A/N: This wasn't originally going to be the prompt I started with for the 100 Theme Challenge, but it just kept coming. I have quite a few other prompts started, but I may not be able to post as frequently as I used to. Work sucks. XD

Anyway this is an AU modern-day fic without bending. I don't think I mentioned anything controversial, but if I did, please recognize that this is strictly non-political fluff. No offense intended.

Of course: Disclaimer: I do NOT own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Drunk

If Toph Bei Fong had one weakness, it was tequila.

But if Toph was completely honest with herself she would admit that tequila wasn't her weakness, but a cure for the soft spot in her walls.

Toph's real weakness was a kind-hearted naval officer that she had been in love with since their friendship as children. Sokka was the older brother of Toph's cousin's girlfriend.

Due to the lack of activities and other children in the neighborhood they had grown up in, the four had hung out constantly and become close.

Katara, Sokka's sister, and Aang, Toph's cousin, had dated since middle school, and were married just after high school. Toph and Sokka had grown closer when the other two did, but nothing ever came of it.

As soon as Sokka turned eighteen, he enlisted in the Navy, and Katara followed two years later.

Upon Toph's eighteenth birthday, she enlisted in the Marine Corp, and a few months later, Aang joined the Air Force.

All of them rose through the ranks, but Toph was an impressive force to be reckoned with until a roadside bomb stole her vision from her.

Toph was lucky to have come out of it alive, but something inside her was damaged, and she distanced herself from the friends she once considered her family.

Toph's nimble fingers rested around the neck of a full bottle of tequila, and she slowly unscrewed the cap.

Five years was a long time to be separated from friends, but Toph felt as if it were for the best.

Knowing Katara, she would insist on caring for Toph, unintentionally putting a strain on her and Aang's marriage.

And Sokka…well, there was no telling what place in his heart Toph now occupied, if any.

Toph sighed and poured a shot of tequila, tilting her head back, and the liquid fire burned a course down her throat.

Toph ran a hand over herself self-consciously.

Her waist-length ebony hair was up in a high ponytail, her long bangs brushed to one side of her face. A green tank top stretched across her large bosom, and her Tripp pants jingled with her movement.

What would an outsider see looking in? Would they see a beautiful woman wasting away?

Would they see beauty at all?

Toph sighed and poured another shot, drinking it quicker than the first.

When she had been young, she had loved Sokka with a passion most couples do not achieve at such a young age, but Toph had never worked up the courage to tell him.

She was too afraid that he only saw her as a child.

Toph took yet another shot as the 'what-ifs' began to plague her.

Should she have told him, Toph doubted it would have made a difference.

Sokka had been in love with a girl named Yue in high school who was killed just after graduation during mission work in Africa.

For quite some time, Toph thought that Sokka would never move on, but should he, that she would be the one he would run to because she had been there for him.

Then Sokka met Suki.

Suki was a women's self-defense instructor and a dedicated women's rights advocate.

Toph took another shot of tequila to chase away the memory of Suki.

She absently wondered if they were still together as her sobriety began to fade.

Toph used to think that Sokka would come around one day, but after being hospitalized and giving the prognosis of a sightless future, Toph had lost all faith in herself.

After a few more shots Toph had managed to convince herself that her love for Sokka and the worm in the tequila bottle were one and the same; they were both obstacles that she had to overcome.

Along the top of Toph's fridge, half a dozen tequila bottles sat with the smallest amount of liquor, and that damn worm.

Toph could never bring herself to drink it, not out of squeamishness, but for fear of what could happen.

Likewise, Toph could never tell Sokka how she felt for fear of what could happen, more specifically, rejection.

Toph shivered and stood up, moving towards the coat rack beside her front door.

"Wolf, come." She slurred, waiting until she heard the steady padding of feet followed by a thump, and then the steady sweeping of his tail across the floor. "Black flats and grey and black hoodie." Toph commanded.

The black and white husky retrieved the requested items and sat down beside his master again.

Toph tilted her head towards him and nodded with a hint of a smile.

The husky yelped once in response and wriggled his way into his specially marked harness, and passed the lead to Toph with his mouth.

Toph walked down the streets, her inebriation seemingly justified by the inner workings of her mind.

In honesty, the cool air had sobered Toph up greatly, but she kept her sunglasses over her eyes, and a piece of gum in her mouth.

"Jasmine Dragon," she whispered to Wolf, her bottom lip trembling.

The guide dog paused, looking up at his master.

The two had gone there once before, but the memories were so painful for Toph that she had fled, and would have been hit by a car if not for Wolf's quick thinking.

