Disclaimer: I don't own avatar the last airbender or legend of korra

Suyin reached for the cookies in the plate next to her bedside. Lin tugged her away by her dress.

"Can't you stand still for a minute? Let me just tie your dress and you can eat all the cookies that you want."

"But Lin!" Su pouted. "I've been standing for an entire hour. Don't let me starve."

The eldest Bei Fong just rolled her eyes. "Cookies aren't even healthy for you."

"Neither are fire flakes." Suyin crossed her arms and looked at her sister victoriously. Lin tried her hardest not to stick her tongue out to her sister and stooping down to her immature level. She continued to struggle with the wrap around Suyin's dress, both their patients wearing thin.

"How long does it take to tie that stupid thing?"

Lin glared up at her sister and decided to quit. She stood up and decided to fix her own hair. "I don't know. How about you try for once."

"I don't know how though."

"Figure it out."

"But-"

"You're the one that didn't want the maids to help."

"Because they push and shove."

"So do I."

"But I can push and shove back." Suyin smirked reminding Lin of Toph whenever she was acting mischevious.

"Yeah. And the moment I end up in a stone wall, Grandfather will disown you."

"You are one of the meanest human beings I have ever met."

"Get over it."

"Doesn't that bother you? You little sister thinks your a monster."

"Not really."

"But Liiiiiinnnnnnn." Suyin moaned again.

"Stop being lazy!"

"I'm not lazy!"

"My headache is telling me you two are fighting once again."

The two girls stopped talking at once. Lin looked at the doorway towards her mother. She gave her a look before going back to fixing her hair. Suyin, on the other hand, had froze up. The whole "I hate you" incident had only occurred yesterday. With the party tonight, the entire household was busy getting ready not giving a chance for the mother and daughter to talk. Suyin had not even been able to apologize and seeing her mother in the doorway made her heart beat erratically.

Lin pinned part of her hair up and inspected her adjustment. "Suyin keeps yelling at me because I can't tie her wrap right. She hasn't even tried herself."

"Does Mom have to do everything?" Toph began walking towards her youngest daughter standing near the bed that Suyin and Lin were currently sharing. Even if she wasn't on the best terms with her mother right now, she will always admire her. Toph was currently dressed in some very regal robes and a green dress. The servants had helped her get ready. Her hair was put into an eloquent design which included a formal earth kingdom headpiece. She and Lin were currently wearing similar clothing minus the head piece.

The master earthbender kneeled down and searched for the wrap on the floor. Suyin watched for a couple seconds before directing her mother.

"It's to your left."

Toph smirked. "Well aren't you very helpful for someone who hates me."

Lin flinched along with her sister at their mother's tough love.

Suyin played with her hands. Her mother's came to her waist and pulled her closer. Toph nudged her daughter's arms upward and Su complied. The wrap came around her waist and her mother tied it perfectly in only thirty seconds.

The youngest Bei Fong tried talking again. "How do you know how to do that so fast?"

Toph just snickered. "I didn't have a choice but to learn while I was growing up. That plus all the manners that you see your Grandfather and Grandmother do all the time. I know how to do that stuff too."

"How come you never do it then?"

"I don't want to."

Lin walked over to them and sat on the bed. "Which is exactly why Grandfather hates the way we behave."

"Well your Grandfather is just very strict." The chief of police was frowning now. "If I hadn't left this house like I did when I was twelve, I wouldn't know where I would have been. I wouldn't have discovered metalbending. I would have never become chief of police. And more importantly, I would have never had you guys."

"I'm glad you ran away, Mom."

Toph gave her a look. "But I thought you hated me, Su? You specifically told me yesterday during your performance at dinner. Why would you be glad that I did all that stuff if you even don't like me?"

Lin rolled her eyes. "Give her a break, Mom."

"I didn't mean it, Mom." Su wiped at her eyes trying to rid the evidence of her crying. "I don't hate you at all. I was angry. I'm sorry."

Toph cupped her ear. "Sorry, I didn't hear that. What did you say?"

"I'm sorry, Mom."

Toph surprised Suyin and pulled her into her arms. The two hugged for a while. Lin just scowled before busying herself with her clothing once more.

"Listen here, badgermole. I know that you butt heads with Lin and I, but we both try our best to look out for you. Just appreciate it a bit more alright? If anything you remind me a lot of myself back when I was a kid." Toph just laughed as she rubbed Su's back.

"Really?" Suyin pulled back excited.

Toph smiled. "Of course! I was such a…what is it you call her, Lin?"

"A brat." Lin sneered.

"There it is! I really was a brat. Just ask your Aunt Katara. I gave her so much crap. We spent more time arguing than actually getting along. Don't get me wrong, we are still friends. It's just the way we work." Toph rubbed the back of her neck as she reminisced.

Suyin giggled. "You must have made Aunt Katara blow her top off."

"I sure did. And still do in fact. I remember this one time during the war-"

"As much as I would love to hear that story," Lin got up the bed and continued talking. "We should really get out to the party before Grandfather and Grandmother come and grab us themselves."

