#saikhan

[kyalinappreciationacct]

I love the idea of Saikhan dropping puns all the time and Lin just glares. But then when Saikhan leaves the room she let's out a little chuckle

#alignment chart #lin beifong #saikhan #tenzin #jinora #kya ii #korra #bolin #mako #kuviera #legend of korra

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

Saikhan Hc

Because he’s the closest thing to a friend Lin’s got.

The fan wiki timeline says he’s 10 years younger than Lin but I suddenly cannot read and he’s 47 start of show.

He’s married with five kids. His wife is Akira a nonbender. His oldest four are 24, 20, 19 and 15 and the youngest was a surprise baby who’s 6 at start of show.

He’s always the one who makes sure Lin gets a meal when they order meals at work and he sneakily asked Kya what Lin liked so they always got her a meal she would actually enjoy.

He’s gone undercover with Lin before and has had her back on more than several occasions.

When Mako and Bolin’s parents were killed he did his best to get them into a good foster home and when that didn’t work out had the papers ready to adopt them himself but the boys had run off before he could talk to them and with them joining the gangs he never found them again until they were middle teens.

He actually has Lin over to his place for dinner quite regularly and his wife is always trying to get Lin to come to her mothers’ group where she can do needle work or knitting or something.

He’s usually the first one into work after Lin and the last one to go before Lin leaves. Though there have been a few times he’s had to insist the chief goes home before he’s able to lock up.

He never lost his bending to Amon in B1 and it’s a point of strife between officers who had to go through that and who were lucky enough to not get caught.

One night in the small breath people had between B1 and B2 there was a knock on his door at an ungodly hour in the morning. It was Lin shaken from a flashback/ptsd episode. “I- I didn’t know where else to go.” She sounded lost and terrified. Saikhan hurried her inside and Akira got her tea and a warm blanket. Fool had wandered there without a jacket on with snow on the ground. Saikhan sat and talked with her for a while until he put her up in one of his kids old rooms for the rest of the night.

His house is destroyed during the mech fight of B4 and Lin lets him and his family stay at her estate while the city rebuilds.

#saikhan #hc #I am having a hard night tonight boys #trying to fix it with background character hc #I can’t take full credit for saikhans fam #they were a mix work between my friend and I for an RP

[dont-mention-it-kid]

Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry. Mommy?

Lin rolled her eyes and growled as she marched her way back to her office.

“Get them Out of my precinct!” She snapped at Saikhan who nodded once and moved to do so.

#[Anon #[threadless anon #Lin #Saikhan #[okay guys hope you got that out of your system lmao

[chiefbeifongcanrailme]

For the ask game lmao

Hiroshi x Lin

Izumi x Lin

Saikhan x Lin

Raiko x Lin

Send me your ships and I'll amuse you!

#linoshi #linzumi #sailin #linaiko #lin beifong #chief beifong #president raiko #hiroshi sato #saikhan #sorry I know I misspelt Saikhan

[flooficandii]

going over lots of canon name ideas for my wol bc the one i selected at start was randomly generated from a SUPER generic fantasy naming site ... the naming conventions for each race r really cool and i wanna actually follow them

#ffxivposting #esp since the xaela names r inspired by mongolian names!! so cool #i really like sechen and saikhan bc they sound most similar to the current name #but sarnai and sevshee r both super cool bc of the meaning

[iidsch]

"diminutives are formed by adding the suffix -н" *shows an example that is not formed by adding the suffix -н*

#m #i cant believe some people believe chatgpt can be trusted like they are actually delusional #also even if i were to believe this is true (it's not - a real person answered and the response was very different) #how tf does this even work #like does ulambayar become ulambayarn? saikhan turns into saikhann?? altantsetseg into altantsetsegn??? #completely nonsensical

[btheleaf]

Magic!ANON Lin Beifong has been turned into a toddler and Tenzin has to watch her until she can be turned back.

Their arrival on Air Temple Island was heard before it was seen. Tenzin landed from his glider and marched right up to the officer, anger evident in his voice as he shouted over the screaming little girl that Saikhan dragged along with him.

"What are you doing to that child!?"

A young girl of about four or five years old screamed in frustration as she struggled to free herself from the grip that Saikhan had on her arm. "Big fat ugly meanie! Let me go!" She shouted as she used the whole weight of her body to try and pull away.

"Tenzin, something shot out of the spirit portal and went right through Beifong. This is her." He gestured to the child who was now stomping on his feet and biting at the metal of his uniform. "It was incredible. About eight of us saw her shrink down, and this is all that was left over."

"What?!"

Tenzin leaned down to get a better look at the girl and saw her dark hair and familiar pale green eyes. "Lin?"

She growled at him sent some nearby fist-sized rocks flying at his face. He easily ducked under them, their movements too slow to be a threat. Apparently her bending prowess had diminished as well as her age.

"Korra and Jinora are already helping us try to figure out how to fix this, but Tenzin..." he hesitated.

The airbending master stood fully. "Out with it, Saikhan."

"We can't keep her at the station any longer. She's already figured out the basics of metalbending, and she's wreaking havoc on the unit's concentration to figure this out. I can't trust any old daycare to take her, she bullied my children and nearly destroyed my house. I can't leave her unsupervised. Will you watch her until we find a way to change her back?"

Lin's small fist pounded into the man's metal sleeve, leaving tiny dents behind. "LET! ME! GO!"

Tenzin got down on a knee to be at eye level with her. "Hello," he said gently. "My name is Tenzin." Lin turned her angry eyes on him. "Would you like to stay on the island for a little while?"

"No! I want to go home!" She shouted.

Tenzin's concerned eyes flicked up to Saikhan and back to Lin. "Where is home?"

"I-- I--" Her struggle fizzled out to weak pulls. "I don't know but I'll find it!" Tears filled her defiant eyes.

He knew from being a father that sometimes it was best to distract children away from their big emotions. Tenzin put a warm smile on his face. "If you want to stay here, I have two daughters who love to make new friends and a son your age who likes fart jokes." Lin's bottom lip pushed her top one up into a frown. "I'll tell Meelo to hold off on the fart jokes," he quickly amended.

"Daddy, daddy!" Ikki yelled as she rode her air scooter down the hill towards them. "You'll never guess what kind of rock I found. Look at it! It's pink and white and when I lick it and hold it up in the sun you can see a rainbow. Auntie Kya loves rainbows." She dismounted from her scooter and leaned in close to Lin. "Hello! I'm Ikki, welcome to Air Temple Island! Would you like to know how many trees there are? What's your name?"

Lin stared at Ikki blankly. "Ikki," Tenzin said, "this is Lin. She might be staying with us for a little while if she wants to."

"Oh! I have an Auntie named Lin!" Ikki jumped up and down and clapped her hands rapidly. "She's the coolest. She can bend metal and has cool face scars and she's even my dad's ex-girlfriend but he doesn't like to talk about it. Have you ever seen a sky bison before?"

Young Lin was completely baffled by the child before her. Her struggle against Saikhan had ceased. Tenzin offered out his hand. "Would you like to see a sky bison?"

Curious pale green eyes looked up at him and she nodded. Her small hand reached out and grasped at his fingers. Tenzin nodded for Saikhan to let her go. He led the two children up to the bison stables for their first activity of the day.

#anon #magic anon #tenzin #lin beifong #ikki #anon ask #what do you call this like a kid au or something? #anyway i don't know anyhting about children #they take Oogi on a ride and lin totally barfs #by the end of the day she is laughing with meelo about his farts

[bestepisode]

The top 8 episodes from each season will move on to the next round.

Vote on the first half of the season here!

Episode descriptions are under the cut.