"I know, I know boy, but I need this." Toph exhaled, the surety filling her senses.

She had to do this.

Wolf led Toph down the dimly lit streets and after nearly an hour of walking, they arrived at their destination.

Toph pulled open the door, and Wolf led her in.

"Excuse me, but we don't allow…oh my god." The voice had begun as annoyed, the owner obviously missing Wolf's special harness, then tapered into understanding, and then into disbelief.

Toph tried to determine if she recognized the deep voice, but the tequila clouded her memory.

"He's a service dog," Toph informed the man, her hand patting the dog's head in affection. "Could I have a table please?"

The man stepped forward and—unbeknownst to Toph—motioned to a man in the kitchen.

"Right this way Toph." The man said, brushing his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes.

Toph froze and Wolf's lead jerked him backwards.

He whined and stared up at her, longing for a drink of water.

"How do you know my name?" Toph demanded.

The man smiled, grabbing Toph's hand and guiding it over a scar incasing the left side of his face.

"It's been a while." Zuko said with a smile.

"Good god Sparky, it's been forever." Toph exclaimed, relaxing with recognition.

She allowed him to lead again, following Wolf to a small table. Zuko came with a bowl of water for Toph's guide and a glass of ginseng tea for Toph.

"So, Katara tells me that you kind of…dropped off the map." Zuko began softly, hoping not to offend her.

Had Toph been sober, she probably wouldn't have said anything.

"Yeah, I did. I was pulling the whole 'pity me I'm blind' bullshit. You know, feeling worthless and shit." Toph confided, her words still affected by the liquid courage she'd had earlier.

Zuko nodded slowly. "I see. Uncle is here tonight, he would love to see you." Zuko said finally, not knowing where else to take the conversation.

When they were kids, all through middle school Zuko and his sister had bullied the group, but come high school, Zuko became part of their group.

Toph had a feeling it was because of Katara, but Zuko never owned up to it, and Katara clearly didn't feel the same.

Zuko was easily in a position to understand how Toph felt, which was what motivated her lips to begin moving again.

"I would love to see Iroh but first I have to tell you a HUGE secret." Toph attempted to whisper, her voice startling the last of the night's customers.

Zuko grinned, realizing Toph was smashed and gestured to the kitchen window again. "I'm all ears." He replied.

"You see, when we were KIDS, I kind of fell in love WITH Sokka." Toph said, her voice rising in odd places.

"Wow, I would have never guessed." Zuko replied sarcastically, but with a lighthearted intention.

Toph grinned and went on. "I know, I'm good at secrets. But listen, guess WHAT I discovered. Sokka is a tequila WORM." Toph continued.

If there had been any doubt about Toph's sobriety before, it had vanished.

So tequila is her poison…why am I not surprised? Zuko thought to himself. "How is that?" he asked aloud.

"You see," Toph began, spreading her hands out for emphasis. "I never drink the worm, you know, 'cause of the rumors about them, and I never told Sokka how I felt. It makes sense."

"That it does." Zuko said calmly, though he was trying not to laugh. Perhaps if Toph was sober, her logic would have been, well, logical.

"That makes absolutely no sense." A voice came from behind.

Toph jumped, the buzz leaving her body.

Zuko's voice may have been hard to place, but there was no mistaking Katara.

"Oh shit." Toph whispered.

Katara sighed as she tucked Toph into bed.

"I'll leave in the morning when you sober up, I promise." Katara said softly, her voice cracking.

Toph sighed, knowing that Katara was hurt. Katara hadn't said anything after making her entrance in the tea shop, and she had made sure Toph made it home safely.

As far as Toph knew, Katara hadn't even told Aang where she was or that she was with Toph.

"Katara," Toph whispered, closing her hand around Katara's wrist. "You don't have to go so soon."

Katara bit back tears and sighed. "Toph, if you wanted me here you would have found me. I'm not going to burden you with my being here." Katara stated.

Toph sat up and shook her head vehemently. "No, that's the exact opposite. I didn't want to be a burden on you and Twinkletoes!" Toph exclaimed.

"Toph," Katara soothed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You could never be a burden to us. We love you."

"Not all of you." Toph pouted stubbornly, something out of the norm for her.

Katara's eyes widened in surprise that Toph still harbored feelings for a man she hadn't seen in years.

"You know, I forgot to tell you about Sokka." Katara lied, hoping to steer the conversation to the exact point she wanted it.

"Oh, how's he?" Toph asked, hoping for nonchalance, but unable to stop the interest from entering her voice.

