A/N: Sorry this is late, went to see my parents for the weekend and had a good mother's day. Happy Mother's day to all you moms out there! Well, on with the show, and here's kind of what I've been eluding to for some of you. Also this goes out to James612. I hope you like the kataang and I'm continuing to put more in. Thanks again to everyone for reading and remember to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 20
Within an hour Zuko heard three people coming towards him, and giggling from two girls. He opened his eyes as he felt something drop into his lap. He looked up and saw Toph smiling at him as he picked up the headpiece she had dropped onto him. She was beautiful in a short sleeved dark green dress that covered her from neck to feet, one of the ones her parents had given her for her birthday.
"Yes, I know," she said, continuing to smile at him. "Your heart and breathing stopped for a second. Now, can you show these two how this thing works?"
Zuko smiled slightly as Katara and Suki giggled ever more.
"Maybe I can just tell them," he started, trying to get out of doing Toph's hair, especially in front of the other girls who were still in their regular clothes.
"No, we need to see how it's really done," Katara told him, being coy.
Zuko sighed as Toph sat in front of him and Suki handed him a brush.
"Fine," he growled, hearing Toph chuckle lightly at his tone, knowing he was just acting.
He loved running his hands through her hair, and Toph knew it. He started brushing her hair lightly, pulling the hair from the top of her head together gently. He made sure everything was in and straight before taking a small band from Suki and wrapping it around a small section, creating a top knot. He then picked up the marble headpiece and placed it around the top knot, securing it with the small stick it came with.
"Done," he said.
Toph turned to him and smiled. "How do I look?"
"Beautiful," Katara and Suki sighed together.
Zuko saw Toph roll her eyes as she kept her misty gaze on him.
"You look as beautiful as you did the night I came with the mayor. The green dress makes your eyes brighter and the headpiece makes you look like a princess, just as my mother used to look. A dignified, beautiful lady who ruled the world."
He saw Katara and Suki sigh even more as Toph smiled at him and leaned towards him, kissing him lightly.
"Thanks Sunshine," she whispered. "Now it's your turn to get ready."
"I'm going," he sighed, earning a smile from Toph.
He noticed Katara looking at him oddly before she led Toph back inside and towards Toph's room. He remembered that he had told Katara he had lost his mom in Ba Sing Sae and had only told Toph and Aang about the information his father had given him, that his mom was possibly still alive and out there somewhere. He still didn't like to speak about it, as if he did, he would never find her. Suki had hung back and was looking at him shyly as he moved to walk past her. She finally called out to him before he entered the house.
"Zuko, can I talk to you?"
"Sure," he shrugged and turned back to the Kyoshi warrior.
"I'm sorry, about not believing you had changed," she said, looking at the ground. "Jade told me how you received your scar, standing up for what was right. Do you think…we could ever be friends?"
Zuko was startled. Apparently a lot had happened to the others for both Sokka and Suki to look at him in a new way. But he knew a lot had happened to him and Toph as well. He frowned as he touched his scar lightly.
"Yeah, I do," he whispered, letting his hand fall back to his side. "How…what did Jade say? About my scar."
Suki looked up at him, startled. "That you stood up against a general for sending new recruits as bait to the front lines. Her husband was in that division. And that you received your scar and banishment because of it."
Zuko nodded, frowning more. "I'm sorry too, for burning your home, and not putting my trust in you. My father gave me my scar, in an Agni Kai, for speaking out of turn in his war room and against his generals."
Suki smiled at him. "You're forgiven. And I'm glad you stood up then, and especially now. I need to get ready. See you later?"
"Yeah."
Zuko watched her hurry in and she turned back to him and smiled at him again before disappearing into the house.
"Thanks Zuko," she said, smiling still.
He sighed, a small smile tugging at his mouth as he went inside and to his room. Aang and Sokka were both sleeping on mats, and thankfully both smelled clean, especially the warrior. Zuko grabbed the set of clothes he had chosen for that night and went to the baths.
Once he was cleaned and dressed, he woke the other boys and suggested that they get ready as well, slipping out through the window as Sokka disappeared back into the bath room. Aang soon joined him on the roof, still in his monk's outfit as Zuko watched the sun start to descend.
"You ok?" the Avatar asked him after a while of them both watching the sun set.
"Yeah, I just don't like being inside for too long," Zuko told the younger boy.
"Because of Mai?"
