౨ৎ mels

Silence settles between the two of you.

The hand cupping your jaw remains perfectly still, as though she's afraid to move another inch without your permission. You wonder if she's already convinced herself you've said no.

Slowly, you nod.

Her thumb brushes lightly against your cheek, almost as if she's making sure she hadn't imagined it. Only then does her other hand start to move under your shirt, touching your delicately smooth skin like it’s the finest silk.

Your lips part with an unsteady breath before the fingers that had settled on your face change location upon feeling the movement. Her thumb comes up to hover over your mouth, seeming uncharacteristically hesitant for the confidence the earthbender normally carries.

The hand on your stomach continues to move upwards slowly, so much so that you have to repress a full-body shiver at how careful her touch is. She continues to go up until her hands stop right under your breasts.

Simultaneously, another shaky breath slips past your lips, your mind swimming with thoughts racing by too quickly to grasp. You have no idea what Toph has planned for you, but every inch of your body screams for her to continue.

The longer Toph remains perfectly still, the more you begin to understand why. She's waiting for your permission again. Without thinking, you speak into the stillness, your voice so quiet it could rival the sound of a pin dropping.

“Toph…” The sound of your own voice surprises you. It’s bordering on a whine, which you have to convince yourself to ignore before you become too embarrassed and rethink your decision.

“You have to talk. I can’t use my seismic sense.” She replies, her tone low and nearly gravelly.

“Please.” You finish, slightly arching into her touch.

She wastes no time in completing your request.

Her calluses meet the fat of your breast, cradling the underside of it before she lets her pointer finger just barely graze your nipple. You try to bite down on your lip to suppress the wanton sound threatening to leave your mouth, but Toph doesn’t allow you to. Her thumb, which had remained idle, suddenly presses with startling force against it, keeping your mouth wide open.

The earthbender no longer carries any restraint in her movements, allowing her finger to push against your now hardened nipple. She takes it between her two fingers with enough force that you could practically mewl, but still gentle enough not to harm you. With a slight twisting motion, she stimulates it.

Toph strains her ears to catch every hitch in your breath, her inability to see making her yearn to gaze upon the sight of your face twisting in pleasure.

She continues the action for a moment before taking the entirety of your tit into her hand and giving it a few squeezes. A half moan leaves your lips before you’re able to stop it. Thankfully, it’s still quiet, but when you hear the sound of another islander rustling in their bed, you freeze.

Closing your eyes out of fear, you expect Toph to pause, but she doesn’t. Instead, her palm on your breast moves downwards, finding a home just below your waistline. You clench your eyelids harder, not out of fear but pure desperation.

The earthbender’s fingers inch south until they stop at the hood of your pussy. Your eyes snap open, slowly readjusting to the darkness blanketing the room. In the faint glow filtering through the villa, you're just able to make out the outline of Toph's face, the relaxed set of her brows, and the pale cloudiness of her irises.

You know she can't see you.

Yet somehow, you can't shake the feeling that she's watching every reaction, every tiny change in your expression, as though she can picture it perfectly in her mind.

“Pretty.” The word slips out of Toph’s mouth, almost reverently.

She continues her journey until she reaches the top of your clit. Your heart seizes in your chest, an embarrassing wave of slick rushing out of your pussy to coat the insides of your panties.

For a moment, you wonder how you got here. Somehow, you had managed to end your sweet conversation earlier with your new couple’s hand stuffed down your thin shorts, and her other hand dangerously close to entering your mouth.

Then, she touches your clit. The feeling brings you out of your hazy thoughts and makes your legs twitch in bed. It’s feather light and so quick that if it wasn’t such a sensitive area you most likely wouldn’t have noticed it. 

Toph notes the positive response and decides to push her luck. This time she allows the tip of her middle finger to firmly press down.

The touch is so delicious you forget Toph’s finger resting on your lip and bite down on it with mild force, simply needing to contain your audible reactions to her touch.

“Guessing you liked that, huh?” Her voice has a teasing lilt that would normally make you roll your eyes and laugh at her, but you can’t be bothered to feign annoyance. You only want her to continue.

