Sorry, it's ramblely and weird. This is my other entry for Linzin Week. Formal and Family kind of ended up blending together.

Bittersweet

Tenzin had heard someone say it was a "bittersweet occasion". Though he would never say it aloud he thought that was a load of bullshit. They had only just buried his grandfather two days before and now they were having a formal ceremony to name his uncle the new Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. His grandfather was gone and now they were taking away his only uncle. It didn't seem fair.

He sat alone at the head table and watched his parents slow dance. Not like they usually did; this was lifeless and sorrowful. Neither of them were in the mood to celebrate, but they put on a good show for those who didn't know better. His father's hands laid lightly in the small of his mother's back. His mother's arms wrapped around the elder air bender, clasped onto his shirt, underneath his cape.

Suyin broke Tenzin's concentration when she ran across the dance floor to his Uncle Sokka. The new chief bowed to the girl and said something as he offered his hand to her. She laughed and put her hand in his, laughing. The two of then twirled around the shiny floor together.

"What are you doing Loser?" Tenzin's girlfriend spoke lightly into his ear.

"Just watching." he answered with a feigned smile.

She sat down beside him "Yeah. This is a pretty good thing to watch. Everyone's all dressed up." she said reaching to fiddle with the braid that hung from her high bun.

Tenzin smiled a true smile "You look nice. Blue suits you."

"Whatever." she said, but her blush said otherwise "Sokka bought it for me yesterday." Lin brushed her hands across the soft cobalt material laying across her lap, then looked up at her sister who was giggling as Sokka lifted her off the ground and swung her in circles. Lin smiled softly "I'm going to miss him."

"Me too." Tenzin agreed "It's not going to be the same, not having him in Republic City."

"Loosing a dad is hard, you know." she said quietly, a tear causing a trail in the thin layer of makeup she was wearing.

Tezin looked at Lin. He vaguely remembered the first funeral he'd been to, Lin's father's. He was barely six. It was the first time he'd seen Toph cry. After that Sokka stepped in and did all those things that dads did for their daughters. He, Suyin and Lin were very close.

"I'm sorry." Tenzin said reaching over and gathering her hand into his "At least you can still write and visit."

"I know." a long, silent moment passed between them "I'm glad Su doesn't know."

"Doesn't know what?" he asked, but she didn't answer, she was looking at Sokka and Su coming toward them.

"Excuse me Nephew," Sokka said to Tenzin with a smile on his face, then he turned to Lin "but I believe your date owes me a dance."

Lin crossed her arms "I don't dance."

Sokka smirked "Is it that you don't dance, or is it that you don't want to dance with anyone but a certain tattooed delinquent?" he shot a quick glance over at Tenzin.

"Hey." he protested.

Lin rolled her eyes "Psh, Tenzin is anything but a delinquent."

Tenzin nodded his head in agreement, then he realized her intent "Hey!"

"Besides," she continued "Tenzin wishes I would dance with him."

Tenzin pouted making Suyin and Sokka laugh "Come on," Sokka said "Sue can keep your chair warm."

Lin let out an exaggerated sigh that the other three knew was false "Fine. Come on old man. Let me help you break a hip."

Sokka laughed "Whatever Kiddo."

Lin got up, then she paused, remembering Tenzin's question. She placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned to whisper in his ear "I'm glad Su doesn't know who her father is." and she went off to dance with Sokka.

"Dance with me Tenzin." Suyin said as she wrapped her arms around the teenager's.

He looked at the girl and it all made sense. He smiled at her "Yes, I will. Come on."