#someone said they wanted to see tenzin and bumi so i did the best i could | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

melzula · 4 years

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hi ! i don’t know if this counts as a whole prompt, but could i request some iroh ii ? maybe their reunion when kya’s daughter went back with bumi to the fire nation and their whole reunion to wedding story ?

a/n: I just did the reunion part of this because it would be hard to cram the whole timeline into one piece aha but nonetheless enjoy!

*based off of these hc’s

The cool breeze of the ocean air does little to calm your nerves as you fidget with the beads that wrap themselves neatly around your wrist and stare out into the open water. The Fire Nation docks are fast approaching, and you foolishly wonder if everything will be the same as it was when you left it behind all those years ago. You wonder if he is still the same, fearing for a moment that perhaps he has forgotten you after being apart for so long, but you don’t have time to dwell on your anxieties when a firm clap on your shoulder breaks you from your thoughts.

“Why the long face, kiddo?” Your Uncle Bumi grins. “I thought you’d be happier to be back here.”

“I am,” you reassure him, “it’s just I’m a little nervous is all. I haven’t been here in so long...”

“Well I’m sure the royals will be happy to see you,” he says. “You were Lord Zuko’s star student after all, and General Iroh is always asking about you.”

“He is?” You gasp, doing your best to quell the excitement that bubbles up inside of you at the news. You always brushed off your infatuation with the General as a silly childhood crush, but if that were the case then the mere mention of him shouldn’t have made you as cheerful as it did.

“Of course! Why do you think I brought you out here with me? Some good old nostalgia would be perfect for you!”

“Uncle,” you say with a pointed look. Bumi grins sheepishly.

“You could use a friend, y/n. And so could Iroh.”

You don’t get the chance to argue or insist that you’re fine, that you’re perfectly okay with the fact that your best friend is your Gran Gran, as the ship pulls into the docks and Fire Nation guards arrive to escort you to the palace. None of them are familiar to you, most of the men you’d known as a child having retired by now, but they still greet you with the same kindness as always, a perk of being the Avatar’s granddaughter and the Commander’s niece.

“I have to prepare for the meeting,” your uncle says as you reach the front gates and are permitted entry to the palace, “but if you want to head off and look for some old friends or even just explore your old playing grounds go right ahead.”

“Good look with the meeting, Uncle Bumi,” you reply before gifting the man a kiss on the cheek and parting ways with him for now.

You find yourself wandering into the gardens, admiring the blooming fire lilies and enjoying the refreshing breeze that blows cooly against your face as you reminisce on the memories you hold in this very spot. If you look hard enough you can almost see yourself sitting underneath the shade of the tree with Zuko and his grandson studying fire bending scrolls and enjoying cups of tea. Life had been so quiet and simple then, so peaceful. Maybe Bumi was right about needing a friend; you’d never felt lonelier in your entire life than you did now looking upon old childhood memories.

“Y/n?” A voice calls almost hesitantly, void of the confidence he’d always held, and despite the fact that your heart catches in your throat at the sound of his voice you will yourself to turn around and face the man you never stopped thinking about.

You can’t help the way your mouth hangs agape at the sight of him; he’d always been a good looking boy, but over the years Iroh had grown into the handsomest man you’d ever seen. He was beautiful with his strong jaw and shimmering gold irises, and despite how much he’d changed over the years he still held that same boyish grin you’d taken comfort in many times before.

“Iroh,” you finally say, heat crawling up your neck as you smile shyly. He’s rushing towards you in an instant, pulling you into his chest for a tight hug and laughing with pure unadulterated joy.

“I almost didn’t recognize you,” he admits with a sheepish grin, hands resting on your shoulders as he pulls away and looks you in the eyes. You don’t know it, but he’s just as taken back by your beauty. He was used to seeing you running around in your pigtails with your wide smile and a few teeth missing; you were absolutely radiant, your features maturing with the time that had passed, but your eyes still held that same twinkle they always did.

“It’s so good to you, old friend,” you say, smiling fondly as you rest a hand upon his cheek. “I’ve missed you.”

“So have I,” he replies, and you don’t miss the way he seems to melt into your touch. “I have a meeting to attend to, but perhaps you’d like to accompany me to dinner tonight? I want to hear about all of your adventures.”

“Dinner sounds lovely.”

“Perfect,” Iroh grins, “I’ll see you then.”

He parts from you then with a kiss on the cheek, leaving you with a dazed smile alone in the gardens as you watch him walk into the palace.

“We’re having dinner,” you murmur quietly to yourself, an excited smile pulling at your lips as you rush towards your assigned quarters to prepare.

~~~

“A date with the General, huh?”

“It’s not a date, Uncle Bumi,” you remind him as you sit before the vanity and slip on your favorite pair of earrings, a pair your mother had bought for you once during your travels, “it’s just dinner.”

“Sounds like a date to me,” he teases with a knowing grin. “You know, I always had a feeling about you two.”

“You said the same thing about Uncle Tenzin and Aunt Lin,” you retort only for Bumi to grimace.

“I never said it was a good feeling.”

“It’s not a big deal,” you shrug nonchalantly. “We’re just two old friends who want to catch up with each other.”

Oh, but it actually is a very big deal for you. You can’t remember the last time anyone has taken you out to dinner or the last time you had actually dressed yourself up for someone else, and frankly you don’t know why you’re so nervous. It’s Iroh, after all, your childhood friend, why should you be nervous?

“Oh, I’ll walk you out!” Your Uncle exclaims excitedly once you put the finishing touches on your ensamble, and before you can even get up from your chair Bumi is yanking you onto your feet and dragging you out of the room towards the front gates where Iroh is presumably waiting for you. “I only wish your mother were here to see this!”

“Uncle,” you groan in quiet embarrassment, “you seem more excited than I am.”

“What? That’s nonsense!” Bumi scoffs. “Can’t I just appreciate the romanticism that comes with seeing old friends?”

“I see you’re a poet much like your father,” a third voice intrudes, a smiling Iroh startling both you and your uncle. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“No, not at all!” Bumi says before you can so much as open your mouth to reply. “In fact I was just leaving. You kids have fun! Oh, and uh, bring her back home safe and sound and all that protective Uncle junk I’m supposed to say.”

“Of course, Commander,” he says with a slight laugh before turning to you. “Are you ready?”

“I am,” you smile, making sure to give your Uncle a chaste kiss to the cheek before taking Iroh’s outstretched and following him out the front gates. Your Uncle watches your retreating forms with a faint smile and a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Phase one of my matchmaking plan is complete.”

~~~

The royal plaza is beautiful at night. Lanterns hang from the skies and bathe the streets in their golden hue. The restaurants and shops are bustling with customers as lovers, families, and friends all spend their evenings out on the town. No one seems to notice your presence— Iroh had insisted that no guards were needed to escort you both— and for that you are grateful.

“Hungry for anything in particular? I know you were especially fond of dumplings when we were children,” Iroh notes with a chuckle.

“I’d love anything spicy. As much as I enjoy sea prunes and seal jerky, nothing in the south really has that same kick to it that Fire Nation food has.”

“I know the perfect place,” Iroh says, and you have to fight against the way your stomach seems to summersault when he takes your hand in his own and weaves you through the streets.

You end up in a quiet little restaurant together where the food is fresh and the hostess is the sweetest little old lady you’ve ever met, though she brings you way more food than you ordered. You’re eager to scarf down the spicy noodles and steaming buns, so eager in fact that you don’t notice the love stricken way in which Iroh watches you practically inhale your food.

“How’s your family?” He asks behind his cup of tea.

“Good. Gran Gran has been training the new Avatar and my mother helps where she can. My Uncle Tenzin and Aunt Pema just had a new baby not too long ago, a son named Meelo.”

“That’s amazing,” Iroh smiles, “congratulations on your new cousin.”

“Thank you. Our family is certainly growing,” you say with a slight laugh. “And how are things with you and your family?”

“I have to admit, I haven’t really been home much to know,” Iroh chuckles. “This visit is also my first time back in a while. Mother is a gracious ruler and the people love her, my sister is still living her quiet life with her husband out on the farm, and my grandfather comes back and forth all the time. Everyone seems to be happy.”

“And are you happy?”

“I like to think so. I’m the youngest General in the United Forces which is a great accomplishment, and I’m having dinner with a friend I thought I’d never see again, so yes, I’m very happy,” he notes with a wink. You can’t help but roll your eyes at his slyness, a small huff blowing past your nose.

“Don’t be so dramatic,” you tease.

“Really, y/n,” Iroh says, all features void of his previous humor as they morph into a more tender nature. He reaches across the table and rests a hand across your own, a faint smile on his lips. “I’ve missed you, and I’m so happy you’re here.”

“Me too,” you admit with a tiny smile. “It’s been hard without you, friend.”

“Friend,” Iroh repeats with a small sigh, but his smile never falters. He pays for your meal and offers you his arm to guide you back to the palace; you talk about old memories and new ones, your adventures during your time apart, and your excitement to create new ones together. You’ve never been happier, and for the first time in a long time the loneliness that normally gnaws at your spirit is nowhere to be found.

“Can you find your room okay?” Iroh asks as you reach the front doors of the palace.

“I can,” you nod with a smile. “I’m actually staying in the room I had when I was a kid.”

“Go figure,” he laughs softly before gracing you with a sweet smile. “Thank you for accompanying me to dinner tonight. Will I see you tomorrow?”

“You will.”

“Good. I look forward to it,” Iroh says. “Sleep well, y/n.”

“Goodnight, Iroh,” you utter with a small smile, making sure to gift him a kiss on the cheek before disappearing inside. Stunned, the General stands frozen in place with a dazed smile on his face. He hasn’t felt this way about anyone in such a long time, hadn’t felt such genuine excitement and joy, and he had to admit that it somewhat intimidated him. He’d always seen you as the girl he’d grown up with, the one he’d spent his time with stealing desserts from the kitchen and running through the hallways, but now...

