Prompt Five (August 23, 2009): Passion
Perfectly Imperfect by Definition
"Why are you two still together? There's no passion at all," men would say.
"How can you stand it? She mothers you like a child!" women would exclaim. "No fire at all!"
And his answer is always the same: passion isn't synonymous with intimacy. Sure, they had their fights, even a close break-up or two. Sure, her mothering nature sometimes annoys him. It's almost as if she assumes he can't take care of himself!
Yet, both of them know that what they have would last much longer than most couples. While every other husband would complain, eyes sad and empty, with drinks hanging limply in their hands, he'd sit in silence, empathizing, and trying not to smile in triumph on the inside. Once the fire burned out and the sparks sizzled and the steam gone away, they would—
Wait, no. That's wrong. He would never compare them to fire. To sparks. To steam.
Aang could compare their love to the clouds. He and Katara are always shifting and changing. They never stayed the same, adapting with each new mold each new experience brought. He could compare their relationship to the ocean. Gentle one day, violent the next. A constant force, one that begs to be reckoned with. A force that swallows its challengers and spits them back out thousands of miles away from their home, weary and utterly defeated, but gives life those respectful few. A force that is feared and loved at the same time. He could say they were like a forest. Bringing life, no matter what disaster befalls it. Or a desert, supporting creatures despite its desolate appearance.
But he would never compare fire to them. Never. Fire rages, out of control half the time. Sure, it gives warmth for maybe a few minutes. For an obvious price. After greedily consuming, fire would die, leaving cold impotent ashes that are to never burn again. Sparks blow away in the breeze, unable to fend for themselves. Steam cools and disappears shamefully... how utterly ridiculous. No, they were much more than just fire.
Passion isn't synonymous with intimacy. Passion comes in many forms. Intimacy just comes and goes. Intimacy is a fire that could die without something worthwhile to consume.
The technical definition of passion is a strong feeling or emotion. It can include sexual desire, but it includes so much more.
A mother can be passionate about raising her son. A ruler can be passionate about protecting his kingdom. A saber tooth mooselion can be passionate about keeping its food. A man can be passionate about keeping his friend from wandering down a dark path.
Katara is passionate about caring for him because that's how she loves. She wants him to always remember that she's always watching out for him, no matter how much it may irritate him. Aang knows, respects, and loves her for it. They don't need fire, sparks, or steam. They are much deeper than that. They are much more than a quick thrill. They don't need to prove anything to anyone.
He doesn't mind when people hold a magnifying glass to their love. They can speculate and examine all they want. He doesn't mind criticism. Aang knows what he wants and Katara knows what she wants. They are the clouds, the ocean, the forest, and the desert.
Their love is perfectly imperfect, fitting in to their very perfect and unusal definition of passion.
And, Aang thinks as he kisses the bare shoulder of his wife, listening to her low hums of approval, they do have that kind of passion as well.
A/N: Woo! Some sort of drabble-ish looking thing! …Yeah, sorry this is late. Wow. I've been working on the final piece and a little busy. *glares at the educational system*
Dun worry, I shall finish this soon.