It was still dark when they parted ways. She didn't know where she was heading. Or what time it was either, just that she agonized inside. She found herself heading to Air temple island after a while of walking in circles. She felt so sluggish and emotionless.

Could she even face them? She felt like she looked like a floozy.

On nights like this, she heard her mother screaming at her. Nothing she ever did was acceptable, not for Toph. Not for Tenzin either. She remembered being in her 40s with no kids. She thinks of rescuing Su, her mom saying she had forgiven her for all her garbage, and she mulls over what she ever did that was so horrible.

She didn't even hide her favoritism. She was too busy for Lin. Both times she was held captive.

Lin looked at the water as she made a rock bridge deciding she wanted to be somewhere that felt safe. At some point, she felt too exhausted. She sat and looked at Aang's statue. She apologized to him, she failed him so many times she only birthed once, and it was lifeless. The sky span, she heard her mother again yelling at her about her failures, how she should surpass her mother, how she wouldn't have her kid embarrass her, how Lin's younger self sought after comfort in books, writing, and drawing. Toph couldn't judge it and tarnish it. She could destroy everything else about her but not with what she was wholly blind to. She always wished she had a dad or someone to reach in and pull it all out of her, something, anything.

Tenzin said she wasn't alone anymore, but she never felt secure or attached. She didn't know how that would feel. She remembers mom telling Lin she never was a victim, never kidnapped. Toph had not known What being blood-bent felt like yet. When Toph was blood-bent at the trial, Toph had softened her tone with Lin. It was the first time her mom hugged her outside if being a baby. It didn't last.

Toph would either be angry or throw 'if that's what makes you happy' in Lin's face. She didn't think her kids needed her because Lin learned how to bend before taking her first steps. Toph didn't need her parents, so naturally, she figured Lin didn't need her. To be indulged endlessly.

Toph never was like that with Su. Su wasn't an unwanted mistake. Su could dream without being hit and cry without being told to man up. Su never had to be eight and figure out how to care for a two-year-old. Figure out how to keep her mom from ripping her apart. Lin wondered who did she had to be for somebody to see past her walls and love her. To not only feel alive when she got hurt.

Lin had no idea how long she laid out, their head spinning. When she looked up again, she looked up at Su.

" Lin, are you okay." She picked her sister off the ground. Lin didn't respond. She just started, eyes foggy.

" Lin, can you walk?"

Nothing

Su looked back on the island where Tenzin and some others were. It was a two am meditation. Tenzin had spotted the half-built earth bridge heading to the island, so when Su flagged him down, he flew to her, hoping it wasn't an attack. He was unnerve seeing his ex look half dead.

" She was lying there, and I don't know what's wrong. She won't respond, " Su fretted.

She could hear how slow her sister's heartbeat was, how shallow her breath was. She was blinking slowly.

"Let's get her to Kya." Tenzin finally said

Tenzin lifted her gently. He felt her look through him like he was transparent. She wasn't present. She was back in the grip of Yakone's affiliates she wanted to move, but she couldn't control her body.

Su kept trying to see if Lim would make a reply. She was frightened by her silence. Her raspy breaths. She was out in the cold all night in a coat that didn't keep her warm enough for how cold the island could get at night when they got on the island. Tenzin had Su get Kya deciding to take her to a tub.

Kya runs over. She instantly is worried. Sleep gone.

"She's freezing," Kya said when she touched Lin.

Kya begins checking Lin. She still stared off into nothing. She couldn't speak.

Kya frowned; besides her being cold, nothing read as wrong.

"I think it's mental," Kya sighed, explaining nothing physically was wrong.

Lin realizes she isn't alone. She's just got more eyes on her.

"You think she's breaking down," Tenzin asks softly

"Yeah, she completely zoned out." Su brings the fresh clothes Pema got her.

"We should lay her in a bed to rest and warm up," Kya says, unsure what to do.

Tenzin left so they could put her in new clothes; they noted marks from doing some age-appropriate activities but silently changed her. Tenzin came back to carry her up. Their eyes met. He tried to keep her focus.

When they got to the bed, Kya decided to water bending her head. When she was done, Lin had complete tears. She shivered and covered herself. She didn't want to remember anymore.

Su asks, "Lin, what happened?" her olive eyes spark with concern.

After a few minutes, Lin confessed

"I can't do this anymore," her voice shattered

" It would help if you had a break, Lin," Tenzin said. He could tell Lin was drowning.

" can't do that either."

Su sighed, understanding Lin wouldn't be able to relax with the pressing situations

"After this is resolved, we can go on vacation," Kya said. Su nodded despite her sister not being able to see her.

Tenzin put a gentle hand on her head, and he was beside himself with worried. Pema stared at his hand, feeling this was like the Korra Mako Asami debacle. Had Lin not had enough men in her life?

"For now, you need to sleep and warm up. Let's hope for your sake you don't catch a cold the temperature was low last night." Kya brushed her cheek. It was sharp.

"Where were you last night before you came here, " Su asked, curious.

"I just went home," Lin lied.

Su decided not to pressure her. She asked what made her come out here

" I don't know. I was walking. Then I got tired trying to pass here because the ferry doesn't run now. I don't know why."

"Why couldn't you move, do you know?"

" I didn't have any bones. They were just gone." Lin confessed, not realizing how it sounded how she was spilling secrets she shouldn't share.

Kya looked at her, worried, meeting her eyes "where did they go? Lin, how did you get them back?"

"Yakone and his goons took them. They were back when Su showed up." it was confusing, but Kya wondered where Lin's head was. Tenzin was disturbed. He didn't want to ask why she didn't talk. He read what acts they did. He didn't need to hear it.

"What year is it, "Su asked

"Mhm, 175." She was drowsy sounding

" And who is the president," Tenzin asked, seeing where Su was going with this

"Raiko." Lin began closing her eyes

"We're you just remembering being blood bent," Kya said softly, thinking they should give it a rest, but she needed to know what her mental state was.

Lin fell silent, moving her hands.

"We have everything under control for today. We're just going to be watching Tarlok." Su said, watching her sister move her hands, bending a metal zipper.

"I want to be there. It's too risky," Lin murmured. Her voice was raspy

"If you rest up, I'll give Su the okay. I'll make you a yuzu tea in the morning." Remembering she liked that tea.

Lin nodded, drifting into sleep. Su held her cold hands, noticing how poor the circulation in her rough hands was and how weak her nails were.

She stayed with her, falling asleep as well

A few hours later, it was actually morning. Su was in bed with her. She didn't remember how Su opened her eyes, and Lin's dull green ones met Su's vibrant olive ones. Su hugs her sister.

"You feel better, Lin?" Su held her sister. She was warm now.

"Yeah, it was foolish," Lin said, embarrassed.

"It isn't. You've been through a lot. I wish you would tell me more, I want to be here for you Lin." Su said letting her emotions be open she wanted to be like this with Lin again.

Lin leaned into her sister instead of speaking.

"Did you see him last night, I saw marks He didn't hurt you." Su was protective it reminded Lin of when some girls were mocking her sister. Su made them regret it.

"No", sighing "he is married still so don't get to excited about it." Lin said guiltly

"I wasn't, I think you could do better" Su admitted.

"Ok, well I'm gonna shower now." Her walls came up, the moment was gone and Su felt the cold where Lins's body had just been.