Comfy
A/N: Avatar Nick wholly owns the Last Airbender.
Time moves on an inevitable course.
(This was meant to be a one-shot, but it's evolved. One more chapter!)
All comments are welcomed.
Chapter 20
Reflections (Part 1)
Toph sits next to the colossal Spirit Tree that grows in the center of the swamp, eyes closed. She's wearing her usual ochre-colored baggy trousers that cinch at her ankles and a long-sleeved sienna tunic that runs down to her thighs. A golden sash is tied about her still narrow waist.
The self-proclaimed, world's greatest earthbender's snow-white hair tied into two braids is twisted together to form a bun. A beaded headband of jade and turquoise holds her long bangs in place, masking her blind, smoky green eyes.
The former Superintendent of Police takes a deep breath of the fresh air. It smells, and sounds are as familiar as her name after these almost 15 years. The smooth wooden chair she sits upon is part of the tree's power-filled roots, made for her by the ancient mystic lifeform who long ago became sentient. Her senses are amplified through it, able to see the entire world, and beyond.
The metal bending master is tracking a particular person making their way up the nearby stream. They are not in a boat or swimming. Instead, they are strolling atop the water as if walking on dry ground. The pace is slow, but the steps are steady.
Toph lets out a long-exasperated sigh. Will you hurry up? We haven't got all day.
"You know I can hear you since I'm in this swamp," the telepathic reply echoes in Toph's thoughts
Why do you think I thunk it. Now get your old, flabby ass moving, Sugar Queen. We don't have time for you to be taking a Sunday walkabout.
"Still as ornery as ever. I'm almost there. Oh, could it be you're so anxious to see me Toph that you want me to hurry so that we can make that sweet-sweet love?"
"Has age taken what little mind you have left, Sweetness? When have I ever remotely expressed any interest in being with you? Besides, anything you had worth having, I'm sure has dried up, you old sea-prune.
"Zuko doesn't think so. Just today before he dropped me off, he was commenting on how my under look like a fresh flower."
Toph lets out an audible snort. You know he's half-blind in his one good eye, and senile. Last time I saw him, he asked me the same question three times. That old coot probably was asleep and dreaming of better - and fresher days.
"I'll have you know, swamp-girl, that I'm just as sweet-smelling as ever. And I'm sure you probably smell like some old rotting toadstool, living out here. Hey, this mind thing is pretty rad. I can finally properly get out what I'm thinking. Can I send images too?"
Toph's face explodes deep cherry red. You-you do not have my permission to think those kinds of thoughts about me, you freak! If you even try something like that – I'll bury you! And what kind of animal is that? What's it doing? Oh, that's just sick!
A loud stream of laughter rains down upon Toph from above as she stands to her feet and faces up towards the offensive voice. Katara is standing on a pillar of water half the height of the tree as she points and hoots in merriment.
The waterbender's leather slippers and elegant red robes look out of place for trekking through such an environment. The gold embroidery on her heavy silk skirt depicts an old Water Tribe story about Tui and La while her high-collared matching blouse gives her an air of sophistication. Katara's red silk jacket with its long flowing dark blue sleeves accent her carefully chosen ensemble.
Most people would find the heat and humidity stifling, especially wearing all the layers of clothing, but the master waterbender appears totally cool and comfortable. Except for her traditional loopies, Katara's gray hair is tightly pulled back and pinned together under a thin gold crown with the Fire Nation emblem at its center.
The waterbender catches her breath. "That's a koala-ram, isn't it cute? But your face Toph – that face is priceless! Makes you think about 'eating' meat in a whole new way, right?"
The earthbender crosses her arms over her chest. "I should start calling you Pervert Queen instead of Sugar. I'm glad I'm a total vegetarian, and if I weren't, I would be after seeing that, eh, nastiness. That was seriously gross, especially for a blind person."
The column begins to leak out from the base as the still giddy Katara slowly descends, the water flowing down the great tree's root. "Hey, I was just trying to get you more in tune with nature since you're living out here in this – well – nothingness."
"There's a big difference being in tune with nature and nature being in you- like that. That kind of nature I don't want any part of, or yours, Sweetness."
Toph scowls as the waterbender's dry feet reach the ground, and she draws near. She straight-arms the woman's attempt to hug her. "Don't touch me pervert."
