Enjoy reading!
I use Translate, so I apologize for any errors.
I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
It was around noon when Aang felt strange vibrations. Gaang had been in the Fire Nation for about two weeks.
They stopped in a small green forest, with a river flowing beside it, feeding the dry, hot ground with cool moisture. The sun was bright. Toph was supposed to have an earthbender class, but she said it was pretty hot to have a practice session during the day, so she said it would be in the evening. So, the blind girl just lay in the shade of the trees.
Katara also said that today she wanted to relax by the river and bender the water a little. She invited the airbender to join her, but he refused because he wanted to meditate.
Sokka spent some time looking at maps and making plans, but in the end, he too just lay down in the shade of the trees to rest.
So, the young Avatar found a small clearing, and then took a position for meditation. However, as soon as he sat down and relaxed, focusing on his inner world, Aang began to feel strange vibrations. He tried to put it out of his mind, but it wouldn't work.
Airbender growled in exasperation, wondering what he was feeling. He closed his eyes again, only this time the boy was completely focused on the vibrations. It came from the ground. Whatever it was, it was relatively shallow. The avatar stood up, moved a little away from his seat, and took the stance of earthbender. He closed his eyes again and listened to get a better sense of the vibrations' location. The boy sighed, then began to conquer the ground, gradually raising the ground.
When he saw that he had raised enough, Aang listened again. There were no vibrations now.
"So, it's in the piece of earth I picked up," - the airbender realized.
The avatar was about to gently lower the rock to the ground, then break it apart and find out what was causing such vibrations, when suddenly a voice was heard.
- What are you doing? - Sokka asked, coming up suddenly.
Aang, who was completely focused on earthbending and didn't notice the visitor, yelped and dropped the stone, taking a fighting stance. Seeing that it was Sokka, he relaxed.
- Sokka, you scared me! - The Avatar said.
- Sorry, buddy, - the warrior said. - Katara said to check on you.
- Why didn't she come? - the boy asked.
- Then who's going to make dinner? - he asked. - That's why I'm here. So, what did you do?
- I was looking for the source of the vibrations, - Aang explained – I pulled out enough earth to find the source.
- So, this torn - up soil, - Sokka pointed, - is where the spring is located?
- Yes, - the Avatar nodded. – I just wanted to see what it is.
- Well, let's find out what annoyed you! - Sokka suggested.
Aang chuckled at his friend's interest, then walked over to the stone, and rested his hands on it, concentrating. He began to bend the earth to make the stone crumbly.
After a while, the airbender felt the surface crumble under his palms. Deciding that this was enough, he struck at the stone, after which it completely crumbled. Or rather, almost completely...
- That diamond! - Sokka exclaimed, clearing the rocks. - You found the diamond!
- A diamond? Not a diamond? - Aang asked.
- No, it's the diamond, - Sokka said in a teacher's tone. – It will only become a diamond after being cut and processed. But even for such a rough stone, we will be paid a lot!
- You want to sell it? - The airbender was surprised.
- Yes, we could use some money, - Sokka said.
- Let me see it, - the boy said.
As he picked up the diamond, he noticed that it wasn't very large, but it fit easily in the palm of his hand. But most of all, he liked its color. Such an azure blue… Like the color of the sky or water… He had an idea.
- Sokka, - the Avatar called. – Let's not sell this.
- But why? - the warrior asked. – What do you want to do about it?
- I can't tell you, it's ... it's awkward...- Aang muttered.
- Well, you actually found it, so it's up to you to decide what to do, - Sokka said.
- Thank you! - The airbender rejoiced. - Thank you, Sokka!
- Anything that makes you happy, mate, - the warrior chuckled. - Okay, I think I'll go. Just don't stay here too long.
- All right, - Aang agreed.
With that, the warrior left, and the Avatar was left alone. He remembered that Sokka had said that it was necessary to process the diamond to make it a diamond. The Airbender tried to bend the diamond, but it didn't work. He tried again, but the stone wouldn't budge. However, he decided that he wouldn't give up...
- Aang! - Katara called out, flustered.
"Where is he? He should be back by now! If he was captured? They could have hit him on the head and taken him anywhere! He wouldn't just get lost somewhere! Or he might get hurt and hurt! " - the girl thought, growing more and more restless.
It was already dark. The sun set a couple of hours ago. The moon and stars were shining in the sky. She found it odd that the airbender wasn't at dinner. But when he didn't show up for dinner or Toph's class, she was worried. Right now, she was looking for him.
When she came to a clearing, she saw the outline of an Avatar. She could feel her anger rising.
"While I'm out there going crazy with worry, he's just sitting here?!" - she snapped.
- Aang! - she shouted, not hiding the anger in her voice.
The avatar turned his head in her direction and saw her, then quickly stood up and ran over to her, smiling.
As he approached her, she held out her hand to stop him. The airbender blinked a couple of times, not understanding what had happened.
- Katara?...
Pop.
Aang suddenly felt a sharp pain on his cheek. Katara slapped him across the face. He felt that this place was on fire. He placed his hand on top of the impact area and looked at the waterbender, slightly offended.
- Where have you been? - the girl shouted. – You just disappeared all day! I was so worried about you! What have you been doing here alone for so long?
He lowered his head, feeling guilty that she was so worried about him.
- Well? - the girl pressed.
Aang silently held out his hand where his hours-long work lay.
- I just wanted to give you a present...- he whispered, unsure if she would want it now.
The girl's eyes widened. She carefully took the stone from the boy's palm. She realized it was a diamond. It was smooth and cool. It had an oval shape and rounded edges. In the moonlight, it was very beautiful. As she gently stroked the stone with her fingertips, Katara suddenly felt that there were some symbols on one of the faces. The girl took a closer look at this side. Her heart warmed. On the diamond was written: "Katara". She was suddenly so ashamed that she slapped Aang's face. He just wanted to please her, and she repaid him like this.
- Aang...- she whispered, looking up at the airbender, but all she saw was a lowered head.
The boy felt his chin being gently grasped and pulled up. He gave in to the movement, but closed his eyes, afraid.
- Aang, please open your eyes, - the girl said.
The Airbender cautiously opened his eyes, afraid to see anger and resentment at him, but he only saw tenderness in the waterbender's eyes.
- That's very beautiful, - Katara whispered, smiling softly.
- Did you really like it? - Aang asked quietly.
- That's beautiful, Aang, - she said, then looked away shyly. - Thank you for doing this for me...
- I'm happy that I was able to please you, - the Avatar said simply.
Katara looked at the boy again, wanting him to know how much she liked it. How much it meant to her. But the main thing for her was that he did it for her himself. He spent several hours on her gift. And she wanted to pay him back at least a little.
The girl moved closer and intertwined the fingers of her free hand with Aang's. Then she leaned down and very gently pressed her lips to the boy's. Just a light and gentle kiss, her expression of gratitude. Her "thank you."
The airbender felt Katara's soft lips. His eyes closed in delight. If he had the chance, he would kiss those lips forever.
The water conqueror also enjoyed the kiss. Aang's lips were so nice… She wished she could kiss them all the time.
- Wow, - Aang whispered, grinning stupidly as she pulled away, his face flushed.
Katara giggled at the airbender's relaxed face.
- Come on, it's time to go to bed, - she said, and then they started walking toward the camp.
Neither the boy nor the girl took their hands away.