#operation beifong

[citizenofbasingse]

The coolest family.

[bestepisode]

Beginnings, Part 2

Wan discovers a second lion turtle city inhabited by airbenders, but no sooner has he arrived than Vaatu appears, turning other spirits dark and threatening to destroy the world. Determined to stop Vaatu, Wan resolves to master additional elements with Raava's help, and prepare for the 'Harmonic Convergence', during which Vaatu and an increasingly weakened Raava will battle for the fate of the world. Wan and Raava fail to stop a bloody war initiated between the humans and spirits by Vaatu. Arriving at the Southern spirit portal, Wan and Raava enter the spirit world and join battle against Vaatu by having Raava temporarily inhabit Wan. The battle goes poorly, but when Harmonic Convergence begins, Wan and Raava are able to fuse together permanently, thereby becoming the first Avatar. After sealing Vaatu in the Tree of Time, Wan convinces the spirits to return to the spirit world and seals the portals, becoming the "bridge" between the two worlds himself. Years later, a dying Wan lies on a smoldering battlefield and apologizes to Raava for not bringing peace to the world. But Raava assures him that their journey has only just begun; they will have many lives together in the avatar cycle of reincarnation. Korra awakens, memories restored, and leaves the island intent on stopping Unalaq's plans, whatever they may be, for the next Harmonic Convergence, which is mere weeks away.

Operation Beifong

Near Zaofu, Opal, Lin, and Bolin are joined by Toph and track the Beifong prisoners to a facility where Baatar Jr. and Zhu Li are testing a vine energy supercannon. A rescue plan takes form, but tensions run high between the previously estranged Toph and Lin. Zhu Li proves to have been feigning her loyalty to Kuvira and attempts to sabotage the weapon, but her effort is discovered by Kuvira. The rescue team frees the captive Beifongs, who engage Kuvira and her forces together, before being forced to flee by Kuvira's superior numbers. Lin and Toph find a measure of reconciliation. Zhu Li reveals that Kuvira is planning an imminent attack on Republic City; she is determined to retake all of the lands which the Earth Kingdom had once ceded to the United Republic. Meanwhile, Korra tries and fails to convince the spirits to help defend Republic City.

Vote on more episodes here!

Find the full list of round 2 polls here.

[yahoo201027]

Day in Fandom History: December 5…

Lin, Opal, and Bolin arrive over at the Earth Empire where they team up with Toph and must save Suyin and the rest of the family from imprisonment as Kuvira tests out a new potential super weapon using spirit vines. “Operation: Beifong” premiered on this day, 9 Years Ago.

[waterfire1848]

Cracking myself up at the hilarity of an idea where benders and nonbenders swap ability and it's just Ty Lee sneezing and suddenly launching herself 100 feet in the air, Mai trying to use one of her knives and ends up freezing her hands, Suki falling down after a long day and creating a tiny crater in the earth

And, of course, Sokka is the Avatar.

[cienie-isengardu]

Avatar The Last Airbender: North and South

[4upz]

tags.

[that-fruitier-emo]

I've been rewatching The Legend of Korra, and the most recent episode I watched was Operation: Beifong. Imagine being Kuvira. You woke up that morning intending to test your weapon of mass destruction, and then your prisoners escape. You are pretty evenly matched against one of the said prisoners. Then Toph fucking Beifong, the inventor of the bending technique your using comes. Immobilizes your soldiers AND MECH SUITS. Just to essentially tell you to go fuck yourself.

Part of why Kuvira was a good villain, was because she didn't engage with Toph. She knew if she fought Toph, that it was more than likely somebody's leaving in a body bag, and it wasn't gonna be 86 year old recluse who lives in a damn swamp.

Like, she knows not to start something if she's not confident she can finish it. And even if Toph planned to attack, she was prepared to stand her ground. But she WOULD NOT attack first, because that's what her combat strategy was. Getting them to attack her first so it wouldn't be unprovoked.

Because believe it or not, she was a really skilled earth bender.

And metal bender.

And I'm not going to sell her short by saying otherwise. And while both sides had the means to at they bare minimum defend themselves and escape, they were in a stalemate. Not because neither could advance, but because both parties knew better than to advance. So you had yourselves a good old fashion western stair down. They both knew getting into a fight would be unnecessary, and frankly a waist of both of their times, Kuvira knew deep down, if the fight took place.

