A week passed by and they didn’t talk about the kiss. Sokka knew why he didn’t say anything about it; the whole thing made him nervous. Oh sure, everything was normal on the surface. Sokka flirted with the girls they met in the local town while Aang smiled and showed off for Katara.

But it was there between them. Little glances that Aang threw out that left Sokka’s heart pounding. Sokka didn’t know why those looks caused such a reaction. There was nothing perverse in them. Maybe a little bit knowing, a little bit wistful. Like Aang was waiting for Sokka to do something.

But what? Sokka thought, walking slowly through the main path of the small town they were getting supplies from. He made the first move, after all. It was Aang’s turn! But then, since he was the one that started it, maybe he should through out a real sign of what he wanted. But then again, Sokka didn’t want to come on too strongly or pressure Aang into anything.

...

Sokka sighed heavily and frowned. Frankly, the whole thing was getting on his nerves. That k-kiss -and wasn’t it stupid to stumble over the word?- might not have meant anything anyway. That thought made something in Sokka’s chest ache so he didn’t dwell on it for long. Shaking it off, he entered the small inn they were staying at and sat down on the futon, ignoring Aang and Katara, he put his head in his hands and brooded. Sokka hated brooding. Sure, he got frustrated or angry but he usually got over whatever it was fairly quickly. This thing with Aang is seriously testing my easy-going nature, he thought.

Sokka heard Aang and Katara talking and scowled. Then there was the fact that Aang pretty much constantly fawned over Katara. What’s up with that? he thought. I mean, what’s he doing? The three of them were staying in a tiny village and there was nothing there to distract Sokka from the fact that his -my? Something, something that shouldn’t be flirting with my sister - Aang was still acting on his crush on Katara.

Is it just a crush? Sokka thought. Maybe the whole k-kiss thing was a fluke? Enough was enough. It was time to be a man about it. Sokka stood abruptly. Aang and Katara looked up, startled.

“Sokka, what’s wrong?” Katara asked.

“Aang and I have to talk about something,” Sokka said, striding over and pulling Aang up by his tunic. “C’mon, let’s go to the other room,” he said. “We’ll be back in a minute,” he tossed over his shoulder at Katara before slamming the door shut behind him.

“What’s up?” Aang said, tugging his arm out of Sokka grasp. “You look kind of mad.”

“Kind of mad? Kind of mad?!” Sokka said, feeling his face heat up.

“Uhm…really mad?” Aang guessed, eyes widening.

“Sit!” Sokka said, pointing to the floor. Aang did so and Sokka paced in front of him. “Okay, I need you to explain to me just what’s going on? I mean, a week ago we k-kissed,” and he really needed to get over that stutter, “and you’re still flirting with Katara? I mean, call me crazy, but that doesn’t seem right.” He stopped in front of Aang. “We need to talk about this!” Wow. Could I sound any more like a girl?

Aang looked up at him. “I know,” he said. “I’ve kind of been waiting for you to start.”

Wait, what? “What?” Sokka said, eyes widening. “You’ve been waiting for me? I’ve been waiting for you!”

“Really?” Aang blinked and started laughing. “We’ve been waiting for each other to bring it? Wow, that’s hilarious!”

“Ha. Ha,” Sokka deadpanned, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at Aang. “Why didn’t you say something before now?” he asked. “Why have you been waiting for me to bring it up?”

Aang raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “I dunno. Why have you been waiting for me to talk about it?” he asked.

Sokka sputtered. “Well, I mean, I uh. I kissed you, right? So it was your turn to be the forward one!” he said, sitting down in front of Aang.

“Oh? I didn’t really know it worked like that,” Aang said, slouching low, looking up at Sokka. “Sorry.”

Sokka waved off the apology. “Yeah, yeah,” he said. “What you should be apologizing for is how you flirt with Katara all the time.” He eyed Aang, who flushed and grinned.

“I can’t help it,” he said, ducking his head. “Maybe it’s, uh, habit?”

“Well, stop it,” Sokka said. “I don’t like my bo…you doing that.” What was I about to say? Oh man, don’t tell me I was about to say boyfriend. He shuddered and hoped Aang didn’t hear the slipup.

“What did you almost say?” Oh man. “What were you about to call me?” Aang was flushed bright red but a grin was stretched wide across his face.

“Nothing!” Sokka said, waving his hands. “I just-” Aang wasn’t listening; he was too busy laughing hysterically, clutching his abdomen as he wheezed.

“W-were you about to call me your boy-oof!” Sokka had flung himself at Aang, not wanting to let that word escape. He covered Aang mouth with his hands, face so red it was almost painful, and shook his head.

“Yes, I was almost called you my boyfriend, no, I’m never going to call you that on purpose and will you stop laughing?!” he said, glaring down at Aang.

Aang nodded, pushing his hands away. He was still grinning, but Sokka figured that couldn’t be helped. “Okay, okay,” he said. “But if I’m not your boyfriend, then what am I?” he said, cocking his head to one side.

“You’re my…my…mine,” he finally finished, nodding. “That’s it.”

Aang cocked his head to one side before nodding. “Okay. But that means you’re mine,” he said, looking up at Sokka. A determined gleam lit up his eyes. Grabbing the front of Sokka’s tunic, Aang pulled him down for a kiss.

Unfortunately, Aang pulled him down too roughly and their teeth clanked against each other painfully. Sokka drew back with a cry, rubbing his mouth frantically.

“Oh, man,” he said, looking at his hand. Whew, no blood. He looked down at Aang, who was flushed bright red and grinning sheepishly.

“Care to try again?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. But this time, let’s not get hurt,” Aang said, leaning up and resting his weight on his elbows.

Sokka touched his chin before bending down and pressing their lips together, tilting his head and holding Aang’s jaw to control the kiss. He tried not to let Aang’s inexperienced but enthusiastic attempts get to him -got to be strong, can’t get too carried away- but Sokka was lost. He tilted his head and flicked his tongue out, pressing it against Aang’s lips, prying them open. Distantly, he felt Aang’s arms wrap around his shoulders, tugging him closer.

Sokka lost himself in it, pressing himself as close to Aang as he could, hands touching and stroking the slim body beneath him. He didn’t know how long they were on the floor; only that his breath was ragged and his body was trembling.

“W-wait!” Small hands pressed against his shoulders and Sokka pulled away, the comfortable haze that had settled over his mind, ebbing.

“What?” he said, voice husky. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, I mean…I-I just…” Large, gray eyes blinked up at him and Sokka realized suddenly what position they were in; him, holding Aang down, hands framing his face, hips pressed close against Aang‘s.

“Oh!” Sokka jolted up and off of Aang. “I’m sorry!” The words rang a little false, though; Sokka did feel pretty horrible about making Aang so uncomfortable but he really wanted to get back to what they’d been doing. And that made him feel even worse. Jeez, he’s only twelve! Ignoring the fact that, technically, in a way, Aang was thousands of years old, Sokka reached down and pulled Aang up.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, this time completely sincere. “Really, Aang, I just. I don’t know-”

“Sokka, I’m okay,” Aang interrupted, flashing a grin at him. “I just needed to catch my breath.”

“Yeah,” Sokka said. We’re not doing anything too serious until he gets a little older, he vowed. Taking a deep breath, he laid down beside Aang and raised his hands over his head, resting his head on his arms.

Aang stretched out beside him, hands resting on his belly. “Katara’s still out there,” he said, voice drowsy. He rolled over, facing Sokka. “She’s probably wondering what’s going on.”

Sokka shrugged and grinned, tugging Aang into the curve of his arm. “Let her wonder.”