Prompt: In my arms

Rating: PG13

Authors Note: Age is up to your mind, but I would say, they're not older than 16/18 here.

It was fun to write all the prompts for our second Kataang Week, and I wish it wouldn't end today. But wait, why should it be over? Yes, the week is at its end, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate Kataang anymore. So keep having fun with this great couple. :)

I do not own Avatar: The first Airbender.

-=( Continued from "Strength and Weakness" )=-

A week had passed since they had spent the entire night to gaze into the stars. With every passing day Aang's feelings told him more and more something was wrong. Toph was gone, no one knew, where she was. Sokka had tried to find out if someone had noticed her, but had no luck at all.
"This is so ... As if someone had kidnapped her." The warrior sat down, frustration was written all over his face.
Aang closed his eyes, pondering about Toph's fate: "She has to be here. I mean, where should she go? Back to her parents?"
"No. The last time she visited them she nearly got caught by her former earthbending teacher. And when she found out it was her own father ... never saw her that angry. And that means a lot."
"Katara got a point, and you're right as well, Aang. Toph is here, and I guess, she's in danger."
Sokka showed his friends a map of the city. The Fire Nation's capital was not as huge as Ba Sing Se, but still large enough. It was not impossible to find her, but without an idea where she could be, it would take weeks to search the city.
"I guess it's best we ask Zuko for some troops. Together we can look for her in the entire city, but it still will take some time. What do you think, Aang?"
The Airbender rubbed his head, but did not say a word.
"Aang?" Sokka asked again.
"No. I don't think we should use those troops. If Toph is in danger, the kidnapper would kill her if he or she finds out the entire palace guard is looking for her. Sorry, Sokka."
The warrior opened his mouth to say something, but suddenly stopped and nodded: "You're right. But what should we do then?"
"You remember the old swamp?"
Sokka and Katara nodded.
"There I learned everything is connected, like branches to a tree. I could try to find Toph that way, but I need some time to prepare myself." Aang's voice was filled with concern. He knew it was not very likely he would find her, since he never had used this technique again since he had left the swamp. But there was always hope.

-=O=-

The night was young, and the full moon guided her to the sacred place. Katara looked at the peaceful monk in front of her. Aang was meditating, and his breath was calm. Whenever she saw him in this pose, she admired him most: he seemed to be the center of all chi in the world, the very source of all bending. And maybe she was right, maybe the Avatar once brought the bending to the world, when it was a spirit, not bound to a body of a mortal.
But she also admired him, because he was Aang in his most peaceful moment. Peace itself seemed to emerge from him, the very essence and spirits of all Airnomads focused on the last one of his folk.
It was one of these moments she wanted to hold him in her arms, feeling the pulsating strength and deep peace with her own body.
Suddenly, his tattoos glowed up. He put both hands on the ground and the bright glowing seemed to emerge from his fingertips into the ground. Aang said nothing, and Katara refused to touch him, since she knew it was a critical moment now: he was searching for Toph, and he needed his entire mind to focus on his goal.

Moments passed. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours. And suddenly, the glow vanished, and an entirely exhausted young Airbender mumbled only two words: "Have her ..."
"Sokka, Suki! Aang knows where Toph is!" Katara yelled, not wasting time. She grabbed her water skins, her brother reached for his sword. Suki was prepared like ever, her fans fitted into her pockets.
Less than five minutes later, Appa was ready to launch.
"Okay, lets go ... wait, where is Aang?" Sokka looked around, but could not find him.
"Aang! AANG!" Eventually, the Airbender showed up, still visibly exhausted. He looked at Appa and a weary smile showed up. Then he mounted on the huge flying bison, just right on its head.
"C'mon buddy ... like in the good ol' days ..."

-=O=-

They had found her. The Combustion Man had captured her, and he had given them a hell of a fight. But finally, the group had defeated one of the last remnants of the war, and this time, it was for sure he would not show up ever again. But that victory was paid with a high prieze.
"Aang ... no ... please no." Tears streamed down her face, while she held him in her arms. She remembered a similar situation in old Ba Sing Se, a few years ago, when Aang nearly got killed by a lightning. It had taken weeks for her to recover, and she had been unable to smile, until she had seen him awake again.

But this time it was different. She had no water of the Spirit Oasis, and even the water she had in her skins had been used up in the battle. If he died ...
"Ka ... tara" he mumbles weakly, his gray eyes, although weak, looked into her blue eyes. The storm met the ocean once more, and neither he nor she knew, if this would be the last time.
"Don't leave me, Aang ... please don't." she kissed him on his forehead, holding him even closer. His heartbeat was weak, so incredible weak.
'Bump ba bump'
"I ... won't ..."
'Bump'
Katara kissed him again, wishing each kiss would force life back into his mangled body.
'Ba bump'
A breath left his mouth, and although he made no sound, she heard the pain.
'Bump'
"Katara ..."
Nothing. His heart refused to work any longer. But there was still a tiny spark of life in his eyes, quickly weaking, but clearly there. The Waterbender pressed her lips against his, and kissed him one last time.

She could never explain anyone what she did then. All she knew is, that she felt an incredible rage burning into her heart, and Katara focused raw powers in her veins just on one single target: Aang. She wanted him back, so badly, she wanted to see his eyes again, she wanted to hear his voice once more. But he was gone.
"WHY?! WHY HIM?!"
No one was there to answer. Sokka, Suki, Toph, they all were with her, but could not answer her question.
Eventually, she unleashed the immense amount of chi at once. The mangled body in front of her shook violently, and open wounds closed, the gruesome outright breach of his left leg healed. Aang opened his eyes and a first breath left his mouth.
She held him in her arms, and he was not dead. He was still with her, would spend an entire life with her, would be father of their children, would see their grandchildren and their great grandchildren. Aang's fate was not to die at this day, but as an ancient man.
He was supposed to make her blush and to blush for her.
She was supposed to give him comfort and love, and he would climb the highest mountain to get a Panda Lily for her.
For him she would break traditions, just to hold him in her arms.
She was his strength and weakness at the same time, the love of his life.

-= THE END =-