Title: A Night Out
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar...sigh, if only!
Date: Monday, June 11
Summary: slight MengLee/Sukka/Taang, Postwar-Gaang Wins, response to Masako MoonShade's The Three Bachelors Challenge A Fortune Teller. A Crush. A Warrior.A Blind Master. A Rumble and a Contract. A night out, all together...What could possibly go wrong?
Notes: Thanks again to Kimbalynn616 for betaing for me!
Also, I hate to say it, but this story is winding down. Next chapter is going to be the last one! But! If I get enough feedback for it...I plan on writing a sequal! Yays! I didn't get as many reviews as I wanted for the last chapter, but I decided to post this anyways...Be happy!
Toph banged her head against the metal wall behind her. A metallic ring echoed through the small cell. Actually the cell design was very similar to the Dai Lee's…go figure. But, alas, she was still so bored."Bored, Blindy?"
Toph glared blankly in his general direction. She knew that he was leaning against the other side of the metal cell they were in. She just had to pick up exactly where he was. The girl frowned in concentration; her perception wasn't as clear through metal as it was with rock. She often had trouble figuring out when something was placed. It was a whole lot easier to blow things up (Sure, it worked when the Dai Lee had captured them,) but blowing up the jail wasn't exactly the best way to get the guards to believe that they weren't assassins.
Toph grinned when she finally found Fonzu. She banged her head against the wall behind her. A monstrous indentation formed in the wall to her right, followed by a high shriek and a bout of coughing. Toph figured he had been stuffing his face with the doughnuts all the law officers got free. It probably had sprinkles on it too! They never did get to have dessert…
Suki looked up at the large cavern that had been formed. Toph seemed to be spacing out, but Suki could see the smirk forming on her lips. She sighed and shook her head, listening to the shouts coming from the other side of the cell. Well, he did deserve it.
Meng paused in scraping her cup against the bars of the cell. Fonzu and the Officer in charge were in front of the bars. Fonzu's eyes held a freakish glint in them and the poor commander looked about as confused as ever. Fonzu also had pink frosting on his face. Meng was too dazed to bother laughing at him.
"What in Agni's name is going on in here!?" Commander Ching growled. He looked over at the dent in his previously perfect cell, "How? Who did that!"
Snickering could be heard from the back of the cell, and, no surprise, everyone turned to see Toph. A large smile planted on the girl's face.
"You!" Fonzu shouted his hands wrapping around the bars to the cell. Ching looked slightly frightened.
"Calm, boy. Word has been sent, and soon the Fire Lord will be here to sort things out." Ching sighed, trying and failing to loosen the boy's grip on the bars. Then the man blinked and turned to stare at the girl in the corner, who had continued banging her head against one of the walls; How in hell did she do that?
It was about now that he concluded that if all rebel assassins were young girls who could bang holes in metal walls at will, Fire Lord Zuko was sure as hell screwed.
"Zuko's coming!?" Meng gasped. Ching and his men stared in disbelief at the twelve-year-old.
"How dare you insult our Lord with such disrespect!" Fonzu shouted, "And you!" Fonzu glared at Toph. Toph didn't even bother looking up.
"Hey! Hey, look at me when I yell at you."
"Does it really make that much a difference for you Marbles?" The young girl asked
"Why, you little—"
The door burst open to reveal Fire Lord Zuko, surrounded by two of his elite guards. Ching scurried away from the bars and pushed his men out of the way so he could bow to the Fire Lord properly. Fonzu sneered at the group before walking up next to Ching.
"My Lord." He swept into another bow. Toph just rolled her eyes and went to sit next to Suki.
"What is the meaning of this?" Zuko asked with all the authority he had when he was simply a prince, times about six.
"Fire Lord Zuko, I have much reason to believe that the three girls that are at the moment being contained are indeed trained as-"
"What happened to that wall?!" Fonzu turned to look at the wall that had pounded him to the ground and made him choke on his strawberry doughnut with jimmies.
"Sir, we are not exactly sure, but the people in the cell are ass-"
"Hey! Princey! Get us out of here will ya?!"
The guards were angered with Meng, but the men were shocked with Toph.
"How dare you speak to our Lord with such-"
"Fonny! You're not from the Fire Nation. Get it through your thick skull!"
"My Lord, I must apologize for their insolence; they ar-"
"Lady Bei Fong is that you?!" Zuko asked, one eyebrow rose as he saw the smirk on his 'adviser's' face.
"Yup!" Toph grinned and nudged Suki in the side. Suki just groaned. Toph stood up dusting herself off.
"Were you the one who did that? Why?!" He didn't even need to bother waiting for her first answer.
