i got asked a couple of times to write an aftermath. this bitch is 4k. so please r&r. hope you enjoy it

Lin woke with a start, bolting upright in bed, knocking the woman sleeping on her chest off of her. Her chest heaved heavily, as her body was covered in sweat. A hand rubbed small circles on her back in comfort. "Lin, honey. Are you okay?"

Lin looked at the woman next to her before letting out a groan and collapsing back on the bed to look at the ceiling. "Just a memory."

Kya hovered over her, running a hand along Lin's side. "Do you want to talk about it?" She was met with silence. "Is it about your feet?" She received a glare.

"Kya, please ju-"

"No Lin. This is eating you up inside. I haven't said anything but I know you have been having nightmares since we moved in together and they are getting more frequent. Save yourself some pain and talk to me. Please."

Lin let out a sigh, wrapping an arm around Kya's waist bringing her close. "I was eight and Su was four-

"Su, wake up!"

Su looked at the girl standing over her. "Lin? Is mum home yet?"

"Don't worry about that now. I need you to listen to me and do everything I say."

The younger Beifong sat up on her bed. "Are we playing a game?"

"Yes, we're playing a game. I need you to hide under mum's bed. You need to close your eyes and whatever you hear, you do not move, you do not talk, don't even breath."

"Lin, I'm scared."

Lin grabbed her sister's hand, leading her to their mother's bedroom. "I know but I need you to be brave."

Su got settled under the bed when there was a bang on the front door. Lin ran out into the hall to find the front door off its hinges. Two men stood in the doorway. "What do we have here? Hey Lang, is that the Chief's bastard kid?" Hearing this, Lin threw a rock at one of the men, who dodged it with ease. "Yeah, that's definitely one of 'em."

A man that looked of Water Tribe decent ran forward, freezing Lin's hand to the wall opposite of Toph's bedroom, giving Su a clear view of what was happening. A skinnier man walked up to her, pressing her against the wall, leaning in close enough for Lin to smell his terrible breathe. "So where is your little sister?" Lin spat in his face, in return this earned her a punch to the jaw, causing blood to form in her mouth and trickle to the floor in clumps. "Now lets try that again. Where is your sister?"

Lin looked up at him, tears threatening to fall but her will power was stronger than to let these creeps watch her cry. "She's at a, sleepover."

"What do we do with the kid Lang?"

"We'll take her to headquarters. We'll use her to send a message to Chief Bitchfong. Show her we aren't happy about Yakone's trial."

Before Lin could even begin to panic, she was knocked out.

Toph woke up to silence and her version of darkness. She let out a groan as she sat up, only to feel someone pushing her back down on the mattress. "Toph, just relax for a moment, at least until I finish checking you over."

"Sugar Queen? Where's Sokka? What happened to Yakone?"

Toph felt water rush over her body, letting out a sigh as it helped her muscles relax. "Sokka is okay. He woke up ten minutes ago. Aang took away Yakone's bending and is in police custody."

"That bastard bloodbended me. Didn't he?" It was a question that didn't require an answer. "Where are my kids and what time is it?"

"It's eleven at night and the kids are at home. We'll go check on them when we are finished here."

Toph shoved Katara away from her, getting up from the bed. "Not happening. Yakone could have sent his lackeys to find them. I need to go feel for myself that they are okay."

Toph's armour attached itself to her body with a single gesture. "Fine but we're coming with you."

"Whatever."

They walked outside to find Aang and Sokka talking next to Appa. Sokka walked up to Toph embracing her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "It's great to see you up and about."

"Not now Sokka, we have to go home and check on the girls."

They climbed onto Appa as Aang commanded the old bison to fly towards the Beifong family home. Sokka sat close to Toph, bringing her close to his body. "Are you okay?"

"No. I have this pit in the bottom of my stomach. Something is wrong."

Within a minute, Appa landed at the large Beifong family home on the outskirts of the city. Toph got off, running into the house. "I feel Suyin but I can't feel Lin." The gaang followed Toph up the stairs to her bedroom, missing the blood that was in the hall. Something that didn't go missed by Katara, Aang, and Sokka. Toph reached for her daughter, who was still cowering under the bed with her eyes closed. Her hand was slapped away when it came in contact with Suyin's body. "Su, baby it's me. It's mum."

Su crawled out from under her bed, eyes still closed. "Can I open my eyes now?"

"Yes you can." Toph lifted her daughter into her arms as she cried into her mother's chest, not wanting to let go. "Where is Lin?"

Su cried harder. "She told me to hide under your bed and keep my eyes closed. She told the two bad men I was at a sleepover. They took her. They said they were taking her to their head quarters."