Katara makes a pouty face. "I was just being teasing you. There's a big difference between what I want to do and what I can do at this age."
Toph steps back. "Doesn't mean you won't try, Sweetness. I've known you too long. I mean the last time we met; you double palmed my ass!"
"That was ancient history, Toph. How was I going to resist such cushy buns?"
"Two months isn't ancient history, Sweetness."
"Really? That was only two months ago," Katara questions holding up three fingers, in front of the blind woman, the middlemost prominent.
"I know what you're doing, freak," Toph snaps.
"My fingers aren't nimble anymore. It's age, what can I say. Well, we haven't seen each other in a while; at least give your best friend a hug, meanie? If you want, you can grab my ass and then we'll be even."
Toph shakes her head. "Oh, no. I know your tricks. You want me to grab that sagging ass of yours and anything else. You can forget that ever happening. Besides, I'm not living in – nothingness. I have all those swamp guys stopping by, but they can be pretty annoying, like someone else I know. Aren't you and them like, eh, related Katara? You're both waterbender's."
"And aren't you and those sandbenders related Toph?
Toph scrunches up her nose. "Not in the slightest Sweetness. I can bend actual rocks, not just that mushy stuff. If anything, those weak-ass numbskulls are more Aang's relations, the way they bend that shit around."
Katara shakes her head with a broad smile. "After all these years, you still haven't forgiven them, have you Toph?"
"Nope and I never will. Except for Jukka and his tribe. They were cool when Aang and I took a vacation to that iceberg again. He took us on a tour of the desert. I can't tell you how many watering holes we passed when we were lost out there."
Katara's mouth drops open. "What really? I was looking like crazy for any water. How did I miss it?"
Toph chuckles. "You know that cactus Sokka drank from?"
"Yeah?"
That's how they mark their watering holes. They deliberately plant those above the wells. All you have to do is dig under them, and there's a freshwater spring. That cactus only grows over water. We were that close, Sweetness. Normally, I would be able to pick it up, but I think I was just too upset with Twinkle Toes after what he said to me."
"I guess you guys made up after that?"
Toph turns away, but Katara can see the flush on the back of her ears. "Took him a while, b-but he made it right."
Katara tries to step around and see her face, but Toph counter's, her long bangs curtaining her expression. "That must have been some apology by the way you're reacting, Toph. I wonder what he could have done to make you act like a little school girl, even now?"
An unexpected giggle escapes Toph.
"Enough games Toph. Tell me what he did!"
"Okay, okay. Aang, uh, went into Avatar state and we - did it that way," she replies clasping the sides of her tomato-red face.
Katara's lips pucker tightly. "Is that all? I thought he did something really bizarre and crazy."
"Sweetness, he took me into the Spirit World. There you don't get tired, or dry, and the feelings, literally out of this world! Imagine having one continuous orgasm for an entire day," Toph exclaims unable to contain her smile.
"You mean he took your spirit into the Spirit World, right Toph?"
"Nope, we went body and all there. I don't know how he managed to do it, but I think it was something he called a Spirit Portal where that old library was. I could see things there. Didn't know what things were, or all those different shades, he called colors, but it was fun."
Katara places a hand on her chin in amazement. "You two made love in the Spirit World for a whole day? What else did you do?"
"I said one orgasm lasted a whole day, and we were there for an entire week, Sugar Queen," Toph boasts. "Even after we got back to our world, I was unsteady on my feet for a few days it was so good."
The waterbender crosses her arms. "Toph, I've told you I hated you before, but this time, I really, truly, mean it. A week of day-long orgasms. How could you steal that from me?"
"Hey, that was his idea, not mine, Sweetness. If you want to blame somebody, blame Aang."
"You two could have at least invited me along. I don't think marriage counts on that side. Was I even married to Zuko then?"
Toph shakes her head. "Nope, we took that trip about a year after Suki died. I already had the triplets, and you decided to stay in the Fire Nation and be the nanny for their daughter, Zimisha."
"Oh, yeah, I was her wet nurse, before that. Sorry, I broke my promise, but you had Mai and Ty Lee helping out. They had their kids a bit before you did, right?"
Toph nods. "Yeah, but what you didn't know Sweetness is that Azula nursed my two boys. My girl was stuck to me, and really jealous of her brothers tried to have my time. It made it difficult to take care of all three, sometimes. Azi was my savior. They even took to calling her momma La. No doubt she fell in love with them."
