You're Blinded Far Worse Than I
Sorry I took so long! I was having writer's block, lol.
Characters: Toph (12); Aang (12); Kaisha; Coda; Sarite; Maru; Katara; Sokka
Disclaimer: You're crazy if you think I own Avatar: the Last Airbender, because I don't. Nor do I own any of the original characters. I do own Kaisha, Coda, Sarite, and Maru so do not steal them please! Ask first!
Chapter 3— Untold Secrets
Aang couldn't see what was going on behind the blinds, and he doubted they could see him, but he ducked down to listen for the music of voices. Toph just sat with her back against the house, her eyes wouldn't glance to Aang when he gasped nor to the window if she heard another word. They stayed in a silence waiting for something to be spoken.
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Inside the house…
"Why'd you have to do that!" Sarite exasperatedly asked her mom.
"Honey, you know what I've told you before," Kaisha replied warily.
Sarite sighed and obviously irritated recited, "Others who aren't like yourself, aren't good enough to befriend yourself… you've told me dozens of times." Sarite rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, "You're the only one who wants a life like this."
Coda spoke up from where he was sitting, "But they were earthbenders, though the Avatar was born with the air nomads…"
Kaisha glared strictly at Coda, "The girl was blind," she said, saying 'blind' like a contagious disease.
Coda scowled and turned away.
Maru wasn't old enough to understand what the fight was about entirely, yet she said to her mother, "I saw the big kids who came to our house. They were water people?"
Kaisha nodded, "Yes, dear, and always remember that we only allow Earth Kingdom citizens—"
"Yeah, yeah we all know it mom!" Sarite said, throwing her hands up, "We don't let Water Tribe, Fire Nation, Air Nomads, non-benders, deaf kids, outcasts, travelers, and apparently blind girls in our house! They must have some sort of plague that only we have to worry about, right? They're so terrible for being different, right? Gosh, mom!"
The room was quiet for a moment then Coda mentioned, "And we always have to lie to people, right?"
"Hm?"
"You said we live here because it's 'good for the kids and it's easier to earthbend'- that's lying," he explained.
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And back outside…
Aang was sitting in non-belief at what he was hearing- they were prejudice against everyone and everything different from them, or at least Kaisha was. He looked at Toph since she was being bashed harder then he was, I guess it's because I'm the Avatar or something, he thought. She was just leaning against the wall, her ashen green eyes shining, like always, but with something else in them- Anger? Embarrassment? Sadness? There were no tears on her face, nor any direct emotion expressed through either her eyes or face.
Aang was bewildered at the lack of almost any feeling that radiated from Toph. Usually she was upbeat or at least showing of some emotion. But she just glanced up and Aang when she knew he was looking at her. "Didn't you hear them?"
"Of course I did, I'm not deaf," she replied in a flat monotone, though in an unusual quiet pitch of her voice.
"Well, aren't you mad or, or anything?" he asked in a hushed whisper. A/N: Remember the window's open :)
Toph shrugged, "I don't know."
Aang was perplexed at her statement, "Why?"
Toph shrugged again, "It's happened before, nothing exceptionally new."
Aang's face burned a bit with unease, "But you don't sound surprised or anything,"
"Aang, I figured as much from them," Toph said simply, "Kaisha wouldn't look me in the eye, and I'm surprised she waited to throw me out,"
"Well, I don't think that's right to not like someone because of something as stupid as being blind!" he stated, standing up.
"Of course it's not right, Twinkle Toes," she said, Aang helping her to her feet, "But there's nothing we can do,"
"Oh yeah? Watch," Aang headed for the door.
A loud, low rumble roared through the ground. "Aang, wait," Toph said, "Did you feel that?"
"Feel what?"
Toph knelt down, lying her fingertips on the dusty ground. She felt more vibrations, stronger than the first and for a longer time.
"What is it?"
"I don't know… it feels like… like thunder in the earth," Toph tried to explain.
A deafening crack split the air, creating a hanging silence that lasted a minute or two. Another thunderous crack burst out, sounding closer by the minute, ringing in Toph's ears. This time, it wouldn't end, one after another, explosions and eruptions interrupted the mid-afternoon serene land. Nothing was heard over the blasts, the sound filled Toph and Aang's mind, blocking out all other noise.
Aang looked over at Katara and Sokka, whom were trying contemplate what was happening. He gestured to them, as words couldn't be heard, to come near Toph, who was still feeling the vibrations. Without warning, a blast shook the ground, a rush of wind sprayed dirt everywhere, the world seemed to evaporate around the four of them, the air hung with an endless clamor of nothing… and then everything went silent.
Ooh, cliffhanger, haha! Lol, I just love torturing people!