Chapter 1 The Blind Bandit
A/N: This is a project for me to destress between school and work, I haven't written anything in a million years so I apologize for errors constructive comments welcome just keep in mind this is nothing too serious! I also won't have an upload schedule so I don't strain the creativity I have left. This is also a Katara x Toph plot, it's going to be a slow burn AU. It's not entirely out of the story line, I'll just be adding scenes and taking out the cut always to others and just focus on Team Avatar so I dont go crazy writing every single bit that isn't needed for this story. There is also some time skips so again, I don't go crazy writing all of this. If you're wondering what is skipped in this chapter just watch the blind bandit episode, it fills in on the fighting scenes I didn't want to write.
That being said, hope you enjoy!
"I give you.. The Blind Bandit!" The crowd roared with approval as the champion was raised from the ground. Sokka and Aang cheered with them, Katara glanced up at the contest and was shocked with the sight of the champion. A small girl, holding the champion belt, the belt was nearly bigger than her! And her eyes.. A milky cloudy green, Katara squinted trying to make out more features from her place in the stands.
"She can't really be blind can she?" Katara was shocked, suddenly unable to take her eyes off the Blind Bandit as she handed the belt to the ref.
"Who cares? Take her down!" Sokka screeched cheering on his new hero, Katara rolled her eyes at his antics, but she didn't turn away from the match this time. Aang was just as consumed with the match, it was odd he felt like he had met the girl before.. But where?
"The Boulder has his reservations about fighting a little girl.." The voice of the challenger brought the avatar back to the match, he would figure out where he knew her later.
"Scared to get your butt kicked by a kid, The Pebble?" The crowd roared with laughter, Sokka and a couple Boulder fans booing. Katara giggled a little, more interested in the match than the whole tournament before.
"The Boulder feels better." The man said flatly, crouching into a battle stance.
"Let's see if you can take it, Pebble." The Blind Bandit laughed, the man launched himself at her as they started to fight. The girl stayed still, listening, until the Boulder got close enough to strike him off balance. Aang's eyes went wide as he realized where he knew her from.
"Guys.. I think she is supposed to be my earth bending teacher."
"Really?" Katara glanced at Aang, she had to admit the girl had the skills that could rival a master.
"Boomy said I need a teacher that waits and listens, before striking. I think we were meant to meet her." The crowd went wild as the Blind Bandit threw the giant man from the ring, much to Sokka's dismay.
"And the Blind Bandit rains supreme still!" The girl had a smug grin as the ref announced her victory. "Would any of you dare take on the champ?"
"I'll do it!" Before Katara had a chance to stop him Aang had already made his way down to the field.
"Avenge the boulder Aang!" Sokka screamed, he was so excited that Katara could swear he was foaming at the mouth.. She rolled her eyes and turned her eyes back on the girl in the ring.
"Are you sure these people want to see two little girls fighting in this ring?" She taunted Aang who just sheepishly smiled. She's cocky Katara giggled again, I like her.
"Please I don't want to fight I need to talk to you." Aang tried to plead but she just rolled her eyes and shot a boulder. Aang weaved using the air around him to stay on his feet. "Please! I need to talk to you!"
"No talking!" She snapped shooting at him again, this time Aang tried to dodge accidentally hitting her with a gust of wind. With a screech she fell out of the ring, the ref's jaw drops. Katara's heart gave a loud thud, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she got back up. The crowd seemed to wake up from their shock and cheered for Aang, Sokka being amongst the loudest of them.
"A-And the challenger takes the belt?" The ref seemed just as floored as the crowd, Aang ran down to catch up with the blind earth bender but she was already sulking away.
"Wait I'm sorry I didn't mean to I just needed to talk to you!" He tried to plead with her, but she didn't even glance at him.
"Whatever it is, I don't care. Leave me alone!" With a final grunt she slammed a rock door to block Aang from following her. Sokka and Katara finally joined him from the stands, Sokka proudly carrying Aang's prizes from the winning match.
"What did she say?" Katara asked breathlessly, but the look on Aang's face was enough of an answer.
"What are we going to do?" Aang sighed as they started to head out from the arena to rest for the night.
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As the day began to start again the gang of friends started to search the streets for the blind bender they had met the night before. They had decided to start at the bending school where they had heard about the match. The boys from before were there, Katara grinned as they caught sight of them.