She'd be getting her prime earthbending metal bending ass handed to her by a 86 year old woman who's been living completely cut off from society for the past 20-30 years.

(also, while looking for the first photo I found this and felt I should include it)

[lisaminnci]

THE LEGEND OF KORRA 4x10 ➢ Operation Beifong

[wilcze-kudly]

What are your favorite Beifong family headcanons?

Oooh that's a great ask. I have a lot of headcanons and I'm pretty sure I've talked about them a lot at least a few times, but I've tried to condense them as best I could!

I've rambled about my headcanons surrounding seismic sense but here's some more. The twins and Huan learnt seismic sense very early on in their lives and were provably encouraged to lean into it. Huan particularly has very well developed seismic sense. To the point where it makes him uncomfortable and he tends to shy away from using it by wearing thick socks or shoes.

When Kuvira first arrived to Zaofu, she didn't really get along with Baatar Jr. I can see Baatar Jr being very protective of Opal, since they were the two nonbenders of the family. I can see him not looking too kindly at whom he saw as his mother's attempt at having a "better daughter".

Kuvira and the twins are permanent parts of Suyin's dance troupe. (Canon for Kuvira.)

Due to not having much interaction with people outside the family, the Beifong kids are/were super close. Which leads to even more pain as they slowly untangle and mature.

They were also very close with the staff that worked at the manor and other of their family friends, due to this being their only social interactions outside family. Aiwei and the Chef (he only calls himself chef and never reveals his real name cause he used to be a pirate and is wanted in all four nations) are basically surrogate uncles to the kids.

It having been just the six of them, i can see it being hard for them to fully interact with new people.

Huan wanted to be a doctor as a kid and pretended to do operations on his siblings. Their father, a renown architect, even built them a little play hospital. The other Beifongs... weren't fans.

Kuvira enjoys bubble baths. That's it.

Wei collects crystals and cool looking rocks, similairly to how Su collects meteors. He's a nerd about it too. He has several opals and whenever he's in an argument with Opal he will dramatically move them to the back of his collection.

One of my fave silly headcanons/theories is Baatar Sr being Suki and Sokka's kid. Like, I know it's very unlikely, but it is a lovely idea in my head and I could ramble about it all day. I don't see a lot of people talking about it. I see plenty of people using Suyin's sons looking like Sokka as proof that Su is a Tokka baby, however the Beifong boys actually resemble their father a lot. Also I have plenty headcanons around this idea and Suki would be an epic grandma. Kyoshi warrior Opal (and the twins). Living in my head rent free. Forever.

Wing and Opal formed a little book club and like reading together/talking about books they've read. Their siblings aren't allowed to join. One time Kuvira and Wei crashed the little meeting and Wing was so offended he pretended to run away and join the circus.

When they were children, Kuvira was the ringleader for sure. She'd take the much more well behaved Beifong kids on wild adventures, after which they'd come back to the house covered in mud.

Wing is hard if hearing. Comes from that one scene where he sent Lin and Su to their deaths after misshearing Mako.

Aiwei was the first one to encourage Huan to pursue his artistic talents and most of Huan's first works are still in Aiwei's house.

Wei is named after Aiwei, but they already had a Juniour in the family, so he was named an abbreviation of his namesake.

Aiwei ultimately regrets betraying the Beifongs, to teh point where his nightmares in the Fog of Lost souls are about the Beifongs.

Can't believe Zaheer sent the only confirmed gay man ever shown on screen to super hell. Homophobia at its finest

Ugh you don't know how happy getting asks about the Beifong family makes me. Sorry if these were more focused on the Zaofu crew, I know they're not as popular as Lin and Toph but they are my faves.

[dont-blame-it-on-the-kids]

50 Random Character Asks: Lin

may be some repeats in here BUT its done lmao

1. Canon I outright reject

The 16hour nap and suddenly shes okay with Su like thats not how that workssss 

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

HC i will die on is her scars going up to her eyebrow and shes blind in that eye, i loveeeee her surviving easily off the seismic sense and then when shes in the south without her bending people realize they can sneak up on that side and quietly adjust how they approach her so they stop scaring her.

