A/N. You thought you would get a smut chapter? Hah! Nope!
I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender.
Aang… My Aang… I love you…"
The flight was a bit hazy. They had swept Toph from her place at the table and had grabbed Sokka while he had been flirting with a Fire Nation girl. From the corner of his eye, Aang had seen Furzo and On Ji putting their belts around their heads…
"Get out of here, we will hold them off."
And they had run, of course, there had no choice.
Now sitting on Appa while he raced through the dark night sky, Aang grinned happily. Spirits, this had been the best evening since… Well, a long time! The Fire Nation still had hope. Hope in a better future, hope that after the war, freedom and self-expression could come back. As Aang had known, that was something that you could eradicate from someone's mind, however hard you tried.
And this party had not been only about that… He had known the problems Katara had faced during his coma. The airbender knew how hard it had been on her. And if he could give her an evening of fun, dance and pure happiness… Then he would. He would give her that each day and night, as long as he lived.
"I believe… You really helped these people… Dancypants." Toph slurred. She had evidently drunk some of the alcohol he had bought for the party. Aang laughed aloud.
"It was just a dance party!" He spoke. It hadn't been. The airbender had danced many nights away in that square before the iceberg, but never… Never had it been like this. But he knew what had changed his experience. He cast a look towards Katara, whose cheeks were still red. And he guessed that she wasn't embarrassed. Rather… That she was excited.
"Well, it was some dance party… Aang…" The way she drew out that sentence… Spirits, his heart couldn't take it. He saw her move towards him, and suddenly, her lips were on his cheek. Aang tried not to look too pleased with himself. He had organized this to… well, to put his homework to good use. But her, saying that she loved him? That was worth more than anything in the whole world.
"Alright, this was fun, I'm not going to lie. But now, we need another place to hide the rest of the night. Then, tomorrow morning, we will leave this island as fast as Appa can carry us. All agreed?" Sokka interrupted them, shaking his head while smiling.
"Alright! But don't act as if you didn't enjoy yourself! I saw you flirting!" Katara laughed. Aang loved her laugh. She wasn't always open about her feelings, preferring to hide them behind concern and care. But what he was seeing now was clear as day. She was happy…
"Y-you are one… to talk Sugar Queen… you would have… screwed Fancydancer there… on the dancefloor… If you weren't interrupted." Toph managed to utter. Aang felt his face heat up at that. Had she really… Had Katara wanted that as much as he did?
"Alright, enough about that, please! I don't want to think about that!" Sokka screeched, retreating to the back of the saddle. But Aang kept his face turned towards the back of the bison. And saw Katara… looking at him. And the message in her dark blue eyes was clear…
I would have.
Aang swallowed whatever was blocking his throat, to no effect. He had seen that look only once before… In the barn, just before she began to undress… Oh spirits, his plan had worked… Well, maybe he hadn't exactly planned on sleeping with her again. But at least, spending some time together, without the ever-watching eyes of Sokka and Toph. Just the two of them, talking, laughing and kissing. That had been his plan. But the dance had changed that.
Each time she had touched him, he had felt his heart beating more erratically… And he had felt the effects of her touch nearly immediately. Spirits, how he longed to hold her in his arms, kissing her all over, saying to her how much he loved her…
As she had done just before…
"I-I know a place… It is in the hills on the north side of the island. There are shepherd huts in those hills, with barns… Around this time of year, those are probably abandoned in favour for the higher mountains…" He said hesitantly, trying not to sound too eager. If only… If only they would agree. There would be privacy…
"Are they isolated?" Sokka asked. Aang tried not to look too happy. If the water tribe boy was considering it… Spirits, this could work!
"Very! The town is miles away, there are no tracks to these places!" The airbender answered. He actually didn't know for sure, for he only had visited that part of the island once before, one Kuzon had convinced him to help him look for dragons… This may work! Maybe, just maybe, he and Katara could… sneak away? And find another barn?
"Well, let's try. Worst case scenario, some kaola-sheep see us."
Aang tried to see what Katara's reaction was, but the waterbender was bending over Toph, clearly scolding the earthbender. He looked into the sky, seeing the great northern star shine brightly. Pulling the reins on Appa, he steered them towards that lonely star. Silently praying to any Spirit he could think of, Aang was hoping those huts would really be abandoned. If not, they would have to search for another place. And he was hoping that the magic of that candle lit cave would just hold on a little bit longer. Just long enough to ditch Sokka and Toph.
