Chapter 8: Oddly Involved.
"Let me get this straight–" Toph reached for the bag of chocolate chips "–your idea of a date is to bake cookies at the university's communal kitchen?"
Aang, this weirdo kid, lets out a small huff of laughter, "Well, why not? Plus, I'm just a college student; I'm practically broke."
She shoots him a look as she pops a piece of chocolate into her mouth, "Says the guy who spent 3,200.00 yen at a convenience store."
Turning in her direction, he wrinkled his nose as he stuck out a tongue.
That little antic of his made the edge of her mouth tug upward.
Fucking hell.
No one should be allowed to be this adorable.
Toph regarded his profile when he reverted to what he is doing.
If she were to describe Aang using just one word, it would be stubborn.
Because he's really, really stubborn.
He's been pestering her for weeks to take her out on a date.
After a month and a half of him constantly appearing out of nowhere and following her like a lost puppy, Toph finally gave in and said yes.
It amazes her how he would simply disregard her harsh and abrasive attitude every time she turned him away. Not once did he flinch when she said something blunt just to taunt him. Instead, he would just smile and say something funny that would ease her irritation.
Toph refuses to admit that he had somehow wormed his way through her heart because she's just doing this to shrug him off after all.
And no, her stomach doesn't do little backflips whenever she's with him.
Throughout the duration of that period, she had gotten to know him even better. (It's not her fault that he would not stop chattering.)
She learned that the boy was a third-year, like herself, and is majoring in aeronautics. Apparently, he was hoping to earn enough money to found an orphanage once he gets to travel around the world.
He also has a pet lemur named Momo that likes to jump from tree to tree around the forest of his hometown. When Toph asked if owning one was legal he just awkwardly laughed and answered that he's not sure either. Apparently, he found it in an abandoned church and after giving it some peaches it followed him home. From then on they had been best buddies as he didn't really have the heart to turn Momo away.
One time he mentioned that he is currently residing in the university's residential hall. According to him, the decision to move to a bigger city–even though it's temporary– was very hard for him. The reason behind this is because Aang is very close to Monk Gyatso (a Buddhist monk who took him in when he was a boy). He didn't really want to leave him alone; worried that he won't be there if something happens to him. However, after having a long heartfelt discussion with the old man he was reasoned into taking that course of action.
They both cried the day he moved away.
Toph almost cringed when she tried to imagine having the same conversation with her father. The world needs to end first before that happens.
Aang is also allergic to nuts, a self-proclaimed genius at cooking and baking vegetarian meals, and has a slight obsession with custard pies. He's not a dog person nor a cat person because he loves all animals equally. Honestly, Toph wasn't surprised when Aang told her that he would sometimes volunteer at the local animal rescue center just to play with some. To her, that is very Aang of him to do.
Toph also noticed that his lips would always curl into a pout whenever he talks about the things he doesn't like. Aang hates it when people leave thrashes around and act mean just to be 'cool'. He strongly believes that you don't have to disregard others' feelings to do that and Toph secretly agrees with that philosophy of his.
Right now he's talking about stopping by a nearby retirement home tomorrow to give flowers to the elderlies there.
"You should meet Uncle Bumi, or King Bumi as he would like to call himself, that old man is crazy but fun to talk with!" he exclaimed as he makes his way to her.
After placing a plate of freshly baked cookies in front of her, Aang turned around and retrieved a carton of milk from the refrigerator that has a sticky-note that says 'Gaang.'
He continued blabbering as he was pouring her a glass of milk, "Although you should stay clear from Hama. She gets a little violent when she can't make people do things she wants them to do..."
Toph raised an eyebrow at him and ignored his previous remarks, "Cookies and milk in the middle of the day? Helios might curse you for this audacity."
Aang chuckled, "I think we're safe since we're inside and hidden from mister sun."
He then picked up a cookie and held it in front of her mouth.
Its aroma instantly lured her to take a bite; Without hesitation she munches it.
Toph didn't get to dwell on the fact of how natural their interaction was when the sweetness of the treat flooded the inside of her mouth.
Son of a bitch.
Aang was telling the truth.
His cookies were fucking amazing!
"Is it good?" he asks.
Toph can practically hear his grin in his voice.
"Decent," she replied.
Reaching for the milk, she swallowed her real feelings from creeping up her throat.
Aang lets out a hum.
Clearly amused by her denial.
He watches her finish it first before he speaks again.
"Toph."
"Yeah?"
"I really like you."
Toph paused.
"Would it be alright to take you on another date?"
How the hell would she be able to say no when he sounded like he would do anything just to make her say yes?
Still, Toph managed to fake a scoff.
She shuts him down with a smirk, "You wish, Twinkle Toes."
So he finally noticed that she's blind.
Aang, like most people, missed the fact that she's visually impaired.
Toph's gonna give it to him though, it had only taken him two months to figure it out. She was expecting him to act differently from then on, but the kid only stopped asking her how something would look like and continued to behave how he usually does. The only change that she noticed was that Aang started to describe things as vividly as he could. Like how the clouds in the sky look like or what kind of sensation he could associate colors with.
