A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: This is an A/U story. The Toph character does feel inferior to Katara and so in order to compete for Aang's affections pulls out all the stops. Aang is a boy with near infinite power and is being offered love and comfort from the two girls most dear to him.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or titles to the characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender. ]

Chapter 10

Regrets

The first rays of sunlight woke him as he stretched lazily upon the thick branch of the old oak.

He could feel the warming energy flood though him like a living thing. The short sleep had help clear his mind some, but not settle his heart.

He decided to walk back to the inn and up to his room. After a quick wash up and change of clothes, he grabbed his glider.

Aang then proceeded to the roof. He could see the park and all the way to the outer wall from here. It seemed to give him a sense of perspective.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky as he launched, making ever widening circles as he gained altitude.

For a while, he just glided along, reciting mantras, while listening to the wind stream by in his ears.

He prayed for Toph and Katara, prayed that the spirits would grant him wisdom as well, it was all he could do now.

He spotted the ancient quarry, from which most of the city's oldest areas were hewn.

"Well, you could always say you over slept," he laughed to himself, even as he turned the glider towards it.

Ten minutes later, he lightly touched down in the main rock pit.

The place had been abandoned for centuries. Now, only expert earthbenders occasionally used it for practice, he was told by the locals.

Suddenly, the sun and sky were was gone, as the hard granite ground tented about him. The sound was deafening as the earth shook under him.

He felt her arms gently circle his neck even as her mouth pressed against his. Instinctively, he tilted his head to accommodate her height and bend. His arms locked around her thin waist pulling her closer, deepening the kiss and raising her to her tiptoes. He was in a daze before he noted that she smelled of jasmine and orange petals.

Secondly, Her mouth was extra warm and soft, and she was pushing something into his. To his surprise it was lychee nuts!

She had chewed some, and was now feeding them to him, as if she were a momma bird, feeding her chick.

He opened his mouth wide around hers to get every bit, sucking it out ravenously.

Toph drew back with a mock cross look, "Hey pinhead, leave me some too, I didn't bring that many!"

"Well I guess you have to crack and chew some more, for the both of us," he whispered into her ear, hugging her closer.

"You know, yesterday, I became became a princess, so now Twinkle Toes, I have others that do that kind of menial work for me," she said in a pompous voice. "...and what would you like to do for me, or maybe to me?" she asked with a giggle.

He was about to propose another use for the nuts when his original purpose came to mind.

He noted through the light that did filter in, she was dressed differently than her usual travel togs. The wrap around blouse was a light material, gold and beige in color, very feminine, not like something she would wear normally. Her pants were form fitting, black in color, and appeared to be made of silk, with an intricate pattern in them. Instead of her normal bun, her hair was in several large plaits, with ribbons through them. He could also see the rouge on her cheeks. She looked... gorgeous.

"Maybe today isn't the best day to tell her," he thought taking in her visage.

She automatically felt the change in mood, "What's wrong Aang? Remember I can see you, and feel you too. Whats's going on in that head of yours?"

He took a deep breath stepping away from her, "I-I have thought about this..."

"And?"

"I'm sorry Toph"

Her face darkened, "And what are you sorry about Aang?" she asked shortening the distance between them.

Her being so close, made it harder to think for sure. He felt his throat constrict, "I... I mean we can't do this anymore, Toph! We just can't do this."

"What's 'this' you're talking Aang!" she shouted into his face, "By 'this' you mean the falling in love or lying about falling in love!"

He tried to back away again, but ran into the granite slab, "I-I didn't lie to you... one bit last night... ever," he insisted through gritted teeth, "She said, I had to choose!"

Toph's muted eyes narrowed as she pinned him against the wall of the shelter. Strangely he was very much aroused.

"She who Aang? Do you mean Sweetness? Did you tell her about us?"

He shook his head, "No... not Katara... can you give me some space... you make me feel..."

"I know how I make you feel Aang, that's why I'm standing here, now tell me... who told you!" she demanded pressing in on him.

"Suki, it was Suki," he divulged, pushing past her, "Sokka and her saw us at the park last night," he said speaking rapidly. "They saw everything Toph... everything," he sighed, catching his breath.

The little earthbender felt her face go flush and her heart skip beats. "Wow, did they tell..."

"No, they didn't tell Katara," he said, finishing her thought.

"But they did tell you that you had to choose, an-and you chose her, right?" Toph summarized as tears began to fill her eyes.

"Yes," was all he could say looking down now.

