A/N: Here's Ch 4! Please keep in mind that this has been about Toph and Sokka a lot so far because you have to build their relationship. When I do finally put in Kataang stuff later in this chapter, it's easy because they are already established and canon. Me writing Tokka... I want to make it a struggle. To me that makes it more believable. Also my line breaks aren't working to symbolize scene changes so I tried something different this time, I'll see if it works. Anyway, enough of me ranting. Please as always review, as if you don't, I don't know if I am pleasing you. I own nothing, Bryke owns it all blah blah blah.
The room was filled with the smell of burning candles. It was at least midnight as the cool air rushed in through the open window, bringing relief from the hot summer night.
"Your hands are surprisingly soft." You could hear the smile in his voice.
"Shh, you're ruining the moment..." She scolded.
Silence was only held for a few passing moments.
"You have no idea how beautiful you are." He whispered in a husky tone.
"Stop talking."
Hands were running over a toned abdomen... up to a muscular chest... around to strong shoulders. Fingers tracing patterns down strapping arms, touching hands together. Those hands that were together were torn apart quickly, placed on hips, thighs... feeling the very pronounced muscles of a rear end.
"Please finish soon... I can't take you teasing me like this." He begged
"I'm not teasing you, I'm getting to know you better." She defended.
"Can I get to know you better?" He asked rather boldly.
"I've been in front of you for a while now, haven't you seen enough?"
"But I want to touch... you don't understand..."
Hands were now on her waist, trailing slowly up her sides and stopping just at the sides of her breasts.
"You're hands are rough... but warm."
The man's hands covered her breasts and the feeling sent shivers down her spine, feeling an ache between her legs as he ran his thumbs over her nipples very lightly.
"But they can be delicate..." He purred to her softly before suddenly wrapping her in an embrace, his lips crashing down on hers. Both sets of lips were warm and chapped, but longed for much more. He broke the kiss. "...when they're not being rough."
Toph sat up in her earth tent with a gasp, breathing quickly and sweating from head to toe. It had been a dream. All of it. She was alone and clothed. She couldn't grasp what has just happened to her at first. Her heart was feeling like it would beat out of her chest any moment and she felt an ache between her legs, along with the fact that her lower bindings were slick with something other than sweat. As she tried to calm herself down she sensed that no one else was up, giving her some relief that she could process what had just happened to her alone. It had felt so real. She could have sworn she was with him... feeling his hands on her body... she getting a better look at him with her own light touches... and that voice. That vivid voice that was unmistakable. HE had been the one doing all of those things to her. Touching her, kissing her, wrapping her in that tight and strong embrace.
Up until this point she had never questioned the relationship status between herself and Sokka. They were just friends. She felt something she didn't often feel - shame. How on earth could she face him after having these thoughts about him? She was beginning to question why she had even had the dream, wondering if she, somewhere in the depths of her heart, had feelings stronger than that of friendship towards Sokka. She began to remember the conversation he had earlier with Katara describing what it feels like when you are falling in love.
She remembered when Sokka touched her arms and how her skin seemed to burn at his touch earlier. How her thoughts had been revolving around him lately. She tried to reason with herself that it was out of worry, because she was his friend. But was that really the reason?
After her breathing became more stable she bent down her tent. She was met with cooler air than had been surrounding her, leading her to reason it was the middle of the night, though still very warm. She got off the ground with a soft grunt and went over by the supplies, looking for a change of clothes. The noise woke Aang up, always a light sleeper.
"Toph?" he asked sleepily and rubbed his eyes. "You okay?"
"Yeah, go back to sleep." She whispered rather harshly, grabbing what she heeded and walking back to where her tent had been, bending it back up quickly.
Aang shrugged off her sour attitude and fell back asleep, choosing to worry about her in the morning. Toph changed in her tent and curled back up on the earth hoping to not have another dream like that again and refusing to think about why she had it in the first place.
Most of the group didn't wake up until late afternoon, which was perfect for their new traveling plans that Aang had come up with. He had tried taking Sokka's advice about calming down in the morning, but to him it didn't feel right. It was not his hands he was dreaming about anyway. So he had meditated while the others slept. When everyone finally did rise to greet the blazing hot sun, he asked them to all come together.
"What's Up?" Sokka asked, still a little groggy.
"Look, it's too hot out to be traveling during the day anymore. I think it would be best for all of us to travel at night when it's cooler and rest during the day."
"I like that plan better. I'm only wearing pants right now because we're in a group, otherwise I'd be streaking by now."
"Gross Sokka. Real nice imagery." Katara complained, folding her arms.
Toph stayed silent for two reasons. First because she had said almost the exact same thing yesterday about herself. And second, she found herself actually wanting to know what guys were like under those pants. It had been described to her before, but she wanted to feel it for herself. And that's when she dropped the thought, being uncomfortable as the subject had been brought up by him. The person she was trying not to think about, especially in that circumstance. She needed help, she needed someone to talk this over with.
"That's fine, Katara and I had stuff to do." She said quickly.
"We do?" She asked, unaware of said plans. She watched Toph go over to her tent and grab a pile of clothes, and stomp back over to her.
"Yes. Come with me Sugar Queen." She snapped and grabbed her arm with her free hand, dragging her towards the river. When they were out of earshot, Aang turned to Sokka.
"What do you think that was about?"
"Girl stuff..." He said with a shrug, walking over and sitting in the shade.
Toph was at the river's edge ripping her clothes off and throwing them into a pile with her other dirty ones before Katara had time to stop her.
"What on earth are you doing?" She asked her friend, staring at her like she was a crazy person as Toph practically ran into the river completely naked.
"I just really need to be clean... and I need those clothes cleaned too Sweetness."
"You just took a bath last night. You never bathe two days in a row."
"Yeah, well, I am feeling particularly dirty."
"But you love dirt. You call it a healthy coating of earth! What has gotten into you?"
"Come in here if you want to talk to me! I'm not going to let the whole forest know my business!" She snapped back at her from the river. Katara was very confused at her attitude. She was going to question her but thought for a moment.
"Fine, but I'm not getting naked; it's broad daylight!" She agreed, taking off her outer garments and grabbing Toph's pile of clothes, wading into the water next to her friend. She didn't provoke Toph for information, just began to wash her laundry. She knew whatever was on her mind would come out eventually, since it was obviously really bothering her. After a few moments she finally cracked and Toph started.
"Do you ever have really powerful dreams?"
Katara was quiet for a while. She did. She had many in fact. Some involving Azula, some about her mother, and others about Aang.
"I do. Some are very frightening, some make me wake up with heartache so deep I cry, and some make me feel like I am going to explode."
"Well, I had an incredibly intense dream... I've never had one like this before..."
"I didn't even know you could dream, no offense. It's just hard for me to picture dreams without being able to see like I see. I know you see differently than we do... do you need to talk about it?" She asked carefully.
"I was with... someone. My hands were all over his body, trying to get a better look at him... and then he was touching me... and then the next thing I know I'm sitting up in my tent, breathing heavy all alone and my lower bindings are soaked. And let me tell you something, I sure as hell didn't pee all over myself!"
"Oh Toph! Your first sex dream? Tell me everything! Who was it with? What happened exactly?" Katara gushed, suddenly forgetting she had laundry to do.
"Knock it off! It's not something to celebrate! I'm really confused about a whole bunch of stuff now!" She yelled at her, making Katara flinch back. After Katara regained her composure she asked a very touchy question.
"Toph... are you going through your special time right now?" She asked softly.
"No. But my hormones are raging apparently." She answered with a huff, blowing the bet bangs out of her face.
"Why is this bothering you so much? It's normal. I've been having them for a few years now." She said calmly, trying to understand why her friend was finding such discomfort.
"It's not about that fact that I had the dream. It is about who it was with!"
Katara tried to connect the dots. She could only think of a few guys it could have been with, and she became tense, thinking she knew the answer to her next question.
