Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The next few days pass peacefully, or as peaceful it can get with Zuko and his family staying at the estate.

Toph would never admit it aloud, but she enjoys having the boy’s presence around. They spent many of their days together, with Zuko reading his favourite play-book-thing to Toph when he could and Toph dragging the boy to sneak into the kitchens with her for extra snacks when the cravings hit.

The dunderhead known as Zuko’s father makes for horrible company anytime Toph is forced to be in his presence. Fortunately, it seemed that the man was more focused on the old man than anyone else, and she only ever encountered him during their shared mealtimes with the rest of his family.

Which reminds her of Zuko’s mother. 

She was the quietest of all at these occasions but in the few times where Toph is in her company, it’s usually with someone else in tow to lead the conversation, whether that be Zuko or the old man. There’s a part of her that feels uncomfortable with the woman, and Toph doesn’t want to linger on the reasons as to why.

Perhaps it was partially because of her last notable encounter with her daughter, the prissy princess. 

The incident in the gardens had made Toph uncomfortable enough. Strangely, following the incident where Toph may or may not have lied to Ursa, she hadn’t come across Azula anytime afterwards, nor did the princess continue annoying her as she did in the past by intentionally tripping her or throwing pebbles at her. The two of them have come across each other at the same dining table everyday, but had never been alone since the last pushing duel that they had. 

A part of her found it weird but didn’t question it any further, happy to focus more on playing around with Zuko while she could.

“So you’ll be taking your leave soon?” 

Toph returns back to the present at the sound of the old man’s voice. 

Everyone is having breakfast in the pavilion, with the weather being especially favourable according to everyone else. The air is still as chilly as it normally is, so Toph didn’t really understand the difference between today’s weather and yesterday’s.

She sips quietly at the cup of tea in her hands, her meal for the morning finished only moments ago. 

“Yes, there are many things to address back in the palace. We wouldn’t want to get too comfortable in this estate.” Ozai responds back, his words as grating as his very presence.

Ugh, it is way too early to listen to the annoying dunderhead. His voice alone is ruining her mood. 

She decides to focus on the warmth that permeates from her cup instead, seeping nicely into the skin of her hands. Fortunately, her hands aren’t as cold as they usually are. 

Probably due to Kay dressing her with thicker items, whether that be outer coats atop her shoulders or extra inner layers for more warmth. Toph is forever thankful for the recent change in her garments, despite the comments she receives from everyone else about it. If it keeps the chilliness of the morning air away, she will take it! 

And that includes the ginger tea in her hands that was served today. 

Brought in by Oren, who has been maintaining his volume since the moment their guests had arrived. She honestly misses the yelling and screeching of the possum chicken. At least it was funnier than this stiff and uptight behaviour that the head servant has been maintaining.

She takes another sip, close to dozing off once more.

“Bleh.” 

However, it seems that Zuko does not share her sentiment towards the tea.

“Zuko, don’t make such a face at the dining table.” Ursa scolds lightly, the first thing she’s said since her greetings upon her arrival. The background chatter between the old man and his brother pauses, before Iroh lets out a light laugh.

“Please do not stress, Ursa. I’m sure the kids are getting restless at the dining table with us.” Iroh reassures. “Why don’t you all play outside? A beautiful day like this should be enjoyed.” He suggests heartily, and Toph hears the pushing of Zuko’s chair from beside her.

“Thank you, Uncle!” The boy responds back cheerily, but Toph hears no footsteps pad against the pavilion ground. With the silence alone, Toph feels the weight of Zuko’s expectation fall upon her to join him.

She takes one last sip from her cup before placing the cup down and bowing her head.

“Thank you for the breakfast and tea.” She says politely in a levelled voice.

Pushing herself from the table, Toph hops off the chair and onto the ground. She hears the shuffling of someone approach, before her doupeng is placed upon her shoulders. As the servant fixes the cloak around her, she hears the old man continue to chatter.

“What about you, Princess Azula? Why don’t you join them?” Iroh offers gently.

“No thank you, Uncle. I have no interest in playing around.” The girl responds back steadily, but Toph’s attention is pulled back by the servant before her.

“There you are, my lady. All secure.” The servant confirms softly with a pat to her shoulders. Before Toph can even get her thanks out, her hand is quickly snatched up by warmth before she is pulled out of the pavilion by a strong grip.

“Let’s go, Toph!” Zuko cheers happily. 

She lets out a small yelp as she tries to control her stumbling with the boy’s insistent tugging. They’re somewhere in the garden courtyards but it’s a bit hard for Toph to properly track her steps with Zuko dragging her around.

“Hey, stop rushing me!” She pulls her hand away, giving herself a moment to breathe. “Seriously, where are we even going?” 

“I wanted to show you my firebending!” The boy responds back excitedly. “Dad says we’re going to be leaving soon and I haven’t even been able to show you yet, so ...” Zuko’s words progress to a mumble at the end and Toph recalls the earlier conversation between the old man and his brother.

“Oh ...” She lets out a small noise, not sure how to respond to his words. 

Her mind catches up with what she’s learnt this morning. Toph realises that soon, Zuko and his family would be gone from the estate. Which means that they wouldn’t be able to play together anymore, like they’ve been doing everyday.

“Oh.” She says again, feeling her mood drop even further.

“Um, but don’t be sad though!” Zuko is quick to take up the space that her silence has left. “I’m sure we’ll visit again and when Uncle comes back to the palace, we’ll be able to spend time together everyday again!” He reassures and Toph can hear him shuffling about on the ground below them.

Even with her fuzzy senses being muffled by the shoes on her feet, she is pretty sure that the boy is fiddling his fingers around because of her reaction. A part of her feels a bit embarrassed at her initial reaction.

Toph aims for the boy’s shoulder with a smack.

