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.

14. The Terrible Teens

Author's Note: I apologize for the long time between updates. Thank you for being patient! I'm hoping I won't have another quite this long. Please enjoy the chapter- let me know what you think in the review box! And please don't worry- this story is far from over. I've got at minimum six more chapters planned. Enjoy!

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The wooden dial clicked one space over and the buzz sounded from Toph's bedside clock. The little bell bounced about frantically, banging to and fro against its metal neighbors as Toph stretched and threw her legs over the edge of the bed. Beside her, Sokka grumbled and rolled over, pulling a pillow around his ears like a protective helmet.

"It's not for you, Snoozles," she reminded him with a yawn just as she slammed one hand down on the clock, stilling it. With a final roll of her neck, she rose from the bed and lumbered down the hallway to her daughter's bedroom as she always did at four in the morning.

Her hand met the knob and gave it a twist, finding it stuck. She turned it again, getting halfway around when it refused to budge further. She grunted at the stubborn knob and elected instead to knock.

"Lin! Up and at 'em!" she called through the door as she absently fiddled the knob.

Frustrated, she gave the door two hard bangs of her fist.

"Let's go, baby girl! Time to bend it like a Beifong!" she shouted, leaning against the frame. Toph let out an exasperated sigh when there was no response. She sure as hell didn't wake up this early for the fun of it. So, she pressed the palm of her hand against the knob, feeling the metal, sensing the parts where it latched and the imperfections caused by its earthen materials inside. Then, she sensed something completely foreign to her- wood. There was a tiny piece of something thoroughly unbendable jammed into the keyhole from the other side.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me," Toph muttered under her breath as she lifted her hand again- this time slamming her fist against the door violently. "Lin Beifong! You get that wood out of your doorknob this instant!"

She paused, waiting for a response and just as she lifted her fist again she got one in the form of an aggravated groan.

"Ok, you're awake! Now, open up!"

"Let me sleep!" Came her daughter's groggy and petulant voice from the other side. Toph wiggled the handle of the door exaggeratedly.

"We've only got an hour to practice," Toph reminded her.

"I don't want to practice!" Lin protested, "I want to sleep!"

"Get this damn wood out of the door," Toph returned, annoyed. There was another extended pause before she heard Lin speak again.

"It's my door," she drawled in such a way that sounded as if her face were smashed against a pillow.

"It's not your door," Toph argued through the offending object, "its a door I let you use in my house."

There was no reply and Toph had to imagine that Lin rolled over and was content to end the conversation here. That simply was not part of the plan for Toph, who was beyond wound up at this point.

"Lin if you don't open this door I am going to remove it," Toph warned. She waited a beat, " One..."she began to count off.

"Go away!" Lin screeched from her bed. That was all the motivation Toph needed to come through on her threat. Her fingers shot forward, bending in again at the middle knuckle before thrusting her hands upward and over- the hinges of the door groaned as they were pried backward and the door separated from the wall.

Lin sat bolt upright in bed, "What is wrong with you!?" she shouted as Toph grabbed the door at each side and carried it back down the hallway, depositing it in her bedroom.

Sokka blinked at her blearily from their bed as she leaned it against the wall, "Um, is that Lin's door?"

"It is," Toph confirmed.

"Why...why is it in our room?"

"Because Lin needs to get out of bed," Toph explained simply as thundering footfalls closed in on her, "and look! It worked!"

Behind Toph stood Lin, red-faced and seething, "give. me. my. door. back."

At fifteen, Lin was nearly four inches taller than her mother though the presence of her towering figure did nothing to intimidate the petite Toph, who crossed her arms over her chest and leaned forward, "you aren't getting anything with that behavior, Sassafras. What the hell are you thinking shoving wood in your lock?"

"It's the only way I can keep you from bursting into my room at the crack of dawn," Lin countered. Sokka sighed, rubbing his eyes and sitting up, "here we go," he mumbled under his breath.

"Oh I get it. You want to be the best, but you don't want to put in the effort. You know I can't pull strings for you. If you want to get into the Academy you're going to have to work for it. You can't just sleep the day away!" Toph spat, throwing her arms in the air.

"Day?" Lin exclaimed, "It's still the middle of the night!"

"It is not-" Toph returned before being cut off by her daughter again.

"It is! And have you ever considered for one second that maybe I don't care about going to the Metalbending Academy? You want me to become and officer, I never said I wanted that- I just want to sleep," Lin finished, leaning in dangerously close to her mother.

It was close enough that Sokka felt the need to get out of bed and part them. He moved forward, causing Lin to lose a bit of steam and stand down as he placed a hand on Toph's shoulder.

"Ladies, ladies," he began, "take a breath will you?"

In the same instant both women crossed their arms and huffed in reluctant compliance. They were mirror images of one another and Sokka considered opening his peace brokering speech with that observation, but concluded that neither would be open to hearing about how alike they are just then.

"Toph, I think maybe it's time to reconsider Lin's practice schedule," he said. Toph's mouth fell open in shock just as Lin smirked.

"Thank you, Sokka," Lin said tartly.

"Yeah, thanks a lot, Sokka," his wife added, turning her attention to him fully, "Way to back me up!"

Sokka put his hands up in a plea of innocence, "I'm just saying that it's not natural for anyone to be up at four in the morning! I'm not agreeing with her attitude!"

"Ugh! It's not an attitude! It's the fact that I'm practically an adult and my mother insists on dragging me out of bed like a kid every morning!" Lin returned in frustration.

"You know what, Lin?" Toph sneered, "Why don't you just go back to your room and sleep then. I don't want to hear your bitching right now. I'll stop waking you up early- it's clear that at fifteen fucking years old you've got life figured out and you don't need any more instruction from me. But don't come asking for help when your art career doesn't pan out."

Lin stood in open-mouthed horror for a moment, "I won't!" she shouted finally before turning quickly to retrieve her door.

"That's still my door!" Toph reminded her, pointing one determined finger in her direction. Lin stomped the floor and let out a sound that fell somewhere between a screech and a proper growl.

"You are such a bitch!" Lin shouted before stalking out of the room. Sokka's eyes widened and he reached out to hold Toph back from what he was certain would escalate into physical contact.

"Well I've got sour news for you, kid!" Toph called after her, "SAME SAME!"

The couple could hear each stomp of Lin's feet clearly as she made her way back to her room and bent a makeshift door from the stone flooring with a deafening slam. Sokka sighed when it was over and started to yawn before his wife rounded on him with a fierce expression.

"Next time keep your opinions to yourself," she barked at him.

Sokka's face immediately screwed up in annoyance, "I'm trying to help you out if you didn't notice," he insisted hotly, poking his own chest with a thumb.

"I don't need help raising my daughter," Toph mumbled darkly. There was something about the way in which she used the possessive term that rankled with Sokka. She meant for it to sound that way as it rose from the depths of her frustration, but as soon as the words left her lips she knew her statement was over the line. Sokka had been there for her and Lin from the beginning and she had undermined a lifetime of his herculean efforts in one sentence.

Though his first inclination was to respond in kind, he paused. The silence he offered said more than words ever could. They stood facing one another as Toph stewed in her regret.

"Sokka..." she whispered finally, reaching out and touching his arm, "I didn't mean it like that."

"Yes, you did," he insisted softly as he took a step back from her. Toph's hand dropped to her side and she groaned before reaching up to squeeze the bridge of her nose.

"You know what, I've got a long day ahead of me," Sokka began, "I might as well get going."

He stepped past his wife and made his way into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind. Toph sighed.

Tensions were running high in their house lately and the fault of this did not land solely on the presence of a moody teenager. This particular week was gearing up to be quite a challenge for everyone. Election season was in full swing and Sokka's schedule was grueling. Aside from the usual business of running the growing city, he was being pulled in every direction by public appearances, debates, and over-priced schmoozing events.

While Sokka managed to balance this all with a smile, his wife followed along- grudgingly- with a scowl. Toph was never terribly good at playing the role of the vacant and placid wife of a powerful man- it reminded her too much of her mother and she bristled at the loss of autonomy. Often in polite conversation Toph would throw out an off-handed remark, usually something controversial, just to enjoy the squirming of the politicos and to assert her independence. And while Sokka never discouraged her from being herself, he did take to nudging her softly with an elbow to beg her compliance now and again.

Her obstinance was spurred on further by the unpleasant work days she had been experiencing in preparation for Harmony Week.

Harmony Week was a city-wide celebration that had taken place on a yearly basis since the founding of Republic City. Hoards of people gathered to celebrate the end of the war which was not yet a distant memory for most adults. The city filled with tourists, the parks opened up exhibits, the vendors came out of the woodwork with their food carts, and people let loose in recognition of a new era of peace.

As many residents let their hair down and indulged in festivities, Toph knew nothing but work. Boring work at that. She certainly didn't relish the dangerous periods of Yakone or the tragedies associated with Zhang's passing, but at least they were moments of excitement and intrigue. Harmony Week was nothing but crowd control, traffic direction, and citations for indecent exposure or public drunkenness. The logistics of all the mundane tasks for the Police Chief were daunting and put Toph in a particularly dour mood. Pairing all this with evenings spent trapped in political small talk was a dangerous cocktail for a personality like hers- resulting a very snippy and short-tempered woman by the end of each day. Even the unrestrained hero-worship that accompanied Harmony Week couldn't be counted on to coax a smile out of Toph at a time like this.

Hero-worship was usually the best way to turn Toph's frown into a smile, but it had the opposite effect on her daughter who had enough unwanted attention because of her famous family to last a lifetime. In school, Lin and Tenzin stuck close together to ward off any hangers-on that tended to turn up each year around this time. Their fellow classmates showed a renewed interest in the pair whenever Harmony Week was in sight. Some of them glommed on in an effort to achieve fame by association while others did it for a far more practical reason- an easy grade. Schools around the world had taken to tasking their students with Great War and Harmony Week related assignments around this time. Projects that would normally involve loads of book research could be cut down to a simple interview if you happened to know anyone directly involved in the War.

Lin and Tenzin both suffered an intense period of undesired popularity each year leading up to Harmony Week for this reason. In an effort to minimize the intrusion, they often sprang at one another when group work was announced.

One such project had presented itself this week, in the form of a four-person group presentation, was about what life was like inside the Fire Nation during the 100 year war. When their history instructor Mr. Krung announced the work, Lin and Tenzin's heads swiveled quickly in the direction of one another, locking eyes with one very resolute nod of the head. Now, it would be down to who rounded out their group.

