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The wind howled and whistled outside their tent as it swept over the frozen landscape of the Southern Water Tribe.
Aang may have been blessed with the ability to control the air currents around him to keep warm, but Katara, sadly, had not. This type of weather was a regular occurrence in her youth, but perhaps being away for some time in more temperate regions meant she had become less acclimated to the cold.
Bundled up in thick furs, Katara rubbed her mittened hands together and scooted closer to the fire where a pot of tea was brewing. Meanwhile, Aang wore just his simple robe — with one shoulder exposed, no less!
”I still can’t believe you’re not freezing,” she said, teeth chattering.
Taking the pot off the flames, Aang poured her a cup of green tea and handed it to her.
“Well, I did survive a hundred years in a block of ice. If you really think about it, this is just a chill in comparison.”
He gauged her reaction with an impish grin and laughed when she narrowed her eyes at him.
“You’re hilarious,” she drawled with mock sarcasm. Then her face softened and she gestured to the mug held securely in her hands. “Thank you for this.”
Steam wafted upwards in wispy curls, carrying with it the faint scent of earth.
Katara took a sip and gave a quiet, contented sigh. The drink was already working its magic, a pleasant warmth spreading outward from her chest.
“They call it the Everstorm,” she said without preamble. “A powerful blizzard at the heart of the South Pole. According to Gran-Gran, it’s been raging for centuries.”
Aang looked at her, eyes wide with intrigue. “Really? That’s amazing. And terrifying.”
“Mm,” Katara nodded, finishing off her tea. “It was always worse in the wintertime. Sometimes the snowdrift was so intense that you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face. We also couldn't leave our tents or else we’d get buried in snow pretty quickly. Or frostbite. Or hypothermia.”
His jaw dropped and he quickly shimmied closer to her side. Then, transforming into the human equivalent of an eel-squid, Aang curled himself around her and nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck.
Katara squealed and batted his arm.
“Aang, your face is freezing!”
He chuckled and raised his head. “Sorry,” he said, though the mischievous twinkle in his eye gave him away.
To atone for his sins, Aang used his Firebending to transfer some of his natural warmth to her.
“Are you still cold?” he asked after a few minutes had passed.
She touched his cheek with the back of her hand and kissed him. “No. I’m nice and toasty now. But don’t let go.”
Hugging her even tighter, Aang pressed his lips to her temple. “I won’t. I promise.”