A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: This is an A/U story. The Toph character does feel inferior to Katara and so in order to compete for Aang's affections pulls out all the stops. Aang is a boy with near infinite power and is being offered love and comfort from the two girls most dear to him.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or titles to the characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender. ]

Chapter 34

Hospitality

After getting a dose of the hangover concoction and a cup of chamomile tea, Zuko and Sokka had their backs scrubbed and hair washed along with a soothing shave. Now they each sat at either ends of the enormous sunken tub. Around the edge sat the four beauties, wearing two piece bathing suits that seemed to become almost transparent whenever they got wet.

"So... is this how royalty does it, eh Zuko," Sokka asked as he contentedly ate a peach slice from the tray held by a violet eyed woman that hadn't left his side from the moment she arrived

"I wish Sokka," the Fire Lord sighed sipping a crystal glass of the freshest tasting orange juice he had ever had. "You know, if Mai saw me like this, the Fire Nation would be looking for a new king. Not to say she's the jealous type..."

They both laughed lightly taking in all the eye candy that surrounded them, attending to their every want.

Sokka looked over at the violet-eyed young lady with a captivating smile, "So what's next on the agenda... ah... sorry, I didn't get your name," the Vice Regent apologized as he procured another piece of the succulent fruit. "A gentleman should always know a lady's name."

"Then why are you asking?" Zuko jested with a twisted grin.

The Water tribesman threw his compatriot a mocking glare, "Please excuse his Majesty... manners I guess aren't a requirement for being the Fire Lord."

She smiled shyly, "Your humor is as keen as I've been told, my lord. My name Is Kikei, and I am your willing and humble servant. Ask anything you will of me, and I shall not hesitate to grant it." she replied enthusiastically.

The two young men exchanged cheesy grins and nods.

Sokka felt a rush of heat in his face, "Uh, thank you Kikei, I will keep that in mind," he replied finding his eyes drifting towards her chest and guessing that she was at least 92 or maybe even 95 cm. Her hair was raven black flowing down over her bosom with a silky appearance. He wondered if they both felt as soft as they looked.

She followed his eyes, "My breast... are 96 (D/E cup)," she volunteered with a sultry grin."You.. of course, may verify the measure of them for yourself, my lord, here or in... private," she offered, bending lower to improve his view, moving her hair away.

The Vice Regent started choking on his bite of peach. His blue eyes filled with tears as he tried to clear his throat. At once Zuko sprang to help, but the young woman was already behind the stricken young man. She suddenly stood him up and wrapping her arms about him, fist in the center of his abdomen, she applied a single thrust, freeing the lodged fruit. Sokka gulped air so hard his chest hurt as he sat back, slowly guided by the soft but firm hands of the concerned woman.

"Are you okay my Lord," Kikei cried, cradling him now in her arms, "I didn't mean to hurt you."

He cleared his throat several times, "(cough)You didn't hurt me... I was just surprised. I think you saved my life actually?" he stated in a semi-hoarse voice.

He could feel her relax behind him, even as she drew him closer.

"I-it was nothing... my Lord," she replied softly. "We, anyone of us, could have done the same. This was my fault... please forgive..."

Sokka craned his neck about to look into her reddened face, "No... this is not your fault, Kikei. Tell her Zuko, I've done this hundreds of times. Normally I just get a hard whack on the back and a scolding to chew my food better from my sister," he laughed as he rubbed the middle of his chest. "But I have to admit, that was in there pretty deep. You helped me a lot... I thank you Kikei."

The tears that welled up in her eyes touched him deeply. He watched as she fought to contain her own emotions.

She noticed him rubbing the center of his chest, "You are in pain... my Lord?"

"It'll pass... maybe a cup of tea or something warm to drink," he suggested, mesmerized by her unusual eyes. "I'll be better in no... oh... wow... that feels..." Sokka exclaimed as he felt her hands on each of his thighs beneath the water, stroking lightly, "... you... huh, don't have to rub my legs Kikei."