"Excuse me! I was wondering if you guys would be able to help us out? We're looking for the Blind Bandit." Aang tried to ask the boys politely, he tried his best.
"Why would we tell you?" They laughed in his face, Katara glared daggers into them making them sweat. They didn't want more trouble from the water bender.
"Alright alright! All we know is she shows up to fight and then disappears afterwards, no one knows where she goes I swear." Aang sighed.
"I had a vision of the same girl in a white dress, she had a flying boar with her. Could that help at all?"
"Well, the crest of the Beifong family is a flying boar.. They're a rich family that lives in town, but they don't have a daughter."
"Well thank you anyways." Aang smiled politely as the boys departed he glanced back at his friends. "Guess we know where to start looking at least." The siblings nodded as the group started out on foot to find the Beifong estate.
As they arrived at the guarded gates Sokka grimaced.
"There's no way we're getting through that.." He moaned.
"No, but we can always try the back way." Aang grinned, moving quietly and quickly through the foliage the group made it to the back.
Careful to stay out of sight Aang leaped onto the wall looking for any sign of guards, seeing none he helped the others into the garden to begin their search. It didn't take long to find her, quietly sitting by the pond.
"You can come out, I know you're there." She spoke dryly without looking back, the group slowly came out from the foliage. 'How did she know?' Katara couldn't help but wonder. "What do you want, Twinkle Toes?" She growled turning around this time, arms crossed, she looked much different than last night. Hair much neater with clean white clothes, no dirt on her pale skin, Katara's heart made a thud again.
"Hi my name is Aang I'm the avatar-"
"I don't care, what do you want?" She snapped cutting him off. Aang gulped nervously but quickly recovered.
"I am looking for an earth bending teacher, and I think it's supposed to be you." The girl turned away again.
"Not interested. Now leave, or I'll call the guards." Aang's face fell, the group felt him losing help.
"Please! I need a teacher and I know it's supposed to be you!" The girl stayed quiet for a moment as if thinking. Their hearts flew with hope.
"Guards help! I think I hear someone!" She suddenly called to the guards in a shrill almost helpless voice, the three felt panic as they bolted from the garden. The guards arrived just as they jumped safely back over the fence.
"What now?" Sokka growled once they were safely over the fence. They thought for a second, when Aang got a devious look on his face.
"I have an idea, time to play the avatar card."
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As the guards led the avatar and his friends into the Beifong house, Aang smiled smugly, 'she's going to be so mad.' They are greeted by a servant and led into a gorgeous dining room, sitting at the head of the table was a friendly enough man, his wife on the opposite end and their daughter to his left. Oddly Master Yu sat at the table too.
"Greetings Avatar and friends! My name is Lao Beifong, this is my wife, Poppy,"He gestured to the woman across from him who smiled softly. "My daughter Toph, and her earth bending teacher, Master Yu." Master Yu gave a small greeting, but Toph stayed silent. Aang and his friends bowed a greeting to him.
"Thank you for inviting us into your home sir, it is an honor. My name is Aang, and these are my friends, Sokka and Katara." Aang spoke with a smile, as him and his friends each took a seat at the table, as Katara sat next to Toph she couldn't help but smile. It was nice to finally know her name. The blind girl glared a little as Aang sat across from her, no one noticed the look but Aang who had to suppress a small laugh.
"Please, it is an honor to have you as my guests."
Dinner started nicely, conversation light and polite, Katara even managed to drag a couple of words out of Toph much to her excitement. For whatever reason she really enjoyed the earth bender's company, the feeling seemed mutual as they spoke quietly.
"Aang I must ask, how much longer do you think the war will go on?" The table went quiet as everyone's eyes turned to watch the two speak.
"Well, I plan to take on the fire lord by summer's end, however I am still looking for an earth bending teacher." Aang glanced at Toph as he spoke, who froze on the spot.
"That's fantastic! Master Yu teaches our daughter Toph, he's an excellent teacher." Lao suggested, Master Yu proudly held his high at the praise.
"Oh really? Toph must be an excellent earth bender then-" The avatar was quickly cut off by a piece of earth tipping Aang's chair to dump his face into his food. Everyone made a face, Katara and Sokka holding in laughs as Aang raised his face from the bowl, while Toph innocently took a bite of her food.