“Spirits,” Iroh exclaims with a breathless laugh. “I think I’m in love.”

In the gardens sits the trio of adults who watch the scene unfold before them, knowing looks exchanged among them as they sip their tea and watch Iroh disappear into the palace.

“They make a handsome pair, don’t they?” Zuko notes offhandedly to his daughter. “I give them a month.”

“A month?” Bumi snorts. “No way! Three weeks maybe, but not a month.”

“I have more faith in my son than that,” Izumi says with the shake of her head. “One week.”

“One week?!” The Commander exclaims with a laugh. “Oh, you’re on!”

“Betting over the love life of my grandson and my former student was not how I pictured spending my retirement,” Zuko sighs, but there’s a smile on his face as he considers his grandson courting the granddaughter of his best friend. Life has a funny way of working out sometimes.

And it was going to work out for you and Iroh.

| iroh/atla tags: @nataliahaslosthershit @zukh03s @rainteslerrrr @simpinforsukka |

#iroh ll #general iroh #iroh #general iroh x reader #general iroh imagine #iroh ll x reader #iroh ll imagine #iroh x reader #iroh imagine #kya #kya x daughter!reader #bumi #bumi x reader #the legend of korra #lok #lok x reader #lok imagine #atla #request

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nerdycanible1 · 3 years

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Kya's Confusing

A small one shot. It be one sided love, have hurt and of course broken hearts. But of course a sexy Lin Beifong and a sexc Kya Water Tribe.

I hope you enjoy OwO

Lin suddenly leant in and kissed Kya, her hands clasped around her shirt tightly. Kya had frozen under her touch and Lin had her eyes squeezed shut.

The feeling of finally being able to tell Kya she liked her and the way her heart raced when she kissed her all felt perfect. She could feel Kya grab her shoulders and Lin's heart raced wondering if Kya was going to deepen it.

Slowly Kya pulled away from the kiss pushing Lin away slowly. Lin opened her eyes, her eyes dark and her face flushed. It took her years to finally tell her and what more perfect way to tell her then under the cherry blossoms on the island.

Kya looked at her and several emotions flashed over her face. Surprise, shock confusion, hurt, pain and even a small bit of... disgust. Lin swallowed roughly as she saw Kya slowly peel her hands away as she pressed a hand to her own lips.

"Kya?" Lin asked with a tremble in her voice. Her heart was pounding and she began to feel anxious. She would have thought Kya would have kissed her back or even smile but now she saw millions of things fly through Kya's mind. "Kya." She said more firmly.

Kya flicked her eyes to Lin finally seeing her again and she watched Kya rub the back of her neck. "Lin." She grimaced as she felt her eye brows furrow together. "I'm sorry but... I-I don't feel the same way."

Lin could feel her eyes water and she clenched her jaw lightly. Her gut twisted and fell to the ground, her heart constricted and her breathing began to grow heavier. "W-What?" Lin said with a choked voice.

"Lin, I've met someone on the road. I-I'm sorry but I can't." Kya watched as Lin's lower lip wobbled. She reached out to touch her but Lin stepped back and wiped her tears away hastily. "Lin-" Kya began.

Lin shook her head and held her hand up. Embarrassment, rage, anger, hurt flashed over her face. All emotions Kya has never seen before.

"It's fine." Lin said clenching her fists. "Really." Kya watched her best friend break and she reached out again and Lin smacked her hand away. "Please just go." Lin said as her voice cracked.

Kya swallowed roughly not knowing what to do. Torn between comforting her friend or running away from this awkward encounter. Just how did she not notice Lin's crush on her? With one last look at the woman Kya turned and left.

Lin's mind began to race as well as her heart. Just where did she go wrong? She thought that Kya had liked her. All the hand holding, the late night talks, the drinks and the secrets, even the soft look in her eyes as they stared at each other? Just everything. Lin felt her tears continue to come and she growled as she hated it.

A sob slipped slipped through her lips as she didn't expect this to happen. She thought-- just why couldn't-- why didn't she see this coming?! Lin sat on the ground and stared off towards the ocean and at the setting sun. Her heart was ripped out and destroyed.

All she can see in her mind was Kya's face of disgusted face and how her words echoed through her mind. The way she looked at Lin with pity. Lin hugged her legs and sniffled as her fingers were pulling at the grass.

After hours and hours of thinking and replaying everything in her mind she began to notice that they were friend things to do. She never saw the way Kya would pull her hand away after a couple seconds, or the way she would stare at the ocean with dreamy eyes.

Lin shouldn't have ever tried. The sun was down and the moon up, the moon only half filled so everything was relatively dark. She sighed heavily as she wiped her tears away and shook her head. She shouldn't have never listened to Saikhan.

After awhile she could hear the crunching of footsteps coming and the vibrations of their footsteps through her fingers. "Hey." Bumi said carrying a tray filled with food and tea, even a small candle.

Lin didn't look up as she turned her head and faced away from him. She didn't want to see the pity in his face. "H--Hey." Her voice cracked. She coughed lightly to try and clear it out.

Bumi sat down next to her and smiled softly. "Beautiful moon ain't it? Kinda looks like half a pizza if you ask me." The sounds of him pouring tea made Lin slowly look at him.

He was in his uniform, probably meaning he'd leave in a few hours. His jaw line to kill for, the straight teeth he had not to mention his handsome face was sure a lady killer.

His smile friendly and inviting and his hair brushed back but wild in the back. He was rather a goofy and a comforting man.

Her face on the other hand was different. Her jaw softer, her nose small and face shape fox like. Her eyes puffy and red but still holding the sharp look all Beifong's have.

"You always say the moons pizza." She said as she took the offered tea. She held it in her hands as she stared down into the cup, feeling her eyes water once more. "Was I the only one that... didn't know she had someone?" Lin asked softly. "I thought... I thought she liked me too."

Bumi looked at her and sighed softly. "I didn't even know she had a girlfriend." His tone deep but true. It held hurt for his friend. "I always assumed she liked you."

Lin sniffled and wiped her nose as she sipped her tea. "I thought so too." She murmured. "She was my best friend." Lin whispered. "Aren't I supposed to know important things like that?" Lin asked took another drink.

Bumi began to pile Lin's plate up with food and handed it to her. "I don't think she was ready yet." He reached over and gently squeezed her knee. "Please don't hate Kya." He said softly. "I don't think Kya would live with herself if you did."

Lin stared at him and then at her food. A small sad laugh left her lips as she shook her head. "I could never hate her." Lin whispered. "She's my friend."

She looked up at him and gave him a watery smile while tears slid down her cheeks. "I'll always be there for her." Snot began to glide out of her nose as she began to break and she covered her mouth. "Why couldn't she like me?" She cried.

Bumi immediately wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "I don't know." He whispered into her ear. "I just don't know."

•••

Lin stared at the ring in her box as she ran her thumb over it. The ring obviously being larger than her actual size. Years ago she was going to ask Tenzin to marry her but of course that relationship didn't work out.

Lin was currently in her office looking over paper work. She sighed softly as she placed the ring back and stood up. She stared out the window and looked across her city.

After years of heart break Lin called it quits and gave up on dating. It was no biggy really. She loved her job, loved scaring rookies and jailers and even liked the Avatar gang.

They were growing on her. She would listen to Korra's relationship problems, Asam's new inventions and thoughts about the city, Bolin's random chatter and even Mako's awkward moments.

These kids were all under her watch and she had a soft spot for them. She looked at the picture she had of all for of them, they were her responsibility. Even if she didn't want it in the first place.

Lin looked at the time and furrowed her brows seeing that it was 4 o'clock. She swore she didn't have anything planned but her instincts told her other wise.

She furrowed her brows and walked to her desk to look at her calendar. Then her eyes zeroed in down at the date and she could see the familiar scrawl of Kya.

The message, "Don't forget our date! 4:15 p.m. sharp!"

Lin could feel herself panic for a second seeing that it was 4:05 now and traffic was heaviest during rush hour.

She cursed under her breath and gathered her papers and rushed out. She locked her door and placed the papers down on Mako's desk. "Take care of these." She ordered as she hurried out.

How can she forget that Kya was back in town and most likely wanted to go out fo a drink with her?

•••

Upon arrival she realized she was 15 minutes late. She only hoped Kya didn't leave with some floozy. She entered inside, was met with the waiter and soon was brought back to Kya.

Kya looked bored and appeared to be on her fourth cup. "Kya?" Lin called as she thanked the waiter and sat.

Kya perked up and smiled as she waved. "Linny. I didn't think you were coming." She said looking away from the woman she was obviously ogling.

Lin nodded and sat down as she placed her coat down. "Sorry. Was working." Lin said as she flagged down the waitress.

Kya snorted and rolled her eyes. "When are you not working?" She mumbled. It appeared Kya was a bit too relaxed due to her drinks, meaning Lin would probably have to drive her back to the temple.

"Sadly that's what people do when they have jobs Kya." Lin grabbed the clip in her hair and pulled it out. Her hair soon flipped down and unfurled and soon her curls were free.

Kya looked her up and down, going unnoticed by Lin whom was currently looking at the menu. "Sorry for not being employed at the moment cranky pants." She giggled and crossed her leg, her foot sliding up Lin's leg.

Lin gave her a weird look and scooted her legs back a bit to give the woman with longer legs more room and then looked back at the menu. "Did you order yet? Think I'll get the teriyaki beef and misu soup. Maybe even dumplings."

Kya frowned feeling Lin pull her legs away. "I didn't order yet. You can order me something." She said as she hand reached over and began to play with Lin's fingers.

Lin let her be and felt Kya intertwine their fingers together. Lin read over the menu and nodded as she looked up at the waitress.

