[Untiled Fic]
(For those on my flist who could care less about this fic-escapade, I apologize. If it wasn't for ease of access, I would post it directly in the Zutara comm.)
Part One of the As-Yet Unnamed ATLA AU with Eventual Zutara. (The first part was part Zero)
One
“Lee! Go find out what’s keeping Toph!”
“Yes, Lady Bei Fong.”
Go find out what’s keeping Toph Lee snorted softly. He knew what was keeping her, and if Lady Bei Fong found out…
He passed off the tea tray to one of the other servants and headed out into the garden. Toph was clever and sneaky, for a kid, but he’d been working with the girl since she was two and a half. Even if her parents couldn’t be bothered to keep tabs on their ‘precious flower’, it was his job to.
The wall separating the fields and the estate was tall, but Lee had enough practice to scramble over it with minimum damage to his clothing. Toph really needed to find a place easier to get to for practicing, if only so he didn’t have to worry about ruining his shirts. He went to the usual place, where Toph was busy changing the landscape, and waited for his young charge to notice him.
“That you, Sparky?”
“Of course it’s me. Does your mother ever send anyone else?” He shook his head. “Come on, you’re late for lunch.”
Toph returned the fields to their original design with a sigh. “I left my dress in my room,” she commented, following Lee back to the estate. She opened a door in the wall. “And I’m covered in dirt. D’you think they’d buy if it you told them I fell in the rose garden again and it was going to take forever to get me clean?”
“You used that excuse last week.”
“Drat. What about the pond?”
“Week before.”
Toph sighed, mock annoyed. “Some help you are, Sparky.” She shrugged. “Oh well.”
Lee shook his head, amused at Toph’s antics. The young Lady Bei Fong was a handful, for sure, but at least she wasn’t one of the annoying, fawning girls he’d heard horror stories about. She just pretended to be one.
They got back to the manor and into Toph’s rooms without anyone spotting them. Toph quickly changed and dumped a basin of water over her head before using a towel to scrub away what dirt she could. “Help me with my hair, will you?”
Carefully, Lee began to brush Toph’s hair, using a small flame to dry it as he went. It was risky, using Firebending so close to her hair, and there had been a few accidents over the years, but Lee had no problems this time. Her hair was dry and back in its ‘normal’ style in no time, and not a moment too soon. There was a knock on Toph’s room just as Lee let the flame die.
“Toph? Lee?”
“Come in.”
Lady Bei Fong slipped into Toph’s room. “I sent Lee after you almost twenty minutes ago,” she said. “What is taking so long?”
Toph waved a hand in Lee’s general direction. “I was taking a nap, and didn’t want to wake up. Lee had to wake me and help me freshen up. Sorry, Mom.”
“It’s fine, dear. Next time, Lee, tell us when Toph is asleep.”
Lee bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Now, come on, your food is waiting.” She floated out of the room, Toph and her aide close behind.
* * *
“Y’know, you don’t have to come to these things, Sparky.” The crowd around them was loud and Lee kept shifting and stepping closer to Toph.
He snorted and adjusted the bandage that covered his scar. “Someone has to come along and make sure you don’t do something stupid.” He smirked. “Besides, I’ve got money the Blind Bandit.”
Toph chuckled. “Maybe you should get that gambling habit checked out, huh? This could be the night she finally loses, y’know.”
“I have it on good authority that she won’t.”
Finally, the doors to the Earth Rumble stadium opened. Lee and Toph went their separate ways; he went to the betting window while Toph slipped into the contestants’ waiting room.
They’d been doing this for about a year, now, ever since Lee had heard of the Rumble from one of the kitchen boys. He had told Toph, and she jumped at the chance to do something completely against her parents’ rules. On the nights leading up to the Rumble, Toph would complain of whatever ailment she could think of-this time it was lack of sleep from the animals outside the estate making too much noise-and ask to go to bed early. Naturally, she’d roped him into helping her. He would express concern for her welfare during the fake sicknesses every so often, with suggestions on how to help Toph. It kept her parents from being suspicious about their daughter’s ‘illnesses’ coinciding with the Rumble, though Lee doubted they even knew about the Rumble, let alone think that Toph was the current champion.
