The Fire Navy ship is ancient. It seems so out of place in the vast white nothingness of the South Pole.
Chief Hakoda is pointing at the structure as he and the Avatar try to find the best way to remove the offending landmark.
She ignores the wary looks the villagers throw her and focuses on generating more heat to stay warm. A few of the less nervous ones draw closer sensing the warmth.
In order for the village to grow, they need to remove the evidence of the war. The size of the ship and traps laid throughout the structure make it difficult for them to do it safely themselves.
When they trudge back to her, he looks as tired as she feels. Their travels are taking a toll on them.
She raises a questioning eyebrow at him.
"The ice isn't as thick underneath the ship. If we move everyone back, I can open a gap large enough for to sink it." He turns his attention back to the imposing structure. "That's how Zuko found me the first time. I tripped one of the traps inside of it."
"I wondered how Zuzu managed to find you."
They all knew he had been sent on the mission to get him out of the way. No one, especially Ozai, expected the banished prince to actually find the Avatar.
"Sokka banished me from the village for it."He adds with a laugh.
"Seems like you keep running afoul of the authorities." She makes light of their Ba Sing Se escape.
Hakoda has herded the tribe members to a safe distance and is waving at him.
"It helps to have a good partner in crime." He takes her hand and kisses the back of it before walking towards the wreckage again.
She watches as his eyes and tattoos briefly glow and the ice groans under his control. The sound of the ice sheet cracking fills the air and the Fire Navy ship begins to slip slowly into the waiting arctic sea. Once it disappears from view he closes the ice back and the landscape is as if it had never been there in the first place.
The Avatar can erase one hundred years of conquest with the flick of a wrist. There is a sort of poetic justice in that.
The winds are biting in the South Pole. The residents bundle themselves in the fur of dead animals. Fortunately, they are able to keep themselves warm and thus can avoid the appalling practice.
Dinner is a simple meal of meat. The Avatar declines and while she has no qualms about eating meat, something about seal does not seem appealing.
Hakoda may be the chief but his quarters are quaint. They are shown to a small room for the night. The bed is barely big enough for one person.
"What happened between you and Katara?" Her curiosity gets the better of her as they lay on the bed.
He sits up enough to prop his head on his hand to look down at her.
"I grew up." His other hand toys with a piece of her hair. "Katara is a nurturer and that was fine when I was a kid but as I got older I didn't need a mother anymore."
She contemplates this. "Then Zuko was hurt and she found someone she could nurture?"
"Something like that." He agrees without any bitterness. "I began to resent it and it felt more like she was smothering me. When Zuko was hurt, I was actually glad she went so I could have some space."
She slides her hand up over his chest savoring the warmth of him.
"I made a point to stay gone for a bit too long and when I made it back to the palace, I could tell they were getting closer. It didn't bother me so I broke it off."
"You and her never…" She's not sure if she wants the answer.
His eyes widen. "No,no. That would be too weird."
She feels a sense of relief. "I thought surely you had some previous experience."
She wonders what machoist part of herself she is trying to satisfy with this but she wants to know just how much of him is hers.
"Ah, well, the experience of past lives can be very helpful at times." He's blushing in the dark.
"That and your amazing self control, right?"
"Meditation does wonders."
"Well it all seemed to work out." She burrows more into him, happy in the knowledge that he is indeed all hers.
"I had a feeling it would." There is something about the way he says it that catches her attention.
Her golden eyes look up at him. "You had a feeling?"
She's caught him and he smiles. "More like a vision."
Her curiosity is brimming and she sits up pushing him back on the small bed intent on an answer.
He shifts so she is straddling him but she ignores his questing hands.
"Tell me about this vision of yours." She purrs as he finds an opening in her clothes.
"I wasn't sure it was a vision at first. I thought it was just another fantasy but it was far too real to be anything else." She balances herself with her hands on his chest. His heart is pounding under her touch.
"You had fantasies about me?" Her mouth is practically watering at the idea.
"Oh, yes." He pulls her down for a kiss. "You were quite…agile, flexible, challenging."
She presses down on him drawing a gasp.
"You were saying something about a vision?" She prompts him as she kisses him.
"Hmm," he is getting distracted by her lips so she pulls back. His gray eyes blink up at her clearing enough for him to continue. "Yes, it was by that river and you were quite underdressed."
"So you already knew that was going to happen?" Her voice holds a note of fascination.
"Not all visions come true but I hoped that one would." His attention is definitely focused on how little they have to take off to get what he wants accomplished.
She moves to adjust her skirts for easier access. "Any other visions I should know about?" Her voice is breathless.
His hands find her hips guiding her. "I don't want to spoil it for you." His words are nearly lost as she kisses him and pushes.
From the lowliest prison to the finest palace, Azula has seen them all. The Bei Fong Estate falls somewhere in between.
The Metal Bender stands outside the gate, hands on her hips, staring them down with sightless green eyes.
"About time, Twinkletoes! Did you and Princess get lost? I sent that message ages ago."
The Avatar smiles at the greeting. "We had some things to take care of."
Toph holds up a hand. "I do not want details. Come on!" She turns back the way she came, throwing the gates open with a wave of her hand.
The house is elegant but sparse. The greens and golds are peaceful even.
"I figured you two wanted to room together," She leans against the bedroom door. "But keep in mind, I can see everything that goes on here."
"So you keep reminding us." Azula counters sourly.
As likeable as the Metal Bender is, she can be quite an interference.
Toph's face brightens up at this. "My pleasure, Princess. Dinner is in an hour." She says as she disappears down the hall. "Wear something decent."
The Bei Fong's themselves are rather reserved. Azula can tell from the covert glances that they are curious but too proper to question.
