"So, are you dating anyone?" Zuko asked.

"Um, I'm gay and yes." Toph stated. Zuko noticed that he had a bandage over his right eye, held together by two clear lines that wrapped around his head.

"Wait, what?" His other three friends asked.

"Since when are you dating someone?" Katara asked.

"Since when are you gay?" Sokka asked, a bit confused.

Aang shook her head at her comment.

"I...I didn't tell you?" Toph asked. 'Oh, man. Azula's gonna kill me. I was never to tell anyone we were dating. Well, I didn't actually say his name or anything. Not like he'll ever find out. But...he'll find out anyway. He knows me too much.' He thought. Or, did Azula really know how to get him to tell everything he knew?

"No. No, you didn't tell m-us!" Katara crossed his arms, a little hurt at the fact.

"Well, none of you really asked." He shrugged.

"So, you guys must be really knit tight, huh?" Zuko asked.

"You are really not making this better." Toph said through his teeth.

"Well, we have to meet him." Aang smiled.

"Meet him?"

"We do." Katara stated.

Toph rubbed his neck, laughing. "That's not such a good idea. He's actually busy every night this week."

"How about next week?"

"Not unless you guys want to see us having sex!" Toph said, getting loud.

"No date? Just straight into the bed?!" Katara asked.

"Why do you care?!"

"Because I'm a concerned friend!"

"No you aren't! No one cares! Not my parents! Not you! No one but him!"

Toph got up, storming out of the house.

Katara's angry face softened after a few moments. "Why would you guys let me say that?"

"Um, we don't control your voice." Sokka said a bit confused.

"I'm going for him."

He got up, quickly grabbing his coat. He closed the door that Toph forgot, as well as his own jacket.

"So, how'd you get that scar?" Sokka asked.

"My father was abusive to me and my mother."

"Oh, we...we didn't know."

"Actually, I should be sorry. This is my fault."

"The scar?"

"No-I have to talk to my brother."

"What? Everyone's leaving? Seriously?"

"Would you like to come?" Zuko asked. She'd probably kill Azula if someone wouldn't be there with her.

"Toph, come on. I'm sorry. I really am. I'm just really worried about you."

"I don't wanna talk to you!" Toph cried, not looking back. He shivered in the cold air, only wearing a short sleeved shirt.

Katara was a few steps behind him, his jacket on his arm. "Toph, I have your jacket."

"Well, I don't want it! Not if it's from you!" Toph lied.

"Toph, I made this for you as a Christmas present. You said liked it." Katara said softly.

He decided to stay a few steps behind him, not wanting him to go off.

"Toph, please."

"Don't 'Toph, please,' me! I know you don't care. There's nothing you can say that proves that you do."

"I do care. But, do you care about yourself?"

"Stupid question. I'm totally awesome." Toph said, rolling his eye.

Katara frowned. "You usually say that you're totally sweet."

Toph crossed his arms, refusing to stop. He watched as his breath turned to white and then disappeared.

Katara decided that it was ok to break his rule for the moment. He put his hand on his shoulder, placing his outstretched hand with the jacket to him.

Toph jerked away, looking to the side. "That stupid jacket doesn't even fit me anymore." He lied.

Katara sighed.

Toph jumped a bit, feeling something on his shoulders. It was somewhat heavy and soft. He turned his head, looking at Katara and his jacket onhis shoulders.

"Just wear mine, ok?" Katara asked. He let out a small smile.

Toph turned his head, hiding a smile. The two had stopped walking. "Only if you wear mine."

"What? Toph, it'll rip in half."

"Do you want me to freeze out here or stay warm?" Toph slipped his arms through the long sleeves, his hands were barely 3/4s of them.

Katara stood up straight, taking in a breath. He placed his hand in one of the sleeves. There was a loud rip. Toph snickered to himself.

"Ok, the jig is up. I know you aren't mad anymore!" Katara said, trying to get the coat of his arm. The seams had split, his shirt sleeve able to be seen. Yet he was unable to get it off.

"I really care about you Toph. I mean that with all my heart. I'm not ever going to stop caring. But, I can't help you if you won't ask. He keeps abusing you and I've come to you several times, but you won't tell me. I mean, unless that's a sad excuse for an eye patch..."

"Wha-what?"

"Yea. I know. C'mon. Let's go to your house."

Toph's house, in his room, on his bed...

Toph still had Katara's jacket on, this time backwards.

"How did you know?" He asked, his face sullen.

"That night you forgot your phone in my house a couple of weeks ago. I accidently read a message that came, telling where you were going to meet. I saw you two in the alleyway and...The guy seems really hostile."

"He just acts like that some times." He shrugged.

"How'd you get that eye bandage."

"I bought it."

"Toph..."

"Don't worry. It was my fault. I should have known better."

Katara put a hand on Toph's shoulder. He jumped a bit.

"What has he done to you?" He asked softly.

"Nothing I didn't deserve."

Katara closed his eyes, pulling his arms away.

"He made you cut your hair didn't he?"

"It reminded him of a girl he was with before."

Katara's teeth clenched. "Why can't you see Toph? You've always been the most stubborn the two of us." Small beads came from the corner of his eyes.

"You've always been the crybaby." Toph said. He leaned forward, wiping them away with Katara's sleeve.

Katara grabbed his hand, pushing his sleeve down. He repplaced his bare hand on his cheek.

"What can I do to show you how terrible he is?"

"Katara, you don't understand. He keeps my mind off things..."

"Does he really have to be beaten to forget things?"

"I guess not, but-"

"Then why do you stay with him?"

"Because you wouldn't stay with me."

Katara looked at Toph.

"Toph, why would you say that?"

"It's true. I know you'd rather do anything other than watch and worry about me."

"No, Toph. Sure, you may be a bit of a handful, but being with you is...is the most fun I ever have. And, I don't care what you do, how you act, what you say, where we are, I will always love you."

Toph shook his head. "Stop it, Katara. You're gonna me cry too." 'He said he loved me. And, he actually meant it. Azula never said it like that. Never.'

Katara leaned towards him, kissing his lips softly. Toph didn't pull away.

"Do you really love that guy?" Katara asked.

"I don't know."

"Then why do you stay with him?"

"I don't know."

"Toph, you have to know."

"But, I don't! I just met him a couple months ago and we started dating."

"Dating?"

"Ok, maybe...maybe not as much dating as other things."

"So, you're just his sex toy? To use and abuse?"

Toph shrugged.

"I would never do that to you."

"I know."

"Then, leave him and date me."

"I'm afraid."

"You're never afraid of anything." Katara smirked. It disappeared quickly.

"He's almost killed me a few times. If he finds out-"

"Let him find out. I'll protect you."

"Really?"

Katara nodded.