AN: Sokka's not really cold-hearted; he's just war-minded. You know? And, as always, please enjoy. 

Quaking Passions

ZUKO FOUGHT FOR the breath that had escaped his lungs. His head swam, both from the lack of oxygen, and from the news that he'd already known within the recesses of his heart. His father was dead. Agony reeled through him once more, and his knees felt weak. He found his solace by sinking towards the floor. The ground beneath him, which had been proverbially ripped out from underneath him, was still there.

"Zuko?" Toph's voice was beside him, her breath hot on his ear. It was a beacon amongst all of the madness. "Zuko, please…"

The earth still turned, the sun still shone, life still lived. Even without the great Fire Lord Ozai upon this land. Zuko felt a bitter chuckle rise in his throat. Life still went on, even without his father.

There had been a day, long ago, when Zuko truly believed that life could not go on without his father. But it had, in many long, cold, unfriendly days of banishment. With pain of new flesh, burnt and twisted, growing to replace the old that was healthy and pure.

But he'd made his father proud. That dream had been real. It had been his father's final farewell. It had been a message to him. To go forth and accomplish what he'd longed to do for the past four years.

He swallowed, his throat aching from the strain of fighting tears. "Toph." His eyes rose, meeting her own unseeing ones. "Toph." He repeated her name once more, his voice steady. Her hands covered his own, small and warm, and it calmed him.

Reality seemed to surge forward, and Zuko looked about the small room he was in. Sokka, Ty Lee, and Aang stood there, grim faced and silent. "I need to go back to the Fire Nation." Zuko murmured. It was not a question, but a resolution.

Sokka pulled away from the wall he'd been leaning against only moments before. He seemed entirely unsympathetic to Zuko's loss, and Zuko didn't blame him. From pillow talk that Zuko'd had with Toph, apparently Sokka had lost both parents, his only sibling, and two previous lovers to this wretched war.

Of course he wouldn't care that Zuko had lost his father. Of course he'd be glad that the Fire Lord had succumbed to illness. "Precisely." The Water Tribesman replied. His face twisted with a sardonic smirk. "You must go back to the Fire Nation immediately and claim the throne as your own. After that, it'll be child's play to end this war."

Zuko nodded, standing to be equal to this hardened warrior. "I understand." He glanced at Toph, realizing almost instantaneously that he'd miss her, even though they'd only had mere days to come to know one another so intimately.

"You'll leave as soon as your rations have been packed." Sokka informed his foe-turned-ally. His blue eyes reflected no emotion other than pure victory. This turn of events had obviously helped his morale. And his plans.

"I'm going with him." Toph suddenly announced. Their heads all turned to regard the small Earthbender with both surprise and interest.

"Toph?" The Avatar had the gall to question his friend, his voice holding a curious lilt to it. Zuko ignored the observation that the Avatar had grown quite a few inches in the past four years. It was irrelevant, and something he should have noticed before.

Toph's face revealed nothing, and she took Zuko's hand without reservation. "He's going to be shamed if he comes back empty handed." She answered, her features softening as she squeezed her lover's hand. "He needs to appear utterly competent to his people if he wants the throne."

Zuko nodded. "And Iroh?"

Toph's response was immediate. "He 'died' when I tried to smuggle him back. His old heart just couldn't handle anymore."

Sokka nodded wholeheartedly. "Good. Perfect ruse." This was almost ridiculously simple…

Ty Lee sighed softly. "Just…please, be careful Zuko." She pleaded softly. Her large brown eyes were glimmering with tears, ready to be shed at a moment's notice. Zuko felt a stroke of tenderness towards this young acrobat's heartfelt concern. He owed his life to her, for he knew Ty Lee had been adamant about Sokka preserving his life.

Zuko gifted the acrobat a rare smile. "I'll help to end this war. You have my word."

Toph's small hand slipped into his own, and as they left the room to prepare for their journey, their companions graced them with small, hopeful smiles.

"IT'S ALMOST….SURREAL." Toph commented softly as she and Zuko left the safe haven of their underground base. They had very few belongings with them, carrying only what was necessary for the journey ahead.

Zuko grunted in agreement, taking Toph's hand in his own. It seemed so perfect there, her creamy hand nestled safe in his palm. When was the last time he had held Mai's hand? A flash of guilt passed through his consciousness, and he bit his lip when he realized he hadn't in a long time. And while Mai was comfortably resting back at the Fire Nation palace, he was gallivanting in the wilderness of the Earth Kingdom, conveniently bedding another woman.

"What's the matter?"

Toph voice snapped him from his train of guilt ridden thoughts, and he smiled despite himself. "You're very astute." He remarked teasingly.

