BOOM!
The sound of rock crashing into the wall almost knocked Sokka off his feet.
"Well I guess I better not bother her." He said as he regained his balance. Sokka turned around from Toph's front step and walked back toward the street. As he walked across her grass, he felt the earth rumble.
"What the fu…" was all he could say before he was enveloped by the same ground he stood on a second ago.
There was complete darkness for several seconds, before he was lifted out of the earth as quickly as he went in.
He opened his eyes and flinched as he saw the short haired blind girl standing over him.
"What the hell are you doing here meathead?"
"Toph!" Sokka yelled barely as he still tried desperately to catch his breath. "What.. the... fuck just happened?"
"I saw you walking around over there up front so I brought you back here. Isn't it convenient?" Toph said with a wide grin.
"Convenient? Are you kidding me? I thought I was just buried alive by some sinkhole or something. How the hell do you even do that?"
"Eh, it's something I've been working on, it's actually pretty difficult." Toph said nonchalantly. "Want to try it again? I can move you back to the front." Toph said giddily as she started the earthbending form to do so.
"NO!" Sokka yelled as he jumped in the air trying to avoid the attack.
Toph clutched over laughing as Sokka continuously jumped up and down. "Ahh thanks snoozles, I needed that laugh." Toph said as she walked back farther into her yard. "Now, why are you here? I'm busy."
"I could hear that from a block away. I figured you were training, but it sounded a little too intense."
"Well I'd hardly call it training, and the rock chucking was just in frustration. I've been trying again with the metalbending, and I haven't progressed at all!"
"Have you considered the fact that maybe it's just not possible? I mean, I know it's important to you, but it's never been done before."
"I know." Toph said defeatedly. "But…" she paused, pondering on if she should tell him or not. "Never mind." She sank to the ground and laid her head on her knees.
Sokka saw the defeated look on her face and sat down next to her. "What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You were going to say something Toph, what was it?" Sokka pestered her, and she remained quiet. "Come on, just tell me, you know I'll bug you until you do."
Toph sighed. "I.. I dreamt I could metalbend." She said quietly.
Sokka laid his head against the wall, taking in what she had said. Initially he was stunned, and he found many questions coming to mind, but he wasn't sure if it would be right to ask them now.
"Are you going to say something? Toph exclaimed as the silence between them dragged on for almost an entire minute.
"Oh.. Sorry, um.." He cleared his throat. "You dreamt you could metalbend…" Sokka struggled to think of what to say next. "That's cool, I guess." Is what he settled on.
"Really? That's what you have to say?" Toph replied with an annoyed tone.
"Well what else should I say?"
"I don't know! I thought you'd have questions or something."
"Well yeah I have lots of fucking questions! But I wasn't sure if I was allowed to ask them."
"What, like how can I dream because I'm blind?
"Yeah, I'd say that's one of the big ones."
Toph figured he would be confused. "Well it's not really visual, it was this feeling." She paused. "This feeling, like how I first felt earthbending. Except, this was different, it had to be metal, it was so different from earth. It was like bending something completely different, but it was still commanded like earth." Toph picked up the piece of metal she had been trying to move. "It felt like this." She said confidently. "As soon as I woke up, I could tell. It felt like I was controlling this, but I can't." She threw it across the yard. "And now it's like it's laughing in my face, mocking me because I can't figure it out."
Silence fell between them again, until Sokka spoke up a few seconds later. "Wow. That's.. That's interesting. I wish I could say something that would help you, but I don't know how this works at all."
Toph just nodded, the defeated look still on her face.
Sokka got up to retrieve the piece of metal she threw. He walked back over and sat directly in front of her, before putting the piece of metal between the two of them.
"When you were first learning earthbending, what was that like?"
Toph smiled, "That brings back good memories. When I learned earthbending from the badgermoles. I ran away into a cave because I was so upset with my parents, I had no idea it would've been probably the most impactful day of my life. When the first one broke into the cave I was scared at first, but it was so peaceful, and since we were both blind we understood each other. Learning it was great, I had always been able to see on earth with my feet somewhat, so when I realized that earthbending was just an extension of that sense, I was so relieved."
"And how hard was it to learn to use it as a martial art? I know you weren't the greatest earthbender in the world that young."
"I didn't have a great experience in martial art classes because nobody allows the short blind girl to really fight. But, outside of class I trained every day, imitating movements the instructors and badgermoles would do, and eventually I started to figure it out more and more. It was hard work." Toph replied. "It was all worth it though, to beat the shit out of those kids who thought they were the best."
