Prompt: Teasing
Word Count: 2,840
you will always make me jest.
"Hey Sugar Queen," Toph called out, "can I borrow your eyes?"
Katara blinked out from her book reading and looked over at the blind bender, who was currently lazing out on the couch. Aang sat at the other end, subjecting his lap as her footrest. Katara looked to him for clarity, checking that she had heard Toph correctly. At his shrug, she said, "Pardon?"
"I said, 'can I borrow your eyes?'" Toph repeated.
"Sure? What for?" Katara agreed, putting her book down and ready to aid her friend.
Toph smirked. "I need help finding my boyfriend," she feigned looking around the room helplessly then pointed at Aang, "because right now all I have is a wussy pushover."
Katara furrowed a brow as Aang's face shifted into a smirk rivalling Toph's. "Hah!" he leaned toward her, "you called me your boyfriend!"
"I don't think I called you anything, Twinkle Toes," she shot back. Lifting her feet, she pushed his head back and flexed her toes. Katara nearly gagged at the sight but Aang seemed to take that as an unprompted incentive to start massaging her feet. And judging by Toph's relaxed reaction, it was the right call. "See?" she chuckled. "Whipped."
Aang rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say," he dismissed as he continued to massage her feet.
Katara glanced between the two before kneeling back down and continuing with her book. Needless to say, when she invited the two over to stay at her place in the Southern Water Tribe for a short visit, she'd expected to see a bit more into their newly formed relationship. It was news to everyone in their circle when they heard from Iroh in Ba Sing Se that the two had gone on dates in his shop and around the kingdom here and there. He had described it as a bitter married couple on one side of the coin, and a mutually endearing relationship on the other. Though, seeing was believing after all.
And while she and Aang had no hard feelings about their brief feelings for each other, right now… Katara was concerned.
For the short day and a half they had been lodging with her, she had seen nothing but Toph treat Aang like a servant. He was the punching bag of all her jokes and quite literally a punching bag in other situations whenever she slugged his shoulder. At first, she figured it was since the snowy atmosphere left her no choice but to wear boots and therefore be blind, but it would make more sense for most of Toph's remarks to be aimed at her instead.
And while she received the classic Toph Tease, here and there, Aang was the one suffering the most. He had a look as though he was biting back his words or begrudgingly putting up with Toph. Katara couldn't help but be concerned. These two had been travelling the world together as a couple. How were they even sane without someone watching over them?
"You know Toph," she put her book down, bookmarking her page as she raised a brow at the girl, "showing gratitude here and there goes a long way for expressing affection."
Aang raised a confused brow as Toph just ignored her, hands behind her head as she released a yawn. "That a fact, Sugar Queen? Well gee, thanks for your hospitality, I was sure Aang already thanked you nine hundred and ninety-nine times for letting us stay here but I guess I'll round it out even for you!" she sarcastically remarked.
Katara frowned. "Not me!" She pointed at Aang. "I meant your boyfriend."
The young man in question cocked his head, wearing an even more confused expression.
Toph just laughed. "Twinkle Toes? He doesn't need any more of an ego."
He snorted. "You're one to talk."
She lifted her right foot and bonked Aang's chin. "Less talking, more massaging."
"See? That is what I'm talking about!" Katara proclaimed, pointing at the girl.
"Aw relax Katara—Aang's not that much of a pushover." She turned her head over at Katara. "He's just a smitten deer-kitten."
Aang giggled. "That was a cute one."
She groaned. "It was meant to be insulting."
"It was also accurate," he added.
"Aang, come on," Katara placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him, "If Sokka were here he'd tell you to man up and stand up for yourself!"
He glanced between her, Toph, then her again, then back at Toph. Evidently, he shrugged. "I'm fine where I am."
"See? Whiiiiiiipped," Toph drawled out.
Katara rolled her eyes. "But you have to at least return the gesture Toph! Relationships are give and take!"
She smirked. "Oh I return the gestures alright."
The waterbender raised a brow, crossing her arms as she shifted her weight on her left leg. "Oh really?"
"Really."
"How?"
Toph's smirk grew tenfold. "Let's just say our shared rock tent is really cozy." She cupped a hand around her mouth as she stage whispered, "And I'm not talking about how I size the tent."
Aang's ears reddened at that, but he and Toph laughed all the same. Katara's face flushed as she sat back down and continued reading. She would never get these two's dynamic.
::::
"You're a real brat, you know?" Aang grumbled.
Toph kept her arms wrapped around his right arm and stuck a tongue out at him. "Oh suck it up, Twinkle Toes."
Zuko raised a brow as he lowered the map from his end of the saddle. Riding Appa was an experience alright. But the resident Earthbender of their group often found such a mode of transportation to be the worst thing of all time. He couldn't blame her though. Which is why he was regrettable of the fact that during the dynamic duo's stay in the Fire Nation, his desperate need of a quick visit to some bordering villages resulted in Aang offering his noble Sky Bison. And sure, Toph was easily the most irritable and annoying member of the team—Sokka being close second—but he understood how a flight through the skies would be terrifying when blind.
