The Two Of Us - An ALTA X Reader Fanfiction

Chapter Ten ~ The Best Way To Mess Up

(AANG'S POV)

I could tell immediately I had messed up. I shouldn't have said anything, and I knew it the second I spoke.

"Y/N..I love you."

Her eyes widened and her entire face turned a cherry red, still quite flushed from what we had done, even more so from my sudden confession. I kicked myself, pulling away from her and sitting on the other end of the bed. She scooted up, stunned expression, staring at me. It was as if my brain stopped working, and I couldn't find anything to say but whisper again.

"I love you."

Tears spilled down her cheeks again, and she shivered, a small movement. I was next to her again in a second, holding her to my chest, rubbing her back and muttering, "I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry.." She cried, after a few moments leaning back and looking up at me, a fire in her tears eyes. I was confused, but the confusion shifted into surprise when she reared back and punched me in the arm.

"OW!" I yelped, rubbing my arm and staring at her.

She leaned forward, kissing my chin, and began speaking softly against my skin, moving around my neck and down my shoulders and collar.

"You. Are. An. Idiot." She purred, nibbling lightly on my collarbone, and I jumped, my head falling back and my lips parting slightly.

"W-why is that?" I managed to ask, trying desperately to focus.

Her face moved level to mine and those big green eyes stared at me.

"Because it took you so damn long." she grinned, kissing me happily. I felt a pleasant warmth in my chest and I lay down, pulling her with me to curl up on top of me, her chin resting on my chest. Pulling the blanket over us, I smiled at her, running my hands through her hair and falling a little more when she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek into my palm.

"I love you so much." I whispered to her, and her eyes opened again, staring directly at me. She scooted up my frame until her face was directly over my own.

"I love you too." she breathed, and I pulled her down with me, hugging her tightly to me.

Rolling onto our sides, we shifted a bit, getting nice and comfy in each other's arms, and I played with her hair until I fell asleep again, just as the sun was rising and casting small rays into the room.

(Y/N'S POV)

I couldn't fall asleep. The sun was coming up, and the pain between my legs was bothering me. Aang had passed out though, a serene expression on his face as he slept.

Kissing his chin lightly, I wiggled my way out of his grip, replacing myself with a pillow so he wouldn't wake up. I found myself kinda messy, and I moved quickly, looking around for a way out of the room. It looked like it was made specifically so that only an earthbender could get in and out, and I sighed before seeing the small basin of water near the wall. Relief crossed me, and I moved to wash myself up, snagging a piece of cloth from the floor as a rag.

Washing my legs took the longest, as they were slightly sticky, with dried juices from myself and Aang running down them, as well as some blood. It was slightly disturbing, so I scrubbed myself quickly, wincing at the sharp stinging between my legs.

There were bruises on my sides where he had gripped me, and a few bites and marks along my collar. Luckily, my shirt would cover those, but it was painful to walk, which would be harder to mask.

I got dressed before moving to sit at the desk, catching my reflection in one of the ice filled holes. A bit of sunlight illuminated my reflection, and I ran a hand over my face.

My lips were darker and slightly swollen, and my eyes looked tired, dark circles underneath them. My hair was a mess that I just couldn't tame no matter how much I ran my hands through it, and I frowned.

Looking down at the painting scattered about the desk, I found a beautiful landscape before me, meticulously crafted. The way it was painted, it almost seemed real, and I smiled at the amazing talent Aang had.

Shifting through the other paintings quietly I found more landscapes, a few scribbles, and came to a carefully rolled scroll on the bottom. Opening it quietly, I gasped.

It was me.

The picture showed me laying in the sand on my back, from above, my hair spilling around me. My eyes were a brilliant green, and I looked happy, a laughing expression on me. It looked so lifelike, I reached to touch it and was startled that it was only paper. The folds in the light green kimono I was wearing, the small flowers scattered around me, every shadow was meticulous and amazingly accurate.

Raising a hand to cover my mouth, I let a couple tears slip out, and my vision blurred. He painted me. This must have taken weeks! Thinking about how quickly he worked on things, how often he left..he must have started this a week or two after I got here first. Why would he paint me if he barely knew me? Boredom?

My mind spinning, I sighed and closed the scroll again, resting it on the corner of the desk and putting my head in my hands. I didn't get it. I hadn't known him for long, but I felt compelled to be with him. I gave myself to him, my first time. I told him I love him...and I do, right? My thoughts and emotions felt muddled and I groaned, letting my head fall onto the desk.

I would have to figure this out later. For now, all it was doing was taxing my tired mind and making my head ache.

Standing up, I pushed the chair in and crossed to Aang again, standing and watching him sleep for a moment. He looked so completely at peace, the blanket rising and falling with his breath.

Wiggling under the blankets again, I took the pillow from him and replaced it with myself once more, facing him as he slept, a hand on my hip and the other my pillow as I rested my fingers on his chest. Every once in a while his mouth would move a bit, as if he were speaking, and his eyes would scrunch up in a dream. I would softly rub his chest until it passed, and he calmed again. After a few hours, my body gave in to exhaustion, and I fell asleep with him.