Chapter 5 - Journey
A/N: Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for not updating last week. I'm really busy with schoolwork and in light of my recent grades, I probably won't be able to update weekly anymore... Anyhow, thanks to all readers, subscribers and reviewers! I really appreciate them! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA, although I wish I did.
"Come on, Toph. Rise and shine and all that nonsense!"
"Oh, leave me alone, Sunshine. It's too early for you to come out," Toph aimed a pillow in Mai's direction.
She faintly heard her pillow smack something. Allowing triumph to fill her, she tugged up her blanket to her chin.
"Honestly, you're practically blind without your feet on the ground," Mai said as she pulled away the sheets. "This is the first time I've seen you so eager to stay in bed."
"I am blind!" Toph lashed out, finally sitting up.
"Actually, y'know what? I don't really care. Now get dressed. You and Zuko were supposed to set out early today."
"Tell him it's cancelled then," Toph scowled, remembering what day it was today. "I'm going back to sleep."
"Oh no you don't. The Fire Lord took a few days leave specifically for you. You should feel honored."
"Yes, tell him I'm honored and all," Toph nodded. "But I choose to humbly reject his goodwill. Now leave me alone!"
Mai gave an exasperated sigh. "I wonder how the wealthy Bei Fongs put up with you."
"With loads of luck. Now get out!"
"… Fine. I'll be back in ten."
"Get out get out get out! I'm not going back to Gaoling!"
Zuko frowned. She certainly wasn't such a handful during the War.
"Come on, Toph. I promised Uncle to take you to see your parents. Even you would know Uncle means you well," Zuko tried to reason with her.
"He's too caught up with all that spiritual stuff! I don't need that!" She gave a muffled scream from underneath the pillow.
Zuko folded his arms and looked at Mai who was just behind him. She gave a shrug. He walked into Toph's bedroom and set himself next to her.
"I know better than anyone that you want to see your parents again."
"Pssh! What do you know? You're taking up my space. Go away!"
"When I was around your age, I lost my mother to the Fire Nation, my country," He ignored her and continued, dropping his volume a little. "Till this day, I still yearn to see her. I'm sure you long to see your parents again."
Toph opened her mouth for a counter but fell short. She had stopped her kicking as well. He knew then he had her attention. He studied her as she curled up even more, the ball she made shrinking in size. Heh… Cute.
Zuko's eyes widened. What was he thinking…?
"I don't, alright, Sparky? Leave me alone!" Toph had recovered.
Zuko scowled in response. He had to try something else then.
"Well, fine. If that's the way you want it. I can't imagine it though, really. Toph Bei Fong? Scared of going home?" Zuko added with a grin, "Wow."
"The great Blind Bandit is scared of nothing!" Toph abruptly stood up, towering over him.
"Oh yeah? Prove it."
Toph gave him a stunned look. She fell into his trap and she just realized it. "No!"
"Hm? Mai, you heard what she said. I guess that means her tournament privileges are revoked."
Mai gave a rare smirk. "Yes, I should suppose so. I'll inform the people."
She made to walk away from the door before she was stopped by a pillar Toph created.
"Wait! Alright, I'll go! Now get out! I need to dress."
As he closed the door, he gave Mai a small smirk.
"You really have a way with her."
"Comes with practice, I suppose."
"Nervous?" Zuko asked as he settled in.
"Tchah! Not at all," Toph turned away as she said so. "Would Sunshine be coming?"
Zuko laughed a little. "No. She will be staying to handle the state matters in my place, along with Uncle."
Toph frowned. "I'd prefer it if Iroh came instead of you."
"So would I, honestly," Zuko said, although it was only half-true. He decided needed a break from work. "Although, if I do recall correctly, I do owe you one life-changing fieldtrip. Take this short one as compensation."
"Oh yeah? How about that compensating for that lousy performance you put up last week?"
"Gladly. Just don't damage my ship."
"No promises, Sparky," Toph grinned as she unraveled the packages of stones she brought along.
She sensed Zuko ready himself. She could almost imagine those dancing flames that Katara used to describe to her circling his fists.
They circled each other before Zuko made the first move. A direct attack. Again. How boring.
Wait a minute. Did I just say "how boring"? Sunshine's getting to me. I really need to stop talking to her.
She easily blocked it by striking him with a boulder a lá Toph. Sadly, he dodged it with equal ease. The boulder flew off to the side of the ship, denting a part of it before dropping into the sea. Well, that was just collateral damage or something… Toph shrugged. No biggie.
"TOPH!"
"What?" Toph asked innocently.
"Look at what you did to my ship! Just repairing that will cost a fair sum!"
"I can't see, you idiot!" Toph hollered, sending another boulder straight for Zuko. "Anyway, it's just a dent! Don't be such a scrooge!"
