Post by Sokkaroksya on Feb 9, 2007 16:42:33 GMT -5
Memories
Toph leaned back on the plush couch, enjoying the feel of the soft cushions under her. After the last few days' hard travel, it felt good to actually relax in a place with some comfort. A warm breeze drifted in from the open window at Toph's feet, and she sighed contentedly. It felt so good, and she was so comfortable…hmm, maybe a nap wasn't such a bad idea…
Toph felt vibrations coming from the front hall interrupt her reverie, and listened in. Katara and Aang were going for a walk together, and Sokka was seeing them off, telling them they had to be back by sunset. Katara answered in the affirmative, and then Toph felt her lean in to Aang. A second later, Aang's sudden embrace of Katara and Sokka's indignant yell confirmed Toph's suspicions that Katara had just kissed Aang. Toph chuckled to herself as she felt the two leave. No matter how many times they kissed, or just held hands, Sokka never got used to seeing his little sister show affection to the airbender. They had been a couple for years, and Sokka still couldn't get over it.
Toph laid back again, letting her waist length braid fall to the floor, when she heard Sokka making his way up from the front hall to her room. He paused outside the door before knocking.
"Come in," Toph said, with a hint of a smile on her face. Sokka was always so leery of just entering. He always had to knock first.
Sokka entered, and came to sit at the foot of Toph's couch. She sat up, allowing him room to sit properly, before sliding closer so she was leaning against him. He put his arms around her, and she smiled at his warm, strong embrace. "You never get used to them, do you?" she asked.
"Not when she springs one on me like that…" Sokka grumbled. "Why can't they respect my sensitivity?"
"Why can't you respect their feelings for one another? They love each other, and have for a while. People who are in love do things like that, you know."
"Is that why you're being so affectionate? You trying to tell me something?"
Toph smirked at him. "Meathead, you wouldn't get a hint if it beat you over the head…"
"Hey, mocking me isn't going to get you anywhere."
"What if I don't want to go anywhere?"
"Maybe you should have said that before you kissed me for the first time…remember? In the woods that one day?"
Toph smirked again. "Of course I remember. I also remember you were acting like a love-sick lemur, too. 'You have cute feet…' How lame can you get?"
"You still kissed me."
"Only 'cause I felt sorry for you!"
"Suuuure…and the tongue action was just for kicks and giggles, am I right?"
Toph punched him in arm, "Keep it up and I'll give you a different kind of action…"
"Owww!" Sokka massaged his upper arm. "I keep forgetting how strong you are…"
Toph laughed. "You should remember, then maybe you won't force me to cause you pain so often."
Sokka rolled his eyes, but remembered she couldn't see the gesture. "Hey, we should start getting ready. Zuko wants us there early tonight." He slipped off the couch. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Sokka had seen the way Toph's face darkened at the mention of the party to be held that night in the palace. But the expression was fleeting, and she gave him a quick smile before laying down again. "Nothing, I was just thinking. Yeah, you go ahead, I think I'm going to take a nap for a while."
Sokka smiled. "Okay, just don't oversleep." He hesitated a second, and then walked over to the couch and kissed Toph gently on the forehead before leaving the room.
The party to be held that night was in honor of the fifth anniversary of the war's end. Fire Lord Zuko had conversed with the other leaders of the nations, and they had decided to hold the celebration in the palace at Ba Sing Se. Thus, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph were staying in a posh two story house in the city, only a few minutes from the palace itself. Katara and Aang had come back a few hours ago, and they were all in the process of getting ready for the festivities. All of them, that is, except Toph. Sokka still hadn't seen her come out of her room, and it had been several hours since Katara and Aang had returned. When the other two announced they were ready to leave, Sokka decided he'd better go look for her. He headed back upstairs to her room, knocked, and, when no response was forthcoming, walked in.
Toph was sitting on her bed, knees to chest, silently contemplating. Sokka walked over, sitting next to her. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms and shoulders, feeling the hard muscles under her tunic sleeves. "What's up? You going to get ready?"
"I'm not going," Toph murmured.
Sokka frowned. "What? Why?"
"Because this whole thing is stupid, that's why…dang party…who wants to celebrate a war, anyway?"
"Um, we're not celebrating the war, Toph, we're celebrating the defeat of Ozai and the end of the war."
