"Father... Mother... I know it's probably hard for you to see me this way, but the obedient, helpless little blind girl you think I am just isn't me."
Standing before Lord and Madam Beifong in the living room of the estate, Toph smiled faintly as she continued.
"I love fighting. I love being an Earth Bender." A grin spread across her lips. "And I'm really, really good at it."
"I know I kept this part of my life secret from you," her voice softens as she admits to it. "I also know you were hiding me from the world, too. You were trying to protect me."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"But I'm already twelve years old, and I've never really had a friend besides Ren. My butler, who you hired back when I was little."
She paused, brow furrowing. "Wait... where is he, anyway?"
She took a second to pinpoint his location, only for nothing to be perceived. She shook her head, pushing the thought aside for later. Then she looked back toward her parents.
"So... now that you've seen who I really am, I hope it doesn't change how you feel about me."
Seated in the living room of the Beifong estate, Lord Beifong slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Of course it doesn't change the way I feel about you, Toph," he said assuringly. "If anything, after everything that has happened today, it has made me realize something as well."
At his words, hope blossomed across Toph's face as she turned toward her father with cautious anticipation.
"It has?"
"Yes."
Lord Beifong opened his eyes.
"I've allowed you far too much freedom. From this day onward, you will be monitored and guarded at all hours."
Toph froze. "But, Father—"
"And Renji has been hereby dismissed from our household for misleading and endangering you under his care and has since left the estate."
Her eyes widened as she took a step forward.
"What?! Ren didn't do anything! I was the one who—"
"Enough!"
He rose from his seat, anger flashing across his face with an intensity rare enough to make Toph flinch.
"This decision is final, Toph."
Beside him, Madam Beifong spoke softly.
"We are doing this for your own good, Toph," she explained. "He allowed you to place yourself in danger for years. No matter his intentions, he failed in his duties."
Her expression saddened. "This is simply how things are done within our family."
Toph opened her mouth again, ready to argue—but slowly closed it. Her shoulders tightened as she lowered her head in defeat.
An awkward silence settled over the living room before Lord Beifong spoke again.
"Guards. Escort the Avatar and his companions out of the estate." His voice turned cold. "They are no longer welcome within Beifong territory."
The guards immediately moved toward Team Avatar, who sat behind Toph in uneasy silence. Aang hesitated as they was escorted away, turning back toward her one last time.
"I'm sorry, Toph."
"I'm sorry too. Goodbye, Aang."
One by one, they disappeared from the living room.
Soon after, Toph herself was gently guided away by her attendants, the doors shutting behind her with a soft click.
A few seconds passed in silence.
Then Lao exhaled deeply and glanced toward the curtain behind him.
"I'm a great actor, aren't I?"
A hand reached out from behind the curtains before pulling them aside, revealing me, suspended above the floor inside a wooden cage rigged with thin ropes. Dressed entirely in black to blend more easily into the shadows, I gave him a thumbs up.
"Of course, dear," Poppy Beifong said beside him with a soft chuckle. "If anything, I'd say your acting was exceptional as always. Especially when we first met. You pretended to be the son of a nobleman just to court me—"
"Ahem!" Lao coughed sharply into his fist, his face turning red. "I remember that story very differently, Poppy. But! Moving on..."
He shifted the topic, though not before I raised an eyebrow, suddenly very interested in hearing the rest of the story.
"With this, our role is nearly finished," Lao continued, glancing toward the grandfather clock standing against the wall. "Once night falls, you will convince Toph to leave with you and join the Avatar and his companions."
"And after she runs away from home..." His expression darkened as he swallowed slowly. "We will declare that she has disgraced the Beifong family. And as such... she will be stripped of her position as heir."
"This will surely haunt my nightmares for the coming months," Poppy sighed, glancing toward the direction of Toph's bedroom. "But if it keeps our baby girl safe, then it's something we're willing to do."
Then, without warning, she abruptly rose from her seat and marched toward me.
My survival instincts immediately kicked in as I took a step back.
But it was too late as she wrapped both arms around me in a crushing hug that nearly folded my spine in half.
"I-I'm going to miss you, Ren!" she sniffled, tightening her grip hard enough to completely destroy my ability to breathe. "My daughter and son are leaving the nest already! And so early, too! Waaaaaah!"
"M-Madam... air...!" I wheezed weakly, patting her shoulder in surrender.
"Sigh... Poppy, your abnormal strength is showing."
Lao eventually stepped in and pried my limp body away from her terrifying bear hug with his hands.
"But, Lao!" she cried, reaching toward me again, only for him to firmly push her back. "My babiessssss~!"
"Cough! I-I'll make sure... to send letters..." I wheezed, massaging my abused chest. "Through the Beifong spy network..."
The Beifongs had agents stationed all throughout the Earth Kingdom, with one of their most prominent branches operating within Ba Sing Se—the last major stronghold resisting the Fire Nation. Getting messages back to the estate wouldn't be difficult.
At my words, Poppy visibly brightened.
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Sobbing quietly into her pillow, Toph curled tighter beneath her blankets, her shoulders trembling at the frustration and hurt.
Then, a sudden heavy 'thud' sound landed just outside her bedroom window.
She immediately perked up, tears still streaking down her face as her head snapped toward the source of the noise. Hesitantly, she climbed out of her bed and pressed her foot against the floor.
The vibrations spread outward.
And a familiar outline mapped itself into her senses.
Someone was sprawled awkwardly across the balcony outside, one hand clutching his forehead.
A second passed.
"... Ren?" she asked quietly, surprise slipping into her voice.
Outside the window, the figure slowly raised a hand.
"... Well," I groaned, giving a sheepish smile, "At least you're smiling now, my lady."
Let's just ignore what happened. Pushing myself back onto my feet, I gently slid the window open wider.
"So," I said, extending a hand toward her, "Need a ride to meet with your new friends?"
Toph sniffed loudly and hurriedly wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve. A moment later, determination settled across her expression.
"... You took long enough, dummy."
Without hesitation, she jumped into my arms.
I couldn't help but laugh as I steadied her lithe frame against my chest.
"In my defense, my lady, I was busy preparing our provisions!"
Stepping onto the balcony railing, I adjusted my footing before glancing toward the slightly ajar bedroom door.
Behind it, hidden from Toph's excitement, two familiar figures stood silently in the shadows.
Meeting Lao's and Poppy's gentle gazes one last time, I gave them a subtle wink.
'Goodbye, my home. See you again once we've restored peace to this world.'
Then, with Toph held securely in my arms, I leapt from the balcony and disappeared into the night.
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NEXT UPDATE: 4 June, Thursday
A/N: I was listening to Memories of You (Persona 3) while writing this chapter. My heart... [;D]
Also, I probably will have to take a one-week hiatus next week, I have an assignment due that needs quite a bit of work. I'll do my best to not take one, but we'll have to see.
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