Sorry it took a little long to update, but I've been working on this a lot.
A/N of an author who has a LOT to say:
As I assured you, there is no Toko! Friendship, yes, but that's it. Toph doesn't even like him like that, and everything is explained in this chapter. As well as the return of ZUTARA, YAY!
About reviews: Thanks for the reviews! I appreciate them, but one thing I'm finding is that many of you don't comment on the story, just my point of view. It would be extra helpful if you could tell me what you thought of my story, criticism, etc. as well as how much Zutara kicks ass! I commend Frogger for one excellent review! (Positive or negative, I don't care!)
I didn't realize at first Iroh's tea shop was in Ba Sing Se, so the fact that I placed it in the Fire Nation is explained in this chapter.
I made up the name of the Fire Nation school, because I wasn't sure if it had one.
BE READY FOR SOME ZUTARA-GOODNESS!
With that being said, let us commence:
Chapter 3
The girl was perched on the ground by the window; it's not like she could see anything out of it, but she could feel the warm breeze drifting from the window and grazing her skin. She usually didn't like the window open; Toph was most comfortable with closure, and solid ground beneath her feet. It was natural to her, and no, she didn't expect everyone to understand that. She didn't stir even when she felt the vibrations approaching under her sensitive feet. Judging by the step she knew it was Zuko.
Took you long enough, she thought sourly, but without sincerity. It was with bitter irony that she noted that she was actually expecting him to chase after her. The vibrations became stronger until she could sense them hovering outside her door. Without waiting for a knock, she said, "Come in."
The door opened slowly and Zuko entered the Fire Nation room. He looked around for a moment, then realized she was sitting on the floor beside the window. It took courage to approach her, and he got as far as the window.
"I don't know what I did to make you upset," he began, uncertain of himself. Toph didn't get up from the floor. She remained sitting, her knees drawn up to her chest and one arm hanging lazily over them.
"I'm not upset," she said in a stiff voice that said otherwise.
"You can tell me. Remember, this is supposed to be life-changing?" he said jestingly, but it didn't lighten her mood. She fixed him with a blank stare, and started playing with a loose thread on the rug. "What is it? Do you..."
The thought that entered his head was odd, but he thought he knew the answer.
"-like Aang, or something?" For the first time he saw emotion flood into the girl expression, and she hit the floor with a balled fist. A random wedge of earth rose from the ground where he was standing him, nearly knocking him off balance.
"NO!" she roared. "Are you serious?" Zuko held up his hands in defense, eyeing the earth that he stumbled off of.
"What other reason could there be? You seem mad because everyone's... leaving, or- I don't know. I just thought maybe-"
"You really lack good judgment of character," Toph told him, a dull blow to his ego.
I guess, he thought grudgingly. He decided to meet her eye to eye, so to speak, and joined her on the floor. "Then what is it?" he repeated. "Is it me and Katara?"
"No, it's not that... specifically," Toph admitted with a sigh, and blew the bangs out of her eyes. "It's just that it seems like everyone is pairing off and moving away. I'm not interested in love or anything, I just liked the feeling of belonging, belonging to a group... And now that the war is over, and I'm happy it is, but it's like now there's no need to stay together. Everyone's going their separate ways and I guess I'm... going to miss it. Now it's just me. I'm used to being alone, but now that I've been in a group I didn't want to go back to... being alone."
When she finished, she was partly relieved to tell someone how she felt, and partly fearful of the silence that followed her explanation. Her bangs hung over her eyes like a protective veil as she hung her head, waiting for a response. It took Zuko several seconds to register this thoughts in the correct order, and prove to his friend that he wasn't so clueless.
"You feel like you're no longer needed," he said with certainty, and watched Toph's eyes widen. Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment, then she returned to her normal blank expression. "And nothing's going to be the same. That everything that happened only happened because it needed to, because of the war. Right?"
"Nailed it, Sparky, is that what you wanted to hear?" she snapped suddenly, then became oddly silent as if she regretted the outburst. Zuko frowned, an odd sensation in his stomach.
