Content Warning *Brief descriptions of violence/injury/panic*
Chapter 20: A Shock to the System
The air is cool and crisp, sharpened by Autumn, yet warmed by its seasonal spice. The wind breezes through skyscrapers, carrying traces of fall with it, and every other step of weekend shoppers and city strollers is met with that telltale crunch of soles meeting dry leaves. While spring is said to awaken the spirit of earth, autumn belongs to air. Gone is the smog of summer, the season replaced by a freshness breathing new life into the city. The spirit of the bustling streets is like that of an airbender's, or like the leaves breaking away from their branches, flowing wherever the wind may take them, free.
However, an earthbender in every sense of the word, Toph stays grounded in reality amongst the sea of floaty and free-spirited pedestrians. Like a bolder stubborn against a stream, her posture, perfect and commanding, stays rigid as she carries out her patrol and weaves her way through the crowds of idle-minded city folk. She strides with purpose in each step, yet admittedly, she's not sure what exactly that purpose is at the moment.
Despite the crowds (and the fact that she's currently on duty) she can't help but feel a little bored. Though, she supposes a monotonous patrol probably isn't a bad thing. Yakone has been pretty quiet since his last court appearance, but Toph isn't foolish enough to think that means he's given up on his life of crime. If anything, it just makes her more suspicious, and she can't help but be a little worried, not about that threat to her he made a couple months back (as if), but about the lack of activity as a whole.
Maybe the logic is twisted – to wish for crime. But it's not so much that she wishes for it as it is that she waits for it.
Perhaps it's just a side effect of living through the war. Years later and still a part of her will always anticipate attack, even in times of peace. Or maybe it's just that she's been in the game long enough to know that something too good to be true usually is. Either way, as much as she'd like to believe that Yakone has decided to finally give it a rest, or that her increased patrols and the success of her law enforcement have finally put an end to crime, she's far from that naïve.
If anything, this is just the calm before the storm. She knows, deep in her gut, that something is coming… something big.
Sooooo, she'll enjoy the boring, uneventful guard duty while it lasts. Boredom is just a symptom of peace, and peace is the goal, isn't it? Besides, she hasn't been feeling that well lately, and she could use the reprieve. Her stomach is constantly in knots these days, and she's even gotten sick a few times. She tries not to let the stress get to her so much, but alas, if her queasy stomach and chronic fatigue lately are anything to go by, she's not doing a very good job of it.
She's still been trying to take it easier though. Especially since her…uh… "breakdown" a couple of months ago (if that's what you'd call getting wasted and sleeping with some rando). It's definitely not the first time she's slept with a stranger, so that wasn't really a big deal. Quite honestly, she probably needed the little pick-me-up (though perhaps the supply-closet at a seedy tavern wasn't the best place for it, which even she can admit). Whatever. As far as she's concerned, it's just another notch on the bedpost; one that she'd already forgotten in the wake of her hangover the next day. Shrug it off and move on. No biggie.
However, it is a big deal that she got drunk enough to forget about Lin of all people. That is unacceptable.
After her blowout, of course she trudged her way over to Katara the next day and made sure to apologize. And, after a shameful amount of groveling and one-too-many hugs for her liking, she was forgiven. Katara is a gracious woman, yet she also knows how to hold a grudge better than anyone, so Toph was more than thankful to be able to move past it quickly. What's more important was the assurance that Lin hadn't been affected by the whole ordeal. Thankfully, she had been too excited by the prospect of a sleepover with her "cousins" to even notice Toph's absence. If Toph hadn't been so relieved, she might have taken offence at her own daughter's apathy, but she knew better than to look a gift ostrich-horse in the mouth.
All was forgiven. Which meant that, at least on the home front, everything is as it should be. Despite the permanent stress of her job - which really just comes with the territory - things have actually been looking up as of late. With crime rates slower than usual, she's able to spend more time with Lin. Still not as much as she'd like, but at least it's something. Plus, ever since she wrote that letter responding to Sokka, she's felt a weight off her shoulders.
That night at the tavern was definitely not one of her best moments, but it did help her put things into perspective. Katara was right. Toph doesn't like herself playing the victim, and she refuses to do so again. That's not her. And, in terms of Sokka's baby news… well, it put that into perspective too, and despite the initial pang of remorse she had felt, she is genuinely, truly happy for Sokka.
Now… if only she'd hear back from him.
Her response to his baby bomb was met with radio silence, and she's not quite sure what to make of it. He could be too busy to reply, what with a baby coming? Or maybe he changed his mind and she's not actually forgiven? Maybe the letter was lost in the mail? Ugh, too many "maybes". If there's one thing she's learned through the years – both through relationships and through work - it's that she hates "maybes"... and all the uncertainty that comes with them.
Toph takes a deep, conscious inhale, breathing in the freshness of the air as she continues her patrol. She may not have the airbender's spirit that lends itself to favoring fall, but even she can appreciate a nice day for what it is. With the weather so pleasant, it makes sense that the streets are so busy, and while she's a little bored, she can also appreciate the lively, electrical atmosphere of the world around her. The world around her seems to buzz, the thrum of life drumming in her ears, like a beating heart. Smiling, Toph takes another deep breath, and she can't help but lick her lips, as she gets a sudden, delightful whiff of fried food.
Seeing no harm in taking a break (nothing exciting is happening anyway), Toph turns down the street and follows the delicious scent towards her favorite food market. It's a crowded, somewhat tight space. Elegant stalls selling fresh produce contrast the dingy, yet delicious food carts selling what can only be described as heart-attacks on a stick. Currently, Toph's tastebuds favor the later.
The familiar, enticing smells of meat hit her nose as she makes her way through the market. Her ears meet a scurrying backdrop of sounds – food orders shouted, coins exchanged, the occasional cry of a baby against the constant footfall of shoppers. She hears the scraping of butcher's knives and the sizzling sounds of meat cooking, and her interest piques as she passes by one that she guesses - based on the smell - sells chicken kebabs. Intending to buy one, she follows her nose and approaches the stall.
But… just as she steps up to the counter to order, she suddenly finds the smell a little too strong. So strong that it's actually off-putting. The longer she stands there the more unbearable the smell becomes, so she swiftly covers her nose as she turns to walk away.
Despite the smell, her stomach still rumbles – a strange mix of nausea and hunger - and her mouth waters with a sudden craving as she approaches a stall selling dumplings. The meaty, fried smell of pork briefly makes her think of Sokka (he loves dumplings. And meat, of course), but her hunger overrides the sudden bout of nostalgia. She moves closer to the stall and takes a tentative whiff. Thankfully, the pork doesn't seem to upset her nose like the chicken did, so she happily hands the merchant a few yuan before walking away to enjoy her prize.