Please Spirits, I never ask for something. I just want to bring happiness and joy to her…
The plains underneath them began to make way for rolling hills. A hundred years before, those hills would be teeming with herds from the local shepherds, but now, Aang saw only darkness. They had moved on to the higher mountains, or the economy of the isle had changed so drastically that those people no longer existed…
For once, he was happy about that development. Not for the Fire Nation, of course. For himself.
"There!" Sokka said suddenly, and a hand moved past him, pointing towards a cluster of dark buildings in a small valley. It looked abandoned! Spirits thank you! There was hope! Now… The only thing he needed… was to get rid of Sokka. Toph wouldn't be such a big deal, she would probably fall down and sleep until morning, seen her state... But Sokka… Well, he might be difficult. Aang had actually never thought about it, but knowing him… Well, he was Katara's brother. And might get in the way of him doing things to said sister…
Aang steered Appa to the dark cluster, and soon felt the familiar thug of paws hitting the ground. Standing up, he humped of the bison's head, caressing the fur while falling down. Appa bellowed softly, and no one came rushing out of the building. No one! There really was no one here. At least they had a safe place to spend the night.
He heard how Sokka landed on the ground, grumbling softly when Katara called him back to help with Toph. Well, there were already two persons taking care of the earthbender… Three would be a crowd, no?
Aang moved quickly, and pushed his hand against the wooden door of the first hut. It creaked open, and it looked in good condition, even though it was too small to house the four of them, and Momo… And Appa would also need a place to stay in case of rain. But the barn behind the huts seemed big enough for him.
Good enough to sleep in, no? … Oh, who was he kidding? He wasn't looking at it for its sleeping functions. No, this hut had another purpose…
And then, he moved on. Two other huts were crumbling ruins, not fit for man or animal, but the large one at the end seemed to have been built more recently. The hinges of the door didn't squeak, and the wood felt newer. But it was empty all the same.
"Here!" Aang shouted to the others, who looked up towards him. He saw only the dark figures, so waved so that they would see where he was. Appa, who he knew had a better eyesight than most people, moved first, followed by his friends.
"It seems you were right. This is a good hiding place!" Sokka sounded happy enough, and walked past him, through the door. Then came Toph, swaying a little bit, but still grinning. And then… Katara…
"Hey!' he spoke quickly, gently grabbing her arm, "would you… like to get out of here? When the others are asleep, I mean?" Spirits… Had he really asked that? After that dance… His question could only be interpreted one way… And he kind of wanted to. He wanted her to understand. No more beating around the bush. No, there was no time like the present. He needed to accept that.
"I would love that." She whispered back, and Aang was nearly sure that she was blushing. Feeling his own cheeks heat up.
Please Sokka, fall asleep as soon as you see some hay to fall into.
"Who wants to continue the party!" Sokka spoke up suddenly. Aang turned around and saw how the water tribe boy had lit a candle, casting long shadows on the stone walls of the hut. And he was grinning, holding up a bottle.
"You took that?" Aang laughed, nearly forgetting his irritation at the fact that Sokka was clearly not planning on going to sleep…
"Meeee!" Toph was holding up her hand, grinning. Well… They could not quietly sneak away… Maybe… Maybe they should just accept? Aang looked at Katara, who smiled, shaking her head. Yeah, she was also staying, that was clear.
Aang… My Aang… I love you…
"So, where did you learn to dance Twinkletoes?" Sokka laughed while sitting down, and holding the bottle towards him. Aang shook his head, not taking the bottle. He wasn't planning on getting drunk.
"You seem to forget I travelled around, a lot. You pick up a thing or two doing that!" Aang couldn't help but grin. This was not what he had exactly hoped for… But he would accept this. It was nice, having fun for once. It had been a really long time…
Aang sat down in front of the water tribe boy, and saw how Katara sat next to her brother, also refusing the bottle when Sokka gestured it towards her.
"Well, I have to admit, it was nice. I had my doubts about this, but you actually showed these people that you can have fun. That not everything is about rules." The water tribe boy spoke, chugging a part of the contents of the bottle in his mouth, and then passing it to Toph.
"Yeah… Twinkletoes! Break the rules… Your homework… will come in… handy!" Toph laughed. Aang felt his ears heat up at the mention of his homework.
