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you have been friends with toph since you were kids, a privilege you had since your parents are close friends and the beifongs let you know about their blind daughter since they trusted your family. you always played together whenever there’s a special occasion like festivals or birthdays, or just a regular day.
you’re different than toph. in fact, you two have many differences, but somehow, you and toph still stuck with each other through thick and thin even after physically fighting at the age of ten resulting to a mountain getting split in half, and no, that wasn’t your doing of course knowing you couldn’t bend. but you’re still somehwhat grateful how she didn’t earthbend you right there and then while fighting despite how you pulled at her hair while screaming to her face. that is also how you found out that she was truly more than just an asshole to you who acts like a timid girl in front of her parents and people.
that chaotic relationship changed when you two were a bunch of emotional twelve years old after you confessed your undying feelings for her, months before she left with the avatar and his friends.
“toph…” you gripped on your many layers of robes as you stood in front of toph, teeth harshly grinding at each other. she however has her usual bored expression on her face, despite sensing your unusual behaviours for the past few hours. she hummed in response but didn’t even bother to look at you as her eyes dropped to the pond with turtleducks swimming on it.
she turned her head and her eyes meet yours through her eyelashes when you didn’t say anything after a beat. and though, they are blind, you couldn’t help but close your eyes strongly as your next words that you are sure could change everything for better or for worse left your painted lips. “im in with love you! de-deeply!”
twelve your old you watched as toph’s expression went from confused, to shock, and to her face turning red with a frown as she stood up. “w-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOU IDIOT?!” she exclaimed as she pointed an accusing finger on your face. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?! T-THAT’S JUST DISGUSTING!!! TAKE THAT BACK!!!”
“IT’S TRUE, TOPH!” you pointed a finger back at her as tears started falling down your eyes. “TOPH, Y-YOU AIRHEAD DIRTY PEASANT!!!” you screamed before stomping away from the scene while crying your eyes out for your lady in court outside the beifong’s state.
you didn’t see toph for a month after that before meeting her again at a banquet and the both of you acted like everything’s normal, until everything really went back to normal, none of you talked about it ever again.
two months later.
after toph’s dinner with the gaang and her family, you secretly sneaked inside toph’s room and laid down on her bed. and upon entering, you immediately saw the unfinished packing of toph’s most important valuables on the cupboard. and toph, who you knew had the ability to still see you on her own way, rolled her eyes after entering her room with a frown.
“i know what you’re planning,” you said as you sat upright, back straight with your arms folded. “you’re still going to leave, right?” your voice was traced with bitterness as you tried your best to look stronger than what you truly felt. toph didn’t say anything as she went and continued packing her small bag. “the avatar can find many masters out there, why can’t you just stay?” you stood behind her, fists curled tightly.
and you badly wanted to scream and call the master of the house and get toph to stop packing but you somehow didn’t.
“[name], don’t start,” toph warmed as she went past you to get something under her bed. and knowing how she called you by the name, and not by her silly nickname to you, she’s really serious and starting to get pissed off too especially since her and her parents just had an argument after dinner before resigning back to her room. “you know i’ve wanted to travel the world and go on an adventure for so long.”
“yeah, yeah,” you rolled your eyes, “but can’t you do that in a more peaceful way? toph, this is a war we’re talking about! and look at you, you’re just a kid!” you said desperately as you tried your best to lower your voice, afraid to get toph caught doing this and might get the worst punishment her parents could possibly give yet. you tried to get a hold of her shoulder but she swatted your hand away. your heart ached and spoke through gritted teeth, desperately pleading, “toph.”
“you don’t understand, [name]—“
“of course, i don’t understand! because how could i?! what if you die in the war?!” you tried to hide a sob as your eyes began to water. just the thought of her dying by the hands of those fire nation savages made you want to ball your eyes out.
“this is not the time to be selfish! people are dying and the avatar needs an earthbending master!”
“selfish? me? isn’t it you who just wants to go out in the world?!” you pushed your finger on her chest as you glared deeply at her, “your reason is not to help anyone, what you want is to get out of here, toph!” you once again pushed your finger on her, deeper this time that could leave a bruise on her chest, “it’s you and your selfish wish, toph! it’s always about you!”
