Over the course of their adventures, Sokka had increasingly become more aware of Toph. He didn't know how it started. He just noticed one day that he was taking too many glances through his peripheral in her general direction. From that day on, he caught himself on many occasions, his gaze finding her every-so-often.

He almost got caught once; He was cleaning his weapon, Katara was leaning over the side of Appa, relaxing on his back, Aang had gone swimming in the lake and Toph was going through her stances. That's what caught his eye this time. Her graceful, strong movements, her eyes closed and face lax in concentration and the sureness in her form. He didn't realise he was staring until Katara made a sound as she repositioned herself more comfortably on Appa. He looked up at her and found that she was looking at him. His heart leapt a little and he inwardly cringed, ready for the humiliation and embarrassment she was sure to dish out, however, it never came.

"I hope Aang hasn't decided to ride another fish…" she wondered, her mind obviously focussed on her crush. It was obvious to everyone.
He let out a relieved breath, "Yeah, we really should have made that a rule. Not that it should need to be a rule in the first place," he replied. Katara chuckled, "That's true." She sat upright and sighed, "I should probably check on him."

"That's a good idea. We don't want the people of the future to remember Aang as the Avatar that was bested by a fish."

"You got that right!" Toph added with a laugh. Sokka's heart rate sped up at the sound. He had heard her laugh a multitude of times, but this time, something was different about it. It was the way it made him feel a spark of triumph that he was the one to make her laugh. It was the way that it made him want to smile, the way he felt his eyes soften when he looked at her, the way that his whole chest warmed up. That was the day he realised that he felt more than friendship with her.

As time went on he was able to keep his glances under wraps, but his situation became a problem. What was he to do? Was he set to pine after yet another unobtainable person? First princess Yue who became the actual moon, then Suki who was devoted to the Kiyoshi warriors and admirably loyal to the Avatar cause and now Toph, who he was to observe every waking day without much of an inkling towards whether she felt the same. It's not like they ever have time together on their own, he isn't a bender so maybe that was a turn-off? His social ability with her seemed to have diminished since realising his feelings… Maybe she thinks he is weird, well, weirder than usual. Maybe she —

"Sokka!"

He blinked and looked up from where he was laying on the ground. It was Toph leaning over him. Her brows were scrunched in the middle in a concerned expression. He started, his heart rate picking up more than it already was during his string of depreciating thoughts. He coughed to clear his throat, "Yes?"

"I've called you at least three times. Are you okay?" she asked with some concern. He frowned, "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" Toph's frown deepened, then she moved to sit beside him, knees drawn up to her chest and chin resting on them.

"Well, it's just that lately, I've noticed that you've been more absent-minded than usual, you aren't as talkative and your heart's been beating unusually fast." At Sokka's surprised look, she stood up and quickly added, "I just wanted to make sure you weren't sick or anything. That's the last thing we need to deal with." As she made to leave he found his voice again, "I'm good. Thanks, Toph." He hadn't meant for his voice to sound so soft, for it to bleed some of his feelings through, but what's done is done. Toph wore an expression he hadn't seen before and inwardly he shrunk and his heart fluttered painfully again. Ah, I've blown it. Any shot I had, is now gone. Ugh, she probably heard my heart just then as well. She frowned, which only served to prove his thoughts.

"See! It happened again." Sokka really didn't know what to say. He sputtered a little then began to say that he was totally fine when she cut him off. "No, you aren't fine! There's more… I—I've noticed that you tend to be quieter around me and your heart only speeds up when I'm directly involved. Like now." She bowed her head, "Do you — Do you not like me anymore? I know we didn't get off to the best start, and I can be quite rude sometimes, but if I did something to make you feel this way, please let me know. I've never had friends before and I've never been free before. If I have done something to jeopardise that I need to know! I don't think I could go back to my family or be alone again. Whatever it is, I want to fix it. So please! Tell me!"
Sokka's heart and chest were hurting, he couldn't keep his breathing under control and with every second that passed, he was realising that this was it. He had to tell her. She had noticed his change. There was no hiding now. He also felt awful that he had made her feel as though he didn't like her. It was quite the opposite. He sat up, hunched over and looking down. "There's nothing to fix," he said quietly.

"What do you mean? I will try my best and do anything in my power to fix whatever it is!" She sounded close to tears which only jerked his heart more and tightened his stomach. He looked up and smiled a little smile. "Toph, it's not that. You haven't done anything wrong. It's all just me."

