Six Months Gone
Ty Lee
It had been six months since Suki died and in all that time Ty Lee hadn't gone back to the Fire Nation. She missed Suki too much, and after Toph told her about what a hard time Zuko was having she thought it was best that she not go and make it worse.
She was going back because Zuko sent for her. He had a new group of guards coming in and he needed her to teach them some techniques. The acrobat packed her things and boarded the balloon. As she and the pilot crossed the ocean she thought about one of the last things Suki told her.
You can't let this go so easily. Sometimes you have to fight for love.
By the time the palace came into view Ty Lee had made up her mind, what Suki said was absolutely right. The young woman smiled as she landed a determined fist on the edge of the ship I never should of let this go. she thought I'm going to get my Baby back.
She popped her head into his door "Good afternoon Fire Lord Zuko." she chimed with a toothy smile.
"Ty Lee." he said with a small smile as he got up from behind his desk, meeting her at the front to give her a hug "We've missed you. Where did you disappear to."
"I did a little traveling around the Earth Kingdom. I just got back to Kyoshi Island when the messenger came."
"Well I'm glad he caught you." he said as he went back to his desk. "I was just wrapping up for the day. We can talk about the guards over dinner. Everyone will be happy to see you."
She cast her eyes to the floor, "Yeah…everyone."
Zuko furrowed his brows and looked up at her "What's wrong?" he asked "Why did you say it like that."
"Can I tell you something?" she asked settling in to the chair in front of the desk. He nodded his head "There's …someone. We broke up before…about eight months ago and I just let it go when I should of fought for it. I need to fix that."
Zuko smiled a bit "Do I know him?" there was a knock on the door "Hold that thought. Come in!"
On Ji walked into the office "I just wanted to stop by before I go to see if there was anything else you needed me to check into this week."
Zuko noticed that Ty Lee flinched when she heard On Ji's voice. "No, I think we covered everything. Oh, though I did almost forget, Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph will be here when you come back, so they'll all be present for your next report."
The woman smiled "Yes Fire Lord Zuko, I'll see you then. Goodnight."
"Goodnight On Ji." When the door closed Zuko looked back at his friend confused "It's On Ji, isn't it. I always thought…well-"
"That I liked men. I used to think I did. I guess because that's what I was always told I was supposed to do, but as I got older I realized that that just wasn't what I wanted."
"Did you tell anyone else?" he asked as he laced his fingers and rested his chin on his knuckles.
"I told Azula first, a few years ago, but you know how she is, she already knew. Suki figured it out on her own, she was very observant." she smiled as she thought about her departed friend, and was relieved when Zuko did the same " And I told Toph."
"You know, I've been thinking." Zuko said "Instead of wasting time talking to me, maybe you should go catch On Ji. We can finish this later."
Ty Lee caught On Ji as she rounded the last corner before she got to the front door. "Hello On Ji." she said as she slowed down next to the woman. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine." the younger woman answered stiffly as she stopped and turned. "You look well."
"You do too." Ty Lee said "Could I talk to you for a minute."
She tucked her arms into her sleeves and raised her head a bit "I'm listening."
Ty Lee looked around, then whispered "I've missed you."
On Ji scowled a bit as she tried to bite back the anger that was starting in her. "So you say. You're whispering, so apparently nothing's changed." the acrobat held her head down "Like I thought." she bowed a bit "Have a good night Captain Ty Lee."
"On Ji, wait." she said stepping forward with an outreached hand.
"For what?" she snapped "I'm not going to be your little secret again. I can't live like that."
"It's not that easy." Ty Lee said as she stepped back, ashamed.
"Don't you think I know how the world sees me, how they would see us. But this isn't about the world. It's about us. This palace is a safe place, and you wouldn't even acknowledge me here. Suki knew about us and you wouldn't even hold my hand in front of her. I need more than someone who slips in and out of my window at night. Ty Lee, I loved you," she turned her head to the side a chuckled a bit "I think I still do. But I can't live my life with someone who's afraid to walk down the street next to me."
Toph
The young woman walked into the palace sitting room to find Zuko playing on the floor with his little girl. Toph had been there with them for two months and she was very happy that his bad days were getting less frequent. For the past two weeks he started sleeping and what was better, the week before he'd gone back to sleeping in his room. Before he did so he'd had the bed replaced and the room rearranged, but Toph still thought it was a step in the right direction.
He'd also started eating because he was actually hungry, and not because he was trying to make it look like he was fine. Toph was most happy about that because Zuko's steps were beginning to feel lighter because he had lost weight, easily twenty pounds. She wondered how his appearance must have changed.
