Chapter Text
A few months had passed since the chaotic showdown with Taga and the Denied. The academy was back to its usual routine, which meant the training yard was filled with the familiar sounds of metal clinking and students complaining.
"I'm just saying, I hate being left in charge." Ho Tun groaned. "Every time Sifu Toph leaves, the beginners try to test us."
"Will you stop complaining?" Penga sighed and crossed her arms. "It's an honor that she trusts us to run the place."
"It's not an honor, it's a chore." The Dark One muttered with a flat expression on his face. "Her students act like total imbeciles the second she leaves the courtyard."
Sun stepped into the huddle wiping sweat from his forehead after a heavy training session. "What are you three talking about?"
"Sifu Toph is leaving again." Ho Tun complained and threw his hands in the air.
"What for?" Sun asked curiously.
"Because I was asked to go to Republic City with Aang and the rest of the team." Toph’s voice emerged as she walked onto the training yard, her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. "And while I'm gone, these three idiots are supposed to keep the roof from falling down."
Sun looked between the trio. The Dark One looked resigned, Ho Tun looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole, and Penga looked like she was ready to knock both of their heads together.
Sun smirked and cracked his knuckles. "I could help keep this place in line while you're away, Sifu. Give 'em a little extra motivation."
Toph grinned and nodded her head in approval. "I like the attitude, Sun. See? Why can't you three be more like him?"
"No way!" Ho Tun exclaimed. "Sun's training sessions are brutal!"
Penga swiftly swung her leg out and kicked Ho Tun right in the shin. "Shut up, Ho Tun!"
"Ow! Stop kicking my shin!" he yelled, hopping on one foot.
Without even looking, Toph flicked her toe and sent a small pebble striking his other shin. "Stop crying."
Sun let out a low chuckle.
Before Ho Tun could complain any further, Lao's voice called out from the main office. "Toph! Come here a moment before you head out!"
Poppy stepped beside him with a warm smile. Over the last few months, things between Toph's parents had taken a massive turn for the better. Lately, the two of them have been almost inseparable. Her mother now lived here in the academy with them.
There was a real chance her family was actually getting back together.
Toph turned back to her four students and flashed them a grin. "Alright, I'm off. Try not to destroy the place while I'm gone. Oh, and by the way, a few new students are supposed to be arriving sometime tomorrow, so make sure they get settled."
Ho Tun groaned louder and buried his face in his hands. "More beginners? Sifu!"
Toph just laughed and turned her back on his complaints as she walked away across the courtyard. She marched up the steps to the deck where her parents were waiting and leaned against the railing. "What do you need, Dad?"
Lao looked down at her with a skeptical expression on his face. "I just want to make sure you are actually going to Republic City, and that you haven't invented another secret mission."
Toph let out a loud laugh and waved her hand dismissively. "Relax. I can assure you I'm not lying this time."
As if on cue, a massive shadow swept over the training yard. A heavy rush of wind batted at their clothes as a loud bellow occurred. Appa dropped out of the sky and landed with a loud thud right in the center of the courtyard.
Ho Tun shrieked in surprise, and all four students scrambled backward in awe, staring up at the giant flying bison as he shook out his fur.
Lao stared at the massive beast, the sight confirming his daughter's story. He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Alright. I believe you."
Poppy looked toward the bison with a wide smile, then turned back to Toph. "Don't be gone too long, sweetheart."
Toph smiled. "Don't worry. It'll only be a few days."
Katara stood up in Appa’s saddle and waved happily the moment she spotted Toph on the deck. "Hey, Toph!" she called out over the wind.
Toph gave her parents one last nod before heading back down into the training yard. She climbed into Appa's side, and reached out for Katara's hand. Katara pulled her up, and Toph plopped down into the comfortable leather saddle.
"It's good to see you." Katara said as Appa took off into the air, his massive tail steering them toward the horizon. "Aang wanted to come pick you up himself, but he got stuck in Republic City. There's some council meeting about a group of local criminals, but he should be done by the time we arrive."
Toph leaned back against the edge of the saddle and crossed her arms. "Where's Sokka and Zuko?"
