A/N: Thank you everyone for being so patient and to my betas, DeepAzulaEyes and AStormisBrewing. If you guys could pray for them, they are super busy right now, and yet they still have the time and want to beta for me and help me improve my writing. Enjoy, and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 6
Zuko woke early as he usually did, but he just flopped back onto his bed. It was Friday, and that meant two tests. Sighing, he got up and made his way to the garage. He scowled at the broken punching bag still lying in the corner and instead went through the basic forms to warm up and stretch his muscles. He heard his uncle doing something in the kitchen as he moved onto some of the more advanced forms Iroh had taught him. He was already dripping in sweat, but he felt better already. The workout wasn't nearly as relaxing as the punching bag, but it did keep him in top form.
"It's not about the muscle, but the breath and movement," Iroh said from behind Zuko as the scarred teen tried a complex move and punched out as hard as he could.
"I know, Uncle," Zuko said as he moved to kick towards an imaginary opponent's face.
"Then why do you always make the same error?" Iroh asked.
Zuko stopped before moving into the next form and looked back at his uncle. The older man was holding a cup of steaming tea and watching Zuko shrewdly. The scarred teen scowled at his uncle as he grabbed one of the small towels he kept there and wiped the sweat off his brow.
"You know why," Zuko said as he started to head into the house.
Iroh moved so that his nephew couldn't pass him and narrowed his golden brown eyes at the teen. "Sheer force will never accomplish your goals, Zuko. Never forget that. I have taught you more than I have ever taught him. But you still are like him, always using force…"
"I am nothing like him!" Zuko yelled into Iroh's face.
Iroh merely sighed and took a sip of tea and he stayed in the doorway as Zuko took a deep breath to try and calm down. He knew Iroh never approved of letting anger rule, and he knew that he had to apologize to his uncle before he could get out of the garage.
"Forgive me Uncle," Zuko said calmly. "I shouldn't have shouted."
Zuko watched as his uncle nodded and sympathy and compassion came into Iroh's eyes and face.
"You are forgiven, Nephew. And I understand, but you must be more like Toph."
Zuko was surprised that his uncle had brought the blind girl up, and it must have shown on his face since Iroh smiled.
"Yes, more like her," Iroh continued. "Wait and listen before reacting, and never let anger cloud your judgment. Now, go shower so that you are not late."
Zuko nodded as Iroh moved out of the way and then the teen hurried to the shower. Twenty minutes later found Zuko in the kitchen as Iroh poured himself more tea.
"Good luck on your tests today," Iroh said as a knock sounded at the door.
Zuko just nodded and grabbed one more piece of toast before picking up his backpack as he made his way to the door. He opened it and found Toph looking slightly nervous as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.
"You ok?" he asked as she stepped away from the door so he could exit.
"Yeah…just, the tests," she said as she started walking.
Zuko nodded as he stuffed the last bite of toast into his mouth. Eventually he was able to swallow and talk. "Come on Toph, you know the math better than anyone I've met, and you'll ace chemistry. Relax," he said as he tried to smile at her.
She smiled weakly in response. "Thanks, Sunshine. Hey, what makes up an atom?"
"Neutrons, protons and electrons," Zuko said easily, starting to relax. "What are the patterns of electrons in the rings?"
"Two, then eight and eight in every ring after that," Toph answered. "And only Hydrogen and Helium have just the first ring, but Helium's is full."
Zuko nodded, but Toph still seemed tense. They traded questions back and forth all the way to school. Zuko was still concerned about the blind girl as she left him at English, but he brushed it off as he made his way to the back and took a seat next to Chuck. The big guy nodded and smiled at Zuko before Mr. Pakku came in and started the lesson on grammar and essays. Zuko was still perplexed about Toph's behavior as they studied muscles in biology, but again brushed it off, sure it was worry over the tests. But as they walked out of chemistry, Toph still seemed worried.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Zuko asked as he stepped in front of her outside the cafeteria. "I know you aced math, and if you did at least as well as I did, you got a B in chemistry. Why are you still down?"
Toph turned her head up to Zuko and her face was taught with worry and some fear.
"Nothing," Toph muttered as she tried to smile up at him and move around him.
"Listen, if it's about your parents, I understand a bit," Zuko said before she opened the door to the cafeteria.
A couple of students who were also in their chemistry class hurried through the open door and flashed thank you smiles towards them, but Toph had stopped altogether. Zuko watched her back as she took a deep breath and seemed to relax slightly.