The Aftermath

Tarrlok calls for Lin Beifong's resignation as chief of police, while Mako and Bolin move into the Sato mansion. While visiting them, Korra overhears implications that Hiroshi Sato is colluding with the Equalists and informs Chief Beifong and Tenzin, who find no evidence. An Equalist claiming to be disillusioned with the war reveals that Sato has a secret factory under his mansion, used to manufacture weapons for the Equalists. When Korra, Tenzin, and Beifong discover the secret factory, they are attacked by Equalists using large combat machines built by Sato, who reveals that the source was a trap. Beifong's metalbending officers are captured and taken to Amon, but Mako, Bolin, and Asami rescue Korra, Tenzin, and Beifong. Beifong decides to resign her post and rescue her officers, while Korra offers Mako, Bolin, and Asami sanctuary on Tenzin's Air Temple Island.

When Extremes Meet

At his inauguration as Beifong's replacement, Police Chief Saikhan vows to support Tarrlok's task force, leading Tenzin and Korra to quarrel with Tarrlok. Korra expresses frustration with her inability to airbend, and Tenzin tells her to obtain help from her past lives. Asami, Mako, Bolin, and Korra form a new "Team Avatar", patrolling the city and capturing Equalists, to Tarrlok's disapproval. Tarrlok places all non-benders under a curfew, and orders the arrest of a mob who refuses to disperse in obedience of the curfew. Korra tries to free the unarmed civilians, and Tarrlok arrests her friends to stop her. Later that night, she seeks Tarrlok out in private and he proposes to free her friends if she begins to fall in line with his wishes, but finding him to be corrupt, she angrily rebukes him and a bending battle ensues. Korra eventually gets the upper hand in the fight, only to have her fortunes reversed when Tarrlok reveals a dark secret: he is a bloodbender, able to manipulate human flesh through the water in the body. Tarrlok easily takes Korra captive using these skills and moves her to a cabin outside Republic City.

Out of the Past

Tarrlok locks Korra in a platinum box in the mountains, publicly claiming that Equalists abducted her. In response, Lin Beifong frees Korra's friends from prison and, with Tenzin's help, the five of them infiltrate the Equalist hideout, where Beifong frees her troops but an Equalist reveals that they had nothing to do with Korra's capture. Confronting Tarrlok in City Hall, a witness exposes Tarrlok's bloodbending powers, which Tarrlok uses to disable the group and escape. Meanwhile, Korra learns from Aang's past that 42 years prior, the mobster Yakone escaped trial by bloodbending the court, whereupon Aang removed his bending powers. Tarrlok confirms that he is Yakone's son, attempting to rule Republic City from a political seat rather than through crime. When Equalists track him back to Korra, his bloodbending proves ineffective against Amon, who takes away his bending. Korra escapes and reunites with Naga, who returns her to her friends.

Turning the Tides

After recovering from her abduction, Korra tells her story, and Tenzin asks Lin to protect his family while he attends the morning's council meeting. Tenzin is attacked at City Hall, and though he defeats his would-be abductors, he learns that the other council members have been captured by Equalists and that the city is under a full-scale attack by Equalists heavily armed with Sato's newest weaponry and military technology. Amon's airships bomb Republic City as Tenzin reaches police headquarters, where he wires the United Forces, the military of the United Republic, for help. Equalist 'mecha-tanks' capture Chief Saikhan and many officers. Korra and her friends rescue Tenzin. Tenzin's wife, Pemma gives birth to her fourth child, Rohan, as Equalist airships arrive at Air Temple Island. Lin Beifong, with the help of Tenzin's other three children, all airbenders, defeats the invaders. Korra goes into hiding and Tenzin flees with his family to preserve the last airbenders. Lin destroys an airship pursuing them, but is captured and refuses to reveal Korra's whereabouts, and is stripped of her bending. Korra's team enters the city sewers and General Iroh, the grandchild of former Firelord Zuko and commander of a fleet of United Forces warships, answers Republic City's plea.

Skeletons in the Closet

Korra and her friends hide in a camp underground until Iroh's fleet arrives; but the fleet is promptly disabled by Equalist mines, aircraft, and torpedoes. Korra saves Iroh from drowning, and they regroup with the others. Korra and Mako go in search of Amon, while Iroh, Bolin and Asami sabotage the Equalist airbase to prevent the sinking of a relief fleet under Commander Bumi, Tenzin's older brother. Korra and Mako discover Tarrlok captive in Air Temple Island, where he apologizes for his treatment of Korra and reveals that Amon is his brother, Noatak, who ran away due to Yakone's mistreatment of his children. Meanwhile, the assault on the Equalists' mountain airbase goes poorly when the attackers fall prey to an electric fence.

Endgame

Bolin, Asami, and Iroh are captured by Hiroshi Sato and the Equalists, but rescued by Naga. While Asami and Bolin fight Hiroshi and his mecha-tanks, Iroh destroys the Equalist bombers. Korra and Mako confront Amon at an Equalist rally, and expose him as a bender. Amon denies it and reveals that he has captured Tenzin and his young family. Korra and Mako free them, but Amon overpowers Mako and Korra, and removes Korra's bending abilities except for her airbending, which she later unlocks and uses against him. Expelled by her, Amon falls into the sea, and his escape unmasks him publicly as a waterbender. He flees Republic City, along with Tarrlok, who later explodes their boat and themselves. At the South Pole, Katara is unable to heal Korra's severance from water, earth, and fire. As Korra sits weeping at a cliff's edge, Aang's spirit fully restores her spiritual connection and bending abilities and Korra enters the Avatar State to restore Beifong's bending abilities. Everyone watches in awe and amazement with Tenzin addressing her as Avatar Korra.

#the legend of korra #tlok #tlok best episode

[tamras-shieldmaiden]

Back to the Linvira vibes with a new soft headcanon, partially inspired by this piece by kilo-charlie7. I want to thank my partner in crime in everything Linvira-related @redcatmusingsmain for helping me develop this cute idea.

When she arrived from Zaofu to become part of the RCPD, Kuvira, like many of the other rookies of the force, was intrigued by her new boss and her larger-than-life reputation, and like them, she was curious to know if she was seeing a secret someone, because she wondered what kind of person would be worthy of capturing Lin Beifong's heart. Piqued by the rumors that Lin and Saikhan kept an illicit affair (oh the delicious irony for the future), Kuvira takes it upon herself to find out, mostly to prove her colleagues wrong because she didn't believe Lin would be interested in a married man and because she was sure Saikhan wasn't Lin's type (but perhaps she could be). After some sleuthing, Kuvira finds out one of Lin's best-kept secrets: when she needs space for herself to think and decompress, Lin takes care of a garden that only she and Saihkan know of. The garden is on the outskirts of the city and it's a secret to everyone else. Kuvira understands now where the rumors come from and is pleasantly surprised by the revelation because it unveils a side of Lin she didn't expect her to have.

Flash forward several months later, when Lin and Kuvira have admitted to their mutual feelings and Lin proposed Kuvira to move in together, Kuvira decides to mark this important milestone by surprising Lin with the gift of a plant she had selected from Suyin's greenhouse and was waiting for the right ocassion to give it to her. When Lin asks Kuvira why she decided to gift her a plant, Kuvira admits to having discovered her secret months ago and gathers the courage to request if she can join her tending the secret garden. Lin is surprised not only by the fact that Kuvira found out about the garden and hadn't divulged it to anyone not even her, but that she was willing to spend time gardening instead of doing the things Lin assumed young people liked to do. The assumption made Kuvira laugh, and she admitted she used to hang around Suyin's gardens and would hide inside the greenhouse when she needed to clear her mind, and with time, took interest in the plants themselves. Kuvira brings the suggestion that they should take advantage of the land surrounding Lin's property and turn it into a garden and Lin accepts with the condition that it would be her project once she's retired from the force, but for now, she'll keep the garden she has away from the city because just making the drive away from her responsibilities for a couple of hours is relaxing. Kuvira accepts, and they agree to find new routes to prevent another curious and enterprising whippersnapper like Kuvira from finding out about her secret. On their first visit together, they add Kuvira's plant to her garden. From that day on, the periodic visits to the garden become a sought-after highlight on their busy and hectic schedule, allowing them to relax away from curious eyes and to enjoy their mutual company. The plant, like their unexpected romance, thrives under their care despite not being native to the area, growing strong and beautiful.

