Toph Beifong x Fem!Reader Oneshots

46 - Adult!Toph x Reader

Love me some good angst

Prompt: can you pls do one where the reader is a non-bender and is very insecure of themself so they left right after the war ended without telling anyone
By: vV_VintageBear_Vv
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Life away from the war was simple, even if it was officially over by now, the quiet, small Earth Kingdom village was still just as peaceful and untouched. I was never fit for the war, I don't even know why I joined the Avatar in the first place. This small, quaint village was the perfect place for me and I wish I had seen that sooner.

I sat there on my hands and knees, covered in dirt and mud as I tore up the weeds from my garden, the harsh summer sun beating down on my back. "Here, Y/n, you should stay hydrated in this weather." I looked up, shielding my eyes from the brightness. One of the villagers, a single mom to two boys who lived just down the road, stood above me with a glass of juice in her hand.

"Thanks Jun," I took it from her, taking a sip of the cool beverage.

"By the way, there was a group looking for you earlier?"

"Oh?" Please don't be Aang, please don't be-

"Yeah, he says he's the Avatar and I remember you talking about it to the boys before and so I brought you up and they seemed pretty interested in talking to you."

Great. I sighed, setting the empty glass down on the steps to my house as I sat down. "Thanks I'll... Probably go talk to them or something."

Jun sat down next to me. "You don't sound too happy about it."

"Things didn't really end too well between us. After the war ended I just kind of left, no note, no goodbye or explanation, just poof, gone, and I don't expect them to be too happy about it."

Jun nodded and grabbed the empty glass. "Well, I should probably get back to the kids, I'll let you know where I see them next." She stood back up and headed towards her house.

I watched her leave for a moment before standing up and dusting off what dirt I could. I might as well look presentable. I cleaned up and changed into something nicer. There was a knock on the door. I guess this was it. I opened it up to see Toph standing there, alone. "Oh."

"Oh? You leave for years and first thing you have to say to me is 'oh'?" She crossed her arms.

"Well, to be honest I was kind of expecting everyone else to join, but, uh," I stepped aside, "come in I guess." She stepped through the doorway and I shut ktt behind her. "Do you want some water or something?" I asked, heading into the kitchen. She didn't respond so I poured a single glass for myself.

Toph and I awkwardly sat across from each other at the table. "So..." I drummed my fingers against the wood. "Pretty hot summer, huh?"

"Cut the small talk, Y/n, I have questions."

"Of course." I sighed. "Well, ask away, what do you want to know?"

"Well first, why'd you leave?"

I took a sip from my cup, gathering my words. "I wasn't... Cut out for the war, Toph. I could fight but I wasn't good, I couldn't bend, I didn't even finish training because I left with you guys. I was never fit to be a soldier. When the war ended and we were heroes that didn't change. I can't forget that day. I couldn't sleep for months, I still have nightmares. How was I supposed to function when I looked at your faces and all I can remember is how we all almost died." I could feel my face burn up and my eyes sting from the tears. I quickly wiped them away and set my cup down. "Sorry, that was a lot at once."

Toph shuffled around in her seat, pulling something out of her pocket. She set a badge down on the table. "I'm the chief of police in Republic City," She said. "I can't forget what the Fire Nation did, everything I saw. I made a promise to never let that happen to anyone again. I made this out of the metal from those ships that day."

I picked it up and held the object in my hands. The weight of what it meant felt immeasurable. "You became a cop?" I asked her, smiling at the thought of Toph of all people being the chief of police.

"Yeah yeah," she grabbed the badge out of my hands and put it away, "I don't know why everyone's so surprised." I dusted off my clothes, a habit I developed whenever I couldn't look someone in the face, there was usually a lot of dirt on me. "Look," Toph said, "it may not seem like it but that day was hard for everyone else too, they all understand what you're going through and if you ever want we're here for you. We... I miss you."

She reached out for my hand. The weight of my heart felt impossible to bear, my pain, my hurt; the nightmares and panic attacks. It was tough work. But maybe with her it wouldn't be so bad.