Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

T-minus two days. TWO. DAYS. And Aang was still searching for Katara’s Christmas gift.

After five, wonderful years together, he thought he’d find gift shopping for the love of his life a lot easier than it was proving to be right now... Maybe I could just tie a ribbon around myself and- no! What, in the spirit world, am I thinking?!

The exhaustion Aang felt in his legs after the third lap around Ba Sing Se’s shopping district was influencing him to find any kind of excuse (most of which were completely unrealistic) to go home and sleep off this anxiety for an hour or two... or three... or maybe like six or seven or-

“Hey, Aang! It's good to see ya!”

The bubbly voice had startled him for only a second before he recognised the distinct make-up of a Kyoshi warrior. “Oh, hi Ty-Lee,” Aang replied with a forced smile. “How are you?”

“I’m doing just great!” She grinned, but very quickly, that smile turned into a frown. “You don’t look so good, what’s up?

...is it really that obvious? He sighed, eyes shutting as he pinched the bridge of his nose in utter frustration. “I’m fine, really, it’s just... well...” But he dropped the act almost instantly with a grumble, swiftly grabbing Ty-Lee by the shoulders. “Oh, Ty-Lee you’ve gotta help me! It’s Christmas in two days and I can’t find a gift for Katara anywhere! Please, you have to!” Her face was the epitome of shock and he sounded pretty breathless. “You’re a girl? You know what girls like, right? Just help me, please, I-” 

“Okay! Okay!” The girl took him by the wrists, escaping from his frantic grasp and urging him to calm down with an unwavering stare. He really did look stressed. “Jeeze... are you sure you’ve checked everywhere?”

He bowed his head in defeat. “Everywhere. At least I think so, I mean this is my third time walking around the place.” Aang groaned a little.

“Well... I happen to know a place that sells very girly things. I’m sure Katara would love it if you bought her something from such a place....” The way she was smiling up at him made him feel... uncomfortable to say the least. But he was desperate.

He let out a sigh. “Where is it?”

“Come on, I’ll show you!” 

“Woah!” And suddenly she was pulling him by the wrist and hauling him along down the street through the crowd. Aang simply ignored the curious glances being thrown at him from the various townsfolk as he struggled to keep up with the girl, his muscles aching. Then she turned right, dragging him roughly down some alleyway, shoving him face-first- “ARGH!” -through the door of some tiny, hidden corner shop Aang had never seen. Surely, he would have been on his face if he hadn’t caught his hands on the door frame thanks to his sharpened reflexes. When he turned around to face her, panting with a scowl, she had her hands on her hips and was smiling at him victoriously. Aang didn’t look - or sound - one bit amused. “Did you really have to do that?”

“As a matter of fact, I did!” She nodded before leaning forwards a little after glancing from left to right, checking for ears and eyes (finding none), and whispering. “By the way, I’ve seen Katara come here before. She always looks, but she hasn’t found the courage to buy anything just yet-”

“Wait a minute...” He stopped her with his hand and confusion glazing his features. “Courage? What do you mean cour-”

“Oh, just go in for crying out loud!” And suddenly he was being shoved into the shop with a stumble and the door was slammed shut before his eyes just cutting him short from asking any more questions. Ty-Lee gave him a cheerful wave and skipped away without a care. Straightening his now dishevelled robes after almost falling into a heap (again), Aang shook his head.  That girl. He thought with pure irritation. What did she mean anyway? Why would Katara ever need the courage to buy... something... from this...

Shop...

Aang’s jaw could have hit the floor if he let it.

He had turned around to find a shop full of exactly what Ty-Lee had promised: extremely and undeniably girly things with his eyes as wide as saucers and a very dry mouth. There was lace and satin and silk and even more lace, no matter what direction he looked in - and he had looked in every direction possible. This is a lingerie shop. Suddenly, Aang felt like an intruder, an outcast, someone much too immature to be in such a place... and when he thought of what Ty-Lee said (I’ve seen Katara come here before) his body felt far too hot.

It grew hotter still (but for intensely different reasons) when an old woman appeared through a door behind the counter just ahead of Aang and she gasped at the sight of him; a man of eighteen years looking deathly uncomfortable among a sea of women's undergarments.

“Oh my! You must be the Avatar!” 

“Uh... yes, I-I didn’t- well, I don’t-”

She tutted and came out from behind the counter with a joyous smile, beckoning him closer with her hand. “Come in, young man! Come in! Don’t just stand there!” Aang didn’t really have any idea what was happening or what to do or how to act... but this woman didn’t seem to be taking no for an answer. So he timidly walked forward, eyes still scanning the dozens of racks without even consciously choosing to do so. “You’ve come to the right place, young man!”

He went as pale as snow. “Actually, I-”

It was too late. Her wrinkled hand was already pulling him over to a rack of blues and purples and Aang blushed furiously. “Now, if I am not mistaken, you are with that lovely Water Tribe girl, is that right?” She let go of his hand and started raking through the clothes... or... pieces of very... extremely revealing-

He averted his gaze immediately, trying his best to subdue the thoughts threatening to flood his mind. Part of him wanted to leave, while the other part, mainly influenced by his desire and undeniable sexuality, wanted to stay. Wanted to be convinced. And made certain that he wasn’t at all convincing in his protest. “Really, Miss, my friend, she, uh... well, I didn’t really-”

“Ah! Here it is!” She cheered and gently pulled something from the rack. Aang tried not to look, but his instant reaction was actually the uneasy feeling that came when he realised this random old woman would know what his girlfriend was going to- no, wait! I’m not going to buy any of this?! I mean, what would Katara think? It’s a little... risky... isn’t it? “Now, don’t you think this is just beautiful!”

The woman's elated voice caught his attention and he was forced to look towards the garment in her hand. And to Aangs surprise, he found his eyes lingering for a moment too long on the outfit... or more specifically, the navy blue satin nightdress, much, much different to any other night dresses Katara had worn in his presence, one that would be so flattering against her skin. One that would compliment her eyes in such a delicate way. And her figure...

He felt wrong for even considering it. But... then again, he needed to buy her something; and from what Ty-Lee said, she might actually be happy with such a gift.

Although, after his blush had considerably subsided, Aang took a moment to contemplate how brash the action may be. It was so... salacious. But if she had been looking here before, then he was simply doing what she couldn’t bring herself to. Maybe she’d be happy; or possibly, more than happy. He swallowed hard, tearing his eyes from the thin dress and urging his mind and thoughts to stop imagining things. Beautiful things. 

The old woman was waiting, and he frowned down at her, still feeling awfully awkward, but accepting the fact this was his only option - it was either this or plain old chocolates with no thought whatsoever. “Well... I was thinking, maybe something a little more modest would be better.” He laughed nervously, a hand raking over his arrowed head as she returned the garment to the rack. 

“Not a problem, young man.” She smiled up at him brightly with happily squinting eyes, and suddenly, Aang felt an unexpected wave of relief. “If you’d like to follow me, I’m sure we can find something to your standard.” 

The only thing he could hope for now was that she would like whatever he ended up choosing.

Chapter Text

The gang had been up and awake for some time now, wrapping paper covering the floor of their home in Ba Sing Se and joyous laughter filling the air. However, it didn’t take long for them to notice the absence of a certain water bender.

Aang had noticed about five minutes after he sat down with his cup of tea. Though he decided not drawing attention to the situation would be better in the long run. After all, he may be the cause of her late coming: last night he had snuck into her room and set the present by her bedside, with careful moves so as not to wake her, ensuring the intimate gift wouldn’t be placed among the pile with everyone else's to consequently, and regrettably, be opened in front of her brother. That would have been one awkward Christmas morning. And it would have most definitely marked the end of Aang’s life.

The young man gulped, knee bouncing anxiously as he thought up possible reasons as to why she hadn’t come out of her room yet. Maybe she still hasn't opened it... but if she has, did she not like it? Did she hate it? Was she disgusted that he had bought her such a thing? Was she disgusted by him?! was she going to-

His racing thoughts were enough to drive him up and out of his chair with a rough screech and turn in a panic to make his way to her room right away. This, he definitely wanted to do, but the eerie silence stopped him. Something was wrong...

