Chapter Twenty-Three: Toph

The whiskey clouded my mind making my head spin. Making me float in the sky. Maybe that's why I kept the fine crystal glass pressed to my lips.

Aang and I kept our distance the following weeks, but his lips still burned against my own, my heart still beating entirely too fast whenever I glanced at him.

It affected me so thoroughly I refused to fly with him on Appa, Iroh and I taking a train, then a boat, to get to Caldera.

Jealousy is a bitch of a thing I though as I watched Katara and Aang embrace and even kiss before breaking apart and greeting guests. I downed my drink, reaching for another. Sparky's heart thrumming furiously in his chest at their display.

'How curious. I should tell Sugar Queen about how Aang kissed me. He doesn't get to just run around kissing whoever he wants.'

I sat silently, the alcohol made me feel as promiscuous as it did envious. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hurt Aang or bed him. The thought alone had me reaching for another drink.

Iroh missed none of it. "Toph, this isn't going to help you.." I just shrugged off the very obvious advice he was giving.

I didn't want to think about what would help me or hurt me, I just wanted to forget it all happened. The waiter refilled my glass.

The liquid burned down my throat but I enjoyed its effects all the same. I leaned back against my chair feeling comfortable once Iroh finally walked away.

After a few more drinks I felt completely content and maybe somewhat brave, I walked right up to Aang and Katara. She regarded me as she always did, her chipper voice made me hate and love her at the same time. Her life was easy, her life was simple. I yearned for such a thing.

And despite wanting to, I had no ill will towards the water bender. This situation wasn't her fault and I still regarded her the same way as I always would.

I swayed on my feet, something I can't remember ever doing n and tried to get my bearings. "Toph, are you drunk?" Aang's voice made me want to cry out. He hasn't addressed me personally since he kissed me. I didn't know what to say or do.

The alcohol spun in my head, I couldn't think, I couldn't see, I couldn't move. I just stood there before my feet gave out on me. Suddenly overwhelmed by my lack of sight.

I felt his warm arms grip me, holding me steady. He said something to Katara I didn't quite catch and he swung me up into his arms. A movement so fast it almost made me sick. I wanted to fight out of his grasp to get as far away from him as I could. But his slow steps paired with the feeling of his hands on my body had my eyes drifting shut.

After what felt like hours, but clearly was only a few minutes, my eyes fluttered open, not that I could see anything anyway. I felt his hands at my back the strings of my intricate gown coming loose beneath his nimble fingers.

'What the hell?'

I wiggled, or at least tried to wiggle out of his grasp before he spoke in a tone I hadn't heard before.

"Stop moving." He sounded irritated and stern, almost like he was speaking to a child.

I stopped my fidgeting and sat as still as I could. The last tie undone causing the gown to sag over my shoulders. Then his hands were on my bare skin pushing the garment down my back until it pooled at my ankles. I had enough sense to step out of it.

I was bare to him from the waist up and I didn't care. I made no move to cover myself in front of him.

"Lift your arms up." The same tone used to scold a child, echoed back to me. Making what could have been a very different sexually charged scenario dissipate into nothing. I huffed before raising my arms, the tunic fell over my head with ease.

I reached for him, or at least where I sensed him. But there was nothing. Slamming my foot into the ground I searched for his vibrations but he felt everywhere but nowhere at the same time.

"Aang? I can't see you.." I'm sure my voice sounded as pathetic as I thought it did because he was holding my hand in an instant.

"It's ok, I've got you. Toph, what were you thinking?" At least he's sounded different, his voice riddled with concern and nothing else.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at his stupidity. "I wasn't thinking, obviously." I heard him sigh audibly, "we need to talk about this at least."

"When you're sober, fly back with me and we can talk about it then." He proposed. I wanted nothing more than to refuse his offer and spend the trip back how I came. But I felt his grey eyes staring into me and it made it almost impossible to refuse him.

Aang shifted above me, getting up to leave me for the night. I almost pushed him out the door myself but something deeper stopped me and had me clutching onto his forearm. His kiss with Katara all but a distant memory.

The whiskey having me act more boldly than I'd ever dare as my hand traced up his chest feeling the firm muscles beneath his robe. I didn't miss his ragged breathing against my palm as I continued my path. Past his collarbone up his neck and across his cheek, my thumb at the corner of his lips.

My other hand weaving up to entangle in the black hair I remember from the spirit world. But when my fingers reached his head I found nothing but soft skin, 'he had shaved it off for the wedding'.

My mind working in overdrive to picture how he would have looked and the blue arrows that traced his body.

I didn't ask for permission just like he didn't. My lips were on his in an instant, my body humming in response; excited by the twist in events and the flow of the Avatars' chi into me. It almost stopped me dead when he kissed me back.

He pulled away our breath mingling while he twirled my hair aground his fingers. I would have blushed for the scent of alcohol on my breath if my cheeks weren't already a bruising shade of red.

His forehead was pushed against my own and I sighed against his cool skin.

"Toph.."

He said, my name floating in the air as effortlessly as Momo glides, I wanted nothing more than to capture it before it escaped in the clouds and I never heard it again.

"We will talk about this, I promise." I believed his words, though I'm inclined not to. Just before he pulled away he pecked me on the lips once more. Bidding me goodnight.

My heart reached out to him, but I didn't dare move. I will not appear a lovesick girl trying to win his affection.

I curled up on the floor, my eyes fell shut.

Hey guys! I will post chapter 24 tomorrow:)