Chapter Two: Tales of the Fire Nation Capital (pt 2)
I know I just posted, like, fifteen minutes ago, but I figured that while I'm on here I might as well post the next part of my second chapter. I'm just posting it on my own LJ right now, but as soon as I get all of chapter 2 done, I'll post it on fanfiction.net and on katara_zuko.
Here ya go:
2.2
Week One:
Sokka and Toph
“So why exactly am I here again?” Toph huffed, kicking a pebble along as she and Sokka made their way through the street vendors and crowds. “How would I know what Suki would like for an anniversary present, anyways? It’s not like I go around keeping track of everyone’s wish lists.”
“I know, I know.” Sokka paused at a nearby cart, picked up an ornamental pillow, and squished it between his hands a couple times to test its comfy-ness. “I tried to find Zuko to see if he had any ideas for where I should shop, but he never showed up for dinner last night, and I haven’t seen him since. And I wanted Katara to come to give me a girl’s opinion, but she said she has to,” he placed the pillow back on the cart and made air quotes with his fingers, “spend ‘special alone time’ with Aang, so I guess you’ll have to do.”
Toph crossed her arms and frowned. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.” She tapped her foot impatiently. “So have you got anything yet? We’ve been doing this for hours.”
Dejected, Sokka leaned against the cart on his elbows and threw his head back in exhaustion. “I am horrible at being a boyfriend. Sure, ask me to rescue a damsel in distress from a dangerous prison in the middle of a boiling lake, and I’m your man. But ask me to pick out one measly little token of affection? Then I stink worse than week-old octo-clams.”
Toph rolled her eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. You don’t stink at being a boyfriend. You stink at shopping. You’re too indecisive.”
“Well, that’s because there are too many awesome things!” He picked up a tiny wooden turtle-duck that repeatedly dipped its beak into a small vial of water. “I mean, how cool is this? Who wouldn’t want one of these?”
Toph plucked the toy out of his hand and set it back on the table forcefully. “First of all, I still can’t see, dummy, so I don’t know how cool it is. And secondly, I’m sure it’s lame anyway.”
Crossing his arms, Sokka glared back at her. “So what’s your bright idea, then? Or are you just here to provide play-by-play commentary?”
Toph tilted her head and thought for a moment. “What about clothes? Katara was saying how pretty the dresses were here, and Suki is a girl.”
Sokka lit up in excitement. “Toph, you’re a genius! A short, grouchy little genius!”
“Hey! How ‘bout some respect for the girl with the bright idea?”
But Sokka was too busy searching the marketplace to hear her complaint. “Come on, there’s a clothing store over there!” He bounded off, leaving Toph to grumble to herself in annoyance.
*******
Sokka stared hard at the two dresses in his hands, first holding one up against himself to see how it looked in the mirror, then the other. “Hmmm… I’m torn. I really like the pattern on this one, but this one has lots of frills and lace.” He considered his reflection some more. “Then again, Suki doesn’t really have the same figure as me, so I don’t know if it’ll look as good on her…” He spun around to face Toph, who had draped herself over the entire couch in the waiting area. “What do you think?”
She turned her head and gasped loudly, “Wow! I love that color!”
“I know, right! Isn’t it…” Sokka stopped and smacked himself on the forehead. “How do I keep falling for that?”
“You’re just way too easy, Chuckles.” Toph rolled back over and placed her arms behind her head. “So, have you found something decent enough for Bright Eyes yet?”
Sokka dropped the dresses and sighed, falling onto the cushions beside her. “I don’t want ‘decent.’ I want perfect. And I don’t think I’m gonna find it here. Suki doesn’t really like clothing.” He paused for a second in thought, blushed, and stammered, “Not that she doesn’t wear clothes… all the time…” He cleared his throat. “I just don’t think she’s into girly stuff like fashion, or jewelry, or makeup. I mean, besides the warrior look she’s got going for her.”
Toph groaned and rolled off the couch, pulling Sokka with her. “Then we’re not gonna waste any more time here. Let’s go find Shop Number Two.”
*******
The walls surrounding them gleamed with sharp, pointy metal in every direction. Sokka had never seen this many swords, daggers, javelins, spears, and throwing knives under one roof before. He gave the knife in his hand another glance before setting it back down on its rack. “We’ve been in this shop for half an hour now, and I still haven’t seen something that Suki could actually use, like a new fan or shield. Don’t the Fire Nation people use anything to protect themselves?”
