Hey guys! It is December, and to get into the spirit I'm going to do a Christmas story for avatar. Now, I'm pretty sure they don't celebrate Christmas in the avatar world, but what the heck. This will be a more… modern version of avatar? Like an AU? Idk, you know what I'm talking about. I'm going to write one anyways so buckle up and get ready for the ride. (That sounded more fab in my head tbh)
Disclaimer: I don't own avatar the last airbender but I own this storyyyy
"Sokka, at least hand me the ribbon," Katara said, huffing and tapping her foot on the hardwood. Sokka paid her no attention, but in stead chugged on the scolding hot chocolate. Katara rolled her eyes, stepping over him and grabbing the sharp red ribbon from the table. "Fine, I'll do it myself."
She walked back to the foyer, unlocking the front door. She had just started working on the tree, having to wrap the lights around it herself because her brother was too lazy. As usual, it was this way every Christmas. And now here she was on Christmas Eve running around making the final touches on the house. Katara tucked the scarf around her neck tighter, and rubbed her hands together despite the fact she was already wearing thick gloves. In the summer it was always so hot and winter, well, you can guess what it felt like. She loved the winter but the cold got to her every now an then; she was just happy she hadn't caught a cold yet. She started at the bottom of the posts on the porch. She hooked it in the back, to where people couldn't see, and worked from there. The ribbon looked absolutely beautiful on the white post; it made the whole house pop. Katara rubbed her nose, and she could just here the names her brother would call her when she went back inside. A car drove by, flinging slushy snow to the already white yard. She turned around, holding her hands together. The silver car turned into the driveway, and a boy opened the door. He went to the other side of the car, opening the door and taking out all sizes of wrapped boxes.
"Aang?" Katara asked, not getting a good enough look at his face. But she knew his car and his clothes, and sure enough it was him, messy black hair and all; being the one who always got here early.
"I didn't know Rudolf was gonna be here," he said from the walkway, and Katara broke out into a broad grin even though the jokes were already starting. And by her best friend, who would think? He walked up the stairs, setting the boxes down. She slapped his arm in a playful way, laughing. "Oh you're so original."
"Aren't I? So, I see you're finally decorating," he said, tucking his hands in his pockets. She looked back at him, picking up the ribbon where she had left off.
"Someone's gotta do it. Sokka's not much help," Katara explained. Aang didn't bother asking why her dad wasn't helping, because he would get the same answer as the first time he asked. One word: business.
"Want some help?" he asked, and she sighed, relaxing back on her heels rather than her tiptoes.
"That would be great," she replied, handing him the ribbon. He wrapped it around the top of the post, tucking it under in folds to keep it put. He stepped back, checking to make sure it looked right. When he was satisfied, he went back to get the gifts. Katara helped him, carrying a few herself. She opened the door, walking down the entryway. When they made it to the living room, Katara and Aang put the presents under the tree.
"Hey Aang," Sokka said casually, getting up and walking to the kitchen.
"Hey Sokka."
"Don't eat all the food!" Katara yelled after him, and Sokka laughed, waving her off. He stayed in there for a long time, doing whatever. Katara hoped he didn't start snacking, because she hadn't prepared a feast. She had laid out a few snacks on the counters, and fixed drinks for everyone, but it wouldn't last if Sokka stayed in there the whole night.
"So, wanna help with the ornaments?" Katara asked, pulling the thick gloves from her hands and tucking them in her pockets.
"Sure," Aang replied, and she walked past him to the coffee table in the center of the room. On the table was a large green box sitting comfortably on the side. The box was piled tightly with old and newer ornaments. Katara pulled one out near the left side, holding it up and letting it turn in the light.
"This was moms," she said, and Aang followed its shine with his eyes. He smiled sadly, knowing how much she missed her mom. Kya had died years ago, when Katara was a little girl. Aang hadn't known her personally; he had moved into the neighborhood only a few years back. But near the holidays people would talk about Kya and she sounded like she was a great woman.
"It's beautiful," Aang said, placing a comforting hand on Katara's shoulder. She looked at him and smiled, walking back to the tree. She hung the ornament, twisting it around the pine to be sure it wouldn't fall. It hung right in the front, and was noticed by anyone who walked by. They walked to and from the box to the thick tree, hanging countless ornaments.
