Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or it's characters.

88

"Mom," Toph said, "this is my friend, Katara. Katara, this is my mother, Poppy Beifong."

"Pleasure to meet you," the older woman greeted demurely. "I'm so happy to finally meet one of your school friends, Toph. How did you two meet?"

Katara paused, unsure of what to say. Toph's parents' history with Aang was rocky at best, but Katara didn't want to lie.

Toph didn't seem to share her concern, however. "Katara and I have some mutual friends. Mai and Ty Lee."

"Oh, you're friends with Mai?" Poppy exclaimed. "Her family goes to the country club with us- perhaps you've been to 'Prominence'?"

"Can't say that I have," Katara replied. "Mai and I had some classes together, though, and we work together at the café in my apartment building."

Poppy's smile faded. "How lovely," she said. She turned back to Toph. "I'm happy to see you've worn the dress that I laid out for you. It's a Fan Shu original, you know."

"It's uncomfortable," Toph said, tugging at the high collar.

It did look uncomfortable, but flattering. Poppy clearly had a good eye; and it was just as clear that Toph frequently denied her the opportunity to use it. Probably out of spite, thought Katara.

But Poppy ignored her daughter's comment, instead waving daintily to a nearby acquaintance. "Do excuse me; I see someone I recognize, and I've yet to say hello."

"Oh, but of course," Toph said, but her mother had already departed. She leaned in, whispering to Katara. "I bet that spread over there cost more than what they'll give." She pointed, without turning, to a table laden with food to their left. "It's grotesque."

"And you left because you hate the hypocrisy?" Katara asked dubiously. "But your parents paid for you degree and your ticket to this event, and that Fan Shu dress that would cost me three paychecks. They aren't perfect, it's true, but they don't seem so terrible to me."

Toph crossed her arms, a satisfied smirk dominating her features. "They have their uses."

"That seems a little hypocritical."

"What?"

Katara rolled her eyes. "You can't complain about wealth and how they spend their money. I don't see you hosting charity events."

"Katara, I do outreach programs with blind children on a bi-weekly basis. Funny, though; you're never there."

Katara flushed in embarrassment as she stuttered out an excuse.

"Speaking of hypocrisy," Toph said smugly.

"Ugh," Katara muttered. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're right."

"How'd that feel coming out?"

Katara ignored her, instead snagging a glass of chardonnay off the tray of a passing waiter. She took a sip, and closed her eyes at the taste. It was butter smooth. She'd never had wine like this before. "I can understand your reasons for leaving, but I sort of feel like you could make a bigger difference from a position of power, like this one," she said after a moment. "Participate in the events. Host the events. Make sure the money goes to the right places. It's like you said; these people have their uses."

"You have no idea." Toph tilted her head towards the sound of footsteps approaching, barely audible over the din of the crowded room.

Poppy returned, an older, severe looking woman in tow. She stood poker straight, and was easily a head taller than Toph's mother. "Toph, Katara, this is a dear friend of mine, Thanh. She's the Dean at Ba Sing Se University."

Katara raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, wow," she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I actually go to your school."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, too," Thanh greeted her. Despite her severe appearance, her voice was warm and welcoming. "I always love meeting students at these events. And Toph, it's lovely to see you, like always."

"Thanh," Toph greeted perfunctorily.

"So, Katara," Thanh said, turning back to her. "What year are you?"

"I'm a third year."

"And, your major?"

Katara took another sip of her chardonnay. "Physical Therapy."

Thanh nodded approvingly. "An excellent career field. Very mobile, and physical therapists are always needed. You'll find yourself swimming in job offers, once you graduate."

"Katara already has a job offer," Toph cut in.

Katara stared at her in confusion. "What?"

Thanh appeared equally as surprised, but beside her, Poppy gave Toph a look that could almost be described as affection.

"Yea," Toph continued. "There's a gym starting up in the Fire Nation Capital. A former Ba Sing Se University student, Kuzon, offered her a paid internship."

"Toph," Katara hissed under her breath.

Thanh raised a wine glass to Katara in congratulations. "Well done! There's nothing more gratifying than student's success stories. When do you move?"

"I'm, uh," Katara faltered. "I'm not moving."

"BSSU's admin said they couldn't transfer her credits," Toph explained. "Something about requiring special circumstances."

Thanh shook her head in amused irritation. "Well, I can't imagine a circumstance more special than an offer for on-the-job training. I'll speak with them for you, dear." She gave Katara a warm smile. "I love seeing my students rewarded for their hard work."