Sokka placed a hand on Toph's shoulder, grasping her full attention. "Toph, you need to feel this." Katara took Su from her mother's arms as Sokka led her to the still wet blood on the halls floor. Taking her hand, he pulled her down to kneel, helping her touch the wet, sticky substance. "There isn't much, so I don't think she is badly injured."

Toph stood up. Going into police mode, she walked over to Su. "Suyin, listen to me very carefully. Did those men say whom they were doing this for?"

Su sniffled as she answered her mother. "They said it was for some a man called Yakone."

Aang walked over to Toph. "What do you want to do?"

"We're going to the Red Monsoon's HQ. Su will stay on Appa whilst we get Lin."

"Toph, I will fly Su to Air Temple Island on my glider. I don't think it is a good idea for Su to be there. We don't know what we're up against."

"Do what you have to do Aang."

He took Su into his arms. "I'll see you at their HQ." And with that her was off, leaving the rest of their group to travel on Appa.

It was the tenth punch Lin had received to the face, that was now so swollen she couldn't see. Though it didn't stop her from trying to stay awake as the darkness called to her. "Wow Lang, this kid knows how to take a beating. Hasn't even sobbed."

"I know." A blade appeared in Lang's hand. "Look what I bought today. I've been waiting to put it to the test. And looks like I have my chance." He bent down, taking one of Lin's feet into his hands, he trailed the flat part of the blade along the arch of the foot. "I hear your mother sees with her feet. I wonder if you can do the same thing." The blade began to slice into the foot, causing Lin to cry out in pain for the first time since being captured

Lang punched her in the face again, knocking some her teeth from their gums. "Shut up you bitch." He looked down to find the blood of the young girl pouring over his friend's hands as he sliced wildly at her foot. "Hey Lee, I call shotgun on the right foot"

Lee tossed the blade to him, taking over Lee's position in beating the young girl. "Have at it."

Lang was done with Lin's foot in a matter of minutes before standing up. "I'm getting bored. The kid's no fun if she doesn't fight back." He stood behind Lin, not noticing her hands were now free from where they were tied to the chair, he placed the blade to her throat.

Toph marched up to the Red Monsoon's headquarters. The blades of her uniform drawn. "Toph, don't seek revenge. You need to be rational."

Toph let out a growl. "Shut up Aang." She kicked the door down before scanning the room for bodies. "No one is here. Damnit! I can't get a good look on these floor boards." They followed her to a door that led to the HQ's cellar. "I can feel two men in there with Lin. Get ready to attack." She burst through the door, leading with her shoulder. A blade began slashing wildly at the air of where they stood.

"Who's there?! STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

Toph halted the blade with her bending. "Lin. It's me badgermole, it's me." She walked forward, placing a hand on her daughter's face. "Oh spirits."

Katara walked over to the young girl, water at the ready to heal her wounds. She took one of Lin's hands in her own, only to have Lin pull away. "Lin, it's Katara. Let me heal your wounds." She began to heal where the ropes had cut into the skin, a clear sign of how she released the bonds.

Lin looked in Katara's general direction. "Please tell me uncle Aang isn't here."

Katara looked over at her husband, to find him staring down at the bodies, before looking at Lin in anger. He turned away, walking out of the headquarters, Sokka hot on his heals.

Toph traced Lin's face, finding that it didn't resemble the face she had felt for the passed eight years. "Can you not see?"

Lin relaxed into her mother's touch. "No." She began to cry as she uttered her next words. "I killed them."

"Shhhhh. It's okay. Everything is going to be okay." Lin fell forward into her mother's arms as she passed out from the pain. "Lin?!"

"It's okay Toph. Her body is hibernating in an effort to heal. She was so strong to stay awake for so long. If she hadn't…"

Toph lifted her daughter into her arms, taking her outside she earthbended them onto Appa's saddle. She laid her down before tracing Lin's body with her hands, feeling every bruise, every bump, every break and every cut. When she came to Lin's feet, she allowed silent tears to fall. Sokka sat next to her, pulling her close as she cried into his chest. "They did this because of me. It's all my fault."

They flew back to Air Temple Island in silence, as Katara continued healing Lin's fragile body.

They landed in silence. Toph allowed Sokka to carry Lin's body into the house, following a few meters behind.

"Toph?"

"What do you want Aang?"

"Lin took another human's life."

Toph stopped in her tracks, turning towards the Avatar. "What of it Aang? Would you have preferred it if it were Lin we found dead instead of those fuckers? Is that what you want?"

"No, I jus-"

"Then shut the fuck up."

Toph followed Katara into the healing room, just as Sokka was placing her daughter on the bed. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Yes. She will be sore for a couple of days and very tired but she'll be fine."

Toph sat next to Lin, combing her fingers through her hair. "Mum?"

