I'll Be Seeing You

by CloverCreative

In which the timing is never quite right, until it is? Exploring a series of moments throughout the years as Toph and Sokka help each other navigate their complicated lives in Republic City, and perhaps figure out their feelings for each other along the way. Canon Universe. Other pairings included. Mature Themes.

17. Little White Lies

Chapter 17: Little White Lies

The sun sits high in the sky - which is that perfect shade of blue, despite the city's typical smog. It's a bit hot outside for Sokka's liking (he's gotten so used to freezing temperatures, it's weird to be back where actual seasons exist), but it's not that humid, at least in the shade, so he counts his blessings. The trees throughout the park stand tall and calm – only the faintest hint of a breeze rustling leaves and kindly brushing against Sokka's otherwise sweltering skin. The grass has that fresh cut smell, and the park seems just as it always does at the start of summer – filled with the familiar sights of couples and families enjoying what is, for all intents and purposes, a beautiful day.

The weather is nothing short of gorgeous… Yet, Sokka can't help but feel on edge. Something about the air just feels off. His leg – the one that he broke all those years ago on the edge of an airship – aches in the way that it always does when the air pressure is low.

He can feel it (quite literally) in his bones… There's a storm coming.

But for now, Sokka tries to enjoy the simplicity of the moment. The simplicity of finally seeing his family again. He watches from the comfort of his park bench, kept mercifully under the shade of a tree, as Katara and Aang play with Tenzin and Lin in the grass, some yards away. His other niece and nephew are at school, but he looks forward to seeing them later, and for now it's nice to at least be with some of his family again. With an amused smile, he continues watching as his brother-in-law makes strange, exaggerated faces and noises at the kids. Katara seems just as amused, sitting back in the grass as she watches her husband pretend to be some sort of armadillo-bear…or, gopher bear? Some kind of animal anyway. The kids seem thoroughly entertained, and the sound of their innocent, childish laughter makes Sokka's chest pang with a feeling that he can't quite place. Whatever that feeling is, it reminds him… he's missed this.

He turns his attention away from the kids and to the woman lounging beside him. If he didn't know any better, he'd think Toph was asleep. Her eyes are closed, and her breath is even, her chest rising and falling to a steady, calm rhythm. Her elbows sit propped against the back of the bench, her head dipped back to reveal the creamy expanse of her neck. She looks peaceful and warm as little bits of sun, peeking through the gaps in the leaves, dance across her face. The breeze, however slight it is, wisps at her hair, a few stray strands hanging loose from her bun. She definitely looks relaxed, like she's finally taking the chance to catch up on some much-needed rest, but Sokka catches sight of her feet planted firmly on the ground, as they always are. Always keeping tabs on the world around her. Which makes Sokka realize that she's probably awake, despite her ruse. Sure enough, as Lin and Tenzin roll into another fit of laughter, Sokka catches the smile threatening Toph's lips.

It's been so long since he's seen her (or any of his family here in the city, for that matter). About nine months, since his wedding. But, admittedly, it's felt even longer. He'd been away from Republic City before - back when he started working for Akito - but somehow, a year travelling the world went by a lot quicker than just nine months freezing his ass off down in the South Pole.

Not that he doesn't stay busy. There is always something to do back in his home village (though it's now more a city than the tiny village that it once was). Some of his work is diplomacy – assisting his father on the council and training to run for chieftain someday. Occasionally he does some freelance work for Earthen Fire or for Akito. But, most of the work down in the pole is still quite labor intensive, and focused on providing food on the table. Despite the fact that the Water Tribe's economy has boomed since the war - the tribe now standing proud as an economic powerhouse and center for trade and commerce - there's still this idea, deeply ingrained into the tribe's culture, that everything done is for the purpose of survival and preserving tradition. Sokka figures it's mostly a result of the residual fear left from the war, especially amongst his father's generation. Older generations – who, during the war, only knew survival - are still a bit reluctant to let go of old customs and embrace modern conveniences.

He hates to think he's gone soft, and Sokka wouldn't dare admit this to any of his fellow tribespeople, but the hunter-gatherer mentality and physical work requirements of living in the south aren't quite as fun as when he was a kid.

Not that he doesn't appreciate it. He's very proud of his culture and all that comes with it. Part of his struggle is that, yes, admittedly, he had gotten used to the urban city lifestyle and all the convenience that came with it. When he was living in Republic City, his energy was put to working on engineering projects, brainstorming for innovation, and spending time with his family. There was always something exciting happening. Sure, life in the big city can be stressful and sometimes monotonous, but there's a certain ambitious spirit that you find in Republic City that you can't find anywhere else. It's this feeling like you're part of something bigger than yourself, like everything you do has a purpose. He loves the Southern Water Tribe – it's his home – but even though the tribe has grown exponentially since his youth, it feels smaller than ever.

Another part of it is…. well, when he was a kid, the idea of being a provider was a novelty. A duty and an honor that he would gladly take on, with pride. And yeah, there was pressure, especially when all the men of his village went off to war and he felt like the sole provider. But there's something about becoming an adult (and getting married) that makes the role of 'provider' take on a whole new meaning.

And as previously mentioned, even though the Water Tribe has progressed a lot since the war, it still holds its grip on some old, outdated customs. He thought he had left behind the whole idea of strict gender roles, and what it means to be a man, but leave it to his hometown (and more accurately, his wife) to remind him: women heal, men hunt. Women clean, men work. Women wait, men provide. It's an outdated and unhealthy mentality, and while pre-war Sokka may have been all for it, post-war Sokka feels uneasy about the whole arrangement. Not only does the idea lack the fundamentals of equality, it also adds a whole new pressure that he didn't expect from marriage.

He mentally chastises himself at the thought. Sure, life down in the South Pole isn't all that exciting compared to the life he left behind. And sure, he misses his family and friends and the active role he had in society when he lived in the city. And yeah, married life hasn't exactly been what he imagined it to be, and it certainly hasn't fixed the problems in his relationship like he thought it would…no it certainly hasn't.

But who is he to pretend that his life is so hard? Marrying Kahlia and moving back down to the pole was his choice…mostly his choice anyway…what right does he have to complain?

Besides, if anyone knows real pressure, it's his friends.

His sister, in his opinion, has it kind of easy compared to the rest (no offense, Katara), though she is raising three kids, and had the added pressure of raising the first airbender born in over a hundred years. Zuko is the Firelord, and that can't be easy. Aang is the fricken Avatar, for crying out loud! And then there's Toph.

Toph – Chief of Police, Inventor of Metalbending, and single mom extraordinaire. He's seen the shit that she's put up with over the years: breaking up bar fights that are a waste of everyone's time and tax dollars. Crococats stuck in trees. Petty thefts. The occasional, yet often violent anti-bender rally that reminds the world that bigotry is still very much a thing. Stubborn, well seeded triad establishments that take years to investigate and build a case upon. Illegal prostitution activity in Republic City's not-as-secret-as-it-should-be red light district, often a result of sex-trafficking. Drug related crimes. Arson. Rape. Murder. From drug-deals-gone-wrong, to crimes of passion, all the way up to the rare, yet deceptive serial killer. Republic City is a center for innovation, diversity and growth…but it is also the center for crime. And lots of it.

Sokka has seen his fair share of death and gore throughout his life - he did fight in a war, after all. But that's different than the work that Toph does. Toph may have a lot of help from her officers, but she's still the head honcho, which means she gets involved in all the big cases. And he's heard the horror stories. He's heard about the crime scenes that Toph has had to investigate throughout her career. And the stuff he hears… well, it sometimes makes him glad that she can't actually see. Otherwise, he's not sure how she'd be able to put up with that level of PTSD. The graphic things he's heard… from unfortunate work accidents in construction zones all the way to sadistic killings that make Ozai look innocent… that kind of thing, whether blind or not, stays with you.

And that's not even considering the never-ending Yakone nonsense that Toph has to put up with.

Talk about pressure.

And here he is complaining about having to go ice-fishing every now and then while his wife tends to his stinky socks. Pathetic.

It's only as he's shaking these thoughts from his head that he realizes he's been staring at Toph for too long not to be considered creepy. She must notice this, as she turns her head just an inch towards him, eyes still closed and her eyebrow raised in question. He looks away quickly, willing the blush away from his cheeks as he focuses on the kids again. Thankfully, Aang and Katara are too busy entertaining them to have noticed his prolonged staring. The last thing he needs is Katara reading too much into things and finding more reasons to pry into his personal life.

Aang has stopped pretending to be an animal and has instead switched to a demonstration of some basic bending forms. The two kids follow along with his poses, but quickly lose interest in having a serious lesson, and fall into a mock bending battle instead. Aang seems happy to let them play, laughing as the kids start to make little pew-pew-pew sound effects, flailing their arms into 'bending' positions as they 'fight'.

"So," Sokka wonders aloud, as he turns his attention back to Toph, "Has Lin started earthbending yet?"

"Nah," Toph's eyes remain closed, her face betraying no emotion, "Not yet."

Again, wondering aloud, "Does that bother you?"

Her eyes finally open, her brow raising in that familiar, indignant way. "Why would it? She's not even four years old yet. I didn't start bending properly until I was six."