It had been two days ago, that the earthbender had given him the book. And he had studied it, for a long time. Every time the others were asleep, he had lit a small candle to read the book. Aang had read up on things like… well, things you did before… He had not done any of those things that one time in the barn, and the airbender felt a bit ashamed that he hadn't thought about it. Of course, Katara would have liked to do that… Or at least, he supposed she would have liked it. But how could he ask her, without being alone with her?
Well… They wanted to be alone now… And the only thing preventing them… was Sokka's presence… If he could make sure, really sure, that his friend couldn't or wouldn't know… Maybe they could sneak off then?
But how? Maybe get him drunk? No, that would be wicked and bad, and not at all nice. No, they needed him to be asleep. And if so… Well, they could sneak off. Finally. Aang looked at Katara, and saw her watching him. And the way she was looking at him… Spirits, they needed to get away. As. Soon. As. Possible!
"Hey Sokka… We are all kind of tired… Maybe it would be better to go to slee-" Katara began, but Toph cut her off.
"No, no Sug.. Sugar Queen! I know why… you want us out of the… picture!" She waggled her finger towards Katara, and then, turned to him. Spirits, make her stop. The alcohol had removed the little bit of restraint the earthbender had.
"Did you do… do your homework?" she grinned at him, and he tried not to look too embarrassed… Spirits, where was his smooth and charm now? Abandoned in that cave probably…
"My earthbending homework, yes!" He tried not to look at Sokka, for he was sure that the water tribe boy would figure it out. He had talked enough with him to know that he had a dirty mind and was not afraid of showing that. And that he knew perfectly well all the innuendos and so on… So, if he screwed up just once, Sokka would know…
"Hah! Are you planning to… plough the earth? No, I meant-"
"You meant my earthbending!" Aang interjected, looking at the girl pleadingly. He put his hand to the ground, thanking whatever spirits that the floor was beaten earth and not something like planks. With his own bending, he sent a small shockwave towards the earthbender. That would be clear enough, no?
Please Toph, don't speak another word, or I may be unable to put that homework to good use in the near future…
He saw a small moment of enlightenment in the misty eyes. Spirits thank you.
"Yeah… Yeah… of course." Toph grinned widely, and Aang knew that she understood perfectly well what he was planning.
The airbender turned his attention back to the water tribe siblings, who had been talking to each other while he had been engaged with that drunken earthbender. Sokka had already finished a good half of the bottle… Well, Aang wouldn't encourage him… But seeing that Katara wasn't stopping her brother, why should he? It may be the right thing to do, but they were running out of options. He wanted to be alone with her…
"You never told me you could dance!" Sokka sounded a bit offended, as if he was insulted by the fact that his sister didn't tell him everything,
"I didn't know I could dance Brother, dear. There is a difference. How could I tell you something I didn't know?" Katara answered, shaking her head, but smiling all the same.
"True… And maybe you are right… It is late, or even early, and we have a day of flying tomorrow. Maybe it would be better to go to sleep…"
YES! Yes! Please Sokka, go to sleep!
"It would be better!" Katara said immediately, and Aang heard, to his extreme satisfaction, that she sounded as hopeful as he was feeling… Sokka shrugged, and got up. No! Not up! Down! Please Sokka, go to sleep!
"Where are you going?" He asked, trying not to sound too desperate. Aang didn't even want to know how difficult it would be to get Sokka to sleep if he was walking around!
"To get my sleeping bag. We kind of left Appa out in the open."
Ah… Of course. Alright, he could live with that.
"Wait for me! I'm going to help you unpack!" The sooner the water tribe boy was sleeping like a baby, the sooner he and Katara could get out of here. Aang stood up, and walked behind Sokka, exiting the shepherd hut. They were greeted with a hard air current, coming from Appa, who was clearly irritated.
"I know boy, I'm sorry! First, we left you in that cave, and now out in the open! But I'll make a bed of hay for you in the barn! And put the saddle away so that you can settle for the night." He spoke to the bison, who calmed down and groaned softly, agreeing wholeheartedly if Aang understood correctly.
"I'll help you. Getting that saddle off is a two-person job." Sokka offered, and the airbender nodded. Yeah, that would be more practical, even if he just wanted the water tribe boy to go to sleep. Just a little more patience. Aang had learned to be patient in the temple. But with her, he had come to know that it was no use… Patience didn't come easy when it came to her…
They moved the bison to the barn. It was not the best barn Aang had ever seen, and certainly not on the same level as the one in the gardens of the Earth King's Palace, but it would have to do. There was dry hay, enough to feed a whole herd of bisons, and more than enough space for Appa and Momo to sleep comfortably.
