Chapter Text
On her way to the royal family’s private dining room, Toph held Lin’s little hand as they walked side by side, Lin keeping close to her mother’s left. Toph’s right hand rested over her belly.
Four Imperial Guards followed several paces behind them, two earthbenders and two firebenders.
It wasn’t as though Toph couldn’t handle Azula herself if anything went wrong. She had faced many dangerous opponents. Still, she preferred to have a little extra protection nearby, especially when her children were involved.
The twins, who normally would have been racing ahead toward the dining room, were now walking with surprising discipline after their mother’s lecture. They had heard plenty about their aunt through the whispers that traveled through the palace.
Azula was an extraordinary firebender. A prodigy. Brilliant. Dangerous.
According to some of the servants, not someone children should get too close to. Naturally, the twins had eventually become curious enough to ask Zuko and their grandmother, Ursa, who Azula really was.
Zuko had told them that their aunt truly was one of the greatest firebenders the Fire Nation had ever known. He had also told them that, when they were very young, Azula had once been a good sister to him, but things had changed. She had become cruel and manipulative, she had hurt people, and in the process, she had hurt herself as well.
Zuko had ended the conversation by reminding the twins that, whatever had happened between him and Azula, there was one lesson they should never forget. They should never be cruel to one another, nor to their other siblings, family mattered.
Ursa’s answer, however, had only confused them.
Their grandmother’s eyes had widened when they asked about Azula. She had taken a long breath before answering.
"She’s my dear first daughter, your auntie,” Ursa had said. “She had a beautiful face, a brilliant mind, and a gift for firebending. I was away for far too long when my children needed me most. They had to face their own troubles without the guidance they deserved.”
The twins hadn’t entirely understood what their grandmother meant, but they could hear the regret in her voice.
When they asked Toph who Azula was, however, her answer had been considerably simpler.
"Someone I consider my equal when it comes to sparring.”
That had been enough to make the twins’ eyes widen.
Toph could already sense Azula sitting in one of the dining chairs before she entered the room.
The moment Toph stepped inside, Izuro and Izumi clung to her dress. Each peeked around one side of her mother, trying to get a better look at their aunt without being too obvious about it. Two of the guards following behind Toph took up positions on either side of the door, one a firebender and the other an earthbender. The remaining two stayed farther back in the corridor.
Azula rose from her chair. The last time she had seen the twins, they had been only two years old. They certainly wouldn’t remember her.
Toph gently nudged the children forward.
“Come on. Say hello.”
The twins stepped forward and bowed.
Azula returned the gesture with a small, graceful inclination of her head.
“Let’s have dinner,” Toph said. “I’m starving.” Then everyone took their seats.
The dinner began quietly.
Perhaps too quietly.
The twins were noticeably more reserved than usual. Their attention frequently drifted toward Azula, only for them to quickly look away whenever she noticed. Lin, meanwhile, seemed entirely unconcerned. The little girl continued munching on whatever the servants placed before her, completely focused on her meal.
At least with the children around, the dinner didn’t seem as tense as Toph had expected. The twins eventually began talking about their day, telling their mother about everything that had happened. One story led to another, and gradually, the stiffness in their shoulders disappeared.
Eventually, one conversation led to another, and the twins began asking their aunt questions.
Toph sat at the head of the table, Azula to her right and Lin to her left. Izuro sat beside Azula, while Izumi sat beside Lin.
“Are you going to stay at the palace now, Auntie?” Izumi asked, gathering enough courage to speak.
Azula considered the question. “Hmm…” She rested her chin lightly against one hand. “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”
Izumi didn’t seem satisfied with the answer.
“I heard you have blue fire.”
Azula raised an eyebrow.
“Can we see it? Can we?” This time, it was Izuro who spoke, his voice filled with excitement.
Azula raised one hand, palm open. A moment later, Toph felt a wave of warm air coming from her right. She knew immediately what Azula was doing. A small flame danced above her palm. Blue. The twins and Lin stared.
“Whoa!”
Their eyes remained fixed on the flame, filled with wonder. Neither of them had ever seen anything like it before.
