Chapter 3: Between Honey-Ginger Tea and Chicken Noodle Soup

Aang stood before the vending machine and patiently waited for the bottle of water to fall onto the dispenser. It dropped with a bounce and he bent down to pick it up.

Is this too much?

Aang furrowed his brows as he peers inside the plastic bag that he was holding. Aside from water, Aang also got her: an orange juice, a carton of milk, some cup noodles, a handful of bananas, and a couple of candies. The campus nurse told him to go get something that Ms. Button Nose could eat once she regained her consciousness. She didn't exactly say what particular food would be sufficient enough to refill her energy with.

Maybe these aren't good enough for a sick person. It's probably better to drop by a restaurant to get actual food rather than just randomly picking some goods from a convenience store.

Yeah, he should do that.

Besides, it's not like he doesn't have the time. From the looks of it, it will be quite a while before she wakes up.

Fishing out his phone, Aang made a quick call to Uncle Iroh.

Who needs google when you have the best old man in the world at your dispense, right?

After apologizing for the inconvenience and explaining his current predicament, he diligently listed down all the food recommendations that were given to him by Uncle Iroh.

Aang was taken in by the monks when he was a baby. Consequently, he grew up following their lifestyle. He had been a vegetarian all his life therefore it's not strange that he is clueless about what food normal people prefer. He could search the web but he knows Uncle Iroh is the best option if he doesn't want to screw this up.

In the end, they opted for pork mandu and chicken noodle soup. The old man also urged him to drop by to his cafe again. According to him, brewing a hot honey-ginger tea is a must in order to wave off cold.

Not long after, Aang was already starting Appa's engine– an old 1993 Toyota Minivan– to do his errand.

Appa was given to him by Monk Gyatso as a gift when he turned sixteen. He wasn't brand new and was already passed between three owners. However, that didn't stop Aang from falling in love with him. Granted he was practically ancient but Monk Gyatso saved every penny he had to buy Appa for him. It wasn't an exaggeration when Aang said he wouldn't exchange him for anything. Besides, with just a few twinks here and there, he was good as new.

Aang quietly hums along with the music playing on the radio, softly bobbing his head up and down in time with the beat. He was already on his way to Jasmine Dragon Cafe as he already brought the food from a local restaurant that was just down the street. Thankfully, Aang survived the challenge of ordering his first non-vegetarian food by following Uncle Iroh's instructions.

It was fun.

Finally reaching the place, he turned on Appa's signal lights and he parked him swiftly at the given parking space for the customers.

When Aang entered the establishment, he was greeted with the site of Uncle Iroh beaming at him. He answered it with a smile as equally blinding and watch the old man turn around to fetch a tumbler and a box of sweets.

He held it up to showcase it to him and quipped, "I threw in some desserts just in case."

Aang leaned over the counter, giving the man a hug first before saying, "What would I do without you?"

That earned a gleeful laugh from Uncle Iroh.

He patted Aang's back a few times before breaking away, "You'll survive. After all, you are a great young lad."

Aang shot him an earnest grin, "Seriously, thank you so much. You were a big help, I honestly don't have any idea what to do."

They both laughed, knowing how true that statement was.

The old man then asked him as he handed him the food he prepared, "Is this for a friend?"

That made Aang awkwardly scratch the back of his head, "Well, I am hoping to be friends with her. So I guess...?"

"Oh! So it's a young lady?"

"Yes?"

"Now things got a lot more interesting!"

Aang chuckled nervously at his sudden enthusiasm.

However, when he saw the time on the wallclock he was immediately reminded that he had to be somewhere. Completely missing that knowing look from Uncle Iroh.

Giving the old man another quick hug, he finally took the goods from his hands.

Aang shot him a grateful smile as he started walking away, "Thank you again for your help. I promise I'll pay you back with something..."

Stopping momentarily at his track he raised an eyebrow, "How about I help you here next weekend? Both Saturday and Sunday? How does that sound?"

Uncle Iroh gave him a thumbs up, "Sounds good! Now go and don't keep her waiting."

Aang just gave him a silly look when the older man humorously wriggled his eyebrows at him before turning around to finally leave.

He heard voices inside the infirmary as he was entering.

Aang slowed down when he realized that Ms. Button Nose was talking with the nurse. She's already awake? Aang hid behind the curtain that serves as a division between beds. He didn't want to interrupt them in case they were discussing something important and by doing so he can slowly creep away if they needed privacy if it happens to be about a delicate matter.

Aang heard the nurse shuffle before speaking again, "Your boyfriend went to get some food. You can drink this medicine once you have something in your system."

The disgust on her patient's face must've been so evident that the nurse tried again, "I mean your friend then?"

"Who?"

He felt the nurse paused from what she's doing, "That cute boy with arrow tattoos that princesses carried you here? I thought he was your boyfriend or something."

Aang covered his face at that, hiding his blush from no one. His embarrassment however was quickly killed when he heard Ms. Button Nose's response.

"I was what?" she hissed.

Oh no.

Aang was right when he thought she might kill him for doing that.

Sensing the sudden shift in the air, he decided to finally step in before the situation escalates into something else. Aang softly knocks the metal pipe beside him, effectively drawing both of their attention.

Awkwardly raising the bags he was carrying, he uttered, "I'm back?"

After a pregnant silence, the nurse gave him a polite smile, "Alright. I already gave her the medicines and briefed her on what to do."

