#32. Friends

This isn't a poor-Toph one; there was a tie in votes, but I liked the feel-good vibe (and, also, patronizing Aang). Enjoy...

Disclaimer: Don't own ATLA

"That's him?"

"Who's who?"

"Ozai," he explains, remembering a second late like he always does. "He's over on the ground, just kinda… lying there."

She lets out a low whistle. "So Aang… y'know, finished the job?"

"I guess." He sounds doubtful, well aware their bald companion hasn't every killed anything but a bug—and that was an accident to begin with, not to mention that it haunted Aang for days. "Didn't know he had it in him," he adds, without a shred of remorse.

"Does it look like he used earthbending?"

"Toph!" exclaims Suki, horrified, but Sokka just squints with genuine interest. "I don't know. He looks… whole."

"Not squished, or anything?"

"Don't think so."

Toph sighs. "I would have done a much better job," she says flippantly, crossing her hands behind her head. "So, we nearly there, or what?"

"Any second," he replies, just as the ship touches ground. A visible tremor runs through Toph at the contact, and her shoulders relax slightly a moment later—he hadn't even realized they were tensed until now.

"Finally," she mutters, making her way for the gangplank. Conveniently, it leads right to the little flat where Aang and the ex-Phoenix King are perched and slumped, respectively. "Twinkletoes," she calls evenly, brushing past a surprised soldier with Sokka and Suki in hot pursuit.

"Hi, Toph," Aang replied. He's smiling—that's her first clue that fate has again displayed its ability not to apply to the boy. The second is the deep, low thump of Ozai's heart, vibrating through the earth and up her legs. Her eyes widen slightly, though she says nothing, sure the answer will come up soon enough.

"So, did you… you know?" Suki wonders tentatively from behind her. She points at Ozai, making almost as if to poke him.

"I'm still alive."

His voice is a snarl, as he turns his dull gold eyes to face her. Suki yelps and jumps, and Toph turns her face away to hide a smirk. Funny, how being blind stops her from being caught off guard. "What'd you do?" she asked nonchalantly.

Aang beams. "Took away his bending."

"Where'd you learn that?" she demands.

"A giant lion-turtle taught me yesterday."

Toph shakes her head. "You have the craziest adventures when you disappear," she mutters, punching him lightly in the arm. The gesture, her version of affection, makes Aang smile even more widely—his jaw, she observes coolly, is in danger of breaking—but at that moment, something else steals her attention… and really, how could it not? Possibly the best opportunity she'll ever have for some good old-fashioned ridiculing is lying on the ground three feet away. There will never be a chance like this again.

And Sokka appreciates it, too. "Well, look at you," he grins, sidling up to the man as best he can with crutches. "Now your firebending's all gone, I guess we should call you the loser lord, huh?"

Ozai glares daggers. "I am… the Phoenix King…"

"King of what?" she chimes in, smirking mercilessly from under disheveled bangs. "Only thing you're king of is getting pulverized by a kid." She pauses, and then adds to Aang, "No offense, Twinkletoes."

"None taken," chirps the monk, not at all bothered.

"Where was I? Oh, yeah—sorry to offend you, king of getting his ass whupped."

"Yeah," Suki pipes up, "yeah, or how about king of guys who… um…"

The Kyoshi warrior trails off into silence, her three companions waiting expectantly. "Who… don't win?" she finishes lamely, with a hopeful smile.

Toph shakes her head pityingly. "Leaves the insults to us, honey," she replies, with just the slightest edge of scorn coloring her tone. Sokka snickers, and then winces under Suki's glare, and then shoots Toph a conspiratorial, sideways look to tell her that he's still on her side. She nods back, grinning with satisfaction.

So, Suki has Sokka, for now. There's no debating that. But Toph's his partner in crime, the person who fits with him like puzzle pieces, made to click together. She's the one who he laughs with and not at. In the end, Toph is Sokka's best friend, and try as she might, that's something Suki can't ever be.

So—for now—it's enough.

Suki is such a loser--the hopeful in me likes to that that was the moment Sokka changed his mind...