"Toph... Movement is inevitable. Everyone is going to take different paths when it comes to the right time in their lives, but the group the war formed was destiny. Destiny will ensure these paths meet again, and do you really think everyone is just going to turn their backs and forget about everything? I know Sokka and Katara will keep in touch, so will Aang and everybody else. You're not unwanted, if you were I doubt you would be with all them in the first place. I think you just have to find you're own path now, and once everyone does that we'll be together again.
"... And problems are inevitable, too. Now that the war has ended everyone seems to think peace is eternal. It's not the end, there are still things to be dealt with. I have no doubt that there's going to be rebellions too, and when that happens I'm going to need your help and the others to keep peace. The Avatar's job isn't done yet. And I need your help now. Now that I know your plans, I would be grateful if you would accompany me and Katara to the Earth Kingdom to help find my mother. This is my path, and Destiny is already bringing some of us back together.
So... Was that good enough for you?"
Toph blinked.
"I didn't ask for a speech, you know," she mumbled, and steam nearly spouted from Zuko's ears. "But I guess your right. Thanks." Without warning, she punched him in his arm hard enough to break a bone. The Fire Lord hissed sharply and put a hand on his shoulder, stiff from pain. If that's the way Toph showed affection, it must have been the equivalent to a huge hug and a complimentary kiss on the cheek
"I'm going outside," Toph said, got up, and left. On the way out, Zuko tripped over the piece of elevated earth she created before.
--
It was unexpected. When it wasn't on the schedule, having a giant flying bison land on your doorstep could be described as shocking. The guards were so utterly appalled that Katara and Aang were free to talk right past them, straight into the palace. Seriously, there was just no questioning a flying bison.
"Excuse me, who are-" the servant stationed in the front hall of the palace began, only to falter after glimpsing the blue arrow that streaked through the young boy's head, and bowed. "Please forgive me. Were you hear to see the Fire Lord?"
"Fire Lord? Oh-Zuko, haha. Right. Yeah, we're here to see him!" Aang said. The title of 'Fire Lord' seemed to big and bad to Aang, he had a hard time fitting it to Zuko. Sure Zuko could be 'big and bad',but he was nothing as a follow up to Ozai. Ozai huffed and puffed and nearly blew the entire Earth Kingdom down, and the most Zuko did was play a little tag. It probably didn't seem like it at the time, but back then Zuko was the least of their worries.
"I'll notify him of your presence," the guard said and scrambled off. Katara frowned.
"We shouldn't be treated like clients," she said.
"Yeah. Do you think Toph is still here?" Aang asked, looking around as if she would jump out from around the corner and shout, 'SURPRISE!'
"Where else would she be?"
"Zuko's Uncle's Tea Shop?"
"That's true. I rather be there than here right now, this guy is taking forever." Aang nodded. Time ticked by slowly by as they waited, and waited, and waited. They had no idea why Zuko could be taking so long. A rational mind like Katara's dismissed the notion, but Aang's overactive imagination launched him into a playground of possibilities. Some included Azula-on-the-loose, a giant Momo, and a traveling circus. A cold voice cut through the one where he imagined Mai screaming at Zuko for leaving his sword laying around the palace, and as punishment she-
"You know what, Aang? Maybe Zuko isn't here. Maybe he went to Iroh's tea shop or something, we are a day early."
"Let's go there, then!" The boy exclaimed, and was ready to race out the door. The water bender cast the palace one last look of concern before following the Avatar out the door.
About five minutes later, Zuko came running into the front hall, panting.
"Where are they?" he demanded of the guard, who scratched his head.
"I swear, Fire Lord! They were just here."
"But it's a day early of their scheduled arrival. If I knew they were coming today I would have postponed that meeting! I couldn't get out of it..."
If Katara and Aang were really here, then where could they have gone? Agitated that he had missed their arrival, he stormed out of the front doors and down the steps. Shooting a glance up into the sky, he could barely make out a speedy white cloud flying into the distance.
Appa? he thought, and realized it was heading in the direction of Uncle's tea shop. It has to be. He summoned a servant to call for Toph, only to have the servant inform him that Toph was working at the shop at this hour. Cursing to himself, he prepared to make his appearance.
