Chapter Text
Zuko uncrosses his arms while sitting on the cold bench facing the river, sheathing his hands warmly into his jacket as he puffs his breath into the night air, amusingly observing the visibility due to the chilly December weather. It’s getting late, and the crowd has subdued save for joggers and a few people unwinding. He could’ve been unwinding too, but the crisp air stung on his hand a while ago, sharp and harsh like the internal impasse he’s been battling.
He wasn’t always a fan of the cold, but he sure hopes he gets frozen out here and thrown unknowingly to the water. That would’ve been great. Or maybe not. That would make the news and spirits, he wouldn't want to hear any lectures from his uncle right now, as much as he respected the old man.
Silently basking in the tranquility of his environment, he snaps out of his trance when he hears footsteps approach him. “Feeling chilly over there, Sparky?” a voice calls out, still sharp even with a dull edge of teasing. Normally, Zuko would’ve raised his guard up on reflex, but he has been expecting this person tonight.
He chuckles a little and huffs. “Hey Toph,” he acknowledges as the woman makes her seat next to him. “Can manage.”
This earns a modest scoff from her. “Right, firebender pizzazz.”
They both snicker at the comment, but shortly fell into an awkward silence. Zuko hasn’t been counting how many seconds or minutes have passed, but he senses that they’re both letting each other process their own sentiments. It has only been a week since they’ve been given the news.
Zuko’s throat is getting parched as he silently gulps, the cold air slowly making its way from his neck to his shoulders despite the layers in his clothing. He’s carefully trying to steer his right shoulder away from meeting Toph’s, afraid that a strange sensation would zap the both of them. He steals a glance at her, the breeze gently flitting between her bangs as her gaze faces somewhere beyond the horizon. It tells not of hostility or surrender, and Zuko could only hope it’s not resentment towards him.
Unsurprisingly, it was Zuko who broke the silence. “So… um. I’m surprised you agreed,” he starts carefully, trying his best not to sound structured and serious like his curated persona in his office, but also not too nonchalant to seem like he doesn’t care. He cares, especially of what Toph might think. Especially because it’s Toph. “I expected you to put up a fight with your parents.”
Toph sighs in defeat, leaning back with her arms. He notices her pressing her feet more into the ground, as if this is where she’s channeling her frustrations. “Trust me I did. Arguments and all. But I mulled it over the week.” He finally looks at her, and she’s still facing the river. The stance on her feet lightens, and she gradually faces his direction. Her expression reads not of surrender, and Zuko sees a flash of warmth. “Maybe it won’t be that bad,” she offers a small smile, like it’s a secret saved only between the two of them. Zuko promptly keeps it to the confines of his memories. “It’s you, after all.”
Zuko lets out a breath he has been unknowingly holding and ransacks his brain to come up with a reply without stuttering. “Is that a compliment or…?”
“Familiarity.” Toph smirks, playfully kicking her feet off the ground to sway beneath the bench. The thick air separating between them evaporates into something lighter, the jittery sink in Zuko’s chest springing back to life. Toph gazes upwards, heaving a sigh; a relief from the tension or simply an exhale from the cold air, Zuko doesn’t know. “How would our friends think though? It’s gonna be so funny. I bet Sokka would have a field day teasing us.”
He groans just thinking about it. “Spirits, I don’t want to imagine,” he mutters in defeat, massaging his temples. “Maybe Aang would even put more gas on Sokka's fire.”
“Hah, for sure,” Toph agrees with a defeated scoff, but there’s a lick of playfulness as the thought brings them fondness of their friends. She then mutters meekly, “I’d sure hope Katara would understand, at least. I know she will.”
There’s a tinge of anxiety in her voice that Zuko roughly catches, a reserved display of uncertainty that paints Toph in an invisible ink. A picture of her she won’t let just anyone see through.
“Yeah.” Zuko softly agrees, his hand slowly lifting to offer a reassuring pat on her shoulder but halts mid-air as the woman next to him finally faces his direction. He fumbles an awkward smile, like a kid caught doing something he shouldn’t.
“When do we tell them, by the way?” she asks with a short lift in her eyebrow.
Zuko synchronizes his sigh of relief with a hum, adding the hand that he was supposed to pat her to rub his chin instead. Hopefully Toph doesn’t sense the crudeness of his actions. “When do you want to?” he asks in modesty, putting Toph’s opinion first. It’s the least he could do, he suffices in his head.