"He was annoying."
"He was annoying, so you destroyed the wall." Zuko groaned rubbing his temples. He motioned for one of Ching's men to hand him the keys.
"Yeah, pretty much!"
"Are Suki and Meng in there, too?" He asked in exasperation. One of the guards handed him the keys. Fonzu was staring from the Fire Lord to the Rumble Champion…er, Lady Bei Fong.
"Right here." Suki replied standing up, she helped Meng to her feet. The girl looked about ready to fall asleep where she stood.
"In Agni's name, how did you end up labeled as assassins?" The man asked opening the cell door. Toph stepped out first, arrogant as she glared at Fonzu. Suki had her arm around Meng's shoulders, and she led the girl out. Zuko shook his head at the three.
"Sorry I'm late! They had the most wonderful glass drag…why, Lady Bei Fong? Ladies Suki and Meng? What on Earth are you doing here?!" Iroh asked looking between the people surrounding him. Ching and his patrol quickly bowed at the retired general. Elgo elbowed Fonzu harshly to get him to bow.
"Hey, Iroh." Toph replied easily. She walked over to the table the men had been sitting at and stole one of the doughnuts. Mmm, that was good. Fonzu narrowed his eyes…it was a strawberry frosted and…jimmie covered.
"What? Why? How?!" Fonzu stuttered.
"Again, how did you get labeled as assassins, Toph?"
"Who says we aren't assassins?" Toph laughed, licking frosting off her fingers.
Zuko stared at the younger girl and shook his head, "I wouldn't put it past you."
"…Neither would I." Toph shrugged.
"You three want to kill Zuko?" Iroh cut in.
"Maybe a little bit." Toph replied, he had, after all, forced her to go out with those two. Iroh patted her on the back and nodded,
"Not in public, please." Toph pouted.
"My Lord, I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience we've caused--"
"Speak not of it. You reacted accordingly. No harm will come to you nor your men."
A collective, relieved, sigh echoed through the small jailhouse.
"Can we go back, now?" Meng groaned, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Suki smiled and squeezed her shoulders.
"Sure, Meng. Are we allowed to leave now?" Suki asked looking up.
"Yes, of course. Would you like an escort?" Ching asked Zuko.
"No, we'll be fine." Zuko replied turning to his uncle. Iroh seemed to have discovered the doughnut table.
"Ahh, yes nephew. Good day to you!" Iroh laughed. Toph was reminded how much she loved this guy.
"Oh crud!"
Toph dived behind Iroh's bulk; Zuko's elites glanced at each other in confusion.
"Why, Miss Toph, what's the problem?"
Toph shushed him desperately. Zuko stared at her. Suki was the only one who seemed to spot the problem. She nudged Meng and pointed at the noble standing by the fountain with suspicion.
"You guys have got to hide me!" Toph hissed. Iroh tried to turn around, but realized that the girl would just dodge down again. He sighed, slumping slightly.
"Why do you want to avoid him so bad?" Meng yawned, not up for running around again.
"Why do you think? He still thinks that Aang kidnapped me!"
"You're scared aren't you?" Suki laughed, "You're scared of talking to your dad!"
A tremor caused Suki to stumble slightly, she only fell because Toph grabbed her ankle. Meng looked down at the two. Zuko was beginning to wonder how their night really went. Iroh desperately wished that he wasn't the one they were hiding behind.
"Him? He's one of the nobles from the southern provinces." Zuko said, looking up at Lao Bei Fong.
"Yeah, well he's also my dad! How could even think of inviting him here!?" Toph growled.
"Hey, don't blame me. I didn't know, and I had to invite everyone."
"Zuko! Last night he passed out when he saw me!"
"Yeah, that's true. The servants thought he was dead." Suki added. Zuko paused and turned to look at her. Meng was slumped on her shoulder.
A thoughtful pause surrounded the group, before…
"Why don't we just walk past him?" Meng yawned. The group blinked and shrugged. Toph bit her lip and nodded, she'd have to face him eventually.
"Why, Fire Lord Zuko is that you?" Lao Bei Fong asked, walking over to the group.
Meep!
"I've had a question to ask of you ever since I arrived. You wouldn't believe, what I thought I saw last night!"
"Lord Bei Fong, a pleasure…" Zuko gave him a curt nod, ignoring Toph.
"And who are these lovely ladies?"
"What? Oh, oh yes, this is Suki, the Kyoshi Island ambassador, and Meng, Madame Wu's apprentice."
"Ahh, enjoying the sites, girls?" Lao asked, looking them over closely. He could've sworn he'd seen them before.
