Chapter 2: Unsolicited Visits.
It was dark.
Although it wasn't the pitch-black blindness she's familiar with.
Usually, there was just nothing. Nothing. No shades. Nor shapes or movements from afar. There was supposed to be nothing at all. So, why the hell can she see vague figures in the vast void in front of her?
She closes her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She stood still for a moment, clenching and unclenching her fists as she let it all sink in; The gift of sight is being lent to her right now.
And Toph Beifong hated it.
It's disorienting, her other senses seem to have dulled in exchange for it. Completely throwing her off guard.
She opens her eyes and felt a shiver run down her spine as she once again stares ahead in the darkness. The hair at the back of her neck prickled when she sensed that something is staring back at her.
Toph spent a few moments straining her eyes; Trying to make out anything that she could but as she expected, she could hardly see anything.
After a few moments, she let out a huff and decided to risk it. Taking a few steps forward, she reached her hand in front of her but there was nothing.
That or it was already gone by the time she reached out.
She stilled herself and tried to sense everything. Her instincts are screaming danger. The air was cold and damp, there wasn't much wind. Although, she could hear a faint howl in the distance; Just like how the wind blows inside a tunnel.
Toph gulped, she's in a cave.
She's never been inside one but her guts are telling her that she's in a place similar to that.
Then, out of nowhere, Toph caught a movement at the corner of her eyes. She whipped her head in its direction.
Again, it was already gone.
Cautiously, she backed away. As she was doing so, a rock bumped against her heel making it roll momentarily. Toph quickly bent down and grabbed it. It was almost as big as her fist.
Good. It's decent enough to knock off any motherfucker.
Toph gripped it tightly and let it's rough edges cut her inside of her palm. She needs to feel the pain to know if this is real. She hopes this was just a dream, a really, really bad dream. But the stinging she feels says otherwise. She clutched the stone a little harder just to make sure and it took a few moments before she registered the tickle of blood.
The throbbing was there but it was distant.
Her heartbeat picked up as it dawned on her that this is more than a dream. She doesn't know where that feeling came from but she's certain that right now she's in a place where the boundary of real and unreal blurs.
Grimly, she acknowledges to herself that whatever it is that is circling around her is something not human. When she heard scrambling on her far left, Toph threw the rock she was holding with all her might. She heard it bounce a few times before it rolled away into oblivion.
Toph's temper flares up.
She's scared.
She hates the feeling of being weak and defenseless. But right now, she is that.
A chuckle broke the eerie silence. Slow and steady, it erupted into full laughter. It ringed throughout the cavern along with the clicking of claws against the walls.
Everything around her is moving now, crawling and slithering.
"Well, well, well... you're back again, old friend. I suppose some pleasant company would do once in a while." Toph heard a man's voice speak from behind her.
It was deep and smooth. Oddly comforting. Yet at the same time, it sent a strange tingle creep beneath her skin.
Toph turned around and came face to face with an enormous being with a centipede-like appearance. She almost squirmed as it made a gurgling sound rumble with its throat.
As if it wasn't unsettling enough that this creature has a head of a human.
A cryptic smile graced his red lips as he brought its white-painted face closer to her.
Holding a claw under her chin, it titled her head back to take a good look at her.
"I see that you kept that face..." wrapping its body around her he cracked a grin "... not bad."
Toph's stomach churned when he pressed his claws against her skin. She is well aware of how he could easily tear her apart with little effort. Toph really wants to struggle free from this thing's grasp. She could smack him or punch his eyes, or do something in retaliation. Anything. Anything violent that will surely hurt it. She may not win against this centipede but for Toph, it's enough that she could say that she didn't go down without a fight.
However, despite her wild thoughts, she remained still.
Instead, she chose to listen to that small voice that's insistently whispering to her to remain impassive. So, with great effort, she stripped all the emotion on her face and wore a blank expression.
"What do you want?"
Centipede guy threw his body back as he bellows a burst of laughter.
Squeezing her tighter, his face dropped into an owl's face, "It warms my heart that you still remember how to play my fun little game."
"I would like to wake up now."
"Oh hush! Why hurry? Don't you want to prolong our lovely reunion a little bit longer?"