Heading away from the market, she walks aimlessly (though if anyone asks, she's still on duty) as she chomps merrily on her dumplings, taking her time to savor each bite. The autumn breeze tickles her cheeks, her bangs wisp in the wind, and in a moment of peace, she lets herself get lost in the season along with everyone else. Perhaps she has some airbender in her after all, as her feet seem to have a mind of their own, going wherever the wind demands.
She takes deep breaths between bites of dumpling, and for once, her sighs are not ones of stress, but of gratitude. Sure, she often anticipates the worst. With Yakone still out there, she can't shake the feeling that something bad is waiting for her around every corner. But strangely enough, she also feels like something good is waiting for her too. So, she chooses to focus on that, and it's with peace that she tunes out the rest of the world and lets her mind wander, freely. She almost loses herself completely in thought - guard duty be damned - but something else keeps a hold on her attention.
Someone is following her.
Correction. Someone has been following, ever since she left the market. At first, she barely pays it any mind. Toph senses that it's a woman, and while that doesn't necessarily mean anything, her frame seems too small to be considered an immediate threat. Besides, it could just be a coincidence. She is walking on a busy sidewalk after all, so maybe the woman just happens to be going in the same direction?
Toph turns down a random side street, just to check, and the woman turns the same corner about 10 paces later. Testing her theory further, Toph makes a few turns down more random streets (too random to be a coincidence) and sure enough, the woman follows her, step for step. Toph picks up her pace, then slows down, then picks it up again, and the woman mimics her movements.
Yup. She's definitely being followed. The question is: why? Could it be a citizen trying to flag her down for help or something? Hmmm.
Finally, more out of curiosity than anything else, Toph turns another corner onto a quieter street, but this time, she halts her steps. She leans against the wall and casually munches on a dumpling as she waits for the woman to catch up.
Soon enough, the woman turns the corner, and only grants the briefest flicker of surprise as she comes face to face with Toph.
"Can I help you?" Toph asks, unable to hide the ire from her tone, even through a mouthful of dumpling.
"Yes," the woman says, not missing a beat, "Are you Toph Beifong, by any chance?"
Toph stops chewing her dumpling as she tries to decipher the stranger's voice. The woman's tone is unreadable, but her heartbeat is quick. It's quick, but also steady, and Toph suddenly finds herself resisting the urge to smirk.
Hmmm, she hasn't encountered a fan in a while. This should be fun. Quite honestly, she could use a bit of hero worship right now – it has been a while since she's had her ego properly stroked, and she's in a good mood, so she might as well milk this.
She swallows her dumpling, then nods her head, proudly, "That's right, I am."
But Toph soon realizes that she misinterpreted the woman's excited heartrate for praise, and she quickly recoils in disgust, as the woman spits at her feet, a glob of saliva hitting her toes.
The woman sneers at Toph, her voice filled with scorn, "Dirty, bender scum."
If that wasn't enough, the woman smacks the tray of dumplings out of Toph's hands, the delightful snack landing roughly on the ground a few feet away. A few bystanders glance at the scene, but no one intervenes as the woman walks away, leaving Toph stunned in place.
Blinking away her shock, she slowly bends down to wipe the spit from her feet, and she's left heartbroken when she discovers there's no way to salvage her dumplings.
It's obviously not the first time she's encountered an anti-bender supremacist, but it pisses her off, nonetheless. So much for my peaceful patrol.
"Hey!" Toph calls after the woman, a surge of anger prompting her into gear, "Don't you have any respect!? Those were perfectly good dumplings! Get back here!"
But the woman ignores her and continues her getaway onto the main road. No way. She's not getting away with her bigotry. Not to mention, who does she think she is? Toph wouldn't go as far as to call that an assault (please, her ego's not that fragile), but for all intents and purposes, that woman just openly "assaulted" a police officer in broad daylight. Quite bold of her. Toph dusts off the sleeves of her uniform and mumbles a stream of expletives, ready to stomp after the woman.
Her steps heavy with rage, Toph starts to follow the woman, her voice beckoning out amongst the crowd, "Hey, you! I'm not done talking! Get your ass back here!"
But of course, the woman ignores this and only picks up her pace. Toph follows suit, and it almost surprises her when the woman breaks out into an full-out run, effortlessly weaving and dodging her way through the busy sidewalk as she tries to get away. She's quick, but Toph is quick too – especially with her bending as a boost - and she doesn't let up her pace as she chases after the woman.
The woman continues to be quick, zigzagging between blocks and running fast, her speed like lightning. At this point, Toph almost forgets why she's chasing the woman to begin with, but she doesn't let up as the woman leads them through what feels like a maze of streets. Of course, Toph could just as easily use her bending to ensnare the woman, but she's almost having fun chasing after her, old-school style. Besides, she doesn't want to cause harm to the woman. She just wants to talk, and using bending to temper an anti-bender doesn't usually yield the best result.
So, Toph continues to follow the woman until she senses her turn down a random, empty side street – well, more like a creepy alleyway, though it makes no difference to her. Toph turns the corner onto the alley, and she's just in time to hear the clang of a metal door as the woman escapes into the back entrance of some building. Toph tries to get a sense for what's inside, but she only feels metal. It must be a storage cellar of some sort.
The sensible side of her is telling her not to follow the strange woman onto private property. Toph is still in uniform, and she's not sure if chasing after a woman just for some cheap insult and ruining her lunch counts as probable cause. But… she's nauseous, cranky, and now without her tray of dumplings, so forgive her if she at least wants to dish out a good verbal spanking. Fuck the rules.
Ready to chase after the woman, Toph paces down the alleyway and uses her bending to pry open the door to the storage room. But, once inside, she's surprised to find the storage cellar empty. No shelves, no boxes…nothing. It's a small room too, only around 5x7 feet in width. She can't get a read on the ceiling, so it must be wood or something, but the floors and walls are made entirely of metal. It doesn't feel like steel though… copper maybe? Hmmm. It's just an empty, metal box?
Something's not right. Why is the room empty? And more importantly, how is it empty? She can't sense another door apart from the entrance, so where did the woman go? And why is the floor… wet?
Toph takes a few steps forward, her feet plopping in the shallow puddle on the ground. Just then, the hairs on the back of her neck start to rise, but it feels more like static than fear. She turns abruptly, startled by the sound as the door behind her SLAMS! abruptly shut, trapping her inside.
