#and lets face it. kataang looks unrealistic this time around

[alleycatchitchat]

The new live-action ATLA looks amazing, incredible, already such an improvement over the movie. But I really hope they don't neglect the lighthearted atmosphere and comedic elements of the original show. I'm okay with a grittier, slightly darker tone because that's just natural for a live action adaptation, but LET ZUKO BE A DUMBASS and LET TOPH BE PETTY and LET AANG BE FUN-LOVING and LET SOKKA BE THE COMEDIC RELIEF

Like it's okay to aim for a different mood, just not to the point where everyone's grim and depressed and ooc

[azulamakesmeblank]

Gift (Kataang) **EDITED

Another slightly delayed entry for the Kataang mini week!

This one is for 27 - Gift @fehnandas and like parts of my first entry, this story is a little spicy!

...Actually, who am I kidding, its spicy and I love it?

This is a story focusing on Aang finding Katara’s Christmas gift (with a little Ty-Lee feature!) But I’m gonna post an extended version of this after!

**updated his age cause I’m 22 now and um.. yeah I have no excuse except for the fact I was a teenager when I wrote this and didn’t really think aang being 17 mattered since katara was 19?? Anyway, aang is 18 now and katara is 20 so yeah, enjoy, to anyone who is reading! Part two has a pre-smut scene but nothing explicit!

Click here for Part 2 

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. “Geeze... 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 dirty 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 lewd the action may be. It was so... risque. 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 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 it.