Long Overdue - A TAANG Story
[Author's Notes: In the TV series they leave many things unresolved between Aang and Toph. 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 Six
Greedy
Toph could smell the residual odor of the yogurt and honey that wafted up from her naked body.
"I'm sorry Sifu, I really didn't think I was that hungry," Aang apologized once more.
"You didn't even leave me a spoonful Twinkle Toes… not one!" she yelled crossing her arms.
"Look, when we get near a town, I'll buy you a full liter of yogurt and a liter of honey, how about that, Toph?"
She crossed her arms. "You know that yogurt came from Omashu Aang. Where are you going to find King Bumi's royal koala-goat yogurt out here in the middle of where the fuck are we anyway, Twinkle Toes?"
"Oh, you could tell it was from Bumi?"
"Damn straight I could tell! At least I got a small taste when I was mixing in the honey. Nobody makes yogurt like that old fool. I thought that was ours to share Aang!"
"Well, I did technically share it with you," he muttered under his breath.
"Using my down under as your personal yogurt bowl does not constitute you sharing anything! I mean, if I had even one climax… just one, well maybe, but you were so busy lapping it up, you didn't even bother to take care of me!"
Aang looked away. "Didn't it feel good, Toph?"
"It felt more like you were teasing me, you idiot I get close and then you stopped or started licking somewhere else. I kept thinking, any moment and he's gonna hit the spot! Nope, didn't happen, did it, loverboy?"
Aang's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, okay? How many times do I need to apologize?"
"How many times do you think?" she replied pointing a finger his way.
Aang sighed deeply. "This was an accident Toph, I swear. I didn't know that warm honey and yogurt, with a bit of you, tasted so good! I admit it, I got greedy, but I didn't think you wanted to taste yourself."
The expression on the police chief's face told him how credible she took his story. "You should have stopped at the part about getting greedy, Twinkle Toes."
"I guess that last part was a bit over the top, even for me," Aang confessed.
"Ya think? So, what happened to my cherries. How did I end up with only four of them, Twinkle Toes?"
"Oh yeah, I saw Momo picking them out of the bag, while we were, well you know, engaged."
"You mean when you were having your breakfast, and I was..."
"Being my breakfast bowl," he finished her sentence to her increased annoyance.
"So why didn't you stop him Aang! You know cherries are my favorite!"
"I did, but by the time I caught him, the damage had already been done. Sorry again, Sifu," the airbender stated pensively.
Toph placed her hands on her full hips. "Oh, so while you were eating all my yogurt, that little chattering thief was taking… I mean, stealing my cherries?" she screamed throwing up her hands in disgust. "This is absolutely fucking amazing, Twinkle Toes, just fucking great!" Toph swore as she flopped down on the floor of the saddle, looking as if she was about to cry.
He stood for a few moments, not sure of what to do, feeling both embarrassed and anxious as he looked at the pouting, naked woman.
"I know I should have been more considerate and… well, ah, watchful. Look, we have lots of other stuff. How about some mango or maybe some peaches, Toph?"
"Gaoling peaches?" she asked hopefully.
The Avatar rubbed the back of his head. "No, Katara kept all of those."
"Figures, Sugar Queen would keep the best for herself!"
"Trust me, I have had these, and this is their season. These are almost as good! They're from the Fire Nation in the southern region, the same place the cherries you like come from. Zuko swears by them and says they're the only ones Azula will eat. He says the volcanic soil is what makes them so good."
He noticed how she lifted her head, and her eyebrow raised in interest. "I think I heard you say that Azula had good taste, right? She's your friend, and you trust, Azula, don't you Toph?"
The crestfallen earthbender attempted a faint smile. "Sure, alright, let me try one Twinkle Toes. I guess it would be better than nothing. By the way Aang, you know Azula isn't totally right in the head yet? Do you really think she knows what is good or not?"
The airbender stared at his traveling companion for a moment and eventually saw the hint of a smirk on her face.
"For a minute there Sifu, I thought you were serious," he said with a shake of his head. "Don't scare me like that."
"I owed you that one for eating all my yogurt and don't think I'm not gonna get you too, Momo!" she threatened, pointing in the winged lemur's general direction.
The small primate hurriedly flew to the top of the air bison, complaining all the way.
"Yeah, ya better run… uh, fly away, ya thieving punk!" Toph yelled after him. "I wonder how cherry flavored flying monkey tastes!"
Momo began to protest from the safety of Appa's head loudly.
"Toph, you do know you're threatening a little, harmless lemur, right?"
"He started this!" she turned and yelled at the airbender.
"Toph, Momo didn't mean any harm. It wasn't like he was initially stealing from you. He was just hungry."
