Yo, I'm back with Tokka fic because I really just need to get it out. As I type, I'm literally on a train right now in the Sierra Nevada's. I'd say "as we speak" but that just … wouldn't make any sense. Lol, whenever we go through a tunnel I literally want to start singing 'secret tunnel' really loud. x'D
Well, I've got big plans for this and I hope you like it! I love reviews and constructive criticism. No flames though!
Just want to let you people know, this takes place a few months after The Promise part 3.
DISCLAIMER: Avatar: The Last Airbender and its characters belong to Nickelodeon, Michael, and Bryke.
Toph's POV
Over the past few months, Toph had temporarily given up on her metalbending academy, and went to hang out with the Gaang in Ba Sing Se. Something in her longed to go on more adventures with her friends, like back in the old days before Firelord Ozai had been taken down.
Pushing the thought out of her head, she absently 'stared' at the rest of her friends, and sipped her tea. Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, and even Zuko had all been taking a break from the drama in Yu Dao for a bit, and were cooling off at Iroh's tea shop, The Jasmine Dragon. Everyone seemed to be having a good time all except for Sokka.
Suki had broken it off with him about a week and a half before now, because her duties as a Kyoshi Warrior were being neglected when she was with him. He pretended to be okay with it, but Toph knew better. Sokka missed his old girlfriend, and now he was being boring. Toph, of course, hated thinking of all of it because it brought back too many memories from a year ago; memories in which she wasn't sure whether it had scarred her, or gave her something good to look back on.
"Bet you can't chug hot tea down, Twinkle Toes." Toph challenged Aang, making the conversation a bit more interesting. A grin spread across her features.
"Bet you that I can!" He retorted, seeming playfully offended by the fact that his earthbending teacher would doubt him.
"Aang, sweetie, I don't think that's a good idea." Katara butted in, placing her hand on the monk's shoulder. Toph rolled her sightless eyes at the waterbender, annoyed by the entire sentence. Oogies…
"Relax, Katara. I'm the Avatar." Toph heard Aang say. Pft, how cocky. He picked up the glass full of steaming tea and hesitated.
"I'd have to agree with Katara. You'll burn your tongue." Zuko put in quietly, but loud enough to hear.
"Guys, quit being such wusses. You man enough, Twinkle Toes?" Toph said, smirking.
"Of course!" Aang said to Toph, ignoring his other friend's warnings, and brought the cup to his lips, chugging it down.
"H-HO-OW!" Aang yelped, after he pulled the cup away from his lips. "Koph, aign gonga geh oo feh ish!" He tried to threaten. His tongue was probably in too much pain to talk.
"Um, what?" Katara asked.
"Here, Katara let me translate." Toph said, standing up and clearing her throat. "Toph, I'm gonna get you for this! Which by the way, Twinkle Toes, you're not going to get me for this. You did this on your own free will."
"She's right, Aang. My nephew and Katara warned you not to." Iroh said, far off behind the counter. Toph couldn't see it, but she guessed Aang had been making a face as he grumbled and sat down.
Toph, Katara, Iroh, and Zuko all laughed at the young airbender, who seemed to lighten up a bit and laughed a little too. Sokka was still ignoring everyone else.
Katara turned her toward her brother. "Sokka, I know you're going through a hard time, but please just try and have a little bit of fun." She told him supportively.
"Yeah, Snoozles, you're really missing out!" Toph said, still sounding cheerful.
"You'd have more fun without me." Sokka mumbled, turning his head away from the rest of the group. Toph felt Aang and Katara exchange glances.
"Come on, Sokka, it's way more fun when you're with us!" Aang hopefully said, trying to cheer the mopey teen up a bit.
"We all know it hurts when you get your heart broken, but there are always other stars in the sky!" His sister added.
