May 25, 2012

Zutara Part One: twinkle Toes Isn't Twinkling

Aang could not keep up with Zuko while they sparred with fire bending. Sometimes he would use air bending to level the playing field but today it wasn't enough. The gang was still in the fire nation, the war had just ended and they all had a month before going their separate ways. Seated under the huge willow tree, Suki was seated to Katara's left, she was conversing with Toph about the end of the Invasion. But for some reason Katara was particularly distracted by the guys' sparring. It seemed as if Zuko wasn't holding anything back as he advanced on Aang, she knitted her eyebrows as her heart thumped a little harder.

"Right Katara?" Toph snickered. Her clear eyes glittering with excitement.

"Huh?" Katara faced the table. She looked at Suki, it was hard to get used to her without makeup almost like looking one side of a coin. Concentrating on the conversation tuning out the grunts and blasts thirty feet away.

"What's with you sugar queen? You're all zoned out. Oh. I get it. I guess Twinkle Toes gets your heart rate up hmm?" Toph poked her.

"No. I mean yeah," she blushed. Katara hoped Toph couldn't tell she was lying. She began to focus her energy on slowing her pulse, that evil craft came in handy sometimes.

"Aren't you two having dinner tonight?" Suki eagerly asked. She was ecstatic about her and Aang. Her eyes twinkled from the fascination of young love. But it wasn't love, not that kind.

"Yeah and our nightly walk. Nothing special." Katara feebily feigned an attempt to look excited while brushing it off. It was all she could do not to swing her leg nervously. She could fool Toph once but she doubted twice. If she could see, she could probably see right through her. Suki didn't notice a thing.

Suki began to tell them about her first date with Sokka, Katara took the oppurtunity to sort out her thoughts. She couldn't understand her fascination with Zuko. He was still slightly grouchy and maintained aloof. But he did She liked Aang and Aang liked her right?

Desperate for solitude, Katara stood up, "Alright. I'll you see you girls later. I'm going to practice."

"Yeah a dip in the pool sounds great." Toph pushed out her chair.

"Er. I need to focus. I found some old scrolls in the palace library. And they're quite complicated." Katara hated to lie. She despised people who did, especially people who lied to their friends.

The jig was up, Toph pursed her lips, "Okay."

Trying to remain inconspicuous, "See you at dinner?"

"Dinner with Twinkle Toes, right?"

It was as if Toph was comparing both reactions, "Yeah. But maybe we could catch up later?"

Suki chuckled softly, "I don't think so."

Toph's face broke out into a sly grin.

Blood rushed up, "No. That's not. He can't." Katara spun on her heel, "See you later tonight."

"Whatever you say Sugar Queen." Toph's comment was supposed to be endearing on the surface but actually had an icy bite. Suki didn't notice so she laughed anyway.