This is my first Fan Fiction. Please Review constructively and please no hate. I will return the favor.
I do not own any characters or rights for Avatar: The Last Airbender
Introspection is defined as - a reflective looking inward : an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings - according to Merriam-Webster online, just in case you were wondering.
Katara sat outside staring into the fountain. She was bending the water to form small whirlpool as she moved her finger in a circle above the water. Sighing, she let the water settle back in the fountain, looking around the inner part of the city of Ba Sing Se. Hearing a person grumbling coming up the path behind her, she turned and saw a young woman stomping toward her.
The younger woman was grumbling and muttering to herself, small mounds of earth raising up in front of her path from the force of her stomping before she stomped them back down again when she walked over them.
"Toph…?" Katara asked curiously
Toph stopped and turned her blind glare upon Katara. "Has anyone ever told you how annoying your boyfriend can be?" she ground out
Katara sighed, "He didn't go for it I guess?" Hoping to herself that she was wrong.
"No!" Toph plopped down upon the ground hard. " Ba Sing Se is sooo boring! All I want to do is go out and have a little adventure like we used to. Not to mention I have got to get out of here … my mother is starting to hint at me getting married." she ground out
"Yeah, I sorta know how you feel" Katara sighed to herself. Everybody had been asking when she was going to get married, she had even received a few marriage proposals from strangers along her travels with Aang. Even since she had turned 16 over a year ago it had been almost nonstop, she had grown into a beautiful young woman and she would often attract attention. Being Aang's girlfriend was the only way she had defended herself from the unwanted proposals and since Aang was still young that was excuse enough for why she was not married yet.
"You're lucky" Toph said to her, "You still get to go around and have adventures, traveling around, seeing the sights, meeting new people. I just get to sit here and help the Earth King delegate the rebuilding. Doing the same old boring thing every day" she grumbled.
"That is important Toph, there is still so much to do. I am sure that as soon as things get finished you can travel around with Aang and I." Katara said trying to soothe the younger girls feelings.
"If my parents haven't married me off by then" , Toph muttered wickedly.
Katara laughed, knowing that Toph would never allow that to happen without her consent.
The blind earthbender looked up at her with a grin. "Still…" she said "You are lucky. As the Avatar's girl you get to have so much fun."
"Yeah… sure… I guess." Katara replied sadly.
"Katara….." Toph began " You really should talk to him…" a look of concern crossing her face.
"I don't know Toph. I mean… it may be nothing more than just nerves. It's just because I'm nervous about the whole marriage idea, that's normal," trying to make herself believe it was true.
Toph glared at her, reminding her that she could tell when she was lying. It didn't help that Toph was the only person Katara had confided in about her fears of marrying Aang.
Katara sighed. She looked down at her feet. Trying hard not to think about her concerns.
"Hey." Katara said, kneeling down to touch Toph on the shoulder. " How about I go talk to Aang about taking you with him when takes the next group to starts rebuild the Eastern Air Temple? Maybe I can convince that you would better used there than here in Ba Sing Se. I know I could use a break from traveling around. I have not visited Sokka for a while"
"Really ! " Toph stood up quickly, "That would be great! You're the best, Sweetness!" she emphasized the last part with a quick punch to Katara's left arm.
"Ow..Toph!" Katara cried quickly . Rubbing her arm.
"Heh, sorry." Toph said with a smirk.
"Yeah..." Katara said with a glare. She paused in rubbing her arm and stared off into the distance, thinking about her future. She sighed dropping her head slightly.
"Katara." Toph said putting a hand on her shoulder, " If you were sure that is what you wanted you would be sure and you wouldn't be questioning yourself. "
"But Aang…" Katara started .
"It won't matter if you not happy." Toph butted in. Katara looked away from her and ground her teeth. This was the same conversation they had had before. She did't like the way it made her feel. Guilty. Angry. Cheated.
"It won't be long before he turns 16 Katara and then what? You won't have his age to hide behind anymore as an excuse to not get married. You really need to talk to him about this."
Toph said.
" I'll see." Katara said hoping it would get the younger woman to leave her alone.
"Hmm…." Toph replied, knowing when she was not wanted around anymore. "Well, I'll see you around. Tell me what Twinkletoes thinks about your suggestion to take a break." and giving Katara a toothy grin as she walked off.
"Yeah okay" Katara said after her still lost in her own thoughts. After a few minutes she looked up and shouted "Hey!" but Toph was no longer around. She was left alone grimacing about the double meaning of Toph's last statement.