It didn't take long to hash out a plan. Not about the kissing Zuko thing – Toph had a strong feeling that was going to take a while to figure out. So far, the kissing was top notch. Definite positive on that side of the scale. The small matters of her dresses and the royal court and the world spanning political implications of the kisses were yet to be weighed. Toph wasn't big on avoidance normally, but she was prepared to wait it out and see where things went before she even considered the fact that Zuko was Fire Lord and she was Earth Kingdom nobility.

No, it was easy to plan how to root out the smugglers.

Toph had easily confirmed that they were the right ones. She'd gotten a good feel for the gambling hall while she wheedled her way in, and the back room was full of porcelain, gold, and various earthenware no one would bother smuggling if it weren't so damned historical. She and Aang both agreed that Zuko was pretty good at tracking folks down who didn't want to be found. So while Aang did his rock squats and Toph tried to find ladylike shoes that didn't make her die on the inside, Zuko skulked on rooftops. Previous hide-out demolished by Toph, the smugglers were forced to relocate. Abandoned warehouses were not entirely common as trade boomed between the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. It presented the smugglers with a cruel irony – the very reason they could slip their counterfeit goods and rare antiquities into shipments without detection was the same reason they had no choice but to move their business across the street from their old business. There just wasn't another empty warehouse to be found.

Dressed in another, even shorter qipao, Toph made her way with Zuko and Aang to the new location. Aang had acquired a hat from somewhere. He'd modeled it back at the palace, pouting when she squashed it down on his head and laughed. The day had not yet come when he actually remembered she was blind. Zuko was running with the fact that the smugglers had previous seen him as the Blue Spirit and so he dressed not in palace finery, but whatever clothes he found most comfortable for ninjaing.

The night air was cool on her skin, but Zuko was warm at her back as they hid in a nearby alleyway. Aang was look out, standing casually to guard the entrance while he watched smugglers and gamblers walk by in dribs and drabs. Toph slipped a shoe off, pressing her foot to the earth to watch.

Zuko had said there was a particular lady to look for, not just another regular of the gambling hall, but the proprietor herself. If they were going to get in for a game, it needed to be through her. The door guards would remember Toph this time around, and she didn't think autographs would cut it as bribes.

From behind her, she heard the soft sound of Zuko's breathing. He leaned down, asking curiously, "What do you see?"

His hands were warm on her shoulders and she leaned back into the touch.

"People, other people," she said blithely. She tilted her head, actually concentrating for a moment. She pointed across the road. Hidden back behind another warehouse, in another alley, there was a couple. "People having sex."

"Guys," Aang said. His voice was strained. He was definitely over making fun of them and well into being embarrassed to be in their presence.

Tough, Toph thought with irritation. If he could be secretly married, she could torture him by not so secretly flirting with Zuko.

"Guys!" he hissed louder. "Hide!"

Oh. Uh. Never mind then.

He huddled up against the wall, presumably in a shadow. Toph grabbed for Zuko, pushing him to the opposite wall. Tugging his head down, she kissed him firmly.

And pulled back, frowning.

"You put your mask back on, didn't you?"

Zuko nodded silently, the wood of his mask brushing against her face. She slumped against him and took a moment to pound her forehead into his shoulder. Well, that was embarrassing.

Aang detached himself from the wall.

"So," he began awkwardly. Toph tightened her arms around Zuko's waist, just to feel Aang squirm. "The hiding… that was because it was her. The mark. In the alley."

The mark – meaning the actual ringleader of the smugglers. They'd definitely come to the right alley.

Toph perked up instantly. She backed off from Zuko a bit, letting him turn to face Aang. She could feel the heat of his body next to her and a mild thrum of amusement in his heartbeat. He seemed to like possessive types.

"What are you waiting for, Twinkletoes? Get in there and be distracting."

Aang's pulse picked up the pace, excitement fairly glowing off him.

"And stop playing with your hat," Zuko commanded. "We don't want anyone noticing it."

"Discreet, remember?" Toph told him.

Aang slouched a little. He had actually taken it quite to heart that Zuko didn't consider him stealthy enough for the mission. There had been a great deal of grumbling from him about going to school and secret dance parties before he decided to prove to Zuko just how discreet he could be.

