Chapter Text
“Toph darling, make sure to use the special powder imported from Republic City, it’s best that your father’s partners see how united we are as a family”, then Ms. Beifong bowed her head, nodding to the guard to help Toph to be taken to her room.
She held out her arm so the guard took her back, and when they were both finally out of sight from her mother, Toph jerked back her arm.
“Toph! Your mom could have seen that! You need to be-”
“Oh shut it tincan” Toph puffed her bangs out of her eyes. Why did have to keep he keep scolding her about this.
“Last I checked, I’m a Beifong”, Toph turned and pointed smugly, “Your just a-”
“Another Lee, I know I know” Kanto replied back.
His tone annoyed Toph, her brows doing that signature furrow; Am I really that predicted?
Eventually, the duo reached her bedroom, he held the door for her as she picked her dress to not trip over the down door frame. Unfortunately for her, she liked Kanto to some extent to not show him her naturalistic side.
Feeling him walking away, Toph plopped into her bed, then roll-dropped into the floor. More than anything, she loved breathing earthy dust, that was her face powder.
Oh right, mother wanted me to wear something.
Right on cue, Kanto knocked on her door. “You have a portrait painting in 15 minutes Ms. Beifong”, he called.
Toph grumbled, grudgingly pulling herself up for another uneventful day.
___
“Avatar Aang, what are you doing about the Earth King and Da Li?”
“Do you really think that creating Republic City will fix all our problems?”
“Avatar Aang, what do you think of the Ba Sing Se professors calling this era the ‘Metal War’ “
Katara spilled her hand with Aang, gripping it firmly. As much as she wanted to shut everyone up, it would only make things worse. She looked over to Aang, his eyes never faltering from the crowd.
“Sokka, say something,” Katara nudged.
“So I don’t know if you noticed but I’m not the avatar”
Hearing that, she used her left hand to bend a small puddle of water which was growing by the second.
“HEY EVERYONE LET’S CALM DOWN,” Sokka immediately stood up, nervously eyeing Katara.
“You're the one who needs to calm down!” Someone in the audience yelled,
Sokka gritted his teeth, “What I meant was, let’s take a deep breath, and hear the avatar talk for once”. The city council turned to Aang, his eyes with a serious demeanor rather than a nervous one.
He stood up, looking at everyone who questioned him in the council. Those who usually threw spiteful remarks fell in his gaze. At that moment, Katara couldn’t remember the last time Aang became that driven.
“I hear your concerns, I really do. The 100 year war has left more pain and misery than we ever anticipated. My friends and I created this city and council, on behalf of the Fire Nation, to create a new era of Peace, to fill the gap the past has left. However, it fell upon me to understand the Earth Kingdom stance on the effects of the war, which I neglected far too much. As the Avatar, I forget that no matter if we are bender, non-bender, earth nation, fire nation, water tribe or Air Nomad, we are all one. Now, I realize that it was doomed from the start, yet our hope,” He looked at Katara, “ should never be diminished”.
Katara pulled herself up, along with her brother. She looked at Aang and Sokka, they knew. They both nodded, letting her speak.
“People of Republic City, our words will never be enough. As much as I believe hope has the power to change minds, it’s us that takes action. And so, I propose a plan to tackle the “Metal War”.
People gasped at that statement, one of Avatar Aang’s team members just acknowledged of the new war.
“Actually I think it’s my plan” Sokka cleared his throat, continuing, “Instead of conversing with improving Republic City, it’s time that Team Avatar (Katara rolled her eyes) go patrolling the world, starting in the Earth Kingdom. There, we will find any infiltrations, advocate peace, and convince the Earth Kingdom to join our Republic City Council. And create souvenirs so we can increase tourism of course”.
The last sentence prompted the merchant table to erupt in cheers.
“All in favor?” Katara asked, especially glaring at those who were targeting Aang before.
.
“Did it really matter if they didn’t raise their hands?” Sokka asked, stuffing his travel bag with gunk in the market stalls. He started to scoop them all in his hands as Katara impatiently went to shop in the other stall.
“Obviosuly not, but we need their trust” Katara said, as she handed out money for her goods. With the city bustling all around them, they didn’t have to worry of anyone hearing them.
“Hmm” Sokka replied. He reached for an Earth Kingdom scroll, officiated with a flying boar seal. “You think we can pull this off”.
“It was destiny that we met Aang. We need to pull this off, otherwise…” Katara looked at Aang, who was talking to another merchant.
She couldn’t let Aang think he failed again.
___
Kanto couldn’t believe he let himself get lost again. He ran across, looking for that flying boar portrait, located to the right of brat Beifong Ms.Beifong’s room. He paused, running around was sure to cast looks somewhere, if he found anyone that was.
“Jeez, unathletic much. How did you get to be a guard anyway” Toph causally remarked, leaning on the wall.
“Ah! To-Ms.Beifong, why are you here unsupervised… and how did you find me?” He raised an eyebrow, he was always surprised she knew how to find her way around this maze.
“Yeah how did I? Did you forget I’m blind. I could get you fired for this”. She walked over, grabbing his elbow.
“I have a feeling you’ll keep me around” He smiled, guiding her along. “Did you use the powder Mrs. Beifong asked?”
“Yes, and you can have the rest of it. It makes my face itchy.” Toph wished she could just smack it all off.
“Funny, but be careful. The avatar’s friend made that powder. I hear they’re trying to fluff up the officials, trying to stop the metal industries”.
“Wait, they’re trying to find out if Father is in the Metal War?” She asked in surprise.
“No, they’re trying to set a partnership” Kanto stopped, even though Toph knew they weren’t even close to the painter. She felt his heartbeat beat faster, and the beads of sweat confirmed it. He was nervous
Toph let off his hand, “What is it?” she demanded.
“Look, I don’t know how I know this, but you need to meet the Avatar”.
She wanted to slap him. “Are you crazy? How do you expect the unknown daughter of the Beifong Family to just meet the Avatar. And why do I care, he’s probably 100 years old gross man”
He knelt down, taking Toph’s hands, as if she was in control of his life. For some reason, that caught her off guard, almost jerking her hands away, but she couldn’t.
“Toph, please. You don’t know how important you are, the metal war depends on you. Stop staying underground here.”
She flinched at the word “underground”. Did he know that-
“Footsteps” Toph pointed the direction they were supposed to go in, Kanto understood and stood up.
“Let’s go,” she snapped.
They met other of the Family’s guards, clearly sent from her worried parents. Toph bit her lip in frustration, once again, she was silenced. But instead of just letting herself ignore it, her mind wanted to hear more from Kanto.
Toph also realized there was a strong vibration, taking control of her body. She put her hand on her chest, she never heard her heart beat like that before. It was as if something called to her at that moment.
“Toph dear, are you ready?” Ms. Beifong called from the room.
She cracked her knuckles.