#i took drowning in lin’s eyes way too seriously

[acupofqueercoffee]

“On again, off again, love you like oxygen”

whumptober 2022 // Lin Beifong x Reader

cw : implied self-harm

i got into watching legend of korra at the beginning of this year because of lin (only while watching it did i realise i’ve seen some of it on nickelodeon lol) and believe it or not i’ve been raking my brain for ideas of a good lin x reader ever since, but it has not been quite successful. however i got this little thing out for whumptober and having been inspired by it, i might write a longer piece for it when i’m feeling particularly in the mood

I have held my breath in a pool before, but this is nothing like that.

This is akin to plucking a thin, dainty silver betwixt a thumb and a forefinger, and willing my hand that seems to have a mind of its own not to gravitate towards the already messy canvas.

Of course, when has the body ever known to comply with the boring old brain when the ever arresting heart is right there?

After all, romantics tend to value insanity over sanity.

And just as it is out of my control that my hand decides to help the edge of a silver draw scarlet onto my skin, my nose will inhale, and my lungs will absorb regardless of what my brain tells them to do, or rather, what not to do.

In this battle that the heart has started so foolishly itself, it becomes the defeated.

The outcome is not so much a bombshell as a disappointment, I conclude, because in the end, what I want does not matter.

It is always what is supposed to be.

But alas, the water enveloping me is not a beautiful cerulean blue.

The water rushing into my lungs is a breathtaking emerald green.

She has stubbornness for a heart, and gentleness for hands.

She soothes the stings, writes poetry on the empty canvas of my soul, and breathes warmness into my ice cold lips.

Believe it or not. Being smothered in her embrace, even at the expense of having my breath taken away from me, does not feel suffocating.

It feels safe.

She drenches me in loving glances, swaddles me in words secretly shared, and finally, finally when I am least expecting, asphyxiate me with heartbroken eyes.

I will say; it is a slow, painful death.

“Do you take Lin Beifong to have and to hold from this day forward, to love and to cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others for as long as you shall live?”

“I do, I do, I do, oh I do!”

Except that it is not her name caressing my ears, leaving a trail of colourful flowers in its wake.

It is red hot tar seeping through the pores of my skin, eating away at my flesh and bones, until it tarnishes my lungs at which point will have long been shrivelled and sucked dry of air.

“Do you take this man to be your husband, to love him, to cherish him, to…”

Anytime now, I will be turning into sea foam, nothing more than flesh and bones ready to decay in the depressing currents.

“I am not yours and you are certainly not mine.”

Her words from last night echoes.

And as I stare beyond the man in front of me and intensely into the deepest depths of those greenest eyes, I utter with resolute conviction.

“I do.”

Perhaps in another world, another universe, another dimension, I will get to live life as Lin’s instead of a walking shell of a person who is simply not Lin’s.

[jokertrap-ran]

(光与夜之恋 Light and Night) Event! 轻云寻隐录: Sariel’s BDAY 2021 Event! Qingyun’s Hidden Records (Prelude)

“Just go sit at the counter. I have no wish to see my kitchen get blown up.”

*Light and Night Master-list | Sariel’s Personal Master-list *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Join my Light & Night Discord (＾▽＾)~ ♪ *Event story tag will be #For Light and Memories

I stood in front of the entrance of Sariel's place, breathing a deep sigh before raising a hand…

And as to why I'm here… That story goes back to a week ago.

❖☆———————————★❖

Zheng Lin: (Y/n), I have some things here that I require you to handle.

Just as I was haplessly being drowned amid a monotonous stack of documents and materials alike, the unique document that was placed before me perked me right up.

MC: September's Staff Birthday Party…

Sariel Qi's Birthday: 9/1!

My eyes widened in shock, reading the document through again. Yup, my eyes weren't fooling me.

I never thought that this was how I’d learn of his birthday… Although Sariel wasn’t the one who told me about his birthday, how about I celebrate it with him now that I do know it?

I keyed in a reminder on my phone and began seriously thinking about just how I should throw him a special birthday celebration.

❖☆———————————★❖

MC: I need to check what flavour of cake he likes before I can even prepare him one…

MC: I’ll have to be careful not to expose the fact that I’m there to acquire information and keep up the act of having “just passed by”.

Putting on a lost look, desperate for help, I pressed the doorbell.

The wind on the side of the mountain was by no means gentle. It was a little cold as it blew against my face, but it helped calm my nervous heart, providing me with an additional boost of courage and anticipation.

Ding-Dong!

The doorbell had only just rung before the door instantly swung open along with an icy greeting from none other than Sariel himself.

Sariel: Still dare to come back?

He took a second take upon seeing me at the door. He massaged his temples in sight annoyance before his initial expression of sternness loosened up.

Sariel: You…

MC: Yes, me.

Why do things seem a little different here? Is he waiting for someone?

MC: Err, Director Qi. I just happened to pass by here, but I can't find the road back down the mountain…

Sariel: Pass by? Halfway up a mountain?

MC: I'm actually… mountaineering.

Sariel: I don't seem to recall you ever having a hobby of mountaineering.

MC: Well, we're all office people, right? We need more exercise.

Sariel: So, you just so happened to climb this mountain, coincidentally failed to find the path, yet chanced upon my house?

He slowly blinked, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. However, he didn’t look the slightest bit angry at all.

MC: Same goes for you when you happened to pass by my place while on the way home from the vet.

Sariel: …...

Sariel's smile immediately vanished without a trace. He slightly turned away.

Sariel: That WAS a coincidence.

MC: Yes, yes, alright. It was a coincidence.

MC: So, could I bother you to take me in for a while, Director Qi? I didn't bring food with me so not only am I starving, but I'm also feeling a little light-headed.

Sariel: ...Come in.

❖☆———————————★❖

Sariel: Wait. Wash your hands at the entrance.

In the few days I didn't see him, Sariel's clean freakiness seemed to have increased again.

MC: Right, who did you think I was earlier?

Sariel: No one.

Sariel instantly denied it, but then realized that he’d probably refuted it a little too hastily, thus deciding to explain himself.

Sariel: I thought it was my takeaway delivery.

MC: You do takeaway!?

Sariel: ...Occasionally.

MC: What takeaway do you usually eat? Other than salads, I mean.

MC: Do you avoid any kind of food? For example… Are you allergic to tropical fruits? Do you perhaps like chocolate?

MC: What’s the level of sweetness you can take when it comes to sweet food? Do you like slightly bitter things like matcha, for example?

❖☆———————————★❖

I followed closely behind Sariel, rapidly firing questions at him without noticing the fact that he’d halted. My face had already crashed into his back before I could even react.

MC: Ow… Why did you stop all of a sudden?

Sariel: I'm thinking if I've just been duped.

Sariel: You look nothing like a frail and fragile person who's about to faint. In fact, you're bursting full of life.

MC: …��

Despite saying that, he still opened the fridge and took out a few boxes of vegetables and a box of spare ribs.

By the time he’d put on his apron, I already found myself standing up his sides with my sleeves rolled up and ready to assist.

Sariel: Just go sit at the counter.

Sariel: I have no wish to see my kitchen get blown up.

MC: ...Oh.

After about half an hour of waiting, a set of two dishes and a bowl of soup was served on the counter before me.

I took a tentative bite out of it, mentally noting that Sariel liked his ribs a little on the sweet side.

And he liked tea too… So why don’t I just make him a matcha cake? Mildly sweet, yet slightly bitter.

Sariel: I'll send you down the mountain once you're done eating. I'm leaving on a trip.

MC: A trip!?

Remembering the birthday plan, I panicked. Sariel shot me a suspicious look.

MC: Where are you going? When will you be back?

Sariel: To look for someone. I don't know when I will be returning.

What if 1st September passes while he’s gone? Wouldn’t my plan go down the drain!?

Sariel: Judging by the look on your face right now… Just what are you planning again?

MC: Can I go with you, Sariel?

MC: I mean- It’s been a long time since I went out, so I want to admire the scenery!

Sariel: ……

Sariel: I’m going to Qingyun Swamp. It’s not a place for one like you.

Qingyun Swamp? I racked my brains for that semi-unknown name. Then, I finally recalled it after catching sight of an ancient book that was lying open on the table.

