I must begin by announcing that sadly, you are all wrong.
Toph's roommate is, in fact, Iroh.
…
Okay, that was a joke. JOKE, I tell you! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE! LET ME REPEAT IN CAPITALS THAT I'M KIDDING SO YOU DON'T GO AWAY! Phew. Er, not that there's anything wrong with Iroh, other than the fact that I labeled this romance, and…well, you know. Yes, it's Zuko. I saw the way that Toph's father treated her and immediately thought "PARALLELS!" Thus, this fanfic was born. Sadly, this chapter is mostly dialogue, because I'm telling the story from Toph's perspective, and lack of visuals pretty much cuts the action and scenery descriptions in half.
And now, I'd like to take a moment to thank the Little People.
…Just kidding.
Still, thank you so much, all you wonderful reviewers.
To starvoidangel, experiment, anOinteD4eVa826, Kelzu, and The Lost Hibiki: Yup, it's Zuko all right—in all his angsty, teenage glory. I'm so glad you all think I made Toph in character. That's always been a big thing for me, especially with random interactions like these. It's always so much more fun to throw two characters in a room and see how they get along as themselves, rather than if they're…I don't know…high or something. Well, writing it is, anyway. I don't mind reading the occasional bout of insanity myself. I can only hope I have the same luck with keeping Zuko IC. So THANK YOU SO MUCH!
To Gigawolf1: Wow, I'd really rather not think of what he'd do with the flames in there. All the rich 'benders' seem to have slightly complicated pasts—Yue almost died at birth, Toph is blind, and Zuko's dad threw him out. I look forward to reading your story!
To Rashaka: Thanks for the compliment AND quasi-criticism! Yes, I agree with you on their similar backgrounds—that's part of what prompted me to write this. As for the romance aspect, I can see where you're coming from and I agree. When I labeled it "Romance," I didn't mean strictly cute, fluffy, kissing romance (watch me lose most of my reviewers just for SAYING that). The relationship I try to build in this is up for interpretation—I just have issues with labeling my story as "General" because it's too…well…general. There weren't enough laughs to qualify it as "Humor" and Toph isn't about to let Zuko turn it into "Angst." What I hope to get out of this isn't so much a dating relationship as a very close bond. Which can then turn into a more romantic relationship. You know, when Toph is older and it isn't so creepy anymore.
To Moonlight-Milkyway: Yes, Toph and Zuko. Wrong? Hehe. We shall see. Fear my love of random, irrational pairings.
C.A.M.E.O1 and Only: Yep. Yes it is.
The Abriter: Sorry, it's Zuko… I have no problem with Aang/Toph, but this story…isn't. Sorry.
XxLilyNGxX: Yay, someone else who agrees with me! Siblings isn't quite it, but it's similar…I just love how well they could relate to one another. Many thanks for all the compliments!
Heavenly Sword: Yeah, Iroh is amazing…but alas, it is not him. Sorry…but he's sure to get mentioned many a time by Zuko…for he is too awesome to be left out of any story!
And, once again, for I am truly grateful: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
…
Wow, wouldn't it be so depressing if the author's note turned out to be longer than the chapter?
Disclaimer: Yeah, that show Avatar? Not mine. Although I'm probably a big enough loser that I'd write fanfiction for it even if I DID.
The Blind Bandit and the Irate Wonder
Toph sat there for a very long time, listening to the soldiers clanking around in the room above her cell, and the shallow breathing of her unconscious cellmate. The person in question took in the air in ragged breaths.
So, he—she?—had put up a fight.
Good for him.
It was a good half hour before the breathing pattern changed, indicating that her mystery-mate was waking. The prisoner groaned softly, and Toph continued to listen.
Male then, huh?
There was a moment of silence, after which he quietly began to swear. The voice was not deep, though it was still lower than both Aang and Sokka's. Teenager, she decided.
An angry and creative teenager, she amended, as she listened to the profanity. Wow, could you do that with a spear?
Still, her cellmate—whoever he was—provided Toph with three things she craved dearly: attention, entertainment, and sound. Well, maybe not the first one so much just yet, but the third had always been the important one for her, especially since her precious earth had been taken away. The two provided her with the little sight she possessed—images that most of the world took for granted.
Finally, the string of curses subsided, and there was a small lapse before a sudden metallic clang made the earth-bender jerk, startled. A final—and decidedly loud—swear followed before the boy took a step backward and flopped to the ground with an incensed hiss.
Toph pursed her lips shut.
Must resist temptation…he's the only one in here with you, Toph, don't make him angry. Stay still, stay quiet, don't comment, don't say a word—don't do it don'tdoitdon'tdoit—
"Nice vocabulary and all, but I don't think the bars are gonna melt from embarrassment. You might want to try something more productive, like banging your hard head against them."
…Darn. She'd done it. Ugh, she'd spent too many years in the arena—now she was baiting everyone she met outside of the Bei Fong grounds.
"Be quiet." The boy's voice was confident and prideful—and icy cold. But there was a passion burning beneath that feigned indifference, like a flame smoldering under a thin layer of ice. Sooner or later it would burn hot enough to melt that ice, breaking through to blaze in all its temperamental glory.
