Hello, and welcome to Anti's first attempt to actually write a full story! This is brought to you by my avatardedness and my need to waste time when I should be studying for my finals!
Just so you know, I'm taking the shippings slow. Characters may express interest in each other but don't expect any "OH ZUKO I LURVERZ YOU OMG" in the first chapter, or even the second.
This is (hopefully) going to revolve equally around Toph/Aang, Zuko/Katara and Sokka/Ty Lee, however there are definitely going to be issues with Aang and Katara's unresolved feelings for each other and Mai's feelings for Zuko, ect.
Without further adieu, my erm…storeh XD
"He's kinda cute, Mai, doncha think?"
The gothesque assassin played with her hair as her friend rambled about some water-tribe peasant whom Mai was rather uninterested in.
"I mean his hair is so clumpy but I like clumpy kinda like bison hair clumpy remember when we found that bison hair and you said it was in CLUMPS? Kinda like that! Only on his head! I wonder if he likes oranges, I like oranges Mai, can we get some oranges…"
Mai yawned and found herself dozing off under the comforting shade of the cherry tree.
"Maybe when we fight them again I can ask him what his name is. What do you think it is? Probably something like 'Rou' or 'Heiji' or something weird like that. If I had a water tribe kid I'd name it…well I don't know WHAT I'd name it Mai but it would be something interesting. But of course I'll never HAVE a water tribe kid cause I'm from the Fire Nation and Firenation girls can't just spout out water tribe kids, huh? Heh heh heeeheee…"
The darkened cowl of Mai's eyelids connected, cutting off the white of her eyes as she rested peacefully.
"I wish it were afternoon already so we could start moving cause I'm getting real bored just sittin around here, how'bout you Mai?"
…
"Mai?"
Mai's breathing came softly. Ty Lee's friend looked strangely peaceful, the cynicism and boredom vanished from her face. Times like these reminded Ty Lee of when they were kids and Mai was still happy.
What had happened to them?...
Oh yeah.
Azula happened.
She recalled her 'friend's' taunting of Mai and Zuko, how she'd played along. Anything to deter Azula from singling her out…
Poor Zuko. Poor Mai. They'd never be together now, he was a worthless traitor and she a detached governor's daughter.
Oh, but forbidden love was sooo romantic!
Like her and water-tribe boy.
She knew it was a petty crush but perhaps the reason she was still thinking about him was…
was…
Ty Lee's thoughts were lost as she stared at her peaceful friend. Pink petals fell in Mai's hair and the ruthless girl, even in sleep, wrinkled her nose and blew them off.
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
"Yue…"
Katara frowned, looking at her napping brother with an almost motherly worry.
Katara was a smart girl.
She noticed things.
She noticed that Sokka remained outwardly stupid in attempt to shelter his truly fragile nature.
She noticed that he never spoke of Suki or Yue, but when either name came up in conversation his frequently jabbering mouth shut up and he stared at the ground, or the moon, or at his feet.
She noticed him refuse help from her, even when it was just a small task like gathering firewood.
He reminded her of someone. Someone she couldn't put her finger on.
Stubborn, willful, moody…
Oh, yeah.
Mr. 'I'm too proud to let you save Iroh's life fire-boy.'
Katara's eye twitched as she thought of Zuko. She didn't know why, but he really bothered her. He had a stalker-like voice that was always sounding during the worst of times, a scar marring half of his face that made him quite ugly whenever his face contorted into that angry scowl. Which was all the time.
She liked the way he was growing his hair.
Wait-
I didn't just think that.
Sokka snored in response.
What was she doing?
Oh yeah…noticing all the things Sokka did that worried her.
She noticed him mumbling things in his sleep.
She noticed him spending time to himself, sparring with invisible opponents and later storming back to the campsite scowling after each battle he 'lost.'
She noticed-
"YEAHHEAAAAH!"
Aang.
She noticed Aang.
"BONZAI!"
With a loud CRUNCH, the earth beneath the not-so-peacefully sleeping Sokka elevated and fell, leaving the unassuming warrior in the air for a split second before he fell with an equally loud THUNK.