"Thanks, but there's nothing to worry about," she said before she walked into the cafeteria. Zuko followed her and grabbed some pizza before following her to their table. Katara, Sokka and Aang were all talking in an animate way about something, and Zuko heard snatches of costume and Halloween before he sat next to Toph, across from the other three.
"Hey guys," Aang said. "We're thinking about our costumes already. Katara wants to dress as a spirit and Sokka as a warrior. But I can't decide. What are you guys thinking of?"
"Not thinking," Toph replied with a wry grin. "Why should I care about costumes? I can't see them. But for you, I think you should be a monkey. It suits you."
Sokka laughed as Katara and Aang looked at Toph in shock before Aang smiled.
"I think that would be fun," Aang said as he started to grin. The cheerful sophomore turned to Zuko. "What about you, Zuko. What are you thinking if?"
"I'm still thinking of whether I'm going or not," Zuko said calmly before taking a bite out of his pizza.
He noticed Toph looking relieved as the other three started talking about costumes and decorations. Apparently, Sokka and Katara's dad had approved of the party as long as the teens cleaned up afterwards and they made sure no more than forty people were there.
"Well, I was only going to invite about twenty," Aang said, "but that gives me room to invite more."
"Careful Twinkles," Toph said as she finished her pizza. "Some people will bring others and some may show up without invites, so go on the light side."
"She's right," Sokka said. "Remember Haru's beach party on Labor Day? A hundred people showed up to that and he only told forty about it."
Zuko could only smile a little as Aang's face turned pale. Katara moved in quickly and laid a hand on Aang's shoulder.
"Don't worry," she told Aang sweetly. "We'll have someone at the door, making sure we don't let too many in. It'll work."
Zuko saw the sophomore blush and then nod quickly as if he could hide it. Zuko then glanced at Toph and saw her smirking. He didn't know how Toph could tell Aang was blushing, but she knew. Lunch ended with Aang still blushing slightly whenever Katara turned towards him and Toph smirking at it. Zuko was surprised as the rest of the day actually went smoothly.
As they walked home, Toph seemed to get worried again. It even got so bad that she was clasping her hands together and then letting them drop to her sides occasionally. Zuko grew tired of it and eventually lost his patience.
"Relax," Zuko finally said. "God, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were afraid of your parents. What's there to worry about?"
"I am not worried," Toph stated firmly as she forced her hands to her sides again. "And I'm not afraid of anything!"
Zuko just watched her as she took a deep breath. They walked in silence for a bit and Zuko nodded to one of his uncle's' Pai Sho friends who was mowing his lawn.
"I'm actually kind of happy and sad about tomorrow," Toph said in a low tone after they had passed the lawn-mowing neighbor. "It's been two months since we've had a family day, but I know they'll overdo it and end up arguing by the end of the day."
Zuko nodded and ran a hand through his hair. He knew what that was like, and worse than that.
"What about you?" Toph asked him. "You seem worried about tomorrow too. I know it's not my business, but, if you need anything, you can call me. I'll take any excuse to get away from my parents by tomorrow afternoon."
Zuko smiled slightly at Toph. "Thanks. I'll be gone most of the day, but…you can call, too."
Toph nodded and smiled slightly back at him as they turned onto their street. They walked in silence for a while, but Zuko could tell she was still slightly nervous.
"They're your parents, and from what I've seen, they love you," Zuko said after a while. He couldn't help the twinge of envy that entered his tone. "Have fun," he said as he turned to his own house.
"Yeah, thanks," Toph said with a smile as she went to her house. Zuko glanced back at her once more from his door and saw her back was straighter as if she had relaxed a bit. She turned her head back to him and smiled once more before opening her door. Zuko caught himself smiling back at her, even though he knew she couldn't see it before heading into his own house. He had some homework and wanted to get it out of the way before the weekend, so he went straight to it.
XXXXX
Toph smiled back at Zuko from her door before opening it and heading inside. She knew her mom was home already from the sounds in the kitchen and the smell of the perfume her mom favored. Toph made her way to her bedroom to drop her backpack off and thought about what Zuko had said. She knew Zuko was worried about her, and it made her feel better, but she also had heard the envy in his tone when he told her that her parents loved her. She wondered again why he lived with just his uncle and what type of family stuff he had to do the next day. She knew she was starting to grow fond of him, and Toph found herself trying to imagine what Zuko looked like before brushing off her fascination with the odd senior as she heard her father enter the house. Quickly changing her baggy, comfortable shirt for a tight, nicer one, Toph made her way to the family room.
