Work Text:
Skilled hands wove her hair expertly as Toph sat contentedly in the grass. It relaxed her to the point that it almost lulled her to sleep. She felt the hand part her hair in three sections, and she started humming a tune when she heard a voice speak.
"Your hair is really long and thick you know. It's beautiful."
"Hmm, I never really cared about it much. It was my mother who tried to put oils and fragrances in order to maintain its beauty." She answered.
"Still, I'm surprised that you never tried to cut it back then. Especially back when we were on the run." Her hair stylist had answered. She felt herself tense for a moment before realizing her unconscious action and loosening her shoulders before answering. Honestly, Toph had spent a lot of time during their run thinking if she should cut her hair for practicality's sake but she could never bring herself to no matter what she did. If, and only if, she tried to dig enough inside herself to find out the real reason then it would all point back to her mother.
Toph remembered how, as a child Poppy Beifong would spend hours with her brushing her hair and singing her lullabies. Her mother would scour from lands far away for precious oils and fragrances that would strengthen and maintain her hair. When she ran away with Aang and the others, being able to wash one's hair had been considered a luxury to them and so Toph hadn't been able to take care of it much but on the days where they were able to find a place to bathe, she would meticulously wash her hair and brush it as much as she could before putting it in a bun. For her, it had been the last thing that was connecting her from her old life, connecting her to her mother.
She remembered a time when Sokka offered to cut it for her when she commented how hard it was to wash her hair and she adamantly refused. None of her friends knew the reason why and the topic was dropped.
Now years later after the war and reconnecting with her parents, Toph had maintained its long length and texture.
Taking herself out of her thoughts, she tried to come up with an answer regarding that statement without being vulnerable but she knew that the person weaving their hands on her hair would understand the importance of it and would not judge her for her reason.
"My mother..." She started just enough for the two of them.
"I remember back when I was a child, she would sit with me for hours and just brush my hair and sing me lullabies. When I uh, ran away, I had already decided to throw everything away from my old life, but I could never really touch my hair. It was the only thing that stayed even when we were on the run. I felt that cutting it off would cut me away completely from my mother and well, I just couldn’t.” At the end of her sentence Toph had noticed that she was already whispering like she was confessing a sin so great.
The person beside her hummed and continued their ministrations. It was a while when she received an answer.
“I understand. You know, here in the Fire Nation hair is associated to a person’s honor. When I decided to cut off my hair it marked my denouncement of my status, of my old life. In a way, it was like being born anew.”
She knew the hardships that he endured during the time before he joined them, and it made her heart ache again with the knowledge and had to stop herself from reaching out to him and comfort him lest she ruined what he was doing to her hair. She decided to ask him instead about something that has been plaguing her mind ever since he offered to plait her hair.
“I’m surprised with how expertly you’re plaiting my hair, Sparky. Where did you learn how to do that?” There was an apprehension in her voice but her curiosity was greater. She felt Zuko’s hand still for a moment before resuming their actions and she realized that it must have been a sensitive topic for him. Toph learned from years of knowing him that if he was pushed, he would often pull back more; just like her. It was something that they have in common that would often be the reason for them to clash but this time she decided to wait and listen.
“My mother... Back when I thought everything was all right she would often let me play with her hair and she taught me how to brush and plait it for her. When Azula was still little and we weren’t pressured to outdo each other we used to have times where we got along. She would also let me play with her hair and I would even put flowers in it after arranging it for her and we would run over to mother to show it to her. It’s one of my fondest memories of the both of them.” He finished at last and Toph heard the underlying hurt with his own confession.
Toph knew that he was sharing something intimate, something only a handful of people like her was honored to know. Abandoning her earlier reservations, she reached out behind her to place her hand in his and squeezing it. A simple act of comfort, letting him know that she was there for him. He squeezed back after a moment before releasing his hold and finishing his work with a tie on her hair. Toph ran her hands over her hair before she felt his hand bat hers away in case she ruined it and they both let out a laugh.
She felt Zuko settle down beside her and hands took hold of both of her cheeks before she felt warm lips on her forehead. Three years into this and still the warmth she felt in her chest never changed. Letting a smile overtake her face she reached out to him to pull him back and kissed him on the lips. She felt Zuko’s heartbeat increased, and it made her almost giddy to know that she wasn’t the only one who still feels the rush even after all these years.
“Maybe I should appoint you as my hair stylist now then. I imagine I would not put too much of a fuss then if it was you arranging it, especially if there’s a kiss at the end.” She teased him and it thrilled her when she felt him become warm from embarrassment with her words.
“Hmm, thank you for the offer but alas I have already been coerced to being the Firelord.” He jested.
“Ahh too bad then. If you find yourself bored enough then the offer still stands. Now, teach me how to plait your hair. I want to be able to do it to you as well.” Toph demanded and she heard his laughter.
“Alright but promise me that you won’t tangle my hair so much. I spent years trying to grow it out.” The mirth in his voice was evident and Toph grouched halfheartedly before smirking.
“My, I’m sure that the air nomad style would look good on you in case I mess up my dearest.” She heard a sputter before Zuko let out a loud laugh and Toph cherished at the sound.
They spent the afternoon with Zuko teaching her how to braid one’s hair and at the end of it she managed to somewhat plait Zuko’s hair crookedly which she felt proud of. She knew though that he looked silly but the way he proudly showed off her work on his hair for the rest of the evening made her love grow more to him.
In the past, they both associated one’s hair to painful memories and lost chances but in the coming years when one would be asked why Toph would often have her hair braided both would think back of a day when the afternoon sun was high, where laughter rang loudly and love was felt all around.