#the legend of korra #legend of korra #tlok #lok #lin beifong #chief lin beifong #kuvira #linvira #rcpd #headcanons #garden #gardening headcanon

[master-sass-blast]

Happier to Be Wrong.

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five: Chapter One, Part Five: Chapter Two, Part Five: Chapter Three, Part Six: Chapter One, Part Six: Chapter Two, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen

Summary: "She knows the signs. Inconsistent affection in public or private, not initiating dates or outings, seeming lack of interest in progressing the relationship as a whole…

She’s learned. She’s wiser now. And she’s not going to get caught off guard –not going to get hurt–the same way again."

AKA talking about feelings and trauma is hard, part one.

Pairing(s): Lin Beifong x Reader.

Rating: T for arguing and some intense emotional stuff.

Word count: 6.8k.

She’s not too big to admit her faults. She can be uptight. She likes order and routine to the point of erring on the side of rigidity. She can be icy, which gets worse if she’s pissed. She’s got a short temper in certain areas; a poor tolerance for stupidity and bullshit, if you will.

Toph had called her a “grumpy little badgermole,” back when she was seven and cranky over other kids constantly cutting lines at school.

Tenzin had called her pessimistic. So had Kya and Bumi. So had Su, and Toph, and Aunt Katara, Uncle Sokka, Uncle Aang, Saikhan, Riyu–

“Pessimistic” was the one she refused to concede. It was hardly pessimistic to prepare for the worst –especially since it happened so often! Especially considering her line of work! It was hardly pessimistic to be cautious and prudent.

And it was hardly fucking pessimistic when she was usually right.

She knows the signs. Inconsistent affection in public or private, not initiating dates or outings, seeming lack of interest in progressing the relationship as a whole…

The first one had been easy to spot with Tenzin, back in the day. She hadn’t argued about it at the time, though. She’d put her blinders on, chalked it up to stress with Air Nomad stuff, and kept plowing through life and work alike. However, she’d missed the other two with him. She’d been so busy with work and trying to make her career that she’d just… let things go. They’d always pick things up back later –or so she thought. She thought they’d have the time.

She’s learned. She’s wiser now. And she’s not going to get caught off guard –not going to get hurt–the same way again.

...

She’d called you earlier and asked to talk; no sense in avoiding –delaying–the obvious. You’d said yes, she’d ended the call because she still had work to do, and… that’d been it.

It’s been a few months since the two of you started officially seeing each other. Summer is waning into autumn; it’s cold enough in the evening now that she needs a coat if she goes out. 

She turns the collar of her peacoat up when a particularly icy breeze snakes around her. The wind’s been coming from the North lately, cooling the city as winter draws closer. Part of Lin –a part of her that she doesn’t acknowledge often–wonders if the cooling temperatures are a sign. Cooling seasons, cooling romance, bullshit like that. She scowls and walks faster. It doesn’t mean anything. Facts decide outcomes, not coincidental circumstances.

She regrets not driving over. She’d taken a tram part of the way, then opted to walk the rest of the way. She’d thought –hoped–that the walk would help take some of the edge off her mood. Instead, all it’s done is given her more time to overthink things. Maybe it’s better just to end things right now. Avoid something more drawn out and painful. She rounds the corner to the street your apartment complex is on and sighs. No, no. Talk to her first, then decide. The most facts make for the best decisions.

You’re waiting for her in the lobby –both unexpected and somewhat unwelcome; she was hoping to have the elevator ride to focus and try –probably fail–to calm her remaining nerves.

Lin stops short, surprised. “Oh, hi.”

“Hey.” You offer her a soft, if concerned smile. “What’s up? You sounded pretty serious on the phone.”

Can’t imagine why. Lin purses her lips, then nods towards the elevator; one thing she never wants to repeat again is a public break up. “Let’s head up.”

You hook your arm around hers once the elevator doors close. You lean against her, cushioning your head against her shoulder. “Did you have a good day at work?”

“Passable,” Lin grunts. She doesn’t want to be rude –she really, truly doesn’t–but the thought of making fucking small talk right now, with how things are, makes her want to puke. Don’t fucking act like you don’t know what’s going on. You’re smarter than that.

Patience. If there’s one thing nearly forty years on the force has taught her, it’s patience. She’s witnessed countless interrogations and stakeouts fizzle down the drain from getting too emotional or jumping in too soon; fights in relationships aren’t all that different, really.

“Well, you said you wanted to talk,” you declare once you close your apartment door behind both of you. You flip the lock, then shrug when she turns to look at you. Your expression’s tighter now, and you’re not moving into her personal space again; you’ve picked up that something’s wrong. “What’s up?”

Lin stares at you for a moment, both to collect her thoughts and study you. You’re shifting from foot to foot, and you’ve got your lower lip tucked between your teeth, but you’re not avoiding her gaze. You’re more on alert, but not guilty, per se.

She can’t decide whether to be angry or curious. She jams her hands into the pockets of her coat and ambles further into your apartment. “Have you been happy while we’ve been together?”

You sputter. Your eyes go wide. “What –what kind of question is that?”

“It’s the one I’m asking,” Lin replies, careful to keep her voice neutral and steady.

“I –yes. Of course I have!” You smile, but it quickly fades as you assess her with a look of dawning fear. “Have… have you not been happy?”

She has to bite the tip of her tongue to keep from automatically reassuring you. Focus. Eye on the target. “You’re happy with how things are? Between us?”

“...Yes,” you answer after a moment of bewildered silence. “I am.” Your brows draw together, and you angle away from her slightly. “Why –why are you asking me any of this? What’s going on?”

She shrugs. “Just piecing things together.”

Your eyes narrow. You go quiet, still, as you watch her. Then, you sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose. You lean back against the lip of your kitchen counter. “Fuck’s sake, Lin.”

It’s her turn to narrow her eyes. “What?”

“Okay.” You purse your lips in an angry approximation of a smile, then lower your hand and level her with a hard stare. “What we’re not doing… what you’re not going to do to me is treat this like a damn interrogation.”

“I am not–”

“You’re asking leading questions out of nowhere, you aren’t answering my questions when I ask you anything, and you’re not telling me what’s actually going on, what you’re feeling, or what the hell even started all of this in your mind,” you interject, ticking off each item on your fingers. “That’s not a conversation, that’s a damn interrogation. And what I am not okay with is you treating me like you’re a cop!”

Lin scowls. “I am a cop.”

“Not in our relationship you’re not!” you snap, eyes flashing with frustration. “Not with me, you’re not!” You close your eyes, force yourself to take a deep breath, and when you speak again, it’s apparent you’re trying to force yourself to stay calm. “You’re not a cop here.” You open your eyes and fix her with a pleading, hurt look. “You’re just Lin.”

Her heart catches against her ribs at the way your voice breaks on her name. She has to look away to keep her resolve from crumbling. “If you’re not okay with how I am–”

“If this is ‘how you are,’ then you can walk out that door until you have your head back on straight and decide to treat me like a damn person!” you snap, pointing stiffly at the door to your apartment. “I don’t care that you’re the Chief of Police, I don’t care how long you’ve been on the force, and I don’t care that you’re my girlfriend in this context. None of that gives you the right to browbeat me, especially not in my own fucking apartment!”

“Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting to many things.”

Right, Lin thinks, bitterly amused. Waterbenders flow with change –until they transform into a tidal wave and flatten you against the ground.

