Three days. The Avatar had literally disappeared for three days. Toph and Katara both felt his absence in the pit of their stomachs, yet refused to acknowledge the feeling to anyone else. Their feelings towards Aang were causing them to miss him greatly, but also to worry for his safety. And the safety of the world.

As they took out and hijacked the last of the airships, Toph was left in limbo. She couldn't see Aang, or how he was faring. The gasps and demeanor of her two friends nest to her were the only clues.

"How's he doing?" the blind girl asked the room.

"He's really strong" Suki replied. Toph did not miss the admiration in her tone. Sokka stood by, amazed. They were both witnesses to how far Aang had come in such a short amount of time, and it was awe inspiring.

The harsh beats of the engine filled Toph's senses as she listened for any clues from Sokka or Suki.

"He's gonna kill him" one of them spoke in a monotonous voice.

Toph's eyebrows shot up. It was everything he has fought against the last few days, tension between him and his friends skyrocketing because he refused to murder. He refused to let his philosophy die with him.

She admired him for sticking so strongly to his beliefs, and of course, she understood. She recognised the need for what Aang was about to do, but that didn't calm her any less. Her eyebrows furrowed. She didn't want for him to have to do this to himself, to Ozai. It would be unfair to him.

"He didn't do it" Sokka breathed angrily. Toph sighed in relief. Somehow she knew that he knew what he was doing.

"What's he doing?" Suki asked aloud.

"I... I don't know" Sokka replied, as he watched Aang press his fingers to Ozai's forehead. It felt like a split second, and they observed helplessly together as Ozai collapsed in front of the boy that was the Avatar. "I'm pulling us up to him."

As the airship soared to Aang's postition, Aang used the power of the Avatar state to pull up the ocean before them and put out any lingering fire on the marshes. It could no longer spread or cause damage, and the ash would be used to fertilise the ground.

Sokka only needed one look at the former Fire Lord to know he had been beaten. "You did it! You should have seen yourself, it was amazing!" he congratulated Aang.

"So, did you... you know, finish the job?" Suki asked, gesturing towards the slumped monarch.

"I'm still alive." Suki recoiled her finger.

"I learned there was another way to defeat him and restore balance. I took his bending away" Aang explained casually.

"Wow, who taught you that?" Toph wondered.

"A giant lion turtle."

"You have the craziest adventures when you disappear." Aang smiled sheepishly, then brought her in for a hug.

"What about the rest of us?" Sokka complained.

"Nothing's holding you back from joining" Aang told him and his girlfriend. They promptly wrapped their arms around the younger pair, satisfied with their victory and survival.

"Sickening" Ozai spat.

"Alright..." Sokka began. "Let's get this loser lord into holding."

Toph picked Ozai up from underneath a slab of earth. Aang didn't even bother objecting to do the job himself. The adrenaline from his battle was rapidly draining and second after second, he could feel himself becoming weaker and his knees felt like buckling under his own weight. Toph seemed to notice. "Easy there, twinkletoes. There's a place for us all to rest inside."

Aang nodded. His fight was finally getting to him. But he finally noticed two people that were missing. "Wait, Katara and Zuko aren't with you? And where's Appa?"

Sokka had seen this question coming. He sighed, "No. They went to the Caldera city to fight Azula. Someone needed to overthrow her as well."

Aang crossed his arms over each other. "I don't like that. There were other ways. I could've dealt with her after this. And you just let them take Appa?"

"Aang, you're beat, look at you! We had no idea of knowing where you were, or if you'd come back." Sokka retorted. "You need to rest. Zuko and Katara can handle themselves, you know better than anyone."

"I hope you're right" he replied, brushing past the older boy. His comment hurt a little. He had hoped his friends would have faith in him. It didn't matter anymore, though. Things had worked out for the better.

