Wandering Prince

Avatar the Last Airbender, Zuko SI

18

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The smile wouldn’t leave Toph’s face as she lay in bed, listening to the sounds of the house around her and thinking about her meeting with the unlikely couple that were Yue and Zuko. Sure, they hadn’t told her everything—that much was obvious. Expected, even. Toph would think they were dumb if they had just spilled the beans and opened up to a complete stranger like that. But they hadn’t lied to her, and what they had told her had been enough for her to begin filling in the blanks.

After fourteen years of living among high society and having had to find other ways to tell the bad actors from the good to compensate for her lack of sight, Toph liked to think she could spot certain kinds of people a mile away. Nobles, for instance. She couldn’t see their clothes to tell how flashy or fashionable whatever they were wearing was, couldn’t see whatever makeup someone put on, couldn’t see hair styles. So, she’d found other ways.

It was in the way they carried themselves, the way they moved, the way they spoke. They all had a certain level of training in decorum and other things, and she could generally tell where they were from and what level of training based on those things. Earth Kingdom nobles were easy to tell apart, because she interacted with them so often, thanks to her parents’ business. But that same business also brought her into contact with the occasional Fire Nation noble, looking to do business and establish trade. The Beifong family were very much in support of the Earth Kingdom, but… they weren’t so loyal as to turn down trade of high quality goods for lots of money—especially when it was just luxury goods like silks, cash crops like tobacco or tea leaves, and other things that wouldn’t actually further the war effort on either side.

Zuko was a Fire Nation noble—there was no doubt in her mind. She wasn’t quite sure how she was sure of it, but she was.

He didn’t act like a noble, like his shit didn’t stink and he was better than everyone around him. He didn’t talk like one, like he was talking down to everyone. He didn’t even sit like one, with the usual straight back seiza position common to Fire Nation nobles. He acted like a normal person. He spoke to her and Yue like equals. He lounged, like he owned the place, but always in a position where he could easily and quickly either roll away or get to his feet.

Yue, on the other hand, was something she had never seen before. The other woman seemed relaxed in everything she did, while also maintaining proper etiquette—like she had lived and breathed it for so long that the formalities just weren’t for her. She had the speech of a noble, without the shitty attitude most had. She sat formally, but didn’t seem bothered at all by it. Most of all, she acted like what Toph imagined a princess would—kind, friendly, polite, warm even… and just a hint of steel beneath it all. The subtle expectation of respect.

And yet, neither of them threw around dumb titles or asked Toph to treat them as anything but commoners. They did away with rank entirely. They never once asked about her eyes, even when it quickly became obvious to both of them that she was actually blind and ‘Blind Bandit’ wasn’t just a stage name.

The story itself was pretty wild, even without reading between the lines. Zuko’s father had tried to kill him, so he left home to see the world. He went north, where he met Yue and Yue’s master in the art of healing. For some reason, Yue’s father had wanted the two of them to get together, but they had bought some time to get to know one another, and eventually decided to move forward with the engagement themselves. A few of the locals hadn’t appreciated that and had tried to jump Zuko, but he beat them down. He couldn’t stay, so he prepared to leave, and Yue went with him as they made a daring night escape from Agna Qel’a—the north’s equivalent to Ba Sing Se in that it was an icy fortress city and damn near unassailable according to everything Toph knew, which should make sneaking out almost as difficult as getting in. The pair had been working their way around the Earth Kingdom since and that’s how they wound up in Gaoling.

Putting together the clues and what wasn’t said… Zuko was some kind of Fire Nation noble. Yue was some kind of noble from the Northern Water Tribe. They’d basically run away from their families and eloped together and were now on a journey to see the world.

It’s disgustingly romantic, Toph sighed, turning over and burying her face in the pillow. Why can’t I have that?

In exchange for the story from Yue, Toph had told them a little about herself. Of course, she’d done it in her own style, and she hadn’t exactly been… subtle about some things. Leading with “I’m blind” just to put it out there had kind of set the tone. She had confirmed that she was heading home when she came across them and told them a bit about why she had gotten into the whole ‘sport fighting’ thing, to work off some frustration about her family affairs.

