#and joins the giftees halo

[bittysvalentines]

of course (it’s us)

From: @willdexpoindexter​

To: @crocophant​

Giftee, I hope you love this! you said you loved bed sharing and mutual pining and boy did I chock this full of those.

Justin’s bed broke on a Tuesday morning.

He wasn’t even sure how it happened, but when he swung his legs over the side, the frame just split. Holster chirped him about breaking his bed in the most boring way possible but then offered to share his own. Justin made his excuses about using the couch and not putting him out, but Holster wouldn’t back down and he eventually caved to his best friend.

Holster had a queen mattress at Haus 2.0, and while it felt so much larger than the twin bunk Justin had sometimes shared with him at Samwell, it suddenly felt tiny when Justin joined him in it that night. Holster climbed in first, taking the spot by the wall and the air felt charged as Justin pulled back the covers and laid down. 

“Thanks again, bro,” Justin mumbled as he nestled into his pillow beside Holster. 

“Anytime, bro,” he whispered back. “I wasn’t gonna make you sleep on that couch. You don’t even fit on it.” 

Justin didn’t know why Holster was whispering but it suddenly felt important not to break the silence. 

“It’s different,” Justin answered in his own whisper, even as his body relaxed into the bed.

“‘S the same, Rans.” Holster reached out and pulled Justin into a loose cuddle. “Just two bros, cuddling. Let the cuddles happen.”

Justin smiled up at him and let himself be held, pushing down on the weirdness he was feeling for being in Holster’s bed. ‘It’s the same,’ he told himself. 

Because the thing was, ever since they’d graduated and moved to Haus 2.0, Justin had been missing Holster. He had no reason to! They had bedrooms next door to each other and desks on the same floor at work. They commuted together, ate nearly every meal together, talked constantly. But at the end of the day, Holster went into his own room and Justin missed him.

There was just something wrong about not sharing a room with Holster anymore, and the more it bugged him, the more he retreated into himself and then felt bad for doing so since Holster hadn’t done anything! He just had to get his head straight.

His subconscious clearly had no qualms about being close to Holster, because the next morning, Justin woke up spooned around him. He took a deep breath and reveled in the feeling of Holster in his arms. ‘It’s the same,’ he told himself again.

Holster stirred and woke up, rolling so he was flat on his back and looking up at Justin. 

“Morning, Holtzy.”

Holster smiled. “Hey, Rans. Sleep alright?”

“Yeah,” Justin answered with a soft smile. He couldn’t remember ever sleeping this well in this Haus, actually. And he’d slept in Holster’s bed before! After anxiety attacks or just stressful days, Justin often sought out a bro cuddle. But those nights, Justin was exhausted and never slept well. Last night though? Oh my God, he had slept so well it was kind of embarrassing. He swallowed it down. “You?”

“Yeah,” Holster answered with an easy smile. “We should get up.”

“You’re right but you shouldn’t say it.” Justin groaned as he hauled himself out of the cocoon of warmth. 

Holster laughed and followed him out of bed. They got ready for work together as always but it felt different. Like they had been living in a different universe briefly in that bed and now he had to step out of it. Justin wanted nothing more to go back. 

He pushed the thought from his head and pulled on his coat.

The day passed in a blur. A big pitch was coming up at work and Justin didn’t have any time to think about the latent feelings of the morning. By the time he collapsed into Holster’s bed that night after staying late and working until well past nine o’clock, Holster had just wrapped him up and held him close. He felt himself relax into the hold slowly and finally looked up at his best friend. 

“Thanks, Holtz.”

“Rough day?”

He knew it had been, he was just giving Justin room to rant if he needed it. God, Holster knew him so well. “Yeah. I’m okay now, though.”

“I got your back,” Holster assured him with a smile. 

“I didn’t have a chance to call the bed place,” Justin mumbled into Holster’s chest. “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Don’t even worry about it, bro. It’s not like it’s some great hardship to cuddle you,” Holster chirped. His chest rumbled with laughter beneath Justin’s forehead and he grinned. He loved Holster so much.

Oh shit, did he love Holster? Was that what this was? The missing him from right next door, the ease of falling into his arms, the misery of not being by his side all day? 

“Rans? You okay? You’re kinda weirding me out, bro.” 

Justin took a deep breath, consciously relaxing his muscles and looked up. 

“I’m okay,” he lied. Holster didn’t look like he believed him. He wasn’t yet, but he would be. “Just stressed, I guess.”

“What can I do?” Holster asked.

Justin shrugged. “I just wanna sleep I think.”

