They had been staring for ten minutes.
Neither had so much as twitched. Their expressions where blank and still, refusing to betray any sign of what they felt.
Nonetheless, Yue was fearful for Aang. Who knew how long he could keep up such an emotionless mask? With Toph's safety on the line, his mind was no doubt a whirling mess of worries and desperation and anger. It could only be a matter of time before he cracked.
There had to something she could do, some way to help Aang relax while stressing Koh...
"Aang?"
Uh-oh.
Appearing from the shadows, Roku strode forward, expression carefully blank as he studied Aang and Koh. "What is going on here?"
"I've made a deal with the Avatar," Koh explained, eyes never leaving the boy in question. "If he can win in a staring contest against me, I won't steal his or his friend's face."
Looking back and forth between them, Roku took a moment to process this information. Gaze landing back on Koh, he asked, "What friend? How did you capture this person?"
"I made a deal with another spirit. Lovely girl – pale as the moon. I would love to have her face."
He had to turn away, hiding his suddenly enraged expression. "Yue!"
Then it was back to an emotionless mask when Koh darted over, coiling around Roku's shoulders to see the other spirit's face. His own held a greedily eager smile.
"Ha!" Aang shouted, pointing to Koh. "You slipped up! Now give back Toph!" He showed no concern for remaining expressionless.
There was a flash of movement, an insect-like body shooting toward the Avatar, screams of protest and pain. Yue and Roku charged after Koh, yelling about deals and fairness.
But it was too late. When they rolled over an unconscious Aang, his face was empty.
Author's Notes: Oh no, another cliffhanger~! =D I seem to enjoy those in this fic, huh?
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Avatar' or any of its characters.