Discl.: AtLA doesn't belong to me ^.^
...
~*Terra incognita*~
…
…
…
A hug in an empty corridor. A brush of their hands whenever he saw fit. A secret glance when he thought no one was looking. A smile, two smiles, whenever their eyes locked. The head patting. Resting his head on her shoulder. The cuddling sessions.
Man, wasn't that annoying.
Toph wasn't really a physical person. Not all, even – she hadn't been used to being a part of the background in the grander scheme of love, never letting others forget of her existence, always loudmouthed and sarcastic. And she wouldn't have it her way.
However, when she thought everything was as it should be, a certain scarred firebender had waltzed in her life, sprouting fire and cliché phrases. And suddenly Toph'd started believing her previous world was nothing compared to the world she was living in now (after all, there was no fun quite like driving Fire Princess nuts, now was there?). And then, they'd saved the world, Fire Princess became a Fire Lord(ess) and-
… Well, things happened.
And now Toph was in the position of Royal Annoyer of His Majesty the Fire Lord(ess). And she was pretty damn proud of it (she'd never gone on a professional level despite her skills). And didn't even feel like going off to explore the world without having the threat of said world getting destroyed. That was a major compliment: the awesomest earth bender in the world quite liked it here, even without him (that was a lie, really: Fire Princess here was the biggest attraction that made her stay).
But these stupid touches!
It's not like they were that bad, you know. But the realm of touches and being soft to your 'sweetheart' didn't make any sense to Toph. It was stupid and sugary and saccharine and cliché and annoying–
(she didn't like it that she felt funny every time he did that. He felt funny too though – after receiving a punch or two more often than not, you would feel funny, after all.)
On the other hand, Fire Princess quite enjoyed doing everything that. There was always a superior smirk on his face when he held her gaze or held her hand, or hugged her…
Of course, the payback was even more insults and nagging.
…
At first it hadn't been like that. Toph was sure that she'd dropped the reins at some point and allowed her servant to do anything he wanted. And then, he'd been the one to get a hold on them and steer whatever they had into something resembling a direction, being unnaturally sure of himself.
The women at the castle either squealed or scrunched her noses at the tiny earthbender. Both repulsed her: she didn't like people fawning over her in that ridiculously girly way (otherwise, everyone was allowed to fangirl over her. Damn, it was a universal rule that Toph mighty deserved to be worshipped.) but it wasn't nice to talk behind her back like the others either. Too bad Fire Princess didn't allow her to do anything for the second type.
…
"Hey, fire princess. Why do you continue to do this?"
A sigh. A hand slowly tickling the inside of her arm. A shrug from his side that she could feel through their touch.
"… No idea. I feel like it."
"…"
Oops, her hand slipped, she guessed. It was purely by accident. Pure, pure accident (hehee, you gotta love sarcasm…). Why was Princess holding his hand and growling something about it hurting then?
…
What Toph wouldn't tell Zuko was that, when he'd fall asleep, she'd trail her hands over his chest and face, touching every possible contour and line of his body, all in utter fascination.