"Well," Master Yu tried to quickly change the subject to avoid anymore of the awkward silence. "Sadly due to Toph's blindness she will never advance beyond the basics." Toph's parents nodded solemnly, Sokka and Katara glanced confused at each other.
"Well I'm not too sure about that-" Again a piece of earth was kicked up under Aang's chair to cut him off, spraying everyone at the table this time. "What is your problem?" Aang shouted standing up to slam his hands on the table.
"Me? Whats your problem?" Toph snapped back, standing as well to meet the avatar's eyes.
"Alright! I think it's time we all headed to bed!"
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Katara laid in bed staring at the roof of the guest quarters she was in, she couldn't sleep. It felt weird to have a roof over her head after traveling for so long. It was also odd not hearing snoring from everyone of her camp-mates, it used to bother her but now silence felt odd. She sighed sitting up to look out the window to the garden, she could faintly see the outline of Aang and Toph. Her heart began to beat faster at the sight, 'I hope she comes with us..' the water bender thought longingly. For a moment the girl seemed to look straight at her window, her heart thumped and body froze. 'Can she see me?' She thought nervously, Toph looked away, Katara knew the girl couldn't see her but she could swear she was looking at her.
Katara laid down, feeling bad for staring now, attempting to sleep again. Time passed and she couldn't stop tossing and turning, her mind filled with the sight of the earth bender and those gorgeous milky green eyes. 'Wait.. gorgeous?'
A soft knock came at the door, Katara sat up surprised anyone was still up. "Come in." She called softly, expecting it to be Aang who walked in with news. Instead, Toph quietly came into the room making Katara's heart speed up again. "O-Oh hi, Toph." She squeaked shyly.
"Hey, I'm sorry for coming in so late. I just wanted to apologize for earlier, I was rude and didn't mean to get you covered with food." Toph spoke softly gazing down at her feet, Katara smiled.
"Don't worry about it, it was worth it to see Aang get covered too." She laughed a little, Toph's body relaxed a little laughing with Katara. "If you want to sit, I haven't been able to sleep.. I'd appreciate the company." Katara invited the smaller girl over gesturing slightly to an empty spot on the bed, her heart fluttering as she awaited a response. 'Why am I so nervous? I'm just asking her to sit..'
Toph stiffened for a second as if thinking, "I'd like that." She approached and sat near the end of the bed, Katara pulled her legs towards her to give the earth bender more room to sit.
"I saw you and Aang talking, does that mean you're coming with us?" Katara tried to sound calm but she was sure Toph caught the edge of excitement in her voice.
Toph lowered her head again. "I can't, my parents think because I am blind I can't do anything. They'd never let me leave." Katara's heart fell, the earth bender was so proud and strong in that ring, now she sounded so defeated.
"But.. That's not true. You're an amazing fighter! Who cares if you can't see? You can bend like a master already!" Katara blushed at her outburst, Toph seemed to appreciate it though she was smiling again. "Sorry.."
"It's ok Katara, it's just hard for them to understand that I just see different from them." Toph must've noticed the water benders confusion, she laughed a little. "Right forgot to tell you. I can see I just see with my feet instead, I sense the vibrations in the earth and get a mental picture in my head." Katara's eyes went wide 'So she did see me staring earlier..'
"That's amazing Toph." Toph looked down again, and Katara's heart sank a little feeling like she might've said the wrong thing. Toph, however, was just hiding her blush. The small girl quickly stood up and started heading towards the door.
"I'll let you sleep now, it was nice talking to you." As she stepped out the door she looked back for a moment. "I'll miss you guys when you leave tomorrow." She shut the door softly behind her. Katara's heart was beating out of her chest as she laid down, she shut her eyes drifting off to sleep with her head full of thoughts of the girl that was just here.
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"SOMEONE TOOK HER!" Katara shot up as a terrified screech filled the house, as she jumped to her feet to investigate Sokka came barreling in eyes wide.
"Someone's kidnapped Aang and Toph, we know where they are but we have to go, now!" Sokka explained quickly, Katara nodded grabbing her things before sprinting out the door. 'Please be ok.' Katara pleaded quietly to the spirits for her friends.