Strangely, nothing had changed after that. They hadn’t treated her differently. They hadn’t sounded like they pitied her. Even when Yue had reached out and laid a hand on Toph’s, she hadn’t sounded pitying or patronizing, just… understanding. Supportive. It was so different from what she was used to that it put Toph on the back foot.

And that’s when Zuko struck, verbally.

“You snapped my femur from thirty yards while I was moving before we knew you were here. You spotted us, you waited, assessed the situation, stepped in decisively when you came to a conclusion, then put down a moving target in two moves non-lethally. You’re not weak or helpless. If you don’t have a way to sense your surroundings through vibrations, I’ll eat my hat.”

He wasn’t mad at her for taking him down, he was impressed. That was a bit of a change from what she was used to getting when she fought other people in the Rumble. And in one encounter, he had figured out exactly how she had done it. It was kind of scarily impressive. Also, it made her feel… warm inside, for some reason. She liked the idea that he had immediately disregarded her eyes and treated her like a serious opponent.

After that, the conversation had moved on to ‘talking shop’ as her parents put it. Both of them were benders and, as she was apparently the first earthbender they’d actually met, they had a lot of questions. Toph was just as curious about other styles of bending, especially about fighting against them, so that had been a lot of fun. That led to the best part of the night. The pair had invited her out tomorrow.

Is this what it’s like to have friends?

She wouldn’t know. She’d never had any. For some reason, other people her own age just didn’t like her. They said she was a jerk. She thought they were weak. The world may never know the truth of it. But for some reason she couldn’t fathom, those two had wanted to spend more time with her. Even though she hadn’t kissed their asses, or acted like a prim and proper lady as her station demanded. She was just herself and it hadn’t scared them off!

I like it! I really like it!

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“Su, can you do me a favor?”

“Of course, young miss. What would you have of me?” the slightly older girl asked, sounding pleased at the idea of being able to help her.

“Can you cover for me?” Toph asked, as she allowed the other girl to help her get dressed.

“What do you mean?”

Toph sighed quietly. “I need you to lie to my parents.”

Su hesitated, before asking, “About what?”

Seeing that it wasn’t a ‘no,’ Toph smiled. “I want to go meet with some friends, but I don’t want my parents to know. I wanted to stay out most of the day.”

Su hummed for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. But only on the condition that I meet these friends. I wouldn’t want to hand you over to some unsavory characters.”

“Sure, sure,” Toph agreed. “Could you pack a bag with my other clothes, too? These aren’t exactly great for practicing in.”

The servant sighed, chuckling. “Very well.”

Not long after, Toph and Su hurried through the compound, only for Toph to wince as she sensed her mother approaching. “Damn,” she hissed, before straightening up and taking Su’s hand, putting on the mask again.

“Toph, there you are! Where are you going?” her mother asked, stopping right in front of them—between them and the gate leading out.

Toph fought down her urge to sigh. “Into the city, to see the sights,” she smiled instead, turning her face up and knowing her mother was likely looking at her eyes based on how her head was tilted. And yet… etiquette wouldn’t let her mother do what Toph would, in her shoes—just blatantly call bullshit. ‘You’re blind, you don’t see sights.’

Her mother shifted uncomfortably, before asking, “When do you plan to be back?”

“I wanted to take the whole day out. I’ve been feeling kind of penned in lately.”

The older woman made a displeased sound. “I can send the guards—”

“For a trip into the city?” Toph asked, shaking her head. “We’ll be fine, mother.”

She clearly didn’t like it, but her mother eventually sighed and capitulated. “Fine.” Turning to Su, she added, “Have her home in time for dinner.”

“Of course, ma’am,” Su bowed her head.

After a moment, Toph felt her mother leave and she quickly pulled Su’s hand towards the gate, before her mother changed her mind. Then they were out and heading into the city. “Where to, young miss?”

Toph told Su the name of the inn where Zuko and Yue were staying and allowed herself to be guided since, while she could navigate structures just fine, unless she knew what building was what trying to find something specific was hard without asking around. It was much easier to just let Su lead her—which was another reason to bring the maid, if she decided to leave.