This isn’t how she wanted things to go (believe it or not). She really, truly didn’t want to hurt you or make you angry. All she wanted was some fucking clarity on just what was going on between the two of you –or, failing that, opening things up so you could take the out and let her try to move on. But you’re not taking the out –not even when you’re clearly angry with her. You’d told her that she could leave, but caveated it with “until you have your head back on straight.” Meaning, as far as Lin can tell, that you’re not interested in ending things.

Yet. Lin sighs and closes her eyes. I’m so fucking tired.

The instinct to run is there. She feels like a wild animal faced with a forest fire. The world is burning around her, there’s a clear path to safety, and every instinct she has is screaming to get the fuck out. However, she’s a Beifong. No, more than that, she’s Lin. And she has never approached anything in her life with the attitude of a coward.

Lin opens her eyes and looks over at you.

You’re watching her, arms crossed over your chest. Your expression’s stormy, lips pursed into a frown and eyebrows drawn together. But you’re not tapping your foot. Not checking the clock. And while she was processing, you weren’t huffing, or trying to get her attention. You’re waiting. Watching. Seeing what she’ll do next before you make a choice.

Probably more than I deserve. Lin grimaces, then does her best to gather her thoughts again. Okay, new plan. Just… try to figure this shit out.

She needs clarity. She needs to know why the fuck you act all distant around her in public but not in private. She needs to know if you’re aware of it, if there’s an explanation, or if you’re just fucking with her. She needs to know if you’re in or you’re out. Spirits, Lin’s never been good at gentle, or graceful –but all you seem to be asking for is straightforwardness, and she can do that.

She swallows hard, then undoes the buttons on her coat and takes it off. She drapes it over her arm, then walks stiffly over to your couch and sits. She leans forward, braces her forearms against her knees, then says it. “You act like you don’t want to be together.”

Your eyes widen. “I–”

“From where I’m standing –from what I can see–you do.” She stares at you, watches as the meaning of her words sink in and you go quiet, then continues. “You…” She sighs, then rubs the back of her neck. “You’re hot and cold. You’re all over the place. You never initiate dates –and when we do go out, you act like you’re scared to be seen with me. Like you don’t want me to touch you. But it’s not an affection thing, because when we’re in private, you’re all over me.” She pauses for a moment, waits to see if you’ll say anything.

You stay silent. Still. Your frown has dropped, and your expression looks braced. It looks like you have tears in your eyes.

Lin purses her lips, but continues. No sense in stopping now. “Maybe… maybe I should’ve been clearer from the start. I’m sorry that I wasn’t. I know I’m not… not the most open person, but…” She stops, mind stalling with resistance to the mere concept of opening up, of explaining any of this. Just fucking say it, Beifong. “I –I prefer actually… I want a certain level of public affection in a relationship.” She’s sweating. She doesn’t need a mirror to know her face is red. “If… if you were under the impression that I didn’t want you to be affectionate in public…”

You swallow hard, then shake your head. “No. That… no.”

Fuck. Lin does her best to keep her face neutral even as her heart shatters into billions of pieces in her chest. She nods slowly, realization numbing away the grief she knows she’ll feel later. She inhales slowly through her nose, then lets it out while counting to ten. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been clearer from the start.” Her heart clenches tight –ruined as it is–when a fat tear rolls down your cheek. “Maybe–” she clears her throat “–it would be best if–”

You clap one hand to your mouth and let out a choked sob.

She stops. Angi, this blows. She doesn’t want to hurt you –Spirits help her–but there’s no sense in letting things linger if the two of you aren’t compatible. Get it over with. Rip the bandaid off–

“Tui and La, this stupid fucking cycle.”

Lin blinks, startled. Then, she frowns when your words sink in. “What?”

“I mean, you’re not the first girlfriend I’ve had who’s told me this.” You let out a self-deprecating laugh, then snarl in frustration. “You think I’d fucking learn after how many times–”

She recoils, caught off guard by the intensity of your self-directed vitriol. 

You’re ranting now, words rushing together so fast and mixed with sobs to the point that she can barely keep up. “–and maybe I should’ve been the one to be up front, and never let this happen so I didn’t hurt you–”

She says your name, then repeats it louder when you don’t stop. “Slow down, I can’t understand you–”

“–be so fucking naive, I should’ve been realistic about being defective–”

“Stop it!”

Her bark has you cutting yourself off with a gasp. You freeze for a minute. Then, your face and your knees crumple.

Lin’s off the couch and over to you in three long strides. She catches you before you hit the floor and holds you tight as you weep against her shoulder. “Easy. Just slow down and breathe, okay?”

“I’m sorry,” you gasp; you’re breathing so fast and hard that you’re bordering on hyperventilating. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry–”

“It’s okay,” Lin replies automatically. “Just breathe–”

“It’s not.” You let out a body wracking, shaking against her, then force out, “I –I hurt you, and I’m so sorry–”

“You didn’t–”

“I made you think that I didn’t want to be with you! That I wasn’t h-happy–”

“Stop interrupting me.” Lin winces at her tone, then tries to gentle her next sentence. “Just –calm down. Please. I don’t want you passing out, okay?” She strokes one hand over your hair, trying her best to soothe you. “Just breathe, sweetheart. Please.”

You listen for a few minutes; your body stabilizes and you shift your feet to hold more of your own weight. Your breathing slows and evens out. Then, you're shaking your head and pulling back so you can see her. “I’m so sorry, Lin–”

“You don’t–”

“But I do.” You look up at her, eyes red and watery and mournful. “I made you think that I didn’t want to be with you. That I didn’t care about you. And I am so sorry.”

“You–” Lin shakes her head. “I… I jumped to conclusions. And for that, I’m sorry.”

You grimace. “I still had to lay the pieces out.”

“We both played part in it, consciously or not.” Because she can’t fucking take you blaming yourself for everything that led up tonight. Granted, she still doesn’t have the clarity she came here to find, but she’s gathered enough to know that her initial conclusions were wrong. She lets out a shaky breath, then wracks her mind for what to say or do next. Fuck, how do I even begin to salvage this–

“I’ve got shit in my past, Lin.”

Her mind stalls, caught off guard by the sudden confession. Her hands flex against your shoulders as uncertainty rolls through her. Don’t we all?

You sniff, then offer her a pained, watery smile. “I mean –Tui and La, this is…” Your voice trails off, and then your expression shifts to something more pained, more tired. “Fuck.” You scrub your face with your hands, then sniff again. “I… I don’t know if I can explain this tonight.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to–”

“I want to,” you cut her off, voice firm. “I just…” You sigh. “I need some time to think.”

Lin purses her lips. Her stomach’s churning, and her chest feels like it’s on fire. “If –if you’d rather end things, just say so.”

“I won’t, because I don’t want to.” You shake your head –then freeze. You look up at her slowly, expression pinched. “But… but if you want to…”

She takes a deep breath, then shakes her head as well. “I don’t.” Because she doesn’t. Even with logic, years of experience, and all her instincts screaming to get away before she gets hurt, she doesn’t want to let go. Not if you’re just as determined to hold on as she is.

You let out a sigh, tension unwinding from your body. Your expression slackens, and your shoulders drop a bit. You lean against her, laying your head against her shoulder. “Okay.”

Lin winds her arms around your shoulders. She closes her eyes when you wrap your arms around her waist, and lets herself indulge in simply holding you for a few moments.

She’s exhausted, though. She feels like she’s been gutted, like everything inside her has been ripped out and that she’s barely keeping herself upright –almost like a hangover, but without the benefit of booze. She needs space, needs some precious quiet to put her mind back together… but she doesn’t want to leave you. Not when you’re so obviously wrecked like this. (Not after she came in, basically ready to rip your throat out, and caused this whole mess in the first place.) Lin kisses the top of your head. “Do you want me to stay?”

You let out a shaky exhale, then slowly shake your head. “No.” You pull back and offer her a small, weak smile. “Not that I want to kick you out, but… I just need some time and space to think. To find the right words.”

