A Promise Kept
"Love is not a spectator sport…but it's a lot easier to just watch." -me
They found their way to the mall…not a big surprise. But this time, they were holding hands. The stores sold the same crappy junk food and overprices gadgets, but there was a big difference now.
Aang felt a worried, being in public. He wasn't ashamed, but he didn't know how to act.
He suddenly started to wonder what Toph was thinking. She kept looking around the mall too, like she was keeping an eye out for someone, like she was making sure that no one saw them. Or perhaps to make sure that everyone saw them.
Aang felt nervous…again. He remembered all the great times they had being "just friends", and wondered if those times were gone. He had never had a girlfriend before, he didn't even know Toph was his girlfriend, officially.
He felt worried, inadequate, and didn't know if he was good enough. "How am I supposed to act? What are the rules? I don't know anything about dating!"
"Hang on one sec." Toph spoke and Aang stopped thinking.
"What?"
"Sit down." Toph pushed him into a chair, in the middle food court. "I'll be right back. I just gotta get something quick. Wait here." Toph said and ran off.
Aang had more time to think once alone. He said he wanted to be more than friends, but now he wasn't sure what that meant. He loved Toph for being who she was…but he didn't want her to change. Or for himself to change. Do we have too?, he asked.
Aang wasn't the most confident guy, or the best looking. Smart, yeah. Tall…yep. Not fat, that was a plus. But now that he was…"with" Toph, he started wondering what she saw in him.
"Here!" Toph shouted, shoving an ice cream cone in front of his face. Vanilla. Plain.
"What…is this for?" Aang took it slowly.
"I know it's your favorite." She gently smiled.
"I meant why did you buy it?" Aang didn't eat it yet.
"Cause I know you're too broke to buy one yourself." She rubbed the top of his head, messing his bad hair cut. Like she used to. "Just because you're mine…doesn't mean anything is changing."
Aang smiled. He forgot how much he liked Toph rubbing his hair.
"…really?" Aang asked.
"Really, really." Toph swore.
Feeling safe (and spoiled), Aang licked his ice cream. Toph stared at him, stars in her eyes.
She leaned over and kiss his cheek. Aang froze, his tongue stuck on the edge of the cone.
"I lied. Some things are going to change." She grabbed his hand and rubbed his knuckles.