"Sokka!" Katara shouted at the sleeping form of her brother. He just lay there completely oblivious to the world around him. "Wake up its breakfast time!"

He immediately sat up eyes wide open. "I'm up."

Katara barely managed to stop herself from face palming. Of course he would get up solely for food. The world could be set on fire and he wouldn't give a damn save for the burning food.

They had been on their journey with Aang for many months now and sadly his sister seemed to have developed a small superiority complex toward Sokka. Toph seemed to have been born with hers but he still enjoyed being around her. Unlike his sister she actually joked about things instead of mercilessly being cruel.

With a sigh Sokka got up and made his way to their camp fire for food. Despite what his sister thought he always put up a front with everybody including her. No one knew what he really thought. Not one soul knew how smart he actually was nor how quiet. If he were to show his real self they would think he was glooming over something. He hated being the butt of everyone's jokes but that was the cover he had for himself and he would keep it until he could no longer bear it.

The Western Air Temple where they resided was completely desolate except for a few birds here and there and plenty of rooms to boot. Sokka had chosen an indoor room for himself to get away from everyone else. Ever since his plan had fallen through at the eclipse Katara's voice had been a bit more clipped as usual and her cold demeanor was kind of hurtful. Despite it though he still loved her. Even he hadn't expected Azula of all people to outwit him. He had to give her credit. She knew how to use people and knew how to perfectly exploit their weaknesses. Save for his big heart he truly didn't have any weaknesses but his front had a lot so his acting skills came in handy that day. But the one thing that caught him off guard was how Azula seemed to know he was acting.

Azula scared him on some level and Sokka didn't like it one bit. Before she ran off Sokka used a language that had been long forgotten centuries ago and called her on her own lies. She only smiled and said touché. The only reason he knew that language was because he had found a hidden book with an alphabet behind the first page when he was a small kid. He had kept it hidden since then not even sharing it with his father or sister. He had never shared it with any one.

The fact that Azula knew it left a dark blotch in his thoughts. No one but the Great Spirits knew it really.

"You think too much butterfingers." Toph said from beside him actually startling him.

"I do?" He asked with feigned innocence.

She looked in his direction with a knowing smile. "Yes you do. No one else sees it because you always pretend to be a big dummy. What I want to know is why?"

His blood seemed to freeze for a second.

"Must have hit the nail on the head judging by how your heart stopped for a second. You gonna tell me or am I gonna have to beat the answer out of you?"

Sokka looked at her with new found respect. For some reason he didn't mind that she knew about the real him. He felt he could trust her. "Can I tell you tonight after everyone is asleep?"

She smiled like she won the grand prize and nodded. "Sure but leave out any details and I'll knock you on your ass so fast you won't have time to comprehend what hit you."

He chuckled as she walked away. Toph always knew how to sweet talk anyone alright. Especially with her earth bending. But he really did cherish their friendship. It seemed like they knew each other from before they began this life and that was a great feeling he had. He enjoyed not being like the only one to feel so ancient in a way. Sokka had always paid attention to her and noticed long ago how wise she was. She reminded him of an old soul.

That's it!

His eyes widened as he realized that's what she might possibly be. If that were possible she would have a higher chance of remembering her past life or lives. And if she knew him before then she could help him to remember too but that would have to be her choice.

He turned around only to come face-to-face with his sister Katara. She glared at him.

"Can you at least go fetch us some water Sokka? You're just standing there." She turned and left towards the fire.

He looked after her with a sad expression oblivious to Aang and Toph watching him. They looked at each other with sympathy. They didn't really understand why she wanted to treat him like he was weaker than them when he contributed just as much. True he wasn't a bender but it was nice to have one normal person among them.

"I feel so sorry for Sokka. He loves Katara very much and because of that he won't say anything to her." Aang sighed.

Toph grunted in agreement. Butterfingers was too soft. She liked him still but his gooey insides were a bit excessive sometimes and true it took a while she started to realize how much effort Sokka seemed to put into acting like a buffoon so he could keep his real self hidden. She let him keep doing it while she watched and tried to learn more but she hadn't had much luck. He was like a vault shut tight without anyone able to get close to him. Katara may be his sister but the urge to knock her onto her sugar queen ass was getting to be a bit stronger every time she treated him like a nuisance.

