Free the Mind

Anniversary of some huge Fire nation battle thing, maybe the end of the war. Probably that.. Maybe like 10 or 15 years after ATLA canon. There's gonna be a big huge celebration. Whole Gaang is gonna be there regardless to be with Zuko. But Zuko finds out ahead of time there's at least one, probably multiple, plans to assassinate him that day. Doesn't know who it will be, though.

Gaang all collectively agree Zuko needs a bodyguard during the party, but an obvious guard could be taken out early in order to get to Zuko. They decide there needs to be 'decoy' bodyguards and security at the event, but Zuko needs someone with him pretty much at all times as a precaution. Yes, he's strong and can handle himself well enough, but like... safety of their friend is HIGH priority and Aang almost cries when he thinks about losing any of them, so they gotta do something here.

So the idea - fake date for Zuko. Katara is out, her relationship with the Avatar is so well known that nobody would buy it. They consider Suki, even though Sokka whines about it, since she's a highly trained warrior and would be a great choice as his bodyguard/fake date. But someone mentions Toph's ability to tell if people are lying, and her having been raised in high society, so she understandsall the weird complexities of these types of royal parties, and everyone says "OH yeah that's perfect." Toph is single at this point, so there's no worry about believability, either.

Toph is all grumbly about having to be fancy at first, but she also would be incredibly sad if anything happened to Zuko, so she agrees.

There would be like, set up stuff - gown fittings, meetings with advisors, lots of opportunities for the 'new couple' to interact and start catching feelings. Zuko, I imagine, would be so startled at seeing the fancy side of Toph at first, that his brain short-circuits. Not even in a "wow she's pretty" way but in a "I have never not seen her covered in dirt and swearing" kind of way. It scares him a little, to be honest. He's not used to Toph like that.

I like to imagine there has to be a dance at some point at the party, so the two have lessons together to learn it. Lots of time to be up close and in each other's space, ya know.

When the actual party happens, there's a lot of awkward romantic tension between them both. I dunno how I would proceed there, but eventually the assassination attempt DOES happen, though. Toph and Zuko work frighteningly well together fighting people off- there may or may not be molten hot metal getting flung around the party. The one thing Toph misses, being unable to feel it, is a wooden flaming arrow fired directly at her. In my mind, she gets hit and Zuko fucking loses it. Attempts on his life? Sure, fine, he's used to that. (Family history and all) But attempts on his friend(Friend? Maybe more? Potential girlfriend? They're still working things out?) ? That's not okay. He goes nuts.

They end up an official thing after she's healed up. I imagine Toph grabbing Zuko by his stupid fancy robes while he's hovering over her injured body and yanking him down to kiss her. (Katara has to scold her because she uses her injured side to do it)