"Reunion? But I don't know you. I'm sure if we ever did meet, it would be an unforgettable encounter."
The creature loosened his constraint and prompts its upper body higher in the air, "Indeed, in this lifetime this would be our first time. However, in your previous ones our paths have crossed more often than you can imagine…" wearing a contemplating look his face shifted into an old man with a white mustache.
He wriggles his front claws as he looked down at her, " Yes, that's right. Thinking about… I say we're pretty close..." that sly smile was back again on his face.
It took all of Toph's willpower not to wipe it off his face.
Slowly, he bent down and grazed his body against her back and purred behind her ear, "Besides are you sure you don't remember? Just now I'm quite certain you somehow did..." Toph swallowed that irked sound that wants to escape her and instead forced herself to focus on the weight of his words.
"My previous lifetimes? What do you mean by that?"
When that didn't faze her, the centipede guy backed off and settled into circling around her, "The Great Spirits is an odd one… sometimes they let souls return to the mortal world. That is if they deem them worthy… let's just say you and your friends are quite a persistent bunch. "
She let out a miffed breathe, "Friends? I could hardly call what I have a bunch."
He smiled at her comment but nonetheless remained silent and continued to spiral around her. Switching his face once in a while.
Toph could see it, that sadistic fascination gleaming behind his eyes.
Unfortunately for him, Toph will not yield to that.
He chuckles as he stopped his movements, "So, you've already met him… interesting."
Smiling wickedly, he lowered himself a little and snorted, "Silly me. Of course, you did. After all... why else would you call for me?"
Toph doesn't like that amused look he is currently wearing now; He was looking at her like she's some kind of a circus clown.
And there's no way she's the one who called this thing!
Still, she ignored his taunt.
"Him?"
"Yes… Him."
Toph felt a faint burning sensation over her left ring finger. Her soulmark itching. Toph's marked hand twitched as it suddenly struck her; she can finally see her own soulmark. With her very own eyes. Toph doesn't have to imagine anymore and she doesn't have to. Now, she can see what it truly looks like. All she had to do is to look down and etch the image of their soulmark in her mind forever.
She could,
But she didn't.
Toph stood her ground and held his gaze firmly. Refusing to break their eye contact and potentially lose her life for something as silly as that.
Shedding the face of a young man with brown hair, the face of the creature before her contorted into a blue-faced monkey. He cackled and screeched a high-pitched laugh that ringed throughout the cavern, making her teeth grind tightly.
Toph knew he sensed her waver; He almost had her.
Son of a bitch.
To fight the urge to tackle him, Toph fisted her wounded hand and pressed the nail of her thumb against the fresh cuts. Relishing the sting and hoping that the pain would keep her anchored to the real world.
For a moment, Toph just stood there unmovingly as she watched him coil and twist himself into loops as he continued to howl hysterically into the wind. He's having too much fun with this and she doesn't like that.
After what seems to be an eternity, he finally stopped and climbed to hang himself higher on the ceiling.
"Hilarious..." smirking at her, he let himself relax on a corner. As he was doing so, Toph sensed a soft tickle in her upper brain. It was tugging her away from this place.
"You're about to wake up now..."
"Hurray," she snides.
With his face shifting back to that female Noh mask, he croaks another string of laughs. This time it was significantly shorter and a little dryer, "You're an interesting child… do you know that you are the only one whom I spared to live three times in a row now?
"If you think I'm going to be thankful, you're dead wrong. I ain't gonna grovel before anyone," Toph snorted which only made him grin at her.
Thinking they were done, she allowed that tug to pull her stronger. Hence, Toph was taken aback when that centipede thing flicked his tail towards her to fling something in her direction.
It was a gem, a very beautiful one. It looked like branches of trees were woven together into a braid, only it was crystalized. It rolled near her feet and Toph just stared at it for a moment before she looked up and raised an eyebrow at him.
He chuckles at her skepticism first before he fills her in, "For old times sake..."
"I don't want it."
"Too late, I had already given it to you."
"Why?"
"Nothing. Just feeling generous today..." Toph observed how the centipede thingy buries himself deeper in the darkness. She could barely see anything but his face now. And then it hit her, he wasn't doing anything. She was just simply returning what she had borrowed: her sight.
