*Disclaimer- I own nothing of Avatar the Last Airbender
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Chapter 28
Katara's POV
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"You know, at times, I just don't understand your brother, Katara," Suki said, unpacking her boxes in her room. She opened up her closet door and placed the hangers onto her bed. "Did you know about him and Azula?"
I shrugged. "I don't think you should worry about them, Suki. As long as Azula doesn't come in between you and Sokka, there shouldn't be a problem."
"But that's just it," she told me, sitting next to me on her bed. "I'm sure Azula has some stuff up her sleeve that she's going to throw at me." She lied back on her bed and sighed. "And don't get me wrong on this, Kat, I'm glad you came over, but I just wish Sokka would've stayed and helped me."
"Where did he go anyway?"
"Azula needed him back at the restaurant," she groaned, pulling her pillow over her face. "The funny thing is that he doesn't even work there!"
"You're not laughing," Toph said barging into her room. "Geez, sugar queen, you could've told me Kyoshi was back from her trip." She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Or at least you could've, Suki. I had to learn from your old man." She looked over at me.
"Sorry, sorry, I've just been really busy," Suki told her.
"With Snoozles?" she questioned. Suki scrunched up her face and shook her head no. Toph smirked. "Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have asked that," She scratched at her head, "but how was your trip?"
Suki shrugged. "It was great. There is so much beauty in France. We actually didn't get to see all of France, of course, but we got to travel to many cities and taste the different foods they had in—" she stopped as Toph raised her hand.
"Ok, I didn't really care that much," she said honestly. "I wanna know more about you and Snoozles, because lately he's been spending a lot of time with princess, and frankly, they seem to be clicking really well." I frowned at her. "What! You know it's true, Katara!"
"You're supposed to be helping the situation, not degrading it, Toph."
Toph grunted. "Oh, give me a break, Katara. Like you didn't want to know."
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Meanwhile
"What are you doing, Azula?" Mai asked with a blasé sigh, crossing her arms over her chest.
Azula stopped pouring the tea and turned around to face her friend. "What do you mean, Mai? I'm just pouring tea for one of the customers. You know how angry the older ones get when you don't give them their tea quickly." She whispered.
"That's not what I meant," Mai said, twisting her lips into a frown. "I mean you trying to sabotage Suki and Sokka's relationship."
Azula gasped dramatically. "Now, Mai, I would never! Suki's like a sister to me, I wouldn't want to try to break her and Sokka up," Mai continued to frown at her. "They are such a...nice couple. Don't you think so?"
"They aren't the people I'm worried about, Azula. I'm worried about you getting hurt."
"By who? Suki?" Azula questioned with a laugh. "What Suki doesn't know, won't hurt her. Besides, it's not like Sokka and I are doing anything, and even if we were, what would she do about it? Kill me?"
"No, but I'm positive you would," Mai said under her breath, looking up to see Sokka walking up to the shop. "Great, more drama." Mai grabbed her table's plate of food and walked away from Azula.
Sokka booted open the door and strode into the restaurant, looking down and smiling at two quarters he had found on the ground. Grabbing the loose change, he marched towards the back of the restaurant in search of Azula.
"You still need help?" he asked, once he spotted her, cleaning at the dishes.
She continued to wash the dishes, not even looking up to greet him. "Oh, hey, Sokka, yeah I'm doing great, thanks for asking." She ran her hands under the water and continued to wash."
Sokka smirked slightly. "Hi, Azula." He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his chin on top of her head. "How are you?"
"Great," she snapped.
He dropped his arms and took a step away from her. "Ok, what's wrong, 'Zula? I come here just like you asked and now you're angry at me, what did I do?" She didn't respond to him. "Or, is someone just a little jealous."
"I am not jealous of anyone," Azula said, finally turning towards him. She wiped her hands on a dry towel and walked out of the kitchen and back into the main area. Sokka followed her.
"You told me to come back up here."
"I did," she flipped the switch to "closed" and cleared off a table of plates. "I wanted you to help me close the shop."
Sokka looked around at Ty Lee and Mai who were busily trying to clean off the tables. "It seems like you've got enough help," he saw her frown, "but if you want me to help, I will." He took the towel from Azula's hand and started wiping at a table. There was a slight moment of silence before he spoke again. "If you didn't want me going out with Suki, why didn't you say something about it?"
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Zuko's POV
"Aang, I never would've thought that you would read something like this," I took the 50 shades of Grey book away from him and laughed. "Desperate much?"
"It's not my fault!" Aang shook his head. "Toph told me that she was reading this book and that I should read a couple chapters to boost up my knowledge or something like that. She's the one who told me to read it. I only read a couple chapters anyway."
"What part are you on?" I asked him.
He scratched at his forehead and swallowed. "Um...the male and female character are, like, in some elevator..."
"An elevator? Hmmm." I casually flipped through the book. "You know why Toph wanted you to read this book, right?"
"Yeah, I have some ideas," Aang slowly shook his head and sighed dramatically. "But you know how Toph is about certain things. I just wish she'd listen to me when I say I don't wanna rush things, you know?"
"No," I answered truthfully.
