A/N - Qian: Alright, so I know that not all of our readers are Christian (we're not), and that this pairing is a little off-beat, but Mausumi and I thought it'd be cute if we wrote a series of SokkaAang drabbles for the holiday season. We'd like to point out that the only reason we felt inclined to write a SokkaAang fic was because Aang grew out his hair this season (but then shaved it, damn it! He was so cute!). Although the title is "Avatar Advent Calendar" the shorts won't necessarily be Christmas related, but rather simple fluff-filled stories. So, for the next twenty-four days until Christmas, enjoy!

Avatar Advent Calendar
-December First-
Drenched

"Ugh! Why can't I do this?!" Aang cried out as, for the third time, the water that he was bending splattered in all directions.

Sokka sat but a few metres away, watching idly as his friend stood ankle-deep in the water of a small, sparkling stream, diligently practicing his bending. The legs of the boy's pants were rolled up and his shirt was thrown carelessly in a heap on the nearby bank.

"I just can't get this move!" cried Aang, clearly frustrated by the situation. He turned around to face the tan-skinned boy. "What should I do?"

Sokka shrugged his shoulders and lay back in the grass contentedly. "Don't ask me. Ask Katara when she comes back from shopping." He closed his eyes and allowed the sweet smell of clean water and tender grass to wash over him.

Meanwhile, Aang frowned at his friend's unsatisfactory answer. This time he would do a waterbending move he was sure he knew how to do. All he had to do was gather some water from the stream and . . .

Splash!

"Aagh!" shrieked Sokka, his voice cracking terribly on the lone note as he sat bolt upright, water dripping profusely from the entire expanse of his body. "Aaang! Look at me! You got me all wet!" He stood up angrily and pointed an accusing finger at the offending boy.

"Well don't just stand there!" Sokka demanded as Aang doubled over in laughter. "If you want to practise your waterbending so much the least you can do is use it to get me dry ."

"Okay, okay," said Aang, suppressing the last of his giggles. He lifted his arms and positioned his legs so that his weight was evenly distributed throughout his body. "One…two…three!"

Sokka experienced a rare moment of elation as he saw his friend extract a few droplets of water from his clothing before a wave of horror drowned that feeling completely. A stream of water from Aang's feet rushed towards him and drenched him further.

"Hey!" shouted Sokka, indignation practically spewing from the one syllable.

"I'm sorry!" Aang called out defensively, "It's a lot harder than Katara makes it look!"

"Well you'd better get me dry somehow, I mean, I could get a cold or something!" shot back Sokka as he shook his head to rid himself of the excess water stubbornly clinging to his hair.

"Hmm," said Aang as he scratched his head pensively. His eyes brightened quite visibly as an idea struck him. "I know! Watch this!" He took a deep breath and arched back as his lungs filled with air.

"Pfffffff!" A gust of wind swept over Sokka, causing him to lift his hand in order to cover his face from the fierce draft.

"What are you doing?!" he shouted over the wind.

As quickly as it had started, the current of air stopped and fell still. "I'm air-drying you off," replied Aang very matter-of-factly before he began to draw another breath.

"But now I'm wet and cold," grumbled Sokka, shooting the other boy a slight glare.

Aang looked crestfallen for just a moment before he perked up again. "Wait, I have another idea! This one will definitely work!"

And with that, the boy took off running towards his friend at top speed.

"N-no, wait! Stop!" Sokka shouted in vain as he closed his eyes and shielded his face with his arms, bracing himself for the impending unpleasantness. Oh, this would surely prolong his torture, thought the blue-eyed boy bitterly. He would be cold, and wet, and miserable, and—

Two thin but strong arms wrapped around his midsection.

Confused, Sokka let his arms drop a few inches and opened his eyes. Aang was hugging his torso tightly so that their bodies were pressed close. The side of the younger boy's head was nestled comfortably between Sokka's pectorals, and the most endearing expression of serenity graced his features.

"Aang, what—"

"I'll just keep you warm like this until you get dry."

Any lingering anger in the teenaged boy's mind evaporated instantly, replaced immediately by a rush of affection for Aang. Sokka slowly wrapped his arms around the other boy's back and bent his neck slightly so that his lips and nose tenderly nuzzled the head full of soft, black hair that was positioned flush against his fluttering heart.

"Sounds like a good idea."