Title- Revelation
Rating- M for later chapters
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Summary- Remember when team Avatar split up to find Aang and Momo, what if when Toph goes with Zuko, something happens, something better than Toph's idea of a life changing experience.
A/N- Chapter Seven
Sokka wandered around the palace alone. He stopped for a moment and brushed his hand over one of the towering stone walls. She would be happier here. He thought she would anyways.
He shook his head to clear it before continuing on. He found a double wide doorway and exited the palace onto a balcony. He looked down into the garden seeing Toph, Zuko and three other people there. He watched as Toph sent the other three away before she was talking to Zuko. He didn't hear anything, but he did see how happy she was, he saw how much she loved Zuko. He watched as they kissed before turning away. "Too little too late." he said softly. "I was always too late. I was never there when she needed me, so she turned to him."
He nodded as if to prove a point before continuing his solitary wanderings. A girl no more than ten ran at him, closely followed by a servant that he recognized as Mayana.
"Lexxi!" she called out. "Put that down! That's Zuko's you can't damage it!"
Sokka stepped to the side waiting until the girl got close before reaching out and grabbing onto her arm, pulling her as gently as he could to a stop. "You'd best give that back now." he said.
Lexxi stuck her tongue out at him, letting out a screech as Mayana took her other arm. She wrenched her arm from his grip and threw whatever she had up into the air.
Mayana let out a gasp, reaching out for it as if she could pluck it from the air. Sokka lunged backward and caught it easily, looking over it. It was a small bottle full of some kind of liquid. It looked almost like medication.
Mayana dragged Lexxi over with her as she reached out for the bottle, taking it from Sokka gently. "Thank you." she said.
"Does she do this often?" he questioned.
"Every day."
"Don't you discipline her?"
"I've tried, nothing works." Mayana replied.
At that Lexxi lashed out at a small table, knocking it and the expensive looking vase on it over. The vase shattered across the floor and before she knew what was happening Sokka was kneeling and she was laid over his knee, taking the first spanking she had ever gotten in her life.
She screamed and writhed, but when that didn't work she stopped and just hung limply over the floor. After ten smacks, he pushed her up and stood her on her feet, fixing her dress for her. "Don't do anything like that again, or I will come back to give you another spanking with twenty whacks instead of ten."
Her eyes got wide as saucers and she hugged herself. "I'm sorry." she said softly, close to tears.
Sokka nodded. "Go play then, but don't-I repeat do not- get into any more trouble."
She nodded vigorously and ran off in the opposite direction, toward the library if he was correct. He stood and looked over at Mayana.
"I think you just fixed our problem, although I do sometimes wonder what happened to the sweet little girl that came here." she said.
"You started to spoil her." he replied. "Do you mind me asking whats in the bottle?"
Mayana shook her head. "It's not my place to tell you." she said. "You would have to ask Zuko yourself."
"So I can assume it's not cologne then." Sokka commented.
Mayana shook her head before turning and leaving, probably to put the bottle back wherever Lexxi had gotten it. Sokka sighed, there was the highlight of his day. He shook his head and started off for something else to do, maybe he'd go to the kitchen for something to eat.
-
Toph headed back to her room alone, knowing that Zuko had things to do. She entered the room and immediately noticed that something was amiss. She went over to Zuko's dresser and felt around for a moment noticing that the crystal bottle was gone. She used her bending to feel around on the floor, but it wasn't there either. She was going to summon Mayana with the bell cord, but the door opened when she reached out for it.
Mayana walked in, stopping short as she saw Toph.
"Where's the bottle that was on the dresser?" she questioned.
"Lexxi took it." Mayana replied. "It's right here."
Toph moved forward taking it from her. "She didn't spill any of it did she?"
"No, Sokka helped me get it back from her."
"You didn't tell him what it is did you?" She questioned.
"No, he asked but I told him I couldn't tell him, and that he should ask Zuko."
"Good." Toph said, going over to the dresser and replacing the bottle where it was supposed to be. "Would you please go and find Katara and have her come here please?"
"Yes miss." Mayana replied.
Toph went to sit on the bed as she left, sitting up straight so she could breathe properly with the corset that Mayana insisted she wear. She only had to wait a few minutes for a knock to come on the door.
"Come in." she said softly.
The door opened and Katara stepped in, closing it quietly behind herself. "Is there something wrong Toph?" she questioned as she moved over to her.
"I was just wondering about something." she said as Katara sat next to her.
"What's that?"
"Well I was just wondering if there was any way to well..." she trailed off for a moment. "I wanted to know if there was some way to not feel pain the morning after..."
