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one. it's the avatar... and friends !

𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐅𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 the freedom that came with being unnoticed, forgotten. It wasn't that she didn't long for her parents' love and affection- she did, deeply -but over the years, she'd come to accept that their indifference toward her was better than the suffocating way they acted toward Toph. Her sister was treated like a fragile porcelain doll, locked away and sheltered from the world. Hini, on the other hand, had become a shadow in her own home, the invisible child, drifting in and out of rooms like a ghost. She had the freedom to do as she pleased, but the price was a gnawing loneliness that clung to her like a second skin.

In public, it was the same. The Beifong name was well-known in Gaoling, but most people believed the family didn't have any children. The truth was, Hini and Toph were hidden- one deliberately, and the other unintentionally. The town's whispers never reached Hini; she preferred it that way. She wore cloaks that concealed her face whenever she ventured into the world, blending into the background. It was easier to observe from the shadows, to slip through life unnoticed. But sometimes, she wondered if she was hiding or simply forgotten.

As she settled onto the frigid stone bench of the Earth Rumble arena, she pulled her cloak tighter around her, feeling the cold seep into her bones. The stone was unforgiving, the air thick with the musty scent of earth and sweat. She hesitated for a moment before lowering her hood with a resigned sigh. The arena was filling up quickly, people jostling for a better view of the upcoming fight. Hini knew the routine by now- stay in the back, out of the way. The fighters here weren't exactly known for their precision, and she'd learned the hard way that sitting too close could get you caught in the crossfire of a poorly aimed boulder.

"Welcome to Earth Rumble 6! I am your host, Xin Fu!" The booming voice echoed through the arena, breaking through Hini's thoughts. Xin Fu always had a flair for the dramatic, making grand entrances like he was announcing a royal decree. "The rules are simple! Just knock the other guy out of the ring, and you win!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, but Hini couldn't muster the same enthusiasm. These fights were little more than a display of brute strength, with very little strategy or finesse. She only came to watch because of Toph. If not for her sister, she would've avoided this place altogether. The thought made her smile faintly- Toph, the secret daughter of the Beifong family, living a double life as the undefeated champion of underground earthbending tournaments.

"Round one! The Boulder versus The Big Bad Hippo!" Xin Fu's voice carried over the noise of the crowd, and Hini's attention drifted back to the arena.

The Boulder- a hulking man with more muscle than brains -stood on one side, flexing for the audience. His opponent, The Big Bad Hippo, was no less imposing, both of them embodying everything Hini hated about these fights. She leaned back, letting her mind wander as the two men hurled rocks at each other with reckless abandon. It wasn't long before the monotonous thud of stone against stone nearly began to lull her into sleep. She stared blankly at the match, her eyelids growing heavy, her thoughts drifting.

That is, until she heard the name that brought her crashing back to reality.

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for- The Boulder versus your champion, The Blind Bandit!"

Hini's heart leaped in her chest, and she sat up straighter, her gaze snapping to the ring. There she was-Toph, small but fierce, striding out into the arena with all the confidence of someone who knew exactly how this fight was going to end. Hini smiled softly, a flicker of pride warming her from the inside. No matter how many times she watched her sister fight, it never got old.

"The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young, blind girl," The Boulder taunted, speaking in third person as if it made him sound more intimidating. To Hini, it only made him sound ridiculous. This is why she couldn't stand these guys- they were all so full of themselves.

"Sounds to me like you're scared, Boulder," Toph shot back, a smirk curling at the edges of her lips.

Hini chuckled under her breath. Toph always knew exactly how to get under her opponent's skin, how to turn their arrogance against them. It was one of the things Hini admired most about her.

"The Boulder's over his conflicted feelings, and now he's ready to bury you in a rock-a-lanche!" The Boulder bellowed, raising his fists as if he was about to unleash some devastating attack.

Hini already knew how this would play out. And sure enough, in less than a minute, Toph had knocked The Boulder clean out of the ring with just two moves.

"Your winner, and still the champion, The Blind Bandit!" Xin Fu announced, his voice barely audible over the deafening cheers of the crowd.

Hini allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction before she stood, pulling her hood back up. The match was over, and now it was time to leave. She started making her way down the stone steps, her footsteps echoing in the near-empty stairwell.

