Chapter 10 Awkward
Later that night
Aang flung open the door to their room and struggled to help Katara in. She had one arm flung over his shoulder and Aang supported her with an arm about her waist.
"I knew we should have just left tonight like we planned," he said.
"Awww that woulda been no fun," Katara laughed.
"Katara, you need to whisper its late people are sleeping," Aang reminded her.
"Oh," she whispered loudly, "sorry." Aang sighed in annoyance, rolling his eyes.
"Note to self," he thought, "no saki for Katara…EVER."
He struggled with her over to the bed with absolutely no cooperation whatsoever. He attempted to lay her down but she refused to let go of his neck.
"Come on Katara," he insisted, "you need to sleep." He pulled her arms away from him.
"No, I'm not tired, I don't need any sleep." She reached out to him, once again wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I don't want to sleep I want to dance," her eyelids slowly fell as she spoke and her head dropped down upon his shoulder.
"Katara," he chuckled, "you can't even keep your eyes open…you need to sleep." Katara nodded softly in response to his reasoning, she brought her hand to her mouth and suddenly yawned. Aang smiled in amusement.
"Come on," he said. He swiftly scooped her up into his arms and gently lay her down upon the soft cusiony mattress. He then pulled the blankets over her and gently tucked her in.
"Now get some rest," he whispered, "you're going to need it for our trip tomorrow." He stood and turned to walk away when Katara suddenly grabbed him by the hand. Aang turned to face her once more.
"Don't leave," she said.
"I'm not leaving," he replied as he pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it to the side, "I'll be right here on the floor."
"No…stay with me," she insisted reaching for his hand once more and pulling him in the direction of the bed.
"Katara…."
"Please Aang," she pleaded. He reluctantly made his way over to the opposite side of the bed and flopped down next to her crossing his arms behind his head. Katara smiled and turned to him. She reached her arm across his chest and lightly kissed him on the jaw.
"Goodnight Aang," she whispered. Aang reached down and lightly caressed her arm and gazed into her eyes which were now only inches from his own.
"Goodnight Katara," he whispered back. She rolled over to her opposite side facing her back toward Aang. She leaned forward and blew out the candle. Aang watched her as she lay her head back down upon her pillow stretched her arms over her head and adjusted herself comfortably in her sleeping spot beside him. Slowly Aang rolled to his side to face her. He could hear the rhythmic sound of her breath. He leaned closer to her, his face becoming buried in her long dark hair. It smelled of lavender and water lilies. He breathed in deeply, the sweet aroma was so intoxicating, so alluring. He slowly and cautiously reached his hand to her and gently caressed the back if her arm. She sighed suddenly and leaned her head back upon his shoulder. Aang shivered at her touch. Without warning Katara rolled over to face Aang. He quickly pulled his hand away from her and rolled over to his back. She drowsily opened her eyes.
"Are you cold Aang" she asked in a whisper.
"N-no," he replied shaking his head, "I'm fine."
"Okay," she whispered sleepily, she leaned further toward him and laid her head upon his bare chest. Aang gazed down upon her in pleasant surprise. He quietly brought his arm down to rest upon her shoulder. Suddenly he could feel Katara's hand upon his stomach. He froze as she slowly moved her hand upward to his chest. His heart was beating furiously and he wondered if she could feel it. He fidgeted nervously in her presence,
"Are you okay Aang," Katara asked drowsily.
"Huh, yeah, I'm fine," he replied.
"Why do you keep moving around," she yawned.
"I…uh…I just can't get comfortable."
"Aang," she yawned again. He rolled to his side, they were face to face. She drowsily opened her eyes and gazed at him. He smiled at her gently taking her hands in his. He slowly lifted them to his lips and lightly kissed her fingers, she smiled as she closed her eyes.
"What are you doing," she sighed.
"Nothing," he whispered. She opened her eyes a tiny crack and smiled at him slightly.
"You're staring at me again," she whispered. Aang chuckled a little.
"No I'm not," he whispered.
"You're such a bad liar," she replied allowing her heavy eyelids to fall closed once more. Aang grinned slightly in amusement at her humorous response. He could feel his heart beating feverishly as he silently gazed upon her petite sleeping form. She looked so beautiful laying there before him, displaying such an expression of peacefulness. A few strands of her silky hair lay across of her lovely face. Her cheeks flushed slightly in a lovely shade of pink. Aang's breath suddenly caught in his throat and he found it almost impossible to breathe. He longed so badly to pull her into his arms. He wanted to hold her close to him, to just feel the warmth of her breath on his skin.
