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 18

Reciprocity

The waterbender sat at her table, arms crossed, mumbling something not fit for public consumption to herself.

Mai sat across from her, going between the swearing triber and watching her wayward boyfriend. The stoic knife thrower saw that the Fire Lord for most of the night was being monopolized by the new Queen, but she also noticed that he frequently was glancing over towards the oblivious auburn beauty.

"That little shit head," Katara grumbled a little louder than her usual low grumbling drawing back Mai's attention.

"Oh, so what's your problem Katara?" she asked, already suspecting the obvious.

The waterbender's eyes narrowed, "Problem? I don't have a problem," Katara snapped unexpectedly. "I was just about to ask you that same question Mai!"

The icy cold smile that appeared on the knife wielder's face snapped the blue eyed girl back to reality.

"Oh... uh... Mai... I'm so... so..."

"That's okay Katara... it's not my boyfriend that slipping through my fingers," Mai quipped, flipping up her middle finger.

Katara's head popped back in shock, "Ah...uh, my boyfriend... do you mean Aang? H-he's not slipping anywhere!" she contented.

Mai leaned across the table with a hand under her chin, "Is denial one of those property you recitate, or does it come naturally to you Katara?"

A peculiar frown crossed the younger girl's face.

"I'm sorry Katara, I'll rephrase," Mai stated with a smirk. "I was saying, are you used to not admitting the obvious?"

"Am I that transparent Mai?"

"Yes," she replied flatly, taking in a long sigh, "...and as you can very well see, I've been sitting here all night with your happy ass, just listening to your colorful language and staring at him," she point over to the Fire Lord. "As he just smiles and talks away... while not once looking my at me," Mai stated, as she sighed once more. "So what do you think that means... Katara? Shall we become a club of forlorned lovers... oops, I guess you wouldn't qualify, unless you're a fast starter... like as of yesterday I mean?" the dark lady asked, with a lifted well trimmed brow.

Katara felt her cheeks explode, "No...no... no... I'm nobody's floozy," she insisted.

"Then while we wait, why don't you finish that story... you know... the one about you and Zuko... right after the thing with Azula, uh, what did you call it," Mai asked tapping her chin with one of those dagger like nails, "... oh, yes... I do recall now. It was a misunderstanding, wasn't it?"

Katara's mind now drew a blank. The thing with Toph and Aang had caused her to completely lose track her story. "Katara, you stupid, little girl... you're gonna have to distract her if you want to live to see another day," she heard in mind, but in Sokka's voice. "I am not stupid... and I am not a little girl," the waterbender muttered under her breath.

"What was that you said Katara?"

"Eh... nothing Mai, I was just saying... ya know... to my self... I've been acting so stupid... so like a-a little girl. Especially when it comes to Aang. He's been hanging all over Toph this evening, like a vulture-wasp on on a bloated carcass."

"Interesting," Mai noted taking a sip of her drink. "The only time I see a guy swarming around a girl like a honey-fly, is when she's putting out the nectar. Maybe, your boyfriend was bending something more than rocks today... Katara."

Katara took a huge gulp of her drink, even as some spilled out the side of her mouth, before she slammed the glass back down upon the table.

"That's crazy talks! Aang loves me... says that I'm his forever girl... says that I'm his..."

Mai handed her a napkin, "Men say a lot of things Katara, but that's before they have us... or can get a replacement. Wipe your mouth, you look like your goofy brother, juice dribbling down your chin."

Katara proceeded to wipe the reddish remnants away.

The saffron eyed lady looked at her, much like a panther-cat would a sparrowkeet.

"You see Katara, it's not what he says... or did say... it's, what is he doing right now... or more accurately, what is he doing with her, that he's not doing with you."

The sheer panic in those big clear blue eyes, gave Mai so much pleasure, she almost smiled... almost.

Katara began to shake her head as she looked down at the table. "Th-this is impossible. I-I've thought this all out... I've been so careful. I-I know I made the right choice with Aang. He hangs on my every word... follows me around... gets jealous over the slightest..."