"Get into groups of four please!"

The students scrambled about the room frantically- finding pairs in seconds. Tenzin moved to Lin's desk and pulled a chair close, huddling together as the others undoubtedly began devising a way into their good graces.

"Who are we taking?" Tenzin asked in a low voice, scanning the faces of his peers carefully as if he were about to announce a draft pick.

"I don't know," Lin replied, chewing her lip. She chanced a look out into the crowd of students and glowered back at Tenzin before whispering, "I hate them all."

Tenzin gave her a dubious look, ready to counter her claim when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Yi, a mild-mannered girl that happened to be best friends with Lin's arch-nemesis, Karuna.

"No," Lin stated evenly looking up at her.

Yi gaped and let out an small incredulous laugh, "you don't even know what I was about to say."

Lin shrugged, "Still, no."

"What if it's just me," Yi bargained quietly as Karuna stood on the far end of the room, watching their conversation anxiously.

Mr. Krung circled, coming by their small crowd with a smile, "Ah, I see you've found your third person."

It was as good as a binding legal contract in social terms. The teacher had spoken. Yi pulled a chair in and Karuna began heading their way. Just then, Lin saw her saving grace and romantic fixation walk through the doorway, late as usual.

Ryuu appeared looking incredibly disinterested and slightly confused. Lin caught his eye and waved him over with a hurried hand. Tenzin saw this and leaned in close to whisper, "Lin. No."

"What?" she hissed in return as her hand continued to beckon him desperately.

"He's...no. Lin. He's..." it was clear Tenzin wasn't entirely comfortable with the bluntness of his argument, but he spit it out anyway, "he's stupid."

"Don't be rude," she scolded just as Ryuu pulled a chair in. His timing was impeccable, reaching their group just seconds ahead of Karuna who was forced to detour at the sight of him.

"We doing group work?" he wondered absently.

"Harmony Week project," Lin confirmed and Ryuu looked between her and Tenzin with a small smile.

"Score."

Tenzin didn't bother disguising the roll of his eyes.

Tenzin's disapproval of Ryuu was borne of observation as much as it was simple jealousy. Ryuu had originally been one year behind Kya, but lack of motivation and general antipathy for schoolwork had landed him two years behind in most subjects. His desire to change this seemed negligible and the fact that it didn't seem to bother Lin in any way irritated Tenzin endlessly.

Typically, Lin's reaction to stagnation and stupidity was to stare at it judgmentally with half-lidded eyes (a trait from her father) that added an air of boredom and condescension. She was using this very tactic on Yi as she prattled off a list of suggestions on how to divide their work.

"Are you done?" Lin asked flatly when Yi took a breath.

"Yes."

"Good. Now, what are we actually going to do?" she asked, posing the question aloud to the other two members in her group.

Tenzin sighed, "I think Yi's ideas are fine."

Yi beamed and Lin scowled momentarily at him before Ryuu shrugged, "whatever."

"Then we're agreed," Yi announced, side-eyeing Lin, "I think we should divide up the interviews. I'll partner up with Tenzin to interview his parents, Lin and Ryuu- you two can interview her parents."

"Good idea," Lin patronized, "I wouldn't want to subject you to my 'weird' mother, Yi."

Yi rolled her eyes, but did not respond.

Tenzin's body tensed, but his mouth remained closed. There was no valid reason to argue against this particular division of work, aside from the pit that formed in his stomach when he thought of Lin and Ryuu working together. Alone.

The premise of each project required approval by Mr. Krung and when Tenzin and Ryuu left their group to take the interview questions to the front of the room for appraisal, Yi sighed dreamily.

"He is so cute," she mused as she watched the boys walk away.

For the first time, Lin could agree with her on something. She followed Ryuu's devil-may-care saunter with lecherous eyes, losing her breath a moment when he casually ran one hand through his dark hair.

"Get in line," she remarked.

Yi looked between Lin and the boys twice before her nose turned up and she clarified herself, "I'm talking about Tenzin."

Most suddenly, Lin was visualizing her hands wrapped tightly around Yi's throat. Her mouth went dry, but she finally managed to croak, "Tenzin?"

"Yes, Tenzin," Yi replied.

Any attempt Lin made to remain calm was dashed by the visible redness that began flooding her cheeks- an unfortunate tell for the fair-skinned. She drummed her fingernails along the desk once before blurting, "He's not interested."

"How would you know?" Yi scoffed.

"I'm his best friend," Lin pointed out with a shrug, regaining some of her composure, "he tells me these things."

Yi raised one suspicious eyebrow, "and he told you that he is specifically not interested in me?"

"More or less," Lin fibbed.

Tenzin had never said any such thing. In fact, Tenzin had never once talked about having a crush on anyone as far as Lin could recall. Yi watched Lin, entirely unconvinced. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Lin was saved from the demand to elaborate by the return of the men in question. Tenzin took his seat, announcing their project was approved by their professor before returning to the logistics of their assignment.

"Do you think you can come over tonight, Yi?"

Yi's smile looked suspiciously like a smirk to Lin as she replied, "Sure, what time?"

Tenzin thought for a brief moment, "Actually, you should probably just walk home with me after school. The security is really tight during Harmony Week so they're not going to let you past the dock unless you're with me."

"It's a date," Yi giggled.

"Pfft," Lin spat, shaking her head once before noticing the entire group had whipped their heads around to see what she was mocking. She shifted in her chair slightly, "it's an assignment," she told them finally, "not a date."

"It's a figure of speech," Yi reminded.

Lin gathered a breath, turning her attention to Ryuu, "My Mom and Sokka have some dinner tonight so maybe you can come over tomorrow?"

"Whatever," Ryuu agreed. The idea of inviting him over tonight as well crossed her mind, but she was too embarrassed to say it. She was also too distracted by the ridiculous way in which Yi was gazing at Tenzin to think much about anything else. Her mouth became smaller and smaller as her lips pursed in judgement of Yi. A very annoying voice in Lin's head suggested that this might be jealousy, but logic told her that it was nothing more than wanting the best for her friend. Still, this feeling- whatever it was- wasn't very pleasant.

Unpleasant feelings were plaguing her mother today as well.

Toph blew the hair in her face away in a huff. The mindlessness of Harmony Week work was not exactly a sufficient distraction from the trouble on her domestic front. She'd been internally kicking herself all day for the way she treated Sokka that morning. He of all people didn't deserve to bear the brunt of her frustrations, but he was standing right there- an easy target.

"What's eating you?" Ho-Tun finally asked as they leaned over a raised map of the city, plotting distribution of their men.

"Guilt," she shrugged, running one finger along the dashes and dots representing the main railway.

Ho-Tun watched her carefully, slightly nervous that he was witnessing the typically stoic Chief express vulnerability. He had been expecting some kind of gruff answer about the lily-livered officers complaining to her about their shift schedules, not any kind of honest emotional confession.

He cleared his throat, "Um..."

Toph turned to him quickly, "I need to do something nice for my husband."

"Okay?"

"What does your wife do for you when you've had a really bad argument?"

Ho-Tun blushed, shifting nervously, "Well..."

"Sex stuff," Toph surmised, cutting him off.

"Well..."

"I don't know if that's going to cut it this time," Toph sighed, "but its a start. How do I look right now?"

Ho-Tun coughed, "excuse me...?"

"I have to go to this dinner with all these la-dee-da Watertribe suits tonight. I figure if I get all vamped up it'll help my case," she reasoned, "So?"

Toph took a step back and opened her arms, "What's the verdict?"

Ho-Tun looked her over, biting his lip, "You have something in your teeth," he offered weakly.

"And you waited until now to tell me? I gotta prompt you?" Toph grumbled, "useless."

One finger rose to her mouth and began rummaging around, hoping to hook the offending bit of nori on a hopelessly short finger nail as she continued, "I'm gonna take off, try and lady myself up for tonight."

"Good luck, Chief," Ho-Tun replied.

His well-wishes sounded a bit sarcastic to the ears of his boss and she scowled at him, "Yeah, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"I didn't mean-"

"I got you. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone, ok?"

"Got it, Chief."

Instead of heading home, Toph made her way to Air Temple Island. She figured her daughter would be arriving home around now, making her available to help with Toph's beautification process, but considering how the day started off she wasn't quite ready to trust Lin with the task. Her only reliable option was Katara, knower of womanly ways.

"Toph?" Katara asked when she opened the front door to reveal her old friend, "what are you doing here?"

"I need you to make me bangable," she sighed with resignation.

Katara's eyes went wide and she pulled the door flush against her side, attempting to block Toph's comment from the people inside, "Toph. I've got Tenzin and his school friends in here!... And eww."

"My kid in there? Accept my apologies in advance," Toph deadpanned.

"No, Lin isn't here. What is going on?"

"Sokka and I had an argument this morning and I was a total jerk and I need to look good and be all docile for his Watertribe contingent tonight so can you just help me out?"

The door opened and Katara stepped back, slightly resigned, "Come in."

The two women walked into the house finding Tenzin and his classmate sitting at the kitchen table, huddled over several papers. Katara politely explained that she would be back to answer their questions shortly. As they exited, Toph reached up to tousle Tenzin's hair playfully, "Don't work too hard, Junior."

Katara led Toph to sit upon the same stool she sat on while she was made over for her wedding day and Toph obliged, preparing silently for the poking and prodding of her make-over. Katara started by brushing out her hair, "So, what started the fight?"

Toph sighed, "the teenage horror story that lives in my spare bedroom."

The waterbender chuckled lightly at her dramatics, "teenagers are no walk in the park. I should know- I've got two living under my roof and one more on her way back home."

"Kya's coming in?"

Katara nodded, "Aang is down at the dock waiting for her ship to come in right now."

The oldest of Katara and Aang's children had finished her compulsory schooling the previous year and wasted no time moving on to greener pastures. She set her sights on the Northern Watertribe, under the assumption that her healing abilities would be finely tuned by the other great masters that had established an academy of their own in the frozen tundra.

"So she's a master healer by now?" Toph ventured.

"Kya has always been gifted in that respect," Katara replied, combing out a particularly stubborn knot.

"At least she's doing what she's good at," Toph agreed, "Lin tells me she's over this whole bending thing. She wants to be an artist like her father."

"Toph, Lin's art is actually really incredible," Katara defended.

"Artists are unhappy people," Toph insisted, "I should know- I lived with one for five years."

