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 33

Pains, Recalls and Dreams

Zuko awoke with a splitting headache just as he had predicted. The sunlight was not his friend this morning as he tried to escape the piercing rays that assaulted his eyelids. He smacked his dry lips together, searching for any semblance of moisture between them. Every move he made reminded him that he had drank far too much the previous night.

"Oh, by Agni's chariot! Where is my sister when I actually want her to kill me?" he moaned, trying to stop the rotation of the room. "By all that is sacred, what was that stuff we were drinking Sokka?"

"Dunno," came the muffled replied. The Water Tribesman had his head buried under a pillow at the opposite end of the bed.

"Wake up," Zuko said flatly, rubbing his temples and kicking away the regent's only protection from the light. "I-I think... we need to start getting ready... for the day. Lao... he invited us to some kind of important shit. Ohhh... I need something for this blasted hangover!"

The young warrior rolled to his back. "Am I dead?" he asked, not wanting to move anymore than he had too. "I wish I was dead. Zuko, please, if there is any mercy in that ash heap you call a heart... kill me, kill me now!"

The Fire Lord smirked at his plea. "Trying to insult me isn't gonna make me angry enough to end you Sokka. If anything, I'll just enjoy your suffering all the more," he told him trying to mask his own wave of nausea. "If no one... is going to show me the kindness of the spirit world, then I'm certainly not going to extend it to you! Ouch... just saying that hurt."

Sokka took in a deep breath, "Please... at least give me back my pillow. I'll let you have my new boomerang that Toph made for me," he implored, cradling his head. "It feels like my brain is about to explode!"

The firebender managed to stand, "Interesting proposal, but... no. Like I already said, if I don't get out of this that easy, then neither do you," Zuko exclaimed as he headed for the door. "Now open your eyes and embrace the pain, you Water Tribe wimp! Besides... if you had a brain to explode, you wouldn't have been drinking so much!"

"Why you jerk face... ah... OW!" Sokka groaned loudly as he shot up far too fast at the Fire Lord's prodding. His head felt like it weighed a ton and he could barely lift it.

"Hurts like Hades doesn't it," Zuko remarked with a small wicked grin.

"I-I don-don't kno-know... wh-what... that place fee-feels like," the Vice Regent stammered, "...b-but i-if if it is anything close to th-this... I-I don't want to go!"

"That makes two of us," Zuko agreed as he made it slowly to the door. "I'm gonna try and find somebody to help..."

His words died away upon seeing the small man with round wire glasses and a long gray plait curled in his lap, sitting in a padded high back chair outside the door.

"Fire Lord Zuko," the man spoke as he stood and bowed, "... I am glad to see you are awake. May I assume his Regency, Lord Sokka is also awake?"

Zuko nodded slowly, not sure if the gnome like figure was real or just a manifestation of his late night binge. All he knew at this point was that the pain in his head was all too real.

The little man smiled up at him, "Very good, I will now summon your attendants."

The Fire Lord blinked, "Attendants... what attendants?"

The small man raised a hand as if signalling, "Ah, yes your Highness, the king himself has instructed me personally to make sure that your stay at the palace is top notch," the funny little man said. "Of course he said the same of the regent as well. I hope you'll enjoy our attendants. They are the finest in the world. We still hold to the ancient traditions that every guest we serve is their master. They will look after you and the regent this morning with meticulous care."

Zuko held up his hands, "Whoa, whoa, whoa... too many words! My head already feels like it's in a vise."

Again the man bowed, "Pardon my insensitivity your Highness. I have not even introduced myself. My name is Puck, and I am the chief eunuch and master of the palace courtiers and courtesans. In my haste to show you our excellent service, I was actually neglecting you," he admitted stepping closer. "If you would please step back inside and make yourself comfortable, your attendants will be here shortly. We have the most marvelous remedy for maladies brought on by excess. One drink, and you will feel like yourself again I assure you, your Highness."

Zuko didn't care who helped him, as long as the pain stopped. "Uh, thank you Puck" he managed to mutter as the old man led him back into the room.

Sokka and Zuko reclined in large chairs with cold compresses on their heads, sighing in relief.

"Where did you find this guy Zuko?" Sokka asked, flexing his jaw.

