fourthtimesthecharm

[fourthtimesthecharm]

It’s been one year since Unmoored was published and it’s still my favorite fic that I’ve written!

Tags:

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Sokka-centric

Toph Beifong & Sokka

Toph Beifong/Sokka

Hakoda & Sokka

Emotional Hurt/Comfort

Family Dynamics

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

Mental Health Issues

Burnout - Freeform

Disassociation

Identity Issues

Swearing

Eventual Romance

Summary: “Sokka’s whole world has been shaken askew, and he doesn’t know what to do with it. His manhood has always been inextricably tied up with his ability to lead and protect, and now he’s been told to forsake duty, forsake his very concept of self, for his own wellbeing. It feels like a punch to the gut, the wind knocked out of him. How can he ever move forward in life if his only sense of direction has been stripped from him?”

After the loss of what he considers his life’s purpose, Sokka struggles to find himself again. But perhaps the only way out of the storm is through it, and the only way through is to find someone who is willing to weather the storm together.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

“I’m just… writing a story.”

“About?”

He glowered. “It’s a story of revenge where the main character puts his nosy friend in a headlock for asking too many questions.”

“Alright, alright,” she said, hands up in aquiessence, lips pulled up in a grin she couldn’t hold back. “I get it, you don’t want to share with your best friend who supports you in everything and cradles your every idea in gentle, understanding hands.”

“Oh, shut up,” he said, a command with no real bite behind it. She’d won him over. “Don’t laugh, okay?” And then, in a mumble that only her excellent hearing could pick up: “I’m writing fanfiction.”

Better Than Fiction

Toph/Sokka, 3.5k, T, a silly friends-to-lovers au

[fourthtimesthecharm]

A collection of tokka drabbles/fics, updated for the month of October!

Ch. 7 — Blind (Wo)man’s Bluff (prompt: all my cards are out on the table)

Ch. 8 — Two of Hearts (prompt: all my cards are out on the table)

Ch. 9 — A Thousand and One (prompt: stolen moments)

[fourthtimesthecharm]

“Toph, there you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

She tipped her drink at him in greeting before taking a long sip. “Where’s the bride?” she asked. The slur in her voice betrayed how many drinks she’d already had. “Shouldn’t you be at the festivities?”

Sokka dropped onto the bench next to her with a cheery sigh. “I think they can manage for a few minutes without me.” He glanced at her, taking in the downturned mouth, and felt his own smile fade in response. Clearing his throat, he waved a hand at the beach in front of them, awash in rosy, golden light, and aimed for a joke that might turn the corners of her mouth up. “You waiting for a visit from the unagi?”

She snorted into her drink. “I wish.”

The high Sokka had been riding since the ceremony took a sudden sour turn, curdling the joy in his stomach.

Read more on ao3

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Tags:

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Sokka-centric

Toph Beifong & Sokka

Toph Beifong/Sokka

Hakoda & Sokka

Emotional Hurt/Comfort

Family Dynamics

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

Mental Health Issues

Burnout - Freeform

Disassociation

Identity Issues

Swearing

Eventual Romance

Summary: “Sokka’s whole world has been shaken askew, and he doesn’t know what to do with it. His manhood has always been inextricably tied up with his ability to lead and protect, and now he’s been told to forsake duty, forsake his very concept of self, for his own wellbeing. It feels like a punch to the gut, the wind knocked out of him. How can he ever move forward in life if his only sense of direction has been stripped from him?”

After the loss of what he considers his life’s purpose, Sokka struggles to find himself again. But perhaps the only way out of the storm is through it, and the only way through is to find someone who is willing to weather the storm together.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Summary: Sokka pushes the boundaries of his friendship with Toph to the breaking point. It’s gonna take a hell of a lot more than Talking Heads or mochi to fix this one. (Modern college AU)

Rating: Teen, for swearing and innuendo

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Chapter 2/2 is up!

Summary: Ten years after the war, Toph Beifong has a thriving metalbending academy, plenty of opportunity for adventure, and a self-made family that loves her. But when she joins Aang, Katara, and Sokka on a mission to help a village struck by natural disaster, Toph will meet someone who challenges those very concepts of adventure, family, and even the purpose of her Academy. As she considers her future, Toph must decide: is there more she could be doing?

