100 ASC
Late Winter
"Toph, you said you'd give us five minutes. It's only been two, maybe three."
"I heard you say 'bed', Sparky, and then I couldn't tell what you were doing anymore. I came in to make sure you weren't molesting Twinkletoes or something."
"We're just in ded togeder, Doph. What's do bad about dat? You and Katara are in ded togeder all de time." Zuko choked on his laughter as Toph turned bright red. Aang was confused by their reactions. "What?"
"Aang, when Toph and Katara are in bed, they aren't just cuddling, like we are." Aang looked at him innocently.
"What do you mean?"
'There is no way he's actually that innocent,' Zuko thought. 'No way in hell.' "Well, er, they-" Zuko sent a pleading look at Toph, completely forgetting she was blind.
"Keep going, Sparky. Sweetness will skin you alive if you burst Twinkle's bubble of innocence." She smirked. "Of course, she'll skin you anyway, after the first time you two sleep together."
"We've dlept togeder before, Doph." Her eyes widened. Twinkles wasn't a virgin anymore? Moreover, Sparky had left after taking his virginity? Never mind Katara, Toph was going to kill him.
"That's all we did, Toph. Sleep. And cuddle." Aang frowned. Suddenly his eyes widened in understanding as he realized what they were talking about.
"You duys are dalking adout dex, aren't you?" Zuko snorted.
"I knew there was not way you were actually that innocent." It was a bit of a relief, really, that Aang already knew about sex. Aang glared at him.
"Of courd I do! Dyro dold me. He daid dat dex was detween a dan and a wodan, dough." Toph sat down, laughing. Aang's clogged nose just made this conversation better.
"Oh, Twinkles. Sex can be between two men, a man and a woman, two women," Toph paused and grinned wickedly, "or two men and one woman, or-"
"Toph! He doesn't need to learn about threesomes, he won't be having any."
"Dy not?"
"I don't share." Aang raised his eyebrow at Zuko. Zuko seemed mighty certain of himself. Just because Aang had been happy to see him didn't mean that he was automatically Zuko's.
"Oh, deally?" Darn cold. That would have come out so much better if it weren't for his stupid clogged nose. Zuko's jaw tightened.
"Yes, deally. Really." Zuko blushed and Aang's face twitched as he fought back a smile. Darn it, it was hard to stay mad at Zuko.
"Eh, Sparky? I'd be careful what you say. Twinkles might be cute, but he can be stubborn. He dumps you, you're done." Aang rested his head on Zuko's shoulder.
"I'm dot doind do dump him, Doph." It was too hard to stay mad at him, really. Zuko molded himself to Aang, relieved. He didn't know Aang well enough to realize he had been treading on thin ice with him until Toph spoke up. Shit. After all the trouble he'd gone to making sure that Aang would take him back, the last thing he wanted to do was be dumped because he said something stupid.
"Toph, you're blind. How do you know Aang's cute?" She smirked at him.
"All the girls in camp hearts flutter when he walks past, especially if he's just coming from training and has his shirt off, so I'm assuming he's cute." Girls were checking out his Aang? Well, that was just going to have to stop. Immediately. Aang noticed that Zuko was starting to look jealous again. He sighed. It was funny how Zuko had never demonstrated this aggravating little trait before. He hoped that once Zuko realized he wasn't going to dump or cheat on him, it would go away.
"I'm dired," he announced. Maybe if Toph left, Zuko would relax and Aang could enjoy just cuddling with him. Zuko looked a little guilty and started to slip out of the bed. Aang clung to him as Toph chuckled.
"You could just tell me to leave, Twinkles, and tell me you want to be alone with Sparky." Aang waved vaguely in her direction, snuggling closer to Zuko. "Did you just wave at a blind girl? Nice, Twinkles."
"Doph!" She laughed.
"I'm going, I'm going. Sheesh." She ducked out of the tent, still snickering. She poked her head back in. "Sugar Queen cannot learn of this conversation. Ever." She left again before they could tell her to.
