A/N: To all of you who have stuck with me this far (especially after the emotional beating from the last chapter), thank you :) I adore you all, and I hope you continue to enjoy my story. It originally began as self-indulgent ramblings about Toph and young Lin, but I quickly decided I needed to see Toph's progression to make it feel authentic to me. Cue nine months of feverish writing (and several more months of obsessive and ongoing revisions).
Anyway, enough rambling. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
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Red-hot flames shot around the courtyard in a chaotic dance, both partners moving almost too quickly for Sokka to keep track of the fight. Kiyi was a true prodigy; it was hard not to wonder if she was what Azula was meant to have been, under better circumstances, without Ozai poisoning her. Ursa's do-over.
That thought process almost made him miss a quick twisting jump that caught Zuko completely off-guard, sending him rolling across the stone.
"Hah! I win again, Zuzu!" Kiyi cried triumphantly, dancing around like she was still a little kid. Zuko rose to his knees, clutching his chest dramatically.
"Nice job, Kiyi!" Sokka said, clapping. "I think the Fire Lord needs more practice."
"Gimme a break," Zuko said, wiping his face with a towel as he approached Sokka. "I don't get to train that often. Too busy being a politician. Little Miss Firecracker over there spends every waking moment honing her bending. I was already Fire Lord at her age. Makes me a little jealous to see how carefree she is. But I'm happy, too, of course."
They both glanced over at her; she was completely ignoring them to practice a complicated form.
"I know what you mean," Sokka agreed. "I'm glad she got to grow up in a time of peace."
"Relative peace," Zuko corrected dryly.
"True." As a diplomat, Sokka was uniquely qualified to analyze the state of the world. While there were no wars, there were plenty of other issues, especially within the Fire Nation. And Zuko had to bear the brunt of that.
"I just hope it lasts, and gets better. I don't want Izumi to inherit any major problems."
"That's way too far away for you to be worried about."
"I don't know," Zuko said doubtfully. "Every decision I make could lead to future strife. It's something I have to be constantly aware of."
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You're just one person." They'd had various versions of this conversation before, more times than Sokka could count.
"I suppose."
"Are you just bummed out because your little sister kicked your butt? Again?"
"Maybe a little," Zuko said with a small smile, though it faded quickly. "But…"
"What?"
"Ah…it's nothing. Just domestic problems. You don't want to hear about that."
"What's going on?" Sokka prodded, concerned. "Are things still not good between you and Mai?"
Zuko grimaced. "Things haven't been 'good' in a long time. We've...ah...actually been separated for a couple months now. Discreetly."
"A couple months? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Don't take it personally. It's just not something I enjoy talking about. And, well, you've had your own problems. Didn't want to burden you with mine."
Sokka shook his head, not wanting to think about his personal problems. "What happened?"
"Nothing 'happened', exactly. We've just– You know how it is. We've always had a difficult relationship. Lots of fights. Not seeing eye to eye on certain things. We try to coexist peacefully for Izumi, but it's not easy."
"I'm really sorry," Sokka said soberly. "You're right, though. I do get it."
"Anyway. Enough depressing talk."
"We could do some sparring instead, if you want. I promise you I am just as rusty. An airship is not the ideal place to train, especially since I'm usually alone."
"Oh! That reminds me," Zuko said. "I've been meaning to run something by you."
"What?"
"Well, I've seen how effective you've been as a world ambassador. I'd really like Rae to branch out and start doing that, too. Would you be ok with some company on the airship, for the sake of practicality? You two seem to get along alright."
"Sure. I don't mind."
That new development went through more quickly than Sokka expected. A week later, Rae accompanied him on his way to the North Pole.
"I hope I've brought warm enough clothes," she said cheerfully.
"What have you got?"
"Well, mostly just lots of layers. There aren't exactly any parkas for sale in the Fire Nation..."
"I'm sure you can buy something once we get there."
"True."
Despite his assurances to Zuko that he wouldn't mind the company, Sokka was finding that he kind of missed the solitude. Three years of having this airship to himself, aside from the small crew, made this arrangement feel a little weird. It wasn't that he felt uncomfortable or awkward around Rae; as Zuko's own ambassador between the Fire Nation the United Republic, she had been his colleague long enough to be considered a good friend. But this was his space. He ambled over to the windows and stared out pensively, though not really paying much mind to the passing scenery, which was quickly fading to nothing but ocean.
"Why so brooding?" she asked behind him. "Or do you want me to leave you alone? I know I can be a little full-on. I'll go away if you want."
He turned to her with an apologetic half-smile, her cheerful eyes making him a little tired. They were nearly on level with his, tall as she was - only half a head shorter than him. "No, it's ok. Sorry, I guess I'm probably not the greatest traveling companion."
"You don't have to apologize. I get it."
That was part of the problem, Sokka had to acknowledge with a grimace. She knew exactly why he was...the way he was. During those three years of happiness, he had talked about Toph to anyone who would listen. And though he kept the details of the breakup to himself, everyone knew it had happened.