"Sokka is already in Republic City," Katara explained. "He’s been staying there for a couple of weeks, trying to get wealthy merchants to invest in his newest invention."
Toph scrunched her nose up in skepticism. "That always goes well."
Katara laughed. "As for Zuko, he’s taking his Fire Nation airship with his guards. Apparently, the Grand Chamberlain insisted that he travel with a full crew. He was furious because the last time Zuko traveled alone, he went missing for five days."
Toph snickered to herself. She remembered that trip perfectly. Zuko had flown solo to help her find her mother, only to end up crashing the airship halfway to Gaoling near Senlin Village. When Fire Nation Soilders showed up at her academy to look for him, Lao explained he was in the Fire Nation. That caused a whole investigation to find the missing Fire Lord while the two of them were travelling to Gaoling on foot.
Since Zuko had kept the details of the trip quiet, Katara and the rest of Team Avatar were never told the full story.
Katara blinked, looking confused as to why the mention of Zuko going missing was making Toph giggle so much. She always laughed at the weirdest things so she easily brushed it off.
When they reached Republic City, Katara looked down in awe. She lived there but seeing her own city never failed to amaze her.
Toph just leaned lazily against the leather saddle with her arms behind her head. "So," Toph said casually, breaking the silence. "Did you ever tell Twinkle Toes about the baby yet?"
Katara gasped and her face instantly flushed bright red. She gripped the edge of the saddle, completely taken off guard. Toph had known about the pregnancy since the last time they saw each other. With her seismic sense, Toph had easily picked up the tiny second heartbeat inside Katara's stomach.
"Toph! Shh!" Katara hissed and looked around nervously even though they were high in the air. She took a breath and sighed. "No... I haven't told him yet."
Toph raised an eyebrow. "Why not? It's been months."
"I've wanted to tell him so many times," Katara admitted. "But with all the rebuilding Republic City needed after Taga and the Denied, and now these new criminals causing trouble... Aang has been overwhelmed. I didn't want to distract him."
"Distract him?"
"I know he’s going to be absolutely thrilled," Katara explained with a heavy sigh. "But I care about him too much to pile more onto his plate right now. You know how Aang is. The exact second he finds out I'm pregnant, he is going to become super overprotective. I don't want to overwhelm him when the city needs the Avatar so badly."
Toph shrugged, completely unfazed. "Eh, makes sense. Personally, if I ever got pregnant, I wouldn't tell a single soul until the kid pops out."
Katara stared at Toph in disbelief, though Toph couldn't see the look she was being given. "Toph, you can't just hide a pregnancy for nine months."
"Watch me." Toph smirked and crossed her arms stubbornly.
Katara rolled her eyes with a soft smile. "Anyway, the real reason I called a Team Avatar reunion is because I want to tell everyone together. I'm going to break the news to Aang with all of you there for support."
"Well, you better do it quick before they find out on their own," Toph warned and leaned forward. "Seriously, that kid's heartbeat is getting loud. It's practically thumping against the saddle."
Katara laughed and shook her head. "Toph, not everyone can hear an ant's heartbeat from a mile away. I think my secret is safe for now."
Appa touched down on the grassy courtyard of Air Temple Island. Katara and Toph climbed down from the saddle and headed inside, where Aang, Sokka, and Zuko were already gathered around a large wooden table.
Inside, Sokka was mid complaint about the food. "I'm just saying, Aang, a man cannot live on a vegetarian diet! My warrior spirit needs meat!"
Zuko sat quietly beside him, respectfully eating the meal Aang had offered without a single complaint, though he looked exhausted by Sokka's complaining.
The moment the doors slid open, Aang's face lit up. He immediately stood up and rushed over to greet Katara. "Katara! You're back!"
As they walked in, Zuko’s eyes instantly landed on Toph. Toph’s milky white eyes remained unfocused as usual, but her heels planted firmly against the floor, mapping out the room.
"Hey, Toph!" Aang greeted happily, stepping over to give her a quick hug.
Toph smiled and patted his back lightly. "Hey, Twinkle Toes."
Sokka waved his spoon from the table. "Hey, Toph! Thank goodness you're here. Do you want to sneak out into the city later and find a place that actually serves real meat? Because I am starving."
