Chapter 8: Sometimes, Zuko is irresolute.
When it gets too late for the servants to be up to ask her any unnecessary questions and offer any unneeded help, Toph quietly takes herself out on a walk across the palace. She's learned to navigate her way through the serpentine halls effortlessly; she knows every turn and pebble. She knows how many steps it takes to rich the throne room. She's counted the strides from the Fire Lord's office to her chambers numerous times. She's learned the pathways of the cavernous palace the same way she's learned her own body; through touch and time.
Toph appreciates the solitude of nighttime. She would prefer the agreeable silence of the guards to verbosity of servants for a hundred years. She could walk through the palace with her feet in shoes and still handle herself perfectly.
But when she feels Zuko's footsteps nearing her, she's taken aback. Just a little fraction.
"What are you doing here, Sparky?" her question receives no response other than the halt of his steps. That should be enough of an answer.
"I was wondering the same thing," Zuko's voice is drowsy like he had just been pulled out of his slumber and pushed out of the bed. Toph doesn't bother to react and continues her stroll. His pace falls sluggishly behind.
"You're leaving tomorrow," he says attempting to break the heavy silence between them.
"Today, actually," she huffs. He's been locked away in his office for days, uptight for no apparent reason, giving her no proper explanation for his unusually aloof behavior. And that is really all he can think to say?
Aggravated, Toph takes herself back to her room. Before closing the doors behind herself, she turns to look in his general direction. She can't see him to read his expression, and that bothers her, this one time, it does.
One more chance. That's all he deserves. (And all she needs.)
"Got anything to say?"
His heart skips a beat, anxiously, and then instantly falls back into its usual rhythm. Toph will spend the night scrutinizing every possible reason for it.
She hates his voice when he says, "good night."
