Toph
X
I awaken beside his form.
Zuko's breathing is soft and steady. It's almost as if he is sleeping, almost as if he will awaken at any given moment. A blanket of comfort falls upon me just as a pang of fear arises. He's alive and nothing makes me happier than that, but it is also painfully obvious that he may never awaken again.
I can't believe the condition he is in now. I mean what was he doing in the middle of the frozen lake for goodness sake? I reach out to touch his cheek. My fingers brush against the marred skin of his face. I know that Katara's the only person who he's let touch his scar. I don't mean to intrude but I feel the need to touch it, just to make sure that my memory of him never fades. There is a distant hope I feel as I allow my fingers to brush over his eyelids.
They are closed.
I guess I must have known that he wouldn't awaken yet, after all he's only been here for two nights. I hear from Gran Gran and the village healer that it will take him at least a week before he can even begin to show any signs of recovery. For the first time in a long time, there is sincere fear inside of me.
"I'm scared Zuko," my voice comes out a little more vulnerable than I had intended as I take up his hand and press my forehead to it. "I mean, if you get up, I promise I will be easy on you and let you beat me in a fight. Come on Sparky," he doesn't respond. Where is Katara when you need her? She hasn't been here all that often, and was only here on the night of the accident. I haven't seen her since and have completely no desire to face her now.
The lengths she'd go through to be a complete bitch. I'm not Zuko's wife, hell, I'm not even his girlfriend, but I'm here and I'm ready to be there for him anytime of any day. I shake my head and shut my eyes, praying to the Earth gods that everything will be alright.
"Anyone there?" I say when I hear the fabric of the entrance of the tent open. There is some kind of, gods forbid, excitement and hope that the person who has just entered is Katara.
"It's me," Yan's voice is kind, concerned and a little apologetic. "I'm sorry."
"Nah, it's all right," I say, my excitement quickly dissipating as the wave of truth that Sugar Queen is too much of a selfish fuck to give a damn washes over me. Where the hell is Katara? Zuko freaking saved her daughter's life and she can't even bring her sorry ass down here to sit by him and give him her company?
"I just thought, you know, that it might be her," there is a quiet awkwardness around us. And then there are his arms around me and his chest pressed against my back. A kind of calm engulfs us both as we drink in the silence. Lately, I've felt a little warmer with Yan around… maybe it's because, and I'm only going to say this once, I actually feel some… spark of some thing for him. The thought heats my cheeks.
Yan kisses me on the crown of my head and it seems like my heart skips a beat.
"He'll be alright," my fiancé tells me, his fingers ghosting over the skin of my neck. Things with Yan have become different. I have finally sought to embrace the relationship we share, take it the next level and accept that we are going to become one. The kiss we shared that night was warm, loving and every bit assuring. After over twenty years of being his betrothed, I am finally ready to accept him.
"I love you," Yan whispers in my ear and kisses me on the cheek. At first I am taken aback and quite surprised by his actions. However, the feeling of his lips on my cheek is not unpleasant. My first thought, is that his gesture must have taken a lot of courage. Then, there is something that pops into my head- I want love him back. It will take more time than we would like, but as my parents had told me once when I was young and barely taller than a meter- You love the person you marry, and don't necessary have to marry the person you love.
For the first time in forever, I think about their words. All the time I've known Aang, I've wanted to be with him. For all this time, I've been pining for a man who didn't even care about how I felt. Once, when we were on a mission to set up the police force, he took me to the fountain in the centre of Republic City and began talking about a hypothetical future shared by us. It seemed like everything I ever wanted, everything I thought I would want. Yet, even then, it was painfully obvious that it would never become truth. However, when a lie is repeated often enough, it almost becomes reality.
In this hypothetical world, a family shared between Aang and I would consist of two children, a girl named Tian Feng and a boy named Yong Di; names balancing each other out perfectly. If only the fantasy of this world stopped that night… it didn't, and continued for many moons to come. I suppress the sorrow that threatens to spill out into this cold room.
Aang didn't stop at naming the children we would never have, he picked out the island we would build our home on, the day our first grandchild would be born and even the kinds of pets we would get them.
The world became so real to me, I thought about it often. I am ashamed to admit it now, but there were times I would catch myself thinking about Aang and the world we had created. When I was sixteen, and with Zuko on Angsana Island, things between Twinkle Toes and I became so real I had our faces carved on a piece of stone. I kept it in the pocket on my chest the whole time I was on the island. The fucking thing was with me when I slept, when I sparred with Zuko, when I ate, I had wanted to give it to Aang, my earthbending student, the love of my life. That is… until the afternoon Zuko and I received the wedding invitation.
Neither one of us had a single clue pertaining to their intentions to marry. Zuko and I had agreed that we would not get between Katara and Aang but he didn't keep to his word. Instead, Zuko woke up the next day and got on the first ship heading for the South. I followed him on his journey, despite the fact that I did not intend to see the loving couple. He had told me that he was going there on business, even though we both knew he was lying.
On our journey, the poor bastard carved the second necklace he had intended for Katara. The first was thrown into the sea where we were lounging, before we received the letter. I felt every bit of anger and depression as the necklace's stone hit the seabed. I will never forget the rate of his pulse as his heart broke. If there's anyone who loves harder than I do, it's Zuko.
Yet now, the person who stole Zuko's heart, the person who has only received his love without returning the gesture, is not even considerate enough to be where she ought to be. Yan pulls a chair beside me and wipes at my eyes. I didn't even realize I was crying. Angry at my weakness, I rub the offensive moisture from my cheeks, I will not cry, I will be strong for Zuko.