Lin smiled at her and pulled her hand away to point at the menu. She made the waitress blush and Lin laughed softly. Kya could feel the jealousy burning inside of her. She's been flirting with Lin for months now. Lin soon nodded and soon the waitress was walking away.

Lin looked over and watched as Kya pouted. She raised her brows and looked at the waitress and then behind her. "What? Something on my face?" She asked as she rubbed at her face.

Kya sighed and shook her head. "Nothing's on your face." Kya said holding her hand out to Lin.

Lin looked at it and furrowed her brows. "How drunk are you?" Lin asked looking at the cups. "Did you order a strong drink or something."

Kya huffed and grabbed her hand. "Noooo... hold my hand." Kya whined.

Lin rolled her eyes and intertwine them again. She grabbed her drink from the same waitress and the waitress placed down a paper with her number and Lin blushed. And before she could grab it, Kya grabbed it and placed it in her mouth.

"What the heck Kya." She snapped. Kya began to eat the paper and stuck her tongue out.

"Oh please you'd thank me. She probably wanted a one night stand." Kya said rolling her eyes.

Lin frowned and pulled her hand out of hers. "You don't need to be a jerk." She muttered. She grabbed her soda and angrily sipped it.

Kya stared at her and sighed softly. "Sorry. Want me to ask her for her number for you?" Kya began to raise her hand and Lin grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Its fine Kya. Just numbers." She looked at her and crossed her arms. "So how have you been? I've heard you went to the Fire Nation to see Izumi. Is she okay? How is she?"

Kya waved her off. "She's fine, just said shes tired of the meetings and such."

She smiled up at Lin. "So how about you Lin? Any girlfriend or boyfriend?" She prodded.

Lin rolled her eyes and waved her off. "You know me." She mumbled. "Not looking forward to dating and such. I find it useless. After all I'm 54, I should start looking forward to retiring or something." She muttered knowing she won't be retiring soon.

Kya beamed at the news and smiled as she gently squeezed her hand. "Anyone you have your eye on?"

Lin furrowed her brows, she just told her she wasn't looking for a relationship but she felt her eyes wonder over to the waitress. "Well if someone didn't eat the paper I would've been seeing someone tonight."

Kya tightened her hold on Lin's hand and clenched her jaw. "Well sorry. I'll be sure to ask her."

All throughout dinner it was Kya asking Lin her favourite colour, her favourite hobby to do now, how was she and the kids. All sorts of things. By the end of the night Lin and Kya were stuffed with the delicious food and both buzzed, well Kya drunk.

Lin and her were stumbling to Lin's apartment since both were too drunk to drive and Lin not having the energy to deal with Tenzin.

She plopped Kya on the couch and groaned as she stretched her back. She bonded her armour off and stumbled to her room to change and get ready for bed.

She began to brush her teeth in the bathroom and mindlessly brushed them. Suddenly a pair of arms snaked around her waist and kisses began to align her neck. Lin jumped startled and quickly turned around to be met with the pout face of Kya.

"Kya?" She asked with furrowed brows. She pressed a hand to her neck and watched as Kya grabbed her and tried to kiss her again. Lin frowned and pushed her face away. "Kya." She snapped.

Kya paused and looked at her hurt. "What are you doing? You're drunk. Go back to bed." Lin said as she tried to fix her shirt.

"I don't want to." Kya huffed. "Please Lin let me kiss you." Kya whispered as she reached out to her.

Lin smacked her hand away, her eyes flashing in anger. "I'm not going to tell you again. Go to bed." Kya tried to fight the pain she felt knowing the only reason Kya is trying to kiss her is because she's drunk and doesn't know what's she's doing.

Kya placed her hands on her hip and glared at Lin. "No." She said clearer this time. "Can't you see I like you Lin?" She stepped forward and pressed her agssint the counter. "I've liked you for awhile." She said with a smile. "You don't know how hard it was watching you flirt with her tonight." She whispered.

Lin watched as anger and hurt flash over Kya's face. A red hugh over her nose and cheeks meaning she was buzzed. Lin grabbed her hands and pushed her away.

"You don't know what you're talking about Kya." She grabbed her hand and began to lead her to bed trying not to blow a fuse at her friend who didn't understand what she was saying.

Before Lin could pull her out of the bathroom she felt Kya pull her hand out of Lin's. "I know what I talking about!" She yelled. "Lin you have no idea hoe long I've been having these feelings. You're all I think about, I can't get you out of my head. The way my heart races when I see you, can't you feel it?" She whispered.

Lin furrowed her brows and shook her head. Her heart began to speed up as she began to feel overwhelmed. "Wait Kya hold on-"

"Lin I love you." Kya stressed as she shook her head. "I want to spend my life here with you." Lin tightened her hands on her door frame, the metal slowly warping under her hand. "Lin I-"

Kya didn't understand as suddenly the door was tore wide open and splinters of wood flew all over the place. "Get out." Lin growled. Her face in anger, her eyes closed and her scowl on full display.

Kya jumped and she shook her head. "Lin I don't understand." She whispered. "Didn't you like me-"

"Agni! Kya!" Lin said looking up at her. Her eyes watered but were filled with rage. "What's not to understand Kya?" She breathed still trying to control her temper.

She looked up at her. "That was more than 3 decades ago." Lin said with a strained voice. "Over 30 years ago!" She pressed a hand to her chest, splinters in her finger tips along with small cuts from the metal.

"Don't you remember?" She snapped. "I kissed you, you looked at me as if I'm gross and then tell me you don't like me!" She laughed breathlessly and shook her head.

Kya winced and stepped forward and tried to touch her. Lin smacked her hand away and stepped aside. "Please Kya just... sleep before I hit you." She clenched her fists. "I can't deal with you when you're drunk."

Kya looked at her sadly and stood her ground. "I was a kid Lin. I thought that I met the love of my life." She breathed. "Surely you can't hold that against me."

Lin looked at her and looked away. "You're not the only to say you loved me and you won't be the last." She whispered. "Can't you see I'm tired?"

"Lin please, let me prove to you how much I've changed. I swear I love y-"

Lin reached over and covered her lips. "Stop saying that." She grabbed her arm and began to pull her towards the couch. "Go to bed before I toss you out on the street." She pushed her down on the couch.

Kya gripped onto her hand before she was able to leave. "Give me a chance." She whispered hoping Lin could give her it.

Lin didn't look back at her and closed her eyes. "Goodnight Kya." Lin's voice thick with anger and sadness. And with that Kya let her go and watched as the woman tiredly walked to her room. Tossing the door into the bathroom and closing her bedroom door behind her.

Kya swore to the spirits she'd try her absolute best to be there for Lin. She had to be.

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linsallyworld · 3 years

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Ooh could you do #2 for kyalin on the prompt list if you’re still taking prompts? Thanks :) @lin-beifongs-desk

Prompt Angst 2. "I can't lose you"

Words: 1.500ish

"You know what? I'm exhausted. I don't want to have this conversation." She hated that. She hated to know she was wrong, she had no reason at all. Lin presses her lips together, she doesn't want to say anything else. She doesn't want to hurt Kya the way so many people have hurt her over the years with words.

"Ah but you will hear me." Kya crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her with her best lecture expression. She looked so much like Katara in those moments she terrified her. "You can't just take your anger out on sandbags at the gym, look at your fucking hands, Lin." She grunted in reply. Her joints were flayed and there was a little blood. She stopped counting after the 50th punching session. It was her way of expunging things and the sooner Kya got used to it the better. "Have you ever heard of conversations, of resolving things in dialogue?" Lin's jaw tightens as Kya's eyes study her. She really doesn't want to talk about it. Her hands close so tightly again she can feel her joints cracking. "What did Su say to make you like this?" Kya sighs when she sits on the bed next to her, she doesn't touch her for what Lin thanks. She was overwhelmed, the touch wasn't going to help much now.

The police chief swallows hard as she tries to breathe properly again. And then she just shakes her head. She didn't want to. She just needed to get it out of her.

Kya's eyes soften when they meet hers, they look even bluer with the limited light coming from the windows. She tilts her head, a silent gesture, and Kya understands she can touch her. Her hand slips through Lin's hair and she closes her eyes tightly, feeling the moisture build-up behind them.

"If you don't want to talk about it ... It's okay." The waterbender leans over enough to wrap her hands over Lin's head and place a kiss on top of her hair. "Just let me heal you and everything will be fine." She wants to scream. She doesn't deserve this. The earthbender squeezes her eyes more tightly, she knows if they open, tears will come down. Kya was there, being kind, being the nicest person she knew while she was just a mess of grunts and calluses.

The police chief nods and Kya lets out a sigh of relief against her head before moving out of bed.

Lin opens her eyes when she returns with a bowl of water. Kya kneels before her, the bowl at her feet, and then takes the earthbender's hands. She seems to analyze the damage for a moment and then extends her fingers to the water and it accompanies the smooth movement of her hand. Lin always thought the waterbending was so elegant.

Kya's fingers are careful as they heal every scratch and deep bruise Lin has left on herself. A meticulous, brilliant job that leaves no scarring. She doesn't think. She just watches her fingers move, healing the torn skin and removing the pain she didn't even realize she was feeling.

She was watching her every gesture, so it's not a surprise when Kya leans over to place a kiss on her hands together. It doesn't stop Lin's eyes from widening, though.

"I can't lose you." She whispers. She didn't notice. But now it was clear tears was flowing slowly down Kya's face. Lin's heart sinks further. She was the one doing this. "Not for that, Lin." Her voice is heaved, but when she raises her eyes, they really seem to shine, like the very water she was using to heal her. "I know you think that breaking things with your hands relieves you, but it doesn't change how you feel inside. I have no idea what you're going through inside your head, but I can't help you if you don't talk to me. We are a family, let me help you." Family. The earthbender swallows again. Someone had said that to her. So many years ago.