3. Obscure headcanon

She paints! Shes been painting since before she could bend and it’s something she had that was all hers and no one else in her family could compare it to Toph. 

4. Favorite line

“I am a detective you know.” 

5. Best personality trait

I love that shes that ‘good is not nice’ its so in line with her being the beifong of the LoK series and seeing how much she genuinely cares under that tough armor is endearing

6. Worst personality trait

Dude she jumped at every chance for a suicide mission. Thats gotta be some deep seeded issues lmao

7. Age/height/weight headcanon

Shes like 50-53/54 in the show 

5ft 4inch (she is SMOL and ANGY and you cannot stop me)

Again probably the appropriate weight for being her size and muscular. After book one tho she has a hard time remembering to eat and i hc in the south she lost a ton of weight in the recovery.

8. Unpopular opinion about them

idk if i have a wholly unpopular opinion. I know the fandom can be a bit divided on things. 

I have gotten a lot of backlash for my height hc in the past tho lmao 

9. Scene that first made me love (or hate) the character

The first scene MY HEART i love her soo much. I saw her in screen and went, that ones mine! 

10. Best moment on screen (or in the book)

I love the scene where bumi is trying to talk in code names and lins like “WTF are you saying???” 

11. Faceclaim for the role

I love @mgthejerkbender ‘s FC of Joan Chen 

12. Crack headcanon

She and Noatak were involved shortly after the breakup with tenzin but it didn’t last long. 

13. Dumbest thing they’ve ever done

In canon she brings an RCPD skyship into Ba Sing Se and aids Korra and Tenzin in stealing the EQ’s air bender army. All in uniform.

14. Most heroic moment

Oh god pretty much every time she’s on the screen lmao, but I hc she goes down for good protecting Korra not long after canon. 

15. Worst thing they’ve ever done

Hmmm I’m so caught up on this question because does it mean  A) thing they did with Bad Intentions that had a Bad Outcome  B) thing they did with Good Intentions that had a Bad Outcome  C) something they perceive as a failure / personal sin they’ll be forgiven for?  There’s so many ways to take thissss 

I’m gonna say during one of the first undercover operations with Saikhan she had to kill a man to keep her cover and he’s a cold case file in her office. 

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves

that through all her good intentions and desperate attempts to keep people she loved and the city she loved safe, she’s always left defeated and broken with a new scar on her somewhere and blood on her hands. 

17. Quotes, songs, poems, etc. that I associate with them

Pluto by Sleeping at Last this song was fucking made for Lin i swear

Blame it on the Kids by AViVA 

I have a whole Spotify playlist and more linked in the pinned post lmao

The Void calls in sweet tones and false promises, by WolfSkullJack /FaceBook plink/ This is just sooooooo Linmon I’m writhing in agony 

18. What they’d go to see a therapist about

She wouldn’t. But there’s a MIGHTY NEED for her to see one lmao 

19. Vices/bad habits

Smoking, drinking, burying herself in work. 

20. Scars

Burn to her left shoulder - house fire she was first responder to 

Three large gashes on her back - criminal animal 

Burn left hip - firebender (Zolt possibly) on her second patrol 

Right hip back and front - rebar puncture from building fire/explosion 

A handful of Cigarette burns across her shoulders, collarbones and one on her neck - her bio father was upset she wasn’t a firebender 

Facial scars from su are higher and damaged her eyesight. 

Then a smattering of lines and smudges from her time on the force 

(if where in my dark timeline she’s got tally marks across her shoulders and down her back from amon 👀)

21. Drink of choice (not just alcoholic)

Jasmine tea 

22. Best physical feature

👀 

I really love her face lmao 

23. If they were a scented candle, what would they smell like?

You know that smell when a heating vent just turns on in the winter? That “oh god something has gone wrong and it’s burning” but it’s not actually gone wrong. And mint. 

24. Most annoying habit

She picks at the skin around her nails when she’s nervoussss Kya’s constantly healing up scabs where she’s pulled the skin off too far. 