"I don't know," Sokka shrugs. "Aside from Aang - you know, with the whole last of his kind thing - I just thought you more than anyone would be eager to have their kid follow in their footsteps."

"Why would you think that?" Toph sits up, narrowing her brows with just a hint of defensiveness. "Look, I already know she's going to be an earthbender someday. Katara predicted it when I was pregnant, and you know how freaky accurate she is about that stuff."

Sokka huffs a laugh, his eyes quickly glancing to his sister. "True."

"Also, my space-rock quivered quite a bit during Lin's terrible-twos phase." Toph smirks as she taps the bracelet on her bicep, "She'll get there eventually. For now, I'm happy to just let her be a kid."

Sokka turns in his seat to face her, his arm slung over the bench. "To be honest, I'm surprised you're so lax about this."

Outwardly, she seems fairly indifferent, but Sokka's instincts tell him this is something she's put a lot of thought into. Toph offers a shrug, "Eh. Why would I be? Of course, I want her to be a bender, but if for some reason Katara and I are wrong and she turns out not to be, then that's fine too.

"You know that I love my parents, but I spent my entire childhood with them always trying to force me to be something I'm not – a helpless, demure and obedient little blind girl." Her face scrunches, hardened by the painful memory. "All that did was result in years of pressure and pain, and I'll be damned if I do that to Lin. If she's not an earthbender, then who am I to try to force her into that box?"

Sokka nods as he listens to her explanation, though he's still a bit surprised by Toph's rather mature reasoning. He doubts that the twelve-year-old Toph that he met all those years ago would be so thoughtful about this kind of thing. But then again, motherhood has changed her in a lot of ways, so maybe he shouldn't be surprised. "Hmm, I guess I never thought of it that way."

She nudges his ankle with her foot, playfully, her tone softer than he expects, "And hey, you're not a bender and you've done just fine, right?" Teasingly, she adds, "Well, sorta."

She gifts a laugh at his expense, and Sokka merely rolls his eyes in response, though he can't deny the twinge of affection that tugs at his gut, and the smile in his voice. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

A few moments pass, Sokka and Toph falling into a familiar, companionable silence as they listen to the sounds of the park around them. His eyes focus on the kids again, and it's nice to see them both being so lively and free. Lin and Tenzin are both usually quite reserved for children, but they have their playful moments. It's nice to be here for one of them.

"Plus," Toph starts, out of nowhere. Sokka turns to look at her again, and he notes that her expression has dropped into a contemplative one. "The truth is, I know that once she does start bending, things won't be the same. Right now, I'm just her mom. But when she starts bending, I'll become her sifu."

"And?" Sokka presses, though he already has an idea what she's thinking.

"And, don't tell Aang this, but…" Toph rolls her eyes in a self-deprecating manner, reluctantly, "I'll admit that I can be a bit of a hard-ass when it comes to teaching."

Sokka can't help his teasing, shit-eating grin. "Just a bit?"

Toph elbows him in response, good-naturedly. "Shut up."

They elbow each other back and forth a few times, aiming for each other's ribs and acting way too childish for their age… It's nice. He's missed this banter. But he's missed her even more, and Sokka suddenly finds himself wishing he could be there for her more often. He imagines it must be hard for her – not just being a single parent while balancing crazy work hours, but also trying to figure out the right parenting decisions. She didn't exactly grow up with the best examples, after all, and she doesn't have a partner to fill in the gaps.

Turning serious again, Sokka comments, "Hmmm, so you're afraid that you'll be just as hard on your daughter as you are with everyone else and that she'll start to resent you, just like you resent your parents? Is that it?"

Her expression quickly morphs from playful to sharp, and Sokka knows that he's hit the nail on the head. "Okay, leave the detective work to the chief, Sokka," warily, she adds, "I made up with my parents, remember?"

"So?" Sokka counters, "You said it yourself – their overprotective nature led to years of pressure and pain for you. You may have patched things up, but that doesn't change the fact that a part of you will always resent your parents for taking away your freedom when you were young."

Toph narrows her eyes, dangerously, "So?"

"So, you're so afraid of your daughter resenting you that you overcompensate by giving her a surplus of freedom," Sokka watches the irritated expression on Toph's face fall into one of reluctance, and carefully, he adds, "But, Toph, you're her mom. Sometimes too much freedom can be just as dangerous as no freedom at all."

Unsurprisingly, his unsolicited advice is not received well. "Hey, back off, Sokka. I don't remember asking for a therapy session." Toph seethes, her arms crossing over her chest defensively, "Don't tell me how to raise my kid. You haven't been here in almost a year - what do you know about the relationship I have with my daughter?"

"Sheesh, Toph," Sokka retorts, hurt despite having expected the backlash, "That's hardly fair. I was there the first three years of Lin's life. I know exactly how you are with Lin, and forgive me if I'm telling you something you don't want to hear, but don't act like I don't know you and Lin."

The two of them fall into a tense stillness, and only then does Sokka notice four sets of eyes watching them from the grass. He hadn't realized how loud their argument was getting, or that they had even started one to begin with. But thankfully, Katara quickly distracts the kids from the fallout (not before shooting him and Toph a warning look that only he gets the privilege of seeing). Sokka sighs as he turns back to Toph. He opens his mouth to apologize, but surprisingly, Toph beats him to it.

"Shit," Toph slumps beside him, releasing her own deep sigh, regretfully, "I'm sorry, Sokka. I didn't mean to snap at you. Sorry."

Sokka let's himself stew in the satisfaction of her apology for a few moments, before eventually nudging her ankle with his, tentatively, "S'okay."

"No. It's not." Toph puts her head down, dejectedly. She holds it between her hands as she leans forward, her elbows resting on her thighs. "I've been doing it again."

Sokka mirrors her pose, forearms resting on the top of his thighs. He cranes his neck to get a better look at her face, searching her expression. Gently, "Doing what?"

"Taking my shit out on other people," she offers another shaky sigh. "Between work and Lin, I barely have time to sleep. I hardly ever spend time with Katara and Aang, or you, and now we're finally all together again, and here I am being an ass. I'm sorry."

"Hey," Sokka nudges her again, more genuinely this time, then moves to rub calming circles on her back, "Really, it's okay. I know you have a lot on your shoulders. I shouldn't have overstepped."

"You didn't," Toph quickly affirms, turning her head in his direction, "I know you care about Lin, and if anyone knows us, it's you. Yeah, you're saying shit that I don't want to hear, but you're just being honest, so thanks."

Sokka nods - even though she can't see it - accepting her apology. Admittedly, it feels good to get some affirmation from her. He already feels guilty for feeling like a shitty husband, though that's a whole other can of worms that he'd rather not think about right now. He's not sure how he would handle more feelings of inadequacy. Missing so much time with Toph and Lin, and all his other family here in the city, for that matter… it's hard not to feel like a shitty uncle and friend. So yeah, Toph's words are reassuring, to say the least.

"So," Toph starts to change the subject, and Sokka notices the sudden tightness of her voice, "How's married life treating you?"

The question prompts Sokka's chest to constrict around itself, tightening with anxiety as his heart picks up speed. He scratches the back of his neck, slightly sweaty from the heat. He was hoping she wouldn't ask him this, but he's not at all surprised that she did. "Uh, it's great."

Toph sits up, quite abruptly. Her eyes widen for a split second before narrowing into small, suspicious slits. Sokka turns towards her, expectantly. He already knows what she's going to say, but he fails to read the look on her face as she says it. "You're lying."

He releases a deep, lamenting sigh, but it does little to quell the strain in his chest. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Well too bad," Toph demands as she turns her torso to face him better (probably more for his benefit than her own). "What's going on, Sokka?"

He pushed her about Lin, it's only fair that she presses him about Kahlia. Kahlia, his wife. His beautiful, intelligent, nurturing wife. His wife, back in the Southern Water Tribe, eagerly waiting for him to come home. His wife…the person who should be his best friend.

Not even a year into marriage – it should be the happiest time in his life, no?

But it's strange… He's spent the past nine months in the Water Tribe, where the air is always 100% crisp and clear. But here he is back in Republic City, where the air is hazy and polluted, heat and smog pressing down on one's lungs… Yet, for the first time since getting married, he feels like he can finally breathe again.

"It's nothing, really." Sokka starts to explain, "I think I just miss the city."

Toph purses her lips, clearly not very convinced, but a hopeful tone finds her voice anyway, "Well, do you think you could ever persuade Kahlia to move back?" Sokka tries to ignore the slight blush on Toph's face, and how it highlights the beautiful apples of her cheeks as she says, "We miss you here – it'd be nice to have you back."

"Nah, I don't think so," Sokka shakes his head, ignoring his own blush, and the way his heart flutters at Toph's words, "Kahlia hates the city. And you know how it is. Whatever Kahlia wants, Kahlia gets."

He tries to keep the ire from his voice, but Toph must detect it anyway. She offers a sympathetic smile, "Trouble in Paradise?"

"I don't know." Sokka shrugs, sounding just as confused as he feels, "I love my wife - of course - but things have changed since we moved back home. It's like, when we were here in the city, things were so much bigger than just us. There was always something else to think about, something else to do. But back home, all there is, is us and our relationship. No other distractions. And I can't help but feel like I'm failing as a husband."

