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Kya told herself she was just going to eat a bit less when it started, then she learned about people forcing themselves to throw up, so she started doing that every once and awhile. It started because some girls at school had teased her about her weight, they claimed they were joking, even if they were Kya took it seriously. She had only realized it had gotten bad when she had started making excuses to skip meals, and passed out regulatory.
One day Katara had found her passed out in the shower, only then did her mother realize how much weight she had lost. Katara had freaked, screaming at Kya as soon as she woke up. She had started monitoring her daughters weight and made her sit at the table until every piece of food on her plate was gone. This had been going on for weeks and Kya couldn't stop, as soon as she finished her meals she rush to the bathroom and throw it all up.
One night Katara decided to invite the entire gaang and their kids over for supper, even Zuko had come with his family and would be staying the weekend. Katara claimed it was just a get together, but Kya knew it so she wouldn't argue about eating her food. Everyone had arrived and Katara had started serving food with the help of a few acolytes. Katara had made sure the give Kya a bigger serving, like she had been doing sicne she found out about Kya's eating disorder.
Lin eye'd her plate questionably but thankfully, didn't say anything. Everyone talked while they ate, but Kya tuned it all out trying not to gag is she ate.
"Are you okay?" Lin whispered to her, and all Kya could do was nodd and continue eating.
Soon kya couldn't eat anymore or she knew she'd throw up. She got up to dump her plate in the kitchen, Katara glared at her and quickly followed. "what do you think you're doing?" Katara asked
"I'm full," Kya answered.
"you need to eat more" Katara argued.
"I can't unless you want me to spend the rest of the night throwing up!" Kya yelled
"you wouldn't if you hadn't giving yourself and eating disorder in the first place!" Katara yelled back. Kyas face fell she knew everyone else had heard as soon as their chatter died down. Kya set her plate down and ran to her room willing herself not to cry. Of course, she did cry, she completely broke down falling to the floor against her bed, sobbing. She heard shouting coming from to dinning room, and a few moments later a soft nock on her door.
"Go away mom!" Kya said through sobs.
"it's Lin" Lins soft voice came through the door instead of the harsh one she had expected.
"come in" Kya said softly. Lin walked in and sat next to kya on the floor. " you don't have to com in here and comfort me" Kya sniffed.
"I thought you might want to talk" Lin said. Kya was slightly surprised, Lin had never been one for feelings, and her being so gentle around Kya made the water benders heart swell. It was no secret (well it was to anyone except herself and bumi,) but Kya liked Lin, she had for a long time but she had always been to worried about their friendship to ruin it.
"you wouldn't understand," Kya said.
Lin didn't say anything, instead slipped off her sweatshirt, Kya had been confused when Lin had started only wearing long sleeves, condsidering it was summer, but now she understood. Lins arms and sides were covered in perfectly straight cuts, some healed, some just barley scabbing over.
"oh Lin" Kya murdered
"I know int's not the same, but I thought it might help to talk" Lin said looking down. Kya gently ran her finger over a healed one near Lins shoulder, Lin flinched away from the touch.
"Sorry" Kya murdered pulling her finger back.
"no, no, it's fine, it's just, you're the first person the know about them. it's kinda sad it's been over a year, and you're the first one to notice, and I had to show you. Kya was confused for a bit, Lin had only started covering her arms a few months ago. " there not all on my torso, my legs and thighs..." Lin trailed off at Kyas face. "sorry" Lin murmerd
Kya pulled Lin into a gentle hug making sure to be careful of the cuts. "No, I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be your best friend and I didn't realize you'd been hurting" Kya said not breaking the hug until Bumi barged into her room, panting slightly.
"Sorry, I meant to check on you, but mom started yelling, and then....." Bumi trailed off as he say the girls still close from the hug a knowing smirk on his face, before it quickly faded seeing Lin. "god damn it! Lin you were supposed to be the strong one." Bumi said sitting down next to Kya and pulling his own shirt off. His wasn't as bad as Lins, though all of his were fairly new, scattering all over his shoulders. "you guys are supposed to tell me when our hurting, that's my job as the oldest, I'm supposed to make you feel better, not hurt myself and not even realize you guys were hurting." Bumi said.
Before anyone could respond, Zuko walked in. "oh, oh! I'm sorry is this a bad time, I can come back later, I just wanted to check on you guys." Zuko said
"here to join the club?" Bumi asked no joking in his tone.
"might as well, uncle Iroh used to tell me talking stuff out was good, " Zuko shrugged sitting down against the wall facing them.
"what did you do to hurt yourself?" Kya asked
"burned myself, still do every once and awhile" Zuko shrugged.
They all sat in silence for awhile before someone nocked on the door. "who is it?" Kya called
"Suki, thought I might check on you while katara calms down."
Kya looked to everyone else, getting nodds in response before telling Suki to come in.
"Oh my spirits" Suki gasped seeing everyone.
"surprise" Bumi said in a sarcastic tone.
"are you guys okay? do you need bandages or anything?" Suki offered
"fine." Lin shrugged followed by Bumi.
"I'm not a doctor, but Lin those look infected, you should at least put bandages on the fresh ones, and I'm sure there's cream some where that Kya could help you with." Suki said. Suki and Sokka had never been able to have kids of their own, but they made up for it being a great aunt and uncle.
"Fine" Lin huffed and Suki left to get the stuff.
"I should probably find Katara," Zuko said and got up and left.
Soon Suki came back with bandages and cream along with a tray of sticky buns (Kya's favorite) for the water bender to try to eat, or save for later.
"Suki had brought to bandages for Bumi along with stuff for Lin and Suki helped wrap Bumis biceps while Kya helped Lin with cream and bandages.
eventually Suki and Bumi left leaving Lin and Kya now sitting on the bed. "what if we had dinner together a few times a week, we could eat out or just stay here or my house, and we could have whatever you wanted." lin offered a small smile on her face.
"is Lin Beifong asking me on a date?" Kya joked smirking
Kya expected Lin to roll her eyes and scoff like she normally did whenever Kya tried to flirt with her but instead she said: "if you want it to be" Lin shrugged looking down, something Kya noticed she did when nervous.
"I'd love that" Kya smiled at Lin who looked up her with shocked eyes before smiling and nodding.
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eventually Kya did get over her ED with her and Lin having supper together every other night. She did get Lin to stop cutting and talk to her instead for a bit until the incident with Su and Lin relapsed, but Kya helped her through that too. Bumi and Zuko started to talk more especially when Bumi started dating Izumi, and soon the both of them were able to stop, Bumi in a happy relationship and Zuko happy that Bumi and his daughter were happy. Katara apologized stating that she had worried for her children, it took Kya a bit to forgive her, but once she did Katara was nothing but supportive of Kya and Lins relationship.