Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Toph Beifong is sick of being fussed over.

She knew reconciling with her parents would lead to them—especially her mother—making a big deal of her decision to marry. But she did, and now they were fussing.

Spirits help her.

Toph is certain, even now as she sneaks out of her childhood bedroom to hide away for a bit, her qipao hanging from her wardrobe, that only Sokka could’ve made marriage attractive. He’s the only person she trusts, the only person she loves the way she does—it was inevitable.

Telling her mother about the proposal ignited something in Poppy Beifong, who immediately started planning, ignoring any protests. Since then, there’s been so much prepping: dress alterations, fabric testing, cake tasting—which she didn’t mind—and other crap she couldn’t care less about.

But her mother is happy, and, as much as Toph doesn’t like to admit it, that makes her happy too.

At the end of this, she and Sokka will be married. It scares the shit out of her, but there’s no one else she would do this with. He’s it. It makes sense with him.

As she makes her way down the hallway, Toph hears the bustling sounds of preparations downstairs—something she wants no part of. Carefully, she makes her way to the back garden for some peace.

In no time, she feels Sokka’s presence in the garden gazebo a few feet away from her. She smiles to herself before making her way over to him.

“Cold feet?” she asks.

“Absolutely not,” he replies as he turns to face her. “Never with you—aHH. No!” Sokka shouts, the sound of flesh hitting flesh fills her ears. Toph feels him clap his hands over his eyes as he hisses at the pain of the smack, the fool. “I forgot I can’t see you before the wedding!”

Toph blinks, feeling him turn his back to her. “I literally cannot stand you.”

“Seriously! Your mom said it’s bad fortune to see your soon-to-be spouse the night before the wedding!”

She deadpans. “Guess you should count yourself lucky that your soon-to-be spouse is blind.”

“This is no joking matter, Beifong.”

“I’m not joking. And you’re welcome to leave if you’re so for wedding superstitions all of a sudden. I just needed some air from the mess.”

She can hear the pout in his voice when he replies, “But I don’t want to leave. I missed you.”

Despite herself, she struggles to hold back her smile. “You’re such an idiot.”

“But you love me, fortunately for me.”

“I never had a choice in that matter, unfortunately for me.” She rolls her eyes. “What are you planning on doing, then, genius? I have no problem here, clearly, but you’re an impatient dunderhead; it’s only a matter of time before you crack.”

He takes clumsy steps towards her, bumping into the marble table in the middle of the gazebo in the process, and his hand slips onto her cheek. She leans into his touch as he says, “I think I have an idea.”

“This should be good.”

He places his hands on her shoulders and spins her around. She frowns, and before she can question him, she feels his back press against her own; his fingers entwining with hers. She smiles.

“That’s better,” he comments, affectionately squeezing her hand. “Last thing I want is bad luck for us.”

“I can’t believe my mother got you to believe that myth. Always so gullible.”

His other hand takes her free one. “I just—I love you, T. If there’s anything I can do to prevent us from being jinxed or whatever, no matter how ridiculous or superstitious or laughable, I’m going to do it. And if it takes me having to tough it out and not look at you until you walk down that aisle tomorrow, I won’t.”

A gentle warmth spreads through her chest at his words. She lets herself lean into him, pressing her lips against his neck before letting her head fall onto his shoulder blade.

After a few moments of silence, his thumb rubbing the back of her hand, she says, “Snoozles?”

“Hm?”

“Does this superstition count if we’ve already been married?” she asks. “We had the ceremony in the South Pole…”

“Oh. Uh. I’m—you know, I’m not sure. But I’m not taking any chances.”

Chapter Text

Toph was late. Again!

He'd given her a specific time and place; even cleared her afternoon with the academy’s receptionist. But each attempt to propose felt more challenging than winning the war.

Emergencies at the academy, demands from Earthen Fire, and interruptions from friends thwarted his plans. All he wanted was to kneel in a hidden rocky cavern near the cliffside they loved and ask for her hand.

As weeks passed without success, he began to doubt if it was meant to be. Annoyed yet longing for her company, he paced in the cool wind, wondering if they were destined to sabotage their own proposal.

Just as he considered a career as a cliff jumper, he heard leaves rustling behind him.

“How adventurous of you to ask me to meet at the edge of some woods.”

“You’re late!” he accused, nearly pouting. “You were supposed to be here hours ago.”

Toph shrugged nonchalantly, expression innocent. “I got caught up. But I’m here now, okay? Don’t get your bindings in a bunch.”

His right eye twitched. “I've been trying really, really hard all week to get you alone because I really need to talk to you. And you’re either busy or avoidant—”

“I’m not avoidant! I just can’t stand when you act all strange and I don’t know why! I always know why!”

“W—whatever!” he stammered, not expecting to feel a rush of warmth at her admission. “But I’ve been trying to talk to you.”

“Well, we’re talking now.”

“It’s not meant to be a normal conversation! I have a—a question to ask you.”

“What’s the question, then?”

Sokka frowned at her, childishly crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to ask it anymore. You can stay curious.”

That seemed to get a reaction out of her. She stood up and walked over to him. She poked a finger in the center of his chest. “You’ve been acting weird all week, you doofus. And I want to know why.”

“Oh. Now you want to know why, huh?”

“That’s what I just said, yeah.”

“Too bad! Because I’m not telling you!”

“For the love of Oma. Would you just spit it out already?”

“Spit it out?” Sokka asked. He dug into his pocket, pulled out a box, and shoved it into Toph’s hands. “Here. Spat.”

Toph scowled, her brow furrowing. Her face expressionless, she opened the box and ran her fingers over the contents inside, feeling the cool, smooth surface of a finely crafted ring.

She clamped the box shut. “Fine.”

Settling his hand on his hips, Sokka matched her tone. “Fine, what?”

Her jaw clenched, fists at her sides before she stubbornly crossed her arms. Pressing her lips into a thin line, her scowl somehow deepened as she thrust the box back at him. “Fine, I’ll marry you, you oaf.”

He huffed despite the elation circulating through his body at her answer. “Fine.”

“Good.”

“Great.”