25. 3 things they’d want to take with them if they were dropped off in the middle of nowhere

Her uniform, a jeep, and rations. She’ll make her way home left with nothing but those will make it easier lol. (She is a detective you know) 

26. What they would do if stuck in an elevator with [insert character of your choice from the same fandom]

she would probably just metal bend the elevator to open, most likely leaving it more broken than it was but still. At least they’re out safe. 

27. Their guilty pleasure

She has the entire collection of the in universe equivalent of Nora Roberts or Jane Austin novels. 

28. How they feel about [insert character of your choice from the same fandom]

probably neutral to slightly annoyed. 

29. Eating habits

you guys ever hear about Snake Meal? 

30. Sleeping habits

She can sleep when she’s dead. 

31. If the had a tumblr what would it look like?

it would be a mostly dead blog that she made because asami and mako Insisted she did so they could send her memes. 

32. Something guaranteed to make them smile/laugh

Bumi, always. Hes always had a way of getting through the armor and helping her loosen up a little and smile. 

33. Something guaranteed to make them cry

People reinforcing the idea that she’s alone and not worthy. 

34. How they react when they are feeling X emotion (sad, angry, excited, scared, etc.—can specify as many as you like)

No emotions. 

Only action. 

35. Their idea of a perfect day

Up for a run at 3am. 

Make Kya coffee and breakfast 

At work by 5am 

Moving cases along, no losses.

Back home for dinner at about 7-8pm 

Relaxing with Kya until bedtime. 

36. Their favorite season

Fall, before the air gets too cold. 

37. What they really think about themselves

she’s worried everyone is right honestly. Sometimes the letters from Kya dwindle as responsibilities emerge, dinner with Saikhan and Akira and the kids get put on hold, tenzin not allowing her back to the island she grew up on because of the bitter words shared between them. Maybe she will be a stubborn old woman left alone with her wounds.  

38. Favorite holiday

Probably a new years holiday 

39. Favorite game

Card game for sure like solitaire or trash 

40. Favorite book

She read a book in school for a study hall about the history of the arts and historical pigment making. She has a few copies and one dedicated to her notes and swatches from trying out the methods. 

41. If they could have lunch with anyone in the world (living or dead, from any fictional universe or the real world), who would it be?

Aang, 10000%%% she would want to see Aang again and update him on all the crazy shit korra was doing and about Tenzin’s kids. 

42. 3 comfort items

The bison whistle Aang gave her. (Bumi has his original one but he had more made for the other kids) 

The stuffed badgermole she’s had since she was like 4 

Then they were preteens Tenzin had made her a bracelet with a small thumb sized stone pendant that he carved for her to rub/pick at instead of her fingers. She used it for a while but ended up putting it away when she started the junior league ProBending. 

43. 3 favorite foods and 3 they despise

Fav - mochi, that seal jerky she’s always loved it, a chicken curry type dish Akira makes. 

Des - eggs if they’re alone like fried or scrambled she won’t eat it unless it’s mixed in with a bigger dish. Milk and cheese, She's not a fan of them. 

44. Their happiest memory

It was her 4th birthday before her element showed and shes sitting in the gardens with aang and tenzin and some of the other kids on the island for her birthday. Her uncle aang gives her a stuffed badgermole toy and a warm and very soft blanket bumi and kya made with katara from Appa’s shedding fur and she still has both items on her bed with her to this day.

45. Their favorite celebrity

And old old singer from when she would listen to the radio at night. 

46. The person they most admire

Oh gosh probably Suki, she was a strong warrior and led her life how she wanted to. 

47. Their dream job

she would love to be a sculptor/artist full time, she makes the most gorgeous sculptures. And paints some amazing landscapes. 

48. Scariest moment of their life

Oooof there’s a few. If day the times where she KNEW she was going to die without help. When she fell under the ice when she was like five or six. Then again when she landed on the rebar in the building explosion. The agony of being in pain and the realization that she was too hurt. She couldn’t get herself out of there. At least when she was tortured by Amon she chose to put herself in the situation. Even if she didn’t know the extent. The others though, it was random. She couldn’t control that. She didn’t have a choice. 

49. Favorite toy as a child

Her stuffed bagermole toy for sure 

50. A memory they’ve blocked out

Basically the entirety of Suyin's father living with them. 

