How to teach a mole to swim.

Lesson one: How to ask.

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Toph growled under her breath. She had the biggest urge to just turn around, go back to the camp and maybe even wrap herself up in a blanket of earth.

No! No she had made up her mind. She needed to know! She hated being weak and not being able to do something even if she was blind. She had half a mind to ask one of the others to help her but she thought better of it. Katara would be all 'It's too dangerous.' And baby her. Sokka… Well Sokka may not be too bad but she had her pride. She even considered Aang. But she was his master… not the other way around. And this was one of the biggest descions of her life.

Taking a deep breath the earthbender stepped up beside the tree and waited. She felt the earth move beneath his feet as he practiced his drills, over and over.

He heard her coming before he saw her. Stopping as he finished his last sequence the firebender turned to look at the dark haired girl. "What are you doing out here?" he asked throwing his shirt back over his head. "I thought you were supposed to be training Aang?"

Toph shurgged and plopped down on the boulder beside a nearby tree. "Sugar Queen took over."

Zuko raised his good eyebrow and looked at the girl. "And you just came down here?"

The Earth bender went silent and figetted on her hard seat. She felt the Fire prince eyes on her and she thanked the spirit realm that he didn't say anything. This was hard enough without pressure. Straitghting her back she opened her mouth but snapped it shut again as the words failed to come out. Toph felt her ears turn red as Zuko moved over and sat on the ground beside the rock.

The amber eyed male reached for his water skin and was about to take a drink out of it when Toph finally spoke. She jumped off the rock and sat on her knees beside the banished teen.

"Iwantyoutoteachmehowtoswim!"

Zuko's eyes went wide and he choked on his water. Spitting it out he spun his head to look at Toph. Deterimantion lined her face but he could also see the apprehension in her clouded eyes. "You want me to teach you?" he looked at her as he dried off his face. "To swim?"

Toph nodded.

Zuko waited a moment before shaking his head. "What brought this on? I heard you hate the water. It means you can't see." He watched carfully as she prused her lips in a thin line.

The earthbender waited for amoment, debating on wether or not to tell him."We were at the Serpent's Pass a while ago. I was fine until I fell into the water." A pause as Toph felt a couple of Rabbit hawks passed by. "I thought I was going to drown for sure." Toph explained her shoulders sagging. "But Snoozles girlfriend was there and she got me out. But-" She grit her teeth her hands clutching her pants in anger. "I felt totally helpless and I couldn't do anything, I couldn't even keep myself afloat. I hated it."

Zuko watched the shame cross her face. He could tell it was hard for her to admit she couldn't do something and he greatly admired that she was doing so… expessically to him. She didn't meet his eyes but he knew that there was friece hatred burning in the whitish green orbs.

"You know you'd be totally blind right."

Toph nodded.

"You still want to learn?"

Another nod and Zuko sighed. "Fine. I'll teach you."

Toph raised her head starring at him in disbelief. "You will?"

"You expected me to say no?" Zuko asked getting to his feet. "It's a good thing for you to learn. Besides theres really no better time since we're near the water."

Toph bounced up from the ground a grimace on her face. "I'm probably going to regret this. But thanks." Maybe she had wished for him to say no. She felt like she was going to be sick just thinking of the water. She felt the firebender in front of her stop walking and turn to face her.

"Hey, why'd you ask me anyway? Why not the water peasent?" she heard him ask.

Toph shrugged knowing the reason but didn't feel like explaining it. "You just seemed like the logical choice is all." She started walking and Zuko followed beside her. As the reached the end of the clearing she reached out and punched Zuko's arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"He snapped angerily.

Toph looked at him, not really seeing him. "You better not let me drown do you hear me?!"

"I'm not going to let you drown Toph."

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Well theres the first chapter. It's not yet, but it will probably end up being Toko. I got this strange idea while I was at the public pool and I saw this mom trying to teach her kid how to swim. So I'm like. Oh idea, lol. So heres the first chapter. Even if it's not very long it should prove amusing. Thanks for reading.