Long Overdue - A TAANG Story

[Author's Notes: In the TV series they leave this unresolved, and I think that is a big mistake as well an opportunity for these two to grow even closer. (Maybe that is why they did it, or they would have added some TAANG to the series) This story isn't an offshoot of 'A Kiss in the Night of Ba Sing Se,' and so Aang and Toph are not involved. Young men can be dense and thus need to be prodded into understanding just because things aren't said, doesn't mean they don't exist.

Time has passed, and now Aang is ready to make amends. How this plays out… well, read on!

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender

So as always… On with the Story!]

Chapter Three

Sparrking: Part 1

The earthbender slept outside even though the night had gotten a bit chilly. She was far too comfortable to leave the soft, warm, purring, air bison bed, even for the warmth of her earth tent. Also sometime in the night, she felt as if somebody was cradling her from behind. The hold about her shoulders was gentle, modest and just the right temperature. There was no doubt in her mind who it was and this just added to her feeling of security.

Toph suddenly felt the urge to pee. She hated the feeling because she was so, so, so very comfortable and couldn't recall the last time she felt so relaxed. Still, her body cried for immediate attention. "Damn my tiny bladder," she muttered to herself as she began to stir.

"Hey Twinkle Toes," she groaned. "I gotta go pee. Let me go."

"Never, just go here," he groggily replied. "That's what I do."

"Ew, that so gross," she informed him. "Has anybody told you that's totally disgusting on so many levels? I'm sure Appa would tell you the same."

He opened one of his eyes and saw that it wasn't quite morning. "Waterbending has its advantages," he laughed lightly, letting go of his sleeping partner.

Toph loudly yawned as she stretched and stood up. "Doesn't change the fact your disgusting."

Aang smiled, "Jealous much? A little bender envy?"

The earthbender ignored him as she walked over to her self-made latrine.

Toph had to run the last few steps before squatting over the hole she had created. As she yawned once more, she let loose a torrential stream that to her mind, seemed to go on forever. Finally the last trickles ended, and when she went to reach for her wipes, they weren't there. Toph meticulously felt around where she usually left them and still no luck.

"Twinkle Toes! Did you use my bathroom?" she yelled out at the top of her lungs. Toph waited, but there was no answer. "Shit, he probably fell back to sleep," she thought. "I could always drip-dry, but then I'd be as nasty as Sugar Queen. Maybe he moved them to the other side," she reasoned, feeling about to her left.

She finally stood and opened the earthen door. "Dammit Twinkle Toes! What did you do with my wipes?" she shouted.

Aang was wide awake on his feet standing near the fire he was rebuilding. "I made a little shelf so that wouldn't be on the ground anymore," he gruffly called back. "Do you need me to come to help you look, Sifu?"

"No, and do you need me to castrate you?" she hollered back.

Toph used her earthbending to detect the indentation Aang had formed in the right side wall. There, her wipes sat, safe and dry. Her agitation subsided as she considered what a good idea it was to make a place in the latrine wall. She thoroughly cleaned herself up and resisted the urge to scold him on the etiquette of not altering someone else's design, especially if they're blind and needed to have things in the same place! Toph found just thinking it exhausting as she stepped out.

Aang passed her on the way back to Appa. "Hey Toph gotta go poop sandcastles!" he declared racing passed her.

"Help yourself!" she replied with a wave of her hand. Toph went over to the pool and washed her hands off. She didn't bother to look for a towel, just dried them on the front of the tunic Aang lend her.

As Toph settled back down on the air bison, she began to recollect the previous night. After the heated exchange, she felt bad about saying what she did about his people and especially about his past life, Roku. She apologized in her way.

"Hey Twinkle Toes, I said too much, okay," she admitted holding out her arms.

Aang was noticeably upset as he glared at her through his tears, arms crossed over his chest. "Damn straight you did Sifu!"

"So, you don't want to hug it out Twinkle Toes? Maybe you would prefer to kick my ass. I'm up for a little sparring," she declared with a mischievous grin. "It's been ages since we've gone a few rounds and being out here, nobody's gonna know how badly I beat you!"

Aang grit his teeth. "You mean, nobody is gonna know how badly I beat the World's Best Earthbender," he rephrased pointing at her.

"That's 'Greatest,' and you forgot to add metalbender, Twinkle Toes!"

"If I win, you have to stop calling me Twinkle Toes!" he insisted.

"And if I win, which I will, you have to have a real drink with me! Not that sweet rice water we've been drinking," she countered. "Or is that too grown up for the crybaby? Want some of mommy's milk?" Toph teased, shaking a breast his way through the heavy tunic.

