Hey I'm back! Spain was awesome (I'm tanXD) and I got lots of new chapters written with some (I hope) super special awesome plot twists. Anyway, on with the show! The holy three prevail!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. Nor do I own the phrase Super Special Awesome...that belongs to littlekuriboh
"Aang," Toph pushed herself up from the ground, a smile appearing on her face.
"He's in front of the house with his bison," Hana said and without waiting a moment longer both Zuko and Toph took off running across the wide lawns of the garden. Zuko, being taller, was faster and he soon overtook Toph.
The prince burst out of the house and really, there was Aang, quietly talking to Appa. For a moment Zuko hesitated, unsure what to do. But then Aang saw him and the Avatar had no such misgiving. Before he no what was happening Zuko was enveloped in a hug. He hugged back a little awkwardly (guys don't hug) then Aang let go and grinned at him enthusiastically.
"Hey Zuko," I was around in the area and I thought I'd visit! You'd never believe what I've found…" he was already talking a mile a minute, his round grey eyes sparkling excitedly "and why are you staying out here and not in the palace anyway? Iroh sent me over here and I was-"
"Twinkeltoes!!" Toph had arrived, bangs in disarray, smile wide. Aang looked at her in total surprise. This he hadn't been expecting but his face spread into a grin and in a second these two friends were also embracing.
Zuko watched them and there was something in his chest, some feeling that he couldn't quite identify, some hollowness, a little ache but then Toph pulled out of the hug and it was gone, too quickly too really place.
Toph punched Aang on the arm, "You're unbelievable!"
"What?" the Avatar seemed confused.
"You weren't this tall last time we met," she declared fiercely, crossing her arms in front of her chest and standing up taller as if that could eliminate the difference, "It's not fair. Stop growing already."
It was true; Aang had shot up quite a bit. He was almost as tall as Zuko now but thin as a stick, seemingly nothing but skin and bones, but not in an unhealthy way. He seemed to be growing upward too fast for the rest of his body to fill out. And Aang's face was changing too, the childish roundness was disappearing; giving way to the sharper adult features underneath. But his large, round eyes had remained the same, just like the wide, honest smile, things that marked him unmistakably as Aang.
"So Toph," he asked, "What are you doing here? I thought you were still with your parents.
Zuko froze for a moment, his eyes flicking to Toph's face. She looked slightly sheepish, "Well, Zuko and I kinda got married."
"What?" Aang's mouth dropped open and his eyes flicked back and forth between the two, "what- but, weren't…how did that happen?" He caught himself, "Not that I'm not happy for you guys but this is kind of unexpected and-"
"Why don't you come inside?" Zuko said, "You can tell us how things have been going for you and we'll tell you what happened to us. It's a bit complicated."
"We can go to the garden," Toph said moving towards the big sky bison, "that way Appa can come too. And we can eat something." The big animal gave her an enthusiastic lick that almost pushed her to the ground.
"I see Appa approves," Aang grinned brightly, "alright get up you guys and I'll fly us out back."
They landed in the garden. It was just a short flight but it immediately brought back the memory of old times, the air rushing around their faces, the freedom they had enjoyed. They should be grateful for that, Zuko supposed, not many people had ever enjoyed any of it.
Hana was still in the garden watching them land. She bowed to them when they had stepped of Appa's back, "Prince Zuko, Avatar Aang, Toph, is there anything you need?" Toph refused to let anyone refer to her as Princess Toph.
"Well be staying out here," Zuko answered, "we have a lot to talk about."
"I'll arrange for food and drinks to be brought out," she said swiftly, "no meat for you Avatar, is that correct?"
"Yes, thank you," Aang smiled at her, "And could you possibly get some hay for Appa?"
"Of course," she returned the smile and after one last bow turned around and made her way to the house.
They settled down on the grass, making a sort of circle. For a moment everyone was quiet, then Appa let out a great sigh and settled down as well breaking the silence.
"So," Zuko said as he started pulling out blades of grass, "how's your search going?"
"Great," Aang's grin light up his whole face, "I really think there are still airbenders out there and I'm so close to finding them! You see the airbenders were nomads and it is pretty unlikely that Sozin would have gotten all of them when he destroyed the temples. And when they figured out what happened the others must have gone into hiding."
"And you're going to find them?" Toph was lying on her stomach, face propped up in her hands.
"Yeah," Aang nodded, "I've already checked all the temples for signs and I'm pretty sure I've found something. Now I'm travelling to all the possible locations and I was in the area so I thought I'd stop by and say hi to Zuko! And then Iroh directed me over here and now you're here so…" He smiled he was truly happy to see his two friends no matter how strange it was that they were both here, "So how did this whole marriage thing happen? And why wasn't I invited to the wedding?"
He was eager to here how this had happened. He never would have suspected that these two would end up together and married nothing less but strange things happened.
And they looked good, both of them. Toph was her usual tough self and Zuko…well Zuko looked good. The last time Aang had seen him he his features had been a tumble of emotions; confused, worried, nervous and still hurt. But now his face was relaxed, an unusual smile gracing the normally gloomy face. His hair was longer again and falling into the golden eyes that were gleaming eagerly. He was happy, Aang realized, happier than he'd seen him in a while.
"So are you going to tell me?" Aang teased when neither of them answered. Zuko's eyes flicked towards Toph face, then he sighed and began to explain, Aang's face becoming more and more serious.
"That's unbelievable," the Avatar said when Zuko had finished, "I can't believe a father would do that!"
"Yeah, well," Toph's face was hard, trying not to let anything through, "I got lucky."
"So how long have you been married?" Aang's features were set, his sense of Justice appealed to.
"Three, four weeks," Zuko said, almost surprised. Had it really been that long already? Where did the time go?
Aang was about to say something more but was interrupted by several servants arriving, carrying food and drinks.
"Let's eat first," Zuko sat up straight, "we can talk more later."
And, and, and?