"Oh, yes! Yes, the city…is very beautiful. Right, Meng?" Suki asked the girl next to her quickly. Meng snorted and looked around,
"Huh? Wha…oh! Yeah, okay." She replied, slightly confused. Lao blinked at the yawning girl.
"Homesick?" He asked her, "It does take time to adjust to a new bed, yes?"
"Meh," The tired girl shrugged. Toph dropped a small rock on Zuko's foot. It took all of Zuko's strength not to whirl on her.
"Speaking of homesick! I thought I saw my daughter last night!"
"Daughter? You never mentioned a daughter." Zuko replied.
"I didn't? Oh well, she was kidnapped about two years ago by the Avatar and his friends."
"Kidnapped? Well, you could always ask Avatar Aang. Anyways, I'm sorry, but I need to get back to work."
"Of course, of course, M'lord--Why, General Iroh! I'm sorry, I didn't even see you there!" Lao reached a hand towards Iroh, and he hesitantly shook it. He also felt Toph stiffen behind him. It was a wonder that she hadn't been caught yet. Yet.
"Hi you guys! Toph? Why are you hiding behind…Iroh." Aang stopped when he saw Lao Bei Fong turning around to face him, creepingly, slowly.
"You!" The man shouted stalking over to the fourteen year old. Aang glanced desperately between the group, before taking off Airbender style.
"Get back here, you little hooligan!" Lao Bei Fong chased after the boy, producing a cane from out of his long sleeves.
The small group absently watched as the almighty Avatar was chased around the fountain; that is until Toph pushed Iroh forward with, "Hurry, guys! We can save Aang from my dad later!"
The group was shepparded up to the palace by the desperate girl. But, alas, escape would never come so easily.
"Owowowowow!!!! I didn't do anything! Please, help! Someone help! Ow! Stop that! Zuko! Help me!" Toph looked back at her friend and bit her lip. She cringed when she felt him whacked with her father's cane. She groaned/growled at them, and stomped over to two of the men she, unfortunately, had in her life. She wasn't too lucky when it came to the men in her life.
She pushed her father roughly away from Aang. The Avatar still seemed to be cowering next to the fountain, but he looked up when he felt the forceful presence of the woman he loved.
"Stop beating up Aang! Honestly, what are you some crazy old man?!" She shouted at him. Aang eyed him warily as he stood up straight.
"RAWR!!!" Lao lunged at his daughter's boyfriend, it didn't seem to register that he was also lunging at his 'kidnapped' daughter.
"DAD!!! Get off of me!" Toph happened to be pinned between Aang and her maniacal father. She pushed and managed to get her arms securely between Aang and her father. Before Lao could do anything, his feet were bended firmly in place. The man huffed slightly with exertion, and it was about now that Toph took note of the crowd her father had managed to stir up. Toph blushed slightly.
"Toph? Is that you?!" Her father didn't seem crazed anymore, but Toph didn't want to take a chance.
"…Yes…"
"What do you think you're doing!"
"Trying to stop you from murdering my boyfrien…I mean, friend…that's a bo-"
"BOYFRIEND?!?"
Toph cringed at her father's voice. So did everyone, even Zuko!
"Boyfriend?" Zuko asked the girls next to him in a whisper.
"Long stor- stor- stooory" Meng yawned, watching the scene.
"Yes, daddy. Aang is my boyfriend." Toph sighed, rubbing her temples.
"WHAT?" Aang was starting to not want to be a part of Toph's family so much.
"Listen Dad, please? I'm not a baby. Me and Aang have been friends for two years! I ran away! Aang didn't kidnap me. I left. I was sick and damn tired of you babying me! Dad, I'm a war hero now! Do you know what that means? I haven't just been sitting around and eating, dad. I've been doing something; I'm fourteen! And I love it! Dad, I get to travel the world and make a difference. I'm even more important than you are now! And I want to keep traveling with Aang." She ended, looking at her father, desperately not wanting to be contradicted.
"You…are alone with this boy unchaperoned?!" Wow, did she call that one or what.
"What?! Daddy, he a monk for darn sakes! And we're fourteen!"
"What does being a monk have to do with traveling?" Aang interrupted the father, daughter talk. Everyone present slapped his or her foreheads. Lao stared at him.
"My point!" Toph exclaimed.
"Okay, enough with this. We all have work to do. Let us settle this later." Iroh interrupted. Toph hesitantly undid her father's feet, grabbed Aang's wrist, and dashed up to the palace, passing the rest of their group. The two were followed inside, but Suki stopped for a moment and looked down at Meng.
"Ewww! Meng's drooling on me!!!"
Maybe she wouldn't want kids too soon…