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 24

The Perfect Emotional Storm

Aang sat in the sun as it filtered through the light of Toph's bedroom window enjoying its energy. He got up and began to do the Dragon Dance in the cavernous room. The heat invigorated him and he could feel the sun almost becoming a part of him. As an Airbender, he also bent the currents around him with each step... his own adaptation, causing a convection that lifted him as he danced.

"Keep it on the floor Twinkle Toes so I can see you," Toph ordered as she was leaning over the bed with a hand on the stone floor. "I love to see you dance."

The little monk floated from his position directly to her bedside, "Come join me love... up there, in the air."

"Uhm... I'm no airbender!" she said in total dismay.

"Please Toph, come and dance with me while I lift you into the heavens, or at least as high as the ceiling," he laughed with a flare of his hand.

His voice was somehow different, almost mystical. She found it quite compelling, in a frightening sort of way. It wasn't his Avatar voice, this was just Aang, filled with the light of the sun that seemed to put him in touch with a special part of himself. It was as though a truly spiritual side of her lover was calling out to her, desiring to share yet another intimate part of his life.

She shook her head, "Seriously, me... floating with no Appa... no saddle? No frick'n way!"

He touched her hand, "It's not so far up... and I can hold you just like I did on the glider, easier in fact."

She left her hand in his, "You must be crazy from lack of sleep or something Baldy! I'm not doing it unless you have a saddle on your back I can't see Twinkle..."

With a single motion, she was up and in his arms, "Trust me my sweet love," he stated in a voice so gentle her cheeks bloomed red, "Dance with me!"

All her excuses halted as she stood in front of him, pursing her lips and trying to steady her rapid breathing.

"Stand on my feet Toph," he guided her as she stepped closer.

"Like this?"

"Perfect, now put your hands on my shoulders" he instructed her, keeping his very warm arms around her thin waist and they began to spin... very slowly.

She could feel the sun all around them and the heat radiating from his body as she pressed against him. The monk held her snugger, calming a slight shiver that passed through her involuntarily.

"Scared?"

"Me... no way," she lied, with a slight quiver to her voice. "But you better be, if you drop me dunderhead!"

A sudden dip caused her throw her arms around his neck as he chuckled lightly.

"Wha- what was that... and what's was so funny Twinkle Toes?"

He got nose to nose with her, "A down draft, they are pretty sneaky. Good things those breast pressed against me belong to me," he stated, rubbing his nose to hers.

She rested her head upon his shoulder, "Yes, it is a good thing... a very good thing indeed."

Here, in his element, she felt safe, warm and loved more than at any other time in her life.

"You okay my little love?" he asked hearing her sighs. "I have you, and I will never let go."

She was totally blind with her feet off the floor and the twirling sensation was throwing off all her senses. Toph tried to envision them as they moved about the room. She could only cling to him tightly, having no perspective and no sense of direction. The steady beat of his heart became her compass.

The petite princess relaxed, moving her soft, smooth cheek along his jaw, until their lips met.

He would not have taken her as one to have such sweet breath in the morning, but the taste was... delicious! He could only hope that she would endure his less than supple dragon mouth. He awaited the comments, but to his relief, she continued to deepen the kisses, drawing his tongue into her mouth. He felt intoxicated, as they kissed and moved through the air, whirling and bopping, high above the room.

Finally they fell onto the huge soft bed, side by side, laughing loudly.

Toph's head was still spinning. "Good thing I haven't eaten breakfast yet Twinkle Toes, or you'd be wearing it!"

He laughed all the more, "That's okay... I clean up easy, remember?!"

She rolled towards him, "Ooh, you're a sick man and guess what?"

"What my lovely?" he asked looking over at her.

"I like 'em like that!" she exclaimed rolling over atop his warm body.

She searched out his face with her hands and then traced out his lips. He always enjoyed the experience when she mapped his face.

She started kissing his lower lip and then to his surprise... she lightly bit it.

Aang grunted pulling back, tasting for blood.

"What's wrong mighty Avatar... don't like it rough?" she smiled seductively, licking the same spot as he moaned.

The airbender smiled devilishly, only seeing this side of her in his dreams, "I like it fine... you just surprised me," he answered, letting his hands drift down her back until resting on two firm cloth covered mounds.

The firm squeeze caused her to breath in slow and deep through her teeth, "And a good morning to you as well... bag of gold!"

Toph's full raven hair, framed her alabaster skin and her cherry red cheeks and full plump lips. Most of all, those smoky green, huge eyes dominated her face, allowing him to lose himself in those shimmering orbs.

Aang was losing all sense of reason as another inflamed kiss filled his mouth and his hands seemed to be moving on their own. In the park, he felt more in control, but here, in this soft, more sensual setting, with the satin sheets and silk pillows, it was an entirely different story.

