Tales of Gaoling part 1

A sequel to The Prodigal Daughter...wherein I dive off the cliff of actual storyline-safe fiction into the sea of alternate plot lines.

Disclaimer: For this and all following chapters; I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender nor its' characters. This is fan fiction.

The livery coaches took the four friends back to the Bei Fong estate. Citing exhaustion, everyone said 'good night' and left for their beds. Of, course, Toph snuck into Katara's room, where the girls talked until two bells after midnight. (the boys only lasted until one bell)

The next morning was bright and cheerful. No one, not even Toph, wanted to sleep late. All four, it seemed, were eager to get ready and start the day. Aang noticed a difference at breakfast, however. Usually, at meals, the girls sat on one side of the table, the boys on the other. Today, Katara glided to the seat next to Aang, leaving the other side to Toph and Sokka. These last two arrived at the dining room door at the same time. Sokka stepped back to make way for Toph, who had a hand up to "feel" her way through the doorway. It brushed across Sokka's chest as the blind earthbender slowly turned toward the table. A soft smile came to Sokka's face at the contact. 'VERY well done, Toph,' noted Katara to herself.
It wasn't until the meal was over that anyone noticed that their hosts had not joined them. Toph suggested that, being older, perhaps they were sleeping in today. The others had their doubts. Regardless of the reason, it was decided to spend the day in the market place for some casual shopping. Sokka said he wanted to introduce all the people who had helped him, and to return the borrowed items. It may have been simply that they wanted to be out as couples. A new dynamic had formed, a new way of relating to the world around them. and neither pair could wait to try it out.

They were in no hurry, and stopped for any reason at all. Even Toph, devoid of her usual surliness, was having fun. Their first destination was Kai's shop. Here, Sokka returned the boots and armbands he had worn. The others assured Kai that the effect was most impressive. The older man made sure to introduce his son, Cho, a middle-aged version of Kai, it seemed. Toph wanted to somehow repay Kai's generosity, so she purchased four pairs of very expensive ladies' gloves.
After waving good-bye, they next found a book shop. Toph could not even pretend to be interested, 'Sorry, guys, just not my thing," she shrugged and decided to wait outside. Toph wasn't sitting long when her friends exited the shop. Standing, Toph sensed something odd. A pair of raised heartbeats had emerged from the alley next to the bookstore, and was headed straight for Sokka. She could feel the heart rates quicken as they drew closer. With a fast heel-plant and arm thrust, Toph sent a small tremor at the two strangers, which knocked them back a few steps. The others wheeled around at the commotion, and Sokka recognized the two thugs from the other day. He subconsciously reached for his sword, only to realize he hadn't brought it! Before he could dwell on it further, Toph was by his side. She had sunk the two men's feet into the ground, immobilizing them. Katara had opened her waterskin, and had two lethal-looking icicle-daggers held to both noses. The taller, thinner man looked at Aang and sneered, "What trick do YOU do?"
"Hey genius," Katara snapped, "Check the tattoos? Airbender? He's the Avatar!"
"I COULD force enough air into you until your lungs explode." Aang stated, as matter-of-factly as reading a laundry list. He would never DO this, of course. But why tell them?
"Have fun digging yourselves out." Toph threw back at the men as they turned to walk away. Her last footstep was more deliberate, and both men sank further to their knees. "Check the tattoos...good one, Katara! I thought Snoozles would be the sarcastic one. Guess it's a Water tribe thing." she said
Silence followed. Aang, Katara, and Toph had expected some kind of remark from Sokka, but his head was down and he looked sheepish.
"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" asked Aang.
"Sorry I forgot my sword. I bet I would of scared'em off like before if I had it!"
"'S'okay, Meat-head. It's the thought that counts." Toph said as she stood on her toes and pulled down on Sokka's arm enough to give him a peck on the cheek.