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Tokka- Reunited: Part 1 of 2

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Toph gazed blindly out of her open bedroom window. Her parents had given her the room with the best view of the garden, though she had no idea why. She inhaled the sweet scent of spring grass and blooming flowers. She felt like a little girl again, staring out her window, dreaming what her future holds, and wishing she were on the outside.

She was definitely no longer a child; she was eighteen. Only a year after the war, when rebellions had died down a bit, Poppy and Lao had summoned their little girl home. The Avatar and the Fire Lord could take care of the rebels themselves, they said. Besides, they had missed having their daughter at the estate. The Bei Fong couple practically begged her to stay. They promised Toph more freedoms and independence, but over time they seemed to forget the compensation they had offered. Guards kept watch over her at all times, and her parents were careful to be sure that Toph was kept as much away from any earth as possible as to lessen her chance of getting into trouble. So for the past five years, Toph returned to her previous life before she joined the war effort. Toph was miserable. She was a war hero; she was appreciated all over the world. So why was she being held hostage in her own home?

Katara and Aang visited as often as possible, which came to about twice a year. She greatly enjoyed their company, but she was never truly happy, because the one person she really missed was Sokka, her best friend (or possibly something more? Toph couldn't set her emotions straight). He hadn't come to visit her, though she had no idea why. It broke her heart to think that he just might not care about her anymore. Did Suki take up too much of his time? Was he even more busy than Aang and Katara and he just hadn't gotten the chance to come yet? Whatever the reason, he never came, and a part of her died every day she waited. When she was younger, she had definitely had feelings for the warrior, but when she looked back, Toph waved it off as a childish crush. But she couldn't fool herself.

It didn't matter whether or not she had feelings for him, or he for her, though. Her wedding with Phen was next week. She cursed her parents, for they were way too controlling. She had nothing against Phen, but the only reason they got along was because he feared her. Toph's parents had reminded her time and time again that she had many responsibilities as heiress to the Bei Fong estate, and marrying a man of high society was one of them, whether she liked it or not. Toph couldn't help but think that she didn't want to marry a rich Earth Kingdom aristocrat, but rather a less than wealthy Water Tribe warrior.

Her daydream was interrupted by a light rapping on her door and her mother's muffled voice, "Toph, dear? May I come in?"

Toph didn't move an inch, "Sure."

Poppy took a seat on Toph's bed, which had been neatly made up by one of the servants, and gazed at the back of her daughter's head. "What's bothering you?"

"Oh, nothing, Mom," she said with a flourish, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm just being forced to marry a guy I barely know and can barely stand in a few days. Everything is just wonderful."

"Don't use that tone with me. You knew this day would come."

"You asked what was wrong."

"You know how important this is," Poppy glared at the back of Toph's head, "You're a Bei Fong. It's time you started acting like it."

"So being a Bei Fong means having your freedom stripped away from you?"

"No, it means sacrificing with honor."

"You don't know what honor is…" she said quietly, thinking of Zuko, "Anyway, it's not a sacrifice if it doesn't benefit anyone," she spat.

"It will benefit you. You'll be happier this way."

Now Toph was fuming. She stood from the stool she had been sitting on and whipped around to face her mother, "When is it going to be drilled into your head that I will never be happy unless you let me choose for myself?!"

"Don't talk to your mother like that!"

"I'll respect you when you learn to respect me!"

Poppy only stared back with thin eyes.

"I'll be in the courtyard waiting for my friends if you need me."

Toph marched out of the room with her fists clenched. Her mother just shook her head in disappointment.

The courtyard was technically the front lawn of the estate. The road bordered the side farthest from the house. Today, only five guards stood post there, instead of the usual ten. Toph paced anxiously, listening for anything that could possibly be them. Eventually, she sat on one of the marble benches to try and calm herself down.

