HEARTBEAT
The instant the scent of cooking meat his Sokka's nostrils, he went berserk. Grasping Toph's hand, he dragged her through a cloister of merchant tents, past the band and through hordes of dancing people. When he halted, Toph vaguely wondered why. She hardly cared. She was too consumed with the fact that their hands were clasped. Sokka's firm grip, caused her heartbeat to accelerate. From her fingertips to her toes, she could feel the pulsate through her veins. It drummed loudly in her ears.
Toph hoped Sokka couldn't sense how anxious he caused her to feel.
Things didn't used to be this way. Him holding her hand didn't used to make her palms sweat. Holding his arm when she needed guidance didn't make her wish he would touch every part of her body. And when he did touch her, she starved for more. At that point she'd sift through the fuzzy memory of the night his strong hands caressed her face, fondled her body and gripped her hips.
Currently, she was engrossed in the very thought.
It all started with a simple touch. A gentle embrace as they conversed about nothing in particular. Proceeded by affectionate words. Then there was that odd moment when his lips came in contact with her bare shoulder. As much as she tried to resist him, he persisted and she couldn't persuade herself to deny his advances. He left a moist trail of kisses up her neck, brushed feather light pecks against her jaw then...
With the hand that wasn't attached to Sokka, Toph brought her fingers to softly graze her lips. How can he not remember?
Beside her, Sokka paused taking in the sight of all the food vender carts, heavily inhaling the air. "Ahhh," he couldn't help murmuring, "meat."His belly rumbled in hunger.
Yesterday had been difficult. Not only had he not eaten but his entire day, and most of the night, was spent on the back of an ostrich horse.
The previous week hadn't been any easier. Council meetings had grown more frequent and drawn-out. Sokka, the stand-in representative of the Southern Water Tribe, could not miss any these meetings. The last meeting was a lengthy discussion about Republic City's projected growth and increasing crime rate. This is when he had the brilliant idea of making Toph chief of police. Among the council, there was a unanimous agreement that the inventor of metal bending was well suited for the position. The final decision would be made following the Avatar's wedding, when all five members of the United Republic Council could be present.
As Sokka prepared for Yu Dao to tell Toph the good news, Aang informed him she went to Ba Sing Se for a meeting with the Earth King. He had left the moment he learned his best friend's where-abouts. Four days later, Sokka made it to Ba Sing Se feeling the pang of hunger and tiredness. Upon arrival he was fully prepared to sleep, but he hadn't expected the Spring Festival or the news about King Kuei's offer.
Now, with meat on the forefront of his mind, he wasn't quite sure how to tell Toph about last week's meetings and her nomination. He assumed she would accept the position, which is why she may pummel him. The girl didn't take kindly to decisions being made for her. Sokka easily imagined her launching a slew of rocks at him as she shouted, "You dunderhead!"
Reality struck him when Toph jerked her hand from his.
Walking away, she demanded, "Get me noodle soup."
"What if no one is selling noodle soup?"
"Get me noodle soup," she repeated, ignoring his query, "I'll go get a table."
Sokka squinted his eyes, sending a grimace to follow Toph. It was her way, or no way.
As she stalked away, he considered that it had been a while since he's seen her in anything but her uniform. The way her civilian clothes hung off her body, made him see she wasn't the child he met all those years ago. With the broad brown leather belt cinched around her waist, he took in how slim she was, and how her body had grown. Not necessarily in size but in maturity. Sure, she wasn't very tall but Sokka concluded that someone like Toph didn't need height. She had charisma, a sharp wit and loyalty. Above all else, she was honest. And if he must admit, she had the coolest ability on the face of the earth, and it was her own invention.
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Weaving through the tables, Toph was thinking over how Sokka had stood there for a good minute, sniffing the meaty air and holding her hand. The excessive pleasure she took from simple contact with him was becoming ridiculous. It was getting her nerves smart and causing her pulse to race. She hated it. She had to get away from him and her excuse was to search for a free table.