"What?" Toph, who has been listening patiently, stirs in her seat, "Why would you say that? From what I remember, Kahlia adores you."

"Pfft," Sokka rolls his eyes, unable to quell his frustration, "She has a funny way of showing it. Ever since we moved back, she seems to want to put us both in these strict…I don't know…gender rolls? And I go along with it, because I want to be a good husband, and I'm happy to provide for her. But nothing I do is ever good enough. Nothing I do makes her happy."

"Why would you think she's not happy?" Toph places a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Sokka briefly notes that it's the first time she's made an effort to touch him since their short reunion hug a few hours back.

"Well, for one," Sokka lists, sardonically, "We argue."

Toph shrugs, unconcerned, "Every couple argues."

"We argue a lot."

"Oh." Again, she offers him a sympathetic look, clearly not sure what else to say. Her hand drops from his shoulder, and Sokka finds himself wishing she'd put it back.

"But it's not just that," Sokka continues, focusing on his rant, "It's almost like… I feel like leaving the city stripped us of our personalities. Our hobbies, our interests. I'm sure we used to have some." He breathes out a short, self-deprecating laugh, "But all there is anymore is work and housework. Sure, we have a couple friends back home, but all they talk about is work and housework.

"It's kind of Ironic," Sokka adds, as an afterthought, "Kahlia and I have always connected because of our shared culture. But now that we're back in the tribe, it's like we have nothing else in common."

Toph nods, chewing the inside of her cheek, "Well, I've obviously never been married before, so I'm not sure what that's like. But if it makes you feel any better, I think most adults end up talking about work and housework. Oh, and kids…if you have them."

That reminds him, "That's the other thing. Kahlia wants kids."

Again, he find's he's unable to read Toph's expression, "And you don't?"

"I don't know," Sokka answers, honestly, "I'm still pretty happy just being an uncle. I've always stood by the idea that I don't need kids of my own to feel complete. But at the same time, what else is there to do down in the south?"

"Sokka," she says, a teasing, almost admonishing smile directed his way, "You shouldn't have kids just because you're bored."

"I know," he agrees, "But Kahlia keeps going on about how her biological clock is ticking, or whatever. And if it would make her happy, then don't I owe it to her as her husband to give her what she wants? I mean, maybe it could help us get closer again."

Toph looks unimpressed. "First of all, you should only try for kids if you think it will make you happy too. And second of all, I may not be the expert on relationships, but even I know it's stupid to try and fix a relationship by having a kid. Believe me, kids only complicate things."

For some reason, that makes Sokka think of Kanto, of all people. His stomach churns for a moment, and he finds he's inclined to agree with Toph. "Yeah, you're probably right."

Toph releases another sigh, and Sokka tries not to read too much into her regretful tone as she says, "Sokka, I think what you need to do is talk to your wife. Work it out together." She narrows her expression again, a prodding tone, "But I feel like you're not telling me everything. What is this really about?"

He quirks a brow, somehow not surprised by her perceptive nature. He's not sure if he wants to delve further into his married life, but this is Toph – his best friend – so he relents, "Well, we got into this huge fight before I left - about kids, about how much effort I'm failing to put into our marriage. About everything. And she said…" a spiteful frown finds his face, against his will, "She said I wasn't 'man' enough."

"What!" Toph all but yells, "She said that!?"

"Yeah," Sokka kicks the dirt at his feet, suddenly feeling quite sorry for himself, "And maybe she's right."

"No," Toph asserts, firmly, "Sokka, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. A) – enough with that toxic masculinity crap. As far as I'm concerned, the whole idea of gender roles in relationships is a load of crap. A real woman is man enough herself."

At that, Sokka can't help the smile tugging at his cheeks, even if Toph did just throw a somewhat backhanded insult at his wife.

"And B)…" Toph puts a hand on her hip as she points at him with the other, aggressively, "I'm sorry, but your wife doesn't know what she's talking about. Not only are you an intelligent and capable warrior and engineer who helped the Avatar put an end to the war - you're also the most honest, thoughtful, and real person I've ever met. You're the kind of person that would do anything for your friends or family, and if that's not man enough, then I don't know what is."

Her speech ends quite abruptly, and realizing what she said, Toph's eyes flare open, the blazing red of her cheeks mirrored on Sokka's own. Toph clears her throat, scratching the back of her neck, sheepishly, "I mean…yeah." Her voice trails off, unable to find a way to backpedal.

Not that Sokka wants her to. The words warm their way into his chest, unravelling that tight knot of anxiety that was there before.

"Thanks, Toph." Sokka gives her bicep an affectionate squeeze, his hand lingering for perhaps a moment too long. "You always know how to make me feel better. No one gets me like you do."

He watches as she seemingly swallows a lump in her throat, and he realizes only a moment later that he does the same. Something in the back of his mind reminds him that he shouldn't be so…. open with her. He's married, and he's not an idiot. Opening up to Toph is different than opening up to his other friends – it means more. She means more.

But she shouldn't.

Because he's married.

Toph opens her mouth to speak, and Sokka finds his heart thumping wildly in his chest, as he waits for her to say whatever it is that she means to say.

But before she gets the chance, her work radio (another new invention) buzzes with static. A stern voice on the other end of her device pipes up, interrupting the moment. "Chief."

Toph rolls her eyes before moving to grab the radio from the waistband of her pants. "What?" she snaps into the receiver, her voice noticeably irritated. "This better be good, Cheng. What is so important that you're interrupting my one day off?"

There's nothing but static for a moment, but then Cheng's voice breaks through, grainy in texture. He doesn't say much. Just one name. "Yakone."

The name immediately snuffs out any trace of ease from Toph, as she sits up and scoots to the edge of the bench, her shoulders stiffening as her thumb frantically jams on the button of her radio, "Talk to me, Cheng. What did he do now?"

More static, and Sokka realizes he too is sitting literally on the edge of his seat, his heart continuing to beat rapidly, but now for a different reason.

"Chief," Cheng starts to answer, and Sokka notes the hint of astonishment in the other man's voice, "You need to come to the station."

Toph takes a deep breath, anticipating the worst. "Why? What happened?"

Another moment of static. Then, "We have him."

Again, the words immediately strike Toph into gear. She mumbles some short-winded response into the radio before jumping off the bench. She jogs the few yards towards Aang, Katara, and the kids, and without a second thought, Sokka follows closely behind.

"Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Twinkletoes!" Toph calls out as she reaches them. Aang and Katara look up from their spot on the grass, both clearly concerned by Toph's urgent tone. "I have to go to work. Can you watch Lin for me?"

"Of course, Toph," Katara answers, her brow raised in question, "But I thought you had today off?"

"Something's come up," is all Toph responds with, and Sokka can't help but think her failure to mention Yakone is entirely deliberate.

But her evasion tactic doesn't quite do the trick, and even Aang sounds skeptical as he stands up, dusting off the dirt from his knees. "Something?"

"Yeah." Toph offers only a curt nod before turning to walk away. But Aang is quicker.

He stops her, a hand to her shoulder. "Toph. What is it?"

Toph shrugs his hand off, releasing an irritated growl before turning to face him, all the while Sokka by her side. "We have Yakone in custody," she answers, stiffly. "I have to go. Now."

"Wait, really?" Aang's eyes bulge. "Let me go with you."

"No, Aang," Toph denies, clearly unwilling to compromise her authority. "I have this under control. This is my turf – now let me do my job."

Aang shifts uncomfortably, obviously reluctant to let this go, but his eyes shift to the curious and now borderline distressed toddlers watching the scene unfold, and he relents, "Fine. We'll watch Lin, but if you need me-"

"I know where to find you," Toph finishes, rolling her eyes (though it's more with affection than irritation). "Thanks, Twinkletoes. Don't worry - I got this."

"Okay," he nods, a rare display of seriousness, "Good Luck."

She nods her gratitude before moving to say a quick goodbye to her daughter and Tenzin, giving both a surprisingly affectionate kiss on the cheek before getting up and turning to run off to work. It's more out of habit than anything that Sokka starts to follow her, trailing close behind.

But she quickly notices this, and she turns back after only a few paces. Harshly, "Sokka, what are you doing?"

"Uh…" Sokka scratches the back of his neck, sheepishly, "Coming with you?"

Her expression sharpens. "Did you not just hear what I said to Aang? I have this under control - I don't need your help."

"I know," Sokka insists, his voice just a hair on the whiny side. "I won't get in the way, I promise. Come on, Toph – I hardly get to see you, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can while I'm here. Let me come." He offers his best polar-bear-puppy-dog eyes, even though she can't see them. "Pleeeeeease."

If she wasn't in such a rush, maybe Toph would have time to fight off the flush on her cheeks. She seems to contemplate Sokka's request, her foot tapping impatiently, and her arms crossed as she chews the inside of her cheek. After only a moment, "Fine. You can tag along," she relents, then points a finger at his chest, "But you can't do or say anything to the suspect. You're not on the council anymore, so you don't have the jurisdiction. Your mouth. Stays. Shut. You hear me?"

More amused than he probably should be, Sokka offers a mock salute, "Loud and clear."