She then turned to Ms. Button Nose, "I recommended you rest a little bit longer after you have eaten. But of course, you are free to go if you want to."

The nurse finally stood up from the stool she was sitting on and announced, "I shall take my leave now."

Aang steps back to let her pass through before reluctantly placing the bags he was holding on the table beside Ms. Button Nose's bed. Okay, the amount of food he bought might have been a little too much.

Boxing his shame and throwing it out the window, he beamed at her, "I got you food!"

Aang went to go get the side-table of the neighboring bed– unoccupied of course– and placed it in front of her. He shoots her a nervous smile as he prepares the steaming chicken noodle soup, the dumplings, and Uncle Iroh's hot honey-ginger tea and home-made desserts. After doing so, Aang drags the stool that the nurse was previously using and sat down in front of her

He smiled and gave her an expectant look, "Go on, try it!"

Ms. Button Nose just remained silent and watched him through narrowed eyes. Aang almost squirmed under her scrutiny.

After what seems to be an eternity she scrunched her nose and asked, "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

"Oh yeah! Umm… I should've introduced myself first, right?–" she scoffed at that "–Nice to meet you, I'm Aang!" he extended his hands in hopes to shake hands with her only to receive a scowl in return.

Aang chuckled to mask his mortification and slowly retracted his hands.

Disregarding the awkward atmosphere, he urges her to eat, "You should eat it while it's still hot."

"This is?"

"Chicken noodle soup and pork mandu? Oh and–" opening the lid of the tumbler he beamed "– and hot honey-ginger tea: the best you can find!"

She just raised an eyebrow at him as he held the tea in front of her.

Maybe he is being too much?

After a gruesome moment of him desperately trying to make her drink, she finally took it from him; Sparing Aang from further embarrassing himself.

She shoots him a doubtful look first before taking a skeptical sip.

That's odd, why does it feel like he didn't caught her eyes?

Aang didn't miss that slight shift in her face, he almost thought he saw a pleased smile from her. She silently picked up the wooden chopstick he provided and ate a piece of steamed dumplings.

A tranquil ambiance fell around their surroundings; That kind of silence you share with an old friend.

Aang studied her face.

It was so peculiar how a stranger could give him a great sense of familiarity.

After having enough, she pursed her lips and looked at him quietly again and Aang couldn't help but fidget under her gaze.

Scratching his cheeks anxiously, he tried to break the silence, "Uhhh...?"

"Toph."

"Huh?"

"My name's Toph."

Surprised, Aang lets out an inaudible 'oh' before his eyes sparkled with eagerness.

She's finally opening up!

A smile ripped through his face.

Unable to fight that giddy feeling, Aang leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table and cradle his head in his hands as he watched her bite another dumpling, "That's so cool, Toph! Your name sounds tough, I think it suits you." Realizing that she might take that comment as an insult, Aang quickly failed his hands in front of her, "I mean not that what I think matters? I just thought you're very strong and tough. I'm rambling now aren't I? Sorry, It's ju–"

"Thanks." Toph gave him a smile.

Albeit a small one but still, it's a smile.

The butterfly in his stomach started to flutter wildly again. His heart jumped when he felt that warm tingling sensation on his soulmark. He'd never seen that look on her face before, at least from the distance, and Aang wishes to see more of it.

Toph cleared her throat and pointed at her bag, "Can you please get it for me?"

"Yeah, sure."

After mumbling that, he quickly scurried to hand it to her.

She rummages inside her bag for a moment before pulling out her phone. She tapped it twice before a voice-over spoke her name, in reply she stated, "Send a message to Lurch to come and get me at the university's main gate."

She tossed it back into her bag before proceeding to retrieve her wallet. Opening it, she took out a credit card and held it in front of Aang.

She nonchalantly says, "Here, use it to withdraw the overall expenses for the food. Feel free to charge service if you want to."

He stared at her, then to the credit card, then back to her again.

A beat of silence passed between them before Aang moved to firmly push her hand away from him.

"No."

"What?"

Shrugging, Aang repeated what he said, "I said no."

He picked a dumpling and popped it into his mouth as he stared at her questioning face.

She frowned, and straightened her posture, "And why the hell not?"

"Because I don't want your money."

Aang saw how a mask of detached expression fell onto Toph's face. She crossed her arms and scoffed at him, "I don't need your charity."

A mischievous smile tugged on his lips, "Who said this is charity?"

Raising an eyebrow at him she suspiciously asked him, "Then what do you want?"

"A date."

Toph visibly froze.

The surprised look on her face made a chuckle bubble from his chest. He leaned closer to revel the flabbergasted expression on her face as she struggles to understand what is happening.

Aang grinned, "Let me take you out on a date. After that, we can call it quits."

Sokka and Suki were chilling in the common room, snacking on some chips as they binge on movies, when Aang burst in. The door slammed with a bang causing the couple to jerk in their seat. Disgruntled, they both whipped their heads in his direction and saw a wild look on his face.

Suki shot him a worried look whilst Sokka on the other hand scowled in annoyance. They both called him, voice differing in tone; one concerned, one exasperated: "Aang?"

His eyes lit up and grinned; His face almost hurts from how wide it is.

He then ran and jumped to tackle both of them.

And as Aang squeezed them into a tight hug, he let out a breathless, "Guys, you won't believe what happened!"

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.