1Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last airbender.

An Avatar Summer

It was dark. A common occurrence when the day turned to night, but it was darker than normal. The stars had been completely covered by the dense canopy of the old forest, contributing to the darkness. Even the moon and it's light couldn't break through. It was also warm. Another common trait that occurred in summer. And it was quiet. Save for the sound of dead leaves as they were tread upon, the chittering of a lemur, and an irritated voice growling.

"Sokka! Step on my foot one more time and you're a dead man!"

"I didn't do it! It was Zuko, he's the one you want!"

This conversation was also common among the Avatar and his group of friends. But the current darkness made it impossible to tell who was where and who said what. But you could probably guess.

The accused prince didn't even break his gate while responding, "From all the way over here?"

"..."

"Idiot!"

"Are you calling me an idiot?"

"He just did Sokka"

"That's it scar face! Say hello to my little boomerang!" Sokka then stumbled through the group, trying to locate the firebender who had mocked him. "Aha! Gotcha." SMACK "Sorry sis, Thought you were him."

SMACK

"How could you mistake him for me you jerk!"

SMACK SMACK SMACK

Zuko allowed a small smirk to grace his features as he listened to the commotion going on behind him. Only wishing that it was lighter out so he could watch it. But instead the prince redoubled his pace to catch up to the one leading the way. But not before hearing several more punches and the waterbender's voice hissing, "Does this feel like Zuko? does this?"

The real Zuko caught up to the shorter member of the group currently leading the way. "Where are we going?" he asked. The monk turned his head, a large grin already set in place.

"It's a surprise" he answered.

"The prince's single eyebrow furrowed, and his face fell into it's natural state. A frown. "Another one?" he moaned. The Avatar nodded. "That's the fifth one this summer. This is madness."

Aang shook his head, "No...this is fun." Falling behind again, the fire prince briefly contemplated going back to camp. And escape whatever teddy-bear hugging, bubble blowing, air scooting 'surprise' that the airbender had concocted this time. But have spent most of the trip not paying attention or trying not to trip, they way back had eluded him. If he attempted his escape now, he would most likely get lost or possibly die. Still he was tempted to try. A low growl escaped his throat as he made a mental note to refuse any future excursions the Avatar led.

Aang's eyes brightened as the tree's began to thin out, and saw a flash of what he came to see. "Guy's look!" he exclaimed, rushing forward and out of the forest. The other four followed suit and ran to his side at the edge of the forest. The scenery changed immediately, from the dark and dense forest, to an open field. Long grass covered the plain, and both the stars and moon made a glorious reappearance, reflecting on the Avatar's reason for coming.

"Wow! What are they?" Katara asked breathlessly.

"Fireflies" Aang told her simply.

"We don't have these in the south pole; they're beautiful" she whispered.

"Can we eat them?" asked Sokka, although he too had never seen fireflies before, only wondered if they were edible. Zuko inwardly smiled, remembering the fond memories he had watching fireflies with his mother. Aang's smile was on the outside as he recollected the first time he had seen fireflies with Monk Gyatso. Toph just blinked.

"Aren't they great? I used to watch them with the other airbender's every summer" he explained before continuing. "They say that the fireflies are always brightest in the summer; during they're mating season." The atmosphere among the group instantly changed. Apparently none of the others found the prospect of watching bugs copulate very appealing. And had no trouble voicing they're opinions.

"You brought us here to see some bugs get jiggy with it?"

"Maybe we should give the fireflies some privacy. I don't want to be a peeping tom."

"I'm more impressive than these things, I could have stayed at camp and done the same thing."

"You brought a blind girl to see fireflies? Way to go twinkle-toes" Toph finished, smacking the airbender in the back of the head. The group turned to leave, before Aand called out-

"WAIT!"

Turning back around, they waited for him to make whatever excuse he had for his firefly voyeurism. "We're not here to watch them , we're here to play with them" he announced to his comrades. They all stared blankly at him. Seeing the reaction he received, Aang concluded that they wouldn't understand without a visual demonstration. Jumping ten feet into the air before falling back down on his air scooter, Aang made a zoomed straight into the sea of fireflies. "YEAHHHH!" he shouted, as they glowing mist scattered like tiny fireworks, dispersing and reforming like thick sheets of fire.

