Zuko frowned as Toph skillfully used her chopsticks to through a rice ball at Sokka's face at the dinner table.
"All right that's enough!" The Fire Lord roared standing up and pushing the rice-soaked Sokka, who attempted to empty a bowl of sea-prune soup on Toph's head, back to his chair. "At least try to act your age, people!"
"Forgive us please, oh' your majesty Fire Lord Zuko sir!" Toph rose from her chair and bowed low over her bowl of ramen. "We have disgraced you!" She said straightening up. Katara and Aang saw it, but they couldn't stop Toph. Next second, Zuko found himself spluttering, ramen dangling from his hair and ears. His face and torso all wet from what was in Toph's bowl of ramen, few seconds ago.
So the food fight started. They were again the bunch of kids who won the war, not the graceful young diplomats in their late teens. Everybody had endured Toph's surprisingly accurate and merciless food attacks when they decided to launch a combined counterattack on the kick-ass earth-bender. So Toph found herself sitting on her back, a bowl of sea-prune soup on her head, slimy prunes dangling from her hair like a sluggish green curtain. To cap it all, one of Aang's fruit pies all over her face. She must have looked pretty funny, because Toph heard Zuko's boom, Sokka's chuckle, Katara's suppressed giggles and Suki's muffled snigger as she clung on to Sokka for support. Above all, Aang's goofy laugh was heard so very clearly. It ringed in the dining hall as he continued to laugh, walking towards her. Toph felt a pleasant jolt in her stomach and a weird happiness rise through her veins directly towards her heart. She felt like she could listen to that laughter forever. 'Careful now! You don't want this' A tiny voice said, inside her head. Toph's index finger flew to the tip of her fruit-pied nose.
"Blind Bandit, beaten for once!" Aang said stretching a hand towards Toph.
"Four against one? And you call it a win? Really now Twinkle Toes?" Toph snapped ignoring Aang's hand and getting up herself, still pressing the tip of her nose upwards. "There's always a next time." She added smirking.
"Umm Toph," Zuko butted in. "Why are you making a piggy-rabbit face?" Katara, hearing this, observed Toph carefully. "Yeah, again?" She added to Zuko's question.
"Oh' I just- I was-" Toph stammered. "I- Achchoo!" She faked a sneeze again. "I need a bath"
"Why do I get the feeling that she's hiding something?" Katara muttered to Zuko as they watched Toph strode to her room.
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Jasmine Dragon was empty except for the gang and Iroh. Dragon of the west had thrown a special tea party for the celebration of the dawn of peace and of course his nephew's first anniversary of peaceful and happy dating.
"I'm so happy to see everyone doing great." Iroh declared. "So what are your plans ahead?"
Zuko began to rant about diplomatic problems supported by Aang. Sokka proudly baffled about the developing cities in earth kingdom colonies. Suki mumbled about establishing a Kyoshi security force and Katara said something about helping Pakku with the water bending arena in south pole. Toph yawned loudly and declared that she'd be starting a metal bending academy.
"That is very thoughtful of all of you." Iroh said tapping the table with his fingers. "But I was asking about you marriages. Now only Aang and Toph are left single in the gang." He said playfully. "Why don't you to pair up and then we can have a triple wedding."
Katara's face brightened. "That's a great idea!" She exclaimed. "Besides, you two make a cute couple."
Everyone nodded earnestly, laughing, much to Toph's annoyance. She felt the familiar happy jolt on her stomach and fought the urge to press up her nose tip in front of Iroh.
"We do, don't we?" Aang said placing an arm around Toph's shoulder. Toph successfully managed to shoo away the very slight blush rose to her face.
"Yeah! Too bad you smell like swamp gas, Twinkle Toes." She mocked pushing away the Avatar.
Everyone in the shop laughed out loud watching the two youngest members of the gang bicker at each other. It was cute and almost adorable.
"What?" Aang barked. "Smell again Toph!" He said jumping towards her and pulling her in to a tight hug.
Toph was surprised by Aang's action. She couldn't stop her hand when it flew around Aang's shoulder to press the tip of her own nose. "Geroff. Twinkle Toes. Lemme go!" She struggled to break free. But Aang kept a tight hold, enjoying the moment. "Don't make me hurt you Airhead." Toph warned. But Aang wasn't about to let her go just yet. "Still think I smell like swamp gas?" He asked chuckling. Aang actually smelled like clean morning breeze and Toph loved that cent. But…
Toph stomped her foot firmly on the floor and a pillar of earth shot upwards pinning Aang to the ceiling. Aang yelped in surprise and Katara shouted, 'Toph!'
"Yes, you gas boy!" Toph told Aang who was dangling from the ceiling with a goofy smile on his face. "Not refreshing." She sneered, her finger still pressing the tip of her nose upwards. Iroh noticed but decided to make no comment for the moment.
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Aang stayed behind to help Iroh clean the shop after everyone else left. They were enjoying jasmine tea after busy session of cleaning and bending the shop back to normal.
"What do you know about the pressure points Aang?" Iroh asked casually while he sipped his tea. "I taught Toph few."
"The monks taught us about them." Aang replied pouring himself a cup of tea. "Why did Toph want to learn about pressure points?"
"Well she didn't exactly want to learn. We were just discussing them." Iroh stated. Toph asked e about a pressure point that would make a likeness go away. Do you think she's grown to like someone or something?"
Aang stared. "She couldn't have" He said rather gloomily. Iroh could make out the distinct jealousy in his voice. "But I don't remember such pressure point ever to exist. What did you tell her?" Aang asked frowning.
Iroh broke in to a very goofy smile. "I told her to press the tip of the nose upwards, and that the likeness will pass for the moment."