How Taang happened…
Chapter 1: realization.
"Are we there yet?" asked Toph for the fifth time this morning. Katara, Aang, Sokka and her had been traveling west for the past couple of days, but Toph was the only one who did not know where they were going. And she was so sick of that. "Toph, you have to be patient! We already told you it's a surprise!" said Katara, giggly. "Yhea Toph! Don't be such a party pooper!" Sokka added and received a punch on the shoulder from Toph. Katara giggled at Toph's action secretly to not receive a punch herself. "Aang, why are you so quiet?" Toph asked curious at the avatar sitting on Appa's head being too quiet for her taste. "It's just…I sort of agree with you, Toph" Toph blushed so little it was barely visible. The 2 water tribe brothers where shocked at the avatar's comment. They all didn't like to wait but he was the most patient of them all! But deep inside Aang hated to wait for things to happen slowly on their own.
After a couple hours traveling on the flying bison's saddle, they reached their location. Toph was the first to get of Appa, she liked him a lot but she hated flying! Soon she felt where they had landed and was really disappointed. "Why didn't you say we were going to the beach?" Toph said in a really mad tone because of them getting her so exited for nothing. "Toph, this is not our final destination," Aang confirmed her "it's just a pit stop for Appa to rest a bit!" "Oh" Toph blushed at the fact that a goofy 13 year old had learned to read her like a book after the war was officially over. Right after all the mess in the fire nation was solved, they all decided to go their own ways, except for the 4 of them. Katara had even had a small romance with Aang making him super happy. But when Toph went to Khioshi Island with Sokka to visit Suki, and left them alone, something had happened between them. And when they had return they found out they where over! Sokka knew what happened, but little ol' Toph was plane clueless on the subject, and whenever she brought it on, SOMETHING ALWAYS GOT IN THE WAY! "Well, good to know!" she said in her usual Toph voice "you could've mention there would be a pit stop before we landed, Twinkle Toes." Then she helped Sokka & Katara unload. Aang laughed at the sound of his nickname, even if he didn't know what he'd done to earn it. And at this point he got really curios. "Toph, why do you use nicknames instead of real names?" He asked. Toph look up at him and stopped helping Sokka with the sleeping bags, and as a result he felt on his face. "Sorry!" She apologized to her fallen friend "Well, Twinkle Toes, I just like them! Katara is 'sweetness' because she is always sweet to me. Sokka is 'genius' because his always so silly. And I really would've liked to use my nickname for Zuko, 'flamio'!" She said thrilled. Katara and Sokka laughed hysterically with her at the comment of the fire-lord being called flamio by a blind 12 year old girl. "Why do you complain anyway, Aang?" Asked Katara when she managed to stay calm once again. "Don't you like nicknames?" she finished and for some reason maid everybody stare at him, even a blind girl was staring at him! He was sure he was as red as an apple. "It's not that I don't like it! It's just I…uh, I…" He tried, and closed his eyes as he scratched his head thinking of something to say. "Well, what if we gave you a nickname, like…Blindy? Like Twinkle Toes, it's a bit upsetting" He opened his eyes; he immediately regretted his words of insults. The scene was just sad, Katara shook her head disappointed, Sokka mouthed 'take it back, take it back!', and Toph was just staring at the grown with her sightless eyes, tear running through her pale skin. She spoke with such hurt in her voice that the water tribe brothers barely hear her, but Aang (being an air bender) was able to hear it loud and clear. "So, me being blind…is upsetting to you..?" She dropped to the floor, broken. Sokka patted her back and Katara made her way to Aang. "You should really take it back, you know?" She whispered to him. "I should, shouldn't I?" He responded, a tear running down his own cheek. "Yhea. What were you thinking when you said that?" "I don't know! I just wanted to give her nickname, that's all! I never meant to hurt my best pal! How can I make it up to her?" Suddenly he felt the earth move under his feet, and before he knew it he was facing the girl he had insulted 8 seconds ago. He blushed when he figured out she had bended him so close to her, so close he could smell her earthly sent. She looked up, and then stood. Now she was even closer than before, he noticed he was a bit taller than her by like a centimeter or 2, and he stood a bit straighter. She leaned near and said… "A hug usually does when something goes wrong, and you could try to see if it works here too." He smiled warmly and felt so relive she wasn't as mad and sad as he had feared. He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a crushing hug, as if to crack her bones, then lifted her up in the air. The little blind girl didn't need to see to know that she was bright red, 100 things racing through her mind, unable to get free by his strong arms around her. "His so warm' she thought 'was it just my words or is something else that has him with such grip on me? Why is my heart going faster? Why am I not doing anything to get free? I guess I just like him holding me, so why try to fight these feelings?' She finished arguing with herself and buried her head in his shoulder, no care in the world! Katara had a fight with her feeling herself too, to happy to be mad, to shocked to be surprised! But she was sure of something: she was glad her best friend had a taste of the avatar's attention, and happy Aang had that feeling for her. Sokka was too giggly to do say or think anything, not that it be helpful or intelligent anyway. This touching scene went on for a long time before Aang's grip slowly faded and Toph was back on her feet. She blushed when she lost the warm feeling of Aang's arms around her. It was mid afternoon, quiet cold and they were all pretty hungry. "Ok, since I can tell we're all starving, how about if you guys set up camp and I'll go find some meat and veggies for all of us to eat well if we want to re-take our way to our final destination in less than a week. Cool with you peeps?" Sokka finished. Everybody nodded. Sokka grabbed his sword and his boomerang and left for hunting. Katara giggled. "What's so funny sweetness?" Toph asked while sitting on the floor, fixing the rocks for the campfire. "Well, camp's almost set, only missing the campfire's seats and the actual fire, after that we are all done, so we can have some fun!" she said. "YHEA LETS HAVE SOME FUN!" both Aang and Toph said that at the top of their lungs.
