It was like a dream really, feeling him come in. The small room provided no cover for her.
She could feel his sudden glances, the way his feet shuffled on the floor as he sat down. She took a bite of rice, trying to ignore the wonderful vibrations of him.
She hadn't seen him for years. Or as in seen, she meant felt. He'd been just another person, one she could just possible trust. Yet more.
He'd been her joy most the time, though she'd hide it. Now, as he glanced her way so many times, sending off strange vibrations, showing her he knew who she was.
She wondered what he was like now, what he sounded like. Who he'd become.
She certainly knew who she'd become. A sad, depressed bender who wanted nothing more then to be with her friends again. Of course, ever since the war was over she never saw them, her friends. He was the one she wanted most to feel, to hear.
She knew she was on a short schedule, she had a earthbending class to teach in a few minutes, yet she couldn't help but want to stay, to talk to him.
There had been so many days, that she regretted ever leaving them. Just wanted to have him there beside her, just talking randomly about his family. His royal stuck up, jerk father and sister. His mother was nice though, of what he told them.
She kept wondering if he'd ever found his mother, if he'd been able to see her, hug her.
She knew he was going to be gone within a few minutes, that he would leave her there alone. Though they had seen each other so much when they were with the avatar. She couldn't help but feel like a stranger to him. As if he couldn't even remember her name, like he wouldn't know who she was.
She sighed, grabbing her chopsticks and picking up a bite of chicken. She had it almost in her mouth when she felt him stand up and start toward her.
She felt the chicken drop from her utensils, roll down into her lap. She felt like a complete fool.
She set them down, daring to move her head up, to look his way with her sightless eyes. She felt hope prick at her as he came closer.
Her heart was racing, hoping he'd say something that would make her day. 'Hi Toph, how are you?' that would be fine. But… what would he say?
She opened her mouth partly to talk, but he abruptly turned, steering away from her table and toward the door. Her mouth shut tight, lips pursed. He'd just been taking a easier route out of the building. Probably to get away from her no doubt.
Toph bent her head, feeling around for the loose piece of chicken, then tossing it back into her bowl.
With a sad little sigh she stood up, leaving the bowl there.
Zuko and her never were meant to be with each other, it was just a dream of hers. It could have just been loneliness that drove her to feel this way. It hurt so bad, knowing he didn't want to talk to her, not daring to ask how she was.
She left the small restaurant. Holding herself, her bare feet padding across the cobblestone streets of Ba Sing Sai. A dream, that was all he was to her now. Just a dream.
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A/R: I can't help but feel like a jerk for writing this. I'm a Toko and Tokka fan, so I thought I'd write something about Toko or Zoph whichever. The thing is, I couldn't think of a happy ending for them that I haven't already read in someone else's story, so I kind of wrote a rather depressing one. Sorry to all Toko fans. Please R&R if you like.