It Shouldn’t Be This Easy

Chapter 6

Freedom

-Toph-

I lean on the door of my father’s study listening in revulsion as my parents plan my engagement to that lady-man Sir Aang Gyago. You might say it's happened to quickly, Aang and I have known each other for barely a month. That and he spends way more time with Ty Lee than he does with me.

If I'm lucky, they'll run away to the circus together.

“Are you sure Toph is ready to marry me?” I hear Aang's timid voice ask. So Aang wasn't planning on marrying me, he was forced into it. I might feel bad for him if he wasn't such a girl.

My father’s footsteps pace back and forth. “Of course she’s ready. Once her sixteenth birthday comes you can propose to her. She’ll accept and the deal will be done. We’ll give you the mansion on the east side, I’m sure that will be big enough for you and whatever else comes along the way.” My father chuckles at the end of his speech.

I clench my fists at my sides, breathing hard. I’ve had enough. That’s it, I’m finished being treated like a well-bred mare. I am Toph Beifong. Not Lady Toph of the Beifong house. Just Toph.

I practically run for my room. Soon I’m out of the fancy dress and wearing pants. I’ve never worn them alone before. Only under large skirts have I dared to wear them, but today the frills and bows of dresses no longer impede me. Just a shirt and pants.

For a moment I look around my room. The pictures of myself and Bandit in the countryside along with Zuko and his violin stop me. Should I stay? As this thought races though my head a voice speaks from the shadows, “You can’t go.”

“Who said that?” Obviously, I missed the person sitting in the chair in my rush.

The figure stands up, his normally clean and tailored suits have been replaced by commoner clothing. “I said, you’re not going…At least, not without me.”

“You rat. How did you get into my room?”

“Is that really an issue? I want to come and that’s all you need to know.”

I smirk at him. “You just want to see that girl again. ‘Katara’ was it? You sly dog. Preying on poor peasant girls with your dashing good looks? I thought you were better than that.”

He grunts at my playful jib. “I’m going because I want to. Whether we meet Katara and Sokka along the way will be completely and utterly, random.”

“I’m sure. Now help me open this window. I want to leave right now, before my parents come looking to inform me of the fantastic news.”

“Fantastic news?” Zuko asks as he unlocks the window and quietly pushes it open.

I grab his arm, looking down I see a small shrub, or my landing pad. Turning around I say, “Yes, didn’t you know? I’m getting married.” And with that I jump out of the window and land on the prickly bush.

I clamber out and Zuko lands a few seconds later. “Married? Already? Wow, your birthday’s tomorrow and your parents have already planned it all out.”

“They’re thorough to say the least.” The streets are completely empty mostly likely because of the rain and the ridiculous hour, the moon glows behind the clouds high in the sky.

After a few minutes of silence Zuko says, “So, now what?”

I stop in the middle of the road, my heart tightening. Close by there was a mutter of voices and soft footsteps. Zuko immediately steps in front of me, I scowl at him and take my place beside him.

The pad of footsteps stop and I can feel Zuko grow taunt as a bowstring, ready for anything. From the alleyway a voice creeps out, “What have we here? A nobleman’s daughter and a soon-to-be Lord of the Jiang fourtune.” The voice is soon followed by a body. The boy is tall, brown hair falls into his equally brown eyes and from his lips hangs a stalk of wheat. “My, my, what are we going to do with you?”

A/N

Yay! New chapter!