The morning air was cold, almost  distant, the sun  still coming into view. Everyone else around me was still asleep.
I walked away from the Air temple, I had decided to practice my bending and wasn't keen on accidentally destroying what was left of Aang's nation.

With each growing ember I could feel the heat of my flames press against my skin. It illuminated the grooves of vegetation around my training spot.

"Whose weak now Azula?" I sneered, fire blasting through the air from my kick.

Suddenly, I felt the ground shake beneath me and heard the familiar hum of Fire Nation air ships.  Dammit.

I rushed back to the Air Temple, sweat dripping down my back with each step. I could hear explosions clash against the rock,  scattering debre.

"(Y/N)? Where have you been?" Aang yelled.

"Training."

"Come on we can get out through here!" Toph exclaimed bending a hole in the wall.

Everyone rushed to the hole except for Aang who was struggling with Appa and Zuko who was looking onto the airships.

"What are you doing?"

"Go ahead I'll hold them off. I think this is a family visit." Zuko snapped rushing forward.

"Zuko wait I can help please!" I screamed trying to go forward to help him.

"Just go (Y/N) I can handle this!"

"Come on we've got to get out of here!" Sokka commanded turning me away from Zuko. I could feel my heart sink.

"I can't get him to go in there Appa hates tunnels!" Aang stated as we tried to lead Appa to the hole.

"Aang, there's no way we can fly out of here."

"We'll have to find a way." He replied.

"We need to split up, take the tunnel and get to the stolen airship." Sokka commanded the non-gaang members of our group.

"No! The fire nation can't separate our family again." Katara complained looking at her dad.

"It'll be okay. It's not forever." Hakoda urged his daughter embracing her.

Aang, Toph, Suki, Sokka, Katara, and I left the rest of the group and gathered on Appa after Toph touched the wall,
"I can clear that away and we can fly out through there."

"Um there's an awful lot of fire in that general direction..." Suki stammered as the cave around us shook.

"We'll get through." Aang reassured her, "Let's go."

We blasted through the stone wall and into the open sky. Azula tried bending at us but we were covered by the stone.

I looked down on Zuko as he rushed toward Azula. I could feel my heart stop in my chest as I watched them fight.
"Dang it Zuko don't do anything stupid..."

Aang directed Appa to avoid the flames blasting our way. My eyes traced Zuko's every move. Azula and Zuko were now fighting on the top of an airship and within seconds they both went flying off the edge.

"Zuko!" I called as Appa narrowly catched him. All eyes turned to Azula,
"She's not going to make it." Zuko stuttered as Azula used her firebending to propel herself off a wall safety, "of course she did."

~

After escaping the raid, we found ourselves camped on the edge of the Fire Nation,
"Wow camping  it seems like old times again doesn't it?"

"If you really want it to feel like old times, I could, uh ... chase you around a while and try to capture you" Zuko joked causing us all to laugh except for Katara.

"Ha ha." She rolled her eyes.

"To Zuko! Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today he'd be our hero?" Sokka cheered as we all raised our cups except for Katara.

"Hear hear!" Aang touched Zuko's elbow before Toph straight up punched him.

"I'm touched. I don't deserve this." Zuko blushed putting his arm around me.

"Yeah no kidding..." Katara sassed storming off.

"What's with her?" Sokka scrambled before Zuko got up to follow her, "what's up with him?"

"I don't know.." I sighed a familiar feeling mounting in my gut.

~

The next morning I woke up a bit late. Stepping out of my tent I looked around,
"Where's Zuko?"

"He left with Katara to find the guy that killed her mother." Aang sighed.

"He left?" My voice trembled, "That can't be... he always tells me where he's going!"

"Maybe he forgot to this time... he wasn't focused on it..."

"I guess..." I sighed walking off trying to hide my disappointed, "I'm going to do some training... catch you guys later."

~

He just forgot right? He... didn't do it to hurt me. I thought back to how Zuko went after Katara last night. Then, he left with her today.

Envy pierced through my heart as I tried yo focus on my bending,
"Stupid emotions!" I screamed scattering my flame.

