Rated: T
Description: "You can't give up when you're looking for a diamond in the rough" Your Toko present: Diamond In the Rough.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or any of it's contents nor do I own Nickelback's song 'Gotta Be somebody' which I give credit for greatly(it's awesome), and all the other songs that I pieced in here.
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
Zuko stretched exhaustively as he walked into his Fire Lord crimson room, arms stretching upwards with full extend. The gang had reunited after 3 years from the war for the year's end and Zuko had spent the whole day showing them all around and greeting them back. He stood next to his bed and removed his Fire Lord clothes and slipped on comfortable sleeping pants. He climbed on his soft bed and slipped under the covers, forgetting to close the window on his left. The chilly air wisped through the curtains and prickled his skin. He absent-mindedly shrugged the thought off of closing it and closed his eyes for heavenly sleep. His last thought before drifting off into sleep was of how different it seemed without Mai there with him.
The next morning Aang barged in Toph's room, only to find what he had been expecting. Toph laid sprawled on her bed, hair poking out in every direction, and the covers slowly slipping from the bed. Aang laughed and called out her name. "Toph, time to wake up!" He jumped out happily with a wide grin on his face, only receiving a grunt from Toph. He dragged himself back into the room after a while and grabbed a hold of a fallen pillow and slammed it on her back. "Wake-y wake-y, lazy" Toph threw the pillow around her ears at him harshly but she missed greatly. Aang laughed again. "You have to stand to get me!"
"Knock of, Stammer Toes, before I fling you like a pebble." Aang raised his arms in defeat.
"Ok, ok, but breakfast is ready." Toph mumbled out nonsense, Aang not understanding a thing. After minutes of Aang standing there in confusion, Toph finally cleared herself.
"I'll be there in a minute. Tell Sugar Queen not to throw a fit." Aang nodded and went on his way out.
Toph dragged herself out into the dining room where everybody sat eating, chatting, and laughing. Toph ran her fingers through her hair one last time as she sat next to Katara, reassuring herself her hair wouldn't get in the way of 'Sugar Queen's progress' of eating. Clear, it was straight and nice. Zuko stared in confusion at Toph's hair, this was the first time he saw her with her hair actually down and... well... nicely combed. His mind drifted off and he began to wonder things he knew he shouldn't have. He wondered what it would feel like if he ran his fingers through her hair. Would it feel like Mai's? Mai had highly sleek hair, I doubt Toph's would... more like soft...He hadn't noticed that the fork he had been holding onto had fallen from his grip, everybody staring at him staring at Toph. "Surprising isn't it, Zuko? Her hair is actually manageable," Sokka stated.
"Shut up, Sokka," she threw an extra silverware from her side at him and looked down to her plate. Things had been stressing her out lately. Even before the gang reunited.
"You better be careful, Sokka, she might fling you like a pebble," everybody laughed but Zukodeafened them out, staring at her for just a couple of seconds more. He blinked one hard blink and drowned the thoughts out. He shook his head and continued eating the food in front of him.
"So, Zuko, we were wondering if we could visit Iroh sometime this week."
"Uh, yeah, sure. He might be busy, though."
"Nah, ole' Iroh always has time for us!" Sokka replied gleefully. Zuko glared at him, thinking how Sokka could be so selfish to his favorite uncle. He decided not to throw a fit about it and, again, continued his eating. A servant entered the dining room respectively and addressed to Zuko.
"Fire Lord Zuko, you are needed in the meeting room."
"there's a meeting?"
"No, but there is somebody awaiting you there that reports it is important."
"Can't you tell them to come at a later time?"
"He urges you to come." Zuko looked around at his friends, awaiting for somebody to say something.
"We'll be fine, Zuko," Katara smiles reassuringly and nods accompanied with the smile. Zuko whispered a small
"Yeah," as he stood from his chair and headed for the meeting room, glancing back at the eating Toph one last time.
Zuko had finished talking to the man who so urgely needed to speak with him and was walking back to the dining room. He was so filled with thoughts he couldn't piece them all out without them riveting down heavily on him. But not one of those thoughts, not one, was of Mai. He hadn't realized he was moving on, finally. They had broken up, and he was sure she had moved on by now, she was the one to end it anyway. She had said he hadn't payed attention to her and was criticizing her of when she pretended to feel nothing and be detached from the world. She said she wasn't satisfied to Fire Lord Zuko and she missed Banished Prince Zuko. He honestly didn't know what changed or if anything did change, but she said of course he didn't, nobody realizes it. Just like nobody realizes what they have until they lose it... and she stalked off with her bags, officially ending what had been.