"Sure." Toph replied with a shrug.
"Hold on, no sneaking out yet." Aang interjected and turned to the group with an excited grin. "I want to show Toph around Republic City with everyone first. The city has grown so much since we last traveled together."
Toph walked over to an empty chair and sat down, leaning back lazily. "You do remember I'm blind, right? I can't exactly see the view, Aang."
"Well, yeah, but I thought you might really like the new bending tournaments they're hosting." Aang suggested.
Toph tilted her head, looking mildly interested. "Like the Earth Rumble?"
"It's similar," Aang explained and nodded his head. "But it's completely legal, and there are strict safety rules."
Toph’s interest quickly vanished. "Not interested."
Aang blinked, confused. "What? Why not?"
"The satisfying part of an underground match is hearing the bones snap." Toph said and she waved a hand in front of her blind eyes. "I can't see so the best part is when I hear people get hurt. If there are rules and safety nets, it's just boring."
Aang opened his mouth to argue, then he shut it again.
Katara chuckled softly and stepped in to save the conversation. "How about we go to a hot spring instead? There’s one nearby. It would be really nice to soak in the hot water and relax while we all catch up."
Aang’s face instantly brightened. "That sounds like a perfect idea! Let's do that." He would have agreed to absolutely anything Katara suggested.
"I can get behind a hot spring." Sokka agreed and stretched his arms over his head.
Zuko offered a quiet nod. He was willing to go along with whatever the group decided.
Toph dug her pinky into her ear and twisted it around before casually flicking away what she found. "Fine." she grumbled, though a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
When the group walked ahead to get on Appa, Toph waited a moment and stood back to let Aang, Katara, and Sokka head out to the courtyard first. Once the others were ahead, she slowed her pace, knowing Zuko was right behind her.
A familiar smirk played on her lips as she tilted her head toward his heavy footsteps.
"Hey, Sparky," Toph greeted him casually. "How's it been ruling a nation?"
"Exhausting." Zuko replied bluntly. Then he stepped past her and moved toward the flying bison.
Toph followed him, expression faltering. As they reached the side of Appa, Zuko automatically reached out and helped her climb up into Appa's saddle.
The hot spring was a beautifully designed building surrounding a steaming oasis. The woman working at the front desk was from the Fire Nation and she clearly knew Katara well.
"Welcome, Katara." The woman said warmly.
The layout of the place was divided into two paths, one leading to the men's changing area and the other to the women's changing area, both ultimately leading to the hot spring.
Katara took Toph by the arm and guided her into the women's locker room. The space was warm and filled with the scent of eucalyptus and the hum of rushing water from the springs. As they changed out of their clothes, Katara smoothed her hands over her midsection, and looked down anxiously.
"I hope my stomach doesn't make it too obvious yet." Katara murmured.
Toph was already wrapping a towel around her body. "Are you going to tell everyone once we get out there, or what?"
Katara sighed. "I want to. I'm just waiting for the right moment."
"Well, sitting around sweating in the locker room isn't going to make it any easier." Toph pointed out as she walked over to wait by the heavy wooden door that led out to the springs.
Sokka's voice and the sound of Aang jumping into the water carried through the walls.
"Sounds like the guys are already in." Toph noted.
Katara reached up and quickly gathered her long hair. "Go ahead, Toph. You don't need to wait up for me. I'll be out in just a minute."
Toph nodded and she reluctantly stepped out of the changing room and into the humid fog of the outdoor hot spring.
Aang and Sokka were already laughing and splashing each other. Toph heard the whoosh of Aang waterbending a small wave into Sokka's face.
"Hey! No fair. You can't use bending!" Sokka sputtered and shook the water out of his hair.
Zuko, however, was completely silent. Toph couldn't hear him moving at all, but she could hear his steady breathing. The second she stepped out onto the stone deck his breath caught for a split second before returning to normal. Even without her sight, she could feel his eyes on her.
Their relationship became rather complicated over the last few months. Standing on the docks in Yu Dao, they agreed that they were going to remain friends, but they both knew it was an excuse to avoid a reality they couldn't fix. The line between friendship and something more had been crossed enough times to prove that.