"Hey, uh, listen," Rae said slowly. "Since we're going to be around each other a lot more now, I just wanted to let you know that if you ever want to talk about anything, I've been told I'm a pretty good listener. It doesn't take a genius to see that you're in need of a good therapy session."
In spite of himself, Sokka actually laughed. It was weak and hollow, but it was a laugh. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
Two weeks later, on the way to Ba Sing Se, he finally cracked open. And once the dam was broken, nothing could stop the flood. "I had really convinced myself we were going to spend the rest of our lives together. Grow old together. I mean, I knew there were some serious issues to work out, but I truly believed we'd figure it out, even if there were some bumps along the way. We've been through so much, and always found our way back to each other."
"I know this is none of my business," Rae said, "but if it's not too personal, what exactly did happen, to make it fall apart?"
"The short answer? I want kids. She doesn't. Adamantly."
"Ah. And the long answer?"
"I told her I didn't care about that, even though of course I do, and she knew it. Can't lie to Toph Beifong," he said grimly. "I wanted to mean it. If she'd ignored the lie and just let it go, I wouldn't have given up. But she pressed the issue. She said it wasn't fair for me to expect her to change, and she was right. So she pushed me away, and I let her."
He let his head fall into his hands. There was something cathartic about getting it all out, but that didn't stop it from hurting. "It's been eight months. I thought it would have gotten easier by now, but it hasn't. I feel like a horrible person. I feel like I abandoned her right after she almost died."
"I'm sure she doesn't think that. She was probably grateful to be able to process it alone, in peace."
"I guess," he shrugged. "Maybe."
"Have you two talked at all since then?
"A little. It's just...hard. Honestly, it would've been easier if we'd had a huge fight and couldn't stand each other. Been there, done that. It ended with us–" He cut off abruptly, realizing he was about to say something incredibly private. With an awkward cough, he attempted to slide past it. "This is different, though. We didn't fight. We don't hate each other. She pretends to be so strong but I know I could break that willpower if I tried hard enough. Not that I would try, because we'd just end up right back where we started, eventually. But just knowing I could drives me crazy."
"I'm sure it will get easier with time."
"I hope so. I do mean to fix our friendship one day, and I know she does, too, but right now it doesn't look like I'm allowed to start trying. She's set up some pretty strict ground rules between us."
"I'm not surprised."
"What do you mean?" Sokka asked, confused. "She and I have been close friends for a long time. Shouldn't casual, platonic contact be a good thing? You know – healing?"
"She still loves you. When you try to comfort her, it just reminds her of what she's lost. And, from what you've told me about her, I doubt she's the type of person who's ok with people seeing her cry."
"You're right. She hates crying. And she's always had a hard time keeping that facade up around me, when she's upset."
"That's just it! You were that person to her. Now you're not. She doesn't want you to see her in that state anymore."
"That...is really hard to hear," Sokka said sadly.
"It's the only way she can process her grief. She has to stop letting you be her 'comfort person' if she's going to move on with her life."
"Um, how exactly did you become a Toph Beifong expert, anyway?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.
Rae laughed. "It's got nothing to do with who she is. I'm just giving you a woman's perspective. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am."
"Well, in that case, here's a question for you: If you were in her situation, what would you do to find peace?"
"I'd find a distraction. A hobby."
She answered quickly enough that Sokka thought maybe she already had been in that situation before.
"Hm. She always did like working at the refinery, but I don't think she does that much anymore."
"Maybe if she found a fun way to train her bending. Something competitive."
"Well, she used to compete in an underground earthbending tournament when she was a kid," Sokka said.
"Is there anything in Republic City like that? Something legit, though. I can't see the Chief of Police fighting in an illegal competition."
"Hah. If you knew her, you might not say that."
"Seems like an unnecessary risk. Unless she doesn't care about getting fired."
"No, you're probably right. She hates that job, but she loves it, too. I think she'd be devastated if it was taken away from her. Anyway, there isn't anything legal like that, that I know of. But who knows, maybe she could start something."
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Every single day, with every single meal, Toph wondered when she'd start tasting food again. It was a very odd phenomenon, one she was quite sure was psychological. Everything she ate was just...horribly bland. It didn't matter how much sugar or salt or spice it had. Eating gave her no pleasure.
It used to. It used to be one of her favorite things to do. She wasn't a picky eater, and was usually content to chow down on anything that was set in front of her. The heartier and more flavorful, the better, though spice and heat were particularly enjoyable. And sweet, too. She did like her desserts. As such, eating at Air Temple Island was often disappointing, though Katara always kept a bottle of hot sauce around for her.
There was no question in her mind what had caused this change. Obviously, Sokka's absence from her life was affecting her in a very obnoxious way. And as she sat alone in her apartment, eating flavorless noodles, she once again ran her fingers over a line of words from a letter she had read several times out of pure, unfettered masochism.
