Chapter 17 – Toph Beifong
Milah kept searching the woods for what felt like an hour, but luckily, she found the jasmine plant, her favourite. She plucked off some of it, rubbing half of it on herself, seeing she didn't have any access to perfume, so that would have to do, and made her way back to Iroh.
''I found some jasmine, isn't that great?'' she called out while walking back towards their camp, looking down to avoid getting caught within the roots of the trees. ''Iroh?'' She called out once more after he didn't answer.
She kept searching the woods for what seemed like, again, an hour. It was enough to set her into a state of slight panic, her breathing becoming more rapid and her heart pounding more quickly than before. She started into a run, branches tearing at the flesh of her arms, making her bleed.
''Iroh! Iroh!'' she screamed at the top of her lungs, fearing that she was truly lost in the woods. She looked up at the sky, hoping to see which way was north by the position of the sun. However, the canopy was too thick to see through. She tried climbing the trees around her but managed to fall on her butt every single time.
''No no no no no…'' she whispered to herself while time went on steadily, dusk settling in for the evening. ''Iroh!'' she tried once more, making several animals that had been watching her curiously scatter.
''Milah?!'' finally another voice echoed through the trees, making her heart stutter in its panicking state. Iroh.
''Iroh?! Iroh thank god! Where are you?'' she kept screaming into nothing, standing still in one spot so he could find her more easily. ''Iroh!'' And after she called out one last time, he came running through the bushes.
''Milah, do you know how far you went into the forest? I've been looking for you with this girl I met for an hour!'' he asked and stated worriedly, pulling her into a hug. She shattered in his arms, her breathing coming out in short pants and closed her eyes.
''I'm sorry Iroh. I didn't realise,'' she muffled in his shoulder. When she opened her eyes she could see a short girl with green robes standing behind him.
''Err, hi there,'' Milah greeted the little girl, extending her hand towards her after releasing Iroh. But the girl didn't take it, making the Waterbender frown and look at Iroh with questioning eyes.
''Milah, meet Toph. Toph, meet Milah,'' he introduced them to each other, smiling with content in his eyes.
''Hi, Toph,'' Milah greeted her again, hoping to get a reaction from her.
''You sound just like Sugar Queen,'' she simply answered, taking a step forwards.
Milah snorted. ''Sugar Queen?''
''Oh, right, sorry. I mean Katara,'' Toph said apologetically, rubbing the back of her head. A strange sort of haze was over her eyes, Milah realised just now.
Milah's heart skipped a beat. ''Katara? Is she, by any chance, accompanied by two boys named Sokka and Aang?''
Toph didn't let anything show on her face when the Waterbender asked her this question but crossed her arms instead. ''Who, exactly, is asking?''
''I'm their sister,'' she answered softly, hope blossoming in her chest.
''No way,'' Toph mumbled in herself, her eyebrows raising slightly, the only indication of her surprise showing. ''But if that's so, then why are you with this old guy?''
Milah chuckled. ''He's been my companion for some time now. But Toph, sorry if I'm rushing you, but can you by any chance point me the way of their whereabouts? Please?'' Milah was practically begging now, taking Toph's calloused into her own.
Toph gave her a crooked grin. ''Yeah totally, Firecracker.''
Milah laughed out loud at the nickname she gave the Waterbender. ''Thanks, Toph.''
Together they got into a rapid pace to get to a particular sight where she had spotted her siblings, the Avatar and two other people. A sight which Toph convinced them she could feel with her feet and one where smoke plumes could be seen from afar.
''But Firecracker, you didn't tell me how you escaped that Fire Nation Prince,'' Toph suddenly began mid-run, making Milah almost stumble over her feet, earning a snort from Toph and a side-eye from Iroh which said enough. ''Sokka shared your story over dinner one night. I was just wondering.''
Milah swallowed and concentrated on her breathing. ''It's okay Toph. The thing is-''
But before she could continue her tale, she was interrupted by the sight which they had been led to. In an abandoned village, several fires had been lit, making the place seem somewhat apocalyptic. Grunts and shouts sounded across the street, making her attention go from the ruins towards the several people that could be seen fighting. Iroh and Toph who were both standing beside her each went a different way.
Iroh went over to the golden-eyed Fire Nation Prince that was laying on the ground, having just been hit by one of the fire blasts. When she looked over, she saw Azula surrounded by the party to which Toph went over.