However, this didn't stop her from straining her eyes to stare into his.
"Use it wisely. Also, it's better for you to never return again. I'm starting to fancy that face of yours…"
"Consider it done."
With his red lips curling, his face morphed one last time; Toph's breath hitched when kind brown eyes bore into her pale green ones.
Smiling, the woman before her spoke. It was soft, almost musical. No longer holding the same malevolence as earlier. Toph is sure that voice was really hers. That this time, she is not just a mask simply worn by that godforsaken centipede. That thing allowed Toph to take a glimpse of one of the souls of the people he had stolen his faces from.
That fucker!
She doesn't know why, but anger raged within her.
Toph, no longer trying, lets a snarl escape her. She tried to reach out for the woman's face to rip it off. An effort proved to be in vain. So instead, Toph opted to force herself to arouse from this wretched slumber.
She has to wake up. She doesn't want to see that face nor to hear that voice.
Not this thing. Not this woman.
Sadly, the heavens seem to be hellbent upon punishing her for whatever crime she committed in her past lives. Unwillingly, Toph was compelled to watch her mouth the sting of words that's been hunting her from time and time again.
Tenderly, the woman told her with longing eyes:
"Don't let him go this time..."
With that, Toph's eyes snapped open.
She was greeted with that void that she was used to.
Sitting upright, Toph tried to catch her breath as she rubs the base of her neck. Torn between wanting to soothe that discomfort clogged inside her throat and the desire to strangle herself.
Her heart was pounding. Loudly.
And she feels so disgusting.
Layers and layers of cold sweat covered her entire body making the clothes she's wearing cling to her skin uncomfortably.
Leaning back to the bed's headboard, she bent her knees upward and rested her elbows onto them. She runs her hands through her hand before gripping them tightly into a fist. She pulled them until her scalps hurt.
Toph tried to will away the image of that woman burning behind her eyes.
She almost gave in to the impulse of wanting to gouge her eyes off as she lightly claws her eyelids. She was pissed more than scared. Vexed not by that woman herself but because of what she saw in her eyes.
Toph was sure. She was so sure that she saw herself behind her earthly orbs. It was as if Toph was looking at a mirror.
Taking a couple of deep breaths, she tried to pacify her nerves.
It doesn't matter.
It's just a dream. A senseless nightmare.
Sighing, she supposed there is no going back to sleep now. Besides, Toph doubts that after what just happened she would be able to get a decent one. She cracked her neck by bending her head side to side. Deciding that she might as well take a shower and prepare for the day.
Left with no other choice, she started for the bathroom.
Toph pulled the covers from her body and swung her feet to the edge of the bed to stand up. Only to accidentally kick something.
She felt it roll and hit the ground rather gracefully.
Clink.
Toph stiffened as if a cold bucket of water was suddenly thrown over her. She can't be mistaken, she knows that sound: it's the distinct glassy sound of a crystal hitting the ground.
She clenched the fabric of her bed as a shudder involuntarily washed over her; Suddenly feeling a pair of eyes somewhere in the room.
Toph released a sigh when her phone started vibrating. She lowered the volume first before unmuting it. She was relieved however when the sound of heavy metal music reached her ears instead of that mellow melody she uses for her parent's caller id.
She lazily fishes for her earphones and plugs it in.
" 'ello?"
A violent cough suddenly ripped out of her the second she answered it.
The person on the other side of the line paused for a moment before answering, "Damn, you sound nasty."
Toph sniffed, "Fuck off Azula."
She didn't need to see to know that she rolled her eyes.
"You sound like you're going down with a cold. Are you going to live?"
"Hopefully? No."
The older woman laughed.
"What do you want Princess?" Toph asked as she reached for another tissue.
She heard her shuffle for a moment before speaking again, "Party this Saturday. 8:00 pm. Formal attire. Your attendance is a must."
"Interesting choice of words; Tell me why 'must' I go there again?"
"To provide ample entertainment for me of course."
"Nah, I'll pass."
"I figured."
Azula stilled for a moment.
Toph could practically hear the gear in her head turn. She's deciding whether she should say what's on her mind or not.
