EARTH BENDING

As Toph stomped her way through the streets of Ba Sing Se, she could feel her irritation turn to white hot anger. She was not put on this earth to serve the interests of the Avatar. True, the Avatar was one of her nearest and dearest friends but she didn't take orders from anyone. Whether it was in the name of justice or not, even if Aanf had the world's best interest at heart, she was not at his disposal.

The meeting Aang arranged with King Kuei had started off innocent enough. There were several compliments about the success of the Beifong Metalbending Academy, as well as her efforts to enforce law in Yu Dao. There was nothing Toph loved more than having her ego stroked, but the Earth King had made the mistake of asking her to teach the art of metal bending to the Royal Earthbending Guards and the elite earthbenders of the Terra Team. He even hoped for her aid in reestablishing the now defunct Dai Li. Such a monumental task was daunting enough, but she couldn't do it alone.

This wasn't the small fire nation colony of Yu Dao, where her class size was never larger than twenty. This was Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom. Alone, it was a small country ten times the size of Yu Dao and Omashu combined. Before, Toph had the chance to decline the offer, King Kuei pulled out a scroll that apparently stated that the Avatar had promised the aid of Toph Beifong and her ingenious invention of metal bending.

Now, she was debating whether or not to head to Republic City to teach Twinkletoes a lesson about being less ambiguous. He didn't inform her that this meeting was about her training an entire army, she was told the Earth King had questions about defense. For that reason, Sokka would have been the best person to speak with. He was the strategist.

Either way, she admitted to herself that the assignment was frightening.

The Beifong Metal Bending Academy did not really take off until she implemented Sokka's outlandish ideas. This time around, since he was busy in Republic City, Toph could not ask him for help . She knew she was in this alone.

The thought perturbed her so greatly that she ignored the figure that had begun following her.

Any other day she would have picked a fight with the stalker and knocked him into next year. Toph, however, was not in a fighting mood. She needed time to think; to sort through her options. She began to teach metal bending because she liked bossing people around. She also had nothing to do. With Katara attached at Aang's hip, he was doing his Avatar duties. Zuko was not only the new Firelord but a new husband to Mai. And Sokka, stupid Sokka was reconstructing the Order of the White Lotus, still obsessed with meat, and still dating Suki. Maybe? Toph couldn't keep up with his ever evolving relationship status.

Quite recently, she found that six years of his presence had only allowed her little crush to turn into something unbelievably unbearable. She was in love with him. No matter how she yearned for her pesky feelings to go away, she found herself thinking of him more. Caring for him more. Wanting him more. It hurt.

Putting those silly thoughts to bed, she reassured herself, Toph Beifong doesn't pine for any man. At least that was what she tried to convince herself. No matter which way she divided the situation, she was in love with his humor, his loyalty and despite his stupidity, he had a brain cell or two that functioned. They didn't call him the idea guy for nothing. What really pulled at her heartstrings was that regardless of her blindness and foibles, he accepted her; admired her even. Not once in their years of knowing one another, had he seriously complained about her attitude. And Spirits knew someone needed to help keep her temper at bay.

He seemed to be the only person who could calm her. Ironically, these days, he seemed to be the only one that aggravated her.

With her head clouded with thoughts of Sokka, Toph sensed the person trailing her was tall. Six foot. Plus an inch or two? Must be male, she assumed. Zoning in on him, she noticed his steps where faulty, like he was forcing himself to take small strides. Halting dead in her tracks, she sensed him mimic her action. He was forcing himself to stay at her back. Testing him, Toph took three more steps, and so did he.

Spinning around, she faced the jerk who had been pursuing her for the last ten blocks. She wasn't in the mood for games.

Lifting multiple, watermelon sized chunks of earth, she interrogated, "Did you need something?"

As she stood, she used her seismic sense to determine the precise distance between her and the jerk. She swore she recognized those feet, the gash in the sole of the boots, that stance. He was directing his weight, favoring the right leg. Like Sokka, she thought. She let out a breathy chuckle, she knew it couldn't be him. He was due to pick her up tomorrow with Aang and Katara.

