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"Hold still."

She groaned.

"Princess Beifong, please hold still."

Toph only groaned louder. Although she was an earthbender, her arms were getting tired from being raised for the past half hour. Her servants were fastening the robes she was to wear for the formalities ceremony tonight. Against her pale white skin were thick red robes that were dense with color. Underneath and still able to be seen was a brighter red dress trimmed with gold. Her neck was framed with a red-orange tint collar and thick gold trimmings. Toph's ebony hair was down to the middle of her back while some were bundled into a top knot, resembling many of the fire nation nobles. Thankfully, the servants gave her a break and allowed her to wear very light make up. Their exact words included "natural beauty." So Toph only wore a slight eye darkener, an easy eye shadow and blush.

"We are almost done, Princess."

Toph groaned for the third time. "Zuko told you to call me princess, didn't he?"

She sensed the servants tense. "Well, of course, Princess."

"I'll have to have a word with Firelord Fireface." she mumbled under breath. As the servants continued pick at her clothing, Toph spoke into the air. "So do the nobles around here wear this stuff every day?"

"Yes, Princess. However, may we say that your dress for tonight is more exquisite and elegant.

"But these thick robes are so heavy. How do women move around with weights like these?"

"They stop complaining."

Toph turned slowly towards the familiar voice. On her face was her ever so famous scowl. "Don't you learn to knock?"

The firelord leaned against the door frame. "Don't you?"

"Oh, shut up."

Zuko entered with his hands behind his back. On the way, he observed his date carefully. He rarely sees Toph in something so graceful. She had only seen her in a dress one time and that fact was eclipsed entirely by the ending of the one hundred year war his father had caused. But having the opportunity now was quite nice.

"We are all done, Firelord Zuko. Is Princess Beifong's attire acceptable?"

Zuko looked at Toph the entire time as he answered. "It isn't acceptable at all."

The servants cringed. Zuko only smiled.

"It's exceptional. Thank you so much. You are dismissed." He bowed towards them.

The servants breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly left the room, leaving the scarred firelord and blind earthbender to their silence. They stayed quiet as Toph moved towards the bed and sat down. She played with the ruby necklace she had on. Zuko moved towards her and joined her on the bed.

"You look really good, Toph."

The earthbender just gave a half smile. "Thanks, fireface."

The firelord raised an eyebrow. "You think you can lay off the nicknames at the ball?"

"Trust me. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself by being so informal. So don't worry about it."

"That's a relief." Zuko sighed. Once again, the duo was in comfortable silence. Toph continued playing with her jewelry while Zuko's hands remained behind his back. Outside, the moon was already out and the ball neared its start.

"So what is that behind your back?"

Zuko tensed. "How did you know?"

Toph turned her head towards his general direction and gave him a look of disappointment. "Well, it wasn't because I invented metalbending or anything."

The firelord shut his eyes. "Right. Sorry."

"Are you going to answer my question or what?"

Zuko brought the object towards his front and looked down at it. There was nothing more special to him. It was gold as the sun and as beautiful as its original owner. "It's my mother's head piece."

The way his voice came out had shocked Toph. He sounded touched. Maybe even nostalgic. Whatever it was, it stopped any insult she had tried to think of. Instead, she spoke in a different tone herself.

"How long have you had that?" she asked sympathetically.

Zuko rubbed the metal. "Ever since she disappeared. She left it on my table that night. I kept it with me while I was banished. And here it still is."

Toph hesitated before she responded. "Can I hold it?"

Without any words, Zuko carefully handed the carefully crafted piece into her waiting hands. In one hand was the actual head piece and in the other was the pin that held it all. Once the metal hit her hand, she gasped internally. The earth was very fine and almost undetectable. Toph knew right away that this metal was purified to the closest it can be. There was no way she could bend it, but she was thankful she was still able to "look" at it. It was gorgeous, even to her eyes.

"What do you think?" Zuko asked curiously.

Toph smiled. "I think it's beautiful."

"But you can't even see it." he laughed.