Under normal circumstances, Toph would have been furious at that kind of sympathy but Aang's gesture feels like it was purely out of curiosity rather than pity. The way he speaks tells her that he genuinely wants to know what she's thinking and not because he felt bad that she is blind.
She would've kicked him in the butt otherwise.
Speaking of the devil (well, more like an angel in his case), his nimble presence suddenly entered her senses.
Aang sets down a radio beside her and Toph chooses not to react.
She maintained her posture of leaning against the bench with crossed arms and eyes closed as she continued to listen to her audiobook. That is until she sensed him tinkle it to put on a flat, rectangular plastic thing inside of it.
Cracking her eyes open, she finally turned to face him.
"Is that?"
"A cassette tape? Yeah."
She gave him a look, "Nobody uses that anymore, Twinkle Toes."
"I know right? What's up with that?"
Toph laughed at how offended Aang sounded.
"Where'd you get it?"
"We already have this back at the orphanage, I think it was donated to them back in the days. They gave this to me along with a whole bunch when I moved away here; They said nobody else uses it but me."
Toph gave him a funny look.
"What are you, an old man?"
He halted his movements at that and grinned.
"You know what, I think I actually am."
She shook her head.
Toph waited for him to adjust the cassette tape inside the radio before asking, "I thought you grew up at a monastery?"
"I did, but I would still visit the orphanage I came from once in a while. I still have friends there and I try to keep in touch with them as much as I could. "
Toph only hums.
Of course, Aang would do that.
"Here, listen to this."
After pressing a couple of buttons it played a song;
["What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
It's the only thing that there's just too little of…
What the world needs now is love, sweet love.
No not just for some, but for everyone..."]
"What is it called?"
"What the World Needs Now by Jackie DeShannon. April 15, 1965."
After a moment, he moved to turn up the volume a little louder.
"It's my favorite," he said with a smile.
Toph didn't say anything and opted to just quietly listen to the song.
But somewhere along the line, she pushed it at the back of her mind and instead strained her ears to listen to Aang's voice as he hums along. She softly taps her foot as thinks about it: What does the world really need right now?
Toph internally snorted.
A lot of things, obviously.
She tried to narrow it down anyway and by the time the song ended she finally came up with the conclusion. More than anything, what the world needs now is to be filled with people like Aang; people full of love and compassion.
Those who are brave enough to show their emotions and aren't afraid to hold the heart of other people preciously even without knowing a single thing about them.
Toph tries to imagine it: A place full of Aang.
She smiled.
Now that would be paradise.
"Do you like it?"
"Not really."
"Why's that?"
"Because I ain't soft like you, Twerp."
Aang chuckled and turned to play the next song.
It's true, she didn't really like the song that much.
Toph can pretend that she's noble and self-sacrificing but she'd be lying to herself if she did that. Because the truth is, Toph is very selfish and could get a little greedy at times.
Just like how the only thing that's occupying her mind right now is the desire to have him by her side forever; She wouldn't mind spending the rest of her life silently listening to Aang sing along with the music on the radio.
That's right.
Toph really wants to have this boy all to herself.
The world can go fuck itself.
Aang's gaze rested heavily upon her.
Keeping her lips trained in a line, Toph decided to pay him no mind and continued to trace her fingertips across the books that she was holding.
She stopped avoiding reading Braille books in front of Aang.
Before he knew she was blind, Toph opted to listen to audio records whenever he's around. Pretending to be sleeping when in fact she's studying for her course. She thought she was satisfied with just that; with her feeling his flimsy existence beside her.
It turns out she was wrong.
She's not sure when it started but lately, Toph realized that she no longer likes flooding her ears with anything else but his voice.
Toph came to understand this strange craving of hers when one day she decided to turn off the audiotape she recorded from her last lecture to instead listened to him murmur to himself as he's doing his own business.
Damn herself for not wanting to miss anything he says no matter how nonsensical it is.
And damn him for having such a pleasant voice.
Suddenly, Aang stood up to walk around.
"The sky looks so pretty today."
He halted in his tracks.
"Sometimes I try to imagine how I could pluck out a cloud and eat it like a cotton candy."
Despite him standing in the distance, Toph still felt how a smile lit upon his face.
She only gave him a scoff in response.
Aang has a way with his words.
Every time he speaks, he paints an enthralling tapestry behind her mind. Toph hates how he could show her the beauty in everything through his eyes. She also despises how he can always make it sound like this world is really a wonderful place to live. That despite how awful and unkind it could get, this life is still worth living.
She huffs to wave away that cluster of unwanted thoughts.
Toph took a minute to observes him before going back to her readings.
Unfortunately, no matter how much she wants to sense him go around there are things that needs to be done.
Not long after, a tranquil ambiance settled around them.
