Day 4 - We Danced
"When did we get old enough to tie the knot?" Sokka muses, watching his sister and good friend dance. Katara was wearing her wedding dress while Aang was wearing his formal airbending garments. Sokka stuck his tongue out as the happy couple kissed for the hundredth time that night, then faced the rest of his table, the table of honor - made up of the Firelord, Zuko, Zuko's fiancee, Mai, Sokka's ex-girlfriend-but-on-good-terms, Suki, and his best friend, Toph.
"Who the hell knows! All I know is I'm never going to do this," Toph said as she tried to sit comfortably, but that was nearly impossible with the dress Katara and Suki made her wear. It was way worse than the one's her parents made her wear.
"Why not? I think it's a beautiful symbol of love," Suki chimed in. She was watching the pair with admiration.
"It's a big party. I hate parties," Toph said, giving up on her position and crossing her arms.
"I love to party! I'm just waiting to get my hands on some cake then hit the dance floor," Sokka said excitedly. He was always down for a good dance. Toph rolled her eyes, but smiled at his enthusiasm. An announcer came on as the beat to the couple's dance ended.
"Alright! Now we open the dance floor to everyone else. Come join the happy couple!" Toph rolled her eyes. She knew that the road to get to this point was not happy. Aang and Katara spent months getting ready for this. Toph went with them on endless tours for venues, bakeries to find the "perfect" cake, and so much more that she wanted to forget. Like dress shopping, she shuddered.
"That's my call to meet with Mr. Right!" Suki said, getting up. She had found a new boyfriend just in time for the day. Toph felt the chair slide out and her light feet scampering.
"Wanna dance?" Zuko asked his also silent partner. She pouted her lips for a second.
"No," she said simply.
"Fair enough," Zuko said, resuming his hunched position. He knew the answer, but he also knew she would throw a fit for him not asking either.
"Ugh. Toph, come be my wingman," Sokka said to the girl who had one arm holding her head up. She sat straight up at the request.
"What?" She asked, flabbergasted.
"Okay, wingwoman," he elaborated. She sat with her mouth open for a moment.
"Why would I do that?" She asked. He was in such a hurry that he was already by her chair.
"Becaaause," he whined, " I need someone to dance with! And I know that we could find someone perfect!" Toph almost laughed at his voice, but remembered what he was asking. Right as she was about to speak, someone else spoke up, offering an ingenious idea.
"Why don't you just dance with her?" Mai inputted. Both Sokka and Toph changed their expressions to look amazed at the thought. Sokka thought for a moment, wondering who else he could find that would be as good as her and decided there was no better dancing partner.
"Yeah, come on, Toph!" Toph turned around to face him, amazed he was taking the quiet girl's idea. She thought about saying no, but that meant staying with Zuko and his soon to be bride in silence, which she was never fond of. Rock and a hard place is easier than this shit, she thought.
"Fine, whatever. But the second you step on my feet, I'm out of here," she bargained. He shook his head in agreement and grabbed her small frame, dragging her to his destination.
"Okay, I'll lead!" Sokka said, wrapping his arms around the girl. She was so stunned at his fast pace movements that she figured she'd might as well be a rag doll.
After a few beats, she caught the hang of the upbeat music and swayed her body right along with his. Sokka's smile got even larger as he noticed her face becoming more and more amused. He didn't say anything, knowing she'd deny anything he'd say positive. Instead, the enjoyed the last of the song that was playing before the song eventually ended.
Toph would have never admitted it, but she was very pleased that she got to dance with him. She always admired his tenacity and positive vibe he gave off. It always made other people happy. She was all too disappointed when a slower song came on, and figured Sokka would use the slow dance to hit on some other girl. However, she was ecstatic when his strong hands remained on her waist, if not dipping a little lower, and he bringing her even closer. His breathing was ragged but his movements remained timed to the beat that was going. She was amazed by him, and everything that he did.
"So, I have a question and I haven't decided if it's stupid or not," Sokka said, breaking her thought process. Toph just knew he was looking at her, and she felt pathetic that she couldn't do the same.
"Knowing you, it probably is," she joked. He let out a chuckle. "What is it?"
"Why don't you want to get married?" She was taken aback from the question, considering that the nature of their relationship was not anywhere near serious.
"I never said I didn't want to get married, but I just hate the process it took to get here. I swear, I was about to kill Katara if she took me to one more appointment, but I know what this was all for now." Toph was amazed by her own words. She felt that she was safe and secure in Sokka's arms, and understood why Katara had made a fuss about all of the stuff. But at the same time, she felt that it didn't matter how big the party was, as long as the person she wanted most would be right there, ready to take on the next dance with her.
"I guess that makes sense," he replied, distracted.
"What's wrong?" She asked. He was the one who should be happy, considering she was there, dancing with him.
"Can I tell you something that's bothering me? I know it shouldn't be, but it is." Toph was so confused at the moment. There was too much seriousness in their conversation to be them.
"Yeah, sure," she said.
"I just don't understand why Suki would go after a guy like the one she has," he said quietly. Toph was so disappointed, but she tried her hardest not to show it. She took a moment before answering. The question should not have been bothering her as much as it was.
"Well, that's her choice you know. She's not your girlfriend anymore," she reasoned. Sokka shook his head, clearing the thoughts he was having.
"Yeah, you're right. I just need a distraction. Maybe they have cut the cake already? Want me to get you some?" He suggested. Toph smiled. Good ol' Sokka.
"Sure," she said. He let her go, obviously not wanting to in his hesitant steps. She just smiled and went back to her seat. Zuko and Mai were no where to be found, thankfully. However, just as she sat down, another man that was not Sokka came up to her.
"Hi! Um, Katara said I should come say hi and talk. She said that we might get along pretty well," he started. "You're Toph Bei Fong, right?"
"The one and only!" She esteemed. Figures that Katara would have someone readily available to entertain her.
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to dance - and I don't know if this is too straight forward, but you look gorgeous." Toph almost fell over in her seat at the cheesiness in his words.
Right as he was about to tell the young man to get lost, she sensed Sokka, no where near the cake, talking with another girl. She slapped herself mentally, knowing that while she was thinking of dancing with him and them possibly getting further in their already close relationship, his mind was still picturing himself with other girls.
Toph realized that he was making his way toward the dancing again, but with the girl on his arm. She noticed how long she was taking to answer the guy in front of her, so she spoke up.
"Yeah, okay. Let's dance," she said flatly. Getting up as he offered his arm to her. She took it, not sure whether this was a good idea or not. "What was your name? I don't think you said it."
"Kanto. My name is Kanto."