“Yes.” You reply, wholly out of body, except when she dares to swirl your pearly clit between her middle finger and ring finger.

She pauses again, and you have to restrain yourself from crying out in frustration. But then you feel her return with more vigor than before, moving faster and harder against your clit like she was testing to see how long you could hold out.

Embarrassingly enough, you don’t think it’ll take long at all. A small knot forms in your stomach, accompanied by the unadulterated bliss that comes with Toph essentially fucking your clit in a room occupied by her close friends, and her ex connection.

“Toph.” You say her name like a warning and a prayer, practically begging her to continue her assault against your womanhood so you can reach your oh so close peak.

“Got something to say?” She whispers, moving her body forward in your direction until she can feel the top of her breasts just barely brush yours.

You shake your head–and truly you don’t. Nothing but thoughts of Toph fill your mind; her body so close to yours, her fingers touching places that hadn’t been explored in far too long–

“Didn’t think so.” Her voice makes its way to your ears, barely registering in your cloudy mind.

She pulls off your sweet spot in a split second before she finds her way to your slit, which practically oozes in desire for her. She makes a sound of immense contentment before she gathers your slick around her finger, feeling the slightly viscous substance sinfully stain her skin.

She slowly inserts the tip of her finger inside of you.

It’s thick and warm, and when she just barely crooks her finger to touch the side of your walls, you almost cry. Your pussy clenches around her like a vice, pleading in its own right for her to stay there–make a home inside of you.

The touch is too good–she’s too good–

Then it all stops.

In a flash, her finger on your lip and inside of you are gone, the one without slick groping along your figure until it finds the curve of your abdomen, bringing you fully into her chest. The dirty one finds its way into her mouth and settles against her tongue as she lets out a small hum of satisfaction.

You’re left in a daze of lust and frustration as a bleary, “Huh?” meets the skin of her collarbone.

She almost misses the noise. But having caught it, she can’t help the unabashed, wide grin that settles on her lips at the deliciously confused sound in your voice. “Hm? I know what you look like now.”

Your mind begins to sober up, the feeling of your almost-high leaving you with no bliss, but an embarrassingly large amount of wetness left over. “What are you–”

“Good night, Smudge.”

You stare into the darkness in shock.

Toph Beifong, your new couple, had just almost fucked you to the best high you’d ever experienced in your life before leaving you high and dry.

What a way to end your first night as a couple.

᯽

The following morning feels much like every other you've spent in the villa. Except, Toph isn't beside you.

Only the rumpled sheets where she'd been sleeping remain, the lingering warmth beneath your fingertips serving as proof she'd been there at all.

You stare at the spot, images of her on her side with her fingers touching your slick pussy rushing through your mind before you close your eyes and sigh. Reluctantly, you climb out of bed.

After your awakening, the rest of the villa begins to rise. Sleepy greetings drift between the shared bedroom and bathroom doors open and shut, and the unmistakable scent of coffee begins to fill the air as the boys scatter toward the kitchen.

Some things never change.

Waika is already brushing her hair in front of one of the mirrors in the glam room. Syzu somehow has enough energy to sing to herself while deciding between two nearly identical lip glosses.

Katara catches your eye through the mirror and smiles knowingly.

You only shake your head.

"What?" she asks innocently.

"Nothing." You say quickly, grabbing your concealer to look busy by applying a thin layer onto your skin.

"Liar."

You feel embarrassment flutter in your chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Mhm. You know, I heard something funny last night…”

“‘Tara!” You whisper-yell, trying not to catch the attention of the other girls.

Kuse glances at you, leaning in her chair to tune into your conversation with Katara. “Did you have a hard time sleeping?”

Your head snaps towards Kuse. Of all people, why did she have to hear that?

"No," you answer, perhaps a little too quickly. "Why?"

Kuse smiles pleasantly. "I heard a lot of rustling coming from your bed."

Your heart drops.

"I actually couldn't fall asleep for a while." She shrugs lightly. "It was way too hot."

“Oh.” You search desperately for something—anything—to say.

