Prompt: Culture

Word Count: 5,737

Opposites in every way,

Typing on her Braille typewriter, Toph felt a massive surge of exhaustion upon her shoulders. Bringing work home was no fun feat, especially onto Air Temple Island (being slacked in the middle of the water). But, since Aang was away on a world council meeting, someone had to stay with the kids. Though Lin and Suyin were decidedly running themselves through Earthbending drills—or rather, Lin was and Suying was watching as she was still too young to start training—the last she heard from their only son was that he opted to meditate. She personally saw no issue with it, but something about his reluctance to speak up about his plans worried Toph. Call it maternal instincts, but she knew her boy well.

Tenzin was only twelve years old, but he acted like he was older. He was refined in his speech, posture, and bending. He was determined to be studious in every way, shape, and form. He rarely sought out help in his studies or training, only until he really needed it despite Toph and Aang's remarks of asking for help. As such, Toph had begun to get a sense for when he was silently screaming for help.

And right now, she felt it prodding at her.

She couldn't get her work done because of it. Toph released a sigh as she leaned back in her chair. In any case, she wouldn't be productive if her son was still suffering in silence. So she resigned herself from her work and marched out into the halls. Surprisingly, he wasn't in his room, which meant Toph had to go on a bit of a search for him. The Air Acolytes reported seeing him last in the courtyard with his sisters, which led her outside.

"Where's your brother?" Toph asked the second she reached the doors.

Lin was currently running through her horse stance while Suyin was sat on a makeshift Earth stump her sister no doubt made for her. The two exchanged a glance before shrugging. "He was here just a second ago," Lin plainly answered before resuming her drills.

Suyin perkily raised her hand as she announced, "He's probably at his hiding spot!"

Lin's heart anxiously spiked as she shot her youngest sibling a look. "Su! That's 'Zin's secret!" she hissed.

Her sister wilted at the admonishment while Toph crossed her arms. "He has a hiding spot?"

Her eldest child sighed, slumping her form as she turned to her mother. "Yes," she reluctantly answered.

"Well?" she prompted her.

Lin sighed once again.

::::

Toph created a rock pillar that sent her straight up to the temple's highest peak. At the crest of her ascent, she heard a yelp. Smirking, she turned toward the source. "Y'know, hiding on the roof is a pretty good hiding spot," she teased, hopping off and onto the slanted roof.

Tenzin sighed as he rose to help his mother, who was unable to see on the wooden roof's flooring, he sat her beside him. "Well, when your mother can see you anywhere on the ground, you have to get creative."

She snorted. "And your dad doesn't know about this either?"

"Maybe," he shrugged. "But I suspected he didn't bother searching to grant me privacy or if it was more a, 'I know you know I know,' sort of situation."

Toph frowned. "Well I'll have words with him if he did know about this place and didn't tell me," she grumbled.

Tenzin chuckled. "Part of me suspects he also wanted me to have a place to hide from you." She stuck her tongue out in his general direction, eliciting a laugh from him. "Did Su spill?"

She giggled, bumping her arm against his shoulder. "Give her some leniency, she's only seven."

"When I was seven I could keep Father's secret about his anniversary gifts to you."

"You were also studying a culture that had been erased for over a century and getting quizzed on it," Toph mused. The joke itself earned a halfhearted chuckle, but she got the feeling he had sagged a bit at her topic of choice. Thus only supporting her worries—he was struggling with something regarding Air Nomads. "You want to talk about it?"

His spine snapped straight as he looked at her bewilderedly. "Really?"

She tried not to look too offended as she said, "Yeah! I'm your mom! I'm here to help."

He awkwardly laughed as he rubbed his head. "R-Right, sorry. I just… never thought you cared for Father's lessons."

She grinned. "Because he bored me with them all the time throughout our youth. All our trips, dates, parties," she shook her head. "Heck, I probably know more than you!"

Tenzin softly laughed. "In that case… I could use some help."

Toph clasped her hands together and rubbed them as she said, "Lay it on me!"

"I am having trouble with a recent text Father has assigned me," her son admitted, "it's not entirely complex in its wording but… I have difficulty understanding it myself. It's a poem—"

"Lemme guess, by guru Laghima?" Toph deadpanned.