"Discreet like the wind," Aang assured her. And, yeah, Toph really didn't think that was going to become a catch phrase any time soon.

His heart gave a guilty beat that she just knew meant he was fiddling with his hat one more time, probably smoothing the brim, and then he was off. He sauntered into the alleyway, blending into another group of gamblers like he actually belonged. Toph exhaled a long breath. Okay, phase one was in motion.

The plan, such as it was, didn't really call for Aang to be discreet – or for any of them, really. Aang's job was to loudly, happily, and possibly drunkenly lose as much money as he could. They wanted the gambling hall to be in high spirits when Toph walked in the door with her masked bodyguard. Zuko's scouting over the past few nights led him to believe that the previous bouncer had been fired, but that just meant that the new one would be all the more cautious when dealing with her.

Something, in fact, that they were counting on.

Zuko sidled to the entrance of the alley, undoubtedly keeping to the shadows while he watched the warehouse let Aang in.

"How long do you think we should give him?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

"Eh. Not long. I don't know if you've noticed, but for an ascetic monk, he sure can burn through money." Toph leaned back against the wall on the other side of the alley from Zuko. She probably wasn't all that well concealed, but then again, what was the point of wearing a dress if no one could see it? She stretched out a leg, hearing wood clack against stone as Zuko lifted up his mask. She stretched her arms out, pushing her chest forward, before sighing and relaxing once more. "Did we ever tell you about when we were scamming Fire Nation villages blind?"

"That's how you do everything, Toph." He waited a beat, adding, "No. I read the reports."

Toph grinned at the implicit disapproval in his voice. Oh, like he was one to judge.

"Yeah, good times. For the wise spiritual leader of all humanity, Aang's got a pretty shaky moral compass. He really got into it. Then again, he likes fun. Unlike you." Zuko didn't even try to defend himself, so Toph continued, "And you know, if we're going to do this, you're gonna have to learn to enjoy yourself."

Zuko shifted, crossing his arms.

"Mai never made me have fun," he groused.

"And," Toph said sharply, holding up a finger. "You are going to have to stop comparing me to Mai. Especially if you don't want me comparing you to Haru, Teo, or the Duke."

Zuko made a disgusted sound.

"Haru? What is it with that guy? Is it the mustache?"

"Maybe," she replied nonchalantly. Actually, she'd hated that little face mouse-ferret and demanded he shave it off. If Zuko got any funny ideas about royal propriety and started growing a beard, she'd take care of business herself.

"I can't promise you more field trips," Zuko said seriously. "This might be the only one."

Toph grinned.

"With me around, I don't think you'll have to worry about that."

"Even if you're being a lady?"

"Especially then."

She pushed away from the wall, walking forward on her high heels to press up against him. He tilted her head up for a quick kiss and she smiled into it. This time he'd remembered to take the mask off.

Grabbing his hand, she pulled back.

"I think that's about enough time for Aang. Any longer and he'll lose the royal treasury."


The bouncer was, in fact, someone new this time around. Zuko studied the man. He didn't look like he would be a particular impediment to their plan. He was not burly, as the last had been, but well muscled and slim in the way that spoke of bending ability. Earthbending, most likely, since he kept a hammer on his belt. That was hardly any kind of guard against Toph, but the intelligence in his eyes made it clear that he was fully aware of its inadequacy.

"She's not welcome here," he said, barring the door with the simple efficiency of an arm across it. He added, "Boss isn't fond of masks, either. You want in, you gotta take it off."

"Not happening," Toph retorted.

"Then I guess you'll have a quiet evening," the guard said.

"I know you're a smart guy, Li. Can I call you Li?" Toph started. The guard tried to interrupt – probably to inform her that wasn't his name, but she plowed on, "And I know that you know what happened the last time I was here."

"That's why you aren't welcome, actually."

"Right. Which doesn't seem like the best strategy, really. I can come in any time I want. I can bend a hole in a wall, or break it down, or even," she grinned wickedly, pivoting on her right foot and jerking her head to the side. The warehouse slid to the right. She continued, "Or even move the entire building. You get my drift?"

The guard did seem rather impressed, but once he recovered from the inelegant stumble caused by the doorframe knocking him forward a foot, he retook his firm, disapproving stance.

"You need to move it a lot further if you want in."