"To make things a little more interesting," Xin Fu's voice cut through the noise again, "I'm offering up this sack of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat The Blind Bandit!"

Hini froze mid-step, glancing over her shoulder. She doubted anyone would be foolish enough to take the offer. Toph was unbeatable- everyone in the arena knew that. She was about to continue on her way when a high-pitched voice rang out from the stands.

"I will!"

Hini's brow furrowed as she turned back to see a boy, not much older than Toph, standing at the edge of the ring. He didn't look like a fighter, and for a moment, Hini wondered if he was serious. She stayed where she was, halfway down the stairs, watching with narrowed eyes.

The boy didn't seem eager to fight, but Toph wasn't one for pleasantries. She launched her first attack without hesitation, sending a rock hurtling toward him. To Hini's surprise, the boy dodged it with ease, moving so lightly it was as if he were gliding through the air.

"Somebody's a little light on his feet," Toph taunted. "What's your fighting name, The Fancy Dancer?"

Hini's eyes widened as the boy continued to evade every one of Toph's attacks, his movements graceful and effortless. There was something almost... unnatural about the way he moved. Then, with a sudden flick of his wrist, he sent both Toph and the rock she had thrown at him flying in different directions.

Hini's heart pounded in her chest as she bolted down the stairs, ignoring the roar of disbelief from the crowd. She reached her sister in seconds, offering her a hand to help her up.

"Please listen! I need an earthbending teacher, and I think it's supposed to be you!" the boy's voice was desperate, pleading.

Hini shot him a withering glare, but Toph ignored him, her expression stony as she walked away.

"Whoever you are, just leave me alone!" Toph yelled, her voice echoing through the arena. She didn't even look back as she earthbent a tunnel, disappearing into the ground with Hini close behind her, leaving the boy and the crowd behind. The tunnel closed with a resounding thud, and for a moment, all was silent except for the sound of their footsteps, echoing in the darkness.

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The gardens of the Beifong estate, with their meticulously kept paths and flowering bushes, felt like a safe haven- quiet, secluded, with no sounds to disrupt the serenity save for the animated voices of the two sisters.

Hini was deep in conversation, her hands gesturing as she passionately explained, "So, as I was telling you, you can't just push the sword-"

Her words abruptly halted as Toph, with her characteristic sharpness, raised her hand, silencing her mid-sentence. Hini followed her sister's gaze, her senses suddenly heightened, but before she could ask what was wrong, the ground shifted beneath them. Toph stomped the earth with a quick, precise motion, sending a shockwave through the ground, and within seconds, three figures came crashing into the bushes in front of them.

Hini's heart raced, and she instinctively drew her sword, the cool metal humming in her grip as she assumed a fighting stance. The familiar figure of the boy from the previous day emerged from the underbrush, but it wasn't his presence that made her breath hitch. Her eyes locked onto another boy- Water Tribe, she assumed, with a confident smirk that faltered the moment her sword's tip hovered inches from his throat. He looked about her age, his cocky demeanor fading as he glanced up at her.

"What are you doing here, Twinkle Toes?" Toph's casual, biting tone snapped Hini back to the present, and she quickly refocused on the situation at hand.

"How'd you know it was me?" The boy asked, sounding more impressed than surprised.

Before Toph could answer, another voice cut in- this time from the boy at Hini's feet, who seemed completely unfazed by the sharp blade looming over him. "Don't answer to Twinkle Toes. It's not manly!"

Hini raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile as she noted his predicament. "You're the one whose bag matches his belt," the girl in the bushes quipped, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Hini couldn't resist adding her own remark, her smirk widening. "And who's also at the feet of a swordsman." The tip of her blade pressed just slightly closer to his throat, eliciting a nervous gulp from him. Despite his bravado, he rolled his eyes in response, clearly trying not to show how rattled he really was.

"How did you find me?" Toph asked, ignoring the banter. Her voice had an edge to it, her usual dismissive tone now tinged with suspicion.

"Well, a crazy king told me I need to find an earthbender who listens to the earth," the boy began, his words rushed, stumbling over each other as if eager to explain. "And then I had a vision in a magic swamp, and then-"

Before he could continue, the girl stepped out of the bush, exasperation clear in her voice. "What Aang is trying to say is, he's the Avatar, and if he doesn't master earthbending soon, he won't be able to defeat the Fire Lord."

