Prompt: Smirk

"Bloodbending Legislation"

Aang and Katara deal with the difficulty that passing this legislation may bring to both their relationship and their own personal sanity. This can become a multi-chapter if you want it, otherwise, enjoy the one-shot


Aang wished that he could wipe that awful smirk off that Northern Watertribe nobleman's face. It was rare for Aang ever to get this angry, but at least he was able to restrain himself enough to not go into the avatar state. Yes, but just barely.

Aang woke up early in the morning, sliding out of his bed quietly so as not to wake up his sleeping wife. Aang quickly got dressed and completed his morning meditation to clear his mind and ready himself for the day. This week had been hard on Aang and the lack of sleep and constant council meetings were getting to him.

They were getting to Katara too, who was saddened about how little time he was spending with her. Aang seemed to always leave before she woke up and wouldn't come back until she was in bed. He was always so tired and hardly had enough energy to kiss her goodnight before falling into a deep slumber. Her heart went out for her husband who was under a lot of strain, but she couldn't keep herself from being angry at him, the council, and his stupid Avatar duties that were keeping him from spending more a cumulative hour with her this week.

The war may have ended eight years ago, but peace was still an expensive commodity that Aang and his beautiful wife, Katara, were working hard to maintain. Republic City was still in its infancy and required Aang's direct oversight on an almost daily basis. The city's harmony laws were being passed and as Avatar, Aang needed to be there to make sure that all citizens of Republic City were protected. Part of the harmony laws were provisions that made all forms of bending legal, protected the rights of non-benders, and banned certain types of bending that were deemed too evil. Of that banned forms of bending proposed was a bill written up and strongly endorsed by his wife, the ban on bloodbending. This bill was highly controversial among not just republic city, but the entire United Republic who saw this bill as either an attack on bending as an art form/tool of war and those who saw this as bold step away from the use of bending for selfish means. Though Aang acted as the cool headed and wise head of the council, Aang was perhaps (other than Katara) the more ardent supporter of this bill, which inevitably made him the target for the most ardent decenters and today wouldn't be any different.

Aang sighed as he got up from his meditative state. He still had a few minutes before he needed to depart. Aang gazed at the lithe form of his beautiful wife, who was curled up tightly in a ball, reflexively trying to keep warm after his warm body left her's. The cool autumn air was drifting into the open window, passing over the bed in a most unfair manner. Aang smiled at his wife walking over to her and placing a kiss on her cheek. Katara barely reacted, but Aang pushed his nose in her face and noticed a small smile curve up her lips. A wicked grin widened on Aang's face as he kissed her soundly on the mouth.

Katar a awoke with a jump, then felt her husband's lips moving against her and smiled as she returned his kiss with as much furver as her sleepy body could muster. Aang stepped back and she noticed he was already dressed, "Aang, are you leaving so soon?" Katara frowned looking up at him, eyes showing hurt.

"I'm sorry Katara," Aang replied, lowering his eyes to the floor. "I have to go to this council meeting."

"Well, can't you come back to bed for five minutes?"

"Sweetie…" Aang implored, trailing off.

"Aang," Katara snapped, sitting up to put her hands on her hips, "I have not seen you for more than an hour this whole week," Katara argued, eyes flashing.

"I'm sorry, Katara, I understand tha-." Aang replied, walking over to slump himself on the bed.

Katara interrupted him shouting, "Aang, we are supposed to be married, I thought things would be different, you said things would be different. I know the world needs you, but I need you too!"

"I know, Sweetie, I've missed you too, terribly. Tell me what I need to do to make this better." Aang pleaded. His eyes growing wide and starting to mist over as he gazed at his wife.

"Oh, Aang," Katara caved, she couldn't stay mad at him when he looked at her like that. Katara threw her arms around him and leaned back, taking him down into the softness of the bed. "I'm sorry I got angry, it's just so hard for me."

"It's hard for me too."

Katara thought for a moment, putting her hand under her chin. Then her eyes brightened, "I know," Katara exclaimed, grabbing a hold of Aang's face, "come home early tonight, I'll make you supper" Katara's hand drifted down Aang's chest, " and we can enjoy a full night together."

Aang blushed at Katara's suggestion. "That's a great idea Sweetie, I'll be home by 5 O'candle."

"You better, sweetie." Katara replied with a smirk.

"I give you my solemn avatar promise that I will be there," Aang replied with a short bow."

Katara laughed, "Get out of here you big dork," cried pushing him out of the bed. Aang sprawled out, trying to control his laughter. Aang gazed up at Katara, who was now beginning to giggle with her husband. Sitting up Aang pulled a gleeful Katara down with him. "Aang!" cried Katara as she tumbled down with him. "What are you doing?" she screamed.

