Chapter 8: Forgiven

Sokka helped Toph into his bed and sighed. She was at it again; sneaking off while he was steering the ship from the deck, hoping to give her some rest. Sokka ignored Toph as she yelled at him.

"Why do you have to be such an ass Snoozles? I just want some air!" she muttered, delivering a blow to his shoulder. Sokka looked up, surprised to have heard the nickname she had yet to call him since he had found her again. He ignored it, chalking it up to Toph trying to butter him up to sneak off again and laughed.

"I'm an ass because you have a flesh-wound and want to go frolicking around the boat." Toph punched him in the shoulder again. "Ow! What was that for?" he asked, rubbing the tender meat of his shoulder. Toph rolled her eyes.

"Do I look like I 'frolic' to you?" Sokka laughed at her and shrugged.

"No, I guess not. Not while you're in my clothes. However, one could assume from the outfit I met you in that frolicking is a possibility." Toph lifted a hand, but didn't slap him.

"What are you saying?" she questioned, her hand still raised as if debating on whether to strike him. Sokka rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well…it's just…a nice outfit?" he asked, waiting to be hit. An evil smile enveloped Toph's face.

"Admit it Sokka, you thought I was hot!" Sokka stepped backwards, and raised his palms towards her.

"Toph, I don't think that we should discuss this." Toph tilted her head slightly, and smiled demonically.

"I think we should. Admit it Sokka, you've fallen in love with me, just like I said you would. And now, I don't want you." Sokka felt his stomach drop as if her words had hurt him. And they had.

"Toph, I didn't say that." Toph shrugged and leaned back. Sokka stared at her, and realized the rightness of her being in his clothing. He realized the rightness of her being in his head. All at once, he realized the rightness of her in his life. Toph was right; he loved her, and it was too late. Sokka turned away from the beautiful sight of her stretched out on his bed in his clothes, and made a break for the door. Toph struggled to sit up at the sound of his retreating footsteps.

"Sokka, are you alright? I was just messing with you." Her voice was laced with genuine concern. Sokka shook his head and shut the door behind him.

Toph sat in the silence that Sokka had created and wondered if she had truly hurt him. She was just kidding; after two years she hardly believed that Sokka suddenly loved her. They had been friends for so long before that, and then…then Toph threw all of it away on some whim that she could make him love her.

Toph had no illusions in the role she had played in the downfall of their friendship. If she hadn't been so hardheaded and mean, they would still be friends. But, she'd be damned before she would tell him that. So, for the past two years she had avoided him, hoping that they could someday go back to the way things had been before. And yet, when the opportunity presented itself, she let fear get the best of her and she was being mean purely as a defense mechanism. Truthfully, she was so happy just to be around him again. If she had had any doubts before about still loving him, it was clear to her now that she still did. Toph still loved Sokka, and he still didn't feel the same.

Sokka inhaled the salty air and held his arm out as soon as he spotted Hawky flying towards his ship. The messenger hawk perched onto his arm, and Sokka took the scroll. As he read, his eyes widened and he fell to his knees.

"Oh no…" he whispered. Sokka slammed his fist into the deck of the boat, and he screamed. "I'll kill her! I'll fucking kill her!" he swore, his face filled with undeniable pain and unmistakable rage. Toph put a hand on his shoulder, the other arm wrapped around her waist.

"Sokka, what's wrong? What happened?" she asked. Sokka gripped her hand as if it would save him.

"It's Azula. She's kidnapped Kira." He whispered, and Toph knelt beside him, wrapping her arms around his shaking body.

"Oh spirits! Sokka, I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do?" Sokka nodded slowly.

"We're going to get you to Katara for starters. Once she heals you, then you and I, and Aang and Katara are going to travel to Zuko's palace and get him and Mai. Then, we'll plot our next move. Azula said she'll send her demands once we're all together." Toph nodded and held Sokka tighter, offering her strength. Sokka hugged her back, clutching at the back of her shirt…well…his shirt. Toph stroked his hair and buried her face in his neck.

"We're going to get her back Sokka. She's going to be fine. Whatever Azula wants, it's clear that it isn't Kira." Sokka nodded, enjoying the comfort that her embrace brought, and smiled.

"Are you going to hurt me for this later?" he quipped, feeling slightly better than when he had first read the letter. Toph pretended to mull it over.

"I guess I can let it go just this once Snoozles." She replied, snuggling further into his neck. Sokka took a moment to savor the feeling, knowing that they would probably never be this close again. Toph pulled away, and tugged on the collar of his shirt. "Sokka, when you undressed me, did you notice anything?" Sokka blanched and quickly shook his head.