"Hello Toph," Jasmine said sweetly as Toph heard her parents separate from a hug and kiss.
"Hi Mom, hi Dad," Toph said with a smile before she was wrapped in a hug by her mother.
"Ok," Jasmine said cheerfully as she let Toph go. "Fong has the night off, and we have a nice dinner planned. Family time has officially started!"
Toph sighed and blew the bangs out of her face as she heard her father emit a small sigh as well. Toph knew that she and her dad were similar in many things. Stubbornness, pride, and the unwillingness to show fear were the most common, but also the love for Toph's mother and their silent agreement that they would eat whatever Jasmine set in front of them and act like they loved it. Toph knew her mom wasn't a great cook, but every time they had a family night, her mother insisted on cooking and there was no way to get out of it. Both father and daughter plastered smiles onto their faces and made their way to the dining room to try and be reasonable with each other for as long as they could.
XXXXX
Zuko listened to his iPod as his uncle drove the car early in the morning. He ignored the landscape and buildings flying by them on the freeway as he skipped through songs and played with his cell phone. He had realized that he didn't have a ringtone for Toph an hour into the trip and decided to find one. He started listening to Numb by Linkin Park and the lyrics held him. They reminded him of Toph, but also himself. Smiling slightly, he turned to his phone and put the song under Toph's name.
"What are you thinking of, Nephew?" Iroh asked as they turned onto the off-ramp.
"I found a ringtone for Toph," Zuko replied.
Iroh nodded and smiled in a knowing way. Zuko wondered what his uncle knew, but pushed the thought out of his head. If he asked, Iroh would smile more or answer with a proverb that didn't make any sense. Zuko watched as they drove through the city and finally pulled into the gated entrance to the nursing home. They went to the back and parked close. Iroh exited first as was their custom and after a nod from his uncle, Zuko exited the car and followed his uncle into the home. The smell of old people, disinfectants and medications hit him and he almost gagged at the smell. After three years of hospitals and visiting the nursing home, he was getting used to it, but it was still strong and unpleasant. The teen turned his iPod off and put his phone on vibrate as Iroh talked to the receptionist. After a minute, his uncle turned towards him and smiled.
"You can go see her now," Iroh said.
Zuko nodded and went down the dull white hall like he had so many times before. He knocked on the door as he had for the past three years and heard a faint, "Come in."
Zuko opened the door and saw her in a chair facing the window. Her once beautiful brown hair now had a few grey streaks and when she turned towards him and started to smile, he saw more lines on her face than the last time he had been there. But she also seemed healthier and her color was better than when he was there two months before. He was sad to see her so aged in such a short time. She had once seemed so young and beautiful, even to him, but now…now she looked like she was near Iroh in age.
"Hello Zuko," she said with a warm smile.
"Hi Mom," Zuko said as he went to her and hugged her gently. He felt her stiffen, and kept the hug gentle and short, knowing her back was still tender. Three years of healing and therapy had not taken all the scars away.
"How have you been?" Ursa asked.
"Good," Zuko said as he retreated to the other chair and watched her for any sign of fatigue. He knew she still grew tired easily, and he wanted to spend as much time with her as he could. He missed her every day, and wanted every moment to count. "Sorry it's been a while. Uncle and I had to move again."
"That's all right Zuko," she said as she continued to smile and took his hand in hers. "It's been peaceful here, and the doctors say if I keep improving, I may be able to leave in a few months."
"That's great, Mom," Zuko said as he looked down at her hand on his. He noticed that though her skin had once been darker than his, now his was slightly darker, though still pale. Her scars were healing as his had, and she had more strength in her hand as she squeezed his. He was glad she was regaining her strength, but she still seemed so weak. "I'm going to a new school, and I met this weird girl named Toph," Zuko told his mother. "She's blind, but she seems to see better than anyone I've ever met."
Ursa smiled and listened patiently as Zuko told her about the school, Toph, her friends, his fight with Jet and the martial arts club. He started talking with more animation and emotion as the morning went on and he was glad to see his mother smiling at how he described Toph and her friends. She always had a hand on him, and though he never let anyone else be that casual with him, he liked his mother being close and knew she missed him as much or more than he missed her. He decided to make an effort to visit her more often. They talked throughout the morning until Zuko noticed his mother getting tired, though she tried not to show it.
"I should let you rest," Zuko said as he moved to stand.