Sokka, Katara and Aang were all giving Azula their most vicious looks, each prepared to take her down.
''Finally,'' Milah whispered to herself, a feeling of relief washing over her when she saw Zuko get up from the ground, joining the Avatar and his friends in their cause of taking down Azula. Milah ran over to them as quickly as she could, taking her position between Toph and Zuko, catching the Princess' eye. The woman smiled menacingly. This made Sokka and Katara glance over, wanting to see what captured Azula's attention.
''M-Milah?'' Katara stuttered, her stance faltering. Milah grinned towards her sister.
''Found you,'' she simply answered, their similar eyes twinkling. Sokka let out a cry of happiness.
When she glanced towards her right, she noticed Zuko staring at her with an unknown expression. She just gave him a little nod, ignoring the flutter of her stomach and concentrated on the task before her.
Azula simply picked at her nails while backing up slowly. ''Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors, all working together. I'm done,'' she said while putting her hands up in the air. ''I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honour.''
It was silent for a moment. Each one of them continued glaring at the golden-eyed woman, waiting for someone to take her out. But then, before anyone could stop her, she shot out a powerful fire blast towards her left. To Iroh.
A scream of terror left her lips. Iroh fell to the ground with a sickening thud after roaring out of pain.
''No! Iroh!'' Milah cried out, her hands balled into fists, ready to end the smug Princess who would hurt her own family, her own blood. And then, all six of them bended their own element towards her, Sokka throwing his boomerang as a weapon. A large explosion sounded from the impact but when the smoke cleared out, no one was there. Azula had escaped.
Milah hurried towards Iroh, falling onto her knees beside Zuko. His breathing was laboured and his head was resting on top of his uncle's chest. Sounds of agony could be heard from him.
''Zuko, it's okay,'' she tried assuring him, putting her shaking hand on his shoulder, wanting to pull him away so she could get starting on his healing. ''Let me heal him.'' He looked up suddenly, his eyes filled with anger. But just as quickly as he looked up at her, just as quickly he had pulled away.
The Gaang was still watching the whole ordeal from far away, Toph feeling the vibrations of Iroh's heart still, making her sigh out in relief. But as soon as Zuko had pulled away from Milah, he looked back to the group of teens watching them. His anger got the better of him and before he knew it he had shouted, ''Get away from us!''
Milah was too busy healing Iroh to notice what was going on behind her, but once she felt the heat of fire near her back, she turned around to see what was happening. What she didn't expect was Zuko and Katara getting into a fight with Aang trying to break them up.
''Zuko!'' she shouted towards the male, grabbing his arm to prevent him from hurting her little sister. ''Wanna tell me what you were going to do?'' Zuko gave her a glare, his eyes sparkling with anger. But before she could say anything else, he had ripped himself loose from her, sitting beside his uncle again.
Meanwhile, the four people before her were looking at the girl with questioning eyes, all wondering how and why Milah was so familiar with the Fire Nation Prince. For a moment there was silence, but not too long after Sokka grabbed her arm to pull her away from Zuko and his uncle.
''Come, we need to get out of here,'' her little brother said to her while rushing towards Appa. The Gaang followed them steadily. Milah was overwhelmed for a moment, glancing behind her towards the Prince and the badly hurt old man she loved with all her heart, not knowing what to do.
''Wait,'' she managed to get out before they could drag her onto the flying bison. ''I can't… leave.'' Three pairs of eyes stared at her in confusion, one with amusement.
''What do you mean, you can't leave? Last time I checked, we had a flying bison that could take us really far away from those Firebending nutjobs,'' Sokka tried to reason with her, pushing his face into hers.
''Sokka, I can't leave Iroh. He's going to die if I don't heal him,'' she tried to reason with him, her eyes pleading to let her go. Sokka looked at her incredulously.
''Milah, he'll heal on his own. It's okay,'' Katara jumped in, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible.
Finally, Aang came to the rescue, not understanding why Milah was so keen on staying with the Prince and General, but knowing that arguing did no good for any of them. Especially not when Zuko could come running and try to attack them all.
''Guys, let's just leave. Milah will find her way back to us, won't you?'' the Avatar finally stepped in, trying to convince everyone that this was the right path.
