Chapter Text
They all started together but ended in separate lands. Katara knew it was childish to believe that the great once team avatar would remain eternally together. Though everyone knew that they were and always would be bound to each other. After all, they saved the world. They’re names never would be forgotten though their friendship did take a toll once everyone began to look for a life. Those few years after the war where they were together were some of their best memories now that a huge weight had been lifted from above the young teenagers shoulders. Though a little part of them did hurt as time went on from seeing each other every hour of every day to every week to once every month to at random. Though they had to grow up. They had to learn. They had to live.
Toph felt like a stupid rag doll. Yet again had she been dragged to some important place where she had to dress in a stupidly elegant dress with one too many bobby pins Katara had stuck in her and even had make up on her face. She sat in her seat silently, arms crossed after all it had been where Katara had left her in a way to keep her from the other two and to keep the three of them from burning the place down.
She didn’t get why since Aang had to be there all four of them and a lot of the time the five of their presences had to be demanded. From the ceramic floors she could tell she was in a some sort of dining room where food was beginning to be set out. However she had eaten already so she didn’t care for the food. The event didn’t start until six and it had barely turned five. Toph sighed leaning back on the chair before she heard the chaos that went by Aang and Sokka.
“Bet you can’t find the kitchen before me,” she heard Sokka challenge.
“Is your stomach all you think about?” He asked regardless, still right behind Sokka.
“Pretty much,” she heard the two push the doors open. “Toph!” Where have you been for the past twenty minutes!”
Toph smirked “Katara locked me in here, something about my dress being ‘a very light almost white green’,” She mocked Sokka laughing at the almost identical mock of his sister.
“I’m surprised you're still sitting,” Aang couldn't help but comment.
“I wanted to prove her wrong, she thought putting me in here would stop us from doing something dumb,”
“Well she set us back twenty minutes but there’s still plenty of time,” Sokka said, wandering around the food table. He picked up a marshmello. “Nor our fault trouble follows us, I used to blame Aang,”
Aang eyed Sokka joining him. “Hey, not true.”
“Yeah and why did Zuko chase us around the world?” he put another marshmallow in his mouth Aang unfortunately due to bad influence from his sister's girlfriend following.
“Whatever that was years ago, it's mainly you two,”
“Us two!?” Sokka and Toph exclaimed in unison.
“Come on, the second Toph joined the group you two start something,”
“And you follow, accomplice.” Toph snorted Sokka coming behind Toph handing her a marshmello which she ate.
“Catch!” Sokka shouted, throwing a marshmello at Aang who ran to catch it successfully jumping over the table.
“Got it!” but in his celebration knocked into the table sending pudding flying into Sokka’s face.
“Oh real nice avatar! Not on my best feature!”
“If that’s your best feature you should be worried.” He glared down at her before picking up a chocklated strawberry to throw at Aang who dodged it picking up mindlessly a cupcake and throwing it at him Sokka ducked down before his eyes widned. Standing back up immediately.
“Toph!” he saw the stain on her dress Aang running to grab napkins. “Sh234 Why didn’t you move out of the way!”
She let out a large laugh. “You helped me prove my point. I sat in this chair and we still got into trouble.” Sokka couldn’t help but laugh.
“Katara is going to be mad,”
“Fumming,” Toph agreed taking Aang napkins.
“Sorry that was a terrible miscalculation!”
“Save it for your girlfriend,” Aang’s hear dropped hearing the door open.
“Katara,” Aang said awkwardly standing in front of Toph Sokka doing the same.
“I-Why are you two even in here!?” She put her hands on her hips setting setting down what she carried. “Oh spirits what are you two hiding?”
“Nothing! Nothing to see!” Sokka walked up to her, practically pushing her out of the door.
“If I find out what you two did I am locking you guys up in the hotel until events start from now on!”
“Sure! Yeah! Bye!”
“Can’t believe I just lied to my girlfriend,”
“Technically you didn't, you just stood there silently,” Toph defended cleaning with the napkins aimlessly, unable to even see where the stain was. Sokka came back in.