She narrows her eyes, quickly putting the pieces together. This was a setup. Of fucking course. But Toph is not about to let that scare her - not when she's surrounded by her own element.
Calling out to the empty room, she dares, "Ha, did you forget who you're dealing with!? Inventor of metalbending here."
Then, above her head, she hears what sounds like a hatch-door opening, and then what sounds suspiciously like the buzz of an electrical current. But that's strange, Toph can't sense any wiring or electrical in here. It's coming from a person. Wait, is it a firebender? No… A lightning bender.
Then, the woman's voice - in just a whisper above Toph's head.
"Yakone sends his regards."
"Huh?"
It's only a split second, and before Toph has time to react, all she can hear is a horrific, high-pitched scream - her scream – as white, hot pain seers through her body, electricity coursing through her veins. Her body spasms under the current, the smell of burning flesh and smoke filling the room as she literally fries where she stands. Her skin bubbles and burns - the wet, metal room providing a cruel path for the bender's lightning. Even Toph's own uniform betrays her, as the metal shell encases the heat, helping the voltage conduct.
All coherent thoughts leave Toph's mind as she continues to be violently and mercilessly electrocuted. All she thinks is pain. So much pain. How long has it been? A few seconds? A minute? A lifetime? She wonders when it will end – if it will end - but it seems to last forever. Her heart beats rapidly, trying - with all its might - to stay alive under the pressure of the volts.
Is this how she dies? Trapped in cage, alone and in pain? Is this her last moment of life? Pressure and Pain. She knows them well. She's lived with them her whole life, and now she'll die with them.
Somewhere behind the blinding pain, Toph thinks of Lin. She hopes Lin will be okay. She hopes Lin with forgive her - forgive her for leaving her, and for not being enough while she was here. She thinks of her officers. Her parents. She thinks of Zuko and Mai, Iroh and Izumi. Suki. Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin. She thinks of Katara and Aang - her family. Again, she thinks of her daughter. Lin.
And finally - of course - she thinks of Sokka.
Then, when her world goes as black as her vision, she falls to the ground, and thinks of nothing.
Sokka looks out at the bay as the city skyline draws closer into view, and he tries to will the boat to move faster. He's made this trip countless times before, but something about this feels final – like coming home.
A giddy mix of excitement and nerves churns in his gut. He hadn't told anyone he was coming, but he has everything planned out. He's finally going to make things right.
Once he made the decision to move back to Republic City, he had been anxious to get the show on the road. Of course, there were loose ends he had to tie up first. The process of divorcing Kahlia and moving out went quicker than he expected, yet it still dragged on his patience.
He would always have a duty to the south, and a place in his heart for it, but not only was it just too painful to be there right now, he also wanted to get back to his family (his real family) as soon as possible. Toph's response to his letter, albeit short, came at just the right time. And while her words could have stung as a painful reminder – I know you'll be a great father – they somehow comforted him, only reaffirming that he was making the right decision. She also said she was excited to reconnect, whenever he's ready. Well, he's ready now, and he figured what better way to respond to her letter than in person, right?
As the boat pulls closer into the bay, Sokka makes out the sound of sirens coming from the city, and he can see police airships hovering intently over the skyline. Quite the commotion going on. Hmmm, Toph must be busy. That sort of puts a wrench in his plans.
The ship moves past Air Temple Island, and as the docks come into view, he notices a medical transport ferry speeding towards the island, its sirens echoing across the bay. Hmmm… that's strange. The city only seeks out Katara's healing abilities when something really bad has gone down, or if its personal.
Uh oh. This isn't good. He wonders who was hurt.
He debates whether or not he should still have the ship drop him at the island. That was his intended first stop, but if Katara is about to be swamped in medical, maybe he shouldn't interfere. But then again, maybe he can be of service? Not necessarily with the healing stuff (obviously), but he can still lend a hand. Plus, something is pulling him towards the island that he can't quite put his finger on.
His ship docks at the island, and after making arrangements for his belongings and saying a quick goodbye to his travelling companions (the journey from the South Pole leaves plenty of time to make new friends), he starts to make his way up the island.
He can't help but feel a little on edge as he walks the path towards his sister's house. He can still hear sirens echoing in the distant city, but other than that, the island is eerily quiet. Where are the kids? Where are the acolytes? The island is always peaceful, especially compared to the city, but it is strange to find it this devoid of activity.
That all changes though, when - not bothering to knock - Sokka opens the door to his sister's house and is met with a rush of commotion.
No one acknowledges him as air acolytes haste down the hallway, bandages and buckets of water in their hands. There are a couple of acolytes trying to calm the cries of Tenzin in the adjoining room, the kid clearly disturbed by all the chaos.
Sokka spots Kya and Lin, tucked away in a relatively quiet corner of the room. Kya, remarkably composed for being so young, strokes soothing circles on Lin's back. It's not unusual for Lin to be at the island – Katara often watches her when Toph is at work. However, it is unusual for Lin to be crying so hysterically. She's always been a quiet, calm and somewhat hardened kid. But now - just like Tenzin - Lin fills the room with her echoing cries. Except, where Tenzin's cries seem to be those of childhood distress, Lin's weeping tone is that of genuine fear.
Sokka's stomach drops at the sight, and he tries to ignore his own onset of panic as the world blurs around him. He stands frozen in the doorway, unable to move as he takes in the frenzied scene, flashes of yellow and orange robes scurrying past his vision. Distantly, over the sounds of the kids' cries, he can hear his sister's voice booming out commands in a faraway room. She always sounds bossy to him, especially when she's in healer mode, but even from a distance, Sokka can hear the personal edge to her instructions. Uh oh.
"Uncle Sokka?" Sokka whips his head at Bumi's voice, the teen sounding confused as he wizzes down the hallway, medical supplies in his hands. Clearly on a mission, he doesn't pause to further address Sokka's presence. But... he does call over his shoulder before disappearing down the hallway, and he confirms what Sokka somehow already knows, "It's Auntie Toph!"
In that instant, the air abandons Sokka's lungs. He forgets how to breathe, how to even think, yet the words somehow strike him into gear. Before he can blink, his legs start to move at their own accord, rushing after his nephew. He pushes past the acolytes, surrounded by frantic energy as he hurries down the hallway, his feet carrying him with a mind of their own. Why is it so far away? In reality, it probably only takes twenty seconds or so to reach the med room, but it certainly feels like forever, like his feet are caked in glue. Time stands still, as if frozen, yet the seconds melt into one.
When he's finally at the entrance of the room, all he can hear is the sound of his own heart drumming in his ears, as he struggles to catch his breath.