“damn it, [name]! shut up and stop that for goodness sake!” she held your hands but you kept on trying to hit her. you know you're being annoying. you also despise acting out like this but when it comes to toph all the rational thinking just seems to get thrown out the window.
left with no choice, toph pushed you back with one hand, throwing your much weaker body to the floor. her push wasn’t even that strong, but due to your clumsiness and weak body, you straight up fell.
you gasped and looked at toph with your widened eyes. “how dare you!” your hands searched the floor and threw the first thing that your hand touched that turned out to be a ceramic vase you gifted her for her twelfth birthday, something you made painstakingly. why it was in a corner? you didn't know.
and she caught it on her hand... of course.
she looked at you with eyes you couldn’t really understand before placing the vase on her cupboard carefully. and normally, during fights like this, toph is harsher and meaner, but for some reason tonight, she’s indifferent about this fight.
the earthbender sighed before walking towards the window which she could fit through perfectly. she held the windowsill and was about to jump out of it when you spoke. “walk out of here, and you will never see me again.” you threatened as you stood up and didn’t even bother to dust yourself out even though you’re very much a germaphobe. your fingers gripped at your white and green dress as your eyes started welling up once more.
she turned her head towards you with her eyes and mouth opened wider than normal. “[name]…i…” she sighed as she shook her head. you watched as her eyes fell with her glaring at the ground before looking at you with saddened eyes. “i’m sorry, [name].” and that was the last thing you heard from her before you broke down sobbing in her own room. moments later, lao and poppy beifong came rushing to the room with a few servants after hearing your loud and hurt sobs.
that was five years ago. today, you stood in omashu, king bumi’s smaller kingdom compared to ba sing se. you wore a emerald green dress while in a hall full of people wearing the same color. you held a bouquet of flowers close to your chest, your fingers occasionally tracing at the flowers with a smile. the people seated were laughing and enjoying themselves with each other as they waited for the wedding to start.
you exhaled sharply for the hundredth time this day as you felt your feet on the fancy sandals slowly killing you when your eyes landed on the newly entered visitors— very important ones too, you thought as you looked at them closely. you almost screamed in horror when you saw the avatar and his friends, including your ex best friend, toph beifong. your eyes were glued to her for a moment, and almost didn't notice the other three important people wearing formal red attires. there stood with them an old enemy and newly crowned firelord zuko years ago was with his fearsome fiancée, lady mai, and then the fire nation princess azula that shook the world for conquering ba sing se bloodlessly. ten steps behind them are a few escorts from their nation.
“what are they doing here?” you sighed irritably and fought the urge to roll your eyes since you can be seen easily as you stood as one of the girls standing on the platform which everyone is currently facing.
“they’re all friends with me,” yusuf, your cousin who is about to get married, whispered next to you. and of course you already know the answer. he’s smiling ear to ear as he watches his special guests walk in the middle of the room and to the front seat which is near you. “i helped them during the war, especially the firelord during his hardship in the earth kingdom, when i didn’t know he was the prince. and hey, aren’t you also friends with princess azula?”
“yeah,” you smiled and gave a small waved at azula who returned the gesture with a smirk as she eyed you down. “i was like her therapist after the war,” you chuckled as you remembered how hard it was to even get azula off her bed then.
“well, that’s great! at least i know there’s less chance she would burn everything to the ground thanks to me of making her come all the way here.”
you just nodded, and honestly not even listening as you have been staring at a particular earthbender. she seemed to already know that you were there and probably picked it up by the way your heart was beating against your chest, something she once told you is very different compared to other people and is always an indication that it’s you.
you haven’t seen her for years and weirdly enough, you’re not feeling anything yet. no nostalgia, no feeling of crying, no longing— just… empty.
she returned your gawking as if she can actually see you with her eyes. you huffed and turned your head towards yusuf on your left. “please just start your wedding already,” you said tiredly. and yusuf, who had no idea what’s bothering you, looked at you weirdly before nodding at bumi who’s talking to aang excitedly like he’s still a kid. he is yusuf’s and your grandfather, who is about to marry him to his partner.
after the ceremony and while people are having fun eating, dancing, talking happily, and what-not, you decided to leave the table of your family when bumi stopped you. “where are you going young lady?” he asked, his face red from drinking too much alcohol and was both hiccuping and snorting in between his sentences and even when not speaking.
“grandfather,” you bowed slightly, “please excuse me, i wish to retire to bed for the night.” you tried your best to smile but failed miserably when your eyes caught toph staring at you for the ninth time this wedding.
“[name],” approached your prince consort father with a small smile. “do not retire yet— you will greatly upset your dad.” he said as he gestured at your other father having fun on the other table before he noticed the three of you staring at him making him come and approach you three.
“what’s the matter?” your prince father, aang II asked as he leaned in to kiss you on your forehead, then to his husband to peck him on the lips.
“your daughter wishes to go back to her room,” king bumi slurred through his words and then snorted after talking.
“why— oh…” father said after seeing your eyes land at toph, before he smiled understandably and nodded. “then i say let her retire.”
“but dear,” your other father called iskan said with a thick accent, frowning slightly. “it’s only ten in the evening. she needs to get used to socializing! and yusuf would be disappointed.”
