A/N:
chocolatelava (chapter 3): lol, that was nowhere near super angsty. Read the rest of my fics if you want super angst, though, they do go beyond so I wouldn't recommend that actually. Hhahahaha, i'm glad you enjoyed it though. Yeah, I too was getting heavy YuexSokka vibes while writing it too. I'm glad you noticed.
chocolatelava (chapter 4): Yay! I'm glad, AU's aren't the best, but there are a couple out there that are great. So, I'm pleased I could change your mind about them. Hopefully you like this one too.
chocolatelava (chapter 21): Thanks, jealousy in Kataang was something I wanted to address, and with them aged up, I saw no better way than to reimagine all canon scenes, as well as make some of my own :)
akirapheonix38: Yeah, I am planning to do that. I don't know when I'll actually write it, but I will get to it eventually.
Ashley Barbosa: I knew you'd like it lol. You're probs in a safe place since I'm doing all these fluff and smut fics, but you won't be safe for long. Angst is returning lol. But yeah, I too hated Zuko in that moment, and i was baffled that Katara of all people just let it slide - or even Sokka as a matter of fact. I knew Aang would, but I didn't expect his friends to just allow Zuko to say whatever he wanted, especially since he should be more sensitive towards Aang because of his history and his Nation's history. But yeh, I'm glad you enjoyed that chapter. I'll be making more in some time, just taking a break for a while tho.
Bay45220: Hahahahaha - just added that insult last minute... its kinda truew tho lol. Thanks, I teased the switch in the ember island chapter and I'm glad it worked here.
Gabriela N Gonzalez: Thanks! I'm pleased to know you liked the changes I made :) Yes, I've thought of the reunion after Sozin's Comet and many others and I will make them in time. I'm just not really feeling it right now. But I will eventually, though, i hope you like this chapter :)
Matters of the Heart:
Modern AU – Katara (24) / Aang (22)
She jumped out of the rickshaw as soon as it neared the massive bungalow, handing the driver 15 yuans, and telling him to keep the change as she zipped up her purse and ran towards the gate. Her heart ran laps as she approached the half open gate. She took a moment to calm herself down, knowing it would do her no good to approach him, and likely his family, while gasping for breath. As she shuffled through, she was met with the sight of Aang's sister, his niece and her ten friends who had lined up along the long and wide driveway, rehearsing the wedding ceremonies they'd participate in, in a few days.
"Alright, do you guys remember what to do when uncle (Aang), and aunty (his bride-to-be) arrive?" Jinora asked, gazing at her daughter Nimi and her friends, who held large bowls filled with flowers in their hands, before her eyes landed on the tan-skinned beauty donning a blue Ursula wrap-midi-dress, white, flat-heeled shoes, with her chocolate hair cascading down her shoulders while the rest of it was held up by a small bun. "Oh! Katara?!" Jinora grinned, amused when Nimi and her friends began throwing the various shades of flower petals at Katara – thus unknowingly alluding to the idea that she was Aang's bride-to-be.
"Hi Auntie!" Nimi waved towards Katara before her mother could cover her mouth while cringing, hoping her daughter hadn't ruined the surprise.
"Hi Nimi," Katara greeted, smiling at the girl while trying to remove the few yellow, and blue petals glittered around her hair; a result of the children flinging the petals at her.
Jinora assessed Katara for a few seconds, trying to determine whether she had uncovered what was really going on here. Much to her relief, it seemed that Nimi's comment, and the children's behaviour had completely gone over her head – Katara's mind was solely focused one person, and one person only.
Deciding that leaving what Nimi said untouched was the smarter option, Jinora hastily grabbed onto Katara's arm and dragged her towards the massive bungalow. The whole house had been decorated: strips of flowers, LED-lights, and various other items were glittered around the walls, hung by the doors, and stripped around the columns. Taking noticed, panic once again threatened to overwhelm her, but Katara strengthened her resolve and focused on the task at hand, reassuring herself that it still wasn't too late.
"I must say, I knew that you'd come," Jinora commented, grinning at the WaterTribe beauty knowingly while she tried to locate her brother. "Mother doubted whether you'd show up, but I told her: 'of course she will; she would never allow herself miss Aang's wedding!'"
