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. ]
Hidden Intentions
The Countess Lili Soo Hahn walked into the room to see the four women in the same bed sprawled out in various directions now. She smiled seeing her little princess curled like a kitten in the center under the heavy blanket.
"There you are cousin," she thought happily. "You do make life interesting... if not exhausting," she yawned, having stayed up most of the night.
Next to her was Katara lying on her stomach with an arm and leg dangling over the edge of the bed. The Kyoshi warrior appeared to be peacefully sleeping on her side, a hand on princess' head, as if comforting her. Lastly, the blade wielder was lying across the foot, spread eagle on her back, already starting to groan in obvious pain, from her over indulgence.
Lili shook her head with a half grin. She hated to wake them, but the day had to get started. Three more women meant this was going to take additional time, even though she had increased her staff as well. Even with the four of them, the princess still proved to be a handful and the previous night proved that her friends were just as pretentious.
Lei moved up to her side. "Should I bring in the hangover remedy cousin? I think the one at the bottom here was drinking pretty heavily," she stated pointing to the whining Mai.
Lili nodded as Lei swiftly went about the task. Soon Lei and Fong returned, one with a tray of tea and juice and the other with a tray of some concoction that resembled a witch's brew.
"All is prepared," Mei Mei informed them as she followed the two in. "All the attendants are at the ready for the ladies. The morning pampering can start as soon as they arise and breakfast will soon arrive... including that hideous Water Tribe mixture... ugh! Sea prunes... looks more like mer-whale shit."
Lili shook her head and at forward cousin's comment. She began to make her way around the bed, "Lady Mai, you poor dear... it is time to wake up," she whispered into the knife thrower's ear. "We have some nice pomegranate juice or tea for you. Would you like that?"
"Oh my aching head," Mai complained starting to rub her temples. "Do you really have to shout like that," she moaned before burping loudly.
Lili fanned away the foul smell, "By the spirits... that was rank. Uh... my lady... I have something else. It will surely help you to feel absolutely wonderful," the countess promised, taking a cup of the brew. "Please, sit up and take a sip of this."
The dark lady slowly sat up slowly, almost crying from the intense pain as well as fighting the vertigo, "Arghhhh... please help... just kill me!"
Lili handed her the cup making sure she cradled it securely, "No need for death... just sip this my lady. It will be all better, you'll see."
Mai took one whiff turning her nose away, "Yuck... smells like rhino piss... worse, year old rhino piss!"
Lili couldn't help but to giggle a bit, "I would not know my lady, but it is quite effective against the bite of all that desert whiskey you drank."
Mai held her nose and with a tilt of her head, emptied the cup. Immediately, the headache started to melt away and the room stabilized. Her thoughts began to become clearer as well.
"More!' Mai demanded extending the cup, as Lili exchanged it for a full one.
Suki accepted a cup of tea, and seemed just fine. The warrior had a renowned tolerance for strong drink among the group.
Katara however, she was almost as bad as Mai. The smell of vomit emitted with ever breath. Luckily sometime during the night, she found her way to the toilet.
"Why would anyone want to drink at all," she lectured herself, holding her head up. "But... it all tasted so good!"
"First time?" Lei asked, handing her a cup of the potion sympathetically.
"Y-yes," the waterbender responded, nodding her head in visible pain. "I didn't think a little..."
Mei Mei snickered, "A little? You drank half a bottle of sherry... and then drank another half bottle of port. On top of that you tried some of 'Kill me please's' here whiskey. Don't you know you shouldn't mix your liquors water tribe?"
"Be nice to her Mei Mei," Lei defended the still ailing blue-eyed girl, as Mei Mei crossed her arms and rolled her huge eyes. "She didn't know any better, this was her first time. Here, sweetie, just sip this... and you'll start to feel better very soon," the lady that sounded exactly like the princess prompted her.
Katara looked wearily into Lei's soft green eyes, "Promise?"
"I promise pretty girl... just look at your friend Lady Mai. She was far worse off than you... now she's just as sardonic as usual," Lei giggled quietly.
"I heard that, but go ahead anyway Katara," Mai exhorted her, drinking a cup of tea. "It tastes absolutely putrid, but it will do the trick."
Katara placed the cup at her lips and took a sip. She then smiled brightly drinking down the rest with relish causing the knife thrower to gag.