Toph didn't even bother to look their way as she waved her hand dismissively in the girl's face. "Not my problem. Now get out of here before I call the guards."

Her words were final, cold even. Hini sheathed her sword with a sigh, recognizing that Toph was done with the conversation. As they turned to leave, the moment felt like it should've ended there, but the Water Tribe boy's voice cut through the stillness, the earnestness in his tone halting them both.

"Look," he started, his voice louder, filled with a weight that made Hini's shoulders tense, "we all have to do our part to win this war. And yours is to teach Aang earthbending."

Toph froze, her back still turned to them. Hini saw the way her sister's hand trembled slightly, a telltale sign of the inner battle she was waging. For a brief moment, Hini thought Toph might reconsider- might hear the desperation in the boy's words -but Toph was nothing if not stubborn.

After a long, tense pause, Toph yelled, her voice echoing across the estate, "Guards! Guards, help!"

The scene that unfolded next was pure chaos. The trio of intruders scrambled to their feet, panic etched on their faces as they darted for cover. They vanished just in time as the guards, alerted by Toph's shouting, rushed into the garden.

Hini's heart was still pounding, but she quickly stepped into her role, her voice steady as she said, "We thought we heard something... I was scared." She shot a glance at Toph, who wore a mask of innocence.

The guards exchanged looks of concern. "You know your father doesn't want you wandering the grounds without supervision," one of them reminded, his tone stern as they ushered the girls back toward the house.

As they walked, Hini couldn't help but glance back at the bushes where the trio had hidden.

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Dinner with the Avatar and his friends was proving to be far more uncomfortable than Hini had anticipated. The tension in the air was palpable, with awkward silences filling the room between the occasional clink of utensils. The only one who seemed unfazed by it all was the Water Tribe boy, who was happily helping himself to the food. Hini found herself glancing at him, still unsure of his name, though she hoped to learn it soon.

Poppy, ever the gracious hostess, finally broke the silence. "Avatar Aang, it's an honor to have you visit us." Her voice was calm, poised, as she delicately picked up her utensils and began eating.

Hini noticed the subtle shift in her father's posture before he spoke up next. "In your opinion, how much longer do you think the war will last?" Lao asked, his words measured but tinged with the concern that hung over the upper echelons of society.

Aang, still keeping his gaze locked on Toph, replied, "I'd like to defeat the Fire Lord before the end of the summer, but I can't do that without finding an earthbending teacher first."

Lao, completely unaware of the silent battle happening between Aang and his daughter, nodded thoughtfully. "Well, Master Yu is the finest teacher in the land. He's been teaching Toph since she was little."

At the mention of Toph's training, Aang's expression shifted slightly. "Then she must be a great earthbender, probably good enough to teach someone else."

Before anyone could react, the ground shifted subtly under Aang, and in a flash, he was knocked up from his seat. Hini bit her lip to stifle the giggle threatening to escape, her eyes darting to Toph, who sat there with an innocent look on her face.

"Toph is still learning the basics," Master Yu interjected, his voice calm but authoritative.

Hini shot a glance at her father, who leaned back in his chair, nodding in agreement with Master Yu. "Yes, and sadly, because of her blindness, I don't think she will ever become a true master," Lao said, his voice laced with sadness, as if the truth of his words weighed heavily on him.

Aang, however, seemed undeterred. "Oh, I'm sure she's better than you think she is," he said with confidence, right before his head was unceremoniously dunked into his bowl of soup. The sound of his sneeze echoed through the room, and when he looked up, soup splattered everywhere, covering the Beifongs who sat directly across from him.

Hini sighed deeply, torn between embarrassment and amusement.

"What's your problem?" Toph yelled, her hands slamming down onto the table with a force that rattled the dishes.

"What's your problem?" Aang shot back, his tone equally sharp. For a moment, the two stared each other down, their heated exchange seeming to exist in a world all their own. Meanwhile, the rest of the table remained silent, clearly unsure how to react.

Lao and Poppy, as well as the guests, glanced between the Avatar and Toph with a mix of confusion and concern.

After a few moments of tense silence, Poppy cleared her throat, her voice calm and unwavering. "Well, shall we move to the living room for dessert then?" she suggested, completely ignoring the outburst as if nothing had happened.