It took him long enough to realise the cease of conversation meant everyone was looking at him: weirdly, he figured out, as he turned slowly to see all eyes on him. With a jerk of his thumb back over his shoulder, explained: “I’m just gonna go check on Katara.” Making all but one turn back to their gifts. It was pretty normal for either Katara or Aang to act like this about each other. 

But Sokka, who had been in the middle of stuffing his mouth with some kind of jerky, raised a conspicuous brow at him. “She’s probably sleeping, Aang, I’m sure she’s fine.”

“I know that,” He frowned back, a little offended at the way Sokka was making it seem that checking on her was a bad thing. “But still, she shouldn’t be alone on Christmas morning.”

“Suit yourself.” Sokka shrugged and Suki threw her boyfriend an angry glare that Aang, in a way, appreciated. Just as he turned to make his way to her room with a stomach full of nerves, Sokka whipped around to face him yet again. “Oh! Aang?” he called, and Aang turned to him. “Tell her I said thanks for the gift.”

“Sure.” He smiled, glad that Sokka reminded him he actually wasn’t that inconsiderate and continued to her room.

Deep breaths, Aang, he tried to calm himself, I’m sure she isn't going to break up with you.

Instead of the sun and its usual, irritating glow greeting her first when she woke from the depths of her sleep, it had been gold-coloured wrapping paper and a note with handwriting she recognised even through the cloud of sleep.

Katara,

I know this will sound a little weird, but trust me: open your gift here, not out there. You’ll know why once you’ve opened it.

All my love, Aang.

The dip she felt in her stomach was both exquisite and downright petrifying. It was enough to make her shoot upright in her bed, all and every trace of sleep marring her consciousness gone in an instant. Her eyes frantically scanned the paper over again, her head much clearer, but now her chest was heaving erratically since she had suddenly lost the ability to breathe at a normal pace. Or at any kind of pace at all.

The girl found herself revisiting one part and reading it over and over again.

'-not out there. You’ll know why-'.

Like a broken record.

“Oh, spirits,” She ran a shaky hand through her hair, her heart racing. Right away, she knew: she knew exactly that this was not a normal gift. Although, however strong the thrill when she simply imagined what could be inside, she couldn’t bring herself to open it. All she could bring herself to do was read the note again and again as if searching for something she missed. After all, if she was wrong and it wasn’t what she imagined thanks to wishful thinking, she didn't want to be disappointed. She was moving about the bed, reading and re-reading until there was no doubt in her mind. The words he had chosen meant she was absolutely right and she almost couldn’t believe it. It had gotten to the point that she wasn’t even sitting anymore; she was lying on her back, sprawled out on the bed with the package resting on her stomach, watching the ceiling as it would rise and then fall again with each jumpy breath she took. The woman was in such a frantic state.

But there was one constant in all of this: Katara couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off her face even if she tried.

“Okay...” She sat up at once, clutching the thing to her as if this was a dream and she didn’t want it to end. “Everything’s okay.” She had to bite her lip to keep from squealing with sheer excitement when she looked down at the gift in her hands once again. 

Finally, she exhaled the tension from her body, willing her posture to relax as her eyes landed on her reflection in the vanity holding the present tightly. “Alright...” she breathed to herself, looking down at the awfully light thing in her hands. The weight of it only made her feel the butterflies in her stomach grow stronger and she took another deep breath, her mind conveniently drifting to Aang. The thoughts flashing through her mind, the thoughts of him - the one she wanted to be with for the rest of her life - gave her the courage to start tearing the paper away and all at once she felt her apprehension morph into tingling anticipation that made her tear the paper away with haste, at last, and she couldn't remember how to breathe when her eyes caught the entrancing colour of midnight blue and the shining fabric of silk. Suddenly, her heart was in her throat. With slightly shaking hands, she held the fabric gently between her fingers and lifted it from the remains of the paper, letting the material unfold itself, falling like a waterfall from her hands, opening itself up to her and without feeling herself do so, on instinct, she gasped.

Aang had picked this out for her.

