She felt them running toward the group long before she heard them. At first she was concerned, why were they running so fast? Soon, though, felt the vibrations run through her feet and inform her that they were stopping to kiss every once in a while.
She'd been telling herself to get a grip for months, but even now she endured small cracks in her heart every time the woman rested her head on his shoulder, or pecked his lips, even the smallest touch could have her taking a deep, calming breath.
When Sokka and Suki arrived, there was a big commotion, and one by one, Katara, Haru, Zuko, Mai, Ty Lee, Longshot and Aang filtered in from the hallways and bedrooms. Everyone had been invited to stay the weekend at the Fire Lord's home, though not all of them could make it. There was a ball in the coming days, and it was a great excuse to catch up and spend some time together; it had been three years since Zuko's ascendancy to the throne, and there hadn't been as many group events as they might have hoped.
There had been many changes to the group dynamics since the war ended, Aang and Katara were officially a couple, and lived together. Zuko was the Fire Lord now, and a result, he was in meetings more often than not, and had little time for anyone but Mai. Haru was a regular visitor to everybody, even becoming friends with Zuko. The most surprising, however, was that Ty Lee had fallen for Longshot while in prison together. Toph still marvelled at that- she was so bubbly and he was stone cold silent, but occasionally the two simply smiled contentedly at each other, it was as if their personalities were melting into one another's.
When everyone was gathered in the great hall, Sokka and Suki stood together and Toph felt his girlfriend touch her neck and heard the intake of breath from everyone. It was like a rock had dropped inside her stomach, one that no earth-bending could move, she knew what it was before Suki squealed the sickening phrase; "We're engaged!"
While everyone was yelling and leaping around in joy, she slipped out silently, the only calm people were Longshot, as always, and Haru, but even his heart beat had increased with the atmosphere, rapidly thumping in his chest. Toph slipped out to the garden, she wanted to feel the earth ebb beneath her feet and try to calm herself down. Connect with something much bigger than themselves, something constant, comforting. She had to be outside for that. But suddenly, being with the earth wasn't enough. She had to leave. She had to go far away from that place.
"Toph!"
Sokka was standing behind her, breathing heavily, she hadn't realised she'd walked so far, he seemed to have run to catch up. "What?" She quipped.
"Why didn't you congratulate us? What's wrong with you?" he sounded genuinely upset with her, she felt guilty for a moment; after all, they'd been best friends for that beautiful year they travelled with Katara and Aang. He might have even asked her to be the best man... It's not like he understood she was a girl.
"Nothing. I'm just leaving, is that okay with you?" She was getting defensive, there was no way he would see her cry. Not today. Not ever. She started on again in the same direction.
He came and stood in front of her, arms outstretched, much like that day she'd argued with Aang and Katara and left. His concern brought back memories from the day she'd confided in him about her parents. But she wouldn't trust him again, he didn't understand her any more; he was too consumed in his relationship with Suki. "Leave me alone."
"No. I'm not moving until you tell me why you're acting this way."
She looked up, fuming, "She'll hurt you. I can see it. I know her kind, I've spent enough time with them at home the last few years." Living with her parents, this much was true, the halls were frequently filled with women who reminded her vividly of Suki, if only less skilled in combat.
"Be quiet!" Sokka sounded furious.
"You wanted to know." she snapped, "She'll hurt you, and I'm not going to be there to pick up the pieces!"
"To-" before he could finish her name, she swept the ground out from under him, much like that day long ago, but this time, she didn't think she'd be coming back.
Sokka and Pani chatted animately about the ball they were on their way to attend, Pani mentioned that he was going to meet some representatives for a business deal, and that very important people would be attending. Sokka was mostly there for moral support, but it was for his own benefit too. Ever since his wife left him, he'd not been out much, anybody who'd have wanted to see him would have had to come over themselves. He simply never had the energy to leave the house any more.
It was his new years resolution that he'd get out of this slump, and Pani had provided an excellent excuse. They'd travelled two days to get to the Southern Earth Kingdom, and the last stretch was on ostrich horse-back.
