Love boomerang



       The day of the eclipse was at hand, the Avatar’s army was ready to carry on the invasion planned out by Sokka to the fire nation as their weakest moment was at hand. The troops rallied, filled with determination.
       All carried out thanks to Sokka’s genius ideas and the mechanist’s unmatched skills. Together, they had developed a one-of-a-kind vehicle, a machine capable of moving deep underwater by employing the skills of the water benders as means to of a make-shift engine –only held back by a lack of oxygen supply.
       This setback could not be avoided, and soon; as the submarines got closer to the edges of the fire nation’s beaches, they had no choice but to resurface to replenish the air needed for the last push before the attack. The mechanist gave the order and everyone rose.
       For the meantime and with the enemy at an arm’s reach, the avatar crew had one last chance to gather their resolve, after all, their participation was key if they wished for success. The time had come yet everyone felt both ready and unprepared –specially Sokka, who had been behind this plan from the start, their victory or defeat rested heavily on his shoulders now that they were finally going into battle.
       You could see this fact take a toll on his usually cheerful nature, one that was mostly employed to keep his sister at bay with her emotions, as well as his own when it came to it. But now it was a new set of emotions which lingered on him, a more deep and complex set of feelings that no fake smile or laugh could hide, sensations that would intensify ever time death felt imminent.
       And there was no greater feel of pending doom than attacking your mortal enemy at their doorstep, especially when they were both at their weakest and strongest point.
       As these sensations stablished on him, his mind traced them back to their roots, and the realization of their nature lingered between light and darkness. A part of him wanting to embrace its fire while the other cowardly ran from it as to pretend it wasn’t there at all.
       As they were explored, it came clear that he had been fighting against them for a while, since every time they made themselves present, he would vent them through his extreme flirtatious behaviour towards any girl that gave him some resemblance of attention –but even then, there was no denying that she was behind these intense intentions: His sister.
       For they were always at their strongest point when she was around.
       He raised her since the very beginning, even before the fire nation attacked the water tribe and killed their mother. And he kept doing so as he grew alongside her, maturing and naturing these feelings more and more with each passing day.
       It was now impossible for him to ignore that for so many years, he had always been developing this attraction for her, one that went above and beyond simple brotherhood or familiar bonds.
       Then comes the avatar, who would also seek in Katara a resemblance of love, her motherly nature quickly finding its way to Aang’s heart.
       As expected, this caused some tension with Sokka, no matter how much he denied it. Seeing them grow closer together with each passing day made him feel like he was being robbed of her sister and no matter how much he made fun of him or pushed him around, Katara would ultimately choose Aang over him on these disputes.
       So, as he glanced towards the intimidating horizon, he knew he had to take his chance; he would either declare his true feelings or let the avatar have his way to her.
       —Everyone! Listen up! —Said Hakoda referring to his crew—. The next time we resurface it will be on the beaches. So, stay alert and fight smart. Now break time is over, back inside, now!
       The words coming from his father felt like a bucket of ice-cold water for Sokka, the battle was close at hand and once they touched land, there would be no turning back. He had to take his wishes head on and confront them once and for all.
       So, he approached Katara and holding her hand he looked into her eyes with a funny but truthful smile, just like the ones he always had whenever it was time to cheer his sister up.
       —Hey… Are you ready Sokka? —Katara asked him—. Not sure I am.
       —I think so… I have to…
       —I just hope Aang can come through in the end with the fire lord, or else all will be for nothing.
       —I’m sure he will but… there is something I wanted to ask before we dive again… And no, it can’t wait.
       —Uh? What is it, Sokka? —She giggled—. You are rarely this nervous.
       —Is just that… in case we don’t make it-
       —We will make it Sokka.
       —I know! But in case we don’t, I wanted you to know that… well… that I… you know, love you.
       —I love you too Sokka. —Katara giggled again—.