Katara blinked before realizing what she was saying. "Oh..." she said. "Well there's herbs that you can take that can stop your muscles from aching."
Toph nodded. "Where can I get them?"
"I brought some with me." she replied. "I can give some to you. Do you mind if I ask a question?"
"Okay."
"How bad is the pain?"
"It depends, sometimes it's just subtle, and other times it's hard to even breathe." she replied.
"Can you lay back for a moment please?"
Toph did, stiffly laying on the bed as Katara shifted closer. "So does it come through here, or here?" The healer questioned, running her fingers up the center of Toph's lower stomach, then across.
"Usually it's through here." Toph said, gesturing to a place the shape of a V that trailed up almost to her navel.
Katara frowned. That would mean...- "Toph, do you mind me asking how you..." she cut herself off.
Toph sat up again. "I'm usually underneath." she replied.
Katara nodded. "And is that comfortable for you?"
"Yes." Toph replied. "I would tell him if I wasn't comfortable."
Katara laughed. "I'm sure you would, if you want I can tell you a bit of a secret to make it so the pain isn't quite so intense."
Toph tilted her head. "Okay."
"When you're- making love, instead of relaxing, tilt your hips up, it will relieve some of the pressure." Katara said.
Toph smirked. "I'll definitely try that then." she commented. Her smile faded after a moment. "I have another question."
"Okay, ask away." Katara said, actually glad that the younger girl was opening up to her for once.
"Is it normal to not like being... Touched, up here?" Toph questioned, gesturing at her almost ample breasts.
"I suppose, but why wouldn't you like it?"
Toph blushed, turning away. "Well... It hurts." she said.
"Hurts how?"
"Like an almost raw feeling, like I'm too sensitive."
Katara thought for a moment before it dawned on her. "That's only because you're still growing and developing, it's normal to have a slight uncomfortable or even painful feeling there. Just ask Zuko if he could be a little more gentle, or if the pain is really bad, to avoid the spot completely."
Toph nodded. "Thanks." she said.
"No problem." Katara replied. "You know that you can always ask me anything."
"I know." Toph replied with a smile. She looked up at the door and placed her foot on the ground as Katara turned to see what she heard. "Zuko's coming."
Katara turned to look at her again and saw how her expression, her entire face really, lit up even at the thought of being with him again. "Well then, I'll leave you alone." she said. "I'll see you later."
Toph waved absently as she left, passing Zuko in the hallway.
"Is Toph in there?" he questioned.
"Yes, we just finished having a bit of girltalk." Katara said with a smile. "She knows you're coming."
"She always knows when I'm on my way." Zuko replied.
Katara shook her head and continued on, turning the corner and disappearing down the hall. Zuko continued on to his room, opening the door quietly. He saw Toph sitting in the center of the bed, her fingers picking absently at the covers as she waited for him. He closed the door and covered the distance between them quickly, sitting next to her. He placed a kiss on her lips.
"I hear that you've been talking to Katara." he said.
Toph nodded. "I just had some stuff I needed to ask her." she replied.
"Did she have the answers you wanted?"
"Yes, that and more." she said with a laugh. "You know, she's not so bad when she's not being bossy."
Zuko smiled. "I know."
-
Toph stood in the center of the gardens, the three generals before her. Zuko, Katara and Mayana sat on a bench not too far away, watching.
She paced back and forth for a moment. "Just because fire is light, lighter than air almost, doesn't mean that you shouldn't have a proper stance to keep your center of gravity." She said. "Lue, show the beginning stance for firebending." she said.
He did as he was told and she walked over to him. With one hand she pushed against his shoulder causing him to stumble to the side. "You see? Your center of gravity isn't low enough. Try this pose instead."
She shifted into a beginning earthbending stance, her knees bent, her body low while her arms and hands assumed the traditional firebending position.
Zuko tilted his head, not sure if it would work. He stood and pulled off his firelord robe, draping it over the bench. He went over to Toph, standing next to her before copying her pose. It was strange, but he found that he was more balanced, and slightly heavier somehow. He shifted back into a normal pose, surprised as Toph pushed on the back of his shoulder, almost sending him sprawling. He heaved a sigh and took up her stance again. She pushed on him once more and he found that if he braced his weight with his opposite leg, he could push back against her and stay standing.
She stepped back. "Try firebending." she said.
He did, and it worked. He smiled as he did two or three backflips and landed, his body low and his hands at the ready. Toph nodded with a smile. "Good." she said. "That's all you have to do."
She stood back as the others tried to firebend with a pose more suitable for an earthbender. She tiled her head as Zuko leaned down to talk to her.