Rating: T, for swearing, character death, and the grief/trauma that comes with that

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Summary: Ten years after the war, Toph Beifong has a thriving metalbending academy, plenty of opportunity for adventure, and a self-made family that loves her. But when she joins Aang, Katara, and Sokka on a mission to help a village struck by natural disaster, Toph will meet someone who challenges those very concepts of adventure, family, and even the purpose of her Academy. As she considers her future, Toph must decide: is there more she could be doing?

Rating: T, for swearing, character death, and the grief/trauma that comes with that

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Chapter 6, day 6: 5+1 (or in this case, 4+1+1)

Summary: Sokka & Toph find out where they stand.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Chapter 5, day 7: Realization

Summary: Sokka realizes he has been an idiot.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Chapter 4, day 5: gossip/whispers

Summary: Rumor has it that Sokka & Toph are dating. (Oh, and Zuko and Mai get married. A secondary consideration, in Sokka's opinion.)

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Chapter 3, day 4: pining/reconnecting

Summary: Sokka sees Suki for the first time in a long time and it brings up a lot of mixed emotions.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Chapter 2, day 2: flowers/gifts

Summary: On their way to the Fire Nation, Sokka gives Toph a gift.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Happy @tokkaweek 2023! The only thing that has me on tumblr, haha. This little story takes most of the prompts and weaves them into a 5+1 fic (or in this case, 4+1+1).

Rating: teen, for some swearing

Summary: It’s the flowers woven in her hair that finally do it. Dimly, something in Sokka’s mind clicks into place — a hundred small moments are suddenly cast in a shimmering new light, the soft, sweet ache behind his rib cage finally has meaning.

[fourthtimesthecharm]

Tokka Week 2021 had me coming out of my writing hibernation and creating a tumblr solely for the purpose of sharing 😅

Tokka Week 2021, Day 6: sparring

Summary: Toph is a master of neutral jing. The wait is worth it.

Neutral Jing

“—if you can believe that! And so I said to him—”

​Sokka’s words drift in one of Toph’s ears and out the other. They’re walking, side by side, along a ridge on the outskirts of Republic City, wandering vaguely in the direction of Toph’s home. It’s been months since she last saw him; Sokka has been busy at the South Pole, helping his father with another round of trade negotiations. But now he’s back. Toph met him at the docks not an hour ago, with a squeezing hug not quite as like her as the punch to the shoulder she delivered after it.

They reach a plateau along the ridge as Sokka’s voice washes over her. She can feel his steady footfalls vibrating up her legs with each step, the dynamic cadence of his voice filling her ears with a pleasant buzz. It’s enough to be walking next to him again, absorbing his presence; she doesn’t need to listen to his words to get the sense of him. It makes a profound fondness for her best friend well up in her chest.

​It also makes her ache with a restless energy, right behind her ribcage, in a way she’s been ignoring for years. It makes her want to punch a rock, or scream, or tackle him, anything to displace the aching need to do something.

​“—and the councilwoman stands up, you can practically see the smoke coming out of her ears, and she grabs this guy by the—”

​“Let’s spar.”

​Sokka pauses midstride to straighten indignantly; Toph can read it in the hands on his hips and the forward tilt of his head. “Were you even listening?”

​She has the grace to blush but says unrepentantly, “Sorry. I just—“ She kicks a rock; it bounces off another rock and back into her hand, where she crushes it into grit before letting it pour out between her fingers. “I get restless, being in the city. I haven’t had anyone to practice with in weeks.”

​Sokka groans half-heartedly and lets his arms hang heavily behind him. “Toph, I’ve been on a boat for days. Can’t it wait ‘til tomorrow? Besides, you promised me food when we get to your house!”

​A wolfish smile overtakes Toph’s face. “Sounds like somebody’s scared!”

​“Now hold on just a second—“

​“I know, I know,” Toph continues, holding her hands up in a gesture meant to both placate and annoy, “my size may be intimidating, but I promise to go easy on you.”

​“Oh ho ho,” Sokka says, deadpan. But he rises to the bait anyway. “As if I couldn’t take you! I’ve really filled out, you know – feel!” He offers her a flexed bicep, which she squeezes with an accompanying eye roll.

​“Yes, yes, the pinnacle of masculinity.”