❖☆———————————★❖

Qingyun Swamp was a place of the past, located in the southern suburbs of Guangqi City. It was a large forest born from the waters.

It's a shame that now most of the trees there had been cut down in this modern times, and all the water there had also dried up for no rhyme or reason. Right now, only one remnant remains of the place: The abandoned Qingyun Station.

There’s also an ancient legend about Qingyun Swamp. According to it, there is a mysterious secluded island there similar to paradise itself.

❖☆———————————★❖

I subconsciously glanced at the ancient book atop the table again. There was an old map of Guangqi inscribed on its old yellowing pages.

Is he really going to Qingyun Swamp, a mysterious place that had long since disappeared? Just who is he trying to find all the way down there?

Although I was filled with doubts, I still enthusiastically raised my hand to tag along.

MC: Then that’s precisely why you HAVE to bring me along! I might be able to help you if you’re looking for someone! More hands to go around, right?

Sariel: Are you hiding something from me?

MC: You saw through me, huh… Actually, I’ve always wanted to go to Qingyun Swamp, and it’s second nature for me to want to help others...

MC: And this is my once in a lifetime chance and-.

Sariel held out a hand to stop me, seemingly having a brewing headache just from my chattering alone.

Sariel: Very well.

Sariel: But I'll say this first: No regretting it when you get there.

❖☆————— ⊹ For Light & Memories⊹ —————★❖

Next Part: (Prologue)

[hotpinkrathian]

Kyalin Week Day 4

Prompt-  fake dating

"So why are we doing this again?"

"To catch Jingong in the act."

"Of what?"

"Selling drugs! God, Kya were you even listening?" Lin growled.

"Sorry, sorry. I've never gone undercover before."

"I know, just, do everything I say."

"You got it chief!" Kya winked, getting an eye roll from Lin. They arrived to the van, where Mako had his tech all set up.

"Whats the situation?" Lin asked.

"Well.... it seems we had some misinformation." Lin glared at him and the kid shrunk in his seat.

"What do you mean misinformation detective?" Mako began to sweat and Kya looked to Lin who's brow was furrowed in rage.

"Well, initially we thought this was a deal, or a hand off but..."

"Spit it out."

"Its a club."

"What?"

"I mean its a literal club, chief, drinks, dancing, all that." Lin's face went a subtle red and Kya took a step back.

"Its not misinformation you nitwit, it means he's onto us. He knew we'd be looking to catch him, so he went to the busiest place her could to do his dealings." Mako frowned, looking at the data in his book.

"You're right."

" of course I'm right!"

"So what now?"

"We continue with the plan. I'm going in."

"What about me?" Kya asked.

"You too. We need to change first, we'll be like black pig-sheep in a field of ostrich horses." Lin opened a small case under a seat attached to the wall, her look darkening.

"This won't work. What do people wear in clubs nowadays?" She asked Mako, but he just shrugged. Kya grinned, stepping forward with confidence.

"Lin," she said, "I think I can help with this."

"I can't wear this."

"Why not?"

"How am I supposed to fight in this if something goes wrong?"

"The skirt will rip if you push hard enough against it."

"Why does it do that?" Lin asked, looking at the skirt with a frown. Kya blushed, looking in the mirror to adjust her necklace.

"No reason."

"You bought an easily tearable skirt for no reason? Kya that doesn't make sense." Kya sighed, stifling a laugh.

"If you really want to know, I'll tell you after we catch the bad guys." Lin harrumphed, but left it alone.

"So what's the plan anyway?" Kya asked, "now that its changed."

"We'll go in together-"

"What do you mean together?" Kya asked, trying a little harder to push Lin's buttons.

"I mean together, like a pair."

"Like together together, or just, together?" Lin stared at her in confusion.

"What?"

Kya sighed, walking up to Lin, adjusting the top piece. Lin looked out of place in these clothes, but they looked good on her. She didn't have her usual intimidating armor on, but the outline of her abs would be enough to scare off anyone who thought about taking her one in a one on one.

"I mean are we dating in this scenario, or are we there looking for dates, like a wingman situation?"

"We're there busting Jingong." Kya face palmed, confused by Lin's confusion.

"Lin, as undercover clubbers, are our alternate identities dating?" Lin looked at her, lost in thought for a moment.

"Sure." Kya tried to hide her excitement, nodding her head in approval.

"Thats all I needed to know."

"Well actually I'd like to go over the rest of the plan first."

"Right, carry on." Kya half-listened to the plan, making sure to keep note of the the most important parts. This was her forte, dressing up, playing the seductress in a club with a beautiful woman on her arm. She'd show Lin how good she could be.

"Ready for insertion," Lin said into the radio, before leaving it in its place. Kya stifled a grin at the word 'insertion' causing Lin to roll her eyes.

"Please try to act normal." Lin said, before the sound of music drowned her out.

Lin cased the joint, it was pointless. The lighting was ridiculously dark and there were so many people she couldn't see two feet in front of her.

"I'm going to use seismic sense." She said into Kya's ear. Kya's eyes widened and she looked around frantically.

"What? You want to have sex?" Lin looked at her, unsure whether this was the waterbenders attempt at flirting with her or if it really was just that loud in here.

"Just... cover me!" Lin pushed Kya so the taller girl was standing infront of her, providing her with some cover from the rest of the crowd. Lin slammed her foot into the earth, picking up a hallway behind the stage.

"This way!" She gestured for Kya to follow and the older woman took her hand, allowing herself to be pulled through the crowd by the police chief. Lin peeked around the curtain of the stage, creeping forward silently.

"This is a suspicious back stage, usually there's partygoers back here, VIPs or stones who don't want to go outside.

"I'm going to forget you know that."

"Hey, I have my own special set of skills alright. You should see me dance on that stage."

"Another time, Kya." Lin replied, not understanding what she just said. She'd watch Kya dance on that stage another time, as in not now, but later.

Kya ran her tongue over lips, contemplating a response when voices and footsteps came from the end of the hall.

"Hide!" Lin whispered but before they could move Kya pulled Lin's face to hers by the material of her shirt. Pressing their lips together in a long, silent make out session, simultaneously hiding their faces as the men walked past. One of them whistled, and Kya resisted the urge to groan. When they passed through a corridor a little ways up, Kya let go of Lin's shirt, the shorter girl falling back on her heels in surprise.

"Did you hear what they were talking about?" Kya whispered.

"What? No I-" Lin stammered. For the sake of Lin's integrity Kya ignored her flushed cheeks, tousled hair and absurd posture. She was well aware of her affect on women.

"I'll bet whatever it is, just down there. We should follow them."

"Kya maybe you should go back."

"What? Now? We finally reach the creepy corridor and you're going to send me back to the truck with Mako. You asked me to come remember?"

"I know I did but now I think it was wrong of me to bring you along. You're a civilian."

"Lin," Kya said seriously, "I can handle this."

"I know you can. Its me I'm worried about." Kya stared at her, her mouth agape.

"What are you talking about?" She asked. Lin turned away from her her fists balled.

"I-I...." a crash echoed from the doorway, drawing their attention.

"Let's complete the mission, and then we'll talk, alright?" Kya said, and Lin nodded. Kya took Lin's hand, grinning at the other woman's confusion.

"For consistency," she winked, and Lin shook her head, but she kept the hold on Kya's hand, pulling them through the dark corridor. Just two best friends catching crime together. There was nothing romantic about it.

[kulaykape]

The Chief’s Kid Part 1

Ok so, ngl. I don’t much like how this first chapter turned out, but I burned out of energy writing it and I don’t wanna lose interest in writing this story by redoing the first part over and over again. 

So here it is anyways, lmao. I promise that part 2 will be much cleaner. This is just me trying to get off the ground with the story. I’ve decided that this is probably gonna carry on much longer than 12 parts, so that’s good :) 

Enjoy! (if you can)

---

It was stormy that night. The spirits seemed to be particularly angry, beating down with as much water on our heads as they could. Our uniforms were heavier than usual, and we were soaked to the bone before we’d even reached our destination. 

But at the same time, it was a blessing. The rain would make it harder for our targets to make an escape, and they’d never see us coming. 

I stood on a roof right across from our targeted building. A few of my men were at my side, and we all watched intently as the other officers got into position below us. 

