Disclaimer: If I owned ATLA/LoK, you know Taang would've happened.
AN: The title's taken from a line in DJNS's amazing story, All Fall Down. When I was reading it, a lovely fanart emerged (it's nsfw, so if you want the link, pm me!), and inspired by those two works, this began. It started as a oneshot, but kinda grew and eventually turned into a series of short vignettes. Hope you all like! =)
Aang leaned in to wrap her up in a hug good night. Without putting up a fight, without a single word, Toph drifted willingly into his embrace. There, the closeness was all-consuming, heat blooming in the space between, and the world around them was forgotten as they lingered in that dangerous place beyond friendship...
...
As he did most nights, Aang stopped by Toph's office before going home. Once there, they'd decide to get dinner, go for a drink (she drank, he kept count), or, they would do something else entirely, just the two of them. None of their other friends lived in Republic City, so they had grown accustomed to the routine.
Smiling to himself, Aang watched her from underneath the doorway of her office for a moment. Having sensed his vibrations long before he got so close, Toph's smile mirrored his own.
"Wanna grab a drink?" she asked.
"You know I don't drink, Toph," he replied, needlessly reminding her. But, he didn't sound upset, she could hear the smile in his voice.
In fact, she knew that would be his answer because he didn't drink, but that was okay. As long as he was sitting in the chair next to hers, everything was fine. More than fine.
"Well, I do. C'mon."
Grinning, the Chief of Police stood from her desk, removed and secured her metalbending uniform into a small closet, and began changing into civilian clothing. To give her added privacy, Aang turned away. Not that she needed it since she wore a thin camisole underneath her uniform and would probably keep the pants she already had on. But, it never failed that the blush that spread from his cheeks to his ears had become a constant occurrence when she did those kinds of things, seemingly innocent acts destined to make his face burn with embarrassment. For her, it was a sign of trust, he had come to believe. For him, it was something he would never get used to.
When Toph was done, she walked over to him.
"We'll find something fun for you to do, too," she smirked as she brushed past him and out of her office. As her arm swept against his, Aang couldn't help the way he held his breath at the fleeting touch. That specific reaction had become a common occurrence as well.
Out in the hallway, she paused to call over her shoulder, "You coming, Twinkletoes?"
"Yeah," he replied quickly, shaking his head of the strange things that suddenly entered his mind. The same thoughts he had whenever a part of her grazed a part of him or they stood a little too close to each other. The last few months, the accidental contact and accompanying thoughts had been happening more and more often. It was very distracting to say the least.
...
"This...this is your idea of fun!?" Aang yelled over the chaos surrounding them.
"You bet your bald head it is!" she laughed as wooden furniture and glass mugs cracked and shattered all around. Fists were flying and nearly every type of bending imaginable was being aimed at the Chief of Police and the Avatar, who were huddled close behind an overturned table. Of course, neither would be mistaken with such exemplary citizens in the dark and sleazy tavern they found themselves in, especially not in their current attire.
Aang's green and brown loose fitting tunic and pants had been made with the sole purpose of covering his tattoos, while a hat hid the arrow along his bald head. Toph, dressed in a sleeveless tunic and pants that reached midway to her calves, was laughing like a maniac as she bended at those thinking they stood a chance against her. Her hair was braided; a conscious effort to distance herself from her more recognizable persona as Chief.
Alright, she thought after seeing what the troublemakers were capable of and letting them have their fun. Now, it was her turn. Standing, she shifted the ground beneath the tiled floor until she secured those who instigated the entire ordeal.
"Toph, watch out!"
Aang stopped the sharp projectiles - approaching dangerously fast - from hitting their target: the insane woman next to him.
"Good looking out," she laughed, all but ignoring his plea to be more careful. Honestly, at the rate she was going he kept waiting for her to cackle and say that she wasn't Toph, she was Melon Lord. Thankfully, things didn't get that far. She did, however, make quick work of the thugs causing trouble and secured them for her metalbenders to pick up.
"We should go," she said, leaving through the large open space that used to be the bar. Unfortunately since it was made of wood, there was nothing either of them could do to repair it save grab a hammer and nails. She left a large enough tip to cover all the damages though. "Come on, Twinkletoes, since drinks were a bust, dinner's on me."
...
The walk from the restaurant was a blur. All the laughing and reminiscing while they ate was gone and only a heavy silence surrounded them until they reached her door.
He couldn't find the words to thank her for dinner or wish her a simple farewell. Her snark and sarcasm failed her and she couldn't even tell him to hurry home because it smelled like rain was coming soon. Instead, Aang leaned in to wrap her up in a hug good night. Without putting up a fight, without a word, Toph drifted willingly into his embrace. There, the closeness was all-consuming, heat blooming in the space between, and the world around them was forgotten as they lingered in that dangerous place beyond friendship, nearly crossing the line they were always both constantly aware of.
Her cheek was pressed against his, her skin warming his own. His hands had fallen from her shoulders to her waist. Then, moving as if by design, they both turned their heads a fraction towards the other and Aang had been able to feel her breath caress his lips for one blissful moment.
They stood impossibly close for an immeasurable amount of time.
Aang couldn't be sure if she hesitated, or he did. A split second was all it took and then, Toph was gone. Gray eyes stared at her front door, blinking in confusion.
An almost kiss.
It would have ruined everything.