"The Gift Horse" conclusion to the Kataang epilogue. :)
If you're a Kataang fan, I guess this is the last I'll see of you for "The Gift Horse"-- thank you, I hope you've liked it! I present the far-too-long-in-coming conclusion to the Kataang epilogue! (under the cut, plus link to the chapter on ff.net at bottom of entry).
*crosses fingers and prays the formatting's correct and that the gods are willing to let this post work this time around*
[EDIT: Ok, *most* of the formatting works, apart from random words sticking together. I'll take it!]
The GiftHorse”
AN: All materials are copyright their original creators.
The cast of Avatar eceive gifts from their creators in recognition of all their hardwork in Season 2. Toph is first in line.
Chapter 08 Summary:Mushy-mushy in this chap, so ready the Knights Who Say ‘Squee’!
AN: If you’re only here for the Kataang, this will be the last chap you read of my first fanfic, “The Gift Horse” - I really hope you enjoyed the ride! Take care, and see you next time, Space Cowboys! Zutara ending commences next chapter - I’ll do my best to live up to expectations (it’ll really help me out if you please aim low)!
Chapter 08: Kataang epilogue part 03!
LIVING ROOM OF TOPH ANDSOKKA’S SUITE
As Iroh sat back in his chair with Xiao Xiao snoring softly at his feet, he looked around the trashed room and chuckled (and winced slightly) at the devastation.Yep, he would be leaving a considerable tip in the morning. The staff had definitely earned that much. After he’d separated the teens in the hot tub (sending the girls to their own suite down the hall, and settling the boys in their rooms in the current suite), the former general had bade their attendant goodnight, pitying the exhausted man. On his way out, the attendant had given Iroh an envelope that had at one point sat by a lamp on a table in the entranceway. He explained it had arrived earlier that night with the decorations, but had been forgotten in the subsequent melee.
Iroh had thanked him and sent him on his way, stroking his beard, deep in thought.
He still had some time before he next checked on Aang and Katara (though he doubted he really needed to - they were sleeping like bricks and likely wouldn’t stir until breakfast), and opened the letter. It had been addressed to ‘The Cast Of Avatar’, he noted, and his suspicions on the senders’ identities were confirmed as he read it.
Dear Friends, it began,
Happy hiatus! We hope you enjoyed your gifts, we put a lot of thought into them this year. Especially yours, Katara! *snicker*
Iroh raised an eyebrow in amusement and mild reproach, but kept reading.
We thought each of you should have something external to focus on (outside of work,specifically), since soon you’ll be back to the grind. We also thought you’d like some time to get to know each other without having a reason to fight, since so many of you are new to the cast this time around. That was the intention, anyway - I’m sure some of you managed to find something to argue about, in spite of our best efforts. *sigh*
Iroh sighed deeply,too, and nodded in sympathy - sometimes no matter what one did, one couldn’t make everyone happy. He returned to the last of the message. He commended the creators for trying to stick to their best intentions, though.
But seriously, have a great break and spend some time together relaxing, as friends.Season Three is going to be a race against time, and we’re gonna need you to all stick together. Hopefully you were able to share your gifts with each other to become closer - that camaraderie will be invaluable. We’ll give you more action, drama, and trauma than you can shake a stick at in the coming weeks, so get along while you can!
Take care and enjoy what’s left of your break,
Your masters and commanders,
M & B
PS: Katara, we SO pwned your ass! TWICE! Haha! We’re so hilarious! By the way, who do you think we’re gonna throw you in a cave with next? XD
Iroh groaned and memorized the letter before promptly burning it for fear of Katara’spotentially flaming vengeance upon reading it in the morning. He’d fill everyone in when they woke up, but it was probably best, in this specific case, to err on the side of caution and eliminate the evidence…
Iroh glanced at the time and decided he had a few minutes left, and reflected on the boxes and decorations about the room, before his eyes finally settled on Xiao Xiao’s slumbering form at his feet. So the gifts were meant to bring them closer together, eh? He smiled, deciding not to look this particular gift horse in the mouth. They had brought some grief with them, sure, but also far more benefits than he could ever consider looking down upon. In fact, when he really thought about it, starting with Toph’s gift, it had been more of a Trojan horse that had infiltrated the group… but instead of people hiding inside to break into an enemy’s stronghold, it had been used to sneak everyone out of an unremarkable, everyday afternoon in the studio parking lot, and into an entire day’s worth of (mostly harmless) adventure together before finally culminating as a room party at a hotel. Iroh shook his head in disbelief. M & B had really done it - they’d given them what they’d needed most - a chance to just act like kids for a day. Goofing around, arguing,flirting… just being teenagers (or almost-teenagers, in the case of Aang and Toph, but really, who was counting?). Spirits, even his nephew had ended up in the hot tub, coerced as it was. But, it was all normal. Hanging out, eating and drinking, teasing, fun, normal teenager-stuff.
