."

Aang patted his taller friend on the shoulder before dashing off to group with Class 1-A one last time.

Saying goodbye was... harder than he'd expected.

It hadn't been long, but these people... these friends, had given him so much.

A lot of the students wanted hugs, Kaminari and Iida squeezing the tightest, though Kirishima also asked for an earthbender handshake that he'd apparently learned from Toph. Hagakure and Uraraka both sniffled into his shoulder, while Tokoyami nodded gravely, Dark Shadow doing a mimicry of the pose from over his shoulder. Bakugou just went tch and punched him in the shoulder, muttering something about dumbass airbenders, though Aang supposed that was his own form of goodbye.

And then he was with the three students he'd started this mad journey with.

"Are we ever going to get to see you again?" Midoriya asked hesitantly, green eyes wide.

"I'm not sure," Aang admitted, fiddling with the staff on his hip that Mei had insisted he keep "as a going-away present." "The spirits... still don't tell me a lot."

"Guess you can't exactly Zoom call from a different dimension, huh?" Shinsou said dryly.

"You will be missed," Todoroki said with such serious honesty that it made his friends all smile sadly.

"I'll miss you guys too," Aang said softly, clapping them on the shoulders. "Spirits willing, this isn't goodbye forever."

"Group hug," Midoriya sniffed, ignoring Shinsou's squawk of protest and Todoroki's general confusion as he insistently dragged all four of them in for the hug.

Aang laughed before they separated once more.

"Now shoo." Shinsou waved towards where Aang's last and possibly most difficult goodbyes were standing. "Don't keep them waiting."

And Aang walked on over.

Eri threw herself into his arms the moment he came close, prompting him to drop to his knee with a startled laugh as her arms wrapped around him.

"You're leaving forever?" she asked quietly.

"It isn't forever," Aang tried to reassure her, looking her in the eyes. "I doubt even the World Spirits could stop Hei Bai from coming back whenever he wanted, anyways." He tapped her nose gently. "And I'm sure he'll let me tag along if I ask nicely."