Disclaimer- I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender
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Aang had told Katara that there was going to be a festival the day before the actual festival, but he failed to mention that it was for her. Katara freaked out about what to wear, but Mrs. Worheilmer was already prepared. Sokka had told her under any circumstances they should not go out of the house. She had given Katara a dress, which she gladly accepted.
The big night finally came. Sokka had stayed home that day, to make sure nothing happens while the rest of the crew make the finishing touches. He was wearing his warrior's uniform from Kyoshi, although his face wasn't painted. Aang had on his usual airbending clothes, because all the other ones that Mrs. Worheilmer had given him were 'too big and the whole thing would fall'. Katara came out of the dressing room, wearing a blue dress with green and red decorations, and wearing sandals. Her hair had been let down, to reveal its natural beauty. Aang gasped at the site and froze like an idiot.
"Aang? Aang? AANG! HELLO?" Sokka waved his hands in front of Aang, and soon saw what he was looking at. His cheeks burned, and although part of him wanted to slap Aang right then and there, he resisted the urge and had the patience to wait until the festival to embarrass them.
Aang had finally responded, only to say, "You're beautiful- wait, no you're good looking, but you're a hundred times good looking… what I meant to say is, you're so pretty, you make bison poo look ugly, wait- awwww never mind…" Aang's face turned bright red. Katara pretended to not notice, but she also blushed and giggled. "I'll take that as a compliment, Aang."
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When the four had reached the festival, operation SOKKA began to activate.
"I think that I'll go find the bathroom."
Katara raised her eyebrow. "You think? And besides, you just went five minutes ago."
"Uhhh… digestive problems!" and with that, Sokka quickly ran off.
"That was weird…" Aang and Katara both laughed. Mrs. Worheilmer spoke up.
"I think I am going back to the house, it is too noisy for my taste." Katara frowned.
"But we just got here! Wouldn't you like to see all the dances and shops?" Mrs. Worheilmer really looked like she wanted to, but she stuck to the plan. "No, no I really don't like noise. You kids have fun! And Aang?"
"Yes, Mrs. Worheilmer?"
"Protect Katara from any jerks, ok?" Katara and Aang both blushed.
As Mrs. Worheilmer left according to plan, Katara whispered in Aang's ear: "You heard her. Protect me from the big bad jerks!" Katara found Aang's hand, and squeezed it softly, but she didn't let go. Aang blushed the deepest crimson the whole entire universe has ever seen. Katara smiled, and pulled Aang along as they headed toward what seemed like dozens of rows of shops.
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"Wait, wait WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THEY"RE HEADING THE WRONG WAY! Sokka 2, Sokka 6, get them to the show already!" Sokka whispered in his earth-phone. (The leaders had given Sokka 11 earth-phones, which were made out of earthbending and inserted with a chip, so they can communicate while their plan takes action.)
"Roger that, Sokka1. Sokka 2 out."
Sokka whispered to himself, "Aang had better not do anything else to Katara, or I am really going to get mad…"
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Katara and Aang were suddenly stopped by a man and a teenage girl, both dressed like the hosts of the festival.
"Welcome, Avatar Aang and Mistress Katara! We welcome you to the first annual NEF- festival! (never ever forever festival) Follow us, we will lead you to a show so amazing, you will start to nosebleed while applauding!"
Katara and Aang looked at each other oddly, not knowing what to do. They felt a hand on both their arms, and they only responded sluggishly while the two hosts dragged them to the show.
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Sokka rubbed his hands together. Excellent. Everything is going to plan. My plan! I am a genius! Another voice popped up in his head. Thank you, thank you, you're too kind.
Not at all, not at all!
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As Aang and Katara sat down on the chairs to watch the show, Aang was still thinking of a way to tell Katara.
Maybe from a different approach? Like, "Katara, your hair smells like a thousand lilies, your face looks like a thousand jades. In other words, you look perfect." Aang's mind said to him.
Maybe. Or you could try simple and straight to the point. For example, "Katara, I love you. Will you marry me?"
Eh, I think that is going a little bit fast.
Sorry… How about trying the more 'forced' way? "Katara I love you, and if you don't love me back, then I will kill everyone in this town and leave the world to suffer while I stand there and do nothing."