She put up her hand. "Stop!" everyone froze. "Katara, come here please." she said.
Katara stood obidently and moved over to her. "Yes?"
"I want you to show them how to do a waterwhip, with fire." she said.
"I don't think that's possible." Katara said softly.
Zuko stood up straight, bringing out one hand while the other moved in toward his chest. With a flourish, he flicked his arm to the side and with a whip-crack a long, thin line of fire was created. The others stared at him in amazement. Toph just stood with her arms crossed over her chest and an 'I told you so' look on her face. "Show them Katara, Zuko can't do it, not in his condition."
Katara frowned, looking over at the firelord to see him with one arm wrapped around his middle just below his ribs. His breaths came in short bursts and for a moment she was worried that maybe he had hurt himself. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her brother show up, looking as concerned as she did. Toph took hold of Zuko's arm, draping it over her shoulders to help him over to the bench. She had hoped for a while that no one would find out, but that hope had been futile. She should have known that he would overdo it.
"Mayana!" she said sharply as Zuko sat down. "Go and get the bottle on the dresser." she said.
Mayana hurried away, coming back not even two minutes later holding the small crystal bottle. She gave it to Toph who opened it. Everyone was surprised as she made Zuko tilt his head back, forcing his eyes open and putting two drops in each. It took a moment for it to take effect but as soon as it did it began to burn.
Zuko leaned forward, closing his eyes and placing the heels of his hands against them. Toph sat close to him, not touching him and soon everyone found out why.
It started slow, and then progressed faster until finally it seemed like the pain was going to tear him apart. Suddenly, just like that, it stopped. Toph leaned in close to him, sensing that his heartbeat was slowing. She placed a hand on his shoulder and said something very softly to which he nodded, standing and pulling on his robe again, before sitting.
"You're sure you're okay?" Toph questioned.
"Yes, I'm sure." he said.
"Toph?" Katara questioned. "What's wrong?"
Toph sighed and stood, crossing her arms over her chest. "His center of chi was damaged when he was hit with the lightning that Azula bent at him. If he firebends too much, or too often the chi begins to block itself causing unimaginable pain. The doctors tell us it's irreversible."
Katara frowned. "I think I know who can help though." she said.
Zuko looked up, something like hope shining in his eyes. Toph's had much the same expression. "Who?"
-
"So wait, you want me to do what?"
"We want you to try to repair the center of chi."
"Well, okay, but I'm not sure if it will work."
Zuko sat back against a high backed chair, closing his eyes as Aang moved in on him. Aang pressed one hand against Zuko's stomach just below his ribs, while the other pressed against his forehead. It took a moment, but Aang entered the Avatar state, calling upon centuries of knowledge. Another moment and bluish white light blinded them all.
When it was all over, everyone stared at the two of them. Zuko had sat up completely, leaning over the arm of the chair, looking like he was about to be sick while Aang had collapsed to his knees next to him. He let out a breathy laugh. "It worked." he said.
At that moment Zuko coughed and everyone, including Aang turned away, hoping that he wouldn't throw up. Toph moved over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He reached up, grasping her hand in his while he tried to catch his breath.
"How do you feel?" she questioned.
"I've definitely been better." he breathed. He coughed again and Toph felt him tense. She grimaced at the feeling, but didn't pull away.
No one said anything else, no one except Mayana moved at all. She placed a pail next to him, just in case and moved away. Toph stood, completely calm and collected waiting. Sokka couldn't help but see how determined she was to be there for him. He stood up a bit straighter, and for once instead of wishing that it was him that she was so devoted to, he felt happiness for Zuko who deserved her much more than he ever would. Finally Zuko sat up, leaning back into the chair with a soft breath. Everyone relaxed knowing the worst was passed.
"You said it worked?" he questioned.
Aang nodded. "I felt the strings reattach, you're as well as you were before." he said.
Zuko nodded. "Thank you." he said softly.
Toph smiled and took his arm, pulling him to his feet. She let him lean on her as she led him from the room and down the hall to their bedroom, letting him collapse on the bed when they got there. It was after supper, they had both eaten well, so she figured that it was okay for an early night. She went and closed the door before slipping on a nightgown, and crawling into bed next to him. She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, before closing her eyes to drift into sleep.
-
It was later that night that she was awoken by him. She turned to face him, surprised when a kiss was pressed to her lips. He moved his mouth down the side of her neck, pulling her in closer to him.
"Zuko?"
He made a soft sound, hooking his hand behind her leg to bring it up over his hip. She consented for some reason, and allowed him to continue. His hand slid up her stomach to gently cup one of her breasts and she was relieved when she didn't feel the normal pain that came with being touched there.
