Chapter 4: Strange Vibes

"Toph, how much longer will we be underground? We've been walking forever." Toph was already used to Sokka's constantly complaining, but this was getting out of hand.

"Shut up Snoozles," she said, carefully pushing him against the wall to their right so he could support himself as she checked their distance. The young earthbender put her hand to the side of her continuous cave, attempting to feel past every rock and worm and speckle of dirt. Satisfied, she allowed Sokka to lean back on her as they continued through the tunnel.

"Not much farther now, Snoozles. At the pace we're going, I'd say an hour longer or so."

Sokka stopped in his tracks, keeping Toph beside him. "An hour?!"

"Oh calm down Snoozles. You know the temple stretches onward for just about ever. We would have been done by now if you had just let Azula shoot me down, but you just had to be noble and save me," she was only joking, but at this Sokka didn't laugh.

"You think I regret saving you?"

Toph blinked, not expecting the question at all, and she attempted to sidestep it. "Come on, let's go, we have a lot of ground to cover."

Sokka walked along side her, but wouldn't drop his question, instead answering it himself. "Toph, I would never regret saving your life. Not when you're all I have left to live for."

Toph ignored this; Sokka being romantic wasn't something she could ever get used to, and she wouldn't accept the fact that her cheeks were flushed every time he was romantic.

They continued to walk for sometime, and as Toph was reluctant to say anything in return a silence issued. Her mind was reeling with all the conversations they'd had together, all the adventures and nights staying up talking. And yet, there was nothing that was quite comparable to this.

She knew she had to say something, and so Toph choose her words carefully, trying not to shake as she attempted to be equally romantic.

"Of course I don't think you regret saving me, Snoozles. It's just that, I think about what would have happened if I were the one shot down. Instead of you leaning on me for the mere support I can give, I would be in your arms, and you'd carry me to safety. That's where I'd rather be."

Now it was Sokka's turn to cause the awkward silence, and after a while of thought he knew exactly how to break it. He stopped Toph in her steps, holding his one hand on her shoulder and the other caressing her check. He leaned down slowly, and the couple both closed their eyes at the same instant, anticipating what would happen next. But suddenly Toph's eyes popped open, and she stepped away, standing protectively in front of Sokka, who was beyond confused.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, knowing that she was worried about something. But what?

"Something…someone is coming. I'm sensing the strangest vibrations, as though something were knocking constantly against the rock in front of us. But I can't tell what…" She felt her hand against the rock in front of her, which was blocking them from continuing forward. "The rock in front of me makes everything unclear, I can't see who it is. But its…" Toph pulled her hand away, as if she'd been burned. "Hot."

Sokka could now feel the pressure against the earth, as if someone were trying to break down the rock that was separating he or she from the couple. The sound he heard…it seemed so familiar… And then he realized.

"Toph, get down!" he yelled, grabbing the back of her shirt and pulling his arms around her, shielding her from the sudden crash of the rock. Fire burst from the hole that was newly created, binding their path with another. Sokka clung onto Toph tighter, trying to turn his body around so that she'd be away from the fire.

Someone stepped out of the hole, and Toph felt the nervous yet prepared vibrations in front of them. Sokka's eyes widened in surprise, but the new arrival seemed not to notice.

"Hi there, Zuko here."

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A/N: Dont hate me, you should have been expecting that. Anyway, sorry I havnt updated this one in forever, STS is just more fun. Hope you like, leme know?