As Katara fall on top of Aang and he rolled over on top of her, pinning her arms. "Having a bit of fun."

Katara laughed as she flipped him over, reversing their positions and straddling him. "Sweetie, if you don't go now I won't let you leave." Katara warned.

With a flick of his wrist Aang airbended Katara back up to the bed, causing her to lose herself in a fit of giggles Katara sprawled her arms out, enjoying the feel of Aang's airbending on her skin.

"Okay, okay, I'm going, jeez." Aang replied, kissing his wife's cheek as she stretched herself comfortably on the bed.

"You're welcome, sweetie, have a nice day, don't' be late," Katara called after him as Aang dived out the window. Katara smiled, even though Aang was going to be gone all day again, at least he would be there this evening, which means that she had the whole day to prepare an elaborate meal for him, break out the candles, and maybe even get the air acolytes to play some romantic music for the two of them.

Katara spent the morning doing chores, feeding the sky bison and visiting with Momo. The day was a hot one for autumn, but she bore the heat with little complaint, Aang would end his three week long grind and finally spend the day with her, nothing could bring her down. Katara skipped around, hair billowing behind her, eyes closed as she clasped her hands behind her.

"You look happy," Yin, a female acolyte, called at her. Yin was a young woman around Katara's age, she came from the earth kingdom and had short brown hair that she often kept in a bun. Katara had taken an instant liking to Yin because of their shared passion for air nomad culture, how they had both lost parents in the hundred year war, and Yin's complete romantic disinterest in Aang. Not that the Air acolytes were all bad or even all female, but before Katara's and Aang's wedding there had been a few crazy fangirls that had slipped through Aang's selection process. Almost none made any explicit moves on Aang and Aang never reciprocated or even noticed. Katara had taken it upon herself to throw out one or two acolytes who were there for the wrong reasons. Aang had apologized profusely, and was more careful after the incident. Still, there were more than a few you Katara found with looks of longing as they saw the avatar, they had gotten a stern talking to from the Master Waterbender, but Yin was never one of them, which made Katara eternally grateful.

"Oh hi Yin, I am happy," Katara replied, putting on a cute wide smile.

"I can see that. May I ask why, Master Katara?"

Katara clasped Yin's hands in hers, "Yes, Aang is coming home early today," Katara gushed, letting out a squeal while jumping up and down.

Yin matched her friend's excitement, "what are you doing to do! Do you have something planed?"

"Oh, I thought I'd make him a custard," Katara clasped her hands behind her back as she said this her eyes tilting to the sky as a silly smile played across her pretty face.

Yin smiled back at her, "was there anything else you were planning on doing tonight?" a small smirk playing across Yin's face.

Katara eyes narrowed, "that's none of your business."

The two stood there staring each other down for a brief moment, then burst into laughter. "Come on Katara, spill it."

"Well, I want it to be romantic, could you and some other acolytes make some music, maybe we could have a little dance or have a candle lit diner."

"Katara darling, I know it has been forever since you two have had any alone time. Do you really want the acolytes to get in the way of you getting quality alone time?" Yin's face was that of concern for her friend.

"But, Aang loves to dancing and music, and I know he hasn't had much time to spend with the air acolytes so I thought I would let him…" Katara trailed off. "What do you think?"

Yin smirked at her friend, "I think you are a chronic giver and the air acolytes are fine, we can live without Aang for a month, but you are his wife, you two deserve time alone."

Katara hung her head, "yeah, I guess you're right, at least play some music for us, Aang would love it."

Yin giggled, "of course, I'll take care of the music and decorations, you cook him up a meal he will never forget."

A determined glint was in Katara's eye as she declared, "you're on."


Aang walked into the council chamber with his lopsided smile plastered all over his face.

"You look happy," Sokka accused with a smirk on this face, poking a his finger into his brother-in-law's chest. Aang's face flushed red at Sokka's prodding, but then Sokka's face brightened into a smile as grabbed Aang around the neck and lovingly rubbed his fist over Aang's bald head. "You've been looking down for weeks."

Aang groaned, "Sokka, we're adults can you stop doing that."

"No can do arrowhead," Sokka exclaimed.

"Let's get on with this," Aang replied, walking past Sokka.

"Oh, don't be like that Aang," Sokka

Aang gave him a weak smile, "sorry, Sokka. I'm just really tired."

"Then why hasn't that smile not left your face, oh, wait forget I said anything it probably involves my sister and oogies." Sokka made a childish face of disgust.

Aang waved his hands in front of his face, crying,"No, Sokka it isn't anything like that, I have diner plans with her tonight."

"As long as you keep making Katara happy, I'm happy," Sokka replied, putting an arm around Aang shoulder, while silently cursing how the Avatar had grown from such a little kid to being a taller man than he was.