Yep. This guy was definitely a hot-head.
"Make me," she replied, purposely immature. She turned her head in the direction of the voice, sticking out her tongue and scrunching her eyes shut in a comical, pouting grimace. This was partially to further rile up the boy, and partially to hide the moon-tainted color of her eyes. The last thing she needed at the moment was pity from a fellow prisoner.
"If you force me to, I will," he replied flatly.
"I'd really love to see you try," Toph shot back, purposely turning away from him as she resumed her normal expression and tried idly to pinpoint his accent. He was no citizen of the Earth Kingdom, that much was certain—at least, not anywhere close to her hometown. Likewise, it didn't seem to match what she'd heard of Sokka and Katara's speech—although for all she knew, the members of the Water Tribe in the North Pole sounded completely different. She rather hoped that the latter was true—because if it wasn't, that only left…well…
A sudden blast of heat answered her question and she yelped, darting backward clumsily (cursed metal) until she slammed painfully into the bars on the opposite side of her cell. The blind earth-bender slumped there briefly, wincing at the dull, aching pain in her shoulder blades.
Fire Nation after all. And a bender, to boot. What luck she had.
"Be quiet," the boy repeated, although there was the faintest note of satisfaction added to his voice this time. Toph scowled.
"No," she said stubbornly. "Look, if you want to get all moody and angry and quiet, go ahead, but you're just as stuck here as I am, so don't even think about trying to control me!" She stomped her foot into the ground with an irate finality and prayed he didn't try to roast her again.
"Fine!" he snapped, and there was once again silence.
Toph laced her fingers together and idly began twiddling her thumbs. Perhaps she'd taken it too far. After all, there was only so long she could provide herself with her own entertainment, and voicing her thoughts out loud not only made her sound slightly deranged but announced them to her surly roommate as well.
Speaking of the hot-head, she was beginning to think he was pretty annoying.
"So, you got a name?" Toph asked finally, as desperation born of sheer boredom set in. She made a valient attempt to sound at least vaguely civil. Anything for some sort of conversation.
No answer. The blind girl scowled to herself. Okay, fine. Civil wasn't working. Was he really still upset about a five-second spat they'd had fifteen minutes earlier? Talk about immature.
The scowl morphed into a sly smirk. Well, if civil wasn't working...
"Are you...sulking?" she inquired innocently. "Funny, I'd think that would be below someone like you, but I guess I was wrong..."
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but she could swear she heard him grinding his teeth. She grinned to herself. Oh, this was going to be fun.
"You know," she continued, trying to gage his reaction as she spoke, "if you're not going to tell me your name, I'll just have to give you one. Let's see…what would be a good name for you? Cell-boy…nah, that's boring. Hot Head? Too cliché. Hmm, think, think… I know! The Irate Wonder! Yeah, that would be perfect! It's like a really bad Earth Rumble alias! 'Course, I don't know how wonderful you can be if you got caught by these floozies…"
Snap.
And that would be the sound of cellmate boy's self-restraint going out the metaphorical window. A second burst of heat was exchanged between the cells, and Toph's mouth sealed itself shut.
"What does it take to get you to be quiet!" the boy shouted, his temper making itself known for the first—and likely not the last, if she'd judged him correctly—time.
"Buy me an ostrich-horse," she said instantly.
Silence.
"…You don't have a sense of humor, do you?" Toph sighed in disappointment. Well, didn't that just beat all. Even Sokka the Belt-Stealer could take a joke.
"No," he replied flatly.
"Great," the earthbender pronounced gloomily. "Not only am I stuck in prison, but I'm with a loser." A snarl came from the other cell, and Toph winced. The whole firebending business was wearing thin. "So, um, why don't you just firebend your way out of this, Irate Wonder?"
A frustrated sigh. "Do you really think the Fire Nation would make cells weak enough to be melted by their own benders? And don't even think about referring to me as something so belittling—my name is Zuko."
"I'll call you what I want," Toph shot back, secretly celebrating that she'd managed to extract some information from the obviously stubborn teen. "I'm Toph."
"I didn't ask for your name."
"Well I gave it anyway!" Toph snapped. That creep! Why, if she had even a mound of dirt, she'd show that single-minded, self-centered Fire Nation lackey what bending really meant—Ehem. Well. She didn't. And she'd just have to deal with that, and try not to get fried in the process. Geez, these soldiers didn't really seem to value her much as a prisoner, did they?
"Fine."
"Fine!" yelled the blind girl unnecessarily. She gave a small huff of annoyance, folded her arms, and settled in a corner of her small prison.
Silence once again filled the cell.
…And here I shall end it, due to writer's block and the fact that I've taken several weeks longer than I thought I'd have to on the bloody thing. It's not my fault! …Not completely, anyway. My dad cut the cable line while trimming a rosebush and we've been without internet access for a while. I kid you not.
Hopefully, the next chapter will come sooner, because no one's trimming any rosebushes any time soon, and school is over. So, hurrah.
This story is officially vaguely AU, in light of the episodes The Chase and Bitter Works...oh well. I hope you enjoy anyway. Please review!
Sigh. I really do hope I kept Zuko in character…