Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA, unfortunately~

"Lord Zuko, the head doctor from the Ho-Shan Institute is here," The messenger boy said, bowing to his Fire Lord.

"Very well, send him in," Zuko said with interest. The messenger ran off to fetch the doctor. After a few minutes, the messenger came back into the throne room, the doctor following close behind him. Both bowed to their Fire Lord.

"Good afternoon," Zuko greeted the man. The doctor sat up straight, staring up through the red flames at his leader.

"Good afternoon, your highness," the doctor replied, " As I'm sure you know, I'm Sang Li, the doctor overseeing Princess Azula's care at the institute."

"Yes, I know. What is your business? An update on her condition, I suppose?"

"Yes. Your sister has recovered beautifully. I've never seen such a drastic recovery from any other patient before. She's barely recognizable as the wild monster she was five years ago," the doctor explained, astonishment in his voice.

"That's wonderful. May I see her soon?" Zuko inquired, rubbing his chin.

"No," The doctor said immediately. Zuko looked at him with slight offense. The doctor started to further explain himself, "I still don't believe that would be wise. I wouldn't want to risk all of the progress she has made."

"I suppose that is understandable," Zuko said with a sigh.

"Yes, which is why I highly suggest that when she is released, she be released in the Earth Kingdom," He added. Zuko leaned forward, looking curious.

"Azula is my sister and she is Fire Nation royalty. She belongs here in the Fire Nation," Zuko stated sternly.

"I know, your highness, but being in these familiar places may trigger dormant memories. Even with as much progress as she has made, I still don't believe it would be safe to bring her here. There's a potential trigger around every corner here, sir."

"What happens if something triggers her?"

"We don't know. That's why its better not to risk it. She could be fine, or she could revert back to the way she was when she came to the institute, which wouldn't be very good, would it?"

Zuko closed his eyes, remembering the day of Sozin's Comet. He had many a nightmare over that particular day...

"If Azula is as stable as you say, though, shouldn't it be her decision where she goes? Azula should know what's best for herself."

"And she does, your highness. She has already expressed her desire to go to the Earth Kingdom. She said she needed a change of scenery. Volcanoes get boring after a while, was her exact statement, if I don't recall," The doctor explained, a small smirk on his face.

"Well, that definitely sounds like Azula...I suppose I can't really stop her if that's what she wants to do, where she wants to go. Just make sure she knows she always has a home here in the Fire Nation, here in the palace," Zuko said with a reluctant sigh.

The smirk grew on the doctor's face, "I'll be sure to relay the message, my Lord."

p a i n t

"Aang, I'm really worried about Sokka..." Katara sighed, sitting down on a cushion beside the Avatar.

"I know, I'm worried about him too," Aang replied.

"Eh, he'll get over it eventually," Toph added, leaning back against the wall.

"Toph, his wife just died, as did his baby! Show a little sympathy, would you?" Katara snapped.

"I did show plenty of sympathy. A week ago at the funeral. He can't dwell on this forever. Staying locked in his room forever isn't going to help anything, now is it?" Toph explained herself, picking her nose. Even at age twenty-one, she still dug around in her nostrils.

"Toph!" Katara exclaimed. Aang reached out and put a hand on Katara's shoulder to calm her down.

"She does kind of have a point, Katara," He said, "Sitting there in his room isn't going to change anything. Suki was a great friend to all of us, and it was a terrible, terrible loss for all of us too, but staying in there forever isn't healthy..."

For a few short moments, silence fell between the group. Only the heavy rain could be heard pitter-pattering outside.

"I wish Zuko hadn't needed to leave so soon," Katara said suddenly, "Maybe he would have been able to get through to Sokka..."

"Yeah, maybe," Aang said.

"There's nothin' Lord Sparky can do that I can't. Well, 'sides from firebending, but earthbending is better anyway,"

"Have you tried to get through to Sokka at all, Toph?" Katara questioned.

"Not yet. I figured he'd be out of it by now. And weren't you just bothering him anyway?" Toph said right back.

"You haven't tried either, have you, Aang?" Katara asked the Avatar. He shrugged.

"Not since yesterday. Would it make you feel better if I tried again?" Aang questioned. Katara looked down to the floor.

A flash of lightning lit the room, seconds later the thunder rumbled. Toph suddenly stood up.

"If none of you are going to go knock some sense into him, then I will," She said, moving towards the wall. The floor was wooden so Toph couldn't exactly see with her feet. Aang and Katara watched her, slightly surprised looks on their faces.