Toph bids one last eye roll (though Sokka swears he sees a hint of a smile) before abruptly turning and striding off in the direction of the precinct. Sokka follows, and he can't deny the giddy adrenaline coursing through his veins. It's been so long since he's been in on any of the action, and it's both undoubtedly exciting and a welcome distraction from his marital problems.

But as he chases after Toph, Sokka's leg starts to bother him again. He pushes past the discomfort, but it reminds him of the storm that he knows is looming on the horizon.

By the time they make it out of the park, across the city and to the station, sure enough, the beautiful day has been masked over by grey clouds, gusty winds and lashing rain. Deep rolls of thunder echo on the surrounding buildings, and lightning flashes violently in the sky as torrential rain falls mercilessly on their shoulders. He's surprised at just how fast someone as short as Toph can run, and he finds himself lagging slightly behind as she sprints up the stairs of the precinct and into the dry building (though, he suspects her speed is less to do with getting out of the rain and more to do with getting to Yakone).

He realizes what a big moment this is for her, and for once, he can tell just how nervous she is. Toph is normally so cool and collected, her stoic appearance never betraying whatever anxiety she may or may not be experiencing. But now that's changed, and he can tell from the mere stiffness of her walk, just how nervous she is.

Sokka purposefully continues to lag behind as Toph's fellow officers and other staff members flock around her, handing her towels and a dry set of clothes. They all but yell in her ear, shouting out police lingo that Sokka can't even pretend to understand. But Toph takes it like the seasoned champ she is - nodding and responding accordingly as she multitasks her way through the building.

Following her tail, Sokka notices how Toph's hair has fallen out of her bun, sticking to her shoulders in a wet heap. Her street clothes are equally as wet, clinging to her skin and hugging her curves in a way that makes even some of her officers blush. Not giving a damn about decency, she shrugs out of her wet clothes and throws them to the nearest set of hands before pulling on a fresh undershirt and set of work pants. Making a point to ignore the shameful jolt that hits him as he sees her half-naked, it's with a bit of concern that Sokka notices how she's lost a bit of weight since he last saw her. She did say she barely has time to sleep anymore. Maybe she doesn't have time to eat either. Not good. He also notices how visibly shaky her hands are - another rare, outward display of just how nervous she is.

For some reason, that makes him nervous too.

"Good, you're here." Her lieutenant, Cheng, falls immediately at his chief's side, a small case file open in his hands.

A few assistants hold out bits of metal as they continue down the halls of the precinct, and Sokka quickly realizes that the pieces are parts of Toph's uniform, as she effortlessly bends them to fit the contours of her body. She then gets busy wrapping a new ribbon – one adorning the police symbol – around her hair, her stride never slowing. "What's the story, Cheng? Where'd you find him? Who found him?"

"No one did, Chief."

At this, the chief does pause her step. She wrinkles her face, perplexed, "What!?"

"He turned himself in."

"What!?" Toph repeats, more outraged, "You're telling me that after years of searching for this asshole, he just waltzes right into our precinct and willingly turns himself in?"

"Well yeah, kinda," Cheng shrugs, a gesture that is uncharacteristically hesitant for him, "But he said he would only talk to you."

"Hmm," Toph proceeds her stride down the hallway, less people hovering around her now, "I don't like it. Nothing is that easy."

Sokka can't help but agree. Why would Yakone turn himself in unless he would benefit from it? And why now? What does he have to gain?

But Sokka keeps these thoughts to himself. He stays quiet, hovering like a shadow as he follows Toph and Cheng down the corridors of the precinct. He listens as the lieutenant quickly fills his chief in on what she missed, but it's hard to hear all the details over the loudness of the station. The station is always busy, but today it seems especially hectic. Whispers follow them down the hallway, murmurs of excitement and nerves bouncing off the walls. Once again, Sokka is reminded of what a big moment this is for Toph.

They arrive at a rather inconspicuous door at the end of the hallway, and Cheng uses his metalbending to slide it open. He must agree that something about this is off, as before they go in, he remarks, "I don't think he's here for a confession, Chief."

"No, I don't suppose he is." Toph agrees as they enter the room.

The room they walk into is one Sokka has never seen before, despite his frequent visits to the station in previous years. It's a tight space. Wall to wall metal with no windows linking to the outside world, only a few dim lights hanging from the ceiling. The only pieces of furniture are a few desks lining the walls and a lone, rickety chair sitting in the corner. The desks are stacked with piles of paperwork, cluttering the small office and making the tight space seem that much smaller. But Sokka doesn't really notice any of this…

Instead, his eyes shift beyond the glass window that separates this room from the next, and to the man beyond it.

Immediately, Sokka feels a chill run down his spine, his instincts on high alert as he gets a clear view of the man's profile. The man sits, hands clasped on the table in front of him as he wears an unbothered, almost smug look on his face, despite the few guards in the room watching his every move. Another dim light hangs in the center of the interrogation room, highlighting the man's facial features. He looks to be somewhere in his late forties, maybe early fifties, but something about his face looks off – his skin looks somewhat waxy and tight, like he's maybe had some cosmetic work done.

He looks slimy… but also extremely wealthy. Sokka can't help but notice how impeccable his suit is – it's well tailored and made of expensive-looking fabrics, not a wrinkle or stain in sight. His fingers are garnished with a series of rings, decorated with what looks like to be a mix of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and even diamonds (a display of wealth that, in Sokka's opinion, is a little tacky). The man's skin-tone is a bit on the pale side, but a few of his facial features (despite whatever work he's had done) are unmistakably Water Tribe. It makes Sokka sick to his stomach, that someone who shares his culture could be capable of such evil… allegedly, anyway.

"You," Toph points at Sokka, her voice commanding, "Stay here."

He wants to argue with her to let him go in the interrogation room with her, but he knows it's not an argument he would win. Still, he can't help the pouty look that finds his face, and Cheng offers him an apologetic look.

He points to the glass as he tells Sokka, "One-way-mirror. You can see us, but we won't see you."

"Pfft," Toph rolls her eyes before moving to the door of the interrogation room, "What else is new."

Leave it to Toph to offer a blind joke in one of the most important moments of her career. Sokka can't help but smile. That's his Toph. Or, err…. that's Toph. Not his Toph… just Toph.

"Wait!" he stops her before she can open the door, and she turns to him, expectantly. Before he can think anything of it, he walks the few paces, leans in, and gives her a hug. It's a bit unprofessional (and uncomfortable, with Cheng standing awkwardly to the side), but he can tell she needs it, even if she'd never admit it. He pats her back, then breaks away, "Good luck."

She nods at him, the barest hint of a blush visible under the dim lights. She offers him her trademark, confidently sly smile - betrayed only by the slight shake in her breath, "Enjoy the show, Snoozles."

With that, Sokka takes his place by the glass window, or one-way-mirror, as Cheng pointed out. Toph straightens her shoulders, lifting her chin with such presence and authority that even Sokka feels intimidated by her as he watches her and Cheng waltz into the interrogation room.

The door closes behind Toph with a resounding clang, and without much ceremony, she walks slowly up to the table. Confidence remains etched into her pose, despite whatever nerves she must be feeling. With no trace of emotion in her voice, she greets the suspect, "Yakone."

The man leans forward in his seat, his voice sounding just as arrogant and slimy as he looks, "That's me."

Pointedly, Toph remarks, "How kind of you to turn yourself in."

"Well, I'm a very generous man." Yakone's face twists into a Cheshire smile, and Sokka already gets the sense that everything about his visit will involve theatrics. "But, may I ask, what am I turning myself in for?"

"Hmmm, let's see," Toph taps her chin, feigning consideration. "Multiple counts of bribery, smuggling, illegal drug dealing, the organization of prostitution rings, and oh yeah, homicide… just to name a few."

Yakone shakes his head as he makes a tsking sound with his teeth, "My, my, my. Sounds like I've been a busy man. Now tell me, Chief, what proof do you have against any of these charges?"

On the other side of the glass, Sokka's nose scrunches up, as he already knows the answer to Yakone's question. He can tell by Toph's expression that she knows it too. What proof do they have? The answer: not much.

Unfortunately, most of the crimes connected to Yakone's gang are not ones directly conducted by Yakone himself, but rather his ever-growing band of disciples. There is little to no physical evidence directly linking Yakone to any of the crime scenes. The only real evidence they have is anecdotal – enough to warrant arrest, but will it be enough to convince a jury? Doubtful.

Toph's mouth forms into a thin line before she asks, "What makes you think you're in a position to be asking the questions?"

"Don't know," Yakone shrugs, unaffected as he casually slumps back into his chair. Sokka watches as the man's expression somehow becomes even more smarmy. Yakone bites his lips as his eyes start to skate up and down Toph's figure, "But, to tell you the truth, I'd like to explore many positions with you."

Sokka's hands form into fists at his sides, a volt of searing anger igniting and making his vision flash with red. But Toph seems unbothered as she walks around the interrogation table and sits on its edge. Perched on the table, she's within only arm's reach of the suspect – too close for comfort, in Sokka's opinion. He watches carefully as her expression morphs into an uncharacteristically saccharine smile, her own voice laced with a twinge of seduction, "Oh yeah? Tell me about these positions."