There does seem to be some thinly veiled divide between them and the Avatar. He ignores the icy demeanor and instead trades jokes and stories with his friend.
The Metal Bender, despite having been raised in high society, does everything she can to break the rules of convention. Shoeless feet are propped on the table edge while she sits back in her chair slurping loudly from a bowl of soup.
The mother bristles at the action but does not reprimand her daughter. The father looks resigned to the situation.
She likes the Metal Bender more and more.
"Princess Azula, How was your trip to the Northern Air Temple?" Mother Bei Fong's soft voice calls to her.
Azula puts on her best diplomatic smile. "It was highly educational. The Air Nation is vastly different from the Fire Nation."
The Avatar represses a smile as he looks at Toph. "Azula spent most of her time with the children."
"Now that is something I would have liked to see." Toph snorts. "Speaking of kids, when is Sparky's due?"
"Katara has a little more to go." The Avatar answers easily.
The birth of the Fire Lord's son has been a highly anticipated event.
"Toph, surely you don't address Fire Lord Zuko like that?" Her mother asks wide eyed.
Toph laughs. "Why not? He answers to it."
Zuko has come to answer to many of the nicknames they have given him: Zuzu, Sparky, Sifu Hotman to name the more popular ones.
"Zuzu never was one to stand on formality." Azula remarks in agreement.
"Sugar Queen will finally have someone she can mother properly and leave the rest of us alone."
Toph and the Avatar laugh at the inside joke.
Bedtime is drawing near but the Avatar is still gone with the Metal Bender. They disappeared under the guise of practicing a new Metal Bending move but Azula can read him well. He's up to something.
She slips into bed tired from the day's events. Not having slept well the past few nights and travelling have taken their toll and she quickly finds rest.
The next morning she awakens to him sprawled over half the bed. She eases his arm off of her and stands. Just as quickly she finds herself down on the floor fighting through a wave of dizziness.
"Azula," His concerned voice says from beside her as he helps her up. "What happened?"
She closes her eyes trying to clear her head. "I'm more tired than I thought."
It's not often she is prone to sickness but the last few months have been more stressful than usual. A part of her wants nothing more than to be home right now.
"I'm okay." She brushes off his concern. "Maybe I just need to eat something."
For a moment she thinks he will argue with her but her gaze doesn't waver.
"If you want we can leave after that and head back to the palace." He watches her carefully, weighing the situation.
She forces a smile. "That would be nice."
Loud voices can be overheard as they approach the dining room. The Metal Bender's being the loudest.
Her parents are protesting her leaving but Toph will have her way.
The Avatar strolls into the room, ignoring the blushing faces of the Bei Fong's to have been caught in the middle of a domestic with their strong-willed daughter.
"Good Morning Twinkletoes. Princess." Toph greets them with false cheer. "I think after we eat that it would be a good idea to get underway."
"Sounds good, Toph." He agrees easily as he takes his seat.
The table is set with many delectable dishes but nothing appeals to her so she pushes her chair back and stands.
"I think maybe I will take a walk while you finish eating." She quickly exits the room avoiding gray questioning eyes.
Outside, the sun is warm and the grass is soft beneath her feet. The small pond is peaceful and quiet.
As she expected, he is soon joining her, handing her a piece of bread.
She tears off a piece of it and throws it to the turtle-ducks that draw near.
"Toph is getting her things together and saying goodbye to her parents."
"You didn't want to stay for that part?"
She can only imagine what words will be exchanged if the tension in the dining room was anything to go by.
"No, her parents still haven't forgiven me for last time she left."
They sit in silence watching the creatures flap and fight over crumbs.
"Are you sure you're up to the trip?"
"I'm just ready to be home."
He watches her with concerned eyes.
"I thought if you could bare one more delay that we could stop at the Fire Temple."
"We could do that, but why?" She hasn't been to the temple in years.
He holds his hand out, something shiny glints in the light.
"The Air Nation ways are too vague and since you're from the Fire Nation, I thought it would only be fitting to have a proper Fire Nation ceremony." With one hand he takes hers and slips the ring on her finger.
He has a knack for making her speechless. She appraises the ring on her finger. The ruby glistens in the sunlight setting off a cacophony of colors in the white stones on the sides.
"Where did you get this?" She whispers not trusting her voice to stay strong.
"That was part of my Earth Bending last night. It wasn't easy getting the gems cut right and I needed Toph's help." He takes her hand in his looking at his creation. "Do you like it?" A trace of nervousness hints in his voice.
She nods slowly, shocked. "It's perfect."
"Sugar Queen may have your head when she finds out you denied her the chance to throw another big wedding."
The Avatar laughs. "I doubt she'll regret not being able to plan our wedding, besides we're already married."
"At the very least, I thought Princess would want a big fuss." Toph directs towards her.
Azula ignores it. She doesn't have to explain herself to anyone.
"We stop at the temple and then Zuko can issue a royal edict about it. At the most, we have to suffer through a reception but then it's over and the world can get around to accepting it." He explains to her.
"You really think this will help them get over it and back off?" The Metal Bender's voice takes on a serious note.
It's the Avatar's turn to shrug. "It can't hurt."
After a few months of being away, they finally set down at the palace.
Azula has missed the feel of home and she relishes in the familiar warmth.
She is so tired and is already thinking about their bed and an uninterrupted day of sleep. He sees her to their rooms and takes the scroll from the Fire Sages to give to Zuko.
She smiles at the thought of the Fire Lord's reaction to the news that they have finally properly eloped.
The rays of the fading sun reflect off the jewels in her ring casting a bright light in the shadows as sleep claims her.