"Who was it with Toph?" She asked sternly, prepared to hear Aang's name.
"Let's just say he's a meat and sarcasm kind of guy."
Shock. Pure shock washed over her face. She was unsure if she heard her correctly. Aang and Toph trained together so closely all the time to keep their bodies limber and for fun. She was sure that had formed a bond in Toph's mind. But Sokka? Her brother? The person Toph fought most with? It left her in utter disbelief. She was silent for a very long time, the clothes long forgotten.
"Are you freaked out?" Toph asked, curling her knees to her chest as she sat in the cool water.
Katara shook her head. "No... Just surprised. I swear I thought you were going to say Aang."
"Twinkletoes? No way. He's too soft. Not my type. He couldn't handle me."
"But apparently my brother could?"
"I don't know... I'm so confused..." She sunk her head underwater for a moment and came back up for air. Her stomach was completely knotted, making her feel sick.
"Is this why you've been fighting with him so much? Because you want him to be over Suki?"
"I have no idea!"
"Oh my... this is so complicated."
"I know."
"Do you? Do you really understand how messed up this could get? You can't let him know you like him. He'll just rebound. He's still not over her."
"Don't you think I know that? Besides, I don't even know if I like him!"
"Oh and not to mention the age gap..."
"Excuse me? You are two years older than Aang!"
"Yes, but you are three years younger than both Suki and Sokka. He's 18 and in the prime of life. I'm pretty sure they had sex a lot. You're 15, are you even ready for that type of relationship?"
"Are you deaf woman? I said I don't even know if I like him! Just because I had an amazing dream doesn't mean I have feelings for him."
"So your dream was amazing, huh?" Katara tried to hold back her grin.
"...I mean it was intense... shut up!" She said as she splashed water towards Katara, who couldn't help but giggle.
"I've had some pretty amazing dreams myself if you ever want to share..."
"It's about your brother. Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Well, okay, maybe not..." Katara said, remembering that key factor and not exactly wanting to picture her brother in any sexual situation.
"Besides, it was just one dream... I still haven't figured out what it means to me."
"You will. You just need time to process this. It might help if you talk to Sokka. And I mean actually talk to him, not argue. Have you gotten the chance to do that lately?"
"Yeah, but it wasn't for very long."
"Well, you will get another chance tonight. It's a full moon and I'm going to make Aang go waterbending with me after we land at our next camp."
"Right, the whole powerful-with-the-full-moon thing."
"It's true. It's when I'm filled with so much power... he's a waterbender so he can feel it too, but not like I can."
She finished washing Toph's clothes and carried them with her near the shore, Toph following her. When they for on dry land, Katara bent the water right out of her own bindings and then Toph's clothes, handing them over to her pale naked body.
"See, dry as a bone. I'm already feeling the moons power."
"Why don't you use of of that powerful waterbending and dry my hair then?"
She laughed and did as her friend requested, waiting for her to be dressed before they headed back to camp. Late afternoon became evening soon enough and the group packed up camp while the sun sank over the mountains, getting Appa ready to go. Sokka looked over the now barren campsite and double checked every corner.
"Aang I think that's everything." He said, handing over the folded tents to him. Aang looked around as he took the tents and packed them onto the saddle, double checking.
"Yeah looks like it. Let's go girls!" He called over to Toph and Katara who were sitting under a tree, having a private conversation. The girls took their sweet time getting over to Appa, not wanting to end their hushed exchange.
"Today would be nice!" Sokka yelled, irritated as they were only halfway there at this point.
Toph finally gave Katara a small punch in the arm, both girls laughed, and the conversation was over, finally reaching Appa and the boys. Momo had been waiting on the saddle already, such a good lemur. Aang offered his hand to Katara as the usual gentleman and helped her up. Sokka took Toph's hand to help lift her up, but his rough warm hands sent her into a quick panic, making her rip her hand out of his.
"What's wrong?" Sokka asked, not sure what he had done.
Toph was silent for a moment as everyone watched her, Katara trying not to laugh.
