Tokka Week Day 1: Bending the Rules

Toph and I sat at her kitchen table. It was a warm and breezy day just at the start of fall. The windows were open and I was enjoying the gentle wind on my face as she and I debated what the most ridiculous criminal trial of the year had been.

"It's gotta be that guy… oh, what was his name? The one that robbed the bank but dropped his wallet on the way out." I laughed.

"Oh, he's got nothing on Fao Dung. As if his name weren't enough, he tried to stand up a weapons store with a wooden sword!" Toph snorted. She propped her bare feet up onto the table. "So many idiots, so little time."

"Tell me about it." I smiled.

"I was talking about you, Snoozles." She smirked, teasing me.

"I'm glad you have so much respect for me." I replied back sarcastically.

"Where would this city be if we citizens didn't respect our Councilman Meathead?" Toph said melodramatically before breaking into laughter and punching my arm.

"In utter chaos, I'm sure." I laughed too.

The front door opened. I looked up to see Lin walk in, dragging a bag of books behind her and looking rather forlorn.

"Hey there, Lin. How did the greatest little earthbender enjoy her school day?" Toph said, sensing her daughter walk toward them.

In response, Lin dropped her bag and ran to her mother. She buried her face into Toph's stomach and murmured something unintelligible.

"Aw, what is it, badgermole?" Toph leaned down and stroked Lin's hair. I watched as she gently kissed her daughter's forehead, revealing the gentle side of Toph that I rarely saw. Lin raised her head to look at her mom.

"Tomorrow's the Dad's Breakfast before school. But I don't have a dad." Lin said quietly. I saw Toph draw in a breath and tense up. She squeezed Lin into a hug. I felt like I was intruding on a private moment and I tried to look away, even though Toph wouldn't see me staring.

"How about I take you out to breakfast somewhere special tomorrow? Or," Toph gasped excitedly, "you could skip the whole school day and come help me nail some bad guys." Lin smiled weakly.

"Okay." The little girl turned to me. "Hi, Uncle Sokka." She ran over and hugged my arm.

"Hey there, Linnie. How's my favorite earthbender doing?" I smiled as I lifted her onto my lap and tickled her stomach. She burst into giggles.

"What? I'm not your favorite earthbender?" Toph grinned, trying to sound offended.
"I can't help it." I said, now wrestling with Lin as she tried to grab my wolftail, "This one is just so cute!"

"You hear that Lin? You're Sokka's favorite." Toph pretended to mope. Lin beamed and snickered. Suddenly, her face lit up in excitement and she turned to face me.

"I have the best idea." She said animatedly.

"Oh, really?" Toph says, smiling.

"Instead of going with my mom tomorrow, you can come to the breakfast with me!" Lin looked at me hopefully.

"I.." I didn't know what to say. I glanced over at Toph, who of course couldn't see that I was glancing over. Her face was solemn. I took a deep breath. "Well, Lin, I'd love to, but I'm not your father. I can't go to the breakfast." I patted Lin's head gently.

"What the heck are you talking about, Sokka?" Toph said angrily. Lin looked over to her mother. "Of course you can go. As far as I know, there's no law about taking your uncle to this breakfast." Toph continued.

"But I'm not even her blood uncle..." I tried to say.

"I'm sure the Chief of Police can bend the rules for her daughter." Toph silenced me. She smiled.

Lin ran toward me and gave me a suffocating hug. Then she grabbed her bag and hurried off into her room. Toph crossed her arms.

"Why do you have to be such a stick in the mud? I had to convince you to take my daughter to breakfast." She huffed.

"Well, it is a delicate matter. I didn't want to upset Lin. Or you." I paused. "I'm not really part of your family."

"Oh, shut up. You really are an idiot. Of course you're a part of this family. If you ever say anything again to the contrary, I will personally hurt you." She pointed her finger at me.

"Alright." I grinned. "Just call me Mr. Beifong." Toph lowered her finger and smiled. I swear I saw her blush. She got up from her chair and leaned down to my face.

"Thanks for being there for me, Mr. Beifong." She kissed my head and slapped my arm lightly before walking after Lin. I could hear her talking about a bath and Lin whining in protest.

"I'm gonna head home." I called out as I stood up to leave. I heard Toph shout a good-bye. However, I couldn't help feeling that I was leaving home as I walked through the door. I thought about possibly making myself a more permanent member of the family. It was certainly a good family to be a part of. But there was probably some law against police staff and council members being involved.

Oh, well. Toph was always good at bending the rules.