Author's note:

This chapter occurs chronologically after Chapter 30, "~Of Course I Didn't!". I *should've* written this sequel chapter immediately after it, but um... I didn't. Anyways, you might benefit from rereading that chapter first. Either way: enjoy!

--

It had been two weeks since the mysterious bouquet of flowers had arrived at the Beifong family residence. Kuvira had done her best to push away the thought of the crimson petals. She was still convinced it had been a joke- one that she most certainly didn't appreciate. She loathed the way Opal still giggled every time she walked by, and the way Suyin cast expectant looks in her direction.

She was seemingly proven wrong in her presumption when another package arrived with the evening mail. This time, she was spared the humiliation of Opal finding it first. One of the family's maids had given it directly to her, accompanied with an amused smirk. The sender had creatively left his name as 'Your Admirer'.

She opened it in the privacy of her bedroom. In the 16 years since she arrived at the Beifong home, little more had been added to her large, but almost completely empty bedroom. A tatami sheet lay across the corner of the room along with a stiff punching bag. Besides that, little more than memories made the room feel like her's.

The package was the size of a book and made a slight jostling sound when she shook it. It was wrapped in brown paper that she tore through once the door was closed. Inside was a red, faux velvet box and a letter. She pried open the box with a frown, revealing a set of chocolates. She stared down at them, before setting the box on her dresser and opening the letter.

--

Dear Kuvira,

I hope you liked the roses I sent. I can't stop thinking about you. You're the most incredible woman in the world. I'd like to formally ask you on a date. Friday, 7pm, Ling's. I hope to see you there.

Love,

P.L.

--

Her jaw clenched as she read through the note. She still couldn't push away the idea that it was some terribly unfunny joke at her expense. The language sounded so foreign it made her uncomfortable. She hadn't ever been on a date before. It sounded ridiculous to even consider. Her life was consumed by training and serving the city. She didn't have hobbies really- any free time was dedicated to honing her skills. What would it be like to take a break from that lifestyle? To take time off, to go on dates? She stared at the letter, pondering the question.

-

With any luck, nobody she knew would see her. She was able to slip out of the Beifong household without anyone's eyes catching her, luckily. It shouldn't have been too difficult a task- she didn't look like herself. For once, she was out of her uniform. In the back of her closet, she'd found a simple green dress that fell to her knees. She'd looped a metal belt around her waist- partially to add to the outfit, and partially to ensure she had an ample supply of metal on her. Besides being a matter of safety, it also soothed her. Metal had become the root of her life. It was the only common thread from her home in Minghua to her position as Captain of the Guard in Zaofu: her bending was all that she was. She was a protege, and outside of that, she wasn't sure who she was.

But tonight, maybe she'd find something more.

It was 6:35. Presumably, she'd have to wait outside of the restaurant to be approached by the stranger. All she knew about him was his initials and nothing else. The rational part of herself was flabbergasted by her decision to go. She easily could've filled her evening with time in the dojo. Instead, she lingered a few blocks from the restaurant.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the reflection of a store window. In her simple dress and braid, she looked terribly plain. A strange bead of self consciousness grew in the pit of her stomach. She remembered when Mei from the guard had gone on a date a few months prior- how she'd curled her hair and lined her eyes with eyeshadow in the locker room. That was presumably what was custom for women going out with men. In a split second decision, Kuvira turned into a department store and purchased a tube of lipstick.

She stepped into the women's restroom with her purchase and applied it on her lips. She stared back at her reflection. The scarlet hue looked terribly bizarre. Clownish. She scowled, regretting the decision immediately. She wasn't sure what had caused the compulsion. She hadn't ever been interested in cosmetics before. Suyin had offered to apply some before recitals or festivals in the past, and Kuvira had always declined. This evening had consisted of a string of decisions that didn't make any sense. She pulled her hair out of its braid and ran her fingers through it. She looked at herself again, hoping to assuage the feeling of discomfort. It only worsened as she appeared more and more strange to herself. She didn't see the steely Captain of the Guard looking back at her. She looked like a 20-something year old girl, trying to impress her date with a cheap tube of lipstick.

She scrubbed it off with a wet piece of paper towel.

She found Ling's Noodle Shop and sat on a bench outside of it. It was a nice looking place, and the warm scent of chicken broth wafted through the propped open door. She realized she hadn't yet eaten today. Maybe it was her nerves, or maybe it was her tendency to ignore her body's cues until it proved to be a hurdle in her work.

