****Subaru71077: For those who have already read today's chapter, I just combined it with this one. Nothing new was added or removed.
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Katara watched the two in silence for a few seconds before asking what had been echoing in her head, "What... are you two doing?"
Ikari and Sokka turned to her at the same time, as if only just now noticing her presence. Ikari gave a soft smile, nodding calmly, while Sokka, still a bit clumsy in the snow, exclaimed, "Katara!" He stood up quickly, brushing snow off his face with a grimace. "What are you doing here?"
"I came… looking for you," Katara replied hesitantly, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of the scene. The image of Sokka charging at Ikari with a spear still echoed in her mind, and now here they were, acting like nothing out of the ordinary had happened. "What are you doing?" she asked again, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of irritation.
Sokka hesitated, clearing his throat before throwing an arm around Ikari's shoulders, who was slightly taller than him. "W-we were…" He paused, puffing out his chest with an air of importance. "Exchanging combat knowledge, you know? Man stuff."
Ikari tilted his head, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "I thought you asked me to train you."
"Hey!" Sokka dropped his arm from Ikari, pointing an accusing finger at him with an indignant expression. "I said I wanted some tips! Not the same thing!"
Katara crossed her arms, staring at her brother with a look that screamed Seriously? She nearly rolled her eyes but held back. Where had all that suspicion gone — those so-called "danger instincts" he kept going on about? Now he was standing there, all friendly, as if Ikari were some old hunting buddy. Sokka and his mood swings… why do I still take him seriously?
"If you're training…" Katara pointed at the spear in Ikari's hand, frowning. "Shouldn't you be using a stick or something? What if someone gets hurt?"
Sokka blushed, scratching the back of his neck. "No one's gonna get hurt, Katara! It's… impossible to hit this guy!" He gestured toward Ikari, clearly frustrated. "He keeps using those wind magic things and dodges everything!"
"Actually," Ikari cut in, the smile never leaving his face, "I haven't used my bending at all, Sokka. You're just too bad at hitting me."
Sokka's shoulders slumped, and he muttered under his breath, barely audible, "…Why do you have to say that with a smile?"
"But don't worry!" Ikari said cheerfully, giving Sokka a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I'll help you get better. You've got potential—you just need to learn how to move."
"R-right," Sokka mumbled, clearly torn between bruised pride and a reluctant hope to learn how to fight.
'Boys are so weird,' Katara thought, noticing how somehow they were getting along. 'But that's a good thing. If he's willing to help Sokka, maybe he'll be willing to help me too!' The thought rekindled the spark of hope and excitement that had been building in her chest ever since she discovered Ikari was a bender.
Katara took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "I… hum, Ikari," she called, but the moment his eyes met hers, glowing with curiosity, Katara froze. The words she had rehearsed in her mind suddenly tangled on her tongue. "I… I mean… could you…"
Ikari tilted his head, his smile softening. "Go ahead, Katara. What's on your mind?"
She swallowed hard, feeling her face heat up under his gaze. "Could you… help me with waterbending?" she finally asked, the words coming out quickly. "I mean, you're a bender, and I… I'm not very good yet, but I can move the water, sometimes, and I thought maybe you could… you know, teach me something?" She bit her lip, nervous, waiting for an answer.
Sokka scoffed, crossing his arms. "Waterbending? Katara, you can barely lift a drop."
Katara shot a deadly glare at her brother. "Sokka, if you don't shut up, I'm throwing you into the next hole I find!"
Ikari laughed, the light sound echoing across the frozen landscape. "Easy, you two," he said, raising his hands in a calming gesture. Then he looked at Katara, his expression turning serious for the first time since the two of them had met him. "About waterbending… I'd love to help you, Katara, but I'm afraid I'm not the right person for that."
Katara blinked, disappointment tightening in her chest. "What? Why not?"
Ikari gestured to the air around him "The four elements — air, water, fire, earth — they're all different. Each has its own… rules and limits, let's say. I trained and learned to feel the air, to move with it, to let it guide me. It's light, free, always shifting."