       —Not like that! —Sokka seemed under the weather now—. I mean, I love you. As in… more than just my sister, I don’t know since when, but I’ve always done it, I love you Katara.
       Katara was confused by Sokka’s words, but he couldn’t be any clearer with his intent given the context of his words and somehow, she knew it. She was aware of what he meant but couldn’t really circle herself around it to understand why he felt that way, or how was she able to understand his feelings for her.
       Their relationship was more or less like any other sister-brother bond out there, based on mutual love and hate one would expect of two beings that know each other since birth, so she couldn’t really see what triggered these unique emotions of romantical interest.
       At least she was sure the feelings were not mutual, right? Otherwise, why would she be so hesitant on her answer? It was as if Sokka’s words were triggering something inside her.
       —Sokka! Katara! I’m not going to repeat myself! —Hakoda interrupted, unaware of what was said between the two—.
       On the other side of the submarine was Aang, who also wanted a word with Katara to express his own feelings for her, but just as he was ready to do so he was able to hear Sokka confess his own and could not believe it when Katara struggled to respond. How was she unable to reject her own brother was beyond him, and quickly he assumed she felt the same. Heartbroken he simply returned to the submarine’s quarters.
       He always knew he wanted to be with her and was constantly thinking of telling her about his feelings one of these days, but now he felt like the wait was for nothing, or he had waited for too long. Now his chances to confess were gone, like fire goes to ashes.
       Lastly, Toph, who wasn’t aware of these events, could still tell something was off with the others. Her earth bending skills had gifted her with a catalogue of different abilities like sensing someone’s heart or intentions based on the vibrations of their bodies. So, even if she could not tell what had occurred, she knew Aang was hurt and the water tribe siblings troubled.
       But, with nothing more left to say, everyone submerged once more and the invasion continued as planned, storming the beaches of the fire nation by surprise as the hordes of benders and warriors stormed whatever resistance they found in their way with a single objective in mind, helping Aang reach the fire lord during the eclipse so he could take him down at his weakest.
       Unfortunately, this plan would not come to fruition and the avatar’s crew would have to make a run for it and escape while most of their peers got captured by the fire nation. Flying away in Appa, they now hide on an old air temple in the west.
       But while they try to rest and regroup, a familiar face hunts them. Prince Zuko, who once aimed to capture the avatar, was now trying to find a way to be accepted as an ally in order to help Aang defeat the fire lord and restore balance once and for all. Who knows how things will turn out, but he’s willing to try, for his sake, and the sake of the world they live in.
       As for the meantime, back with the gang. While some explored the temple, Sokka and Katara seemed to have trouble looking at each other –Sokka tried to capture her glance while Katara seemed to avoid it at every chance.
       It looked like neither of them knew what was really going on with each other’s feelings. And in the middle of it all was Aang, still conflicted with himself and how he couldn’t confess in time. But, as time would show there was a fourth victim, Toph.
       She was in love with Sokka, or at least that is what she thought, never having felt like that before troubled her mind and her heart, but no other answer explained the reactions her body had every time he was with her.
       She admired him, a warm-hearted man that was always thinking of ways to turn every fight around and into their favour, supporting her on her mischievous actions towards Aang or Katara like a long-lost brother, nothing compared to him.
       But, seeing how Sokka’s heart reacted to Katara confused her, it was just like hers when he was around. So maybe she simply felt the same connection a sister feels for her brother, right? Unaware of Sokka’s intentions with Katara, she would remain ignorant not only of the romantic nature of their bond but of the meaning behind her own feelings for him.
       —Let’s check this place out! —Yelled Teo, Haru and The Duke in unison—.
       —You guys go, I think we need to talk about some things. —Sokka mentioned with hurt in his voice as he looked over to Katara—.
       Katara, on the other hand, did not want to talk –but given Sokka was rarely this serious, she knew there was no avoiding the conversation and she even knew what he wanted, an answer to his proposal. But whatever could she say? Yes? To begin a relationship with him, her own brother? Her heart couldn’t find a place to be as it skipped a beat.
