"However, even without the technique, Katara, you can still bend water. That's why, when you started moving your arms earlier, I told you to stop. You could have accidentally bent the water around us and damaged the boat."
"Oh… sorry?"
**********
After a few more detailed explanations and a Q&A session, Ikari led Katara to the edge of the boat. "Show me what you can do," he said, standing beside her with his arms crossed.
Katara nodded with determination, but a wave of nervousness made her bite her lower lip. 'Okay, Katara, focus. Don't mess this up now,' she thought, feeling the weight of Ikari's gaze on her. Taking a deep breath, she raised her hands and began moving them up and down, but nothing happened. The surface of the water remained calm, indifferent to her efforts.
Katara's cheeks began to warm, the blush rising as she felt Ikari's silent stare. 'Why isn't it working?!' she thought, embarrassment growing. She had never done anything truly impressive, but at least she knew she could lift a small ball of water.
Katara tried again, her movements faster, almost frantic, but the water remained still, only rippling softly with the natural motion of the sea. 'Damn it…' She huffed in frustration and lowered her hands for a moment, her shoulders tense.
Katara shot a quick glance at Ikari, expecting some comment or guidance, but he only watched her, his expression neutral. His continued silence, though not judgmental, made her feel even more pressured. 'I'm not giving up in front of him! I'll do it,' she told herself, straightening with renewed determination.
Taking another deep breath, she raised her hands. 'You can do this, Katara. Just… feel the water.' She tried to mimic the rhythm of the waves around her, tracing slow arcs with her arms. For long seconds, nothing happened, and frustration threatened to take over once again—when something finally changed.
A small amount of water, no more than a handful, began to rise from the surface, trembling in the air as if hesitantly responding to Katara's movements. Her eyes widened, her heart racing with excitement. 'I did it!' she thought, but before she could celebrate, the water lost its shape and fell back into the sea with a soft splash.
Katara huffed loudly, letting her shoulders drop, "That was pathetic," she muttered, turning her face away from Ikari, avoiding his gaze. As childish as it was, she wanted to impress him, to make him think she was some kind of genius, worthy of his attention. 'That was ridiculous. He must be thinking I'm awful…'
"I'm impressed," said Ikari, breaking the silence.
"Huh?!" Katara turned to him, certain she had heard wrong. "What did you say?"
"That I'm impressed," he repeated.
"But I was awful!" Katara exclaimed, still in disbelief, pointing to the water as if it were proof of her failure.
"And what exactly were you expecting to do without training?" Ikari asked, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously, Katara, you did very well. At first, you were distracted and your movements were pretty stiff, but on your own, you realized you needed to watch the sea and imitate its rhythm. That's excellent. It shows you've understood everything I've explained to you so far."
Katara blinked, the blush on her cheeks now mixed with a hint of pride. "Really? You think I did well?"
"Absolutely," Ikari said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Now, let's continue. But this time, I want you to try bending the water with your eyes closed. Instead of watching the movement, I want you to feel and follow the water around you, okay?"
Katara nodded, her confidence starting to grow. "Okay!"
********
[Next Day]
"Are you sure you've recovered enough for this?"
"Of course I have! I'm completely fine," Sokka replied, swinging his arm with exaggerated confidence. A grimace, however, crossed his face as a sharp pang shot through the muscle in his shoulder. "Ugh… almost completely fine," he admitted, trying to hide the discomfort behind a forced smile.
Ikari shook his head, a small smile curling his lips, and turned his gaze back to the crystal-clear water in front of them. Both held spears, their sharp tips glinting under the morning sun. Between them, on the ice-covered ground, sat an empty bucket, ready to hold any fish they managed to catch.
The goal was simple: fishing. Or rather, it was Sokka's goal. Ikari had only joined in after Katara, with a conspiratorial little grin, had whispered in his ear that Sokka was "the worst fisherman she'd ever met." And considering that the Southern Water Tribe currently relied heavily on fishing, that said a lot about the boy's skills — or lack thereof.
"So, how good are you at fishing?" Ikari asked, glancing from the water to Sokka, who was holding his spear with a confident but clearly clumsy stance.
"I'm one of the best!" Sokka declared, puffing out his chest before thrusting the spear into the water in a quick motion. He yanked it back with a grunt, but upon inspecting the tip, both saw it was empty. "Stupid fish…" Sokka muttered, glaring at the water as if it had personally offended him.
'Right… I think I see the problem,' Ikari stepped forward and crouched near the water, pointing to the shimmering surface. "Sokka, you're missing because you're aiming where the fish appears at the surface. But the water tricks your eyes, it's like an illusion. The fish is never exactly where it looks like it is — it's a bit lower."
Sokka blinked, confused, scratching the back of his neck with his free hand. "Lower? Like, how much lower? That makes no sense, I saw the fish right there!"
"Alright. Watch and learn, then," Ikari said, standing up calmly and readying his spear. His eyes scanned the water for a target. After a few seconds, he spotted a fish lazily swimming near the surface. "Pay attention, Sokka." Lowering the spear with force, Ikari aimed slightly below where the fish seemed to be.
Splash!
'Got it,' Ikari thought, feeling the extra weight at the tip of the spear. He raised it, displaying a silver fish impaled on the tip, still thrashing. "See? A bit lower," he said, showing the fish to Sokka before depositing it in the bucket with a casual motion.
Sokka watched, his mouth parted in an "O" of astonishment. He blinked three times, taking in the scene, and nodded slowly. "Okay... I think I got it." Turning his gaze back to the water, he began to look for another fish, holding the spear firmly. "I just need a good target..." He leaned forward, concentration etched on his face.
Ikari stayed quiet, just watching with a slight smile, giving Sokka space to try on his own. After a few minutes of searching, Sokka finally spotted a fish. "There you are..." Following Ikari's tip, he adjusted the angle, aimed slightly below the fish and struck.
The tip of the spear ripped the surface and, to his surprise, hit the fish dead-on. Sokka pulled the spear back quickly, eyes wide, and saw the fish caught on the tip. "I DID IT!" he yelled, jumping on the ice as he raised the spear in triumph, his face lit by a radiant smile. "SEE THAT, IKARI?! I DID IT! TAKE THAT, WORLD!"
Ikari laughed, infected by Sokka's energy, and began to hop beside him, clapping to a lively rhythm. "Sokka! Sokka! Sokka!" he chanted, echoing the boy's enthusiasm.
"I DID IT! I DID IT!" Sokka kept shouting, pride overflowing in every movement. However, at the height of his victory dance, his foot slipped on the smooth ice. "Whoa!" He lost his balance, his arms flailing awkwardly as he tried to steady himself. But he couldn't.
Sokka fell to the ground, and in the process, the spear slipped from his hand.
!
Both Sokka and Ikari watched in slow motion the spear fly, traveling through the air until it hit the ground. The fish came loose because of the impact and slid across the ice until it plunged back into the water with a plop.
The two stood frozen, staring at the spot where the fish had disappeared. A heavy silence, laden with shock and disbelief, enveloped them both, until they looked at each other at the same time, their expressions equally stunned.
"That... I don't even know what to say," Ikari murmured at last, scratching the back of his neck, awkwardly.
Sokka lowered his eyes to the ground, completely defeated. "This world... is too cruel."
***********
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.