Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

335. Chapter 335: EK Rebels-New Contacts 1

Earth Kingdom Rebels/New contacts

1

At no point in her life had Toph felt as lost as she had upon first disembarking in unknown territories, in a strange, massive fortress that stood someplace unknown. Her heart, in shambles, hadn't been amended by the repeated advice that sounded like a sentence to her, no matter in whose voice it reached her ears:

"You won't be safe outside this Fortress…"

"The Fire Lord will suspect your involvement or knowledge of this treason."

"He may even take out his fury on your family, more so if you're found with them!"

"You wouldn't put more lives at risk than there already are, would you?"

She had screamed that it wasn't her who had risked them. That it wasn't by her choice, that she had never wanted any of this to happen. Some White Lotus bigshots seemed resigned, perhaps they even pitied her… Iroh, naturally, shrank into himself with remorse Toph refused to accept. The more authoritarian man of the group, however, showed her no manner of sentimentality as he told her, without any hesitation, that she would have to accept living among them or risk worsening Azula's situation further. A part of Toph bitterly wanted to reply that it likely couldn't get any worse… but it probably could. She knew it could.

Her stupid boat reached its destination after weeks of being adrift at sea. By the time they arrived, news had spread about a dangerous explosion in the Fire Nation Capital. The rumors were difficult to gauge, and Toph found herself too unsettled, too disturbed, to try to tell truths and lies apart anymore. As it was, a lot of people thought they were telling the truth even when they were lying… so she hoped that was the case with those who claimed that Sokka was dead. They had to be wrong… she truly hoped they were wrong, more than anything.

She wanted to leave that damn fortress at once… but Azula's wellbeing kept her in check on that first day, as she stood atop one of the fortress's walls, failing to spread her seismic sense far enough to figure out where she was. Nothing felt familiar… she had no idea where the fortress stood. If only she could find something recognizable, then maybe she could leave and return to Azula safely, to help her escape, too.

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know where to go. She didn't know if there was anything she could do, for starters… if those cold-blooded White Lotus bastards, making decisions for political reasons, for strategic purposes, were right in their arguments, no matter how badly she wished to say otherwise. Would she only make matters more difficult for Azula? Would she only get in the way? Could she truly be so useless, so powerless…? It was exactly what she had never wanted to be. It was exactly what she had rallied against for so long, what she had deplored and feared about that battle in the factory, what had bothered her so deeply about her fight against Combustion Man…

What Azula and Sokka were facing truly mattered to her. Having a chance to lend them a hand would have meant everything to her now… but she was about to lose her best friends because she was too weak to help them. Too useless to do anything to save them…

"Toph…!"

She heard the voice as an echo, distant… drifting from the ground level. She hadn't been focusing on picking up sounds, instead entirely submerged in her self-deprecating ruminations, and she didn't know who, exactly, could have called for her. Maybe she had just imagined it…

Or maybe someone was climbing the stairs up to the top of the wall, three at a time, his long legs carrying him up to where she stood at haste.

By then, she realized who it was. By then, his presence became much more obvious and clear. She turned towards him, her heart squeezed by bitterness, by anger at Iroh, and by a surprising relief upon meeting him anew…

"You were… here?" Toph asked, just as he reached her. "I… this is where Iroh told you to go. You and your friend. Even back then, he just…!"

"Toph," Jet breathed heavily as he stopped before her, smiling in amazement even if he could tell she was anything but happy. "It's true. You're really… you're really here. I heard something just now, that Iroh had showed up, and…"

She snarled at the sound of his name. Jet stopped talking at once, his smile waning.

"I didn't want to come with him, if you want the truth," Toph growled. "And I don't want to be here, to begin with. I… I'm not saying I'm not glad we've met again. I just…"

"You look different," Jet said, his voice charged with concern now. Toph huffed.

"Well, I probably look like a mess who hasn't been forced to clean up for like two weeks. And you're not about to change that," she hissed. Jet smiled slightly upon hearing that.

"As far as the smell is concerned… I did live with a group of kids with no sense of hygiene, in a forest, with no adult supervision," Jet said. "It's almost nostalgic to pass by someone who smells like they forgot soap exists."

"Heh. Flatterer," Toph said, humorlessly. Jet smiled, stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Look… I'm a selfish asshole, I guess, for being happy that you're here. But I can tell you don't feel the same way… and you're here against your will. In a sense, I am too, at this point…"

"Didn't Iroh tell you to come here? Did you get forced or captured by his wretches somehow…?" Toph asked. Jet shook his head.

"No, but once Longshot and I found this place, we were told we're not allowed to leave the Fortress's territories. They don't want people spreading word about where their fortress is, in fear that the Fire Nation might find it. I didn't care much at first… but the more time I spent here, the faster I lost my hopes of charging into battle with these people. I don't know what they're doing, don't know what they're waiting for… but it feels like they want us to wait forever until their leadership make up their minds."

"Make up their minds to do what, exactly?" Toph hissed. "Fight Ozai? Is that what this shit is about?"

"I don't know. I thought it was… but by now, I don't know," Jet admitted, frowning. "It's why I'm not exactly happy to be here anymore. Seeing you again is the best thing that has happened in a long time… I'll be a little less lonely this way, at least."

"Why? Where's Longshot?" Toph asked, frowning.

"He's taken this a lot better than I have," Jet admitted, with a sigh. "He responds to their discipline and training in ways I can't. I'm, well… too defiant, maybe. Too set in my ways, apparently. Their sword master saw me sparring with someone once and said my style wouldn't benefit from learning his… that I'd just end up with two half-baked swordsmanship styles or so. Not his exact words, but that was his meaning, so…"

"Heh. Join the club of the self-taught, then," Toph huffed. Jet smiled.

"We're a lot alike in that sense, huh?" he said. Toph shrugged.

"I guess not. No idea if you had anyone teaching you something in the past… I did have the badgermoles. But anyway, if you don't want to be here anymore than I do, we should just make a run for it. Do you know where this place is? Like… where Gaoling could be?"

"Well… I have some idea of where we are, but not with perfect precision. I might be able to get us to Gaoling, but I think it's a lot further away than you might have hoped," Jet admitted. "Why are you here, though? And why are you so desperate to leave again? You told me the last time we met that you had a bit of a conflict with Iroh, but it didn't sound like it was anything as bad as… as whatever you seem to hold against him now."

"You could say… every awful thing I thought about him, every stupid dark idea that came to mind, that I dismissed because I thought he wouldn't be that much of a piece of shit? Well, he proved he was capable of that and worse," Toph hissed, bitterly. Jet frowned, puzzled.

"I, uh… I think we should talk more thoroughly about that, then. If you want to," Jet said. "I'm all ears, if you need a friend. Hell knows I've direly needed one for the past months… but if I annoy you too much, just say the word and I'll cut it out. I don't know if you're in the mood for dealing with people right now…"

"I'd have told you already that you annoyed me, if you did," Toph mumbled. "I… I think I could use a friend, too."

Jet smiled – knowing all too well that she wouldn't see how honest the grin was. Knowing she wouldn't understand all that easily how much it meant to him to see a friendly face again. He had been dealt enough backhands and betrayals to last him a lifetime… and the White Lotus had been yet another betrayal of his expectations, a dark demonstration of how the right beliefs didn't mean enough in the hands of people who wouldn't act on them.

So he took Toph through the Fortress on that day, showing her everything he had already explored, giving her hints as to where the easiest exits would be, the better hiding places, the sources of food and of drink – the cellar, built into the basement of the Fortress, was mostly empty, and a great place for them to take a break at. By then, Toph had explained her circumstances… as well as how Iroh had made the most devastating choice he could have. Jet had been surprised to learn about the relationship between Azula and Sokka, but more by Toph's admission of always having known about it… as well as by her refusal to share that truth with Iroh, who had discovered it on his own terms and done something terrible upon doing so.

"No wonder you're so upset," Jet whispered, as they sat together on some stools in the cellar. Toph huffed, shaking her head and rubbing her brow. "I'm sorry. I know it sounds insane to think that I could relate to your situation at all, but… I lost my best friends too, once. It was my fault, but…"

"This was my fault too," Toph said. Jet frowned. "Don't… don't even pretend it's not. I could've done so much better for them. I could have kept tabs on Iroh rather than just… resting. I don't care how bloody wounded I was, it doesn't matter… it wasn't as important as them. I should've stopped him. I should've… should've done something. Chucked him underground or so, I don't know… anything to make sure he couldn't ruin their lives. And now I… I don't know if Sokka's alive. I don't know what's going to happen to Azula, whether he is or isn't. I… I don't know anything and all I can do is hate Iroh. And damn, I hate him. I really… I can't believe I spent all those years thinking it was all a misunderstanding. That he was actually not that bad, even if I understood why they were wary around him. But to think that he'd prove them right… that he'd just go out of his way to prove them right? I… I won't forgive him. I refuse to forgive him. I'd never…"

"Then don't," Jet said, simply. Toph frowned. "I don't see why we should forgive people who wronged us or those we loved. Even if they want to make amends, which they tend not to… you're not supposed to forgive him just because he's sorry. You're supposed to forgive him because you believe him when he says he regrets what he's done. And if you don't… why would you?"