       Just like with Sokka, she also had some feelings towards him, he who always protected her, cared for her and tried his best to keep her happy even in the worst of times. Whom after their mother’s death remained positive just to make sure he could at least protect her smile another day.
       Katara had never been more confused in her life than when Sokka exposed his feelings to her. She loved her brother deeply, but him being her family made it a concept riddled with conflict, which made the idea of a relationship with someone she grew up with terrifying. But then again, Sokka was different –he was kind, loving, and fierce whenever anyone threatened her. And yet, despite these thoughts racing through Katara’s mind, something within her stirred and refused to ignore the fluttery feeling she got whenever their eyes met.
       She felt torn apart by her emotions. She didn’t want to hurt Sokka or disappoint him. But at the same time, the thought of sharing her heart with him brought invisible tears to her eyes. It seemed impossible to accept or reject either option; she felt trapped in this web of emotions that tangled her up beyond control.
       With every second, tensions built between the two siblings while they grappled with their emotions.
       Finally, after what felt like an eternal silent turmoil, Katara broke the silence while taking a seat beside the fountain that stood near the entrance. She still didn’t feel ready to tell Sokka about her inner turbulent struggle, but together, maybe they could come to an answer.
       —Are you sure, Sokka? —Said Katara—.
       Sokka nodded in agreement. 
       —With every inch of my body.
       —But you know this is wrong.
       —But we can still make it right! —Sokka looked unbothered by the obvious implications of his request—.
       —I… I still don’t know Sokka…
       —Then let’s at least try! Little by little!
       He understood that going at a slower pace was the only way forward with how much resistance his sister was putting in the way of her words, though it wasn’t easy, he was more than ready to try.
       In the meantime, Aang just kept spying from a distance. Unable to listen to their words but able to make assumptions based on their body language.
       —Ok… —Katara subsided to Sokka’s wishes—. But we will keep it at the lowest possible level, and no talking about it with anyone until this gets resolved.
       —Deal! —Sokka’s dorky smile reached from cheek to cheek, finally launching himself to her with a strong hug—.
       —Until then we need to focus on what to do next.
       —Well, I guess Aang should be here then, since he’s the avatar and stuff…
       As they agreed to start this uncanny relationship, the hardships of reality had to set back in as a new plan was needed if they were to defeat the fire nation and rescue their friends and family from prison.
       Once everyone was reunited, the conversations about the war continued:
       —So, what’s the new plan? —Asked Aang with his glance directed to the floor beneath him—.
       —Well, if you ask me the new plan is the old plan. —Sokka began talking, his body leaning towards Katara as he talked, as if trying to keep her eyes on him—. You just need to master all four elements and confront the fire lord before the comet comes.
       —Oh yhea, that’s great… —Aang couldn’t bear to watch the scene, feeling like Sokka was making fun of him with Katara—. No problem! I’ll just do that!
       —Aang, no one said it’s gonna be easy… —Katara tried to calm him down—.
       —Well, it’s not even gonna be possible! Who’s gonna teach me fire bending anyways?
       Silence engulphed the atmosphere once again as neither had an idea of how Aang could master fire bending to begin with, and he was so fed up with seeing Sokka get all touchy and close with Katara he simply wanted out of the conversation as soon as possible. So, angered with the situation and with himself for putting up with his failure to court his only love he stood up; grabbed his glider and walked away with a single excuse:
       —I guess that if there’s no way, I’ll just explore the temple.
       Meanwhile, Toph kept tabs on Sokka’s and Katara’s demeanour as she began to suspect. Not only because of their sudden change of emotional distress when together, but also the painfully obvious attitude Aang kept throwing at them every time they were near each other, he was terrible at being subtle, and anyone who spent five minutes with him would learn of his feelings towards Katara, so no matter how oblivious she was about what Sokka and Katara were doing, she was able to feel something between the two; even more so than the two siblings themselves, solely based on Aang’s responses.