-
As a surprise, Zuko gave his Uncle an additional tea shop in the Fire Nation, just like the one he had running in Ba Sing Se. He was surprised with everything Iroh had done with it-making it an exact carbon copy of the one he already owned. Everything was the same, even down to the green and brown Earth Kingdom colors that remained unpopular among the Fire Nation's people.
With one arm Zuko thrust open the door, sending the bells hanging above in a fury of tinkles. It was the least they could do to pronounce the arrival of the Fire Lord. Unfortunately, only a few people occupied the shop at this time, the same people who would acknowledge him as no more than, 'Zuko, Nephew, or Sparky.' And on occasions 'Zuzu.'
"I knew you were here!" Zuko said, a little more accusingly than he had intended. "Did you leave the palace?"
Aang, Katara, Iroh and Toph sat leisurely at a table, enjoying a few cups of aromatic tea. Neither one of them could wipe the blank look off their faces, totally caught off guard by Zuko's fiery appearance. Aang blinked.
"Sorry Zuko, you were taking a long time," he said to the angry Fire Lord. Zuko relaxed, realizing that they had been there, as the servant said, and they had left simply because he was taking so long. He had no idea what other possibilities were in his head, but somehow confirming the truth erased this foreign anxiety. "Was Mai really upset?"
"Oh. Wait, what are you talking about? I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming. I had a meeting," he explained, and crossed the room to join them. Instead of taking a chair, he stood over them. "Why did you come early?" For the first time his eyes rested on Katara, who was beaming at him and pleased with the whole reunion.
"No particular reason. There was nothing to do so we thought we would get a head start."
"Oh," Zuko muttered, finally accepting the chair his hand drew out for him. "How was it?"
"It was great!" exclaimed Aang in pure, childish excitement. "We went penguin sledding!" He didn't even flinch under the strange stares.
Katara decided to give a more detailed account of their journey. "It was nice, I finally got to visit my grandmother, and the rest of the tribe. All the Water Tribe men moved back into the village, and now it's bigger than it's ever been! It's really starting to grow. Sokka and Suki are still down there, helping."
"That's great," Zuko replied. There was a loud 'plunk' as Toph drained the last drop of her tea, and set her cup on the table. Uncle raised his eyebrows.
"I wish you were a regular customer," Iroh said, eyeing the empty cup. "That was your fourth cup." Toph shrugged and grinned.
"You keep offering, and there's nothing else to do. We've been sitting her for an hour, or more." Beaming, Uncle got to his feet.
"I was hoping you would say you were bored!"
"I didn't exactly say-"
"I have a project for us. The brass fountain need remodeling, and the side stairs are cracked, and-" Iroh went on to explain his elaborate plans to attack and conquer every last flaw of the palace, leading his army of one. With a smile, Toph stood up.
"Lead the way, general!" she said with a happy sense of resign. The girl seemed like she was in a good mood, Zuko thought with satisfaction.
"I thought we were leaving for the Earth Kingdom," said Aang, glancing inquiringly at Zuko.
"No," Katara interjected, "We came a day early, remember? We leave tomorrow. Besides, Zuko probably has meetings and stuff we interrupted today. Sorry about that." Aang lept to his feet, and Momo, who had recently been hiding, up until Aang's sudden outburst of excitement, scurried onto his head.
"Great! A free day! I'll be back, I'm going to fly to Zing Ze's Academy and see if they have a dance program, now!" Without another word, he dashed out the door. Zuko didn't really know what to say.
"It was a Fire Nation school Aang went to in disguise and taught everyone to dance," Katara explained hastily, a little surprised that Aang would just rush off like that.
"Oh." Uncle and Toph prepared to leave, and Katara and Zuko rose to join them. Iroh became oddly stiff when he realized the two planned on following them.
"You know," the old man said, "there's not much you two can do to help. Why don't you go out to eat?" Zuko halted and stared suspiciously at his Uncle, who had never before refused help like this. Katara too looked puzzled, but considered the suggestion.
"Are you sure?" she asked politely. "If you're sure I can go to the market, I've been itching for something... not frozen." Toph made a 'yuck' sound and shot her a look of sympathy.