He passed by Toph's room, which was only left a creak open. And in he saw Toph huddled up on her bed, head resting on her palm and looking out the window she had opened up, though, in reality, she saw nothing. No matter how much she pretended she did. He didn't stop to stare or didn't ask what she was doing, he just sped on ahead. If he knew anything about women, he knew that obviously something was bothering her. And according to Mai, he was awful when it came to comforting them. So, he just walked on ahead. He arrived to the dining table and everyone grew quiet as he sat down. "So we're going to have a party to celebrate the New Years right?"
"Yeah," Zuko responded carelessly.
"When should we start decorating?" Katara jumped into the conversation anxiously. She loved decorating parties and special events. What could she say, she loved doing what she was great at.
"Whenever you guys want to."
"Let's start at around noon, no?" Sokka, Suki, and Aang soon jumped into the conversation and ideas flew about everywhere. Then Toph's name came up into the conversation. "Yeah! We should ask Toph's opinion for that, though. You know how she hates cheesy lines like that."
"Right now it seems she hates everything."
"What is wrong with Toph, anyway?" Suki looked around the table and bit her lip.
"Who knows. When we caught up with her she was sort of down, too. She's not like herself... maybe it's her parents...?"
"No, she doesn't live with them anymore."
"She doesn't?" Zuko asked, suddenly in with everyone.
"No.-"
"But she's only 15," Suki said.
"Yeah, that's what her parents said," Katara stated "; she ran away."
"Then where does she live now?"
"She told me not to tell, she doesn't want unexpected visits..." Everybody drew quiet.
"oh," Suki squeaked out. ...
"Maybe she's lonely."
"Who knows." Aang cleared his throat and changed the subject. "I think we should get yellow ribbons, too." And the conversation started out again.
----DDDIIITTTRRR
Everyone left off to their room to brush their teeth and comb their hair and what-not. Zuko walked off to his room and grunted. He didn't want it to be New Years Eve the next day. He didn't want to start over again. He dragged his feet and himself over to his bed and sat. He didn't want to face the new problems the new year was going to bring. He just wanted to lay peacefully by the pond his mother and him used to spend their countless time at and not have to deal with any body's problems, not even his. But everybody wishes that from time to time, don't they?
The next day, New Years Eve, the party was finally taking place. Aang and Katara & Sokka and Suki danced in the crowds of people dancing as well to the music being played. Zuko sat on a chair, sipping some drink they had bought. Toph was nowhere to be found, of what Katara and the servants said, but they all agreed to give her some time to herself. And if she still didn't appear when the party was going on, they'd go searching for her, leaving Zuko absolutely nothing to do. He looked over to the boozes aways away from him and sighed. He couldn't believe his uncle had to work for New Years. Stores were still open even for this occasion, and he hated it. But he guessed people had to make money.
It wasn't even dawning night yet, really, it was still daylight. But the way the party was going, it would go on until the very dawn of New Years itself. He stood and walked over out to the curtain closed balcony, pushed the crimson gold curtains aside, and walked over to the balcony. "How did I know I was going to find you here?" Toph was wearing her casual clothing, nothing special, her hair pushed aside to one of her shoulders. She scratched her head.
"Zuko, right?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"Why don't you go dance?" She laughed ironically.
"With who?..."
"Aang."
"He's dancing with Katara."
"Suki."
"She's dancing with Sokka."
"Katara."
"She's dancing with Aang."
"Sokka."
"... He's dancing with Suki...," she thought the consideration of dancing with her ex crush that was engaged and laughed. "Definitely no." Zuko stayed silent.
"You can atleast go in there."
"Nah... anywhere but there."
"How about Uncle's tea shop?" Her ears perked up and suddenly she was interested. A smile creeped up her lips.
"Sure."
"Ok, i'll just go tell them we're leaving-"
"No! I don't want them chasing after me."
"But-."
"No, now come on!" She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off with her, sneaking out of the palace.
They arrived at Iroh's tea shop and took a seat in an empty table. Soon enough as they were chatting, Iroh approached them. "Hello, nephew. Hello, Toph," he said with his soft voice. "Where is everybody else? Surely dancing, no?" Zuko nodded.
"We thought we should visit you."
"Yes, well, i'm a bit busy now with all the orders, why don't you two run off back, I don't want to keep you here waiting." Zuko looked at Toph who didn't seem much bothered by the idea.
"Ok, Uncle, we'll see you later." Iroh smiled and nodded and went off on his way. "So I guess we should go back now, huh?"
"No, you know what I told you! Anywhere but there." Zuko thought in consideration.