Aside from the occasional chatter of people passing by, the park was relatively silent. It was enough for her to be completely immersed in what she's doing. Aang, on the other hand, had wandered off in the distance but the faint sound of his footsteps still reached Toph's ears.
She was about to turn to the next page when she was abruptly interrupted.
Toph found a flower suddenly thrust in front of her face.
"Forget me not."
Toph only furrowed her brows in confusion.
"That's the name of this flower."
She sniffed to try and get a whiff of its smell.
It didn't really have any scent.
Throwing her book to the side, she took it from him.
"In the language of flowers, it represents a long-lasting connection. They said once that connection exists between two people it can never be broken."
Toph twirled it between her thumb and index finger as she listened to Aang explain its representation.
The irony was not lost on her, Toph knows that this tiny thing would easily slip off her mind since there's nothing remarkable about it; It doesn't have a distinct smell; Feels like any other flowers; She can't even really remember it through imagery.
Forget me not.
Ridiculous.
Aang is studying her face.
He likes to do that.
Unexpectedly, a warmth bloomed throughout her soulmark.
She ignored it.
After a beat of silence, Toph finally decided to say something.
"I don't like flowers."
She dug her nails through its petals to make them bleed and Aang silently watched her shred it into pieces.
"They remind me how everything in this world would eventually wither away."
"How are your studies, Toph?"
Toph gently sets down the spoon that she was holding.
Turning to her father, she answered his question as demurely as she could, "I think I'm faring well, Father."
"Excellent," Lao exclaimed as he flipped the newspaper that he's reading.
He glanced over her daughter with a reassuring smile, "Just remember that you don't have to force yourself. Your cousin, Wei, can take over the family business if you can't."
Toph internally sighs as she balls her hand into a fist underneath the table.
Here they go again.
"Or we can marry you to the eldest son of Mr. Xiao. I heard his boy is pretty clever. He can help you handle our business in the future," her mother 'kindly' quips from where she's at.
Didn't they say they'll marry her to Mr. Ying's third son last time?
All of a sudden, Toph lost her appetite.
Softly dabbing her mouth with a napkin, she forces a smile, "I will keep that in mind. I think it's best for me to go now or I'll be late for class."
Without waiting for their reply, Toph stands up and walks out of the room.
How could this family be so rich and be so poor at the same time?
Toph angrily kicked one of her shoes with her foot.
Her day hasn't even started yet but she already feels so drained.
Without waiting for it to roll away, she turned to kick the other pair too. She repeated this action a couple of times until a flimsy presence appeared beside her.
"Good morning, Toph!"
She scoffs at Aang, "Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Nope. I don't have class until this afternoon."
Toph ignored him and kicked one of her shoes again.
"I brought my radio again," she sensed him lifts up the apparatus.
"How about taking a break at beating your shoes and let's go back to the bench to listen to some music?"
She paused.
"I will if you brought some food."
He goofily patted his bag at that.
Toph couldn't fight off the chuckle that bubbled from her chest. She strides in his direction to pull him by his arm to lead him to their usual spot.
It's not even over a minute yet but he's already making her feel better.
"Alright. Who are we going to listen to today?" she asks.
Placing a hand over her's, he smiled.
"I was thinking we could do The Monkees today."
|Daydream Believer. 1968.|
["Cheer up, sleepy Jean
Oh, what can it mean that
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen..."]
Toph turned to Aang when a familiar melody reached her ears.
"I know this one: L.O.V.E by Nat King Cloe, right?"
He grinned at her.
"Yup. 1965"
"This one is quite popular."
"It is."
Standing up, Aang began doing a silly dance.
"C'mon, Toph. Dance with me."
["L is for the way you look at me.
O is for the only one I see.
V is very, very extraordinary.
E is even more than anyone that you adore can."]
Toph crosses her arms.
"You look like an idiot, Baldy."
That only made his smile grow wider.
He reached for her hand to prompt her to stand up but Toph remained unmovable. So, instead, he gently grabs her wrists to make her hands clap together. When she only gave him an unimpressed look, he laughed before releasing her.
He pinches her nose before moving away to avoid her punch.
Aang continued to sway with the beat.
His movements have a lot more groove now.
"If you don't want to then I'll just dance alone."
["Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it, take my heart and please don't break it
Love was made for me and you."]
And he did just that.
Aang danced all throughout the song.
Tapping his foot and doing silly moves to make her smile. Toph would have wince if that were other people but Aang just made dancing so natural.
He managed to get her up to her feet halfway through the song.
How can he keep on making her do her unusual?
They probably look like idiots right now but when his carefree laughter ringed through her ears Toph realizes that she couldn't care less.
"What if I suddenly found my fated one?"
Toph cursed herself.
Why the fuck did she let that thought escape from her?
"It doesn't matter."
A firm voice immediately replied.
Her mother opened her eyes and flickered her gaze on the woman who was doing Toph's pedicure before studying her daughter's face.
She pulled her hand to inspect her nails.
Poppy lets out a contented sound and gave her hand back to the lady that was doing her nails.