Which is also why he didn't understand Aang giving Toph a hard time.
He'd learned of their newly formed relationship first, courtesy of Iroh's letters. And while he had read all about how his uncle sung the two's blossoming love like it was the aspirations for all those who desired romance, he had a hard time believing these two could get along in any setting. Zuko pegged Toph to be the staple problem in their relationship, and wagered Aang would only struggle in his maturity in certain conversations.
But he stood corrected.
Aang was snarky and glib. Every complaint Toph made or any comment she attempted was met with rebuttal immediately. And even Zuko was aware from the short time he had joined the team way back during the war, that putting up with Toph was how you became her friend. But this was outright argumentative.
"You're such a child," the Avatar groaned.
Toph turned her head to the side, expressing her pout to the sky.
Zuko sighed at the sight. "Aang," he spoke up, "must you engage her so?"
He turned back at Zuko with a quirked brow. "Pardon?"
"Hey, eyes on the sky!" Toph tugged at his arm, causing him to snap his head forward.
"Relax," he urged, "Appa can see better than all of us combined!"
"Now I worry for your sight," his girlfriend muttered.
Aang shook his head and turned back to Zuko. "What'd you say?"
He glanced between the two and sighed once again. "Are you two in a spat?"
Confusion struck both their faces.
"Ew, what?" Aang cocked his head.
Toph scrunched her face. "Who's spitting here?
He rolled his eyes. "I mean, are you two fighting?"
They looked at each other, then shrugged. "When are we not?" Aang innocently answered with a shrug.
Zuko raised his finger to object, but evidently shut his mouth in defeat. These two were far too difficult to even look after. Meddling in their relationship was another feat entirely.
Aang turned back to focus on steering, gathering that the Fire Lord was done with his attempt at a conversation. And while a silence stirred for a few seconds, Aang suddenly turned to Toph and pecked her cheek, sparking a rosy tint among them and a hidden smile. He then turned his head back and continued steering, while Toph tightened her grip on his arm and relaxed her head on his shoulder.
"Still a brat," he chided.
She snorted. "Yeah, yeah, love you too."
Zuko just shook his head and sighed.
Why did he even bother to try to understand these two?
::::
"Suki," Sokka whispered, "are you sure a double date was a good idea?"
Suki turned to her boyfriend and cupped a hand over her mouth, whispering back, "At the time I thought so!"
The two turned back to the couple in front them, who were assessing the carnival booth before them. A carnival seemed like a fun idea in retrospect. Kyoshi Island threw very fun and jovial festivals and while this one wasn't exactly in Aang's name, the appreciation was implied. The two figured the newly formed couple would thrive in an environment like this, both from what they knew of the youngest duo of their group and of how they lent themselves to settings like these.
Out of everyone in their group, Suki was the most open to the concept of the two dating, while Sokka merely jested that Toph had roped Aang along an invisible leash for her beck and call. Regardless, Suki decided meshing with other couples was a good way to establish and test bonds, and so she extended the invite to the festival when the two stopped by. However, the sight they had encountered was something that sold the nonbending duo that this was more absurd than the letters Iroh led them to believe.
"Please," Aang dismissed, "there's no way you could hit that!" He pointed to the bullseye inside the booth.
Toph crossed her arms and jutted out her hip. "You making blind jokes now, Twinkle Toes?"
"No," he grinned, "I just don't think you know how to throw a dart."
She smirked in response, digging into her pocket and slamming money onto the counter. "One round!" she shouted at the carny. The second the man slid a dart across the counter, Toph pounded the table once again, launching the dart into the air. She shot her index finger toward the bullseye, sending the dart straight into the center right on target.
"Metalbending's cheating," Aang muttered.
The carny frowned. "C'mon, no bending," he grumbled.
"Oh wow!" she turned her head toward Sokka and Suki. "You two hear that? A collection of whiny babies is all I hear!"
Aang rolled his eyes. "Well hearing has never been your strongest suit anyways."
The blind girl ignored him as she stepped up to the counter. "You never said anything about not being allowed to bend, mister. Now am I gonna get a prize or you gonna pull another technicality out of your rear?"
He gulped, stepping back. "Uhh, what would the young lady like?"
She chuckled. "I dunno! Aang, what would you like?"
Aang sighed as he leaned onto the counter. "A nicer girlfriend?" he pleaded to the carny.
The man shrugged as he helplessly looked between the two.
Toph slugged her boyfriend in the arm, causing him to accept a small elephant koi doll that was the size of his palm. He tossed around in his hand as he grinned at Toph. "Wow! My girlfriend's first gift to me!" he leaned toward her and mockingly announced, "I guess you do like me!"
She turned her face to him. "Hey, Twinkles, am I rolling my eyes? I'm still trying to get the hang of that," she pointed to her eyes, expressing her deadpan.
