Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of Fractures
Collections:
A Collection of Beloved Inserts, Amazing fics :D, ATLA_fics_I_would_die_for, ๐ŸŒ‘ ๐‘ซ๐’‚๐’“๐’Œ ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’•๐’•๐’†๐’“ ๐ŸŒ‘, Why...(ยฐใƒญยฐ) ! (pages and pages of google docs links)โ–‘(ยฐโ—กยฐ)โ–‘, Favourite Fics For A Stormy Night, The Void Thanks You For The Offering, EdwardGrave's Fic Rec, Random Fics, That Good Golden Shit
Stats:
Published:
2024-02-26
Updated:
2025-03-12
Words:
16,711
Chapters:
4/22
Comments:
1,259
Kudos:
6,281
Bookmarks:
1,672
Hits:
99,992

Fractures: Sundered Spirits

Summary:

With the arrival of Princess Azula, Toph Beifong, and Master Piandao to the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Zuko, barely staying afloat as is, finds himself thrown directly into the very thing he's been avoiding: the fallout of the Hundred-Year War. As faces old and new emerge from the shadows, some friend and other foe, Zuko struggles to help both his nation and the world while grappling with exactly what it means to do what is right.

- - -

Books 2 and 3 of Fractures

Notes:

Tumblr

ย 

Book 2 Interlude Poll

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: Returned

Chapter Text

- ย  ย  Book Two: To Fall Apart at the Seams ย ย ย  -

ย 

Zuko had met many nobles in his life. Heโ€™d been surrounded by them: generals, admirals, governors, magnates, advisors, and everyone in-between.

Of them all, Toph Beifong might be one of his favorites.

She sat leaned back in her chair, heels crossed on the table, stamped free of dirt only moments before she put them up there. The bottoms of her feet were visible, the soles of her shoes mysteriously missing. She ate her food with her fingers, unafraid to mention when she didnโ€™t like something or when she did. She had a piece of hair that seemed to fall over her nose in the exact spot she didnโ€™t want it, brushing it aside no less than twice a minute.

โ€œYou know,โ€ Toph said, not totally finished chewing the dumpling she was working on, โ€œThis was not what I was expecting when I made this trip.โ€

Zuko coughed. โ€œNo?โ€

She shook her head. โ€œI mean, I was hoping to not get thrown in a cellโ€”not that it would hold the Greatest Earthbender in the Worldโ€”maybe get a thank you or two, but this? You guys mustโ€™ve really missed her around here. For some reason.โ€

Tai snorted. โ€œThereโ€™s a good chance this wouldโ€™ve happened either way. Fire Lord Zuko over here seems to have a nasty habit of taking in strays.โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s that supposed to mean?โ€ Toph asked.

โ€œYou donโ€™t need to tell her,โ€ Zuko said.

โ€œOh-โ€ Toph grinned, a bit feral- โ€œNow you definitely do.โ€

Taiโ€™s lips split into a wide smile of his own. โ€œI met him by breaking into his office with some of my friends who wanted to murder him.โ€

Zuko buried his face in his hands.ย 

Toph let out a bark of laughter. โ€œWhat the fuck? Dude, youโ€™re the Fire Lord, why would you keep around a guy you met on a mission to kill you?โ€

Zuko, face still pressed to his palms, said, โ€œHe was nice? Look, I havenโ€™t really been on the receiving end of a lot of niceness for a good while now. Lady Kya says itโ€™s why I latch onto people so easily.โ€

โ€œAw, Fire Lord, are you attached?โ€ Tai asked, turning his smile on Zuko.

โ€œI was,โ€ he replied. โ€œReconsidering it now.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m hurt.โ€

โ€œYeah, and here I was ready to fast-track our way to being best friends,โ€ Toph added.

โ€œAgni, when are Mai and Ty Lee getting here?โ€ Zuko muttered under his breath. Then, he paused and said, โ€œActually, they might just make it worse.โ€

As Tai laughed, Toph spoke. โ€œSo, wait, I know who those last two are. Knife Girl and Circus Girl, right?โ€ย 

Zuko blinked. โ€œMai and Ty Lee? Iโ€ฆ didnโ€™t know you knew them."