The radio crackled quietly, having been turned down to a low volume. Likely nobody would’ve heard it if it’d been louder, given how furiously the sky was raging, but we weren’t going to take chances.

“Squad 3 in position, Captain.”

“Squad 2 in position, Captain.”

“Squad 4 in position, Captain Beifong. On your call.”

I nodded, and one of my officers flipped the radio off. I wiped my now-floppy hair out of my line of sight and narrowed my eyes down at the building. With how much trouble the Terra Triads had given us- given everyone- I’d seriously been considering collapsing the building on their heads. Until we’d found out there were kids involved. 

I retracted the metal from around my right foot, and then slammed it on the ground. Through my mother’s way of sight, I was able to see everything through an echoey, tunnel-like view. There was no exit where Squad 2 was covering, but there was one in the back. When I opened my eyes again, I gestured down below for them to move around to the back. They did so, quickly and quietly. 

After a few beats of waiting to let them reposition I looked back at my men. “Jin, Taro, take the two left windows. Pao, Hanji, the right ones,” I ordered, and they all nodded, “I’ll take the middle. Let’s move!”

Our metal cables sparked and sang as we cast them out to the top of the building, and then swung down to the second level of the building. I glanced down to catch my men crashing through the side windows of the first floor, and then some of them shooting up into the second. 

I turned my shoulder towards the window before I crashed through, and rolled onto the floor. The sound of thunder was drowned out by screams and yells of fright , and I was immediately thrown into combat mode. 

I stomped my foot on the ground and raised a good chunk of the floor up, jabbing at a firebender as he tried to blitz me. The rock caught him and took him with it to the wall. The earth buzzed beneath me, urging me to turn around. And so I did, arcing a kick around as I went and smacking another thug squarely in the fact with a rock. 

“Captain!” Pao called out to me. I snapped my gaze towards him. He was pinned down near the wall by two earthbenders, tanking as many shots as he could manage but he was fading.

I sprinted over and whistled at Jin as I neared him. Wordlessly, he stuck his hand out to offer me a boost. I jumped up, and with a loud cry, I slammed my hand into the ground when I landed. Two pillars jumped from the floor, ramming the two into the ceiling with a crack before sinking back down. 

Pao nodded at me. “The kids are supposed to be in the basement,” he said. 

“Then let’s hurry.”

Pao was the Captain of the Metalbending Police’s Special Corps, the best ambush and combat team the RCPD had to offer. Barring me just having to save his ass, he was the best to have alongside you in a fight. 

We barreled through everyone that stood in our way as we made our way down to the first floor. We didn’t stop to fight, Spirits only know what could be happening to those children as the seconds winded down. 

I vaulted over a table and pushed my arms out, causing the trapdoor that led into the basement to swing open. Pao and I jumped through, and the yells we heard this time around were much more adolescent. 

I couldn’t help but gape for a moment at the sight before me. None of them could’ve been over the age of nine or ten. It was all little girls, lined up in chains along the wall looking less dignified than cattle. Some of them were naked. All of them were bruised and battered. 

I remembered what mom had told me before she’d left, advising me with what I’d need to know for when I eventually became Chief. 

“You’re going to have horrible, gruesome things come across your desk. And it’s never going to stop, no matter how good you are, Lin. So find some peace in knowing that.”

“Let’s get these kids out of here. Hurry!” I said. Pao and I circled our hands around, then splayed our fingers out. The shackles around each of the kids fell to the floor, but none of them moved towards us. Something tingled in my feet, telling me that this wasn’t right. 

Then the basement door slammed shut. 

I heard a rock crash into something, and Pao crying out in pain. “Pao!” I turned around just in time to be rocked in the jaw with a rock. I fell to the ground with a grunt, cursing when I saw Pao lying not so far away, soundly unconscious. I looked up to see a figure standing over me, a rock raised above his head, but the world was spinning too quickly around me. 

I gritted my teeth as I stared my fate defiantly in the eye, silently apologizing to the kids behind me. 

But that quick blow of the end never came. Instead, I heard that sick, cold sound of metal entering skin. But it wasn’t mine. 

I let out a groan as the world slowed down and eventually stopped spinning around me, and dragged myself to my feet. The earthbender fell as I rose, and I stared down at him with wide eyes. What looked like one of the shackles had been bent into something like a weapon, a sharp, haphazardly piece of shrapnel. And it was sticking out of his back. 

My gaze slowly traveled back up, and I met the eye of a little girl. Her hands were splayed out in front of her, like she was reaching out to the man on the floor. She’d killed him. 

And, as a result, saved me. 

---

“‘S the matter, rookie? Nervous?” Pao asked me. The van passed over a bump in the road, and jumped up and down with a ba-dump. 

I gave him an incredulous look and smiled. “I’ve never had the decency to be nervous,” I replied. Pao laughed heartily and slapped me on the back, like we were headed to the bar rather than a Terra Triad holdup. Everybody else looked like they were at ease too. Which made sense, I guess. I was the only rookie here. Everybody else had been doing stuff like this like clockwork for over a decade. 

“Did I ever tell you about the first time your mom coordinated an ambush?” He asked. 

I made a face. “Wasn’t I there?” 

“No, that was a little while later.”

“Pao, Beifong, can it,” mom- or rather, Chief Beifong- snapped at us. Pao raised his hands placatingly, while I cowered back sheepishly. Mom held onto a hook overhead, the only one standing in the moving vehicle. I stared up at her with wide eyes. 

This was who my mother was. An intense leader, with a perpetual glare that scared the shit out of even the people she cared about most. I’d seen her fight (well, spar), and she looked relaxed at worst and amused at best. Neither of those qualities lined her face right now. 

The van slowly came to a stop, and I looked out the front window. We’d parked behind a building two blocks down from where we were headed. We’d move the rest of the way across the building tops. I inhaled slowly and then exhaled, and pulled on my helmet. I started to stand up, but a hand pushed me back down. I looked up and met my mother’s stern expression. 

“Not so fast, rookie. We still have a briefing,” she said. 

I nodded. “Sorry, ma’am.” She squeezed my shoulder subtly, before folding her hands behind her back and facing the rest of the Special Corps Team. 

“Our mole said the hostages are going to be on the airship in the hangar. I’ll lead Squad 2 on the rescue,” she proclaimed. I looked around. Squad 2 was me, Jung, and Yen. Two of the older veterans and the ‘little baby’, as I’d been dubbed. “Squads 1 and 3 will coordinate as we discussed earlier. Any questions?” Mom didn’t even give enough time for someone to open their mouths, “Good. Now let’s get this over with.” 

The back doors of the van opened and we silently filed out. 

“What a briefing,” I muttered to Pao. 

“Your mama doesn’t mince words,” he replied quietly, “Now focus, rookie.”

“Jung, Yen, rookie. With me,” the Chief called. We all stepped towards her, and followed her lead as she threw out her metal cable and shot up to the roof. The others maneuvered through the dark alleys below, and their stealth uniforms coupled with the pitch-black darkness of the street made them quickly fade away. 

We made our way across the buildings quickly and quietly. I was smiling under my mask as I hopped over ledges and vaulted over ridge vents. It was like we were going on a parkour run, only there were crack dealers and murderers at our destination. 

We finally came to a halt at the building across from the port warehouses, and crouched down low as a security light sweeped over us. 

“Rookie,” the Chief barked. 

“Ma’am?”

“Locate the hangar,” she ordered. 

I nodded, and promptly retracted my metal shoe. It made sense that mom would ask me to do it. I’d proved to have a stronger seismic sense than her (maybe because I might as well have been as blind as Grandma Toph). I furrowed my brow as I searched through the ground, until I located a mass of heartbeats clumped together in one of the warehouses further down. 

“Second closest one to the dock on the left,” I whispered. 

“You sure, rook?” Jung asked. 

I blinked twice at him. “...Yeah.”

“Any guards?”

“There’re fifteen people in there.”

“Eight hostages, right Chief?”

Mom hummed as she contemplated our next move. I touched her shoulder, half-expecting to get shrugged off, but she looked at me expectantly.

“We have the element of surprise. We can take ‘em,” I insisted. Truth be told, I just wanted to fight. But that was the type of statement that would get me a smack in the head instead of a scrap. 