"Ok... so where now?" A smile slowly creeped up back on Toph's face, again. Zuko was beginning not to like these evil smiles.
"I know," she stood and grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out, once again. They wound up sitting down next to a sparkling lake filled with tons of turtle ducks in the center of it.
"Where did you ever find this place... or when?"
"Aang and Katara found me here after they had arrived. I guess I sort of just wandered around and found this place." Zuko looked out toward the lake peacefully. Maybe the gods had heard him, maybe he could lie down and forget of everyone's troubles. "Tell me, how's life being Fire Lord?"
"Busy." Toph laughed.
"I'm sure it is. You chose that decision to be Fire Lord."
"No," somehow Zuko was a little offended "; I didn't choose to be Fire Lord, just how I didn't choose to be Banished. It just is. I just am."
"No need to get offended Royal Hot Head! I was just saying... You didn't have to be Fire Lord. Life has a lot of possibilities."
"No, it doesn't."
"Yeah, it does-"
"You're one to talk.-"
"What?-" Zuko went on as if she never interrupted.
"-You're life has a lot of possibilities just because you like to take the easy way out on everything. You have it easy, others don't.-" He didn't know what was wrong with him. Maybe it was... jealousy...?
"And whoever said I have it easy, hm?" She stood, angered, and the ground began to shake little by little. "Whoever said I take the easy way out? You don't know me, nothing about me, so you can't say anything about my life!"
"I know enough to know that you ran away just because you can't hold the pressure of doing something people depend you to do!" He stood as well.
"Whoever told you I ran away?" Zuko finally grew silent. Toph looked away. "Damn, Katara."
"Don't blame it on her!" Toph looked back at him and lifted her arms up high.
"Why? Why not? Why can't I blame everything on everyone? Why is it so wrong to want a break from life?" Her arms fell back down.
"Haven't you had enough breaks!? You don't get it do you!?"
"Get what, hm? You tell me, Zuko, because I obviously don't know! That running away isn't always easy? I know that! That when you do and find that you have nowhere to stay you have to sleep somewhere new every night!? Travel around roads you don't even recognize!? I knowthat, Zuko, I do! But do you know how that feels like!? Seeing all your friends marry and be happy with somebody else when nothing new ever happens to your life, where you can't just settle down with somebody you love and call your life great!? Where you live lonely for what seems the rest of your life!? And you can't tell anybody because they think you're so tough and mighty to have problems like those!? Well guess what, your Royal Highness, that's exactly my life! And, news flash, I knowall that!" Zuko didn't have anything to say. So, he finally knew what her problem was. She wanted to fall in love and felt lonely. He felt bad and right now, the best decision seemed to just keep quiet.
"I'm sorry...," he sat back down and tried so hard not to look back to her eyes that probably wished to be blinking daggers at him. Moments of silence occured when finally Zuko broke the silence. "I've... always wondered what it feels like... to find the one we all dream of... but dreams, just aren'tenough, sometimes," Toph cooled down a bit and sat back down with him. "But I guess i'll just have to wait for the real thing," he hated talking about this kind of stuff, but it all seemed to just blurt out without him really thinking of what he was saying "; but I'll know it by the feeling, when we're meeting, I mean. It'll play just how I think it would, but then it wouldn't. It'd be a surprise, sort of." Toph looked toward the lake as the sun began to set.
"I get it, Zuko, I getit. You told me I didn't, but I do. I get that nobody wants to be the last one there. The last one to love," she began more sweetly, surprising Zuko since he was pretty much used to her screaming at him "; Everyone wants to feel like someone cares, everyone. I want to know how it feels like to have someone to love with my life in their hands." Zuko couldn't help but look at her now, her face set to bittersweet sadness, almost as if she wanted to let go of the invisible tears tugging at her eyes. "There's got to be somebody for me like that... Nobody wants to do it on their own... and everyone wants to know they're not alone. There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere, there's gotto be somebody for me out there...," Zuko turned himself so that he was facing her directly.
"Toph... you can't...," he sighed "; you can't give up when you're looking for a diamond in the rough... cause, you never know...," he looked at her more sinceringly, like the one night he had found Mai crying out the balcony. In a way, he was talking more to himself, rather than her. "When it shows up... make sure you're holding on, because... it could be the one... The one you're waiting on. The one of your dreams." He began quoting her now "'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there.' And everyone wants to feel like someone cares... Just hold on to that diamond in the rough...," he snapped out of 'talking to himself' and addressed Toph directly. "Some guy is going to hold onto you, Toph, I know." Toph remained quiet. Even though she couldn't say it, her heart was pounding in her ears.
