LIN x TENZIN
The Chief of the police was in her office, doing late nights paperwork when a knock interrupted her writing. She metal bend the door to open it and looked up. " Hi Lin, you look lovely as always" Tenzin said as she rolled her eyes "What do you want Tenzin ?". He approached the table and looked at her " I was there to ask you how are you ? Some people asked me about you they are very worried Lin", the old AirBender wasn't mad but his tone was stern, she knew that she couldn't make him go home without taking. "I'm just doing my job Tenzin" she kept writing and didn't even looked at him. "Spirit, we got some awfull years with all Amon than the red lotus, Vaatu and now Kuvira. And Lin you got hurt really bad and never stopped helping Republic City. It your time to take a break, to stop caring about the world but care about you !" She scoffed "Isn't you who cared so much about the world that you broke up with me to get some baby ? Isn't you who gave ur life to do what your father couldn't ? Isn't you who gave more yourself to the avatar to save the world instead of caring about yourself ?" Lin was angry, she didn't even know she was so mad at Tenzin. "My choice doesn't change yours, it time for you to take a real break. Kya and Bumi are back what about you stay with us for a while ? Maybe we could travel ? Mako or Saikhan could take care of the Republic City !" Tenzin would not stop and she knew it, she knew how studdborn he could be just like his mother. "I'll think about it, but I do not promise anything" She finally look at him. "Now take a break, i'll walk you home" He closed the files she had in front of her "Don't ever do that again, but give me a second". The metal bender took some paper placing them in a counter, she placed some pen in a box and put some water on plants that was in front of her window. "Ready to leave !" She said and they went outside.
"You let your stupid bison here ?" She asked him with a smile. " Yes you don't live too far away we can walk ? Except if you got your car ?" He look down at her then around to see if her car was here. "No I didn't take it today, you are lucky" She smiled gently. They started walking in the dark, to her surprise it wasn't that awkward as they started talking about when they were younger. "Come on you was always a softy around my sister !" She chuckled at this stupid comment " She was lovely to me, and never judge me. And come on wasnt I nice to you in private ?" she punched him "True I used to prefer you in private, I remember that ! My dad always saw through that rough armor you had, he was always saying "She's as funny as her mother, but she's more a softy and sentimental than her !" and my mom always disagree saying you was worst than Toph !" He looked down at her as she was some inch smaller "Proud that Katara thought I could beat my mother at the " who have the most bitterness attitude", It depend on the day and the person i guess" She rolled her eyes "It was just funny to see you loose all your confidence because I wasn't so soft with you ! Pretty sure that what attracted you, the stern attitude, you like woman in control" She teased him, just like when they were younger, just no flirt was present. They always kept having this bouncing and connection even if Lin tried to break it as soon as he got with Pema. "Yes, this was making your charme, still do, still so charming" Tenzin look up as they arrived at Lin apartment "Stop praising me, it unusual for me to get that sort of compliment" she rolled her eyes "Continue to roll ur eyes and they'll stay up !" They laughed so hardly that they both turned red. " Have a great night Lin, I'll call you to know if you take your break or no." He waved at her "Ill answer, have a great night too".
She saw him leave and get more in the dark, and she started going in her appartement. Lin took off her armor, went to shower and shove into bed. When she lay on her bed she thought about Tenzin, how it was so easy to be herself with him, how she wanted to avoid this after how he hurt her, that when she got a flash.