Maybe Sugar Queen was done hugging her mother and would be willing to introduce Toph to her. She'd be fine if Sweetness just wanted to introduce Toph as a 'friend,' even they'd been lovers for over a year now, and had been dating for almost two. She knew the Southern Water Tribe was very…traditional when it came to things like sex and love. It had taken Toph years to get her to accept that she was attracted to her, much less get her to agree to a date. She knew it might be years before Sweetness was okay with being open about them, and was willing to wait. Earthbenders were known not only for their stubbornness, but also for their patience, both of which they learned from their element.
"Mom, this is Toph. She's my…best friend." Katara had been going to say lover, she just couldn't bring herself to. It wasn't because she was ashamed of her feelings for Toph, or of what they did in her tent at night, but more because she feared her mother's disapproval. She had only just gotten her mother back; she didn't want to lose her all over again. Kya smiled warmly and bowed to Toph. Toph 'saw' her action and bowed back.
"It's an honor to meet you, um," Toph faltered, realizing that she had no idea how to address Sweetness' mother.
"Kya. You can call me Kya." Toph grinned, relieved.
"All right. It's an honor to meet you, Kya." Sokka wanted to introduce his mother to Suki, so he towed her off, leaving the two girls alone.
"I'm sorry, Toph. I was going to tell her, I was planning on it. I just froze up."
"I know, Sweetness. It's okay. We can tell your family whenever you're comfortable with it." Katara smiled at her.
"Thanks, Toph. Where's Zuko?"
"Why?"
"I wanted to thank him for rescuing my mother, and apologize for the way I acted before I left." Toph had to think fast. If Sugar Queen knew what Twinkles and Sparky were probably doing even though Twinkles was still sick, then all her good will towards Sparky would evaporate like a small piece of ice tossed into a cooking fire.
"Um, I think he's helping his uncle unpack their stuff or something."
"Didn't you drag him into camp when he first showed up?"
"Yeah. He wanted to tell Twinkletoes he'd teach him Firebending. I only let him stay a few minutes because of Twinkles' cold." Ha. Now Sparky had to teach Twinkles Firebending.
Aang was half-asleep. Zuko was moving his fingers in little circles on Aang's back, and that combined with the warmth coming off Zuko in waves was lulling Aang into a deep sleep. Zuko gazed at Aang as the younger teen lay curled up in his arms. He looked blissful and sleepy. This might not be the best time to ask. "Aang?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you still need a Firebending Master?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Oh. Good. We can start lessons as soon as you're over your cold." No answer. Zuko looked at Aang, and saw that the other boy was sound asleep. He smiled tenderly and pulled the blankets up over them. He hoped his uncle wouldn't need him for anything. He wasn't sure he could move with waking up his lover.
Haru fidgeted nervously. He was going to do it. Finally. He'd been nursing this crush on Katara for four and a half years now, and he was finally going to ask her out. He had found some early blooming spring flowers and made a little bouquet for her. The Earthbender took a deep breath to steady his nerves then strode over to where Katara was sitting with Toph. Oh. He hadn't seen Toph there.
"Hey, Rocky. Whatcha up to?" Haru swallowed hard. Crap. Toph had always been better than he had when it came to Earthbending, and he was more than a little intimidated by her. Katara staring up at him with those beautiful blue eyes of hers wasn't helping his nerves any. Toph knew that Rocky had a crush on Sugar Queen, had for years. She also knew that Sweetness was hers. Sweetness would be kind when she rejected Rocky, but she would reject Rocky. She stood up. "I'm gonna go see how Sparky and Iroh are settling in to their tent." She was pretty sure Sparky was still with Twinkles, but that didn't mean she couldn't check on his uncle. Besides, Rocky wouldn't make his confession of love to Sugar Queen while she was there, and the sooner he got it over with, the sooner Sugar Queen would be able to let him down gently. 'Maybe I should have told her about his crush,' she thought. Too late now.
Haru awkwardly thrust the flowers at Katara. She took them, a little confused. "I-I love you, Katara. I have for years, actually. I just never got up the nerve to say anything before." Oh, no. How was she supposed to tell Haru that she didn't love him and never would, without revealing her love for Toph? 'This would be so much easier if I hadn't been such a possum-chicken earlier,' she thought. Then it got worse. Her father heard Haru's confession…and was thrilled. She forced an awkward smile as Hakoda mistakenly assumed the fact that she'd taken the flowers meant she returned Haru's feelings. Where the hell was Toph when she needed her? Or Aang. Aang would help.