At this, Katara could not stay silent. "Dean- Ms. Thanh- I don't-"

"She doesn't know what to say," Toph interrupted firmly. "She's so appreciative."

Thanh waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing, dear. Send me an email, would you?" She touched an elegant hand to her temple. "I'm so forgetful at parties like this, but I'll be certain to look into it on Monday."

"We will," Toph promised. She raised her own wine glass. "To Katara."

Katara was speechless, unable to protest as Poppy and Thanh raised theirs, and drained their glasses.

Suki was leaning against the wall of the precinct, tapping her foot nervously, when Aang was finally released from the holding cells. She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him in a sisterly hug. "Are you alright?" she demanded. "Spirits, look at your face. What the hell happened? The cops won't tell me anything."

Aang turned his face away in embarrassment. "I'll tell you in the car. I'm sorry to call you. I tried calling Katara, but she didn't answer."

"It's fine," Suki assured him, waving her hand as if to brush it away. "Let's get you out of here."

The car ride was uncomfortably silent, neither party sure of what to say. Finally, Suki's curiosity got the best of her. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"

"Jet showed up," Aang muttered darkly. "He said he wanted to spar. I said that was a terrible idea, but he kept pushing and pushing..."

"Geez, I really fucking hate that guy."

Aang snorted mirthlessly. "Me, too. Anyway, he got a couple hits in, and I- yea. I tried to keep my cool, but I lost it."

"I can't believe you let him hit you twice," Suki said, shaking her head as she pulled into the parking lot.

"I didn't want to fight him. I was trying to talk him out of it. Nothing good was going to come from that." He shook his head in disgust. "Obviously."

"One good thing came of it; you knocked him the fuck out," she muttered. "But, I understand. It sounds like he's the one who's going to be getting trouble, though, if the officer at the front desk is to be believed."

Aang nodded. "Good thing my gym has CCTV."

"No kidding." She pulled into a parking spot and shut the car off before turning to him. "It must have felt satisfying, seeing him drop to the floor like that."

"It was, a bit," Aang said with a tight grin. It faltered. "But, I shouldn't really feel that way..."

Suki waved her hand dismissively. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'd be a bit more concerned about how Katara's going to react when she sees that insane bruise on your jaw."

"I'm more worried about the one on my rib cage," he admitted.

"Shit."

"Yea."

Suki shook her head. "Well, let's go."

Aang paused in confusion. "This isn't the apartment building. Where are we?"

"'Shinu's Ice Creamery'," Suki said. "I think we've both earned it."

"I could use something a little stiffer than ice cream."

Suki laughed dryly. "The liquor store is the next stop."

As soon as the limousine pulled away from the charity event, Katara turned on Toph. "Are you out of your fucking mind?" she snarled. "Why in the fucking world did you make me just lie to the dean of my school?"

"It's not a lie," Toph said nonchalantly.

Katara ground her teeth. "I do not have a job offer from Kuzon. And as soon as the school reaches out to contact him about it, they're going to find that out." Her head dropped into her hands. "Oh, Spirits, why did I ever go along with it? I'm so stupid!"

"Are you done?" Toph asked. "Like, are you finished?"

"Shut the fuck up, Toph!"

Toph idly rolled down her window. "You do have a job offer. I asked Kuzon yesterday."

Katara stared at her. "What?"

"Yea, I asked him if he'd take me on as a paid intern, with no degree and no physical fitness background."

"Congratulations," Katara said sarcastically. "What does that have to do with me?"

Toph turned to her. "Katara, you're going to have to really apply yourself to get a degree, you know that, right? Like, exert a little more brain power than what you're using right now-"

"You're a lunatic-"

"If Kuzon was willing to offer me a job, he's definitely going to offer you one," Toph said evenly. "You're actively pursuing a degree. You want a career in that field."

"Well I didn't see any job offers in my inbox-"

Toph grinned. "I made him wait to call you until tomorrow."

"What- why?" Katara snapped. "Because you wanted your little scheme to go off without a hitch?"

"Obviously."

"Well, it doesn't fucking matter," Katara heaved. "Aang already turned down the job."

"Aang turned down the job because you couldn't come," Toph cut in. "But now there's nothing holding him here. You're welcome."

Katara stared at her in shock.

"Congratulations, Sugar Queen," Toph said with a grin. "You're going to be Kuzon's newest apprentice physical therapist."

A/N: