Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. :)
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Chapter 14: Dresses and Flowers
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"No! Nuh-uh, no way. We can still take 'em head-on!"
"Toph," Katara said gently, "we can't take them head-on because of Sokka's injury."
"Well fine then, but there are other ways!"
Sokka sighed. "Toph..."
"I'm NOT going to dress-up for some fancy party. We can do a sneak attack some other way! Besides, isn't it invitation only?"
Zuko flashed five cards with intricate golden designs bordering the edges. "I have five perfectly inscribed invitations right here," he informed her, waving them around. It had apparently slipped his mind that she couldn't see them.
Toph folded her arms. "Another snitch?"
"Nah, I had a spy knick one off of some drunk guys. I had four more of them made."
Toph only grumbled to herself and muttered a few unsavory comments under her breath. Katara tried unsuccessfully to hide the smirk on her face, and Sokka grinned in what Toph would have considered an annoying, satisfied manner.
Zuko tucked the invitations away and whisked himself out of the room with a quick, "I've got some short business to attend to. Meet me in the courtyard."
Toph rolled her eyes and grabbed Sokka's hand, then practically snatched him into the corridor.
"Where are we going?" he demanded, attempting to keep up with her long, determined strides.
"The courtyard, Genius," Toph snapped irritably. Katara and Aang filed into the corridor just as Toph was about to turn the corner.
"Where are you going? The courtyard's this way," Katara said.
"No, it's not." Toph flexed her toes over the polished stone floor. "It's this way."
"I think I know the palace a little better than you, Toph," Katara murmured.
Toph's face was incredulous. "Okay, sure. We'll just see who gets there first, then."
Katara nodded and took Aang's hand -why were the girls taking charge all of a sudden?- as she led him in the opposite direction, believing that she knew the palace better than any of them. She didn't know where it came from, but some odd confidence had taken hold of her. She felt like she did know the palace, like she could navigate through it, like she realized exactly where she was and where she intended to end up.
Toph felt sorry for Katara. Did she really think she could out-navigate the greatest earthbender in the world in a palace where the floors were made of stone?
Sokka followed Toph. He had no choice; she clutched his hand tightly, and if he'd dared to let go, he knew she'd be gone in an instant. She he held hers back, just in case she decided to let him go, and after making what felt like a thousand twists and turns, they found the courtyard.
Sokka stepped out and kicked off his shoes. Toph allowed the soft grass to envelop her feet and began to take slow, steady steps toward the pond. Each footfall was greeted with luscious grass and, from what Toph could tell, extremely healthy topsoil. Zuko was taking care of his courtyard. That was good.
She slumped against the tree and gave a contented sigh. Sokka looked around, as if half-expecting to find Aang and Katara, and followed her; he sat down and began to trail his finger through the water.
Silence befell them.
I will not, under any circumstances, wear a dress when the occasion is not completely and utterly necessary. And why's Azula throwing a party? That's not a way to get deadly Fire Nation recruits! Oh, yeah, throw a fancy gathering, that'll get you somewhere...
Why is she so quiet? Sokka looked over to his silent companion. Should I say something, or wait for her to say something so I won't interrupt her thoughts?
The silence continued, and Sokka didn't think he could stand another second of it. "What're you thinkin' about?"
Toph shrugged. "The stupid plan. First off, I have absolutely no idea why in the world Azula would throw a party. Second, it is Azula's little gathering- and you're injured! You can still fight, but if we go to some social event, you're bound to get noticed. Third of all, Lord of the Flames over there's telling me I have to wear a dress. I don't do dresses. And finally, how the heck are we supposed to pull this off? With Avatar Twinkletoes in a room full of Fire Nation citizens still sore from the war that he brought peace to, with me so unnaturally wearing a dress -I haven't worn a dress in over four years, Sokka- , with you and your condition, with Zuko and his being the Fire Lord..."
Sokka put a hand on her shoulder. She tensed slightly at his touch. "We'll be fine," he assured her, confidence radiating from his words. "We've been in situations with worse odds before and came out on the good end of things. We're natural-born winners."
"Something always goes wrong."
Sokka heaved an exasperated sigh but couldn't hold the bite from his voice. "Will you stop being cynical? That's my job. And if I say we can do it -me, Mr. Negative-, then we can."
Sokka had as many doubts as Toph, to be honest, but he didn't want her to know that. If she knew how he really felt, if she knew that he didn't really believe that they could pull it off, then she wouldn't agree to it. He knew that it was a good plan, albeit stupid. He liked stupid plans, though, and he was willing to risk it, so her defiance was the only thing stopping them.
"Fine."
Sokka grinned inwardly but was careful not to show any outward signs of his personal victory. Silence came over them once more, and, half because he didn't want her to rethink her decision and half because he was truly curious, he asked a question.
"Did you really mean it?"
"What? My choice about the plan?"
"No, not that."
"Well then, what?"
"When you said we should travel together after this mission is over. Did you mean it?"
"Oh." He heard me. Toph felt her cheeks grow hot, and she prayed that the shade of the tree and her bangs would shield them from view. "I... didn't know you'd heard me."
"Oh."
Toph heard the disappointed tone in his voice and said quickly, "But if you want to, then it's okay with me. I mean, we could... you know... that is, if you... would like to." She tripped over her words, and suddenly she felt very uncharacteristically nervous. Great. Just great. Why can't I form a simple sentence?
"I'd like that."
The sound of his voice brought her back to Earth and his words sank in: he said okay. I'd like that. The words made her blush deepen.
Sokka couldn't hold in the grin sprouting on his face. It was cute when she had a moment where she was vulnerable. She was always rock steady, tough, with that don't-mess-with-me attitude. When she fell out of her zone, it always amused him- not in a mocking way, though. He liked to see a different side of her every once in a while.
A soft swish sounded behind them and the familiar, rhythmic footsteps of three people began advancing toward the duo.
"Told ya I'd get here first," Toph gloated.
Katara ignored her. "Zuko, this looks amazing! There's so many azaleas and... panda lilies!" Katara stooped to tear one from it's stem. She put it behind her ear. "Ooh! I love it!"
Aang rolled his eyes and continued the short trek to his friends. "How long have you been here?" he asked.
"Forever," Toph replied, grinning widely.
"Right."
Zuko followed Aang, and Katara came after. She was still looking around, like a child at a candy cart, marveling at the floral arrangements and the likeness between her surroundings and an oasis. Not a strand of grass was out of place.
"So, Earthbender, are you still completely against this plan? Because if you are-"
"Actually, Zuzu, I've come around."
Zuko flinched at the embarrassing nickname and had to bite his tongue to keep from snapping at her. Toph smirked.
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