Fortunately, the door swings open before the silence can become any more unbearable. Toph walks in carrying a plate in both hands, Zuko following a step behind with breakfast for Waika. 

“Morning,” Toph greets you, her grin far too smug for your liking as she slides you a plate. 

“Good morning.” You accept the plate she slides into your hands, shooting her a look that could almost scorch.

Today's breakfast appears to be an omelette.

At least, you think that's what it is. It's folded a little too enthusiastically, one edge noticeably darker than the other, while melted cheese and vegetables threaten to escape from every side.

Before you can inspect it any further, Toph steps closer.

Without hesitation, she wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into an easy morning hug.

"You seem mad," she murmurs into the crown of your head, unable to hide the amusement in her voice. "Had a rough night?"

"I slept fine." You grumble.

Toph's grin only grows. "Eat before it gets cold." She gives your waist a quick squeeze before letting go and leaving the glam room with Zuko.

You watch the door swing shut behind her before looking back down at the plate in your hands. Despite its... questionable appearance, the omelette tastes even better than yesterday's breakfast.

By the time you've finished eating, touched up the last of your makeup, and changed into a black bikini with lace trim, the other girls have already begun making their way outside.

The islanders spill into the courtyard, cups of coffee in hand, while others settle onto the daybeds to soak up the morning sun.

You follow after them, stretching your arms above your head as the warmth settles across your skin.

Almost instinctively...your eyes find Toph.

She's over by the workout area.

A pair of dumbbells rests securely in her hands as she presses them overhead before lowering them with slow, practiced control. Her brows are drawn together in concentration, the weight heavy enough to make the muscles in her arms visibly tense with each repetition.

The oversized charcoal shirt she'd slept in has long since been traded for a fitted black tank top that leaves her toned shoulders and arms on full display. Loose athletic shorts complete the outfit, and despite the obvious effort each lift requires, there's something undeniably graceful about the way she moves.

You stop walking. "Toph Beifong, you are evil."

A bead of sweat slips from the side of her neck, tracing briefly along her collarbone before disappearing beneath the neckline of her tank top, most likely passing her chest and stopping at her abdomen.

Toph finishes her set, lowering the dumbbells onto the rack with a dull clank. She rolls one shoulder before lifting her chin ever so slightly, her eyes staring needlessly ahead. You watch carefully as her lips begin to curl upwards, and her head suddenly turns with startling accuracy in your direction.

You almost feel like she’s able to look through you with her milky eyes as she makes a show of hooking two fingers beneath the hem of her tank top, lifting it just enough to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

The movement reveals the toned lines of her abdomen for only a second before the fabric falls back into place.

You let out a quiet scoff. "Oh, you’re definitely doing that on purpose."

You tear your eyes away, glancing around the courtyard until your gaze lands on the stack of yoga mats tucked beside the patio.

An equally evil idea immediately forms in your mind. It isn't exactly mature, but neither was whatever Toph had just done.

You walk over, tug one of the mats free, and carry it toward an open patch of grass directly across from the workout area. The familiar texture beneath your bare feet brings an immediate sense of comfort.

It feels as natural as breathing.

You close your eyes for a brief moment, letting the morning air fill your lungs before easing into your first stretch. Your movements are slow, controlled, each transition melting seamlessly into the next.

One pose becomes another. Then another. You scarcely have to think about where your body should go.

"...Since when do you do yoga?" 

You glance over your shoulder.

Syzu stands a few feet away, an iced coffee in one hand and her sunglasses perched atop her head.

A smile tugs at your lips. "For a while."

She watches you transition smoothly into another pose.

"...Okay." Her eyebrows lift. "I wasn't expecting you to be good."

You laugh. "What did you expect?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. "You seem like you'd be the type to sprint five miles before willingly doing yoga."

"I don't think I've ever voluntarily run five miles." You joke, settling into an easier pose so that you can talk to the blonde better.

"Really?"

"I'd rather do this."

Syzu folds her arms. "Huh."

She watches you balance on one leg before slowly extending the other behind you.

"...Yeah, I would've fallen by now."

