"Well, looks like they were busy, huh?" Toji spoke to Iron, who snorted as the two of them and Wormy watched Appa touch down.
The moment he did, Toji was not surprised when Toph was the first to drop down, Iron trotting over to her as the woman let out a groan.
"Nope, never gonna get used to it," he raised an eyebrow as she had abandoned her former garb, dressed in a sleeveless crop top that showed off her abs and her hang hanging loosely around her shoulders.
Around her wrists were grey bandanges with a pair of fingerless gloves on her hands, and she wore a pair of dark green pants with armour around the shins and a green waist belt.
"You always say that," Katara spoke as she climbed down, but it was Aang that threw Toji's mind for a loop as the airbender dropped down.
He wore the orange variant of the traditional air bender outfit, but the left side of his body was exposed, revealing the antique air nomad necklace around his neck.
It was the look in his eyes though that made Toji smirk, a look of determination that faded immediately when he noticed Toji staring at him.
"Heyo!" The sixteen year old in Aang showed as he nodded to Toji, dropping down with an exaggerated spin while the ground rose up in the form of a slide.
Toji just hummed as Aang slid down it, coming to a stop while raising part of the water up beside them.
Twirling his staff as both earth and wind danced around him, the water joined in before Aang paused, raising his staff high and bringing it end first into the ground.
The moment he did, earth, wind and water fell as fire surged from his feet, Toji staring at him with a smirk as Aang looked at him and winked.
"Where'd you pick up firebending?"
"I already had a bit of training in it thanks to the first time I met Jeong Jeong," Aang replied as he stood up straight. "I just had to focus on expanding those lessons on my own. Thankfully, I got centuries of firebending to help with."
"Good. I thought you turned into one of those serious types?"
"Me? Serious?" Aang asked, bursting out into laughter when Toji nodded. "Nah, that's not me. I'm the cool, chill, goofy guy. The serious one is you...or Sokka or Suki."
"Ahem!" Katara cleared her throat, Aang pausing at that as they all turned to see the expectant look on her face.
"Something you want to say?"
"Am I not serious?"
"...Not since we left Ba Sing Se. You're more like the emo, paranoid type, but in a good way!" Aang quickly added when Katara's eyes narrowed, Toji slowly turning to Toph with a flat stare as she cackled.
"Hahahaha! You're lucky you two are dating or she'd kick your ass into the ocean!"
"I'm still thinking about doing that," Katara replied, to which Aang gave a sheepish smile.
Toji on the other hand looked between the two with a smirk. "So, you finally grew some balls to tell her you like her?"
"Uh, yeah. That's exactly what happened."
"...Toph?"
"He tried to kiss her and instead gave her a headbutt on accident. She then realized what he wanted to do and laughed before she kissed him," Toph replied immediately, Katara blushing at that while Aang's shoulders dropped when Toji patted them with a snort.
"Oof, I feel for you," Toji replied with a shake of his head. "Not that that's ever happened to me, but as a man, it gets better from here."
"I know. It was so stressful."
"You're a lot happier and outgoing since we last saw you," Katara finally said with a smirk, Aang and Toph pausing as they turned to the smiling mercenary.
"Now that I think about it..."
"Yeah. ...Did you fuck another woman?"
"Toph!" The couple exclaimed with bright red, scandalized faces, Iron letting out a snort while Wormy gargled in amusement.
Toji just scoffed and crossed his arms. "Firstly, Wormy and/ or Iron would crush any woman that tried to take what's yours. Secondly, I'm just more...enlightened now."
"How the hell are you enlightened? I went for the enlightenment training."
"And?" Toji asked, to which Aang stood silent for a moment in confusion before he smirked and took a step back.
In front of Toji's eyes, the mercenary watched as Aang took a deep breath while everyone else took a step back. A moment later, Aang's eyes and arrows lit up with a vibrant blue glow, but Toji raised an eyebrow as the light died down a moment later.
However, he didn't ponder on that much as Aang turned to the ocean and punched, watching as the sea was parted with that singular punch.
At the same time, Aang stomped on the ground, lifting up the bottom of the sea that was formerly beneath the parted water.
Aang then punched down, slanting the stone wall and creating a steep cliff before he stomped again, letting the earth sink back into the ground.
Then, he raised his hands again before punching forward with both hands, a furious burst of fire as tall as the mountain surging from his hands.
Aang kept up the stream for about ten seconds as Toji counted before he unclenched his hands and let the flames die down.
However, that didn't last long before Aang did a spin and thrust his palm up at the sky, unleashing a vicious storm of air currents that stabbed through the clouds and parted them above their heads.
With a final exhale, Aang went back into a neutral stance, a smile spreading across his face as Toji stared at him.
The silence stretched for a while and Aang felt a bit awkward before it was broken by clapping.
"Well done, Avatar," Toji spoke as he clapped his hands, Iron and Wormy giving slow blinks as the devastating bending that was just displayed.
