Tokka Week
Tokka Week
Disclamier: I do not own Avatar the last Airbender or its characters. All I own is my imagination and ideas.
7 days of Bandits and Sarcasm
Day 1: Betrothal
All was peaceful in Gaoling. The sun was shining, birds were singing happily, young earth benders were playing a game of earthball, and the towns people were going about their day as usual.
It was at this point that something had to happen to shake things up. And as if on cue we find something that maybe out of the ordinary to anyone not from Gaoling; A well dress, important looking, young man falling from the sky and right into the goal of the kid's earthball game.
Many onlookers just shrugged, some laughed and others were marking the distance he flew.
"Oh man that must have hurt," laugh one of the kids as he came closer to the now unconscious human ball.
"Yeah, must be another would be 'suitor' for Toph. Guess he didn't pass either." Said a young girl that was watching the kids play their game and came to see if the man was alright.
"I don't know about pass but he was the first to make a score," Laughed another young earthbender.
The other players erupted in laugher along with some of the nearby spectators.
"Hey grandpa, I think that is a new record distance isn't it?" asked a young girl working in a nearby store.
"Yup, the last one only made it to half court" chuckled an old man has he went to a wall in the outside corner of the store and marked the new record.
"Think Ms. Bei Fong will ever just pick someone already?" asked a middle-aged woman to her nearby friend.
"Don't know. Way I hear it she has rejected everyone that has come her way" the friend replied, "She is almost 16 now, in about a week I think, so I guess her parents want her to start to settle down soon."
At this a young boy with a young girl spoke up, "When Miss Toph was helping my sister and me earthbend she saids that she doesn't want no noble weakling and she already knows the kind of people her parents are picking" spoke the boy.
"I asked her who she would pick but she gave me a weird answer," said the small girl confused, "she said someone that likes meat and sarcasm. What does that mean?"
The two women just looked at each other and then at the two children and shrugged.
However, there was a passing traveler that smirked at the question as he made his way to a nearby food stand. Putting down his green bag and taking off his sword as he ordered his food.
At the Bei Fong estate things were not as relaxed as the market area. After politely reliving herself of a small announce Toph Bei Fong walked merrily to the nearby stream to cool off. As she made her way over the small bridge in the garden she took her finger and earthbent a scratch mark along the edge of the bridge where others similar marks ran up it.
A sly smile crossed her face as she splashed some water in her face. She stood for a moment and basked in the warm feel of the sun on her face as her braided hair swayed in a small gust of wind down her back.
However this moment of piece was not meant to last long for the Toph. Her smile disappeared as she felt the 'oh so' familiar vibrations of her father coming towards her with her mother behind him.
"TOPH BEI FONG" Lao Bei Fong shouted to the point where he was red in the face.
Sign "Yes father what is the matter?" Toph asked innocently as she motioned her face to his direction.
"You know very well what the matter is. Why do you do this time and time again? A well-respected and high standing noble comes to court you and what do you do" Lao yells as he glares effortlessly at his daughter.
'hmm, lecture number 20 I think so next is you go and shoot him into the sky like he was some annoying circus clown.'Toph thinks.
"You go and shoot him into the sky like he was some annoying circus clown" Lao complains as he covers his face with his hand just replaying the scene in his head.
At this point in the lecture Toph's mind zones out and remembers how this who thing started. About 2 years after the war the Gaang were able to put down many of the Fire Nation rebels along the Earth Kingdom and return the concurred cities and towns back to the Earth Nation. It was near the end of there second year that Toph learned that Sokka and Suki broke up.
While happy she was also surprised to learn that it was not a heart breaking split-up. According to Sokka they discovered that there relationship was not that deep, because they never had the real chance to get to know each other outside of a fight with the Fire Nation. When they came back from the Boiling Rock and went though everything after the war they soon discovered they didn't have much in common. It was actually great respect and admiration for each other's skill and determination that brought them together in the first place. So after learning that, they knew it was the time to stop and let things be. So they remained good friends and he even went to go help her fix up Kyoshi island for a while.
While it took time Toph had manage to get over her stubborn streak and admit to herself the she really liked Sokka as more than just a friend. With the aid of Katara she was able to confess to Sokka and was taken aback that he shared her feelings but was afraid of saying anything thinking he might lose her altogether because of it. And thus started their relationship; it wasn't until a year later after Toph turned 15 that she got a letter from her parents asking her to come home for important family business that they separated. Sokka, Katara and Aang went to the South Pole to see Hakoda.
'It has been about 6 months scene then' Toph thought as she signed to herself.