“Ow!” Zuko cries out. “Why’d you do that?”

“For saying I was sad, I wasn’t.” The boy makes a small grumble at her words, but she chooses to ignore it. “So, where did you want to take me to show your firebending?”

“Oh ... I didn’t think about that.” Zuko admits and an idea comes to her mind.

“I know where to go.” She proclaims proudly.

“Oh!” He makes an impressed noise and Toph revels in the pride building up from such sounds. “Where to?” 

Her toes wiggle against the squeeze of her shoes. Unfortunately, the earth can’t exactly tell her where she stands within the expansive courtyards. The vibrations that barely manage to reach her are dulled by the soles of her shoes, only giving her a smaller periphery of her surroundings. 

That alone does not give her a good idea as to where they are standing, and with how Zuko had been dragging her around wildly before ... 

“Where are we?” She asks quietly, humbled within mere seconds.

The silence from the boy quickly sinks her ego. 

After a bit more stumbling and awkward navigating between the two of them, Toph finally manages to get them to their destination. With her hand in his, she can feel the boy shift about to look around the place.

“Wow, I never even knew this was here!” Zuko remarks, awe clear in his voice. “How did you find this?” 

“It’s a secret.” Toph brushes off casually, thinking back to a certain snail sloth. “Lead me to the stone bench, I’ll sit and you can start doing your sparking, Sparky.” 

“Hey, I can firebend!” Zuko protests but she just tugs at their joined hands.

“I’ll start believing it when I can see it, so the bench?”

“Hmph.” Even with his annoyed sounds, he complies with her words and leads her over to the bench quietly. 

When her hand meets the stone of the bench, Toph lets out a slow breath as her senses become clearer, the lively vibrations clearing up the haze in her mind. She lets go of Zuko’s hand and pulls herself up to the bench, sitting herself comfortably with her palms flat on the stone that is cold to the touch. A strong contrast to the warmth of the boy’s hand that Toph only notices after parting from him. 

Speaking of him ...

“Wait, you can’t even see!” Zuko points out, finally catching up to her previous words.

“You only just got that?” Toph giggles lightly to herself, kicking her dangling feet as the boy crosses his arms heatedly at her laughter. “So, are you going to bend or what?” Toph asks and the earth is happy to share how the boy jumps at her words.

“But ... you can’t see.” He mumbles unsurely, fiddling with his fingers.

“Yeah, that’s how being blind works.” Toph responds back blankly and the boy freezes in his fiddling. “Come on, I can still hear well enough.” She urges, before recalling the last time he tried bending. “And it’ll be better than the first time you tried, Sparky.”

The emphasis on the nickname is enough to remind Zuko of his first attempts, as he stiffens up in a way that makes Toph grin.

“Fine ...” The boy finally relents.

He takes a couple steps away from the bench. Toph straightens herself up once he stops a short distance away from her, his fingers still fiddling around unsurely.

“Um, can you still hear me?” Zuko asks unsurely.

“Loud and clear. So I better hear some loud flames.” Toph proclaims, tapping her hands upon the stone of her seat. And with that contact, the earth shares all that she has been missing in the last couple of days. The servants scurrying about to keep the garden courtyards neater than it has ever been. The guards stomping around the estate in larger groups for extra surveillance.

And the boy before her, trying to control the shakiness in his breath.

Zuko shifts into his starting stance and Toph settles herself on the bench, going through the steps in her mind.

Breath. Shift. Extend. Release.

However, before Toph can even match the first step to his motions, Zuko starts moving through the standard forms.

Breath?

Huh, maybe he took in a breath before Toph could start tracking closely? 

However, as Zuko continues through the standard forms, she quickly gets the answer to her question. While the stances aren’t incorrect, Toph quickly notices his motions to be unsteady. His breathing is almost shallow, and the largest cost of that is his quickening heart rate. 

Toph can feel each pulse travel through the earth and to her palms, racing in a way that can only be blamed on stress.

Then, Zuko finishes with one final kick into the air.

With that kick, Toph hears a short-lived burst of a fire, gone as quickly as it came. However, before she can even speak, a frustrated noise combusts out of Zuko.

“Argh, It’s not meant to look like that ...” He grumbles aloud.

“Look?” Toph repeats out dully and he freezes up in realisation. “Don’t stress yourself, Sparky. It was a joke.” She waves off before continuing. “I heard some fire, but was there something wrong with it?” 

“It’s just ... It’s meant to be bigger, and stronger, and ...” He grows more frustrated with each word, so Toph quickly cuts in before he sends himself into a stressed panic.

“Okay, I think I got the message.” She hums, considering her next words as she swings her hanging feet lightly. “Do it again.” 

“Huh, why?”

“Why not? Weren’t you the one who wanted to show off your firebending?” Toph jabs but the boy only grows more unsure.

“But ...“ 

“Chop, chop, Sparky.” Her insistence is enough to convince the boy out of his hesitation, as he returns back to his starting stance. 

He goes through the motions again, with the same shallow breathing and thus the same results as the consequence. Zuko becomes just as annoyed at the brief ignition of flames, but with his irritation comes the confirmation of Toph’s initial observations.

“How’s your breathing?” She asks, and the boy turns himself to face her at the question.

“My breathing?” Zuko echoes. “What do you mean?” 

“What I said, your breathing. How is it when you’re bending?” 

“Um, it’s ... fine?” He says unsurely and Toph can feel his heart spike a bit at his response. Not a malicious lie, but a lie nonetheless.

“You sure about that?” Toph pushes and she senses the growing pace of his heartrate.

“Well ... I guess, sometimes it gets hard to breathe between forms.” He confesses guiltily. “Only sometimes though!” He emphasises, with another spike in his pulse saying otherwise. However, Toph decides to let him keep the peace of his little lie.