But then, that's drowned out by the sound of cries from inside the med room. Toph's cries, Sokka realizes. Not cries of sorrow, but of pain.
Gut wrenched, Sokka pushes his way into the room and is met with what he can only describe as one of the most horrific things he's ever seen.
One of the acolytes is holding Toph down as Katara strips her of her clothes, and Sokka finally understands what her screams are about. Another piercing cry rips through Toph as her clothes are peeled back from her skin, the fabric taking bits of flesh with it. Her whole body is covered in blisters and burns – her once alabaster skin now marked with obscene, oozing splotches of black and red. Some patches look worse than others, but they vein all the way from her feet to her neck, then down her arms. Her face is somehow left mostly unscathed, but that does little to quell Sokka's horror.
Katara calls out to one of the acolytes, "Fill the healing tub! Quickly!"
Shamefully, Sokka swallows down the bile in his throat as he's unable to do anything but watch. Not only are the burns a grotesque, disturbing visual, but it's Toph… It's Toph, writhing desperately in pain. It's Toph, crying out in anguish. It's Toph… suffering.
Katara strips back the last bit of clothing, leaving Toph completely bare. She lets out one final, sharp cry of pain before her body suddenly goes limp, slipping into unconsciousness.
That's when the panic really settles in, and Sokka suddenly finds himself announcing his grief to the room, "TOPH!"
Katara looks up at the disturbance, "Sokka?" A brief look of confusion passes over her face before quickly morphing into sharp command, "Someone, get him out of here!"
He's not sure which acolyte follows her command, but he suddenly finds himself back outside the med room. He braces himself against the wall as a wave of dizziness passes over him and he fights the urge to faint. He wants to go back in - to be with her - but he's too distraught to move. Oddly enough, it reminds him of when Toph had given birth to Lin – except, the fear he had felt then was laced with excitement. The fear he has now is just pure, gut wrenching terror, spiced with the flavor of grief.
He hears a few more commands being shouted along with some hurried shuffling from inside the room, and he stands back as Toph's body is suddenly being carted past him. A sheet now covers her up to her neck, and Sokka is admittedly relieved not to be faced with the sight of her burns again. The last thing anyone needs right now is him passing out.
Katara pays him no attention as she and the acolytes quickly wheel Toph down the hallway towards a room with a proper healing pool. Sokka follows closely behind, anxious to know what's happening, but he quickly has the door slammed in his face when he tries to follow them in.
"Sokka?"
Sokka turns towards the familiar voice as Aang approaches, an uncharacteristically somber look on the airbender's face. Sokka moves his mouth to greet him, but he finds no words able to come out.
"Sokka," Aang reaches him, then places a hand on his shoulder, trying - but inevitably failing - to offer comfort. His tone is about as downcast as his expression, "What are you doing here? I was just about to send you a letter."
Ignoring his question, Sokka hears himself asking one of his own, "What happened to her?"
Aang's expression somehow darkens further, "I was just speaking with Lieutenant Cheng. They're not sure of all the details yet. Toph was found passed out in some abandoned storage cellar, badly burned. They think she was electrocuted, somehow."
"Electrocuted? How is that possible?" No…No, she couldn't be. She couldn't be hurt because of something I helped bring to this city.
"I'm not sure, you're more of an expert on the subject than I am. Something about water and metal?" Aang tries to explain, though clearly his own understanding of the subject is weak. He sighs, trying to reason, "Electricity is still a relatively new discovery – there's bound to be some accidents."
"Accidents?" Sokka parrots, skeptically. Toph isn't one to just stumble into an "accident".
"We're not ruling anything out. We have her officers on high alert, in case there's an assailant on the run or multiple targets. But we'll know more tomorrow, Sokka. After we're done checking out the scene."
"Right," Sokka adds, "And once Toph is better, we can get the full story from her."
Aang nods an affirmation, but the tight smile on his face rubs Sokka the wrong way. He swallows a lump in his throat, glaring at his brother-in-law, "What - you don't think she'll get better?"
Aang sighs, regretfully, "I'm sorry, Sokka. I'm not really the medical expert here. I don't know much about electrocution other than what I experienced myself."
Sokka nods, almost forgetting the time that Aang was shot by Azula's lightning. And how had that ended? With a miracle, that's how. There's not exactly any spirit-oasis water here in Republic City, is there?
The thought brings another onset of panic to his chest, and again, Sokka finds himself leaning against the wall for support, his breath heavy. He can't lose Toph. A drowning, sinking feeling hits Sokka's chest as he struggles for breath, memories of grief floating to the surface. He's drowned in his feelings for Toph before, but not like this. This is what he was afraid of for so long. Loving her so much – and now about to lose her. Fuck, he didn't even get the chance to love her – not the way he wanted – and now he's drowning anyway.
That drowning feeling takes him right down to the floor, his body sinking and his back sliding down the wall, slumping against it.
He holds his head in his hands as he rides the wave of panic, and he's only distantly aware as Aang squats next to him, rubbing soothing circles on his shoulder. Sokka takes in a deep breath, surprised to find his nose wet with snot. He's crying? Of course, he's fucking crying. His best friend in the whole world could take her last breath at any moment, and he's out on the floor - a blubbering, panicked mess. She could die… she could die, without him ever having the chance to make things right between them.
He's not sure how long he stays on the floor like that. Eventually, he somehow stops crying - the well running dry - but his eyes stay bloodshot, staring distantly into space. On the other side of the wall, the healing room has gone quiet, and Sokka's not sure whether that's a good thing or not. His head perks up every time the door slides open, but so far, it's just acolytes coming and going with supplies. Aang stays with him for a while, sharing the somber silence, but eventually he has to go to make sure the kids are okay and to correspond with Toph's lieutenant. But Sokka stays put as day turns to dusk, and dusk turns to night. Time passes - the hours stitched together by invisible seams.
Night brings the moon, which tonight shines bright in the sky, its blue light casting through the windows and onto Sokka's skin. With tired eyes, Sokka glances up at the window, eager for the moon's company. He can't see it from his position on the floor, but he's long since memorized every inch it, and can picture the moon as if it were right there in front of him. He knows it better than anyone, and the vision in his mind – of navy skies and grey craters, white hair and tanned skin – offers him equal doses of comfort and grief.
His head perks up again, as the door slides open to his left. He expects to see another acolyte, but finally, it's Katara who steps out. She looks exhausted, letting out a tired sigh as she wipes the distress from her face, sweaty despite the chill in the air.
It takes a moment for Katara to even realize he's there, but her eyes eventually meet his, her tone weary as she asks, "How long have you been out here?"