“Ow.” Toph tried to pick up a throwing star and accidentally nicked herself. She stuck the wounded finger in her mouth and mumbled around it, “I’m pretty sure the Fire Nation is all about the offense.”
Sokka sighed, “True. Well, this is pointless. There’s nothing here Suki would even … Oooo! Shiny!” He ran over to a display case on the far side of the room that held a finely-crafted antique sword.
“Is that for Suki or for you? Because we’re not here shopping for you.”
“Aw, but Toph… it’s amazing! I wish you could see it! It looks just like one of Master Piandao’s. I’ve needed a new sword since I lost mine in the battle, and seeing as I won’t even be able to get another boomerang until we’re back in the South Pole…” Sokka stuck out his bottom lip and pouted. “Pleeeeeease, oh Mighty Earth Majesty?”
Toph grinned reluctantly. “Well, when you put it that way… Go ahead and do whatever you want. At least then the time we spent here won’t be a total waste.”
*******
The setting sun had cast a pink glow over the entire plaza by the time Sokka and Toph finally emerged from the store. Toph was exhausted, slumped over and dragging her feet, whereas Sokka seemed bright and chipper. “Did you just hear how awesome a bargainer I am? I totally haggled that guy into cutting ten percent off the price!”
“Woo. Hoo.” All of a sudden, Toph dropped to the ground and sat in the middle of the dirt as the passing shoppers turned to stare at the strange girl. Sokka struggled to pull her up, but Toph wouldn’t budge.
“What are you doing?! Get up!”
“No! I’m tired of shopping, I’m tired of walking around, and I’m tired of waiting for you to look at pretty, shiny things!”
Sokka released his grip on her arm and sighed. “Would it make you feel better if I got you something to eat?”
Toph immediately popped up, and a broad smile spread across her face. “Yes, please.”
“Well, at least now I know the quickest way to your heart. Let’s go over there and get something.”
A few minutes later they were standing at one of the few carts that they hadn’t yet perused. Sokka searched the table thoroughly, looking for a hidden treasure, as Toph happily munched on her meat-on-a-stick.
“Aha!” Sokka grabbed an unusual green pearl necklace off the cart. “Even though she doesn’t like jewelry, this color green is really nice. Hey, Toph? Could you try this on so I can see how it’ll look?”
Toph groaned, “If I have to.”
Sokka grinned back at her. “You have to. Here.” He turned her around and fumbled with the clasp before succeeding. He twisted her back around and gazed at the necklace for a long moment. “Wow. That looks really pretty on you, Toph!”
The Earthbender flushed deep red, offsetting the emerald-hued pearls. She punched him and muttered, “Shut up.”
Sokka rubbed his sore arm and analyzed the necklace further. “Hmmm… Now that I think about it, maybe that shade of green won’t work. It might clash with Suki’s warrior outfit.” Before Toph could reply, Sokka had already spun her back around and removed the pearls. “So I guess the quest continues…”
Toph reached out and touched the necklace, now sitting back in its place on the cart. As she slowly pulled away, her hand bumped into something else on the table. Toph picked the object up, trying to discern what it was. The handle felt cool, like the pearls, and she could tell that it was engraved with very intricate designs. She felt the top part begin to slip open and cautiously pulled it further apart. When it had fully unfolded, Toph finally realized what the object was - a fan. Not a weapon-quality fan, but a painstakingly-crafted decorative piece of art. As she touched it, she could make out the shapes carved into it. The spines felt like the branches of a large cherry tree, and embossed petals floated across the silk fabric stretched between. She lifted it up in Sokka’s direction. “Look at this.”
Sokka faced her. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “Toph… that’s perfect!” He gently plucked the fan from her waiting fingers and studied the design. “It’s beautiful! The jade handle is the same shade of green as her outfit, and the cherry tree looks just like the ones I saw on Kyoshi. And since she can’t use it to fight, I’ll never have to worry about her losing it!” He smiled and hooked one arm around Toph’s shoulders. “Thanks, Toph!”
Toph smiled for a second, then pushed Sokka’s arm off. “That’s why I’m awesome. I don’t have to look for something… it finds me.”
He grinned back at her. “What can I say? You’re my good luck charm.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
Sokka chuckled and paid for the fan, and the two headed back towards the palace, their mission accomplished.