"Let's just say we could make good use of those metal cables. I wager you don't just use those handcuffs to catch the bad guys, huh?" Yakone continues to eye her figure, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. "You do seem like the kinky type. I like that in a woman."

"Well, I'd be happy to get some cuffs on you right now, if you'd be more comfortable?" Toph threats, but her voice keeps its sultry quality, which Yakone seems happy to reciprocate.

"Word on the street is you're a dirty girl, and I bet it ain't just cause you sling mud around for a living." Again, he bites his lips as his eyes trace over Toph's curves, and Sokka sees another flash of red. "I'd like to see just how dirty you can get."

If Yakone's disgusting display of sexual harassment phases Toph, she doesn't show it. "Ah, come on, Yakone. At least take a girl out to dinner first."

Yakone responds with a half-laugh and another impish grin, not at all unnerved by the fact that he's in an interrogation room with Republic City's infamously perceptive Chief of Police. In fact, Sokka's belly swirls with discomfort, as he realizes… Yakone almost looks giddy with the whole thing.

Toph lowers her voice into a neutral, almost empathetic tone, "You know, you seem like the kind of guy who likes to take charge. Am I correct with that assumption?"

Again, with a smarmy smile, "I can show you just how much I like to take charge, if you want."

Toph bats her eyelashes again, and Sokka's skin starts to itch, his face forming into a grimace.

Toph explained this technique to him before – some reverse psychology trick where you try to empathize and establish trust with the suspect. She's just doing her job, but it's undoubtedly uncomfortable to watch her flirt with…well, with anyone, if he's being honest…but most especially with Republic City's most dangerous, slimiest and disgusting crime boss.

Toph keeps her smile in place, undeterred, "Hey, so you like to be a leader. Maybe even a little bossy? I can respect that."

Yakone nods, though his expression loses all its flirt in favor of something more spiteful. Scoffing, "Huh, I bet you can."

Toph ignores Yakone's comment as she continues, "Maybe you do get up to some bad things. But you're a leader - I'm sure the current state of affairs in Republic City gets to you. It gets to me too." Toph gestures to herself, empathetically, "And you don't strike me as the kind of man who sits passively. You strike me as the kind of man who gets things done, even if you have to skate around the law to do it. Maybe you do those bad things as a way of helping society?"

Sokka knows Toph must be boiling on the inside at having to spew such bullshit. There's no way she believes that crap. It's just another tactic… give the suspect the moral high ground. Make them feel justified in their behavior, and hopefully coerce them into giving a confession.

But the moral high ground only works on people who have any trace of morals to begin with.

Yakone lets out another, wicked laugh, "Nice try, Chief. I'm here to do you a favor, but let's not pretend we're on the same side."

At this, Toph lifts a brow – somewhere caught between impressed and skeptical. "And what 'favor' is that, if I might ask?"

"Well, a little birdie told me that you and your little band of cops keep disrupting my workflow by tearing all my factories apart."

"Factories?" Toph glares, losing any trace of empathy. "You mean one of your drug-storing facilities? Or hey, maybe you mean one of your brothels? Is that what you mean?"

"Hey lady, call my property whatever you want." Yakone points to himself, a sneer in his tone, "But it's my property, and I got the deeds and the tax papers that say I can do whatever I want with-"

"Within the confines of our legal system." Toph interrupts, "Hate to break it to you, numbnuts, but no deed or forged tax receipt is going to cover your ass against the multiple charges the city has against you."

A moment passes, but Yakone remains unphased. He scuffs out a laugh as he smiles that disgustingly wicked, oily grin. "I ask again, Chief," he spits out her title, malice in his tone, "What proof do you have?"

To her credit, Toph doesn't let her confident, daring expression waver…but Sokka notes just the barest drop of her eyelids, a signal of distress that only he would pick up on. This is obviously not going as smoothly as Toph hoped.

Yakone continues, arrogantly, "Anyway…all your fucking search warrants are messing with production, at my very legal business I might add, and since I'm innocent, I figured I'd do you a favor and turn myself in so we can get this over with and we can all move on. How's that sound?"

"Pfft. 'Innocent'." Toph stands up, her posture rigid and upright as she walks around the cold metal table. "We'll see about that. Mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Yakone leans back in his seat, clasping his hands behind his head, ego dripping from his voice, "Be my guest."

Toph narrows her eyes, obviously caught off guard by Yakone's overly casual demeanor, but she wastes no time cutting to the chase, asking what they all want to know, "Are you a bloodbender?"

"Yes."

Sokka hears himself intake a breath, surprised by the confirmation. There's a pause, and the few guards inconspicuously lining the walls exchange a look. Cheng, who was busy jotting down notes, suddenly stops his scribbling - equally as stunned. Even Toph looks momentarily stupefied. "Sooo, you're confessing-"

"Tell me, Chief," Yakone interrupts, his hands clasping on the table again as another self-satisfied smirk finds his face, "Is being a bloodbender in it of itself a crime? Or is it the act of bloodbending? If it's the former, then shouldn't your friend Master Katara be behind bars?"

Toph's mouth hangs open, quite obviously unsure how to respond. Sokka's own heart races with nerves as he watches the scene unfold. This interrogation is already bringing about more questions than answers.

Like, for example, how does Yakone know about Katara? Her status as a bloodbender isn't exactly public knowledge.

It's obvious from his tone that Yakone knows it's a secret, and he's not bringing it up just for the sake of a rhetorical question…for one, he's letting them know that while they may have been watching his every move, he's been keeping tabs on them too. What else does he know? He's clearly making a threat. After all, how would Republic City's citizens react if they found out that the Avatar's wife, close friend to the city's council members and the very person who lobbied to make bloodbending illegal in the first place, was a bloodbender herself?

Toph must have reached the same conclusion, as she bypasses the question entirely and asks her own, "When was the last time you used bloodbending?"

Yakone shrugs, sinking back into his seat, "I don't recall."

"Okay…" Toph stalls for another moment, the frown-line between her brows deepening. "Have you ever used bloodbending to threaten or cause harm to any individual or group?"

In a low voice, "No."

Again, Toph hesitates, and Sokka wishes he could know what she's thinking. She's wearing an expression that is quite uncharacteristic for her, and quite honestly, it makes him even more nervous…she looks confused. But why?

Why isn't she flooding him with rapid-fire questions? What happened to her familiar sass? Why is she so hesitant?

He's not the only one who notices the chief's unusual behavior. Through the glass, Sokka notices Cheng look up from his notepad and look questioningly at his chief. The interrogation room all but comes to a halt, Toph keeping silent as Yakone fills the room with the sound of his incessantly clicking teeth. He looks around at the plain, cold metal walls, his lips curved into what Sokka officially deems is his signature, smug expression. Just then, Yakone's head turns to face the mirror, and even though he wouldn't be able to see through it, his eyes somehow land on Sokka's. It feels purposeful, like Yakone somehow knows Sokka's there on the other side of the glass. It's unsettling, to say the least.

"You know," Yakone remarks offhand, turning his gaze back to Toph, "Word on the street is you can catch a liar better than a crococat can catch a mouse."

Sokka waits for Toph to make one of her typical, sassy declarations. Then you know not to bother lying. Better stick to the truth. You can't hide anything from me, so don't even try… Or something to that effect. But, much to Sokka's dismay, her answer is short, and without any of her usual bravado. "That's right."

The interrogation room stills again, and Yakone keeps his smarmy stare hard on Toph. Does he even blink? Just then, thunder rumbles the walls, and Yakone fixes Toph with a malignant smile, as if he were expecting it. "Beautiful day outside, ain't it?"

For the first time since entering the interrogation room, Toph's confidence completely falters, her mouth falling open as she intakes a breath, as if she's just come to some sort of realization. From the other side of the one-way mirror, Sokka narrows his expression, trying to figure out what about Yakone's offhand comment could have upset her, other than the fact that it's obviously untrue.

Another clash of thunder rolls against the building, ominous in all its glory. Yakone continues, "Don't you just love the sunshine? I know I do." It's a stupid comment, considering the obvious storm in the background, but the sinister quality of Yakone's voice overtakes his seeming ignorance.

"There's a storm outside," Cheng pipes in from the corner, clearly not catching on to whatever game Yakone is playing.

"Oh, is there?" Yakone's leer only widens, his eyes never leaving Toph, who looks distinctly uncomfortable as another peal of thunder sounds. "My bad. I could have sworn it was sunny. That's okay, I'm a waterbender after all…I hate the sun."

Quite abruptly, Toph turns her back towards Yakone, and Sokka tries to decipher the strange look on her face, her eyebrows knit together, and her lips tugged into a deep frown. He wishes he could go into the interrogation room and offer some comfort, but not only is it not his place to do so, it would probably just piss her off. He stays put.

"So, Chief," Yakone says, "Can I get back to my lunch, or do you want to arrest me?"

"Wait here." Toph demands over her shoulder, her voice unreadable as she signals Lieutenant Cheng to follow her out of the room. She exists swiftly, leaving behind a much-too-content-looking Yakone and a few very confused, very concerned guards.

"Well, Chief," Cheng starts, once they're in private, voicing exactly what Sokka is thinking, "What the hell was that all about?"