Holster nodded and nudged at his shoulder until Justin rolled over, then pulled him to his chest. “You’re little spoon tonight. That’s the rule for stressful days, Ransy.”

Justin chuckled as he let Holster hold him and hoped he would fall asleep quickly so Justin could worry in peace. 

As Holster’s breathing evened out behind him, Justin let his mind wander. He felt so secure in Holster’s arms. He felt at peace here. He loved being held by Holster. He loved being with Holster. He missed him when he wasn’t around. He wanted nothing more than to stay in this bed forever. 

He was in love with Holster. 

The morning dawned bright and Justin woke to find himself laying on Holster’s chest. He had slept just as well after his realization as he had the night before, and it only made him feel more secure in himself. As with everything related to Holster, even things that should cause anxiety did the opposite. A small part of him thought he should be worried that he had fallen for his best friend, but it was Holster. Holster made him calm. 

He looked up at Holster and found him looking down at him sleepily. The sunlight peeking through the curtain lit his hair in a fiery halo and Justin fought to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. Even though he was secure in his realization, it wasn’t the time to share it. 

“Morning, Rans,” Holster yawned, and Justin’s heart beat faster. Yep, this was happening. 

Justin took a deep breath and decided to just let it happen. For too long, he’d been fighting this new (ish) urge to look at Holster, compliment him, touch him, hold him. He was gonna let himself do it. 

“Hey, Holtzy,” Justin murmured, staring up at his best friend. He squeezed him a little where he was holding on and Holster smiled at him. “You ready to kick Thursday’s ass?”

“With you? Always.” Holster grinned. 

They got up and seamlessly orbited around each other as they worked through their morning routines. Holster got dressed while Justin used the bathroom and then they switched. Justin started coffee while Holster threw bread in the toaster. Holster grabbed their jackets from the closet while Justin double checked both bags were zipped all the way and handed Holster’s to him in exchange for his jacket. 

As they walked out the door, Justin let himself bumped into Holster’s arm playfully. Holster smiled over at him. 

“You’re the best, Holtzy.”

“Pretty sure that’s you, Rans,” Holster nudged him back. 

Justin’s heart soared and a new thought introduced itself: he could press up just a couple of inches and kiss Holster. 

It wasn’t a scary thought. He almost expected it to be, such a big change from how he’d previously thought about his best friend. But that same calm settled over the new thought, too, and Justin just smiled. Soon. 

Justin spent the rest of the day, through the commute and lunch together at work, through making dinner together with Shitty and Lardo, and through getting ready for bed, absolutely failing to keep his newly acquired heart-eyes to himself. The more he thought about Holster, the more he wanted to never stop thinking about Holster. 

“The bed place is coming out Saturday morning,” he told Holster as they settled in for the night. He’d pushed aside thoughts of prolonging the forced bed-sharing and called the place he’d bought the bed from that afternoon. They assured him they would come out as soon as possible and replace the frame under his warranty. 

“That’s good. Sucks that it broke so fast but at least they’re taking care of it.”

“Yeah,” Justin agreed. “This is nice, though. Getting to hang out with you more.”

Holster gave him an indulgent smile. “We hang out all the time, Rans.”

Justin just smiled back and shrugged. “Still nice.”

He’d come to the conclusion that he shouldn’t make a big deal about his feelings until after the bed was fixed. If it was weird, he needed to have somewhere to go. Not that he thought it would be weird! He had been basically flirting with Holster all day and he was pretty sure he was flirting right back. But his anxiety demanded a back-up plan. He’d know on Saturday.

Friday was absolutely lovely, as far as Justin was concerned. 

He’d woken up to Holster spooning him again and he had basically refused to get up. They’d gotten seats on the train and been pressed into each other the whole ride. Justin let himself rest his head on Holster’s shoulder and Holster had responded by wrapping an arm around him. 

“You can nap on me if you want, bro,” he’d said, tugging Justin flush to his side. Justin had grinned to himself and cuddled in. 

At lunch, they’d been eating in the kitchen and a couple of coworkers invited them to a happy hour after work. 

Holster had been loose with his affection at the happy hour, too, squeezing into a booth and dropping his arm over the back behind Justin. 

“Not enough room for all of us,” he’d murmured in Justin’s ear. Justin had squeezed his knee beneath the table in silent thanks and chatted easily to Paul on his other side. 

They’d gone home together and Justin had eagerly crawled into Holster’s bed. 

“Ransy, it’s like eight o’clock.” Holster regarded him with a chuckle.

