Truth and Lies chapter 5

Chapter 5
Shattered secrets


Finally Toph managed to find a crack in that invisible wall of Katara’s. She heard the water bender’s voice grow stronger with confidence. The words no longer stuck. They came as clear as day.

“My heart says that I should be with you.” Katara answered. Toph let a warm smile coming her face. It was the answer she knew someday she would hear and she was glad it was today. She was proud of Katara.

She could feel Katara shaking from where she sat. Her smile widened as Katara was going mad waiting, possibly dying to hear her answer. Toph nodded her smile fading Katara shook even more. “I…I’m…glad you feel that way…” Toph began saying it as slow as she could to keep the water bender on her toes. “…because I do too.”

She heard Katara let out a sigh, a very deep sigh. Toph didn’t know what would come next but Katara seemed a little depressed instead of happy. She waited to hear what the water bender would say.

“We…we can’t be together.” Katara said struggling to keep her voice firm. Toph’s shoulders lowered and she picked up a handful of dirt and let it fall through her fingers. “You know the reason why.”

It was true Toph knew why.

“Just imagine what it would do to us. To have to lie to everyone, hide our affection from the world. I couldn’t do that.” Katara said every word filled with honesty. “I can’t lie anymore.”

“Why did you tell me the truth if you were just going to push me further away?” Toph asked disappointed in what Katara was deciding.

“Because you of all people deserve the truth.” Katara said. “I couldn’t lie to you anymore. I’m tired of lying. Now that you know there’s nothing for me to hide and I continue to live my life.”

“So you think just because I know everything’s going to be better?” Toph said a bit of anger coming to her voice. “I’m just going to sit on the sidelines tortured by the choice you made. I won’t. We deserve to be together. I don’t care what they say.”

“But I do.”

“Why?”

Katara hesitated to answer.

“I’m afraid.” Katara whispered. “Afraid of what they will say. I’m not as strong you Toph. I can’t block out their voices or turn away from their glares. I can’t isolate myself from people either.”

“So what now?” Toph asked. “We just pretend this never happened. Pretend we don’t care about each other. That is something I cannot do.”

“I never wanted this to happen.” The water bender sighed. “I want to be with you but it’s not possible. If we’re lucky we’ll grow out of this.”

Though Katara had done nothing Toph couldn’t help but feel a bruise forming over her heart. She’d felt like she was nothing. Grow out of this. She says it like this is some kind of horrible thing. Anger started to come over Toph yet it did not show. Her face was blank if not sad.

“What would you do if you never met me?” Toph asked. There was silence for a while. A sad silence.

“I probably would have married Aang after we won the war.” Katara answered. Toph nodded she felt a giant air bubble form in her throat making it sore.

“I wanted to be there for you Katara but I’m guess I’m not the one most important to you.” Toph sighed learning to accept the water bender’s decision. “I’ll do want you want. I’ll grow out of this because you want me to. I’m sorry for making your life so difficult lately.”

Toph came onto her feet and walked into the trees needing a moment alone.

“Toph it’s not like that-,”

She blocked out the rest of the words. She couldn’t listen anymore. Toph started heading over towards the trees when she heard Katara running up towards her. Katara grasped her shoulder and turned her around. Their lips coming together as she turned.

Toph stood there for a moment not exactly sure what to do. Katara’s warm hands came over her cheeks, deepening the kiss. Toph closed her eyes…this was heaven. Time seemed to stop and even the stars watching down on them seemed to stop and sigh in wonder. Not a single kiss could match this one. No man and woman could exchange such a passionate embrace. Even the spirits seemed to give a smile.

The kiss ended all too quickly. Katara rested her forehead on Toph’s. They both could feel the beginning of a very long and hard road but right then they didn’t care.