Toph merely shrugged, and pushed along the defeated Fire Lord in front of her. She disappeared into the ship, making her away alone down to the prison hold carrying a trapped Ozai. It felt weird. She was twelve, going on thirteen and here she had imprisoned a middle-aged tyrant, with the help of a person thought long dead to the world. As she listened to the former Fire Lord spit slurs at her, she took a moment to review the past few months. It had truly been a wild ride, and it was almost too good to be true. She let it sink in the the Fire Nation had in fact lost the war. Due to them. An incredible accomplishment for a twelve year old.

The insults Ozai spat at her were no bother to her. She was hard enough to withstand the insults of an insolent, worthless former monarch. It felt good to call him that. What really bothered her was what Aang had said. It was true that sending Appa alone, with Zuko and Katara in tow to take on the craziest firebender on earth was a risky endevour. And having no idea whether or not they would come out alive was scarier.

It also worried her a little, about Aang's lingering attachment to Katara. She knew exactly how she felt for Aang now, and she couldn't help but feel jealous of Katara. If Aang wanted Toph, he would have to show it. She wouldn't risk her heart like that. She didn't know when she had become so reliant on a boy, and it was almost everything she had sworn not to do when she realised how wrong it was for her parents to want to set her up. Except she kinda had a crush on him. That was a start. It felt like she was riding high on his presence all this time, and in the three days he had been gone she had crashed. The desperation of trying to find him had been a great distraction for a while.

With Ozai looked securely away in the prison hold, and no way to escape without bending, she waltzed her way back up to the cab. She found the other three in there, with Aang taking a seat on a chair he dragged in from the lounge. Suki stood close to Sokka at the wheel. She couldn't see, but she could feel their movements in the air. They were probably far into the ocean by now, headed for the Fire Nation's royal palace once more. This time, she hoped that they had more success.

"I hope Appa's okay" Aang muttered to no one in particular. He couldn't stand losing something more of his heritage.

"Aang, you really should get some rest, man" Sokka looked down at him in his seat. His eyes told Aang the older boy was concerned.

"And if you guys need a hand?"

"We'll be fine, it's just flying this ship" Suki called from the wheel.

"Seriously, just go to the captain's quarters and rest. Toph, take him." Aang looked at him, unconvinced. "Go."

"You're right. Thanks Sokka." Aang hugged Sokka quickly, before following Toph out the doorway. "I don't need you to take me."

"Well, maybe you'd like to wander the airship alone for a while trying to find the bedroom" Toph shot back.

Aang hesitated. "You're right" he relented. "Thanks."

"Listen, we're all tired, you especially" Toph told him. "Just let us take care of you." She could feel Aang's heartrate speed up. "You've been gone for days. Did you even eat or drink anything?"

"Um, well..."

Toph scowled. "Come on" she said, leading him in a new direction. They came to the pantry, which stored surprisingly great quality food for what the Fire Army had been used to. "Eat" she ordered.

Aang hadn't felt the hunger gnaw at him until now, but seeing all of that food had awakened his appetite. He grabbed anything meatless he could find, and handed some to Toph for her own meal. It had been a while since she had eaten, too. "Thanks, Toph."

"Anytime."

They ate like that in half-silence for a few minutes, disturbed only by the sounds of the engine room nearby and by Aang's eating. Toph could've almost confused him for Sokka.

"I'm glad you didn't have to do it."

Aang stopped chewing for a moment. "Kill Ozai?" he asked, voice muffled.

"Yeah."

"I know finding another way isn't exactly your style, but" Aang swallowed his mouthfull, "you might be interested by what I actually had to do to rid him of his bending."

"How would that interest me? Was it earthbending?"

"No."

"Then I don't care" she feigned disinterest.

"Come on... it's really cool!"

"Alright, alright, stop your whining. What is it?"

"So it's a thing called energybending. My mind and energy had to be strong and resolute in order to bend his to my will" Aang explained.

"So, some spiritual earthbending shit" Toph deadpanned.

"Yeah."