Getting the general idea, Sokka and Katara sprinted in the field, sending clouds of the tiny glowing flies into the air. Zuko joined as well, but did so at a much slower pace. Walking into the filed with a slow and dignified walk, only waving one arm as he manipulated the tiny floating matches known as fireflies.

Toph however, didn't share her friend's enthusiasm for fireflies. Catching fireflies were for people who; could actually see them. Not that she minded, her friends were having fun, and that was good enough. So instead; Toph merely wandered through the long grass. Grass ticking her legs, hands folded behind her back, feeling for any vibrations that might be considered interesting. In no time at all, the earthbender across a very familiar vibration. Smiling to herself, she maneuvered through the long grass toward the familiar object. "Hello rock, my old friend" she greeted, clambering onto the stone and patting it gently. Sighing heavily, Toph hugged her knees to her chest and listened to her friends frolic in the fields. Toph wasn't much of a 'frolic-er',at least that's what she told herself. But still; listening to her friends have so much fun, she couldn't help but feel a smug tug on her heartstrings.

But as her pride would tell her, she was perfectly happy sitting on her rock and listening to nature. She honestly had no problem with it. But Aang sure did. Looking up from his little firefly tornado he had created with airbending, he frowned when he saw Toph sitting all alone, with no company except a rock. 'That's no right' he thought to himself. 'Toph shouldn't be sitting alone. Especially with friends like us.'

Not wanting his best friend to be alone, he left the rest of the group and snuck over to where his Sifu sat. Being cautious to step lightly so not to be noticed, he chuckled inwardly at the chance to scare Toph, despite knowing he would certainly pay for it later. Aang crept closer, trying to catch her by surprise. Aren't surprises great. Unfortunately non were to be had, for just when the Avatar was just about to announce his presence to the blind girl when-

"What do you want Twinkle-toes?"

Aang's shoulders slumped in defeat before answering, "...Nothing. Why aren't you catching fireflies?"

Toph's look shifted to a look of irritation and pointing to her eyes before sarcastically replying, "I'll give you three guesses."

The airbender look at her thoughtfully for a minute. "Are you saying you won't catch fireflies because you're blind?"

"No. I'm saying I can't catch fireflies because I'm blind."

Aang just put his hands on his hips and shook his head in an amused manner, "Toph" he chuckled. "You make it sound as though you need to see to catch fireflies."

"Well don't you?"

"You know, there are a lot of people who would say you need to see to earthbend too."

"So how can you catch what you can't see?" Toph waved her arms up an down like an idiot, imitating a certain airbender's goofy grin mockingly.

The real Aang, oblivious to who she was imitating, was nodding enthusiastically, "YES! That's perfect" he exclaimed.

The blind earthbender ceased her flailing, to stare questioningly at the nomad, "What?"

Aang grabbed both her wrists and started moving them up and down like before, the blush went unnoticed by him. "You don't need to see them to catch them" he explained. "All you do is reach out and start grabbing, it's pretty much all you can do. You don't need eyes for that." he let go of her wrists as he finished.

"Interesting; but I think I'll pass" she told him.

But Aang wasn't one to give so easily, "Awww come on Toph. You have to; please" he begged, getting on his knees.

Toph sighed, "You're not going to shut up until I do; right?"

"Right!"

"Fine; just give a girl some breathing room" she demanded. Aang backed up while the earthbender stretched her arms outward. "Woo-hoo" he said sarcastically, waving her arms half-heartedly. "Look at me go" she continued, lazily swatting the air as she spoke. Aang watched with hurt eyes as Toph failed to have fun as he had planned her to until...

Toph's hand brushed by something small and warm. Unprepared for such contact, she grasped and quickly withdrew her hand. Unsure of what had happened, the blind bender was spared from asked when Aang spoke. "Toph that was amazing! You almost got one, keep going" he encouraged. Still a little hesitant, Toph reached out once more and started to grasp the air. Her heart beat quicken, every time she felt warmth near her fingers during her attempts. Aang gave words of encouragement and direction, instructing her to go either left or right, higher or lower. But Toph was only half listening, adapting her own method of finding fireflies. Using her keen ears to listen for the small buzzing sound they made, and using her sensitive touch to feel for any sign of heat.