"Right. That sounds petty and vindictive. It's awesome. Thank you," Toph said. Jet smirked.

"No one ever said I was a good influence, did they?" he said. "I'm sorry, though. I… I guess I kind of wish I could've been there to help somehow…"

"Eh? You couldn't have been," Toph said, shaking her head. "Why would you be in the Fire Nation Capital? Why would you have followed me there at any point in time?"

"Heh, well… I can't say I have a good answer for that," Jet smiled. "But I suppose… it's an impulsive urge to want to be there for people you like, when they need you. But I can try to be there for you, now… if you do need me. Though I'm pretty sure I'll need you more than you'll need me…"

"Probably," Toph agreed. Jet smiled at her bluntness.

"So… what do you say we play a few tricks on these old bastards?" Jet asked, nudging her with his elbow. "They're ineffective, they scheme and connive in stupid ways and don't care about who gets hurt as long as they get their way… I'd say they're as bad as the Fire Nation, but to be fair, the three top dogs right now are Fire Nation, huh? Seems like old habits die hard, don't they?"

"Got some big idea to mess with them?" Toph asked, with a sigh. Jet shrugged.

"We're already here… we can just go on and sneak a bottle, maybe two? We can do it every week, every night, as often as you like," Jet smirked. "We'll drink their reserves dry before they know it…"

"Well… this is a pretty big cellar," Toph said, raising an eyebrow. "But I'm so fucking pissed at everything that I'd gladly drink the whole thing even if it kills me."

"Are you experienced with alcohol?" Jet asked. Toph shrugged.

"I've had some, here and there. I'm still building up my resistance," she said. Jet nodded.

"Then we can start slow. We'll pick a single bottle, maybe one that doesn't look too… uh, what are you doing?"

Toph rose to her feet, picking out the first bottle she came across. She uncorked it, bringing it to her lips, draining a couple of gulps. Some of it splashed on the floor carelessly, and she made a face as she set it down, putting the cork back in place, clumsily.

"This one tastes dumb. I'll try another one…"

Jet's jaw dropped as he watched Toph do the same thing five times, picking out a different bottle, ruining its perfect conservation state, and setting it aside because it wasn't up to her standards. A part of him was amused by this way to drive a point across to the White Lotus… another part was worried about how far Toph meant to take what he had hoped would be a perfectly simple idea, a way to help her relax and unwind, perhaps take her mind off her sorrows…

"Hey. This is getting out of hand, don't you think?" Jet asked, rising to his feet and stepping up to her. "It's pretty funny, not going to lie, but… you're going to get drunk before even finding a bottle you do like."

"Well… it helps in numbing me to the bad taste, at least," Toph said, reaching for another bottle next. Jet sighed. "If you start being all preachy and judgmental, you can go rat me out to whoever will hear you. If they throw me out of the Fortress, all the better."

He would have never done that… but the fact that Toph might be down for sabotaging the White Lotus to earn herself an exile from their group worried him at once. Would she be reckless enough to antagonize them constantly until one of them – likely Jeong Jeong – had enough and decided to get rid of her in a much more permanent way than whatever she was envisioning?

But he couldn't protect her by watching over her and trying to enforce limits she refused to abide by, especially when she was as upset as she was right now. No… he couldn't hope to help her unless he got on her level, unless he tried to understand what she'd respond to. Unless…

Unless he joined her at her game.

When she pulled up the next bottle, Jet yanked it out of her hands.

"Hey!" Toph hissed… then stopped when Jet drained a few gulps from it himself. "Heh… thirsty all of sudden?"

"We have talked a lot. And it was too tempting after you drank that much of it," Jet decided, with a smug smirk. "Still… this one's not much good, either."

"See? We can't pick any of these, can we?"

"Absolutely not."

And so, he joined her in choosing the perfect bottle… and Toph finally chose a deep, heavy flavor that sank in her chest in the right way, somehow matching her anguish and agony beat by beat. She didn't hesitate to drink most of it herself, only giving Jet a few chances to sip before she took it back, possessively.

They meandered into a corner of the cellar, groggy, deeply affected by the drinks, and Jet couldn't seem to stop smiling, his mind buzzing with entirely surreal thoughts… Toph, too, had joked around, but far more darkly. She had only smiled a few times, and Jet hoped he could make her smile more often. Someone like her, so relentless and wild, was bound to be a riot, coming up with wild ideas and talking about completely crazy things, once she was well and truly drunk…

His expectations, however, were entirely subverted when she sobbed.

He watched her in silence at first, his own joy fading. Where he had gained a friend, Toph had lost countless… and he understood. To his own shock, he understood her sorrow, her fury, her hatred, her self-deprecation. He had never felt quite as deeply connected with someone else over two experiences that, on paper, had been widely different… but in reality, might have more elements in common than they ever should have.

He had lost all his friends. His reckless choices, his foolishness, had seen to that. He had been captured for it… then handed over to people whom he had hoped would be better than their first captors, only to wind up becoming a mindless, soulless puppet for the Dai Li and Long Feng. If he had made any choices differently… if he hadn't been so stupid as to destroy that dam, he might have kept his gang, his friends. But he had failed… and because of that, so many people he had cared about had died. Others had vanished, seemingly beyond all help. He only had one person left… Toph had no one.

He didn't know if it was wrong of him to dare offer her any comfort. Even so, he did.

His hand reached out to clasp her shoulder, reeling her carefully towards himself. Toph might have expected something else – she might have even allowed something else to happen, she raised her head towards his even though she was still crying – but he didn't kiss her.

His arms looped around her frame, his hand urging her to lay her head on his shoulder. Her hands gripped his shirt, and she trembled violently before letting out heavy sobs, unrestrained in her grief, careless about the noise she made as she grieved openly, bleeding her heart open as he held her, as he understood her, as he offered her the opportunity to be true to her broken heart. She didn't need to be strong… didn't need to focus on her rage. She could simply cry over helplessness, over frustration… over how deeply she missed her friends. Over how desperately she wished to be with them, to help them, to do something to save them from the dark fate she had never wanted to inflict upon them, whether directly or indirectly…

And so, he had held her that night. She had woken in his arms, her head pounding – his had been no better. On the next day, she had shut down and he hadn't taken too long to understand that she was ashamed of her vulnerabilities. Instead of showing her there was nothing wrong with being vulnerable… he had changed the subject. He had given her something else to focus on, namely, judging the bad training practices of earthbending students in one of the Fortress's courtyards. Even with an ongoing, pounding headache, Toph had enjoyed that particular idea of Jet's far more than she had expected to, mocking and ridiculing the earthbenders shamelessly enough to let them hear her at times – Jet dreaded that they might actually attack her in retaliation for her taunts, but it seemed that Captain Shiju was enforcing enough discipline on his apprentices to prevent that outcome.

Two nights later, it was Toph who dared kiss him, sober. Jet responded in kind. He hadn't known if she wanted that, but he hadn't dared make any moves without knowing if she was ready for it, or if she wanted him at all in the way he wanted her.

Two weeks later, they woke up in bed together for the first time. She had been in a decent mood on the next morning, saying it hadn't been as big a deal as people said it was, laughing off all stiff beliefs about the sanctity and purity of something so primal and simple. Jet had smiled to himself as she rambled on about her realizations, keeping to himself that, while he had certainly enjoyed the primal side of things as much as Toph had, a speck of something else was growing strong inside his heart… something that seemed to bloom fully whenever he gazed upon her smiling face, to find himself thinking yet again that she was impossibly beautiful, and entirely unaware of it.

But he couldn't tell her that. He couldn't do anything that went against her impulsive behavior. He cared too much about her… and he didn't want her to push him away. Perhaps he was a fool for humoring her worst life choices, but he didn't know how to help her. He didn't know if there was anything else he could do without driving her away. He would have gladly taken off with her to see the world, to help her leave this dark place and find a better future for herself… but it seemed that Toph was having fun sabotaging the White Lotus however she could. Complaints had been voiced about her behavior with the training soldiers, as well as over the cellar's chaotic state after several of their drinking nights. The room had been locked safely and guards had been posted there… thus, Toph and Jet had crafted their own secret entrance into the basement, away from the guards, and their next theft sprees had gotten the guards into trouble, next.

They were reckless, careless, unconcerned with consequences… at least, that was how Jet tried to be. Every night he shared with her, however, he'd hold her kindly after she fell asleep, her back against his chest, and he would offer her his warmth while clinging to her with a foolish, helpless need for stability. It wasn't the stability of a home, though, or of a certainty in the future… only the stability of finding someone who understood him, and someone he could understand as well. There was a terribly selfish part of himself that didn't know how he'd handle it once Toph inevitably decided she had outgrown him… thus, he had decided to make the most of every day they might share, in case that moment arrived much sooner than he was ready for.

