A/N: just a quick note, in case you missed it: the first flashback in chapter 6 is of aang and a woman who is unnamed, until now.
Toph
X
I sit on the ice bench outside the community tent, if not for my thick parka, I am certain that my buttocks will be frozen solid. I wait for Zuko patiently, even though it isn't my strong suit. We are supposed to meet for lunch at Gran Gran's tent. She has invited us to eat our afternoon meal with her. The only reason I accepted her invitation is because she promised that Katara wouldn't be there. I hope I can trust her.
I despise the fact that Zuko is making me wait because I feel hungry and blind. I cannot see through earthbending in this god forsaken ice land. I groan, loudly because I feel miserable, it's negative I know, but being optimistic just plain reminds me of Katara. At the thought of my former friend, I roll my eyes. Trust her to be a total bitch. From a distance I can hear trudging on the snow. The footsteps are heavy, they are rapid and I can feel a slight annoyance at the fact that I cannot see who it is. Though, what makes me even more curious is the fact that there is the sound of another set of footsteps, ones that are softer and slower.
And then there is a sudden weight on my lap. At first I am confused as the weight shifts. And then there are hands on my face and a kiss to my cheek.
"I see that she likes you," his voice is more than familiar as I stare in his general direction fiercely. Yan is paces away from me as what I assume is Azumi adjusts herself on my knees. He comes to sit beside me; I know this because the side of his parka brushes against mine. "I thought you might want some company," my twenty-eight-year-old fiancé says. His voice tells me he is smiling but my lips tell me I am not.
"What are you trying to do?" I question, the disdain in my voice is evident as the child continues her exploration of my face. "I thought I was supposed to meet Zuko?!" I say in a voice slightly more upset than I had intended it to be. "We are supposed to go to Gran Gran's tent at noon," I state and push Azumi's hands from my features.
"I like you!" yup that's definitely Azumi. "Do you like me?" she asks and I can feel my face shift into a scowl. I don't really feel comfortable handling the child that belongs to the bitch that is Katara.
"Take her," I say, my voice threatening. "Where's Zuko?" I ask as I pass Azumi to Yan who I imagine has a silly smirk on his features. "I am supposed to meet him here," I tell him. I am not amused. Zuko being late, my face being molested by a toddler, and my fiancé having the audacity to smirk at me (although this is just a theory).
"He's um… he's not here," Yan states the goddamn obvious and my eyes narrow as I realize what is happening. "He's with that pile of crap isn't he," I can feel my blood boiling as I realize that his words to me that day might be just a way to shut me up. The thought is quite sickening since I trusted his words to be truth.
"Actually, he's gone ice fishing," Yan states and I can feel the sincerity in his voice. "He wanted me to take his place at lunch with Gran Gran. Zuko just wanted some time alone," he tells me and I nod stiffly. There is a quiet that fills the space between us. "I would love to be a father," he says suddenly and I can feel the blush that comes to my cheeks.
"I mean, Azumi's the most precious thing on earth. Zuko and I have agreed on this," he laughs lightly and I swallow hard. He pauses for a moment. "Imagine what our kids would be like," I turn to him and I believe my eyes are burning.
"I don't want to talk about that now," I tell him fiercely and can feel Yan's heart drop to the pit of his stomach. After knowing him for more than twenty years I can tell when he is disappointed. I know it is difficult for him to understand that I don't love him. I know it is hard for him to accept the fact that Aang was the only guy that I ever wanted to be with. But I do nothing to console him.
"I um… I'll meet you at Gran Gran's," he says, even though I know he doesn't expect me to be there.
X
She can feel his hands on her, feel her body close to his as he sleeps. She loves him so much, Shin knows that Aang is the man for her. His body is pressed against her, his breathing is soft and hers is ragged. After the afternoon spent together, she feels more of an extension of him than a separate human being.
My name is Shin and I'm the Avatar's mistress, the words hang callously in the air. And she can feel shame creeping up on her. She doesn't want to be a mistress, but a wife and a mother, the matriarch of the family the young airbender will head. In the quiet recesses of his company, she thinks about all of the men she's serviced. About their abilities in bed and the fact that almost all of them stunk with smoke and alcohol. She's serviced some very noble people in her time as a prostitute in Ba Sing Se, such people include Long Feng and his majesty the Earth King, but nothing beats the touch of Aang's fingers.
The way he cradles her in his arms after they make love, the way he kisses her and the way he tells her how much he loves her… yes, indeed she loves him. The man whom is in her bed shifts onto her side and wraps an arm around her middle.
"Katara," the word is like a slap to her face and her eyes widen. She thought that for a moment, for a short moment he could be hers, and yet he isn't. Shin closes her eyes, she is tired, so damn tired of his love for the chief's daughter.
She thinks of the fact that she shifted here for a different perspective in life and how she first met him. It was on a particularly cold night and she was at the Peace Ball, which is thrown every year on the night of Sozin's Comet. He had been with his wife and she had been alone. But when she caught his eye, he headed out of the community tent to meet her.
Then on that night, they made love. The way he held her, the way he worshipped her body. Oh dear, she can feel a slight blush make its way up to her cheeks. He had offered her money, which she had refused. She didn't want to a whore in his eyes.
