I still don't own anything.
Sorry it's so late, I had a bit of a writers block.
Anyway hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think.
As the days passed, all seemed to go back to normal. Or at least relatively normal for Aang. He was still walking on eggshells around Katara and Zuko, but ever since Toph decided to 'watch' his practices, things have improved greatly for him. She was currently leaning against the stone floor, staring up at the roof while Katara sat next to her. Usually his gray eyes would be glued on the waterbender, but today they seemed to be taking in the other. The way she was always so relaxed and carefree. He had to hide the smile that broke out on his face. Why am I having feelings like this? The bald monk looked away, his mind seemed to have ground to a halt at that question. He looked up to see a fireball coming his way and quickly moved to extinguish it, maybe sending one back at his master would even the odds. So he did just that, his hand punching the air, flames dancing out of his fist. The prince easily sidestepped it and the two were left staring at each other.
"What was that all about?" The monk questioned irritably. It wasn't everyday your teacher starts a spar without letting you know. Golden eyes narrowed as if being challenged was beneath him.
"You were the one not paying attention! Firebending requires you to have a clear mind, you have to focus!" Katara stood up at that and walked over to the arguing duo. Her soft look went from a slightly perturbed Aang to a very red faced, angry Zuko.
"Boys, calm down. Maybe this training has been too much? Shouldn't you both take a break?" The airbender looked up at the girl, slightly bothered by her suggestion.
"I don't need a break." He stated absolutely, not wanting to seem like he couldn't handle firebending. He watched as Zuko rolled his eyes and stomped away. "What's wrong with him?" He looked at Katara who seemed to be at a loss as well.
"I don't know, he's been acting weird." The monk nodded and pushed his friend in the direction the firebender had gone. She raised a brown eyebrow in question.
"Go figure it out." The teenager nodded, looking almost grateful. He watched as she walked away. In the past it would break his heart to do something like that, now he didn't find it so hard. He smiled slightly at her retreating form, wanting his friend to be happy. With a heavy sigh, he walked over to where his Earthbending sifu was laying on the ground. He lowered onto the ground with all the grace of an airbender, sighing when the cool stone pressed into his back.
"So what's the deal with Mister Fussy Britches?" Gray eyes closed and he grinned at the nick name that fit Zuko surprisingly well. He shrugged against the cold rock, the action easily picked up by Toph.
"He's always upset. I don't question it, I just send Katara after him." The girl's eyebrows scrunched as he said that.
"So you're over Sugar Queen?" The boy chuckled, and Toph couldn't stop from smiling next to him. A light breeze danced across the courtyard and around the duo, creating a very tranquil atmosphere.
"Yeah, I am. I just had to accept that it was my people I loved, not her. My love was reborn into her simply because she was the first person I saw." Honesty hung on his every word, there was no doubt he would be okay. "She's like a mother to me." He added softly, his voice carrying nicely over the wind. He finally opened his eyes to rest them on the girl next to him. Her eyes shut, her black bangs rustling over her forehead and closed eyelids, there was an almost wistful smile on her face. It felt like he was seeing some expensive painting, he never really saw her look as beautiful as she did at that moment.
"Twinkletoes, stop staring holes in my head." The form growled, and just like that the perfect moment was gone. Now there was a slight frown adorning her face and her eyes were narrowed in his direction.
"Sorry, I just." Am I really going to say it? "You are really beautiful." I really said it. He swallowed thickly at what he just stated and closed one eye, awaiting the inevitable attack. After a few moments he opened his eyes and looked over at the miniscule earthbender. Her normally pale cheeks were a bright red, travelling over her nose and almost up to her ears. He smiled slightly at the reaction. He had never seen Toph so flustered. The girl looked in his general direction, seemingly nervous. A hand felt around his face and he stopped breathing. Part of him feared getting punched. But he lay there carefully still until a rough hand grabbed his collar and pulled him up. He sat up with no complaints, looking curiously at the still red earthbender. Her hand patted his cheek before she replaced it with her lips. His face filled with heat and she pulled away rather quickly.
"W-what was that for?" He stammered, looking at her with surprise. She simply shrugged, acting very nonchalant for someone whose face was a bright red. She put her hand back in her lap, obviously thinking of a retort.
"I was showing affection the way you do. It's kind of pansy, if you ask me." A goofy smile spread across his face. "I've never been called that before." The admission was so quiet Aang hardly caught what she said.
"That doesn't mean it's not true." The monk smiled as the girl faltered slightly. How long had he liked her this way? He shook the thoughts away, they didn't matter. She looked at the ground for a few moments, the blush never leaving her cheeks.