"I definitely did when I first started."

She lets out a dramatic sigh.

You release your leg, lowering it back down, struggling lightly. "It gets easier the more you practice."

Syzu hums thoughtfully. "...Maybe I should give it a shot."

Across the courtyard, Toph sets the dumbbells back onto the rack, the metal clanking softly against itself as she lets go.

She reaches for the towel draped over the bench beside her, intending to move on to the next exercise. Instead, she finds herself standing perfectly still.

Across the courtyard, Toph's attention drifts toward the patch of grass where you'd laid out your mat.

Through her seismic sense, she follows every deliberate movement as you ease effortlessly into a downward dog. Each shift is fluid, every adjustment purposeful, your breathing slow and measured as you settle into the stretch.

Toph hates how attractive it is.

She'd spent the last several minutes trying to convince herself you were only pretending to know what you were doing.

Clearly, you weren't.

A quiet scoff escapes her. "Show-off."

Despite the teasing thought, she can’t stop observing you. Her mind brings her back to last night, when she had you at her beck and call, like putty in her hands, while she toyed with your pussy and tits under her fingers.

As if sensing her attention, you straighten from the stretch, rolling your shoulders before instinctively looking toward the workout area.

Toph is still standing there, but not lifting. Just paying attention to you.

The moment she realizes you've caught her, the corner of her mouth curls into the faintest smirk before she casually reaches for another dumbbell, as though she'd been planning to do that all along.

You have to bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from smiling. Got you.

Before you can enjoy your small victory for much longer, another voice joins the conversation.

"Mind if I join you too?"

You turn to find Kuse standing nearby, a rolled-up yoga mat tucked beneath one arm.

She smiles sheepishly. "Full disclosure... I'm terrible."

You give the firebender a kind smile. "I promise I won't judge."

Kuse visibly relaxes. "That's good, because the last time I tried following a yoga video, I spent half of it wondering if I was upside down."

"You probably were," Syzu says with a grin.

"That's not very encouraging."

"It wasn't meant to be."

A laugh ripples between the three of you as Kuse unrolls her mat beside yours.

She mirrors your stance with surprising determination, planting her feet shoulder-width apart before looking over. "...Like this?"

You tilt your head. "Almost."

She immediately adjusts.

"No, no." You smile. "The first one was actually closer."

"Oh." Kuse lets out an embarrassed laugh, moving her foot back.

"This one?"

"A little farther."

She shuffles it an inch.

"There." You give her an approving nod. "Now soften your knees."

She obeys, her shoulders instantly relaxing. "...That already feels better."

"I know. It's weird how much of a difference the little adjustments make."

Kuse hums thoughtfully before glancing over as you ease into another stretch. "You make it look so effortless."

"I definitely didn't when I first started."

"What was your biggest struggle?"

You think for a moment. "Balance."

"Really?"

You nod. "I kept trying to force every pose instead of letting my body settle into it."

Kuse smiles. "That actually makes me feel a lot better."

"I'm serious." You transition smoothly into the next pose, one movement flowing naturally into another. "It takes time. Nobody looks graceful on their first day."

Syzu watches the two of you for another few seconds before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "...Alright."

You glance over. "What?"

She sets her iced coffee down on the edge of a nearby table. "If Kuse's trying it, I might as well embarrass myself too."

A grin spreads across your face. "I thought you'd never ask."

Syzu walks over and grabs another mat, dropping it onto the grass with theatrical determination.

"I'd like everyone to know I was peer-pressured into this."

"You've been here the whole time," you laugh.

"I've also been judging from a safe distance."

"Not anymore."

She steps onto the mat beside Kuse. "...Now what?"

You gesture toward your feet. "Start with your stance."

Syzu copies you almost perfectly on the first try.

Kuse immediately groans. "Why does she get it?"

"I have naturally good genes."

"No, you don't," you and Kuse answer in unison.

Syzu gasps dramatically. "I come over here to better myself, and this is the support I get?"

"You'll survive," you tease.

"You don't know that."