Hini had to give her mother credit. Poppy's poise, even in the face of such chaos, was admirable. But as they all began to rise from the table, Hini couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated.

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As Hini passed by the door of the room where the Water Tribe teenagers were staying, she caught sight of them inside. Her sister was nowhere to be found, which likely meant Toph had succeeded in sneaking out to talk with the Avatar.

"Hey there!" The boy inside waved enthusiastically, catching Hini off guard and causing her to pause mid-step. "I don't think we've met. I'm Sokka, and this is my sister, Katara."

Hini cleared her throat and forced a polite smile, the kind expected of a high-class lady. "I'm Hini. It's a pleasure to meet you." She replied with the formal tone she had been trained to use, offering them a proper Earth Kingdom bow.

"So... dinner was nice," Sokka ventured, his voice awkward as he clearly attempted to break the tension. Katara, standing beside him, smirked at his attempt, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Hini ignored Katara's expression, instead focusing on maintaining her facade. "We have some of the best cooks in the Earth Kingdom," she said, though inwardly she winced at how shallow and empty the words sounded. She hated that she sounded just like her mother or the other noblewomen who only ever spoke about their wealth and social standing.

Sokka opened his mouth to respond, but a sudden crash from outside cut him off.

In an instant, they all bolted from the room. Hini grabbed her sword, her heart racing, and followed Sokka and Katara outside, heading toward the gardens where the noise had originated.

Once outside, Hini's worst fears were confirmed. Toph and Aang were gone. In their place were two shallow holes in the earth where they had stood moments before.

Sokka bent down, pulling a dagger from the ground. "Whoever took Aang and Toph left this." He turned the blade over, revealing a note attached to it.

Katara quickly snatched it up and read the message aloud, her voice sharp with urgency. "If you want to see your daughter again, bring 500 gold pieces to the arena. It's signed, 'Xin Fu and The Boulder.'"

"I can't believe it! I have The Boulder's autograph!" Sokka exclaimed, his excitement at meeting the famed earthbender completely out of place given the situation. His sister shot him a withering glare, but Hini could only sigh, shaking her head at Sokka's lack of focus.

Her mother, however, was in far worse shape. Poppy sank to her knees, her face buried in her hands as she wept. "Poor Toph... she must be so scared," she whimpered.

Hini crouched down beside her, placing a gentle, reassuring hand on her mother's back. "She's strong, Mom. She'll be okay," she murmured softly, though her own heart pounded with anxiety. She knew Toph could handle herself, but this situation had escalated too quickly for comfort.

Nearby, her father's voice boomed with determination. "Master Yu, I need you to help me get my daughter back," Lao demanded, turning to the earthbending teacher with a look of desperation in his eyes.

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"Here's your money! Now let them go!" Sokka's voice rang out, echoing through the stone walls of the arena. Master Yu earthbent the heavy bag of gold toward the feet of the kidnappers. The sound of metal coins clinking together was loud, but not loud enough to drown out the anxiety tightening in Hini's chest.

Toph's cage groaned as it was lowered to the ground. She tumbled out, landing awkwardly on her hands and knees. Without missing a beat, she scrambled to her feet and sprinted to her Hini, whose eyes flashed with a mix of relief and worry. The reunion was brief, tense, and incomplete. Aang was still trapped.

The Beifongs were almost out of the arena, the heavy steps of their departure filled with an uncomfortable finality. That was when Katara's voice sliced through the tension. "Toph, there are too many of them. We need an earthbender. We need you!"

Toph hesitated. The words hung in the air like a challenge.

Her father, Lao Beifong, spoke before she could respond, his voice trembling with protective fear. "My daughter is blind! She is blind, and tiny, and helpless, and fragile. She cannot help you." His words stung, dripping with concern but suffocating in their doubt.

Toph's face twisted with a mix of hurt and anger. She jerked her hand from his grasp, the sharp movement causing her father's breath to hitch.

"Yes I can," she said, her voice firm and unshakable. She took a step forward, toward the arena, her back rigid with determination. Hini, sensing the shift, glanced at their father. His eyes were wide with fear, pleading silently for his daughters to return. But Hini knew better.

Their footsteps echoed in the tunnel, growing louder as they approached the heart of the arena once more. The tension thickened with each passing second, like the calm before an inevitable eruption.