The two walked over to the other council members that were already seated, each taking a moment to themselves to brace for the long day. Aang took his place on the right, sitting as the air nomad representative of the council.

"We might as well begin," Aang spoke up, slamming the gravel gently on the table.

Two attendants, both dressed in green robes, signaling their Earth Nation heritage nodded at the Avatar and walked over the council doors to let in the crowd that was already starting to amass.

Today was to be a public meeting. It was the last one among many. Though the ones over the last weeks were rough, this one was projected to be the worse since it was about the ban on bloodbending. Though Aang had wanted Katara to come, Sokka had (amazingly) convinced Katara and Aang that it was a bad idea. Katara was seen as the main force behind this bill and would therefore simply be an object of hate or worse make Katara feel like a monster again like she felt after learning bloodbending herself. Dispute her stubbornness, Aang had to agree with Sokka's points and fearing the later point herself, Katara grudgingly accepted under the condition that she could come to the private meeting when the council voted.

Once the meeting started, Aang silently thanked Sokka for his wisdom. Most people who came supported the bill, brave men and women would wanted nothing more then to live in peace. Nevertheless, those who dissented voiced their disagreement in loud, rude ways.

A waterbender from the Northern Watertribe spoke the loudest. "Avatar Aang!" the grey haired man cried. "why do you continue to insist on this ban of bloodbending?" The man turned his evil eyes to the rest of the crowd, his eyes scanning those in attendance. "What will the great avatar ban next, lightening, metalbending?" A few cheers went out from the crowd. Aang could see that the crowd was beginning to grumble; as much as Aang hated arguing if he didn't intercede things would get out of hand.

Aang raised a hand to silence the crowd, "Please listen to me, we are only proposing a ban bloodbending because its power to control others. it is a corrupt form of bending that does not belong in a world of peace and harmony." The crowd grumbled at Aang's words, not convinced.

The waterbender addressed the crowd once more, "Oh, the mighty avatar just wants to hold all the power for himself, he fears powerful forms of bending," turning to Aang with a smirk on his face," don't you?" The crowd irrupted in shouts. Some crying insults at the avatar, some rushing to his defense.

Aang buried his head in his hands; he was used to this kind of abuse, but it still hurt.

Sokka broke the chaos, "Order, everyone, everyone be quiet!" The crowd silenced, "in my years as a warrior I have witnessed many forms of bending, none were more evil than bloodbeniding. Even my boomerang was useless when I couldn't control my limbs."

Though the crowd was never overwhelmingly against the Avatar, the words of another councilmember defending him brought most back to the avatar's side, which was much to the displeasure of the waterbender.

A angry smirk covered the waterbender's face as he rounded on Aang anew, "Avatar Aang just wishes to promote this bill for his precious bloodbending wife."

Aang's face tightened, his eyes narrowed, his heart beat quickened, no one spoke of his Katara in that way.

"I bet that she is just holding out on you until this bill passes, I bet that this is why the avatar is pushing for it," the waterbender spit the word avatar, like it was a disgusting taste in his mouth

Aang tried to keep his rage in check, but it was getting harder by the minute, even Sokka, who was not being insulted had a face of utter disgust.

"Why do you even stay with that whore, you could have any woman in the three nations, but you choose a water tribe peasant from the south pole, you'd be better off just getting a harem of prostitutes, at least then you wouldn't take away-" the waterbender didn't get out another word as he felt the air rush out of his lung. The Avatar used his airbending to pull the air out of his lungs, silencing him.

"You can question my decisions, you can insult me, but never, never insult Master Katara or say that she is in any way not good enough for me!" Aang shouted at the top of his lungs, tattoos flickering as he sought to control his rage. "You don't understand what bloodbending is, what it does to people, it twists them into power hungry thugs, it oppresses the powerless, it is vile and I will not permit it to be used toward selfish ends." Aang took a deep breath, and let the air go back into the man's lungs.

The waterbender sputtered and coughed, "take that man out of this council chamber, don't ever let him come back!" Sokka yelled red-faced while being restrained by the three other council members, still giving them a good fight as he tried to lunge at the defeated waterbender. The assistants carried the breathless waterbender out without resistance.

The day was getting late and Aang was eager to get home to his wife. "Sokka, I think that's enough for today."

"You're right Aang, lets call an end to the meeting, we can reconvene tomorrow?"

"No, I'm taking the day off, we both need time to cool our heads after that, and none of us have had a day off in weeks."

"Yes, does everyone in the council agree?" Sokka asked, the rest of the council nodded, giving Aang sympathetic looks.


