Blind Love
an Avatar: the Last Airbender fanfic
I DO NOT OWN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. THIS IS JUST A FANFIC.
PLOT: Toph and Katara's boredom unfurls while Aang is in town.
CHAPTER ONE
"I'm heading into town. You guys want anything?" Aang, the Avatar, turned as he spoke to his female cohorts.
"Hello? WE'RE GIRLS!" Shouted Toph as she picked flecks of dirt from her feet. For a Royal Earth-Bender, Toph Bei Fong was surprisingly crass and boyish. This adventure was a welcome change from the prim-and-proper lifestyle of a princess. The hardships associated with it actually attracted her into it more. She enjoyed the frequent lack of "proper" hygiene and irregular sleeping patterns. Katara and Sokka were good company even though they could be annoying every once in a while. Lately, Katara had acted as a sort of mother figure toward Toph. Perhaps she was making up for feeling some kind of guilt at losing her mother. Whatever katara's reasons, Toph felt some comfort in the waterbender.
"No, I think we're good. Someone should scout for us. Hey brother, do you want to look out for us?" Sokka was balancing his boomerang. When Katara called his name, he dropped it on a napping Momo, frightening him. Toph felt Momo leave the ground in flight and put in her comment.
"HA! Sokka watching guard? That's like me wearing a blindfold: useless! He couldn't even tell if Appa was coming at him."
"Listen everyone. Fire nation rogues nearly caught us a few days ago. They might still be on our trail. If you see anything suspicious Sokka, have Momo come get me in town, okay?" The flying monkey landed on Aang's shoulder and chattered agreeably. "And for that matter Toph, if you sense any movements in the ground, have Momo get me too okay?" The earthbender gave a nonchalant hand gesture and shifted a weed back and forth in her mouth.
"Right then. Be right back." The Avatar slung a pack across his shoulder and set out for the nearby town.
"How long do you think he'll be gone?" Said Sokka as Momo harangued him for stepping on his tail.
"Who knows? He likely will spend all of our money on something he really doesn't need based on the weight of his footfalls as he left." Toph stretched her limbs out and yawned. Katara said nothing but looked out at Aang's disappearing figure. When she found him in the ice long ago, Katara knew that it was her destiny to find him. Since then she had developed a liking to him, one being stronger than a friendship, but something short of love. Perhaps Katara felt this way because she believed Aang could and would end the Fire Nation instigated war that turned all the once peaceful Nations against each other.
"Eh...Whatever. Momo! How about you watch guard while I nap?" Sokka's proposition got the primate off his back. While Momo seemed to be displeased at this laziness, he perched himself in a tree to stand sentry.
"Sokka! How lay-about are you?"
"Don't worry sis. Momo's a better guard as his ears are more sensitive!" Said Sokka as he lay down in Appa's fur. The two adjusted themselves before falling into slumber.
"Toph…What was the Earth Kingdom like before the invasion?" Katara spoke.
"Eh…same as it is now I guess. The Dai Li are prevalent in the city and rat out Fire Nation spies."
"Do you really think that's what they do? I mean, they did swear loyalty to the Fire Nat-" katara was interrupted by Toph.
"SSSHHH!!! If they hear you talking like that, who knows what could happen!"
"That's assuming there's anyone around to hear us…"
"Yeah. I guess you're right. Just you and me."
"You mean you and I?" Katara corrected Toph and sat down on the ground beside her. Toph was slightly irritated with this grammatical instruction.
"Yes…you and I…" Katara snuggled particularly close to Toph, causing her to question why.
"What's with you, so friendly all of a sudden?" The Earth bender's inquiry was ignored.
"You seem to like sitting on the ground, even when there are more comfortable positions available."
"Of course. I'm an Earth bender. It is well that I'm in contact with rock or soil as often as possible!" Katara pointed to Toph's feet.
"I can tell. Your little piggies need a washing!"
"No way! I'd lose a good percentage of my Earth-bending skill!" Katara's eye suddenly took on a degree of glassiness.
"Don't worry Toph. You won't need to bend Earth for what I'm about to do!"