The Push and Pull

by satomobile

From the first moment Toph touched her daughter's face to the last- this story explores how Toph raised Lin, and how she came to be a mother in the first place. Tokka and Linzin down the line. The old Gaang and their offspring heavily featured.

13. Rites of Passage

Lin Beifong was thirteen when she made her first million. Well, several million, actually. It began with a letter from one Kenji Hito: Estate Lawyer. The letter was addressed to Toph and so naturally, Sokka read it to her.

"It says here that Mo's father died and this Kenji guy wants to come by and talk to Lin about his will," Sokka explained to his wife.

"Oh, wow. That's too bad. Mo's dad was a pretty solid dude," Toph mused, sipping her tea.

"You got along?" Sokka wondered, having never heard a word about this man, aside from the yearly birthday card which arrived each August with a standard fifty yuan note attached. It consistently read, "Happy Birthday, Lin. Love, Grandfather." Nothing more, nothing less.

"I didn't know him all that well. I think he's only ever seen Lin twice and that was before she was walking," Toph explained, "but we had a common enemy...so to speak."

The first time Toph had ever met Mo's father, she was exceptionally pregnant. At eight months in, Toph was quickly losing her reputation as the toughest girl in the world- often devolving into a puddle of tears when faced with a flight of stairs or anything that would cause her body temperature to rise in the already sweltering heat of summer.

For all of Mo's complaining about how overbearing his father was, Toph was surprised to find him a relatively soft-spoken man and the first person she'd encountered thus far that didn't offer her some kind of snide comment about her condition as an unmarried woman.

The three of them shared a meal and very little conversation. When Mo's father finally asked what kind of work Mo would be looking for now that he was a father-to-be, the evening imploded. Mo flew into a rage about how his father could never understand that art is a way of life, but not always a living. He stormed out in a huff and his embarrassed father instantly expressed his regret.

"I am very sorry for his behavior," he offered.

Toph laughed, "I was just about to say the same thing to you."

"Listen, Toph," he continued, "I want you to know that even though my relationship with my son is... strained, you will always have my full support. If there is anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."

"A forcible baby-ectomy would be great right about now," Toph returned lightly, poking one finger at her swollen belly.

"I meant financially," he clarified, missing her joke entirely.

"Uh...yeah. I got that."

He certainly wasn't the wittiest man she'd ever come across, but his heart was in the right place. Though Mo often portrayed his father as heartless, Toph could not forget the time he first held his grand-daughter, openly weeping when he found they had chosen to name her Lin after his late wife.

"Ohhh I wonder how much cash he's giving her," Toph wondered aloud in the present day.

Across the table Sokka scowled at her, "that's a pretty callous thought at a time like this."

It was, given the timing. Sokka's own father, Hakoda, had passed away nearly six months ago, leaving his son and daughter feeling adrift. After returning from his funeral in the south, Sokka suffered a deep period of despondency, which seemed to be gradually letting up, but Toph could tell it would never go away entirely. Many nights since then she would wake to find the space beside her empty and Sokka out in the yard, throwing his boomerang into the darkness. Of course it always came back and he caught it, but his manner was morose and searching, as if one day it would return to him with his father, alive and breathing. Only once did she interrupt this therapy of his and he laid his head on her shoulder and cried.

She removed her hand from the tea cup and slid it across the table to find her husband's, curling her fingers beneath his palm, "I'm sorry."

He was silent a moment before lifting her hand and bringing it to his lips for a soft kiss, "thank you," he whispered. He set her hand back down on the table with a sigh, "How are we going to break the news to Lin?"

Toph turned her head, "LIN!"

"What?" Lin shouted in return from the back of the house.

"Your grandfather died!" Toph announced at the top of her lungs. There was a moment of silence and then Toph heard the volume being lowered on Lin's gramophone. Her door opened and the sound of footsteps grew closer.

"What?"

Sokka leaned back in his chair with a sigh and a shake of his head. Lin entered the kitchen, confusion written across her face.

"Your dad's dad, he died, kiddo," Toph explained from her seat.

"Oh," Lin remarked, lamely. It was clear there was no real attachment on her end, but she was trying to muster some sort of grieving expression. Then her head snapped up in realization, "did you open my mail?"

Lin moved forward taking note of the opened envelopes that rest between her mother and Sokka, "letters from my dad are for me, Mother," she growled.

"This wasn't from your Dad, Lin," Sokka provided, diplomatically holding the letter out to her. She snatched the paper from his hand and scanned it quickly.

"So this guy is going to come over Saturday and talk to you, okay Squirt?" Toph explained, reaching out one hand to grip Lin's arm to offer some measure of comfort.

Lin yanked herself free instantly taking issue with the childish nickname, "does my Dad even know about this?" she asked tartly.

"How should I know?" Toph retorted in an aggravated breath.

Lin rolled her eyes and shifted her weight, obviously peeved that her mother was being so casual, "well someone should tell him...and I guess it's got to be me! Of course!"

She turned on her heel and stalked from the room, back down the hallway, and slammed her door loudly. The music went up again.

Toph turned back in her chair to Sokka and pulled a face, "Sheesh. What is with that kid lately?"

Something was indeed markedly different about Lin recently. She was far less deferential than before, she was moody, and constantly sleeping. Toph had taken to calling her "dragon baby" because of her tendency to lay about in bed unless provoked, at which point she spit fire from her mouth as steam curled from her ears.

"Do you think she's possessed?"

"You mean depressed?" Sokka asked for clarification.

"Nope," Toph quipped before taking another sip of her tea.

"I think she's a teenager," he returned with a wise nod of his head.

"I wasn't like that when I was a teenager," Toph reasoned.

"The world was a different place when we were that age," Sokka pointed out helpfully.

It certainly was. Though Lin was not fighting a global war or instructing others in the the progressive art of metal bending, she did have her own modern struggles that Toph was not privy to.

Physical appearance had never been particularly important to Toph, for obvious reasons. She went through her own teen years comparing herself to others based on talent and personal merit alone, but Lin did not have that luxury. Lin inhabited a world in which the girls in her class were all in silent competition with one another and Lin was losing big time.

Though she was pretty, she hadn't developed like many of the other girls her age. Lin was long and lean, angular and thin, with a flat chest and bony knees. When she complained about it to a friend in the locker room after gym class one day, her dauntless rival, Karuna overheard.

"You're just kind of stuck in that awkward phase," Karuna told her sweetly as if she were attempting to comfort. At the age of thirteen, Lin's nemesis had taken on an entirely new tactic of bullying which involved being overly friendly in conversation while slipping in a backhanded comment and then muttering to her friends afterward.

"Maybe once you get your period, you'll fill out!" Karuna finished with a helpful smile before turning to her sidekick, Yi, and whispering, "except, I don't think boys get periods, do they?"

The girls exited the room giggling to themselves. While Lin rolled her eyes and told her own friends that Karuna's comments were pathetic and ineffective, deep down they stung.

These snarky asides were a daily occurrence and they only worsened when try-outs for competitive bending got underway.

Each class had two teams divided by gender. When the list of accepted benders was posted the entire year eight class gathered to see which girls had made the team. Karuna's name was at the top of the list- she would be year eight's female waterbender. Lin scanned the other two names, shocked to find Yi's occupying the earthbending slot.

"Oh no," Karuna said sympathetically as she observed Lin's disappointment, "did you check this one?" she asked, pointing to the sheet beside marked "Year Eight Boy's Team" before flashing a wicked smile and disappearing into the crowd.

"I'm going to bury her one of these days," Lin growled to Tenzin as they made their way from the crowd as well.

"Don't let her get to you," Tenzin shrugged, "so she's on a competitive bending team- so what? Bending isn't about competition anyway, it's about connecting with the elements and the spiritual side of nature..."

Lin quirked one eyebrow, indicating her disinterest in his opinion.

"I'm just saying, bending isn't something you can win at anyway," he defended.

"Have you met my mother?" Lin returned.

Tenzin opened his mouth to reply, but was silenced by his older sister squealing with excitement and running their way, "Lin! Lin! Did you see?"

She hadn't yet seen the year eleven roster, but could tell from the enormity of Kya's smile that she would be filling the waterbending slot, "You made the team?" she assumed flatly as Kya approached, gripping Lin's shoulders and jumping in place.

"And so did you!" Kya yelped in excitement.

Lin's jaw dropped, "Are you kidding me?"

Year eleven was as far as a student could go in competitive bending before they were forced to pursue it outside the walls of Yu Dao Preparatory. Kya grabbed Lin's hand and ran back toward the postings, gracefully navigating the surrounding crowd to prove her claim.

Tenzin followed suit, having to stand on the tips of his toes to see Lin's name over the top of her head. Kya drew Lin into a hug, "I am so glad we are on a team together, sis!"

