I know there’s nothing left worth staying for

[actually112]

Who| Aang and Open
What| Aang is putting origami things fucking everywhere. This is the best way to handle feelings.
Where| All the Districts except D4.
When| Post interviews
Warnings/Notes| Self-prescribed art therapy.

Origami everywhere.

On the counters, the tables, on the backs of chairs, everywhere. Cranes, flowers, owls, dragons, swans, weird six-legged bison things, bow ties, all kinds of origami. They're placed around quickly and quietly and all at once, so a person can go into their room for five minutes just to come out and see their District covered.

If they're really quick on the draw, they may see a little boy with arrow tattoos placing the last of them. They're more likely to see the boy before he puts the origami everywhere, when he's hidden on top of the fridge and working on folding all his origami. He's just out of sight enough to be hard to spot if one isn't looking, but occasionally a little pale foot with an arrow tattoo dangling over the edge, either while he's working on folding or when he's taking a fitful nap.

Comments

[decommission]

He watches Aang's aerial antics, impressed by the kid's reflexes and agility.

"We can start with the flower." If he's that terrible, they can go backwards and try cranes. He takes a sheet of paper from Aang's hands and starts heading over to the table to sit down.

[actually112]

"It's easy once you get the hang of it. Don't be worried if some of your first stuff comes out a little uneven. I'll start with one of the easier flowers, okay?"

Aang settles across from Steve at the table. He learned his lesson from last time and won't sit next to him, since the temptation to try leaning against him might be too great. Aang likes physical affection and seeks it out even when he's not thinking about it, which isn't so good for someone who doesn't like being touched.

"Just watch what I do and try to do the same thing. Make sure that your folds are tight and your corners are sharp when you do it." Then he gets started, taking each step slowly and waiting to see if Steve does it before doing the next step.

[decommission]

Compared to the first time they met, Steve is (relatively) more relaxed - or at least a bit more used to Aang after having gotten a better read on him.

All he does is nod when Aang starts the instruction, following each of the boy's folds with one on his own. The paper is light, easy to bend but equally easy to accidentally crumple. A forgivable nature means that all mistakes are visible, bends in the wrong places or an awkward angle that shifts every step to come after. But there are no mistakes like that - Steve's fingers are careful and deft, he doesn't just blindly copy. He commits to memory. It's a soothing practice, and Aang might notice him relaxing more as they go.

When he's finished, he sets the flower down on the table and raises his eyebrows at Aang, as if waiting for his verbal assessment before saying anything.

[actually112]

Aang isn't used to having a student who's so calm and compliant, but the whole process soothes them both. He can feel Steve relax across from him, and he relaxes too to be able to focus on something other than his own guilt.

He looks over Steve's flower with a smile before settling his own flower next to it, arranging the two of them so they look like they could be table pieces. "That looks great. You're a natural."

He looks at Steve with a smile. "Want me to show you how to make something else?"

[decommission]

He's relaxed enough to offer a faint smile back, glancing at the pair of flowers positioned together neatly on the table. A nod follows.

"You learned this from home?"

[actually112]

Ha. He got a smile. Score one for Aang.

One of his only scores so far today, but still. He'll take what he can get.

"Yeah. When I was little, Monk Gyatso needed to teach me how to sit still, so he'd give me lots of things to do with my hands. He encouraged me to learn stuff like this and try making up my own stuff." He pulls out another two pieces of paper, pushing one towards Steve before starting to fold a new kind of flower. Maybe they can make a little bouquet.

[decommission]

He accepts the new piece of paper and begins to follow along with Aang's folds with as much care and attention as the first time.

"You were taught by monks?"

The question isn't asked with any sort of surprise, but rather to keep the conversation going. It doesn't feel uncomfortable, not as it sometimes can - maybe because Aang doesn't try to ask him anything back.

[actually112]

"Yep. All the Air Nomads were taught by monks or nuns in one of the Temples. We had four Air Temples, one for each direction. North and South had boys and monks, East and West had girls and nuns. We were all raised in them."

Aang's used to talking about his world because many people find it very curious. He wants to ask questions in return, but being so close to Bucky has taught him a certain amount of tact. Bucky and Steve's demeanor isn't too different, so he uses the same rules with Steve as he does with Bucky: telegraph any touching before it happens, and don't pry too much if he doesn't seem ready to talk about something.

He's curious about Steve, but he bites his tongue. Like Bucky, he will open up if he wants to.