"I know," Ursa sighed before she smiled up at him. "It sounds as if you like this girl." Zuko was about to protest, but Ursa spoke up first and he saw a twinkle in her brown eyes that he hadn't seen for a long time. "Give it time, dear. And go to the party. I think you'll have fun. Come see me again soon if you can, all right?"
"I will, Mom," Zuko said as he kissed her forehead before kneeling to hug her again. He started to move away, but Ursa held on to him.
"And say hello to your sister for me if you see her anytime soon," Ursa said to him before she let go.
Zuko nodded, but started to frown as he thought about his sister. "If I see her," he said to his mom, trying to hide the frown before he went to the door and called for a nurse.
"She's getting tired," Zuko told the young man who came. The man nodded, went into the room and started to help Ursa from her chair to the bed. Zuko smiled once more to his mother as she smiled at him before he went to the lobby and found Iroh talking with one of the doctors on site.
"She is getting better," he heard the doctor say, "But her lungs and trachea were burned severely by the hot air of the fire she was in. Perhaps four months at her current rate of healing, but if she has another retreat, it may be a year before she can leave."
Zuko saw Iroh nodding sadly before he spotted Zuko. "Ah, Nephew," Iroh said with a smile. "How is she doing?"
"Good," Zuko remarked as he frowned at the doctor. "But she got tired. Is there anything you can do to help her?"
The doctor just gave a sad, sympathetic look. "We're doing all we can, son. Her body is working as hard as it can to repair. It's a miracle she survived the fire and smoke inhalation. I heard you saved her?"
Zuko nodded but deepened his frown. "Don't call me son," he growled at the doctor before turning to Iroh. "I'm ready to go, Uncle."
Iroh nodded, knowing where the conversation would go if they stayed. Iroh led the way out and Zuko turned his iPod on and the volume up as they got into the car for the long trip back. Iroh didn't bother to question Zuko as the teen sulked. Zuko's mind unwillingly turned to the memories of the fire and the cause of it and the only thing he wanted to do was hit something. As they finally pulled into their driveway, Zuko found Toph's number and called it.
XXXXX
Toph was in her room as her parents started packing for their trips. The day had gone more smoothly than most, but had still ended with her parents arguing by mid-afternoon. They were arguing over something silly; who would take who to the airport. Toph sighed and turned the volume up of her iPod until she heard another tone. Her phone was going off beside her and she pulled her headphones out to hear Breaking the Habit. Smiling at Zuko's ringtone, she picked up the phone and answered.
"Hey, Sunshine. What's up?"
"Toph, can I use your punching bag?" Zuko asked in a strained voice.
"Yeah, come on over," Toph said and heard him hang up his phone. She hurried to her front door and opened it when she heard him step onto the porch.
"Thanks," he muttered as he passed her and walked quickly to the dojo.
Toph followed him and sat next to the door as she heard him start punching and kicking the large bag with more rage and power than she had ever heard him display before. She wondered what had happened and what she could do to help besides letting him kill her punching bag. She knew that when she felt that way, all she wanted to do was get away to a peaceful place and think things over after taking out her anger on something. After at least a half hour of Zuko taking out his frustration on the bag, he finally stopped and Toph almost swore she heard a sob escape the odd senior. But then he seemed back in control as he stepped back from the bag and turned to walk over and sit next to her.
"Phew," she said as she waved her hand over her face as the smell of his sweat reached her. She grabbed a towel and tossed it at him. "Remind me to wait till you clean up after something like that," she said with a smile as she heard him catch the towel and wipe his face with it. They both retreated into silence and Toph thought of the one place she retreated to whenever she felt depressed. She had never taken anyone there, but maybe it would be good for him. She heard Zuko sigh and she smiled at him. "Come on, I have something else that will help."
She heard Zuko nod before they got up and he followed her out of the dojo in silence.
"Wait here," she said as they reached the entryway. She heard his hair move against his shirt as he nodded and she went to her parent's room. "Mom, Dad, I'm going to the beach with Zuko. I'll be back later and I have my phone."
"Ok, dear," Jasmine said as Lao turned serious. "And what will you two be doing?" he asked.
"Just talking," Toph said. "He's my friend, and I'm worried about him. I'll be at the rocks."
"Ok, but be careful," both parents said at the same time.
Toph nodded and hurried back to Zuko who was starting to get impatient.
"We're going to the beach, to a special spot for me," Toph said as she opened the door and led the way out.