"Hey," Aang said, and Katara turned back from the tree where she was adjusting the lights. Aang held up a crystal ornament, and watched its gleam flicker to the wall. This ornament was from his first Christmas with the group of friends. He had given it to Katara as a Christmas present to hang up three years prior, and they hung it up every year on Christmas Eve. Everyone in the house had their own ornament to hang, and now the party was growing near. He walked to the tree, hanging it close to her own; it was a deep blue that had pieces of silver and moonstone stuck in it. It was one of the smaller ornaments on the tree, but it stood out with its intricate design. He smiled down at her, and broke his gaze when the door rang. The chimes ran throughout the house and Katara fixed the strand of lights quickly before rushing to the door.
"Toph!" Katara said, engulfing the younger girl in a hug. Toph hugged her back lazily, and rushed down the foyer. "Twinkles!" Katara heard her yell, followed by a laugh from Aang. She turned back to the door, looking to see if Toph had brought the others. And she was right, because she caught hair black as night step out of the car.
"Hey Zuko, hey Mai," Katara greeted, stepping to the side to let the couple in. Zuko and Katara had never been the best of friends, but she learned to live with it and treat him and his girlfriend just the same as any other. Sokka and Zuko had been friends for a long time before Aang moved in, but they all seemed to be great friends now. As soon as Aang had stepped foot in the house all those nights ago, it seemed like they all clicked. They all got along, and hung out in a way brothers would. She held the door open, watching them flash their smiles before joining the others. Katara closed the door, and headed back to the living room where everyone was talking.
"Hey, where's Suki?" Sokka asked, leaning back in the cushion of the couch to stare at his sister. She simply shrugged, and he stuck out his bottom lip.
"I'm sure she'll be here any minute," Zuko said, and Sokka nodded his head, silently agreeing. He was right; Suki usually was the late one. Zuko stood, placing three small presents under the tree on top of the ones Aang had brought in.
"Ornaments anyone?" Aang said, wiggling his eyebrows, and the room erupted into fits of giggles at the face he was making. He dug to the bottom of the box, finding the different ornaments everyone had picked out. They all had been bought when they first started this get together, three years prior to be exact.
"Here," Aang said, passing out each persons. Zuko was first to get up, and he hung his lower than the others. Then it was Mai, who took her deep red one, hanging it on the side nearest to the window. Sokka and Toph stood up next, at the exact same moment. Toph squinted her light eyes, glaring at him. They both ran to the tree, and Toph caught his shirt before he could hang his ornament.
"Out of the way, Snoozles," Toph said, tugging him back. She shoved him aside, earning laughs from everyone in the room.
"Toph!" Sokka whined, and she smirked, hanging hers proudly. She sauntered back to her spot on the couch, and Sokka huffed. He regained his composure, flicking his eyes back to the younger girl who was sitting proudly on the sofa, legs crossed and hands folded. He hung his close to Toph's, in-between hers and Zukos.
"We need the star," Aang commented, and Sokka rolled his eyes. Aang walked back through the foyer, turning into the office and opening the door. He pulled out the stepladder, and closed the door back. He walked back through the entry, passing the door. Aang stopped abruptly, looking through the glass to catch a glimpse of short auburn hair flying in the harsh cold. He opened the door, setting the stepladder back against the wall. Suki sighed gratefully, rubbing her hands together.
"Hey Suki," he said, and she smiled, giving him a light hug. She let go, and Aang pointed to the living room. She smiled, taking a small box out of her coat, dashing down the entry to join the group.
"Suki's here!" Aang yelled, and he heard everyone's praise at her arrival. He shook his head, unable to wipe the smile plastered on his face. Aang picked up the ladder, walking back to his friends.
"Who wants to put up the star?" he said, and everyone turned to him, now noticing he had been gone. Suki stood up from the tree where she had been crouching, and smiled.
"I'll do it!" she said before anyone else could call it. Aang smiled, walking and unfolding the ladder. Katara stood up, digging through the box and finding the golden painted star. Sokka had commented, saying a red star didn't look good. To which Katara argued, saying red was in fact a Christmas color. So, Aang broke it up, and they decided to paint it gold. That way, everyone was happy. Looking at it just brought memories back; good memories, things everyone loved, but they seemed so old now. She passed it to Aang who passed it up to Suki. She smiled, taking it and stepping up on the highest step. She placed it nicely on the top pine, and stepped back down. Aang folded the ladder back, placing it against the wall of the couch. They sat there staring at it; everyone was content with the silence. It was a while before everyone started talking, and most ventured into the kitchen to eat.