Toph seems to have an answer right away, confident. He cannot help but always admire her tenacity. “The sooner, the better. There’s no point keeping it from them anyways,” she reasons. True. Their friends would have known it without even trying, and Zuko admires how seamlessly connected they all are. “And I need to rant to Katara about it.” Toph jokes.
They share a brief giggle. “Very well,” Zuko announces with formality. “I’ll arrange dinner tomorrow at Kwong’s Cuisine. I’ll inform everyone on the group chat.” He says as his hands are already fishing his phone from his pocket, hastily typing a reminder to make the reservation after their rendezvous.
He suddenly gets a stinging, loud pat on the back and he yelps, a hand soothing the area in a jiffy. He looks at Toph with betrayal, but the woman could only gape at him proudly, acting like what she did was necessary. “You’re so efficient, mister corporate man! I could always rely on you.”
He shakes his head disapprovingly, but the smile on his face is contradicting. “Come on now,” he stands up, offering his warm hand to help Toph stand up. “Let’s get going before I get a beating here.”
She takes his hand and consequently lands another playful smack on his arm. There is nothing but relief from Zuko, not really expecting how this all turned out. He prepared for the worst; an angry earful from Toph or a sparring session in another day where she could release her frustrations. He is comforted at the thought that they both mutually agreed to this whole arrangement, as informally formal it is.
As the gentleman that he is, Zuko offers to walk her back to where she said her driver was waiting. The trek back wasn’t as awkward as he thought, all because Toph was nagging him about meeting by the riverside park where it’s so ‘uncharacteristic’ of him because the spot he chose was freezing and that he should act as Toph’s personal heat pack with his firebending.
By the time Zuko has seen the familiar Beifong family car, he waves the driver of their presence and guides Toph closer to the vehicle. Not that Toph really needs guiding, since she could feel it through her seismic sense.
He opens the door for her, and lingers for a few seconds. “Thanks for walking me here. Although you didn’t have to,” Toph remarks, yet she faces him with a thankful expression. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sparky.”
“Yeah,” he breathes, and gives one last look at her before he bids goodbye. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He closes the door with a cushioned thud, remaining on his feet as he watches the car drive away.
A gust of wind blows through his face, and the loss of warmth made Zuko remember how cold the December air is.
The energy during the dinner is bustling. Sokka is on the lead at telling his stories about his weekend adventures away from his corporate engineering job while also sneaking in how much he misses his—in his words—’very awesome and very hardworking Miss Worldwide’ girlfriend. Aang is actively listening to all his quips and jokes and laughs at them way too hard. One would think that maybe Aang is just being nice, but they all know the two’s humor is on the same wavelength.
Zuko asks about Aang’s students and how busy he might have been recently, being a professor and a bending instructor at the same time. Aang shrugs it off with a fond smile, saying it has always felt natural to him and that he loves what he’s doing. Zuko and Sokka are both glad their best friend is doing great.
Across him, Katara is busy talking to Toph about going on a pamper day together, just the two of them relaxing without stressing about their jobs. Seeing as Katara went to dinner straight after her shift at the hospital, Toph immediately agreed and discussed that they book that spa day soon. Zuko cannot help but hear their conversation as he’s seated next to Toph, and he could only assume that the stress consuming her is about their whole ordeal.
It all seems like just another hangout between busy friends: sharing diverse stories happening in their every day that they aren’t able to tell as much now that they’re busy with their own adult lives. It paints a warm picture of remembrance and platonic intimacy that Zuko is thankful to have garnered in his lifetime.
They eat as soon as the food arrive, chowing down all the dishes Zuko ordered for them to feast on. He takes a few bites, trying to gauge the timing. Should he wait till they’re done? Or shouldn’t they have announced it when everyone arrived? Is announcing something of this weight alright to do in the middle of a meal?
He decides to wait for a moment until they’ve had a good amount of food in their stomachs when he clears his throat.
“Everyone,” he calls for their attention, his voice trying to remain steady. “We have an announcement to make.”
He sees Sokka’s eyebrows shoot from across the table. “By ‘we’? You mean who?”
The looks from all their friends across the table is terrifyingly inquisitive that if it was Zuko’s younger self, he would’ve backed out. But he is twenty-eight and very much an adult who has to face difficult things head on. Beside him, Toph crosses her arms and remains silent; an unspoken gesture of trust towards Zuko to take charge.
“Toph and I…” he starts deliberately, and their expressions start to contort into something. Zuko knows it will be an expression of shock shortly after. “We’ve been arranged to get married.”