“Is it coming out?” She waved a hand in her face to which he rolled his eyes. Going to a sink to dampen towels, Aang trying to tell Toph exactly where the stain was.
“Left! Other left!”
“Aang I can’t even see left!” The heard the doors open again Aang standing in front of Toph.
“Forgot my seating tags,” She looked at Aang’s ‘hiding something smile’ “Not you too, what in the world did you two do,” Katara asked giving him a crazed look he just kept smiling. “I’m going to find out sooner or later!” she yelled walking right back out.
“So what’s the plan? Hide me until Katara’s so old she can’t see the stain?” Sokka came back with the dap towel shoving them into Toph’s dress. “Cold!”
“Sorry!” he yelped as she punched his forearm. “You have to have another dress right?”
“I don’t know,” Sokka squinted his eyes at her.
“How do you not know?”
“Cause I don’t,” she responded.
“I could fly to the hotel see if Katara has anything for either you or her,” Aang offered.
“Or we could makeshift a dress out of the mantel,”
“It is nice fabric,” Aang touched the mantel.
“You two idiots are not wrapping me in a mantel,” Toph said.
“You know what just rip the bandaid off what did-” they heard a gasp all snapping there heads to the door.
“I can explain-”
“Save it! Both of you out!” She yelled at the two men who practically ran out.
“Yeah leave me here cowards!” Toph yelled.
“Toph!”
“In my defense I did not leave this chair like you asked,”
“Is that chocolate!”
“Cupcake,” Toph added.
“Now your dress is all wet, you're going to get sick!” Katara dragged Toph out of the room, dragging her to an empty room. “Turn you dress around,”
“What are you-”
“Do it!”
“Fine crabby pants!” Katara dug through drawers searching for scissors. Cutting the back of the dress.
“Too low Katara!” Katara couldn’t help but laugh at her modesty.
“Just pull it up and put your hair down,” she grabbed a brush from her purse. Brushing out what had once been Toph’s curly hair from the braids.
“That hurts!”
“Oh hush!” Katara shushed setting hands on the other girls shoulders and stared at what Toph could only assume was a mirror before she sighed. “Go be with the other two, I learned my lesson you three can’t be stopped.” Toph crossed her arms.
“Dang straight,”
“Toph!”
“I’m sixteen,”
“Yeah teen!” Toph laughed Katara sighing walking out of the room Toph soon followed after looking for the other two.
She entered the main hall people arriving early so it wasn’t overwhelming just yet. She felt as Sokka stood near a girl clearly flirting as she heard the sound of giggling. Aang standing off uninterested sort of just greeting people. Toph approached him.
“Hey! Problem solved huh!”
“Coward,” she grumbled Aang only chuckling.
“Sorry but when Katara says get out she means it,”
“I guess your right, I would’ve done the same thing,” Toph sensed taking note of the people women holding tightly to their husbands arms, men talking business and exchanging contacts, children running around nothing out of the ordinary. “Zuko’s showing up right?”
“Supposed to,” Aang responded. “You want to play an earth bending game?”
“I think I gave Katara enough of a headache,”
“We could play it safe and play guess the animal?” Toph smiled.
“Nothing could go wrong with that,”
“Don’t test it,” She smirked as they walked out twords the back doors of the venue. Unfortunately when it turned six Katara dragged the two inside and reunited them. Greeting people who they had no idea the names of. They still even after what had felt like a lifetime ago thanked them for ending the war. Katara and Aang had gone to talk to some important man who requested the Avatar and well the two were practically one set of people.
“Toph,” Sokka whined tugging on Toph’s sleeve her arms were crossed. “I’m bored,”
She shook her arm. “what am I meant to do about it,” She turned her head away from him he reached for her hair annoyingly smacking his hand away.
“Flip the venue upside down or something,”
Toph laughed. “Your stupid.”
“How have the schools been,”
“Now you’re boring me,” She groaned.