โ€œFought โ€˜em a good few times.โ€

โ€œ What? โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re right, โ€˜kicked their assesโ€™ might be more appropriate. Anyway-โ€ She waved him off- โ€œWhoโ€™s the other person you mentioned, though?โ€

โ€œLady Kya?โ€ Zuko asked.

โ€œYeah,โ€ Toph nodded. โ€œHer name sounds familiar.โ€

โ€œUhโ€ฆโ€

โ€œThe Chief,โ€ Tai said helpfully, and Zuko inclined his head at him.

โ€œThatโ€™s right, her husband is the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe.โ€

Toph jerked so severely she nearly fell out of her chair. โ€œExcuse me, the fuck did you just say?โ€

Zuko exchanged glances with Tai only to find a matching look of confusion. โ€œUh, sheโ€™s the wife of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe? I, er, found her in a waterbender prison a while back and now sheโ€™s here and has sort ofโ€ฆ asserted herself as healer of the house. Sheโ€™s scary.โ€ A beat. โ€œAnd nice. Why?โ€

Instead of really responding, Toph simply chuckled, almost in disbelief. โ€œOma and Shu, Sokka and Katara are gonna lose their minds.โ€

Zuko sat up a bit straighter. He recognized those names. โ€œYou know Lady Kyaโ€™s children?โ€

Toph furrowed her brow. โ€œOf course I do? Kinda hard not to when you spend months traveling together.โ€

โ€œMonths traveling together? But Chief Hakoda said his children traveled with the Avatar.โ€

โ€œWhat are youโ€”โ€ Toph cut herself off, fell quiet for a moment, and then that same wild grin, which seemed to be common with her, blossomed on her face. โ€œ Spirits, did you not know? Iโ€™m the Avatarโ€™s earthbending master.โ€

It was Zukoโ€™s turn to jerk in surprise. He found himself at a bit of a loss for words, which was fine considering Tai seemed to not be.ย 

โ€œOh, shit, you werenโ€™t kidding when you said you were the Greatest Earthbender in the World,โ€ he said.

โ€œTo be fair, almost everyone is lying when they say that about themselves.โ€ She drummed her fingers casually against the armrest. โ€œAlmost everyone.โ€

Anything else that might have been said was cut off by Mai and Ty Lee appearing in the entryway of the room. They stopped there for a moment, seeming to drink in the sight of the table.

Finally, Mai asked in a level voice, โ€œZuko, care to inform us as to whatโ€™s going on?โ€

At her words, Toph jumped, a hand moving to press against her chest as her feet quickly slid off the table and landed on the floor. โ€œOma and Shu, warn a girl, why donโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œUh, Mai, Ty Lee,โ€ Zuko said, just a bit awkwardly, โ€œThis is Toph. Sheโ€™sโ€”โ€

โ€œThe Avatarโ€™s pet earthbender,โ€ Mai finished. โ€œWeโ€™ve met.โ€

โ€œHey, if anything heโ€™s my pet Avatar,โ€ Toph said. โ€œAnd heโ€™s not here, either way.โ€

Mai raised an eyebrow, Ty Lee hovering over her shoulder. โ€œYou expect us to just believe that?โ€

โ€œMai,โ€ Zuko said, more softly than he had actually intended, but perhaps that was what drew her attention. โ€œSheโ€ฆShe brought Azula back.โ€

The two girls froze. Ty Lee was the first to speak, her voice trembling a bit as she asked, โ€œAzula? Sheโ€”Sheโ€™s home?โ€

Zuko nodded. โ€œShe is.โ€

There was silence for a long moment, and then Mai took Ty Leeโ€™s hand firmly in hers and said sharply, โ€œWell, we donโ€™t want to see her.โ€ She dragged her friend over to a chair and pushed her into it before sitting down herself.ย 

โ€œThatโ€™sโ€ฆ fine,โ€ Zuko said after a moment. โ€œSheโ€™s in the medical wing, with Kya and Master Piandao.โ€

โ€œMaster Piandao?โ€ Ty Lee repeated, brow furrowed. โ€œYour old swords teacher?โ€