"I am so glad I'm on a higher ranking team than Karuna," Lin replied, voice equally joyful.

Kya's attention turned to her younger brother, "I guess this means you'll have to break down and finally attend some matches this year."

Tenzin shook his head wistfully, "I can't believe you of all people are into competitive bending," he spotted Bumi approaching and tipped his head in his brother's direction, "now Bumi on the other hand, I can understand."

"It's fun, Tenzin," Kya stressed.

While it was true that her personality type leant itself to bookish and philosophical pursuits, Kya was a firm believer that a human being ought to experience every facet of life as fully as possible and she refused to be categorized as one thing or the other. She was a free-spirit, eager to learn all she could about the world around her- and occasionally that included blasting water in some other girl's face.

"Fun?" Bumi interjected, stepping into their circle, "Tenzin is allergic to that stuff."

Tenzin scowled, but Bumi continued, "I see you are going to be with the year eleven girls. Nice work, Beifong."

Lin eyed him dubiously, "I want to say thank you, but I feel like I'm being set up for a joke."

"No joke," Bumi insisted raising his hands in innocence, "I'm really impressed and not very surprised, considering how insane your training is."

The thought of training caused Lin to yawn, remembering she had indeed been up before the sun deflecting sheets of rock, shot across the yard courtesy of her mother.

Kya was nodding in agreement, "but I still think we should start training as a team as soon as possible. Maybe we can run some drills on Saturday?"

"Can't," Lin replied, "some guy is coming to talk to me about my grandfather's will."

"What about after?" Kya followed.

Lin looked over at Tenzin and then back at his sister, unsure if she should reveal their plan to ride their bikes into the low hills just outside the city limits to find a good spot for gliding.

"It's okay," Tenzin provided, "you should probably practice."

Bumi's eyes darted between them, curiously, "Oh-ho-ho, are we breaking up a date?"

Lin and Tenzin both guffawed and stepped apart, looking horrified by the idea, "Yeah right," Lin scoffed.

Though, in the past year, their friendship had changed drastically. What once was simple, now was muddled and awkward. Tenzin and Lin had always been close, always been together, always easy in each other's company. But lately, Tenzin became nervous when left alone with her. He was holding back during their sparring sessions and his changing voice cracked twice as often when they spoke.

Lin constantly feared that this change was because Tenzin might be on to her darkest secret. Against her will, she had developed an obsession with the idea of being touched by him. It didn't matter how. Often times during the day, her mind would wander into scenarios in which he might have reason to hold her hand or gently tuck an unruly strand of hair behind her ear. Generally, she shrugged these ideas off when they came to her, but on one occasion he did reach up to wipe a smear of dirt from her cheek after a sparring session. She chastised him for touching her at the time, but replayed the moment in her mind a thousand times before bed each night that week. Little did she know, their obsession with this moment was shared. It was also the reason he gave her an easy way out of their weekend plans.

"I can probably come over after," Lin agreed finally.

"Perfect!" Kya beamed.

---

Lin wasn't the only one struggling to find time to accommodate Mr. Kenji Hito. The estate lawyer was due to arrive at Toph's home precisely at ten in the morning. Unfortunately, it was 9:45 and Toph was at least a twenty minute walk from home. She was also standing over a dead body.

The victim was one of her officers. It seemed like just yesterday Zhang had been asking to be moved from training duty to undercover work. Against her better judgement, Toph had granted his request. She couldn't recall regretting something this badly in her entire life.

"You okay, Chief?"

It was Kato. His voice was quiet and careful, as if raising it an octave would put her on the ground right beside Zhang.

"No," she replied with a shake of her head. It was a simple answer, but all she needed to say. One of her officers, one of her friends, was lying at her feet- like a bundle of fallen leaves, once vibrant with life that now curled in at the edges, browning with decay. She sensed his body there, but nothing more- none of the cogs inside were ticking away. It was as if her seismic sense had a hiccuped, missing the obvious thrumming beat of a heart.

The ground was silent.

"I'd say it's pretty clear they figured him out," Kato continued.

Toph had been briefed the moment she walked in the door. Though she couldn't see it, Zhang's body was marked with the symbol for 'traitor' in red paint.

It was in the back room of a noodle house the police had reason to believe was a waypoint in smuggling heroin. Zhang had been working undercover here as a dishwasher for the past six months, reporting regularly that they were, in fact, onto something. It appeared as if the Ah Kong gang was running drugs through here, but Zhang hadn't been able to make sense of the hints he was getting. It seemed he finally connected the dots last night and it had cost him his life.

The sound of a camera bulb snapping pulled Toph from her thoughts, "We can finish up here, Chief," Kato explained, "I know you have somewhere to be. Sorry to call you in on your day off."

Toph put up a hand to silence him, "No, it's fine. Have we sent someone to inform his family yet?"

"I'm heading over to speak with his wife after-"

"I'll go," she interrupted, "I should be the one to do it."

"If you think it's best," Kato digressed with a nod.

Dread paved a path to Zhang's home, making the fifteen minute walk feel as if it lasted a lifetime. She thought about taking Ho-Tun with her, but realized that would only add to the feeling of impending doom which unfurled before her with every step. Instead, Kato joined her- quietly preparing in his own way to console and advise Zhang's grieving family.

Toph could hear his children playing inside before reaching up to knock. The sound of his wife's shuffling feet filled her senses and the door swung open.

"Chief Beifong?" Her voice cracked when she spoke, the mere presence of Toph confirming her worst fears.

Toph swallowed, "Mitsuko, I'm afraid I have some bad news..."

It was all she had to say to turn Zhang's wife into a sobbing mess. She fell to the ground with a strangled cry and her small children instantly crowded around.

"Mom? What's wrong? Mom?"

The sound of their innocent voices made Toph's lip quiver. Her eyes stung, but she pressed on, "Mitsuko, I want you to know that he was one of the bravest men I've ever had the honor of serving alongside."

There was nothing but sobbing.

"And I promise I will not rest until whoever did this is brought to justice."

Mitsuko continued to wail from somewhere below, now chorused by her nervous children. The words she uttered were unintelligible through their shared fog of grief.

"Officer Kato will be acting as your liaison," Toph continued stoically, "he will be here for any questions you might have..."

And finally the dam burst and she had to bite her lip before croaking, "I am so sorry."

Kato pat her shoulder before leaning down to embrace Zhang's wife, "Come on. Shhh. Let's get you something to drink," he advised in a soothing whisper. Slowly, he was able to collect her, children still attached, and begin moving the family back into the house. Toph took a step to follow.

"Go on, Chief," Kato said with a small nod, "I can take it from here. Go home to your family."

It was a statement that spoke volumes of their relationship. Her officers were family in a sense, but Kato knew her thoughts were with Lin and Sokka. He was correct- the ease with which she imagined Kato standing on her very own doorstep delivering news of this sort to Sokka was alarming. She reached out, finding Mitsuko's balled fists and covered them with her own hands.

"You have my word," she told her solemnly, "please don't hesitate to call if there is anything you or your family need."

Though Mitsuko nodded, Toph perceived only silence and let go of her hands before making her way back out the door.

Having delivered the news of death to one family, she was anxious to be done with such bleak dealings for the day. Unfortunately, the estate lawyer would be awaiting her arrival- armed with a list of final wishes and tiresome logistics.

Her body and soul were drained by the time she arrived, only forty-five minutes late. She entered the house and heard the murmuring of polite conversation drifting down the hall from the dining room. The place smelled of jasmine tea and awkward formality.

She took a deep breath before braving the crowd. When she stepped into the room, looking as even as possible, the sound of tea cups being placed back onto their saucers chimed around her.

"Mrs. Beifong," greeted an unfamiliar voice she correctly identified as Kenji Hito. He stood and bowed before noting her clouded eyes and coloring slightly.

"Sorry I'm late," she apologized, finding her seat between Lin and Sokka.

"Are you okay?" Sokka whispered just as Hito waved her apology away with deference.

Toph said nothing, but heard Lin mutter under her breath, "nice of you to finally show up."

Toph resisted the urge to stick a nice, hard bar of soap in Lin's mouth and smiled weakly at the estate lawyer instead, "If you don't mind I'd like to get through this as quickly as possible."

"Certainly," he replied, pulling a leather bound case onto the table and withdrawing several papers.

He cleared his throat, "There isn't much to go over as Mr. Lapoochee's final testament expressly states that he wishes to leave the entirety of his liquid assets to his grand-daughter, Lin Beifong," he explained with a nod in Lin's direction.

"How much is that?"

Hito shifted nervously and turned the top paper around so it could be easily read- Lin's eyes bugged and Sokka's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Well?" Toph wondered aloud.