Have you been to the refinery at all lately? I think I remember you mentioning you hadn't, but I know how you've always thrived with having a hobby to unwind from work. I had an idea, actually, thinking about how you used to compete in Earth Rumble. I don't know if there are any legal bending competitions in Republic City, but that sounds like something you'd really enjoy doing.
He was trying to help her in that stupid, loving way of his. It was painful, knowing that he was out there worrying about her, but at the same time...he had really hit the nail on the head. His idea was a good one; she really would love doing something like that, if it existed.
Too bad it doesn't. And I don't exactly have time to create it. I might have time to participate every now and then, but to actually set it up? She tossed the letter away, letting it drift to the floor, and took another bite of her disappointing dinner.
That night, while trying and failing to fall asleep, her mind began working without her permission. Earth Rumble had been fun, but too easy. There was no challenge in knocking muscley guys out of the ring. But what if there were more to it? Not just earthbending, but waterbending and firebending, too? Republic City was a melting pot with benders of all kinds, and too often they turned to violence and crime. What if there were an outlet for them to fight in a safe, legal way?
Did she know anyone who could make something like this happen? Someone who had lots of free time and money? The only people she really knew aside from Aang and Katara were her officers. Satoru definitely didn't have time, even if he hadn't exiled her from his life. But the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to make it a reality.
A few days later, Toph went to the Island after work with the intention of doing some training with Aang and Riju. Unfortunately, the distractable teenager was unavailable.
"Where's Riju?" Aang asked as they were warming up.
"Hiding in the bushes with his girlfriend," Toph said with a snort.
"What?! "
"Relax. They're just making out."
"For now..." Aang said dryly. "That kid seriously needs a hobby."
The comment made her stop dead, dropping the boulder she'd been about to chuck at him. "I think I have just the thing!" It took all of her willpower not to disturb Riju then and there; he might not be so willing if he was pissed at her for interrupting him. "Wouldn't it be cool if Republic City had an official league for competitive bending?"
"Hm. Are you planning on starting one?"
"Nope," she said. "I'm going to get Riju to do it."
"What? He's fifteen."
"So? I started a metalbending academy when I was thirteen. You just said he needs something to do. I think a little responsibility will do him some good."
"Well, yeah, but he doesn't have any resources."
"I can lend him some money to get started. I just don't have the time to devote to this, but I'd like to see it happen. I need a hobby, too."
"What made you think of this?"
"Actually...it was Sokka's idea."
"Oh, yeah? So does that mean things are a little better between you two?"
"He sent me a letter," Toph replied, not wanting to get into it. In an effort to distract him, she sent a few rapid attacks in his direction.
"Oh, are we training now?"
"Don't get smart with me, Twinkle Toes. I never said we weren't."
After dinner, she snagged Riju by the collar before he could sneak outside. It didn't have quite the effect it used to, considering he was taller than her now. "Hold up there, lover boy. Need to talk to you about something. Come on, let's go for a walk."
"Ugh. What?" he groaned, following her outside.
"Hey! Lose the attitude! Believe it or not, you might actually be interested in what I have to say."
"Ok…?"
She explained her idea to him in great detail, trying to make it sound as fun as possible and not like boring adult responsibility.
"Hm…" Riju mused.
"Well? Whaddya think?"
"You'd give me money?"
"I'd lend you money, with the expectation that my investment will eventually pay out. And you can't just go spend it on whatever you want. You have to use it for this specific purpose."
"Could I get an apartment in the city? I mean, if I'm going to be there all the time–"
"I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"How would you pay for it? Or for your food? And if you think you'd be able to find a reputable landlord to rent to someone your age, you're more naive than I thought. Besides, it's not a fight I feel like having with Katara right now, even if I thought it was a good idea."
"So how am I going to start a business in the city if I have to make sure I don't miss the last ferry every night?"
"You can sleep on my couch if you need to stay overnight in the city."
He sighed dramatically. "Fine. I guess I'll think about it. Why do you want me to do this, anyway?"
"Because I don't have time to do it myself. And I think you'd be good at it."
"Really?"
"Sure. You've been slacking with your metalbending, but your earthbending is solid. Plus, you don't get out enough, kid. Would be good for you to interact with some normal people."
"I interact with plenty of normal people."
"You're sheltered here," she said, ignoring him. Most likely, he was referring to that girl he was obsessed with.
"You don't have to tell me. I know. I'd love to have my own place."
"Let it go, Riju," Toph said, exasperated.
"Well, if this idea of yours works out, I'll have a steady income. And anyone would rent to me if you asked them to."
"If and when that happens, I'll maybe consider it. Until then, it's not up for discussion. Just think about my idea and let me know, ok?"
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"How is Chief Manitok handling it all?" Hakoda asked.
"Well, he's not happy about it," Sokka replied. "But the Council is standing firm on mediating the oil issue, and so far they are taking our side, thank the Spirits."