“It’s beautiful, Auntie!” Izumi exclaimed.
Azula’s lips curved into a faint smile. “It is,” she said. “And it’s hotter than ordinary fire.”
“Can you teach me how to make it?” Izuro asked eagerly.
“I might.”
Izuro’s face brightened.
“But you’ll have to train much harder than you do now.”
Toph remained silent, listening to them.
There was something about the idea of her children learning from Azula that made her uneasy. Azula was an extraordinary firebender. There was no denying that. The Fire Nation had called her a prodigy for most of her life, just as the Earth Kingdom had called Toph a prodigy of earthbending.
But Azula wasn’t a teacher.
Toph glanced toward her son.
“Your foot stance wasn't even in the right position half the time,” she said. “Master that before you worry about another lesson.”
Izuro groaned and Azula could only smirk at the boy.
Across the table, Lin continued eating the meal the servants had placed before her. She ate by herself, her tiny hand wrapped around a spoon, her cheeks puffed out with food. Yet her eyes never left Azula.
Azula noticed.
She subtly wiped the corner of her mouth and cheek, checking whether there was something on her face that might have caught the child’s attention. There was nothing, but Lin continued staring and finally, she swallowed.
“You wook wike Fadhel.”
Azula raised an eyebrow, then Lin pointed at her.
“Like Father…” The little girl paused, seemingly searching for the right words. “But more beautiful.”
Azula froze.
For a moment, she simply stared at the child.
Then a smirk slowly appeared on her face as she realized that the little girl had apparently been studying her face the entire time.
“Thank the spirits you added the last two words.”
After dinner, Azula returned to her chamber while Toph stayed behind with the children. The Fire Lady decided that all three children would sleep in her room that night.
“Lately, it’s been rather boring sleeping alone in that enormous chamber while your father is away,” she told them.
Her children happily agreed. They didn’t know the real reason for their mother’s decision.
Toph wanted them close.
If something happened during the night, she wanted to know immediately. More importantly, she wanted to be close enough to protect them without having to cross half the chamber first.
Later, Toph changed out of her formal robes and into a simple nightgown that gave her much more freedom of movement, she preferred it that way. Her braids had been undone, leaving her long black hair loose down her back.
She sat on the edge of the bed with Lin in her arms, gently patting the little girl’s back. The twins lay nearby on the bed, listening to their mother’s story before going to sleep.
Toph was telling them about one of her adventures with the Avatar’s team, the one involving an ancient library guarded by a spirit. She told them how she had held the sinking library in place, using every bit of strength she had. It was one of the twins favorite stories, Toph knew because she had already told it to them at least four times.
Perhaps five. She had stopped keeping count and the twins never seemed to grow tired of it.
When Izuro, Izumi, and little Lin finally began drifting off, Toph carefully rose. She placed Lin into a sturdy cradle beside the bed, large enough to accommodate the three-year-old comfortably. Then she tucked the twins beneath the blankets.
Toph took one of the pillows from the bed. After such a long and unexpected day, she felt the need for something beneath her head. Then she lowered herself onto the floor not far from the bed and the cradle.
Toph preferred sleeping on the ground, the earth beneath her gave her senses a clarity that a soft mattress never could. Through the floor, she could feel footsteps long before someone reached the door. She could sense vibrations, movements, even the subtle rhythm of a person’s heartbeat.
If anyone entered her chamber uninvited during the night, she would know, and if anyone threatened her children, they would have to get through her first. Satisfied, Toph closed her eyes and slowly, the sounds of the palace faded into the background. Her eyelids grew heavier and before she realized it, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
It was sometime after midnight, Toph couldn’t have said exactly when.
She was dreaming to felt a familiar footsteps approaching her chamber. A pair of feet she knew far too well. Firm, purposeful, usually steady, but tonight there was something different about them. They were hurried.
Toph’s brow furrowed.
The dream felt too real, the vibrations beneath her felt too real. She hadn’t fully awakened yet, but instinct told her that she needed to. She knew whoever was approaching wouldn’t harm anyone in the room. She recognized the footsteps. Still, her instinct came first. Before the door could open, Toph’s eyes snapped open.
