A/N: Thank you everyone for being patient. And thanks again to my beta, DeepAzulaEyes. To those reading Love is Blind, I'm sorry it's late. I've hit a block with it, but I hope to get over it after this week. For those of you who love Toph, or need a good action fic, I highly suggest Irreplaceable and Reunions, as well as it's sequel, Peace No More. Very good stories by great writers. Thank you guys, and, now for the moment a lot of you have been waiting for…
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar.
Chapter 10
The week had moved slowly for Zuko. Toph continued to wear the nice, tight clothes, though the chill that had come had caused her to wear a sweatshirt. Some of the classes had turned the heaters on and in those classes, Toph had taken her sweatshirt off and Zuko had caught himself staring at her and being distracted from the discussions. Since there were no tests, they didn't study for anything and Zuko continued to wait for the perfect moment to show Toph how he felt, but he kept missing it. Once, he was about to kiss her on her porch, but Fong had come out and the scarred teen had heard Toph's dad in the background. Toph had seemed confused over his mixed signals, but at least the awkwardness they had between them the week before had nearly vanished.
Katara left them alone, though Zuko did see her whispering with Sokka and Aang a few times. He had even overheard the junior talking with Toph about getting dressed at Toph's place before the party. As they walked home on Friday, Zuko knew he had to do something that night. Maybe at the party, but he was almost bursting to get his emotions to calm down and actually tell Toph. He didn't dare make a move while they walked since Katara was walking with them, so he remained silent while the two girls talked about their costumes and who they thought might show up to the party uninvited.
"So," Toph said to him when they reached his house, "come on over when you're ready and then Fong will drive us."
"Ok, see you later," Zuko stated before heading into his house.
Both girls nodded and Katara giggled as he turned away, but he ignored them. Entering his house, he went straight to the shower. Once clean and shaved, he dressed in the costume and tied the boot coverings over his shoes before he looked into his mirror. He didn't know what to do with his hair and wanted to keep it normal. Iroh came into his room and smiled at him from the doorway.
"A pirate, how dashing you look, Nephew," Iroh said with a smile. "Have you told her yet?"
"No, haven't found a good time," Zuko muttered to which Iroh nodded as he smiled in a knowing way.
"Here," Iroh said as he stepped up to Zuko and pulled a small item out of his pocket. "This will help."
Zuko stared at the small piece of stone in his uncle's hand. He had only seen it a handful of times and knew it was a relic from his family's past. It had a circular base and two sides flared up several inches, looking like small flames and Zuko knew it went around a topknot on the top of his head, as was the tradition of his people.
"Uncle, is that…? No, I can't. Not to a party," Zuko stated, trying to get out of wearing the family relic.
"Yes, you can and should," Iroh said. "It will add…prestige, to your costume. You should not look as you do every other day for a party such as this. And, every pirate needs a weapon," Iroh concluded as he backed up and picked something up from the hallway.
Zuko let a smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he saw Iroh bring forward the sheath of his Dao swords along with a false handle in it. The old general had taught Zuko how to use the swords and had had a false handle made for when Iroh had needed to use them for ceremonial showings when he was younger. Zuko nodded and accepted both items, seeing his uncle nod and exit the room. The scarred teen decided to do his hair first and brushed it all up and back, but a few stray hairs were too short and fell in front of his face and over his scar. Smiling, Zuko pulled a few more strands out over the left side of his face and let them partially shield his scar before tying the rest of his hair up in the traditional topknot and placing the relic around the topknot.
Pulling the strap for the sword sheath over his chest so that the handle stuck over his right shoulder, Zuko thought he looked great. The red shirt was loose, and had a v-shaped neckline which was tied close with a simple brown string. The black pants were tight, but allowed enough movement to not be uncomfortable. And his uncle had been right; the relic did add prestige to his costume. Smiling at how well the few strands of hair shielded his scar, Zuko grabbed his cell and walked out to find his uncle sipping tea in the kitchen.
"Will you tell her tonight?" Iroh asked, not even looking up from the book he was reading.
