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Katara woke early in the morning to the sunlight streaming through her window and the sounds of the city below. She groaned, turning over in her bed and snuggling up against her pillow once more. Yesterday had been a long day filled with council meetings and official duties, and she hadn't come home until late into the night after grabbing a quick bite to eat out in the city. Surely she deserved to sleep a little more. She started to drift off again, sinking back into the comforting lull of sleep, until a noise inside her apartment startled her awake with a jolt.
She sat up, rubbing her eye with one hand while blindly searching for her waterskin with the other. Her mind was still hazy. Had someone broken in? What were those sounds she was hearing?
The sound of clattering dishes registered in her mind a second later, relaxing her slightly. It would be a strange burglar who did the dishes after breaking into an apartment. "Aang?" She murmured, though a glance at the other side of the bed showed her it was definitely not been slept in. She remembered now. He had been on a mission in the Fire Nation and shouldn't be back yet. Frowning, she took a bit of water out of her skin as she slipped out of her bedroom to investigate.
A cheerful humming came from the kitchen as Katara went up to the next floor, stepping into the living room of her apartment. She relaxed with a sigh at the familiar tune— it was Aang. She bent the water into the pot of a nearby plant as she looked around. The mystery of the unslept bed became clear to her as well, a few of her pillows and blankets had been arranged into a strange nest in the middle of the room.
The smell coming from the kitchen drew her closer. Steamed vegetables and sweet rice, she guessed. She saw Aang before he saw her, humming cheerfully to himself as he chopped up fruit in her little kitchen. She leaned against a pillar and watched him fondly, any frustration at being waken up early quickly fading away.
"You know, I do have a bed, "she said after a moment. She watched him jump slightly, whirling around to see her, and the smile that spread over his face mirrored her own.
"Katara!" He beamed, then quickly took one of the pans off the fire before turning to her completely. "It was really late, I didn't want to wake you. Besides, those pillows are surprisingly comfortable."
Katara stepped closer, taking the knife out of Aang's hand and placing it on the counter before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. A kiss he eagerly returned.
"You still woke me," she murmured against his lips, "but I don't really mind."
"I wanted to make you breakfast. Heard the meetings ran long yesterday." He said, his hands settling on her waist as he moved to nuzzle against her jaw. "And I just missed you."
Katara tilted her head, giving him access to her neck. "Hmm, I should remind you that the council of Republic City has appointed you a house, a rather large one," she murmured, sighing softly as Aang pressed a single kiss to her neck. To her disappointment, he then stepped back with a sheepish smile.
He turned, busying himself with the food. "I know, I just like your place. It has you in it."
The comment made her smile, but Katara couldn't help noticing how he started avoiding her gaze as he started plating the food. She watched him curiously for a moment, growing increasingly certain there was more to the story.
"You have been in your house, right?" It had been a decision made by the other council representatives. Aang, the savior of the world and one of the creators of the city had needed a place in the city that reflected his importance. Katara had known a large mansion wasn't Aang's style, but she understood it was the city's way to thank him for all he had done.
"Of course." Aang said, focusing a little too much on perfectly placing pieces of fruit around the pile of sweet rice on Katara's plate.
Katara put a hand on Aang's, stilling his movements. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Well… I really do like coming to your place," Aang looked up at her, the sheepish smile still in place, "but my house is also… a little occupied at the moment."
"Occupied?" Katara frowned. Sokka wasn't visiting, she knew Toph had just gone home after a short stay in the city, and Aang had just seen Zuko. "By who?"
Aang scratched the back of his neck. "A colony of wild crococats?"
A surprised laugh burst out of Katara, she covered her mouth with a hand. "What?"
Aang sighed, slumping into a seat at the table. "Well, remember last week when I talked to those new contractors who were expanding the city to the east?"
Katara nodded, sitting down as well, a slight frown on her face.
"The land they were building on was the living space of a whole bunch of them. You know how they're often kept as pets— I think a few of them were abandoned and started living in the wild near the city. Anyway, I had to help them find a new home, the building had already begun and it was a dangerous situation."
"So… you put them in your house?"
Aang grimaced. "As a temporary solution, yes?"
"And does the council know that?" Katara knew the answer to that already.
"Technically, they gave me the house. I can decide who lives in it."
"And you chose wild animals." Katara tried to keep a stern expression on her face as they spoke, but she knew she was failing. She could feel the corner of her mouth twitching as they spoke.
Aang saw it too, he grinned. "Well, it gives me an excuse to hang out at your place, so do you really mind?"
Katara gave up the pretense and let out another laugh, shaking her head. "You're incorrigible," she said fondly.
Aang put a plate in front of her. "Well, they needed a house and I provided one. I really don't need a mansion."
"Not when you can just crash at my place," Katara murmured with a warm smile.
"Exactly," Aang said as he started to eat. "Zuko also tried to get me to stay in some apartment near the palace that was made especially for me. I slept on his sofa instead. I wish they would stop giving me houses and let people who really need them stay in them instead."
"So, let me guess, you lent that apartment to a couple of Komodo rhinos?" Katara asked dryly.
Aang grinned. "Not a bad idea." He reached over, placing another piece of mango on her plate. Katara was touched, he knew it was her favorite. "You really shouldn't complain, as you're getting a free breakfast out of it."
"I'm not complaining," Katara said with a smile, reaching over to take Aang's hand in her own. "But we do probably have to deal with those crococats before they bite some hapless admirer trying to get in the Avatar's good graces by bringing a gift. I'm sure we can find a good house for them."
Aang nodded. "Sure, but breakfast first. I have some more steamed vegetables if you want"
Katara smiled and shook her head, taking a small bite of her food. "Thanks, but I'm alright. You also should clean up my living room, as cute as your little nest is."
"Right, yes." Aang said, glancing over her shoulder at the pillows he had piled together.
Katara squeezed his hand, catching his attention again. She met his eyes with a small smile. "And Aang?"
"Hm?"
"Next time, just join me in bed."
Aang flushed, then nodded quickly as he swallowed his food. "Sounds like a plan."