Somehow his feelings for her had grown immensely since he had been away and he found it almost unbearable to be lying so close beside her. He sighed heavily snapping his eyelids tightly closed, bringing his hand to his forehead and rubbing it vigorously in frustration.
"I have to tell her," he thought to himself desperately, "I need to tell her." He opened his eyes and gazed at her once again. She stirred suddenly, sighing softly in her sleep. Aang smiled at the sound. He rolled slowly forward toward her. He reached to her gently grasped her face in his palms and gazed at her longingly.
"Katara," he whispered softly.
"Hmmm," she muttered, without opening her eyes even the slightest. Aang inched closer to her pressing his lips gently to her fore head. Katara opened her eyes for a brief moment and smiled in Aang's direction. She then took a deep breath and rolled over to her opposite side turning her back toward him. Aang did the same, half thankful that she had been serenely unaware of his actions.
As he lay there quietly staring off into the darkness of the room, his mind drifted over the events of the evening. Katara had been breathtaking standing at the top of the stairs in her new kimono. Aang sighed at the memory. Who was he kidding, she was beautiful all the time, she could have gone to the festival in rags and still would have turned every head. The festival had been fun and they had nearly danced the entire night, much to the dismay of the poor earth bender who had been hoping to get at least one with her. Aang however could not help but think about her question from earlier in the evening. If he had thought about what it would be like if he had never left, if he had any regrets. He had in fact thought about it that entire evening. He wondered if he had stayed, that just maybe he might have already told Katara the truth by now. Just thinking of the possibilities of what could have been, what might have been…and quite possibly what should have been, made Aang long for it all the more. As Aang lay lost in his despondence, he slowly reached up underneath his pillow in an attempt to get comfortable. As he did so his hand brushed slightly against a rough surface. He felt around at it a bit in curiosity, it seemed to be some sort of crumpled up paper. Aang grabbed hold of it and pulled it out from under the pillow. He raised it to his eyes straining to see what it was. He glanced at Katara briefly over his shoulder and then turned his eyes back to the paper. It seemed to have some sort of writing on it but it was barely readable in the darkness of the room. He raised his finger to the paper and lit a flame just large enough to illuminate the words. He began to read it. His eyes widened when he suddenly realized that he was indeed reading his own letter, one that he had written to Katara nearly nine months before.
"How did this get here," he muttered. Suddenly Katara sighed in her sleep. Aang extinguished the flame immediately and quickly stuffed the letter back under his pillow. "Did Katara take it from my bag," he questioned silently, "did she read it?"
The next morning
When Aang awoke, he was met with a face full of hair. He attempted to sit up but found that he couldn't as Katara was completely wrapped around him. Her arm was across his stomach her head lay upon his chest, and one of her legs was intertwined with his. His face flushed at the thought of their closeness and he could feel his pulse begin to race. Suddenly she moaned softly in her sleep, moving ever so slightly on top of him. Aang rolled his eyes.
"That's it," he thought to himself, "I can't take this anymore."
"Hey," he whispered, shaking her gently, "Hey Katara….wake up."
"Hmmm….what do you want Aang," she sighed sleepily.
"Katara," he said again. She lifted her head slowly and found herself staring directly at Aang. She quickly flipped her hair back out of her face and rubbed her eyes as if trying to clear her vision. But it wasn't imaginary she was really lying in bed nearly on top of Aang. Her face grew red and she immediately attempted to roll away from him.
"Wait," Aang cried, grabbing a hold of her by the waist. She stared at him warily.
"Aang what exactly is going on here?" Aang shot her a hurt look.
"Nothing," he said almost angrily
"Then why are you here, why are we…."
"Katara," Aang exclaimed angrily, "do you really believe I would take advantage of you."
Katara shook her head, dropping her eyes from his gaze, "no," she said softly. Aang released her and sat up quickly.
"I'm sorry Aang," she said, "I didn't mean to accuse you, I was just confused, I can't remember half of what happened last night." Aang relaxed a bit. He turned to her smiling weakly. He scooted back and leaned himself up against the head board.
"Well," he said, "let's just say that saki is not your friend." Katara blushed in embarrassment.
"Aang are you telling me that I drank too much at the festival?"
Aang nodded, "I would say…yeah, just a little bit too much."
"Aang, why didn't you stop me?"
"You say it like it's feasible," he said.
"Aang!"
"Katara, no one I know besides Zuko is more stubborn then you, you were set on having a good time at that party no matter what and there was nothing anyone was going to do to hinder your good time."
"So you just let me drink saki till I was blue in the face," she shook her head, "I probably made a complete fool of myself."
"No you didn't," he said.
"Really?"
"Really, the villagers loved your table dance; they all thought it was real classy."
