Chapter 2. The River
A/N: I'm glad y'all like this story so far!! Like I said it won't be on an upload schedule but I promise it will continue as I feel ready to write! This chapter, and the next few, are mostly taking place in the days after Toph joins the gang, the story is going to follow the time line of the show but will have filler chapters between the chapters that follow the episodes. Anyways as always I'm very rusty with writing so any advice is appreciated, and enjoy! 3
They flew through the night and all through the next day, they needed to make up some ground from their stop in the earth kingdom. They talked as much as possible, getting to know one another, until Toph started feeling too air sick to keep talking.. Sokka teased her for it, feeling confident since poor Toph had no earth to smack him with, but Katara fixed that with a quick flick of water to Sokka's head. The boy's whine of pain cheered up the sick earth bender a bit, making her laugh, which made Katara's heart flutter for a second.
"Let's head down for the night, before Sokka gets himself in more trouble." Aang said laughing a little before bringing down the great bison. Quickly climbing off Appa they set to work getting to camp ready, most of them anyways. Toph mostly just hung out, normally it would bother the others but she was sick and still learning how to work with the others, so they shrugged it off.
"I'm going to get some fire wood, Aang want to come with me? You can find food and while we're gone Katara Toph could you set up the camp?" Everyone murmured agreement, Toph was still looking green and only half listening but she gave a small nod. Aang and Sokka ran off into the woods, Momo trailing behind, surely the three of them will behave.. Katara gave a soft sigh, starting to set up the tents and making a small ring of stones for the fire pit. Toph just sat against Appa's soft side, watching Katara absently. 'She's so graceful..' The thought crossed Toph's mind briefly before quickly shoving it away.
"Uh so.." Katara coughed getting Toph's attention. "We only have two tents, Sokka and Aang usually sleep together because I can't sleep through all their nonsense, so would you uh.. be ok sleeping with me?" Katara's heart was beating out of her chest, Toph could feel it, 'She's probably just trying to be nice.. She's too nervous.' Toph puffed a breathe making her dark hair fly out of her face for a moment. "We can get you a tent next time we're in town! Just.. for tonight." Her heart was getting louder. 'Why am I so nervous around her? She's my friend I have no reason to feel weird sharing a tent with her..' Katara thought to herself, she pushed down her nervousness. Toph smiled, friendly enough, shrugging a shoulder.
"Don't worry, I got it covered." Toph stomped her foot and a stone tent erupted from the earth, making poor Katara jump about a foot in the air from surprise. Toph laughed at the older girl's reaction, she tried to glare but her heart melted with her loud chuckles. Her nerves were calmed a little, Toph felt her relax and her own heart dropped a little. 'I wish she would've just told me she didn't want to share a tent.. but whatever.'
"I AM THE ANCIENT FOREST SPIRIT!" A gust of wind shot through the camp, along with Aang covered in leaves, with a wound up Momo riding on his head.
Sokka came crashing through the line of trees moments later, swinging branches like a crazy man. "I WILL SLAY YOU SPIRIT!" He declared bolting after the avatar, who was zooming around the camp.
"AANG SOKKA KNOCK IT OFF!" Katara shouted over the winds, hair now wild from the air benders antics and hands on her hips. Toph howled with laughter.
"Get him Sokka!" Toph encouraged, making the annoyed water bender glare daggers at her.
The boys barely acknowledged the girls, Aang was using his air bending to go from tree to tree and Sokka was wildly swinging the sticks in an attempt to make contact. Katara rolled her eyes as they all roared with laughter, she was honestly pretty amused too but she wasn't about to admit it. Sokka finally managed to land a playful blow to Aang's side, who immediately dropped to the ground writhing in the most dramatic fashion.
"I've been HIT.. World so cold.. Going dark.." The air bender wheezed reaching out dramatically to the sky, Momo copying his actions, before flopping over dead. Sokka screeched a victory noise, holding up his 'swords' as he danced over Aang's body. Katara rubbed her temples, Toph now clutching her sides with laughter. It was going to be an obnoxious night for all of them.