He had cared about his friends, loved them, even. The Freedom Fighters had been his final attempt to build something lasting between himself and others… Toph was a gamble he wasn't sure why he was making. She was unpredictable, dangerous, volatile when upset… and the truth was that he loved all of those things about her. Something twisted in his gut found them fascinating. Even if he was burned, even if his heart broke… even then, the time he had shared with her was valuable in ways he could hardly express.

Thus, he didn't express it. She didn't need him to.

He had woken up in his room in Ba Sing Se that morning, holding her tightly as she rolled unto herself, sleeping with her head off the pillow. She had showed up last night just as he had been ready to rest before their upcoming voyage… Toph saw to it that he wouldn't rest that much, in the end. She continued to sleep soundly, unperturbed, unaware of Jet's unwillingness to relinquish his embrace around her. He probably should have gotten up, packed his bags, for he had neglected doing it so far… but not just yet. Not while he could relish in these moments, not as rare as they could have been, but rare enough, as of late. Toph's constant work at rebuilding the city, and Jet's injury back in Omashu, had seriously hampered their alone time… and Jet wasn't one to ask if he could simply lie down with her without any intimate action involved. If he so much as dared do that, she'd turn him away at once for being too mushy and sentimental…

So he only did that when she was asleep. When she couldn't tell he was far more invested in her than he had ever meant to be. A part of him wondered if she felt the same way about him… another part of him was convinced he was the only one compromised with any manner of feelings at the moment. Toph's heart was claimed by her cause… by devotion to her friends. Everything she did, she did to help them…

And perhaps that was why, when she woke up that morning, she seemed unsettled right away, and not because of Jet's mushiness.

"You could've gone back to your room," Toph said upon waking up. Jet hummed, a hand resting gently on her hip.

"Forgot you're the one who paid me a visit last night, did you?"

"Ugh. Guess I did that, huh?" she asked, groaning and burying her face in her hands. Jet hummed, hugging her warmly.

"Nothing to be worried or ashamed about," he said. "I would've hoped we could do this at some point on the road anyway… I'm glad we could do it beforehand."

"Just one day beforehand, but sure," Toph said, breathing deeply. "We're… leaving today."

"We are," Jet confirmed. Toph gritted her teeth. "You okay?"

"I'm… fine. I'm fine. I just…" she said, shaking her head before shaking him off, too.

She sat up, breathing out heavily before climbing off the bed to pick up her clothes. Jet eyed her worriedly before rising, too, giving her a hand with her garments.

"You're all packed?" he asked, casually. Toph grunted. "I could go help you after I'm done with my own bags…"

"How come you're not packed either?" Toph asked, skeptical.

"Well, now, I thought you liked my recklessness," Jet smirked. Toph huffed, though it might have been a light laugh, too. "It just slipped my mind, whenever I remembered it, I'd put it off for later, and now it's later. It's no big deal, is it? Not like we have a ton of belongings to begin with…"

"Guess not," Toph admitted, breathing out slowly.

Jet took to helping her dress up in her clothes from the previous night. Toph didn't protest, didn't argue that she wasn't helpless and didn't need his help. For once, she allowed him to pamper her without question… and Jet drew her into his arms once he was done because of that.

"Talk to me if you want to," he whispered. Toph gritted her teeth, burying her face in his chest. "I'll shut up if that's what you need. If you'd rather I'm just your boytoy, I'll be fine with that too. Want me to walk out the door, even if it's my room… I'll do that, too."

"Stop it," Toph said, shaking her head against his chest. "Don't… I don't like being vulnerable, you know I don't. Around you… around anyone."

"Well, the fun part about having a lover…" Jet said, and Toph winced at his usage of the word. "Is that you get to be vulnerable with them. I'm not going to tell anyone about what you share with me… I'm not going to make fun of you. Part of our intimacy entails that level of respect… at least, on my part. Maybe you'd go make fun of me and tell everyone about whatever stupid stuff troubles me…"

"If it's really stupid, I might," Toph said. Jet smiled.

"Is it really stupid, then, in your case?"

She gritted her teeth before shrugging. Jet sighed – no more pushing, then. She'd talk when she was ready…

"You might be the only one who gets it, actually."

Her sudden statement froze him on the spot, just as he wondered how to change the subject to reassure her once again.

"Me?" he asked. Toph gritted her teeth.

"I don't… I don't like going separate ways with him. With all of them," she said. "I know why it has to be done… I'm going to be useless in the North Pole, there's no point in me going too. But I just… I really wish I could be there. I don't know if they need me, but I… the last time I was away from Sokka was because I got dragged away from him, from her, and he nearly got killed while I couldn't do anything to save him. I don't… I don't want that to happen again. I don't want to reach the Slate's island only to hear that… t-that he was killed in battle somehow. I… I'd lose it if that happened. I can't… I can't lose him. She can't lose him. They need each other and I need them, and…"

Jet listened silently, rubbing Toph's back reassuringly before her rambling broke off with a sudden sob. He led her back to the bed, hoisting her on the mattress with him, encouraging her to hug him with full arms and legs, the same way she had after they had shared that full bottle in the Fortress's cellar. Just like that night, she bared herself in ways she seldom wanted to… and just so, he welcomed her with everything he had to offer.

"They're still alive," he whispered, as she sobbed against him. "They're tougher than they know… than anyone knows, I think. Even if it's hard to say goodbye for a while… there's no way Sokka's going to let this be the last time you cross paths."

"I… I know. He's survived so much, but I… I'm feeling that damn helplessness again. I hate it," Toph shook her head, pressing it to his shoulder. "The feeling that, if I'm not there, I… something terrible is going to happen. I don't even know why, I don't get it, I…"

"You're carrying heavy burdens with you. Burdens you haven't figured out yet… much like I haven't figured out most of mine, either," Jet admitted, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "You're allowed to be scared, Toph…"

"I hate it. I don't want to be scared. I want to believe in them… I don't like being like this," she said, sniffing against him.

"Nobody likes feeling scared," Jet said, with a weak smile. "I know that much. Thanks to you, I barely have to worry about it anymore, but… most the choices I made in life were out of fear. Just as you're afraid of losing them… I was afraid of losing my gang. And of losing my parents… and then I lost them all."

Toph gritted her teeth, tightening her hold around him. Jet breathed deeply.

"It looked like life would never continue if they weren't there. And in a way, it didn't after the Freedom Fighters were captured… some of my best friends died, others were captured, and I was drained of all willpower and sense for ages until you saved me. But before that… I was terrified. After you freed me, I was scared too. I didn't know what to do in the future… I was afraid of what I'd find if I tried to track down survivors from the Freedom Fighters. Would they want nothing to do with me? Would they hate me forever? Even so… I had to find them. Even if they resented me, I had to make sure they hadn't been tortured and tormented as I had been. But I never found them, and… and then I wound up here.

"And now I found you, and… I don't want to know what I'd do if I lost you. I don't ever want to imagine… even if I know you and I don't come in a set. When maybe you'll just turn around and ditch me as soon as the war ends…"

"If we're still alive," Toph added. Jet smiled.

"I'm the brittle one. I'm sure you'll make it," he said, softly. Toph snorted. "My point is… it's so difficult to imagine a future without those we care about because we don't want to. But you're lucky, Toph… you're damn lucky that the people you love are strong, resilient and stubborn as they are. That they're as desperate to reunite with each other as you are to make sure they can be together again. And they're lucky to have you too, you know? So damn lucky to have a friend like you. I… I even envy them, a bit. Feels like someone as strong as you could've kept me in check before I made my worst mistakes, had I just known you any sooner…"

"I don't know about that," Toph sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't think I would've cared much… about your cause or your purposes. I just wanted to be free when I was younger. At least… I thought that was all I wanted. But… maybe the freedom I was chasing wasn't what I thought it would be."

She leaned back, simply sitting on his lap now, still sniffing. Jet wiped her tears with his thumb, kissing her brow.

"We'll never know how that would've turned out," he whispered. "But I do know that I feel stronger if I stand with you. I'm sure they feel the same way about you… you're a powerhouse, you know? You're so much stronger than you realize…"

"Only on the outside," Toph whispered. "I wish… I wish I could be as strong as them. Then maybe I… maybe I could keep going without being so scared."

"Toph… those two are bound to be terrified with every moment they spend away from each other," Jet pointed out, matter-of-factly. Toph winced.

"I… I suppose," she said. He cupped her face carefully.

"They're not fearless… especially after everything you told me they went through," Jet said, eyeing her compassionately. "In that sense… you don't have to envy them at all."

"They have a purpose, though… that makes them stronger," Toph whispered.

"You have one too, don't you?" Jet said. Toph breathed deeply. "You'll bring them back to each other. Whatever happens afterwards, you'll sort it out then. But for now… you'll save them, as you always wanted to. Sokka's never going to die to the Fire Lord's forces… Azula will stand strong against everything her father throws at her. I… I couldn't save my friends back when I condemned them. But you? I know you can do it. I know they can, too. And I'll be here to remind you of how strong you are if you ever forget it…"

"It's not like I forget it, it's just…" Toph said, gritting her teeth. "I hate not being there. I'll hate wondering if… if they're okay, all the damn time."

