Somebody to Love

Chapter 1: Teacher

So we all know that Aang has Katara, Sokka has Suki, and Zuko has Mai, but what about Toph? I thought it was sort of unfair for her not to have someone. So that's what I wanted this story to be about, Toph finding someone. Oh and this story is completely dedicated to tophpwns for giving me some awesome ideas for this story, and for putting up with some of my brainstorming.

The war was finally over, so everyone was beginning to move on with their lives. Toph was actually becoming a bit aggravated with some benders coming back from war. They wouldn't leave her alone; they all wanted to learn from her. She usually just sent them to Aang, none of them wanted to learn the right way. She didn't have much patience with anyone who did not want the true discipline of earth bending. So it was very rare to see her teaching a new student. Sometimes when she got bored she would go and help Aang, but it didn't take long for the shear frustration to take hold once more. This situation unfolded once again this morning; she had stormed out of their training center, grumbling about how ignorant these so called "masters" were.

On her way back to her house she could sense someone following her. Which was beginning to become really irritating, "is there a reason you're following me?" she asked completely annoyed as she faced them. 'Wow she really is blind' the boy thought as eyed her curiously.

"Yes actually there is. I wanted to ask you if you would teach me how to metal bend." Toph smirked; oh how normal this was. She was used to the constant arrogance of earth benders…everyone was so great that they could pick up metal bending without even breaking a sweat. Truth was very few of them could learn the skill.

"Do you even know how to Earth bend?" she asked seriously.

"Well; I think I know how, but then again you teach differently. So I guess it's your opinion." She grinned wildly at his comment 'Hmm this should be fun', she thought as she concocted some teaching ideas.

"You have a name?" She asked. She wanted his real name before she came up with a good nickname for her student. He was a little embarrassed that he forgot to introduce himself.

"Yeah Dimitri; hi," he told her with a clumsy smile. He wasn't really sure how to treat a blind person. Should he shake her hand? Give her a wave? So he stood awkwardly in confusion, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hi I'm Toph. You nervous or something Dimitri?" she asked she could sense some tension, and the vibrations from his hand on his neck was evident to her; completely unknown to him.

"No" he lied, as his cheeks started to burn. She could tell he was lying, so she half smiled in response.

"So when would you like to learn the real way to earth bend?" He didn't understand what she meant by that.

"Well whenever is best for you." Her lip twitched upward and then went serious again. The next thing he knew a boulder was hurdling towards him. He took his stance quickly and sliced the rock in two. "What the heck was that for?" he asked, as he furrowed his brow.

"Just wanted to see if you knew some of the basics" she told him, as a toothy grin implanted neatly on her face, he returned the gesture. 'I think I'm going to like the way she teaches' he thought delighted with what she had done. "Meet me at the training center tomorrow, regular time. We'll start then." She told him as she walked away. Aang wouldn't be teaching anyone tomorrow so she could have some fun teaching him. She was halfway down the road when he realized he was still staring after her. He ran his fingers through his chocolate brown curls 'whoa got a little spacey,' He tried telling himself as his cheeks burned lightly.

The next day ~

"You're late!" Toph barked, as Dimitri entered the doorway. She'd never actually given him a specific time so he just came when the regular classes started.

"Well you never told me what time to come. I'm not late according to your posters." He told her, as he pointed his finger at one.

"Hello I'm BLIND. Does it look like I can read?" She asked sarcastically, as she waved a hand in front of her face.

"Well it says class begins at six." He told her matter of factly as he slouched lazily up against the wall.

"Regular bending classes always begin at sunrise. I figured everyone knew that."

"Obviously not everyone" he said smiling; he was loving this. She tightened her eyebrows.

"Well you know now, don't be late again." She growled at him. He rolled his glittering sky blue eyes dramatically.

"I'm sorry." He pushed himself off the wall, and went on to position himself close enough to feel the body heat that radiated off the girl. "I won't be late again." She grinned and threw a small rock into his stomach. He was standing a bit too close for comfort. He rubbed the sore spot as a silly smile played on his lips. He took his stance, ready for the next blow.

"Oh were not fighting." She told him straightening up. "That's the easiest part of training. You have a long way to go." She gave him some of her hardest practices. It was surprising to her that he did all of them very well. But, it was all too evident to her that he did not know earth sight. "Do you know where the training cave is at?" she asked him casually. He had been juggling a huge boulder on his back.

"Uhm. No. I. Don't. Think. So." He said between pants; this rock was heavy.

"Oh well meet me here tomorrow on time, and I'll take you there." She waited a few more minutes as he struggled beneath the boulder getting her revenge, then lifted it off his back. He stood up straight and went to stand near her again.

"So this training cave wouldn't happen to be a date now would it?" He asked flirting as he smiled smugly at her. "I mean you can just come straight out and ask." She laughed and took a step back.

"Don't you wish" she teased as she turned to head home.

"Wait." He called as he caught up with her. "Can I walk you home?" he asked in all innocence

That made her furious; she hated it when people acted like she was a helpless little blind girl.

"If you haven't noticed I can take care of myself. You don't have to act like you like me just because I'm blind." She told him; speeding up in her stride.

"Who said it was an act?" he asked, matching her pace. She sighed as she turned and faced him.

"Just go home."

"Okay, okay I'm sorry if offended you. I really did just want to walk you home." He told her, turning in the opposite direction.

She felt kind of bad for blowing up on him. But she wasn't about to go soft for some boy she just met.

So tell me the truth does it suck so far? I'm sorry if it does. I can take flames. Push that green and grey button! It loves the attention.