A/N: It's summer, and as promised, you get another chapter! YAY. For those of you who waited, I hope you enjoy this. For those of you who are new to the story, well, I hope you enjoy it too, of course! ;)

Warning: This chapter contains sex.


At night, the outer walls of the palace glowed with the light of torches. Restaurants, bars, brothels and casinos bustled with activities. Crickets chirped, fire crackled, and laughter, as well as soft moans could be heard coming from the differing establishments. War propaganda was hung from flags on the walls of shops. Pictures of inhuman creatures dressed in water-tribe and earth-nation garb were depicted. Of course, Toph could not see the images, for which Zuko was glad. Toph's senses were a bit spotted at the moment, with many of the shops being made of wood and metal. Still, she could sense most of what was occurring in the area, as the ground remained earthen in the majority of the shops.

To the Fire Nation folk who passed them, the girl looked a bit strange with her green eyes. Still, her pale skin helped deflect suspicion, as most Fire Nation people were of a lighter complexion themselves. Furthermore, the fact her kimono was pink, which was a Fire Nation color meant she didn't attract too much attention.

Through her feet, Toph could feel the people dancing, singing, eating, and fucking. She could smell the roasted peppercorns, onions, and noodles at a stand as she passed it.

She could even almost taste Zuko's excitement as he walked beside her.

After a considerable silence, Toph asked, " Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live as they do?"

Zuko looked away from the curvaceous prostitute who'd been blowing kisses in his direction, " Huh? Oh. Sometimes."

Toph, " I mean, sure there'd be less to eat, fewer toys, and maybe your clothes would be uncomfortable –but so what? You'd actually have a little freedom."

Zuko nodded, " Yeah."

He watched a father and son walking ahead of them. The little boy, who must have been about five years old, was clearly growing weary, struggling to keep up with his father, who was growing distant from him with each stride. The man turned, realizing he was getting ahead of his son, and smiled, stopped, and scooped the boy up and into his arms, then over his head, allowing the boy to sit across his shoulders. They laughed together, turned a corner, and Zuko lost sight of them.

The prince sighed, " Yeah, I think things would be a lot different."

Ever observant, Toph noted the way Zuko had paused during the father-son exchange.

So, throwing caution to the wind, she asked, " Are you angry?"

Toph paused as they passed a park, and then gestured for Zuko to follow her as she entered it. She might need an elemental advantage considering the subject she was about to bring up. And there was plenty of earth in a park.

"What?" He walked somewhat behind her, then sat next to her on a bench which was somewhat hidden by a blossoming cherry tree. The bench overlooked a pond and fountain, which shone in the light of the moon.

" With your father."

Zuko scowled, " Don't talk about my father. You don't know anything."

Her eyes rolled, " That's why I'm asking."

Becoming defensive, the boy turned away from her, " It's not like you have the right to."

Absentmindedly, Toph picked a cherry blossom from the tree and examined it in her palm, running her fingers over it, " Sure I do. We're getting hitched. So spill."

In a fit of rage, Zuko snatched the flower from her hands, burnt it in his palm, and threw its ashes to the ground. He'd had enough of the infuriating girl who always knew what to say.

" You and I are NOT getting hitched!"

Toph picked another flower, laughed at his antics, " Has anyone ever told you that denial is not, in fact, a good look on you?"

Zuko stood, " My father has to approve of our marriage before the engagement becomes official." He could feel his body gaining heat with his ire.

"Soooo?"

" He would never approve of a girl like you. A girl so …so-

"Awesome?"

" Rude!"

Toph shrugged, " If I'm rude, I'm sure he and I will get along just fine."

Zuko huffed, " How does that even make any sense?"

" Your dad freakin' fried your face. That's pretty rude."

Zuko barely contained himself at the comment, " I'm not dealing with this." He began walking away from her, shaking the trees' outstretched branches as he batted them out of his way; causing pink flowers do embroider the cool ground.

Toph chased after him, " Hey, we had a moment, earlier, when we were talking about freedom. Let's go back to that."

Zuko kept walking, exiting the park and re-entering the bustling street, " Yeah, well, you ruined it."

The girl sped up to match his hastened pace, " Look, I know your dad and your face are sensitive subjects, but I'm just trying to get closer to you."

Zuko stopped, and she almost ran into him, " And I don't want you anywhere near me!"

She stepped closer, and he recoiled.

" I was civil when my uncle was around for his benefit, but the truth is that I …" He struggled for the right words as he stared down into her small face. He felt a little like a bully, talking down to a girl so tiny and cute. Still, she was terribly obnoxious, and in his opinion, someone needed to tell her off.