"That's... cool" she said, trying to hide her pride. Aang rolled his eyes. He knew her too well to know when she was hiding her emotions.

"So, you guys took out the entire fleet of airships, huh?" Three teenagers taking out an overpowered airship division seemed way out of Team Avatar's league, and yet they had made it work.

"Yeah, they didn't expect metalbending" Toph laughed. "It was kinda scary though. Just three of us, taking out all those ships while anxiously watching you... hoping you were okay."

Aang frowned. "I am okay."

"Now. But it was... difficult, at times. According to Sokka." Aang reached out to grasp her hand, which was laying flat on the table. She recoiled on instinct. "You should sleep. We'll be at the Fire Nation capital in a few hours. You can see Katara then" she added bitterly.

"Fine" he replied. "But only if we can spend some more time together when everything's calmed down."

"Are you asking me out?"

Aang's heart skipped a beat, and he mentally kicked himself. "Well... only if you want to, I guess?"

She didn't dare ask about Katara. She knew the answer would be the same as last time. Though her seeming hostility hid it, her heart secretly leapt at the idea of spending more time with Aang. Up until now, she had mostly seen him as her Avatar-friend. All powerful, but surprisingly down to earth. And the idea of going out with the Avatar was definitely strange. She had a feeling her parents would approve, if they hadn't left on such a bad note. And if she cared about their input at all.

She smiled. "It's weird to think it really is all over" she hummed thoughtfully. "Though I'll miss crushing Fire Nation skulls."

"Hopefully over. But yeah" Aang smiled along with her. "I won't miss the violence. I want it over and done with."

"I'm sure you'll get the job done right" she told him. "Just need to power through it all, and eventually they'll get the hang of it."

Aang suddenly realised the amount of work that had been piled upon his shoulders. It wasn't just about ending the war, it was bringing divided people back together again, reinstating the nations and... a world missing a quarter of it's population. Aang's nation, a people that had been wiped out one hundred years ago today. "I'm going to bed" he suddenly declared. Toph said nothing as she observed his mood change, and chalked it down to his fatigue. She quietly led him to the captain's chambers, a room he surely deserved given his accomplishment and left him there to sleep.

Zuko felt his boosted powers slowly drain from him as Sozin's comet disappeared over the horizon, and it's orange glow with it. Any residual energy and adrenaline from the Agni Kai had disappeared as the normal navy shades of twilight filled the skies once more, as they should. It was a beautiful sight, the comet, but he hoped he wouldn't live to see another. He had known Aang for long enough now to know it's sight had been tainted. He probably watched the comet go by in grief, as he hopefully fought off Zuko's father. Gut wrenching.

His attention came back to the waterbender distractedly healing his lightning-scarred chest. "It's all over now" he croaked.

"How can you be so sure?" she replied, just as hoarsely.

"Either Aang won or he lost, or he didn't even show up" Zuko reasoned. "Not many options there."

"Don't talk about him like that" she spat, her healing motions coming to a standstill. "I made myself clear before, didn't I? If you even think about Aang being hurt, I'll kill you."

"Katara," he sighed. "It is what it is. We have to prepare. I don't want a dead Aang either, for your sake as well. We've all put in too much effort to fail now. Aang more than any of us." She let a few tears slip. "You can stop healing me if you like. I have some generals and Fire Sages to convince."

"I just want to do something useful for now" she replied meekly.

"Katara, you are useful" he places his hand over hers on his chest. "You just healed me. But you also need to rest yourself. Let me take care of the rest, it's gonna be my job as Fire Lord anyway. And they won't appreciate a waterbender trying to butt in on Fire Nation politics."

She wanted to fight him further, but she knew he was right. Peace wouldn't come easy, especially to the perpetrators and imperialists that made up the Fire Nation's oligarchy. "Alright. Where should I sleep?"

