Dear Mako,
Mom looked kind of sad when I asked, but she said she would take me to the Earth Rumble this year.
"It's good that you're still going to Goaling, Lin." Tenzin said over supper.
"I didn't know your mother that well, but I think she'd want you to go." Pema added. They were both doing their best to comfort her, to the point of being annoying. Of course Lin knew what Pema said was true. Her mother would smack her upside the head if she found out that the woman she raised to be as tough as her armor was avoiding the tournament because of the memories it brought.
"Hey, Mom, can we go in the ring this year?"
"Not a chance, Kid. You're too young."
"Hey! You were my age when you went in."
"I had a lot more training." That was the end of the conversation. As Lin and her boy started towards the docks she heard a very familar, very snobbish voice, whisper,
"...least they won't be destroying the island anymore." Father Superior obviously thought they were still in the house with the airheads...either that or he was just asking for it. She leaned down and pulled Bolin close,
"What do you say, Boy, you up for a lesson?"
"You bet." He grinned, almost evilly, he couldn't quite pull off an evil smirk just yet.
BOOM...CRASH...SMASH. CRASH. CRASH... Every inhabitant of the island came out to witness the destruction.
"It looks better this way." Lin nodded her approval as she surveyed the damage to the training area. It was worst than when the windbag broke it off with her.
"Sure does, Mom."
"Let's go home."
"Lin...why?" Tenzin was making a mental list of what he, his wife or his daughter may have done to anger the earthbenders.
"Because," she looked at Father Superior, who's face was so dark red that it looked purple, "it was fun."
We were mean to Father...something. But he was mean first. We were mean to Uncle Tenzin, too, I guess. But we fixed it once we got back to the city. The Rumble was great, but not the same. I miss watching Grammy fight. I miss you, too. I hope we find you soon.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Aunt Pema had her baby. It's a girl. Her name is Ikki. I don't like the name because it sounds like icky. I didn't tell Aunt Pema or Uncle Tenzin that. She looks funny right now. Mom says she will grow out of it. I don't know. You can see her when we find you,
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
I'm ten now. We went to the Fire Nation for my birthday.
"Faster, Aunt Kya!" Bolin shouted from his spot on the ice board.
"If you say so." She sped up into the wave. As they were coming out of it Bolin lost his grip, "Bo!" Every adult and most of the children rushed to where he'd fallen off, but it wasn't long before the waterbender pulled him back to the surface. He spit out water as she pulled him into shallow waters.
"Let's do that again."
"Umm," Kya saw Lin giving her boy the death glare. It hadn't taken a life yet, but it was only a matter of time, "Let's not."
" 'Sides, Rhy," Bumi had taken it upon himself to keep Toph's nickname alive, "You still haven't opened your presents."
Mom said I can't go waterbending surfing again until I learn how to hold on. Oh, well. I bet you would have made it. When we find you, you can try. I miss you.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Happy Birthday! I hope you're okay.
"Mom, it wasn't him, was it?" Bolin overheard an officer say they found a body of a street kid.
"No, he had blue eyes." His mother was quick to assure.
"Are we ever going to find him?" It'd been four years already and no sign of his big brother. What could Lin say? 'Odds are we'll never find him'? No. That might be true, but Mako was family, and they didn't turn their backs on family.
"We won't stop looking until we do."
We'll find you. Even if it takes a hundred years!
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Aunt Pema is having a baby.
"Tenzin, hand the girl to your wife before you faint."
"Alright." He said quickly handing his child over to Pema. The few people who used seismic sense to Lin's extent could predict such things very well, and he trusted that he would hit the floor in the next few seconds. "Strange," he said after a moment, "I don't feel faint."
"She's pregnant."
THUD
Uncle Tenzin fainted! Funny, huh? Hope to see you soon.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Sorry I have not wrote in a while. I'm eleven. Just a normal birthday. Good food and presents. Only thing missing was you. Wish you were here.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Happy Birthday. Thirteen huh? You're a teenager now. Doesn't seem like five years since I saw you last.
"You see anything, Boy?" Lin asked as Bolin closed his eyes and smacked the ground with the palm of his hand.
"A bird on brick wall, that's about it."
"Good. You seismic sense is getting better. You don't need me to double check you anymore."
"Great!" He grinned, "Since there's two of us, we can search the whole city!" They'd find Mako in no time.
"We'll search as much as we can."
Just be careful, I'll find you as fast as I can.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Why can't Mom and Pabu get along?
Bolin walked into the kitchen after his morning training and bath, with his faithful pet on his shoulder. As soon as the chief laid eyes on the animal, her expression turned sour,
"Get that filthy rodent outta here." She growled. Pabu hissed at her. Bolin closed the fire ferret's muzzle.
"Wait right here, Buddy." He set Pabu right outside the kitchen boundaries, "You know, that wasn't one of the rules you made," he got a look that could stop a charging Sabertooth Mooselion, "but he is an animal so I guess it'd be best if he stayed out." he shoveled some food into his mouth before he said something else that could get him in trouble.
