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 25

Caught Up

Aang was surprised when he got back to his room and on the bed laid the robes of a master airbender. The king had them specially made for him, the details were amazing. Aang's eyes now lit up, as he spied the authentic glider/staff from the Western Air Temple, an artifact from even before his time. These were thank you gifts from the king... and the sentiments were not lost on the young air nomad, as he wiped at his misty eyes.

After a long relaxing bath, he dressed, being sure to pay attention to every little fold and crease, not wishing to be scolded by the the ever watchful countess again. The fit was perfect. Even the hemp sandals were the correct size.

Aang looked in the full length mirror, "Tsk... the collar isn't high enough," he clicked his teeth, frowning at the massive passion mark. "I must say, when she does it, she really does it big!" he laughed, trying to think of a way to cover it.

His face twisted as he tried raising his shoulders and tucking his neck, but some of the hickey could always be seen to his chagrin. He took a moment more to think about what to do.

"Maybe I should tell everyone I'm sick," he thought. "Nah, Katara would then want to look me over and then... whoops, the gig is up!"

He then recalled that the older monks often wore linen scarfs about their necks to protect them from chaffing caused by the rough wool collars of their robes. This one was exactly the same. Aang smiled as he tore a white linen pillow case into strips. He selected the best fitting one, wrapping it around his neck and tucking the front ends into the robe, as he had seen Gyatso do several times.

He went again to the mirror to inspect his handiwork, "Perfect," he proclaimed before rushing out to keep his appointment with the Royal Artist.

The royal courier had come to the inn the night before with an urgent request directly from the Earth Queen for Ambassador Katara of the Southern Water Tribe.

Katara hurriedly read it, and squealed with joy at the invitation for her to join the Queen, the Princess, and the Avatar at an official event, announcing the creation of three orphanages and two hospitals, that would benefit the poor and disenfranchised within the walled city.

Invitations also arrived for her brother and the vivacious Kyoshi warrior as well. Early the next morning, the two hurried to Katara's room.

The young waterbender was already awake, getting ready for the day as she answered the door.

"Did you get one sis?" he asked proudly, strutting in right past her. "Mine is addressed to the World Council Vice Regent."

"Yeah, and duh, of course it is address to you," she laughed, closing the door after Suki entered. "You're the only one there is, Sokka."

Suki giggled as well, "He's been walking around like a flying peacock-squirrel, reading that scroll over and over again since it was delivered. Especially the part about addressing the people. I think his ego is getting bigger Katara!"

"No, that's impossible Suki... the world can't sustain such a load," she joked.

"Ha, ha..." he said dryly, "if you will excuse me now, I need to put the finishing touches on my oration I mustn't disappoint my public."

"Yeah not like you did on the Day of Black Sun," his sister reminded him with a smirk.

"Hey... that was just a momentary case of stage fright! I've gotten way past that! How many times have I addressed the assembly... even led the council?"

Katara kissed him on the cheek, "I know, I was just teasing... I'm proud of you big bro."

"Thanks sis," he replied, his cheeks a bit redder, "Coming Suki?"

The waterbender placed a hand on the Fan Master's arm, "Ah, can I borrow her for a few, Sokka?" Katara asked shyly. "Besides, it will give you time to finish your great oratory. You don't mind, do you Suki? We can order breakfast here."

Suki shrugged, "I don't mind, and this saves me from listening to his endless, boring speeches."

Sokka turned for the door, "My speeches are not endless!"

"He's right," Katara agreed, "...it does end, when everyone is bored to sleep!"

The Vice Regent left the room chuckling at how open he left himself.

"Good one Katara, " Suki howled, slapping her thigh. "Not often anyone gets the best of him like that."

"He's not the only smart one in the family Suki," she boasted catching her breath. "I have some sweet wine from last night, would you like some? It goes good in the morning as well."

"Sure... that sounds... fine," Suki accepted, moving to take a seat at the low table. "Katara, were you in here all day yesterday? I know we didn't seen you at all. Sokka was worried about you, but he didn't want to bother you. Aang asked him to check up on Appa and Momo. They said at the stables, you hadn't been by all day like you usually do... what's going on girl?"

The blue eyed girl over filled her wine glass, "Oops... clumsy me. I need to pay more attention. What were you saying Suki?"

"Put the bottle down and let's talk Katara... what's wrong?"

The waterbender flopped down on the sitting cushion next to her.

"I'm being punished Suki, I'm sure of it. The spirits are angry with me. That's the only reason I could come up with... that makes any type of sense!"

The warrior gave her a curious stare, "Why would the spirits be punishing you Katara? What did you do to deserve this... punishment?"

"I should have told Mai the truth... about me and Zuko," she exhaled, wiping at her reddened nose, "that would have been the right thing to do... wouldn't it?"

Suki took a swig of the wine before her, "You and his hotness, something between you two! Really... there was something between you two? I knew it! I told Sokka, I thought there was a spark or something happening there. Especially when you cane back from that trip to find that guy who killed your mom!"