Katara's brow furrows. "How did Aang feel about that? I mean, she did try to kill him on more than one occasion. It must have bothered him to see his sons so attached to his onetime mortal enemy."
Toph sighs. "At first, he was against it, but I talked to him after Sokka told me Azula got depressed over the matter. She couldn't have babies of her own, and the other wives were wrapped up in being happy. I needed the help, so I – ah – persuaded him to let her. When he asked about your offer, I explained to Aang that you had to go and comfort Zuko."
"But I could have come back if you told me, Toph. What about the acolytes, did they help? I'm sure they were…"
Toph waves off Katara's comment. "Oh no, those bitches were too willing. They'd be nursing both sons and father if they had their way. I had Azi, and Zuko needed you, Katara. You know he took Suki's death extremely hard. I think you were the only one who could have turned that situation around for him. I mean, to have your wife poisoned right before your eyes, that had to be a shock."
"It was. They were trying to kill his daughter too," Katara fills in. "I didn't realize how devoted he was to her until I saw him crying and calling her name."
Toph lays her head on Katara. "See, you were destined to be there for him. I heard you were the one who deduced the culprits and even raided their hideout, Sweetness."
"I had to pay those murdering lowlifes back for what they did to Suki. Despite her dumping my brother, she was still my friend."
"Wish I could have been there too, Sweetness."
"I was thinking of you Toph when I put that ice spike right up their leader's ass and out the top of his head."
"I don't know how to respond to that Katara."
The waterbender nudges her. "I didn't mean I wanted to do the same to you. I just thought you'd want to make him pay."
"So you impaled the guy?"
Katara's laugh sends a chill up Toph's spine. "He looked like one of Hamas' puppets. Zuko kept thanking me so much, it was embarrassing, so I bed him."
Toph jaw drops open. "You do him because he was embarrassing you?"
"No Toph, I did him because he was just so adorable and vulnerable. Just like the first time we did it."
Toph frowns. "What, were you doing Zuko while he was mourning or something?"
"Uh, no, that would be crass. I would never stoop that low."
"Then, when?"
"You know when he and I went to fight Azula?"
"Like a hundred years ago?"
Katara rolls her blue eyes. "Yes, like exactly a hundred years ago. Sheesh, could you be any more obvious, Toph?"
"Yes, but I do restrain myself when I can."
"I'd like to know when," Katara mutters.
"What did you say Sugar Queen?"
"Nothing. Anyway, Toph, when I was healing him, we connected. I kissed him."
"But wasn't Azula looking at you two? Didn't you think she would see?"
"She was screaming like a banshee, out of her fricking mind and spitting fire everywhere. We could have been - well, we did do it right in front of her, I guess. But before you say anything, we were caught up in the moment. He had saved my life, and there was all this tension and - he was looking really sexy in that comet's red light. When I started checking him out, for any additional injuries, one thing led to another. Suddenly, I was riding his royal staff. You could say we steamed things up."
Toph shakes her head. "No wonder Azula lost her mind. I think anybody would have gone mad seeing that."
"Hey, she was already nuttier than a fruitcake when we got there. That wasn't my fault."
"So, Zuko was your first? Or was it that guy, Jet? You know the one who got killed by the Dai Li."
"I remember who he is, uh, was! Uh, no, neither one of them. I think I told you before who my first was, Toph. I barely kissed Jet, and that was because I was thinking so much about Aang at that time."
Toph looks puzzled. "How can thinking about one guy make you kiss another, Sweetness. I don't get it?"
"Let's go sit down Toph; my back is starting to hurt. Getting old really sucks sometimes."
As if on cue, Toph's single-seat doubles in size. She turns her face towards the center of the tree. "Really? Couldn't you just make a new seat for her? If she starts grabbing anything, I'm blaming you," the earthbender warns, pointing her finger at the Spirit Tree. "And you better not put your hand on my seat when I try to sit, Pervert Queen."
Katara snaps her fingers in disappointment as she sits down.
Toph double-checks to make sure her side is clear before she sits.
The waterbender scoots over until their shoulder's touch. "Isn't this comfy Toph?"
"No. You're crowding me Sugar Queen."
