Zuko sighed deeply as he trounced through a particularly muddy part of this forest terrain.
At first he had been happy with this idea. In fact insisted that of course he and Toph should take a day off together. Just the two of them to please her.
But Zuko seriously starting having second thoughts right now as he was carrying Toph on his own shoulders while making his way through this terrain.
"So anyway." Toph continued as she leaned over Zukos head. "My parents wouldn't let me do anything. And seriously I mean anything! I was just supposed to sit on my knees and look pretty. I couldn't leave the house without supervision. And even then I was only allowed to go to the garden! Never outside of the wall! If I as much as tripped my dad would have a hissy fit and make me rest in bed for the next week."
"I don't know Toph." Zuko sighed deeply. "Sounds to me like he was just super worried about you. I mean of course my father is not the best example. If he had had it his way… He would have killed me when I was ten years old so..."
"Oh…" Toph suddenly realized.
"I just. Having someone who goes out of their way to protect you." Zuko hesitated. "That's not the worst thing in the world is it?" he asked.
Toph pouted as she sat on Zukos shoulders. "No." she finally admitted. "I guess there are way worse things." she groaned. "Still. What did they intend to do? Lock me up forever? Marry me off to a wealthy guy who can take over protection duty. That is if they would ever want me to get married off. Then they can keep treating me like a baby forever."
"Yeah okay. That's just not right." Zuko admitted. "Still… I think at least it will be worth talking them. If they really care about you. Then that gotta be worth something right? I spend my entire childhood hoping to find a way to make my father care about me… Of course that was never going to happen. I realize that now… You though. Sounds like at least you have a dad who cares."
Toph groaned deeply. "Stop making good points." she asked. "I feel… Guilty now."
"Sorry." Zuko whispered.
"You really have a way of making people feel double the guilt don't you sparky?" Toph asked in a dry tone.
"Sorry." Zuko said again.
"Zuko if I hear you say sorry one more time. I'm going to smack you." Toph said.
"So.." Zuko began and then halted. "Apologies." he ended only to receive the promised smack at the back of his head. And Zuko smirked.
"Smartass." Toph stated and Zuko snorted.
Just then Zuko quieted and Toph felt the change in his heart rhythm and chi.
"What is it?" Toph asked.
"Someone is coming our way." Zuko said as he rushed towards a tree and hid behind it glancing at the road to see several fire nation soldiers coming walking with a long line of prisoners in chains behind them.
"What is it?" Toph asked in a hiss. "I can't see from up here." she pointed out as she was still on Zukos shoulders.
"It's a prison transport." Zuko whispered. "Here. Have a look yourself." he crouched down so Toph could get off his shoulders and her feet back down on the ground.
The moment Toph's feet touched the ground she gasped. "Dad!"
"What?" Zuko asked. He didn't get another word at all as Toph just charged forward.
The poor fire nation soldiers did not see what was coming. The earth raised and swallowed them up. Boulders raised and smashed some to the ground.
A soldiers screeched as he pulled out his sword only for that sword to bend across his wrists as handcuffs.
Zukos first instinct was to jump forward as well but then he halted… And finally he just sat back down where no one could see his face while Toph made short process of all of the soldiers. Soon those who weren't on the ground was screaming as they fled and then Toph turned to the prisoners who wide-eyed looked at her.
One man in particular was wide-eyed looking down at Toph. He was shaking as he gasped. "To… Toph?" he asked.
Toph brutally grabbed the metal chains around his wrists and them tore them off before turning her head up at the man. "Hi dad." she replied.