“It is not right for you to be here, Avatar Aang,” the spirit hums, black and white feathers ruffling as he slowly lowers himself from the banisters lining the top floors of his library. “Dare I say it is… unnatural.”
The way Aang’s grip tightens on the staff of his glider may betray his faux nonchalance, but then again, he is well aware Wan Shi Tong has never needed the obvious to be certain.
Aang lifts his chin. “My return was inevitable, Wan Shi Tong. I am not so foolish as to think you didn’t know that.”
If Wan Shi Tong could have smiled, Aang suspects he might have. “And what makes you think I will let you stay?” he whispers, his serpentine body at last weaving to a stop in front of Aang.
Aang exhales. “Nothing,” he says. The honesty in his response, he hopes, rings clearer than a bell. “You have no reason to let any humans return, much less myself, after my friends and I betrayed your trust. And for that betrayal…”
He swallows hard, thinking of the people imprisoned, the lives lost during the battle of the black sun. “We paid the price.”
Wan Shi Tong chuckles. “Indeed you did, Avatar.” He tilts his head, unblinking eyes seeing all, knowing all, examining the depths of the tremor, the tension, the trust that race beneath Aang’s skin. “And what will you do now?”
Aang takes a deep breath. He raises his right arm and tosses his glider aside before sinking to his knees. “I ask for your mercy,” he says. His voice shakes, but he presses onward. “I ask for your mercy, Wan Shi Tong, because you are the only one who can help me.”
The sky blue tattoos that run along his back, his arms, his legs, the ink aches, images ingrained with mastery and memories, each arrow burns as if they were still being pressed into his crawling skin.
“You… are the only one who still knows,” Aang says, and Wan Shi Tong hums. The silence that follows lasts ten thousand years.
“Come with me,” Wan Shi Tong instructs, and Aang’s shoulders fall.
~*~
Written for Day 5 of Aang Rarepair Week 2022: Nature/Spirit, hosted by @aangtheestallion. Wan Shi Tong/Aang.
Ty Lee and Aang were having a comfortable walk in one of the many forests that dotted the earth kingdom.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Aang asked.
“It is. Sometimes i like to just walk around in nature, and let go of the troubles of the world.” Ty Lee said, twirling around on her feet.
“You, walking in nature? I have the image of you performing cartwheels instead of walking.” Aang laughed.
Always eager to show off her skills, Ty Lee broke into a cartwheel before she finished off with the splits.
“Your turn, Aang.” She dared.
Aang performed the same acrobatics, making it look easy.
“Show off.” Ty Lee answered.
“That makes two of us.” Aang said, watching Ty Lee disrobe. Ty Lee opened her legs apart into a straddle as she leaned forwards to rest on her stomach. She looked at Aang with a smile on her face, happy that she had his full attention.
“Aren’t you going to get naked?” Ty Lee asked.
“What if we’re caught?” Aang asked.
“Aren’t you nomads all about being free from earthly attachments?” Ty Lee pointed out.
“We are. I even heard a small group of air nomads created a nudist colony. Though it didn’t last long.” Aang said, hearing Ty Lee giggle.
“Well, lets have our own nudist colony in this forest. Just the two of us.” Ty Lee said.
Aang removed his clothes, laying next to Ty Lee.
“You’re right, Ty Lee. It’s nice to be in nature, and let go of the world for a moment.” Aang admitted.
