"Bubbles and Stew"

CHAPTER V

After indulging in scattering a handful of bath salts and petals, Aang's mahogany eyes widened in delight as the water began to sprout hundreds of greenish iridescent bubbles, the surface glimmering beautifully. The bath was large, at least two metres long and wide made solely of wood varnished and water-sealed with wood sap. Fairly deep, Ti's grandfather had neatly crafted a curved bench around the perimeter of it. Dipping an elbow warily into the steaming water, Aang gasped before withdrawing instantly. It would have time to cool a little as he stripped off his clothes. Pulling off his boots, he wriggled his bare toes as he lifted off his orange semi-robe and pulled down his tawny yellow overalls. Finally pulling down his white under-cloth, he neatly folded up his clothes and placed them in the corner of the room.

Climbing into the bath, he slowly lowered his slim frame down, his creamy skin seemingly disappearing under the layers of bubbles and petals. Sighing happily as he settled down onto the seat, his eyes flickered shut…

"Hey Aang."

Snapping his eyes open, they widened considerably as he spotted Katara before him, drenched in bison saliva. Laughing playfully, he sat upright, his developing yet young pectoral muscles revealed. Shaking her head, Katara smiled weakly, she wasn't really in the mood to be laughed at… Again.

"I think we're gonna need to train Appa to stop doing that!" He joked, gliding a hand over his bald head, slippy from the oily water.

"Hmm… Not a bad idea!" Katara grinned, reaching up to undo her hair loopies and braid. Sinking deeper into the water, Aang watched her inquisitively, how did she deal with so much hair!? Kicking off her boots, Katara nudged them with a foot skilfully to Aang's clothes pile.

"Close your eyes, Aang" she requested gently. Squeezing his eyes shut, Aang placed his hands over his eyes to establish just how much she could in fact trust him. Tilting her head slightly, a cute half-smile took place on her face as she watched him. Rapidly stripping off, she struggled with the difficult fastening on her chest bind, exhaling audibly as she released herself. Combing her fingers through her thick, long hair, she liberated it from its weave before warily lowering her tanned self into the hot water. Grateful to the convenient layer of bubbles, she self-consciously pulled an armful more towards her chest, sinking deeper in to the water.

"Can I have my sight back now, Katara?" Queried Aang softly.

"Go ahead"

Letting his eye lids fold back, Aang's gaze softened as Katara came into his view. The sheet of undulating brunette hair softly framing her gorgeously sweet features, her blue eyes literally glittering in the soft lighting. A silent exhale escaped Aang's parted lips as he found himself grinning.

"What?" She giggled shyly, a hand tucking a few strands of hair behind a delicate ear. Shaking his head, Aang shrugged before scooping up a handful of water and releasing it over his shoulders in an attempt to cleanse himself of bison spit. Using bending, Katara mimicked his actions, creating an extremely affective way to bathe. Looking up, Aang raised an eyebrow in awe at her creativity.

"That's pretty neat, Katara, you mind if I copy?"

Answering his question by bending a jet of floral water in his face, both kids found themselves in a water-bending fight, laughing and yelping between mouthfuls of oil-based petals.

* * * * * * *

"Here you go guys…" Ti spoke as she lifted the heavy cauldron of stew from over the fireplace, her forearms shaking as she transported it nearer her two famished companions.

"I'll take it, Ti!" Sokka squeaked jumping up from his knees to help her, taking the weight of the iron sphere, his sinewy arms tensing at the burden.

"No, Sokka, sit down, I'm serving it u-"

"Will you guys just quit arguing!? I don't care you carries it as long it doesn't end up in a puddle on the floor!" Groaned Toph, placing her face in her hands. Nodding in triumph, Sokka smiled as Ti winced before reluctantly kneeling down on the mat. Hefting it over to the table, Sokka's face crumpled as he slowly lowered it to the floor before the table. Receiving the ladle from Toph, he scooped up a generous potion of rabbiroo stew and hovered it over his plate before his eyes met with a jade gaze so beautiful that he nearly dropped the ladle itself. Emptying the stew into Ti's bowl, he then went on to ladle a portion into his bowl before finally into Toph's.

"Oh gee thanks, Sokka!" She exclaimed sarcastically, rolling her blind eyes. Momo, chewing on a seed, swallowed with a loud gulp before rummaging into the small bowl of ostrich-horse feed that Ti had supplied for him.

Hearing the door slide open, Momo, Ti and Sokka looked around to see Aang and Katara, their faces glowing with frivolity, their hair slightly damp. An expression of sheer happiness was evident on each of their faces as the scent of the stew reached their nostrils and they eagerly made their ways over, kneeling at two empty place mats.

Each contentedly drinking down the stew, the room was full of playful chattering. The time read quite late, and the effects of a long day of travelling had finally reached each member of team Gaang.

Outside, Appa violently snored in his sleep, his six legs softly pawing the air as he dreamt. The barn, although large, was a snug size for Appa, who had happily ploughed his way through a few bales of hay.

* * * * * * *

Khan, with a couple of fish hanging over his shoulder surveyed his ostrich-horses with an expert eye. They seemed jumpy and restless, occasionally giving a nervous whicker. Frowning, he scratched the back of his head, his creased face turning to the barn. The light was on, that was unusual in itself. Ti had never shown any particular interest in helping at the farm these days, she preferred to go to the market and try and find work. Silly girl. To find work at Toyoshi village was a hard task to ever achieve.

His feet gently trading on the sandy ground, he made his way across the farm to the barn. Sliding open the big wooden door, his jaw fell open in terror and he dropped his fish. Turning, he fled to the house to warn his family.

Author Notes: So in this chapter I wanted to create a little sexual tension, further what the creators did in Avatar. Create that moment when you actually shout at your laptop screen "Kiss! Kiss!!" Well, maybe shout it in your head, anyway I'm a little unsure on how to make Ti's character… I don't want her too similar to Toph or Katara. I guess you and I will just have to wait and see. I'm not exactly one of making a plan of the whole story, it kind of takes the excitement away for me, I tend to just do it as I go along… Hope you like what I've done so far.

Daise x