A/N: This chapter picks up on previous chapter's "activities" from Aang and Katara's vantage point and into the next day. Both Aang and Toph have views on Katara and Zuko's friendship and their need to somehow step in and interfere with it though for entirely different reasons. Will shenanigans ensure? We shall see... This chapter also plays with perspective, perception, and principle. We will have another official story from Unka Zuko (and Aang?) in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Today's episode of Story Time with Zuko is sponsored by the the number "7" and the letter "P." Alphanumeric is for fan fiction...
Chapter 7-Of Love and Marriage (Part 4)
"Gadzooks! This has to be the fourth time they've been at it tonight. Is that normal Katara?" Aang asked with horror. Moans of passion, fevered encouragements, and an occasional lewd phrase would drift through the wall indicating intense pleasure and enthusiasm between his two friends. His own love making only lasted 10 to 20 minutes at best and Katara never climaxed more than once with him. Katara breathed softly in and out in a rhythm she hoped would let her husband think she was sleeping. She'd be damned before she told her husband about her experiences with Zuko before they got married! Aang knew she had been with someone else for a time after their break-up but she never disclosed it was Zuko though she is sure her husband suspected it.
Katara had once been privy to extended passionate love making sessions with Zuko that would carry on throughout the night leaving her ravished and luxuriously sore in the morning. If she hadn't just pushed a whole human out of her body a week prior, she would have envied Toph. But not tonight. The baby, who Aang named Tenzin, would be up before she knew it for another feeding. Katara groaned wearily."Sweetie, go to sleep…the baby will be up soon." Katara mumbled drowsily to encourage Aang to stop talking about what was happening in the other room. Aang leaned over to give a gentle kiss to his wife's temple and then looked at the wall where the unmistakable sound of a headboard ramming against the wall in a fervent tempo droned on and he shook his head. That can't be normal he thought to himself. He laid down beside his wife and snuffed the candle next to the bed using his airbending.
The next morning guests trickled into the dining room for breakfast and waited for the the Fire Lord who was strangely absent. Zuko was usually the first to rise along with the kitchen staff and work on business before the Council meetings which occurred after breakfast. No one could eat until he arrived. About thirty minutes after the last guest arrived, the Fire Lord drug in. He was exhausted! Tell-tale dark rings sat under his eyes and he had a fraction of his usual morning vigor. It was if he hadn't slept all night (which of course a select few knew he hadn't). Zuko greeted his guests cordially and attempted to stifle a yawn that came upon him suddenly.
Aang couldn't miss a chance to poke fun at his friend. "Good Morning Zuko! You look... tired today. So, uh where is Toph? We haven't seen her this morning either and we figured she'd be here by now." Katara elbowed her husband who gave her an innocent look. Zuko smirked. "She went to bed late; she's probably sleeping in-it was a long night." he said groggily. Aang chuckled. "Hmmn. Speaking of a long night, Zuko. Were you having Toph help you with some renovations in your bedroom? We heard furniture shifting around since our rooms are right next to each other. It sounded a lot like a bed being pushed back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth…" he repeated speeding up at intervals. Zuko's face filled in a deep shade of red from his neck to his forehead which nearly matched his scar and he avoided looking at Aang and Katara directly. Aang and Katara snickered. Aang spoke low enough that the other guests couldn't hear, but many assumed they were having a normal jovial conversation.
Zuko lowered his voice and leaned in whispering, "I hate you. I hate you so hard." Aang began laughing heartily. Katara reached over touching Zuko's hand gently and whispered back, "I think it's nice that you two…you know, found each other. You both deserve to be happy. Then she turned to her husband "And deserve to have happy moments. Even if the two of them did fuck to Tenzin's feeding schedule all night…all night Zuko? Tui and La!" Katara couldn't help to throw in her own teases fo r keeping her up with their romantic escapades. Aang frowned in disappointment. He never heard his wife use such crude language before. He hoped she didn't speak that way around the children or people who looked up to the Avatar as an example. He would have to speak to her about her language privately. Zuko groaned in embarrassment. He hoped that he didn't make Katara uncomfortable by her knowing that he was with Toph last night. It was at that moment Toph walked in fresh faced and dressed in a beautiful emerald green tunic with matching pants, but also with a slightly halted limp that Katara recognized as that luxurious soreness that happened after a good lovemaking session.
