A/N: Guess who has been procrastinating! *raises hand* I have now realized that I can only really write sad things and can't really write fluff. This chapter is just fluff to break up heavier chapters. After this is Sozin's Comet, but don't expect just a Copy/Paste of show dialogue, because I hate that! I'll try to get the next chapter this week, but no promises.
By the end of the fire bending practice, both boys were panting and covered in a thin layer of sweat. The rest of the group, save for Suki and Katara continued to watch the boys as they bowed and began their cool down. Noticing that the practice was coming to an end the girls had gone to get drinks from the kitchen.
Armed each with a watermelon and small glasses, they walked down the steps. "I will never get used to this heat," Katara commented closing the door behind herself. Suki chuckled, and handed her watermelon to Sokka. She then set the glasses down and took the watermelon out of Katara's arms. The couple started pouring the juice and Katara retook her place beside Toph. She looked up at the boys, now officially done. Katara couldn't help but run her eyes slowly up and down Aang's body as he stretched his arms overhead. She bit her bottom lip, but snapped out of her reverie when Suki lightly tapped her shoulder.
"You ok?" she asked with a smirk. Katara glared and took the glass Suki was offering her.
She turned to the boys and said holding up her glass, "Who wants a nice cool glass of watermelon juice?" Aang's face brightened and he ran over to her. She smiled and Suki reached from behind her to hand him a glass. Aang took a sip and sighed, before sitting down in front of Katara, facing the group. The Gaang sipped their drinks and talked among themselves.
Once everyone had finished, Sokka stood and loudly declared "Beach party!" while throwing what little clothes he had on behind him. He ran to the beach with Toph and Suki following close behind him. Zuko set down his drink and walked after them. Katara and Aang still sat on the steps, staring at one another. Zuko looked back at the two and chuckled, thinking of Mai. Their own awkward phase had been long, but allowed them to mature enough before their relationship.
Katara looked down first, blushing, "Let's catch up with the rest of the group. I bet the water will be nice to cool down," she said gesturing to the sweat dripping down his forehead.
"Oh, yeah. I bet," he didn't take his eyes off of her face. "But I should go get changed," he started to get up and walk up the stairs.
Katara grabbed his wrist, "Don't you think you'll be fine in what you're wearing right now?" she asked, then looked down at her hand gripping his wrist. She quickly let go, her blush deepening. Aang nodded, lost her the lingering heat around his wrist. She walked down the steps and took a deep breath before turning back to him.
"You coming," she smiled up at him. Her voice melting his thoughts, as his concentration turned back to the moment at hand. He ran down the steps and met her at the bottom.
He paused before breaking into a run, "Race you to the water," he yelled behind him.
Katara scoffed, but started running behind him. "Not fair! You got a head start," she yelled. He chuckled and slowed his pace just before he reached the water.
Not realizing this, she continued to run at full speed towards the water and him. As she got closer, she noticed he had stopped. Unable to slow her pace in time, she crashed into him. Together they fell into the water, limbs tangled, both groaning because of the impact.
Aang started to get up but couldn't because Katara was on top of him. He felt her shaking lightly, her head buried in his chest.
"Oh my spirits, Katara," he wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her while getting up. "I'm so sorry, are you hurt?" he brushed his hands up and down her body and scanned her looking for any cuts. Katara slowly looked up at him, a smile plastered across her face. She made eye contact and then broke into laughter before getting up.
She looked down at Aang, who still sat in the waves, confused. The rest of the group ran over to find Katara bent over laughing and Aang getting up, a concerned look still on his face.
"What happened here?" Sokka asked. Katara looked from the rest of the group to Aang and stifled another laugh.
"We were racing, and Aang stopped, but I didn't see that he did, and I ran right into him," she said, the humor and adrenaline from the situation still effecting her. The teens looked between the two, confused. After Katara burst out laughing again, everyone except for Aang, joined in, imagining the scene unfolding.
"Well if you're not hurt," Sokka said, quieting the group, "Then we should start this beach day with a sand castle contest," he turned towards where he and Toph had already started. "Look," he ran towards a pile of sand. "I made Suki," he beamed at everyone.
"Um... Sure," Zuko said, "It looks more like a sea monster. Is that what you're going for?" Sokka looked hurt, but kept his smile up.
"I wouldn't take too much offense if I were you," Toph said to Suki, "But we'll understand if you break up with him over it,"
"Hey," Sokka whined. "You like it right Suki?" Everyone chuckled but Suki beamed at her boyfriend.
"I think it's sweet," Suki said. Sokka ran and bear hugged her, before planting a huge kiss on her cheek.
"Well, look at what I made," Toph said pointing farther down the beach. The group moved towards where she pointed, leaving Aang alone.
Once they were gone, he looked back at the water. He put his arms up, around an imaginary Katara. He still felt her warm skin and soft hair. He dropped his arms and sighed. Distantly he heard Toph calling for him. He walked towards the group, leaving the memory of Katara in his arms on the shore.
The sun was slowly slipping towards the horizon and watching the sunset together was the perfect ending to the day. They sat in comfortable silence, just admiring the sunset for about a whole minute before it was broken by Toph. "I'm gonna head out. You've see nothing once, you've seen nothing a thousand times," the group nodded to her and she made her way to the house.
The next person to leave was Zuko. All he could think of was the last time he was here, and who he was wishing he could watch this sunset with. He got up wordlessly, tears in the corners of his eyes. He turned back at the foot of the stairs and smiled.
"You're so beautiful when you hate the world," he whispered to himself.
Aang, still feeling awkward from the crash at the beginning of the day, had positioned himself on the other side of the couple. Away from Katara who was between Toph and Suki.
Sokka and Suki got up just as the sun was starting to get to the horizon. Ever since Zuko had left, the couple had been making out, making the already awkward air for Aang, even more so. They left hand in hand, giggling.
Aang looked from the sky to Katara, who sat admiring the beautiful oranges of the sky and where they met the deep blue of the ocean. A light smile danced on her face and all the tension Aang had been feeling, shattered. Without taking his eyes off her, he shuffled towards her. She noticed him, her smile growing bigger. In silence, they gazed out across the ocean.
The sun waved once more before ducking beneath the horizon. Katara shivered, missing the heat that the sun once brought. Aang saw and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to him. He bent some warm air to circulate around them. Katara slowly warmed up, but even after she did, she didn't dare move. They continued to stare at the sky, watching nothing both focused on being near one another.
Katara started to lean in further and wrap her arms around Aang's waist, but he cleared his throat. He pulled away from her. His body ached to continue their position, but he had to.
He agreed that they should wait for this war to be over and he didn't want to make her more confused.
"It's getting late," he said standing. He brushed the sand off of his lap. Katara blushed, but he didn't notice. He held out his hand to help her up, which she took.
"Yeah, we should probably...," she stopped.
Aang and Katara were face to face. So close that they could feel each other's breath on their faces.
"Yeah, we probably should," Aang stared straight into her eyes. Katara leaned in but Aang stepped back and let go of her hand.
"I'm sorry," he looked down and Katara did the same. "We both should get some rest, two late nights in a row will catch up," he said quickly and started to walk up to the house. Katara followed after him, but keeping her distance.
Once they reached their rooms, they both said their good nights and collapsed onto their respective beds, letting out a big sigh as they did.
'We should wait for after the war,' was all the buzzed around their heads as they drifted off into a deep sleep.