Commander Bumi kicked the sidewalk in front of him in frustration. On a nice autumn day like this, most people had no reason to be frustrated; but not him. No, he had one perfect reason - and its name was Lin Beifong.

"Honestly Bum Ju, what am I going to do with her?" the veteran asked of his little spirit friend.

"Scree?"

"Well, I mean, she's just so...stubborn!"

"Scree."

"Yes, I know I'm stubborn too, but that's not the point."

"Scree."

Bumi stopped in his tracks and stared at his companion, mouth agape. "Now that's just rude!"

Bum Ju flitted around a bit before landing on a bench and gesturing for Bumi to sit next to him. Bumi sighed and sat and half-listened to what the spirit thought. He focused the other half of his mind on looking around the park. After arguing with Lin while walking her to her work this morning he'd needed to go somewhere and blow off some steam. And where better than Republic City Park?

"I will not apologize," the Commander said, turning back to his spirit companion.

"Scree?"

"Because I didn't do anything wrong. All I did was try hold her hand and kiss her goodbye; she's the one who pushed me away. If she can't handle public displays of affection then she needs to learn to get used to it."

Bum Ju pressed his little bunny paws into his eyes and let out a small frustrated trill. He then picked himself up and flew off.

"Oh, fine, go back to the Island. See if I care!"

Bumi watched and pouted as his friend flew off, leaving him alone on the bench. "Let's see," he said to himself, "girlfriend mad at me? Check. Spirit friend mad at me? Check. Family mad at me? I actually don't know, but experience says check."

The wild man sighed and leaned his head back. It was times like these when he wondered what happened to his carefree days of running around with random people doing the craziest things they could think of. As he watched the clouds drift by a part of him wished for those days to come back.

"Excuse me, Sir, but is this seat taken?"

Bumi sat up to see a beautiful woman about his age dressed in fine clothing standing there, gesturing to the seat next to him. It took a few seconds for him to reply, "That seat? Uh, no."

"Oh, good," she said as she closed her parasol and sat. "I wasn't expecting it to be so warm and-"

She stopped and gave him a long, hard look which he returned. Then the pair balked.

"Bumi?"

"Nita?"

The two laughed and stumbled over each other with utterances of "I barely recognized you!" and "What are the odds?"

"I can't believe it," Bumi said, shifting his body to face her full on. "How long's it been? Thirty years?"

"Oh, longer than that, I'm sure," she said with a smile. Her dark brown eyes looked him up and down before adding, "I see you joined the United Forces - just like you said you would."

"And I see you came into money," the Commander teased, gesturing at her finery. "Just like you said you would.

Nita swatted a hand at him playfully. "You were always such a teaser. Honestly I don't know how we ever put up with you."

"Put up with me? Why Nita, I'll have you know I was the very heart of our little group."

"Heart? No. Some other body parts, maybe, but not the heart."

The two laughed and began reminiscing over old times. They talked about the adventures they'd gone on with their other friends, from midnight sailing to bar hopping.

"I remember you could hold your liquor better than any of the other girls," said Bumi.

"And I remember you were always one of the bravest, always jumping in when there was a fight."

"Yeah," Bumi said, looking off nostalgically. "Those were some good times. Say, have you heard from anyone else in the old gang lately?"

Nita propped her elbow up on the back of the bench and leaned her still-dark head of hair against her fist. "Let me think," she said, biting her lip. "I know that Butch is in jail-

"Well that's not a surprise."

She snorted before continuing, "And Narruk and Ruby tied the knot a few decades after we split up the group - that's actually why I'm here in the city; to visit them for their anniversary. Other than that I don't know."

"Well, where are my manners?" Bumi said, standing up. "I've talked to you for twenty minutes and I haven't asked you a thing about yourself." He gestured toward the path and with his usually friendly grin said, "Care to walk and talk?"

"Why, I'd like nothing better!"

A few hours later, Lin Beifong found herself downtown on official police business.

"I'll have the orange chicken to go, please."

She and the other metal benders were on their lunch break after intercepting a grand-scale bank robbery, complete with hostages. After that stressful situation they all deserved a break.

Lin received her order and took it outside while the guys crowded into the restaurant. The Chief leaned against one of the squad cars and started eating, watching the traffic as it passed by her. She did her best to try to focus on the people walking by and what they were doing, looking out for any hypothetical dangerous situations. But of course, this was impossible. Right now she had Bumi on the brain.