Toph build a small rock pier so she could see and still play with water. Meanwhile Aang and Katara were putting on their swimsuits; Katara broke the silence between them. "So, do you like Toph or what?" She asked the young air bender who blushed hard. "W-WHAT?!" He responded. 'Oh, god what if I do like her..?' He thought. "So you DO like her! That's so cute, ask her out! No, grab her hand by mistake! No, hug her even tighter! Did you see the total love melt-down she had in your arms? How romantic!" She finished her big speech of how Aang could make Toph love him. "Katara did you drink cactus juice or something?" The avatar said quiet scared of her friend at this point. She was about to insist on the hugging plan when the one the where talking of appeared at the door of the tent. "Guys, can you hurry up! And Katara can you help me with my swimsuit?" She asked very politely for some reason. "Of curse I'll help Toph! What are friends for?" Katara gave her a big hug before pushing Aang out of the tent to help Toph with the swimsuit. Aang mumble under his breath. He liked Katara a lot but ever since that fight with her before they set ways, she'd become more harsh with him. The worst part, he remembered like it was yesterday…
'It was a beautiful day, sun shining, blue sky, and he had Katara all to himself. He was just putting some papers away before meeting Katara at the tea shop in an hour. Suddenly he heard her voice outside with someone else, who seemed to be crying! "It's ok, just let it out." Spoke her smooth voice. "No it's not! I got cheated on!" The other voice spoke, he seemed to be a male with her, Aang wasn't happy. "Don't worry, I'm here and I'm with you! So just, shush!" Katara continued. "You were always sweet with me then, and now! And I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here, with me. Thank you!" Aang couldn't help but to look outside, he regretted that he had. He saw Katara close to the man and kiss him, he couldn't tell if it had been on the lips or not, but he as furious! From the window, he air bended to the man, he got slatted on the wall. That's when Aang saw who the man was; it was Zuko and who cheated on him had probably been Mai, his gloomy ex GF.'
He snapped out of his trance when he hears giggles from the tent he had currently been kicked out of. Toph came out first and he had to catch his breath to avoid any unnecessary sounds or noises. She was just breath-taking! Her hair in its usual bun, but with a new tiara. She had a yellow top that was sleeve-less, and the bottom was like green shorts, but for water, she looked happy and that was the best part! Katara was in her usual bathing suit. A white 2-piece suit, the bottom part with a skirt. Her hair falling to her shoulders. And he, looked a mess! He was wearing his usual trunks but a lot longer now, ever since Toph had maid comments to him about small things like hair, and swim trunks he started to care. So he had hair now like when the where under cover in the fire-nation, and his trunks where like pants. "What? Are we THAT pretty?" Katara teased. Toph blushed, but looked away to avoid being caught. But Aang noticed, and took advantage, feeling evil! "No! Katara don't be silly! You look pretty but, Toph, she looks way better than you! Heh!" he said, they blushed, silence. "I probably shouldn't have said that…" "Don't worry about it, Twinkle Toes!" Toph said, "Now, lets get on with the fun!" All of them started there way to the water, when Toph grabbed Aang's arm. "I can still call you Twinkle Toes, right?" She asked, he smiled at her innocent like face. "As long as I can call you sugar-baby!" He teased; she punched him hard, but smiled. "Fine, it's a deal!" they both laughed. And a second later the where soaked! Aang turned and saw a water-bending infant in a teenage body looking at them with an annoying face. "Oh, it's on Katara, it's on!" He left sprinting to the water. Toph sighted. She loved Aang! She really did! In more ways than one! But she heated when he forgot about her and went with 'Sweetness', and why on earth would she, of all people, be a sugar-baby?! She shrugged. She couldn't now everything that went through his tiny mind. She ran after him. Aang and Katara were already in the middle of a water bending fight, but she wanted to make it more interesting. With a bit of water on the sand, she managed to bend it and throw it at Katara, who ended covered in wet sand. "Hahaha!" Came laughs of Aang and Toph. When she turned to face them Aang quickly stopped his laughter, but Toph kept it going. "Ha-ha, good one Toph. But…not as good as this!" Right at that moment a cold splash of water hit the earth bender in the face, knocking her down. It was katara's turn to laugh! Aang wasn't sure if this was bad or not, but his eyes were open just in case Toph lost it with the rocks! She never missed! He snapped back when he saw mud went flying 2 centimeters from him and into Katara's mouth, she had been in mid laughter. "EWW!" She said