After a moment of silence, the former won.
Azula hesitantly spoke, "You should probably rest. Take some medicine and sleep it off...Not that I care if you die though."
Toph chuckled.
This girl. The trauma of her father's abuse still holds her mind like a prisoner that she can't even properly wish for someone's well being. Not that Toph has any say in it. After all she herself is sailing in that same boat.
And as much as she wanted to tease the princess she wasn't really in the mood.
So, for now, she'll pretend she didn't heard the worry that laced her voice and just shrug her deduction, "I'm not sick. Just didn't get enough sleep last night."
Somehow, she can picture Azula raising an eyebrow.
"Alright, I'm going to hang up. You can go die on a ditch now."
"Sure. Later, Firecracker."
Toph tossed the device back to her bag before leaning back to her chair and scowling at nothing in particular. She huffs and goes back to what she is previously doing.
Where was she again?
Ah yes, she was busy being pissed.
Toph is fuming as she barely got any decent sleep since that night. That woman's ghostly smile keeps plaguing her dreams and she would always say the same thing over and over again.
Every. Single. Time.
The worst part of it all is that Toph doesn't really have a choice. She can't see. So, even if she wanted to flood her mind with images other than hers, she can't. And it's driving her nuts.
"Don't let him go this time..."
What the hell does she mean about that?
She picked up her pen and angrily scribbled across the notepad she was using earlier. It was an unusual habit she had picked somewhere along the line when she's growing up. She was sure she did it just to spite her tutor who said she can't write when she was young.
"Achoo!"
Toph sniffed and gingerly rubs her nose.
She wipes the sweat on her forehead with the sleeves of her jacket and reaches out for her water bottle to try and wash away the course feeling behind her throat. It didn't go away. She tried to clear her throat but it was in vain.
When she got bored, Toph reluctantly collected her things. Unsure what to do next.
She then feels a little nauseous.
It's just probably the heat.
She hoisted her messenger bag on her shoulder and took a few moments to feel the movements around her. Then Toph leisurely made her way out of the library, thinking of where to hang around next. She didn't have any class for the rest of the afternoon but she didn't really want to go home. It's too stuffy back there.
Without meaning it, her mind wandered back to the conversation he had with that centipede. Aside from that woman's words, the conversation they had still burned at the back of her head. Weirdo said something about finally meeting him.
Who's him?
She stops in her tracks and groans loudly.
Toph slaps her face for taking herself to that one place on the campus she loathed the most. She's been avoiding this particular discussion room for months now. It was here when she first felt that telltale sensation tingle on her soulmark.
Toph made the mistake of sitting in this class three months ago. She was only planning to kill some time by listening to people embarrass themselves and inwardly make fun of them back then. (Again another weird habit she got.) It was reasonable to assume that she didn't really expected to feel that gust of ghostly wind to rush past her that day.
It was strange; It came from out of nowhere.
The force of it should have been enough knocked her out of her seat but it didn't. It was incredibly powerful yet unbelievably gentle at the same time. Toph could still recall the feeling of it surging through her. It was warm in a way that it soothes something deep inside her. Intriguingly, it also left a cold tingling feeling behind.
She wouldn't deny how it left her ruffled.
Her first reaction was to feel the people around her to see if it was not only her who felt that sensation. To her dismay, everyone else seems to have not noticed it. Or rather experienced it. Not wanting to seem like a crazy woman, she decided to keep it to herself. It took a lot in order for Toph to keep her uninterested facade.
A few moments later Toph felt a significant presence inside the room. It was light and flimsy; too floaty that she wasn't even sure if it was just her imagination.
She left that room not long after, unable to stand that peculiar phantom.
That very same night she had that unwanted dream.
A vicious wave of pounding in her head effectively snapped Toph from her musing. Lifting a hand to massage her temples, she lets out a sigh. Why the hell does her body feel so heavy?
She spent a couple of seconds standing at the doorway. Quietly sensing the people inside the room shuffle around. That flimsy presence wasn't there.
Feeling Earth's vibration is an uncanny ability Toph taught to herself when she was young.