Tenzin's eyes widened. "Y-Yes! How did you—"

"Twinkle Toes could never shut up about that old guru once we found his poems," she replied. "He considered them quite the brain teaser back in our days." She smiled. "So what's the line?"

" New growth cannot exist without first the destruction of the old," her son recited.

Toph blew out a breath, scrunching up her face. "Ahh, quite a line."

He sighed in agreement. "I… the word, 'destruction' is what startles me." Toph made no comment, decidedly letting her son ramble his thoughts. "It doesn't just imply a negative connotation but completely remarks one! And, to some extent, I understand what he's trying to say with how growth can't be achieved by past shackles but… that's what's perplexing me. It's… contradictory.

"We're taught as monks to preserve life and respect all it has to offer in this world—hence our vegetarianism and pacifism—and though we know techniques to defend ourselves we're not supposed to use them to harm unprovoked. But we've never sought out 'destruction' or the intent to destroy. It's not our way—it's not what Father wants. So it confuses me why Laghima chooses that sort of wording. But also… 'destruction' being a necessity to mold something new makes me feel… bitter."

Toph raised a brow. "Bitter? Why?"

"Because… did that mean our people dying over a hundred years ago was a necessity for us to grow?"

Toph's eyes widened. She couldn't feel her son's heartbeat but she didn't need to to know how stilled and heavy it was. What a loaded question. She internally cursed her husband for being away and not around to answer it… as well as herself for being so overly confident in aiding her son in his plight. But, nonetheless, she had to try. Because aside from examining this as homework help, Tenzin was asking a question of morals and ethics.

And she had to give her best answer.

"So… you think that you and your father's people died for a reason?" she carefully voiced out.

He merely shrugged as he replied, "I'm not too sure, Mother."

Toph held her hand out to her son, prompting him to slide his into hers. As their fingers interlaced, she brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. "Your father mourned your people. But I don't think he lost them." She could sense his confusion so she rolled her shoulder a bit, inviting her son to rest his head. He wordlessly accepted as he rested his bald head on her shoulder, and she softly said, "He found meaning in loss. And I think that's what was so special about him.

"It's not easy, carrying an entire culture on your shoulders. But like you said, pacifism and peace was their main way of life. Back with Ozai, during the Hundred Year War." She took a deep breath, shaking her head shamefully. "We ridiculed your father for not wanting to kill Ozai." That elicited a gasp from her son. "Looking back, I regret how we handled it—though I myself would probably still do it with no hesitation—the main reason why I can understand and respect your father's wishes was because of how Ozai and Firelord Sozin viewed your father's people.

"Ozai claimed they were weak. That they didn't deserve to live in this world. And well… I can understand why he wouldn't kill Ozai after that." Toph smiled fondly. "What better way to prove to a man that your nation's way of life wasn't a weakness, by sparing him with that philosophy?" Tenzin sniggered. "It's honestly a self-satisfying victory. It's poetic. But… Aang found that meaning. He found meaning in the loss of his people and avenged them. And because of that, he grew stronger."

She turned to her son, sadly smiling at him as she pulled his head away. She knew he was staring into her sightless eyes, and wished she could see that gray blue gaze her husband had talked so much about. But right now, she wanted him to see her earnestness. "I don't think your people dying was a necessity for change, Tenzin," she softly spoke, "I think it created change, and as a result, your father had to find meaning in what the change entailed."

He released a heavy sigh. "Meaning in suffering," he uttered.

"Meaning in meaning," she supplied. "Doesn't have to be just suffering. Make meaning in what you can. Grow from loss. Destruction…" she thought on her bending, its nature and forms. The way it takes Earth and reshapes it by first breaking it. "Destruction can be creation, it can be a cycle…"

"And it can help you grow," Tenzin nodded. "Find the meaning within what is destroyed, so you can learn from it and grow—regardless of what was changed."

She smirked. "Look at you," she playfully shook his shoulders, "sounding like a Master Airbender already."

He smiled back as he leaned forward, embracing his mom with a hug. "Thank you, Mother."

Toph soaked in her son's loving hug and smiled. She hoped she did Aang justice there.

::::

"Oh!"

Aang shot up from his newspaper and looked toward the startled voice, surprised to see his eldest daughter in the doorway. "Ah, need something Lin?"

She awkwardly stepped back and folded her hands over each other. "U-Um, not really. I…" she cleared her throat. "I thought Mom was here."

He winced. "Ahh, well, your mother received an urgent call from work—she took Appa and left just a bit ago." Her disappointment was evident across her face, causing him to put down his paper and smile. "You need her?"

She corrected her expression as she remembered her father's presence. "O-Oh, well, just—i-it's not too important," she casually dismissed. "I-I don't want to bother you."

He raised a brow. "Lin, I was just reading the paper," he pointed at said material, "If that's not a sign of how bored I am what else is?" She giggled, making him smile in turn. His daughter's laugh was music to his ears, it might have even been his favourite thing to hear even over his own wife (though he wouldn't tell her that). "Whaddya need?" he beamed at her.

She partly frowned. "I, uh, need help with my seismic sense."

His brows raised. "Wow! You're already on that?" he excitedly asked.

Her face went red as she rubbed her puffy black hair. "W-Well, not really. I've been trying to get a handle on it on my own actually…"

"So your mother doesn't know…?"

She shook her head. "I was gonna ask for help today but…"

He was taken aback by her hestiance. "And what, not ask me? I am the Avatar you know," he teasingly reminded her, smugly smirking her way.

His daughter rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. "I know."

"And she did teach me."

"I know," she grumbled.

"So allow me to substitute as your teacher today," he proudly announced, gracefully launching himself over to her with a gentle gust of wind. "Please, lead the way my young student."

Lin frowned up at him. "Just so you know, I didn't come to you because Mom said you can't do Metalbending so I thought you couldn't do seismic sense either." She giggled as she ran down the hall, heading straight toward the courtyard.

Aang gasped, feigning hurt as he rushed after his daughter. While it was true that he never mastered Metalbending, that wasn't to say he couldn't move metal. It wasn't as pronounced or as fluid the way his wife could, but he could at the very least, make dents or reshape in some way—though the question of it being an effective way was something he hoped no one cared about. In any case, he was a bit nervous as he followed his daughter. There was an unspoken agreement between him and Toph in regards to their children's tutelage when it came to their bending. Once Tenzin showed an affinity for Airbending, the two took to their respective elements to nurture their children in their knowledge of techniques. This still held true once they learned Suyin was an Earthbender.

Though they still thought she was still a bit young, as they verbally came to the agreement that ten years old was the best time to start—especially in Earthbending lessons—they still took to their respective students. Tenzin with Aang, Lin and Suyin with Toph. He knew she put Lin through grueling work at times and ran her through some similar methods like she had done for him when he was Tenzin's age, but he had only ever expressed caution and concern in her teachings. Never once had he offered input.

Though recently he had learned Toph had helped Tenzin with a problem in his studies, Aang himself had never been able to do the same for Lin.

So while one could say he was feeling a bit competitively left out, he also knew this was his rare chance to show his daughter he was a capable teacher as well. And maybe show off a bit…

::::

"Uhh, Dad, are you sure this is the best way for me to learn?" his daughter hesitantly asked. She tugged at her blindfold uncomfortably as she pouted.

"Yes, and don't tug!" he scolded her. "It'll make it loose!"

"Mum's made Lin do tough stuff," Suyin spoke up from her seat on the banister, "but this kinda extreme Dad."

Tenzin hesitantly stuck his head out from the pillar near Suyin and nodded. "P-Perhaps we should wait until Mother returns?"

Aang frowned down at his children from the top of his makeshift ramp. Beside him, rested a large Earth boulder he had made. He tapped his hand against the rock as he shouted, "Do either of you know how to do seismic senses?"

They all, simultaneously and wordlessly, shook their heads.

He grinned at their admittance. "Well then take me at my word!" he assured them.

"But," Suyin raised her hand, "How's this supposed to help Lin learn?"

Aang straightened himself up as he began to lecture, "Seismic senses work through vibration. In order to sense what's coming you have to be open to concentration through vibration. This," he tapped the boulder again, "will roll down at you and erupt with vibrations so fierce you have to be able to sense it coming without sight. Hearing won't do much good, and in order to stop the boulder effectively, it requires a proper stance that can only be achieved through timing!

"You must time it well through sensing its distance with vibrations!" He stomped his feet demonstratively. "Quiet your senses, concentrate your feet, and plant yourself firmly. Do not think about how it sounds or what it might look like, feel its approach. You must match its speed with your stubborn stance, challenge it! Stay strong and stubborn. No matter what: you… must… not… move," he seriously urged.