It didn't take long until they were both needing the other more than anything.
-
"How do you love me?" Toph questioned the next day as they sat in the garden waiting for the generals to show up.
"I love you more than anything." Zuko replied.
Toph smiled. "Anything?"
"If I had to choose between loving you and living, I would spend my last day with you." he said. "I wouldn't leave your side for a moment."
She smiled again, laying her head on his shoulder for a few minutes. When she felt the recognizable lumbering footsteps of Cho followed by the flatfooted steps of Lue and the ever light and alert steps of Kaolin she smirked.
"Time to play Zuko, excuse me." she said.
He let her go, crossing his arms to watch what she was doing. She moved out into the center of the path, stepping up a pillar beneath herself.
"Ambush!" she cried.
Cho and Lue seemed confused but Kaolin reacted quickly, dodging off of the path onto another. The other two followed, still confused. He stood quickly and drew an arrow, one with a soft tip that caused absolute minimal impact damage and shot it straight at Toph. It caught her in the thigh and she went down, a smirk on her face before she slammed her hands against the pillar, causing the ground around them to churn and wave almost like they were standing on water. Kaolin dropped lower, shoving Lue to the side with a signal for him to go left. Cho went right. He turned and shot another arrow, actually surprised when she let this one hit her as well, in the shoulder. Because the tips of the arrows left a smear of red paint he knew where he got her, but it also made it hard to see where he should aim for next.
She used her right hand and reached out to the left where Lue lunged at her, a practice sword drawn, aimed for the kill. The blade hit her palm which was encrusted with rock to keep her safe. She grabbed the blade, but Lue pulled it back too fast for her to bend it. She felt the edges of it grate down until they were flat though, but that really didn't matter.
On her other side, Cho leapt out with a practice spear aimed. She leaned back slightly, feeling the blade just brush against her bangs. The sword was swung again and using the help of her bending, she flipped up and over backwards, landing easily on her feet. Cho and Lue both stood in front of her, their weapons at the ready. She was so focused on them that she didn't even hear the soft whistle of an arrow as it flew through the air. It hit her right dead center in the chest, splattering red paint all over her. She stumbled back a step, actually surprised.
She looked up after a moment. "Now think, was that teamwork? Did you all do what you could to take me out?"
Kaolin stood, putting his bow back. He didn't even have to reply, Toph already knew that he had. He'd taken the lead and managed to get in the killing shot. The other two both replied with yes, but Toph knew that the only one who had really gone out of his way was Kaolin.
She turned away from them and walked out to the center of the garden square, standing silently. "Kaolin." she said.
He stepped forward. "Yes General?"
"I want you to stay after the others leave, I have something I want you to do."
He nodded. "Yes General."
-
It wasn't a long training session, and when Cho and Lue left, Toph stayed behind with Kaolin.
"It means a lot to me that you're actually trying." she said, turning her back on him. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome General." he replied.
She nodded. "Because you aren't a bender, I had some people scour the country to find two people I met a while ago. A girl by the name of Smellerbee and a boy by the name of Longshot. The boy is one of the best archers this world has seen, and while he was injured in an accident, he can still shoot as well as he ever could. He doesn't talk, so you'll need Smellerbee there so she can tell you what he's saying. You will be training with them from now on, under my supervision of course." she said.
Kaolin seemed at a loss for words at first before he dropped to his knees and bowed low to the floor. "Thank you." he said. "I have heard of Longshot, it is an honor to have him teach me."
Toph turned and crossed her arms. "Stand up." she said. "This isn't some kind of court."
Kaolin stood. "Thank you again."
She nodded. "You will still be coming to my training sessions, but once that's over, you will train with them for one hour." With that she turned and left.
-
Smellerbee clutched Longshot's hand in hers tightly, looking around at the huge palace she was in. "We're in the firelord's home." she said again as if she couldn't believe it.
Longshot nodded, reaching over with his opposite hand to squeeze her shoulder gently. She let out a breath. "You're right, we aren't at war anymore, I should calm down."
He smiled slightly and led her further into the hallway where they were met by Mayana. "Welcome." she said warmly. "Lady Toph and Firelord Zuko are expecting you."
They followed her up a flight of stairs to a sitting room. "Is there anything I can get you? Something to drink or eat maybe?"
Smellerbee looked at Longshot who shook his head. "No, we're fine thanks." she said.
"Very well, they are waiting for you inside." Mayana said with a smile before she turned and left.
