Okay so i wanted to edit this chapter because come on lets be honest. It was horrible! Anyway, please enjoy!
"Katara!" the king called to his princess daughter. " I need you to take this pot of left-overs from last night's feast down to the homeless shelter!"
"Ok!" she said cheerfully. She never had a problem with helping out the less fortunate. In fact, she often volunteered to go down there.
She grabbed the pot and with a smile, left the palace. The trip to the shelter only took minutes. She opened the door and walked in. She never stood out in here because although she was a princess, she was just a 16 year old girl, who got zits, and worried about boys, the whole nine yards. She wore Jean shorts with a shirt that had a big red heart made of a different textured fabric on with a pair of black flip-flops. She was still a teen who loved to have fun, but didn't have one friend who 1) didn't use her to gain money or 2) just wanted to marry her to get rich.
However she was so far in thought, that she didn't see the boy who was about her age right in front of her, until it was too late. They collided head on. The teen placed his hands under hers to catch the pot and to help her regain balance. They looked up at the same time, staring at each other sheepishly.
"Um hi. My name is Aang." he said with a small blush.
"Hi I'm Katara. I come here a lot and I've seen you around." she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Well Katara I think the PRINCESS should know everyone." he said with a smirk.
"Wait how'd you know?" she asked, stunned.
"Well I've been around for a while, and things start going around about people. Especially the royal family." he said leading her to his normal table.
"It's not anything bad is it?" her eyes led him on that she was pleading with him to say no.
The last thing she needed, was bad gossip going around and this cute boy hearing it. The thing was, he was dirty and his clothes were bedraggled, but he had the most beautiful eyes she had seen on anyone her age. They were grey orbs of innocence and curiosity. He also had the most amazing smile. He could power the whole city with it. She couldn't help but wonder why he was homeless and without any parents. He didn't seem like a drug addict.
Curiosity overcame her and she couldn't help but ask him, "Aang, why in the world are you here?" she quickly slammed her hand over her mouth and added, "I'm so sorry to put you on the spot. You don't have to answer the question if you don't want to or if it is too painful." she said with one breath.
"Hey don't worry about it. Well the story is kinda long, but if you still want to know, I'll tell you." he said with a smirk but then he looked distressed that he had to tell his story again. He probably got asked the question more than once.
"Well first off, my parents. My dad died when I was 2 and my mom broke around that time. She was an alcoholic and a drug addict. When I was 5 , I was forcibly taken from her and placed here. My official guardian is Gyatso, but everyone knows me. So yup that is my life story." he finally concluded and lifted his head up to meet her gaze. "Hey that wasn't as long as I thought it would be!"
"Aang, I'm so sorry." she embraced him and they continued to talk but on happier topics for hours.
They talked for weeks to come.
They talked more each day.
Aang's POV
Wow Katara is awesome. I've never met anyone else like her. She is so sweet and kind and she listens and he could go on and on. But she was also beautiful and she has a laugh that's just wow! Wait was he falling for the princess? No way! It doesn't matter anyway. She wouldn't fall in love with a dirty homeless boy. But maybe he had a small chance. He blushed just thinking about her.
Katara's POV
As Katara lay on her bed, she couldn't help but think about Aang. She already knew that she was falling for him. And she also knew that he was different than any other boy she had ever known. The only thing she didn't know, was if he liked her back. But why would he like her? She was the princess and I bet he thought she was going to marry some rich prince now that she was of marrying age! Ugh! It was so confusing.
Her father was noticing an absence of his daughter around the palace lately. So he decided to investigate. He waited ten minutes after she left and followed her to the shelter.
He opened the door ajar, and peered in. He was only dressed in jeans and a tee, so no one would suspect his true identity. He stepped in and glanced around the room until he saw her laughing with a boy. His fatherly instincts told him to march over there and scold her for talking with a boy, but then he had an idea that would bring them together because he could tell they really liked each other. He hasn't seen her this happy with anyone and although he is living in this kind of place, he is making his little girl laugh. So with that, he left concocting his plan.
1 month later...
"Katara can you come down here please?" her father asked at the foot of the stairs.
He went to greet the boys when he heard her footsteps.
Katara had no idea why her dad was calling her down now. It was almost time to visit Aang. She always looked forward to her visits.
When she stepped down the last step, she looked at her father and the two boys who were standing next to him.
"Katara, this is Lee ..." he said pointing to a boy around her age. He had brown chestnut hair, his bangs went from the left side of his forehead to the right in a very neat way, and he wore a collared shirt with a pair of kaki cargo shorts; the image of a regular teenager. He also wore a goofy smile that reminded her of Aang.