A laugh escapes you as you move between the two girls, making small adjustments to Kuse's shoulders before nudging Syzu's front foot back an inch. 

"There." You take a step back to admire your work. "Much better."

Kuse looks pleasantly surprised. "...I'm actually not wobbling anymore."

"I still am," Syzu announces.

You glance over.

She isn't.

"You look perfectly stable."

"I know." She smiles innocently. "I just wanted attention."

You roll your eyes. "Shocking."

The three of you dissolve into another round of laughter, so caught up in your conversation that none of you notice how easily your voices carry across the courtyard.

Off to one side, Katara has drifted into conversation with Zuko, the pair looking far more relaxed than they had the evening before. Every so often, her attention flickers back toward you, a knowing smile threatening to tug at the corners of her mouth before she quickly reins it in.

On one of the nearby daybeds, Jet has pulled Waika aside for what appears to be a private conversation, the two leaning toward each other just enough to make it obvious neither wants to be overheard.

Meanwhile, the unmistakable sound of a ping pong ball ricocheting across the table draws your attention.

"That's in!" Sokka protests.

"It was out," Aang replies with a laugh.

"You're blind!"

"Says the guy who missed the table entirely five minutes ago."

"That was strategic."

"Sure it was."

You shake your head with an amused smile before returning your attention to Kuse and Syzu. Days like this reminded you why you'd taken the leap in the first place.

For a little while, the villa feels less like a television show and more like a home.

Then, a familiar chime echoes through the courtyard.

Every conversation comes to a halt. The islanders instinctively look toward the speakers mounted around the villa.

Azula's voice follows almost immediately. "Islanders..."

A chorus of eager "oohs" and groans ripples through the courtyard.

"I have an announcement."

Sokka pumps a fist. "I knew it! Challenge time."

"No challenge," Azula replies.

His shoulders visibly sag. "Aw."

A quiet laugh escapes several of the islanders.

Instead, Azula continues. "As you all know, you've each been completely cut off from the outside world since entering the villa."

A few nods spread through the group.

"Today, production has decided to make a rare exception."

Your eyebrows rise.

"Each of you may choose one person from outside the villa to speak with." Azula’s voice comes through the speaker significantly colder than it does in person.

"What?" Syzu gasps.

"No way," Waika breathes.

"Seriously?" Aang asks.

Azula pauses deliberately. "There is only one rule."

The courtyard quiets.

"You are not permitted to ask anything regarding public perception. That includes questions about popularity, social media, who the public likes or dislikes, or any outside opinions regarding your relationships."

You bite your lip. The Twitter challenge had already given you an idea of the public’s perception of all of you as a whole, but you almost wish you were able to ask now that you had become more integrated into the villa and were a part of a couple.

"Each call will be monitored by production to ensure these rules are followed."

From the daybeds, a dramatic groan leaves Jet. "So Big Brother is listening."

Toph, only a few feet away, hears him. "They're always listening,"

"While production will be monitoring the conversations to ensure the rules are followed, none of the information discussed during your phone calls will have any bearing on future challenges or decisions made within the villa."

A collective sigh of relief follows.

"You'll each have ten minutes." Azula glances down at the cue card in her hands, back in the recording studio. "You'll be called individually to the phone booth. Make sure to use your time wisely... and enjoy catching up with someone you love."

The speakers click off.

Immediately, the courtyard erupts.

"Oh my gosh!" Syzu practically squeals. "I get to call my sister!"

"I don't even know who to call," Jet admits.

"My uncle," Zuko answers without a moment's hesitation.

Katara laughs. "You didn't even have to think about it."

"Didn't need to."

Nearby, Sokka rubs the back of his neck.

"I've got... like... six people I wanna call."

Aang catches the ping pong ball midair before it can bounce off the table. "You only get one."

"I know!"

Toph wanders over, recognizing the subtle shift in the ground beneath her feet as you settle into a butterfly stretch. "Who're you calling?"

You look up at her from your yoga mat, letting out a small sigh. "I honestly haven't decided yet. There are too many people I need to catch up with. It'll definitely be someone in my family, though."