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Things had calmed down, dinner had been finished a bit ago, with Sokka and Aang now exhausted and snoring in their tents it was very peaceful. Katara was the only one awake, relaxing near the small fire watching the stars, or at least she thought. Toph was awake, just laying in her rock tent, watching over the camp. At least that's what she convinced herself of, her focus was mostly on Katara.
Listening to the water bender's soft heart beat, feeling every breathe she took, noticing every small movement or stretch she made. Toph couldn't help but notice every bit of her, she was just so interested in the older girl. 'What is so interesting about her?' Toph sighed. 'Maybe its just nice to finally have a friend.. Maybe this is just what having a friend is? Who knows.' Toph's thoughts went quiet as she noticed Katara start to stretch the muscles in her back, slowly getting to her feet she quietly stepped towards her own tent. Katara stalled for a second, glancing back for a moment to look at Toph's rocky sleeping quarters. Katara couldn't see her, but her heart still sped up as she stared for a moment, confusing the earth bender. 'What's making her nervous now?' She squinted her milky green eyes in confusion. The moment passed, Katara quickly padded into her tent to turn in for the night. Toph rolled over, shutting her eyes as if to shut out the thoughts she was having before falling into a deep slumber.
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"Good morning Toph!" Sokka yelled cheerily as the girl stumbled out of the earthen tent, hair a mess and sleep still in her eyes. She unhinged her jaw in a loud yawn, giving a grunt of a greeting before plopping down next to Aang.
"How was your first night away from home?" Aang asked sweetly, handing her a bowl of berries for breakfast. Another grunt and she started eating. "Sooo not to rush or anything but.. when are we gonna start earth bending?" Aang grinned widely, excitement making his whole body shake. 'How is he awake right now?' Toph thought grumpily.
"Later." The earth bender growled sleepily, absently eating her berries. Aang thought better than to push his new teacher. 'She's definitely not a morning person..' He noted mentally to not bother her too much before she was fully awake.
Toph's soft green eyes looked up a little as she noticed the absence of a certain water tribe girl. "Where's little Ms.Sunshine?" She grumbled, trying to not sound too interested.
"Oh she went to some river near by, she should be back later." Sokka shrugged, sharpening his weapons absently, making faces at Momo as he did.
"She goes every morning to practice bending, I usually go with her but I wanted to see what you had planned for our first lesson!" Aang added, Toph glared a little at the cheery tone but if the air bender noticed her annoyance he certainly didn't show it.
"Later." Again was all she said before stumbling off in the direction that a river could be heard. 'I'm not looking for her.. just want to put my feet in the water for a bit.' She convinced herself quietly. Aang shrugged it off, she said later so they'd train later.
"Want me to brush your toes buddy?" He asked turning to Appa, who gave a roar of approval and rolled onto his side to let his small friend tend to him.
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Katara was quietly floating in the water, letting the cooling liquid run over her body, the river felt healing after being in the air for so long. She let her body sink into the water a bit more, opening her eyes to watch the sun dance through the river. The water truly felt like home. She slowly bended a bubble from the water, letting it dance between her fingers for a moment before lifting herself out of the water to take in a gulp of air. Standing now she let the water drip from her hair, free from her usual braids, and gave a content breathe of fresh air. She jumped a little as she noticed Toph sitting on the bank, feet dipped into the river and eyes glued to where Katara now stood. Her cheeks had a rosey color to them. 'How well can she see into water?' Katara wondered, body relaxing after being startled by her sudden appearance.
"Good morning sleepyhead!" The gentle water bender chirped, Toph's eyes quickly dipped back down hiding her face behind her messy dark hair.
"Morning." Toph spoke flatly, Katara felt a little disappointment at her tone but tried to let it roll off her back. Swimming over silently and quickly she perched herself on a rock next to Toph, crossing her legs as she rung the water out of her hair. Toph stayed frozen, watching her but looking into the water more observant than she let on to the other girl.
"Aang said he wanted to stay here for a few days so that you two could start working on his earth bending, so do you have anything planned?" Katara prodded, hoping to get Toph to talk a little more.
