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31_days2008-01-04 09:36 pm
rosehiptea.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2008-01-04 09:36 pm
[January 4] [Avatar: The Last Airbender] Leading the Blind
Title: Leading the Blind
Day/Theme: January 4/foreshortened view of everything
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Character/Pairing: Iroh and Toph
Rating: G
Word Count: 376
Warnings: Spoilers for The Western Air Temple. Not exactly a pairing, but Toph is much older here and you can read it that way if you're weird like me.
"What is it like, to be blind?"
Toph turned her face toward Iroh. "Most people are afraid to ask me that. Even you never did, and how many years have we known each other now?"
Iroh smiled slightly. "Are you offended?"
She laughed and kicked the ground. "No. You can ask. I've talked about it to Aang and them. And it's not bad when you can see with your feet."
Iroh handed her another cup of tea. "I would miss reading, I think. And I can't see with my feet, so I'm not sure what that's like."
"Seeing through earthbending is powerful. It's not just looking at a piece of paper. I know what you're thinking; I don't really know what that's like either. But I can feel vibrations from everywhere... all the little things and the big things and everything around, not just what's in front of my face. I'm no good with putting posters up or telling you what colors the sunset is, but who cares?"
"So you feel the earth?" asked Iroh in a meditative tone.
"Of course," said Toph proudly. "It's great as long as some idiot doesn't try to make me wear shoes."
"Or burns your feet..."
"Hey, I forgave your stupid nephew ages ago!" she said.
"It's not the same, being a firebender. That would probably be dangerous, for a blind man."
"It could be great though! You could set fire to anything and then just say 'Oops, I made a mistake.'"
Iroh laughed out loud. "It might have advantages."
"I think, if you were blind, you'd have your own way of seeing too. You're smart like that. And anyway, it's not like you're going to have to worry about it."
"Well, that's not what the healers tell me," Iroh replied softly.
Toph's smile faded a little. "No way."
"Yes. It won't be long now."
She reached out, found his hand, and held it for a moment. "Hey, I'll be around to help. And I'll kick your butt if you feel sorry for yourself."
"You would, wouldn't you?" asked Iroh in a more cheerful tone.
"And I'll take you places. It'll be just like they say, the blind leading the blind!"
Then they both laughed, and Iroh closed his eyes.
Day/Theme: January 4/foreshortened view of everything
Series: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Character/Pairing: Iroh and Toph
Rating: G
Word Count: 376
Warnings: Spoilers for The Western Air Temple. Not exactly a pairing, but Toph is much older here and you can read it that way if you're weird like me.
"What is it like, to be blind?"
Toph turned her face toward Iroh. "Most people are afraid to ask me that. Even you never did, and how many years have we known each other now?"
Iroh smiled slightly. "Are you offended?"
She laughed and kicked the ground. "No. You can ask. I've talked about it to Aang and them. And it's not bad when you can see with your feet."
Iroh handed her another cup of tea. "I would miss reading, I think. And I can't see with my feet, so I'm not sure what that's like."
"Seeing through earthbending is powerful. It's not just looking at a piece of paper. I know what you're thinking; I don't really know what that's like either. But I can feel vibrations from everywhere... all the little things and the big things and everything around, not just what's in front of my face. I'm no good with putting posters up or telling you what colors the sunset is, but who cares?"
"So you feel the earth?" asked Iroh in a meditative tone.
"Of course," said Toph proudly. "It's great as long as some idiot doesn't try to make me wear shoes."
"Or burns your feet..."
"Hey, I forgave your stupid nephew ages ago!" she said.
"It's not the same, being a firebender. That would probably be dangerous, for a blind man."
"It could be great though! You could set fire to anything and then just say 'Oops, I made a mistake.'"
Iroh laughed out loud. "It might have advantages."
"I think, if you were blind, you'd have your own way of seeing too. You're smart like that. And anyway, it's not like you're going to have to worry about it."
"Well, that's not what the healers tell me," Iroh replied softly.
Toph's smile faded a little. "No way."
"Yes. It won't be long now."
She reached out, found his hand, and held it for a moment. "Hey, I'll be around to help. And I'll kick your butt if you feel sorry for yourself."
"You would, wouldn't you?" asked Iroh in a more cheerful tone.
"And I'll take you places. It'll be just like they say, the blind leading the blind!"
Then they both laughed, and Iroh closed his eyes.