"Soulmates are a thing of the past now. People don't really care about it that much, especially people like us," she said as she moves to settle herself on her seat to find a more comfortable position.
After a moment of silence, she speaks again, "Besides, have you forgotten about your soulmark?" her mother turned to her, "You have a burnt one. It means your soulmate failed you a couple of times."
She really had to mention it.
As if her daughter could easily forget something like that.
Frowning, Toph gingerly fiddles with the ring that's covering her scarred mark.
Poopy reaches for her hand upon seeing that.
"You don't have to wait for them, Honey."
Squeezing it tighter, she continued in a voice that is sickly sweet, "Let the bridge between you and your soulmate burn down for good. It seems like the two of you aren't really meant for each other."
When the cease on Toph's forehead didn't wane Poppy tried again.
"Don't think about it too much. All you have to do is walk the path we had laid for you and your happiness will be guaranteed."
Toph repeated her words in her mind.
Happiness…
"Are you happy with your life, Mum?"
Her mother's posture slacks at that.
Taken aback by her daughter's bluntness.
"With Father, I mean," Toph, realizing her mistake, immediately clarifies.
It took a moment before her mother gathers her wits.
Forcing a smile, Poppy placed a soft kiss at the back of her hand.
"We are very fortunate to have you."
A scoff almost escaped her.
That's not really what she wanted to hear.
Unsatisfied with the answer she got, Top tried to push again.
"Do you love him?"
For the second time, she caught her mother by surprise.
Her whole body stiffens at the very moment those words left Toph's mouth.
Clearing her throat, Poppy attempted to pull her hand away but that only made Toph tighten her grip; Her mother's pulse is starting to beat erratically.
For some reason, Toph wanted to feel it.
Hesitation flickered on the older woman's face.
"Yes… Of course, I love your father."
A blatant lie.
Straining the edge of her lips curve upward, Toph finally released Poppy's hand.
What a pity.
They both know that it's not Toph who her mother is trying to fool.
Toph drops her speaker on the bench with a thud.
"Okay, Twinkle Toes," she started as she connects it to her phone, " I'll be the DJ this time."
Laughing, Aang shoves the pen and the notebook he's using inside his bag.
"What is that thing?" he asks as he pretends to dumbly poke the speaker.
She punches him in the arm for the joke.
Toph then bends down to remove her shoes. She heard Aang snicker but she disregarded him. With all the force she could muster, she threw them across the field. A grin ripped through her face when she burrowed her feet deeper into the ground to ruin her newly polished nails.
Striding back to where Aang is, Toph hopped on the bench and announce with great confidence:
"It's time to update your playlist, old man."
Smirking, she lifts her phone close to her mouth.
"Siri, play 'It's My Life' by Bon Jovi."
She hasn't seen Aang for two weeks now; Both of them are currently swamped with projects that are due before the winter break.
Nevertheless, Aang made sure that Toph would still constantly feel his presence.
She has no idea how he got her number but Aang wouldn't fail to greet her good mornings and goodnights every day. Sometimes he would just suddenly pop up to give her some snacks then would disappear right away.
The park is packed today so Toph opted to retreat to the library instead.
Leaning back, she cracked her knuckles to make the numbness that settled on her fingers go away. After pausing for a few seconds she leaned forward to type again.
Toph is nowhere near finishing her papers.
She needs to edit a large portion of her research, consulted it with her professor again, then hopefully get it printed for the last time.
Did Toph metion how she hates college?
Well, now she did.
She fucking hates it.
If it weren't for the fact that her life literally depends on it she wouldn't even think twice to throw it out of the window. She'll even include a truck of confetti along with it.
The creaking of the chair behind her snapped her from concentration.
"Hello."
Toph only raises her hand to groggily acknowledge Aang.
"You look tired. Good thing I brought you some coffee bun."
"Did you make them?"
"Yeah."
She shoots him a look, "You have time for that?"
Wearing an insanely happy grin, Aang bobs his head up and down.
"Couldn't sleep last night so I baked to ward off my anxiety."
"That sounds like something my grandma would say," Toph sniggers when she felt him make a face at that.
Aang placed a paper bag on the table.
"So, what's twisting your pants, Twinkle Toes?"
"I'm going to pass my project for a major subject today," he paused to rub the back of his neck, "Kinda nervous about what's going to be the result."
Huffing, Toph punches him on the shoulder.
"You're gonna be fine. Didn't you put a lot of effort into it?"
"I did."
"Then there's nothing to worry about."
"That's-"
Toph lifts her hand to cover his mouth to interrupt whatever he's about to say.
"Stop yammering and just believe in yourself. I'm not going to join anybody's pity party, Twinkle Toes."
Toph not sure why she's so confident but something tells her that Aang will be able to pull anything no matter how daunting that task is.
The tension on Aang's body leaves and she felt his lips curled into a smile through her palm.
Removing her hands, she pushes him off from his seat.
"Go. I need to concentrate and I won't be able to that if your here."
