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ABCLAF Logo This Kataang one-shot takes place in Sozin's Comet, Part 4: Avatar Aang.



Chapter Eighty-One: Pen and Paper[]

He settles down at the desk and clears his throat. Before him is a very white piece of paper, two stones holding down either end and ensuring it's not wrinkled in any way.

A very white piece of paper.

A very . . . blank piece of paper.

On his right is the tray of jet black ink and on his left is a calligraphy brush, courtesy of Zuko.

He swallows.

The desk? It's a table at the Jasmine Dragon. He feels strange to be sitting here, of all places, penning his love a letter. A confession, really.

Zuko suggested it. "Trust me," Zuko'd said. "You have to let her know you love her. If you can't say it, write it!"

He shakes his head to clear it, but the storm clouds swirling within refuse to part.

Bending down over the paper, he hesitantly picks up the brush and curls his fingers around it. It seems so small and fragile . . . just like her.

Ever so carefully, he dips the tip into the ink.

"But . . . what do I write?" he whispers. "What can I tell her that won't make me sound like . . . uh . . . a complete idiot? Or a pervert? Or both?"

He tips the brush backwards, and some of the ink ends up on his chin. He frowns.

"Do I make a pun? Do I write a poem? A long letter? A short one? What do I do . . . ?" He glances up at the window. "Spirits, I'm so confused. Please, help me."

But nothing reaches out to him.

Nothing suddenly grabs his inspiration.

He sighs and glances back down at the paper. The back of his neck is covered in sweat. He uses a hand to wipe it off and onto his pants.

Dear Katara, he writes, I really, really like you. Like, a lot. I would do anything for you. I would die for you! So . . . there are all sorts of chakras . . . but there's this one called the love chakra. He stares at the paper and crumples it up.

Dear Katara, I love you. Aang.

He frowns.

Crumpled up.

Tossed.

Again.

This is written from a secret admirer. You might know this person. He's a Firebender. He blinks. He is also an Earthbender and a Waterbender. In fact, he's the Avatar!

He sighs out a tongue of flame and throws that paper away as well.

"Argh!"

He slams the desk with his head.

And then he notices the clouds outside.

"Of course!"

He is outside and in the air so swiftly he surprises even himself.

He Airbends the clouds into shape.

Katara. I love you so much, and I don't know what I'd do without you 'cause my life wouldn't make any sense. Love, Aang.

The clouds are beautiful.

Who needs pen and paper when you have the whole sky as your drawing board?

Notes[]

This chapter is dedicated to a certain someone I cannot name without being rendered unable to speak due to my deep blush.

This originally took place in either 317 or 318, and the line was "The desk? Fire Lord Ozai's. He feels strange to be sitting here, of all places, penning his love a letter. A confession, really", followed by some descriptions of how he can feel Ozai's presence . . . but I changed it, and I'm glad I did.

"Zuko suggested it. "Trust me," Zuko'd said. "You have to let her know you love her. If you can't say it, write it!"" -> Finally, Aang takes love advice from Zuko instead of Sokka. Thank goodness.

"Dear Katara, he writes, I really, really like you. Like, a lot. I would do anything for you. I would die for you! So . . . there are all sorts of chakras . . . but there's this one called the love chakra." -> That would be the air chakra, if you're curious, and yes, the original draft of his message was about chakras.

"Dear Katara, I love you. Aang." -> Very . . . blunt. Need I say more? [pokes Aang's staff]

"'This is written from a secret admirer. You might know this person. He's a Firebender. He blinks. He is also an Earthbender and a Waterbender. In fact, he's the Avatar!" -> "So, I have this friend who's the Avatar, and . . ."

"He sighs out a tongue of flame" -> It made sense in my head . . .

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