Archive of Our Own

"-and that is exactly why you need a break," the Earth Kingdom delegate (who'd arrived significantly earlier than expected) replied. "You've been working your rear off for months planning this conference, I think you can afford to take a single afternoon off."

"But-"

"No more excuses," Toph said. "I'm going out to explore the city, and you are coming with me. Are you done changing yet?"

Zuko looked down at the outfit she'd shoved in his hands a few minutes earlier. He had no idea where she'd gotten the simple red clothing (the sort one would expect to see on an average, ordinary civilian), nor how she'd picked out something that fit him so perfectly, but he knew there was no point in questioning it.

"Yeah," he said, stepping out of the room and joining her in the hallway.

"Perfect," she said, grabbing his arm.

"Uh..... Toph?" Zuko asked. "How exactly are you planning on getting us out of the palace?"

"Through the servants' entrance, obviously," she told him.

"There's no way that's going to work," he said. "I don't know about you, but I have a pretty recognizable face."

"Let me tell you a secret, Fire Lord," Toph explained. "People see what they want to see. What they expect to see. And nobody expects to see their ruler leaving through the servants' gate. As long as you keep your head down and don't make a scene, no one will suspect a thing."

She was right, of course. Toph smirked as soon as they were far enough away from the palace.

"I told you," she said, punching Zuko's arm. "That'll teach you to doubt me."

"I can't believe that actually worked," he said. His voice sounded surprised.

"Of course it did," she said. "Now come on, we've got a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of time to do it."

A few hours later, Zuko and Toph were walking down the street, both more than a little tipsy (although not quite fully drunk).

"Not bad," Toph said, laughing and punching him again. (His arm was starting to get really sore-- a hazard of spending too much time with the diminutive earthbender.) "Who knew the Fire Lord could hold his drink so well?"

Zuko laughed.

"This was fun," he admitted. "We should do it again sometime. Maybe with Aang and others, after this conference is over?"

Suddenly, he felt himself being dragged into the nearest alleyway.

"Toph?"

"Shhh!!!" She held a finger to his lips.

Toph could feel their footsteps from several blocks away, even before she heard their voices.

"I don't suppose you've seen his majesty the Fire Lord around here?" The speaker was clearly trying to appear nonchalant, but she sincerely doubted anyone was actually buying it.

They've noticed he's missing. She'd been hoping for at least another hour or two before the city guards started looking for Zuko, but clearly she'd been too optimistic. What do we do?

She couldn't bend her way out of this one-- she didn't want to risk making too much noise or breaking something in her inebriated state. The footsteps were getting closer. And closer. They'd be found any moment now. She needed to do something. Suddenly, she had an idea.

This is crazy, she thought. But it's crazy enough that it just might work.

"Come here," Zuko heard her whisper, pulling him over to the right side of the alley. She was standing with her back to the wall, facing him.

"What are you-"

"Do you trust me?"

"Toph-"

"Do you trust me?" The look on her face told him he'd better answer honestly.

"Yes, of course," Zuko said. "But what-"

"Good," she said, reaching up and putting her hands on either side of his face. "Kiss me."

"Wha-" Toph didn't let him finish the word, pulling his face down to hers. She pressed her mouth against his.

And not a moment too soon.

"Is anyone-- oh!" She heard the guard a few feet away, so close she could probably reach out and touch him.

He didn't recognize them, of course. She'd made sure to position them in such a way that the scarred side of Zuko's face was on the side not facing the street, and he certainly wouldn't be expecting to see the Fire Lord locking lips with what appeared to be a simple commoner.

"Pardon me!" The guard turned and scurried off.

Toph smiled slightly, pulling away from Zuko.

"Good, it w-"

Before she could finish the sentence, Zuko's lips were back on hers.

At first, Zuko didn't move, completely frozen with shock. He stood stock-still as the guard walked by.

That was when he realized what was going on.

It's just an act. It wasn't even a real kiss, just two sets of lips smushed together.

But he didn't want it to end.

He felt Toph moving away, and before he knew what he was doing, he was pulling her back to him.

For a moment, her lips were still, as frozen as his had been just a minute or two earlier. But just as he was about to stop, he felt her arms come around his neck, pulling him down, pulling him closer. Her lips were moving, fusing and twisting with his. He wrapped his arms around her back, groaning as she opened her mouth, her tongue slipping out to dance with his.

He didn't know how long they stood like that, their mouths intertwined, pressing against each other as they tried to get closer and closer together.

Eventually, though, they did have to breathe.

Toph let out a slight gasp as his mouth left hers. She took a few deep breaths, trying to fill her lungs and clear her head.

"What was that?" She loosened her arms, letting them drop to Zuko's shoulders.

"I don't know?" Zuko said, worry evident from his voice. "I'm sorry, I know you were just trying to hide us and I got carried away and-"

"Sorry? What on Earth for?" She laughed. "Did you hear me complaining?"

"Oh." Zuko let his lips quirk into a small smile, feeling as though a weight had just been lifted from his chest. "So that means-"

"-that I liked it?" Toph said, smirking. "Obviously. Man, hot-head, why didn't you ever tell me you could kiss like that?"

"Uhhh......" Was there an appropriate response to that question?

"Come on," she said. "We really should get back before those guards tear this city apart looking for you."

She turned and walked away.

When she reached the mouth of the alleyway, Toph turned back to face him.

"You coming, your majesty?" She could hear the sigh he tried to smother as he walked to meet her. Giggling, she slipped her hand into his, smiling as his fingers intertwined with hers.