Chapter Text
The cool breeze of the air hit their skins as the Gaang, as Sokka insists on calling their group, set up camp on a bare mass of land within the forest. The rustle of leaves became their background noise as each carried on fulfilling their tasks without having to say a word. After all, they’ve done this routine a hundred times over. Only the shine of the moonlight against the water illuminated their sights until Zuko lit up logs from the forest to warm their space for the night.
After unpacking everything, Toph immediately settled down near the campfire to feel warm and cozy as she bent some rocks to serve as pillows. She just laid there on the bare earth she loved so much, delighted to finally reunite with her ‘sight’ after hours in the air. There wasn’t really anything else she could help with at that point. Which is why, it simply became her routine to pay extra attention to her surroundings while the others scrambled to do their own things.
The vibrations of the earth told her everything she needed to know. Like a language only she was meant to understand. A connection that allowed her to see by feeling. Through it, she felt how Katara’s hands motioned up and down against the flat rock as she sliced vegetables for dinner just two meters behind her.
On her left, she felt how Aang’s body moved and switched forms as he bent water for Appa and Momo. Just beside him was Sokka, who picked up all sorts of greenery to feed their friend’s bison and lemur. And then, there was Suki, deep within the forest trying to find twigs for fire and more food for their animal companions.
There was something very comforting about observing her friends through her bending. There’s this peace. It reminds her that they too, are capable of living normal lives. Different from ordinary people, but normal enough for her to enjoy the peace they fought for together.
And then, something hit her.
Where was Zuko?
She’d assume Zuko was also collecting firewood in the forest or patrolling the area to ensure their safety, but he was nowhere to be found. His feet weren't on the ground or against a rock. Toph, concerned about his absence, sat up and placed her hands on the ground.
Maybe he’s in the water.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes to focus on her seismic sense, searching for a very particular presence in the water that was warm and unyielding.
No one was in the water.
Alarmed, Toph stood up promptly and faced the direction of her friends. Just as she was about to open her mouth, she was startled as she heard a branch creaking that came with the sound of rustling leaves, a loud thud followed that shook the Earth in front of her body.
“Toph! Did you feel something wrong?” Toph heard that warm, deep voice with a raspy undertone, laced with the same amount of worry and alarm as her body.
“Zuko? You were in a tree?!” Toph’s body relaxed, relieved that her friend was just up on a tree and not missing or disappeared or kidnapped by powerful enough assassins that can rival the power of the strongest firebender in his nation. She felt her veins pop up and she stomped towards the confused firebender and hit his right arm hard.
“Ow! What was that for?!” Zuko winced in pain, immediately rubbing the area Toph had punched to soothe the pain.
“I thought we were kidnapped, you idiot! I didn’t feel you anywhere on the Earth!” She complained, hitting the same arm again, making Zuko yelp when he felt another sting on his muscles. “I’m sorry, the view was just nice and all so I thought I’d go up for a better look,” he apologized immediately, still rubbing his sore arms.
Toph put her right arm on her waist. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. I totally saw how beautiful it was earlier while we were on Appa,” she remarked, waving her hands in front of eyes with the same funny face she always had whenever she pulled a blind joke. This earned her a chuckle from the taller male— like always.
“What are you laughing at, Sparky? I know I have great blind jokes that’s even better than Sokka’s try-hard humor, but you’re not off the hook yet from disappearing from my sight,” she smirked, putting more emphasis on the word ‘sight’ to pitch in another blind joke in her warning.
She felt how Zuko’s body relaxed, and how his heartbeat became calmer after hearing her call him Sparky. She knew that he knew that he was totally off the hook now.
“The blind jokes are getting rusty, Toph. You’re out of touch,” he smiled, the coyness in his voice not hiding his intent to go back and forth with her.
“Oh please, Sparky. You say that but you can’t stop smiling from blind jokes,” she claimed with a puffed out chest, confident that she was right. And she is. But Zuko wasn’t gonna give her that satisfaction easily.
“And how could you say so, All-knowing and All-seeing Melon Lord? I would need you to prove it,” Toph snorted, totally not expecting that jab from the man. “You clap back with blind jokes now too, Sparky? Did Sokka not teach you that making a joke out of someone’s disability is bad humor?” Amusement took over her as she continued to laugh.
“Did you forget that I’m also half-blind on my left eye, Melon Lord? I’m quite eligible to do so. And clearly, I’m the better joker now between the two of us,” he proudly said. Toph felt his steady heartbeat and the warmth in both his chest and stomach. But even without her seismic sense, the joy that was radiating from this man could be felt a mile away. Zuko was happy. And that put a big smile on her face.
Without warning, Toph reached for his face and ran her thumb across it. Her thumb traced the smile on his face multiple times. She cupped his face for a bit longer than she had intended to, and she laughed triumphantly as she retracted her hand.
“See! I felt your smile, Firelord Hotman! This All-knowing and All-seeing Melon Lord is never wrong,” she announced, her chest puffed out and her chin up, genuinely proud and happy for her accomplishment. Toph didn’t even realize the mess she made. She didn’t realize that Zuko froze on the spot, the heat climbing from his stomach, to his heart, and then to his cheeks.
“Geez, it suddenly became so hot in here,” Toph complained, using her hands to fan her face from the sudden heat. It only ever clicked to her when she noticed Zuko’s voice becoming softer and shy?
“I- it’s me, Toph. I’m sorry,” he stuttered, his awkward apology bringing the earthbender back to her senses.