They shared a charged silence until Sokka noticed a slow smile spreading across Toph’s face, melting away his irritation. He joyfully scooped her up and spun her around. Her hands caressed his face before she kissed him, short and perfect.

Setting her down, he opened the box to retrieve the ring, nervously attempting to slip it onto her finger, but it kept falling from his trembling hands.

Toph was clearly struggling not to laugh. “Want me to do it?”

“No, shh—just give me a second—”

When he finally managed to slide the ring onto her finger, his hands still trembling, Toph inspected it with her fingertips, tracing its contours again. “Not too shabby.”

He grinned. “Yeah? You like it?”

“Like I said, not too shabby.”

“Just like you,” he teased, pulling her into his chest, burying his face in her hair, “not too shabby.”

Toph snorted and pushed him away before lacing their fingers. “I can’t stand you.”

“And I love you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She kissed the back of his hand. “I love you, too.”

Chapter Text

Someone was following her.

Toph groaned inwardly as she navigated through the bustling market, her feet sensing the vibrations of every step and every merchant hawking their wares, keeping focus on the pair of feet tracing her every step a few paces away. She didn’t need this today. She was busy and not in the mood for any particular form of skull-cracking. There was no time for fun pursuits, sad as the reality was.

Calculatingly, Toph passed the kiosk she intended on visiting and diverted into an alley some feet away. Alone now, Toph could better hone into the slow steps on her trail. When she determined that the clearly older person’s ticker was ticking just fine, she bent up some earthen shackles, effectively trapping them in place.

They gasped as Toph walked up to them, a threatening finger in their face. “What do you want?”

“My apologies for the intrusion, young lady,” the elderly woman said gently. “I am Aunt Wu, a humble fortune-teller seeking an audience with you.”

Toph raised an eyebrow, assessing the woman before her. She remembered the name as the source of great irritation to Sokka’s non-believing ass. For that alone and the fact that Wu’s heartbeat was steady, Toph chose to humor her, releasing her from the trap. “Fortune-teller or not, you've got guts, following an earthbender into a dead-end alley.”

“Guts or foresight, perhaps; the spirits guide me to those in need of guidance.” She dusted off. “I'm on a journey, my dear. Expanding my horizons, you might say. Nevertheless, you caught my eye. Care for a reading?”

It intrigued her, the idea of a reading. She had shit to do, but this seemed to take priority for some reason. “Why not?”

Aunt Wu reached out, gently taking Toph's hand. She hummed softly, her fingers tracing the lines on Toph’s palm. After a moment, Toph felt her skin prickling with the awareness of the elderly woman’s stare.

“Ah, xīn gān, you are as strong and steadfast as the earth itself. But I see something… unexpected. A great force is pulling you, something you haven't yet acknowledged. Or refuse to.”

Toph snorted. “How very specific.”

“Patience, child. There is someone close to you, someone who makes your heart feel as unsteady as shifting sands. You've always prided yourself on your independence, yet this person has a way of grounding you and unsettling you all at once.”

The feeling the woman described was familiar and one Toph only ever felt with one person. Still, Toph shook her head dismissively. “You're not making any sense, lady. Get to the point.”

“You will soon find yourself facing a moment where the truth will be as clear as the brightest star in the night sky. This person, whom you see as a trusted companion, holds a deeper place in your heart than you realize.

“The heart often sees what the eyes—ah, hm—what your feet cannot, excuse me.” Aunt Wu patted her hand gently. “Embrace this discovery, and you'll find a new strength within yourself.”

Toph pulled her hand away as if burned, her mind reeling. “I’ve got to go.”

As she rushed away, the market's noise seemed distant, her thoughts consumed by the revelation. She had always admired Sokka's wit and resourcefulness, but could it be more than that? It couldn’t. She hadn’t even thought about him that way since they were kids. It was a stupid, childish crush, for fuck’s sake.

Still, the realization hit her like a tidal wave—it was way more than that, wasn’t it?

Fucking great.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing?”

Sokka jumped what was likely eighty-seven feet into the air in fright at the sound of Suki’s voice behind him. He ran a hand down his face in exasperation. “What—Suki—what is wrong with you?”

“I actually came to ask you that same thing after you inevitably tell me that you weren’t doing anything.”

“But I wasn’t doing anything!”

With a snort, Suki sat down beside him. “Why don’t you just go ask her to dance? Or, knowing her, just take her outside for some air away from the party?”

He shook his head, trying to will the heat in his cheeks to go away as he grabbed his drink to keep himself busy holding something. “I literally don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t you?” she questioned, reaching for his glass, which was no longer full of alcohol and was now watering down the few drops left of whiskey inside it, and set it down. “You need to do something about it before it’s too late.”

“I don’t—about what?” Sokka asked, despite knowing exactly what she was talking about. His eyes, beyond his control, flitted over to Toph, who was with a dutiful Satoru at her side as they spoke to Zuko and Katara. Sokka’s gaze hardened on the engineer, fists clenching at his sides, before he remembered that he was trying to prove someone wrong. “I’m not—I don’t know what you mean.”

“No? So you weren’t just staring at Toph, simultaneously fantasizing about the big happy family you’d give her if you had it your way while also picturing several ways to smite Satoru?”

If it were possible—and he wasn’t entirely sure it was—his face felt even hotter than it did when Suki snuck up on him. No, he wanted to respond. He wasn’t thinking of that.

But he didn’t like what he saw one bit. His hands were clammed up, and his chest was constricted, and it just wasn’t something he found pleasing to look at. That was it, though. It was nothing more than irritation. Any annoyance he felt towards Satoru was just—the idea of losing his best friend to a relationship. That was it. This wasn’t what Suki thought it was. And whatever it was, he’d get over it.

“You’re really mean when you drink,” he remarked finally.

Suki grinned, dropping into the seat beside him, swaying a little. “Really? I thought it just made me honest.”

He shook his head at her, then glanced at Toph, whose fingers were now braided with Satoru’s. His jaw twitched. “You’re also wrong, in fact.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.” Sokka grunted. “And what you’re thinking—it isn’t even a thing, okay? So can we just drop it?”