She had the idea but didn't want it to be true that her father was going to try to marry her to some noble bimbo.
'Why can't they just get it that I already have someone' Toph anger grew, but she hid it from her face as she notice Lao was about to end his little speech.
"Do you understand what I am saying Toph, as a Bei Fong you have a reputation to maintain." Lao declared.
"Like being the worlds greatest Earthbender AND teaching the Avatar AND helping in ending a war that raged for over 100 YEARS, father" Toph state-matter-of-factly.
"Now, now. Lets not get into an uproar here. Dear let me talk with Toph and you go on to that meeting you have in the city." Spoke Toph mother.
Lao was about to speak up when a small glare from his wife stopped him cold.
"Very well then. I leave you to talk some sense into her. Maybe next time she won't send the next candidate into the Heavens." Lao said.
"Your right Father next time I will just send them into the next town over" Toph said sarcasm dripping off each word.
Lao Bei Fong was about to lose it when he just turned and left the garden towards his awaiting chariot.
"Well that could have gone better." Minmei Bei Fong told her daughter.
Since her return and upon hearing of the many things she had done for the world Toph's mother has changed for the better. She was now seeing Toph for who she was not what they thought she was. This giving Toph what she had wanted for a long time, a real mother.
"Yeah but when is he going to stop this whole. Arranged marriage thing" Toph questioned as she took a seat on a bench facing nowhere.
"I don't know. I do wish he would not push you so much." Minmei replied taking a seat next to Toph. "What is the count so far?" she asked with a small smile.
Toph could not hold back the infamous bandit grin, as Sokka called it. She pointed to wear she felt the small bridge was.
"I think about 43 so far, but you can count for yourself." Toph laughed.
Her Mother quietly giggled into her hand at her daughter. She knew of all the manners and traditions of the Bei Fong family, but given everything that has gone on in her life she knew that Toph would not only not follow them, but deserved something, or someone, better suited to her own life style.
A familiar red bird flew and landed onto Toph's shoulder. She smiled and scratched the bird's head.
"Hey, Hawky. Sorry but I don't have any new letters for you to take to Sokka today," Toph said and the messenger hawk cried out, "yeah I know you miss Sokka. I do too." She spoke with a bit of sadness in her voice.
Minmei looked over at her now depressed daughter. She not only heard of this Sokka but also had been the one reading and writing the letters he and Toph had been sending to each other over the months. Toph had told her stories of their adventures and she was always willing to listen to them because it was at these times that she notice the bright smile and joyful tone in Toph that no one else saw.
Mrs. Bei Fong only met Sokka for a brief time when he came with them Avatar years ago right before Toph had run away, but after hearing these stories and reading his loving letters, she could tell that they truly care for each other more than anything else.
"I know you miss Sokka very much, but you also know that your Father wants you to be betroth before your 16." Toph's mother said.
"Oh we know" Toph stated through a smirk and blush that would not go away.
"And what does that mean my Daughter" Minmei asked in an amused manner while looking at her now blushing daughter.
"Sorry that's on a need to know bases" Toph said as she stood up and walked away from her mother with Hawky on her shoulder.
'That girl knows something' Minmei smiled 'oh well I will find out sooner or later. Now the hard part of trying to talk with that husband of mine' she signed.
It had been known that while home Toph would help teach young earthbenders as much as she could. In an area just outside the estate she was helping a small boy and girl practice their stances.
"Know remember you have to be as stubborn as a rock if you want to control it, that starts with having a strong stance. Like this" Toph demonstrated.
"Yes Sifu Toph" both children shouted.
"Good now keep that up. Don't let anything distract you or throw your guard off" Toph spoke.
Just then Hawky perked up as if something familiar was near and flew away from Toph and her little students.
'Huh must have gone home to get something to eat.' Toph thought ignoring the bird.
"Oh Sifu the old man at the market said that the man you sent into the air made a new record distance" the young boy said while still in his horse stance.
"Oh really that's good to hear that means I have a new goal to break" Toph laughed.
"Sifu Toph the ladies at the market said that you are waiting for someone just right is that true" asked the little girl.
"Who tol…uh I mean yeah that's right someone I will choose and no one else is who I am waiting for." Toph answered with a small smile and pink on her face.
At the front of the estate stood a very tall and blue clothed stranger with a odd ponytail like hairstyle. This man was none other than Sokka of the Southern Water tribe.
"Finally back, man that trip took forever" Whined Sokka and as he was about to approach the gates a squawk was heard in the sky and he looked up and smiled.
"Hawky. There you are!" cheered Sokka as the bird rested on his shoulder and nuzzled his head. "Good to see you too Hawky"
He made his way to the gates but the guards stopped him.