Toph ignored the awkwardness and chose a spot next to Zuko. The water was incredibly hot. As a firebender, Zuko barely seemed to notice the heat, but Toph had to ease herself in slowly to let her skin adjust to the temperature.
Once she settled into the pool next to him, she let out a breath and leaned back against the stone wall. "How does anyone soak in this boiling soup for fun? It feels like I'm being cooked alive."
Zuko crossed his arms. "My uncle does. He says it clears the mind."
Toph nodded understandingly. She knew Iroh well enough to picture him happily drinking tea in a place exactly like this.
Then she stretched her arms out along the stone ledge and slid a little deeper into the water. She kept her head tilted back and made sure her hair stayed dry and out of the water.
Zuko watched her absently, eyes following the slow rise and fall of her shoulders as she breathed. She was wrapped tightly in a thick white towel that stopped just below her collarbones. Without her usual tunic, he could see how strong she looked. She was muscular for a woman but as an earthbender it made sense.
His gaze drifted up to her face next. With her head tilted back against the ledge, her sightless eyes were half lidded and relaxed. A few dark strands of hair were covering her face.
He kept his arms crossed against his chest. "So, how's your academy holding up?"
"Same as usual." Toph replied.
Zuko shifted in the water. "And your mom? How are things with her?"
"Things are going great, actually." Toph said, her lips curling into a smile. "She and my dad have been spending most of their time together when he isn't working."
Zuko matched her expression. "That's good."
Before they could dive any deeper into the conversation, the heavy wooden door clicked open, and Katara finally stepped out of the women's changing room, her hair neatly braided. Across the oasis, Aang froze the second he saw her.
Sokka used the opportunity to splash Aang in the chest.
"Ha! Gotcha!" Sokka cheered.
Aang completely ignored him, attention fully on Katara now. He happily walked over to the edge to greet her as she slipped into the pool.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Ugh, seriously, those two give me the major oogies." he muttered to himself. Then he swam across the hot spring to join Zuko and Toph.
The second Sokka's feet touched the stone floor near them, Toph pointed a finger in his direction. "Don't even think about splashing me, Snoozles. If a single drop gets on my face, I'm throwing you out of this spring and into the nearest wall."
Zuko kept his arms crossed, his expression deadpan as he added, "Same goes for me."
Sokka threw his hands up defensively and sat next to Zuko. "Geez, relax. I'm just sitting down."
Zuko barely turned his head to look at him, but he asked him a question to make Sokka at least feel included. "So, Sokka. How have things been going with your investors?"
That was all Sokka needed to start retelling his week. "It’s been a grueling process, but I really think I'm making progress with this one wealthy guy. I showed him the blueprints for the Sokkacycle!"
Toph let out a heavy huff and blew a stray strand of hair away from her face, already slightly annoyed.
As Sokka rambled on, Toph's brow furrowed. She cut him off mid sentence. "Wait, hold on. If the whole thing is balanced on just two wheels, how does it not just tip over the second you stop moving?"
"Aha! Excellent question, Toph!" Sokka exclaimed. "You see, it relies entirely on the rider keeping their feet balanced and maintaining momentum!"
Zuko frowned. "That still doesn't make any sense. If a person stops pedaling they'll fall to the ground."
Sokka shook his head dramatically. "You guys just don't have the vision of a true inventor."
Eventually, Sokka stopped talking.
A wave of relief washed over the other two. In perfect unison, both Zuko and Toph let out a sigh and leaned their heads back against the smooth stone wall.
Sokka paused, his eyes darting between the two of them. He raised an eyebrow, suddenly realizing that Toph was sitting oddly close to Zuko who absentmindedly was tracing her smooth skin with the tips of his fingers.
Sokka narrowed his eyes. "Why are you two so close all of a sudden?" He questioned.
Zuko pulled his hand away and cleared his throat. Toph didn't move. Her face was flushed but Sokka couldn't tell if she was blushing or if it was from the hot water.
"It's not 'all of a sudden,'" Zuko said evenly. "Yu Dao is close to the Fire Nation."
Sokka raised an eyebrow, but he let it drop as he looked across the pool. He watched Aang and Katara float close together, and then looked back at Zuko and Toph. Sokka let out a heavy sigh. "I really miss Suki."
