The Best Romances

Deserve Second Chances

Chapter 2

"The Court"

Dedicated to D0omkitty, And yes that's a ZERO.

Toph was still asleep, when Sokka checked on her at dawn. Today, he was going to work out, as he did every other day. He would first jog up the beach to the town, and jog back to the beach house. The round trip took about an hour, and today he jogged all the way to town, and sprinted back home. As a hunter he figured out at a young age, that he would have to sprint to chase his prey, so he was also a great sprinter, and he made sure to keep up his endurance. All the years of his life, he had accumulated many miles by running and sprinting. The lifetime effort had tightened his thighs and calves. They resembled steel springs, as they retained and released energy. When he got back to the house, not even out of breath, he checked on Toph again, who was now lightly snoring, and he went to the weight room, to continue the work out. He grabbed two fifty pound dumbbells in each hand. Needless to say, but he pumped some iron, working up a sweat, and he went to a punching bag, and practiced his jabs, and kicks. His jabs let out a loud wheeze from the bag, as it lost air, but the kicks practically deflated the bag of air, only leaving the firm padding inside. The kicks were thunderous, and the jabs were the lightning. He would jab and then kick, the sounds produced followed the order of nature, lightning first and then the thunder. Now dripping with sweat, he grabbed a towel and wiped his brow dry. He took off his tank-top, and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. When done, he was greeted with the sight of Toph feeling her way to the bathroom, her hand on the wall, as she couldn't see on the wooden floor.

"Here Toph, let me help you. Where are you trying to head to?" Sokka asked concerned.

"The little girl's room. Someone has to pee."

"Take my hand." Sokka stretched out his hand.

"I can't see your hand. Just put it on my shoulder."

Sokka put his hand on Toph's shoulder, and Toph's mind was flooded with the information of Sokka. He was only wearing a towel, that was tightly wrapped around his waist. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest, and his beating heart. She blushed at the image Sokka gave her in her mind, and Sokka guided Toph to the bathroom.

"Omm...Sokka?" Toph asked timidly.

"Yes, Toph?"

"Could you wait outside the door for me?"

"Sure. I'll be waiting right here." as he knew Toph would need help navigating the house after doing her 'business'.

Toph smiled and closed the bathroom door. She felt the warm steam prickle her bare legs. She still wore her shirt, but she had to take it off during the night, as she got hot during a dream with Sokka. Her top covered most of her underwear, and she felt around for the toilet. Her hand landed on the counter top for the sink, and her hand slipped off the stone slab from the build up steam. She fell forward, and let out a deathly shrill. She put out her hands, just in time to catch the ground, and now she was on all fours. Sokka kicked the door down, literally, and the door hung on one hinge. The sight he was greeted with, was with Toph's derriere up in the air, her on all fours, and she was in her panties. Sokka was immediately flustered at the sight, and covered his eyes, to spare Toph some embarrassment.

"SOKKA?" Toph yelled still on her arms.

"Yes, Toph?"

"Wait, you sound like you are in the bathroom."

"I am. I kicked down the door, when I heard you scream."

"So what are you seeing?"

"Well, I saw your butt in the air, but now my eyes are covered."

Toph blushed from embarrassment, she knew she was only in her panties, and she tried to get up, but her hand was stuck.

"Sokka, my hand is stuck, can you help me?" Toph said in a whisper. She hated asking for help.

"Yes, I can."

Sokka stepped forward, and uncovered his eyes. He had stepped past Toph's butt, and he bent down to see what her hand was stuck on. Her hand had caught the shower curtain, and made it fall down. Her scream must have covered the crashing of the curtain and of the door. He untangled her hand, and when he made contact with her, Toph saw that Sokka hadn't changed out of his towel, and that in his kneeling position, she felt something hang. She blushed at the image when she figured out what it was, and Sokka rose her to her feet.

"There, good as new." Sokka said to Toph.

"Sokka, where is the toilet?" Toph was embarrassed as she had to ask that question.

"Here."

Sokka sat Toph down on the toilet, which was still covered. She waited till she heard him leave, and attempt to close the broken door.

"Can you see me?" Toph asked.

"No, Toph I can't."
"I trust you. Stay there when I come out."

"Okay."

Toph did her business, and washed her hands. Once her hands were clean, she opened the door, and tripped on the bathroom rug. Sokka caught her, with her small face landing on his abdomen. Toph whispered her thanks, into his eight pack, and he picked her up to her feet. He took her hand, and lead her to his room. So he could change into some clean clothes.

"Now you can wait outside my door, as I change." Sokka said, as he stopped in front of his door.

"Fine, it's not like I'm going to see anything, Snoozles." he was unaware of the full extent she had already saw of him just today.

"I know that, but I would feel more comfortable with you outside."

"Okay, Sokka. I'll wait right here." and she stomped her foot to seal the deal.