My mom looked me in the eye as if searching for that masochistic desire of mine. When I hid it well, she let out a resigned sigh. “...Fine. Let’s move underground,” she said. We all nodded, and jumped down to the back alley, then spiraled ourselves into the ground. 

---

We popped back up at the back door of the hangar, between the tall building and the endless expanse of water on Yue Bay. My mom signaled for Jung and Yen to take one side of the door, while the two of us crouched on the other. 

I grinned underneath my mask as I clenched and unclenched my fists. Something told me this might end up being more fun than any Pro-Bending match I’d been in. 

“Three are on the far right, three are guarding the aircraft. The last one is at the front door,” my mom whispered, “Jung, Yen, secure the aircraft. Beifong and I will take care of the rest.” We all nodded dutifully at her, and shifted into a more explosive position. Jung stood in front of the door, his hands poised behind his waist to blast the door through. 

I shook the tension out of my hands, and then settled into my fighting stance. The Chief tapped my shoulder twice. Her own little way of saying ‘be careful’, which had sprouted from my Pro-Bending days. I scoffed quietly, but gave her a reassuring look. She turned to Jung, and nodded. 

“Now!” 

Jung pushed his hands forward, and the door was blasted in. I stomped on the ground, and the earth beneath propelled me through the doorway. Jung and Yen ran past, making a beeline for the aircraft. 

Mom and I headed right. I lunged forward and reached towards the ground, awake and rumbling beneath me. It rippled and shook, then crashed against two of the guards before they even knew what hit them. 

Metal cables rang out as my mom shot them at the remaining guard. He extended a metal blade and cut through the cable. 

I stomped on the ground and raised a rock into the air. Mom stepped forward and kicked it squarely. The guard dove out of the way just in time, but I whirled around and slung a rock in the direction he was diving. 

I let out a laugh in spite of myself. “That was fun!” I exclaimed, bouncing on my heels. Mom shot me a withering glare, and I averted my gaze sheepishly. 

A yell from the airship ripped me from my embarrassment, and we both watched as the guard at the front door rushed towards it. 

“You get in the aircraft, help out Jung and Yen!” Mom barked, “I’ll take care of him.”

I hesitated. “You sure, mom?” I asked a little quieter. 

“Don’t worry about me, kid. Now do as I say!” She snapped. I nodded reluctantly, and made my way towards the aircraft while mom took care of the lone guard. 

I bent my foreguard into a blade as I came crashing through the window of the control car. I landed with a roll, and took a half-second to see my opposition. 

There were definitely more than three guards. I sighed inwardly, making a mental note to make sure I did all the seismic sensing from now on. Then I darted forward. 

Fire lit up the control room while metal creaked and whined. Three guards descended on me all at once, but I had more than enough experience fighting in small spaces to take them. I bobbed and weaved around until they were all standing on the same panel of metal. 

I slammed my foot into the floor, and the panel shot up, ramming all three of them into the ceiling with a collective cry. 

I smirked as I bent the panel to hook onto the ceiling, and threw the guards a small wave as they struggled and squirmed.

“I’ll come back for you later,” I chimed, “You’re going to jail, by the way.” I heard one of them mutter a ‘duh’ as I left, and snickered to myself. 

When I got to the main haul, Jung and Yen were finishing tying up a couple of guards. Behind them, the eight hostages (mom had gotten that number right) stood anxiously. “Are we good?” I asked. 

Yen nodded. “You handle those three guys by yourself?” She asked. 

I huffed. “Yeah. Thanks for helping me out.”

“We wanted to see if you could handle it,” Jung said, “Yen owes me twenty yuans. Thanks, kid.” 

“Then I better get half of that,” I quickly said. This could be a nice side hustle…

I looked at the hostages, and frowned slightly. “Let’s get these people out of here.” 

Metal footsteps from behind caused us all to turn. My mom looked at us oddly, and then back into the control room. “Why are there people on the ceiling?” She asked hesitantly, and looking slightly fearful for the answer. 

“I’ll get ‘em off later,” I said, “Should I take these people back to the vans, Chief?” 

The Chief nodded, expression quickly sobering back into seriousness. “Jung, Yen, we’re going to the main warehouse. That’s where the rest of them are holding up.”

“I’ll meet you there-” I started.

Mom swiveled her steely gaze on me. “No. You stay with the hostages. If we’re not back there in twenty minutes, call reinforcements and head back to the station,” she barked. 

My stomach sank. I was being sidelined? 

“Chief, I can-”

“Do as I say, rookie.”

“...Yes, ma’am.” 

---

“You know Chief, she’s more than capable of holding her own,” Jung said once Aiko and the hostages had all filed out. I shot him a look, but he’d been in my service too long to waver. “Kid’s good.”

“Thank the Spirits you’re not in charge Jung, lest we have a rookie killed because you ordered her into a situation she’s not ready for,” I said. Jung raised his hands placatingly. “Squads 1 and 3 are already at the warehouse. Let’s move.”

When we got to the warehouse, we were immediately greeted by a repository turned battlefield. It seemed like everybody in the Terra Triads and their mothers had decided to show up at the port. We were soundly outnumbered. 

“Chief, what do we do?” Yen yelled over the commotion. 

I gritted my teeth. We needed to shut down their port operation. Not only would they have their emboldened numbers if we didn’t, but they’d have technology. 

“Pick up our fallen, get them back to the vans,” I ordered, “We’ll hold it down here.” The two of them nodded, and moved to pick up the injured and unconscious. I took to covering them as they went, fending off any Terra Triad that tried to pounce them. 

I shot out my metal cable at one of them, and threw him into another as he ran forward. One of them charged at me from the side, grabbing onto my midsection and pushing me back. I growled, bringing down my elbow on the back of his neck and let him slide to the floor. 

I looked back at Jung and Yen, who were both hauling two men apiece on their backs. “Tell Aiko to call reinforcements!” I yelled. 

“Chief!” Jung called to me. I looked at him, eyebrows raised. He smirked sardonically at me. “You were right. Sorry.” I scoffed, shaking my head. 

“Of course I was right,” I replied.

With that, the two of them sprinted off. I turned back to the battlefield. 

The air was heavy with loss and struggle. My officers were suffocating right now. Skilled as they were, the Terra Triads were crawling from every crack and crevice. 

Well. This’ll be a lot of paperwork. 

---

“Is anybody else injured?” I asked, rising to my feet once I finished wrapping one man’s arm. He’d been slashed in warning by one of the thugs. When nobody raised their voice and I didn’t see any pools of blood, I nodded resolutely. 

“You’re a bit young for an officer, aren’t you?” One of them asked in a scratchy and parched voice. I turned around to face the woman that’d spoken, who smiled kindly at me. 

“Maybe ma’am, but I’m pretty good,” I said, grinning brightly under my mask. I perked up at the sound of heavy footsteps, and my smile soon disappeared. Jung and Yen were both running towards the van, two injured men resting on each of their shoulders. One of them was Pao. 

I hopped down from the van and quickly took Pao off of Jung’s shoulders. “What happened?” I demanded. 

“I tripped,” Pao said sarcastically. 

“Seriously, Pao!”

“One of those guys… ngh… caught me in my side,” he gestured to a bloody injury near his stomach. 

I let out a sigh, trying to force down the twisting in my stomach. Some first mission this was turning out to be. “Alright, lay down here,” I said, settling Pao in the back of the van before starting to help Jung and Yen with the others. 

Pao grabbed my wrist before I could. “Aiko,” he said gruffly, and then pausing to cough, “You gotta help her, kid.”

“Is she okay?” I demanded. 

“Survivin’. For now.” And with that, he let go of my wrist. I turned towards Jung and Yen, both of them still trying to catch their breath. 

“There’s too many,” Jung said shortly, “Call- huff- call reinforcements, Aiko.” I nodded, and went to the front of the van. 

“Take these people back to the department. Wire them for reinforcements on the way,” I said to the driver. Once we’d loaded the other officers in, he sped off back to headquarters. I adjusted my mask on my face and started for the warehouse. “Where’re you going?” Jung asked. 

“Back to the warehouse.”

He grabbed my arm as I passed by him and looked at me sternly. “The Chief ordered you to stay here.”

I wrenched my arm out of his grip furiously. Jung was only following what my mother ordered, but it felt like more of a betrayal to her than anything else. “She’s my mom, Jung!” I exclaimed. 