Sokka opens his mouth to speak, but finds his throat sore from misuse. He clears it, ignoring his sister's question to again ask his own, "Is she…?"
He can't finish his sentence, but the question is clear. Katara stares at him for a long moment, her face tight with a pained expression. Sokka is just about to jump to the worst conclusion, when Katara mercifully answers, "She's okay. She's just sleeping right now."
The words allow Sokka to release a breath - one that he'd been holding all day - and he places a hand to his chest as he tries to calm his racing heart. Moistness brims at his eyes, the relief of the moment overwhelming him, but he forces the tears to stay down.
Katara extends a hand towards her brother, and he uses it to hoist himself up off the ground. His muscles ache, he kind of has to pee, and his butt is numb from sitting there all day, but he can't bring himself to care.
"I've never seen her in that much pain." Sokka remarks, unsure why he felt the need to.
"That's because most of her burns were only second-degree," Katara explains, "Those burns hurt like hell, but that's a good thing, trust me. It means there shouldn't be any permanent nerve damage. I was even able to get most of her skin looking somewhat normal."
"So, she'll be okay?"
Katara lets out a long sigh, weary from her own exhaustion, "Yes, but I won't lie to you Sokka – it was a close call. The burns to her skin may have been superficial, but the voltage passed through her internally as well."
Sokka's face pales, and he asks again, more urgently, "But, she'll be okay, right?"
"Yes, Sokka, she'll be okay." Katara pacifies, deciding not to delve further into her medical analysis - for both their sakes, "I managed to heal her in time. She might need longer to recover from the more substantial, internal wounds, but there shouldn't be any long-term negative effects. I expect her to make a full recovery."
Sokka's not sure he's cognizant enough to appreciate Katara's clinical description at the moment, but what he heard is that Toph is okay, and for now that's enough. He releases another sigh of relief, a weight off his chest, "Can I see her?"
Katara pauses for a moment, biting her lip in consideration. An unreadable expression passes over her face, and Sokka can tell she's trying to distract him when she says, "Why don't you come get something to eat first? You must be starving."
She starts to walk off, but Sokka stops her, "Please, Katara. If it were Aang in there, would you leave his side?"
Katara stalls in her place, turning to face her brother again. The subtext behind his words is clear. "No. I wouldn't," she admits. Then, she narrows her eyes, inquisitively, "And Kahlia? The baby?"
If he wasn't so exhausted from the day's stress, the question might have elicited some remorse. He'd prepared a long-winded explanation for when the question inevitably arose, but he's too emotionally spent to go there right now, so instead, "It's over," he says, neutrally, "The baby's not mine."
Her eyes flicker with surprise, and a hint of something else that he can't quite place, but Katara quickly schools her expression. Just as he'd prepared a long-winded speech, he had expected an equally long response. Instead, she nods, simply, "Okay."
And that's that. Whether she's just too tired to pry or perhaps not actually all that surprised, Sokka's grateful to avoid her questioning at the moment.
Katara, with another sigh, "Fine, you can go in. But let Toph rest. I'll have some food brought to you."
She moves to walk away again, but Sokka pulls her into a hug before she gets the chance. He gives her a tight squeeze, hoping it conveys his gratitude, "Thank you, Katara."
Thank you for saving her. Her body deflating, Katara sighs as she wraps her arms around her brother, giving into the need for support. It's been a rough day for Sokka, but arguably, it's been an even rougher day for her. Toph is important to all of them. They're all family, and Sokka makes a mental note be more present in his sister's life from now on. He's been distant for far too long.
Sokka pulls away from the hug, eager to finally go be by Toph's side, but Katara's voice stops him.
"Sokka, wait."
Sokka turns back towards his sister, expectantly (impatiently). Another unreadable look passes over her features, like she's considering whether or not to tell him something.
Finally, "Before you go in there… there's something else you should know."
Toph wakes up gradually, and the first thing she's aware of is her throbbing headache, pounding on her skull like the base of a drum. The next thing she clocks is the soft sheets surrounding her skin. Someone must of have undressed her, she realizes, as her uniform is gone, and she wears only her bindings. No, not bindings…bandages? She can hear leaves rustling outside, and she catches the familiar scent of sea salt and incense. I'm on the island? Finally, she feels the comforting, warm pressure of a hand around hers.
Toph blinks, blind eyes meeting nothing but darkness, but a familiar voice pulls her into consciousness, "Toph?"
Her face constricts at the sound. Already pretty out of it, the voice only adds to her confusion, "Sokka?"
She hears the smile in his voice, his grip on her hand tightening, "Yes, it's me. I'm so glad you're awake."
"How?" Soreness grips her from head to toe as Toph slowly sits up in the bed. She grunts in pain, using her free hand to rub at the ache in her forehead, "How are you here? How long have I been out?"
Somewhere to her right, it's Katara's voice that answers, "Not that long. About a day."
She turns her head in the direction of her friend's voice, still feeling muddled, "How did I get here? The last thing I remember, I was in that metal room. I was…" Toph pauses, her brain still fuzzy. Then, quite suddenly, it comes back to her, the memory hitting her like…well, like lightning, "I was being electrocuted."
She can sense Sokka wince next to her, but once again, it's Katara who answers, albeit hesitantly, "I guess your, um… screams, alerted some people nearby. A couple of civilians found you and alerted your officers. They arrived at the scene with paramedics, but they could only do so much, so they brought you here."
Toph nods slowly, and the more cognizant she becomes, the more aware she is of the tight, stinging sensation left on her skin.
Katara, as if reading her mind, "The electrocution left you with some pretty nasty burns, but I managed to get to them before most could scar. You look almost as good as new, but you might experience some phantom pains for a while. The important thing is that your insides are still intact."
Not quite grasping reality just yet, Toph lets out a short, sardonic laugh, "I'm not sure I would call it 'phantom' pain – feels pretty real to me. But thank you, Katara, for saving me."
"No problem," Katara says, more at ease, "Aang went down to help your officers scope out the scene. They're trying to figure out what could have caused this. Do you remember what happened? Was it an accident? What were you doing there in the first place?"
"Katara," Sokka warns, "Can you take it easy with the twenty questions? She just woke up."
Toph ignores Sokka's concern, as well as the gentle movement of his thumb, stroking the back of her hand. Scathingly, she answers, "Yeah, I remember. And it was no 'accident' – it was a trap."
Again, she can sense Sokka stiffen in his seat, but he stays quiet as she continues to explain, "Some lady followed me, then spat at me with some derogatory remark. It made me angry, of course, so I followed her. You know, just to have some words."