Between the ring of food vendors, there were several tables for Ba Sing Se's citizen to sit and enjoy their meal. This was set up as a temporary cafeteria for the Spring Festival. Every table appeared to be occupied, and she didn't feel like hunting down a free table. When she came to the plateau of the Jasmine Dragon's courtyard, she earthbent her own table and seats.
Toph slid onto the stone chair and thoughtfully, rested her chin on a fist. For three years, since that night, she had given her all to push Sokka away. As lousy as her attempts were. It was a silly joke, or a simple touch that would cause her to put her guard down and forget that she needed to keep distance between them. But he was like a shoreline and she an ebbing tide, always managing to be draw back to him. There was a quiver in her lip as she thought of this. He was her closest friend, her best friend, and yet, she wanted him to leave her alone.
Had she been determined to severe their ties, she would have found a way to get Sokka to hate her. Life would be more bearable if Sokka didn't think of her as his best friend. He could center his life around Suki and focus on the development of Republic City, instead of trying to nurture their friendship. That way her mind would be preoccupied with the activities of her own life and she wouldn't have to endure the heart ache she felt by his almost constant presence.
There was not much time to dwell on her misery. Sokka arrived at the table with her soup. Thankfully, his decision to pick food was quicker than him shopping. He picked meat on a stick of course, a triple order. There was enough food to feed a small family. Deep in aching thoughts, Toph ate her noodle soup slowly. Sokka on the other hand, chewed so loudly and speedily that Toph wished she was deaf.
"You act like you haven't eaten in weeks," said the earth bender.
"I haven't eaten," he blabbed with food in his mouth, "since yesterday morning."
"Well, don't choke."
A discussion concerning the events of the last five weekss commenced. While separated, Sokka had been overseeing the construction of new buildings, attending council meetings and implicating new laws. He had also made a visit to the Fire Nation to see Suki, who was serving in the Fire Lord's Elite Guard and training Kyoshi Warriors back on her home island. On her time off, they journeyed into through the Fire Nation Capitol which sparked a memory of an incident that happened years ago. When looking through a store together, Suki had somehow gotten into it with the owner. She ended up being escorted out, and the man was unnecessarily rough with her.
"So I just browsed through shells while she beat the guy up," Sokka insisted.
"Hmm," she hummed disinterested. Getting comfortable, Toph crossed her legs and perched her elbows on the table, wondering how long it would take for him to retell a story she had heard countless times before.
"It was best if I stayed out of the way."
While picking her teeth, she caustically stated, "How chivalrous of you."
"Why thank you," he said, before stuffing his mouth with meat. Food rolled around in his mouth as he muttered, "Ya know, Suki used chi-blocking that day. I wonder if I should learn some chi-blocking moves?"
Now, this interested her. Toph liked the idea of Sokka being able to defend himself against other benders. Chi-blocking could save his life.
While lifting one of her shoulders in a perfunctory shrug, she said, "It couldn't hurt."
"So what have you been up too?" Sokka inquired as if he didn't know what was happening in his best friend's life. He knew almost every detail of Toph's busy life. Part of him wanted to hear her talk. Lately, she had been untalkative.
Any spare time Toph had, she used to work with both the Republic City and Yu Dao Metal Bending Police. Usually she was training new metal benders and taking them to the refinery to sharpen their skills.
Recalling the metal boar they made together to frighten her students into metal bending, Sokka expressed how he missed helping her train the lily-livers. Sure, the metal boar amounted to nothing except frightening a couple of her students, but he still had fun with her. Within the last year, all his responsibilities in Republic City has prevented him from helping her in Yu Dao. Their distance was forming a monstrous gap in their friendship.
This could have been why he wanted to tether her to Republic City with this chief of police business. With her working in the city, she would have a more permanent residence. Therefore, he would be able to visit his friend more easily, and hopefully rekindle the gaiety their friendship had. The pointless conversations and playful banter stopped long ago. He craved the synergy that was once between them.
Gradually Toph and Sokka's conversation settled to silence. Again, he brought up her teaching the Earth Guards and Terra Team metalbending. He only mentioned it about five times; never getting a proper response from her.
