Tokka Week - Moonlight

Sokka opened and closed his hands, trying to calm his uneasy nerves. Sleeping on Appa, though a familiar experience, always unnerved him. Not because of the wind tossing his hair about, or the weary presence of Aang that had guilted him because of the boy's responsibility at the reins, or even the irregular swooping movements of the bison that occasionally rocked his body against the wall of the saddle. It was Toph that kept him awake, that made him feel pins and needles up and down his arms. Even asleep, she looked so distraught while flying, that he couldn't help but feel the same way. Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut as if her life depended on it. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or not, but her taut muscles suggested that she was not. He shut his eyes and reopened them. The whole night sky was a bleary smudge of black and white. The only thing that remained steady was the moon. It hovered overhead, bright and relentless, and, in Sokka's eyes, lovelier than ever. He looked back to Toph. The moonlight outlined her body and made her ashy skin glow. Despite himself, a warm sensation spread up through his neck and cheeks. He edged closer to her, and with a calm, gentle movement, placed his hand atop her head. A muscle spasmed in her shoulder and her eyes shot open.

"It's okay." He said calmly, raising his hand off of her. He moved it down and rested it in the curve of her palm, feeling the lines of her small but muscular hand. She took hold of him and squeezed tightly – a bit too tightly. Sokka winced at the pressure.

"Are we there yet?" She moaned restlessly.

"Not yet." He said, running a hand across her cheek. Her face was cold, bitten by the flowing wind. "Want a blanket?"

She shook her head. "I'm alright."

"Flying isn't fun for you, is it?"

She exhaled a small, wavering laugh. "You have no idea."

Sokka rested his arm against the saddle and sighed. "Yeah, I don't."

Toph's eyebrows knitted together as she listened to the calm, rhythmic beating of Sokka's heart. It was in that moment that she wished she could see more than anything else. He sounded so calm, yet so sad, and just this once, she wished that she could see him, to try and understand what he felt. But wishing was useless; she of all people knew that. Wishing didn't get her out of her parents' house. She did that. So, she hoisted herself up next to him and spoke in a brave voice.

"What's wrong?"

He looked over at her, confused. "Nothing's wrong. Why?"

"Well," She paused, trying to think of a way to gather her words. "You just seem…off. Different. At night, you always seem so…distant." She could feel him grow tense at her words. He turned away from her.

"It is nothing."

Toph bit her lip. Had she said something wrong? For several minutes, the two were silent. The wind lapped against their faces, almost sweeping in sideways. Toph's eyes watered from the cool sting. She wiped at them and drew her knees up to her chest.

"When I fly…" Her voice trailed off, but they succeeded in gathering Sokka's attention. He looked at her expectantly.

"When I fly," She tried again, "I'm cut off from everything. I can't see because there is no Earth, and I can't smell or hear because of the wind. I'm completely alone."

There was a brief silence. Toph felt something warm and soft press against her back. Sokka had wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his body. Feeling more at ease, her words came in a steadier stream.

"And when I'm cut off…when I don't have anything connecting me to the present, all I can do is focus on my past. My memories." She hesitated, then continued in a softer voice. "My parents. And…what I've done to them…it just makes me feel so empty and alone."

Sokka looked down at Toph, his eyes soft, then returned his gaze towards the sky. The moon glistened above, pale and beautiful. His mouth opened slightly as emotion took hold of him, but he managed to calm himself. "I understand."