"May I suggest Katara... that was before he had true options. Like a very pretty and extremely wealth princess... who's putting it out as well. I figure... they're not doing much talking."

The waterbender suddenly smiled, "Nah... you have them all wrong Mai," she said confidently. "When Aang got back, he was covered in bump and cuts, no way could they have been fooling around and he look like that," Katara emphasized with a defiant grin.

Mai started to chortle lightly, "You poor, naïve, cherry girl. Have you looked at that girl's hands? Her nails... they're as sharp as mine, though not quite as long. And I dare say, she's not at all use to them yet, I bet. Did he have cuts, maybe on his face, as if a lover was stroking his cheeks? How about his chest... did you check his chest... better yet... rake marks on his back. I even nick Zuko from time to time." She leaned in closer with a hand to the side of her mouth, "We at times have to keep the cut cream nearby... especially during... foreplay," Mai whispered as Katara winced at the information overload. "But it seems, those two may like it a bit rough... nothing wrong with that... I guess that's how you do it in a rock pit... or wherever their kind copulate."

The waterbender placed a hand upon her forehead, "Okay... whatever they may have done... Mai.... they did not copumate..."

"Copulate... the word is copulate Katara."

"Whatever... who cares! I know both of them... and they didn't do that!" she shouted, drawing attention to their table.

Mai took another sip, "Will you please keep your voice down to a dull yell. I know you're used to the wild outdoors and having to scream over the roars of all the beasties that are out to devour you, but here, people just think you're just simply… uncivilized."

Katara wanted to crawl under the table and die now as she looked at the questioning stares of those seated near her. "If Mai racked those razors, she called nails, across my throat now, it would be a mercy killing," she thought, shrinking back into her seat.

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed between them before the dark lady spoke once more.

"Look... Katara, I know you're upset. Having a boyfriend one day, losing him the next, but you are a pretty girl. I would tell you there are other Avatars... but we all know there is only one," Mai said with a shrug, "but I'm sure you can find some nice guy from... wherever you're from, to play in the snow with you."

Katara shook her head, "I can't believe this...it's like I've suddenly become invisible. Before I was his girlfriend... the center of his world, and now that I have surrendered..."

"You're shit and he's moved on is what you're trying to saying?" Mai clarified rather candidly. "Hard to believe Aang is that kind of guy isn't Katara, but in the end, they're all the same... cunt hunting dire wolves?"

The waterbender sighed deeply letting her arms drop, "I really don't get it Mai. I used to think I knew him inside and out... but tonight he's confused me. It was like he was a completely different person, not my Aang at all."

"Maybe, I'm all wrong then, and you're just being jealous of your friend's good fortune, Katara," Mai said in her usual deadpan voice.

The waterbender leaned her elbows unto the table, resting her head, "Ughhh... that's what he said?"

"He who?"

"Aang... he who that is, said that I should be happy for her," Katara stated with a heavy sigh, "I thought he was right... but I'm confused."

Mai shook her head, "Oh boy, it's worse than I thought. Katara, my little dear... sorry, but you do have a problem, a big problem. Well, maybe a little one if you consider the size of your rival... but don't let that fool you. Sex is sex... "

Her big blue eyes popped wide open, "W-why would you say that Mai?"

The hopeful future Fire Lady sat back crossing her legs, "I know you're not a soldier, but your nincompoop of a brother fancies himself as some kind of a strategist. Would you happen to know what a diversionary tactic is?"

Katara thought for a moment, "Yeah... it's something on purpose to make someone look the other way."

"That's right, see... you're not as dumb as you appear."

Katara scowled but said nothing at the comment.

"So, can't you see Katara, he told you that for the purposes of hiding the obvious," Mai concluded, "if Suki or Sokka would have said that..."

She blinked her cerulean eys, "But you told me... I could be wrong.. but now..."

Mai shook her head, "That was before I knew what he had said. You probably pointed out how he was ignoring you and then he told you..."

Katara sat up with a startled look, "I was just being jealous..."

