The Night Before

By: Juria

Notes: All characters are copywritten to Nickelodeon, or something. Toko rules! This is my first Toko fic, so please, no bashing. This story takes place the night before the final episode of season 2, which I have yet to see. Also, Toph and Aang are a couple of years older.

Zuko sat in the darkness, away from the fire, away from his new-found friends, alone with his thoughts. I know that she's following me, but I've got a plan, one that will end her, and my father as well. Now, with any luck, they won't try to stop me.

The sound of a twig snapping broke the exiled prince out of his train of thought. "Who's there?" he asked in a demanding tone, fully ready to start throwing fireballs at whoever interrupted him. Before he could even react, the ground underneath him seemed to slide out from under him, knocking him on his rear.

With her trademark smirk on her face, the earthbender Toph stepped out from the shadows, chuckling, her foggy eyes emitting an errie glow in the moonlight. "Relax, hot-head." she said, jumping up on a rock.

Zuko glared at the small, yet incrediably well-built girl. Even though she couldn't see, Toph could still feel Zuko's eyes looking her over, something he'd done a few times before, thinking she didn't notice. "What do you want?" he asked in his usually pissy tone.

Toph smiled at him. "You were talking to yourself. I heard your idea." she said bluntly. Zuko immediatly stood up, infuriated. Damn, what now? he thought, stareing up at Toph.

For some odd reason, it was more than the usual male hormones that made him stare at her on this night. Maybe it was the glimmer on her eyes, or maybe it was the way her tunic seemed to wrap around her body just a little tighter. Whatever it was, she was hot.

However, his trance was broken when she instantly turned to him, almost like she could see him. "Come up here." she said with a grin, patting the ground next to her. Zuko cautiously climbed up on the rock and sat next to her, staring at the sky. He didn't get to stare for long.

Almost instantly, the rock shifted behind Zuko, supporting him as Toph placed her hands on his chest, pushing him on his back as she let her lips touch his. Zuko's eyes went wide with shock, for a minute, then he realized that this was what the emptiness in his heart had always been, the longing for the woman of his dreams, and he'd found her. Zuko gently placed his arm around Toph's waist and pulled her forward, his lips locking with hers.

After what seemed like an eternity, the two benders broke apart, gasping for air, both of them sporting a blood-red face. "Sorry." Toph said glumly, jumping from the rock to the ground. She started to walk away, but stopped when she felt Zuko's hand in hers. "No, it is I who should apologize. All this time I tried to push everyone away" Zuko gently titled Toph's head up to where his eyes met hers "When the person I needed the most was always beside me." he said, gently kissing her.

Toph smirked at him, then placed her hand on his cheek. "Promise me nothing will happen to Uncle Iroh tomorrow." she said. Zuko nodded his head. "I promise." and with that, Toph and Zuko's lips met once more, and it would have stayed that way, if not for Zuko's hands roaming around Toph's body.

"Hey, not now torch." she said, moving his hands away from her ass, then grinning as she walked away. Zuko smirked as Toph walked back to the fire, then returned to his thoughts. If only things had gone his way. If only things went according to plan.

So, what do you think?
Please Read and Review.
Thanks.
- Juria