Aang turned away from her and smiled at Suki and Sokka. "Whelp, shooting range has been all done. What's next?"
The two exchanged a look. "Uhhh, you two, don't have to do this, y'know?" Suki urged.
They simultaneously titled their heads. "What?"
"I mean, you can do something you guys like?" she suggested. "I-If this is upsetting you or… if you guys are going through something we can always do this some other time—"
They looked at each other again, still confused.
"Suki means if you guys wanna fight, do it after our date at least?" A swift elbow to his rib caused him to yelp. "Argh," he groaned. "What? I'm not wrong!"
She shushed him regardless.
The young couple, however, smiled at the suggestion.
"You mean we can ditch this lame date and fight?" Toph's grin went from ear to ear. She cracked her knuckles and turned to Aang. "You got ten sec—"
A gust of wind blew them back, with Aang's voice receding, "Already gone!"
Toph growled as she stomped after him. "Cheater!"
The older couple merely stood befuddled as they watched the two lay waste to the environment with boulder size slabs of Earth and crafted ravines across the lands. Shockingly, that wasn't what made it so weird and insane…
It was the fact they were having fun doing it.
::::
"I'm so pleased to have you all back in my shop once again," Iroh greeted as he began pouring everyone's tea around the table. It was a rare time in the summer they all had from their busy schedules, but they all agreed to allot such a vacant space for Iroh Time.
"I'm only sorry it took so long, Uncle," Zuko apologized as he held his tea close, almost protectivel.
"Please, Lord Zuko, I'm in no hurry to have these reunions." He chuckled. "I am but a simple man who just likes company here and there."
Katara smiled as she lifted her tea, blowing it softly. "If it's all the same to you, we're always eager to rush to visit, Iroh."
He beamed a proud smile as he finished pouring Suki's cup, setting down the pot and sitting beside his nephew. "Then I thank you for being so eager to see an old man like me." They all smiled at that.
"Well, I've never been much of a tea guy but you sure know how to brew 'em!" Sokka proclaimed, raising his cup like he was toasting an alcoholic beverage before downing it halfway. He had earned an elbow to both sides, from his sister and his girlfriend—the former admonishing him for his lack of appreciation of the art, while the latter for his lack of manners.
Katara's face fell to a frown. "Still, I wish Toph and Aang were—"
"Made it!" came a voice in the distance, earning all eyes on the doorway entrance to the shop. Sure enough, a tired Aang came sprinting through, with a Toph riding his back like he was a horse. Various looks of discomfort and empathy broke for their arrival while Iroh merely beamed at the two.
"Avatar Aang! Lady Beifong! I'm so happy you made it! Please, let me pour you your tea!" he offered, already acting without their answers.
Aang shot a smile as he let Toph down. "Thank… you, Iroh," he panted, wiping some sweat from his forehead.
"Thanks Dragon-Man!" she grinned, waving at him. "I am parched."
Aang frowned at her. "You're parched?"
"Of course! Riding a pack mule is no easy feat Twinkle Toes!"
He scoffed. "Neither is carrying one," he muttered under his breath.
Toph's brows shot up at that. "Did you just call me fat?"
The room dropped to freezing temperatures as everyone stared. Zuko was prepared to nurse a headache, Katara readied herself to intervene, and Suki had a hand ready to slap Sokka's mouth shut before he worsened things by just speaking. Iroh, on the other hand, happily finished pouring two new cups and slid them over to the vacant seats, undeterred by the commotion that would soon start.
Aang, to his credit, didn't flinch at Toph's icy tone. He seemed uninterested actually. He released a sigh as he leaned forward, bonking his forehead against Toph's. "C'mon, you think I have a death wish?" he sarcastically inquired as he stared into her blind eyes.
She sweetly smiled as she softly quipped, "You're dating me after all." And to their shock, she kissed him. Not on the cheek, not on the forehead, or his hand—his lips. A genuine, passionate kiss. Her cheeks were more flushed than his when she pulled away but her smile was as wide as Aang's.
Their jaws dropped at the sight.
Then Toph pouted. "You could stand to use more tongue, y'know?" Aang guffawed as everyone else scrunched their faces up in disgust. While the young boy held his stomach from all the painful laughter and his girlfriend continued to advise him on techniques, the rest of the group exchanged one look and sighed.
It was official: they would never understand these two.
A/N: I honestly think—at least in my opinion—us Taang fic writers think of teasing and Taang as hand-in-hand concepts. Like seriously. How can these two NOT continuously tease each other. It's one of those relationships where everyone knows it's absurd but that's what makes it so good.
And I like to explore perspectives, as you may have noticed. They all probably have their own perceptions of what makes an "ideal" relationship, and I think Taang likes to express their love at random. Underneath all the teasing and moments of bitterness, they like to remind the other or themself that they love them. Be it a hug, a kiss, or a compliment, it's a small act that no one else will get because of how sporadic they are.
But hey… it's how Taang is.
Until next time,
- Bleh