“Of course.” Lin nods, then starts putting on her coat. She gets her arms in the sleeves, gets the coat situated on her shoulders –then stops. You need to apologize, Beifong. She grimaces, but sets aside her pride all the same. “And –I’m sorry. For coming in so hot.”

“It’s okay.” You quirk your mouth to the side, then duck your head. “And I’m sorry, too. For scaring you. For making you think I don’t care.”

She stiffens. It’s instinctive, mostly; she hadn’t said anything about being scared, and she’s not fond of feeling like she’s been seen through like a pane of glass. Relax. She’s supposed to know you. Lin forces herself to untense, then leans forward and kisses the top of your head again. “Apology accepted.”

“Thank you.” You hug her, then tip your head up and kiss her non-scarred cheek. “I’ll try to have something tangible for you in a couple days so you don’t overthink things to death.”

“I do not–”

“Yes, you do.” You smile softly at her, then laugh a little when she huffs. “You’re like me. We both like having clarity.”

She really can’t argue with that.

She nods –then, she lifts one hand and cups your cheek. “Is it alright if I kiss you?”

You smile and nod. “Yes.”

She kisses you, short and sweet, then pulls back. “I’ll let you rest.”

“Thank you. And you get some rest, too,” you say as you escort her over to your apartment door. “Don’t stay up half the night burying yourself in paperwork.”

“What makes you think I’d do that?” Lin asks drily, feigning innocence. She smirks, then chuckles at the flat look you give her. “I’ll do my best.”

“I suppose that’s all I can ask.”

Lin smirks and arches one eyebrow, then turns to leave–

You catch her arm and draw her back in for one last kiss.

She doesn’t melt into the kiss; she’s too tired, too emotionally overwrought for that. But it’s still comforting, and she can feel some of the tension ebb from her body.

You’re the one to end the kiss this time. It lingers longer than before, but you eventually pull away. “Good night, Lin.” You offer her a tired smile. “We’ll talk soon. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”

She nods, then manages a “Good night,” back. She waits until your door closes and she hears the deadbolt slide into place, then strides down the hall towards the elevator.

She’ll have to walk home; she didn’t even think to call for a cab before leaving. Lin scowls and jams her hands in her coat pockets. Should’ve fucking drove here.

…

She’s borderline boneless by the time she makes it back to her apartment. Emotional confrontation never did suit her well. She locks her apartment door behind her, then lets out a ragged sigh. She slumps against the wooden portal, allowing herself to rest for a moment before shoving herself upright once more.

She keeps a supply of liquor in her living room, tucked safely away in a dark stained wooden cabinet. She pulls a bottle of bourbon out, pours herself a couple of fingers, then sets the bottle on the coffee table before she lets herself drop down on the couch. She knocks back half the portion, wincing slightly when she swallows and the alcohol burns down her throat. She’s not looking to get drunk (not like she did after Tenzin, or Amon). But she’s numb, and raw, and right now the scrape of alcohol in her throat is both grounding and soothing.

She stays quiet while she finishes the glass. She doesn’t bother turning on the radio, or even turning on a light. The sun’s pretty well down by now, but there’s still enough ambient light filtering in from the city. The rumble of Satomobiles and chatter from people on the sidewalks is sufficient background noise. So she sits in the dark, drinks her bourbon, and tries to nurse what feels like a gaping wound in the center of her chest.

It’s not over, she tries to reason with herself. Everything is fine. All couples have rough spots. You’re just phasing out of the honeymoon period.

Not that it does much good. Not in any important sense at least.

Don’t be stupid. You know something’s wrong –that’s the whole reason you went over there tonight. You should’ve cut and run, called your losses before everything went to shit. Besides, if something wasn’t wrong before, it certainly is now, since you went and fucking stepped in it. Maybe, if you’d just kept your mouth shut in the first place and let it ride out– Lin squeezes her eyes shut and wills that line of thinking to stop. Enough.

Not doing anything wasn’t an option. She’d learned that the hard way with Tenzin. And while detaching might be objectively safer, might’ve hurt less in the long run…

She growls under her breath. She sets her empty glass on the coffee table, then rubs her temples with her fingertips. Why do this have to be so fucking complicated?

She doesn’t want to end things. Despite her worries and old, buried hurts, she knows it. She wants to stay with you, wants things to work, wants to be happy with you.

Lin scowls. If that’s even possible. She swallows hard, then closes her eyes and lowers her head into her hands. Okay. Facts, not feelings. What’s the actual situation at hand?

Fact: There is some sort of delineation between how you act around her in public and how you act around her in private.

Possible outcome: The two of you have diverting preferences for PDA, which may yield to incompatibility as long term partners.

Fact: There is some sort of unaddressed trauma you’re dealing with as it relates to romantic relationships, displays of affection, or both. This trauma has, apparently, created a cycle of dysfunction in your romantic life –so much so that she’s not the first partner to bring the difference in private versus public attention to your notice.

Possible outcome:...

Lin frowns into her hands. I don’t know. She could tell, back at your apartment, that this is a deeply seated issue for you. But beyond what you’ve told her, she has nothing to go on. She has to trust you and take you at your word.

What’s worse –or better, she honestly can’t tell at this point–is that she does trust you. You’ve been nothing but painfully, earnestly honest with her since the two of you met. You’re not one for calculating guile, manipulation, or cunning schemes. It’s part of what she likes so much about you. She trusts you to be honest with her. To be direct. You certainly were earlier tonight when you called her out on her bullshit.

She can’t help but smirk, just a little, at the memory. That’s my girl. Lin lets out a long, exhausted breath, then lifts her head from her hands. Nothing else to do for now.

She decides against a second glass of alcohol. She has work tomorrow; more than that, she needs to sleep. She puts the bottle of bourbon back in the cupboard, rinses the glass, sets it on the countertop to dry, then heads to her bedroom.

She coasts through her bedtime routine with mechanical detachment. The overthinking part of her mind is blissfully absent, silenced by bourbon and the comfort of facts. She washes up as much as she needs to, changes, then turns out the light in her bedroom and climbs into bed.

Mercifully, she doesn’t dream.

…

Work is good. Paperwork and meetings with city officials are a pain in the neck, as always, but it’s routine. It keeps her mind busy, keeps her grounded. After yesterday, she needs to keep busy.

She stays late, too. It’s a bad habit, born out of being a workaholic and using said work to avoid anything that made her uneasy. But it’s not like there’s a shortage of reports to review, policy changes to amend, or case details to go over.

It’s late when she leaves her office –past eight. The sun’s low in the sky as she strides out of the department headquarters and over to her Satomobile.

The drive back to her apartment is routine. Uneventful. She makes a couple mental plans to put away some laundry she left out earlier and make dinner, but otherwise her goal is to spend the evening working on the paperwork tucked in her briefcase.

That is, until she opens her mailbox and realizes she has a letter from you.

She’s halfway to the elevator when she sees the nonstandard envelope; it’d been wedged between a few pieces of junk mail and this month’s utility invoice. A quick inspection reveals your name and address on the front –and then it’s all she can do to keep from ripping it open in the elevator. Patience, Beifong. She certainly doesn’t want to open a personal letter from her girlfriend in public. Especially if it contains bad news. She’s never been fond of getting emotional –especially the emotions that lean towards crying–in public spaces.

The letter burns in her hand the entire ride up to her floor. She can’t take her eyes off the envelope, tracing the smooth lines of your name and address over and over. She has nice penmanship.

She holds out until she locks the deadbolt of her apartment door behind her. Then, she uses her metalbending to summon her keys and uses the toothed edge of one to cut the envelope open. She tosses the rest of her mail on the counter, drops her briefcase next to the small stack of letters, and finally –finally–withdraws your letter from the envelope and unfolds it.