"Maybe some," Zuko replied. "But I do plan on telling her how I feel."
"Good, good," Iroh said with a smile before he looked up at his nephew.
Zuko saw his uncle's smile broaden as Iroh spotted the topknot. "Ah, I knew the headpiece would look good on you. Call me when you two are ready to come home. Fong has the night off after he drives you and has agreed to join me and Jeong for some Pai Sho."
The scarred teen nodded and walked out and across the street to Toph's house. Fong opened the door and smiled at Zuko when he knocked before leading him to the living room. Zuko sat, and waited for nearly a half hour before he heard giggling coming his way. Standing, he turned to the hallway and saw Katara coming out in front and trying to hold back a giggle in a maroon robe with a wide-brimmed hat and veil over her head and had red paint on her cheeks and arms. The junior spotted Zuko and stared before blushing and moving aside to reveal Toph. The blind girl blushed as Zuko found himself staring at her. She looked even more gorgeous than usual with her black hair straight and long underneath a black three-point pirate hat. The black pants she wore were tighter than everything else she had worn since she had started wearing nice clothes, and the white shirt started below her shoulders and ended at her wrists where she had black leather wrist guards on.
But the bodice caught Zuko's attention. The green bodice was tight, showing how much of a woman Toph was, and her pale breasts rose with every breath she took. Zuko tore his eyes away from her chest and saw a green choker around her neck and some faint makeup on her face, making her look older than she really was.
Zuko tried to speak, but all he could say was, "Wow."
XXXXX
As soon as they reached her house, Toph went to her bathroom to get dressed in her shirt and pants as Katara changed in the bedroom. The pants were tight, really tight, but she could still move in them, so she kept them. Tying her false boot coverings on over her dancing shoes, she went back into her room to where she could hear Katara adjusting her robe. Once she was sure the junior was done, Toph held up the bodice.
"Can you help me with this?" Toph asked.
"Sure, but how does it work?"
"I'll put it on, and hold a few things, and you tie it as tight as you can," Toph replied with a smile and blush.
"Ok," Katara said with a mischievous hint to her tone, obviously noticing Toph's blush.
Toph blew a few of her bangs out of the way, but put on the bodice and held it so Katara could start tying the front up. Before Katara could reach her chest, Toph stopped the junior and took a deep breath as she remembered Ty Lee's instructions. Feeling uncomfortable, Toph grabbed her own chest and pulled up before nodding to Katara.
"Ok, finish tying," Toph said as she tried to keep from blushing at how ridiculous her position was.
Katara was giggling as she finished tying the bodice, making it really tight. When the junior finished, Toph let go and felt her posture straighten and her breath slightly restricted when she tried to take a deep breath. She smiled, knowing it was done properly. Toph brushed her hair as Katara did some of her own makeup before the junior moved to sit behind Toph and grabbed the blind girl's brush and started brushing Toph's hair.
"You should leave it straight," Katara mused. "It's so pretty when it's straight and it will look great with your hat."
Toph nodded, letting Katara have full reign of her favorite pastime; doing hair and makeup. Katara talked about how beautiful Toph would look and how much of an impression she would make on Zuko. Toph's dad stopped by while Katara was doing her makeup, and thankfully Toph had her back to the door.
"It looks good," Lao commented. "But be careful tonight, Toph. A storm is coming in."
"I have my phone, dad," Toph said with a smile. "I'll be fine."
"Ok," Lao said hesitantly. "I'm going to go pick up your mother from the airport, and we'll be home when you get home." He paused and Katara continued to do her makeup for a minute of pure silence, but Toph knew her dad hadn't left yet. "Be careful, Toph," he finally said.
"I will Dad," Toph said as she turned her head to the door between makeup applications and smiled at her father.
She heard her father nod and then he left. Katara giggled after her father was gone and Toph questioned her friend with her expression.
"It's a good thing he only saw your back," Katara said with another giggle. "There, you're done. Let me finish up my stuff and we'll be set."