With a sigh she closed her eyes and randomly thought how he could use a fire bender as a mate to protect him. Her eyes opened quickly as she thought about what she had said inside her head. For one why a fire bender? And two why did she think mate? Didn't animals mate?

"Fire bender?" Aang asked incredulously. "Why would Sokka need a fire bender?"

She blushed as she realized she had said that out loud.

"Uh, no reason just it seems like a fire bender would complement him more since he's from the southern water tribe. You know opposites attract thing?"

Aang thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah seems like a good idea. But where would we find a fire bender willing enough to be his protector?"

Toph snorted. "Who knows maybe we'll find one in the woods if we looked."

She didn't know how true those words would be.

"Come on twinkle toes time for practice." She ignored the groan of frustration that came from him.

Later that night Toph snuck out of her tent to talk to Sokka. She could feel his heart beat by the river above the cliff of the temple. Though she couldn't see she knew he was wearing a face of a solemn adult something that should look completely out of place on him.

"Well Butterfingers I'm waiting for your story." She smiled as she sat down.

With a sigh he looked up into the sky as if it would tell him something.

"Where do I even begin?" he whispered.

Toph chuckled. "The beginning."

"It all started when I was a kid. I had found this book in the snow near our tent but when I finally got it out I couldn't read it. It was in a different language." Sokka looked at her with a sigh. "After a few weeks I could actually read a few of the words though they were in a language I had never heard of. Then I discovered an alphabet in the back of the book and taught myself how to read and speak it. Since then I have always felt something was out there…waiting for me. I don't know it's just weird I suppose."

Toph snorted. "I'll tell you what it's not weird. Maybe it's coincidence."

"How so?" Sokka asked. "I mean could it really be coincidence that I found the book or was it just dumb luck?"

"Your luck is pretty dumb but it's what led you to this point in your life. The big question you have to ask yourself is if you want this. Though I guess it doesn't matter since we were given the destinies we were born with."

Sokka looked up at the stars he had come to love. "Yes but aren't we entitled to become powerful enough to change it?"

Toph looked at him in wonder. "I would like to think so."

He looked down at her with a smile. "You have changed your destiny Toph. I mean you went from a pampered, overprotected young lady into a strong, fierce and loyal warrioress. You also are very beautiful in my opinion so please don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

She smiled in gratitude and blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thanks."

"I guess you really want to know why I hide don't you."

"Yes I do. It would make me stop wondering if you have suicidal thoughts at least."

"S-suicidal thoughts? Did you really wonder that?" Sokka asked in shock.

Toph only nodded and gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

How could she have thought that? He sighed guessing it was only fair she had thought that. Seriously why would someone hide among his own friends if not to plot to end his life?

"I hide because something inside me tells me to. It's not a voice exactly but it's there all the same. Like a whisper of the past a feeling that I should silently look for something that I can't live without. There are some nights I have these dreams of wolves and dragons. Sometimes there are people with magic slaughtering these animals. I always have this urge to join the fight but in the back of my head I know I am protecting something very precious to me. I sometimes also envision myself in the sky flying past the clouds, past the stars it would seem and into a dark void as if to wait for my time to come back to my home. What are these dreams Toph?"

She whistled long and loud. "Sounds…intense. But to answer your question I don't really know. Maybe you aren't just looking for something but someone and maybe you are waiting to come home. Soul mates have been known to be the home one can return to and feel a sense of completeness. And this fight you see well perhaps it's a war you don't remember or a war that has yet to come. Who knows? Just be prepared for whatever comes your way butterfingers."

Sokka looked at her in confusion. She spoke in a sorrowful way. As if she remembered something painful.

A war I don't remember? What kind of war would that be?

"Toph…"

She hummed her attention.

"Do you remember your past life? Do I know you from then?"

With a smile Toph lifted her hand. "Take my hand if you think you can handle the truth and weight of a life you left unfinished."

A life left unfinished? For the love of god what was she talking about now?

He stared at her hand indecisiveness warring in his mind. Should he take her hand? Should he walk away? He truly wanted to remember to know what it was he was searching for, waiting for. With a last minute decision he took her hand with an absolute drive to know the answers he so coveted.

The shock that coursed through him was such a surprise it took his breath away and left him numb for a moment.

"So do you remember yet?" Toph asked in such a cheeky voice it annoyed him.

But he remembered. He remembered everything. He remembered failing his soul mate Zrae.

Or…Zuko as he was called in this life time.