"There's supposed to be this amazing earth bender there! I think he's hosting it, I wonder if he'd train me, you know," he chuckled, "not that I need it!"
His chest tightened, he couldn't help but think of Toph, there was no bender that could match her skills, nobody would impress him over her. She'd tried to warn him about Suki; she was just being a good friend, but he'd turned on her. She was a good kid, and he'd been a jerk. Probably because he knew it was true, deep down. He should have seen it, he should have paid more attention to stolen glances and vague alibis. His love had blinded him to the truth.
His friend pulled him out of his revere, "There it is!"
A huge, beautiful building came into view out of the trees, it had elegant stone pillars and huge mahogany doors. The surrounding estate was even more lovely, though. It was fall, and the leaves were beautiful shades of oranges, reds and yellows, they were hypnotising.
"Look at that weird animal," laughed Pani as they rode swiftly through the main gates, Sokka was too distracted by the natural beauty to notice what he was referring to.
As they came into the court yard, he realised it was almost dusk, the sun had just about fallen, and torches were lighting up the outside, where people stood with cocktails and clutch purses. Pani approached a man with a scroll, and gave his name and plus one, and they entered with no problem. The inside was just as grand as the outside, the walls were deep shades of green and gold, and the room was filled with beautiful paintings and luxurious sofas. The main hall was filled with people; they danced, they lounged, they laughed in a very superior way with each other. It was entertaining to see people filled with such snobbery, his mind drifted back to a few years ago, where him and the Gaang would mess around, playing with Appa's moulting hair, messing around in mud swamps and watching earth benders fight for championships. This world was still so alien to him.
Sokka looked up to see his friend staring wide eyed at a very imposing, but oddly familiar person. Pani was always keen to get in with important people, and he'd just asked someone who the impressive figure on the pedestal was, and he nodded in understanding before straightening up and walking toward him.
The realisation who the familiar face belonged to came too late. As Pani approached him, knelt on the floor and the room fell silent, there was nothing for him to do but watch in a mixture of horror and deep amusement. Behind the man was the strange beast Pani had mentioned; a flying boar.
"Master Bei Fong, or, Master Tough, as you are so often referred to as, I am honoured to be in your presence. Please, Sir, I am Pani, son of Paran, and I would be honoured if you would allow me to be your student."
The room was thick with tension, and then Bei Fong chuckled, and the ice broke, the room exploded into giggles between the pompous guests. "Son, I believe that you have the wrong person."
His poor, ignorant friend looked up in bafflement. "Do you presume to be modest, sir? I assure you that you are spoken of most highly throughout the kingdom, a diamond in the rough!"
"Perhaps, son, you should look to my side."
He looked around him for the first time, confused, the only men in the vicinity were servants, and when he made this observation out loud, another snigger broke from the crowd. What Pani had at first failed to notice, was the young woman lounging on a throne type chair, her legs crossed, but sprawled over the arm rest. She was beautiful, her skin was a soft pale white, and she wore a gossamer emerald dress; it had a slit up the side of her leg, allowing her more movement in such attire that clung to every curve. It had a scooped low back and her hair was half tied up in a loose bun, the rest fell and framed her face, the black silky river reaching her naval. The three things that Sokka noticed most, though, was the fact that she wore no shoes, her eyes were milky and unseeing, and that her face wore a smirk of hilarity as my dumbstruck friend realised that he just embarrassed himself in front of the discoverer of metal bending, and the greatest earth bender in the world, Toph Bei Fong.
Throughout the ball, Sokka couldn't help but glance over at Toph every chance he got, he wasn't sure whether she'd recognise him, he'd weigh more- in muscle(!)- by now, and he'd like to think that he didn't walk with the same awkward teenage stumble any more. Every male in the room was eager to dance with her, and no wonder. Even without her breathtaking beauty, 'dancing' was not nearly enough to describe the way she flew across the ball room, her bare feet spun, twisted, and pirouetted on their toes as the lucky man twirled her across the room.
After the night was over, and most people had left or retired to the guest chambers, Pani went to speak with Toph. Sokka cautiously watched as he approached her, an awed expression on his face. She turned to him, and her face took on a much more familiar expression.
