Prompt: Using the song "Heartbeat" by Scouting for Girls, write a Tokka story.
Katara observed her brother and close friend curiously. It was odd, seeing the two switch roles over the past few months. It was slightly amusing too, but the young woman would never admit that to her brother. Her brother thought the universe had something against him, but it was really his own obliviousness that kept him from the things that he wanted.
Like Toph.
For years, Katara had noticed Toph's actions around her brother. Sokka had been oblivious, but Katara had noticed the blushes, the small smiles, the fierce and frequent punches. To the rest of the Gaang, Toph's behavior was normal, but Katara had known that the young earthbender held feelings for her brother. When Katara had attempted talking to Toph about the said feelings, Toph had pushed her away. That was how Katara knew for certain of Toph's feelings: if Toph denied something wrongly, she pushed you away; if she saw reason, she talked to you.
Currently, Toph lay against the sofa, her eyes closed. Sokka sat by her head, his eyes glued to the girl. He watched her closely, his eyes trailing the length of her body. Unlike Toph, Sokka wasn't good with hiding his emotions; the adoration he held for Toph was clear on his face as he watched her. Katara couldn't help but to feel bad for him.
When he realizes his feelings, she moves on.
It was sad, but there was nothing Katara could do about it. She suggested to Toph to give him a try, but the earthbender was adamant about continuing further in her newfound relationship with someone the Gaang had yet to meet. Katara had a feeling Toph was unsure of Sokka's feelings and was still unwilling to put herself out there.
Sokka, on the other hand, was a bit less unwilling. He hovered around his best friend frequently, wanting her to himself when she wasn't with whoever she was seeing. He would insist upon walking her home and didn't complain when she punched him (Katara could've sworn he liked the punches now). She didn't have to be an earthbender to know Sokka's heart beat wildly whenever Toph was around. Katara wondered if Toph knew this.
From across the room, Toph seemed to be asleep. Her mouth was slightly agape and her breathing was even. "Toph," Katara called, planning to tell the seventeen year-old to go to bed.
Sokka silenced her with a warning glance. "Don't wake her up," he hissed lowly.
Katara rolled her eyes and resumed "reading" her book, watching Sokka from the corner of her eye. Toph made a grunting noise in her sleep and turned, burying her head into Sokka's thigh. His hand reached out, as if to stroke her hair, before it fail limply to his side. Katara saw a flash of emotion in his cobalt eyes – hurt, longing, and adoration rolled into one. Her heart hurt for her brother. She downcast her eyes and started reading, not wanting to invade her brother and friend's privacy any longer.