Lost In Delirium
Chapter 2: Warnings
Toph awoke to the sound of a knock on the door.
"Your breakfast, girl." Came the cold voice of someone she didn't recognize, must have been a servant she thought.
Toph muttered a short, curt, "Thanks," before the woman closed the door behind her. Walking over towards the table where her food was, she grimaced, refusing to eat it and instead settling for something to drink.
She poured herself a glass of water from where she remembered the jug was and drank until her throat wasn't dry anymore. The thick chain was still around her neck and it felt more like a metal collar than anything else. Toph tugged on it, hard and tried to find the clasp. There was only a key hole at the back and she wasn't the best at picking locks. Her Earth bending was obviously bound until further notice…if at all.
Kicking the bed in frustration, the small girl sighed and sat down. There was no way she was leaving without someone to accompany her. And she was hungry. The sweet bread they gave was so tempting and she was so close to actually just taking one bite from it. But fear of it being poisoned made her bite her tongue down.
Instead, she closed her eyes and sat on the floor, her mind mapping out a picture of the entire fortress. It was large, most parts made of a dark marble and others made of wood and metal. She could already memorize her room as well as the ones nearby and the passages and hallways leading around them on this floor.
There was a large courtyard outside, and a garden. There were fountains and lakes, trees and forest from what she could tell. And as she waited, and listened, she soon began to memorize certain figures that were constantly around this floor. And she soon felt Mai and Ty Lee walking towards her room.
They seemed in good spirits from what she could tell and when they walked in, her head turned towards their forms. It didn't matter that she couldn't see, it only mattered that she knew where they were and what they were doing.
"Good morning, Toph, and how did you find your sleep last night?" Ty Lee, ever the happy one, walked towards Toph and sat down, with a smile on her face.
The girl just shrugged, saying with a non-committed tone, "It was fine. What are you doing here?"
"Ty Lee's idea. I just followed." Came Mai's mirrored voice.
"We just wanted to see how you were doing. Hey, you haven't eaten your breakfast."
Toph snorted. "The woman who brought it seemed a little too unpleasant for my taste. She might have poisoned it."
"All your food was checked by the two of us before the servants sent it. It's fine. Just eat." Said Mai again.
Toph sighed and stood up, walking over and picking up the bread before sitting back down. "Oh well, if I die now, it'll save Azula the trouble." She ate it.
The three of them made light conversation along the way and Toph began to feel more at ease around them. They weren't thoroughly evil, they just followed orders and hurt people when they felt like it. The Earth Bender had felt better today though she still harboured the blue and black marks and a few healing cuts.
The two Fire Nation girls were pretty good company when you really had no one else to talk to. They didn't seem as vicious as before and the young girl felt that she rather enjoyed their company. Ty Lee would act as ditzy and bubbly as ever leaving Mai to neutralize it with her sarcasm and cynical thinking.
"So, does Azula know that you two are here?" Toph finally asked, looking at the both of them with an interested frown.
The two looked at each other and Ty Lee said truthfully, "She was actually the one who told us to come and see you. She said something about not wanting you to be bored. She'll probably come in and talk to you too herself."
Toph wasn't too keen on that idea. These two for the moment seemed harmless and she wasn't too worried that she had the Depression Chain on. But with just Azula, she was slightly unnerved. The Fire Princess was never one to be trusted.
The grey eyed girl fingered her high braid and then said, more seriously this time, "Azula's dangerous. I don't disagree with you on that. But...there are things about her that you can always trust. Like, you can always tell when she's telling the truth. Always and when she told us that she wouldn't hurt you while you were here, she meant it."
Toph turned to Mai who nodded, then remembering that she couldn't feel air vibrations that well, said, "She's right."
Toph sighed and nodded. She'd have to be wary of the princess, but she'd try to be on her best behaviour. Another knock sounded a while later and the same woman came in to give Toph her lunch. She paused when she noticed Ty Lee and Mai sitting there and she bowed, lowering the tray to their level and allowing them to check through it.
Ty Lee who specialized in all sorts of herbs and poisonous plants, could decipher what was in the food and it seemed fine. She nodded and the servant left.
"She doesn't like me." Toph said, popping a piece of meat into her mouth.
"These servants don't like anyone." Mai snorted and rolled her eyes.
"Why are you two being so nice then? I mean, before you both seemed like you wanted to kill my friends and I."
Mai smirked and Ty Lee just smiled sheepishly.
"As we said before, we were following orders. But, honestly, apart from you, your group is just a plain nuisance." The amber eyed girl said, studying her fingernails.
"Not all of them, I mean, the girl is annoying, and the avatar is just...the avatar, but -what's his name- Sokka is pretty cute." The acrobat giggled. Toph laughed at that and smiled to herself.
"It takes time to get used to the Sugar Queen and the Monk but Sokka is always fun," Toph said quietly, fingering the hem of her crumpled dress and biting down on her cheeks. She couldn't let them know how much she missed her friends. Or what her feelings were to any of them. Mai and Ty Lee may be reasonably friendly now but Toph knew that at the snap of a finger, they would turn on her.
