arthoniel | Small White Lies (Reply)

Title: Small White Lies
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Tokka (Sokka/Toph)
Warnings: Mild spoilers up to The Runaway
Word Count: 282
Notes: Set in some random time during S3, before DoBS. Yes, I now write as well... you might want to run for your life. :)

Really, Toph’s whole existence is a lie, Sokka mused, sitting by the campfire. It was pouring out, but Toph had found a cave for them to camp out in until the rain ended. There wasn’t really anything to do though, so eventually everyone just fell into their own thoughts. He leaned back against the rock wall. Well, her parents hid her from the world and she hid her earthbending from them, he continued to himself. When she did go out, she went as the Blind Bandit. And I bet my sword her parents didn’t “change their mind” and let her come with us to teach Aang earthbending when we first met her. She’s been the Blind Bandit, the Runaway, she’s pretending she’s of the Fire Nation now… has she ever been herself? Just… Toph? He turned to look at her. Suddenly he remembered: after her fight with Katara about her scams, he was the only one she would talk to. And he would never forget the look on her face when he gave her that extra bit of meteorite. She has just been herself before. I like her when she’s like that, he thought, smiling to himself. Suddenly she turned to him. “What are you staring at?” she demanded of him.

Sokka started. “Um… nothing?” It was more of a question than a statement. Trying to sound smart, and like he’s not thinking about her, he continued “I was thinking about the invasion, and the different possibilities our position will give us,” as he turned towards the wall. Her life has been filled with lies, but one more small, white one won’t hurt anyone, right?

Toph smiled, feeling the lie in him.