Toph flexed her hands, dropping into a low, grounded posture as she readied to move the entire building. Zuko backed up, awkwardly peering through his mask to survey the surrounding area. The dock warehouses were closely packed. There wasn't really enough room to misplace an entire warehouse.

Thankfully, their mark interceded.

She was the same tall, beautiful woman he'd first tailed to the warehouse so many nights ago. Her hair hung in dark, carefully maintained ringlets around her face, eyes deep set and clever. She was dressed in a weird, foreign fashion that Zuko couldn't place – pants and a white, pressed shirt fastened in the front with shining buttons. She wore a hat not unlike Aang's on her head. The entire get up made Zuko pine a bit for the familiar insanity of Ba Sing Se fashion.

"Sun Shuai, is there a problem?" she asked. The guard straightened, jumping out of the doorframe to let her pass. She stepped onto the threshold, arms crossed as she looked out at Toph. Her eyes skimmed over her, flicking only once over to Zuko. He felt a strong surge of tension at her studied indifference. She was no fool. "Ah, I see our guest has returned."

"Your guard said I wasn't welcome. I'm glad you're here to clear up the misunderstanding," Toph said sweetly, inclining her head politely to the woman.

"My guard was correct. You cost me a great deal of money last time you were here, Miss Bei Fong."

"It's Lady, actually," Toph said. Her voice was stiff and cold. Zuko nudged her, reminding her to play her part. She elbowed him in the side, but nonetheless forced out a breath, re-centering herself. "This isn't about me, though. My friend is in there, paying you back. I thought we could make it a little more fun, you and me. Play a game or two. You win, you take all you lost and more. I win and I get the pick of all those nice little trinkets you have hidden away in the back room."

The woman considered for a moment before nodding. She gestured to the guard to let them in.

"Of course, Ma Lian," he said, bowing deeply. He gave each of them a suspicious look as they passed.

The interior of the warehouse was as busy and raucous as Zuko remembered. His eyes were drawn immediately to the corner where Aang loudly and affably bemoaned the roll of his dice. Men patted him on the shoulder consolingly while women tried to offer comforts of their own. Zuko smirked under his mask as he watched Aang fend them off. Just wait until Katara heard about that.

"A game of skill, I should think," Ma Lian suggested as she guided them toward a table in the back. Several large men in hats eyed them as they passed, but she waved their concern away. "What's your pleasure?"

"Pai sho," Toph replied.

Zuko looked to her in surprise. He knew that she played frequently with Uncle when she visited Ba Sing Se, but their plan had involved cheating, not strategy. Of course, he had the sense that Ma Lian was smart enough to spot whatever tricks Toph had. Clearly Toph had come to the same conclusion.

"Ah," Ma Lian said. Her gaze drifted toward Zuko. She smiled. "An old favorite."

Zuko gave her a hard stare in return, trying to weigh the meaning of her words. Even after the wretched, musical rewrite of "The Boy in the Iceberg" had come out, his identity as the Blue Spirit had remained a secret. So what exactly did she mean?

It became clear soon enough. They settled at a small, circular playing table. Toph and Ma Lian sat opposite each other, while Zuko stood, hands on Toph's chair. Ma Lian gestured to one of her cohorts and he brought out the tile set. Toph waited a long moment before reaching into her box of tiles, hesitant in her every move. She groped to find one, hand closing on it in horror.

"I know it's quite a poor set in comparison to the jade set you certainly are accustomed to, but I have little choice. I can hardly trust my patrons not to take back their lost gold in jade," Ma Lian said. She had a faint, apologetic smile on her face. "I do hope the decoration makes up for it some."

Zuko frowned into his mask. The tiles were rather beautifully illustrated, but he didn't see the problem. He leaned down and Toph hissed into his ear, "They're wood. Nothing but crappy, lacquered wood."

Oh, fuck.

He rocked back on his heels, mind spinning as he watched Toph carefully work through her set of tiles. She smoothed her thumb over each one, feeling for the carved design, before sorting them into piles. Defensive pieces to the right, offensive to the left. Zuko felt a weight in his stomach. Already this was a bad strategy.

"Toph," he hissed. He reached out, stilling her hand. "Nature and temple."