"Right," Hito recovered, "that would be on the order of sixty million yuan."

Toph nodded, apparently unfazed, "is this an immediate transfer or over time?"

"The transfer of the total sum will be due in your account within a month as you are custodian to Lin until she is a legal adult."

Toph nodded again, "Okay, so how does this contract signing work?"

"One of us will read the document aloud to you and I will act as a notary- witnessing that you gave your husband permission to sign on your behalf," Hito explained.

"Okay. Lin, you want to read it?"

Lin lifted the paper and began rattling off the legalese, pausing to make a pained expression when she reached her grandfather's full name, "Moochee Goochee LaPoochee... the Second? Seriously?"

Toph shrugged, "Your Dad is the Third. You see now why there was no argument when I wanted to give you my family name."

Lin's head shook in disbelief before continuing. When she reached the signature line, her brow furrowed, "Excuse me...Mr. Hito?"

"Yes?" Hito replied.

"What did he leave my father?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"It says here that he left me the liquid assets and he left his property to this Mui Tsai woman who worked for him..." Lin explained, "but it says nothing about what he left to his son."

"Mr. Lapoochee elected to leave your father out of his will," Hito told her, looking uncomfortable.

Lin set the paper back onto the table, "Why?"

"I am unaware of his reasoning-" Hito began before Toph cut across him.

"They didn't get along," she stated factually, "So- now do I just say that I give Sokka the right to sign for me?"

"This is ridiculous!" Lin scoffed, "Mom-"

Toph sighed, "We can talk about this later, Lin."

"No," Lin insisted, becoming more agitated with every passing second, "I mean...can I just give some of it to my Dad then?"

"It doesn't work quite like that..." Hito began and again was cut short by Toph.

"He left your Dad out for a reason, Lin."

"Well, it's a stupid reason," she argued emphatically, Toph heard her draw a breath that indicated she wasn't finished and reached a hand out to grip her arm.

"I said we will talk about it later. I'm sure Mr. Hito is eager to get on with his day."

Lin's eyes flashed violently, "I'm sure he is, but you kept him waiting here with us for over an hour!"

"Okay, Lin. That's enough," Sokka sighed.

"No!" she insisted, voice rising. "She always does this!"

Hito looked between the three of them awkwardly as Lin pulled away from her mother's grip and stood, "You're always too busy! I had to change my plans, I'm sure Sokka had something else he could be doing! But you leave and then come in an hour late and tell me to stop asking questions so that you can get on with your day? It's so selfish!"

"Selfish?" Toph asked quietly. It was the kind eerie of quiet that proceeded a particularly nasty gale and Sokka gripped the edge of the table to brace himself. "You want to know why I was late, Lin?"

"Because you only ever think about yourself-" Lin provided defiantly.

"Because one of my officers was murdered."

Lin's face fell and the room went entirely silent, "I didn't-"

"One of my officers was murdered and I had to go tell his wife and his three children, all of them less than eight years old, that they would never see him alive again," there was a pause, as Lin's guilt sank in, "so I'm sorry if you had to reschedule skipping stones or whatever you and Tenzin had planned today. And Mr. Hito- my deepest apologies for keeping you waiting. It was entirely selfish of me."

Hito looked as if he might faint and Sokka waved his hands as if to clear the entire conversation, "Okay, I think we've made Mr. Hito sufficiently uncomfortable."

Mr. Hito shook his head, gracefully pretending to be unaffected as Sokka reached over and signed the bottom of the papers, "I"m very sorry about all this," he grumbled as he handed the papers back to the estate lawyer.

"It is quite alright," he insisted kindly as he placed the papers back inside his leather case. Hito stood and bowed, "You should receive a letter upon transferring of the funds. If you don't see this letter by the end of next month, please alert me."

Sokka nodded, "Thank you."

"Ladies," Hito said with another bow.

Sokka stepped around the table, "I'll show you out."

The two men left the room, which was now filled with strained silence. Toph sat in her chair, staring forward with a blank expression as Lin remained at her side, arms folded, wet eyes threatening tears.

"Mom, I didn't realize-" Lin began, carefully.

"That's right you didn't. You never realize. You just jump in and start complaining without ever asking a single question. Who the hell do you think you are coping that attitude with me?" Toph demanded.

"You kept us waiting," Lin explained with a hint of remorse, "I was mad because I cancelled my plans-"

"Ha! What did you have to do today that was so important, Lin? Really?"

"You think nobody else's lives are important," Lin argued as a few tears slipped out, "I'm sorry we can't all be war heroes like you at thirteen."

Sokka reentered the room, finding it even more tense than when he left, "Well, I think we owe that man a formal apology."

"Oh! Because I made him so uncomfortable because I was concerned for my Dad?" Lin spat defensively.

"I didn't say it was just you," Sokka reasoned with exasperation.

"It's what you meant," she griped.

"No, no," Toph interjected sarcastically, placing one hand flat against her chest earnestly, "it was my selfishness."

Lin rolled her eyes and scoffed, though tears ran silently down her cheeks, "I guess I'll go to my room now. You don't have to go through the formality of grounding me."

"You aren't grounded," Toph announced with a patronizing shake of her head, "in fact, it would be a huge relief to get you out of the house for awhile."

Lin grunted in disbelief and held out an arm at her mother as if to display the basis of her argument to Sokka.

He followed the hurt in her eyes all the way to Toph's stoic face and sighed, "Toph..."

"No," Lin insisted, "I'll go. I don't want to be here anyway!"

She tore her jacket off the back of a chair and stormed out into the hallway, slamming the front door with such force that the pictures on the wall nearly shook right off their nails. Toph's arms crossed and she blew out an aggravated breath, setting her lips into a pout.

"Brat," she sighed.

Sokka rubbed his temples in an effort to ward off the headache that loomed, "She didn't know," he excused.

"Exactly," Toph agreed, "She needs to learn to think before she speaks."

He pulled out the chair that Lin had recently vacated and took a seat beside his wife, gathering her hand in his own. He gave it a sympathetic pat, "Who was it?"

"Zhang," she replied, letting her head dip forward and rest against the table. Sokka reached up to rub her back with his free hand.

"I'm sorry," he consoled.

"I'm giving myself one day," she told him, voice muffled, "one day to feel sorry. Starting tomorrow I'm not allowing myself another emotion until I have whoever is responsible for this behind bars."

Sokka's head tilted thoughtfully, "Yeah, that sounds perfectly healthy."

"You know what I mean," she sighed.

"Do one more thing for me before you go into Chief mode," he asked, settling his head along the table. She turned to face him, never lifting her head, "talk to Lin. Settle...whatever it is that has been going on between you two."

Toph let out an extended breath, "it's like she's trying to get under my skin."

"I think she feels the same way," Sokka replied. There was a beat of silence, "Please? For the sake of my headaches?" he urged.

"Too much meat in that head," Toph laughed, bringing up one hand to massage his scalp, "yeah okay. I'll try to talk to her."

"Ahh, thank you," Sokka sighed, closing his eyes as he melted into her hands.

The wheels on Lin's bicycle spun round, propelled by her furious feet. The city flew past, blurred by both her speed and her tears. She couldn't be sure when their relationship changed, only that it had. Her mother used to be her hero and she supposed that still held true. Perhaps that was the problem. Reality was catching up with the tall tales she heard about her famous mother growing up. Toph remained the greatest earthbender in the world, but she had flaws too- and Lin had to admit she was beginning to notice them. Worst still, she was beginning to resent them.

They weren't flaws in the traditional sense. Many people would consider these flaws some of her best traits, renaming them as words of praise such as "dedication." But, Toph's dedication to her job and her city felt suspiciously like neglect to Lin. Republic City was like an attention seeking sibling that required all of her mother's love and energy, leaving little left over.

The day Lin discovered she had made the year eleven bending team Sokka picked her up from Air Temple Island. When she told him the news, he was overjoyed- telling her it was cause for celebration. He took her out to her favorite restaurant and they talked endlessly about the upcoming season. His excitement, however genuine, was no replacement for her mother's input which she desired above all else. It would have to wait- Toph was working late as usual and didn't find out the good news until nearly midnight.

"Good job, baby girl. Same same," she said, but she said it with a yawn that seemed to take all of the enthusiasm out of her words.

Lin went to sleep that night shortly after, feeling as if anything she achieved, no matter how spectacular, would put her in the "same, same" category as her legendary mother.

All these thoughts ran through her mind as she zipped through the streets of towering skyscrapers, finally emerging along the bayside path. She sobered herself at the sight of her destination. Air Temple Island sat back from the mainland, looking majestic in the sparkling autumn sun.