Sokka stood up. "And now, you're the greatest earthbender in the world." He said confidently. "You'll figure this out Toph. If you think you felt yourself doing it, I don't doubt it at all. Maybe it's just not the right moment. But I've never seen you give up on something you put your mind to so don't stop now." Sokka extended his hand to help her up. "Besides, the universe is probably just waiting for you to really need it in a badass moment, and then it'll just click."
Toph grabbed onto his hand, accepting his help and stood up. "Thanks Sokka. I thought when I told you, you might just say something sarcastic and I'd have to pummel you like I did that wall."
Sokka glanced at the wall and swallowed in fear. "Thank the spirits I decided to take you seriously. At first I thought you were joking!"
"Why would I joke about that?"
"I don't know! Maybe because that's what you always do! Remember in our first year of high school when you told me I had a prickle snake on my leg. I was so scared and you kept telling me it was moving all around me, that was just messed up."
Toph rested her hand on her stomach as she laughed. "Yeah, how could I forget that! It took you like two whole minutes to realize what was wrong!" She wiped a single tear from her eye.
Sokka huffed, obviously annoyed. "Well, sorry I'm not constantly thinking about how you can't see, I mean, you literally said there was a snake crawling on me!"
Toph punched Sokka in the shoulder. "I was just messing with you idiot. I actually appreciate that you guys don't think about my blindness all the time."
Sokka winced in pain, "Really? It's not a big deal. I mean, it is, but it's not important to who you are. Wait! That's not what I meant." Sokka fumbled with his words. "Uhh.. I just, i meant-" He was cut off by the sound of laughter coming across from him.
"Jeez you sure are great with words snoozles." Toph said between laughs. "I get what you're trying to say, thank you." She said appreciatively as she punched the same arm she had previously.
"Please, not the same arm twice." Sokka said as he dropped down in pain.
Azula: Where the hell are you?
Aang: What happened?
Azula: We need to do the next psych project.
Aang: But that's not due for another week, can't we do it in a few days.
Azula: No. Library, thirty minutes.
Aang: Seriously Azula?
Azula: Yes seriously, I said it didn't I?
Aang: Well technically you texted it, so not really.
Azula: Just be there idiot.
Aang: Why? I'm hanging out at Toph's right now, let's just do it later this week.
Azula: No! I swear, don't make me come and get you.
Aang: Lol ok, see you then.
Aang tucked his phone back in his pocket. Suki was sitting to his left and had noticed his lack of participation in the conversation. She nudged him to gain his attention. "Who's that you're texting so much?" She said playfully.
"Oh, it's just Azula, she hardly texts so I thought something was wrong, sorry about that." Aang replied.
Suki looked concerned. "Well is something wrong?"
"No, not really, she's just really intense about school, she wants to do this project that was just assigned earlier today, and it's not due until next week."
"Oh wow. That's... pretty admirable I guess?"
"Yeah I guess it is, but it's also pretty annoying when she's your partner."
"So what's going on between you two?"
"What do you mean?"
Suki rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap Aang, I saw you guys kiss, and Sokka told me you guys were with each other overnight at his house after the party. Are you guys dating already?" She said curiously.
"Oh.." Aang said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "That was a dare! Also, it wasn't really like that, I mean, we were there overnight together but nothing happened."
Suki stared at him with a confused look. "What do you mean nothing happened?"
"I mean nothing happened."
"Are you lying?"
"No, I'm serious." Aang said simply.
"So you're telling me nothing sexual has happened between you two, besides that kiss?"
"No." Aang then remembered the sparring session he had with Azula, and the moments before it. His face gained a small tint of red as he continued, "Well.. not really.."
Suki jumped up, "You are lying! I knew it!"
"No, no it was something different. I'm telling you, we didn't do anything at the party."
"Well spill it whatever it was!"
"I don't know.. It's complicated. Why do you want to know?"
"Aang, we're friends! And, I hardly have anyone to talk about relationship stuff with! Katara, well I love Katara but you know I sleep with her brother so we don't go into much detail, and Toph, well you know how she is. Come on, just tell me!"
Aang did want to talk about it, but he knew how complicated the situation is with Azula and her father, so he was hesitant.
"Fine, but you can't tell anyone, I don't think she'd want me to tell anybody in the first place."
"You know I can keep a secret Aang. I never told Katara about that time you were taking a nap and whispering her name right?" Suki said playfully.