"So who's ready for Secret Santa?" Sokka asked, and a few groaned. "Oh come on! It's Christmas Eve guys," he said, and Katara shrugged. Aang shook his head, pointing to the clock.
"Not for much longer," he said and the group snapped their heads to the clock on the oven. 11:00
"Woah, time flies huh?" Suki said, taking a sip of the tea Katara had made.
"Yeah," Zuko replied, filling the silence. Katara stood there for a minute before clapping her hands together. She tugged Toph and Aang to the living room, and the others followed. Sokka stayed behind, chugging his tea.
"Sokka, that means you too," Katara said, and he sighed, popping a cracker into his mouth. He trudged into the living room, and Katara crouched under the tree, pulling out random boxes that had people's names on them. She passed them around to their owners, and before she sat down Sokka started ripping at the paper. She sighed, taking a spot next to Aang and Toph on the couch. A long silence passed as they all unwrapped their gifts and picked at the tape on the boxes.
"A blanket?" Sokka said, holding it up. It was a light blue, and the material was soft. It made the decorations of snowflakes; it looked like something a mother would find in her daughters room at five years old. Toph burst out laughing, despite the fact you're not supposed to say what you got or hint who gave it to you. But everyone in the room had a pretty good idea who it was.
"I figured it'd come in good use," Toph said, smiling broadly. Sokka smiled back; he liked it and he liked her jokes even though he'd never say so out loud.
"Thanks Toph," he said and she nodded. Everyone had unwrapped their presents and now sat comfortably in the room, looking to each other for who would go first.
Zuko stood first, shrugging. "Ok, all I want to know is why," he said, holding up a headband that was a bright green. Antlers were sewn onto the top and everyone started laughing. "Was it you?" Zuko asked, pointing to Aang. Aang held his hands up, laughing the hardest when Zuko accused him.
"No- no I swear it wasn't me," he said, and Zuko sighed.
"It was me," Katara said, clamping a hand over her mouth to stop her giggling. "Put it on," she said, and he sighed. He walked back to the couch, plopping down next to Sokka and Mai. Katara got up, walking and adjusting his headband so it was straight. She pulled a red ball from her pocket, sticking it on his nose and Zuko frowned.
"That's for calling me Rudolf all the time, you're welcome." She sat back down, waiting for whoever was next. Toph got up, walking back and forth in the room. She stroked her imaginary beard, and looked at each person thoughtfully.
"I got two things, actually," she started, crossing her hands. "I got a book, that says how to be nice. Thank you for that, I'm sure it'll come in handy one day… for something." she flicked her eyes to Sokka, smirking, and he had a pretty good idea that the book would be used only as a weapon. And I also got a record; Pink Floyd. The dark side of the moon. So, I'm guessing my secret Santa is Sokka?"
Sokka blinked looking at everyone else. He nodded, and Toph smiled at her guess, which had turned out to be right. She sat back down, crossing her arms to wait for the next person. "The book gave it away," Toph commented, and Sokka smiled.
"I guess it's my turn," Mai said, getting up and looking as bored as ever. "All I got was some new darts, they're a lot sharper. And a target board which will be helpful. I could use the practice." She crossed her arms, shrugging and simply stating that it was Suki.
"How'd you know?" she asked and Mai shrugged again, walking and sitting down in her empty spot. "Lucky guess," she said and Suki furrowed her eyebrows. She had wanted it to be a surprise, but obviously it wasn't.
Suki patted her thighs, standing. "I got a sweater, which I actually like a lot. And I got a bracelet," she said, and she looked around, to the three people yet to be picked. "It was you wasn't it?" she asked, pointing to Mai who laughed softly. Mai nodded, and Suki smiled. "Thanks, Mai," she said and Mai waved off her thanks, and Suki sat back down comfortably.
Aang got up from his spot next to Katara and stood. "I got some books about ancient cultures. I also got a cool artifact, which looks like it's from Asia. Is my secret Santa Zuko?" he asked and Zuko laughed.
