The Two Of Us - An ALTA X Reader Fanfiction

Chapter Twelve~ Growing Distance

(Y/N'S POV)

When I woke up I was back in the bed. The only reminder of what had happened was a lingering ache in my chest. Aang was seated at the table, carefully brushing onto a new piece of paper. His eyes flicked towards me when I stirred before returning to the paper, a nervous and grump expression plastered across his usually jovial face.

"What...happened?"

My voice was shaky and hoarse, and I coughed a bit. I could see him tense in my peripheral but he still didn't move. Sitting upright I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and touched my feet to the cool ground, shivering slightly at the sudden chill. Padding over to stand behind him I hesitantly put my arms around his neck, resting against his back and putting my chin on his shoulder. He didn't move away, but he didn't return my embrace either.

We stayed like that for a few, before I gradually began to trace my fingertips down his bare arms, tracing the arrows down to the backs of his hands, which stopped at the movement. Pulling the brush from him I took his hands in my own, stifling a giggle at how small I was compared to him. I ran my hands back up his arms slowly, watching him respond. He stiffened, then relaxed slightly as I traced up to his shoulders. Grasping them firmly I leaned him back, pressing chaste kisses to his collarbone and trailing up to his neck. His breath sucked in sharply and he sighed.

"Y/N......"

I pressed my lips to his temple and turned him to face me. Pressing closer to him I moved to rest in his lap, putting my arms around him and just resting my head in the crook of his neck. After a moments hesitation he finally put his shaky arms around me as well, leaning his head into mine and exhaling roughly.

"Aang...what happened?"

He seemed to be struggling to find the words to express his thoughts. Whatever it was, it was difficult to say, and that worried me. Aang was always so immediately open, watching him fight to speak made me uneasy. What was so terrible he just couldn't bring himself to say it? Pressing my head against him firmly I felt the rapid beating of his heart, solid and scared as if it were trying to beat its way out of his chest and flee.

"I...." he hesitated. "I don't know."

Shame prickled through him, I could physically feel the guilt that swamped him as he lied.

"You're lying."

Sitting upright I pushed away from him, scooting backwards to put some distance between us. His eyes were wide and disbelieving.

"How..?"

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose between my fingers.

"I don't know. I can feel it somehow, the guilt you felt when you spoke just now. Why are you lying to me? What's happening?"

Looking up again I scanned Aang as he shifted uncomfortably on the floor. I could feel his emotions ringing clearer with every second we were in close proximity. Frustration, guilt, anxiety. Fear. He was terrified of something, and whatever it was, it was keeping him from being honest with me.

"I can't..I can't tell you." Before I could speak he continued. "I will...someday. I promise it's nothing wrong, well at least not with you I guess..ugh. I just can't."

My frown deepened.

"It felt like every fiber of my being was being ripped apart, like I was on fire and doused with ice at the same time. I just went through agony, you KNOW why and you won't tell me?! This is completely ridiculous!"

His cheeks flushed and that guilt swept him again but I was too caught up in my anger to care.

"You KNOW! You know exactly what's going on, don't you? But I don't get to know. I just get to spend every day scared I'm gonna collapse in pain at any given moment with no clue as to why it's happening."

He opened his mouth to respond and I slapped him. We both froze, his head tilted from the force of my palm, both our eyes wide and shocked. Rage bubbled in my gut, and I stood, pushing down the urge to apologize and embrace him.

"Take me home. Now."

(AANG'S POV)

When we touched down in the courtyard, she clumsily dropped to her feet, storming off towards her room without a word or a second glance my way. I could feel the things swirling around inside her, shame, rage and an all encompassing fear. Resisting the instinct to call out after her, drop to her feet and beg for forgiveness, I let her go. This was better for both of us, she would be safer the more distance there was between us. Hanging my head I rubbed the back of my neck, lost as to what to do now.

A cough startled me from my inner monotony of emotions. I spun around to see Zuko leaning against a pillar, watching me carefully. He glanced the direction Y/N had stormed off, before meeting my anxious gaze with his calm one.

"So....where've you guys been?"

There was a hint of amusement in his voice, and I sighed.

"Just, uh, somewhere. Took a break from ya know, everything."

Zuko nodded seriously, a gleam of humor still in his eyes.

"Everyone needs a break sometimes. Did you guys have fun..resting?"

He couldn't hide the chuckle at the end of his sentence, confusing Aang for a moment. Zuko's eyes dropped to Aang's shoulder, and Aang looked down to see a few small purple bruises littering his skin. Flushing from head to toe, he hastily pulled his sleeve up his shoulder further, coughing and mumbling incoherently.

Zuko outright laughed, shaking his head and stepping forward to put a hand on Aang's now covered shoulder.

"You should send a physician to look her over. Wouldn't want any...shall we say surprises. Besides, I think she would like knowing that although she seems angry with you, you still care."

Aang stood shocked. He and Zuko has been friends for a while now, but he had never treated Aang like this before...like a younger brother almost. The sincerity of his concern pushed though the fog swirling inside the young Avatar and for the first time since last night, Aang managed a weak smile.

"Thanks, Zuko. I think I'll do that."