โ€œ Swords teacher?โ€ Tai asked, turning to Zuko with slightly-wide eyes. โ€œYou know how to use swords?โ€

Zukoโ€™s face flushed a bit. โ€œI used to,โ€ he said. โ€œIโ€™m a bit out of practice. And, yes, Ty Lee-โ€ He nodded to her- โ€œThe very same.โ€

โ€œWhy is he here?โ€ She propped her elbows up on the table, resting her chin on the back of her hand. โ€œWasnโ€™t he, like, a traitor or something?โ€

โ€œDouble traitor, now,โ€ Toph said. โ€œWe didnโ€™t like what the White Lotus was doing, and so here we are. Thanks for not kicking us out, by the way. Weโ€™ve definitely got a good thousand-gold bounty by now.โ€

โ€œYeah,โ€ Zuko said, just a bit dazed by how nonchalantly sheโ€™d said that. โ€œNo problem.โ€

โ€œHave you told the Avatarโ€™s fan-girl her friend is here, yet?โ€ Mai asked, accepting a roll from Ty Lee without looking.

โ€œโ€˜The Avatarโ€™s fan-girl?โ€™โ€ Toph parroted.

โ€œThe Kyoshi Warrior,โ€ Mai said.

โ€œSuki!โ€ Ty Lee added.

Toph jerked. โ€œSuki? Suki is here? What the fuck?โ€ She turned to Zuko. โ€œGot any more surprises youโ€™d like to share with the class, Fire Lord? I swear, next youโ€™re gonna say fucking Jet is here or something.โ€

Tai and Zuko exchanged glances.

She sat up straighter. โ€œNo fucking way.โ€

โ€œI mean, heโ€™s not here now,โ€ Tai said. โ€œYouโ€™re talking about Freedom Fighter Jet, right? I know he knew the Avatar and his friends, so Iโ€™d assume so.โ€

โ€œYeah, โ€˜Freedom Fighter Jet,โ€™โ€ Toph nodded, her tone a bit hysterical. โ€œThe guy who, supposedly, fucking died.โ€

โ€œOh, yeah, he didnโ€™t,โ€ Tai waved her off. โ€œWhatever youโ€™re thinking of is probably what gave him his limp, though. He never told me about it, even though he insisted that he got it โ€˜ fighting the good fight โ€™ or whatever.โ€ He shrugged. โ€œI just assumed it was against firebenders or something.โ€

โ€œEvil brainwashing earthbenders, actually,โ€ Toph corrected. โ€œSo, wait, he was the one trying to โ€˜kill the Fire Lordโ€™ that you came here with?โ€

โ€œHe was indeed.โ€

She snorted. โ€œYeah, all right. I only knew the guy for, like, four hours max , but he definitely seems the type to almost die and immediately decide his next mission should be to take out a dictator.โ€ She paused, and then angled her head toward Zuko. โ€œNot that youโ€™re a tyrant. Your dad, I mean. He sucked. No offense.โ€

โ€œNone taken,โ€ Zuko said. โ€œHe very much did.โ€

Toph grinned. โ€œSee? I knew I liked you.โ€

โ€œYou met me like two hours ago.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m a very good judge of character.โ€ She popped another dumpling into her mouth, but paused in her chewing halfway-through. Cocking her head to the side, another smile grew on her face, though much warmer than pretty much any of the other ones heโ€™d seen thus far. โ€œHoly shit, is thatโ€”โ€

โ€œToph?โ€

Suki stood in the entranceway, jaw dropped, eyes wide. She stared at Toph as if she was scared sheโ€™d disappear when she looked away.

Toph vaulted over the armrest of the chair she was in and moved swiftly toward Suki. They were embracing only a moment later, a hold so tight it was like it was the last one theyโ€™d ever have.

