#; lOK LOOK LOOK ITS OUR FREAKING SONG LOOK

[thewritingdesk]

It Had to be You ~ Part Two

Summary: Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walked into hers.  Lin Beifong saw the world in two colors; black and white. That changes though when she meets the siren working with one of the largest gangs in Republic City.

Azami never had a choice. Didn’t have a way out. But she could destroy things from the inside. She could move information around. She could lie and smile with the best of them.

Neither needed anyone. Neither needed love. So what happens when fate ties them together? Can they save each other? Or will a smoking gun end something before it begins

A/N: A 1930s/40s LOK AU. Note that there will be themes that were present during this time including smoking, drinking, underlying homophobia, and potentially smut later on down the line. Writer’s views are not that of the characters.

Word count: 2046

In a city that shines from both street lights and stars, you’d think that all that glittered was gold. That truly, such a marvel of a city had achieved a beautiful balance in the world and everyone lived peacefully. Crime is minimal and the law has won.

But Azami knew better. The mirror’s reflection reminded her of that.

She’d experienced what it had been like to beg for her meal and hope the abandoned building had a dry place for her to sleep. And that the cops wouldn’t kick her out if they found her. Her parents had died young. Trip Threats said her father owed them money. Tossed him in the bay tied to a boulder. Her mother had been shot in the head when she’d tried to run. Azami hid in their pantry and heard it all. 

She’d been fifteen when she took her first stage job. A lie and enough makeup to pass for eighteen had gotten her the gig. When they’d figured out her talents when it came that, the smaller leagues used her to move information around. Supply runs and caches for those that had needed them. Throw off the larger gangs and the police in hopes to feed those that the rest of the world turned their back on. 

Brush strokes through her hair. One-two-three-four. Moving in time to the tinny sound of a trumpet and drum. Eyes that she displayed for the world that filled themselves with fires looked tired. Cheeks were gaunt. 

“Nothing a little makeup can’t fix, doll.”

Takao had said to her after he’d smacked her across the face for sneaking the bus boy some food from the kitchen. Never enough to bruise. Only enough to control. Him and the four cronies that had started to show up more and more to stir things up. Setting the brush down, fingers pinned the front of her dark brown locks into a victory roll, leaving the rest of her hair to curl around her shoulders. 

“Dyke freak like her would want ‘em soft.” 

Feed the chief lies. Hook her with a smile. Leave her always wanting more, but remember, stay out of reach. 

Nightingale, that is what they’d started calling her. Her voice was melodic and rang clear like the songbird. She fluttered around and went unnoticed, like the songbird. She was caged, like a songbird. The stage was her cage, no matter how she loved it. No matter how she had lied to herself and painted it in gold. 

It was on the stage that Takao had discovered her. Had found her her family had been, and what her father had once been. It was the stage that he’d watched her eyes linger not on the men that came through the door. It was the stage that he chained her to the floor. 

“Remember, little bird, the world has no sympathy for a freak with no power.” 

Men like Takao had seized power after the uprisings that forced the council to step down as the head of the city. They had turned a blind eye to things such as who could love who. The president who was easily bought, easily swayed, was not so easily blinded. It was this man who had let the three major gangs begin to take over the city. Allowed for those who had already oppressed, already crippled, to only feel the hand around their throat tighten. It was his fault that she…

“Ten more minutes until curtain, Miss Nightingale.” 

Jumping from her reverie, Azami turned to the young boy who had come to her door and nodded to him. Thanking him quietly, she quickly moved to dress in the crimson red dress that had been selected. The dress hugged and skimmed over her hips and showed off her thin waist. The V in the back showing off the soft skin, while thin straps sat on her shoulders. 

A doll, she was a doll. 

Slipping into her shoes, white gloves were slipped on before she left the room and headed for the stage. 

Lin wasn’t sure how she found herself back in the smoke filled club. Or how she found herself seated at a table, whiskey in hand, rather than leaning against the bar. She’d even gone home to change out of her uniform. Black trousers that cinched high on her waist paired with the white silk blouse that tapered into her form, two buttons left open to allow her neck to be seen. She’d kept the bun, but put on some lipstick.

Maybe it had been something in those eyes that made her forget herself. She was just here to get information, she’d be able to sit without standing out dressed like this. 

That’s what she told herself anyway. 

So lost in her thoughts Lin had been that she hadn’t noticed Azami take the stage, hadn’t noticed the shift in the room as it stilled. Waiting for the first notes from the maestro that stood on the stage.  

“Stars fading, but I linger on, dear

Still craving your kiss

I'm longing to linger till dawn, dear

Just saying this”

The siren’s pull had moved from her ears and down to her belly. The smooth sounds catching her off guard as pale green eyes sought out the darker green ones. Something was off about them tonight. The fire was still there, and they still held hers captive but there was something deeper. Something Lin couldn’t put a word to.

“Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

But in your dreams whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me.”

The song faded as eyes locked, whiskey came to her lips and burned her throat. An anchor. Something to hold her there. She couldn’t fall under the spell completely if she was still feeling the burn of the alcohol. If she could feel the outside world still tugging at her. 

Unlike the previous night, she didn’t make her way to her immediately. She waited. She listened as she sang through the upbeat tunes. Watched as she accepted a martini from a man, only to set it back on the bar when his back had turned. 

Sitting back in her chair, she pulled her own cigarette from its case a bit too forcefully before lighting and releasing her own mark into the air. She knew she was there. 

Azami had felt the chief’s eyes on her most of the night. Felt them as she made her rounds, made her wait. Tempted her to fetch her from the hands of others. She was almost disappointed when she didn’t. Finally making her way to the table, she offered Lin one of her signature smiles before taking her seat. 

“I’m glad you could make it, chief. Did you enjoy the set?” Azami asked, a finger motioning one of the waiters over. Ordering herself another gin and tonic she sat back in her chair. 

Lin brought the cigarette back to her lips and had just pulled a drag from it when fingers reached over and plucked it from her hand. She watched the other woman bring it to her lips deliberately, eyes never leaving hers and watching her expectantly. 

“It was...good.” Her hand reached for the cigarette when it was handed back to her, noticing the way the two lipsticks seemed to mingle. “Now, about our deal.” 

“Patience isn’t your strong suit, is it chief?” Azami asked, offering the waiter a winning smile when her drink was brought to her. “While I enjoy my drink for a moment, why don’t you tell me about your day.” 

“My day? Why the fuck would you want to know--”

“Do you see that man behind me? The one in the obnoxious red suit?” Azami asked and waited until she received a nod from the chief before speaking again. “That’s Jun. Not a major player so he wouldn’t be on your radar, but he reports back to Ju-long who…”

“Who is one of the higher ups to the Agni Kai triad.” Lin finished and reached for her drink. 

“Very good, chief.” Sipping her drink, Azami watched the woman. “All of these men know you. All of them are trying to discern if you’re you, or if you’re just another woman.”

“And what happens if they find out?” Lin asked, sipping her whiskey. 

“They let you go the other night. Coming in more than once means one of two things; you’re willing to be bought, or you’re on to something. Guess it depends which you present to them.” Azami answered, setting her glass down. 

She could feel Takao’s eyes on her and tried to ignore it. Instead she tried to focus on the pale green of Lin’s eyes, she wondered if she realized there were small auburn fleks in the green. Probably not. 

“And how did a lady like you get caught up in this?” 

“A lady she says, been a while since someone called me that.” Azami chuckled and folded her arms. “That’s a long, sad story. Maybe I’ll let you convince me to tell you about it, one day. Now, to our deal, there’s four people that keep coming in to speak with the owner, two men, two women. One of the men seems to be the ringleader, keeps one of the dames on his arm. Not sure what their deal is, seems to be upset about that young kid with ties that could shake up the layers of power. Don’t have any names.” 

Lin leaned forward, she’d heard rumor of this group, had heard of the destruction they left behind them. “Can you come down to the station to describe them?”

“And risk my own neck, or find myself in the bottom of the bay? No thanks, chief.” 

“We could protect you, Azami.” Lin pointed out, I could protect you, her mind whispered back. 

“No, you couldn’t chief.” Azami answered, reaching to finish her drink. “So I guess your need for me is done.” 

Let me protect you. Get out of here while you can.

“When is your next set?” Lin asked, almost shocked that the words had escaped her. 

“Two nights from now.” Azami answered, watching the woman quietly. Gone were the flirtatious smiles. This woman was good, she didn’t want to drag her into this world. But too many people outside this club relied on her keeping Takao’s eyes off of them. “Should I expect you?”

Swirling the amber fluid in the glass, Lin tossed the rest back and hummed. “Will you have more information for me?”

Sing pretty bird, sing just for me. Sing the sweetest song you ever did see.

“Perhaps. Guess you’ll have to show up and see.” Azami answered and stood. She was tired. Her set was done and the next doll took the stage. She wanted out of the dress. She wanted to remove the facade. She wanted to go home. 

A caged little bird, a sweet little doll. Remember child, you’re only as good as what they need you for.

Lin watched Azami walk away as she turned to reach for her grey trench coat. She moved with an effortless grace, but this time her head stayed lowered. Only the staff received any kind of smile when they came over to speak with her on her way to the back door. Had her eyes seemed despondent when she had asked if she’d have more information in two days time? 

Now why would you care? Her mind whispered back.