" …Really dislike you!"

The earth-nation girl scoffed, and began walking again, passing him. While her face didn't show it, the movement expressed her hurt at the comment, " Oh really?"

He nodded, now following her in a role reversal, " Oh yes. In fact, I've only been so civil all this time for my uncle's sake. But the truth is, you drive me crazy!"

She wiggled her eye- brows, " Crazy in love."

"NO!" He grabbed her shoulder, stopped her, and attempted to stare directly into her eyes to better convey him self. Of course, he could not, for her eyes stared blankly into nothing.

Toph smiled, remembering Xin Fu's advice, " Well, you might not like me yet, but I already like you."

Immediately she could sense that she'd dampened his anger, since the burning heat of his hand, which was upon her shoulder, decreased to warmth.

" N-no, you don't! Y-you're just saying that." He flushed pink and searched her face suspiciously.

Toph turned away from the stare, and neither of them knew if it was because she was being coy, or if it was because she was lying.

Zuko slid his hand down from her shoulder and to her wrist, dragging her along beside him, " Whatever, let's just go back."


Once back inside the palace, a grim looking Iroh greeted them.

"Welcome back." He tried to smile, but failed.

Zuko let go of Toph's wrist, unaware he'd held it during their entire journey back into the palace, his hand encircling the joint even in front of the payed-off guars that knew of his common outings.

" What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.

Toph, whom also hadn't noticed his hand around her wrist until the very moment he let her go, guessed, " Fire Lord Ozai is ready to see me, isn't he?"

" He's ready to see the both of you."

Zuko's heart stilled. He had not seen his father since the Agni Kai. It had been Iroh who'd finagled the promise of marriage and another heir to protect Zuko from his father's wrath, and Zuko had not been present for the meeting.

Zuko adjusted his shirt, and ran a hand through his hair, " Now?"

Iroh nodded, " Yes, in the main hall. I'll walk with you."

The three walked together noiselessly, passing servants, fire, and stone. Song Yi smiled at Toph as she passed, and didn't have the nerve to look at Zuko after she'd attempted to poison him.

The prince noticed his sister in a corridor, talking to Ty Lee. He didn't have time to wonder about the way the princess stroked her friends face, only recognizing her hateful glare in his direction as he passed.

Toph wiped the sweat of her hands into her dress, rubbing her lips together to prevent them from drying.

" We're almost there." Iroh commented. He then looked around, and as they were alone, said, " While your father may have caught wind of it, the fact that you lost to Toph in battle should remain a secret. It would be in both your best interest if this was the case."

They approached the door to the hall, " So what's our story then?" The green-eyed girl asked.

" Rather than you competing in a fighting contest, you competed in a beauty contest." Iroh explained.

Toph chuckled, "Funny, that's the same lie I used on my mother."

Zuko watched the exchange, too nervous about seeing his father to speak.

" Yes. Amongst the eligible beauties of the nations who won the differing contests, Zuko chose you as his bride after meeting you."

Snapping out of his reverie, Zuko placed a hand on his hip, " Why would I choose her?"

Iroh smiled, opened the door, and pushed them inside, " You know why."

The door closed.

Zuko blinked in confusion, staring at the door. No, he did not know why he would ever want to marry a girl as insufferable as Toph Bei Fong.

He returned to reality, terrible reality, at the sound of his fathers' voice, " So this is the girl you've chosen to be your wife."

The prince turned, slowly, painfully, to the man who never raised him.

Ozai sat upon his golden throne, looking at the couple across the gleaming hall from him. The hall was minimally decorated. It lacked long tables, as it was never used for feasts or celebrations, so it seemed almost empty aside from the red carpets and flags strewn carefully about. It seemed the hall was used mainly for sentencing. The faint stench of death suggested it was perhaps even used for executions.

Toph bowed to the king, " Your majesty." Her dark hair framed her pale face as she did so, gracing the floor due to its length.

"Stand," The lord commanded, examining her as she did so, " You are from the Earth Kingdom, are you not?"

Zuko looked back and forth between the two.

" I am, Your Majesty."

Ozai chuckled, " Let us drop the frivolities. No need for the titles with every word you speak, girl."

Toph bowed her head in acknowledgment. Zuko watched in astonishment. So she did know her manners.

"So, son, what brought the two of you together?" Ozai asked. Zuko attempted to speak without his nerves leaking into his voice. It was the first time his father had addressed him in months.