"Well… I'll make sure we keep in touch with Ba Sing Se," Jet said, patting her thigh gently. "They'll be the ones in charge of sharing what's going on with everyone, so… I'll make them tell us what's happening with the northern group as soon as possible."

"Alright… alright," Toph said, swallowing hard and dropping her brow against his.

Jet set his hands on her hips, falling silent just as she did. Her choice to simply nestle in place with him was already a way to accept her vulnerability, to let herself find comfort in someone else rather than only hiding in her own strength and determination to reassure herself of her independence. Jet didn't doubt that she didn't truly need him… but perhaps she wanted someone to simply stand by her in good and bad moments alike, and he certainly was willing to do just that. Reading her needs thoroughly, navigating them carefully, had become a must in this relationship… so he knew, now, not to push his luck. Not to say anything unwelcome, not to do anything reckless, and to allow her to choose the next step on her own terms.

Once she was ready, Toph didn't climb off him and walked away. Her hands cupped his face, thumbs brushing over his cheekbones, gliding slowly over his face. He closed his eyes, allowing her to see him in her own way… then, she pressed her lips to his.

It was the most tender kiss she had ever given him. While he wouldn't jump to conclusions about understanding the feelings she poured into it, he couldn't help but feel gratitude in it, and he responded to it with earnest acceptance. Even once the kiss broke, she didn't pull back immediately.

"Let's… let's go, then," she said, her voice charged with more strength and certainty than before. Jet smiled and nodded.

"Help me pack… or go do it yourself, and I'll meet you outside?" he suggested. Toph huffed.

"You think we're joined at the hip or something?" she asked, finally pushing herself off him. Jet chuckled, shrugging.

"We are whatever you want us to be," he said, simply. Toph smiled, reaching out again to caress his face… and she finished it off by messing his unruly hair.

"Guess we're leaders of an army, then," she said, breathing deeply. "And whatever's coming… we're going to face it, and we're going to win."

Jet nodded, firmly. Toph hadn't always felt strongly about the war, about these conflicts, for she was so centered on her personal life that she had disregarded most anything that didn't affect her directly… but the years had changed her. The bonds she had built had opened her heart and now, she found strength in those connections rather than in absolute individuality and independence. She wasn't desperate to find a place to belong in… but she knew she had one among her friends, with Jet, if she wanted to claim it.

She would protect that place. She would protect each one of them. She no longer needed to prove her strength and show everyone that she could hold her own when they underestimated her: that strength was part of her, of every new choice she made, and today she chose to walk out of that room, head held high, her aching heart ready to confront the next stage of the war she was headed towards.

Within half an hour, she had packed her bags. Upon returning to Jet's room, he was finished with his own. The breakfast courses had almost run out entirely by the time they arrived at the dining hall, and they ate quickly before marching together, side by side, to the Palace's front courtyard.

Even before climbing down the stairs, Toph's heart clenched upon feeling the presence of her friends awaiting her below. Jet dared reach out to clasp her shoulder reassuringly, and Toph breathed deeply before climbing down, without rejecting his display of support.

It was strange how different they were, and yet how alike she found them to be at times. Jet didn't talk about his pain, about his losses, nearly as often as he likely thought about them. He didn't bring them up unless he hoped his experiences could help her, too… also, to prove to her that she wasn't at fault for the horrors that had befallen Sokka and Azula. Toph suspected he was right to think so… though often she struggled to believe it. Had she won against Sokka on that day, had she stopped Iroh from leaving when he did, had she been any less wounded… there were so many variables that might have changed the course of fate, and she didn't doubt that she could have prevented this catastrophic outcome if only she had made different choices.

Even so… the past was undeniable. The passage of time was relentless. If she meant to make the most of the present to craft a better future, she had to push the past aside and march ahead, her heart wide open as she brandished her power for the right reasons, as she had for the past months.

"Got us a full farewell crew to send us off, huh?" Toph asked, tightening her grip on her bag as she stopped before her friends, at the end of the long staircase.

"Not like you could hope to get away without saying goodbye," Katara smiled, stepping up to her. "You have everything you'll need?"

"I don't know about you, but I can't forget to pack my bending or my brains, so yeah, I think I'm all set," Toph smirked. Katara chuckled and shrugged.

"Just making sure," she said. "I bet you'll be fine, anyway, but…"

"Heh, such a worrywart…" Toph said, her voice ringing with a fondness that she tempered by flinging a fist in Katara's direction. The waterbender smiled as Toph stopped it right in position for her to respond to it with her own.

"There," she said. Toph snickered in response.

"You guys had better not get into trouble either," she said, raising a threatening finger towards the others who had come to see her off. She stopped at Aang, though, brow furrowed. "And you! Make sure you still practice your forms even if you can't bend earth when you're up there. Okay?"

"I will, I will," Aang smiled awkwardly, nodding promptly. "I don't think I'll be anywhere near as good as you when we meet again, but… I'll do my best not to embarrass you, Sifu Toph."

"Ugh, failed that promise as soon as you made it," Toph shook her head, prompting Aang to pout as Katara patted his shoulder reassuringly.

Next, she stopped at Zuko. He sighed, waiting for her to say something… while she did the same. He raised an eyebrow before long.

"Okay? Where's the reminder of what an idiot I am?" he asked. Toph smiled.

"If you already knew I'd call you an idiot, guess I don't need to do it too urgently," she said. "I still think you fucked up, you know I do, but… maybe I'm wrong. For once."

"Just the one time?" Zuko asked. Toph smirked.

"Just the one time," she decided. Zuko shook his head but smiled too.

"Be careful, alright?" he said: he reached to pat her shoulder, only to receive a punch to the chest in response.

"You too. Keep all these crazy people safe by not making lousy deals with weird old farts, alright?" Toph said. Zuko smiled and shrugged.

"I'll try," was all he promised, and Toph smiled.

Next, she turned towards Kino: the nervous young man stood before her with uncertainty, and Toph raised an eyebrow judgmentally in his direction.

"Chatterbox?" she called him. He nodded promptly.

"I… I am ready to hear whatever you have to say," he said.

"Are you?"

"Absolutely!"

"Then have a nice trip with these dorks and talk their ears off the whole time," Toph finished: Kino winced before smiling in disbelief at her sudden request.

"That's… that's it?"

"Not my fault that you haven't given me that much to complain about. I mean, you talk too much, so it's better if you do it when you're not around me," Toph smirked, punching his shoulder too.

"Oh… okay then!" Kino smiled brightly, delighted to know he didn't appear to annoy Toph as much as Zuko or Aang did.

Naturally, the most emotional of farewells was left for last. Sokka smiled fondly at Toph as she stopped before him, and as much as she had tried to build up a façade of confidence with the others, it crumbled easily now as she stood with the closest of her friends among them.

"Making a face like that… one would think you expect I'll lead this lot astray," Sokka teased her. Toph huffed. "Are you worried about us?"

"Worried… is one word," Toph said. "You're going with a very small group, you know? And I… I know I'd be no use there. I don't want to travel on Appa, either, so… I'd just get in the way. I'm more helpful in Gaoling. But…"

"You'd rather be around to make sure I don't get myself or any of us killed, huh?" Sokka said, breathing deeply. "Well… I'd love to do the same for you and Jet, really, but…"

"Pfft, I won't get us killed," Toph said, matter-of-factly. Sokka chuckled. "You, though…"

"I'd take offense to that if I weren't used to being entirely underestimated and disrespected by a certain Dirt Worm," Sokka said, poking her forehead with his fingertips. Toph smirked. "You be careful too, alright?"

"I… I will be," Toph said, clasping his hand gently.

"Oh, by the way… if you happen to bump into Kuan while you're in Gaoling, feel free to kick his ass for the both of us, too," Sokka said. Toph raised an eyebrow.

"For you and Spicy? Huh. I take it that he was a piece of shit at you guys…"

"Since early on, yep," Sokka said. Toph smirked.

"I'll try to arrange that," she said. "Though… the next time we meet? We… we will set her free. And then you two can go kick all the asses you need to, together. As you always did."

Sokka's heart seemed to burn with a fierce fire upon hearing Toph's resolve, even if that had been his intent all along. Toph seemed vulnerable, more than expected… but her words certainly hit him deeply as he allowed himself to believe them. As he allowed himself to reach for the hope he clung to with every ounce of his soul… the hope that he and Azula would stand side by side once more. That the day when they'd do so was closer with every new day that passed.

He nodded firmly before wrapping Toph in a firm embrace. She gritted her teeth, unsure of why she felt like crying… unsure of why she dreaded the next battles as much as she did. She hated these fears… she wanted to protect them. She wanted to make sure her friends would survive…

The best way to do that, then, would be by marching south and succeeding at liberating Gaoling. Once she did, she'd be able to rush back north should she be needed… she might even be down for riding those hellish balloons if need be. She'd come at once… and she'd stand resolute and strong, no longer fighting for herself… fighting, instead, for everyone she loved.