Then he spoke. "Aren't you Sifu Beifong?"

At the sound of the dulcet tone, a heavy sigh escaped her lungs and her pulse quickened. All the rocks she had prepared to fire slowly disintegrated back into the floor of the earth.

Instead of showing a hint of excitement, she planted her hands on her hips and coolly asked, "What's it to you?"

"Well," he started, she could hear the smile in his voice, "I happen to be your best friend."

Quickly, he closed the gap between them and went in for a hug. Like a flash, Toph's arm was outstretched and her hand placed firmly on his chest. There had to be distance between them. One day she was going to slip up and show more affection than acceptable between friends. That line had been crossed once before, but in spite of her wanting it to happen again, she could not let it. She had to move on.

It's not like he remembers anyways, she lamented.

Really, it did not matter. She had put the memory in the past and tried to move forward. Only he was making it difficult.

Lately, Sokka had been painfully nice to her. It was one thing for him to say kind and encouraging words, but then he began with the courteous gestures. Things such as pulling chairs out for her at restaurants, holding doors or grabbing her hand to guide her up a flight of wooden stairs. Generally, she despised it when people were overly attentive with her, treating her as if she were an incompetent little blind girl, but with Sokka it wasn't so bad. The things he did were truly out of politeness not some romantic connivance. That's how friends treated one another. With kind words and nice gestures.

Well, Toph wasn't sure she could take it any longer.

"You sound awfully sure of yourself," she taunted, "I don't think I'd be best friend's with a meathead."

Beneath Toph's touch, his chest was warm and she felt the expansion of his lungs with each breath he took. It made a lump form in her throat and the knot she already had in her belly tighten. The muscles that had developed on his chest made her envy other peoples ability to see. With her abilities, she could see three dimensional silhouettes of people, objects, and at times she had more clarity of her surroundings then those with sight. For that reason, she knew Sokka's smile was stunning, his body robust and his face beautiful. Yet, his looks had never been the sole reason she admired him.

To calm her nerves, she let out a slow exhale and forced her eyes shut. The pulse of his heartbeat under her touch put her in a trance. Trying to pry her hand from his body, her locked elbow had warped and she unconsciously stepped closer to him. She had become a moth and he was a flame. Another lamentation came to her mind, If only he remembered.

"Obviously you would," he countered with an overabundance of confidence, "I mean I am the best."

A edge of her lips began to curl up. She found that silly smugness of his was humorous. Not wanting him to catch her smirk, she set her face into a hard scowl. When his heartbeat quickened under her touch, she knew it wasn't for the same reason her heartbeat sped up. Sokka was planning something. As she went to pull her hand from his chest, he grabbed her wrist, drew her body flush against his and forced her into a hug.

Any other person would have been apprehended and she would have them buried in the ground, but his presence regularly threw off her senses.

With his arms swathed tightly around her, she stood frozen stiff with her arms at her sides. Her face was pressed to his chest and with their height difference he easily rested his chin on the top of her head. For Toph, it was intolerable. Hugging wasn't necessary. Before he had a chance to finish torturing her, she squirmed out of his grasp and threw a punch to his arm. He moaned in pain, and Toph seized her chance to get away from him. She was about to continue on the routine path to the Avatar house but didn't get more than two steps in when she was yanked backwards.

"Get your giant meaty hand off me!" she yelled swatting at the hand on her shoulder.

Not even remotely phased by her calloused tone, Sokka could only smile. Seeing her squirm every time he touched her gave him a odd sense of joy. So again, he grabbed her arm announcing, "I want food and tea, and you're going to join me."

Instead of saying anything, he draped his arm across her shoulder guiding her in the direction of the Spring Festival. Clearly annoyed with his contact, Toph let out a grunt. Again, Sokka found himself smiling. He seemed to be the only one that got a reaction out of her.

Just to annoy her further, he pushed his lower lip out and playfully whimpered, "Didn't you miss me Toph?"

"Why would I miss you?"

Once more, he threw his arms around her and moaned,"Because it's been five years!"

