Disclaimer: I don't own these awesome shows.


There was a groggy fog that blanketed Yue Bay. The city was just starting to get loud as businesses were just starting for the day. However, among the docks, the grunting of large navy men filled the air as cargo was being loaded onto the large battleship.

Then there was Lin. She stood proudly in front of the ship, eyeing the docks for any oddities. Her officers were scattered, talking amongst the sailor and checking cargo. The atmosphere was bland. Boring. Lin hadn't noticed as her own mood was the same. She felt numb, even after a week since Avatar Aang's death. Entrusted to her was a task even she had to admit seemed difficult to complete. Everyone around her was either still grieving or was dead, going on about their day with no feelings at all. She hadn't even recovered completely, her uncle's goofy smile still a vivid picture in her mind. But she had to pull through. And this was a place to start.

"What do you mean we haven't checked our inventory yet? We are setting sail by tomorrow afternoon. Get it done!"

A vibrant red uniform was soon approaching her. His hair was flying all over the place, beard an all. However, Lin could still see a perfect picture of the commander's face. Stone hard and in a scowl. It was odd, completely out of character. I thought I was supposed to be the serious one.

Soon enough, the two were brushing past each other. They would have completely gone about their business but Lin confidently grabbed his arm. His muscles were tensed.

"Bumi, we need to talk."

She could feel the vibrations of a low growl. Somewhere in the back of her mind it surprised her. Lin had never sensed so much emotion within the jokester.

Bumi fiercely took back his arm. "I don't think we do, Captain."

"Bumi-"

"Just do your job, Lin."

And with that, the commander disappeared into the opening of the ship. That's who he was now. Just the commander of the United Forces. No longer the Bumi she had grown up with. Her worried expression stared at where she last saw her childhood companion, if she could still call him that.

So for now, Lin did as Bumi had told her to do. She walked around the dock, checking on her officers. A couple times, she found herself even helping with the crates to be put into the ship, easily done by earthbending. It was enough to impress a lot of the sailors, some getting a little too friendly. Lin just shook them off.

After about an entire day of supervising the area, she called her officers. They gathered at the front of the ship and awaited orders.

"Our work here is done. The crew thanks us for the help. You are all dismissed."

They all started to walk away until they noticed their leader wasn't following them. One officer spoke up. "Will you not be heading home, Captain?"

Lin just put her hands behind her back. "I have matters to attend to with the commander."

Her team just nodded and continued on their way. Lin turned around and faced the large naval ship. The rims of gold and red flags screamed fire nation. The once enemy of all the nations was now one of the sole protectors. So much could change. All thanks to a twelve year old avatar. Uncle Aang was really something.

The inside of the metal ship was huge and cold. There was no doubt in Lin's mind that the sailors would freeze on cold nights out on the sea, unless they were firebenders of course. Every step she took, her metal uniform would clank against the metal floors. It was quite annoying after awhile. Looking through the different hallways and chambers, Lin finally found what she was looking for. She was in a wide hallway, big enough to fit several people at once, and at the end of the hall was a metal door. Slightly opened, music echoed out and quickly filled the hallway. Lin recognized the tune all too well. She had heard just a week ago. Carefully, the earthbender made it down the hallway, failing to keep the noise down. She opened the door and leaned against the door frame.

"That was his favorite song."

The man at the desk didn't even look up. His arm moved towards the radio at his right and turned the knob. It became silent. "What do you need?"

Lin studied Bumi for a minute. Like their first encounter, his face was focused, focused on the papers in front of him. As a kid, Bumi hated school. Being forced to sit and study books and write on paper. He was always hyper and ready to move. He had always been excited for action and adventure. The boy just couldn't stay still.

Now was different. Bumi was seated and unmoving. His face mimicked the rest of his body. It was expressionless and blank with no sign of emotion. Lin wondered how he could have undergone such a transformation.

"How are Ursa and Iroh doing?" she asked.

Bumi looked up for a moment but returned to his papers soon enough. "They are on their way back to the fire nation."