He could feel his daughter's unease. To make it worse, Tenzin and Suyin chimed in.

"Dad I really don't know about—"

"I don't know if Lin can—"

"Enough!" he shouted, startling his kids. He took a deep breath and reminded himself of Toph's methods. "When rock comes at you, as an Earthbender, you need to be rock-like. There's no going around this. You have to stand your ground." He looked at Lin and sobered his voice. "Lin, I will step in the split second I know you're in danger. So trust me."

A deafening silence stirred for a few seconds.

Then, she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay Dad." She resumed her horse stance to a perfect form and waited.

He smiled. "I believe in you, Lin. On three." His daughter nodded again as he then readied himself, raising his foot up. "Three… two… one!" Aang stomped his foot, sending a small spike to tip the boulder forward ever so slightly then launched himself down with a gentle gust of wind.

He stood a few metres away from Lin, ready to intervene. The boulder came barreling down, shaking pebbles and reverberating its rapid noise but he didn't take his eyes off his daughter for a second, as he was waiting for the brief interval. That one second that could determine whether or not she was gonna stop the rock or not—the moment he'd have to intervene. With his own use of seismic sense, Aang knew how far it was. He knew its distance. He could measure it.

All it came down to was whether Lin could.

And as the boulder neared the bottom of the ramp, speeding toward her, he got his answer.

To his surprise, Lin stepped forward. She drove her fist forward with a cry and punched the boulder, shattering it into a million pieces of pebbles that scattered all around her. With a calming breath, she straightened her stance and released a sigh, smiling in satisfaction. Her siblings whooped in pride as she removed her blindfold, pumping her fist excitedly into the air.

Aang was about to begin a round of applause until Lin came sprinting toward him, embracing her father with a fierce hug. "I did it! I did it! I did it!" she repeatedly exclaimed as she nestled her head into his chest. "I-I sensed it! I felt it coming! It was sooo amazing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

Aang was pleasantly surprised to receive such open affection from Lin—as it was a rare commodity—but easily accepted her love, embracing in turn as he whispered, "It was my pleasure." He ruffled her hair and giggled. "I'm proud of you."

After a few seconds, she froze up and pulled away from her father, clearing her throat as she tugged at her shirt's collar. Since her face was a bit red, Aang deduced she was clearly embarrassed by her display of affection. It didn't help that her younger siblings teased her for being soft. She responded in kind by stomping her feet and sending a pair of spikes up at their soles, startling them with a yelp.

He laughed good naturedly at the sight before him. "You're just like your mother," he mused. She turned to him with a quizzical look. "I tell you you have two choices and you go ahead and do a third one!" he leaned down toward her and flicked her forehead. "Next time, stop it. Don't break it."

She bashfully smiled up at him, but nodded all the same.

Nonetheless, Aang was happy he was there for Lin's first successful attempt at seismic sense. He hoped Toph would be proud of his approach as well.

::::

"Hey… Mom?" Toph turned her head toward the voice, blinking her eye out of her nap. "O-Oh, were you napping?" she quietly asked.

"No, no, no," she yawned, "I was just lying down with my eyes closed, thinking about napping." She shot her daughter a smug smirk as she sat up and planted her feet. Her face quickly filled with regret as she sensed her daughter's timidness and embarrassment. "I-I was being sarcastic," she hastily added, "but it's fine!" She urged, "I don't mind. I nap at work anyways—what's up?"

Part of the downsides of having seismic sense, was sensing when something was wrong with her kids. The fact was, now that they were all teens—at least, Suyin and Tenzin were, Lin now being twenty-one—they all had their moments of desired privacy. Sometimes keeping their emotions and feelings to themselves was healthy in certain scenarios. Prodding at them unannounced or catching them off guard proved to be annoying at first and counter-productive. It was then Toph and Aang came to the conclusion that even when they could sense something amiss, they would give their children the agency to come to them about it.

This was a sort of unspoken armistice, so to say. As once they opened up about something, they were prompted as parents with a right to prod further if needed from what they sensed. The result was that Toph had to practically beat up her maternal instincts each time her children flared with anxiety or panic because they wouldn't come to her. As disheartening as it was, more often than not, they would eventually go to her husband. But she understood why. She was the bad cop (literally) and he was the good cop.