A faint smile pulls at the corners of Toph's mouth. "Figured."

"What about you?"

She shrugs. "Probably my deputy chief."

You blink. "Really?"

"Somebody's gotta make sure the city's still standing."

A laugh escapes you. "If you left him in charge, he's probably spent the last week terrified of making a mistake."

"He should be."

You shake your head, smiling. "Poor guy."

Before Toph can answer, a producer steps into the courtyard with a clipboard tucked beneath one arm.

"Islanders," she calls. "We'll be starting the phone calls in five minutes."

The calls start shortly afterward.

One by one, islanders disappear into a small booth tucked behind a line of tropical plants near the edge of the villa.

Some emerge laughing.

Others wiping away tears.

Aang returns first, unable to stop smiling.

Sokka takes noticeably longer to compose himself before walking back out.

Even Toph is quieter than usual after her call, though she insists she's "fine" despite nobody asking.

Eventually—

"Kuse."

She stands. "I'll be back."

"You got this," Waika says.

Kuse smiles softly before following the producer down the stone pathway.

᯽

The booth is small. Just a chair, a pair of headphones, and a mounted phone.

The producer gestures toward it. "You'll hear a tone when there's one minute remaining."

Kuse nods. The line rings twice before someone finally picks up.

"Kuse?"

The moment she hears the familiar voice, the tension in her shoulders melts away.

"Oh my gosh!" A grin breaks across the firebender’s face, one so genuine it hadn't surfaced once since entering the villa. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you, too," her best friend laughs. "Are you okay?"

Kuse lets out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "I'm better now."

Her friend snorts. "That bad?"

"You have no idea."

“Well, I have been watching along in support…”

The two of them laugh together, and for the first time in weeks, Kuse doesn't have to think about every word before she says it.

"So?" her friend asks eagerly. "Tell me everything."

Kuse happily obliges.

For the next several minutes, the conversation is exactly what production had expected. She asks about home. Her parents and mutual friends.

Whether her favorite café had finally started serving those pastries she'd been craving before leaving.

Her friend fills her in on everything she'd missed, exaggerating stories just enough to make Kuse laugh until she has to wipe tears from the corners of her eyes.

It feels normal. Like she'd stepped outside the villa for just a few precious minutes.

Eventually, the laughter begins to settle.

"So..." Her friend's voice softens. "How are you really?"

The smile on Kuse's face falters ever so slightly.

She glances instinctively toward the camera mounted in the corner of the booth. "It’s complicated."

"Because of Toph?"

"...Kind of."

A long pause settles between them.

Finally, Kuse lets out a slow breath before speaking with a level of honesty she'd kept buried since entering the villa. "I don't think I actually like her anymore."

Her friend is quiet. "I thought that's what this was about."

"I did too." Kuse lets out a humorless laugh. "But now..."

She stares down at the floor.

"It feels more like..." She searches for the right word. "...the principle of it."

"The principle?"

"I was here first."

The words leave her mouth before she has time to soften them.

"I know Toph and I weren't working. I know she was already pulling away. But then someone else walks in...and suddenly she's all Toph can think about."

Her friend hums thoughtfully. "So you don't hate the new girl."

Kuse exhales slowly. "...I don't know."

The phone booth fills with a slightly tense silence.

"I've been trying to be friendly. I've apologized, done everything right on paper. But every time I look at her, I keep thinking she took something that was supposed to be mine."

Her friend simply listens on the other end of the line.

"And honestly?" Kuse closes her eyes. "I don't even know if it's Toph anymore. I think I just..." She swallows. "...need to know who she really is."

The silence stretches.

Then, her friend’s lips part.  "You want me to look into her?"

Kuse stares ahead, a rush of adrenaline pumping through her veins. “Would you? Wait, you can’t tell me anything about the show–”

"It technically doesn’t have to do with the show."

“Right.” The firebender glances toward the booth's ceiling, painfully aware of the cameras on her. “I’m just asking about her.”

"Give me a second." 

The line goes quiet except for the faint tapping of fingers.

A few seconds later, her friend adjusts the phone. "Found it."