"And this is Curtis." her father said pointing to another teen standing next to Lee. He had dirty blonde hair that had no bangs, he wore a collared shirt as well, but he wore a small clip-on tie. And he wore kaki long pants and nice shoes which made him look more dressy. What an idiot!
"They are both princes also of marrying age and were looking to see if you might be compatible." he said.
She should've known. The only reason her father did this was so she could be married. But she was curious. So even though she wasn't going to accept any of them, she nodded.
"Very well then. Lee why don't you go first." he said and Lee followed her into the small waiting room that used to be her mom's before she passed.
"So..." she said awkwardly.
"So..." he replied with same amount of awkwardness.
"So tell me about yourself." Lee said with a hint of enthusiasm in his voice.
"Well first off, I'm 16 and I have an older brother, Sokka. I don't see him too much because he is already married and on his honeymoon with his wife of 1 month, Suki. I love reading, swimming, helping out the homeless, and duels, which might surprise you. I have never had a boyfriend or a true friend for that matter. Well until a few weeks ago. I have 1 friend, Aang. He lives down in the orphanage but the only way you would know that is if you asked him. So enough about me, what about you?" she said.
"Well I'm also 16 and I have an older sister, Kanji. She has a boyfriend and helps me out with my relationship problems." he responded. When he said 'relationship problems' he seemed to say he had them quite often. But she let him continue.
They went on and on telling each other about themselves. In the end, Lee told Katara that he was in a relationship with his best friend. Hearing this Katara smiled. She told him she was happy for him and she was sucked into this. She also went on to say how she might have feelings for Aang. They became friends, and that's just how they stayed.
After Lee left, it was Curtis's turn. They asked the same questions and laughed. And when he had to leave, he told her that they were perfect for each other and they were to be married at once. Shock was the only thing plastered on her face. He got up to leave and she exited after.
She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, tears burning at her eyes. Still she didn't open the door until she dried her tears to a point and entered slowly.
Aang spotted her right away and smiled. She tried to smile back and he could tell she had been crying. He gently took her hand and led her outside. She then sobbed into his shoulder and he had let her cry her heart out until she was content.
After about 10 minutes of nonstop crying, Katara sniffled and leaned out of the embrace. Aang wiped the tears from her cheek and she smiled. He noticed the black smudges on her face.
"You look a whole lot better without makeup. It ruins your image. " he said with a smirk.
Katara giggled lightly and blushed.
"Well, look who we have here. It looks like two young teens in love. " he slurred. He was undoubtedly drunk and had just come from one of the nearby bars. "Let's see if you can facs my waf. " his eyes were red and he didn't look like he was going to drop from all the alcohol consumption.
Aang gently pushed Katara behind him in a protective way. "Look just leave us alone. " he said with a normal tone.
"Ha. Let's see how well you can protect yourself and your pretty lady friend." he said getting his fists ready.
Aang pushed Katara farther back and stepped forward.
The battle began. The drunk man threw punch after punch, but Aang eluded all of the with the skill of an un-drunk 15 year old. He threw a few quick jabs and it hit the drunk man in his weak points. After awhile, he ran away, too scared and injured to fight anymore.
Hakoda saw the whole thing and decided Aang could defend his daughter rather well. He then put the rest of his plan into action.
"Young lady! There you are. I've been worried sick!" he said coming down the path towards them.
Oh no! Dad! She thought. He's going to kill me!
"Now we have to hurry. Curtis is waiting to take you on a date. " he said ushering with his hand to follow. But she only wanted to stay where ever Aang was.
"No dad! I don't like him and I don't want anything to do with him. I...I like...Aang! In a way that's um more than um friends. I uh think. " she stuttered. Aang turned around looking at her with shock. Oh no he didn't like her that way. Great. There goes one of my only friends.
"Really. So what you mean to tell me, is you and this boy who you've just met have feelings for each other. Just to make sure you're not trying to pull a fast one, why don't you prove it to me."
"WHAT!" she said.
Aang suddenly frowned but blushed.
"That's what I thought now let's go. " he said.
Neither one moved, but Katara closed her eyes and started to walk around Aang.
"W-w-wait Katara. " he said turning towards her. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Aang look I'm sor-" she was cut off by an unfamiliar pair of soft, sweet lips on hers. She was shocked but she soon melted into their first kiss.
"Very nice, but I did mean when I'm not looking. Thank you very much!"
"So um now what?" Aang asked. What did the kiss mean in terms of their relationship, if they had one now.
"Well young man wait how old are you?" he asked.
Aang's face fell. "I'm 15 sir. " Katara was 16 and of marrying age.