"Nice cover." She watched him eat in mild annoyance. Yes he was technically using table manners, but he stuffed his face as fast as he could, "You'd think I starved you."
"I'm a growing boy." he covered his mouth to belch.
"Go get your bag. We need to go."
"Okay." he ran past Pabu.
"Quit running," she got up and went to the sitting room, "we're not going to a fire!" The rodent climbed up her armor nudged her head with his nose.
"Alright, here you go, Rodent." She said quietly as she gave him a small piece of meat, "Just don't tell the boy, don't want him to think I like you. I'd never hear the end of it." She scratched him behind his ear.
"Mom, I can't find my bag!"
"You better find it! You don't want me to come up there and find it for you!"
"...Got it!" As the thundering footsteps of a boy in a hurry came closer, Lin shooed the animal off her shoulder before Bolin could see.
"Dumb rodent."
HISS
Don't worry, I'm sure you and Pabu will be best buddies. Can't wait to find you,
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
His name is Meelo. That's a funny name, but I like it. Wonder how many kids Aunt Pema's going to have?
"Uncle Tenzin, I know a man has to put the baby in a lady's stomach," cue adults choking on their drinks, "but how?"
"Lin. Would you please explain this to your son; elsewhere?"
"How would mom know?" Bolin asked, "She's a girl and I'm adopted."
"That's right, Tenzin." Lin smirked, "Besides, you gotta practice for your boy."
"Dear, I think he should hear this from a man." Pema said sweetly to save the argument which Lin would win anyway.
"I'm not going to get out of this am I?" everyone shook their heads, "...Come along, Bolin." The airbender tried to ignore the roaring laughter that followed him out of the room.
I'm never having kids; gross! Don't think you should either. I'll tell you about it when we find you.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
It's my birthday again. Mom took me to the Pro Bending Arena.
"That was so cool!"
"It's not as good as the Earth Rumble." Lin shrugged, it used to be, but then they added zones, forbid the use of ice and told the earthbenders that they could only throw discs. This was still a nice game to pass the time, but she preferred a match that would actually test bending ability.
"No, but it uses three elements." He defended it. There wasn't a point in arguing with an twelve-year-old, so she just kept silent and waited for the next match.
The matches were awesome. I wonder if you've ever seen one. When we find you, we'll go to one, just you and me.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Mom's training me for the upcoming Earth Rumble. Isn't that cool? I'll write you and let you know how it turns out. Maybe if we're lucky, we'll find you in time for you to come watch me. Miss you.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
I lost.
"And the match goes to Rhyolite!" The host called as the blindfolded boy tiredly raised his arm in victory. The crowd cheered him on, "His next opponent, your champion, Stone Feng!" Bolin got into his stance as the fighter entered the ring,
"Listen, Kid, you may have the Beifong name, but you ain't got the blood." The crowd 'ohh'ed. Bolin frowned a little, then remembered what his mom told him, 'They're gonna taunt you. They're gonna make you feel worthless, it's all a show to make you mess up so don't listen to a word...and Son, don't even try any comebacks. Be the strong silent type', she'd told him that last part after hearing him rehearse a few comeback lines.
Bolin sunk the ground beneath Stone Feng, the fighter went with it, burrowing under ground. But he couldn't see under ground like a Beifong could. Bolin reasoned that because of this he must be going to come straight up behind him, so he propelled himself to the spot his opponent left...and flew out of the ring as the ground he stood on rose up at great speed. He'd fallen into a trap.
"The winner and still Champion, Stone Feng!"
"You alright, Son?" Lin asked him as he shook the dirt off.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"What for?"
"I didn't win." Bolin hung his head in shame.
"I told you to do your best and you won five outta six matches."
"Yeah, but you won them all. When you were nine!"
"I was also a master earthbender at nine." she patted his shoulder, "You did fine."
"I am the greatest earthbender in the world!" Stone Feng held up his belt, "No Beifong imitator is gonna take this away!" Both Beifongs took offence. There was gloating and then there was hitting below the belt. Luckily, as everyone knew, if the reigning champion won they'd give someone in the audience a chance. And Lin would love to put that moron in his place.
"You want me to go kick his ass?" She asked, crossing her arms and glaring at the champ.
"...Yeah." he handed over the blindfold.
"...I'll give this sack of money to anyone who can defeat Stone Feng!" The host announced. Lin stormed up to the stage.
Mom won. It looked like it hurt. A lot. He made mom mad. Don't ever do that. Hope I see you soon.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Now we're both teenagers. Ikki put her hands in the cake, it was still good though. Hope to find you soon.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
I have a girlfriend now.
He and his girlfriend walked along the beach not knowing that they were being watched.
"Lin, come look!" Pema whispered excitedly. Lin walked over to see her son about to kiss a visiting acolyte girl.
RUMMMMBBBLE...SPLASH! Bolin landed in the somewhat cold water.
