AN: Yes, it looks bleak for Toph and Zuko, but hang in there!
Blind Are We Both
TOPH WENT TO work at the Darjeeling Dragon the next day. She couldn't play sick forever, and couldn't hide from Zuko forever either. She trudged in, lacking her usual vitality.
Iroh instantly noticed. "Are you well enough to work today, Toph? You don't seem to be yourself…" his voice lilted with concern.
Toph shook her head. "I'm fine, old man, let's make some tea."
Iroh seemed startled at Toph's aggressive reply, but chalked it up to being in a bad mood. Perhaps she was in a sour mood from her fight with Zuko last night. No, Zuko did not say that he had had a fight with Toph, but his angry entrance into their quiet home last night had been a very telltale sign.
Toph served all of the customers and took orders excellently, despite her bad mood. Iroh couldn't help but compliment her on her good work. She was a quick student and a hard worker.
Zuko, however, didn't seem to be doing as well. He constantly wore a look of sullen depressiveness and didn't seem to be hospitable to the customers. Iroh had to pull him aside. "What is wrong, Zuko?"
Zuko looked downcast. "Toph hates me." He muttered darkly.
Iroh blinked. Toph could be a little rough around the edges at times, but to outright tell someone she hated them? "No, she doesn't, why would you think such a thing?"
Zuko crossed his arms. "She thinks I'm ditching her for Katara." He explained.
Iroh looked very confused. "You were involved with Toph and are now leaving her for Katara?"
Zuko growled in frustration. "No! I was never with Toph! We're just friends! But she's mad that I talked to Katara when she was visiting."
Iroh smiled. Oh, to be young again… "Zuko, you cannot neglect your friends just because you have a new girlfriend." He scolded gently.
"Katara's not my girlfriend!" Zuko protested. He was ready to set something on fire.
"Then what is she?" Iroh questioned.
Zuko blinked. "Well…I don't know. She's pretty. She's nice. She's strong…I don't know. I like her?"
Iroh wagged a finger at Zuko. "Now, if you like a girl, shouldn't you be certain whether you like her or not?"
Zuko scowled. "Things aren't complicated with her. We talk, we laugh. It's nice. She doesn't make me have a heart attack or feel nervous like To-" he stopped himself and looked away.
Iroh's features softened. "You feel that way about Toph?"
Zuko blushed deeply. "Uncle…it's not natural. It feels strange…and painful." He murmured softly.
Iroh patted his nephew on the back. "Zuko, that is what love is all about."
Zuko frowned. "I want nothing to do with it then. I'll take simple, easy Katara any day." He replied curtly.
"Then it's no fun. Where's the love? The passion?" Iroh inquired.
Zuko sighed exasperatedly. "I don't know!"
Iroh laughed. "Well, then, you'll find out." He knew now his nephew cared deeply for Toph. Once he tried to have a romantic relationship with Katara and failed miserably, he'd see how he was better off with Toph. Iroh just hoped that Toph was patient enough to wait for a dummy like Zuko.
In the meantime, he had to coax the two youngsters to patch up the fight they had. He was certain that Toph had yelled at Zuko out of jealousy, so if Toph swallowed her pride and apologized first, then all would be well. However, Zuko was wrong to ignore Toph…but his nephew had a soft heart and would apologize the moment Toph would begin to.
By the spirits, he loved playing matchmaker!
IROH APPROACHED TOPH cautiously. This had to be executed in just the right manner or else it would fail. "Ne, Toph, could you help Zuko in the back? He's having a rough day for some reason…" He cued his voice to sound deeply concerned for his nephew, and he knew how his love for Zuko pulled at Toph's heartstrings.
Toph nodded. "Of course, Uncle Iroh. I'll try to cheer him up." Toph reluctantly walked to the back, wondering what she should say to her best friend who was… abandoning her? Forgetting her? She felt so angry with Zuko, although she didn't know why…
He watched her enter, and noted how pretty she looked today. "That's a lovely dress." He remarked, stocking the shelves with precision.