Katara laughed nervously as she searched around – for a moment, marvelled by how beautiful Aang's family's house was before she regained her train of thought and turned towards Jinora, determined.
"Uhh… Aang. Where's Aang? Have you seen him?"
"Oh… Aang should be right around he-"
Jinora was cut off by loud music and the laughter of many of Aang's friends; they were in the distance, dancing around the Air Nomad as he danced along with them – the lot of them also rehearsing for the immensely near future, wedding celebrations. Amongst the crowd, Katara caught sight of Aang bring hoisted up on his friends' shoulders, performing whatever movements he could while keeping balance lest he fall all over his mates and cause an eruption of laughter that wouldn't necessarily be unwelcomed in this household.
Katara felt a pang shoot up her heart; 'he looks so happy' – she thought, noticing how the grin and laughter erupting from him seemed genuine. Though, when he noticed her in the distance, his grin only widened before he jumped off and ran towards her. Katara couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips when she caught the sight of him nearing her, grinning and calling her name with mirth – 'maybe there's still hope.'
She gave him a one over when he neared her, humming in satisfaction as she realised he looked just as handsome in a traditional Air Nomad, orange kurta and jeans as he did in a casual or formal shirt and chino – if not more, seeing as he possessed a certain exoticness when he donned his native and traditional clothing – his chestnut hair messy in a way that made him seem all the more attractive.
"Katara!" Aang, called out, stopping a metre away from her – his sister stood between them, observant. "What a pleasant surprise! How've you been?" Just as she was about to lean to hug him, she abruptly and awkwardly stopped when he instead offered his hand, thus holding it out for her for a few lingering seconds before she reluctantly shook it, wanting to hug him but realising he likely wouldn't allow it after their last meeting three weeks ago – which ended horribly for the both of them. "Sorry, I would've received you earlier, but I was busy running through some dance rehearsals with my friends." Aang elaborated, not allowing her a chance to speak as he almost manically continued. "But… when did you get here?"
"Ummm… now."
"Just now?" She nodded, and he offered her a goofy yet grateful smile as he beamed at her. "Thank you so much, pal!" Katara cringed inside when he called her his 'pal' – she wanted to correct him that very moment but didn't really feel comfortable doing so while his little sister was observing them – chuckling here and there, amused by her older bother's antics. "I'm getting married Jinora!" Aang turned towards his sister, gleeful – "I still can't believe it!" Katara groaned inside, trying to contain her annoyance and anger; Aang was barely allowing her to get a word in, though now she especially needed to – time was highly precious. When Jinora laughed at his antics yet again, he turned back to Katara and leaned forward slightly, now whispering as he joked. "Let me tell you a secret: this is my first wedding."
"Uhhh Aang?" Katara cut him off impatiently, looking pleadingly into his stormy, grey eyes as she whispered. "One minute?"
"Huh?" Aang asked her, feigning confusion.
"Can we talk?" Katara nodded to his left, implying that she wanted to speak in private. "One minute?"
Catching on, Aang nodded and led her inside the house, "Oh, sure."
As they made their way through the open doors, standing at the large entrance – surrounded by couches, two sets of stairs, wild décor, and doors that led to rooms upstairs and downstairs, as well as the openings of the living room and the kitchen – Katara unzipped her purse and took a rather large sip from her flask, knowing she likely needed it to further fuel her courage before she began.
"Ummm…. Ooookkkaaaaayyy…" Aang trailed off awkwardly, baffled by the amount of liquor she was intaking as he stared at her, awed and amused.
Gulping the liquor down, Katara placed the flask back in her purse as she wiped her mouth and gasped for air; realising that she'd often experienced a shortage of breath whenever they stood close to each other as they were now, barely half a metre apart.
"This… this marriage," she began nervously while trying to contain herself, "It's been arranged by your family, right?"
Aang nodded, confused as he stared into her blue eyes, "Uhhh, yeah."