“Do you do breathing exercises?” 

“You mean the ones they teach at the basic level?” Zuko clarifies in a slow beat.

“Yeah, that.” She chirps back. Surely they couldn’t be much different from what the old man makes her do, right?

“Well ... they teach that at the basic level but after that we only focus on stances, movements and attacks according to Sozin’s style.” He explains, his confusion present in the pace of his words.

“Sozin’s style?” Toph echoes out, puzzled by such terminology.

“Yeah?” Zuko responds, just as perplexed by her reaction.

“What does that mean?” 

“It’s Sozin’s style ... Did the colonies not teach you about this?” Zuko asks curiously, and she tenses up at his question. 

Right, the colonies. 

“Whatever!” Toph bursts out instead. “The breathing exercises, are you still doing them?” She redirects the conversation away from herself, and the boy is quick to return back to fiddling with his fingers.

“Umm ...” His lack of response says it all and she sighs.

She couldn’t exactly blame him for not keeping up with it. Toph herself had hated all the still sitting, the breathing, and the meditating that the old man would put her through endlessly. 

After all, who wouldn’t want to go straight to the bending rather than the basics?

“Do them. You gotta make sure you’re breathing properly as you firebend.” She says bluntly. Zuko approaches her where she sits, his pulse back to normal and his breathing steady.

“But ... Azula doesn’t do them.” 

“So? Do you only do things if your sister does?” Toph asks, unimpressed by his response to her advice. “Make up a better excuse if you don’t wanna do them.” 

“It wasn’t an excuse!” Zuko is quick to clarify and Toph hums at his words. 

“Are you going to keep bending or just complain more?” She asks, already moving on as the boy splutters. “When you decide to stop complaining, try to control your breathing as you bend.” 

Toph hears him grumbling to himself as he spins around to return back to where he originally stood.

“How would you even know ...”

Her mouth twitches up into a smile, only finding such complaints soothing to her ears.

After their bending session which had left Zuko more than out of breath, Toph now finds herself sitting on the boy’s bed. Her feet are elevated from the floor below, shoes off and left to the side of the room while she quietly listens to him rustle about. 

“Oh, and I can’t forget this.” The boy mumbles to himself. Something he has been doing for the past a hundred hours. Okay, maybe a hundred is an exaggeration but it felt like it to her.

She lets out a large sigh, and the rustling stops for a moment.

“Toph, are you okay?” Zuko asks, his steps approaching her on the wooden floors.

“I’m fine.” She says with another sigh.

“... Are you sure?” He asks again, his steps stopping before her with his voice close. However, Toph feels herself growing restless at the questions he keeps on asking.

“Yes, I’m just ...”

“Just?” Zuko repeats, and Toph struggles to find the right words.

“I don’t know.” She grumbles, leaning back into the bed. She hits the pillowy comfort of the bed below, but she only feels more discomfort at the sensation. Then, the mattress begins to tilt slightly with the shuffling sounds of Zuko moving up next to her.

“Is it ... cause we’re leaving soon?” Zuko’s soft question makes her tense up.

No, it most definitely isn’t because of that. It isn’t. 

“No. I’m just ...” Toph grips at the blankets below her, squeezing at the fabric. “It’s just going to be ... boring after you leave.”  She admits, feeling herself grow warm from making such a confession.

His silence only makes the warmth harder to ignore, as Toph grows more agitated with each second that passes.

“... I’m going to miss playing with you too, Toph.” Zuko’s voice is soft, tender in a way that only makes her even more unsettled. The fuzziness in her chest returns the worst it has ever been, strengthened by the heat that crawls up from her neck and to her face. Toph doesn’t know what to do, or even how to respond back.

So, she just responds the best way she knows how.

“Ow!” Zuko yelps out after her punch. “Why’d you smack me? I didn’t do anything!” The genuine confusion from the boy makes her feel a bit bad for the sudden punch. But rather than admit her regret, Toph turns away from him on the bed to hide her face in the blankets instead.

“It wasn’t a smack, it was a punch.” She responds back, her words muffled. 

“What did you say?” Zuko asks, his voice coming closer to her.

However, Toph simply ignores him by rolling over onto her front, fully hiding her face and remaining quiet to his question. 

Maybe if she just stays quiet, he’ll move on ...

“Toph?” Zuko calls out and she only keeps herself still, her breath warming the blanket she shoved her face in. Then suddenly, something smacks against the bed where Zuko is and she jolts lightly at the noise. 

What is he doing?

 “... We’ll see each other soon, okay?” His voice is much closer than before, tickling the side of her ear in a way that makes her realise that he must be laying down on the bed beside her. 

“How soon?” She concedes from her temporary silence, peeking her face out from the blankets and facing it towards the direction of his voice. 

“Um ...” His unsure noises are enough to pull a small laugh out of her.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Sparky.” Toph scolds without much heat, raising herself up from the bed with the push of her arms. She turns herself around back into her original position, this time with her feet on the bed and arms wrapped around her knees. 

“But I can!” Rushed shuffling accompanies his words, as the bed bounces lightly at the boy’s quick movements.

“Really?” Toph asks with doubt and Zuko lets out a troubled noise.

“Uh ...” However, after a couple moments pass in the quiet, he lets out a delighted gasp. “I know!” 

Toph blinks at his words but before she can ask any questions, the bed bounces once again before footsteps smack against the wood. The boy rushes across the room and more rustling follows.

“What are you doing?” She asks unsurely and a part of her wonders if he even caught her question with how much noise he is making.

However, the noises soon come to an end as he rushes back onto the bed.

“Grabbing this!” Zuko proclaims happily.

Toph stiffens up when she feels something press against her side. Zuko pushes the item into her side even more, until she unwraps her hands from her knees and grabs at it in confusion, only to feel ... 