"I see." Lin stepped into the room and stood across from him, the desk only being their distance. "How about your mother and Kya?"

"They are only a boat ride away. Why don't you ask them yourself?" There was a small bit of annoyance in his voice. Lin just ignored it.

"How are you doing?" There was more sincerity in her question. She had never been good with these deep conversations. She could only see it as more proof that she was her mother's daughter.

A large sound came from Bumi's hands as they clapped down on to the desk. "Did you actually need something or are you just being nosy? I actually have some work to attend to."

"Oh yeah. Because you just love doing paperwork. I bet you don't even know what half those papers are." His heartbeat sped up and Lin knew that she had caught him.

"Fine." The commander stood up. "I'll go find something else to do. There are much more needs to the ship that I must tend to."

Lin just stepped closer to the desk. "Bumi, you need to talk to someone."

"I don't need to talk at all. I'm perfectly fine. I just need to do my job and maybe you should take that advice too." He started for the door. There was no way she was going to let him get away with this twice.

Lin grabbed his arm for the second time that day. "Your father just died. Don't tell me you aren't feeling anything?"

Thanks to the muscles he had built up during training, he easily escaped the earthbender's grasp. "Just leave me alone, alright!"

That's it. The metal on the wall suddenly ripped right off and captured Bumi into the corner of the room. The commander squirmed and tried to break free with all his might, but the metal was far too strong for just his strength alone. He didn't give up. Lin just watched him. He was starting to really work up a sweat.

"Release me! Now!" The demand seemed like a roar.

Lin stepped forward until she was face to face with him. "Not until you tell me how you are feeling."

"Lin, release me this instant! Your mother won't be happy about this."

"The let her be. I don't care." She had said it so bluntly that it just angered Bumi even more.

"I always knew you were cold hearted!" His face reddened. "Using your precious bending to render the innocent helpless!"

"Excuse me?" Lin's voice rose at an alarming level.

"You call yourself a freaking officer? I'm really sorry for Republic City. Being put into the hands of someone who would have something against non-benders." He spat out at her uniform.

Lin instantly grabbed a handful of his hair and brought his head against the wall. She was fuming. "I have nothing against non-bender. My father is a non-bender if you haven't noticed."

"That's why you had to use your metalbending to secure me right? To prevent me from leaving? That's really pathetic, Lin. Relying on a sheet of metal to do your work. You knew I wouldn't be able to escape if I was pinned under something I can't move. What a cheap shot."

She held onto his hair tighter and growled. "I am not pathetic. You really think words are going to have me begging for forgiveness? You are the one being pathetic right now."

"Yeah, because you all haven't been thinking that all my life."

The comment had caught her off guard. All? "What in the spirits are you talking about?"

Bumi was raising his voice once again. "Don't act like you don't think it. Don't act like no one hasn't thought that! Why don't you all stop treating me like a child and just tell me to my face!"

Lin let go of his hair and gave him a confused look. "Think what, Bumi?"

"You all think I'm pathetic! Useless! Inferior to all of you! Just because I can't bend air or water or fire or earth!"

Lin just looked at him. She was shocked. How could he think something so absolutely wrong? Completely untrue.

"You thought that. Don't lie to me. You, Tenzin, Kya, Aunt Toph, Uncle Zuko, Mom. Everyone! All think that I can't defend myself." The commander's voice was cold. "Even my own father."

Lin truthfully spoke. "Bumi, no one thinks that. Uncle Aang didn't think that."

Bumi surprised her with a chuckle. "You really want to know what I'm feeling right now? You want to know how old jokester Bumi feels about his daddy being gone?"

She just stared at him in worry. This Bumi was scaring her.

"Well, guess what, I feel freaking guilty. Guilty. As. Crap."

That wasn't the answer that she was expecting. She tried approaching him once again only to have his head turn away from her.

Bumi continued, his voice still as cold as ice. "I am probably the worst disgrace of a son in the history of this world."