"So," she took a deep breath as she felt a surge of anger consume her, hoping that she could keep herself from getting physical to no avail. "So, why are you so happy?!" She pushed him then, slapping his shoulder as he shuffled backwards to avoid her barrage of open-handed manoeuvres and questions.
"Hey! Katara?"
"Why are you so happy, huh?" she pushed him further, thus trapping him between her and the railing of the flight of stairs behind him.
"Why do you look so excited?!"
"I'm excited cause I'm getting married to a girl I like!" Aang exclaimed in a hurry, letting out a sigh of relief when her attacks momentarily halted as she sandwiched him, tears threatening to spill. "And don't start hitting me. I'm – I'm not that same Aang anymore."
Katara took in another deep breath as she forced herself to calm down, knowing that she had to talk to him instead of throwing accusations and scolding him when she knew she was no better in their situation.
"Aang?" Her voice was much gentler now – he noted, however, it contained a certain hopelessness and sadness he hadn't heard before. It amused him. "Is she really that beautiful?"
"Oh," Aang whispered, awestruck as he stared into her eyes, "she's so beautiful, Kat. She's like an angel." Another sharp intake of breath was needed for Katara to contain herself, however, as she turned around and began pacing – dejected and angry – Aang hurriedly paced beside her as he continued gloating. "She's got these big blue eyes… round, pink lips." Aang sighed longingly as he stared into the distance, remembering a certain someone while Katara's mood further dampened. "Like, she's mind blowing! Even my sister said so: 'whichever boy marries her will know of heaven.'"
"And your cousin?" Katara asked, turning around to face him while sniffing, holding tears in her eyes as she mentioned his cousin: Suki. "She must've said something about her too?"
Aang nodded vigorously as he exhaled longingly – they now stood just inches apart by the stairs as he whispered, "Steaming hot figure." Katara sharply glanced away again, wiping a tear away before turning back to face him when he chose to pay no attention to her faltering state and continued, "I mean… totally sexy, Kat."
Katara's pain and annoyance was now vividly palpable; beating adjacent to her heart as she stared into his stormy grey eyes pleadingly. Knowing that she would basically be destroying her pride by doing so, Katara continued regardless, gesturing towards her eyes, lips and body as she blabbered.
"Well, Aang… tell me…" she glared at him while seeming dejected at the same time. She pointed to her eyes, "Do I have pale eyes?" She hurriedly scraped her fingers with her lips wildly, "Are my lips rugged? And… and… my figure?" Aang, noticing that his aunt was passing by, held out his hands in an attempt to calm her down, but Katara instead snatched them and forced them to grip onto her hips pleadingly. "Am I not sexy?" She forced him to hold her hips as she stared at him, her voice now breaking as he tried to pry his hands away. "Huh? Am I not – "
"K-Katara? There are people around. What are you doing?" Dipping her head, Katara sniffed away a few tears as she surrendered his hands while Aang spoke somewhat comfortingly, "Control yourself."
"Aang *sniff*…" she peaked at him through half-lidded eyes, trying to keep her tears contained to no avail. "I know I think that I'm smart*sniff*… and clever but… *sniff*…" she ruffled her hair with her hands as she exclaimed, "I'm a complete idiot."
Aang nodded sadly and agreed, not so reluctantly, "Yeah. I know."
"When you helped me open my clinic *sniff*… and helped me take care of my mother *sniff*… I should've understood then and there just how special you are."
"Yeah, but… its okay."
"No!" she cried, "It's not okay! *sniff*… It's not okay! At least… when you were with me through it all… by my side *sniff*… I should've realised what you meant to me."
"Yeah, I know…"
"But you know what Aang…" she continued brokenly, "If you had… just once… confessed your love to me… then – then maybe I'd have lost my temper but *sniff*… I would've understood your feelings eventually." Aang let out a sigh of annoyance, now becoming irritated by how difficult she was being as he wondered for how long he could contain his own anger and impatience. "And if you had done that then…" she gestured towards the decorations for the wedding, "all this wouldn't have…" she trailed off, not knowing what else to say while Aang softly glared at her while inhaling and exhaling deeply.
"So, even after all this… its still my fault." Katara shook her head to refute, but Aang was unwilling to listen this time. "Huh?"
