'Spirit World'
A/N: This is by far my favorite chapter I've written of this little series. In love with this idea. (Pls still read the other ones tho) I like weirdly shift from Aang's POV to Toph's halfway through please just go with it I wrote this too quickly I guess. I don't feel like trying to fix it LOL
Summary: Toph accidentally travels to the spirit world with him.
"What is meditating like?"
Aang opened his eyes to look up at his old Sifu. He smiled at her, "It's peaceful. It makes me feel... connected. Centered."
Toph blinked her pale eyes at him. "Connected to what?"
He shrugged. "The earth. Nature. Spirits. Myself. Everything."
"I wanna try." Toph folded herself down across from him. "Tell me what to do, Twinkles."
Aang snorted. "Alright then... You do have a lot of pent up anger..." Toph almost reached out to hit him before realizing that would prove his point. He continued before she could decide to hit him anyways. "Close your eyes and match my breaths."
Toph actually obeyed him. Aang continued, "First, be connected. Listen. Feel the earth and the creatures around you..."
Aang took a deep breath, "...and let them float away. Clear your mind from worldly troubles."
She exhaled deeply, and Aang could feel tension release from her shoulders. He focused his energy on her.
"Imagine a tether between you and the earth. It is the only thing holding you here. Now, let go of it."
Aang felt a huge spiritual shift, and he opened his eyes in bewilderment.
The spirit world... He hadn't meant to come here.
Aang felt his mouth drop open as he looked across from him to see Toph sitting there, perfectly still as a rock.
Toph had travelled to the spirit world with him.
He didn't know such a thing was possible- that ordinary humans could meditate their way into the spirit world when having no background of spiritual endeavors. Even for air nomads, gaining access to the spirit world was no small feat.
A/N: FF keeps erasing my work I've wrote this story after this point like THREE TIMES NOW GOTDAMMIT
Toph must have been much more in tune with her spiritual side than he thought. Aang gazed at her in wonder, she still sat across from him peacefully. He felt the corner of his mouth tilt up. If anyone was stubborn enough to get here it was her.
He reached out and patted her knee. "Toph. Look what you've done, you traveled to the spirit world with me."
Her eyelids slowly fluttered open and she gasped, her eyes widening.
Aang frowned, he'd forgotten to tell her there was no bending- she was probably completely blind here.
"Sorry, Toph. I didn't tell you there's no bending. You won't be able to use seismic sense here." He rubbed the back of his head. "I guess that's pretty jarring. I didn't think we'd actually end up here, you know... But yeah we can go back if you want-"
"Aang. Shut up."
He snapped his mouth shut. Toph always did hate it when he rambled uncontrollably.
Aang raised an eyebrow as her eyes moved over his face, almost as if she could-
Toph raised her hand up, her fingers barely tracing his forehead in the shape of his arrow.
"Uh, Toph, what're you-"
"I can see you."
He blinked in confusion, furrowing his brows. "Wait you mean like actually-"
"Aang I can see you." Toph repeated, lowering her hand.
His mouth dropped. "What- how is that-"
"I don't know…" She said in awe, her gaze wandering over the scenery. "This is… incredible…"
Aang didn't know how it was possible. He'd have to question his past lives… Did your spirit not have the same earthly conflictions?
Toph's eyes eventually settled on him again, roving over him, seeing him for the first time.
"You're… pretty."
He chuckled, "Thanks? I guess that's a compliment."
She nodded absentmindedly, still staring at him.
His eyes… had so many colors in them… Colors she had no names for. But they were beautiful nonetheless.
Toph picked up one of his hands, interested in his tattoos. She knew that he had them, but it was different to see them. For a moment she was distracted by her own hands, so small and dainty next to his. She held them up, turning them this way and that before the question fell out of her mouth, "What… do I look like?"
She never had been one to care for her looks. People told her she was pretty but what did she care? She didn't need to. She didn't need to care what anyone looked like.
But suddenly… well, it would be nice to know her own face.
Aang seemed to understand, not making fun of her sudden vanity. He smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "Let's find a pond so you can see your reflection."
They stood and wandered on a path, Toph gapping at everything around them. It was so strange walking- she couldn't feel where she was going, and in a way felt blind, and yet she could literally see where she was going because she wasn't blind anymore. Still, she held tight to Aang's gentle hand, feeling unsteady on her feet.
