"Both under influence
We had divine sense
To know what to say
Mind is a razor blade..."
Still awaiting their meals, Sokka and Toph strolled around the entire perimeter of the reception hall until it became trite. For their sanity, they strayed from the wedding grounds to wander. They did so aimlessly, exploring their surroundings, while chatting idly of silly topics such as Zuko's stutter during his vows and the agreeable Fire Nation weather.
As the couple conversed cheerfully, there had been a new playfulness in they way Sokka interacted with Toph. Communicating with her through touch was something Sokka always had done. A clasp of her shoulder was reassurance, but it also told her to calm herself and not be impulsive. Silently, he could guide her with a light touch on the back, steering her from things that could cause her injury, and in dire situations, he would grab her arm to drag her from harm.
Though, this night, as they sauntered alongside one another, Sokka had not been politely patting her shoulder, or patiently steering her with his subtle touches. As he babbled on, his curious hand lingered on the small of her back, leaving Toph unable to relax. To skirt his touch and put space between their bodies, she tactfully veered her steps away from Sokka. He thought nothing of his hand sliding from her back, and the gap Toph attempted to form amid them was quickly closed.
When their hands brushed, she folded her arms to be sure it would not happen a second time. Then, when his firm arm skimmed her shoulder, she internally screamed. And he hadn't the faintest idea how he tormented her.
Sure, Toph enjoyed being touched by Sokka, however innocent it may be, but when his hand slid across her back and grasped her hip, she became unnerved. As he pulled her nearer and their hips collided, Toph's instant reaction was to elbow him in the ribs. He let out a painful chuckle and rubbed his side. Sokka's counterattack was to teasingly nudge her into a stone wall.
Shocked by his stunt, and partially irritated she had not foreseen his retaliation, she punched him.
For some reason, even after she launched her fist into his arm, Sokka snickered. That husky laughter of his was a sweet melody to her ears. Then again, since she first heard Sokka's voice, it made her swoon, even when it had been maturing and cracking. She had never been able to make sense of the reason why, but it was pleasing to her ear and his laugh was just as infectious, as his touch was consuming. Which is why Toph wanted to keep her distance.
As she pondered this, it was too ironic that Sokka slung his arm around her shoulders. It caused her to feel special and loved, but she knew this had not been his intention.
There was no denying that their interplay was immensely different than their usual interaction. Notably on Sokka's part. He had failed to remember what personal space was, or that it was not exactly appropriate to be touching your best friend every thirty seconds. Then, there had been his kissing her earlier. That, in of itself, was a puzzling occurrence.
Trying her hardest to put that aside, Toph hyper focused on the surrounding sounds. The breeze rustled through leaves, and the whirring of insects hummed within the tropical brush. There was a distance whispering of waves, and the crackle of a lit torches. Regardless of what she heard, Sokka's arm was heavy across her shoulders. The only thing she seemed to sense.
Already having enough weighing her down, Toph slowed her gait enough that Sokka's arm slid from her shoulder.
The pair proceeded to stroll along the pathway, but Toph made sure to remain a few steps behind. Risking being touched by him again was not worth it. Her lips had already memorized the feeling of his lips on hers, and her mind had been mulling over the possibilities of what could have happened if she had agreed to go back to Sokka's room like he suggested.
Though, it had been to good to be true. Sokka had a decent amount of cactus juice coursing through his veins, that had his words and actions.
By the time they came to a beach access, their conversing died down. Without an exchange of words, they agreed to rest, and took a seat upon the stairs that overlooked the shoreline. They settled, mutely took in the scenery. Toph deeply inhaled the briny air, noticing how the breeze seemed to still, and how most sounds faded away except the rumblings of waves. She had no idea how large the moon was, nor how it illuminated the night. Though, she somehow knew Sokka was gazing up at her. The moon spirit.
