Prompt 4: Seeing Red (#86)
A/N: From this point on I'm using an adapted list from the 100ThemedChallenge lists.
The air is hot and dry, laden with ash, burning his lungs as he gasps for breath. His muscles ache from exertion, his leg is broken, and his arm is screaming in pain as suspended off of a tenuous grip is Toph Beifong, master earthbender; and now more than ever, a blind, helpless little girl.
"Hang on, Toph—"
She's not supposed to be a blind, helpless little girl.
Boomerang arcs out, catching the first firebender in the neck—
She's not supposed to be at the mercy of anything.
Space sword slices through the walkway in a shower of sparks—
She's Toph Beifong, greatest earthbender in the world, and yet…
"Sokka?"
Not a question, but an accusation. Her voice quavers, and he realizes the pressure on his arm lifts.
"No-"
The fear in her voice pierces his heart as she loses her last connection to anything. He turns, ignoring the sick crunch as he rolls over his broken leg, arms outstretched. For a moment the tips of their fingers brush, a shock of electricity sending tingles up his arm.
She falls.
She falls. He screams. She screams. Framed by the expanding flames, he loses his voice as he watches green disappear into hungry, bloody red. She does not see the rush of fire below her as the airships collide. She does not see the anguish on his face, or the tears gathering at the corners of his eyes.
Red skies, red flames, red blood. He sees red.
He lets himself fall, to the safety of the captured ship. He doesn't deserve it.
Blue light envelops the world. They've won.
He has a score to settle. The ship comes to a halt, and Suki is at his side, supporting him. He doesn't need it.
"Ozai." He grits his teeth, hides the boiling rage behind a wall of hatred.
Aang asks him about her. He doesn't answer. He moves closer, fists clenched until his knuckles go white.
Before anyone can stop him he swings, and he swings again, and again, and again, and then Aang grabs him and Suki pulls him back but he's still swinging and fighting. Ozai's eye is shut and bleeding, his teeth bloodied, a thin line running from the corner of his mouth down his chin.
Ozai smiles a bloody smile. He knows that at least to one man, the Fire Nation won.