Her hands moved more inward, "I have to make certain that you return to fullness of health before moving about my Lord." she whispered into his ear. "We wouldn't want you to experience weak and wobbly legs... now would we?"

Her hands were working miracles under the water as Sokka's eyes half closed, "Oh Suki... forgive me!" he thought as her hands drifted further in.

Zuko had left the tub to give his friend a little privacy, not sure what was going on, but knowing it didn't need an audience.

He reclined on the chaise while an attendant gently rubbed his temples. His golden eyes were blissfully closed as he was making small purring like sounds. She evidently seemed to know just what pleased him.

"Excuse me my Lord,"the attendant shyly spoke, causing the Fire Lord to half open one eye, "...may I ask you a question? Please feel no obligation to respond to this humble one."

The Fire Lord smiled gently at the short, slim girl with the dark brown twinkling eyes that seemed to go on forever. The fact that she was rather abundantly gifted breast wise, didn't hurt either.

"Hmmm... yes of course you can," he replied opening both eyes, even sitting up a bit.

"Do you not receive this manner of treatment in your own kingdom, my Lord? " she inquired innocently. "I noticed, both you and the Regent were... may I say, a bit standoffish... at first, when we attempted to care for you. You blushed so cutely in the bath... you looked like a little boy..." she stated, noticing his scowl. "Please don't be offended your Highness... I mean, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Most men would long to be so blessed."

Zuko's body temperature rose as his heart started to pick up pace, "Um... well this is a different world than where I come from. Excuse me... like my friend, I didn't get your name."

She smiled demurely, "I am called Soo Ming... your humble servant. Ask anything of me... and I will gladly serve."

Zuko's mind seemed to get lost in those bottomless eyes. The way she spoke sent shivers up his spine and it took a moment for him to come back to his senses. "Uh... yes... Soo Ming, ah, well... we don't have such way at the court in the Fire Nation... well at least not now. Actually these practices haven't been around for about 300 years. I don't look down on anybody else's ways, and I think we have adjusted well... don't you?"

"Pity," she sighed. "I see how much you enjoy it and you are a King. I am glad that you have adjusted... because it is an honor for us to take care of nobles such as you and the regent. Decent and fearless men."

He laughed lightly, "Let me tell you a secret Soo Ming," Zuko whispered, sitting up more as he looked into her deep brown eyes even more. "The Regent... Sokka and I, we're just regular people and we appreciate all the pampering, trust me."

She blushed and pulled him down by his shoulders back to the chaise, this time massaging his scalp, "Yes my Lord... it is as you say, regular people… who by chance have saved the world."

Zuko smiled.

"H-how can you ask me to do something so em... embarrassing," Toph remarked as she crossed her arms over her breast. "And where is my nightgown... I know I had one on earlier... you sneaky... airbending pervert... nomad pervert... monk pervert!"

Aang rubbed his shoulder where she had landed the solid elbow, "Ow... why did you hit my like that? I thought we were having fun... and I'm not a pervert!" he protested. "I'm just as naked as you are! You called me a pervert three times!"

Her muted eyes opened wide, "Th-that's because you are three times the pervert! Talk about having fun? I was innocently sleeping... I don't know what you were doing... besides stripping me naked and molesting me! And why are you naked in my bed... did you assume you were going to split me in my sleep, with all our friends and the world just on the other side of that door? Are you really that horny Twinkle Toes?"

The idea of lying did cross his mind but he tossed that aside. "My Love, when Lili told me she had left you sleeping here, the idea of finishing what we started did come to me. Who wouldn't be tempted, but I also knew you probably wouldn't want our first time to be a... a... shorty."

"I think it's called a quickie, Twinkle Toes," she corrected him. "And you're exactly right. I was planning on tonight, after all our friends had gone back to the inn, we would pick up where we left off, and more. That was my plan."

He smiled brightly, "Me too! I just wanted to come and be with you for a little bit... you know and share a little skinship... especially after being torn apart like that last night..."