He paused, turning his hand to create a small current of air that spiraled upward before fading. "Water is different. It flows, yes, but it has weight, a current to follow. A waterbender needs to understand the tide, feel the pull and the return, like the waves obeying the moon. To teach you, I'd have to grasp that first. But it's impossible for someone who isn't a waterbender to truly understand water. That's why I'm not the right person to teach you."
Katara listened in silence, her eyes wide, taking in every word. There was something poetic about the way Ikari spoke. Even so, the disappointment lingered. "But… you're a bender," she insisted, her voice barely a whisper. "You must know something that could help me, right?"
"I can give you a few tips. That might help you get started. But waterbending? You're going to need to find a waterbending master to teach you" He paused for a second, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. "It's a shame that, as far as I know, you're the only waterbender in the South Pole..."
"Yeah…" Katara murmured, lowering her eyes to her feet. She should be grateful and happy, right? Ikari was willing to help her, even if it was just with a few tips. That was something, wasn't it? So why did she feel so discouraged?
Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder. Katara looked up and found herself face to face with Ikari, who had approached without her noticing, his eyes glowing with something warmly intense. "Don't get discouraged, Katara. Everything in this world has a path. Some are long, others filled with stones, but all of them lead somewhere. If you stop at the first difficulty, the first obstacle, you'll never find out where that path could take you. And I know, just by looking at you, that you're not the kind of person who gives up."
He tilted his head, his smile returning—this time with a hint of challenge. "You're going to find your path. And when you walk it, you'll have become such a powerful waterbender that even the Fire Lord will tremble."
Katara felt her heart quicken, Ikari's words reigniting the flicker of determination that had been wavering in her chest. 'He believes in me. Even without really knowing me.' She straightened her shoulders, chin lifting with newfound resolve, her eyes shining with a mix of gratitude and fire. "Thank you, Ikari," she said, her voice steady now. "You're right. I won't give up. I will become a great waterbender someday."
Sokka, who had been watching the exchange with crossed arms, snorted. "Wow, what an inspiring speech, Mister Wind. Gonna write a poetry book next?"
Ikari laughed, removing his hand from Katara's shoulder and turning to Sokka. "Maybe. But for now, I think I'll settle for teaching you how not to fall in the snow every time you try to hit me."
"Tsk."
Katara smiled, looking at the two of them. She certainly hadn't expected any of this when she woke up that morning, but that day had, without a doubt, been one of the happiest in years.
********
Night had fallen over the village, the sky now a dark blanket speckled with shining stars. The central bonfire crackled loudly, casting dancing shadows across the faces of the villagers gathered around it. The entire village sat in a circle, their eyes fixed on Ikari, who gestured animatedly as he told one of his adventures—something about escaping a Fire Nation blockade. He had cut out the heavier parts for the children's sake and embellished a few moments to make it more entertaining for everyone.
Meanwhile, Katara, along with two other women, moved through the crowd, serving steaming bowls of seaweed and fish soup. The salty, comforting aroma of the food mingled with the smoky scent of the fire, creating a sense of warmth amidst the cold.
Katara carried the tray carefully, handing out the bowls while trying to catch pieces of Ikari's story. Each word he spoke seemed to ignite something inside her — curiosity, fascination, the sense that there was a much bigger world out there, full of possibilities and adventures waiting to be discovered.
When it came time for Ikari, Katara stepped closer, holding out a bowl with both hands. "Here," she said, offering the soup with a shy smile. "Don't worry, I took the fish out. I hope it's good."
Ikari took the bowl but raised an eyebrow, his expression puzzled. "Why?"
Katara blinked, surprised by the question. "Well... I thought... Air Nomads didn't eat meat? At least, that's what Gran-Gran said."
Ikari laughed. "Oh, I see. And Gran-Gran isn't wrong. The Air Nomads were vegetarians. But I'm not an Air Nomad."
Katara furrowed her brow, confused. Everyone around them seemed just as puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Ikari took a sip of the soup, seeming to consider his answer. "You see, I spent a long time alone at the Southern Air Temple. Learning all about airbending and the customs of the Air Nomads through tomes and scrolls."
