Tokka (mostly Toph backstory) - No, I'm Not



-------------------->At The Bei Fong's Estate

This is all I was hearing for the last four and half days.

Critism, harsh, unfriendly words.

They told me I should've never run off.

It was dangerous. I could've gotten hurt.

I told them that I could carry my own weight and I could take care of myself.

They told me I was blind, helpless.

I frowned. I was sick of this. I wanted to escape.

---------------->Next Morning - Bei Fong Estate

I was surprised when I walked into the dining room.

Silence.

Not a single critic, harsh word, or talk at all.

I walked in and took my place the dining table.

Still no talk.

My parents just sat there, staring. I didn't however, know what they were staring at.

"Toph," my mother said. "We need to talk."

"Okay." I got up from the table and walked toward my mother and took her hand, unwillingly.

I sat down in the foyer, "looking" up at my mother.

"Why aren't you guys talking bad about me at all? I haven't heard one bad thing all morning!!"

"That's because we found out some news, Toph. Some news that we should share."

"Okay, and that news is..."

"Your parents are dead, Toph. They were found this morning in the alley between Earth Rumble and the Walkway."

"But you're standing right here, so I don't really....ummmm...."

"We are not your real parents. Your real parents, Ganzhu and Minzhu, are alley walkers. They moved alley to alley, nobody even knew they exist!! Until you were dropped at our doorstep, 12 years ago."

"But I'm 13..."

"They dropped you off a little after you turned one. They pinned a note to your makeshift clothes that said, "Keep Toph alive and safe.". At first, Lao did not want you around. But a little while after, we found out I was infertile, never to have children of my own. Lao hastily agreed to keeping you after that."

"But why didn't you guys tell me..."

"We were afraid you would wish to find them. We knew that you never would find them, so we kept their wish alive. We kept you safe and alive."

"So, if I'm not a Bei Fong, then what am I?"

"Ganzhu and Minzhu had many last names, all to keep their identity hidden. However, their most famous last name is Mazu."

"Why is it the most famous?"

"That is a very long story. I shall tell it, another day."

"Also, do I look anything like my real parents? Everyone always says I look like you and Lao."

"Well, Ganzhu had black hair, like you. Minzhu was also blind, but only in one eye. Oh, and they both were professional wrestlers before they involved with the alley walkers."

"Professional wrestlers?!"

"Yes, I do believe so."

I could not help it. A huge smile stretched across my face. Professional wrestlers!! Isn't that every girl's dream??

"Well, I see you're feeling much better."

"Yes, yes I am. May I please go outside?"

I smiled even wider. Poppy had never heard me say "please" ever. In fact, I don't think I've ever used that word before.

"Why, yes of course. Just be careful."

"Of course."

I bowed a little to my mom...or I should say, Poppy.

I ran outside and leaped into the air, feeling the breeze pass by me. I laughed a little. Then, I heard a huge groan.

"Appa!!!"

"Toph!!"

"Sokka?!"

"Yes, Toph Bei Fong, I am here."

"I'm not a Bei Fong anymore."

Sokka's spirits dampened for a second.

"What? But you aren't wearing-"

"No. Lao and Poppy aren't my real parents. Ganzhu and Minzhu are. They got killed this morning."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. What can I do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your parents just got killed...I thought maybe...you were upset...."

"I never knew my real parents that well. How could I miss someone I never knew?"

"I don't know, I just know I was upset when my mother died."

"But you knew her for at least six years, right?"

"Right, but does that matter?"

"Sorry snoozles, but it does."

"Right..."

I just stood there for a second, taking it all in. I now sort of understood why Lao and Poppy had been so overprotective. They were keeping my parents' wish alive. By keeping me safe.

"Sokka, I need to go back."

"What? I thought you hated it here."

"I do, but I need more information on my parents. My real parents."

"Okay, but I don't where I'll stay."

"Come on, you can stay with me. Appa can stay in the courtyard. If they don't like it, I don't care."

"Oookaaay."

"Come on!!"

I grabbed his hand, and ran toward the Bei Fong Estate. Knowing that it was not mine made me estatic. I was not rich and pampered. I was a descedent of alley walkers. What that meant, I still didn't know, but at least I wasn't rich and pampered.

I ran into the foyer, Sokka stumbling behind me.

"Whoa!!! Toph!!!"

"What? Aren't you having fun yet?"

"Umm, is that a trick question?"

"Oh, just shut up!!!"

I pushed him into the wall of my room and quickly closed the door.

"Why did you closed the do-"

I put my index finger on his lips. I felt him blush.

"I feel that."

"Fe-feel wh-what?"

"You're blushing."

"You have your finger on my lips. Why wouldn't I be blushing?"

"Maybe you'll stop blushing if I...no I couldn't do that..."

"Do wha-"

I shut him up. By kissing him. I held him tight, putting my arms around his neck. He put his arms around my back and kissed back.

After some time, he pulled away and smiled. I could tell. My hand was gently holding his face. I had a grin break out across my face.

"Maybe. That might stop me from blushing."

"But you're not."

"Okay, okay. I admit it. Kissing makes me stop blushing."

"Oh shut up."

"Okay."

"Toph, who's this?"

I was so focused on teasing Sokka, I hadn't noticed Lao come in.

"Oh, this? This is Sokka, my pet blue monkey jay."

"But he's not a bird with an overly long tail."

"Okay, I'll tell the truth. This is Sokka, my lover. Happy now, Lao?"

He flinched when I said Lao like it was a whip.

"Okay. I will see you both for dinner."

"I'm not your lover."

"I know. I just knew that would get him out of here."

"Ah. Why did you want me here so bad anyways?"

"Because I need support to here the, possibly, terrible stories about my parents."

"Okay. I'll be here the whooole way. No matter what it takes."

"No matter what it takes."

I sat down and leaned into him. He stroked my hair and I cryed. I cryed for the parents I never knew. I cryed because I never knew them. That might be a good thing, but I still wanted to know them. To feel their delicate features. I would've felt the texture of their hair, the shape of their face, their height. I sobbed, and Sokka just stayed there.

I cryed, also because he was there. He didn't have to be there, he was just there. Because he wanted to be.

It hurt, but also healed the wound that was left by the unknown of my parents. My real parents. Ganzhu and Minzhu Mazu.

-------------> Next Morning - Bei Fong Estate

I woke up before Sokka did. Surprise, surprise. He was staring at the moon and talking to himself last night.

I wonder why. I never did find out about what happened to the Gaang, before I came along. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Sokka was sprawled across my bedroom floor. I walked across the floor, then felt something wet on my feet.

"EWWWW! SOKKA!!!"

"WATHAPN??!!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??!!!"

"What that? It's drool."

"Oh my flipping spirits, give me the stupidity not to THROTTLE THIS YOUNG MAN!!!"

I laughed and he laughed, then I stood up.

"Now, clean this up!!!"

"Okay, okay. Go to talk to Poppy."

"Oh, right. See you."

"See you. I-"

"Hm?"

"Never mind, tell you later."