“Shut up and cuddle me,” Justin demanded, reaching out for him. 

Holster laughed again, loud and free, before crawling into the bed. 

“You good?” Holster asked, his voice suddenly serious after the big laugh he’d let out the moment before.

“Gonna miss this,” Justin admitted. 

“You’re always welcome to come cuddle, Rans,” Holster promised, squeezing Justin tighter. 

“Gonna hold you to that, Holtzy.” He let the silence sit for a moment before looking up at Holster. “You wanna watch some 30 Rock?”

“Only always,” Holster grinned, reaching for his laptop. 

Justin let himself relax into the comfortable sound of Holster quoting half the episode to him as they lay in bed together. A small part of him was still wondering if Holster felt the same way, but curled around each other like this? It was them. It had always been them.

He woke up to his phone alarm. He didn’t remember falling asleep or setting the alarm, but of course Holster had his back. 

“Gotta get up,” Holster grumbled. “Bed people in an hour.”

Justin chuckled and sat up. “I’ll make coffee.”

The installers worked quickly and his bed was fully functional again less than a half an hour after they’d arrived. He sat on the mattress and stared at the wall. He could tell Holster now, but he was suddenly nervous. Not about them, never about them. But about it not being enough. Holster deserved the world! He deserved to be wooed! Justin would have to come up with a plan and ask him out properly, not just kiss him the minute he could. 

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lost in his thoughts when a knock sounded on the doorframe to his room. 

“All done?” Holster asked when Justin looked up.

He gestured to the bed lamely. “All done. Don’t gotta share your bed anymore.”

“You know you’re always welcome,” Holster said gently. 

“I know.” Justin stood. “Let’s go out for lunch?” 

“Okay,” Holster smiled, wrapping his arm around Justin’s shoulders as he came level with him and walking them out of the house. 

By the bedtime, Justin still had no plan to woo Holster properly. Everything he thought of was too small for the bigness of his feelings. So he hugged his best friend goodnight and went to his own bed. 

Where he laid awake and stared at their shared wall. 

His bed felt too big without Holster to wrap himself around and too cold without Holster’s body heat and too quiet without Holster’s small snores. He tried to put it from his mind, clear it of anything and just drift away. He tried to firm up a plan to woo Holster properly. 

Nothing worked.

Justin grabbed his phone and checked the time. Nearly two. He was never going to sleep without Holster. Maybe he could just slip into his bed and Holster would accept the cuddle. He decided to go for it. 

Justin swung his legs over the side of his newly fixed bedframe and froze as a soft knock sounded at his door. He crossed to the door and opened it. 

“Hi,” Holster said shyly. 

“I can’t sleep either,” Justin replied. “Get in here.”

Holster’s face split into a giant grin and he climbed into Justin’s bed with him, wrapping around Justin and humming happily. 

“Night, Ransom.”

“Night, Holster.”

Justin’s eyes slipped shut and he fell asleep almost immediately.

As had been the case for the last four days, Justin woke up first. As he looked at his sleeping best friend, he realized there didn’t need to be some grand gesture. Things between them were simple, they always had been. They understood each other like that. Besides, Justin had been wooed by this ridiculous man long ago, who’s to say it wasn’t the same for Holster?

“Hey Holtzy?”

Holster blinked awake and smiled shyly at Justin. 

“Can I say something? It’s kind of scary, but just… hear me out. I think you should know.”

Holster suddenly looked a lot more awake and grabbed for Justin’s hand. “You’re scaring me, Rans. You know you can tell me anything.” 

Justin gave a smile he hoped was reassuring and took a deep breath. “I can’t sleep without you. It was only four days, but I can’t do it. And I need to tell you why. Because I never want to sleep without you again. I’m in love with you, Adam.”

“Oh.” Adam blinked. 

Justin gave him a moment to process, squeezing his hand. 

“You are?” Adam asked. 

“Yeah,” Justin said. He was trying so hard not to be nervous but now that it was out in the open and Adam hadn’t said anything he was starting to worry. 

“Since when?” Adam asked at last, his voice cracking slightly.

“I, um, I don’t really know. But I realized it this week.”

“And, uh, what do you wanna do about it?”

Justin laughed, of course this was the one time Adam couldn’t read his mind. “I had hoped to kiss you at some point,” he chirped. “Maybe be your boyfriend if you wanted?”

Adam’s cheeks flushed pink and he nodded fervently. 

“Do you have anything you want to share before that happens?” Justin prompted, cupping his free hand to Adam’s cheek. 

