Author: moor on / beyondthemoor on LJ
Title: Merits
Part : Ten
Genre: Romance/humour/vamp/Modern AU
Fandom: Avatar: TLA
Pairing: Zutara, Jetara
Length: 1000 words, approx.
Rating: M
Disclaimer : "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and all related rights belong to their original creators… I am not among their ranks.
AN: In response to hyperroo' s vampire/Zutara challenge, I present…

"Merits" – Part Ten

"—complete jerk! Anytime I said 'hi' to him, he ignored me; anytime I offered to get him coffee, he pretended I wasn't there; anytime I--…"

Toph nodded at the indignant voice that spewed from the speakerphone, and continued clipping her toenails peacefully.

Katara had been ranting for almost a quarter of an hour about her first week with her new roommate, and didn't seem to be losing steam. From the moment she walked into her office in the morning to the time she left it at night, Zuko Sozin was there. What had once been a comfortable, even cushy arrangement for her to complete her readings, papers, and labwork had become a kind of mental gauntlet she had to endure. Her office was being 'infected' with 'asshole', as Katara put it colourfully, and her personal space had become a personal Hell.

In short, Katara hated having a roomie.

Furthermore, Katara was making sure everyone knew she hated having a roomie.

"—I mean, would it kill him to be polite? Does he think I'm being intrusive or nosy, or-or--."

Unable to take her friend's– well, there was no other word for it –bitchingany more, Toph cut her off.

"Yes. He probably does."

The line went silent a moment apart from Katara's worked-up pants of anger. A train picking up steam as it chugged uphill sounded less arduous.

When the older of the two girls regained some of her composure and next spoke, icicles could have formed from the coldness of her tone.

"Excuseme?"

"He probably does think you're being too friendly & outgoing. Maybe he's a loner and just prefers doing his own thing. He doesn't have to interact with you, Katara," counseled Toph reasonably. "If he's just there to evaluate your department, maybe it is best he doesn't get to know you – it could sway his professional opinion." Wisely, Toph held her tongue and didn't precise whether she thought the affect would be a positive or negative one.

"Are you saying he thinks I'm trying to bribe him to get better results on our review?"

Sighing, Toph's shoulders slumped slightly; it was probably best not to answer that one directly. Katara was getting defensive.

"I'm saying, let the man do his work. Does he interrupt you while you work?"

"No."

"Does he say things that make you uncomfortable? Harass you?"

Katara thought a moment: apart from the first day when he'd called her noisy, he hadn't really said much of anything to her.

"...No," she replied, more slowly.

"Does he leave flaming bags of dog poop on your desk to rile you?"

"Of course not!" The mental image of the ever-professional, serious, cold loner pulling such a juvenile prank made Katara almost smile. Before she could continue, Toph did.

"Did it ever occur to you that perhaps he feels just a little bit crowded with you constantly trying to talk to him, distract him, and otherwise not let him do his job?"

"… but I'm just trying to be welcoming–," Dear Abby cut off her meager excuses again.

"No 'buts', Katara," the younger woman's commanding tone left no room for disagreement. "You may feel like he's invaded your personal work space, but it sounds to me like this guy feels like you're invading his personal space, too." Straightening up, she wiggled her toes and stretched out her leg; yes, she had some fine feet. Time to move on to the next one. Leaning down again, she started on her other foot, hearing and choosing to ignore Katara's angry breathing on the other end of the phone. "You've had almost a week with this guy, right?"

"Yes," bit off Katara through clenched teeth.

"So how about tomorrow, you ignore him?"

"But that's so rude" was about to roll off her lips, until Katara pulled up short and considered her friend's advice more carefully. Ignore him? The idea held some pleasant potential…

A feeling of warmth and opportunity filled her as she contemplated whether she'd be able to get under Zuko's skin by ignoring him. Or, at the very least, feel more peaceful herself. Ignore him, huh?

"Katara?" inquired Toph, a bit uneasy at the silence.

"I'll do it," decided Katara.

"Good for you," agreed Toph carelessly. She finished her second set of toes and sprang to her feet. "Anything else, or can I get my butt to my podium where I belong?"

The not-very-subtle reminder that it was a Thursday, and ergo a work night for Toph, chastened Katara for her earlier tirade. In a few short hours, Toph would be settled into her raised stage, behind her tables of computer gear.

"Mind if I stop by later?" asked Katara a bit self-consciously. "Just to talk about other stuff? I haven't caught up with what you've been doing recently," she realized aloud.

"Same old, same old; you know me. I just control the minions and make them dance," Toph tossed out, already choosing her clothing for the evening from her closet.

"God is a DJ," Katara's musical laughter rang out from the telephone speakers.

"I don't disagree," grinned Toph. "Well, my fans are waiting. I'll see you tonight. Are you bringing your new man?"

"Zuko? Of course not!" cried Katara, taken aback.

Toph stilled, speechless for a moment.

"Haha, gotcha! Just kidding," the blind girl said jokingly after a surprised pause. "Ok, I'll see you later, K."

"Dress warm, it's supposed to get cold tonight," warned Katara. "Don't forget a hat – I know you hate wearing them over your hair, but you'll catch a cold if you don't, and then you'll get sick, and then–."

"Yeah, yeah. Bye!" The line disconnected, and Toph cut off her friend's fretting.

She still stood in the middle of her room, face turned unseeing toward the floor, and couldn't help the last bit of their conversation repeating in her mind.

'Are you bringing your new man?'

'Zuko? Of course not!'

Jet,thought Toph to herself as she shook her head sympathetically, you have some competition.

TBC.

AN: Thank you for reading! (Sorry, a short chapter, I know... hence why you get the first of the 'thank you' fics right after!)
AN: Part 10 originally posted Feb 22 2008.