The immodest waterbender doesn't move. "Seriously Toph, Aang has been gone for over twenty years. Don't you get lonely living out here?"
Toph turns her face up to the sky, catching a cooling breeze. "No, not here. I'm never lonely," she states patting the side of the chair. "Here, I can see my kids; I mean more than with my earth-sight. All my grandbabies and great-grands too. I visit from time to time, but all 12 of them are so jealous of each other. So, if I visit one, it takes me three months to visit them all. I guess I should be happy."
Katara nods, "Yes, you should be. Your kids love you so much."
"Well, I hear Suki's kid calls you momma even now, Sweetness," Toph replies, bumping her seated companion.
"Yep, and she treats me better than my natural kids too. To think I would have three boys. Iroh is just like his daddy, telling the other two what to do."
"I guess the cherry doesn't fall far from the tree, Sweetness."
"Hey, what's that suppose to mean, Toph?"
The earthbender chortles. "You'll figure it out."
"Whatever Toph. At least my Roku is sweet, but he's totally into all the Sun Warrior/Dragon rider thing, even at his age. He's 75 years old."
Toph nods. "They do grow up so fast".
I was hoping that Sakoda, would be at least a waterbender like me, but again, no luck. They all have the firebending trait with a little water. So, they do all this steam and hot tea or coffee thing."
Toph taps her chin. "That foamy drink that Sakoda made me when I visited you years back was quite tasty, Sugar Queen. What was it called?"
"He calls it a Sako-latte. All the boys have their own version of it. They try to get me to say which one is best. So competitive, just like their father."
And mother.
"I can still hear your thoughts, baby girl," Katara mentally replies "But as I was saying before that rude thought, not a single girl in the bunch," the waterbender sighs. "Zimisha is my saving grace and gift from Suki. Her eyes sparkle so brightly. She has her mother's blue-green with these flecks of gold mixed in."
Toph chuckles lightly. "I heard she's an awesome bender and smart, too, if you believe a doting father."
"Oh yeah, Zimisha doesn't bend fire at all, only lightning. When she first started manifesting her ability, she scared the shit out of her teachers. They told Zuko she was possessed because she could make her hair stand up all over her head. It reminded me of this machine Teo's dad made. He'd have you touch this glass and turn the crank. It made my hair stand up just like hers."
"Sounds pretty weird. Did it hurt or something?"
Katara shakes her head. "I only felt this little tingle. Nothing major, so when I saw Zimisha doing it, I just took her hand. Of course, my hair stood out too, and then Zuko took my hand." Katara starts to laugh at the fond memory. "There we were, all three of us with our hair sticking out and laughing like maniacs. To think that scared little girl became the Fire Lord."
"I know how you feel Sweetness. All my kids ended up flyers. I wanted one kid like me. Instead, I get these flying little farts. My oldest Lin, they say she looks like me, but she's such a girly-girl. My mom just spoiled her to no end. And the two boys, Fu and Yan, I already told you they see Azi as their momma."
"You know Toph; I delivered each and every one of them. I was surprised that they all looked like you more than they did Aang. I mean I saw a little bit, but for the most part, thems your babies," Katara laughs, slapping the earthbender on the thigh.
"Don't remind me, Sweetness. Every one of them hurt like hell. I swore each was the last and then we go at it again, and poof, I'd be big as a house."
"That's what fucking around gets you Toph. I don't feel sorry for you in the least. You and Aang were making out like hog-monkey's in rut most of the time. When you told me you were doing it in the air, I just about lost it."
Even Toph laughs this time. "I guess I was pretty horny. I just couldn't get enough of him. I swear I was addicted to that man to the end."
"You must have been to have twelve kids. And to think, one set of triplets, three singles in less than three years and you have three more sets of twins. You must have felt you'd be pregnant forever. He didn't need a harem," Katara exclaims with a long exhale. "Just my three were enough for me."
"Katara, I actually had fourteen children. It was my fault; I lost them. I was trying to work up to the last minute. They were bringing in this guy, a tough TRIAD gang boss. I had my back to him, and he kicked me. My stomach hit the edge of the desk, and I lost them. Two girls they said. Aang was so furious; he tried to kill the guy."
Katara places a hand about Toph's narrow shoulders. "I know. Sokka told me all about it. I didn't say anything because I knew you would tell me when you were ready. I didn't think it would take this long, but thanks for sharing, anyways."
