The One That Got Away | Kataang

Chapter 7- Unburdening

Just wanted to note that I literally sobbed while writing this

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Suki, Sokka, Toph, and Zuko were shocked, all this time they were sure that Aang was either dead or he didn't want to come back, but they couldn't imagine this. "I...I don't really know what to say, I'll be honest. I can't even begin to imagine what you went through" Suki was first to speak. "I'm so sorry Aang" she continued with her head down and tears in her eyes. "You are much stronger than any of us" Zuko said, still shaking up from what he was just told. "You basically saved us all while we lost hope to see you again...what dumbass we are" Toph added.

Sokka remained silent, zoned out and staring at the grass surrounding them, still processing. Without warning, he jumped on Aang and gave him the tightest hug he could. "Please forgive me Aang...please" he sobbed into the avatar's shoulder. "Sokka?" Aang muttered and returned the hug, confused by the water tribe warrior's reaction. "Please forgive me" he whispered still crying. "Sokka...none of you needs to apologize about anything" Aang assured him still confused. Sokka broke the hug and bowed his head down in shame. "Actually, Aang, there is... I'm the reason Katara moved on. She was so broken, and I couldn't see it, I... I pressured her to move on and forget about you. She was faithful to you and said she'd be waiting for you as much as it takes...and I kept pressuring her. I was so angry at you, I blamed you for doing this to her... goddam it! I hated you Aang! I hated you! While you saved us...while you thought of her every single second, while you almost DIED...please forgive me" Sokka admitted and cried. No one has ever seen him like this, he was crying like he never had before.

"Sokka look at me" Aang said, but Sokka couldn't bring himself to look at his friend he betrayed so horribly. "Sokka please look at me" Aang tried again and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. Slowly Sokka looked up and met Aang's gaze. "I don't blame you for anything. You did what you thought was right to help your sister, and as much as it's hard to admit, she seems happy with him" Aang said quietly. Sokka could see in Aang's eyes that he was sincere. The two smiled at each other and shared a brief hug before Aang spoke again. "So, what do you think I'm supposed to do?" he asked unsure if there was something.

"You need to push through the pain" Zuko said and everyone looked at him confused. "Look, when I was 13 my mom disappeared, my father banished me, and I lost the Fire Nation's crown. My life changed at once, I know this feeling" Everyone looked at him interested in what he had to say "The thing is, you can't wait to figure things out because life still happens. The best thing you can do is live them, push through the pain and live. That's the only way to rebuild yourself" he continued. Zuko may be the fire lord now, but he had it rough when he was a teen, and even though he had a scar as a reminder, the group easily forgot this. "But I haven't had time to think about anything yet" Aang answered. "Oh, come on! You've been here for almost two weeks now, and from what you just told us, it seems that you gave it quite a thought" Zuko replied "And besides, you're not being fair to Katara. She may have broken your heart, but you not talking to her doesn't help neither of you! Look at her, she's miserable" he continued.

Aang knew Zuko had a point, they needed to talk, but the pain was too much. "But the pain..." He tried to explain. "And what about her pain?" Zuko stopped him and asked, Aang was quiet at this. "I think Zuko has a point, Aang, maybe time is not what you need" Sokka said. "She knows that right now she is a source of pain for you and it's breaking her. And I think that you're projecting too much on her. I get why she is reminding you Arashi, but it's not her fault. She deserves a chance to at least try to talk to you. It may help you both". Aang took a second to think, he knew Katara wanted to talk, but was he ready? He may never be ready, he admitted to himself. Maybe Zuko is right, maybe the only way to get rid of the pain is by pushing it through.