It was almost time for the big, annual Rumble championships, and tonight was just to get the fans riled up for the big event in a few days. The stadium was decorated in Earth Kingdom banners and flags, though every so often you saw the garish red of the Fire Nation in the sea of green. It was quickly removed, naturally, usually because the bearer wised up and left the stadium.
Lee never wore red. Even though he knew he was Fire Nation-he did have the golden eyes, and he could Firebend-he had no loyalty to a nation he didn’t remember living in. As far as he was concerned, he was an Earth Kingdom citizen. And as long as he kept his Firebending hidden, no one would doubt him.
The announcer for the Rumble stepped into the ring, and the crowd went nuts. Lee spotted a familiar face in the mob and he forced his way over to him. “Hey, Jet.”
Jet smirked around the straw he kept in his mouth. “What d’you think of this crowd, huh? It’s not even the tournament and they’re goin’ nuts.” He gestured to his other side, where some of his ‘Freedom Fighters’ were cheering loudly.
To be honest, Lee hated the crowd. He had never liked large groups of people, which was one reason he remained in the Bei Fong’s employment. At least working for Toph kept him out of the city most days. But he was willing to put up with the crowds for Toph. It wasn’t fair that her parents refused to let her have any freedom, and if braving a crazy crowd helped Toph have even a little, he could deal with it. Besides, the bets he placed on her always paid off and added to his salary.
He shrugged. “It could be worse. Imagine if they didn’t have these practice ones before the tournament.” The two teenagers shuddered at the thought before turning back to the ring. The first contestants were out in the ring and the fight was starting.
After the match was over, Toph and Lee headed to the Gaoling branch of the Jasmine Dragon, a popular tea shop based in Ba Sing Se with branches all over the world. It was Toph’s favorite, to the point that she had Lee go out and get tea from it for her to have at home.
It was normally closed at his hour, but they knew the manager and he kept it open on most Rumble nights. The manager smiled when he saw them come in. “Another win, eh, Miss Bei Fong?” He was the only person, other than Lee, to know who Toph was, thanks to all the times he’d come in to pick up tea for Toph. He kept their secret though.
Toph smirked and flopped down at one of the tables. “Of course. You’d think they’d’ve figured me out by now.” She propped her feet up on the table.
The manager chuckled and set about getting their usual tea ready. “You would, wouldn’t you? How much did make on her this time?” he asked Lee.
“Enough for the tea.” He put a hand over his pocket and sat down next to Toph.
“And two buns,” Toph added. “Kicking that much butt makes me hungry.”
Again, the manager chuckled. “Have you two heard about the Avatar?” he asked, making small talk.
Lee frowned, leaning back against the wall. “Isn’t he supposed to be barely thirteen?”
“That’s what they say.”
“I thought he disappeared before the war,” offered Toph. “How’d he stay that young?”
“The only ones who know that are the ones who found him, and whoever they are, they won’t say.” The manager shrugged. “Some think that his previous incarnations locked him away somewhere in the Spirit World until the world needed him the most. Anyway, they say he’s on his way to Gaoling.”
Lee glanced at Toph, who turned her head in his general direction. Why anyone would want to visit this town was beyond them. The only thing worth visiting was the Rumble and the…
“The Earthbending School,” Toph said. “He needs to learn Earthbending.”
The manager nodded. “That’s the general consensus. He apparently stopped by Omashu, but, well, I’m sure you can imagine how that went.”
The two nodded. Everyone had heard about the fall of Omashu and how the king failed to do anything. No one knew why Bumi hadn’t saved the city, but many felt he’d betrayed the Earth Kingdom.
Toph sighed. “Well, if he comes asking for a decent Earthbender, do me a favor and don’t mention me.”