“God, of course I want to be your boyfriend, Justin! I love you, too; I’ve loved you for so long.” He reached out his free hand to wrap around Justin and pulled him into a searing kiss. 

Fireworks burst behind Justin’s eyes. 

This was nothing like that time they’d made out at a kegster as frogs, all sloppy and drunk and inexperienced. This was the kiss of a couple in love, who had always been in love and would always be in love. 

He melted into the kiss as he slid his hand into Adam’s hair. 

They fit together like puzzle pieces because of course they did. They were Ransom and Holster. Justin and Adam. Insta-friends and forever partners. 

Boyfriends.

Of course they were. 

#holsterransom #bv2020 #bitty's valentines #omgcp fandom #omg check please!

[goldenclasp]

title impending ;3

for the 2019 @zutaraexchange!

my Giftee is @artmages-rebirth

and the prompts I ended up using are Sports AU and Oblivious Pining

also, I inferred that my Giftee wanted a happy relationship! (no violence related angst or jealousy drama) so here is the fic I wrote- a cheerful (?? tried my best 😅) sports au with lots of Zuko madly in-like!

Summary: During a soccer scrimmage with their college’s team, Zuko finds himself literally struck by love (a strong kick of the ball by Katara)! Pining Zuko and sporty Katara play with like in this good-feels fic <3

Aprox. 2400 words

***

Crouching in the goal, feet spread wide and body tense, Zuko kept his eyes glued to the ball’s progression down the field. The players out there were giving it their all today! Defense on his side could be doing better but it wasn’t every day Katara played with them, and she was generally on their team. Toph and Katara were formidable opponents but when they joined forces? Oh, boy, all other teams had better watch out!

With an unparalleled energy Katara barreled toward him, the way a lioness might chase down her supper. Eyes locked on to the finish line and feet dribbling the ball in a tight guard, she neared. Sokka was there too. He was trying to get the ball away, but she wasn’t having it. He kept jumping into her space and sticking his feet where she’d trip on them but like a true sibling Katara was keeping out of his reach. Not letting him topple her. As she ran, she ducked by her brother, chest heaving and face shining with sweat.

On the other end of the field, Zuko bounced in place: watching, guarding. He would not be distracted. He would not be distracted! He wouldn't notice… the way her smooth, shapely legs pumped as she ran or how her long, curly hair swayed with her moving body- Straightening, he tried to wipe the dumb smile off his face. And the sweat; it was insufferably hot out.

Be respectful, mind on the game.

He shook his head and tried to focus. In front of him was an exciting game, it was! More than enough to keep his attention, but stupid thoughts were stupid. And although he should really be watching for- Katara passed the ball to Toph on the left, but kept herself between it and Sokka, jogged along next to the players struggling for it. She was getting closer. And- he couldn’t keep his eyes off her!

Zuko, buddy, focus. Focus. Don’t watch her. Don’t watch her!

Katara had the ball again and now he had an excuse. She was dribbling, kicking, swaying, panting from the exertion and her approach was unreal. He zeroed in on her face again. Taking his time admiring her. Like the way her eyes scrunched up when she was concentrating hard or how she moved so gracefully, so fluidly. Even now: her body tensed, but she cocked her knee back in a smooth, practiced motion, twisting so that her feet had the best angle. Katara swept her foot forward, striking the ball. It flew through the air- WHAM.

Something hard and round connected with the side of his face and Zuko dropped like a sack of mud.

Someone was shaking his shoulder. Someone was pinching his face. Someone was calling his name. Several voices actually. And man... his head was throbbing like crazy, blood pulsing through his skull in a frantic rhythm.

“Is he okay!”

“Are you okay??”

“Stop yelling, please!”

“Is he dead?”

“No, you idiot. He’s not dead!”

“Call me an idiot again you idiot and I’ll knock your teeth out!”

“Everyone, shush!”

“Is he okay???”

The people were whispering again. Or were they shouting? He couldn’t tell. And his head hurt! The shoulder shaking intensified. Suddenly, ice cold water splashed into his face and he jerked up off of the moist grass. Katara was there, holding his shoulder and looking panicky.

Squinting, mouth open, he blinked up at her. Even the shock of the water hadn’t shocked sense into his scrambled brain.

“What?” Zuko’s voice was a mumble in his own ears.

“Are you alive?”

Blurrily, he recognized a few shapes, Sokka and Toph of course, but even little Aang who wasn’t old enough to join games was there.