Sokka sighed, and after a long silence, he finally said, "I know. Thanks guys." He sat up and awkwardly straightened out his warrior's wolf tail. Katara turned back to Aang and Zuko, beginning to talk to them again about the time when she and Sokka had been out trying to hunt for a leopard seal with their father.
Toph nudged Sokka in the side. "Quit moping, Snoozles, I know you better than that."
"I'm not mopi— well, maybe I am … but I've been trying not to." He sighed sadly, leaning his head on the table once again.
"You call that trying?" Toph remarked, kind of leaning on him. After all the time she had spent clinging to him on Appa, or on a boat, she felt comfortable enough to get that close to him. He didn't really seem to mind, either.
She hated to admit it, but she had a huge crush on Sokka. It started out as something really little, but over time, it grew into something else. The blind girl hid it, of course.
He made a strange gibberish noise, still leaning his head on his arms, and Toph half smiled.
Sokka's POV
Sokka and Katara had decided that they wanted to go down and visit Gran-Gran for a few days. They hadn't been down there for a long time. Some of the men returned to the tribe after the war had ended, but Hakoda still hadn't returned with all of his men. He was still helping clean up the mess left behind from the Fire Nation.
Aang and Toph decided they would go with them, but Sokka realized Toph had never been to the South Pole before. He knew that she'd hate the fact that it was all ice, but he wasn't about to warn her.
Zuko, however, had to return to his duties in the Fire Nation, so they said their goodbyes, and went their separate ways.
The four teens were all riding on Appa. After a few stops, they had flown over Kyoshi Island, and Sokka felt a lump grow in his throat. Was it really necessary for the spirits to take away every girl he had managed to fall in love with? First it was Yue, and now it was Suki as well.
He knew that Suki still loved him, and she was equally as heartbroken as he was. The sixteen year old wasn't exactly sure if this was comforting or if it made him feel worse.
The moon was shining bright, right along with the stars, and everyone else seemed to be sleeping like a baby moose lion compared to Sokka. He looked up at the moon and smiled, remembering Yue's smooth white hair that shined so beautifully, and her pale blue eyes that seemed to contrast perfectly with her dark skin and pink lips.
Still looking up, another thought drifted into his subconscious. The moon reminded him of Toph's pale eyes and how beautiful they were.
Wait, Toph's eyes? Have I been drinking cactus juice or something? Sokka thought to himself, looking over at the blind girl awkwardly. He turned over and tried to close his eyes, but he still couldn't seem to sleep at all.
"You awake, Snoozles?" a familiar voice whispered behind him. Toph.
"Yeah. I can't sleep." Sokka replied.
"Same." She said, seeming to trail off. "I've just been wondering, what is this Southern Water Tribe like?" She asked. He heard her fumble around behind him, probably adjusting her sleeping bag or something.
"Well, in a word, icy." He joked.
"No, I mean, what is it like living there, Meathead?" She said, with traces of bitterness and irritation in her voice.
"Ah, well, it's okay in the spring and summer, but in the fall and winter extremely cold. There's snow everywhere, and you have to hunt to find your food. But overall, it's home. It's where I was born and raised for the first fifteen years of my life. I'm not gonna lie, but you really have to have adapted to that type of weather. You won't be able to see as well, you being blind and all." He told her, nervous of what she might do next.
"Oh, well thanks for the incredibly early heads up!" She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess there's no turning back now."
"Nope!" Sokka said, grinning stupidly. "We'll have to find some clothes for you and Aang to wear. Hope you don't mind fur!"
Toph groaned. "You have no idea how bad I want to punch you right now."
Sokka laughed, and then closed his eyes, finally feeling sleepy. It wasn't before long that he was asleep, excited to finally be going home.
R&R! The real story will probably begin on chapter three or at least the ending of chapter two, so hang in there!
Oh, and my friend came up with the phrase, "There are other stars in the sky." It's supposed to sound like "There are other fish in the sea." But she said it'd sound like something they'd say. And she told me to give her credit for it, so there. Happy reading!