However, the Suyin before her had a familiar quaking heart of nerves that Toph usually anticipated her going to Aang with. But for some reason, she was right here, talking to her.

"I… I have something to tell you," she quietly said.

Toph's worry only increased at her daughter's voice, it was barely above a whisper. "Come," she urged her with a smile, patting the spot beside her. The fourteen year old girl didn't even skip to the couch, she just shyly sideled up beside her. Her youngest was notoriously known for being the most upbeat, the most cheerful. Zuko had once mused that in exchange for the serious and studious sides that Lin and Tenzin possessed, Suyin seemed to adopt both her and Aang's playfulness. Thus, she was the family ball of joy. But right now? She was far too reserved. "What is it, Su?"

Suyin swallowed, then took a shaky breath. She fiddled with her hands as she bounced her leg. "W-Well, it-it's not really important. I-I mean it is! Bu-But we don't have to get Dad here! It's fine with just us!" she hastily added. "N-Not that I don't want Dad here. But… it, it might be easier for me to say this without him. Again, not that I have—"

"Su," Toph sternly spoke, freezing her daughter still. She placed her hand over her daughter's, halting the way she fiddled with her fingers and effectively stopping her leg shaking. "Take a deep breath." The sound of her inhale made Toph smile. "Now breathe."

A huge amount of air emptied from her youngest's lungs. "Okay."

Toph raised a brow. "Okay?"

"Okay," Suyin nodded.

Toph gestured her open palm out toward her daughter, giving her the floor.

"So… I… this is really hard for me to say… but," she bit her lip and closed her eyes taking another quick breath. "Mom… I'm pan."

Toph cocked her head and blinked at Suyin. "What? What's that mean?"

She felt a wave of embarrassment gush over her daughter as she stammered out, "O-Oh! You don't, ah! Y-You don't know what—" she facepalmed. "Right. I mean… I'm pansexual."

Her eyes widened. "Oh." Then it clicked. "Ohhhhhhh," Toph drawled, nodding her head. "I see."

Suyin scrunched her shoulders up. "I… I hope you're okay with that?"

Toph quickly sobered her surprise, immediately realizing what Suyin was going through. "Oh!" she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around her daughter, hugging her lovingly. "Oh, Su, of course I'm okay with that. You're my daughter, who you love will never change that. In any way, shape, or form—I'll always love you." Her daughter released a heavy sigh of relief that made Toph's heart melt. "You've been keeping this to yourself for a long time, huh?"

She suddenly started sobbing as she nodded against Toph's shoulder.

"It's okay, it's okay," she shushed her, rubbing her back reassuringly, "you can breathe now."

Suyin released another shaky breath and laughed. She pulled away from her mother, smiling up at her with so much joy. "Thanks Mom."

Again, chalk it up to maternal instincts, but Toph drew her hands toward her daughter's cheeks and held them. She brushed her thumbs over her tears as she smiled at her daughter. "Now tell me: who else knows?"

Suyin took another breath, now excitedly smiling. "Linny and 'Zin know. And so does Uncle Sokka. A-A couple friends at school… ummm, I-I told Appa!"

Toph picked up on her daughter's growing hesitance and decided to jump right to it. "Does your father know?"

She froze at that, shaking her head.

It was… perplexing, how Toph felt. On the one hand, she felt proud of the fact that her youngest came to her first to share a side of herself. But on the other, she felt disappointed because she was certain this was also a result of her not being sure of her father's reaction. Toph sadly frowned at her daughter as she moved her hands down to her shoulders. "Su. Why did you tell me first? Are you that afraid of your father's reaction?"

She gulped as she looked down. "I… I don't know." Toph said nothing, allowing Suyin to fill the silence. "I… I just, I'm scared." She nervously fiddled with her fingers. "I know Dad loves me and I know how open-minded he is but…" she looked up at her mother's sightless eyes. "I-I-I hear so much about religious parents and how they don't accept anything besides heterosexuality in their places of worship and homes." She choked back a sob. "B-But I couldn't help but think he wouldn't accept me."

Toph immediately brought her daughter in with a firm hug. She shushed her as she shook her head. "So why did you tell Tenzin?"

"He's different. He's my brother… and Dad's… Dad." She sniffed. "Plus, he overheard me when I was telling Linny so she threatened him not to tell you guys," she comedically added.

