Authors Note:
This is my first (well, second) Fanfic ever! I hope you enjoy this Taang fic! This will start off slow but take off soon. I'll be updating as fast as i can! Comments and reviews appreciated, but not required. :D
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Avatar: the Last Airbender or any of the characters/ideas inside of this Fanfic. All property is trademark of Nickelodeon. Avatar was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This story is for entertainment, not profit. But i hope you enjoy!
"I'm going to miss you guys!" Sokka whined, grabbing everyone within arms length in a big platypus-bear hug. Caught in the hug were Aang and Suki, as Zuko, Katara, and Iroh cleverly dodged.
"Me…too, Sokka… but please…please… let go!" Aang said, pleading for air. Sokka let go of his friend, the Avatar, letting him breathe.
"Sorry, I didn't know the all powerful avatar was so fragile!" Sokka teased. "My Kyoshi Warrior here is stronger than you!" He said, hugging Suki tighter.
"Yes, Sokka, because I love bone-breaking hugs," she said, wiggling out of his death grip. She, too, seem to struggle. Finally, Sokka let go, and ran after the others. He headed towards Zuko. The Fire Lord firebended towards Sokka's feet. "Take one step forward, Water Boy, and hugs won't be the only things coming out of you." Sokka, as if realizing what horrible things could be done, swiftly stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Katara, pulling out some paper and a writing utensil, took charge. "Well, since we will be headed our separate ways, I'd like to know where everyone's going, for messenger hawk purposes." She then smiled at the group.
"Well, I will be the New Fire Lord. You know where to find me," Zuko stated.
"I will be at my tea shop,' Iroh said, almost drooling at the word "tea". He had seemed exhausted, sprinting from Sokka. "The Jasmine Dragon is ready for it's grand re-opening!" he beamed.
"I'll be at Kyoshi Island. Don't be afraid to send a letter!" Suki said warmly.
"I'll be traveling the world with my best buddy!" Sokka said, grabbing Aang for another hug. Wide eyed, Aang airbended himself back, thrusting himself 30 paces away from Sokka.
"No, you won't Sokka," Katara said, in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
"But why not?"
"It's dangerous; and you'd only annoy Aang!"
"The war was dangerous! And I would not!"
"Yes, Sokka, you would!"
"What do you know? As a girl- "
"What did you just say?"
"NOTHING!" Sokka closed his mouth. Katara, not accepting his mouth shut, bended a puddle of water to freeze under his feet. "Katara!" he said, stuck in place.
Disguised by the chaos, Aang silently slid away from the siblings, in search of something. Someone. He moved around the house, trying to sense the vibrations, just like she had showed him. Her. His friend. His best friend. Something a little more…
The wind picked up. She blew her bangs out of her face, which covered her eyes. Like it mattered. She sat along the balcony, letting her feet dangle. The balcony looked over the entire city of Ba Sing Se. The sight was breath-taking; not that Toph would know. But she enjoyed the serenity anyway.
Suddenly, she sensed a small vibration, coming towards her. The vibrations-pair of vibrations- were so light, she could barely sense them. Twinkle-toes.
She could tell he had been looking for her for awhile. Why was he looking for me? Why isn't he enjoying himself! He doesn't need to be worrying about me. I can take care of myself. Or maybe he just wants to see me…
She had been nervous around Aang lately. She knew he had kissed Katara, right where she was sitting; and didn't think it would last. He had always loved Katara, but she guessed he felt that no matter what, she would only see him as a friend. So he got over, just as any guy would. But it was so sudden. She always felt his heart beat faster around Katara; and now, he was as relaxed as ever. As relaxed as when he talked to Iroh. As relaxed as when he talked to Sokka. As relaxed as when he talked to me.
A sigh escaped her mouth. She could never get herself to admit it, but she had always felt nervous around Aang. Like, he was special. Different. Almost perfect.
Today, as she felt Aang approach her, she noticed the slight amount of tension coming from him. Was he nervous? She could feel his muscles tense as he came closer. She heard a big breath being taken in, out, then a pair of feet coming towards her.
Hi, Toph," Aang said, sitting down next to Toph. "Why aren't you with the group?"
"Because!" she proclaimed, acting like her normal-self. "Even you, Twinkle Toes, know that I don't like to get all mushy with emotions and feelings and stuff like that."
Suddenly, Aang's heartrate went up. Toph could feel it. Why was he like this? It was almost as bad as it was when he loved Katara! "Ya, I know what you mean. Sokka's giving everyone hugs. I'm glad I got out of there. Well, it wasn't the only reason, but still-"
"What was your other reason?"
"Oh. Well, it's nothing. Like you said, let's not get emotional or anyth-"
"Twinkles, just tell me before I earthbend you to the roof!" she threatened.
"Okay! Okay! I was just gonna say… I left so I could… be here. With you." Aang, I can't believe you just blurt it out like that! Oh, please don't get mad, Toph!
"…really?" she whispered, as if she wanted him to regret it. Please don't regret it.
A small laugh came from Aang. Phew! "Haha. Yes, really. You're, like, my best friend Toph."
"Oh," she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "Well, at least I beat Snoozles on your 'Best Friend' list." Just a friend…
"Haha! Ya, it was tough, but you beat him." Aang! You just told her that it was hard to pick between her and a Meat Loving boy! "I'm just kidding! You mean more to me." Oh, wow, Aang. Real smooth.
