Tokka Week 2012 - Parents

"This is stupid," Toph spat out.

"No it's not. Your parents asked us to come here..." Sokka stood beside her, trying to ease the tension he could feel radiating off of Toph.

"And if they asked us to jump off a cliff, would you?!" Toph yelled, sending the earth under their feet rippling with her rage. "Like I said, this is stupid. Not only do we come here, but my mother insists on me wearing a dress. Better yet, she sends about 10 servants to ambush me and drag me to a spa as soon as I get into town. This is ridiculous, a waste of time, and above all, embarrassing. They're going to patronize us, Meathead. I know it."

There was no winning this one. "Come on, let's just go inside, it won't be all that bad." Sokka gently uncurled Toph's crossed arms and held her hand. Her face softened, but the scowl stayed.

"Whatever you say."

---

Dinner was awkward. Poppy asked a ton of questions: why don't you visit more often, why don't you get married soon, why do you stick with the police force, why do you do what you do. Toph's patience was visibly wearing thin, with her answering grunts turning quickly into answering growls. Before Toph could explode and collapse the whole house, Sokka successfully was able to divert the conversation to politics, one of Lao's favorite topics. That kept everyone calm past dessert. Then came the moment of truth: one-on-one men's Pai Sho game. Sokka gulped. This is it! he thought.

Toph, not being interested in the game, excused herself to the outside garden and Poppy followed quick on her heels. At least she won't focus on breaking the whole house while she's outside, Sokka mused.

After a few quiet moves, Lao was the first one to break the silence.
"So" he started, "Can I see it?"

Sokka could've sworn his heart stopped beating. He was letting Lao win, but that didn't mean that his girlfriend's dad would give him the answer he wanted. Slowly and meticulously, Sokka pulled a stone out of his pocket, placed it in the middle of the Pai Sho table, and waited for judgement.

Silence. You could hear badgermoles scurrying undergroud. Lao just studied the stone with cool calmness, not even his eyes deceiving the true emotions he was feeling.

The rock was a lovely shade of bright green, with a small square hole carved through the rock, meant to look like the Earth Kingdom symbol. Leather dyed sky blue was connected to the rock, turning it into a graceful necklace. A betrothal necklace.

"I've never seen anything like it," Lao commented. He was still studying the jewelry, neither picking it up nor adverting his eyes from it. For a second, Sokka could see a hint of emotion in the older man's eyes. Happiness? Sadness? Pride? It was hard to pinpoint, but Sokka let out the breath he had been holding for so long.

"I think you'll make her very happy. Welcome, son-in-law." Lao said, as he pushed the winning tile into it's square.

---

"I told you. So stupid. I don't think my mom shut up except for boring stuff like politics. Did you know she asked if I would let her name one of my kids? Like I don't know how to name things! Ugh." Toph scoffed, kicking stones with her feet and lifting the hem of her dress in a rather unladylike manner.

"Well, I didn't think it was so bad" Sokka commented. The full moon was illuminating everything in their path, bathing everything in an etheral light. They decided to take a small walk around the town for Toph to calm down and so that she could spend some alone time with him before Sokka had to leave and sleep in the Beifong guest house. "I actually, ahem, have something for you."

Toph stopped. Sokka's heartbeat had quickened, almost like he was scared of something. How weird, Toph thought.

With that last thought, Toph felt something cold around the base of her neck, with a heavy object right in the middle. Her fingers explored the strange coolness, reconizing the smoothness of leather and the firm, hard rock. She noticeded that there was a square piece missing in the middle. Her sightless widened at the realization.

"Uhh... S-Sokka..." Toph stammered. This was weird for her. Emotions that she hadn't felt in a long time were flooding her mind. Her cheeks burned and she could feel a small smile creeping across her face.

"Yes." was all she had to say, and Sokka scooped her up in a tight embrace. A bad evening was turning into a great night.

"Now confess" Toph said, completely serious, "you're the one that arranged this meeting with my parents! What's wrong with you?!"

Sokka knew he couldn't lie, he alwyas had to tell Toph the truth. Start of a beautiful marriage, right?

"I wanted to get your parents approval, especially your father's! In the Water Tribe, the father always has the final say over his daughter. It's a sign of respect for the suitor. I wanted to show your parents that I cared and respected them... and you." Sokka whispered, loosening his grip on Toph. Her face didn't betray; Toph smiled widely.

"Well said, Meathead."

And with that, they kissed under the full moon's gaze; newly betrothed and her suitor.