"No, I don't mean to the market. Enjoy yourself, go out! In fact, I know a really great place not too far from here," Iroh negotiated in a diplomatic tone. "How about it?" He watched his nephew shrug and turn to the water bending girl.
"Sounds good to me," he said indifferently, encouraged by Katara's agreement. "What place is this?"
"It's on the corner of Ozai and General street, you know where that is." He bent down to write the address on a piece of paper.
My next priority as Fire Lord will be to change the street names, Zuko thought. When Iroh finished, he took the slip of paper from him, scanning the familiar address.
"See you later," Iroh said kindly. "Take your time." Toph followed him out the door, adding,
"Have fun." Katara smiled and moved out the door, graciously flipping the sign to say 'closed.' She turned to him, blue eyes shining.
"So... Where is this place?"
The two made an odd combination, a polar pair walking down the street. Side-by-side like salt and pepper shakers, the blue and red combo finally stopped in front of a brick cafe, with wide windows decorated with pink and white hearts. Hanging from the roof's ledge were were twisting wind charms that made pretty sounds when the wind blew them.
"This... this is it," Zuko said uncertainly, glancing from the paper Uncle gave him, to the little building, to the paper, and back to the building.
Uncle, what were you thinking?
"It looks... nice," he heard Katara say. She looked down at her attire, hoping that the inside wasn't as fancy and cute as the outside looked. She definitely wasn't dressed for this. While Zuko could get by anywhere with wearing his Fire Lord robes, she was still wearing the same water tribe outfit whose blue she knew would clash so violently with the pink and red belly of the cafe. Her hair was twisted in it's regular braid, with two looping ones framing her face. Shrugging, she glanced at Zuko. There was some kind of twisted expression dawning on his face, apprehension and hesitance plaguing his otherwise handsome features.
"This is it," he stated again, but the words for more intended for his own ears than hers.
"Okay," she said brightly, and strode forward. A flurry of bells greeted them, similar to the ones in Iroh's tea shop when they opened the door. It was even worse than Zuko thought.
There were about seven or so round tables, covered in pink tablecloths. Cutesy couples dotted the cafe, sitting across from each other at these pink tables, some interlocked in a passionate kiss. Right away, a waitress scrambled to greet and seat them.
"This way, mister-Fire Lord," she said, looking suddenly nervous once she realized who he was. "It would be my pleasure." She lead them to a round table with two chairs.
Zuko slid around the table, and dutifully pulled a chair out for Katara. The back of his mind screamed at him, that this little act of courtesy was silly. If Katara could go head to head with his sister Azula, she was perfectly capable of pulling out a chair for herself. She seemed to be thinking along the same lines as her eyes locked with his for a fraction of a second, and she looked down on the verge of laughter. Mildly embarrassed, the boy retreated back to the seat across from her.
"Uncle says it's polite," he muttered under his breath.
"That was sweet," Katara said, still looking like she was about to giggle. Zuko smirked despite himself.
"Well Uncle also said to come here," he said, shaking his head. What was Uncle thinking? A shadow fell over the table as the waitress stood readily over them, clutching a small notepad and quill.
"What will you have to drink?" she asked.
"Just water, please," Katara said. Apparently a week of floating on a glacier in the South Pole didn't do it for her.
"Same," mimicked Zuko, and she handed them two menus. Katara shifted as she read the menu.
I wish this was as casual as Iroh's tea shop, she silently wished. Poor Zuko. He looks so uncomfortable. He's probably thinking of Mai- she stopped herself mid-thought. She didn't need thoughts like that in her mind right now. The young waitress returned with some pink note cards in her hand. They both curiously watched as she reached down and fed them into a clamp that extended off a metal stand in the center of the table.
"These are topic starters," she said brightly. "You don't have to, but it helps to use them while you're waiting. You must be a new couple, huh?" She turned and skipped off before, leaving their high flying protest to fall on deaf ears. Sighing in defeat, Zuko irritably plucked one of the pink note cards off the contraption.
"What does it say?" Katara asked, leaning forward. He brought it up to his eyes and read it out loud as he went along.
"'Reminisce about the day you... first met?'" he read out loud. Furrowing his brow, he tossed it back towards it's metal stand. "That's stupid." That was when the realization hit him in the face. Uncle is trying to play matchmaker...