"If you want a grown-up bet Toph, why don't you throw in that tit you were just offering," he said upping the ante.

The earthbender bit her bottom lip, "Deal, and when I win, you'll have to do the Momo dance, butt naked, in front of Sweetness and all those airbending wannabee groupies!"

Aang had to think long and hard about that wager. "The Momo dance you say? Why not…"

"No, it has to be the Momo dance Aang, just like you described it. The one he picked up in Ba Sing Se and no one knows where he got it! That was the most hilarious thing I ever heard," Toph reminded him as she doubled over with laughter. "If you're gonna suck this fine boob, you're gonna have to fight for it." Toph suddenly felt his breathing change, and she faced his direction. "You're thinking of something perverted, aren't you, Pervy Boy."

Aang bowed in her direction. "You know me so well. What would I have to do to…"

She held up a hand. "Don't cross that line Twinkle Toes! This has been a friendly competition up till now, but it's about to get ugly. I'll strip you of everything! Every single thing you're holding onto right now, including Katara!" Toph warned somberly. "I'm not that stupid little girl anymore that gave it up so easily on that beach. A little pussy can be very expensive Twinkle Toes, especially mine."

He sighed, looking away from her serious expression. "I'll make some torches, and we can use that area just to the left of the dune."

"Why would we need torches, Twinkle Toes?"

"Unlike you, I can't see in the dark Sifu. There's no moonlight, and the campfire is on the other side of the hill," he replied.

"Be honest Aang, you're just afraid of the dark, right?" she mocked. "Why don't you use earthbending. Close those worthless eyes of yours and feel the earth for a change. I bet you haven't done that in years either, or do you rely on that Avatar gimmick for everything?"

He felt the sting of her words and knew that she was spot on. The other three elements he dutifully practiced and enhanced, but earthbending was the bane of his existence. "Okay, Sifu! I'll wear a blindfold so we'll be even."

"We're never even Twinkle Toes," the earthbender replied with a smirk. "I can beat you like a drum any day of the week. I just thought I would have to put on some shorts under this shirt if you could see. I know a pervert like you couldn't resist peeking!"

He had been wondering if she was wearing anything under that tunic for a while, and now he knew. Aang's heart started to beat harder.

"Ugh, so predictable! You're thinking with your dick again Pervy Boy," she groaned. "C'mon, let's get this over with, Twinkle Toes. I want that drink!"

They moved outside of the oasis under the crest of a large dune that the wind cut out.

Aang took up a position a bit farther away than Toph and put on his blindfold.

"Ready Twinkle Toes? Remember, nothing but earthbending, unless you want to use something else," she compromised. "But you can only use one element and no Avatar voodoo!"

In the absence of light and the dry conditions, the only other bending form that made sense was his strong suit, air. Zuko told him that firebending in absolute darkness created blinding flashes. It was useful against enemies, well, sighted ones. It also temporarily blinded the firebender as well unless they wore tinted goggles to reduce the flare. "That's useless info," Aang told himself knowing he had no such glasses. With airbending, he would be able to sense her movements even blindfolded, he reasoned.

The Avatar smiled wickedly. "That's generous of you Sifu, are you sure?"

"Listen, Twinkle Toes, why don't you use your cheat'n airbending like you did when we first met," she challenged. "I'll even throw in the other boob for free if you win, Pervy Boy!" she added, pushing her breast together.

"YOU'RE ON SIFU!" he yelled confidently.

Before he could take a stance, the sand at his feet shifted away into a pit that he barely avoided plummeting into head first. As he floated up, Aang was about to make a snarky comment about her weak trap when he sensed her charging him.

"This is going to be as easy as the first time," he yelled out.

Aang sent a wall of air towards her. To his senses, she disappeared. "Maybe she went underground," he thought, trying to feel any difference in air pressure. Suddenly he sensed her coming in his direction again, and as before when his wall of air hit or should have hit, she was gone. Without warning he detected her coming from three different directions now. "How are you doing this Sifu," he wondered in his mind. "Is this some type of illusion?"

The airbender sent a whip of wind moving in all directions and just as before, she disappeared.

"Calm your mind and focus Aang," he told himself as he settled silently down to the ground. "She's just trying to spook you, somehow."

This time the sand seemed to rise and encase his body. Aang was able to blast it away, but almost as soon as he was free, more of the gritty bindings ensnared him. The second time he felt was denser and more substantial than the first, but he was able to free himself once more. The third time the air nomad sprang into the air, spinning rapidly to dissipate the even thicker compressed sand that attempted to confine him.

