A teenager with long, straight black hair walked alone on a well-used path. His hair covered his right eye, but the left side of his face was clearly showing. He was pale, like many other Fire Nation members, but seemed sickly, and had dark rings under his eyes. Black goggles were around his neck, and he would lift them over his eyes to protect his eyes when he used firebending. This teenager was Shinjiro, a bounty hunter. He wore basic grey-and-red Fire Nation clothes.
To his right Toph was walking alone, whistling. As fate would have it, Shinjiro wasn't focusing on what he was doing, and bumped into her.
"Watch it," Toph said.
"You watch it." Shinjiro said. Toph stomped on the ground, and a rock wall appeared in front of Shinjiro, nearly hitting him. Toph turned to him, and waved a hand in front of her eyes.
"I'm blind." Toph said.
"How do you know I'm not?" Shinjiro asked.
Toph took this as an insult, and lifted a rock from the ground and attempted to hit him in the head. Shinjiro spun around, dodging the rock and tossing flames at Toph. Toph brought up another wall, blocking the fires, then she kicked the wall forward. Shinjiro barely jumped out of the way before Toph raised another wall and smashed the two together.
Shinjiro tossed several fireballs in quick sucession, but Toph blocked all of them, though one nearly hit her. Shinjiro was about to use a stream of flame when he coughed. Though a small cough, it opened the door for a long fit of coughing, causing Shinjiro to fall on his hands and knees, red liquid dripping from his lips.
Toph momentarily forgot his perceived insults and said "What's wrong with you?"
Shinjiro stood, wiping the sweat and blood off of his forehead and lips. The sweat wasn't from the fight. "Nothing. I haven't had a fight that difficult in a while." Shinjiro bowed, then scolded himself, remembering Toph couldn't see it. "Where are you going?"
"I don't need your help just because I'm blind." Toph said.
"How do you cook?" Shinjiro asked.
"I don't. My food's already cooked, or just fruits and vegetables."
"Don't you want a cooked meal?"
"No." Toph said, then her stomach growled loudly.
"Your stomach says yes. Where are you going?" Shinjiro asked.
"Anywhere's fine. I want to go back to Ba Sing Se, but I can't read a map." Toph said.
"Ba Sing Se is the other way." Shinjiro said.
"Blind," Toph countered.
"I have no destination, so we should travel together." Shinjiro said.
"I sense that you're lying. Or, at least, not telling the whole truth," Toph said.
"I have a goal, but no destination. That isn't a lie."
"Huh. It isn't. How about you show me your firebending prowess and cook me a meal."
"It isn't dinner yet, and we don't know each other's names."
"Toph." Toph said, walking forward.
"Shinjiro." Shinjiro said. "Where are we going?"
"Ba Sing Se."
"You didn't turn around."
"I knew that."
"Right."
"What's your name?" Toph said, picking her nose.
"Shinjiro," Shinjiro said. "Bounty hunter and dying man."
"What are you dying from?" Toph asked.
"A waterbender poisoned me, and has the antidote. My goal is to take that antidote and her life." Shinjiro said.
"And if you don't get the antidote?"
"I'll be dead."
"Do you know where the waterbender is?"
"No."
"What's her name?"
"Kairi."
"Well, that's a start." Toph said sarcastically.
"Nothing will stop me in my hunt," Shinjiro said.
'Sounds like Zuko.' Toph thought, then said "I guess I'll help you if you get me to Ba Sing Se, Shin."
"'Shin?'" Shinjiro asked when Toph spit loudly into her palm.
"Shake on it." Toph said.
"A deal, hm?" Shinjiro asked, then spat into his palm and shook Toph's hand. Immediately after letting go he evaporated the mess that was on his hand. "Ba Sing Se first."
"Really?" Toph asked, smiling.
"Yes." Shinjiro said. "Follow me."
"I'm blind."
"But you can see using vibrations through the earth."
"How'd you know?" Toph asked.
"You accurately blocked my attacks. I won't underestimate you, nor will I treat you special." Shinjiro said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're a normal bender."
"Good." Toph said. "Lead on."
Shinjiro turned and walked, wondering if what he just did was a good idea.
