#noren

[reforma] five seconds of summer.

✓ 2026 vs 2024

✎ projeto pessoal

⚠ caso se inspire, por favor me credite.

warnings: horror themes, description of a dead body, main character death, descriptive gore and injury, main characters have ptsd, alcoholism, references to drug abuse.

Summary: Leaving your unconscious, very bloody and almost definitely dead friend in the front seat of a smashed up car while they're all drunk maybe wasn't a good idea. But when he turns up the next day, perfectly fine, without a single scratch and a totally different memory of what happened, the three teens start to question their own sanity.

Extras

Ao3 link

Character collages

Russian Translation- by @jungyeoljung

Chapters

Chapter 1 - long ride walk home

Chapter 2 - Fear Burns Away Guilt

Chapter 3 - Cut Through Tension Like It's Bone

Chapter 4 - Paranoia, Mania and Insomnia

Chapter 5 - Blood Stained Sweater To Match Blood Stained Teeth

Hora del cuento con la tía Kiara

Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This is simply fan work.

Author's note: Please note that this fanfic follows the events of the show, but it will not be completely faithful to the comics and may deviate in some areas. It also makes no reference to the Legend of Korra.

This is my first fanfiction. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated; I only ask that you remain respectful. God bless you all.

Chapter 4

It did not take long for Zuko to realise something was off.

First of all, his advisors, the unrelenting Lo and Li, had not mentioned a single thing about matrimony. This was especially strange considering their previous incessant urging for Zuko to find a bride and carry on the royal bloodline. Not that Zuko was complaining. Frankly, he could not stand another lecture on the matter anymore.

Secondly, his council members have been quite tame lately, a stark contrast to the intense political division and feuding he was used to. Instead of speculating how to placate the earth kingdom, they have been urging him to spend more time with his new guest. At first, they seemed displeased with Toph’s arrival, calling her uncouth and crass. Miraculously, their stance seems to have changed drastically. Zuko had assumed this change was because they learned she was actually of noble birth, and mistakenly believed that by appeasing her, they would gain the support of the Beifong household.

Clearly, they were unaware of the tensions within the family.

Last but not least, whenever Zuko had the time to spend with Toph he noticed strange reactions from their peers. At the palace, some of the servants would whisper and giggle amongst each other whenever they saw the two together. Others would promptly leave the area, as though they wished to give the pair some privacy. At first, Zuko was unnerved. Paranoia was a huge part of being the ruler of a nation, and there were surely some who wished to do him harm. But whenever he brought up his concerns with Toph, she would brush them off.

“Stop worrying, Candlewax. Even if they are plotting something, which they’re not, do you really think they can take on both of us? Please, they don’t stand a chance.”

Zuko knew she wasn’t wrong but, he still couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong. He ultimately decided to put the matter aside for a while, after all he had more important matters to attend to. For instance, his family was finally returning from their getaway and he was anxious to see them again.

And, of course, he wished to introduce Toph to his mother as had promised her before.

When she saw her older brother, Kiyi wasted no time in embracing him affectionately. Her skin had become more tanned, no doubt from her time in the sun, giving her a healthy glow. She was already becoming very popular with the other gender, and being the princess of the nation certainly worked in her favour. Zuko dreaded the number of boys he’d have to fight off to protect his little sister.

“Zuzu! I missed you so, so, SO much!” Kiyi exclaimed while squeezing her brother.

“I missed you too, Kiyi,” Zuko choked out, struggling to breathe.

“You must have been so bored without me!”

“Normally you’d be right, but luckily I had some company,” Zuko clarified, gesturing toward Toph.

What most people did not realise about Toph was that she could tell a lot about a person by the way they moved. Using her seismic sense, she deduced that Kiyi was quite similar to Aang in the sense that they were both light on their feet. She also appeared to be excitable and fond of movement, considering how she bounced with elation upon reuniting with her brother.

‘She and Ty Lee would get along swimmingly,’ Toph thought to herself.

Noren seemed calmer and more collected, unsurprising considering his older age, but also appeared to have a certain hesitancy in his movements around Zuko. Was it because they weren’t biologically related? Or was it because despite now being his stepfather, he still did not know how to behave around the ruler of the nation? Toph could not say.

What stumped her completely, however, was Ursa. She was an enigma. Despite not being of royal birth, there was a certain elegance in her frame. Her feet were not heavy but there was something weighing her down. Of course, Toph knew her life must not have been easy; being married to Ozai would make anyone depressed. But regardless there was a certain strength Toph felt from her, different from any other she felt before.

Toph could not get a 100% accurate read from her.

The only other time Toph experienced something like this was when she met Azula for the first time. It seemed the mother and child had something in common after all, though they’d never know it. The analysis was interrupted when Zuko spoke again.

“Toph, this is Noren, Kiyi and Ursa… my mother. Everyone, this is my friend, Toph Beifong,” said Zuko, introducing them all.

Upon hearing her name, the three of them smiled widely.

Kiyi spoke first. “Hi Toph! I’ve heard so much about you from Zuzu. Is it true that you can metalbend?” She probed excitedly.

“Sure can! You’re looking at the one who invented metalbending,” Toph replied.

Kiyi squealed, astonished by the revelation.

“That’s amazing! You really found a great one, Zuzu!”

Toph and Zuko paused, puzzled by the comment.

“What do you mean by that, Kiyi?” Zuko inquired.

Noren was the one who responded. “We heard the news at the docks. Everyone was talking about it, Zuko. Why didn’t you tell us in your scrolls?”

“What are you talking about?”