Toph felt it. She felt how Zuko’s heart is now racing and his breath being quicker. She felt how steam is escaping his body— mostly his face. And of course, that very familiar, almost close to home, awkwardness in the air that made Zuko, Zuko.
‘Holy shit,’ Toph thought, now equally as frozen and horrified. Shame and embarrassment became apparent on her face which she hid by looking down, and covering her ears which she was sure was as red as her face. She had no words. She had just ran her hands across his face. Twice.
Not to mention, she felt his lips. She intentionally touched his lips. And she perfectly remembers how her thumb had traced the curve on his face at least three times and she held his face for a few more seconds before she pulled her hand back. What was wrong with her?
Now she can’t unremember the feeling on his lips. How it was soft but a little cracked. Fuck. She wanted to bend a huge hole in the ground and bury herself there forever out of shame. She really just did that.
So now what? The two of them are just standing there in front of each other awkwardly. But it honestly makes Toph laugh how their accelerated heartbeats are matching perfectly. She felt her stomach turning at the thought. And she hated how that felt right.
“Toph, I-”
Zuko was cut short as the two of them heard Katara’s voice from behind them, asking Zuko to light up their makeshift stove as she will start cooking after the last batch of vegetables. Based on the louder thuds from the knife and the quickened pace in which she cut the vegetables, it was clear that she was pissed. The two of them knew that it was because Aang and Sokka had escaped through the skies on Appa, to do spirits know what without telling her.
“I should get going before that knife digs into me instead.”
“You should. Sugar Queen is in a mood.”
“I can hear you, Toph!” Katara yelled, making the shorter female laugh where she stood. She was about to shoo Zuko away and make another comment to rile up the waterbender when Zuko spoke to her. This time, in a low steady tone.
“I’m really sorry for worrying you, Toph. You know, from disappearing from your sight. But I’m glad I was able to make you smile again. Just like you made me smile.”
Toph giggled. He’s still as awkward as ever.
“You’re too sentimental. I got back on you already so consider it done. It wasn’t really your jokes that made me smile, you know. I got in a better mood after hitting you twice,” she lied, totally dismissing his claim. Of course she wouldn’t admit her irritation was melted away by the firebender’s jokes. Afterall, she was Toph Beifong, the greatest earthbender in the world.
“Alright,” Zuko’s smile got bigger. She knew because she was the All-knowing and All-seeing Melon Lord.
“Toph, it doesn’t really matter if it was me or your revenge hits on me that made you laugh again. I’m just glad you did. You have the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen, you know.”
It wasn’t a lie.
“Zuko! These firewoods aren’t gonna light themselves up!” Katara remarked with extreme sarcasm as she rolled her eyes.
“Sorry, I’m coming,” the firebender apologized. That was also genuine. Zuko started to walk towards Katara. As soon as he stood beside Toph, he stopped and just remained there awkwardly. Toph felt him take a deep breath before he leaned in to whisper something in her ear, his hand covering his mouth to make sure it was private.
“Also, please don’t be bothered by the fact that you touched my face. I was surprised but I didn’t hate it, okay? You can do that anytime you want.”
Toph felt each thud from Zuko’s footsteps as he hurried towards Katara to light up their makeshift stove. Meanwhile, she was just standing there, completely still, as the heat rushed through her face as fast as her heart that was pounding in her chest. She felt like it was gonna escape her chest from the intensity of its beats. She also felt her stomach twisting and turning. And more than she liked to admit, it wasn’t annoying, but rather, a nice feeling.
It wasn’t a lie.
It wasn’t a lie.
She was done for.
It finally registered on her brain and she finally collapsed on the ground, covering her whole face with her hands. He truly genuinely thought that she had the most beautiful smile. And he didn’t mind her touching his face? And she could do it again? Spirits who would say that?
Her thoughts were just spiraling inside her brain, alternating from Zuko’s lips, to the smile, to his lips, then his lips, to her freedom to do it again, her smile, the lips. She was absolutely bombed. Just what does a person do with all that information? It was certainly a situation she’s never been in before. How does one process that and how do you live with it?
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even feel Suki walk to her side. “Toph, are you okay? You seem kinda hot,” Suki commented, her voice laced with concern for her condition.
“I’m fine, Suki. Thanks,” she said as she immediately created a tent-like shape through her bending for some privacy.
Why would Zuko say that, actually? She just wondered. The most beautiful? Just what should that mean? Those memories kept replaying in her head like a never-ending film. She analyzed each and every one. At that point, she has memorized everything that happened to heart. It was not good for the heart.
Zuko has always been straightforward with compliments. It wasn’t the first time he praised someone. Like how he said Suki’s fan dance was cool. Or how Katara’s new clothes suit her. And there was the time he told Sokka his ‘power pony’ looks awesome. Or how he says Aang’s physique after training looked ‘fire’ the same way Aang compliments him.
Only after she decided on that conclusion did her body relax as she sighed. She didn’t even notice how her body tensed and that her left hand was digging into the Earth.
A few meters away, she heard the muffled sound of her friends’ voices as she felt that Appa is back, together with Sokka and Aang. She heard scolding and hitting and waterbending and laughing. Then, she wondered. Would Zuko’s smile be just as attractive as he smells?
She hit her face multiple times to erase the thought from her head. It doesn’t really matter anyway. At least, she convinces herself.
“Stupid hotman,” she says under her breath as she tries to steady her breathing and her delirious heart.