Smiling, Iroh hoisted himself begrudgingly out of his chair and went to check one last timeon Aang and Katara. Not that he expected they’d moved, they’d been dead-tired when he left them earlier, but for propriety’s sake, it was best he keep his word. He patted Xiao Xiao on the headand nudged him away, creeping out of the dark room to the suite next door.
As he’d expected, the two young benders were fast asleep. The only change in their positions he could see was that, from their rooms on opposite sides of the hall, they each faced automatically towards the door in their sleep, unconsciously reaching out for the other.
Iroh chuckled softly.Well, Zuko may not give him his own grandkids, but the old gentleman was sure that with time, lots of time, and patience, someday he’d see lots of new family around him. He considered all his charges his family, anyway, and he could wait and enjoy them all growing up for a little while yet, very happily.
He padded away silently to return to the first suite, smiling.
(EARLIER THAT NIGHT)
“Ugh, finally,”muttered Katara as she heaved Aang’s slight, slumbering body onto the massive bed in the master bedroom of his suite. It had taken the last of her strength, but she’d managed to get him up onto the imposing, impressive, incredibly comfortable-looking mattress. He wasn’t heavy by any means, but she was tired from doing the walking for both of them for the past little while.
In the chaos that had ensued in the bathroom, she had managed to disentangle herself from Aang and drag him into the living room, waterbending the moisture from them and the clothes she had snagged on her way out. They hadn’t been there long before Toph had waved at her and explained the appearance of the other girls, then headed off to bed, declaring her day finished. Her fruity masterpiece, a miniature replica of Sokka fighting a platypus bear (and, predictably, losing), adorned the coffee table. It was quite lifelike, really, when one took the time to really study it. Not that Katara did - she was just desperate for a good night’s sleep at this point.
Collapsing in a comfortable chair, the waterbender had closed her eyes and tried to figure out where to put Aang, and where she herself would sleep that night. She didn’t want to stay in the current suite with all the commotion erupting from the bathroom (and boy, did those Fire Nation girls know how to have a good time, by the sounds of things!), but wasn’t sure it was appropriate she go to the next suite with Aang,either. Groaning, she let her head fall back against the seat,temporarily defeated by her good upbringing. It was one thing when there were no room divisions and you were all lying out on the ground, traveling. But in a hotel…
Argh! She had felt like tearing out her hair.
Iroh, sensing her distress and immediately sussing out her dilemma, had spoken up from beside her.
“Miss Katara, please,you’ll be fine to sleep in the next room. Aang is obviously out cold for the night from the day’s activities,” he indicated the limp monk drooling on the floor, “and I’ll come in from time to time through the night to check on things and ensure you can sleep with a clear conscience. I’ll reassure your brother in the morning.Please, poor child, get some rest.” He had smiled paternally at her and patted her arm.
“You really mean it?”She’d been almost too hopeful to believe it.
“Of course! That’s what Great Uncles do!”
“Thank you so much,General Iroh!” She had bowed deeply to him from her chair.
“Call me Uncle Iroh,Katara, please. We’re like family!”
“You’re such a great uncle, thank you again.”
Gratefully acknowledging his offer, together they had moved Aang next door. It had been quite easy with the older gentleman’s help, and she committed herself to being helpful to him in the future in recompense. Something about what he’d said had loosened some niggling memory in her mind, though, but she couldn’t pin it down... Something about ‘family’ and ‘great uncles’… Oh well, she’d probably remember it in the morning…
He had lit a lamp for them as they arrived at the master bedroom, bade them goodnight, and smiled as she thanked him, closing the door as he left.
In the dim, quiet room,Katara finally started to feel peaceful.