“what?!” cried yusuf, frowning when he finally heard the conversationgoing on. his shoulders fell as he pouted at you, something you hated since he’s already reaching twenty-six and he’s still acting like a toddler. “oh c’mon, [name]! this is my wedding, have some fun,” your cousin walked closer and grabbed your hands and ushered you to dance with him as he raised your right arm over his head and twirled you around. you looked at your fathers helplessly, they just shrugged at you in return before the two walked off towards a group of guests that called them over.
“c’mon!” yusuf grinned, his face red too from the alcohol but not drunk enough unlike bumi who now collapsed on the floor and was immediately tended to by his servants.
“yusuf,” you chuckled before humoring him for a moment as more people joined the dance floor. everyone around the room clapped and cheered for the only two grandchildren of king bumi as you actually started having fun with him, something you genuinely haven’t done for a while because both you and yusuf are always busy.
a moment has past once more and you didn't notice a certain someone approached you from behind after your dance with yusuf. “princess [name],” she smiled.
you bowed down a little at her, and lifted your dress on each side in the process, “i’m honored to be in your grace, princess azula.”
she giggled at you as she followed suit, both of your shoulders shaking as you covered your mouth with a fan in your hand hand like a true noble should. “how odd that the person who kicked my ass for not obeying her during my past mental breakdowns is now bowing down to me.”
she held her arm out which you took, and thus linking your arms together as you walked around the huge ballroom. “i’m glad you came without a fuss,” you chuckled while she gave you a knowing look.
“oh if only you knew how much i was blackmailed by zuzu and yusuf into coming.”
“typical,” you chuckled before leading her to the table with different expensive wines while occasionally glancing at toph who you know was still paying attention to you.
and finally, after a while the audience and azula let you off the chains as you finally strided out of the ballroom and to a veranda when you felt someone following you closely. you made a turn and waited as you leaned on the wall, but instead of the person turning at the corner you went to, they stopped walking.
“[name],” they said, voice detached from any emotions. you groaned and tried to make a run for it but she got ahold of your hand. you tried to yank it away but she gripped it tighter.
“toph, let go!” you said darkly as you once again tried to yank it, glaring at her. those damn muscles!
“let’s talk," a plead.
you chuckled at that and dug your nails on her strong forearm, “there’s nothing to talk about, toph. i thought i made it clear i’ll never talk to you again.”
“you didn’t say that,” she glared as she pulled you closer, making you stumble to her chest but you pulled back immediately as if you were burned. “you only said i’ll never see you again," her voice broke as she spoke that softer than her earlier words.
“affirmative,” you gulped as tears trickled down your eyes. “i’ve tried so hard to avoid you, toph. i went to the fire nation as seeing the most dangerous princess in the world was my reasoning, when in fact i didn’t want you to see me. i lived in a forest for three years after because i didn’t want you to find me. all of those i did, because i hated you, toph.”
you saw how she gulped as desperation draws in her face, her eyes searched you for things they can’t even see. “but… you still love me, right?” that caught you off guard as you looked away, gulping and your heart abnormally beating so fast and loud nervously. “you said you love me,” it sounded more like she was convincing her self if only you didn't know any better. she rejected you, so how dare she act like a hurt puppy.
you opened and closed your mouth as blinkedyour tears away, trying to find your voice and hoping they won't crack. “i wish i don’t, but i do,” you smiled bitterly, not meeting her eyes, before pulling at your hand from her grip again, this time she didn't fight back to keep holding them. “now please leave.” you reached the one of the many veranda of the palace which was a few feet away from where you last spoke before feeling her tug your arm again and pulling your body against her for the second time.
“please, princess,” she whispered as her hands dropped around your waist. and you never hated and joyed at the same time for being called "princess" before but you sure do now by the way she looked at you so earnestly.
she used to call you princess when you were little, but those were only times when she was being a little shit to you. but tonight as you stood closer to her, and stared at her lips, you feel your chest and stomach flutter in so many emotions but mostly pride and happiness that you finally heard toph call you by your status with no hint of insult.
you breathed in and out a couple of times as toph pressed her forehead on your shoulder. you spoke much calmer now as you let toph guide your tired body to face her, “did you know how worried i was while you were away?” you whispered as you finally let yourself relax against her touch, hugging her back as her armed stayed wrapped around your waist. you leaned your forehead to her chest as your hands snaked around her neck in a lazy way.
you feel so warm, so safe, and so relaxed after so long.
she didn’t spoke but by the way she kissed the top of your head let you know she’s sorry. “i had sleepless nights because of you. i was so worried i couldn’t eat— and no, this is not me making you feel guilty.”
