Title: Sisters
Author: Red Hawk K'sani
Word Count: 262
Warnings: Just know that this drabble takes place during and after The Chase (episode 2x08).
Characters: Katara, Toph
Katara has tried and tried to be sisterly with Toph, but really, the Earthbender is so rude and annoying! How can anyone blame Katara? She's tried to be nice and she gets nothing but contempt and taunts.
The Waterbender knows that, in her heart, even if she dislikes Toph, she still loves the girl like she loves Sokka and Aang. Toph is a sister to her, another person to join her strange little family.
She wants Toph to know this, but she doesn't know how to say it. Toph doesn't want and doesn't need acknowledgement or pity; she just wants to travel and fight to the best of her ability.
So when Toph goes off to leave them, it's a shock and a desperate plea for her not to go. She does anyway.
And when they face off with the psychotic Fire Princess, she returns to them.
It is the morning after the battle (late morning, for it has been such a long night without sleep), and Katara is awake and staring at the sky overhead and the awoken Toph next to her.
Katara sits with Toph on Appa's head. The Waterbender tells Toph softly, "You came back. Thank you."
Toph laughs. "You three would be nothing without me."
"Yeah." Katara drifts off. "I'm sorry I was so mean earlier." She stops again. Toph doesn't move her head. "I really admire you, you know."
Toph groans. "Oh, don't get all sentimental and weird on me, Katara!"
But Katara can see right through those words, for she can also clearly see Toph's smile.