“A book?” Toph asks, confused at his excitement towards such an item. 

“It’s what we’ve been reading the past couple days!” Zuko explains, as if that alone is enough to clear her confusion.

“Love Amongst The Dragons?”

“Yep! We haven’t been able to reach the end, so I thought you could keep it.” Zuko suggests and Toph holds the book to her chest with one arm.

“I think you’re forgetting something ...” She waves a hand in front of her face.

Following her action however, the boy is quick to explain himself.

“No! I didn’t forget this time!” He claims with much confidence in his voice, enough to make Toph doubt her first assumption.

“Really?”

“Yes, I wasn’t giving the book for you to read.” He explains but she only grows more puzzled at his words.

“What else do you use a book for?” She questions doubtfully, still holding the book to her chest.

“Um ...” The boy squeaks out, fumbling through some noises before speaking again. “I just thought ...” He pauses again, taking in a deep breath before continuing. “You could keep the book until next time. So that, when we see each other again, we can finish the story together!” 

His explanation leaves Toph speechless, the weight of the book only feeling heavier in her arms. The air is quiet, but not as cold as it usually is. Instead, Toph feels warmth throughout her body and to the tips of her toes even.

“Um ... Did you not want to?” Zuko asks weakly, his beaming confidence gone within seconds of her silence. 

“It’s not that, it’s just ...” Toph squeezes at the book lightly, the smoothness of its cover barely distracting her from her hesitation. “Isn’t this your favourite book?” 

“Yeah, but I’ve read it a bunch already!” Zuko is quick to reassure her, energy bouncing back. “I can remember it from start to end, a-and the reason why it’s my favourite isn’t because of the book.” Toph pauses at his words as he continues. “It’s because of what it reminds me of. The plays on Ember Island that Mom used to take me and Azula to ... I’ll still remember them even when I don’t have the book.” 

His words squeeze at her chest as her mind recalls similar words.

“What makes it precious are the memories you have of it. The memories that you have of home, and the memories you will continue to make as you grow older.”

The fuzzy sensation settles comfortably in her chest, as does the warmth throughout her body. She relaxes her grip on the book, still holding it against herself as the boy continues speaking with more positivity.

“It’s my promise to you. That we’ll finish it when we see each other next!”

The boy’s enthusiasm is infectious, with her only noticing the smile on her own face when she pulls herself back into the present. With the boy’s words, she responds back the only way she feels comfortable with.

“... See?” She teases, with one end of her smile growing stronger. “I don’t know what you think but it’s going to be a very long time until then.” 

“Gah!” His noise of realisation only makes her smile worse. “You know what I mean!” 

“Do I?” She chirps back.

“Toph.” Zuko’s grumble makes her laugh once more, legs kicking back and forth against the side of the bed. After she recovers from the high of her laughter, Toph lets herself soak in the comfortable silence before continuing.

“Thanks Sparky.” Her fingers freeze when she thinks of her next words, hesitant. However, she remembers the boy’s tender confession during her moment of insecurity and it gives her enough strength to make her own. “And ... I’ll miss you too, I guess.” She mumbles quietly, squeezing the book against herself once again. 

The boy is silent at her words and she finds herself feeling restless again at the quiet, quickly giving into the urge of calling him out.

“Hey, you still alive?” 

“Y-yep! And will I–I mean, I’ll miss you too!” He proclaims loudly and Toph feels a bit better at his stutter, remembering her embarrassing hesitation only seconds ago.

“You already said that ...” She grumbles, annoyed at how easy the words come to him.

Their next moments are spent in mindless chatter, quickly moving on from the serenity of their shared promise, much to the relief of Toph herself. 

There is only so much a girl could take in terms of emotional confessions ... 

And when a servant comes by to pack up the rest of Zuko’s items, Toph doesn’t find herself as bothered by his family’s coming departure. With a book tucked comfortably in her arms, a fuzziness settles nicely in the centre of her chest.

When Toph descends down the stairs to the entrance hall, led by the hand of a servant guiding her, she can sense the nervous tension in the air by the silenced presence of everyone present. No one speaks, but the shuffling of quick footsteps and the shifting of robes moving about tell her of the many people present.

“And watch your step here, my lady.” The servant warns softly and Toph finally reaches the end of the stairs back.

Upon her shoes meeting the levelled ground, a familiar voice calls out from nearby.

“There you are! I was beginning to wonder if you were going to leave me alone here.” Iroh greets cheerily, a joking tone despite the apparent stress of everyone else in the room. 

And she didn’t even need the earth to tell her that ...

Toph hears the servant mumble a hasty greeting to Iroh, before guiding her hand towards the familiar grip of the old man.

“And how are you feeling?” He asks, his hand settling around hers softly. 

“Okay.” She responds back without much though.

However, once the word had fallen from her mouth, Toph quickly recalls the time where ointment had stung her nose and tears had stained her cheeks. 

Sure, it turned out fine in the end but she has a pride to uphold here!

Toph keeps herself still, doing her best to not show any noticeable habit that gives away her embarrassment at the memory of such vulnerability.

Fortunately, the outpour of various footsteps down the stairs distracts her from such discomfort. The same cannot be said for the servants however, as all sounds fall silent at the loud clicks upon wooden floors. The entire hall becomes as quiet as sitting stones within seconds. 

“Brother, I hope everything is prepared well for your departure?” Iroh asks, and Toph listens quietly with the rest of the hall. 

“Don’t waste our time with such mediocre talk, Iroh.” The dunderhead is quick to snap back. A short pause overtakes the man and Toph wonders what could have made him of all people fall silent in the moment. “Remember our discussions, Iroh, and our agreements.” 