as she spited mud out of her mouth. "Alright! That's it!" she was furious now. Toph was still in her little pier, crying and laughing. Katara bended a huge amount of water (like as if to drown a town!) over to Toph, who had no idea of what was in store. The water grabbed Toph by surprise, so she wasn't able to take a breath. Then all the water was pulled by the bender back to the far of the ocean, where it was really deep. At first Katara had no idea she'd done something bad, neither did Aang, until she screamed… "HELP! *cough* I CAN'T SWIM!" she said, she coughed, and swallowed water, but she didn't come back up after that. "What did you do!? Didn't you know she can't swim!?" Aang screamed madly. "What are we gonna do?!" "Oh, bending!" Katara said, and Aang did not seem pleased with her answer. "May I remain you, that BENDING was what STARTED this!" he stated while jumping in the water. "AANG! NO!" Katara reached for her friend, but was too late. "Be careful, Aang…" Toph couldn't fell her arms or her legs, much less her lungs. She was in so need for air; she had swallowed too much water. But before she closed her sightless eyes, a last thought came to her mind, 'Aang…' Suddenly, she felt someone grab her hand. 'Aang'. She thought, and she was right. Aang rapped his arm around her waist and got her light head to rest on his shoulder. Then water bended a bubble full of air, so he could get her out easier. Then in a second they were back on the beach, and Katara had started the fire, probably to warm Toph up. He dragged Toph to the shore and then sat with her on her lap. "Come on, Toph, wake up!" Aang said as he gently slapped her face to see if she reacted, but sadly, nothing happened. He took a deep breath. Then did a technique of bending the water out of someone's mouth. After all the water was out she took a small breath, but did not open her eyes. "No!" Aang said, so sad and heartbroken "NO! TOPH! COME ON, COME ON! GET UP! PLEASE!" At this point he was tearing up so bad her got her face soaked again. Then an idea came to mind. He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss in her wet lips, sending bits of air through her system. He broke the kiss, and waited…Then he broke into a smile as big as the earth kingdom, Toph had been saved by his kiss! "YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU REALLY ARE ALIVE! THANK GOD!" he screamed happily and hugged her like he had hugged Appa when he saw him again after so long. Toph was still a bit drowsy, but she felt safe in the avatar's grip. She hugged him back. "Thanks to you, Aang. With you by my side, I always end up alive." She whispered in his ear. Katara came close, and Toph turned to face her, but she did not let go of her little hero. (A/N: is that cute or what? 'w') "Toph, I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me! Could you find it deep in your heart to please forgive me?" Katara cried, Toph hugged her. "Katara, you're my best friend, like a sister I never had! Of course I forgive my sister." Toph smiled. Then they did a group hug. "Ah, Katara…Could I talk to Toph for a sec? Alone?" The avatar asked, blushing Katara saw what he intended in his eyes, smiled, then left. Aang still had one of Toph's arms around him, and had her in his lap; a towel was thrown to the floor near him by Katara. He mouthed the word 'thank you' and returned his attention to the shivering earth-bender. Covering with the towel he adjusted himself to have his head in her shoulder. 'She fits so well against me! Unlike Katara' He thought. Toph was NOT expecting the avatar to snuggle at her. But she sure knew something: she didn't need to know what had happened between Aang and Katara, this is all she needed. "I was so worried!" Aang said into her ears, making her shiver, but she didn't move. "I'm so glad you're ok, I'd be quiet lost without you in my life. Don't ever give me a heart attack again, sugar-baby, never again." "But it turned out fine cause you're here with me." She moved closer. "Plus, I'll always be a pain in the neck, Twinkle Toes, always is an awfully long time. Can you handle it?" "Of course!" He said, getting up with Toph in his arms, and took her to where the fire was warm .He placed her down on a sit and then sat down next to her. She placed her head on his shoulder; he placed his head in her head. Toph putted the towel around of her and Aang so they'd be warm, and they eventually felt asleep.
It had been like ten minutes after Toph and Aang had fallen asleep when Sokka came back. "Hey Katara! I got some really good food for the trip- why is Aang sleeping with Toph?" He asked too puzzled. "SHH! They have been asleep for long now. And it's a long story let just let them sleep, and get some rest ourselves." Katara said, she was really proud of Aang. He loved someone else, and he had moved on. She was as proud as a mother would be. She sighted, she hoped to have a love so beautiful that her mother would've been proud. She closed her eyes, what a day!