"Your father told me that once." Kya opens her mouth. And then she closes it again. Lin can feel her heart rate reduces through the floor. "When ... When Tenzin broke up with me ..." Her eyes fill with tears, not for Tenzin ... But for the memory of that time. "You were on the other side of the world, Su was gone, my mom was gone, Bumi was somewhere serving ... I had never felt so alone." The waterbender frowns slightly as thin tears begin to flow down her face harder. "Your father was the only friend I had left." She visualizes Aang's face. She knows she should be happy that he made the pass, that Korra was with them. But it hurts. It still hurts so bad. "He used to meet me at the pier before going to air temple island. He would sit with me for hours, just to try to get me to say a couple of sentences." Kya lowers her head and wipes her eyes. She shouldn't be saying those things. She wasn't his daughter. She had no right to bring things up that way.

"He would tell me stories that you told in letters ... He would tell me about Republic City politics and I would listen." Lin sniffles. She never said that to anyone and she doesn't know why she can't stop now. She feels her face is moistening. "He was on my side when no one else was and when he died ... It was like losing a father I didn't have." Lin swallows and looks away from Kya. She can feel the waterbender's grip on her fingers, though. Saying without words she was listening. She wanted to say that at the time, but she didn't feel on the right of. Aang wasn't her father ... As much as she wanted him to be. "That's why I can't hear Su saying we grew up without a father." She takes a deep breath, trying to keep a few more tears from coming out. "Maybe it was like that for her ... But it never was like that for me." She feels it when Kya lets go of her hands and sits down next to her, much closer this time, her thigh is touching the fabric of Lin's pants now.

The police chief closes her eyes when the other woman lays her face on her shoulder.

"I miss him too." Lin swallows. That was it. She was angry because she wanted to have said more, she wanted to have spent more time with him. She missed him. She missed the father she didn't have a chance to have ... That's why it hurts. That was why she wanted to break things when Su talked like that.

"You can talk to Korra about it, you know?" Lin frowns and turns her head to Kya. Kya's bright blue eyes seem to take over her soul. "When Korra was about 7 years old ... I truly wanted to talk to my father ... We meditated together, for her it was a game, but I managed to catch a glimpse of him. It gave me greatly peace." Lin can't imagine meditating with Korra. A humorless smile appears on her mouth just at the thought. "Thank you for telling me that." She whispers as she puts a kiss on the police chief's shoulder. Lin closes her eyes for a brief moment with just the touch of her lips. "I'm glad my dad was there when we all failed you." Lin's eyes widened and she shook her head ready to say no. She was the one who pushed away all of them. Kya just smiled before leaning down to kiss her cheek. Her lips are warm and her face is still wet with tears.

"No one should be alone, Lin. Dad always knew that." She wants to argue. But how can she while Kya caresses her cheek with the tips of her fingers as if it were the most delicate thing in the world?

"Stay with me." She doesn't see when the words come out of her mouth. "Please." Kya has a small smile at the corner of her mouth when she rests her forehead against hers.

"Always." The word reaches Lin's head. She was only referring to that night. She didn't want to sleep alone after all, but ... Always. The way her heart expands with that promise. "I love you." She whispers. It sounds so calm. And yet Lin feels as if she's being overwhelmed with the weight of that single sentence.

She doesn't remember if anyone besides Kya ever said they loved her.

She leans in and when her lips meet the waterbender's she tastes the salt of her tears.

But she remembers Aang telling her they were family. That day was the first time she felt loved in a long time.

She feels the same way now. While Kya wraps her arms around her and pulls her towards her, away from the pain and thoughts she didn't want to relive.

She recreated her own family. Among clueless teenagers, old friends, even her sister, and ... Kya.

Aang would be proud.

Lin feels the last tear fall from her eyes as she wraps her arms tighter around Kya.

She made him proud.

#avatar the legend of korra #kyalin #tlok #lin beifong #kya ii #fanfic #angst #fluffy #yes I cried #aang

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guiltysecretpasttime · 3 years

Note

Consider the idea of Lin /Bumi badly timed proposals"? (just a humble linumi shipper loving your fanfics)

Note: Here's my belated response to this prompt. It ran away from me again until I struggled to close the story out. Hope you like it!

One-shot Post-canon AU Lin x Bumi II

Also on AO3.

---

Outside of the military, Bumi was known to be the spontaneous one. The Avatar’s child who was the most likely to get into trouble. Or get into an adventure, as his grinning father would correct. He was the kid who took quickly to throwing fruit pies to the air acolytes. He was the teen who travelled to the next city because there was a Pro-bending competition happening there. As an adult, he was also the one who tried (and succeeded in) applying for the United Forces on a whim.

It was not often that Bumi would plan for anything linked to his personal life.

This was why, on the weeks leading up to that Night (with a capital N), he felt out of his depth. He did what he did best and tried to plan as he would regarding a military campaign.

This was why he thought he was assured of success.

What he did not count on was the extraneous factors, which was their extended family and social circle.

That – and the weather.

---

“Booms -I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out.” Iroh’s voice crackled over the telephone. “That downpour wouldn’t make anything stick long enough to be legible.”

Bumi sighed as he peered at the window of Tenzin’s study. The waves did crash unpleasantly against the edge of Air Temple Island as the rain fell. “Well, we can still move it tomorrow, right? You and the boys are still free?”

“Of course, provided that the weather is better. As for our availability - ,” Whatever Iroh said was lost as the line crackled again as it was wont to do when the weather was poor. Bumi clicked his tongue. Tenzin really needed to have some repairs made in this temple. “- So after that, we can definitely pick it up for you.”

“Great!” Bumi could care less if they need to adjust the timing a bit – as long as it pushesthrough.

He did not need the details.

---

Or maybe, he should have probed for more details.

The retired commander saw that now as he watched visitors mill around Air Temple Island.

Various air acolytes and airbenders from the different temples now crowd the usually empty courtyard.

How was he to know that it was time for the anniversary of the return of the airbenders? He did not even know there was an identified datefor that.

Or maybe, he would have known had he listened to Tenzin’s lectures.

He scratched his chin, pensively, wondering if this might change anything when something cold and wet lashed at his behind.

“Hello, Bumi.” His sister walked over, a water whip formed at her side, grinning as she usually did.

“Mother said you shouldn’t hit people.”

“Mother said a lot of things that you didn’t follow.” Kya crossed her arms mockingly. She nodded to the entrance of the residential building where their mother stood, surrounded by her youngest grandchildren.

He understood. They never could begrudge their mother anything, especially now with her waning health.

A sea of green passed in the periphery.

“I see Suyin and her brood are here.” Bumi contemplated briefly if it would have any impact to his plans.

Kya commented. “Did they really have to be always in green?”

“Did you always have to be in blue?”

“Touche.” Kya shrugged. “Though, I needed to be blue to occasionally camouflage in the South Pole if I needed to be stealthy.”

“For what?”

From afar, they see Katara beckoning Kya forward from where she and Pema stood by the stoop of the house. “I’ll go get settled now.”

Bumi excused himself, citing some reason to check on something, which, technically he needed to do.

“Tenzin said nothing formal; nothing big. Just a small gathering.” The loud voice of the Avatar grumbled.

The clinking of metal was heard next before Bumi rounded the corner. “And yet, everyone is here.”

“Chief Beifong!”

“Avatar.” Lin inclined her head in greeting, with blank politeness on her face.

Bumi knew better though – the slight tightening of her jaw and the grip she had on her belt: oh, Lin was irritated.

“What’s up?” Korra toyed with the sleeves of her formal wear, obviously uncomfortable.

“How are your travels?” Bumi interjected, popping beside Lin before she manages any acerbic remark.

“We are travelling in style! I think I could get used to it.”

“I think you already are.” Asami looked on with amusement.

“You’re lucky,” Bumi pointed towards where Oogi and the younger bison were flying around. “Dad had to travel on a sky bison.”

“Mom said it wasn’t pleasant.” Lin wrinkled her nose.

“There! You! Are!” Bolin ran and huffed as he arrived before them, doubling over in the effort. “Wing and Wei just found where the food was being prepared, we can sneak off to get some before the– oh hello Chief Beifong!”

“I did not hear anything.” Lin looked skyward and waved her hand at them.

“Beifong!” Bumi quickly caught up with Lin, who strode off quickly when the teenagers started talking about food. “Are you on duty?”

“Yes.” Lin sighed, putting her hand on her hips then stomping, doing a seismic perimeter check. “I know, but I have to.”

“I’ll look for you later.”

“Alright. We’re a bit stretched – Tenzin did not give us the correct numbers of attendees, as usual.” Her forehead crinkled as she concentrated on the perimeter check. “Good thing the Fire Lord sent General Iroh and some of his men to represent their nation.”

“Oh, that’s what he meant.” Bumi murmured to himself.

Lin glanced at him in askance.

“Iroh.” Bumi did not want to expound further. Lin had a way of ferreting out the truth from him without seismic sense anyway.

Bumi accompanied her like a silent sentinel as Chief Beifong went about doing check to her team and on the island.

They have finally arrived at the main courtyard where the usually unflappable master airbender was fluttering about like a bright orange butterfly, holding several sheets of paper, which no doubt was the program for the day.

Lin groaned when Tenzin noticed them.

“Lin!”

“I better go ahead.” With one final eye-rolling, Lin left Bumi’s side before he could even ask where she will be stationed at the end of the program.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Bumi jumped a bit, startled by Kya once again. “Of course not, my meddling gossipy sister.”

She offered him a drink, which he rightly declined. “What’s Tenzin up to?”

The man was now talking rapidly to the chief of police. They were far enough not to hear them but near enough to see what was going on.

“He’s quite excitable.” The retired military man shrugged. “Thank the spirits for Pema, that woman is a saint.”

