Drabble #4 - Promise - Toko

Promise

~P~

Supposedly, they were all grown up now.

The Yu Dao crisis had long since been solved by the turning of the port colony into Republic City, established by the Avatar and Fire Lord. The short rift in their friendship had been mended, as though nothing had even happened in the first place.

Katara and Aang were engaged, while Sokka and Suki were newlyweds. Zuko was happily single, applying all of his attention to building a better Fire Nation and healthier ties with both Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom. After Mai had ended their relationship seemingly so long ago, he hadn't attempted to reconcile it after sorting out the Fire Nation-Earth Kingdom colonization issue, and it had turned out a well-made decision on his end, for his country was now thriving under his reign.

Toph had been established as the Police Chief of Republic City when the city was just newly beginning, and happily accepted the position at first. But now that she had been doing it for five years, it was starting to bore her – she loved her job, but for the most part, it was stagnant. No real crime had arisen in Republic City since its founding and not that many people were all that interested in joining her team yet, leaving Toph rather bored when it came to her career. She never got the action her title promised.

And while she loved the responsibility she had been given, Toph didn't want to grow up yet.

It was on her twenty third birthday that she decided she was going to take some time off – not too long, but a significant amount of time so that she could travel a bit and regain the action of her younger years. But she couldn't go alone. But none of her friends could go, either – everyone was too involved with the crucial political standings of the city to take such time off with her.

But when it seemed as though Toph would be chained to her duties for another few, bland years, she remembered something.

His promise.

~P~

It was supposed to be a regular morning filled with meetings and signing of treaties and other stuffy political gatherings of that sort for the Fire Lord, but instead he woke to the sound of Toph throwing his doors open and announcing that they were going on a 'field trip'.

It took a few moments for the groggy Fire Lord to process her order – not a request, never a request when it came to his Earthbending friend – but then he was reminded of the promise he had made to her over ten years prior: to take her on a 'field trip' like he had gone on with Katara, Sokka, and Aang.

Toph told him to get up and get ready – he had an hour. Zuko tried to reason with her that he had priorities, that he had a nation rule, but she would have none of it. She argued that he made her a promise, and that she was making sure he kept it.

He didn't put up much of a fight after that – he knew that if he fought with her that he would end up losing, so why waste his energy? Besides, the more he thought about it, taking a short break from his position as monarch wouldn't be all too bad an idea. He was beginning to get stressed out, and what other way to remedy that then taking a vacation? Also, Zuko always, always kept his promises, no matter what.

So, within the amount of time he was given, Zuko had passed on a message to his Uncle and was off with Toph, relishing the adrenaline of adventure rushing through his veins.

~P~

The trip lasted longer than it should have, not that either member of the party really minded. They bonded over mutual interests and fears, recollecting their past when they were all travelling together with Aang. They discussed their shared issues with their parents – neither of them had a good relationship with their kin – and basked together in the discoveries they made.

But it was only a matter of time before they were dragged back to their separate, demanding, task-filled lives – Toph was frantic when she was informed of the reality of it all, wanting to hold onto her last piece of freedom for as long as possible, to feel nothing but abounding happiness for her last few days with him, to be impulsive and thoughtless for just a short while longer.

So one night, without any lead into the action, did she kiss him.

It wasn't really supposed to mean anything, Toph told herself, she just wanted to be gutsy like she was more so when she was younger, but it escalated when he didn't refuse the contact, instead pressing his lips back against hers. It evoked feelings in the pit of Toph's stomach that she hadn't felt since she had had a crush on Sokka.

It was a long time coming, both decided. They had spent so much time together in those past few weeks, connecting emotionally and entrusting each other with dark secrets and airy hopes and dreams.

For the next two, last weeks they spent together, they would kiss clumsily and participate in other lustful actions and activities, indulging, laughing, and carefree. They told each other that it was nothing, despite what they actually felt, and that when the time came, they would separate and their feelings would dissolve easily.

But when it came to both of them having to part ways though, it was more difficult than either was willing to admit. She kissed him that morning that she was meant to leave for Republic City again, relishing it because both knew it was the last time it would happen.

"Toph..." he murmured, unable to conjure words, heart heavy and weighing down his thought process. He looked directly into her milky green eyes, despite the fact that she knew couldn't see him – that she couldn't see his emotions.

But she could still sense them, and even though she could feel his slowly-beating, sad heart, she said nothing, ignoring her own feelings for the man. She was glad that he couldn't read her emotions as well as she could his. "We know this can't work, Sparky," she shrugged as though their romance was the casual relationship it was meant to be. "We're too far away, and besides," she frowned, "I wouldn't make a very good Fire Lady. I'm not exactly refined, you know." She laughed forcedly at her words, and Zuko contrived a chuckle so as not to make the situation anymore awkward than it already was.

They were quiet for a few seconds, and Toph felt him shift uncomfortably in front of her, reaching out for her hand. She, however, counteracted this move by turning away, sighing heavily. "See ya, Zuko. Maybe at the next conference or something, okay? This was fun..." She cracked a small smile then, "...let's do it again sometime?"

He nodded, "Uh... s-sure. Goodbye, Toph." He paused, clenching his fists and gnashing his teeth while trying to make his decision, before adding quickly, "I promise." Those words alone caused Toph's heart to skip a beat, but she didn't show any outward reaction to them.

They stood there for a few seconds then, as though waiting for the other to make a situation-reversing decision, but neither did, and at that, the Earthbender sighed again and then exited the Fire Lord's room, forcing herself to put their affair in the back of her mind and to return to the dreary mindset of being Police Chief of Republic City.

~P~

The pair saw each other at gatherings like Toph had said, but rarely interacted as much as they wanted to, and never alluded to their past tryst. Her job became more and more enjoyable as the years passed and more and more promising Earthbenders came forth, wanting to learn Metalbending and join her force. Suddenly, her life was filled with meaning again and she couldn't have been any happier than she was training her recruits.

But one morning, Toph's regular schedule was interrupted by a knock at her apartment door – she glared at it. Who could possibly want to see her at this time in the morning, when she was preparing for work?

She juggled with the idea of ignoring the person, but in the end, decided not to, and with a sigh, made her way to her front door, taking her precious time opening it because whoever or whatever it was, it wasn't that imp—

"Hey."

"Zuko?"

Toph stood there out of her disbelief. What was he doing there? She was about to ask him that exact question, but anticipating it, he answered before she could inquire.

"I promised," was all he said, hiking his bag up higher on his shoulder. He was smiling charmingly at the Earthbender, willing her to feel his relief and happiness at seeing her.

And that was all it took for Toph to wrap her arms around his torso and kiss him, hard.

Zuko always kept his promises.