"Yes, you see it now don't you. Instead of apologizing and making more time for you right?" the dark lady pointed out, tapping a bright red claw on the table top. "And then once you bought into it... he abandoned you faster than a hunter runs from a skunk-bear."

Katara lokked at her in amazement, "Wow... that's exactly what happened. How do you know all this Mai?"

"Let's just call it experience," she replied cutting her gold eyes back over at Zuko. "I know the master of diversions."

The waterbender looked sympathetically at her, "I'm sorry... you've been so helpful to me, care to talk about it?"

"No," she stated emphatically, watching as Zuko gazed over at the table. "I prefer to handle things in my own way."

"Okay... so what should I do? This is my first relationship ya know... well, I did have a momentary... but it was really nothing... forget it," the brown skinned girl cleared her throat as she completed her ramblings.

"Finished Katara, or would you like to add a few more things about your sordid past?"

(Cough) "No... I'll be quiet... please help me."

"Well you have a couple of options Katara," Mai started, a finger taping her chin. "First the straight forward approach... but he'll probably just resort to another diversionary tactic, which ends up in you getting dumped once more, and of course more guilt. Then there is option two. You can just ignore the situation all together... but that will probable mean a total surrender, princess wins... go home to frozen land. But there is always option three... my personal favorite," the dark lady espoused with a half grin, "...take control."

"Take control?"

"Yes Katara... you dominate his world, and don't let her have a moment of it. Toph has taken the high ground, the forward position, but with that set of tatas you have, I think you can regain the advantage."

"Tatas?

"Breast, girl... your tits... must I spell everything out for you?" Mai asked shaking her head.

"No, of course not Mai. I've been around the city for a while now... I know a lot of things."

Mai rolled her bright golden eyes, "Riiight, silly me... I understand now Katara, you're really very bright."

"Thank you Mai," she replied accepting the false compliment.

Mai looked once more in Zuko's direction, "Anyways, let me give you a practical demonstration about... this control thing, would you like that?"

The waterbender nodded, "Sure, that would be great Mai!"

"Good Katara. Now... this will require some audience participation, and since the audience is you..."

Katara sat straight up, "Alright, what do I have to do?"

"Cry... well act like you're crying."

"Why?"

"Do you want a demonstration or not Katara?" Mai retorted bluntly. "I think I just wasted my time giving you..."

Immediately Katara covered her face with her hands and bent over slightly, rocking in her seat, as if moaning. She even peeked through her fingers at Aang, while Mai watched with anticipation a certain Fire Lord. It wasn't long before Zuko quickly excused himself and was making a beeline over to the table.

Mai stood, straightening her elegant black silk gown, "Now, observe very closely Katara," she instructed her as she stepped up and intercepted the fast approaching Fire King.

"Mai, what's wrong with Katara?" Zuko inquired, looking around his girlfriend. "Is she... crying... in pain, did she eat something bad!"

Mai held him back, "Oh nothing Zuko... she was huh... she was huh..."

"Just sneezing," Katara filled in faking one as she sat up. "But thanks for the concern... at least someone cares."

The tall young woman looped her arm through Zuko's, "Now, my love, why don't you introduce me to the Queen... sweetie. She looks like a very interesting person."

His face became somber as he peered back at the table once more, " Are you sure you're alright Katara... do you need anything, anything at all?" he asked in a tender voice.

"I'm fine Zuko... Mai has been great company," she reassured him, "Now go, introduce her to the queen."

"As long as you're okay." He looked across her table, "I can get you a refill," he said smiling softly.

"Sure, sure, that's what stewards are for, " Mai exclaimed yanking on his arm. "I need something... and it's not to drink. Can we please... spend some time together... or do something, we are lovers..." the knife thrower said. Her remarks faded as she carried her prize away, nodding back towards Katara with a smile.

The waterbender now found herself sitting all alone. Under Mai's cup she saw some wood shavings, evidently from the table top. As she lifted the pewter goblet that once had been the knife wielders, she had to crane her neck around to read what was carved into the highly polished redwood.

Katara's eyes welled with tears and she covered her mouth.

It read simply, 'How's it feel.'