But this barn made him remember the last one Aang had been in. Well… This one was quite unsuited for that specific activity. There were too many holes in the walls, and it was too close to the hut they were sleeping in. The airbender shuddered at the thought of having Sokka or Toph hear anything.
"Hey Aang… This is the first time we are alone… Can I speak with you, just for a minute?" Sokka asked suddenly, while beginning to undo the strapping of Appa's saddle.
"Yeah, of course."
"I know you love Katara. I always thought it was a hopeless crush, even when you told me you loved her, in Ba Sing Se. But I was wrong. I have seen how much she likes you… And… she told me. I don't, or even want, to know what has happened between the two of you…. But don't let her slip through your fingers, you idiot."
Aang looked up. What did Sokka know, exactly? He knew, thanks to his talk with Katara that night on Roku's Island, that she had told her brother some things… But what, exactly?
"I wasn't planning on it. I love her, so much…" Those words didn't do it justice. What he felt for her was so, so much more than just love.
"Yeah, I saw that. You may think I didn't watch you two dancing, but I did. Bato said you two reminded him of my parents… And he was right. Katara looks at you like my Mom looked at my Dad. And if I know something, it is that those two loved each other, truly and utterly. So, I say it again. Don't let her slip through your fingers, or you will regret it."
That was… That was actually the greatest encouragement he had ever got from the water tribe boy…
"Where was all this when I asked for advice all those months ago?" Aang laughed, "All I got was act aloof…"
"That was about my sister?" Sokka nearly screamed in his ear, while they lifted the saddle of Appa's back.
"Yeah, who else?" Of course it had been about Katara!
"As much as I can appreciate the who else, I thought it was about that Meng girl…" Sokka laughed sheepishly.
"No, of course not! It was Katara, and only her… it has always been only her…" The words flowed out of his mouth, and he didn't care. Let the world know what he felt.
"Tell her that Aang, because the thing you two have now, the in-between… It can't last forever. Please, believe me. Seize the opportunity, before it's too late."
The airbender understood what Sokka was saying. He knew about losing the people he liked, or even loved… First Yue, and now Suki. They had not discussed it in detail, but Aang had understood that Azula had ambushed the Kyoshi Warriors… And that she had taken the uniforms. And knowing those warriors, Aang knew that it had not been willingly. So, Suki may be dead…
Sokka knew what it was like to feel something slip through his fingers, and always regretting that there hadn't been more… That was why he was saying all these things. To prevent Aang and Katara to feeling the same…
"Thank you Sokka" Aang said quietly, pulling an arm around the water tribe boy.
"You're welcoming Aang. Now, let's get some sleep!" The jovial tone sounded just a bit off… But the airbender couldn't help but feel excited about that.
He is going to sleep!
If there hadn't been witnesses, Aang would have done a little victory dance.
As they came back to the hut, Toph was already snoring, with a small blanket pulled over her. Katara was also lying on the ground, with her back towards the door. From where he stood, Aang couldn't be sure if she was sleeping. If that was the case… well, there would always be another moment. But not one like this…
He grabbed one of the blankets he had taken from Appa's saddle, and walked over to the waterbender. Gently putting it on her, he heard a very soft whisper.
"Is he asleep?" It was Katara. Spirits, thank you!
"Not yet… Call you when he is." He muttered back, also as silently as possible, seeing how Sokka was falling down on some hay in the corner of the hut.
"You better, Air Head… I have plans with you."
Answers :
Kalaong : Yeah, and all those sultry eyes and smiles are going to have their effect! And that headmaster should have a comeuppance!
CoyoteLemon : Indeed! I loved to do that dance with Katara as POV, because it is the first time we see her being the one who crushes hard on Aang!
Gabriela N. Gonzalez : Yeah, of course Toph was going to be nice about it! And I thought it was the perfect moment to let Katara tell him how she feels! And Sokka knows what is happening lol!
Jjsmith103 : I believe he would indulge, but that is something for another chapter! And I loved putting that ending in, it just made sense!
Rak : And now, you can look forward to the next chapter… a very Kataang oriented one lol!