"He was just sitting outside the door. Said something about the King's orders... I think."

The regent sat up slightly, "King's orders... about what?"

"I don't know Sokka," Zuko groaned in a low voice. "All I could think about was this throbbing hangover!"

Sokka sat back, "I can definitely understand that."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Puck scampered over to answer, "Please remain seated my lords."

The two could hear the door open. "Ah... there you all are. Please come in my dears. These two Lord's have been in the most grievous of agonies and in need of your tender touches."

Perfume, like a bed of flowers blooming in early spring, filled the room as the two young men became very interested at the persons filing in. These attendants, that Puck spoke of were all women, extremely beautiful, exotic, women... and rather scantily dressed.

Sokka sat up once more, "Zuko?"

"Yeah Sokka?" the firebender replied, sitting up as well.

"I know... I'm dead now, because these must be goddesses!" the regent declared with a huge grin.

The small man stepped forward, "I hope you find them to your liking gentle Lords. I find, that early in the morning... the female form is so much more soothing than that of the masculine. Would you not agree?"

"Definitely agree," Sokka and Zuko replied in chorus, ignoring their pain.

The help in the room had been dismissed, under the auspices that the girls wanted some time to 'speak in private'.

"Okay their gone... so Katara, how did you get her to tell on herself about the cherries?" Mai asked with a more serious tone. "If we can discern her target, then at least the other two will be able to assist the third."

Furtive glances shift about the room before the three nodded. They leaned into a small huddle, feeling the need for absolute secrecy.

Katara took in a deep breath, "As I was saying before... there I was, just standing outside of Toph's door. I suddenly heard her say the word, cherries. But it wasn't like in a normal voice, but instead this low... moaning kinda way," the waterbender stated in a demonstrative fashion. "I didn't know if she was just messing with me or what, I decided to confront her."

Mai lifted an eyebrow, "Just so I can be clear on all the facts Katara, you suspected Toph all along of taking the cherries, and besides that, you two had a big fight..."

"Disagreement..." the waterbender countered, folding her arms.

Mai sighed "Sure have it your way, disagreement then. So you went to spy... sorry... I mean check up on her that night. Am I right so far?"

Katara's big blue eyes shifted up and about as she thought about the dark lady's summary, "Well, some could see it that way... I guess."

The Fan Master snickered, "What about you beaning Toph in the head with that ladle Katara? She put this huge knot on the poor girl's forehead."

"Hey, that was only after she hit me in the ass with that rock!" she defended. "You saw for yourself how big and black that bruise was Suki!"

The warrior shook her head, "Yeah that was really something. It took up half a butt cheek, and for you Katara, that says a lot," she giggled, making even the expressionless Mai crack a smile... for a second.

"Ha, ha, laugh all you want you two. That little dirt devil bent my best utensil into a small ball of metal and shot it over into the canyon," Katara recalled, looking as if she were about to cry. "I loved that ladle. My brother... he gave me that ladle. Brought it back for me from that Boiling Rock prison, along with my father... "

"And me!" Suki added. "Don't forget about me Katara."

"Yeah, and her too," the waterbender mumbled with a nod.

"Thanks for the endorsement... sister," Suki stated with obvious hurt.

Mai shook her head at the melodrama, "Are we through with the reminiscing or is there another sappy situation I must endure before can we please get back to the real story?" she asked, cutting hard looks between warrior and waterbender.

Katara brushed away a stray tear for her loss, "Sure... but it was Suki's fault for bringing up such a painful memory. She can be so insensitive... I would have thought being with my brother..."

Suki's eyes widened, "Oh no you didn't go there Katara! Just because I don't mother him like you do doesn't mean..."

"Enough!" the dark lady snarled. "Please, can't we focus on the true matter at hand? Katara, I'm sure Suki here understands how you feel, and she won't... for her own sake, be bringing up your sore ass or that bent spoon anymore... right Suki?"

The Fan master choked, "Uh... (cough), did you just threaten me Mai?"

"No, I'm simple getting us back to reality... so please, just go with it," the blade wielder implored. "You won't hurt Katara's feeling any further, isn't that right?"

Suki sighed, "Yeah... sorry Katara, I didn't know it meant that much too you. And you better not be threatening me Mai!"

