"No No NO! That can't be right!" Aang yelled pacing in the river bed. "I mean that's ridiculous! Toph couldn't possibly like Koi fish!" He told himself for the fifth time. "I mean, I was there, her finger was not on her nose-tip!"
He stopped moving and sat on a rock. With his forefinger and thumb he pinched the bridge of his nose. His brows met together as he wrinkled his forehead in concentration. "Is it sea-prune? or the fruit pie? She was covered in both." Aang asked himself as he recalled the memory of their food fight. "But Toph hates sea prune. I mean who doesn't? Except Katara and Sokka may be. She was never in to fruit pies either… Then what?" He dragged his hands down his cheeks looking up at the sky in frustration.
He kept staring at the clear blue sky for several minutes before the realization drawn to him. Aang jumped down the rock, thumping his right fist on his left palm. "That's got to be it!" He announced to the river in triumph. "Hugs! Toph likes to be hugged. That's right! At Jasmine Dragon Yesterday, she did the gesture!" Aang concluded nodding to himself, "I should test my hypothesis though." He thought as he marched away to their home, thoroughly pleased with himself.
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"I can't!" Sokka said flatly. "I love myself and don't want to be a handicap. I will not risk it."
"Common Sokka, It's just one hug." Aang whined. I need to see if it is the case." He said, giving Sokka the puppy-dog eyes.
"You mean like this?" Katara asked pressing the tip of her nose upwards.
"Yes." Aang nodded eagerly. "You'll help me out won't you, Katara? Suki? And Zuko?"
The two girls giggled and inclined their heads in agreement while Zuko kept an apprehensive look in his eyes.
"Come on Zuko!" Aang ranted. "Now, you aren't afraid of a blind sixteen year old girl, are you?"
"Just do it. I have a hypothesis as well." Katara nudged Zuko and muttered. Zuko gulped and nodded very reluctantly.
"OK then, here how it goes" Katara said, suddenly taking charge. "We will spy from distance. Suki'll hug Toph first. We got to be careful so she doesn't notice us watching. Then after several hours I'll hug her then Zuko and after him Sokka-" But Sokka cut her short. "I told you I wouldn't. She'd be very dangerous if provoked." He spoke from experience.
"-and finally Aang." Katara finished ignoring him. "Let's see how many times she makes the pig-rabbit face."
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Toph was walking back home after a sporting game of Pai-sho at Jasmine dragon. She 'saw' Suki running towards her and raised a brow.
"What's wrong Suki? Where are you running to?" She asked as Suki came to a halt infront of her.
"Oh' nowhere!" Suki panted. "I was just looking for you."
""Me?" Toph asked. "Why? Don't tell me that the Dai-Lee got out of hand again. I made sure-". But Suki dismissed that idea waving a hand impatiently. "It's just, you were gone all morning and I couldn't wish you-" Suddenly Suki threw her hands around Toph's shoulders and pulled her in to a friendly hug.
Toph blinked, completely lost. "-err wish me what?" She asked in a confused tone.
"Happy birthday Toph!" Suki said happily squeezing the little earth-bender gently.
"-err Suki," Toph said as she was released. "But today is not my birthday."
"It's not?" Suki asked as if she was extremely surprised. "But I looked- I mean I calculate- I must go look again." She said running away again. "See ya later"
Toph 'stared' at the Kyoshi worrier with a small pout on her face.
Rest of the gang was watching from a nearby wooden building's roof. "No pig-rabbit face for hug no.1-Suki" Katara noted down. "Suki must have surprised her, let's see how it is for yours." Aang said.
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Later at evening Katara walked towards Toph, who sat on the steps leading to courtyard of their house, picking her toes.
"It's been almost five years, hasn't it?" She asked sitting down besides Toph.
"Huh?" Toph asked lifting her head a little. "What are you talking about Sugar Queen?"
"Five years since we first met." Katara said adoringly. Then she stood up pulling Toph with her "Let me take a good look at you" Katara said placing both her hands on a confused Toph's shoulders.
"What is with you all of a sudden? Are you playing 'Katara of Ember Island Players'?" Toph asked, amused. Katara frowned at the memory but instantly straightened up her features to be all sweet again. "Oh' Toph! You have grown so much!" She said affectionately and hugged Toph in a motherly manner.
Toph frowned. "Is this one of you occasional emotional outbursts? Or were you just blind for the last five years?, coz you never let me out of your sight."
"I shall order a festive dress for you, what you usually wear are bit tomboyish." Katara said letting go of Toph and patting her cheek before walking away. "Dinner will be ready in three hours."
"Sugar Queen?" Toph shouted after her but Katara quickly disappeared out of sight.
"What is with these loonies?" Toph wondered sitting back and starting to pick her toe nails.