Aang had specifically picked this and bought it with her in mind and every time that fact passed her mind she felt like the most wanted, most desired thing in the world.

Aang...

The decision was made: Katara was going to wear it for him tonight - this very short silk robe that had wide set sleeves and lace lining every hem, this seductive thing that she couldn’t wait to put on for him - and she would show him exactly how much she loved him.

Her thoughts were racing and her cheeks were burning and her smile was still proving impossible to budge from her face and she felt the urge to squeal with excitement again, her toes curling and her muscles tensing, the giddiest most elated feelings coursing through her veins and bubbling up in her chest when she thought of him and how he had bought this for her.

“Okay...” She breathed out shakily, her voice laced with a laugh and she folded the robe neatly in her hands. “Okay, okay. Okay... what am I doing?” and she realised her train of thought had been completely jumbled up with thoughts of Aang and her and his bed and-

She wanted to kiss him. Now. This exact instant.

But first, she had to-

A knock on the door stopped her in her tracks, her eyes locking on the door as she kneeled in the middle of the bed. ”Who is it?” She called sternly.

“It’s me.” 

A strangled squeak came from her throat for long enough, and she clasped a hand over her mouth.

“Is everything okay?” He sounded worried - obviously, that sound hadn’t sounded at all okay from where he was standing. She grimaced. He didn’t have a clue that she couldn’t control her own body at the moment.

She removed her hand, the deepest of blushes travelling up her body and settling firmly on her cheeks and the tips of her ears and blurted out- “Yeah, I’m fine!” -in a voice much too high voice. She cringed at herself but her whole body froze up when he spoke next.

“Oh, that's good... can I come in?” Her eyes widened. She was only in her bindings.

As inconvenient as it was, her voice still got stuck in her throat as she stared back at the door knowing the love of her life was behind it - a fact that only proved to coil the lump even tighter in her throat as she held the robe to her chest. But she was wasting time worrying about the fact she was half naked instead of-

“Katara...?”

“Yes! Yes,” She finally pushed out with a sigh of relief. “Come in!”

And she found a wave of nerves and anxiety and everything else that would cause someone to lose control of themselves crash over her body, and she couldn’t breathe again, her whole body as stiff as a board as she watched the door slowly opening. The colours red and orange and blue filled her view along with the most handsome face she had ever laid eyes on.

He was taking in the sight before him: sheets a mess on her bed, gold wrapping paper covering the expanse of it in ragged strips, and his love sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed, her hands clutching what he knew to be his gift to her close to her chest. It was also easy to notice she was blushing. 

“Hey.” She blurted out with such a strangled tone that Aang couldn’t keep from smiling. 

“Hey.” He replied and timidly drew himself closer, sapphire eyes burning into his skin as he finally took a seat on the side edge of her bed. Katara was holding her breath again as the scent of him threatened to drive her hysterical. “Sokka says thanks for the gift.”

“Hm.” She hummed distantly, her smile for once gone but her fingers gently caressing the smooth fabric in her hands. He was watching her do so - she could feel his eyes on her - but she was staring blankly ahead.

There was silence. Not a welcome one at that, but Katara couldn’t bring herself to say anything - a consequence of which was Aang turning into a bundle of nerves and fear, thinking the absolute worst.

He cleared his throat, and her head snapped up to him, eyes, at last, peering into his hypnotising ones that plunged her into a trance so deep that she was thinking only of him, seeing only him. This happened so often she couldn’t count the number of times even if she tried. It took a moment for him to gather the confidence to speak, the slight furrow between his brows beckoning her smile back onto her face. He looks cute when he’s nervous. 

“...Do you like it?” Her breath hitched as she remembered exactly what had her so distracted and him so apprehensive. And then she became very aware of how close he really was: his knee was on the bed and almost touching hers, his arm, his bare arm with taut muscles and an arrow tracing down to one of his powerful hands - a hand she wanted to feel gripping her waist or even better her backside - was stretched out to his side and pressing into her mattress like she wanted to be pressed into it, fingertips painfully close to her other leg. He was halfway in front of her. Clearly, she was getting flustered. Enough for him to notice.

