Reunion:TophZuko

Zuko waited until halfway into the banquet before steering his steps down to the table where the earthbender girl sat, working her way through the dishes with quite remarkable speed. She was taller, her skin a bit more tanned, witnessing about long days outside under the hot sun of the fire nation. It had been three years since last time.

She could probably sense him approaching, but even when he was so close the cords tying his ceremonial robe together in the front almost dangled in her face, she didn't turn her head.

"You've grown. The years have been good to you," Zuko finally said, greeting her with a short, correct bow.

Toph put the gerbilchicken bone down on her plate and wiped her mouth with the backside of her hand.

"I know. I bet I could take you out one handed now, Wimplord," she said. "By the way, nice sideburns."

Zuko blinked.

"I don't have sideburns."

"Hey, it was a good guess. You know. Me being blind and all." Toph waved her hand impatiently in front of her pale eyes, but the look on her face was amused rather than irritated. "So what is it? A goatee? A mustache?"

"Why don't you look for yourself?" Zuko answered, sitting down beside her on the bench, ignoring her sigh of 'how hard is it to get that I can't look', and lifting her hand to his face.

Toph was quiet for the few seconds it took her to slowly move her fingers across his chin and cheeks. Her hands were rough, the skin dry and hardened, but the fingertips were surprisingly soft despite that, their touch carefully light.

"You have a beard!" she laughed when removed her hands. "And it's a real facewarmer!"

"Is that a compliment?"

"Well, I can't tell if it suits you, but it feels nice. Well trimmed. Though your right side is a bit more uneven than the other. Might wanna work on symmetry a bit."

Zuko smiled to himself. Some things, like sharp tongues and a complete lack of respect, didn't change no matter how many years and coronations went by. Not able to think of anything more to say he fell silent.

He thought Toph had turned her whole attention back to her food, so when she suddenly spoke he almost flinched. Almost. He was the Firelord after all.

"So. Are you and that weapon chick still seeing each other?" Her voice was neutral. A little too neutral.

"And if we are?"

"Good for you." She took another mouthful of chilli rice. "You'll have some scary babies."

She talked with her mouth full, and there was a grain of rice stuck on her chin. It was strangely endearing.

"And if we aren't?" Zuko said, a little lower this time. He reached over and wiped the rice of her face, and when she didn't pull away from his touch he stroke the back of his hand over her cheek, all the way back to her ear. She had pierced her ears, a golden coin sitting in the enlarged hole. The metal gleamed in the torchlight.

Toph turned her head towards him, her eyes staring emptily on a point somewhere above his left shoulder.

"How about you tell me, fire flake?" she said, grinning.

Zuko didn't answer. Instead he took her hand and brought it back to his face, to show her he was smiling.