"AANG!"
"I'm just kidding," he laughed, "I swear you did not make a scene you were just a bit loud and smiley and you laughed a lot at things that were just not all that funny but other then that you were a perfect lady."
"But how did we end up ….like this," she questioned.
"Oh that's no big deal," he sighed, "after the festival I helped you back to the room and put you to bed but you said that you wanted me to stay with you, so I did. That's it end of story; there was no awkward flirting or anything like that."
Katara sighed in relief.
"Well…Aang," she gazed at him in confusion, "why wouldn't you let me get up right away?"
"Oh…uh," Aang looked away from her sadly, "Um, I just wanted to tell you something, but uh, I think the moments passed."
"What did you want to tell me," she asked
"Nothing," Aang sighed, "its nothing." Aang turned back to her smiling weakly, "well, we better get ready to leave," he said, "we have a long trip ahead of us." He stood from the bed and walked over to the wash basin. Katara sat up throwing the covers from her. She realized she was still wearing the lavender kimono from the night before. She picked up her old blue kimono that had been sitting neatly folded atop the dresser. She gently ran her fingers over the soft material frowning at the familiar color. She sighed despondently at the thought of going back to the village, being surrounded by the colorless landscape and having to wear this dreadful color. She turned and gazed to Aang. He was now dressed and was packing up a few things. She smiled at him weakly.
"Okay," he said, "I got everything," he turned to Katara and noticed her gazing at him.
"What," he asked.
"Nothing," she said softly, "I'm just not looking forward to going back that's all…as horrible as that makes me." She turned back to the mirror.
"That doesn't make you horrible," Aang sighed coming up beside her and placing a hand upon her shoulder. She turned her face toward his hand.
"No," she sighed sadly.
"No," he smiled, "that just makes you…a free spirit." She turned to him and smiled.
"I'm going to go wait downstairs," he said, "and give you some time to change, okay."
Katara nodded Aang turned to leave.
"Oh uh Aang," she called to him suddenly. He turned back to her.
"Um if it's okay," she said softly, "do you mind helping me with this zipper real quick." Aang gulped.
"Uh yeah sure," he said nervously. He came back over to where she stood. She turned her back to him and lifted her hair over her head. Aang couldn't move at first he just stared at the zipper. Slowly he reached his hands to the silky dress gently grasping the zipper in his fingers. He held his breath for a brief moment and then slowly he lowered the zipper down along the seam of the dress. The further it went the more of her smooth olive toned skin was revealed. Aang sighed in frustration, this was so unfair, didn't she realize what she was doing to him; couldn't she see it? He wanted to touch her so badly to run his hand along the smooth skin of her back, to kiss her bare neck. He quickly backed away from her. Katara turned to him innocently, holding the kimono in place.
"Thanks Aang," she whispered, "I'll be down in a few minutes."
"No problem," Aang choked out the words. He turned and stumbled out of the room closing the door behind him.
Katara sighed in frustration as she turned back to face her reflection in the mirror.
"What's wrong with me," she muttered. She carefully removed the silk kimono and slipped on her water tribe kimono and pants.
"I shouldn't feel like this," she sighed, "the South Pole is my home, why can't I just be happy there?" She frowned at her reflection.
"I used to be," she whispered to herself, "before…" She turned quickly away and started to braid her long hair. She strolled over to the window and gazed out. Aang was standing just below talking to Rose as she casually swept the walk. A strange sensation ran through her as she gazed upon her best friend. He suddenly began to laugh at some comment Rose had made. Katara's heart warmed at the sight of him, he was smiling that infectious smile of his and his grey eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She smiled warmly. Somehow she had found herself unable to define her feelings for him since he had returned. He was her friend, her best friend, they had been through so much together and yet something had changed between them, it had gotten stronger somehow, she could feel it.
Suddenly Aang glanced upward to the window, in her direction. Her face flushed when he noticed her watching him. He smiled warmly at her and waved. Katara smiled back, waving to him in return. She slowly ducked back into the room. She picked up her silk kimono and folded it neatly. She glanced around the room, making sure nothing was forgotten, suddenly her eyes settled on the pillow on the bed.
"The letter," she whispered. She quickly ran to the bed and lifted the pillow only to find that the letter was missing.
"Oh no," she sighed, "this doesn't make any sense…I swore I left it right here." She leaned to the other side of the bed and lifted the other pillow.
"Nothing," she sighed. She frantically scoured the blankets, "nothing." She leaned over the side of the bed and peered under it, "nothing!" She scratched her head in puzzlement.