Each girl took their mother's hand and the three walked out into the hallway. They began their journey towards the grand hall where the party was being held.

Suyin looked up to her mother as they walked. "By the way, what's this party even for?"

Toph fake gasped. "I'm offended."

"Why?" Lin asked. She had to admit that she had no knowledge of what the party was for. She and Suyin were just told to get ready by their Grandmother. The two didn't ask questions.

"It's my birthday."

Lin and Suyin looked at each other wide eyed as the doors opened to the grand hall. The crowd applauded and the two girls almost missed their queue to bow with their mother. Toph, Lin, and Suyin bowed gracefully and returned to standing up straight. Lin had schooled her sister on proper etiquette before the party and even though both were not properly educated like their mother, they were still of high class blood. They easily picked it up enough to make their actions convincing. Regarding their mother's birthday, Toph had never made a very big deal about it. Lin and Suyin would both get her gifts and the Bei Fongs would usually celebrate in bed until Katara called them for a big birthday dinner on the island. Whether it be the trip to Gaoling or Suyin acting out, both girls had forgotten.

The two sisters were pulled out of their shock when their grandparents approached them. Once again, they bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, girls."

"Good evening, Grandfather." Lin and Suyin answered at the same time.

Poppy Beifong approached her daughter and pulled her into an embrace. "Happy birthday, darling."

"Thanks, Mom." Toph answered with as much joy she can put into her voice. "You really didn't have to go to this much trouble for my birthday. I could have easily celebrated it in the city."

"Nonsense! You deserve much better. Come. I must introduce you to your guests."

Lin and Suyin watched their mother walk away with their grandmother. The pair had approached a group of men and was making light conversation. They could see the signs of discomfort in their mother's stance and gestures. Before they could even say a word, Lin and Suyin felt their grandfather's hands grab theirs and were directed in the opposite direction.

Suyin looked up to Lao Beifong. "Aren't we going to go with Mom?"

He shook his head. "Not right now. She must get acquainted with the guests. Are you girls hungry?"

The two answered in sync. "Yes, Grandfather."

He had led them to an elegant table and helped them get seated. Several servants filled the table with various types of food. Once again, Su had almost dived in. Lin secretly kicked her in the shin and directed her to her chopsticks. The youngest Bei Fong grumbled but complied. They hadn't noticed how hungry they actually were until they began eating. Mesmerized by the high class food, Lin and Suyin didn't notice their grandfather walk away.

Suyin called out to her sister. "Lin, pass the tofu."

"Hold on. Let me get some." The eldest Bei Fong grabbed several pieces before passing it to Suyin. Her eyes fell on the fresh pan fried noodles that were placed on the table and she smiled. "Look! They made Mom's favorite!"

"Mom loves noodles!" Suyin popped some tofu into her mouth and swallowed before speaking again. "Has she eaten yet?"

Lin slurped the noodles up and looked out into the crowd. She searched for her mother's blank eyes, but was only met with disappointment. "I don't see her anywhere."

"Her loss." Suyin continued eating.

At that moment, Lin and Su spotted the same men that Toph and Poppy had talked to at the beginning of the party. They held expensive glasses in their hands, halfway full with the wine offered. Their manly laughs echoed near the table. They talked, unaware that Lin and Suyin could hear them perfectly well with their trained senses.

"I know now why she's chief of police. What a brute woman."

The girls' eyebrows rose.

"She may be brute, but imagine how she is in bed. I'd like a ticket for that ride."

The men laughed heartily. The Bei Fong sisters were scowling now.

"The woman is vicious, but her body almost convinced me to ask for her hand in marriage. If I had that waiting for me at home every night, I wouldn't waste my time with the girls at the bars."

"Marriage? Yeah right, not with her two demon children. I heard they fight like two rabid hog monkeys."

"I blame it on their fathers. You would only expect much when you have to raise two bastards with two different fathers."

"Who cares. Whoever those guys were are lucky if they got to bang Bei Fong."

During the entire conversation, the two girls seated back at the table were clenching their teeth. Lin's fists were squeezed so hard, she hadn't noticed the corner of the metal table start to curl. Suyin, on the other hand, was holding the table tightly, unaware that she herself had deformed the table, making an imprint with her hands.

"Lin." Su growled to her sister quietly as possible. The eleven year old remained scowled, but didn't respond.

Suyin called out again. "Lin. They're talking about Mom."

"No shit."

Su was shocked out of her anger by her sister's use of language. At that moment her hands released their grip on the table. She went into even greater shock at the deformed metal.

"Lin. I just metalbended."

The eldest Bei Fong looked over and found what her sister was staring at. She gave Su an indifferent look. "Good."

Su couldn't help but scowl. "Good? That's all you're gonna say?"

"Good because you can help me with my plan."

"You have a plan?" Suyin looked at her quizzically.

"I won't let those idiots get away with what they said about Mom."

The youngest out of the two crossed her arms impressed. "My big sister has a plan? Maybe you do really know how to have fun."

"And what kind of fun are we engaging ourselves into?"

Lin's and Su's backs straightened.

"May I see you two in my study?" Lao asked calmly.

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