Chapter Text
She took a deep breath, unable to help furrowing her brow. She was upset with herself—how had they ended up like this?She listened to his soft, slow breathing—calm and steady. She knew he was alive; delicate, but alive.
Toph was furious with herself; a surprise attack had put them in this situation.
She breathed again, focusing on those around her. She was in Zuko's room, smiling bitterly as she felt the stone floor, knowing perfectly well that it had been changed by his order. After all, most of the floors in the palace were covered in wood, and few areas were stone for her to see.
It was Zuko's way of telling her how much he cared. The room had undergone changes over time; the bed, previously made of wood, had been replaced with one of wrought metal ornamented with dragons.
She heard a slight sigh from Izumi, the Fire Lord, who hadn't taken her eyes off her. She perfectly understood the doubts and questions passing through her mind; she could perceive it through the erratic beating of her heart.
As an earthbending master, she had to learn to perceive people.
She knew she really wanted to question her, and who wouldn't. The situation warranted nothing less; Zuko lay in bed after the surprise attack. She cursed; that entire incident was due to that promise of the trip that would change their destiny.
She felt Izumi move beside her, her warm breath very much like her father's; she smiled bitterly again. She walked over to the edge of the bed and took a seat.
As soon as she sat down, she clearly heard every breath in the room catch, and an absolute silence reigned.
She carefully felt the bed, the tips of her fingers touching the rough, masculine hand of the former Fire Lord. They were still strong and masculine despite the years. She moved up to touch his face, tracing his features before stopping at his scar; at that moment, she clearly heard one of the healers catch their breath, imagining the startled look on their face the moment she touched Lord Zuko's face.
She had to admit he was still handsome despite the years, very attractive for his age. She had joked with him several times about how the old women sighed when they passed near the great Lord Zuko, and with good reason—he was the great hero who helped the Avatar. She knew all too well how those comments annoyed him, and he would always reply, "There is only one woman I want to hear sighing for me."
She heard the servants, guards, and healers hold their breath again when she traced Zuko's scar with utmost gentleness, but that mattered little to her; she was only there for him, and most importantly, Katara would arrive at any moment to heal him; she highly trusted the waterbending master's healing powers.
She snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing the room's doors open, letting in a small entourage.
Two familiar footsteps froze her blood at that moment; Lin and Suyin were there, looking at her with deep doubt.
"Mother! Why are we here?" Lin asked with the seriousness that had characterized her since she was very little.
Toph knew there was no escape. She turned her face toward where the Fire Lord stood, and in a calm, measured voice asked, "Izumi, could you ask everyone to leave the room?
I believe there is an important conversation that only concerns the four of us."
Izumi didn't take her eyes off Toph; the request had caught her by surprise, yet she accepted the appeal. She asked everyone to withdraw and close the door.
The servants looked surprised at the Fire Lord, but there was no complaint, only a few bows and a quiet exit from the room.
As soon as the large wood and metal doors closed, silence reigned in the room. Toph asked the three women to sit down because they were going to talk, then took Zuko's hand in hers and began to speak:
"Zuko and I have known each other for a long time, since we were very young. But sometimes life has very different destinies, and other times they intertwine. We were destined to intertwine. She made a long pause before continuing: "And everything changed after we fought against Taga."