"Well, I guess you wouldn't understand," he said with a shrug, "since you and Katara's relationship is going so well."
"I wouldn't say that."
"Zuko, Zuko!" Katara yelled as she walked through the front door of my house. "Zukooo!" I groaned and got up off of the couch, finding her in the kitchen. "Oh, there you are. I've got Paxton," she handed me my daughter. I held her sleeping form in my arms. "Cheer up, Zuzu, it's just for a couple hours." She kissed me, but broke away quickly once I hadn't kiss her back. "Whoa, Zuko's not kissing back...what's wrong?"
I sighed. "Paxton."
"She's asleep," she said slowly, eying me carefully. "Besides, that's never stopped you before." Grabbing her bag, she opened the front door, "Don't have too much fun without me?" I nodded at her and she closed the door with a slam.
I carried Paxton back into the living room where Aang was watching a cartoon. "So how's Katara?" he asked, gently squeezing Paxton's hand.
"Great," I shrugged, kissing Paxton on her cheek. "You wouldn't mind me borrowing that book for a couple of days would you?"
"50 shades of Grey?" he question, raising an eyebrow. "No, you can borrow it. What do you need it for?"
"Oh, nothing."
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Back at the restaurant
"Don't go," Azula said, tugging on Sokka's arm. They had finally finished cleaning up the restaurant. "Stay with me tonight." Sokka took off the apron he was wearing and placed it back onto the rack.
"In here?"
She frowned. "No, at my house."
"You know I can't do that, 'Zula," he told her. "I have to meet Suki. Remember we talked about this. Suki and I were going to hang out as soon as she got back from France." Azula groaned loudly, which Sokka smiled at.
"Can't you just—"
Sokka shook his head, cutting her off. "No, I can't. I promised Suki that I would spend the rest of the day with her. C'mon, Azula, don't act like you don't remember. I told you the other night." She rolled her eyes and pulled out her car keys from out of her purse.
"Fine. Go."
His face brightened and he squeezed the golden eyed girl tightly, kissing her on her cheek. "Thank you!"
"Don't be gone with her too long, peasant," she hissed quietly, her eyes meeting his. "Call me."
Sokka grinned, getting the hint. Azula only called him a peasant whenever she was in a silly mood and wanted to push his buttons. "I will."
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Later
"You know, four eyes, if you wanted to meet up somewhere, you could've just called me instead of trying to sneak through my window," Toph pushed the window open, allowing the boy in. "This looks all too suspicious if you ask me."
"Well, I wasn't," the boy said quickly. "I just thought I'd surprise you. For old times' sake, that is." He smiled meekly and leaned on her wall. "So...you got anything planned today." Toph raised her eyebrow, but shook her head no. "What about with Aang?"
She smirked. "So that's what this is about, huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Teo, just admit it. You're jealous of me with Aang" Toph coolly pointed out.
"Jealous!" He scoffed, turning his head to the side. "That's stupid! Why the hell would I be jealous of him?"
"You tell me, Johnson. You're the one who came through my window to see me."
Frowning, he said, "So, I can't come see one of my best friends? Geez, Toph, and I thought you'd be happy to see me." He crossed his arms over his chest and childishly pouted. "Some friend you are."
She smirked. "Quit overreacting. I never said I wasn't happy to see you."
His lips quirked into a cheesy smile. "So, you are happy then?"
"I never said that either."
He took a step towards her. "Ok, now you're just playing hard to get."
"No," Toph said quickly. "I'm not playing hard to get. There is nothing to get, Teo. I'm in a relationship. Have you forgotten that?" She waited for him to answer, and when he didn't, she continued. "What do you want, Teo? Why did you come here? To get me back?"
"I just came to see you, Toph."
"Don't lie to me." she narrowed her eyes at him.
"I'm not," he said, raising his hands in defense. "I did come to see you, really I did." He ran his hand through his hair, "But a few thoughts of getting back together did occur in my mind, but I figured you would reject me."
She groaned, slapping her hand on her forehead. "I wouldn't reject you if I didn't have a boyfriend, stupid." She hesitated. "Shit, I wasn't supposed to say that out loud!"
"Does little Tophy still like Teo?" He said in a babyish voice, "Because Teo still likes Toph." He opened his arms wide in a hug like fashion.
"Shut up." she pushed past his outspread arms and sat on her bed, obviously thinking about what she had just said. She turned to look over at Teo, who had a big grin on his face. "I should've never opened the window."
"Oh, c'mon, Toph," he said, sitting next her, "I'm attracted to you, you're attracted to me. We have a bond." She grunted. "I mean, we did have—"
"Don't say it!"
He ignored her, "...a one night stand that you decided to never talk about ever again."
"You haven't said anything have you?!"
"Don't worry, little one, your secret is safe with me," he winked, holding a smirk on his face, "including this one as well..." she raised her eyebrow at him, but before she could say anything. He leaned in to kiss her.
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*Please Read and Review! Probably not one of my better or longest chapters, but it's an update. I'll get back to my regular flow of chapters soon enough. I will update soon. Please Review! Thanks!*