Toph tilted her head. "What happened to Suki?"
"She leads the Kyoshi Warriors." Sokka explained, slumping back against the wall. "She's always busy."
Toph mumbled under her breath, "Yeah, I know a thing or two about that."
She was referencing Zuko's endless schedule as Fire Lord, and Zuko immediately shot her a glare. Of course she couldn't see it, but the sudden shift in his breathing warned her enough. They had agreed that no one else in the group could find out how many times they crossed the line between friends and more than friends.
"Honestly, your lives sound boring. Meetings, teaching kids... sounds like a drag."
Zuko took immediate offense to that. "My 'boring' life is the only reason another war hasn't broken out, Sokka. Keeping the peace requires constant diplomacy."
Toph scoffed loudly. "And teaching is definitely not boring! You should see how I run my academy. If they aren't bruising, they aren't learning."
"Being an inventor is where the real fun is at." Sokka countered proudly.
"Uh huh, sure it is, Snoozles." Toph said sarcastically. She leaned forward with a proud smirk on her face. "If you want real excitement, you should have been in Gaoling a few months ago. We busted a gang together."
From across the pool the words caught the attention of Aang and Katara. They stopped their quiet conversation and swam a bit closer.
"Wait, what?" Aang asked.
"They were trying to hold my mom for ransom in a quarry near Gaoling." Toph explained. "The leader was this guy named Sihan, and he could bloodbend."
Katara’s posture stiffened at the mention of bloodbending. She had made it illegal.
Toph continued confidently. "Zuko and I took them down, freed the hostages, and then stayed behind to make sure every single piece of gold was returned to the families."
Aang particularly showed interest in Toph's story. With the growing crime in Republic City, the city desperately needed authority, and an idea sparked in his mind.
Before Aang could say anything, Toph changed the subject. "Anyway, I think there's something Katara wants to tell everyone."
Katara was taken off guard, her face flushing as she shot Toph a fierce glare.
But before Katara could speak, Aang interrupted, thinking Katara was on the same page as him. He leaned forward and looked at Toph. "Toph, what if you established an official police force here in Republic City with your metalbenders?"
"Woah, what?"
Sokka looked over, his eyes wide with excitement. "Wait, that's actually a great idea! Way less boring than just teaching."
Toph furrowed her eyebrows and an annoyed expression appeared on her face. She loved teaching at her academy. Sure, it could be repetitive, but she was stubborn, and refused to abandon the future metalbenders.
"No," she said flatly. "And besides, none of my students are good enough at metalbending to protect a whole city."
Zuko looked over at her, his expression thoughtful. "What about Sun?"
Toph let out a heavy sigh. Sun was an exceptionally good metalbender, even if it had taken a lot of brutal training to get him to that point. Still, she brushed the idea away with a wave of her hand. "One kid doesn't make an army, Sparky."
"Toph, you don't understand." Aang pushed, his tone turning serious as he explained the situation with the Triads in the city. "Crime is becoming more frequent in Republic City, and it's getting way too hard for me to deal with all of it on my own."
Toph shrugged. "You're the Avatar. Deal with it."
"Toph, stop." Katara interjected to defend Aang. "He's a great Avatar, but he's only one person. He can't be everywhere at once."
Toph crossed her arms. "Too bad."
Zuko looked over at Katara and Aang apologetically, knowing how stubborn Toph could be once she made up her mind.
"I don't get it. It doesn't make sense why you would refuse an offer to help more people, Toph. It's a huge opportunity!" Sokka said.
She had her reasons. She had just finally gotten her parents back together, and the academy had truly become her home. While she actually secretly liked the sound of being police chief, she couldn't admit it out loud now. She already said no. She was far too stubborn to back down, and change her mind.
"I'm choosing to focus on the next generation of metalbenders." Toph said firmly. "That's more important. Twinkle Toes can find himself another police chief."
Aang let out a heavy sigh of resignation. Katara moved closer to him and placed a comforting hand on his arm.