"Hi kiddos." she said as she walked in "What are we playing today?"
"Ball." Ursa squeaked happily as she handed the toy to Toph.
"Hmm, ball…" she said as she kneeled down "well, Granny Ursa was looking for you, but I think I rather play ball too."
The little girl's big golden eyes stretched and she got up and jumped on Toph "NiNi. Go NiNi."
Zuko smiled "You just want your granny cause she sneaks you cookies."
"I do no such thing." Lady Ursa said as she stepped into the room. Toph laughed at the woman's blatant lie. The Lady caught the look on the girl's face. "We don't sneak them. We take them rather openly." she smiled and bent down to kiss her son on the head "You need a nap." she said as she turned to take her grand daughter in her arms
"Yes Mother" he laughed. "Save me a cookie."
She smiled back at him from the door, an emotional smile on her face because of the all too rare request "We'll save you two."
"Momma's boy." Toph laughed as she stretched out on the floor.
"A title I gladly hold." he said as crossed his legs in front of him. "So, how's wedding planning going?"
"My mother and Katara is handling that." she said "But I am in charge of getting the officiate."
"Have you done that yet?" he asked, leaning his chin on his palm.
"Well, King Bumi said he would do it."
"That's good."
"And I want you to do it too." Zuko's eyes stretched "Don't look at me like that!" she snapped, feeling his stare.
"Why me?" he asked "You already have Bumi."
"Because I want you to do it."
"What about Aang?"
"Damn it Sparky! I said I want you. If you don't want to do it then fucking say no!"
"It's not that I don't want to." he said quietly, ducking his head "I just…I know I haven't been at my best lately. I wouldn't want to ruin your day."
She smiled at him "I have faith in you."
He smiled back "You do?"
"Yeah. I mean, I know the past few months have been hard on you, but you're getting better. I know you can do it." she smiled bigger at him from under her thick bangs "Besides, I need somebody to level out all Bumi's crazy."
On Ji
The young woman walked into the Fire Lord's office prepared for her regular weekly report. As he said the week before his friends were there including, to her dismay, Ty Lee. She greeted them and went about her report, doing her best to ignore the woman she had loved for over a year, that she still loved, but she dare not act on it.
Ty Lee was beautiful, funny, intelligent and more flexible than any human being had a right to be, but she was also afraid of what people would think if they knew that she was a lesbian. On Ji couldn't deal with that. She wasn't asking Ty Lee to shout their love from the rooftops, but she wanted to be able to acknowledge each other in front of their friends.
"Good, good." Zuko said after the young woman finished her report "And has there been anything about or from Ozai."
"Not that anyone knows of. He's been rather quiet since your last meeting." she said with a smile, everyone else laughed. "Well, that's it. If there's nothing else I'll go about my other duties and I'll be back before I leave."
Zuko looked around "Thank you On Ji, I think that's it for now."
"No, it's not." Ty Lee rushed out as she jumped up from where she was sitting. On Ji's face immediately dropped as the Kyoshi Warrior walked toward her "I've been a massive fool, and I need to fix that."
Before On Ji could say anything Ty Lee cupped her face in both hands and kissed her deeply. Everyone's jaws dropped, except for Sokka who said "That is so fuckin' hot."
Katara slapped her brother across the back of his head, "Don't ruin the moment jerk."
Ty Lee pulled away and turned to her friends "I love this woman very much," then she turned back to On Ji "and if you'll have me back I promise I'll be what you need me to be."
On Ji smiled at Ty Lee, then blushed at all the attention they were getting "Come see me tonight," she whispered "we can talk about it.
Aang
The Avatar had walked half of the palace looking for his wife when he found her at the turtle duck pound. She was sitting on the ground with her back to him, so he decided to sneak up on her. He got within arms reach a huge smile crossed his lips and stretched out his arm, intent on pulling the end of her braid when he dropped her head and began to cry.
"Katara?" he said quietly, his smile dropping. She jumped at the sound of his voice. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" he asked as he slid beside her.
"It's nothing." she said trying to clear the tears from her eyes.
"Don't tell me that." he said .
"I…I cant tell you."
"What's so horrible that you can't tell me. I thought we told each other everything?"
She looked a him, tears streaming down her face "You're right." she sniffed "But you have to promise me something."
"Anything." he answered, his eyebrows furrowed with worry.
"You can't tell anyone, especially not Zuko. Zuko….he can never know this."
My first real cliff hanger. I know its a little one, but what do you think?
Yes, yes, I know, me and my crazy ships, but it just came to me one day and I went with it. Hope you are enjoying the story. Thanks for all reads, comments , follows and favs.
