A/N: I have completely neglected my readers. And normally, I'd probably apologize. But, alas, I feel no remorse whatsoever. I figure, at least I didn't quit cold-turkey like some people. And as long as I can bring a little fanfiction here and there, I'm doing all I feel required of me. As for this story, most people will just question why it exists. It's just a tiny snipet of a scene that I just randomly felt like writing. Toph really does hate that hat... As long as you're still reading what I post, I appreciate it deeply. Maybe I'll cook something up soon. —Katara

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of the characters within it.

--

Out of Sight

She just kept running. It seemed like the only plan, and if she stopped, well, that would definitely not be part of the plan. Everyone else was running. Somewhere, at least.

Where on earth were they all going?

Up there. That place everyone kept pointing to. They could see it. Surely, eyesight was a downfall, but sometimes...

"Toph! Move!"

The blind earthbender felt Sokka's calloused hand grasp her arm in a rough, yet delicate motion. She knew that touch much too profoundly. One of a person who didn't want to hurt her because no matter how often or how dramatically she proved she could take care of herself, as well as a little man-handling, everyone around her still thought of her as a weak, breakable little flower. It's not like she hadn't punched her fist through a metal wall before or anything. It's not like she hadn't pummeled a variety of fully grown men before, or anything. Y'know. Single-handedly.

"What'd'ya think I'm doing, Snoozles?" Toph slid to a brief stop and pulled up a makeshift rock wall to her left, which took the brunt of a flyaway boulder she felt vibrations from in the air moments prior. Suddenly, a large tremor dashed under her and she rolled forward on her shoulder.

The strap to her cone hat pulled at the flesh under her chin and the girl cracked her neck to both sides before following the crowd again.

"C'mere!" shouted the warrior boy, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. "Stop freaking me out."

Sokka took in a deep breath and let it loose, his voice slightly shaky from catching his breath. He pulled her behind a caterpillar car in one slick movement.

"Look... we're making progress," one big heave, "Just stay near me."

As the two emerged from the side of the car, it lurched forward and demolished a palace tower. "Where do you think Katara went?" asked Toph.

"We're meeting her up there with my dad." Sokka pointed, then mentally slapped himself. "Sorry. We're almost there!"

It took another full rock wall and a diversion with Sokka's boomerang, but they made it to the intersection where less of the battle was. Katara was returning her liquid string to her hip and Hakoda was kneeling on the floor beside her.

"Hey," Sokka nearly whispered, even though the chaos around them was pounding in his ears.

Toph crossed her arms. There was silence between the four of them for merely a moment before the earthbender yanked at the leathery strip at her chin and detached her cap from her head. She growled under her breath and threw it to the floor, then drew her foot up and stomped on the cone.

The blue-eyed boy raised an eyebrow. "Wha—"

"I really hate that hat."

All three pairs of ocean orbs were on her and she could sense just that. Strangely, however, the feeling went away a moment later when a small blue and orange speck aroused their attention in the sky.

Sokka was still staring at her, appalled.

"What's wrong with the hat?" he asked softly.

Toph pounded her foot into it again. "It's annoying and ugly and I hate the color."

"But, you can't—"

"Don't even remind me."