She hiked her gown up, as she fully straddled him.

"Toph... love... I think we should sssstop..." he breathed out as his eyes rolled up into his head, her hand moving down in between them.

"Why?" she asked in a heated breath, finding what she had been searching for.

"I... I mean we shouldn't do anything we'll end up regretting... please let go of that! You are a princess now!"

"Let me tell you a little secret Avatar Aang," she seethed in a ragged voice as she hastily mapped her treasure. "We earthbenders... because of our bending form... are often... devoid... of a maidenhead. So you see... even if we... join, who... but we would know?"

"Is this about what your father said yesterday my love?" he asked in a sad tone.

The naughty earthbender gave another tug at the bag of gold, making his eyes cross, before removing her stealthy hand.

"This has nothing to do with him Twinkle Toes... you're just a party pooper," the disappointed princess sighed, not losing her wicked grin, "maybe I can help you change your mind."

She kissed his chin and then took a delicate bite as he moaned once again. She was winning this battle and he was on the verge of unconditional surrender, that was until she latched onto the side of his neck with a powerful suction.

The little monk started to thrash about wildly, not expecting the force or the action.

He was finally able to shake his pretty little pentapus off. "Love, what are you doing! That's going to leave a mark!" he yelled feeling his neck.

"I know... and from my guess, a pretty big one at that. My father and everyone else will know that you are mine!" she yelled defiantly.

"But you heard your father Toph," Aang said sharply, pushing her off, "by the Winds I know you're upset... I am too... but this... this will get us nothing! This isn't like when you ran off to train me! It's not only your father... but Katara! Oh MONKEY FEATHERS... she's coming today as well!"

"Didn't you hear me Twinkles! I said... everyone else. I do believe that includes Sugar Queen, or is she a species of her own!" Toph barked, punching him in the arm.

He sat up, not responding to the hit. "Look Toph, our lives... I wish," she could hear his voice cracking, "...I wish I wasn't this accursed Avatar. Then it would be so... so simple. If I was just a regular guy, then we could just... disappear. But, when I was in those meeting with your dad Toph, he told me about all the good he wants to do for this city... this country."

"Okay... who's stopping him?" she sneered, crossing her arms.

He pulled her in close, wrapping his arms about her, "You already know the answer to that. That's why he needs our help. That's why the people here desperately need our help. If the same guys who lost to the Fire Nation take control again, they'll only make it worse, especially for those orphans and disabled soldiers. They proposed... I had to control myself Toph, I was so angry," he gasped, "... this old bastard, proposed... that we ship all the city's disfigured, as he called them, off to the Fire Nation. His reasoning... since they created them, they should take care of them. When your dad asked how they would get there, he said just as easy as, good morning... march them to the sea, then load them on barges and dump them on their shores. Your father and I was appalled, but many applauded. It was also terrible when it came to the orphans. Toph... labor camps... he said... labor camps! That way they could contribute to the restoration of the city instead of being a drain on it! What a heartless sonofabitch!"

She felt conflicted inside. On one hand, she just wanted to runaway from it all with him. On the other, she want to bury that old fool, or send him off to a labor camp.

"So... you see my love, if we runaway... we are seen as irresponsible, unreliable... poor judgement... on the part of your dad for having trusted us. Who then stands against idiots like that nobleman Chang Sing, would also be seen as... "

"I-I know," she said in a barely audible voice.

"He's trusting us my love... investing everything in us," Aang continued, prying her arms apart. "That we can bring about this plan, this hope... for the future, not only of this kingdom... but of the...

"I know!" she cried placing a hand on his wet cheek, "I know... okay... you're right," she conceded, "I was being selfish."

"You were just caught up for moment," Aang told her, kissing the palm of her hand, "...hey what's wrong," he asked seeing her bottom lip starting to quiver.

"No, I was being selfish Aang," she confessed, as the streams fell from her muted eyes. "I... wanted it to be just... us... just Aang and Toph... always!" she told him as she began to sob deeply.

The princess head laid upon his chest, he kissed the top of it. They cried together, for what felt like an eternity."

Toph pulled away,"What about your neck Aang... everybody will see... I've screwed up so bad this time!" she wailed, covering her face.

"My love... it'll be alright honey... baby," Aang expressed touching his head to hers, "Don't take it so hard. Listen love, I'll just find something with an extra high collar... or maybe wrap something around my neck and say I burned myself firebending," he suggested while she reached up to feel the spot beginning to whimper, "Shhhh, it's really okay my love."

Aang looked over to the vanity mirror, it was bad... more than bad. Toph knew he was lying, which prompted an intense high pitched cry.

He never knew that his rock hard lover was really so soft inside as she wept all the more. He decided it wasn't so bad to just hold her, this softer side being rather appealing.