Eventually, they made it to the inn and up to the second floor room where the couple were staying. Su knocked and, a moment later, Yue answered the door. “Toph! It’s good to see you again. Who’s your friend? I’m Yue!”

Su let go of Toph’s hand and curtsied. “Su. I am employed by the Beifong family to see to the young lady’s needs.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you. Come in, come in!” Yue waved them in, stepping aside to let them pass.

Toph felt Su hesitate the moment they were inside, her head turning towards where Zuko sat on the bed, getting his boots on. “A young man and woman sharing the same roof?”

Yue giggled and Zuko shook his head. “We’re engaged,” he answered, before turning his head towards Toph. “You look nice, Toph. But I don’t think that pretty dress and makeup is going to survive sparring.”

For some reason, Toph’s heart thumped in her chest and she felt her cheeks heat up—a brief thrill of something running through her. Pride? Excitement? She wasn’t sure what, but whatever it was, it felt good. She’d never felt that way before. Shaking her head, she pushed it to the back of her mind.

“She does!” Yue giggled. “But you’re right!” Toph found her hand taken between Yue’s own soft, warm hands as she was pulled further into the room. “Did you bring a change of clothes?”

“I have them here,” Su confirmed.

“Good!”

“I’ll be outside,” Zuko nodded, standing up from the bed. He put his hat and sword on and paused at the door. “Any preferences on breakfast and lunch, or surprise you?”

“Surprise me!” Yue answered happily. “Toph, do you want anything?”

Stolen novel; please report.

Toph shrugged, even as she felt herself smiling. “Whatever is fine.”

“‘Whatever’ it is,” Zuko chuckled, closing the door behind him.

“Now, let’s get you out of that dress~,” Yue murmured, and for some reason she couldn’t explain, Toph suddenly felt like she was in more danger than if Zuko had stayed.

She couldn’t say she hated it, though.

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Laying on the grass, Toph panted. Sweat covered her body and her fighting clothes stuck to her. Her heart was hammering away in her chest and she was grinning so wide it felt like her smile threatened to break something. She had never felt more… alive than she did at this moment.

“That was fun,” Zuko chuckled, and a moment later, Toph raised an eyebrow as it felt like all the heat her body was putting off just evaporated. It wasn’t quite like a cold breeze—more like the heat from her body didn’t linger in the air, like when she exercised on a cool day. It felt nice and she felt herself relaxing under the sensation.

“It was,” Yue added, stepping up near Toph’s head. “Water?”

“Please?” Toph asked.

Yue giggled. “Open your mouth.”

Toph did so and a cold trickle of water filled her parched mouth. She swallowed a mouthful, then more. Not a drop spilled on her and she never felt in danger of drowning. When she sighed and cracked her neck, Yue made her way over to Zuko, likely to do the same.

“It’s getting late. We should return soon, young miss,” Su reminded her from off to the side, where she had sat and watched them the whole day. Surprisingly, the maid hadn’t said anything at all when Zuko began using firebending. Her heart had begun racing as she got a bit nervous, but it had quickly settled down when Toph showed that she wasn’t afraid of a little fire and could protect herself just fine.

Lifting her arm, Toph gave herself a sniff and made a face. “I think they’re going to figure it out if I go home smelling like this. Gonna need to take a bath at the inn.”

“We can do that now!” Yue suggested, and Toph raised an eyebrow.

“What, just… out in the open? Is that a thing people do?”

“No one’s around and we’re cut off from the town by the hill, so they aren’t going to see anything,” Zuko shrugged.

“Come on,” Yue bent down and grabbed Toph’s hands, pulling her to her feet. The other girl led her over to the spring and small stream coming from it that Yue had been using as her water source for bending all day. “Can you make a tub big enough for us? About chest height? I’d do it out of ice, but then the water will get cold too fast.”

A small smile pulled at Toph’s lips and she nodded. A stomp and a gesture had the ground leveled out and a circle of stone, then walls that came up to the height of her chest. Seeing it would be a pain to get in and out of, she made stairs, then made a ring around the inside to sit on. “What do you think?”