"You don't think it will come to civil war between the North and South, do you?"
"No. Manitok is proud and a little greedy, but he's not stupid. He doesn't want an international disaster."
"Does he respect you?"
"I think so," Sokka said. "I think us being similar in age is helping. He likes to complain to me about his advisors, who are all over sixty."
"And how does he feel about having a Fire Nation ambassador around?"
"Heh. That's a bit of a touchy subject, but we're working on it. And frankly, I think it has more to do with her being a woman than being Fire Nation."
Hakoda laughed. "Well, in any case, it's nice to see you moving on with your life."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Aren't you and Rae together?"
"Huh? What gave you that idea?"
"Because you act like a couple. You spend all your free time with each other. Eat every meal together. She travels around with you everywhere. And she makes you laugh."
"We're just friends," Sokka protested, baffled. "Colleagues."
"Are you sure?" Hakoda asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"I…" The question brought him up short. Was it possible that Rae thought they were a couple? Had he accidentally given her that impression?
The next time they were alone, he decided to find out. "So, um...weird question..."
"Yeah?" she said.
"Er...are we dating?"
Rae's eyebrows shot up, though she looked amused.
"Because my dad seems to think we are..." he continued.
"Well, I guess if you want to put a label on it..."
Sokka blinked, speechless. Had his father actually been right?
She laughed suddenly. "I'm kidding! Look, I admit, I really like spending time with you. But I didn't want to be pushy."
He scratched his chin and studied her for a few seconds. While it was true that he hadn't allowed himself to consider her in a romantic light, he did like being around her. She was kind, quick-witted, and easy to talk to. He always marveled at her deep understanding of people's feelings and behaviors; it was part of what made her an effective diplomat. And she wasn't bad to look at, either, though that part of his mind had been so full of Toph that he'd barely noticed. "I guess...maybe I need some time to think."
And think he did, for nearly a week. It had been almost a year since the breakup; was that long enough? From his occasional interactions with Toph, she seemed to be doing alright. Her competitive bending league was shaping up nicely under Riju's management, quickly becoming very popular, and it really did appear to be helping her. Knowing that she had something like that in her life and didn't rely on him for her happiness anymore was bittersweet, but in a way, was making it easier for him to let go.
"Did you ask Zuko to ask me to share my airship so you could be around me more?" he asked her during their journey to the Fire Nation.
"Actually, it was his idea. He seems to get a kick out of playing matchmaker."
"I can't say I'm surprised." He took a deep breath. "I'm going to be blunt with you, because I've been down this road before, and lack of communication on my part made it go up in flames. Well, that wasn't the only reason, but...it's not important. What I'm trying to say is...Toph is a permanent fixture in my life. Obviously, there's no future for me with her, romantically speaking, but she's always going to be there. Always going to be important to me. So I need to know you're ok with that."
"Honestly, I think I'd be more worried if you decided to cut her out of your life. I like that you still care, even after everything that's happened. Shows what kind of man you are."
There was a look on her face that she hadn't shown him before. Admiration, maybe. And...something else. It drew him in; he couldn't stop himself. Before he quite knew what was happening, they were locked together – but in a hesitant way, full of uncertainty. After only a second or two, he pulled back from the chaste but not unpleasant kiss.
"Hm," he said, trying to make his mind up. There was definitely a little bit of guilt chittering away in the back of his head.
"What?"
"Can we...keep this to ourselves? For now, at least?"
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"Foul!" the referee called. "C'mon, Chief. Seriously? One more and you're disqualified."
"Heh. My bad," Toph said sheepishly. That was her third penalty in this match alone. "I'm just a little distracted."
"Alright, Red Team, advance into the front zone. Blue Team, back zone. And...set!"
Toph dropped into a stance, trying not to think about the telegram that had arrived that morning from Air Temple Island: it was baby time. But she knew they didn't expect her to rush right over just to sit and wait. The longer she could put off going, the better.
The bell rang out and they were off. It was an amazing challenge, dodging not just earthbending attacks – which was easy – but fire and water, too.
"On your left!" Noka warned. Toph spun and caught the stream of water in a shower of dust and dirt, rapidly pulled from every corner of the large room (and some from outside, too), where it hung in the air as mud. She then sent that mud back in a wave that knocked down three out of the other team's five.
"Time out!" the ref called.
"Ugh, what now?" Toph complained. "That wasn't against the rules!"
"It probably should be. While I applaud your ingenuity, mudbending really isn't in the spirit of the sport."
"But it still counts, though, right?" Tirani, the firebender on Toph's team asked.
"Riju, I'm gonna let you make that call," the ref decided.
"Hey, that's no fair!" one of the knocked-out earthbenders complained. "He's always gonna take Chief Beifong's side!"
"Shut your pie hole!" Riju said. "It counts, but only this once. And quit complaining! This is the whole reason her team doesn't have three earthbenders, ok? She's always going to be coming up with new, challenging techniques that we have to decide whether or not to allow. Just be content that you have the advantage."