"Sooo," he inquired about King Kuei's offer once again, "Are you going to do it?"
"Why don't you do it? You seem to be sooo worried about it. Plus, you get more out of the lily-livers than I do."
"Those lily-livers, I-I mean students, learn metal bending from you. I just encourage them, get 'em in the right frame of mind. I'm the MOTIVATION BENDER!"
"How?" she asked, slapping the top of his head with her unused chop sticks, " You're completely out of your gourd."
Rubbing his head, and getting slightly defensive he insisted, "My gourd is just fine thank you!"
Smiling, she set her chopsticks down. The tabletop was small enough that she leant over it bring her hands to either side of his head, to measure it's width.
She jested, "A little small isn't it?"
"Hey!" He covered her hands with his own and removed them from his face.
Suddenly, he was serious, "When did King Kuei want an answer?"
"Soon," she said shortly pulling her hands from his touch. She tried to ignore the way her heartbeat had skipped again. She continued, "I guess. I told him to give me time to speak with the Avatar."
Honestly, she wanted speak to with Sokka about it. "Do you think I should?"
Finishing off the last piece of meat, he licked each of his fingers before mumbling, "Uhhhmmm..."
He believed it was an amazing opportunity, but the nomination for her position as Chief of Police was a guarantee. He didn't want discourage her or sway her decision, so he simply complimented her.
"Since you've taught metal bending, the crime rate in Yu Dao has gone down drastically."
She responded, "That's because the war has ended, not because of metal bending."
"I give credit, where credit is due. You founded the police force in Yu Dao and Republic City. Their success has much to do with metal bending, but mostly because both are under your direction." Testing the waters, he hinted, "Who knows? Maybe you could be Republic City's first ever Chief of Police."
She shrugged. "Maybe?"
"What if you were offered that position?" said Sokka almost half apologetically. He was curious how she would receive this news.
"I-I don't know?" she said unable to control the doubt in her voice. To her, Sokka sounded unsure of the prospect himself. Trying to lighten her dourness she joked, "You'd have to figure out how to update that annoying metal rope."
Sokka gave no specific answer. A chuckle escaped him then he arrogantly promised, "I'll think of something."
Little did she know he's already begun working on a new design. A few months ago he watched the long metal rope dangling from her waist with each step is swayed hitting the side of her leg. It must have been annoying, which is why he drew up plans to thin out the rope and put it in a retractable spool.
Once they stood from their seats and cleaned up their mess, Sokka was about to grab her hand when he proposed, "Let's go get some tea."
Before he could clasp her hand, she pulled her arm from him and spat, "I know where I'm going."
"I know. I just-" he stopped; not sure how to finish his statement. Grabbing her hand was a reflex he couldn't remember developing. It was something he did unconsciously.
Toph stomped her small foot on the ground, and the earth table disappeared, leaving nothing but a small puff of dust. They parted from the settling dust and started towards the Jasmine Dragon. Sokka's eyes sought Toph. Casually, he took glances at her, hoping to read her current temperament. A look of withdrawal settled on her face. If she was angry with him, she would openly express it. And if she were sad, she wouldn't be able to hide it from him. He knew her too well. Sokka's impression was that her foul mood she was in, was in part -if not entirely- because the decision she had to make about training in Ba Sing Se. Accepting King Kuei's proposition meant her moving, leaving everything she's built in Yu Dao. This would take her away from Republic City and away from him. That prospect didn't sit well with Sokka.
"It'd be good if you came to the city and pulled together a proper police force," he suggested, "It's only a train ride from Yu Dao, you could come visit anytime-"
She interrupted causticly," You could come visit me."
"I could, if I had time but there's always something that needs to be done, that needs to be overseen or..." His words tapered off. There was no use in him explaining his lack of visiting her. He only needed to convince her to come to Republic City. "The war ended over for six years ago Toph. The world is changing and Republic City is going to be a testament to that. You should be there, be apart of forming our new world."
She folded her arms over her torso. "And why's that Snoozles?"