Toph nodded and rose to place a choker around her neck and the wrist guards she had on while she waited for Katara to finish her costume. During that time, she heard her father leave and then Fong answer a knock on the front door. She was sure Zuko was waiting for them, but Katara took forever, never quite happy until her sixth attempt with a special kind of makeup.
"Ok, ready to surprise Zuko?" Katara asked.
Toph nodded and smiled and Katara giggled as she whispered what Zuko might look like on the way out to the living room. When they reached it, Toph heard Zuko get up and Katara's breathing stopped for a second. Then Katara moved aside so Toph could get through and Toph heard Zuko's breathe catch. She blushed and then smiled towards Zuko as he breathed, "wow."
"Well, by Sugar Queen's reaction, you turned out really nice," Toph smirked. "And by your reaction, so did I."
"Yeah, um," Zuko stuttered for a second before he took a deep breath. "You guys ready?"
Toph nodded and heard Fong coming towards them from the kitchen. "The car is ready," Fong said and turned back to the kitchen and started heading to the garage. Katara followed him, and Toph followed, trailed by Zuko. Fong had Zuko sit up front next to him as the girls took the back seat and Katara leaned over to whisper in Toph's ear as the car started moving.
"I never thought he'd look that good," Katara said. "He's in a loose red shirt with really tight black pants and his hair is up. Though there are a few strands over his scar and he's wearing something on his head. Do you know what it is?"
"It's a family relic," Zuko said from the front, obviously hearing Katara. Toph smiled as she heard a slight frown in Zuko's tone and could have sworn Katara was blushing. "It's a topknot and a traditional piece from my heritage."
Katara nodded and turned silent for the rest of the car ride. They soon arrived at Katara's house and Toph grabbed her swing cd as she got out.
"Iroh said he will pick you up when you're ready to head home, miss," Fong said before Toph exited. "Just give him a call, or have Zuko call his uncle."
"Ok, thanks Fong," Toph answered, smiling.
She heard Fong nod and the car pulled away once the three were walking to the house. Once inside, Sokka pulled Zuko away to help hang up some difficult decorations while Katara pulled Toph to the kitchen where the blind girl heard Suki stirring some punch.
"Anything yet?" Suki asked when she spotted the two younger girls.
"No, but maybe tonight by their reactions to each other," Katara said smugly.
Toph frowned and handed Katara the cd. "Play that tonight, and you'll see something. I hope. Now lay off of it and tell me what I can do."
Katara nodded and took the cd, and had Toph help her with the snacks and preparations until the guests started arriving. Everyone was mingling fine, though Toph couldn't hear Zuko's voice. She asked Katara where he was and found out he was hanging out in a corner with Longshot and Smellerbee and made her way over to them. Just before she reached the group, she was hugged by a smaller boy.
"Heya Toph!" the boy said and Toph smiled as she recognized Longshot's little brother, Wayne.
"Hi, The Duke," Toph grinned as she felt a helmet bump into her chest. "Can you lead me to your brother and my friend? I can't hear them with all these people."
She barely made out the sound of The Duke nodding before he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the corner.
"Your friend is kinda scary looking," The Duke said as he pulled Toph through the crowd. "And he's almost as quiet as my brother. He didn't get throat damage too, did he?"
"No," Toph replied with a laugh and smile. "But sometimes I think he has brain damage."
"This coming from the girl who can take a punch and then pin a guy at least twice her size," Zuko muttered as she and Wayne joined the group.
Toph just smirked up at her friend and gestured to The Duke as the younger boy let go of her hand.
"Sunshine, this is Wayne, also known as The Duke. He's Longshot's little brother. The Duke, this is Zuko, who I call Sunshine," Toph said as she introduced the two.
Wayne nodded to Zuko and Smellerbee let a low chuckle out.
"Why so puzzled Zuko? Is it their names?" Smellerbee asked Zuko.
Toph heard Zuko nod as she edged closer to him.
"Their dad is a huge John Wayne fan," Smellerbee stated. "And little Wayne followed in his dad's footsteps. I'm surprised he isn't dressed as John Wayne this year like he is every other year."
