Save Me From Life

Chapter 7

Wherein an End is Finally Realized

Zuko wiped the sweat off his brow and sighed as he placed the last of his things at the bottom of the stairs. He was moving out of the small apartment he and Mai had shared. She was watching him from the top of the stairs, her expressionless face tinged with something Zuko could only identify as depression.

When he has cracked his back from it's bent position he turned his eyes to Mai's. "So I guess I'll just-"

"Go." She finished for him. He almost smiled at her complete unchanged voice. She stood up and started to stroll down towards him. "I'm going to miss you."

"That coming from you?" He snorted. "You're just trying to get back with me. Why? So Azula doesn't rip your eyeballs out?"

Mai's mouth twitched as she finally reached the bottom on the stairs. "No. I'm not that scared of Azula." She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I guess I'm just scared of being alone. God, I sound like Ty Lee."

Zuko actually smiled. "I'll miss you, but you know we forced it. But you better stay in touch, I don't think either of us will be able to handle Azula." Mai returned his smile and he walked forward to give her a hug.

Of course, being the bad luck magnet he was, Zuko's foot caught on one of his boxes and he flew forward. Right onto Mai's face. The minute his lips contacted hers the front door opened and a very small person stepped inside, shivering from the cold.

"Hey Zuko, I thought you might need some help." Toph shook off a light coating of snow and at the same moment, like a plunger being removed, Zuko pulled away from Mai.

The second that noise hit Toph's ears she knew. She didn't need eyes. "Oh. I guess I'll just get going then." She left without another word.

"Toph! Wait!" Zuko turned but as the door shut a hand clamped around his wrist.

Mai was holding out his jacket for him. "You'll need this."

"Thanks Mai." He threw it on and ran for the door. Her response, a uncaring shrug, was all he needed.

Night had fallen and Zuko was barely able to follow the footprints left by Toph. After five minutes of winding through the close roads and dark alleys he finally found her.

Toph was leaning against a lamppost, her pale skin ghoulish in the orange light. He approached cautiously, his feet crunching in the snow. "Toph?" He called out softly.

She did not flinch or jump or make any indication that she heard him so he stepped closer. Soon, when he was an arm's length away she said, "I though you were getting out of that relationship."

"I was. I mean, I am."

"Then why did I walk on you two kissing?"

He seized her by her shoulders and crashed his lips onto hers. After breaking it off, he was still clutching her arms, his breath coming out is small grey puffs.What had ever possessed him to do something like that?

She blinked at him. "Zuko…"

"C'mon. I'm sure there's probably some movie I need to see." And as he reached down to grab her hand she stopped and threw her arms around his torso.

And, even as the dull streetlight flickered, Zuko could've sworn that the weeklong snow had begun to fade.

Author's Note

Finaaaallllly thank you all for sticking through with me.

-goes to work on other fics-