"Toph, it's time to get up," she could hear the Mechanist's voice, although muffled through the pillows encasing her head, calling from the doorway.
"Rmf…" she groaned, sorrily attempting to push herself up from her stomach, giving up instantly, preferring to remain eagle-sprawled on the bed. During her short excuse of lifting herself up, the pillows burying her head and upper shoulders had tumbled to the floor, and with the comforter twisted down by her waist, the air slightly chilled her thinly-clothed back, sending a small shiver down her spine.
She folded her arms in front of her, using them as a makeshift pillow, hiding her face in the crevice, allowing her stale breath to warm her nose and cheeks.
"Five more minutes..." she mumbled, turning her head to the side for fresh air as she tried to doze back off.
The Mechanist tisked. "It's almost midday; the rest of the Temple's already up and about, and Teo's getting ready to leave for town. If you don't want to be left behind, I highly suggest that you get out of bed."
Toph groaned again and turned toward the door, eyes still closed. "Can't he wait?" she bit.
"He has been waiting. All morning, in fact."
"Ugh…fine," Toph grumbled, exaggeratingly dragging herself into a sitting position. She hear the door shut softly, and she stretched and pulled back the rest of the covers, turning and dropping her feet on the cold stone floor. With another yawn, she stood and made her way slowly to the closet, and pulled out one of the folded outfits that one of the girls at the Temple had painstakingly put together and organized for her.
She changed quickly, throwing her nightclothes into the pile of clothing accumulating by the door. She picked up a comb from the table below the window and quickly brushed her hair, which unfortunately had acquired several large knots and tangles throughout the night that she impatiently ripped the comb through until she deemed that her hair was kempt enough.
She put the comb back where it had been and picked up a small elastic band, stretching it around her wrist before opening the door and shuffling, still groggy, down the hall and to the right, entering the kitchen.
"Mornin' Sleepyhead," Teo chirped. She narrowed her eyes in his direction as she made her way over to the counter and took a seat. It was too early to be this perky, Toph thought; just one more thing that she could never understand about him.
"I see you managed to drag yourself up after all," the Mechanist joked, handing her a cup of rooibos tea from behind the counter.
"Thanks Fakih," she said, taking a sip and letting the hot liquid warm her from the inside.
Teo wheeled up from behind her and gathered her hair in his hands, and she held back her arm for him to grab the band, which he expertly twisted into her hair as the Mechanist left for his workshop.
"You know," Teo said, "I guest her is a bright side to you constantly sleeping so late."
Rotating in her chair to face him, Toph raised an eyebrow, which she was hoping was over the rim of her cup. "And that would be…?"
He chuckled. "We never have to wait before going out for lunch," he joked.
Toph rolled her eyes, trying not to smile at his optimism. "Whatever."
She downed the last of her tea and put the cup back on the counter. Her stomach rumbled, and Teo laughed.
"See? What'd I tell you; it's time for lunch!" He said.
Toph got down from her chair and grinned. "Alright, I give in. Let's go."
Teo called behind them as they reached the door. "Dad, we're leaving!"
"Have fun kids, be careful!" The Mechanist called back, and Teo smiled, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, we will!"
They made their way to the nearest takeoff point and Toph climbed onto the chair, disconnecting herself from the Earth. Teo sped the chair forward, and off the mountain they went, soaring their way to the city.
Toph stretched as Teo leaned his glider against the wall of the restaurant for safekeeping before they entered. They were met at the door by a stuffy waiter who Toph could feel sneering down at them. Teo reached into his tunic and pulled out a small sack, depositing a large amount of coins into the waiter's hand before putting it away.
"Table for two, please," he said.
The waiter sighed. "May I ask whom I am serving today?"
Teo smirked. "Quey-Rin. Teo Quey-Rin," he said coolly. "And guest," he gestured to Toph, who suppressed a snort.
"Very well," the waiter said, not trying to mask his obvious boredom, and turned around to lead them to a table.
Teo started to follow smugly, and Toph punched him lightly on the arm, laughing. "You're just excited that you're old enough to order your own table," she joked.
"Do I look like I'm denying it?" he smirked.
Toph shook her head, and they followed the waiter to the back of the restaurant. They sat down and Teo ordered for the both of them.
"Wow," Toph said as they were waiting for their food, "so Twinkle toes and Sugarqueen… I'm not at all surprised, it's just…big," she softly exclaimed.
Teo nodded. "It kind of wakes you up a bit."
"Yeah."
"And then Sokka and Suki last year," he reminded her.
Toph snickered. "Now that was a surprise. Who would've thought Boomerang Boy would settle down," she laughed. "He's lucky Suki puts up with him."
Teo sighed. "You know, it all kind of makes you realize how much has changed," he muttered.
Toph cocked her head. "What'd'ya mean?" she asked.
"Everyone's all seriously growing up," he explained. "We're not just this group of kids who saved the world anymore…we're turning into adults taking it on," he said sadly.
Toph thought about this for a few minutes, taking it all in. "Yeah…I guess you're right," she said slowly.
It was quiet for a few seconds, before she suddenly grinned. "Think about it this way: there's now ay we're ever going to change."
"Yeah, there's no way," Teo laughed, right as their food arrived.
The second the waiter put her plate in front of her, Toph grabbed her chopsticks and started shoveling picken haphazardly in other mouth. "Finally," she muttered between mouthfuls.
"No need to be civilized," Teo chortled.
Toph swallowed and pointed a chopstick at him. "Don't push me," she threatened.
Teo grinned sheepishly. "Love you?" he offered.
Toph rolled her eyes and let out a curt sigh. "Yeah, whatever," she joked. "Just don't mess with me while I' m eating."
Teo grinned. "Can do." He picked up his own utensils and began to eat.
When they'd finished eating and were joking around, Toph noticed that Teo'd gotten quieter, and was positioned in a vacant stare.
"Hey," she said, knocking him on the arm, "what's up?"
"Nothing. That person over at the other table just looked kind of familiar," he pondered.
Toph stomped to get a better picture of them, and shrugged. "I've never met them before."
Teo shook his head. "Probably just a trick of the light," he muttered.
Toph kicked her chair back. "So, are we just gonna sit around here all day, or are we actually going to do something fun?" she complained, growing tired of the inanimate atmosphere of the restaurant.
Teo chuckled. "And what specifically do you have in mind?"
Toph sighed. "I dunno; anything but sitting here," she exclaimed.
"Anything it is," Teo teased. He left a tip on the table for the not-so-useful waiter, and the two headed off toward the middle ring.
Toph noticed that the man from earlier left just as they did, and seemed to be heading the same direction. If she hadn't known better, she'd think he was following them, she thought humorously.
"You know," Teo said as they made their way past a few small shops, "you should probably check with Katara about what you have to wear in the wedding soon."
Toph groaned. "Do I have to?" she whined.
Teo laughed. "Unfortunately, yes," he joked.
"I'll do it later." Toph grumbled, most certainly not looking forward to whatever filly contraption she had planned.
Teo grinned. "You know you're not going to," he said.
Toph punched him in the arm. "Yes I will!" she argued. He was probably right, seeing as the last time she was stuck in a dress was something she couldn't, and preferred not to, remember, and she wasn't too keen on doing it again. But, being the stubborn person she was, there was no way she'd let him know that.
"Of course you will," Teo said sarcastically.
Toph laughed. "Shut up, Shorty."
I'm starting off this story with an update roll, awesome!
Still kind of rough, but the real plot is still yet to be introduced.
Let me know what you think so far!