Gasp! We're almost at 200 kudos guys let's get there! Keep leaving comments it makes my day :)
Toph practically stumbled off the wooden port and had to refrain herself from falling with glee into the earth. Instead she dug her toes into the soil and smiled broadly. "Ah, earth."
Aang snorted at her. "You're so dramatic. It wasn't that bad, right?"
"I definitely hated it. Note to self: boats suck." Toph declared, crossing her arms snootily.
He leaned down to her ear, "You hated that whole ride? Didn't seem like it when you screamed my name."
Toph flushed and pushed his grinning face away from hers. Spirits, he was such a tease.
Aang laughed at her reaction, hitching the bags in his other arm so he could grab her hand. "Come on, the air temple is awaiting us, dear."
"You're getting on my nerves today, Twinkletoes!" She warned him, although it was less effective with her smile. Maybe the gushy pet names were growing on her.
It was a bit of a hike to the actual temple. As they walked hand-in-hand to his home, Aang told her about his two pets, Appa and Momo.
"So wait, it's a bison… that can fly?"
"Yep! That's usually how I travel around, he's gonna be pissed at me for leaving him behind for so long. Momo, too."
Toph chuckled, she was excited to meet them, Aang made them sound so cute and fiercely loyal.
"How do you feel about flying?" Aang grinned at her.
She frowned. "I hated the boat, and now you want me to fly? That sounds worse."
Aang laughed and squeezed her hand. "I guess we don't have to try it if you really don't want to, but Appa is how I travel around…"
Toph sighed. "I'll try. For you."
"Awe, there's my Sappy Shrimp." He kissed her cheek. Toph pouted at him.
As they approached the stairs to the temple, Aang slowed hesitantly. Toph gripped his hand firmly. "Come on, Aang. You have to show me Appa and Momo and air gliding and I definitely want to try your Dad's strawberry pie."
Aang smiled at her softly, he knew she was trying to encourage him to face his father, even without actually saying that. He took a deep breath. "Right."
The journey up the steps was long and impossibly unbearable as they wondered what kind of welcome they would receive. The sun was beginning to set, and they were growing weary from traveling all day.
She gave him one last smile as they neared the top. She could sense someone waiting for them who must have seen them coming.
Aang faltered on the steps. "D-Dad."
Toph squeezed his hand in encouragement.
"Aang!" Gyatso sounded surprised. There was no hesitation as Gyatso held out his arms. "Come here, son."
Aang clambered up the steps to hug him tightly.
He pulled away and gestured behind him, "This is Toph… my wife."
Toph bowed in respect. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Gyatso."
"The pleasure is mine, dear. Why don't we go inside for some tea and pie?" Gyatso ushered them up the stairs.
Toph felt Aang huff a breath of relief. This was going better than they both thought it would.
They followed Gyatso into a private room- Toph felt amazed at the architecture but kept her mouth shut, feeling the tension still thick in the air.
"Leave your bags outside there, Aang, I'm sure someone will take them to your room."
The two of them sat down at a round table as Gyatso pittered about to gather tea and treats. "So where have you been, son? Anything new?"
Aang rubbed the back of his head. "We've just been staying in Gaoling, so nothing special. Suki had her baby, but I wanted to come back home before traveling down there."
"Oh, how wonderful." Gyatso smiled warmly. "Miss Toph, are you from Gaoling, then?"
"Yes. This is my first time in another nation, actually."
Gyatso poured tea for them and sat. "Oh is that so! Is it as lovely as we say?"
Toph nodded and smiled, glad that the tension seemed to be easing with more conversation. "It's very lovely so far! The architecture is fantastic!"
Aang laughed at the look of confusion on Gyatso's face. "Toph has an ability called seismic sense. She can 'see' through her earth bending."
"How interesting! You must be truly gifted, dear." Gyatso nodded. Toph shrugged.
"She's the most talented earth bender I've ever met." Aang gazed at her softly. "She's taught me a lot."
Toph blushed and shoved a piece of pie in her mouth- Aang was right. His dad was an amazing baker.
Gyatso smiled. "It is always good to learn new tricks."
"Speaking of tricks, I need to visit Appa and Momo. And I can't wait to introduce you to everyone!" Aang grinned at Toph.