Lin,

Before I get into this, I want to apologize again–

She has to close her eyes and physically stop herself from groaning in pained frustration. This –this isn’t what she wanted. She’s realizing, unfortunately, that her approach last night was deeply flawed. All she wanted was some fucking clarity, but now you’re apologizing for trivial bullshit, practically dragging yourself across the coals in genuine penance; she’d rather have teeth pulled than go through this. Breathe. If she took the time to send you a letter, then it’s important. Lin inhales through her nose, holds the breath briefly, then exhales through her mouth before opening her eyes and resuming reading.

–to apologize again for last night. That things got to this state. I know that you’ll probably say that I don’t need to apologize, but I can tell that I’ve hurt you, and I don’t think you minimizing your own feelings will do anything good, so please just let me have this.

She bites down on the inside of her lower lip. Discomfort curls through her body; she feels exposed –even with still wearing head to toe metal armor. She takes another deep breath, forces herself to relax her grip on the paper when she realizes she’s leaving indents, then continues.

I wish I could say that I have this all figured out and that I can give you a complete explanation, and that we can get this completely behind us and move forward… but I can’t. I’m starting to wonder if this “quirk” of mine is ingrained deeper than I realized. Everytime I try to explain it or think about it, I feel like my thoughts get lost in a sea of mud. But, I do have some semblance of an explanation, so I’ll put it to you now.

The paper’s warped in a few spots. There’s some smeared bits of ink, some areas more translucent than the others.

Tear marks, Lin realizes with sadness. They’re tear marks.

I guess the easiest way to put it is that I don’t think growing up in the Water Tribe was healthy for me, at least as it relates to my sexuality. Their attitudes, while better than other regions, certainly aren’t the most progressive. I always thought that, since coming to Republic City, I’d put all those ideologies behind me. However, now I’m starting to wonder if it lingered more than I thought.

I’m so scared of being seen as queer in public. Not because I think someone would hurt me, but it’s… just not what I’m supposed to do. I know this probably sounds insane, but I feel like I’m going to get caught with my hand in the proverbial cookie jar. It’s why I lean away from being affectionate in public or arranging dates. I’m so afraid of “getting caught” and… something happening. I’m sorry I can’t explain it better; like I said, it’s like my mind turns to mud whenever I try to think about this.

She has to brace against her kitchen counter to keep from sinking to the floor. She’s not entirely sure what she’s feeling; shock, to be certain. A deep, overwhelming sense of realization and clarity as all the moments of your aversion and seeming apathy come into context. But deeper, underneath all of it, there’s a growing sense of horror, one that makes her stomach clench and churn.

She was fortunate to grow up in Republic City, in the circle of family and friends that she had. Even back then, Republic City had a vibrant queer community and laws protecting queer rights. Toph, certainly, hadn’t been fussed when she came out as bisexual as a teenager. Uncle Aang had made a point to carry forward the Air Nomad’s open acceptance of all sexualities and gender identities, and Aunt Katara had followed his lead. Uncle Zuko had quashed Fire Lord Sozin’s laws against gay marriage in the Fire Nation–

Spirits, she could probably list the advantages she’d had –advantages she’d had over you–as a queer woman for hours, now that she thinks about it. No wonder. She purses her lips. No wonder she wasn’t comfortable being affectionate in public.

Again, I am so, so sorry this splashed all over you, Lin. I know that it doesn’t change the inconsistencies in how I act, but I hope you’ll believe me when I say that I never intended to hurt you, or to make you feel like I didn’t want to be seen with you. Believe me when I say that I am so utterly happy to be your girlfriend –even when it’s scary.

She’s crying. Or damn close to it. Her eyes are watering, stinging.

I know we need to talk about this more. I still need some time to think, but I think I can have more of an explanation ready for you by the end of this week. If you want to talk, I’d appreciate you calling me once you get this letter and feel ready to discuss things. However, if you don’t want to talk –if this isn’t something you feel comfortable working through–then I understand–

Lin can’t remember a time she’s walked to her phone and dialed your number faster.

You pick up after a couple rings. There’s a shaky inhale once the call connects, and then your voice –soft, painfully hesitant–filters through the speaker. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Lin swallows, then looks down at your letter. “I –uh–I got your letter.”

“Oh.” There’s a beat of silence, and the muffled sounds of you shuffling. “Okay.”

“You–” Get your shit together, Beifong. “You said you wanted me to call. To set a time to talk.”

“Yeah. I did.” There’s another pause, and then you let out a small laugh. “I guess I didn’t think you’d read it right away. Or that you’d want to talk so soon.”

“Of course, I did,” Lin says, indignant; like she’d let something like this go unaddressed for so long. “And of course, I do.”

“Okay.” Another shaky exhale. “I guess –I guess I wasn’t sure if you’d be mad.”

Oh, sweetheart. “I’m not mad,” she reassures you. “I think–” She has to swallow again and blink a few times; her throat’s gone unexpectedly tight with emotion. “I think your letter helped, actually. It puts a lot into context for me.”

“O-oh.” There’s a sniff, and when you speak again your voice sounds strained. “I –I’m glad. I’m glad it helped. But there’s… there’s still more I’d like to say. I just need time to… find the words and stuff.”

“Okay. It’s okay.” She braces against one hand on the wall next to the phone mount. “You said you wanted to talk later this week?”

“Yeah.” Your voice sounds clearer now. More certain. “I was thinking maybe Saturday? You could come to my place for dinner.” You let out a soft laugh. “I could make you some proper Sea Prune stew.”

“You don’t need to cook for me,” Lin argues, shaking her head. “Not for something like this. I can get us take out.”

“I want to,” you insist. “It’ll give me something to do with all my nervous energy.”

That, she can understand. “If you’re sure.” She purses her lips, loathing this feeling of awkward uncertainty running through her. “I… could bring something for dessert?”

“If you want to.”

“I do.” I need even things out somehow.

“Okay.”

Lin’s suddenly remembering why she went through a spell of not dating whatsoever; these awkward, nebulous post-fight conversations always make her feel like she has ants crawling underneath her skin. Easy. One thing at a time. She takes a deep breath, then lets it out.  “Okay.” Agni’s sake, say something better than that!

“I’m really sorry, Lin,” you pipe up –and, Spirits, your voice is cracking like you’re going to cry, and that’s the last thing she can bear right now. “I really didn’t mean for you to get caught up in my bullshit.”

“I wouldn’t characterize having trauma around expressing your sexuality as ‘bullshit,’” Lin fires back.

“I’m –it’s not–”

“You wrote that you’re scared of being recognized as queer in public, to the point that it’s had a negative impact on every relationship you’ve had,” she interjects. “How is that not trauma?”

Your end of the line is quiet for a long time. Then, you sigh. “Well, I’m still sorry.”

“You don’t need to be–”

“Tui and La, Lin, just accept the apology,” you insist tiredly. “My actions, though caused by arguable trauma, hurt you. Just because there’s underlying reasons doesn’t change that you got hurt, and it doesn’t change that I’m still accountable for my choices.”

“But I’m not upset with you,” Lin argues. “Not with this. Not with it being a trauma issue.”

“Then just say you accept my apology! Quit telling me to not apologize to begin with!” You let out a tired laugh, then add, “Besides, when you could tell me what to do, anyway?”

She feels a smirk spread across her face at the clear impish challenge in your voice. She shifts to leaning against her shoulder, so that she’s sidled up next to the wall mount for the phone. “Oh, I seem to recall countless times where–”

“Focus, Lin.” Your smile is audible in your voice now. “You were going to accept my apology.”

She’s grinning, now. “Says who?”

“Says me, the girlfriend you adore and care about.”

Any other day, she’d argue with you to get a rise out of you, but she doesn’t want to push you too far right now. She lets out a soft chuckle, then concedes. “I appreciate and accept your apology. Thank you.”

“Yue above, it’s like pulling fucking teeth from you, isn’t it?” you mutter.

“The fuck else do you want from me, woman?” She smiles when you laugh –actually laugh, and it’s a relief to hear it–then sobers when she remembers that she owes you an apology, too. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, too. You were right. I was handling things like an interrogation. That wasn’t fair to you.”

