Contentment

Chap 4

Toph tilted her head up to ‘look’ at the skies, locking her fingers together to hold the back of her neck. The girls had been following the stream for only two minutes, but the tension was already building. Toph desperately wanted to forget all about Katara, if you don’t love her, she can’t hurt you. While all Katara wanted was for Toph to answer her question with more then just simple one-word replies.

“Isn’t the weather nice today?”

“No.”

“Well I know it’s a little hot but I can feel we are nearing a lake.”

“Yeah, there is a waterfall too.”

“I could feel a huge amount of water earlier; do you think it was cause of the water fall?” Katara smiled and lightly brushed her hand against Toph’s arm.

“Yeah I felt the pounding of the water on the rock, so I knew there would be a waterfall nearby.” Toph replied while blushing at the brief contact.

“Water bending and Earth bending mix nicely don’t you think?”

“I guess.” Toph mumbled emotionlessly.

Katara felt her heart sting, here she making an attempt to start a conversation with Toph. While the young earth bender resisted almost any attempt of having anything to do with her. Katara sighed, perhaps Toph knew what Katara wanted to say to her… Maybe Toph didn’t want her deviated love.

By now the sun had floated behind the mountains, the last sparkle of the twilight was disappearing as the darkness began to seep into the scenery.

“I bet it looks really nice right now, isn’t it?”

“The surroundings aren’t the only thing eye-catching tonight.” Katara said while staring at Toph’s light pink lips.

Toph raised her eyebrow at Katara, her friend must have meant Aang. Sighing once again Toph quicken the pace, faster they got to the lake, the faster they can get to camp where everyone else was.

The duo was equally relieved when they reached the lake. Even after the sun had gone down the temperature was still at an unreasonably high level. The landscape was strangely relaxing, the lake was a rather large one, leading to many other streams much like the one the girls had followed. The water started from a wide shallow portion of the lake till the rocks curved and created a dozen small waterfalls all leading the water over the cliff and into a forest of moss. The gushing falls created a strangely quieted tone compared to the yells of Sokka and chirping of Momo, this lake was much gentler to the ears.

Katara stripped out of her outer clothing and ran into the lake, loving the delightful feel of the cold water on her skin.

“Katara?!” Toph stood up from the rock she had been sitting on and ran to the edge of the lake. “Come back here, you know I can’t ‘see’ you…”

“Do you trust me?”

Toph rolled her eyes; well that was a rather random question, “Sure sugar queen.”

“I’m serious Toph, do you trust me?”

Toph was taken aback by how serious Katara had turned, she wish the water bender was on solid ground, then she could have understand why her friend was acting so weird. After a long pause Toph eventually raised her hands out over the lake, showing Katara she was willing to go into the water.

At first Katara was surprise by Toph’s willingness to join her in the lake, last time they went swimming even Sokka and Aang couldn’t drag the blind bandit into the water. She asked her question as just a question, she didn’t think Toph would act on it…  

“Yeah Katara, I trust you.”

“Don’t worry about your clothes getting wet,” Katara said as she led Toph into the middle portion of the lake. “I can get the water out.”

Nodding shyly Toph followed after Katara, she didn’t like how the earth squished under her feet, making everything fuzzy in her ‘vision’. The only thing keeping her from drowning at the moment was Katara’s hands. When the reality of the matter hit Toph, she quickly held tighter to Katara’s hands. The water bender smiled and entwined her fingers with Toph.

“Do you want to do deeper?” Katara whispered softly into Toph’s ear, “I promise I won’t let you fall.”

Toph walked closer to Katara, she laid her head onto the water benders bare shoulder and sighed contently. It was a little too late for Katara to stop her from falling, she had already fallen for the water bender a long long time ago.

“Toph, can I ask you something.” Katara wrapped her arms around Toph’s waist protectively. “Promise you won’t be mad at me after I ask you my question.”

“I would never be mad at you, I can’t be mad at you Katara.”

“Why-” Katara stop what she was saying when she noticed tears running down her friend’s face. She hadn’t even said a word and Toph was crying. “Toph, Toph what did I do?”

The water bender thinking it was because how close they were touching, promptly let go of Toph. Causing Toph to freak out and cling onto Katara much like the way the water bender had been holding her.

“Its not you,” Toph cried into Katara’s chest, honestly she was enjoying them touching even though she was scared out of her mind because of the water. “It’s me, it’s my stupid feelings!”

Blushing because Toph’s head was buried into her chest, Katara tried her best to calm her friend. “What do you mean?” Katara waited patiently as Toph tried to catch her breath, while waiting she began an unconscious motion of petting the younger girl’s head.

“Its cause,” Toph held onto Katara and shook her head. “I can’t tell you, I don’t know how!”

“It’s alright Toph; remember you’re like my sister…” Katara almost choked on the word.

“Right, how could I forget, you’re just my sister.” Toph backed away from Katara but stayed at arms length, “Can I sit down on the water, and it’s not that deep right?”

“Yeah, the water would just meet your chin.”

Toph nodded and sat into the water, she quickly washed her face then reached up for Katara’s hand. “I want to go back to camp.”

“Alright,” Katara pulled Toph up then led back to the shore of the lake, “Stand still.”

With one fluid motion of her wrist the water was pushed out of Toph’s clothes and hair, after drying herself off and putting her clothes back on Katara began walking back to camp.

Why was Toph the one crying, honestly Katara was ready to burst into tears any moment now, she was so emotionally stressed. But she tried to keep her emotions in check; it was cause of her Toph was crying. It was best she stay quiet, by the time they reached camp Toph’s soft whimpers had subsided.

“Good night Toph.” Katara sighed and walked to her tent, it was better she vanquish her feelings then to risk hurting Toph again.

“Sugar queen, it really isn’t your fault.” Toph whispered her good night, and then punch up her rock tent right next to Katara’s tent.   

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“Umm Sokka, why did they just ignore us?” Aang asked, slightly interested.

Sokka shrugged, “I…I don’t know, hey can I tell you something?”

“Sure, I wonder what’s making Katara so upset though.” Aang questioned while scratching the back of his head.

“I think I’m in love with Toph.”

Aang raised an eyebrow at Sokka, how many loves can this guy have?!

“Well congratulations, don’t you think you’re just a little fickle?”

“Hmm I guess, too bad you said that cause I thought we could plan our weddings together.”

“Did I say fickle I meant true hearted,” Aang blushed when he notice he had fallen for Sokka’s trick. “Well I hope you’re happy, you proved I love Katara.”

“I am.” Sokka replied smugly as he crossed his arms.

Omake theatre

“Umm Sokka, why did they just ignore us?” Aang asked, confused once again.

Sokka shrugged, “I…I don’t know, hey can I tell you something?”

“Sure, I wonder what’s making Katara so upset though.”

“I think I’m in love with you Aang.”

“Really?”

“Yeah”

“Okay, I love you too Sokka.” Aang smiled, “What now.”

“Now I take you!” Sokka growled as he went on all fours.

“Take me?”

Aang couldn’t ask anymore questions, his lips were covered by Sokka’s.

*Input graphic mature scenes*