"I can take you to a guest room" a nearby Fire Sage spoke up. Zuko grumbled. He was going to offer her one of the royal suites, nothing less than she deserved, but he settled on the sage's suggestion. He couldn't be going around fighting his would-be allies over miniscule things. Katara would probably be grateful for anywhere to rest, anyway.

She followed the sage silently, who appeared to be troubled by her presence. He had probably watched her take on Azula, nationwide considered the most prodigious firebender after Ozai. Given her lineage, she was sure to become even more powerful with age and inheritance of the throne. And this waterbender had taken her out during her most powerful. It was difficult to feel at ease in her presence.

The sage showed her to a comfortable-looking room, miles more luxurious than the servant's quarters. Katara smiled at the older woman, and bowed deeply. It made both of them feel a little less tense in each others company. They parted ways and Katara stepped into her room, suddenly feeling the exhaustion of the previous day's work. A day without sleep. She felt hungry, but hadn't the energy to eat.

Sleep would come easy on the silk sheets and fluffy mattress given to her, and any qualms about Aang's safety and loyalty to her left her as she collapsed onto them in her ripped clothing.

She had only been asleep for a few hours, but some irritating noise had woken her up. Looking out the window, she could just barely make out the moon above her. A quick estimation told her it must've been about midnight.

Groggily, she forced herself up. Midnight or not, she wanted to make good on her promise to be useful. There was definitely something up, and if it was a threat, she was damn well going to defend herself and Zuko.

She found the Fire Lord to be hobbling his way down the corridors of the palace, towards the noise. It sounded like an engine. "Zuko, you should be healing" she admonished, frightening him.

He jumped a little. "And you should be sleeping."

She pointed upwards. "You hear that too, right?" He nodded in affirmation. "Then let's check it out. It better not be that shitty father of yours returning after burning the Earth Kingdom to the ground" she growled. Zuko knew she'd personally beat Ozai, knowing the death and pain he had caused the world, and her in particular with Aang.

They stepped out into a large courtyard, closer to the palace gates. There, they watched a massive war airship descend onto a dedicated landing zone. "That's not my father's ship" Zuko confirmed. It had none of the royal decorations. And it was nowhere to be seen.

As it got closer, and Katara squinted a little, she made out a man dressed in blue waving wildly from the cockpit and showing a toothy grin. None other than her brother. It could only mean good news. Katara let her own grin show, and Zuko smiled alongside her.

His landing was bumpy, and probably damaged something, but that was irrelevant to anyone in that moment. Suki immediately came running off the ship in excitement, and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's sister. Toph soon followed.

"Where's Aang?"

"Snoozle's just waking him up. He's beat" Toph clarified. "Heh, the irony" she snorted. "You can see him soon, don't worry."

Katara settled for it, deciding instead to hug the blind girl in front of her. "I'm so glad everyone's okay."

"Yeah, me too" Toph sighed. "But get off me, please."

"Fine" she pulled her arms back. "But I expect a proper celebration for everyone, Zuko."

"Can do" he smiled.

Their attention was turned away from each other when they heard Sokka's pubescent voice call from inside the ship. "Introducing the man of the hour!" he yelled, as he hobbled behind Aang, a hand grasping the boy's shoulder. Aang was blushing and rubbing his hand on the back of his head. He was covered in bruises and plenty of burns, and Katara's healing instincts wanted to fix them up immediately. She knew it was impractical, she could to it in the morning. Things were also different between them now.

"Sokka-!" Katara yelled in surprise as she saw his broken leg.

Everyone looked at him proudly. "Don't sell yourselves short, either!" Aang told them. "Toph, Sokka and Suki did a great job taking down the airships" he commended.

"And we wouldn't even be here if you hadn't shown up literally out of the blue" Sokka praised. "Come on, cheers for the Avatar, everyone."

"Sokka it's midnight" Zuko chastised, "none of that please."

"Alright, buzzkill. We do need places to stay though."

"I'll show you all to the guest rooms" the prince said, as he began limping ahead of them all."