"Longshot wouldn't let me," the boy grumbled. "But I like your costume, Zuko. Did you and Toph pick them out together?"
Zuko nodded and Toph heard the music start up. She talked with The Duke and Smellerbee more as Longshot stood quietly next to his girlfriend and Zuko put in a few comments as they talked about school and life. Toph was glad Zuko was starting to relax until they heard a swing song start.
"You want to dance?" Toph asked Zuko.
He remained silent, as if listening to the tempo and then took her hand and led her out to the dance floor as a lot of people left, though some remained and continued to dance either in their own way or with basic swing moves. Toph tossed her hat to Smellerbee as she studied the rhythm of the music. It was a little fast, but that was the way she liked it.
"Can you handle this?" Zuko asked her quietly as the brass section entered the music.
"Can you?" Toph asked back with a challenge in her tone.
She waited for an answer, but Zuko remained silent and instead pulled her into a basic turn. He started with the basics, as if determining how good she was, and when she moved perfectly to every move and signal he gave her, he started doing more complex turns. She was surprised, but pleased as Zuko led her from eight count to six count effortlessly, spinning her all around and she never once caught her foot on his and knew he was doing everything right. Toph heard people clapping to the music around them as they moved into even more complex moves and did some Charleston moves as well as some really tight turns. The song started to wind down and Toph heard Zuko breathing heavily as she felt sweat bead on her forehead and, as the song ended, Zuko spun her again and pulled her into a dip.
She tried to catch her breath and heard him trying to do the same as everyone applauded their dance. Toph felt his breath on her face, his face inches away from hers as he leaned over her while she was held up by his arm. She was sure he would kiss her, but he rose and pulled her up next to him.
"You're a hit," Toph told Zuko with a grin as she heard people start to approach them.
"Yeah," he said in an unsteady tone. "Uh, this way."
Toph was puzzled as he kept a hold of her hand and pulled her away from the crowd as some hip hop started up and most everyone moved to reclaim the dance floor. Smellerbee handed her hat back to her as Zuko pulled her to and up the stairs and to a guest room that Katara kept as a hobby room for her sewing and dance practice. Toph heard rain pounding on the roof and knew the storm her father had warned her about had started, though she hoped it would get lighter and that thunder wouldn't make an appearance. She hated thunder. Her thoughts were interrupted by Zuko as he dropped her hand and stepped up to her.
"You ok Sunshine?" she asked as she smiled up at him, trying to ease the tension that suddenly filled the room with a smile and some teasing.
XXXXX
Zuko could only stare at Toph. She was so gorgeous, and so perfect. Too good for him, but he knew he needed to follow his uncle's advice and let her choose. She had been perfect in her dancing, following his lead effortlessly and flawlessly, knowing where to be for every move and he had tried some of the most difficult moves he knew. And yet, still she had kept up with him and had made it look perfect. Like they had danced together for years. He had wanted to kiss her as he dipped her at the end of the dance, but the applause made him lose his concentration on Toph and he knew he couldn't kiss her in front of everyone. He wanted to do it someplace private, and Sokka had shown him the perfect place while they grabbed decorations. The scarred teen stepped up towards Toph as she tried to ease the tension, but he knew he needed and wanted to do this.
"You're perfect," he told her softly, and he heard a huskiness enter his voice as his eyes strayed to her lips. "Too perfect for me. I don't know if you feel the same, but I hope so," he said.
Toph looked like she was confused and about to question him when he captured her lips with his own and kissed her. She was frozen for a second and Zuko thought he had gone too far until her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled herself closer to him in a chaste kiss. He knew by the way she was kissing him that it was her first, so he kissed her gently, easing into the kiss. But she seemed to feel his need for more and her body molded against his as she opened her mouth, wanting and giving more passion. Zuko obliged until he heard something that sounded like someone coming up the stairs. He separated himself from her and pulled away slightly, seeing Toph looking flushed before her cheeks turned crimson in a blush and she pulled back as well, though she kept her hands on his shoulders. Zuko watched her eyes and face and saw her looking flustered and slightly confused, though she seemed happy as well.
