Beneath the Oasis

Chapter Four

Taiyo-chan

Disclaimer. I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything associated with it.

"This is seriously not necessary," Toph objected bluntly as Suki began twisting her recently braided hair into a bun.

"Aww, there's nothing wrong with having a different hairstyle for the gathering," Suki protested with a chuckle. "Even if it's not formal."

At this, Toph blew a raspberry.

A brief chill that entered into their guest home. It was Katara entering in.

"Did you have a nice walk?" Suki asked.

Katara nodded her head. "My head's actually a bit clearer now." Toph's braided bun caught her eye. She knelt down besides Toph and examined the bun delicately with her fingers. "This looks cute on her, Suki."

Suki lifted her head in pride. "Thank you; I made sure it looked cute on her."

The blind heiress slumped in her sitting position. "You two suck."

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"Hey, what did you and Katara talk about?" Sokka asked as he fixed his hair.

Aang shrugged half-heartedly. "Eh, stuff. Just catching up on some things."

"Ah." Sokka paused. He looked over at Aang. "So…how are you feeling?"

Aang sighed. "I've been better." He gave Sokka a small smile. "But I'll live." He looked away in thought. "Though, now I need to talk to Toph."

"Wait a minute," Sokka said, perking up and pointing a finger at Aang. "You're dating Toph now?"

"Noo," Aang replied with raised eyebrows. "Why'd you think that?"

Sokka took time to think. "I don't know." He rubbed his fuzzy chin and muttered to himself, "Though that's not a bad idea at all…"

Aang shook his head but he didn't feel like protesting. It wasn't worth it and considering who he was talking to, it wasn't a big deal either.

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Toph growled to herself. Here she was in the middle of the Palace full of wandering people and Katara dragging her next to her as if she was a five-year-old. "You two don't have to stay with me. In fact, leave me alone."

Suki cracked a small smile while Katara only squeezed Toph's hand even tighter. "I know you don't like to be treated like this but what are you going to do if we leave you? The place is pretty big."

"You know me, Katara. I'll find something to do," Toph replied dismissively. "Just let me go. I love you guys but you're starting to get on my nerves like my parents."

Katara and Suki cringed at being compared to the past actions of the Bei Fong parents. They were surprised, however, to see Toph's face soften.

"I promise I'll find something to do," Toph said.

Katara took a deep breath and patted Toph's head. "…All right."

Suki wore an empathetic smile as she grabbed Katara's hand and lead her away. "Have fun."

Toph waved and sighed in relief. The music started playing and the people were already getting into the beat. The music wasn't bad but she wasn't going to stay where she was constantly going to get bumped into. She swam through the bumping bodies until she was able to make contact with a frozen wall. From there, she traced her gloved hand along the wall and walked a pace that was meticulous but not so cautious like a snail.

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Sokka and Aang reached the gathering, already bumping into the international guests.

"Wow, they sure are in the spirit for dancing," Aang commented to himself. Sokka looked around.

"I'm going to look for Suki," he told Aang. "Are you coming along to see Katara?"

"No," Aang answered, smiling a little. "I'm going to look for Toph."

"Knowing Katara she might've forced her into staying with her."

"And knowing Toph she might've told Katara to leave her alone."

Sokka stopped to ponder. "…Good point."

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Toph blew at her bangs in relief the second she hit an area where there were no people. She stopped and slid against the icy wall. She turned her head at the sound of gentle water. It was right in front of her. The sound…it was actually soothing. Toph rested her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She may not have been able to see but this was the second to closest thing she was going to get as comfort.

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"Have you seen a blind girl that has pale green eyes and black hair?" Aang asked a fellow Firebender. To his fortune, the guest nodded.

"She was following that wall over there," he said. He pointed at it. "If she had pressed hard enough you should find a trail."

Aang gave the man a brief bow. "Thank you." He approached the wall. She must've pressed hard enough because there was indeed a trail and he began to follow it.

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I'm beginning to get a little impatient but I shall wait. I have all night; I can wait.

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It was funny, Toph thought, to find the element she hated soothing just because of its own rhythm. She opened her eyes at the sound of light footsteps. She turned to face the person. "Twinkle Toes?"

"How'd you know it was me?"

Toph smirked. "Even in snow I can tell your light footsteps."

She heard him walk around her and take a seat next to her. He sighed. "I'm sorry….for begging you to come here. It was selfish of me."

Toph shrugged. "I told you that you won't get off easy. So forget about it; it's not the end of the world."

"Katara figured it out."

Toph made a face. "I'm not surprised."

"In a way, me neither," Aang muttered. He watched Toph rub her arms for warmth. "Are you sure you're not mad at me?"

Toph rolled her eyes. "I'm more annoyed at Katara and Suki watching me like an infant than not being able to see out here." She shot him a mischievous smirk. "Like I said, you won't get off easy once you take me back home."

Aang studied Toph's face; there wasn't a trace of bitterness. He felt some weight lifted off his heart. "Still, I want to make it up to you here." He rose to his feet and held out a hand to her. "I'll take you to the one place where you can see."

Toph raised an eyebrow. "And where's that at?"

"The Spirit Oasis."