Sea and Sky

Chapter 5: The Heart is a Muscle

"She's only been gone two days Aang, you need to do something. She'll be back soon enough."

Sokka's words had annoyed him enough to push him out of the palace and into the town center. Sokka had told him over and again that Katara was grown and could take care of herself. That, Aang thought, was besides the point. The real point of contention that Aang had with the situation was that the woman he'd asked to marry him left without saying a word.

In the two days since Katara had left, Aang had done little more than care for his animals, meditate, and practice his forms with Zuko and Toph. For their part, it had seemed like Zuko and Toph had wanted to keep him distracted from Katara's absence, as if to turn his attention away from the missing waterbender.

He had grown increasingly quiet and withdrawn, choosing to stay by himself. The weak justifications and dismissals his friends offered about Katara's departure had worn at his nerves. Perhaps this is what she had needed - a break from it all, and from all of them. He figured he'd finally figured out how she felt and why she'd taken off on her own.

Whenever she did come back, the talk they would have would eventually have would be defining for them both. He would lay everything bare - his feelings for her, the hurt and confusion he felt at her sudden departure, how he truly felt for her. At the moment Aang finally felt a sense of peace, he would wait for her. He'd give her time - for now.

Perhaps, he thought, she needed an adventure of her own.

The day was beautiful, sky clear blue and cloud free. Around him, the town's residents went about their day, trading goods, haggling over prices,  children played running games  and the older residents played pai sho and mancala.

As he slowly paced along the stone-paved streets of the village, a sense of peace overcame him. In this small town it seemed like nothing could go wrong, that the peace would never be broken. He envied the lives of the people who lived there, the beauty in the simplicity of their lives. A small part of him wished to have what they have - uncomplicated lives unburdened by the weight of the world on his shoulders.

A small tea shop caught hit eye. The small stone building sat nestled into the base of an ancient tree, the tree's massive oaky limbs curling over the thatched roof. As Aang approached the small shop, the scent of fresh fruit and brewing jasmine tea overwhelmed his senses, called him like a beacon to relax within the shop's cozy walls.

The old wooden door to the shop creaked as Aang hefted it open, revealing a small room richly decorated with Fire Nation emblems and finery. The shop seemed like it was lost in time - like time had stopped around it and kept it trapped in another century. Aang appreciated the cozy atmosphere as he took a seat at a free table. The shop was empty save for one other pair of patrons - and older couple who read from scrolls as they savored their freshly made food and tea.

He'd have to bring Katara here when she returned, he thought. As that thought entered is mind, he was instantly engulfed as he was reminded of her absence and why she had left. Trapped in his own thoughts, Aang was unaware of the shadow cast over him by the shop attendant trying to take his order.

"Sir? Sir? Are you okay?" The woman's voice rang over him like a bell, clear and bright. Suddenly brought back in reality, Aang snapped his head up to look at the young woman.

His stormy grey eyes caught her bright green ones. Swallowing hard, Aang was momentarily speechless as the attendant asked again to take his order. Before he could form words, the woman blurted out an order as she assessed his appearance. "I'm thinking.... chrysanthemum tea and cripsy tofu."

Aang smiled sheepishly as he leaned his staff against the empty chair opposite him. "You got me. That sounds delicious."

The woman gave a soft laugh as she walked back over to the kitchen. Out of the corner of his eye, Aang watched as she retreated.