I mean something… to him? A tint of red crawled up Toph's face. "Thanks Aang. I guess now I can't send you flying into the roof." No way you just said that Toph. "But I appreciate the thought." Ugh.
"So, after today, where are you headed?" Aang asked, trying to bring up conversation.
"I guess I don't have anywhere to go but home." She sighed again. She despised the thought of home.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to, but I bet your parents would like to see you." I would be, Toph.
"I guess so, but then I won't be free anymore. I'll be stuck at home all day, being the useless little girl my parents always thought I was."
"You're not useless to me. You're everything to me." WHAT? Why'd you have to say that?
Did she just hear him right? "What?" she asked, half wondering if her ears deceived her.
"You're not useless to anyone; to Sokka, to Katara, to me. No one should see you and think wrong of you. And I doubt your parents will see you as useless, either."
Oh. So that's what he meant… "Sometimes, I wonder if some of the past Avatars tell you what to say, because somehow, you always say the right thing."
"That's what I'm here for," he said, leaning in closer to Toph.
Please don't move your head, Twinkles. Slowly, Toph lowered her head, until reaching his shoulders. She laid her head there, and he didn't seem to mind. He's letting me touch him. He's letting me! I didn't even have to ask him. She leaned in closer to him, close enough to feel his breath on her hair. She'd never want this moment to end.
Aang, you did it. After you goofed up and messed up hundreds of lines talking to her, after you told her about every moment you had with Katara, after you put her through the war, somehow, you did it. They laid there for what felt like eternities.
"Are you cold?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her.
Now I'm not. She just snuggled closer to him, knowing she'd never get to do this again. Knowing it wasn't like her was one reason; another was that she'd never see him again. "Just a little."
The whole time, the two had been 'sensing' each other with earthbending. And each had 'sensed' the other's heart beating too fast to keep up with. They loved it.
Suddenly, he remembered something. He reached inside his robes and felt the small object. Standing up, he reached out his hand to Toph, pulling her up. Her face came so close to his, she thought he was going to kiss her. She didn't let go of his hand.
With his other hand, he pulled out the object he held close to him; something he never let go of; something he wanted Toph to have. "What's… what's this?" Toph questioned. Aang opened up Toph's petite hand and placed a single marble in her hand. He closed it slowly.
"A…marble?" Toph asked, not seeing the sentimentality. Aang, never letting go of Toph's hand, said, "A marble, made out of earth. It's one of the only things I had from 100 years ago. I know it's just a marble, but it means a lot to me, like you. (Careful, Aang!) I thought since you could bend it, you might want it." He let go of her hand to let her look at it. He stood behind her.
"Oh," Toph said, grasping the marble. He wanted me to have it? Slowly, Aang put his arms around Toph's, replacing his hands on top of hers. Please don't punch me in the gut. Aang began to earthbend the marble. Toph felt the marble begin to shape in her hand. Her face blushed furiously. Aang, don't let go…
"Or I can do it for you." Aang smiled his signature smile. As she opened her hand, a small heart was molded from the once child's marble. Aang, it's so beautiful! And I have the perfect idea. She turned around to face him as he let go. "Aang, thank you. For the gift. But I have a better idea what to do with it."
"Really?" Aang said, hiding a small amount of disappointment. What were you thinking, giving her a marble?
"Yes. Aang, do we have any metal left?"
"Um, ya," he said, running inside, avoiding the group of friends. As he left, Toph rubbed her hand over the small stone. Aang, you are too perfect. All my life I thought I'd never find a friend. I thought I'd never know what it feels like to be appreciated. But then I met you… Slowly, she bended it in half.
"Here you go," Aang said, passing her a thin sheet of metal. Ever since Toph could bend metal, she always made sure she carried a few thin sheets of metal with her, usually on Appa.
"Okay, now don't look," she said in a childish voice. Smiling, Aang closed his eyes. She placed the heart on the floor and began to work on the metal sheet. As she broke it in half, she thought, I really hope you like this. Slowly, she bended one of the pieces into a chain, as she did with the other. She poked a small hole into each part of the heart with her pinkie, followed by threading the chains through the half-hearts.
When she had finally finished, she took one of his hands covering his eyes, placed the necklace in his hand, then closed it. He opened his eyes, staring at the chain. "To remember me by," whispered Toph.
He put the necklace over his head, resting on his chest. Smiling, he took Toph's necklace, turned her around, and placed the necklace on her. "Like I'd ever forget you." As she turned around, she slightly nudged him, as he expected.
Suddenly, Toph thrusts her arms around him. After being dumbfounded for a split second, he returned the hug with the same amount of force Toph placed on him. He could hear her crying, something that surprised him. He didn't even realize his own tears starting to flow. "You better not."
"You've been my best friend ever since I met you, Toph. You never let me give up, you never let me down, you never hurt me. Well, that bad."
Toph let out a small chuckle. Same old Aang.
"And I can't thank you enough for all you've done. For everything."
As she finally let go of her grip, Aang wiped her tears away. He was shocked that she let him, but he didn't care. All he wanted was to hold her one last time. She let him touch her gentle face, her blushed cheeks, her sea foam eyes. Her eyes…
"If only I could see you, Aang…"
That was three years ago.