​Sokka shrugs and begins to turn away. “I mean, if you’re not up to the challenge—“

​“As if!” Toph barks, and gives his shoulder a shove. “I’m the one who challenged you! Bring it on, Captain Boomerang.”

​“Speaking of – I only have boomerang. We’ll have to go hand-to-hand.”

​“Ah, damn. Well, that’s fine.” Toph assumes a fighting stance, bouncing lightly on her feet but never losing contact with the ground. “My non-bending fighting could use some honing, I guess.” Already the movement and anticipation is appeasing the tightness in her chest.

​Sokka tosses his bag to the side and then, as if just realizing how she’s manipulated him like a certain meteorite bracelet in her hands, shakes his head fondly. “I can’t believe I’ve been back from my trip for all of an hour and you already want to train.”

​Toph jumps forward, throwing two fake punches at Sokka’s stomach. He catches a fist in each of his hands and she shakes him off, bouncing back again. “I told you – I haven’t had anyone to train with! This city’s full of lily livers. No one’s a challenge.”

​She hears the smirk in his voice. “Does that mean I’m a challenge?”

​“Not right now, you’re not!” Toph snaps back, ceasing her bouncing to plant her feet solidly on the ground and her hands on her hips. “Come on, are we gonna do this or—“

​Sokka springs without warning, neatly cuffing her shoulder with his. Toph slides back, kept upright only by her firm stance.

​“Gotcha,” Sokka says smugly.

​“Oh, you’ll pay for that!” Toph replies, but she can’t keep the mischievousness out of her own voice.

​They slowly circle each other, foot over foot, well attuned to the other’s movement even after all this time apart. Toph knows she’s no master at hand-to-hand combat; her opponents are often too close for their vibrations to register before their arms do. But her ears are sharp, and even after all these years of training and fighting, Sokka still can’t seem to help but announce his every attack with a yell. If she can keep enough space between them, then she can wait… and strike when the moment is right.

​If there is one thing Toph is a master of, it’s neutral jing.

​Sokka’s footsteps are heavy but graceful as she senses him through the earth. She has the distinct feeling he’s sizing her up; she can almost feel his gaze on her.

​Suddenly he’s flying toward her, fist raised. Toph side-steps, pulls his fist past her, turns and shoves between his shoulder blades. Sokka catches himself and launches his body backwards, directly into Toph’s chest. He’s caught her off guard and she skids through the dirt on her back.

​“Hah! That would be point, Sokka!”

​Toph spits into the dirt as she stands, fists raised to guard her face. “That was nothing!”

​Even while the words are leaving her mouth, Sokka is back again; Toph can barely block the first blow before the second one is whistling past her face. She leans back to avoid it and uses the weight of her body on her back leg to launch a fist at Sokka. He tries to block her but her fist only glances off his forearm and still makes contact.

​Sokka makes a small “oof!” as he stumbles back. Toph takes the moment to regroup. Sliding into a firmer stance, she feels Sokka shake himself and begin circling her again.

​In this moment, Toph feels near electric. Her muscles are singing, her heart is pounding, her ears are hearing every breath Sokka takes. Every restless feeling, every ache this man invokes, is being channeled exquisitely into every throw they exchange. She can sense his slightest movement, each vibration traveling through her with perfect clarity. Toph can still feel the smart of her fist in his stomach.

​So it seems impossible that, with her nerves so on fire, her senses so tuned to his every move, Sokka should suddenly be there in front of her. It’s like moving through water, slow and fluid, the way he twists her one arm behind her back and grips his own arm across her chest and shoulders.

​Her mind catches up with her senses, no longer absorbed in the elation of the fight. She struggles against him briefly, but the match is over: Sokka’s won.

​“Gotcha,” he says in her ear, laughter and victory in his voice. His breath is a hot puff against her cheek.

​And Toph can’t help it — a shiver runs down her spine.

​Sokka stiffens against her; she knows, because it seems every inch of his front is pressed against her back. She waits for him to release her, to laugh and crow his victory, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t move. Her arm aches, pressed between them, but he still doesn’t move; and neither does she.

​Toph, greatest earthbender in the world, is rendered immobile in his arms.

​She has an unexpected feeling of being outside herself, even as her every nerve is sharply aware; a sudden sense for the past ten years, of her relationship with Sokka, of her feelings quietly tucked away. It becomes clear what she has been doing, unbeknownst even to herself: Toph Beifong, greatest earthbender in the world, master of neutral jing, has been waiting.