"Right. You. Here." She ordered Pani, he now looked rather terrified.
"Master Bei Fong!" He whimpered as he came closer to the hard faced beauty.
"If you want to train with me, there are a few things you ought to know. I will NOT be taking it easy on you. You will toil. You will suffer. You will improve, but if you show any weakness, it will be met with my foot at your backside as you are thrown from my property."
Pani, it was safe to say, was both immensely relieved, and absolutely regretful.
Sokka was anxious about the concept of speaking to her, lest she realise who he was, but Toph, for the most part, ignored him. Pani had introduced Sokka only as his companion, but he was too scared of her to continue small talk. Eventually, his old friend consented to training him, and so they stayed at their residence for the next week, during which Sokka became aware of unexpectedly heart breaking information.
The following morning they were at breakfast with the rest of the remaining guests. There were so many people, that his continued silence was hardly noticed, he only mumbled replies when other people spoke directly to him. As they ate the extravagant buffet, a man came in, he was impressive, young, attractive, with a cocky smile and expensive clothing. Toph's father looked up and smiled.
"Roal! How nice to see you this morning, you have been keeping your fiancé truly desperate with your absence!" He gestured to his left.
Sokka automatically looked to her. The young woman wore a pale green light dress, much more casual than yesterday, but just as eye-catching. It was so quick, he might have imagined it, but at the word 'fiancé', he could have sworn he saw her familiar lips grimace for a moment. Before anyone else had gauged it, she smiled warmly at him.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, honey, but when business calls!..." Roal joked as he plonked down opposite Toph.
"That's fine, I'm a busy woman. Sweetie." she added, almost as an after thought.
Sokka watched them over dinner, conversing in a strangely formal way, and decided that he would keep an eye on the situation.
The more he saw of Roal, the more Sokka disliked him. As days went by, he noted his behaviour to himself; while charming when in public, when he caught snippets of private conversations, he seemed crude and arrogant. When you were as quiet as a frog-fly on the wall, people didn't take much notice when you're around, and he heard much more than was intended to be picked up.
The third day of his stay there, he was wandering the halls, and he heard voices. It was Roal and another man speaking in whispered tones, he discovered as he turned the corner. Keeping quietly behind, he listened to them.
"I can't believe you're going to go through with this, mate!"
"Come on, it's not that bad! For a blind chick, she's kind of hot."
Kind of? He couldn't fathom the idea of anyone not thinking she was the most wonderful thing on the planet.
"Yeah," his friend guffawed, "and you can roll your eyes without her noticing!"
"Mmm," Roal grunted, "don't like the idea that she could kick my ass though, she's too strong-minded for my liking."
Sokka couldn't fall to sleep that night, he laid awake, thinking of the terrible situation his friend was doomed to. Roal might be rich, he may be suitable, but Sokka hated him, he was a terrible person. Toph deserved someone who worshipped the ground she walked on, not someone who resigned himself to marriage with her.
Long after everyone had fallen asleep, he pulled on a jacket and decided to take a stroll across the large, quiet house. There were still dying flames in the torches both inside and outside. Eventually, he sat down on the large window ledge, staring up at the moon. Yue. She was so gentle, and stunning, she was so giving, and that final sacrifice had been what ended what they had been blessed with. How could he have ended up like this? Suki was pretty as well, but it was her strength that attracted him to her the most, and in the end, it was that independence that had won out. How could he have known that it was his best friend that would be perfect for him? She was totally ethereal, as well as being tough as nails; a fire in the darkness, a light, but one that could hold it's own.
A flicker of white caught his eye, gliding across the grounds outside, lit up by the embers of torches and the glowing moon, he saw Toph. It looked so cold out, it was autumn, after all. He couldn't resist, he opened the window silently, and slipped onto the wooden platform barely five feet down. He was right, the air was freezing. Toph was wearing but a silk slip; he could see her shiver, and on an impulse, pulled off his own coat, feeling selfish that he was warmer while she was so cold. As he took his first step toward her, she looked around, eyes wide, and then sunk into the ground.