“And it’s not your job to protect her! She's the Chief, she'll be alright,” He replied. I glared witheringly at him, but I just didn’t have the intimidation factor that my mom did. “You know why she ordered you to stay here. And so that’s what you’re going to do,” he said firmly. 

Oh, like hell. “No the hell it’s not,” I snapped at him. And before he or Yen could stop me, I catapulted myself into the air, shooting a metal cable out towards the warehouse. I heard Jung call my name, but it soon faded the further I got.

If they’d really wanted to stop me, they could’ve cut my line or shot theirs out to snag me. But even Jung didn’t have the nerve to separate me from my mom. 

---

Finally. The momentum had decided to sway into our favor, as we all started to become less of disciplined soldiers and more of desperate brawlers. The Triads were on their last leg, their numbers no longer multiplying endlessly. And we’d have reinforcements soon to help finish the job. 

But I hadn’t been able to get through scot-free. I was fighting on a limp now, doing more hobbling and shuffling than I was swinging and attacking. I’d landed on my ankle wrong after two of the more adept fighters of the Triads had ganged up on me. 

I grimaced as pain shot up through my ankle while I weaved around an attack, the pain dull but biting even through the adrenaline. I could only imagine what kind of hell it was going to feel like once the dust settled. 

We were pushing back, but we weren’t winning. My men were still dropping off like flies. If we didn’t get those reinforcements soon, then I was going to be suffering much more than a twisted ankle. 

The injury proved to be too much of a hindrance, slowing me down just a tick. And just a tick was all my opponent needed to slam me with a rock, wailing me across the warehouse and into the wall. I let out a loud cry as something in my shoulder cracked, and I sank to the floor in pain. 

“Oh, well that’s just great,” I muttered to myself through gritted teeth. 

“Damn,” the thug wheezed as he approached me, “I’m gonna get to tell the boss I took down Chief Beifong. Wasn’t all that hard, either.” He laughed victoriously to himself. 

“I’m not through,” I growled at him as I stumbled to my feet. I must’ve looked pitiful. 

Slowly, I tried to raise my hands in a defensive stance. When my right shoulder roared at the effort, I let it drop uselessly with a growl, and was left to hold up only a single fist. I’d figure a way to make it work. I had to. 

Or… maybe not. 

I watched- rather dumbly- as a flash of black and gold bulleted at the thug, tackling him to the ground with an angry cry. I looked up in relief to see fresh reinforcements start to flood in, but then back at the initial attacker. And I nearly had a brain aneurysm. 

Aiko. She had the Terra Triad pinned beneath her now, forgetting (or maybe rejecting) her bending in favor of bloodying her own fists. She rained punches down mercilessly on his mug, and when he reached weakly to stop her, she picked up his face and slammed him back into the floor. 

“Aiko!” I snapped, limping towards her. She continued her beatdown, teeth bared and eyes wide. I hurried over and yanked her away from the now-unconscious body. “That’s enough, rookie,” I said. She pushed against me, but I was still a little stronger than her. But I let out a wince as I stepped back on my bad ankle. 

It was then that Aiko finally saw me. “Mama,” she said worriedly, catching me as I stumbled. 

“You disobeyed my orders,” I grumbled weakly. 

“But-”

“There's no but's about it, Aiko,” I snapped, even as she helped me out of the warehouse. I looked around to see the remaining stragglers being quickly neutralized by our more energized forces. I let out a sigh. This wasn't feeling like much of a win. “I shouldn't have brought you on this mission.”

“If you hadn't, you'd be dead right now.”

I was too livid to answer her. So what if I'd died? I was the Chief of Police, it wasn't her job to worry about my welfare. It was the other way around. 

For Spirits’ sake, the kid was only seventeen. Even younger than I'd been when I first started out. Maybe she was good. Maybe she was talented. But she was a child. My child. 

“Mama. Mama, look, I'm… sorry,” she said. I could hear her voice straining with the apology. The typical Beifong pride. 

I shook my head. “I'll chew you out later, trust me. For now,” I let out a pained groan, “Get me back to the department.”

---

SLAM!

I let out a sigh as the door shut behind Aiko (who I’d just finished my promised chewing out with), pinching my brow with my good arm. The healer was still working on my ankle. 

She shot a questioning look towards the door, then back to me. “She's very strong for her age,” she commented. When I gave her a look, she added, “Carrying you all the way up here by herself like she did.”

I hummed half heartedly. “Sure. But she's about as stubborn as five earthbenders in one,” I quipped. 

The healer chuckled easily, and I shot her a glare that would've been more intense if she wasn't responsible for my wellbeing. “If I were you, I'd be grateful to have a daughter that cared so deeply for me. They're not usually so unconcerned with themselves at that age,” she said. 

“I don't need your advice on parenthood, thank you,” I snapped, “I'd like to have my ankle healed, my shoulder repositioned, and to get the hell out of here.” 

The healer didn't look the least bit phased. Was I losing my edge? It was probably the kid’s fault. “She's a good kid, Chief Beifong. Maybe a little reckless, but there are worse things.”

I stayed silent. It wasn't like I could disagree with the healer. Aiko really was remarkable. So much so that someone on the outside might even be able to rightfully say a parent’s worry was unwarranted. 

And yet, here we were. 

“She's my- she's a rookie,” I said, “She made a call that was explicitly against my orders. Hell. I should have her fired for insubordination.” 

The healer laughed merrily. “According to your tirade from earlier, it sounded like a simple case of a protective mother and her stubbornly heroic child,” she replied, “I think it's sweet.” 

I let out a loud huff in reply. This… this was the price of letting my kid become a cop. Yet another layer of worry atop the whole damn cake. And it was the thickest of them all. 

Aiko was good. But I just knew this was going to bite me in the ass sooner or later. It'd been me that took the brunt of it tonight. But only the Spirits know what I'd do if- when- Aiko would suffer down the line. 

--- 

The back door of the department screeched as I opened it, and stepped back out into the chilled air of Republic City. I checked my watch. It was almost three in the morning now, but long nights of the winter were going to keep any brightness away for a long while. And I was still too jittery from the mission to feel the exhaustion yet. 

I kicked a pebble and scuffed the sole of my shoe as I stood at the edge of the sidewalk. I then closed my eyes and focused on the city sounds (which never faded, in a town that was perpetually awake). Mom always told me to do that whenever I wanted to calm down. 

Mom. My stomach sank, and so did I to the edge of the sidewalk. Slamming the door like that back there would've warranted a deserving ass-beating from any less merciful (or injured) parent. I let out a sigh. 

“I expect better from you.”

Her words, filled with all their sharpness and spite, kept echoing in my head. 

“Ugh…” I muttered to myself, cradling my face in my hands. 

No matter what mom said or how disappointed she was, I didn't regret what I did one bit. But a simple ‘thank you’ would've been nice. Would've been more than nice, actually. I was starting to wonder what it was gonna take for those two words. 

“Hey, Beifong? That you?” A voice further up the sidewalk called. 

I perked up, taking my face out of my hands. “Yeah?” I called back at the silhouette. As the figure walked forward, I realized that it was Koru, one of the guys from my graduating class. He was working in communications. “Hey, Koru.”

“Hey,” he replied, waving at me with a hand that contained a telegram, “This just got wired over to the station. It's for you.” 

I took the message with a knowing smile. “Thanks a lot,” I said. 

“No problem.” 

As he walked away, I turned my attention back to the telegram. In bold letters near the top left corner, SUYIN BEIFONG was etched into the paper.

I was still smiling brightly. The last telegram I’d gotten from my aunt had been almost a month ago, after my graduation. I quickly got to reading it. 

Dear Aiko, 

I hope you're doing well! Your cousins and your Uncle Baatar all say hello, and urge you to come visit as soon as you can. Ever since they saw you in the papers, the kids have been wanting to meet you. They think you're a celebrity! To which I told them you might as well be. 

I chuckled quietly. I made a mental note to write her back and ask her to ask Junior to start writing me too. We were the same age, and Aunt Su made it out to seem we'd get along well. 

How is your mom? I would ask you to tell her I wish her the best, but I wouldn't want to invoke her wrath upon you.