"Same difference. Everyone talks about what a glorious day it was…it wasn't…and I'd think you'd at least understand me, Sokka."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you get it? Don't you remember all the people who died that day? All the friends we lost? I remember this one guy I met on the boat…he told me he had a wife and a young son back home in Omashu…and I saw him die, Sokka. I was right next to him when a Fire Nation guard killed him. No one else seems to remember all the pain and hurt that happened that day. All I hear is how great the victory was…all I have are bad memories…"
She turned her head, but Sokka caught the tears that ran down her cheeks. He started to put his arms around her, but she turned back and he stopped. She kept talking; it seemed like she was determined to say something she hadn't said in a long time.
"I thought I was ready for the…the battle. Thought I was so mature. What did I know? I was only twelve! I didn't know anything! I saw and did things on that battlefield that I wish to the spirits had never happened…I killed that day, Sokka! I killed people! Every night I dream about it…I can't take it!"
The tears were flowing fast now, and Sokka pulled Toph close, but she pushed him away angrily. "Stop. I don't need you r pity."
"It's not pity, Toph. Believe me, I know what you mean. I have nightmares about that day, too. We all do. I killed men who I realized had lives, too. And I'm not proud of that. But you have to let go. I still think about Yue all the time, but I realize that she would want me to move on…so I did."
"But you don't understand—"
"I do." Sokka put his arms around her, and this time, she didn't resist. He pulled her head against his chest, she began to sob, shaking gently under him. After a little while, she stopped, and he let her pull away. She turned her head and wiped her eyes.
"Sorry you had to see that."
Sokka shook his head. "Don't be embarrassed. Sometimes you just have to let it out."
Toph smiled a little. "Thanks. I'm sorry I yelled."
Sokka smiled back. "No problem. You needed to get that off your chest." He leaned in to kiss her. She returned a little before they separated. "So, you still want to stay here?"
"No. I'll come. Just give me a few minutes to get ready."
Sokka got up and headed for the door. "Take your time."
Later that night, the four sat around a table, enjoying appetizers provided by the scurrying waiters and waitresses. The huge banquet hall was full of people, and music was playing. People were dancing in a large cleared space in the center of the hall. As the music changed, Zuko weaved between dancing couples and over to their table.
"Enjoying yourselves?" the Fire Lord asked. He seemed in particularly high spirits, though that may have just been the large amounts of Earth Kingdom wines being served.
"Yes, very much." Katara answered. "Um…have you been drinking the cactus whiskey?"
Zuko burped. "Just a little…say, Aang, mind if I take Katara out for a dance?"
"Well, I guess it's—"
"Great! Come on, Katara…" With a glance over her shoulder at Aang, Katara found herself being led out to the dance floor with the slightly inebriated Fire Lord.
Sokka laughed at the look on both Aang and Katara's faces, before getting an idea. Even though she had consented to come, Toph had been very quiet that evening, and Sokka was determined to cheer her up. He tapped her on the shoulder, and said, "Hey, you want to dance?"
She gave him a slightly weird look, before saying, "Okay…"
Sokka led her out on the dance floor, where he quickly realized he didn't know what he was doing. He wasn't a bad dancer, he just wasn't the best lead. When he narrowly missed stepping on Toph's toes, she murmured, "Why don't you let me lead, 'kay?"
"Sure."
The music grew faster, and the two picked up their dancing, their bodies getting closer together. Sokka enjoyed how Toph pressed against him, and was a little disappointed when the song ended. However, Toph surprised him by staying close. He took the hint, and put his arms around her.
"Thank you, Sokka…for everything."
"You need to just lighten up sometimes…just don't worry about it."
They stayed together for a few minutes, before they broke apart. Toph took Sokka's hand. "Come on, let's get out of here. I need some quiet."
She led him out into the palace courtyard, where they sat on the wide, sweeping stars that led inside. Just like that afternoon, Toph leaned against Sokka, and he wrapped his arms around her, taking her hands in his, laying his chin on the top of her head. They sat like that for long minutes, Toph listening to the silence, Sokka staring out at the stars that glittered above the city. Finally, Toph pulled away, turning to face him.
"Hey Sokka? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything."
"How do you deal with the pain of that day? You said you have nightmares too…how do you just…go on? It's so hard for me…"
"I just remember that I can't live in the past. Sure, bad things happened that day. But I can't just stop living because I did some things I'm not proud of. Life goes on, and I have people I care about that I need to look out for…like you, tough girl."
Toph smiled, and then leaned in. Sokka followed, and their lips came together in a sweet kiss. Sokka felt Toph's tongue brushing his lips, and deepened the kiss, until they were lost in their embrace. After hours had gone by, or no time at all, they pulled apart, and smiled at each other. Sokka ran his hand through Toph's long hair.
"We should probably get back."
"Yeah. Who knows what Zuko'll do when under the influence of cactus whiskey…"
They both laughed, and made their way back inside.
