gracefulminuet

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 15

“How about rocky?” “Come on! You can do better than that.”

“The boulder?” “Already taken.”

“By whom?”

“An old rival. Carry on.” “Green pants?”

“I don’t even know what green is…”

“This is hopeless!” “Don’t give up now, candlewax,” Toph pressed, tapping her foot impatiently. “You promised me a nickname.” “Technically, I didn’t promise anything,” Zuko retorted. “I don’t care. Just come up with something, Kindlespark!”

“Kindlespark?!”

“I see you two are having fun,” Ursa jested, having approached the two during their squabbling.

“Sure are, your highness,” Toph teased cheekily.

A soft smile grew on Zuko’s face. He wasn’t sure what had caused his friend and mother to bond so quickly, but he certainly wasn’t complaining.

Ursa then turned her attention to her son.

“I hate to interrupt, but I believe it’s your turn to give Kiyi her present, Zuko.”

Contrary to what anyone had expected, the outgoing princess insisted on a more private celebration for her sixteenth birthday.

Apparently, the idea of being presented to high society at an extravagant coming-of-age ceremony was far too daunting for the growing girl. Despite their disappointment, little complaint was recorded from the neighbouring nobility. Although Kiyi was still highly respected as royalty, her having been born as a commoner made her considerably less influential than her brother. As such, it mattered little that she preferred to celebrate with selective company.

Of course, Toph was part of said company. “Right, just a moment, Toph,” Zuko excused himself, his mother following close behind him.

Judging by the rhythmic vibrations from across the room, Kiyi was currently twirling in her new garments and jewellery, lovingly given to her by her parents. They were surely crafted by the most proficient artisans and weavers in the nation. A gift she could’ve only dreamed of before she became a royal.

‘Beating a gift like that will be a challenge’ Toph thought to herself, wondering what Zuko had gotten for his sister.

Her own surprise appeared to be taking its sweet time. Consequently, Toph made her way to the dining table and helped herself to the first dessert she could grab. Guessing the type of dish by how it tasted was a little game she liked to play. A perfect way to pass the time.

She couldn’t help but wish Iroh were there to entertain her with his pleasant conversation and corny jokes.

Unfortunately, having been occupied by his booming business, Iroh was unable to attend the party. However, a Messenger Hawk with a package and scroll that wished his ‘Wonderful Niece’ a happy birthday, proved Kiyi was still at the forefront of his mind. To the surprise of absolutely no one, the package contained a traditional fire nation tea set, ostentatiously decorated with golden illustrations of dragons.

Kiyi declared that from that day forward it would be the only tea set she’d ever drink from.

“Enjoying the food, Little Lady?” asked Noren, joining the young woman at the banquet.

The earthbender nearly choked on her snack, which considering the tangy flavour must have been a fruit tart.

Little Lady?

Not a bad nickname, as it light-heartedly mocked both her height and her lofty upbringing. Could it be that Zuko’s own stepfather was better at coming up with nicknames than himself? It took everything within Toph not to snicker, though she did allow a smile to show itself.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’,” said Noren.

After swallowing, Toph spoke up. “You bet. This is some of the best stuff I’ve had in years.” “Glad to hear it. Have you tried the Loco Moco? It’s my hometown’s signature dish. I asked the chef to prepare it, so Kiyi won’t forget her birthplace.”

“Even if I did try it, I wouldn’t know,” Toph replied, waving her hand in front her face.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine. Tell me about your hometown. It’s called Hira’a, right? Ursa mentioned it once but I hardly know a thing about it.”

“Honestly, there’s not much to say about it. It’s a very small village and almost everyone there are farmers. Me and Ursa grew up there. It’s where we fell in love.”

Toph paused briefly before asking, “I’m not saying she isn’t a catch, but what made you fall in love with her exactly?”

“Well, it sounds silly but when we were children, we would play together every day, and there was this one time… I don’t remember why exactly, but she kicked me in the stomach and shoved my face in the dirt.” “Ursa did that?”

Toph had never been more impressed. “She sure did. We were only six years old at the time, but in that moment, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.” “So she kicks you in the stomach and you decide you’re in love with her?”

A hearty laugh escaped Noren. “No, that’s not what I meant. I loved her way before then but that was the exact moment I realized she was the one. Surely you know what I’m talking about.”

Toph’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”

“Don’t you feel that way about Zuko?”

First Kiyi and now Noren?

Was everyone convinced Zuko and her were in love with each other? Either the rumours were becoming more exaggerated, or her and Zuko’s ruse had worked a little too well. Admirers will be much less likely to pursue Zuko if they believed he was truly infatuated, and not just casually dating an old friend of his.

How will he find a fiancé now?

Before Toph could object to the assumption, a joyous squeal came from across the room.

Kiyi, practically beaming with glee, hurtled toward the two. In her palm was an flute, so light it weighed almost nothing.

“Dad! Toph! Look at what Zuzu got me!”

“I don’t think that’s gonna be possible for me, Princess,” Toph said teasingly.

“My bad, Toph. It’s a Dizi.”

A Dizi.

Despite being confined to the Beifong estate in her youth, Toph was not deprived of an education. When she wasn’t in the middle of Yu’s mediocre earthbending lessons, she’d spend countless hours with her mother learning about etiquette, high society and the arts. This also included studies on instruments used in theatrical entertainment.

The Dizi had certainly made an appearance in those classes.

“You said you loved the music in ‘Love amongst the dragons’ back on Ember Island, so I thought you’d like one of the instruments.”,” Zuko chimed in, approaching the trio along with Ursa.

“Like it? I love it! Thank you, Zuzu," Kiyi exclaimed while embracing her brother warmly.

“Why don’t you try playing something, dearest?” prompted Ursa as she went to stand by her husband.

“Okay, Mom. Here goes..."

Bringing the Dizi to her mouth, Kiyi gave a sharp blow, causing a shrill, discordant note to ring throughout the room. Noticing her audience’s wince in discomfort, Kiyi stopped and awkwardly chuckled.

“Sorry, everyone.” “Looks like some music lessons will have to be arranged,” Noren remarked.

“I concur," a zany voice came from behind them.

The group turned to see Sokka, along with Aang, Katara and Momo at the entrance of the hall. Kiyi gasped in delight, while Zuko stood dumbfounded. Before he could ask any questions, a guard, whom Toph recognized as Yazhu, came forward.

“Your majesty, the Avatar has arrived to attend the princess’s birthday celebration, as well as his companions.”

“Hey! We have names, you know!” Katara badgered, as Momo chattered supportively on her shoulder.

“What are you all doing here?” Zuko finally asked, his smile radiating both shock and joy.

“I invited them,” Toph admitted, turning toward Kiyi. “Consider this my birthday present.”

“Toph made sure an invite would be sent to all of them as soon as she knew your birthday was coming up,” Ursa declared.

Katara went to hug the princess.

“Happy birthday Kiyi. It’s been too long.”

Eyes welling up with tears of happiness, Kiyi hugged her back with gusto.

“Thank you all so much for everything. You really made this the best birthday ever.”

“That was the plan,” said Aang jovially. “We came all this way just to celebrate with you.”

“And to congratulate Toph and Zuzu, right?”

Ursa, Toph and Zuko tensed abruptly, while the Gaang stared in confusion.

“Congratulate them on what?” asked Sokka.

“You don’t know? Toph and my brother are- “

“Kiyi!” Ursa interjected, turning all attention in the room to her. “Let’s not talk about that right now. Today is all about you sweetheart.”

Zuko sighed in relief.

Hello there :)

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 14

Out of all the rooms in the palace, the royal gallery was the one Zuko despised the most.

The images of his predecessors, permanently situated on the walls of the hallway, appeared to mock him as he stared back at them gloomily. The charity he attended beforehand was made to support those who’d lost their loved ones to the hundred-year war. It pained him to think of how many men, women and children lost their lives to the fight. The very conflict caused and perpetuated by the very faces that adorned these walls.

The insatiable greed of their previous monarchs led his people to their deaths.Did they really believe it was worth their lives?

Did his cousin believe that too?

How his subjects still looked to him with such admiration and gratitude, Zuko had no idea. How could they treat him as though he wasn’t descended from the ones who’d cause their agony?

Zuko’s fists clenched beside him.

He didn’t deserve their love…

“Hey, I was wondering where you were,” Toph’s pleasant voice came from behind him, snapping him out of his musings. Zuko turned to face her and noticed she’d gone back to wearing her usual garments, however her hair remained loose and appeared much smoother.

“When you came back you didn’t bother to come see me,” she continued. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were avoiding me.”

 “I’d never-,” Zuko began to defend himself.   “It was a joke, Sparky. You really need to loosen up,” Toph responded as she went to stand at his side. “How are you feeling? Why did you miss breakfast this morning?” pried Zuko worriedly. Though he was sure his mother would take care of his friend, it didn’t stop his thoughts from drifting to Toph’s wellbeing repeatedly throughout the event.

Was she ill?

Did she perhaps have an allergic reaction to the sizzle-crisps?

“Don’t worry about it. I just overslept, no biggie,” Toph replied, flippantly.

Somehow Zuko couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than that, but before he could press her for answers she spoke again.

