Author's Note. This is an AU where Toph has the ability to see. Please do not comment on stuff like "how can Toph see what colour the shirt is?" etcetera
Fairytale
Chapter 1
Once Upon a Time
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Once upon the time there was a very bored girl. She was not especially beautiful, she was not singing to any woodland creatures and she was definitely not in any danger whatsoever except the imminent threat of dying from boredom.
How she had ever ended up working in "Old Navy" she would never know. Just because her parents owned the mall was no reason for her to work there. She didn't need the money, her parents were rich, therefore she was rich and did not need the extra money. When she pointed this fact out her parents said that a job was good for character building.
Character her ass. Since when did folding jeans and helping completely clueless costumers count as "character building"?
Nope, Toph Beifong was definitely not living the fairytale life. She had only moved here two weeks ago and she was already tired of the little town.
In her melancholy she didn't feel like doing anything. She was not in line for employee of the month and only held on to her job because her parents owned the mall.
So what did she do? Toph focused all her energy on her Hubba Bubba. One chew, two chew, three chew, blow bubble, POP and repeat.
"Excuse me." She looked up from the counter to see a boy looking severely uncomfortable in the store. "Could you help me?"
"Yes." She said curtly. Toph looked the boy over. He was not handsome, he was not well built and his tangled hair looked in desperate need of a brush.
"I'm looking for a top for my girlfriend. Could you help?" Oh great. It was one of those costumers. The ones who have no idea what the other sex wears and expects their sister, mom, or in his case a clerk, to do the shopping for him.
For a moment she just considered pointing at the woman's section of the store and saying, "Have a nice day." But instead she slid around the counter and crossed her arms "What's her favourite colour?"
"Uh…" He pondered and she chewed. He hazarded a guess, "Green? I mean," he said when she gave him an exasperated look, "She wears it all the time."
Toph smiled, amused by the boy. "Follow me."
"Hey! You're just gonna leave your cash?" A tall boy with dark hair from the register beside hers was looking unimpressed though his sly smile ruined the effect somewhat.
Her grin only grew larger. "I'm putting you in charge Sergeant Zuko! Watch my station and don't show those customers any mercy!" He saluted and went back to doing absolutely nothing. She admitted that Zuko did look pretty good when doing nothing, but she would never date him. He was the first friend she made and friends they would stay.
"He works here?" The costumer asked, falling into step beside her.
"No, he just likes standing behind the counter. Of course he works here!" She resisted the urge to punch him. Something she always did when people made stupid and/or obvious statements. "Here we are." Toph stopped at a small table covered with camisoles of all colours.
The boy stared at them. Toph had time to blow a bubble before he spoke again, "Uh… which do I chose?"
The bubble popped. "Well, you said she likes green, so pick the green one and then I can cash it through for you."
He reached out a hesitant hand twitched aside the top one to see the one below. "But they're all different… what size is my girlfriend?"
Toph had a look that clearly said 'are-you-serious?' but he did not crack a smile or look as though he was kidding in anyway. She sighed, wishing she had not helped him. "Okay, well, is she my size?" He gave her an appraising look and then shook his head.
"Is she bigger or smaller?" Toph asked, her patience growing thin.
"She's… bigger." He deduced.
"I'm a size two."
"So…"
"Yes?"
"She's a four!" He finally smiled and grabbed the size four.
"Why are you getting her a shirt anyway?" Toph suddenly said, eyeing the cloth. "If it's your weeklong anniversary or whatever you could probably get by with just buying her a nice dinner. Maybe a movie if you plan on reaching a month."
"For your information we've been going for a year now and I wanted to get her something special." He sniffed, in what he obviously thought to be a refined manner.
If Toph found this cute or heart-warming she certainly didn't show it. "Let's throw you a party then. I can see the headlines now, 'Boy manages to keep girlfriend for a whole year'."
The tanktop was wrinkled from how hard he was clutching it. "Where do you get off?"
Toph let out a harsh laugh, subtly was never her forte. "Where do I get off? Suck it up buttercup! I'm just tellin' you the truth. One year is nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero."
He made a move forward but in a flash Zuko was there, glaring ominously. "Is there a problem here," he strained the last word, "Sir?"
The costumer took one last, contemptuous look at the pair of them and slowly pulled a wallet out of his back pocket. He then stuffed two twenties into Toph's hand and stomped out of the store, shirt in hand.
"Why'd you have to stop him? I could've taken him!" Toph punched the air as they walked back to the registers, where an angry line had formed. Toph stuffed the money into the till and waved to the first girl in line. The girl was blonde, busty and had the shortest miniskirt Toph had ever seen. Actually it was more a strip of cloth than a skirt.
The blond opened her mouth to speak but Toph held up a hand, looking at her watch. "Sorry, my shift's up. Zuko, let's go." Toph walked out, Zuko following behind.
Once they were out of the store Zuko turned around, getting a second look at the blonde. "Is that a miniskirt?"
