Chapter 8

I was super excited to write this chapter, so it's extra long. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters!

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Aang walked into his room and sat down on his bed letting out a sigh. Is this a date?, Aang thought to himself, No, Katara is just a friend. Just then Zuko walked out of the bathroom and turned towards Aang.

"Aang, I'm going down to the bending field, You wanna come? We can spar!" Zuko asked him, hoping to see his Airbending in person.

"Yeah, sure why not." Aang said standing hope. He was hoping this would get his mind off of Katara.

"Now, this I've gotta see," Sokka said, shooting up, "I'll ask the girls if they want to come!". Before Aang could protest Sokka was already out the door.

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Suki was laying down on her bed when she heard the pounding on her door. She jumped up startled and walked towards the door. The other girls stood up too, curious who was at the door.

Suki opened the door to find her boyfriend standing there with Aang and Zuko in the hallway behind him. Before Suki could say a word Sokka was already talking, typical.

"We're going to the practice field so Aang and Zuko can fight!" Sokka said.

"Spar!" Zuko cut in.

"Yeah, Spar, whatever, you guys wanna come?" Sokka asked, referring to the whole group of girls. Toph was the first to walk out the door.

"I'm always down to watch someone get pummeled." She told them with an evil grin on her face.

Suki was next out the door. "Sounds like fun." She said, grabbing onto her boyfriend's arm.

Finally Katara and Mai looked at each other, sighed, and walked out the door, closing it behind them. Mai walked over and took Zuko's hand in hers and they all started down the hallway and to the field. As they were walking Aang noticed Katara looking at him.

"I didn't think I'd see you til' 6." He said, humor in his voice.
"Yeah, but I guess nothing we do really goes according to plan, huh?" She said in the same tone. If only she knew, Aang thought to himself.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Katara asked him seemingly out of nowhere.

"What do you mean" Aang asked with a confused look on his face.

"Fighting Zuko, are you sure it's a good idea? Zuko is a really strong Firebender. I just don't want to see you get hurt!" She told him, anxiety evident in her voice. Aang stopped and put his hands on her shoulders.

He looked her in the eye's and said, "Katara I'll be fine, just trust me, Okay?"

"Okay, I trust you. Just please be careful." She told him, Still feeling scared for him.

"I promise!" He told the worried girl. She hugged him and they continued walking.

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Aang and Katara caught up with the group as they made it to the field. It was a big oval shaped field with large bleachers on either side. Zuko made his way out to the field and the rest of the group up into the bleachers, leaving Aang and Katara.

Katara pulled Aang into another hug and whispered goodluck into his ear. Katara pulled away from the hug and Aang walked around, he turned around and gave Katara a quick wink right before he walked onto the field. Katara blushed and made her way up the bleachers to her friends. Katara sat down next to Toph who was standing so that she could feel the vibrations and "see" the fight. Just then Aang and Zuko both took off their shirts to prepare for the battle. Before they left, Aang had changed into a pair of black gym shorts as he didnt feel like fighting in sweatpants. Katara, Mai, and Suki all blushed at the sight of the shirtless boys. Although she was with Sokka and loved him, even she could admit the boys were attractive. Luckly, Sokka was too busy to notice his girlfriend's blush.

Once the two boys were ready and in their fighting stances Sokka initiated the fight.

"Ready, Set, Fight!"

Zuko came out swinging immediately which Aang had expected. Aang knew that Firebenders were very strong offensive fighters, afterall he was one himself. Knowing that Zuko would make the first attack, Aang jumped high into the air in order to avoid the fire. Zuko formed a Firewhip and attempted to grab Aang out of the air. Seeing it coming, Aang shot a gust of air out of his leg in a sweeping motion which redirected the flames back towards Zuko. Aang landed on the ground as Zuko saved himself from his own flames. Aang took a defensive stance and calculated his opponent's next move. Zuko brought his leg up and kicked a large fireball towards Aang. The Airbender, knowing he couldn't get out of the way of the fire, took a deep breath and blew out a strong gust of wind that put out the fire. Aang decided it was his turn to go on the offensive and rushed towards the Firebender. He stopped at close range and they began to do hand to hand bending. To anyone but them it looked like they weren't even bending. Zuko would swipe towards Aang with a small amount of fire and he would extinguish it. Zuko dropped to his knees and spun his leg in a sweeping movement and generated a large enough flame to send Aang flying back. The Airbender hit the ground and quickly recovered, ignoring the large burn on his right leg. He rushed towards Zuko at full Airebnder speed and jumped kicking and punching into the air, sending a hurricane force wind towards Zuko knocking him to the ground and sliding several feet. Aang finished the fight by leaping into the air and standing over his opponent, palm extended ready to strike. Zuko admitted defeat and Aang extended his arm to help him up. Zuko grabbed the boy's forearm and stood up. They both laughed and gave each other a quick sweaty bro-hug. They turned and saw their friends running towards them. Zuko pulled Mai into a hug while Sokka patted him on the back. Katara, tackled Aang into a hug Aang winced in pain when she accidentally hit his new burn.