"Yeah, this place is kind of like that," Katara said, trying her best to ease the awkwardness of the situation. And this was quite a situation. She had to wonder about Iroh, throwing the two friends into a place that was clearly meant for couples. It took a calm and intelligent mind like Katara's to make them fit in here, without all the mushy stuff. "When was the first time we met, anyway?" She paused, sifting through her pile of memories to find the first time her blue eyes met the golden ones staring back at her now.
Suddenly very uncomfortable, Zuko fidgeted. Comprehension dawned on Katara's smooth, tan face.
"Oh, I remember. It was when you crashed your ship through the walls of the Southern Water Tribe. You came out and were looking for Aang. The first time I really saw you was when you fire bended over my..." She stopped, and he looked down.
"I know," he said, staring at the table. Although she was the victim at that time, a wave of guilt surged through her chest.
"Listen Zuko, I'm sorry-" the waitress came back and set a glass of water down at the table. She left.
It was one glass of water, with two straws. Both stared at it.
"Let's go," Katara said, pushing her chair back. Zuko was one step ahead of her. Before they left, Katara snatched the water, and the fled out the door.
The dark blanket of the evening was settling comfortably on the village, bright lights illuminating every shop window to guide them. Because they didn't want Iroh to think they just ditched his 'favorite' cafe, which they in fact did, they took their time walking back to the palace.
As time passed the darkness was intent on weighing in, suppressing every light that could show them the path that guided their feet. Zuko decided to grace the scene with his presence, and pulled a trick had done once before for a sweet girl in Ba Sing Se. Breathing heavily out his nose, every lantern in the square was revived to it's fiery life, flaring violently in defiance of the dark. Katara stopped, stunned by the breathtaking scene. The lanterns' light revealed a quiet fountain in it's center, benches surrounding it.
"Did you just do that?" Katara asked, amazed. Zuko stopped beside her, and nodded. Smiling, her feet moved to the head of the fountain. He watched her in curiosity, watched her arms position in front of her, and her hands fluidly bend the water in the fountain. She moved the liquid first in a sphere, and then made it spiral around the fountain. He lit two more lanterns that were a part of the fountain to see more clearly, and then at once he fountain burst into life; it ran all on it's own, it's mouth spitting water into it's many cliffs, feeding it all to it's bottom so the process could repeat itself. Katara looked to him for approval.
"That looks amazing," he said. He couldn't help but admire the way the luminescent light of the lanterns reflected in her eyes, the way the orange flames dancing in the blue orbs that lit up to a strange, cloudy color. She backed up a few steps and fell onto a bench that overlooked it all.
She heard some heavy footsteps and felt pleased at Zuko sat next to her, a comfortable distance apart. Her eyes never shifted from the glistening water of the fountain, made beautiful by the firelight of the tall lanterns guarding it. The scenery was breathtaking enough to make their silence comfortable, but after a while Katara was comfortable enough to break it.
"How was your first week as Fire Lord?" she asked, her voice a trickle among the the other beautiful sounds of the night. Zuko was caught off guard at her sudden speech. He had to think of an appropriate answer.
"Shaky," he admitted. "A lot of meetings, problems."
"Even on your first day?"
"My first day was the worst day," he said seriously, eyes fluttering down as he was reabsorbed into the memories of his first struggles. It was true that he had no meetings that day, but there was too much personal drama for his liking. There was Toph, and even Azula, but that was only a side dish compared to breaking up with... Mai... He looked up quickly, attempting to clear his head of the thought. He was surprised to see a look of deep concern etched on Katara's face, a question forming on her lips.
Before she could ask the question, he had the answer ready.
"I... I visited Azula." Already a look of maternal sympathy settled on her smooth, tan face. Although he was affected by her concern, he didn't like pity or sympathy. "And I did something else I wanted you to know about..." The looked transformed instantly.
It must be about his mother, Katara thought immediately, seriousness invading her eyes. It had to be, she could read him plainly as he shifted uncomfortably, his eyes absorbed with thought.
"I broke up with Mai," he said quietly, avoiding her blazing eyes. His words drifted lazily across the gap between them, and into her ears. The impact was stunning.
