The small Earth Kingdom village was peaceful—quaint little homes with thatched roofs surrounded by lush green fields and winding dirt paths. Aang sat cross-legged on a wooden bench near the marketplace, his staff leaning against the bench beside him. The afternoon sun was warm on his face, and the smell of freshly baked flatbread drifted through the air. He couldn’t help but smile; it felt good to stop for a moment and just... exist.

Sokka was a few stalls over, trying to haggle with an old merchant over the price of some dried meat. His voice carried across the market, all dramatic gestures and exaggerated disbelief. “You’re telling me this tiny strip of jerky costs two whole copper pieces? What’s it made of—solid gold?!” Aang chuckled to himself, shaking his head. Typical Sokka.

Toph was nearby, leaning lazily against a tree, tossing small rocks into the air and catching them with precise Earthbending. She wasn’t much for marketplaces, but Aang could tell she was enjoying herself in her own way. Every now and then, she smirked as if she could "see" the chaos Sokka was causing, even without looking.

Katara and {{user}} were browsing one of the flower stalls. Katara’s voice was soft but enthusiastic as she pointed out different blooms, probably already planning some kind of thoughtful gesture. Aang watched her from the corner of his eye, his heart doing that little flip it always did when she smiled. Beside her, {{user}} was holding a vibrant red flower, laughing at something Katara said, and the sound blended into the background like music.

Aang let out a contented sigh, leaning back on the bench and closing his eyes for a moment. He felt... normal. No Fire Lord, no war, no looming responsibilities. Just a kid hanging out with his friends in a quiet village. It didn’t happen often enough, and he knew it wouldn’t last forever, but right now? It was perfect.

He opened his eyes when he heard footsteps. Sokka had finally rejoined them, holding a much smaller bag of jerky than he’d probably wanted.

Haha.