She clapped Sokka's back before they broke off the hug. She offered him a sad smile, a tear spilling down her cheek as she threw a fist at him…

He caught it midway, just as she had known he would.

"For Spicy," she whispered, once more. Sokka nodded, eyes gleaming with drive and purpose.

"For Azula."

With that, Toph nodded before marching off, her strides firm and strong. Behind her, Jet had exchanged far more neutered farewells with the others, and he clapped Sokka's shoulder with a hand before following Toph.

"Good luck out there," he told Sokka, who smiled and nodded.

"You too. Take care of her," he said. Jet snorted.

"She's going to be the one taking care of me…"

"Damn right I will be!" Toph exclaimed, even if she had already marched off. Sokka laughed as Jet gave chase after her, carrying his bags firmly on his shoulders.

A few others watched them as they marched to the Palace doors – Anorak had been by the courtyard as well, and he bowed his head respectfully towards Toph. She raised a hand in farewell in his direction, and he smiled. Up in one of the buildings, Ursa sighed at the sight of the first departure among her son's friends… and a few levels down, Iroh closed his eyes as Toph marched past the gates. Knowing himself unforgiven and unwelcome in her presence, he still allowed himself to elevate a prayer for the legendary earthbender's safety before returning to his tasks of the day.

Thus, the first departure took place as Toph marched across Ba Sing Se, riding the trains once she reached the Middle Ring, all the way to the outskirts of the Outer Wall, where the forces under her command, as well as Colonel Shiju and General Fong's, had been set to gather. From there, they would be climbing aboard the ferries of the waystation that now was under firm control of the Gladiator army. Once everyone was across, their journey would continue southwards, back through the route they had established for trade's sake, with Omashu as their first destination.

Their group wasn't the only one due to leave the city on that week. Within a few more days, the team headed to the Northern Water Tribe would be furnished with supplies and sufficient hot-air balloons for their journey, once the Mechanist finished upgrading the last of the balloons in order to make them more secure. Some of the better pilots among the former refugees chose to travel along with them, too, in order to ensure the Gladiator's team would travel as effectively as possible to their destination: this way, their firebending troops would be freer to strike and attack as needed, should they engage in any manner of aerial combat, which Sokka suspected might be necessary eventually, provided Ozai sent his airborne forces to the Northern Water Tribe.

The guards wouldn't be the only firebenders who would travel along with them, however: Zuko's firebenders, those under his command during Ba Sing Se's liberation, had decided to follow the Exiled Prince into this venture as well. Thus, their small force had increased in size by around forty soldiers, which Sokka hoped would prove useful in the challenges they might face in the north. With three firebenders and two operators riding on each hot-air balloon, preparations for their journey north would proceed smoothly.

The Gladiator was scarce across the remaining days of that week, ever keeping himself so busy that he hardly had time to rest properly. Where he wasn't organizing his party for the Northern Water Tribe, he would be debating possibilities and strategizing with those who would march to the west. By then, they had decided that final group would set out within two more weeks, beginning a march across the northern Earth Kingdom that would lead them to Pohuai Stronghold, first, and to Yu Dao and Garsai, in the end. If all their plans paid off, if Ozai's forces failed to build a strong enough defense… the Earth Kingdom would have been fully liberated, and the Northern Water Tribe freed from a ten-year-siege, in the space of less than six months.

In all those blurs, in all the rushing sensations of vertigo upon each new step taken, he still had the time to reach out to her with his heart, to hold her necklace before he turned in to sleep. He had started doing that in the South Pole… by now, though, he didn't stop simply at that. By now, he spoke in the hopes that one day she might hear him, understand him, knowing that he was aware of the strife and anguish she had faced, and that he held none of her choices against her…

"I'm leaving tomorrow," he whispered, holding the necklace against his chest. "Somehow… after something as big as Ba Sing Se, this feels bigger still. I want to believe I can do this, that I'll be able to help the Northern Water Tribe before your father's forces strike. It's just… hard, you know? Everything's always harder without you. If you were here… oh, I know you'd have found a faster, smoother solution for everything than whatever I can think of. If anything… you would've figured this out without having to fight a major war like this, I bet. We had plans, but… maybe they were too wishful, weren't they? Even if we worked within the system… it would've taken too long to put a stop to your father's madness. I hope… I hope you won't hate me for going about things differently. Though I wouldn't be too surprised, if you did…"

He eyed the necklace mournfully again – conflict between the two of them had been frequent and inevitable since they'd first met. Somehow, though, he had grown to dread her disapproval and outrage even more these days than he had in the years he had spent by her side. Perhaps it was because of her absence… because the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her from a distance. Yet a needling, prickling feeling nudged at him, suggesting that was exactly what he'd done…

"Wait for me," Sokka whispered, gritting his teeth. "I know it's… it's awful. I know you and Hotaru won't have it easy, being away from you has been agony for all these months, but… I'm on my way. I love you both. Just wait a little longer… and I'll be with the two of you as soon as I'm able. I swear it."

Such moments of quiet intimacy, of reaching out with his heart to someone who might or might not be listening, eased his troubled heart at times, and at others, it stirred that trouble even further. On that particular night, though, Sokka simply clung to the necklace and waited for sleep to claim him: a new, dangerous journey would begin on the very next day… another journey he needed to overcome in order to reunite with Azula, as he always meant to.

---

Zuko breathed out slowly as he marched through the Palace's corridors. One thing he'd definitely be glad to leave behind upon departing to the North Pole would be the intrigues and the complicated relationships between people who, as far as he could tell, ought to be allies. As chaotic as things could be, at least he could trust his friends weren't going to stab him in the back somehow once they were on their way to the north – and as much as some people had assumed he had been up to the same thing, Zuko's choice to join the White Lotus had never been meant to be a betrayal of his leader. A deep fear stung at him about what might happen in Ba Sing Se, however, once he wasn't around to make sure his mother and uncle would be safe and sound, whether from other people or each other.

They would be leaving on that morning, but Iroh had left him a note asking to see him beforehand, in private. Whatever Iroh was up to, Zuko would have expected he could do it without hiding it from the others… but at the same time, if Iroh was about to give him any warnings, he had to listen to them. It would make sense for the man to fear for his nephew's life, for the integrity of the mission and the bulk of the White Lotus's army… just as it might be possible for Iroh to be up to some devious manipulation that Zuko was barely scratching the surface of.

Either way, Zuko breathed deeply before knocking on Iroh's door.

"Uncle?" he called. After a few moments, the door opened.

"Zuko. I'm glad you could come," Iroh said. His smile was nervous, though melancholic. "Come in, come in. I won't take too much of your time, I know you must make haste…"

"We'll be taking off in less than an hour, Sokka wanted us to be ready early. He's going to tell me off for not being as punctual as Azula, I'm sure…" Zuko said, shaking his head as he entered the room.

"Then all the more reason for me to be brief," Iroh smiled sadly, stepping up to a small table in the bedroom.

Zuko raised an eyebrow as his uncle picked up a delicate ornament from the table. It looked familiar, and yet Zuko knew he had never seen that specific design of a royal hairpiece in all his life.

"What's…?" he asked. Iroh breathed deeply.

"This… is Avatar Roku's hairpiece."

Zuko frowned. He stared at it intently, unable to shake off the feeling that Iroh wasn't being fully honest: the hairpiece had a distinct royal appearance that implied it hadn't simply been Roku's belonging…

"You don't expect me to give it to Aang, do you?" Zuko tested his uncle. "As you've noticed… he doesn't exactly have hair. Not as of late, anyway."

"I… oh, no," Iroh laughed, shaking his head. "I meant for you to have it, Zuko. For… well, it's more than simply Roku's hairpiece. Long ago, when our common ancestor had yet to commit his heinous crimes against the world, against harmony and balance, it seems Sozin gifted Roku his Crown Prince hairpiece. According to ancient documents, written by Sozin himself, he granted him this gift just before his closest friend began his Avatar training. It seems quite ironic that this hairpiece would eventually be a suitable heirloom, then… for both sides of your family."

"An inheritance from my mother's side, and my father's side, all at once?" Zuko said – he gave no sign of excitement or pride upon speaking those words, though.

"I… I realize your family is complicated, Zuko. There is darkness in it… just as there is light," Iroh said. "And nothing is quite as clear-cut as we would wish. Sozin and Roku… they were both extraordinarily powerful men, one of whom was an agent of war, the other of peace. One believed in supremacy, the other in balance and equality. You, however…"

"I choose my own beliefs," Zuko said, startling Iroh. "I don't even doubt that there's nothing worth praising Sozin for. I resent him, if anything. The more I've distanced myself from my former life as my father's dutiful, mindless son, the more I realize the harm that has come into this family since countless generations before us. Maybe Sozin wasn't even the first, I don't know if maybe his father, or his grandfather, pushed him into becoming the devastating monster he became… but I also know that Roku was ineffective at stopping him."