“Of course not.” The manager came over with their tea and buns. “Enjoy.”
Part One of the As-Yet Unnamed ATLA AU with Eventual Zutara. (The first part was part Zero)
One
“Lee! Go find out what’s keeping Toph!”
“Yes, Lady Bei Fong.”
Go find out what’s keeping Toph Lee snorted softly. He knew what was keeping her, and if Lady Bei Fong found out…
He passed off the tea tray to one of the other servants and headed out into the garden. Toph was clever and sneaky, for a kid, but he’d been working with the girl since she was two and a half. Even if her parents couldn’t be bothered to keep tabs on their ‘precious flower’, it was his job to.
The wall separating the fields and the estate was tall, but Lee had enough practice to scramble over it with minimum damage to his clothing. Toph really needed to find a place easier to get to for practicing, if only so he didn’t have to worry about ruining his shirts. He went to the usual place, where Toph was busy changing the landscape, and waited for his young charge to notice him.
“That you, Sparky?”
“Of course it’s me. Does your mother ever send anyone else?” He shook his head. “Come on, you’re late for lunch.”
Toph returned the fields to their original design with a sigh. “I left my dress in my room,” she commented, following Lee back to the estate. She opened a door in the wall. “And I’m covered in dirt. D’you think they’d buy if it you told them I fell in the rose garden again and it was going to take forever to get me clean?”
“You used that excuse last week.”
“Drat. What about the pond?”
“Week before.”
Toph sighed, mock annoyed. “Some help you are, Sparky.” She shrugged. “Oh well.”
Lee shook his head, amused at Toph’s antics. The young Lady Bei Fong was a handful, for sure, but at least she wasn’t one of the annoying, fawning girls he’d heard horror stories about. She just pretended to be one.
They got back to the manor and into Toph’s rooms without anyone spotting them. Toph quickly changed and dumped a basin of water over her head before using a towel to scrub away what dirt she could. “Help me with my hair, will you?”
Carefully, Lee began to brush Toph’s hair, using a small flame to dry it as he went. It was risky, using Firebending so close to her hair, and there had been a few accidents over the years, but Lee had no problems this time. Her hair was dry and back in its ‘normal’ style in no time, and not a moment too soon. There was a knock on Toph’s room just as Lee let the flame die.
“Toph? Lee?”
“Come in.”
Lady Bei Fong slipped into Toph’s room. “I sent Lee after you almost twenty minutes ago,” she said. “What is taking so long?”
Toph waved a hand in Lee’s general direction. “I was taking a nap, and didn’t want to wake up. Lee had to wake me and help me freshen up. Sorry, Mom.”
“It’s fine, dear. Next time, Lee, tell us when Toph is asleep.”
Lee bowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Now, come on, your food is waiting.” She floated out of the room, Toph and her aide close behind.
* * *
“Y’know, you don’t have to come to these things, Sparky.” The crowd around them was loud and Lee kept shifting and stepping closer to Toph.
He snorted and adjusted the bandage that covered his scar. “Someone has to come along and make sure you don’t do something stupid.” He smirked. “Besides, I’ve got money the Blind Bandit.”
Toph chuckled. “Maybe you should get that gambling habit checked out, huh? This could be the night she finally loses, y’know.”
“I have it on good authority that she won’t.”
Finally, the doors to the Earth Rumble stadium opened. Lee and Toph went their separate ways; he went to the betting window while Toph slipped into the contestants’ waiting room.
They’d been doing this for about a year, now, ever since Lee had heard of the Rumble from one of the kitchen boys. He had told Toph, and she jumped at the chance to do something completely against her parents’ rules. On the nights leading up to the Rumble, Toph would complain of whatever ailment she could think of-this time it was lack of sleep from the animals outside the estate making too much noise-and ask to go to bed early. Naturally, she’d roped him into helping her. He would express concern for her welfare during the fake sicknesses every so often, with suggestions on how to help Toph. It kept her parents from being suspicious about their daughter’s ‘illnesses’ coinciding with the Rumble, though Lee doubted they even knew about the Rumble, let alone think that Toph was the current champion.
