"I promise you'll like them." Doom words. Doom words she managed to say with an amazing smile as she practically dragged him through the town. He stared at her. "Well at least they'll like you." Toph grinned.

"I seriously doubt it."

"Just follow the basic rules and you'll like them."

"No killing, try to be sociable and all that rubbish." He paused, "Are you punishing me for something?"

"Trust me, if I were punishing you, you would know."

He could not stand them. They were loud. Too loud. How on earth could she stand them? There was one that spoke incessantly and by some miracle never managed to say a thing. There was the overly happy child that bitterly reminded him of Naruto – why was it that it is the absolute idiots that are given power? Then there was the girl, sweet, caring and absolutely irritating.

"So where are you from?" Katara asked in a polite attempt to draw him into the current conversation.

"Sunakagure." Gaara clipped.

"Suna huh?" Katara asked in confusion.

"I'd explain it too you but I doubt you possess the mental capability to grasp it so it would be a waste of my time." Gaara stated so matter-of-factly the pain of the insult was doubled.

Toph hung her head. This was not going to end well. At least he hadn't tried to kill anyone. Katara's mouth hung open. "I- I was just trying to be nice and include you." She snapped.

"I do not need your pity."

Toph rubbed her temples. Bad. Bad. Bad.

"Hmph. I know people like you, always trying to push people away – you'll end up hated and alone. You'll never make friends if you treat people like this."

Terrible! "O.K." Toph exclaimed. She could feel Gaara's irritation rising – why did Katara have to have a knack for saying the worst possible things to a person? "um, Gaara isn't much of a talker, so I'll explain. He's from Sunakagure – it's a ninja village –"

"So he's a ninja?" Aang asked wide-eyed. Toph face-palmed.

"Yeah right." Sokka rolled his eyes, "prove it."

"Yeah, do something cool and ninja like." Aang with practically bouncing up and down on his seat, Katara after the insult had drawn herself far away from Gaara but even she was curious.

"Ever heard of sand-coffin?" Gaara asked cruelly.

"No!" Toph yelled. He looked at her innocently and at the very moment she decided that she was going to punish him after all.

"What's with that gourd on his back?" Aang asked as he curiously reached over to open the gourd.

"Do not touch it." Gaara warned.

"I just want to see."

"What's wrong with his eyes?" Sokka asked, "They're weird."

"Both of you should stop it and just relax."

"I just want to see what's inside the gourd." Aang said. Gaara wasn't moving. He remained as still as a stone statue because if he moved his was probably going to kill the avatar and he had that weird feeling that that would not sit very well with Toph.

"Oi, what's wrong with his eyes? Seriously." Sokka frowned.

"Aang, I think you should stop that." Toph said, slightly worried for his well-being. There was a low popping sound.

"Got it!" Aang grinned triumphantly. His victory was short lived as a blast of sand him in the chest and sent him flying two feet in the air. Aang fell to ground. He was bound and gagged by sand.

"Sandy!" Toph exploded, "Aang can't sand bend yet so let him go. Now."

"No." He replied coolly, "he deserves it… and much worse."

Sokka and Katara stared in disbelief. "No!" Toph snapped, "Sure twinkle-toes is annoying and hyperactive but you can't kill him for that!"

"Who said anything about killing him? You asked me not to."

"Just let him go." Toph said through gritted teeth. Already Gaara could feel the earth beneath him trembling. He rose to his feet and turned to look at Aang who was lying helplessly on the ground. "If I let him go we can go?"

"She's not going anywhere with you." Sokka snapped as he yanked Toph away. "Toph this guy is dangerous – why would you get yourself involved with someone like that?" Sokka asked Toph.

"You don't know dangerous." Gaara said coldly.

"You kill people." Katara interjected, "you said you don't need pity then why are you taking Toph's pity?"

"It's not pity." Toph snapped, she was steadily losing her temper, "you guys are just insensitive idiots who want to ruin everything for me! I told you Sandy here has a temper."

"How could he have a temper? He's emotionless and cold." Katara sneered. Toph could feel her rage bubbling over.

"Listen up sugar queen," Toph said as she poked Katara on the shoulder, "you don't know him so you don't get to pass judgments."

"Whoever you are, we're not letting you near our friend." Sokka pulled the ranting Toph to his right side, separating her from Katara.

"Toph?" Gaara asked.

"And you Gaara, I asked you for just one thing Gaara, why couldn't you do just one thing for me?" Toph was furious, "they're important to me too."

"They're still alive aren't they?" Gaara shrugged. "Toph, right now you're being very silly because you wanted your friends to meet me but a 'fake' me."

"Hm, ok. Just be yourself Sandy, they won't mind that you're most likely insane and highly unstable. Oh, and I'm sure they won't mind your slight people problem – some people shun other people, you just kill them – wait, no, you changed; now you just mercilessly kill your enemies. But never mind, they'll love you anyway Mr. I've-got-a-demon-trapped-in-me." Sarcasm dripped heavily from Toph's words.

"And what kind of messed up person would want to be with someone so clearly insane?" Gaara asked slyly, "It seems your secret it out Toph."

"What Secret?" Toph asked, "They already know I'm crazy. I just wanted them to like you"

"Why? I don't like them."

"Ok, I'm sorry." Toph looked over at Aang, "but could you at least let twinkle-toes go?" The moment she said that the sand binding Aang loosed. "Good, now we're going to see my parents."

"You're punishing me aren't you?" Gaara asked, defeated.

"Yes; you were mean to my friends so you deserve it. Now let's go." Toph said as she placed her hand in Gaara's. He sighed and the sand beneath them gathered under their feet and lifted them off the ground.

"I wasn't mean." Gaara protested.

"Where are you going?!" Katara yelled from below them. She did not like the idea of Toph leaving with that lunatic.

"The earth-kingdom!" Toph yelled back from the air.

"Aang stop them!" Katara yelled.

"Why?" Aang asked, "I like him."

"You know you shouldn't use me to punish your parents and your parents to punish me." Gaara pointed out.

"Yeah, but you both deserve it."

Gaara sighed in defeat. He was always going to give in to her, but surprisingly enough, he did not mind.

A/N : It was really difficult to keep this story light-hearted. The Gaang is soooo annoying. Anyway, I might follow this up with if it were Sasuke (gotta love the crack) - that is if i get inspiration.

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