The gasps were loud enough to fill the whole private room as the image in front of them is fashioning to be both hilarious and amusing.
“You’re what?!”
From their conversation last night, Toph and Zuko sure didn’t expect Katara to react largely like this, both hands now slamming lightly on the wooden table with her eyes wide and her gaze swiftly sliding back and forth at them.
To be fair, both Aang and Sokka are schooling the same expression, but with their mouths hanging wider than ever. Sokka is lightly gripping his hair while Aang collectedly holds Katara’s hand, anchoring the both of them to reality.
Zuko looks at Toph who’s schooling a smirk, amused at the rattle in their friends’ reactions.
“Yeah, I know right? Crazy shit.” she finally comments. “Who would’ve thought Zuko and I are getting married.”
Sokka comically shakes his head and flails his arms. “I really can’t believe this! What! When?! How?! But to be clear, this isn’t a prank, right?” he confirms, and the couple beside him is also anticipating an answer.
Zuko sighs, reaching for something he had been keeping on his lap underneath the table. “Well if it was a prank, I wouldn’t be handing these engagement invitations to you guys,” he says as he slowly slides each of their invitations; one for Sokka and Suki, and another for Aang and Katara.
It’s laughable, almost, at how they both knew they didn’t really have much of a choice in this agreement seeing how immediately the engagement invitations were printed out and sent to important people to each of their businesses after they’ve mutually agreed to the marriage.
Busy eyes skim the invitations they are holding, mouths still slightly ajar. “Next month?!” Aang broadcasts in bewilderment.
“It was supposed to be two weeks from now,” Toph groans as she adjusts her seat, reaching her chopsticks to the sliced duck on the table.
“Supposedly two weeks from now?!” Katara repeats in a small outburst. Zuko understands that she’s highly concerned for her friend. She may have instantly realized her action, so her expression softens. “Why that urgent?”
“Girl, I know.” Toph whines, setting her chopsticks down and leans back in her seat. Zuko could only watch her do her thing, and decides that it’s best to not interfere. “I had to negotiate with my parents for an hour. The farthest we agreed on was to hold the engagement party in a month’s time.”
“Hah, that makes it sound like you don’t wanna be wed to Zuko,” Sokka jokes.
Toph waves him off. “Nah, I just hate the fact that they’re forcing me into a setup that I wasn’t consulted to beforehand. They never talked to me about it.” Zuko suspects it was a silent protest as she draws invisible circles on the table. He feels bad. He feels bad and he’s starting to regret agreeing to it. How foolish of him to assume that Toph is fully compliant.
He was about to defend Toph and display his own remorse, but the rhythm from Toph’s fingers halts with a tap as she faces their friends with resolve. “Hate the shackles of the arranged marriage, pleased that it’s Zuko. And I like my friend Zuko. Maybe I’ll kiss him right now.”
Everyone freezes. The internal turmoil is dissolved into the air as Zuko’s face heats up, sneaking a glance at her from his peripheral. He scans the room with their horrified faces and sputters on his words. “Wha–”
“Just kidding, chill.” Toph assures them, and Zuko sighs in relief. That sure caught him like a deer in headlights; the sentence coming out of Toph’s mouth like it’s a challenge that she won’t be backing out of. “But we may have to kiss in a month’s time, you know?”
Zuko offers a kind yet restraining hand on Toph’s shoulder to prevent her from doing more, err, frisky remarks that makes his stomach churn. “Um. Maybe let’s not talk about that right now, Toph.” Spirits, he doesn’t want to know how red he is right now.
Nonetheless, he does takes note of that, that they might have to kiss sooner or later, but everything has been a whirlwind of events one after the other for him to think about it. Or that’s what he reasons with himself. The increasing pace of his heartbeat, warm blush, and twisted posture {a rare sight to see, as he is always sitting upright like the executive he is) is proving otherwise.
Toph may have sensed his discomposure, so she eggs on him more. “Sure, Sparky. We’ll make-out sloppy style in that engagement party and see the horrors in their faces.”
The exclamation of disgust from their friends were instant.
“Toph!”
“Gross!”
“Woah there!”
If only Toph could see their faces, she might have laughed even louder. So she snowballs with another comment that Zuko had him hiding his face in his hands.
“Hey, what’s bad about kissing your homie-soon-to-be-fiancé?”
After the whole fiasco has subdued and their friends have finally collected themselves from the initial shock and teasing towards Zuko, the group’s energy reverts back to their dynamic before the announcement as they all try to finish their meals. The astonishment still lingers in the air, so Katara brings it to herself to discuss it further.