"Name and purpose" commanded one of the guards.
"Sokka of the Water Tribe here to see Toph Bei Fong" Sokka simply said.
"Wait, Sokka the war hero that fought along side the Avatar," gasped the guard.
"Yup thats me alright" grinned Sokka as he felt his ego go up a few points.
"We will call for Lady Bei Fong at once," said one of the guards as he left.
"Are you really Sokka the sword master, I heard he is a great warrior and strategist. you don't even look 18" asked the remaining guard.
'Well there goes those ego points I just got' Sokka then said, "Yes that is me. And for your information I am 20 years old. And if you want to test my skills that's totally up to you."
Soon Toph's mother approached the gate after hearing that The Sokka was at the front gate. Once she was in close enough she saw a young man arguing with the guard. The young man wore blue water tribe clothing and had a sword strapped to his back. He was not overly muscular but was nowhere near skinning or scrawny. The build of an experienced warrior she concluded. What leapt out the most was his hairstyle every bit as odd as Toph described it.
"So this is the famous Sokka of the Water Tribe. I am Minmei Bei Fong Toph's mother" Minmei addressed herself.
"Oh you have been the one reading and writing me and Toph's letters." Sokka said bluntly. "It is great to see you again is Toph here right now"
"Not at the moment. She is with some students, I can have someone call for her." Minmei said smiling at the young man.
"Oh don't worry I know how to get her here faster" and with that he had Hawky jump to his arm and place his trademarked boomerang on Hawky's message holder.
"Now go find Toph ok" he said and threw the bird into the sky.
Minmei only smiled and suggested that they go into the estate and wait.
Toph was about to show some new forms to her students when she heard Hawky coming closer.
"What done eating already" Toph chuckled.
As he landed on her shoulder she notice he was heavier than normal. He tipped his head as he did when he had a delivery and Toph reach to his back and her eyes shot open wide as she took hold of the metallic object on his back and smiled from ear to ear.
"Students I got to go now bye" and with that Toph ran faster than wind towards her home leaving two confused students behind
'When did he get here? Is he already at my house? Is he here for what we planned? Oh man I am going to kill him for not telling me he was coming' Toph thought as she made it to the front door of her home and heard laughter from inside.
"And that's was the last time Aang and me thought it would a good idea to ride the buffalo-pandas." Sokka laughed along with lady Bei Fong.
Toph smile grew at hearing his voice and had to control her heart before it jumped out.
"Oh I remember that, you didn't even last 10 seconds before you were thrown nearly 30 feet" Toph commented.
"TOPH!" Sokka shouted happily as he got up and ran to engulf Toph in a massive hug.
Toph hug him back just as happily. Enjoying every minute of being with him again. And as they came closer and kissed one another Minmei took this time to excuse herself and walked off smiling at the scene.
They had forgotten time and the world around them as they just enjoyed the sensation of the long missed taste of each other's lips and the feeling of the other. However the need for air drove them to separate and they just looked at each other.
"Been a long time Sokka" Toph spoke breathlessly while hugging Sokka closer.
"Yeah" Sokka simply said just taking in the view of Toph after so long.
They walked out to the garden arm in arm in a peaceful silence and sat at the bench near the bridge.
"So how has the 'suitor' business been going" Sokka asked breaking the silence.
"Oh I don't know, why don't you check the score board" Toph replied pointing to the scratched in bridged side.
Sokka looked up and counted in between snorts of laughter.
"43 not bad. Guess no one has been able to be worthy of the Blind Bandit yet huh" Sokka said.
"Well there was this one guy that made the list, but he would have to do something pretty extreme to win me now." Toph declared.
"oh really" Sokka said casually while pulling something from his pocket. "Like this"
At that Sokka placed a necklace into Toph's hands and she blushed bright red upon tracing the stone in the middle.
"Uh…yea that could…do it" Toph choked out trying to find her real voice.
"So do I get an answer or what?" Sokka cried out.
"Its about time!" Toph said grabbing Sokka by the collar and pulling him into a long kiss.
"I will take that as a yes" Sokka said dreamily.
Sokka took the necklace and put it around Toph's neck.
Toph placed her hand on the stone in the middle feeling the symbols of both her and his nations.
"Well guess I can tell father that I am betroth after all" Toph said resting her head on Sokka's shoulder.
From the upstairs balcony lady Bei Fong and many of the housemaids pumped their fists into the air and cheered for the new couple.
And everyone had the same thought 'Who gets to tell lord Bei Fong the news'. But no one care the least.