Zuko followed her silently as they walked to the beach and then Toph turned away from the smoothie place and led the way to a rock cluster at the base of a cliff. She was worried about Zuko, and her mind kept trying to think about what could have happened to him. Did someone die? Was someone hurt, or was it his mysterious past bugging him?
"What is this place?" Zuko asked as she started climbing the rocks.
"This is my favorite place to just sit and think," Toph said as she stopped to smile back at him. "Come on, this is really nice." She then reached up and felt the next handhold as she heard Zuko follow her. She ducked under a ridge to go into the cave she had found and heard Zuko stop.
"Toph? Where are you?" he asked, worry starting to creep into his tone.
She backed out and waved a hand near her foot. "Here, Sunshine. Come on, I know you can fit. Only really big guys can't fit here."
She heard him start to move towards her as she started to head back up and into the rock cave. As she reached it, she moved further into the cave and felt the tranquil peace the place gave her as she felt a little bit of sunlight on her coming from the large crack that faced the shore. She heard Zuko enter and then his sudden intake of breath as he turned to look around the cave.
"Why'd you bring me here?" he asked, awe in his tone as he continued to move around before he faced her.
"It's my secret place," Toph said as she moved to one of the ledges in the back and sat on it. "I don't know why, but I thought you would like it. I used to come here when I ran away as a kid, and then just to think after I argued with my parents. Well, mostly with my dad. It helps me clear my mind and reflect. You sounded like you needed to think about something."
"No, not really," Zuko said as he moved to sit next to her. Toph frowned as the edge came back to his voice that was there when he had called her and thanked her for letting him use the dojo. He sighed and leaned back against the rock behind them. "I'm trying not to think of it and I can't stop. That's the problem."
Toph just nodded and sat in silence with him as his breathing started to even out as he calmed down. She started to smile, knowing the peace the place brought her was affecting him too.
"Can you describe this place?" Toph asked after a while.
"What?" Zuko asked, confused.
"Describe this place. You're the first person I've ever brought here, and it sounded like it was breathtaking. Literally," she said with a smirk.
Zuko chuckled lightly. "It is. It's dark coming up and then when I got up here, I didn't expect this big open cavern. The walls are smooth and sparkle as the light comes in from the west. The sun leaves this warm tone on the rock walls, turning them golden and making some of the quartz sparkle. There's also a small hole in the top letting in a little light and it's just…beautiful," he finally breathed.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be the poetic artist. That's more Snoozles' arena," she said as she smiled at Zuko.
"I'm not," Zuko said with a smile. "I'm more the math and science kind of guy."
"Me too," Toph laughed. "Well, girl, not guy. Be careful, Snoozles is in the lead for valedictorian. You might actually give him a run for his money."
"Sokka?" Zuko asked, incredulous. "I would never figure him as a brain. More of a jock."
Toph laughed at the thought of Sokka being a dumb jock. "I thought so too when I first met him, but he's great at writing and literature, and then at math and sciences. He's struggled with history, but aces everything. He even invents stuff on the side."
"I'll just be lucky to actually finish a semester," Zuko sighed. "It's getting late, we should get back."
Toph sighed and nodded before she got up to lead the way out of the cave. Once she was on the sand, Toph waited until she heard Zuko jump down next to her. They started walking back in silence, but Zuko stopped before they stepped off of the sand and back onto their street,
"What is it?" Toph asked as she heard him turn away.
"Just watching the sun set," Zuko said with a shrug before he started walking again.
Toph nodded and caught up with him. "Well, at least you sound better. How do you feel?"
"Better," Zuko said, though Toph was puzzled that he kept his tone flat and there was no smile. He should have been smiling if he felt better.
"I saw my mom today," Zuko whispered as they neared their houses.
"Really?" Toph asked, suddenly interested.
"Yeah, I think she'd like you." He paused for a second and Toph waited patiently as they arrived at his house. "I'll see you later Toph," he said calmly though Toph heard the edge in his tone.
"Yeah, see you," Toph said with a smile as she heard him walk away and head into his house.
She made her way into her house and to her room, thinking about Zuko. The mystery always seemed to be getting bigger, even when he let small pieces out. From his tone, Toph knew Zuko cared for his mom, as much or more than he cared for his uncle. But then why was he so angry? And why wasn't his mom with him? Toph growled with frustration of not knowing, but, as she jumped onto her bed to put her headphones in again, she knew he was letting her in. All she had to do was wait just a little bit longer.