Lin was already in his room, she used to come to the Air temple and just wait for Tenzin to come back. Today wasn't making any exception. Lin was there bored as she read one of the book her boyfriends had about the Monks. "Hey you're already there ?" The airbender appeared, closing the door as he stepped in the room. "Katara said 3 inches, minimum" She smiled at him "I know but only dad is here for now" The young bender jumped lighting on the bed, using airbending. She loved how different they could be, he was so light compare to her, she was the strong one, instinctive, silent and just take things as they come. On the other hand Tenzin was really soft, strategically, really talktative too much if it was for talking about airbender stuff, and he liked to push the karma. Yet they complete and help each other to be better. Sometimes they even switch personality in private, Lin talked more and was a little golden crazy retriever in front of him, and he was more calm and just listen to her for hour. They always talked about how perfect their relationship was and how they could never separate. But when Tenzin didn't start any conversation Lin sense already something, something was off. "How was the day ? Kya told me you was with some stupids acolytes, that your dad out you on duty to show them around" Lin said looking at him, leaving the book. "It was great, Pema help me" Tenzin grew a smile. Pema she heard this name a bit too much in the week, Lin wasn't the jealous type, she believed in Tenzin and how he couldn't go to another girl. She always said that if one day it happen then he didn't deserved or loved her enough. "Why is this Pema girl all around you ? She don't have other things to do ? Like learning about Monks ?" She laugh but stopped as Tenzin sigh "Lin, I just can't do this, I love you and respect you very much, but I think we grew too much apart. I want kids and you don't, I need you to be more present but you love your works. I have to care about the Airbender future, it wasn't fair of me to think you would change or to make you think that i'll change." He said and looked at her, she couldn't see him her eyes was full of tears "And I met someone, we didn't do anything. But she believe that we are soulmates, and to be honest I kinda think the same." He tried to reach for her hand "Is it Pema ?" she asked angry, but no answer came off. After that everythings went fast, Lin remember getting mad, destroying the Temple as she looked for the Pema girl, Tenzin chasing her and begging her to stop. She remembered of Kya gaze that warmed her up, The Avatar yelling at his son and Pema for making me feel that way and Bumi teasing them behind. How she excused herself to the Avatar and how he took her in his arms, he didn't talk, she didn't either they just hug as she cried. She remembered leaving ashamed, broken, and how Kya had follow her and stayed with her for weeks before leaving for traveling, following by Bumi and then Suying.
Lin sigh, she thought she was over all of this, but no she wasn't. The bouncing coming back wanst helping as she didn't fully forgive Tenzin, she needed to talk about it. She needed it now or she would loose sleep over it. So she reach for the phone, then for his number. He immediately answer "Who is it ?" He said with a raspy voices "It me... I need to talk to you, isn't everyone asleep ? Do you want me to call from the other room ? I could come over" Lin panicked and he knew it, he knew it was important, he felt her being like before over talking. "Give me 10min" before she could say anything she heard the line beeping. 5 minutes later he was there from her window, still in his sleep clothes. He slide in and sat in front of her as Lin kept her head down. "Lin tell me everything, I'm listening"
"Lin continue, I'm listening...what happened ?" He took her hand "I don't know how to make my mom proud, it feels like she's too focus on Su." He took her in his arms. "I know Lin, I'm there, and I'm proud of you. I know you got your place in the police department, I even done a cake" She looked up eyes fill by tears, happy tears. "How did you know ?". He smiled "After you told me you engage yourself, and passed the test, I looked for all the schedule and today I went to look at the results. I listened Lin, and I always listen to you, you can talk to me."