Remarkably, he remembered to lie, " A beauty contest. She won in her district, and out of the other eligible women, I chose her."

Ozai's eyes narrowed, " As an earth-kingdom girl, how can she be eligible?"

Zuko cleared his throat, " Well, as a Bei Fong, she is of one of the world's wealthiest families. I thought we could use her families' money to fund our war machine research, and our fleets, amongst other things."

The lies one could tell under such duress were impressive, indeed.

Appeased by Zuko's answer, the king turned his attention back to Toph, " And what inspired you to desire my sons hand?"

Everything was riding on this answer, she knew. One misstep could land her in fire. Literally.

She knew her answer would either please the king, or anger him, for with Ozai, there was no middle ground.

She spoke, " Power."

Ozai's smirked, " Elaborate."

The bread and cheese she'd earlier consumed churned in her belly.

Toph gestured about herself, " The Fire Nation is the greatest in the world. Because of this, it conquers all the rest . . . How shall I put this? - I want to play for the winning team." Toph continued, " That was what inspired me to compete for your sons approval for betrothal. After actually meeting him, I admired his strength, and am now quite fond of him for it."

Ozai stood from his throne, clapping as he did so, " Quite a speech. It seems a bit insincere, though."

Toph shook her head, resisting the temptation to run, " I meant every word."

The king continued, " Perhaps you've been rehearsing it with someone. What to say, what to do, how to please me, you've been practicing these things, haven't you? "

The girl knew the King was insinuating that she was a spy or assassin.

Toph agreed, " Of course," his brow quirked dangerously, and she pressed on, " but only so that I may express myself clearly."

The King's face relaxed again, and as he approached her, Zuko stepped out of his way as his father came to a stop in front of the girl.

" And you've been practicing how to please my son, too, then?"

Toph stilled at the scent of blood, which the king reeked with. It reminded her of Gaoling, the burning, the screaming. She immediately pushed the thoughts away. " I've been learning more about your great nation's customs, and of the prince's hobbies."

Ozai reached out to her, his menacing fingers clenching around the neck of her kimono. He tugged a bit, loosening it, " I meant sexually."

Zuko stared at his father in horror as the man moved to cup Toph's breast, which was still covered by her white negligee.

She stopped breathing entirely as the man squeezed lightly, " So this is the type of body my son enjoys. Funny, I expected something more similar to his mother."

Zuko somehow found his voice, " This is the girl for me."

He knew he was treading dangerous territory, so he did not voice his true feelings of newfound disgust in his father.

Ozai removed his hand from the immobile girl, " Well, you needn't worry, I wont soil her with my touch."

Zuko calmed somewhat, until his father said, " Still, I'm interested in what you see in her aside from her wealth." He moved his hand to Toph's obi now, and untied it, causing her kimono to fall around her ankles.

Toph knew that if she spoke, she would curse the man, so she said nothing.

Zuko stepped forward now, carefully, " It was more than her physique that drew me to her. I have fallen for her wiles: her skill in conversation and… her strength of character."

Ozai stepped away from the two, clearly repulsed by Zuko as he picked up Tophs kimono and draped it around her shoulders. The act of pity was, to the King, a sign of weakness.

" Well, you can't marry a girl without knowing how she may please you. In fact, you wont know she's dedicated to this engagement until she gives you such."

Toph spoke, unbroken by the kings' molestation, " Is that not against tradition?"

Ozai shrugged, and then turned, walking back to his throne, " My word overrides propriety. I do not want my son to make the same mistake I did; marrying a woman unable to meet my desire and having to take on a courtesan. Such is a weary endeavor."

Zuko blushed, " So you're saying we must consummate the marriage before the marriage itself?"

Ozai situated himself on his high seat, " I'm saying you test a product before you buy it, or however the saying goes. If she pleases you tonight, your betrothal will gain my approval."

The young pair beheld each other in shock.

" I'll require evidence of the nights activities, of course. I'll have a guard stand at the door, and perhaps require him to retrieve your bed sheet once you've finished. Then you can tell him, Zuko, if her love is satisfying, and he'll rely the message to me."

The words sunk in further with each breath they took, " That is all. You may go now. Pho Shang will be the one to take care of it. " A guard who'd been standing behind the throne, concealed by it, appeared. " Yes, your Majesty."

He beckoned for the two to follow him. As they left the hall, Iroh met them outside the door. He'd waited for them. Zuko shook his head at his uncle's questioning stare.

Pho Shang led them at last to Zuko's chambers. "I'll remain outside to provide you enough privacy."