The grip around her hand squeezes ever so slightly, before the old man is quick to let go of her in a hurried manner.

“Little one, why don’t you say goodbye to my nephew and niece while I speak to my brother.” He suggests lightly, patting the back of her shoulder before guiding her a couple steps away.

“Toph!” Zuko greets happily, and Toph is quick to remember that this is the last greeting she will hear from the boy in a while. Footsteps bound towards her, excitement present in their rush. 

“Hi Sparky.” 

“Look at you two. Oh, I guess you wouldn’t understand what that means, huh?” A familiar voice cuts in, sharp as the edge of a blade as the clicks of boots approach. Toph finds herself puzzled by the presence of the princess, especially after she had gone so long without encountering Azula in close proximity like this.

“Azula ...” Zuko mutters in apprehension, a tone he had been adopting towards his sister after they had concluded her to be the culprit of Toph’s burnt dress. 

“What’s wrong Zuzu? I’m just here to say goodbye to my friend.” Azula says with a lilt of innocence, one that is tricking no one between herself and Zuko. Maybe Toph liked it better when Azula’s presence had been missing in the past few days, with her patience being tested by the princess’ words alone.

Friend? As if.

And it seems the same can be said by the boy nearby, who is quick to challenge his younger sibling’s words despite the faux naivety. 

“She’s not your friend.” Zuko proclaims, and his sister lets out a scoff.

“How childish are you? You do know that people can have multiple friends, right?” Azula jabs at the boy, pulling a quick gasp from the boy.

“Of course I do! I-I’m just ...” The boy stutters, struggling to find his next words.

“He’s just saying you stink as a friend and a sister.” Toph jumps in, finishing his words with a blunt confidence.

The silence that falls between them almost makes Toph break into a smile.

“You should pick your words better, or something else might get burnt without you realising.” Azula hisses back, her initial tone of innocence dashed from her voice.

“You do know that the burning is going to make you stink worse, right?” Toph pushes back with a composed ease. She no longer feels disturbed by the memory of what had been burnt. The shame for what she had once blamed herself for no longer eats at her. Now, what rests within her is a resolute acceptance of where the memory truly lies.

Silence quickly returns with a tickling sensation that insists Toph release even the smallest of smiles.

“Children, your father has finished his discussion with your uncle. Say your goodbyes to Toph and Uncle Iroh now.” Ursa informs, approaching them with soft steps. Toph hears the click of Azula’s boots leave her side.

“I’m going to say goodbye to Uncle.” Azula excuses herself swiftly, the sounds of her footsteps rushing off as another approaches her.

“We’ll see you soon Toph, it was a pleasure to see you doing much better than the last time we saw each other.” Ursa greets pleasantly, her voice light with a controlled level of ease.

“Thank you, and you too.” Toph responds back, a bit meek in her answer.

“Yeah, we’ll see each other soon for sure! Just like Mom says.” Zuko reinforces cheerily, and a part of Toph wants to point out the boy’s language like she always does. However, she reigns her usual attitude back with the reminder of his mother’s presence nearby, likely watching them as they finish their farewells.

“Are you all saying goodbye now?” The old man’s voice approaches and Toph feels a warm hand rest upon the middle of her back.

“Yes, we were. I don’t doubt Zuko will miss Toph terribly after we leave.” Blinking widely, Toph is caught off-guard by the woman’s words. “This is the happiest I’ve seen him since he was a little toddler.” Ursa teases lightly, a comforting hush falling amongst those present.

“Mom.” Zuko grits out, and Toph lets out a light laugh to herself at the boy’s embarrassment.

“There, there. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your time here with us, Prince Zuko. I know that the little one here has definitely had the most fun in a while.” Iroh adds in his own lot of teasing, making Toph stiffen up at his words. She huffs at the few strands of her hair that fall from her forehead. 

This annoying old man ...

“I have, Uncle! And I’ll really miss you too.” Zuko is quick to respond, earnest as he always is. “You’ll come back to the royal palace soon, right?” 

“... Of course.” Iroh responds back, a gentleness evident in his voice. “We both will.” He adds more confidently, patting at her back lightly following his words.

“See Toph, we’ll be able to play again soon!” Zuko chirps to her more excitedly and she pauses at the call of her name.

“... Shoosh.” Toph insists with growing mortification.

She shifts towards the old man beside her, grabbing at his robes with her fists.

“Haha! Don’t get shy now.” Iroh laughs as Toph shoves herself against his side with more insistence.

“Thank you for letting us visit Iroh, it has been good to be away from the palace for a bit.” Ursa thanks softly. “I only hope that we'll be able to return to our own home soon.” She adds on more quietly, and Toph considers what had just been shared.

Do Zuko and his family not normally live in the palace?

“Ursa.” Iroh calls out, his tone sharply dropping to a more solemn edge. “Please know that, if you’re ever in need of anything in the future ...” The man pauses throughout his speaking, hesitance present in his voice.

“Iroh, such words would make even the spirits fearful of something to come.” Ursa warns in a soft tone.

“Yes, you’re quite right.” He concedes, and Toph wonders what could be stressing the old man to make him sound like that. “Please, have a safe trip, Ursa. Prince Zuko.” Iroh wishes with a more mellow tone. “Send my greetings to my father.” 

“Of course. Let’s go, Zuko. Say goodbye one last time.” Ursa follows the man’s farewells smoothly, and Toph keeps her ears out for the sounds of their footsteps leaving the estate.

“See you, Uncle! See you, Toph!” 

The boy’s words are accompanied by the clicks of their shoes against the wooden floors, the mother and son leaving the estate after the other two of their family. Toph lets herself enjoy the peace of Zuko’s farewells rather than the wording, sensing the old man do the same by the gentle rumble of low laughter escaping him.