"Aang your leg!" Suki called out when she noticed the large burn.

They all looked over to see it. It was a large red burn, with the skin around it melted and charred.

"I'm so sorry Aang! I didn't mean to, I swear!" Zuko told the boy, Regret obvious in his voice.

"Zuko, It's fine. Plus it's not like it's my first one anyways!" He told the boy, hoping to calm his nerves about hurting his friend. It was then that Katara noticed the large scar on his back. Nobody asked about it and Katara spoke up.

"Regardless of whether it's your first scar or not, let me try something!" She reached for her water bottle and opened it pulling out an orb of water and molded it around her hands. The water began to glow as it touched Aang's burn. A moment later Katara pulled her hands away and the burn was gone. Aang sat there shocked.

"I didn't know you could heal." Katara told her, amazed at her ability.

"Well, you never asked." She responded in a playful tone. They just looked at each other, taking in the view until they were interrupted by Mai clearing her throat.

"Well, if we're done here, can we go back to the dorms now?" Mai asked, sounding as bored as usual.

Everybody nodded and began to walk back to the dorms. Katara pulled out her phone and checked the time 5:50. She looked over at Aang who was also checking the time.
"No sense in going back to the dorms now, ready to go?" She asked him.

"Sounds good to me, I'm starving!" He said, realizing how much he sounded like Sokka.

"Well that's what happens when you skip breakfast and walk out on lunch!" She teased and they both laughed. They found a table and sat down and ate together. Just the two of them.

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They did this every night for a week. School days went by, assignments were completed, Aang and Katara grew closer, and everyday Aang felt more guilty about the secret he was keeping from her. That particular day they walked into the Cafeteria to find it was really busy. They grabbed their food and looked around for a table and when they couldn't find one another idea popped into Aang's mind.

He walked over to one of the lunch ladies and asked her a question. The lady disappeared and came back a moment later with a box. Aang walked back over to the confused waterbender.

"Give me your food!" He told Katara.

Katara handed him her dinner and Aang placed it in the box before sliding both their meals in his backpack and zipping it up.

Aang turned to her with a smile on his face and said, "Follow me!" He turned around and took off out the door. Katara, still confused, ran after him, yelling for him to slow down.when they finally reached the dorms Aang bolted up the stairs with Katara still behind him. He ran down the hallway and right into his room, leaving Katara there wondering what was happening. As Katara was about to knock on their door, it opened and Aang was standing in the doorway. He walked out and grabbed Katara's hand, telling her to come on. They ran outside and up the stairs until they made it to the roof entrance. Aang opened the door and led them both out onto the roof. They both stood there for a moment and took in the fresh air.

Finally Katara turned to Aang and said, "Aang it's really nice up here, but I thought we were gonna have dinner?"

"We are!" He told her with a cute grin that left her even more confused. Aang slung off his backpack and opened it up before pulling out a blanket. He laid out the blanket and then took out their meals before patting the spot next to him and telling Katara to sit down. Realizing what he did Katara sat down next to him and the two began to eat in silence. When they were finally done eating they both laid back and started to star gaze.

After a long silence Aang finally spoke up, "Katara I'm really sorry about last week." Aang had felt guilty about how he had been acting the week prior and could no longer hide it from her.

"What do you have to be sorry for?" She said laughing at his random comment.

"Between the morning with Jet, and lunch when I ran off. I just feel like I've only been here a week and I'm already messing things up." He told her, tears beginning to form in the corner of his eyes. He sat up and wiped away his tears, hoping Katara wouldn't notice them.

Katara sat up too, taking his hands in hers and said, "Aang you've got it all wrong. That morning you saved me, when Jet grabbed me I froze, but you stepped in and you protected me. I was only scared because I care about you so much and it hurt me to see you like that. The same thing at lunch, I didn't want you feeling alone, because I care for you." At this point tears began to form in Katara's eyes as well. "Aang, I care too much about you to let you feel hurt when I can help. So please no more secrets, okay?" She asked him.

It was then that Aang made up his mind, no more hiding. He couldn't keep his secret from her any longer. Aang stood up and pulled his hands away from hers leaving her shocked. He walked over to the ledge and began to stare out at the forest. Katara sensing that he was upset walked over to help him. She went to place a hand on her back but Aang caught her wrist and let go of it shortly after.

He turned to face her and looked her dead in her captivating blue eyes and said, "How can you care for someone you don't really know?"

"Aang what are you talking about?" Katara asked him with a tear running down her cheek.