"Like that..." Zuko was confused, but he decided not to ask. If she wanted to tell him, she would. Zuko sighed and stood. Seconds passed and Toph looked up at Zuko, wondering what, in Agni's life, was Zuko all about. She didn't know whether to trust him, or not. But she couldn't just sit there and try to figure him out all day. "Open your hand." Zuko looked down at her confused but did as she told. She laughed. "Well, lift it!" He did so. She put her hand flat on his and put weight on it, trying to lazily lift herself up. Once she was up she removed her palm from his and dragged him off with her. He decided not to ask and only smiled to himself.
Toph and Zuko ventured around everywhere, every single nook and cranny. When Toph reallydragged Zuko into a shop. "Kill me," he thought a loud, not being the guy that really likes to go 'SHOPPING!' and then clap his hands in a gleeful way like Sokka had. Zuko escaped his way out of the clothing shop, only to be captured again by Toph.
"Nuh uh, Hot Head! Back in the clothing hell!"
"Noway, Toph!"
"Yeah! Now get in there before I fling you like a pebble!" Yes, Zuko was scared of Toph's wrath, she had gotten her payback for burning her feet before they had all said goodbye... But he wouldn't give in.
"Not unless you go back to the party."
"What? No!"
"Then I don't go in there!"
"... Partypooper."
"Me? Who'sthe one that doesn't want to go the party?" Toph stayed quiet. "Got you didn't I? You have to where a dress, too." Toph looked away.
"Kill me." Zuko laughed.
"You put me in a clothing hell and i'll make you wear hell clothing." Her brows furrowed.
"I really hate you right now, Hot Head." Zuko smiled. "Fine," she murmered.
"What? I didn't hear you?"
"Fine...!" He laughed and walked on ahead into the clothing hell and scowled. Now it was Toph's turn to laugh. "All the way in Hot Head." She walked in and yanked him over to a piece of clothing with her. She felt the dress, nah. She walked over to another, felt it, stuck her tongue at it. Zuko smiled. This went on for a while, of Toph making all different kinds of signs indicating she didn't like the dress. She stumbled across men shoes on display and felt them around. She smiled approvingly and grabbed the box that held them in. She shoved them at Zuko. "Wear those!"
"What, why?"
"'Cause I said so."
"But-"
"Hello, can I help you?" A lady approached them who, obviously, worked there.
"I'm looking for a dress. -Oh! And make it green!"
"But you can't-" Toph hit Zuko on the shoulder and smiled at the lady.
"Uh... follow me, we have a wide assortment of fine green dresses this way...," she began to leave to a rack of beautiful green dresses, as she had promised.
"Where is she going?" Toph whispered to him.
"Where you wanted her to!" He whispered back.
"Well, lead me! There's no earth here, Dunder Head!"
"Alright, alright!" He led her over to the lady as she took a stop. He set the shoes down on a cabinet and watched as someone replaced them for bright red high heels.
"Might I recommend you take this one," she pulled a very beautiful dress from the rack "; it would fit you perfectly."
"Ok, great, where's the fitting room at?"
"Just across-"
"Ok!" And she rushed toward it.
"Toph!...?"
"I'll be back! You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress," she pointed where he had set the shoes down, yet now was a pair of red high heels. She dissappeared into the fitting room with the lady and he was left there looking down at those high heels and laughed. Finally, he found where the shoes were, sat, and put them on, seeing how they felt, or, if they were his size. It fit him precisely so he took them off and put them back in the box to buy. He looked over to the fitting room and waited.
Inside the fitting room the lady helped Toph put the dress on, which she rarely did. But Toph asked for her help, so, why not? She zippered the dress and looked at the reflection of this young girl she didn't even know well. "... You have an affair with the Fire Lord?" Toph turned.
"Huh?"
"I'm sorry, it's none of my business."
"What made you think we're having an affair?"
"Well, you know... I just thought...," she shrugged.
"What?"
"... Do you like him?" She smiled, she couldn't help her curiosity, it just was.
"W-why...?" Silence... The lady shook her head, smile still there.
"Nothing," she giggled at the thought of this girl being Fire Lady, the one they all waited for, for so long. Not knowing who the Fire Lady would be precisely. Toph sighed. "The New Years party, right?" Toph nodded. "Can I do something with your hair?"
"Knock yourself out." The girl smiled and got to work.
A/N: So this was originally going to be a one-shot for New Years(hence the longness since I never do a chapter this long) but i'm deciding to make it a chapter story that I hopefully will finish by New Years. And, this is my first 'Holiday fan fiction' kind of thing. You know, making a fan fiction specially for an occasion.