Warm Welcome Home

Illustrated for qtpie235 [link] for being the only reviewer to actually mention a somewhat hidden joke at the end of the chapter ‘Good Intentions’!

A scene from ' Port Destiny ', the 13th 'episode in my Avatar: The Last Airbender fan-fiction series found at [link]

Excerpt from "Port Destiny"
(chapter 1 - Zuko Comes Home)

Zuko was left with no time to react as, twice in as many minutes, he was engulfed in a surprise, and surprising, hug. His eyes popped open wide as the deceptively small girl practically crushed his ribcage, electing a strangled yelp from the prince’s lips.

He was still trying to catch his breath when Aang’s voice broke into fray.

“Hey, Toph! Why didn’t you wait u-”

He stopped short the moment he saw what was going on. His jaw dropped then snapped shut right before he threw his arms up in the air with an ecstatic shout.

“ZUKO!”

If Toph’s bone crushing embrace hadn’t already left the prince a bit off-balance, then the Avatar’s joyful inclusion in the hugging session certainly tipped his stunned emotions over the edge. The only thing that kept him from laughing outright at the cheerful absurdity of his situation was a painful lack of air.

“Okay, okay!” he gasped with jovial exasperation, a smile wider and happier than any expression Katara had ever seen on his face, “Let me breathe!”