[[So I've decided to continue this, I actually think I have a solid plot going with this, Short chapter But I really wanted to get this out so you guys knew. Some shit's about to go down! :DD
Anyways like always leave a comment, or review or whatever :33 ]]
Toph woke with a yawn, sitting up she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She had almost forgot that Zuko was there as well. That's right.. Aang sent zuko to come and rescue me. She could feel her heart drop slightly but quickly pushed the feeling aside. He's here now so there's nothing that can be done about it..The last round till morning was over by now judging by the color of the sky. Zuko most have dozed off. Getting out of bed Toph turned. She could simply feel the heat given off by the fire nation male beside her. He was still asleep..that or very calm she thought. But then again who knows how long it took him to get here. A few days at best..Not to mention how little sleep he had gotten on the journey. Putting on a tunic like over-shirt toph frowned slightly before turning to Zuko.. "We need to leave now if we don't want a trail" in the darkness Zuko gave a grunt and nodded getting up to stretch before strapping two swords to his back. Zuko moved to the window practically crawling out before turning to look at a still toph. "What gives? You said we have to leave now" he said a hint of frustration in his voice. Still unresponsive Zuko rolled his eyes and picked toph up before hopping out the window. Her response being a little yelp. The garden was covered in blue moonlight and looked like it belonged in another world. Large hedge and stone wall's bordered the perimeter. Bushes scattered across the landscape along with lanterns. Regaining his breath zuko sprinted across the labyrinth of a garden when Toph interrupted " Stop!" Skidding to a halt Toph hopped out of zuko's arms ,and extended her leg in a sharp movement a tunnel quickly opened up before her in the middle of some bushes. A light of a lantern in the distance forced the two inside. "I'm sealing off the entrance" Zuko nodded on instinct but quickly mumbled an okay considering the whole can't see issue.
The growing tunnel was was soon sealed and the scent of damp earth soon filled the space between them. Zuko Held a small flame that illuminated his face as toph continued to push forward into the earth. "It's like in Ba Sing Se.." he muttered to himself the image of a crystal prison and Aang falling from the sky caused him to grimace slightly. Toph frowned sensing the furrowing upon his face. "What do you mean..?" she said without thinking.."The underground city you mean?" She said carefully. She didn't know the entire story but when Zuko first came to them that was Katara's biggest complaint, how she trusted him and he betrayed her. Frowning slightly toph paused. In the silence zuko gave a yes, "That was when you were in prison with Katara wasn't it?" She pried feeling a pinch of jealousy. Zuko closed his eyes reliving the betrayal towards his uncle and katara. Releasing a sigh looked back at toph whose face was pointed forward focused upon moving the earth. "Yes, It was also a mistake. However I don't recall seeing you there" He replied with a questioning tone unsure of how she would even know about the ordeal. Toph paused slightly a hurt look washed over her face before returning to its indifferent appearance. "I was with sokka lying limp on the floor.." With a push of her arms and swift step forward the earth surcumed to moonlight as they surfaced in the forest.
"Appa's waiting for us ahead" He murmured as the two walked side by side in an awkward silence. Zuko peeking over at toph every now and then however her expression stayed the same.
She wore a mask over her emotion well but then again she'd have to he thought. Most of her life being a lie and all.. frowning he pushed the thoughts out of his head and sighed in relief as he found Appa safe and sound waiting for them. Appa let out a small growl before stampeding Zuko covering him in saliva. Zuko let out a sigh "Ugh.." Toph stood in the back round and couldn't help but laugh out loud. "He really does like you huh?" Zuko glared at toph as he crawled out from under Appa and let out a sort of whine as he tried to get the spit off of him. Unsuccessful he Finally climbed aboard Appa and extended a dry hand toward toph who let out a small yelp as he yanked her up. The nostalgia was almost overwhelming as she thought of the first time she ran away. Thankfully she was use to flying by now. Laying down hands behind her head she peered up into darkness before Zuko interrupted the silence. "So what do you mean when you say you were lying on the floor.." He said choosing his words carefully. Toph's pale eyes fluttered open as she turned her head looking just past him. Zuko couldn't help but get a shiver. It felt like she was looking past his soul. However she quickly turned away and Zuko couldn't help but question her blindness for a second.