In the interest of Sokka's feelings, she had offered a few kind words concerning Yue. This had been the reason he disregarded prudence and attempted to ravish her. She assumed the love she had for her best friend snuffed itself out, but when he kissed her, she nearly came undone. All the dark hidden feelings she had ignored for years, were exposed, brought back into the light. It was apparent to Toph that wherever life would take her, Sokka would be that one person who held infinite value. Always.
How could liking someone hurt so much? Longing for him felt like walking through a vast never ending corridor, but he was always twenty paces ahead of her. No matter how fast she ran, she was never going to catch up to him.
At her side, Toph could hear Sokka unscrew the lid of his flask and take a swig of the cactus juice. With the memory of what a head trip the stuff gave him, it occurred to her that every desire that flooded within her could be forgotten. Even if only for an evening.
Toph snatched the canteen from Sokka and took a quick gulp before thrusting the drink back into his hand, saying, "You're supposed to be getting sober."
"That doesn't explain why your drinking," he investigated, baffled by his friend. He swore Toph asked him to sober up, get the cactus juice out of his system, yet, she drank?
Resting her hands on the cool ground behind her,Toph leaned back and stretched her legs out. In a low timbre, she replied, "I'm thirsty."
Disoriented, Sokka gazed out at the scenery in front of him. He could not specify where he was in the world. There was sand, a beach but the water carried a bright light, reminding him of the South Pole. Maybe it was a school of glowing fish or a giant glowing spirit monster? He was staring at the water, trying to figure out what was glowing in the ocean, when his peripheral vision caught the gleaming color of green.
He looked over, to see it was the fabric of that dress. That damn dress that clung to Toph's midsection like a a second skin, and cloth that cascaded over her breasts like water. It looked soft, smooth like liquid and he had to touch it.
"Where'd you get this damn dress?" He questioned. Curious about the texture, Sokka took the silken fabric in his hand, and rubbed it between his fingers. It was a delicate and velvety material, slick as ice without the bitter cold sensation. He tugged at it a bit more aggressively than intended, pulling back the sheet of material that his Toph's legs.
"Mai had it made for me," she explained, feeling Sokka yank roughly at the cloth of her dress. If he yanked any harder, she'd be exposing parts no lady would want exposed.
She slapped his hand away, warning, "Don't touch it."
He pulled back his hand.
The lily white skin of her legs had caught his eye's attention. With how rough and vigorous she trained, he assumed her knees would be scraped and scabbed, but they weren't. They looked soft. Touchable. Flawless. Those legs sang to him, seduced him. There was an unearthly magnetism about them, and before he had a chance to process what he was about to do, he laid his hand upon Toph's thigh.
As Sokka edged closer, his hand glided further up her firm thigh, feeling a new physical attraction he was not entirely sure what to do with. He found himself thinking things he's never allowed himself to imagine about his friend. For instance, he's never allowed himself to fully admit what a beautiful woman he thought Toph was becoming. He was curious as to why he felt no guilt, knowing his hand was on her upper thigh. This was Toph, his best friend. Practically a sister.
However, this did not deter him from wanting to kiss her. To love her. The fact that he kissed her, not even twenty minutes ago, slipped his intoxicated mind. Something he had done long ago, in his dreams or in another life, and Sokka wanted to try it.
Toph could feel Sokka's hot breath across her cheek as well as his calloused hand sliding up and down her thigh. With each caress it became more difficult for her to breath. She remained facing forward acting as if Sokka's touch had no effect on her, but the inward tumult left an unsteady beating in her chest. An act of flirtation, or what should be called an act of stupidity, could really cause her a lot of grief and heart ache.
With every intention of demanding her space, Toph turned her head in Sokka's direction. Except, he nuzzled his nose gently against her cheekbone, halting her plan. Hesitantly, Toph turned her face up to his, and their noses skimmed. Remaining motionless, they inhaled each other's breathe, and in the midst of this new level of intimacy, Toph wanted to kiss him.
And he sensed it.