Zuko nodded and leaned back against the roof tiles, relaxing as Aang pulled his knees closer and stared out at the sky, reminding Zuko of when he had woken to see the Avatar in a similar position after he had rescued the boy from Zhou's fortress as the Blue Spirit. Aang looked so young, and so unprepared for the destiny he was getting ready to face. But when Aang turned to look at Zuko, the firebender saw that Aang was ready, and willing, to face the fire lord for the world and for his friends.
"How do you do it?" Zuko asked Aang.
"Do what?" Aang asked, surprised and confused.
"Let the ones you care about, the ones you love, go into battle with you, knowing that there's a chance some may not come back."
Aang sighed and the boys' shoulders sagged as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and turned back to watching the sun dip lower towards the horizon.
"I don't know," Aang finally said. "I trust them, to look out for each other and for me. I guess it'll be different this time. But we all know it's worth it, and that we will take care of each other. You have to trust her, you know she can take care of herself."
Zuko smiled at the Avatar's wisdom. "I know and I do, but I still worry."
"I do too," Aang said and lowered his gaze, starting to smile with a dreamy expression on his face.
Zuko followed the boys' gaze and saw the three girls in dresses looking up at them, Katara and Suki smiling and giggling and Toph frowning.
"Come down here you two!" the earthbender yelled up at them. "I may not be able to see you up there, but I can definitely hear you. Stop your moping and get your buts down here! The guests will be arriving soon!"
Zuko and Aang glanced at each other, sharing a wry smile before Zuko slid down the roof to the girls as Aang went back inside to get Sokka. The firebender landed in front of the girls with a bow and Toph leaned back, her arms crossed over her chest as she smirked up at him.
"Showoff," she muttered as she hooked her arm in his.
Katara and Suki just giggled even more as he smiled down at Toph. She had some makeup on now and looked even lovelier than before.
"Like I've said before, at least you clean up halfway nice," Katara told him, giving him a wry smile.
Zuko studied the two older girls. Katara wore a light green dress similar to Toph's and had her long hair in an elaborate bun. Suki wore a dark green dress, but also had her headband from her Kyoshi warrior garb. Both wore just a trace of makeup, enough to accentuate their features.
"And you two look lovely as well," Zuko told them before leading Toph away.
Toph grinned at him and stopped him once they were away from Suki and Katara. She turned him towards her and ran her hands over his chest and arms as she felt the clothing.
"How do you look?" she asked him, reaching up to feel his face and he saw she was surprised that his hair wasn't all over the place.
Zuko kneeled so that she could feel the headpiece that his uncle had given him, the one Roku had worn once upon a time.
"I don't know. Like a prince, I guess. That's what I've been told. I'm wearing a dark green kimono similar in color and pattern to your dress, with dark green pants, and then I put my hair up. That's it."
"You're better at describing other things," she said as she ran her fingers around his face. "I think my parents are waiting for us. Are you packed?"
"Yes, you?"
Toph nodded and started smiling sweetly as she turned away from him. Zuko rose and saw her parents approaching them. Lao saw the headpieces and sighed, gesturing for Zuko to follow him. Zuko nodded and squeezed Toph's shoulder gently as her mother moved to hug her before following Lao. Lao led him to a corner of the garden where Zuko saw the servants setting up tables and braziers in preparation of dinner before turning to the prince.
"I wanted to ask you something that has been weighing on my mind lately," Lao told Zuko once they were alone.
Zuko waited as Lao studied him.
"You said several things that caught my attention. That Toph saw you when no one else did, that she saw where you were held and many more things along that line. My daughter is blind. How can she see?"
Zuko waited, keeping his face impassive as he heard Lao's temper starting to rise. He took a deep breath before he answered the man, controlling his own temper.
"She doesn't see like we do, but sometimes, I think she sees better. She told me she sees through earthbending, through touch and vibrations. She can tell when people are lying by their breathing and heart rate. She knew where to find me because I started tapping my foot against the wall of my prison, hoping she would be able to feel it. She can't see like you can, but she can see better. Sometimes I wish I could see like her."
"I know," Toph said from behind Zuko.
He and Lao turned to stare at the small earthbender as she strode up to Zuko and slipped her hand into his.
"This is my choice, Dad," she told Lao sternly. "You know that, and you even accepted it."
Zuko saw Lao's face fall for a moment before he smiled at them.
"I know, it is still hard. Promise me that you will take care of her, Prince Zuko."
"I already gave you my word, and my promise still stands," Zuko told Lao.