Katara turned her head smugly away from the frivolous and obviously insincere apology.

Mai ignored the threats and childish antics, "So, now that conscience has been satisfied, you heard her say cherries. But, you didn't know if she was just drawing you in for another fight, out revenge for hitting her with the spoon."

Katara rolled her eyes with a growl, "It wasn't a SPOON! It was a metal ladle... and I haven't been able to find one like it since," the blue eyed girl complained harshly.

Mai could see there was no getting away from this rather obsessive issue with the waterbender. "Look Katara, my uncle is still warden at Boiling Rock. If you wish, I'll have him send you a dozen of those spoons... ladles. They make all their utensils there, from the ore of the volcano," she told her.

Katara's eyes now sparkled like jewels, "Really? Oh Mai, thank you so very much! Can he also get me a full set of cookware? Sokka said it was some high quality stuff."

The dark lady's face became emotionless, "Sure... I'll have him monogram them as well," she replied flatly.

Katara rubbed the back of her neck, "The ladles... they would do fine Mai," the waterbender replied, seeing she had overstepped. "Well, just like you said, I heard her say cherries... and when I went into the room, to my surprise, she was laying in her bed... sound asleep. I called her name a couple of times, but when that girl is out of it... she's just one level from death... if you no what I mean!" Katara laughed.

"Ain't that the truth!" Suki agreed, also chuckling.

Katara continued, "Then I had an idea. I heard that sometimes, heavy sleeper can be asked questions in their sleep and they will always answer truthfully. So, I tested it out. I asked her some personal ones first... stuff she didn't know I knew."

"Ooh, like what Katara?" Suki inquired, hungry for a little gossip.

"Like... don't ask me again Suki," the waterbender snapped, getting eye-to-eye with the warrior "It's personal I said."

The captain swallowed hard, "Sorry, I won't ask again," she said, seeing the mist of her own breath in the chilled air.

Katara backed away even as the air returned to it's normal temperature. Both Mai and Suki sat quietly until she was ready to resume.

"I finally asked her about the cherries. At first, she just made a couple of yummy sounds... like a little kid. I didn't think it was going anywhere and then, she started talking about how good they were, and that her favorite part was spitting the pits. I knew the little ditch witch was guilty then!" Katara glowered, holding up an accusatory finger.

As she looked into the faces of her comrades, she could tell they didn't share her passion for justice.

She decided to tell the rest of the story. "I asked her if she had eaten all the cherries... even for her that would have been an accomplishment. The only one smaller than her is Momo. Well, she hadn't and in fact, she had hidden them in Aang's stuff, knowing that I would never look for them there."

Mai smiled softly, genuinely impressed, "She is quite the smart one isn't she? But what if Aang came across them?"

The waterbender shook her head, "He wouldn't. Aang is like all the other guys," Katara commented rolling her big blues."They don't know, nor do they look at half the things they own."

Both Mai and Suki agreed at that fact.

"So that is when I went over into Aang room..."

"Now this is the funny part," Suki remarked. "Aang... he... he wakes up seeing Katara... in her nightclothes, sneaking into his room. So what does he think?"

"She's come for him," Mai filled in with a smirk.

"BINGO! You got it! He sits up trying to look all 'manly' and all she says is... hi Aang, I need to find something," the warrior retold, laughing nearly in tears. "His poor little ego... like his other manly part, no doubt was absolutely crushed. Everyone noticed it..."

"Whoa... wait," Mai held up a hand. "Why would everyone notice his reaction?"

Katara sighed, "Because... when I went past him and started rummaging through his things, I didn't think that bugs would be attracted to the fruit and..."

Suki now fell to her back, "She screamed so loud, everyone came a running! She even woke up her brother, and he's like the princess in there when it come to sleeping! Aang however, that poor boy, just sat on his mat looking so lost."

"It was one of those long... ugh ...hairy, fruit millipedes. Ew, the thing crawled right over my hand," she shivered reflexively.

"EW," Mai echoed, also with a shudder, "I can't stand those things either."

"Glad I'm not the only feminine one here Mai," the waterbender quipped.

"Oh, I didn't say I was feminine," Mai replied. "In fact, most of the time, all this girly dress up shit makes me particularly more nauseous than the whiskey from last night. I just hate bugs!"

