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Suddenly I See
Chapter Six
"It's really good to hear your voice saying my name, it sounds so sweet,
Coming from the lips of an angel, hearing those words it makes me weak."
Pillow
They had made it back to the camp safe and sound, no problems there, and they hadn't needed to speak a word of what had happened to anyone. Katara would only have flipped out, no doubt about that, Suki would have been likely to follow in her footsteps, and Aang would have worried himself silly. All in all, they were getting off keeping their mouths firmly shut. Besides, its not as if anything spectacular had happened. They had just been one or two rogue warriors; nothing more, nothing less.
Something still bothered Sokka, though.
It was instinct that had made him protect Toph. He would always protect her without a second thought or one for his own safety – it was second nature and he had done it for years. What he couldn't understand was just what had made him so infuriated. Not at the enemies, although he now despised them with a burning passion, but at himself.
The look he had seen in her eyes while she had been sitting there in their company, entirely alone, kept reappearing in his mind, the memory repeating itself, reminding him of how horribly he had failed at defending her. The emotions that had showed up in her eyes; horror, worry, disappointment – they were all his fault. It he had only looked out for her better… he wouldn't be stuck with this awful, sickly sweet feeling of guilt.
He had to see her.
He stood outside of her tent for Spirits knows how long before finally plucking up the courage to enter. If she didn't want to see him then, naturally, he wouldn't blame her – it was only the reaction he was expecting. He just wanted to check that she was alright, that she was safe. He peered into her tend, careful with his actions. "Toph? Can I come in?"
She glanced at him and nodded slowly, wrapping her arms securely around herself a little more firmly. Hesitantly, Sokka made his way over to her and took a seat on the ground next to her. He watched her for a long moment, trying to figure out what she was thinking, how her mind was working. He had never been very good at that, even when the answer was staring him in the face, but somehow it had always been easier with Toph. Though he suddenly felt strangely distant from her, even more so than he had as of late.
She rested her head against him, her face hidden against his arm. "Thank you…" she whispered, as if only finding her voice, barely loud enough for him to hear. He distinguished the tone of her voice easily; trust. Another tear at his heart.
He didn't deserve her trust. He had let her down far too many times recently and tonight especially… How could she still have faith in him? It had only just hit him, square in the face; he hadn't been much of a friend either. It had been such a long while since he had last talked to her properly that she practically felt like a stranger. He wasn't sure she was still the Toph he used to know and love.
Love?
"Toph…" he started, shifting away from her slightly, "I…"
She didn't give him time to finish. She spoke over him before he could even think up the right words to say and carry on in his sentence. "Don't," her voice was still soft, gentle, something that only increased Sokka's feeling of guilt. But when she looked up at him she was smiling, just as she used to. "It's not your fault, okay Snoozles?" She punched his arm playfully, just the way he remembered.
He muttered a quiet "ow" but smiled all the same. He really had been fretting over nothing. Toph was perfectly fine; she didn't blame him at all. He sighed with relief. "You had me worried, you know."
"You worry too much," was all she replied with, stating it as if it were a fact and leaning closer to him, her head reclaiming it's previous position on his shoulder. He stroked her hair absently but found that even when he became aware of his actions, he didn't want to stop. It was comforting, just to sit here with Toph. He didn't need to make her laugh to be with her; they had an understanding with one another, regardless of their recent lack of interaction.
Sokka couldn't explain it. Being with Toph felt far more natural than being with Suki. There was no effort needed; they slotted together flawlessly, completing one another. They didn't have to act, it didn't matter what they said. They both accepted each other for who they work, took the good and the bad. And it suddenly hit Sokka why. It hit him hard, and it hit him fast.
He loved her.
"And I never wanna' say goodbye, but girl you make it hard to be faithful
With the lips of an angel."
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