In this world, three things travel the fastest: light, sound, and gossip. Light and sound gets transformed in many forms. The third thing travels in many ways, gets twisted and recreated, and has an entropic effect that has a tad bit of disobedience to the laws of physics. Gossip accelerated the crash of their relationship, and that gossip brought out the long dormant victory dance in Miko Teng.

Three weeks ago, Miko can't stop rolling his eyes whenever a tint of Lin and Tenzin's display of affection would meet his eyes. Lin, his associate as what he calls her now, will usually clear her throat and compose herself whenever she spots his eyes.

But now…this piece of gossip has reached Miko's ears and the first thing he has in mind is to call his friend and say some comforting words. That has been his job for the past 15 years: call, comfort, and go to her should she ask for his presence. Yep, that's Miko Teng: Lin Beifong's best friend of 15 years and is insanely in love with her.

So he did what he thinks he had to do and picked up the phone.

"Hey," a voice came. A sad voice, a sniff and it's Lin Beifong. She picked the phone after five minutes of ringing.

"Hey, pumpkin," Miko said. He knows this routine. He'll say his usual words and assure her that they'll get back together.

"Teng? Why are you calling?"

"Lin…I heard."

There was a pause.

"Oh," she said. She sniffed and he heard her take a deep breath. "I didn't expect you'd immediately hear about it."

"Yeah. Well I did. How are you holding up?"

He heard her whimper and he knows this one is a big fight. She never whimpered before. "I think it's over, Teng. I really think this one is it."

"Lin, don't say that. You know-"

"-I know it's over. I know it, you know it," she insisted. It was obvious, he thought; so obvious that they really can't keep it up with both their personalities in tow. "You knew it wouldn't be us, right?"

"I…I don't know what to say," he admitted. Of course he doesn't. He doesn't know what to say because right now, he is celebrating for finally having this shot at her, and she is crying over her failed relationship with that insensitive, boring jerk, as what her likes to call him.

"Teng?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you come over?"

He sighed and rubbed his temple. "Sure. I'll be right there in a jiffy."

He arrived in her apartment thirty minutes later. When he knocked on her door, a puffy-eyed Lin Beifong greeted him. She nearly knocked the air out of him when she crashed into his open arms. In a minute he felt the front of his shirt being wet by her tears and they're still in the hall. He ushered both of them in and shut the door for privacy, while gently rubbing her back.

"Shh…" he whispered. "You'll be okay."

She didn't let go and kept on sobbing against him, not even lifting her head. He buried his face in her hair and it smelled of sweet pea, her favorite and for the past 15 years ,his too.

"Lin…" he said, waiting for a reply and still not letting go.

Finally, she did and they both fell to the floor next to her couch. "I really glad you're here, Teng."

"You know I'm just a call away."

She nodded while wiping tears off her chin. She looked so helpless and needy that all he wanted to do is cradle her in his arms. "So you really think it's over between the two of you, Lin?"

"I guess…"

She got up and sat on the couch as he kept his eyes on her thinking how a man could break up with this deity and wondering how could some person like Tenzin give her up. He noticed her look at him nervously and hesitate to tell him something, so he started the next conversation.

"You okay?"

She slowly shook her head, hands pinching each finger. "I…I did something bad, Teng. Something so bad."

He rose slowly and sat next to her. "Lin, what did you do?"

She looked away and hesitated more. "I didn't mean it…I just lost control, you know."

"You-you didn't kill anyone, did you?"

""What?!" she exclaimed; shocked at his accusation. "You actually think I could do it?"

"No!-"

"-you are actually accusing me of murder?!"

"No!-"

"shocked! I am shocked, Teng!"

"Then what did you do?"

She stopped once again and shifted in her seat. "I-I sort of destroyed-

"-you wrecked Tenzin's house?"

"-almost half of Air Temple Island."

He stopped, wide-eyed and in total shock. "That's even worse than murder."

"I know!"

"Oh dear toilets which aren't flushed!" He stared at her stand and pace in front of him. "You actually did that, though?"

"Did I stutter?"

He backed slowly away, unsure whether to reach out or to fuss about what just happened. He expected some kind of breakage would ensue, knowing her, but he didn't think it would be something about the Island. She loves that Island, and even called it her home as a child. What she did was out of anger and he understood, but he felt the need to speak his mind.

"That was reckless!"

"I was so mad!" she replied, trying to reason. "It just…exploded in me."

"What happened to 'count to ten?' There is what we call self-control," he argued.

"I shouldn't have asked you to come." Lin stood and stormed out of her living room, distancing herself from Miko.

"What do you want me to say? Congratulations? Great job?"

"I want you to say that everything will be back to normal," Lin answered, coming back to the room and plopping herself on the couch. Her eyes were starting to water again, and Miko sensed there is more to the break up than what's being laid out on the open. He noticed her run her hand on her abdomen and his eyes widened again.

"Why were you so angry?" he asked softly. He sat next to her and held her hand, squeezing. "Are you…" he trailed off, unsure whether asking her would be appropriate.

She looked at him, worry reflecting in her eyes. She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. "What would father say?"

Miko knows Lin's father, Satoru, to be a man of traditions. He believes in modern technology, but when it comes to social norms and traditions, Satoru is considered to be a firm abiding citizen.

"So you are pregnant?" he asked.

She nodded. "He will disown me, Mik. You know he would."

"I know," Miko replied. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently. "We'll find a way."

"What if he'll find out? You know Tenzin won't take me back," she whimpered. "Not after what I did."

Miko held her away from him and stared into her eyes. Stupid as it was, the idea in his head was all he could think of. Plus, he really cared for her to actually care of the outcome of what he'll suggest. With one deep breath, he blurted out. "I can marry you."

Lin gasped. She didn't expect he would offer his future for her. But what choice does she have? Society will judge her for her bastard child, her father would disown her, and it has a possibility to jeopardize her rank in the police force. Modern as it is, Republic City still holds the traditionalism of the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. Children born out of wedlock are being frowned upon.

"You-you'd do that?"

Miko cleared his throat and pulled a loose thread off her couch. Taking her hand, he got down on one knee.

"Lin Beifong, will you marry me?"

"You're actually doing it."

"You are my best friend, Lin. Will you marry me or not?"

She smiled amidst the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She sniffed and said, "Yes, I will. Thank you so much, Teng."

Miko Teng got up, and tied the piece of loose thread around Lin's right ring finger into a ribbon knot. He kissed her cheek and sat beside her. "Good luck to the both of us."

Lin chuckled and wiped her eyes.

"Lin?"

"Yes?"

"Just don't fall in love with me," he joked.

"I'll try not to. Thank you, Miko Teng. You are one of a kind."