Long Overdue - A TAANG Story

[Author's Notes: In the TV series they leave things unresolved between Aang and Toph, and I think that is a big mistake as well an opportunity for these two to grow even closer. (Maybe that is why they did it, or they would have added some TAANG to the series) This story isn't an offshoot of 'A Kiss in the Night of Ba Sing Se,' and so Aang and Toph are not involved. Young men can be dense and thus need to be prodded into understanding just because things aren't said, doesn't mean they don't exist.

Time has passed, and now Aang is ready to make amends. How this plays out… well, read on!

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar: The Last Airbender

So as always… On with the Story!]

Chapter One

The Start

Toph hated surprises, but he insisted, and she really didn't know why she was so accommodating this time. Maybe it was the way he begged or the offer to prank his short-tempered girlfriend when they got back. Whatever the reason, she was mentally kicking herself for agreeing. She hated flying in the open air. The airships were comfortable and felt secure at least. Riding on Appa's back, even with a saddle was still a bit nerve-racking. Aang tried to explain that Appa was way safer than any airship, but Toph wasn't buying it.

"How much longer Twinkle Toes?" she yelled, feeling the unrelenting sun burning down on her. "It's hotter than the Fire Nation in summer! Where on earth are you taking me," she asked trying to at least get a sense of the place from the smells.

"I told you it was a surprise Sifu, just trust me," he answered in his rather manly voice.

Toph could recall when Aang's voice was so high-pitched, some people thought he was a girl. The memory made her smile. That was seven years ago when they first met at the Earth Rumble. Now he was 'The Avatar' to the world, and she was the fledgling Police Chief for the newly built Republic City, a job that was consuming most of her time and all of her life.

"You needed to get away for sometime Toph," he said looking back at her as she rested her head on the edge of the seat. First your metalbending school and now building the police force for the whole city, when do you relax?"

"I relax when I'm away from you and Sugar Queen, nagging me about relaxing," she snapped back. "Hey, why didn't Sweetness come too? Normally, you two are glued at the lips. Isn't she going to be lonely without you two groping each other during your play, I mean training?"

Aang rolled his eyes. "We do not grope each other. We lovingly touch, there is a difference. It's natural for two people in love to show physical affection Sifu. Funny, you didn't say the same to Suki and Sokka, well, when they were together. Shame how they broke up."

"It was only a matter of time," Toph sighed. "The thing between them was a bit too convenient. When they got to know each other better, I think the novelty just wore off."

Aang looked forward as his face became sullen. "Yeah, maybe?"

"So, you didn't answer my question Twinkle Toes. Where is Sugar Queen?" Toph reiterated rolling to her side. "I thought for sure she'd be here if only to tell me what not to do or how unladylike I am."

Aang swallowed hard. "Well, uh, she and Sokka went to visit their father at the South Pole. I heard their grandmother isn't doing so well, so they both wanted to go see her," he replied continuing to look out over the horizon.

Toph grimaced. "Was this all part of the surprise too, Aang? Seriously, then why aren't you there with Sweetness. If something happens to her grandmother, Katara is going to need you. Why are you out here with me? I thought we discussed this, well, after that last time, on the beach… after you saved me," she stammered.

Aang continued to look out, away from her. "Master Pakku already told us that it wasn't serious Toph, but we made other plans anyways. I offered to go with her but she said before we were going to get married, we needed to wrap a few things up with our friends, so we decided that we would each take a trip, alone, with each of our best friends. Katara already took a trip with Zuko and with Suki. I took one with Zuko back to Ba Sing Se and then with Sokka to the Southern Air Temple. I stayed with Suki for a couple of days on Kyoshi Island…."

"And did you kiss her?" Toph unexpectedly interrupted.

The question was like a hard slap in the face to the Air Nomad. "No, why would I kiss Suki?"

"I dunno," Toph replied in a strained voice, "Why did you kiss me, on that beach, all those years ago?"

Aang rubbed his brow. "Maybe this was a mistake, Sifu. I thought we agreed to…"

"You're right, you're right, Twinkle Toes. We did agree just to forget it all happened back then," Toph exclaimed with a forced smile. "We were young, and I guess our blood was pumping a bit after that battle, and we needed a… release, right. Nothing says release like good old fashioned…. sex."

The memories of that time invaded his mind as it had done many times since. "I never meant it to go that far Toph," he said choking back his tears. "We hugged, and then that kiss. I felt as though I was melting into you. I know I hurt you and that is why I think we need to take this trip, alone, together," Aang confided.

