Duty- Tokka for Tokka week, day four. I mean it's been exhausting writing for them every day but I can't stop! Ha! So please review I must have reviews!

"Mom, where's Sokka?" ten year old Lin asked Toph for what seemed to be the hundred time in two weeks. It hurt Toph more when she couldn't answer. But she had to do it anyways because it was worse if she didn't.

"At work, Lin." She would partially lie because it was partially true. He was at work though the reason that he hadn't shown up in two weeks to see Lin and her were unknown.

She had resorted in visiting Katara one time. They sat inside her home as Tenzin and Lin run about. Toph had ordered her to calm down and behave but she didn't listen because Lin was only accustomed to being bossed around by Sokka, another reason for the visit.

"Let them be, Toph," Katara coxed Toph's anger when she had to repeat her instructions for the third time. "They will only be young once."

Toph sighed defeated; this would only be easy if a certain Water Tribe man were present but then again if he were then she wouldn't be sitting there. "Katara, have you seen Sokka lately?"

Katara took a moment. "Well, I haven't seen him around in a while. Since the crime started to grow on a scale in Republic City, I know because that's the last thing I had talk to him about. A few days ago Aang told me that Sokka was very involved in his paper work to join in him for a cup of tea even when he offered him meat." Hearing Toph dead silence Katara continued. "But's okay, Toph, don't worry. You know how Sokka can get when he is too involved on something."

Toph nodded. "I know. But it's not for me. I know how Sokka can get but Lin is too naïve to understand." Toph crossed her arms a bit too irritated. "And Lin's been asking about Sokka for a while now."

Toph felt a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Toph. Things will turn out fine."

She shrugged. "I hope you'll right Katara."

That day Toph had stayed an hour longer than she had planned just for Lin's sake. Maybe if she spent time with others she will slowly forget about Sokka even if it meant running like a maniac with Tenzin.

It was night time when they arrived back; Toph was preparing Lin for bed when she asked. "Mom, why is Sokka not here?"

"Um…" Toph sat down on her bed, trying to ignore the hurt she felt in that instance. "I don't know, Lin. I don't know."

The other day it was a surprise when she felt familiar vibrations enter her office. She instantly felt relief and almost happy as if all her problems had been solved and that for once she was glad Katara was right. But then he opened his mouth.

"Toph, why aren't there many Metalbender patrolling the City?" Sokka's voice sounded annoyed. She had only heard in several occasions this particular resonance but it held a bit of sarcasms, this didn't.

Toph stood from her chair locating her hands on the desk, taking a defensive stance. "Because I believe that is the perfect amount."

"It's not," Toph jumped by the way his voice spat this," because then the criminal intentions couldn't be this high. If you don't change this then I will place all responsibility on your shoulders."

Toph was taken back at the ferocity of his charges. "Don't blame me. When Aang and Zuko created the City we knew what was at stake. Don't try to cope with it by making me responsible for something that was bound to happen."

"People being harm is not supposed to be something common." Sokka's venom was evident and Toph had to take a deep breath to make it stop from spreading.

"I," she stripped with her words, "I understand. What I don't is why you have to be so defensive?"

It didn't take long to answer. "It's my duty. That's why I am a councilman."

Toph lowered her head as she let his sense sink in, she felt agitated by it suddenly. "Sokka, Lin is your duty too. That's why you offered to be her 'fatherly figure'." She didn't give him time to think. "She's been asking about you all week and-"

"I'll stop by tonight." He interrupted and quickly stormed out of her office.

When she realized he was gone she let herself fall to the chair. This was the first ever (official) fight they had ever had with this commitment with Lin. It almost felt disappointing but what she felt most was hurt.

When the door opened it made a creaking sound. Toph laid in her sofa awaiting him because he was five hours late and 'tonight' had turned into tomorrow. She had never thought disappointment and hurt had side dishes.

"Your late." She said before he did anything else.

She felt him stop. "But at least I'm here."

"Yeah," she agreed lamely, "after Lin waited all night. She was happy that Sokka was going to come see her. She tried to stay awake for it but you know… sometimes you get tired."

She felt Sokka paced his steps heavily on the ground. "Now we're playing the blame game!" he hissed in a whisper trying to not to wake Lin.

"I don't know you started it today."

"I wasn't blaming." His protest was barely audible. "I was sharing responsibility."

"Tell me," her voice cracked, "how's that working? You told me that you were going to be there for her, that you will her be responsibility. That she will never ask for her real father. And yet she asks me about you every day. Tell that's not irony…"

Sokka stopped again. "I'm doing all this for her!" this time he didn't contain the loudness in his tone. "I'm working tirelessly for her. I'm cleaning the streets off crime and violence so I'll be sure she's safe when I'm not here with her. All of my work is for one cause. If you don't send more patrols and if you don't help tell me that's not irony."

"And being absent is not?" she started to raise her voice too.

"What if she is absent to me because I did nothing to help it?" he shot back

"Sokka, you're over exaggerating things!"

"And you're not. I need to be sure." He replied. "I need to continue my work. I need to protect Lin. It's my duty."

"You're only protecting her from yourself when you go away."

"Well-" he stopped and Toph quickly realize why.

Lin was walking in the room. She must have seen something because she ran to where Sokka was tensed up.

"Dad, what's going on?" she asked and Toph almost sobbed in that moment when she heard those three letters. She had never used them before.

Sokka was quiet which led Toph to think that he was in shock too. "Nothing, honey. I was just going to leave."

"Don't." Lin's voice wobbled. "I was waiting for you. You can't leave."

More quietness. "It's alright Lin. I will see you again tomorrow." "

"Promise?" She guessed she was holding up her finger.

"I promise." Some minutes passed and she wondered if Lin was hugging him.

But then she heard the door closing.