"Toph," Katara chides, though there's no real admonishment in it.
"Hey, I just wanted to talk to her," she defends, "I'm so sick of that anti-bending bigotry crap, you know?
"But I guess the joke's on me," Toph sighs, lowering her voice, "Turns out it was just an elaborate ploy to get me into that metal room. She was actually a firebender all along. Able to bend lightning, I guess. And, well… you can guess what happened next."
"Toph, I'm so sorry," Katara quells, a touch of naivety in her tone when she adds, "I don't understand, why would she go to such lengths to hurt you? It just seems so random."
"It wasn't random," Toph growls, though the anger is more directed at herself, "Ugh, I'm such an idiot! I knew he was waiting to strike. He straight up sent me a letter telling me what was coming, and I still fell right into his trap!"
Katara voices her confusion, "Whose trap? What letter? I don't understand."
A shudder involuntarily shoots down Toph's spine at the elicitation of her memory. Against her will, she feels her heart start to pump rapidly with panic, her hand becoming clammy in Sokka's grip. If she could see, she'd notice how her pale skin turns ghostly, a haunted expression as she recites the sinister whisper, echoing from her mind, "Yakone sends his regards."
"Yakone is behind this?" Sokka's hand tightens on hers once more. Firm, despite her slick skin.
"Yes." Toph shakes the memory away from her head, ignoring her racing heart and focusing just on the facts, "Look, it's not his first time trying to deliver a message."
"Well this message was pretty clear, Toph," she tries not to cringe at the sound of tears brimming in Katara's voice, masked only by the sternness of her tone, "I mean, you were almost killed.
"I don't want to alarm you, but to be honest, it's a miracle that you survived. The electrocution passed through some of your vital organs, burning you from the inside out. You're lucky that your heart didn't stop." Katara's tone is harsh, but the distress behind it is clear, "And you're lucky they brought you to me. Toph, if you had been found only a hair later, I'm not sure you'd be here right now."
Sokka's hand, already wrapped pretty tightly around hers, somehow finds a way to grip tighter. He holds her hand like a vice, and she wonders if even he knew the extent of her injuries before. Truthfully, Toph herself is a little surprised by her own survival. She didn't know it was possible to live through that much physical pain.
But… she feels unable to cope with that magnitude right now, so she focuses on remaining indifferent, "Well my heart didn't stop, did it? I appreciate the concern, Katara, but it's not like it's the first time I've had a close call, and I'm sure it won't be the last, either. We've all had them. Let's not make this a bigger deal than it has to be."
"Toph, how can you have such a disregard for your own safety?" Sokka's voice pipes up to her left, the anger in his tone a sharp contrast to the gentle motions of his thumb, "Didn't you hear what Katara said? You almost died."
Trying to remain apathetic, she turns her head towards his voice. She offers another shrug, resigned, "It's just part of the job, Sokka."
Katara's anger now rivals Sokka's, "Just 'part of the job'? Toph, you said it yourself. This was a deliberate, planned attack on you – not just some accident."
Hit with a wave of frustration, Toph finally pulls her hand away from Sokka's, then uses her clammy fingers to rub viciously at her temples, willing away her migraine, "Well what do you want me to do about it, huh? Every time I have Yakone in custody, he somehow manages to get out! It's not my fault that our legal system is a pile of shit!
"I'm just doing my job – and yeah, sometimes that means I'm a target – but it is what it is, and I'm not going to let that stop me from putting criminals in their place."
Katara shakes her head, equally as frustrated, "That's not what I meant, Toph. I know you're just doing your job, and it's not your fault that you got hurt. I'm just saying, you have to be more careful, Toph - especially now. It's not just yourself that you have to protect."
Toph sighs, suddenly feeling very annoyed. Not this again – she thought they had gotten over the whole "don't tell me how to raise my kid" shit. "Katara, don't you worry about Lin. The whole point of my job is to protect her and everyone else in this city, remember?"
Toph waits for Katara's counter argument, but she's surprised when instead, she's met with silence. Katara doesn't respond, and even though Toph can't physically sense her from her position on the bed, she can feel the questioning look being sent her way. "You don't know, do you?"
Toph draws her eyebrows together in confusion, when suddenly, she thinks the worst. "What don't I know? Is Lin okay!?"
"Lin is fine, Toph," Katara assures, then pauses again before asking, "You really don't know?"
Toph hears Sokka shift uncomfortably in his seat, and she suddenly feels very out of the loop. A feeling she's always hated. Whatever this news is, she's clearly the only one that's oblivious to it. "Cut the crap, Katara. I can't deal with this cryptic shit right now. Whatever it is, just tell me."
While Toph can't see it, Katara rolls her eyes, clearly sick of her friend's attitude and past the point of even her own emotional capacity. She releases her own bracing sigh, and without a trace of her usual warmth, "Alright, fine. If that's what you want. Toph, you're pregnant. Congratulations."
Congratulations. The word, spiteful in its tone yet true in its intent, echoes off the walls and fizzles out into a deafening silence.
Toph stiffens, and Sokka watches as the shock passes over her. Her eyes widen, almost comically, and her mouth opens as she intakes a sharp breath.
Of course, for his part, Sokka had been equally as shocked when Katara had told him the news. And of course the typical questions had crossed his mind. How far along is she? Is the baby okay?
Who is the father?
As far as he knew, Toph hadn't been seeing anyone recently. But then again, she's never been one to openly announce her relationships to the public, or even to her friends for that matter. Did she even still consider him a friend?
A part of him was heartbroken at the possibility that she might already be taken, and that he was too late to explore his feelings for her… again. But, he quickly realized that if Toph had been in a committed relationship, wouldn't the guy be by her side right now?
Whatever the story is, it doesn't matter.
When Sokka made the trip back to Republic City, he certainly hadn't expected to find Toph injured – critically,at the time. Now, less than 24 hours later, she's not only healthy and breathing (thank the spirits), she's also pregnant. It's a shock to the system, to the say the least.
Ask him a day ago, and he probably would have felt the sting of betrayal and injustice. Toph shouldn't be making a baby with anyone else but him. He should be the father, point blank. How could this not be some cruel cosmic joke? He had just had a baby taken away from him, his desire to be a dad mocked by the universe, not once, but now twice.
But strangely enough, acceptance had washed over Sokka quicker than he would have expected. He had thought Toph was about to die, so how can he be anything but grateful that instead, she's growing life.
And hadn't he realized that family runs deeper than blood? Is this not what he wanted? Maybe this isn't the universe mocking him, but giving him exactly what he asked for. Just, not in the way he expected.