"No," she tried to reassure him, but he simply sighed and began pacing – she trailed behind him. "Aang…" she called out to him.
"You're impossible."
"Aang," she walked behind him, trying to be close while also attempting to not get too close in case he got further annoyed. "Please."
"You're unbelievable, Katara," Aang sighed, unwilling to meet her eyes as he walked up and down the stairs while she trailed behind him.
"Aang *sniff*… wait."
"That's always the problem, isn't it? The fact that I could never go 'beyond' and put into words how I feel?"
"Look… Aang…"
"And why should I?!" Aang shouted, ignoring her as she jolted back in surprise when he raised his volume, irritated – yet, through her tears and sniffles, she continued trailing behind him, attempting to calm him and win him over while he ranted. "Can't you see my emotions? Its not like I try to hide them! So, why do I have to say it if you can clearly see it?"
Neither of them had realised it, but they were now back on the ground floor as they stepped off the stairs and stopped pacing, standing just ahead of the first step as Aang turned to face a panicking and dejected Katara.
"Nah… A decent, well-educated guy was sweeping your clinic floors and handling your clients – he's cleaning your chimney instead of going out golfing with his mates and you still didn't get it!"
Katara stood there, her head dipped, still trying to wipe and sniff away her tears while Aang drew a bit closer, now saying something that only caused her panic and dread to heighten.
"Anyways its too late now."
She shook her head pleadingly, "Don't say that."
"You probably think this is all a joke, huh?"
She shook her head again, "No, please – "
"Katara, the fact is that… I'm getting married," he explained calmly, "that's it." She glanced away and wiped her tears, hearing the determination and conviction in his voice finally broke her as she realised that if he truly loved this girl, then she would happily step aside. His happiness was her happiness, and after being blind to his love for so long, she felt she probably deserved this anyways. "And she's a nice girl, you know. So, yeah. I'm sorry."
"No," she refused to let him apologise for her own faults, "Its fine *sniff*…" Katara stared into his eyes sadly, wondering if this was the last time she'd be able to gaze into the stormy depths she'd fallen in love with before she glanced away in pain. "I guess I'll leave."
"Yeah," he too glanced away, "take care."
Realising something as she glanced at her wrist, Katara's sadness increased as she attempted to take off the golden bangles that now meant more to her than she could imagine. "These," she turned back to him and held out her arm, the golden, shimmering twin bracelets now in clear view , "Your mom gave me these." She tried pulling them off her, but they wouldn't budge.
So, Aang, realising his time was almost up, decided to continue for a while longer, "Yeah, let me help you." He held onto her wrist and tried easing the bracelets off her as she assisted him, but not much could be accomplished when a rather threatening yet amused voice halted them as it echoed through the entrance.
"That's enough, Aang," Kya stated, smiling slyly as she walked towards the pair with Jinora, Nimi and Aang's mother behind her while Katara stared at her confused, wondering why her mother had shown up. "Don't say another word to my daughter – I'm warning you." She now stood a few feet away from the pair as her voice lost its intensity and became playful and mirthful, "Just because she's bothered you," Kya gestured towards Katara while addressing Aang, "that doesn't give you the right to bother her in return."
Aang chuckled as he walked towards Kya and gave her a side hug, "So, what do you suggest I do with your daughter?" He asked, gesturing towards Katara as she stood there, trying to uncover what her mother and lover were up to. "When I give her a love letter, she passes it on like a football." Though, the letter was anonymous, to be fair.
Kya chuckled at Aang's joke while Katara glanced away, the gears in her head finally began shifting as Aang continued speaking.
"And what have I done? I'm just blabbering. In fact, I've been blabbering like an idiot since the day I met her." He walked towards Katara now, his voice laced with mirth as he exclaimed, "For the first time now, she's the one blabbering." Katara's mouth adopted an 'o' formation as she gaped at him, the realisation dawning on her while her mother and Aang's relatives chuckled in the background, amused. "And she doesn't even know that she's the scapegoat!" Aang walked right up to her, mere inches away from her face while she glanced away, her dejectedness now transforming into pure anger and annoyance, with relief and joy hidden beneath – due to her pride taking significant damage – while Aang once again taunted her. "Scapegoat!"