They turned to the extravagant wooden door and walked inside, seeing Zuko sitting in a chair by the fire with Toph standing at his side, speaking to him softly. He stood when he saw them and a flash of recognition passed through his eyes. "Um, welcome, please sit."
The two of them stared at him for a moment before doing as he suggested, sitting together on a small couch near the hearth.
"You've been summoned here to help us with a cause." Toph said, pulling Zuko back down into the chair.
"What cause?" Bee questioned.
"There is a band of rebel former firenation soldiers terrorizing the earth kingdom and the firenation alike. We need your help to take them out." Toph said.
Smellerbee's hand tightened on Longshot's as a tremor of excitement went through her. She looked at Longshot out of the corner of her eye, seeing a spark flare to life in his eyes. He wanted to help as well. "What's the catch?" she questioned.
Toph smiled. "No catch, I just need your help, Longshot's to be precise. There is an archer among my men who needs training. He's good, but not nearly as good as you."
Bee looked over at Longshot to get his reply. His brown eyes rose to meet hers and she knew the answer. "He can't." she said. "He can't shoot anymore."
Toph smiled again. "As it happens, we have a healer here who can repair any injury no matter how old. I believe you know her rather well."
She reached out and pulled a cord that the other two assumed rang a bell somewhere and not a minute later Mayana entered the room with Katara close behind her. Smellerbee shot to her feet. "You!"
Katara looked away. "I'm sorry-" she was cut off as the small girl launched herself at her.
"For what? You gave the two of us a new life." Bee said, backing away when Longshot pulled on her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close, nodding in agreement. "You helped us more than anyone else." Bee continued.
Katara blushed. "I heard that there's something else I can do to help you."
Longshot nodded and Smellerbee stepped to the side. "It's his shoulder, it was badly injured on the day when Jet died, he can hardly use it now, neither one of us knows what could be wrong. He should be able to move it."
She reached out and hooked her fingers under the hem of his shirt which to anyone else would seem strange until they realized that he couldn't even remove his shirt because of how debilitating the injury had been. She helped him pull the shirt up and over his head, folding it over her arm as Katara stepped forward.
"Tui and La..." she breathed.
She reached out, pausing for a moment to look at Longshot who nodded. She brushed her fingers over his shoulder, or a place where a shoulder had been at one point. Now it was just a swathe of ragged scars and badly healed flesh. She pressed at a few points, seeing that the bone was in it's proper place. The cartilage however had thickened which explained the limited motion. She moved around behind him, looking at his shoulder blade which also seemed to be damaged. She let out a breath.
"It's going to be painful, but it is fixable." she said.
Smellerbee smiled widely and tossed her arms around Longshot's neck. His good arm encircled her waist, lifting her up almost right off of the floor. He looked down a her, raising one eyebrow. She looked over at Katara.
"What about the muscle, when it's repaired will it be as strong as it was, or will he have to build it up again?"
"It will be as it is now. There's a lot of strength in that arm, as much as the other one even, it's just unusable. He hasn't lost any muscle tone in that arm at all." Katara replied.
"When can we start the healing process?" Toph asked with a clap of her hands.
"Now if he wants." Katara said.
Longshot was in the process of having Bee put his shirt back on so all he could do was nod before she pulled him down and started fretting over him. He rolled his eyes with a sigh and Bee began explaining what he couldn't.
"He's annoyed because ever since he got hurt I've insisted on caring for him. I haven't left him since that day."
He crossed his arms and stood up straight, raising his eyebrow again with a smirk.
"Oh right, and we're married and expecting our first child."
He rolled his eyes again and she laughed as everyone went quiet, surprised. "I'm kidding, we're not married."
He tapped the underside of her chin with the pads of his first two fingers, a seemingly clear way of telling her to stop playing around. She wrapped her arms around him. "Okay, so we are married, but I'm not pregnant."
Toph laughed. "Congratulations." she said. "I hope that Oma and Shu will bless you both with a happy marriage." she said.
Zuko looked up at her. "As well as Agni and Kai." he said softly.
Longshot nodded at them both.
-
It was later when Toph heard something. She wasn't sure what it was, but it sounded like someone was in pain. She followed the sound to the 'medical room' also known as the place the doctors went to look over patients that lived in the palace. She stood in the doorway, hearing Bee and Katara talking softly. Another person, who she assumed was Longshot let out a breath.
Katara stood over him, concentration on her face as she tried to heal his shoulder. It was much harder to do than she had first thought. The old wound was stubborn, there was an inflexibility in it that stopped it from reforming itself. She smiled slightly after a moment as one of the scars began to fade and finally disappear followed by another. When the scars were gone she stopped to let him breathe. It seemed to be really painful. Perhaps even more than she had first thought.