She swallowed her self-pity as she turned onto the dock, tires thumping across the rickety wood all the way out to the ferry. She carried her bike onboard and sat awkwardly beside several acolytes, looking serious.

When the ferry arrived, she disembarked, pedaling up the main path and leaving the acolytes behind at the fork. As she came up to the main house, she hopped off her bicycle- letting it run directly into a heap of bikes belonging to her friends. She didn't bother knocking as she entered the Avatar's home.

"Oh, hi sweetheart," Katara greeted her from down the hallway. From the front door, Lin's line of sight ran straight into the kitchen where she spotted Katara at the table, showing Kya and their firebending teammate Rizu, how to weave traditional watertribe bracelets.

"Hi," Lin walked forward, feeling a small sting of jealousy at the sight of mother and daughter not only existing in the same space peacefully, but enjoying one another's company. Her thoughts were interrupted by Rizu blurting, "Woah, you're like, an actual kid."

Lin's eyes narrowed and her lip curled into a snarl. Though she knew of Rizu, the two had never actually spoken due mostly to their age difference. She assumed Rizu was not expecting their new teammate to be quite so young.

"A kid that could wipe the floor with you," Lin returned, unwilling to suffer anyone else's attitude today.

Looks were exchanged as Katara interjected, "Lin, honey, I think what Rizu means is that she is surprised someone your age is talented enough to make the year eleven team," she glanced at Rizu with a nod, "right?"

Rizu looked from Katara to Lin skeptically, "yeah, okay."

Kya sighed and pushed her chair out, standing, "well now that the two of you have met, how about we get some practice in?"

The three girls made their way out into the courtyard and Lin's arms remained crossed as they walked. Kya took the lead, explaining the drills they ought to run- originally at least. It soon became clear as the girls fanned out, exchanging attacks in a a small scrimmage, that the youngest one was directing the show.

"Kya - eyes forward," Lin commanded. Kya looked up, mildly surprised at the order, but stopped short of arguing because she was in fact watching her hands and not her opponents. She shot a blast of water in Lin's direction instead, but it was cut in half and slowed by the earthen disc that connected with her abdomen a moment later. Kya was thrust backward by the force of it and Rizu called out the sound of the alarm with a chuckle.

"Damn, kid," she addressed Lin as Kya collected herself from the ground, "you're ruthless."

Lin shrugged, simultaneously pleased and embarrassed by her teammates' assessment, "I'm just playing the game."

Rizu nodded, "that's for sure," she laughed, moving to take a sip of water. Kya, having regained her breath made her way to Lin, leaning in with concern.

"You okay, sis?"

"I'm fine."

"You seem a little-"

"Can we just get on with practice?"

Kya looked at the ground and then back up at Lin, "sure."

It wasn't long before the girls began attracting attention. Bumi appeared in short order, taking a seat along the sidelines to heckle them mercilessly. He booed and hissed while enjoying his lunch, laughing at his own jokes until he was silenced by a jolt from the earth below, causing him to bite his tongue.

Eventually, Aang and Tenzin ambled over, having just finished their own airbending practice. Aang stood in, one man acting as the opposing team, sparring with the girls as Tenzin sat beside Bumi.

It was moderately helpful, having the Avatar as a sparring partner, but the challenge was taken out of the situation when he kindly softened the blows or made some kind of puppet out of his elements to amuse. Their session was finally called by Kya who groaned in exhaustion when she saw a dragon shaped earth disc heading her way as her father announced, "Chomp Chomp Chomp! He's coming for you, Ky! Watch ouuuut!"

Kya blasted the offending visage with a burst of water and sighed, "Thanks Dad, but I think we're going to call it a day."

"Are you sure? I can teach you girls some airbending techniques that might make you a little quicker on your toes," he offered sweetly as the three sweaty teammates downed their cups of water with vigor.

"It's okay, Dad, but thank you," Kya replied, gasping for air as her cup was drained.

"Yeah, I think earthbending is too bulky for that," Lin agreed quietly as Tenzin and Bumi came up beside them.

"Are you kidding? You are so graceful," Tenzin blurted, looking immediately embarrassed by his outburst. Aang raised his eyebrows, opening his arm in Tenzin's direction to indicate the truth of his statement. Bumi looked as if he were suppressing a particularly determined laugh as Kya and Rizu made eyes at one another.

It was enough to turn Lin's face from red to deep purple with embarrassment. Sympathetic as she was, Kya interjected, "I think we'll just go in and get cleaned up."

"Okay, you know where to find me if you need me," Aang relented with a kind smile.

As the girls made their way back to the main house Lin swore she heard Bumi swoon, "Oh Lin, you're soooo graceful," followed swiftly by the sound of rushing air and Bumi hitting the pavement.

They made their way to Kya's room, gathering around the mirror. Rizu was quick to find numerous flaws in her appearance and commented on each of them with a scowl.

"My skin sucks," she grumbled, turning her head from side to side.

"At least yours isn't oily like mine," Kya sighed.

Between them Lin glimpsed her own reflection and frowned, falling back onto Kya's bed with a wistful sigh. If the two older and decidedly more voluptuous girls on her team felt unattractive she didn't dare consider what they might make of her tangled hair and knock-knees.

"What's wrong Lin?" Kya asked, watching her through the mirror.

"Isn't it obvious?" Rizu answered, "she's in love."

"Gross," Lin snarled, "I am not."

"Well, I think Tenzin will be sad to hear that," Rizu commented, shifting her weight as she turned to face Lin with a skeptical look.

"Hey now," Kya began, " everyone is always trying to push them together. Just because my little brother has a crush on Lin doesn't mean she's required to return his feelings." Lin's heart pounded so loud it began echoing in her skull. Briefly, she feared the others could hear it beating away as Kya finished her statement, "Don't worry, sis. I won't put you in that box."

Lin tried to swallow, but her reflex was blocked by the lump of nerves clogging her throat, "Thank you," she managed to croak after a moment. She remained lying down, attempting to appear passive and unaffected by their conversation. In reality, she felt on the verge of a panic attack as giddiness and obstinance mixed and bubbled inside her stomach.

"Well there must be somebody you've got your eye on," Rizu insisted, "you're at that age."

Lin shrugged, "It's not like that, I'm just one of the guys."

Rizu gave her a condescending laugh, eyeing her up and down critically, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you don't have the right equipment."

Lin curled her lip, "I mean boys don't really think of me that way."

It was somewhat true. The combination of Lin's rough demeanor and acerbic wit made her an intimidating target. Boys avoided flirting with her, not because she was unattractive, but because they dreaded the inevitable bruising of their delicate egos as she invariably took the upper hand with a well-placed quip.

Rizu grabbed a chair and dragged it over to Kya's bed, motioning for Lin to sit up, "you just need a little assistance."

Lin complied, though she did so with a roll of her eyes. Kya waggled her eyebrows at Lin as Rizu pulled a tube of lipstick from her pocket, carefully applying crimson to her dry lips.

Rizu pulled back to admire her handiwork, "See? That makes a world of difference," she surmised, grasping Lin's chin to turn her face in the direction of the mirror.

The image took Lin by surprise, because while her appearance went largely unchanged, she did somehow feel exponentially more attractive. There was something intriguing about the way the starkness of her red lips contrasted the paleness of her face. It was as if the lipstick were announcing the presence of this mouth, which was suddenly ready to be kissed.

Outwardly, she quirked an eyebrow, looking wholly unimpressed, "It's alright."

Rizu nodded knowingly and placed the tube in Lin's hand, "you can keep it."

"I don't need this," Lin argued weakly.

"It looks really cute on you," Kya offered with a nod.

"I insist," Rizu maintained.

Lin slipped the tube into her own pocket and stood with a sigh, "I better go. I'm already in trouble- if I miss dinner..." she trailed off and Kya nodded, realizing quickly what had been bugging Lin all along.

"Ok. Good practice- let's try to get a couple more in before our first match," Kya reminded as Lin made her way to the door.

"Sounds good," Lin replied, "nice to meet you Rizu. And thanks for the lipstick."

"No problem, kid."

Lin slipped through the door, making her way down the hall, a changed woman. Though the lipstick covered her lips only, its presence affected her entire being. She exuded confidence, standing upright and proud as her normal gait acquired the slightest swiveling of hips. She looked good, she knew it, and she had the approval of older, popular girls to back her claim.

Outside, she hopped on her bike, catching her reflection in the handlebar and giving herself a playful little pout before pedaling her way across the courtyard. Along the main path she passed Tenzin, who waved at her awkwardly. She returned his gesture with a wink which was instantly followed by the panicked realization that she had just winked at Tenzin.

Why in the world did she wink at Tenzin?