One foot planted firmly against the floor, both hands pressed against the earth. For a brief moment, her posture resembled that of a runner about to launch herself—a defensive instinct she had developed long ago, especially after joining the Avatar’s team.
She recognized the footsteps, but her half-asleep mind still couldn’t understand why this person was already back at the palace.
“Zuko?”
Then the door swung open.
“I’m sorry for waking you.”
Zuko’s voice was low.
His eyes immediately went toward the children, who were still deep in sleep. Toph was still half asleep. Her mind struggled to catch up with reality. Had Zuko already returned to the Fire Nation? Her defensive posture relaxed. She lowered herself to her knees, which from Zuko’s perspective made it look almost as though she were kneeling before him. Then her mind flashed to her children, maybe that was the reason why Zuko had comeback so early. She couldn’t sense them as clearly while they were on the bed. She could feel their heartbeats, but the vibrations were blurred.
“The kids?!”
“Still asleep.” Zuko’s answer came immediately. “They’re safe.”
That was all Toph needed to hear. Her shoulders relaxed.
Zuko crossed the room and knelt in front of her, pulling her into a warm embrace. One hand rested against her back while the other gently cradled the back of her head. Toph’s long black hair spilled between his fingers. Zuko closed his eyes, For a moment, he simply held her.
The familiar scent of jasmine, earth, and faint sandalwood surrounded him. He hadn’t realized how tense he had been until then.
“What happened?” Toph asked quietly between breaths.
Zuko didn’t answer immediately then she pulled back slightly.
“It’s morning already?”
“No.” His voice was low. “The sun hasn’t even come up.”
Zuko finally released her enough to look at her. His hands rested gently on either side of her face. He leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before placing several softer kisses across her face.
Toph frowned, she could feel the tension in him. It wasn’t fear for himself. It was fear for her, for his sister. Fear that something terrible might happen while he wasn’t around. He understood that he couldn’t control everything. He understood it far too well. Somehow, he had married a woman who couldn’t be controlled, unlike the many noblewomen who had once wanted to become his Fire Lady and would have done almost anything to please him.
Zuko also understood that his sister was much the same. Neither of them was someone who could be controlled. Azula always thought she was the one in control, and the thought of the two of them being together without anyone there to separate them if something terrible happened made his heart thump loudly and left his head feeling heavy.
He knew Toph was at least mature enough now to think twice before acting, but her words could still be blunt and Zuko didn’t know much about Azula these days. She had never been in touch for long enough to tell him much about her life. He could only assume the worst.
“Why are you here?”
Toph’s question made Zuko stop the kisses he had been planting across her face.
“Didn’t you ask me to come quickly?”
“Wh— not with a lack of sleep!”
“I couldn’t sleep anyway.”
They lowered themselves onto the floor.
Toph’s hands traveled to Zuko’s shoulder and down to his chest. She felt the robe he usually wore while traveling. She could feel his heartbeat and breathing becoming steadier and calmer, so different from when he had first entered the bedroom. She helped him take off his outer robe so he could be more comfortable in only his inner garment.
“Have you seen your sister?”
“It’s only three hours past midnight, Toph. Of course not.” Zuko sighed. “She’s still sleeping, I guess.”
“Well, then, you need some sleep before talking to her tomorrow.” She paused. “Today, I mean. Whatever.”
Zuko nodded, the faint yes came out as little more than a whisper.
He pulled Toph into his embrace again and lay down with her on the cold stone floor. They shared the pillow, though his wife preferred using his arm as her pillow instead. He was exhausted from the lack of sleep. His back was sore from the midnight-long ride with Druk, and his head still felt heavy, but he chose to sleep where his wife preferred to. He knew she needed this, and he could always rely on her if anything happened before he could sense it himself. So they slept next to each other.
Toph’s head rested on his arm while his arm looped around her waist. One of her hands rested on his chest, separated from his skin only by the thin garment he wore. Zuko’s hand rested over hers.