"Why, yes, I am. Now, what's wrong?" she repeated pointedly. It seemed she had little patience for teasing or avoidance. How very much like her, and something he adored. Toph was not a woman for wasting time, especially her own.

His lips twitched into a smile, but it quickly faded as he contemplated telling her the truth. He knew she could sense lies, and how could their…whatever sort of relationship they actually had together, be anything if there was not honesty between the two of them. "I was thinking of my fiancée back home." He admitted.

She tensed visibly, her hand squeezing his almost painfully. "Mai?" she hissed softly. Jealousy tinted her voice, lowering it several pitches.

He nodded. "Yes. She…I'm hardly doing the right thing by…everything I've done with you. Nor am I doing right by you in remaining engaged to her." The Prince murmured ruefully.

The Earthbender hand slipped from his, and she kept her expression carefully blank. "Well, do what you have to. I could care less." She snapped tersely, her voice trembling. Damn it, how had she come to care for this man in such a small amount of time? Why did it make her so…angry to think he had a fiancée back home waiting for him?

He stopped walking, his hands deftly cupping the young girl's face. "Toph, listen…I know this doesn't look good…and I don't want to hurt you. But, despite my engagement to Mai, this…this thing between the two of us…it just feels so…right." His voice adopted a desperate tone as he searched for the right words to convey his feelings. Could Toph ever truly know how alone and miserable he felt when he thought of spending the rest of his life with Mai? How cold and unfeeling she was? How…how Toph's mere chuckle or touch warmed him to the very core of his being?

Her head bowed, her lower lip caught by her perfect teeth. "Zuko, I don't believe in true love anymore. Yes, you may be a Prince, but I don't expect you to whisk me off to your palace for a happily-ever-after." She whispered brokenly. Yes, all of her hopes and dreams had died with the Day of Black Sun's sabotage. With her sweet, guileless Haru. With her dearest friend Katara.

And Zuko, his body, his words…they all affected her. He felt something for her, something he couldn't name or put his finger on. But still… "I just want today with you. And tomorrow, if we happen to be alive, then I'll want that day. It can never be more than the present. There is no future." Toph's voice broke, her breath quavering.

He pulled her into his strong arms, her small body completely enveloped by his own, and she slumped gratefully against him. "Toph," his voice was a sweet caress to her, "Don't say such things."

"It's true." Her voice, muffled by his muscular chest, wailed. "You'll die, or I'll die…and it'll be over. All over. Any shred of happiness we have could be snatched away in a second. Like Ha-" she stopped herself, hating herself for even letting an inch of her self control slip.

"Like who? Who, Toph?" Zuko pressed.

She pulled away from his, turned his back to him. She shivered, despite herself, and hugged herself in a feeble attempt at comfort. Zuko tried not to notice the gentle curves of her body, how graceful and lithe she looked right now. How her long black hair had fallen carelessly down her thin back. "Haru. He was a skilled Earthbender. And my lover."

Zuko's breath came in a quick gasp, and he slowly willed himself not to react. Toph was entitled to her own past. Hell, he had a very dark one of his own. Only just now was he beginning to make amends. So, if there had been another man before him, who he'd already half known about, so be it. "Is he…?" Zuko barely even needed to ask.

"Dead? Yes. He was killed in a raid we did of a Fire Nation stronghold. A little over six months ago." Toph answered, and as much as she hated it, it still burned like an inferno in her heart. Bile rose in the back of her throat as she recalled how her soldiers had brought Haru's burned and bloodied body back. She'd smelled the charred flesh, the coopery twang of blood. She'd remember that for the rest of her depraved life.

"You loved him." it wasn't a question, merely a comment. A note. Something as plain as day.

Spirits forsake her, she had. She did. "Yes. He was like a brother to me. He loved me more than life itself. He wanted to marry me, grant me his children...everything." she whispered almost too quietly for Zuko to hear. But he did, and his heart ached for the agony Toph had gone through.

"I understand." There was no time for jealous anger. Not when he and Toph were heading to the mouth of the beast. Walking towards the Spirit World itself. "He'll always have a place in your heart, just as you have a place in mine." It was as simple as that.

She laughed, bitterly, and by the Spirits, she looked to small. So frail. So in need of someone to just hold her until everything could be alright again. "He does have a place in my heart. I loved him, not passionately, but…he was there. And warm. And so tender. But…" her head bowed, and she trembled softly.

"But…?" he stepped closer to her, as if perhaps even his presence could help her to quench her inner demons.