Katara sighed, unwilling to counter her. It was clear Toph's mind was made up on the issue. Instead of arguing, Katara applied a light dusting of powder to Toph's face before supplying her with a dress she had left over at the island over two years ago after a particularly rowdy celebration on Aang's birthday led to an impromptu sleepover. The fit was snug, but it worked- the forest green accentuated her eyes.

With a final application of lipstick, Katara smiled, sending her friend out the door with strict instructions to deliver well-wishes to her brother.

Arriving at the embassy, Toph entered a room of beating hearts. They were all alike, but each one sent back a different signal. The space those hearts occupied was sometimes short, sometimes tall, and many of those shells were recognizable. This particular group was more muscular than your average crowd, but she figured that was to be expected in a gathering of Southern Watertribe Members.

Her feet read them all through the bottomless silk slippers she wore and two beats later she'd located him. Her own personal block of muscle stood in a group of other meaty folks listening to all the cultural concerns they disguised as small talk. She didn't exactly relish the idea of sidling up next to him and ingratiating herself into their conversation so she moved for the quickest pulse in the room- the bartender at the far end- who was manically attempting to keep up with the orders coming in from every direction.

One large figure of a man graciously stepped aside as she approached, "ladies first."

Toph smiled. Her affinity for southern men was no accident- they drank hard, felt good, and were some of the most polite creatures she had come across.

She could smell this one was enjoying whiskey and considered joining him before remembering she was to be on her best behavior at these events, especially tonight when the ice of her marriage was feeling thin.

A glass of red wine was in her hand as soon as the words left her mouth and she wished the frantic bartender luck as she broke away from the crowd. One hand held the glass to her lips as the other tugged at the dress she wore, unsure how it hung along her body. It wasn't comfortable, but she figured that meant it at least looked good.

Her mind worked on the phrasing of her apology as she sipped. Ever aware of her surroundings, she decided not to come out with, "Sorry for being a Grade-A bitch this morning, Sokka," but instead rearranged her prepared speech to sound as genuine as possible without being uncouth. It wasn't coming easily, but her preparation time was cut short when she noticed Sokka's pace quicken the smallest bit.

He moved toward her.

Apparently, the make-over had worked.

"You came," he stated as he approached. She shrugged and readied a quip, but was silenced by the small kiss he placed at the corner of her mouth. She sighed, understanding the character of such a kiss was sweet obligation and not forgiveness.

"How is it going?" she asked, suddenly unprepared to deliver her apology.

"Great," he insisted. He paused, "You look nice-"

She gestured before herself, "Katara's handiwork."

"-And happy," he continued with a small laugh.

Toph scowled because she knew her face was the picture of annoyance, "How is that?"

"You've got a red wine smile," he chuckled, tracing the air before her lips. The rim of the glass had dyed the upturned sides of her mouth red, comically painting a false smile on her face.

Unamused, she grumbled and wiped at it without success, "so much for that."

Sokka was enjoying it- she could tell by the way he drew his breath- and after a moment her grabbed her hand and led her to a table, "Come here," he insisted as he dipped a cloth napkin into a glass of water. He reached up to wipe each side carefully, clearing away the red stain.

The true grimace behind the wine stain was revealed, but Sokka laughed at the sight of it, leaning in to kiss her squarely on the mouth this time, "Don't worry. It was kind of cute."

A real grin tugged at the corner of her lips, "does this mean you forgive me?"

Sokka let go of a breath, suddenly serious, "I don't want to admit how much that actually upset me."

Toph nodded sympathetically- ready to interject but her husband continued, "I know I'm not Lin's father and I know she doesn't want to call me 'Dad' and she doesn't have to. Honestly, I'm fine with that, but I always figured you at least considered me to be...you know...her parent."

Toph nodded again, reaching up to cup the side of his face, "You are the best parent she has."

A skeptical sigh followed and she responded by waving her hands in his face, "No, no, no. I'm serious. I could never have done this without you. Really. And she loves you- a hell of a lot more than she does me."

"That's not true," Sokka argued softly.

"It is right now. You are this amazing husband and father and just because I was grouchy I was a total cunt to you this morning and-" a few hearts in the surrounding area missed a thud and she mused under her breath, "whoops."

"I'm going to stop you right there, ok?" Sokka laughed, gripping her shoulders and leaning in closer, "I don't want to fight anymore."

"Neither do I. This day was so awful. I fucking hate Harmony Week and I'm pretty sure my kid- our kid- is an evil spir-"

"Toph? Toph," Sokka interrupted, "Apology accepted," he laughed and she leaned into him. His arms wrapped around her slowly and he kissed the top of her hair gently, "I love you."

"I love you too, Sokka."

"Good. Now let's go find me some campaign support. Without the cursing, ok?" he agreed, offering his elbow.

Toph hooked her arm through merrily, "I'm gonna blow them away with my fake-ass politician wife smile just for you, baby."

Sokka quietly raised an eyebrow at her choice of words and Toph exhaled, "Last one. I promise."

Toph made good on her promise. She moved through the evening's conversations with elegant aplomb- managing to say just the right things to all the right people, leaving them dazzled and commending Sokka on landing such an incredible lady. Toph had flipped some invisible switch, displaying a side of herself that wasn't typically let out to play- a side she had actively shunned since childhood. Her posture was straightened, her smile unwavering, her manner delicate.

As the evening wound down Sokka watched as his opponent, Atka, kissed his wife's hand with stars in his eyes. The slightly younger man seemed so enchanted by Toph that Sokka wondered if she might sway his vote.

"It has truly been a pleasure getting to know you," he smiled before turning to Sokka, "you're a lucky man."

Sokka gave one polite nod, "Thank you."

"And I dare say you'll need all the luck you can get on Saturday," he commented light-heartedly, referencing their upcoming debate at City Hall.

Sokka laughed amiably and shook Atka's hand solidly, "We'll see about that. Have a good night, Atka."

"You too, Councilman," he returned, giving Toph a nod, "Mrs. Beifong."

As soon as Atka made his way back into the thinning crowd, Toph and Sokka made their exit, both of them letting out a long held breath, as if slipping out of something uncomfortable at the end of a long day.

Toph's carefully maintained smile fell and her hands immediately began massaging overworked jaw muscles, "Ugh. My face hurts."

"Yeah? It's killin' me," Sokka joked, earning him one hard punch in the shoulder. He responded to her tap by pulling her into his arms playfully and planting one kiss on her temple. "I'm kidding!"

"Last time I ever do you any favors," she grumbled as he continued to assault her with affection.

"You were really laying down the charm tonight," Sokka agreed squeezing her again as they made their way to the waiting carriage.

"Yeah? Are you into that whole empty-headed, ornamental wife stuff?"

"Not as much as Atka apparently is. But, I know what's really going on underneath that polite exterior," he replied, flirtatiously nipping at her earlobe.

"Geez, you're awfully handsy tonight," Toph commented with a laugh.

"I just missed you today," Sokka sighed against her cheek.

"Me too," Toph agreed, turning to kiss him quickly, "we should have make up sex when we get home."

The carriage pulled up before them and Sokka opened the door, holding Toph's hand as she climbed inside, "You know, I'm starting to think we should fight more often."

When they arrived home, the pair stumbled through the doorway, caught up in one another. Toph's foot urged the front door closed and they backed down the hallway, connected at the lips. The only light in the house was coming from Lin's bedroom and Sokka broke away from his wife as they approached. The fact that they had paused their kissing didn't fool Lin, who sat at her easel, watching them in her empty doorway with a look of disgust.

"I'm gonna need my door back," she stated from the stool she sat upon, lip curled in revulsion.

"Oh, my day was fine. Thank you for asking," Toph deadpanned in return, "and no. I don't think so."

Lin grunted incredulously before sliding her foot along the floor, forcing a stone wall to appear before Toph and Sokka's faces. It sprang up from the ground and crashed against the ceiling.

Toph sighed, unwilling to argue and spoil her mood, "Goodnight, sweetheart!" she sang at the makeshift door. She could make out Lin's frustrated groan on the other side as she pulled Sokka down the hall further and into their bedroom.

He closed the door behind them and with a flick of her wrist the lock turned with a loud crack, eliciting a a horrified cry of "Oh gross!" from down the hall.

Though the sun shone brightly, warming the outside the frostiness between mother and daughter was not lifted the following day. Breakfast passed without a word between the two women. Sokka tried in vein to negotiate a truce, but in the end Lin left for school with a slamming front door in her wake.

School wasn't much solace for Lin, who spent the majority of History class scowling at Yi as she droned on and on about how amazing it was to visit Air Temple Island. Tenzin seemed annoyingly interested in her impressions of his home, while Ryuu sat back in his chair looking unapologetic in his boredom.

Lin's heart hummed nervously when Ryuu stole a glance at her, lifting his eyebrows slightly to indicate that he, too, found Yi to be painfully long-winded. It was the first time in all the years she had admired him from afar that he had invited her into his thoughts and Lin could barely contain her elation. She bit down on her lip lightly to control the smile which threatened to expose her girlish excitement. Logically, she understood how silly her reaction was, but there was nothing her mind could say that would stop her blood from pulsing quicker each time she met his eyes.

Shuffling of papers and exchanging of project notes signaled the end of class minutes before the bell rang in the end of the day officially. The four of them stood, making their way from the classroom.

In the hall, Ryuu paused to address Lin, "I can be over around six, I think."

Lin nodded, "Okay, that works for me."

"How do I get to you house?"

"It's really easy," she began, but Ryuu hushed her by pulling a reed pen from his pocket, removing the tip with his teeth. He passed it to her and held out the palm of his hand, "just write it here."

Lin swallowed, "On your hand?"

He nodded.

Her face reddened as she jotted the instructions on his right hand with her shaking left. When she completed her directions, she drew a breath, suppressing her nerves.

"See you at sex," she smiled, and then quickly, "six. I meant six."

Ryuu laughed lightly at her mix up, "Yeah, cool," he nodded before turning and disappearing into the mass of students flooding the hallway.

"Did you just say 'see you at sex?'" Tenzin finally asked from behind her. She turned to meet his face, scrunched up in judgement.

"What? No. I meant six. Why are you looking at me like that?" she sputtered quickly before gathering herself. When his expression didn't change Lin huffed, pushing past him, "I gotta go. See you tomorrow."