“What are you doing here staring at a wall, anyway?” she inquired suddenly.

It was the first time she’d ever set foot in this particular area of the palace. To her it was a room like any other, and her lack of sight spared her from noticing the imposing illustrations that surrounded the duo. Truthfully, she hoped her question would divert her companion’s attention away from her health.

Zuko took the bait.

“This is the royal gallery. There are portraits of the previous fire lords on the wall here,” he summarized unenthusiastically.

That certainly piqued Toph’s attention.

“All of them?” she probed. “All of them.”

“You still haven’t told me why you’re here in the first place, Sparky.” A deep sigh escaped Zuko.

Should he tell her? What if she’d judge him? He didn’t think he’d be able to handle that.

No point in hiding it; she’d force it out of him anyway.

“I’m considering removing some of them,” he finally confessed.

Toph said nothing in response. Somehow, that was more alarming to Zuko than if she’d expressed shock or confusion. He quickly felt the need to clarify further, though she did not ask for him to do so.

“Every time I come in here, I’m reminded of the pain, the suffering, my ancestors caused. I can’t stand looking at them because every time I do, the guilt becomes too much. Not to mention the fear of becoming like them.”

There. Now she knew what a coward he really was. Zuko couldn’t bear to look at Toph as he braced for another joke or sarcastic remark from her. “Don’t remove them.” “Huh?” Zuko turned to look at his friend in shock. “You heard me. Don’t remove those portraits,” Toph repeated firmly, as if she were a teacher and he, her student. Frankly, that was the last response he would’ve expected from her. “But Toph-,” “The past exists for a reason, Zuko. To learn from the mistakes of others and make better choices than those who came before us. That’s why we have to remember it. No matter how painful it is.” Zuko was about to protest, but Toph raised her hand to stop him. Deep down, she was stunned, and slightly pained, to hear her friend’s self-deprecation. Though it was no secret that Zuko did not have the highest opinion of himself, she didn’t think it was this bad. Naturally it would be up to her to knock some sense into him. It happened to be her specialty.

“You may be their descendant but you’re also not responsible for what they’ve caused. Their guilt is not yours to bear,” she asserted.

“But as fire lord-,”

“As fire lord, your job isn’t to shoulder their transgressions, it’s to lead your people to a brighter future. I know it won’t be easy, but the fact that you’re trying to make things right makes you a better fire lord than all those losers combined!”

“Toph…” whispered Zuko, touched by her words. “And drop that whole baloney about becoming like them or whatever. That won’t happen. I won’t let it.”

There was an awkward silence that followed her statement, and Toph’s face flushed bright red upon realising what she had just said.

“I-I mean none of us will,” she corrected frantically. “You know. You got your family and the whole team-,”

Her words stalled as she was abruptly embraced by the monarch. Dazed, she stiffly raised her arms to gently pat his back. Group hugs were a common occurrence in Team Avatar, but somehow Toph felt an unusually deep sense of belonging when in Zuko’s arms in particular. A peculiar attachment she hadn’t experienced since the badgemoles found her in that cave as a child years ago. A fondness she never thought she’d feel again.

“Toph, thank you,” said Zuko his voice muffled in her hair. “What you said, it means a lot.”

Grateful that he didn’t notice her racing heartbeat, Toph chuckled lightly. “Yeah, well you better not forget it, cause I’m not saying all that again,” she teased.

“Since when did you become so wise?” Zuko asked, releasing her.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 13

The next morning, in the dining room, someone was missing.

Zuko recently informed his mother that he and Toph had made amends the previous day, so resentment couldn’t be the reason for her absence. It was no secret that Toph wasn’t a morning person but never had she missed breakfast at the palace before. Insistent on checking up on her, Zuko went to leave before being hounded by Lo and Li urging him to prepare for a public charity event in town. Cancelling wasn’t an option. Kiyi, too, was preoccupied with her studies for her final examinations at school and had no time to visit her friend.

After encouragement from her husband, Ursa resolved to look into her son’s “girlfriend’s” absence. Which led to the former princess nervously approaching the latter’s quarters.

Tentatively, she knocked on the door three times.

“Toph?” she called. “It’s me, Ursa. You didn’t attend breakfast this morning. Are you feeling alright?”

No response.

Ursa knocked again, firmer than beforehand.

“Toph?” Still no response.

“I’m coming in, alright?”

With no options left, Ursa slowly pushed the door open and entered the room. A snoozing Toph was laying haphazardly on the bed, her hair dishevelled and drool dripping onto her pillow. Amused, Ursa covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Clearly, she’d overslept but at least she was alright. Before Ursa could exit the room however, the bags under the slumbering woman’s eyes caught her attention. Concerned, she went to take a closer look at the earthbender. It was clear she hadn’t slept well, consequently causing her to miss her morning meal.

Suddenly, Toph’s eyes began to flutter open, causing Ursa to gasp and withdraw in surprise. Now alert, Toph promptly got off from her bed and, upon reaching solid ground sensed Ursa’s presence immediately. The two women froze, mortified beyond belief. Ursa at having been caught and Toph at having Zuko’s mother catch her in such an unkempt state. If it had been anyone else, she couldn’t have cared less, but the lady in front of her was everything to Zuko!

“Toph! I’m so sorry! I promise you I knocked before I came in, but you were so quiet and I was worried because you missed breakfast, I didn’t mean to wake you-,”

“Don’t worry about it,” Toph interjected. It was clear to her that Ursa was being truthful. “So, I missed breakfast, huh?” she asked, appearing nonchalant. Truthfully, she desperately wished to change the subject and hide her embarrassment.

“Yes, I’m afraid,” Ursa replied, now back to her composed self. “But not to worry, Zuko made sure there was plenty left over for you.”

 “That sounds like him,” Toph remarked, smiling gratefully. How lucky she was to have such a friend.“He really is a thoughtful young man. I couldn’t be prouder to be his mother.”

A twinge of jealously briefly took hold of Toph. Why couldn’t her parents show the same pride regarding her?  

“It wasn’t that long ago when he’d do the same for me,” Ursa continued. “What do you mean?” pried Toph, momentarily forgetting her envy. “I used to oversleep and miss meals as well, often due to nightmares.” “You too?!”

Toph quickly covered her mouth upon realising what she’d exposed. It had been her intention to keep her night terrors a secret, for fear of having to describe what they entailed. Now she’d slipped up. Ursa, in equal shock, was overcome with empathy. It appeared Toph had her own sleeplessness to deal with and the toll it took on her health was apparent. Instead of prying further however, Ursa decided to recount her own experience to the girl.

“After I returned to the palace, the memories of my first marriage returned with a vengeance and I began having horrible dreams,” Ursa began. “Some were of Ozai returning, or Kiyi and Zuko getting hurt. And occasionally… even Azula would appear in others.”

A heavy silence took hold of the room for a moment.

“You seem much better now,” Toph commented. “How’d you get them to stop?”

With a knowing smile Ursa replied, “The answer may sound simple but is actually very difficult in practice. You have to be willing to open up and be vulnerable with those you trust. Once you do that, you’ll never feel lonely and the nightmares will be less likely to occur. But there’s no way to stop them entirely, I’m afraid.”

Frustrated, Toph gracelessly sat at the vanity table near her bed and sighed deeply. Of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy. And who could she confess her nightly troubles to? Zuko had enough on his plate and there was no way she was going to unload her childhood trauma on his family. They were all letting her stay there out of the kindness of their hearts! How could she inconvenience them any more than she already has?

Her internal turmoil was interrupted by the gentle touch of Ursa’s hand on her shoulder.  

“You don’t have to tell me what your nightmares are about, Toph, but I hope you know you’re not alone, nor are you a burden,” said the older woman, affectionately. Her eyes drifted to an ornate hairbrush on the dresser and moved to grab it.

“Do you mind if I brush your hair for you, Toph?”

For the next half hour, Ursa rhythmically combed through Toph’s unruly locks all the while humming a pleasant lullaby. ‘Zuko was right, she really is wonderful,’ Toph mused to herself. Briefly, she wondered what it’d be like to have a mother like Ursa but quicky abandoned the idea. Whether she liked it or not, she was an outsider in this family. Simultaneously, Ursa couldn’t help but wish Toph’s romance with her son was real. How fortunate it would be to have the earthbender stay with them permanently. She truly was a breath of fresh air.

Toph’s chirpy voice suddenly disrupted her contemplation.

“Hey Ursa… I can call you that, right?”

“Of course. What is it?” “Thanks for everything.” “I’m happy to help, Toph.”

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 12

As soon as Toph’s eyes flickered open, a sense of dread overwhelmed her.

She rose from the floor, on which she apparently dozed off on, and used her seismic sense to examine her surroundings. This certainly was not her room at the fire nation palace. The space was much smaller and less ornate, yet it certainly wasn’t cheap. On the contrary, it was clear the room was quite expensive. Even without her sight, Toph could tell the room was filled with fragile furnishing and expensive interior design that must have cost a fortune.

It was all horrifically familiar.

Memories of her lonesome youth flooded her with a vengeance and threated to paralyze her where she stood. This was her childhood bedroom back at the Beifong mansion! But how did she get there? Had she been captured in her sleep? That wasn’t possible! The fire nation royal palace was one of the most heavily guarded places in the world, with the most vigorous firebenders and warriors in the nation patrolling it tirelessly day and night. Besides, how would she have not awoken during her supposed capture?