Following the departure of their guests, Toph returns back to the normalcy of life at the estate, albeit one a bit more mundane than she remembers. It takes some time for her to settle back into a regular routine, the one she had before the company of Zuko had become so fixed in her schedule for the past week. 

Her days no longer involve the excited tugs of his hand across courtyards, sneaky steps along kitchen floors to nab at snacks nor his chipper voice narrating the lines of a book she has never seen. Now, she continues her life with shoes no longer stuck on her feet, with the guidance of the old man in their meditations and with the company of servants who no longer avoid her for the sake of royal propriety.

The servants in particular were eager to pardon themselves from the strictness they’ve upheld in the presence of their long-departed guests. 

“Oi, kiddo.” 

Toph snaps out of her quiet daze. She’s crouched down to the ground, the soles of her feet pressed against the heated stone of the kitchen floors below. The ground tells her of the head chef who stands nearby, something in hand as he faces her.

“Bobo?” She calls out, only shuffling slightly in place as the man sighs.

“What are yer even doin’ here? Go out there and do somethin’ fun rather than stay stuck in this boring ol’ place.” Bohai urges and Toph feels a spike of persistence within her that wants to reject his idea loudly.

Instead, she curls up even tighter into her crouch.

“Moping ain’t gonna do yer any good.” The head chef continues and Toph stubbornly stays stuck to the ground. Then, he crouches down beside her, another sigh escaping him. “Oi, give me yer hand for a quick sec.” 

The next few seconds pass with them at a standstill.

However, Toph gives in by outstretching a hand out, palm facing the ground below. The head chef shifts her palm around to face upwards instead, before she feels the squish of a familiar treat in her hand.

“What’s the point of making all these extras when yer not gonna eat ‘em.” Bohai grumbles lightly as he pulls away, leaving her alone with only a fire gummy in hand. 

Toph squeezes at the dessert gently, the fire-salt lightly dusting her fingers. Her appetite in the last couple days hadn’t been so accommodating to these treats but with one in hand right now, she feels the craving slowly itch at her. 

The last time she had these, it had been when she and Zuko had snuck some out ...

When she begins chewing upon the dessert, the opening doors screech out and the pitter patter of a familiar possum chicken’s feet follows.

“Oh, my lady! There you are!” Oren cries out, speedily approaching her where she crouches. “Come, come! His Highness is calling for you!” The head servant is buzzing all around her, but she remains crouched in her spot. “... My lady?” He calls out more hesitantly.

Her feet can sense how the head servant and head chef glance at each other, as she quietly chews at the fire gummy.

“... Bohai, what happened?” Oren asks in slight horror.

“Nothin’ I know. The kid’s been sittin’ like that since she got here.” Bohai responds back casually and the head servant stiffens up.

“I believe you mean to say the young lady.” Oren emphasises with a pitchy tone, but the head chef only scoffs at the man’s words. “Well? Do something about it!” He snaps, more out of his regular stress than anything else.

“What do yer expect me to do?” Bohai snaps back incredulously. 

The two quickly start raving at each other, only growing louder with each word that comes out from their mouths. 

With the two so distracted, Toph quietly raises herself from the ground and approaches the side table that always has the plate of fire gummies, prepped and ready for her to feast like normal. 

Eventually, she is caught mid-snacking at the chewy dessert.

“Oh, my lady! Your mouth!” Oren cries out, rushing over to her side. “A cloth! I need a cloth, a clean one!” 

“Spirits, your yellin’ is wringin’ my brain in.” Bohai grouses to himself.

After a clean cloth is secured and her mouth is wiped at, Oren is quick to urge her to follow him insistently. However, just before she steps off the stoning of the kitchen floors, she calls out.

“Thanks, Bobo.” 

“Yeah, yeah. Just get outta here before the guy explodes.” 

At the brief farewell, Oren is quick to rush her off to wherever the old man is, which seems to be outside of the manor thankfully. 

When her feet meet the earth of the garden courtyards, Toph is quickly able to sense the old man walking upon the stone pathways only a short distance away. Following the quick feet of the head servant beside her, the two of them swiftly cross the gap between themselves and Iroh.

“Your Highness.” Oren greets with a lowered head, unable to properly bow with his hand still holding hers. “I have brought the young lady as you have requested.” 

“Ah, thank you Oren. Little one, I hope it wasn’t too much trouble asking for you.” Iroh greets softly, lowering himself down to her height on one knee. Letting go of the head servant’s hand, Toph steps over to where the old man is crouched down with her arms outstretched towards him. 

Iroh lets out a low laugh at her actions, accepting her into his own arms with ease. “Please, feel free to return to your duties, Oren. I’ll take care of the little one.”

“Of course, Your Highness. My lady.” No longer held back by Toph’s hand, the head servant properly bows to the both of them before departing. Iroh straightens himself up from the ground, taking her hand into the comfort of his grip.

“Come, why don’t we walk as we chat?” He suggests lightly and Toph follows his slow steps without complaint.

They stroll through the gardens in a peaceful silence, as Toph soaks in the warmth of the sun on her face and the soft humming of the earth to her feet. Through the ground below, she can feel every pulse that runs through the old man beside her.

“There’s a reason as to why I had called you here.” Iroh begins, his hand squeezing at her own. Toph remains quiet, letting the man continue as she listens to his words carefully. “I know that a lot has happened in the past few weeks, especially with the visit from my brother and everyone’s stress during it.” 

Stress is putting it lightly!

Toph can still remember the stampede of servants that hounded every space within the estate, down to the very last corner. 

“Haha, your sour expression tells me enough about what you think.” Iroh points out in amusement and Toph feels only slightly embarrassed at the man’s remark. 