He paused, his gaze drifting toward the campfire, as if he were seeing something beyond the flames. "They were peaceful, believed that all life was sacred. Violence, to them, was a last resort — and even then, never to kill, only to defend. They didn't eat meat because they saw animals as part of the same cycle as themselves. In everything, the Air Nomads sought balance with the world and with life."
"But me?" Ikari continued. "I could never live with that worldview. Pacifism, dialogue, always trying to see the best in people… those are beautiful ideas, but not in a world torn by nearly a century of war. Besides, it was exactly that way of seeing the world that led the Air Nomads to ruin—"
!!!
Ikari stopped talking, and at the same time, everyone's gaze dropped to his neck, where two large, white, furry, pointed ears had emerged from beneath the collar of his tunic. Then, a small head appeared, its big, bright eyes scanning the crowd with curiosity.
Sokka, his mouth full of soup, pointed and shouted, nearly choking, "What is that thing?!"
Ikari laughed as he gently stroked the animal's head. "So you finally decided to wake up, huh?" he said in an affectionate tone. The creature, feeling the touch, closed its eyes, purring softly. "Come on out and say hello to our new friends."
With a quick motion, the animal fully emerged from Ikari's tunic, revealing itself as a flying lemur — small and beautiful, with a slender body covered in white and brown fur. Its large, rounded ears moved constantly, catching every sound, while its big green eyes gleamed with an almost human intelligence. A long, fluffy tail swayed behind it, and it let out a small chirp, as if greeting the village.
"Everyone, this is my friend Momo," Ikari announced, gesturing with his free hand toward the lemur. "Momo, these are our new friends." The lemur tilted his head, inspecting the crowd with curiosity before locking eyes on the bowl of soup in Ikari's other hand, then made a quick leap to try and steal a sip.
"Hey, hold on there, you little thief! That's mine." Ikari pulled the bowl away as Momo squeaked in protest, drawing laughter from the children around the fire. Ikari looked at Katara, who was staring at the lemur with a mix of fascination and surprise. "Katara, could you bring a bit of soup for my little buddy here? No fish, please."
"Y-yeah, sure," Katara replied, still a bit stunned by the lemur's presence. She turned and walked quickly toward the soup pot.
As Katara stepped away, Gran-Gran approached Ikari, her wrinkled eyes shining. "May I?" she asked, slowly raising her hand toward Momo, who watched her with curiosity.
"Of course," Ikari replied gently. "Just go slowly."
Gran-Gran carefully reached out to Momo, stroking his large, furry ears. The lemur closed his eyes and purred softly, and a smile lit up the old woman's face. "A flying lemur…" she murmured, her voice filled with emotion. "I never thought I'd see one in my lifetime. My mother used to tell stories about the Air Nomads' loyal companions, always flying by their side."
The scene seemed to inspire the children to come closer. Even the mothers, who had hesitated at first, joined in, reaching out to touch the lemur's soft fur. Momo clearly loved the attention, leaping from shoulder to shoulder.
Sokka, still catching his breath after nearly choking on his soup, pointed at Momo with a look of disbelief. "You've been walking around with that… thing inside your clothes this whole time?!"
"Hehehe," Ikari chuckled, scratching the back of his neck with a slightly embarrassed look. "Yeah. I got lost at sea for a while, and Momo here had to fly a lot searching for solid land. He really needed a good rest."
Sokka's eyes widened. "And what if I had hit him when we were fighting?!"
Ikari tilted his head with a mischievous smile. "That was never a possibility, Sokka."
"Argh! You didn't have to say that in front of everyone!"
Katara returned at that moment, carrying a small bowl of soup without fish, and stopped when she saw the group gathered around Momo. The lemur, now on one of the children's shoulders, seemed to be the center of attention, squeaking happily as he was petted. She smiled and approached Ikari. "Here," she said, handing him the bowl. "Fish-free soup, just like you asked."
"Thanks, Katara," Ikari replied, taking the bowl and placing it on the ground for Momo, who immediately jumped off the child's shoulder and began lapping up the soup eagerly. "He never misses a chance to eat," Ikari joked, winking at Katara.