Aang turned so he wouldn't have to see her cry. This was already hard enough. "Katara you don't really know me. I've been keeping a secret since I came here because I was scared you would treat me differently if you knew the truth, but now it hurts too much to keep you in the dark." Katara just stared at him with pleading eyes, eyes begging to know the truth. Eyes full of tears. "Katara when we first met and you asked me why an Airbender was taking a waterbending class, and I told you that it's because the techniques are similar. I lied to you. Im taking a waterbending class because I'm a waterbender."

"Aang, I don't understand, you're an Airbender. I've seen you Airbend!" Katara told him, thoroughly confused.

"I know, and I am an Airbender, but I'm also a Waterbender... and a Firebender... and an Earthbender." Aang told her, sounding ashamed of what he had said.

"Aang, what are you saying?" Katara asked him as she couldn't believe what he was telling her.

"Katara... I'm the Avatar." Aang told her with a sigh of despair. She stepped away from him and tried to gather her surroundings. She could tell by his tone that he was sincere but how could he be. Aang figured this would happen. When people find out he's the Avatar they either leave or treat him like royalty, and he wasn't sure which he hated more. Accepting his fate Aang turned around and began to walk away. He stopped when he felt Katara's hand grab his wrist. With no time to react, Katara pulled him back and swung him around to face her, and finally pressed her lips to his. Fireworks began to go off in Aang's mind, he had so many questions but just leaned into the kiss.

After a moment they both slowly pulled away and Aang spoke first, "Okay, now I'm really confused."

Katara giggled and took his hands in hers before saying, "Aang when I first met you I knew there was something special about you. I thought that maybe it was that you're an Airbender, but I quickly realized it was something more than that. Now that you've told me you're the Avatar I can say with complete certainty that that's not it either. Aang what makes you so special is who you are, not Avatar Aang, but Aang. You are the most caring, and thoughtful person I know and I realize now what my heart was telling me the day we met. Aang I really like you, and I really want to be with you!"

Aang was shocked, he couldn't believe he just heard those words come out of Katara's mouth. Slowly a smile formed on the Avatar's face and he spoke, "Katara, I didn't tell you sooner because... I was scared of losing you.I thought if you knew the truth you would see me in a different light. I realize now how stupid that was and I'm so sorry. Katara I really like you too, and I really want to be with you!"

"Then that settles it, Avatar Aang will you be my boyfriend?" She asked him in a playful tone.

Aang laughed. "Only if you promise not to call me Avatar Aang!"

"You've got yourself a deal!" She said. Aang pulled his new girlfriend into a hug and they both blushed. They slowly pulled away and looked each other in the eyes before sealing the moment with a kiss. However this kiss was much different than the last one. This one wasn't a way to silence one another; it was instead a way to tell each other how they felt without saying a word. If this was a dream then they never wanted to wake up.

They finally pulled away and Katara spoke, "What are we going to tell the others?"

With a new confidence, Aang said, "The truth."

"Good because I've got a plan." she told him and began to explain her plan.

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After packing up their stuff and walking down the stairs, Aang and Katara strode down the hallway hand in hand. Katara had sent the group a text saying to meet in the boys room. As they made it to the room Aang took a deep breath and they walked in, still holding hands. Everyone turned to see the new couple walk in the door and Zuko was the first to speak up, noticing they were holding hands.

"Well, I guess we know what this meeting is about." He said with a sly grin on his face. They both blushed and Sokka stood up getting ready to say something before Katara cut him off.

"We have an announcement, " She started, finishing the sentence quickly she said, "Aang and I are dating, and he's the Avatar." The group remained silent and just sat there, mouths open wide, until Toph finally broke the silence.

"What did you just say?" She asked the couple.

"Aang and I are dating." The waterbender restated.

"No, after that." Suki interrupted.

"Oh yeah, Aang's the Avatar." She said, a bit of pride in her voice. Everyone looked over to Aang and he gave a forced grin.

"Surprise." He said faintly.

Finally Sokka jumped in, "It's obvious that they are trying to deflect from the fact that they're dating by saying something as crazy as Aang being the Avatar!"

Finally Katara turned to her boyfriend with a smile and said, "Go on, do the thing."

With a smile Aang said, "If you insist!" and bent down to give her a big kiss on the cheek. Everyone just rolled their eyes except for Sokka who looked like he was going to throw up.

Laughing Katara said, "That wasn't part of the plan, now do the thing!"

"Fine!" Aang said with a slight chuckle. Everyone looked at Aang and he extended his fist. When he opened his palm a small flame was burning in the center of it. Everyone let out a gasp and sat there, mouths open. Except for Sokka. For Sokka, seeing the boy firebend made the room become dizzy and started to get dark and all of  sudden he hit the ground. Sokka just fainted.

To Be Continued...