Pets III
"So…did you ever have pets?" Aang asked as Momo jumped off his lap and ran away. Aang had forgiven him for the 'Pork Grind Incident'.
"Me? Yeah, just one." Toph said. A strange smile appeared between her dimples, the kind that comes from remembering fond memories and happier days.
"Tell me about it." Aang pulled his chair closer to her.
"His name was Chucky." Toph kept smiling.
"Chucky?" Aang laughed.
"Yep. He was the best-est pet EVER!"
"What was it?"
"He! What was he?" Toph corrected him like Aang had said something offensive.
"Sooory. What was he?"
"Go ahead and guess."
"Can't you just tell me?"
"No. This is more fun, cause you'll never figure it out."
"Was he a dog?"
"Nope. My mother is afraid of dogs."
"A cat then."
"Dad's allergic."
"A bird?"
"Nah. Too noisy."
"Don't tell me it was a fish."
"You know I hate fish twinkle toes."
"Was it…one of those…little ferret things?" Aang held up his hand and tried to mimic a running rodent.
"No. My mother thinks those things are freaks of nature or something. Something about them looking like dog-snakes, or something, I don't know. But try again."
"A…snake."
"As bad ass as that would have been, no."
"Jesus, then what was it? I just named every animal you can buy."
"Well you missed one. So keep guessing"
"A pet rock? Cause you seem like the type to have a pet rock."
"Chucky was alive, air head."
"How about a…a…um…a dog?"
"You said dog already."
"A hedgehog?"
"A hedgehog? No!"
"Just tell me then!"
"You won't believe me." Toph crossed her arms.
"Try me."
"Okay. Brace yourself." Toph readjusted her seat on the couch and turned to face Aang. "My parents didn't want an animal that needed to be watched twenty-four, seven and they didn't want one running around the house either. So they got me something that was easy to take care of and stayed in a glass cage."
"What was it!" Aang yelled.
"A mole." Toph said plainly. Aang paused.
"A what?"
"A mole. A little, dig-through-the-dirt, blind-as-a-bat mole." Another pause.
"Shut up! You're lying." Aang laughed.
"I told you you would believe me."
"Really? A mole?"
"Yep. The little guy was the best. I only needed to feed him every other day."
"And he was a mole?"
"Yes Aang, a mole!"
"What kind of pet is that? You can't play with a mole."
"Watch what you say! He may be dead now, but I'll still fight to defend Chucky's honor. And I learned sooo much from watching that little guy. We had a lot in common."
"Love for dirt and dirty things, right?"
"No…well, yeah, but more than that." Toph leaned forward, getting deeper into the conversation. "The little guy was helpless and fragile. He was trapped in his box his whole life and he had no idea how to get out. And everyone, including you…" Toph glared at Aang. "…underestimated him because he wasn't…what you'd call normal. I can't tell you how much I wish I was out of that prison my parents call a home, and even after the karate class and the endless ass-whoopings I've given people, I still look small and people think that because I'm a girl and rich that I can't take care of myself."
Aang listened to her carefully. Toph rarely let her sensitive side out, which made Aang appreciate it all the more when she did.
"That was beautiful Toph." Aang said.
"Yeah." Toph paused and looked down, her bangs covering her eyes. "He died when I was eleven." They both felt a sting of sorrow, Toph from mourning, Aang from empathy. Toph looked up at him and brushed the hair away from her face. "He's still buried in my backyard."
"I'm sorry." Aang said.
"It's okay. It was a long time ago."
"But you still sound like you miss him."
Toph paused again. "…yeah."
Aang reached over and pulled Toph towards him. With one arm, he hugged her gently and rubbed her back.
"Thanks airhead." She said with a smile.
"Sure." Aang said.
"Arf!" Appa slide in between them, demanding that he'd be hugged too.
"You too boy." Aang rubbed the top of his head and Toph scratched his neck.
"Arrrrr." Appa happily growled.