Lipstick
"Uncle Noatak, what was daddy like as a kid?" Nita asked.
The uncle stroke his chin. "Well, Nita, if you want to know…"
Tarrlok stood by over his brother and daughter. "Noatak…"
His brother chuckled. "Relax, Tarrlok, I won't tell anything too embarrassing… Yet."
Tarrlok grumbled as he walked back into the kitchen. "You better…"
"So, when I was about you and Kenai's age, I tried to convince your dad that our parents, grandma and grandpa, wanted a girl instead of a guy after they had me."
"You did?" Nita's eyes widen.
"Yes, I did…! I told your father that your grandparents already bought girl's clothes for him, all pink and lace, and that one day, they wanted to dress him up as a girl."
Giggles were all that left Nita, and Kenai overheard from across the room.
"One day, at dinner, your father came to the table wearing lipstick."
Both children were out of control with laughter.
"Noatak…!"
"Daddy? Wearing… lipstick?"
"You should have seen the look on your grandmother's face…!"
"Uh, Tarrlok, why are you wearing my lipstick?"
"I told you to never tell that story ever again…!" Tarrlok was enraged.
He could feel his children slowly loose respect for him. Thank goodness Korra was busy with food preparation along with the other women. But what else did Noatak tell the children? Even Korra?
He wouldn't hear the end of it.
A man in his forties, and he still felt like an embarrassed teenager.
"Aw, c'mon, Tarrlok, lighten up…! Aren't embarrassing stories always part of family reunions?"
Tarrlok grumbled again. He needed to use the time wisely to find a way to get back at Noatak. He smiled as he found himself gazing upon the banana cream pie Aunt Ahnah made.
Perfect…