A Kiss in Ba Sing Se
[A/N: This is an A/U story. The Toph character does feel inferior to Katara and so in order to compete for Aang's affections pulls out all the stops. Aang is a boy with near infinite power and is being offered love and comfort from the two girls most dear to him.
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or titles to the characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Chapter 8]
Royal Surprise
The two went back inside to an unexpected commotion. Mai, Katara and Suki were cackling about a scroll that all three had gathered around. Sokka and Zuko were joking about it as well, hovering behind the three seated young ladies.
"What's going nephew... what's with all the chattering." Iroh asked as he made is way over to the kitchen to start the tea for Aang.
"We just got this message from the Royal Palace," Zuko announce pointing to the official looking scroll, "asking us to come tomorrow to meet the newly proclaimed King and Queen of Ba Sing Se before their coronation."
Aang's jaw dropped, "What about the old Earth King... Kuie, where is he? I thought he'd been found and been asked to retake the throne.?"
Katara moved over to sit next to her new boyfriend, "He has evidently turned it over to the next in line, and guess what, they accepted it! And guess who it is?" she challenged. "You'll never guess who that is Aang... c'mon try?" the waterbender begged childishly.
"Okay... huh I don't know? " Aang answered, swiftly admitting defeat.
"Its Lao Bei Fong... Toph's Dad!" Sokka broke in.
"Sokka!" his sister spat, spraying icy water his way, "Now you've ruined the surprise, and all my fun!"
Sokka smiled wickedly as he gave a wink Aang. The airbender felt as though he was about to faint dead away from the new,
Zuko looked over at the pale Avatar, "Are you okay Aang? You look a little pale buddy."
"I'm okay Zuko. It's just that I haven't been getting a whole lot of sleep with all of my Avatar duties, and it's late," he offered as an excuse.
"Well now you have an excuse for an extra week here in Ba Sing Se," the Fire Lord informed him, "That should do you some good I would think. I'm sure the world isn't falling apart just yet," he assured him.
"Thanks Zuko, I appreciate all your people standing in for me while I'm on this little hiatus," Aang said with a nod.
The new monarch nodded back, "Don't worry about it buddy... if anybody deserves it you do."
Iroh came out of the kitchen carrying a medium size teapot with a beehive shaped jar next to it. There was also an extra large wide teacup dangling from his pinky. The airbender's smile broaden in expectation.
"So is there more news?" Iroh inquired, placing the items before Aang.
"Let me look," Mai scanned the document, "yes the coronations are in a week, so we have been invited to attend the ceremony, at the new Earth King's expense."
"Oh, wow, that is really generous of them," Suki mentioned.
Katara chuckled, "Not if you're the Bei Fongs, one of the 10 riches families in the world, even after the war."
Zuko nodded, "Got me beat."
Iroh started to pour in the tea and add the milk and ginger. Aang let the aroma carry him back to the tree.
"So were is our future princess?" Suki asked.
"Her parents evidently met her at the Inn tonight, and took her to the palace with them," Mai read on.
Katara's lip twisted, "Aang... I thought you walked Toph back to the Inn. You didn't see any of this?"
"Nope, must have happened after I left her." he lied smoothly, lost in the honey being ladled into the cup.
"So that makes our little Toph a real Royal Princess," Suki squealed with excitement, repeating herself. "Isn't that exciting Aang! We get to hang out with real Royalty now!"
Aang almost choked on his first sip of the hot brew, as Suki pointed out his lover's new station in life.
"So what am I," Zuko strutted, putting on his best kingly face.
"I sorry Fire Lord Zuko, I mean new Royalty." Suki rebounded with a giggle.
They all laughed except for Aang, he just wanted to drink his tea and hide again.
Aang felt as though Suki's gaze would burn a hole right through the middle of his forehead.
There was no place to hide as Katara sat right next to him. She was virtually in his lap. If this was any other evening, he would have been quite pleased, but right now all he felt was trapped.
"Isn't that the tea that Toph likes," Katara asked, smelling the sweet aroma and noticing the caramel coloration.
"Why yes it is... she's been asking me to try it for sometime now. She said it helps quiets the nerves, especially when you're tired. I decided that tonight was the perfect night," he explained with a big forced smile.
He was feeling more nervous as the Fan Master continued to observe him.
"First she shares her cherry tart with you and next her tells you about her tea," Katara stated. "She must be growing up... our little tomboy.. soon to be princess!"
Aang forced a laugh, "If you only knew, " he thought taking a satisfying sip.
"Let me have taste too? That smells really good Aang." the waterbender asked.
"Okay Katara... let me go get you a clean cup?"
