Post by tenoko on Dec 31, 2007 9:12:55 GMT 1
It was late afternoon. The Duke, Teo, and Haru were playing games with Appa and Momo, while Iroh sat talking with Zuko and Toph; the latter with her head slightly tilted in Sokka and Suki's direction, a sad smile playing around her lips, as they sat away from the group talking quietly and laughing. Aang landed near the tent with a bundle of firewood strapped to his chest. He dropped them down and looked around. Katara wasn't there.
"Here, I'll take care of that, go ahead. Down by the river" Zuko said getting up and walking over.
"Thanks" Aang replied, smiling.
He snapped open his glider and flew off towards the river. He landed just upstream from where Katara was gathering some fish. She gracefully manuvered the water into frozen orbs full of fish, then returned it to water over a basket and repeated the process. She finished filling the basket and made to fill up a water container when she noticed Aang standing and looking at her.
Smiling gently she called, "You can help me instead of stare at me, you know"
"Uhhhhh.... Oh!" Aang said, shaking his head as he snapped out of his trance, "Right, sorry". He ran over and lifted the fish-filled basket as she filled up the water jug. He made to start walking back towards camp when Katara touched his shoulder.
"Hold on a second, I wanna talk" she said putting down the jugs as he put down the basket. She got quiet as her face worked the words in her brain, strugging to get them past her lips. As Aang looked on, the sunset began and hit Katara in a way which made her glow, her skin having adapted a glistening sheen from waterbending.
"Well, we've been friends for so long, and the truth is" she said, looking at him, "I've come to think of you as family... well, more than family. You're my best friend, and I care about you so much. Just ask Zuko" she laughed a little and looked away.
"Listen, Katara..."Aang began but was interupted as her lips met his. He held her close, her arms wrapped around his neck, head tilted down, eyes closed. After what felt like hours and seconds all at once, they parted, red-faced, and Katara grabbed the water jugs and began walking away, Aang picking up the basket and following in her wake, confused at the brief and sudden moment of affection. He walked up next to her and saw an even greater mix of embarassment and confusion etched on her face.
"What's wro-" he had begun asking, but they had broken into the clearing just as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. Iroh had gotten a pot of tea started and was pouring cups for everyone except Sokka and Suki, who were still sitting a distance away, arms wrapped around each other. The group, gathered around the fire, all laughed at some anictdote Iroh said, Zuko wrapping an arm around Toph and pulling her close. She gave a half smile and hugged him back.
"Oh hey Aang, Katara, you guys are back!" Toph said, Zuko's arm sliding away as he looked over at them gultily.
"Oh good, we need more water for the tea" Iroh said looking into the teapot.
"Yeah, plus I'm getting hungry!" The Duke exclaimed to murmers of agreement. The group resumed talking, finally being joined by Sokka, as Suki went over to help Katara cook the fish. Aang looked over at Katara and noticed her glaring at Zuko talking and smiling at Toph as she blushed and giggled. Sokka wrapped an arm around Toph and pulled her closer to him, making a comment that got her laughing. Suki, not having missed this exchange, burned the fish she was cooking. Katara, distracted by the groups antics, was too late to put the fire out and the fish ended up charred and black.
They served everyone the fish, Suki giving Sokka the burnt piece as Toph scooched toward Zuko to give way to Suki. Katara watched the movement, unaware that Aang was watching her as she sat down next to him. when she was seated he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, startling her into awareness. She looked down at him and couldn't help but smile and return the affection. They held each other close and in silence, as the others around them disappeared in their own chatter.
"Here, I'll take care of that, go ahead. Down by the river" Zuko said getting up and walking over.
"Thanks" Aang replied, smiling.
He snapped open his glider and flew off towards the river. He landed just upstream from where Katara was gathering some fish. She gracefully manuvered the water into frozen orbs full of fish, then returned it to water over a basket and repeated the process. She finished filling the basket and made to fill up a water container when she noticed Aang standing and looking at her.
Smiling gently she called, "You can help me instead of stare at me, you know"
"Uhhhhh.... Oh!" Aang said, shaking his head as he snapped out of his trance, "Right, sorry". He ran over and lifted the fish-filled basket as she filled up the water jug. He made to start walking back towards camp when Katara touched his shoulder.
"Hold on a second, I wanna talk" she said putting down the jugs as he put down the basket. She got quiet as her face worked the words in her brain, strugging to get them past her lips. As Aang looked on, the sunset began and hit Katara in a way which made her glow, her skin having adapted a glistening sheen from waterbending.
"Well, we've been friends for so long, and the truth is" she said, looking at him, "I've come to think of you as family... well, more than family. You're my best friend, and I care about you so much. Just ask Zuko" she laughed a little and looked away.
"Listen, Katara..."Aang began but was interupted as her lips met his. He held her close, her arms wrapped around his neck, head tilted down, eyes closed. After what felt like hours and seconds all at once, they parted, red-faced, and Katara grabbed the water jugs and began walking away, Aang picking up the basket and following in her wake, confused at the brief and sudden moment of affection. He walked up next to her and saw an even greater mix of embarassment and confusion etched on her face.
"What's wro-" he had begun asking, but they had broken into the clearing just as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. Iroh had gotten a pot of tea started and was pouring cups for everyone except Sokka and Suki, who were still sitting a distance away, arms wrapped around each other. The group, gathered around the fire, all laughed at some anictdote Iroh said, Zuko wrapping an arm around Toph and pulling her close. She gave a half smile and hugged him back.
"Oh hey Aang, Katara, you guys are back!" Toph said, Zuko's arm sliding away as he looked over at them gultily.
"Oh good, we need more water for the tea" Iroh said looking into the teapot.
"Yeah, plus I'm getting hungry!" The Duke exclaimed to murmers of agreement. The group resumed talking, finally being joined by Sokka, as Suki went over to help Katara cook the fish. Aang looked over at Katara and noticed her glaring at Zuko talking and smiling at Toph as she blushed and giggled. Sokka wrapped an arm around Toph and pulled her closer to him, making a comment that got her laughing. Suki, not having missed this exchange, burned the fish she was cooking. Katara, distracted by the groups antics, was too late to put the fire out and the fish ended up charred and black.
They served everyone the fish, Suki giving Sokka the burnt piece as Toph scooched toward Zuko to give way to Suki. Katara watched the movement, unaware that Aang was watching her as she sat down next to him. when she was seated he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, startling her into awareness. She looked down at him and couldn't help but smile and return the affection. They held each other close and in silence, as the others around them disappeared in their own chatter.
TRRAAAAITOOOORRRRR! 
