Chapter Twenty Nine

Can I Have This Dance?

"Guys, have you seen Vinca? I haven't seen her since yesterday morning." Katara's worried voice echoed from the cave from her spot inside. She walked out, her eyes squinting against the sunlight as she sassily placed her hands on her hips, her lips set in a concerned line.

Toph was sitting on a rock, her black hair gently being tousled by the light breeze. She was 'watching' Aang do squats, his legs shaking as the large, heavy boulder on his shoulders threatened to crush him. His brows were narrowed and he grunted softly as he straightened his back, then bended his knees. Sweat formed on his forehead, the sun shining down, the air humid and stuffy.

Apparently, Aang wasn't going to answer the waiting Katara's question, so Toph turned towards the waterbender. "No." She said casually before looking at the Avatar, "Twenty more!" She ordered cruelly, smirking when she heard a dismayed whine from the boy as he reluctantly complied.

Katara bit her lip as she glanced around. Sokka lay out in the sun on a nearby rock, dozing, with Momo curled on his face. "Oh. I wonder where she is…" She trailed off, growing more worried for her airbending friend, the only real girl in the group. Katara didn't count Toph, because a real girl didn't roll around in mud.

Toph shrugged, "Twenty more! Come on, Twinkles!" The earthbender yelled, and Aang made a noise of protest, his knees shaking even more. His back ached and he felt an ounce of hatred for the earthbender as he obliged. Turning once again back to Katara, Toph sighed, "She's probably visiting her brother. Don't worry 'bout her. She can take care of herself."

Aang finally reached the goal and dropped the boulder, collapsing on the ground with a breathless pant. His legs hurt badly and he just wanted to sleep. He prayed to the Spirit's Spirits that training was done for the day. He had gone to school, again, and that was the only climax of his day. Sighing, he stretched out on the soft brown sand, closing his eyes against the sun.

"Okay." Katara didn't sound convinced and Toph steadily grew annoyed with Sugar Queen's worry. She was silent, though. The waterbender glanced at the resting Aang. "So…how was school?" She asked as if reading his mind.

The young Avatar glanced upwards weakly, suddenly feel anxious. "Good." He blinked, resting his hands on the ground, letting the sand run through his outstretched fingers.

The blind earthbender absentmindedly bended the earth around her, "Did you tell everyone at school?" She inquired quietly, but not quiet enough that Katara didn't hear.

"What are you talking about?" Katara interrupted, suspicion lining her words.

"I did." Aang said.

Toph only smiled to herself, "You'll find out soon enough, Sugar Queen."

Aang was having a dance party.

As soon as I arrived back at the cave, Toph cut my entrance into the cave short with a block of earth.

"Hey, Sparkles!" She greeted loudly, rushing over. "Dance party. Tonight."

Blinking, I only stared at the blind girl, "Excuse me?"

She grinned widely, "You heard me. C'mon, we're setting up."

And that's how it started.

I entered the large cave to see Aang bending columns of earth upwards, and Toph began to make stone tables. Sokka was setting the food up and Katara was using her bending skills to stir the drinks. Apparently, we were having a dance party.

I nearly laughed, but stifled it as I walked over to Katara. "Hey," I said, "Is there anything I can do?"

Katara turned around in surprise, dropping the water she was bending. "Vinca!" She exclaimed, "Where have you been?"

I involuntarily rubbed my wrists, "Visiting my brother." I replied, and suddenly remembered his words. 'You have to leave'. "Wait, we can't have a dance party-"

"Of course we can." She interrupted quickly, returning to her bending. Her brows came together in concentration as she skillfully twirled the water. "Why don't you try and circulate some warmer air in here? It's kind of chilly."

Frowning, I was about to protest, that we had to leave, but stopped. One more night couldn't do any harm. Puckering my lips, I walked over to the cave entrance, and began to separate the cooler air molecules from the warmer ones, my movements becoming quicker.

"They're coming!" Toph suddenly shouted, and I immediately stopped bending and stepped back farther into the cave, adjusting my shirt nervously.

A group of 30-something kids awkwardly entered the cave, their eyes wide and their bodies huddled together fearfully. I smiled at their nervousness, feeling that I could relate to them in a way.

"What do we do now?" Someone asked.