It would be a more ambiguous way of organizing her hand, but hopefully still clear enough for her to play from. She bit her lip and nodded. Her hand was more hesitant as she re-sorted the tiles. Lotus with chrysanthemum, peony, and cherry blossom; bison with temple, prayer wheel, and lemur. The junk, the lionturtle, the sun, and stars were left unsorted in between the two groups.

Ma Lian raised an eyebrow, watching these proceedings with interest.

"Shall we begin?" she asked. There was a small, pleased smile on her lips. This was not good.

The first move went to Toph. She felt through her tiles once again, breathing hitched and unusually nervous as she picked one up. The table, thankfully, was carved stone – actually, it looked familiar. Zuko glared down at it. Probably more antiquities looted from the Fire Temples. Toph chose the simplest opening, leading with her temple toward the eastern corner of the game board. Ma Lian took only a brief moment to consider her move. She played white jasmine along the west. A typical first move, good for building a defensive line.

Tiles clicked on the board as the two women made their moves, back and forth. It was not long before Zuko noticed the strain on Toph. Her tiles were haphazardly scattered and when she played, she mumbled something under her breath.

"Black lotus next to temple, bison in front of sun," she recited softly. Like she was trying to fix it in her mind, Zuko realized suddenly.

He looked to the board. The bison was behind the sun.

"Toph, stop," he commanded. Her hand clenched around the tile she held, hovering above the board. "You have it backwards."

Toph growled softly to herself, angry at the mistake. She nodded and placed the tile down where he directed, putting the moon into alignment with the sun.

"Interesting choice," Ma Lian said. It really wasn't. Her eyes, however, were on Zuko rather than the board. "I was not aware we were playing doubles."

"You're right. We're not," Zuko said. He raised his arms, unfastening his mask behind his head. He pulled it off, fixing his gaze on her. Not a single flicker of surprise passed over her face. "I think it's time I took over."

"You just did something really stupid, didn't you?" Toph asked rhetorically.

"It's my mission," he started. Immediately, she dug her heel into the earth, jabbing a sharp chunk of rock out at him. He lifted his feet off the floor. "I'm taking over."

"Not a chance, Sparky."

"Toph!" Zuko protested. He clenched his hand into a fist, fighting the urge to argue. He'd promised they'd do this together and he knew her pride was on the line here. She wouldn't forgive him if he told her she couldn't handle playing the game blind. He softened his voice as much as he could, although it sounded strained even to him, "Just… listen to me."

She clenched her jaw, but after a long moment, she relaxed, grudgingly nodding to him.

"Okay, I will. If that's okay with fancy britches over there."

"Oh, I've no problem at all with it. You know, I once played a game against a blind man who had a seeing eye poodlemonkey. Isn't that amazing?" Ma Lian said. Her eyes glittered with amusement as she watched Zuko for a reaction, taking great joy in the treasonous comparison.

Exile. So much exile.

The game continued, slower but with more confident moves from Toph as Zuko narrated the state of the board to her. He knelt stooped down, snaking an arm between her and her chair. She leaned into his shoulder and Zuko considered himself forgiven. Ma Lian played casually and calmly, clearly noting all their interaction for future sale.


Toph's attention wandered during the game. And, yeah, okay, she was aware that was not a good idea, But the deeper they pressed into the game, the more Zuko's narration took on a tone of direction and command, and she wasn't really interested in fighting it. She wasn't even that good at pai sho on a regular day, let alone on one where she had to act like an actual blind girl and just remember stuff. Ma Lian seemed content to let Zuko take the reins; removing his mask and confirming his identity was more than the price of admission to the game.

In the meantime, they were attracting a crowd. Toph stiffened under the attention – the first time in a long time she'd disliked people watching her win. But, you know, it was weird. She was dolled up all girly, leaning on her sort of boyfriend. She wasn't used to people seeing that Toph.

There was something more to it, too. She slipped off a shoe and flexed her toes against the packed earth floor. A little application of earthbending and it wasn't so packed. She restrained a sigh at the feel, working her foot into a nice dirty, little hole. There was definitely something afoot – ha! – in the warehouse. She cast about, looking for Aang. Yep. That was it. Flaky little airbender was not doing his job anymore. Or…

She tilted her head, trying to figure out the vibrations she was getting. Aang was doing something, but she didn't feel the right anxiety or conflicted disappointment she should feel from a guy on a losing streak.

