The fourth time he told her he loved her, he made sure she knew it.
Sokka straightened his tunic for the fifteenth time that hour. He would deny to his last breath that he'd been counting, but only one person would ever know he was lying.
He stood in front of her door ready to knock with a sweaty fist. Instead, the door slid open and she stood before him, hands on her hips, wearing, of all things, a dress.
"It's about time you made it."
"Er...sorry?"
Toph lifted her eyebrows. "Was that a question?"
His mouth opened and closed several times as he searched for some kind of answer. "Um...I...well –"
She shook her head and stepped toward him. "Yep, same old Sokka." She pushed the door shut behind her. "So, are we going to this party or what? You know your sister will strangle us if we're late."
"Yeah," he said with a sigh of relief. "Let's go." He held out his arm, and she threaded her hand through it.
They walked in silence toward the ballroom, where the anniversary party was most likely in full swing. Sokka slowed their pace, knowing full well that if he was ever going to say it, he had to do it before they got inside.
He took a deep breath. It was time.
"How was your trip?"
Toph's sudden question derailed his thought process. Unfortunately, it also made him trip over his own foot. It was only by some miracle of balance that he managed to stay upright.
"You okay?" He nodded, but didn't respond. She stopped walking and turned to face him. "What's going on? You're awfully quiet." He knew she was holding back the urge to stomp her foot.
Sokka sighed as he took her hands. "I have something to tell you." Horror washed over her face. "No, it's not bad," he quickly added. "I've told you before, but it's time I said it." He leaned toward her until he was a breath away from her ear. "I love you," he whispered.
She leaned back and put her free hand on his cheek. "It's about time," she whispered back. Her hand reached around to the back of his neck as she pulled his lips to meet hers.
The first time she told him she loved him, he most definitely noticed.
A/N: Originally, Sokka was going to go into a kind of word vomit, but he's been so smooth up to this point, and he's stuttering and tripping over his own feet already, I though it was enough.
Anyone interested in reading the original?