The waterbender sighed heavily, feeling the immediate relief, "If I knew you were offering me turtle-cod liver oil and garlic juice, I would have drank it right down right away," she exclaimed happily. "I really can't place what else is in it, but boy... it sure is good... more please! Maybe some slime worm extract..." she pondered, smacking her lips.
Mai was now in a full run towards the bathroom... barely able to contain the heaving.
"Go after her Mei Mei," the countess ordered, "I have a feeling, she's not going to make it."
The busty woman scowled, "Why me? Why not send little Miss Sunshine here... she's good at cleaning..."
Mei Mei stopped her grumbling as soon as Lili looked at her sternly. With a huff she turned and followed the trail Mai had left across the floor.
"I guess she'll be extra hungry for breakfast," Mei Mei retorted with a sigh.
Everyone had gotten out of bed, save for one.
"Please your Majesty, the sun is up and it is already a bright and shiny new day," Lili proclaimed as Toph buried herself further under the heavy blanket. "Your guests... they are waiting for you."
"Leave me alone Lili. It's still dark outside," the princess insisted.
Lili smiled, "Quite the contrary, the sun has been up for more than an hour."
"Doesn't look that way to me!" the blind girl shot back.
"Ha, ha, most humorous as usual your Majesty," the chief lady replied. "Now that we've had our laugh, shall it be juice or tea?"
"Oh please, please, please... my Lili darling," Toph begged from under her downy mound of solitude, "...let me have just a couple of more hours of this bliss. I was having the most delightful dream about him... we were just about to..."
"We are not alone, your Majesty!" the countess cut in quickly, smiling tightly at Katara.
Nonetheless, all three girls were focused on the talking comforter with great interest. One, they had never heard the earthbender speak so formally... yet casually before and two, she was speaking of a him!
"Him who?" Katara asked, quickly jumping back unto the bed. "Tell... who's your dream guy?"
"No one Sugar Queen! Go away! Leave me alone!" the lump cried out.
"Ahhh... c'mon Toph, you've heard all our dream... well Katara's and mine's anyway," Suki interjected. "It's natural for a young lady... so tell us, who's the him... we won't get mad, even if it is Zuko, right Mai?"
"What the flame are you talking about you painted floozy," the knife thrower growled. "She best not be thinking about..."
"All of you... just shut up!" Toph screamed.
Lili now stepped forward, "Ladies... perhaps more rest for the princess would be beneficial. She is possibly dreaming of a romance scroll at I read to her the other night. Please, lets continue the day since the attendants are ready for you all. I'm sure she'll be able to join us by the time we are ready for breakfast. Rarely does she miss a meal, if ever."
"I heard that cousin!"
"Fong, please see that all is going according to schedule and that the princess' guest are happy," Lili ordered taking a large grooming kit from one of the attendants, "I have something to attend too."
"Yes cousin," the taller brown-eyed lady replied with a bow. "Lili, may I... I know this may sound strange... but may I attend him?"
"No," Lili said flatly as she left the suite.
The countess entered an empty suite and there she opened the passage. After lighting a small torch, she headed for the Avatar's room.
She could hear the subtle sound of his snoring as she opened the entrance.
Aang sat up in his bed, looking over at the wall, "My love," he looked up bleary eyed, "...is that you?" he asked wiping the sleep away.
"No Avatar Aang, it is I, Lili," she answered softly, walking over to the bed and bowing. "I've come here on behalf of my Princess and her welfare," Lili started, noticing the tension in his face, "I must talk to you about what is best for Princess Toph."
"Like I believe that," Aang spat, laying back down, facing away from her. "Don't you really mean... what's best for appearance sake. How do you know what's best for Toph and besides that, why would you give a damn! You are a nomad. Concerns like this are worldly."
His comment made her eye twitch. "Regardless of how you may see it... master, this is relevant to us all."
He rolled over to face her, "Oh, why don't you enlighten me... nomad Lili?"
She place the kit to the side as she knelt beside the bed. "Please hear me out master. It has been written, that though the forest is leveled, the seeds can take root once more. Here in me... with you, we can..."
"Don't be ridiculous," he sighed, turning back away.
She stood, taking in a deep breath, "Well if our own prophecy does not move you, then maybe reason will," Lili exclaimed. "Avatar if you stop acting like a horny schoolboy for a moment and really think about what is best for Toph, then you too would realize that what was going to happen last night was not in hers, or perhaps your best interest," she stated, standing over.
