A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: This is an A/U story. Toph and her mother have a complicated relationship. It puts the "dys" in dysfunctional. Suki decides to confront Mai. More is revealed that either wanted.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights or titles to the characters of Avatar: The Last Airbender. ]

Chapter 71

Battles

Being blind, Toph never actually felt shame at being nude until this moment. Even when the guys would peek on the girls taking a bath, she didn't seem to care that they were looking. Toph also didn't understand why the other women would make such a fuss, or why the guys even wanted to see them undressed. "Toph, cover yourself!" Katara would scream when she forgot that the guys were around and started to change clothes or just scratch one of those annoying places.

Now, her perspective was different. Her lover often expressed his appreciation for her body and even showed how he felt about various parts. "You are beautiful and precious to me, and I treasure all of you, Toph," Aang told her as they sat together in the garden and she had inadvertently rubbed under her boob, opening her top and pulling it into plain sight in the process. "Please, my love, I don't want anyone to think less of you or look at you in a bad way," he explained to her as he replaced her mamma back into her bra and closed her tunic with the utmost gentleness. "I don't like sharing you."

Something clicked inside of her at his words as her face flushed and her throat felt constricted. With this single act of care and concern, Toph had come to know that word that Katara was always demanding she be, modest.

"Let's just see how far you have gone in entertaining your, student, was it?" Poppy sneeringly asked as she reached down and took hold of her daughter's skirt, ripping it all the way up, and not along the seam of the heavy garment. Toph knew all too well her mother's explosive temper and her inhuman strength that went along with her caustic wit.

The quick motion and the loud sound so surprise Toph that the younger earthbender dropped to her knees as she attempted to cover herself with her remaining tatters.

"Again the maidenly reaction," her mother exclaimed with a laugh. "You've become quite the little actress Toph, but we know the truth don't we, woman to woman."

What followed was even more of a shock to Toph. Poppy dropped in front of her and with one arm tightly hugged her about the shoulders and with her free hand, plunged it between her thighs. "Don't move a muscle Pumpkin, mommy's nails are extremely sharp, and you don't want a scratch in there, they're so annoying," she warned as her daughter grimaced tearfully at the unwanted and painful invasion. Toph shook and loudly cried in protest as Poppy pressed hard on her hymen.

Poppy raised a well-plucked eyebrow. "Now that was an unexpected reaction," the queen stated as she withdrew her hand and stood. She stared at her bloodied fingers, "I guess my report was less than accurate," her mother said matter-of-factly with a frown. "Sorry my dear, I suppose you are a maiden still, at least down there. Remember though, if he must enter you, you have another opening," Poppy advised as she took out a second handkerchief and wiped her fingers.

Toph's whole body was trembling with so much anger she found it hard to move. Once more she was just trying to cover her nakedness and shame with the rags in her reach. "How... how could you mom? How could you do such a thing to your own daughter?" Toph sobbed, as she tightly clung to the remains of her skirt, covering her breast and legs.

Poppy smirked. "Don't give me this innocent act Toph. You're grandmother used to check my sisters and me all the time, and I'm sure your lover has amply explored you nethers as well," she answered with a huff. "I have to protect our family's reputation. What if my report was correct and you were deflowered Toph? What then? Think about what would happen to our family if it got out the princess was a common whore. What suitor would want you then?"

"Then I would be just like my mother," Toph replied under her breath. Poppy's effortless kick, which Toph barely blocked, sent her rolling across the floor and into the chaise on the far wall, losing all her ragtag coverings in the process.

As Poppy pursued her naked child, the tiles under the queen slipped away as she toppled to the floor as well, landing squarely on her backside. "Grrr... you've done it now you little bitch!" Poppy snarled as the ground beneath her fingers turned to rubble. Now two tall and dark beings helped the queen back to her feet. "You think that little testing hurt? You don't know pain yet Toph! I'll teach you how to be obedient, once and for..."

As the scream echoed from the study, the Queen's bodyguards turned to enter, but Lili quickly inserted a small needle into the back of their necks. The four men collapsed like bags of grain. Instead, Lei, Mei Mei, and Lili rushed into the office.

"Stop Lili," Toph commanded in a ghostly voice, "I don't want any of my precious cousins to get harmed, inadvertently."

The three ladies-in-waiting stopped and bowed to their hands and knees with their heads to the floor, unsure of what else to do.

Tylee heard the light rapping at the door to the suite as she poured Mai a hot cup of herbal tea. She had just finished helping her friend get dressed. She was impressed that Mai even wanted to get out of bed. "I'll be right back Mai," she said with a toothy smile.

As Ty opened the door, she had to swallow hard. "Good morning my Capt. Suki, Grand Fan Master of the Kyoshi Warriors," Tylee replied with a nervous chortled. "Uh, what brings you here, ma'am? Were you looking for me?" she asked looking back into the room at Mai.

Suki pushed her way into the room past her subordinate. Tylee noticed she was wearing her metal fan as well as the short sword at her commander's side. The Kyoshi warrior swallowed hard sensing trouble about to start between her captain and her best friend. "No, I'm here to speak with her," Suki replied as she pointed towards Mai with a hateful glare.

Tylee speedily stepped into Suki's path, "Well, as you can see, captain, Mai is having some tea, and we were about to go and get some brunch. Perhaps, you would care to join us, ah, maybe? She's had a pretty rough night," Ty explained as she smiled graciously, both hands on Suki's shoulders.