"Wow," she finally breathed and Zuko nodded absently, feeling the same.
They heard a sound coming from the stairway and stepped away from each other, blushing.
"Um, I have to use the restroom," Toph said in a rush as they heard someone coming up the stairs.
All Zuko could do was nod as he tried to get his breath back from the kiss and he slowly followed her down. He saw Pipsqueak at the door in a bear costume and Sokka turning a girl Zuko recognized away from the stairs and towards one of the two bathrooms on the first floor. The blue-eyed senior gave Zuko an odd look as Toph hurried past, trying to hide her blush beneath her hat as she rushed to the farthest bathroom. Zuko shrugged to Sokka's questioning look and the other senior shrugged back as Zuko walked slowly and without purpose along the back wall as people danced and talked throughout the large family room. Smellerbee and Longshot waved him over and he talked with them until he heard Hahn's voice.
"You an I are meant for each other," Hahn was saying in a desperate tone and it sounded as if he was angry. "What makes that scar-faced loser any better?! I'm rich, and can get anything for you that you could ever possibly dream of!"
Zuko turned and saw Hahn in a prince's costume cornering Toph. Toph was bristling and it looked like she wanted to punch the arrogant junior, but she merely glared at Hahn.
"You don't understand me, or him," Toph said, trying to push Hahn away. "Leave me alone, Dumbass. I don't want to hear your voice ever again!"
"How dare you?!" Hahn shouted and backhanded Toph across her face.
Toph looked shocked and brought one hand to her cheek which was already turning pink, but all Zuko saw was the red of his rage as he marched over to Hahn as the snotty junior tried to grab Toph again. Zuko grabbed Hahn's reaching arm and pulled him away from Toph, shoving him away from the blind girl.
"Leave me alone, ass-hole," Hahn sneered as he tried to punch Zuko.
Zuko saw the punch coming and grabbed Hahn's arm, twisting it as he flipped Hahn over his shoulder. Hahn landed hard, but got up when Zuko let his arm go and moved to punch the scarred teen again. Zuko moved to the side and punched Hahn in the nose. The arrogant junior fell, clutching his bleeding nose and crying as Zuko loomed over him.
"Don't ever, ever hit a woman again," Zuko growled. "Or I'll kill you."
Hahn just nodded weakly, whimpering as he held his nose and Zuko looked up and saw everyone watching him. Toph stared at him for a second before bolting for the front door. He struggled against the crowd, trying to reach her, but she had disappeared by the time he reached the front door. Sokka hurried to his side, having lost the hat to his Indiana Jones costume, gasping as Zuko looked out at the pouring rain and the darkness that seemed to swallow everything.
"I dunno where she went," Sokka said as he tried to catch his breath.
"I'm going after her," Zuko said and started to head out, but Sokka caught his shoulder.
"Wait, she might not want to talk to you," the blue-eyed senior said as he caught his breath and studied Zuko.
"I know," Zuko said, meeting Sokka's gaze. "But I need to explain why I reacted like that."
Sokka studied him a moment longer before smiling and gabbing a leather jacket off of a coat hanger and handing it to Zuko.
"Be careful, it's raining cats and dogs out there."
Zuko nodded, and took the jacket, putting it on before he stepped out into the downpour. He saw lightning flash and the thunder boomed two seconds later as he glanced around. He didn't see any sign of Toph and started walking towards their neighborhood, calling out her name. He had nearly reached the end of the street, and he was already soaked as he continued to call, becoming more panicked as he received only the sound of falling rain in answer.
"Toph? Toph, where are you? Look, I'm sorry, but please, answer me."
"Zuko?" he heard faintly and from his left.
He peered though the rain and made out a figure moving under a tree across the street from him.
"Zuko? Is that you?" he heard Toph ask in a frightened voice.