She thought about to when she had saved her friends and the looks she felt them give her before she sent them underground. They had all been genuinely worried for her and their voices betrayed that even more. She missed them. There wasn't one day on those ships that she hadn't thought about them.
Ty Lee looked at her with understanding. "Hey, don't worry. They'll come for you for sure. And just think, by then we'll be able to go back to being enemies."
The green eyed girl didn't know whether to frown or smile so she settled for a slightly disturbed grimace. It was true, they had all come to a mutual understanding while she was here. But at the end of it, they were still enemies and they still had to fight to the end.
It was late in the evening when they left her room and like yesterday, Zuko sneaked in, unawares. But Toph was awake and she turned sharply when she felt his light movements. "Who's-" She stopped. She recognized that heartbeat anywhere.
"You!" she hissed coldly.
The boy sighed and walked over to her. "Me."
She got into her fighting stance. "What are you doing here?"
He just watched her, a scowl on his face. "Calm down, unless you want the entire army in here."
He wasn't lying so she relaxed but still monitored him carefully. "What do you want."
He ran a hand over his head and tried to reason with the fiesty girl. "Nothing. I'm just watching you."
A small frown appeared on her forehead and he could tell she was confused. "Sit down, I'm not going to hurt you. Like I said, I'm just watching you."
He saw her hesitate, then sit down on her bed, and as they sat there in silence, Zuko looked at her up and down. She hadn't changed much, she was still small compared to most and her hair had grown longer. She was taller and her body more feminine but he could still see that rough stance and that determined nature of hers.
She was on guard and there wasn't much he could do to earn her trust. Especially after what happened during the times he tried capturing the Air Bender. "Azula's sent troops after your friends. Just thought you'd like to know."
The girl turned her head in his direction and glared. "She said she's using me as bait. What's the point in capturing them if she's also luring them here?"
Zuko shrugged. "Beats me. Azula's smart. She probably wants to keep an eye on them, making sure that they will come after you. If they don't, or if they take too long, she'll order them to attack and bring them here. Knowing your friends they might not be able to make it without you."
Toph stood, angry. "They've managed it before they had me and they'll do it again."
Zuko got up and sneered at her. "But I heard the Avatar's weak. All you've got is a water bender, a useless warrior and an Avatar whose powers he can't even use. Besides, what makes you so sure they'll come for you?"
"Trust, Zuko. It's something most people earn. Though in your case I think I'll let it slide. Tell me the truth. What are you doing here?" She demanded, marching right up to him, her fists clenched again.
"Be careful who you talk to like that around here. Not all of us are forgiving. You of all people should know." He snarled, glaring daggers into her green eyes. She could feel the heat of the glare, knowing she herself was projecting an equal image.
"Get out." She said, her tone deadly quiet. "I may not be able to Earth Bend, but I've still got hand to hand combat at the ready. So get out."
He smirked and stood up straighter, looking down at the grown girl whose personality rivalled that of his sister's. "I don't think you're in any position whatsoever to order anyone around here. Don't forget where you are, girl. I'm still the prince and you are still a prisoner. Get used to it."
As he turned and walked towards the window, he froze, cold at her taunting voice. "No prince in exile orders me around. I may be a prisoner but I'm still a noblewoman who can kick your ass any day."
He turned around and hissed, baring his teeth. "Shall we bet on that?"
"Ooh, did I hit a soft spot? I'm sorry dear prince." She smiled snidely and took a sip from her goblet.
He straightened and folded his arms, rubbing his chin with a contemplative smile on his lips.
"How does it feel to be so vulnerable?"
She froze and stared blindly, that taunting smirk wiped clean off her face.
The corners of his lips curled upwards coldly. "You may be able to fight me with your hands. But I've got weapons and my Fire Bending. It'd be a shame to scar the only thing that let's you see."
"Shut up."
"Ooh, did I hit a soft spot?" he mocked, "I'm sorry dear little Earth Bender."
"I said shut up!" she screamed angrily, her face growing flushed with emotion.
He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her face up close to his, glaring dangerously into her unseeing eyes. "Like I said, little girl, be careful who you talk to like that around here." She winced when he tugged harshly on her hair, her hands coming up around his wrists. "Now, I need an answer from you." He said, fixing his gaze on her pointedly.
"To what question?" she spat defiantly, pulling away roughly from him. He had finally let go of her hair.
"You're not weak, Earth Bender. Why didn't you escape with your friends?" His golden gaze held her own pale green one and although she couldn't see it, Zuko knew she felt it. He was probing her, she could sense his heart beat and his breathing. Everything was solely on her.
The dark haired girl took a step back, towards her bed, her jaw set. "The Fire Benders would have come after us. There were Dai Li soldiers in disguise amongst them. I never forget a heart beat or a voice. I had to stay back and deal with both of them. I made sure none of the Dai Li knew where I had sent them and I made sure your men didn't have a chance of getting to them." She sat down, fingering a tassel on her green garb. "And I would have made it out as well if I hadn't been so tired."
