Chapter Text
Prologue
Katara fingers her mother's necklace before tying it around her neck. She takes care to cover most of it with her hair then pulls on her coat with the fur trim hood.
Outside, Aang is waiting with a dutiful smile and as she draws near, holds his arm out. But her mind is busy and it isn't long until she lets go, pointing out the otter penguins to avoid questions. Aang laughs and chatters away about the last time they were in the South Pole. Walking through her village, Katara doesn't notice she has pulled ahead until a hand slips into hers pulling her from the war in her head. It brings her back to reality and she sighs, her decision made.
"Katara, what's wrong?" Aang asks.
"Aang, I think we should break up." She says at the same time.
Aang's brows pop up in shock but before he can reply she continues.
"It's not you, it's-" she tries to explain but breaks off at his crossed arms and creased forehead. She turns away, unable to look at him.
"Look, Aang, people change, they get…" she trails off, staring down at her hands clutching her coat.
Aang is quiet.
Then orange fills her vision, large hands cup her face and lips meet hers. She melts into him. Her first love. Her other half.
"No!" She yells, ripping herself away, more for herself than him.
"What is wrong with you?!" Aang bursts.
Katara is silent as she stares at him, his immediate regret evident on his face. But his words filter through her distraught brain and proceed to light her fuse.
"I am trying to do THE RIGHT THING!"
"By breaking up with me? How is that the right thing?" he asks in hurt and confusion.
She deflates. Finally understanding that there is no way around it. She smoothes her hands down her sides.
"I got my soulmark," Katara said, "and it isn't air nomad."
She hangs her head, waiting.
Nothing.
But the ghost of a hand brushing the tears from her cheek before leaving on a light breeze.
"Yip-yip." She hears from a distance and looks up in time to see Aang seated on Appa, flying away from the Southern Water Tribe, taking her heart with him.