I DON'T THINK SO!
Aww, I always liked that idea. That way she can't refuse!
You're an idiot, Aang. Maybe, "Katara, my heart and soul is broken. Only you can mend it, with your love. I love you, Katara, and I choose you over all the other women in the world.
Pretty good. But, I have an idea. How about poetry? "Roses are red, violets are blue, if you don't love me, then I don't…too?"
That's like saying you love yourself. "Roses are red, just like your heart, violets are blue, you're eyes are too." Cheesy, but better than yours.
Ahhh, you always come up with the better ideas!
That's what I'm here for.
"H-Huh? What? Oh, Katara, it's you." Katara laughed.
"Of course it's me. The show's about to start!"
Only then had he realized that he was still holding Katara's hand. He pretended like everything's normal, and waited for the show to start.
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Wayjya had come up to the roof, and she sat down beside Sokka, looking at Aang and Katara. "Awwww, they look so cute together! Did you notice the way Aang blushed?"
"Yes, and I think it is natural for people to blush. I don't think it's cute or anything though. I'm a man!" Wayjya scoffed, and said under her breath, so only she could hear.
"The day you become a man is the day I become the Avatar."
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Katara watched Aang look at the show. He seemed to be thinking about something. Something was always on his mind for the past few days, but whenever Katara had asked, he just replied, "Nothing. I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be fine? I'm the Avatar, I'm supposed to be fine!" and he always stutters. She found that charming.
Katara's eyes went back to the show, where three guys were on the stage dancing to horrible music. The sound was scratchy, and the players had no spirit. The dancers danced randomly, one doing the limbo with an imaginary pole, one doing the 'help I'm drunk on cactus juice' dance, and one dancing like an all-out idiotic maniac.
Aang turned around. "Katara, I want to tell you something. Something really, really important. Right now."
"Alright. Let's go. The people here are…weird."
Aang didn't reply, as he dragged Katara to the most silent place he could find; the edge of the festival.
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"Yes! Yes! YES! They're going! FINALLY! Sokka 3, Sokka 4, Sokka 7, ready your stances. Sokka 10, prepare the banner. Sokka 1, ready the fireworks. Everyone else, enjoy the show!"
A voice cracked through the earth-phone. "Why are we called 'Sokka' and a number?"
"Because it's my plan." Sokka proudly replied.
Idiot. That was the only word Wayjya could think of. Silently and impatiently, she waited for Aang to reveal his secret.
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Aang had dragged Katara away without saying a word. Finally stopping at the only place with peace and quiet, Aang sat down on the floor. Katara, realizing something was going on, sat down beside him, not minding her dress getting dirty. Aang grabbed her both her hands with his, and he looked up at Katara, staring into those beautiful eyes.
"Katara… your eyes are beautiful." Katara only smiled, meaning for Aang to go on.
I can't do this by myself. I'll just use one of his idea's!
"Katara, my heart and soul is… burned." He paused, struggling to remember. "I have this ache inside of me. And only you can… dent it with your arm? Wait, I didn't mean that, I swear! What did he say? Um…. Only you can… bend it with your art?"
Katara had a weird expression on her face, and the moment was ruined. She laughed, and stood up, dusting off the dirt off her dress. "C'mon, Aang, let's go back to the festival. You can tell me later."
No, no, NO! I WANT TO TELL HER NOW!
Aang stood up, and walked over to Katara, gently grabbing her arm. She turned around, and without thinking, Aang pulled her into a kiss. He did not hesitate. After what seemed like an eternity in heaven, he pulled back, and looked at Katara straight in the eyes. He was not blushing.
"Katara, ever since I had laid eyes on you, I had thought that there was something more between us. But during this long journey, I had realized something. I know for a fact, with all my heart and soul, that there is something more. You are the only one that matters to me, and in the past I had been too afraid to confess. But now, I know that the spirit of love is here to guide me, and when I say this, I say this with full confidence. I knew that we were meant to be together, from the moment we've met, to the moment we die. I know that we are too young to be together, but I just want to know what I feel, and I hope that you feel the same. Maybe, in around ten years or so, we can do more of the stuff that people in love do. But for now, I'll just stick with telling you that… I love you."