Toph laughed. "Su, I know that there are a lot of religious beliefs out there that have very… demanding views. But Air Nomads?" she told her, "they're the most accepting kind you'll ever know."

She blinked. "R-Really?" she asked, wiping her eyes.

Toph nodded with a chuckle. "They were wanderers who believed in peace and love for all living things," she shook her daughter's shoulders, "Regardless of their sexuality. You father would talk my ear off about it the second he learned that Firelord Sozin outlawed same-sex relationships." She and her daughter giggled. "They were some of the most open-minded, embracing people you'd ever meet. They were so fluid about their perception of love and sexuality, if you were living with them, you wouldn't have to come out because it wasn't expected of you."

Her daughter's amazement was clearly expressed by her gasps and awe.

"Your father quickly realized how all that died off throughout our youth. The way same-sex couples were timid in their love, or how those with mixed genders had to hide their true names." She frowned. "He'd returned to a world in need of some reminders of how love and gender existed on a plane so wide and varied. He'd say, 'Love who you love, and don't hold nothing back'."

Suyin smiled. "That does sound like something he'd say."

"Ugh," Toph groaned. "Doesn't it? So cheesy."

Her daughter laughed.

"But seriously Su," she sternly stared, "your father will love you unconditionally—with his full heart, no acceptions needed. He loves each and every one of you kids." She bonked her forehead with hers and whispered to her, "So trust him."

Suyin nodded against her mother's head. "Okay Mom, I will." She leaned up and pecked her cheek. "Thanks." Turning away from the couch, she added, "For the help. And for being so cool about this."

Toph snorted. "Of course. Coolest parent here, duh."

As her youngest left the room laughing, Toph herself couldn't help the tears that welled up in her eyes. She was so proud and happy that her daughter felt comfortable telling her truth. And she could only hope she made her husband proud with her advice.

Later that evening, upon Aang's return from the council, he was ecstatic to learn of his youngest daughter's truth. He threw her up and down out of joy as he professed his fatherly love for her.

"And this is perfect too! Katara's daughter, Kya, has been looking for a date to the Glacier Spirits Festival in the Southern Water Tribe! You could go with her during your school break!"

His eagerness easily embarrassed Suyin, whilst her siblings laughed at her reluctance to be matchmade by her aunt and father. Toph, on the other hand, cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted at Suyin, "I told you so!"

Adding to the embarrassment was also part of the parental fun.

::::

Cultural Day in Republic City was a day in which citizens could express their nation's roots by donning their colours or way of fashion styles. From wherever they hailed, they were permitted to represent them—Swamp Benders had a stricter leniency for obvious reasons. It was certainly one of the most vibrant days in the most mixed city in the world, and Aang loved it. Toph expressed grievances in the past about how such a day didn't matter to her as she couldn't even see the "lovely colours" but she still acknowledged the beauty of a merge of cultures all together in one society.

Schools themselves allowed their students to celebrate too, even ones with uniforms, deeming this an appropriately educational day to benefit from. While Lin was still in the police academy, she still wore the Earth Kingdom emblem atop her uniform, pinned just above her academy badge. Tenzin, who was starting college, wore a more traditional Air Nomad wardrobe, fitting himself with a cloak as well—not too dissimilar from his usual wear, but enough to show his appreciation for the holiday.

Aang smiled at his kids as they lined up at the door, waiting in the foyer, all wearing begrudging looks as they waited.

"Dad, you're gonna make me late," Lin grumbled.

"Yes, you can take our photos when we return home, you know?" Tenzin pointed out. "We'll still be wearing them."

"Yeah Twinkle Toes," Toph teased. She was leaning up against the archway with her arms across her chest. "Let them go already."

Aang rolled his eyes as he readied his camera. "Ohh quiet all of you," he hissed. "Let a father enjoy his kids getting all dolled up." He smugly added, "Besides, this would go quicker if it wasn't for your sister."

Lin and Tenzin exchanged a look. "Su!" they shouted together at the top of their lungs, "Hurry!"

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" came her reply.

Aang leaned over at his wife and whispered, "And that is how you switch the bad guy."

"I'm so glad you're throwing our children under the bus at each other," Toph sardonically commended.

Her husband ignored her as he readied his camera, hearing his youngest daughter fast approaching.