Toph shrugged. Carefully holding the head piece in her right hand, she slugged Zuko in the arm. He yelped and rubbed the now sore muscle. "Way to ruin the moment, idiot."

"Sorry. It would have been a wasted opportunity. You set yourself up for that one."

"Fine. Whatever. So why do you have this with you?" She continued to rub the metal.

Zuko held the back of his neck in nervousness. "Um. I going to ask if you wanted to wear it. For tonight."

She was taken aback. "A-Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Need to make an entrance at the ball. I need my leading lady to look the best possible. Plus, you'll look lovely."

"Lovely?" Toph laughed. "Really? You really are a girly girl."

Zuko just scowled, even if it meant nothing to his companion. "Will you wear it or what?"

The earthbender thrust the head piece at the firelord. "Put it on, peasant!"

The scarred firebender grabbed the delicate object and stood up so that he was standing in front of Toph. He carefully placed the main head piece on her already made top knot. Next, he took the pin and secured the head piece on Toph's hair. Zuko stepped back and examined Toph as a whole.

"How does it look?"

Zuko looked towards the ground and smiled. He looked up once more and answered. "You do it proud. My mother would think so too."

Toph stood up and enclosed her hands within the long sleeves of the robes. "That's good to know. Now then, I think we have a party to go to."

"How noble of you to remember. Shall we?"

The two intertwined arms.

"We shall."

"You said the exact same thing to me when I put on your mother's head piece." Mai had her scowl straight at her husband.

Zuko nervously replied, "Well, of course, you were more beautiful, and-"

"Oh, I see how it is now, Zuko." Toph crossed her arms.

"No! Wait!"

"Bad move, Uncle Zuko." Lin shook her head in disappointment. The other children closed their eyes in agreement.

"Ok, ok. Relax. I'm just teasing. As always. If it makes you feel better, Mai, he told me right afterwards that he wished he could have seen you in it instead and surprisingly I couldn't blame him. You're welcome."

"He better." Mai turned her head away from Zuko.

"Aunt Toph!" Little Iroh yelled from his mother's lap. "When do you and Grandpa kiss?"

"We're getting there, Uncle Junior. Just let me continue the story. Back to what I was saying…"

"And now, your host for this year's first international formalities ceremony: Firelord Zuko. On his arm is the princess of one of the most significant dynasties in the Earth Kingdom: Princess Toph Beifong."

They entered the main ball room, still linked, and everyone stood up in respect. At the sight of the crowd, Zuko gulped. Meanwhile, from the vibrations of the nobles, Toph nervously breathed out. These nerves weren't shown on the outside, however. They had self control. Swallowing his fear, Zuko spoke out towards the nobles.

"Welcome to the first international formality ceremony. I hope that this will be the first of many and that they will be enjoyable. We are here to come together as one, unified people. Let us make history."

"Hail Firelord Zuko!"

Conversation soon continued where they had left off and now it was time to mingle with the rest of the crowd. As they walked down the steps from their entrance, Zuko and Toph whispered their own conversation.

"How was that? You think it was too formal? No, it must have been too casual, right? What did you think?"

Toph grabbed his left arm tightly to the point in which Zuko could feel it through his robes. "If you ask me one more time, I'll sock you right in the stomach in front of all these people."

"You said you wouldn't do that stuff here!?"

The princess lessened her grip upon the firelord. "I said no nicknames. I didn't say no violence."

Zuko huffed. "May I remind you that I have a piece of private information on you."

"Oh, you wouldn't."

"Try me, Earthhead."

"This is a new low for you, Scarface."

"I'd watch it with your language."

Toph scowled. "I don't need you telling me what to do."

"Yeah, maybe I don't, but they do."

"Who?"

"Toph, honey, it isn't good to scowl like that. You'll get wrinkles."

The princess cursed under her breath while Zuko straightened his posture.

"Welcome to the ball, Lord and Lady Beifong."

Is this story going a little too slow? Please tell me! And I'm really sorry for late updates. School can be quite the (insert naughty word here). Please forgive me!