Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters.
71
When the evening rush ended, Zuko leaned against espresso machine, his forehead resting against the chrome-plated grinder. It had been the busiest night so far- it seemed like business was picking up.
He straightened when he felt Mai brush past him, rustling around in the back for a dust pan and broom. "Nice work this evening," he complimented her.
Her hands tightened around the broom handle. "Thanks. You, too. I was worried you were going to be shit since a lot of managers are all talk and can't do the actual job."
Zuko smiled, a pleasant heat rising in his cheeks. "Thank you. I think."
She spun the broom handle between her hands, causing the bristles to dance along the floor, spreading coffee grounds into the far reaches of the little kitchen. "This business is really important to you, isn't it? I mean... this isn't just some job, for you."
"No, its not," he agreed. "My uncle Iroh has been dreaming about this since he was in his mid-thirties. But, my family owns a large corporation in the Fire Nation. He had to play his part in that for a while."
"How come you're not over there, then?" Mai asked.
"What?"
"Why aren't you in this big family business? Sounds like easy money."
He scowled, his mood nose-diving at the turn of conversation. "Nothing is easy in my family."
Mai frowned at his sharp reply, and he felt a stab of embarrassment.
"I'm sorry," Zuko sighed. "I just... my family's a mess. I joined the United Forces just to get away from them. And then my- this- happened." He gestured to his scar. "Iroh was the only one who genuinely cared for me. He was more like a father to me than my actual father. And this is his dream. It might not seem like much, but all my uncle wants to do is build a place where people can come together and be at peace. I'll do anything I can to make it happen." A shy smile crossed his lips. "Including work a shift with a girl who asks too many questions."
One hand went to Mai's hip, and she raised one perfectly angled brow. "Too many questions? I think I asked, like, three questions."
"Well," he drawled, still smiling, "three is too many."
She bit down on her lower lip, and he felt a hot twinge below his stomach. Images of biting that lip himself rushed through his mind. "Is two too many?" she asked.
"No. But only if I can ask you two, as well."
"Deal," she said, smiling softly.
"Deal."
She nodded toward him, an invitation for him to begin. "No time like the present."
A hundred questions filtered through his mind. Where was she from? What kind of food did she like to eat? What was she going to school for? What was her family like- did she have any siblings? But instead, the first thing that slipped out was, "Why are you always watching me?"
As Katara strode away from the table, Suki let her head drop to the wooden counter top with a groan. This was a disaster.
"Way to go, Toph," Aang snapped, and Suki's head popped back up at the sound of his voice. "What is your problem?"
"What is your problem?" the blind girl shot back. "How did you think this was going to go? You, me, and your girlfriend have this weird, awkward history, and you thought- what? That we'd all hit it off right away? Become the best of friends?" She scoffed at him. "You're so naive sometimes."
He stood from his chair, his fists pressed against the table top as he leaned over. "Well, you're so busy assuming that everyone thinks the worst of you that all you do is prove them right!"
"Yea, right!" Toph said. "You guys are like this super intense little... unit, or something. The four of you, holed up in this apartment together, living out the dream. Two perfect couples. How fucking sweet."
Sokka's eyes darted guiltily towards Suki, before returning to glower at Toph. "We're not perfect. And even if we were, why does that fucking matter? If you didn't want to come, you could have just said no."
At his sharp words, a little flush blossomed between Toph's pale cheeks, but she turned towards his voice to shoot him a dark scowl. "You don't know anything about me."
"Well, it's not like you're letting us," Suki commented dryly. "We've spent half the evening trying to get to know you, and all I know about you so far is that you work at 'Panda Lily Express', and that you're friends with Aang- somehow."
The flush on Toph's cheeks deepened. "Before the three of you came along, Aang and I were best friends! We hung out all the time, even though my parents fucking hate him. Do you know how often I caught shit about it? And then he meets Katara, and it's like I don't even exist anymore."
"That's a shitty situation, but it's not my sister's fault," Sokka said sharply.
"It's no one's fault," Suki interjected. "It's a misunderstanding; one that should have been discussed way before this dinner."
Aang settled back in his seat, the angry flush draining from his face as the full gamut of Toph's emotions revealed themselves. "You think I abandoned you?"
"Well, didn't you?" Toph asked bitterly. "Who was there when Jun left you? When you lost your house? Who bailed you out of jail? Who stored your things while you were living in your car? Who was there for you that whole time? Then you find a place, get new roommates and a girlfriend, and you're gone. I hear from you two, maybe three times a month, but other than that, nothing." She crossed her arms, her face pointed towards her knees. "And it gets even better. I get kicked out of my own house- and I'll admit that I went about itthat poorly, so don't even try to rehash all that- but where were you? I was alone, and I had no one, because you were so busy with your perfect new life that you forgot about me."
"We've been over this already, Toph," Aang replied, his voice darkening again. "My life's not perfect- and I would have preferred to be there for you, but we had that little disagreement- you know, the one where you lied about being in love with me and then told Katara about it behind my back?"
Toph frowned. "Did I put a fucking gun to your head and say 'lie to your girlfriend'? No. And I've already apologized- numerous times, might I add- for the way things turned out."
"And this was my attempt to come full circle and let us move past it!" Aang said. "Spirits, Toph, you think I don't knowwhat you did for me, when I needed you? I do know. I didn't invite you here to make you pay for past mistakes. I invited you here so we could all move forward, together!"
Toph frowned, her hands twisting in her lap, fingers tightly intertwined. "I want to move forward, too," she murmured softly. "I want us to be friends again, like we were. I don't want to be alone anymore."
They sat in silence for a moment, each person shifting uncomfortably in their seat. Toph's face was still pointed downward, but Suki thought she could saw the salty track of a tear glistening on the pale girl's cheek.
"Things won't be exactly like they were," Aang said finally. "Katara's part of my life now. But... I'm sorry I left you behind. I was starting to realize it myself. I don't want you to be alone anymore either." He shot her and encouraging smile. "It'll start with making things up to Katara. She's almost as stubborn as you are, you know, and she can hold a grudge for just as long."
Toph lifted her face, the clouded green of her eyes laced with sadness, but in between the muted colors, there was a hint of relief that shone through. "I will."
Sokka let out a long breath. "Well, good luck with that. You're going to need it."
A/N: and here we see me using the fact that I forgot about Toph's existence for a decent portion of this story as a plot device. She's actually mad at me.
For Bay45220. I was relieved that someone could relate to the brother/sister messing with each other :) and I love reading your thoughts on this story!