She was gone. Like a ghost in the wind, but as he came close to where she'd disappeared, he saw a faintly worn path, yet not enough so to suggest it was a common public road, it looked more like one person occasionally took the stroll alone.
He looked out into the trees, where the path led, and decided to follow it, it was his best lead to her. The path was beautiful, the trees were dark but magical, animals were everywhere in the night, scurrying away from his loud footsteps, he'd bet they wouldn't have even noticed Toph, so at one with the earth. Eventually, when it was so dark that he'd almost lost the track, he heard a steady flow of water, and directed himself toward it. It was there he found her.
Her feet were in the pool of a small water fall. Her hair tumbled down her back, and her skin glowed in the moonlight, much like the pool. It was such a beautiful sight his eyes almost watered. He knew that if he were silent she wouldn't be scared off; she couldn't feel him through the water. She leaned backwards on her hands, eyes closed, facing the star lit sky.
"What's up, Snoozles?"
He froze, she knew. "H-how did you know?"
She laughed, a sweet, but mocking sound. "It's taken years of training, but I can see through my hands too now."
He was impressed, but that wasn't what he meant. "How did you know it was me?"
She looked to him, and it was almost as if those white-green eyes could actually see him. "I wasn't sure, but then, nobody could ever track like you could."
He went and put his coat around her uncovered shoulders, she smiled to herself and hugged it closer to her body. They sat in silence for a while, he watched the dark orange leaves fall to the ground around them, some floated on the dark water, drifting in circles until they inevitably made their way to the base of the waterfall, where they were swept out of sight.
After a while, Sokka spoke. "I'm sorry, you know?"
She only nodded her head in response.
"Suki left me. For Haru. You were right. You were always right."
She reached out and touched his arm, the contact was so gentle, she was so gentle- when she wasn't punching you.
"I know that you were just looking out for me. You were my best friend, I know you were just looking out for my happiness, telling me not to rush into anything. I was way too harsh on you."
She sighed, and he was almost sure that she wouldn't respond again when she looked up at him. "Don't say sorry. I wasn't being selfless. I didn't like Suki too much, sure, but I had my own reasons for trying to stop you marrying her."
He looked at her, baffled, what other reasons could she have had? Then it hit him. It was the same reason that he didn't want her to marry Roal, he was awful, but even if he was the kindest person in the world, Sokka would have hated him. Roal had Toph, and he didn't.
She was still looking at him, a sorrowful smile playing upon her lips. Lips that were so very close to his. If he leaned closer, they would touch, he longed for that in that moment more than he'd ever wanted anything. A tear fell from her almond shaped eye, and he settled for wiping it away with his thumb.
"I don't want to marry him, Sokka." she whispered quietly.
"I know." he replied simply.
"But I've broken my parent's hearts enough times, I don't want to do it again."
"They'll understand, you're still young, there's nothing stopping you from putting it off."
"We all have to grow up sometime... For some, it has to be earlier than others."
He took her in his arms, and for an age with no discernible time, she silently cried into his shoulder, hugging his body closer to hers.
As the sun rose with dawn, Sokka stood and took his friend's hand, and they walked back through the forest, he watched the way beams of light danced around her as they walked. He felt her soft skin brushed against his, and wished the trip would never end. It did, of course, and when they came into view of the large stone prison, they left walked back to their rooms separately.
Pani was in a panic when he got back, "Where the hell have you been?!"
Sokka looked up at him, and his expression must have held something that he hadn't meant to betray, because his annoyance subsided for concern almost immediately.
"What's wrong, man?"
Those words were like dynamite to a dam, because tears spilled down his cheeks without his permission. He told his friend everything. Silently, he took it all in.
"You're...That Sokka? I mean, I know I've never properly asked about your life, but woah, saving the world with the Avatar is something that you might bring up in casual conversation!"
Sokka had never introduced Pani to Aang or his sister, he tried to avoid people knowing who he was, it attracted a lot of friends that he didn't want to have. He knew he should have told him by now, but he'd simply gotten into the habit of avoiding the subject.
"That's what you're taking from this? What do I do about Toph?!"