Aang caught the part where Toph told him he's distracting her but he didn't get the chance to say anything when she shoves his bag to his chest and turned around to plug her headphone into her ears to go back to what she is doing.
Reluctantly, he goes away.
And as always, Aang lived up to her expectations.
Toph just had the best coffee bun she had ever tasted in her entire life.
Also, do not be mistaken.
She has a heart of stone so it didn't skip a beat when he left a note in Braille embossed with a clumsy 'Have a nice day, Toph!'
A piece of paper slips out between the pages of the book that she was reading.
It was imprinted with a message written in Braille:
["O snail
Climb Mount Fuji,
But slowly, slowly!"]
The corner of her mouth tugs upward as she recognizes the poem.
It's a haiku by Kobayashi Issa, a renowned poet back in the 18th century.
Aang's been practicing.
She traces it again and smirks.
Not bad, they're a lot more distinguishable and carefully placed, unlike the previous ones.
Toph's not really surprised that he liked this particular poem. It can get off as goofy for many people and only some can really see the deeper meaning behind it.
She went back to studying.
Although, her mind can't help but wander to the fact that haiku really suits what's happening between her and Aang. Toph knows she's starting to catch emotions she hasn't felt before and it's scaring her how he's starting to make a place inside her heart.
Steadily and unhurried, Aang is scaling her barriers like no one had ever done before.
She wishes he would stop doing that; He's not even here with her yet he's taking her breath away.
For heaven's sake, Toph Beifong doesn't do feelings!
"You're smiling awfully a lot these days."
Toph paused moving her fingertips across the line of dots of the book that she was reading and turned in Azula's direction.
She sensed her cross her legs from the other side of the room.
Taking a sip from her tea, the woman continues, "It's starting to get disgusting, frankly."
Toph snorted.
"Thank you for that unnecessary remark, Firecracker."
"So, what's new?"
Toph only shrugs her shoulder in response.
As if on cue, a notification popped on her phone and she clicked it.
It was from Aang.
Toph plugs her headphones into her ear and pressed the screen reader. Allowing a synthesized voice to read the message he left for her;
Twinkle Toes [Tue 9:58 P.M]:
I think I broke a rib. Heading to the hospital to get it checked.
Melon Lord [Tue 9:58 P.M]:
Fan–fucking–tastic, Baldy.
How the hell did that happen?
Twinkle Toes [Tue 10:04 P.M]:
This happened.
[Twinkle Toes sent a voice record]
With furrowed brows, Toph clicked the attachment.
Aang's cheerful voice flooded her ears.
"Hey, Toph! I'm at the White Lotus Order; House for the Aged right now. I'm going to introduce you to some of the members. I actually wanted to call you but I think you might be busy right now so I just recorded this."
Only this guy would find time to visit a retirement center despite being swamped with school work.
She heard the gentle rustle of his clothes; he's walking.
"Jeong- Jeong say hello to my friend Toph!"
"What?"
Toph immediately knew that voice belonged to an old man. It was firm but gentle; the kind of voice she often hears from doctors.
Aang prompted the man to speak, "Just say hello; It's a voice recorder."
"Oh, hello! Are you the girl he keeps on talking about? I'm Jeong-Jeong, a pleasure to meet you," he merrily greets her.
She heard Aang awkwardly clears his throat and moved away.
"Pakku, say hi too."
"How does this work?"
The voice this time is a lot grumpier and it was accompanied by the sound of the screen being softly knocked by a knuckle.
"It's already recording, just say something."
"What do you want me to say?"
"Anything you wa–"
"WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Toph winced at the sudden booming voice of another man.
Immediately turning down the volume to prevent her eardrums from being shattered.
"Wait, Bumi–" the panic in Aang's voice could be heard.
"Get off the table you old swine!" a woman from the distance shouted.
"Mad lad!"
"–You're going to fall!"
Toph heard someone yelp, followed by Aang's horrified calls and the sound of something crashing.
Then the recording was abruptly cut off.
Toph blinks.
Shaking her head, she lifts her hand to her mouth to mask the low laugh that escaped her. Who knew that a place like that could be that lively. Maybe she should reconsider his invitation to visit.
Azula, who was silently watching her, raised an eyebrow when she saw her reaction.
Cherishing her bafflement.
Toph grinned at her confused expression.
She snickers when Aang sneezes for the fourth time.
"Ugh, I need to wear thicker clothes. It's starting to get colder."
Reaching inside her bag, Toph flings a pack of tissue towards him.
"It's earlier this year compared to the last one," Toph absentmindedly noted as he blows his nose.
"It is," he confirms.
The season is starting to get to Aang, Toph caught a shiver run throughout his body. He's going to get sick at this rate.
She closed her laptop and said, "Let's call it a day. I still have work to do back home anyway."
He hesitated for a moment, they both know that they probably won't see each other for a while after this.
Eventually, he reluctantly agrees, "Good idea..."
At that, they both packed their things and parted ways.