"Funny, Twinkle Toes, you said the same thing about my yogurt and honey! I guess like father, like son! I think between you, Momo and Appa, the big fella, is the only true gentlemen out of all you fly guys! He would never take advantage of a lady!"
The giant air bison seemed to bellow his agreement.
Aang could only shake his head as he reached into a dry storage bin to retrieve one of the fragrant fruits. It wasn't as large as the Gaoling peaches, known for being the biggest and best in the world, but it looked ripe enough to the nomad. Aang recalled now that Toph was a food snob, especially when it came to her fruit. He also remembered Katara telling him that cherries were her passion, and she could eat them until she was sick.
The Avatar walked up and handed the fruit to her. "These may be not as good as you're used to, Toph, but they're better than average. I got them hard two days ago, so they've been ripening, and this one looks the best. I like them more than the ones from around the Southern Air Temple we used to grow. Those were small and soft."
"Like your dick," she muttered under her breath.
"What did you say, Sifu?"
"I said, I hope this doesn't make me sick."
"I can take a bite first if you don't trust it, Toph."
"No, I'll trust you, this time, Twinkle Toes."
The earthbender smelled it and then carefully felt the entire peach. With a shrug, Toph took a bite. The juice exploded out, rolling down her chin and neck onto her bare chest. She slowly chewed it, savoring and evaluating its qualities. "This isn't a Gaoling peach, but beggars can't be the chooser. Not, too bad, Twinkle Toes, not too bad at all," she commented taking another mouthwatering bite. "Azi does know her fruits, for being such a nut."
Before Toph took her next bite, she could sense the Avatar standing in place, just watching her. His breathing was more shallow and rapid than usual. His reaction intrigued her as she decided to have a little fun.
"You poor horny bastard. I didn't get off this morning, but neither did you. I bet you have a hard on that a panther-cat couldn't scratch," the metal cop thought with an evil, seductive smile. "Let's see how long you can last." Toph felt her heart start to pick up its pace. "Damn, just thinking about him looking at me is getting me all hot and bothered now! I didn't even think about that. Why am I getting so nervous? I have to play it off!"
The metalbender took a finger and followed down between her cleavage where the peach's juices trickled. As she did, the changes in Aang's breathing was even more evident.
"Now, what did Ty Lee say to do when I wanted to tempt a guy?" Toph asked herself. "I mean, her advice about sucking him was spot on, and I'm glad I practiced on those cucumbers like she suggested. Of course, the way he exploded in my mouth, I thought I was going to drown and throw up! She said it would get intense, and boy was it!"
As Toph's thoughts drifted, she casually took another nibble of the lush peach, forgetting she had a captive audience.
"His jizz wasn't as bitter I thought, and I didn't have to spit it out. I actually liked the flavor," she admitted to herself in her mental revery. "Hmmm, maybe it tastes better because he's a vegetarian, all those nuts he eats?"
As she took her next bite, she was once more aware that Aang had not moved or said a single word all that time.
"Oh yeah, I was supposed to teasing Twinkle Toes. Ty said to take it slow and imagine where I wanted him to put his tongue on me."
Just the thought of where she wanted his tongue caused the young metalbender to giggle like a giddy school girl as her thighs involuntarily rubbed together. She almost crushed the remainder of her peach as well.
"Are you alright Sifu? You're getting all red. Maybe getting to much sun, it is getting pretty hot," her silent watcher finally said.
"Oh my, Twinkle Toes… are you still there? This, uh, this, huh, fruit is so juicy. You probably want a bite really badly, hahaha. It's making me all sticky and, huh, sweet. Yeah, really sweet," she stammered nervously in a high pitched, monotone voice.
The Avatar started to laugh raucously as her blush deepened. "Were you trying to be sexy just now, Toph?"
"No!"
"Then what were you trying to do, Sifu? I never heard that maiden-like voice coming out of you before," he continued to laugh.
Toph's jaw clenched tightly. "Uh, isn't that obvious, clouds for brains! I was trying to eat my peach here, but, but, you were disturbing me!"
Aang's jaw dropped open in surprise. "What! Disturbing you? I haven't said a word until now Toph! How was that disturbing you?"
She shakily pointed the mostly-eaten peach in his direction. "Those… perverted eyes of yours! That's how you were disturbing me, Twinkle Toes! You were, eh, staring at me like some buzzard-wasp, ready to gobble me up! Weren't you?"
"Toph, what if I said I was actually staring at the peach you're holding. You make it look so good, eating it like that. I just couldn't look away."
If Toph felt embarrassed before, she was doubly embarrassed now. "Really… you wanted my peach, not me?"
Aang started to laugh again. "You look so cute, all bright pink! Of course, I'm lying Toph! I was staring at you the whole time! Apples are more of my thing."