"I…" Toph starts to answer, but her voice quickly trails off as she stares blankly into nothingness. She wraps her arms around her torso as she bites her lips, clearly disturbed by whatever just occurred in there, and again, Sokka has the urge to reach out and comfort her. He suppresses it.

"Well, Chief?" Cheng repeats, "I don't understand. You barely asked him any questions, and then that smug bastard goes on about the fucking weather? What the fuck was that all about?"

Cheng's stern questioning looms in the air as he and Sokka wait for Toph to explain what on earth just happened. The room falls into silence, and the quiet of it echoes off the metal walls. The silence is deafening.

Her head down and brows kept tightly together, Toph whispers, as she admits, "I can't tell if he's lying or not."

"What?" Sokka now asks, unable to hide the shock from his voice, "But you can always tell."

"Hey!" she lifts her head, quickly rolling off into a defensive rant, "I'm not perfect, okay? What do you want from me? Does anyone else in this building want to give their lie-detecting skills a go? Oh, no takers? That's right, because it all falls on me, doesn't it? It's not as easy as it looks, you know."

"Okay, Okay…" Sokka puts his hands up, apologetically, "I'm sorry."

Toph brushes off his apology with a frustrated sigh, clearly more angry with herself than anything. "Look, that guy in there is obviously a psychopath, and those kind of people just don't have the same physical response to lying that normal, not insane people have. That whole back and forth thing with the weather – that motherfucker was just taunting me. The whole reason he came here is just to mess with our heads."

"Like Azula?" Sokka wonders aloud.

"Yeah, like Azula." she confirms, both of them frowning at the memory. Toph shakes her head, at a loss, "Fuck. I'm sorry guys. This complicates everything."

"Hey," Sokka walks up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder as he gives into the urge to comfort her, "It's not your fault."

"It doesn't matter," Toph declares, firmly. She shrugs his hand off her shoulder, opting to pace the small meeting room instead. "We barely have any evidence as it is, and I was banking on at least getting him to reveal something through a lie. Now we have nothing."

"Well, not nothing." Cheng pipes in from a corner of the room, "We have a few witnesses."

"Oh yeah?" Toph retorts, not at all pacified, "And what good will they do? All these years into the case and we have less than a dozen witnesses that are willing to testify. Not only that, but they're all in regards to the crimes that his cronies have committed, not Yakone himself."

"Not entirely true," Cheng counters. "All of our witnesses at least attest that Yakone is the boss, right? And a few of our witnesses have claimed that he used bloodbending on them. That counts for something, right?"

"Pfft," Toph rolls her eyes, unconvinced, "Sure, if those few witnesses hadn't claimed they were bloodbended at times without a full moon. You know that won't hold up in court, since it's considered impossible. All our evidence is circumstantial at best."

"Okay, so our witness testimonies aren't without fault. So, is it possible that Yakone was telling the truth?" Cheng dares to ask, "I know it's far-fetched, but maybe our witnesses were lying for some reason? Frame job?"

"Please," Toph looks briefly offended, "We may only have ten witnesses, but either all ten of them are excellent liars, or just he is. My skills may not be perfect, but they're still pretty damn good, and I would know if ten people were all telling me the same lie."

"Fair point." Cheng admits, ruefully "And I guess you're right about the lack of evidence. Besides, even if we did have proof, Yakone has the connections. He's sure to have a good lawyer. Plus, we've seen enough of Yakone's bribes not to at least be a little suspicious of how honest our jury will be."

"If he even asks for a jury," Toph remarks. "My guess is he'll plead 'not guilty' at the arraignment and ask for a trial without a jury, and that's if we even get past the preliminary, which I doubt we will. Who knows,' she adds, scathingly, "Like you said, he has connections. I wouldn't be surprised if his bribes find their way all the way up to the judge himself. With how little evidence we have, no one would be able to even accuse the judge of accepting a bribe without looking like a fool themselves."

"Ugh," Cheng shakes his head, clearly just as frustrated with the whole situation, "I can't believe that guy just straight up admitted to us that he's a bloodbender, and there's nothing we can do about it."

"I know it's frustrating, but bloodbending alone will only get him a few years anyway," Toph points out, "I want him put away for all his crimes. I want proof and I want justice for all the ways he's used bloodbending to torment innocent people. I want him behind bars for life."

Sokka, who's been quietly watching the scene, can't help but feel a surge of pride towards his friend. All this talk about evidence and whatnot - it reminds him just how intelligent Toph is, and what an unshakable sense of justice she has.

It also kind of makes him miss his job on the council. His role as councilman may have been monotonous at times, but it had its moments. And he did have a hand in passing laws. If men like Yakone were not already behind bars, then there's clearly something wrong with the system. The fact that Toph and Cheng are questioning the trust of a judge – that alone is a huge issue. If he were on the council again, could he help fix the system? Could he help serve justice?

"Well, are we sure that's even Yakone in there?" Sokka wonders aloud, "If that man is so good at lying, he could be lying about his identity too. Maybe that man is just a decoy?"

"It would be a stretch," Cheng inserts, "That guy matches the physical description, down to a T. Plus, he showed us his ID, and his prints match our records. The prints, at least, are hard to fake."

"Well," Toph interjects, mulling it over, "It's not that far-fetched. Yakone is a criminal mastermind - he's used to spinning pretty complex webs and obviously knows how to avoid leaving behind evidence. It's not outrageous to think he's had someone forging his identity this whole time. Who knows if the prints we have on record are even Yakone's to begin with?"

"So, you think that's not actually Yakone that you questioned?" asks Cheng, gesturing to the man behind the glass, still sitting smugly in his seat.

"I didn't say that," Toph shakes her head. "Nah, my gut tells me that's definitely Yakone in there. An arrogant asshole like him is not about to let someone else take the credit for his handy-work, even if it means risking jail-time."

"Really?" Cheng sounds unsure, "That's quite the gamble, don't you think?"

"Maybe for us," Toph scoffs, clearly at her wits end. "We're playing his game now, and right now, he has the better hand. If we fold, we let Yakone slip right through our fingers. But if we place the bet, it will be a bluff on our part… and we'll probably lose anyway."

"So," Cheng starts, after a moment, "What do we do, Chief?"

Toph shakes her head, releasing a sigh of indecision as she weighs over the options. "Look, he turned himself in. I know he's just playing with us, but we can't just let him go. Something tells me that if we want to convict him, we'll have to take this trial all the way to the council, and we can't do that without at least getting his name in the books. It will be a long game, but this is our best shot at eventually taking him down.

"Let's take him into custody. He'll have the initial appearance with the judge tomorrow, and then we can take it from there." Toph nods her head to herself, decidedly, "At the very least, it's one less night that he'll be free to torment innocent people. That's gotta count for something, right?"

"Right." Cheng nods his assent, and Sokka can tell he's trying his best to sound encouraging.

"It's the right call," Sokka offers, even if he's not sure it's his place to do so.

Toph releases another sigh, trying her best to perk up, "Alright then. Let's arrest that son of a bitch."

All things considered, Yakone's arrest is pretty anticlimactic. He goes willingly, the smug look never leaving his face. He makes one last inappropriate comment as Toph puts her cuffs around him, and he looks extra proud as Toph's officers steer him down the corridors of the precinct, Toph leading the way and making the effort to remain authoritative (though Sokka knows she's only putting on a brave face at the moment).

Reporters have somehow already gotten wind of his arrest, and Yakone makes sure to offer an extra sharp grin as cameras flash in his face as they crowd in the lobby of the precinct. Yakone is quickly taken down to the holding cells, thankfully before he can answer any questions. In all the rush, Sokka loses sight of Toph, so he does his best just to keep his own face hidden in the crowd, not entirely eager to see his name show up in the tabloids.

But, he must not do a very good job at remaining inconspicuous, as his ears quickly catch a few questions being directed his way. Master Sokka, what are you doing back in Republic City? Master Sokka, what is your opinion on the current trade agreement between the Water Tribes? Master Sokka, are you here to resume your position on the council? Master Sokka, is your marriage to Kahlia falling apart? Master Sokka, is it true that you're having an affair with Chief Beifong?

That does it.

Okay, so he didn't miss everything about Republic City. He forgot how annoying and aggressive the reporters in this city are. He just hopes Toph didn't catch wind of their questions, wherever she is at the moment.

Sokka pushes his way through the crowd and makes a quick escape down the corridor, going where he knows the reporters can't follow. Toph's office.

It takes a few minutes to get there, and once he does, for some reason, Sokka hesitates. Every time Sokka enters her office, or she enters his, he can't help but get a little nervous. Offices in general have been the crux of so many memories between them, and not all of them good.

But then again, some very good. It's been years, yet he still sees flashes of Toph's naked silhouette, perched on the edge of his desk as he brings her to the brink of pleasure and beyond. But there are other, more innocent memories that are just as pleasant. Sharing greasy takeout on their lunch breaks. Reminiscing about nights out, when they were young. Talking about baby stuff, when they got a little older. The flood of affection he felt when she handed him his long-lost Space Sword, and how in that moment, he knew he could love her forever.

But then, it's hard not to remember what came after.