Later that night, while she was doing her homework, Toph noticed an envelope tucked between her books. She gingerly picks it up and feels it, it wasn't long before she noticed raised dots of Braille that said her name.
Toph opened it up and from it slipped a pressed flower.
She raises it to her nose to sniff it; it smells sweet.
Humming, she traced their petals.
Aang can be remarkably romantic at times and she's not sure how to react to such openly expressed affection.
So instead she opts to let her fingers glide across the letter Aang left for her.
[Greetings, Melon Lord (Toph you have to tell me why do call yourself this next time),
This flower is called Gerbera Daisy. I chanced upon it when I was helping Uncle Iroh tend his greenhouse (he has one at the back of his cafe). I know you said you hated flowers but I really wanted to give you this one because it reminded me of your eyes. Had anybody told you that yours have a very beautiful shade of opal? Sometimes when the sunlight hits them, strands of emeralds glint around them.
What you said that day gave made a mark in my mind. Now every time I see a withering flower I remind myself not to take things for granted.
Actually, I think I like that nothing in this world lasts forever because it makes every moment we share with our loved ones even more special knowing that it won't happen again.
Next time, I'll give you a potted one. That way, it will last longer.
Hope it cheers you up! And don't forget to take care of yourself.
(P. S. What do you think of my writing skills? Please go easy on me, Sifu!)
Yours,
Twinkle Toes.]
Toph buried her nose deeper into her scarf.
Tugging her coat tighter around her body, she shoves her hands in her pockets.
She sniffed.
Toph hates winter.
The air around her is too frizzy and dry making her skin numb. So, sensing vibration around her during this season is a pain in the ass because no matter how hard she tries her vision of her surroundings is always rigged and stiff.
Toph breathes a sigh.
Fuck.
The snow hasn't even fallen yet but the air is already freezing.
She struggles to keep her eyes open.
Toph didn't get some sleep last night, she actually forgot that one of her assignments was due today and stayed up all night cramming to make up for it. She barely stayed awake throughout her lectures.
Toph knows she should go home, take a short nap, then start planning her other projects.
But she really wants to hear Aang today.
Just for a little.
The boy has a knack for lifting her mood and right now she needs that to take a break from school and from her family. She won't admit it, but it's been a week since he last saw him and she's starting to miss his lame puns and jokes.
Suddenly, a beanie was placed on her head.
"You really waited here outside the cold?"
Toph huffs.
"It's nothing."
Aang smiled.
"It's really freezing here… how about we go to my dorm instead for today?"
"Where are you?"
"Huh?"
"You're not at your house."
"How'd you know that?"
"You accidentally pressed the video button, Genius."
Toph immediately attempted to turn off her camera but Azula's snort made her stop.
"I already saw it. A bit too late for that now, isn't it?" she scoffs.
Toph's sighs and falls back to Aang's sofa.
"So, where are you? That ceiling is too cheap for your room or for any part of Beifong's mansion."
Of all the people, it has to be that one person who has an impeccable deductive skill that caught her.
The gears inside her head immediately turn as she thinks of the best way to handle this situation. Toph didn't really want to tell Azula that she's at Aang's dorm. Explaining how she ended up here would be a long-winded story full of unnecessary questions and complicated feelings. And Toph doesn't have the emotional fortitude to entangle that bundle of cluster fuck in front of anybody.
God knows she couldn't even admit it to herself.
Schooling her face into a stoic one, she determined to spin a lie.
Toph lifts her phone from her lap to shoot Azula a blank face. She was about to mouth an excuse when Aang's cheerful voice suddenly cuts her off.
"I brought some tea!"
He happily announces as he barges through the door balancing a tray of tea and biscuits.
Toph heard Azula pause.
Shit.
She must've seen Aang from behind.
Realizing this, Toph immediately faced her phone upwards to give Azula the view of the worn-out ceiling once again. The happy expression on Aang's face fell off when he saw that Toph was having a video call with someone.
Putting down the tray, he bashfully scratches the back of his head and says, "Oh, sorry! I didn't know you were having a call with someone."
"Was that Aang?"
They both froze when they heard Azula.
Aang gingerly peers at the screen.
"Azula?"
Toph felt his whole body perk as he beams at her.
Aang swiftly picks up her phone and waved at the woman on the other line, "Hey, it's been a while. How are you?"
Regaining her composure, Toph snatched the device back from him before Azula could even say anything.
"As always, it's a real displeasure talking with you, Firecracker."
Giving the woman a mocking kiss, Toph pitches in her final jab, "Later, klutz!"
"I'm not done yet–"
With that, she dropped their call.
A pregnant silence stretched between Toph and Aang.
She reached for a biscuit to choke down the uneasiness behind her throat. Why did it feel like she was a child caught stealing in the cookie jar? It's not like she's committing a crime by hanging out with him.
She heard Aang chuckle and pick up his own biscuit to nibble on.
"I'm friends with her brother, Zuko."