"Well age is but a number. However, once we return to the house, I want to talk with you, Aang." he said with a smile."Well we better get back to the palace to tell Curtis the news. Let's go lovebirds. " he said as he started up the path while Aang and Katara held hands and followed.
They walked side-by-side up from the orphanage. They were a bit nervous and shaky at what to do now, but they just intertwined their fingers and enjoyed each other's company.
"I'll go tell Curtis the news while you go find some new clothes for Aang" he said to Katara. When he said 'clothes' Aang looked down and smiled.
"No way! No one stands up Prince Curtis!" they heard from the sitting room. Out stormed the prince himself. He marched straight up to Aang and smirked. Aang, again, gently pushed Katara back behind him. This time however, Katara went and stood next to her father.
"Surely you aren't the twit that is stealing my babe." he said. Katara's face was angry and if you stared hard enough you could see it turning red.
"That's me. The homeless twit that is waaay better than Prince Curtis. " Aang said with pride.
"No one insults me without being punished!" he said getting in a fighting stance.
"Well if you insist. " he replied in a gleeful tone. Aang stepped back a few paces and shook his butt towards the prince and said in a joking tone, "I'm prince Curtis!" (A/N: think of "the deserter" and when Aang said to Zao 'I'm general Zao!')
This made Katara laugh.
Prince Curtis couldn't take it. So, he charged Aang when he wasn't looking. The thing is he wasn't looking, but he knew the prince was charging and he knew where to step to gracefully evade him. The scene played out similar to the one a few hours ago. Aang wasn't even touched once, but Curtis was hit by quick jabs in his stomach. On the brink of crying, Prince Curtis put his hands up in defeat, bowed to Aang and started towards to door holding his stomach. As he passed Katara, he turned and in one quick motion, faced Katara and kissed her simply on the lips. Aang was ready to stomp over to Him and dance on his face, to put it in the nicest way possible.
Katara wouldn't let the kiss last for more than a millisecond. She pulled away and slapped him across the face. She then screamed in his face, "What the heck are you doing!"
"I wanted to see if maybe that changed your mind" he said seductively.
"You know what changed me?" she said with the brightness of her eyes reappeared. She then walked casually walked up to Aang, turned towards Curtis and smiled. She then turned to Aang and grabbed his shirt tight in her hands.
Aang knew what was about to occur and smiled. They leaned in for a quick 'ha in your face' kiss. They released after a minute and faced a red Curtis.
"Goodbye Curtis. " they said.
"That's Prince Curtis to you," and with that, he stormed out.
They couldn't help but laugh.
"So how do I look and be bruta
l." Aang said stepping out from behind a door. He was wearing a simple pair of khaki shorts with an orange shirt that said AIR in yellow letters. He chose the outfit, and he did look nice, but the clothes don't make the man.
She laughed. " Spin" He slowly spun 180 degrees with a smile on his face. "Turn to your left. " He obeyed. "Now the right. " he did as instructed.
"Well your shirt smells like prunes and you forgot to zip the zipper to your pants. But other than that you look great. " she said giggling.
Aang responded to this by placing his hands on his hips like a superhero does. He then smiled and couldn't contain his laughter anymore. He swooped Katara off her feet and spun her around. They laughed with glee. He set her down and pecked her cheek.
"Aang, uh may I have a word with you son?" Hakoda asked forcing Aang to put Katara down. Aang nodded and followed him out the door. They went down a flight of stairs, took a right into a long hallway, and went in the 2nd door on the left.
"Take a seat son. We need to talk about this relationship between you and my little angel. " he said taking a seat. "I will allow you to date my daughter if you so please to, but you must be very gentle. Plus I'll allow you to stay here. I must ask you, if you and her do...uh how do you kids say it? Love each other? Then I shall ask you too, after a substantial amount of time, to become a part of this family."
"Ok I can do that. I could see myself with your daughter and I will take that into consideration." Aang replied.
"Very well." they got up and because Aang was closest to the door, he motioned with his hand to stop. Aang would recognize that even level breathing from behind the door. And because the door was a PULL, Aang smiled. He quickly opened the door and a falling princess collided with him. Well they really didn't collide, Aang just caught her before she fell and I called that collided.
"Hhm. Were we eavesdropping? Well I'll be. Katara that is not what a good girl does." Aang said trying to contain his laughter.
"I was just waiting for you two to finish and I overheard a few things is all." Aang burst out laughing. Katara soon followed.
Once their little...epidemic was over, they all went to dinner. Aang sneaked a small kiss while Hakoda was in front of them.
"I saw that!" he said still with his back to them.
They blushed and all through dinner, they fantasized about the upcoming relationship and the many adventures they would share.
Please let me know if that is better! And if you liked it!