#aaaahhhha

Summary: “It had taken seven years but Aang finally felt he could keep Katara completely safe.”

Day: 7

Prompt: Safe

Inspiration: Aang’s personality and his and Katara’s flair for the cheesy and dramatic.

-

                Katara huddled farther into her coat, hoping for a reduction from another violent shiver riding the top of her jawbone down.

“Don’t worry Gran Gran. I grew up here remember? A little snow won’t bother me or Appa.” She mocked under her freezing breath. Her subtle teeth chattering felt like she was metaphorically eating her earlier words.

Up above, her boyfriend chuckle but Katara was more irritated by the small blanket of air he created beside her to cushion his landing.

He immediately hugged her, providing some muted warmth while Appa grunted at the mouth of the cave as he was not exactly enjoying the contrast of one side being pelted with frigid rain while the rest of his body sat warm in the cave.

“Sorry buddy.” Aang patted his side. Appa playfully blew a tiny air current to knock Aang’s hood off before attempting to sleep through the storm.

Aang readjusted his hood and hugged his shivering girl, the sound of their thick Southern coats rubbing against one another echoing around the cave walls.

Katara exhaled slowly, squeezing them as close as possible, “N-Nothing?”

 “Nada.” He raised his head to give her more access to nuzzle underneath his chin. Nothing they had stowed on Appa could be used to start a fire, be it too important or too valuable to waste.

Feeling him beginning to move away, Katara unwound her arms and took hold of his lapel, “S-S-Stop moving; where are you going?” her tone was accusatory of his attempts to steal a hotspot from her.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

She shook her head and stubbornly pushed her body back into his, “Too cold to eat.”

Aang blushed at her rough affection, “But,” he dragged out his reasoning, “having something warm in your stomach might make you feel better.”

“We don’t have anything warm Aang, remember?”

Their warm food rations had been split between the trip and Appa since they had not counted on still being in the Southern region when the storm hit. In fact, the large pot of soup Katara had made for them before taking off was specifically so they’d be warm enough getting out of the cold region.

“Oh yeah.” Aang sighed.

They cuddled closer yet it wasn’t enough. The sound of the wind outside and Appa’s heavy snores weren’t enough distraction. Even Katara’s suggestion of unzipping their heavy layers, using one as a makeshift blanket and the other as padding for the cold rock floor, while they used each other’s body heat was only moderately satisfactory as time passed.

Aang tried keeping his eyes closed and mind centered on his fire chakra which was… easier said than done. Especially when the woman in he held in his lap kept shivering and moving and rubbing his arms and legs in quick, systematic motions to keep them from falling asleep.

It was innocent help; still, Aang couldn’t control his nineteen year old mind from creating very unhelpful images.

“H-How are you doing?” He peaked out of one eye, hoping she took the pink cheeks and hitched voice as reaction to the cold.

“N-Not bad.” She lied. Aang’s inner heat was a great change but ultimately that technique was meant to keep him warmer. If he internalized the way he had been doing so far any further—warming himself enough that his skin was feverishly warmer—she worried he’d actually cause himself a fever. 

“M-Maybe an actually fire would be better though.”

“Sweetie we don’t have anything to burn.”

“You could just… hold it in your hand.” Katara’s eyes shifted aside lazily, as if her suggestion was simply that.

An awkward silence passed through when he didn’t reply. Katara didn’t lift her gaze from his knee, and would’ve continued avoiding his eyes if his reddening hand had gone unnoticed on her waist.

“Aan-? Stop!”

He ceased his attempts to keep her warm but his frustration overcame him.

“It’s the only way I can-“

“It is not Aang. Just make a fire.”

“Why would I make a fire right now? You’re too close!”

Aang immediately registered the face she was making. Quickly, before Katara could try any stubborn retribution or sarcastic reply, he completely enfolded her in his arms, pressed her pouty cheek against his and hated how cold it felt.

 “Don’t.”

 Katara blushed, too enthralled by his grasp and tone to speak.

“Don’t even try it; you’re right here and that feels too far away.” He hoped the charm would distract her long enough for his body temperature to rise unnoticeably.

She pinched him, reprimanding that attempt.

“How about you don’t try and butter me up. A-Aang, the storm is only going to get worse. We need a fire.”

He knew she was right. The firebender instincts inside of him knew she was right. But, the mental blockage wouldn’t break.

His hands smoldered despite himself, perhaps because deep inside his instinct to protect Katara always overrode any other feeling.

Even his own fear.

“What if something bad happens? If something goes wrong and you get hurt?”

She unwound his grip to cup his hands between them, “Aang, nothing will go wrong. I am perfectly safe.”

A tiny flame started fluttering with a life that Aang would have immediately snuffed if not for Katara tightening her grip.

“How do you know?”

He completely ceased resisting when she smiled. Aang couldn’t help feeling fueled by it, keeping the heat steady; wanting the glow she wore so well in her eyes and on her cheeks lit.

Im on a cover photo of one of Australias largest LGBT online journals.