“What miss Beifong bored of teaching young minds?” Toph scoffed. “If your that bored of it why haven’t you left?” She looked at him amused.
“Sokka I built that dump into a school why would I walk just walk away from it?”
“Cause you’re not enjoying it anymore?” He offered she shook her head. Toph heard glass clinking and smiled.
“Have you tried alcohol to stop your bordem?” he smiled getting the idea.
He got himself a glass of some sort of champagne they were offering knowing better than to get one for the younger Katara was present. They snuck off to a corner. Toph taking a sip and scrunching up her nose.
“Gross how do adults like that stuff,” she put the glass back in Sokka’s hand who unbothered took a sip but also made a face.
“Your build tolerence or some sert like that, still don’t get the appeal.”
“Public drinking?” They turned their heads beaming recogninzing the voice.
“Been a long time buddy!” Sokka practically launched himself on the taller guy Zuko patted the other on the back as he let go Toph coming into his embrace.
“You disappear for too long sparky.”
“Where’s Katara and Aang,”
“They went to talk to some guy, but it’s been a while probably making out by now.”
“Toph! That’s my sister!” Toph only smiled as the taller covered his ears.
“Did Iroh end up coming along?” Toph asked.
“Yeah he’s here just came in a lot after me you know he’s not really that into partys,”
“You sure? He’s showing off he’s putting on quite a show for those guys over there,” Zuko’s head snapped in the direction Sokka pointed. Zuko turned back pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ll return,” Toph held back laughter.
“I think the only times I wish I could see are to see his reactions,” Zuko dragged his uncle over the other two happy to greet him.
“Been a long time,” He hugged Toph patting Sokka’s shoulder. “How long have you two been together?”
There was a silence before Toph let out a loud laugh Zuko staring at his uncle with an entertained look. She hugged her stomach Sokka only staring starting to chuckle at her reaction. “I’m sorry, Iroh.” She managed to say. “But what gave you that idea?”
“Not together, never.” Sokka laughed.
Iroh laughed awkwardly. “Oh sorry, this one introduces you two like a pair, a set of people you know?” Iroh gave Zuko a knowing look Zuko finally glad someone saw it too.
“Yeah I guess we come in a pair. Usually there’s three of us but he ran off somewhere.” Toph spoke concentrating for a moment. “Their in the dinning room,”
“You knew this whole time!?” She glared at him wandering past the people to get to the other two and as Toph had predicted the two were in fact kissing as Toph pushed the doors open.
“Katara!” Sokka scolded.
“Told you,”
“Toph!” Katara screeched letting go of Aang instantly who only stared at the other four with a lopsided smile. Luckily Katara reacted quickly so the other two didn’t see.
“Zuko!” he shouted practically running to greet his old friend.
“Nice to see you too,” Katara took a deep breath regaining her composure coming up to the others. She smiled seeing Iroh.
“It’s nice to see you two again.” she hugged both of them.
“It’s new years, I believe it’s bad luck not to see the people you care for before your new year,” Iroh said with a smile.
“You know your supposed to kiss at midnight?” Katara glared at Toph she put her hands up. “Just saying.”
The rest of the party went great. They stayed for a long while a lot of people greeting the Avatar and discussing issues Aang promising to look into. After a while however they got sick of being around so many people Iroh offered to sneak off to one of his tea shops.
“You have keys to all your shops?” Asked Toph Iroh looking for the correct key.
“All forty of them,” he smiled finding it and opening the door.
He searched for some candles to light as the others following in. Toph sat at a booth arms around herself it was cold and her dress had not kept her warm enough. Sokka sliding next to her. Iroh found a few candles lighting them on the table Sokka and Toph shared. Iroh went behind the counter beginning to boil water for tea.
Zuko stood next to Sokka and Toph Katara at the next booth over from Toph Aang sitting across from Katara.
“How is everything going in the fire nation?” Aang asked casually Zuko sighed.
