Toph fingered the garments until she came across the one that felt like the dress that Katara had tried on earlier. She took to the dress to Zuko, who was standing at the counter and being impatient. He hated shopping and was acting like he was allergic to the whole shopping process. He had taken Toph with him on this particular mission because she was least likely to waste time "just browsing". Also she had assured him that she knew what dress Katara wanted, despite her blindness. Toph always remembered texture and this dress felt as silk smooth as touching a waterfall. Perhaps that was why Katara had loved it.

Zuko got a bit disgruntled with the sales lady. She was under the impression that the dress was for Toph. The one that they had was way too big. Zuko explained that it wasn't for Toph – but then he started to worry that it was too big... If he got Katara a dress that was too big she would think that he was trying to say (through oblique dress form) that he thought she was fat. Zuko already had no idea what to do in the 'does this dress make me look fat?' conversation, but he knew that honesty was NOT the way to go.

Oh geez, he didn't actually try honesty did he? It was Zuko. Of course he did.

Well, no wonder Gloomy was always in such a bitch mood with him.

Eventually Zuko gestured for the sales lady that they wanted a dress to fit a girl who was this tall and had a waist this wide and a "this area" (he meant boobs) that was apparently this big. Well well well, for someone who had claimed vehemently that he wasn't looking at Katara in that way – he certainly had been paying enough attention to know her measurements.

Zuko and Katara were having one of their weird fights about nothing (again!) and he wanted to get her a peace offering.

Toph had been fighting a lot with Zuko...but not about nothing. The whole airship ride they had fought about Gloomy hairbuns and about his general ineptitude with decisions. They had never really argued-argued. But they argued on the airship all the time.

Toph was only trying to help him, but he just took it the wrong way. He was so frustrating!

They'd had their biggest argument ever and she'd called him an fucking idiot and he'd called her an annoying brat...and they hadn't spoken for at least two hours. Toph was helping him with this ridiculous dress buying mission as a peace-offering of sorts.

After Zuko had taken the dress and paid the lady, they walked back up the the Palace together. He seemed to notice that she was a bit more sudbued than usual. he poked her in the shoulder and asked her awkwardly what was wrong. At first Toph denied that there was anything wrong – but eventually she fessed up that she hadn't liked how much they had been bickering lately. She said it with as many shrugs as was humanly possible – so she could properly indicated that she wasn't bothered.

Zuko halted for a second, and then he also started the shrugging game. He wanted to show that he wasn't bothered either. He offered, in an abashed tone "Well, you know, I bicker with you...but that's what families do. How often do I bicker and fight with Uncle about the hedgehog song?"

Toph felt something warm and comforting in her chest when he said that. At first she couldn't put her finger on it. But then, quick as a flash, she knew exactly why. She asked "Did you just call me your family?"

Zuko started to make his usual awkward utterances – but he didn't take it back. It had been something that had just been unsaid between them. They were like family. Iroh said it all the time, but Zuko rarely used the word family at all. But the fact that he did now to describe Toph...well it made her glad, deep in her heart.

Toph gave him one of her trademark affectionate punches and told him "Don't say anything more – you'll ruin the moment" with as much affection as her voice could contain.

Zuko seemed to feel as much affection as she did right then. She felt his big hand give her hair a ruffle and he said "you're such a brat" with a great deal of amused fondness. Toph replied that he was an idiot with equal warmth.

"Don't get mushy on me now" Zuko replied cheekily, and she gave him another punch. She could practically feel how big he smiled in response.