Kuse stands up a little straighter. "Well?"

"I found her Instagram."

"...And?"

"Huh."

Kuse's brows knit together. "What?"

"There are a lot of hospital pictures."

"A hospital?" Kuse frowns. "Is she sick or something?"

"No. She's wearing scrubs in a bunch of them."

Kuse presses her lips into a thin line. "Of course she is."

"Looks like she works in healthcare." Her friend says simply, with an expression in a grimace.

Her friend scrolls a little farther.

"Oh."

"Yes?"

"She has a story highlight."

"'Little Moments.'" Her friend quotes.

Kuse's eyebrows knit together. "What does that mean?"

“It’s just a bunch of pictures of her with kids in the hospital.”

A few more seconds pass.

"There's this little girl. She's in a lot of the story highlights." Her friend bites her lip, zooming in on the smiling girl to memorize her image. “And she’s not in scrubs for these. Actually..."

Her friend sounds more puzzled than before.

"The little girl is in a bunch of the regular posts too. Again, no scrubs."

Kuse starts to pace around in the photo booth. "...Really?"

"Yeah." Her friend’s line goes dead quiet for such a long stretch of time, Kuse almost wonders if the call had cut off. "...Wow."

"What?" The firebender asks, almost frustrated.

"She looks so much like her."

Kuse's stomach twists. "How much?"

"Enough that I noticed."

Her friend clicks into the comments beneath one of the photos. "Someone commented..." She squints. "'I love you both.'"

"Huh."

"I clicked on the profile. It's private."

“What about the profile picture? The bio?”

“Yeah, that’s the thing.” Her friend sounds like she’s smiling wide. "It looks like it’s a woman around our age, and her bio says...proud mother.'"

Kuse's expression hardens."...Mother?"

"Mhm."

Silence.

Her friend speaks first. "...Do you think..."

Kuse stares blankly at the opposite wall.

“…she has a family outside of the villa? The little girl's in so many pictures, plus the comment from that profile…"

The firebender’s thoughts begin connecting themselves.

A sharp tone cuts through the booth.

One minute remaining.

Both women startle at the sound.

"Damn it."

"I'll keep looking," her friend says quickly. "And I'll let you know anything else once you're out."

Kuse nods once, her jaw set even though her friend can’t see her. "...Thanks."

The line disconnects a few moments later, leaving her alone with a thought she could no longer convince herself wasn't true.

᯽

The booth door clicks shut behind Kuse. She doesn't immediately head back toward the others.

Instead, she wanders aimlessly along the stone pathway, her thoughts refusing to settle.

A daughter. The idea had sounded ridiculous only ten minutes ago. Now, she couldn't seem to convince herself otherwise.

You had never mentioned having a child. If it was true, why keep something like that hidden?

Kuse slows as she somehow went in a complete circle back to the phone booth.

The door is closed. A small red light above it glows softly, signalling it was occupied. She barely gives it a second thought before a familiar voice reaches her through the thin walls.

Yours.

"...No way." A laugh escapes you from inside the booth. "I miss you guys so much."

Kuse instinctively pauses. She knows she shouldn't listen.

She tells herself she'll keep walking. Yet, she finds her feet rooted to the stone path.

Another laugh drifts through the door.

"I know, I know."

A brief pause.

"No, put her on."

Kuse's heart gives a small thud.

Another pause.

Then…

"Oh, there's my baby!" Your voice softens instantly. "I missed you so much."

Kuse's eyes widen.

"I bet you're getting so big, huh?"

The little girl's voice is contained in the headphones for the firebender to make out.

"Aww...I wish I could give you the biggest hug right now."

Kuse glances around her, making sure that no one is around to see her as she tries to get closer.

"I'll be home before you know it, okay?"

Silence.

Then your voice again, quieter this time.

"I love you too."

Kuse slowly steps away from the booth.

She doesn't hear what comes next. She doesn’t have to. In her mind, this was some sort of divine justice that had been served to her on a silver platter.

All Kuse walks away with...is the certainty that she'd just heard a mother talking to her daughter.

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