"Oh," she sighed in relief. "What were you waiting for, Twinkle Toes? You know you can… huh, touch me… I don't mind."
Aang licked his lips as he surveyed his little lover with the large breast, "I was waiting for you to finish seasoning my meal. That peach… how did you put it; made you all sticky and sweet? I figured the more it dripped on you, the tastier you would be… my dear."
Toph squeezed the fruit, letting it drip over her breast and stomach. She added the mashed remnants to her ample cleavage, before hurling the pit from the gondola.
"Is this better, Mr. Avatar?"
"Perfect!" he exclaimed, diving to her side, licking and lapping at everywhere the nectar and bits of fruit resided. As he did, Toph's body began to writhe and quiver at his doings, especially when his tongue probed her navel. Soon, Aang felt Toph pushing his head down her body as she raised her legs.
"I think this peach requires your attention too, Aang," she voiced, wrapping her legs about his head.
"Ah, my favorite fruit!" he boasted before burying his face between her labia.
Toph's head dropped back as her sightless eyes closed tightly. "Oh yes, that's the spot!"
Their playing was followed by a real breakfast of berries, oats, and sweet toast. Aang made more Earth Blast tea for the both of them and afterward the couple worked to pack up the encampment. She returned her earthen tents to the ground as if it had never been with a tap of her foot.
"We need to get started soon Toph," he said as they began to bathe. "The heat will only get worse and I want to catch the thermals." Toph nodded her understanding. They were all business when it came to the bath, enjoying it others company as they chatted and joked.
Aang put on his clothes first before he assisted her. He did go about stealing kisses as often as he could. She never seemed to object now, returning them in like manner.
The couple exchanged one last tender pleasantry, and then it was back on their way to wherever, as she sat down in the saddle, feeling Appa ascending. Toph touched her lips as she rolled upon her back and smiled with the sweet memories of the morning. Suddenly, somebody bumped into her.
"Hey who's driving if you're back here with me, Twinkle Toes?"
"You looked too cute to resist, my sweet. Besides, he knows the way."
"So the big fluffy guy knows where we're going but I don't have a clue? Are you kidnapping me, Twinkle Toes? Because, as a duly appointed officer of the law, I would have to arrest you," she jested, placing a finger against his chest.
"You have already arrested me," he replied, leaning in to gently kiss her.
Toph allowed the contact but didn't respond. "Aang, I love how sweetly you talk to me and to know you think I'm beautiful makes me feel good. But, I know this is only a dream and as soon as we get back to reality, you'll be back with Sugar Queen and I'll, well I'll be on my own."
"No! I can't stand this Toph!" he declared laying his head down on her bosom. "I love you so much! The highlight of my days has been seeing you! Did you know I schedule my time around when you're in? Most of the fights I have with Katara are about you; you can ask her!"
"But… but don't you love Sweetness Aang?"
"Yes, I do, but I love you more Toph! So, so, much more!"
"Since when?"
"Since, like forever," he sighed. "I… I thought I knew what I wanted, who I wanted, and then I saw you in that vision, it turned my world upside down. There you were laughing, smiling, so beautiful, like an angel. You literally took my breath away. Remember I told you that I chased you, not sure why I did, but I just felt like I couldn't lose you back then. That feeling has never left me Toph."
The earthbender began to rub the top of his head with her fingertips as she enfolded his shoulders with the other arm.
"Then why did you leave me, Aang?" she asked softly but firmly, continuing to stroke his brow,
The silence between them was not awkward or strange. Toph knew he was compiling his thoughts as the rush of the warm desert air pushed past them.
She felt him take in a deep breath.
"I saw him."
'Saw who Twinkle Toes?"
"Sato, I mean, eh, Satoru… that guy."
"And when did you see him?" she asked as her eyes narrowed.
"That day, on the beach. We were hugging and I was looking inward. I saw him coming our way and I knew he was looking for you."
"Oh, so you knew he saw us already. I was wondering why you didn't seem surprised when I told you last night, Aang," she replied with a bit of irony in her tone. "If you saw him, then why did you kiss me? Why did you..."
"I couldn't stand the idea of him coming to take you away, Toph! I knew that he wanted you… and, and you liked him too. When we first got there and you guys started you warm up, I wanted to make that jerk disappear!"
"Do you know how arrogant and selfish you sound right now Aang. don't you remember how you and Sugar Queen were always hanging on each other and swapping spit? I felt like both of you were rubbing it in my face! Katara knew I had feelings for you from way back! "
"She never told me."
"Duh, that fight in the mud, what did you think brought that on? We had just come back from that island where you had that Spirit Journey and I guess she knew something was up with me, and Sweetness didn't like it. That's why she took your hand after you took mine, Aang. She forced Snoozles to hold hers so that it didn't seem like she was jealous."