"My little girl's in love. And she couldn't have chosen a finer young man, either." Hakoda beamed proudly at Haru, who was in a mild state of shock. Great Spirits. He confesses his love for Katara, and five minutes later has her father's blessing. He should have told her years ago.
"Um, yes, about that," she mumbled.
"We'll have to start planning a wedding!" Wedding? Spirits, her father was certainly rushing things, wasn't he?
"Dad! I'm only seventeen; I'm not old enough to get married!" She ducked out from under his arm, and looked at Haru. Poor Haru. She couldn't say anything to him right now, even if she did know what to say to him. A crowd was gathering. Shit. Rumors of her 'betrothal' to Haru would be all over the camp within an hour. She had to do something. Now. She took a deep breath and just blurted out the truth.
"I'm not marrying Haru, Dad. He's my friend, and, besides, I'm gay. I love Toph, and we've been dating for years now." Poor Haru looked absolutely crushed. "I'm sorry, Haru, I really am. I had no idea how you felt about me, or I would have told you sooner." She forced one last uncomfortable smile. Dead silence had fallen over the gathered crowd, and everyone just stared at her. Face flaming with embarrassment; she shoved her way through the crowd, looking for Toph. Her lover had mentioned helping Iroh and Zuko settle into their tent, so she headed there first. She burst into the tent, startling Iroh and making him spill a little tea. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was looking for Toph; she said she'd be here and, um…" She Waterbended the spilled tea off the blanket it had landed on. "Do you want to drink this or just have me fling it outside?" Iroh smiled kindly at her.
"Outside is fine. Now, relax and have a cup of tea." Iroh poured another cup of tea as Katara flung the tea outside. "I believe Toph went to find my nephew. That is who she refers to as 'Sparky', yes?"
"Yeah. Zuko's Sparky. She has nicknames for all the kids in camp, and some of the adults." Iroh wondered whether his nephew fell into the 'kids' category or the 'adults' category in Toph's eyes.
"And who is 'Twinkletoes'?" Katara frowned slightly.
"My foster son, Aang." Ah. Well, that explained why Toph had said they were probably still together. "I'm really sorry to have just burst in like that."
"That's all right. Enjoying a nice cup of tea with a stranger is one of life's simple pleasures. Although, we should probably enjoy our tea outside so that don't get the wrong idea about what an old man like me is doing with a beautiful young lady in his tent." Katara's laugh was a little hysterical.
"Oh, no need to worry about that. I just announced to the entire camp that I'm gay and dating Toph." She groaned and put her head in her hands. She'd just done it again. This time in front of a complete stranger. Could this day become any worse?
"I'm sure it wasn't that bad."
"The entire camp wasn't within earshot, although the way gossip travels in this camp, they might as well have been." Iroh could believe that.
"Ah. That is a problem. They'll talk about if for awhile, but then something else will happen and they'll move on."
"My parents won't. They're very traditional. I just got my mother back." Iroh put his arm comfortingly around her as Sokka came in.
"They're your parents. I'm sure they'll love you no matter who you love."
"Why do you have your arm around my sister?" he demanded. Iroh quickly removed his arm. It would be best to make as few enemies as possible his first day in camp. "Katara, what is going on? The most ridiculous rumors are flying around camp, about you and Toph and Haru." She smiled shakily.
"They're probably not rumors, Sokka."
"Haru proposed to you, and you accepted and then left him five minutes later for Toph?" It was so much worse than Katara had thought. She started to cry. Sokka held her close, stroking her hair until she was done, Iroh pouring more tea for everyone. "All right, sis, tell me what's going on."
Katara told him everything, from introducing Toph to their mother, all the way up until Sokka had come in. Toph came in leading a cranky Zuko just as she finished. Zuko was in a foul mood because Toph had insisted he leave Aang's side, accidentally waking his lover, and Toph's mood wasn't much better because of all the rumors she'd been hearing on her way across camp.
"Sugar Queen! What the hell happened between you and Rocky? I leave you two alone for five minutes and you become betrothed?"
"I'll make more tea." This was going to be a long afternoon.
"Where's Aang? I'm sure he'll hear the rumors eventually, and I don't feel like saying it all two more times."