Toph sniffles as she wipes her nose with the back of her hand.
Katara takes out a handkerchief. "Don't do that. Here use this," she instructs, placing it into the blind woman's hand."
Toph dabs her eyes and then loudly blows her nose into the hanky before handing it back to Katara. The waterbender lets it drop unceremoniously to the ground with a look of disgust.
"Thanks, Sweetness."
"Don't mention it baby girl."
"So, Sweetness last year, I had my nineteenth great-grandchild. They named her Toph, after me, because she's an earthbender. An earthbender in a family of airbenders. It's going to be tough on her."
"Which kid?"
"Oh, my second oldest daughter, Suyin. It's her son, Aang's kiddo."
"How do you keep up with all of them Toph? You have a small army here."
"I just work it from the top, Katara. Let see, I have Lin, and then the boys, Fu and Yang and then my sweet Suyin, followed by my next girl, Saitei, she's the one who likes everything in order."
"I do remember that," Katara laughs. "She got so mad if her food even touched."
"Still that way," Toph adds. 'Then there's my only non-twin boy Gyatso."
"If I remember right, Gyatso was a fast birth. He was already cresting when I got to your house."
"That's because my stupid horny husband decided to mess with me that night. We thought he was never coming out, a whole month late. Aang, I guess decided he waited long enough and…"
"Whoa Toph, Aang was going to try and have sex with you a full ten months pregnant?"
"He suggested backdooring it, that way, the baby wouldn't get in the way."
Katara leans up in her seat to stare into the earthbender's face. "And you were going to let him? What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I was huge, and this baby was never coming out unless his life got uncomfortable. That's what I was thinking at the time Sugar Queen. I guess just the threat was enough because, somehow, my water popped and he followed before anything went in anywhere, it was all coming out."
Katara sits back. "That's a relief."
"I guess. Well, after that, my little twin demon girls, Rong and Rou arrived. They were my longest labor. I don't know how many times I cursed Aang's name. Now, everybody says they act and sound just like me, but I don't see it."
"You wouldn't, Toph."
"Why not, Sweetness."
"Duh, because you're blind, silly woman."
"Ha, ha, your humor, as usual, is underwhelming, Sugar Queen. Okay, I'm on a roll here. Next, I have my non-twin twins, Mei-Xing and her brother, Deming."
"Why'd you call Deming her brother and not your son, Toph?"
"Because those two shut out me and Aang in the beginning. It was like they were their own little family. Even had their own language, it was scary."
"Wow, I never heard of that before. What did you and Aang do?"
"We separated them as much as we could. That's all we could think to do at the time. I mean, we were all in the same house."
"Did that work, well, obviously it did."
"Not at first Katara. They would be up half the night crying for each other. Some nights, we just gave in. They use to worry me sometimes because they reminded me so much of you and Sokka, the way they argued but still had to be near one another."
"And why does it bother you that they resembled us – oh, you mean like that. I get it now. As a parent, I would be worried too," Katara affirms.
"And last but not least, your favorites Katara, Kanto and Quon."
"You did let me name them, why wouldn't they be my favorite nephews, Toph? They are smart, handsome young men who just adore their auntie Katara."
"Well, Quon has been busy on the city council. I didn't know how he would manage when he had his seven young kids. Now he's got grandchildren. All my kids have grandchildren. except for Gyatso."
"Hate to break it to you Toph. You know how Gyatso has been living on Avatar Island and all those nomad acolytes living there?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's just say; there are a lot more airbenders on that island now. I think your son has been more than a little busy."
The earthbender doesn't seem surprised. "Figures. He and Aang were always discussing the Air Nomads. I guess he decided to try and bring them back. Well, good for him."
Toph jumps to her feet, smoothing out her clothes.
"What's up Toph? Why did you stand up; do you have to go pee?"
"No, Pervert Queen. They're here."
"Who's here?"
Toph cheeks ting crimson as she smiles brightly, erasing the time-worn wrinkles. Before the glowing earthbender stands the former Avatar, his visage moving from transparent to opaque.
Katara's eyes double in size. "AANG - uh - how?" she exclaims as the couple embrace and kisses.
"Hey sis," a familiar voice speaks from behind the waterbender.
Katara's tears are already falling as she turns around. "Sokka…"