At the same time, it was impossible for him to ignore how she stared at his hand with this... expression on her face. This expression of... he didn’t even know. Something that looked like longing... or desperation. And then she bit her lip, completely unbeknownst to herself and her fingers coiled in the silk, like she was using it to relieve some kind of... some kind of... stress? She was completely in a world of her own and Aang found himself wanting to know what that world was right now because the look on her face was getting to him in a way only she could. The idea of her liking what he had bought her was a lingering thought in the back of his head that only served to make this situation all the more... tense. “Katara,”

The tenor of his voice shocked her out of her reverie and brought her back to the present where she could still feel that dire need for him, a need that doubled and doubled again when she saw how he was looking back at her when her face turned towards him, and doubled again when she felt his palm so light, electricity shooting through her body in sporadic waves from where his fingertips lay on her skin, resting on her knee. And she wanted him to move it further, to slide his hand up and up until-

“Is there something wrong?” He asked, as genuine as his words of worry would always be, but it was his tone that gave him away. He wasn’t oblivious: Aang, the sweet, innocent monk, knew a lot more than he would ever let on - a fact Katara knew all too well from the times they spent alone, exploring each other as far as would allow before they gave themselves to one another entirely -something she craved more as the days and nights went by and her hunger for him deepened more and more until it seemed it couldn’t be satiated wholly by his hands and mouth alone anymore. He had pushed her right over the edge with his suggestive gift to her and she couldn’t wait to show him tonight.

Her thoughts had yet again taken a turn, her cheeks burning as she let out an exasperated laugh and shook her head. “Nothing at all,” 

“So, you like it?”

“I love it.” She let out breathlessly, sitting a little higher when his thumb caressed her skin. It seemed her sense of touch had been heightened profoundly - along with every other sense, she soon found out when his voice sent the most delectable shiver down her spine.

“I’m glad,” He smiled. A genuine smile, because he was really glad she liked it, but he was able to come to that conclusion quite easily on his own. He was smiling more at her flustered state. Aang was definitely glad he bought the robe in the end because if he hadn’t, this wouldn't be happening. “I was worried it would seem a little forward, you know? I didn’t know if you’d be offended or if-”

“Aang, I...” He looked at her, innocent, and she found herself lost in the depths of his silver gaze once again, and his thumb caressed again and she drew a long breath in through her mouth. The smug smile that tried to fight its way onto his perfect lips let her know in an instant that he knew what he was doing.

“What do you want, Katara?” Aang whispered. He knew exactly what he was doing. They had found themselves in a situation just like this one only last night but there was never anything like this beforehand, never any... teasing. Never any clever words or waiting around. And certainly never any dirty talk. 

Even just the way he said her name...

“...You know what I want.” And she glanced down at his hand. Only once, but for long enough that he noticed and followed her gaze. It was more than she was willing to give. They were so in tune with what the other wanted that usually it just happened; like a courtesy. But Aang was dragging this out and she couldn't for the life of her understand where this came from and she was a little embarrassed to play along - especially in case she said something wrong and ruined the mood completely. Noticing how coy her gesture had been only spurred him on. Understanding immediately what it was his girlfriend wanted from him, he became only more eager to fulfil her desire. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach when he smiled that crooked smile down at his hand atop her knee for only a moment and she wondered what was going through his mind. When he looked back into her sapphire eyes the silver she dreamt of had darkened and it was like Aang was a different person. 

“You’re gonna have to tell me, Katara, or I can’t help you,” This boldness... this brashness. It sent heat right between her legs. He even slid his hand the tiniest bit higher, his expression completely unwavering.

“Aang...” She laughed nervously, hyperaware of his thumb gliding across her skin now raised with gooseflesh, the knot low in her stomach only coiling tighter as she gazed back at his features, confident and seductive at the very same time.

She watched him as he reached for her and for a brief moment she thought he was going to pull her to him and kiss him, but he didn’t. He took the robe from her and leaned over to set it on her bedside table, his other hand still resting on her thigh, burning delightfully against her skin, but now her hands were free and empty and she had nothing to hold on to. He knew. “Katara,” He settled again, her hands in her lap as she swallowed when his hand slid further. “You need to tell me.”