She closed the distance again, "Then why her Aang? Why not me? Am I not pretty enough for you!"

"Toph, its not that... please listen to me... you're beautiful, you smell wonderful! You know right now how I want you..."

She smirked through her tears, "Telling me things like that, isn't necessarily a good way... to convince me you want to dump me... Twinkle Toes," she sniffled with a weak smile. "I love you, and you're gonna have to do better than that Mister."

Aang squared his shoulders and looked directly at the teary eyed earthbender, "Feel the truth of what I'm about to say..."

She could feel his resolve. "No Aang... please..." her clouded eyes flooded and began to stream. "You told me... you said it... you kkkkissed me," she cried.

He steadied himself, "Toph, as I said last night... I've already given my heart to Katara, an-and nothing will ever change that!"

"Did I ask you to change that!" she yelled. I only told you how I felt and... you, you sonofabitch, you... kissed me... and how does this change, what you told me last night... or what we did!" she blared as her small body shook. "I thought when you said, I love you too, so... is this what you really meant it... I'm confused. What did you mean Aang? What is love for you?"

He was shaking as well, he could barely put his thoughts together, "Standing here... with you, and seeing you hurt like this, I know it's all my fault, and it makes me feel terrible Toph!"

"Damn right, it all your fault!" she screamed.

"What do you want me to do then Toph?"

She stared hopefully up at him, "Take it all back... I love you more than life, and after last night, I thought... no, I know you feel the same for me, so please, stay with me Aang! Tell me Aang... what do I mean to you! Why did you kiss me last night!" she demand suddenly embracing him.

He started to shake his head, "I can't, I really can't Toph... I really... don't know how to explain it all. I do love Katara... and I have chosen, " he stuttered turning his reddened face away from hers.

"You're lying now Aang... so why are you lying to me!" she screamed at him, "Why can't you just be totally honest with me... what do you know, but are so afraid to tell me?"

"I've told you the truth Sifu Toph, now let me GO!" he demanded, struggling with her grip."All there is... is that I love Katara, and that's all there is!"

"No, that is not all there is! Tell me the truth Aang... please don't lie to me," she begged once more, crying even harder. "You've never lied to me before, why now? I-I could always count on you... to tell me the truth, so why won't you look at me,(sobs), why won't you tell me the truth? Have you thrown even our friendship away?"

The question cut him to the quick. He tried to pull away again, not looking at her as she limply hung about his waist like a rag doll. It was like a macabre dance, until Toph realized the futility of the situation. She finally surrendered to defeat, recognizing that he had been the only one who had bested her not once, but twice now.

She let go, straightening up and glaring at him with sightless eyes that seemed to see more that anyone else he knew. She was still crying so hard she was unable to speak as the shelter came crashing down in a huge cloud of dust.

The airbender stood silently in the morning air, his own heart a mangle of emotions.

Finally, with a deep breath she spoke, "If you can't be honest with me, I don't want you Aang," she stated somberly, walking up to him and pushing him away, "Go. I'll love you always, even until the day I die, but this is worse than death for me. Unless you're honest with me, it's like your not really here Aang," she pushed him again, "Didn't you hear me I said GO! Get the fuck away from me!"

He mouthed the word 'sorry' but couldn't seem to give it breath. His own gray eyes heavily glistening in the sunlight.

As she heard the glider click and felt the familiar gust of air, his presence vanished from before her, and so did it seem all of her strength. She collapsed to the hard ground, unable even to cry or bend.

Helpless, was not a word she would have associated with herself, but at this moment, as she laid crumpled on the stone, she felt just that. Unable to speak to hear beloved earth, unable to see anything around her. Each breath felt like it was exhausting to take. "Am I dying," she asked herself.

Unexpectedly, two warm hands grasped her, pulling her near and cradling her close.

"I'm so sorry my love," his voice whispered in her ear, "I take it all back... I can't live without you!" he cried bitterly.

She weakly grasped his tunic, burying her face into his chest, as her tears returned, soaking it thoroughly.

Yes, he had launched, and like a wounded bird came tumbling back to the earth. He crashed only 9 meters (almost 10 yards) from her fallen form. He was recalling all the words of his teacher, Gyatso, on never abandoning true love. And here he was, going to forsake her. He felt totally ashamed of himself.

He had expected her to react, but when she didn't, he knew something was really wrong. He sensed it more when he tried to stand and felt as though a weight was placed upon him. He crawled over to her, gathering her up into his lap, as she started to weep convulsively.

He realized then, his heart would never let her go.