[linnorabeifong]

Crack Fic idea Matchmaker Wu

Lin for whatever reason has to baby sit Wu or else deal with Reiko’s wrath. She doesn’t want to deal with a whiny Wu (who does) so she ends up giving in to his demands to go to the spa. Then he decides he’s going to give her a makeover and she is very defensive but gives up after a while… After Lin is all dolled up he demands to go to a very nice restaurant. When they get there she sees ( insert person you ship Lin with ) and realizes it was a set up all along. Wu put her on a blind date. The guy she thought was a fumbling idiot was a mastermind all along and now she’s on the most awkward date of her life while this man is grinning like there’s no tomorrow behind her. Wu stops third wheeling and disappears.

…And operation Beifong was a great success Wu would like to report. The lady was a little less grumpy than usual the next day. According to the tabloids and staff at the four elements she may or may not have made a reservation at midnight after the date he set her on. Ah, all in a day’s work for Wu matchmaker extraordinaire. The only question: who should he set up next ?

[icant-speel]

Operation Beifong 💕

Wing Beifong x Team Avatar Reader - Reader along with Toph, Opal, Bolin, and Lin rescue the Beifong Fam. A little reunion with Wing and the reader happens and Toph just comes in and asks Wing if she is his girlfriend.

Little thing to know - I HAVE REQUESTED THIS TO OTHER BLOGS BEFORE BUT DECIDED TO WRITE IT MYSELF. So no one better be accusing me of coping 😟, Thank you 🌷

Bolin, Opal, Lin, and I inspected Zaofu from a high hill full with trees. With its metal buildings and friendly residents, the city always went easy on the eyes. But now the formidable and frightening Kuvira has taken possession of the city. She additionally tore down the platinum domes that protected Zaofu. Gazing over her former home, Opal questioned, "Kuvira tore down all the domes. Why would she do that?"

Chief Beifong held up her gold telescope to inspect the damage, and in that commanding voice, she stated "She's got a whole battalion of troops stationed there. There's no way we'll be able to spot anything useful from here. We'll have to go in for a closer look." 

"Don't bother, all the prisoners have been moved." An old voice replied from behind us. In unison, all of us turned our heads. Only to see an elderly woman, clad in green, wearing her grey hair tied in a bun. Hold on... IS THIS TOPH BEIFONG?

I turned to face Bolin, who was still getting over the fact that his hero was in front of him. Once he did turn around, we were both fangirling.

Lin got to her feet, her voice uncomfortable and perplexed as she said, "Uhhh, hey chief."

"Hey, chief," Toph said back. 

Opal raced to her grandmother and hugged her, obviously thrilled. 

"OHHHH MANNN," Bolin squealed kicking his feet in a childlike manner.

Oh, this is happening now. But to be fair I was about to have the same reaction as Bolin.

"I CAN'T THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENINGGG!!" He continued. 

"What you have to pee or something?" the elderly woman replied laced with annoyance. Opal laughed at her grandmother's sassy reply.

"No, well, now maybe. You're my hero! My name is Bolin, and I'm dating your granddaughter. I mean kind of, I may have screwed that up, but that's why I'm here, and you're my hero! Oh, I said that. Can I have a hug too?" he reached out his arms for a hug. I chuckled a bit at his babbling. 

Toph said, "What's up with him?"

"He's an actor." Her daughter replied.

Toph questioned me, "And Y/N do I get an enthusiastic greeting from you?"

"Hi to you Toph." I grinned and replied. 

"So you already checked the city for Sue? How do you know she was captured?" Lin asked Toph.

"I've been living in the swamp and keeping watch on Zaofu through the vines." She responded.

The five of us exchanged questions and discussed where to go. 

We strolled towards Opal's bison, Juicy. 

"Grandma, this is Juicy." Opal said to her grandma.

"And I thought Appa was smelly. Why would you choose this leaky, nasty, thing?" 

"You don't choose your bison he chooses you. And once he chooses you, you can't change. Believed me I checked."

I viewed Kuvira's army while riding the Bison and relished the cool wind on my face. 

"So," Bolin nudged my arm,, "you ready to save Wing?" , wiggling his eyebrows. 

"Yeah, I really miss him. I'm just hoping we'll be able too." I answered.