You’re so much like her yet so different, you know. Admittedly, you have a little bit of me in you (don't tell your mom that, though), but you deciding to follow in the footsteps of your mother just screams Lin. Which reminds me to tell you to be careful, please. You’re stubborn and strong-willed (a Beifong trademark), but don't let that be a disservice to you. Your work is very dangerous. 

Which is why I hope that you went into the force with your heart invested in it alongside your body. Lin might say otherwise, but I know better. She didn't become a cop because she loved it, but because she wanted to please our mother. 

Do what's best for you. If that means being a cop, then by all means, continue. But if you feel the need to escape, then do so. I highly recommend traveling. 

Heh. Of course she'd recommend traveling. 

Remember, you'll always be welcome to Zaofu. Lin as well, though she might not appreciate that as much. Give her a hard time for me please, since I'm not around to do it myself. 

Sending you all the hugs and kisses from your second home, 

Aunt Su

PS: Your birthday gift should arrive within the week of your special day. I hope you like it. 

I folded the telegram and tucked it into my coat, feeling significantly more warmed up now. I looked up at the sky, bluish-grey with all the Republic City lights it had to reflect. But just a few stars made it through, and peeked and winked at me. 

“Thanks, auntie,” I whispered with a small chuckle, “And don't worry, I'll give her the hardest time.” 

My aunt was the matriarch of the Metal Clan in Zaofu, a city near the Earth Kingdom made entirely of metal. I knew her face from pictures in mom’s photo album. But something about the way mom looked at that album made me decide against asking about my mysterious aunt and grandma. And so I did my own research. Of course, it didn't take much looking. And Aunt Su had been over the moon elated when I'd sent her my first telegram. 

That was three years ago now. Since then, she'd sent me telegrams and pictures religiously, but I always had to make sure I got to the errand boy before mom could. This familial correspondence was my best kept secret. 

I stroked my chin as I started to contemplate what my birthday gift could possibly be. If she sent me a meteorite, I was going to freak out- mom probably would too. 

I grimaced. Hopefully it was something more subtle, something that wouldn't become a noticeable new decoration in my room. 

“Kid, what are you doing out here? It's freezing,” a voice from behind me said. I hadn't even heard the door open. 

I looked back to see my mom, who was limping only slightly as she moved to stand next to me. I held my hand subconsciously to my coat, the telegram crumpling quietly. “Mama, you alright?” I asked. She waved me off before handing me one of the coffees she was holding. “Thanks,” I said, and practically chugged it in my gratefulness. I let out a sigh as the black coffee flowed down and warmed my stomach. 

With a tired sigh, mom shifted to sit on the curb next to me. We drank our coffee in comfortable silence, simply appreciating the peace. 

Damn. This was gonna be life now. Gang raids and near-death situations were going to be weekly. And the paperwork. I let out a groan, not all too excited about coming into work tomorrow- or rather, in five hours. 

“Something the matter?” Mom asked. 

I shook my head. “Nah. Just tired. I just… can't believe this is my life now,” I replied. 

Mom gave me a look I couldn't quite decipher. “You know, you… you did well today. In spite of blatantly disregarding my orders.” I blinked wide-eyed at her. She turned away from me with a growl. “Don't look at me like that, kid. That's the highest compliment you're going to receive from me until you straighten out.” 

I smiled sheepishly, before resting my elbows tiredly on my knees. “Hey, uh, Chief… I’m sorry,” I said, she cocked a brow at me. 

“You already apologized.”

“No, I'm sorry for giving you an attitude in the med wing. I get it, I'm a rookie, I'm just not ready yet-”

“That's not-” mom stopped herself short with a sigh, brows pulled in almost angrily. I looked off to the side in guilt. 

The guys in the special corps said I was remarkable. A talent. Hell, dare some of them say the best since my own mom. But what'd any of that mean if the Chief herself didn't believe it? 

“Look, kid. This work, it's dangerous,” she said sternly, drawing my gaze back to her, “No matter how hard I try, I lose at least one of my men every year. This city’s a breeding ground for crime. If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd-” she stopped herself short, and I caught a rare glimpse of vulnerability nobody else saw from my mom but me. 

I leaned towards her earnestly. “Mom, you know I can handle this. I was the product of all that before you found me!” I saw her flinch at that statement, eyes twitching ever so slightly. But I didn't waver. “I just…” I sighed stubbornly. “I just wanna help you, okay?” I said softly, “I know you're gonna tell me you don't need my help, but you can't be the best forever. Somebody’s gotta look out for you.” 

Mom’s gaze shifted from troubled to- well, maybe a little less troubled. 

“Is that why you gave up Pro-Bending? To help me?” She asked. 

I cringed a little. A part of me would always yearn to go back to the game, back to where everything was a little more humble, with the highest stake not being a life, but a loss. Where fighting was for glory, not for justice. 

I felt a little out of touch without it, like I was without that balance mom had always told me was so important for an earthbender. But the reason for my exit far outweighed the pit in my stomach. I was going to stand by my mom no matter where it took me. 

“It's not important, mom.”

“Aiko-”

“Look, can we go home? I'm really tired. And we've gotta come back in like, five hours,” I said. 

She scrutinized me for one extremely terrifying moment, but eventually found that she was too tired to hold onto the subject as well. With a resigned nod, she held her hand out to me, pulling me up with her from the curb. 

As we walked towards the parking lot, she wrapped an arm tightly around my shoulders. 

“You're a good kid, Aiko. I'm lucky to have you.”

“Heh. Thanks, mama.” 

That was more than I’d been expecting to hear that night. 

---

And that’s a 6000+ word sh**storm wrapped up right there. Sheesh. And it was out almost a week after I’d promised to put it out, jc. I’ll try to have part 2 up by next week, here’s to hoping it’s much better! Regardless, I hope u enjoyed this, or at least enjoyed making fun of it. If you have any tips or things you’d like to see in the story, pls let me know! :3

tags: (small gang but i like it :D) @themost-obsessivefangirl @inter-net

[guiltysecretpasttime]

Adversity

A fanfic story

Overview: Lin and Tenzin are both at the height of their respective careers – she with the Metalbending Police and he with the Air Nation. Questions about their future begin to arise and things come to a head when Lin responded to an emergency call. Would her job take them from each other forever? Eventual HEA. Non-canon compliant, AU. (Notes at the end of the post.)

Chapter 1

Lin was once again pulling a double shift, finishing up this month’s crime stats report that needed to be filed at city hall tomorrow. Aside from having the routine meeting at city hall, tomorrow also marks Lin’s first ninety days as the chief of police.

She lightly rubbed a crick at her neck as she proofread the document.

Having taken over the Republic City Police Department when her mother, the metalbender Toph Beifong, stepped down, Lin Beifong recognized that taking on this responsibility goes beyond upholding the family legacy.

She pushed on, double checking the figures. Hoping that this was enough at least to keep the council contented. While some of the council members saw her growing up, she knew they were going to be fair as in all their dealings. However, the rest of the members were likely to be more difficult with her, with the mistaken notion that they needed to compensate for the perceived bias of the city founders. It also did not help that her mother was not as charismatic as the other founders.

Lin sighed tiredly as she pulled out another case folder; she had her work cut out.

-------------

Tenzin frowned deeply at his bowl, as though the stew his mother prepared offended him greatly.

His sullen mood was out of place amidst the boisterous laughter of his family at the dinner table. On another day, he would have eaten his sea prune stew with gusto. Tonight, he should have done so as well, given that his mother went all out with the dishes as the extended family was present.

Bumi, his eldest brother, arrived two days ago on shore leave. His uncle Sokka, meanwhile, landed at Air Temple island that afternoon, in preparation for tomorrow’s council meeting.

His uncle continued to regal the table with stories, getting more and more exaggerated as the night wore on. His father, the Avatar Aang laughed accordingly at the right moments, encouraging the stories further. Beside Sokka, his wife Suki held his glass upright without skipping a beat as he pounded on the table in emphasis on how heavy the imported cabbages were in the Southern Water Tribe. Tenzin’s sister Kya chatted their aunt’s ear off at her other side.

It was a lovely meal indeed and the company was not so bad either. In fact, Tenzin was looking forward to this family dinner. The week was ending and it was particularly challenging one.