"Hmm negative to Hug no.2-Katara!" Aang noted from a tree, frowning slightly. "Three more hugs to go. No jumping in to conclusions."
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Toph was about to leave the house to see Iroh when Zuko and the others came to the living room.
"OK everyone, it was great to be back" Zuko said Hugging Katara first and then quickly turning to Toph who eyed him with surprise. "I'll be heading back to Fire Nation. It was great seeing you again Toph!" He said pulling her in to a gentle embrace. Toph, however surprised, hugged him back. "But why today? Weren't you to leave on Sunday?" She asked as they parted.
Zuko made a face. He was thankful that the floor was wooden. "What? Today isn't Sunday?" He asked in a very surprised tone. But I thought yesterday was Saturday!"
Sparky, what have you been drinking?" Toph asked annoyed. "May be you could use Iroh's strong ginger root tea as well!"
"Yeah! I'll catch up with you two later" Zuko said as Katara smiled and scribbled down 'hug no.3-Zuko-negative'. "I don't think it's the hugs" She said to nobody in particular as Aang scratched his head. "What else it can be?" He wondered.
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Toph was practicing earth-bending at their backyard that evening as Sokka dragged his feet towards her. "Hey Snoozels! Waz up?" Toph asked as he came to a halt in front of her.
"It's Suki!" He mumbled.
"What about her?" Toph asked replacing the boulders back to their place as she 'looked' at him. "Oh' Toph! I lost to her!" Sokka howled collapsing on to her shoulder. Toph frowned as her mouth gape in confusion and irritation. "What is wrong with you, you meat head? What are you talking about?" She asked trying to push him away. He wasn't lying, she could tell but this was ridiculous. "We had this-this hand-fight and I Lost!" Sokka explained through sobs. Toph sniggered loudly. "You are drooling on my shoulder because you lost a hand-fight to your girlfriend? Get off my shoulder or I'll crush both your hands."
"Gee! Thanks for being helpful Toph." Sokka said letting her go. "I'm depressed beyond repair. I lost my self-esteem. All you can do is to threaten me? Really comforting!" He grouched walking away.
"Suki, did you actually beat him in a hand fight?" Aang asked as they peeped down a gigantic tree nearby. "Yep. This afternoon" Suki replied noting down 'hug no.3 – Sokka – Negative'.
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Everybody sat chatting after dinner that night. Toph kept wondering what was wrong with everybody but Aang for the last two days. Everybody but Aang had hugged her for stupid and ridiculous reasons. Others kept shooting looks at Aang as if to dare him to hug Toph.
"Hey guys. Wanna see an air-bending form I invented?" Aang asked standing up. "I'll need a partner" He said dragging Toph to the middle of the living room from where she sat.
"Hey hey hey," Toph protested. "Who said I want to be your partner?"
"Just for a little while, come on Toph" Aang pleaded.
"OK! But if you try to fly me around I'll end you." She threatened. Aang gulped but decided to go with his plan.
"Just relax, OK!" He said to Toph. He used his air-bending to twirl Toph around and they were dancing. Toph didn't know what was happening. All she knew was that she's been handled by a strong yet gentle gust of wind. Others watched with awe and cheered as Aang, after a while ended the dance by taking Toph in to a dramatic embrace. His right hand went aroundher waist and his left hand took hold of her right one. Toph's heart was pounding. The dance was like floating in nice warm air and hug! 'Oh' damn it! Why oh why?' Toph screamed in fury to herself.' Her free left hand shot upwards pressing her nose-tip hard.
Katara's eyes gleamed.
"Hug no.5 – Aang – Positive. A cute Pig-Rabbit face!" She announced. "I don't think it's the hugs Aang. I think it's you!"
Toph grew beetroot red in face. "What are you pig- heads yapping?" She said hastily putting away her hand and pushing Aang aside gruffly.
"There is no such pressure point Toph. I think my uncle invented it for you!" Zuko said smiling.
"That old loony!" Toph huffed. But she quickly pulled herself together. "What pressure point? I don't know what u talk about-"
"Kiss her in the cheek Aang." Katara said to a overjoyed Aang who did as told. Before Toph could stop him, Aang jumped in to the air and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek. Toph's fingertip again found her nose tip. "CUT IT OFF!" She shouted!
Everyone cheered. "YAY! You like me?" Aang laughed forming an air scooter and riding it like a kid. He lost control and ran head first in to a large map of the world which was framed on the wall. The gigantic frame collapsed and broke in to thousand pieces as all yelped and started to run amok.
"Toph did a face palm. "Why oh' why I fell for you?" She asked grabbing Aang from his collar and helping him up. He smiled goofily befor he said, "I like you too Toph!."