So, it's not just with acceptance, but with gratitude, that he moves to grab Toph's hand once more.
Toph on the other hand, hasn't quite reached the acceptance stage just yet. She isn't sure how long the room lives in silence. It could be a minute, it could be five, but she barely notices the passage of time until Sokka's hand finds hers again. When she remembers how to speak, she talks slowly, the words feeling foreign on her tongue, "I'm pregnant."
Katara softens her tone, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder, "Yes, Toph. I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I thought you already knew - you said you picked up on Lin's heartbeat at only five weeks in."
"How?" Toph voices, not sure what she's even asking. How far along am I? How didn't I notice? How am I even here in the first place?
Mercifully, Katara answers, "You're only about eight weeks along, give or take."
Toph nods, trying to make sense of this revelation. Of course, now that she knows, the nausea and fatigue make a bit more sense. Plus, she did miss her last period – but she had just chalked that up to stress.
Toph's free hand flies to her belly, reflexively. At two months in, it's still too early to tell from the outside, but Toph has noticed her clothes fitting her differently lately. She had just figured it was because of her recent appetite and cravings... which of course, also make more sense now. But if she's really eight weeks along, why hasn't she felt a heartbeat? Mentally, she traces back over the past few weeks and she recalls the constant buzz of energy she's felt in the air, drumming in her ears… like a heartbeat. Pfft, had she really chalked that up to the good weather? She almost laughs at her density. All of the symptoms were right there in front of her, she was just too blind to see them - pardon the irony.
It all makes sense.
But still…it doesn't make sense. At least, not in the way that she can accept.
On instinct, Toph finds herself asking, "Is the baby okay?"
"Yes," Katara assures, "Of course, it's still very early on in your pregnancy, so we'll have to proceed with caution. But from what I can tell, your baby is – miraculously - just fine."
"Oh. That's good then." Toph nods, her voice sounding distant. Her world has always been black, but somehow, it disappears even further around her as the gravity of everything finally comes crashing down.
She's pregnant. She almost died, and she's pregnant. Yakone sends his regards. Pain. So much pressure and pain. And she's pregnant.
She doesn't realize that she's about to cry until she shudders in a shaky breath. Tears brim at her eyes, and she tries to hold them back, to be strong. It's something she's always done -forced herself to be strong, to fight through her emotions, to compartmentalize them. It's a skill she not only prides herself on, but depends on. And sure, she's cried before. A lot during her first pregnancy and in few vulnerable moments throughout the years – but even then, her crying never quite got out of her control. She's always managed to reel in her emotions before they could overwhelm her entirely. That's what makes her so resilient. So strong.
But she's in too much shock, and frankly, she's just too fucking exhausted to fight herself right now. So…she cries.
Not just cries, but sobs. Her face contorts with ugly tears, red and blotchy as her body shakes through wet breaths. If she thought her drunken tryst was a breakdown, she's not sure what to call this. She has half a mind to be embarrassed as dramatic sounds escape from her throat, a strange symphony of broken laughs and desperate gasps for air. She feels like a spectacle, a nutcase, a freak show. But, she can't seem to stop. The more she cries, the less control she has.
And strangely enough, the better it feels.
The better it feels to relinquish control. How liberating it is to put down whatever walls she had so carefully bent up. Each tear is a drop of catharsis, a release of all the emotions she's been suppressing – not just from the past 24 hours, but from her whole damn life. Pain. Pressure. Resentment. Anger. Fear. Trauma. Happiness. Pride. Love. All of it, streaming from her eyes as her body wracks with emotion. Primal and free.
Sokka and Katara share a stunned look, unsure how to respond to their friend's outburst of emotion. Of course, both have seen her cry before, but never quite like this.
Sokka stands up from his chair, the mattress dipping as he moves to sit next to Toph on the bed instead. He shoots Katara a meaningful look, then nods his head towards the door.
"I'll give you two some space," she takes the hint, offering a tight, cumbersome smile before turning to leave the room.
Sokka turns his attention back to a still-crying Toph and moves his hand to rub comforting circles on her back, careful not to disturb her injuries.
"Shh, shh, Toph" he coos, gentle in her ear, "It's going to be okay."
Toph takes a few moments to calm her breathing before she responds. Despite the catharsis, she can't quite keep the panic from her voice, "Will it, Sokka?"
"Shh," he offers again, despite the drying of her tears, "It will."
"Sokka, I'm already a shitty mom to Lin." Toph says, her voice less shaky, but just as fraught, "I spend so much time at work, I barely have enough time for one kid! Then I've got Yakone's henchmen sending me death threats – heck, I almost died yesterday! And now this!?"
"Toph, stop." Sokka says, firm but lovingly, "First of all, you're not a shitty mom to Lin. Yeah, you make mistakes. Every parent does. And yeah, you do spend a lot of time at work."
She fixes him with a grouchy expression. Cute, despite the puffiness of her eyes and the redness of her cheeks, "Not helping."
"But," Sokka continues, trying not to find her pout amusing, "That girl loves you more than anything. And you said it yourself - you may work a lot, but that's your way of protecting her."
Toph nods, pacified, but still hesitant, "Okay, what about Yakone though? If I have to put my own life on the line to take that man down, then fine. But how am I supposed to do that with a baby in me?"
A brief twinge of panic hits Sokka at the thought, "Well, my answer to that is that you don't put your life on the line. Not until the baby is born - and never again like yesterday. Please." Sokka lets out a short laugh, trying to keep things light, but there's sincerity behind it, "You scared the shit out me, Toph."
It's not exactly a realistic request – Toph's line of work will always put her in the line of danger to some extent. Nevertheless, she doesn't argue as he finally moves to wrap his arms around her, encasing her in a meaningful side hug. It's somewhat cumbersome, given the angle, and he squeezes her a bit too tight considering her injuries, but Toph makes no complaints as Sokka pulls her close to his chest. The top of her head falls just under his nose, and he closes his eyes as he breathes in her scent. She smells more medicinal that usual, but it's comforting nonetheless. It's been over a year since he's seen her - since he's held her – and despite all the unfortunate circumstances that have led them here, it feels right. Like he's finally where he belongs.
"Sokka, I don't," Toph breaks the silence, a hint of a sniffle in her voice, "I don't even…"
"Don't even what?" Sokka prompts, gently rubbing circles on her shoulder.
She lets out a wet, strangled sound, somewhere between a laugh and a cry, "I don't even know the father's name."
Well, that answers that question. But instead of relieving him, Sokka's heart feels heavy for her.