Katara and Toph looked proud when Toji looked at them, making him chuckle before he turned to Aang and nodded. "What about the question I asked you the first time we met? Do you have an answer for me yet?"
"Yes. I'm not going to do it because I've figured out my own way."
"One that lets you win without killing him?" Toji asked, humming as Aang nodded. "I'm guessing you either learned it from Pathik or from a spirit?"
"Both, actually. It's something I worked on for a bit to make sure it works."
"You two agree with this?"
"You already know my answer," Katara replied with a smirk, giggling as Toji nodded.
He then turned his head to Toph who stared back at him with a grin. "Normally, I'd be on your side, but he's cooked up a nasty little trick. Almost on par with that spear of yours."
"Actually, that's another thing. Can I see your spear?" Aang asked and while Toji raised an eyebrow, he called the spear of Kuruk to his hand.
It whistled as Toji caught it, handing it over to Aang who closed his eyes and exhaled softly. His arrows lit up once more, but to Toji's surprise, he felt the connection to the spear wane as Aang spun and threw it.
The Avatar then raised his hand and the spear shot forward with more speed, twisting and curving around the trees as Aang waved his hand.
Pulling his hand back, the spear expertly twisted under and over a series of branches to fly back to his hand, Aang spinning with the catch while twirling the spear.
The light of his arrows died down as he opened his eyes, a grin on his face as he stared longingly on the spear.
"You're in good hands, old friend," Aang whispered before Toji felt the connection returning, taking the spear with a calculative stare aimed at the airbender.
"I'm guessing Kuruk took over there?"
"For a moment, yeah," Aang replied with a nod, shaking his head when the spear was taken from his grasp. "I thought I could use it, but it just felt wrong to hold it for too long."
"That's because you're the bridge between the spirit and physical worlds and this has been cursed through the spirits that were killed by it."
"Yeah. That and this is all I need," Aang spoke with a grin, holding his staff as Toji rolled his eyes.
His gaze then moved to Toph, who stood with a smirk aimed at him. "You got something to say so just say it."
"I like the new change in you," she replied, making him raise an eyebrow. "It's hot."
"Of course, you would say that," Katara muttered, but Toji just smirked as he turned to Wormy.
"All right! Are we going to camp for the day or head directly to our next destination?"
"Well, Sokka's and the others are most likely waiting for us, and I want to get this over with just in case the eclipse begins early," Toph replied and Toji looked to the other two as they nodded.
"Yeah, let's get this over with before I second-guess myself," Aang replied and Toji just turned to Wormy who leapt from the cliff.
As he dropped into the ocean, Toph turned her gaze to Toji, but he just raised a finger and pointed back at the water.
It was a moment later that Aang let out a surprised shout, staring wide-eyed at the gigantic spirit who raised its head towards them.
Toph stomped on the ground when she heard his surprise, pausing for a moment before slowly turning to a grinning Toji. "Why in the hell is he bigger?"
"Well, we were bored, we had about a few weeks before you guys came, and both Wormy and Iron wanted to train so I helped them," Toji replied with a shrug and the three just turned back to Wormy as he placed his head on the cliff.
"Come on, then."
"We're taking Wormy to the Fire Nation?" Aang asked with a frown, watching as Iron and Appa climbed onto Wormy's head.
"Unless you guys want to exhaust Appa?" Toji asked and they all turned to see the animal already snoring away on Wormy's back. "Yep, there's your answer."
"I don't mind," Toph replied, and Katara and Aang looked at each other before letting out sighs as they climbed onto Wormy's head as well.
With the last one on, Wormy lowered his head and began swimming, Toph sitting next to Toji on the head while Katara and Aang laid against Appa.
"...Wait, where's Momo?" Toji asked and the three just pointed at Appa, to which the air bison lifted his head to show the lemur in question sleeping peacefully under his head. "Ah, got it."
"Hey, I just realized something," Toph spoke with a grin that drew their attention.
"I'm afraid to ask," Katara said and Toph just grinned.
"This is our first double date. Ain't that nice?"
"...I expected that, but I'm still surprised," Aang muttered, palming his face with a sigh as Katara blushed while Toji chuckled.
"You know, you're right. This is our first date and a double date too," Toji replied and Aang kept taking deep breaths as Toph cackled.
Katara just looked at the two before speaking with a sigh, "I hate you two."
"No, you don't. Now, Wormy. Speed up. The end to this journey is approaching."
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It took them three days to get from the Wulong Forest to one of the smaller islands next to the Fire Nation's mainland.
It would have only taken them a day if not for two things. The first were the increased patrols of Fire Nation war cruisers that blocked off the country from any entry by sea.
The second was Toji himself.
"They're right there!"
"They don't know we're here!"
"They're literally aiming at us!" Toji exclaimed, pointing directly at the cruiser that was slowly turning to aim at them.
"...Well, they don't know Aang is here!"
"That doesn't matter when they're aiming at us!"
"You want to chime in here?" Toph whispered to Aang, who shook his head as the two kept arguing.
"Fine! I'll go over, sink the ships and then come back!"