Bee sat by him, her head resting on his stomach and her hands both clutching his. Her eyes were closed tightly and Katara knew that look. The look every loving girlfriend or wife got when their love was in pain.
She started again, this time to reform the muscle. It was easier than the scars had been, and it was over much more quickly. Finally it was time for the worst part. She had to repair the cartilage and set it back to the way it had been.
She started, closing her eyes as she concentrated hard. Longshot let out a yell of pain, one of the few sounds he had ever made in front of anyone. Bee lifted her head quickly, reaching up to hold his face in her hands. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his expression drawn in pain. For a moment Katara thought she couldn't do it, but then, with a pop, the cartilage repaired itself.
She stepped back and returned the spirit water to a small flask on her belt. With that done, she let out a sigh and finally noticed Toph standing in the doorway.
She had flagged down one of the servants as they passed, telling him to go and get the finest bow he could find in the armory. He did so quickly and now it was leaning against the wall outside.
She cleared her throat and Bee and Longshot turned to look at her. She reached to the side and brought out the bow, holding it by her side. It was nearly as tall as her, and was black elder wood with intricate silver designs. She smiled. "I believe you need this." she said.
Longshot stood from the table he'd been on and lifted his arm smiling as the strength returned to it. He walked forward and took the bow with a nod which Toph 'saw' and returned. He looked it over, grabbing onto the handle and holding it out, slightly crooked to the side. He reached out and pulled back the string, smiling.
Smellerbee smiled as well, it was great to see him back to normal.
-
It took a few days, but soon Longshot was back to his elite archer self. After that, he started training Kaolin an hour a day. Kaolin was a quick learner and seemed to be doing well. They started him off with the more simple targets and within a week he could shoot the rocks that Toph threw high into the sky. His only downfall though was that unlike Longshot, he couldn't figure out how to shoot more than one arrow at once.
Longshot tried to show him, but it never seemed to work. One arrow would catch on the others and throw them off, or send them into a sideways roll to the ground.
Two days into it Longshot finally gave up. He strapped the bow to his back and walked away leaving Kaolin confused and slightly ashamed. Bee stayed behind.
"Don't worry, he's just frustrated, he's always been so good with that bow that he doesn't understand that it can be hard for others to learn as quickly as he can." she explained.
Kaolin nodded, not sure what else to do. He stood for a while, Toph a few feet to his left as she waited. He tried to remember exactly how Longshot had held the bow. It was always tilted slightly to the left so the arrows could rest easily on it. He frowned and lifted his own bow. It was in no way even close to as grand as Longshot's and he doubted if it ever would be, but it was his and that was what mattered. He tilted it to the left to the same degree as Longshot did, but the angle was too slight for him, the arrows just slid down the bow shaft. Another few degrees and the arrows lay still. He pulled back the string with three notched arrows seeing that none of them moved even the slightest up or down. He let them fly and Toph had to smile as she felt his heart skip when they all hit the targets with three nearly consecutive thumps.
There was a soft sound and someone began clapping. Kaolin turned to see Longshot standing maybe twenty feet behind him, a look of approval on his face as he clapped slowly.
Bee stepped up. "He says that there are some things that he can't teach you. Things you must learn on your own. Everyone has a different comfort pattern, yours just happens to be deeper than his." she explained
Kaolin nodded. "Thank you." he said.
Toph sighed. "There's still fifteen minutes of practice."
Longshot stepped forward, his hand raised. He pointed at the targets and then took out an arrow, he spun it between his fingers for a moment before notching it. Bee watched him expectantly, wondering what new trick of mastery he had to teach. He brought the bow up, pointing it directly at Kaolin, flicking it up and to the side.
"He wants you to stand in front of the targets." Smellerbee said.
Kaolin frowned. "Why?"
"Just do it." Toph said. "He's not going to kill you."
Kaolin did as he was told, spreading his arms out to the sides and closing his eyes. The first arrow hit just above his head and he opened his eyes to look up just as another hit only inches above his shoulder. Another hit above his forearm and another at the end of his hand. he stood, not sure what to do. When Longshot stopped he had five arrows around each of his arms above and below the shoulders, forearms and at the tips of his fingers, as well as four at his legs around his thighs and calves two at his waist and one above his head.
His heart was beating so rapidly that both he and Toph worried that it might just give up. He stepped forward and turned to see the arrows. He finally realized what Longshot had done when another flew past him to hit directly in the center of the chest area.
"Are those-?"
"Weak points." Bee answered before he could voice his question. "If you hit any one of those areas you can take down, or even kill your opponent."