Her confidence completely drained, along with any color that once tinged the apples of her cheeks as her bike rolled onto the dock. Briefly, she considered letting it continue right off the edge and into the bay, but came around just in time to catch the ferry. The entire ride home was composed of muttered obscenities, self-chastising, and frustrated grunts. Upon arriving home, Lin dumped her bike at the door, stalked into the house past her mother and Sokka- making her way directly to her room. The door closed with a deafening slam and Lin threw herself on the bed, burying her face in the pillow to unleash an ear-splitting scream.

Toph paused, turning to Sokka, "What the..."

Sokka's eyes widened and he shrugged, leaning in close to whisper, "I think she's wearing lipstick."

"Again, I ask, what the..."

"I don't know," Sokka returned, an amused laugh on the edge of his lips, "but have fun with your talk."

Toph deflated at the thought, wondering aloud if she could put off bridging the gap between them until a more opportune moment presented itself.

Sokka shook his head, slipping one arm around her shoulders, "I'm afraid all moments are going to be like this from now on, Toph."

"I know," she spat, attempting to wriggle from his grasp, "you don't have to sound so happy about it."

He laughed again, heartily, and kissed her temple quickly before she finally broke away. Toph made her way to Lin's door tentatively, listening to the ground beneath her feet explain that Lin was indeed in bed and alarmingly quiet.

She drew a deep breath, reminding herself to stay calm and behave naturally before opening the door.

"Hey baby girl, we gotta talk," Toph announced as she breezed into the room.

Lin rolled over and scowled at the intruder, "don't you knock?"

"Not in my own house," Toph replied quickly, taking a seat at the edge of the bed.

Lin rolled her eyes, but said nothing. She noticed the small red smear her lipstick had left across the pillow and wiped at it with her thumb, giving it the whole of her attention.

"So what's going on with you lately?" Toph asked.

Lin's green eyes narrowed in disbelief, having been torn from the stain on her pillow by shock alone. The problem was asking after itself and Lin couldn't reconcile the irony. A laundry list of rebuttals ran through her mind, but eventually she settled on, "nothing."

"Insightful," Toph exhaled sarcastically. She reached out to rub her daughter's back as in days gone by, but found her hand being pushed away.

"Hey," Toph groaned, annoyed.

"I don't want you to rub my back, mother," Lin protested, petulantly.

"Well what do you want? Honestly. Please tell me, I have no idea what in the world is going on with you anymore. It's like a complete stranger has moved into my house and I have no idea who you are or what you want!"

Lin crossed her arms and sighed. Honestly, she didn't know what she wanted either. Short of the ability to go back in time and stop herself winking at Tenzin, of course. At her core, she simply wanted to be accepted for herself and not held up to her mother for comparison. She wanted her own life, she wanted respect, and she wanted her mother to understand all this without being told.

She looked up into her mother's vacant eyes, coming to terms with the fact that Toph would never just read her expression and understand without a word. She would have to talk, but it wasn't going to be easy.

"I guess," Lin began quietly, picking at a loose thread on her pillowcase, "I guess I just wish you were around more."

Toph nodded, "I wish that too, kiddo. I really do. But you have to understand I have a responsibility to my officers. Especially at a time like this when one of our friends has been killed-"

"I didn't know that, okay?" Lin interrupted with exasperation.

"I know you didn't," Toph replied.

"Why don't you just quit. You can have my money," Lin countered, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It was the wrong thing to say.

Toph stiffened, instantly triggered by the assumption that money solved all the problems in the world. It was a credo she grew up with, but one she quickly grew out of. The burden of wealth was a good burden to have, but Toph found it to be a burden none the less.

"Let me make something perfectly clear to you, Lin," she began sharply, "you are not your money. The number of yuan you have in the bank in no way reflects your worth, understood?"

"Mom, it was a joke," Lin snapped, immediately regretting her words. It was this type of misunderstanding that drove their wedge deeper everyday.

"Yeah, well, you need to work on your routine, kid," Toph returned instantly.

They both went quiet then, making every effort to hold their tongues. The silence lingered and Toph finally broke it by letting out a breath and standing, "Listen, this attitude or whatever it is ain't working for me, okay? We need to be on the same page. I promise I'm going to ease off you a little, alright?"

Lin nodded, "I'm sorry about your officer."

"Yeah, me too," Toph agreed wistfully, reflecting on the task ahead for a moment before remembering where she was. She smiled a bit, changing the subject, "Sokka said you were wearing lipstick?"

Lin cringed and covered her face, though her mother couldn't see her anyway, "Rizu put it on me!"

"Who is Rizu?"

"She's the firebender on my team," Lin explained, bringing her hands away from her face finally. Toph's eyebrows went up, suddenly remembering that Lin was in fact on a competitive bending team.

"Oh right," she covered, "when is your first match? I'll have to make sure to take that night off."

"Friday," Lin replied.

"Friday it is then," Toph nodded, making her way to the door. Her hand reached out, grabbing Lin's worn out old plush badgermole from her desk and tossing it in her direction playfully, "and get that lipstick off your face, you're a kid."

"I'm thirteen," Lin shouted with a small laugh, catching the badgermole just as it made contact with the side of her head. She launched it back in Toph's direction, missing her by a hair.

"Exactly," Toph returned, "now come out here and have some dinner."

The following week was a blur for both Lin and her mother. Lin was sure she hadn't done anything aside from practice her bending and attend classes. It was a solid routine that left no space for sleep or socializing. Luckily, their team of three bonded quickly in spite of the age difference. A new social circle was formed and at the epicenter was the womanly tutelage of Rizu. Each practice came with a new lesson in femininity; make-up, clothing, or hair maintenance were the subjects Lin would pretend to be bored by, while quietly soaking it in like a sponge. Kya took pleasure in the development of this mentorship- it was something she felt Lin had been lacking and it was plain to see Rizu took great pride in sharing the secrets of womanhood with her clueless young teammate. It was the oddest thing- though she was sleep deprived and worn, Lin began looking a little more attractive with every passing day.

The same could not be said for her mother, a natural beauty, who suffered greatly at the hands of exhaustion. Toph was not sleeping much either and had very little use for any make-up that might disguise the dark circles beneath her clouded eyes. It was all the same to her, however, and she had very little idea how tired she appeared because her husband was constant support. Though she saw him for only a minute or two before falling asleep each night, he assured her that she was just beautiful as the day before this one, and the day before that.

He did worry about the hours she was keeping, throwing herself selflessly into the investigation of Zhang's murder. He mentioned his concern to her, late at night in bed, but was met with the incoherent mumblings of a marginally conscious, indignant police chief in response. The longest they saw one another all week was Wednesday evening at Zhang's funeral. Toph stood stoically at the side of his casket, unwavering in her dedication even through her fatigue. Beside her stood Sokka, unwavering in his.

All of her hard work paid off in spades within the week. It was late afternoon on Friday when they brought in Zhang's murderer. Chong Mun came through the doors of Police Headquarters kicking and screaming that they would pay. It was the kind of thing that got Toph's blood pumping- a good old fashioned threat, shouted by a man; bound and impotent.

"You got a pretty loud bark for a guy that can't even scratch his own balls," Toph reminded him snidely, nodding that the metal cables that restrained his hands.

"I am in charge of more than a thousand arms," he told her with a snarl, "and every one of them will be out for your neck you blind bitch!"

Toph threw her head back in a laugh and stomped the ground once- causing him to sink into the stone flooring of the interrogation room. His body entirely submerged, she made her way to him, resting one metal encased foot on the crown of his head, bending it back slightly. Kato and Ho-Tun stood by, neither making the slightest move to stop her. The truth of it was, they all wanted to see this man pay in the most brutal way possible.

"You killed my friend," she told him in a low voice.

"I'll kill you too," he insisted, even in his compromised position.

Toph sighed, turning his head with the side of her foot, "I could kill you right now."

"Then do it," Chong Mun insisted bitterly.

Her foot slid down his face, slamming onto the ground again- popping him back to the surface, "Nah," she decided, "like I always tell my kid, 'I want you to think about what you've done.' Lock him up."

Kato nodded, lifting Chong Mun's uncooperative body from the ground by his cuffs. He dragged the man out, leaving Toph and her second in command alone.

"Get Mitsuko on the line for me, will you?" she asked, feeling the full weight of an entire week's worth of sleepless nights settle inside her chest.

The first phone call she made was bittersweet- Mitsuko sobbed on the other end of the line, thanking Toph in gasps of breath. It was with a melancholy smile that she ended the call with Zhang's widow.

Her second phone call began on a much more satisfying note.

"Councilman Sokka's office," greeted the chipper voice of her husband's secretary, Thuy.

"Hi Thuy- is my ball and chain available?"

There was a small laugh, "He certainly is, Chief Beifong. Can you hold?"