"Everything okay with Zuko?" Suki asked Katara in a whisper.

"He was struck by lightning" Katara said cooly. Suki's eyes widened. "I healed him! It's fine now, I promise. Let's just all move past this. What happened to Sokka?"

"Just a nasty fall, that's it" she relieved her. "I think it's broken, but you can check it out tomorrow. I know you'd rather be with Aang" the girl winked.

As Sokka moved from Aang to accompany his girlfriend to their room, Katara moved to replace him beside Aang. She came up to him suddenly, and threw her arms around his neck. "I missed you so much" she whispered into his ear.

Her breath tickled the sensitive skin on his ear. "I missed you, too" he told her. He returned her embrace, wrapping his arms around her waist just as tightly.

She removed herself reluctantly from her embrace, placing a hand on his shoulder instead. "You're hurt. I can heal you, in your room if you like."

Aang panicked. He didn't want to be left alone with her in this moment. "Ah, it's fine, Katara. I think I just need some rest is all" he said, removing her hand from him. She looked disappointed, so he elaborated. "Maybe in the morning!" He couldn't say no to her, and it was really annoying him.

"Alright" she sighed. She got the feeling he was reluctant to be around her. They came to the guest rooms, and Zuko gave them their individual rooms. He had purposely placed Aang's next to Katara's, fully aware of the tension between the two best friends and would-be lovers. "I'll see you tomorrow, Aang." She kissed his cheek before disappearing into her own chamber.

"Good night..." Aang breathed, too quiet for her to hear. She was long gone anyway. He slipped into his own room. Despite sleeping for a good six or so hours, he was still exhausted from his own battles, physical and mental. The palace bedding looked far more comfortable than the ship's captain's quarters. After all that he had been through, and all that the Fire Nation had committed, it felt odd to be sleeping as a guest of honour in their palace, along with the other victims of the war. Sokka, Katara, Suki and Toph in particular. Though he honestly counted Zuko, too.

Ignoring all of those invasive thoughts, he finally relented and lay down gently on the bed, careful not to aggravate his injuries further by jumping around. It only took him a few minutes to return to his Sokka-interrupted slumber.

He woke the next morning with a burning headache. He had overslept, the sun was almost halfway up the sky by now. Zuko's coronation would be tomorrow, and there was so much to prepare for, not to mention breakfast and healing sessions from Katara. He groaned as he remembered his promise. It was going to be one awkward day. He was lucky he had no severe injuries that would take more than one session to heal completely, or to an acceptable level.

He sat up and noticed some clothes that had been left on his bed, along with a note.

Hey Aang.

These are some of your spare robes you left on Appa. I know your others were burned, so you'll need these instead of walking around the palace barechested. Not that I'll complain. I left your staff on the coathanger.

See you at breakfast!

Katara.

'What an awkward note' he thought. Her commentary on his physique had sure been interesting, but he chose to ignore it as he moved to take a quick bath and clothe himself. He grabbed his staph and headed out of his room with a fresh resolve, feeling happier and more motivated than he had in over a year.

It was comforting to walk the halls of the Fire Nation palace in such leisure, without any notion of hostility or racism. In fact, the servants and even the sages, whom Aang had a negative experience with before, seemed to regale his presence. The praise bothered him, he didn't want to be seen as a god, but it was a good start. They didn't hate him, and it actually looked like they looked forward to a peaceful time ahead.

The palace hadn't changed all that much over the course of a century, structure wise. From his previous visits, he was able to find the main guest-dining area where Zuko and the rest of his friends were already eating what looked like a massive feast, just for breakfast and just for them.

"Twinkletoes!" Toph greeted him as he entered the dining area, grinning. The rest of his friends smiled. They all felt so calm and accomplished, and it felt good to let loose after months on the run.