Her eyes scanned the crowd, suspicion grabbing her attention as the time got closer to 7. The citizens of Zaofu seemed foreign to her, even though she'd lived in the city for most of her life. Her life was the City Guard, and though these ordinary people might've seen her face in the newspaper, they were otherwise strangers to her.

"Hi, Kuvira!" came a male voice from the crowd. She made eye contact with the smiling speaker. He was a young man she vaguely recognized, though she couldn't place where she knew him from. He wore suspenders and a bright grin as he approached. "It's been a while. You're all important now, huh?"

She stared back at him, trying to remember who he was. He had soft, kind eyes and slicked back black hair. He was nice looking enough, she supposed, but rather skinny. "...Yeah," she replied, attempting to feign her knowledge of him. "Is that why you sent the letter?" She forced a smile, though it felt stiff.

"...I'm sorry?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing. "I don't think I've ever written you a letter before." He tilted his head. "No, I haven't thought about you since- geez, it's been almost ten years, hasn't it?"

Kuvira stared back at him. Ten years before? She must've been just a child. Realization hit her, and she felt her cheeks burn. He was one of Baatar's friends from childhood. She vaguely recalled the pair running around the hallways of the Beifong estate. He had the same eyes and freckles. "Oh- I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you at first," she admitted, shaking her head. "It's been a while, Chao."

"Indeed. I just moved back to Zaofu a couple of months ago. How's Baatar?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest.

The name made a strange feeling of discomfort well in her stomach. She didn't see him often these days. She was always busy, and so was he. Even still, sometimes she'd catch glimpses of him, and a bizarre sensation would well in her chest. She didn't know what it was, but just the mention of his name made the feeling return to her. "...He's fine," she replied vaguely, forcing a smile. "He works with his dad. Engineering."

"Oh, how cool," Chao said. He glanced behind himself. "Well, I've gotta run, but it was nice seeing you again, Kuvira. I'd love to catch up with you and the others soon."

"That'd be nice," Kuvira replied, and he disappeared again into the crowd.

She crossed her arms over her chest, losing herself to memories of childhood. It wasn't until her voice was called again that she perked to attention.

"Kuvira, I can't believe you came!" came the emphatic voice of another young man. This one Kuvira was certain she didn't recognize. He was taller than her, with dark hair and eyes. He had a wide smile sprawled across his face, and a white dress shirt tucked into corduroy pants. He approached her quickly, thrusting his hand forward for a shake. A light pink blush dusted his face.

Kuvira stepped back reflexively when he approached, but she forced herself back. A hesitant, tight smile caught her lips. "Hello," she greeted awkwardly, hoping to avoid the mistake she had made with Chao in the event that he wasn't her secret admirer.

"It's so nice to see you," he said warmly, reaching a hand out to shake her's. "I'm P.L.! Ping Liu, that is."

"From the letter, right?" Kuvira clarified, watching his posture hesitantly. She shook his hand.

"Yes, and the flowers," he replied, his excitement barely contained. He gestured towards the door. "Let's go inside. I can't wait to treat you. This place is the best, really…"

Kuvira followed him into the bustling restaurant, unease settling into her veins. The warm interior seemed a little too bright for her taste, and the wild chatter of conversations consumed the air. Ling continuously glanced back at her, his smile never lessening.

They sat down at a high top table with barstools. Their orders were swiftly taken, and Kuvira was left to study the young man sitting across from her. He was traditionally handsome in all regards. She could envision the other women of the City Guard whispering comments about him on break. Still, the feeling of butterflies never arrived in her stomach. She could analytically piece apart his appearance, but she didn't feel much of anything.

"I'm sorry if the whole delivery thing seemed a little creepy, but I didn't know how else to reach out," Ling apologized, folding his hands on the table. "You probably don't remember me. I saw you at the Silver Moons Festival a few months ago," he explained. "Your performance was incredible!"

Kuvira recalled the holiday. It was an annual celebration accompanied by feasting and performances retelling the history of the Earth Kingdom. This past year, she had headlined the show with a solo performance. Suyin had given her the place of honor and choreographed a routine for her. It had been a challenging, yet stunning performance. She remembered what it felt like for the golden spotlight to fall on her face, the echo of the applause, the feeling of pride. It was one of the happiest moments of her life. She had been perfect.

