"Sokka! Sokka, wake up!" Toph heard herself say. It was late. Toph knew because her eyelids were heavy. Why couldn't this wait until morning? No, Toph decided. She had to tell him. She crawled over to him, but she couldn't feel the earth at her hands and knees, couldn't see. She found him, even through her darkness. She tried to jostle him awake. "Sokka, Sokka, I have to tell you something!"
Sokka groaned. "Toph – late – sleep – morning," he muttered.
"No, Sokka! It's important. Please?" she asked, her hands still shaking his shoulder.
Sokka grabbed her tiny hands to stop her from shaking him. "What is it?" he grumbled.
"I can't tell you here," Toph said. She didn't want the others hearing.
He stood up, grabbing the young earthbender's wrist. "Come on," he muttered.
"Sokka, I can't see. Something's wrong with my feet!"
Sokka stifled a yawn. "Then can't this wait until morning when at least one of us can?" he asked.
"No," Toph demanded, "carry me. I trust you." She attempted to scamper onto his back, but, instead, he scooped her into his arms.
"Just hope I don't trip," Sokka said.
"You won't," Toph replied.
Sokka took them to a quiet spot overlooking the many chambers and levels of the air temple. He set her down gently, adding, "Just be careful. I wouldn't want you walking off the edge of the cliff."
"I won't," Toph promised, but she clung tightly to his arm anyway.
"So what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Sokka asked.
Toph took a deep breath. She had to tell him. She had dragged him all the way out of his bet at an unnatural hour just for this because she couldn't wait any longer. "Sokka," she began, "I like you."
"I like you, too, kiddo," he chuckled.
Toph balled up her fist and went to hit him, but held back. Her hand barely made contact with his stomach. "I like you the way Aang likes Katara, the way Zuko likes that crazy knife-throwing girl," she swallowed, "the way Suki likes you."
"Oh," Sokka sighed.
"I don't expect you to feel the same way," she said, "I just had to say it."
Sokka kissed her between the eyes. "Maybe someday."
Toph blushed furiously.
Sokka scooped her up once more and carried her back to their camp where he laid her gently in her earth tent before stumbling away to his sleeping bag.
In the morning, when Toph awoke, she could see again, which made her wonder if the events of the previous night were all simply a dream.
But judging by the violent thumping of her heart and the tingling between her brows, they weren't.