So, What do you think?
Toph leaned back on the plush couch, enjoying the feel of the soft cushions under her. After the last few days' hard travel, it felt good to actually relax in a place with some comfort. A warm breeze drifted in from the open window at Toph's feet, and she sighed contentedly. It felt so good, and she was so comfortable…hmm, maybe a nap wasn't such a bad idea…
Toph felt vibrations coming from the front hall interrupt her reverie, and listened in. Katara and Aang were going for a walk together, and Sokka was seeing them off, telling them they had to be back by sunset. Katara answered in the affirmative, and then Toph felt her lean in to Aang. A second later, Aang's sudden embrace of Katara and Sokka's indignant yell confirmed Toph's suspicions that Katara had just kissed Aang. Toph chuckled to herself as she felt the two leave. No matter how many times they kissed, or just held hands, Sokka never got used to seeing his little sister show affection to the airbender. They had been a couple for years, and Sokka still couldn't get over it.
Toph laid back again, letting her waist length braid fall to the floor, when she heard Sokka making his way up from the front hall to her room. He paused outside the door before knocking.
"Come in," Toph said, with a hint of a smile on her face. Sokka was always so leery of just entering. He always had to knock first.
Sokka entered, and came to sit at the foot of Toph's couch. She sat up, allowing him room to sit properly, before sliding closer so she was leaning against him. He put his arms around her, and she smiled at his warm, strong embrace. "You never get used to them, do you?" she asked.
"Not when she springs one on me like that…" Sokka grumbled. "Why can't they respect my sensitivity?"
"Why can't you respect their feelings for one another? They love each other, and have for a while. People who are in love do things like that, you know."
"Is that why you're being so affectionate? You trying to tell me something?"
Toph smirked at him. "Meathead, you wouldn't get a hint if it beat you over the head…"
"Hey, mocking me isn't going to get you anywhere."
"What if I don't want to go anywhere?"
"Maybe you should have said that before you kissed me for the first time…remember? In the woods that one day?"
Toph smirked again. "Of course I remember. I also remember you were acting like a love-sick lemur, too. 'You have cute feet…' How lame can you get?"
"You still kissed me."
"Only 'cause I felt sorry for you!"
"Suuuure…and the tongue action was just for kicks and giggles, am I right?"
Toph punched him in arm, "Keep it up and I'll give you a different kind of action…"
"Owww!" Sokka massaged his upper arm. "I keep forgetting how strong you are…"
Toph laughed. "You should remember, then maybe you won't force me to cause you pain so often."
Sokka rolled his eyes, but remembered she couldn't see the gesture. "Hey, we should start getting ready. Zuko wants us there early tonight." He slipped off the couch. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Sokka had seen the way Toph's face darkened at the mention of the party to be held that night in the palace. But the expression was fleeting, and she gave him a quick smile before laying down again. "Nothing, I was just thinking. Yeah, you go ahead, I think I'm going to take a nap for a while."
Sokka smiled. "Okay, just don't oversleep." He hesitated a second, and then walked over to the couch and kissed Toph gently on the forehead before leaving the room.
The party to be held that night was in honor of the fifth anniversary of the war's end. Fire Lord Zuko had conversed with the other leaders of the nations, and they had decided to hold the celebration in the palace at Ba Sing Se. Thus, Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph were staying in a posh two story house in the city, only a few minutes from the palace itself. Katara and Aang had come back a few hours ago, and they were all in the process of getting ready for the festivities. All of them, that is, except Toph. Sokka still hadn't seen her come out of her room, and it had been several hours since Katara and Aang had returned. When the other two announced they were ready to leave, Sokka decided he'd better go look for her. He headed back upstairs to her room, knocked, and, when no response was forthcoming, walked in.
Toph was sitting on her bed, knees to chest, silently contemplating. Sokka walked over, sitting next to her. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms and shoulders, feeling the hard muscles under her tunic sleeves. "What's up? You going to get ready?"
"I'm not going," Toph murmured.
Sokka frowned. "What? Why?"
"Because this whole thing is stupid, that's why…dang party…who wants to celebrate a war, anyway?"
"Um, we're not celebrating the war, Toph, we're celebrating the defeat of Ozai and the end of the war."
"Same difference. Everyone talks about what a glorious day it was…it wasn't…and I'd think you'd at least understand me, Sokka."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't you get it? Don't you remember all the people who died that day? All the friends we lost? I remember this one guy I met on the boat…he told me he had a wife and a young son back home in Omashu…and I saw him die, Sokka. I was right next to him when a Fire Nation guard killed him. No one else seems to remember all the pain and hurt that happened that day. All I hear is how great the victory was…all I have are bad memories…"
She turned her head, but Sokka caught the tears that ran down her cheeks. He started to put his arms around her, but she turned back and he stopped. She kept talking; it seemed like she was determined to say something she hadn't said in a long time.