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As the terrified group sprinted into the arena, Toph and Aang came into sight making Katara feel a sense of relief. "Let them go!" Toph's father was enraged as he threw a bag at the feet of his daughter's captures, Master Yu stood in a protective stance behind them. "It's all there, now give me back my daughter!" The lead brute, the ref from the other night, grinned smugly, motioning for the other earth bending fighters to lower down the blind girl. They released her and threw her into her father's arms, who quickly tried to retreat with her, Master Yu not far behind.
"What about Aang?" Sokka demanded Katara crouching into a protective battle stance when they didn't lower him down as well.
"Well we thought about it and we decided the avatar is worth more to the fire nation." Sokka and Katara both felt their hearts drop.
"Let him go, or you'll regret it!" Katara shouted, fire burning in her eyes with protectiveness.
"Katara no! You're outnumbered just go I'll be ok!" Aang pleaded from his cage high up. Katara and Sokka growled in frustration, before an idea came to Katara. She ran to catch up with Toph who's father had a death grip on her hand.
"Toph we need your help please! You're the only one strong enough to take them on!" Katara pleaded making them stop in their tracks, Lao turning around to face the water bender.
"My daughter cannot help you! She is tiny and blind and helpless! Please. Leave us alone." As he turned to leave again Katara turned her eyes to Toph, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Toph please," Toph stayed rooted to the ground looking up at the taller girl. "For me. Please save Aang." Katara wasn't sure why the words came out of her mouth, but she hoped it was enough to convince Toph.
She pulled her arm away from her father's death grip. "Toph-?" He looked at her with a new fierce determination in her eyes. Lao cocked his head back in shock.
"I am not helpless." She growled lowly, turning back to Katara who was still holding in tears. "I will help you." Katara's heart flew with hope as Toph made her way back to the earth benders. As she approached they took a fighting stance, Sokka and Katara rushed to her sides but she quickly brushed them off. "No. They're mine." The two water tribe siblings knew better than to argue, and quickly retreat to get out of range of the battle field with Toph's father and Master Yu.
"What do you think you're doing girl?" The ref growled, but Toph met his eyes with a fiery determined gaze.
"Let my friend go, I beat you all once I can do it again!" Toph demanded, the fighters laughed and charged her. She grinned. "This is gonna be fun.."
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The avatar and his friends slowly packed up their things, preparing to fly out of town on Appa. The day had been long, and while Toph had managed to get Aang back, her parents still refused to let her come with them. Aang would need a new earth bending teacher, after all of that. Katara's heart ached a little, wishing so badly that Toph was leaving with them. 'Why is it so hard to leave without her?'
"Everyone ready? We should get moving." Sokka asked sleepily from atop the bison, Momo sleeping peacefully sleeping next to him.
"Yea this should be everything." Aang murmured softly, Katara knew he would bounce back but it was so hard to see him so down. Just as they were about to climb onto Appa's back a voice came. A familiar voice.
"Wait!" It was Toph! Aang leaped down from Appa's back and Katara resisted the urge to race to her. "My parents changed their minds I can go with you guys!"
"That's amazing Toph thank you so much!" Relief flooded all of their bodies.
"No problem, Twinkle toes." She grinned happily at her new friends. "There's just one thing, my champion belt, if you don't mind." She lifted her arm, and with a sigh Sokka dropped down the belt to her.. Where it smacked her right in the head.
"OW!"
"Sokka!"
"Sorry!"
Toph laughed it off, making Aang and Katara shed a small smile. Together they all mounted Appa, Aang at the rains, Sokka right behind with Momo and the girls leaning against their bags for a comfortable flight through the night.
"Appa, yip yip!" With a great slap of his tail the bison lifted off, Toph a little startled lurched towards Katara. Gripping her arm as her eyes went wide, Katara gave a small laugh that made Toph laugh.
"Sorry, just didn't expect that. Flying is weird" Toph started to let go of her death grip on Katara's arm but Katara quickly wrapped an arm on her shoulders.
"N-No it's ok! I got you. I don't mind." She blushed, hoping Toph wouldn't notice her nerves, or the fact that her heart was beating out of her chest. She did, but she didn't mention it, just smiling and leaning into her side. Slowly lulling to sleep as they flew through the night sky.
"Thanks, Katara."