She stretched her back a bit, trying to decide whether it was worth moving to the next room to sleep, or whether she should just collapse on the floor. She was so tired… she quickly put the rest of her clothes on, and decided to dress Aang back up, too, so he wouldn’t startle when he woke in the morning.
Yawning, she got his pants on him and picked up his tunic, only to see a thick envelope fall out from one of the interior pockets. It spilled its contents out over the bed. Rubbing her eyes in the dim light, she grumbled,pulled Aang’s shirt over him, and drew the covers up to his chin before going back to tidy up the envelope’s mess.
Hoping they weren’t in any kind of order, she shuffled the papers in the envelope, and started putting away the ones that had fallen out. Pictures, she realized, upon closer inspection. Not papers, pictures, she noticed,perusing them. They were all pictures. Of…
Her eyebrows knit together.
Of her.
But, how did…?Confused, she looked on with interest.
Bending underwaterfalls in the moonlight. Grinning enthusiastically as she flew on Appa’s back. Angry, but determined as she fought Zuko. Smiling wickedly as she teased Sokka. Beaming with pride as she congratulated Aang on mastering a new waterbending move. They went on and on.
She continued flippingthrough them, amazed and shocked and flattered, embarrassed at some of the less-than-flattering shots of her mistakes, but realizing how strong someone’s feelings, and sense of protection for their friendship, must be for them to keep so much secret. And also, how important she must be to someone for that person to treasure all her moments so much they’d keep them so close to their heart.
Rubbing the wetness from her cheeks and eyes, Katara carefully tucked everything back into the paper sleeve and placed it on the bedside table so Aang would see it when he woke up. She’d explain in the morning, of course, that she hadn’t been snooping, it had been an accident.
But what a happy accident, indeed!
She was nearly trembling with the lightness of spirit that filled her, as if she could fly away to the moon and stars and heavens at any time, soaring above clouds and cities and mountains, ebullient and invincible.Tomorrow, she would greet the sunrise with a happy spirit - and share it with the person she loved.
But she had to get somerest first, she reasoned and nearly grumbled in frustration that it wasn’t morning yet.
A little eager,aren’t we? her mind teased, and she nearly giggled out loud.
Katara leaned over and kissed Aang lightly before giving him a gentle touch on the cheek.Smiling, and trying hard to keep her voice from breaking and waking him up, she softly whispered, “I love you, too, Aang,” in his ear before convening to her own room across the hall, putting out the lamp on her way out.
In his sleep, Aang sighed in happiness and gave a faint smile. This was definitely the best day ever…
THE NEXT MORNING,CHECKING OUT
Snippets overheard bythe staff as their most destructive guests EVER left the building:
“-but you reallydid clean up Appa and Momo, right? Like I’m not gonna go back and find out you just left them there to sit in their own filth all night,right, Sokka?”
(and)
“-I never knew a person could MOVE like that, especially underwater! Did you see the way he-“
“Ty Lee, enough,please. It’s bad enough you can do it, I don’t want to hear about what my brother can do, ok? And I was there…”
(and)
“Why do you have a hickey on your neck?”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Avatar.”
(and)
“Sokka, do you have a hickey on your neck, too?”
“I REALLY DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.”
(and)
“I think Sana would be a nice girl’s name, don’t you, Katara?”
“Sure, I guess so, Uncle Iroh. Do you have family who are expecting?”
“In a manner of speaking...”
(and)
“As long as the fangirls are loyal to me, I don’t care what they do to me in fanfic. But that hottub scene is ABSOLUTELY OFF-LIMITS!”
(and)
“So how did you afford such a ritzy place for the night, Toph?”
“Oh, I just used my (whispered) Ultra-Platinum Super-Debit Infinite card(end whisper). ”
“How did I not know you had one of those!? How did you get one? Why do you have one?”
“I AM Bei Fong, you know, of course I have one! Oh, and I usually use it to sort my M &Ms by colour.”
“… Ok, now I KNOW you’re lying. Why do you hate me so much?…”
(and)
“-and it was so funny, once we got those blindfolds out! I mean, they totally thought they were doing it to one of us, you should have seen them!”
(and)
“…Zuko’s right,his sister and her friends really are evil.”
“But you got the pictures of them in the hottub, right?”