"My head…" he whined, rubbing the abnormally large appendage and groaning.
"Oh PLEASE. Your head is made of wrought iron" said a sarcastic and childish voice. Sokka's blue eyes opened to see where it was coming from and he let out a girly scream, discovering Toph about three millemeters from his face with a psychotic smile wiping out the rest of her subtle features.
"Why'd ya have to go and do that?" he asked the manically grinning girl, who backed up to lean casually against a rock crevice.
"Not me!" Toph chirped proudly, pointing at Aang, who was grinning guiltily.
"Eheh…" the world savior managed, waving at Sokka whose face promptly began to redden with rage.
"I see his…uh…Earthbending skills are improving?" Katara tried.
"YOUUUU!" shouted the enraged warrior, leaping up from the ground, machete in hand.
"Woah…Sokka…put that down…you might hurt someone!..." Aang said nervously.
"I'M GONNA CUT YOU UP AND EAT YEH FOR DINNER!"
As the skittish airbender ran franticly across the plain, pursued by the enraged water-tribe boy, Toph proudly patted her absurd princess hairdo (complete with cotton puffs framing her ears) and plunked down on the log next to Katara, looking into the campfire.
"Boys…" she muttered sarcastically.
"Yeah…tell me about it."
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
Augh…I feel like I just got grilled over a royal bonfire and dumped in the ocean…
Cold hands went to a cold face, wiping water droplets off of cold skin.
Where was he?
"Uncle?"
Amber eyes opened to discover the uneven surface of a wet mountaintop, complete with rocks and mud.
"Damnit!"
Zuko stood up, running his hands down his back in attempt to stifle the ache that had come from sleeping on rocks and in puddles.
He was soaked.
"What the hell was I thinking?"
Zuko's hands comically imitated the waterbending motion Iroh had taught him to deter lightening.
Oh. That's right.
He had angrily stormed to the top of a mountain, determined to be struck by lightening.
Suddenly it didn't seem like as smart of an idea as it had then.
Beginning his trek back to the desert town where he and Iroh had made camp, Zuko started to wring the water out of his earth-nation robes before just removing them altogether and throwing them over his shoulder.
The bright glint of sunlight and birds chirping irritably told him that he'd been asleep for almost half a day. He wondered if his uncle had worried.
Not that he cared.
Bitter old man, not letting him learn to deflect lightning…he could've gotten himself killed! Why didn't Iroh stop him from running away like that? Why didn't he come looking for him?
…
"Chamomile is my absolute favorite of teas" Iroh mused out loud, rubbing his chest which still stung dully.
"Calming to the nerves in almost all situations…"
"Still talking to yourself uncle?"
A quiet, lisping voice sounded from the doorway, and Iroh looked up to see his nephew, shirtless and slightly soaked, carrying his robes on his back like and animal he'd killed.
"I find that in stressful times it is soothing to hear a reassuring voice, even if it is just your own" the old man said.
"Why didn't you come looking for me?" Zuko asked in an irritated voice. Iroh knew it was to mask his hurt, and gave his surrogate son a compassionate look.
"What, up into the mountains? Zuko, you overestimate me in my age and health. With this injury-" he pointed to his bandaged chest- "I could hardly manage ten feet without stopping for a rest."
Zuko looked at his feet guiltily. Of course, how selfish of him to consider Iroh able to follow him into the mountains in his current condition.
"I'm sorry."
Iroh sipped his drink and pointed to a spot near their makeshift teafire
"Come sit with me and we can talk about it."
Zuko sighed and obeyed, handing his ropes on the dusty windowsill to dry. The spring air was crisp and cool, which didn't help the fire-boy's still-cold, bare skin.
"I was thinking about the battle" Zuko sounded out quietly, staring into the flames and rubbing his hands together, making a few sparks of his own.
"And?" the old man croaked.
"Why were you distracted by that little earthbender girl?"
Iroh paused a second before answering Zuko's question.
