12. Zuko is comforting

When Zuko's body temperature is lower than usual and his heartbeat is slower than what Toph is used to, she knows better than to let her crudity and boldness marvel in a heated argument of unresolved issues.

When he doesn't utter a single word of curiosity or surprise the moment he sees her enter the room, she knows that her presence is more than welcome.

For a long time, she doesn't move. She is standing at the threshold and Zuko is sitting on the floor next to Uncle Iroh's bed, all of them in complete silence. Three different breathing patterns and heartbeat rhythms echo through her mind giving her something to concentrate on, keeping her mind off the fact that Uncle Iroh might never make tea for them again, that nothing in their lives will ever be the same again.

She manages to fight her tears back, although the way she does it remains unknown to her. She doesn't dare to speak trapping her emotional whirlwind inside her head, scared to shatter the only remaining hope with her questions.

When she finally gains some composure, she sits down on the floor by Zuko.

The space between them is tiny but it's cold and she swears it could fill the entire Universe. They have bricked a wall of unspoken fear, unasked questions, and unconfessed regrets between each other, and Toph wonders what they would have to do to unblock it.

She doesn't have to wonder for a long time, though, as moments later she feels his unexpectedly cold hand gripping hers.

The space between them is tiny, and it's suddenly a little bit warmer in the room.