A/N: Aaaaaaand I have another update (not that anyone cares, hee)! This time, following the idea that--gasp--the finale kiss was not Aang and Katara's first kiss! I AM A FLUFF MACHINE. MAKE IT STOP. Hahaha, I might end up writing some angst soon, beware! Hope you guys like it.
Kiss and Make Up
He caught her standing there, still and serene, in one of the palace's chambers. She'd been so quiet lately, and he could only imagine why.
Her stance was composed, save for her hand firmly grasping the windowpane she was standing in front of. He assumed she was captivated by the clouds or perhaps her own thoughts, but struggled with the idea of going in and talking to her. The last time they'd spoken--not just simple "Hello"s and "I'm glad you're okay"s--it had ended sourly… and he knew it had been his fault.
Before he could sneak off, she turned around. "Oh," she whispered breathily. "Hello, Aang."
The blood rushed to his face. He felt cornered and wanted to run, even as she smiled at him with her own cheeks painted pink. "Hey," came his uneasy response. She signaled for him to come closer; and, though his mind protested, he complied.
Her blue eyes watched him carefully. The boy felt a lump form in his throat. "I like your outfit," she said at last and surprised him yet again by shifting closer until their shoulders touched.
"Th-thanks." Eyes wide and mouth curved into a nervous frown, Aang stiffened as the girl suddenly rested her head on his shoulder. "Um, Katara…?"
"I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?" he rasped, gasping as she looked up at him.
A frustrated sigh escaped her lips. "I was so… horrible to you, all because I was confused. I shouldn't have--I can't believe I…!" She straightened in an instant and looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry… for not taking your feelings into consideration. Even though you kind of deserved some of it," she added playfully.
The awkwardness had lifted (well, it was still there, but not suffocating him like before), and he grinned at her. "Well, I can't help it if your lips are addictive," he explained, trying to play along with the joke.
Her gaze fell to his mouth, and she muttered, "Really…? I guess I could say the same about you." And before he could process the extent of her confession, she leaned in and kissed him.
It wasn't hasty, and it wasn't exactly passionate. Clumsy, perhaps. The boy, however, was in heaven. His mind focused on her lips moving over his, on the "I'm sorry"s pouring from the simple touch, on the way her hands ran across the back of his head lovingly. He had just begun to return the kiss when she pulled away, a blush tinting her ears. He thought she'd never looked so beautiful.
"I," Katara began hesitantly. He cupped her cheek, as if to tell her he understood, and she leaned into it. "I'm not confused. Not anymore." She bit her lip before repeating, "I'm s--"
He silenced her with a kiss of his own. More intensity, less anxiety. Nowhere near as long as he would have liked, but long enough to leave her breathless. When he broke it, smirking as she glared at him, he tossed her own apology right back at her, "I'm sorry. I didn't take your feelings into consideration. I should have accepted that you needed more time--I shouldn't have forced myself on you."
With a laugh, she countered with, "Well, I'm sorry for being so rude to you before!" and met her lips to his once more.
To which he announced, "I shouldn't have argued with you! I'm sorry," following it up with another kiss.
They continued to apologize to one another until a rather amused Toph discovered them.
("Guuuys, they're just in here making out!")
08-11-08