โ€œSuki, holy shit, it is so good to see you,โ€ Toph said, and then chuckled and added, โ€œOr, wellโ€ฆโ€

Suki laughed, wiping at her eyes. โ€œSweet Oma, Toph, you have no idea how happy I am to see you.โ€ She cleared her throat. โ€œIsโ€ฆIs anyone else here?โ€

Tophโ€™s shoulders slumped a bit. โ€œJust me. Sorry.โ€

โ€œJust you?โ€ Suki asked.ย 

โ€œYeah.โ€ Toph shrugged, but there was tension there that hadnโ€™t been present before. โ€œWent on a bit of a traitor arc, you know how it is.โ€

Suki furrowed her brow and stepped back, a sharp eye observing Toph carefully. โ€œTraitor? What are you talking about?โ€

โ€œIโ€ฆโ€ Toph rocked back on her heels. โ€œ... May or may not have gone on the run after breaking Azula out of prison. Sheโ€™s here now. Sorry.โ€

โ€œAzula?!โ€ Suki cried, reeling back. โ€œThe Fire Nation Princess Azula? Toph, sheโ€™s the one who threw me in the Boiling Rock to begin with!โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s why I said sorry!โ€ Toph shot back. โ€œI know sheโ€™s done shitty things, okay, but sheโ€™s also, like, the same age as Katara, and was objectively doing bad in the dungeons! No one would listen to me, and I wasnโ€™t just gonnaโ€”gonna leave her there!โ€

โ€œYou should have,โ€ Suki hissed. โ€œSheโ€™d deserve it, after everything she did. She locked up her own friends.โ€ She gestured wildly at Mai and Ty Lee, watching the exchange stoically. โ€œShe hurt so many people!โ€

โ€œYou werenโ€™t there!โ€ Toph exclaimed. โ€œYou didnโ€™t see her! You canโ€™t feel her. They fucked her up and then they just left her there to rot! How are we supposed to call ourselves the good guys when we treat our enemies the same way they treat us!โ€

โ€œAn eye for an eye,โ€ Suki said, voice low.

โ€œKyoshi Island,โ€ Toph scoffed. โ€œAlways quoting the words of your Lady. You know, Aang talked about how Kyoshi just kept telling him to kill whoever was in the way of balance. Aang.โ€

The name was spoken with quite a bit of weight, and based on the words surrounding it, Zuko could easily presume that this was the Avatar she was talking about. Aang.

Sukiโ€™s lips pressed into a thin line. โ€œForgive me for having little sympathy for someone like Azula.โ€

โ€œThis isnโ€™t about sympathy,โ€ Toph said. โ€œI donโ€™t even like her. But sorry if itโ€™s a little hard for someone like me to look at her and not help.โ€ Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, hard. โ€œThis isnโ€™t just being imprisoned. She lost her bending.โ€

There was a bang, and Zuko realized a moment later that it was him, the table and chair shaking from the speed with which he stood.ย 

โ€œAzula lost her bending?โ€ He asked, voice hoarse.

Toph was silent. Then, slowly, she nodded.

Zukoโ€™s fingers tangled in his hair, tugging for just a moment until he felt capable of thinking again. โ€œI need to go to the medical wing.โ€

The journey was a bit of a blur. Zuko left the rest of them behind, mind fully occupied with his sister and her apparent lack of bending. Just how long was she imprisoned? There was no way it could be as long as he had been before he lost his own connection to Agni, but perhaps the requirements were different? He hadnโ€™t yet had a chance to research Elemental Deprivation and its effects, and he bemoaned it now, as he was rather in the dark.

Still, when the door opened to Azulaโ€™s room in the medical wing, revealing Kya, Piandao, and his sister on the other side, Zuko knew that he couldnโ€™t just wait to speak with her.

โ€œHello, your grace,โ€ Kya said, honorifics a bit odd to hear from her but understandable given their current company. โ€œIs there something I can help you with?โ€

โ€œIโ€™d like to speak with my sister,โ€ he managed to say. She smiled gently at him and nodded.

โ€œWell, my work was about done for the day, anyway,โ€ she said. โ€œI presume you would prefer privacy?โ€

โ€œPlease.โ€

Kya shuffled out of the room easily, leaving behind just the lightest pat on his shoulder. Piandao followed, remaining as silent as he had since Zuko had entered, but his gaze lingered, as if he wanted to drink in the sight of his former pupil before he left.