“Please.” She scoffed, waving him off, plucking a new glass of wine off a passing platter. Drunk Suki was so odd to Sokka, even after years of seeing this side of her unleashed. She sipped. “This has been a thing forever. And you can act surprised all you want, but I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.”

It sure feels that way, he wanted to say.

When he didn’t reply, she slid to the edge of her seat and caught his eye, then said, “I think it’s high time you did something about this. Either you do, or you lose her… whether you want to admit that this is the reason you’re moping right now or not.” She stood up unsteadily, stabilized herself against him, and patted his shoulder. “But yeah, consider this dropped.”

Not even a second later, Suki was gone.

Chapter Text

A sharp pain shot through her abdomen, and she stifled a groan, futilely searching for relief. Most of the afternoon had been spent on the couch, trying to find comfort amid the worsening summer heat that drenched her brow in sweat. It was fortunate Lin was out with a friend; she didn’t need to see her mother like this.

Throughout, Sokka had come and gone, tending to household tasks with a silent concern she appreciated, though she pretended not to notice. No need to worry him further by revealing the full extent of her discomfort.

“T?”

“Hm?”

“Why don’t you try moving around a bit?” Sokka suggested gently from the kitchen, where he poured tea. “Maybe it’ll distract you. Or I can call Katara—”

Toph shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to bother Katara for a pain that would likely pass in a few hours. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not!” he exclaimed, materializing in front of her and taking her hands to try and gently coax her off the couch. “I’m just worried, okay? So, just—let’s try to get you on your feet at least, then? Please?”

Hearing his earnestness, she relented. She could never say no to him, so she grumbled and forced herself upright.

She felt heavy and tired, and every single thing in her body was off. Little about this pregnancy felt normal. It hadn’t been like this for Lin. Now, it was just ten times the pain, ten times the sluggishness, and ten times the bad mood and hormones.

But when Sokka’s arms wrapped around her waist and she laid her head on his chest, over his heart where she liked it most, all her woes faded for a moment, however fleeting.

His chin rested on the top of her head as they swayed slowly, holding her steadily, and he began to hum an unfamiliar song.

After a while, she asked, “Hm, what’s that?”

“A lullaby from back home,” he whispered. “Mom used to sing it to me and Katara all the time.”

“It’s beautiful.”

She wondered silently why she never noticed him sing Lin to sleep with it, or why this was the first time she’d heard it. But she hoped it wasn’t the last.

As they swayed and he hummed, the baby’s movements ceased, the pain fading. It seemed their baby was just listening to their father’s voice.

“I don’t like seeing you like this,” he whispered suddenly.

With no energy to lift her head or speak, she hummed.

His grip on her waist strengthened a bit. “I don’t like it when you’re suffering and I can’t help you. I wish—I just want to do more.”

She turned her head toward his neck, brushing his skin with her lips. “You’re doing enough, okay?”

Sokka sighed, holding her close as he rested his cheek against her hair. The pain dulled further as his arms and the music of his childhood enveloped her.

Chapter Text

“Do not do this,” Toph implored softly, almost as though she had been endeavoring to restrain herself since her arrival, her voice imbued with a rare hint of vulnerability. She spoke quietly, despite them being left alone at Sokka’s request. “Do not marry.”

Sokka paused, a smile gracing his lips as he shut the trunk he had just finished packing. “Why?” he inquired gently, yet with an intent to elicit her reasoning.

“You must know why,” Toph responded, her fingers flexing slightly against the fabric of her robes, a testament to her nerves, which she seldom allowed to manifest.

“I do not. Tell me,” Sokka urged, his expression sobering as he turned and beheld her countenance. He presumed it to be a jest, consistent with their usual rapport, but her earnestness was unmistakable. He should have been wiser, given her reticence on the subject of his impending nuptials. She appeared as despondent as he had ever seen her. His voice softened as he advanced towards her. “T…”

She remained silent longer than he would have preferred, standing before him, her unspoken words weighing heavily upon him despite his ignorance of their content. The air about them seemed charged, fraught with tension.

“I cannot—” she finally whispered, her voice scarcely audible above the distant hum of the outdoors. “I cannot permit you to wed another.”

Sokka's brow furrowed in bewilderment, his gaze seeking clarity in hers. His heart leapt to his throat. “Toph, you have never… That is to say, you never spoke of—”

“I had no need to,” Toph interrupted sharply, her voice laced with frustration and a tinge of sorrow. “It has always been true. From the very beginning.”

Sokka took a step closer, his hand instinctively reaching out towards hers. “Why now? After all this time?”

Toph withdrew slightly, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “Because I cannot stand idly by and witness you settle for less than you deserve,” she replied, her tone raw with emotion. The corners of her mouth twitched downward, as they did when she was near to tears. It very nearly broke him. “You deserve someone who perceives you as you truly are, who loves you fiercely and unconditionally,” she said. “Not whatever this arrangement is.”

Sokka's expression softened as he absorbed her words, comprehending the depth of her feelings. “Toph, I…”

The rest of his sentence remained unspoken as she took two long strides and pressed her lips with uncharacteristic delicacy against his. There was no movement, only the sensation of her kiss and the surprising warmth it imparted throughout his being. She had given him her first kiss.

Just as he was about to melt into it, into her, she retreated, swallowing convulsively before turning on her heel and leaving the room. She stopped at the door, however, turned her head slightly to not fully face him, and said, “Come find me if you choose to act upon your own desires for once.”

And he watched her go, his heart in turmoil, his mind a tempest of emotions, thoughts, and doubts.

Chapter Text

“I should get going.”

It wasn't something she wanted to do or say, but it was the most ideal route to take. They were all on vacation on Ember Island, so there were kids on the premises and prying eyes in their midst that would serve as nothing but a needle with which to burst their bubble.

Still, knowing he knew this, Toph felt Sokka’s arms tighten around her waist. His warm breath sunk into the skin of the crook of her neck as he mumbled, “You’re forbidden from leaving this bed.”

Despite herself, she held back a smile. “Unless you want those snoops we call our friends to find out about this, I better get back to my room.”