"It can't be! It can't just be a coincidence that it happens when I'm around. You aren't telling me everything," she argued. Sokka hung his head. It really is time to tell her… Here goes nothing. He took a deep breath, "You're right. It's not a coincidence and I haven't told you the whole truth. I, uh, I like you, Toph. And before you say anything else, what I mean is, I like you. More than a friend. I didn't mean to make you feel as if I disliked you and I feel so bad that I did. You've done nothing wrong and as you can see, there is nothing to fix," he dared a quick look up at her and immediately went back to looking at the grass, "If you want to keep your distance, I wouldn't blame you. I'll try to not make things anymore weird than they already are. If it doesn't work, then I'll go and find dad. Join his ranks and support Aang and you guys from there. I've already given this a lot of thought and I've made up my mind. So no hard feelings if that's what you feel." He felt like he couldn't breathe. The silence lasted longer than he would have liked, but he didn't dare look up. He wasn't sure if he could deal with the disgusted expression she was sure to be wearing.

Toph's mouth worked over and over, for once unable to form any words.

"Wait, what? You… like… me? Me? Why would you like me? I'm blind, I'm a runaway. I'm —"

"You're strong, sure willed. You are very brave, tough, sure-footed and not to mention absolutely badass! It doesn't matter to me that you are blind. You see more than anyone of us and you are so much more powerful because of it. Your family tried to shelter you, tried to keep you from the world, but you broke free, you are so freaking talented and have so much potential. You are already probably one of the best Earthbenders and that is absolutely amazing! This is why I like you. You are more than you think you are. But, as I said, if it's weird, I'll keep my distance and try to not make things weird. If I can't do it, then I will leave."
"No, I don't want you to leave!" Toph blurted out which made him raise his head. She was a little pink in the cheeks. "You really think I'm all these things?" Sokka smiled warmly, "Of course! It's what makes you, you." His breathing had slowed a little, but he still hadn't an answer.

"That's… one of the nicest things someone has ever said to me," she said quietly.

After a few moments of silence, Sokka decided he should just go for the kill. "I know it's all so strange, but, what's your answer?" This time when silence fell, he stayed quiet. He gave her room to breathe and to think. If she couldn't give him an answer, then he could give her the time she needed. He watched her; her fists clenching and relaxing, her head turned to the side as if to hide her face from him and the muscle in her jaw was taught. After what seemed like an eternity, Sokka relented. He was going to tell her she could have as much time as she needs, but as he opened his mouth, she spoke first.

"All this stuff is weird like you said, but I've never really had to deal with it before. So I don't know how to react. It feels awfully embarrassing, but, even though I was surprised that you liked me and thought all that nice stuff about me, I was secretly hoping that you did. I like you too. I have done for a while now actually." The look of astonishment and hope on his face made her feel a little warm inside.

"Really?" he questioned, for some reason still not believing what he was hearing. Toph's mouth quirked into a small smile, "Yeah. I wouldn't lie about this stuff." With such a bright grin Sokka flew to his feet in front of her. "I didn't know you could move so fast," she jibed and they both laughed. Sokka's whole body was shaking with elation and all he wanted to do was hold Toph's hand and hug her close like he had wanted to for months.

"Can I hold your hand?" he asked. As soon as he asked, he saw the trepidation in her expression.

"It — it won't be soft like a normal girl's," she said softly, dejectedly. He stepped closer, into her personal space so she could feel his presence and took her hand.

"I don't want a normal girl. I want you. This roughness —" he stroked her calluses, "— is who you are. It represents your hard work, your determination and your fighting spirit. When I say I like you, I mean all of you." He let go of her hand to frame her face as she couldn't see his determined expression and put his forehead on hers. He held her securely, hoping to get his feelings across and wiped at the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know… It's just so nice. I've never felt this way before and no one has treated me this way. I've always been handled with such care as if I was fragile glass, yet here you are, liking me for my hardness. It's just so nice," she whispered. Sokka let go of her face and tugged her into a strong hug, holding her head into his shoulder. They both felt as light as air and neither of them wanted to move from the embrace so they didn't.

Behind a wall of rock stood a dumbfounded Katara and Aang. They only came to find the two not too long ago but when they saw that their heads were close, they instantly hid, not sure what to do. They were going to wait it out, but it seemed that they weren't going to move anytime soon. Katara huffed a little, "Should we interrupt them? We need to get food and prepare for our next trip. I can't really keep watching Sokka be all kissy—" the ground suddenly upheaved throwing her and Aang off-balance, tumbling into each other. The next thing they knew was that Toph and Sokka were walking past them.

"Come on Toph. We need to get food and prepare for our next trip. We can leave these two. I can't watch them be all kissy…" Sokka quipped, laughing with Toph as they went. Katara and Aang both blushed and rushed to right themselves, following the other two. They were careful to not look at each other the rest of the day.