You'd think after being friends with the Avatar, getting trapped in the spirit world himself, and seeing his first girlfriend quite literally turn into the moon, he'd be less of skeptic when it came to spiritual stuff. Yet, he's always been on the iffy side when it came to talks of fate or destiny, maybe cause he's rarely felt like either were on his side.
Now, however, he can't help but feel like this is all meant to be. A strange way to face one's fate, but fate nonetheless. He's exactly where he needs to be, he's sure of it. Toph on the other hand, might need a bit more time to get there.
"Shh, Toph." Sokka whispers. He kisses the top of her head, petting her hair in an intimate gesture, "It's going to be okay. I promise."
Toph, matching his whisper, "How can you be so sure? How do you know it will be okay?"
"I don't." Sokka admits, "But I'll be right here, even if it's not."
At this, Toph pulls away from the embrace. She tilts her head, confusion in her eyes, "What do you mean?"
Sokka takes a second to look at her, appreciating her vulnerability for a moment. Even with her cheeks stained red and the bags of exhaustion under her eyes – and even after her wild display of tears – she looks so strong. That's the thing he's come to realize about her. It's her moments of vulnerability that showcase her remarkable strength. Not of her brawns, but of her character.
With a smile, "I think it's time I come back to the city, don't you?"
A flicker of hope, "You and Kahlia are moving back?"
Sokka can't help but wince. "Um, about that," scratching the back of his neck, "Kahlia and I are actually no longer married."
For the third time in 24 hours, Toph finds herself completely and utterly shocked. She sticks her pinky in her ear to clear out the wax, unsure if she heard correctly. "I'm sorry, what do you mean you're no longer married?"
Shrugging, "Kahlia and I got divorced."
Toph blinks, unsure what to make of this news. Perhaps if her skin wasn't still itching from her wounds, or perhaps if she hadn't already been shocked by her baby news, she'd have to capacity to think about what this all means. But right now, all she can do is sit, stupefied.
However - speaking of baby news - carefully, she prods, "But, what about…?"
Her question trails off, but Sokka knows what she's asking. He lets out a weighted sigh, bracing himself. There's no real graceful way to word this. "I'm not the father."
"Oh." Toph responds, still not quite grasping all that this latest revelation entails. Then, slowly, a look of compunction crosses her features as she realizes the deeper context of the situation. Not just of the end of his marriage, but how her own news must be construed, and the unfairness of it all.
"Oh." she says again, remorseful. Without thinking, her hand falls to her belly, "Sokka, I'm so-"
"No, Toph." Sokka shakes his head, interrupting her, "You don't need to apologize."
"But-"
"No," He interrupts again, adamantly. Her scoots himself on the bed until his legs are flushed against hers, then puts his hand over hers - the one resting on her belly. He needs her to feel him, to know the truth of his words as he promises, "Look, we've both made plenty of mistakes over the years. But this isn't one of them, okay?"
She lets of a meaningful breath, a mix of relief and regret. "You really mean that?"
"Well," Sokka nudges her, playfully, "If I'm being honest, two Beifongs is already a handful. I'm a little scared of what a third will be like."
"Pfft," she nudges him back, just as playfully. And just like that, Sokka knows that their wounds – the ones that no amount of bending can heal – have begun to mend.
A fond expression in his eyes, he tells her, "I'm happy for you, Toph. And I can't wait to welcome my newest niece or nephew home."
She nods, more at ease. Then, finally, for the first time since waking up, a tentative smile finds her lips. "Home? So, you really are here to stay?"
"Yeah." Sokka assures, simply. He pulls her in for another side hug and he feels the warmth bloom in his chest as Toph reciprocates, her arm wrapping around his torso as she leans into his side. It's an intimacy they haven't shared in many years, yet one that comes naturally.
There's so much he wants to say to her, and so much they still need to work through. But… Toph has had enough drama for one day, and quite frankly, she still seems a bit emotionally unraveled from it all. This is not the time nor the place to unwrap the meaning of their relationship. But, for once, time feels like a commodity that he can afford to spend. For now, this is enough.
They stay like that for a while, simply enjoying the quiet of each other's company, until Toph breaks the silence once more. "So, what now?"
What now? A loaded question, one which Sokka is not sure how to answer yet. "What was it you said about Republic City having a shitty legal system?"
"Sorry." Toph declares, somewhat sheepishly. Sokka did have a role in creating some of those laws, after all.
But Sokka doesn't take offence. Instead, "I was thinking that it's about time I run for office again. See if I can't make our legal system a little less shitty. What do you think?"
"I think..." Toph is quiet for another moment, clearly strained to find the words in her emotional state. But, simply, "I think that would be really great, Sokka."
Sokka smiles at her assurance. He gives her shoulder another squeeze before the pair falls into another companionable silence. Again, there's so much they need to deal with, and while time is on their side, the past 24 hours have also reminded Sokka how precious it is. Toph is alive and breathing now, but how easily he could have lost her. How easily he could have drowned.
Without much thought, Sokka tells her, "Yakone needs to go down."
Toph nods against his chest, tired, but determined, "We'll do it together."
AN
First and foremost, thank you to everyone for your patience, as it took me a LOT longer to get this chapter posted than I thought it would. Life has been busier as of late.
Buuuut it also may have taken me longer to post this because I was so nervous to, as I knew it would disappoint a lot of people. I know many of you already figured it out from the last chapter, but yes… in this story, Sokka is not Suyin's biological dad.
I initially wrote out this super long explanation for why I decided to go this route, but I'm not here to squash on or argue with anyone's headcanons. I personally enjoy reading "Sokka is Suyin's dad's theories," and believe me, it was something I thought a lot about, and it was by far the hardest decision to make while planning the story. But it was something I planned from the beginning (believe it or not, this was one of the first chapters I started writing back in April, so it's been weighing on my mind for a while). Just know that I have my reasons, both in terms of what I want for the characters, but also in terms of the narrative. It was a hard decision to make, but ultimately, this was the decision that felt right to me and for this story.
On another note. (kind of Spoiler Alert) I know this chapter was majorly dramatic. Some of you may be wondering: *when will it end!?* Lol, well…this story is of the "drama" genre, so the drama isn't quite over yet. But what I will say is that this was definitely a climax of sorts. The end of Act 2, if you will. So, while there may still be some dramatic moments coming up, I'd say it doesn't get more dramatic than this lol.
As always, thank you for reading. I hope that even if the reveals in the chapter disappointed you, you are still able to find enjoyment in the story as a whole.
Also, I'll try not to let so much time go by before the next update. Thanks again!