"But I've sullied his sweet memory, Zuko. Time and time again." She mourned aloud. His hands, large and warm, encompassed her shoulders. They pulled her body against his, her back fitting so delightfully against his front. They fit together, as if the Spirits had taken the time to carve them from the same piece of flesh. As if they could only be whole if they were together. But, it was a silly notion.

"How?" his voice tickled her ear, husky and smooth. And so very, very tempting.

"In wake of my grief, I laid with my good friend, Sokka." She admitted with a wince, for she knew Zuko would despise her for her weakness. For her lack of morals or self respect. For her unswayable lust.

But instead his arms wrapped around her lovingly. "You were emotional, grieving, and so very alone Toph. I could not begrudge you that." Warmth laced in his voice, not pity nor scorn. It surprised her. And him.

"But…now I've destroyed Haru yet again by…by you." She argued, shocked. She whirled in his grasp, the top of her head barely brushing his chin. Her fingers grasped his tunic, as if to pull him to his senses. It hardly worked.

"Toph, you've known Sokka for years. He has been your comrade. It's only natural that you would turn to him in a time of need. He was likely grieving for the loss of Haru as well, and in your agony, you found comfort within one another. Although I hate to think of another man touching you as I have," His fingers trailed along her delicate jaw line, "I see nothing wrong with it." He leaned down, his lips brushing over hers. "As for you and I, if what we commit together is sin, I'd willingly do it again and again." He reassured her.

"But, sometimes it feels so…wrong." She whispered. She was close to tears, and Zuko could sense it.

"No, Toph. It feels right." He argued, his lips finding hers once more. She relented, finally, unable to withhold anything from this man. Her arms wrapped loosely about his neck, and if only just for the moment, she allowed herself to forget right and wrong. To forget Haru, Sokka, and Mai. All that really mattered was here, now. Zuko, herself, their feelings, and their mission.

She pulled away, albeit reluctantly, her fingers ghosting over his face. "Let's go make everything right." She murmured.

He nodded in agreement, and they continued towards the Fire Nation.

MAI BOWED BEFORE her longtime friend before entering the rather ornate study she dwelled in. "Azula, have you heard news of Zuko's whereabouts yet?" she inquired hastily, rather eager to know the truth for herself. She stood, regarding her Highness eagerly.

Azula looked up from her documents, her amber eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. "Mai, haven't I told you that I'm busy and I'm not to be interrupted?" she questioned disdainfully.

Mai seemed unruffled. "Yes, Azula, but I have not seen my fiancée for nearly two weeks. It seems unlikely that he has not written to you-"

"He has sent word back to me," Azula snapped irritably, "And he should be arriving within today or the next." She leaned back in her chair, her fingertips tapping on her marble desk impatiently. "I neglected to inform you because, again, I am extremely busy. My father's ashes have not yet scattered to the four corners of the earth, and there is much to be done."

Mai nodded, sighing softly. "I am sorry for your loss, Azula. I know how close you and Fire Lord Ozai were…" her golden eyes reflected something akin to sympathy.

Azula scowled even more darkly. "That is beside the point. He is now deceased, and our Nation has no ruler. Zuko had better hurry home, or," she smiled as if she were that ferret-cat that had eater the pigeon-canary, "I'll just have to take the throne for myself."

Mai, despite her cold demeanor, felt her heart skip a bit. Azula's words carried too much concealed meaning. "You do not mean-"

"Yes, Mai. The throne will be mine. I hardly believe Zuko will be an able ruler. My Father's will has been sufficiently changed, baring Zuko from ever ascending to ruler ship."

Mai stared at the Princess whom she'd devoted her entire life to. And for once, she was speechless. She knew Azula was manipulative, conniving, and even downright ruthless. But she had never expected the Princess to go so far as to bar Zuko and herself from the royal throne.

Mai had always expected that one day she herself would become the Fire Lady. The Fire Lord's wife and right hand woman. Never did she expect a title-less, worthless, meaningless existence as the wife of an un-chosen Prince. "Azula…" Mai's tone was blended with hate, warning, and anger. But before she could say more, a servant entered the study hurriedly.

"Who do you think you are to barge in here unannounced?" Azula demanded harshly.

The servant bowed humbly, quavering in the presence of the miffed Princess. "I am sorry, Your Majesty, but Prince Zuko has arrived with the Rebel, Toph."

"Very well. You are dismissed." Azula waved a hand at the hunched servant. He scurried away, and Mai and Azula's eyes met. "It seems your fiancée is home. Let's go tell him our good news."

They both rose to greet the returning Prince and his 'captive'. And Mai wasn't sure if she had ever hated Azula this much.