"Good morning, guys" he smiled back at them. He took a seat next to Toph on the edge of the table, across from Katara, who frowned. A servant served him a vegetarian meal, which he quickly began stuffing into his mouth. Typically, this kind of behaviour would be seen as abnormal or unmannerly in a palace, but given their achievements, it seemed appropriate for their first proper meal since their battles.

"So, Aang" Zuko began. "You know my coronation is tomorrow, but I was hoping you'd be up there with me to show support."

"That's a big ask. An Avatar won't usually show up to support a ruler, right?" Katara asked.

"That's true..." Aang pondered.

"Well, Zuko actually needs the support" Toph reasoned. "Otherwise no one might take him seriously and continue to fight."

"That's also true. But I think Toph's right" Aang concluded. "I can't have Kuei or Arnook refusing to stand down." He looked to Zuko. "I'll be there."

"That's good to hear" he smiled. "Obviously, you're all invited. I've issued orders to have the prisoners released from the capital prison, and they can stay here at the palace too. They're all welcome to attend also."

"I'm glad you have it all under control" Aang told him. "How's your injury?"

"I think it's okay now, thanks to Katara" Zuko said.

"Yeah, and now we have matching scars!" Aang replied, ecstatic.

The reminder of his injury was the last thing Katara needed in their peaceful celebration. She didn't want to think about wartime anymore, and the tragedies she had faced during it. "Yeah, both given to you by his sister."

"That's... true" Zuko sighed. "To be honest, I don't like to think of them as my family anymore. Is that even fair to them?"

"Of course!" Sokka said. "They totally deserve it. And you've got us now" he finished, throwing an arm around the older boy's shoulder.

Sick of the conversational subject, Katara turned to Aang again. "You okay to take your healing session now, Aang?"

He wanted to groan. "Sokka needs it far more than I do."

"I fixed him up earlier. He won't need another session until tomorrow" Katara argued.

There was no rejecting that. "Alright" he put on a fake smile, and headed towards is room with Katara in tow. It was awkward, walking the hallways alone with her, and even more so when she insisted on being as close to him as possible. It almost made him uncomfortable, except he secretly relished it. The guilt gnawed at him when he thought of Toph. 'Katara doesn't want me' he reasoned with himself.

Stepping into his room together, the awkwardness grew exponentially. "Remove your robe" she ordered.

"Okay" he blushed, taking it off and revealing his scar and other injuries. They sat on his bed.

"This is all Ozai managed to do?"

"You wanted him to do more, huh?" Aang joked.

"No, it's just-!" she sighed forcefully. "I'm proud is all. It sounds like you really beat him."

"That is what winning means" he told her.

She placed her hands on the first of his larger burns, taking water directly from the humid autumn air. Her hands and the water were a little colder than the room temperature, which made for a soothing effect on his burns. He sighed contentedly as the irritation he hadn't felt until now left his body, returning to normal. She moved quickly from burn to burn, area to area, starting from his behind. Finally, when she was facing him, she broke their silence. "Aang, about the night at the play..."

"Don't" he cut her off, far too quickly. "I'd rather not talk about that, right now if it's okay with you Katara."

"Oh." Now she knew how he felt that night she 'accidentally' rejected him. And now she had lost him.

"I do want to apologise though" he continued.

"Aang, there's no need to-"

"There is. Katara, I invaded your personal space when you asked me not to. I'm so sorry and I hate that I damaged our friendship that way. Can you just tell me that you forgive me?"

She wanted to tell him there was no need to apologise for something she had actually wanted, but they were beyond that now. "That's okay, Aang" she sighed, disappointment evident in her voice. "I appreciate the apology." She tried to hide the pain of rejection from him and focused on her healing. He reached out to her suddenly, wrapping her in a proper hug. It was somewhat comforting to her.

"I'm glad" he breathed. "I was worried I had really fucked up."

His use of language surprised her a little, but she ignored it. He had been hanging out with Toph lately. She smiled at him and shook her head. "All's good" she croaked out, barely holding in her tears.

