Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.

38

"I brought you here two reasons," Aang began. "One, because I'm losing my freaking mind lying to Katara about why you got kicked out of your house-"

Toph snorted. "I never asked you to lie about it."

"Yea, well, if you hadn't done it in the first place, I wouldn't have had to lie-"

"I already admitted that it wasn't the smartest or most mature move I've ever made-"

Aang's fists clenched. "No, it wasn't!"

"What do you want? An apology?" she scoffed.

"Uh, yea, actually, that would be really nice," Aang snapped.

Toph crossed her arms. "Fine. I'm fucking sorry, I guess."

Aang raised one derisive brow. "Wow. How genuine."

A helpless sort of expression crossed Toph's face, and after a moment, she descended into a fit of giggles. "You're right," she said after a moment, still chortling. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to put you in a bind, and that was stupid of me. I know how important Katara is to you- even if I think it's a little nuts that you feel so intensely about her, this quickly." Her expression darkened briefly. "Don't tell anyone I said any of that."

"I won't," Aang sighed. "Maybe."

She chortled once more before stretching her arms along the back of the booth. "What's the second reason I'm here?"

"There's a position available as a barista at a coffee shop that's opening in my apartment building," Aang explained. "You told me you're struggling for money now that you're starting your new school. I told them you might be interested."

"Oh, yea, I would make an excellent barista. I'll just fill the cup up until I feel burning liquid running over my hand," Toph deadpanned. "How the fuck am I supposed to work as a barista, Aang?"

Aang almost groaned in frustration. "You're resourceful, Toph, and you've worked harder jobs than that. I just thought I'd offer. No need to be a sarcastic jerk."

"That's my entire personality in one phrase, though. What's the pay?" Toph asked in a disinterested tone, but her hands twisted nervously around her cane.

Aang told her.

"Spirits, that's pretty good," Toph admitted begrudgingly.

"Yea- and I'll be there," he added. "And Suki, too. I think you'll really like her." He grinned briefly. "She's probably the only person I've ever met who could handle your bad attitude."

Toph laughed. "I doubt it."

"I don't. Katara is applying, too." He almost groaned. "Which brings me back to my original reason for bringing you here; what am I supposed to do about your little lie?"

"It's not my lie, now," Toph said, shrugging. "You could just tell her the truth."

Aang passed a dejected hand over his face. "Sokka said it's not a big deal and that I could keep it to myself."

Toph made a gesture of indifference. "Or, do that. It's really not a big deal."

"Urgh," he complained. "This is so frustrating. I can't believe you did this to me."

"What else are friends for?" Toph asked cheerily.

Suki stared apprehensively at the bouquet, her head tilted to one side. It was stunning- peonies and ranunculus arranged in perfect, cream colored harmony, a hint of blushing pink weaving through. The vase it came in was beautiful, too, wrapped in a lovely silk ribbon. It was a massive arrangement; so big that, if she sat on one side of the table, she could barely see anything on the other side. It must have cost a small fortune. A generous gift.

She'd been delighted to find the flowers sitting outside the apartment as she came home from class, the flowers almost ethereally beautiful in the dimly lit hallway. But the card that came with them left her with an uneasy feeling that set her hands trembling.

"Maybe he means something else," Song said from her seat on the left. "Or maybe it's, like, a joke."

Suki scoffed. "A joke?"

Song shrugged. "It could be a joke. Sort of ironic, you know?"

"'I love seeing that ring on your finger; I love you so much'. Signed 'Your Man'?" Suki quoted, almost whispering in horror. "How is that a joke? Like, specifically, which part of that could be construed as a joke?"

"I don't know," Song flared. "If Haru gave me something like this, I'd literally be swooning, so I don't really see what the big fucking deal is."

"The 'big fucking deal' is that we've been dating for like three weeks. We have never once said the words 'I love you' to one another," Suki said.

Song snickered. "Can't say that anymore. You're basically married, now."

"We are not," Suki breathed indignantly.

"I saw the underwear you're wearing, Suki. How old is that sports bra?" Song countered. "I think it used to be white, but it's sort of an ambiguous gray, now. A color that sounds a lot more appealing than it actually is." She shook her head. "If I was a peasant from five centuries ago, I could use Sokka's abs to wash my scratchy linen shirts, and you have the audacity to wear that abomination in front of him?" She shook her head, sighing. "Married."

Suki laughed, in spite of her nerves. "I dress for no man- and besides, even if I did, he'd prefer I wear nothing."

"Yea, that's because he hasn't seen you in that mesh lingerie I got you for your birthday two years ago."

"You're the only person who's seen me in that- and that was only because I felt obligated to try it on for you. Who buys their friends fucking lingerie for their birthdays?" Suki asked, rolling her eyes.

"I do- and for the record, I immediately questioned my sexuality after seeing you in it, babe," Song answered, giving her a pointed look before leaning forward to re-read the bouquet's note. "What does it mean, 'I love seeing that ring on your finger'?"

"I put one of my rings on as a wedding band while we were playing that newlywed game at the bar," Suki explained. "But I barely thought he noticed."

Song grinned wickedly. "Oh, I think he noticed."

"What am I going to do?" Suki sighed, dropping her head into her hands.

"Get married, fuck your incredibly sexy husband every day for the rest of your life, make absurdly beautiful babies," Song replied, shrugging. "Woe is you."

Suki's hands started to shake. "He has mentioned marriage in passing several times in the last week or so," she breathed.

"If I'm not your Maid of Honor, I'll take it as a personal insult," Song said. "Seriously. Like, blood-feud level insult."

"What about his sister?" Suki asked. "Katara would become my sister-in-law; maybe she should be my Maid of Honor."

Song glared at her. "I adore Katara, but she hasn't put in the time. I've put in the time."

"You're not going to be my sister-in-law," Suki countered. "Oh, Spirits, what the fuck am I talking about? I'm not ready to get married. I knew I shouldn't have called you- you've got me all fucking confused. We're upset about this, remember?"

"I'm so upset," Song agreed, examining her nails.

A/N: and the triumphant return of my dear Song. Such a pleasure to write.