Toph put a foot to the ground, feeling the familiar shape of her youngest daughter. "Go back to bed sweetie."

"I can't sleep." She walked closer to the bed, only for Sokka to block her path, picking her up.

"Let's get you to bed."

She tried peaking over his shoulder, only to have Katara's form block her line of eyesight. "Is Lin okay?"

"She will be."

Katara moved to heal Lin's head, taking note of the young girl's expression. "I think she's having a nightmare."

Toph ran a hand gently over Lin's face, feeling it contort and relax repeatedly. She bent down to whisper into her ear. "Lin, baby, I'm here, there is nothing to be afraid of, you're safe."

Lin instantly relaxed at the sound of her mother's calming words. "Are you okay Toph?"

She wiped away her tears. "I couldn't protect her. I promised her every night that I would protect her, that I would be there if she ever needed me and I broke that promise."

Katara placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Toph, I know where you're coming from, but you need to know we can't always protect them." Katara removed her hands from Lin's body. "I've done all I can for now. I'll go set up a bed for you and Sokka."

"No thanks." Toph got onto the bed, pulling her daughter close to her body. "I'm going to stay here tonight."

As Katara left the room, she looked back at her friend, a tear sliding down her face at the sight of Toph cradling her broken daughter.

"Are you okay honey?"

Katara let out a gasp at being startled. "Aang! Don't sneak up on me like that."

Aang put an arm around her shoulders, leading her back to their bedroom. "You didn't answer my question earlier."

Katara looked up at him as she put on her pyjamas. "Not really. I just can't imagine the position Lin must have been in to kill another human being. And Toph feels terrible for not being able to protect her. Now Toph and Lin have the scars on the bottom of her feet to remind them of the incident, everyday they practice."

Aang lay down on the bed next to her, pulling her close. "I know. I can't get the image out of my head. How does a young girl take someone else's life? She's a murderer Katara."

Katara looked at her husband in shock. "How can you say that? Did you really want to tell our children that they would never see their friend again? Or that Su will never get to grow up with her big sister at her side? If she hadn't have killed them, then she wouldn't be here and Toph would have killed the men where they stood without a second thought."

"That doesn't stop the fact she murdered someone."

"Get out."

Aang looked incredulously at her. "What?!"

"Go sleep on the couch. I can't share a bed with someone so unreasonable."

Aang left with a huff. Not understanding why everyone is against him.

Toph awoke to someone shaking her. "Toph."

"Hmm, Katara? What time is it?"

"It's noon." Toph pressed the hand Lin wasn't using as a pillow against her face, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"We have to go to the station. I have a report to write with Sokka's help and we need to take your statement as you were the healer that assessed the situation." Toph placed a hand on Lin's back, rubbing small circles to wake her up gently. "Come on badgermole, I need you to wake up for me."

Lin's eyes fluttered open, only to close as her face contorted in pain. "Aunt Katara, I'm in a lot of pain."

Hands covered in water glossed over her small frame. "Where is most of your pain?"

"My chest and feet." Katara nodded, deciding to heal Lin's chest first.

Toph let out a breath of air. "Lin, I understand you may not want to talk about this, but I need you to tell me what happened."

Lin looked away from her mother. "I was waiting for you to come home when I felt two men walking up the path. My first thought was to make sure Su was safe. The two men's names were Lang and Lee. They took me to their hideout and they started beating me." A silent tear ran down Lin's cheek, quickly wiped away by Katara, offering a comforting smile to continue. "One of them pulled out a knife and said it was to send a message to 'Chief Bitchfong.' He then started cutting my foot. And then the other one had a go at my other foot, whilst the other man started beating me again. At that point I wanted to close my eyes and give up. I was so tired trying to keep myself awake. I was so desperate to get free as they tortured me, that I tore my arms up trying to get free. I felt the knife against my throat, and I knew I had to do something. It was either them or me. I managed to feel the earth fragments in the knife. I couldn't see the men, so I commanded the knife to cut the air around me. I could hear them screaming and then nothing. Next thing I know, you guys appeared. That's all I remember. I'm sorry mum."

"You have nothing to be sorry for badgermole."

"Yes I do. My first time metalbending and I took someone's life."

Toph knew she couldn't win this argument, so she came up with an idea to hopefully make her daughter feel better. "Well kid, I never actually witnessed you metalbending. So how about in a couple of weeks, you show me what you can do with my metal cables?"

Lin perked up at the idea. "Your police Chief ones?"

"Uh-huh."

Katara finished the healing session within a few minutes. "How are you feeling Lin?"

"Better."

Katara placed a light kiss on the young girl's cheek. "Fantastic." She looked up at Toph. "We should get going."

Lin began to panic. "Where are you going!?"

