Arranged Love Story

"Oh." Toph hesitated in front of the gate of her parents' estate.

"What's wrong?" Aang asked as he came to stand next to her.

She bit her lip. Her parents would be expecting closeness from them now that they were married. She tucked her hand into his elbow and stepped closer to him so their bodies were pressed against each other.

"Toph?" He questioned, not bothered by her proximity in the slightest.

She blew her bangs out of her face. "My parents will be suspicious if we aren't all lovey dovey and obnoxious."

"Obnoxious huh? I can be obnoxious."

"That was not permission for whatever is going through your head right now!" She warned him sternly.

Aang grinned. "Sounded like an invitation to me."

She rolled her eyes at him as a butler let them in the gate.

Her parents greeted them with hugs. They were shown to their guest room for the night. (Mother insisted they stay for one night, and they had no reason to refuse.)

Poppy and Lao let them be, declaring tea time promptly in a quarter hour.

Toph let out a deep sigh, almost reluctantly letting go of Aang's bicep so he could put their luggage up.

"Uh… so, sleeping-wise, um. I can sleep on the floor and you can have the bed."

She looked at him quizzically. "You can't sleep on the floor."

Aang laughed, "No, it's fine. Really, I've slept on the ground plenty of times."

"No, I mean, if a maid comes in in the morning they'll ask why you're on the floor. You have to sleep in the bed with me."

"Oh." Aang swallowed. "Is… is that okay?"

Toph puffed a breath out in a laugh. "Yes, dearest husband, it is okay to share the bed with your wife."

He lightened up a little and pushed her shoulder. "You know what I mean!"

"Aang, really, it's fine. I trust you." She reached out and squeezed his hand gently. She knew he wouldn't touch her unless she asked him to. (And she really was starting to want to ask him to...)

"Okay…" He breathed, and Toph smiled at him. Then she pulled him out of the room, "Come on, can't leave them waiting."

Of course, her father was already in the lounge, waiting. "Ah, there you two are. Aang, could I speak with you for a moment?"

Her eyes widened in panic as she realized they were about to be separated. And then the questioning would begin. Her hand tightened around his, but she really had no excuse to refuse her father.

Aang saw her turmoil and turned to her immediately. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "What's wrong?"

She pretended his warm breath on her neck didn't make her shiver. She answered him quietly, "They're separating us. My mother, and my maids.. They're gonna interrogate me."

He tucked her bangs behind her ear. "Do you want me to stay with you?"

"No, that's suspicious... and I'm sure they'll get me alone somehow. Just gotta face them. I don't know what to say though."

Aang kissed her forehead- he really was going all out on the touchiness- and she felt his lips tilt into a smirk. "Just say it's been fun."

Toph felt her cheeks flush. "Aang."

"What? Has it not been fun?" He teased.

"You-"

Toph's comeback was interrupted as Lao cleared his throat impatiently from the doorway. "Toph, darling? Will you allow me to borrow Aang now?"

She tried not to pout as she let go of Aang's hand reluctantly. Who knows what her father wanted to discuss with him- but she was more concerned with the giggling maids.

Toph held her head high as they left the room and maids came to bring her tea as she took a seat.

Her two handmaids held no pretenses as they sat on either side of her on the couch. Song and Jin were their names, and they had been her closest maids for years- she'd even call them friends (though her parents often told her to stop socializing with the help).

"So? Tell us everything!" Song exclaimed, grabbing one of her hands eagerly.

Toph sighed and decided to give them some details to get them off her back. "Aang is very sweet, and very kind. He treats me well."

They squealed happily and Jin goaded, "And?"

"And what?" Toph griped. She could tell them more about him but... she didn't want to. She didn't want others to know the little details about him, she wanted to keep all of him to herself.

Jin lightly pushed her shoulder. "And how is it in bed?"

Toph flushed- she knew it was coming. She had no choice but to lie, and make it believable.

Well, she could just imagine what it would be like then...

"Aang has lots of energy. Let's put it that way." Toph tried for a coy smile. The girls took it and ran, squealing louder and pulling on her arms excitedly.

Song lowered her voice, "Is it... big?"

She blushed again- but because this time she didn't have to imagine that too much... her seismic sense could really see everything.

"Very." Toph nodded dramatically. She giggled along with her handmaidens- she certainly would miss their company when she traveled to the Southern Air Temple with Aang.

Just then, Poppy walked into the foyer and raised an eyebrow at the giggling girls. The maids immediately stood and bowed to her before scurrying out of the room.

Her mother came to join her on the couch, pouring tea for herself. "Toph, darling, how are you?"

It was going to be much harder to lie to her mother.

She accepted the tea saucer from Poppy and took her time sipping to formulate a response. "Very well, Mother. Aang has been very kind, and very good to me. How are you and Father faring without me?"

"Well, it's much less lively." Poppy snorted. Her tone shifted, "And you are keeping the Avatar well-pleased?"

Toph ignored the blood rushing to her face. "Yes, Mother… your tips have been most helpful."

"I'm pleased to hear it. I do hope you're not too sore. It will fade in time."

She nodded carefully.

