One: Innocence

Random stoofs I come up with whilst floating around VHR, that aren't important enough to be dedicated their own story but are too persistent to not be dedicated a publication. Nothing super, and like I said—mostly pointless. Enjoy the ones you do, anyway.

One: Innocence

Ship: Kataang

Notes: I asked around for a word from which I could weave a fluffy Kataang oneshot for two or three hours before I got this one off a list of inspirational phrases xD And because Aang's innocence is just his bestest feature of all -luff-

It was one of the many things she loved about him.

His smile was innocent, and the laughter in his eyes, and the joy in his voice; his touch was innocent, and his hug, and his kiss. His very being was innocent, pure and free of burden, as only kids could be; and it was his innocence, she was sure, that made him so wonderfully light and able to fly.

She didn't want it gone, but these things have a habit of not listening to one's silent pleas. She wanted him to be her beautiful, pure, innocent boy for as long as they were together, but she knew she was foolish to dream of it. Living in the midst of a war and having to stop it, alone or as he said, sucked the purity right out of one's being.

War took something from you, she knew; and few, very few, could ever take it back.

He was changing. She could tell.

He grinned, that radiant, joyous beam she adored, so much less; he smiled still, but it was not the same as before. If he ever laughed, it was heavy and almost forced, not at all the free, light sound it was before. His eyes were darker, duller, not so bright and happy. He even bended differently, now. She knew, without having to ask anybody or anything, that he was being loaded down with all the death, destruction and fire that pressed on all sides. He was being hurt by that he had to hurt.

The last shred of innocence they all clung to as hope was ripped from him that day; the first (and last, he swore, with tears in his eyes) time he killed, and it was the former Fire Lord. He collapsed not a second after Ozai did, tears running down his face and mixing with the blood and sweat. As she healed him (he would not let her till all else that she could do for the wounded and herself was done) she looked into his eyes; and it was the lifeless weight there that tore her heart; she knew he would never forgive himself for taking a life, never forget what those slim, strong hands had done; and she sobbed as he did, for she was sure he would never be the same, never again look at her with those pure grey eyes, never laugh and grin in that airy way; never, ever again, be the Aang she knew.

Years later, she would remember how she had felt then, and she would wonder at her foolishness, the conclusions she leapt to without proper contemplation; and she would grin hugely. When Aang would grin back (that beautiful, carefree grin) and ask her why she was so happy, she would remark on her feelings just after he won the war; and she had never been so very, very glad of how very, very wrong she was.

He would laugh (that light and wonderful laugh) and agree, wholeheartedly; then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes (and his eyes were the most wonderful part of him; hugely wise and knowing, but so very young and pure and innocent; at once deep and searching and light and trusting, showing his emotions clearly) ask her if she remembered exactly how she had fixed him…and she always knew what he was talking about, always ready and eager to agree when he asked her if she'd like to do it again; and it was always at that point that they went to the bedroom, and Katara would make sure he was just as innocent as could be.

You get what I'm implying, k. -shifty eyes- xD

It's hugely random and probably very confusing, and I'm willing to bet my hindquarter's fifty cent coin it's also quite badly written in the eyes of many…But wotevar, I enjoyed writing it, no one is forcing you to read, Aang and Katara seem very happy, it's all good :D

Leave all requests in reviews or private messages; and just because you requested doesn't mean I will write it. No more than one Zutara every three uploads, OK, because it hurts Aang. (And thus me.) Plus, I'm not too fond of crackships.

(PS: I'm more likely to write your request if you leave a nice, big basket of cherries with it…)