Author's Note: To Winter and Roddy, for reviewing. More to come.

Later that night, alone in her tent, Azula's thought again turned to Toph. The princess wondered how much the other girl's wealth could temper the proverbial fire storm Azula would endure if anyone knew of her attraction to the blind earth bender. Yes, she was blind. Yes, she was an earth bender. She was also a Bei Fong – the only heir to that fortune.

Azula sighed and rolled onto her side, eyes closed as images of strong, small hands against her skin. Her fantasies were not well defined, considering that she was barely fifteen, but it was enough for her to feel heat throughout her body that she knew that nothing to do with fire bending.

The princess slept fitfully, dreaming of avalanches and mudslides, and stolen kisses in the shadows of boulders.

A few days later the fire nation trio had another run-in with the Gaang, one where Azula unexpectedly found herself relatively alone with Toph. The earth bender was breathing hard, having fought off Mai already, and Azula knew she had a clear advantage. Deflecting the assassin's knives with just the sound of them traveling at high speed the only indication of their position had to be difficult. Somehow though, the girl had managed, and Azula felt something akin to respect growing in her.

"Well, earth bender, seems it's just you and me now." Azula struggled slightly to keep her demeanor normal; deciding to err on the side of caution and assume the other girl was adept at reading people's voices and movements to detect weakness.

"And you're off your game. What's a matter, princess, does the little blind earth bender put you off balance." Toph smirked.

Immediately after her words, the ground under Azula shifted dangerously. As she struggled to regain her balance, Toph laughed at her. Blushing, Azula jumped off the piled earth onto flat ground, embarrassed and frustrated in more than one way. Toph's snarky humor was appealing, even when directed at her, apparently. "Shut up, Bei Fong."

Azula turned and called out to Mai and Ty Lee to retreat. "Let's go." She saw that Ty Lee was protecting Mai, who was nursing her arm. The two nodded and immediately backed off. Azula ignored Toph's confused expression as they left the Avatar and friends a bit dumbfounded at the sudden victory.

"Stupid earth bender," Azula muttered, still feeling off balance despite the even dirt under her feet.