She still sat proud, tall despite her small stature and her jaw stiff, reminding Zuko for an instant of his mother and how she would set her own jaw when she was angered.
"A noble cause for a noble woman."
She nodded, her fringe falling over her eyes. "A noble cause."
She paused and a short silence followed before she stood up. "Your sister is coming. And if I knew better, you don't really want her to know you're here."
Zuko shook his head. "It doesn't matter. As long as she doesn't know what I'm here for. Just don't say anything." His tone was kinder she noted. Not thoroughly nice, but it wasn't as rough and detached as before.
The door opened and the woman of topic walked in. Brown brows rose as she noted the company she had. "Ah, Zuzu, it seems you came to give our guest some company. Or should I be saying prisoner, which do you prefer?"
Toph merely glowered, standing still.
The princess laughed cynically. "Hm, guest it is then. Zuzu, I don't mean to be rude but may I have a few moments alone with my newest friend?"
Zuko stiffened at the nickname and at the request but he walked out anyway, keeping close to the door.
When he was gone, golden brown eyes turned to Toph and narrowed in humour. "Well, well. It seems my brother has been of use after all in your matter. And I thought he'd harbour too many feelings of spite to come and see you. Tell me dear, how have you been? I trust my people have been treating you right enough?"
She seemed genuinely interested and Toph nodded snidely. "Yeah. No problems...yet." She muttered the last part, her own sarcasm getting the better of her.
The taller girl fixed her with an uneven gaze before relenting. "Good. You probably want to know why I'm here. I'll save you the trouble of asking and just tell you. I want to know, why it is, that word has come to me saying that your friends are going in the completely opposite direction to where you are. They're heading towards the South Pole. Why?"
Toph lowered her head and grinned triumphantly. They'd gone to get help. It would take them longer to get here than she knew but they'd get help, Aang would find help of his own and Ba Sing Se would be once again, run by Earth Benders.
Small lips curved upwards. "Maybe they've forgotten about me and don't care."
The princess smiled mirthlessly. "Cute. But you're not that cute. Why aren't they making their way here?" She asked again, this time more forcefully.
Green eyes rolled in annoyance. "Isn't it obvious? They can't take me by themselves. They need help. And you're not going to be able to stop it."
Red lips turned into a snarl. "I figured as much from you and your friends. Well we'll give them a fight to remember." She turned on her heel and walked to the door. "Don't get too attached to anyone around here. Despite their actions, they're still your enemies. It would be wise especially to stay away from my brother. He's not always what he seems. Good night dear." She closed the door and left a lost and rather annoyed Toph to ponder on what she was talking about.
Zuko hid behind the large marble pillar outside of Toph's room and waited for his sister to make her exit. He couldn't ear anything but muffled voices and so chose to just leave it. A few minutes later, the woman emerged, a small smile on her lips.
As she walked away, she called behind, "Be careful around this one Zuzu, she's a little too perceptive. Now I know you won't help her escape or anything like that but do me a favour dear brother, don't get too close to her. She seems quite the manipulative one."
Zuko sighed and came out of his hiding. "Why are you doing this? Why not just kill her and get it over with?"
"Oh I intend to. Eventually. Be good now Zuzu, we don't want any trouble." She turned around and her honey eyes glinted. "And think about what I said. Don't get too attached." With that, she walked away.
The boy groaned when she had left and he slid down the wall of the pillar and onto the ground. Pulling his long hair out of its tie, the amber eyed boy mussed it in annoyance and closed his eyes. Nothing could get past his sister and to be honest, it worried him. She was usually right in her assumptions and for that, he often listened to her despite the obvious age difference.
But he was only doing this for his uncle. Iroh would be extremely upset if anything were to happen to his favourite Earth Bender. He didn't care much for the others but for some reason, he had a soft spot for the young girl.
"Stupid bitch," he muttered under his breath, glaring at nothing in particular. He hated the Earth Bender with a passion. It wasn't anything personal, perhaps had they been in a different time and place, they would have been friends. But she was friends with his enemy and that made her an even bigger enemy, especially considering her ties with other important people of her Nation.
He got up and walked in, confused for a moment as he closed the door, at the sudden darkness. He was caught off guard suddenly by a rough hand to his chest and was flung back against the closed door, a pair of very angry looking green eyes glaring into him.
"I knew it, you may have managed to deceive me earlier but I understand now. You're trying to get info about my friends from me!"
He sneered and grabbed her wrists painfully, pushing her off him and causing her to stumble backwards.
"Get off me you filthy-"
Zuko didn't get to finish his words as her fist came swinging and collided rather painfully with his cheek. He was livid.
Taking hold of her neck easily and swinging her against the wall, he harshly clamped his hand over her mouth, sending her head painfully into the hard surface behind her and making her wince and close her eyes from the pain as he whispered darkly into her ear,
"My uncle wants you alive and he doesn't want Azula to touch you. He didn't say anything about me though."
A/N: Alright, so this chapter was…half-rewritten. The beginning if pretty much the same as the original but the ending and all is a lot different. So now
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Peace out!
Rex