“I don’t care if they find out right now,” he replied, pulling away from her neck and propping himself onto his elbow. She could feel his gaze on her, and even despite it having been a few weeks since they finally did The Thing—became A Thing—she found herself blushing. He ran the back of his hand over her cheek. “I just don’t want you to go.”

She didn’t, either. She wanted to stay with him, in his arms, let him explore her again and again. She didn’t think she would ever tire of his lips against her skin or the way he knew exactly what made her tick. They’d known each other for years, been best friends, been each other’s rocks and safe places, but there was a newness to all of this. She wasn’t sure she wanted it to end anytime soon, this particular stage.

She was attached, and Toph never got attached. Not like this.

When she didn’t reply, Sokka’s fingertips slid over her body, leaving goosebumps in their wake. She released a shuddering breath before his lips covered hers. It was soft, but so deep in a way that liquified her, He pulled her onto him, and she fell into a straddle on his waist, her loose hair cascading over him.

“Quit trying to distract me,” she muttered against his mouth. She was flat against his naked chest and took advantage by feeling every bit of it under her palms. “It’s not going to work no matter how hard you try.”

Sokka hummed, fingers pressing into her hips. “Mm, isn’t it? It feels like it is.”

“You think you’re so slick.”

“That’s ‘cause I am, Beifong. And you love it.”

She faltered at that, but it was true. She did love it. And beyond that, she loved him. It had been true for quite some time, longer than she would’ve rather admit. The realization gnawed at her, a truth she tried to bury under layers of denial. Every time she thought she was getting closer to understanding her own feelings, a wall went up, pushing her back into uncertainty. But it was true. She knew that.

Toph kissed him again, a fire pit forming in her stomach as it always did when they did anything like this. His hands were everywhere as they came close to undoing each other again, but a knock on the door was what made them stop, both of them frozen in their positions.

“I told you,” Toph hissed with no real bite.

“Shh.”

“Uncle Sokka?” a soft voice she knew belonged to Kya called through the closed door. “Is Aunt Toph with you?”

Sokka scrambled out of bed—not before pressing a kiss to Toph’s forehead—and slipped on a robe to open the door a crack for his niece. “No—uh, no. Why would you think she’s—”

“I heard you both laughing last night,” she replied innocently, and Toph had to cover her mouth to keep from cackling. “I wanted to know what the joke was.”

Toph pushed out of bed and stepped back into the nightgown she discarded a few feet away from where she was. She came up behind Sokka, holding back a laugh, and opened the door wider. “Come on, kid. I’ll tell you the joke on the way to the kitchen; Uncle Sokka said he’d make us hotcakes before everyone woke up.”

Kya’s gasp made Toph grin. “Okay!” the girl chirped and skipped down the hall to the kitchen.

Sokka turned to her and pulled her into his chest. “So much for not leaving the bed.”

“The bubble was bound to burst at some point.” She shrugged, getting on her toes to kiss the corner of his mouth. “But let’s go, chop-chop.”

“Wh—”

She tugged on his arm to pull him out of the room. “I believe you owe me and a girl some hotcakes, Snoozles.”

Chapter Text

Sokka watched Toph trudge through the snow, this determined look on her face that he couldn’t help but smile at. He knew these conditions were less than favorable for her, but she came out anyway. She knew he liked his outings and despite not loving them herself, here she was. It made his chest feel summery, a contrast to the frigidity of the South Pole.

She’d been quiet as they walked, only telling him to guide her to a clearing near his family’s place. He’d taken her there a few times, attempting to get her used to the cold, and she seemed to like it enough to want to come here today. He didn’t protest.

In the clearing, Toph dug into her bag and pulled out a stick of seal jerky. Still, she would not speak. Was she going to tell him something? He couldn’t fathom what it could be about. If anything, he’d been waiting for things between them to… deepen. He thought they were on the same page.

When the jerky was gone, she fished another food item out of her bag—a small moon cake. He kept his eyes on her as she began to pace, eating.

Patience worn, Sokka asked, “What’s going on, T? You’re freaking me out.”

She stopped and rubbed her face, letting out a dry scoff. “You plan these things to say,” she muttered, “but when you need to say them, you can’t get them out.”

“T…?”

“The two of us. You and me.” Her voice was abrupt as she gestured between them and walked closer. “Alone we’re these fearless, brash people, we can do the impossible, we set our minds to something, and before either of us says it, we’re on it. But… together we’re—”

Sokka finished her thought. “We’re safe.”

“Yeah. Safe… too safe.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m sick of that.” She took his mittened hand. “I don’t want safe with you.”

Sokka blinked, trying to grasp what he was hearing. This was new territory for them, this open expression of feelings. “You mean that?”

“I mean that.”

“Cards on the table? Chips? All the things?”

Her smile warmed him. “All the things. I’m all in.”

“All in,” he echoed with a chuckle.

Her cheeks flushed, and she exhaled slowly, waiting for his response. Her admission stirred something deep within him.

Toph’s smile wavered slightly, her brow furrowing with confusion at his lack of response. Before she could speak, however, Sokka closed the gap between them and kissed her. It was a gentle, insistent kiss, filled with all the words he hadn’t yet found. Her initial surprise melted into a soft warmth as she responded, her hands resting on his chest and then gripping his coat.

When he pulled away, their breaths mingled in the cold air. His lips tingled; he already wanted more. Toph’s eyes were wide as she tried to find her words.

“You’re—”

“I told you,” Sokka interrupted with another kiss, deeper this time. She relaxed into him with a soft sigh, her fingers sliding into his hair. “All in.”

As they parted, she smirked. “Ditto.”

“From the start, Beifong.”

Chapter Text

There was not a heartbeat in the world that Toph could feel anymore without remembering the sensation of his when it stopped. It was a cruel irony—Sokka had been her heartbeat, her pulse, her very rhythm. Now, none of that existed. Now, none of it mattered. He was gone, he left her alone, and she was angry. She was hurt.

The banyan grove tree welcomed her every day since it happened when she couldn’t handle it out there. When she couldn’t manage the condolences and the I know how you feels and the He was a great mans. The tree’s roots wrapped around her like a protective cocoon. Here, the earth spoke to her in whispers, soothing her tormented soul.