"Please. No one 'has the advantage' over her, no matter how much you handicap her team."
"I make the rules, and I say it counts. Deal with it."
"Punk kid," the disgruntled man muttered under his breath, though Toph doubted anyone else heard it.
She couldn't help but be proud of her young protege. He'd really grown into this responsibility, though it was hard not to worry that it was too much responsibility; she'd been in that situation before. Sport Bending had really taken off, becoming massively popular in the last few months, and he was extremely busy because of it.
Revenue was pouring in, though a good portion of it went to the city, per her agreement with the Council. Aside from the small percentage she got as an investor, the rest was going into expanding into a larger building and setting up bleachers for spectators.
"Alright," the ref said. "The knockouts stand. Set for the final round."
It was over quickly. As soon as the bell rang, Toph sent two precisely aimed chunks of rock at the remaining attackers. One was knocked down; the other dodged directly into Noka's attack, losing her balance and landing on her back with a satisfying thud.
"Woo!" Tirani cheered, though it was nearly drowned out by the crowd.
"Alright," Toph said, wiping her sweaty brow. "I guess I should get over to the Island and meet my niece, if she's arrived yet."
"Hey, Manto, get everything wrapped up here for me, ok?" Riju said, trotting over to Toph. "Gonna head out, too."
"Really?" Toph asked.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"Just didn't expect you to be so gung-ho about it."
"Well, she's kinda like my little sister."
"Hah! So Katara is your mom! I knew it!" The comment earned her an annoyed scoff and a jab on the arm. She punched him back in response.
"I liked your mud wave," he said once they were outside. "Where did you even get that much dirt from, anyway?"
"Are you kidding? That warehouse is filthy. Well, it was. Now it's spotless. You're welcome."
"No way, I don't buy it. You had to have pulled some from outside."
"...Maybe."
"I really shouldn't have ruled in your favor."
"Are you saying it was a biased call?"
"Honestly? I can't stand that guy that complained. He's such a jackass. Anyway, you didn't technically break any rules. But from now on, you can't use anything that's not already inside the ring."
"You know, this sport gets less and less fun every time you make a new rule," Toph grumbled.
"What did you expect? It has to be safe and fair. Otherwise, it's not a sport – it's a chaotic free-for-all."
"I like free-for-alls! And chaos!"
"Yeah, try convincing the Council to allow that."
"Ugh, stop being such a grown-up," she complained. "It's annoying."
"It's only annoying because you're acting like a child."
She sent a pillar of rock directly into his backside, making him stagger forward. "What the fuck, Toph?" he complained, though he was laughing.
"That's Sifu Toph to you, kid."
They arrived on Air Temple Island only to be disappointed. The new baby had not yet arrived. "What the fuck is taking so long?" Toph asked Sokka, who was waiting in the living room. "It's been like, ten hours!"
"It's been a lot longer than that, actually. Pretty sure she was up half the night."
"I'm gonna go outside and train," Riju announced. "Come get me when it's over."
"Fuck, if I wasn't so tired, I'd join you," Toph said, plopping down onto the couch instead. "Where's Bumi?"
"Yuri took him down to the beach after dinner," Sokka replied. "Have you eaten?"
"Yeah, we got something on the way over." She suppressed a sigh, wishing he would stop trying to take care of her. While he'd been good about maintaining physical distance, there was apparently no cure for his tendency to be attentive to her needs. But though that pain in her chest was constant whenever he was around, the rush of emotion that had plagued her before had long since been tamed.
They were quiet for several minutes, though they had relearned how to be more or less comfortable around each other even in silence. She was tired enough that her eyelids started drooping a little. Then a horrible shriek emanated from the other side of the house, jolting her awake.
"Fuck," she muttered. "I don't think I can stand to listen to that. How long have you been sitting here?"
"A couple hours."
An old memory popped into her head and she laughed. "Hey, remember when that kid was born after we got through the Serpent's Pass and you fainted like an old lady?"
"You would have, too, if you'd seen what I saw."
"Um...She was on the ground, which means I saw everything. I didn't have a choice. I can't turn seismic sense off."
"Not the same thing. You're just seeing shapes."
"It was still disturbing, especially for a twelve-year-old."
Toph decided she didn't want to talk about that anymore and instead, they spent the next hour and some talking about Sport Bending, debating the structure and rules. She regaled him with all the ways the other teams had succumbed to her until, finally, a different cry than Katara's screams came from the bedroom.
"Well, guess it's over," she said with relief. "Thank fuck."
"I'll go get Riju and Bumi," Sokka said, standing.
Half an hour later they were all crowded together in the bedroom while the midwife tidied up.
"What's her name?" Riju asked.
"Kya. After my mother."
"I guessed that!" Sokka said. "Didn't I guess that?"
"You did," Toph confirmed.