Aang spun as fast as he could, throwing off the sand before he could move his hands and arms freely once more. Unfortunately, when he tried to stop spinning, he couldn't. He felt trapped in a vortex of the stuff that he had inadvertently helped to create.

The deafening roar from inside threw off all Aang's senses. The static electricity that it generated stung and bit at his exposed skin. The peals of thunder blocked him from even thinking clearly. When the vacuum started to pull the airbender down, he attempted to bend his way free with his last bit of strength, but the weight of the sand that surrounded him caused Aang to strain futilely.

Like a snake rising from its den, a rope of the course sand twisted up from the center and seized him. He was too weak to break away as it completely enveloped Aang, forming a smooth ball. Inside, Aang felt like he was drowning as the silica filled his mouth and nose. Also, he was tumbling inside; first forward and then backward, left, then right. He didn't know if he was right-side up or upside down. The temptation to use the Avatar state was becoming irresistible. He now felt himself falling, and he was too weak and nauseous to help himself as the sphere crashed into the ground spilling him out at the petite earthbender's feet.

Aang started to spit and vomit to clear away the choking sand from his mouth and nose in panic. The blindfold had saved his eyes, but his ears were so filled that he could barely hear Toph telling him to lie still and calm down. With a wave of her hand, all the sand lifted out of his airway, allowing Aang to take in a deep, painful breath.

All the Avatar could do was lay on the ground and breathe in the warm night air. Toph formed a stable platform under him and removed his blindfold as well as the sand from his ears.

"I'm so sorry Aang," she tearfully apologized. "I thought…"

Aang's body trembled from the shock. His nerves were on edge, and for a brief moment in that ball, he thought he was going to die. Whether unintentional or not, she scared him. Only Azula and Ozai had brought him this close to death, and he wasn't even sure that the Avatar state could have saved him this time.

Even though he could hear her now, Aang wasn't able to speak as he gulped in air. He felt as though he just couldn't catch his breath.

Suddenly he felt her mouth over his. Toph forced air into his lungs as Aang's chest rose. She continued to do it until their pace matched and the feeling of panic left the shivering airbender.

Aang looked at the stars through blurry eyes as tears started to flow and he wept uncontrollably.

"Please don't cry Aang," Toph begged as she laid her head upon his chest. "I didn't know, I swear, I didn't know! I… I thought you were making that tornado on purpose! I thought you were pretending so that I would let down my guard! I… I panicked!"

Aang took in a slow deep breath on his own and felt her crying on his bare chest. Each tear felt like a raindrop, and he could feel them washing down to his sides.

"I love you so much!" she confessed. "I love you Aang! I still love you!"

"I know," he softly answered. "I know."

Toph laid still, her face heated by the embarrassment of her confession and more so that she was not as slick as she thought.

"Twinkle Toes, how long have you known that I still loved you?"

"My throat hurts, and I can barely talk Toph. Can I get a drink of water or something first," he squeaked out in a barely audible voice.

Toph helped him up to his feet. His arm slung over her shoulders, and the strong earthbender steadied his weak stance.

"Okay Twinkle Toes, hang on tight, it's just over the rise," she said, bending the loose ground into a solid pathway.

"Okay Sifu, lead the way," he replied focusing on his steps.

Toph smiled and shifted his hand onto her breast. "You just hold that tight; you'll be alright."

Even in his dismal state, Aang's grip flexed causing Toph to make an unexpectedly cute noise.

"Why?" Aang asked in a raspy whisper.

"Don't get your hopes up Twinkle Toes. Th-this is just until we get back to camp. Consider it part of my apology," she declared with a heated exhale as Aang continued to hold her tit tightly. "But remember, I still won."

By the time they got back, Aang was starting to carry much of his weight.

"For a guy who can fly like a bird, you're pretty heavy, Twinkle Toes," the winded earthbender exclaimed as she gingerly laid him down on Appa's side. "I'll get you some water."

At first, Aang nodded, but then realized she couldn't see his acknowledgment. "Okay," was all he got out and that marginally audible.

Toph had tasted the blood from his lips when she helped him to regain his breath; She could only imagine how cut up there was. "I'm going to get my bag Aang. I have some stuff that will help. I'm no healer like Sweetness, but at least it will make you feel better. Do you understand?"

This time the hoarse airbender took hold of the blind woman's hand and placed it to the side of his face. He then nodded his answer.

"So, you've lost your voice too?"

He nodded again.

"Thirsty?"

He nodded.

Toph went over to the makeshift table and picked up both the bottle of sweet wine and the skin of moonshine. She sat down next to him and sighed. "You're pretty banged up Twinkle Toes. I think your rice water is going to be easier on your throat than just water." She placed her hand to his face once more, and he nodded.