"Tell me about it..." a familiar voice sighed.

"Toph? What are you doing here."

"I could tell you were tense so I followed you,  wanted to make sure your alright..." she stated crossing her arms.

"It's nothing... I'm fine." I snapped back.

"I can tell that you're lying you know... I would suggest you tell me what's wrong now before I have to force it out of you."

"Is that a threat?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Maybe.. do you really want to find out?"

"No." I sighed plopping down onto the ground. Toph bending a seat out of earth next to me. "It's Zuko... he kinda hurt my feelings... but it's not that big of a deal."

"If it was enough to get you upset then it is a big deal (Y/N)." She stated, "just tell me what happened."

"Fine... whenever Zuko goes somewhere he usually tells me so I can wish him goodbye. When he left with Katara he didn't tell me anything... and he's kinda been distant lately so I'm worried. Maybe he doesn't like me as much as I like him... maybe he likes-"

"Katara?" She guessed raising her eyebrow.

"Yup... and now there gonna spend a considerable amount of time together... and I'm stuck here... alone. I feel jealous even though I know I shouldn't... she's with Aang and I'm with Zuko. But for some stupid reason I'm still worried.  You must think I'm just paranoid..." I looked down at the dirt beneath my feet. 

"I think your reasonable (Y/N)... your not the only one who gets jealous sometimes..."

"Your jealous of what? The sun? Your literally the most powerful Earthbender in the world! You're amazing Toph!" I gushed.

"Not everyone thinks that..." she sighed looking at Sokka walking past with Suki.

"Hey..." I put my hand on her shoulder, "you don't need some guy to show you how great you are!"

"Thanks... (Y/N)... that means a lot. You wanna go throw some rocks at random fish?" She smiled looking out towards the water.

"You know I would!"

~

"What are you guys doing?" Aang asked approaching us by the water.

"Tormenting fish to forget about our problems... wanna join us? Don't worry we never actually hit the fish... they always swim away too fast" I teased.

"I think... I'm okay.." he sighed.

"What's up with you twinkle toes?" Toph asked.

"I just miss Katara..." he frowned sitting down, "I'm kinda worried that-"

"That her and Zuko will get  get close?" Toph answered.

"Yeah... but how did you know that?" Aang asked.

"Don't tell anyone but she's a mindreader." I joked, "but Aang if it makes you feel better... I'm kinda worried about the same thing."

"At least I'm not alone.." Aang smiled reluctantly.

"You're a catch Aang... I'm sure Katara knows that... and if she doesn't that she's probably just confused. I don't think we have to worry..." I grinned putting my hand on his back to comfort him.

"(Y/N)... would you help me with my firebending? Since Zuko's not here..."

"Of course! I'd love to!" I chipped, "I've been working on my bending myself and I'd love to show you what I've learned!"

"Oh can I watch?" Toph added.

"But aren't you blind?" I tilted my head, "it might be a bit difficult to..."

"It's called watching with my feet (Y/N) now get over here so I can punch you." She teased.

~

"Zuko! I mean... welcome back..." I sighed awkwardly.

"(Y/N) I'm sorry I forgot to tell you where I was going.... I realized it right after I left..."

"What you didn't... I didn't even notice." I lied.

"Can I make it up to you?" Zuko asked taking my hand in his. I looked into his golden eyes. I could stare into those eyes forever.

"I have a request but it's a bit... strange." My heart raced. I looked up and then whispered into his ear.

"You want me to what now?" He muttered trying to hide his blush.

"Please...." I batted my eyelashes.

"Fine..." he sighed leading me away.

Another finished chapter baby!!! Sorry for the lack of updates y'all school really do be messing up my vibe 😪

But hope y'all liked this one oh and if you're wondering what (Y/N)'s request was use your imagination, ;) jk jk but it can be whatever because I literally couldn't think of anything I had the will to write without dying of cringe 😅

Btw happy birthday to my gal serena_s_snape I love you!!! 🥳🥳🥳

Goldie out~!