However, before she can respond, he stops in his walking to crouch down once more, releasing her hand to place both of his own at the side of her shoulders. At his actions, Toph can sense his heart race erratically from its usual rhythm, the earth sharing its uneven pace with her feet.

“My brother ... is planning something that will change a lot of things in the future.” His tone is tense, a contrast to his chipper attitude from moments ago. “Including ours.”

“How?” Toph asks quietly.

“We’ll have to leave the estate.” He says grimly. “Back to the palace where ... we’ll have to be more careful. About your bending, about your past, everything.” His words make her shift uncomfortably, her toes squirming against the grit of the dirt below them.

“When do we have to go?” 

“Soon. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific.” Iroh adds on guiltily, a heaviness in his voice. “But I’ll be with you for every part of it. I’ll make sure that you’ll be safe, okay?” 

His words make her confused, his tone even more so. She doesn’t understand the reason behind why he seems so stressed, with the quick pace of his heart holding a tension that makes her anxious as well. 

“You too?” Toph asks before she can even hesitate. 

“Me?” He says, confused by her question.

“You’ll be safe too?” 

She feels the hands holding her tense up, with the next few moments passing in silence. However, they slowly relax as Iroh lets out a weak laugh, but no less genuine.

“Of course, firecracker.” He promises and his soft tone makes Toph step forward. His hands drop at her approach, as she raises her own arms to wrap them around the middle of his body. Warmth engulfs her from the action, and she rubs her face against the fabric of his robes. 

A small laugh comes out as a shaky breath from Iroh, and Toph only squeezes him tighter when his arms come around to return her hug.

With Iroh’s warnings about the future and the extra precautions they would need to take because of it, Toph finds their opportunities to bend and train together lessened significantly. Especially when compared to how it was before the dunderhead’s visit. Days pass with them only ever seeing each other at their morning and evening meals, their usual tea times becoming rarer due to the growing workload for the man.

However, she doesn’t let that bring her mood down, taking any chance she can to absorb every single detail of bending that she is able to in the meantime. 

So now, Toph finds herself sitting cross-legged on the training grounds of the guardsmen. The earth tells her of all the movements made by each guard. Every single stance, kick and swing echo back to her as she keeps her breathing steady and controlled.

“... Has she been sitting like that the whole time?” One guardswoman whispers from nearby, a small group gathered a short distance away from her.

“Think so. I wonder what she’s doing ...” Another responds back, with all of them letting out hums of consideration. Then, the same guardswoman from before lets out a gasp as she clicks her fingers in realisation.

“Y’know what it reminds me of? Those breathing exercises they made us do when they try to teach us bending real young!”

“Really? But the young lady isn’t a bender ...”

“Well, she is still pretty young ...”

“Guards.” A familiar voice speaks aloud, and Toph jumps at the sudden presence she hadn’t noticed until the man himself had spoken up. The group of guards are clearly in the same boat, quickly rushing about with excuses to the senior guardsman.

“Eizan, sir! We were just on break!”

“Yep, yep! Just a break, heading back now!”

“Yep, our break that just ended, right now. Back to the job!”

The group of guards that were whispering about quickly leave in a panicked rush of vibrations. 

Toph herself barely stops a smile from coming onto her face from such excuses, distracting herself by trying to focus on the light footsteps of Eizan who approaches her.

“My lady.” He greets with a bow and Toph decides to take a break from her training. Relaxing from her upheld posture, the only indicator she gives of her awareness is the drop of her shoulders and the shift of her position. However, after his greeting to her, the guardsman simply steps off to the side and stands in place close by to her. 

Why did he decide to come here? Just to stand?

“What are you doing?” Toph finally asks, and the guardsman doesn’t seem surprised by her question from the lack of movement he makes.

“I’m simply overseeing the training, my lady.” He responds back without a pause to his words.

“Sounds boring.” Toph comments bluntly.

“It’s my duty.” Eizan responds neutrally and she feels the boredom sink into the mood even more. Thus Toph decides to end her training session from here, rising from the ground instead. “My lady, are you taking your leave now?” He asks, as Toph wiggles her toes against the soil.

“Yep, I’m bored.” She chirps back, considering what to do next. “I’m going to look for Kay.” 

She begins walking to the exit, slipping out of the training grounds quietly to the notice of no one. Or at least, she assumed such before she felt the tickling vibrations of light footsteps behind her.

Toph stops in her walking and the light tickling stops with her.

“Eizan?” She calls out in suspicion.

“... Apologies, my lady. I thought it would be safer if I accompanied you.” Eizan speaks out from behind and Toph huffs at the man’s words.

“I can walk by myself.” She insists in slight annoyance.

“I am aware of that.” His calm response only makes her annoyance spike up even more, and so she decides to inconvenience the man instead.

“Fine then. You look for Kay.” She demands with crossed arms. Maybe that will make him leave her alone. However, the man does not seem to even squirm at her sudden insistence, only bowing his head towards her despite her blindness.

“Of course, my lady.” He steps forward after his acceptance, holding out a hand towards her. “Would you be alright to take my hand?”

Toph is disappointed by the lacklustre reaction, but she still accepts his hand grumpily. 

As they enter the manor corridors, a silence settles between them with only the sounds of their footsteps keeping them company. Her bare feet slide against the wooden panels, the lacking earth leaving her blind to the world around her. 

“My lady, I ...” Eizan begins, and Toph blinks at how strange hesitancy sounds from the usually stoic guardsman. “I apologise if my following hadn’t pleased you, I was ... worried.” He ends off awkwardly.

“Worried?” She inquires, her curiosity overtaking her minor annoyance at the man.

“The servants have noticed that your behaviour has been ... different, since the departure of the second prince and his family. There have been concerns about it.” Eizan explains and upon hearing his words, Toph feels a bit embarrassed by the level of attention on her.