Gyatso sighed heavily, "Now hold on, Aang."
Aang looked over at his guardian quizzically. Gyatso pursed his lips before delivering the bad news. "There's something you should know before going around and visiting... The high council doesn't recognize that you're married."
"What do you mean they don't recognize our marriage?" Aang felt his hands clench into fists as he tried to control his anger at the statement.
Gyatso frowned at the young man. "Aang, you ran off and eloped. Of course we can't recognize your marriage- none of us were even there to witness it!"
"Toph is my wife!"
His father spoke over his angry yell, "Perhaps in the Earth Kingdom. But not here. Air nomads don't-"
"Other air nomads have gotten married, Dad!"
Gyatso pinched his nose, "Aang, please. I'm just trying to warn you that by air nomad standards, you are not married. You did not perform our spiritual ceremony. Committing your spirit to another is a very serious matter-"
"I don't need a ceremony to prove that I'm committed to her! I only did the wedding ceremony for her because that was her culture! And I knew the only way to be with her was to get married." His eyes fell on her and softened.
Aang gripped her hand and kissed it gently as he continued. "I fell in love with her laugh, and the twinkle in her eyes, and how confidentially she carried herself. It's like lava in my veins whenever we touch. I wanted to be with her so… Of course I married her."
Toph felt wetness in her eyes as she hid behind her bangs. He really did love her. Aang was being so sweet and honest, but in front of his father? This was embarrassing! Still… her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest just to land in his hands. She drew his hand into her lap and squeezed tight, trying to convey the requited feeling.
Gyatso sighed. "A lovely declaration, Aang. But no matter your reason for the elopement, it was still an elopement. You know we take these matters very seriously. You are tying yourself down to the earth with marriage. You are entwining your spirit with another's. If that is what you truly want then it's important to perform the correct ceremony."
Aang opened his mouth to argue some more, but Toph gently stroked his hand with her thumb and intertwined their fingers. "We can just get married again here, Aang, right? It's not a big deal."
The tension seemed to seep from his shoulders at her touch. He stared at her for a moment before sighing. He squeezed her hand gratefully. "Alright… if you want…"
Toph squeezed back and smiled up at him. She had an idea for him...
"I'm not sure that's an option anymore. Your spirit must be unmerged. Have you had intercourse? We cannot authorize your union-"
"That is none of your business, Dad!" Aang's face grew red with embarrassment and anger.
Toph felt her face flush as she ducked her head and shuffled closer to Aang.
"Aang, listen-" Gyatso sighed. His son always did have such a nasty temper.
"No, you know what? That's crossing a line. Denying our marriage and then shaming us! This was a mistake and I knew that before we came. We're leaving." Aang declared.
Toph blinked in shock as Gyatso scoffed. Aang stood and pulled her up quickly. He started to practically drag her back out the door towards the stairs. He was going to walk away from his people, his family, his culture? For her?
No.
She planted her feet. "Aang, wait."
"Toph, please. I just want to leave."
She pulled her hand from him. "You can't run away from this, Aang. You'll regret it." Toph turned to Gyatso who had followed them out and crossed her arms. "What if we got married again? Using your customs? Will you allow us?"
Gyatso was frustrated as well and copied her stance, crossing his arms. "That would be acceptable... As long as you haven't had sexual intercourse already." He raised his eyebrow at her.
Toph grit her teeth. "Well, Aang's right that that is nobody's business but ours. And since we are already married, I wouldn't be ashamed to say that we have. But lucky for you, dear father-in-law, we haven't. Are you happy with that?"
The older air bender appraised her before sighing. "Yes, fine. I will talk with the rest of the high council-"
"I don't give a-" Toph elbowed Aang to cut off his angry bellow and spoke over him. "Thank you, Gyatso. We will await their decision."
End Notes:
Ooooooof the drama. I basically have two opposing headcanons for the air nomads. I think they either are super strict and pure regarding sex and marriage because it concerns their spirits OR on the opposite scale they think that love and sex is great with whoever you want but still don't vibe with the commitment of marriage. Either way they don't love marriage. For this story it makes sense to go with the first one about it being a *super serious decision*