Longshot nodded and reached out to take her hand in his. She looked up at him and although he was leaning on his bow staring at the targets, he was talking silently to her. She turned away with a blush, and stared at a patch of flowers. He smiled slightly, before letting her go to strap his bow on again.
The training session was over for today, after was dinner, then they had some time to themselves. They stopped by their room on the way to dinner, and Longshot put his bow away in the corner.
Dinner was served by Mayana who seemed much happier. Toph pulled lightly on the hem of her shirt. "What's going on?" she questioned.
Mayana smiled. "The doctor came by just today and said that Lexxi could go back at the end of the week."
Toph smiled and let out a sigh of relief. "Finally." she breathed making Zuko laugh.
Smellerbee and Longshot turned to look a him, never having heard him laugh before. He stopped and looked down at his plate, being firelord usually made him the center of attention, but he wasn't used to it in his own home.
-
After dinner the group went their separate ways. Toph and Zuko went to their room. Katara and Aang went to waterbend in the garden and Suki went to watch them. Sokka went to the library and Mayana went to her own quarters. Bee followed Longshot to their room, not surprised when he closed and locked the door.
He turned back to look at her and she smiled. "What did you have in mind?"
His eyes flashed and she stepped forward toward him, her hands sliding slowly up his chest to his shoulders. She tilted her head back with a smirk and he leaned down to press a kiss against her lips. She brought one leg up, hooking it on his hip. He slid his hand under her thigh and held her in place as she lifted her other leg slowly, her foot sliding slowly over the outside of his leg. Even after all this time, he had to marvel at her strength, her complete control.
He reached down with both hands, holding her up as he walked over to the bed. He dropped her onto the soft covers smirking as she glared at him, before reaching up to take his shirt off. She began to disrobe as well, dropping her clothing on the floor.
She looked up as the soft feathered tip of an arrow slid over her bare thigh and had to smile as it tickled the sensitive flesh slightly. The arrow slid up her stomach and between her breasts to rest against her cheek.
She grabbed onto it, wrenching it from his hand, a dangerous smirk on her face as she swung it. It connected with a sharp sound, and she could see a red line well up on the side of his face.
He grabbed onto her wrist, twisting almost painfully until she had to let go of the arrow. He took hold of it and threw it across the room, roughly throwing her to the floor. She landed on her back, a smirk still on her face even as he descended upon her.
He shoved her to the floor, his weight holding her down even as she struggled. He grabbed hold of her wrists, pinning them to the floor as she tried to shove him off. He placed his lips over hers, biting into her lip to force her to open her mouth. She fought against him, feeling him push himself between her legs.
She wasn't sure how he did it, but without letting her go, he pushed his way into her and she let out a muffled scream of pleasure with mingled pain. He didn't stop, he didn't even pause before he began to thrust into her.
She pulled her mouth away from his and threw her head back with a cry. It wasn't always this way between them, in fact, he usually preferred to make love, slowly and gently, but she knew that this time she'd managed to anger him.
It didn't take long for him to return to his normal ways either. He let go of her wrists, resting his hands on the floor as his pace slowed and became less brutal.
"It's okay." She said gently, wrapping her arms around him as he silently apologized with actions rather than words.
One of his arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her from the floor carefully as they were still connected before pulling out of her and standing to move over to the bed. He laid her on the mattress and re-entered her when she was comfortable. She let out a breath and arched her back up into him.
The pace was slow and easy, and the room became filled with his breathing and her soft moans. She could feel each of his breaths wash over the side of her neck and shoulder, just as he could feel the way she tensed with each thrust.
It didn't take long, another few minutes perhaps for them to find release. She let out a soft cry of his name, while as always he was virtually silent.
He pulled out of her and lay back onto the bed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as she lay her head on his chest. "I love you." she said softly.
He smiled and said the only words that ever escaped from his lips willingly. "I love you too."
-
"Battle tactics aren't easy to fabricate, it takes time and energy to know exactly what you want to do and how you're going to do it."
Toph sat back as Zuko spoke to the generals. He had more expertise in the tactics side of war, while she knew the fighting part. She listened to what he had to say, then stood as he began to explain the plan. She stood next to him, happy that he was going with her.
After the plan was all laid out, the generals left with a three day time period to do what they wanted until they had to leave.
Zuko and Toph continued to talk over the plan, not surprised when the rest of the Gaang offered to come along.
"Suki, you have to stay here." Toph said, crossing her arms.
"I can't stay here when there's fighting to be done." Suki cried indignantly.