"Can I try something?" The boy nodded at the timid question, his mind running wild with possible scenarios. Each one was as unlikely as the last. His thoughts ground to a halt for the second time that day as a small hand was pressed against his cheek. His eyes slid shut as it gently traced his face. Gentle? That's not a word to describe Toph. But there was no other way he could define the light caress over the bridge of his nose. The girl sitting in front of him was also having problems comprehending what was going on. Do I like Twinkles? When her thumb brushed over his lip, a thought shot through her mind, an idea really. Slowly, almost nervously, she started to move closer to her friend. The boy seemed to understand and shifted his head as well, being drawn to the girl in front of him. With his closed eyes he had no idea how he knew to lean in but he did. They were like magnets, complete opposites attracting. Somehow her hand had gotten back to his cheek, the other lightly grabbing at his nape. His fingers itched to move, but he didn't want her to snap out of this incredibly intoxicating trance. His hands didn't listen to his mind as they grasped her waist. Closing his eyes was like being blind, he mused on the fact that right now he and Toph were the exact same. Her warm breath cascaded onto his lips, he wanted nothing more than to close the little distance left and-BOOM. An explosion forced the two apart roughly. Toph quickly sprung up and began reading the footfalls. A tight grimace formed on her face.
"It's in the house." Aang didn't comment on the smoke rising and instead took off towards the danger. The earthbender sensed the vibrations, noticing a strange yet familiar heartbeat. "That guy is here." Without much thought Aang jumped into the room, noticing Katara on the ground. With an angry motion, the attacker was pushed out of the hole in the wall. Toph quickly followed him onto the ground, rippling the stones around her and causing the man to fall. Aang didn't spare Zuko a glance as he too jumped out of the window. The Avatar and an Earthbending master, certainly this guy didn't stand a chance.
"Katara!" Sokka had obviously seen the state of his sister and was no doubt trying to assist her recovery. Aang refocused on his target, sizing up the tall form. The man seemed threatening just standing there. His muscular arms tensed against his sides. Orange flames erupted from the large fingertips, shooting out towards the young monk. Aang simply extinguished the attack before firing his own. Toph silently traced the man's foot falls, waiting until he went to bend before striking. With a rather simple move, she kicked the ground, catching the assassin's heel and effectively messing up his attack. Aang capitalized on this and earthbent a few poles into the man's back causing him to topple forward. As he fell forward he launched a ball of fire towards the ground in front of the duo. When Aang took in the sight, he quickly jumped in front of the blind earthbender. The explosion caught her off guard and she was surprised when a thin form crashed against her. Toph sprang up, ready to continue the fight, that's when she realized she and Aang were alone. Oh no Aang! She bent over the prone form, nervously shaking the boy.
"Aang, you okay?" The boy coughed slightly, his eyes opening slowly. He focused on his body, pleased to note that everything seemed to be in order. He slowly got up from the ground, an ache in his head being the only evidence that there had been an attack moments ago. The red clad figure of Toph crashed into him. He was surprised to see her hugging him so tightly.
"I'm fine Toph, no need to worry." The boy chuckled slightly, his cheeks burning at the sudden affection the usually aloof earthbender was displaying. As if realizing what she had just done herself, the young girl wrenched herself out of the young monks grasp and punched him on the shoulder.
"Don't go getting yourself hurt for me Twinkletoes." She muttered, not knowing what had caused her little outburst a few moments ago. Grey eyes stared at her for a few moments, a soft smile adorning his face.
"It'd be worth it." And with that, the monk grabbed Toph, intent on airbending them up to the hole in the wall. The girl stood frozen, wondering when exactly she decided she liked the lanky nomad's arms around her. The thought left her mind when her feet were suddenly not on the ground anymore. They easily jumped back into the dark room. Katara was still lying on the ground, a look of pain on her face. Sokka and Zuko hunched over her.
"Katara, you'll be okay." The water tribe girl's nod was nearly imperceptible. Right now she really regretted not teaching Aang how to heal. Zuko turned at the noise of Toph and Aang, an angry gleam in his golden eyes.
"I hope you got him good for this." The teen's voice was low and dangerous. Aang studied his tense posture for a moment, surprised that Zuko could get so angry about something happening to Katara.
"Well we tried to but he ran. This man doesn't seem so legendary." The bald boy scoffed, he seems like nothing more than a nuisance. Zuko shrugged slightly, deciding Katara was more important at the moment.
Master Yu and Xin Fu stood expectantly, surprised when the famed Fire Nation assassin turned up empty-handed… Again. The large black haired man stomped up to him, the earth around them quaking beneath his angry steps.
"What are you doing? We hired you to get the girl." His eyes narrowed. "If it's too hard for you then we'll go back to doing it our way." The firebender growled at the arrogant earthbender. He had no idea what kind of a bounty this was.
"I can't unleash my best firebending on these kids or they'll die. They are all worth something to me but only if they live. I need to separate the little girl from the Avatar. Together they make quite a team." Xin Fu rose a questioning brow. The Blind Bandit never needed someone else to help her.
"Fine, but you better hurry it up. I grow tired of waiting." The two glared at each other in silence. Slowly Yu stood from the table.
"Enough, Xin, you should go get some air." The Earth Rumble announcer grumbled but acquiesced and slammed the door shut on his way. The two men were left alone, each staring at the other with an unreadable look.
"If that man doesn't watch his mouth the two of us will be splitting that girl's reward money."