With the argument settled, Toph leaned back against the stone ledge again, sliding next to Zuko. Sokka looked over at Katara and Aang, who were wrapped up in their own quiet conversation and didn't even acknowledge him. Sokka sighed in defeat, feeling like the ultimate fifth wheel.
Zuko crossed his arms, and looked down at Toph beside him. Even without her sight, she clearly appreciated the proximity, because she kept subtly scooting closer and closer to him along the ledge. Sensing the rising tension and knowing they couldn't risk making things obvious in front of the others, Zuko sighed and stood up from the water.
"I've had enough of soaking." Zuko said politely. "I'm going to go dry off."
Toph slumped back in disappointment as Zuko walked away toward the changing rooms, leaving her alone on the ledge with Sokka.
Sokka stared at her blankly for a second, then shrugged and slid into the seat Zuko had just left behind. Toph leaned sideways and rested her weight on Sokka's shoulder instead.
Sokka blinked down at her and stiffened. "Uh, Toph? You know I'm strictly involved with Suki, right?"
Toph didn't even move. "Shut up."
After a while of soaking in the hot water, the team decided it was time to leave. They changed back into their regular clothes and walked out of the resort together. This time, Toph walked alongside Sokka.
Zuko fell back into his usual place at the rear of the group, pretending not to notice that he was being left behind. Walking at the back made him realize something. Whenever the group traveled together, Toph had traditionally been the one to stay back with him. Now, she was distracted by Sokka’s endless blabber, and Zuko felt a sudden pang of jealousy.
He quickly shook his head and brushed the feeling away. Friends. They are all just friends, he reminded himself, letting out a quiet scoff.
Once they reached the courtyard where Appa was resting, Katara and Aang climbed up into the saddle. Sokka stepped forward and helped Toph up this time. He lent her a hand so she could easily hop over the side.
As everyone settled into their spots, Aang turned around from the front of the saddle. "Look, Toph, I know you said you weren't interested in the bending tournaments, but there's actually a match happening tonight. I was thinking maybe when you see it, you'll change your mind about it being boring."
Toph crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean by see?"
Aang caught himself and chuckled nervously. "Right, poor choice of words. When you experience it."
Toph scoffed and attempted to roll her eyes. She pointed her finger toward her pupil. "Am I doing it right? Is it working?"
Sokka burst out laughing. Zuko watched quietly from his corner of the saddle, a tiny smirk breaking through his serious expression.
"You're close." Katara offered with a chuckle. "A little more to the left."
Aang steered Appa through the sky and guided the massive flying bison toward a small indoor arena.
Once they landed, Toph's feet hit the solid ground. She paused as her seismic sense mapped out the arena. Even from outside, she could feel the heavy vibrations of the match currently taking place.
"It’s a firebender versus an earthbender." Toph noted.
Aang smiled next to her. "That's right! That's one more thing that makes this different from the Earth Rumble. Different types of benders can compete against each other in the same ring."
Toph shrugged. "Well, earthbending is easily way better than firebending. No offense, Sparky."
Zuko just stood there with a deadpan expression.
Sokka pushed past them toward the entrance doors. "Personally, I think no bending is pretty great too."
Toph muttered under her breath, "And then you woke up." before following his footsteps inside. The rest of the group trailed behind them and they walked up toward the stands.
When they finally made it to their seats, Toph slumped down onto the bench and rested her chin on her palm.
Sokka moved to sit beside her, but before he could drop onto the bench, Zuko swiftly stole the space, sitting down right next to Toph.
Sokka blinked, and took the seat next to Zuko instead. Aang and Katara sat down together next.
Down in the ring, the match was uneventful. Even without seeing the fight, her seismic sense told her everything she needed to know. The benders were hesitant and relied on cautious movements to score points rather than throwing any real power. The whole thing felt lame.
Instead of wasting her energy tracking the boring match, Toph turned her attention to the firebender sitting beside her. She leaned in and whispered, "I'm bored. This is agonizing."
Zuko glanced down at her. Even sitting down she was much shorter than him. Her head barely reached his shoulder.
"Aang would appreciate it if you at least pretended not to hate it." He whispered back, his tone quiet but firm.