The trip back was quick, but it felt longer to the young airbender, he couldn't wait to get back to his wife, couldn't wait to hold her in his arms and touch her face and forget that this meeting never happened, get that man's stupid smirk out of his head. The sun was starting to lower in the sky and Aang began to worry that he would be late, he couldn't stand the thought of Katara being mad at him. Though Katara's anger was usually not directed at him and when it was Aang found it amazing, but tonight was not a night he could bare it.

Appa sensing his master's distress gave him an encouraging bellow. "I'm okay Appa, we just need to get home, alright buddy." Appa voiced his agreement as he flew over Yue Bay to airtemple island. Stooping down the trusty bison landed softly on the ground. Aang gave Appa some hay and was about to get some apples off the tree, but the bison nudged his master, giving him a snort to leave. "Alright, alright, I'm going, I'll see you tomorrow buddy." Aang gave his bison a pat on the nose before heading to the house.


Katara huffed. Aang was late; he said that he would be here on time. She had naively hoped that he might walk in on her while she was still cooking. She had fantasied that whole afternoon that she would feel his warm hands around her, holding her as she prepared food as they had so often done when they were engaged and in the early months of their marriage. She thought Aang was different, he had always been a caring and doting partner, why did all of this change after they had been married for 10 months? Perhaps this was what she should have expected when she married, The Avatar. "Stupid Avatar, stupid promise," Katara had just dismissed the air acolytes who had worked all afternoon practicing a short romantic ballet. She slumped in her chair, tears threatening to spill from her face, but she would not cry, she was stronger than that.

The candles flickered as an unnatural wind blew through the house, no doubt signaling Katara of her absentee husband. "You're late, Avatar." Katara snarled.

"Katara, I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me, the meeting ran late, I came as fast as I could," Aang pleaded, running over to his wife.

Katara jumped up from the table, putting her hand out, signaling that he stop. "You made a promise, you said you wouldn't be late."

"Sweetie, please," Aang begged, stopping in front of her.

"I've had enough excuses, Aang, I asked for one night, you can't even give me that?"

"Katara," Aang cried, "I came here as fast as I could, the meeting today was really bad, I don't want to fight, please forgive me Katara." Aang was sweating, his heart beat quickened as his wife's words cut deep into him. He couldn't bare her being disappointed in him.

"Aang… is this the way it will always be," Katara asked quietly, hurt showing in her voice.

Sensing her walls coming down, Aang crept over to his wife and enveloped her in his arms, "I can't promise you that I wouldn't be late again, but I can promise you that I will always come back." Tears were streaming down his face, "Katara, you are the whole reason I'm doing this, you are the most important thing in my life, my whole world."

Katara was touched by his admission, even though she had heard it before, this time it was raw, uncalculated, and vunrible. Her heart went out to her husband, "I love you, Aang, I could never stay mad at you, sorry I yelled at you."

"It's okay, its my fault Katara, I came as quick as I could. I'm sorry." Aang grasped her tight, hoping to melt into her embrace.

"I forgive you, Aang, I know that it's hard."

"Well, lets not let this food go to waste, I'm starving, it smells delicious."

"Well, the rice is cold, thankfully I made you custard, which is served cold."

Aang's eyes widened, as he backed off from his wife, holding her shoulder's at arms length, "you… made me egg custard?" his eyes sparkled looking down at her in admiration.

"I wanted tonight to be special." Katara whispered, bringing Aang into another hug.

"Then lets make it special, lets not fight and enjoy this meal."

"Yeah, you're right, like always," Katara admitted, smiling slightly as she released her airbender.

"Nah, I'm just a simple monk with simple words," Aang's cheeky smile returning.

"Ugh, what am I going to do with you?" Katara joked, pushing him into his chair.

Aang fell gracefully into his chair, "Oof, Katara, you don't want to break your husband," Aang joked.

"Goofball," Katara chided him. Sitting down and serving herself and Aang egg custard.

"That's what you love about me," Aang shot back, grabbing the rice and reheating it with his firebending, "just another advantage of having the Avatar as a husband."

"One of the few," Katara smirked, putting a piece of custard in her mouth, "mmhh, its a good thing your wife is such a good cook."

"That's not the only thing that is great about her," Aang added.

"Like what," Katara replied blushing, knowing what would happen next.

Aang smiled widely, "her beautiful smile, her laugh, the way she always makes me feel better, the way she will fight for anyone in need, her intelligence, her compassion, and how she would do anything for her husband."

Katara clasped her hands in front of her, smiling widely as she looked gratefully at her husband, "Thank you, I'm glad we did this."

"Me too."

Air nomad music began playing in the background as the couple enjoyed their little moment together.

Again, if you guys liked this idea and want me to write more about bloodbending legislation or even about all the harmony laws (kind of like bill of rights). Please tell me or this story will simply be a one-shot. This would not be the first chapter of course, but it would eventually be included towards the middle.