"I thought I was ready for the…the battle. Thought I was so mature. What did I know? I was only twelve! I didn't know anything! I saw and did things on that battlefield that I wish to the spirits had never happened…I killed that day, Sokka! I killed people! Every night I dream about it…I can't take it!"
The tears were flowing fast now, and Sokka pulled Toph close, but she pushed him away angrily. "Stop. I don't need you r pity."
"It's not pity, Toph. Believe me, I know what you mean. I have nightmares about that day, too. We all do. I killed men who I realized had lives, too. And I'm not proud of that. But you have to let go. I still think about Yue all the time, but I realize that she would want me to move on…so I did."
"But you don't understand—"
"I do." Sokka put his arms around her, and this time, she didn't resist. He pulled her head against his chest, she began to sob, shaking gently under him. After a little while, she stopped, and he let her pull away. She turned her head and wiped her eyes.
"Sorry you had to see that."
Sokka shook his head. "Don't be embarrassed. Sometimes you just have to let it out."
Toph smiled a little. "Thanks. I'm sorry I yelled."
Sokka smiled back. "No problem. You needed to get that off your chest." He leaned in to kiss her. She returned a little before they separated. "So, you still want to stay here?"
"No. I'll come. Just give me a few minutes to get ready."
Sokka got up and headed for the door. "Take your time."
Later that night, the four sat around a table, enjoying appetizers provided by the scurrying waiters and waitresses. The huge banquet hall was full of people, and music was playing. People were dancing in a large cleared space in the center of the hall. As the music changed, Zuko weaved between dancing couples and over to their table.
"Enjoying yourselves?" the Fire Lord asked. He seemed in particularly high spirits, though that may have just been the large amounts of Earth Kingdom wines being served.
"Yes, very much." Katara answered. "Um…have you been drinking the cactus whiskey?"
Zuko burped. "Just a little…say, Aang, mind if I take Katara out for a dance?"
"Well, I guess it's—"
"Great! Come on, Katara…" With a glance over her shoulder at Aang, Katara found herself being led out to the dance floor with the slightly inebriated Fire Lord.
Sokka laughed at the look on both Aang and Katara's faces, before getting an idea. Even though she had consented to come, Toph had been very quiet that evening, and Sokka was determined to cheer her up. He tapped her on the shoulder, and said, "Hey, you want to dance?"
She gave him a slightly weird look, before saying, "Okay…"
Sokka led her out on the dance floor, where he quickly realized he didn't know what he was doing. He wasn't a bad dancer, he just wasn't the best lead. When he narrowly missed stepping on Toph's toes, she murmured, "Why don't you let me lead, 'kay?"
"Sure."
The music grew faster, and the two picked up their dancing, their bodies getting closer together. Sokka enjoyed how Toph pressed against him, and was a little disappointed when the song ended. However, Toph surprised him by staying close. He took the hint, and put his arms around her.
"Thank you, Sokka…for everything."
"You need to just lighten up sometimes…just don't worry about it."
They stayed together for a few minutes, before they broke apart. Toph took Sokka's hand. "Come on, let's get out of here. I need some quiet."
She led him out into the palace courtyard, where they sat on the wide, sweeping stars that led inside. Just like that afternoon, Toph leaned against Sokka, and he wrapped his arms around her, taking her hands in his, laying his chin on the top of her head. They sat like that for long minutes, Toph listening to the silence, Sokka staring out at the stars that glittered above the city. Finally, Toph pulled away, turning to face him.
"Hey Sokka? Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything."
"How do you deal with the pain of that day? You said you have nightmares too…how do you just…go on? It's so hard for me…"
"I just remember that I can't live in the past. Sure, bad things happened that day. But I can't just stop living because I did some things I'm not proud of. Life goes on, and I have people I care about that I need to look out for…like you, tough girl."
Toph smiled, and then leaned in. Sokka followed, and their lips came together in a sweet kiss. Sokka felt Toph's tongue brushing his lips, and deepened the kiss, until they were lost in their embrace. After hours had gone by, or no time at all, they pulled apart, and smiled at each other. Sokka ran his hand through Toph's long hair.
"We should probably get back."
"Yeah. Who knows what Zuko'll do when under the influence of cactus whiskey…"
They both laughed, and made their way back inside.
So, What do you think?