Filled with adrenaline, and a twinge of fear, her legs carried her through the mansion. Surely someone here could explain what in the world was happening to her. The exasperated voice of her father soon caught her attention, so she dashed toward it. Her parents’ bedroom door is where it led her, their enraged quarrelling ringing through the home. Not again.

Unwilling to let them keep fighting, Toph burst open the door. She prepared to criticize them, not unlike the dreaded night at the hotel. However, despite all her might, no sound came out her throat and the couple paid no attention to their intruder. Alarmed, Toph reached out to grab her mother’s arm, but was panic-stricken when her hand went right through it, as though she were transparent. Before she could comprehend what had just happened, the area unexpectedly shifted and Toph found herself dangling on the ledge of a treacherous cliff.

Her remaining arm instinctively reacted to earthbend a platform below her, but found nothing came from it. She couldn’t bend! The recognizable vibrations of her friends’ statures suddenly appeared above her.

“Guys help!” she choked out.

The figures remained unresponsive.

“What are you waiting for? Help me up!”

Katara’s voice cut through the sound of the raging sea below her, cold and unfeeling.

“Who are you?”

The relief Toph felt quickly vaporized.

“What do you mean? It’s me, Toph!” she strained.

Still, they stood passively, as their friend held on for dear life. Finally, her grip failed and she plummeted into the restless ocean, her screams veiled by the sound of waves crashing against rock.

--

Midnight had just rolled by when Toph abruptly awoke from her nightmare.

Tears began to well up in her eyes as she processed what had just occurred. Her relief at recognising the room in which she was in was staggering. This was not the Beifong estate. She was still in the fire nation. With Zuko. Safe. Unable to retain the distress the dream gave her, she couldn’t help but turn over and weep as silently as she could into her arms. Hopefully, no one would be awoken by her cries. Toph was no stranger to nightmares, but this had been the first time her friends had appeared in them. The idea of them forgetting her was too much to bear.

After such an unsettling phantasm, it would take a while for her to fall asleep again. As such, she decided a night walk would be effective in alleviating her nerves. Despite the heat the fire nation was known for, it was not immune to the nighttime’s cooler breeze. Rubbing her arms, Toph quietly wandered the hallway until stumbling upon two male guards chatting amicably. The men turned and bowed respectfully when identifying their interrupter.

“Lady Beifong,” the first guard greeted, kindly. “Is there anything you require? We are at your service.”

If Toph felt less fatigued, she would’ve rolled her eyes. Though the palace staff had always been attentive to her, as the fire lord’s close friend, their formality had become much more apparent after it was confirmed she was dating their king. It would have been amusing if it didn’t remind her of her servants back at the Beifong household.

“I’m alright. I just remembered I have some scrolls I need to write.” She certainly wasn’t about to tell them she had a nightmare, causing her to roam around at bedtime like a ghost. Besides, she truly did intend on writing scrolls for her mother and Iroh. No time like the present. “I’m looking for Hotaru.”

“Hotaru, my lady?” the guard inquired.

“She’s one of the servants. I need her help to write for obvious reasons,” Toph clarified.

“I see… Forgive me, my lady, but I’m afraid the servants have all turned in for the night.”

Drat! That information had slipped Toph’s mind. Behind his helmet, the guard smiled thoughtfully.

“If I may be so bold, my lady, we can help you write the scrolls if you wish it.”

The second guard turned to his companion in shock.

“Yazhu! That’s not our place. Besides we cannot leave our post,” He scolded.

The first guard, who’s name was now revealed to be Yazhu, remained unfazed. “It is our place, Zan. We’re supposed to be of service. Especially for the sweetheart of fire lord Zuko himself.”

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 11

Upon returning to her room, Toph wasted no time washing her face and changing into something more comfortable. Admittedly, she had nothing against makeup and fashion, but the memories of her childhood days of having to wear heavy gowns and deep rouge each day had soured her opinion on the matters. The absurdity of the situation still befuddled her all these years later. What was the point of being decorated each day from head to toe if no one would be there to see it? As far as the world was concerned back then, she was not real.

But those recollections did not bother her most in that moment. Rather, Zuko’s behaviour at the pond is what befuddled her to no end. No doubt he believed she didn’t notice his rapid heartbeat and intense stares, but that could not be further from the truth. She remembered the first time this pattern began to show; after she had told him about her confrontation with her family, but she had brushed it aside in favour of teasing Hotaru.

It was easy to ignore until she discovered how Misaki’s reaction seemed to align with his. Toph knew the waitress had a thing for her friend as soon as she arrived at the table, and Zuko’s pulsation at the turtleduck pond seemed to mimic hers. But that would mean that Zuko…

Toph shook her head and smiled amusedly.

Surely not.

The two comrades had known each other for half their lives and though they had always been close, it was only during Toph’s stay at the palace that they began to connect on a deeper level. Truly, Toph had never felt more seen and understood in her life than when she was with the new fire lord. It made sense at least. After, all they had so much in common what with the both of them being from rich, influential families and both having been underestimated until having to prove their worth to those around them.

It just works…

Perhaps that was why their perceived romance was so readily accepted without much question.

But again; Surely not.

Chances are Zuko just felt a physical attraction toward her. During her travels, Toph had met a few admirers and fans who wished to pursue her romantically, but she was able to discern their true motivations. As a war hero and child of the Beifong lineage, there was a lot to gain by winning her affections. Although there were a select few who seemed to be genuinely attracted to her, it all came down to pulchritude.

Needless to say, she paid them no mind.

Truthfully, the earthbender had no interest in dating anyone herself, not since her heartbreak at the tender age of twelve. It took two whole years for Toph to get over her crush on Sokka, and though she had no resentment toward him or Suki, the humiliation and disappointment she felt was enough to put her off romance for a long time. Physical pain, she could handle, but heartsickness was way beyond her comfort zone.

Consequently, she resolved to avoid making the mistake of falling for a friend again.

Especially, while they were looking for someone else to marry. Whatever Zuko felt for her would pass and everything would go back to the way it was before. Except, that he would be married to another woman and she’d be on the road again, an idea that caused an all too familiar pang in her chest.

A bittersweet smile took over her expression.

It was for the best.

Therefore, there was nothing left to do but brush aside her convoluted thoughts and feelings and unwind after a long day of melodrama.

--

Alarmed and discombobulated, Zuko stumbled toward his room, all the while trying to cool the burning in his cheeks. Across the hallway, he saw the awkward form of his step-father walking in his direction. Zuko promptly turned the other way, hoping he wasn’t noticed but sighed upon hearing a friendly holler behind him.

“Hello, your highness!” Noren greeted with a brief bow.

The fire lord composed himself and hesitantly approached Noren, praying he wouldn’t notice his infrared appearance.

“Noren, I told you; you can call me by my name. You’re technically my dad now,” Zuko fussed.

“Sorry, Your- Zuko,” sputtered Noren. He had the highest respect for Zuko, as he was the son of the love of his life, and had no wish to offend him. “If I may ask, how did your date go? Kiyi seemed to be quite concerned for you since your return.”Zuko inwardly relaxed, thankful that his mother did not reveal the truth to her family about him and Toph. Not that he doubted her a great amount.

“Please tell Kiyi not to worry. Things are going very well between me and Toph.” It wasn’t a lie considering how pleasant their encounter at the pond was. Surely, it made up for the disaster of a date they had beforehand. However, Zuko feared things may be going too well, if his emerging attraction was anything to go by. The thought of it only made his pulse quicken rapidly, which was the last thing he needed at the moment.

“Are you feeling alright? You’re looking a bit flushed,” Noren addressed, looking attentive.

“I’m fine!” Zuko croaked, fruitlessly attempting to hide his face. “I’ve just got a headache, that’s all. I should go get some rest.” The flustered monarch hurriedly went for the main staircase without another word to his step-parent. Noren watched him sprint away, trying to hold back a smile. Watching the ruler of the nation reduced to a blushing jumbled mess was entertaining to say the least. There was a sense of fatherly affection to be felt as well, as Noren had met the young man when he was only a teenager and watching him grow and fall in love made him sentimental. It reminded him of his captivation with Ursa in his youth.  

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 10

Zuko was becoming more anxious by the hour.

Toph had yet to return from the marketplace and the sun was about to go down. The fire nation capital was a relatively safe place, as there were many nobles who were apolitical and had nothing against earth kingdom visitors. However, there was no guarantee there weren’t people who wished to do her harm. Of course, Zuko knew if Toph was attacked, she could hold her own in battle but she was not invincible. If anything happened to her, it would be his fault for leaving her alone in town.

He'd never forgive himself if that were the case.

To calm his nerves, the fire lord decided to take a turn in the palace gardens. The crepuscular light only made the lush enclosure more breathtaking. Upon reaching the turtleduck pond, he almost jumped out of his skin when he found Toph already there, sitting cross-legged on the grass. She turned her head toward him, no doubt having sensed him from across the pool. Zuko let out a loud sigh of relief upon seeing his friend safe and went to greet her. But before he could say anything, Toph abruptly stood up and raised her hand to stop him in his tracks. Zuko faltered, believing she must still be upset with him for the way he spoke to her earlier.