"I wasn't looking! I swear Toph!" Toph rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"That's not what I meant, but thanks for degrading me." Sokka stared at her crossly.

"Wait, what? What are you talking about?" Toph rolled her eyes again and punched him lightly.

"Most women like to think that they have something worth looking at." Sokka laughed.

"Most women don't have men believing that they'll be crushed for attempting it." Toph managed a laugh.

"That's true Meathead. I probably would have crushed you. What I meant was…have you seen this?" She lifted up his tunic and turned around. On the back of her neck was a tattoo of the moon and on her shoulder was a lone, gray wolf, howling. Sokka's eyebrows shot up; he kicked himself mentally for not noticing sooner.

"Toph, when did you get that, and why?" Toph smiled.

"I like to tell people that I was really drunk when I got it." She teased. Sokka gave her a quizzical look and then a light clicked on in his head.

"Katara didn't!" he stated. Toph smirked and pulled the shirt back down, wincing with the effort.

"Yeah, she did. Sugar-queen told me that you got yourself branded while you were drunk. I just wanted to see what it felt like." She said, acting like they were discussing the weather.

"Is there significance in it?" he asked, his heart racing at the thought of her knowing he had gotten a tattoo that was meant to represent her. But, maybe she didn't know that part of it.

"Is there significance in yours?" she challenged. Sokka pressed a hand to his chest and sighed.

"You tell me and I'll tell you." he compromised. Toph nodded and smirked again.

"I figured that since you were the first in our little group to get a tattoo, mine would focus on you. I always liked your perky wolf's tail, and you were always fond of the moon, so I had them do a moon and wolf." Sokka nearly choked at the thought; sure he had gotten a tattoo to remind him of her, but he never would have fathomed that she would do the same. "Your turn," she smiled, looking more pleased than he felt. Sokka took a deep breath and began.

"Well, I wasn't drunk when I got it. I was feeling really down, and I kept thinking about you and how I must have upset you a lot." Toph glared at him.

"You got a tattoo out of guilt?" she demanded. Sokka put a hand over her mouth.

"Let me finish. I really missed you and I knew that no matter what you may have said to Aang and Katara, I was the reason you were gone. I wanted to be reminded of that daily, so that I could never forget that I had hurt you. I guess that even without the tattoo I still couldn't forget. Anyway, I thought about getting the symbol of the Earth Kingdom, but it didn't seem personal enough. So…I got a tattoo of a badger-mole's face…right over my heart." Toph stared at him for several painfully long minutes. Then, tears filled her eyes and she brought her hand to his chest. She slipped her hand into his shirt and felt the scarred skin. She pulled her hand out and threw her arms around him.

"You're forgiven Sokka." She whispered, her voice laced with tears. Sokka smiled and wrapped his arms around her, and then kissed her forehead.

"It's about damn time." He laughed, the sound somehow closing the gap that had formed between them.

Aang and Katara jumped up as Sokka opened the gate to their home. Katara stared at Sokka for a moment before glancing at his companion. Toph had changed back into the outfit she had been attacked in after Sokka had cleaned and sewn it up. Her long hair was down, and her shaggy bangs covered her eyes.

"Let me get this straight. You run off to find Toph and apologize, and you come back with some hot new girlfriend?" Katara yelled, and Aang gently poked her.

"Katara," he whispered. "I think that is Toph." Toph and Sokka both laughed, and she released her grip on his arm. Katara ran to Toph and wrapped her arms around her.

"Spirits Toph! You look so…so…"

"Hot?" Toph supplied. Katara laughed and let go. Toph winced and touched her stomach. "So…you think you can work your magic on my stomach? I got hurt…and I'm hoping that it won't scar." Katara smiled and nodded.

"Of course I can. You come with me while Aang and Sokka develop a plan of attack." The girls headed into the house, and Sokka stared at his brother.

"Shit Aang. What are we going to do?" he asked, his blue eyes worried. Aang looked back at Sokka, worry engraved in his eyes as well, and shrugged.

"The only thing we can do. We get Zuko and Mai, wait for Azula's next letter, and then do whatever she wants. I suppose if worse comes to worst, I can just take away her bending." Sokka stared at the young man, wondering where his strength was coming from. As if on cue, Aang began to cry, and Sokka pulled the young man into an embrace.

"Don't worry, we'll get her back." He whispered, praying that he was right.

A/N: Okay, so here is this chapter. Hopefully it didn't seem too rushed. Um, thanks again to all of you who are reviewing. When I get this thing finished, you will all be given recognition. I'm not sure if I will be able to get another chapter up tonight, but I will certainly try. Thanks for reading, and please continue to do so. Reviews always welcome. ~Kirsten