"Let him go," Toph demanded, her voice low but full of unyielding strength. "I beat you all before, and I'll do it again."

The cage containing Aang dropped with a loud thud, the metal vibrating against the ground. Sokka and Katara flinched, instinctively stepping forward, but Toph raised her hand, stopping them in their tracks.

"They're mine," she declared. Her words, heavy with finality, left no room for argument.

"Go crush them, Toph. I'll be here if you need anything." Hini patted her sister on the back affectionately before moving out of the way.

Hini, sensing the gravity of the moment, stepped closer to her sister. "Go crush them, Toph. I'll be here if you need anything," she whispered, placing a gentle hand on Toph's back. There was pride in her voice, and a soft affection in the touch, one only sisters could share.

Toph offered a small smile in response before stepping away. With a deep breath, she vanished into a whirlwind of dust and debris, the ground trembling beneath her feet. For a moment, the arena was eerily quiet, the tension almost unbearable. And then, it began.

Rocks flew, dust swirled, and the sound of bodies crashing against the earth filled the air. Her opponents barely had time to react before they were sent hurtling into the stands.

From the sidelines, Hini stood, her eyes locked on her sister. She watched as Toph, small and seemingly fragile, outsmarted and overpowered men three times her size.

Meanwhile, Katara and Sokka struggled with Aang's cage, their fingers slipping on the cold metal bars. Frustration grew in their eyes as the battle raged on around them, but Toph's fight was far from over.

Finally, as the dust began to settle, Toph stood tall, facing the last opponent. Xin Fu, the host, loomed before her. The air between them buzzed with electricity, the anticipation growing thicker with every breath.

Then, without warning, Toph struck. Her earthbending was precise and brutal, her movements a dance of calculated destruction. Xin Fu barely had time to react before he was sent crashing to the ground, defeated.

The arena fell silent and Toph let the last of the dust fall away. Her opponents lay scattered, groaning in pain, but no longer a threat.

Before she could even take a full breath, Hini was at her side. This time, she didn't hesitate. She pulled her sister into a fierce hug, her arms wrapping tightly around her. Toph, as always, brushed it off with a playful punch to Hini's arm, but the smile on her face spoke volumes.

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"Dad," Toph started, her voice steady but laced with frustration. "I know it's probably hard for you to see me this way, but the obedient, helpless blind girl you think I am just isn't me. I deserve the same amount of freedom you've given Hini."

Hini watched her parents' expressions, still as stone, her heart heavy. She could feel the tension radiating from Toph, the hurt simmering beneath the surface. This was the moment her sister had been dreading, yet it was something she had to do.

"I love fighting," Toph continued, her voice softening, as though she were peeling away layers of herself with every word. "I love being an earthbender. And I'm really, really good at it. I know I kept my life secret from you, but you were keeping me secret from the world. You were doing it to protect me, but I'm twelve years old, and my only real friend has been Hini."

Toph's voice quivered slightly as she finished, "Now that you see who I really am, I just hope it doesn't change the way you feel about me."

The room fell into an almost suffocating silence. Hini sat quietly next to Aang, Sokka, and Katara, her heart beating loudly in her ears. She wanted to speak up, to support her sister, but her voice felt trapped in her throat. Instead, she just lowered her gaze, silently agreeing with everything Toph had said.

For a moment, it seemed like they might reach their father. Lao's expression softened, his shoulders sagging ever so slightly. "Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you, Toph." His words made both sisters lift their heads, a small spark of hope lighting up their eyes. But then, his tone hardened again, shattering their fragile optimism. "It's made me realize something."

Toph blinked, and Hini's breath caught. What was he going to say?

"I've let you have far too much freedom."

The words hit them like a landslide, crushing the hope that had begun to bloom. Toph's eyes widened, and Hini's stomach sank. Lao continued, oblivious to the pain etched on their faces. "From now on, you will be cared for and guarded 24 hours a day."

Toph's fists clenched. "But Dad-!" she began, her voice breaking with frustration and betrayal.

Before she could get another word out, Hini shot to her feet, the legs of her chair scraping harshly against the floor. Her heart was pounding. This wasn't how they planned for this conversation to go, not at all.

