Toph sat and listened as Zuko explained his journey, starting with his banishment and ending with his separation from his uncle. She couldn't help but ask questions while he was talking, becoming more and more shocked that Scruffy was still alive.
..........
"So you're telling me you were banished by the Fire Lord when you were thirteen. And the only way you were allowed to return home was to capture the avatar."
What the hell? I knew the Fire Lord was a dick but that's just messed up. He probably got lucky that he wasn't killed. I guess he is a noble, maybe his dad had some say in it. From what he's told me though his dad doesn't seem to care about him, so maybe not.
Zuko huffed at the interruption. "Yes, I was told that I had lost my honor, and the only way I could restore it was to capture the avatar. Restoring my honor was the condition for me to return home."
He was hoping she wouldn't pry too deep into his story. He didn't want to tell her how he had tried to defend a group of soldiers and was punished for it. He especially didn't want her to know the person that burned and banished him was his father.
Toph looked confused, "Honor? What does that have to do with capturing the avatar?"
He sighed, partly in relief that she didn't ask why he was banished, and partly in dread, knowing it would be hard to answer without getting into specifics.
"The Fire Nation believes that a person's honor is essential to them. We consider it as important as one's life. If someone loses their honor, they lose their livelihood. Losing my honor meant I had lost everything connected to my life, like my title or any right I had to my inheritance."
Toph frowned at the idea of honor. It was hard to wrap her head around it.
I thought that honor was about doing the right thing. Scruffy's making it sound like he was punished for doing something dishonorable. I can't imagine Scruffy doing anything wrong enough to warrant being banished though.
She wanted to ask him why he was banished but knew he wouldn't answer. She decided to let it go, figuring that he would tell her when he was ready. There was one thing she wanted to make sure about though.
Scruffy believed he was weak because his father told him so, I don't want him to think he lost his honor or whatever just because the Fire Lord said so.
"Do you think you lost your honor?" She asked, hoping he would surprise her and say no.
He was silent for a while before answering, "I don't know. That's why I need to find my uncle. I want him to help me understand if I lost it or not."
She nodded, that was a better answer than she thought he was going to give. It sucked that she couldn't help him, but she didn't know the full story.
I'll just have to hope that this uncle of his isn't going to brainwash him as his dad did. He seems to have faith in him so it should be fine. Besides, if his uncle is lying to him I'll just bury him and help Scruffy figure it out myself.
.........
"Your uncle stayed with you for your entire banishment?" Toph asked in a soft voice.
Zuko looked down, remembering his uncle, "Yeah he did. He's always been patient with me, even when I lashed out at him in anger. He's practically raised me these last three years but I was too stupid to see it." He felt ashamed at how he treated his uncle, he just hoped he would get the chance to make it up to him.
Toph smiled, Looks like Scruffy did have someone who loved him. That's good. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through all of that alone. Maybe I won't have to bury this guy after all.
"What's he like?" She asked, wanting to know more about the person Zuko talked so fondly of.
Zuko smiled fondly, "He's old and goofy, but very wise. He likes to stop at random places and buy everything they have for sale. He loves Pai Sho and tea more than anything. He also likes to talk in proverbs a lot, I don't understand what half of them are but he still does it. You'll like him, he's friendly."
Toph smiled, excited to meet this mystery person, "I can't wait to meet him."
.........
"You and your uncle have been to every air temple?"
"Yeah, I thought the Avatar might be hiding out in one of them since he was supposed to be an Airbender. we didn't find him though." He added glumly, remembering the exhausted determination that he had as he scaled mountain after mountain. Praying that the Avatar would be in one of the temples.
Toph looked at him with wonder, "Wow, that's awesome Scruffy. What were they like?"
He could taste bile in his throat as he remembered the skeletons he and his uncle cleared out.
He swallowed and decided to focus on the good parts of the temples, "They were beautiful. Most of them were damaged but all of them were on top of mountains and the view was incredible."
He remembered looking out at the landscape after he reached the first temple. He was lost in rage and grief but was calmed by the view, even if it was only for a little bit.
Toph snorted at the idea of a 'view' being incredible. "I hope I can see it one-day Scruffy, it sounds amazing."
"It was, the southern ones even have..." He stopped and looked back at her and narrowed his eyes.
He huffed, "Are you gonna do that often?"
Toph started snickering, "As often as you fall for it Scruffy."
"Ugh," He groaned as she laughed at his expense.
.........
"So you and your uncle were looking for signs of the Avatar, who had been missing for 100 years, and when you decided to visit the south pole the Avatar just showed up?"
I don't know if that's lucky or unlucky if I'm being honest.
"Yeah, we were going there to see if the avatar had passed on to the Southern Water Tribe. Once we got close we saw a giant flash of light and that's when I realized the Avatar had returned." He shuffled nervously, not looking forward to he she would react to what he did next.
He cleared his throat, "We uh. We crashed through the walls of the Southern Water Tribe and demanded they hand over the avatar. I uh, I threatened to burn down their village if they didn't." He looked away, nervous about how she would react.
Her tone was neutral when she spoke, "So did you?"
He was surprised at her reaction. He figured she would yell at him. "Uh no. The avatar offered to come with us and we left once he was on the ship. He ended up escaping and we chased after him, but no I didn't burn down the village."
Toph smiled and nodded, "Good, it wouldn't be cool of you to burn down a village. It sucks that you threatened them but since you didn't go through with it I don't think it's that big a deal."
Zuko started sweating and fidgeted nervously in his seat.
"Uh about that."
.........
"You burned down a village," Toph spoke flatly, unimpressed as her friend tried to defend himself.
"I didn't burn down the whole village, just a few houses! Besides, no one got hurt, they were all at the center of Kyoshi Island to celebrate the avatar. I wouldn't have burned any houses if people were still in them." He huffed, arms crossed as he tried not to look back at the very judgmental stare he was receiving.
Doesn't matter if she's blind, I know it's there.
Toph sighed, still a little disappointed in her friend but glad he wasn't a crazy murderer at least. "Whatever you say Sparky, you should apologize to them when you get the chance though. Just because you could have done something worse doesn't mean you did something good."
He sighed and looked down in shame. Regardless of his confusion and the questions he still needed to ask Uncle, he could tell that she had a point.
She's not wrong, even if I was trying to catch the avatar I could have done it without involving Kyoshi Island at all. Sure, I could have burned down their village if I wanted to. I'm sure Zhao would have done it. The fact that I didn't doesn't make me a good person, it just makes me better than Zhao.
"I know."
.......
"Hey, since no one's around can I keep calling you Sparky? It has a nice ring to it. Plus, your hair's getting longer and I won't be able to call you Scruffy much longer."
Zuko frowned, not liking either nickname, but admitting that he enjoyed Sparky a little more than Scruffy.
He shrugged, "Sure."