Immediately, Katara turned to face him so quickly she might've gotten whiplash, but her slow and incessant march towards him, as well as her deadly glare, caused him to once again become the stuttering and blabbering mess he was originally when he met her.
"And I'm…" he grimaced as she stared daggers into his eyes, wondering if she would let him confess his love for her before strangling him while he slowly trailed backwards, her face still inches away as she continued to slowly march towards him. "I – I'm a c-complete dumbass."
"Huh?" she held out her right ear, conveying him to repeat his admission as he quivered in nervousness and fear, praying he wouldn't mess up yet another confession of love while she glared at him as if he'd just told her he was in love with her brother, and not her.
"No – n-no really, I am. I – I'm a d-donkey."
"And?"
"So m-much so that I couldn't e-even t-tell you that I c-can be anyone for you, Katara. I can do anything for you."
"Like?" She didn't stutter, but he continued to – though, both of their minds had now filtered out the laughter originating from the other people in the room. For now, it was just a rather angry and annoyed woman who was preparing to scold and maybe castrate the man she loved.
"I'm s-so restless without y-you… it doesn't m-m-matter whether I'm in t-the Southern Tribe… R-Republic City o-or… s-sinking in my h-heart."
"Oh, really?" She remained determined, slowly causing him to trail backwards as he tried to shake off his nerves, unaware of the couch behind him, one he'd surely collide into sooner rather than later.
"A-And – And t-that's why I wanted t-to s-s-say… in everyone's p-presence t-t-that I…"
He continued to trail backwards.
She kept their gazes locked as she flung her purse – t hat hung by her shoulder – onto the couch beside her – his gaze was more awestruck and afraid, while hers' was determined and angry.
"That y-you're t-the only o-one… and I – I…"
She pushed him further.
He continued stuttering while he collided against the couch behind him and rested against it.
She had him trapped now – he realised this as she drew closer.
"I – I lo- I…"
Tired of waiting, Katara flung forward and wrapped her two small hands around his collarbone. He closed his eyes, thinking she was going to strangle him to death for goading her into revealing her true feelings for him.
Katara smiled sweetly at his frightened expression – he thought she wanted to hurt him.
She had other plans.
The others in the room gasped in surprise when Katara leaned forward that extra inch and brushed her lips against his for the first time, closing her eyes momentarily to enjoy the sensation while his expression softened, and eyes shot open when he felt a pair of sweet, soft lips pressing against his.
He pulled away, and she stared at him confused, pondering why he had until she saw the wide grin painted across his lips.
"I love you," he admitted without hesitation.
She grinned and chuckled in return, ecstatic and relieved that he still felt the same about her and had admitted it, before they both leaned back in and shared a passionate kiss. Eyes closing blissfully, soft lips tenderly moved against even softer lips. Katara smiled into the kiss when everyone shuffled out of the room to afford them a moment of privacy, and she kissed him harder once the door had been shut, her strong feelings for him practically oozing into his mouth as she kissed him more fervently. Her fingers found themselves tangled in his chestnut locks while his arms locked around her waist, both of them wanting to get married as soon as possible while paradoxically wanting to remain lip-locked forever.
The weeks she'd spent without him, when she'd let him leave, had been the worst of her life. She practically felt dead inside, and she couldn't even recall the amount of dread and panic that had consumed her heart when she received his letter – the one that invited her to his marriage. Or, pretend marriage, she should now say; seeing as how this entire ensemble was planned by Aang and her mother in order to get her to finally remove her blindfolds, strip her of her pride, and to get her to confess her love for him.
And though her pride had taken a rather critical hit, she was more than willing to suck it up, especially now when she broke away and whispered those same loving words back to him.
"I love you, Aang."
Katara grinned widely when he smiled lovingly at her admission before leaning back in to kiss her chastely again – the matters of the heart had been resolved, and in the best way possible.
So, this was something I wanted to try. Let know what you guys think in the reviews. I could make a story out of this one shot, so, if you'd like that then let me know.