Toph sat at the base of the tree, her fingers tracing the ancient bark, digging into the soil she sat on. The swamp was alive with energy, a living, breathing entity that pulsed with the rhythms of nature. The vibrations in the earth felt hollow, though, each one a reminder of the absence that had settled in her chest. She could feel every heartbeat within it, but none could replace the one she had lost.

Anger surged through her like a tidal wave, crashing against the shores of her grief. It wasn't fair. Sokka had promised her a lifetime, and he would no longer fulfill that promise. She clenched her fists, the earth beneath her trembling in response to her fury. How could the world continue to turn, and people continue to live, when hers had come to a screeching halt?

In her mind, she could almost hear him telling her that she was stronger than this. That she could go on with her life for their kids, for their family, and their friends. But she didn't want to be strong. She wanted him back. She wanted to hear his voice, feel his arms around her, feel him: his heartbeat and his warmth and his lips. She just wanted him.

The weight of his absence was crushing, an unbearable burden that threatened to pull her under. She leaned forward, resting her head on the tops of her knees, and let the tears come. She cried for the future they had lost, for the love that had been stolen from them. She cried because, despite everything, she still loved him with every fiber of her being and she would never stop.

The world outside continued to move, oblivious to her pain.

Chapter Text

“I hate this.”

Sokka’s grip on Toph’s hand immediately faltered until he let go. “I’m sorry—”

“Don’t be stupid,” she interrupted him, taking his hand again. “You’re the most tolerable part of this. I meant the whole… stuffy-ass-people thing.”

Sokka’s chuckle was low and reassuring, a counterpoint to the oppressive formality of the gathering. They were surrounded by high society types, their conversations a mix of thinly veiled insults and meaningless flattery. Toph had always loathed these events, and having spent the last few years avoiding them, she found her tolerance for the charade even lower.

“Yeah, it’s not really my scene either,” Sokka admitted, glancing around the room. “But hey, free food.”

She smirked, nudging him with her elbow. “That’s the spirit. But if I hear one more person ask about my ‘delicate sensibilities’…”

Sokka snorted then squeezed her hand, his thumb tracing calming circles on her palm. She was enjoying the feeling more than she ought, but she wasn’t complaining. He was her date this evening, after all. Might as well lean into the act. “If it gets too much,” he said, “we can always sneak out.”

“I knew I brought you along for a reason.” Her smile widened as she squeezed his hand. But then it faded as quickly as it’d formed as a diplomat close to the Beifongs approached Toph. “Might have to take you up on the offer sooner than later.”

Taking no time to take her cue, Sokka dragged her off in the opposite direction. She could tell that there weren’t many people around and when they came to a stop, she realized he was trying to get them outside.

Sokka fumbled with the lock on the door in front of them, struggling to open it as he tried to seem suave. She could’ve easily aided him with a bit of bending, but where was the fun in that? But after a few awkward twists and turns, he finally managed to get it open, puffing out his chest as if he’d just performed a grand feat.

“There you go. See—”

“No.”

“—I told you I had it all under control,” he said, as if uninterrupted, with an overly proud tone. He swiped a hand in front of them, gesturing for her to lead the way outside. “After you.”

“I’m impressed.” She stepped onto the balcony, breathing in the night air as she backed into the banister and leaned against it. “It’s not every day I experience someone turning the act of opening a door into a full-body workout.”

Sokka cleared his throat and tried to salvage his dignity. “Well, I was just trying to show some old-fashioned courtesy as your date. You know, chivalry and all that.”

Toph snorted. “Well, at least now we know chivalry isn’t dead, but your ego sure is.”

“It’s not dead,” he said defensively, joining her by the banister. “More bruised than anything, but it’ll survive.”

Laughing, Toph bumped her shoulder against his upper arm. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

“No need.” He threw an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head, making her face heat up. “I’m never not going to be there for you.”

Chapter Text

She could feel him, but she couldn’t find him.

Toph bent at the rocks and masses of earth that made up the cave-in, trying to get to him, to where she felt his heartbeat still. Each tremor she sent through the ground guided her hands over the jagged, broken pieces. She focused, feeling the familiar thrum of his pulse beneath her feet. It was faint, but it was there.

The debris seemed endless, a mess of earth that fought against her every effort. She could sense his position shifting slightly as if he were trying to move, but the pressure was too much. Her breath hitched, her heart racing with the urgency she felt through the ground.

“Come on, come on,” she muttered, finally making good progress, able to feel his form in the earth more clearly.

With one last push, she cleared the debris and grabbed his wrist. “Got you,” she breathed, relief flooding through her. She pulled, feeling the weight of his body emerge before they both collapsed, her breaking his fall.

“Sokka,” she exhaled. “You dolt.”

“Hmm,” Sokka managed. “My knight in shining… whatever. Shining knight in arms.”

“Knight in shining armor?” she supplied, amused as her earlier fear subsided. She could’ve lost him.

“Yeah, yeah. That.”

“I’m glad you’re finally recognizing me for what I am,” she told him, her voice thicker than she would’ve preferred. After she moved out from under him, she scanned his body with her hands, checking for serious injury, and stopped when she felt his ankle bent at an unnatural angle. Widening her slightly damp eyes, she asked, “Feeling okay, Meathead?”

Sokka’s head lolled to the side. “I’m afraid I’m going to lose my foot. It’s so bendy.” He groaned. “At least it’s not my knee this time… ‘cause that would be bad bad.”

She swallowed, trying to figure out how to fix this. She didn’t think it would be a good idea to move him without stabilizing his foot, and while she had something of a plan, she’d only ever started practicing a few weeks ago. But she didn’t have a choice.

Taking a deep breath, she placed her hands over his ankle, trying to feel the break beneath her fingertips. It took longer than she would’ve liked, and the sound of Sokka moaning in pain every few seconds didn’t help, but she managed.

“Alright, Snoozles, I’m going to try something to fix you,” Toph explained as steadily as she could. “It might hurt a bit.”

“Just a bit?” he squeaked.

