Chapter 1: Drunk

Forward: I own nothing. The full pairing list is Kataang, Maiko, and Sukka versus Tokka. Onward!

Toph had never seen Sokka drink so much sake.

They were at Aang's eighteenth birthday party.

Katara had a glass, two at the most, and Aang had declined the alcohol. Mai was trashed, and Zuko loved it. Ty Lee had left hours ago with some Earth Kingdom man, stumbling in her own intoxication.

Toph sat at a table alone; her feet propped up to avoid the displeasing vibrations that the dancing brought about. Unwilling to dance, though many had asked thanks to Katara's makeover, Toph was left to think.

In the five years and some odd days since the war had ended, the group-or Team Avatar as Sokka called them- had taken residence in the Western Air Temple. Aang had encouraged people of all nations to join them there, and the temple was thriving.

Toph sighed as Sokka's overly-loud laughter reached her ears. Toph could pinpoint the exact moment she realized that her feelings for Sokka were more than just a childhood crush. And though the twenty-two year old was still with Suki, nothing had been solidified and Toph still held out a glimmer of hope.

Toph shifted in her white kimono and went to blow the bangs that Katara had pinned out of her face, out of habit rather than need, out of her face. Then, Toph shivered as warm breath fell upon her ear.

"Toph, why aren't you dancing?" Sokka asked, leaving Toph to momentarily wish that Suki was not visiting Kyoshi, but was there, keeping Sokka in line.

"All the vibrations make it hard for me to see," she replied. Sokka took her hand, and suddenly slung her over his shoulder.

"Come on," he slurred, jostling her away from the noise. Toph shivered again as cool air hit her skin.

"Sokka, I don't think," she began, but broke off at the sound of a door being opened. He closed it behind him, and set her down. Toph, her sight returned to her, could tell that she was in her room.

She backed away from him, bumping into her bedside. But Sokka pressed forward, wrapping his arms around her waist. He began to sway.

"Let's dance here, no annoying vibrations." He laughed, his breath laced with sake.

"I think you should go." She whispered. She had always imagined being with Sokka, but not like this, not while he was so drunk. Sokka laughed again, his warm breath sending a trail of shivers down Toph's spine.

"I'm dancing with you," he laughed, unstable from intoxication.

When he tripped, pinning Toph on the bed beneath him, she couldn't stop her heart from racing. And when his lips sought out hers, though she knew it was wrong, she kissed him back.

Toph sat up in bed, her naked torso chilling in the cool air. She set her hand down beside her, bringing the other one to the side of her head, and gasped as she contacted skin.

Last night wasn't a dream. She had slept with Sokka, in more ways than one.

Toph picked up the kimono she had worn to the party, slipped in on, and fled from her bedroom. There was still a small chance that Sokka wouldn't remember, and she didn't want to be there to squash it.

Katara stepped out of her bedroom, rolling her neck in an attempt to erase the stiffness from it, and spotted Toph sitting on the edge of the fountain, her back facing Katara. Katara headed towards the younger woman, wanting to ask why she was up so early, but she froze.

The young woman's shoulders were shaking.

Katara stepped forward again and closed the distance between them. Toph didn't look up, her feet dangling in the water.

"Toph, are you alright?" She asked, worry coloring her words. Toph turned her head slightly, and Katara could see her tears. Toph shook her head and turned away, her shoulders shaking again with silent sobs. Katara sat down beside her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Toph, you know you can talk to me. What's wrong?" she questioned, hoping that Toph wouldn't grow aggressive towards her persistence.

Toph sighed and wiped at her face. "I don't want to talk about it." She answered. Katara sighed and put her arm around Toph's small shoulders.

At eighteen, Toph was still small, but she had filled out in a petite, feminine way.

"Toph, you and I both know that I will not let this go, so you might as well tell me." Katara reasoned. Toph sighed and tilted her head towards the older woman.

"I slept with someone last night, and it was a big mistake." Toph answered, her voice unsteady. Katara tried to suppress her shock; she assumed that with Toph's straightforward attitude that she had probably been with someone, but to hear her confess was still shocking.

"Are you…is there something I can do?" she asked, not knowing what advice to offer the young woman. Katara wasn't sure if Toph was upset about the act or the person.

"No," Toph replied, turning back to the fountain. Katara did the only thing she could think of, and held Toph as she cried.

Sokka opened his eyes slowly, his head pounding. He had known that he was drinking way too much, but he had forgotten to stop. As Sokka sat up, he realized that he was not in his room, and the room he was in smelled suspiciously like Toph.

Sokka's eyes widened as the events of the previous night flooded back to him. He bit his bottom lip and stood, trying to locate his clothes. He found them and put them on quickly, rushing to get back to his room before anyone noticed he was missing. Later, he would talk to Toph, once his headache was gone.

Katara shut her bedroom door softly, and turned around, slamming into Aang. The young monk stared at her with a look of amazement. Katara smiled back at him, and then sighed.

