A/N: Regarding OCs - There are quite a lot of them in my story, but none are main characters. I would describe them more as utility characters with varying degrees of importance. They all serve a purpose, but will drift in and out of the story as needed.

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"A word, Luon?" Toph said.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." He turned back to the group he was teaching. "Keep running that. I'll be right back."

Toph wandered off to a quiet corner, still reluctant to speak to him alone in her office. It wasn't that she was worried he'd try anything - he seemed to have moved past his interest in her - but the memory of what had happened almost a year and a half ago was hard to shake.

What's up?" he asked.

"I've got a proposition for you, if you're interested."

"Ok?"

"These last few weeks, trying to help out in Republic City has really started to wear on me. I don't want to keep doing it. How would you like to take over leadership of the metalbending squad?"

"I- Wow. Are you serious?"

"Yeah. You've advanced well past the typical graduation point, and you have a lot of experience teaching here. I think you'd do well."

"So you're not just trying to get rid of me?" he asked in a joking tone. Toph just blinked, unable to feel any amusement. "Er, sorry," Luon said. "I was kidding. Um, yeah. I'm very interested."

"Good. I'll set up a meeting with Kori and Ty Lee and we can all talk about the details."

"So, I'll guess I'll bring you up to speed on what's happening here," Kori said to Luon. "Currently, Ty Lee is in charge of the Kyoshi Warriors who have stayed."

"Not Kyoshi Warriors," Ty Lee corrected, her bubbly attitude nowhere in evidence. "We're Suwang Di now."

"Right, sorry," Kori said wearily.

Toph tried not to wince at the morbid name Ty Lee had settled on for her new group, ever since the other half of the Kyoshi Warriors had returned to Kyoshi Island. It made them sound like assassins, and Ty Lee had even admitted that her primary goal now was to find Suki's killer and bring them to justice.

"For the most part, we've been operating as separate units, cooperating on larger raids and any emergencies that crop up," Kori continued. "Currently, I run the largest contingency of mixed guards, both benders and non-benders. Previously, the non-benders were under Su- Suki's supervision." She paused and took a shaky breath. "Um. Obviously, you'll be in charge of all metalbenders, Luon, but I'd like to shift the majority of my earthbenders to you, as well, if you think you're up for it."

"How many metalbenders are there right now?" Luon asked.

"Around twenty-five who are combat-ready," Kori said. "And another dozen who still need some training for fieldwork. Does that sound right, Toph?"

"Yeah."

"Chang and Wen want to join up," Luon said to Toph. "I think they're ready."

"I trust your judgment," she mused blandly, not really caring.

"So that's where we are, now," Kori continued. "I have a few major changes I'd like to make that I think will streamline things, but it will require a lot of cooperation. Instead of working independently of each other, I'd like to form mixed squadrons. The bulk of the force would be composed of my units, each with a few metalbenders and Ky- ah, Suwang Di members-"

"No," Ty Lee interrupted. "Suwang Di works alone."

"Ty Lee-"

"You don't understand. We are very close-knit. Sisters. If you separate us, you weaken us." There was a dismal irony in her words, considering how their group had splintered into two.

Kori let out a long breath. "Fine. Suwang Di will stay separate, but I'd still like to meet with you regularly to coordinate. As for everyone else, I've outlined a plan for ten squadrons, one in each of these areas of the city. Every squadron will have three to four metalbenders for now, until there are more. Luon, you'll need to get to choose ten leaders from them. They don't have to be the best benders. Focus more on leadership ability. Nato and Yachi would be good choices."

"What about the earthbenders I take on? How many are there?"

"Eighty-three. They're the biggest group after non-benders. The logistics of all this are kind of messy at the moment. It's going to be a process of trial and error." There was a brief pause and the sound of a pen scratching on paper. "Basically, there are three main components: personnel management, training, and active duty. With the formation of the squadrons, I'm hoping those things will be more simplified.

"Rather than the various styles training only with each other, squadrons will train together in order to work together more efficiently. There will be a clear chain of command within each. We'll be based at the center of the city, coordinating on daily patrols and shifting forces to any hotspots that crop up. Practically speaking, you'll split your time between training new metal- and earthbending recruits, and traveling to the different areas to check-in and advise your units, though with any luck they'll mostly be able to manage themselves for day-to-day things. I know this is a lot to take in all at once, but I just wanted to give you an overview."

Toph couldn't help but feel a little useless in this meeting. None of this information was for her. All it did was make her feel guilty for not being part of it, and serve as a cutting reminder of what had happened. Of how her life had been turned upside down. Sitting here in this room with Kori and Ty Lee, two people who had once been cheerful and fun-loving but were now exuding the same weary determination she felt, was physically painful. Draining.