He had a long session with the new Air Acolytes earlier and he had a vague impression that they were not taking him seriously as they would his father. He just wanted to have a relaxing night with the family and Lin.

Granted, Lin was practically family. But it was her that Tenzin was specifically anticipating to spend time with that night. He had a lot of things on his mind but he knew Lin’s presence would help tamp down his worries.

Katara noticed her son’s preoccupation as the dinner went on. Every couple of minutes or so, Tenzin would look up at the doorway, as though expecting someone. As the night went on, his mood turned sour.

Presently, he attempted to stab the sea prune with his spoon.

“Tenzin, dear, would you like a fork?” Katara called out, lightly touching his arm, startling him from his reverie.

“Wha-?” Tenzin was drawn out of his thoughts, as the stew splashed on his robes when the prune slipped from his utensil.

“Fork? Or a knife?” His mother held out a small table knife to him. “Is something bothering you?” Katara had an inkling on what (or rather who) was on his mind. “How was the session today?”

Tenzin shrugged but took the knife. “It was fine, mother.” He wanted to share his misgivings about the air acolytes but did not want his siblings to overhear. “We were able to start and end on time.” Lame as it was, that was the only positive outcome of that meditation session.

“That’s good to hear,” Katara took a bite of her own stew. “They are from the Southern Air Temples, right? How is the restoration going on from their end, did they share anything about it?” She intended to draw him away from his obviously stormy ruminations.

Just as Tenzin was about to respond, Sokka suddenly turned his attention to mother and son. “Heeey – I knew I forgot something! Where’s Lin?”

Tenzin grew uncomfortable as the table went silent, each person looking at him expectantly. He cleared his throat as he loosened his collar. “She’s still at the precinct, I believe.” He did not miss Katara and Aang share a look but he chose not to acknowledge it.

“That young lady is working too hard,” Sokka run his hand at his beard. “On the other hand, look at her sister Suyin, with two kids at the age of twenty-four. I mean, sure they’re both productive, if you get what I mean. Am I right?” He elbowed his wife, looking for affirmation. Suki looked nonplussed. So he leaned to his other side, elbowing Bumi instead, who gave him a thumbs up.

-------------

Finally, at half past eleven in the evening, Lin found herself unlocking the door to the apartment after satisfactorily completing the documents in time for tomorrow’s meeting.

“Tenzin, I’m home.” She called out, as she took off her boots and removed her armor. “I’m sorry I’m late.” She pulled her long black hair from the bun it was in the whole day. “Had to finish up some paper-.” She finally realized she was alone. “Work.”

The dark and empty room puzzled her but she ignored the unease that crept and proceeded to the bathroom to wash her face.

Seeing the empty space where she and Tenzin kept their toothbrushes and toiletries, Lin cursed.

She just realized she forgot something tonight.

-------------

After somewhat successfully averting the disaster called Sokka’s big mouth by introducing dessert, Katara followed her youngest child who excused himself to the patio once dessert was served. She studied his stiff posture as he gazed at the distant lights of Republic City.

“Son, is everything okay with Lin?” Katara was not one to beat around the bush. “She’s not in trouble, is she?”

Tenzin shook his head quietly. “She’s fine, Mother.” He really did not want to discuss his relationship right now.

“Don’t mind Sokka,” Katara plodded on. “He’s just probably excited to hear about more grandchildren within our group. You know how he doted on Iroh when Zuko used to bring him over.” She smiled in recollection how Sokka had pranced around with the toddler on his back, pretending to be a dragon.

“Iroh is just a couple of years younger than me.” Tenzin grumbled, not liking where the conversation was headed.

Katara waved him off. “You were well in your teens by then – a far cry from toddling little Iroh.” Seeing no further comment coming from her companion, she gestured to the side buildings. “Do you want me to call on the Air Acolytes to prepare Oogi tonight? I had them bring him to the barns as I thought you’d be staying overnight. They can easily prepare him for your quick trip back to Republic City though.”

“No, it’s fine.” The tall airbender was starting to hate that word: fine. “Oogi’s probably resting already. And I haven’t decided yet if I’ll stay tonight,” His equanimity would be sorely tested should he see Lin now.  “I can always borrow a glider to get back to the mainland.”

“Well, if you’re sure,” His mother gave him a side hug. “You know your father and I are always here for you and Lin, right?”  She felt him nod. “Don’t stay out too late – it’s a bit chilly these nights.”

-------------

Lin fought with herself as to whether she should drop a call to Air Temple Island at this time. She wanted to speak to Tenzin. Correction: she needed to apologize for forgetting about the family dinner.

Seeing that it was almost midnight with no hint of Tenzin or Oogi in sight, Lin decided to risk waking the household up.

“Pick up, pick up,” Lin murmured as she heard the phone ringing.

-------------

Unbeknownst to her, the raucous cacophony made by a drunk Sokka, Bumi and Kya drowned out other noises within Aang’s house.

Rolling his eyes as he saw Bumi throwing back a large tankard, Tenzin decided to retreat to his bedroom to bid his time before going home to Lin. There was no way he would allow himself to be dragged into Sokka’s drinking game, which was likely to happen should they see him crossing the threshold to glide away. With a highly skilled waterbender in said drinking group, he did not want to take any risks of possibly being pulled into the ocean at this late hour.

-------------

With fatigue eventually overcoming him, Tenzin barely felt the mattress shifting nor did he feel the bed dip with the weight of another person joining him. He sighed sleepily as he curled closer to the source of warmth beside him.

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Note:  Hello to my lone reader! So here’s my trial in creating a Linzin fanfic (cross-posted in archiveofourown too). I’m hesitant to post something online but it felt nice to share it with you. Not sure if this plot has already been done, or if this is a familiar trope already, but just the same I’ll be posting it here as I’ve started to rediscover the fandom recently. I’ve been fascinated by the Linzin pairing and I wanted to give it a shot. There was something very poignant about them and while I’m a sucker for angst, I wanted to try to give it a try to give them a happy ending. This is also non-canon compliant, obviously. Let me know what you think! 😊

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Other chapters here:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

[songxiaolin]

the way you said ‘i love you’

@justastoryteller asked: 15. Loud, so everyone can hear

Lin Ming had never been to a banquet before. They were only half-way through this one and she had already vowed never to go to another. It was awkward; too many people stared at her, stared at Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen, whispering to each other. Xiao Xingchen seemed not to notice but Song Lan’s face was colder than normal, his shoulders stiff. 

She certainly noticed, face sour the entire time and once, at someone’s careless comment, Song Lan had to take her arm, holding her in place until the offender was ushered off with a smile by Xiao Xingchen. Something she was still sulking about.

For the banquet, they had positioned her slightly to the side and behind the two men, something that rankled in her chest though she couldn’t explain why. No one seemed to be paying her any mind and so she scanned the crowd as she drank her wine.

Raised voices caught her attention. 

“--more like young people playing at something they don’t understand.” 

Her head snapped in that direction. She remembered the one man from earlier; he was arrogant and loud and the sort of person she would have punched, had they been in the street. 

“Right, right,” his companion agreed. “And neither have true, proper training, in a sect, that is.”

Lin Ming glanced over at her men; if either of them noticed, they didn’t show it, except perhaps in the way Song Lan held his hands or the way Xiao Xingchen’s mouth twitched. 

“The one’s entire temple was slaughtered, I heard. What sort of background is that?”

Under the table, she curled her hands into fists, cheeks red with the anger that Song Lan would never show. 

“And what do we really know about that Baoshan Sanren?” The loud-mouthed man continued, shaking his head. “I’ve heard rumors about the blind one, that he worked with Xue Yang.”

Xiao Xingchen drew in a shaky breath. His face was pulled into an expression of shame and anguish.

She had promised to behave, something she took seriously; the sects and their formality might have earned her scorn but she would do anything for Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen. 

And that included breaking her promise.

The force with which Lin Ming brought her hands down on the table was enough to scatter the dishes, spilling the wine. She stood, knee catching on the low table and knocking it over. In the banquet hall, the sound was deafening. All eyes were on her. 

Xiao Xingchen reached out and found her sleeve and held on.

“Lin Ming,” he said, so quiet that she almost didn’t hear. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine. She caught Song Lan’s eye as she withdrew her sleeve from Xiao Xingchen’s grip. Song Lan didn’t try to stop her. He knew better. 