"I'm so sorry Aannnng... I'll make it up to you" she sniffled, moving his hand to cover her breast. "Please... do anything you want... with me."

Without a second thought, he removed his hand and tilted her face up to his, "I would never... never... take advantage of this situation, or of you, my love... I told you that I love you, and love gives not takes. The monks always said that true love is seen in the light of forgiveness... you need to forgive yourself as well Toph," he said softly pecking her on the lips.

"Well you should at least give me one too. That way, if you're caught, I can go down with you." she suggested, craning her neck to one side.

He placed his lips just behind her earlobe and kissed lightly, leaving a little rosy mark, that vanished quickly, "Okay love, all even now."

"You-you're... you're such a liar Twinkle Toes," she bellowed, starting to weep once more after landing a soft kiss upon his lips.

Each time she tried to speak now, a string of unintelligible sounds came forth, followed by another ear piercing cry. Aang just rocked her as he held her tightly until again she finally just rested against him, like a baby with her eyes closed, sighing occasionally.

"Princess Toph... your Majesty... are you alright!" echoed through the room as several loud poundings on the heavy door accompanied it.

Toph groggily felt around in the bed for him but to no avail, he was gone and spot he had occupied was cold. She really didn't know how long it had been since she'd fallen asleep, but from the feel of his place, it had been quite awhile.

"Come," the princess responded smoothing the sheets as she sat up.

Lili entered and quickly approached the side of the bed putting her forehead to Toph's, "Are you feeling well your Majesty... do you have a fever... you do seem a bit warm. I have been trying to wake you for the last 20 minutes, but I was reluctant to open the door... eh... without your permission... because of you know who. I can at least say, I never saw him here. Plausible deniability goes a long way. "

The princess smiled weakly,"I am fine cousin," Toph replied, her voice unusually familial and emotional. "I was just tired and slept in... thanks for caring so much Lili. You were always so nice to meeee..." she started to sob again, not really knowing why this time.

Lili sat down on the bed cradling her, "You're welcome my little Songbird. If you want, I can clear your morning schedule so that you can rest some more? Maybe some nice hot milk and honey with mixed fruit pie, for breakfast the way you like it... hmmm? I don't think there is anything critical until the ground breaking ceremonies."

"I think... I am okay now Lili," she exclaimed letting out a big sigh, and shaking her head, "...and I did promise, wooo, my mother I would help her with the hospital and orphanage projects." Toph squared her shoulders, "I don't want to disappoint… I will not disa...," the little princess started to wave her hands rapidly before her face, attempting to stem the flood of tears that threaten to breach her self control, "disappoint her and father. I know... I realize... I really did hurt her... didn't I when I left. This is a big day for her, and she needs me... she needs my help!"

The countess smiled, wiping away one of her own tears, "I understand cousin Toph... today uniform or dress today for such a noble occasion?"

Once again the earthbender had to catch her breath and maintain her demeanor, "Make it... something light and pretty... you know... something my mother... would enjoy seeing me in... really girly!" Toph smiled starting to feel lighter.

"I have just the thing cousin," Lili's voiced exuberantly. "A dress among dresses. One to compliment your eyes and make your Avatar's heart skip like a rabbiroo."

"I don't have much in the way of boobs now," Toph jested, pushing up on what she did, "...and padding won't work because he is kinda familiar with the girls already."

"Shame on you," the countess countered playfully. "A woman should never let a gentleman greet the udders before they are willing to buy the hippo-cow."

The princess rolled over laughing, never thinking of her slightly more than handfuls, as anywhere near the size of udders. "He already owns this hippo-cow, udders and all Lili," she informed her with a big toothy grin. Toph felt special... she also felt very... pure.

"Can I get that milk and pie for breakfast still Lili?" she asked meekly.

"Of course cousin," the countess answered, placing a small kiss on Toph's head. "You are the princess, so you can have whatever you desire."

Breakfast was a mix of five of Toph's favorite pies, including some healthy stuff on the side that Lili had included, that she readily ignored.

Her four cousin's joined her for breakfast, and she learned that Mei Mei, not only resembled her the most physically, but liked the same flavored pies and had a liking for the same sweet milk. it was uncanny how they even laughed at the same jokes and used the same phrases at times.

"I wonder if I'm gonna grow a set of knockers like her," Toph asked herself, knowing hers were growing rapidly. "Better watch out Sweetness, soon you'll have nothing on me."

As breakfast ended and the stewards cleared away the dishes from the suite, Lili called everyone to order.

"Mei Mei , Lei... prepare the princess' bath. Fong press the golden orchid dress. Cousin is going to be turning heads and breaking hearts today," Lili proclaimed as she started to layout the makeup.

Toph could hear all her ladies giggling as they hurried about their duties. She did feel very special... very, very special indeed.