Toph was going insane.
Aang was being a perfect gentleman as always. His touches were casual and brief, still full of affection.
And it drove her crazy.
Because she wanted more.
So, instead of bottling this up and exploding later, she decided to get down to the bottom of it.
"Aang?" Toph hesitantly pulled on the fabric of his tunic as he stirred a pot on the stove. "Why haven't you kissed me again?"
He seemed frozen for a moment before he turned to face her. "I don't want to pressure you, Toph."
She flushed as she tucked her chin down. "I thought I'd made it clear that I was a very willing participant last time.. and we never… continued that."
"I didn't want to assume… I thought we were taking things slow." Aang captured her between his arms and the kitchen counter. Toph felt her breath speed up in anticipation. She reached out to grab onto his tunic and raised her chin up.
She whispered, "Yes but with kissing… I'd really like you to assume from now on."
Aang was quick to connect their lips, not needing to be told twice. Toph practically melted into him. This was what she was wanting. Just him.
He raised a hand to her face, tilting her chin for a deeper angle. She wound her arms around his waist, feeling the muscles in his back underneath her palms. This man had muscle on every inch of him. Finally touching him, finally kissing him, it was like a breath of fresh air.
She felt his tongue licking at her bottom lip and she quickly opened up to him, meeting his tongue with her own. They were a bit messy at it, but it was still soft and slick. She wasn't quite sure how to do this, she just knew that Aang set a fire in her blood unlike anything she'd ever felt before.
Aang's hands grew a bit bold as he slid them down her waist, over her hips, to her thighs…
"Oh!" Toph gasped as he lifted her up onto the counter, breaking their kiss.
He tucked her hair behind her ear. "This okay?"
She nodded eagerly. Yes, she liked this better. She didn't have to crane her neck, and now she could have him between her legs...
As if reading her thoughts, Aang stepped close to her, pressing her lower back so that they were flush against each other. Toph sighed happily as his body brushed against hers, fitting perfectly together.
"Aang…" She pleaded, tilting her chin up towards him, silently begging him to rejoin their lips. She splayed her fingers out across his broad chest.
Instead of her lips, he kissed at her jaw, and then further down her neck. Toph tilted her head back, moaning as he sucked on a particularly sensitive spot. That felt amazing. Spirits, she was on fire.
She crossed her ankles over the small of his back, pushing him closer to her. Her fingers trailed down his torso, loving the feel of his strength underneath her fingertips.
His hands slowly slid over her hips, moving upwards hesitantly. Toph didn't stop him. He smoothed his hands over her breasts, making her shiver deliciously. She wanted him closer still.
She was about to forcefully bring him back to her lips when she paused, something bringing her crashing back to reality.
Aang felt her stiffening and pulled back, immediately taking his hands off of her breasts, "Toph? If this is too far-"
"Is something burning?" She wrinkled her nose.
"Oh no!" Aang gasped, "My spinach puffs!"
He quickly scooted her off the counter before turning back to the oven. He opened the door, and Toph could feel a wave of heat from where she was standing- a fire?
She heard a whooshing sound, and the heat was gone. She wondered briefly if he had just fire bended.
"Nooooo." He whined, "They're ruined!"
Toph snorted ungracefully, trying to cover her mouth. She failed, her giggles escaping her.
Aang joined her, "Alright, that was pretty ridiculous... And the soup is burnt too."
"I guess we'll have to eat out." Toph grinned, elated at the chance to get some meat.
"Did you plan this?" Aang pointed an oven mitt accusingly at her.
Toph laughed, "No! I didn't know I would be so distracting for the Avatar."
Aang rolled his eyes as he dumped the ruined food in the trash. "Of course you're distracting. This is all your fault."
Aang swung their hands gently as they approached Gaoling. He sighed suddenly, frowning. "We should probably leave for the temple soon."
Toph squeezed his hand. "No rush. I'm happy to stay right here with you however long you want."
"Awe, maybe I should change your nickname to Sappy Shrimp." He teased.
Her face burned and she let go of his hand to cross her arms. "Hmpf! That's how you treat your supportive wife, huh?"
Aang's arms encircled her, his large frame almost making her fall over with his weight. Despite her faux pout, she giggled at him as he obnoxiously kissed at her face.
"Forgive me, my Sappy Shrimp!"
"Aang! You're going to knock me over!" She giggled more as she almost lost her footing.
He nuzzled at her head. "Not until my beautiful wife forgives me with a kiss."
"Fine, you absolute dork." She found his chin and laid one on him, quick but sweet.
Aang hummed pleasantly, "I meant on the cheek but that was very nice."
Toph elbowed his gut hard. "Come on, Twinkletoes. I smell meat up the road."
He laughed and kept an arm around her waist. He squinted down the road, "Looks like a ramen shop. Sound good?"
"Perfect!" She felt her mouth salivating.
Toph swung her feet happily as she munched on her pork and noodles, Aang sat across from her and slurped up his own vegetarian ramen. He grunted at her as her foot connected with his knee accidentally. He grabbed her foot and held it between his legs.
She frowned at him. "My foot is probably dirty."
"I don't care." He shrugged, running his fingers up her calf teasingly. She blushed fiercely. He didn't seem to care that they were in public, he just wanted to tease her.
Toph tossed her long braid over her shoulder and tried to focus on eating her meal, teasing husband be damned.
Aang continued to draw nonsensical patterns along her skin, so she tried to think of something to distract her. "So. How soon do you want to go to the temple?"
He sighed heavily again. "Maybe in a couple more days. I'd rather stay here, or go anywhere else really. But that will just make the situation worse."
Toph nodded sympathetically. She knew perfectly well the urge to avoid your parents' judgement.
"But at least I will have my Sappy Shrimp with me."
She groaned and rolled her eyes. What an insufferable husband.
Toph pulled on a long, loose tunic to wear to bed. She was grateful to have something to wear besides the delicates her mother had packed.
(Those could just be for special occasions…)
She shook her head as her cheeks burned. Bad thoughts.
Toph walked out of the bathroom, undoing the plait in her hair.
Aang yawned loudly, pulling the sheets down. "Ready for bed, T?"
She sat on the edge of the bed, smiling at him. "I like T better than Shrimp. Especially better than Sappy Shrimp."
"I can't say I'll stop calling you that, but T can be added into the mix." He teased. He ran his fingers through her loose, wavy hair in adoration. She was so beautiful.
She chuckled, "As long as you don't call me something gross like love or dear or babe."
"You realize you're just giving me ideas, right?"
Toph groaned, throwing a pillow in his face.
He chuckled, putting it back in its place. "Ready for lights out?"
She smirked. "It literally doesn't matter to me, Twinkles."
Aang groaned. "Right. Sorry."
Toph shook her head in amusement as she slipped under the covers and got comfortable. Aang sank down into the bed soon after.
"Come'ere." He mumbled, pulling at her waist.
She scooched closer, resting her head on his bare chest. His fingers went back into her hair, and the soothing touch lulled her to sleep.