Eventually they came to a small body of water and paused. Toph took a deep breath and walked forward. She was ready to see herself.
When they stepped close, her eyes automatically trailed to him. He was staring at her, watching her face. Did Aang always look so soft when he watched her? (And why couldn't she stop watching him?)
Slowly, she let her eyes slide to the smaller figure. Herself.
She wasn't sure how to describe herself. Pale, maybe. Pale eyes and pale skin… but dark hair. It's not like she had anything to compare herself to, besides Aang of course. She was very obviously more feminine than him; she was petite and had soft curves compared to how large and broad he was. And she couldn't help but notice that maybe… they looked good next to each other.
"Am I… pretty?" Toph asked unsure, tilting her head in question.
Aang actually threw his head back and laughed, making her blood rush to her face. Not only in embarrassment, but because he was…
His eyes crinkled in the corners, and his nose scrunched up a little. He looked so happy, so bright. ...Beautiful.
Aang shook his head at her and spoke, "Toph, you've always been pretty. In fact, you've only gotten prettier since I met you…"
She turned her head to face him, and was almost taken aback as she met his eyes. She could see the sincerity in them, the emotion. She couldn't feel his heartbeat, but she knew in her bones he was telling the truth.
Grabbing his wrist, she searched for his pulse. "I hate that I can't prove if you're lying or not."
He laughed softer this time, wrapping his other hand over hers. "You don't need to. I never lie to you, Sifu."
She met his eyes again, her breath caught in her throat. Spirits- does he always look at her this way? It was overwhelming.
Toph cleared her throat, ripping her eyes away from his. His eyes were too much.
"Okay mister guru, how do we get back?"
Aang chuckled at the nickname, rolling his eyes at her. "I'm still amazed you were able to get here on your first try."
"It's because I'm amazing, Twinkle Toes. When will you stop being dumbfounded by my awesomeness?" She scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Yes, Toph, you'll always rock my world."
Silence. She turned to look at him slowly as he fought a shit-eating grin.
"Was that… a dad joke?"
"Well I'm not a dad, so… it was just a joke."
She rolled her eyes at him. "A bad one. That was Sokka-level humor, Twinkle Toes. Come on, you're better than that."
He threw his head back and laughed deeply, and she joined him. She kept peeking at him from the corner of her eye though. He was so nice to look at and spirits why couldn't she stop looking at him?
"Well. All we have to do to get back is to meditate again, it'll be easier if we go back to where we came in." As Aang spoke, he grabbed her hand and started tugging her back towards the path they had been on. Toph studied him as he pulled her. Broad shoulders and lean muscles, and a very firm backside-
Toph felt her ears burn as she ripped her eyes away from him. What the hell was wrong with her!
She cleared her throat, searching for something to distract her. "Does our physical world look the same way as the spirit world?"
Aang hummed as he glanced around. "Sort of. Everything here is brighter and… magical I guess? Peculiar might be a better word for it."
She nodded in understanding as she watched a flower eat a bird. Peculiar.
Eventually they came upon the area that they had arrived at. They sat down facing each other at the base of a large tree. Toph pouted and crossed her arms.
Aang raised an eyebrow, his lips lifting into an amused smile. "What's wrong?"
"I don't wanna go yet. I can see here!"
He chuckled, "Well, we can stay for a bit longer but we have to go back eventually. We can't neglect our physical bodies."
Toph nodded, letting her eyes roam over him again. One last time.
She was trying to memorize everything about him, to remember how he looked, the color of his eyes, the shape of his lips, the way his nose crinkled...
"So are we just gonna sit here so you can blatantly check me out?"
Toph's mouth dropped, her cheeks flushing as she screeched, "I am not checking you out!"
"Mmm, yeah you are. Have been this whole time, I noticed." Aang smirked.
She leaned forward to punch his arm. "Your ego is as big as your bald head, Twinkletoes!"
Aang leaned forward as well, his mouth open to say something that no doubt would make her blush, so she interrupted him before he could start. "Yours is the first face I've seen. Maybe I'm just trying to remember it."
His eyes softened and it made her melt. Spirits, she was actually grateful she wasn't captive to his eyes like this in the physical world.
"You know, Toph, I don't mind if you stare at me." Aang took her hands and held them in between their bodies. "It would make us even for all the times I've stared at you."