The corner of her mouth rose, "Skinship? What by earth is skinship? Is this something you and Snoozles' concocted to get girls... a-and now you're trying it out on me Twinkles?" she asked giving him a hard glare. "You ought to know it wouldn't work!"

He chuckled, "No, actually... when I was a small boy with the nuns, and they bathed us, they would take time in the bath to just hold each child. They would talk to us or sing... things like that..."

"And you all were naked?" Toph asked with a confounded look.

"We were in the bath Sifu and just children," he reaffirmed. "Nothing... freaky was going on, it was all very innocent. They called it skinship and said it helped us to know we were all one people, one family in a sense. I was grateful the monks didn't continue the practice... some of them made me nervous."

"Too bad... you might have liked it," she teased with a sneer. "Maybe you and Sokka, or even his Hotness could have shared a little... skinship."

His face dropped as he sighed heavily. "Forget I mentioned it... I'll go now. You can go back to sleep Sifu... unmolested."

As he turned to go, he suddenly felt her arms enfold him about his chest. The press of her breast upon his back caused him to breath in sharply.

"Am I doing it correctly? Is this what you wanted... Aang?" she asked so softly he barely heard her.

His hands gripped hers, "Kind of... except we need to face each other. I-I know you can't see me... but, I still think it's important," he replied as inwardly he was leaping for joy.

She scooted back, making room for him to turn about, "Okay... whatever way you want me... is fine with me Twinkles," she said, trying to gather some bravado.

He took a moment to admire her trim, muscular form. It appeared so strong, yet so feminine at the same time. He wanted to just stare at the half covered image of her, as if she was a painting on a wall.

"Are we gonna do this skin thing or what?" she finally barked, her cheeks twice as red as they were prior.

Toph now felt his warm firm embrace pulling her closer to him. He was under the same heavy comforter once more, nothing between them as legs entwined and hips shifted for maximum contact. She snuggled directly under his chin, laying her head upon his chest with a long, satisfied sigh.

"Okay... what's next... I think you said something about singing or talking right?" she asked finding a particularly lovely earlobe to rub on.

The sensation was divine as the airbender's eyes fluttered. "Y-yeah... I did want to talk to you my love. You know, Lili came by my room this morning. That's why I knew you were here sleeping ... like I said before," he yammered. "She told me how wrong I was for what we almost did... and that it could have ruined everything."

Toph nodded, "I know the spiel. She said the same thing to me last night. I know we have a duty, but I think... I feel we have a duty to ourselves as well Twinkles. One that we've been putting off for a very long time," she exclaimed solemnly.

He looked down at the top of her head, "I have that feeling too. That's why I think... I just know Toph, we need to be true to us first. Lili... is a nomad, if you didn't already know. And I mean, a real nomad. Not one of these wannabees I've come across. She probably knows the book of the Way of the Air, better than I do. She reminded me that it was my, sacred obligation, to restore balance... by restoring my people."

Toph tilted her head up, "But I thought you wanted to do that Aang... restore your people. We could..."

"That's just it my love," he broke in, "... bending follows the line of the mother for the most part. She told me the odds are that we would have earthbending children and not air," Aang informed her, "... or non-benders, before we had even one air."

Her head dropped, "Oh... I see. So we can't really..."

He lifted her chin, "Yes we can... oh, yes we can... and we will, my love. Haven't we proven fate is what you make of it? I was told I had to fight Ozai before the comet came... but I still won."

She turned her face downward once more, "Just barely Aang. I almost lost you to the maniac! I... I just know, that if I stand in the way of your people being brought back, you would eventually come to hate me, I'm sure of it!"

"Never," he swore. "I could never hate you Toph... no matter what. Lili even said that I could lay with her and birth airbenders..."

The princess sat up, "What! Why that conniving..."