''Aang is right,'' Milah responded quietly, averting the eyes that were watching her carefully. ''I can't leave Iroh. He's been good to me in ways you wouldn't even know. I promise that once we're together again, I'll explain everything.''
Finally, nods were exchanged together with hugs of goodbyes, and Appa flew off with the little Gaang, leaving her alone with the Prince and his hurt uncle.
''Zuko,'' she called out to him softly after sitting down next to him. She put her hand on his tense shoulder. He was still lying with his forehead on his Iroh's chest, wanting to feel his heartbeat. ''Come. Let me heal him.''
He finally rose his head to look up at her. Unshed tears were present in his eyes. He made some room for her, scooting over so she could have access to his wound. When she finally got to work, Zuko looked around him, prepared to see the Avatar and his friends waiting for her so she could leave with her family. But there was no one there.
''Where's your family?'' he asked after some time, needing the answers. Milah didn't answer for some time, focusing on her task with great effort.
''I send them away,'' she finally responded. ''I figured it would take a few days to heal Iroh and seeing that you and them don't get along that well, it would probably be best if they just left. Sokka wasn't too happy about it though. I wonder what conclusions they're going to make about why I was so keen on staying with you.''
Zuko didn't know what to say for a while. She actually sent her family away in favour of being with him. ''Thank you,'' he decided on saying eventually, scratching the back of his neck.
''There's nothing to thank me for. I'm doing this for Iroh,'' she replied coldly, still not looking at him. The situation turned awkward after this, both not knowing what to say.
After a while Milah decided that she healed Iroh sufficiently for Zuko to carry him. He told her that he came across a little cottage a small distance away, wanting to get out of the abandoned town as quickly as possible in case Azula came back.
The walk was silent except for the occasional chirping of birds. Zuko was walking a few meters in front of her, the muscles in his back moving with every step he took, making a warm feeling spread in her entire body. She cursed herself for it, wanting to relish in her anger a little while longer. Her emotions had been on a roller coaster the past week and she didn't like the course they were heading now. The fury had disappeared far too soon and had made a place for unwanted sadness.
But all she could feel now were the butterflies in her stomach, her heart hurting like it always did whenever she would gaze upon him.
They arrived at the ruined cottage not too long after, the sun already set for the evening. She could feel the strength of the full moon that had appeared only two nights ago filling her up nicely. Zuko laid Iroh down on a blanket that had been draped across the battered floor. Milah took it upon herself to collect some firewood from the nearby forest. When Zuko started it, it was already dark outside, the wind blowing harshly through the giant hole that had been blasted in the wall of the place. She shivered slightly, rubbing her hands and sitting closer to the fire.
''Are you-'' Zuko started softly but Milah cut him off quickly.
''I'm fine.'' This didn't stop him from taking off the extra robe that was draped around his body and coming over to the blue-eyed girl. ''I don't want it,'' she whispered harshly, tossing it aside after he draped it around her shoulders, not meeting his stare.
A pang went through the Prince's stomach upon her words, knowing he deserved it but not expecting it from she who had always treated him with kindness no matter what he did.
''I'm sorry,'' he eventually settled upon saying to her. He could hear her teeth chatter from where he sat, making him agitated. He could warm her up easily but he knew she was never going to let him. Not soon anyway.
All because he couldn't say it back. She told him exactly what he had been needing to hear and still, he ran from it like a coward.
Yes, he wanted to shout at her, I love you too. More than you can even imagine.
But he didn't do it. He couldn't. Because how can he be worthy of her love?
A/N: I know I have not updated in forever and I just want to say I'm sorry. I truly hope I won't abandon this story because I am just in love with Milah and Zuko and I'm really scared I'm going to do a shit job at writing their love for each other. I have it all so clear in my head but to put it on words is turning out to be really hard. This is why I'm posting this chapter now with a lot less words than I usually do because I just want to close off this shit chapter that is making my head explode. I have written a whole other scenario as well which doesn't include Toph at all but I just couldn't do it. I felt like Milah needed to have met Toph and her family as well for character development and the relationship of Zuko and Milah. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it because I haven't AT ALL and I hope next one is going to get better. I just need to get over this massive writers block. Just a little warning as well, it may take longer for the next chapters to appear as well because I kinda want to update like three at a time.
LASTLY, I want to thank PhadumdeoV and SenSen-Chan and of course Vosck for their awesome reviews! And just to let you know, I completed my thesis and what a ride that has been :).