“Apology accepted,” you answer, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “I really appreciate that. Thank you.”

“Of course.”

There’s a pause, but the silence is more comfortable than before. Then, you ask, “Are we good?”

And that –that is a question she fucking hates. It’s so open-ended. What does “good” mean? Is it relative to the situation, or is there some definition of “good” that applies to the relationship overall that she should use instead? And, moreover, how is she supposed to know? Just because things are being worked through doesn’t inherently mean everything is “good.” Sometimes, working things out just drags more issues into the open, and then everything goes to shit as a result–

You’re overthinking this. Think smaller.

Okay. She’s not upset with you. You’re not upset with her –as far as she can tell, anyway. You’ve both apologized, you’ve both accepted each other’s apologies, there’s plans to talk things out more so there’s better understanding of the situation and what you both need. That… that seems good.

“We’re good,” Lin decides. “Are –are things good on your end?”

“We’re good on my end,” you assure her, voice warm.

“Good. I’ll see you on Saturday for dinner?”

“Yeah.” The two of you take a moment to hash out exactly when she’ll stop by your apartment, and then you sigh. “Not to just hop off, but I’m gonna go. I’m scheduled for rehab at Yue General tomorrow, so I need to rest.”

“By all means. I hope everything goes well.”

“Thanks. I hope things go well tomorrow for you, too.”

“Thank you.” She smiles softly. “Good night.”

“Good night, Lin.”

She hangs up when she hears the line click on your end, then sighs. Lin rubs the back of her neck with her hand. She straightens up, then looks down at the letter in her hand. She finishes reading it; there’s not much left, just you giving her an option out of the relationship if she didn’t want to hash things out and you apologizing again before signing the letter–then lets her eyes trace back over the sheet of paper. She’s noticing more tear spots on the paper, especially as she gets towards the bottom of the page, and she feels like her heart’s breaking all over again. She traces the outline of one of the more pronounced stains, then closes her eyes. Okay. Enough. You need to move forward with your evening. She opens her eyes, forces herself to fold the letter shut, then strides into her bedroom to grab a change of clothes before she showers.

Before opening her wardrobe, though, she detours to her nightstand. She opens the top drawer, then tucks your letter inside –between the left side of the drawer and a couple of books, where no one’s likely to notice it if they go snooping. She closes the drawer, then plants one hand against the top of her nightstand and braces against it. I was wrong.

She stays there for a moment, simply processing. Then, she smiles to herself –small, but there–and resumes getting ready for the rest of her evening.

#sass writes #lin beifong x reader #emotional hurt/comfort #hey girlies we're processing our feelings about expressing our sexuality in public #and by we i mean me #i have feelings and everyone else gets to deal with it you're welcome #legend of korra #lin beifong #hands that heal

[airteacher]

( I’m sorry in advance )

Saikhan: “Master Tenzin, please sit down. I’m afraid I have bad new to break. Chief Beifong passed this morning…”

Alarmed by his warning, Tenzin refused sit down. When Saikhan delivered the news, however, Tenzin took a step backwards, finding the seat behind him and falling into it.

His lungs inhaled sharply, letting lose a sob after a moment of forgetting to breath. Then he stared at the palms of his hands as if an answer was written on them, but they were as blank as his thoughts. He looked up at the deputy chief with pleading eyes. What was he suppose to do now?

#Anonymous #tw death

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

I was trying to write a scene for Falling Backwards but it turned into a ‘How Lin got her scars Au’

Tw torture, tw eye damage

Lin’s body started to shake and convulse, involuntary desperate movement trying to pull away from the men that held her head in place under the surface of the water in the troth. They pulled her back just as her vision started to blacken again and she desperately gasped for breath through the horrible cough brought on by the ice cold water in her lungs.

“She doesn't know!” Lin could hear Saikhan’s voice from beside her and she tried to shake her head but the men’s grip on her hair held her in place. She tried to steady her breathing but it was useless, her chest heaved as she caught her breath. Saikhan couldn’t break before she does. She’s been beaten and nearly drowned and he’s starting to worry for her, but soon it would be his turn. Lin didn’t have much time to collect her thoughts before she was being pushed back towards the water again. “No! No!” Saikhan tried to stop the men as they moved to push her head back under the water midbreath. Lin coughed and choked as the water splashed and spilled with her struggle. Lin’s vision faded as she thrashed and tried to kick out against her tormentors, her movements started to slow. She could barely hear Saikhan yelling, muffled by the water and her waning consciousness. Suddenly she was thrown onto her back on the floor, a wretched gasp pulled air into her lungs before she started to cough up the water.

“Boss won’t be happy you two were sniffing around.” one of the lackeys crooned.

“Yeah, best fess up why you’re here without orders.” another finished wrapping leather over his knuckles.

“Like I said, Zolt-” a painful blow to Saikhan’s jaw interrupted him.

“You’ll have to do better than that.” another painful blow. Lin rolled to her side to try to keep from choking on the water in her mouth, a harsh kick to her stomach rolled her back over as a boot pressed to her chest, limiting her breathing.

“Bastards-” Lin groaned as she struggled to breathe.

“Someone mentioned me?” Zolt himself appeared on the other side of the bars, his arms hanging into the cell nonchalantly.

“Zolt! Buddy, tell these idiots we’re here under orders.” Saikhan tried, but they knew they were made.

“Nah, there's no fun in that.” Zolt grinned then his smile fell as he saw Lin. “Wait a minute! Hold on a second my lovely gents. Is that anyway to treat the Chief’s daughter?” Zolt smiled wide now seeing who it was the two had captured.

“What are you talking about Zolt?” the heavy boot on her chest pressed down with more weight on her. Lin tried the ties holding her wrists pinned between the dirt and her back but they held fast.

“We’ve netted a Beifong, boys.” Zolt moved into the cell now.

“She- she's not!” Saikhan was floundering but trying, another harsh blow to his already swollen face and he was dazed, his eyes swimming as he tried to focus.

Lin scowled as Zolt came and pinned her with his own boot to her already aching shoulder, shoving the other guy away. “Hey Lin, remember me?” Zolt was more than enjoying this turn of events. It was only a handful of months ago he had been arrested in the streets after a confrontation with the young Beifong.

“You’re- Mistaken,” Lin coughed, her wet hair clung to her face as the water started to mix into mud under her head and shoulders.

“No, no I don't think I am.” he pulled a knife from his boot. “How about a lesson you learn this time?” He knew how they worked. He figured once they didn’t check in the place would be swarmed by RCPD officers and that was the last thing he wanted with the boss trusting him with this shipment. “A reminder to not try to cross me again?” His hand came down and gently brushed the hair clinging to Lin’s face away. Lin pulled her face away from the heated blade as he then moved to rest the sharp edge at the base of her jaw. His bending causing the blade to start to glow from the handle. Lin gritted her teeth at the burning cut.

“No! You can’t-” Saikhan received a quick kick to his gut in return.

Lin cried out as Zolt dragged the blade deep into her jaw and up her cheek, she tried to move her face away and he pushed harder the metal crossing her eye.

“One for trying to undermine me.” he growled, another harsh drag of his blade and a twin mark to the first appeared on Lin’s face. Lin couldn't help the scream of pain. The cuts were burned severely and her face was hot and stung as tears and dirty water fell into the new wounds. “And another so you won't forget me next time.” he kicked her so her damaged face was pressed to the mud now as he turned to Saikhan. Shock took hold of Lin as her vision blurred as she coughed and tried to bite back a sob. She heard Saikhan cry out in pain behind her before a heavy blow hit her from behind, her eyes rolled back and her body fell limp.