"So why the fight?"
Toph smiled deviously. "I told her that you were becoming a better earthbender than water. That you preferred me as your teacher so she could just leave us alone."
"So is that where the idea of both of you training me came from?"
"You got it Twinkle Toes. Sugar Queen was not going to be outdone. That's also why she got so bent out of shape when we started scamming without her. That girl has a streak of jealousy as big as Appa. It's also why she got so touchy-feely with you when I was around, I'm sure."
"I guess Katara was no different than me. She was telling you to back off the same way I told Satoru too. You know, Ozai did horrible things, but I hated that guy more than him. Every time he looked your way, I wanted to smash his goofy, eyeglass wearing, face in. I told myself I was being stupid and selfish, but when it came to you Toph, I couldn't seem to help myself."
Toph pushed him off of her just as she set up. "I can understand you kissing me because you got a bit jealous. But look, you already had Sweetness. Most of the time you ignored me like I wasn't even there, Aang, So, explain to me why you took me into that shack..."
"Boat," he corrected her.
Toph punched him hard in the shoulder. "Boat, shack, does it really fucking make a difference, you idiot! I want to know why! Was I just a trophy, some plaything to make you feel like a man?"
"No! I would never do that to you, Toph!"
"Then tell me Aang, what happened?"
The Avatar slowly exhaled as he rubbed his sore shoulder. "Alright, I'll tell you. I owe you that much."
"Damn straight you do, Twinkle Toes."
"So, I watched him as we kissed, and I saw the surprise in his face. I must admit Toph, I liked what I saw. His look of disbelief made me feel good, really good. I know that's a shallow thing to say now, but that's how I felt at the time. I was only 15, so I guess that makes sense. I didn't want to just surprise and disappoint him, I wanted to crush him! I wanted to destroy his spirit and let him know that you were out of his reach, forever! That I was your lover, a place he could never be."
"So you decided to screw me Twinkle Toes so that he couldn't or wouldn't? You did it all to spoil my chances with Satoru and all for what? Your pride, your spirit-damned pride!"
"No! That's probably why I kissed you the first time, but it's not why I kept kissing you Toph. After that first kiss… I felt like I was flying! I remember, it was like that guy just disappeared. I mean, I kissed Katara and it was good, but when I kissed you, it was amazing!" Aang declared taking her hand. "My eyes closed and my heart started beating so hard I thought it was going to come straight out of my chest!"
"You sure that wasn't just your cock?"
"Toph! Now that was mean. If I just followed my urges, I could have a thousand different women! I get offers everywhere I go."
"Then why don't you take them up on it, Twinkle Toes? If you did that, I sure one of them would birth you an airbender. What do you need me for?" she snapped at him with tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.
"I need you because I love you!" he replied sharply, crying as well. "I wish you could understand Toph! I lost everyone I ever cared about! This world thinks it's been like forever since the airbenders were destroyed. I tried to carry this… pain… this sadness, but it's been eating me alive! I, I talked with Katara about it, you know since she lost her mom, but she seems sympathetic and all, but, it's like she doesn't get it."
"What makes you think I get it Aang?"
"The way you spoke about them last night. You speak of them like they are real… were real! You're the only one that does that Toph. You don't tell me to be strong, just be me. You don't give me some useless condolences or empty words. And at times, what you say about them hurts, but I know you mean them to help me, and it does, eventually."
Toph swallowed hard at his words, feeling her angst give way to compassion. "Of course it hurts Aang. I wish I could take that for you, but I can't! Back when we traveled together, I've heard you crying, a lot, at night, alone, feeling, so, so, sad. I heard you praying for them to come back, or for the spirits to take you to them, and my, well, my heart broke too! Back then, oh spirits help me," she sobbed unable to contain her emotions any longer. "... you had these terrible nightmares. You would call out for Gyatso and some other folks. You would be begging them to forgive you, and pleading for them to come back. That's when I would sneak next to you and just… just hug you as tight as I could, and, and you would cry like a baby, holding me, so strong, sometimes, I thought I was going to break. Whenever I held you, you would get quiet and fall back to sleep. That's when I would go back to my spot before Sugar Queen saw me. I'm pretty sure she caught me a couple of times but never said anything about it. My breakfast on those days was rather… well, lacking."
Aang's lips were trembling as words failed him. This small woman was more wonderful than he ever imagined.
As he began to cry loudly, Toph wrapped her arms about his neck. The Avatar began to scream and yell into the air uncontrollably. She held him tightly as he thrashed about, weeping in deep, gut-wrenching, breath blocking sighs.
"I'm here with you Aang, it's okay, let it all out. I know you miss them," she repeatedly whispered to him.