A Curious Plan

The rain was pouring now and anyone still outside was probably crazy. It was a nighttime thunderstorm, complete with lightning and thunder so loud that Toph could feel it vibrating. But Toph didn't care about the storm; she was near her destination and her mission was incredibly important. The lightning lit up the tiled homes of Ba Sing Se's wealthy citizens.

The tea shop, The Jasmine Dragon, was straight ahead and Toph marched up the steps determinedly. When she reached the door, she pounded on it mercilessly.

"Ah Toph! I am happy you could make it." Iroh said cheerfully, taking no note of the weather whatsoever. "Would you care for a cup of tea?"

"No thanks Iroh. I would prefer to get straight down to business." Iroh led her to one of the tables and the pair sat down.

"Of course. Now you know of my proposition?" Toph nodded.

"Yes and I must agree with you on it. My subject has been moping for the past few days and I've had enough of it. What about your subject?"

Iroh chuckled. "The usual moodiness but I think there is more to it this time. Listen Toph if my plan doesn't work they may suffer like this for the rest of their lives!" Toph moaned.

"No! I don't think I could deal with that and neither could Aang." Iroh nodded, expecting such a response.

"So you agree then." Iroh clasped his hands together and smiled broadly. "Operation Date is now in effect!"

The Next Day

It was a beautiful day and there was hardly any indication that there had been a fierce storm the night before. The sun was out and it had dried up any traces of the rain. Katara was taking a walk through Ba Sing Se (the Upper Ring), trying to enjoy the day. She sighed. It was pointless, wasn't it? For some reason Katara was unhappy. She shouldn't be!

The war was over and peace lay ahead. Her family and friends were alive and well. There was nothing to be unhappy about because anything else would be trivial. She had much to be grateful for, why complain? Yet something within her was telling her that she was unhappy, that she deserved more. Impossible!

"Hey Sugar Queen wait up!" Katara halted as Toph ran towards her, a smile on her face.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Why?" Katara asked in a dull voice that Toph had become accustomed to hearing lately.

"Do I need a reason? I just wanted to see how you've been." Toph replied carefully.

"I'm fine. In fact, I'm more than fine! The war is over… Aang is happy…" Toph noticed her voice falter on that last part.

"If you don't love him Katara, you should just tell him instead of tormenting yourself like this." Katara spun around quickly.

"What are you talking about Toph? I love Aang and I'm very happy!" She huffed and started to walk away from her friend. Toph smiled; it was just as she had thought. Sugar Queen was so easy to read.

"By the way you've been invited to Iroh's tea place tonight! It's at 7!" Toph shouted to Katara's retreating figure. Her part of the plan done, Toph left to go practice some earthbending. Her mind was filled with all the delicious scenarios that might occur tonight.

oOoOoO

"Zuko you are unhappy. Do not try to hide it from me." Iroh stated calmly. He knew it was because of Mai. Iroh meant no ill towards the girl but she had never really made Zuko happy. Zuko's mood swings had emerged in full force this past week and Iroh knew how to fix them.

"You're right Uncle." Zuko sighed and joined the older man for some tea. "I think it's Mai. I thought being with her was right and I thought it would make me happy. But instead I'm miserable. It's not fair for either of us." His uncle made a small sound of agreement and Zuko took that as a sign to continue.

"But I can't break up with her! She'll kill me! I mean, she went to prison for me! And I forgot all about her!" The alarm in Zuko's voice was evident and Iroh stifled a laugh.

"Leave Mai to me. Tonight everything will change. You are going to have tea here tonight with a young lady at seven." Zuko looked at his uncle in surprise. Just who had he invited? Some random girl he met that morning, perhaps? Zuko wouldn't put it past him.

"Uncle…" He began to protest before Iroh cut in.

"Zuko I have always been right with matters concerning you, right?" And Zuko sighed because his uncle was right. He was subtly reminding his nephew of all the times Zuko hadn't listened. Why was his uncle so clever?

"Fine." He answered.

The Jasmine Dragon, 7pm

It was now the appointed time and the girl hadn't arrived yet. Maybe she had backed out. Zuko wouldn't have blamed her. He felt ridiculous! He was the only customer in the shop and his uncle had forced him to wear his dressy green robe tonight. He did look rather nice if Zuko was going to be honest, but still! Who was this girl? She was obviously someone important.

oOoOoO

Katara stared at The Jasmine Dragon suspiciously. No one was entering or leaving the shop and it was always busy. She tugged at her dress nervously. She was wearing a green gown, the same one she had worn when the gang celebrated their victory not so long ago. She was even wearing a flower in her hair similar to the one she had worn then.

Toph hadn't revealed that she was going on a date until after she had gotten ready. Katara just knew that Toph had done so on purpose. She couldn't believe she was being set up! And when Katara had asked about Aang, Toph had just shrugged.

"Leave Twinkle Toes to me, ok? You are not happy and I think you will be if everything goes well tonight." Katara had thought about not going but she was very curious now. Just who had Toph corralled into this?

oOoOoO

Zuko stood up when he saw the figure of a young woman approaching. His table was near the entrance so he could sort of see the girl approaching. It was dark so he couldn't get a good look at her, but she appeared to be wearing a long green robe. And as she got closer Zuko could make out brown hair and blue eyes… Blue eyes?

"Katara?" Zuko asked in disbelief as he gaped at his friend. She had stopped when Zuko called out and was now on the last step leading towards the door.

"Zuko?" Katara exclaimed in astonishment, her cheeks reddening. She noticed Zuko was blushing now as well. For a moment the two gaped at each other and then Zuko spun around.

"Uncle!"