He did look back over his shoulder to get a glimpse of a very Toph like angry face.
"Now, get your butt out of that bed and stop pouting, your Grace. I'll help you get ready for your day while we discuss this," she remarked boldly as her hand ripped his blanket away. "If you haven't realized this, I am doing this for my cousin... because she loves you, and I love her, nomad or not! Even though you are acting like a regular dodo-ass."
Aang couldn't help but start to smirk and chuckle.
Lili gave him a confused stare, "What... did I say something funny, your Grace?"
He sat up in the bed, "Hehe... you said butt," he snickered pointing at her.
The countess peered at him incredulously for a second before speaking again, "Yes, of course, very funny your Grace. Now... if you would just come with me, we can get you all cleaned up," she said as she retrieved the kit.
"Did you hear what Toph said," Katara exclaimed excitedly as she sat three abreast between Suki and Mai having her hair, nails and toes done. "She said she was having a dream about a... a him," she squealed girlishly. "Do you think she's found a boyfriend so soon?"
Mai leaned back enjoying her neck massage, "I think you know who it is already Katara. Trust me... he's no stranger to any of us."
As the waterbender frowned, the Fan Master quickly jumped in, "Did you ever have a crush on a guy when you were her age Mai," Suki inquired from under her facial, "I just can't see you going all gushy-gushy, gaga over some guy."
The knife thrower let out an uncharacteristic chuckle, "I wouldn't call it whatever you just said, but I did have an infatuation..."
"Oh... you go girl," the waterbender said in surprise. "So who was it? Would we know him?"
Mai smiled, "You should, he's the Fire Lord now."
"Hah, that's no fair Mai," Katara tittered, "I thought we were going to hear something racy and mysterious about you."
Mai smile lightly, "Nope, only Zuko. He's been my only interest from the time we were children."
"Awww, that's so sweet," Suki breath out from below her hot towel. "You know, Toph did have a thing for Sokka when I first met her."
"Toph and Sokka!" Katara gasped in utter shock, "No way... absolutely... no way!"
Mai felt her cheeks warm, "I would agree."
"Yes way," Suki confirmed calmly still covered over. "That time at Serpent's Pass when I saved her little life from drowning, she gave me a kiss. She thought i was Sokka... she was so cute. She said... you could let me drown now."
"You should have," Mai muttered under her breath.
Katara shook her head, "Wow... I still can't believe it. Maybe he still is her dream guy," she stated with a laugh.
Both the warrior and the dark lady stiffened in their seats.
"He better not be!" Suki growled getting to her feet. "Perhaps it is Zuko like I said before? You may not know this Mai, but they were always chummy in camp. Those two, thick as thieves, especially when she was bossing him around. Sokka thought there might be a little SPARK between the two of them," Suki noted with obvious malice.
Both Mai and Katara looked over at the reclined Fan Master in utter shock.
"Suki, why would you say something so harsh?" Katara asked, seeing the other two glaring past her.
"Well, everyone is talking about it being Sokka," Suki protested.
"I wasn't insinuating that your doofus was doing anything Suki," Mai corrected her. "But maybe our little friend is conjuring up her own set of desires and wishes. Just look at the way she was dressed yesterday and how she flaunted it in front of all our guys. You practically had to use a mop to get all the drool up off the floor. Anyone of them would have had Toph Delight for dessert."
Katara sat back, "Yeah you two should look into this more closely..."
"Why do you think you are immune," Mai asked bluntly. "I think you're most at risk here. Weren't you the one most upset during the reception Katara? Isn't he in fact staying here at the palace with that piece of rock candy... and I hear he has quite the sweet tooth."
The memories of the previous night now fluttered through the waterbender's mind as she giggled nervously. The Kyoshi warrior added nothing only looked away, biting her lower lip.
"So... how do we find out if one of ours is her target?" Katara asked, looking back and forth between the two girls.
"The cherry incident," Suki offered, feeling better if Katara found out on her own.
Mai lifted an eyebrow, "The cherry incident? What by Agni's name is that?"
Katara smiled nodding slowly as she explained, "Well Mai, when we were at the Western Air Temple, we discovered that Toph has an affinity for cherries."
"An affinity puts it lightly, " Suki quipped. "The girl is totally addicted to the things. She'll eat them until she throws up if you let her."
