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He's quiet for a moment, studying her thoughtfully. "Aye. I see." He, too, takes another spoonful, but he's still looking at her over the top of it, his hazel eyes quite serious.

Finally, he sets the spoon back in the bowl and asks her directly, "What makes ye think I wouldna be happy with ye, Katara?"

Edited 2010-05-09 10:25 (UTC)

Katara took another spoonful of the broth, savoring it. It was tricky territory here, describing how she felt about Jamie in all this time. She had rehearsed it in her head, why it was she didn't go after him, why she'd even step away and have Kaylee go after if she liked him.

"Because I'm not like her," Katara said. "I'm not from this earth you guys talk about: I'm from the Southern watertribe. I can't like someone with just flirting and teasing: if I care about someone, its all or nothing. I always figured that admitting that was something that made most guys look the other way. I can understand that. So, you know, I figured Kaylee was more your type: less intense, more fun."

He's stopped eating, himself - which should say something. It's rare for Jamie to not take advantage of having food in front of him, but this is a serious enough discussion that he is giving it his full attention.

"There's a difference between flirting and having feelings for someone. Ye can flirt and have it not mean anything." Like when they first met, when Jamie didn't see Katara as anything other than a friend. There were still times when he flirted and viewed it just as innocent fun. Once he got realized that Katara might have misinterpreted it, though, he tried to tone it down.

He can understand caring about someone being all or nothing, though. He certainly cared for Victoria more than he let on...and he wonders now if maybe Katara's been doing something similar with her feelings towards him. "Do ye care about me, Katara?"

Katara was a little surprised to see Jamie stop eating, but it told her all that she needed to know: he was actually trying to see things from her perspective, get exactly where she was coming from. Katara cleared her throat a moment, looking genuinely happy.

"Yeah, I get that. We do that sometimes, although I had to get used to it at first when we initially met. I won't lie: back then I was lost as to how I could show anyone that kind of affection without meaning it. But I got used to it, and even did it back. But you know...I was always thinking I was going to be with Aang, just as you always thought you were going to be with Victoria. So I waited, and I figured you would have found someone else more reliable."

At the question, she looked genuinely surprised. "Of course I care about you. I have for years, you know that. You're one of my closest friends."

Which she knew was an answer to buy her time: to run what she was saying through her head. She wanted to be completely honest with him.

Jamie nods in agreement. "Aye, I understand. I felt lost sometimes myself, seeing some of the customs of the other crew." Romantic things, however, are especially tricky. He's found it hard enough to deal with that situation himself, and he's at least familiar with the Earth customs. Throw in being from another planet AND being 14 at the time? Jamie can completely believe that Katara was lost.

He smiles warmly at her for a moment at her response. "And ye are one of mine." It's not quite what he meant, though, and he figures she's likely trying to think of what she wants to say. "But...what I was wondering was if ye had feelings for me, beyond that." There's a pause, and he adds, "Or if ye think ye could."

She smiled. "Yeah well, after a long time, you have to get used to what new weirdness happens, right?" She giggled, shrugging. There was a lot to get used to, but Katara was from the watertribe, and so she was used to changing the way her lifestyle suited her: things, after all, always changed.

She nodded. "Well...yeah, you are, you know that. But as for more...I know that I'm not going to be at any advantage to say what I feel. So...if I said that I liked you, that way, would it just be something that's just a passing fancy, or would you get that its something I mean?"

"Well," Jamie says after a few moments, "I would think that it would be something you mean." He knows that it's not something that Katara would lightly do. If she's going to enter into a relationship with anyone, it's not going to be some mere dalliance. She'd want something more serious.

As for Jamie - he's thought about it before. "What if I told ye that I might be willing to consider something like that?" He can't say how it would go, and wouldn't want to give her false hope. But, with Katara, he might be willing to see where things went.

"It would," Katara said, but not with any force: she said it quietly, like it was a word that was delicate coming out of her lips, because it was. "There are a lot of things on the ship I've seen, and many different ways to handle relationships. I couldn't be like Julian, having fun and being casual. It just doesn't work that way. The person I like I want to be someone that knows me a little, that was a friend before anything else."

Because that was how she and Aang started in the first place, and why it had meant so much to her. He wasn't just someone she though was attractive: she'd seen him, in and out, and still being every bit as wonderful a person as he could be. When she saw that, she couldn't help loving him.

"If you said that, then you'd have to cook ME dinner next time," she said, giving him a sly grin. "And you have to wear a blue kilt: I've always wanted to see how you'd look in blue." It was more teasing, but under that, he could see the happy blush on Katara's cheeks. She was unused to talking like that, but with Jamie it was natural, comfortable. They had had a long time to learn about each other.

Well, then, he'll just have to say that, won't he? "Aye, I'll cook ye dinner," Jamie replies, sounding amused. "But I warn ye, I'm not much of a cook." The blue kilt, however, he doesn't have to wait on. They are in the Sensoriums, after all.

"I think I can possibly oblige ye on the second one, but only because it's making ye blush," he says teasingly. The red kilt he's wearing shimmers a little and changes. It's no particular tartan - he won't wear a tartan from outside of his clan, and he knows she'll understand that, being from the Water tribe. Instead, it's just a generic blue plaid pattern.

