On a roll.
Down a hill.
…just kidding.
Thanks to RabulaTasa, TwilightGD, and Demonking101 for reviewing!
I'm actually on vacation right now, and this was scribbled in my notebook amongst dashing around the city. You know, the funny thing about writing is that when I draw something and it doesn't turn out how I imagined it, it's usually for the better. But writing seems to have a mind of its own. At the end I sit back and think "Well, I accomplished something. Not sure if that's a good thing or not." So yeah, this turned out completely and totally different than what I sat down to write. We'll see how that goes.
Words: 867
These cucumber eyes are lying the more that I smile about it
It's good to be in love,
It really does suit you
Just like everything
I'm happy you're in love
Because every color goes where you do
"It's Good to Be in Love" –Frou Frou
oOoOo
It wasn't that she didn't like Suki; actually, that would have made things easier. Suki was strong, spunky, everything Toph admired, and despite all the earthbender girl's best efforts, the two became close friends in the months following Sozin's Comet. In fact, the only real fault Toph could find with Suki was that Sokka was in love with her. Which, really, was only a fault if you were Toph and suffering from overly fond feelings for the water tribe boy.
So, though Toph was secretly thrilled to gain a new sparring partner and friend, Suki was still a teenage girl, and like most of her kind came with the rather undesired (for Toph) side effect of girl talk.
oOo
"I mean, he really can be an idiot sometimes…"
"I hear you there." The sun was shining outside Suki's window and Toph was really beginning to wish they could be out enjoying the day. And by "enjoying," she meant attempting to beat the crap out of the boys in a sparring match.
"…but then he'll turn around and just do something so sweet and I'll just…"
"Mmhmm." For her part, Toph was far too busy picking her toes (for the third time) and smiling encouragingly to add anything useful to the conversation. That is, if she could think of anything to add besides I really don't want to hear about your amazingly shiny love affair with the boy of my dr—nightmares, thank you, now do you like… stuff?
"Toph?" It seemed Suki had paused in her retelling of all the tooth-achingly sweet things Sokka had done on the anniversary of the date the spirits had brought them into each others lives to notice that something was wrong with her friend. "Are you all right?" she asked, voice full of concern and alarm. "You have your deranged face on."
Toph sighed inwardly. Ok, so her smile needed work. It wasn't like she could practice in front of a mirror. "What? No, that was very… nice of Snoozles. How many Panda Lilies was it?"
Suki groaned. "You know, for being so good at telling when people are lying, you really kinda suck at it." She moved so she was sitting next to Toph on the bed. "Now what's up? Normally you have no problem telling me when you don't want to hear what I'm babbling on about."
Toph resumed her toe picking with a sort of desperate edge. "Trust me, Fan Girl; you don't wanna hear about it."
"All right, now I know it's something." Suki put a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Please Toph, I'm always forcing you to listen to my problems, the least I can do is lend an ear this one time."
Well, when she put it like that. "You're worse than Sugar Queen sometimes, you know that?"
The Kyoshi warrior swerved around distractions in a conversation like an arrow from a Yu Yan Archer's quiver. "It's about a boy, isn't it?"
Toph's cheeks flamed. "Really don't wanna talk about it."
"Hrmm… unrequited love."
Toph fixed Suki's left shoulder with a fearsome glare. Suki's mouth was undeterred.
"So does he have another girl, or is he just a jerk?"
Clearly, she wasn't going to let it go. Oh, what the hey. She didn't have to know it was Sokka. "Yeah… it's just…" Before Toph could lose her confidence, the words began tumbling out. "I've known him for a while, and he's fun to talk to, and he thinks he's funny, and sometimes he is, and he's always been there for me, but… Look, I'm proud of who I am, I'm the greatest earthbender in the world! But he just doesn't see me, y'know, that way, and now… there's this other girl, and things just haven't been the same."
Suki hugged her. Toph was horrified. "Oh, Toph…"
"Oh come on," the blush was back. "It's not that big of a deal." The Blind Bandit cursed inwardly. She'd said too much. Suki would figure it out and hate her. For being so obsessed with girly stuff like makeup, the girl was pretty smart, and full of surprises.
"It's Aang, isn't it?"
Well, that counted as a surprise.
"Um." Was all Toph could think of to say.
Of course, Suki took this completely the wrong way. "Oh Toph, that is awful. All those months of practicing earthbending together… and he'd practically imprinted on Katara the moment he saw her, like a baby possum-chicken."
Toph groaned. This was not. Happening.
Suki sensed she was not being entirely helpful and backpedaled quickly. "Oh, errr… Look, don't even worry! There are tons of guys out there who love strong, beautiful… Talented girls like you. And who knows, don't give up! You're both still young. Who really gets together with their one true love at this age anyway?"
Toph couldn't help grinning wryly at the irony of the situation. If only Suki really knew who Toph's mystery crush was! But… maybe she was on to something. Sokka and Suki seemed perfect together now, but things could change… Feeling Suki's comforting hand pat on her shoulder she felt a little guilty, but who knew? Maybe someday…
"Oh, except for me and Sokka." Suki amended, beaming radiantly. "Sokka and I will last forever."
It was at this point that Toph decided that she really hated girl talk. "Of course you will."
—End—
Aughh I'm sorry Toph, why do I keep doing this to you. Ok, next time I am writing something positive. Oh Suki, you only wanted to help. XD I started out meaning to write something with Sokka actually in it, but then Suki came in and… with all the Suki hate in the Tokka communities, I wanted to see if her and Toph could be friends. I didn't do too good a job with it, but I think it would be hard for Toph to actually dislike Suki. I can just see them sharing fighting techniques, ganging up on Sokka, joining forces with Katara to freak out Aang too… Ah, good times.
QUESTION: Ok, I actually ship both Tokka and Zutara, which seems a rare combination. Readers (no need to defend your decision unless you feel like it but no flaming please), what do you ship? Anyone still reading this who doesn't like Tokka? Also, if you ship Tokka and Zutara like I do, who do you pair Aang up with, if anyone? (If you answer this, it'd be nice if you reviewed the actual story too.)
Please review! Tell me what you liked, didn't like… I'm trying to improve here, so constructive criticism is appreciated.
My author's notes are way too long. Hrmm.