"Can I hold her?" Bumi asked, climbing up on the bed.
"Come sit next to me. Alright, now hold your arms like this, ok? There you go."
"Hi, Kya. I'm Bumi, your big brother."
Toph heard Aang sniff softly. "You alright there, Twinkle Toes?" she asked with a mocking grin.
"Ah, gimme a break," he laughed. "I'm not the only one."
"Katara just pushed a person out of her body. She gets a pass."
"I wasn't talking about her."
With a twisted smirk, Toph turned to Sokka and lightly cuffed him on the shoulder. As soon as she did it, she realized it was the first physical contact they'd had in half a year. "Lemme guess, you too, Meathead?"
"Hey, can I have a turn?" he asked, apparently deciding to ignore her teasing.
"What about me?" Riju chimed in.
"Spirits, you two," Katara laughed. "She's not going anywhere. You'll both have plenty of opportunities."
"Yeah, but I don't live here like the rest of you," Sokka said. "My time with her is limited. I'm leaving for the South Pole in a week."
They all passed her around for a little while until Toph was the only one left. By the time Aang gently deposited the baby into her semi-reluctant arms, a fitful cry was starting up.
"Guess I waited too long." Still, she took a moment to lightly run her fingers over the small face. "She's got your cheekbones, Sokka."
"You mean Katara's cheekbones?" he chuckled.
"I assume they're the same. I've never put my hands on Katara's face. That would be weird."
"I would let you if you asked me," Katara said, taking Kya back. "It wouldn't be that weird, considering your blindness."
"Well, it would be weird for me," Toph replied.
"Yeah, me too," Aang laughed.
"Me three," Riju agreed.
"Me four," Bumi said, making everyone else laugh.
"I've touched your face before, Gremlin."
"Oh, is that what you're talking about? I wasn't listening."
"Alright, you lot," the midwife interrupted. "I think visitation time is over. She needs some rest. Dad can stay, everyone else – out."
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"This is wrong!" Toph shouted, leaning forward threateningly with her palms flat on the table. "Those people, they're just normal people, trying to have a better life! They're not criminals! If I send my officers out there to round them up and arrest them, you're just going to end up with less police and more protesters!"
"That's a little dramatic," Councilman Ludo said. "I think your officers are probably too scared of you to join the riots."
"Pro-tests," she retorted, ignoring the dig. "Not riots. I know the difference, believe me."
"They're destroying property," Councilwoman Riala said. "That makes it a riot."
"They're damaging the property of the slave drivers that work them to death. They're not just going around randomly destroying shit. It's not the same."
"What they are doing is still illegal, and causing massive city-wide problems," Ludo said. "You are the Chief of Police. It's your job to deal with it."
"Yeah? And what happened to all your fancy little social programs, huh? That were supposed to help the normal people and reduce crime?"
"There has been a drop in crime," Councilwoman Mauja said diplomatically. "Especially since Sport Bending began."
"Negligible. And it doesn't matter, anyway. We don't have the space to arrest every single protester. There are literally thousands of them. We need to find a better way. Trust me, I want this dealt with just as much as you do. I can't get any work done as long as this is going on. But coming down hard on these people is not going to solve the problem."
"Well then what do you suggest?" Ludo asked.
"I dunno, maybe try actually listening to them?"
"Negotiating with terrorists sets a bad precedent," Councilman Amaruq said.
"They're not fucking terrorists! They're poor people! Desperate poor people!"
"They're riled up and angry," Ludo said. "I don't even know how to get a place of discourse. That's what I'm saying – first they need to be suppressed, then we can talk."
"You wanna talk to them?" She jabbed her finger at him. "Fine. Let's go." She stalked out of the room, down the hall, and to the front door of City Hall with him in tow. A group of officers were keeping the angry crowd from rushing forward. Indecipherable shouts rose up from the throng; that was part of the problem. Everyone seemed to be saying something different, so it was hard to know what they really wanted.
Toph strode to the top of the steps and took a megaphone from one of her officers. "HEY, YOU LOT! QUIET DOWN AND PICK SOMEONE TO COME AND TALK TO US, OR YOU'RE NOT GETTING JACK SHIT!" Her words seemed to confuse them. There was a noticeable drop in their volume, but no one came forward.
"You see?" Ludo said. "They don't want to talk. They just want to cause trouble."
"Give it a second. I doubt they have a spokesperson."
The noise increased once again. "Well now they're just yelling at each other," he said.
"YOU HAVE THIRTY MINUTES TO PICK A SPOKESPERSON, AFTER THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU MOVE WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT!" With that, she stalked back inside, running into Sokka in the hall.
"What were you doing out there?" he asked.
"Trying to talk to them. They're too unorganized right now. I gave them a half-hour, so I guess we'll see. Where have you been, anyway? I thought you were going to be in this meeting?"
"I'm coming now. I got tied up talking to the manager of the sewage treatment plant. There's been a lot of damage and it's going to affect the city's plumbing. Never mind the fact that no one's actually working."