"You don't have to keep doing this you know," he said, "you look real tired. I'm mostly fine now."

"Well, I'm the healer and I think I get the last say in whether or not you're okay."

"And...?"

She sighed. "Yeah, you're good" she stifled a laugh. Though she had wanted to spend more time with him, the conversation they had just had really dissuaded her from attempting to pursue him any further. It was essentially a rejection, and he had no idea of her true feelings.

She left his room quietly, after a quick hug goodbye. He remained in there alone until yet another person knocked at his door. He got up and opened it, albeit a little reluctantly. He was enjoying himself in his dreamland in solitude. It felt good to be so leisurely again.

"Oh, hey Toph."

"You promised me a date" she cut straight to the chase.

"To be honest, I didn't actually expect you to want to follow through" Aang laughed.

"I... enjoy spending time with you."

Aang smiled. "Alright then. Lemme get my staff."

"What do you need that thing for?"

"I always have it with me" he explained. "Airbender thing."

"Right. So where are you taking me?"

"Since when do you care about where a guy takes you?" Aang pressed

"Hey, you asked me out" she told him.

"Fair enough" he said as they came to a courtyard. "Want to fly on my glider?"

"W-why would I want to do that?" she asked, a little scared at the thought of leaving ground.

Without warning, Aang grabbed her side and pulled her close to him as he took off on his glider staff, soaring straight up at a ninety degree angle. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Aang?" she yelled into the wind, as they levelled off. "I can't see!"

"Just trust me, alright?"

"No."

"You can trust me, Toph!" he chuckled, pulling her closer. "Grab one of the handles with your hand."

She fumbled around a little before finding the handle Aang was also holding on to. Their fingers brushed, and Toph grabbed onto his for dear life. "Alright..."

"I got you" he told her gently. She relaxed her posture, and her feet found the footrests on the end of the glider. She was finally stable enough to relax a little, but held on tightly to Aang. She breathed out slowly to relax her stomach. He noticed her change in demeanour. "Feeling better?"

"A little" she conceded. It was incredibly terrifying for her to be uprooted from the ground, though she had someone like Aang holding her. Her blindness was something she had never let get to her, and being up here in the air without any means of sight was nerve wracking. "This is still terrifying, and I'm very mad at you!" she called over the winds, but Aang caught the small smile forming on her face. Something about being left completely vulnerable and being taken care of by Aang was very comforting to her.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself" he laughed along with her. It felt good to show someone close to him his perspective of the world, especially the person who had shoved her own perspective down his throat. It almost felt like revenge, except they were both really enjoying themselves. Having someone else to understand his view of the world, even if she was blind, made him feel not so alone anymore. "I wish we could keep doing this" he told her.

"Me too" she admitted without reluctance. It seemed she had forgotten her offputting personality, and was leaning into the skies with Aang.

He took them down gently, careful to avoid making Toph uncomfortable. "I really enjoyed this, but I have to go help Zuko plan for his coronation and so much more..." he trailed off. "There'll be a party though, after the ceremony tomorrow. If you'd like to be my date. Again" he fumbled.

"More prissy balls and celebrations? Doesn't sound like my thing..."

"We kinda have to be there to show support, like you said..."

"Right. But I expect something fun, after" she demanded.

"Your wish is my command" he said, kissing her cheek. He had no idea what provoked that, he was just relying on intuition. "I'll, uh, be going now. See ya." And he was gone with the wind.

Toph hadn't expected to go flying and soaring with Aang, but to be fair, she had enjoyed it. And she was left wanting more. They had both agreed to it as a date, and now she was left in limbo as to what they were. Was she his girlfriend now? She would have to find out at the ball tomorrow afternoon, which she found herself looking forward to for some reason, despite the dresses and high class society rules. She concluded it had something to with Aang. His nature was so freeing, and he had that affect on everything. She desperately hoped he was over Katara.