Avatar the Last Airbender: Final Destination

Chapter 3: Tensions

The gang flew for two days towards Gaipan before making landfall that night. They were scheduled to land in Gaipan around noon the following day. Toph and Haru made earth tents for everyone while Katara gathered firewood for the camp. Suki sat resting on a makeshift chair out of rock. That left Sokka and Aang to unloading their belongings for the night off of Appa.

"So, Aang, you ever have that talk?" Sokka began.

"Look, Sokka, I really appreciate your concern but I think I can handle it," Aang remarked.

"So that was a yes and I'm guessing the conversation didn't end in your favor," Sokka said.

Aang looked annoyed with Sokka. He always had something smart to say but was nevertheless always right. It reminded him of Zuko in a way. Sarcastic but right. Aang rolled his eyes and decided to go help Katara once they were done unloading. He noticed Toph and Haru had finished their share of work but had disappeared. Something they tended to do a lot lately. A pang of worry hit him but it was quickly eased when he thought of the fact that the two were both master earthbenders. Suki remained sitting on her chair quietly dozing off.

Aang set off to find Katara in the woods. It took him roughly ten minutes before he found her in a small pond surrounded by rocks. Next to the pond sat a neatly stacked pile of what he assumed to be firewood. Katara was stripped to her bindings and was bending a ball of water around in the air. Aang sat watching her for a moment. He noticed the way her muscles moved whenever she would move her arms, something he couldn't see when she was fully clothed. Suddenly he felt embarrassed with where his thoughts were going and decided to make his presence known. He stripped down to his underclothes and slowly waded in the water. He started to creep up behind Katara intending to surprise attack her when out of nowhere she lifted her arms and Aang was soaked in water. She turned around laughing at his shocked expression.

"How did you know it was me?" he chuckled.

"I always know when its you," she responded.

The two of them practiced their bending until it was almost dusk. Aang was now a master waterbender and was improving his earth and fire day by day.

"I guess we should get this wood back to camp," Katara sighed.

"Yeah, follow me, I'll lead the way," Aang said.

A flame arose out of Aang's hand, leading them through the dark woods back to the campsite. Katara and Aang then piled the firewood in front of a very annoyed Sokka. Katara gave him one look that told him to shut up and mind his own business. Aang shot a flame at the wood and a fire roared to life in front of them. The campsite was quiet as everyone ate and settled down from the exhausting trip. Aang noticed his tent was directly beside Katara's on his way to sleep.

Aang stripped down to his bindings and lied across his bed. He thought about Katara one tent over from his. He wondered if she slept fully dressed or if she slept in her bindings as well. With a smile on his face, he drifted off.

Katara stared at the ceiling of her tent wondering the same thing that her neighbor was wondering. Did he sleep in his bindings as she did hers? Her thoughts turned to what had happened earlier in the water. She had attacked Aang before he got too close because she didn't trust herself. What would've happened had she let him? Would he have surprise attacked her, or would he have wrapped his arms around her? She smiled at the thought of Aang with his arms around her. The past five years had been generous to his body. He was now a good five inches taller than her and was undeniably fit. Every time he would move while bending she would watch the way his body moved. The muscles in his arms when he would waterbend, the muscles in his shoulders when he would airbend, the muscles in his legs when he would earthbend, and the muscles in his back and abdomen when he would firebend. She began to feel warm in her stomach. She thought of Aang wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her in for a kiss. Him grabbing her legs and wrapping them around his torso while he pushed her against a wall. The warmth in her stomach spread lower as her thoughts continued. For the first time in nearly a year, Katara drifted off happily knowing magical dreams awaited her.

The next morning, the gang woke up early. Katara and Aang woke up earlier than the rest of the group as usual. Katara greeted Aang with a warm smile and Aang happily returned it. Both of them thinking of their dreams the night before, not realizing the other had the same thing on their mind. They sat and had berries together for breakfast and made small talk about the plans for the next few days. As soon as Sokka awoke the rest of the gang could tell. He was already complaining about their time crunch and ushered everyone to begin packing. As soon as everyone had their items aboard Appa, Sokka loaded the crew up as if they were a group of toddlers. Aang positioned himself for takeoff but Sokka wasn't having it.

"I think it's my turn to fly, Aang," Sokka insisted.

"Whatever you say, Captain," Aang said. He understood Sokka was ready to assess the damage in Gaipain.

Aang sat in the back with the others and planted himself firmly next to Katara. When no one was looking, he snaked his hand over to hers and held it.

"Yip Yip"

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