"Nothing happened then Suki, we just put some old stuff behind us is all."

The warrior rubbed her chin, "So... if that's not when it happened then, when we were on Ember Island, huh... yeah? All that shirtless, raw hunkness, wore you down... am I right?"

Katara shook her head, "No... it was not like that Suki. I admit, when I first saw him at the South Pole, the day he raided our village, I thought I was going to melt through the ice under my feet. He was one good looking piece of man meat."

"Still is," the warrior sighed under her breath, taking another gulp. "Not that Sokka isn't... he's definitely more man than most... down under."

Katara lifted an eyebrow, "Well, you should know Suki. Anyway, my opinion changed when he tried to hurt Aang. All those times he kept coming after us, he was merciless... talking about his frick'n honor! And then after my fight with him at the North Pole, I knew he had no honor... none of them did. I knew he was just a selfish, evil, twisted jerk! I would have left him on that tundra to become snow hyena-bear droppings... but it was Aang who saved his worthless, stupid ass. In the long run, it was the right choice," Katara declared with a small sigh.

"And it saved a good looking piece of man meat, not many of those around," the fan master laughed.

Katara shot a cold stare her way, "I'm not trying to be funny Suki. I need somebody to listen to me. I told you all about Jet... and about Haru too. I haven't had any other girlfriends to confide in. I-I need your help... your advice. I thought... I truly felt, Aang was mine. Then... last night, I saw with my own eyes, she had him, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do to change it."

Suki put a hand on her shoulder," Katara, c'mon, this is little Princess Flat Chest, we're talking about now. How can she be out doing you? He's been crazy about you... like forever!"

Katara reached over cupping one of Suki's breast, "She's got you by a quarter size already and still growing Suki. By years end, I'll be the one looking flat in comparison. Dammit, don't you get it! Her fruit is just coming into bloom... your's been picked... mine, well, I thought I knew who would be doing the picking, but... he's changed farms," she cried, taking several more gulps of the wine. "And it's all my fault, my punishment."

"Whoa, Katara... I can't believe Aang would ever prefer Toph over you, even if she were twice your size... well maybe at twice, let me rephrase that... at current sizes... or slightly..."

"Okay I get it Suki! Will you stop trying to make me feel better," she blared.

"Listen Katara... you did tell me about Jet. A little harmless infatuation... a kiss or two... some light petting. All girls go through that kind of stuff. Haru, you said was all in your head, and you still felt guilty about that. Personally, I don't think he likes girls... but that's just my opinion. So all this punishment shit must be about you and Zuko. So pour me some more wine, and don't leave out the details," Suki demanded.

Toph was surrounded by her four look-a-like cousins as they worked on their masterpiece. They finally stood back and surveyed her. Glances,nods and smiles passed between them, reflecting the same sentiment.

"She looks years older," Lei observed, moving her head from side to side. "Do you think auntie would approve?"

"I still say we should pad the tatas," Mei Mei commented, pointing at her chest. "Then she'll look more like me. Right now she's about as sexy as Fong over there."

"And what's wrong with me?" Fong confronted her buxom cousin.

"Nothing... and I do me nothing, in that B cup of yours," she quipped, poking Fong in the breast. "You really should talk to the sorceress about a potion to enhance that aspect of your boring little life... virgin!"

Lady Fong Bei Fong stepped closer with a menacing grin, "I'll enhance your rotten little life... floozy!"

"Ladies please!" the countess snapped. "Now is not the time for bickering. We have done the work, and she looks ravishing. But... we need a test... the walk test, perhaps?" Lili proposed with a smile, still staring at the little beauty. "That will assure we have created the prefect look."

"Hey, I just wanted a look that would please my Mom," the princess interjected, feeling more and more like a dress up doll.

"Believe me my little Songbird," Lili said, adjusting a stray hair, "...any dress that will have suitors fawning over you, is a dress that will please Aunt Poppy."

Toph could not argue with that logic. She surrendered herself once again to their care.

The full length, form fitting, gold, white and ocher dress, had the shape and pattern of wild mountain orchid embroidered onto it. It minimized her negatives and displayed her extremely narrow, but fit waist, through the cutouts on both sides, connecting top and bottom, forming an hourglass shape.

The design immediately drew attention to her curvaceous hips and round buttocks. It had a shallow V collar and short sleeves with a single slit that went up just over the knee on one side. Discreet enough for the Queen mother, but showing enough of her emerging shape, to garner the welcomed attention of a certain airbender.

Her hair was braided and swirled high upon her head. Two spirals framed her face. The light makeup was just enough to bring out her lips, making those large eyes stand out even more over her rouge painted cheeks. She wore matching silk slippers with extremely thin soles... custom made for her to still see through.

After a few moments, she had to ask, "What's a walk test? I already know how to walk."

Again her cousins giggled, as Lili started to elaborate, "Cousin, you did go to the classes with the matchmaker, didn't you?"