"Are you looking for this?" Aang stood by the door holding up a neatly folded piece of paper. Katara turned to him her eyes widening at the sight of the letter in his hand.
"Aang," she responded nervously, "where did you find that?"
"Well it's the weirdest thing," he sighed, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "somehow this letter managed to crawl out of my carry on and hide itself underneath your pillow." Katara blushed.
"Aang…I."
"So you read it," Aang interrupted her."
"Well…yes," she said, "but it had my name on it, I just thought…well I didn't think it was a big deal…I mean I just didn't think that you would mind," she smiled nervously in his direction. Aang nodded glancing to the wrinkled paper in his hand.
"So tell me Katara," a small smirk forming across his face, "how exactly does going through people's personal papers rank on your scale of spying?" Katara just gazed at him.
"Well Aang, I would hardly call it spying, I mean it had my name on it!"
"Excuses, excuses," he smirked. Katara crossed her arms and smirked back at him.
"Okay fine…I deserve that," she said, "but you know this is not even the same thing as what happened last night at the festival."
"So you're saying that you weren't being nosey then," he teased. Katara threw her arms up in exasperation.
"NO Aang it's not," she cried, "first of all that letter has my name on it, how exactly am I supposed to know you did not want me to read it and second of all, you let me go through your bag, if you did not want me to see that stupid letter then you shouldn't have hidden it in plain sight." Aang just shook his head and chuckled.
"Well, you are right it is yours," he replied, "but I didn't want you to read it….I mean it wasn't finished…I tried to finish it…I just," Aang paused. Katara flopped back down upon the bed, crossing her legs Indian style and looked up to Aang in interest.
"Is that why you never sent it to me," she questioned. Aang nodded.
"I started to write you when I was in Omashu," he said softly brushing his hand across his fore head. He walked toward her and sat down upon the bed across from her.
"Being there...I don't know," Aang shrugged, "I guess I just missed you, I missed talking to you." His eyes remained on the letter still folded in his palm. Katara gazed at him in curiosity. Aang fiddled with the paper nervously.
"Why didn't you finish it Aang," Katara asked.
"I…couldn't, Aang whispered, "I mean I…well it doesn't matter now." Katara nodded, she reached to him and grasped his hand in hers. Aang turned his eyes to meet her gaze.
"For what it's worth," she paused, "I enjoyed reading it even if it wasn't finished." She smiled warmly at him.
"Here then," he pressed the letter gently to the palm of her hand, "this belongs to you." Katara gazed down at the folded paper within her hand.
"Are you sure Aang?"
"I'm sure," he replied, "if anything I should have sent it to you a long time ago." Katara smiled at him.
"Alright," he sighed changing the subject, "we better get going, we are a day late as it is, your father is probably worried about us." Katara sighed heavily and flopped back down onto the soft fluffy pillow on the bed and rested her hands on her forehead.
"Go without me," she sighed.
"Katara," Aang gazed at her in amusement, "what do you think you're father would do to me if I showed up without you?" Katara lowered her hands and glanced over at Aang.
"I mean I know you don't feel like going home," he sighed, "but are you really willing to risk the life of your most favorite person in the whole world?"
"Oh how presumptious of you," she replied sarcastically.
"What that your father would kill me or that I am your favorite person."
"Oh no father would most likely kill you," Katara agreed. Aang smiled at her mischievously.
"Okay, okay, I see how it is, I'll remember that next time you want me to wisk you away to some far off place with no snow."
"Aang," she laughed, "you know I'm just teasing you!"
"No, no," he said, "that's it I'm done, but don't worry…I'm sure Takashi will be more then willing to take you flying."
"Aang, come on," she laughed.
"Oh wait," Aang said, "Takashi doesn't have a flying bison, aww too bad, looks like you'll be going by canoe." He smiled at her almost devilishly. Katara sat up and looked Aang straight in the eye.
"You're jealous!"
"What," Aang scoffed, "Katara I am not jealous." Katara flashed him a disbelieving look.
"Hey look, I am the Avatar and Avatars just don't get jealous, okay; besides I can do three times more then he can, not to mention I can cross into the spirit world, What does he got, a few water whips, he's not even a master." Katara just crossed her arms and stared at him in astonishment.
"Well what can he possibly do that I can't, Aang questioned."
"Oh I don't know," Katara replied smugly, " spear fishing, canoe racing, not to mention how sweet he is…."
"Alright fine," Aang interrupted, "he's a great guy with many talents, but that doesn't mean any thing, least of all that I'm jealous"
"Fine," Katara said. They sat for a moment in a long uncomfortable pause.
"Alright," Aang said finally, "we better get going so we don't keep your family waiting."