"No problem."

The line was silent a moment and then suddenly, in a low voice, "what are you wearing?"

"About six days worth of stale coffee and one very thick layer sweat," Toph replied, adopting her sultriest tone.

"Ooh, dirty," came Sokka's voice, "tell me more- but make it quick- my wife could be listening in."

"Oh no she isn't. She's far to busy at work," Toph returned, using her normal voice again.

"Oh?"

"We got the guy," she explained, letting her body relax.

"Zhang's guy?"

"Yep."

"That was quick!" Sokka replied, brightly.

"Yeah," Toph conceded, "would have been better if we'd picked him up a couple weeks ago."

There was a sigh on the opposite end, "Baby..."

"Yeah I know," Toph grumbled as she fiddled with the cord in her hands, "I did what I could."

"And you should be proud," Sokka continued, "that scumbag can't ruin anymore families because of you, okay? That is cause for celebration. We can celebrate your victory tonight over dinner."

"Can't," Toph supplied, "the logistics of this will have me here at least until midnight."

There was a pause, "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Toph bit her lip, deep in thought, "Apparently," she conceded finally.

"Lin's bending match."

"Well, shit..." she groaned. She had entirely forgotten the promise she made and was sure that even if most of her work could be put off, the press conference at 8 o'clock could not.

"It's the first one of the season. She's going to have at least ten more, right?" Toph reasoned desperately.

"Just try to get there, will you?"

"I'll try," Toph agreed, knowing already it was a hollow sentiment.

---

"I knew she wasn't going to show," Lin mumbled, adjusting the strap of the gym bag along her shoulder. She and Sokka pushed through the doors of the gym and a small cloud of disappointment hung over them as they entered.

"Your Mom has a lot going on right now, at a very consuming job," Sokka reasoned sympathetically.

"Then maybe she should have thought about that before she had a kid," Lin returned as they walked toward the locker rooms. She looked up at Sokka, "and left you to raise it."

Sokka smiled, reaching out to tousle her hair, "I don't mind."

Lin ducked away, attempting a scowl that dissolved into a laugh. She nearly tripped over her own feet in the act and they both roared with laughter at her clumsiness.

"Oooh Beifong, you're sooo graceful," came a patronizing voice from behind. Lin and Sokka turned to see Bumi and his entire family approaching. Kya gave him a playful shove and moved ahead of the group, "Don't jinx her Bumi, we need her!"

Lin met Tenzin's eyes for an instant, both keenly aware of the source of Bumi's comment. Before her eyes had to find somewhere to settle, Aang rescued the moment by wishing both girls luck, "don't worry about winning! Just have fun."

Katara followed, "and make sure you have all your gear on. Kya? Did you remember your helmet, honey?"

"Right here, Mom," Kya confirmed, patting her bag.

"Alright, we'll see you girls out on the floor," she finished and Bumi came around to clasp Sokka's shoulder.

"Uncle Sokka, you want to split some fire flakes?"

"Pffft, split?" Sokka returned, incredulous.

They made their way off to the stands, leaving the girls to follow the path into the locker room. Lin waited for Kya to comment on Tenzin's presence and was grateful when it never happened. Past the double doors into the locker rooms was a long corridor, separating the boys and girls sides with entrance to the arena at the far end. Once inside they spotted Rizu, leaning against the wall, talking with a tall young man in a green bending uniform.

"Hey ladies," Rizu called, spotting them over his shoulder, "Ryuu- you already know Kya and this is our little mascot, Lin."

Just as Lin prepared to correct her teammate, Ryuu turned and she froze- caught in the blinding light of his perfection.

Lin was sure she had only seen men that looked like this on railway advertisements for tooth powder. His eyes were sparkling, but sensitive- his jawline chiseled, but friendly. She stared at him, mouth agape before catching herself as a puddle of saliva nearly spilled from the corner of her mouth.

He nodded by way of greeting, strong and silent- only adding to his mystery. The moment passed, but Lin was stuck there as he moved to pass the girls in the hall. He was three full strides away when she finally uttered, "hey," dumbly.

He didn't hear her and she decided, snapping out of her hypnosis, that she was thankful for this. Rizu looked from her face to Kya and the older girls giggled, "Yeah he's not all that bad to look at, " Rizu agreed.

"But not much of a conversationalist I'm afraid," Kya provided.

"True."

They continued into the locker room, changing into their gear quickly and stepping out onto the platform. As they waited for the alarm to sound, Lin scanned the crowd, spotting Ryuu posed to watch their match, but somehow still managing to appear aloof. She glanced to the side and noticed Tenzin reading a book. Her eyes rolled just as the alarm sounded and the girls sprang into action.

It was a quick match.

Lin got in the first few hits, gaining territory for Yu Dao. The small crowd gasped when she managed to dodge an earth disc only an inch from her head, spin herself around and redirect it to knock her counterpart clear off the platform.

"That's my kid!" she heard Sokka's voice proudly declare, "take 'em to the graveyard, Bones!"

But it was Rizu who came through in the end, burning the opposing team out in rapid succession, her ferocity catching both Kya and Lin by surprise. The alarm sounded and the girls made their way from the platform, dry as a bone.

Sokka was waiting on the sidelines to hug Lin and his niece. He grabbed the sides of Lin's helmet to butt his forehead against hers, "Boom! That's how its done!"

Lin laughed, removing her helmet to reveal a mess of hair that was alternately frizzy and sweat soaked, "what can I say?"

It was then that she noticed Ryuu approaching Rizu. Lin swallowed, feeling a pang of jealousy toward her teammate, keeping the pair in the periphery of her vision as they talked.

Tenzin arrived, blocking her view. She blew a strand of hair from her face, frustrated.

"Good job," he commended.

Lin scowled, "You didn't even watch." She shifted her weight, attempting to look casually past his shoulder.

"What?"

"I saw you reading," she explained in a dismissive breath. Her eyes darted back to Ryuu and Tenzin followed her line of sight, looking over his shoulder and then back to Lin.

"What are you looking at?"

"You," she snapped, before miming the opening and closing of a book, "See- I'm not even reading," she pointed out, caustically.

"What is your problem?" he returned, hotly.

"My best friend brought a book my first match," she answered instantly.

Tenzin's face twisted, caught between anger and hurt. He let go of a sigh, and his eyes shifted nervously, "I don't even like competitive bending," he explained timidly. The insinuation was of course, that he came to this match for the one thing he did like- Lin. His roundabout confession was lost on her and she scoffed instead of softened, "then maybe you shouldn't have come."

Tenzin's face reddened, "I certainly won't again."

"Fine with me," Lin shrugged casually.

"Good," Tenzin agreed defiantly.

Unaware of what she was walking into, Rizu leaned in between them, "Nice work, Beifong."

She smiled as Ryuu stood just behind her, waiting. It was then that Lin felt Sokka's heavy arm on her shoulder, "Yeah, she gets that from her Mama," Sokka agreed, reaching up to tousle her hair again, "right, Bones?"

Lin's stomach sank, mortified by the use of her nickname in front of Ryuu. A bony child was not the image she was attempting to project and the patronizing pat on the head wasn't helping her case much either. She let out a nervous chuckle of agreement, "I guess."

"Alright- we'll see you later," Rizu nodded, calling over her shoulder, "bye Kya!"

Tenzin used their departure to remove himself from their small circle just as Sokka launched into a list of praises and narrated replays. He was mid-sentence when Lin interrupted him, with pleading eyes, "Sokka?"

"Yeah?" he paused, arms posed to gesticulate his excitement further.

"Could you not call me Bones?"

His arms dropped, brow furrowing in concern as he studied her face. Finally he sighed and a knowing smile played on his lips, "Too old, huh?"

Lin shrugged, "yeah, a little."

He nodded, straightening the lapels of his jacket and reaching up to stroke his chin in mock sophistication, "As you wish, Ms. Beifong," he spoke dryly, bowing.

She knocked her shoulder against him with a laugh, "shut-up."

"My word," Sokka returned, "such language."

She laughed again as they began walking, following the whole crowd out the doors of the gym. Their entire group dined together that night to celebrate the first victory of the season, but the cheerful atmosphere fell flat for Lin, who was too busy stewing about her mother's absence and working herself into a worse mood by obsessing over her argument with Tenzin. They sat on opposite sides of the table, causing Aang's eyebrows to raise, but not a word was said.

When they finally arrived home for the evening, there was no evidence of Toph- still stuck at work. Lin kicked her shoes off, took a bath, and decided she would go directly to bed. It had been an exhausting day after all and she wasn't much in the mood to socialize on this particular Friday. Her temperament was too unpredictable, swinging wildly from from one emotion to the next so that in the end she decided unconsciousness was a far more agreeable alternative to human company.