“Oh yeah! This is enough blackmail to keep Angry Lad and Meatbag off your case at least until you’re married. Possibly even until they’re married,and you KNOW that’ll be a while…”
“Thanks, Toph, we owe ya one.”
“I’ll cash in sooner or later, don’t worry. Besides, this shot right here was--”
“THAT’S OK! I’ll take your word for it!”
(and)
“Uncle, I need to procure several items before we return home.”
“Of course,Nephew, what do you need?”
“A sweeper and a cleaner.”
“A domestic crew?”
“No, Uncle. A different kind of ‘sweeper’ and‘cleaner’…”
(and)
“This one’ll be great in the family newsletter we send out next Christmas, thanks.”
“You’re more than welcome, your highness Azula. That’ll be deposited in my account,when?”
“Consider it done, earthbender. Along with the extra privileges to your card.”
“Excellent.”
“So, I’ll take two copies of this one, and another half-dozen of these shots here, and-“
“Mei, I knew you liked Zuko, but Sokka?”
“Well, when it’s Zuko andSokka… and that pose is pretty… thrilling, wouldn’t you say?”
(and)
“So, wanna go waterbending sometime? I know of a nice beach in the next town over,and we can take Appa and go at night. It’ll be really…”
“I’d love to.”
“Wanna bring a picnic?”
“I’d love to.”
“Wanna-“
“I’d love to.”
“Katara, you didn’t let me finish-mph!”
--pause
“Wow.”
“Wanna do it again?”
“YES.”
--pause
“OH MY GOD, KATARA,AANG, STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! EYE-BLEACH! EYE-BLEACH!!! MEDIC! I NEED HEART MEDS, TOO! STAT!!!”
“Oh shut up,Meatbag…”
(and)
“You know, we need to get them back for this. We can’t let them get away with doing that to us. I’m worried I heard the sound of a camera at one point,too.”
“… oh yeah. Of course. It was awful. Really.”
--pause
“What?”
“Please object to it with more conviction than that. Dude.”
--pause
--crickets chirping
“Ok. But, I mean, in other circumstances, would you consider-“
“NO.”
(and finally, two young people, in quiet tones just before they boarded their ride home)
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
La Fin.
/end Kataang epilogue,Part 03.
/AN: Soooo… for my first fic, how was it?
/AN: Zutara epilogue next.
And on ff.net : http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3274384/13/
*crosses fingers and prays the formatting's correct and that the gods are willing to let this post work this time around*
[EDIT: Ok, *most* of the formatting works, apart from random words sticking together. I'll take it!]
The GiftHorse”
AN: All materials are copyright their original creators.
The cast of Avatar eceive gifts from their creators in recognition of all their hardwork in Season 2. Toph is first in line.
Chapter 08 Summary:Mushy-mushy in this chap, so ready the Knights Who Say ‘Squee’!
AN: If you’re only here for the Kataang, this will be the last chap you read of my first fanfic, “The Gift Horse” - I really hope you enjoyed the ride! Take care, and see you next time, Space Cowboys! Zutara ending commences next chapter - I’ll do my best to live up to expectations (it’ll really help me out if you please aim low)!
Chapter 08: Kataang epilogue part 03!
LIVING ROOM OF TOPH ANDSOKKA’S SUITE
As Iroh sat back in his chair with Xiao Xiao snoring softly at his feet, he looked around the trashed room and chuckled (and winced slightly) at the devastation.Yep, he would be leaving a considerable tip in the morning. The staff had definitely earned that much. After he’d separated the teens in the hot tub (sending the girls to their own suite down the hall, and settling the boys in their rooms in the current suite), the former general had bade their attendant goodnight, pitying the exhausted man. On his way out, the attendant had given Iroh an envelope that had at one point sat by a lamp on a table in the entranceway. He explained it had arrived earlier that night with the decorations, but had been forgotten in the subsequent melee.
Iroh had thanked him and sent him on his way, stroking his beard, deep in thought.
He still had some time before he next checked on Aang and Katara (though he doubted he really needed to - they were sleeping like bricks and likely wouldn’t stir until breakfast), and opened the letter. It had been addressed to ‘The Cast Of Avatar’, he noted, and his suspicions on the senders’ identities were confirmed as he read it.
Dear Friends, it began,
Happy hiatus! We hope you enjoyed your gifts, we put a lot of thought into them this year. Especially yours, Katara! *snicker*
Iroh raised an eyebrow in amusement and mild reproach, but kept reading.
