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The Jade Dragon

Chapter One:

Zuko ran a hand through the tangled mess that was his hair. It needed a trim. And he was the Fire Lord… He should look decent. The thing was, he couldn't exactly trust anyone to cut his hair for him… Not after what had happened. He'd been asleep after a long day of meeting with advisors, and diplomats, when someone had tried to stab him as he slept. The man was caught, but Zuko was shaken. Since then, everything seemed like a threat. And people in the Fire Nation were frustrated with some of the decisions he'd made of late.

Couldn't anyone see he was doing his best?

He took up a pair of scissors himself and tried to trim his hair. When he was done it was slightly shorter, but probably worse looking than before.

He had been Fire Lord for seven years. He had thought this would all be easy by now. And, sometimes it was. But lately, it felt as if he would never succeed at his job.

He glanced at one of his guards. "Have there been any letters?" He couldn't help but wish for news from his friends. Though, one friend he knew he would not receive a letter from. That friend just popped in and out of his life, and he never knew when she would show up.

"None, sir."

"Will you send for Kanon?"

The guard left and Zuko rubbed his eyes. He felt tired.

Kanon appeared, gray hair not matching his lineless face. "You called?"

"I appreciate you going to the council meeting today, I needed the rest." He needed it. He hadn't actually rested. He'd paced back and forth in his room.

"I can see that everything is becoming too much for you. Let me handle things for you until you are well."

"Thank you, Kanon."

"There is one thing I feel I must mention to you, your highness." Kanon's voice was steady, but his words caused a feeling of dread for Zuko.

"What is it? Rebellion?"

Kanon chuckled, "Of course not, it is merely an…incident. Not even that, more like… A strange occurrence."

"What?"

"Well, one of the guards spotted someone on the palace walls. A hooded figure. A few days ago."

"What? Have they been seen since? What happened?"

"The man disappeared as soon as the guards spotted him. There have been no other sightings since then. I am sure it is nothing to worry about."

"Why didn't you say something before?"

"I didn't want to cause you concern."

Zuko took a deep breath. "Keep an eye out. Interview the guards again."

Kanon nodded and then left the room. Zuko buried his face in his hands.

He didn't know how much time had passed, when he was startled by a loud knock at the door. "Who is it?" His voice was angrier than he had meant it to be.

"The greatest earthbender on the planet. Are you going to let me in or am I going to have to tear this door down?"

"Toph!" He looked up, his eyes wide. He briefly wondered about his appearance, before remembering it didn't matter. He jumped to his feet and unlocked the door.

She was twenty, now. Her hair was long, and braided back. No longer short. She still had dirt smeared across her face. She was taller than she once had been. To him, the change had been so gradual that it seemed strange to make note of it.

The sight of a familiar face, of someone he trusted, was such a relief that he thought he could hug her. He didn't. Instead, he patted her on the arm.

"How's life? Any executions of criminals lately?"

"I try not to do that."

"Oh, good. It was a trick question." She grinned.

"What brings you here?"

"Can't a girl just stop and see her pals every now and then?"

Zuko smiled, searching her face. It was pretty. She was still tough and strong, now, however, there was no denying she was pretty. He sometimes wondered if she wouldn't soon be engaged. Surely, there were suitors awaiting her. Then again, maybe there weren't. She could be intimidating.

He hadn't smiled in a while, he realized.

"You're stressed." Toph pointed out.

His smile faltered. "How did you know?"

Her feet dug into the ground. "Breathing and heart rate are a clue."

Zuko should have known. "I'm fine."

She gave him a look. A look that indicated he couldn't lie to her.

"There is no relief in this job." That wasn't true, but days like this it felt that way. "Someone even tried to kill me."

The strange thing was, she didn't look surprised. Then he realized,

"You heard."

She nodded.

"How are the others?" He changed the subject.

"Same old. Sokka and Suki went to the South Pole for their anniversary."

"I'm sure Suki loved that."