He anxiously watched as the earthbender reached into her pockets and pulled out a container about the size of her palm. Toph strode over to Zuko and placed the box in his hand. The fire lord simply looked at her, puzzled.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Open it!” Toph urged.

Slowly, Zuko opened the box not knowing what to expect. He was pleasantly surprised to a find a pile of steaming hot Sizzle-Crisps.

“What are these for?” he asked, looking up at his friend blankly.

Toph smacked her hand against her forehead and groaned. “Is it not obvious? I’m apologising, you dunce!”

Oh.

Zuko stared at his new gift. “This is my favourite snack…”

“I know.”

“But how’d you find out?”

“I ran into an old friend in town. She told me.”

She? Though Zuko had his opponents, he had his fair share of supporters but his list of close friends was shorter still. Especially, his female friends (much to his council’s chagrin). His first guess was the Kyoshi Warriors but they had departed to discuss diplomatic matters with the Earth King on Zuko’s behalf. If they had returned, surely, they would have notified him earlier via messenger hawk. It couldn’t have been them, which meant only one other person…

“You saw Mai,” deduced Zuko.

“Sure did,” Toph replied.

There was a brief silence that followed.

“H-how is she?” Zuko asked tentatively.

Ignoring the strange yet familiar pang in her chest, Toph responded promptly. “She seems fine. Told me to tell you that Kiyi’s doing well at school.”

That wasn’t unexpected. Ever since Kiyi’s arrival at the palace, she had been granted access to the finest tutors in the nation. This, along with her natural curiosity and love for learning, allowed her to excel in her education and bending abilities. Zuko could not be prouder of his little sister.

 “Why did you and Mai break up?”

The question was abrupt and caught the fire lord off-guard. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised his ex-girlfriend hadn’t told Toph the reason why they fell apart. Mai was not exactly known for her transparency.

“It was my fault,” Zuko confessed. “I drove her away by being secretive and closed off. The first couple of years being fire lord was a lot to handle. The assassination attempts were the hardest to deal with. It got so bad that I… I ended up asking my father for advice.” Toph’s eyes widened in horror but she remained silent, allowing Zuko to finish.

“I kept it from Mai and when she found out, she broke up with me. Not that I blame her. What I did was wrong and that was the price I had to pay. But looking back now, I think the worst thing I did to her was command her to come back to me while she stormed off. That was the final nail in the coffin, I think.”

Toph did not blame Mai for leaving. After a lifetime of being commanded by her families’ demands and expectations, she was not willing to have her lover treat her the same way. ‘We really are alike,’ the earthbender thought to herself.

“Do you still love her?” Toph blurted, surprising even herself. Why did she care?

Zuko shook his head and softly smiled. “It’s been almost a decade since then, Toph. The love I have for Mai now is very different from what it once was. It really is over,” he assured.

“Yeah, that’s what she said too.” “I forgive you, Toph.” It took her a minute to realise he was talking about her recent apology. She hid her elation behind a playful smirk.

“Good, cause if you didn’t, I would’ve taken back those crisps,” she joked.

The two friends laughed, delighted at having been reconciled. They decided they’d remain in the gardens, enjoying the afternoon breeze and sharing the popular snack. Zuko decided not to comment on the beauty of the sunset, lamenting that his companion would not be able to admire it. He turned toward Toph and found he couldn’t look away. Toph’s cheeks, flushed due to the heat of the crisps, now matched the rose-coloured sky. It was as though she belonged to the heavens themselves.

After finishing the morsel, the two began to retreat to the palace.

“I better go and get this goofy makeup off my face. See ya, Firecracker,” said Toph as she ran toward her bedchambers.

Once she was out of sight, Zuko pressed his palm to his face and leaned against the wall.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 9

Almost as soon as he arrived back at the palace, Zuko was bombarded with questions from Kiyi.

“How did the date go?” “Why are you back so soon?” “Where is Toph?”

“Did you at least kiss her?!”

It wouldn’t be easy to evade her queries, but he didn’t wish to upset her by revealing how the ‘date’ went. Thus, he simply responded with a blunt “I don’t kiss and tell,” and retreated to his quarters. Though he did regret how he handled the situation with Toph, his anger overrode his guilt. ‘What makes her think she can pick and choose who I should be with?’ he thought to himself. ‘She’s no better than my council members.’ His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door.

“Who is it?” said Zuko, his tone slightly harsher than he intended.

“It’s me, Zuko,” His mother’s voice sounded through the door. “Are you alright?”

Upon hearing his mother’s gentle tone, Zuko’s anger depleted. “I’m okay, mom. You can come in.”

Ursa entered the chamber looking concerned. “What’s the matter, Zuko? Kiyi tells me you weren’t yourself when you came back from your date.”

That statement broke the monarch’s heart. He should’ve known his little sister would realise something was wrong. As much as he tried to shield her, she was always able to discern when something was amiss. And if she could not worm it out of Zuko, she knew who could. Ever since the reunion with his mother, Zuko vowed to never take her for granted again. As such, he hated keeping secrets from her.

“It’s fake,” he blabbed.

“What’s fake?” probed Ursa.

“Me and Toph. We’re not really together. It’s all a ruse.”

As she processed this information, Ursa slowly nodded her head. “I see… I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised.”

“What do you mean?” Zuko questioned. “Well, I wish I could say it was just a mother’s intuition, but I did notice how awkwardly you were behaving around each other. And you certainly weren’t acting like a couple. At first, I just assumed that you were just one of those pairs that don’t like showing affection in public. My suspicions only began after I saw how you struggled to say when your last date was.”

Zuko was flabbergasted. Apparently, faking a courtship was much harder than he and Toph had anticipated. And if his mother is correct, they did not do a good job of it. The fire lord looked at his mother worriedly.

“Does anyone else know?” he asked, anxiously.

“Not to my knowledge,” Ursa replied. “Kiyi and Noren seem completely oblivious and support your ‘romance’ wholeheartedly.” “Please don’t tell anyone,” Zuko pleaded. “Especially Kiyi. It will break her heart knowing I lied to her.”

“Of course I won’t tell. But, Zuko, a fake courtship? Why in the world…”

“I needed more time! The council say I have to find a lover by my next birthday or else they’ll arrange a match for me. I couldn’t let that happen, mom. Not after what happened to you.”

Ursa recoiled from the shock of what she just heard. Distressing memories of her forced marriage to Ozai flashed in front of her eyes. The recollection of the sorrow, loneliness and crippling fear she felt during that time was almost enough to bring her to her knees. Even after all these years later, the trauma was still fresh in her mind. Of course, her son wouldn’t want to potentially inflict that kind of pain on another woman.

“I see...,” said Ursa, her voice becoming shaky. “So, you faked this romance to buy more time to find a real lover.”

“Exactly!” Zuko exclaimed.

“Why didn’t you tell us what you were going through in your scrolls?”

“I didn’t want to ruin your vacation by making you worry about me.” “This still doesn’t explain why you’ve been acting strangely since your return.” Zuko looked toward the floor, the shame having finally taken hold of him. “I lashed out at Toph because she was trying to set me up with another girl.”

A soft chuckle reached his ears and snapped him out of his misery. He looked up at his mother, surprised to see her holding back a laugh.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, dear,” she chortled. “I had just never heard of someone being set up while on a date before.”

Though he didn’t appreciate her laughing at him, Zuko couldn’t help but feel relived that his mother’s mood had improved since being reminded of her past.

“I’m sure she only meant to help you, Zuko,” Ursa reasoned, after her laughter passed.

“But she did it without my permission,” Zuko protested. “I mean, shouldn’t I get a say on who I should be with?” “Of course you do. Forgive me for taking this so lightly. But please don’t stay angry with Toph. From what I’ve seen, she’s a lovely young woman and I’m sure she meant no harm.”

The fire lord knew his mother was right. That Toph only meant to assist him in finding someone who’d be willing to be with him, and someone he would love. Although, her matchmaking skills were not the best and she was wrong to keep him in the dark, her heart was in the right place. Besides, he had not been completely blameless. His stomach dropped when he remembered how he'd snapped at her before leaving her alone in town.

Toph was his friend.

Maybe even his best friend.

And he had pushed her away.

Upon noticing his heartbreak, Ursa wrapped her arms around her son.

“Talk to her, Zuko. I’ve witnessed your friendship up close. It will survive this.” Zuko nodded and hugged his mother in turn.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 8

Toph watched as Zuko angrily strode back toward the palace, the crowd parting to let him through. No doubt he was going to spend the rest of the day brooding in his quarters, all the while drowning himself in work. The earthbender scoffed dismissively. No way was she going to waste the day moping over him. She didn't know what was the matter with Zuko, but she also didn't endure hours of being adorned in makeup just to have the worst first date ever.

Even if it wasn't a real date.

As such, Toph decided she'd spend the rest of the day on a solo date instead. And there certainly wouldn't be any stuffy restaurants this time. After hearing about a famous tea shop nearby, she decided it would be the first place she'd go. Unfortunately, she found the tea there was quite mediocre. 'Nowhere near as good as the old man's,' Toph thought to herself. She made a mental note to send a scroll to Iroh and let him know how she's doing. Next, she went to explore the market nearby, only to find that nothing really stood out to her.