It had been five years since she had seen (of course she's never "seen" anyone) Sokka; would he even care to show up? Then she remembered the last time they had seen each other. Toph had already agreed to stay with her parents, and the gang had been at the estate, since they provided transportation to Gaoling. She'd given Aang a light punch on the arm and Katara a hug before they had left. But for Sokka, she gave a kiss on the cheek and a firm punch on the shoulder. They both blushed, and Toph turned on her heel back into the house. Sokka, Aang and Katara had all left right after. She soon realized her grave mistake, and cried when no one was watching that first day back home.

Toph snapped out of her flashback when she heard it. There were vibrations coming from about a half a mile down the road. One set of steps was light and airy. Aang, she concluded. A second set took long and graceful strides. That had to be Katara. And the final set was clumsy and heavy. He trudged when he walked, and had the slightest discomfort in his left leg. Finally Sokka had returned. She fled through the gate and down the dirt road. The guards didn't move, though. They knew she would come back.
~~~
"Can't we stop for a minute? My arms are going to fall off."

"Quit complaining. We're almost there," Katara looked over at her brother. He had the strangest look on his face. It was almost a mix of fear and sadness. It was something she had never seen before. Ever since he broke up with Suki four years ago, he'd just been acting gloomy, and for the past month he was acting downright weird. He was jumpy and distracted, not himself.

"So, are you excited to see Toph again?" Aang asked excitedly.

"Uh," Sokka's stomach churned, "Sure." That's when he saw it, a green figure racing toward them in the distance, kicking up a cloud of dirt as she ran. A huge grin engulfed Sokka's face; that could only be one person. "Hey guys," he said, nodding to her, "I think I found her."

As Toph drew nearer, Sokka dropped his bags, and just in time. Toph nearly tackled him when she threw her arms around him. She held onto him, not wanting to ever let go. She felt the tears begging to come out, but she sniffed them up. She didn't want to cry.

Sokka was stunned at first, but rather pleased. He hugged her back, his arms wrapping around Toph's petite figure. Her body fit into his exactly, like a puzzle, and Sokka enjoyed the comfort of having her in his arms. He had missed her so much.

"Hey, Toph," Aang interrupted, "I know you haven't seen him in forever, but we want our hugs, too."

When the two let go, Sokka was able to have a good look at her. Toph hadn't grown much, and her face hadn't changed a bit. Toph no longer held her hair in a bun, but a loose ponytail. Her bangs were kept out of her face with a handkerchief that served as a headband.

Sokka's appearance had changed as well. He had grown taller as well as more muscular. He still wore his hair in a warrior's wolf tail, but he had let the sides grow out a bit. He'd also grown a bit of a beard at the end of his chin. His featured were sharper and his voice a bit deeper, but he hadn't changed entirely.

Katara, on the other hand, hadn't changed much at all. Her face had matured and her hair was a bit longer, but that was all. Aang had grown tremendously. He stood taller than Sokka, and dwarfed Toph. His face, too, had matured. He looked much older, but he still had the same innocent gleam in his eye.

After the short reunion, Toph helped her friends carry their bags the rest of the way to the estate. They were being treated to finger sandwiches when Katara suggested that Toph and Sokka go somewhere by themselves. "I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do," she said with a wink. Sokka stuck his tongue out at her quite immaturely.

Once in the courtyard, Toph asked, "So what's new?"

Sokka looked at the ground, "Not much. It's kind of boring in the Fire Nation. Fighting off rebels takes up most of my time. Rebellions are settling down, though, ever since we caught that Shen guy."

Toph nodded politely. She wished she could be out there fighting. Anything, really, would be better than her current situation.

"Mai and Zuko will be here in a few days, by the way."

"What about Suki? You two getting married soon?"

"Oh, no. We actually broke up four years ago."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"So who are you with now?"

"No one. I haven't been with anyone since Suki."

The whole situation was suddenly awkward.

"So how have you been doing?"

"Horrible," she spat.

"Please, Toph, don't be afraid to hide your true feelings!" He said with a chuckle.

Toph gave one of her classic giggles. It was the first time she had laughed in a long time, roughly five years.

Sokka didn't realize the irony in what he said until after he said it. He pushed it out of his mind, "Your parents are really getting to you, aren't they?"

"Just a little."

"So what's the lucky guy's name?"

"Phen," she grumbled.

"You don't like him?"

"Eh, he could be worse. But there's someone else I would much rather be with."

Sokka remained oblivious, "So is it really that bad?"

"Well as if it isn't enough that my parents annoy the hell out of me, it's so boring around here. They won't even let me bend. I missed you, Sokka. How come you never came?"

Sokka looked into her pale eyes, wide with hurt. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again.

"Toph, dear," Tao called as he entered the courtyard, "Phen is here. Come introduce him to your friends."
~~~
"You guys, this is my fiancé, Phen." She said it like it left a bad taste in her mouth. Phen's black hair was held in a braid. He was thin, and only a few inches taller than Toph. Sokka and Aang both towered over him. His face was cleanly shaven, and when he smiled, he peeled back his lips as if he had something bitter rubbed on his teeth.