Iroh winced. Zuko's gaze softened, and he breathed out slowly.

"I don't know what you're hoping to tell me, Uncle," he said. "But I've decided that my family's past won't determine my future. Roku may have had the right beliefs, and just the wrong way of going about them. My mother… yes, she wasn't the innocent victim I always imagined she would be. But neither were you. My father may be a monster of your father's making… which doesn't mean it's any less urgent for us to stop him. The legacy of my family is not one I need to carry forward… I need to change it, to break us free from the chains that hold us down, resenting each other for whatever reasons we do, and find a way forward that will finally put a stop to all those generations of cruelty."

"You… you are seeing the world with a clarity that is truly breathtaking, Zuko," Iroh said, eyes tearful, a small smile on his face. Zuko blinked blankly. "It is quite… quite wonderful to find that these days, I may be the one learning more from you than you from me."

"I… I wouldn't say that, Uncle," Zuko said, with an awkward smile. Iroh chuckled, shaking his head.

"I certainly would," he said, and he surprised Zuko by offering him the hairpiece, all the same. "Perhaps this hairpiece deserves a third meaning, then. Just as you can change the legacy of two families… you may be able to change the meaning of this hairpiece once more. May it be the symbol of a reformer… of a man of pure, incorruptible values and beliefs."

"You want it to mean that… rather than being the symbol of the next ruler of the Fire Nation?" Zuko asked, tentatively – he had suspected Iroh might want the hairpiece to return to its original meaning, but the old man simply nodded.

"You can write your own story… your own narrative, your own legacy. You've already proven to be far better than so many of us who have hoped to shape you…" Iroh said, reaching to clasp Zuko's hand. "And I can't wait to see how much more deeply you'll change and affect this world as you and your friends bring the true balance it has always needed and deserved. I… I believe in you, Zuko. I'll miss you. I'll meditate and pray for your safety every day until I can see you again. Until you can come back, or I… or I can go to you, or…"

Zuko cut him off then, taking the hairpiece from Iroh's grip before hugging him tightly. Iroh's smiles melted into tears as he clung to Zuko tightly… to the young man who was the only person left who saw any worth in him, who understood his virtues as well as his failings, and still had enough kindness in his heart to overlook the latter, without being blinded to the truth by emotional attachment.

He didn't know it… he might never know it, but Iroh remained convinced that he had never known a man more honorable than his beloved nephew.

"I love you, Zuko," Iroh whispered. Zuko smiled, nodding.

"I love you too, Uncle. I'll miss you too. Just… stay out of trouble, alright?" Zuko said, pulling back with some tears in his eyes as well. Iroh swallowed and nodded.

"I'll make sure I do, Zuko. I won't give you more reasons to worry," he reassured him, squeezing Zuko's hand gently one more time. "W-well, then. I'll go watch you and your friends when you take off, but go get your luggage too. Go on…"

Zuko smiled kindly at him one more time: long ago, Zuko had wanted to take up a journey that went against what Iroh had wanted for him. Convincing him to let go back then hadn't been easy, but doing it today had been much smoother, even though Iroh seemed unwilling to part ways with him. Perhaps the old man had changed in more ways than he ever had recognized…

Zuko nodded at him before marching out of the room: he glanced at the hairpiece in his hand once more, at the hairpin that crossed its two decorative layers… he couldn't help but smile sadly, guessing his hair might soon grow out enough for him to wear it, but until then…

Until then, he'd simply carry it with him. He slipped it into his pocket, planning on tucking it with the rest of his bags once he reached his room. Whatever role that hairpiece might play in the future, if it played any whatsoever, he'd make sure to keep it safe. The idea of forging a new history, a new legacy for it, was surprisingly appealing.

Within around ten more minutes, Zuko had everything he needed in his packs. He marched firmly through Ba Sing Se's Palace, carrying his bags, his weapons, and as much determination as he could muster while appreciating the city they had liberated and that they would be leaving, next. This had been his very first time in Ba Sing Se… and a part of him hoped to bring his family here again, once the war was well and truly over. He suspected Suki would enjoy seeing the magnificent capital of the Earth Kingdom for herself… hopefully Mari and Zi would be fascinated, too, by a world so much larger than any they had ever known.

Smiling to himself at such thoughts, he stepped across one of the building's exits, entering the large courtyard that had witnessed the chaotic battle of the bonfires merely a week earlier. The signs of charred stone were nowhere to be found, concealed underneath the rows of hot-air balloons, stationed in place and preparing to take off.

"There you are," Aang smiled as he waved at Zuko: Appa, too, stood by the hot-air balloons with Momo on his saddle, and he groaned a greeting at the Prince. "Ready?"

"Well…" Zuko said, eyes flickering towards the rest of the people gathered at the location. One, naturally, stood out to him. "After I'm done saying goodbye, yeah."

"Want to travel on Appa with us, or do you want to be with your team?" Aang asked.

Zuko frowned: his firebenders would be scattered among the eighteen hot-air balloons anyway. He eyed the soldiers, some of whom were already boarding their vessels, before turning towards Aang anew.

"If you don't mind… I think I'll stick with the lot of you until you drive me crazy," he said, with a slight smirk. Aang grinned.

"You like it when we drive you crazy. Admit it!" he exclaimed. Zuko smiled, shaking his head before beginning to drop off his luggage, which Aang helpfully raised unto Appa's saddle.

Within the next few minutes, all hot-air balloons were ready for take-off: the Mechanist himself was present, along with his son and many others who meant to see Sokka off to his next journey. The Gladiator, naturally, had been fussing about the hot-air balloons, making sure everyone was ready for take-off, but now that everything appeared to be well under control, it was time for him to be sent off by the White Lotus's leaders: Jeong Jeong, Piandao and Iroh stood by the fleet and Sokka stepped up to them, head held high.

Iroh smiled kindly at Zuko, nodding in his direction, and Zuko nodded back… though his feet guided him towards one other onlooker, who had kept her distance from the rest of the White Lotus leaders.

"Mom…" Zuko spoke softly, stopping before her: strangely, she seemed even more torn up about seeing him off this time than she had been in Omashu.

"I… I'm glad I could be here to send you off," she said, with uncertainty. "But the truth is it only seems to have become more difficult than before, my dear. I… I would much rather you didn't have to do this. Selfishly, I… I'd rather you stayed here. But…"

"I won't be able to change things for the better if I don't step up and do something, Mom," Zuko said, stepping closer and cupping Ursa's face in a hand, delicately. Ursa gritted her teeth, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry… if things weren't dangerous, I'd be happy to bring you with me, too. But this is going to be a complicated operation, so…"

"I know, I know. I'm just being selfish. I am," Ursa said, gritting her teeth and raising her gaze at Zuko. "I just… I wish I could've talked so much more with you. That I could've… c-could've explained more than I…"

"Mom… you explained enough," Zuko said: a shadow crossed his features, haunted by the dark truths she had revealed to him. Ursa winced. "You don't have to be so sorry… you don't have to be so insecure. You saved my life, right? You did…"

"I… I did, b-but Zuko…"

"Then I have to make sure your sacrifices are worth it," Zuko said. Ursa's eyes widened. "This life that you ensured I could keep… I'll use it to save as many people from my father, from the Fire Nation, as I can."

"I… I know, but that's… that's not all there is to it, Zuko," Ursa said, gritting her teeth. "I don't know how to say this, not without causing more trouble than I'm worth, but it's only…"

"What?" Zuko frowned. It took him a moment to judge his mother's silences for what they were… and his frown grew heavier. "You want me to… what, show him mercy? Sympathy?"

"I… I just don't want you to make the same mistakes he did," Ursa said, shivering violently. "Zuko, I don't want you to ever…"

"To ever become like my father?" Zuko whispered. Ursa swallowed and nodded.

He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around his mother delicately. She gripped him desperately, burying her face in his shoulder.

"I don't think I'll ever become anything like him… as long as I continue to be the man you taught me to be. As long as I don't forget who I am… just as you told me not to," Zuko whispered. Ursa sobbed against him, nodding. "I fight for those I love. I fight for you, for Suki, for Mari and Zi… for Azula, too."

Ursa's legs almost gave way upon hearing those words. Zuko ensured to help her keep her grip, and he smiled as he pulled back. Hope bloomed in his mother's gaze as Zuko brushed her tears away with his thumb.

"I love you, Mom," he said. "And this… this will be the last time you'll send me off to war. Because the next time we meet… the world will be free, for good. I swear it."

Ursa's heart clenched upon hearing those words, as dark and ominous thoughts rose in her mind: if they succeeded, would it even make sense for her to still be around? To see Zuko, to meet with him and his family…? Would she ever be worthy of such kindness?