"You... did?" she asked quietly, wondering exactly what it meant. A flood of connected images flashed through her mind like an old movie film; it was all the times they shared together. When he took a lightening bolt for her, when she healed him, the first kiss, the second. He lowered his head, nodding ever so lightly.
"I... I didn't break up with Aang. But we're not really together, he just thinks we are. And maybe yeah, I didn't exactly turn down his hopes, but how could I?" she asked desperately. Zuko sighed, placing both his palms on the bench on either side and stared up into the star lit sky.
"It's hard. You don't want to tell him, it's so hard. You feel like your heart is breaking right along with theirs." Katara's eyes wavered, but he didn't see. He felt a warm hand slide on his own.
"I know. I love Aang, but in a different way. He deserves to be loved... but by someone who's just like him. He deserves so much, and I know he's matured. I'll give him that, but at heart he's still a boy. He wants to play. I'm just not right for him. I need..."
Zuko shifted his gaze to her, a smirk playing on his lips. "A man?" he said mockingly. Katara smirked back.
"Well-not exactly-you know what I mean. Yeah, you know what? I do. A man. And what do you think you are?" Firelight danced in her eyes, like a water bending spirit.
"A man," he said, and leaned forward. He was so surprised by how quickly her lips touched his that his eyes were still open. He closed them quickly. She was leaning forward as they kissed, and he hooked and arm around her shoulder. Once the kiss ended and they pulled apart, Zuko fixed his eyes hastily in front of him. A blush glowed pink-orange in the light on Katara's cheeks. They pretended it didn't happen.
The only evidence of any interaction was Zuko's arm, which still lay leisurely around her shoulders as they looked in opposite directions.
-
Two harsh knocks signaled the warning as the door opened without waiting for an answer. Iroh didn't mind, he was just leaning out on his balcony rail, admiring all the work he and Toph had done to beautify the palace. He could sense the very person he was expecting watch his back.
"Hello, Zuko. How was your date?" He didn't need to turn around to see the flushed, angry expression in his nephew's face. His protests were cut short by Iroh's wise voice- "If you kissed at the end, it was a date. Friends don't kiss."
Zuko either acknowledged or ignored this, he couldn't tell which.
"Why did you send us to that place? It was horrible and embarrassing," he said instead, striding to the other end of the room and sitting down. He already knew the answer, and Uncle knew he knew, so he didn't say anything.
"Come look at this," Iroh said, sweeping a hand over the landscape. "That earth bending gem is my greatest partner yet." Getting his feet, Zuko joined him in leaning against the balcony and scanned Toph and Iroh's handiwork. He probably wouldn't have recognized it if Uncle didn't tell him it was the same landscape the palace had beforehand. It truly did look amazing, a vast improvement. His father never did care for the beauty of scenery or earth.
Then his mind wandered to other things, Uncle's so called 'date.' Yes, they did kiss, although neither acted like it had happened. This is the part that perplexed him. Why? Why didn't they acknowledge that they... they... liked each other? It was more than the two others holding them back. Mai had been dealt with as gently as he could, and there wasn't exactly a commitment between Katara and Aang... So why did they have such a hard time admitting they like each other?
He wouldn't even fully admit it. From time to time, like now, he thought to himself, 'Why is she on my mind?' After much thinking, he came up with some sort of analogy. It was nothing nearly as worthy as one of Uncle's philosophies, but nonetheless, he thought it was true.
When friends with someone, it is easy to say that you love them because you know there's no commitment, nothing overtly serious besides that you are true friends. There's no fear of being hurt, no insecurities. When you... fall for this person, it's the hardest thing in the world to admit you like them. The floodgates to self-consciousness, insecurity, and caution are open and to admit you like them is to admit weakness.
He didn't exactly voice this to himself-he wouldn't admit it. But this was the meaning to the underlying tone of his thoughts.
...Not that he would admit it. Because it was time to clear his mind. The journey began tomorrow.
End of Chapter.
I haven't even started the next one yet, so yeah. You'll have to wait a little while. Hope you liked it, lemme know what you thought of the Zutara moments especially.
Hope this wasn't too long.