Most of what was being advertised was clothes and jewellery which, as someone who was visually impaired, did not interest her in the slightest. The only thing that piqued her interest was the food court. Though she had tried cuisine from all over the world, she was not able to try many fire nation dishes, as several businesses that had made a home in the colonies had retreated back to their homeland after the war. Just as she went to purchase a meal, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Toph?"

The earthbender quickly turned and saw someone she never expected to find, standing behind her.

"Mai?" she exclaimed, shocked upon noticing her old acquaintance.

Mai stared at her, intrigued. "So, it is you. I barely recognised you with your… new look. What's with the getup?"

Toph sighed. "It's a long story."

"I don't have anywhere I need to be," Mai responded, dryly.

Toph smiled and gestured to a nearby establishment.

"Shall we?"

The two of them spent the next two hours catching up at a humdrum snack bar. The enterprise was innocuous enough to give them the privacy they desired and the service was decent enough for them to enjoy their experience. Mai and Toph were never close, but they were surprised to learn they had very much in common when it came to their upbringing. They both felt stifled by their influential families and longed for freedom and to be truly accepted for who they were. It was unfortunate that it took them this long to realise.

"I heard the rumours by the way," Mai said suddenly.

Toph choked on her Mochi. "M-mai, It's not-,"

"You and Zuko's courtship, it's fake, isn't it?"

Toph froze at having been caught. "How did you know?" she asked.

"You just told me," Mai replied coolly.

Toph slammed her face on the table. "Promise you won't tell..."

"I promise."

Using her seismic sense, Toph studied Mai's stature. The older woman did not seem upset in the slightest at the idea of someone else dating Zuko. Toph did not know much about what happened between the two, but she was aware that they broke up quite a few years ago.

"Why did you two break up?" she inquired.

"What? Your 'boyfriend' didn't tell you the reason?" Mai responded sarcastically.

"Why won't you tell me?"

"The real question is; why do you want to know so badly?"

"…Do you think you two will ever get back together?"

Mai sat up straighter. "So that's what this is about. You want to help set him up with someone else," she deduced.

"Well, can you blame me? I mean, there's no way he's gonna make the first move. I'm just trying to help him out," Toph admitted, defensively.

"Without his permission? You're just going to force this on him? Doesn't that remind you of someone?" Mai pressed, while keeping her stoic demeanour.

In that moment, Toph's heart broke. The image of her father's expressionless face on that grim night flashed in her mind. What had she done? Was she really that tone-deaf? How could she make that same mistake? Did Zuko resent her now, just like she did her father? Noticing her friend's anguish, Mai grasped her hand comfortingly.

"He'll forgive you. Trust me. He's way too soft to keep a grudge," She reassured the earthbender.

This was true. Though Zuko did have trouble maintaining his anger sometimes, he was quite quick to forgive. His persistent care for Azula despite everything she had done was proof of that. The ability of seeing the good in people even when they don't see it in themselves is one that Zuko possessed. And it was one of the many things Toph admired about him. Feeling her face warming up, Toph shook her head and smiled at Mai weakly.

"Thanks, Knives."

Mai did not comment on the nickname, rather she diverted the subject.

"About what you asked earlier, me and Zuko are definitely done. Sorry to disappoint you."

Toph laughed and got up to leave. "I should go back and apologise."

"Do me a favour and tell Zuko that Kiyi is doing well at school."

"You're a teacher now? Since when?"

"I'll tell you about it the next time we meet up."

Toph smiled cheerfully at the implication of seeing her friend again.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 7

‘Why did I agree to this?’ Zuko groaned internally.

When Kiyi offhandedly asked him and Toph when they last went on a date, they had no answer as they had never been on one together before. Of course, they could not say that to the unsuspecting teenager. So, while they stammered for an explanation, Kiyi immediately assumed their hesitation meant they hadn’t been on one for a long time. As such, she demanded the two go on one the next morning.

In order to keep up the appearance of a happy couple, the two reluctantly agreed.

Which leads to Zuko currently waiting for his ‘date’ at the Fire nation capital market. He couldn’t understand what was taking so long for her to arrive. Not to mention, he felt deeply uncomfortable with the stares he was receiving from bystanders, hoping to get a glimpse of their monarch. ‘Next time I’ll wear a disguise’ he thought to himself. Before he could leave to go to a more private area, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Zuko turned around and gasped.

The woman in front of him was Toph, he was sure of it, but she looked nothing like his friend. Her hair, usually tied up in large bun, was now cascading down her back. She was wearing pink fire nation garments he had never seen before and makeup adorned her oval shaped face.

“W-what the-,” he choked out, unsure of what to say.

Toph sighed. “Yeah. I know, Sparky. But Kiyi wouldn’t let me leave unless I let her put makeup on me.”

“And the dress?” Zuko asked.

“Your mom gave it to me. She said it was something she used to wear back in Hira’a, wherever that is. I may not know what I look like but I feel ridiculous,” Toph grumbled.

“You look beautiful,” the fire lord blurted.

Toph’s eyebrows raised in shock and Zuko flushed in embarrassment.

“I-I mean-,”

“Thanks, Firecracker,” Toph interrupted. “You look great, too.”

It took a moment for Zuko to get the joke, but when he did, he smiled in relief. That jest was just what was needed to quell the awkwardness of the situation. Even when she was all dolled up, Toph was still Toph.

“So, where are we going for our date, Fireburst?” She asked, flirtatiously.

“Fireburst?” Zuko exclaimed, exasperated. “Do you just stay up late every night coming up with new nicknames for me?”

“So, what if I do? You’re just jealous that you can’t come up with nicknames as good as mine,” Toph challenged.

“I’ll come up with something for you, eventually.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

The two continued to banter until they reached their destination which turned out to be an expensive 5-star restaurant not too far from the market. Toph was not impressed. The idea of dining in a fancy restaurant with humourless nobles and aristocrats was not at all appealing. But if there was anything she was an expert at, it was behaving in high society. She could handle this.

The only question is; could Zuko handle what she had planned for him?

Almost as soon as the two of them sat at a table, a waitress came to take their order. No doubt the restaurant knew they were coming. Zuko must have made a reservation without telling her. If this was a real date, Toph would have been flattered.

“Welcome, your highness and lady Beifong,” the waitress greeted them while curtsying. “My name is Misaki. May I take your order?”

“I’ll have the Komodo Chicken for the first course and Roast Duck for the second,” said Zuko with a friendly smile.

Toph felt Misaki’s heartbeat increase. “And for dessert, your highness?” she inquired.

“I don’t really have a sweet tooth. I think I’ll do without dessert. What about you, Toph?”

It took everything within Toph not to make a sarcastic remark. “I think you’ve forgotten that I can’t read the menu,” She replied elegantly.

Misaki was the one who responded. “Forgive me, Lady Toph. Would you like me to list the menu for you?” “That would be lovely. Yes, please,” Toph answered with an indescribable twinkle in her eye.

This alarmed Zuko. She was up to something but he didn’t know what. And he couldn’t confront her in front of the unsuspicious server. This left him trapped trying to understand his companion’s non-verbal cues while Misaki began listing the options on the menu. Toph would constantly gesture toward the waitperson which made Zuko even more uneasy. Did she not trust her? Was she an enemy? He wasn’t going to take any chances.

“On second thought, I’m not hungry anymore. Please cancel my order,” he said standing up.

Toph’s jaw dropped and Misaki looked distressed.

“D-did I offend you, your highness?” she stuttered, mortified.

“No. It’s not you, I promise. Please, take this,” Zuko replied, handing her a hefty tip.

He offered Toph an arm, which she took begrudgingly, and left the establishment. As soon as the two walked out, Toph punched Zuko on the arm, harshly.

“Ow, Toph!” He cried.

“What did you do that for?!” Toph hissed at him.

“Do what?” “You made us leave.”

“Yeah, because you kept gesturing to that woman. I thought you were warning me that she was dangerous!”

“What? I was trying to tell you that she liked you!”

“She what?! I- Well, even if she did like me, why did that matter?”

“It mattered because I thought she could be the one! The one you’d actually want to be with,” Toph finally clarified.

Zuko was bewildered. It made sense, of course. That was the reason why they were doing this, right? So that he’d have more time to find a woman he’d actually love. He understood where she was coming from, but still he was frustrated.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 6

Contrary to what they were expecting, Zuko and Toph’s ‘confirmation of their relationship’ was very well received. Though there were some who were firmly against it, the majority were hopeful that their romance would improve relations with the Earth Kingdom. It only made Zuko more anxious when he thought about the inevitable ‘break up’ and the public’s reaction. But the two knew what they were getting into when they agreed to this fake courtship and were ready to face the consequences.

Out of everyone who expressed their support for the two, no one was more encouraging than Kiyi. Having grown up with tales of Zuko’s adventures with his friends during the war, she heavily anticipated meeting her brother’s friends. Especially, the notorious ‘blind bandit’ who defied expectations about her blindness and concocted metalbending. Her anticipation only increased when she heard that her brother was supposedly dating her.