Katara stooped down to cradle his face in her hands. Gently, very gently, she felt around his face, fingers feeling for… damage? Her warm hands pressed against his temples and she leaned in very close to examine his eyes.

Her large beautiful blue eyes stared at him, so close that he could count her lashes. And they were glorious lashes, long and dark and full. Lashes fluttering with every blink. And each blink felt an eternity, each second a millennia, heartbeats stretching out. His pulse once again thrummed deafeningly in his ears. Even her hair was glorious, a large section tumbled down from a hasty ponytail, a thick curl swayed against her perfect round cheek.

Katara leaned in even closer, so close that her lips were inches from his eyes.

Zuko fainted.

He came to on a flat, hard... bed? It must have been one because it was not a chair, but was it a bed? No. As he became more aware of his surroundings he realized that it was a table.

“...?” groggily, Zuko sat up wincing at his stiff back. A groan tried to crawl its way from his throat, but it didn’t get that far.

He jumped as Toph’s gruff voice sounded from the left, “Are you alive sparky?”

“Toph! What- where am I-” The room was empty except for her. His face flushed. “Where is-”

“Katara? Not here. She left when I said I'd stick around till you woke up.”

A tiny twinge pinched at his pride but a thought replaced that faster than he could process the surfacing embarrassment. Sitting up straighter, he couldn't contain his question, “She was going to stay?”

Toph rolled her eyes and blew some bangs off her nose. “Yeah. She was going to stay.”

In a flash he was standing. “And you let her leave!”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Why not, what should I have done?”

He didn't have an answer, “I don't know, but anything else.”

Toph pushed off the wall and crossed her arms. “You seem well enough to yell at me so… bye.” Without any ceremony whatsoever, she was out the door, didn't even look back.

Zuko stood still for awhile staring at that traitorous door. He didn't know what to do anymore and now that any distractions were out of the way, his mind drifted to thoughts of Katara. In his head she looked like an angel or something: her face was tilted down at him light hitting it just right, hair falling into her eyes. Zuko squeezed his own eyes shut and tried to shake the image. But trying not to think about her was useless. Sitting back down on the table, he rubbed his eyes and sighed. It was totally useless.

But was that? Yup, there the embarrassment was.

It crept up his spine and settled softly between his shoulder blades, tickling the back of his neck so that his skin started to burn as though there were actually something there. “I’m such an idiot…” One of his hands slid up to hold his face. Bad move. Where the ball had connected with the side of his face had swollen and was tender, just brushing the bruise hurt!

His blush darkened, he was an idiot. Even as he sat here on a random table in the sports equipment closet he could be out there looking for Katara. Only, he didn’t have a reason to be looking for her, so this was as good a place as any to be. His body sagged with a sigh, “I’m such an idiot.”

“Zuko?”

Startled, he tried to stand but tripped on the space between his feet and the floor. Katara’s beautiful face, haloed by her fluffy mane of hair, poked around the door frame. She looked equal parts concerned and amused but averted her gaze to hide it. Picking himself up off the floor where he had fallen, Zuko scrambled to look casual. “Hi.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Hi.”

Even his neck was burning. “Welcome…” gesturing vaguely around the room, “to my humble home.” he finished lamely. Katara let out a surprised laugh, and though it was just as disconcerting as a projectile ball it was not unpleasant.

Zuko looked at her directly, “Toph said you left. I thought you went home.”

“Oh? I really couldn't do that. There’s no way I could just after-” She stepped into the room fully, “I actually went to get an ice pack. And… You’ll never guess this one, but I also got us fries. You don’t mind? You're not on a diet? You don’t hate potatoes or anything? Sokka claims to be allergic to literally anything if he doesn’t want to eat it-” She was rambling. Maybe it was nerves.

Interrupting with a wave of his hand, “No! No, that's so nice of you!”

She smiled in a friendly way, yet as her eyes focused on him, her hand began inching up to touch his face. She stopped. “Are you really okay? That looks terrible.”

“Oh this?” Not meaning to touch the lumpy bruise, he sucked in a breath. “Yes, yeah.”

“I really have to offer you this now!” She shoved the paper bag into his hands.

“Oh, no you really shouldn’t.”

“Oh, yes I really should.”

Widening his eyes, willing her to cave, he pushed the bag back at her. Katara’s glare was enough to make his knees go weak.

They ended up sitting on the curb next to his car.

As he pressed the sweating blue ice pack to his cheek, drops of condensation dripped down his chin but he was oblivious to it.

“I’m really sorry about your face.”

He was tired of saying this, “It's fine. I’m fine.”