Morning had already come when Toph felt movement around her. Her husband was still sleeping. Their positions had changed during the night. Zuko now lay with his head resting against her chest. She could smell the sandalwood and the faint, warm scent of his hair, the strands tickling her neck and cheek. Her raven-black locks and his dark-brown hair were scattered across the pillows around them.
The first rays of sunlight began to shine through the curtains hanging high over the windows. Toph could feel their warmth against her face. She slowly opened her eyes but made no other movement, wanting to let her husband sleep a little longer.
The servants had already begun their morning chores outside her chamber. Whenever she slept on the floor, Their footsteps were always one of the first clues that told her the day had begun at the palace .
The children were still asleep in their beds. Izuro’s little snores could be heard from across the room.
Toph remembered yesterdays dinner with Azula and felt grateful that it had gone well. She hadn’t sensed any rapid or threatening heartbeat from Azula throughout the dinner. Instead, it had remained calm and steady. Her children had seemed hesitant and a little afraid at first, but because of Azula’s calmness and the twins’ stories about their day, the tension had slowly disappeared.
She wanted to believe that Azula had changed. That somehow, her adventures over the past few years had changed her for the better. Yet somehow, the idea of Azula falling in love still sounded strange to her. Perhaps this was what her friends had felt at first when they learned about her relationship with Zuko.
When Azula had said that she needed him, that she needed the man, somehow, it had sounded sincere. There had been no suspicious change in her heartbeat that Toph could detect. Perhaps there was no hidden intention after all. The woman had simply fallen in love. How? That was still a mystery.
Toph felt Zuko’s heartbeat and breathing begin to change, he was already waking.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Morning,” Zuko murmured, yawning.
Toph slowly stroked his hair.
Zuko caressed her belly while his head remained against her chest. “How are you feeling? Is the nausea still kicking in?”
“Sometimes…” she answered, still stroking his hair as he seemed to enjoy the attention. “How are Aang and Katara? You met them there, right?”
“They miss you. Katara thought you were going to come.”
“Well, I hope she knows who to blame.” Toph smirked and zuko let out a little snort
Zuko looked up, leaning on one elbow as he studied her face. Toph could feel him move closer, his head lowering until their foreheads touched. He kissed her delicately and slowly, and Toph returned the kiss in the same rhythm. His lips felt dry against hers and after a moment, they slowly parted.
“You got any idea what Azula might want to talk about?” Zuko asked his wife, searching for a clue.
Toph knew it wasn’t her place to tell him. His sister wanted to tell him herself, she wanted to see Zuko’s exact reaction. Toph wouldn’t take that from her. What she could do for her dear husband was warn him about how he ought to react. She drew in a long breath before answering.
“Just… make sure you don’t overreact.” She patted one of Zuko’s shoulders. “Try to understand it from her perspective.” One of her hands came to rest on the arm he was leaning on. “We didn’t talk much, and she wanted to tell you herself.”
Zuko let out a breath and rolled onto his side. For a moment, they simply lay there. Zuko’s eyes traced the ceiling while Toph remained silent. The only sound was Izuro’s occasional snoring. The curtains swayed gently, and the shadows of sunlight danced across the room.
“Is it bad news?” Zuko asked, trying to pry for more information.
“You know what? I still couldn’t tell. Maybe not.”
She took another breath before finally sitting up and turning her head toward her husband.
“Let’s just take a bath and start the day,” she said while stretching. “We need to wake those sleepyheads.”
“Mmrrgh… Izuro, your snoring is so loud,” Suddenly Izumi protested while still half-asleep.
She reached across the empty space on her left before turning toward her brother, who was still sleeping on her right.
“Mom… Izuro snores so—” She stopped as she woke properly, her eyes wandering around the room, wondering where her mother had gone.
“We know, sunshine. We know,” Toph answered.
It was in late morning when Zuko, Toph, and the children finished breakfast. To Zuko’s confusion, Azula hadn’t joined them. He heard from the servants that his sister was at the training grounds, already had her breakfast. So, right after their breakfast, he decided to visit her. Toph would be there as well, observing the twins during their basic training for bending. After they finished their meal, all of them made their way toward the private training grounds.
