Title: "Secret Lovers"
Summary: "In the morning they would go back to being the closest friends."
Day:1
Inspiration: Down Low by R. Kelly and the Isley Brothers & I Want You by Erykah Badu (because it is what you think it is)
Katara gnawed the corner of her bottom lip, lost in a fog of memories.
A heartbeat was the only sound louder than her panting.
Or perhaps the better metaphor was 'steam'.
The meeting seemed to drone on and on and, though Katara was usually praised on her diligent listening in comparison to her brother or other 'young people' in positions like her with the opportunity to sit in on such life altering debates such as:
"So we're all at agreement that something like this really doesn't need my attention? The Cabbage Merchant Union can continue on its own time?"
She wanted nothing more than to go back to the apartment for another night surrounded in his embrace.
"I-"
It beat harder, choking her words as his body stretched over hers in the dark bedroom. The sight of his chest always managed to stun her; His arms braced the headboard above her, pectoral and abdomen muscles taut.
Mindlessly, she agreed with the rest of the room.
The Avatar hunched over straight across from her at the head of the large oval table, "And if there's nothing else…?" His tone was weary with the question as he scanned the room, though she could feel his gaze linger on her. He always skipped looking at her when he surveyed the area.
Always save the best for last after all.
Her breath quickened as he descended. The heaviness of his stare weighed her down when she wanted to reach out.
"Meeting adjourned."
It made her so nervous; to be looked at with such want by eyes that constantly tricked her with their innocence. It reminded her that it really was him above her, that she wanted him so badly.
That she loved him.
As Katara finally exited the crowded room, a hand clapped down on her shoulder. She subtly flinched when his lips pecked her cheek.
Her betrothed was always quick to catch her off guard.
"You look beat." His obvious statement started her eyes rolling.
One of the noble women commented as she passed them, as one always did.
"What a charming man you managed to snag Master Katara."
"I wish my husband was so diligent. "
Which would cause the man at her side to blush, and her to inch out of his grasp, mumbling about how he was not her husband he was her betrothed and there was a difference.
Each night made her wonder if this was the night to breech the agreement.
To untangle the lines of this old arrangement and admit it wasn't enough.
Maybe she was mature enough and maybe now was okay, because she realized there would never be an imperfect time if it was them. But, she never did.
Because she assumed this is still what he wanted and she would take this over not being with him at all.
As a result she never heard that he completely agreed.
He droned on beside her, "So what do you want to do tonight? It's a full moon and all, so I was thinking maybe-"
"Katara."
"I want you."
The young woman looked up graciously at the man to her right holding a small manila folder.
"Avatar Aang." The couple greeted him, one with an obviously more familiar tone.
He wanted her to know she was needed more than just physically. A long time ago she had somehow convinced him to see things her way, and he promised he would wait for her even if took forever.
He would.
But forever was a long time.
The Avatar smiled at them both, "Sorry to interrupt any plans but, unfortunately I have to steal Katara away from you tonight,"
He at least looked the part of someone who was truly apologetic, even as he possessed her shoulders under his arm, effectively moving her completely away from the other man's side.
"She promised me we'd burn off all this building energy together, right Sweetie?"
The Avatar grinned, his demeanor bashful and constantly impressing Katara. With a personality such as his, no man would ever truly feel threatened that a woman would leave their side; Aang was known to playfully tease elders and play with children, hold doors and push out chairs.
He was an all around good man who would never be suspected of being able to go through with anything that led a taken woman astray.
He didn't want her to ever go to someone else's home when she took a detour from her single apartment to his or be awake in another man's embrace.
So when he asked for the company of his longtime friend and Master, when they called each other cute nicknames, when she got a sparkle in her eyes and a comfort in her tense posture and responding chuckling "Right Sweetie."
The only named she ever needed to breathe on a man's skin was his and his alone.
Of course the man who was to marry her held no apprehension.
Because it was Avatar Aang and,
He would go crazy if they had to carry this secret any farther than a betrothal.
it was just business.