Toph shrugged and leaned back on the bench. "I don't hate it, I just think the rules make it boring. There's no stakes." She tilted her chin toward the ring. "Plus, having a firebender face off against an earthbender is totally unfair when earthbending is clearly superior."
Zuko furrowed his eyebrows. "That is not true."
A mischievous grin spread across Toph's face. "Oh yeah? Maybe we should get down in that ring right now and prove it."
Zuko crossed his arms and stared straight ahead. "Absolutely not. I'm not doing that."
Toph let out a quiet laugh and nudged his shoulder with her own. "That's because you know I'd crush you, Sparky."
Zuko just sighed. He let her think whatever she wanted. He had no intention of jumping into the ring to fight her. He preferred protecting her over fighting her anyway.
During their fight with Taga and the Denied, Toph had taken a heavy blast from an airbender. Zuko hadn't even hesitated to shield her body from the fall with his own. It was actually the second time he shielded her from an impact with the ground, and both times, Toph had deeply appreciated it.
Maybe a little too much. He realized despite their agreement at the docks to just stay friends, ever since he saved her for that second time, she had gone right back to making it incredibly obvious that she was still attracted to him.
Toph’s head remained tilted toward the ground, her blind eyes relaxed as she felt the vibration of the arena floor.
Zuko let out a quiet sigh and casually leaned an inch closer to her side.
Toph idly trailed her fingers against his chest, her touch light but deliberate. Zuko kept his focus locked on the match down below, but his jaw tightened because he knew this was getting way too obvious for anyone paying attention.
Sokka leaned forward in his seat and his eyes landed on them. He quickly reached over and nudged Aang, who was sitting on his other side. "Hey, look. I think there's something going on between Toph and Zuko."
But Katara and Aang paid no mind to him. They were too distracted by each other and the roaring crowd to notice Sokka.
Sokka grunted in frustration and he realized that no one was paying any attention to him. He eventually slumped back and stared back at the match.
Down in the ring, the earthbender had the firebender backed into a corner.
Toph grinned. "Sounds like the earthbender is winning. Told you so."
Zuko just leaned back in his seat, unfazed. He didn't care to argue about which element was better. He was just relieved the match was finally nearing its end.
Toph pulled her hand away and placed both of her palms flat against the bench beneath her. Her brow furrowed when her seismic sense picked up a completely different fight somewhere else. This wasn't the controlled arena match. These vibrations were chaotic, and much more violent.
"Hey, Zuko. Someone's getting their face kicked in." She muttered.
Zuko raised an eyebrow and straightened his posture.
Without waiting for an explanation, Toph stood up and began walking down the row of seats.
As she passed Aang, the Avatar looked up with a sigh. "Come on, Toph, is it really that boring?"
"Yes, it is," Toph said, not slowing down. "But that's not why I'm leaving. There's a real fight happening in the back."
Zuko stood up and followed behind her.
Aang jumped to his feet after hearing the word 'fight', eager to stop whatever trouble was happening. Katara and Sokka exchanged a quick look before hurrying after the rest of the group.
Toph navigated the dimly lit corridors of the back of the building, leading the team into the storage room. As they drew closer, the muffled sounds of a struggle became clear enough for everyone to hear.
Inside one of the supply rooms, a harsh voice echoed out. "You didn't pay me my money!"
"I don't have it yet!" a younger boy's voice pleaded. "But I will! Just give me until tomorrow!"
Aang didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and slammed the door open. "Stop!"
The criminal instantly recognized the arrows and the unmistakable presence of the Avatar and panicked. "The Avatar?!" he yelled and abandoned the boy as he bolted straight for the rear exit door that led into a dark alleyway.
Toph scoffed. "I'll get him!"
Before Aang could even move, Toph ran past him and burst through the back door in pursuit.
Barely a minute passed before the door rattled, and Toph marched back into the storage room. Walking just ahead of her was the criminal, his hands securely bound behind his back with metal restraints she had ripped straight from the alleyway structure.
Toph kicked the criminal down onto the floor in front of Aang. She dusted off her hands with a confident grin on her face.
"Hey, Twinkle Toes," Toph said, placing a hand on her hip. "Does your offer still stand?"
Aang’s face instantly lit up with a hopeful smile.