Upon entering her home, Lin began The Great Purge of Embarrassing Things. She ran about the house frantically, cleaning up the breakfast dishes that had been left in the sink and carefully organizing the line of her annual school photos to disguise the absence of the past three awkward years. She shoved those photos beneath her bed, before heading back out into the living room to retrieve her mother's bindings which had for some unknown reason been left beside the radio.

"Honestly, Mother," Lin muttered under her breath as she threw them into her room, closing the door quickly.

She ran to the bathroom next, deciding she could use a little preparation as well. Lin scrubbed herself down in the bath- hands working simultaneously on her hair, twisting it around her fingers and skewering the curls into place with pins she stored gingerly between her lips.

Pulling on a robe, she went under the sink to excavate a make-up kit Rizu had given her as an end-of-season gift two years ago. She didn't usually have much use for it, but thanked the spirits for its existence on a day like today. Lin rubbed rouge into her cheeks hoping to disguise any future blushing that might crop up once Ryuu arrived.

Just as she was shaking the curls out, she heard the front door open. With a roll of her eyes, she stretched one foot out behind her to nudge the bathroom door closed, unwilling to break the silence with her mother until absolutely necessary.

There was a knock on the door.

"Lin? You going to be long in there?"

It was Sokka's voice and her shoulders relaxed. She sighed, opening the door, "I'm almost done."

Sokka's jaw dropped, but he managed to pick it up quickly enough to ask, "What is this?"

"What is what?"

Sokka waved his hand in the general direction of her face, "you're wearing make-up."

"And?"

Sokka sighed, wisely putting his hands up in defeat, "And nothing, I said nothing. But as long as you're doing make overs in there do you think you could pencil me in for a haircut?"

One hand brushed against the back of his head, ruffling the hair which had been growing in beneath his wolf-tail. It had just outgrown the right to be called stubble and Sokka was going for a more dignified look in the run up to his debate at City Hall that weekend.

His expression was genuine, disarming Lin enough to soften her, "Yeah, I think I can fit you in. Go ahead and sit down."

Sokka moved past her into the bathroom, taking a seat on the edge of the tub as Lin dug out a small jar, a soft shaving brush, and a collapsable razor from beneath the sink. She flicked the razor open with a snap of her wrist and Sokka fought a gasp, "Careful there."

Without a word Lin unscrewed the jar, dipping her brush in hastily and smearing the shaving cream all along the back of Sokka's head. Carefully, she slid the the razor flush against his scalp just behind his ear, taking a mass of small hairs captive along the blade. When she reached out to run the blade under water, Sokka spoke, "So, how was school?"

"Fine," Lin replied, absently as she worked.

"That good, huh?"

She laughed lightly, "It's Harmony Week."

"Ah," Sokka returned, "Say no more."

Lin dragged the blade across his scalp again, "I have someone from school coming over. We have to interview you and Mom about the War...if you don't mind."

"What about it?" His voice was hesitant and Lin felt a pang of guilt for not seeking permission sooner. There were some subjects that didn't sit as well as others when it came to the War. Two years ago she had wrongly assumed he'd be happy to fill her in on all the details of the initial invasion of the Southern Watertribe, "You're too young to be studying that," he told her solemnly, "I was too young to live it."

"Our presentation is about life inside the Fire Nation. We each have to give a two minute speech and write an essay," she explained, leaving her tone casual enough for him to decline.

"Oh, sure," he answered instead, "that's an easy one. Is it just you and Tenzin?"

Lin swallowed, reminding herself to sound as casual as possible "Actually its a four person group. We paired off so this guy Ryuu is going to come over later-"

"Ohhhh..." Sokka led playfully, "I see. Just 'this guy' from school, huh? He doesn't have anything to do with this lipstick-wearing or anything..."

Lin scoffed, but didn't elaborate further, giving Sokka plenty of room to tease her, "That was close. You almost slipped that in. It was a good effort, really! You tried and that's what matters!"

Lin couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up in response, "I still have a razor, you know," she joked.

"Then I won't bother asking when you're going to start talking to your Mom again?" Sokka followed, he was only partially joking, but the laughter went out the door with his question and Lin became silent. The only sound in the room was the scratching of the razor along his scalp.

"She's trying, you know," he continued, "When she's hard on you it's only because she's worried for you."

Lin huffed, "My Mom isn't afraid of anything."

"Oh yes, she is," Sokka assured under his breath.

Lin ran the blade under the water one last time, "You're done." She tapped the blade against the edge of the sink and snapped it closed. Sokka reached one hand up to brush over his smooth scalp.

"Thanks, Lin," he stood, grabbing a towel to wipe away the last remnants of shaving cream, "what do you think? Does this look like the haircut of a re-electable Councilman?"

Lin nodded, "I'd say you're all ready for the debate."

Sokka leaned in conspiratorially, waggling his eyebrows, "But the real question is: am I ready for... 'Guy From School!'"

Lin pouted, shoving him back out of the bathroom, "No," she warned, "do not embarrass me."

"I couldn't possibly," he returned, hand placed on his chest in earnestly, "I'm just going to ask him a list of standard questions, take his finger prints, make him sign a blood oath... you know, regular Watertribe stuff."

"He's coming over her for a school project, not a date," Lin reminded him sternly just as she heard the front door swing open.

"Honey, I'm home!" Toph announced from the other room, followed by the sound of metal clattering to the ground.

Before Sokka could turn his head back in Lin's direction, he heard a defeated groan and the bathroom door closed in his face.

"Oh! Slamming doors already? Excellent," Toph declared jovially as she came around the corner and into the hall, "I think that's a new record. What do you think, Sokka? Two seconds or three?"

He motioned for her to keep it down, but realized the futility of his movements a second later, "shhh." Sokka moved on to their bedroom and Toph followed behind, sliding the bracers from her arms.

"Why so hush-hush?" she wondered, detaching the metal spools from her belt and tossing them on the bed.

"Lin has a crush on someone," Sokka reported.

"Yeah, Tenzin. I know," Toph returned casually, unlocking her breastplate.

"No," Sokka insisted, "it's not Tenzin."

Toph laughed skeptically, "trust me, babe. Her heartbeat feels like a stampeding pack of wild ostrich-horses whenever that cracking voice is within earshot."

Sokka paused, "Really?"

"Oh yeah. His too. It's mutual, but they're both stupid."

"Huh," Sokka reflected thoughtfully for a brief moment, "well this is somebody else. A boy from school is coming over to do homework tonight."

"Oh?"

"Yes," he went on, "and apparently he is hair and make-up worthy."

"Well," Toph sighed, "that is interesting."

"They want to interview us for their class project."

"Are you kidding me? She thinks she can just slam doors in my face all week and then turn around and ask me for help with her schoolwork? Spirits, she is such a pain in my ass lately. Who acts like this? Katara doesn't get this kind of crap from her daughter!"

Sokka squinted at his wife as she ranted, "I think you're forgetting about the time Kya went to that week long music festival in the desert with some guy she met that morning at a tea shop in Dragon Flats- without telling anyone?"

Toph ticked her head to the side, "Oh yeah."

"Yeah."

"Well, at least she wasn't a dick about it," Toph concluded, picking up right where she left off, "Lin, on the other hand, is a dick about passing the damn soy sauce at the dinner table! And she expects me to help her out with her school work when she won't even get out of bed in the morning without a fight? No. I don't think so. Not without an apology."

Her demand was perfectly timed to meet Lin's ears as she was passing in the hall. Lin stopped in their doorway, glancing at Sokka quickly before addressing her mother in an voice she thought would sound respectful, "Sorry."

Her tone was a little to the left of respectful, dancing dangerously close to resentful instead, but Toph accepted it without too much of a fight, "Hmm. That voice...it's so familiar...Sokka- is that my daughter? Actually speaking to me?"

Lin rolled her eyes, "Yes."

"Lin! What is it you said?"

"I'm sorry."

"Oh come on, you can say it louder than that," Toph goaded her.

An decibel more she repeated herself, "I'm sorry."

"With conviction this time!"

"Mother!"

"Okay, mother is better than bitch. I'll take it," Toph relented, rocking back on her heels with satisfaction. She drew a breath, "Your boyfriend is here."

"What?"

The bell rang and Lin instinctively clasped the collar of her robe, "I have to get dressed!"

"Don't worry- I'll get it," her mother replied taking a step forward before Lin protested in a frantic voice.

"No!"

"What?"

"You...your clothes are torn," Lin sighed.

It was an understatement. The tank top Toph wore beneath her armor had forcibly earned more than two arm holes, several stains, and her bindings were readily visible through the threadbare shirt. The waist of her pants looked as if a vicious beast had been chewing on them for the better part of a decade, but Toph simply shrugged, "So?"

Sensing they were on the edge of another argument, Sokka stepped in, "I'll get the door."

He ventured from the room, leaving the pair behind to sort themselves. On his way to the door however, he was momentarily side tracked by one of his older, ceremonial swords sitting atop the fireplace.

The door swung slowly inward to reveal six feet of solid watertribe muscle casually picking his teeth with the tip of a sword. The glint from the metal caused Ryuu to squint.

Sokka said nothing.

The silence progressed until Ryuu finally lifted an eyebrow to ask, "Is...uh..is this Lin Beifong's house?"

Sokka pulled the sword from his mouth, gave it a significant look and then met Ryuu's eye, "It is. You must be 'Guy From School.'"

"Ryuu," he confirmed, glancing into the house past Sokka.

Sokka nodded, taking in a deep breath, "Ryuu..."

"Yeah."

"I'm Lin's stepdad," Sokka informed him.

"Yeah. I know," Ryuu replied.

The sound of a throat clearing just behind Sokka shook him from his posturing and he turned to find Lin, staring daggers. Sokka moved back, holding the door open for Ryuu. He entered, raising his eyebrows at Lin once he'd passed her over-protective father figure.

She greeted him with a measure of sweetness Sokka hadn't heard in her voice since she was seven years old. It was Sokka's turn to raise his eyebrows as he followed the two of them into the kitchen, where Lin offered Ryuu some tea and spread out her school papers before him. Considering how flustered Lin was only moments ago by the prospect of this young man entering her home, she was playing it cool to the hilt. Something about her deference, her fawning manner, and they way in which she laughed at the most mundane of his comments irked Sokka in a way he couldn't quite pinpoint.

He didn't have to- Toph came out with it almost as soon as she entered the room, tattered clothing and all.