We thought each of you should have something external to focus on (outside of work,specifically), since soon you’ll be back to the grind. We also thought you’d like some time to get to know each other without having a reason to fight, since so many of you are new to the cast this time around. That was the intention, anyway - I’m sure some of you managed to find something to argue about, in spite of our best efforts. *sigh*
Iroh sighed deeply,too, and nodded in sympathy - sometimes no matter what one did, one couldn’t make everyone happy. He returned to the last of the message. He commended the creators for trying to stick to their best intentions, though.
But seriously, have a great break and spend some time together relaxing, as friends.Season Three is going to be a race against time, and we’re gonna need you to all stick together. Hopefully you were able to share your gifts with each other to become closer - that camaraderie will be invaluable. We’ll give you more action, drama, and trauma than you can shake a stick at in the coming weeks, so get along while you can!
Take care and enjoy what’s left of your break,
Your masters and commanders,
M & B
PS: Katara, we SO pwned your ass! TWICE! Haha! We’re so hilarious! By the way, who do you think we’re gonna throw you in a cave with next? XD
Iroh groaned and memorized the letter before promptly burning it for fear of Katara’spotentially flaming vengeance upon reading it in the morning. He’d fill everyone in when they woke up, but it was probably best, in this specific case, to err on the side of caution and eliminate the evidence…
Iroh glanced at the time and decided he had a few minutes left, and reflected on the boxes and decorations about the room, before his eyes finally settled on Xiao Xiao’s slumbering form at his feet. So the gifts were meant to bring them closer together, eh? He smiled, deciding not to look this particular gift horse in the mouth. They had brought some grief with them, sure, but also far more benefits than he could ever consider looking down upon. In fact, when he really thought about it, starting with Toph’s gift, it had been more of a Trojan horse that had infiltrated the group… but instead of people hiding inside to break into an enemy’s stronghold, it had been used to sneak everyone out of an unremarkable, everyday afternoon in the studio parking lot, and into an entire day’s worth of (mostly harmless) adventure together before finally culminating as a room party at a hotel. Iroh shook his head in disbelief. M & B had really done it - they’d given them what they’d needed most - a chance to just act like kids for a day. Goofing around, arguing,flirting… just being teenagers (or almost-teenagers, in the case of Aang and Toph, but really, who was counting?). Spirits, even his nephew had ended up in the hot tub, coerced as it was. But, it was all normal. Hanging out, eating and drinking, teasing, fun, normal teenager-stuff.
Smiling, Iroh hoisted himself begrudgingly out of his chair and went to check one last timeon Aang and Katara. Not that he expected they’d moved, they’d been dead-tired when he left them earlier, but for propriety’s sake, it was best he keep his word. He patted Xiao Xiao on the headand nudged him away, creeping out of the dark room to the suite next door.
As he’d expected, the two young benders were fast asleep. The only change in their positions he could see was that, from their rooms on opposite sides of the hall, they each faced automatically towards the door in their sleep, unconsciously reaching out for the other.
Iroh chuckled softly.Well, Zuko may not give him his own grandkids, but the old gentleman was sure that with time, lots of time, and patience, someday he’d see lots of new family around him. He considered all his charges his family, anyway, and he could wait and enjoy them all growing up for a little while yet, very happily.
He padded away silently to return to the first suite, smiling.
(EARLIER THAT NIGHT)
“Ugh, finally,”muttered Katara as she heaved Aang’s slight, slumbering body onto the massive bed in the master bedroom of his suite. It had taken the last of her strength, but she’d managed to get him up onto the imposing, impressive, incredibly comfortable-looking mattress. He wasn’t heavy by any means, but she was tired from doing the walking for both of them for the past little while.
In the chaos that had ensued in the bathroom, she had managed to disentangle herself from Aang and drag him into the living room, waterbending the moisture from them and the clothes she had snagged on her way out. They hadn’t been there long before Toph had waved at her and explained the appearance of the other girls, then headed off to bed, declaring her day finished. Her fruity masterpiece, a miniature replica of Sokka fighting a platypus bear (and, predictably, losing), adorned the coffee table. It was quite lifelike, really, when one took the time to really study it. Not that Katara did - she was just desperate for a good night’s sleep at this point.