Zuko's sleeve brushed against her bare arm as he played a tile, apparently impatient with her lack of attention.

"Sorry," she said. She really wasn't.

Zuko ignored her, hand hovering over the board. Finally, he nodded to himself and pulled his hand back, satisfied with his move. Really satisfied. Well, whatever. Some people dug pai sho.

Ma Lian played a tile with a sound of extreme decisiveness.

"I believe I've won," she said smugly.

Toph frowned. In between not paying attention and Zuko not telling her, she'd lost track of the moves entirely. She slapped her palm to the table, seeing the outline of tiles, but she couldn't tell which was which. Annoyed, she elbowed Zuko in the side.

"Are you sure?" Zuko asked. He played a tile nonchalantly, into a cluster of Ma Lian's tiles on the northern edge of the board. Toph gave a low whistle. That was risky as hell... "Because I think I have you cornered."

Ma Lian's pulse skipped, her tranquil demeanor entirely broken by her shock.

"You cheated!" she snapped. She stood angrily, pointing in Zuko's face.

"That's a serious accusation to level at your Fire Lord," Zuko said, voice low. "And we both know the temple gambit is fair play in all variations."

Toph's mouth formed an "oh" at his explanation. So that was what he'd done. The temple gambit was a daring, stupid strategy. It relied almost entirely on defense, with the player building up as much on his own side of the board as possible, before striking into the heart of the opposition – building a temple and claiming all the surrounding pieces for himself. Usually the temple was one of the first played pieces, giving a solid defensive line to attack from.

Actually… hadn't she played that first herself?

Zuko stood, pulling Toph with him.

"The win is fair. I want my forfeit."

Ma Lian took several moments to respond, deliberately calming herself. Her voice was smooth and gracious when she finally replied, "Of course. You have your pick of items in our storehouse. Follow me to the back."

She walked away, footsteps heavy with anger. Toph could just feel the wheels in her head spinning as she tried to figure out a way out of it. Aang appeared from the crowd, and together they followed her into the back room. Ma Lian squared her stance and struck out with a flat palm – firebending light into the unlit lanterns of the back room. Interesting, Toph thought.

A guard closed the door behind them. Toph rolled her eyes.

"So, what's the damage?" she asked Aang.

"A lot?" Aang responded sheepishly. "Sorry, Zuko."

Ma Lian sighed, pressing an aggravated hand to her forehead.

"Let's just get this over with, shall we? What do you want?"

"All of it," Zuko told her immediately.

"No."

Zuko took a step forward, towering over her. She did not flinch, although Toph could almost hear how hard her heart was beating. She'd bet that for all Ma Lian's bravado – all her smarts and cold blooded criminal savvy – she wasn't really a fighter. Possibly wasn't even a traitor.

"My friend has just lost a large chunk of the treasury in your gambling hall while you have just lost your bet to me. So what you are going to do is give us everything. Every urn, every scroll, every little treasure that belongs in a temple or museum. And then you aren't going to tell anyone about tonight."

"Oh? Why not?" Ma Lian asked. "Seems like it will make a good story."

"Because no one's ever going to buy from you again, honey," Toph said. She reached out, plucking the hat off of Aang's head. Ma Lian made an angry sound in the back of her throat; who knew hats were such good disguises? "You got scammed by the Avatar and the Fire Lord. More importantly, you got scammed by me. Why should they ever respect you again?"

"If it helps we don't want your money," Aang added brightly.

Ma Lian considered.

"Fine. Take it. You've already paid with the Avatar's losses."

She waved them past her, letting them at the hoard she guarded. Very quickly, Toph decided against sorting. She stomped a foot, bending a large stone platform with all the treasure on it while Aang grunted with effort, bending a hole in the back wall.

"We'll send back the stuff we don't like," Toph assured Ma Lian.

"I will most definitely hold you to that," Ma Lian replied, her voice chilly.

Toph hopped up onto the platform. She felt Zuko land beside her and then the delicate, little whisper of a landing that had to be Aang. She was about to gesture to him to bend them the hell out of there when Aang turned. There was something weirdly smug about his posture.

He looked back at Ma Lian.

"Oh," he said cheerfully. "I forgot. I was supposed to lose?"

Fire shot over his head and that was definitely Toph's cue to book it.