"Sit down, Suzu Homemaker," Toph ordered her daughter as she pulled her out her own seat. She swiveled her head in Ryuu's direction, "you must be pretty good looking for her to be acting like this."

Ryuu shifted uncomfortably and laughed, "Uh thanks."

"Don't ever feel complimented when a girl isn't herself around you," Toph advised shortly as Lin stood at the stove, boiling the teapot she held in her hands by inner fury alone. She said nothing, but her face was red as she took a seat beside Ryuu and picked up her paper.

The conversation was pretty terse, considering it was mainly between Lin and Toph. Lin asked the questions on her list and dutifully wrote down the answers she received in return. Ryuu seemed far less prepared for their interview, but surprisingly interested in what Toph and Sokka had to say once he began to grasp the importance of their roll in recent history's greatest tale.

"So," he began, looking at the ceiling a moment, "that's crazy. That you guys have, like, seen Firelord Ozai in person. He's like the most famous evil person in history."

"Well, I've never actually seen him," Toph snarked.

Lin rolled her eyes, gathering the papers in exasperation as she stood, "Come on Ryuu, let's go write up our speeches. I think we got everything we need, thanks."

Ryuu stood, but paused when Toph asked, "Wait. Where are you going?"

"To finish our homework," Lin returned.

"Yes, but where?"

"In my room," Lin replied quickly. Sokka choked on his tea.

"I don't think so," Toph laughed, "there is plenty of space in the living room."

Lin grumbled, but did as she was told- relocating to the living room. She spread her things out on the table, turned on the radio, and began parsing out their answers. Ryuu sat back, tapping the pen in his hand idly as he watched her.

Helping Ryuu construct his speech was a little more difficult than Lin had anticipated. She wasn't sure if it was his face or his incompetence that was distracting her, but something about their work took over an hour to complete. Sokka brought a snack into the two students, departing without comment which Lin was eternally grateful for.

"So, I don't think we need to put in that part about the dancing ban. I'm pretty sure Tenzin and Yi have that subject covered," Lin mused as she looked over Ryuu's sheet. She could feel his eyes on her and tentatively she looked up. He didn't bother looking away and she couldn't help the way her skin flushed under his scrutiny.

"You're pretty sexy, you know that?" he asked, quiet enough that his voice wouldn't travel to her parents.

Lin smiled, looking back at the hall to be sure their conversation was just for two. Nobody had ever used her name and the word sexy in the same sentence before. It was strange to hear, a little embarrassing, but rather empowering all at the same time.

"Yeah, you do know," he maintained, nodding. "Look what are you doing tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Nothing," Lin supplied immediately, "I mean, I don't think I have anything planned."

"You should come to Kyung Mi's house. Her parent's always rent a room in the city during Harmony Week so they're gone. She's having this huge party."

"I heard about it. I think some of my friends are going," she returned with a smile.

"Cool. Well, you should go with them and meet me there, then."

"Okay," Lin replied bashfully.

They held one another's gaze. Lin desperately tried to resist breaking out into song or manically tapping her feet- and was successful in doing so only because her mother interrupted them. It was the first time Lin was grateful for the intrusion.

"Good grief, how long does it take you two knuckleheads to write a two minute speech?" Toph wondered as she made her way into the living room. They watched as Toph made her way to the radio, running her hand along the face of it, while turning the dial.

"Yeah, I better get going," Ryuu agreed, rising from his seat, "presentation day tomorrow after all."

Lin nodded, "I'll walk you out."

Toph's blank eyes followed them and she tapped the floor with her foot, signaling to her daughter that closing the front door wasn't really going to earn her any privacy.

"Thanks for the interview and everything," Ryuu said on his way to the door.

"Hey, anytime. I love talking about myself," Toph returned with a smile.

Lin rolled her eyes, following Ryuu out the door and closing it quietly behind. They stood on the porch silently.

"Well," he shrugged.

"Yeah," Lin agreed eagerly before chastising herself.

Ryuu looked at her lips and then back at the door, "Your family is kind of intense."

"I know," she replied, unsure how else to respond.

"Yeah..." he sighed, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

He turned away, escaping the fragile space that might have facilitated a kiss. By the time his foot was off the porch the moment was unable to be salvaged and Lin sighed, walking back into the house.

"Kissing gets you pregnant," Toph announced when she heard the front door close again.

"Har har," Lin grumbled, entering the living room to find her mother reclining on the couch.

"Damn. I was hoping you'd buy that."

"And I was hoping you would not spend the entire night humiliating me, so I guess we've both been disappointed," Lin snarked in return.

"Oh please," Toph sighed.

"Please?" Lin snapped, "Are you kidding? Would it kill you to be polite to people? To perfect strangers that are guests in your home? Just for a second?"

"It might, I've never tried," Toph supplied, off-handedly.

"You are seriously the most annoying person I've ever met," Lin stated evenly.

"Oh come off it, Lin," Toph argued, "you should be thanking me for keeping your feet on the ground with that dunderhead around."

"Thanking you?" Lin shrieked.

"You heard me," Toph insisted, sitting up, "he didn't even know the Fire Nation was an island, Lin."

Lin scoffed, "You are so pretentious."

Toph let out a laugh, gripping her stomach, "Pretentious?" she called out down the hall, "Sokka- I know I promised to leave you out of it, but Lin just called me pretentious! There's a first time for everything!"

"I'm serious-"

"Yeah, I noticed."

Lin let out a frustrated growl, "Shut up! I cannot stand you! I am so sick of you trying to manage my life. Spirits, I wish I lived with my Dad!"

Suddenly, Toph wasn't in a laughing mood, "I'm biting my tongue real hard right now, kid."

Lin narrowed her eyes, turning on her heel and disappearing down the hall. She stormed past Sokka who said nothing and ripped her jacket from where it hung in her closet, throwing it on. Without a word she made her way back to the front door.

"Where are you going?" Toph called after her.

"Away from you," Lin replied with curt ambiguity. Their arguing was getting under her skin, creeping and crawling through her veins and into her mind, filling Lin with loathsome thoughts and resentment. She needed to get out, to get away. She hated fighting with her mother, but something between them seemed to chafe daily without rhyme or reason and there was no stopping it once it got going.

Lin walked out the door with no particular destination in mind, but found herself ambling along the bayside path in short order. She looked across the water to Air Temple Island and it looked back. There was something about the way a few lights remained glowing in the fog that beckoned her there. She took the next ferry.

On board were a few Acolytes that watched her, suspicious and silent. The boat pulled in and Lin was the first onto the dock, moving forward up the hill with purpose as the other passengers took an alternate path leading to the dormitories.

Mindful of Katara's fairly strict rule about going out on school nights, Lin bypassed the front door to the main house. She walked around the side, through the pebbles and shrubbery in darkness to find herself standing below the soft glow of Tenzin's window. With a quick jerk of her hands the ground beneath her vibrated and bent to her will, raising her to his window.

Inside Tenzin was sprawled out on his bed, reading in low light when he heard insistent tapping on his window pane. He looked up and squinted, unsure what to make of the image that faced him. His best friend stood level at his window on the second floor tapping out a beat against the glass.

When they met eyes Lin curled her fingers inward to call him to her and he finally rose to open the window.

"Hey," she greeted as he lifted the wooden framing.

"Uh...hey?" Tenzin replied, his eyebrows raised in curiosity, "Did you get tired of using the front door?"

Lin rolled her eyes, "Come out with me."

Tenzin glanced back at his bedroom door tentatively, "Where?" He knew the risk of punishment was high if he were to sneak out, but when he looked back at Lin he couldn't help but consider taking the chance. The girl of his dreams stood before him willing him to come out with her for an unsupervised evening. Did he really have a choice?

"Komodo chicken," she replied, "Lets get Fire Nation food."

Tenzin sighed and walked back to his door, sliding it open a hair and looking cautiously out into the hallway.

"Goodnight," he called out. Lin could hear distant responses as he slid the door closed again and turned out the light. He made his way back to the window and crawled out, straightening beside her on the mound she'd created with his glider in hand. He gave it one good tap on the dirt and the wings sprung out.

"I can't take the ferry," he explained, bending his knees, "Hop on."

"Hop on?" Lin asked, blinking at him skeptically.

"Yeah, hop on. I'll piggyback you."

Lin shook her head and laughed but followed his instructions anyway, climbing onto his back and wrapping her legs around his waist.

Tenzin swung the glider behind her and with a gust of wind they were lifted away from the ground, soaring above the house and trees. They banked around the temple itself and Lin gasped, fearing that the change in direction was actually the beginnings of a free fall. She buried her face against his neck and felt him chuckle.

"I'm not going to drop you," Tenzin called over his shoulder. The bay fanned out before them and Lin decided she was content to keep her face against his neck, breathing in his comforting scent and feeling his warmth against her nose and mouth. She heard him sputter, blowing a raspberry in the wind.

"Your hair is getting in my mouth," he laughed as her dark locks whipped about frantically. She didn't move to tie them back, wary of any sudden movements.

"Sorry," she murmured against his neck and the glider dipped suddenly. They straightened out again just as the edge of Republic City approached.

Tenzin dropped his legs as they approached, ready for a landing. He hit the ground running, but was top heavy with the added weight of Lin on his back. Realizing this, she jumped off him clumsily and they stumbled forward. Tenzin caught his balance first and reached out an arm to steady Lin before she fell to the ground.

"The landing needs work," he laughed as he pulled her back toward him.

"That was amazing," Lin told him slowly as the grin spread across her face.

"I'll have to take you out again then," Tenzin replied quietly matching her smile. They met eyes for a moment and Lin looked away after a beat, her cheeks coloring. She shook his hand from where it gripped her forearm and took a step forward.

"Come on," she instructed, passing him.

Tenzin followed her through the streets of Republic City, winding their way down alleys and roads to finally arrive at a restaurant called "Volcano"- one of Lin's favorite spots for Fire Nation cuisine, located less than a block from Police Headquarters.

The pair walked through the door and the shop keeper watched them dubiously. Lin chose a table at the far end of the shop away from the other diners and slid into the booth. Tenzin took the seat across from her.

Lin ordered Komodo chicken, Tenzin stuck with a simple seaweed salad, lightly spiced. While Lin was notoriously fanatical about spicy food, Tenzin tolerated it in moderation. He didn't have the stomach for anything that burned on the way down.

"So..." Tenzin began as he sipped his water, "did you want to talk about something?"

Lin eyed him curiously as she drank her own. She set the glass down and screwed up her face, "No, why?"