Collapsing in a comfortable chair, the waterbender had closed her eyes and tried to figure out where to put Aang, and where she herself would sleep that night. She didn’t want to stay in the current suite with all the commotion erupting from the bathroom (and boy, did those Fire Nation girls know how to have a good time, by the sounds of things!), but wasn’t sure it was appropriate she go to the next suite with Aang,either. Groaning, she let her head fall back against the seat,temporarily defeated by her good upbringing. It was one thing when there were no room divisions and you were all lying out on the ground, traveling. But in a hotel…
Argh! She had felt like tearing out her hair.
Iroh, sensing her distress and immediately sussing out her dilemma, had spoken up from beside her.
“Miss Katara, please,you’ll be fine to sleep in the next room. Aang is obviously out cold for the night from the day’s activities,” he indicated the limp monk drooling on the floor, “and I’ll come in from time to time through the night to check on things and ensure you can sleep with a clear conscience. I’ll reassure your brother in the morning.Please, poor child, get some rest.” He had smiled paternally at her and patted her arm.
“You really mean it?”She’d been almost too hopeful to believe it.
“Of course! That’s what Great Uncles do!”
“Thank you so much,General Iroh!” She had bowed deeply to him from her chair.
“Call me Uncle Iroh,Katara, please. We’re like family!”
“You’re such a great uncle, thank you again.”
Gratefully acknowledging his offer, together they had moved Aang next door. It had been quite easy with the older gentleman’s help, and she committed herself to being helpful to him in the future in recompense. Something about what he’d said had loosened some niggling memory in her mind, though, but she couldn’t pin it down... Something about ‘family’ and ‘great uncles’… Oh well, she’d probably remember it in the morning…
He had lit a lamp for them as they arrived at the master bedroom, bade them goodnight, and smiled as she thanked him, closing the door as he left.
In the dim, quiet room,Katara finally started to feel peaceful.
She stretched her back a bit, trying to decide whether it was worth moving to the next room to sleep, or whether she should just collapse on the floor. She was so tired… she quickly put the rest of her clothes on, and decided to dress Aang back up, too, so he wouldn’t startle when he woke in the morning.
Yawning, she got his pants on him and picked up his tunic, only to see a thick envelope fall out from one of the interior pockets. It spilled its contents out over the bed. Rubbing her eyes in the dim light, she grumbled,pulled Aang’s shirt over him, and drew the covers up to his chin before going back to tidy up the envelope’s mess.
Hoping they weren’t in any kind of order, she shuffled the papers in the envelope, and started putting away the ones that had fallen out. Pictures, she realized, upon closer inspection. Not papers, pictures, she noticed,perusing them. They were all pictures. Of…
Her eyebrows knit together.
Of her.
But, how did…?Confused, she looked on with interest.
Bending underwaterfalls in the moonlight. Grinning enthusiastically as she flew on Appa’s back. Angry, but determined as she fought Zuko. Smiling wickedly as she teased Sokka. Beaming with pride as she congratulated Aang on mastering a new waterbending move. They went on and on.
She continued flippingthrough them, amazed and shocked and flattered, embarrassed at some of the less-than-flattering shots of her mistakes, but realizing how strong someone’s feelings, and sense of protection for their friendship, must be for them to keep so much secret. And also, how important she must be to someone for that person to treasure all her moments so much they’d keep them so close to their heart.
Rubbing the wetness from her cheeks and eyes, Katara carefully tucked everything back into the paper sleeve and placed it on the bedside table so Aang would see it when he woke up. She’d explain in the morning, of course, that she hadn’t been snooping, it had been an accident.
But what a happy accident, indeed!
She was nearly trembling with the lightness of spirit that filled her, as if she could fly away to the moon and stars and heavens at any time, soaring above clouds and cities and mountains, ebullient and invincible.Tomorrow, she would greet the sunrise with a happy spirit - and share it with the person she loved.
But she had to get somerest first, she reasoned and nearly grumbled in frustration that it wasn’t morning yet.
A little eager,aren’t we? her mind teased, and she nearly giggled out loud.
Katara leaned over and kissed Aang lightly before giving him a gentle touch on the cheek.Smiling, and trying hard to keep her voice from breaking and waking him up, she softly whispered, “I love you, too, Aang,” in his ear before convening to her own room across the hall, putting out the lamp on her way out.