It wasn't exactly that amazing. She could only feel everything within roughly 15 meters around her. In some cases, she still needs to use a cane to navigate her way. Usually, that's when she's in a new environment and was still mapping the outline of that area. But once she memorizes the general layout she can find her way without much difficulty. Such as when she's back at Beifong Mansion and here at the Ba Sing Se University.
Admittedly, it wasn't much but it was good enough to compensate for her lack of sight. In fact, this skill helped her to move on over the fact that she was blind. After all, not many people can do that.
For some reason, it came very naturally to Toph.
It was as if she was already used to doing it.
She never really want to admit it but certain dreams from her childhood inspired her to do that. There were times when she was young where she would have vague dreams about her being able to manipulate earth. She was so goddamn good at it she might as well be the best. Toph could even remember a few instances where she was able to bend metal with her bare hands.
It was kinda cool.
In those dreams, she was still blind but the vibration of the Earth allowed her to 'see' in a way no other human else could.
And more often than not, this particular boy would be there.
Toph would always forget what he looks like once she's back to the conscious world. She tried to memorize his looks a couple of times. However, he would slip from her mind's grasp no matter how hard she tries to hold onto him. Still, every time he visits her in her sleep she would always recognize him with his light and nimble steps.
From time to time, he would call her name. His laughter ringing right after; Making the butterflies in the pit of his stomach flutter wildly.
She thinks dream Toph likes it.
Real Toph on the other hand doesn't.
Toph refuses to admit that she could fall in love with a make-believe person. That's dumb and Toph Beifong does not do stupid.
She's stubborn, yes.
But foolish? Nuh-uh, mate.
Although, what Toph can't deny is that sometimes when she wakes up she would mistake those dreams for memories. Now, she knows better. They were just that: dreams.
Toph wonders though, when did she stop having them?
She turned around and scoffed to herself.
Why the hell is she smiling like an idiot over something like that? They were nothing but a child's figment of the imagination. True, to a kid they may appear real and maybe she did enjoy them a little bit but that was long ago; Back when she was still hopeful and naive.
A cough wrenched Toph from her contemplation.
Azula is probably right. She should go home, try to sleep this fatigue if she could.
Rubbing her eyes, Toph doubled her steps and started to fumble for her phone to call her chauffeur. Times like this she was thankful for both the fact that her parents' overbearing attitude is borderline possessive and that their family is filthy rich.
Suddenly, that faint presence she felt that day entered her senses.
This time however it flooded over her swiftly. Before she could stop herself she crashed against it. She tried not to trip but her body refused to move the way she wanted to. Toph gritted her teeth as she braced herself for the impact but strong lithe arms caught her effortlessly.
"–re you oka–" Toph didn't really catch what he said.
The sound of his voice alone had thrown her off guard.
What the fuck.
What the actual fuck?!
No way. That can't be. That voice! She heard that voice before. Many, many times in her dreams and she remembers it. Damn too well.
As if Toph was suddenly struck by lightning, she violently pushed him away. No. He may sound like him but he couldn't be the same man in her dreams.
That's just impossible and to think otherwise is absurd!
Toph tried to convince herself that this is just some freaky coincidence. Or, she could probably blame it too to this brutal pounding in her head. Speaking of which, her headache seems to have worsened as her head feels like splitting now.
She had to get home.
Summoning her remaining strength, she moved forward. When did walking start to become a strenuous activity for her?
Toph said something and so did the guy, but she couldn't recall.
Everything is so fuzzy.
And why does the world feel like spinning?
She tried to stay conscious as she started to feel a little bit lightheaded. Despite this, her mind slowly fades into slumber. As she was spiraling down that inevitable pull, Toph couldn't help but lean over to that warm presentence beside her.
How is it possible to feel safe in the arms of a stranger?
End of Chapter
Disclaimer: I'm just simply borrowing the Characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender. All credits go to its creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
A/N: Please keep in mind that this is fiction. DO NOT feel too comfortable with strangers! Doing so might potentially expose you to danger. So, stay alert.
For me, Toph's and Azula's dynamic is a hit. As both girls are trying to fill that role of a perfect daughter their parents want them to be. I think they would've gotten along if it weren't for the fact that they're fighting for the opposite side of the war.
Again, thank you for reading!