Aang was never like this. Ever. And his newfound confidence was turning her on more than she thinks she could admit, though it was also rendering her speechless: she was terrified of saying the wrong thing. So, she kept her lips sealed, hoping that maybe he would give her what she wanted anyway, but she was wrong. Aang had gotten a lot more into this than she thought and she frowned as she watched him. Aang knew she wouldn't waver, so with a sigh, he took his hand from her and the cold was so unwelcome, the sight of him now standing from the bed with his back to her pushed a moan of annoyance from her throat, but he still didn’t turn around. 

How was it that she really enjoyed this side of him? 

It was the reason she crawled forward on the bed and grabbed his wrist, pulling him when she sat back on her knees, her eyes full of desperation when he looked at her again. But Aang knew she wasn’t going to let him go: she hadn’t seen or heard him block the door with earth bending, entirely caught up in Aang and nothing else. “Don’t go.” She shook her head, pulling his hand, his wrist, his forearm, pulling him onto the bed so that he was kneeling before her. Determined to keep him where he was, she rested her hands on his shoulders, still shaking her head, and all at once she felt the need to be a little daring. “Don’t leave me when I want you,” Katara whispered and he fought the urge to push her back onto the mattress at once.

Aang sighed, watching as he slid his hands up her thighs, over the curve of her hips clad by bindings and landing on the middle of her back when he kneeled a little closer, his knees in between hers. Nails lightly digging into the flesh of his shoulders, her breathing became a little more shallow; even though nothing had happened yet. When he got close to her like this, she couldn’t control herself: he had such a strong effect on her just by saying her name or touching her skin. He leaned in close, their faces inches apart. “I won't leave if you tell me what you want,” He whispered and she bit her lip, completely lost in a cloud of him.

Maybe it was his confidence that drew out her own, or maybe it was the ever-tightening knot low in her stomach or the heat between her legs. Which? It didn’t matter. She closed the space between them and kissed him without pretence, the nerves she once felt melting with the heat as he kissed her back with fervour. Though his hands were on her back, and that wasn’t what she wanted. He knew it wasn't, but he was making her work for this. So she opened her mouth, her tongue brushing against his much earlier in the kiss than usual (however, neither of them was complaining) and like she said; maybe it was his own boldness influencing hers, but she wasn't going to beat around the bush anymore. She was done waiting. Even in the midst of it all, she found his right bicep with eyes still closed and tongue still tasting him, humming against his mouth as she traced her fingers slowly down his arm until she was able to take hold of his hand and lift it from her back. She kissed him deeply, sighing heavily against his mouth that still demanded her attention and she brought his palm low on her bindings. Once more, she kissed him breathlessly and he hummed against her mouth before she pulled away to look at him, his eyes gazing at her in question, knowing she had finally found the courage to answer him. Still, she held his face close and he lifted her thumb to trace her bottom lip delicately, smiling when she sighed that desperate sigh that reverberated through him every time he pulled it from her lips, her eyes falling shut, and he wanted to kiss her again, to give her what she wanted, but he knew she would say it if he waited. And for some reason, he wanted to hear her say it.

When her eyes landed again on his, all that resided was passion and love and desire and lust and she knew he would do whatever she asked.

“Touch me.” She commanded, blue eyes entrancing him when she lifted her hand and wrapped her hands around his neck with her bottom lip between her teeth as she moved to lean her forehead lovingly against his. “I want you to touch me.” And he nodded.

Without pause, she pressed her lips against his and he lifted her onto his lap, her legs wrapping around his waist and her arms tight around his shoulders as he moved to lay her back on the bed, a moan coming from her lips when his lips moved against hers without hesitation and with a passion that doubled the pulsing heat between her legs. Without trepidation, he took his hand and traced down her side with a slow, feather-light touch that made her writhe beneath him. But nothing compared to the way the breath got stuck in her throat as his fingers skated across her stomach and dipped beneath her bindings to where she wanted him most. She gasped a helpless sound, and Aang couldn't help but smile against her lips.

All of this, thanks to a flimsy silk robe.