"N-Nothing..." She said and lifted her hand for him to take once more. She was tiny - of course she needed help up onto Appa. She always did. And Sokka always helped her because Aang always helped Katara. Nothing unusual. So why was her heart pounding so fast as Sokka grabbed her waist now, pulling her into the saddle? She took note of his strength, wondering if he had always been that strong. She sat down where he had left her as he made one last check to make sure they had everything. Everything was packed, everyone was accounted for.
"Ready?" Aang asked from atop Appa's head.
"Looks like it." Sokka said, sitting down across from Toph and Katara at the back bear the supplies.
"Alright buddy, yip yip."
And off they flew into the cooler but still hot night, headed towards the fire nation.
Dawn was a few hours away when they decided to land. Another cool river ran through their campsite, happily avoiding dessert territory though it meant for a longer journey. Everything was unpacked and in record time, the absent sun a major factor in the speedy set up. It wasn't long before Katara was bothering Aang for a waterbending side trip.
"Sweetie, we just got here." He tried to reason with her, despite wanting nothing more than to see her in as little clothing as possible. He was tired from the trip.
"Aang, do you see that big white thing in the sky? It's called the moon. And it's full tonight and tonight only for the next month. I have to get this out of my system. Can't you feel the power coursing through your veins?"
"Yes, I do, but it was a long night and we all need to rest."
"Please Aang. I am begging you. Take me waterbending up the river. There is a waterfall and everything!" She pleaded with him, tugging on his arm like a child. He couldn't say no to her. She was the love of his life. He sighed and then responded.
"Alright, let's go. Sokka, Toph..." He trailed off, looking at the two. "Please don't fight again while we are gone."
"I don't think that is going to be a problem." Toph commented, sitting next to the fire that they had started.
"Yeah, we'll just chill out here while you go do your spirit empowered bending thing." Sokka said, sitting near Toph and relaxing on his back.
"Alright... we'll be back soon." He said as he was dragged off up river into the woods by Katara, eager to start and leaving the two alone.
Toph scoffed. "Waterbenders."
"I know right?" Sokka said, staring up at the stars. "Sometimes I think they use waterbending as an excuse to just go off and make out." he added with disgust clearly on his face.
"Even if they are, why should you care? I'm sure you had plenty of make out sessions and sexual encounters with Suki." She said rather boldly and she felt his heart race. She wasn't sure if it was because of the mention of Suki or Sex. Maybe both.
"That's different..." He said, feeling uncomfortable.
"How is that any different?" She asked dubiously.
"Because I'm older." He defended.
"Only by a year." She sneered.
"Okay, then he's too young!" He tried to support his point again.
"He's my age!" She said, starting to get irritated.
"Exactly my point! You are both too young for that."
"I think I can have sex whenever I want Sokka. Besides that, you were my age when you and Suki hooked up and don't even try to tell me that you didn't do anything. I'll know if you're lying!"
She could feel that his heart was pounding in his chest but he had no response for her. She was right and he had to deal with it. It was quiet for a while before Toph spoke again, but much softer this time.
"Even if they do make out, they haven't had sex yet."
"I know."
"How do you know?"
Sokka chuckled a little and leaned on his side, supporting himself on his arm and facing Toph. "You can't say anything but he's been having some pretty intense dreams... and he's never even seen a naked woman before."
"I've never seen a guy naked, so what?"
"So how can you even have those types of dreams if you don't know what it looks like? That's not very fulfilling."
"That doesn't determine whether the dream is sexual or not."
"And how are you an expert on this? You're blind!"
"Yeah, but being touched in a dream is enough for me." She said simply, not an ounce of shame in her voice. Sokka was taken aback. He truly couldn't comprehend what she was telling him.
"Girls don't have those dreams. Only guys do." He said, looking at her as if she were insane.
"No... I've had them and so has Katara. Did Suki never tell you girls have those too?"
He was silent for a long time. He was both confused and hurt. Confused at the thought of girls dreaming about sex. Hurt because something this insightful had been hidden from him.