Unable to resist her any longer, Sokka tilted his head forward and pressed his lips to Toph's. At first, she leaned back with a slight reluctance, but he would not allow his gentle lips to part from hers. His kiss scorched her lips, and stirred unbridled passions. Following the initial shock, Toph choose to brave the outcome and firmly kissed him back.
By parting her lips, Toph conceded, her tongue darted out to wet his lower lip. Sokka responded to this invitation, in a fierce and demanding way. His tongue swept deep into her hand he had on her thigh squeezed her flesh, producing a moan in the back of her throat. Toph wound her arms around his neck, thrusting her chest against his.
For some time, they continued kissing, heightening their already agitated states. Their lips becoming numb.
While Sokka's perception was skewed, Toph's mind was not as susceptible to the cactus juice yet. Her head did not fabricate some delusion, but she found that she merely sensed Sokka, and only Sokka. Much to her annoyance, he was quite gentlemanly, never letting his hand roam, or his opposite hand stray further up her thigh. His kisses, well, they could make even the most pious girl become unhinged.
Yet, Sokka was treating her as if she were virginal. She noticed he gave kisses that were not lewd or lust driven, but they were sweet and gentle. He kissed her as too much pressure would dissolve her lips. This should have been enough for her, but there was the annoying thought of Sokka acting on this because he was bored. Maybe even because he was missing Suki.
Perhaps, Toph had gotten a bit ahead of herself, believing he was attracted to her. That he truly wanted every piece of her heart and soul.
She had been pondering this as Sokka sucked her bottom lip one final time, before prying his lips from hers. He announced, "I love you Toph."
Stunned at his sudden confession, Toph withdrew her arms from around his neck. She craned her neck back and edged herself from him.
Despite the cactus juice coursing through his veins, Sokka had declared this with such tact that it confused Toph.
Why did he have to say such a thing when her head was beginning to spin?
"No you don't," she scoffed yet, her voice shook. What a lie he told. A hallucinatory induced bold-faced lie.
This was Toph's truth, what she would allow herself to believe.
He unexpectedly took her hand, kissed the tips of her fingers and with full-hearted honesty, he affirmed, "Yes, I do."
Yanking her hand from his, Toph contemplated how much of the cactus juice was influencing him? How much of it was in her own system for her to actually believe him?
Never before had Sokka uttered those words to Toph. She knew he loved her like family, as a friend, but the was he articulated that phrase didn't seem platonic.
Wanting to know his feelings, she stepped but she couldn't send the seismic wave past the stairs. Her surroundings felt distorted. Her feet saw that Sokka was sitting close to her, facing her. Though, she couldn't feel his pulse, or calculate his next move.
Reaching over, Sokka took Toph's face in his hands and angled her face towards his. Her head involuntarily tilted up. Those inert frosted eyes seemed fixated on Sokka. The creamy skin on her cheeks was reddening, and her lush moistened lips were begging to be kissed again. He skid his thumb across her bottom lip, slowly, and licked his lips with want. Waiting for Toph's proceeding cue, he pressed down on her lip with his thumb, until it sprang back up tempting him, and though this was a new and exciting passion, he wanted Toph as drought ridden lands starved for rain. He dragged his thumb down to her chin, hoping she wanted him just as much.
He held her chin between his fingers, beauty in his hands. Cues be damned, he put his lips right on top of hers, and this time there was an unmistakable desire. He would not stop kissing her until she said so.
He loved her. And he was sure he could love her more, if she would just let him.
A/N: I'll keep it short and sweet. I've never hallucinated, therefore it was difficult to write Sokka's wry point of view. Also, I'm no good at kissing scenes but I tried. The fanfic comic should be linked on my profile really soon. It was illustrated by nocturnal-eyes and colored by lovelyrugbee. They're both completely wonderful for bringing my silly fanfic to life, so do me a favor a go visit their tumblr pages, send them love and tons of praises. Much Love and Happy Reading -3m