"You snuck over to my house and up to my window for no reason?" he wondered skeptically with a crease of his forehead.

"Exactly," Lin responded simply.

Tenzin looked around the room, taking in the sparse and aging decor, before asking what was really on his mind, "How did the interviews go? With Ryuu?"

Lin laughed dismissively, resting the palm of her hand against her forehead, "Not good."

"Why? What happened?"

"My Mom doesn't like him," Lin explained, straightening out again.

"Your Mom has good taste," Tenzin quipped before silencing himself with another sip of water.

"What is your deal?" Lin asked, trying to keep her face straight. When she met his smiling eyes she faltered, chuckling lightly, "What? He's not that bad."

Tenzin watched her critically, "Lin..."

"He did ask my Mom about 'seeing' Ozai in person," she admitted with giggle.

Tenzin sucked his teeth as if he were watching someone receive a painful blow, "Walked right into that one, huh?"

"He certainly did," Lin sighed, "and he didn't realize the Fire Nation was an island..."

Tenzin's face went slack and he stared at her, entirely unamused, "No. Please. You are at least joking about that."

Lin shook her head, laughing all the while, "I wish I were."

"He's-"

"Stupid," Lin provided, "I know, but at least he's not Karuna."

The waitress reappeared with their food in hand and set their plates on the table gingerly. She refilled their waters and looked between them, keeping her eyes on Lin for a lingering moment.

"I'm sorry," she finally said, "you are Toph Beifong's daughter, aren't you?"

Lin glanced at Tenzin and then looked back at the waitress, "Yes."

The waitress laughed, a little embarrassed. "I thought I recognized you. See- I'm an earthbender and your Mom comes in here every once in awhile and its just so exciting every time. She's a personal hero, you know?"

Lin pursed her lips and nodded once, a reluctant agreement.

"Must be so amazing to have her as a Mom," the waitress mused with a faint blush, "Anyway, I'm sorry. I'll let you get back to your food. I just had to say...I don't know... something!"

When she departed, Lin scowled and let out a heavy sigh, slicing off a section of chicken with excessive force. A simple comment intended as praise shifted Lin's mood noticeably.

"You okay?" Tenzin asked.

Lin huffed, "I'm fine. Its just annoying. Even when I leave the house to get away from her, I can't get away from her. You know?"

Tenzin nodded. He did know, in fact he knew better than Lin what it felt like to be the child of a famous bender. His father was the Avatar, and one of the rarest variety. Tenzin was the first Airbender born in nearly 130 years and that title came with plenty of attention. His life was lived under a microscope. At school he was coddled by teachers and teased by resentful peers. It was a challenge to be known for anything that might give him individuality. Such irony for a person of perceived uniqueness. If it weren't for the gray tunic and blue pants he wore, he would have probably been the one on the receiving end of the waitress' admiration.

He nodded, "It makes me wonder how bad it will get once I've got my tattoos."

"Then there is no going back," Lin observed, eyes widening in mock horror.

"There really won't be," he told her, "I already get it enough without them. I'm glad I wore these hand-me-downs of Bumi's out tonight."

"The worst part of it all will be having to shave your head," Lin mused with her mouth full.

"I don't know. I'm not worried about that," Tenzin replied.

"You should be. You have great hair," Lin provided. Tenzin smiled in spite of himself.

"Lin, I never knew," he teased, reaching up to run a hand along his unruly mess of dark hair.

"Oh shut up," she muttered, sticking her tongue out at him for good measure, "It's just nice is all," she commented with a shrug.

"Well don't get too attached," he announced, egotistically straightening his collar in jest.

"Can't get those tattoos until you've mastered Airbending..." Lin began, "I think I have plenty of time to say my goodbyes."

"Ouch," Tenzin laughed, slapping a hand against his chest, "right in the bending. She may be eating spicy food, but she's cold-blooded, folks."

Lin smirked at him, "Just keeping you grounded, Airhead."

The conversation continued this way throughout their meal, relating and razzing back and forth as they ate. It was a relief to be here with the only person on earth who could truly understand how easily an abstract concept like expectation could feel so much like asphyxiation. With Tenzin there was no pressure to be anything but what she was feeling at that very moment. They both afforded one another this luxury when it was required and they did so without a word of acknowledgement. They created a safe space for one another, a place where bearing the weight of their burdens could be shared.

When they finished, Lin settled up the bill because she'd dragged Tenzin from bed. They left the shop and decided to take "the long way" back to the bay. As they crossed some train tracks, Lin picked up Tenzin's hand to hurry him along. For some reason, neither of them felt the need to detach once they'd reached the other side.

Hand in hand they walked, not saying much of anything until they found themselves circling Police Headquarters. Lin looked up at the building and set her eyes upon the large statue of her mother, standing vigil over the square. She was everywhere, casting a shadow on her daughter even in absentia. Lin's eyes drifted back to the ground before her.

"Tenzin?" she asked quietly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you ever feel like you have no control over what your life will become?"

Tenzin stopped in his tracks, causing Lin to look up at him. His eyes were more honest than she'd ever seen, as if he'd wanted desperately for someone to ask him this. It was as if he'd been waiting his whole life for someone to question it out loud- just once- to make up for all the times he swallowed his fate wordlessly, "All the time."

Her eyes flicked up to the statue of her mother again before she felt Tenzin's mouth against her own.

Suddenly, Lin felt everything; the ground beneath her feet, the chill of the air against her bare skin, the soft brushing of his hand as it grasped for her waist. He drew her in as his head turned slightly, parting her lips. As she felt his tongue gently cross her own, an electricity coursed through her, shooting across her limbs and down her center, finally resulting in a wetness between her legs that surprised her more than the kiss itself. Instinctively she leaned into him, seeking some kind of relief from the building tension.

Tenzin held her tighter, tasting hints of spice on her lips and for the first time in his life, enjoying the burning feel of capsacin as she swirled her tongue against his. His hands gripped her, losing interest in their sedentary state before long- one eagerly moving up the curve of her waist as the other settled dangerously low on her back. He was careful to avoid full body contact, sure to be embarrassed by the state he was in.

Their kiss was all that existed in that moment. It was a moment that had been building for years. It was overwhelming. It was destiny.

Lin broke away when her mind wandered to that particular word. Destiny was exactly what she had just been trying to avoid. She pulled back against the will of her body which was trying desperately to stay in close contact with Tenzin's. A small sound of regret escaped her bruised lips as she stepped back from him.

Tenzin stood rooted in place as she moved away from him, holding his arms still in his confusion.

"Lin...I'm sorry," he explained, immediately assuming he'd overstepped the his bounds.

"No, it's okay," she insisted holding up one hand, "I'm just...going to go."

"I'll walk you," Tenzin offered as he took a step toward her. He paused when her body recoiled at his movement.

"No, I'll be fine," Lin insisted, attempting a casual laugh and failing miserably. She dared to look into Tenzin's eyes for a brief moment before turning to leave and it nearly destroyed her. He looked utterly bereft and confused. Lin wanted to help, to explain, but she wasn't even sure what her problem was in that moment. All she knew is that something deep inside her was screaming for her to run in the opposite direction.

"Bye," she offered weakly, turning away from him.

She didn't dare turn around, walking as quickly as her feet would carry her back in the direction of her home.

She entered her house, finding it eerily still. The lights were off and the house was silent.

Lin closed the door behind her quietly, "Lin?"

It was her mother's voice. She was already in bed.

"Yes."

"Just making sure you're home."

Lin neglected to reply to that, moving instead to her room to fall back on the bed and attempt to process the upheaval of her entire life resting on two soft and sweet lips. Her eyes closed and she could picture him clearly, could recall the weakness in her knees when he kissed her, but something wouldn't let her enjoy it. The pads of her fingertips lightly brushed her lips- a ghost of the feeling- and her lids opened, staring at the ceiling until her eyes began playing tricks in the dark.

It was overwhelming, too much to make sense of at this late hour, but she had no other choice - sleep slipped from her grasp like smoke through her fingers. The kiss she set out for today was not the one she received and she couldn't decide whether or not that was a good thing. It ran through her mind on repeat, parading through her consciousness in the form of a love story and then again as a tragedy. She re-lived it over and over until she couldn't be sure if she were awake or dreaming. It was all a haze.

The next morning she woke with a start, shaken gently by her mother, "Lin? Lin. Wake up. You're going to be late for school."

"Hmm?"

Toph's hand ran across her shoulder, "...and you are still wearing your jacket."

Lin shot out of bed, fully dressed in yesterday's clothes and made her way to the bathroom for the quickest clean-up she had ever attempted. With one last look in the mirror Lin sprinted from the house and off to school.

It was only when she arrived that she considered how deferential her mother had been that morning, waking her with a kind hand instead of a gong. She would have reflected on it further if it hadn't been for Tenzin, standing outside her classroom looking more nervous than usual.

Lin averted her eyes, shifting the bag on her shoulder as if it would protect her from his attention.

"Morning," he said, but his voice caught on it, intoning his desire to say much more.

"Morning," she volleyed, moving past him and into the classroom where her peers were settling into their seats. Tenzin followed her in, taking the open seat just behind hers.

Their literature professor was clearing his throat to begin when Lin felt Tenzin's breath at her ear, "Lin? Can we talk?"

She turned quickly to face him, underestimating just how far he had leaned over to speak. Their noses almost touched when she rounded on him and she swallowed, "Not right now. Class."

Tenzin nodded, sitting back in his chair.

This type of evasion became a game for them as the day progressed. Each time Tenzin was sure he had her cornered, she dodged him- unwilling to confront what transpired the night before. It was a role reversal and one that neither found very satisfying. The one time Tenzin was hoping for Lin to be forthright, she was anything but. It bothered her too- that she couldn't bring herself face this shift in their relationship head-on, but there was some very powerful instinct inside her that overtook her body when she looked into his pleading eyes.

The situation only intensified with the arrival of History period that afternoon. Up to that moment she had managed to escape Tenzin and her confused feelings, but now they were being smashed up against the existence of Ryuu, who smiled at her as he took his seat.

Lin returned his smile before chancing a look at Tenzin, who missed the opportunity to catch her eye entirely. His head was down and he seemed wholly focused on the words he scrawled across the page on his desk.

"Get into your groups," Professor Krung instructed. The classroom came alive with the sound of desks scratching across the floor. There was no getting around it now. Lin was banking on the presence of others to keep Tenzin from requesting her emotional attention.