She had known then, as she knows now that Aang is the man whom she loves more than life. Yet, she is only a prostitute, a woman who lays with men for their pleasure. The fact that she is in love with Aang is not something that stops her from accepting advances by her clients. Yet none of them come remotely close to her adoration for the airbender.
And now, on this beautiful afternoon, she decides that he will be hers, and she his until there is no doubt, until the world fades away, until they both do.
Katara
X
The following is a list of things that come to mind:-
I am angry at Aang.
I hate the bastard that broke my heart for a cheap prostitute.
He doesn't deserve me.
He doesn't deserve Azumi.
Zuko is a good father.
Zuko is a good husband.
Zuko is responsible.
For the first time in so long, I feel the full force of the hatred I bear for Aang. On this night when Zuko abandons me for the first time, I can feel a deep disdain for the airbender I once called husband. It stirs inside of me, makes me nauseous and sickened. There is nothing I want more than for Aang to come back to life just so I can kill him myself.
I think about the fact that he was lying in bed with a prostitute, one who barely even cared for him, much less loved him. His cheating was because of his selfishness. His cheating was irresponsible and hurtful and stupid. I welcome the ice cold sensation that freezes my heart, because that way I won't be hurt, or so I think, as I close my eyes.
There is a lone tear that trickles down my face, it burns me… hatred, and Yue forbid, love. There is pure, ruthless and relentless love for the man who was once my world. The scene of Aang with Shin just bores itself in my mind and takes a shit. That's how much I resent that thought and the fact that I am still in love with the Avatar.
And then, there is Zuko, the man who loves me more than I love myself. He was my rock when I needed him, when Aang just passed. He loved me, still loves me, even after the hurt I put him through. Yet, I don't love him the way he deserves to be loved.
I sit by the fire outside our tent and cannot help but think about the man whose heart burns for me. Zuko. I am not fit to utter his name. I am not worthy of his love, not worthy of his patience, yet I will not let him go, yet I will not release him. I am selfish, I know this, but I cannot be cheated on again, it would kill me. For the longest time, I deserved to be. The way I treat Zuko, the way I break his heart. I sometimes hate myself for doing this, for hurting him, and that is why now, I am ready, even though he isn't.
X
The invitation comes to them both at the same time. They have been in the summer home her parents had purchased on Angsana Island off the coasts of the Earth Kingdom. Zuko is there on business, he needs to clear the confusion between the Fire Nation citizens, who lived there throughout the war, and the earthbenders working at the police post that has recently been established.
Out of sheer loneliness and perhaps just a little bit of boredom, he invites one of his closest friends to solve the conflict with him. It helps that she is an earthbender herself of course. Toph's parents who invested in a beach house after the war ended allows them to call the place their home for the duration they are on the island.
"You know Sparky," her voice is a slight pitch above her normal tone. "I think it's nice that we can hang out like this," she tells him and spits. "I quite like this," she says and grins. He returns the gesture even though he knows that she cannot see. He is very sure she can sense it. "I mean this place is gorgeous! I can practice my sandbending, I can laze in the indoor Jacuzzi, I can even sunbathe! Don't you like it here?" she asks.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," he tells her and leans into his seat. For only a day he is willing to take a laid back approach for only one day will he rest. And then he will attend to the business that is being Fire Lord.
"Miss," the butler's tone is one of patience, kindness and perhaps she's imagined it, pity. "There has been a letter sent to this house, the senders are Avatar Aang and Lady Katara," he says in hushed whispers and she wonders if this might be news about one of their deaths. She dismisses this thought when she senses his heart rate. Signaling him to continue, he opens the envelope and begins his narration.
"Dear Toph and Zuko," he begins. "The following is the invitation to the wedding of Avatar Aang and Lady Katara." his voice becomes terribly piteous and his heart rate spikes. She widens her eyes. "The ceremony will be in keeping with the traditions of both the Southern and the Northern Water Tribes. It will be held on Tuesday the 30th of June, at noon in the South Pole. You are cordially invited to attend the nuptials. Please confirm your attendance by the 15th of June. Thank you," he finishes.
"Miss, there is a letter which seems to be from the Avatar and Master Katara," he hesitates. There are tears threatening to spill from her green orbs, but Toph will have none of it.
"Leave it, that will be all," she says and the butler bows politely before leaving the two benders alone with said letter.
"Do you want to read it?" Zuko's voice is nervous, almost as if he is treading on thin ice, almost as if he is too afraid to speak. "I mean, they probably want us to read it," he states and Toph frowns.
"I know that Captain Obvious," she says harshly and he notes a tear slip down her cheek. She rubs at her eye hard, and covers her face with her hands momentarily before bursting at the seams, ripping the letter to shreds.
"It's alright," he says even though it isn't. "I will attend," he says after a few heartbeats and she faces her general direction.
"We have to," she says and both of them know that even if it hurts, even if they hate it, they will have to attend, if not for themselves, for the people they love. That day, is the day both of their hearts break, shatter and remain so for many years to come.
A/N: Review people!
**********IMPORTANT**********
in case you missed it, the first flashback in chapter 6 is of aang and a woman who is NOT katara. now that everyone is clear about that, let me continue.
on another note, special thanks for Assadart for their suggestion on the 'Invitation flashback'.
what do you think of shin? isn't she like pitiful in a way? i mean she loved someone who clearly didn't love her D: and what about yan? is toph being a hypocrite when it comes to that young man? oh and what do you all think about toko? ;)