By now, Toph had the layout of the small Kyoshi home memorized. She lightly brushed her hand against the wall to find which corner to turn and to figure out how many doorways she had passed. One, two. She stopped at the third door.

"Sokka, get your ass out of bed!" She exclaimed, slight irritation in her voice.

No answer. But she could hear him doing something in there.

"Can I at least come in?" She questioned.

Still no answer. Sighing, Toph didn't wait for permission. She just slid the door open and entered Sokka's room. He stopped moving around.

"Toph, what are you doing?" He asked immediately. Those were the first words anyone had heard out of him all week.

"Oh, so you do still have a voice!" She teased. He knew she couldn't see him, but Sokka glared at her anyway.

"What are you doing?" Sokka asked again.

"Trying to knock some sense into you," Toph replied, crossing her arms.

"No need, Toph. I'm fine," Sokka said stubbornly.

"This is the first time you've said anything to anyone all week. You've spent most of your time locked in your room. Enough is enough, Sokka," Toph said, her voice stern.

"Enough of what? I'm fine."

"Oh come on! Sokka, we all know what this is about, so stop playing dumb, okay? Even though I know you can be pretty dumb sometimes," Her tone grew a little harsher with a bit of minor irritation, "You can't spend the rest of your life in that room."

"I wasn't planning on it," Sokka responded with a sigh, "I'm kind of glad you barged in, actually," He explained. Toph could hear that he started moving around the room again. Though she couldn't see it, he was packing some of his things into a small sack.

"Why?" She asked, curious.

"Because now I won't have to explain myself in front of everyone," He said, a small, forced smile on his lips.

"Sokka, what the hell are you doing?" Toph demanded.

"I decided that I...just...I just need to get away from everything for a while," Sokka said, trailing off a little bit.

"What!?" Toph exclaimed, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm going to leave. Tonight, actually. I just need some time to think. Alone. Away from everyone, everything," Sokka said sadly.

"...And why don't you want to tell everyone?"

"Because it'd be too hard, I guess. And I really don't feel like arguing with Katara about it. Its just...easier if I go," Sokka trailed off again. He stopped packing bag on his bed.

"So you're going to just...up and run from it?" By it, she meant the untimely deaths of Suki and the baby.

"No. This is just my way of dealing with it, I guess," Sokka sighed.

"You're not going to go away forever, are you? Because then I'd have to track you down and pummel you," Toph threatened, leaning against the nearest wall. Normally, she would have argued with him about the subject, but she was exhausted. Sokka shook his head in slight amusement.

"No. I won't be gone forever. Promise."

"Any idea how long you'll be gone?" Toph's voice grew softer, somewhat sadder.

"...No, not really," Sokka admitted, "But I'll try to keep in touch as much as I can."

"When are you planning on leaving?"

"Tonight," Sokka said quietly.

"Where are you going?"

"Not sure exactly. Was thinkin' about going back home for a while. Maybe I'll go see the Mechanist. Go visit Iroh. I'll figure it out."

Quiet. The rain seemed to grow louder.

"...I suppose I should let you go then, eh?" Toph asked with a sigh, "And break the news to Twinkletoes and Sugar Queen."

"Yeah, I guess," Sokka replied. In an instant he had a master earthbender latched on to him.

"Be careful out there, okay? I don't wanna be hearing shit about you gettin' in trouble," She explained. Sokka loosely wrapped his arms around her, returning the embrace.

"I'm not going to get into any trouble, Toph," Sokka pushed her off of him and grabbed the sack off the bed.

"Alright, I believe you. Kinda. Not really, but hey, at least you're getting out of this room. I'd say this gets a 'mission accomplished'!" Toph shrugged, trying not to look upset by the fact he had pushed her away.

"I'm going to sneak out the back. Distract them long enough that I can get down to the shore?" Sokka asked, though it was more of a statement.

"Yeah, sure," Toph said quietly.

"I'll miss you, and everyone else," Sokka said. Before Toph could reply, he was already almost silently sneaking down the halls and out of the house.

Toph sighed, placing her hand against the wall again and starting to walk back down the hall to where Aang and Katara were still sitting, waiting. This wasn't going to be pretty.

Oh snaps~

I'm sure there's a million and one questions everyone wants answered right now, but you're going to have to wait! More thank likely they'll be answered...eventually~

Feedback is greatly appreciated!

~Miss Frerak