Kataang One-shots

Hurting

A/N: Hi everybody! I'm sorry to say, this is another sad one. Just kidding! I'm not sorry muhahahaha! Listen to To Love Someone by Benson Boone.

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Aang POV:

"Alright, good job guys! I think that'll be all for today!" Aang said in a very convincing bright way as he stood up.

The group of Air Acolytes opened their eyes, relaxed smiles strung across their lips. The day's meditation had gone flawlessly, and Aang really was proud of them. 

But he had other things on his mind.

He followed the Acolytes out the door, a chorus of goodbyes and see-you-soons exchanged before they all went their separate ways. Once out of his student's line of sight, Aang's grey eyes grew overcast, making the shadows under his eyes more prominent. He hadn't slept much the night before, even though his days had been full lately and sleep would've been a welcome guest.

He usually loved walking home in the city. His eyes were constantly flickering from one thing to the next. It was so different from his quiet, sheltered life with the monks, he was always seeing things he had never known people could do and he found himself wanting to learn them. 

At the thought of the monks, Aang swallowed hard. It had been one hundred seven years to the day since he had last seen Gyatso and the others, and though for him it was just seven, there didn't feel like much difference. He was making himself sick thinking about it. Even meditating, something he enjoyed, had been hard.

Today walking home wasn't nearly as enjoyable as it usually was. The half hour seemed to stretch into a full one and then another. He was much more tired than he should've been by the time he got home. Aang stood in front of the house for a moment, breathing deeply, determined to come in smiling. He wasn't sure who was going to be home, and go figure, it was everybody. Even Zuko. On the one day he would've preferred to be alone. But in spite of himself, he was excited to see all of his friends in one place. 

Shutting the door behind him, and walking over to Zuko, Aang exclaimed. "Fire Lord Hotman! It been too long!"

Zuko looked at him in exasperation. "Why does this happen every time I see you? Aang, I saw you at a meeting three days ago."

Aang shrugged. "Like I said your fieriness, too long."

Shaking his head, Zuko hugged Aang and if Aang was being honest, it didn't make him feel as much better as he would've thought that it would. After they had broken out of the hug, Aang followed Zuko to where Sokka and Toph were talking about something, loudly and Katara and Suki were sitting next to each other with books on their laps talking quietly and rolling their eyes at Sokka and Toph.  Toph whipped her head over towards Aang before anyone else had seen him.

"Oh good," she said. "you're here. Now this dunderhead can talk somebody else's ears off." she stuck her thumb out towards Sokka. Sokka did not look happy. In fact, he looked the opposite of happy: unhappy. 

"Yeah, ok Toph. Go ahead and insult me! That doesn't mean that everybody else thinks that I talk to much! Right guys?"

The room went quiet.

 "You don't talk too much exactly," Suki said awkwardly. "Just a little more than average."

Sokka was satisfied. "Thank you Suki."

Katara smiled at Aang. "Sweetie come sit with us!" And he wanted to. He really did. But his cheeks were starting to get tired from carrying a painted smile.