Sokka opened his door, and he kept it open, as Toph said, she couldn't see anything. This way Sokka could keep an eye on Toph. He grew embarrassed as he noticed that he kept looking at her when his towel was off his body. He put on some underwear and some clean clothes.

"Sokka?"

"Toph?" Sokka mimicked Toph's voice.

"I need to put on some clothes too, you know."

"Okay. Well I'm done changing so let me take you to your bed..." Sokka paused at what he was saying, finally caught up with what he was hearing.

"Don't end that sentence there bub." Toph threatened.

"room." Sokka finished.

"Good boy, now take my hand." Toph outstretched her hand, but it was no where near Sokka's position.

Sokka turned Toph around so that her hand, hit has body,

"I'm over here Toph." Sokka teased, adding some layers to his voice.

"Oh, are you now?" Toph said now trailing idle fingers across his clothed chest.

"Yeah." Sokka said as he put both of his hands on her shoulders.

"Well, I wouldn't want to lose you now?"

"Maybe we shouldn't have this conversation with you in your panties."

Toph blushed as Sokka said panties, and she allowed him to lead her to her bedroom. Her clothes were scattered all over the place, and her bed was a mess.

"Tell, you what. If you find my skirt, I'll let you put it on for me." Toph said.

"And if I don't?"

"You'll see." Toph teased adding some sultry to her voice.

"Found them."

"That was fast! How did you do that?"

"I saw them, with my eyes." Sokka said.

"Oh, that better not be an insult mister mister." Toph said and she jacked him the arm.

Sokka ignored the tickling sensation that ran through his arm, and he bent down to pick up the skirt. Toph was rubbing her fist, in pain. She never knew that someone's arms could get that rock solid. Sokka turned around, and saw Toph rubbing her fist, and figured out that she punched him the arm.

"Okay, I have them, now what?"

"Put me on the edge of the bed." Toph ordered.

Sokka scooped her up into his arms, and she giggled in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck to support herself. He sat her down on her bed, and he stood on the floor, he wasn't going to tempt fate and sit on her bed.

"Okay? Now what?" Sokka asked.

"Put in to my body."

As Toph said this, she brought her legs together, and fully extended them into the air. To counter balance her legs, she had to put the rest of her body lying down on the bed. Sokka could only stare at her legs. He figured that all girls were flexible, but Toph must have been practicing, as she did the feat effortless. Sokka looked up and down her legs, and stopped at her butt. He saw now that her panties barely covered, what was underneath, and with Toph's legs together, the panties stuck to the skin like tight leather. The picture she produced wasn't helped Sokka keep his cool.

"Anytime now Sokka." Toph said.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

Sokka took her shirt and put it over her legs, and when her got down to her knees, she gave him a gesture to finish the job. As he got closer to her waist, she lifted up her hips, to allow the skirt to slid under her body. Now fully clothed, Toph got up, and hugged the man, for an unknown reason.

"Thanks Sokka. Now make me breakfast, I'm starving."

"Right."

Sokka lead her to the kitchen and he made her some eggs and tea. The same meal they had yesterday. They ate in silence, with Sokka thinking about the two scrumptious positions he had seen Toph in this morning. He took Toph's plate, and began to wash them.

"Sokka, we need to go to town, so I can get my message from Zuko today."

"I know. I just finished the dishes, let's go."

Sokka again took Toph's hand and lead her to the beach, and when she made contact with her element, she visibly relaxed. It was a windy day, which reminded Sokka about the Air Nomads, and he wondered if they would have mailed him a letter by now. Still hand in hand, Toph and Sokka walked to the mail office, and not surprisingly Toph had received a letter. Instead of handing it to the post master, she handed it to Sokka, who read it to her.

Dear Toph,

I need you to come to the Fire Nation Palace, immediately. I need you here. Also I know about Sokka. Bring him along as well.

-Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Mai

"That's weird." Toph said.

"What is? Him knowing about me?"

"No, the 'Fire Lady Mai' part. He never included her in his signature."

"Really? Because I'm still confused about the whole 'I know about Sokka' part." Sokka said imitating Zuko's voice.

"Easy, he's been spying on me."

"And you let him?"

"Hey, he's running his Nation how he wants to."

"Okay, but how are we going to get to the Fire Nation Palace?" Sokka asked.

"Read the back of it." the post master said.

"I've sent you my valet. His name is Doc. Treat him well." Sokka read a loud.

"Doc. That's a stupid name." Toph commented.

Toph and Sokka walked outside, to be greeted by, Doc. He is an old man, who drives an komodo-rhino cart.

"Well, this looks to be promising." Sokka whispered to Toph.

"It should be." Toph whispered back.

"Hiya! I'm Doc!" Doc said.

Sokka remembered Doc from the village where Katara helped by dressing up as the Painted Lady. He hasn't changed one bit.

"Hey! Doc!" Sokka said back as he remembered the man's face, Sokka never forgot a face.

"You two ready to go?"

"I am. Toph?" Sokka asked.