The metalbender still couldn't get over it. He, her boyfriend, who knew how she felt about these things, had tried to open-mouth kiss her right in front of Police Headquarters. First of all, she didn't like public display of affection, period. And second, doing that in front of her colleagues was just unprofessional.

"'Show how I feel' my ass," she muttered into her food. He'd only done it to mess with her, which made it even worse.

Lin huffed and went back to watching traffic. Her problems with her boyfriend would have to be dealt with later, she decided. Of course her tone on the matter changed when she happened to noticed that, across the street at an outdoor café, Bumi was sitting and eating lunch with an attractive, well dressed woman. The Chief felt the world slow around her as she watched the two laugh together at some private joke.

"Oh, hell no," she muttered.

Just as she was trying to decide what to do, Lin was forced to witness as the stranger playfully held up a piece of food, to which the Commander opened his jaw wide, accepting the morsel straight from her fingers.

"Oh hell no!"

"Hey Chief?" Captain Saikhan had just come out of the shop and was now studying the enraged face of his boss. "Are you alright?"

Without answering Lin set her food down and started across the street, ignoring the busy traffic. Saikhan called after her, "Where are you going?"

"To commit murder. Don't worry, I'll be back in time for the office party."

Eyes locked on target, Lin made it to the other side of the street and stomped down the sidewalk, her green eyes doing their best to burn a hole into the back of Bumi's head. People near her jumped out of the way of the angry law enforcement officer. Finally she reached them and the stranger glanced up at her, an innocent smile on her face.

"Can we help you Officer?"

Lin gritted her teeth. "Perhaps."

At the sound of her voice Bumi turned in his chair. Lin waited for him to looked shocked or ashamed, but instead he just smiled up at her, as if him going out with a strange woman was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Well, hey there Linny," Bumi said happily. "What are you doing here?"

Lin's eye twitched as she buried her nails into the palm of her fist, trying to keep calm. "There was a robbery in the area. After we apprehended and booked the assailants, the rest of the team decided they needed lunch."

Bumi shook his head at her, still grinning. "All in a day's work for you, isn't it Linny?"

"Yes, I suppose so…" She trailed off, unsure of where this casual talk was going. The Chief looked at Bumi's companion and said, "Hello. I don't believe we've met."

The woman blinked her huge brown eyes and continued to give Lin that same innocent smile. "No, I don't believe we have," she said in the most friendly of tones.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Bumi apologized, standing up. "I keep forgetting my manners. Lin, this is Nita, an old friend of mine; we used to run around together when we were teenagers. Nita, this is-"

"Chief Lin Beifong," Lin broke in, sticking her hand out. Nita shook it and said, "Why, yes, Bumi was just telling me about you."

"Really?" Lin said, glancing at her boyfriend.

"'Course," he said, still giving her that same goofy smile. "You know I love to brag about you."

"Why don't you join us?" Nita asked and gestured toward the empty chair.

Lin looked back and forth between the two. She'd come over here expecting a big confrontation, but it was becoming clear that it wouldn't be necessary. Still a bit uncomfortable she said, "Well...I can only stay for a minute."

She sat down and Nita got up to get a refill. While she was gone Lin turned to Bumi and coolly said, "She seems nice."

Bumi shrugged and sipped his drink. "Yeah, she's alright. We were pretty close back in the day."

"How close?"

The Commander paused mid-sip and turned to her. The metalbender was leaning back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest.

"Close enough," he said carefully. Lin looked away, dropping the subject. "So," Bumi said, "I was hoping we could talk about what happened this morning over dinner tonight."

Lin glanced away guiltily before admitting, "I can't go to dinner."

"What?" Bumi furrowed his brow. "Lin, you promised."

"Well, it's not my fault," the Chief said defensively, "they're having a party at the office and I have to go for a little while. And then I have a business dinner with President Raiko."

Bumi sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Well, there goes my evening…"

"What's that?" Nita had returned with her drink and sat down close to Bumi. The Commander turned to her and said, dejected, "Looks like my evening just got freed up."

"Oh, well that's perfect," she said, setting her drink on the table. "Now you can go with me to the party!"

"Party? What party?" Lin felt panic coming over her.

"Hey you're right," Bumi said and turned to Lin. "Some of our old friends are having this anniversary thing. I told Nita I couldn't go because we had plans, but now that I'm free I can go. I mean if you don't mind my going."

