Of Spoken Words: Acceptance

"Listen, love isn't something you can just have. Confessing to me…saying those things…you have to understand that this relationship between us has to grow. My own feelings for you…I'm still having trouble understanding what they are."

"Well obviously, you're smitten with me and, as a child, still don't understand what it is you're feeling."

"I—maybe it's true…but I still need time. I need—"

"Why did you kiss me then?"

"Because it seemed good at that time?" Toph curled her hands into fists and spoke hesitantly, "I've lead a sheltered life, Azula. I couldn't read and my parents treated me as this…fragile thing. I know nothing about love or friendship or who not to trust. I don't know what to do; most of the time, I just act out of instinct."

"Toph—"

"I need to talk to Katara…"

"I need to talk to Katara," Toph whispered to herself. Burying her face in her hands, she let out a frustrated sigh and dropped to the ground. "As if it's that simple."

"Toph, I need to talk to you."

Why am I not surprised? Toph closed her eyes and rolled to her side. Katara sighed. "Please, Toph…at least listen to me."

"I'm all ears, Sugar Queen."

Katara leaned back, her eyes looking up at the stars sadly. "I'm afraid, Toph," she admitted. "I'm afraid of Red. I'm afraid she's replacing me. I'm afraid she's corrupting Aang. I'm afraid—"

"You're afraid of seeing us lose our humanity to the war," Toph cut in. "And more importantly, you're afraid of losing Aang to the Fire Lord."

"Yes…yes, I am."

"Don't worry, Katara; I'll look out for him," Toph said, giving the waterbender a small smile.

Katara giggled. "Oh, Toph, you're such a joker."

"I am?"

"Oh come on…look after him?" Katara asked. "That's just so funny."

"Haha. So I'm a source of entertainment now, huh? What blind joke do you want me to say next?" She snapped. Shivering, she hugged herself and burrowed her cheek against the rough stone floor. "I'm sorry, Katara. I'm just—"

"Tired? I know what you mean." She reached out for the young girl's shoulder, intent on placing her hand there, and hesitated. "I understand if you don't want to talk to me."

Toph turned and caught Katara's hand with hers. "It's not that I don't want to talk to you," she whispered. "Actually, I have something to tell you too. Only…I don't know how to tell you just what it is I want to say."

"Then I'll start," She said, letting go of Toph's hand before moving into a sitting position. "I don't understand Aang anymore. He was…before Red arrived, he was this good-natured kid who really cared about the people. Now? All he cares about is…killing the Fire Lord."

"That's not true, Katara. He still cares about the people," Toph spoke. "He's just trying to be strong; he's just trying to become the adult he should have been years ago."

"But he doesn't have to, Toph. He—"

"He doesn't know that. For centuries, the Avatar has always faced his or her destiny alone. Friendship was…insignificant when it came to fixing the balance of the world. In the end, it was always the power of the Avatar that would save the day."

"So you're saying we should just let him carry the weight of the world all by himself?"

Toph moved into a sitting position as well and shook her head. "No, Katara. I'm saying we have to let him know that it isn't just his burden to carry."

"Oh," Katara looked down. "You know," she murmured, her index finger tracing a line only she could see, "you rarely show this serious side of yours."

Toph laughed. "That's because there's usually no need for me to show it. Besides, don't you always go to Aang when something's wrong?"

Katara sighed. "Not today, Toph. I don't think I can face him right now."

"As an earthbender, I'd tell you to get over yourself and just confront him." Toph said bluntly. "As a friend though…I'd do this." Toph placed her hand on Katara's shoulder and pulled her close, letting Katara lean against her.

The young waterbender closed her eyes. "Thank you, Toph."

Toph's grip tightened. "Eventually, Katara, you know he's gonna have to kill him."

Katara looked up at Toph sorrowfully. "I know, Toph. I know…" Sighing, she pulled herself away. "What was it that you want to tell me again?"

"Oh, that…" Toph gulped. "Katara, I—" She hesitated and bit her lip. "I have this friend—"

"Friend, huh?" Katara asked. Although her voice still carried a tinge of bitterness, her eyes danced in amusement. "And I suppose this friend of yours is also blind and—"

"Alright already! There's this girl who likes me." Toph said and crossed her arms. "And I don't know how to respond."

"Girl? I don't remember telling you—"

"Not you, Sugar Queen." Toph said and stuck her tongue out. "Just…a girl, okay?"

Katara smiled. "Well? Go on."

Toph blinked. "Aren't you, I don't know…disgusted or something? You know, because she's a girl?"

"Oh come on, after I found out Sokka likes Longshot, I—oops?" Katara winced. "I wasn't supposed to say that."

"Don't worry…he told me already."

"Really?" Katara sounded relieved. "I guess that's alright then."

Toph made a face and sighed. Taking the stone Azula had given her out of her pocket, she rubbed it thoughtfully. "She told me she liked me but…I don't know if I like her back."

Katara nodded. "Ok, we'll start with that. Two questions," she said. "First…just who is this person? And second, what do you feel whenever you're with her?"

"She's…someone you know, someone you might not like…and someone who confuses me. A lot." Toph said. "And for the second one…I guess I—" She shook her head. "I don't exactly understand what it is I'm feeling." She hugged her knees and closed her eyes. "No, that isn't right. I do know what I feel…I just don't know if it's real or not."

"And why do you say that?"

"Because I've had this major crush on Sokka since the first day we met. When she told me her feelings…at first I was shocked. I didn't know if I had feelings for her then. I just know that I'm not against it. The thing is, when Sokka told me he liked someone else…I don't know if I'm—"

"You don't know if you're doing this out of the need to have someone love you or because you actually like the person."

"Yes, I don't." Toph smiled bitterly. "You're making me feel like an idiot."

"Hey, that's what friends do," Katara said and smiled back. "But you didn't exactly answer my second question."

Toph rolled her eyes. "You just want to get all the juicy details, don't you, Sugar Queen?"

Katara beamed. "Of course!"

Toph leaned against a rock wall she had bended with a single gesture and stretched her legs. "When I'm with her, I'm happy I guess, because I don't always have to be the tough earthbending teacher or the strong but silent comrade who's always ready to fight. Even things I've never liked before seems interesting whenever she talks about it." She sighed. "She's a fun person, despite her being—"

Katara frowned. "Despite her being what?"

Toph remained silent.

"There's something you're not telling me." Katara said suspiciously.

"It's not my secret to tell." Toph said and looked up determinedly. "So you're not getting it out of me, no matter what you do."

Katara smiled. "Well, my friend, if you're willing to defend that person…then don't you think your feelings for her are real?"

"I—" Toph hesitated and smiled. "Yeah…maybe it is."

"I just hope you make the right decision," Katara said and placed her hand on top of Toph's.

The girl closed her hand into a fist. "Me too."

A/N: Lalala. I'm not gonna make this fic into a Katara/Toph. Lalala.

My brain has already fallen asleep so I'm afraid I'll have to cut this short (the author's notes of course...). Just one last question before I go. Who do you want Aang to end up with? Ty Lee, Mai or Meng? This isn't a poll so if you only give me a name well...too bad. If you want me to pair him up with one of those three, you'll just have to convince me. (And please keep in mind that whoever he pairs up with will also affect whoever I'm pairing Zuko with; my choices for him are: Ty Lee, Mai or Smellerbee)

Oh! And that Sokka/Longshot fic I promised is already finished. All you have to do, is look for it now.