Hi y'all! This is mostly a transition chapter but a good one nonetheless! I hope you enjoy the next one will be a doozy.

*(Hey I went through and did some editing on all the chapters. The biggest change is in Chapter 1 and I will be done with chapter five soon.)*

Slowly she woke to a soft snoring. There was a weight on her chest. The source of the snoring. Suddenly the previous night flooded into her memory. Azula had asked her to stay with her. Toph's stomach felt like there were a thousand moth flies fluttering around inside. What the hell was happening to her? She was too scared to move and too terrified to stay. She decided to stay put for fear of waking the princess. Toph supposed about an hour passed before the princess started to wake.

"What? Where? Oh." Azula startled when she realized she wasn't alone but settled when she realized whom she was with. " I thought that was a dream."

Toph sat up and swallowed. " Yeah me too. Do you feel any better?"

"Yes I suppose I do. Thank you for your assistance. It is no longer required." Azula sounded stiff and cold.

" No. Azula we both know that you are not okay. I know you are not crazy but you are still hurting. I refuse to be the one who ignores and neglects you. I care about you and have to deal with it." Toph stood in her wrinkled clothes and her arms crossed.

Azula sat stunned. She had been trained to deal with so many situations and political conversations but she had no idea how to respond to this. So she did the only thing she knew, try and regain control. " Don't lie to me! Zuko sent you to spy on me didn't he? You want me to tell you how and what I think so you can tell Zuko like some pet on a leash! I won't have it! Get out! You don't care! No one does! So spare me the lies."

Toph frowned. 'She really thinks I don't care.' Toph took a seat in the desk chair. "I care about you Azula. I do. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you,but I do care."

Azula stood stiff. Thoughts racing through her mind. Her mind was no longer as organized as it once was. She was broken. A token of an era that was now considered an atrocity. She was worthless. Yet this hero, this great master claims that she cares? For something as broken and damaged as Azula knew she was. Agni she could hear her doctor rambling about trust and the importance of balanced relationships. Shit. She'll give it a try. If it backfires the worst that will happen is she's killed so win-win really.She works her mouth and manages a soft. "Okay."

Toph's head snapped up. "Really? Okay? That's it?...Are you really okay?"

Azula shook her head. "No, but this is the one thing I haven't tried yet so it is the logical decision."

Toph exhaled. " You really crack me up sparkles. I'm glad you're giving trust a chance. I'll do my best to keep it.

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* One month later*

Azula's face drips with sweat. "I thought the great master Beifong would present more of a challenge!"

" I figured I'd let you have some fun before I crush you." Toph sent a shock wave throughout the training grounds. Azula flipped backwards and landed on her feet. Quickly she countered with a sweeping kick of blue flame. Toph built up a wall to block the flame, feeling the heat rush around her and dissipate. The wall shoots forward and is quickly followed by two stones. Azula demolishes the wall and manages to avoid one of the stones, but is knocked down by the second. Toph sees an opportunity and traps Azula's feet on the earth.

"Surrender?" Toph stands over her, arms crossed, her unseeing eyes staring down at Azula. BOOM! Azula shot out of the earth and grabbed Toph's wrist, dragging her down with her. Once on the ground the pair begin to wrestle trying to pin each other down. Azula's hair fell loose, and Toph used that to her advantage. Yanking hard she pulled Azula's body toward her, then she twisted them so she was on top. Now straddling Azula, Toph pulled a smirk. "Surrender."

Suddenly Toph felt Azula's legs wrap around her waist and she was on her back. Azula, who sat comfortably on Toph with her wrists pinned underneath Azula's boots, leaned forward and said.

"Never"

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The doors to the training courtyard burst open. "GET AWAY FROM HER!"

Azula's blood ran cold. She knew that voice, the water savage that defeated her. Frozen in fear Azula did not move from her position. Everything blurred together, she heard yelling but couldn't tell who it was. She knew she should move if atleast to defend herself, but her body wouldn't obey. Pain shot through her ribs as she flew backwards. Her senses came back to her as she rolled to a stop, clutching her newly cracked(?) ribs. She was wet, no she was soaked. She hated water, ever since that day she couldn't bear it unless it was hot enough to scald. Trying to stand she heard yelling.

"What the fuck Katara!" Toph stood up and put herself between Katara and Azula.

"You're mad at me? She was trying to kill you!" Katara was seething. Her arms waved wildly as she spoke.

" Katara we were sparring! We were training together, She wasn't trying to kill me. Toph turned towards Azula who was now standing. She strode and wrapped an arm around her, and leaned to her ear. "Let's get you dry, yeah?" Azula nodded mutely. They walked into the palace leaving behind Katara who was too surprised by Toph to stop them.

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They passed Aang and Zuko who were rushing through the halls as if they just heard what had happened. Toph flipped them both off and kept walking to Azula's quarters.

Opening the door she led Azula into the washroom. After ordering the servants to bring her towels she told them not to come in unless called for. The servants all being familiar with Miss Beifong obeyed her orders for fear of what the princess might do.

Slowly she approached Azula. "You need to get out of those and into some dry clothes." Azula nodded slowly, but made no move to change. "Do you need help? I can call the servants back if you want."

Azula looked up at Toph. "No!...I don't want them to see me like this. Could- Could you help me?" Her voice got weaker with each word. Terrified, they had been trying the trust thing for a few weeks and its had its ups and downs but she didn't know if this was too much to ask or-

"Of course." Slowly Toph slid her hands along the ties of Azula's training tunics and soon Azula was left in her bindings. There she hesitated, the bindings needed to be changed. They were soaked and cold, but that was really intimate and she didn't want to push Azula.

Fortunately Azula seemed to pick up on this and slowly moved to change her bindings and with Toph's help dry off and get into a robe. Suddenly exhausted and in pain she shuffled over to her bed. She lay down on her soft mattress too tired to even process what had happened that day. All she knew was that she wanted to sleep, but she didn't want to be alone. Toph stood by the bed and chewed her lip as if thinking of something to say. Azula grabbed her hand. "Stay?" She asked half asleep. Toph's hand slipped from hers, and she panicked a little until she felt the mattress dip beside her. She shifted closer to Toph's warm body and swiftly fell asleep.

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Toph was tired. Tired of people's bullshit, tired of having to deal with arrogant people. Really she was just tired. Which is why it is supringing to her that she is not sleeping. She knew why of course, Katara just shows out of nowhere and just attacks Azula for no reason! Okay well there was a reason but still! She could have asked or waited or literally anything else. And Zuko! He knew exactly what kind of reaction Katara would have once she found out Azula was in the palace. Why didn't he tell her Katara was coming or at least let them know when they arrived or something! She was angry and she was tired. Eventually tired won out and she drifted to sleep.

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