“When does the planning start?” she asks, sipping her tea. Her eyes remain speculative and meticulous. Zuko tries not to meet her gaze, afraid that he won’t be able to escape from her interrogation. They all know how terrifying it is to be under her scrutiny. And he still needs to recover from the blushing mess he was moments ago.
Toph hums, swallowing the dumplings she has been chewing. “Next week.”
Katara pries more. Aang and Sokka are just looking at the two women, leaving the interrogation to Katara while they busy themselves with the food. Zuko knows they both have the same questions too. “What are your plans before that?”
“I don’t know, enjoy my last days of freedom?” Toph shrugs. “Or maybe Zuko takes me on a first date like the gentleman he is.”
“Hey.” Zuko swats, mildly offended.
“I’m just saying,” she remarks with a casualness that Zuko doesn’t know where she’s getting. Weren’t they sharing their vulnerability just last night? What changed from the last twenty-something hours? “We can’t be getting engaged without you taking me out on a date, you know? Heck, even my exes took me out on a first date.”
This catches Zuko’s tongue. The eyes his friends are looking at him makes him want to twitch again in his seat. He takes another note of that, mind scouring to think of first date ideas. He’s only had one partner in his life, but that was way too long ago. They were still teenagers then, when dating seemed easy. Besides, years have already passed since they broke up during his freshman year in college. Zuko did get into some flings, but he never got into a deeper connection with the people who attempted to win his heart. He guesses he really didn’t bother that much, focusing more on his training and studies until he graduated and eventually got employed in his uncle’s business.
Aang may have sensed Zuko’s brief dissociation so he clears his throat. “Have they already discussed your schedules leading to the engagement and the wedding?”
“Yeah, I bet you both would be busier than ever. Will we even get to hang out like this?” Sokka adds.
Zuko assures them, “Of course we would. I would arrange it if our schedules permit.”
Sokka plants his elbow on the table and rests his chin on his palm. A childish pout embellished on his face. “Surely, we would be on the entourage, right?”
Zuko cackles. “Of course, what kind of question is that? You’re all our best friends.” He wouldn’t imagine having their wedding without their friends. They’ve grown so much together since time eternal and Zuko holds them very close to his heart. He made sure to bring up the topic of his friends being significant people in their wedding while his uncle sat him down with the proposal. He’s glad that it’s initially something both parties with the Beifongs has agreed on.
Toph finishes her cup of tea before speaking again. “Just know that you’ll be my maid of honor, Katara. I know I would lose my shit to my parents if it’s not you.”
Katara knows that Toph is joking at her latter sentence, but Zuko guesses that the thought of her being Toph’s maid of honor probably softened her expression. “Toph…”
“Hey, save the sappiness to the actual wedding guys. I could be a runaway bride, you know?” Their friends cackle, but a sharp sting pierces in Zuko’s throat. He knows it was said in jest, but it had him staggering again in his thoughts. Of course, Toph has the option to do that. Of course, this is all business puppetry. Of course, they are just friends who were stipulated into this setup, with no budding romantic feelings other than a devoted friendship on the table. Toph might have a secret lover that Zuko, his uncle, or her parents doesn’t know.
Toph’s remark did come across as a good joke among their friends as he hears Sokka and Aang pitch their silly ideas for the wedding, unbeknownst to them the rally Zuko has in his thoughts. The chatter somehow feels muffled, feeling his stomach churn at the thought of Toph hating him because of all this. Maybe he really should have adamantly rejected the arrangement. Fuck, Zuko, how stupid! He was only thinking about himself! He should have fought against it for Toph’s sake! How can he be so selfish?
He may have spiraled a bit more until he felt Toph’s hand tug at the rolled cuff of his sleeves from underneath the table. The chatter now reverbates back in his ears, but his heartbeat marginally picks up its pace when her hand slides to his wrist, gripping it with a feeling that Zuko could only assume to be assurance with the way Toph squeezes her hold lightly.
It then follows with another reassuring tap of her fingers on the back of his hand. A silent promise.
When Zuko stealthily moves his head to face Toph, he felt her hand retreat from her hold as she laughs along Sokka and Katara’s banter. She effortlessly jumps into their conversation, recalling an anecdote from Aang and Katara’s own wedding, which then lead to one after another. Zuko also finds his way back into the discussion in between another round of drinks.
The arrangement hasn’t been officially sealed yet, but Zuko brings it to himself to make sure Toph’s decision wasn’t in naught.