It's hard not to imagine bursting into her office, ready to confess his feelings, only to see her wrapped in the arms of another man. It's hard not to feel the sting of betrayal. It's hard not to focus on the regret. It's hard not to remember how long it took to get over her, and how, if he's being honest, he's not sure if he ever really did.

But… that's all in the past. It has to be. Because he's married.

But that's not entirely it, is it?

Taking a deep breath and shaking away the negativity, Sokka opens the door to Toph's office and steps inside. It's still and quiet, save for the storm happening outside. Toph is nowhere to be seen, so Sokka takes the opportunity to roam around her office, careful not to snoop too much. It's filled with a surprising amount of paperwork, considering the obvious, but it's sorely lacking in any personal mementos or photos for Sokka to look at. Still, even if Sokka hadn't been here hundreds of times before, he would know it was her office. Despite it seeming messy with stacks of papers and reports, upon closer inspection, Sokka notes that there's definitely a certain level of organization to her chaos. Toph may claim to be a rebel, but Sokka knows she secretly thrives off clear, set structures.

There are a few plants strewn in random corners of her office, on top of filing cabinets and perched on window sills. There's also a few different types of stones littered about, dual-purposed as decoration and as paper weights. The air lingers with Toph's earthy, slightly floral scent - familiar and pleasant in a way that strikes Sokka with a million different memories.

A few minutes go by, and Sokka hears a familiar set of naked footsteps approaching outside her office. After a moment, Toph bursts through the door, an exaggerated sigh following her in.

"Sokka," she greets, wearily, "I thought you left."

"Nah," he sits atop her desk, watching as Toph bends the metal parts of her uniform off, leaving her in her underclothes, "Just had to get away from the reporters."

"Ugh," Toph takes her hair out of her bun - still damp from the rain. She runs her hands through her blackened strands, struggling to untangle a few stubborn knots. "Tell me about it. So much for having a day off, huh?"

Sokka hums, noncommittally. Carefully, he asks, "So, how do you feel?"

"How do I feel?" Toph repeats, like she's surprised by the question. Wryly, "I feel like I could use a drink."

That earns a laugh, and without further prompting, Sokka pushes himself off her desk and paces over to the cabinet where he knows she keeps a secret stash of booze. He pulls out a bottle of fire whiskey, taking the liberty of pouring each of them a glass.

If she's surprised by his boldness, she doesn't comment on it, but she does quirk a brow as she accepts the drink. He watches as she swirls the glass around, giving its contents a whiff before shooting the whiskey back in one go. "Ahh… " she says, her tongue darting out to lick her lips. "That's the stuff."

He takes a sip of his own whiskey before topping off her glass. He takes his place leaning against the top of her desk as Toph props herself against the wall, a yard or two across from him.

It's been a while since they've shared a proper drink together just the two of them, maybe since before Toph was pregnant…which means, since before he left Republic City that first time. Which also means, since they were still seeing no one but each other. That realization prompts Sokka to take a long gulp of his drink, his eyes peering over the edge of his glass, never leaving Toph.

"Thank you for coming," Toph takes another sip of her drink, unaware of his gaze on her. "I know I put up a stink about it, but it was nice to have the support."

Sokka nods, ignoring the way his gut clenches at the softness of her words, "No problem. To be honest, it felt good to be back in the action."

"Back in the action, huh?" Toph lifts a familiar, teasing brow, "Come on, the Water Tribe can't be that bad."

"It's not," Sokka says, without much thought. His glass is now empty, so he pours himself another. "But the company isn't as good."

Sokka notices the slightest hitch in Toph's breath, and he realizes a little too late what he just said, and all it implies. He drops his mouth, backpedaling, "Uh, I mean, aside from Kahlia of course. I know we argue, but she's still my wife, right?"

"Right. Of course." Toph's voice comes out huskier than he thinks she intends, but his navel clenches with a jolt of arousal anyway.

Married, Sokka. You're married. This is wrong.

What is 'this' though? Why is he so… aware of her? Aware of every movement. Aware of every curve. Aware of every breath and every blush. Is she this aware of him too? Is he just imagining this tension between them?

No…he can't be. Because truth be told, it's not the first time he's sensed it, and the feeling it leaves him with is tangible to the point where he knows it can't just be his own imagination. He feels it every time he sits next to her, and her sweet scent tickles his nose. Or every time her hand accidentally brushes against his, and his fingers itch to interlock with hers. And every time she bites her lips in that unintentionally sultry way, and he remembers how they used to taste. He feels it... every time she opens up to him and shows him the parts of herself that no one else gets to see, somehow leaving him feeling like the exposed one.

Sokka clears his throat, willing away his forbidden desires. "So how do you feel about today? About Yakone?"

Toph seems to consider this for a moment, seemingly unaware of Sokka's internal struggle. Pushing herself off the wall, she walks over to him and puts her drink down before propping her butt against the edge of the desk, mirroring Sokka's pose next to her. Sokka turns his head down to look at her, admiring her slightly disheveled appearance. She smells like the rain, or maybe like the grass from earlier in the park. Sokka's nose tickles.

She answers, a drained sigh as she lists, "Tired. Angry. Confused. Frustrated. Defeated."

"Defeated?" Sokka nudges her arm with his, comfortingly, "Come on, I know it's frustrating right now, but you said it yourself. This is a long game. You're playing the cards right – it just takes time."

"I know," Toph nods her assent, her shoulder brushing against his, "But it bothers me that I couldn't get a read on him. What if… what if we never get the evidence we need? What if we never get justice for all those people?"

"We will. But you have to be less hard on yourself." He thinks back to how skinny she looked earlier, and the bags that he now sees under her eyes. "And you have to take care of yourself. Have some patience."

Toph rolls her eyes, wrinkling her face in distaste. "Ugh, great. Patience. Just my specialty."

"Ah, come on," Sokka gives her thigh a reassuring squeeze, feeling the hard muscles beneath his hand, "Aren't you the one who's always 'waiting and listening' to the earth? You're an expert in patience, no?"

"Not when it's costing innocent people's lives," Toph replies, her serious tone subduing his playful one.

"Come on, Toph," Sokka's expression drops, desperate to make her feel better, "I know it hasn't been easy, and it probably won't be easy going forward either. It's going to be a long, tedious road. But anything worth it takes time, and you have to be all in. That means having a little bit more faith in yourself."

"All in?" Toph shifts her blind gaze up to him, and his heart rate speeds as he realizes how close they are. When was the last time they were this close? At his wedding?

Shamefully, he had felt the tension then too. The itch in his nose, at his fingertips, on his lips.

"Yeah," he surprises himself with just how throaty his own voice is, "All in."

"I don't know how patient I can be." Now it's her voice that drops, and Sokka wonders if they're still talking about Yakone or something else.

Looking back, he'd wish he could say that he held out at least a little bit longer. That he resisted for as long as he could. That it was just the alcohol, pushing him past the point of good decision making. That it was all just some silly, drunken mistake.

But it's none of those things. He's very much sober, and so is she, and it takes little to no time at all for their lips to be pressed together, moving seamlessly in a timeless dance.

His hand moves to cup her jaw, while the other falls to the curve of her waist. He wants to feel her skin - he's missed her skin – so he sneaks a hand under her shirt, gliding his palm up her side to just under the swell of her breast. She shivers in response, her hands tightening their grip on the collar of his shirt as she tilts her head to deepen the kiss. Her lips taste hot, like the bottle of fire whiskey left on her desk, and the heat of their movement contests to the burning trace of alcohol left on their tongues.

He can hear her moan into the kiss, or maybe it's him that does. He's too lost in her to track who exactly is doing what. His belly sparks, kindling a fire that he had long thought he'd doused out, blazing it into an inferno. He's distantly aware of thunder rolling in the background. It's softer now, but persistent, nonetheless.

For as fast as they came together, their lips move at a tauntingly slow pace. Like two long-lost-friends that have become strangers, their lips move tentatively, testing the waters as they get reacquainted. But soon, their kiss grows in confidence, tongues darting and dipping, trading old memories.

Old memories. Forbidden memories. Because he's married.

Again, he's not sure who does what, but she must have had the same thought, as only a second later, they are on opposite sides of the room. He feels the blood rush to his head, his chest heaving from the whiplash of the moment.

Toph seems to share his struggle, breathing heavily, her eyes flared wide. Her hand flies to her lips, as if they've been burned, her voice shocked beyond recognition, "I…I kissed you."

Sokka only now realizes his hand is at his own lips, mirroring her expression, "No…No, I kissed you- "

"No." Toph interrupts, her tone firm as she declares, "No, Sokka. I kissed you. Do you understand? You didn't do anything."

"But…"

Sokka's voice trails off, confused for a moment. But then, it suddenly occurs what Toph is doing for him – she's trying to keep him from being the bad guy. She's taking the blame. Why though? To protect him, or to make it easier to deny the truth?

The truth that, no matter who kissed whom first... he kissed her back.

The truth that, right now anyway, he is the bad guy.

Especially since, the blame is one he lets her take.

"Why, Toph?" Sokka narrows his expression, weighed down by the heaviness of the moment, "Why did you kiss me?"