"What a nightmare," she muttered as they went back into the meeting room and sat down.
"So, how did it go?" Amaruq asked a little smugly.
"They're choosing a spokesperson," Toph replied, directing a scowl at the insufferable Northern Water Tribe man.
"Well, in the meantime," Mauja said, "we should discuss what we'll actually say, should they send someone to talk."
"What do we know of their grievances and demands?" Sokka asked.
"Not much, at this point."
"They're unhappy with the working conditions," Toph said. "And they won't work until something changes."
"Like I said, we don't know much. That's far too vague for us to actually do anything."
"We need a real negotiation."
They went back and forth like that for another twenty minutes.
"Ambassador Sokka," Ludo said. "In light of all of this, would you be willing to stay in Republic City for an extended period of time to assist with whatever changes need to happen across the city?"
"Yes, I think so. For the time being, I can communicate with the other world leaders via telegraph."
"Excellent. We'll meet privately later to go ov–" A knock on the door interrupted him. "Come in."
"Apologies for disturbing you," the receptionist said. "The protesters' spokesman is here to see you."
"Send him in."
A tall, burly man stepped into the room, his confident walk not fooling Toph. The man was a nervous wreck. "Thank you for seeing me," he said. "My name is Shihong. I oversee the production line at Earthen-Fire Industries."
Toph's jaw hit the floor. "What?" she blurted, unable to formulate any other response.
"Please, let me explain," Shihong said quickly. "I don't have any grievances with Mr. Satoru. He's a good boss, and we get treated well. But all of us laborers, we're part of a community, you understand? If I didn't come out here to support them, I'd be just as guilty as the dirty scoundrels they work for."
"Why did they pick you?" Sokka asked.
"I guess because what we have at the refinery works, and people know it. And maybe because they thought you'd be more likely to listen to me."
"Have a seat," Ludo said. "It would seem we have some things to discuss."
"Thank you."
"So, just to be clear," Toph said. "No one's protesting at Earthen-Fire Industries?"
"No, but I think most of us are participating in the strike."
Toph waved her hand dismissively; she didn't care about that, as long as Satoru wasn't in any danger. It hadn't even occurred to her before that he might be, since she knew that he treated his workers well.
"What exactly are the main grievances?" Ludo asked.
"Well," Shihong began. "As you probably can guess, we're not that organized. Everyone's just angry. But from what I've been able to piece together, the main points are hours, pay, and conditions."
"Can you elaborate?" Mauja asked. "'Conditions' is pretty vague."
"By 'conditions' I mean safety and comfort. There are no laws that prevent laborers from being forced to do unsafe things, or to give set breaks throughout the day. It's all up to the owners' discretion, and most don't care what happens to us or how miserable we are. Pay is low because there are so many people desperate for work. And the hours don't allow anyone to see their families. From everything I've heard, that's the biggest complaint. Working every single day, without a break, being paid barely enough to survive - it just drains the life out of you."
Toph almost laughed. Well, he wasn't wrong, though she supposed it was different when it was self-inflicted, and not something forced on you under threat of being starving and homeless.
"Ok, let's back up a little," Sokka said. "What I'm hearing is that there need to be regulations put in place so that factory and plant owners are more accountable for how they run their businesses, with regard to labor. Correct?"
"Sure."
"That won't go over well," Amaruq drawled. "They have a lot of power, and the tax income from them accounts for a large portion of the city budget."
"Who runs this city?" Toph demanded. "You, or them? Who makes the laws?"
"Well, obviously–"
"You all were telling me a few minutes ago that it was my responsibility to solve this problem. Has it occurred to you that the problem is your doing in the first place, for letting the industrial sector gain too much power?"
Amaruq slammed his fist on the table. "You're out of line, Beifong! You sit in your police station and tell all your little peons what to do while we make the hard decisions. You have no idea–"
"Excuse me?!" Toph spluttered. "You think I don't–"
"Ok, OK!" Sokka interrupted, placing his hand on her forearm.
It was enough to make her stop midsentence, a chill rippling through her at his warm touch. She pulled her arm away, the anger dissipating.
"Let's just calm down for a second and regroup," he continued. "Arguing won't solve any problems. What's done is done. How do we fix it?" He had truly embraced his role as a diplomat, Toph observed.
"If I may," Shihong said. "I've thought a lot about this, and I think the way Mr. Satoru does things works very well."
"Five days on, two days off," Toph said, well aware of how he ran the company.
"Yes. He does it on a rotation, but I think it would be better if it was the same days for everyone in the city. Every week, there would be two days when laborers could relax together. Go out into the city and spend some of that hard-earned money. Assuming we're actually paid enough to do that."
"Well, it certainly would be good for the economy," Mauja said.
"That would be a massive undertaking," Ludo said. "Every single business would have to restructure. Including the police force," he added pointedly.