Toph laughed.

"The others?"

"Aang and Katara are busy with the kids. And I guess, working for 'peace in the four nations', and such."

"Everything sure doesn't feel peaceful, does it?"

"No." Toph acknowledged. "You're pretty miserable, then?"

"I'm fine." His voice was hard, then it softened. "I'm tired."

"Because, you can't trust your people, can you?"

He shook his head, even as he looked over her shoulder at the guards at the other end of the room. Sometimes he wondered if they were even on his side, though they hadn't done anything to earn any distrust.

"You trust me, though."

He laughed a little, "You know I trust you."

She stepped outside the room, "Then rest." She sat down outside the door. "I find I want to sit out here a while, and while I'm at it… I might as well guard the door."

He smiled, but was too tired to argue. "Thank you."

He collapsed into his chair, and fell fast asleep.

0000

Zuko slept for hours, and Toph sat outside the door, wide awake. She wasn't bored. Her mind was alert to every footstep nearby. She took her task seriously. Occasionally her mind did wander, she wondered if the young Fire Lord was pleased she was there, or if she was unwelcome.

She had stopped in to see him more often in the past seven years than any of the others had. And the others had come often enough. She tried to make her visits far enough apart that she didn't seem too eager, but there was no question that her friendship with Zuko was deeper now than it once had been.

Okay, they didn't always talk to each other about their feelings and mushy stuff like that. But they trusted each other, and were comfortable around each other.

She couldn't deny to herself that she liked him. She always looked forward to dropping in to see him, even as soon as she left. Still, she had to wait, because it would seem…Desperate, if she visited too much.

She didn't want him to know how much she cared about him. How his voice made her heart beat a little faster.

After all, he would certainly never think of her in any romantic way, she was sure. And why should he? That would be ridiculous.

She laughed at the thought. There was no question she had feelings for Zuko. But it was easier to keep on laughing those feelings away.

She kept expecting to feel an old man's footsteps coming toward her, but things were silent.

"Must be drinking tea." She smiled, she could wait to see Iroh a little while. Though she was eager to see her old friend.

0000

When Zuko finally woke, it was clear to Toph that the nap had helped a little. Zuko's voice was lighter, happier. Though still a little weary and overwhelmed, it wasn't quite as full of fear and frustration as before.

"You have any food around here?" She asked him.

"We do. Let's eat."

They went to the royal dining area. It was much too large, too awkward. At least Toph thought so.

"Do you like it here?" She asked, wrinkling her nose just slightly.

"What? Why?"

"It's so… Big. And Depressing."

She could almost hear the smile in his voice.

"It is, isn't it?" His tone became more serious. "It's full of depressing memories, too."

She thought she would change the subject. "Where's your Uncle?"

She felt Zuko tense, sensing the earth he stood on. His temperature rose.

"I don't know." He answered shortly.

Her eyes widened slightly. "What? Why?!" Toph was slightly frightened, though she didn't know of what.

"We argued. The next day, he was gone."

"That doesn't sound like him."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"But he wouldn't just up and leave like that would he? When did this happen? If-"

A fist slammed on the table. "I said I don't want to talk about it!" His voice was loud and angry.

She shuddered. She tightened her fists to cover her hurt with a pretense of anger.

"Fine." She answered roughly.

Then he relaxed, his voice softened and she felt a hand on her own. "I'm sorry, Toph. You are a good friend. I shouldn't have…"

"Forget it."

"No. I'm sorry. It's just everything is a mess here and people are trying to kill me and with Uncle gone… And you're my best friend… All of that is no excuse to yell at you."

She froze. Glad he did not have her talent for sensing heart beats through the earth, as hers sped up slightly. "Your best friend, huh?"

He scratched the back of his head, nervous. "I just mean… I mean… It seems like… we are best friends." His tone lifted slightly, as if he was asking her a question.

She let a smirk spread across her face. "It does seem that way, doesn't it?"

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