Just a story that tells about the life changing fieldtrip of Toph and Zuko. Yes, it has been written before, but the entirety of fanfics has to outbalance canon's unjust situation with Toph!

Not a romance, but a pre-romance – come on, people, they are a bit too young yet! AU-ish in a way – there is no reunion with Mai.

OMG!, no warnings, well, except for my strange attempts at humor.

Disclaimer: don't own, I wish I did, but reality strikes hard. Just like Toph.

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Life Changing is not Life Shattering

- Chapter One -

They were like cockroaches. This whole place was full of cockroaches.

Toph heard a sound of distant conversation. She crushed another stone at her feet.

On second thought, cockroaches were decent kind of insects, roaming on the ground, easy to spot and avoid, or, even better, to crush. Therefore, they – all these people – were more like mosquitoes: little, annoying, flying soundlessly, she could "see" them only when they landed on her, stupid bugs.

There was a sound of footsteps, someone was approaching her as quietly as possible.

"This place is already taken, Sparky," Toph was never known for her tact. "I suggest you look for another one."

The young Fire Lord looked startled, then smiled:

"It seems you've found my secret hiding place."

He hopped down beside her.

The secret hiding place, as he put it, was a rather cozy, covered in mud alcove, a relatively quiet one in this mad palace full of nosy ministers.

She humphed, "So why are you hiding, oh Almighty Fire Lord?"

Zuko grimaced, "I'm not hiding, I just wanted a little moment of peace, away from everyone."

It seemed the "mosquitoes" were bugging him as well.

In these few months after the war ended, life was full of such important things as political meetings, sorting out the Fire Nation's priorities and relations with other Nations. It seemed this task was unbearable even for the Avatar, while Zuko sometimes was restraining himself from torturing particularly annoying species of his councilors and the ambassadors, reminding himself not to restore to Azula's methods. But, boy, he could dream.

Toph grinned, punching him not too gently:

"Don't worry, Princess, it'll be even tougher later on."

Zuko rubbed the abused arm and muttered an unhappy "Thanks, I'm glad I'm not the only optimist around here."

She just laughed. Optimism, well, she sure needed to restock it lately.

"So," the Fire Lord began, rather hesitantly at that, "what are you going to do now?"

Oh, he just had to nail it down, didn't he?

In all honesty, Toph was becoming painfully aware she had to move on, now that everything was peaceful, and there was no need for her to help the Avatar, to fight.

Right, to move on... It wasn't hard, was it? Every one of them was doing it, some with more luck than others.

"I don't know," she answered quietly, resting her head on her knees.

Zuko looked around, spotted all the cobbles, considered the possible damage he would be subjected to with his next question, and asked cautiously:

"Don't you want to see your family again?"

She bristled, turned angrily at him, but for once though that he didn't have anything to do with the core of her problem. Toph sighed:

"I do, and I don't. I do miss them but I just know they are not going to accept me for who I am." And maybe they're going to try and lock me away – again! – from all the terrible world that could harm poor defenseless me, she snorted at that thought.

"You think that after what had happened, after all the things you did, they still think you're a fragile little girl?" Zuko really doubted the sanity of people who were able to associate the word "fragile" with the earthbender sitting next to him.

However, seeing as the girl merely nodded, he continued, "After all, you're a war veteran, a whole lot of people are terrified of you."

Toph grinned at him, "I know a Fire Lord who's terrified of me."

The aforementioned Fire Lord chuckled, "Maybe they should see that play with the buff guy casting you; now that would give them a hint." Now they both tittered before becoming still.

The sun was setting, people-mosquitoes were buzzing more quietly now. The alcove was full of pensive silence.

Finally, the firebender voiced his cogitations:

"Maybe, it is possible for you to show them you're strong, and not just in fighting."

Toph arched a brow, "And how am I supposed to do that, our master strategist?"

Zuko got up and squatted down in front of her, touching her hands.

"Maybe, just maybe, there is a way to make you able to see."

She recoiled, "But I've seen hundreds of doctors..."

He shook his head, "Wait, just hear me out. I know you must've seen a lot of doctors in your life, but this is not about making your eyes see, it's more spiritual. The Avatar told me there is a guru, who can teach these sorts of things. I don't quite get it myself, and I don't want you to raise your hope too much, because it is quite possible the guy wouldn't be able to help you."

She sat there stunned, taking all this in.

Zuko proceeded, "The place is not too far away from an island I wanted to visit for months, the island where my mother is. Right now the negotiations quieted down for a few weeks, I'm sure my uncle will be able to handle everything for a while. I don't know if this guru can help you or not, but if there's a chance he can, it's better than sitting here and crushing rocks, is it not?"

Toph took a few deep breathes, and looked at the direction she presumed his face was:

"Well, you do own me a life changing fieldtrip."

They both smiled.

- TBC -

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AN. A most amazing thing happened when I started watching "Avatar" – my two favorite characters are not both males! So, Toph and Zuko are in need of some love!

I'm curious to know what you think of it.