"Thank you." She replied, handing him more boxes of tea so he could continue stocking. She fell silent, lost in thought, trying to figure out her confusing emotions.
Zuko too, was lost in thought over what his Uncle had said. How was it possible that he loved Toph as more than a friend? The idea was so foreign to him…
"Zuko, I'm sorry." Toph blurted out suddenly.
Zuko turned and looked at Toph, surprised. He sat down on the crate he had stood on to reach the higher shelves. "No, Toph, I should be sorry. I didn't treat you well this week…I was inconsiderate."
A betraying tear slid down Toph's cheek. "No…I over reacted…"
His shock over Toph's tear was replaced with empathy. He reached out a hand and wiped the tear away with his finger. "Toph."
Another tear coursed down her face. "I just was…I didn't want you to abandon me."
He pulled her into a hug, and she blushed as she fell into is arms. Her face nestled into his broad chest and she held back a sigh. Something about this felt so right, so wonderful. It reminded her of the dance they shared at Sokka's wedding.
"Toph, I'll never abandon you. We will be friends, always." He murmured softly, his breath tickling her ear. She resisted a shiver and looked up to him.
Well, not looked, but she faced him. She knew it comforted him to see her face when he spoke to her. Her fingers traced over his features, so straight, sculpted, and smooth. Nothing was too angular, too sharp, too round. "Friends always." She whispered softly.
He leaned in and his lips brushed over her forehead. It was barely a kiss, a ghost of one, more like. His fingers caressed her cheek and she couldn't help but smile. Everything would be alright, and to know that was enough.
They separated after a few moments and got back to work. However, this time they were laughing and joking as usual.
Iroh smiled and hid behind the door frame. The embrace and small kiss was more than enough to confirm his nephew's feelings for Toph. But now was not the right time. It would take a little more time for them to realize how much they needed one another.
THE NEXT THREE months passed quickly and uneventfully. Toph and Zuko continued their training and outings. They made a few local friends, but none seemed to intrude on their special friendship. The teashop was doing very well and had turned out to be a wise investment by the Bei Fong family. Now that the war was over, life had not been about excitement and adventure, but instead simple pleasures and good company.
Zuko began packing for his trip he promised to make to the South Pole three months ago. This gave Toph that familiar anxiety she had felt three months ago, when she and Zuko had the worst argument.
She sat in his bedroom, watching him pack, fussing with her casual dress she wore. She had taken to wearing dresses a lot lately. The empire waist styles suited her and were very comfortable. Her parents were pleased as well.
However, she still wore bare feet everywhere, even when working in the teashop. But people seldom noticed and if they did, they mentioned nothing. Her aforementioned bare feet kicked back and forth lazily as she listened to Zuko pack.
"How much are you going to bring?" she questioned.
"Enough clothing for the trip down. They'll give me warmer clothing, most likely." He answered, closing the latches on his humble traveling case. He looked at the younger girl, struck by how the light filtered in the room and bathed her in gold. Her dress clung to her attractively, her feet were small and cute, and her hair was bound half up, half down.
Funny, she had been wearing dresses a lot lately and had been changing her hairstyle frequently. Not that he minded; it was interesting to watch. "Do you want to come with me? The offer still stands."
She shook her head. "No, my feet belong on solid earth." And she didn't want to see Zuko speaking with Katara. But that was beside the point. Really.
"Okay…it'll be quiet without you around…" Zuko lamented.
"Then stay." Toph beamed.
He patted her silken black hair atop her head. "Don't be silly."
She found herself pouting. "Have a nice trip…see you in three weeks?"
"Yes, and then we'll leave for Kyoshi Island together." He promised.
"Okay." She agreed.
He leaned in and instead of kissing her cheek as he would have usually done, their lips brushed against one another. It sent an electric jolt through the both of them, and they pulled away abruptly, blushing.