Toph wonders how effortlessly Aang could ease her troubles.
She opened her mouth to say that she doesn't care but someone from outside called his name.
"Stay here, I'll be back in a moment," he said as started for the door.
Aang glance back to give her one last smile before he disappeared and her phone pinged right after he left.
A robotic voice read the message and Toph scoffs upon hearing it.
Firecracker [Tue 4:38 P.M]:
I'll grill you later, Bitch.
Blind Bandit [Tue 4: 38 P.M]:
Eat my middle finger first, Princess.
"So, you and Azula know each other?"
Aang tilted his head to the side as he was asking her that.
Toph pressed her lips in a thin line, reluctantly she opens up, "We met at a party– you know the high society and all– we were both looking for a place to hide and happen to stumble upon the same balcony. You see Azula and I are very similar. So naturally, we tried to shoo one another. Some insults were thrown here and there and before we knew it we're already locked into a wrestling match."
Aang gasp, "What?"
"In case you're wondering, it was a draw. At the end of the night, we were laughing our ass off at each other's miserable childhood."
She smirks as she recalls that memory.
Toph proudly concluded, "You can say that we simply bonded on our mutual hatred towards our parents."
Aang laughed and Toph liked how light and easy that came out of him.
He then reached to move away a strand of her hair from her face.
"So, why Firecracker?" he asks.
If that was anybody else, she would've punched them at the gut with vengeance but this is Aang. And Aang had already proven that despite being a simple man, he is no ordinary.
Toph pushes off that tickling sensation that washed over her soulmark.
"Because one time she smoked too much crack, got stoned, and decided that it was a good idea to light their house on fire."
Aang choked but Toph ignored it and continued telling the story, "The best part is when we were trying to calm her down, Azula shrieked that she wanted to burn the neighbor's house next because I quote: 'I wanted blue flames!' "
She grinned at him, "I got a stomach bug later that night from laughing too much; It was worth it."
"That's insane..."
"Rich kids, man. Rich kids."
"Oh! I like this one."
Aang perks up and stops writing to turn up the volume of the radio.
["I'm crazy for feeling so lonely
I'm crazy
Crazy for feeling so blue…]
Toph closed her book and leaned against the bed to listen.
She supposes this is their new hobby for now.
They had forsaken frequenting the park and instead opted for his dorm due to the harsh weather. The world outside is already covered in white as it would not stop snowing these past couple of days. It's a shame that Toph can no longer beat her shoes around the field.
Most of the time, they would study while other times they would just laze around to take a break from schoolwork. However, regardless of what they were doing, they would listen to his records.
Toph had never met someone who owns boxes of cassette tape but Aang.
Stretching her legs, she waited for Aang to settle on the bed before asking.
"Who's singing?"
"Patsy Cline."
"Let me guess, title's Crazy, isn't it?"
He laughs, "Yeah..."
["I knew
You'd love me as long as you wanted,
And then someday
You'd leave me for somebody new…"]
"Wanna guess?"
They do this sometimes; him making her guess what date it was released.
"1965?"
"'61."
"So, what happened to her?"
"She died on March 5, 1963. The plane that she was riding crashed on her way home from one of her tours."
["Worry
Why do I let myself worry?
Wondering,
What in the world did I do?"]
"Did she live a good life?"
"Maybe? I think she's the only one who can answer that."
Toph didn't say anything.
Aang was right, only the person themselves could answer that question.
"She was very brave, she left her home so she could chase her dreams."
Toph nodded and lets Aang untangle her bun.
She could only wish she had that kind of courage to stand up for her aspiration in life.
"Tell me about your dreams, Toph."
Letting out a sigh she gave him a bitter smile, " I can't really afford to do that, Twinkle Toes."
Aang stopped playing with her hair.
She knows he wanted to ask what did she mean by that but Aang forced himself to gulp down his questions.
Instead, he diverted the topic as he resumed playing her hair, "You know, I always wanted to fly. When I was a kid, I always dream that I could float in the sky and fly all day long until I reach the end of the world..."
Aang paused before continuing, " One time, I jumped off from the roof, hoping that I could do that. Unsurprisingly, I broke my leg from that fall."
Toph can't help but laugh.
"I bet you cried like a baby, Twinkle Toes," she teases him.
He smiled and replied, "I did."
The grin on her face quickly vanished when she heard the sadness that lingered in his voice.
"Because it hurts to know that sometimes some of your dreams will never come true. "
["Oh, crazy
For thinking that my love could hold you
I'm crazy for trying
And crazy for crying
And I'm crazy for loving you."]
For the first time, Toph didn't want to hear Aang's voice. She didn't like how it quite down when he said those words. So, she focuses her attention back on the song.
She thinks about the woman who sang it.
That must've been crazy.
Plummeting down the sky from thousands of feet.
What word could describe that feeling but that, right?
Twisting the laces of her shoes she draws his attention by asking, "What do you think was going on in her mind during that time?"
"I'm not sure."
