Boom. Boom. Stutter. Stop.

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Stop.

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Sto-

"Hey Toph. You okay?"

The young girl jumped at the sound of her friends voice, hurriedly drawing mud stained fingers across her cheeks to get rid of the water that had somehow gotten there. The action left stains on her pale face, and she kept her head down to let her bangs hide it.

"Hi, Sokka," she said gruffly. She picked up a handful of dirt and let it run through her fingers.

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Stop.

She clenched her small fist tight, her knuckles turning white from the strain.

"Are you okay?" Sokka asked, walking closer and sitting cross-legged next to her. "Have you been crying?"

"No," she said, turning her head away. "I'm fine." She felt a hand under her chin, tilting her dirt-smeared face.

"Toph," the warrior said, concern obvious in his voice. "What's the problem? Are you hurt?"

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Stop.

The air was thick with tears and pain and fear. The ground was soaked in blood--the blood of both their enemies and of their comrades. And that blood soaked ground carried the vibrations of flailing movements, slowing movements, heartbeats that choked and death, and although she acted strong and put on a brave face, she was still only twelve. And no twelve-year-old should ever have to feel the dying heartbeats of their friends and comrades.

"I can feel it Sokka," the Blind Bandit whispered. "I can feel their hearts stop. I can feel them dying."

The young man made a surprised sound. "You can?" Toph just nodded mutely.

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Stop.

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Stop.

Boom. Boom. Stutter. Sto-

And then she couldn't feel the death anymore because two strong arms picked her up from her position on the ground, and lifted her onto soft, strong legs. She curled herself into his lap, her hands clenching fistfuls of his shirt and she let her tears soak into the material.

"There," Sokka said, and Toph could feel his voice vibrate through his chest. "Better?"

The young girl nodded, breathing in his scent of sweat and blood and comfort. She was well and truly blind now, because she had been taken away from her earth. But this time, she didn't mind.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.

One steady, rhythmic heartbeat, strong and loud. She could hear it and feel it, and it didn't stutter and it didn't stop. It was always there, just there, and it spoke of life and it promised no more death.

"Sokka?" She said softly, into his shirt. She closed her eyes and didn't look at him for a response.

"Yeah?" He said, tucking his chin on top of her head.

"Promise me you won't let your heart stop beating."

He laughed and the vibrations tickled her ears, and danced with his heartbeat.

"I promise."


And why am I writing this when I should be finishing other fanfics? Because I'm lazy! 8D