“Quit being a baby. I’ll make it quick.”

“What are you—”

“Shh.” She paused and dug into her bag to hand him a cloth. “Bite into this.”

Sokka tensed slightly, and it took her holding his face in her hands, resting her forehead on his to coerce him into relaxing. Once he did, she inhaled again and turned to the injury, visualizing the bone. Toph could feel the misalignment—the sharp edge of the fracture, the way the bone had twisted. With her brow furrowed, she fixated on the structure of his ankle. She summoned her willpower to manipulate the very essence of his bone. “Just hold still.”

“Mmmph.”

Pressing on, she guided the bone, coaxing it back into place, doing her best to ignore his agonized and muffled scream. It was delicate work, and she concentrated fiercely. She could feel the resistance as she shifted the bone, but she pushed.

With a quick, sharp motion, she felt the ankle snap back into alignment. Sokka let out a muffled scream, physically shaking as he spat out the cloth. “Shit! That wasn’t just a bit!”

“You’ll thank me later,” Toph replied, assuaged. She’d done it. Quickly, she coated his ankle with earth to stabilize it. “Now, we should get out of here before you break your other leg.”

“Hey—”

She interrupted him by propping him up onto a rock and bending it into a moveable seat, making it easy for her to stomp and shoot him out of the cave-in. She followed his yelp out and got to work pushing him into civilization, but her muscles were aching, and it was taking longer than she wanted to admit.

“T?”

“Alright, this isn’t going to work.” Toph stopped bending the rock he was perched on, paced for a second or two, then snapped her fingers, standing in front of him. “Get on my back.”

“Wh—huh?”

“Did the cave-in affect your hearing and comprehension skills? I said, get on my back.”

Sokka remained seated on his throne of earth. “I’m not—Toph, we have miles to trek—”

“And I can manage, now don’t make me repeat myself.”

“You’re so bossy,” he grumbled.

Her lips twitched, and she hauled him onto her back. His weight made her legs tremble slightly, considering her injuries, but she got a grip and walked them out of the valley they were in. She didn’t know how long she hiked with Sokka on her back, but she found camp easily enough.

Prying eyes, though, made the hairs on her back stand up in attention, paired with familiar heartbeats.

Toph pointed menacingly in Aang and Katara’s direction. “No one ever speaks of this.”

Chapter Text

Just fucking great.

Of course Sokka ended up having to show Toph to one of the failed plants because Katara all but volunteered him to do so. And of course the snowstorm decided to intensify as they reached it, forcing them to take shelter in a nearby shack.

He was miserable. Anxious. A mess, really.

But, hey, at least there was a fireplace.

Sokka glanced at Toph, who hadn’t said a word to him since she told him she was “fine,” after they’d entered the shack. She was shuddering to herself in front of the fire, never having been a fan of the cold. The spot reserved for her in his chest squeezed and he had to make himself look away.

All he wanted to do was kick himself in the face every time he thought about her in the past year. He’d known that going beyond the boundary they’d set would ruin everything. And while it was amazing—the best days of his life, really—the moment it was over, it was really over between them. The last they’d spoken before she came had been a curt hello and goodbye at Zuko’s birthday dinner a month back. Conversation felt unlike how it was before and it made him ache.

He missed her. He missed loving her, though he’d never stopped.

It was on him that he didn’t have her.

The sound of creaking wood broke him out of his thoughts and he found Toph trying to feel her way to the bed a few feet away from the fireplace. He resisted the urge to stand and help her until she walked into the side of a table and cursed.

Wordlessly, he stood and hesitantly took her hand. She didn’t protest nor push him away, so the tension in his shoulders melted away as he guided her to the bed.

It surprised him that as he attempted to release her hand, her grip tightened.

At his surprised silence, she said, “I’m freezing.”

“I know.”

“You always said body heat was the best way to keep warm.”

Sokka blinked. Was it an invitation?

His question was answered when she tugged and lifted her legs onto the twin bed, kicking her boots off and letting them fall to the ground before stripping down to her undershirt and getting into the bed. He had no grit to argue and quickly followed her lead, sliding under the covers beside her.

By the time he got himself situated, their noses were nearly touching and every part of his body was awake.

“Oh,” he breathed. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“We’re close.”

“Yeah, we are.”

Sokka swallowed convulsively, noticing that their hands were still entwined. He squeezed her fingers and whispered, “I miss you.”

Her eyes fluttered closed and her free hand came up to his face, fingertips brushing his features and liquifying him. “Ditto.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be,” she told him earnestly, eyes opening.

“I thought it was for the best—”

“And I didn’t get to have a say?”

His own eyes shut this time, in agony. “I’m sorry.”

There was a long beat of silence before she pulled her hands away from him. His stomach dropped slightly, but then she said, “I hope you were miserable.”

“I was.” His lips twitched.

“Good.” She ran her thumb over his lip. “You’re okay, though?”

“Better now.”

Chapter Text

“I can’t deal with him anymore. Can you do something with him?”

Toph blinked at Katara’s question once, twice, three times before asking, “Why?”

Somehow, Katara managed to sigh with both annoyance and compassion simultaneously. “I know you two aren’t—you know—anymore, but you’ve always known how to handle him when he’s a mess like he is tonight and I can’t—I’m going to kill him if he doesn’t cut it out. Tonight’s important to me, you know that.”

Of course, Toph did know. Despite Aang and Katara practically being married before their actual engagement, tonight was their betrothal dinner at the Northern Air Temple. And Sokka was… more imbibed than the occasion required. She didn’t really feel like confronting her stamped-down feelings for him tonight, but she also didn’t want to be a shit friend to Katara, so she gathered her guts and downed the rest of her own drink.

“You’re lucky I like you.”

She could hear the grin in Katara’s voice before the older woman’s arms came around her neck in an embrace. “You love me.” When Katara pulled away, she added, “And you know you love him too no matter what you two say.”

Katara was gone before Toph could curse at her.

Toph knew exactly where her ex…everything was. She hadn’t been able to take her senses off him all night, and right now, he was stumbling straight for her. Even drunk as he was, her stomach clenched traitorously at the idea of him seeking her out.

