Work Text:
She would always have her sovereignity, he would always have his crown. It was a good exercise of separation, of balance.
He would never ask her to share the burden of the crown and she would never ask him to step down to join her in independence. Duty and freedom.
She was earth's child through and through, he held the fire for her even if it meant being torn between spending time on the palace and flying to Republic city in the first half of the year.
A powerful woman and he would not hinder her growth, until he did. His spent on her fertile ground bore a fruit that they did not had a chance to regret, Izumi was born at dawn.
He had tended to her, boiling the warm water that Katara pointed out, took her punches when the pain rolled out in waves, endured the painful squeeze of her hands while he smoothed her back as she swore to never let him touch her again. All of it forgotten as fresh wailing cut through the morning rays of the sun.
His heart felt tender as he pressed a kiss on his lover's temple, "Thank you Toph." He whispered and wiped the tears from her face.
"I want to see her." She asked with outstretched arms as Katara hurried up cleaning the newborn. "Congratulations." The healer said without preamble, as she checked her friend over. Satisfied she began to leave them be but not without threathening Zuko out of habit.
"She did not tear, " she pinned him with her blue eyes, "rare for first time mothers," she mutters to herself as she had a first degree tear on Bumi's birth."Doesn't mean you guys can go at it again." She stared him down.
Zuko took both of Katara's hand," Thank you for your help Master Katara." He said so softly and sincerely that she thawed on the spot.
"Two weeks." She said heading to the door. "That includes you too,Toph."
"Yeah, yeah thanks Sugarqueen." Toph said defiantly but Katara was appeased from the pink blush blooming on her friends face.
Everything was quiet aside from the sunbeams painting Toph's room, window open as fresh spring breeze swept in, here in her simple sanctuary at Republic city, she gave him a precious gift. The wailing quieted down to happy coos as the new human found purchase in her mother's warm hold. Zuko took it in and thanked the spirits for how Toph looked as she traced her fingers on the newborn face, his heart squeezing at the thought that she didn't even get to see how beautiful she looked especially in this moment.
"She's got your nose." She quipped delicately checking again.
"And your jaw. Damn." She huffed.
"Guess you won this round Sparks," she declared. "You get to name her." Tenderly she whispered, more gifts to him.
What she meant was, come meet your child. Her fears of him fleeing from them was cut short when strong and warm pair of arms carefully enveloped them in an embrace. He buried his scarred face at the junction of her head and shoulders, something wet coating her neck. He had been crying.
"Thanks Toph."
