A/N: Written for the prompt 'rules'...so many ideas lately..make them stop..well, not really, but my brain seems to be in super creative and productive mode. Guess I shouldn't complain. By next week it may have atrophied.
Rule Breaker
Toph Bei Fong made a tunnel beneath the gate of her parents' estate. She strutted along, the vibrations of animals and insects and people above all making her body tingle deliciously. Blind she might be, but the twelve year old was more aware of her surroundings than most. The world was her plaything. She could bend and mold and manipulate it to suit her fancy. Toph loved the earth and it loved her back. She was grateful beyond words to have been born a bender. Bending made her whole, though her eyes could not see. Now, if only she could convince her parents of that. In truth, the girl had given up trying.
Her fancy rich girl clothes were back in her room, and Toph wore an outfit much more suitable for nighttime romps. It was laughably easy to escape the confines of the Bei Fong home. Her parents assumed she was safe in her room, tucked in her frilly bed, dreaming sweet little girl dreams. Toph refused to submit to their image of her. Let them believe she was helpless and in need of constant protection. Let them believe she would never be anything but dependent, first on them, and then on some man they married her off too.
The earthbender chuckled. "They have to acknowledge my existence to the rest of world first. Who knows when that's going to happen?"
She had, through the years, attempted to prove herself to her mother and father more than once. But they were the sightless ones, unable to see what was right in front of their eyes. Toph had never been what they had expected of a daughter. She was not what they had wanted. So the girl made her own secret life and pretended for them. Her parents were happy that way, or happier.
Isolation and loneliness were her greatest sorrows now. Toph didn't know what it was to have a friend, to laugh and play with another child. And if she wasn't willing to break even more rules, Toph never would. There was no way the earthbender would allow that to happen. She was in charge of her own destiny and it would be a great one.
Expectations
"Don't upset the princess, whatever you do, Mai. Do you have any idea how fortunate you are? You get to visit the royal palace, spend time with the Fire Lord's daughter. Don't let your old feelings, for Prince Zuko get in the way of your future. He's gone now. Forget about him. Concentrate on her."
'That almost sounds like you want me to start up a romance with Azula,' Mai wanted to reply. But her mother wouldn't appreciate the humor. So she said nothing and did nothing but stare down at the shiny tile floor. Mai could see the tips of her shoes peeking out from beneath her loose, flowing pants. They were good shoes, comfortable and simple, just what Mai liked. And why was she contemplating shoes of all things?
"Are you even listening, Mai?" The middle aged woman crossed her arms and stared sternly at her black haired daughter,
"If there's one thing I'm good at mother, it's listening." She added in a whisper. "Agni knows, you were never interested in what I had to say."
"Your attitude lately has been questionable. You're surlier than usual and sarcastic and you don't seem to care about anything but those knives you play with; those qualities are not becoming a noblewoman. And I'm sure that Princess Azula would appreciate a more willing visitor."
Once again, Mai squelched down what she really wanted to say. She hated the palace without Zuko and the last three years had been torture. She had just about reached her limit. She did not play with her knives. Her skill was considerable and Azula, despite all her faults, acknowledged at least that. Mai did care about some things, just not what her mother wished she cared about.
"Don't worry; I won't put Azula's nose out of joint."
But I won't kiss her ass either. That's Ty Lee's job.
"Fine then; get ready to go." Mai sighed and turned and then mounted the stairs that led to the bedrooms."You know, Mai" her mother called, "there are rules in life, codes of behavior, expectations for people of certain breeding, and if people would only just follow them, everything would flow so much more smoothly. You need to learn that a bit more thoroughly, dear."
Why does everyone have to fit into a stupid box? Why can't I say what I really feel? Why did you always shush me? Why are you so damn worried about what everyone else thinks? Why wasn't I good enough for you?
"Yes, Mother."
No, Mother, not really. One day things will be different for me. One day I won't be smothered, forgotten. One day someone will appreciate me. One day I will know love.
Mai still hoped that someone would be Zuko. How that would happen, she had no idea. When it would happen, she could not possibly know. But despite her cynicism and her blasé attitude, despite the boredom she displayed to the rest of the world, when it came to Zuko and the possibility of a future with him, her faith was fierce. That, she kept to herself too.