He shook his head, still wide-eyed, "You have to just lay it out for her. It sounds like she feels the same."
"But what about that platypus-ass, Roal?"
"Well, from what I've heard, he's got nothing on you."
"She's too concerned about what her parents will think."
"Well, you'll never know unless you give it a go."
For the next few weeks, Toph and Sokka met up in the night frequently, they only talked, but it felt imperative to keep it a secret. Roal came and went, and Sokka noticed that Toph always seemed much brighter when he was on business. She was still very hard on hapless Pani during their sessions, but he noticed a vast improvement in his earth-bending; nowhere near Toph's level, she was on a different planet, but he already seemed much better than the average bender. While they trained, Sokka found some material in the tea room, and began making something that he'd never thought he'd even consider again, though he doubted he'd ever get the chance to present.
The next full moon, the Bei Fong's had another ball approaching, and the house was filled with the hustle and bustle of preparation, Sokka stayed low, and nobody noticed his presence, or absence, which made it much easier to steal Toph away for hours at a time.
They met up at an oak tree in the forest a few hours before the guests were due to arrive, but she was sans the usual cheeky smile she wore when they saw each other. Today she had tears streaming down her face as she approached. She wore a chiffon blood red dress, it was stunning, it came down one shoulder and rippled down her body, her hair was curled in ringlets and somebody had done her make-up, she looked even more heart-stopping than usual, her eyes were shadowy and her perfect lips were dark scarlet.
She was absolutely arresting, though he was glad she didn't do it often, she was intoxicating enough the way she was.
Toph fell into his arms, sobbing, he tried to understand what was making her act this way, but he patiently waited for her to be ready to tell him. Stroking her hair and whispering comfort into her ear.
When she eventually collected herself, she touched his cheek tenderly, taking deep, shaky breaths. "There isn't a ball."
Sokka furrowed his eyebrows, "What do you mean? Is it being called off?"
"No. My father wanted it to be a surprise. This is my wedding."
While his face remained sympathetic, his fists clenched with terror, they'd run out of time.
Sokka cupped her delicate face in his hands. "Run away with me." He said simply.
Toph looked at him, and dropped to her knees, once again breaking down in tears.
He knelt in front of her. "Stop now. This isn't the Toph I know. Master Tough!" he joked, "You're stronger than this."
She nodded, and for a wonderful moment, he thought she was agreeing to leave with him.
"You're right. I have to do what's best for my family. I can go through with it."
"No! Toph!"
"Just- stop it Sokka, I don't want your pity, I've been the smitten child before, and I'm not going to drop myself in it again, the awkward best-friend with the unrequited love."
"Toph, I don't me-"
"Yeah. I know you don't, and It's okay that you don't feel the same, but I'm not okay with spending all my time torturing myself by seeing you every day. Watching you fall in love again. Get married. Have children. I couldn't take it four years ago, and I can't take it now."
Before he could say a word, she fell into the earth, and was gone.
Toph took pains to avoid Sokka over the next few hours; feeling him approach from a mile away in the stone home that her parents bought to accommodate her unique 'sight'. She couldn't face him, not after her ill timed expression of love. He must be mortified at the thought. He probably felt used, thinking they were friends, when all the while she was infatuated with him: How he must hate the affectionate contact that he'd now wish he'd avoided.
When the moment of truth came, walking through the ballroom toward Roal wasn't as hard as she'd thought it would be; it was the same thing that she always did; moving one foot in front of the other.
She felt everyone's eyes upon her as she entered the room, she guessed she must look nice, given how her mother had cooed and cried when she'd finished doing her make-up (and cried again when she had messed it up with tears- not that her mother had assumed they were anything more than happiness) She couldn't see herself, though. She just felt the disgusting feeling of dirt on her face- no, dirt wouldn't have been as bad, earth on her skin was kind of refreshing, this was just uncomfortable: the way her lips stuck together a little, and her eye lashes felt heavier on her lids after they'd been coated with a liquid. Something she noticed was the way that everyone in the room gasped when she approached, even Roal, yet his heart didn't beat any faster, it didn't falter, or thud like Sokka's sometimes did. At the thought of his name, she became sad again, she kept her routine smile that she'd perfected over the years, but behind that she felt like crying again, though she was convinced she'd used up all her tears.