Zuko hurried across the street and stopped as soon as he entered the shelter of the tree. Toph stood three feet away from him and had her head cocked as if she were listening for something. She was drenched, and the white blouse was now see-though on her arms and clung to her body. The blind girl was shivering violently and her breath was visible as she rubbed her arms in an attempt to get warm. Lighting and thunder went off again and Toph jumped.
"Zuko, you there?" Toph asked, fear controlling her tone and flashing over her face.
"I'm right here," Zuko stated and Toph brightened, running to him and hugging him under the tree.
He noticed she had lost her hat at some point and her makeup was smeared and nearly gone as she clung to him. He felt awkward and ran a hand over her head and down her back as he tried to soothe her. Toph jumped as thunder rumbled again and then stepped back, firmly punching Zuko in the stomach as she glared up towards his face. He lost his breath and nearly doubled over from her strong hit, but managed to stay upright as she placed her hands on her hips.
"What the hell was that?!" she shouted at him. "I could have handled the dumbass! Why did you get involved?!"
"I couldn't stand seeing him hit you," Zuko muttered as he tried to get his breath back.
Toph frowned, but turned so that her back was to him and he thought he heard her crying.
"I can't stand seeing any woman be hit by a man," he sighed. Toph just kept her back to him and he pulled out his phone and called his uncle.
"Ready to go so soon?" Iroh asked over the phone.
"We're down the street and need a ride," Zuko stated firmly.
Iroh must have heard the tension in his tone. "Very well, Nephew. I'll be there in ten minutes," Iroh sighed before he hung up. Zuko noticed Toph tensing as she continued to shiver and he pulled the jacket off and laid it on her shoulders.
"Unless you'd rather go back…" Zuko said, but Toph started shaking her head fervently.
"No, take me home," she said in a strained voice, and Zuko nodded as he stepped away from her, sensing she wanted to be left alone. But he did see her cling to the jacket as her shivering lessened.
They waited in silence until Zuko spotted his uncle's car and stepped out into the rain to flag him down. Once Iroh stopped the car, Zuko went back to Toph.
"My uncle's here," he told her gently and she nodded, stepping towards him and looking up at him, almost waiting as she left a foot between them. Zuko started walking to his uncle's car and opened the back door for Toph. She slid in and moved to the far side and Zuko slid in next to her, unnerved by her silent demeanor. He knew he should have let her handle the situation, but his anger had won when Hahn had hit her and he couldn't stop himself. He was glad that all he had done was break Hahn's nose, and he was sure he would hear about it for the entire week, from school, his uncle, and Toph's parents. The scarred teen noticed Iroh glancing back at them though the rear-view mirror as they sat in uncomfortable silence for the trip home. The rain started to slacken as they pulled into the driveway and Toph got out as soon as the car stopped.
"Bye," she said simply and started walking to her house.
Zuko glanced at his uncle and Iroh gave him shooing motions towards Toph and mouthed 'Go after her' to his nephew. Zuko nodded and hurried after Toph, stopping when she turned back towards him just before they reached her porch. He started shivering as the rain turned into a heavy drizzle and Toph continued to stare at him as if she were studying him.
"Yes?" she asked curtly.
"I…I'm sorry," Zuko muttered.
"For what?" She asked, her voice cracking slightly and Zuko was sure he saw tears come to her eyes, but it could have been just the rain.
"For overreacting to Hahn," he replied. "I still meant everything I said and did, and would do it all over again if I had to."
Her face softened for a moment and Zuko decided to press his luck. "I like you, and I want to tell you. Everything. Can we talk, tomorrow?"
Toph continued to study him as her jaw dropped open in shock. "You meant everything?" she whispered after a minute of silence.
"Yes," Zuko whispered.
Toph smiled at him and nodded. "Tomorrow then."
Zuko smiled slightly as Toph turned to head into her house. He watched her until the door closed her off and he heaved a sigh of relief. The night hadn't turned out nearly as well as he had planned, but he had done what he needed to do, and it looked like Toph was going to forgive him for his reaction to Hahn.
A/N: And don't forget to Review! Thanks! =)