"Going to bed already?" Sokka wondered, raising his eyebrows at Lin's nightwear, "you don't want to stay up and wait for your Mom? Tell her all about your first match?"

Lin scowled, offended by the notion, "Not even a little bit."

"Wow, okay. Yeah, you need some sleep," Sokka agreed, widening his eyes light-heartedly at her reaction, "Goodnight, Bon- I mean, Madame."

Lin rolled her eyes before making her way to her room and passing out almost as soon as her head met the pillow.

Sokka remained awake however, stealing glances at the phone while reviewing several plans for urban expansion. His eyes scanned the scrolls carefully, making notes to himself in the margins until his vision began to blur and his head pounded. He too made his way to bed, carrying a few scrolls under his arm. It wasn't long before he began to drift into sleep as he read.

He woke with a start, having heard what sounded like someone bumping their kitchen table. Wiping his eyes he looked around, "Toph?"

There was no reply, no spool of metal cable along her side of the bed to indicate she had arrived home at some point as he slept. He sat up, considering there was also no way in the world Toph would have ran into a table in their house of stone flooring. He stood, making his way quietly to the door. He poked his head into the darkened hallway and noticed Lin's door ajar.

It was then that his stomach sank and a chill worked its way up his spine, waking him fully.

Something was not right.

Lin never slept with her door open. Quietly, he unsheathed the sword that hung along the wall of his bedroom.

He crept down the hall slowly, heart pounding, praying silently that Lin had just been sleepwalking. Swallowing once, Sokka threw her door open- hitting the lights which illuminated the room.

A grown man stood over her sleeping form and Sokka's entire body was electrified with a ferocity he had never before experienced. He raised his sword, sure he would take this man's life. The man saw him too, and as soon as Sokka moved forward, the man's foot stomped the ground and the floor came up to greet him. It knocked Sokka back slightly and then closed him off, shunting him back into the hallway.

"Lin!" Sokka cried, slamming himself uselessly against the stone wall created by the earthbending intruder. The sounds on the other side were muffled but there was a sudden commotion and Sokka sprinted away down the hall, out the front door, and around to Lin's window.

He could see nothing but dust inside and he wasted no time, breaking the window and climbing in, cutting himself along the way. The adrenaline coursing throughout his body made it so that he hardly noticed and the sword he held slipped from his bleeding hand. It didn't matter, Sokka knew he could take this man down with his bare hands if need be.

He moved forward into the blinding cloud of dust just in time to see the man's body sailing past him, hitting the far wall. He was momentarily disoriented by this and Sokka took the opportunity to keep him down by sending a tremendous right hook in the direction of his chin. It connected with a deafening crack and the man was down again. Sokka's arm drew back, ready to send another blow his way when the legs of Lin's desk chair sailed past him, fastening themselves around the man's wrists and locking into the wall. A third piece of metal that looked as if it had once been part of the rack in Lin's closet flew by, collaring the man's neck so that he was held firmly in place.

He pushed forward against the metal bindings. Sokka saw a crack climb up the wall at his left wrist and immediately reached for his sword, turning it around and delivering one hard blow to the man's head with the blunt end. That finally knocked him out and Sokka took a breath as the dust settled.

He turned to find Lin, standing a few feet behind him, covered in dust and shaking like a leaf. He covered the space between them in one swift motion, gathering her to his chest and kissing the top of her head frantically.

"You okay? Did he hurt you?" Sokka asked, panicked. He pushed her back to see her face, taking it in his hands and turning it from side to side just to be sure.

"He didn't touch me," Lin replied in an uneven voice. She pulled her face away from his grip, smearing the blood from his wounds on her cheek, "Sokka, your hands are bleeding."

"I know, they're fine," he returned quickly, pulling her to him again, letting out a sigh of relief, "I love you, Lin."

"I love you too, Sokka," she told him, face pressed into his chest. She was crying before long and Sokka held her as she did. When she took a breath, he broke way, pulling her by the hand from her bedroom, leaving the intruder behind.

He went directly to the phone, "Operator? I need the police."

It was only ten minutes before their house was lit up as if it were daytime by the police airships, shining spotlights down upon them. Two metal cables shot out from the exit bay, carrying Toph to her destination. She hit the ground running, finding Sokka at the door and throwing her arms around him.

"I can't believe I wasn't here," she told him breathless, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine. We're fine," Sokka assured her.

"Where is she?" Toph asked quickly, breaking away.

"In the kitchen."

Toph made her way through the house on feet infused with quicksilver, rushing to touch her daughter, to feel the beating of her heart, to brush motherly fingers along her cheek, to hold the proof of her continued existence in her shaking arms.

Lin was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of green tea in her hands when Toph approached.

"Come here, baby girl," Toph sighed reaching out to touch Lin's face only to have her hand slapped away.

"Don't touch me," Lin snarled, pushing her chair out to stand. The rest of Toph's officers were passing in the doorway to retrieve the man in Lin's room. They respectfully kept their eyes forward as they moved through the house.

"Lin..." Toph sighed, stepping forward and reaching out to her again.

"No," Lin spat, backing away, "don't come in here acting like you care when the only way to get your attention is to call the emergency hotline!"

Toph stood before her, dumbfounded. She was not angry, there was no room for it beside her guilt, but she was speechless- unable to contradict her daughter on most of her accusation.

"Of course I care," Toph replied softly.

"You only care about your stupid job," Lin barked, crossing her arms.

Kato poked his head in, tentatively, "Chief?"

There was no immediate response. Toph was aware that any acknowledgement of her co-worker in this moment would be interpreted as her choosing the force over her family.

"Yes?" she asked, finally. Lin's shoulders sloped.

"Apparently this guy is Ah Kong. Orders came from Chong Mun."

Toph's blood boiled, "take him up to the airship."

Kato nodded.

The girls stood silently across from one another, tension twice as high as Toph ever thought possible. She didn't know what to say to make it better. There was no denying the modicum of truth in Lin's claim. Toph did care about her job, deeply. Her dedication only intensified in recent days, single-minded in her pursuit of Zhang's killer. Now, her family was suffering the consequences.

"Are you taking her statement, Chief?" Officer Chen asked, poking his head in and shattering their tangible silence.

Toph swallowed, "No, I'd like for you to do that, Chen."

Lin relaxed slightly, leaning back against the counter. Chen entered the room and pulled a chair away from the table, "Do you mind if we speak in here, Lin?"

"No," Lin told him, taking the seat across from him.

Toph lingered only a moment, realizing her presence was hindering the conversation. She departed, finding Sokka in the hallway.

When the logistics were squared away and the airship was ready to depart, Toph found herself wanting more than anything to be onboard, grilling this man who had violated her home, daring to attack her baby. On Sokka's advice, she declined to accompany them back to headquarters, deciding instead to follow up with Lin's attacker in the morning after some much needed rest.

Lin's room looked as if a natural disaster had torn through, so for tonight she relocated to their guest room, slamming the door in Toph's face when she asked, "Are you sure you want to be alone right now?"

The house was quiet and the gravel created by Lin's battle ground under Toph's feet as she finally walked the hall to her bedroom. She bent her uniform away, ready to collapse but found Sokka had drawn a bath for her instead.

The warm water did little to ease her tensed muscles and she pulled her robe on, feeling the weight of it as if it were her metal armor. She made her way to bed, finding Sokka fully awake, waiting patiently with bandaged hands. He pat the space beside him on the bed and she heard it, crawling in with a sigh.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

"Aren't you the one that got into a fight?"

Sokka shrugged, "you should see the other guy."

"Har, har," Toph deadpanned, pulling the blankets up to her chin.

Sokka rolled over, resting one arm across her abdomen, "talk to me."

Toph rolled onto her side to face him and a few tears spilled out of her eyes silently, "I'm glad you were here."

Sokka smiled, reaching out to brush the hair that fell in her face away to see her better, "To be honest, I don't think she needed me at all. That guy was pretty well taken care of by the time I got in there."

Toph smiled lightly and another tear made its way from here eye to her pillow, "baby girl," she mused affectionately, "putting the hurt in the dirt since 120 ASC."

Sokka nodded, leaning forward to kiss Toph's forehead and she spoke again, "you know- I'm not even upset that she's so angry with me. I'm just glad she's alive."

"It will pass, she's just shaken up," Sokka offered.

"Yeah," Toph agreed quietly, "I hope it does. I don't know what happened. She used to be like my little buddy. Always stuck to my side. I miss that kid."

"She's not a kid anymore," Sokka reminded her. Toph sighed, laughing a little as she rolled onto her back and wiped her eyes, "Spirits help us all."