"Well, he retired from the Navy." Katara began, stringing Toph carefully. "He's got a house not far from here actually." She continued.

"Oh yeah, why'd he retire?" Toph asked, choosing to ignore Katara's remark about Sokka's whereabouts. She made a mental note to look for a new apartment as soon as possible.

"He said he missed home." Katara stated plainly. "He also said he wanted to start a family." Katara whispered, hoping Toph would take the bait.

Toph's stomach dropped as Katara's words sunk in, and she feigned sleep.

Toph groaned as she rolled out of bed, her feet hitting the cool wood floor, and waited until she heard the bed creak with the loss of Wolf's weight before venturing to her bedroom door.

Her head was pounding and her stomach was protesting the remnants of the tequila violently.

Wolf nudged the bedroom door open and then led Toph across the hall to the bathroom without needing to be prompted.

Toph bent over the toilet and wretched roughly while Wolf plopped down with a sigh.

Between bouts, Toph turned to her guide dog and gave an apologetic smile.

As Toph emptied the last of the contents of her stomach, she heard footsteps approaching, another sigh from Wolf as he stood, and then she could feel a presence beside her.

"Sorry Katara, Wolf failed the toilet-flushing aspect of his training." Toph quipped despite the thunder in her mind.

Toph groped around for a moment and flushed the toilet before making a move to stand up.

A firm hand wrapped around Toph's, and she nearly jerked her hand back in shock.

That was a man's hand, and despite the years separating her memories, she knew exactly whom it belonged to.

Wordlessly, Sokka helped Toph to her feet, and led her down the hallway. He helped her into a chair in the kitchen where he had Asprin and a cup laid out.

"Take this," he commanded, dropping the pills into her trembling hand. "And drink this, it'll help."

Toph tilted her head upwards, wishing she could tell if his eyes held the same anger his voice did.

She mumbled thanks and stretched her legs out, accidentally kicking Katara.

"You're still here?" she questioned, wondering why Katara hadn't warned her that Sokka was here, forgetting for a moment to be pissed that Katara had told him in the first place.

Katara smiled over the top of her coffee mug and shrugged.

"Yeah, Sokka was the only one around to pick me up, and he didn't think it was a good idea to leave you here alone." Katara replied, glad that she'd managed to reunite them.

Katara had done her part, and it was up to them to do the rest.

She stood slowly and stretched.

"I'm going to run and grab a few things for you, I'll be right back." Katara stated before heading to the door.

Sokka stared at her, mouth agape, unaware that Toph held a similar expression.

"Look," Sokka said finally, after the silence had become too much to bear. "I'm sorry about Katara. I had no idea what was going on until I saw you head to the bathroom. Then she filled me in." He paused for a moment, battling internally before sighing. "If you want me to go, I can walk home. It's not that far from here."

Toph closed her eyes trying to reject the pain filling her.

"Do whatever you want. I'll be fine." Toph said flatly.

Sokka opened his mouth, wanting to come clean to Toph, but shook the thought from his head; she wanted nothing to do with him.

He was to the door by the time Toph opened her mouth.

"Did you and Suki end up starting a family like you wanted to?" Toph asked softly.

Sokka smiled softly as he stared at Toph, looking vulnerable despite her best intentions.

"No, I never wanted a family with Suki." Sokka replied just as quietly before turning and leaving.

Katara counted softly, holding her breath, from her hidden position in Sokka's car.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Toph's apartment door flew open and Toph stumbled into the morning light, Wolf following her nervously.

Sokka paused and turned around, moving back towards Toph.

"Who were you talking about then?" Toph demanded, her breath coming out in small white puffs.

Sokka sighed and slipped off his black leather jacket, slipping it over her bare shoulders.

"Do you remember when we were kids and we broke into Ozai's mansion?" he asked instead of answering her.

"Yeah," Toph answered, caught off guard. "Azula found us, and she went for you...and I…" Toph stopped, realizing that she couldn't finish the sentence; her throat was thick with tears she could not shed.

"You pulled her off of me and beat the shit out of her because you knew I wouldn't hit a girl. You defended my honor…you defended me." Sokka supplied, his eyes filling with tears, staring at the woman he'd fallen in love with during childhood, looking so vulnerable and scared. "That was when I knew I was in love with you."

Toph's chin quivered momentarily before she launched herself into Sokka's arms.

"I love you too," Toph whispered.

As the two kissed Katara smiled before driving off, a bag of bottles with tequila worms clinking gently in the seat beside her.

A/N: What do you think? Was this alright? Please review and let me know. Thanks for reading! ~Majestic~