“It’s good! Thank you, Toph!” Yue clapped.

Being praised wasn’t new for Toph, for being praised for the one thing she was actually proud of and good at was. At least, in a context that didn’t involve kicking heads in. It made her smile and feel all warm inside, and kind of made her want to show off some more.

Yue pulled more water from the spring, quickly filling the bath. “Zuko~!”

“Hah. What am I, your personal water heater?” he sighed, but Toph could hear amusement in his voice as he made his way over and stuck his hand in. A moment later, the water heated up and Toph felt steam coming off of it. “There you go. I’m going to go get in some more practice.”

“Mm! Su, will you join us?” Yue called, already starting to strip down.

The maid considered for a moment, her head tilting between them and where Zuko was walking up the hill and around to the other side. “No, miss Yue. I will be over here.”

“Suit yourself,” Yue called. “Now, where did I put that soap? … Ah! Found it. Are you coming, Toph?”“Sure,” Toph nodded and began stripping. “Want me to wash your back?”

Yue giggled and Toph observed her shake her head. “No need! Just get in. You’ll see~.”

Toph opened her mouth, almost reflexively point out that she wouldn’t see, but then bit back on the impulse and shook her head. Yue hadn’t made a big deal out of the whole sight thing, nor had she or Zuko felt like they were walking on eggshells around her about it. The only time it had even come up today was right before they started sparring using bending, with Zuko verifying that she could sense and dodge blasts, and Toph found she wasn’t even upset about it since it was just common sense to make sure he wouldn’t accidentally hurt her. So she cut off the usual verbal jab and decided to take a… softer approach, instead.

“Okay.” Climbing into the tub, she settled into place on the seat she’d made. Yue slid through the water, sitting beside her, their sides pressed together under the water. “So what’s the surprise?”

“Hehe~!” Yue giggled again and the hot water around them came alive.

“Eep!” Toph yelped, but Yue grabbed her around the hips, pulling Toph into her lap as she laughed.

“It’s okay! You’ll get used to it in a minute,” the other girl promised, as the water swirled and moved around them, carrying the scent of soap with it.

True to Yue’s words, after only a few seconds, it stopped feeling like she was being tickled all over her entire body at the same time and the sensation faded to a gentle, all over rubbing. Toph groaned, her body going limp in the other girl’s lap.

“Oh wow,” she managed to get out, feeling like all the tension was being drained out of her body at once.

Not just that, but all of the little aches and pains, the forming bruises, began to fade. Oddly, while Zuko had tagged her with his fire more than once, it had never actually hurt and hadn’t left behind burns—it hadn’t even caught her clothes on fire, as the moment it hit, it had immediately gone out. All of the damage was either from fists and feet, or getting smacked around by the girl now soothing the aches she had left. Not that Toph hadn’t gotten her fair share of licks in.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Yue asked, resting her chin on Toph’s shoulder, to which she nodded. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Sounds good,” Toph sighed.

“So, we saw you last night. Is that an every night thing?”

Toph shook her head. “Once a week. It gives people time to do a little training and for the betting pools to change. But since I came in yesterday, if they decide I’m back, they’re just going to bet on me to win and I won’t make much off of it.”

A hum directly into Toph’s ear sent a shiver down her spine and Yue giggled. “Do they let other benders compete?”

“Not sure. Never heard of one. Why?”

“Well, if you need money,” Yue hummed, not asking what Toph needed it for, “then if Zuko and I are allowed to enter, you could bet on us.”

Toph shook her head. “There’s no way they’d allow a firebender. A waterbender, maybe. I know who to ask. We can do that tomorrow, if you want.”

“Mm! Please.”

Chuckling, Toph admitted, “I’d love to hear them bitching when you wipe the floor with them. If it’s anything like today, then you don’t have anything to worry about from the rest of those rock heads.”

“Only you, huh?”

“Yup,” Toph grinned. “We should work on your stage name. Something like… The Geyser?”