"He's probably fallen back asleep." Katara looked at Zuko. Toph had said she'd only let Zuko stay a few minutes. So how did he know what Aang was doing?
"Thank you for rescuing my mother, Zuko." Zuko was about to reply when Toph butted in.
"You can thank Sparky later. Right now, stay on topic." Iroh decided to step in and quickly summarized the situation as best he understood it.
He looked at Katara. "Did I leave anything important out?" She shook her head.
"Aw, Sweetness, I'm so sorry." Toph pulled her girlfriend out of Snoozle's arms and into her own. She wasn't good with pretty words, and Sugar Queen knew it. Sweetness knew her well enough to understand the love and comfort she was trying to convey, though. "Hey, Twinkles." Everyone gave Toph strange looks when she greeted Aang out of the blue.
"Hey, Doph. Hey, everydody." Aang shuffled inside.
"Aang, you shouldn't be out of bed."
"I'm dundled up so dat I deep my dupid dold to mydelf. I douldn't dleep." He pulled the scarf he had wrapped around his face off. "Everydody's dalking adout you, Mom."
"Yeah, I know." Aang hugged her tightly.
"I don't dare dat you love Doph, Mom. I dill love you." Katara hugged him back tightly.
"Thanks, Aang. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"Hey, what about me? I still love you. Don't I get a hug, or am I only good for when you're crying?" Katara smiled at Sokka, then gave him a hug. Aang took the opportunity to sit on Zuko's lap, snuggling close.
Zuzu thought he was so smart. Writing notes to the Water Tribe woman while questioning her about the Avatar to mislead anyone listening in. Wearing the mask when helping them escape so no one could see his scar. It was too bad for him that there had been one of Azula's agents spying on them in the interrogation tent through a small slit cut into the tent, later listening to the woman's conversation with her mother-in-law, that another of her agents had watched him buying the mask. It had been a simple matter to follow him all the way back to the Avatar.
As soon as Azula had heard Zuzu had been captured by the Avatar and had escaped, she'd known he would go back, sooner or later. Her brother was weak, pathetic. Of course he would become enamored with the Avatar's view of how the world should be, possibly even enamored of the boy himself. That was why she should be the next Fire Lord. Why she would be the next Fire Lord. Once she had followed Zuko straight to his precious Avatar, it would be a simple matter to capture him and claim her throne. When the Avatar was executed while in the Avatar State, thus ending the Avatar Cycle for all time, the rebellion's spirit would finally be crushed and the war would be over. Perhaps after that, she would hasten her ascension to the throne by taking a page out of Father's book and using poison. She wouldn't be as impatient as he had been though. No, she would be slow, and steady, just a little bit at a time. It would have to look like he'd fallen ill and gradually succumbed to his illness. It would be slow and painful…perfect. She shared these plans with no one else, of course.
"Ty Lee! Mai! Are you ever planning on coming out of that tent?" It was going to be winter again by the time she caught up with her idiot brother at this rate. It had been a mistake bringing these two along on her quest. They finally emerged, flushed, breathless and a little rumpled. "Mai, you'll sleep in my tent from now on. Ty Lee will remain in her own tent." Ty Lee's face fell slightly at her words, and Mai's face remained its usual expression. "Hurry up and get ready to leave. If we move fast enough, we'll reach the Avatar's hiding spot by nightfall."
"But we haven't eaten breakfast yet!" Azula eyed Ty Lee coldly.
"I have eaten breakfast. If you two had come out instead of dawdling in your tent, you would have eaten." The other two girls sullenly climbed onto their lizards. Mai tossed Ty Lee a small bag of dried fruit once Azula's back was turned.
"It's better than nothing. Just don't let Princess Bitch see it." Ty Lee smothered a giggle.
"Don't you mean the Crown Bitch?" Mai's lips twitched briefly.
"What are you two whispering about back there?"
"Nothing, Azula." Azula eyed the two of them suspiciously for a moment then turned back to the trail they were following. After she'd captured the Avatar, she was going to have to do something about those two idiots. 'Tragically lost at sea' would be convenient. It would be impossible to prove anything either…if either of their families actually cared to look into the matter, that was. Azula doubted they did.
