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Memories from Western Airtemple	By : DarthAnimus Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality > Slash - Male/Male Views: 16187 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own "Avatar: the Last Airbender" or the characters. I don't make any profit out of writing this.

Chapter List
- 42
- 43
- 44
Memories from Western Air Temple
Chapter 43
Burn

Toph took pride in her dedication to her training even now when the arrival of Sozin’s Comet was mere days away. She wanted to master her metalbending, because it would without a doubt be useful against the Fire Nation’s metal contraptions. It was too bad that she did not have much she could practise with, since there were only so many shields the camp was willing to allow her to twist, even though she restored them to their proper shapes afterwards.
In battle there was always a certain level between concentration and perception that needed to be reached. It was difficult to pay attention to one’s surroundings while trying to bend an element to your will. But for Toph it was a second nature to be aware of everything around her even while focusing on moving the earth. She was actually more sensitive than normal while she was actively bending.
It was because of this tendency that Toph noticed the approaching unsteady footsteps far before they were near enough for her to recognize the by now familiar footfalls.
“Zuko, where are you headed all by yourself?” Toph turned to the firebender, feeling amused at the other’s staggering walking. “Not to mention in such shape. You’re wobbling like you’d had cactus juice.”
“Toph.” Zuko’s tone was confused as he came to an immediate pause. A moment passed before the other was capable of an answer, although a very unclear one. “Nowhere, anywhere.” Toph felt the other’s heart thumping rapidly.
“Your heartbeat’s all over the place.” The girl frowned in worry. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, everything.” Zuko’s breathing was heavy, exhausted. “Toph, I think I’m losing my mind.”
The statement seemed out of place to Toph, but it still worried her and so she had to force a laugh. “Figuratively speaking, right?”
“No, I mean I really am going insane.” Zuko was wobbling again, like he was about to collapse. Toph tapped the ground with her foot, lifting the rocky ground so that the boy had something to lean on, and Zuko slumped against the newly formed rock with a grateful sigh before mumbling a weak thank you.
“What happened?” Toph stepped closer to her friend, knowing that there had to have been an event that caused Zuko to break down like this.
“I said something to Aang, something I didn’t mean to.” Zuko’s speech was slurred but Toph managed to understand the words. “I just can’t remember what it was that I said.” A strangled sound half came out of Zuko’s throat, one so muffled Toph couldn’t identify it. “Something’s crumbling apart inside me, and I don’t know why.”
“How do you feel otherwise?” Toph touched Zuko’s hand, trying to get a more specific feel of her friend’s condition. The other’s skin was hot, beyond feverish.
“It feels like I’m burning.” Zuko paused, hesitant as he tried to make sense of the sensations. “But…I also feel powerful. It’s strange, there’s no reason, it’s not a particularly bright day-” Laughter cut off the sentence and Toph felt an unpleasant shiver go up her spine. “The comet, Sozin’s Comet is nearing. That’s why, that’s why I’m losing my grip like this.”
“Can we do something about it?” Toph crossed her arms in a gesture of sternness. “Is there anything that would help you stay focused?”
“Well, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t so messed up to begin with.” Zuko laughed at his own words, but the tone told Toph clearly that the firebender was in fact far from amused at the situation.
A sensation, one almost overlooked, took Toph’s attention away from her friend as she tried to pinpoint the source of what she felt.
“Toph?” Zuko’s tone was worried and Toph reached up to grasp his arm.
“Someone’s here,” was all Toph managed to get out before Zuko knocked her to the ground, right before the ground shattered like from an explosion. There was only one attack that could catch her off guard like that, without her seeing it coming.
Lightning bending.
“I must say you’re terrible at keeping a low profile, Zuzu.” The gloating voice was familiar, and it hadn’t been a long enough time since their last encounter with Azula to not recognize the harping.
“Toph, you have to go.” Zuko steadied himself as Toph climbed to her feet. “Warn the others. She knows we’re trying to gather people. Who knows who else she’s told.”
“Don’t worry about that, brother dear.” Azula was coming closer, moving slowly and slightly unsteadily. The movements reminded Toph of something she had sensed from elsewhere only a short while ago. “I had to get you alone, so I wouldn’t have anyone else butting in. I haven’t told anyone of your little coop in the making.”
“Toph, now,” Zuko hissed heatedly and Toph huffed.
“I’m not going anywhere, Firecracker.” The earthbender took her stance. “I’m helping.”
“It’s not safe.”
“I can take care of myself!” Toph bristled; where was this distrust coming from?
“I know that!” Zuko actually raised his voice at this point. “She’s not right, Toph. You can’t see her face so you wouldn’t know... She’s too unpredictable to fight normally.” The firebender’s voice held a tone of finality. “I’m going to have to go to her level, and I can’t trust myself around you then.”
Toph understood then. Azula’s wobbling was the exact same as Zuko’s before; both of the firebenders were being affected by the comet. They were both grappling for sanity, and quickly failing.
“Fine.” Toph clenched her fists. “But I will punch you once this is all over.” And with that she left, even though still reluctantly. She only hoped that Zuko didn’t end up too far gone for them to reach.
To be continued…
- 42
- 43
- 44
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Memories from Western Airtemple