"Toph's asleep in my bed." She muttered into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her. Aang pulled back and stared at Katara inquisitively.

"Why, what happened?" he asked, concerned for his sifu. Katara sighed again and shrugged.

"Something happened last night. I don't think we should talk about it until she's ready for you to know." Katara stated diplomatically. Aang arched an eyebrow.

"That's weird, she seemed okay when she left with Sokka." Aang said, his face thoughtful. Katara couldn't stop her jaw from dropping.

"What?" she demanded. Aang stared at her quizzically and shrugged.

"Sokka was kind of…drunk, and he said he wanted to show Toph how to dance. He basically kidnapped her, you didn't notice?" he asked.

"I was too busy trying to keep Mai from stripping." She added distractedly. She stared off into the distance, her mind trying to wrap around the information Aang had given her. It couldn't be Sokka that Toph slept with, could it?

Sokka paced in the bedroom that he and Suki shared, tea in hand, and tears fresh on his cheeks. He could not believe that he had betrayed Suki so badly. The woman that he had been with for six years, the woman that had saved his ass on more than one occasion, and now, this woman had been betrayed by the man she loved and the man who…

Sokka stopped pacing and nearly dropped his cup as he sunk to the floor.

Six years he had been with Suki, but he had yet to propose to her. He had always assured himself that it was just because of how comfortable things already were.

Sokka stood and resumed his pacing. Of course he loved Suki. How could he not love Suki; the woman was smart, she was beautiful, and she…she was a great warrior. She was also loyal.

Sokka couldn't silence the voice that chirped in his ear, reminding him that Toph was all of those things as well. She also knew him as well as he knew himself, and in the end, there were still parts of him that Suki didn't know.

Sokka growled and paced harder, trying to drive the voice out of his head. He was not supposed to be thinking these thoughts about Toph, or anyone really, while he was with Suki.

A knock on his door ceased further pacing, and he answered it with a heavy heart.

Somehow, he was not expecting Katara.

"Sokka," she began, pushing her way into the room. "You need to go talk to Toph, because she is so…" Katara paused, not wanting to further humiliate the Earthbender. "Look, just talk to her." Sokka stared at his sister, wondering what exactly Toph had told her. He sighed and turned towards the door, but it burst open, and Aang's tear-filled face greeted them.

"Katara," he muttered, trying to catch his breath. Katara and Sokka exchanged a glance and followed him wordlessly.

Katara slipped into her bedroom, not wanting to startle Toph. Toph was still lying in Katara's bed, except now her eyes were open and the tears were back. Katara sat down beside Toph, and gathered the girl into her arms. Toph leaned into Katara's embrace and sighed.

"I wasn't expecting this," Toph whispered. Katara nodded and buried her face in Toph's hair.

"I'm so sorry Toph. Did…they say what happened?" she asked, already knowing the answer, but not wanting to betray Toph's trust. Toph slowly nodded.

"My father was in his garden, you know, at the Ba Sing Se palace," Toph paused, remembering her father's coronation as the new king of Ba Sing Se. "Then, he just collapsed. They said that something was wrong with his heart, and that he felt no pain." Toph sniffed, her eyes still watery, but the torrent soothed vastly by Katara's attempts to console her. Katara nodded and sighed.

"What are you going to do?" she asked, knowing that she needed to discuss it, because if her mother was unable or unwilling to rule, it left Toph next in line. Toph shrugged, and closed her eyes.

"I guess I'll go see if my mom is alright. I mean, I know she's hurting, but she may still be able to pull this thing off. If not, then I'll find someone else to do it, because I'm sure as Spirits not going to do it." Toph stated rigidly. Katara nodded and released the girl.

"Sokka wants to offer his condolences, so, I'll give you guys a minute." Toph stiffened as Katara left and Sokka entered.

"Toph?" he whispered, coming closer. Although Sokka wanted nothing more than to take Toph in his arms and comfort his best friend, somehow, with everything that had happened, he couldn't bring himself to do it. "I'm so sorry for your loss." He added weakly. Toph nodded.

"I'm leaving in the morning. I need to be with my mother right now." Toph said, her voice thick with tears. Sokka nodded, and then sighed.

"I…want to escort you, to Ba Sing Se." he stated calmly. Toph's head jerked up. "I don't want you to have to go alone, but I also think that it would be best if Katara came too." He added, hoping that he hadn't given her the wrong impression. Toph nodded and sighed.

"Talk to Sugar-queen. I need to think." She said, her head already back on Katara's pillow, basking in Katara's comforting scent.

As Sokka left, Toph buried her head in the pillow, remembering the talk they had once had about her parents, and sighed. In the years since the war, Katara had helped Toph through all of the things that her mother should have. It was no surprise that the woman was a source of comfort to Toph, and Toph was thankful that she would be by her side.

And yet, she could feel the distinct change that was approaching, the change that came with her reluctance to stop Sokka the previous night. Maybe if she had, things wouldn't seem so bleak now.

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