"I would like to go to vacation, take a time as you told me to do. But i need to clear things with you, to forgive you and not regret how all of this turned out" He took her hand "Ask me your question, i'll give you honest answer. I know you can feel my heart beats" Lin smiled, he was always so caring. "Why Pema ?" He sigh "She confess to me, and I realised that I might have overstep our relationship but I matched with her." Lin nodded "Would you have stay with me if I wanted kids" He nodded "It not that Pema isn't my soulmate, but I wouldn't have look at her if you and I wasn't growing apart, I'm sure there could have been a chance where I would have choose you" She nodded "I'm sorry for how I act to her, to you it was immature. It was unfair to stop interacting nicely with you for years, and avoid you" He nodded "Lin you had the right to act that way, I always wanted to tell you how sorry I was but I never got the chance. So i'm very sorry, I loved you and still do. You are a great person with a lot of good part, but It how life works we have to seperate some days." Lin started sobbing " I just don't understand how could you turn your attention to someone else, I needed you. I trusted you" Lin knew why he could but she couldn't accept it, she had move on somehow, she did saw some other men after Tenzin, but just as her mom it never really worked out because she was too focus on her job. At least she enjoyed the relationship until it ended. "I blinded myself saying you and I was already broken, that it was just how it should go, we wanted so different things and I know it wasn't a reason to broke your trust, but I think I wanted so much to do my father duty that loving you wasn't enough to not do what he wanted . Lin you can still count on me like before and you know it." She looked at him, a gaze he knew more than anything. Lin never been the type to speak her feelings or need outloud, so through the year her and Tenzin had found little signal to say what she needed. He didn't hesitate one second, he slide his arms around her tightly, like he wanted to protect her. First he was a bit awkward because all the interaction with Lin after all thoses years had a hard tension, he was scared something was broke. Lin had prove him that he could count on her, so it was his turn now. "It alright, I'm sorry"he rubbed her arms "I'm sorry for how I act toward Pema, I hope she know I didn't hate her I was just mad, but you I did hate you" He laugh, she never speaks about her need but about what makes her angry, she would never stop herself. "I'm sure she knows, and if she don't I will tell her okay ?" he feel her head shaking for saying yes. "You can go Tenzin, i'll be at the air temple tomorrow, we can all go to Zaofu." Tenzin push himself, and put his hands on her shoulder "Come to me whenever you need, I'll see you tomorrow" Lin nodded as she saw him leave her.
The night went well, Lin called Saikhan telling her that he could take her place, that they will officialise it when she will come back. Lin grabbed a suitcase and put all hee stuff in it, she took her car, when she arrives in front of the ferry she got tired of waiting so she used the earth bending to go until the Airtemple. She saw Pema and Tenzin talking. "MY HERO !" Meelo run toward her, Lin faked running as Meelo chased her. He jumped on her and she fall on the ground faking to die "NOOOOO I KILLLEEDDDD MY HERO !" Lin woke up scaring the little boy "MOUHAHAHA I CAME BACK TO DEATH TO KILL YOU TOO ! REVENGE" Lin stabbed the poor boy as he fake dying too "UUUUUUH" he died in his arms. They both laugh "now get off of me before I stabbed you for real !" He did as she asked and she take off the dirt on her clothes. "Aunt Lin !" two more airbender run to her and hug her legs "Okay enough love for today ! But I bring some gift for y'all !" They stayed in front of her eyes filled with admiration. "MOM AUNT LIN BRING US GIFT YEAAA" Meelo and Ikky fly around with air scooter. a voiced came behind Lik breaking her smile "Never knew you could turn so soft with kids" Kya chuckled "Didn't know it myself" Lin said. The water enfer came and hug her great friends "Didn't you heard when I said enough love for toady ?" Lin laugh a bit, Kya knew she liked hug, Tenzin had spilled it it once. "No I didn't" Kya just kept hugging tighter. "Kya !" Lin pushed her and look at her faking being more angry "you love it stop" Kya rolled her eyes went close to the Bison. "Okay kids ! Start with you Meelo, here some dumbbell just like you asked me, so you can start work out like a pro !" Meelo took them and "YEAAAAAA IM GONNA GET MUSCLE LIKE THE CHIEF !" then he disappeared "Ikky for you, some painting stuff ! You told me you wanted to continue painting, I'm not sure if it the BEST BEST MATERIRAL but it the best for beggining !" Lin said looking at the girl, the skinny girl wrapped her arms around the chief legs, tears filling her eyes "That the coolest things someone had done for me !" Lin smiled and let the girl around her legs. "And here for you, all Aang Legacy in a book, with their adventure and everything" Jinora thanked her trying to not show too much her exitment "Where did you got this ! There even PICTURES" The older airbender was so happy. "I actually found the book with Katara, some cards is from Aang, he send me thoses when he was traveling, the pics come from my home i copy some, and Katara help me make everything more accurate !" The three little airbender hug her and thanked her.
Everyone watched from afar, Lin would have never guess she could be so soft to kids. She wished for one second that they was her own, this was until she saw Meelo using his fart to fly.