A/N: Just a bit of an interlude. :)

Once Upon a Time: Chapter Fourteen

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero."

- Marc Brown

.

The next morning, Aang woke up in a totally different setting - just like when he woke up in Toph's room. Only this time, it wasn't as comfortable. He was extremely uncomfortable and felt completely out of place. He even tried stretching out, but he couldn't move his arms. Or legs. That was when he started to panic. He snapped his eyes open, only to come face to face with - "Zuko?"

The Fire Lord smiled maliciously. "Hello, Avatar."

Aang looked around. He was in the Fire Lord's office with two guards on either side of him. "Huh. You finally caught me." He ignored Zuko's glare and tugged on the restraints. "Why can't I bend?"

"It pays to have a sister like Azula," Zuko offered before he began pacing. "Avatar, where were you last night?"

Aang's eyes widened and he began tugging on the restraints once more. Who cared if he couldn't bend? He had to get out of there.

Zuko continued pacing. "Just answer the question and we'll be done soon enough."

Aang watched him warily. Then, he relented and relaxed. "She took me to that festival. She took me - I didn't take her anywhere."

"Quick to throw her under the bus, aren't you?"

"Only because you're afraid of her."

Zuko stopped and looked at the Avatar's sly grin. While that may have been true, he wouldn't argue it out as he was normally wont to do. He did kidnap the Avatar for a reason. "I've brought you in here to question your intentions with Toph."

"You've got to be kidding me." When one of the guards took a step toward him, he actually sweat dropped. He may have been the Avatar, but he was incapacitated at the moment. "You know what my intentions are, Zuko."

"I want to hear it from your mouth, Avatar."

Aang sighed. He was still 'Avatar', which meant that he had to talk. "Her parents were forcing her to get married," he began. When Zuko nodded, he continued. "She looked so miserable when she told me and I know how important her freedom is to her, so I offered myself up to her. I couldn't stand to see her like that. I mean, I had never seen her look so miserable before. The deal was made only to allow her to keep her freedom but, then it got real. I didn't mean to grow feelings for her. She challenged me to woo her, which I've been trying to do. And here we are."

Zuko had the distinct feeling that the wooing worked. But, he wouldn't mention that during his interrogation. "Aren't you taking her freedom from her by doing this?"

Aang raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"This wooing thing. We all know how Toph feels about love and marriage. She thinks that they're both a trap-"

"I would never do that to her," Aang cut him off. He didn't care about the guards anymore. "I would never trap her or take her freedom or her independence away. My people didn't marry because marriage tied people down to this world. If it were up to me, I wouldn't get married, either. If it were up to me, I would take her away from those nobles and those traditions. I would take her anywhere that she wanted to go and make sure that she was happy. But, I can't. So, I'm doing the only thing I can do for her. Because I love her."

The office was silent before a guard sniffled.

The second guard looked at him. "Yami, are you crying?"

Yami shook his head vehemently whilst rubbing at his eyes. "No - I ain't crying." He sniffled again. "That was just so beautiful!" He covered his face and ran out of the office.

The second guard looked between Zuko and the Avatar. "He gets emotional easy. I better go make sure he's okay." With that, he took off after Yami and shut the door after him.

Zuko looked at Aang. "You love her."

The Avatar's eyes widened. He didn't mean for that to come out. He was just so caught up in making sure that Zuko knew that his intentions were true. But, what was said was said and he meant it. He nodded. "Yes."

"Have you told her?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"Good."

Zuko almost laughed. That definitely sounded like Toph. He let a small smile grace his lips. "So, I guess this means that you've gotten her, right?"

The Fire Lord's small smile served to appease him a bit. Aang shook his head. "I'm not so sure about her feelings. "

As if on cue, Toph came in, busting through the door. She stomped her foot. "You do have him in here."

Zuko looked at the clock on the wall. It hadn't even been a full hour, yet. "Azula was supposed to be stalling you!"

She didn't want to mention that his sister threw him under the bus for some alone time with Sokka. "Release him."

Zuko hesitated, then he stepped forward to open the shackles. "Just so you know, I'm doing this because I was almost done with him anyway. Not because I'm afraid of you."

They all knew that he was lying.

When he was finally free, Aang massaged his wrists. "Thanks." But, he didn't look at the Fire Lord - he kept his eyes on Toph.

Zuko watched as he stepped up to Toph. "Who are you thanking?"

"You." Aang still kept his eyes on the Earthbending master.

"Who else," Toph asked. She wouldn't be asking that if she could see. If she wasn't blind, she would have been tomato red with the way Aang looked at her. There was no question about it. "Don't do this again."

Zuko nodded. "I won't." He wouldn't need to.

Toph made a face before she grabbed Aang's arm with a small smile. "Pick me some more flowers."

Aang stopped her when she began leading him out of the door. "The garden's right outside of the window."

"You can't be serious." Apparently he was, because she soon found herself thrown over Aang's shoulder. "Aang!"

That was when Aang grinned. "Later, Zuko." And he flew out of the window.

Zuko walked over to his window. He looked around the garden, only to find Toph punching Aang mercilessly. She was probably threatening him. Zuko grinned.

"Ah, nephew," Iroh's voice entered the room. "I see that Miss Toph has already rescued the young Avatar. I was coming to warn you, you know."

Zuko didn't believe that for one second. "Sure, Uncle."

Iroh chuckled warmly as he strolled to stand beside his nephew. He saw Aang smiling as Toph berated him. Then, he took her hand and drew her close to him and she grew quiet. He spoke and she seemed to be battling a smile. Finally, she rolled her eyes and the smile escaped. (Iroh could have sworn that he saw Aang's cheeks turn red, even with the distance between him and the couple.) She took a step forward and kissed him, to which he readily complied and held her close.

Iroh stroked his beard. "He makes her happy. Wouldn't you agree?"

Toph broke the kiss and said something before she punched Aang's chest. That punch was definitely weak.

Zuko nodded. "He does."

Aang crouched down to pick a flower from the ground before he stood up straight. He placed the flower into her hands before he moved to stand behind her and he held her close. She began feeling the petals and ran her fingers down the stem before she said something.

Iroh looked at his nephew. "I suppose this means that you won't have to be chasing after him any longer."

Aang kissed her cheek before he spoke. She seemed to like whatever he said because she leaned into him before they continued their stroll.

Zuko nodded. It wasn't that he didn't trust Aang because he did. It was just that he had to make sure that Toph would be safe - no matter who the boy was. He was just glad that the boy was Aang. As tough - and scary - as Toph was, he still considered himself her older brother who would fulfill his older brother duties - which included intimidating boys. She could protect herself, everyone knew that, but he had to make sure. And he did. Which meant that his job was done.

When Toph and Aang walked beyond his vision, he felt the urge to chase after them. Well, his job was half way done. He turned to his uncle. They would be fine. "Let's go harass the kitchen attendants."

Iroh grinned happily and followed after his nephew. "You couldn't have come up with a better idea."