"Oh, I'm sure Lin doesn't have a problem with it," Nita said while Bumi waited for his girlfriend to answer. The older woman leaned closer to her companion and put one arm around him and the other hand on his chest. "After all, it's just going to be a bunch of friends sitting around, talking…"

"Drinking," Bumi added with a grin.

"Drinking?" Lin asked blankly. That didn't sound good, but she was even more worried about the way Nita kept touching Bumi. The Chief's eyes were fixated on the way Nita's fingers were stroking his shoulder in small circles.

Nita lifted the hand and waved it a little to say, "Oh, don't worry Lin. I'll make sure and take good care of him."

As a woman Lin was aware of the cultural phenomenon known as Bitch language. This language consisted of backhanded compliments, double meanings and two-sided implications through body language. And while Lin wasn't normally one to partake in such petty things she knew how to recognize it; and Nita's body language, tone, and the way she said 'good' all screamed: "I'M A BITCH!"

"Um…" Lin stumbled for something to say while Bumi looked on expectantly, unaware of the silent conversation passing between the two females.

"Hey Chief!"

Lin turned to see Saikhan waving at her from across the street. "I have to go," she murmured.

Bumi stood up and tried to go in for a hug but Lin, conscious of the officers watching them patted him on the chest instead. The wild man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Can I go or what?"

The metalbender was trapped. She could either say no and be the bitchy girlfriend or say yes and quite possibly not be a girlfriend anymore. She looked back and forth between Bumi and Saikhan, who was still waiting on her. Then she looked at Nita. The wealthy woman had stood up as well and had a hand resting on Bumi's shoulder. Her smile was gone, and her normally cheerful expression had been replaced with a dare.

Lin hardened her resolve. If this was the way it was going to be, then she was game.

"Sure, I don't care," she said bluntly. "Have a good time."

Then she whirled around and marched across the street. When she reached the car Saikhan noticed her expression and asked, "What's going on?"

"Just drive," Lin said and crawled into the passenger seat. She looked across the street where the pair were paying the check.

"You okay?" Saikhan asked as he got in the driver's seat.

Lin watched as Bumi offered Nita his arm, to which the woman accepted, and the two walked away arm in arm.

"Drive," Lin snapped, and Saikhan did so.

Later at President Raiko's home, Lin was having an internal panic attack. While Raiko's wife, Buttercup, had been babbling about her new garden, the poor Chief had allowed countless images of Nita wrapping herself around Bumi to enter her mind.

"Lin, are you alright?" Buttercup leaned over to her, examining her expression.

"Yes I just...would like to use the phone."

Buttercup directed her to it and Lin excused herself when she reached the phone, the Chief hesitated before dialing. She held the receiver to her ear and stepped closer to the voice tube. After a few minutes a groggy voice answered, "Hello?"

"Su?"

"Lin?"

On her end, Lin's younger sister rubbed her eyes and asked, "What's going on? You never call this late."

"Oh, I just felt like checking in."

"In the middle of the night?"

"Yeah! So, how's the family?"

"Pretty good," Su said suspiciously. "The twins have started a new team for Powerdisc and Huan-"

"SU HE'S LEAVING ME!"

Su jumped and cleared her head before going back to the phone. "What?"

Breathing heavily Lin poured out the entire story, from the fight they'd had to Nita and the party.

"You should've seen her," Lin growled, "putting her hands all over him, winking… Take care of him my ass; she wants him!"

"Honey," Su said as she pulled a chair close and sat down, "slow down. I'm trying to understand this… So this woman he used to be friends with showed up out of nowhere and the second she found out Bumi was available for the evening she snatched him up?"

"Yes."

"And she likes to hold his hand and stroke his arm in front of you?"

"Yes."

"And she smiles too much?"

"Yes!"

"Well, she sounds like a textbook bitch."

"That's what I'm saying!"

"But Lin, that's no reason for you to be so paranoid. Bumi loves you a lot; he wouldn't ruin things for some random person he hasn't seen in years."

"But Su!" At this point Lin was on the verge of a full-blown freak out. "You don't understand! This morning we had a fight and I pushed him away and then I did it again right in front of her. He's always trying to be affectionate, but you know I don't like that! What if he decides he wants someone who isn't so frigid? Someone like her that loves touching him in public?"

"Lin…"

"Because that's how it happens. They have a problem and instead of trying to work through it they just move on and leave you in the dust!"

