Avatar the Last Airbender - Book 4: Air (The Master of the Lion Turtles)

Chapter Fourteen: Talk About It Over Tea

AANG POV

Spending the night outside the tea shop had brought back lots of bittersweet memories for Aang. Nalo had managed to make a fire out in the street using supplies she brought from the temple and Toph had 'borrowed' some sheets from a street vendor. Aang had been too tired to even ask her what she had done to get them. He did feel a bit stupid for forgetting that Iroh wouldn't be in the city.

He made Toph return the sheets before Zuko and Sokka arrived. 

The warmth from the tea in Aang's mug seeped into his skin, providing some relief from the cold, stony faces around him. His friends - his family - sat around a table in the corner of the closed Jasmine Dragon, each silently sipping at their own mug of tea. 

Well everyone but her. And Zuko. Their absence made Aang's heart ache. The loss of the contrast between her bubbly personality and realistic ideas and Zuko's calm demeanor made the world outside the shop seem a whole lot bigger and scarier. 

Sokka sighed, rubbing his fingers over his temples in an attempt to make sense of what Aang had told him. He'd been the one to calm everyone down, but Aang knew that he too was stressed beyond belief. Before he left to go find her, Zuko had pulled Sokka aside and whispered something in his ear that seemed to calm him down briefly. But now Zuko was gone, and so was Sokka's stable exterior. 

"So you fought. You hurt yourself. She told you to marry someone else?" he summarized, using air quotations around the last statement. 

Aang rubbed his palm lightly, trying to sooth the cut that had been bandaged by Nalo. He nodded, stealing a glace at Nalo as she looked solemnly into her mug. No one could blame her, the whole situation must have beyond awkward. 

Sokka's head was in his hands.

"And you left?" He sounded shocked. Aang tilted his head to the side, mustering the most quizzical look he could without crying. "You didn't tell her that she had the wrong idea? I mean, Aang, I would have understood if you told her she was insane! By running away she probably got it into her head that she was right." He looked at Aang, but there was no anger in his eyes, just sadness and...exhaustion. 

Sokka looked so tired. 

Was it something to do with his trip with Zuko? Aang and Katara's fight? Or was it the lack of peace he had had in the last few months? Aang had hardly seen Sokka leave his house in the past few months. No one had. Was this gnawing pain in his chest anything similar to what Sokka was feeling? No. This must be nothing in comparison. Aang hardly knew how he would get through this, never mind whatever Sokka must be going through.   

Aang dropped his gaze and rubbed his eyes, trying to form the right words in his mind. 

"I was so shocked that I couldn't speak. I was knocking into things, hurting myself and breaking things. I could barely get down the street without breaking down, never mind get another word in the argument."  Ever as he spoke, Aang could feel the tension building behind his eyes. 

"What would you tell her if you could now?" Aang just let his head hang. He had no idea what he would say to Katara the next time he saw her. Apologize for leaving? Explain how wrong she was about Nalo and him? Wait for her to apologize? 

Sokka sighed. He pushed his tea aside, pulling at his choker and tunic. 

"I know its selfish, but I want to make sure you all know that I never wanted any of this to happen," whispered Nalo. It was the first time she had spoken since Sokka and Zuko arrived. Sokka sighed and lightly placed one of his hands over hers.

"No, that's not what I'm saying. I know that you never wanted this, you barely know Katara anyway." He squeezed her hand lightly and she gave him a small smile, using her free hand to adjust her scarf slightly.