Chapter 8: Echoes of Friendship
Toph stood frozen for a moment, the tension thickening between them after the awkward incident in the bathroom. She stammered, struggling to find the right words as her face flushed. "Uh, I... I'm just gonna... yeah..."
Backing away toward her room, Toph nearly tripped over her own feet before slipping inside and hurriedly shutting the door. A second later, Aang heard the distinct sound of the door locking, followed by the faint rumble of earthbending reinforcing the barrier. He couldn't help but feel a bit stung by the gesture, muttering to himself, "It's kinda hard not to take offense to that."
Shaking off the awkwardness, Aang decided it was best to focus on the practical matter at hand: getting cleaned up. He headed to the bathroom for his shower, unaware that Toph, in an effort to make things even, used her seismic sense to "peek" at him, smirking to herself as she did.
The next morning, Aang was woken by the mouth-watering smell of breakfast being made. He sat up on the sofa, rubbing his eyes as he took in the comforting aroma. Toph soon appeared, setting a plate down on the coffee table in front of him. The breakfast was simple: toast with jam and a glass of orange juice.
"Sorry," Toph said with a shrug. "I don't keep a lot of veggies around."
"This is perfect, thanks," Aang replied, grateful for the gesture.
Toph, meanwhile, busied herself with her own meal—bacon and eggs, accompanied by a strong cup of coffee. They ate in companionable silence, the tension from the previous night having faded away.
Later that day, they decided to explore some local spots Toph knew about. She led Aang to a few hidden gems in the city, places that most tourists would overlook. The highlight of their day was a visit to a quaint tea café, where they encountered a certain older man. Aang couldn't shake the feeling that the man resembled Iroh, though when he subtly asked, the old man denied being anyone other than a simple tea enthusiast.
Iroh, aware of Aang's suspicion, simply smiled and offered them some tea. As they sipped, Iroh leaned back and shared his advice, seemingly out of the blue. "The strongest tea is brewed with time and patience. Just as a good friendship needs both to truly flourish. In this busy world, it's easy to forget that the simplest joys are often the most rewarding."
Aang listened closely, realizing the depth of Iroh's words. Toph, too, seemed to understand, though she didn't comment. The advice resonated with both of them, a reminder to cherish the small moments in their journey, rather than just focusing on the bigger picture.
Before they left, Iroh added with a wink, "And remember, true strength isn't just about what you can do alone, but what you can do with the help of others."
As the afternoon turned to evening, they made their way to the Water Tribe Consulate to check on Azula's condition. Upon arrival, they were informed that she was being kept sedated due to her aggressive behavior whenever she awoke, a result of the withdrawal from Jactus. Both Aang and Toph exchanged knowing glances, understanding that Azula's aggression wasn't entirely a side effect of the drug but more a part of her nature.
After leaving the consulate, they continued their day of exploration, stopping to grab some takeout before heading back to Toph's apartment. Once there, they sat together, eating and playing cards. The deck was specially designed so that blind people could interact and play with sighted people, allowing them to enjoy the game together.
As the night wore on, they found themselves sitting on the sofa, talking until an awkward silence fell between them. Toph broke it by standing up and heading to her room without a word. Aang swallowed hard, misinterpreting her actions, but soon Toph returned, holding an old, worn book in her hands.
She sat down beside Aang, the book resting on her lap. "Before I was born, my Aunt had this large book commissioned," she began softly. "It's the story of a strong princess who explored the world through all the different colors that existed. Of course, me being born blind, the book was tucked away. But my Aunt used to sneak away with me when I was a child and read it to me. I loved it—it made me feel safe and special."
Toph paused, her voice growing quieter. "No one has read this to me in years. I miss it. And… I don't really have friends. Not close like we were when we were out trying to save the world. Would you mind just reading some of it to me?"
Aang smiled gently. "Of course, I'd be happy to."
He took the book from Toph and began to read aloud, his voice steady and soothing. As he read, Toph slowly leaned against him, her head eventually coming to rest on his shoulder. Aang continued reading until he noticed her breathing had evened out—she had fallen asleep.
Carefully, Aang shifted out from under her, laying her down on the sofa. He pulled a blanket over her, making sure she was comfortable before setting up a small pallet on the floor next to her. As he lay down, Aang couldn't help but smile, feeling the warmth of their rekindled friendship as sleep finally claimed him.