Lao nodded and turned to head into the house, talking to servants on his way.
"At least your parents finally came to accept you," Zuko told Toph, watching her father walk away.
"Your mom would be proud of you," Toph whispered. "And you know Iroh is proud of you."
"I know," he whispered back and bent down to kiss her softly as he saw Aang, Katara, Sokka and Suki looking for them. Katara and Aang had their arms wrapped around each other's waists and the warriors were holding hands.
"Geesh, more funny stuff," Sokka sighed as he caught sight of them.
They broke apart and grinned at the warrior.
"Don't think you guys won't be doing your own 'funny stuff' later," Toph told Sokka wryly.
Zuko smirked as Sokka and Suki both blushed before they saw several people and a lemur heading their way from the house. The Duke and Momo went to Katara and Aang as Liz and Jade hurried to Suki. Jasmine ran to Zuko and he smiled slightly as she hugged his legs before turning to hug everyone else. Shawn was the last to arrive and bowed his head to the prince while Aang filled everyone in on the past few days' events. Lord Dier arrived shortly after Aang had finished and greeted Toph and Zuko with congratulations.
Toph looked confused until Zuko reminded her about her birthday present. She then blushed and they told the mayor that it was not official, that Toph now had the right to choose. Lord Dier left them to search out Lao with a knowing smile as more guests arrived. Zuko stood by Toph's side as she was forced to greet them all, knowing that they were her parents friends and colleagues, and the only people her own age were her friends.
Many of the guests looked strangely at Zuko, but did not question his place and as soon as all had arrived, they sat at the tables set in the garden and the servants came out with a lavish feast. Zuko and Toph laughed politely at Sokka as he dug into the food as if he hadn't eaten in a week. Luckily all the younger people were seated together and could have their own fun as long as they didn't draw any attention from the adults. After dinner, talking commenced while a band struck up some light music. Zuko got an idea as he recognized a slow dance and stood, turning to Toph.
"Will you dance with me?" he asked her, holding his hand out to her.
Toph blushed as their friends turned towards them, looking from one to the other, waiting to see what would happen.
"I guess," Toph replied, blushing even more.
Zuko took her hand as she rose and led her out onto the lawn and started dancing. He noticed she was still barefoot, but she quickly fell into the dance pattern, following his lead easily and effortlessly. He noticed many of the guests watching them, and focused on Toph instead as he spun her into a turn.
"You never told me you were such a great dancer," she told him as she came back to him.
"You never asked," he replied, smiling as he twirled her around again.
Soon Aang had led Katara out and Suki was pulling a reluctant Sokka out to the lawn, but Zuko could tell none of them had any experience with this. He and Toph had both been taught the steps since they were children. Even though there wasn't really any dancing in the fire nation, he still had had to learn the steps. He was glad his mother had insisted on the dancing lessons now. As the band changed tunes, more couples rose and started dancing. Zuko saw Lord Dier asking Jade for a dance and smiled at Aang and Katara when they stopped and went to sit. Sokka and Suki had stopped halfway through the first dance after the water tribe warrior had stepped on Suki's feet a few times. Zuko just continued to smile and enjoyed dancing with Toph.
Aang led Katara out again to the third song which was a little faster, and Toph and Zuko laughed as their moves became more and more extravagant. Many other couples had to move out of the way and just watched the Avatar as he and Katara performed a few jumps and spins. The music died down at the end and Zuko watched as Aang dipped Katara down into a kiss before escorting her back to their table. When the song ended, Zuko and Toph stopped and the prince escorted Toph back to their table where Sokka, Suki, Aang and Katara were waiting, watching them approach.
"Toph, you never said you could dance," Aang told the earthbender, grinning at them.
"You never asked, Twinkle Toes. And I don't dance like you do, though you were pretty good at that dance party we had. And right there, though I think it was still a little slow for you."
"Think they'll do a faster tune?" Katara asked, scooting even closer to Aang.
"Naw," Toph replied, leaning back into her chair. "The adults only want slower stuff. If the music picks up any more than that, no one but you two will be able to keep up with it."
Zuko saw Katara and Aang blush and knew he'd have to ask Toph later what had happened. He was about to ask Toph for another dance when a commotion sounded from the front of the house. Everyone stopped and rose, looking startled by the commotion. Toph frowned as a group of twenty men entered the garden and Zuko scowled as he recognized the youngest member and apparently leader of the group.
"There he is!" Tawn shouted, pointing at Zuko. "There's the firebender!"