A. N. : Sometimes you'll fight to get some control over your life, while other times it's almost a relief to be told "no, that's out of your hands". It's a difficult balancing act, and all of the kids in this story are struggling with it on some level. Maybe we all are, in a way. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter !

Toph isn't that strong.

Suki startles at the sound of her voice almost as much as at the words formed by it. She didn't expect Toph to answer, not after such a long silence, and especially not like that.

It's not that Suki knows Toph, they've been around each other maybe around a week in total, at most – how long was it really, there were the two days spent at the Serpent's Pass, and then Tenuht and two more, that's five, five days, not a week, five days – but even in that short time, Suki didn't get the impression that Toph is someone who just admits to her flaws and weaknesses.

Not that easily. Not to just anyone.

Last time, she asked Suki to let her drown to avoid the embarrassment.

This time…

Five fingers around Suki's wrist, three more drops of water on the ground, more spaced out than that fifty-seven that came before as Suki slowly dries off. Two times Toph almost drowned and Suki got her out. One her own fault.

I miss my mom sometimes, Toph says, hesitant like it's the first time she's said those words aloud. Maybe it is.

It's her fault that Appa got taken from them that one time, and in Ba Sing Se she was so desperate to be seen, to be acknowledged by her parents, that she stupidly fell into an obvious trap. She can't swim. She forgot they didn't have the time to teach the whistling codes to Princess – she still calls Suki that, and Suki still doesn't understand why – so Princess probably just thought she was being stalked by some stupid bird when Toph just wanted to make sure she was alright.

And – wait. The tawny-swallow was Toph ?

It's supposed to be a call-and-response thing, Toph explains. To signal you're alive and well. Stalker – Jet, Suki translates – came up with these back way before meeting any of them, with his old group, so they could communicate without being noticed by the Fire Nation. He taught everyone the codes after Sparky – no points for guessing that one – messed up in Shu Jing.

Point is, Toph messed up this time. She messes up from time to time and… and…

She grinds her teeth through the next sentence, like it physically hurts her to admit that sometimes – just sometimes, don't get it twisted Princess – she needs other people to pick up the slack. To help her.

Even she needs someone to pull her out of the water when she's drowning.

And Suki gets where she's going with this, but the thing is – the reason Toph was drowning in the first place was because of Suki. And beyond that, Suki just doesn't want to burden anyone anymore, whether she needs the help or not. Especially if she needs it.

Don't care.

Toph jumped in because she wasn't sure she could bend the river bed precisely enough to keep Suki safe – the texture is weird, she adds like it means anything to Suki. That's on her. Plus, Suki didn't let her drown last time, even when she asked. So why shouldn't Toph do the same ?

That's – Toph was clearly joking, then ! Suki would've had to be heartless to just leave her there !

How d'you know I was joking ? Toph's voice is grating, like she's got Suki right where she wants her, and is she serious ?! Of course it was a joke, she obviously didn't really want –

Ah.

Smugness emanates from Toph as Suki realizes she walked right into that trap. Toph didn't want to drown, and so Suki saved her. Suki was doing her duty without caring for her own wants, and so Toph doesn't care about that duty.

It's not up to Suki, what Toph does for her sake. Even if she hates it, even if she'd rather die, she can't stop Toph, or anyone, from saving her. Even if it means they risk their own lives.

It's so… frustrating.

I know, right, Toph says with a laugh. It pisses her off too. That's why she keeps on working to get stronger, so she doesn't have to depend on anyone. She's not there yet, and maybe she'll never be, but she still tries. She's been working on her sandbending, and now on metalbending too, and she'll keep on perfecting them. Maybe she should learn how to swim, too, although she's not sure how.

Let's get stronger together, Princess, she says. Until we're strong enough not to need each other anymore.

Suki isn't allowed to die before that.