They fell asleep shortly after and Toph was woken by the alarm not long after that. She bent her uniform back on and prepared for another day of work, but before she left she popped into the guest room to sit on the edge of the bed. She rested one hand on Lin's back, feeling gentle rise and fall of her breathing. She was reminded of the days when she would sit beside her crib, doing this same thing with one worried hand just to assure herself this little creature was alive. After awhile she leaned forward, pressing her lips to the crown of Lin's head carefully so as not to wake her. She shed a tear then at the realization that moments like these were fleeting and would probably only occur as Lin slept from this point forward. She let go of a melancholy sigh and stood, making her way to the door for another day of work.

---

Lin twisted and stretched in bed, it was nearly 9am and she was prepared to spend the entire day here. A light rain bounced off the windows of the guest room she occupied and she wondered idly if it was getting in her bedroom through the broken window across the hall. The thought of her waterlogged desktop didn't do much to stir her and she yawned and stretched again, gathering the blankets around her and sighing contentedly. Then, she cursed her bladder. She may want to spend all day in bed, but her body had other ideas. With a groan she rose, padding to the bathroom lazily.

It was here, that she discovered she was no longer a kid at all. She cursed under her breath as she examined the blood in her underwear. Lin groaned and scoured the bathroom cupboards for something that might prove useful. She came up empty handed and sighed, knowing her only course of action was to ask for help.

Emerging from the bathroom, she headed down the hallway to find Sokka, cleaning up her disheveled room.

"Morning," he greeted solemnly.

Lin leaned against the wall, unsure how to proceed. It wasn't a comfortable subject for her and she assumed that he might feel the same.

"Morning," she returned.

"You hungry?"

She shook her head and he looked up at her again, noticing something wasn't quite right, "Are you ok, Lin?"

She shrugged and looked about awkwardly, "I'm bleeding."

"What? Where?" he questioned, concerned. Lin's eyes widened a bit moved up and down to indicate what she'd rather not verbalize. Finally she said, "not from last night."

"Oh!" he gulped nervously, "Uh... well you know what to do about that?"

"Not really," she replied. His shoulders sloped in disappointment, "Of course you don't," he mumbled to himself as he stood.

"Let's go see what your Mom has," he offered walking toward the bathroom.

"There is nothing, I already checked," she told him. His eyes closed slowly and he exhaled in defeat.

"Of course there isn't" he grumbled. He opened his lids again and looked at her seriously, "Lin, I'm going to level with you here. I have no idea what to do except wait for your Mom or take you to Katara. Literally no idea," he repeated with a hand on her shoulder.

Lin groaned, "I can't wait around for my Mom, Sokka."

"To Air Temple Island we go then," Sokka announced.

It was an overcast day and the rain drizzled lightly upon them as they made their way to the Avatar's home. It was one of those days in which the island embodied the image of a proper air temple, shrouded in majestic-looking fog, solitary in the middle of the bay. Lin leaned against the rail of the ferry boat stuck between feeling dread and relief. This would all be settled shortly, but the price was having to talk about it with Katara. Sokka called ahead to tell her they were coming and Lin groaned inwardly when she heard Katara's voice on the other end of the line sounding rather excited for Lin's recent development. Her tone changed when Sokka explained what had transpired the night before. "I don't think she wants to talk about it," he warned his sister in a low voice, thinking Lin could not hear. She did though, and he was right.

Katara was waiting in the courtyard when they arrived, arms opened toward Lin with a smile across her face.

"All grown up," she said when she saw her and Lin scowled. "Oh don't pout," Katara instructed, pulling her into a hug, "you are becoming a woman! It's a celebration."

Her hug was a little tighter than usual, but Lin was grateful she didn't mention the break in. She wasn't ready to talk about it. Katara led them into the main house where they left Sokka in the living room.

Katara and Kya took Lin into the bathroom and explained various contraptions that would catch or block her blood in different ways and left her to choose which she felt comfortable with. When she exited the bathroom, both women were standing there eagerly awaiting her with their hands clasped before them.

"How did it go?" Kya asked.

"Fine I guess," Lin replied, looking between them.

"Ok, let me show you some home remedies for cramping you can use," Katara smiled grasping her hand and leading her into the kitchen. There she pulled several herbs from the cabinet and explained the healing power of each, how to mix them, and when to ingest them. Bumi was regrettably in the kitchen at the time, smirking at Lin as she was schooled in the ways of womanhood. Tenzin entered just as they finished, raising his eyebrows at her presence.

"Hi, Lin," he greeted her awkwardly.

"Hey," she responded, quickly placing the small box of herbs out of his view.

"What are you guys doing in here?" He asked, looking at the group of girls huddled around the medicinal cabinet conspicuously. He moved to pour himself a cup of tea, careful to avoid getting too close to them.

"Just getting Lin something for her upset stomach," Katara answered him ambiguously and Lin was relieved that her enthusiasm for menstruation didn't extend to telling her son the happy news.

Bumi snorted from where he sat at the table, "Beifong is riding the crimson wave," he corrected.

All three women narrowed their eyes at him as Tenzin choked nervously on the tea he sipped. He coughed for a moment and Katara moved to pat his back, which at least gave Lin something to laugh about.

"That is enough Bumi," she reprimanded from beside Tenzin as Sokka appeared in the doorway.

"Are you two staying for lunch?" Katara asked, just as Tenzin moved away from her grip attempting in vain to control his coughing.

Sokka looked to Lin, who shrugged.

"No, I think we're going to head back. Thanks though," Sokka provided, well versed in reading Lin's non-verbal cues by now. She didn't want appear ungrateful, but he could tell she wanted to get home. It was only a matter of time before the story about her attack came out and she wasn't in the mood to be fussed over and questioned, however well-intentioned.

Katara nodded, looking between them with understanding, "Okay. Lin- you call me if you need anything, okay sweetheart?"

"Yeah," Lin agreed, lifting the small bag Katara had put together for her from the table and making her way to Sokka.

When they arrived back at the house, the clean-up began. Lin was shaking the gravel from her bedsheets when Sokka disappeared into the hallway, only to return with his boomerang in hand. He was staring at it as it rested in the palm of his hand, so intently she thought he might burn a hole through the middle.

After a moment he looked up at her, "Listen, can we talk?"

Lin nodded, sitting down on the edge of her dusty bed. Sokka came to sit beside her, holding the boomerang before them.

"I was just a kid when my Dad left my village to fight the Fire Nation," he began, "and before he left he gave me this. He told me that it would always come back to protect me, just like he would."

Lin studied the boomerang in his hand, nodding silently.

"He made it. This isn't the original, actually. I lost the original one during the war, but I did it to save your Mom's life so I'd say that's a fair trade," he smiled, reminiscing.

"Anyway," he continued, "he made this one too. What I'm trying to say is... he's not coming back anymore."

He paused and Lin saw his eyes fill with moisture and her eyes responded in kind, unable to handle the idea of watching Sokka cry.

He held his tears at bay and pressed on, "So, I wanted to give this to you now so that you know no matter what happens I'll always come back to protect you."

He passed the boomerang to her and she paused, unsure whether or not to accept something he was so clearly attached to, "Sokka..."

"Go ahead. It's a coming of age thing- like ice dodging in my culture. I know we don't have a boat readily available, but I'd say you've earned your stripes in the last day or so."

He handed the boomerang to her and she accepted with a soft smile before he reached out to grab the tube of lipstick that had fallen from her nightstand to the floor. He opened the cap with a smile and drew a half crescent on her forehead, "the mark of the brave," he said with a loving grin.

Lin laughed before leaning over to hug him.

"You know, I think it looks better on you this way," he offered, hugging her tightly.

"Thanks, Sokka."

He smiled, pulling back, "About that- you know- you don't have to, but you can call me Dad if you like."

Lin smiled, nodding again- eyes focused on the boomerang in her hands. She stood and made her way to her dresser, sliding her palm along the wall above and pulling the stone in the wall out to create two small pegs. She hung the boomerang there and smiled, "how does it look?"

"Ceremonial."

Lin smiled again, turning back to him, "thank you, Sokka."

"Of course, kiddo," he paused, "nope. Forget I said that. You are a woman now, so...Ms. Beifong- would you mind helping me sweep this gravel?"

He held one hand out to display the floor and Lin nodded, "of course."

They worked together through the remainder of the day, restoring Lin's room to its former glory. Every now and again, Lin would catch him sentimentally gazing at either her or the boomerang. It was ceremonial, marking a change in her life that she felt incredibly lucky to be sharing with someone like Sokka.

She placed the final touches on her room, moving her bed back into place with a sigh.

"See? Just like before," Sokka commented, taking in the recovered space.

Lin nodded, though she knew that from now on nothing would ever quite be 'just like it was before.'