Shaking it off, she stood and began out of the club. This nightingale, Azami, she corrected herself, had been something she’d been trying to look into since their first meeting. But every lead she found seemed to dangle in the wind. Women like that were dangerous. Women like that would get you killed.

But then, why did she feel her stomach clench when the fire in those eyes had dulled? Why had her heart tied up when that voice had hooked her in despite her best attempts to ignore it? Why was she dreaming of green eyed sirens when she closed her eyes?

She needed to get home. She needed a stronger drink. And she needed to crack this mystery so she could leave this woman behind.

[adawomantium-blog]

2, 4, 5, 15, 17, 22, 25, 29, 38, 41, 44, 54, 59, 62, 63, 64, 70, 79, 82, 84, 94, 99, 108, 114, 127! So sorry this is so long bab

ok i can FINALLY answer these lol

2. What is your favorite piece of clothing you own / owned?

probably my laura shirt lol

4. What does your perfect room look like?

literally anything so long as its clean because i’ve had to share a room with my sister my whole life and shes a freaking pig and our room is always a wreck cuz of her

5. How often do you play sports?

never nowadays but i did swim competitively for my first three years of high school

15. What’s your favorite drink?

chocolate milk cuz i’m literally 8 years old (or p much any kind of lemonade)

17. What songs do you have completely memorized?

definitely too many to list, that’s for sure lol

22. When people come to you for help, what do they usually need help with?

im literally not good at anything so when people come to me for help its usually my parents asking how to use certain pieces of technology otherwise people dont usually ask me for stuff lol

25. What would be your first question after waking up from being frozen for 100 years?

“DID LAURA KINNEY GET HER OWN MOVIE/TV SERIES YET”

29. What TV shows do you like?

LEGION obviously and the marvel netflix tv series (and agents of shield, havent watched agent carter yet tho but its on my list) i’ve recently started watching stranger things and into the badlands and they’re both good too but im not that far into either. that 70′s show, various animated series (atla, lok, the og teen titans series, adventure time, regular show, etc)

38. What’s your favorite book or movie genre?

i dont think i have an absolute favorite? i’ll watch/read pretty much anything

41. What’s the best day of the year?

january 5th because that was the day the earth was first gifted with my presence. lmao either that or august 2nd (day laura first appeared on x-men evo) or, obviously, october 23rd :) (or honestly whatever day is the last day of school)

44. What’s the best book series or TV series you’ve ever read or watched?

can’t answer for best book series (unless comic books count then in that case probably x-23 or anw) but as for TV then legion like i’m not even joking its so g o o d

54. What is something a ton of people are obsessed with, but you just don’t get?

does being racist/sexist/misogynistic/queerphobic/transphobic/islamophobic/anti-semitic count as an answer?

59. What piece of entertainment do you wish you could erase from your mind, only to experience it for the first time again?

logan ok i would wipe all memory of it from my head and not even just the movie itself but i would wipe all memory of watching any trailers or reading any articles and interviews and looking at any behind the scenes photos ANYTHING and going into the movie knowing ABSOLUTELY nothing

62. How different was your life 1 year ago?

1 year ago i wasn’t as obsessed with laura as i am now. lol. other than that? i was (surprisingly) a lot less anxious and a lot more motivated. not that my life is awful now it’s just….idk…….i’ve been going through some stuff.

63. What quirks do you have?

when i listen to music alone in my room i don’t dance i just walk around and act as if i’m like in an amv set to the song i’m listening too lmao i’m so embarrassing. i have more than that but they’re even more embarrassing so i’d rather not share to the rest of tumblr (eggos i’ll tell u through pms if u wanna know tho lol)

64. What would you rate 10/10?

YOU ( @eggosandxmen ) and laura kinney

70. What movie title best describes your life?

i have no idea my life is too boring for anything i have in mind

79. What website do you visit most often?

youtube, probably. tumblr and twitter and ao3 are probably tied for second cuz those are the only other websites i really go on anymore, tbh

82. Where would you spend all your time if you could?

idk i don’t like staying in one place for too long? even if its my room where i feel safest i still like to get out and move around

84. What age do you want to live to?

this is kinda deep um i guess maybe 100? just to say that i lived to be 100 but i doubt that’s gonna happen lol

94. Who inspires you to be better?

LAURA,,,,,,DO IT FOR HER™

but if we’re being serious, then probably my little brother

99. If someone wrote a book on an event in your life, what would the book be about?

i literally can’t even think of anything my life is so boring and uneventful

108. What do you look down on people for?

^ see my answer for #54 ^

114. If you had a personal flag, what would be on it?

laura’s face o k a y

127. What are you really good at but embarrassed to be good at?

avoiding conversation

thanks babe!!