"You…" I pause as Yan's fingers come to weave through mine, as I hold on to Zuko's hand. I can feel the gravity and destiny my words may hold. "You think he'll wake up soon?" I ask. There is a heaviness that settles between us.
Yan doesn't say anything for a long moment, just keeps mum and runs his fingers through the length of my hair.
"He will," it doesn't take my earthbending to know that he's lying.
X
/She had never expected to see her again. Her mother is as beautiful as Katara remembers. The woman's eyes are bluer than the purest water, her hair frames her face and Katara cannot believe that she is in the presence of her beloved mum.
Kya, of the Southern Water Tribe, wife of Hakoda, mother of Sokka and Katara, a benevolent spirit. The younger woman's eyes begin to water as she stares into the familiar features of her mother. There is something in the older woman's eyes, something that Katara dismisses, even though she is distantly compelled to address it.
"Mum," Katara says through the warmth of disbelief coloring her cheeks. This cannot be real, and yet, it must be. She examines her hands and nearly pinches herself before she realizes that if this is a dream, she doesn't want to know.
"My daughter," the other woman says as she gazes at her second born. Katara was the light of her life, she was the highlight of everything good. And even though she died protecting her daughter, she knows that it was all worth it. Kya watches as her child as she stretches out her hands and tries to grab hold of her. The waterbender's flesh passes right through her form. This is what she is afraid of, her daughter finding out that she will never come back to life.
Despite how much Katara wants to deny it, her mother will never come back.
"No," the younger woman says as she reaches for her mother again. "I won't let you leave me," she tells the spirit as she tries desperately to touch the woman who birthed her. "Please, tell me what I can do to bring you back," Katara notices the pleading in her own voice. She normally controls her emotions very well, but now, there is nothing to hide.
"Katara," Kya begins, there is slight pain in her voice, warning and more than a little pity. "Zuko," she says and immediately Katara's world is spinning. This cannot be a good thing, she thinks as she allows her tears to fall.
"Where is he?" Katara knows that she is wearing her heart on her sleeve but she does nothing to hide it. "Where am I?" she questions. There is a little fear in the waterbender's eyes as she witnesses her mother's expressions fall. She tilts her head in thought and watches as some creatures she doesn't recognize swim past them.
Swim.
They are under water. How are they not drowning? Katara's expression is incredulous. With shaking hands she reaches out and creates a bubble. She can bend! This is not the Spirit World.
"Yes Katara," she hears her mother say as she examines the world around them. "We are not in the Spirit World," Katara relaxes slightly but is immediately on high alert as she wonders where they are.
That doesn't answer my question, Katara thinks as her mother smiles sadly at her, understanding carved on her features.
"We are in between worlds, we are in what is known as the Crevice, it is a place that balances delicately amongst the mortal world and the Heavens. I am here for a reason… the Cosmic Elders, the ones who created this world, the Heavens and the place where humans live, have instructed me to come here." Kya pauses as Katara wonders what her mother is saying. "Zuko is here too."
"What has that got to do with us?" Katara asks, alarmed and receives a sorry smile from her mother.
"Everything happens for a reason," the woman tells her child. "You are here because I have asked for permission to summon you, you are here to listen."
"Listen to what?" the young waterbender is curious, and ever so afraid that this is a bad omen. "I want to see Zuko," she insists and moves to search for the man. She will find her Zuko and she will bring him back and everything will regain normalcy.
"Katara, wait!" she stops and turns to face her mother. "I have been sent her by the Cosmic Elders for two reasons, one is to tell you this and the other is to escort Zuko into the Spirit World," Kya watches as her daughter's eyes grow with realization.
"Yes my child… your husband is going to die."/
Katara
X
There is a kind of sorrow in my heart as I lie on the mattress in mine and Zuko's tent. The silence is overwhelming as the fact that I am alone weighs gravely down on me. My body feels weak, almost as if I'm running a fever and when I put a hand to my brow, I'm convinced that I am. This is certainly strange since I was healthy just last night.
There is a grave and sickening feeling that almost makes me nauseous. Death is near.
Death.
The word hangs heavily on my chest as the weight of the truth falls before me. Your husband will die, the words from my mother's lips come to me like a slap. I have never been shattered by words as much as I am now. Zuko, the one who loves me unconditionally, the one who saved my daughter and allowed me to break his heart is the man whose reward for doing all those things is death. I rise from my seat and leave my tent,
I am slightly shaky from my encounter with my mother. Could it be that Zuko will die? Could it really be destiny?
I throw the fabric of the tent open and march in. Toph faces my general direction and there is a look of excitement on her brows as she realizes it's me. Her features quickly change into one of anger and resentment. Yan stands from a seat beside Toph and steps between me and the earthbender who looks ready to pounce on me and rip my hair out.
"Katara?" Yan says quietly and prepares for the impact I think he anticipates.
"What are you doing here Sugar Queen?" she questions, her voice every bit threatening.
"I came to see Zuko," I tell her. She scoffs and spits on the ground. "Look, I just wanted to make sure that he's all right," I tell Toph who obviously doesn't buy it.
"Where were you these two days? You should've been here. You should've come to look after him. You don't care about him, do you? You never did," she is ready to fight and I am grateful that she cannot use her bending here. "Give me one good reason why I should let you see him!" her voice is dripping with disdain as I look up and look into her unseeing eyes.
"Because, Toph," I begin. "I love him."
A/N: any scenes sandwiched between two of these / are visions or dreams. and the names i picked out for toph and aang's hypothetical children- Tian Feng translates to the wind in the sky. and yong di translates to everlasting earth. review people! oh and btw, the saying toph's parents said to her, the one about loving the person you marry, and not necessarily marrying the person you love, this saying was said by my history/ social studies teacher. so yeah a shout out to him! thanks Mr N :)