“You didn’t find me when you got here,” he lamented by way of greeting once he reached her. “You always used to find me at things like these.”

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go, doofus,” she replied, earthbending the ground beneath his feet to spin him towards the temple’s personal quarters.

Sokka hiccuped. “That’s a new one. Doofus.”

“I’ve definitely called you doofus before.”

Shamelessly, he threw an arm over her shoulders. He was heavy with unsteadiness and inebriation. “I don’t remember this.”

She shook her head, lips twitching against her will. “Not sure how well you’ll remember anything right now.”

They found their way to her guest chamber and she let them in, pushing into the room. She dropped him onto the bed, and her mind went places she’d been forcing herself not to think about throughout the past ten months. Was it hot in here?

“I remember everything,” Sokka muttered suddenly.

“I—huh?”

“I said I remember everything… everything about us, anyway.”

She wasn’t up for this today. She really wasn’t. She didn’t need to think about them together, about how much she missed him, about how much she loved him, and about how she never stopped.

It just didn’t work out between them, and she should’ve known better. For the first time in her life, she had been blind to the consequences of an action she took.

So she ran a tired hand down her face as she took a glass and filled it with tap water to give him. “Don’t start. And drink this or you’ll be insufferable in the morning.”

“Toph.”

“No.”

“Come on, listen—“

“I’m not doing this tonight,” she interrupted, shoving the cup into his hands. “I’m not—I’m not doing this, Sokka.”

He stood up then immediately fell back onto the mattress. “Hear me out. I—”

“Drink your water and get your ass to sleep, you—”

“I fucked up,” he whined. “I fucked up, and I miss you and I can’t do anything anymore because you’re not there with me. It’s not the same. And even though I really wanted to, I didn’t want to be with you the way we were because I—I knew I’d lose you—”

Her throat constricted unexpectedly. “You didn’t lose me,” she whispered.

“—and I hate myself for it, for letting myself cross the boundary and for letting you give into it,” he rambled on as though he hadn’t heard what she said, slurring his words. “And I miss you. I miss you so much, Toph Beifong. I lo—”

“No, okay, stop,” she said sternly, not wanting to hear his next words. Or maybe, she just wasn’t strong enough at that moment to hear them. Maybe she just didn’t want to hear them uttered in his condition. Maybe, she wanted to believe it was true and not just a drunken mumbling. “Just—shut up, alright? You’re drunk, and you’re clearly not in your right damn mind right now.”

She could feel him shaking his head. “I’m not drunk. I—I’m a little tipsy, but not drunk. I know what I’m saying, and I know that I—”

“Sokka.” His name sounded like a plea falling from her lips and into her ears. She hated it. She hated how needy and pained she seemed just saying his name. “Please. Don’t.”

“Do you not want me anymore?”

Of course I want you, you stupid idiot, she wanted desperately to say. Instead, she swallowed the gutting feelings the break in his voice did to her stomach, took a convulsive breath, and told him, “I’m going to answer that question tomorrow.”

Somehow, she knew he was pouting and had to convince herself not to reach her hands out to his face and confirm her suspicion. He gently grabbed her wrist, though, and tugged. “Why not now?”

“Because you’re drunk off your ass, as I’ve recently established.”

“Whether I am or not drunk off my ass, which I’m not,” he slurred charmingly, caressing the inside of her wrist, “doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

Toph’s breath hitched. She cursed herself for how easily her body reacted to his touch, his words. It would’ve been so easy to give in right then and there, to say what she knew he wanted to hear—but not like this. Not when his words were swimming in alcohol and regret, and not when she couldn’t be sure he’d even remember this conversation tomorrow. And not when she could put herself at risk of losing him completely if they did this again.

Katara’s words from earlier suddenly began to echo in her head. She frowned resentfully.

“Look, we’ll talk tomorrow,” she told him, more tightly than she would’ve liked, as she pulled away from his grasp. Then, she softened. “I’m not going anywhere, okay? I just... I need you to sleep this off first. Got it?”

For a moment, he didn’t respond. Then he slumped against the bed, defeated, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Got it.”

“Good.” Toph nodded, glad that he complied. She hesitantly set her hand on his chest, feeling the rate of his heart slow. “Get some rest for me?”

“I will if you don’t go.” He lazily laced his fingers through hers again. “I won’t snore, I swear.”

Despite herself, she snorted, finding herself bending the earth off her feet and laying beside him. “You drive a hard bargain.”

“I’ve gotta if I’m gonna get you back, right?”

“Hm.” She cleared her throat, ignoring the fluttering in her chest and the heat rising to her cheeks. “Is that a question?”

He shook his head and moved closer to her, their noses nearly touching and the smell of the whiskey he’d been drinking taking over her senses. “I’m going to get you back, Beifong.”

Toph didn’t think Sokka heard her sarcastically affirmative response before his first couple of snores filled her ears.

Chapter Text

He loves me.

“I still can’t actually believe you did that,” Sokka said, wonder filling his voice; warmth filling her heart. “You were sick! Like—you just—it was sick, T. You guys should’ve seen her. She moved all that metal around like it was lightweight—”

“It was.”

“—and I knew what she could do, that she could get it done, but to see it? Insane.”

“I can’t relate.” Her tone was nonchalant, yet her heart raced. She reveled in his admiration as he spoke about her to their friends, who she couldn’t seem to focus on.

Her crush was pointless; she couldn't help the flutter.

They both almost died, and how he risked his life to save hers, holding her hand amidst the chaos. It was a feeling unlike any she'd experienced before. She only felt him.

Damn him for it. Focusing on him instead of her impending death likely made things worse.

“You still saved us.” Sokka laughed, bringing her out of her thoughts.

Toph shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, well, somebody had to keep you guys from getting yourselves killed.”

“You always do. You’re our rock.” His laughter turned softer; her heart somersaulted. “We made a pretty good team.”

Toph shifted her feet, getting a closer feel at Sokka’s heartbeat among those of their friends. “Yeah, we did.”

He loves me not.

Sokka had made an effort to get an invitation to his wedding carved into metal.