"Please don't bring that up! I already said I'd tell you!"
Suki clapped and smiled, "Details please!" She said cheerfully.
"Well, Azula texted me to come over Sunday night, the night after the party. I was at home feeding Appa when I saw the text. I thought it was kind of weird but I had nothing to do so I flew over. I made it there and when I walked in.." Aang started to blush, much to Suki's delight. "When I walked in she had like no clothes on. She started acting really seductive, but it was weird."
"What? Was she really bad at it?" Suki asked scandalously.
"No! She was really good!" Aang facepalmed himself at how enthusiastically he said that. "Nevermind." He said as Suki chuckled at his exclamation.
"It was weird because, well the night before, we woke up next to each other but we still had our clothes on, and she seemed relieved that nothing happened. So seeing how she felt change so quickly, it didn't seem right."
"So what happened?"
"I told her we didn't have to rush into things. She agreed, we did some sparring afterwards, that was pretty fun.. Then we looked at some stars.." Aang kept going but Suki had stopped listening after his first sentence.
"Hang on. You're telling me, she literally threw herself at you and you declined!?"
"Uhh, I wouldn't say it like that…"
"What.." Suki got up and sat down next to Aang, examining him closely. "Are you even a guy?"
Aang rolled his eyes, "Really Suki? I don't think that's unreasonable."
"That's the definition of unreasonable! That goes against everything guys stand for!"
"That's not true! There are good guys. Like Sokka, he would've done the same as me."
Suki cackled "Yeah right! Do you even know him?" She said jokingly.
"I don't think you give him enough credit. Sokka is-" Aang was cut off by the sound of the doorbell.
"I've got it!" Aang yelled out to Toph who was in the basement with Sokka and Katara.
"Who would that be?" Suki said as she glared towards the door.
Aang shrugged as he got up to answer it. When he opened the door and his eyes met the golden ones across from him he was shocked. "What? How did you.."
Azula cut him off "Let's go. We need to finish the project today."
"It's been like less than five minutes, how in the world did you get here so fast?"
"Why are you asking irrelevant questions when we have a project to do?" Azula said with a slightly angry tone.
"Wow. This must be really important to you for you to show up here." Aang concluded. He put a hand on his chin in thought. He smiled widely when "Fine, I'll do the project with you today, but first, you have to come inside and properly meet everyone!"
"For what? Now you're just trying to waste time!" Azula yelled.
"No I'm not! That's mean Azula, don't you care about meeting my friends?" Aang asked pitifully.
"Why would I care about that?" Azula responded coldly. She wouldn't admit it, but she was curious about the people Aang spent his time with.
"Well, you care about me, don't you?" Aang said as he walked closer to Azula.
"What?" Her face turned bright red. "What- what type of question is that? Back up!" She deflected.
Aang snickered as she became flustered. "Come on, I know all your friends already right?"
"Yeah, but.." Azula tried to come up with another excuse. As she looked into his silver eyes, she finally conceded.
Azula sighed. "Fine, whatever. But I swear, if we don't have that project finished.."
Aang smiled, "You'll kill me I know."
Aang led Azula to the living room where he and Suki had been talking before.
Suki jumped up off the couch as she saw the two of them walk into the room.
"Suki, Azula. Azula, Suki." Aang said as he introduced the two of them to each other.
"Azula, it's nice to officially meet you, I've heard so much about you!" Suki said excitedly.
"Really?" Azula turned to Aang, "What have you told her?" She said curiously.
Aang quickly became nervous. "Oh nothing much. Just.. regular stuff.." He said suspiciously.
Azula's glare at him intensified, Why does he seem so nervous? She thought to herself. Suki quickly interjected to save Aang from floundering. "Just that you're a really great firebender, and that you do really well in school." Suki said as she walked with them to the backyard.
Azula responded. "Oh, yes well both of those things are true."
Aang looked at her, "You know a thank you wouldn't kill you." He said playfully.
She glared at him unamused before turning back to Suki. "You seem to be a capable fighter as well."
"Thank you, I'm a master in aikido." Suki said as they all turned their attention to the loud voice coming from inside.
"Another set of footsteps up here, what's going on?" Toph yelled as she walked upstairs.
"Azula's here!" Suki responded.
"Oh shit, Sokka, Katara, get up here! Twinkletoes brought his girlfriend!"
Azula cringed. "I'm not his girlfriend!" She said defensively. "We just have a group project together."