Zuko carried Lin in his arms while the twins held onto Toph’s hands, one on each side. When they arrived, Zuko handed Lin to Toph. The twins immediately ran toward their usual training area, where their mentors were already waiting for them.
The training grounds were expansive, divided into four sections by trees, bushes, and large rocks. The little prince and princess usually trained in the smallest section. Toph sensed Azula in the largest section, directly beside it while Zuko was already walking toward her.
The Fire Lady decided to take a seat with Lin on a stone bench positioned between two sections, surrounded by bushes and rocks. The shade of a small tree nearby shielded her from the sunlight.
There was something about Zuko’s footsteps that Toph noticed as he approached his sister. They were slow, cautious but still firm. It had been a long time since he had last seen his sister.
Azula sensed Zuko approaching. She had just finished her training and stood with her back toward him when Zuko decided to greet her first.
“Azula,” he said calmly.
Still not facing him, she turned her head slightly to the side. Her breathing was still heavy from training.
“Brother.”
“It’s been a while... Where have you been?”
Azula finally turned to face him.
Zuko took a moment to observe her appearance.
She wore a sleeveless crimson top with black trousers. Zuko could see the defined muscles around her upper arms, and her figure seemed thinner than he remembered. He remembered her skin always looking soft, with its light honey complexion—probably thanks to all the skincare her personal servants had once tended to.
Now, it was more tanned, with a few old scratches and scars from battle. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail that fell all the way to her waist. Her cheekbones seemed higher and more pronounced than before. Dark circles beneath her eyes contrasted sharply with her otherwise tanned complexion. She looked tired, very different from the last time he had seen her.
“All around the world,” she said calmly, placing one hand on her waist. “Having the adventure of my life.”
“Good for you,” Zuko replied curtly, still studying her appearance.
Did she get into trouble? What am I thinking of course she did. She looked tanned, but somehow pale at the same time, thinner, tired.
"I'm glad you're alive" Zuko sudden words has shock Azula a little. He didn't mean for the words to spill out from his mouth, he meant to held it on his mind only. Yet, now the words has comes out to the very specific person
Azula looked a little startled, didn't know what to respond. In her mind she always thought her family dislike her, and wanted nothing to do with her. Then Azula spoke without warning, without even the slightest opening.
“I intend to marry.”
“… You intend to what?”
Zuko’s eyes widened in shock.
“He heard you. He’s just malfunctioning,” Toph shouted from the other side of the training grounds. She could hear Zuko’s heartbeat quicken.
“I’m not malfunctioning! Did you hear what she just said?!” Zuko shouted back at his wife, turning his head toward her.
“Yep. Very clearly” Toph replied, loud enough for him to hear.
Zuko turned back toward Azula. “Are you messing with me right now?”
“Oh, thank you for your warm reaction, Zuko. So much like your wife.” Azula shrugged and raised her hands toward Toph. Zuko looked at his wife once more. She was smiling from ear to ear, clearly enjoying their exchange. He turned back to Azula.
“What? You expect me to look happy with both my hands clasped together and sparkles in my eyes?" Zuko shook his head a little "Who is he? How long have you been with him?”
“Just an average soldier I met along the way,” Azula replied. It was the exact same answer she had given Toph the day before. “It’s been three months.”
“THREE?! Three, Azula?!”
Yep. There it is. If Toph was being honest, she had wanted to shout the same thing when Azula first told her.
“What? Is something wrong with that?”
“Azula, you can’t marry a man you’ve only known for three months!”
“Of course I can. I know him well enough, and I’m not here to ask for your permission!”
A small flame sparked from her fist as she pointed it toward the ground, her voice rising with frustration. Toph called the nursemaid who had been following them and handed Lin over to her. She ordered the nursemaid to take Lin to her playroom. The nursemaid nodded and bowed before leaving, with two guards following close behind. The conversation between the two royal siblings might become a little more serious.
“Ro, Mi, it’s time for the history telling with Lady Aima !” Toph called to the twins, using the last syllable of their names.
“Already, Mom? We just got started” Izuro protested.
“Yes, quickly. There’s dessert waiting for you in the room.”
