Chapter 14

"Rejection"

A warm breeze blew through the open window, ruffling the curtains surrounding the bed. The moonlight, waning now, sent weak shadows along the floor, moving as the curtains did.

Zuko sneezed.

He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, staring up at the canopy of his bed, trying to find that calm stability he had yesterday. But the tightness in his chest wouldn't go away.

Father hadn't called to talk with him yet. Why not? Was it because he didn't have the Avatar? His betrothed had gone missing? Or did it have something to do with Uncle?

He groaned, rolling onto his side, running his hands through his hair. At this rate, he would go insane long before he ever had a chance to speak with Father.

After a moment, he stood, and grabbed the robe handing next to his desk, pulling it on. Maybe a walk would help clear his head.

He slipped out the window, pulling the hood up to hide his face in shadow. It felt… comfortable, to hide his face again, like he had as the Blue Spirit. This was no mask, but it would do for now.

The garden was silent, the water in the pond broken only by the movement of the breeze, warm, always with the slight scent of ash. He paused by the tree that shaded the bench next to the pond, a memory flicking to the front of his mind.

Mom…

What would she think of his return?

He turned away, and jumped up into the tree, moving quickly up the branches and leaping to the roof of the palace. It had always been nice up here, showing a grand view of the entire caldera… it still looked nice, but that hollow pit in his stomach wouldn't go away. Looking over the city, he didn't feel pride, he didn't see the beauty he had seen in the years before. He saw a broken people, run by a broken king, heading a broken, heartless family.

Their fire had turned from providing warmth to the world, to destroying everything. How could he feel proud about that?

Again, a memory came to mind. Four symbols drawn in the sand, pulled together by a circle.

"It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful too."

A balance. That was what they needed. But what could he do? He was just an honorless Fire Prince, one who had spent most of his life lending to the destruction of the balance.

Uncle would know.

The path to the prison was silent, and deserted. He had walked this way only once before, back when Mom—

No. Don't think about that.

He paused a little ways from the gate, and looked up at the cold stone structure, carved straight from the mountain, and reinforced with metal bands in various places.

Metal… proof that when two elements worked together, instead of against each other, they could create something that was greater than either of them.

The little earth girl came to mind. Stubborn, and fixated on her path once she found it. Just like her element.

Oddly enough, Zuko smiled a bit at that thought.

"Who goes there?"

Thoughts interrupted, Zuko glanced up at the guard who was looking down at him, one hand slowly reaching down for the sword at his waist.

Zuko opened his mouth slightly to say something, thought better of it, then turned and walked away.

Uncle wouldn't want to talk to him anyway.

-0-

The throne room looked just the same as he had remembered. The same open, empty space that always felt just a bit too large. The same wall of fire flickering in front of where the Fire Lord sat. And the same emotionless gaze on his father's face.

Zuko knelt there for a long time after Father had walked out. A small bead of sweat trickled down the back of his neck, getting under his collar and tickling the skin between his shoulder blades.

He was back home, people were accepting him now, and yet… he shuddered.

Azula. What was her scheme this time? Giving Zuko all the glory of killing the Avatar… though was he really dead? What if he wasn't? What then? How could he really know? That water girl had had that healing water… was it possible she could have healed the Avatar?

Another drop of sweat trailed along his hairline. He wiped it away with the edge of his sleeve. Had it always been this warm in the throne room?

Abruptly, he stood. There was a letter he needed to write. And a talk to have with his sister.

-0-

Toph sat in the engine room, absently flicking pieces of coal into the open furnace. It was sweltering here, but surrounded by so much metal and earth… it felt good, even with the fire.

Footsteps echoed out in the hallway, and paused in front of the open engine door.

"Ah, here you are," Bato said, walking in.

Toph raised her head. "Yeah. And?"

He hesitated half a moment. "Well… a falcon-hawk just arrived."

She shrugged. "So?"

"It's carrying a message for you."

That gave her pause. "Me? From who?"

"I haven't looked."

"Well, go ahead. Not like I can tell."

Bato chuckled a little, and sat next to her, moving the falcon-hawk over to his knee. Toph heard the rustling of paper, and felt Bato stiffen slightly as he looked at the letter. "It's from… Zuko. He's asking… huh. There's a lot of questions here." Toph had the feeling he was giving her a funny look. "I didn't know you were familiar with the Fire Prince."

She scowled, and held her hand out. "Give it here."

Bato handed her the paper, and she tore it in half, then again, and again, until the letter was nothing but a small pile of confetti.

"Here." She shoved the pieces in his hands, ignoring his shock radiating through the metal. "Have the hawk take that back to him. That should be enough of an answer."

"Uh… alright…" he said slowly, loading the pieces into the hawk's message pouch. "You want to tell me…?"

"No," she said, turning her face toward the furnace, hoping her bangs hid most of her expression. "And don't tell anyone else about this, alright?"

"I should probably tell Hakoda if Zuko knows—"

"He doesn't," Toph interrupted. "Those hawks can find anyone in the world. Don't. Tell. Anyone."

There was a long moment of silence, with Bato sitting, unmoving. She picked up some coal and started tossing the pieces into the furnace again.

"Alright," he finally said, standing with the hawk on his arm. He turned to go, stopping long enough to put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll listen, if you ever do want to talk."

She grunted, the sound neither a confirmation or denial of his offer.

Bato stood there a moment longer, then headed out. Toph waited till he was four steps into the hallway, then twitched her fingers, slamming the door shut. It bent from the force of her bending, making her scowl. She'd have to fix that later, but right now, she didn't care.

So… Sparky still though she owed him loyalty.

"Idiot," she muttered out loud, falling back onto the giant pile of coal, sending dust into the air. She didn't owe him anything, not after he turned on them like that. It was one thing to always be going after Aang, but betraying Iroh like that? His own uncle? The only one who had treated Zuko with kindness, when even his own father and sister used him as a pawn?

No.

He had made it clear what side he had picked. He was against the Avatar, against the world… and against her.

Time for him to know just what a big mistake that choice was.

Surprise~

I'm alive haha.

Good news though—it's NaNoWriMo, so there's a very good chance that I'll be posting multiple chapters over the next few weeks. Thanks for sticking with me guys, and welcome to all the new readers who've picked up the story since I last updated :)