Katara laughed, but her eyes didn't leave the lemur. "Can I… touch him too?" she asked, hesitant, already reaching out her hand.
"Of course, of course. Go ahead," Ikari replied, his tone encouraging.
Katara slowly brought her hand closer, gently stroking Momo's soft fur. The lemur turned his head, his green eyes meeting hers, and let out a low purr before going back to eating. "He's so… cute," Katara murmured, enchanted.
Gran-Gran, who had been watching the scene with a smile, returned to her place by the fire. "Did you find him at the Southern Air Temple?"
Ikari nodded, taking a sip of his soup. "Yes. He was the only living thing I found there," he said, his tone softening with a hint of melancholy. "The ruins were empty, except for Momo. He kind of… decided we were a duo." Momo squeaked, as if in agreement, drawing quiet laughter from those still nearby.
The group settled down again, turning their attention back to their bowls of soup, the crackling of the fire filling the silence.
After everyone finished eating, the village remained gathered for a while longer, listening to Ikari's stories until the children began to yawn, rubbing their eyes sleepily. The mothers soon began taking them to their tents, and little by little, everyone got up to sleep.
Katara led Ikari and Momo to one of the tents. The inside was simple, with the floor covered in soft furs and a folded blanket beside a small lit seal-oil lamp. "Do you think this one's good for the two of you?" Katara asked, holding the flap of the tent open as Ikari and Momo stepped in.
"It's perfect," Ikari replied, looking around with a satisfied smile as Momo jumped from his neck to the floor, sniffing the furs curiously. "Thank you, Katara. You guys really know how to welcome a traveler."
"Good to know. It's been a long time since we've had one," Katara said, stepping in as well and sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, her eyes following Ikari's movements.
He first took off the daggers from his waist, setting them carefully beside the blanket, then removed his shoes and sat on the furs—only then noticing Katara was still there. "…Do you need anything?"
"Ah!" Katara blushed, realizing she hadn't thought about leaving. She wanted to talk more, to learn more about the world, to ask all the questions bubbling in her mind. 'Idiot, idiot. Of course it's time to sleep!' She waved her arms awkwardly and replied quickly, "I–I just wanted to talk a bit more. B-but you can do that tomorrow!"
Ikari chuckled softly and gestured for her to stay. At that moment, Momo jumped into Ikari's lap, curling up against him. "It's all right, Katara. I'm not going to sleep yet anyway. We can talk a little more. What do you want to know?"
Hearing those words, the dam of questions Katara had been holding back burst open. "You don't seem to feel cold—is it because of airbending? How old are you? How did you meet my dad?—"
"Whoa, whoa. One at a time, Katara!" Ikari interrupted, amused by her enthusiasm as he scratched behind Momo's ears. "Let's see… yes, the reason I'm not cold is because of airbending. More specifically, I use a breathing technique that regulates my temperature, isolating the heat of my body against the external cold. It's something the Air Nomads used to teach to survive in high and cold places."
"Oh, that's amazing!" Katara exclaimed, fascinated. 'If he can do that with air… what could I do with water?!'
"Thank you. As for my age, I'm fourteen."
"Fourteen?" Katara blinked, surprised. "You're only a year older than Sokka! And two older than me."
"Oh? So you're the younger sister?" Ikari tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Doesn't seem like it. I could've sworn you were the older one. But don't tell Sokka that, okay?"
Katara laughed, her face blushing again. "My lips are sealed." She made a playful gesture of locking her mouth but quickly returned to the questions. "And my dad? How did you meet him?"
"I met him about three months ago, in a fishing village in the south of the Earth Kingdom. He and the others were restocking supplies before heading east. But I convinced them to join the forces of the King of Omashu for a while. Since then, we've worked together on quick strikes against detachments of the Fire Nation army."
Katara's eyes were wide as she listened, amazed by it all, but soon a tightness gripped her chest. "How long have you been fighting in the war?"
"Hmm…" Ikari thought for a moment, scratching the back of his neck. "Two years, I think."
"Two years?!" Katara exclaimed. "That means you were my age when you started!"
Ikari laughed, but there was a heaviness in his voice. "True, huh? Sounds crazy when you put it like that."