       —Well, I guess we’re doomed then. —Toph asked annoyed by everyone’s attitudes—.
       —He’ll snap out of it. —Sokka reassured her, his voice leaking some of his true nature as he felt victorious over Katara’s possession—.
       All while Katara only felt guilt. Not even sure why she should feel guilty for, but guilty either way.
       
       ***
       
       As the day continued to pass, Sokka’s approaches to Katara continued, and even though both were hesitant to do anything, that did not stop him from trying over and over. From caressing her back to holding her hand or helping her with setting up the rooms in the temple.
       At first, Katara would try to ignore him, but as he grew persistent, she would shift to gentle smiles and occasional blushes to even putting her hand over his whenever Sokka hold her by any part of her body –if he grabbed her shoulder, she would put her hand on his; if he grabbed her hand, she would grab his with the other. Little by little she would feel more and more liberated on how she interacted with Sokka, and Sokka would feel more and more entitled to even more frisky actions. At least until Katara felt that they were going too fast and requested him to tone it back down again; something that happened on a cycle.
       So, while Aang, Toph and the others investigated the temple, Sokka would initiate playful interactions with Katara such as caressing her waist with fake tickles or by brushing her hair with his fingers.
       As the gang made themselves at home, he would help Katara around while brushing his hand near hers, taking his fingers near her lips when she was trying out the food, claiming to “also want a taste”, this kept happening all while Katara did her best not to secretly enjoy these gestures. Sokka was so blatant it was begging to become a miracle that no one was yet made aware.
       This would repeat in a cycle until a strange noise made by Appa alerted everyone to the temple’s entrance.
       —Who’s there? —Katara shouted to the air—.
       Suddenly it was clear who the intruder was, prince Zuko. Everyone was in shock, and even began to feel fear deep inside –yet no one dared move or talk.
       —Hello! —Zuko finally broke the weird silence—. Zuko here.
       And as if his words were a counter spell, everyone’s surprise banished as one by one assumed battle positions, ready to attack Zuko at any moment given the chance.
       —Hey… I heard you guys flying around down here so… —Zuko continued, trying to sound peaceful—.
       After a long explanation, Zuko revealed to the team he wanted to do good for a change and confessed his crimes as a form of atonement of his past misdeeds; but regardless of his efforts no one took his side, no one except Toph.
       ***
       
       Later that night, while everyone rested peacefully, Sokka would once again try to get Katara to respond to his actions. He was thrilled with the excitement of dating his own sister, but Katara was not, instead she was afraid that one wrong move and everyone would know of their status. Still, a part of her kept caving in, seemingly against her own will, yet consensual.
       —Sokka, this isn’t slow.
       —I know, I just can’t help it! Look, at least let me hold you.
       —I still can’t believe you got everyone to ignore the fact we share the room, having a whole temple for us.
       —That’s because no one cares about what we do, c’mon.
       —Ok… —Katara cave in—. We can cuddle, but no funny ideas!
       —It’ll be like when we were kids, I promise.
       Like so, they would share the bed close together, and although Sokka would position himself in a way that looked rather compromising, he kept his word and only hold her sister with a firm hug, making sure their bodies were close but not too much. Then they would spend the night like so until the next morning.
       During this time, Toph, who still believed on Zuko’s words; tried to visit him in the forest, getting hurt by accident by Zuko’s fire bending in the process and further imposing fear on the rest of the gang once she returned the next day with her feet burnt. To further worsen things, the assassin Zuko had sent for the avatar had returned; and just as Katara was done trying to heal Toph’s feet and Sokka planned on the idea of capturing the prince, he attacked and by the time the fight was over thanks to a well-placed boomerang attack from Sokka and a killing blow from Zuko (who at all times tried to aid the avatar), everyone was back to square one, with the prince apologizing once more and trying to explain himself as a new man. To which the team decided once and for all to let him get his chance.