He placed a comforting hand on her arm, "Relax, I turned her down. I mean, she did try hard to persuade me, her being a non-bender. She said she would be a better bet to birth airbenders, but I'm not about having a harem so that I can just rebuild my people. There has to be a better way... or even some descendants... people with the gift, but just don't know it."

Toph laid back against him once more, "But... what if there isn't Aang... what if Lili is right? Could you really let your race drift off into oblivion... just like they never existed? Don't you think the spirits are calling you to do something about it as well?"

"I'm not giving you up... I would rather die first!" he stated emphatically. "Just the thought... steals my breath away..."

She touched his heated face, "No, not that my dearest love. I mean... you are an energy bender... when we have children... can't you bend them from earth to air? I recall that swamp guy saying that the differences were all an illusion... or something like that... I think..."

His powerful kiss sucked the words right out of her mouth as she squirmed in total surprise.

"Twinkle Toes!"

"Sifu Toph... you're a genius, an absolute genius!"

She blushed brightly, "Are you just now figuring that out fly-boy?"

She was gathered into him as their lips moved and smacked upon one another. Tongues firmly twisted and undulated and soon she felt the mood shifting from platonic to something far more passionate. Another part of him was pressing into her hip.

"Didn't you tell me this was suppose to be innocent Twinkle Toes," she asked playfully.

He smiled, "Did I say that... I really don't..."

"Oh shut up and chi me!"

The trio, Katara, Mai and a somewhat reluctant Suki, stood outside the massive, ornate, wooden bedroom doors. The low moan that escaped caused all three to exchange suspicious glances.

"Did somebody let loose a sable-rine in there," Mai asked in a whisper as she heard several other low growling noises resonating through the door.

Katara at first wanted to laugh, but then listened closer, "I-I thought that she was... maybe snoring, when I first heard it... but this, this sounds like... polar bear dogs in rut!"

Suki looked nervously away, "Uh, Sokka always comments on how cute she sounds... this doesn't sound cute!" she remarked getting concerned.

Katara's eyes slanted, "Funny... Aang says the same thing! Said he could listen to her all night. I guess he hasn't heard..."

The sounds mysteriously ended, just as quickly as they had begun.

Mai pondered the familiar echoings and why they would be coming from the princess' bed chambers. "So... she is the one he could listen to all night... is that right Katara? I thought that would be you?" the knife thrower jibed, growing all the more curious.

"Couldn't be," Suki barged in, "...when Katara starts to snore, no one gets any sleep. Poor Aang, he may have to get a separate room. That's when you can really tell she's Sokka's sister."

The waterbender blew out her cheeks, "Suki! That was once... and I had a really bad head cold at the time!"

"Shhh, quite down Katara," Suki signaled with a wave of her hand. "We don't want to wake the little princess."

"You mean floozy... don't you?" the waterbender responded lowering her voice.

Suki sighed, "Now aren't you getting ahead of yourself Katara? Think about it, you're going to feel lower than a shit-slug when you find out nothing is going on between her and Aang? She should be considered innocent until proven guilty... right Mai"

"Actually, I think she lost her innocence along with that dress she was wearing yesterday," Mai commented in a monotone voice.

The Fan Master roller her eyes, not even knowing why she was defending the precocious earthbender. "You two... you're just over reacting," she retorted plainly. "If she were fooling around with one of our guys, why would she invite us here for a sleepover? She could have simply invited him."

Katara blue eyes narrowed even further, "She did invite Aang... Suki"

The warrior smiled tensely, "Oops... I-I forgot."

"I think," Mai stated as she reached for the brass latch, "we need to take advantage of our minuscule royal's nocturnal proclivity to pontificate while she reposes and discern the genuineness of the situation at hand."

Both Suki and Katara stared dumbfound at her. Mai pinched the bridge of her nose, "I said, let's go question her while she's talking in her sleep and see what's she's really up to."

Katara nodded, "Oh, that's what I thought you said... didn't you Suki?"

The Fan Master shook her head, "Actually, I just couldn't believe how much like Sokka she sounded right then... you know Katara, when he's trying to sound educated."