"Lin, this isn't about some other woman, is it?"

The Chief didn't answer for a few moments. Finally she answered, voice shaking, "Well that's how it happened the last time…"

Su closed her eyes and winced, wishing more than anything that she could be with her sister to comfort her. As it was she said, "Lin, Bumi is not Tenzin. The problems the two of you have are very different."

"I know. It's just...that was the hardest part. That he cheated on me. He could've broken it off and then been with her, but instead he lied to me." Lin took in a sharp breath, trying desperately to hold herself together. "And then I was dumb enough to try to forgive him. Then he dumped me."

"I know," Su murmured gently, "and I'm sorry. But if you're this worried about it, you need to talk to Bumi."

Lin pressed a hand to her face and breathed slowly. "I know...I know… I will as soon as I see him next."

"Good. And honey?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm so glad you called me."

"Me too. Love you, sis."

"Love you too."

The sisters said goodbye and Lin leaned against the wall with a sigh. "I just hope by the time I see he won't have already…" She stopped herself from finishing the sentence, pulled herself together and went back to the dinner.

A few hours later Bumi stumbled up the steps and banged on the door of Lin's apartment.

"Please be home…"

The door opened and Bumi threw himself on Lin.

"Oh, baby, I missed you," he slurred.

"Bumi," Lin said, struggling to get him inside, "please use your feet."

"It was awful," he cried and collapsed on the couch, pulling her down with him. The Commander shook his head, frowning in disgust. "A bunch of old people drinking and talking about nothing but old times. Like nothing good has happened to them since they were teenagers."

"Gee, I would've thought it would be a lot of fun, what with Nita being there…"

Noting her tone, Bumi looked up to find Lin giving him a pointed look.

"Aw, honey, nothing happened," the wild man said while rolling his eyes.

"Well excuse me for worrying," Lin said gritting her teeth. She looked at her hands and said, "I'd think you of all people would understand why I'd be concerned."

The two were quiet for a moment. Finally Bumi said, "She tried to kiss me."

Lin felt her stomach drop. "And?"

"And it made me think about what you said, about boundaries and stuff."

"What do you mean?" She met his eyes again.

"I mean," he sighed, putting a hand on hers, "I'm sorry I tried to embarrass you in front of your coworkers. I won't do again."

"Oh...well for what it's worth, I'm sorry I pushed you away."

Their apologies were genuine, but felt empty as the two looked in separate directions, unable to face the other. Finally, slowly, they turned to each other

It was like someone had held back two magnets and had finally let them go, sending them crashing into one another. In about thirty seconds they were wrapped in each others arms kissing as if their lives depended on it. If anyone had walked in they would've thought they were trying to swallow one another.

After a minute they had to come up for air and Bumi panted, "Don't you...ever worry...about me leaving you."

"And don't you think I push you away because I don't care," Lin replied as pulled his face closer to hers. "I swear it's not me trying to be cruel."

"I know," he said, "and I'm sorry I tried to embarrass you. I won't do it again."

"Thank you," she breathed, relieved. "Though…"

"What?"

"I suppose I wouldn't mind a little hand holding…"

Bumi raised his eyebrows and grinned, "Why, Chief Beifong, you dirty girl."

The two laughed and kissed fell back on the couch. An hour later they found themselves lying in bed cooling off.

"I can't believe I got so worked up over nothing," Lin said as she rested her head on Bumi's chest. "Like you'd ever leave me that bitch."

Bumi looked down at her and raised an eyebrow. "Bitch is a little much, don't you think?"

"Oh yeah? Tell me," Lin propped herself on an elbow, "when she tried to kiss you, my boyfriend, just a few hours after meeting me, your girlfriend, was she sober?"

"Okay, she's a bitch."

"Uh huh."

She slid back down and curled in close to him. Bumi put a hand on her back and kissed the top of her head.

"You know you're my best girl, right?"

"Yeah; and don't you forget it."

They fell asleep curled up together. After that, every day when Bumi walked Lin to work they would hold hands until they got to Police Headquarters. And Bumi of course never got that close to a woman. That's not to say he didn't look; he just knew better.

To NooooBD: Why yes, yes it was. Thank you for noticing! :D

To Atarah Derek: Yes, Sherlock is indeed awesome. And I'm afraid I'm low on Brain Bleach right now, so I'll have to get back to you. I could of course dedicate a chapter to you, if that would help?