" 'Dent'?" He repeated. " 'Dent', you say? It's a bloody hole!"
She was tempted to metalbend the ship just to get the upper-hand, but was timely reminded that her survival depended on the ship's wellbeing. She scowled.
Where was he? I can't sense him. ... Wait.
She felt her boulder land slightly offmark from where she intended. He's in the air!
She summoned a pair of rocks to block his attack. She felt him drop to the floor. Alri-
He landed a kick on her legs, knocking her off her feet. The sudden cut in connection caused fear to flash through her mind. Toph shook away those thoughts as she got to her feet again. She chewed her lip as she swept the dock of the ship. Just a few of the crew members...
A tap on the floor. There!
She restrained herself from smirking as she hurled another rock into the air, in the direction she heard Zuko. She waited for confirmation. She knew it. It was a fake. She lobbed the boulder she held at ready in the correct direction.
"Oof!"
She heard him groan as she walked up to him.
"Time to call it quits, then?" She grinned, folding her arms.
"Mm.." Zuko continued sitting down on the floor of the ship, lifting one of his hands to wipe off his sweat or something. Toph stayed silent, waiting for an answer.
"Not quite." He dropped to his back, lifting his legs and swinging for a kick.
Crap! Toph hurriedly took a stance, but she couldn't receive it.
She felt herself be thrown into the air before being hit again, feeling the air in her lungs get knocked out of her.
She gasped for air, as she felt herself sailing some distance away from where she stood earlier. She felt her hair trail along with the wind, her hair bun unravelled by it. She flailed, trying to feel for a rock-hard surface to come into contact to.
She couldn't see anything.
"TOPH!" Zuko screamed as he ran to the side of the ship, watching as the small figure fell into the blue mass of waves.
He should've known. He used too much strength. Immediately, he regretted it. That was a dirty sneaky trick unbecoming of the new Fire Lord.
He grimaced as the words that resounded in his mind struck true to his heart. He fumbled as he pulled out his boots hastily.
"Sire...?" An observing guard asked concernedly.
Zuko pulled out his vest, ignoring him.
"We'll save her, if you wish, sire!"
"I wish," He answered finally. "To save her myself."
He flexed his arms a little before diving into the sea.
He closed his eyes almost in reflex. The water stung his eyes. If only Katara was here...
He shook his head, reminding himself to focus on the task at hand. He squinted, scanning the area. He could only hold his breath for so long... Let alone Toph.
"Go frolic with the turtle ducks or something. I'm too busy to spar with you today."
"I can't swim, Sparky! Get that in your noggin'!"
Soon, he spied a green and yellow patch not too far from him. He boosted himself towards the figure. He stopped abruptly as he reached Toph. She was curled into a ball, barely breathing, and a tangled mess of black hair. Sorry... He pulled her towards him, clutching her close to his chest before he swam towards the surface.
When they both broke the surface of the water, Zuko continued to tread water. He pushed a few wet clumps of Toph's bangs away from her face.
"Hey, Toph. Wake up," He told her, shaking her.
She was silent. The sense of urgency in him grew, quickly swimming towards the ship and ordering the crew to pull Toph up. He climbed up himself, hoisted onboard by the crew. He scrambled for Toph, who lay on the deck, unmoving. She needed to be resuscitated. One of the crew members motioned towards Toph before Zuko stopped him.
"I'll do it."
"That was a great lunch!" Zuko announced, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Of course you did. Not the one with a rib broken after some CPR, are you?" Toph grumbled, crossing her arms.
Zuko frowned. He did feel guilty about it. However, she should be reminded that if it wasn't for him, she'll probably be on the floor of the sea, already dead.
"Sire! We're here!" A servant hurried over to the pair sitting at the table.
"All right. Let's go, Toph," He said, determined to change subject.
Toph didn't reply.
"Having second thoughts? Too late," Zuko told her. "Come on."
He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her up from her sitting position. She was deadweight. A small lump of rock was thrown against his shoulder. He winced in pain, that was the same spot she injured earlier during the sparring. Come on... He told himself as he gripped Toph even tighter.
"Let go!"
"Oh no, my hearing is quite bad lately. I think you said 'let's go!'" Zuko smirked. "Alright then. We will."
He tossed Toph over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, causing Toph to shriek in horror. Zuko never thought there would be the day he would associate Toph with the word 'horror'. What an achievement.
"I can't see! I can't see! Let me down!" She rained down punches on his back.
"Oof!" Zuko yelped. "I'll put you down once you agree to meet your parents! I'm walking on a very narrow bridge from the ship to the dock. If you make me lose balance, you're going to fall into the sea."