       That same day both Sokka and Katara approached Zuko on his new chambers. But while Sokka’s approach was light-hearted and friendly, Katara’s was direct and violent, something that triggered the first ever confrontation between the two after starting their relationship.
       —I can’t believe we are allowing him in the group!
       —Me neither, but he did save us, and Aang needs a fire bending master to teach him.
       —Is that why you even welcomed him personally?
       —Well, one of us had to be friendly, how else can we be sure he’s being honest?
       Sokka tried to calm Katara by hugging her from behind, placing his hands around her shoulder and resting his head next to hers, but the more she thought about it the angrier she would get.
       —That’s the thing Sokka, I don’t think he’s being honest.
       —If that’s the case then we deal with him.
       —I also think we should be more reserved around the others. If he finds out, who knows what he could plan.
       —Please, he clearly doesn’t know love even if it hit him in the head. We are safe.
       Sokka tried to go for a kiss, but Katara only gave him her cheek.
       —I mean it Sokka.
       The following day Zuko began his teachings but realized that his fire bending was being hurt by unknow forces or reasons beyond his understanding, so after another group conversation that night, it was quickly suggested to him that he should try to find the source of his bending, taking both Aang and Zuko to a journey of their own.
       
       ***
       
       The following morning, after Zuko and Aang left the air temple, Sokka returned to his usual teasing towards Katara, who was still trying to resist against his courting, little by little caving into them instead.
       Now every time he held her hand her heart would race, every time he hugged from behind, she would lean her head against his, and every time they were close to each other their hearts would skip a beat and rise in unison.
       With every action, the next time their lips met each other, the closer they would get. Still unable to touch, but slowly getting there as time went on.
       —I wonder how Aang is doing… —Katara would ponder as Sokka caressed her waist—.
       —He’s the avatar, whatever is happening over there I’m sure he’s fine.
       Sokka would then continue to try and play with her, to which as time went on, seemed to become more and more welcomed by Katara who was still afraid of the taboo that they were indulging in, but at the same time would start to associate with his brother’s love and care.
       There was no denying that their relationship was finally begging to bloom and even when Katara was still hesitant to formalize it, Sokka would instead find ways to indulge on his sister without triggering her fears. By now it had become a strategic play on fake and pretend that would in the end benefit both until Aang’s return.
       
       ***
       
       —That’s a great dance you two. —Sokka made fun of them—.
       —It’s not a dance! It’s a fire bending form! —Zuko felt offended—.
       —We’ll just tap dance our way to victory against the fire lord I suppose.
       —It’s a sacred form of bending that just so happens to be thousands of years old! —Zuko approached Sokka with anger—.
       —And how did you say this form was called again? —Katara jumped in—.
       —The dancing dragon…
       Finally, everyone but Zuko and Aang laughed.
       The following days where uneventful, Toph kept tabs on Sokka, Aang kept looking at Katara from a distance as Sokka would remain always near her at all times like a predator keeping tabs on its prey, and Zuko would keep trying to teach Aang as much fire bending as he could.
       The tension kept building up and up as the relation between siblings looked for new ways to flourish. It seemed as if the secret wasn’t really a secret anymore and yet it was. The conundrum of their actions seemed to be forever lost in translation as no one was truly able to read between the lines of their affection.
       Eventually, of course, things would die a little and everyone would go back to the issues at hand regarding the war, starting with Sokka, who despite it all, still was interested on helping his father, who was captured by the fire nation after the failed invasion.
       He would question Zuko about it, who told him chances were he was at The Boiling Rock, the worst prison of them all, with the toughest security and the harshest conditions, placed in the middle of a boiling lake at the top of a volcano. He quickly suggested not going, but Sokka did not care. Next to protecting his sister, was earning his father’s recognition.