Toph gave their mentors a signal to escort them back inside the palace. The mentors nodded.
“Dessert already? What’s happening? Mom doesn't sound like usual” Izumi whispered to Izuro.
“I have no idea. But dessert is dessert. Come on, before Mom changes her mind.”
“Yes, I know, I know.” Zuko raised his hands, signaling Azula to calm down. “Can you just… give yourself a little more time to get to know him? Maybe ask him to visit the palace?”
Azula took a long, deep breath before slowly exhaling. She closed her eyes, trying to keep her emotions in check. The fire around her fist had already disappeared. She took another moment before speaking.
“He’s here, in the capital.”
“Good. Then it shouldn’t take long to meet him.”
Azula merely nodded.
“And this poor man’s name is?”
Azula rolled her eyes, she swallowed before saying his name “Riyu.”
Zuko answers was only his nods.
“I need your wife’s company to spar. I need to let this tension out.”
By the time Azula said it, Toph was already walking toward them.
“Oh, absolutely not” Zuko said.
“Why?!” both women asked at the same time.
“Toph, your condition isn’t stable yet. It might put our—” Zuko began, turning toward his wife as she approached.
“I've already done it when I had Lin.” Toph come with a reason
"You weren't aware on that time" Zuko stand his ground
Azula’s eyes widened as she suddenly understood. “Wait. You’re pregnant again?”
Toph nodded, tilting her head slightly.
“Spirits, Zuko. Won’t you let the girl take a break?” Azula said to her brother, whose ears and cheeks were now turning a faint shade of red. “Or do you just love making sure I’m as far away from the line of succession as possible?” She said it sarcastically.
By now, Toph was almost standing beside Zuko.
“He just loves making love to me” Toph said with smug on her face. The siblings simultaneously rolled their eyes.
Later that afternoon, Zuko was working in his office, reading something on the parchment at his desk.
The office was not far from the throne room. He leaned against the backrest of his chair, one hand resting beside the stack of documents he had yet to finish. Then came a knock at the door. The guards stationed outside entered.
“The Grand Chamberlain, Your Majesty” one of them announced.
“Let him in.”
The Grand Chamberlain stepped inside then the guards stepped back and closed the door behind him.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Your Majesty,” Seto, the Grand Chamberlain, said with a bow.
“Is there something you need, Seto?” Zuko asked calmly.
“I’m here to inform you about the man who came to the capital with Princess Azula.” Seto paused before continuing. “The Fire Lady previously ordered me to find out who he might be. I couldn’t find her, so I decided to inform you instead.”
Zuko nodded. “…And?”
“The man’s name is Riyu. He is a Fire Nation soldier living near the border of Yu Dao.” Seto’s expression remained formal. “I tried to find out about his family and any relatives. Only one name came up.”
“Who?”
“Isna.” Seto hesitated. “We tried to find out more about her. What we know is that she is his mother, but…”
“But?”
“I heard she’s been missing for months. There has been no contact between him and his mother for the last six months.”
Zuko’s expression tightened. “Where did you get this information? Are you certain it’s reliable?”
“Our investigators spoke with several soldiers who recognized him in the plaza.” Seto paused to collect his thoughts. “They said that, back in Yu Dao, before their assignments brought them here, they noticed that Riyu had changed, more private and quieter. When they asked what was wrong, he only said that his mother had gone missing.” He took a breath. “He was leaving the post he was assigned to guard, he's gone looking for his mother. They never heard from him again.”
Silence settled over the office.
“…Well, thank you for the information, Grand Chamberlain.” Zuko inhaled slowly. “If you find anything useful, bring it to me or my wife. I’ll tell her myself later about this.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Seto bowed before excusing himself from the room. The door closed behind him.
Zuko was left alone with the new information about his sister’s lover. Something about it bothered him. He didn’t know why yet, but the mention of a mother made him realize there was something he had not done yet.
His mother.
Ursa needed to know that Azula is here in the palace. Zuko’s gaze fell upon the empty parchment resting on his desk. He reached for a brush. After dipping it carefully into the ink, he drew the parchment closer. Then, with a slow breath, he began to write to his mother.