"Mom!"
"Lin!"
"It's for his own good."
Mom does not like her. Aunt Pema says that we just make mom feel old. Moms are weird. It's not my fault she feels old! Anyway, I hope to find you soon.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Happy fifteenth birthday! I hope you get a present. And I hope we can bring you home soon. I'm really starting to worry about you. I know you probably aren't getting any of these letters, but I like sending them. I don't know why. It just seems right. I just wish we could get you off the streets. The family I'm in isn't like our old family...
"Wooohoooo!" Bumi shouted as he Kya and Lin chased Tenzin around the large room, eventually tackling him to the ground while Pema looked on with worry. The current and previous Fire Lords were calmly engrossed in a game of Pai Sho, never concerned with the fact that Bolin was switching the tiles when they turned their heads. Katara put on an extravagant water show to keep the children busy; Iroh and some of his cousins were trying to one up each other in a test of strength which could destroy furniture at any given time. Just a normal gathering of his crazy family.
..but it's good. As always, I miss you, big brother.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
My girlfriend broke up with me. It sucks. Anyway, I'm gonna fight in the Earth Rumble again and Asami gets to come with me. I hope you can come watch me fight to. I miss you, big brother.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
You are looking at, well not looking at, but I am the new Earth Rumble Champion!
He huffed, exhausted from fighting, but stood proud as he held his belt high. Asami ruffled his hair as the crowd surrounded him and cheered. He saw his mom leaning against the wall, smirking the way only a proud Beifong mother could.
It was awesome! No one can call me an imitation Beifong anymore. Mom and me donated most of my prize money to orphanages. But I can still show you the belt I won! I'll see you soon. I have a really good feeling about it.
Love, Bolin
Dear Mako,
Bolin had gotten weekend job as a janitor at Police Headquarters, and was currently scrubbing the break room floor on his hands and knees. It was vacant for the longest time before an officer named Ning came in with someone.
"This is the break room."
"Okay," The rookie looked it over, missing Bolin behind the tables,
"And this kid's name is Mako." Ning gave the newcomer a flyer. Bolin perked up at the name of his brother, "Memorize that face. He's about fifteen now. You see a boy who looks anything like that you tell the Chief. It's her adopted son's brother."
"She's had that boy awhile hasn't she?"
" 'bout seven, eight years."
"By now his brother's probably..."
"Yeah, I know. Dead or in a triad. Just be on the lookout."
You're not in a triad...are you? I hope not. See you soon.
Love, Bolin
"So, you're gonna be sixteen soon." "Two Toed" Ping made conversation as he walked Ash out of Triple Threat Headquarters.
"...Yeah."
"Legal age of adulthood. We could use a man like you in our organization."
"I'll think about it."
"What's there to think about?" Ping threw his hands up wildly, "You been freelancing for scraps and protection, now I'm offering a full-fledged membership with all the benefits that go with it and all you say is 'I'll think about it'? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I'll think about it!"
"Okay, okay. But it's not like you got any better offers." The triad member followed the young man down the street.
"Don't you got somewhere to be?"
"Naw, not until three o'clock. Till then, I'll just hang out with you. You know, Ash, you remind me a lot of myself at your age." he rambled on for a good ten minutes until he felt something hit his leg, "Hey, what's this?"
"Just trash." Ash answered the rhetorical question as Ping picked up the dirty, crumpled, and apparently old piece of paper.
"Well, let's see. You never know, right?" he unwrinkled the paper and began to read aloud, "'Dear Mako, Happy fifteenth birthday!"Aww, that's sweet."I hope you get a present. And I hope we can bring you home soon. I'm really starting to worry about you."That's sad, "I know you probably aren't getting any of these letters, but I like sending them. I don't know why. It just seems right. I just wish we could get you off the streets. The family I'm in isn't like our old family... but it's good. As always, I miss you, big brother. Love, Bolin.' That poor kid, hope he finds his brother. I'm a sucker for tearful reunions.
"It's just trash, Ping." Ash ripped the paper out of his hands, "Let it go."
"Okay, jeez, you're stressed, man. You need to relax." He decided there were better things he could do with his free time than hang out with a moody teenager, "And think about what we talked about."
"Alright." Ash waited until Ping was out of sight to look at the letter. This couldn't be his Bolin, could it? Naw, "Even if it is, it's probably a set up." he said to himself, crumpling up the paper and threw it over his shoulder before continuing on. 'A set up for what?' one side of his mind asked. The triple threats used underage crooks to run numbers for a reason, the police couldn't touch them. He wasn't sixteen yet, "So, what if Bolin's really trying to find me? He is my brother." 'He's also the Chief of Police's adopted son! Is it worth the risk?' the more cynical part of himself reasoned. "This is stupid." He ran back and found the paper.
...
"May I help you?" the clerk asked as he walked up.
"I need to speak with Chief Beifong." That surprised the man,
"She's usually too busy for visitors, but I can ask. Name?"
"Mako."