"Does anyone have anything to add?" Kori asked. Her words were met with silence. "Right. Well, I guess we'll start digging into the details then."

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"Toph?" Katara said. "What are you- Spirits, you look awful! What's wrong?"

Toph swallowed thickly, the taste of bile still strong in her mouth. "Boat."

"Come inside, I'll make you some ginger tea." She wrapped her arm around Toph's shoulders in a motherly way, leading her into the house. "Is everything alright?"

"At this very moment?" Toph said with a weak laugh. "Not really. In general? ...Also, not really. But you already knew that."

Katara sat her down at the table and busied herself with the kettle. Toph wondered, not for the first time, why she had come here. Katara would just want her to talk about her feelings. Did she really want to do that? Well, she was obviously desperate for some kind of human contact, to have ridden that nauseating deathtrap out here.

"Do you think Aang can take me home when I'm ready to go?"

"I'm not sure when he'll be back. But yeah, if you stick around long enough, I'm sure he won't mind. Or you can stay the night if you want. There's plenty of space."

It was the first time Toph had been on Air Temple Island since the house had been finished, and a random thought popped into her head. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Do you worry about people thinking it's a little strange that you and Aang live here together even though you aren't married?"

"That's kind of an odd question, coming from someone who lives at a school with who knows how many grown men," Katara said with a light laugh. "But yeah, sometimes it does bother me a little bit, I guess. I'm sure people talk. But...living here makes Aang happy. He really hates the city."

"Oh, I know."

"And it would be silly for us to be separated all the time. I mean, we do have our own rooms, of course." A slight increase in Katara's pulse told Toph all she needed to know about the situation. "And I don't see how it's any different from when we all traveled together and slept on the ground next to each other. Sometimes you and Sokka would end up curled up together."

Toph stiffened, the unexpected comment catching her off-guard, but Katara was still busy with the tea and didn't seem to notice.

"It was kind of cute, actually. Like he was trying to protect you." Her voice shook at the end. Toph realized she was just standing there, frozen, apparently unaware of the whistling noise that had started up.

"I think the kettle's ready."

"Hm? Oh...yeah. Thanks." They didn't speak again until Katara had poured the tea and joined her. "Are you sleeping alright?"

"Not really," Toph admitted. "You?"

"No." There was a heavy pause. "I miss him."

"Do you think- Do you think he'll ever be...Sokka again?"

"I think so. I hope so. He just needs time. Dad and Gran Gran will take good care of him. It was the best option." It sounded like she was trying to convince herself. "You know what the worst thing is?" Katara continued. "I can't just be sad. It's like...I'm all confused inside about who died. Anytime I try to process what I'm feeling, I just end up thinking about Sokka, and it feels like he's the one who died. And then I feel guilty that I can't just be sad about the person who actually died. It feels so...wrong."

"I think I know what you mean."

Katara had somehow managed to articulate what Toph had been feeling the last couple of months. It was comforting, in a way, knowing that she wasn't alone in that.

"I do miss Suki," Toph continued. "But I miss Sokka more. Am I a terrible person for saying that?"

"No. You had - have - a much closer bond with him."

"And Sokka…? Who do you think he misses more? Us? Or her…?"

"Don't do that to yourself, Toph. I'm not saying I haven't had that same thought, but you'll only end up driving yourself crazy. Just forget about it."

"Easier said than done. I know it's selfish. I don't care. I just want my fucking life back. I want to go back. Things were finally...good."

"I know. But thinking like that won't make things better. We just have to...accept this new reality and try to go from there."

"Ugh. You sound like Twinkle Toes."

"He's pretty wise about these things, actually."

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm not looking for wisdom. Maybe I want an easy way out of this shit situation. And don't tell me there's no easy way out! Because I know what it is, and trust me, I've considered taking Sokka's route. Probably at least once every day."

"What's stopped you?"

"My school. My students."

It made Toph wonder: would things have been different for Sokka if he'd had more of a purpose here? For the last four years, he'd been Suki's shadow. Or Toph's, if Suki was busy with political stuff. He didn't have a real job, something to tie him here. Something to feel responsible for. In many ways, having the Academy was the glue holding her together. She had people relying on her. It made a difference.

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Three Months Later

"They're doing well," Toph said with a brisk nod.

"High praise, coming from you," Luon said, sounding pleased with himself.

"Don't get cocky. They still have a long way to go before they're ready to go out in the field."

"We might not have much of a choice. There's been some unusual activity down in the Daiwan slums. Kori thinks something might happen soon, and we'll need as many people as we can get."

"Turf war?"

"I don't know. Could be. Ty Lee has been keeping a covert eye on things so at least we'll have some warning."