"Yeah, it was me," he confessed, and Sokka elbowed him. "Well he's always going on and on about how he wants to see other cultures. So I thought he'd like that," Zuko explained, and Aang smiled, silently assuring him he did indeed love the gifts.
"Katara, it's your turn," Sokka said and she looked around, completely forgetting she had yet to get up there and tell everyone what she had gotten. Toph pushed her forward once she stood, and Katara looked back to send the girl a death stare. She huffed, pushing back her dark hair.
"I got three books that I have wanted for years but never bought because they were too expensive. I also got a necklace which I absolutely love."
Everyone already knew who it was that had gotten her these things, because he was the only one yet to be picked. Katara laughed softly, smiling and holding her hands out. "Thanks, Aang," she said, and everyone cheered. And that was it, the clock chimed over the fireplace signaling Christmas's arrival. Most stood, gathering their gifts in hand.
"We better get home," Zuko said, hugging everyone.
"Thanks for the stuff, snoozles," Toph said, punching his arm softly. He winced even though it hardly hurt, and he hugged her quickly. They started to say their goodbyes, and Toph headed out the front door along with Mai and Zuko who had brought her along.
"I better get headed home too, my parents will freak," Suki said, gathering the gifts Mai had gotten her in her arms. She headed to the front door, and turned back to Sokka. "This was fun," she said, and he nodded, hugging her. He pecked her cheek, causing a crimson blush to creep across her light skin. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said, taking her leave. He opened the door for her, and she walked out, stepping down the porch to the walkway. When he had seen to it that she had gotten into her car, he closed the door.
"Gonna help clean up?" Katara asked and he laughed, shaking his head furiously.
"Hardly," he said, running through the kitchen and up the staircase to his room. Katara watched him run by, rolling her eyes. She hadn't noticed Aang was still there until she turned around, almost having a heart attack.
"Sorry, I wanted to help out before I left."
"It's okay, you don't have to," Katara said, and he shook his head.
"No, I wanted to. Besides, Gyatso said as long as I was home tomorrow it was fine. He knows where I am," Aang said, and Katara nodded, gathering the empty cups and wrapping paper up in her arms to throw away. She knew Gyatso was pretty laid back; he let Aang have his freedom. Aang had been adopted, and for the most part he didn't mind it.
"I think that's everything," Katara said, wiping the counters off for a final time. She brushed off her hands, tucking them in her back pockets.
"I guess I'll head home," he said, walking swiftly back into the living room to get the things Zuko had gotten him. He was really happy with it, and was surprised Zuko had paid attention to what he was interested in. katara walked with him to the front door, opening it and stepping outside. She was grateful she had been wearing a hoodie, or she would be freezing out here. The weather had let up just a bit, and it felt a tad bit warmer.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?" Katara asked, and Aang nodded.
They stood there for a moment, heads turning upward to look at the stars that had decided to come out. The night was beautiful, and calm. She felt him peck her cheek softly, and she blinked, breaking the gaze she had locked with the stars. She felt her heart speed up, like people said it did in the movies. Katara turned her head to him, and then her whole body followed suit. Before she knew it she had her arms wrapped around his neck, tugging him down to her level. Her fingers were tangled in his choppy hair, and he was caressing her cheek.
When their lips finally met she felt that spark in her chest. She had read it so many times over in the novels, but now she was experiencing it. It had only lasted a moment, but in her mind it felt like years. Her grip loosened and Aang pulled away, leaving her with puckered lips and lidded eyes. Her eyes fluttered softly, and she opened them after a moment. "Merry Christmas, Katara," Aang said, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks.
"Merry Christmas," she replied, and they both smiled, the corners of their mouths tugging up. After that, he stepped down the porch stairs, walking to the silver car parked in the driveway. He turned back, waving at her, which she returned. She tucked loose hair behind her ear, hearing the car start up. When he had left, she walked back into the warm house. And it was going to be a great Christmas, she could just tell.
KATAANG FTW! Yayayaya! Did you guys like it? Huh? Did ya did ya did ya? I liked it even though it was cliché and lame and mushy and blah blah blah. I quite like writing an AU avatar story, it was fun and unique. So, maybe someone saw the resemblance of the Perks of being a wallflower with this? Yeahh… I'm smooth like that. idk where I'm going with this at all. Tell me if you liked it, or if you hated it. Oh, and Merry Christmas guys. I hope you guys have a wonderful time. Happy Holidays!