Aang leapt out in front of us, his headband tied tightly around his arrow. "Well, we dance!" He announced, motioning towards the band that had taken their places on the rock columns. The band began to play loudly yet skillfully.

The crowd was still standing still.

Frowning now, he began to show the crowd some dance moves.

Katara nudged me, "I'm not much of a dancer."

I shook my head, "Neither am I."

"Let's go sit over here." She suggested, and I nodded and followed her over to an empty stone table. I sat down and watched the scene before me, the teenagers now encouraged by Aang's talented dance moves, were now dancing as well. I giggled as I witnessed a boy on the ground imitating a fish out of water.

Beside me, Sokka took a seat, a cup of punch in his hands. He looked tired. And sunburned. I smiled as he winced when he set his hands down on the table.

The sunburned Sokka was eventually asked to dance - more than five times - by several girls, and happily accepted. His sister was the same, and the two took their dance partners and swayed away, leaving me and my thoughts by myself.

I heard a soft thump beside me and looked to see a bored looking Toph, sitting crouched down on a chair. "Hello, Sparkles." She greeted quietly, rubbing her eyes.

I took a sip of my own drink. "Hi Toph. What's up?" I asked absentmindedly watching Aang flirtatiously dance with a few other girls, a growing pit of envy settling in my chest, making me sick.

"Tired."

I poked her lightly, "What have you done all day?"

"Ordered Aang around."

"That's pretty tiring." I noted with a small smile which turned into a frown.

There was silence as I stared at my drink, frowning into its depths.

"U-Um…hi. Can I have this dance?" Someone said, and I glanced upwards nonchalantly, figuring that Katara had returned from her previous dance and someone was asking her for another. I nearly dropped my drink when I realized who it was.

Aang.

My heart skipped a beat and I didn't meet his gaze, instead looking from my left to my right, thinking that he couldn't be talking to me. Toph was staring into the distance and she was the only one near me.

My eyes traveled upwards to see Aang, his hair slightly ruffled and his pale cheeks tinged red. He awkwardly fiddled his thumbs as he stared at the ground.

"M-Me?" I asked slowly. Why the hell would he ask me if I wanted to dance? Maybe, if things were different. But not now.

He nodded quickly.

Suddenly feeling dizzy, I bit my lower lip, "I can't dance-" I began to explain.

I felt a sudden force on my bottom and realized that I had been shot upwards. Stumbling forward, I felt warm hands grasp me, balancing me. I blushed and began to move away when I saw that it was - who else? - Aang.

Quickly looking back, I saw that Toph had earthbended my seat forward, for that I would be propelled up. I frowned, backing away, but his hands wrapped around mine and he gracefully moved me out into the dance floor.

I didn't look at him. Instead, past him.

I hated Toph for making me do this. I hated him for asking me.

Aang was a great dancer, his movements fluid and skilled. The current song playing was slow and romantic. Enhancing the awkwardness.

The silence between us was loud.

"Thanks for asking, but I think I'll go sit back down-"

"I'm sorry." His voice cut me off abruptly, and I blinked, finally meeting his eyes which caused a flurry of emotions.

"W-What?"

Aang breathed deeply, holding my gaze. "I'm sorry for what I said, Vinca. I didn't mean it."

"How can you not mean it?" I asked him, my words bitter and I began to pull away. He was tugging at my heartstrings. Again.

He held onto my hands, pulling me closer. "Please, hear me out." He pleaded, his eyes searching mine.

I didn't say anything.

Aang continued, "I lied, okay?" His face flushed, angry with himself, "I told you that I didn't like you because I need to be more focused. On my bending. And you're a distraction, or so I thought and I can't risk being defeated by the Firelord, I have to defeat him and I don't exactly have all the time in the world…" he trailed off, closing his eyes momentarily at realizing his unintelligent ramble.

I was silent still, my eyes watching the people dancing around us but my ears listening to his voice.

"My fall in Ba Sing Se, the last thing I saw was your face. The whole time I was out I was fearing that I would forget you. I need to be focused; the Firelord has to go down or the world is over."

The band continued to play a soft melody.

