Chapter Text
Katara and Sokka whipped around to him, staring him up and down before both of their jaws dropped. They pointed at him and he blushed, pulling a hood up and over their face.
"I thought you looked familiar! How did we not notice before, Gran watches the news like every day!" Katara blinked, hand on her chin.
Sokka just stared before whisper shouting, "Your whole family has been looking for you! The whole world has been looking for you!"
Aang bit his lip, looking down. Suki slid over to his side, rubbing his back in a comforting matter, "Hey, maybe he has a reason for leaving! That's gotta be stressful being told you're meant for something THAT important..."
Aang teared up and Suki stared down at him.
They shoved their face into his hands, shoulders rocking forwards as they tried not to full out sob.
The siblings looked sadly at him, suddenly guilty.
"Hey man, we're sorry it's just... There's been so much news coverage on you!"
Aang looks to Sokka and frowns, "I was only 14 when they told me. And the next day I was told I had to get on a plane for the first time in my life and head to a predominently water elemental place. It was stressful..."
The tears in his eyes finally spilt over, "I got on the plane but I avoided the people who were supposed to pick me up... and I've been on the streets for three years."
Everyone sat in silence, Aang wiping the tears on their face.
Sokka looked at him, "What are we supposed to do..." He said. A question to no one.
"It's kinda impressive you've been on the streets for so long! Especially with how young you are" Katara commented, trying to compliment the younger.
"You know I'm 17," He looked up sniffing but looking mildly annoyed.
Sokka shrugged for his sister, "You don't look it."
Katara hit him. He flinched but laughed a little at the contact. Suki smiled at the siblings, still holding Aang, who was loosening up a little more now.
"I... I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys. Obviously it's super important and everything and I'm glad that my family misses me so much but it was... so stuffy. I wasn't allowed to do anything, all because i was gifted..."
Suki squeezed his shoulders, and the tenseness left suddenly as they slumped almost in defeat, "I really hope you guys won't kick me out..."
Both siblings stood, shock and astonishment on their faces as their words overlapped. "We would never, what would make you think, i would never leave someone homeless-"
This brought a wide grin to Aang's face. Tears still streamed down their face, but they were happy now.
"I'd still like it if you got a job though," Sokka ended their tirade of affirmations with the statement and Katara hit him again.
"Give him time! Stupid."
"Don't call me stupid, it's rude. Right Suki? My lovely wonderful and very pretty girlfriend?"
Suki giggled and halfheartedly scolded Katara.
The grin on Aang's face grew again. He had friends. A place to stay. This... being at that swim meet was the best decision he's ever made.