The pounding stopped. Zuko smirked. He took his time to stroll down the walkway, humming to himself softly, resulting in a weak but annoyed punch from Toph.
"We're across," He announced. "So is it a deal? Tomorrow you will accompany me for a visit to the Bei Fongs."
"… Deal," Toph huffed. "But don't think I'll make this easy for you, Sparky…"
"TOPH!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. "Get your lazy ass up!"
"Who are you? Don't annoy me, stranger!" Was her reply from behind the door.
Zuko crossed his arms in frustration, his face reddening in annoyance. He was going to give her thir- No, ten seconds to get up and open the door.
Ten…
"You know who I am, Toph," He growled dangerously.
Eight…
"Nope!"
"I'll break this door down, I swear!"
Six…
"You don't scare me the least!"
Four…
"You wouldn't dare, anyway!"
Threetwoone!
He wouldn't even need firebending for this. He raised his fist to slam through the door.
"Excuse me, young man."
"What?" He snapped.
He turned to face a irate middle-aged woman. She frowned disapprovingly.
"If you forget, this is my inn, run by me. You have no right to go around breaking down my doors and disturbing the other inhabitants!"
Zuko's eyes widened in fury. Does she not know who she is speaking to? How dare she- Then he glanced down. Oh right, he had changed into his Earth Kingdom clothes. He was planning on keeping this trip low profile anyhow.
"Yeah! It's six in the morning!" Someone from another room shouted.
He clenched his fists and scowled. "My apologies. My friend and I are heading towards Gaoling and wish to set out as early as possible. She hasn't seen her family in a while and really wants to get going. It's just that she's a little lazy…"
"Hey! I heard that, Sparky!" Toph shouted.
"Make that 'very lazy'."
The woman's features softened a little. "I see. The road to Gaoling from here will take at least a quarter of a day, even with the ostrich horses. I'll leave you to your… Morning call. Just keep your volume down."
"… Thank you."
I wasn't kidding when I said I would make things difficult for him. Toph sniggered.
She felt for the window of her room and stuck her head out for a bit. She inhaled the morning scent of the area.
She hated to say it but… It's good to be home.
"Toph! We gotta leave now!"
"I don't want to, alright, Sparky? There's nothing you can do to make me leave with you!"
"You made a promise yesterday!"
"Yeah! I did! 'Tomorrow' doesn't mean I have to leave now!" Toph yelled.
"… Oh yeah? I bet you're really hungry, aren't you? Our dinner yesterday was rather early in the evening."
As if on cue, Toph's stomach grumbled. Shut up! Toph ordered her stomach, giving it a smack. It was quite a soft grumble anyway, Sparky didn't hear it. There wasn't any chance of him winning this...
"Hah," Zuko gave a knowing laugh.
"I don't care! I'll starve if I have to!" Toph's cheeks grew hotter. She refused to let Sparky win this one.
"Fine. Innkeeper! Can I have a bowl of that delicious congee you just made?" Zuko shouted.
Toph clenched her fists in response, spitting on the floor just to show how determined she is to maintain her stand.
Argh! She's so irritating! Zuko thought as he dipped his fried dough fritters into the congee before munching on it.
"Where's your friend?" The innkeeper asked.
"In her room," He answered.
"I'll fight this till the end!" He declared darkly.
A smile played on the innkeeper's lips as Zuko gave her a strange look.
"As much as I can't have you two being a nuisance, your interactions are quite entertaining to watch," She admitted.
"Tch," Zuko muttered, swallowing another morsel of congee.
"Oh! You're finally out. Great. Let me prepare a bowl for you. Just wait here," The innkeeper got up suddenly and hurried to the counter.
He was downing the last bit of his breakfast before he sensed someone taking a seat at his table.
"The seat's taken," Zuko told the person. How rude.
"I honestly don't really care, Sparky."
He looked up immediately to find Toph's scowling face, glaring in his general direction. She was in her 'Blind Bandit' outfit, as she calls it. Judging from it's state, Toph wasn't keeping it well-maintained. Zuko frowned.
Then, the smell of the innkeeper's congee wafted into his nose. Toph's eyes lighted up again, as they did when he proposed that she stay in his palace and on the day of his coronation.
He let out a small chuckle.
"What?" Toph frowned. "Don't think you have won yet, Sparky."
"Oh, I wouldn't dare."
A/N: Yes yes, I know what some of you might say, 'filler'. I just wanted to flesh out Zuko and Toph's (current) relationship and interactions a little more. Uhm, well. That's all I can think of saying right now. Thank you for reading once again and please review! I'll appreciate it a lot! (On a side note, if anyone can think of a better metaphor for Iroh to use in the previous chapter, please do tell me! Thank you!)