Tradition
A/N: Okay sorry this made me cry so. Yeah. Sad.
Aang took a deep breath. He had all he needed.
Slowly, he opened the door. It took him a moment to compose himself and step inside. He looked around at the engravings sadly.
His people rested here.
Setting the incense on the ground, he lit it with a small flame. The wind chimes were set up on the spoke that still stood so many years later. He folded himself down and closed his eyes in respect.
Aang blinked the tears away from his eyes. The familiar grief settled on his shoulders- and on his heart- as he spoke, "I'm sure you all know why I'm here. I'm sure you've been watching over me all this time."
He swallowed roughly as he felt the whisper of wind on his back. "This is the only thing I could think of, to come to a graveyard. To honor our traditions."
"Great spirits, old friends... Gyatso." He choked. "...I've come to ask for your blessing."
The wind chimes clashed in the sudden gust of wind, and Aang laughed as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Let me finish!"
Once the melody dies down, Aang continues. "Her name is Toph, she's the greatest earth bender in the world. She taught me earth bending. She taught me to face my problems head on, to be firm in my convictions, to be strong. I know it's unusual for us nomads to marry, especially out of our culture. But you always told me you love who you love." Aang smiled softly.
"And I do love her. A lot." Aang rubbed the back of his head shyly. "She's amazing. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I want to share our culture with her. And heck, maybe one day we'll have an air bending kid to share your legacy with, I dunno."
He could feel a breeze gathering around him, swirling constantly, assuring him.
Aang smiled, "So, do I have your blessing to pursue her in marriage?"
The chimes rang violently, beautifully.
Aang felt at peace.
Aang took a deep breath, letting go of the huge knocker to clang against the huge door. This should be... interesting.
A maid opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise to see the Avatar himself standing on the other side. If anyone could be an unannounced guest of the Beifong's, it was the Avatar.
She led him into the estate, weaving through hallways before asking him to stay put. Aang wrung his hands together as he waited, he was on much better terms with her parents, they wouldn't say no. Probably. Right?
But if he weren't the Avatar, he'd just be a poor monk with nothing to offer...
(Well, he thought sourly, if he wasn't the Avatar he'd had been slaughtered 110 or so years ago with the rest of his people.)
Aang shook his head of the negative thought- if there was ever a time he needed to be optimistic it was now. Flying. Toph's hair. Daisies. Custard pie. Toph's lips. Appa's fur. Toph.
"Enter."
Swallowing, Aang pushed the heavy door open, walking in to find Lao and Poppy Beifong, regal as ever. They sat on their heightened pedestals, seemingly judging him.
Lao spoke, "So why have you come to my home unannounced, young Avatar?"
Aang held his hands behind his back so they couldn't see his trembling fingers. "Lord and Lady Beifong." He bowed respectfully. "Thank you for seeing me at such short notice, I apologize for intruding."
Poppy's eyes were so like Toph's- studying him shrewdly, picking him apart easily.
He cleared his throat. "I have come to ask for your blessing to marry Toph."
They said nothing, and Aang panicked and continued, "I love your daughter more than anything in this lifetime, and I promise that she'll be taken care of. I-"
Lao's mouth slowly tilted up.
Suddenly Lao was beaming and Poppy was clapping happily. Lao laughed, standing up, "Finally! We've been waiting for years for you to ask us!"
"Oh, what took you so long, Aang?" Poppy teased him.
Aang sagged in relief, "You guys were scaring me there for a second."
Her parents laughed and shooed him out, "Go ask her already!"
There she was, lifting boulders and making it look easy. She noticed his feather-light footsteps approaching and finished her practicing, walking over to him and smiling.
Spirits but she was beautiful.
Before she could even greet him, Aang decided he had to do it now or he would lose his nerve.
Aang took a deep breath, bending at the knee. He took her hand in his. Toph's eyes widened as she realized what his pose meant.
"Toph Beifong... I-"
The blind girl giggled, interrupting him. "I wondered why your heart was beating so fast."
Aang sighed, "Yes, Toph, I'm very nervous. Thank you for pointing out the obvious."
"Oh get off the ground you idiot, of course I'm marrying you."
"You didn't even let me ask yet!" Although knowing her answer definitely put most of the nervous butterflies to rest.
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Go on then, Airhead. Ask me."
"Toph Beifong. I love you so much. You're my best friend, my partner, the only person I want by my side forever. With the blessings of our families, I ask you: will you marry me?"
Toph smiled gently, cupping his face as he looked up at her. "Yes, Aang, I will marry you."
He beamed, filled with unbridled joy as he met her lips. Aang stood, gripping her waist and spinning her around as she shrieked in his ear.
"You're such a dork, Twinkle Toes."