Toph opened the door without asking, strolled inside, and removed her kimono from her shoulders, letting it slip down and onto the ground.
" I can sense a lot of windows. Should we cover them?" She asked, her tone conversational.

Zuko gave her a look, " Why are you acting like everything is fine?"

She walked to the largest window, crawling over the bed as she did so, " What do you mean? Everything is fine."

He knew she was lying. His father had just felt her up, there was no way 'everything was fine.' And aside from that, they were going to have to consummate the marriage…before the marriage.

She drew the curtains shut. The window actually overlooked the night sky, but from a certain angle the guards at the opposite tower would have been able to peer through, so covering them was in fact a good idea.

She crawled back over the large bed and stood on the cold ground once she was finished, awaiting his next move.

He stood in front of her, shifting from side to side. " We don't have to do this."

Toph did her best to appear seductive, but she looked more afraid than anything, " What if I want to?"

He smiled, ran a hand through his hair, " I doubt that."

Toph stepped closer to him, placed a firm hand on his arm, " Either we do this, or you face a consequence way worse then marriage. Think about that."

He crossed her arms, and then uncrossed them, " So how are we doing this?"

Toph turned a bit to her side, " Well, that's the bed." She gestured to it.

" Right." He agreed, stepping closer to her, giving into his curiosity. He wanted to know what it would feel like to truly hold a woman. He'd only had one girlfriend previously, Mai, and they had only kissed. Now he was going to go all the way.

Toph placed a hand on his muscular chest, and stood on her tiptoes, attempting to kiss him. He acquiesced to the silent request, grabbing her shoulders. Their lips met, the kiss was chaste, and Zuko could feel his back straining as he bent low to accommodate her petite stature.

Toph broke away, and sat on the bed, " You're too tall. Let's kiss sitting down."

Zuko nodded, pushing her down into the bed, and getting on top of her, his left hand moving to her breast in the process.

Toph arched into the touch, moaning slightly into the kiss.

Toph lightly gripped his shoulder, unsure of what to do. Zuko could feel himself hardening against his garbs, and began panting slightly.

He moved his hands down to her legs, and spread them apart. Toph further opened herself for him, wrapping her legs around him. She rolled her hips, grinding against his rigid length. Zuko gasped at the sensation, kissing her neck and rocking back and forth against her. Toph moaned as his clothed erection slid against her clitoris.

" Yes, that." She said, nodding, eyes slipping closed as the sensation overwhelmed her. Zuko continued to rub against the sensitive area, and as he did so he moved his lips lower to her breast, and began sucking at her plump, pink nipple. Toph moaned loudly and ran her fingers through his dark hair, gripping it and letting go repeatedly. Encouraged, Zuko bit down.

" Ow." Toph responded, frowning down at her partner. Zuko smiled sheepishly, "Sorry."

Toph rolled her eyes and sat up.

Zuko leaned back, concerned, " Did I really hurt you?"

Toph smirked, "I'm just getting naked, now. Mind doing the same?"

Zuko nodded, apprehension washing over him as the reality of the situation sunk in along with the separation of their bodies. This was really happening. He was going to have sex with Toph Bei Fong. As her negligee slid down around her ankles, followed unceremoniously by her white lace panties, he found that he didn't mind the prospect at all.

" Take it off." She demanded, gesturing to his still clothed form, " Don't be self conscious, I can't see anything, remember?" She chided as he began to slowly remove his ceremonial attire. Once he was entirely in the buff, he sat back down on the bed, and looked up at Toph in all her glory. She stood there, standing confidently, as always, almost as if she were unaware of her own current state of undress.

While Zuko did his best not to show it visually, Toph could sense his anxiety through the pounding of his heart. She was glad that she was the only one who could do such a thing, though, since if he could hear her now, he'd probably think she was going to die from the absurdly rapid thumping.

He reached out, pulling her to him, next to him, on the bed. He grasped her round buttock in his calloused hand and squeezed, reveling in her feminine form. Toph meanwhile slipped her small hand down from his forearm to his stiff cock, rubbing her hand over it, and grasped his balls lightly. Zuko moaned at the action, but, worried he'd come too soon, pinned her arms to her side. Toph quirked a brow, but was undeniably excited at the action, and blushed at the feeling of moisture gathering between her legs.

Zuko smiled down at her, and kissed the unmarked side of her neck. As he moved down to her collarbone, he freed her arm from his grasp and began penetrating her with his finger.