How thoughtful of him.

Join us in celebrating the union of Sokka and Suki as they exchange vows. (Ps: I need a best man, or best Toph. Say you’ll do it? ~S)

Bitterness welled up inside her as she read the words, mocking her unspoken hopes and reminding her of the futility of her feelings. A laugh that lacked any humor bubbled up her throat. She swallowed the stupid, persistent lump in her throat… because she should be happy.

Her best friend was settling down with the person he loved.

She should be happy for him.

He loves me.

“You good?” was the first thing Toph asked Sokka when he showed up at her doorstep so late at night. Whatever was wrong, he sought her out. Their friendship was that important to him.

He let out a heartbreaking sigh. “I need a drink.”

Toph nodded, letting him in. He rummaged through her cabinets to find what he wanted; she knew he had when he carried the bottle over and sank onto the couch.

She listened to him drink, swallowing gulp after gulp in rapid succession. When he finally finished, he said, “We called it off.”

“What?”

“Suki and me. It’s done. It’s over.”

Toph’s breath hitched. She would not allow herself to be happy, and she stamped down the flicker of hope fluttering within her.

She settled a hand on his knee, and she wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol, but he broke. She swallowed and scooted towards him, pulling him into her chest, where he sobbed, and she held him for as long as she had to.

He loves me not.

Toph sat on the ground, her hands nearly buried in the soil as she concentrated on the inevitably-there second heartbeat she felt within her, stark and undeniable.

She was filled with fear, tinged with sadness and longing. Sokka, the one she had always yearned for, would not be the father of her child.

It wasn’t as though a pregnancy was what she sought, but if it were to had happened, she would’ve wanted him.

She had sought solace in someone else, filling the void he left behind with a fleeting hope of wiping him—who had all but fallen off the face of the earth recently with barely a letter left in his wake—away.

As she cradled her still flat stomach, feeling the tiny heartbeat of the life growing within, she couldn't shake the ache in her chest.

Whatever.

She whispered softly to her unborn child, “Just you and me, kid.”

He loves me.

She was mad. There was no way she was feeling Sokka’s footsteps and heartbeat approaching her office. But when the door creaked open, she knew she wasn’t insane.

“How come,” he said, shutting the door, “I had to learn that you’re pregnant from Katara.”

“It was none of your business.”

He scoffed. “You’re always my business.”

And her fucking stomach flipped. She wasn’t sure if it was because of her kid doing Ty Lee-style acrobatics, Sokka’s words, or a combination of both.

“Your sister has a big mouth.”

“You’re surprised?”

Despite herself, she held back a smile, but replied, “I wasn’t going to send for you while you were busy.”

“I might have been busy,” he said, “but never for you.”

“Sap.”

“You love it.”

“I do.”

She fluttered.

(And so did he.)

Chapter Text

Toph Beifong sat in the front row of Republic City's prestigious academy, her fingers tracing the edges of the empty seat to her right. The ceremony had yet to begin, but the hall was already buzzing with anticipation.

Her feet were planted firmly on the ground, clocking her daughter several spaces in front of where she sat. A bittersweet smile adorned Toph’s face as she swallowed the painful lump in her throat.

Lin, resplendent, or so Zuko, Izumi, and Suyin kept telling Toph, in her ceremonial robes, sat with her classmates, her heart beating quickly with nerves and trepidation. Toph’s own heart swelled with pride; her daughter had some such a long way despite the losses she’d confronted this year.

“She’s got your spirit, Toph,” Sokka had said, his voice filled with admiration and a hint of mischief the day he’d insisted on being a part of Lin’s life. “But she could use a little of my goofiness too.”

The memory kept the smile on Toph’s face. His loss was a wound that time could never fully heal.

A heavy hand fell on Toph’s knee, bringing her swiftly out of the thoughts and memories she could’ve drowned in. “You good?” Zuko, who sat on her left, asked.

Toph ran a hand through Suyin’s short hair. The girl was perched on Toph’s lap, trying her best to keep herself awake past her bedtime. Su just kept nodding off, nearly toppling over into the couple in front of her and Toph and insisting she was fine. It was about the only thing that kept Toph’s emotions in check.

She got her ridiculous character from her father.

“As good as any parent can be on the day of her eldest kid’s graduation day.”

Before Zuko could reply, Su nearly broke her neck turning towards Toph. “Are you gonna be this quiet on my graduation day?”

“Nah,” Toph said. “I’ll probably throw a party because I won’t have to deal with you anymore.”

Su laughed. “Liar.”

Toph’s lips twitched. She was, but saved her admission to allow Zuko to speak. He told her, “I miss him too.”

Unfortunately, missing Sokka didn’t even begin to cover it, but again, she kept this thought to herself.

Zuko wasn’t able to push for an answer because familiar footsteps and heartbeats were approaching as Katara, Aang, and the rest of the twinkly-toed family approached.

Attempting to sound spiteful, Toph grumbled, “Took you long enough.”

“We’re here, aren’t we?” Katara retorted lightly. She paused, likely glancing at the empty seat beside Toph. She made no comment as she ushered the kids into their seats and followed suit. Toph greeted them all as they passed, Su abandoning her in favor of sitting with her cousins.

As soon as their asses hit the seats, the speeches commenced and droned on, and Toph found herself lost in memories. She remembered the nights they spent talking about Lin’s future, Sokka’s infectious enthusiasm lighting up even the darkest days. He had always believed in Lin, just as he had always believed in Toph.

Drowning in thoughts of the man she loved and lost nearly made her miss her baby girl’s walk. Toph straightened in her seat, her focus fixed on Lin and her beating heart as she stepped forward. The crowd’s applause was thunderous.

Toph blinked away her tears.

Come the end of the ceremony, Toph found herself still seated, telling everyone that she had agreed to meet Lin here. It took her daughter no time to find her, crouching beside the empty seat at the end of the aisle. “You saved him a seat,” Lin noted softly.

Toph shrugged: a clear attempt to appear nonchalant. “I promised him I would.”

Lin placed her diploma on the seat. “I know he’s proud of us,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Toph placed a hand on Lin’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “He always will be.”