The earthbender uncorked the bottle of sweet wine and poured some into her mouth. To Aang's astonishment, she put her lips to his wounded ones and let the drink trickle into his mouth. Some of it spilled out, and she backed away, swallowing the rest.

"You have to open wider Twinkle Toes," she softly told him. Toph filled her mouth again and transferred it to his, this time cleanly. "More?" she asked as she touched his face. She felt the nod.

Thrice more they made the exchange and Aang felt the pain and dryness significantly lessen; He's breathing was also becoming easier.

"You took in a lot of sand, Twinkle Toes. No wonder you couldn't bend that stuff away. You know, no breath, no bending, they always say. I got it all out of your mouth, nose, and lungs, but the stuff ya swallowed, probably going to be shitting sandcastles for a while," Toph explained putting the sweet wine to the side.

This time Aang took her hand and lightly squeezed it. The simple gesture caused the petite earthbender's heart to skip as her cheeks flushed red. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"Don't try to talk yet," she instructed him. "I think that drink we talked about having is gonna come in handy," Toph told him with a smirk. "Did we have honey? Squeeze my hand once for no and twice for yes. I know your face is pretty sore too."

He squeezed her hand twice.

"Was that about the honey or about your face?" she asked as her brow furled.

He squeezed twice once more.

Toph slapped her forehead in frustration. "Okay, my bad Twinkle Toes! One question at a time from now on."

Aang would have laughed if it didn't hurt so much.

"How about once for no, twice for yes, three times for maybe," she revised.

Aang squeezed her hand twice in acceptance.

"So that honey, do we have any?"

He squeezed her hand twice, and Toph smiled. She knew where the supplies were stored on the saddle and as she went to stand, he still was holding her hand.

"Twinkle Toes, I have to go get my bag and some other things to help you. So please let go of my hand."

Aang squeezed once as he gazed up into her face, partially obscured by the shadow.

Toph sighed. "I know you've been through a lot, but I'm not going to leave you, I promise, okay?"

He squeezed her hand again.

Toph sat back beside him. "Look Aang; you're not being reasonable. You're in pain, and I guess a bit scared still?"

He squeezed her hand three times.

"Sorry, one question at a time," Toph corrected herself. "Are you hurting, Twinkle Toes?"

He pressed twice.

"Are you still scared?"

This time Aang squeezed her hand three times.

Toph smiled comfortingly at him. "At least I can see your pride is still intact," she laughed lightly. "But you have to let go of my hand. I'll give it back to you as soon as I can. How about Momo, do you want to hold him?"

Aang singled once and then she felt him poke her shoulder.

"I know you want me Twinkle Toes, but how am I going to help you just sitting here?"

The airbender shifted around and placed his head in her lap, clutching her hand firmly still.

Toph didn't resist but began to softly sing a lullaby. She felt his tears upon her thighs and his quiet sobs. Somehow, she knew this was better for him than any medicine she had proposed.

Aang eventually fell asleep, and she slipped away, gathering up all the items she needed. "Okay, aloe balm, water, petroleum jelly, clean clothes, honey, and some lemons… and oh yeah, a cup," she inventoried, wrapping everything up in a bundle before exiting the saddle.

As Toph walked back, she could feel the fire starting to die down, but there was nothing she could do about it. The night air had also gotten cooler. "Doubt he's gonna let me sleep in my tent," she told herself. "I guess it can't be helped." The excuse made her happier than she expected.

Once she got back to him, she had to feel around to discover his position. Luckily he was on his back. She wet the cloth using the water bag and began to dab at his face, being as gentle as she could. She could smell the blood that was still seeping from his abrasions. She could also hear from his breathing he was awake, but he was lying still, letting her take care of him.

She washed his forehead, cheeks, and chin. "Did I get everywhere?" she asked him. Aang guided her hand to his nose. She softly washed that as well. "Anywhere else?" He now placed her hand on his chest. She blushed, "Oh yeah, you just had your shorts on… silly me," she exclaimed shyly.

Seeing her discomfort, Aang took the cloth from her hand and began to wash.

Toph took hold of his arm. "No Aang, let me do this," she said meekly.

The Avatar placed it back in her hand, and Toph poured more water on it. "I know I'm not a good substitute for Sweetness when it comes to nursing, but thanks for letting me try. You know, when we were kids, and psycho lightening bitch shot you, I helped Katara take care of you. Surprised? That's how I know about giving you water from my mouth and cleaning wounds. I also helped clean you up when you soiled yourself too."

This time Aang flushed brightly. He had never considered what it took to care for him when he was convalescing.