Xiu could not resist the challenge. Planting her hands on the bench on either side of her she began to lift herself off the bench, and with legs and arms straight pushed herself straight up into a handstand. It was good, not brilliant, but she wanted to go a little farther, to tease him a little more. After holding it for a few moments she maneuvered herself onto the back of bench and with a little bit of wiggling she had it up on two legs as she had it before. Of course, she was not content with that either, she shifted her weight onto one hand and lifted the other, holding it and the opposite leg out almost perpendicular to the rest of her body. "You know," she began to speak once she was sure she was steady, a small smile coming to her lips, "They teach us the greatest of Fire Nation gymnastics in Ba Sing Se, but it is only for the most basic of beginners."
This was more like they used to be. Teasing back and forth, trying to out do each other, trying to prove which nation was best. But when Ko lost his crown he had no interest in playing with her and she had no desire to rub in the fact that she was still to be ruler of the Earth Kingdom someday. He seemed more relaxed now that he had done some growing up and had the chance to unburden himself to her. She liked that, it was like getting her friend back.
"Do not feel bad, Ko, you are only a man, you will never have the balance I do. Simple female versus male physiology I'm afraid." her smile grew as she let herself be a little more daring, letting the bench go back a little farther and bringing the leg that had once been straight vertical down until her foot was resting atop her head. "I am sure you are good at other things, like flower arranging."