The idea of having such a famous bender as a potential future sister-in-law was incredibly exciting. As such, she wished to spend as much time with her brother’s girlfriend as possible. Which brought them to one afternoon in Toph’s room, where Kiyi wished to try on earth kingdom clothing for the first time.

“Knock yourself out,” said Toph, gesturing to her closet.

“You’ll let me try on your clothes?” Kiyi chirped happily.

“Was that not clear?”

Kiyi squealed cheerfully and went to put on the verdant garments.

“So, Toph, when did you fall in love with Zuzu?” she asked, suddenly.

Toph blinked, surprised by the question. “We’re not in love,” she replied, awkwardly.

“Huh? But you’re dating.”

“Just because two people date, it doesn’t mean they’re in love. We like each other, at least,” Toph clarified.

“Then, I hope you do fall in love,” Kiyi stated bluntly.

“Why?”

“Because I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“You do have a sister,” Toph retorted.

“Azula is not my sister,” Kiyi argued. “I’ll never forget how she attacked my mom. How can I call someone who hurts my family a sister?”

Toph was concerned by her response. Azula attacked Ursa? In front of Kiyi? No wonder the girl was resentful of her half-sister. Azula had not been seen or heard from in years, meaning this encounter must have been when Kiyi was under the age of ten. How traumatising it must have been for a child to witness something like that, yet, she was able to retain her optimistic and hopeful demeanour. It reminded Toph of The Duke which immediately endeared her to the girl.

“I’m ready!” Kiyi chirped. “How do I look?”

Toph simply raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Oh, right…” Kiyi said, sheepishly.

“You look wonderful, my child,” rang a voice from the door. Ursa stood at the doorway, looking at her daughter affectionately.

Toph stood up abruptly, unsure of how to behave around the former fire lady. She could not put her finger on why, but she always felt quite nervous around Ursa.

“Thanks, Mom! Toph let me try on her clothes. I like them but they’re a bit big,” Kiyi hummed.

“If you ever decide to come to the Earth Kingdom, we could get you a better fitting,” said Toph.

“I’ve always wanted to see Ba Sing Se, but dad says the earthbenders there don't like us very much,” Kiyi groaned.

“The earth kingdom has been deeply affected by the war, darling. Some wounds take time to heal,” Ursa clarified.

“But it’s been eight years!”

Ursa changed the subject. “Forgive me for coming in without knocking, Miss Toph,” she said, bowing her head in respect.

“I-it’s nothing,” Toph stammered. Internally, she was beginning to get frustrated at her nervousness. Zuko respected Ursa more than any other person and Toph wished to make a good impression. “You can just call me Toph, by the way.”

Toph could not see it but she knew Ursa was smiling.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 5

“Relationship?!” cried Zuko.

Ursa quickly covered her mouth. “Oh, I forgot, they mentioned it was a secret relationship,” she remarked.

“Well, it’s not really a secret anymore,” Noren responded, placing his hand on his wife’s shoulder to ease her guilt. “Like I said, everyone was talking about it. It’s the talk of the nation.”

Zuko’s jaw dropped. Relationship?! As in romantic relationship?! Where did people get THAT idea from? The shock was so great, he was rendered speechless. Toph, on the other hand, took full advantage.

“Ah, so you finally found out. I guess we didn’t do a good job at hiding it,” Toph announced, jokingly.

Zuko turned toward his companion, gobsmacked. ‘What are you doing?’ He mouthed at her. Toph simply smirked in response.

Kiyi jumped for joy. “So, it’s true! This is the best day of my life!” she shrieked with delight.

“Of course it’s true,” Toph asserted. “Sparky here just couldn’t resist my charms.”

Zuko was mortified. What was she doing? He couldn’t call her out now. His mother and Noren looked thrilled and Kiyi was squealing so loud, Zuko wondered how she hadn’t lost her voice yet. How could he disappoint them by revealing the truth? So, after instructing his servants to help his family unpack, he promptly grabbed his friend’s arm and led her away to talk in private.

“What in the world are you doing?!” He whispered, harshly.

Toph, expecting this reaction, remained unfazed at his tone. “What do you mean?” she asked, feigning ignorance.

“You told them that we’re together!” He stressed.

“What’s wrong with that? Not good enough for you, am I?”

“No, that’s not- Will you please be serious for once?”

Toph backed off upon realising her friend was truly distressed. “All right, Jeez. But, seriously, what’s the problem? Its just some stupid rumours.”

“I know. But you saw how they reacted. They think the rumours are true.”

“So what? Who cares what people think?” Toph argued.

“You don’t get it, Toph. This is bigger than us,” Zuko stumbled.

“What are you talking about?”

Zuko sighed deeply and turned away. Toph told him about her situation with her parents, it was only fair that he tell her what he was going through.

“My advisors, my council, my subjects, everyone is insisting I find a wife. They want me to find someone before my twenty-fifth birthday or else they’ll arrange a match for me.”

“They can do that?!” Toph exclaimed, horrified by the reveal.

“Yes!” Zuko groaned. “Do you think my mother wanted to marry my father? She was specifically picked because they thought she was the best match to produce powerful heirs. If I don’t find someone soon, they’ll pick a random girl for me to marry!”

The fire lord covered his face with his palms. “I promised myself that when I married, it would not be like my father’s union. I couldn’t live with myself if someone felt forced to be with me like my mother felt in her relationship with him...”

There was a moment of dismal silence, then Toph suddenly spoke up.

“But what if these rumours could prove useful?”

Zuko looked up at her with hope in his eyes. “What are you thinking?” He inquired.

“Think about it. If people think we’re dating, then they’ll stop bugging you to court someone and then you’ll have even more time to find someone you actually want to marry,” the earthbender explained.

The monarch considered this. “I guess they already stopped mentioning the subject of matrimony,” He reasoned. “See?” Toph insisted. “It won’t last forever. As soon as you do find someone you actually want to be with, we’ll ‘break it off’ and everything will go back to normal.”

It did make sense, but…

“Are you sure you’re okay with this? Pretending to date me? I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this,” cautioned Zuko.

Toph rolled her eyes. “This was my idea, Firecracker. You’re not forcing me into anything. Besides you’d do the same for me,” She assured him.

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 4

It did not take long for Zuko to realise something was off.

First of all, his advisors, the unrelenting Lo and Li, had not mentioned a single thing about matrimony. This was especially strange considering their previous incessant urging for Zuko to find a bride and carry on the royal bloodline. Not that Zuko was complaining. Frankly, he could not stand another lecture on the matter anymore.

Secondly, his council members have been quite tame lately, a stark contrast to the intense political division and feuding he was used to. Instead of speculating how to placate the earth kingdom, they have been urging him to spend more time with his new guest. At first, they seemed displeased with Toph’s arrival, calling her uncouth and crass. Miraculously, their stance seems to have changed drastically. Zuko had assumed this change was because they learned she was actually of noble birth, and mistakenly believed that by appeasing her, they would gain the support of the Beifong household.

Clearly, they were unaware of the tensions within the family.

Last but not least, whenever Zuko had the time to spend with Toph he noticed strange reactions from their peers. At the palace, some of the servants would whisper and giggle amongst each other whenever they saw the two together. Others would promptly leave the area, as though they wished to give the pair some privacy. At first, Zuko was unnerved. Paranoia was a huge part of being the ruler of a nation, and there were surely some who wished to do him harm. But whenever he brought up his concerns with Toph, she would brush them off.

“Stop worrying, Candlewax. Even if they are plotting something, which they’re not, do you really think they can take on both of us? Please, they don’t stand a chance.”

Zuko knew she wasn’t wrong but, he still couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong. He ultimately decided to put the matter aside for a while, after all he had more important matters to attend to. For instance, his family was finally returning from their getaway and he was anxious to see them again.

And, of course, he wished to introduce Toph to his mother as had promised her before.

When she saw her older brother, Kiyi wasted no time in embracing him affectionately. Her skin had become more tanned, no doubt from her time in the sun, giving her a healthy glow. She was already becoming very popular with the other gender, and being the princess of the nation certainly worked in her favour. Zuko dreaded the number of boys he’d have to fight off to protect his little sister.

“Zuzu! I missed you so, so, SO much!” Kiyi exclaimed while squeezing her brother.

“I missed you too, Kiyi,” Zuko choked out, struggling to breathe.

“You must have been so bored without me!”

“Normally you’d be right, but luckily I had some company,” Zuko clarified, gesturing toward Toph.

What most people did not realise about Toph was that she could tell a lot about a person by the way they moved. Using her seismic sense, she deduced that Kiyi was quite similar to Aang in the sense that they were both light on their feet. She also appeared to be excitable and fond of movement, considering how she bounced with elation upon reuniting with her brother.

‘She and Ty Lee would get along swimmingly,’ Toph thought to herself.

Noren seemed calmer and more collected, unsurprising considering his older age, but also appeared to have a certain hesitancy in his movements around Zuko. Was it because they weren’t biologically related? Or was it because despite now being his stepfather, he still did not know how to behave around the ruler of the nation? Toph could not say.