"That does not even qualify as a skirt."
Flying Boar Mall –an oh-so original name- was paradise. Just big enough to attract some well-known stores but small enough to go relatively ignored by huge masses of people.
The stress themselves varied from Hot Topic to Abercrombie and Fitch, giving the whole mall a very diverse selection of people and styles.
Located in the very middle of the mall was a massive, marble, two story fountain, it's water sparkled in the noon sun and submerged coins winked at passers-by. A few kids were standing on the second story, throwing change and trying to get it on the very top tier where the water flowed from before splashing down the next six levels. Surrounding it's base was a collection of small tables where people were sitting and enjoying their lunch.
Toph and Zuko rode the escalator down. Zuko was telling her about Azulon High, the school he and Toph would be attending next week, " Just remember to stay out of my sister's way." He almost smiled at Toph's snort of scepticism. "I'm serious. She'll destroy you."
Before she could tell Zuko that she could cream his sister he had already stepped off the escalator and was making his way to a fifties themed burger joint. The bright neon sign above flash and buzzed the name, "McFlipsters".
Luckily there was no one in line at the normally packed-to-the-rafters restaurant. There at the till was Aang. He was the perfect employee from his shiny shoes to his harinetted hat-covered black hair. He waved enthusiastically when he saw Zuko and Toph.
"Having the usual?" He asked, but even before Toph could nod his fingers where hitting the screen. "A number one with a Coke for Zuko and a number three for you with a strawberry milkshake. That'll be,"
"10. 57." Zuko finished. He fished in his pockets but he pulled them out with nothing in them but a bit of lint. "Damn. Toph, can I borrow some cash?"
"Do not worry my good friend," she pulled a twenty from her pocket, "Our dear 'boyfriend' left us a nice tip."
Zuko had a half-exasperated, half-amused look. "You didn't steal from the till, did you? You have to be a better role model! Aang is an innocent and impressionable kid." The second part was in a mocking tone.
"I'm not a kid…"
"Don't worry." She slid the bill onto the counter. Aang looked at it as if it was tainted. "The top was only fifteen bucks, this is extra for our phenomenal customer service."
As Aang took the money he asked, "Who was your victim this time?" He said it jokingly but he was clearly concerned.
"Just some poor shmuck buying his girlfriend a top." Aang moved to the grill, still listening to Toph as he cooked their food, "Which reminds me. How is Meng?"
Zuko laughed as Aang scowled. Meng was a stalker, to put it lightly. She followed Aang and even got a job at McFlipsters so she could be closer to him. Aang was completely creeped out by her.
"I told you, we're not going out." Aang said darkly while Zuko was still smiling. "She's just plain creepy. Sometimes she just shows up at my front door and gives me a basket of fruit…"
"That is pretty weird." Zuko nodded solemnly while Toph was doing her best not to laugh.
Aang finished their food and placed it on bright red trays. "Have a nice day. Maybe we can hang out later? Gyato's out so we could have a gaming night."
Toph groaned. Zuko and Aang were major gamers and she couldn't understand why. Maybe she just never got into them because anything that was five feet away or more was blurry to her eyes.
Sometimes she wondered how they even became friends. Aang was so light and bubbly while Zuko was sarcastic and brooding but they hung out and they got along. It didn't matter, they accepted her as one of their own though privately she thought that they were probably the only two people in the mall who weren't offended, or at least could stand, her brash personality.
"So, I heard you've got uniforms at your school." Toph said conversationally, putting her tray on a table.
Zuko grabbed a chair and pulled it up. After munching on a fry he said, "Yeah, black pants and skirts for girls" Toph made a face. "Then just white button up shirts. You're supposed to wear a tie but only teachers-pets and preps do that," He nodded towards Aang who was happily serving a costumer. "But besides that most people add their own touches."
Toph slurped her drink. Her eyes were unfocused as she gazed at the other people in the food court. One couple caught her attention and squinting at them she saw "tanktop boy" with a very pretty brunette. She elbowed Zuko and casually pointed towards them.
The boy was passing the girl a small wrapped package, he probably got it wrapped at the card store, grinning she opened it. Her eyes grew wide and she grabbed the front of the boys shirt, pulling him close and kissed him.
"He probably just remembered it was their anniversary and ran to buy her a gift." Toph said trying, and failing, to be offhand about it.
"Why does it matter?" Zuko said, taking a bite of his burger. Not even giving the kissing couple a second glance. "We don't even know them."
"You're right." She said and after a second's pause she laughed, "I mean, it's not like I'll ever see him again."
Author's Note
HAPPY FRIGGIN BIRTHDAY KYOSHI7989!! Sorry this is, like, five days late! I wasn't expecting have your birthday sprung on me so quickly so I had to whip out this story right away.
Anyway, because you rock so hardcore this whole story (all twenty-three chapters) is for you!
So, Happy Birthday! Hope you like it!