Yue laughed. “That sounds lewd.”

Toph snorted. “Yeah, that sounds like some kind of sex act involving bending.”

“How about…”

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“You’re late.”

“It’s my fault, madame. I—”

“I wanted to listen to a play,” Toph cut in, before Su could take the blame. Her mother huffed a sigh, before leaning closer.

“…Did you change your makeup?”

“Su had to reapply it after lunch. We had soup.”

The short answer caused her mother to lean away, her head turning towards Su briefly. “…Was this is public?”

“No, ma’am,” Su shook her head.

Another sigh escaped her mother’s lips. “Thank goodness for that, at least. Toph, I know you like to try to do these things for yourself, but that is what we pay Su for.”

Toph simply smiled. “Well, if it gets to be too much trouble, I’ll just stop wearing makeup.”

“You can’t—!” her mother began to protest, but Toph cut her off.

“If the choice is between feeding myself and ruining my makeup, I’d rather have the soup.”

Toph’s mother made a frustrated sigh. Quietly, she muttered, “At least you didn’t ruin your dress.” Toph heard, but chose not to comment. She was in such a good mood that even putting up with her overbearing mother was tolerable for a change. “Go get cleaned up and meet us for dinner. We have a guest.”

Containing her frown, Toph asked, “Oh? Who?”

“Master Yu. We asked him to come visit and check up on you, as his student,” her mother answered, turning and walking away. But there was something there. Something Toph felt like she was missing. It was in the tone, and the way her mother’s heartbeat picked up. Something about this visit made her… nervous? Anxious?

It wasn’t until after a very boring dinner and a brief test from Master Yu, followed by being sent to bed, that Toph found out why he was visiting. Perceiving people using vibrations through the ground was the least of her sensory capabilities. She could easily make out their conversation as she sat in the bath, one foot pressed to the floor of the tub as she relaxed and let her mind wander back to the bath she’d taken with Yue earlier.

“Well?” her father asked—no, demanded, by his tone.

“What did you discover, Master Yu?” her mother asked.

“Lao, Poppy,” Yu began slowly, the clink of a teacup interrupting his words briefly. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news.”

“Go on,” her father prompted.

Oh great, what’s this idiot going to try to sell them now? Maybe he’ll tell them I have bending-itis or something and only he can help cure it, for a small fortune of course—

“There are… signs,” Yu sighed. “Your suspicions may be correct. The ill luck, inauspicious omens, and injuries…”

Heh. Fun times!

“I do not believe them to be the work of spirits.”

Her mother sat up straighter. “Not poor wa, then?”

Yu shifted where he sat, humming quietly. “That depends on the source. I don’t believe it myself, but there are… rumors circulating among certain less than reputable individuals. I would need to see it to confirm for myself.”

Pfft. Yeah, it’s the ‘wa’ alright, dumbass. That’s what happens when you try to force someone into something they don’t want. I’ll disturb your fucking harmony until you quit it. Something about Yu’s tone was off there, too. He sounded annoyed, and from his heartbeat, Toph could tell he was lying for at least part of it. There may be ‘rumors’ of whatever he was talking about, but her senses told her he probably actually had firsthand knowledge. So, why’s he lying? And why’s he sound so pissy?

Shaking his head, her father grumbled, “We don’t care for rumors, only facts. What can you tell us? The facts, Master Yu.”

“Facts, then,” Yu nodded. “As I said, there are signs. Small, minute traces, all over the compound. Or rather, below it.”

Wait. Hold on. What?

Her father sat up in his seat. “Traces of what? Do we have to worry about another assassination attempt?”

“No, I don’t believe so. As I said, they’re small. Subtle. If I hadn’t been looking for it, I wouldn’t have noticed. An assassin wouldn’t stay around for the time required. This is something that had taken place over the course of years.”

“Years?!” her mother’s voice climbing made Toph wince.

“Yes. An earthbender of great skill has been subtly changing the earth beneath the Beifong household for years. Someone whose skill may even come close to rivaling my own…”

You don’t have any skill. You’re a hack. A mid-level earthbender barely capable of teaching nobles’ children just enough to defend themselves from bandits, making his fortune off of people who don’t know better, like my parents.