"That won't be necessary Aang... I'll just use yours if that's alright with you?" she said with a seductive lick of her red lips.
"S-sure Katara... go right ahead."
The blue eyed beauty picked up the cup, and as if making love to it, slowly let her lips glide along the rim as she licked the foam from the edge, before taking a long, slow sip.
The tea wasn't the only thing hot.
Zuko looked on wide eyed until Mai slapped hjm in the back of the head.
"Ow, what was that for?" he protested, util he caught her gaze. "Oh... sorry."
"This is really good Aang... mind if we keep sharing it? I don't think I can drink a whole cup."
The young monk smiled, "No, not at all. I think this there is enough for both of us Katara."
"Good, because I feel like we're really connecting when we do stuff like this," she said, beginning to take a second sip, "this is like we're kissing all over again... don't you think?"
Guilt, the monks had explained to him, was like a serpent that twisted around the soul, to crush the joy from a man's life. That is exactly how Aang felt right now.
The Fan Master observed it all from her seat, and she was getting pretty steamed that Aang might be leading her future sister-in-law on.
Suki cleared her throat, "Aang, you've met Toph's dad before, haven't you?" Suki said in a sly voice pulling his attention to her and Sokka as they both glared at him causing him to shrink back.
"Y-yes... Katara and Sokka have as well."
"And who, amongst us, do you think he would consider as being most in charge of his little girl's well being?"she continued the interrogation.
"I guess... that would be me Suki, since I am the Avatar, an-and she left to train me. What's your point?" he asked becoming annoyed.
"So tomorrow, do you think he will probably shake your hand, and maybe thank you for keeping 'ALL' of his little girl in one piece?"
"Yeah Aang, won't that be exciting," the waterbender chirped. "You might even get a medal or something... wouldn't that be awesome!"
The guilt had built up to more than his conscious mind could bear, and he slowly rose up from the table.
"Excuse me Katara... I think the tea has gotten to me."
"Oh, of course... Aang hurry back, I was very comfortable."
Aang turned and walked to the restroom followed by Sokka with the prodding of Suki.
Once they enter, Sokka, who really had to go, availed himself of the opportunity.
"So Aang what's up... conscience bothering you... right?"
"I don't want to talk about it Sokka. Suki is flaying me alive out there!"
"Yeah, I pretty much see that for sure." the Water Tribesman sighed with a smirk. "Though she missed a few god openings."
"What does she want from me?" he demanded, slapping a hand across his forehead. "Okay, I did it... now what... I can't undo it! I love her Sokka!"
"I think Sukki just wants you to make a decision, and not play both Katara and Toph against each other Aang. In fact that would make us all happy. Them too, in the end."
For once Sokka made absolute sense, and Aang saw the light.
"Sokka you are a genius." Aang gushed hastily exiting the bathroom.
"That's what they tell me. By the way... you know for the record ...what did I do?"
Aang walked up beside Suki, so that she alone could hear him.
"As I said before, I love them both, but I tell Toph we have to break it off. I love Katara more and that's final," he stated bluntly.
Suki stepped back and looked into Aang's eyes. She smiled at him and gave him a hug.
"It's the right thing to do, Aang... the manly thing."
"I know, and thank you for helping me see that now."
"You really don't have to worry about her anymore Aang. Toph will be fine. See, she has her family back with her. You just stay away from any rock quarries for awhile, okay?" Suki joked.
"I hear ya!" Aang laughed, but knew what she meant.
The evening ended on a more cordial note, as Sokka and Suki took off for the Inn. Mai and Zuko were staying with Iroh at the teashop. By the end of the evening Mai had been bumping into Zuko on every opportunity giving him the look.
"Well folks, time to go," Zuko proclaimed faking a wide yawn, "we've all got a big day for Toph tomorrow. See ya!"
With that he was gone, pulling Lady Mai in his arms.
"Well, I guess you get to walk me to the Inn now," Katara remarked playfully, wetting her lips a bit and taking his arm, "you smell so musky... very fragrant, but I don't think I know that scent, but I sure do like it."
Aang's heart and mind were racing as he knew where that scent had originated from. It could have been called, a Little Bit of Toph. Tonight's exploits still haunted his mind..
Katara stopped and turned him, planting a big wet kiss on lips that tasted of ginger milk tea and honey. His mind was instantly filled with visions of the foggy green-eyed girl. He so wanted to taste more of her, but he questioned if he had enough energy for a round two... his body said yes. But he knew Katara would only be a substitute.
"Lets go through the park... I hear there's the perfect place for two people to get to 'know' each other better in a special way... if you know what I mean." she suggested rubbing her cheek on his arm.