She was relieved to be correct on this matter, as the conversation went immediately to their imminent presentation. They were the first group set to present. They passed their speeches around, nodding approval at each. Tenzin was the last to receive Ryuu's and did some last minute amending for the sake of all their grades before handing the papers back.

The foursome was called to the front of the room and Lin was privately pleased to find Yi suffered from a mild case of stage fright, tripping clumsily over every other word. Lin was next, delivering her two minute speech on the topic of Fire Nation cuisine deftly. Tenzin followed her, slightly more fidgety than typical, but altogether a success. The real tension came when it was time for Ryuu to step forward.

He did so casually, lifting the paper in his hand so that it was almost directly before his face as he read aloud, "Lin, I don't know if sorry is the proper word for last night. I am not sorry I kissed you, but I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I just think we should-" he paused when his mind finally caught up to his mouth.

Tenzin's face flushed a deeper shade of red than the robes he wore and Lin suddenly felt as if everything she had ever eaten in her entire life was clawing its way back up her throat.

"Oh, dude. I think this is yours," Ryuu noted, casually passing the paper back to Tenzin, who stood stock-still in humiliation before the class. A small rumble of laughter swept over the room as Ryuu moved forward grabbing the correct speech from where it sat on his desk, taking his place between the mortified pair to deliver his speech.

With their presentations and their pride behind them, the four moved back to their seats to listen to the others. Yi's eyes darted between Lin and Tenzin with thinly veiled irritation as Ryuu sat back, seemingly oblivious to the air which thickened around him.

Both Lin and Tenzin looked down at their desks, studying the grain of the wood more diligently than either previously thought possible. Lin didn't hear a word of the presentations that followed- she barely even noticed Karuna's judgmental glare from across the room. The only thing she was able to focus on through the embarrassment was the rising annoyance at Tenzin for writing it down and then being stupid enough to mix it in with Ryuu's papers. In the desk beside her, Tenzin appeared to be berating himself for the same reason.

By the time the bell rang, the tension had increased to the point that both Lin and Tenzin felt as if standing up were to fight back against a great weight. She walked in front of him, avoiding his gaze.

Lin felt a hand on her shoulder and deflated, nearly on the verge of tears just thinking of the prospect of hashing this out in front of a crowd. When she turned she saw Tenzin, but he was standing behind Ryuu whose hand rested on her shoulder.

"So. You still coming tonight?"

Lin swallowed, "...um yeah. I'll be there."

Ryuu smiled, that grin that made her crazy, and his hand shifted to pull on one her her curls flirtatiously. It bounced back merrily when he released it, "Good. See you tonight."

When Ryuu departed, all that was left in her view was Tenzin's disappointment. With a defeated sigh and a shake of his head he moved forward, "here," he managed to mumble, shoving the now infamous paper into her hands before sweeping past without another look.

It was ironic, she thought, that this folded scrap of paper felt so heavy in her palm. Her fingers closed around it, shoving it into her bag without ever unfolding edges. She didn't want to know how the letter ended, she decided. At least not yet.

It was just past eight when Lin emerged from her bedroom, hair perfectly managed, wearing a fitted black silk qipao adorned with green and gold flowers. A dragonfly hairpin of jade brought the ensemble together while highlighting her eyes.

She made her way to the living room to find her mother relaxing on the couch with her feet in Sokka's lap, listening to him review his talking points for tomorrow's debate.

"I'm going out," Lin informed them casually.

"Whoa," Sokka commented, lowering his papers and taking her in, "where are you going looking like that?"

"A friend from school's house," Lin replied.

"Oh? This wouldn't happen to be the same friend that was over last night?"

"It would not."

"Wait, wait, wait," Toph drawled, "we need details. Who is this person? Who is going with you?"

Lin groaned, "It's this girl, Kyung Mi, you don't know her. She's having a couple people over. She lives in the Jade Gardens neighborhood."

"Will her parents be there?" Toph inquired. Lin glanced at her feet, securely in Sokka's lap.

"Yes," she lied.

"And you're just going alone?" Toph followed.

"Kya is going to be there," Lin offered.

"Oh yeah, that makes me feel so much better," Toph reported sarcastically.

"I think Bumi is going too," Lin provided.

"Okay, kid. Stop while you're ahead. You can go- just don't stay out late. Eleven is your curfew- you read me? We've got to be up and at City Hall looking like a polished family by 8 a.m."

"I know," Lin sighed, "I know."

Sokka smiled at her exasperation, "Get out of here before she changes her mind. Have fun and be careful."

"Thank you," Lin breathed finally, exiting the house.

The party seemed to be in full swing by the time Lin arrived. She knew she had the right house when she spotted a classmate sitting in the open front window. The music rattling the other windows didn't hurt either. She pushed the door open to find the front room packed with people, dancing and drinking with equal vigor.

At the epicenter of a particularly rowdy circle of drinkers, she found Bumi slamming back a shot of whiskey. A cheer went up as he held the empty shot glass aloft. He spotted her out of the corner of his eye and his face lit up, "BEIFONG!"

He jumped up and made his way to her, "Beifong!" he repeated enthusiastically as he settled his large hands on her shoulders, looking her dead in the eye, "What the flying hog-monkey did you do to my baby brother?"

Lin's eyes widened, "Excuse me?"

Bumi turned, shouting, "Someone get this girl a drink! She's too uptight!" He ran toward another boy who brandished a large glass bottle full of amber liquid. He over-poured her shot enough to admonish himself for wasting "precious whiskey" as he referred to it, taking special care to walk the full glass carefully to her.

"Beifong, here. Take this," he instructed. She watched him with disdain, taking the glass from him anyway. She tipped it back and almost spit it back out- the burning sensation it caused nearly singed her eyebrows. When she finished she pulled a face, shoulders shaking once. So, this was whiskey. She didn't like whiskey.

"Aw, you okay?" cooed a concerned voice from her left. It was Ryuu, watching her pass the glass back to Bumi. Lin wasn't sure if the heat in her body was a product of the whiskey or his presence, but something inside her tingled.

"Fine, thanks," she returned.

"I'm impressed," Ryuu nodded, "want another?"

"I don't know about that," Lin laughed still shaking the taste. Ryuu laughed, reaching down to grab her hand.

"Let's find you something you'll like better then," he said, pulling her deeper into the house. Lin glanced over her shoulder at Bumi, still wondering what he meant to say about Tenzin. He watched her disappear into the crowd with a lifted eyebrow.

The kitchen was somehow even more packed than the living room and Lin began to wonder if all of Yu Dao's students were here. She had to turn sideways to follow Ryuu toward the counter, which glittered with different colored glass bottles.

"Okay," Ryuu bargained, "one more shot and then I'll get you something better!" He reached over pouring something clear into a glass quite a bit larger than the one Bumi had given her. He filled it half-way and passed it to her, doing the same for himself. "I'll take one with you."

He clinked the his glass against her own before swallowing it without fanfare. It took Lin more than one swallow, but she managed it without coughing. Her eyes watered.

"Nice," he commended, throwing one arm around her shoulders and planting a kiss on her temple. He released her immediately to begin concocting another drink, but this one she noticed was equal parts lychee juice. He passed it to her.

"It's kind of crowded in here," Lin commented as a girl from her civics class stumbled into her shoulder.

Ryuu nodded, grabbing her hand again and leading her back into the hallway. They stopped there in the narrow space and he stood before her as she leaned against the wall. Lin sipped her drink, finding it much better than the others, "Here?"

Ryuu shrugged, "There isn't really anywhere to sit. We could go upstairs if you want."

Her pulse raced at the idea of being alone with him. It wasn't a pleasant rush, it was a panicked one. Lin hadn't been to many house parties before, but she had a pretty clear of idea what it meant to go upstairs with a boy, "Here is fine."

"I'm glad you came," he told her.

"Me too," she agreed, taking another sip.

Their conversation went on, dancing around topics of any consequence. They talked about competitive bending and about school as Lin sipped her drink. It must have been a mix of the company and the lychee concoction, but Lin was beginning to feel downright giddy- laughing honestly at almost everything that came out of Ryuu's pretty face.

She was astounded that she managed to keep his attention. Before she arrived she was nervous that he might not give her more than a passing glance, but here she was- the center of his universe in a house full of people. The only distractions came when someone would pass with a bottle that Ryuu insisted they stop and take a shot from.

"So what's going on with you and the Avatar's son?" Ryuu wondered finally, looking mildly put off.

"Tenzin?" she asked, "He's my friend."

"I saw that note he tried passing you," he followed, lifting his eyebrows. "It kind of sucked because I guess I was hoping you were into me."

Lin smiled, "really?"

She was into Ryuu. She was into him for his perfect face, she was into him for his terrible earthbending advice, she was into him for his poor geographical knowledge- she was into him for all the reasons her mother wasn't. It hit her then, that what she was really into was the idea that she chose to be. It was her decision. Ryuu was unexpected, unplanned, something of her own will - not something she was destined for.

"Yeah," he returned, "I think I'm gonna kiss you."

"Okay."

He leaned in, skipping any formalities by barging into her mouth. He was aggressive, but not altogether disagreeable. He pushed up against her, pinning her against he wall. Lin held her drink aloft with one hand as the other tangled in his dark hair.

She wasn't sure how long they'd been kissing when she felt someone grip her free wrist with authority. Still, Lin refused to break away from Ryuu. It took one quick tug to move her and Lin saw Kya attached to the end of her arm, "Come on, sis."

"Kya!" Lin burst happily. "Ryuu you remember Kya!? How is the North Pole?"

Ryuu stumbled back a bit as Kya dragged Lin away, "Hey! Where are you going?"

"I don't know," Lin reported gleefully as Kya twisted her body and shoved her into the bathroom without a word. The door closed quickly and Kya twisted the lock.

"What the hell are you doing, Lin?"

Lin blinked blearily, "Um...trying to get this room to stop spinning."

Kya sighed, smiling lightly, "You are so drunk."

"That's probably true," Lin agreed, leaning against the sink.

"Oh it's definitely true," Kya returned with a laugh that Lin echoed lazily. "But I meant specifically. Do you realize that you were just kissing the biggest asshole to ever walk the halls of Yu Dao?"

"What? No," Lin argued, "he's just stupid."

Kya watched her with sympathy, shaking her head, "Oh sweetie, no. No. He just wants to fuck you."