“of course,” she mumbled against the crown of your head, making you feel through her lips and your skin that she is smiling. “and i wouldn’t blame you otherwise.”
you noticed something you didn’t before, her voice was deeper and much more mature than when you both were kids, and taller— definitely taller than you are and that just made you feel both insulted and amazed, so you pinched at her skin on her nape for that, resulting to her pulling her head away as you did the same. “what was that?” there'sno bite in her words, so different from the young toph who would've kitcked you for even laying a hand on her.
“you’re taller than me now,” you grumbled, which made her pull away more, her smile turning into a familiar smirk. “you’ve changed so much.” and with that, you heard toph’s laugh that came from her belly you missed so much. it’s a laugh you only hear when she’s out of her household, without the overbearing parent's that she have around her.
soon, you joined her in her laughter as you leaned in closer. you stayed standing and swaying there for awhile until you decided to lead her to the royal garden and sat down on the bench. toph reached for your hand and rubbed her thumb on the back of it slowly.
“i’m so sorry for leaving,” those words came out heavy from her lips. “i-i thought i was doing it for peace b-but clearly i wasn’t. you were right, i was doing it for myself... but i learned so much while fighting and traveling. while away, i felt like dying like a polarbeardog in the fire nation when i couldn’t see you... couldn't feel you, hear you, a-and just anything that you do honestly. i found out that there’s so much more i feel about you i-i thought i would never feel. i realized how much i care about you-- i mean i knew i cared about you before but i thought it was friendship... i was so stupid for giving you the silent treatment for months after your confession then, and made you even wait for years-- i—“ you made her shut up with all her fast blabbering and frustrated hand gestures by stealing a kiss from her which made you both red.
“you were talking so fast,” you sighed as you tilted your head up to look at the pretty night sky while still being aware of the dumbfounded look on your strong warrior's face. “it’s a beautiful night, toph. let’s take it all slow.” you once again met her eyes and smiled at her while locking your fingers together.
“i—uh,” she gulped before blinking, glancing at your hands and your eyes repeatedly. “can we do that aga—“ and before she could even finish her sentence, you sat on her lap on a swift move, pulled her by the back of her head with your hand, and connected your lips together once more. she was stunned for a moment before she closed her eyes and moved her lips in sync with yours in a clumsy kiss. you both giggled through the kiss as her hand grabbed you by the nape and the other by your lap greedily.
you pulled back afterwards for air and toph’s face became crimson again when realization hit her, leaving her frozen. you laughed and threw your head back. “you’re so hilarious, toph.”
you planted a kiss on the side of her mouth, “i forgive you, and i’m sorry for running from you for years, but,” you glared at her. “you didn’t even try to hunt me down!”
she blinked at you for a moment before chuckling again. “i thought you wanted some space, princess," she said, voice low maaking your face redder than it allready is.
“enough space has already been made after waiting for you for months when you left for war...”
"im sorry, princess," she replied, voice pained.
“no matter, it’s been years. but i would like to get even with kisses.”
“then i will gladly oblige, princess.”
you raised an eyebrow when she held and kissed at your palm for what you said.
"that's sweet but that's not my lips-- humpff--"
she attacked you once again on said lips. this time you were taken aback when she slipped her tongue between your sweet lips, eliciting a surprise moan from you. "toph---!!" you pulled away but she didn't let you do so completely. damn her muscles and strength. she smirked in the kiss and hummed so deliciously and before she could deepen the kiss even more than it already is, you bit her tongue.
"ack-- [name]!"
you smacked her head, "you're moving too fast!"
"but--" you stopped her by grabbing at her lips with your hand to shut her mouth. she looked beyond adorable like this, a soft almost pouty toph desperately asking for more of this make out session.
you grinned at her, sweat forming on your skin nervously, "any more of that and i might just give myself to you right now."
she seemed to have lost it at what you implied, ears and face at the deepest shade of red you have seen yet in a person. yet determiantion never left her eyes as she leaned in even more, your hand on her face the only thing that's keeping her from devouring you and keeping the distance from your faces. "i-- i'm sorry, [name] that was shameless of me..." she says so but her hand touched at yours, trying to remove the distance.
"seriously," you complained, but happily let her face come closer. "you really don't hold back at all..."
"five years without you was a long and lonely time. there wasn't a day i didn't dream of taking you," her voice was dangerously low filled with want but you can feel her holding back. "but we will take it slow," her words were clearly respectful but a hint of desperation for closeness was noticeable.
"toph you... you really like me huh," you teased, attempting to ease the mood.
"i love you, [name]," she corrected fast, but filled with sincerity and longing, both hands now rest on your back to support you as you still sat on her lap.
"toph... you do?"
"indeed," she sealed it with a peck on your lips. "so much so..."
"...i love you too, toph," you pressed your forehead against her, "so much... thank you for coming back safe." she hummed in response.
“also, the ancient man bumi told me not to disturb you after the war. your orders, he said.”
“WHAT.”