"You have to, there's no way that I'm going to let you come with us when you could get hurt and-" Toph paused.
Suki stared a her, her mouth open slightly. How did she know? No one else, not even Sokka knew. "I have to go Toph." she said gently.
Toph shook her head. "No way." she replied in a finalizing tone.
"How did you know?" Suki breathed when the others were talking.
Toph smirked. "Not many people have two heartbeats." she said.
She walked away then, toward Zuko, standing close beside him, reaching out to lace their fingers together. He smiled slightly, but didn't break away from the conversation with Aang.
Suki stood off to the side, knowing Toph was right and hating her for it. How could she not be allowed to go to battle with them? She was a warrior for spirit's sake! She sat down heavily on a nearby bench, her hands moving softly over her stomach.
She looked up as Toph reappeared.
"I want to talk to you."
Suki stood and followed the younger earthbender down a garden path to a small stone bridge that crossed a small and yet deep stream. Toph stopped, leaning on the thick stone railing of the bridge, staring blankly into the water.
"You don't know how lucky you are." Toph said softly.
Suki frowned. "What do you mean?" she questioned.
Toph smiled wistfully. "I always wondered what it would be like. How it would feel to have life growing inside you, to feel the heartbeat and know that you and someone you loved made the precious child within." she paused for a moment. "I want his baby, but I can't have one just yet. It's too soon after the war. He has a responsibility to his nation and his people that he can't put off at the moment."
Suki stared down at her reflection. "I'm sure that he would want nothing more than that." she said. "I'm sure that he would want to have a child, to have someone other than you to lavish with expensive gifts and the attention a baby needs and craves."
Toph smiled. "As I said before, you have no idea just how lucky you are."
Suki stood straight. "Well then, if her Ladyship tells me that I must remain here in the palace keep to await the end of the battle, I will surely do it." she said.
Toph nodded. "I would have made sure you did anyways." she replied before standing as well. "Now, please tell Zuko that I have retired to bed. If I am not wrong I would say that it is late evening?"
"Quite late." Suki replied, looking around the darkening garden where servants were lighting a few torches.
Toph nodded and turned, walking into the palace. Suki returned to the group, relaying the message to Zuko in a very soft tone that none of the others heard.
"Is there a problem Firelord Zuko?" one questioned.
"Not at all it just happens that my lovely wife has left us men alone to talk business while she prepares for bed. I don't suppose I should leave her for too long." he said with a slight smile.
"You know, as firelord you are allowed to take more than one bride." another commented.
Zuko frowned. "And why should I need another wife, my entire heart and soul belong to your Lady Toph, and that is where they should rightly be. It wouldn't be fair to her or to any other woman if I were to marry again. Toph would be jealous and angry while the other woman would be forgotten and completely neglected while I tried to plead my case to Toph. I don't think I will ever take another wife. I don't need one." he said before taking a step back from the group. "Now if you will excuse me, I will be taking my leave, you're dismissed."
-
Three tense days later found Toph standing silently in her changing room, her arms spread out to the sides as Mayana strapped light metal armor onto her small frame. Zuko had the best blacksmiths in the firenation make the armor the two of them would wear. The best tailors had made the light clothing that went beneath the armor.
Toph stepped out of her room and she could feel the hearts of many of the guards speed up with recognition. Her armor was much too similar to Azula's to be of comfort. She waited in the grim silence for a few minutes before Zuko joined her, his armor much like what he had worn before, only it was somewhat more formfitting and less showy. He took her hand in a tight grip, leading her down the hall to the warchamber.
Cho, Lue, and Kaolin were already there, along with Katara, Aang, Sokka, Suki, Longshot and Bee.
Everyone stood silently as Toph began to speak.
"I don't expect everyone to come out of this unscathed, I don't expect this to be won without a fight and I don't expect anyone to get hurt too seriously." she said, letting go of Zuko's hand. She stepped forward with a sigh.
She bowed her head for a moment, surprised when someone began singing.
"fly high across the sky from here to kingdom come, fall back down to where you're from. Don't you fret my dear, it'll all be over soon, and I'll be waiting here for you..."
There was the sound of the others shifting as Toph looked up. "Thank you Suki..." she said softly. "I'm sure you will be here."
-
Everyone began to file slowly out of the room, and Toph was the last to leave Suki there. She paused at the door.
"run, run, run away, buy yourself another day. A cold wind's whispering secrets in your ear, so lonely you can hear... Run, run, run and hide, somewhere no one else can find. Tall trees bend and lean pointing where to go, where you will still be all alone..." she sang softly, smiling as Suki shifted in surprise.
Chapter seven. Please review.