Lin's eyes went wide, "And? I'm waiting for you to get to the bad part."

Kya rolled her eyes and leaned against the door, "Lin. Seriously. I don't think you know what you're getting into here."

Just as Lin was about to argue her case there was a banging on the door, "Hey! Let me in!"

It was Bumi's voice and so Kya pushed off the door, opening it slightly, "Bumi we are having girl talk in here."

Bumi smiled brightly, "That's my area of expertise!"

Kya's eyes rolled as Bumi pushed his way in, closing the door behind him. Bumi tossed imaginary hair over his shoulder dramatically before locking eyes with Lin, "Girl, what are you thinking?"

Lin gaped, "You two are totally over-reacting."

Their heads shook in unison, "Lin," Kya began, "I'm not trying to tell you how to live your life or anything, but I can see this mistake coming a mile away. You are too drunk to be alone with this guy."

"We're in a house full of people," Lin argued, "and he's not as bad as you think. He's just stupid."

Bumi sighed, putting his palms together just before his face, "Beifong," he said gravely, pointing his pressed hands in her direction, "I'm going to level with you here."

He drew a breath, shoring up the strength to say something particularly difficult, "This pains me to admit, but you got hot."

Lin rolled her eyes and Kya deflated, "Bumi..." she whined.

"No, no. Wait. Let me finish," he insisted, "This is an actual thing. This is a thing that is talked about. Beifong has shot to the top of the list this year. Ryuu is just trying to cross you off the list, Beifong. You are hot. Like, not the regular kind of hot like Haruka, but the kind of hot where dudes want you to step on them wearing high heels."

The ladies in the room narrowed their eyes at him, "you are revealing an awful lot about yourself there, Bumi," Lin commented dryly.

"Not me!" he argued, hand to his heart, "but trust me- this is a smarmy conquest thing. He doesn't actually want to date you."

"Maybe I don't want to date him!" Lin shot back. She finished the remainder of her drink quickly.

"Okay, Okay," Kya soothed, putting her hands up, "I think maybe we should just walk you home, Lin. You've had a lot to drink and-"

She was cut off by Lin's frustrated growl, "I'm fine. I don't need either of you to tell me what to do. I'm not a child."

"You're fifteen," Bumi laughed.

"Oh thank you, you wizened seventeen year old sage," Lin spat. There was another knock on the door.

Ryuu's voice filtered through, "Lin?"

"She's taking a shit!" Bumi returned loudly, "it's gonna be a minute!"

Lin's eyes filled with a burning fire, forcibly shoving Bumi away from the door with a clumsy hand and pushing it open.

"What's going on in there?" Ryuu asked as she emerged, Kya following close behind.

"Nothing, let's go." She grabbed his hand and moved down the hall.

"You wanna go upstairs?" he asked.

"Yes."

They hadn't made it past the first step when Bumi called for them to stop. Ryuu turned to face him.

"Ryuu, seriously dude. I can't let you take her up there."

Ryuu watched him critically, "Maybe you should mind your own business."

The adrenaline of the moment seemed to be wearing off because the previously sure and steady Lin Beifong wobbled on the step, crashing into Ryuu's chest.

"Look at her," Bumi argued.

Ryuu held her up, "You okay?"

Lin nodded, but her eyes barely opened. "She's fine," he reported, taking another step.

"Yeah, okay," Bumi sighed before reaching back to gather enough momentum for one hell of an uppercut punch. His fist connected with the underside of Ryuu's jaw and he stumbled back, losing his grip on Lin, who fell back on the steps as well. Ryuu was up again in a second, launching himself at Bumi.

The partygoers scrambled to give the wrestling pair some space as they tumbled back into the living room. Kya moved quickly to Lin, lifting her by the elbow.

Bumi and Ryuu continued to pummel one another, exchanging quite a few blows before Kya noticed something else clearing the room. The crowd suddenly began a frantic exit, heading toward the back door.

"COPS!" someone shouted.

That was enough to break the spell of their fight and Ryuu scrambled up, running toward the back door with the rest of the masses.

"Coward!" Bumi shouted after him, standing on two shaking legs.

"Come on! Let's go!" Bumi shouted at Kya who was attempting to lift Lin on her own. She was practically dead weight at that point and Bumi grimaced, making his way back to the stairs, "I swear to the fucking spirits, Beifong," he growled, lifting Lin and throwing her limp body over his shoulder.

"Stop right there, son," an authoritative voice commanded from behind him and Bumi sighed. "Lin?" the officer asked.

Lin lifted her head slightly, hair hanging in her face, "Oh. Hi, Kato."

Officer Kato helped Bumi lift Lin into the wagon, "go on in you two," he instructed Kya and her brother. They took a seat on the bench beside Lin, her head rolled onto Kya's shoulder unceremoniously.

Kato hopped into the carriage, kneeling down to be level with Lin, "Listen kiddo. I'm going to take you back to your Mom," he looked at all three of them, "you're all very lucky it was me that picked you up. Some of the other officers might not be so forgiving."

Bumi nodded, "Are you forgiving enough to just drop us off without coming to the door, errr?"

"I'm taking you all the the Chief's house," he informed them as he hopped back out onto the ground, "you're gonna need some ice on that shiner, kid," he told Bumi, closing the wagon doors.

The carriage began to jostle, moving forward. Kya sighed, "I'm so glad I decided to come home for Harmony Week!"

"You owe me big time, Beifong," Bumi grumbled beside her.

"I think I'm going to throw up," Lin announced, as tears began to pour from her eyes. Kya reached over to rub her back, "Shhhh. It's okay."

"I messed it up. I messed it all up," Lin cried, holding her head in her hands, "I don't even like Ryuu."

Bumi glared at her, but Kya continued to comfort, "I don't even like him and Bumi got punched in the face," Lin sobbed.

"Yeah, I remember," Bumi noted, coldly.

"I'm sorry," Lin winced, "I have to pee. My Mom is going to murder me."

"Why are you still talking?" Bumi asked.

"Bumi, leave her alone," Kya scolded, "she's had a rough night."

"No sympathy for the guy with the swollen eye, then?"

Lin leaned over, holding her head, "I should just do what everyone wants me to do. I should just be a police and marry Tenzin and metalbend all day."

"'Be a police?'" Bumi repeated.

"Exactly," Lin sniffled. "I like all that too. I like metalbending and policing and Tenzin too," her head dipped further, "I really like Tenzin."

Bumi's head went back, exasperated, "We know! We got it, Beifong. You can stop talking now."

His request seemed to get through, because that was the last thing she said on their ride back to her house. The carriage stopped and all three of them felt dread fill their bodies. When the door opened, Lin could see her yard. They all hopped out with Kato's help.

Kato reached up to knock on the front door, which opened quickly to reveal the small frame of Toph Beifong.

"Kato?" she asked.

"Evening, boss," he replied, "I found some things at a house party in Jade Gardens I thought might belong to you."

Toph nodded, "Bring 'em in." The three teenagers filed in and her face contorted, "you smell like a bar."

Sokka was just inside, watching the teenagers arrive with a critical look. None of them met his eyes.

"I figured I'd let you take care of this privately," Kato said, "I know it's a precarious time in terms of P.R."

Sokka nodded gratefully, the last thing he needed a few weeks before the election was bad press for his family- not to mention the kind of fire Toph might endure as the Chief of Police that has trouble keeping her own child inside the law.

"Thanks, Kato. We appreciate it," Toph agreed, "we can take it from here."

"You got it. See you, Monday," he nodded, leaving the house. The room was silent as they heard the ostrich-horses trotting away.

"Lin-" Toph began, but was cut off by the sudden sound of her retching.

"Eww," Bumi commented, as Lin bent over, losing all that she had ingested that day.

"Okay," Toph sighed, "Sokka, why don't you take these two back to the island and I'll handle this one."

"You sure?"

"Oh I'm certain," Toph confirmed.

Sokka went to the sink, pouring water into a glass that Kya froze, sliding the block out to hold against Bumi's eye, "We won't be long."

The three of them exited the house, leaving Toph standing over her sick daughter. She left the room, returning with a towel that she shoved at Lin, "Clean it up."

Lin did as she was told, too weak to argue and too intoxicated to do a sufficient job. After a few minutes of hapless scrubbing, Toph hauled her to her feet, guiding her down the hallway.

"Let's get your teeth brushed," she sighed. Once inside the bathroom, Lin dove straight for the toilet, vomiting a second time. On very unsteady legs she stood, dumping far too much tooth powder on her brush before holding it under the water.

"What did I do to you, Lin?" Toph asked as she stood in the bathroom doorway. "Hmm? What did I do to make you behave this way? Are you trying to get back at me for something?"

"No," Lin returned, spitting into the sink.

"Are you trying to prove something by disappointing me?"

Lin felt tears stinging her eyes, "No."

"Whatever it is, you've made your point," Toph replied, reaching out to grip her elbow and guide her to bed, "I won't be expecting anything from you now."

Lin sniffled, struggling to remove the silk dress around her torso. Toph reached out, helping her to tug it off, passing a loose cotton tunic to her instead.

"Here, drink this," Toph instructed, holding out a glass of water. Lin gulped it hungrily, truly understanding the healing power of water for the first time. She lay back in bed and Toph pulled the blankets over her prostrate form.

"You really shot Sokka through the heart tonight, kid," Toph sighed. "He was counting on your support tomorrow."

Lin looked away, closing her eyes, which squeezed out fresh tears.

"Just do me one favor and use the garbage can if you need to throw up again," Toph finished, closing Lin's bedroom door behind.

The morning sun pushed its way through her lids. Lin grudgingly opened her eyes, realizing her mother had thrown the windows wide open as she slept. The light was painful and Lin's nausea was far from over. She looked at her side table, reading the clock. It was 10:20 a.m.

She managed to sit up, long enough to turn on the small wireless radio beside the clock. Sokka's voice poured out, wrapping her in a blanket of guilt that only exacerbated her queasy feeling.

Lin watched the ceiling, which moved of its own accord, listening to Atka and Sokka go back and forth. They seemed deadlocked, no clear winner. Just as Lin felt was true in her own life- both paths before her were dead ends- nothing seemed to fit. It seemed she was in a constant struggle with her fate and her independence, unable to strike a balance.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, she recalled Aang's words, "when two paths seem at odds, choose the middle way."

And for the first time of her own free will, Lin settled herself on the floor, legs crossed, and meditated for an answer.