Aang, Katara, and Sokka bowed in greeting, and Phen bowed politely back.

"I'm Katara," she said with a smile.

"Pleasure to meet you. And you," he said to Aang, "You're Avatar Aang."

"Correct."

"And you are?" Phen asked Sokka.

"Sokka," he replied with the best fake smile he could possibly produce, though it ended up looking like Sokka might growl.

Katara put her hand over her mouth to hide a smile, and Aang bit his tongue to stifle a laugh.
~~~
"You're marrying that wuss?"

"I don't have much of a choice, Sokka, you know that."

"I can't believe you're doing this."

"I promised my parents."

"Screw your parents!"

"Sokka," she scolded.

"What? They already hate me! You want to know why? 'Cause I'm just some peasant from the Southern Water Tribe!" He raised his arms in the air in frustration.

Toph crossed her arms and smirked, "Is my best friend jealous of my fiancé?"

Sokka's eyes darted around the room like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, "Of course not."

"I can tell you're lying," she sang.

Sokka reddened. He had forgotten Toph was a human lie detector. They stood in her bedroom, just after Phen had left. The sun was setting, and Toph was just about to get to bed.

"Why do you even care?"

"Because I care about you! How can you possibly expect to be happy living the rest of your life with that priss?"

"I don't. It's not like I want to do this. Listen," she said, taking his forearms, "I don't like this any more than you do. Can you just try to be happy for me?"

Sokka sighed, "Okay."

"Sokka?"

"What?"

"You never answered my question."

"What do you mean?"

"How come you never came to visit?"

He didn't answer.

She wrapped her arms around his torso, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," said into her hair. The feeling in his stomach returned, "I should go. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she said, letting go. Then she punched his arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"I haven't gotten to do that for five years."

Sokka shook his head and laughed. "See you in the morning," he said, turning to leave. He shut the door behind him.

He nodded to the guard stationed outside her door and took a quick side-trip before heading to the room he was staying in.  "Katara? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Katara happened to be brushing out her hair when Sokka walked in, "Sure, what's up?"

"Toph can't marry this guy."

Katara stopped brushing, "I know you don't like him, but why do you say that?"

"Toph's going to be miserable for the rest of her life if she goes through with this."

Katara smirked, "Are you sure you're not just jealous?"

Sokka threw his hands in the air, "Why is everyone saying that? I'm not jealous!"

She shrugged, "Whatever."

"Urgh. Seriously, Katara."

"What are we supposed to do about it?"

Sokka smiled in his classic Sokka way, "I think I might have a plan."
~~~
Part 2 is coming up! Now we can see what Sokka's plan is...

By the way, the opening was inspired by The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

More Tokka fluff is on the way!!! :D

The story belongs to me, but Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon, as well as the associated characters (except Phen. He's mine)
© 2011 - 2024 DanceInTheRain23
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LOOPIEGIRL's avatar
i love tokka!:grinwoo: grinfaceplz Nommy smile Luffy Anime Emoji (Big grin) [V3] is there a third one yet