Toph sighed; she hated being on the outside of this, despite the fact that it had been her choice to distance herself. It was just hard not to feel like she should be here, helping more, but she felt stretched so thin - physically and emotionally - and couldn't afford to have another breakdown.

With a shake, she pulled herself out of her dark thoughts. "Whatever happens, it'll get dealt with just like everything else," she declared with false confidence. "Anyway, I gotta go. I'm supposed to be going to Air Temple Island for lunch. What time is it?"

"I think it's a little past noon."

"Fuck. Ok, I'll see you later."

It didn't seem to matter how many times she made the trip - it never failed to make her sick. Ugh. Why couldn't they have just had lunch in the city? They knew how much she hated water and boats. But...she hadn't seen either of them in weeks, and she missed them.

"Finally!" Aang exclaimed when she arrived. "Katara wouldn't let me eat until you got here!"

Toph rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sorry. I lost track of time."

"Well, c'mon then, I'm starving. And we've got something to say!"

Toph arched an eyebrow at him but he just laughed.

"So what's up?" she asked once they'd started eating, though she didn't have much of an appetite anymore.

"Well…" Katara began. "We have some news."

"Oh?"

"We're getting married!" Her voice was full of barely restrained excitement.

"Congratulations," Toph said with a smile, utterly unsurprised. "Took you guys long enough."

"Uh, I'm seventeen," Aang retorted. "It's not like I waited 'til I was thirty."

"Well you both act like you're thirty."

"That's pretty rich coming from you," Katara said, "considering you were late because you got tied up with work."

"Who said I was working?"

"Alright, fine, what were you doing, then?"

"I was just checking out the new...oh fine, whatever. It was work! You win!" She threw her hands in the air dramatically and they all laughed. "Seriously, though. I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks."

"Are you gonna have the wedding in the South Pole?" The question left her mouth just ahead of a painful twinge. Sokka. The shift in the room's atmosphere was palpable.

"We did consider it," Katara said. "But ultimately it makes more sense to do it here. With Aang being the Avatar, there's a pretty big political aspect, and the South Pole is just too remote."

"So when is this happening?" When will I get to see Sokka?

"We're not sure yet, but probably sometime later next year. There's a lot to plan. The acolyte dorms are still months away from being finished, and we'll need those for guest rooms."

Well, it was entirely possible that Sokka would return to Republic City before that. Toph was holding onto hope that he would. It had already been almost six months since… No, she didn't want to think about that. This was supposed to be a happy moment. Two of her oldest friends were getting married to each other.

They continued to chat for another hour, at first about wedding plans and then the ever-present problems that plagued the city. Afterward, Aang flew her back to the Academy. All was quiet there. She had given her students the day off so that she could focus on some administrative stuff that had piled up. Ika was waiting for her in her office.

"Alright, what's the damage?" Toph asked, settling in her comfy chair with her feet up on an earthbent footstool.

"Well...the good news is that the sponsorship funds have started up again. It looks like it was just a clerical error from the bank-"

"And not my father being petty? What's the bad news?"

"The construction workers quit because of the payment delay. You're going to have to hire another crew to finish new building."

"Fuck."

"Also…"

"What…"

"There was a small...altercation while you were gone."

"Oh, Spirits, don't say it."

"It was Michi."

"That kid is going to make me lose my fucking mind," Toph groaned. "What happened?"

"I'm not really sure. Something to do with one of the older kids. There's a...uh...sizable hole in the roof in the common room."

Toph rubbed her hands down her face slowly. "I think it's time I sat down and had a good, long talk with that girl. Wait, what was she even doing here? She should have been at home!"

"I don't know."

"Ugh. Whatever. I'll deal with her later. We need to move on. How many letters are there?"

"Twenty-three."

"Are you shitting me?"

"You've been putting them off…"

"Alright, alright. Let's get this over with."

It took three hours to formulate responses to them all, including requests to take on new students, no less than two potential marriage candidates from her parents (ugh), estimates for various aspects of the ongoing construction, and the never-ending petitions for Toph to lend her skills and services to any number of endeavors around the world. Gone were the days that she could ignore such things. No. She had to be diplomatic. Some of them even sounded like fun, but it wasn't as if she could just up and leave for weeks or months at a time.

"Alright. That was the last one," Ika finally announced with a sigh.

"Actually...there's one more thing I'd like to do. I...have a personal letter I'd like to send."

"Who is it to?"

"Sokka." Toph tried to collect her thoughts. What did she want to say? So many things, but how to articulate them? And in a way that she could comfortably speak aloud.

"I've always thought that 'I hope this letter finds you well' is a good, strong opening for any situation," Ika said after a long silence.

