The Forgiven (Zutara)

Things I Almost Remember pt. 4

We had gone to find Aang a teacher and we did. We found a girl who's real name we didn't know. But she went by the Blind Bandit. When we had managed to find her she tried to have us arrested but we got away in time. Around this time was when the beaches first started. They started off bad but I ignored them so that I wouldn't look like I couldn't keep up with Aang or Sokka. Turns out that was a mistake because the next night I tossed and turned painfully clutching my head wanting the pain to stop. The next day it wasn't any better but I still didn't speak up about it. We went and scheduled to have dinner with Tophs family the next night but by the next day I felt absolutely horrid so I was much slower. They got into the courtyard first Aang, Sokka, and Toph were kidnapped. I gasped and followed them running as fast as I could to keep up with them. Freya showed up right by my side and signaled for me to jump on her cause she could run faster. We followed them to the battling arena where at least 20 men stood, all notorious for their mastery of the element they blended. I gulped. It was just me and Sokka. I took in a deep breath.

"Give me them back!" I demanded.

"Who the hell are you?" They asked. "Go away little girl and let the adults handle this." He smirked. I could feel that there was a river nearby I bended as much water as I could and made it come rushing towards the walls, it broke through the walls and filled the arena. The metal coffin type things they had Toph, and Aang in went underwater because the water was so high. But I only needed the benders to be locked down long enough for me to freeze the hinges on the metal coffins so they could get out. I swam underwater and did exactly that. Aang swam to the surface but Toph just panicked. I formed a bubble around the both of us.

"It's okay you can breathe now." I said.

"Am I above the water? It doesn't feel like it!" She was still panicked.

"No Toph you're not. But it's okay, just grab onto me. I'm gonna get you out okay?" I told her figuring she couldn't swim.

"Okay." She whispered quietly. I wrapped my arm around her waist and swam up as hard as I could,  swimming over to the stairs which weren't underwater.

"Are you okay here?" I asked casing worried glances back at Aang, Freya, and Sokka who were fighting the men by themselves. She nodded. I ran towards them, putting two men in ice cubes, then putting the other one in ice chains. I was sliding around the water by turning it into ice. We all were fighting our own mini battles when Toph just barely managed to catch my eye as I saw her leave with her parents and her teacher who didn't know she was a master bender because he would only teach her the basics. Toph knew we were struggling and came back to help. When we were done fighting one of my knees gave out. I groaned in pain. My head hurt so bad. I was able to make it back to camp but just barely. Right as we were about to pack up and leave Toph cane running as fast as she could towards us.

"Wait! I've changed my mind! I want to help!" She said. I smiled.

"Freya how about you turn into a bison too that way Appa can split the load?" I asked. She hated the idea but did it anyway. We didn't have a saddle for her like we did for him but that's okay we could always get one somewhere else. But for now it was time to leave here. "Okay let's see counting Toph how many do we have?" I asked out loud.

"Okay so choose who goes where!" I hollered. My dad, and Zuko climbed on Freya which left Bako, Iroh, and Toph, Sokka and Aang on Appa. And with that we left. We got to where we were going much quicker this way and by the time camp was set up I was so exhausted I passed out the second I crawled in the tent. The next morning when I awoke, I woke with all my memories, when I turned over I came face to face with Zuko who was staring at me.

"I got worried about you because you didn't send like you felt good yesterday so I came in to check on you." He said quickly. I smiled brighter than I had this entire time.

"Thank you your majesty." I said hinting to see if he would get it.

"That's what you always used to ca-" He cut himself off when he saw me face. His mouth fell open. "You remember." He stated. I nodded smiling. I sat up and pulled him into a long needed kiss. We kissed again and again fearing as though this was only a dream. We only pulled away from each other when we could no longer breathe. "Come on. Let's go tell everyone!" He said pulling me out and smiling. I nodded and chuckled. He helped me out of the tent.

"Dad!" I called out scanning the area for him. I found him standing with Bako about a third of a mile away pointing in different directions he mustn't of heard me but I didn't care. I took off sprinting to him hollering again when I knew he'd heard me. "Dad!" This caused him to turn around. I jumped into his arms and hugged him.

"Do you remember?" He asked.

"I remember!" I exclaimed smiling.

"Oh my god!" He chuckled and held me even tighter. When he set me down I hugged Bako as well, then I ran towards Sokka who had came out of his tent when he heard all of the commotion. I hugged Aang and Iroh, and even Toph though we didn't know each other as well as everyone else. Then I ran back into Zukos arms and kissed him again.

"I can't believe I remember." I smiled. He smiled as well.

"I'm so happy you do. I knew that I would get you back." He held me in his arms tightly. Not letting me go. We threw all our original plans away and instead spent the day together. We had an amazing time running around with each other and playing, sitting by the fire and cooking and eating, it was a truly amazing day. However I couldn't help but notice Aang's sour face every time he'd look over at Zuko and I. I tried to hide my frown as I scooted closer towards Zukos arm which was wrapped around me. When the night was over I couldn't help but feel the coldness from Aang. When we were all saying goodnight to each other Zuko walked me to my tent. "I'm hesitant to leave you." He muttered outside the tent. I shook my head.

"Then sleep in here with me." I said. "It's not the biggest tent but it's big enough for us." I replied. He smirked and I scoffed. "Not tonight pretty boy. When I said sleeping I meant sleeping. You coming in or not?" I asked. He chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah let me just grab my pillow." He said. I smiled to myself. We've never slept together, in a sexual sense or otherwise. He came back with his blanket and pillow in his hand. "Feels like its going to be cold tonight." He said. I chuckled and moved over so that he had room to lay down. When he laid down he paused and sat back up again glancing at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Would it be alright with you if I slept without a shirt on?" He asked. I ever so slightly blushed.

"What you mean I get a full view of your muscular everything all night? Oh I definitely wouldn't be okay with that." I winked. He smirked and nodded. The second he took his shirt off I couldn't help but stare.

"If you keep staring at me like that I might put it back on." He replied. He reached over and grabbed me, pulling me towards him, kissing him. Once, twice, three times, and again. He blew out the small lantern that was inside and pulled me close to him, his warm body wrapped around me.