"That's not funny, Ikari!" Katara shot back, her voice a mix of worry and indignation. "You were just a child."
Ikari looked down, his smile fading, replaced by a darker expression. "True… it's true," he murmured, almost to himself.
Katara bit her lip. "Did your family accept it?"
Ikari was silent for a moment "... I don't have a family anymore. The Fire Nation took them all from me. But I'm sure none of them would have accepted it," he said finally, his voice deathly serious.
'Stupid girl! Why did I ask that?!' Katara scolded herself mentally, wishing she could take it back. "Ikari… I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..."
"It's alright," Ikari interrupted, looking up with a faint smile. "You didn't know. And… well, Momo is my family now." He ran his hand over the lemur's belly, who squeaked in response, as if in agreement.
Katara looked at Momo, then at Ikari, her heart full of a mix of sadness and admiration. He was so young, yet he carried so much — the war, the loss, the loneliness. And still, there he was, smiling, helping, fighting, bringing hope to her village. She took a deep breath, her hand moving instinctively to the necklace on her neck. "The Fire Nation… took someone from me too," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "Three years ago, they attacked the village. My mother…" She swallowed hard, tears running down her face before she could stop them. "She was killed by one of the soldiers. I… I was the last one to see her, and I couldn't do anything to help. No matter how many days pass, I still remember that day like it was yesterday, and the pain—"
"Still feels the same," Ikari finished, as if he understood exactly how she felt. "You've just learned to live with it better."
"Yeah…" Katara nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, her chest tight, but somehow lighter after sharing it.
"I'm sorry for what you went through, Katara."
"I'm sorry for what you went through too."
The two of them fell silent for a moment, the quiet of the tent filled only by the soft crackling of the lamp. Katara took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself, feeling the weight in her chest slowly ease. Then, without thinking, the words slipped out: "You know, Ikari, I could be your family—" She froze, her face turning red like the embers of the fire outside. 'WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!'
Her heart raced, and she waved her hands in a panic, trying to backtrack. "I-I mean the village! The village could be your new family! You know, all of us… Gran-Gran, Sokka, the kids… we take care of each other! We're like one big family." The words tumbled out awkwardly, tripping over each other. "L-life isn't easy, and we're always doing something to keep everything going, but we love each other a lot and we're always there for one another!"
Ikari blinked, clearly surprised, before letting out a warm laugh, the sound filling the tent for a few seconds. "Wow, Katara. Do you make this kind of offer to everyone you've known for just a day, or am I special?"
Katara blushed even harder, covering her face with her hands. "O-o-of course n-not! I just… argh!"She peeked between her fingers, seeing Momo squeak as if laughing at her. "You're not helping, Momo!" she complained to the lemur, which only made Ikari laugh even more.
"Ha ha ha… haah…"He wiped the corners of his eyes, which had grown moist from laughing so hard. "I haven't laughed like that in a long time."
"I'm not offering you anything else," Katara muttered, sulking.
"Ah, come on. I'm just joking," Ikari said with a smile before turning serious. "But… thank you. Really. That was one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me." He paused, his gaze softening. "You have a big heart, Katara. That's rare these days."
Katara lowered her hands, the blush still present. "Thank you..."
Silence returned, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Ikari shifted his eyes to the fire in the lamp, taking on a thoughtful expression for a few seconds. Then he shook his head slightly, as if pushing a thought away, and looked back at Katara. "Any more questions?"
Katara blinked twice, her mind returning to the original reason she was there. "Oh! Tell me more about the time you spent with my dad."
"Well… let me see where to start."
The two kept talking, the words flowing easily as seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. Ikari told stories about his time with Katara's father, describing battles against the Fire Nation, moments of laughter around campfires, and even the scoldings he got for being too impulsive sometimes. Katara, in turn, shared memories of her childhood in the village, stories of Sokka messing things up, and lessons from Gran-Gran.
Eventually, exhaustion won out, and, without realizing it, they both fell asleep.
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Liked it? Then you might enjoy my other stories too: Stranger Things: Worlds Collide and BNHA: God of Explosions.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.