Toph felt her breath leave her lungs. Was he flirting-
"Besides, it's good to know that you're attracted to me, too." He winked.
Toph spluttered. When the hell did Aang get so smooth. And why was she so defenseless against him.
"I- too?" She asked, holding her breath.
Aang threaded their fingers together, looking down at them. Toph was happy to see his cheeks flush slightly. He spoke, "Well, yeah. I'm very attracted to you…"
"Oh."
Toph stared at him as his face got brighter. He started fidgeting- this was more like him than some smooth Casa Nova.
He glanced up at her, biting his lip. "I didn't- uh, misread the situation, right? It- I'm so sorry if I made you uncomfortable!"
Toph laughed- finally she had the upper hand on him. "No, Aang, you didn't misread anything. I was just dumbfounded by your boldness- but there you go rambling again."
Aang rubbed the back of his head, a grin stretching his cheeks. "Oh, okay. That's good." His eyes fell to her lips. "Yeah… that's… yeah."
She giggled at him. So dorky and awkward. He needed some help.
"So, we both find each other attractive… what's the next step, Twinkle Toes?"
Aang blushed, "Uh… Should we… go on a date?"
"Hmm. I think a walk in the spirit world counts as a date, don't you?" Toph leaned forward, smirking at him.
"I… yes. Yes I'd say it counts." Aang straightened his spine, trying to find his confidence from earlier.
"And now we're about to leave… so it's the end of our date…" Toph lead on. He really was an airhead.
Aang's mouth tilted up as he leaned closer to her, lifting a hand to her cheek. "So it's the end of our date. And I should kiss you now."
Toph grinned, "Bingo."
He chuckled as he pulled her closer and leaned his head down, closing his eyes. She tilted her chin up and their lips connected as her eyes slid closed.
Aang's lips were soft and gentle, just like him.
The kiss was sweet, and Toph was disappointed when he pulled away slowly. She almost wanted to drag him back.
He rested his forehead against hers, breathing softly on her face. Her eyelids fluttered open and she met his eyes. So… soft.
"What color are your eyes?" She asked in curiosity.
"They're gray." Aang answered, smiling at her.
Toph hummed. "I like gray. It's beautiful."
"I like your eyes more." He grinned.
She rolled her eyes. "You're cheesy."
He opened his mouth to retort but she cut him off, covering his lips with hers again. She prolonged it this time, experimenting with how their mouths moved together. She felt Aang's lips tilt into a grin, ruining their rhythm and making her pull away. She raised an eyebrow at him, "What?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that you wanted to stay so you could keep looking around and yet all you've been doing is closing your eyes and kissing me."
Toph flushed, "Oh shut up! If anything, you started it!"
"You're the one who couldn't keep her eyes off me!"
"I- Ugh!" Toph pushed his face away playfully. "You! You flirted with me!"
Aang laughed, pulling her hands away from his face to place kisses on her palms. "I always flirt with you, Toph. You just happened to notice it finally."
That made her cheeks feel even hotter. Did he always flirt with her? There had been a few times where she wondered but…
Toph cleared her throat. "Well, good thing I noticed it then."
"Yeah, I guess you just had to see it to believe it."
She rolled her eyes at him as hard as she could and groaned loudly in protest of his pun. "That's it, I'm ready to go back now!"
Aang laughed, settling back into his lotus position as Toph mirrored him.
"Alright, if you're ready to be blind again."
Toph sighed, "Yeah, it's actually kind of overwhelming anyways."
He nodded in understanding before closing his eyes, slipping deep into a meditative state as he guided her back to the physical world.
Toph blinked her eyes open- but nothing. Just darkness, like normal. They were back. "We have got to go there more often, Twinkle Toes."
Aang nudged her shoulder playfully, "What so you can stare at me all day?"
"Yep." She answered honestly, popping the 'p' sound.
He flushed, not expecting her to answer instead of having some witty comment. He coughed. "Well. As long as it ends with us making out before we go that's fine with me."
She elbowed him in the gut. Then under her breath, "I'm pretty sure we'll make out whether we're in the spirit world or not."
Aang still heard her muttering, and he caged his arms on either side of her. "We can start now, if you want."
Toph giggled, "I think I'll take you up on that offer, Twinkles."