"Vinca. Please." Aang said, and my eyes flickered to him. I was lost in his grey depths, my heart beat growing increasing louder, pounding against my chest. I couldn't tear my eyes away and a lump was rising in my throat. "I'm sorry. Please, please forgive me."

I knew he was sorry by just looking at his eyes.

I knew I couldn't not like him, that I needed him.

I smiled slightly, not breaking away my eyes from his. "Okay."

"You forgive me?"

"Yes."

A large grin instantly endured his whole face, growing wider. "Oh, thank you Vinca! I can't explain how sorry I am, and I couldn't stand it any longer." He exclaimed, his eyes twinkling. I giggled as he twirled me around in a slow circle, his hands squeezing my hands gently.

We continued dancing a moment longer before his face suddenly grew serious. "I am really sorry." He murmured.

I looked down, "Let's just forget about it." I suggested.

He smiled. "Consider it forgotten." He said, restating one of our conversations a while back. I laughed.

Before I could even blink, he pulled me in and I felt his lips brush against mine. My heart instantly spiked and I felt dizzy to the head, but managed to stay on my two feet. He pulled away too soon, a smile playing on his lips, like he knew the effect he had on me.

A small hint of a blush rose to his cheeks (as I'm pretty sure I was already blushing feverishly). Aang was about to speak when suddenly, yells were being heard.

Looking over, at the entrance of the cave, I saw a group of adults. The dancing kids stopped their dancing, and with wide eyes huddled towards the middle of the groups, trying not to be seen. I realized that our little dance party had been busted by police.

Olin was one of the officers.

His eyes met mine and a scowl engulfed his face; I knew he was angry with me for not leaving like he said. I felt ashamed but there was no way getting out of this now.

"Who is the host of this 'dance party'?" The eldest looking man said, his glaring stare grazing the crowds. Almost immediately, a kid pointed to Aang, who still held my hands, and more people started to point over our way.

Aang frowned, looked at me, let go of my hands and backed away, disappearing into the now closed-together crowd as the officers started frantically searching for him. I felt a hand on my shoulder and whirled around, coming face to face with Sokka.

"Come on," His voice was quiet as his blue eyes were a look out, "We're going to escape back here."

I nodded and followed him to the back of the cave, where Toph and Katara were waiting with Appa, who anxiously shuffled his large feet as he hid behind an oversized rock.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Katara muttered softly behind me.

I spotted a figure walking briskly towards us and tensed as I saw the uniform; it was an officer. I relaxed, however, seeing it was only my brother.

"Vinca!" Olin said as he came to me, "I thought I told you to leave!"

I looked down in shame. "I know. But they already planned a dance party-"

Olin shook his head, cutting us off, "Nevermind that. You have to leave. Now."

Aang busted through the crowd, rushing towards us, a small grin on his face.

But the thought of leaving Olin, my only family member, stung horribly. I frowned, "Olin. Come with us." I pleaded, searching my siblings face.

My brother hesitated, but only sighed, "I can't." He murmured, "She said yes, Vinca, and I can't leave her."

At this, I smiled, "Siera said yes." I repeated. My brother was getting married! I knew he couldn't leave his bride-to-be, and I couldn't make him feel bad by begging him to do so. "Make sure to invite me to your wedding." I said happily, but my words were lined with sadness as Olin gently pushed me backwards to the waiting Appa.

Olin winked, "Of course, but make sure you invite me to your's." His eyes flickered to Aang who was perched at Appa's reins and back to me, smiling widely.

I didn't have time to even make a comeback because my brother was gone.

AN: OMG OMG OMG. DID YOU GUYS SEE THE LOK EPISODE NUMBER 4. AHHH. WTH MAKO ARENT YOU SUPPOSED TO BE WITH KORRA? NOT ASAMI. BUT WHATEV. I THINK BOLIN LIKES KORRA BUT I DUNNO. EEEEEEEEEEEEE! DIDJA GUYS SEE THE GROWN-UPSS! GROWNUP TOPH GROWNUP SOKKA ANDDDDD GROWNUP AANG! ASDJGNASJGNSJAJJG. AMON Y U SO CREEPY!

(cough) anyway. Excuse my fandom ramblings about Legend of Korra. Pardon.

I just watched the whole A:TLA series again.

SECRET TUNNEL, SECRET TUNNEL

i love this series.