#forgedinflames

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

Oh, go on, then. Another excerpt for you.

In which Mr Bei Fong makes an extremely absolutely hideously incorrect assumption about Toph’s relationship status.

[rideboldlyride]

Hey hey hey guys!

You guys know I've been reading that one fic, Forged in Flames by @ifyouwereamelodymeg? The one I keep reccing, and if you don't read it and are a Zutara fan, you're dead to me?

Yeah.

They updated

That's all.

[EDIT:] that is the link above, btw.

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

It becomes a game, of sorts. A totally inappropriate, definitely ill-advised, futile game which, despite what they've agreed, despite the unquestionable pain that it brings and can only keep bringing, neither of them seems to be able to stop. Every moment in Zuko's presence is bated – a held breath, a caught glance, a touch that lingers just a little too long to be entirely casual, entirely friendly.

And she knows. Katara knows that it can't go anywhere real, that it can't mean anything. The thought sits like a bitter reminder on the back of her tongue, something that she tries to both heed and ignore in equal measure.

But stars, it's like she's completely powerless, as prone to dissipating as sea spray under the heat of his gaze. He's the sun, and what can she do but be drawn helplessly into his orbit?

It's all pretty pathetic, really.

Because they're both adults, aren't they? They're both smart, accomplished people; surely they have more self-control than this? This is juvenile, this is –

'We need to talk.'

This is not going to go away.

Shit.

She looks up from her scroll to eye Zuko cautiously where he stands in the doorway

'Talk?'

Didn't we already do that? What else are we meant to say?

'About Toph.'

Oh.

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

Alright alright alright, something new for Sunday evening.

This is in part a major spoiler, but mostly a massive tease. Because I’m gonna go ahead and say that, yes, this is an excerpt from the Forged in Flames universe, but I’m gonna give you zero sense of exactly when it’s coming, and seeing as I’m planning out a trilogy it could come literally any time from now to infinity, so... Have fun looking forward to it, I guess!

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

‘You know, I’ve been thinking it might be time for a trip to the South Pole.’

Sokka’s eyes are fixed on his sword, but Zuko can see the bemused quirk of the other man’s eyebrow.

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, I mean, it’s been a year and a half since the war ended. I’ve paid a few visits to the Earth Kingdom already.’

Flicking the sword into the air, Sokka catches the pommel with a sureness that belies the amount he’s had to drink and lays the blade down, turning to face Zuko with a calculating squint.

‘Right, but that was to tour the colonies. Aren’t any of those in the South Pole.’

Zuko shrugs.

‘All the work that’s being done there is only necessary because of the Fire Nation – it feels wrong to be having all these discussions about reparations without actually seeing what’s being done.’

It feels like a reasonable enough point to him, but Sokka’s still giving him that look that’s somehow both suspicious and knowing. A smirk that makes Zuko feel profoundly unnerved starts to play across his friend’s face, and he lifts his cup to his lips again in an attempt to escape the scrutiny.

‘I mean, sure, that makes sense, come by whenever. But let me get this straight - you’re saying that this has absolutely nothing to do with you wanting to see my sister?’

Zuko chokes, the alcohol burning as it catches in his throat, and he just barely manages to get a word out past the fit of coughing that follows.

‘W- What?’

‘My sister. You know the one – waterbender, about yea tall, dark hair. Kind of annoying.’ The smirk is fully-blown now as Sokka scrunches his face in mock contemplation. ‘What was her name, I always forget... Something with a K?’

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Three years. Three years since they were all in the same place, and now...

In the rare moments that he gets to himself, when his thoughts aren't full of council meetings and legislative proposals, Zuko finds his mind meandering to moments like this one, where his laugh is genuine rather than forced and he's surrounded by people who know the difference between the two.

And in two days' time – Agni, in two days – their group will be complete again. Thinking about the fact that Katara will be joining them before the week's end sends something swooping violently through his stomach, a feeling that he's long since realised isn't worth denying anymore.

They've been writing, every month or so, back and forth for the last year. And it's been great having that connection back after how quiet everything got between them, her letters an all-too-welcome escape from palace life across to wherever she happens to be at the time.

But the thought of her being here, here, right in front of him?

It makes him so nervous that he thinks he might throw up if he lingers on it for too long.

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The comet has arrived, and the strength that Katara had drawn from the moon's light is suddenly obscured as the world turns scarlet.

Beside her, Zuko draws in a deep, grating breath, and her eyes turn sharply towards him.

'You can feel it, can't you?'

He nods, eyes closed against the enflamed sky. The power seems to roll off him, radiating in waves from where he sits.

'What's it like?'

'How do you feel? When you bloodbend?'

She sucks in a gasp, holding the air trapped in her throat for a moment before answering.

'Unstoppable. Terrified.'

He tilts his head down, chin dipping towards his chest.

'That's how it feels.' His eyes open and he stares out across the crimson-stained land before them. 'And every other firebender down there is feeling the same thing.'

He shivers, and Katara feels the same impulse ripple through her own body. She needs something to ground her, something to feel stable, and she clasps a hand onto his shoulder in an effort to find it; his hand meets hers there, as if seeking the same thing.

'Zuko, I'm scared.'

He grips tighter. She feels his nod more than she sees it.

'I'm scared too.'

[ifyouwereamelodymeg]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Katara has to bite back a smile at the heat that comes into Zuko's voice, singeing its way through his civil words until she can almost hear the riled teenager that he used to be coming out.

But now is hardly the moment for reminiscing.

With Zuko's words, something has started to flicker in her head – an exposed, guttering flame of an idea that she's sure will prove to be frustratingly divisive but that she knows, with a sudden and complete clarity, is the right way to go.

She speaks slowly, giving herself time to let the kindling catch.

'So if I've understood all of that correctly, the people of Yu Dao have achieved remarkable things whilst under first corrupt and then all but absent leadership.'

The thought burns a little brighter and she cups her hands around it, shielding it from any breath of wind that might try to snuff it out. The flame starts to grow, and she feels her voice becoming stronger with it.

'Imagine what they could do if we gave them leaders that actually represented the people of the city.'

She can feel more than see Zuko's eyes on her. Then he speaks into the silence that has settled from her statement, and does what firebenders do best.

He brings the spark to life –

'A council made up of both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation delegates.'

– and sends it catching.