“With your permission, I would like to investigate further.”

“Of course,” her mother agreed easily, falling for the scam.

Nodding along, her father asked, “How long do you think it will take?”

“Oh, not long at all.”

Toph didn’t like Yu’s smarmy tone at all. Something about it made her hackles rise. Made her want to punch his face in.

“There are legends among earthbenders. Most brush them off as old wives’ tales, but perhaps there is a grain of truth to them. Let us find out.”

Toph frowned as Yu lifted his foot, then brought it down on the floor. A sound resonated through the floor, and through her body, like an explosion going off inside her head. Toph yelped, jerking her foot off the floor and losing her balance, immediately going under. Her jaw clenched in pain and she got her bearings, standing in the tub and coughing out a bit of water.

“Toph?!” her mother yelped from the living room.

Yu reached up and made some sort of stroking motion in front of his face. His tone was smug. “So it is as I thought. Why don’t we wait for Toph to get out of the bath before we continue. Or, should I say… the Blind Bandit.”

Toph’s whole body tensed for a moment, before she ground out a quiet, “Fuck.”

Su was there a moment later, helping her out of the bath and wrapping her in a towel as she began drying the younger girl. “Young miss? Are you injured?”

“Just my pride,” Toph huffed, using her own towel to try to dry her hair.

It wasn’t perfect and she was still damp in places, but eventually, she was dressed enough to be presentable. “You should stay here,” Toph warned, and Su nodded.

Stomping through the house, Toph sent out active pulses of sound through her feet, verifying the positions of everyone on the property and making sure they didn’t have any surprise guests. She found her mother and father waiting in the living room, along with Yu. The man chuckled. “I knew the moment I saw you fight, who you had to be. You cost me quite a lot of money, you know? I believe your parents should cover this debt—”

“Your gambling debts are your own problem. Get out.”

“Toph, you can’t speak to a guest like this!”

“Shut up, mother.” The room fell silent—in fact, it felt like the whole house fell silent, taking a collective breath to see what would happen next. She turned her head towards Yu again. “Last chance. Get out or I’ll throw you out.”

Yu rose to his feet slowly, dusting himself off as he did. “I would very much like to see you try, pupil.”

Toph snorted softly. Below her, she felt the ground shift—slowly, carefully. But the thing was, Yu was right on that account. This was her home and she had been training and refining her bending in secret for years. Even as little as two years ago, Yu might have stood a chance.

As things were now, however? She knew every inch of dirt, every pebble, every speck of sand under their feet—and they were all hers. They held her chi and jumped at her touch. She disrupted his attempt with a thought. From the way his heart sped up and the quiet intake of breath, she knew he realized it now. I just wish I could see his face.

“Please. You were never my master. I learned everything I know about bending from the badger moles. You’re a scam artist taking advantage of nobles wanting to have someone teach their little brats. Gotta say, normally I’d respect the hustle… but then you went and conned my parents.”

She shifted slightly and the floor opened up, swallowing Yu up to the waist. The man squawked, but that quickly turned into a yelp as he went flying, the ground parting around him like water as he was dragged from the house, through the stone wall, and outside. Stone rose from the ground into a ramp and the man screamed as she threw him from the property, straight over the wall. Another minute movement and everything smoothed out, like it had never happened.

Toph smiled, but it was nearly wiped from her face when she felt her parents’ hearts, fluttering in fear. Shaking her head, she took the cushion Yu had been seated on. Su entered the room a moment later with a fresh tea cup, which she quickly filled and handed to Toph.

“So…” Toph drew out the word for a moment, not quite sure where to go from here.

Well… cat’s out of the bag now. Might as well take advantage, now that they know what they’re dealing with.

She was tired. Tired of having to tiptoe around her parents. Tired of having to wear the mask of the dutiful, invalid daughter. Tired of not having any respect from her own family. In the end, she decided to do what she did best: be blunt.

“Let’s talk about those arranged marriage meetings, and how there won’t be any more.”