"No," Katara said immediately
"No, Katara what do mean no?"
"I'm not going anywhere till you admit that you are jealous."
"Katara, I'm not jealous," Aang insisted.
"You know you are Aang," Katara said with a playful smile upon her face, "why don't you just admit it." Aang came right up in her face and smiled back at her defiantly.
"Why don't you make me," he whispered. Katara just stared right back at him.
Without warning she grabbed his sides and started tickling him. Aang fell to the bed laughing.
"Admit it," she cried.
"Is that it," he gasped between laughter, "is that all you got……you couldn't make Buhmi admit he was an earth bender."
"What?" She straddled him and pinned him down to the mattress, "what did you just say."
"You heard me," he replied. He gazed up at her boldly. She leaned forward folding her arms across his chest and resting her chin upon her hands.
"What are you giving up," he smiled.
"Hardly," she replied. Aang gazed at her questioningly. She slowly reached a hand up over his head and gently traced the arrow tattoo sending chills down his spine. Aang fidgeted nervously under her weight.
"So Aang," she said softly, "how about you tell me why you are so jealous of Takashi, hmmm..," she batted her eyes at him. Aang's heart began to race and beads of sweat began to form across his forehead. She leaned in closer, their faces were only inches apart.
"Katara," he whispered, "this is not funny anymore"
"I'm not tying to be funny," she said softly, "I want you….to admit how you feel, I want you… to admit that Takashi makes you jealous."
"How exactly are expecting this to end up Katara," he asked flashing her questioning glance.
Katara shrugged. "I just want you to admit that you are jealous that's all."
"And what if I didn't admit it," Aang said slyly, "what if your plan completely backfires on you and instead I do this." He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled her to the bed pinning her arms down gently. She just stared up at him in curiousity. He leaned in close to her. So close that their lips almost touched.
"What now Katara," he whispered. She smiled slightly.
"Maybe this," she said, using her legs she flipped him off of her and off of the bed entirely. But he didn't let go of her wrists and she came flying off the bed as well. Aang landed on his back with a thud, and Katara landed on top of him. Thinking fast she quickly straddled him and pinned him to the floor. He smiled at her.
"Good one," he smirked.
"Are you going to admit it," she said. Aang struggled under her hold.
"I'm not letting you go until you do," she smirked.
"You don't have to" Aang smirked. He lifted his arms despite her hold on him and sat up to face her. She just stared at him in surprise and defeat.
"I'm not jealous," he repeated, "I don't know why you keep insisting that I am, do you want me to be jealous?" He grabbed hold of her wrists and held them behind her back wrapping his arms around her.
"No," Katara said gazing at him, "it just seemed like you were."
"Ahhh, it seemed like I was jealous…," he replied, he pulled her closer to him, "well it seems to me like you just need an excuse to get this close to me." He smiled. She smirked at him.
"What," she exclaimed, "you're crazy Aang we have joked around like this a million times before."
"No this was different," he said, "you never acted….seductive with me before."
"Seductive," she gasped blushing slightly, "Aang, I was not acting…like that." She immediately attempted to get up off of Aang but he did not let her go.
"Aang let go of me," she said angrily.
"No not till you admit it," he said.
"Oh ha, ha turning the tables on me," she said rolling her eyes. He just gazed at her incredulously. She sneered back at him.
"I only admit that I may have taken it a little too far, but that's it." Aang released her and she immediately backed away from him.
"What made you think that doing that would work on me," he questioned.
"I didn't Aang," she said quickly crossing her arms, "I mean I didn't think at all I just acted."
"What would you have done if it had worked on me?"
"What?"
"Seriously," he replied, "what if you were just trying to fool me into admitting I was jealous but I fell for your little act instead, then what?"
"Well I don't know," her faced became flushed once again, "I just…I didn't think it was that big a deal Aang. Hey what is with the twenty questions anyway?" Aang shrugged.
"Look," she said trying desperately to cover up her feelings of embarrassment over the whole situation, "it really doesn't matter does it, because you know me better then that and you didn't fall for it, I mean I didn't really expect you too, because we are friends and I know that you don't feel that way about me." Aang didn't quite know how to respond to her statement. He had thought that she had at least noticed a little that he had feelings for her but apparently he was wrong, or was he. Could she really be that oblivious to him or was she covering for her own feelings. He gazed at her curiously. She was turned away from and staring down at her shuffling feet.
"You're right," he sighed, "It's no big on we better get going, there is no way we are going to make it back before midnight." He quickly walked past her and toward the door. Katara lingered in the room for a moment longer. She sighed heavily took a deep breath and then turned and followed him out.
To be continued.