The One That Got Away | Kataang

Chapter 5- Talking

Katara? Can we talk?" it was Tai. "Sure" she said. He looked very nervous and even sad. "Umm...I...um...Katara it's just that...l" Tai stuttered. "What is it, Tai? You know that you can tell me everything" Katara reassured him. They've never had secrets before, they always talked about anything and everything. "I don't know how to ask this" he confessed. It was harder than he thought it would be. "Just ask" Katara smiled at him. It was weird, she had never seen Tai like that. "Do you, do you wanna be back with Aang? I mean the way you talked about him...and you know...what Sokka said about Aang saying that he needs you in his life and you saying that you've missed your chance with him" he said quickly, letting all his thoughts out. "What? No Tai!" Katara replied surprised by her boyfriend's words. She took his hands in hers. "Yes, I care about Aang very much, but it's not what you think. Aang is family and we've been through a lot together. I can't just neglect him, he will always be a part of me and who I am" she continued and took a deep breath, still holding his hands. "But Tai, you are the one I love, and you are the one I want to be with. That past 3 months of us being together, are the best that I had in years, you are the one that makes me feel complete" She kissed him, a passionate and loving kiss. Yes, they've dated for 3 months, but he's done so much for her in the past year.

~Flashback~

9 months ago

"Wait! Tai, what did you just say?" Katara asked giggling. They were at the market. Ever since that day in the hallway, they were inseparable, he was there for her to listen, be company, and just have a good time. He quickly became a friend to her, and the feeling of loneliness slowly started to fade. "I said that earthbending is far more diverse and powerful than waterbending" he said proudly of being an earthbender himself. "No, it's not! Waterbending has far more sub-elements not to mention healing!" She replied. "Do you want to test that my dear Katara?" he teased and made her blush by his words. It's been so long since someone called her by a nickname. "Oh! It's so on!" She said with a mischievous smile.

They went to a river located near Omashu. They were battling for a long time, each of them trying to get the upper hand on the other bender, without success. It's already been several hours since they started and it was getting late, not to mention how tired they were. "I think we should head back" Katara said trying to catch her breath. "Yeh you're right" Tai replied. "Tai you're bleeding!" Katara said pointing to his arm. "Oh, it's nothing, just a little scratch" he said. It wasn't severe so he didn't want her to worry. "Come I can help you with that" she said, walking towards him while taking a little bit of water from the river. She bent the water onto the wound and started to heal it.

"Thank you" she said suddenly while working on his arm. "For what?" Tai asked confused. "For this. For a long time, I avoided waterbending, it reminded me of Aang so much, and with me not leaving the palace I didn't have a reason to do it. It's the first time in YEARS that I did it. I forgot how much joy it is giving me...so thanks" she said and smiled.

For two and a half years Katara couldn't bring herself to bend water. The bending reminded her so much of Aang, like the time that she was his waterbending sifu or every battle that they had. Aang was the one who encouraged her to learn waterbending in the first place. "So, what you're saying is that you haven't practiced waterbending for years, so you're a bit rusted, and what you just did is you not being at your best?!" Tai was shocked. She nodded in agreement, a little embarrassed. "Wow! I'm lucky then. If you weren't rusted, you probably would have kicked my ass!" he said chuckling. Katara giggled at this. "Probably" she smiled and teased him.

Katara finished healing Tai's hand, there was no sign of an injury. "You know, this healing technique is really cool, must be very helpful" he said. "I told you waterbending is better, what other element can bring someone from the dead?" she laughed and stopped immediately. Again! again he is on her mind. She didn't even mean to mention anything about him and still did. "What you actually resurrected someone?" Tai was even more shocked than before by her abilities, he couldn't believe that she could become even more amazing than she already was, this was a new level for him. "Um...yes...Aang "she said with a low voice. It wasn't a very pleasant memory, she saw him gone, he was dead in her arms. Tai saw how sad she become at this moment. Was the Avatar gone? How could no one know about this? It must've been a horrible thing to go through. "It is not something that I want to talk about" she finally said. "I understand, but I must admit, hearing you saying this proved to me that waterbending is better" he smiled at her. He wanted to lighten up the mood so she could be as joyful as she had been 10 minutes ago. "I told you! It's a gift and I'm glad that you reminded me of that" she answered. They smiled at each other and began to head back to the palace.