Katara's victory was somewhat deflated, "Well, at least we can agree on that. The good thing was that everyone saw her stash and she admitted taking it."

The Fan Master got to her feet, "It was a whole lot more dramatic than that. Our chief detective here, Katara, points a finger at the yawing girl and demands she confesses... like it was a murder trial or that she had stolen the imperial jewels! Toph just turns her back and says, "Okay, Sugar Queen, big whoop... ya got me. I'm going back to bed. That's when Katara starts ranting about how she can't just leave and Toph is already gone! We all just went back as well... leaving Katara holding the half empty bag of her precious cherries. Ah... you sure are funny when you're trying to be all sleuthy, Katara!" the captain threw in.

"Whatever Suki... I did find out the truth, and Toph did apologize... eventually," Katara stated, holding her head up.

"What does, eventually mean?" Mai inquired.

Katara blushed, "Uhm, she said she was sorry... about the cherries and my ladle, last night, before we went to bed."

"And she was a bit tipsy as well last night, if I recall?" Mai declared in her usual monotone.

"That's beside the point," the waterbender insisted, again crossing her arms over her chest. "Justice was served, the guilty confessed, and though belated, she apologized. Suki didn't tell you, the next day, she walked in with double the amount of cherries. I was able to made two cobblers. See right triumphed in the end."

"What about Aang?" Mai asserted, leaning forward to look her in the eye.

"What about him Mai?" Katara recoiled sheepishly.

"Don't tell me you just ignored his fragile... crushed... ego?" the emo girl probed, observing the deep red tint appearing on Katara's cheeks. "I know you made it up to the little fella."

Katara started to sweat, "Ah... uh... Mai... ah... that's a rather personal..."

The princess had indeed fallen back into a deep sleep. The quietness of the room made for a deep, relaxing, undisturbed rest that she had not known before, even at her estate in Gaoling.

The dream, one of adventure now turned to passion.

She had faced off against the most vile and notorious leader of the Sandbenders, after her attempt to rescue that stupid professor.

He had sold her out in exchange for staying at that worthless, buried, library.

Now in the midst of the dunes, at the height of the noonday sun, they fought.

She was so thirsty and hot, her clothes clung to her.

She had challenged this man in exchange for the lives of Suki, Sokka, Katara and Zuko.

That was her only solace, they were free and on their way out of this hell hole.

Unfortunately, all of her sandbending could not rival his. He was clearly the master here.

Finally, in a hot, deafening, whirlwind, he stripped her bare, as she dropped to her hands and knees.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked in a deep strong voice that cut through her.

Her throat was so dry she could not speak, she could only shake her head.

"Ah, but I know you Princess Toph Bei Fong, and I know your father would give a king's ransom for your return."

She felt her fingers and toes grip into the coarse sand, helpless... seeing just a shadow of the one speaking, as he stepped ever so lightly upon the shifting ground, hardly even disturbing the surface.

She felt the shame of her loss... wishing for but a sip of water, to maybe spring a surprise attack... as useless as that might be.

"But, you are worth far more than a king's ransom princess. I will make you my concubine by right of conquest," he declared, moving behind her.

"Before my entire tribe... I, Aang... the Sandstrider, will lay claim to you!"

"Must be a pretty good dream," a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

"Yeah... it is," she breathed out heavily, rolling back into his warm body.

"Am I in it?" he asked, kissing that place right behind her ear that seemed to move her deep within.

"Yes... oh Sandstrider," she moaned, exposing the spot more.

He moved his hands to overlay hers. One upon a breast, the other at work, as it moved her towards fulfillment, both in the dream and in reality.

Her cheeks were flushed, as she licked and bit at her lips. He felt her body moving, flexing and straining under the ever growing beat of passion. The sight of her in this way, made him tremble.

"Toph," he whispered loudly, nipping into her earlobe.

Suddenly, dream, fantasy, reality and desire collided as she twisted violently in his arms. He felt the sweat pouring from her as the last shudders began to subside.

His mouth was upon hers and the kisses were breathy and wet.

"Aang... when... how?"

"I'll tell you later," he said softly. "But please... do that once more... you looked so... beautiful!"