What stumped her completely, however, was Ursa. She was an enigma. Despite not being of royal birth, there was a certain elegance in her frame. Her feet were not heavy but there was something weighing her down. Of course, Toph knew her life must not have been easy; being married to Ozai would make anyone depressed. But regardless there was a certain strength Toph felt from her, different from any other she felt before.

Toph could not get a 100% accurate read from her.

The only other time Toph experienced something like this was when she met Azula for the first time. It seemed the mother and child had something in common after all, though they’d never know it. The analysis was interrupted when Zuko spoke again.

“Toph, this is Noren, Kiyi and Ursa… my mother. Everyone, this is my friend, Toph Beifong,” said Zuko, introducing them all.

Upon hearing her name, the three of them smiled widely.

Kiyi spoke first. “Hi Toph! I’ve heard so much about you from Zuzu. Is it true that you can metalbend?” She probed excitedly.

“Sure can! You’re looking at the one who invented metalbending,” Toph replied.

Kiyi squealed, astonished by the revelation.

“That’s amazing! You really found a great one, Zuzu!”

Toph and Zuko paused, puzzled by the comment.

“What do you mean by that, Kiyi?” Zuko inquired.

Noren was the one who responded. “We heard the news at the docks. Everyone was talking about it, Zuko. Why didn’t you tell us in your scrolls?”

“What are you talking about?”

Disclaimer: Avatar the last airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author’s note: Please note that this fanfic takes place years after the show, though it might not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. Thank you and God bless you all.

Chapter 3

Present-Day

“Luckily, the hotel wasn’t too far from your uncle’s shop. You can imagine how shocked he was to be woken up in the middle of the night by me, in my pyjamas, no less,” Toph joked.

Despite the pity he felt for his comrade, Zuko did let out a quiet chuckle at the mental picture. But wasn’t it just like Toph make a joke while describing one of the most traumatic events of her life?

“He let me stay with him for a while and even wrote letters I wanted to send to my mom for me. But one of the customers must have tipped my dad off, cause he came looking for me at the shop one day. It was Iroh who recommended I come to stay with you. There’s no way my dad will look for me here, considering there’s still tension between our kingdoms.” Toph abruptly sat up and smirked at the fire lord. “Well, that’s it, Sparky! That’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Zuko was stunned, to say the least. It was no secret that Toph had a strained relationship with her parents, as she would bemoan this fact to anyone who’d listen. To his recollection, she tried telling him about it once, eight years ago while searching for a missing Aang. Guilt began to surface when he remembered how he’d brushed aside her feelings at the time. He had no idea it was this bad.

“I’m so sorry…” Zuko said, solemnly. It was the only thing he could think of saying.

“It’s not your fault. Besides, I’ve been having the time of my life getting the royal treatment here. I should be thanking you, Zuko,” Toph replied, earnestly.  

Before Zuko could comment on the fact that she actually called him by his name, he was rendered speechless by the sight of her smile. Though this was not the first time he saw her smile, this one was certainly not like the others he’d seen. This one was soft, affectionate and warm and it suited her quite well. Zuko blushed and turned away, forgetting he didn’t need to hide his face from her.

“I’m always happy to help you, Toph,” He stammered.

The tender moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside the room. Before the interloper could knock on the door, Toph dashed over to open it. Startled, the visitor, now revealed to be a palace maid, dropped the basket of fresh laundry she was carrying on the floor.

“Miss Beifong! My sincerest apologies!” the maid cried, kneeling down to pick up the clothing.

“Ha hah! I got you so good!” Toph wheezed.

Pitying the servant, Zuko went to assist her in picking up the garments. Upon seeing him, the maid almost passed out from the shock.

“You’re highness! No, please! Allow me. You shouldn’t have to-”

“Don’t be silly,” Zuko interrupted. “I absolutely should help my people. Especially those that keep the palace presentable.”

“T-thank you, your highness,”

“What is your name?” Zuko asked.

“Hotaru, sire.”

“Please don’t be upset with my friend, Hotaru. She meant it only as a harmless prank.”

“Oh, I-I do not blame Miss Beifong, sire. My clumsiness is to blame. This is not the first time I’ve made a mess of things.”

Hotaru wanted to slap herself. What was she doing telling the fire lord she was bad at her job? She’d be fired for sure now! The sound of both Zuko and Toph’s laughter was what snapped her out of her anguish.

“At ease. We all make mistakes, sometimes. It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Zuko assured her.

“Sparky’s right! Where’s the fun in getting everything right the first time?” Toph added.

‘Sparky?’ Hotaru thought to herself. She knew Zuko and Toph were close and had fought in the war alongside each other, but she had no idea of the intricacies of their relationship. Clearly, miss Beifong was referring to the scarred king with that childish nickname, and Zuko didn’t even blink at the embarrassing moniker. Were they really just friends?

Zuko turned to Toph “I should get going. See you later, Toph.”

“Try not to miss me, firecracker.” Toph replied with a wink.

No. They were definitely not just friends.

When Hotaru returned to the servants’ quarters, she did not wait a second to tell her fellow colleagues about her encounter.

“Impossible!” chided her closest friend, Xia.

“It’s true! He came from inside her room! What other explanation could there be?” Hotaru stressed.

“Our fire lord has finally found a lover? That’s great!” another servant, Hinata, cheered.

“I can’t believe it!” Xia asserted. “You know he hasn’t taken notice of another woman since his ex-girlfriend broke his heart.”

“That was years ago!” Hinata retorted. “I say it’s high time he moved on.”

“I guess he doesn’t have a choice,” Xia agreed. “He has to produce an heir eventually, or the Fire Nation is doomed.”

“Did I mention she has pet names for him too?” Hotaru recounted.

Disclaimer: Avatar the last airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author’s note: Please note that this fanfic takes place years after the show, though it might not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. Thank you and God bless you all.

Chapter 2

One month later, Zuko inquired the reason for her visit.

The Fire Nation ruler did not expect his friend to stay this long. Though he had no complaints, his curiosity was undeniable. Consequently, he decided he’d head for her quarters and ask her himself. Before he could knock on her door, he heard a faint “Come in!” from inside. It often slipped his mind that she could feel him approaching using her seismic sense. He walked in and saw the young woman lounging on the comically large bed.

When moving in, Toph declared the extravagance of the room unnecessary. But if there was anything the Fire Nation was known for, it was its lavishness and hospitality, especially towards extra locals. Toph suspected the true reason for it was to amend relations with foreign ministers. Despite now being at the age of twenty, Toph had not grown as tall as she would have liked to be, much to her chagrin. Zuko couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of the mighty earthbender, petite as she was, lying on a bed that was practically five times her size.

“What’s so funny?” Toph demanded.

Upon realising their roles had reversed from their conversation at the gardens, Zuko began to laugh. Toph stood up and crossed her arms, her patience thinning.

“Is that why you came in here? Just to laugh at me?”

With the skill of an aristocrat, Zuko quickly composed himself.

“No. Actually, I came here to ask why you came to visit me in the first place.”

“Am I overstaying my welcome?”

“Of course not! You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I just meant- Oh forget it.”

“No, I understand what you meant. You deserve to know the truth.” Toph clarified. “…I’ll just cut to the chase; my dad wants me to get married.”

Zuko’s jaw dropped.

“Married?” He asked, after the shock had passed.

“That’s what I said,” Toph responded, her shoulders drooping.

“B-but why? And to whom?”

“You sure ask a lot of questions, Sparky. Can’t say I blame you…”

Slowly, Toph sat back down on the bed and patted the space beside her. Zuko swiftly went to sit next to her, placing his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort his companion. Toph kept her head down.

“I was visiting Haru in his village, and he told me my parents were in town a week earlier, looking for me. Can you believe that? They went looking for me themselves instead of sending someone else! It… it gave me hope.”

Zuko wanted to ask what she hoped for exactly, but stayed quiet and let her speak.

“So, I went to go see them myself. They were at this huge 5-star hotel in Ba Sing Se. Upper ring of course. When they saw me, it was like I felt their hearts stop,” Toph chuckled at the memory. “They were happy to see me but mom wouldn’t stop crying, which was really annoying.”

“An appropriate reaction considering she hadn’t seen her daughter in years,” Zuko noted.

“Will you shut up and let me finish?”

“Alright! I won’t say a word,” the fire lord conceded, lifting up his hands in surrender.

“Thank you! Now where was I…”

Three months earlier

Toph was in the arms of her weeping mother, her maternal grip so tight she felt unable to breathe. Despite the discomfort, Toph was relieved. Since that night she left Gaoling to assist Aang in his quest to stop Ozai, she had envisioned what her reunion with her parents would be like. Would they hate her? Resent her? Or worse, would they trap her in that horrible mansion again? Deny her existence to all who asked, leaving her lonely and forgotten?

Toph had many a nightmare about that potential outcome…

But in all the scenarios she envisioned, not one of them involved her mother embracing her while tears of joy streamed down her face, and her father grasping his chest and falling to his knees in relief. Was this the confirmation she had waited for her whole life? The evidence that her parents didn’t care how unruly she looked, or how she behaved in high society? All they cared about was that she was safe and back in their arms? This was more than anything Toph had ever hoped for. She wasted no time embracing her mother in turn, and if tears ran down her face as well, she would never tell.

