Day 1 Prompt: Bending the Rules

They were staring each other down. The air between them crackling with fury and determination. Neither side willing to yield. Aang was watching with trepidation. Hating conflict, observing the Water Tribe siblings battle it out made him nervous. Toph sat off a little ways, nonchalant. Even if she couldn't see, it made no difference to her. In fact, she thought things were more interesting earlier when Sokka and Katara had been engaged in a screaming match.

It all started when Sokka began complaining about how he always did the fishing for the group. His younger sister countered that he was good at it. However, he thought it was still unfair. As it got heated, Aang tried to step in only to receive two pairs of blue eyes giving him icy stares. Eventually Sokka, being the idea man he is, suggested a game to decide who would catch dinner for the evening. It was a game that incorporated skill and luck, but most of all it depended on one's own ability to bluff. It was a card game he and Toph learned in the Fire Nation while swindling the swindlers. Katara accepted.

They'd played two hands so far and each had a victory. Bringing them to this point. Katara's face was determined and Sokka couldn't tell if she had a good hand or not. He had two pairs. Not a bad hand, but definitely not the best. It was his turn to make the bet and as he reached for the pebbles (substitutes for coins) he saw Katara smile. He stopped, his hand hovering over the tiny stones, beads of sweat starting to form on his forehead and neck. Then he saw it. From the corner of his eye he saw a sign. Toph, sitting cross-legged in the grass next to the nervous Avatar with her head tilted back toward the sky and a finger pointing upward. Sokka forced his expression blank and shoved a handful of pebbles between himself and his sister.

"Let's see 'em, sis." Katara's smile faded a bit as she revealed her hand. One pair with a high numbered card. Sokka barked a laugh, jumped up and threw his own cards down. "Two pair! Yes! Better get to fishing, Katara!" Sokka yelled as he jumped up and down. Katara sighed defeated,

"Fine, just quit yelling." She gathered the cards and put them back in the bag. As she started to make her way to the river Aang flew to her side stating he'd help.

Sokka plopped down next to Toph and gave her a hug.

"You were telling me to bet big! How did you know?" He let her go and laid back on the grass. Toph laid back as well before she replied.

"After her last bet her heart rate was steady, but all of a sudden it spiked when you reached for the rocks. She got nervous. I assumed she didn't have any good cards. Good thing you were paying attention, Snoozles."

Sokka turned his head to look at the girl. He smiled and replied, "I'm glad I caught it too. You didn't have to do that. Katara will be upset if she finds out."

"Then she better not find out then," The bender huffed. "Plus, it was for a good cause. I figured since Sugar Queen's a water bender and all she'd be able to get fish faster than you. I'm starving!"

"Hate to break it to you, Toph, but since Aang went with her it'll probably take them even longer to get back." Toph blushed and turned her head away in hopes of hiding the warmth she felt on her cheeks. She'd never tell him that she was counting on that to happen all along.

"Wow, that cloud looks like Bosco!"

"Oh hey, you're right!"

"Yeah, Toph, see its…oh." Toph laughed and was soon joined by Sokka. "Good one, Toph. You always get me."

Toph kept laughing and smiling. 'Yeah' she thought, 'this was so worth it.'