Chapter Text
So, there’s good news and there’s bad news. The bad news, is that Toph can definitely feel that Zuko’s very sick, even after he had blown off her concerns for the past few days. If he wasn’t sick, she would kick his ass for worrying her so much.
The good news, is that- um, well... there is no good news actually. The okay-ish news, is that he’s not about to keel over right this second. As it is, he’s trying to teach Aang, even though Toph can clearly feel his heart beating unevenly and can hear his breath coming in shaky gasps.
Toph doesn’t know if she admires Zuko, or thinks he’s a fucking idiot for shouting furiously for the whole lesson, despite obviously feeling like shit. When he finally dismisses Aang, he sits down heavily and Toph can feel him holding his head in his hands. “Hey, uh, Sparky? You doin’ okay?” She asks, walking up to him.
He flinches a little and stammers, “Oh, uh, T-Toph? How long have you- nevermind... um, yep! I’m doing great!” He gestures with his arms, as if to prove his point, but immediately winces.
”Yeaaah, and I’m a badgermole,” Toph scoffs, “I know you’re sick, Zuko.”
She gets the immediate feeling that she should not have said that. Zuko shrinks away from her and stutters out a rapid response, “N-no! I’m not! E-even if I was sick, it wouldn’t matter. I’d still be able to train Aang, I promise!”
“Woah, woah, calm down, Sparks!” Toph holds her hands out, in what she hopes is a somewhat pacifying gesture. “You wanna slow down a bit?”
”I won’t be any trouble, I promise,” Zuko says in a small voice and he sounds horribly close to crying, “I can take care of myself and-and Aang won’t have to stop training. I’ll be able to-to teach him still.”
Toph sits down cross-legged in front of him and reaches forward for one of his hands. He doesn’t flinch at the touch and she counts that as a victory, as she squeezes the hand comfortingly. “I’m not worried about Aang, dumbass. I’m worried about you. You don’t need to hide this kind of thing from us. Katara can even help heal you.”
”Please don’t tell, Katara,” he says, his voice quivering again, sounding very un-Zuko-like and absolutely miserable. The empathetic tug in Toph’s chest makes her feel itchy.
”You and Katara are chill now, right?” She checks.
”I- I think so, but I don’t want to be a burden and she’s already so busy and-”
He’s getting increasingly panicky, so Toph says loudly, “I’m going to stop you right there, Sunshine,” she continues in a quieter voice, when Zuko shuts up, “Katara will not think you’re a burden for getting sick and neither will anyone else. If they do, I’ll kick their asses.”
This startles a quiet laugh out of Zuko and she smirks triumphantly. “Now come on,” she says, standing up and tugging him to his feet. He sways as he stands and Toph tightens her grip on his hand. “Yeah, you definitely need a healer,” she shakes her head a bit and pulls him towards the house.
—————
When they arrive, Toph shouts, “Sugar Queen, get out here!”
”What, Toph,” Katara asks huffily as she opens the door, but freezes, presumably when she sees Zuko. “What the hell is wrong with him,” she asks, sounding stunned.
Zuko flinches a little at the blunt question and Toph squeezes his hand lightly. “This dumbass decided to pretend he wasn’t sick,” she explains, rolling her eyes.
”You look dead on your feet, Zuko,” Katara says, her voice soft in the way it gets when somebody she cares about is hurt. She takes Zuko’s other hand and Toph relinquishes hold of him.
“How long have you been sick?” Katara demands, as she leads Zuko into the house, Toph following behind.
”Um, a-a few days I think,” Zuko says, his voice still quiet and more than a bit off.
”Well, you’re burning up,” The waterbender comments concernedly.
“You- you don’t have to bother yourself with me. I’ll be better in a couple of days,” he tells her softly.
“Don’t be stupid,” Katara says. The words are sharp, but her voice is soft, “I’m not bothered, I just don’t like seeing you hurt.”
”Oh,” Zuko sounds so lost and maybe Toph should have sensed it earlier but his heart rate spikes and he sways where he stands.
”Katara! He’s gonna-” Toph starts and Zuko collapses, “do... that...”