In a flurry of pale orange and bright green robes, Lin Ming crossed the banquet hall to stand in front of the loud mouthed man. He had the audacity to look surprised and then offended as she snatched his cup of wine off the table.

“What do yo--”

Anything he was going to say was drowned out by the shocked gasps of the rest of the hall as she dumped the contents of the cup onto his head.

Lin Ming had no voice to speak with but actions spoke louder than words.

She dropped the cup and walked back to her seat.

[peachyjie]

Flame To Ice || Fan Cheng Cheng

A/N: Oh look another scenario for our lovable meme. This is a prompt which is really different from his image, like come one we all know that meme king. But overall, enjoy 💕 DONT U DARE COME AFTER ME AFTER THIS

Requested : By my lovely @itsfanchengcheng ILY 💕 (Go check her out, her content are 👌🏻and she’s real noice)

Pairing : Fan Cheng Cheng - Reader

Genre : Badboy!AU + fluff

Summary : Fear are always on people’s faces when they see him. He, as in the teen who loves trouble, uncontrollable like flames. When with you, he cools down burning off his own flames

————•————

I’m here, take your time

You smiled at the message displayed on your phone. You put all of your things neatly in your bag, ready to get out of campus

You walked out of class to be greeted by Lin Chao Ze, where’s he greeted you in his sweater paws and round glasses in all smiles.

“History sucks?”, he asks. You sighed and nodded. “They started talking wayyyy to deep, and I lost it”, this made Chaoze giggled.

Both of you walked out of the building, out to the front lawn of campus. You searched around for a figure, and Chaoze stared at his surroundings before he stared at you.

“Is he here?”, Chaoze asked his tone in curiosity. “Like usual”, you replied back checking your phone. You were about to make a call before it was snatched away.

Both of your’s and Chaoze’s steps stops, your eyes wonder to the tall silhouette, the culprit who obnoxiously took your phone.

Lin Yan Jun

He smirks at your direction before continued typing in your phone. It didn’t take long before you snatched it away from him.

“Awww, babe”, he slurs out the last word. You scoffed before deleting the number he inputed in your contacts. “Okay now that’s harsh”, Yanjun faked being hurt, pulling a hand to cover his ‘broken’ heart.

Lin Yan Jun, a senior in your department. Friends in the same clique of Lin Chao Ze, but usualloy he wonders around with the popular guys such as Bufan and the others. Hobby, girls. Current interest, you.

“Yanjun”, Chaoze hissed out. “Haven’t I told you Y/N is off limit?”, he glared at the olzder. Yanjun only clucked his tounge, dismissing the younger’s threat.

You begged internally, where is this man of yours? Because you seriously needs some help right now.

“I heard you”, Yanjun said. “But that’s not going to stop me from getting her”, he smirks at your direction.

Chaoze who’s not going to stand in silence, he grabs your hand and in a fast pace and drags you from Yanjun. He’s not going to risk anyone’s life, including his when you’re still in his arm.

It didn’t take you too far before Yanjun catch up with his long limbs. Snatching your arm from Chaoze’s grip.

He smirked, and you wished you can slap that smirk out of his face.

“Why the rush?”, he teased. “We have all the time we need”

“If you’re talking about your life-span, I’m questioning that”, Chaoze said in panic. Trying to pry you off the older guy.

“Forget about that boy of yours, let this man take you on a real date”, Yanjun stared at you knowingly.

You only smiled bitterly, trying to get out from his grasp. “I am happy in what my own commitment right now”, you said still trying to run away.

Yanjun wasn’t having it, he pulled you closer to his side. “What can he gives you that I can’t?”, he leans closer to your side, a hand getting near to your sides

And all of a sudden, a gush of strong wind came to place.

The smell of harsh smoke and leather came into place. While others gasps in horror, you stared in surprise whilst Chaoze was screaming his ass off.

Yanjun’s froze afraid to move, his pupils shaking. Yanjun could feel the piercing glare that was directed to him, he gulps down nervously.

“Touch her one more inch, I dare you”

Chengcheng glared at Yanjun, ready to kill. His arm is circled around your shoulder protectively, his leg raised. He had swung one of his legs ready to break Yanjun’s lifeline, but he only stops in only an inch.

Chengcheng took the opportunity and held you behind him, protecting you. You smiled in adoration, peeking a little from his shoulder.

“I don’t need to introduce myself anymore, do I?”, Chengcheng stared at Yanjun in a provocative gaze. He blew a bubble from his mouth, popping it back in. Chengcheng clucked his tongue, staring down at Yanjun.

Chaoze squeaked a little, staring at Yanjun. He knows the reputation of Fan Cheng Cheng, the wild murderous kid you don’t want to mess with in Campus. The kid who brought a bat not for baseball, but to break the principal’s car window. The kid who’s not afraid to put a fist in your light if you mess with him, mess with you.

Chengcheng walks closer to Yanjun, eyes still fuming. The sound of his shoes crunching the soil, brought more adrenaline in the scene. You held Chengcheng’s hand, stopping him from his step. He stared at you, slowly you could see his cold exterior crumbles.

“Enough, Cheng”, you said softly. Chengcheng brushed your hand off him slowly, gaze warm. “Just a sec”, he said in a soft manner. You sighed and nodded.

Chengcheng stared at Yanjun, smirking. He pulled on Yanjun’s collar, automatically taking the taller male down to him. Chengcheng continued to wrap his hand on Yanjun’s neck, sensing the other male’s nervousness. Yanjun jumped feeling Chengcheng lips near his ear, he cowered.

“I dare you, try going near my lover one more time. I will not hesitate to have blood on my hands”

And Chengcheng threw the male off. He turns back to you, his whole exterior slowly dies down. He took your bag and swung it over his shoulder before circling his arm on your shoulder, pulling you closer to his warmth.

When both of you arrived at his motorcycle, he took your helmet. He sat down staring at you and sighed. “Are you mad?”, he asked. You were surprised, but only giggled.

Chengcheng smiled at that. No matter how people sees him, labeling him as a up to no good child. He always find himself being true when he’s with you. He stared at you lovingly.

“At least this time you didn’t punch them”, you said staring. “Last time you did it, you sent the the basketball captain, Ziyi to the hospital”, he only smile wider.

“Well, who told you to be so beautiful?”, he took one of your hand, motioning circling motion lovingly. He stared at you, the intensity of his gaze could even melt you right now.

“Gotta protect what’s mine”

He pulled you softly into his embrace, hugging you. He rested his chin on top of your head, humming. “Hey, Y/N”, he called out. You hum and stared at him.

“Want to get lunch?”, you nodded. “Want to know what’s on the menu in mind?”, you’re not questioning him.

“Is this another lame pickup lines from Justin?”, you see him pouts. “Oh it is, I’m so over you now”, you said turning away. You heard a small whispers from Chengcheng, and you’ve never cringed so hard in your life.

“Me-n-U”

“I’m breaking up with you”, you scoffed. Chengcheng whined as he pulls your figure back to his embrace. Your back facing his chest, you huffed. “Way to ruin the moment, dumb ass”, you grumbled.

But all for nothing, you’re laughing at his dumb face. A meme

“You’re such a dork”, you smiled. “A meme”, he chuckled. “For a bad kid, you’re so whipped for me”, you teased.

He stared down at you, all soft. “I’m too drowned in you already anyways”, he pecks you softly on the lips. “I’m soft for you, and I am proud of it”, he said catching your in another longer passionate kiss.

“You’re a dork, a lovable dork”, you giggled. He hummed feeling himself filled with butterflies.

“I’m your dork”, He concluded. He smiles at how easy it is for you to melt him down. He knows about his lifestyle, his way on living. He’s a flame that never died down, but when he sees you. He can cool off and be him for a while.

Like changing flame to ice, almost impossible but seems possible.

“Hey”, he called you softly. You looked at him, eyes in anticipation. “You’re mine, remember that”, he kissed your nose lightly. “And I am yours”, he gave out one final kiss before pulling you to sit behind him.

“Always?”, you asked him softly. Your arms slowly took their usual place, circling around his waist.

He smiled feeling your arms circling around his waist, your grip tightens. He started the engine, and drove off.

“Always, Y/N”