"It's been five weeks," she corrected.

Making a scene, he melted onto the floor, his arms now fastened around her ankles anchoring her to the ground. He continuing to cry, "FIVE YEARS!"

With a roll of her eyes, she prepared to earthbend his ass out of Ba Sing Se. The tremors vibrated the ground beneath Sokka's body. He was alarmed enough to take the warning seriously and release her legs.

Coolly, he stood, dusting himself off. "If it wasn't for your earthbending that would have been the best sneak attack ever."

"You're screwy in the head if you think you'll ever catch me in a sneak attack. It's just an idiotic fantasy of yours."

Maybe it was, but one day Sokka was going to catch her off guard with something. He knew it would be the new Metal Bending Academy being built for her in the city, or even her nomination to be Republic City's first Chief of Police. That's the closest he'll come to a sneak attack.

"I really did miss you, ya know? With Aang and Katara's wedding coming up, their oogie-ocity level is at an all time new high." With those vile images flashing in his mind, he shivered.

Across from him, Toph stood bare footed and arms folded. She grumbled, "You wouldn't happen to be missing me just because you don't have Suki to keep you company?"

"No! The thing is Suki and I are dating again. Isn't that great?!"

"Sure, it's great you're dating the same girl that started seeing Zuko while you two were supposedly together."

The topic was practically taboo amongst their group of friends but Toph never censored herself. No matter which way the situation was looked at, Suki had cheated on Sokka. Luckily for her, Mai and Zuko had been broken up. Otherwise, Mai might have killed her. Sparky had only ever wanted Mai though. Which is why he married her three years ago.

Although her memories of her friend's wedding night were hazy, Toph could never forget that celebration. Their boredom. Their conversation. The way Sokka touched her, and ever cell in her body quivered. She deplored, Forget about it Toph! He didn't mean a word he said that night!

As always, Sokka made an excuse. "Suki and I didn't exactly establish our relationship then."

Toph kept her mouth shut, and began walking away. Sokka was never going to acknowledge that Suki had made an misstep. That she had even considered to be with another man, who was not Sokka, was baffling to Toph.

Trailing behind her, Sokka continued, "Now we're established. And she only dated him for like a month. She couldn't get enough of good ol' Sokka."

"Whatever," she muttered to herself.

Obviously, she could care less. At times, Sokka's feelings were hurt when Toph was so indifferent with him and he never hesitated to hide it.

"You didn't miss me did you?"

Hating that wounded sound in his voice, she spun around and faced him. "Alright," she admitted,"I guess I missed you too."

Delighted with her confession, Sokka wrapped his arms around Toph's tiny waist and picked the young woman up. There was a good chance she would catapult him ten feet into the air -she had done it before- but he didn't care. The earth trembled beneath his feet and this time he wouldn't allow her to use earthbending to push him away. He only held onto her tighter hoping she would reciprocate. Group hugs were less embarrassing for her, but she always found it difficult to show one on one affection. It saddened him to know this was her parents doing. They didn't know how to muster up enough human affection to show their kid love. At least he hadn't seen much affection exchanged. Status and proper etiquette was vital in their aristocratic lives. They wanted her to be a cultured, well mannered, soft spoken lady but he was glad Toph wasn't like that.

A delicate pair of arms snaked around his neck, Toph's weight became light and she rested her chin on his shoulder. Curiously, he glanced down over Toph's shoulders to see a platform of earth beneath her feet. She was standing on the tips of her toes.

Rarely, did any soul see the sentimental side of the mighty Toph Beifong, but each time she allowed him to hug her, a sick little thrill would pierce through him.

A/N: Eh... it'll do. Decided to partake in Tokka month because they will forever be my OTP. I do hope the prompts I saw were correct. Instead of 31 one-shots I'm attempting to combine all prompts into one long story. We'll see how it turns out. Now, is anyone else curious as to what happen to Toph on the night of Zuko and Mai's wedding? Anyways, I hope you liked it, even if it was quickly and poorly written. Much love and happy reading!