She came and stood beside Roal, and he touched her arm, as if he didn't think she knew he was there. He shuffled on the spot, and Toph was shocked to realise who the union-bearer was, she'd forgotten to wonder who would hold the ceremony, Twinkle Toes wasn't usually welcomed at their home, due to that whole "kidnapping thing" seven years ago, but if there was any sign of prosperity, it was having the Avatar head the ceremony in your daughter's wedding. She'd doubt Aang could have resisted the chance mend bonds between him and her parents, and really, he was always too sweet, if he'd found out she was getting married, he might have insisted.
She smiled and punched his arm lightly.
"Ow" he whispered. Well, she'd thought it was light, "You look beautiful, Si Fu Toph." she could almost hear the grin in his voice.
Everyone was silent as the ceremony began, "As the elements work together to meld the world in harmony, so do we join these two in completion with each other. Two halves of a whole, a union like rock, unyielding under pressure, yet able to be made more beautiful in the right hands. It is with great happiness that I combine you two as one in love and in patience. Be you both loving and devoted to one another, no matter the difficulties, do you both dedicate yourself to the other?"
"I do." Roal pronounced with his usual gusto, yet once again, she noticed that his heart beat remained steady and casual.
"I do." She repeated with a overwhelming sense of resignation.
"Excellent," Aang continued, "are both families satisfied with the union of their children?" he added routinely.
Toph sent out such desperation toward her parents, within her mind, on the off chance they might sense it. Yet nobody spoke, she could even see her mother clasping her hands in joy. She thought how beautiful it would be if Sokka came and stole her away, but he wasn't there, she couldn't feel him, he was probably miles away by now.
Then the something happened that she absolutely did not expect. Roal's friend, Deo, stood up. Deo came with Roal often to their house, and they often went on business together, he was rather quiet, but with a similar casual attitude to his friend. For the first time, she noticed Roal's heart skip a beat.
"Roal doesn't want to marry her. I'm very sorry Toph, but it's true."
Every head turned toward the man, and the room burst into shocked murmuring. Her father stood up, outrage thick in his tone, "How dare you come into our home and taint this wedding?
Deo sounded genuinely apologetic, "It's not his fault, but he can't love her, it's just not in his nature. She's lovely, but he couldn't love her any more than any other woman."
There was an intake of breath as everyone realised what she'd already guessed.
Her father kicked his chair out from underneath him, she'd never witnessed him so angry, "Look what you have done; you have cast dishonour upon this family. Who would take her now? The cast-off of a merchant!" He said it as if there was no deeper insult, though she knew he respected the profession.
She felt something then, a body clambering through the in the hallway window- he must have been sitting on the raised wooden platform that acted as a bench outside, she deduced- and heard a scuffle from the other side of the door. Sokka burst in, sounding particularly dishevelled, "I will. Any day."
Everyone looked around in surprise at yet another turn of events, "Who are you, but the companion of Toph's student?" Her father asked dubiously, too surprised to retain the same degree of anger.
"Sokka. Her best friend." he turned to her, "I love you, Toph, more than my own life. You are so beautiful, and not just on the outside, you have the most stunning soul I've ever met, full of fire and gold. Breathtakingly fierce. I'm asking you. No, I'm begging you to let me the rest of my days by your side."
She felt Sokka approach, and pull from his pocket a necklace intertwined with small pieces of rock, and in it's centre, she could feel the carving of a unique water bending symbol, twisting around the universal earth-bender's, much like she wore on her old tiara and her Earth Rumble 6 belt. The necklace, she came to understand, was 'turquoise', a mix between green and blue, earth and water, and as Sokka tied it around the nape of her bared neck, she shook with joy and laughter. After it was secured, her best friend leaned his forehead on hers, chuckling in a deep, seductive way. He took her chin in his hand, and brought her lips to his, and for the first time, Toph knew a different way to see.