Chapter 93: Girls' Day Out
Not for the first time since making her acquaintance, Katara eyed her Earthbending friend with mild disgust.
"You know what we need?" Katara said. "A girls' day out."
Toph groaned. "Do I have to?"
"I'll be fun!" Katara insisted.
In her bones, Toph knew that Katara would be proven wrong.
Toph extended her senses to the dreaded building before her, wishing she could rip it down with her bending.
She said sarcastically, "The Fancy Lady Day Spa? Sounds like my kinda place, Katara."
Katara ignored the sarcasm and said, "Are you ready for some serious pampering?"
Toph sighed. "Sure, Katara. Whatever you say. Just as long as they don't touch my feet."
Aang and Zuko walked through the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se.
"Remind me why we're here again?" Zuko asked, eyeing the array of people all around with suspicion.
Aang answered, "We need to find Appa and I thought this might be a good place to start. Joo Dee said that there were lots of shops here and tradesman. Maybe someone knows something about Appa."
Zuko sighed. "Fine. Okay. Lead the way."
He found himself envying Sokka; the Water Tribesman was spending the day alone with only his maps and charts for company.
Zuko followed the Avatar into the throng of people.
The pedicure had not gone well. In hindsight, Katara probably should have steered them away from that particular treatment. As it was, the attendant should be back on her feet by tomorrow, albeit a little stiff and sore.
The mud bath had gone a lot better. Katara should have expected that really; after all, Toph did enjoy a 'healthy coating of earth'.
They'd both sat in the mud, letting it soak into their skin, and talked and messed around with the mud; it was, after all, a combination of both of their elements.
Zuko pointed over to a store. "What about in there?"
Aang squinted at the sign. "That's a pet store. Appa's not a pet, he's my friend."
Zuko shook his head. "Not to us, but to someone trying to sell him…"
Aang sighed sadly. "I suppose you're right."
Zuko patted the Avatar's shoulder and led him over. The boy had been surprisingly calm and upbeat all day, despite their lack of results; in fact, he'd been the same since they'd entered the city. Calm and relaxed, as if everything would work out if he just believed it would. Zuko envied that attitude.
The sauna had also proven to be a good choice of treatment. The two girls sat and basked in the steam, Toph occasionally bending another rock into the fire while Katara sent a stream of water across.
They released simultaneous 'Ahh's as steam enveloped them.
Aang was leaning on the counter of the pet store, talking to the owner. Zuko elected to stand just behind Aang's right shoulder, looming noticeably with a glare on his face.
Aang said, "You must have heard something! He's a flying bison and his name's Appa and he's white—"
The pet store owner cut him off. "Listen, kid, I ain't heard nothing about no flying bison. Last I heard, they were extinct. Now, unless you're gonna buy something, kindly leave my store."
Aang's face drooped. Zuko cleared his throat and said lowly, "Why don't you take a moment and think really hard about whether you know anything about our bison."
The merchant turned to Zuko with a glare on his face and was met by a harsher one. He noted that the one-eyed boy's hand was resting on the hilt of his swords. The pet store owner flinched, face paling.
He cleared his throat and said, "Well, um, now that you mention it…"
He looked around hurriedly and then leaned over the counter. Aang and Zuko leaned in as well.
The man whispered, "It would have been about a week ago, maybe. Heard stories coming in from the docks that they were transporting something big. Something live. Rare animal, I heard. Didn't hear about a bison but, well, what else could it have been?"
Aang turned to Zuko excitedly. "It had to have been Appa!"
Zuko nodded. He said to the merchant, "What happened to the animal?"
The man's eyes darted around again. He said in a hushed voice, "You didn't hear this from me, but it sounded like the Dai Li took possession of it. Don't know what they did with it, though."
Aang asked, "But if they have Appa, why wouldn't they just tell me—"
Zuko's hand slipped over the Avatar's mouth. He said to the merchant, "Thank you for your time."
He flicked a gold coin at the man, who caught it deftly and nodded.
Zuko dragged the Airbender out of the pet store. He pulled the boy away from the store, down a series of side streets, before stopping.
"What was that?" Aang asked frustrated. "He could have told us more."
Zuko shook his head. "He'd said all that he was going to. Besides, if the Dai Li really does have Appa, this just got a lot more complicated."
"Why?" The boy asked. "Surely I just tell them that Appa is mine and they'll give him back."
Zuko shook his head. "Aang, they deal in secrets and information. It's common knowledge that there's only one known Sky Bison and he belongs to the Avatar. They know he's yours. They're keeping him for a reason, probably to try and manipulate you if they have to."
Aang's face went grim. "We have to get him back."
Zuko nodded. "We're going to, Aang. But we have to be careful. We've already seen that they have eyes and ears everywhere."
Aang nodded, sighing. "You're right. I know you are."
Zuko clasped the boy's shoulder. "We should get back to the house. Tell the others what we've learned."
Aang nodded and they turned in the direction of the Upper Ring.
Katara wasn't entirely certain how she'd managed it, but she'd talked Toph Bei Fong, the Toph Bei Fong, into getting her hair and make-up done while they were at the spa. Katara couldn't help but stare at the younger girl and smile, proud that she'd got her friend to enjoy something a little girly.
"Well," Toph announced. "That wasn't so bad. I'm not usually into that stuff but I actually feel… girly."
Katara thought her head was going to explode. She never, not once, believed that Toph would admit to enjoying herself, nor that she would describe herself as feeling 'girly'.
She cleared her throat and said, "I'm glad. It's about time we did something fun together."
They reached the bridge that led back towards their compound/house. A trio of girls stalked past.
One remarked to Toph, "Wow, great make-up."
Toph muttered, "Thanks."
"For a clown!" The girl cackled.
All three girls laughed. Toph's face fell, all traces of happiness disappearing behind a frown. Katara stopped walking and she put her arm around her friend, trying to console her.
"Don't listen to them." She said. "Let's just keep walking."
Another of the girls said loudly, "I think she looks cute. Like that time we put a sweater on your pet poodle monkey."
"Good one, Star." Another girl laughed.
Katara snarled, "Let's go, Toph."
Toph shook her head. She said in a mocking tone, "No, no, that was a good one. Like your poodle monkey. You know what else is a good one?"
Toph shifted her foot and bent the bridge out from under the three girls, dumping them into the water below. The girls shrieked as they fell.
Katara laughed. "Now that was funny."
She swept her arm out and sent a wave towards the girls, shoving them downstream. The three screamed as they were swept away.
Katara turned to see that Toph had walked away, and she hurried to catch up.
She said, "Those girls don't know what they're talking about."
Toph sighed. "It's okay, Katara. One of the good things about being blind is that I don't have to waste my time worrying about appearance. I don't care what I look like. I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am."
Despite the Earthbender's best efforts, a tear slipped down her cheek.
Katara walked closer to her. "That's what I really admire about you, Toph. You're so strong and confident, and self-assured. And… I know it doesn't matter but… You're really pretty."
Toph reached out with her Earthbending and felt nothing but absolute sincerity emanating from the Waterbender.
She smiled and said, "I am?"
"Yeah, you are."
They started walking again, Toph smiling despite herself. She said, "I'd return the compliment, but I have no idea what you look like."
Katara laughed.
Toph continued, "Thank you, Katara."
She punched the older girl's arm.
"Ow!"
