Time for something I forgot to do last time: my rant about the final! I liked the final, except that they didn't kill Ozai. That was just wishy-washy getting out of it, I thought. Plus I couldn't understand a thing that lionturtle was saying. But I liked the way they did azula. That was cool!
And, I know this is really mean and I apoligize if I insult anyone but I have to this: MWHAHAHA TO ALL ZUTARIANS! Not that I care so much for Kataang but...yeah. Anyway, I'm done now. Have fun with the chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
During dinner talk turned away from the subject of the wedding and towards old times and new stories. Aang told them what he had heard from Katara and Sokka, which wasn't much due to his frequent travelling. Then he related many of the adventures of his story, of the people and places he had seen and the crazy antics he'd been involved with. The sun soon set but the three remained out in the garden, sitting around a fire that Zuko had raised. Finally, when the moon was high in the sky, Hanna came into the garden again.
"The guest room has been prepared Avatar," she said, "is there anything else you need? If not I would retire for the night."
"You can go," Zuko answered, "thank you."
She bowed and left the circle, disappearing into the house.
"So, let me get this straight," Aang turned the conversation back to the original topic. He was sitting in what Zuko liked to think of as his monk position: legs crossed and back straight, "you were planning to run away, Toph, but you didn't know where to go."
"Yes," Toph nodded.
"And then Zuko offered to find out where I was through the Fire Nation Government so could join me?"
"Correct."
"Did you?"
"What?" for a second Zuko didn't understand, then he shook his head, "uh, no I didn't. I haven't been to the palace for a while and I didn't find anything before."
"Aha," there was something very knowing about the young monk's face that irritated Zuko slightly. What was his point?
"Well, I'm here now," Aang smiled brightly, "you can come with me if you still want Toph."
"Uh," that was sudden. She had expected to have to convince him, "didn't you say you wanted to do it by yourself?"
"I wanted to visit the temple by myself," he said seriously, "they…they're something special to me, a relic of my old life, you know. I didn't know what would happen but this was something I had to do by myself, to face the past. But you can come with me now."
"Ah," Toph paused. It was almost, she realized, as if she was trying to find a reason not to go with him. But why would she do that? "Yeah, I'll come with you. When are you leaving?"
"A couple of days I guess," Aang shrugged, "when you make me leave."
The trio was silent for a moment. The fire flickered, sending shadows flickering over their faces. Behind them, in the darkness, the garden was rustling quietly, the crickets chirping and the frogs quacking. A cool breeze swished along, making the fire rise higher and the three of them shiver quietly. Then Aang sighed.
"It is getting kind of late," he smiled, "shall we go to bed too?"
"Sure," Toph pushed herself up from the ground and Zuko followed the suit, dousing the fire with one quick gesture. They walked into the house together, side by side. Aang followed a few steps behind them. They walked together, he noticed, in the same step.
"This is your room," Zuko stepped in front of one of the light wooden doors, "if you need anything, Toph and I are right next door."
"You sleep in the same room?" Aang looked surprised. And there it was again, he noticed, the way Zuko glanced at Toph's face before he answered, as if trying to read something there.
"Sure," the Fire Nation Prince attempted to joke, "You know, trying to keep up appearances-"
Toph punched him in the arm, "shut up." She turned to Aang, "actually we didn't plan this. It just…well the first evening that was the only bed made, since the stuff hadn't been unpacked yet and then we didn't get a chance to arrange for anything and it sort of become routine…"
"So why are don't you switch now?" Aang prodded again.
"Listen Twinkeltoes, I don't have to explain myself to you," Toph was looking thunderous, her brows lowered over blind eyes. This was interesting; Toph didn't usually get defensive so easily.
Aang let the subject drop, "Sleep tight!" and he disappeared into his room.
Zuko laid next to Toph in their shared bed. He stared into the darkness, eyes wide open, unable to sleep. Next to him Toph rolled onto her other side. "You awake?" she asked.
"Yeah, I can't sleep."
"Me either."
They were both silent for a moment, then Zuko had to ask, "Are you really going to go with Aang?"
For a moment he thought he detected a hint of hesitation then she said, "yeah, I guess so. That was the plan wasn't it?"
"Yeah," he answered but his throat was constricting. He didn't want her to go, he realized, he didn't want her to leave with Aang. It was entirely selfish desire on his part. He was happy since she was here, a lot happier than he had been before. This small earthbender had managed to dispel the misery that existed before.
But it wasn't right to ask her to stay. She had been forced into this, forced to marry him. Toph was a free spirit; something like this had to be caging her. She wanted to leave, wanted to travel the world with Aang, to have adventures and he had absolutely no right to stop her. Toph was free to do what she wanted.
So all he did was roll over onto his side, away from her. "Good night." There was no answer. She was had already fallen asleep.
So that was that. What did you think? It was kinda short...but yeah. Please review!