Poppy lectured her, "You must produce a child for him soon, Toph. Make sure he is happy. And then you will be happy."

Toph agreed mechanically. "Yes, Mother. I'll do my best."

Dinner was called, and Toph couldn't have asked for a better reason to escape this painful conversation.

They'd had dinner together before, just the four of them, but this time it was much less awkward and tense. At least to Toph anyways. Her parents were probably relieved to have married her off and know that she'd be taken care of.

And of course, she and Aang were much more comfortable around each other now. Sitting beside him and chatting felt natural.

Again she felt that warmth of fondness in her chest that she tried her best to ignore.

It didn't help when Aang settled his large hand on her knee underneath the table. He patted her twice, as if asking if she was alright. She put her smaller hand on top of his, squeezing gently. Her heart hammered when he turned his hand up and interlocked their fingers together.

She leaned over and asked quietly, "What did Father want?"

"I'll tell you later." He whispered back.

When the appetizer arrived, he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of her hand softly before letting it go. Who cares if he was doing this in front of her parents just to be obnoxiously loving. The soft act made her melt- she might as well declare herself smitten with him now.

Dinner passed easily, much better than Toph could have even expected. Aang was a natural charmer.

"I'm so glad you're having a good start to your marriage! I would like to make a toast." Lao stood and held up a champagne glass. Toph tried not to roll her eyes- so fancy.

"A toast to your union! And the hope that you provide."

"Oh, go on and kiss your bride, Aang." Poppy teased lightly.

Toph felt him freeze but she tugged on his arm. Go along with it.

And then she felt his warm palm on her chin, tilting her face up to meet his lips. It was sweet and intoxicating- from the champagne? (She knew it wasn't the champagne.)

He pulled away softly, barely pulling her bottom lip with his- making her breathless, making her want to follow him. But then she remembered herself, and that she was sitting here with her parents watching, and-

And she needed to recover and act natural dammit! Not as if that was their first kiss!

Toph smiled brightly, wrapping herself around his arm casually. "So, what's for dessert?"


Toph touched her lips, remembering the way they tingled and burned when he kissed her. Remembering how her heart skipped, and her head spun and...

And she wanted to kiss him again.

And they had to share a room tonight.

Her heart was pounding at the thought.

"Hey, there you are." Aang greeted her softly as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"Hi." She couldn't help but smile at him, hoping she wasn't blushing too obviously.

Aang rubbed the back of his neck anxiously as he came to sit on the edge of the bed by her. "I'm sorry if this is making you uncomfortable. What with the touchiness and the kiss and... sharing a bed." He swallowed roughly.

"I..." she paused before letting it out. "It's not making me uncomfortable at all."

"Oh. Well, still I know that kiss was pressured so I wanted to apologize-"

"Don't."

Aang blinked at her. "What?"

"Don't apologize." Toph continued. "Not for that."

He stared at her in perplexion, and maybe a little bit of hope, "Toph?"

She took a deep breath and turned her flushed face away from him. "It was... nice."

"Nice?" His lips tilted up in amusement.

"I liked it, okay! What else do you want me to say?" She felt her face burning brighter.

Aang gripped her chin and turned her face towards him. "I'd like you to say that I can kiss you again."

"Oh. That.. yeah." She licked her lips. "You can kiss me. More. If you want."

He stroked her cheek with his thumb, leaning his forehead against hers. She felt his nose brush against hers as they shared a shaky breath.

And then his lips were on hers.

His lips were soft and gentle and pleading. She tried to mimic his movements, pushing and pulling.

Aang's hand moved to the back of her neck, tilting her head so that their lips were angled deeper. His tongue licked at her lower lip, making her squeal in surprise at the sensation.

He immediately drew away. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I'm getting carried away-"

Toph breathed heavily, her hands gripping his tunic to stop his retreat. "That's... okay..."

"Yeah?" He brushed their noses together again.

She nodded slightly before tilting her face up to capture his lips again. It was quickly becoming an addictive sensation.

So addicting, she considered laying back and seeing where this went...

Aang licked at her lips again, and this time she opened her mouth slightly to let their tongues brush together. For some reason the soft, wet feeling sent tingles all over her body and a moan slipped from her throat. The sound made Aang freeze for a moment before his lips became more urgent.

Her hand slid from his chest to his shoulders, circling around his neck to press him closer. Aang's hand moved from her cheek to her hair, his fingers burying themselves in the thick strands.

Suddenly the door opened, making both of them jump in surprise and draw away from each other.

"Oh! Forgive me! I assumed Toph was in here alone... Aang I thought you were with Lao in the lounge-" Poppy shook her head. "Never mind me! I'll leave you two alone!"

The door shut and Toph flung herself back on the pillows. "I want to die now."

"Awe, but then I wouldn't get to kiss you again." Aang fake pouted as he leaned back next to her.

Toph hummed in contemplation. "You have a fair point. Maybe living isn't so bad."

Aang snorted at her dark humor. "Well anyways, let's continue that another time when your parents are not anywhere near us, agreed?"

"Agreed."


End Notes:

THEY KISSSSSSSSEDDDDDDD. THEY SMOOCHIED. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. KISS KISS FALL IN LOVE.