Lin and Saikhan were found the next morning out cold on the steps of the RCPD. The scars of her failure already too damaged to heal properly. Zolt’s brand clear on her face as a constant reminder. Saikhan vowed to never tell a soul and Lin left it out of the reports. The two were removed from the case. Lin was put on desk work until Toph was sure she learned her lesson about not reporting injuries correctly.

Still, rumors spread like fire in the under city and soon Zolt was promoted when people confirmed it was him who ‘took out’ Beifong.

#my writing #saikhan #Lin #Zolt #Au

[dont-mention-it-kid]

"I thought you'd arrest me for disrespecting a police officer!" -- they screamed, while being dragged out the station -- "I was looking forward to that!"

“Chief Beifong has more important things to do with her time than be bothered by the likes of you.” Saikhan said gruffly as he deposited them at the base of the steps to the Republic City Police Department. “Go make better use of yours.”

#[anon #[threadless anon #saikhan #[you are forcibly removed from the chuckycheese lmao

[chiefbeifongcanrailme]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hi Mochi! I'm so sorry I'm taking forever to get to this ask- but it's totally your fault- you know I'm indecisive- I'm a Libra and I couldn't choose which fic to go with🫠

So after much procrastination, I have picked: Somebody Come Geeeeeeeed Her She's Dancin' Like A…

This is my stripper!Lin fic.

Spoilers below. Be warned.

I had a lot of plans of continuing this- prequel, sequel, multi-chap the whole shindig but alas, the world is cruel. Although, just answering the ask is giving me a fantastic idea.

Anyway, coming down to the fic- a 20-something year old Tenzin is reluctantly taken to a strip club by Bumi where he is completely smitten by one of the strippers. Convinced that the woman wearing close to nothing on stage is Lin, Tenzin abandons his brother to go find her and see if it really is Lin. But whether or not this woman is his good friend, Captain Lin Beifong, Tenzin is experiencing love at first sight.

I'm laughing as I'm typing this, but we all know Lin's hot as balls and to have her be a stripper would be everything. As I was first writing this fic, I kinda decided that the stripper would actually be Lin's doppelganger from the bronx south side (known to be a shady area of Republic City) and Tenzin would feel like he's being gaslit. Jade's boyfriend would be Lightning Bolt Zolt while Tenzin's friendship with Lin keeps getting tested over this. But then I changed my mind, and decided to go with undercover Lin who's working with one of the up and coming triads based in the south side- of course, this has to be secret and nobody other than Saikhan knows about this. He often covers for her and ever since Tenzin discovers Jade, Saikhan has been working overtime lol.

But coming to the fic itself, where I got to include none of this, I wanted to establish just how attracted Tenzin is to Lin. He supposedly falls for Jade and that's only because as Jade, she gives him the time of day while Lin doesn't. Lin enjoys being Jade because that's the only time Tenzin will properly shoot his shot- with Lin, he's too tightly wound. And well, while Jade may a boyfriend (Lightning Bolt Zolt), for convenience (and so that she can be trusted by the triads), Lin secretly is in love with Tenzin.

And it's funny cuz Tenzin loves Jade, Jade "loves" Zolt, Zolt- who sees Lin at the RCPD once is obsessed with this more high strung, difficult, stick-in-the-ass version of his girlfriend- and therefore into Lin, who in turn, is into Tenzin who just won't make a move!

RIP to all my good ideas. Unfortunately for its audience, this director only publishes the very pretty, pointy tip of her icebergs.

#lin beifong #chief beifong #linzin #lightning bolt zolt #linzolt

[wishingforatypewriter]

Pregnant Lin head cannons ? Was conceiving easy for her or was she infertile ? What symptoms does she experience ? What cravings does she have ? Any complications ? How does the birth go ? After birth what is her postpartum experience like ? Does she experience ppd ? Is breastfeeding easy for her ?

Hi! Thanks for the ask! (I'd like to preface this post with a disclaimer that I have never been pregnant, so this may not be entirely accurate)

Lin conceived relatively easily and never had any fertility issues. Her pregnancy was actually unplanned.

She had pretty bad morning sickness during her first trimester. She was especially sensitive to smells and sometimes the scent of certain ingredients cooking would make her queasy. She also experienced a lot of fatigue during her pregnancy and needed a lot more sleep than she was used to.

Lin's biggest craving was for citrus fruits like tangerines and pomelos Her partner would always make sure the apartment was well stocked with them, and peel them for her when she wanted a snack. (I wrote a linzolt oneshot called Tangerines around this idea). Her pre-existing love of spicy foods was intensified while she was pregnant, so she ate a lot of fire noodles and fire flakes.

Because she was having twins, Lin was at a higher risk for preterm labor and gestational hypertension. However, her medical team (including Katara) monitored the situation and she ultimately didn't experience those effects.

Lin has a pretty high threshold for pain, but nothing could have prepared her for childbirth. She was in labor for fourteen hours and it was a bit of an ordeal. Her partner was with her the whole time, holding her hand and feeding her ice chips and sips of water.

When she came home from the hospital, Lin's partner did not let her lift a finger. She got to rest and recover from the birth, taking naps and listening to probending on the radio and just bonding with her new babies. Her partner took care of everything around the house so she could relax.

Lin doesn't have postpartum depression, but she does experience some anxiety around being a new mom.

Breastfeeding is relatively easy for her, but after a few weeks she switches to bottle feeding because she wants to start checking in with Saikhan at the RCPD.

#lin beifong #chief beifong #legend of korra #headcanons #linzolt #but i think these can work with most lin ships

[superliz6]

For the DVD commentary for The Rebound:

There was a chair, tucked under a desk at the corner and she dragged it over to the window. She perched herself here with her knees drawn to her chest, watching the airship move along, wondering who was on duty tonight.

She would be taking over from Saikhan in the morning- maybe he was inside. Her eyes drifted over the buildings and out to the bay, landing finally on Air Temple Island. It was a place she used to call home. She wondered if she could spot her own house and pressed her face to the window, trying to find it in the periphery.

No luck.

Her attention moved back to the Island. The lights were out aside from the soft glow of the lanterns adorning the walkways and courtyards. She wondered if anyone was awake. She imagined Tenzin in the bed they once shared with his new wife, happy and content.

She sniffled, reaching up with a shaking hand to clear the tears that ran down her cheek, threatening to overwhelm her. She took another sip of water in an attempt to distract her mind, but it kept working. She glanced back at Kazuo and felt a wave of self-loathing. Sex was just a bandage, she thought. Nothing will cure me.

Though the act of it had been enjoyable, the emotional aftermath was more than she bargained for. There was something about sharing her body with another that felt so final, as if she'd made an irreversible choice and life would never be the same again. Logically, she knew the notion was absurd as Tenzin was married and had most certainly done the same, but she felt the strangest sense of guilt in her chest as if she'd betrayed him, or herself.

She swallowed the rest of her water and mentally chastised herself for her inability to let go of someone who had made it quite clear he didn't want her anymore.

She could practically hear her mother's voice telling her to harden up and her face set. She wiped her cheeks one last time before willing the self-pity away and averting her gaze to park below.

(you ate this up ngl)

Ohhh thanks!

This is a fun one. I was feeling this scene when I wrote it because I could so clearly recall how I felt after I'd split with my long time bf and kissed a different person for the first time. I literally burst into tears hahahah. It was awkward.

But really, that was a feeling that stuck with me- this idea that after a long term relationship, particularly with someone who was your first and only (as I HC Linzin to have been) I thought 'god that must have been so jarring to experience someone else' and how weird it is to feel guilty in that moment, like you're cheating.

I also just wanted to make it clear Lin was trying super hard to move on but even after sleeping with someone else (and enjoying it) she was missing Tenzin and the way her life used to be.

And at the end there, I definitely think that whenever Lin finds herself in a particularly self-pitying mood she will automatically hear her mother's voice in her mind telling her to get the fuck over it lol.

Ask me for DVD style commentary on any of my fic!

#linzin #linzuo #lin beifong