"I met her when I was on your trail. She was the one who told me to approach you. I didn't know she was an addition to the Avatar's group. Quite impressive. Did you know she's blind?"
Zuko shook his head.
"I'd think you'd know better than to let an acquaintance distract you in battle. No problem, though. She'll go down like the rest of her friends…"
Iroh chuckled.
"She reminds me of you, that little earthbender girl."
Zuko's nose wrinkled at being compared to an earthbender. Iroh continued.
"You mustn't be so afraid of other people, Zuko. The Avatar's group are formidable opponents. If you fear diversity you fear opposition."
"I fear nothing from them."
Iroh's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Not even that water-tribe girl?"
Zuko burned his tongue on his tea.
"No. Why would you assume something like that?" he asked coolly, showing no sign of interest in the direction the conversation was headed.
"Oh, it's just that she's your opposite. I fought along side her and her brother back at the battle of the northern water tribe."
"That would explain why she wanted to help you" said Zuko, still disinterested.
"And you refused?"
Zuko suddenly felt ashamed. Having her heal Iroh would've been the smart thing to do.
But no…it would've been admitting defeat to her. And she was already one-up from their last battle against each other.
"Yes."
Instead of looking angry, or disappointed, Iroh simply smiled peacefully.
"Even the most durable stone is weathered by the storm, Zuko."
…
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
"TEN!" shouted an angry Toph, tossing yet another rock at Aang's face. Aang directed it back and Toph, who chopped it in half with her 'fists of fury.'
"ELEVEN!"
"Can't we take a break? Aang whined. The sun was hot, Katara was nowhere to be found, and Sokka had gone hunting long ago.
"Break?" Toph asked sweetly.
"Yeah!" Aang said excitedly, skipping a few steps forward and doing some fancy airbending dance.
Toph didn't see or sense this, but she got the jist of it.
"THERE ARE NO BREAKS IN EARTHBENDING UNLESS THEY'RE LIKE THIS!"
Toph whammed her foot into the ground, sending a crack of earth where Aang's feet had just landed.
Aang's left eye twitched and he jumped out of the way.
"TWELVE!" Aang bended the rock above his head and smashed it into the wall behind him.
"You are improving, pupil Aang."
Aang smiled.
"thanks!" he said, closing his eyes and giving Toph a thumbs up.
Only to open them and discover she was gone.
"…Toph?"
Aang stood there for about five seconds, looking around.
"…Toooph?"
Suddenly, a burst of earth came from behind him. Aang had expected suck an attack, and as Toph readied earth on either side and behind him, Aang jumped forward to in counterattack.
Aang's feet leaving the ground left the earthbender blind and confused.
"Gotcha!"
Toph bell backwards onto her butt with an "umph" and Aang followed, landing on top of her.
Toph's earth attack followed, landing on top of both of them, leaving them buried under a pile of gravel with only their heads sticking out in some sort of TophAang sammich.
A few seconds passed and the Avatar blushed.
"GETOFFMEEEE" Toph whine-shouted, wiggling underneath of Aang.
"Uhm, Toph, I WOULD if there wasn't three feet of dirt on top of me!'
"You're the student, why don't you just bend it!"
"You're the pro, if you want me off of you so bad why don't you just do it yourself!"
Toph clunked a rock on top of the airbender's head in response.
"You know what I think?" she giggled.
"WHAT."
"I think you're enjoying yourself."
Aang promptly blew all the dirt off of them in one giant gust of wind. He himself flew backwards and landed neatly on his feet, Toph was blown backwards into a cliff.
"You were supposed to EARTHBEND, you idiot!" she shouted.
Toph stood up, feeling the mess that was her hair. Her perfectly done bun was now a mass of waves cascading down to her back, the headband lieing some three feet away from her.
Aang blushed.
Toph whipped a bit of dirt from her face and spat.
"Take a ten minute break."
Aang nodded, forgetting that she couldn't see head gestures and headed off to the campsite to find Katara.
((wellz, that was my first chapter throws party any feedback is welcomed :D))