"We're doing this for your own good, Toph," Poppy interjected, her voice calm but final, as if she were explaining a simple fact rather than tearing her daughter's life apart.

Before either sister could protest, Lao raised his hand, cutting them off. "Please escort the Avatar and his friends out. They are no longer welcome here. Girls, go to your rooms."

The words hit like a slap. Aang's face twisted with regret as he stood, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "I'm sorry, Toph," he whispered, his voice small, filled with guilt.

Toph swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she replied, "I'm sorry too. Goodbye, Aang."

Hini glanced back as they were ushered out, her eyes locking with Sokka's. There was a sadness in his expression, a wordless understanding that cut deeper than anything spoken. And, before she knew it, they were out of the room.

As soon as they were in the hallway, away from their parents' watchful eyes, Hini's calm facade crumbled. She grabbed her sister's hand, her grip tight, her body shaking with emotion. A single tear slid down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly.

They walked in silence for a moment, but the pressure building inside Hini was too much. She snapped. "I can't believe them!" Her voice was loud, echoing off the stone walls as she stormed down the corridor, still holding Toph's hand. "It isn't good for you to just be locked in the house your whole life. You're a kid! You deserve to-"

"What if we ran away?" Toph's voice cut through Hini's rant like a knife.

Hini froze, her heart skipping a beat. She turned to look at Toph, her mind reeling. Running away?

Toph's expression was completely serious. "I bet Aang's still somewhere nearby. And I bet you want to see that Water Tribe boy again!"

Hini felt her cheeks heat up as a blush spread across her face. "What's that supposed to mean?" she stammered, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her embarrassment.

Toph smirked. "Come on, I bet he could feel your heartbeat this morning in the garden."

Hini opened her mouth to protest, but the truth in Toph's words left her speechless for a moment. Her heartbeat had quickened when she was with Sokka, and the memory made her blush even deeper.

"Now," Toph continued, stepping closer, "what do you say? Are you with me on this or not?"

Hini's mind racing. Her parents' voices from the room nearby were muffled, but she could still hear the weight of their final decision. Toph would be prisoners in home own home if she stayed, and Hini would never let her sister go alone. Her stomach twisted with fear, but she couldn't shake the urge growing inside her- a pull toward something bigger, something more than this stifling life her parents had planned.

After a moment of heavy silence, Hini turned back to Toph, a look of determination settling on her face. Without a word, she grabbed her sister's hand again, pulling her toward their rooms.

"Let's go," she said, her voice steady but her heart racing. "We need to pack."

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Hini was struggling to keep up with her sister's brisk pace as they dashed up the hill, their hurried breaths matching the beat of their racing hearts. She could barely register the weight of what they were doing- running away. The air felt heavier, each step a mix of exhilaration and dread.

When they finally reached the top, Aang's wide-eyed expression greeted them. "Toph! Hini! What are you doing here?"

Panting, Hini quickly glanced at Toph, letting her take the lead. She knew her sister could lie without blinking, and sure enough, Toph didn't miss a beat.

"Our dad changed his mind," Toph said, her voice steady and confident as ever. "He said we were free to travel the world."

Aang, the ever-optimistic Avatar, smiled, clearly believing her. "Well, we better get out of here... before your dad changes his mind again!"

Sokka, however, wasn't convinced. His skeptical gaze lingered on Hini, his lips pressing into a thin line. She quickly averted her eyes, avoiding his silent question as she accepted his hand to climb onto Appa. The warmth of his grip sent a spark through her, and despite everything, her heart gave a small, traitorous flutter. She forced herself to focus, settling onto the bison's saddle.

Toph, however, stayed on the ground. "Speaking of which, I want to show you something," she said with a smirk.

Before anyone could react, Toph's foot stomped the ground, sending a sudden surge of earthbending that shot Aang into a nearby tree. His yelp of surprise was short-lived as he landed in a tangle of branches, blinking in shock. Toph dusted her hands off, satisfied.

"Now we're even," she declared. "Uh, I'll take the belt back."

Hini cringed internally as Sokka, without hesitation, unbuckled the belt and tossed it toward Toph. He didn't think twice about the fact that she couldn't see where it was coming from, and the inevitable thud of the hard metal hitting Toph squarely on the head made Hini wince.

Hini let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. This is going to be interesting, she thought, glancing at Sokka. Really interesting.