Aang was silent for a while; Thinking about the closest answer he could give to her.
"But I think if that was me I would probably wonder if I did enough."
Toph hums.
Fair enough.
"What about you, Toph? What do you think your last thoughts would be?"
She crossed her arm and snorted, "I probably would throw my hands up in the air and scream 'Finally.' "
She was expecting him to laugh at her joke but Aang only remained quiet. His eyes were boring holes at the back of her head. It was a while before he spoke again.
"Toph..."
"Yeah?"
"Would you miss me if I die?"
Her whole body stiffens at that.
Burying his face against her neck, he continued, "Because I will miss you. So, so much. I'll probably go mad if you were suddenly taken away from me like that."
["Crazy
For thinking that my love could hold you
I'm crazy for trying
And crazy for crying
And I'm crazy for loving you"]
Is there really a difference between falling from the sky and falling in love?
Because right now, both ideas seem to be equally terrifying for Toph.
Upon entering the library, Toph released a delighted sigh when warmth instantly enveloped her entirety. Bless the guy who invented the electric heater.
Doubling her steps, she sauntered through the endless row of bookshelves.
Toph had the feeling that she will find Aang here today.
She was right.
The sight of Aang in deep thought greeted her when she reached their usual table.
"What's up, Airhead?"
Aang looked up at the sound of her voice.
With a pleasantly surprised grin, he greeted her back, "Toph!"
Placing two paper bags on the table, she slid one across to him. Toph dropped by a nearby bakery this morning, she thought it wouldn't be that bad to be the one to feed him this time. Aang picked it up and peeks inside and looked up with an elated look on his face.
He beamed at her, "Chicken Turnover? Thanks, I'm actually starving."
"It's nothing," she awkwardly grumbles.
He took a bite.
Letting out a delighted moan that made Toph blush.
"We're both finally free from the clutches of school works," Aang said as he crumpled the parchment paper into a ball.
Toph snorted at his comment, "For now but they still have another year to enslave us."
She then turned her body to face to the direction of the library's entrance where the university's logo is displayed above it's glass doors.
Raising her hand, she saluted it with the bird, "Bastards."
Aang laughed at that, "Don't call them like that."
"Why not?"
"I don't know? It sounds awful?"
"Motherfuckers then."
"You're terrible," he said with a grin.
"It's a part of my charm."
Aang rolled his eyes at that.
Although, Toph counted it as a win.
After all, he didn't deny that she was charming.
Fighting off a smirk, she pulled out her laptop to get on with her remaining tasks in hopes of finally clearing everything that's on her checklist.
The duo fell into silence for a while, Aang had decided to do some light reading while he waits for Toph to finish her work.
She felt him glance at her once in a while but like always she ignored them.
After an hour and a half, Aang finally decided to break the peaceful quiet between them.
"So," he closes his book and leaned forward the table, "what's your plan this winter break?"
"Nothing."
Toph immediately replies as she presses the space bar to make the synthesized voice replay what he had written.
She frowned, somethings off with that sentence.
When she senses Aang waits for her to continue, she explained, "It's a short break and my parents are going on a business trip during that time. It'll probably pass by without me even noticing it; I'm mostly busy gaining back the sleep that I lost during vacations like this."
"But isn't that's so lonely?" Aang's eyebrow furrow together as he worriedly asks her.
"Eh," she gestured a hand at him, "I'm not really a Christmas person."
It's true, Toph isn't fond of Christmas.
Most of the time, she spends it alone at home while her mother and father take care of their family business. Because like any other company, they use this opportunity to maximize their profit in hopes of expanding their organization even more.
Toph actually finds it favorable, she's glad that she didn't have to doll up and play pretend to please people. It's not a fun way to spend the holiday but it's also not as dreadful as having the need to attend a party. So, its enough for her to considered it break even in her book.
As she grew up, Toph eventually got used to this kind of set up.
Christmas is just an overly commercialized holiday after all.
"Toph..."
Aang nervously fidgets the sleeves of his jacket.
"What?" she asks distractedly.
Toph furiously taps the delete button, why can't she get this part right?
"Well..I-I just," he stammers, "W-would you-"
Clicking her tongue, Toph finally looks up in his direction.
"Quit stuttering and just spit it out already!" she snaps.
With flushed cheeks, Aang blurts out, "Wouldyouliketospendyourwinterbreakwithme?!"
Blind Bandit [Tue 6:17 P.M]:
Princess.
Firecracker [Tue 6:17 P.M]:
Peasant.
Blind Bandit [Tue 6:43 P.M]:
I need you to do me a favor...
End of Chapter
Disclaimer: I'm just simply borrowing the Characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender. All credits go to its creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
A/N: I went rogue and decided to take a detour from my original plotline to honor the spirit of Christmas.
To clarify, in case my writing confused some of you, Toph (canon timeline) is markless while Toph (modern au) has a soulmark but it has a burnt scar over it. The reason behind this will be explained later on.
Thank you for reading y'all!