In his sleep, Aang sighed in happiness and gave a faint smile. This was definitely the best day ever…
THE NEXT MORNING,CHECKING OUT
Snippets overheard bythe staff as their most destructive guests EVER left the building:
“-but you reallydid clean up Appa and Momo, right? Like I’m not gonna go back and find out you just left them there to sit in their own filth all night,right, Sokka?”
(and)
“-I never knew a person could MOVE like that, especially underwater! Did you see the way he-“
“Ty Lee, enough,please. It’s bad enough you can do it, I don’t want to hear about what my brother can do, ok? And I was there…”
(and)
“Why do you have a hickey on your neck?”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Avatar.”
(and)
“Sokka, do you have a hickey on your neck, too?”
“I REALLY DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.”
(and)
“I think Sana would be a nice girl’s name, don’t you, Katara?”
“Sure, I guess so, Uncle Iroh. Do you have family who are expecting?”
“In a manner of speaking...”
(and)
“As long as the fangirls are loyal to me, I don’t care what they do to me in fanfic. But that hottub scene is ABSOLUTELY OFF-LIMITS!”
(and)
“So how did you afford such a ritzy place for the night, Toph?”
“Oh, I just used my (whispered) Ultra-Platinum Super-Debit Infinite card(end whisper). ”
“How did I not know you had one of those!? How did you get one? Why do you have one?”
“I AM Bei Fong, you know, of course I have one! Oh, and I usually use it to sort my M &Ms by colour.”
“… Ok, now I KNOW you’re lying. Why do you hate me so much?…”
(and)
“-and it was so funny, once we got those blindfolds out! I mean, they totally thought they were doing it to one of us, you should have seen them!”
(and)
“…Zuko’s right,his sister and her friends really are evil.”
“But you got the pictures of them in the hottub, right?”
“Oh yeah! This is enough blackmail to keep Angry Lad and Meatbag off your case at least until you’re married. Possibly even until they’re married,and you KNOW that’ll be a while…”
“Thanks, Toph, we owe ya one.”
“I’ll cash in sooner or later, don’t worry. Besides, this shot right here was--”
“THAT’S OK! I’ll take your word for it!”
(and)
“Uncle, I need to procure several items before we return home.”
“Of course,Nephew, what do you need?”
“A sweeper and a cleaner.”
“A domestic crew?”
“No, Uncle. A different kind of ‘sweeper’ and‘cleaner’…”
(and)
“This one’ll be great in the family newsletter we send out next Christmas, thanks.”
“You’re more than welcome, your highness Azula. That’ll be deposited in my account,when?”
“Consider it done, earthbender. Along with the extra privileges to your card.”
“Excellent.”
“So, I’ll take two copies of this one, and another half-dozen of these shots here, and-“
“Mei, I knew you liked Zuko, but Sokka?”
“Well, when it’s Zuko andSokka… and that pose is pretty… thrilling, wouldn’t you say?”
(and)
“So, wanna go waterbending sometime? I know of a nice beach in the next town over,and we can take Appa and go at night. It’ll be really…”
“I’d love to.”
“Wanna bring a picnic?”
“I’d love to.”
“Wanna-“
“I’d love to.”
“Katara, you didn’t let me finish-mph!”
--pause
“Wow.”
“Wanna do it again?”
“YES.”
--pause
“OH MY GOD, KATARA,AANG, STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! EYE-BLEACH! EYE-BLEACH!!! MEDIC! I NEED HEART MEDS, TOO! STAT!!!”
“Oh shut up,Meatbag…”
(and)
“You know, we need to get them back for this. We can’t let them get away with doing that to us. I’m worried I heard the sound of a camera at one point,too.”
“… oh yeah. Of course. It was awful. Really.”
--pause
“What?”
“Please object to it with more conviction than that. Dude.”
--pause
--crickets chirping
“Ok. But, I mean, in other circumstances, would you consider-“
“NO.”
(and finally, two young people, in quiet tones just before they boarded their ride home)
“Love you.”
“I love you, too.”
La Fin.
/end Kataang epilogue,Part 03.
/AN: Soooo… for my first fic, how was it?
/AN: Zutara epilogue next.
And on ff.net : http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3274384/13/