"I…" she said, swallowing hard before reaching up to hug him again. Zuko responded in kind. "I'm so sorry for everything… for all my mistakes, for all the times I caused you pain without my awareness. I'm sorry… that I had to leave without you and your sister. That I didn't understand who your father was…"

"Mom…"

"I'm sorry I couldn't know of you, of where you were, when you needed me the most," Ursa sobbed, tightening her grip around him. "I could have been with you… while you were at sea, I could have been with you. I wish I had been… I wish I could have been, but I failed you, and I failed your father and sister too…"

"You've done more to save me, to keep me alive, than anyone else ever has," Zuko said, firmly. Ursa shuddered. "Don't say you've failed me… for no one has given me as much as you did. I owe you… I owe you everything I am."

"No, love… you don't. You're… you're so much more than the man I ever hoped you could be," Ursa said, pulling back with a tearful smile. "I wish I could have been better, I do wish… b-but there's no point anymore in bemoaning the past this way. So I… I'll send you off. I'll wish you good luck… and that you'll return soon, so that I may meet your family as soon as possible. As… as you said you wished me to… right?"

Zuko's smile was more genuine now as he nodded promptly. Ursa's heart eased slightly at his reaction, and she pulled him near her to press a gentle kiss to his brow. Zuko closed his eyes, relishing in his mother's care before leaning back… and a gentle, genuine peace spread upon his face as he did.

"I'll see you soon," Zuko whispered. "Goodbye, Mom."

He squeezed her hand gently, one last time, before turning towards Appa: Katara, Kino and Aang already sat aboard, watching as Sokka and Zuko offered their final farewells. Zuko waved at Iroh, too, and the old man smiled and returned the gesture before focusing, once more, on the conversations between Sokka and the other White Lotus leaders.

"You have the letter safe and sound, then?" Jeong Jeong asked. Sokka nodded.

"Yours, yeah. Still waiting on Anorak's," Sokka said, without a smidge of shame. Jeong Jeong betrayed no displeasure upon hearing those words. "You said this Master Pakku is one of the top officers of Chief Arnook's administration… I'll make sure to ask for him as soon as we arrive."

"Ensure that you do," Jeong Jeong said.

"Your group will be taking off in two weeks, as we discussed?" Sokka confirmed. Jeong Jeong nodded.

"We shall ensure to send a message when we depart," Jeong Jeong said. "Or, rather, Master Piandao will inform you of it when we do."

Piandao nodded at Sokka, who smiled a little at him. The grin waned quickly as Sokka stepped back, eyeing Iroh skeptically.

"I'll hope all of you handle your duties and tasks properly," Sokka said. Iroh met his gaze, nodding in response to his words. "Guide Ba Sing Se's potential leaders into finding a solution to settle on the governing system the city will be ruled by, going forward. The rest of us will be marching to the Fire Nation after the next immediate battles are settled… but as we've discussed, you two will be staying in Ba Sing Se to ensure the city won't crumble, and that it will be defended in case Ozai somehow manages to stage any attacks against it. We don't know what he's capable of, let alone with those airships with explosive gas…"

"We will make sure to keep patrols on duty across the territories we already control in the Earth Kingdom. If there were any sign of trouble, we'll learn of it on time and react accordingly," Piandao said, nodding at Sokka. "Don't worry anymore about Ba Sing Se. You have a lot to focus on, a much larger task ahead of you… don't distract yourself from your ultimate goal. Lead your forces as you have thus far… inspire countless others to join your ranks, too. Show the strength we've seen dwells inside you… and it won't be long before Fire Lord Ozai begs for mercy at your feet, knowing himself no match for a true warrior like you."

Sokka smiled – he might have dismissed the compliments, but the idea of finally defeating Ozai stole his focus right away.

"Nothing I say… can ever suffice," Iroh said. Sokka shot him a glare for those words. "But I do hope, as I have since you came to us, that your ventures will succeed, General Sokka. Whatever you require of us, we shall be ready to provide at once. May you find victory… may you bring back balance, General Sokka."

"I'll certainly try… though I won't be doing that last thing on my own," Sokka said.

Iroh gritted his teeth: he knew all too well that Sokka wasn't referring to his multicultural group of friends when he offered him that answer, even if it was a potential meaning he could have impressed unto his words. Iroh had escaped the consequences of his actions for a long time… he wouldn't anymore, once Azula was free. That was what Sokka meant to make clear to him… and Iroh breathed deeply as he nodded in acknowledgement.

"Whatever you require. Whatever is just," Iroh said. Sokka nodded.

"Then… good luck, to all of you," Sokka said, eyes flittering over each of the White Lotus leaders. "We have a common goal… and that's what brought all of us together. We're charging against the Fire Nation this year, come what may: let's build each other up to that end, so that we're stronger than ever once the moment to strike finally arrives."

"We shall be ready when the time comes. All of us," Jeong Jeong said. "I wish you victory and success, General Sokka. We shall await tidings from the north eagerly."

Thus, the three Fire Nation men watched as the strong Water Tribe warrior, the least likely leader, the least likely factor in changing the war for the better, stepped away from them, his head held high, his weaponry draped over his armor, his eyes glistening with drive and determination. However complicated as any of their bonds might be… on that day, and on those that would follow, all four of them would have their sights and hopes set on victory, regardless of the frequent conflicts and clashes between them. In a mission as crucial, as important for their world's salvation as the end of this war, no amount of vitriol and hostility could mean a thing...

Never before had anyone stood a chance against the war machinery of the Fire Nation. Never before had a Fire Lord confronted someone who could terrorize him, daunt him, force him into retreats the way Sokka had. The strength on those shoulders was far greater than the Gladiator himself knew… for he carried the hopes of an entire world on them, and it seemed their weight couldn't break him, just as nothing else ever had.

He didn't take off right away, though: another onlooker smiled at him, offering him a tight scroll once Sokka approached him.

"Sorry it took me a while to compose it, but… thank you for offering to deliver that letter," Anorak said. Sokka smiled earnestly at Anorak, taking the scroll in his hands.

"No problem. I'll make sure to ask around who's Anorak's family…" he said. Anorak chuckled, shaking his head.

"My parents and my brother shouldn't be too difficult to track down, but I'm sure Master Pakku will be far more helpful to you with that than I can be with just descriptions and names. You have too much on your mind as it is for me to make you memorize three people you aren't likely to remember," Anorak said, simply. Sokka huffed.

"My memory's not that bad, I'll have you know…" he said. Anorak chuckled.

"Well, if that's the case, get going because… I'm sure you remember that the sooner you're out of here, the better for the war cause, right?"

Sokka smiled… but he extended a hand at Anorak before leaving. The waterbender smiled, clasping his forearm firmly.

"I'm sure we'll have other chances to talk about a lot of things, once we reunite after our missions are done," Sokka said. "But… I'm really glad you turned out to not be anything like what I imagined you'd be like when we first met, Anorak."

"Honestly? I used to be exactly what you thought I was, back then. It's your fault entirely that I ended up respecting you, somehow," Anorak smiled. "I… I never really imagined the day would come when I'd meet a southerner, considering how things have been like in this world, let alone that I'd come to think of one as a brother, for more than just the technicality of being from my sister tribe. After all the horror stories I'd heard about you, all the lies and nonsense… I'm really glad you proved all my misconceptions wrong, Sokka. I'm glad… really glad to be your friend."

Sokka smiled, squeezing his forearm before reeling him in for a hug. Anorak returned the embrace, both clapping each other's backs firmly.

"Good luck, Anorak. See you in a few months, I figure," Sokka said. Anorak nodded.

"You too, Sokka. See you."

The Gladiator's heart was lightened by that farewell, relieved to speak with a friend… but that wasn't the only friendly face who had come to see him off: the Mechanist and Teo approached with gentle grins too.

"We won't take much of your time, not at all," the Mechanist said, with a chuckle. "You have to go soon! But still, oh, Sokka… you really have saved our lives. You really have. Should you need anything, and I mean, ANYTHING…!"

"How about that snack hat?" Sokka smiled. The Mechanist froze, and Teo laughed. "No? Still in development?"

"I, uh, shelved the project, but I can get back on it if you need me to!" the Mechanist declared, and Sokka laughed too now.

"Don't worry about it, buddy," he said, clapping his shoulder before offering him the firm farewell by holding his forearm. "Thank you for everything. We would be a lot worse off without you guys, so… thank you."

"We'd definitely be worse off without you, no contest," Teo said, smiling as Sokka offered him his forearm, too. "Thank you for arriving when you did… for looking after us as much as you always have."

"Gladly," Sokka smiled, nodding. "Stay safe, keep working on improving the aircrafts… and I hope that the next time we meet, the world will be free once more."

"The next time… she'll be with you too," Teo said. Sokka's smile softened as he nodded.

"That… that's the hope," he said, earnest and vulnerably, letting go of Teo's arm before bowing his head to the father and son once more. "Take care of each other."

"Take care too, Sokka," said the Mechanist, tenderly. "You… you are a bright star in this world, my friend. I look forward to seeing you shine brighter and brighter still in the coming years. So… keep going. Keep fighting to the end."

Sokka nodded, smiling proudly at them before turning around once more.