“I’m okay.” Toph insists. “I’m just ...” She pauses, struggling to explain herself. “... Bored.” She only grows more embarrassed at the word, kicking herself internally for not saying something better. 

The responding silence makes her feel even more flustered. Seriously, why did these servants need to worry so much anyways!

The guardsman finally makes a noise in the form of an awkward cough to clear his throat.

“Of course, my lady. Next time I hear such concerns, I’ll inform them that the reason is because of your boredom.” He responds back formally and the urge to take back her words is strong, but that would be even more mortifying.

“Whatever, say what you want.” Toph huffs back.

“Of course, my lady.” 

“I don’t care.” 

“Of course, my lady.” 

“I really don’t.” 

“... Of course, my lady.”

Another night comes with the typical silence that rests within the chill of the night air. Since Kay’s departure from her room and the click of the closed door, Toph has been lying in bed fully awake despite the blankets that keep her encased within comforting warmth. 

She’s been restless since the moment the servant had tucked her in, and so she finally comes to a decision to do something about it.

Pulling the blankets off her, Toph slips out of the bed and approaches her wardrobe quietly. Her hands reach out and feel the familiar handle of the wardrobe’s lower drawer, latching onto it and tugging it open with a small creak. She quickly reaches in. Her hands easily locate the smooth fabric wrapped around the item she has been looking for. 

The last remaining piece of her dress, wrapped around the very book that Zuko had given her before he had left.

Seriously, what was he thinking? Giving her a book ...

However, with that thought comes the memory of the promise made by the boy, their promise to be reunited once again. 

She hopes it comes true soon.

Then, she feels a peckish sensation growing within her stomach. The memories of sneaking to the kitchens with the boy come to mind. Some cookies would be nice right now ...

So, Toph places the book back into the drawer and shuts it closed, warmed by the memories it brought back to her.

Quietly, she opens the door and sneaks out of her room, stepping upon the carpet down the hallways to keep her footsteps muffled. She heads down a familiar pathway, one that she holds little hesitation to until she hears a light gasp from nearby.

Toph freezes at the noise. Has she been caught by a servant?

However, nothing follows the gasp and she can’t help but be confused by the lack of words that she expected to hear. 

Then, a crash rings out and Toph jumps at the very noise.

The shattering sound is familiar, and she quickly realises it to be that of a broken vase. Likely from one of the many that sat on the side tables along the walls of the hallway.

But usually she is the one shattering those vases so ...

“Who is it?” Toph calls out, doing her best to keep the shakiness out of her voice. Her suspicion only heightens at the silence that responds back to her. Someone must have pushed the vase off the table, and that very someone is choosing to stay silent to her instead of saying something.

Apprehension grows within her at the thought of a nearby stranger, with no earth at her feet to defend herself at whoever this could be. 

She is truly blind to her surroundings.

However, even with such tension, Toph forces herself to take one step forward.

And that is enough to get the stranger to speak up.

“Don’t come closer!” 

Toph pauses at the rushed whisper, one out of concern rather than to threaten, and she quickly recognises the owner of the voice. 

But it didn’t make sense.

“... Why are you here?” Toph asks, confusion clear in her voice. The other remains quiet at her question and she is reminded of the book that she had just been reminiscing about earlier. 

Toph wiggles her bare toes against the carpet below unsurely, before deciding to ask the question buzzing in the back of her mind.

“Is Zuko here too?”

“... No. No, he isn’t.” Ursa responds back in a low tone, almost sounding defeated in the way she speaks. 

“Then, why are you here?” Toph asks again, trying to move on from her disappointment at the woman’s answer.

“I won’t be here long, I just need some things before I leave.” Ursa explains vaguely.

“Back to the palace?” Toph adds on, only growing more confused by the answers she receives from the other.

“Toph.” 

Footsteps approach her, clicking upon wooden panels and then growing muffled upon the carpets at Toph’s feet. From the sounds of it, the woman stops in front of her. Her assumption is confirmed when she feels fingers wrap around her own hands and pull them in front of her.

“I don’t know how much Iroh has told you.” Ursa begins, and her tone only worsens the dread within Toph’s chest. “But many things have changed, and I have to leave because of it.” 

The woman’s words remind Toph of the chat that she had with the old man. Of new changes, of their futures and of their safety. 

“But, you’ll come back, right?” Toph asks hesitantly. 

She finds herself dreading the woman’s answer. With that sinking sensation, her mind recalls a boy who stutters way too much, who fiddles with his fingers more often than not and who gave her the very book that his beloved mother had gifted him.

 “I hope so.” Ursa relents and Toph’s fingers shift within the hands holding hers. “But while I’m gone, if you can. Please, take care of Zuko.” 

“Does Zuko know?” Toph presses quietly and the woman does not give her an answer.

The silence tells her enough and yet, even with the absence of a response, Toph feels another question itch at the back of her mind.

“... What about Azula?” 

Ursa’s grip around her hands jolts lightly before letting go, leaving her hands hanging in the air for a short moment. 

Slowly, Toph shakily drops her hands down to the skirt of her nightgown. She doesn’t know what to do so she stands quietly in place. Doing her best to not fidget in front of Ursa, she finds herself wishing for some earth to rise up from below her feet somehow. So that she could read the woman’s body to get even a semblance of understanding into what is going on.

“Toph.” Ursa calls out, her voice from above rather than in front of her now. “Please, return back to your room. The shards of the vase aren’t safe for your bare feet.” 

“But, what about you? Are you okay?” 

“Don’t worry about me, Toph. I’ll be fine.” 

And yet, despite the utter heaviness within Toph’s chest, she relents to the women’s request quietly and turns around to go back to her room.

When she awakens the next morning, news of the firelord’s death arrives at the estate.