title: falling into you
summary: She's floating, drifting untethered in the water—but then, she hears that voice, that beautiful voice, and wonders if, maybe, coming back is worth it. Pre-Show Tokka.
pairing: Tokka.
a/n: once again, I am procrastinating D: Unfortunetly, I might not be able to get the next chapter of I'd Lie up today, as planned. It's gonna be pretty busy...and as well as that, I've started writing my own original novel, which will, obviously consume a lot of my time D: But don't worry, I'll ration the time a DO have, lol, and updates WILL come...eventually...XD Now on with the Tokka!

She's floating, drifting, and can't remember anything except a slipped foothold and the endless expanse of suffocating water. It's horrible, being caught here.

Being caught in the water.

But then again, there is some peace in knowing that she won't escape, won't ever have to face the world again. Because—

Because no one really understands her. And even though Toph isn't the type to give up—the type to just flat-out quit—

There is some sort of comfort, in the end.

Toph's eyes drift close on nothing, and she can feel the blanket of darkness (not that it's anything new) just waiting to wrap itself around her, and drag her down to the bottom. But—but—

He comes for her. A little, tiny voice whispers in her ear—not her, but someone, someone else—and gives her—gives her—hope.

"Keep fighting," he—for Toph knows, somehow, that the voice is one—insists, urgent in his coaxing. For a moment, she is inspired, to live, to fight, like he urges her so, but the darkness, the eternal rest, calls once more, and Toph knows that she must give in.

"No," he says gently, caressing her cheek—and, for a moment, Toph wonders how anyone's voice, anyone's touch, can be so damn beautiful. "No, this is not your time. Go."

Toph cannot speak. She is drifting again, untethered, and his face is shimmering in the light—but no, no, why won't he stay with her?!

"I'll see you again, don't worry," he reassures her, as if he can read her mind. "Don't worry, don't worry. After all," he adds self-importantly, "I am the best warrior in my entire village. So don't. Worry, that is."

And for the slightest second in time, she doesn't.

But the water presses on her chest, harder, harder, and for a moment—

For a moment, she gives up, because he isn't with her anymore, is he?

His voice fades along with her hopes of escaping this world of pressing weights and suffocating breaths. But something must have happened, because suddenly Toph is fighting the water, fightingfightingfightingfighting, 'cause she wants to hear that beautiful voice again, really she does, she does—

But what if? What if it's a lie? A lie like her parents and their dumb fake perfection and the paint they make her smear dripdripdripping across her face and she'll never hear that voice again and it's all just—

But just like before, he comes. He comes back for her.

"Later," his voice is strong inside her head once more. "Later. Don't worry, I'll see you again, Toph—the manly, handsome guy—" she wonders why he seems so obsessed with bettering himself in the process of saving her life—"and the warrior's wolf tail. And meat. Meat and sarcasm. Remember!"

But Toph won't stop, not this time. Because if there is one thing she has ever been certain of in her too-short life, it is that she must hear that voice again.

And—

And—

Something must have gone wrong. Or, that is to say, something must have gone right.

Because—

Toph wakes up.