​And now? Now is the moment to strike.

​Heart in her throat, Toph lowers her lips to Sokka’s forearm and presses a dry kiss there. His muscle twitches under her mouth. Her chest is tight, so tight, fear and excitement and longing mingled into an ache so fierce she can hardly breathe.

​And then. Then she feels it. His lips, brushing over the exposed skin of her shoulder.

​In the deafening quiet surrounding them, a small sigh escapes her. She flushes, a combination of embarrassment and fierce joy bubbling up in her chest. Slowly, she tilts her head, exposing more of her neck.

​Sokka’s arm flexes across her chest. His lips lower to the juncture of her shoulder and neck; his mouth is hot and wet and produces in Toph such an overwhelming resurgence of her restlessness that she has to move now or surely she’ll burst.

​In one swift motion, Toph twists down out of Sokka’s slackened arm and knocks his legs out from under him. He lands with a groan on his back. Toph sits on him unceremoniously.

​“What the hell, Toph—“

​“I win.”

​Sokka shakes his head. “What?”

​Toph flanks his head with her hands. “I—” she says, dropping a kiss to his forehead, “win.” Another kiss, this time to his cheek. His nose. His chin.

​Sokka lifts his head and meets her lips with his. “Alright,” he says amicably, “I concede. You win.”

​Toph grins and places a fierce kiss to mouth.

​“Although,” Sokka says against her lips, and Toph pulls back with a huff, “I daresay I also win in this situation.”

​“Consider it your consolation prize,” she replies blithely, already aiming for his lips again, when Sokka chuckles under her.

​“If this is my consolation prize,” he says, hands moving to grip her hips and she can hear him wiggle his eyebrows, “I’ll happily spar every day!”

​Toph snorts. “Alright, that’s it.” She stands, brushing herself off, and turns to go. Sokka grabs her ankle, laughing.

​“Sorry, I’m sorry,” he quickly says, still chuckling and pushing himself up onto his feet. “Honestly, I think I’m in shock. Toph, I had no idea you felt this way!”

​A blush creeps up her cheeks, but Toph ignores it. “Well, I do.” She crosses her arms. “Is that okay with you?”

​“Is that—is that okay with me?” Sokka breathes out a laugh. Then his fingers slide along her cheek, guiding her chin upward. Toph’s eyes widen. “Can I—?” he whispers, and already she can feel his breath on her lips. All it takes is pushing up onto her toes and her lips are on his in a chaste, tentative kiss.

​Sokka slowly pulls back. “It’s okay with me.” She can hear the smile in his voice; it makes a smile of her own appear.

​A pleasant weight seems to settle in Toph’s chest, warm and heavy and full of potential. Gone is the feeling of restlessness, replaced by a suffusing energy that makes her feel like she could bend mountains without a thought.

​Grabbing a fistful of Sokka’s tunic, grin still fit to bursting, Toph pulls him along. “C’mon, I believe I owe you a meal.”

​“Ah, finally!” Sokka cries, speeding up along next to her. Then he nudges her with an elbow conspiratorially. “All this training really worked up an appetite! Eh, eh?”

​“Oh spirits — is this the way it’s gonna be now?” she grumbles, but can’t seem to keep the grin off her face.

​Sokka ducks down to pick up his bag before returning to her side to sling an arm around her shoulders. “I’m not gonna stop being funny just because you like me,” he teases, giving her a squeeze.

​Toph shoves him good-naturedly. “And I’m not gonna stop calling out on your lame jokes just because you like me.”

​“Damn right I do!” Sokka grabs her hand and spins her in a graceless circle that ends with her tripping and trying not to laugh. “Ah, I feel like I could take on a moose-lion!” He punctuates this with an exaggerated kick.

​Frankly, Toph thinks she could do the same. She feels light as air, as grounded as the vibrations reverberating through her, a mess of happy contradictions all buzzing inside her and waiting to burst forth.

​“Race you home,” she says, angling a grin at him.

​“Oh, you are so going down!” Sokka declares, a smirk in his voice.

​And as they take off, shoving each other and laughing, Toph thinks that, now that the moment is here and she’s taken it, it was worth the wait.