Memories from Western Airtemple

Memories from Western Air Temple

Chapter 27

Drops of Rain

“Well, that was fun”, Zuko spoke as the two of them walked back underneath the shelter, both of their clothes heavy on them. Aang looked at the other’s contently smiling face and gave a short laugh before pulling at his soaked shirt and commenting: “Sure, it was fun for a while but now we’d better get changed or will get sick.”

“Worth it”, was all Zuko said before glancing around the darkness and questioning: “Where did Toph vanish to?”

“She probably went back to the kitchen”, Aang replied and almost groaned out loud when Zuko immediately spoke up: “We should probably go as well.” Truth be told, Aang would have very much preferred to spend a while longer alone with Zuko, especially after the connecting experience they had just shared.

Still, Aang only nodded his head and the two of them walked into the kitchen. They really did find Toph there, along with everyone else, and received curious looks from the gathered group. Finally, Sokka spoke out: “Why are you two wet?”

Zuko shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly before saying: “Because we were out in the rain.”

“What were you doing outside?” Suki questioned with a look on her face that indicated that she would not even consider going outside in such weather. This time it was Aang who spoke a reply: “We felt like it.”

“I never thought Zuko would have this kind of influence on you”, came Katara’s comment from next to the stove where she was cooking. The girl’s tone was far from disappointed or scolding, however, so Aang did not think the words were anything more than a participation in the conversation.

“I’m ready to think that it’s Twinkle Toes who is influencing Firecracker”, Toph commented as she made her way to the two males. “I don’t really see Firecracker as the type to enjoy dancing.”

“It was still Zuko’s idea”, Aang insisted while Zuko merely pulled off his dripping wet shirt.

“You still went along with it”, Toph said as she shot Zuko a crooked smirk. “Forget ‘Junior’, I think I’ll just call you ‘Mrs Twinkle Toes’.”

Zuko glowered at the girl as he rolled up his shirt and Aang caught on to the warning gaze in golden eyes and spoke out: “I wouldn’t be making comments like that in your position, Toph.”

“What position?” Toph questioned with a frown. A moment later she released a shriek, however, as Zuko lifted his rolled up shirt above her head and pulled on its ends, causing the absorbed water to be squeezed out and fall right over the earthbender.

Sokka burst into loud barks of laughter while Suki and Katara settled for giggling. Aang also released a laugh while Zuko smirked before rushing out of the kitchen with a raving and angry Toph hot on his heels.

“Oh, just look at this mess!” Katara exclaimed suddenly, observing the puddles Aang and Zuko had dribbled all over the floor. The girl stepped away from the stove, clearly ready to start waterbending as she advised Aang: “Aang, go change clothes. And while you’re gone, let Zuko and Toph know that they are not allowed back in this kitchen before they have done the same.”

“Right away”, Aang said with a wide grin and a salute before scurrying out of the kitchen and out of the girl’s way as she started to bend the water away. On his way to his room he walked past Toph, who shook herself like a dogodile all over the Avatar. It did not matter much, though, since Aang was already wet.

After Toph had vanished into her own room Aang walked further down the corridor and had to help Zuko down from his hiding place on top of a hallway closet. The airbender bit back a comment about Zuko’s feline tendencies, but as soon as the older teen had vanished around a corner Aang wondered if perhaps Zuko and Toph liked to annoy each other so much because of those animal features they had. Even Sokka had once commented that the two sometimes went at each other like a wolfcat and a dogodile; there certainly was enough violence involved on the ‘dogodile’s’ part.

To be continued...

Author’s Notes: Wow, I've been getting a lot more reviews lately. I guess I've been getting some new readers. ;) Thanks guys! Your comments make me very happy! I'd actually like to address a couple of those comments.

A lot of you people seem to approve of jealous!Aang and hints of Toko. There will be more of that, actually, since Toph has sort of adopted Zuko as her big sis/bro. I don't even know which one it is anymore. XD

And on a more personal note, to Kairan: I actually started wondering about the top/bottom relationship between these two after the previous chapter too. XD The thing is: I don't know which one is supposed to top anymore. Aang's mental strenght has been one of the running themes of this fic for a while now, so I'm glad that people are taking notice of it.

And to Addie: I hope this will provide you with some comfort for that need for updates.

I'll make sure to update again soon!