"I…" Toph opens her mouth to speak, and Sokka imagines all the possible confessions, using a split second to fantasize. Because, I love you. Because I want you to choose me. Leave your wife. Choose me. Come back to me.

Would she be a terrible person for saying those things? Maybe… but no more terrible than he is for thinking them. For wishing them.

But her mouth hangs open, paralyzed with the inability to speak, and no confessions find her tongue.

Instead, in a smaller voice than he knew her capable of, she whispers, "I'm sorry, Sokka."

Whatever she's apologizing for - for kissing him now or for not kissing him before - it does little to pacify him. In fact, in that moment, Sokka becomes aware of something deep in his gut. A seed of some sort. A seed, sprouting roots and vining its way up through his chest. He only now realizes that seed had been planted long before, dormant as it waited for the right moment to burst.

Well, apparently her kiss had been its life force, nursing it and making it grow until it reached beyond the clouds. And that seed did not sprout into blooming roses, but rather into thorny brambles. Sharp and angry.

"Years Toph," Sokka starts, his seed of anger prompting him, "Years I've been here. Here for you and Lin. You had every chance to tell me how you felt. Why? Why didn't you?"

He watches as her head jerks back, a mixture of confusion and hurt in her expression, "You were in a relationship, Sokka. Now you're married."

Surprising both of them, Sokka bursts, "Yeah, and whose fault is that!?"

"Wait, you're blaming me for your marriage?" Now her expression is an incredulous one. "How the fuck is that fair? What, are you mad at me for not stopping your wedding or something? For not making a move on you while you were seeing someone else? For being supportive of your relationship?"

"Yes!" Sokka paces towards her, his hands gripping his hair before flying out to the side in a vexed fashion, "Yes, I'm mad!"

"Well how the fuck is that fair?" Toph repeats, her hands out in a questioning, perplexed pose, "Why do you get to be mad, huh?"

"Because, Toph. You moved on with your life, so I moved on with mine. And you wait until now - when I'm married - to make a move?" Sokka shakes his head, a sardonic grimace finding his face. "You went and had a baby, Toph. You started a family - how the fuck was I supposed to know that you wanted me in it?"

"Hey," she stands her ground, "I will not apologize for Lin."

"I'm not asking you to! I love Lin, you know that."

"Then what do you want from me, huh? I had just had a baby, and you went right off with Kahlia!" Toph shouts, unbothered by the fact that anyone outside her office might hear. "What was I supposed to do? Try to ruin your relationship? What 'chance' did you give me to tell you how I felt? And you know what - who says I felt anything to begin with!?"

"Oh, don't start with that shit," he cuts her off. "Let's not pretend this is nothing. I know we both felt something."

She doesn't answer him, and Sokka takes a second to read the uncompromising look on her face. He shakes his head, his tone resigned, "You could have said something, Toph."

Toph bursts, "Well, why didn't you say something? Why don't I get to be mad at you, when you were the one to go off and get married!? Why couldn't you just tell me how you felt? Why did it have to be me!?"

"Because, Toph!"

"Because why!?"

Unable to hold back, "Because! Fuck, Toph – Because we were together!"

Even Toph, hard as nails, flinches at the ferocity of his outburst. A few moments pass, a taught silence in the air as his outburst lingers. He takes a second to compose himself, and his next words are quieter, but just as fraught. "I know we never said it in words, but we were together, Toph. And I meant what I said when I left Republic City that first time – I loved you. I was in love with you."

"Sokka," her eyes are pleading, and she reaches a hand out to touch him.

But Sokka backs away, "But you ruined any chance for us when you went and fucked another man."

Theeeere it is – There's that old baggage. That old baggage that he never got around to unpacking - left forgotten, collecting dust as whatever dirty laundry inside just sat in its grime. Problem is, sooner or later, that baggage will get unpacked, and everything inside has had more than enough time to rot.

"Sokka, I thought we were on the same page back then," Toph argues, though her voice is laced with well-aged regret. "I…I thought you wanted to see other people. I-"

"No, Toph," Sokka stops her, his voice firm. "Enough excuses. You knew what we were… For a long time, I wondered if I was crazy for thinking we were something more. But no…we had something special. We did. And I know that you knew exactly what it meant…

"And that's why you went and slept with someone else. Because you knew exactly what we had - exactly what we could have, and that scared you."

She steps forward, trying to bridge the gap between them. "Sokka- "

"No, Toph," Sokka stops her again, backing away once more, "You were scared. And what does Toph Beifong do when she's scared? She fights. But you didn't fight for us, you fought against us."

This time, Toph doesn't make an effort to move closer. She stands rigid in place, her face knit together, welled up with emotion. She stays silent, so Sokka continues.

"I loved you, Toph. When we were together. When I left. When I came back and you had Lin. I loved you." … and I love you now, even though I shouldn't. "But, dammit, Toph. You went and slept with some other guy, and fuck, that hurt more than I'd like to admit. So, excuse me if I wasn't in a rush to put my feelings out there again, and excuse me if maybe, just maybe, I wanted you to be the one to fight for us for a change."

His impromptu speech ends, leaving the room in silence once more. The stunned look on Toph's face is a rare one, and he knows she's trying not to cry, but Sokka can't find it in his heart to feel bad at the moment. He's too rooted in his anger.

"But..." Toph starts, and Sokka can tell he's left her speechless. He watches as she tries to form the words. "But… but now-"

"Now I'm married," Sokka finishes for her. "Now I'm married, and we just kissed, and I did exactly what I'm so pissed at you for doing to me. Yeah, I know.

"So, I ask you again," now, it's Sokka who bridges the gap. He takes a few steps closer until he's face-to-face with Toph. His voice drops that much lower as he dares her, "Why did you kiss me, Toph?"

"I…" Toph shifts her blind gaze up to his face, her eyes finding his with surprising accuracy. She contemplates for a long moment, and Sokka wills her to say all the forbidden things he wants to hear. But instead, "I want you to forget it."

"Forget it." Sokka parrots - disappointed, but not at all surprised.

"Yes, I got caught up in the moment. It didn't mean anything," Toph insists, and Sokka doesn't need earthbending to hear her lie. "You're married, Sokka. And we're just friends, remember?"

Pfft… 'Just friends.' How many times has he heard that before? How many times has it been a lie?

"You're still pushing me away. Why?"

He expects another repeat of the painfully true reminder. We can't, Sokka. You're married, Sokka. We're just friends, Sokka. Lies. All of it lies. Or rather, truths that he wishes were lies.

But she says none of that.

Instead…

"Sokka," Toph's face scrunches, and Sokka sees the desperation in it, her voice small as she admits, "I don't know how not to."

He hears her silent plea, and in that moment, he realizes that she's never going to be the one to break the ice. He has baggage, but so does she. And that baggage means that she'll never be the one to make the first move. But he's married… so now he never can either.

"It doesn't matter," Sokka turns away from Toph and walks towards the doors of her office. She makes no move to stop him. Another distant roll of thunder sounds - an ominous, somber note in the heart of the storm.

He feels a crushing sense of déjà vu as his hand grips the doorknob. They've done this dance too many times before. Too many fights, too many heartbreaks, too many little white lies that add up to one big truth. The truth that - they've already had their time, and they could have had more. They could have been something great, but they both made mistakes, and whatever path they could have shared has long since overgrown with a tangled mess of weeds and fallen down trees, leaving it impassable and deeply rooted with seeds of resentment.

His hand twists the doorknob as he opens the door, preparing to leave. Again, Toph makes no move to stop him. In that moment, words of wisdom from an old friend echo in the back of his head… The timing is always right, until it's too late…

"It doesn't matter," he repeats. He takes a deep, resigned breath as he exits her office, not turning to look back. "It's too late anyway."

---

AN

Hey, all! Again, apologies for the delay in posting. Things have been a bit busier in the real world lately, and I haven't had as much time to write. Hopefully this lengthy chapter made up for it! This was another controversial, angsty chapter that I was nervous about posting. You know what - for the next few chapters, just assume I'm always nervous about posting. Take that for what you will.

A few notes on this chapter:

1. Apologies if there are any major inaccuracies with the whole police interrogation thing. That scene was one of the reasons it took me so long to update, as I have very little prior knowledge on criminal justice, so I spent a lot that time just researching the basics of how it all works. That being said, I'm sure you'll find some artistic liberties being applied anyway.

2. I understand if you're mad that I kinda sorta basically made Sokka a cheater and Toph 'the other woman'. But in truth, it's supposed to make you mad, right? It's hard to think that our fav heroes are capable of such sin, but I'm striving to touch on some realism and more mature themes, and in reality, even people as good as Toph and Sokka make mistakes…sometimes big ones. However, what I will say is…. spoiler alert…. I do not intend to make cheating a recurring theme. Again, take that for what you will.

Side note…I am having surgery next week (it's a happy news, not bad!), so I'm not sure how that will affect my writing routine…not that I really have one now haha. I'll have plenty of time to write while recovering, I'm just not sure yet how up to it I'll be. I'm sorry if updates continue to be more spaced out, but I promise to finish this story. :)

Thank you everyone for reading and thank you for the influx of kind, supportive comments. I super appreciate it and I hope that you are still enjoying the story.