"Oh, you did melt into me… remember? You melted so much I thought you were never going to stop, melting. Hey did you ever tell Katara that you broke me in, Aang?" Toph asked in a small voice.

"No."

She nodded her head. "I see, that makes sense. She would have never agreed to this if she did," Toph huffed as she wiped at her weepy eyes. "So, am I the last on the list? Why isn't it Katara taking me on this little adventure? Are you afraid I would tell her the truth about us, Aang?"

Aang turned about so that he could face her. "Toph, I haven't feared that since you told me you wouldn't. I have trusted you with my life, and this secret. I can tell you this Toph; I don't regret what we did, not in the least. I cherish the memory. I do regret that I hurt you when I told you I couldn't be more than just your friend. I do regret that I made you cry. I do regret that…"

"How messed up are you Twinkle Toes?" she shouted back. "You don't regret fucking me? You don't regret taking my maidenhood? You don't regret cheating on your girlfriend with her best friend? What do you regret Mister? From my point of view, there is a lot to be sorry about! Don't get me wrong, I didn't say no or even try to defend my honor. I'm as much to blame as you. You didn't force me, and I certainly did everything to make sure the deed got done!"

"Why Toph?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm tired of talking about this Aang. I thought you were scheduled to go to some boring summit in the Earth Kingdom or something like that this week."

"I was, but with the wedding date approaching and knowing that we were going to be busy, we decided to use this as an excuse to postpone the meeting. Katara decided that she and her brother could take a much-needed family trip. She's planning on taking you out someplace when they got back. I tried to talk her into a joint vacation with you, but she said we, you and I, needed to talk," Aang informed her.

Toph tapped her chin. "So, all this was Sugar Queen's plan? I wonder what she's up too?" she thought, rolling to her back with her hands folded behind her head. "Maybe she suspects something."

They flew on in silence. It wasn't the first trip they had taken alone, but it was the first time since that incident on the beach after fighting that iron spirit. Usually, Katara would accompany him, or Toph would make sure another friend was with them. Sometimes at work, they would find it was just them, and the awkward silence was suffocating. Now here, she was alone with the Avatar; every fangirl's dream, but she wasn't a fangirl.

Lately, though he was behaving much friendlier, once she had agreed to go on this moronic trip. He said it was a special day, but she already knew everyone's birthdays and any other days of significance. That's what her secretary was for, but still, he insisted it was.

Aang had been pestering her for a month prior, making sure her calendar was clear. Toph had to admit that she enjoyed his attention and the return of this openness between them. She even thought that maybe they had reset the clock on their relationship.

Two weeks he wanted but settled on a single. Toph complained to him and Katara about how hard it was for her to get away for a half a month, with all her new responsibilities. She told them that she was a vital person for the earth's sake, and most of her recruits had a hard enough time trying to bend dirt, let alone metal.

Now, after all that, she was feeling the sun on her face and the heated wind whipping at her. It was actually scouring her, as it carried within it something gritty.

She had been lost in her thoughts for hours since their last stop at some little oasis where she waded into the shallow pool and enjoyed the coolness of the water. She knew Aang was watching her closely and she could hear his voice catch when she took off her tunic. "Don't get your hopes up, Flyboy," she yelled at him. "I still got on my undershirt!"

"Uh, actually Sifu, you pulled them both off," the blushing Avatar corrected her. "I guess it's a bit sticky out here."

Toph's girlish scream as she quickly covered her full breast surprised her as well. "Don't look Twinkle Toes! Turn around or something!"

"I've covered my eyes," he lied, knowing that she wasn't able to realize he was still watching and appreciating her ample teats to the fullest.

Toph pulled back on her tops and walked up to Appa. "You didn't cover your eyes, did you Twinkle Toes?" she confronted him.

"A little," he replied.

"You're disgusting and a liar," Toph exclaimed as she catapulted herself back up onto the air bison. "How can you take advantage of a blind girl, you, you, pervert,"

"And how can you have such perfect breast," Aang retorted with a crooked, unrepentant smile. "Yip, yip," he said with a laugh as they took to the sky.

Toph touched her chest. "Perfect? Do you think they're perfect Twinkle Toes?" she thought.