“You mean, thank the spirits for Lin,” Kya nodded towards the pair as she took a sip of her drink. “Pema was just about ready to rip her hair off these past days. She was looking quite frazzled earlier and after a drink or two, bam! Out tumbled everything - Tenzin was anxious and has been driving her nuts with all the prep for today’s celebration.” She raised a glass to the earthbender and airbender on the main event area. “But look over there – just a few words from our dear Chief of Police and the man calms down.”

Bumi could not help but tense up as he observed Lin and Tenzin on the platform.

As Lin continued to converse with his younger brother, Tenzin began to slowly deflate. A smile started to form on the earlier stressed airbender’s face and the corner of Lin’s lips upturned, a ghost of a smile.

“I swear – those two, I wonder how it would have turned out for them had they known this was going to happen anyway…” Kya trails off, as though suddenly realizing who she was talking to. “I mean – hey, they’re both in happy relationships and it’s perfect and -.”

Bumi swallowed drily, drowning out his sister’s voice.

He had thought about that occasionally, really. There was nothing to go on and Lin had been upfront about, well, everything so he knew where her heart is.

But, looking at the pair now, at the anniversary of the return of the airbenders, supposedly the pinnacle of all their arguments…

“Booms – don’t do anything stupid.”

Now that snapped him from his maudlin thoughts. “Why is it that everyone thinks I’m gonna do something stupid when I keep quiet? It’s a bit offensive, you know.”

“Bumi, I didn’t mean -.”

No matter, Bumi was adamant that his Plan pushes through.

---

“POP! POP! BOOOM! BOOOM POP! Whiiiizzz! BOOM!”

Everyone on Air Temple Island (and even those at the edge of Republic City) looked up to see fireworks littering the night sky.

“BEIFONG… WILL…YOU… ohmy sweet - is that a ring??? .. ME.” Suyin squealed as she read what the fireworks were spelling out.

There was a cacophony from the courtyard of Air Temple Island as everyone sought to find which Beifong was being proposed to.

From their perches around the island, Iroh and the UF men whooped in success of their mission tonight – deploying the firework proposal.

“OH-MY-BOLIIIIN!”

All eyes were on Opal who was clutching at a wide-eyed earthbender.

“What?!”

Various voices added to the din, shouting different things.

“Bolin did you really?!” Mako pointed up to the sky.

“What – no I did not. I’m not marrying – I mean,” Bolin swiftly turned to Opal. “I would like to marry you.” Then he shouted at Su and Baatar Senior’s direction. “But not now. One day but not now – I mean, I need to talk to Su and Baat – oh shit Su’s gonna kill me.”

Attention turned to Baatar and Suyin.

“Um no,” Baatar shrugged casually, an arm around his wife. “It’s not our anniversary anytime soon.”

Suyin was still being antsy. “Wing! Wei! Did any of you -?” She saw her twins wave up their arms in surrender, wildly shaking their heads as they each held a plate of food. “If that’s not you…”

“Kuvira and Junior –.” Wei.

“That is unlikely.” Wing.

“Huan?” Both Wing and Wei asked, everyone’s heads swiveled to the artistic Beifong.

“Excuse me.” Huan looked very offended, as though it was an insult that someone would be proposing to him in public.

Bumi’s face fell as the Beifongs present began arguing as to who the firework proposal was for and the actual Beifong who the proposal was meant for was nowhere to be seen.

Just then a soft squeal and a sniffle came from Kya’s side.

Pema was holding to her arm. “No-no-no – it’s for Lin, don’t you see? That’s why – Tenzin is leaving me.” Every other word was punctuated with a sniffle. “That’s why they’ve been talking over plans and that’s why – I saw them talk to Jinora the other day. Oh-airbenders-Tenzin is -leaaving me.”

“Ahem, I have an announcement!”

Now, everyone turned to stare back at the platform where Tenzin stood. Behind him, stood two more people - Lin Beifong stood in his shadows, arms crossed, a guard observing the proceedings, while Jinora stood to the side with a nervous smile, hands at her back.

“Ooohhhh!” Pema let out a wail.

“Shh, Pema!”

Bumi froze. There have been still some lingering insecurities that were in relation to his brother that would take a long time to tamp down. With the man’s whimpering wife at the side and his own significant other beside said man, it did not take much to wear Bumi down to his insecurities.

“This has been a long time coming and before anything else,” Tenzin paused at this to throw a significant look at his back. “I would like to say that this is no split second decision, we’ve talked about it and well –.”

No way he was going to let Tenzin take over his plan tonight.

“I will be stepping down soon with Jinora as my successor.”

“LinBeifong, will you marry me?”

Two voices rang into the night, clearly silencing any other words that might have been going on.

Bumi did not care for or did not mind what the reactions of the people around them were. He only had eyes for the earthbender who was gaping at him then looking back at the sky then back at him.

He worried the longer it took for Lin to react.

From his side, Pema sagged in relief against her sister-in-law while Jinora and Tenzin stood at the platform, greeting well-wishers.

Lin, meanwhile, was yet to do anything other than stand still.

“OH – we forgot the most eligible Beifong of today!” Bolin stated the obvious, pointing to the sky and back at Chief Beifong on the stage.

“What are you doing, go get her.” Kya nudged him from the back.

Bumi ran to the stage, almost tripping on his formal robes. “Lin – I’m so sorry – I didn’t think it would be this public – I -.” Lin hated public displays. “I ain’t doing this to pressure, I -.”

Lin gripped his arm to stop him from speaking.

The crowd went silent as Suyin could be heard shushing everyone (“Quiet! We need to hear what her answer is!”).

Bumi’s heart sank as Lin pulled away from him.

This is it. The Rejection.

He could only look to the ground, unwilling to face family, friends and even his former colleagues in the UF.

Suddenly there was a rumble on the ground as Lin extended a leg in front of her and she raised her arms slowly with a grunt.

“YES – BUMI – I – WILL – dear Agni – Liiiin is marrying Bumi!” Su’s shrill voice read out the words etched on the courtyard.

Tenzin groaned, mumbling about the destruction of his courtyard.

“Shut it, airhead. That courtyard has seen worse when you broke up with -.”

Nope, he did not want to hear about their break-up and so Bumi took Lin in his arms and planted a nice long kiss to seal the deal.

He pulled back and was met with a large grin on Lin’s face.

It might not have worked as he expected or planned it to be but at least, he could honestly say that it was -

Mission accomplished.

#linumi #linumi fanfic #lin x bumi ii #lin beifong #bumi ii

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hotpinkrathian · 3 years

Text

Kyalin Week 2

Prompt Chosen-supportive siblings

"You know Kya I really don't think this is the best way to go about it. I haven't even told anyone that..." Kya just stared at her confused mess of a girlfriend.

"Lin," she placed her hands on Lin's shoulders, staring I tot the eyes of the metalbender, "This is the best way to go about it. You kill two rat-birds with one stone." Lin looked at her doubtfully and Kya offered a smile to boost her confidence. "Besides," Kya mentioned, "if they know you then they will already know." Lin rubbed the back of her neck nervously and Kya took it upon herself to kiss her, on the cheek, gently, but Lin stopped her from pulling away and planted a proper kiss on her lips.

"By the time this is taking," Kya said, "I bet they've already guessed by now." Lin laughed and took Kya's hand, doing her best to smile.

"I can do this," the Police Chief said, mostly to herself.

"Yes you can, and I'll be there the whole time." Lin nodded and Kya pushed open the door to the restaurant, ignoring the butterflies in her own gut.

"What took you guys so long? We've been here for half an hour?!" Tenzin scolded, as soon as they sat down. Lin tried to hide her look of disgust at the circular booth, it seemed like the universe was making this as cushy as possible. She slid in next to Su who greeted her with a smile, and Kya slid next to Lin, on the outside, opposite of Bumi.

"Now Tenzin no need to be so stand-offish," Kya said with a glare.

"Sorry, sorry, it's just Pema's alone with the kids and-"

"She's fine Tenzin. She has a legion of airbenders to help her," Bumi said, nudgin his brother with his elbow.

"Lin, don't leave me alone with them ever again, please." Su whispered, getting a chuckle from Lin. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"So, why did you summon us here, sister?" Tenzin asked, uncurling his chopsticks from a napkin. Lin felt herself tense up, and if it weren't for Kya's hand on hers, she might have blurted it out.

"Oh my god, relax Tenzin. We're here for an entire meal, so let's enjoy it and take it slow." Tenzin raised an eyebrow in suspicion and Bumi flagged a waiter by flapping his arms. Lin ignored her sister's eyes baring into her, was it really necessary to stare like that? When the waiter Bumi had summoned reluctantly came to the table they placed their drink orders, Bumi telling him to "hurry back," as an attempt at comedy.

"So, Lin," Su asked, "is the force still keeping you satisfied?" Lin gulped nervously, adding to Su's suspicions.

"Uh yeah, mostly..."

"Mostly?" Lin just looked at her sister in panic, unsure of how to fix the situation.

"Well Lin has other factors in her life now," Kya added from behind, "Like her niece living so close." With that Suyin smiled and took her sisters free hand.

"Really? Lin have you and my daughter grown close?" This time Lin was confident in her answer.

"Yeah we have grown close. Opal comes by to make sure my fruit hasn't gone bad." Suyin smiled and sighed in happy relief.

"Awwe, my sister and my daughter, an aunt and her niece. I'll have to talk to her." Lin just nodded, grateful that the drinks had arrived as a distraction. Lin watched as Kya took her paralyzer, turning the straw around in the glass as she ordered food, winking to the poor waiter before he left.

"Okay Kya I think an appropriate amount of time has passed and we can discuss your intentions," Tenzin said, placing his glass of water on the coaster. Kya sighed and leaned back into the booth.

"Alright alright. Lin do you want to or should I?" Kya asked.

"Let's tag team." Lin replied, scratching the back of her neck. Suyin leaned closer and Bumi pulled his attention back to the table, instead of the woman from across the way.