“Rebelions never end.” he spoke.
“Still? its been four years,” Toph put her hand over the candle trying to warm up.
“They just, I guess when Father ruled them they were able to well abuse their power. Now that i brought back order and well decency they hate it. They want their title back and are whats the phrase?”
“Power hungry?” Aang asked leaning over his booth to look at the other three.
“Unfortunatly,” Zuko sighed.
“It has to get better over time, Zuko.” Katara advised Zuko taking a deep breath.
“I can only hope so.”
“Enough with the grim, lets play our traditional game!” Iroh yelled from where he finally put water to boil.
“What game?” Toph asked confused.
“Oh don’t tell me you forgot Toph dear,”
“Guess the element?” Aang asked his eyebrows knitting together. It had been a long while since they’ve even seen Iroh.
“No, that’s not the one I’m thinking about,” he answered “Plus you guys aren’t very good at that game.” He muttered
Sokka smacked the table startling Toph. “Something new something blue!?” She punched his arm making him grunt annoyed.
“Yep! Since you remembered how about you start us off.” Iroh walked over
“Uh, oh I wasn’t prepared.” he cleared his throat. “Something blue Katara’s dress, something new I just finished the council structure for our city,”
“That’s great since when?” Aang asked.
“a month ago, or maybe two.”
“And you still haven’t given it to me?” Aang raised a brow.
“Hey! I still have my doubts!”
“Is that the stupid piece of paper that’s been poking me this entire time?” Toph asked in a quick movement taking it out of the others back pocket setting it on the table.
“Toph!” Aang quickly leaned over snatching it and opening it Sokka sighing leaning back.
There was a pause. “I think this will work just fine Sokka,” Aang turned back with a bright smile.
Zuko leaned over Katara also looking at the paper. “Oh come on guys its not that interesting,”
“Aang’s right I think it can work great, you guys should start looking for canidets soon.” Zuko added.
Sokka smiled. “Thanks,”
“Since you went first you choose next,” Iroh smiled.
“Toph,” She groaned in response crossing her arms.
“Something blue,” She scrunched up her face.
“Katara’s-”
“Shut up I can do it by myself,” she elbowed him. “Something blue Katara’s eyes. Something new, I opened up a school in the fire nation,”
“Really!?” Katara asked.
“You’d be surprised how many student’s there are,” She yawned.
“How are you managing that?” Aang asked curious.
“Sparky and Iroh have been keeping an eye on it,” Aang nodded. “You’re turn Sweetness,”
Katara smiled. “Something blue, Aang’s arrow.” She paused thinking. “Something new the air temple is almost complete,”
“How much longer do you think it’s going to be?” Toph asked.
“Maybe six months,” Katara looked at Aang who nodded.
“Your turn, Sweetie.”
“Something blue Sokka’s eyes, something new and well I don’t have anything but I just got the council structure,” Katara chuckled along with Toph and Zuko Sokka glaring at his friend.
“Your turn Zuko,”
“Something blue, uhm Sokka’s clothes and something new they remade the event hall,” Aang hummed.
“That’s nice,” Aang smiled.
“Your turn uncle,”
“Something blue, that poster over there with the water nation symbol and something new I just started the layout for another shop,”
“Where this time?”
“With your permission Aang, in your city,” Aang smiled.
“Of course,” They heard a splash Iroh jumping remembering the boiling water and rushing over.
“Are you seriously about to sleep?” Sokka asked seeing how comfortable Toph had gotten next to him her eyes even closing.
“Yeah sure,” She mumbled.
Zuko looked out the window. “Almost the new year,” Aang looked out seeing as the sun was almost present Iroh now rushing over with the tea Sokka getting up to help. Iroh no seeing him bumped into him Sokka falling squishing Toph she turned to shout but Sokka’s late reaction led them to meet in the middle.
“Happy new year,” his uncle told. Zuko remained silent but his face was amused he exchanged a knowing glance with his uncle glad someone else saw it too.
“Happy new year,”