Toph relaxed as she decided the feeling of being penetrated wasn't too uncomfortable. As Zuko's finger slid in and out, Toph clenched the sheets beneath her, gyrating her hips.

Zuko gripped his penis in his hand, and guided it to Toph's entrance. He removed his finger, and then rubbed his cock against her opening and then penetrated her. Toph whimpered slightly at the burning and tearing sensation. Zuko continued thrusting slightly, "Does it hurt?" He asked.

Toph grimaced, " Uh, a little bit, yeah. Go slow."

Zuko nodded at the suggestion, but found it extremely difficult to comply. She was tight and hot and wet and panting, and it was too good.

Finally, after an agonizing moment, Toph gripped Zuko's ass, driving him deeper inside her. Zuko took the hint, thrusting harder and faster into her snug orifice. Toph moved her hand to cover her head as his violent movements rocked her against the bedpost.

Admittedly, Toph liked it rough, she was a hard-hitting gal, but for the first time, this was a bit…

"Oh! There!" Toph practically yelled as Zuko turned her to her side and fucked her with her right leg swung over his hip and the other slightly pinned beneath him. He gripped her shoulder and gave it to her, ramming into her at a maddening pace. Truth be told, a part of him was punishing her for trying to marry him when he wasn't ready for commitment. The other part of him was simply blazing with desire, and as he could feel his climax reaching, he flipped her over onto her stomach, and then lifted her hips. Sitting behind her, he marveled at the white perfection of her back, then placed his hand against it, forcing her to arch, and giving him a great view of her fleshy bottom. The sight of the proud girl bent over, ready to take his cock from behind sent further blood south. He clenched the base of his cock with his hand, not wanting to orgasm just yet.

' He better not put anything in my butt.' Toph thought, ready to earth-bend him all the way down into hell if he did.

Zuko slid his cock back into Toph's wet hole, and was awed by his ability to savagely impale her onto himself in the position, gripping her hips to the point of bruising.

Toph moaned repeatedly with each unyielding advance, stunned at the strange thrilling emotion building within her. Unable to articulate her need in her current state, she thrust back against him with her hips in equal fervor. The feeling of being filled to her limit by his thick rod, as his balls slapped against her caused her to arch more, taking him in his entirety. Soon, Toph could feel her walls clenching around him, and her entire body shook and tingled with the sensation of her orgasm. Zuko continued to thrust into her tight heat, moaning as her body constricted and coiled ever further around him, milking his erection inside of her.

Fire crackled against the sound of their heavy breathing and the slaps of their bodies as they made impact with each slam of their hips.

Zuko's breathing hitched, and he pulled out swiftly, coming onto the sheet, leaving the evidence his father had requested.

Toph got up, silently, and helped him remove the cloth from the bed. Zuko waited until the girl was back into her negligee before opening the door, where Pho Shang stood.

The guard glanced Toph over, who was now sitting at the edge of the bed, picking at her toes in a façade of indifference. Narrowing the door, Zuko blocked the girl from the mans sight and handed him the sheet, " Your evidence."

Pho Shang took the fabric, and sniffed it, " Satisfactory?"

Zuko noticed the small droplets of blood on the sheet in Pho Shangs hand.

His answer would change his life, he knew. He looked back at the pale form that now lay in the bed, staring blankly into nothing.

He didn't want to spend the rest of his life with her. He barely knew her. But he was a man of honor, and such men did not deflower maidens unnecessarily.

" I'll marry her."

Toph drew a cover over herself, concealing her triumphant grin.

" Now leave, Pho Shang." Zuko closed the door, turned to the mass of covers on the bed, which Toph lay beneath.

" Are you alright?" He sat awkwardly next to the concealed girl, and slightly shifted a cover so he could see her face, only to find another cover. She'd layered them.

Toph adjusted herself in her cocoon, trying to get comfortable.

" I'm fine. Night, Sparky."

Oddly comforted that she was still using her absurd nickname for him, Zuko placed a blanket over his own damp body. He settled in beside her, said, "Goodnight", and then promptly fell asleep.

Beside him, beneath all the covers, his new fiancée plotted the destruction of a nation and its King.


A/N: What have I just written? Ha, ha. Well, I hope the (first I have ever written) lemon made up for the months I've been away from writing Fan Fiction. I know it was a little awkward, but I didn't want to romanticize the sex since they don't love each other (yet?). Anyways, look forward to more chapters. And review. I really do listen to what you have to say. You may not know it, but when you ask questions/leave comments, it inspires my writing, so keep at it!