"Hey don't say that, of course we'll save him." Bolin reassured me.

"Thanks, and if we do save the family, you can hopefully win over Opal." I pushed him on the shoulder

He shook me and exclaimed, "Let's go save our relationships!"

~~~

The Beifong’s were held captive in a dim, unsettling cave. The cave was only illuminated by green crystals, and they were enclosed in a wooden cage that was supported by ropes.

"The guards are on the other side of that door. We'll have to be quiet." Toph remarked.

"Shoot me over to the cage and I can swing them back in my cable. Bolin, Y/N you two will have to catch them since mom won't be able to see them." Lin says, Bolin and I nod in agreement.

First I saw Lin swing over Wei. Bolin is the one to catch him. And here comes my Wing. After being set free by Lin's cable. I grabbed Wing in an embrace, stumbling a little. My arms wrapped around him tightly while he did the same. 

I kissed him all over his face a million times and held his face when we released each other. "I missed you so much Wing."

"Missed you more, sweetie. I can't believe I managed to go without seeing your face for that long." He cracked a grin. 

"You are not leaving my side from now on Wing Beifong, and don't even think about infiltrating another one of Kuvira's camps." I said, coming in for another hug.

"Wing your dating Y/N?" Toph interrupted. 

Wing held my hand and brought me over to Toph, "Yes grandma Toph."

Toph asked, "And you never told me?"

"Well, you were gone for-"

Toph cut him off, "I was talking to Y/N."

I answered hesitantly, "Heh. I guess I never did tell you."

Toph laughed to herself, "Well, you two seem happy together. its better than my other relationships, I can tell you that. Wing when are you putting a ring on her finger?" 

Wing and I looked at each other, blushing. Wow, Toph loves to cause mischief.

Bolin jumps into the conversation, shrieking like a young child again, "Yea, Wing, when are you going to?"

I looked at him with startled eyes and said, "Wait Bolin, aren't you supposed to catch them!?"

THUD! Something sounded behind us.

Glancing back, we saw Juan sitting on the ground, gazing at us.

"Thanks." 

[bestepisode]

The winner is...

Korra Alone!

In the one-on-one matches, it defeated:

Enter the Void

Beginnings, Part 1

Old Wounds

Operation Beifong

Venom of the Red Lotus

This episode won the final poll with 65.5% of the vote!

[yahoo201027]

Day in Fandom History: December 5…

Lin, Opal, and Bolin arrive over at the Earth Empire where they team up with Toph and must save Suyin and the rest of the family from imprisonment as Kuvira tests out a new potential super weapon using spirit vines. “Operation: Beifong” premiered on this day, 8 Years Ago.

[lis-muerta]

Can you tell us about Bataar Sr.'s special juice?

She might be giving him a blend of drugs that makes sense you agreeable like Scopolamine and mescaline thier also might be smoothies with cactus juice( Peyote) and maybe a few bits of other substances to keep him working and giving her many babies.

He gets very disorientated without it. ie: Operation Beifongs or whatever it was called..

[chiefbeifongcanrailme]

Chief Beifong and her Affinity for-

Here’s my submission for day 4 of Lin Beifong’s Week. You can also find it on AO3.

Pairing: Lin Beifong x Lightning Bolt Zolt

Rating: M

Art made by JadeLotus💚

Chief Lin Beifong had always been a recurrent patron at the Jitaku hotel just outside of Republic City. She frequented its hospitality through her late teens and early twenties. She basically lived there throughout her thirties, but ever since she hit forty, Lin’s visits to the Jitaku hotel were erratic. Just when the management thought that was their last time hosting the mysterious, porcelain noblewoman and her companion, they would seemingly turn up just to prove them wrong.

But little did management know that their furtive customer was the Chief of Police and what they were hosting were clandestine escapades. They didn’t know that their major benefactor was busy protecting a city infiltrated with criminals- one of which, was their other major benefactor. Triads had always been a very present part of life in Republic City. Over time, their dusty caves had become tourist spots for people from all over the world to gawk at. It was a mockery of justice. Lin didn’t like that Republic City was being celebrated for its wicked infestation. But she knew better than to get involved with the city’s politics.

The Rising Flame triad were, as their name suggested, rising. Their group was growing in number, and they were getting bolder; resorting to murders when organized crime didn’t do their bidding. Most of them worked at the Lucky Cranefish gambling joint- which was also their site of operations. Their leader, Xiaolan, had no idea that Lin Beifong was privy to all this information through a mere former acquaintance.

