"What's up?"
"First: nothing new on the Avatar, except that a few months ago, the badgermoles led him and his companions, along with some group of very noisy people who were constantly singing something, away from their territory in the northwest. Oh, and they said his bison is afraid of being underground."
"Hmm... From beneath Omashu or somewhere around the city? Didn't expect that, but the information isn't much use to us. Same goes for Aang's flying transport being afraid of going underground." I thoughtfully scratched my eyebrow. "And that still doesn't explain why you pulled me aside."
"Well..." the girl said with an air of studied nonchalance. "I suddenly got curious. Since when are you an earthbender? And how?"
"The moles gave me away?" There was no one else it could have been, but their sensitivity was... impressive.
"Yep. They congratulated me on finding myself an earthbender friend, and..." The girl's cheeks flushed. "Never mind!"
Just what the hell had those oversized ground squirrels told her to have managed to embarrass even this seasoned little voyeur?!
"Don't change the subject! The badgermoles said you're an earthbender, and they don't make mistakes about things like that! Besides, I'd noticed that you'd changed somehow after Omashu, too. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but considering that whole mess with the dragons, the plague, and the riots, I figured it was just some kind of reaction to being scared!"
"Hmm. Let's just say there are ways, but they aren't exactly easy or pleasant."
"You could've told me." The girl pouted.
"I actually had been thinking about it, along with asking you for a master class, but somehow there was always something more important going on. So I never got around to it." I spread my hands. "And we can't forget about secrecy. You know perfectly well what would happen if everyone found out. Otherwise you wouldn't have dragged me off to the side."
"Hmmm... All right." Beifong decided to show mercy. "I'll pretend I believe you, Great Scoundrel. So you don't want your new talent becoming public knowledge? And you don't want to say how you got it either?"
"Right. Both could cause a whole lot of trouble if word got out. Besides, a trump card like this is better kept hidden."
"Fine! But once you can tell me, I demand the whole story."
"Deal. So, about that master class?" Agree—and immediately try to squeeze a little something extra out of the bargain.
"That stuff won't work on me." The grin on the face of this little wonder (or rather, little monster, but who cared about details?) turned openly bloodthirsty. "I may have spent most of my time fighting off sleep whenever Dad bargained with his business partners, but I know that trick inside and out. So you're not getting off that cheap, heh-heh."
"And what do you want, extortionist?"
"Mmm, don't know yet. But I'll definitely think of something." That made me a little sad, which the little menace apparently sensed. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle." When the hell had she picked that up? Ah, right. Strolls through the port and a room next to Azula's...
"You know, somehow I don't feel like learning anymore..."
"Too late! You're not getting away that easily now!" the earthbender declared, getting carried away.
"Ahem... I'm not saying anything. I'm just not saying anything."
"All right, then. I guess we're done here. I just need to chat with my friends a little more, and then we can head back... And we should probably get out from behind this cozy rock before your girls start imagining all sorts of things..."
"Knowing you, the only thing they could possibly imagine is a list of all the torments you've prepared for one unfortunate Herald."
"You underestimate yourself. And Dandan and Sheila's imaginations..."
"I think meeting your old friends has awakened something very dark and evil inside you... Maybe I should hand you back over to them for another hour or two..." Realizing that another couple of hours of the mushy affection she hated so much was a very real possibility, the girl decided to compromise.
"U-u-uh, let's not go to extremes here."
"Mmm, and what do I get for that?" And cue the innocent smile. The girl couldn't see it, of course, but she definitely heard the change in my tone.
"And he calls me a monster." The young lady pouted.
"What can you do? Harsh times call for harsh measures, heh-heh."
Well then. The Forces of Good had once again triumphed over the imperialist insurgents and compelled them to cooperate. That was how we'd write it down.
Nevertheless, Toph still had to spend another hour or so being cuddled by the moles. First, they wanted to know how she was doing, and second, we needed to warn them about the Avatar and persuade them not to cooperate with him.
Convincing them, incidentally, wasn't particularly difficult—the thorough, practical badgermoles were already somewhat irritated by the frivolity and carelessness characteristic of Air Nomads in general and Aang in particular.
Our resident lie detector, however, saw things differently. After all, she'd spent an entire hour getting squeezed by moles, right in front of the warrior girls and the Great Scoundrel himself!
Toph indignant! Toph outraged! Toph will revenge! Toph demand Fire Flakes!
All in all, it was fun.
(End of Chapter)
P@treon: /SadRaven
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