"Relax. We need to fill out some paperwork about last night. We shouldn't be more than two hours. And Aang will be here to look after you. In the mean time, no getting out of bed. Your ribs are still fragile and one wrong step could break them again. I'm pretty sure you don't want that to happen again."

Lin let out a sigh. "No. It hurt too much the first time."

Katara began to walk out of the room but not before giving Lin a sad look. Something that wasn't missed by Lin. "I'll meet you at the docks Toph."

Toph bent down, giving Lin a kiss on the nose that was meant to be a kiss on the mouth. "I missed, didn't I?"

Lin giggled at the disappointed face Toph made. "A bit lower."

Toph kissed her again, this time right on target. "I'll see you later. Try and get some sleep."

"Yes mother."

Lin relaxed back onto the mattress, sleep taking over quickly.

An hour passed before Aang walked into the room, a plate of food in hand. He placed the plate on the bedside table, but not before Lin's feet caught his eyes. He walked over to the feet, squatting so he was level with them. He took note of the scars shapes. Some were wide, indicating where her feet had been deeply cut. He reached a hand out to touch them.

When his hand made contact with the appendage, Lin let out a yell before rolling off the bed, landing on the floor with a resounding thud and a crack, soon followed by heavy gasps and tears.

"Oh spirits Lin!" Aang quickly picked her up, placing her on the bed. His hands were soon covered in the water Katara had used earlier, as he got to work on fixing what he had done. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that."

Lin's breathing began to even out, as the pressure on her lungs began to subside. "I'm okay. Just don't touch my feet again."

A moment of awkward silence passed before Aang spoke up, still working on her chest. "You know, your mother once told me the same thing."

Lin looked at Aang, now interested in what he had to say. "What did you do?"

"I may have tried to tickle her feet. I ended up being buried in the ground for hours. She later told me that it felt like someone was gouging out her eyes. So why did you freak out when I touched your feet?"

Lin looked away. "It's like someone is about to cut them again. When they cut up my feet, they didn't grab them roughly, they grabbed them gently like my mum does. I don't want anyone touching them ever again."

"Sorry. I-"

Lin interrupted him. "I heard you and aunt Katara last night. You called me a murderer." Aang looked down in shame. "And you're wrong. I am not a murderer, I'm a protector. I protected Su from them and I protected myself from getting killed."

"I understand but why didn't you wait for us to free you?"

"I DID WAIT FOR YOU!" Aang stepped back at the sudden outburst. "I THOUGHT THAT MY MOTHER WOULD COME AND SAVE ME. I THOUGHT, 'IF SHE DOESN'T MAKE IT THEN UNCLE ANNG WILL.' BUT YOU DIDN'T! NO ONE DID!" Lin took in a deep breath of air, calming herself down. "I didn't shed one tear when they hurt me, not one. The first time I cried was when I killed them, because I thought 'what would uncle Aang think of me?' and now I know."

"Lin, I'm so sorry we didn't get to you in time. But you have to understand how I feel-"

Lin cut him off again. "This isn't about you, this is about me."

Aang sighed at his predicament. "I'm sorry. You're right, this isn't about me. I'm sorry you had to take someone's life.

The door suddenly opened, revealing Su with a small paper bag in her hand. "Lin! You're awake!" Su climbed onto the bed, sitting next to her sister's side. "Look what one of the lotus guards gave me." She took a piece of sealblubber jerky out of the bag, putting it in her sister's hand. "She was really nice and said she knew how much we love this stuff."

"Thank you Su."

Aang moved to exit the room. "If you ever need to talk or meditate about what happened I'm right here."

Lin lifted her head to look at him, noticing he had the same sad look that Katara gave her earlier. "Thank you, Aang."

"Hey Lin, what happened last night?"

Lin took a bite of her jerky before answering her little sister. "Nothing happened. Those guys couldn't lay a hand on me because mum rescued me and kicked those guys butts."

Knowing this was a lie, Su decided to go along with it, knowing her sister only lied if she had a good reason. "Awesome!"

"Yeah, it was. Now give me some of that jerky, I'm not eating that fruit Aang brought in."

"My first time metal bending, I killed two men. I didn't get to see the same reaction mum had when Su began to metalbend, and I never called Aang 'uncle Aang' again. I couldn't bring myself to forgive him for calling me a murderer."

Kya looked up at Lin. "Where were I and my brothers?"

"I think you were at the South Pole visiting your grandfather."

Kya traced the scars on Lin's face before leaning in to capture her lips with her own. Lin didn't return the kiss. Instead she took to rolling them over, burying her face in Kya's back. "I just want to hold you tonight."

Kya didn't argue. She took Lin's hand in her own, bringing it to rest under Kya's chin with her own. It was the best sleep Lin had had in a long time.