"Must have something to do with royalty," Mai surmised recalling another cherry addicted princess. "So what is this incident?"
"Well we had harvested about a kilo or so (approx. 2.2 lbs) of these dark red rock cherries that grew near the temple. I was going to make a cobbler so that everyone could have a treat," Katara continued, already laughing. "We didn't know then about her weakness, but when I was going to start the cobbler, the cherries came up missing. Toph immediately blamed poor Momo, like he could really defend himself. When Aang checked, he was clean. I, however, suspected it was her all along because her tongue was so red, but she can be real intimidating and somewhat convincing when she's lying. We had a small debate..."
"More like a near knockdown, drag out fight," Suki elaborated, shaking her head.
Katara threw the warrior a dirty look, "I graciously let it go, before it went that far. It was just cherries... the only sweets we had seen in weeks. But that night, outside of her door, I heard her talking in her sleep."
"So you really didn't let it go, but decided to spy on her," Mai concluded, tapping her fingertips together.
"Hey, I'm not the bad guy here," Katara defended herself. "Do you want to know the rest of the story or not?"
Mai nodded, "Please continue, I'm on the edge of my seat with excitement," she stated her usual monotone.
Katara scowled, "Forget it then. She'll just do whatever the hell she wants... and if it's your guy, don't come crying to me! Fire Lady Bei Fong does have a nice ring."
The look from the tall pale girl was as sharp as one of her shurikens. Katara rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue in reply.
"Look," Suki sighed trying to play peacemaker, "...don't we all have a stake in this. Why are we nipping at each other? Isn't our true potential rival sleeping just on the other side of that door?"
They all cast their gaze upon the door as if looking at the very gates of Hades itself.
He sat on a low bench covering his lap with another fresh towel as she prepared a bath for him.
Aang couldn't help but watch her as she moved, so graceful and fluid. This Toph look-a-like smelled so sweet and her shape, almost an hourglass in her dimensions. Her hair was not as thick as Toph's, but just a black and equally alluring. Their eyes however were shaped identically and she had the same porcelain white skin.
Occasionally she would peer back at him with smile as she went about her task. The very act unnerved him in the fact it was so similar to the princess' and he was half-naked.
Lili opened the grooming kit and sat out the items she would need. She put on a full apron. Her waist was so narrow that she actually tied the string in the front after wrapping it back around her.
She stood behind Aang, "Well let's get rid of this unsightly stubble on the top of your head," she exclaimed slowly rubbing a hand over it.
A shiver ran down his spine as Aang closed his eyes at the sensation. She pulled him back to rest against her while she lathered his head. The warmth of it combined with the softness of her body was stirring.
She started to shave him, "My, you have some whiskers as well," she commented gliding a smooth hand down his cheek. "We'll have to shave this as well."
Aang could only grunt in response as she gently extended the lather to his face.
All the shaving was complete as she applied a soothing shaving balm to his head and face and he sighed in trembling breath.
"How was that your Grace? Did I cut you at all?"
"Ah no," he replied with a nervous smile. "It felt great, and this stuff smells good too."
"I'm glad you like it. I thought it suited you well. It has a wild and airy scent," she told him.
"So you picked it out just for me?" he asked in surprise.
"No, master. I had it made just for you," she informed him, slowly massaging both sides of his head. "You are the Avatar, savior of the world, I couldn't just offer you some common balm, that just wouldn't be fitting, now would it?" she responded, pulling his head in closer to her body.
Her touch, as well as the words, moved him almost to tears, "Lili I just want…"
She placed a finger to his lips, "No need to say anything more master. This is my privilege... my service to my master."
She led him quietly to the sunken tub and he sat down in it. The water was scented with rose petals. Sticks of incense were burning around it filling the air with the smell of frankincense.
"This is beautiful..." he started to speak once more.
The countess placed her fingers to his lips again and shook her head 'no'.
Aang fell silent.
She smiled and he shivered sinking further into the warm tub.
Lili took a sponge and began to wash his neck and back.
She knelt behind him, his head cradled between her breast as she took the sponge, rolling it over his shoulders and chest. As Lili sought to venture further, Aang took the sponge from her.
"I'll take it from here," he finally spoke sitting forward. "That area belongs to a certain princess, and I don't think she would appreciate even your attention there."