This chapter's a little early, I'm going away again. But don't worry, only for week this time. I'll be back in time for the next update XD
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Toph packed her bag slowly, carefully selecting and placing the items into the brown sack. She was standing beside the bed in Zuko's and her room. Aang and Zuko had gone to the palace to do Avatar and Firelord-to-be type things. Neither of them had been very enthusiastic when they left this morning and Aang had said that he would leave as soon as he got out of this, before he was tied down anymore.
It wasn't right, really. All of them were still so young but because of their positions and their roles during the war people from all sides were trying to force responsibility onto them. Toph scowled deeply; couldn't adults take care of the world for now and leave them alone?
Although, she had to smile now, it was in part Zuko's own fault at least. That boy had no idea, he needed people to take care of him, not physically, not mentally but nevertheless, or he would die in this boring place. Toph's hand rested softly on the sheets of the bed and she continued to smile softly to herself. The sheets were soft and warm now; Hana or one of the other servants had made the bed.
Suddenly Toph's had clenched into a fist. This was stupid. She was almost acting as if she didn't want to leave. True, the whole thing had turned out better than expected. And yes, she had enjoyed these last weeks with Zuko, being here with him. But she couldn't stay. The whole Fire Nation thing and all…it wasn't for her. She would leave, disappear and in a couple of years Zuko would marry again, some girl that was much better suited.
But she was reluctant to go, she recognized. She had really, truly been happy with Zuko. But it couldn't last, responsibility, goddamn responsibility, always found a way to creep back into their lives. Much better to leave now, before things got tangled, while she still had a chance.
You can't run from responsibility forever, a little voice in Toph whispered. You think you'd be safe from it with Aang? Look at him, always getting caught up in Avatar duties. For a moment Toph hesitated. Stay here, the voice implored, stay with Zuko. Enjoy what you have now, live for the moment. And you never know, maybe you'll even learn to love him.
Toph snorted and grabbed her bag off the bed swinging it over her shoulder. That almost sounds like my mother, she thought as she stomped out of the room. And that really was stupid.
Aang and Zuko came back in the afternoon. There hadn't been anything going on really, nothing the people couldn't have taken care of by themselves, but the chance to have the Avatar come and help them, well it was just too great to resist.
By the now Aang was eager to be on his way again; before he could be trapped down with any more mundane activities (he was always to kind to say no).
"It was great seeing you again," the three of them were standing in the garden with Appa.
"Same here," Zuko inclined his head and almost held out his hand but then Aang stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. He stepped back, grinned at him and in one fluid motion settled on Appa's head.
"So," Zuko turned to Toph.
"Yeah," she shifted her weight, rubbing one side of her bare foot against the earth, "I'll visit you sometime okay? Incognito."
"Have fun," he wasn't going to be silly and sentimental, that wasn't his type of thing. Besides this was all for the best wasn't it?
"You too," there was some irony in the grin she sent him, and then she was gone, up on the bison's back with practiced ease. A last wave from both of them then the big animal beat his tail and took off into the sky. The air rushed around Zuko, messing up his hair. Higher and higher Zuko watched them fly, raising his hand and squinting against the sun.
Finally he let his hand drop and turned away a scowl assuming its position on his face. This was dumb; everything had gone according to plan. He had known Toph wasn't going stay, known and even accepted even encouraged the plan. Why was he feeling so miserable?
Because that was before. Before the short earthbender revolutionized his life, taking away the boredom, the dull drudgery with her life, her spark, her well placed rudeness. The scowl, the crease between his eyebrows, deepened and he set his feet apart in his firebending stance. Maybe that would help clear his mind.
Toph and Aang flew in silence. The Avatar sat on the bison's head, seemingly in deep thought.
The wind rushed post Toph's face whirling up her bangs up and around in all directions. It was familiar, but the rest of the situation wasn't. It was too quite, for one thing. Where was Sokka's voice, explaining their plans, Katara and Zuko's arguments, the general laughter? Here was nothing, only the wind rushing past her ears, Appa's huffing and Aang's and her own quiet breathing.
Another thing, it was too empty. It was one thing to be on a flying bison and another to lay on the animal's back all by herself. There was nothing to hold on to, nothing that would support her. In a way it was scary.
And then there were her feelings. Why did she feel sick, slightly nauseous? It could be blamed on the flight (not that she would ever admit it). But then why did she feel as if she had just made a stupid, stupid mistake? As if she had lost something?
Because maybe she had. Toph leaned against the side of the saddle and tilted her head back into the wind. Could that really be it? Could she want to be with Zuko so much that it was making her physically sick to leave him?
Toph wished Aang would say something, anything to break the silence. But it didn't seem likely, so it was up to her.
"Hey Aang," she stretched out her legs before her gingerly; she didn't want the saddle to shift, "where are we going?"
There was no answer. Great, he couldn't hear her. Toph shifted onto her hands and knees and crawled forward, carefully feeling her way. It was creep, crawling over an empty, quiet saddle when you couldn't see. She didn't want to do this, she realized. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to go back to Zuko. Toph had reached Appa's head and reached out to touch Aang's shoulder.
He yelped and almost dropped the rains but he caught himself in time, "Toph! You scared me! I've gotten so used to traveling alone…"
Toph's mouth opened and before she could stop herself the first words that came into her mind tumbled out of her mouth, "Can you take me back to Zuko, Aang?"
The young monk didn't answer but a second later Toph was clutching onto the saddle for her dear life as Appa laid nearly sideways in taking the curve.
"Sure thing," she could hear Aang's grin after they had rightened themselves and almost reached out to punch him.
Zuko stood in the garden eyes closed, concentrating on feeling his chi flowing in his body. In, out, in, out he breathed. Heat, he thought, fire, that burned with bright intensity. And then he moved, swift flowing motions and fire spurted out of his hands and feet. He surveyed the result, then resumed his stance to continue the exercise.
Once, twice, three times. Over and over again he repeated the exercises. Finally letting out his breath Zuko relaxed his chance for a moment. He tilted his head back, cracking his neck, surveying the vast expanse of blue over him.
Suddenly something in the sky caught his attention; something small and dark that seemed to be coming closer. It was Appa, he realized. Zuko stood there staring as the giant animal started lowering and suddenly he realized how quickly his heart was beating, the blood pounding in his ears, against his temples.
Appa landed a little way away from him and Zuko watched as Toph and Aang exchanged a few words, then she leapt down from the bison's back and began running towards him.
"Zuko's still in the garden," Aang informed Toph as Appa started dropping towards the ground, "it looks like he was practicing."
Toph nodded, "just set me down here."
"Duh," Aang's voice was quietly amused. A slight lurch went through Appa as his six feet touched the ground.
Toph grabbed her bag. "Thanks for taking me back;" she said ruefully, "it was a dumb idea."
"No problem," Aang grinned brightly at her, "and Toph…whatever it is you have with Zuko…good luck."
She snorted, "Same to you."
He laughed, light and airily, and then Toph leapt down from Appa's back. The moment her feet touched the ground she pinned Zuko's position and began running towards him.
She was coming closer and closer and without really thinking about it Zuko opened his arms. And without thinking about it Toph dropped her bag and launched herself at him. And for a moment, just a moment, that was all that existed: his arms around her strong shoulders and back, her arms encircling him, her temple resting against his shoulder, her cheek on his chest. His heart was pounding again and she shifted, pressing against him.
Then the world rightened itself and Zuko pulled back slightly to look at her face under windswept bangs, "you came back." He sounded disbelieving.
Toph grinned and freed on arm to punch him on the shoulder, "well, I can't leave you all by yourself can I?"
A longer chapter this time and one I really liked. What did you think?