"Later." She grumbled again, softer than how she spoke to Aang and Sokka but still gruff and sleepy. Katara gave a crooked smile, letting herself lean back on her hands to let the sun wash over her.
"Not a morning person?" Toph grumbled something too low for Katara to fully hear, but she got her answer. "Don't worry it'll get easier." She encouraged softly, which got her just another grumble. Katara sighed, letting silence fill the air.
"Sorry." Toph finally sighed, Katara's deep blue eyes glanced over to her. "Not used to talking to people this early.. Or ever really." She added as an after thought. Katara's eyes softened at the words, sitting up now to give Toph her full attention. "I was locked up in that house, no friends, my parents were always off somewhere.. The only time I really talked to anyone was when I was at my 'lessons' or at the ring." Toph shrugged, smiling a tough grin now. "It didn't bother me or anything. I just have to adjust now."
Katara had a feeling it did bother her but she kept the thought to herself. She placed a hand on her knee gently, squeezing softly. Toph stiffened a little at the touch, her hidden face red behind her black hair, but didn't attempt to move it away. "Well, now you have us. We'll help you get used to talking." Her gentle voice made Toph relax a little, she kept her eyes down but a grateful smile crossed her lips.
"Thanks Katara.." They sat for a minute like that, Katara's hand on Toph's knee, both their hearts soaring. It was peaceful. Until Katara, with a quick flick of her wrist bent the water to splash Toph. Not enough to soak her, but enough to annoy her.
"Katara!" Toph shouted finally awake, the water bender laughed leaping back into the water to avoid the playful slap from Toph. "You're dead!" She declared, Katara gave a gasp of surprise as Toph impulsively jumped in after her. The river was shallow enough that Toph could stand in most parts, and see fine just with a bit of fog. The two played around wrestling in the water, teasing each other, all through the morning. As they were walking back to camp, Toph's clothes now completely soaked and her hair a wet mop over her eyes, they kept laughing and teasing one another.
"You're a mess." Katara joked, Toph stuck her tongue out making the water tribe girl giggle.
"Well how was I supposed to know I was going to go swimming!"
"You jumped in on your own free will." She reminded her mildly, Toph rolled her eyes.
"Yes, but for revenge. I had to do it." Katara shook her head, Toph really was a handful.
"At least let me dry you off." Katara playfully bumped her hip against the earth benders as they stopped.
"Fine. Do your worst." Toph threw out her arms dramatically and flipped her head back, Katara held back a giggle.
Slowly she started moving her hands in gentle rounding motions, coaxing the water from the girl's clothes and dark hair. Toph could sense how close Katara's hands were and started to blush, she tried to push the thought from her mind with deep breathes, but noticing Toph's blush Katara's heart sped up making her try to work the water out faster. 'Why do I keep feeling like this?' Katara tried to ignore the feeling as she finally worked the last bit of water from Toph's clothing. As Katara lowered her hands and Toph straightened back their eyes met for a second, making Katara's heart shoot through her chest. Toph not noticing kept her eyes where they were, making Katara about melt. 'They're so gorgeous to look at- Get it together!' The water bender broke the eye contact, face hot with embarrassment.
"There, all dry." Katara tried to be cheerful, Toph felt the tightness in her voice but didn't question it. They started heading to camp again, this time in embarrassed silence. 'I wonder what her hands would feel like..' Toph shook her head gulping nervously she picked up the pace. 'Having friends is weird.. not bad. But definitely weird.' The earth bender concluded in her mind, the nervousness was just because she didn't have friends before its a new feeling natural to feel anxious.
They finally walked into the camp, Aang was finishing up cleaning Appa's toes when they arrived, Sokka and Momo napping together in the tent. Katara quickly went to her tent to change into her clothes for the day, Toph waited a moment before turning her attention away from Katara and instead onto Aang.
"Ready to learn some earth bending twinkle toes?" She taunted the air bender, who excitedly grinned and jumped off the great bison to meet with his new master. Toph grinned excited herself to start, 'Earth bending will finally take my mind off Katara,'