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ABCLAF Logo This Kataang one-shot takes place in The Avatar State.



Chapter Fifty-Two: Deep in Thought[]

He sits up suddenly, his heart racing wildly; putting two fingers on the place just above the pounding drum in his chest, he can feel it pulsating against his hand.

He shudders, looks around, sighs in relief; he is in the belly of the ship.

I'm safe.

He attempts to slow his breathing.

I don't want to wake up the others. I don't want to wake up Katara.

He slips easily off of the hammock, but every breath is a gale now, every step an earthquake.

That . . . was that me? In the Avatar State?

His hands are sweaty on the rope ladder, and he almost slips, but he somehow manages to continue.

Behind him, he can hear her, his love, his angel, calling for him.

"Aang?"

He imagines that her lips tremble as she says his name, as if it is music to her.

He knows that when he whispers, "Katara," he feels as if a burden has been lifted.

I can't let her see me like this, upset, afraid.

Scrambling onto the deck, he steadies himself on the railing as the boat rocks back and forth on the turbulent waves, much like the turmoil within his own head. His hands grasping the wood so tightly, the palms of his hands burn with pain.

He pretends not to notice.

How can he notice?

"Do you want to talk about it?"

His angel.

Yes. Katara. I want you to come here, and I want you to hold me, and I want you to tell it's going to be okay.

"Nah," he murmurs. "Just a nightmare."

She is next to him, watching him. He glances up at the moon, thinking of the Moon Spirit, of the last time he was in the Avatar State.

The Avatar State.

"I was in the Avatar State . . ." he whispers, more to himself than to her, "but I was outside my body . . . watching myself.

"It was scary."

He swallows, hearing the fear and confusion in his voice.

"I was scary."

He feels her hand on his shoulder, and he presses against her.

"I'm just worried that one of these days . . . I'm going to hurt you, Katara," he mumbles, the words dropping between like heavy stones.

She gathers him into her arms, and he comes willingly, feeling the need to be held. "You'd never hurt me, Aang. You're too peaceful for that."

A spasm passes through his body. "But I've hurt so many others! Why not you? I just can't control myself!" he cries in anguish, his hold on the railing intensifying until he hears the sudden snap. He pauses, and then his voice is barely audible. "See?"

She gently kisses his forehead. "Aang . . . ssh, ssh. It's going to be okay."

He leans into her embrace, resting his chin in the crook of her arm, and he closes his eyes.

He can feel the tears on his cheeks.

Notes[]

201 is just one of my most-used chapters. That and 309, though 201 may be topping it.

I added more dialogue to the scene because I feel like the current version isn't very . . . uh . . . yeah. Conclusive.

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For the collective works of the author, go here.

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