He stands up from behind the table, moving over to her side so she can take a look. After a moment, though, he holds out his hand. "Ye may be able to see it a little better from up here."

"If it came from you, I'm sure you'd give it your all," Katara said, giggling a little. "That's what matters. Whenever you cook for someone, the whole object is to at least bring a smile to their face, make them realize how much they mean by the taste of the food. I can't see you doing bad there."

Here though, Katara gave a playful glare, which was not helped along by her skin flushing. "I'm blushing for a different reason!" She declared, looking almost scandalized. But she does look down at the pattern, and gives him a funny, lopsided grin. "I think it suits you," she said.

But with the offer of his hand, she does look a little happier. There was some of that charm that Katara liked from Jamie: that quiet, gentlemanly way that she always liked and figured it was more for some other girl. She stood up, almost at head length with Jamie.

"You were right," she said, her voice getting a little lower. "This is a lot better."

"Ye may wind up rethinking that idea after you've tasted my cooking. But maybe I'll not manage to burn it this time." Miracles have been known to happen, after all.

He moves a little bit closer, and reaches out to smooth a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Aye," he says, his own voice growing just a touch huskier as he looks at her. "This is a lot better. You're very beautiful, ye know."

"I'll be the judge of that," Katara said, smiling. "Besides, I can always help you when you need lessons. I do enough of them to begin with, what's one more?"

She definitely wouldn't mind doing that for Jamie, since she herself was pretty bad at playing an instrument.

The touch of the piece of hair sent goosebumps all around the bender, and she was pretty glad that Jamie couldn't see it. She did reach up, however, and take his hands.

"Thank you," Katara said softly. "I've always thought you would make a girl really happy if you were their boyfriend. I just never thought..."

"I wouldna want ye to stretch yourself too thin. I would worry about ye." Cooking lessons could be rather fun, though. Maybe she'll be able to talk him into them.

For right now, he smiles, still looking into her eyes. "Ye don't have to thank me for that, ye know. I should have told ye years ago." He can't allow himself to regret what could have been, though. They can still build on what they have.

Jamie draws closer, closing the gap between the two of them. "There's something else I should have done years ago," he murmurs. "I would like very much to kiss ye, Katara. Would ye not object if I did?"

"That would be something more like fun, not work," Katara insisted. "Besides, I'm pretty sure you have the drive to do it. You've been able to accomplish quite a lot with only a few things you've learned, I have a feeling you'd pick up on things pretty quickly."

Katara, however, had to look down a little, a shy smile appearing where it normally wouldn't have been. She couldn't help but wonder how things would have been if the two of them had ever explored feelings like that: she was always quick to try and protect herself where she could. "And I should have told you that I trusted you to pick someone perfect for you," she said, reddening. "I just hoped that the girl you looked for would like you for all of the things that make you you."

Katara didn't inch away, she actually got closer. "I've been waiting for the day you'd say that, and wondering what my reply would be. I think I finally figured it out."

She drew his hands closer around his arms. 'What took you so long, hmm?"

That's an excellent question, but one that he's not going to bother replying to with words. Instead he has decided that it would be much better to not make it take any longer.

He leans in and does, indeed, kiss her. It's quite gentle for a moment - almost as if he doesn't quite believe that he is actually getting to do so. But it doesn't stay that way, as he slips his arms around her and draws her in as closely as possible.

Sometimes the waiting makes things just that much better.

She was glad for that: as much as she usually had an answer for everything, this was definitely not one of those times. When she saw him move closer, her hands pulled him in, and he leaned over and kissed her.

It wasn't something she had expected to make her feel all light and a bit fainty but it does: it starts from the arms and gives her a warm feeling all over. A quite sigh escaped her lips before she ran her hand over his hair, and her legs elevate themselves a little whens he leans into the kiss herself.

When they break it, Katara is breathless, her eyes dancing.

"Wow."

Wow, indeed. Jamie may be a bit breathless himself when he pulls away - although good luck getting him to admit it. His eyes shine a bit, though, and it's pretty clear Katara's not the only one affected by the kiss.

"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" He's kidding - mostly.

Katara tinged a little, looking a little embarrassed, but not uncomfortable. In truth, she was lad that he did this: while she may have been assertive in all other ways, in something like this she was several years out of practice.

"It was great," she said, playfully punching his arm. "And if you play your cards right, you can do it again!"

Which was just teasing, since Katara liked the idea.

Edited 2010-05-15 01:18 (UTC)

"Oh, I see," Jamie says, eyes twinkling. "I have to earn the right to kiss ye again. Well, then. I will see what I can do to please ye."

Right now, however, he's going to finish the wonderful Cullen Skink before it gets completely cold. And then, perhaps, he might play her a wee tune or two. From there...well, only time will tell whether the relationship will work or not.

Jamie is just glad he's gotten the chance to try.

Katara blushed, and took a remaining bite of her Cullen Stink. It really did turn out pretty good. She might make it again for him in the future, if it was one of his favorite dishes.

"I'd really like to hear the pipes again," Katara said, giving him a smile.

There was a lot to think about. For now, she'd be happy just being with him in the moment.

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And this is what would totally happen if Aang wasn't coming back!

Totally! :)

Re: Totally! :)

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