Zuko is

by AffinitiesOfMine

In a series of drabbles, Toph tries to find the words to describe Zuko and all the things he's grown to become through the years they've known each other. (As I had warned previously, the rating has gone up for vague mentions of depression and rarely occurring strong language.)

11. Chapter 11: Zuko is burdened

Chapter 11. Zuko is burdened

When it rains, Toph hides in her room. It drains her mind and body, descending unto the earth with a grace unattainable to her, with every drop that falls down and bounces off the ground reminding her of all the things she was meant yet failed to be. The smooth and steady melody of it is too much for her troubled mind to bear.

But deep inside, there is a gnawing thought that the reason downpours make her anxious is more than merely their delicacy.

When it rains, she doesn't walk around barefoot, never letting the wet ground touch her feet even if just slightly. The feeling of the earth under the rain is unnatural, bizarre.

For the rain makes the earth softer, when the earth is meant to be tough.

So when she hears the news that Uncle Iroh has fallen sick, Toph lets the rain do its thing, wasting no time to care for the ghastly feeling under her feet when she rushes outside.

She is at the Fire Nation in no time, and Zuko's exhausted heartbeat is the first thing to welcome her when she enters Uncle's room.

Today, Toph has decided that the earth can be soft. Even if it was meant to be tough.

---

Notes:

To Guest: thank you so much for your review! I'm really happy that you enjoy this series, and I hope I will keep you in awe until the end :D