Toph had brought along some turkey-boar jerky to offset the strictly veggie diet. It wasn't too bad, but she had considered what roasted flying lemur tasted like as Momo nested in the gondola. After nearly a day had passed and she was starting to crave a succulent pig-cow steak. Toph wasn't quite sure if Momo could read her mind, because the once friendly little critter wouldn't come near her.

She informed Aang when they got anywhere near civilization she wanted meat and plenty of it. He reluctantly complied after she dismissed his long-winded lecture on the benefits of a vegetarian diet and the sanctity of all life.

"All I heard was blah, blah, blah, Twinkle Toes. If I don't have some real meat soon, airbender may be on the menu!" she threatened.

Toph never realized what she said or how that made Aang smile.

Quiet resumed, but the mood between them felt less tense the longer they traveled together. Toph handed him an apple and some water without him even requesting it.

"Thanks, Sifu. It's exactly what I wanted. Why don't you come and sit up here next to me," he offered, patting the space.

"No thanks! You may enjoy the view, but it does nothing for me. It doesn't matter how much we fly; the best part is getting off, no offense Appa," she said as he reached over to pet the big fluffy beast.

She felt them starting to descend.

"We're going to camp here for the night," Aang announced. "Sorry, there is no town around or meat, but you're welcomed to some of my egg custard tarts Katara packed for me. She also made some curry rice, lots of it."

Toph smiled, "Sure, sounds good Twinkle Toes."

As the air bison landed, Toph lept from the saddle, forming an earthen slide that allowed her to neatly break into a run once she was on solid ground. The earthbender took off for the bushes.

"Where are you going Toph?" Aang called out after her.

"PEE!" was her single word reply.

From his high perch on Appa, Aang watched as she darted behind a bush and dropped her pants and underwear. It wasn't quite tall enough to obstruct his view, and the setting sun's light seemed to be shining off her ivory behind — the glistening stream that she produced splattered loudly on the ground.

The feeling of sheer relief and the sensation of being back on terra firma was the only thing on Toph's mind at the moment. As she cleaned herself off and began to pull up her pants, she heard spattering not far from her.

"You saw everything, didn't you Twinkle Toes?"

"Yep, pretty much," he replied as he relieved himself on the palm tree a couple of meters away.

"I wish I would have taken a shit too," Toph exclaimed as she stomped back towards Appa. "I didn't know you were so nasty and rude, Twinkle Toes."

He quickly shook off the excess and began to follow her. "Hey, Toph, I didn't mean to invade your privacy, but it all happened so fast. That's why I didn't try to cover up that I saw you. It's a small place, and there are not many private places, like zero to be honest."

"Then pervert, why not try looking away or cover your eyes, idiot! Monkey fuck Aang, do you know helpless this makes me feel?" she swore, punching him in the arm. "If we were lovers, then it wouldn't be so… embarrassing, but we're not! So stop acting like we are, we're barely friends."

The Avatar sighed loudly. "I'm so sorry for my stupidity and lust Toph. I should have been more discrete, but just being alone with you, after all these years, makes me never want to take my eyes off of you again," he proclaimed loudly. "I've missed you so much; it hurts Toph. I miss us talking and messing around. I miss just being next to you and your smile. Now, every time we're together, it's like you can't wait to get away from me."

She stopped and crossed her arms a few steps away. "I… I didn't think you wanted to be around me. That, I, eh, made you uncomfortable, especially when Sweetness was with you," Toph let him know. "Whenever I walked into a room with you, your heart would just go crazy. It's been nice since you asked me on this trip, you know. You've been more, well normal, like before, when we were just friends. I guess this is okay, except for this new perverted side of you that I really hate!"

Aang stepped closer to her and Toph stepped back. "Please Twinkle Toes, don't come near me. I can't trust you right now, and this is making me feel uncomfortable."

"Okay," he answered, taking a few steps back. "I'll go and set up camp."

"You don't have to Twinkle Toes; I'll just make a rock shelter on the other side… and a private latrine," Toph told him.

"But aren't you hungry Toph? I could heat up…"

The earthbender shook her head and sadly walked past him, brushing his arm with her fingers. "Have a good night, see you in the morning Twinkle Toes."

"Do you want to go back to Republic City Toph?"

"Let's discuss that in the morning, Aang. Right now, I just want to be alone."

Aang stood frozen in place as she retreated to her side of the small oasis. He listened as the earthen shelters rose, and finally the door slamming shut. As he was about to return to Appa, the sound of Toph crying echoed about him. "You really are the worst," he muttered to himself.