"I'm aware," Toph said dryly. Just thinking about it made her tired.
The meeting went on for another three hours, in which they went back and forth on safety regulations, worker benefits, a minimum standard for pay, and countless other things. By the end of it, they had made no decisions at all other than to deliberate for the next week and then hold a press conference. In the meantime, Shihong promised to try and convince the people to return to their jobs.
"So how are you feeling about all of this?" Sokka asked as they were leaving. "You didn't say much after your little spat with Amaruq."
"Insufferable man," she muttered. "I hate dealing with him. He's such a sexist prick."
"Most Northern Water Tribe men are. Even after almost fifteen years, it's still hard for women to learn combat waterbending there."
"Send Katara up there to yell at them again. Bet it would help."
"Hah. Probably. But I think she's got her hands full right now."
"True." She pushed through the outer doors; most of the crowd had dispersed, at least in this area. The two of them paused at the top of the stairs, Toph knowing he probably wasn't going to follow her back to Headquarters.
"But you didn't answer my question," he said.
"Um...what was your question?"
"How are you feeling about the situation?"
Toph sighed. "I don't know. I mean, I agree with everything Shihong said. Things need to change. A lot of the crime stems from poverty, and poverty stems from the factories and plants treating their workers like shit."
"But?"
"But the city can't survive if no one works until the problems are solved. And if and when they are, city-wide regulations will make my life a lot harder."
"You manage the force well, though. Surely you won't have to make that many changes."
"It's more complicated than that. Right now, every officer gets one day off a week. But it has to rotate so that there are always people on duty. If there are specific required days off every week, I'll probably have to pay them more to work those days. And with mandated safety regulations, there will be a lot more paperwork for any incidents that crop up. More bureaucratic bullshit to deal with."
"Can't have it both ways, T."
"I know," she groaned.
"Good news is I'll be sticking around for a while," he said cheerfully. "I feel like I've already missed so much with Kya, just like I did with Bumi when he was a baby."
"How long do you think you'll stay?"
"Well, I'm not exactly sure what their plans for me are, but the truth is, I've been wanting to ask them if I can be here more. So this is good timing, I guess."
"So you'll stop being an ambassador?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'll just do it part-time, if they can find something else for me to do here." He gave a little awkward cough. "Hey, uh, I know you're pretty busy, but do you have time to grab lunch with me? I want to talk to you about something."
"I wish I did. But..." She took hold of his sleeve and pulled him away from the doors where they could speak more privately. "I think I know what you're going to say, anyway."
"You do?"
"Yeah," she said flatly, really making an effort to not show how much it hurt. "I know I asked you to be discreet, and in retrospect, I probably should have put a timeframe on that. It's been a year and a half, Meathead. You don't have to hide her."
Sokka was quiet for a second. "How did you know?"
"It's a lot more obvious than you seem to think," she replied with a forced laugh.
"Just for the record...I didn't even allow myself to consider getting involved for a whole year. We traveled together just as friends and colleagues for a while."
"You don't have to justify anything. Frankly, the fact that you're trying to is kind of insulting."
"I– I'm sorry. I didn't mean–"
"No, it's ok. What I'm trying to say is that I want you to stop worrying about me. I'm fine. Stop basing every decision you make on how you think I'm going to react. Live your life. Do what makes you happy. If you think she's going to be in your life for a long time, then let her be around your family. I promise I won't interfere."
She let him give her a quick hug, careful to hold her breath rather than inhale his scent. Spirits, why am I such a masochist?
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A/N: I didn't go into a huge amount of detail with the particulars of Sport Bending (which is obviously meant to be a precursor to Pro-bending) because I didn't feel like it was super relevant to the story and thought too much unnecessary exposition would upset the flow, but for anyone who would like to know more, here's how I've structured it:
There are two teams with five members – three earthbenders, a firebender, and a waterbender; this is because there are a emlot/em more earthbenders in Republic City at this time. When Toph fights, she's the only earthbender on her team (her idea, because it was too easy otherwise). Teams aren't set; they're assigned per match based on availability and recent plays. Part of what makes it interesting is that team cooperation has to be done on the fly.
Gameplay is fairly straightforward. There are two zones on each side of the ring (front and back). If there is a foul or illegal move, one team is pushed back while the other advances. A 'knockout' is defined by any bender being knocked down (butt or back), which results in that person being eliminated and a new round beginning. The match ends when all five (or three) team members are knocked out. If ten minutes pass without a knockout, a sudden death round is called, in which each team nominates one player to duel. The outcome of this decides the match.
Prolonged 'hose' moves are illegal, as are headshots - except for waterbenders. Metalbending and (obviously) bloodbending are illegal, as well. No physical contact (hitting/grappling) is allowed; one team cannot advance into another's current zone. Other than that, there aren't a whole lot of restrictions to start out with, though they make new rules every time Toph does something ridiculous and OP, and the bending is still fairly traditional in style.