"Sokka and I went to warn the generals but it was too late. The Dai Lee had already taken them out and before we knew it your friend with the girlish voice came." She stressed the word your and frowned slightly. Ty lee moved in a way toph had never seen before, hopping place to place. "We were paralyzed on the floor for a while while Aang was shot down below us.." She said in a frustrated voice, that served as a mask. "It was like flying but worse.." Toph said softly. "She took away my bending..And I couldn't see anything.. " Tears bloomed in toph's eyes but she held them back. "All I could do was listen as people were hurt around me.." Zuko had to look away, Not only because He didn't want to see Toph cry but the subject of Ba Sing Se was still painful for him. "I felt so weak and helpless.." She said in a soft whisper that was hard to hear over the wind. And soon enough slowly but surely rising in the sky as the blue night of the sky started fading into a lighter blue.
Zuko sighed slightly before laying down next to toph and surprisingly pulling her into a hug his eyes set on the fading stars above them. "That was a different me.., My uncle spoke truth when he said there was always an internal battle within me. I chose good..I chose...No i MADE my destiney.." He said in a now calm voice. It was easier to talk about it now. Toph frowned slightly she didn't need any vibrations to sense the melancholy of the subject. She wouldn't deny the sick sort of selfishness of wanting to know more about him. About his battles and his past. Katara, Sokka and Aang had known him long before her.. she paused when a sad smile spread upon her face as she finally broke away from his grasp. "I actually met your uncle once.." she said carefully. Zuko turned an eyebrow raised. "I was sorta running away and he Offered me some tea.." she continued sheepishly. "He was following you..He really cares about you zuko.." she finished. The thought of her own family came to mind but all she could imagine was Katara in that sense.. She had a new family now. Zuko closed his eyes and exhaled "Yeah...He's pretty amazing.." The look of pure disappointment at the Caves from his Uncle's face flashed across his mind. How his uncle looked in prison.. He cringed and turned his face away his eyes becoming moist. The girl wiped away the tears from her eye's and couldn't help but laugh as she felt the sun began to bask upon her skin.
Zuko frowned and gave her shove before slowly breaking into laughter himself "What's so funny the fact that we haven't slept" He asked before Appa let out a loud roar in agreement possible. He sat up and raised a brow at Appa. Perhaps they should take a break. Zuko turned back towards toph a mischievous grin on his face before pulling her up into a hug. Placing a nuggie on her head. "Ow, Zuko!" He couldn't help but laugh his sides starting to ache as she broke away from his grasp. "Goddamnit zuko you're retarded!" She pouted before Punching him in the arm. He immediately stopped laughing and began rubbing the bruise that was already blooming on his arm. "Ow..That actually Kind of hurt.." He said in a surprised tone which considering who the girl is was a pretty dumb thing to say. Toph just grinned back at him when suddenly she was being lifted in the air. The scream started soft but quickly grew as she grabbed onto the saddle eyes squeezing shut. "Why are we going down!" She screamed over the wind only as zuko pulled her close tucking her into his chest his grip tight as he held her close his head in the crook of her shoulder. Teeth gritting. The wind was biting at him and He didn't dare open his eyes to find out what was causing them to fall, but the deafening roar from Appa told him it wasn't good.
The crash was sharp and suddenly Toph wasn't in zuko's arms and he was laying face down in the dirt. Fire surrounded the line of grass that was ripped open as they had skid upon the ground. Disoriented Zuko tried pushing himself up but the shaking in his elbows only caused him to fall back. Blood dripped down the bridge of his forehead. "Toph..." He cried the words but they only came out a shaky whisper.