ETERNAL WIND

“Because someone once did the same for me.”  Zuko’s eyes shifted toward Tagah. “You think I don’t understand what it’s like to believe you were justified? To hurt people and call it necessary?” A humorless breath escaped him. “For a long time, that was my entire life. I hunted the Avatar across the world. I attacked villages. I betrayed people who trusted me. And every time someone tried to tell me I was wrong, I had a reason to justify it.” His jaw tightened slightly.

“Honor. Duty. My nation. My pain. I could explain every terrible thing I did and still sleep at night because I thought being hurt gave me the right to hurt others back. But what you did…” Zuko paused there, and for the first time, there was visible strain in his composure. “You didn’t just lash out. You manipulated our trust while looking us in the eye while you called us your friends, and then you murdered us.” His voice never rose, which was eerily worse than any emotional outburst. “You killed Aang.”

For a brief moment, Zuko looked away toward the darkening sky on the horizon. His throat working to swallow the lump in it before he continued. “Aang believes in people so fiercely it’s almost infuriating,” Zuko said with a faint, broken edge of bitter fondness. “He believes no one is beyond saving. Not me. Not my father. Not anyone.” His eyes lowered briefly again before Zuko finally looked back at Tagah.

“So no, I didn’t deny the request. Not because I forgive you. I don’t know if I ever can.” He let that truth stand plainly between them. “And not because what you did can be undone. It can’t.” He stepped closer then, “But if I believed a person had to deserve mercy before receiving it, then I would have died an angry, broken boy.” His voice lowered. “Aang gave me a chance before I earned one. Maybe that’s the only reason I’m standing here now instead of becoming someone worse than my father.”

Tagah listened to what was being said without saying a word back. He wasn't completely aware of what had happened when it came to the Fire Lord before him and the Avatar. He was told bits and pieces, how the fire nation had completely extinguished the Air Nomads and how he had helped Aang set things right and end the war. But the details had been avoided due to how important their mission was. Likely, all of them thought they would have plenty of time to share stories and put him in the loop of things.

He didn't think he deserved forgiveness either. They were from different times, different mind sets. However, unlike the Avatar, Zuko had been born during times of war. His speech alone made him think that maybe he understood his point of view. Even if a little bit.

Still, he thought the other was more likely to throw him in jail than to hear him out.

A sigh escaped from his lips.

— You left me no choice. I didn't want to kill you or any of your friends, especially Aang. — Tagah replied. — I was going to leave peacefully, but then Katara cornered me. When your whole culture, your whole of living is on the line..... one must act fast.

  𝓞pal had been returning from an evening flight with Juicy when she noticed someone standing by Avatar Aang's statue. It wasn't often that it had visitors, but at dusk it was a bit odd. ❝Juicy, let's go down.❞ She told her sickly flying friend. As they got closer, she could see tattoos lining the man's body, but his hair and wardrobe wasn't any of her companions. When the bison landed on the memorial Island, green eyes locked onto the muscular man. ❝Um, excuse me. I think that the tours are closed for the day to the island. You'll have to come back tomorrow.❞

Strange, very strange. Where was Jirana? The city he had loved, the paradise for Air Benders was gone in the little time he had been gone. Replaced by.... whatever that city was and that strange statue. He needed to seek Sonem out, she would be able to explain to him yes?

At the sound of a bison, Tagah turned around to see the new comer.

— My appologies, I didn't know. — What was true. — I'm looking for the Avatar. Do you know where is she?

As soon the subject was changed , she paused for a while , weighing her options if she should tell her abilities openely to the stranger or not. It wasn't a secret to the world that toph was a prodigy, a genuis born ahead of her time. That she created a sub bending at ripe age of 14 && mastered it && taught it to other people on her own but tagah was a different case, he was from a time that earthbending is considered threatening && evil . If she told her talents to him openly, the air bender could percieve it differently , so she decided to not exactly tell all the truth.

The Air Bender listened with close attention. He genuinely wanted to know but he would be lying if he didn't knew part of his brain, the one wired to fight Earth Benders, was scanning for weaknesses. It was a tactical thing, nothing personal against Toph as a person. For the little they had chatted, she seemed like a fine young lady. Cocky but not in an annoying way. And was one of the Avatar's companion so clearly not someone to be underestimated.

Something in the way she spoke however, caught his attention. Did Toph just say.... metal? But it was not possible to do something like that. Simple.... wasn't. He would know if they could do such things.

— You speak as if you could bend metal. But we both know that's impossible.