Chapter 2: Words
Suki stepped off of the airship that had brought her back to the Western Air Temple, and looked around for Sokka. She spotted him, but he seemed uncharacteristically serious.
Suki fought the rising panic as she stepped forward and into his arms.
"Hi Sokka!" she smiled, hugging him tightly. Sokka kissed the top of her head and then pushed her away.
"Suki…we need to go talk, and if it's okay with you, I want to ask Katara to come." He muttered, his shoes unusually fascinating.
Suki stared at him blankly, the fear slipping back through her veins. "Yeah," she replied. "I guess that's okay. Is everything alright?" she asked. Sokka looked up from his boots and into her eyes. He slowly shook his head.
"No."
Katara stared at Sokka, shock written all over her face.
"Sokka, are you serious? You cheated on Suki with Toph?" Katara demanded, her voice an octave too high. Sokka stared at his sister in confusion.
"I thought she told you!" he muttered. His whole plan hinged on what Toph had told Katara, even though she was probably just as drunk as he had been, and now he had no idea what to do.
"Toph didn't tell me anything. Look, I'll play mediator, although it's more of Aang's specialty, and I'll try to help however I can. But keep in mind Sokka, Suki has every right to leave you over this. Don't play the blame game Sokka. You need to step up and admit your wrong." She lectured as they left her bedroom and headed towards the one he shared with Suki.
Sokka nodded, his eyes filling with tears. "I won't lie to her. I was wasted, and that is the truth. As for Toph…" he trailed off and opened his door. Suki looked up from her position at the small table that occupied a corner.
"Hey guys." She mumbled, and Katara smiled.
"Hi Suki, how was your trip?" she asked, but before she could answer, Sokka spoke.
"Suki, I slept with Toph." He confessed. Both girls stared at him, mouths agape.
"Sokka!" Katara gasped. Suki stared at him as if he had grown another head.
"Are you kidding?" she asked, her voice small. Sokka slowly shook his head and sat down across from her.
"We were at Aang's party, and I was really drunk. I don't know what all happened-" Sokka began.
"Aang said you picked Toph up and carried her away from the party, saying that you were going to teach her to dance." Katara interjected. Suki stared at Katara and then back at Sokka.
"Okay, then I guess I took Toph to her bedroom. I don't know who initiated what, but we were both pretty trashed." Sokka admit. Suki turned pointedly to Katara, her mind muddled with emotions.
"Katara, is that true? Was Toph drunk?" she asked. Katara shifted her gaze to her brother, and back to Suki. Katara sighed and dropped her head.
"Actually, as far as I know, Toph didn't have anything to drink. I mean, as drunk as Sokka was, it wouldn't surprise me that he thought that-" Katara voiced calmly, but Sokka jumped to his feet.
"Wait one damn second! You're telling me that I just betrayed the girl I love, and that Toph was sober? Why didn't she stop me?" he yelled. Suki glanced at the siblings and put her hands on the table.
"Forgive me if I'm overreacting, but I think that we need to hear Toph's side of the story." Sarcasm tainted Suki's words. Katara stood.
"I'll go get her." She mumbled, feeling sorry for Toph.
Toph did her best to glare at the room full of people without being able to truly see them. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and her face was set into a grim line.
"I can't believe this. I have to leave in the morning and you guys are sitting here keeping me from packing. What in the name of the Spirits is so damn pressing?" she asked, though she had a feeling she already knew.
She could smell Suki though the woman had yet to speak to her.
"Well, Toph…Sokka really wants to know something." Katara began when no one else spoke. Suki sighed and moved towards Toph.
"Toph," she said, kneeling in front of the younger woman. "I am so sorry for the loss of your father, and I want you to know that. I also want you to know that I know about last night, and as long as you're honest with me, I won't stop being your friend. I'll still love you just the same." She murmured, pulling Toph into a short embrace. Toph struggled away from her and stood up.
"With everything that's happening to me right now, you couldn't have waited?" she demanded, moving towards the door. Katara reached out and stopped her.
"Toph, I know that you're hurting, but Suki just has one quick question." Katara reasoned, squeezing Toph's hand in a reassuring gesture. Toph sighed and nodded. Suki took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Were you drinking last night?" she asked. Toph's head dropped and she left the room, her silence bearing the weight of Sokka's shame.
Sokka rushed out of the room after Toph, anger coloring his vision.
"Toph! I need to talk to you now!" he yelled, catching up to her and grabbing her arm. Toph struggled against his grip, and tears came to her eyes.
"Don't touch me!" she cried, tears slipping down her face.
"You really weren't drinking last night?" he questioned, and when she didn't answer, he spun her around to face him.
"Let go Sokka, you're hurting me." She stated, trying to stem the flow of her tears.
"No, tell me why you didn't stop me?" he demanded, his eyes filled with rage. Toph yanked her arm away from him and glared.
"You wanted it." She stated, though her words were uncertain. Sokka stared at her quizzically.
"I didn't want anything, I was drunk!" he yelled. By this point, Aang and Katara were coming towards them. Toph snorted.
"Could have fooled me!" she yelled back, her nostrils flaring in anger. Sokka stepped forward and she stepped back.
"Look, you can go to Ba Sing Se alone. I don't want to see you again Toph!" Sokka yelled, his face contorted in anger. By that point, Aang was pulling Sokka back and Katara was wrapping her arms around Toph.
"Don't you treat her this way! She didn't force you!" Katara yelled, trying to protect the woman that had become a sister to her. Toph slunk her way out of Katara's arms and slapped Sokka in the face.
"You were my first, and I wanted you to be. Now, I realize how stupid I was. Drunk or not, you're nothing to me now." Toph whispered before turning and walking away. Sokka stared at the space she had occupied and looked up at his sister.
"I was her first?" he asked. Katara sighed and rubbed her temples.
"I don't care what happens with you and Suki, if she leaves you or if she stays. You initiated the sex Sokka, you were supposed to take responsibility for your actions, not break Toph down. Congratulations Sokka, you just broke the world's strongest heart." She muttered, running after Toph.
Toph hoisted her bag on her shoulder and opened her door, only to find Katara standing in front of her, a bag on her shoulder as well.
"Aang said that we can take Appa." She said, a smile on her lips. Toph nodded and dropped her bag, throwing her arms around Katara.
"Thanks for not abandoning me. I'm glad someone knows that it wasn't just my fault." She whispered. Katara smiled and held the young woman.
"Hey, what's family for?" she asked.
Suki stared at Sokka over the top of her teacup.
"Look, you easily could have just kept it a secret, and I appreciate your honesty. I won't sugarcoat it though. I'm hurt and I'm angry. It's going to take a while for me to trust you again, and in the meantime, I think it would be best if you moved in with Aang." She said, her voice soft. Sokka nodded and took her hands.
"Of course, I'll do whatever it takes." He assured her. Suki nodded and took her hands back. She stood up and placed her cup in the small sink.
"I'm going for a walk. I'll see you later." She said, her back already to him. Sokka stared at her and sighed.
"I love you Suki." He stated, his eyes low. Suki nodded.
"I hope so Sokka." She replied, and closed the door behind her.
Aang stared at the small fountain in the center of the temple. His head was tilted slightly, and his eyebrows were furrowed in thought. He was really going to miss Katara, even though it would only be for a month at the most. He had sent Appa, just so she had a piece of him. This afternoon, after they had left, he had found a note on the bed along with her mother's necklace.
So you don't miss me too much, the note read. Aang had smiled and wrapped the necklace around his wrist.
This morning, he had sent a hawk to Hakoda. He had invited the chief for a visit, a visit in which he would ask for Katara's hand in marriage.
A/N: