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storypaint) wrote2015-02-16 03:50 pm
storypaint) wrote2015-02-16 03:50 pm
[Legend of Korra] earthbenders have their faults (Zuko and Toph gen)
Title: earthbenders have their faults
Fandom: Legend of Korra
Length: 500 words
Prompt: Christmas cards: Old Toph trolling either Zuko or Izumi or both!
Pairing: Zuko and Toph gen
Other: n/a
Excerpt: Finally, he turned it over and wrote, "I don't know. Where do rocks sleep?"
When he got the first letter, Zuko was sure it was a hoax. He knew that Toph still considered writing to be a waste of time and had always foisted those responsibilities off on a trusted lieutenant. She was not the writing type.
This still seemed to be the case, if in fact that was her thumbprint at the bottom of the scruffy-looking scroll. It wasn't as if he really had one--
He did, he knew he did. He went into his office and dug through the closet until he found the right year. There was a scroll in here given to him in official thanks of his support of Republic City. The ceremony had been long and very dull and although some employee he never seemed to catch tended to rotate out the accolades that displayed on the walls of his office, this person never put this one up. It was too old.
Aang had signed it, along with Sokka and the rest of the Republic City council, newly inaugurated at the time. And there was a slightly smudged thumbprint belonging to the chief of police, which matched the one on his new scroll perfectly.
He stared at the page for a long time.
If she honestly needed help with something, she would have sent a more explicit message. He hoped. He showed the scroll to Mai and Izumi, and a few of Izumi's advisors, but they had no idea what the cryptic message could mean.
Finally, he turned it over and wrote, "I don't know. Where do rocks sleep?" Then he rolled it back up and put it in the messenger hawk rotation. He didn't hear back for several months and had almost completely forgotten about the note when he received a response.
"Bedrock," the paper said, in careful print that was completely different handwriting than her previous missive. Zuko snorted. He considered. He wrote back.
"No legs have I to dance, no lungs have I to breathe, no life have I to live or die, and yet I do all three. What am I?"
Toph brought the letter with her this time; perhaps she had a hard time finding someone to do the writing for her again. She was just the same as he remembered -- perhaps a little shorter, a little grayer, but they all were, nowadays.
"Nice one, Sparky," she said, slamming him on the back in greeting, and he would be feeling that ache for a few days. "Seriously, you send me a riddle where the answer is fire? Could you be any more cliche?"
Zuko thought this was rather hypocritical of her, but she didn't seem to care.
"Just thought I'd visit for a while," she said. "The kids whine when they never hear from me, and whine more when I send them jokes. You can't win."
Zuko knew that was true, so he nodded, and smiled, and followed her into the palace and at least an afternoon's worth of excitement.
Fandom: Legend of Korra
Length: 500 words
Prompt: Christmas cards: Old Toph trolling either Zuko or Izumi or both!
Pairing: Zuko and Toph gen
Other: n/a
Excerpt: Finally, he turned it over and wrote, "I don't know. Where do rocks sleep?"
When he got the first letter, Zuko was sure it was a hoax. He knew that Toph still considered writing to be a waste of time and had always foisted those responsibilities off on a trusted lieutenant. She was not the writing type.
This still seemed to be the case, if in fact that was her thumbprint at the bottom of the scruffy-looking scroll. It wasn't as if he really had one--
He did, he knew he did. He went into his office and dug through the closet until he found the right year. There was a scroll in here given to him in official thanks of his support of Republic City. The ceremony had been long and very dull and although some employee he never seemed to catch tended to rotate out the accolades that displayed on the walls of his office, this person never put this one up. It was too old.
Aang had signed it, along with Sokka and the rest of the Republic City council, newly inaugurated at the time. And there was a slightly smudged thumbprint belonging to the chief of police, which matched the one on his new scroll perfectly.
He stared at the page for a long time.
If she honestly needed help with something, she would have sent a more explicit message. He hoped. He showed the scroll to Mai and Izumi, and a few of Izumi's advisors, but they had no idea what the cryptic message could mean.
Finally, he turned it over and wrote, "I don't know. Where do rocks sleep?" Then he rolled it back up and put it in the messenger hawk rotation. He didn't hear back for several months and had almost completely forgotten about the note when he received a response.
"Bedrock," the paper said, in careful print that was completely different handwriting than her previous missive. Zuko snorted. He considered. He wrote back.
"No legs have I to dance, no lungs have I to breathe, no life have I to live or die, and yet I do all three. What am I?"
Toph brought the letter with her this time; perhaps she had a hard time finding someone to do the writing for her again. She was just the same as he remembered -- perhaps a little shorter, a little grayer, but they all were, nowadays.
"Nice one, Sparky," she said, slamming him on the back in greeting, and he would be feeling that ache for a few days. "Seriously, you send me a riddle where the answer is fire? Could you be any more cliche?"
Zuko thought this was rather hypocritical of her, but she didn't seem to care.
"Just thought I'd visit for a while," she said. "The kids whine when they never hear from me, and whine more when I send them jokes. You can't win."
Zuko knew that was true, so he nodded, and smiled, and followed her into the palace and at least an afternoon's worth of excitement.