She had made a terrible mistake.
She knew it, as soon it was over and they lay together, spent and exhausted on the bare earth. A mistake.
It wasn't that she didn't care about Aang-- she did, very much so. But had gone to him for all the wrong reasons. Because she thought he needed it. Because it would defy her parents in a deeper way than ever. Because it would hurt Sokka, to get back at him for what he'd done.
But mostly... it was because she could.
Toph always took challenges in life very seriously. A sarcastic barb that was meant to be nothing than a passing insult had put things into motion, slowly building until it became another trail for her to conquer.
...and conquer she did.
As it built, her relationships within the group changed. Things grew sour between her and Sokka, and there was now a different sort of tension with Katara. She'd buddied up with the outcast, Zuko, and continued the strange backwards teacher/friendship with Aang.
She became so frustrated, at herself and her complete lack of feminine charm, at Aang and his hopeless unrequited crush on Katara. They were all frustrated, as time slipped by and they grew closer and closer to the horrible deadline that loomed over them.
Things had finally come to a head after a particularly vicious spat with Katara, and Toph decided to handle the challenge the way she always did: head on. She had dragged Aang off, far away from the others...
At first, they just talked. Aang told her about his feelings for Katara-- which she was already well aware of-- and his fear of the upcoming battle he'd face with Fire Lord Ozai-- which they were all well aware of. Then he spilled his heart out to her. How much he missed his friends from the past, how much guilt he carried for their loss, for the war, for everything. How unsure of himself and childish he really felt.
In return, Toph had shared her own insecurities. How much she worried, deep down inside, that her parents were right-- that she really was a helpless little girl under the calloused earthbender shell.
As the night wore on and the air took on a chill, she drew a rock tend up around them. The talked, about their families, about their dreams, about the future of the world.
It was Aang who kissed her first.
She couldn't help it, but she giggled. Her first kiss and it had felt so strange. Aang hesitated, with apparently no clue of what to do next, and Toph had reached out for him. He held her, he was so tense and uncertain, and she moved to kiss him...
...and...
It had been very awkward. Clumsy. Painful. Even kind of messy.
Aang was so obviously not ready. Toph, at one point, had to simply grit her teeth and make sure they finished what they'd started. And afterwards, the full realization of what a mistake it was dawned on her.
They were too young, far too young. She had thrown away her maidenhood, which would seriously affect any future marriage prospects, should she ever return to the city life. She had taken something from Aang, as well, which he hadn't really been ready to give.
She had done it for all the wrong reasons.
But must of all, Toph realized, that no matter how much she wanted to pretend it wouldn't... when they rejoined the group the next morning...
...things would never be the same again.
by Jixie 7/5/07 (That's right '07. Just now posting)
Avatar: The Last Airbender © Nickelodeon