Dawn of a New Prince (Star Wars/Avatar Crossover)

Aang

"It's...nothing. Never mind." Aang said, turning away from Katara.

Zareal

"Yes, though it seems to be the least desireable course, waiting is the best option for now," Zareal said. "I will meditate for now, perhaps I will gain some sort of insight." He walked over to a clear area and crossed his legs after sitting down, and cleared his mind of thought.

"Aang..." Katara stood back up and walked to him. She touched his shoulder. "I can tell it's not nothing. Please. You can tell me anything. If you need to talk, I'm ready to listen." She offered him a warm smile.

Aang

"Well...it's hard to talk about." Aang said, looking away from Katara nervously.

"Hard to talk about? Oh..." Katara hugged him. "It's okay, Aang. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. I just..." She sighed. "I just want you to know that you can trust me with anything. And if you ever do want to talk about whatever is on your mind, you can always come to me."

Aang

"Thanks, Katara. It's just..." Aang sighed. "There's a real good possibility, as much as I hate to admit it, that we'll all die. And...there's something I want you to know, in case..."

Aang trailed off, unable to continue.

Katara sat back, though she kept a comforting arm around Aang's shoulders. "What is it?" she asked.

She did not bother arguing that they would not die. It was a real possibility, and it terrified her. Besides, if Aang wanted to tell her something that weighed heavy on his heart and mind, she would listen.

Aang

"Katara, I..." Aang stopped and tried to take a calming breath. He had wanted to tell Katara this for the longest time, but he had never really worked up the nerve to do so. But, now was really the best time to do so. After all, they had no idea when Vader or Zuko would find them and attack again. He couldn't put this off forever.

Taking another deep breath, Aang spoke. "I...I love you, Katara."

She gasped, surprised. That she had not been expecting. Once her thoughts caught up with her, Katara blushed rather prettily.

"You... love me?" she said.

And it definitely was not the friendship, familial kind of love, either. No, it was the other kind of love, the romantic sort.

Aang

"Of course! I love you, Katara. I...I've loved you for a long time now, Katara." Aang admitted, blushing as well as he spoke. Well, here it was, the moment of truth. He had always wondered how Katara would react to this, what she would say to his confession. It seemed he would be finding out shortly.

Katara didn't quite know what to say. She was almost overwhelmed by the flood of emotions poring over her. Having him admit something so personal, so true, beckoned at the part of herself she often kept hidden as well.

She knew she cared a great deal for Aang. Lately, she had come to realize that she cared for him in a different way than she cared for Sokka.

She also knew it would hurt her very much to see him hurt, that she would do anything to protect him from all the ills of the world.

And she knew she enjoyed spending time with him. And that it had hurt a great deal when he had been so distant towards her after Appa had been taken.

The truth was so apparent, and yet she was afraid to admit it. She was afraid that if something happened, if she did lose him, lose him like she had her mother, she would break.

Still... He was right. If the future was bleak, then...

Katara moved and hugged Aang tight to her. She held him close, as if she planned to never let go.

Aang

Aang blinked in surprise at Katara before hugging her back. Aang felt a stream of emotions flow through him at that moment. He hugged Katara tightly and hoped that this moment would last as long as possible. And he prayed to the Spirits, or whoever was listening, that they would come out of the coming battle with Vader and his minions alive.

She felt a lump rise up in her throat. She wanted to tell him that she returned his feelings, but Katara could not speak. Not at the moment, anyway. She could only hope that her actions would speak for her.

And, like Aang, she wished this moment would last. Who knew when they would have another chance to--

"Well, it's about damn time."

Katara started, shocked. "Toph!"

Toph stood at the edge of her vision, her little form half-hidden in shadows.

Aang

Aang broke away from the hug with Katara, surprised by Toph's sudden outburst. He looked back to Katara and blushed. He tried to say something, but really wasn't sure what to say.

Katara was just as nervous as Aang. She was suddenly glad Toph was blind. Otherwise, she would have seen that the waterbender was beet red in the face.

