The One That Got Away | Kataang

Chapter 23- The Calm Before the Storm

The next morning, Aang woke to sunlight peeking through the curtains, painting a warm stripe across the bed. He stretched, a content sigh escaping his lips. He got out of bed and padded over to the bathroom, the cool air sending a refreshing shiver down his spine. As he emerged, his eyes fell on the balcony. There, bathed in the soft morning light, sat Katara. Her hair, freed from its braid, cascaded down her back like a waterfall, catching the sunlight in a halo of gold. She was already eating breakfast, a serene smile playing on her lips as she watched the world wake up.

Aang's heart skipped a beat. "Good morning, beautiful" he said, his voice husky with sleep. He walked towards her, the smile on his face mirroring hers. Reaching her side, he leaned down and surprised her with a gentle kiss on the back of her neck. Katara let out a soft moan, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Good morning, sleepyhead" she teased, turning her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes sparkled with a playful glint.

Aang chuckled, his own cheeks warming under her stare. He pulled out a chair and sat down next to her, stealing a bite of her breakfast before grabbing his own plate. As they ate, a comfortable silence settled between them, punctuated only by the gentle chirping of birds and the distant hum of the city waking up.

After they finished their breakfast, Aang lingered for a moment, the plate forgotten in his hand. He gazed at Katara, the way the morning light glinted off the silver streaks now visible in her hair, the soft smile that never quite left her lips. His heart swelled with a fierce possessiveness, a need to be close to her. He leaned in slowly, savoring the anticipation that danced in her eyes. Their kiss was a meeting of souls, a silent language spoken only by their lips. The world around them faded away, replaced by the warmth of their touch, the frantic rhythm of their hearts.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and slightly dazed, Aang couldn't help but voice the thought that had been swirling in his mind all morning. "I'm so happy we're together" he murmured, his voice husky with emotion. Katara leaned her head against his shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "Me too sweetie" she whispered, her voice barely audible. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, simply basking in the afterglow of their kiss, the quiet intimacy.

A moment later, however, Aang stirred. There was a question he needed to ask, a weight on his chest that he couldn't ignore any longer. He took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around hers. "There's something I wanted to ask you" he said hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper. Katara looked up at him, her brow furrowed slightly. "What is it?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern. Aang hesitated, his cheeks flushing a faint pink. "Was I... your first?" he finally blurted out, his voice barely a squeak. He looked away, unable to meet her gaze, suddenly feeling insecure.

Katara's cheeks mirrored his blush. She bit her lip, caught off guard by the question. "I... I don't know how to answer that" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Aang's heart sank. He forced himself to look back at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of disappointment and concern. "You can tell me anything, remember?" he said softly. Katara met his gaze, her resolve hardening. She took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "Well, I... I've never been with anyone before...like being with him all the way" she finally admitted, her voice barely audible. "You were my first... technically" she added quickly, mumbling the last part under her breath.

Aang's disappointment deepened. So, she had been with someone else, probably Tai as he'd suspected. A pang of jealousy shot through him, quickly followed by a wave of protectiveness. He squeezed her hand gently, his voice filled with concern. "Technically?" he repeated, his brow furrowed. Katara sensed the shift in his mood and reached out to stroke his cheek with her thumb. "It's not a big deal, Aang" she said softly. "We were just messing around. Nothing ever happened, technically" she added with a forced laugh, trying to lighten the mood. Aang offered her a weak smile. Technically. The word echoed in his mind, a lifeline thrown to him. "Technically" he repeated with a teasing smile, the weightlifting from his chest.