"Because we need you there. Training in Ba Sing Se sounds like a great opportunity but, training a police force in Republic City is where you're needed. It's the capital of United Republic of Nations and we're growing fast. People from all over the world are coming to live there, to starts new lives there and I need someone there I trust to uphold the law," he revealed, "I've nominated you to be Republic City's first formal chief of police."
Her eyes became bigger than Sokka had ever seen before. "What!? Why!?"
" I nominated you on a whim, but as I put more thought into it, I think you would a be a great Police Chief Toph. You're the best."
Even as Sokka threw flattery in her direction, she did not flinch. She was going to be stubborn and fight him tooth and nail on it.
"I've been in communication with Kori Morishita."
She rolled her eyes. "So what?"
Years ago Kori Morishita attempted to assasin Zuko for participating in the original Harmony Restoration Movement. The plan was to cleanse the Earth Kingdom of the Fire Nation presence, specifically the colonies. It would have removed Fire Nation colonials from the land they had always called home and be forced to return to the Fire Nation mainland. This would have would have tore Kori's half Fire Nation and half Earth Kingdom family apart. Her ultimate goal was to keep her family and hometown together, safe from destruction. Therefore, she formed the Yu Dao resistance. Originally the resistance had been to fight the Harmony Restoration movement. Later, with Toph's help, it evolved into a security brigade. Now it was a full on police force with Kori Morshita, a former Beifong Metal Bending Academy student, overseeing it's function.
"You've helped her oversee the Yu Dao police force. She said you're leadership and guidance is invaluable. The Yu Dao police force is the strongest in the Earth Kingdom, maybe the world," Sokka said placing a strong hand on her shoulder, "and that's because of you."
Opposite of him, Toph stood motionless. Tumult and tension was etched on her face. The news he had given her was not as well received as he hoped. And what did he expect? That she would be completely and wholeheartedly overjoyed with his nomination, it would force her to appreciate him more? This may be, but logically Sokka knew he was not going to see her gratitude. Toph was not going to rush into his arms for a hug or feel indebted to him.
He proceeded to influence her, as unbiasedly as he could. "This explains why King Kuei wants your help with training his armies."
Toph stepped back, willing Sokka's hand to slip from her shoulder. "I don't do anything I don't want to."
"Actually," he draped his arm across her shoulder and pointed towards the Jasmine Dragon, "You're going to get in that tea house, sit your butt down and have a cup of tea with me."
"Alright," she griped and punched him in the side.
"OW!" he cried before slumping over and clutching his ribs.
"Because I want to, not because you told me to."
A/N: Hello everyone! I meant to post last Wednesday but time got away from me. My apologies. I've also been staring at this chapter the past few hours, and though it feels perfunctory, I have decided to just move onto the next chapter. SO, ignore my shoddy writing and pay attention to the story. First off, I would like to know if this story easy to follow? Second, PLEASE stay tuned, alright? This is only just the beginning. Soon enough you're going to see wedding celebrations, sudden engagements, serious affairs and maybe a few Tokka moments. ;) Actually A LOT of Tokka moments. So please send encouragement, ideas or even just a quick hello. Don't feel panicky, just write me. I'm always up for a chat, especially tokka themed ones that help get the gears turning in my brain. I always reply. Reviews get previews.
My theory on the United Republic Council is that the nation -like Zuko, the Earth King and Hakoda,- can't be in Republic City all the time, therefore there are secondary representatives in the city, like Sokka. Now, Toph tends to walk away from Sokka a lot, she may be tough but she doesn't always take things head on, especially things that make her uncomfortable. Hey, they don't call her the Runaway for nothin' right? And I had to mention Kor Morishita from the comics.
On a side note, I just read the preview to the Rift part two. I have to say Lao's reaction didn't surprise me, Satoru is as timid as I thought and I can't wait for more! Although, I'm curious: Satoru suggested that Lao said he had no family. I almost assumed Poppy passed on, but it can't be true there has to be some conclusion with her parents. Also, how did Satoru not notice that his boss' last name is Beifong just as his idol's name is Beifong?
