Sokka sat next to the crackling fire, sharpened his space sword, and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been many long days of action, but now, finally, the Gaang could have some rest and relaxation. Everyone else was asleep in their tents. It wasn't like Sokka to stay up late, particularly later than Suki, but he just felt he needed to get some thinking done. Though about what, he had yet to think of.

The answer appeared in the form of a barefoot girl walking toward him. Tiny, though deceptively muscular for her size. More dense than the rocks she bent. As she got closer Sokka could make out the detail that made her different than most girls her age, or any age. Her eyes had a milky sheen over them. The fire spelled out an emotion Sokka rarely saw in Toph's eyes—sadness—although just barely perceptible.

She sat next to Sokka and roughly leaned against him and put her head on his shoulder. "Sokka. Can I ask you a dumb question?" Sokka was surprised but also enthused, and chuckled. "I'm the king of stupid questions, Toph. Lob 'em at me!" "What are colors like?"

Sokka was excited to answer this question and quickly began. "Well, you see, red looks like!" As quickly as Sokka began, he stopped. He realized the futility of explaining what colors looked like to Toph. He was just explaining that objects were shaped like themselves. Toph, also sensing this futility, gave him a quizzical look. There was the sadness in Toph's eyes again. It was easy to forget Toph was blind sometimes. Easy for Sokka at least, he thought to himself, bitterly.

Another plan of attack was necessary. Sokka stammered. "Um uh..." he looked around "Red is like this fire!" "Huh?" "It's hot... and angry... and passionate. The Fire Nation soldiers wear red. I don't like it very much." Sokka could see the understanding slowly creeping on Toph's face. "What about blue?"

"Ah, now you're talking! Blue is calm, cool. Even though water is clear, water is tradtionally drawn as blue. Which is why me and Katara wear it all the time. I know you two don't get along very well." Toph stuck out her tongue. "She's okay." Sokka gave a slight chuckle. "But it's also a sad color. Calm, sad, nurturing, it's a lot like Katara." Sokka stared off into the distance. Toph sensed the need to restart the conversation.

"How about yellow?" "Yellow? Well, it's kind of like red, but not as intense. It's the color of the sun. It's warm, not hot." "Green?" "Oh, you'd love that color! It's the color of plants. It's natur-y and Earthy. In fact, that what I've seen basically every earthbender including you wear!" "Huh, now I kind of know what I look like. That's good."

"Okay, orange." "It's basically halfway between yellow and red. In fact, it's those two mixed." "Wait, you can mix colors?" "Yup!" "Huh. Okay, purple." "That color is pretty much only worn by royalty. It's a snooty color. You're better off without it."

"Hmm, okay... black." "Black is... black is dark. It's like... the absence of color. It's what night is like. It becomes harder to see." "Oh gee, I wouldn't know what that feels like." "It's what it's like for you when you walk on wood." Toph stiffened, instantly understanding. "It's also the color of death." "Oh... I see."

"What about pink? That weird girl said her aura was pink or something like that." "Oh yeah! Well, I used to think it was a 'girly' color and hate it but now I... kind of like it. Could you do me a favor? Could you not tell anyone I said that?" Toph gently punched him in the shoulder. "Don't worry, you're secret's safe with me." "Thanks. I think it's most associated with love." "Is it what being with Suki is like?" "Yeah, kinda, I guess."

Toph yawned. "I'm getting sleepy. Sokka, could you carry me to my tent." "Tent? You haven't pitched it yet! Where am I supposed to drop you off?" Toph, with a stomp of her foot, created a rectangular indent 10 meters away. Sokka gave another chuckle, lifted Toph, carried her to where she had indicated, and set her down. As he was doing so, Toph gave him a kiss on the cheek. After Sokka had retreated a safe distance away, with a slam Toph had created a tent with earthbending and was sealed off from Sokka and the rest of the gang.

Sokka crawled into his and Suki's sleeping-bag. "I heard your conversation with Toph. She's such a sweet girl." "Yeah, she's pretty great." "She likes you you know." "Yeah, we're good friends." "No, not like that. She likes you." "Well, she's far too young. And even if she wasn't too young I wouldn't be interested in her. Not that she isn't great-" Suki cut him off with a giggle. "Relax. I think it's sweet that she likes you. I'm happy you make her happy. Inventing metalbending and seeing with earthbending... Kyoshi would be so proud of her."

Toph had fallen asleep and was dreaming. Her dreams inhabited the world she created for herself with her earthbending-sense. But tonight was different. The next morning at breakfast, she would swear that she could see colors, if only for a moment.