"Three times a week, from the time I was six, until I ran away," Toph announced with a long sigh, "I thought I was going to die! It was all so boring. Do this for him. Do that for him. Hell, by the end of the day, I just wanted to beat the snot out of that lazy good-for-nothing!"

Lili giggled with a hand over her mouth, "Understandable, but did they also teach you, how to walk?"

"You mean, how to shake what my momma gave me, so the guys can see I've got it going on?" Toph replied.

It was Lili's turn to sigh deeply at the brash statement, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "I guess that is as good a definition as one can expect. So did you learn it?"

"Yeah," the little princess exclaimed, suddenly picking her nose. "I did it so good, dad forbade me to do it around the house because he had to keep firing guards for staring at his little girl inappropriately. The matchmaker said I was the best she had ever seen, a true protege. A master 'Head Bender', was the way she put it to my mother."

Lili smiled brightly now, "Well, well, that is good news little cousin, because that is what this test is all about!" she exclaimed with a rather wicked laugh. "We're going to see how many of the guards' you turn as we walk to brunch today in that dress. Eye glances don't count, because they do that normally... you being so beautiful," Lili explained as Toph flushed. "There are a hundred lined up in the great hall on the way. We simply will look at the percentage who..."

"Take a good long look at one of your major assets. Breast, hips, legs... whatever," Lei cut in. "Mei Mei has the highscore so far. It's a 72," she was happy to say.

"So, this is a competition?" Toph asked, the thought turning up the corner of her mouth.

"Just a friendly one, no money is exchanged," Fong informed her.

"So Lili what's your score," the princess asked. "For sure I would have thought you would bury Mei Mei... tits and all."

"She doesn't participate," Mei Mei sneered. "It really is so sad, I have no competition with these other two. I don't even have to try."

"To answer your question, your Majesty, as the head lady, I did not want to degrade my underlings," Lili explained, glaring at their boisterous cousin.

Toph smiled broadly, "Okay, today if I walk... we all walk ladies," the princess commanded. "No excuses, no holding back! By the time we're done, those guys will be in neck braces! Now go and get your best stepp'n dress on!"

Katara took two more heavy drinks of the low alcohol wine, wishing she had something stronger as the Kyoshi captain stared at her.

"Now Katara, you know I'm not gonna tell another soul, not even Sokka. You evidently need to get this off your chest, and seriously, I'm here for you girl... so, just take it slow and tell me about it... all about it."

The waterbender nodded, "Zuko... he at first seemed like my type of guy. You know, the only guy before even near my age was my brother and..."

"Let's not go there," Suki warned. "I know all about you two's early years... first kiss... let's not replay that, okay?"

The waterbender nodded, "Okay, your right, no need to go over that kids stuff... so silly right?"

"Are you trying to get on my nerves Katara?" Suki asked, scowling at her.

Her eyes shifted away, "No Suki... I don't understand why it's so hard to tell you about this, and it was so easy to talk about the other stuff."

"Maybe because this was more personal," Suki proposed with a sly smile.

"Hmm... I don't think so," Katara responded flatly, "I really think it's because I'm... embarrassed."

Suki looked up surprised, "Well... that can be the case too."

Katara sighed, "You know how after you do something... ah... you really just didn't think about, you ask yourself... why? That's how I feel right now. I kissed him Suki... and I don't mean a little brotherly peck either. I mean a tongue twisting, lip sucking, spit swapping, air stealing kind of kiss."

"Wow... that's really... really, a descriptive way of putting it Katara. So when did this... ah, historic event of a kiss happen?"

"The day of Sozin's Comet," she told her. "It was right after I discovered he was still alive and that he had channeled away most of Azula's lightening. I was just overwhelmed with joy and gratitude, seeing him... not burnt lifeless, like Aang was. He did take that hit for me... for Yue sake. He looked so sweet, so... so... hot! I was dripping Suki! And not because I just came out of a block of ice. It was like my body just moved on it's own. One moment I was working on his chest wound, the next... I had my hand in his pants, working his... well you know, while I continued to suck his face off. I totally took advantage of him Suki."

The Kyoshi captain sat back with her hand over her mouth, "Katara, you little vixen! B-but why are you so embarassed?"

"Because Suki," she exhaled looking down, "I was just caught up by the moment. It had nothing to do with love, not even remotely. He told me after he... huh... finished... that training Aang wasn't the only reason he joined our group. That it was mainly me, and the guilt he felt betraying me here in Ba Sing Se. He also told me... he loved me, and that if I would have him, he would... be by my side... forever."

"Wha-what did you say girl? How did you answer him?" Suki gasped in anticipation.

"I told him... I would think about it, and give him my answer in the morning. But that morning, when I went to his room, I saw Mai there, helping him on with his robe. When they hugged and kissed, I figured, he had been caught up in the moment as well. So you see, there was no need for me to give him an answer after all," the healer sighed, pouring more wine. "Should we order breakfast now Suki?"

The Fan Master gazed at the waterbender in disbelief, "Okay... huh... so... uh... breakfast... yeah, okay."