"Well, um... where do I even start. Ahem," Lin stammered. "Okay, well, I met someone." She cringed as her sisters eyebrows raised, and Lin was infinitely grateful Suyin didn't explode with all her questions. "And this... someone, probably isn't what you'd expect." She elaborated, slowly. "For starters, it's a girl." She winced as she said the words, bracing herself for the negative comments and harsh words that had haunted her thoughts for weeks now. But they didn't come. She felt an arm extend to her shoulder and she smiled when she saw her sister rubbing it.

"And," Kya said, "I happen to know who it is," she grinned as she spoke.

"Who?" Bumi asked, this time he got the nudge from his brother.

"It's me." Kya replied. Eyebrows raised and jaws dropped, Lin watched as gazes were exchanged at the table. Bumi pointed to Lin, then to Tenzin, then Kya, but Tenzin waved him off with his hand.

"Lin..." Su breathed, "this is amazing! Oh my god!" She lunged forward and hugged her sister, and Lin let her. Su extended her arm to Kya, taking the waterbenders hand and grinning. "Kya, you're welcome to Zaofu anytime. I do hope you two will visit often."

"Absolutely," Kya replied, and she could feel Lin groan internally. Kya took her eyes off the Beifong's and turned to her brothers. Bumi looked at her and nodded approvingly, using his hands to tell her: good job, or something a little less appropriate, but along those lines. Then there was Tenzin who looked at her, a confused grin on her face. "Tenzin?" She asked.

"Kya this... this is delightful! You and Lin... who knew that even after all these years our family and the Beifong's would still wind up connected. Father would be rolling over with joy." Kya smiled and reached over the table to hug him and his dumb little bald head. When they sat back down, and brushed themselves off, Kya took Lin's hand, but this time they rested their arms on top of the table.

"How long have you been seeing each other?" Suyin asked as her salmon was placed before her on an oblong dish. Kya looked at Lin, who clearly had it all matched out.

"3 months, ten days," Lin replied with a grin. "I'm determined to beat my record."

"Lin your record is with me and it's like, 15 years." Tenzin scoffed from the other side of the table.

"Watch me," she smirked. They dug into their food, and Kya was pleasantly surprised they were actually able to talk about things outside of her newfound relationship, but she also wasn't mad that the attention was on her and Lin for a while. Lin took a bite of her food, chatting animatedly with her sister, and Kya watched as she did so. Lin was unaware of the impact of what she just said, or so it seemed, but Kya knew. And she couldn't wait to tease Lin about it later. "Kya? Kya?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you looking at?" Lin asked, chopsticks in hand.

My future wife. "Nothing, just saw a pretty girl, that's all." Lin blushed and Tenzin coughed on his water.

"I love you," Lin mumbled.

"What was that?" Kya asked, knowing all well what she said.

"I love you," Lin reiterated, loud enough for the table to hear.

"I love you too." Kya smiled back. The only thing keeping her from pushing her mouth against Lin's was the small piece of decency her mother had raised in her. Su looked around the table, eyes wide and ecstatic, looking for someone to match her excitement.

"I can't wait to tell Opal," Su said, leaning back.

"About that," Lin said, taking a sip of her water. "She knows." Su sat up and placed her hands in the table.

"What? You told her before me?"

"Hey I didn't tell her anything, she came over at a bad time and found out for herself." Kya watched as Lin's statement went way over her sister head, she also watched two minutes later when Su finally understood it.

"Lin!"

"What?"

"You let her walk in on-that?"

"It's fine, we called it even." Kya cringed as she realized what Lin had just done, no wonder Lin didn't talk much she was quite good at talking too much once she had a little wine in her.

"Even? What does that mean?"

"Well you know how it is. It's late and you're looking for the nearest room in the air temple and apparently Opal and Bolin had the same idea." Kya nudged Lin and shook her.

"Lin it's time for you to stop talking."

"Wait Opal and who?"

"This has been a great night," Tenzin concluded, for once his interruptions welcome, "but I have a wife to get home to."

"Agreed," Kya said, getting up, pulling Lin along with her.

"Lin! Lin. Don't ignore me!"

"I think I said too much," Lin whispered to Kya when she stood up, and Kya just laughed.

"We'll get the bill," Kya told the others and Tenzin and Bumi nodded farewell.

"We are not done discussing this," Su said as Lin waved her goodbye. Lin sighed when her sister was finally out of earshot and she rested her arms on Kya's shoulders, leaning into the water bender.

"This is why I don't do social interaction." Lin whispered in her ear.

"I'll remember that for next time," Kya grinned as she held Lin's waist and moved the metalbender so they could kiss. "Let's get the bill," Kya said, and Lin nodded. They paid the waiter and left the restaurant in the cool night air. "Lin?" Kya asked on the stroll back to Lin's apartment. "Do you really think we'll break your record with Tenzin?" Lin took Kya's hand and swung it in the air.

"I hope we break it twice over."

"That's ambitious. I mean I'm already almost 60 and-"

"Kya, I'm an earthbender. We can live forever if you want." Kya laughed at Lin's half-jest.

"That sounds good." She replied, as the night breeze urged them along their way.

#lin beifong #team avatar #kyalin #legend of korra #kyalinweek2020 #Kya ii #kya ii #avatar the last airbender

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iloveitwhen · 3 years

Text

Kyalin Day 2

I know I’m late, I’m sorry😭😭 @kyalinweek2020

Supportive Siblings

“WHAT?!”

“YES!”

Tenzin and Bumi yelled simultaneously and while Tenzin seemed to be a little stressed at the news Bumi was quite ecstatic.

“Kya! You- you can’t-!”

“Oh shut it you big bald baby,” Kya held eye contact with Tenzin while lifting her hand for Bumi to give her a high five.

“BOOM. In your face,” Bumi remarked, slapping his sister's hand then swinging an arm around his younger brother’s shoulders. “You know, Kya’s taking a leap here, you should really be thanking her for picking up your mess.”

“That’s not-! I am happy for her! It’s just-! Why does she have to pick-! She could have chosen anyone else!” Tenzin waved his hands in frustration with tense shoulders and tenser eyebrows.

“Oh Tenzin, I didn’t choose her, fate just led our two souls together,” Kya says with an air of superiority while Bumi giggled gleefully in the background.

“Oh you are impossible!” Tenzin turned dramatically, whipping his cloak around him and stormed off while Kya and Bumi started laughing again.

After dinner Kya retired to her old bedroom on Air Temple Island and plopped down on her bed with a sigh of defeat. Why couldn’t Tenzin just be happy for her? He was always so focused on himself to see that Kya wanted his support, granted she was going to ask Lin out regardless, but she wanted his support. Lin made her happy and she made Lin happy (she was pretty sure anyways) but if Tenzin was going to be like this then it would just make things difficult and awkward between the three of them.

Kya drifted off in a dreamless sleep thinking of ways to ask the very attractive Republic City Chief of Police, Lin Beifong, out on a date.

*******

Did Tenzin feel bad? Yes, yes he did. He also felt like an idiot. Especially since it was his own daughter who was the one to speak sense into him.

“Dad, how do you think Kya feels right now?”

“….”

Jinora tutted and rolled her eyes, placing her book down on her lap she answered for him, “she clearly told you because she respects you and that means that she wants your support, but honestly you are being stubborn. You're already married to Mom, it’s not like you should care either way.”

“But, morals! Ethics!”

“Family! Dad, c’mon, do you really think Aunt Kya is not going to ask Chief Beifong out just because you said not to? Besides, you’re being a bad brother by not supporting Aunt Kya and a bad friend by not wanting what’s best for Chief Beifong.”

She was so wise. Tenzin didn’t like it when he was wrong and when someone was wiser than him. Especially when they were younger. His daughter was 16. 16 years old! He was proud of her. Not of himself though. But c’mon! Kya shouldn’t have put him in this position- nope. Bad train of thought, he was in the wrong.

Tenzin shuffled his feet and finally found himself in front of Kya’s bedroom door. Knocking on it he called out, “Kya?” He heard shifting around and maybe some mumbles of annoyance so he tried again.

“Kya, can I come in?”

“Go away,” Kya’s muffled voice yelled out, “I was sleeping!”

“It is 8:30 in the morning!”

“Exactly, go away!”

“Kya. You really shouldn’t sleep in so late, you could get so much more done in the-”

Suddenly the door swung open revealing a very tired looking older sister and angry eyes.

“What could you possibly want, Tenzin.”

“Oh, umm,” Tenzin stalled for a moment completely forgetting what he had come there for before, “right, well, I came here to… apologize.” He looked away from Kya for a moment, too embarrassed to keep eye contact but decided he needed to for his apology to be genuine. “I was out of line last night and I put my feelings above yours and Lin’s. If you two getting together means happiness for the both of you then there is nothing else I’d rather hope for.”

Kya smiled and pulled him in for a bone crushing hug and whispered “thank you” into his ear but when she pulled back she had a mischievous grin upon her face.

Oh no.

“How’s it feel knowing you’ll-”

“Nope!” Tenzin quickly turned and called out behind his shoulder, “there’s breakfast in the kitchen!” before escaping as fast as he could from whatever Kya was about to say but he could still hear her cackles behind him.

#kyalin week 2020 #kyalin #lok #legend of korra #kya x lin #lin beifong #lins only mentioned though sorry #kya 2

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juliettalfacharlie · 3 years

Text

Day Two: Sole Survivor

CW death...

Since she'd been promoted to assistant chief, Lin hadn't missed a single moment of her scheduled shifts. No late arrivals, and certainly no early departures.

She called off two days in a row, turning into a third.

Aang's health had been on the decline for years, but the previous six months saw him become largely bedridden. Kya had returned then, helping Katara care for him, and Bumi received shore leave three months after that.