"Fine!" With a lunge, Toji was gone, racing across the water with Kuruk's spear in hand.
As he got into view, he immediately threw the spear, which tore right through one side of a cruiser and out the other. At the same time, he leapt onto the deck, sliding to a stop while calling the spear back to his hand.
However, as he caught the spear, he paused as he saw familiar faces staring at him.
"What the fuck?!" Sokka exclaimed and Toji slowly looked around to see the exasperated look on Suki's face while June just palmed her face with a sigh.
He then looked around, staring at the people that wore cloaks as well as the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom clothing they had on.
"...Oh, so, I'm guessing this ship is safe?"
"Ya think? Urgh, there's a hole in the ship!" Sokka whined and Toji looked around to see the other ships slowly turning towards them.
"Uh, how many people are on this ship?"
"Forty-three."
"Got it. Wait a second," And before Sokka could ask, Toji was gone, racing over to another ship with a sheepish chuckle as he leapt to the deck.
Before anyone could turn to him, the first Fire Nation soldier received a spear to the throat, Toji ripping it out and making quick work of the people on board.
They tried to deter him, but he was a blur to their eyes, fighting and killing until he reached the command room.
"Right, who is needed to steer the ship?" he asked, tapping Kuruk's spear against his shoulder as all but one in the room raised their hands. "Great. One guy, you cuff yourself to a table or something. The rest of you, sail to that ship or I'll kill all but the guy who doesn't know how to."
With that warning, the crew immediately went to work, turning their ship while Toji whistled as he watched them approach the sinking ship.
"All right! Thanks," With a spin, he threw Kuruk's spear and it bounced off the walls, piercing and stabbing everything in its path.
Catching the spear as it ricochetted towards him, Toji left the room with a low whistle, ignoring the corpses falling behind him.
"Hey, Sokka! Got you a new ship! Also, WORMY! THEY'RE FRIENDLIES!" he shouted towards the spirit, grinning when the spirit turned and slowly swam through the waters towards them.
Looking back to the sinking ship as they drew a gangplank across the two, he hummed as the crew swiftly made their way over.
"Also, the crew is dead so I hope you guys have people that can steer it."
"We've had years to get used to it," the man next to Sokka with the beard spoke with a grin. "Also, it's a pleasure to meet the most wanted man in the world."
"Most wanted? I wouldn't say that."
"Toji, you're wanted in every nation and just capturing you would give someone and their grandkids' grandkids generational wealth," June replied and Toji paused before he shrugged.
"True. In any case, how has you guys been?"
"As well as we can be," Suki replied with a shrug. "We stole this after destroying a few bases."
"Nice, I just slaughtered a fleet in comparison," Toji replied with a shrug before turning to the man who looked bewildered at their discussion. "Who's this?"
"That's Hakoda, Sokka and Katara's dad."
"Oh," Toji replied, turning to the man. "Well, you're gonna get a bit of a shock in a few seconds so good luck with that."
"What?" he asked, but Toji was already moving, narrowing his eyes at the ships slowly began to pull towards them.
"You guys got the facilities to deal with those?"
"Nope, that's all you," Sokka replied and Toji nodded, twirling his spear before taking off across the water.
Ah, just what he needed. A chance to unwind.
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"Hahahaha! Ah, was that fun or what?!" Toji spoke with a pleased smile as he raced across the water, leaping onto the deck of the ship with a soft grunt.
"Have fun?" Toph asked with a smirk, to which Toji nodded as he rolled his shoulders and placed the spear on the saddle of Iron.
"Very much so. Hey, Aang, Katara. How did the discussion with daddy dearest go?"
"Don't want to talk about it," Katara replied, Aang nodding in agreement as Suki smirked while June giggled.
"I don't see the big deal," Sokka replied, to which everyone just stared at him.
"Sokka, you aren't even in a relationship."
"That's not true. I have...well, something that's kind of close to becoming a relationship," he replied, but the group just gave him flat stares.
"Sure. Anyway, have you guys figured out plans for the war?" Toji asked, everyone still looking at Sokka as he nodded.
"Yep, numerous ones that will be put in place at the apocalypse. However, since the eclipse is in a week, we still have time for anyone that wants to run away."
"June, no," Toph replied, to which June lowered her hand with a huff as everyone looked at Sokka with determined stares.
He in turn just nodded before reaching and pulling out a large, rolled-up parchment paper from his cloak.
Kneeling on the deck, he unrolled it and Toji raised an eyebrow at the very complex diagram of the Fire Nation capital.
"Okay, here's how this is gonna go."
A/N: And we end it here~! The team is back together and depending on how I feel, this could end in a couple of chapters or this could add another arc, depending on whether or not I feel like doing the later years of their lives or Korra.
Then again, doing their later years would be kind of useless with Toji and Aang in the world. ...I had made such a long timeline with the one that suggested this story, but we went away from that a long time ago that it's kind of useless to follow it.
Anyway, next chapter's gonna be a five thousand monster.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!