"Thank you," she replied, the first genuine smile of the evening resting on her face. "I'm glad you liked it."

"I loved it," he replied warmly, folding his hands on the table. "I'm the chief editor at The Zaofu Standard, and I remember publishing a picture of it on the front page. You're incredible."

Kuvira let out a short laugh, unsure of how to respond to the continued praise. "Thank you," she repeated. She glanced across the restaurant, hoping that nobody she knew would see her. She probably wouldn't be recognized outside of her uniform, anyways.

"You know, people say you can metalbend with a hand tied behind your back!"

She suppressed a smirk. "They exaggerate," she replied. "Two hands are typically required."

He laughed. "Maybe, but I wouldn't doubt it. I've always been a little envious of benders," he conceded. "But I imagine it takes a lot of work, too."

"It does," she replied honestly. "Plenty of people can bend, but bending well takes years of practice." She drummed her fingers against her belt, feeling a rush of energy through the metal.

"Well, you don't strike me as the lazy type," he toyed, smiling.

"Never."

The meal drifted on with brief periods of silence that were quickly overcome with more small talk initiated by her date. She tried to enjoy it. Dates were things young women did, and Ling was handsome, friendly, and courteous. By all metrics, she should've been having the time of her life. But she wasn't. She couldn't understand why, but as the conversation jumped from topic to topic, she found herself anticipating its end more and more.

He paid for their meal, and the two left the restaurant. The sun was slowly setting, and the golden cascade of light hit her cheeks.

"Thank you so much for coming," he said genuinely. The streets were less crowded now, and Kuvira was less concerned with someone she knew spotting her.

"You're welcome- thank you for inviting me," she replied. A small sting of guilt arose in her chest for not enjoying the occasion the way he clearly did.

He didn't reply. Instead, his smile only grew as affection filled his eyes. He took a step closer to her. She felt the breath in her throat hitch as he slowly bent down, closer to her, his lips ever so slightly parted.

She jerked back, feeling the metal of her waist tighten with the reflex. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, bewilderment rushing through her veins.

"Oh- I'm sorry," he apologized swiftly, stepping back quickly. "I- I completely misread your- I apologize."

Kuvira shook her head, humiliation coming over her like a wave. "Don't apologize," she replied, gritting her teeth. "I-" she couldn't find the right words. She didn't know how to articulate what she felt. She scowled, before promptly turning on her heel. She walked away from him, feeling her face burn.

"Kuvira!" Ling called out, the sound of his footsteps echoing behind her. "I'm so sorry, don't go-"

"Leave me alone!" she called back, trying to push herself farther, faster. She wanted to hide from the evening, to forget it ever happened. Her attempt at normalcy had been a horrible mistake.

"I'm sorry!" He called again, but the sound of his footsteps stopped.

She continued on, ducking into an alleyway. She knew the streets of Zaofu like the back of her hand. She hid into the clutches of the city she served, regretting ever changing out of her uniform.

She wove her way through the web of streets, scolding herself for her behavior. The poor guy had been nothing but sweet to her, and she'd repaid him with stiff smiles and an explosive ending. She hadn't disliked him. In her almost clinical assessment of him, he seemed practically perfect- but that hadn't been enough to dissuade her discomfort.

She stepped into the gates of the Beifong estate, ignoring the greeting of the guard. Her mind was consumed by the events of the evening. She replayed every second of it, trying to find the moment it had all gone wrong. Of course, she couldn't find one. The reality was that she had been entirely abnormal the entire time.

"Whoa- no uniform?" came a voice that ruptured the rapid flurry of thoughts in her mind. Baatar. He was sitting outside, scribbling away at a notepad on a bench. He smiled at her.

"...I have other clothes," she rationalized, blinking back at him. He looked positively exhausted. Dark eyebags rested under his eyes. It had been over a week since she'd run into him last.

"That you don't wear," he joked, setting his pencil down. "Did someone force you to take a break?"

"Shouldn't you be worried about fractions, or whatever else keeps you up at night?" She retorted, the faintest hint of a smile coming to her lips.

He laughed, and the melody of it filled the garden air. "Don't worry, there's plenty of hours of the night left," he replied, amused. "But it's good to see you doing something besides punching metal."

"Maybe I'll take up punching you instead."

She heard him chuckle as she continued on into the family home. She closed the door, and she realized a smile was fixed on her lips.