Author Note: This is a super short chapter bc I wanted to give content warnings for Ch 5 and Ch 6 so y'all know what you're getting into. I know some people find certain things off-putting and I don't want anyone to suddenly feel uncomfortable.
Ch 5 CW: drug use (marijuana), severe depression. Mentions of suicidal ideations, dissociating, drug addiction.
Ch 6 CW: unprotected sex, drug use (marijuana).
Additional Ch 5 and 6 disclaimers: I want to make it super super clear that I understand consent, coercion, and addiction. The things I'm writing are partly based on my own personal experiences. Do not think that Toph is being forced into anything, in this story she has shown to be capable of telling him what she wants. He also is not making her to do anything. There is communication during sex in Ch 6, even if they're slightly inebriated.
This chapter is named after the song Myth by Beach House.
She's sitting on her bed and feels like crying, it would probably give her some relief. She decides against it. She doesn't know what she's doing here or how long she'll stay. She's entirely drained of everything; emotions, time, money, energy, family. She lays down properly now, feeling her stomach digest food reminds her she's human. She can't remember the last time she was in a bed this nice. The silk is too good for her now, too prim and proper. She sighs and through the movement his scent fills her nose, still lingering on the bed. She turns so her cheek is on the pillow and breathes in again, purposefully, longingly. She realizes she missed him. She missed how he treated her differently than the others did, how she was immediately his equal. She missed finding ways to casually touch him.
She starts to feel her eyes burn, tears trying to force their way out. Squeezing her eyes shut she tries to think about anything else, but it's futile. Memories of the Gaang come flooding back. She remembers these feelings from her travels, yearning to go back to a time when she didn't know better. She recalls a particularly bad night while sleeping in a cave alone, wishing they could all take another trip away from their duties, wishing so badly that they understood how alone she felt. Her thoughts drift to her parents, her accomplishments weren't respected by either of them, not in the ways she hoped. They were excited by her profile, what others thought of her, how much praise they were given for her being their daughter. Her bending, her physique, her confidence weren't a part of that.
But he felt differently. He never challenged her outside of sparring. Never questioned whether she belonged there, training Aang. He always thought she was strong and capable. She imagines it must have something to do with Azula. Even though she was his younger sister, she was the prodigy, special, intelligent, and they both knew it. She breathes in again, pushing her nose further into the silk cover as if she was siphoning his scent out of the pillow. A few more sighs and she's calmed down. Unsure of how much time has passed since he left she sits up and slides off the bed. She feels no need to find a garden for exercise or a kitchen to eat in. She just wanders, not caring or knowing where she'll end up. Passing by staff and exchanging small remarks brought her back to life, even if only a little.
The palace halls are covered in long carpets. She can't see, but it's slightly freeing being careless about her surroundings. She hears a familiar voice echoing down the hall. It's him. He's talking to someone about improving trade routes, adding that their merchant ships are overloading ports in every nation. He finally rounds the corner and notices her. He stalls. She keeps her pace towards him.
"Take these plans to Generals So and Meesa for notes. We'll meet again when they have improvements. Thank you, Han."
"Yes, Fire Lord."
She finally reaches him and he turns his attention to her. They stand in front of each other and he waits for her to say something. She doesn't. He takes her hand in his and starts walking, guiding her somewhere.
"Where are we going?"
"You're going to help me ditch work."
He only half answered her question.