Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The Art of an Innocent Kiss
"Everything is gonna be different after today, isn't it?" The question came out more like a statement in the presence of the Avatar and his waterbending master. It resulted in an awkwardness between the two, but held such responsibility despite its simplicity...especially in the way Aang had asked it. Katara's gaze met his in a way she never had. So many feelings were bottled up inside of them. There were confidence, worry, patience, and compassion. But one thing was clear...there was pain. It was a pain that signified her strong bond towards the airbender she had known for almost a year. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him after everything they've been through. "Yes, it is." she whispered at last.
Those three words had life and power in them. They offered hope for the future. If a new era was to rise from the century-old war, who would not be happy? A new era meant a new golden age of happiness, but only Aang and Katara knew what sacrifices must be made to triumph in this goal.
Aang's smile melted as he thought of the consequences laying before him, especially when it involves his relationship with Katara. It all started with an iceberg when he first glanced into her beautiful, crystal hues of ocean blue. It was because of a fortuneteller's prediction that he knew she was his all along. It was his greatest realization because of an innocent union of lips among the torchlight in the Cave of Two Lovers. She was his guardian angel. She was his reason to fight and to save the world from the clutches of Ozai. And here they were now, standing upon a submarine while holding hearts. There she was, standing before him with hidden passion and masked fear.
Aang was the Avatar, the incarnation of the spirit of the planet. He was an airbender, the last of his kind striving to strengthen and please the spirits of his people. The world was counting on him. The fate of the Air Nomads' memory was in his hands. But he was also a human being, for he, too, had a heart. He too had fallen in love.
"What if..what if I don't come back?" Aang's words struck Katara with such intensity that she was sure her heart would stop forever. But she was still standing before him, trying to be strong with each second. "Aang, don't say that. Of course you'll-" And that's when the airbender boldly locked his lips with hers. He poured his heart out to her within that one kiss, his heart revealed to the girl of his dreams. Katara's eyes sparkled as his grip on her shoulder tightened. His lips perfectly encased hers, welcoming her into a dream-like trance. Katara felt as if she would flinch under the sudden chemistry between them, but she gently closed her eyes, leaning into the kiss...the kiss that introduced her to cloud nine.
With a bold, but disappointed determination, Aang hesitantly let go. Before ascending into the air, he stopped to gaze into her eyes once more. He wondered if he will ever see those same, beautiful eyes again, but he knew that he had to come back...and for her he will.
Although there was confidence, there was still a certainty that one small kiss was not enough...