It was almost time for the big, annual Rumble championships, and tonight was just to get the fans riled up for the big event in a few days. The stadium was decorated in Earth Kingdom banners and flags, though every so often you saw the garish red of the Fire Nation in the sea of green. It was quickly removed, naturally, usually because the bearer wised up and left the stadium.
Lee never wore red. Even though he knew he was Fire Nation-he did have the golden eyes, and he could Firebend-he had no loyalty to a nation he didn’t remember living in. As far as he was concerned, he was an Earth Kingdom citizen. And as long as he kept his Firebending hidden, no one would doubt him.
The announcer for the Rumble stepped into the ring, and the crowd went nuts. Lee spotted a familiar face in the mob and he forced his way over to him. “Hey, Jet.”
Jet smirked around the straw he kept in his mouth. “What d’you think of this crowd, huh? It’s not even the tournament and they’re goin’ nuts.” He gestured to his other side, where some of his ‘Freedom Fighters’ were cheering loudly.
To be honest, Lee hated the crowd. He had never liked large groups of people, which was one reason he remained in the Bei Fong’s employment. At least working for Toph kept him out of the city most days. But he was willing to put up with the crowds for Toph. It wasn’t fair that her parents refused to let her have any freedom, and if braving a crazy crowd helped Toph have even a little, he could deal with it. Besides, the bets he placed on her always paid off and added to his salary.
He shrugged. “It could be worse. Imagine if they didn’t have these practice ones before the tournament.” The two teenagers shuddered at the thought before turning back to the ring. The first contestants were out in the ring and the fight was starting.
After the match was over, Toph and Lee headed to the Gaoling branch of the Jasmine Dragon, a popular tea shop based in Ba Sing Se with branches all over the world. It was Toph’s favorite, to the point that she had Lee go out and get tea from it for her to have at home.
It was normally closed at his hour, but they knew the manager and he kept it open on most Rumble nights. The manager smiled when he saw them come in. “Another win, eh, Miss Bei Fong?” He was the only person, other than Lee, to know who Toph was, thanks to all the times he’d come in to pick up tea for Toph. He kept their secret though.
Toph smirked and flopped down at one of the tables. “Of course. You’d think they’d’ve figured me out by now.” She propped her feet up on the table.
The manager chuckled and set about getting their usual tea ready. “You would, wouldn’t you? How much did make on her this time?” he asked Lee.
“Enough for the tea.” He put a hand over his pocket and sat down next to Toph.
“And two buns,” Toph added. “Kicking that much butt makes me hungry.”
Again, the manager chuckled. “Have you two heard about the Avatar?” he asked, making small talk.
Lee frowned, leaning back against the wall. “Isn’t he supposed to be barely thirteen?”
“That’s what they say.”
“I thought he disappeared before the war,” offered Toph. “How’d he stay that young?”
“The only ones who know that are the ones who found him, and whoever they are, they won’t say.” The manager shrugged. “Some think that his previous incarnations locked him away somewhere in the Spirit World until the world needed him the most. Anyway, they say he’s on his way to Gaoling.”
Lee glanced at Toph, who turned her head in his general direction. Why anyone would want to visit this town was beyond them. The only thing worth visiting was the Rumble and the…
“The Earthbending School,” Toph said. “He needs to learn Earthbending.”
The manager nodded. “That’s the general consensus. He apparently stopped by Omashu, but, well, I’m sure you can imagine how that went.”
The two nodded. Everyone had heard about the fall of Omashu and how the king failed to do anything. No one knew why Bumi hadn’t saved the city, but many felt he’d betrayed the Earth Kingdom.
Toph sighed. “Well, if he comes asking for a decent Earthbender, do me a favor and don’t mention me.”
“Of course not.” The manager came over with their tea and buns. “Enjoy.”