It had been a few years since Lightning Bolt Zolt had quit the Triple Threat Triad and gone straight. The successor after his successor, Tokuga was doing a horrendous job keeping the flame burning. There was a time Tokuga tried to dissolve the Rising Flame, but it only created a huge mess that in turn, added to the rise in rising flame.  

“Enough with the puns,” Lin had said about twenty-five times when discussing the inner workings of the triads of Republic City with her informant.

This evening, he was more than just an informant. He was a partner. Not the kind of partner the Jitaku hotel was accustomed to accommodating, unfortunately. Lightning Bolt Zolt was going to team up with Lin to take down the Rising Flame Triad, once and for all.

This whole situation was filled with a sense of poetic irony. Ever the philanderer, Zolt was prepared to make the most of his consorting with Lin. They had decided to arrive to the hotel separately and Zolt was the first one there. He waited under the opulent glow of the chandelier for a few minutes before Lin arrived, covered in her brown coat and matching hat.

Together, they made their way to the concierge who handed them one keycard for their room.

Lin gave him a slight glare, prompting him to say, “It’s a suite with two queen beds. It’s all they had for tonight.”

Clearly, that was a lie. Lin rolled her eyes. The hotel was empty. It was cold- nobody was stupid enough to travel to Republic City during its off season.

Without a word though, Lin followed him into the elevator, watching him press the button for the very top, twenty first floor.

She already knew this was a bad idea. But a very tiny part of her wanted to see where this would go.

Once they entered the room, Zolt dramatically cried in shock. Of course, there was only one bed. And of course, Zolt made sure they were in the most expensive suite with the best view of the city.

Lin folded her arms in front of her chest and gave him a look. He knew it meant that she was about to pin him down and kill him Earth Queen style, so, he gave her a cheeky grin. She scowled when he made his way over to her, untying the belt of her coat.

“What? Tell me you hate this.”

Lin rolled her eyes. “We’re not here to fool around, Zolt. If I knew this is what you’d turn this into, I never would’ve asked for your help in the first place”

“Oh, but aren’t you glad you did,” he said, pulling her closer with one arm around her waist.

His lips ghosted over her ear lobe, and despite herself, she closed her eyes to welcome his warm breath on her. He gently stroked her back, lulling her closer into his embrace when, suddenly, she shoved him off.

“Keep it in your pants, Zolt!” she scolded.

“Fine,” he said, clearing his throat. “Xiaolan is currently on the seventeenth floor of this very hotel. You remember Viper? He betrayed Tokuga and the Triple Threats and joined the Rising Flames- they don’t didn’t even accept non-bending fire nation folk, so, I don’t see how Xiaolan is going to let this waterbender go on with them.

“So Xiaolan is going to double cross Viper?”

“That’s right,” Zolt nodded.

“What if we take Viper in our confidence, tell him what we know and”

Zolt waved his hands. “That’ll never work. Viper’s a slippery bastard. If he finds out that the cops know shit about fuck, he’s going to kill all of us. He’d die before he goes to jail.”

Lin smirked. “Quite a colorful sentence you had going there.”

“That slimy guy drove me nuts. He was definitely part of the reason why I quit the triads and went clean.”

“Part of?” she raised one eyebrow suggestively.

“Baby, if only you knew what a big part you have always been.”

Lin shook her head and turned to the door. “Just so we’re on the same page, you’re going to talk to Xiaolan with the recorder in your breast pocket”

“I love it when you talk dirty,”

“And as former triad leader to current triad leader you’re going to establish a friendship and get him to boast all about his crimes. You will keep recording until we have complete admission to illicit activities with names, locations, and everything, okay?”

“And then we get back here and resume our illicit activities?” his eyebrows jumped at the word.

Lin rolled her eyes. “You better not mess this up. You have no idea the migraines I had to endure in trying to get Varrick to make this pin sized recording device.”

“The Chief and her affinity for criminals,” he laughed.

“Zolt, please.”