"I-I'm sorry, Toph, I didn't mean…" he covered his mouth with his hand, amazed by the feeling that had just passed through him.
Toph fidgeted. "Can…um…just one more?" Toph inwardly cursed at herself. Since when had she become a shy, timid, meek little mouse-chipmunk? Where was the bold Toph who would have stolen another kiss, consequences be damned?
Zuko blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Yes, Princess." His hands rested on her shoulders and her face tilted up to meet his. Their lips met gently, and caressed one another for another couple of moments. They parted for a soft breath, then brushed together one last time.
They both bit back sighs of pleasure and hated to part from such a sweet kiss. Zuko shook himself out of the trance he had fallen into. "See you soon." He murmured, slightly embarrassed to be kissing Toph in this way. It seemed he was always kissing her, even though he shouldn't. What was he going to do with himself? With her? What did it mean?
Toph nodded in affirmation and listened intently to her friend's retreating footsteps. She lay back on his bed, sighing dreamily. Zuko…had kissed her…and it had felt so…nice. Right. Wonderful.
She belatedly realized she was behaving like a girly girl, but it didn't matter. Her Prince was much more important. And he was leaving for the Southern Water Tribe to talk to another girl. Maybe even kiss her too…
But it didn't matter as much as it had three months before. He had promised to never abandon her. And Zuko was a man of his word. And when he returned in three weeks, she'd greet him with a gentle kiss.
The lines of friendship, unbeknownst to her, were quickly becoming blurred.
THE TRIP TO the Southern Water Tribe was only for five days. And it wasn't so bad, except for the temperature dropping to freezing the closer he got. But something kept Zuko warm, and that was the thought of Toph.
He didn't know why they kissed one another like they had, but it had taken away the guilt of kissing her while she slept. Had she been awake, she wouldn't have been angry. It was just a friendly kiss…right? Both times he had kissed her, although technically he had kissed Toph thrice in his bedroom…
His heart fluttered at the thought of kissing Toph. And doing so in his bedroom. Her hair splayed across his pillow, her body pliant beneath his…
And he tried pinching himself. Toph was his dear friend, and he was a nearly eighteen year old guy with a lot of hormones. He couldn't take that out on Toph. She was innocent and pure and didn't deserve to be messed around with…
He sighed softly as he reached the South Pole. Everything was so confusing… maybe this trip and some time spent with Katara would straighten his head out. He docked his boat and was surprised to see how nicely the Water Tribe was coming along. They had built defensive walls, had icebergs to halt any intruders, and it was teeming with much more life than it had prior to the war's end.
Katara's birth home had gone from desolate to thriving. People had been informed that he had been coming, apparently, and dropped the walls with Waterbending to allow him to enter. His jaw dropped as he watched new homes being made, young couples strolling around, either pregnant or with young infants in their arms. Children were laughing and playing about the streets, and the more mature adults were completing their duties with a smile.
"Zuko!" he heard a feminine voice cry. A woman dressed in the garb of the Southern Water Tribe ran to him and engulfed him into a hugged. It was Katara. He smiled and returned the hug.
"This place is…wow." He commented, still looking around.
Katara beamed with joy. "Well, some adults volunteered to move here, and some brought their children with them. And some young couples also decided to make a new life here." She gestured to those she was speaking about. "I'm the village midwife, so to speak." She laughed.
Zuko was in awe. "Wow…that's…nuts." He felt squeamish at the very idea of a birthing woman. Especially if it were Toph…wait, what?
"C'mon, let me give you a tour. Aang's sulking for some reason, but he'll join us for dinner. We're having a mini-banquet in your honor, since you're a war hero."
Zuko blushed. "You really didn't have to…"
"Nonsense. Now, let's get you some warmer clothes. Your lips are becoming blue."
Zuko agreed and allowed himself to be dragged around all about the new and improved Southern Water Tribe.