"Yes. Let's go."

Sokka boarded the cart, and helped Toph on board. With a quick snap of the reigns the cart lurched forward and picked up speed. The cart ride was mostly in silence, and the couple had to get off in the late afternoon, so the cart could board on a ferry to the main island. The couple was dropped off at the Palace late at night. Zuko was waiting for them as they arrived.

"Good, I'm glad you two are here." Zuko said in a rush.

"What's going on?" Toph asked, taking control of the situation.

"I'll tell you after dinner. Mai had insisted." Zuko said with a defeated tone.

Toph's and Sokka's eyes lit up, they hadn't had anything to eat all day. Their stomachs roared in pleasure at the sound of dinner. Mai had prepared a giant feast for the two guests. She knew that they could eat their body weight in meat, and drink a good fill. They was no drinking limit in the Fire Nation, but it was common knowledge not to serve anyone alcohol who was under the age of six-teen. So Sokka was poured a glass of wine, while Toph was stuck with water. Sokka asked for two glasses of wine, and he was quickly given two. He handed the second glass to Toph, and Mai and Zuko smiled at the small gesture. The drinking water in the Fire Nation was pitiful. It was full of bacteria, grime, and trash, and not to mention the taste. The alcohol in the wine, killed off any germs and the fruit that was used to make it added it's own flavor to the glass. Toph made sure not to drink so much, as she was still fifteen. Toph couldn't hold her own against the much older Sokka, Zuko, and Mai. The dinner was full of meats and salads. Sokka and Toph helped themselves till they were full, and they were about to pass out from a food coma. Mai showed Sokka to his room, and Zuko showed Toph to her room. Mai and Sokka got along quite well, and talked about each other. Sokka and Mai had always seen each other as more as friends from the very start. They saw each other as fellow warriors, and non-benders, living in a bending world. Zuko and Toph mainly talked about how the Peace Enforcing was going, and Zuko raised up the idea that Toph and Sokka should become a couple. He didn't know that Sokka and Toph already saw each other as boyfriend and girlfriend.

Toph and Sokka's rooms were next to each other, one across the hallway from the other. They slept comfortably, and dreamed of each other. Sokka awoke from the night, having night sweats. He walked out of his room, only with his pants on. He walked to the end of the hallway, which opened up to a small balcony that was under the stars. Sokka was dreaming that Toph was dying, and that he couldn't do anything to help her. He felt helpless and unwanted. Toph felt Sokka get up. As her bed was low to the floor, she had a hand on the floor, hanging over the side of the bed. She followed suit, except this time she had changed into her night gown to sleep in. It was a pure white fabric, it had light green ribbons flowing through it, and was semi see through. It draped over her feet and dragged against the marble floor.

"Sokka? You all right?" Toph asked wrapping her arms around his front.

"I had a nightmare. You were dying, and I couldn't save you."

"Well, I'm not dying Sokka."

"I know, but it means more than that. I couldn't save you, like how I couldn't save Yue, or my mother."

"Sokka..."

"I won't lose you Toph."

"I won't lose you Sokka."

They stood there, Toph's head in Sokka's back, her arms around his waist. The wind picked up and blew Toph's hair to tickle Sokka's back.

"Tell me about the stars." Toph said.

"When you hair touched my back, some stronger than others. It's like that. Except there are more of them. It just takes my breath away, whenever I look at them."

Toph felt Sokka's chest tighten, and she figured that he was looking at the stars, and they stole his breath away. She took her hair, and grabbed a lock of it. That lock she brushed over her hand, and felt each and every strand touch her hand, and she lost her breath. To her that was the closest thing to the stars she had, and she was never going to let it go. Sokka turned around, and kissed Toph on the head, and said that he was going to go back to bed. Toph let him go, and felt him go into his room, take off his pants, and slip into his bed. She stood out there, with the wind blowing at her hair nestling her back. She smiled, and returned to her room, and slept.

The next morning Sokka and Toph woke up at the same time, and went down for breakfast. Breakfast was meat, a fruit bowl, milk, tea, and eggs. They ate with some of the servants as it was late in the morning. They received word from a servant that Zuko wishes to see them in the Palace Room. They walked into the room, that was held up by many thick columns, and saw Zuko sitting on his throne, behind a wall of red fire. The wall died away, and Zuko spoke as Toph and Sokka knelt down before the Fire Lord.

"I suppose now would be the best time to tell you why you are here."

Toph and Sokka nodded.

"Someone is trying to kill me."

To be continued.

Yeah TOKKA! Some Toph and Zuko and Sokka and Mai action there HAHA. It's minor, but yes it was intended be like that. Again D0omkitty better like this or else! Again I love writing for this story, more now than TEOT O.O. I'm a traitor. Oh and big cliff hanger there.

EDIT: I proofread this chapter and fixed some mistakes. I'm sure I found most of them. Tell me if you see any more. THANKS! I loved writing the opening scene.

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