Aang continued to watch her as she slowly left her place on her rock to stand up. His smile obviously went unnoticed by her as she started trying harder to capture the glowing bugs. "Keep going Toph" he cheered, glad Toph was staring to enjoy herself and was taking an interest in something that did involve throwing big rocks at his head. The earthbender was now walking deeper into the field , still trying to find her floating quarry. Taking wider sweeps with her arms, her hands came in contact with a heat source and quickly brought it to her chest. "You did it!" she heard Aang say. "And you caught two, that's lucky!"

Toph remained silent as she felt the two balls of warmth bounce around in the cage made by her hands. "So this is what a firefly feels like" she whispered more to herself. She suppressed a giggle as they continued to bounce through her palms, 'It tickles' she thought. Remembering that Aang was still in the vicinity, she brought a smirk to her lips. "This is easy. I bet I could catch a hundred of these if I wanted" she said smugly. What ever Toph had expected Aang to reply, if at all, it certainly wasn't the one he actually said.

"You really are a big softy Toph."

Coincidently, the reaction Aang got...was exactly what he expected .

"WHAT!?"

Toph blindly glared at the airbender, teeth clenched and ready to earthbend him all the way to the fire nation. The thought of a giant pillar of earth knocking Aang all the way across at the ocean, and crashing through the roof of Ozai's throne room and landing on his lap gave great satisfaction to her. Had her hands not been holding the delicate fly's she would have wrapped her not so delicate hands around his delicate windpipe. So instead she merely stomped over to him and shoved her face in his in a threatening manner. Their face so close their noses were touching. "What?" she hissed yet again.

The earthbender's intimidation tactics worked like a charm, leaving Aang stuttering for an answer as he tried to maintain control of his bladder. "W-what's wrong with soft?" he weakly asked.

The blind and very pissed off Toph pushed harder with her nose, "All that air must come from your head. I'm as hard as they come, Toph Bei Fong is not soft" she concluded, pushing even harder with her nose, causing Aang to fall backwards.

"I just meant I've never seen you like this before" he stated from his place on the ground.

"Like what?" she ventured to ask.

"You were just...Toph. Not the blind bandit, not a Bei Fong heiress. Just Toph having fun" he replied. Her eyes softened. Aang then wrapped his arms around himself in a self hug, "It was cute" he squealed, hugging himself tighter.

Toph leaned forward, so her bangs would cover the blush climbing in her cheeks. Quickly gaining composure, but not enough to completely erase the pink in her face. She grumbled, "I don't do soft, and I don't do cute."

"Sure you do, you're just like a stuffed platypus bear" he said with much of his exuberance.

"I-uh-you-YOU'RE AN IDIOT!" she yelled, not being able to come up with something better to say.

Aang tilted his head to one side in confusion as he asked, "Now what's wrong with being cute?...I'm cute...cute as a button." For Toph the words 'soft' and 'cute' had been related to weak things. She knows from their earthbending training, that Aang was weak; and soft (her fists have had ample opportunity to confirm this). So Aang must be cute too she guessed.

"I am not cute" she stated. "I'm strong, I can't be cute."

"You're Toph, you can be both."

The Bei Fong just rolled her unseeing eyes at the airbender. "You're an idiot" she repeated. But curiosity pushed her to add this, "...Really?"

The monk's eye's widened in joy, "Yeah, in fact I-

"AANG!"

The two bender's turned their attention toward the calling warrior several yards away. "You WON"T BELIEVE IT! ZUKO CAUGHT TWO FIREFLIES...MATING!" Zuko raised both his hands, that were formed in a cage similar to Toph's.

"That's nice" Aang called out before turning back to Toph, "So either way Toph I think-

"THEY'RE BOTH GIRLS!"

"I gotta go." Quickly bolting to where Sokka and Zuko stood to see their great find, he called over his shoulder. "See ya round Toph."

"Sure Aang..." she whispered, clutching the fireflies closer to her chest.

'You're Toph, you can be both.'

The blind girl then opened her palms and released the two glowing lovers into the air. Even after the fireflies left, Toph could still feel the warmth in her chest. "See ya around."

I graduated from highschool last June so I wanted to write a summer Taang fic. All in all I think it turned aout good. Stay tuned for the extended gag version. I'll start writing fruits of passion again so no worries.