Just a short drabble for Avatar: The Last Airbender. Typically I'm more for a Zutara pairing but now I wanted to do a TophXZuko pairing for fun! Enjoy and R&R! This is pre Sozin's Comet, before they reach the beach house.

The gang flew over small islands near the outer reaches of the Earth Kingdom. Appa roared tiredly, swirving downwards to land on the island. Aang tried to bring the huge bison into the air again but he protested and crashed into the ground. The rest of the teenagers on the back of the beast cried out as they roughly landed on the ground, knocking everyone out of place. Toph flew forward, losing her grip on Appa's saddle, landing awkwardly in Zuko's lap. Toph cursed angrily, shoving him away.

"Sorry guys. Appa is too tired to keep flying," Aang apologized. Sokka groaned, bringing out his ridiculously complicated spreadsheet. Toph leapt of the bison, letting the firm ground settle her nerves.

"Fine! But that means flying double time later!" Sokka declared, leaping off of Appa's broad back. Zuko rolled his eyes, tossing supplies down to Katara.

Soon, the sunset and a pile of wood was gathered. Aang took a deep breath before shooting a small fireball into the dry wood, letting it leap to life. Katara smiled appreciatively, placing the pot above the fire, swirling the stew with her bending. When the food was almost gone and Sokka was already gulping down his third serving, Katara crawled to Toph's tent, knocking lightly on the door. The sheet of stone came down, revealing the young Earth bender's emotionless face. Katara crawled in a little further, letting the cool air inside the tent calm her nerves.

"What is it, Sugar Queen?" she asked. Katara sighed, holding out the bowl. Toph grinned as the smell of food reaches her nostrils. Reaching out blindly, the older girl guided her hands to the bowl. Toph smiled softly, letting the bowl rest in her lap,

"Thanks," she whispered. Katara smiled, patting her softly on the knee and crawled backwards. Toph sighed, shutting the tent again. Soon, the bowl was flung out of the tent, landing neatly next to Katara who smiled.

The darkness helped Toph think. The world outside was so noisy and complicated and everyone treated her like she couldn't do anything without help. She wasn't helpless; she could do whatever she wanted. I don't want anyone's help, she thought to herself. Speaking of doing whatever she wanted, Toph really needed to take a bath. Flying for a week a top a smelly flying bison in the middle of the sinking ocean didn't make one smell very well. The blind girl chuckled to herself, laying back on the earth.

Toph waited until the other are asleep before sneaking out of her tent. Katara lay closest to the fire, letting her long brown hair dry from her bath. Sokka was snoring across the fire from her, his arm across his eyes. Toph rolled her eyes, listening to the rumbling snores before feeling for where Zuko lay. The teenage boy was the farthest from the others. Toph snorted, feeling her way to the small pond fed by a spring trickling down from the hill on the other end of the island.

Undressing quickly, she walked into the water, letting it rise up to her mid ribcage. Sighing with content, Toph pulled the small pin and headpiece out of her hair, letting the black sheet of hair tumble down. Smiling, she dipped her head underwater, letting the cold liquid run over her pale skin. Toph's black hair rippled out behind her like fish swimming against a current before she broke surface again.

Zuko opened his eyes, looking up at the stars, thinking. Sleep had been one thing that he had taken for granted while living in the Fire Nation. He had left his entire family. His throne and his honor, just so the Avatar could learn fire bending and so that his father will not destroy the earth as they knew it. He wanted to be good but things were hard. It was going against everything he ever knew. Iroh, of course, would be proud of him; Uncle Iroh always knew to do the right thing. But Zuko was so blinded by hatred and need that he had strayed from the right path many times. Now, he finally felt that he was getting back on the right path.

He sighed, propping himself up on his elbows, looking around at the gang. Aang was sleeping on top of Appa's leg, Momo purring on his shoulder. Sokka was snoring as usual and Katara was sleeping on the other side of the fire. He noticed that the Earth tent usually behind Katara was missing. He widened his eyes, rising to his knees and looking around. Shortly, he spotted small footsteps leading into the woods.

Raising an eyebrow, he followed the imprints in the dirt. He started hearing the trickle of water and guessed he was nearing the pond that Katar had told them all about earlier. Losing the trail, he decided to take a quick bath before sunrise. Slowly, dropping his clothes behind him, he slipped into the water, letting it cool his flushed skin. Losing himself in the calmness of the nature around him, he closed his eyes, spreading his fingers out over the surface of the water.

"Who's there?" a female voice called out. Zuko froze, his eyes snapping open. A small girl was gliding through the water towards him, her eye open and staring. Angst clutched at his chest. The perfect curve of her breasts and how she gracefully twisted her arms around her body were the only things on his poor adolescent mind. Zuko entered a dreamlike state of lust, picturing to goddess-like woman before him, her pale rosy pink lips twisting into a smile pointed towards him. Suddenly he recognized the alabaster skin, the foggy green eyes, and the sheet of black hair and the dream vanished as reality hit him in the gut. Toph.

"Who are you?" She had come far enough into the water to cover herself up completely. She paused, assuming a fighting stance. He gritted his teeth, trying to slip out of the water as quietly as possible. It wasn't worth it. With the shift of his weight and the ripple in the water, Toph bended quickly, catching his arms and attaching them to a rock. He grunted in pain as his back slammed into the boulders.

"Sparky?" her tone of voice was confused. He nodded in defeat, "Yeah." She gasped, backing away.

"What are you doing here?" she asked angrily, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Taking a bath!" he protested. Toph shrugged, walking away.

"Wait! You can't leave me here!" Zuko called. She sighed, dropping her head and releasing the restraints. He stared at his wrists in surprise. Toph never let anyone off that easy. He grinned, deciding to play a little prank on her. He snapped out a fire wipe, winding in front of Toph. She cried out, flailing backwards into Zuko's arms. He chuckled leaning in close until his breath tickled her ear. She gasped, breath hitching in her throat.

"What are you doing?" she growled through gritted teeth. He just chuckled, helping her to regain her balance.

"Nothing. Just stopping you from falling on you ass." Toph glared at nothing, yanking her arms away from him. He laughed, letting her walk away. Suddenly she turned back, stalking towards him. Zuko froze until Toph was close enough to be touching him.

"You want to play games, huh? Well I don't play games…" she hissed, leaning in close to his face. He flushed, breathing heavily while the girl leaned in closer.

"Because I always win." Zuko felt a smirk form on his mouth. His body seemed to move without him as he leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers. She gasped, bending the ground beneath Zuko, slamming him back across the pond. He didn't know what had come over him. He had never felt such feelings toward the young bender before. But now that he had been seen in such a state of— he couldn't even describe it. He had never felt this way for anyone, not even Mai, his girlfriend. Before he could blink, Toph was gone; the only thing left was a ripple in the water.