"It didn't seem that way in Katara's closet last weekend." Toph said with a devious grin, as she walked out to the backyard.
Azula instantly became embarrassed. "Wha- that wasn't! That-" Azula stuttered and became angrier.
Aang standing behind Azula put a hand on her shoulder. "The harder you deny it the more she'll joke about it." He said calmly.
"Get your hands off me!" Azula said as she removed his hand. The embarrassment from before still visible on her face.
"Relax, that's just how Toph is, give her a chance I think you'll get along." Aang said as he walked to the backyard next to her.
"Welcome to the Bei Fong estate.. Wait a second, I haven't given you a nickname yet!" Toph started to think.
"Nickname?" Azula remembered how Toph always referred to Aang as twinkletoes. She turned to Aang. "So, your nickname is twinkletoes? What is that?"
"It's because he's light on his feet, you know airbender and all. I think that one might be my best work." Toph said proudly. "I'll have to think of one for you. Anyways, Azula, have you ever thought about joining the pro-bending team?
"Pro-bending team?" Azula had never heard of it.
Sokka and Katara came out to the backyard bickering at each other. "Dad said you need to pick it up!"
"Well you can drive can't you? Why don't you do it?" Sokka yelled.
"Because he told you to do it!" Katara yelled back.
"That's only because you told him I have the car!"
They stopped their bickering once they saw Azula in the backyard beside Aang.
"Oh shit, since when was she allowed here?" Sokka said quietly to Katara.
Katara gritted her teeth as she saw Azula standing near Aang.. "I don't know. But, Aang likes her, so it's fine." Katara said half heartedly as she took a step towards the group.
Sokka grabbed her wrist, "Are you sure you're ok with that?" He asked concernedly.
Katara turned back. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, you know, with everything that happened between you two.. I just thought it might be tough to see that."
She smiled and spoke as convincingly as she could, "Thank you for being concerned about me, but I'm fine, you know all that stuff is in the past."
"Really?"
"Really Sokka." She said genuinely.
Sokka didn't fully believe her but he dropped it. "Alright, whatever you say."
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Toph yelled at the water tribe siblings.
"Oh, nothing important." Katara said as she walked closer to Aang and Azula.
Aang stood up, he knew how the first interaction with Katara and Azula went, and he was slightly nervous about the possibilities of this one.
Katara walked next to him and smiled, "Can I steal her for a second."
Aang looked at her questioningly, so Katara reassured him, "Nothing bad, just let me talk to her."
Aang nodded, and walked over to Toph.
Katara turned to Azula. "Hi Azula, I'd like to apologize, I think we got off on the wrong foot. I said some things I didn't mean, and I'm sorry for that."
Quick recap of the first time they met:
"Yeah yeah whatever. I'm sure this peasant has more important things to do than listen to your aura readings."
"Excuse me? Who are you calling a peasant?" Katara stepped up to her and Azula looked as unconcerned as ever.
"Could I possibly be speaking to anybody else?"
Katara looked straight into Azula's eyes and Azula did the same, both unwavering from their position.
"Alright alright! We're all friends here, no need to get all crazy here." Aang tried to de-escalate the situation.
"Who are you calling crazy?" Katara turned to him and snapped.
"Nobody! I'm just saying I think we should all take a step back and take a few breaths." Aang replied.
"Yeah guys this much negative energy is bad for your skin!" Ty Lee interjected, but she was ignored.
"No offense airboy, but I don't think anybody asked what you think."
"Don't call him airboy! His name is Aang." Katara nearly yelled.
"What do you care what I call him, are you his girlfriend or something?" Azula asked sarcastically, but she really wanted to know the answer.
"No. But he's my friend, so I don't want bitches like you calling him out of his name."
Shit. Azula thought to herself before she spoke, "No, it was wrong of me to call you out of your name. I only did it because…" She paused. "Nevermind, it doesn't matter. Your apology isn't necessary."
"So, friends?" Katara said as she put out her hand.
Azula nodded and shook her hand. 'You know a thank you wouldn't kill you.' "Um.. Thanks." Azula said quietly with a slightly embarrassed tone.
Katara smiled, and the two of them headed back towards the group.
I'm super late on posting this chapter, I second guess the things that happened in the group being together a LOT, I think I've written it over like four or five times now. I felt decent enough about this first part of it, the whole scene is really long so I figured I should split it up. If you're still reading let me know what you think with a review! Next chapter will be picking up in the same spot, the gaang + azula at Toph's house.