"Meh. Doesn't sound like something I would say." She settled back in her chair and tried to imagine her old friend was sitting here in the room with her. "I've wanted to write to you for a while but wasn't sure what to say. Not much is happening here. Things are pretty boring, to be honest, especially without you around. Well, except for Michi driving me crazy. She put a hole in the roof today.

"I'm still spending a lot of time at the refinery, though things are tense with my father, as always. He's still trying to- No, don't write that. Just leave it at, things are tense with my father, as always." She cleared her throat and refocused. "Luon has really stepped up and is leading the metalbenders in the city alongside Kori and Ty Lee's units. It kind of kills me to be on the outside, but at the same time, I don't want to get sucked into that again. In other news, Katara and Aang told me today that they're getting married-"

"Are they really?!" Ika interrupted.

"Yeah, yeah, keep it to yourself."

"Ooh, that's so exciting! Ok, ok, sorry. Continue."

"I guess you'll probably get a letter from them, too, around the same time this arrives. Hopefully, mine will come first so I can beat them to telling you. Looks like they're having the wedding here, so hopefully I'll see you then, unless you come back before that. Life just isn't the same without you around." Toph fell silent, trying to decide just how sentimental she wanted to be.

"Is that it?"

"Wish you were here," she said softly. "Your Friend, Toph. Wait. I want to sign it myself."

"Really?"

"Just put my hand in the right place."

"Ok, give me a second. I'm gonna rewrite it so it looks nice."

A couple of minutes later, Ika gave her the brush and guided her hand to the bottom of the page. As carefully as she could, she drew it just like Sokka had shown her.

"How's that?"

"Not bad, actually. But it's just the first letter."

"I know. That's what he calls me."

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For her birthday this year, Toph decided to avoid people. She had sent a message to Aang and Katara not to expect her, packed a bag, and just...started walking with no destination in mind. It was enough to get out into the wild.

Seventeen. It was just a number, meaningless, but somehow it made her feel old. In a few months, it would be five years since she had left home to travel the world and fight in a war that she'd barely known anything about. It felt like fifteen. She was reminded of the last time she had traveled alone, having gotten into a fight with her new friends. What a little brat she had been. Katara had been insufferable, but she had also been right.

And then Toph had met Iroh. In one short conversation, her entire mindset had changed. She wondered what the kindly, wise man was up to. Probably making tea in his shop in Ba Sing Se. For a moment, she had a sharp urge to hop on a train and visit him. Then she remembered how much she hated Ba Sing Se. This little outing was supposed to be about peaceful solitude - clearing her mind, away from the people that constantly needed her.

Four hours later, sitting around a fire wrapped in a thick blanket, she had changed her mind. Being alone sucked. She thrived off of being needed. Why had she done this? Why had she come out here? In the fucking winter?

"Fuck this," she muttered, getting up and burying the fire. She grabbed her pack and began the long walk home, arriving in the early hours of the morning. All was quiet, her boarders still asleep. The best part was that she'd been planning on being gone for a couple of days, so there was no worry of anyone disturbing her.

Or so she thought.

"...kind of joke? What were you thinking?" a whispered voice said out in the hall.

"What was I supposed to do? He's just a kid."

"No way is she gonna go for this. He's way too young, and he can barely earthbend."

"Did you see him? He's starving! She's not heartless."

"But he can't live here!"

"Why not?"

"Because someone will have to take care of him! For Spirits' sake, he's six! You want to adopt a six-year-old? Because I sure don't, and I know she doesn't."

"Ok, look, she won't be back until at least tomorrow. Let's just keep him here for now and see what happens. Maybe she won't notice. I mean, she's been so-"

Toph flung her door open and both whisperers jumped a little in surprise. "So what?"

"Sifu!" Ho Tun cried, his voice higher than usual. "I- I didn't know you were- Oh, Spirits. Sorry..."

"I have nothing to apologize for," Leda said flatly.

"What is going on?"

"Well, um..." Ho Tun began. "Ok, here's the thing. I was in Yu Dao and I found this little kid, an orphan. He was trying to use earthbending to steal from a food stall. I, er... I brought him here. I thought, well... I thought maybe he could stay here. He's only six, living on the streets. It's not right."

"No," Toph said slowly. "It's not."

"What...? What do you mean? Can he stay?"

She let out a long breath. What the fuck was she supposed to do? Put a little kid back on the streets? "Fine. Give him a bed and food. I assume he doesn't need anyone to wipe his ass for him?"

"No, I think he's pretty self-sufficient," Ho Tun said, sounding relieved. "And who knows - he might be able to metalbend."

"So where is he?"

"In the common room, eating. Poor kid was starving. His name is Riju."