"I'm not eavesdropping, if that's what you're thinking." Toph sighed. "It's just, well. It's my arm, okay? I can't sleep. You two at least make for good entertainment."

Concern bled through Katara, more so than her annoyance that her moment with Aang had been ruined. Of course the younger girl's injury hurt her.

Leave it to Toph to be so dodgy about it, though.

"Here, I can try something that might help," said Katara.

Toph ambled over, holding her left arm close to her. Katara had her lay it on her lap, and, waving a hand, she bended some water over the wound. Toph let loose an audible sigh.

Sokka groaned as he rolled in his sleep, grimacing as put too much wait on his front side. His ribs were still sore from the previous days of fighting. He opened an eye sleepily, not quite awake.

"What's goin'on?" he yawned, "We get captured again?"

"Not yet," said Toph.

Katara couldn't help but snort. Toph had a morbid sense of humor. She was glad to hear it, though. She had been afraid Toph would not be herself after all that had happened. But she was still there after all, if a little quieter.

Same with Sokka, really. Spirits. She was glad he had not overheard she and Aang's conversation. She loved her older brother, but he was horribly overprotective.

She smiled at Aang, warmly and lovingly, from over the Toph's head.

Aang

Aang looked toward Toph with a concerned look, though thankfully Katara took care of her. He looked back toward Katara and blushed. Well, that had kinda ruined the moment. Still, Toph was still having trouble with her hand...or rather, lack thereof. The Avatar's mind traveled to darker thoughts at the anger he felt at what Vader had done to Toph, though he tried to push them away for the moment.

Aang smiled back at Katara and chuckled a little at Toph's retort. A look of fear passed his face a moment later, however. Had Sokka overheard what he had said to Katara? ....No, he didn't think so. After all, Sokka wasn't screaming his name and out for blood.

"Loosen up, Twinkle Toes." Toph grunted as Katara's healing caught a sore spot. "You're secret's safe with me."

"Stop fidgeting, Toph," muttered Katara. To Sokka, she said, "And you should go back to sleep. It's late, and you need your rest."

Sokka nodded sagely and gave Toph a sort of sleepy, three fingered saluted, grinning obliviously, "Whatever you say, Princess."

Sometimes, when he half-asleep, Sokka was still half-dreaming. Right now, he thought he was in the Earth King's Royal Court, only, Momo was sitting on the throne and the Earth King was serving as his foot-stool. The Princess was laughing at his joke and Aang had finally grown hair and Katara had forsworn all men. All was right in the world.

"Hey! You stick to lighting incense, Sister!" he replied to his sister with a teasing grin.

Katara sighed. "He's dreaming again."

"But he's awake," said Toph.

"He has a habit of still dreaming while he's half-asleep." Katara shook her head. "That's my brother for you. There's no telling what's going through that head of his right now."

"Well, he thinks I'm a princess."

She sounded sarcastic, but Katara noted the very light, pleased blush that darted across the girl's cheeks. It was obvious she was smitten with Sokka, and now that the truth was out in the air she was caught between being secretive and more up-front about her feelings.

A momentary flash of worry made Katara frown. She did not want Toph to end up crushed by her, for lack of a better word, crush. She could only trust that Sokka would handle this delicately and kindly.

"Just go to sleep, Sokka," she said. "If you do, I'll make you a huge breakfast tomorrow."

Sokka grinned and nodded eagerly at his sister's promise. He yawned and and lay down, sparing Toph one last look, "Good night, Princess."

With that said, he fell into a peaceful sleep about breakfast and beautiful pale-eyed princesses, happy, at least for tonight.

"Figures food would calm him down," said Toph, smiling.

"He's not the only one who should get some sleep." Katara finished with the healing session. Toph already looked a bit more hale, which was a relief. Maybe she could sleep now. "Try and go back to bed, okay, Toph?"

The girl just nodded. She returned to the sleeping bag Sokka had given to her and, moments later, was blessedly asleep.

Katara sighed, shoulders drooping somewhat with weariness. She glanced over at Aang and chuckled. "We should probably rest too."

(Timeskip to the Temple?)

((If no one minds.))