"Morning everybody, am I too late? Toph asked as she stroll-limped to the table. Katara and Zuko exchanged a look of understanding and smirked. Zuko turned to Toph and spoke pleasantly. "No, you're right on time. We haven't started yet. Aang was informing me of a, uh, noise complaint from last night." Toph sat down gingerly next to Zuko wincing with a slight grunt and cocked her head to the side. "Oh, really? That's interesting. Ah, I know! It must have been when we were moving the bed last night. Just couldn't find the right position so we had to try them all…" Toph explained wryly. Katara was drinking right at that moment and sputtered as the water came out of her nose. Aang almost choked on his pastry and Zuko laughed as if he had just won the lottery.
Zuko grabbed Toph's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Toph squeezed back and intertwined her fingers with his. They might not make love again tonight (as she was quite happily sore), but they were going to do it again and soon. It was enough to hear and feel Aang and Katara's reactions to their tryst. She would help Zuko heal and move on even if it meant hurting Katara's feelings (or being a little petty). Toph loved Katara like a sister but hated how she used Zuko as her emotional escape instead of confronting and dealing with her husband. Toph knew that Katara truly loved Zuko but chose Aang as the socially safe option. What bothered Toph most was that Katara continued to run to Zuko whenever Aang abandoned his family. She thought Katara was trying to have her cake and eat it too. She would fix that and quickly.
Toph had finally found the courage to admit how she felt about Aang on the way to the Fire Nation. Not because she wanted to break up his marriage or even expected anything to come from it, but because she wanted him to know. She wasn't expecting anything except an honest conversation. Aang wasn't willing to give her even that and told her that there was nothing there for her (which she already knew). He loved Katara and there was no one else he wanted. Toph understood that and challenged that he may want to begin thinking more about Katara and spending time with his family before he looked around and his family was gone and moved on without him. The last week of travel together was quite terse and silent between them.
Aang smiled as he observed Zuko and Toph's sudden displays of affection. He didn't think that they were attracted to each other at all considering the conversation he had with Toph on Appa, but he thought perhaps since they were so close as friends their relationship would be good for them. Toph would help Zuko think less about Katara. Maybe then Zuko wouldn't be so overprotective and possessive of Katara's time and friendship and Toph could perhaps get over her feelings for him. Aang cringed as he thought about how Toph made an awkward confession on their way back to the Fire Nation. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he shut Toph's advances down immediately.
The memory instantly brought to his mind his wife and best friend's friendship. It irked Aang that Katara and Zuko were so close and seemed to have so many secret looks and conversations that went over his head. He knew there was nothing romantically going on between them, but he couldn't help but feel a little jealous over how easily their relationship flowed. He wanted that relationship with his wife though sometimes he felt he could confide in Toph easier than Katara. That's why he had to make the lines of their friendship clear. That's also why he had to help Katara depend on Zuko less. The less time they spent together the better.
Aang realized suddenly the dining room was devoid of children. His children. "Hey Katara, where are Bumi, and Kya? I'm surprised they aren't here." Katara rolled her eyes and smirked. "I told you Aang, the children go to tutoring with Izumi in the morning. They all encourage one another and make the time pass more eventfully. It also gives me a much-needed break during the day." She said. Aang looked at his wife in surprise. "Bumi I could understand going to school, but Kya is only four. She should be spending more time with her mother don't you think?" he cautioned. Katara swung her head around to look at her husband. "Excuse me?" She said with a tone that all who knew Katara knew this conversation wasn't going to end well for Aang.
Zuko stood up suddenly. "Hey Toph! Why don't we take breakfast in my study? I wanted to talk to you about something privately anyway." Toph was mid-bite into a tart and froze. She then bit the tart and chewed completely before answering. "Hell, no! This is about to be a shit-show and I have a front row seat!" she exclaimed gesturing toward Aang and Katara. Zuko hummed deeply and in one sweeping motion picked Toph up and carried her off kicking and complaining on his side. Other guests at the table gasped in surprise at the Fire Lord's unorthodox actions with the Lady Bei Fong and murmured at the lack of decorum among the distinguished guests, while the Avatar and his wife glared at one another in what appeared to be a stalemate.