The last of his farewells was due next. This one, strangely, might prove the most difficult one as he breathed heavily, stepping up to the lonesome woman, hugging herself after her son had left.

She raised her head towards him, looking surprised, even, that he had chosen to approach her. He offered her a weak smile, and she answered it with a dishonest one of her own, tears in her eyes.

"I'm not very good at this," she admitted. Sokka chuckled. "I simply… oh, I'm simply scared of everything, like the old fool that I am. I just… I really hope you can win. That you can… try, at least, to stay true to what you told me when we only had just met."

"What do you mean, exactly?" Sokka asked. Ursa breathed deeply.

"About… Ozai. About… about his death."

Sokka swallowed hard, all humor fleeing from his countenance. Ursa eyed him remorsefully.

"I won't… won't make unpleasant demands or terrible ones. I understand… it might be the only choice. He might not give you another choice," Ursa whispered. "Feel free to… to use me as a bargaining tool if you think that could work. If…"

"I could never do that to you…"

"No, no, please…" Ursa said, shaking her head. "If it could help… if it could actually change things for the better, think about it. If I can be a way for him to… t-to step down from that throne somehow, please, don't hesitate to do it. For I…"

"Ursa, you don't deserve to be saddled to that bastard forever. I know it's hard to hear it, but…" Sokka said, eyeing her compassionately. Ursa shook her head.

"I don't know what I deserve… but I do know you're a good man. You see into the hearts of people, as you have with mine… as I'm sure you have with Azula's. And what matters most is her freedom, Sokka… what matters most is her survival. Whatever you have to do to achieve that, do it… just as I will be ready to do the same, should I be necessary in playing any part to preserve her life and protect her in the future."

"I… I guess I can promise that, but I don't know if I can reason with him," Sokka said, eyeing Ursa with uncertainty. "I don't expect Ozai to be particularly rational when I come face to face with him, if I even do…"

"I know. I know," Ursa said. "And he might become even more irrational if he convinces himself that you hid me from him or so… when emotions cloud his judgment, no wild leap of logic can ever be too large for him to commit to. Even so… if by some miracle he can be stopped through anything short of his death…"

Sokka breathed deeply, closing his eyes… knowing he had held back with Iroh, whom he despised deeply. Knowing, too, that Ozai merited a hatred and resentment he'd never be able to withhold. If Ozai survived… even if that happened, Sokka would never be able to exist anywhere near him without feeling an unstoppable surge of rage, urging him to hack the bastard's head off.

And yet…

The thought of Azula stilled that fury. The thought that ever stopped him, back when life had been so much simpler… the knowledge that she would be anguished, destroyed, should the man she loved do something as painful, if necessary, as killing her father. She had wanted any other choice, too… in that, she was alarmingly similar to her mother. Even if her heart had changed across the year they'd been apart, there was a chance that Azula would still harbor some misplaced, undeserved affection towards her father… if she did, Sokka's hand would be certain to waver. Inflicting more pain upon her, more reasons for her heart to break? He would never want that. Perhaps Ozai would make it necessary, yes, but if he didn't…

He couldn't keep hurting Azula. She had been hurt far too many times as it was.

His stricken expression, the trembling of his fists, confused Ursa as Sokka breathed deeply and met her gaze earnestly.

"If… if a possibility exists, I'll honor your wishes," he said. Her eyes widened, tears spilling down her cheeks in shocked relief. "Not for his sake… not even for yours, I'm afraid. But…"

"For hers," Ursa said, with a heartfelt, broken smile. "For Azula."

"Always. Everything… for Azula," Sokka said, firmly, eyebrows drawn into an emotional frown as tears bloomed in his eyes as well.

The common ground Azula and Ursa shared… it was terribly reminiscent to the one Sokka and Ursa did, for it had brought him to understand Azula's mother in ways he never imagined he would. As long as Ursa's greatest priority was Azula's survival and wellbeing, the two of them would be able to see eye to eye… to respect each other, finding a deep level of mutual understanding.

"Then… good luck," Ursa said, dabbing at the tears in her eyes. "Good luck, Sokka, and… and please, once you find her, never let her go. Hold her… and show her she will never be alone again."

Sokka nodded, firmly: no one else among those who remained in Ba Sing Se understood his love for Azula the way Ursa did. Most people other than her would simply walk around it, tiptoeing nervously, judging him for it at times, disregarding it as something they could never understand. Only Ursa shared the feelings… only Ursa felt similar devotion and affection for the very woman who had claimed Sokka's heart as thoroughly as she had. He would certainly miss the chance to fall back on someone with whom he wouldn't feel the need to keep his affection for Azula to himself, someone who found that affection to be a great strength rather than a detriment to his cause…

"When she's ready…" Sokka said. "When she wants to do it, I… I'll bring her to you."

Ursa's eyes widened. Her lips parted, as though to reject this offer, but Sokka didn't let her speak.

"I don't know if it will happen right away… I don't know how long it might take," Sokka said. "But… I know the two of you need it. I know… she'll want to get to know you all over again and find out who you are these days. I know it will mean the world to her to learn that her mother was watching over her, praying and wishing to see her, above all else. So… I'll bring her to you when she wants me to. It will be her choice…"

"H-her… hers. Yes. Make it hers. She… she can choose not to, she can, I don't…"

"I don't know if you deserve it or not. I don't know if she'll think she's the one who doesn't…" Sokka cut her off. Ursa gasped.

"She… she deserves a better mother than myself," she said, bluntly. "I barely even have the right to call myself that…"

"Azula once said something along those lines, too," Sokka smiled sadly. "That… you didn't deserve her? But I don't think she meant it the way you did. More like… she believed you were too good for her, too."

"Nonsense…"

"Yep. Nonsense," Sokka smiled. "And it's nonsense on your part, too. Azula will definitely have trouble wrapping her head around this, but I know she'll need this just as much as you will. I know this because I know her better than I know myself. So… we'll meet again. No matter what happens, we will and… and you'll see her. You'll speak with her… you'll tell her everything you needed to. You'll tell her you're sorry for everything you want to apologize for… and you'll have a chance to start over, just as the world will. So… hold on. Stay here… stay strong, and believe in us so that one day, you'll be able to take the rightful place you deserve to occupy in this family."

Ursa trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks as she smiled gently. Sokka smiled too.

"You… are a truly extraordinary man, Sokka of the Water Tribe," Ursa said, earnestly. "That even a broken fool like me… feels hopeful because of you? It's nothing short of a miracle, and yet you've performed it on me more times than I can count. I… I thank the universe every day, in every prayer… for it brought you to my daughter. For you love my daughter… and she loves you, too. I'm grateful… I'll always be grateful for you, Sokka. Thank you."

Sokka smiled warmly, bowing his head towards her.

"Well… thank you for everything, too. I know the future can be complicated still… it might be. But I'm glad I can face it knowing there's people like you who believe in me with everything they've got," Sokka said. "It's a bad habit, you know? Feeling like I don't want to disappoint other people… but at the same time, that feeling has pushed me against all odds, to fight battles where my victory seemed unattainable. So… I'll just go on and selfishly cling to knowing that you and so many others still believe in me, and I'll draw as much strength as I can from that, so that I can set this world free… so that I can finally save Azula. So… thank you for everything. Thank you… and farewell, Ursa."

She nodded, offering him a tearful smile as Sokka smiled back before turning around, marching towards the hot-air balloon that awaited him. So many eyes followed him, and he certainly felt nothing like the great, heroic leader they thought him to be… but he had to play the part. To keep his head on straight… to lead the charge to the Northern Water Tribe.

Rui Shi stood by the basket's door, waiting to close it after Sokka climbed aboard – he had given Myeung his own emotional farewells earlier, promising countless times that he would be careful, and that he would return with Song as soon as possible. Thus, he understood Sokka's feelings surprisingly well once the Gladiator breathed deeply once the door was closed, emotions running wild in his heart. Rui Shi clapped his back firmly.

"You alright?" he asked.

Sokka nodded, meeting Rui Shi's earnest gaze with his tearful eyes.

"It's time," he said. Rui Shi nodded too. "Let's go! Start ascending!"

Every pilot aboard the balloons obeyed promptly: one of the other firebenders with them on this basket, Tai Wei, helped with pouring fire into the engine, and slowly, the eighteen vehicles began to rise into the sky.

Soon, a fleet of deep blue hot-air balloons, emblazoned with the symbol of the Gladiator Army in white colors, dotted the sky. Gradually, their ascent saw them shrinking from view of those they left behind on the ground… much as the city fell behind, as new winds carried them forward on the new mission they would undertake in order to free their world from Fire Lord Ozai's tyranny.

The Northern Water Tribe awaited them, and Sokka deeply hoped they would arrive before the Fire Lord's weaponized airships made their appearance. Even if they didn't, though… even if Ozai launched everything he had against them, Sokka would lead the charge, as he had thus far. He would fight, to the very ends of their war-torn world, to fulfill his every vow to change this world, to rescue it from Ozai's cruelty… to set Azula free.