"We'll hold on to it just in case. And somewhere secure so your brother doesn't glue it to his face in an effort to be Wang Fire for the Solstice."

"Do I even want to know?"
Aang suddenly sounds very, very tired.

"I don't suppose I could get that promise in writing and possibly notarized, could I?"
As if such actions would protect Aang from Katara's wrath should...when someone inevitably gets hurt.

Aang smiles broadly at his son.
"If I thought for one second that such a thing would carry any weight in the Council of Mom, I just might."

His smile softens to a grin as he nods.
"She was. Is, actually. It's a compromise we both thought was suitable, given the circumstances."

Aang pauses, turning his attention out to the water once again. His tone is a touch more thoughtful, though it's far from the one he uses during lessons.

"We're living at a delicate point in history, Tenzin. Where our actions now will have consequences we can't possibly predict into the future. It's thrilling and scary and wonderful all at the same time. We have the power in the here and now to affect the lives of all that follow after us in the paths we're blazing before them.

A lot of Air Nomad culture was lost during the war, and I'll be the first to admit that we're making a good deal of it up as we go along...and that's okay. It's good even, because it gives more meaning to the things that we do, and the traditions we choose to follow.

We didn't cut your hair because we were looking to punish you, or single you out, Tenzin. And we certainly never intended to separate you from your Water Tribe heritage. Your mother and I agreed that cutting your hair was a suitable way to connect you with the past. Your past. To the masters whose forms and lessons you'll be learning."

Aang turns back to his son.

"Do you understand?"

"Oh yes," he says adopting a somber expression that could in no way ever be confused for actual somber. "Very serious. Dignified, even. At all times."

Aang gasps, as if scandalized.

"Tenzin, you're not actually accusing your father, the all-mighty Avatar, or speaking in falsehoods, are you?"

"Well knock it off," he says whipping up another stray breeze to once again sweep his son's caplet over his head. "You're making me look bad."

"Yeuck. The Statue," he repeats with a sigh. And then, as if on cue he makes an apology for thinking horrible thoughts about the statue.

"It was very kind of the Fire Nation to donate that statue to Republic City. We mustn't forget that.


...

Even if the only thing its good for is a picnic spot for wayward Air Nomads."

"Well I have been doing this a whole lot longer than you have, but you'll get there. You'll see. In no time at all you'll be going faster than you could possibly imagine. It just takes practice."

An idea comes to him, and he leans over and gives Tenzin a soft shoulder bump.

"You know what we should do? Time how long it takes you to get there today. Then every few weeks take another time, and then we'll have an accurate measure of how much progress you're making."

Not only that? But maybe, just maybe, it'll be a way for Tenzin to measure his own improvement without comparing himself to his father.

"Come on," he says getting to his feet. "Let's do some Water Tribe Science to commemorate the day you start your Air Nomad training."

Aang reaches to pat the Lemur, who is glaring at him.
Someone, Momo is not naming names, promised him foodstuff in exchange for his participation in today's reconciliation.

"He can fly with me," Aang adds after a beat. "He's old."

Worst cover explanation ever.