“Don’t worry about it! It’ll work out fine,” he whined with a limp wrist. “I can initiate and hold conversations unlike some other people in this room- I won’t name names.”

“If you screw me over, I will make sure you’re living in perilous fear for your entire life after I cut your dick off.”

But Zolt laughed. “There’s that dirty talk I like, baby!”

“I’m not kidding,” she snarled.

“Fine, fine. You can trust me, really. I won’t do you that way,”

Lin nodded with relief.

“And you hold up your end of the bargain?” he confirmed, “My identity remains protected. You are not to reveal your sources.”

“Of course, not. I still need my officers to respect me.”

Once he left for the bar downstairs to meet his new friend in the making, Lin sat at the foot of the bed, head in her hands. It was surreal seeing Zolt after all these years in this hotel. Even though the rooms had been renovated since the last time they were here, the memories from then were clear as day. The two of them could spend days and nights together in their room, only leaving it for food if they could help it. They were inseparable when together, but when their baggage and legacies were put between them, it was easier to part ways.

Cards on the table, Zolt always made her happy. Somehow, he managed to properly love her without ever telling her he loved her. She wondered how lucky she was- whether people realized how rare, how unique, and special feeling this way was. How easily feeling loved trumped hearing flat ‘I Love Yous’.

Lin always told herself that she could never be with Zolt because he went against everything she stood for. And suddenly, ever since they started working on taking the Rising Flames down, ever since he gave up on his unlawful ways- Lin was finding it harder and harder to rationalize why she couldn’t just choose to be happy. She knew if she just said the word- he’d come running to her.

Lin had a choice to make. It was a very easy one.

Five and a half uneven knocks on the door meant it was Zolt. They used this back in the day when they were sneaking around. It was the middle of the night by now and Lin had inadvertently dozed off on the bed.

Back in the day, Zolt would’ve betrayed her and tipped Xiaolan off- or maybe he wouldn’t, but he was sure capable of it.

This man in front of her was the same, sexy man she knew all those years ago but now he had this new blood of morality flowing through his veins.

“Here’s everything. He admitted to so much more than what you were suspecting, Lin! Not to spoil your process, but this is going bring the Red Monsoon down too!”

“That’s great news. Does he suspect anything?”

“Not one thing!” Zolt said, laughing. “In fact, he was the one who came to me to ask what I was drinking.” He placed the recorder on the dresser by the bathroom and made his way over to Lin. She was wearing the fuzzy green robe that came with the room and nothing else underneath it. He couldn’t decide if this was intentional, or just that she simply didn’t change after her shower.

“That’s great news,”

“You already said that,” he chortled as she walked over to him.

“I know,” she said, smirking. She placed her arms over his shoulders and leaned towards his body.

“Chief, are you rewarding me with sex for assisting you on a case?”

He was grinning so widely; the lines of his smiles must’ve been eclipsing his eyes. His hands gingerly roamed around her back and then down to cup her ass. His mouth got to her neck- he licked the skin slowly and then closed his lips to nip it. Lin threaded her fingers through his hair and lightly yanked on a chunk, inciting a moan out of him. His hands were still on her ass, when his mouth moved to her lips. “I’ve been dying to kiss you,” he whispered.

“Then kiss me.”

He pulled her closer by her behind and kissed her lips fully. The longing from their love lost was oozing with every beat- it was an epic war of affection with no losers.

“To the bed?” she asked, moving away.

“Aren’t you glad we’re sharing?”

Lin felt herself slam into the cushion as Zolt got on top of her. They were undressed within seconds. His lips immediately encircled her nipple, and she wroth upwards in response. Lin’s hands were back in his hair as his mouth slowly travelled down her body. He kissed her with purpose when his lips met her center.

Minutes later, she came, screaming into glory. He had missed that snap in her voice so much.

He clambered back up to kiss her mouth while his hand slid back down to penetrate her with two fingers.

“You taste so good, you know that?”

Lin chuckled, pecking his lips softly. “You’ve made that pretty clear.”

“Good thing I got us a room with just one bed, right?”

“Actually, it’d be nice if we had two queen size beds. I would've blown you on the other one,” she said with a wink.