"Sorry! Sorry!" she announced as she rushed to the door, slipping her shoes on. "I couldn't find my pin." She stood up and confusedly blinked, noticing her siblings and father's faces. "What? What's wrong? Why are you all staring at me like that?"

Toph snorted. "Sorry Su, I can't help it." She jerked her thumb at Aang, "Though I can't say much for these three if it's something I'm supposed to be 'seeing'."

Aang's jaw dropped as he looked at his youngest daughter. He had expected her to wear an Earth Kingdom gown like the last few years but… this time? She had donned on a female Air Acolyte robe. With yellow sleeves and pants with a red and orange robe that wrapped around her body, she reminded him of Yee-Li when he first founded the Air Acolytes. "You're… You're dressed as an Air Acolyte?" he softly asked.

Toph's eyes widened, now realizing why her husband was reacting the way he did.

Suyin suddenly felt self-conscious, rubbing her arm. "Y-Yeah?" she looked to Tenzin, then back at her father. "Is… Is that not okay?"

Aang shook his head rapidly. "N-No! It's fine! I just…" he took his daughter in, barely helping the smile that was growing ear-to-ear on him. "I'm just surprised."

Suyin flushed. "W-Well, 'Zin's been teaching me about Air Nomad stuff, and I've been meditating now and I guess ever since I—" she reddened a bit more, "came out, and learned about your culture I thought…" she smiled at him. "I thought I'm your daughter as well. And I wanna to represent both my parents today." She gestured up at the Earth Kingdom pin she had in her small bun, making Aang laugh.

He turned to Toph and explained their daughter's outfit in great detail, eliciting her wide grin to grow as wide as Aang's. "Well, I'll try not to take too much offence over today," she teased, "after all, you did keep a pin at least."

Aang scoffed. "Ah c'mon, since when did you care about Cultural Day!"

"Since my kids are now two-to-one Airheads. I can't have that!" she exclaimed.

Lin chuckled. "It's fine Mom. I'll make a good showing at the academy today, worthy of Su's place too."

Toph smirked as she pointed at her daughter. "You better!"

Tenzin stepped toward Suyin, adjusting her robe a bit. "You look good!"

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Alright, now let's let Father take the photo before he combusts with more emotions."

The three all laughed as they lined up beside each other. Suyin wrapped her arms around her older siblings, bringing their faces close to hers as she beamed her widest smile. Tenzin's grew to amore good natured smile while Lin fought off hers with feigned annoyance. Nonetheless, Aang snapped the photo and the three bolted out of the foyer. He laughed to himself as he looked over the photo as it printed out from the camera, slowly coming into colour.

"It looks good?"

Three kids. Two cultures. One loving family.

"It looks good."

A/N: This was EASILY the hardest day to write. Culture was a hard one in that I wasn't too sure a young Taang would benefit from a dialogue surrounding their opposing/different cultures. But I DID consider that LoK and the comics introduced a great avenue of cultural and national background that I could explore. These Taang kids are the same age difference as the last oneshot's (feel free to headcanon them in the same universe as well). I imagined an older Toph being less wisecracking about Aang's culture when lecturing to Tenzin, and Aang being a firm and hard teacher when he needs to be courtesy of Toph's lessons.

Of course the argument can be made of them being OOC, at least Toph, but I actually think an older Toph in THIS AU would be more affectionate when needed. The beef that had occurred in LoK canon wouldn't be present here with Aang as her partner, and well, I think she'd know how to play tough love well enough.

Overall, I think this was fun. It was longer than the rest, yeah, but I wanted to end the week well.

So yeah, it's the final day of Taang week! Thank you all for following through. Shoutout to taangweek on Tumblr for arranging this and giving us such lovely prompts! Those are always the hardest to come up with and really set the mood for all the creators out there, so I'm glad we had some good one's to work with! It's been a fun 7 days.

However, I did say I planned on doing 8 days! So while this eight day isn't officially part of Taang Week it is part of my collection. I mean c'mon, y'all probably noticed the rhyming couplet titles and pieced together there weren't enough days to finish the poem.

Though, since it isn't exactly part of Taang Week I will warn that it's not solely both characters in tomorrow's story. In fact, for a little puzzle here, it's just Aang, but there's still two characters.

Yeah, lil' head scratcher huh? ( ¬‿¬)

Until next time,

- Bleh