"No thanks, I'm not particularly hungry, and it was a rough night for all of us," Suki snarled staring at the Mai who was still sipping her tea. "And why are your hands on me, lieutenant?" she asked, glowering at the former acrobat. "Or should that be, sergeant?"

Tylee instantly withdrew her hands as she stood to attention. "No ma'am, lieutenant is fine. Sorry for getting so familiar, ma'am," she apologized briskly.

Suki walked passed her, "I was wondering where your loyalties laid, Lt. Tylee? You swore to forsake all but your duty to the sisterhood when you joined the corps." the Fan Master reminded her second. "That loyalty includes obeying my explicit orders."

Tylee bowed at the waist. "Command and I will follow," she responded as she stood erect once more, her gray eyes staring straight ahead.

Suki stood in front of her. Even though she wasn't looking her directly in the eye, Suki felt the tension. "Lieutenant, you have your troop to get ready for the coronation, I suggest you attend to them," the Captain ordered.

Once more Tylee bowed to her commander. "As you command," she replied snapping back to attention. Tylee headed for the door and saw Suki's hand on the hilt of her sword. "I'm leaving now Mai, have a good chat with Suki," she yelled out before leaving. She caught a glimpse of Suki's hate filled eyes that glared back at her. Tylee quickly ducked out the room. "I have to get help, or one them is gonna die!" she thought to herself. I only know where cutie's room is though," she deliberated as she started to run down the ridiculously long hallway. "Please be careful, Mai!"

Mai sighed as she finished her tea off. Her rival had finally arrived, and she was kind of relieved it had come down to this. The knife wielder would rather have a straight up fight than wonder when it would come to a head. "Hey Suki," she said casually, "why are you all dressed up? Is the circus in town? If you hurry, you can catch that other clown who just left," Mai dryly joked.

The Kyoshi Fan Master didn't respond as she slowed her approach at Mai's cool demeanor. Suki's blood ran cold at the sight of those amber eyes, inflamed with a loathing she had never seen before in the Fire Nation Lady.

Mai stood up, her right hand covered by her loose sleeve. Slowly and methodically, her eyes tracked Suki, never losing contact with the warrior's blue-green ones.

Suki stopped just shy of a sword swing away. "Let's cut the shit Mai; you know why I'm here," she said as her rage began to build. "I know what you did. Sokka told me, you took real good care of him yesterday."

The corner of Mai's lips turned up into a slight smile. "Suki, you didn't have to get all dressed up to thank me. I'm sure you would have done the same for Zuko, with or without his life being on the line," she replied, the hilt of her long dagger showing.

Suki's jaw tightened. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked as she pulled her fan from the belt.

The tall, dark woman pulled her blade and drove into the wooden table top. "You know exactly what I mean you clown-faced cunt! You come into my room, armed for battle when I saved your lover's life with my own body! While Sokka was in agony and could have died, what were you doing all night? Let me guess, hanging out with your gal-pal, Zuko, am I right?" Mai said in a deadpan manner as she saw the answer play across the warrior's painted face. "Did you at least fuck him?"

Suki was obviously shaken that Mai knew about her and Zuko. "We don't have that kind of relationship, and you know it!" she yelled all too loudly. "I'm his bodyguard and friend, and that's all!" Suki declared as she unfurled the sharp-edged metal fan.

Mai pulled her blade free from the table. "What a load of skunk-bear shit! When does a bodyguard bathe with her master? I know all about your little play dates, Suki," she informed her opponent. "Why do you think I left Zuko the first time? He was spending so much time with you, Captain Tiny-Tits, we were only fucking and sleeping together, and I mean literally. I had his body, but you have his heart. That stupid game sh-should have shown you that last night!" Mai yelled uncharacteristically. "He couldn't help himself when it came to your turn. He had to watch so closely, that even when I spoke to him, he didn't hear me."

"Is that why you fucked my man?" Suki accused her as she circled into the room. "Some sick kind of revenge because you imagined that I'm having an affair with Zuko? I don't know what you've been drinking Mai, but I've never slept with Zuko," she denied heatedly.

Mai sighed through her clenched teeth. "No, if he had just fucked you, Suki, that I could forgive that. He's fallen in love with you. So much so he keeps making excuses to have you stay and attend him. You give him just enough hope to keep him hanging on and still satisfy your twisted sense of honor," Mai declared pointing the dagger at her. "You're emotionally fucking him! I thought when I came back, when he asked me back, he was over you. Apparently, you two still haven't had your fill. He's just been using me for the physical part again. So why shouldn't Sokka employ me as well? At least in his case, it was life and death! A whore is a whore, right Suki?" she exclaimed, countering the Fan Master's movement.

Suki's eyes narrowed as she bared her teeth. "You've got quite the active imagination there Mai," she contended, steadily closing the gap between them. "I told you back then, and I'm telling you now, Zuko is only my friend!"

"Then why do you kiss him on a regular basis or allow him to rub on that washboard you call a chest? Is that performing duties as described? Maybe I should join your little team of dykes! I can get loads of action then!" Mai chided as she made an obscene gesture with her tongue moving against the inside of her cheek. "Who would I have to blow or lick to join?"

"I think you've done enough blowing and licking for awhile, Lady Mai," Suki shot back as she spat on the ground between them.

"Are you challenging me, Lady Suki? Is that why you are all up in my face? If you want to duel than a duel, you'll have." Mai growled as she kicked the table out of the way.