The door closed behind them, and Zuko and Azula were alone, for the first time in years.

โ€œWhy the wheelchair?โ€ She asked before he could say anything.ย 

โ€œWhat?โ€

โ€œYou walked earlier.โ€ A small scrap of fabric twirled between her fingers. โ€œWhy the wheelchair now?โ€

โ€œCanโ€™t walk for long,โ€ Zuko replied simply. โ€œIโ€™m working on it. With Lady Kya.โ€

Azula snorted. โ€œSheโ€™s the Water Tribesโ€™ mother, isnโ€™t she?โ€ Zuko didnโ€™t respond, but she spoke as if he had. โ€œThought so. The resemblance is easy to see. Even a child could.โ€

She was much more lucid than she had been upon arriving. Zuko probably had Kya to thank for that. She could have that effect on people.

โ€œMaster Beifong mentioned you lost your bending.โ€

It was like a switch had been flipped. Azulaโ€™s face, already impossible to read, closed off even more. She scowled at him, eyes flashing. โ€œAnd I bet you just delighted in that, didnโ€™t you, brother? How does it feel, knowing that you only surpass me when the playing field is tilted so?โ€

โ€œAzula,โ€ Zuko said, trying to force as much intent into her name as he could. It must have worked a bit, as her head tilted the smallest amount to the side, her frown deepening. โ€œItโ€™s okay. I lost my bending too.โ€

Her whole body twitched. Then, she fell still, eyes flicking to gaze out the window. A moment later, she murmured, โ€œI didnโ€™t know the Avatar had arrived.โ€

Zukoโ€™s brow furrowed. โ€œThe Avatar? What does he have to do with this?โ€

Azulaโ€™s nose scrunched and she turned to face him. โ€œDonโ€™t be daft, Zuko. You cannot claim to have lost your Fire as I have and in the same breath wonder what that slippery airbender has to do with it.โ€

โ€œThe Avatar isnโ€™t here, Azula,โ€ Zuko said. She observed him with a sharp eye. โ€œAnd I have lost my bending .โ€

A few moments passed, and then she said, โ€œYouโ€™ve always been a poor liar, Zuzu.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m not lying,โ€ he said, a flash of annoyance shooting through his heart.

โ€œI never said you were,โ€ she replied curtly. โ€œTell me, then, how is it that your connection was broken, if not by the Avatarโ€™s hands?โ€

Oh. Oh. He had wondered how she could have lost her bending in such a small amount of time. It seemed that she hadnโ€™t, at least not in the same way Zuko had. Somehow, the Avatar had snapped her connection himself, something that was far too terrifying to ponder right now.

That meant too, though, that Azula had no idea how Zuko could have lost his own bending. He stared at her for a moment. She was acting how he would expect her to, given their childhoods, but it was a far cry to how she had been hours before. Perhaps this was bravado, more than anything. He didnโ€™t particularly care to find out.

โ€œIโ€™m going to bed,โ€ he said.

โ€œZuko,โ€ Azula growled. โ€œAnswer me. Youโ€™re not slick with dodging a question. You never have been.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m tired, Azula,โ€ he shot back. โ€œAnd Iโ€™m the Fire Lord. If I want to go to bed, thatโ€™s what Iโ€™m going to do.โ€

His words silenced her. He wondered if she had even realized that he had been crowned. Was that information she would have been privy to? She wasnโ€™t the person he wanted to ask to find out.

As he wheeled himself toward the door, knocking on it so that Lee would know he was ready to go, he glanced back at his sister one more time. She sat perched on the edge of the medical bed, hair wild and shorter than heโ€™d ever seen it. Dark circles were beneath her eyes, so deep they looked like bruises.

โ€œYour old room is open to you, if you want it,โ€ Zuko said. โ€œIt should be just as you left it.โ€

Her lips pulled down even farther as she glared at him through slitted lids.

โ€œWelcome back, Azula.โ€

She didnโ€™t reply, but he hadnโ€™t really expected her to, and as he was wheeled out and the door closed behind him, he closed his eyes, dug his nails into the palm of his hand, and focused on the pain rather than the emptiness within his soul where a Fire was meant to burn.