"No... I guess there was a lot of miscommunication between us..." He trailed off sadly. Toph felt terrible that she had obviously hit a soft spot with him and immediately tried to help.
"Do you need to talk about it?"
"I'm not sure you could fully understand... you haven't..." He let the sentence hang out there suggestively.
"No, but I've had dreams so I can try and tolerate whatever it is that you need to say."
Sokka was quiet again, trying to figure out how to explain what his situation was like to someone who was a virgin. He sighed and sat up, scooting closer to her and facing her.
"She wasn't bold enough at first to tell me what she liked, so it wasn't as amazing for her as it was for me. Then when she did finally tell me, I did it wrong. And there was like this emotional rift between us that just kept growing and tearing at us... and we started to see less and less of each other..."
"So what, you just grew apart?" Toph asked as kindly as she could. Sokka looked to her and realized she was doing it again - being emotional and caring around him.
"Not exactly... our last night together was supposed to be so special. She was leaving for Kyoshi Island in the morning to see more of her family. She was so quiet... I should have seen it coming..." Sokka's eyes started to water and Toph could feel the heartache in his silence. She tried to make him continue.
"If you were growing apart, why are you upset still?"
Tears started streaming down his cheeks. "Because I was going to purpose to Suki. I had already made the betrothal necklace and everything... I was so stupid..." He was silent again besides a stifled sob. She crawled over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Without warming he leaned into her, holding her in a tight embrace, letting out another sob into her hair. "I thought we were going to be together forever. I was so naive. I'm so stupid Toph..." He chuckled through the tears. "But you already knew that part."
She didn't know how to respond other than to return his embrace and softly stroke his back. "I am so sorry..."
She held him until his sobs ceased, which took a few minutes. When he finally did calm down, he leaned back and held her arms, wiping his face.
"You are such a good friend Toph... I'm not good at this sort of thing."
"Neither am I. I just go to my angry place usually."
Sokka let out a dark chuckle. "Yeah, I know you do."
Toph was quiet for a few moments. She thought over the whole situation and became angry. Suki broke up with him. She dumped him. And he was going to marry her. So they could be together more. So they could fix whatever was broken between them. And she wasn't willing to stay and try to work things out.
"She's the stupid one. She's missing out. One day, she'll figure out just how much she screwed up..." She said, allowing herself to be overcome by another emotion she still didn't recognize. It was the same feeling she had when he touched her arm, when he held her close. She let the emotion control her and she leaned forward and gave him a kiss on his tear soaked cheek without thinking of the consequences. Sokka was shocked as her pale lips pulled away from his dark skin. He held a hand up to his cheek that felt like it was burning where her lips had previously been. He was having a hard time processing what had just happened. As they sat there together by the fire, his continued silence set off alarms in her head and she started to panic.
"Uh... I'm gonna go for a walk..." She said, standing up to walk away. She didn't get far before a hand was at her wrist, pulling her down into a pair of strong arms, their bodies pressed against each others. Almost instantaneously, warm lips crashed down onto hers and she froze. His lips were chapped from the heat and rough with intention. Once she figured out what was happening, she quickly gave into his kiss. It turned from a rough encounter slowly to a soft and loving kiss, then to barely touching... and then it was over. She could feel both of their hearts pounding and she wasn't sure what to say as he wasn't letting go of her. She was so confused. Maybe he was confused.
"Did we just...?" She couldn't even put into words what had just happened.
"Yeah..." He sounded just as surprised as she felt.
"... I don't understand." She said simply. She was under the impression he was heartbroken over Suki still.
"Neither do I."
A/N : Gonna leave you hanging here because this is just part one. Part two will be up sometime soon with Aang and Katara, so for all you Kataang fans out there, you won't want to miss it! It will be mature rated. I'm telling you once and I'll tell ya again when I post it. Please review and as always I appreciate all readers and followers. I am still very new to this writing thing so just thank you so much from the bottom of my heart! XOXO