She didn't answer, just rummaged around in the paper bag he held, extracting a fry and munching on it daintily.

“Do you want more of this?”

She looked sheepish. “Yes.” And accepted the bag from him.

Even after accepting the fries from him, she didn’t really seem to want them, she was just sort of picking them out one by one. Nibbling absentmindedly. He watched her though and his neck warmed as he watched, this wasn't the most noble thing he’d done in his whole life, but… as long as she didn’t notice, he wasn’t going to stop. “Do you like it here?”

Scrunching her eyebrows at him, “Here as in right here where we’re sitting or…” 

“Here as in this school.”

“Sure.”

Carefully he tucked his arms under his knees, letting the ice pack rest on the pavement, waiting for her to say more.

“Tuition is fine and the professors are fine. Classes don’t mess with my schedule either.”

“Is that all?”

“Sure.”

“But the soccer is better than fine?”

“Oh definitely!” She nodded, “The social aspects are the best-and the athletic stuff, like a soccer field and an outdoor court on campus? That’s amazing!”

He looked away, trying not to smile, “But the classes and all that school stuff is just fine.”

“Yes.”

“That’s fair.”

“Thank you.”

They sat in silence for a long time after that. As she continued to pick at the fries she became less shy, eating several at a time. She must not have had anything to add, but he had lots of questions he wanted to ask. In the very front of his mind a single question swam in circles. He really wanted to ask, and he realized he was speaking. “If the field and everything are so great how come you never practice with us? Or play in actual games?”

“Busy.”

His ears felt warm, “You should come around more often. I- we… can always use you on our team. And if you don’t show up, Toph crushes us- every time!”

She glanced at his face, checking for an ulterior-motive or something. But the corners of her mouth started to slide up, “She just rocks, she can’t help it.”

“Even if she’s a terrible sport.”

Katara laughed again, and Zuko realized that he needed to hear that sound more often.

“You know what? Right now, right this very instant we should call up Sokka and have a rematch. You have to know that taking out the goalie with the ball has to be an illegal move, right?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!”

He made a face, “Sure.”

“Alright then! You’re on, but Toph stays on my side- and Aang gets to play this time!”

“Sure.”

“Deal?”

“Deal.”

“But…” She slipped her phone from a pocket and looked from the time to the darkening sky. “But not today. Next Tuesday?”

“I- Yeah, that’s sounds good.” He swallowed.

She stood up and stretched. “Need a hand?”

Leaning down, hand extended, the setting sun glowed in her hair that soft halo framing her pretty face. All the breath in his lungs was missing, gone, and he swallowed again but his throat was just so dry. “Yeah.”

She hauled him to his feet and he brushed the crumbs and salt and grass from his lap. “I can’t wait you know?”

“And next time I won't, you know… hurt you again.”

He nodded, but he wasn't listening, just looking at her. In his stomach a knot twisted and everything he felt for her danced a frantic contemporary dance in his gut, the kind with all the writhing. She in turn was looking up at his face. A strange light lit her eyes, and she reached to touch his cheek. He didn't stop her, not even flinch. And this time her cool fingers came to rest on his cheek. She was so close. So close that he could feel the heat from her skin.

His heart beat fast in his chest, thumping in his ears. Gently, her fingers stroked his chin. Her touch lingered. And as he stood frozen his skin burned hot, this heat was completely different from when he burned with embarrassment.

But then she stepped back, all the swirl of emotions popped like a soap bubble and suddenly the air was just warm and smelled of grass and lawnmower gas. Even if she was no longer touching him, she was still right there, still so close. And the feel of her fingers lingered. As the evening fell, the sweat on his skin was cooling and the air had a soft smell.

“That game’s still on, right?”

She nodded, and took a deep breath.

“Walk you to your car?”

She nodded again.

“Alright then.”

They set off across the athletic facilities parking lot, gravel crunching under feet. Not yet, they weren’t there yet, but he had all semester to be with her. This thought soothed his beating heart as they walked to her car.

***

I really hope that was something like what you wanted ArtMages Rebirth and that you enjoyed it

also am really happy that I got to participate in this event, and am very glad that I finished. because I’m going to be honest, (I don’t generally write cheerful/upbeat things and) at the end there I was REALLY struggling to finish! but in the end it all worked out and I had fun- so yeah <3

#zutara exchange #artmages-rebirth #zutara #zuko #katara #atla #fanfic #a bit angsty? #a bit fluffy? #sports au #college au #soccer au #modern au #oblivious pining #toph and sokka and aang mentioned #glad to be done and posting!