Tenzin was grieving, feeling the weight of his legacy more than ever. He swung between suppressing his emotions and imploding, prone to short, intense bursts. It was something Lin had strived to overcome herself, and she did her best to nullify his other stressors. She'd threatened a number of politicians and risen to become a more public figure, diverting media attention from Tenzin and his family.

Still, she'd always been limited to absolving the surrounding issues, not the main ones. Even the combined healing efforts of Katara and Kya couldn't improve Aang's health, as it wasn't possible to reverse his cells' aging.

Kya had said she saw that the first layer of Aang's aura was dim, back when she first arrived. She expressed further concern on Saturday; his seventh layer, which protected the rest of his aura and represented his spirit, also seemed weak, and that's when Lin took off work. She'd remained on Air Temple Island, breaking dormitory customs to sleep beside Tenzin.

Now it was Monday, and she'd awoken with a particularly high energy. She, Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin had taken turns filtering in and out of Aang's quarters, not keen on crowding the small room. Aang spent a portion of the day resting, as was the new normal, but he seemed to be without pain.

Lin received reports and updates from the station, but she spent the majority of her time with one of the three siblings. It was fun to shoot the shit with Bumi, and he helped her destress after Tenzin's withdrawals. He'd been taught to throw knives, axes, and a boomerang, and it was a skill he certainly maintained; in a competition without bending, he beat her in an accuracy contest. She kept him in shape, going hand-to-hand and spotting his lifting.

She sparred a little with Kya too, but the two more-frequently just talked. They liked to visit the sky bison caves, and those jaunts had evolved into general hikes, satiating Kya's drive to explore and Lin's enjoyment of the outdoors. Kya was the easiest to converse with, despite her incessant teasing banter. Lin voiced her concerns about Tenzin, Katara, and her job, topics she was unable to tell anyone else. Kya listened, offering her input when Lin asked and remaining silent when she simply needed someone else to know her thoughts.

Of course, she still spent the majority of her time with Tenzin. He recognized her struggles despite her effort to hide them and expressed his apologies for contributing to them. She'd naturally brushed off his concern, but he made an effort to reach out in times of distress instead of simmering alone. Particularly at night, he now spoke with her about his conflicts, and Lin tried to do the same. She wasn't wholly comfortable speaking about her discomforts, especially with those who caused them, but she wasn't a fan of dishonesty or deception either.

He and Lin went gliding that afternoon, and they both had an amazing few hours. Afterwards, the four kids brought dinner out to the pavilion, taking advantage of the beautiful weather after nearly a week of gloominess.

Lin sat against Tenzin while Bumi played his flute. Kya had brought a drum, obviously having coordinated, and her voice was strong and soothing. Lin let herself relax, unable to remember the last time she'd loafed around listening to music.

The sun had just begun to set when Aang appeared, leaning on Katara for support. He'd been unable to sit up in bed just yesterday, so the sight was startling.

"Dad!" Kya explained, the first to notice. Lin's eyes snapped open and she pushed off of Tenzin's chest, blinking at the sight of the Avatar.

He smiled, though it did little to soften his features with his face so gaunt. "Don't stop on my account, sweetheart. I just came to listen." he said, voice scratchy. His steps were slow but stable, and he carefully kneeled down just by the top of the steps. His back rested against a pillar, and Katara was at his side.

Bumi and Kya shared worried glances, but the eldest obediently raised his instrument back to his lips. He began to play a mellow tune, likely inspired by something he'd heard in his travels, and Kya improvised with a quiet beat.

Aang had closed his eyes, focusing on the melody from his son's flute. Katara held his hand, gaze sweeping over her children.

Kya and Bumi continued to play, eyeing one another for cues. After fifteen minutes Bumi slowed his tempo, unable to improvise another unique verse.

Kya looked back at her father, who wore a content smile on his face. She gasped as his aura darkened, his features slowly relaxing.

Katara gave her daughter a short nod, eyes focused on her husband's weathered features. Silence seemingly fell over the island; Kya grasped Bumi's hand, and Lin clung to Tenzin.

It was the night of the new moon, and the end of the Air Nomad month. While there could be no correct day to lose your loved one, especially when he was so young, it seemed like a fitting end for Aang. Surrounded by those he cared for, in the outdoors, able to see the city he'd built. In Air Nomad culture, death wasn't solely a sad thing, and funerals were held to celebrate one's life instead of mourn their loss.

No tears were spilt then, though they'd surely come in the following days. For the time being, the family was quiet. No words were exchanged but the two musicians began another tune, hoping it would soothe Aang's spirit travelling along its final journey.

Just after they got into bed, Tenzin finally spoke, "I'm the last of the airbenders now." His voice was strained, forced past the knot in his throat. He wrapped an arm around Lin's middle, forehead pressed against her shoulder.

"You're not alone in this, Tenzin, just as Aang wasn't. You have Bumi and Kya, and Katara. You have me." she said, insides twisting in guilt. Tenzin had never tried to convince her to have children, nor had he expressed any disappointment, but she knew it was something he needed.

A fraction of her, the part not driven in her job, and not terrified of raising a child that doubted every aspect of his or herself, almost wanted to give in.

Tenzin's palm was flat against her abdomen. While it was not an unusual position, tonight she felt it bind her.

"I know, thank you," he responded, thumb rubbing against her skin, "It's just terrifying not having him here anymore. My father's gone." he shuddered, pulling her closer.

Lin put a hand atop his, illness rising in her chest. What kind of girlfriend was she if she didn't even try to help him?

The fleeting thought of motherhood made her more anxious, and she felt fucking terrible for it. Why couldn't she do this? For Tenzin and for Aang?

#linzin #angstpril #cw mental health #lin beifong #tenzin #kya lok #bumi lok #aang #katara

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chiefbeifongcanrailme · 2 years

Note

Lin, Bumi II, Iroh II, Tenzin, and Tenzin’s family all stuck at the airship terminal. Relationships are up to you 😉

I can't tell you how embarrassingly long it took me choose a damned ship ugh. I'm going to base this in my Chaos AU so it's Linumi where the others have the hots for Lin too lol. This is the best my poor tired brain could do so please excuse me.

"Linny, has Saikhan always been this slow with things?" Bumi was at his wit's end now waiting at the airship terminal. So much for being a gentleman and letting the others ride first or take the sky bison. Now, he was stuck behind with a whining Tenzin. If you thought Tenzin was always whiny, you have not met a newly divorced Tenzin.

"-No and then she tells me that she wasted her best years on me? What about my best years? My best years that I dedicated to her and the soulmate relationship she wanted from me? And she has the gall to tell Ikki all of this? Knowing that girl cannot keep a secret and will tell me everything unprompted? What kind of games is she even playing now?" Tenzin had been rambling for- err, eons? If you asked Bumi. But in real time, it may just have been a few very long minutes.

"Saikhan and Mako don't always see eye-to-eye, so it might be a while before we're out of here." Lin looked genuinely sorry in answering Bumi.

Bumi threw his head back in exasperation as Tenzin continued on to- who was even listening at this point? Iroh certainly was in his own world: in his defense, there was a someone. But perhaps he too was just hating Tenzin's voice in his backdrop. He didn't care who filled his silence with their talking so long as it wasn't the divorced airbender anymore.

"Speaking of relationships," The young firebender finally managed to cut him off, "How's it going with you two? I mean, you guys seem to be in a good place after all that chaos in Ba Sing Se."

Bumi and Lin exchanged a smile, "It's going well, I think," Bumi nodded in agreement with her.

"Still no labels though?" Tenzin teased. It was easy enough to get him off the Pema bashing, the problem was just that once he started, he'd keep going until someone physically stopped him. While they had Iroh to thank for this, the man was back to being lost in his own thoughts.

"Nope." Bumi smirked, "We're better off this way."

"Agreed." Lin shrugged to support him, "With it being so new, it's nice not being in any overly vulnerable positions."

"Positions?" Iroh zoned back in with a laugh, "Oh yeah, Bumi told me how far back your leg- OW!"

Bumi smacked his arm to shut him up. This was the hardest Tenzin had laughed since the divorce and Lin could only role her eyes at the blasphemy.

"I am going to radio Saikhan again." She said and left the terminal stiffly.

Iroh had to smack Bumi's stomach to snap him out of staring at Lin's behind. He shook his head and looked at the young man's grinning face in disapproval.

"Don't say it in front of her!" He whisper scolded, "It's hard enough-"

"Oh, I'm sure it's hard." Tenzin laughed again.

Iroh high-fived the tattooed airbender and when he noticed the way Bumi was looking at him, hands on his hips and chin leaning down in distate (was he already mimicking Lin?), Iroh waved his hands in a truce, "Okay I'm sorry. I really did think that's what you were talking about."

"Why would we discuss our sex life so openly, Iroh?"

"I don't know? You've always been open with me about your sex life. And well- Tenzin here," Iroh slapped his back, "He has been involved with Lin too so you know, you could be comparing notes?"

"That's actually not a bad idea-"

"Bumi!" Tenzin scolded, "One note you may want to compare: Lin hates having her private life discussed."

"You're right," Bumi skewed his lips to the side, "But even you have to admit-" Together all three, "The leg thing." They shut their eyes to take a deep breath in, emphasizing on the inexpressible wonder.

"What leg thing?" Mako asked.

The airship had arrived.

#linumi #linumi fanfic #linumi prompt #lin beifong #bumi #chaos #kat is very tired #kat will be talking in third person because i am no longer me #I hate the part of travel where you don't magically teleport to where you're going

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kuchenprince · 3 years

Text

ATLA Q&A

Thanks to @ohmygodtheywereparabatai for tagging me!

Btw, this is the first time someone tagged me for this kind of things and im so scared lmao so I’ll try my best!