Tales of her adventures with the Avatar astonished them, and it took them a whole hour to recover from the shock of learning their daughter invented metalbending. Unsurprisingly, what pleased them the most was the fact she had formed connections with some of the most powerful people in the world, such as the earth kings, Bumi and Kuei. Toph was unsure whether or not they knew of her friendship with the new fire lord but decided not to mention it, for fear they would faint from awe.

For a while, all was well, until one particularly haunting night. Unable to sleep due to night terrors, Toph left her guest room in search of a midnight snack. The sound of whispers from her parents’ bedchambers caught her attention.

“Lao, think about this! We just got her back. I don’t want to give her away so soon! Let’s forget all of this and just go back to the way we were!” She heard her mother, Poppy, say.

“Did you not see her attire and mannerisms, Poppy? She looked positively wild! Is this how a child of the Beifong dynasty to behave?!” Her father, Lao, began to raise his voice.

Alarmed, Toph pressed her ear to the door.

“And you believe marriage will simply fix all that? That she’ll just magically go back to being that dainty little girl once she walks down the aisle? Surely, you cannot be so ignorant! She is a woman now.”

“All the more reason for her to wed! She is now of age and the least she could do is marry well after humiliating our family and coming back looking like a savage!”

“But she helped the Avatar end the war! Surely, such an honour should be enough to ignore her shortcomings.”

“I admit, her achievements are admirable but we did not raise her to act in such an inelegant manner. The daughter we brought up was dignified, agreeable, beautiful…”

“She is still beautiful!”

“In which case, her beauty, along with her accomplishments, will surely attract the attentions of powerful heirs, which will mend our reputation for good. Who knows, maybe matrimony will domesticate her wayward behaviour.”

Toph was in agony. Marriage? What did they mean ‘marriage?’ Is this what they were planning the whole time? Is this the reason why they came looking for her themselves? Just so they could hand her over to some nameless suitor? Her chest tightened and her eyes burned but she would not cry. They did not deserve her tears. Without a second thought, Toph yanked open the door. Her parents turned towards her, alarmed at having been caught.

Toph glared at them, her whole body shaking with rage.

“Is this true? You're trying to give me away to some pompous pig like I’m just some cargo? Without my consent?!” She screamed at her father.

Lao said nothing, which was the admittance Toph dreaded.

“You know… for a second there, I really thought you cared about me,” She whispered, coldly.

Poppy gasped, heartbroken by her daughter’s words, but Lao remained silent and stood his ground. Left with nothing more to say, Toph promptly went to pack her belongings and left the building, still in her nightgown. The pain and rage she felt was so immense, she didn’t even notice her mother running after until she managed to grasp her arm.

“Toph, my baby! Please don’t leave, I’m begging you! I’ve grieved your absence all these years! I cannot bear you leaving me again!” Poppy wailed, more tears flowing down her flushed cheeks.

For a moment, Toph wondered how a woman could cry so much.

“You were in on this!” Toph accused. “Was this what you wanted; to lure me back and hand me off to some stranger!”

“Please understand, Toph. I admit I did plan this with your father. We believed your… eccentricity was borne from your undomesticated adventures with the Avatar, and thought that if you were to wed, it would stabilize you.”

“Stabilize me?!”

“I see now that we were wrong. As soon as I saw you again, all I could think about was how I missed out on your growing into a confident and self- assured woman. You are courageous and heroic, nothing like me at all…”

Toph faltered. She had never seen her mother like this before. Not once did ever think that she had her own insecurities and regrets in life. For once, Toph saw her mom not as a picture-perfect gentlewoman but as a complex human being. It was enough to still her temper and she reached out to clasp the sobbing woman’s hand.

“Mom… You know I love you. And I’m so glad you finally accept me for me, that’s all I ever wanted from you. But we both know dad will not change his mind.”

Poppy nodded. “You’re right. I tried talking him out of this but his stubbornness knows no bounds.”

“That’s probably where I got mine from.”

They both chuckled weakly.

“He won’t stop until he gets his way. You know I can’t stay here, mom, but I don’t want to run away again. Let me go,” Toph pleaded.

“No Toph, please…” Poppy whimpered.

“I’ll keep in touch with you this time, I promise! You’ll know where I am, just please don’t tell dad.”

Poppy remained silent for a long while.

“… You’re grown up now. I suppose I’ve no right to make you stay anymore. But where will you go now?”

“Don’t worry,” Toph assured her. “I told you I got connections, didn't I? There's an old friend nearby who won’t mind some company.”

Disclaimer: Avatar the last airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author’s note: Please note that this fanfic takes place years after the show, though it might not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 1

“Hope you don’t mind a new roommate, Sparky!”

This was the first thing Toph said to Zuko when he met her at the palace gates to welcome her. The monarch was in the middle of a meeting with his council, when a guard came running in claiming a ‘loud, dishevelled woman in Earth Kingdom robes’ was at the gates demanding to see him.

Of course, Zuko knew who it was immediately.

Still, he was surprised. It had not been that long since the last reunion he and his friends had at the 'Jasmine Dragon'. To commemorate the glorious end to the Hundred Year War, the ‘Gaang’ (as Sokka insisted on them being called) decided they’d assemble at Iroh’s tea shop once every year to celebrate together. No matter what they had going on in their lives, they always made time for each other, especially on this day.

They had been through too much to ever become strangers.

He had spoken with Toph that day, and enjoyed sparring with her. It was hard to believe, but she had gotten considerably stronger when it came to her bending. Zuko hoped this upgrade was attributed to training and not dangers during her travels. From what he’d heard from Aang, Toph had become somewhat of a nomad these past eight years. While moving all over, with no particular destination in mind, she resolved to explore more of the world her parents shielded her from. For a time, Toph even wandered with what was left of the Freedom Fighters, now led by Smellerbee. Though she would occasionally visit her friends during her travels, she never stayed for longer than a couple weeks.

Zuko expected this stop to be the same.

Nevertheless, he was more than happy to receive her and promptly gave her one of the finest rooms in the palace. After months of having to deal with stuffy politicians and noblemen, tensions with the neighbouring Earth Kingdom, and his advisors’ constant insistence for him to marry, Zuko was stressed to say the least. Therefore, he was overjoyed to have his friend come to stay with him. And who better to cheer him up than the 'melon lord' herself.

Toph quickly made herself at home and after forcing Zuko to cancel his second meeting that week, she decided they’d spend their afternoon at the Palace Gardens feeding the turtleducks. This environment was Zuko’s favourite place to unwind. Not only was it a serene atmosphere, allowing him to relax after hours of hearing Lo and Li’s anxious ramblings, but it also reminded him of simpler times. Zuko wondered if his comrade knew the significance of this place or if it was just coincidence. Regardless, he was grateful to her for persuading him to come.

“You need to be careful with the babies or you’ll regret it,” Zuko warned Toph as she cradled an infant turtleduck in her palm.

“Why? What’re they gonna do?” Toph challenged, playfully.

“Trust me. I once made the mistake of throwing a whole loaf of bread at them, then one of the mothers came at me with a vengeance. They may look harmless but if you mess with them, they’ll give you a world of pain.”

Toph smiled widely.

“Heh, they’re just like me!”

“Exactly, like you,” Zuko acknowledged.

The two laughed and Toph finally placed the babe gently on the water, who then rushed to join its kin.

“Why did you throw bread at them, in the first place?” Toph asked.

“I was trying to be like Azula…”

“Why?!” Toph cried, shocked at his response.

“…I wanted to prove that I could be as strong like her. But then I learned that hurting others doesn’t make you strong at all. And of course, not to mess with a mother’s offspring.”

“Did you feed these guys with Azula?”

“What? No! I always fed them with my mom. It was my favourite thing to do in the palace back then.”

“Your mom? I haven’t met her in person yet. What’s she like?”

“She’s wonderful, Toph,” Zuko answered wistfully. “I’ll introduce you to her and Kiyi when they return.”

Kiyi, about to turn sixteen, wished to see Ember Island after hearing about Zuko’s childhood holidays there. She was, of course, followed by her parents who wished to celebrate her approaching graduation from the fire academy for girls. As much as Zuko wished to join them, the political tensions arising did not leave much room for leisure, let alone a vacation. As such, Zuko was forced to resist his little sister’s puppy-dog eyes and stay behind, though he promised to write to them whenever he could.

“What’s your favourite thing to do now?” Toph inquired, suddenly.

“Huh?”

“You said feeding the turtleducks was your favourite thing to do back then. What’s your favourite thing to do now?”

It took some time for him to answer.

“Hang out with you, I guess.”

Toph laughed. It was unclear to the Fire Lord if she was mocking him or was genuinely delighted at his comment. He knew she did not do well with sentimentality, though it was no secret that when she loved, she loved deeply. And she especially loved her friends.

“What’s so funny?” He asked, mildly irritated. If there was anything he hated, it was being laughed at. It reminded him of his deranged sister’s taunts. Then again, he could never stay mad at his companion, who was nothing like Azula, thankfully.

Toph’s laughter simmered to a chuckle. “Nothing. Chill out, Firecracker,” she quipped.

“Firecracker? You’re never going to run out of nicknames for me, are you?”