Freedom [ATLA Katara x Male Reader]

Chapter 10: [The Fortuneteller]

Team Avatar sat around an extinguished campfire by a large lake. A large se tu suddenly burst from the surface, soared through the air, and landed in the water with a splash. Katara rose and pointed at it.

"Look!" she exclaimed excitedly.

Sokka also stood to view the spectacle. The fish leaped into the air again, turning to face your group before diving back into the water.

"It's taunting us!" Sokka shouted, grabbing his fishing rod and marching down to the lake. "You are so going to be dinner!"

Aang went to join him by the lake, taking off his shirt and diving into the water with a cheerful yell. You collected some fallen palm fronds from the lakeside and took a seat on a nearby log. With deft hands, you started to fold and twist the fronds into a bowl.

Katara approached you, looking at you curiously. "What are you doing?"

"Fighting the Fire Nation," you answered sarcastically. Katara paused; you had been spending way too much time with Sokka recently.

"Okay... fair," she said after a moment's consideration. "Let me rephrase that... what are you making?"

"Bowls. We can use them to hold dinner once Sokka catches that fish," you said. You heard yelling and looked over to see that Sokka had jumped into the lake and was now attempting to catch the fish with his bare hands, with no success. He belly-flopped into the water and you winced. "Uh... maybe once we catch it..."

You trailed off, tying off the last frond. You held up the bowl, complete with a few rose-like flowers. Katara looked impressed.

"Wow... Never took you for someone who could weave so intricately."

"I'm a man of many talents," you said dryly, setting down the bowl and getting to work on another one.

"I wish I knew how to weave," Katara said. "But we didn't have many plants back in the South Pole. Sokka and I got stuck making pots with Gran Gran."

You hummed. "I can teach you. If you want."

"Really?"

"Yes. We can make more bowls even faster with an extra pair of hands." You picked up one of the palm fronds and expertly separated it into two halves along the centre stalk. You handed her one. "So, first, you want to lay it out flat in front of you like this..."

Katara followed your instructions, laying her side of the frond down like you showed her, the tips of the leaves facing away from her.

"How good are you at braiding?" you asked. Katara gestured to her plait and you suddenly felt very embarrassed. "Oh. Yeah. Well it's basically just like that. Take three strands and work the outside ones to the middle..."

Katara did as you told her, braiding the palm fronds with no problem at all.

"Like that?" she asked, looking up at you.

You smiled, nodding approvingly. "Yeah, just like that."

"What's next?"

"For the bowls, you're basically making a giant wraparound braid. Then take the end leaf and use it with the next two leaves to start another braid. Do that until you reach the end and tie them off."

"Okay... I can do that..." Katara started to braid again. She pretty much had it until one end slipped from her hand, undoing some of her work. She cursed, "Dammit..."

"It's okay. This takes practice," you said with a small smile, reaching over to correct her mistake. She smiled gratefully as she took the bowl back, your fingertips brushing. You cleared your throat and looked away, concentrating on your own bowl.