"No you-"

"Stop lying to me! Just stop the lies! You have no idea what I'm going through right now!" The level of his voice had Lin silent at once. "Yes, I do feel sad that my father is gone! He was still my father and I loved him. But somewhere, deep in the back of my mind, there is this happiness that I can't help but feel. Happy that I don't have this weight on my shoulders anymore. Every time he would look at me, or talk to me, I felt as if he would remind me that I was the disgrace of the family. The only one who couldn't bend. Now that he is gone, I don't have his face reminding me all the time. I'm free! I should be happy and celebrating, right? So tell me, how come I feel so bad? Tell me!"

Bumi suddenly felt the weight of the metal lift off of him and he fell to the floor. He had no strength to stand so he just sat against the wall, dealing with his own feelings. Lin had no idea. No idea at all. Bumi never had acted like it as a child, as if he were feeling inferior. Lin never saw him that way either. He was smart, innovative and was able to improvise at any given moment. All those traits, Lin had admired as she wasn't even able to be like that. And now, as a commander of the United Forces, she had no doubt that the force was in good hands. No scratch that, excellent hands. And the sailors thought so too. Being there today, Lin saw that not only did the sailors obediently followed orders from Bumi, but also respected him. That was honorable in her opinion. So why couldn't he see it either.

Lin sat on the floor across from him. She spoke carefully, but also confidently. "Listen to me, Bumi. Your father was never one to put down anyone judging from their abilities. He especially didn't think that about you. His own son. He was always so proud. You don't even know. He was blown away by your inventions, marveled at your accomplishments as a commander and amazed at how strongly you felt about protecting the world. You really made him proud."

She scooted closer. "I know that it was easy for you to think that way about yourself. That's a lot of pressure on you. But all of us. You, me, Kya, Ursa and Tenzin. We all have shadows to live up to. You aren't alone. We will always have your back. And your father will always be with you. Supporting you no matter where he may be."

"Or just celebrating as he won't have to see his disgrace of a son again."

Lin wouldn't go down without a fight. "No he's not. Please believe me."

Bumi scoffed at her. "Just...go."

She stopped her movements. Lin couldn't find the will to continue. She looked at him. Bumi had his head in his arms that were resting against his knees. His bush full of hair prevented her from getting a glimpse of his face. Lin didn't need to anyways. She knew that he would have to let this all sink in. He had to move on by his own force, not by her.

Lin stood up. "Fine." She took her leave towards the door. Just as she was to disappear, she looked back at him once more. "I'll be here. Tommorow. To finish this. I promise."

And with that, she left.

I promise.


The morning seemed to mimick yesterdays, foggy and bland. The streets were covered in fog, barely able to see. That wasn't a problem for Lin, however. She walked down the city streets, on her way to the docks that she was once at. There was no way she was going to break her promise. She was coming back.

The sound of wood under her feet as she walked made her realize that she was upon the docks. Lin had an hour till work. That hour, she would spend wisely, continuing her mission she was entrusted with.

There was a difference in the air. She could feel it. It was quiet, too quiet for navy men. Her head turned in every direction and found that the dock was empty, cargo all gone. And in front of her, the place where the naval ship should have been was unfilled.

"You looking for the united forces ship?"

Lin turned around right away and found herself staring at an eighty year old man, hunched over with only a few strands of hair left. He wore a hat. A sailor cap. Probably owned his own boat.

"Um, yes. Do you know where it is?"

The man apporached her slowly and shook his head. "Sorry, young lady, but the united forces set sail early this morning. About six in the morning."

"Ohhh..."

"Well don't be sad now. I'm sure they will be back again soon. Were you here to say goodbye to someone?"

Lin looked into his aged eyes. They were brown. Deep and rich in color. "Yes."

She looked back towards the open water. The fog was starting to leave and she could see the surface of the water stretching out towards the horizon. Everything was becoming clear now.

Lin could only hope that in time, everything would become clear to Bumi as well.