General questions:

1. What’s your favorite character?

Zhao, Lin, Kuvira, Tarrlok

Guess my type 👉👈

2. What’s your comfort character?

ZHAO, and I don’t know why. He’s just so powerful and so intelligent; I want him to protect me and spoil me, but also I want him to know that he’s really important to someone me and that i’ll literally would die for him. I want to hug him, feel how he’s startled at first, but then give up and hug me back.

Please help me.

3. Which element would you bend if you could chose?

In every quiz that I took, I’m a fire bender, but I really want to be an earth bender, and metal bender if that’s possible.

4. What’s your favorite nation?

Each nation has it’s unique things, so it’s really hard to choose one. I’ll choose Earth Kingdom here since it’s lively and pretty well-balanced (not too icy, not too dark, not too high)

5. What makes you love ATLA the most?

Actually, ATLA it’s not part of my childhood (I didn’t have nickelodeon when i was a kid!), but I started to use socialmedia, and got into fandoms, specially in tumblr, I saw many people talking about Avatar. I knew about this cartoon, but I didn’t really care because I thought “Meh, it’s just a gringada”. So when I started to watch it, I had really low expectations, but with only the first episode, I was going crazy.

Not just because of the animation (specially in the fights!), the first thing that really atracted me, but also all the cultural inspirations packed up without forcing it, without wanting to look “inclusive”.

In ATLA, I didn’t really pay attention to the story, but in TLOK... Boi, it’s just too beautiful. The story, the philosophy.*insert Pacha meme.png*

Could get you attacked questions:

1. What’s your least favorite character from the gaang?

KA TA RA

Actually it’s my least favorite character or ATLA. Why? Because she’s annoying. I know that she’s talented, intelligent, caring, brave and did a great job as the mom of the gaang, and I really understand that she, in fact, it’s a kid; but yeah, I consider her as annoying somethimes.

2. What character you think it’s severely underrated?

I won’t say that they are underrated, but I want to know more about the back stories of villains like Long Feng or Zhao of course. Also I would love to know more about the Bumis (king Bumi and Aang’s Son)

3. What’s your least favorite nation?

Wow, I just don’t know! Maybe by discard would be fire nation, but there’s no reason.

4. What’s your controversial ATLA opinion?

Well, I already told something controversial here in this post, and there’s another in the shipping questions 🙊

Shipping questions:

1. What’s your favorite ship and why?

I’m not really into shipping in ATLA, not because I don’t like it, but because I wasn’t interested. But if I have to choose, it would be Sukka, and from TLOK, KyaLin and Zhurrick

2. What’s your least favorite ship and why?

Maiko and Zutara, because these three characters has too much similarities (Mai And Zuko equally hate the world, and Katara and Zuko have family issues that can’t overcome), and I don’t like to ship characters that are too similar.

3. Do you sometimes self-insert?

You mean, always - Yes.

4. What’s your crack ship?

As I already said, I’m not really into shipping in ATLA, but sometimes I wonder if Long Feng with Katara or with Toph, and Korra and Kuvira would be interesting. Oohh and what about Tenzin with Tarrlock? Or Iroh II with Korra? Or Tahno with Korra?? Also, I support Korrlock

5. Which non canon ship would you make happen if you were the creator?

Dude, JINKO or Song with Zuko!

...

I had a lot of fun answering these questions, and since I don't really talk with people here, I invite anyone who sees this to take this q&a 💕

#atla #q&a #tlok #atla zhao #tlok kuvira #tlok lin beifong #tlok tarrlock

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avatarstories · 4 years

Text

izumi’s birthday pt 2: chosen legacies

AN: Bumi! (my favorite of the Gaang kids!!) Don’t read this if you don’t want to read about family problems, otherwise, enjoy.

Despite being a firebender, Izumi loved the nighttime. When she was little her grandfather told her stories about how a Water Tribe princess became the moon to save her people. She liked to think that she would do the same if the people of the Fire Nation needed someone to save the sun. On clear nights when the moon was full, she felt as though the moon was reaching out especially to her, maybe a bond between princesses. Her grandfather had chuckled when she mentioned that to him, “I think the moon princess would like you very much, my dear Izumi,” he had replied.

So it was no surprise to Bumi when on a clear night with a full moon that he would find his best friend on the rooftop in the secret spot above the royal library they had found two summers ago reading a scroll with the light of a small flame coming from her fingertip and a cup of tea steaming beside her.

“Zumi-"

“Oh Agni! Bumi you scared me,” Izumi says, nearly knocking over her tea.

“Sorry,” he says trying to cover a laugh. “May I?”

“Of course, come,” she says patting the empty spot next to her. “What are you doing up?”

“Mom and Kya are running around like maniacs with the full moon,” he replies. “They were making so much noise I couldn’t sleep. I’m sure half the palace is awake with them in at the garden pond making splashes. Thought I try my luck and see if you were up here.” He takes a seat next to her. “What are you reading?”

She shows him the scroll. “History of the Early Fire Lords,” she says.

“Any good?” Bumi asks.

“Yes, actually. The Fire Nation islands used to all be separate and constantly fighting each other and then a warrior from one of the outlying islands united them,” she answers. “He got them to stop fighting for resources by setting up trade among the islands and making them economically interdependent on each other. It then allowed the islands to specialize production of certain crops or materials.”

“Smart guy,” Bumi says approvingly. Izumi does not say anything in reply, and a silence falls between them.

“You’re never this quiet,” Izumi says after a moment. “Everything ok?”

Bumi leans back with a sigh and lays down with his hands behind his head. Izumi rolls up her scroll and turns to face him. “Bumi, what’s wrong?”

“I applied to the Military Academy of the United Forces,” he says eyes fixed on the sky above him. “And I got in...You’re the first person I’ve told.”

“Bumi that’s great!” Izumi replies but she couldn’t quite cover the hesitancy in her voice.

“You have a question, just ask it,” he states.

“Well you’ve never mentioned even thinking about applying before,” she replies. “And you don’t really seem excited about it…So I can’t help but wonder what brought this about?”

Bumi sighs and sits back up next to Izumi. “Remember when I won the United Republic sword fighting championship last year?”

“Of course, how could I forget? You almost fell off the ring but were hanging on by two fingers and then you got yourself back up and won!”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t follow.”

“My dad forgot that I won,” he says a little bitterly. “He asked me what the trophy in my room was for, and I just got so mad. Honestly I was so angry, I don’t even remember what I said, but things have been bad between us for a few months now. And my mom, she’s just pretending like nothing is wrong.”

“Bumi,” she puts a had on his shoulder comfortingly. Bumi leans into it and puts his head on her shoulder, and Izumi lets her arm fall to hold him in a sideways hug.

“I just don’t understand why everything has to be about Tenzin all the time. I’m half air nomad too. And I know I can’t bend - .” He lets the sentence fall.

“So you thought the Military Academy would be a better place to showcase your talents,” she affirms.

“Yea, something like that.”

Silence falls between them again. Izumi feels like the moon is so close that she could be listening in on their conversation. “Sometimes I just get so jealous, and it makes me feel terrible because he’s so much younger than me. I love him to death, and I'd do anything for him, but I’m smart and talented too! It’s like no one wants me in their culture because I don’t bend so I can’t possibly fit,” he says. “No one sees me.”

“I see you,” she offers

“Yea but you’re my best friend so you chose to. My parents though, they should definitely be the people who don’t have a choice. But its like 75% of their attention is on Tenzin, 20% on Kya, and then maybe 5% on me. I’m about to graduate top of my class, and yet no one can get over how Tenzin learned how to make two air-scooters at once,” he says defeatedly. “It’s so lonely.”

At that, she looks at him. His lips quiver, and his brow is furrowed. “I’m sorry, Bumi.”

“It’s nothing to apologize for,” he says.

“For what it’s worth, sometimes I wish we could trade places,” she says.

He tenses and narrows his eyes at her. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well-"

“You want to live where no one gives a shit about you?” he asks, anger creeping into his tone.

“That’s not-”

“You couldn’t live in anonymity for a day, Izumi. You’re a princess, there’s a whole country of people who care about who you are and what you’re doing.”

That comment makes her blood boil. “And you have no idea what it's like to live under that much pressure all the time. At least you don’t have a legacy to inherit!” she says bitingly.

Disappointment washes across Bumi’s features, and Izumi immediately regrets what she said.

“Of all people, I thought you would at least try to understand,” he replies, barely above a whisper. He starts to get up and Izumi tries to grab his shoulder to stop him, but he shrugs it off. He pushes himself up before she can stop him again and starts back towards the roof entrance.

“Bumi- wait,” Izumi says, now also standing.

“I am so tired of giving people I love so many second chances,” he says over his shoulder.

“Wait,” she tries again, but Bumi does not stop, and he disappears through the secret entrance back down into the library.

Izumi lets out an angry sigh and covers her face with her hands. You, idiot! She thinks to herself. Frustrated, she throws a fire ball off the roof and watches it dissipate as it falls towards the courtyard below. ********************************************************************************************* Bumi is walking alone through the library when he hears a gust of air above him. He looks up around and almost misses his little brother on an air scooter, high above the rows of shelves as Tenzin tries to hide.

Bumi sighs. “Tenzin, I know you’re there. Come out.” Tenzin sheepishly lands next to Bumi, head hanging low.

“Were you following me?”

“I wanted to see where you were going,” Tenzin whispers. “Are you mad at me?” he asks.

With that Bumi knows Tenzin heard his conversation and fight with Izumi. Bumi pulls on his lip, taking a second before replying and thinking about how this could get any worse. “No, bud.”

Tenzin looks up at that. “Are you mad at Dad?”

“Yea,” Bumi says. “But that’s nothing for you to worry about.” He leans down so he is eye level with Tenzin.

“Are you mad at Princess Izumi?” Tenzin asks looking intently at his big brother.

Bumi chuckles a bit at Tenzin’s use of her title. He really was a serious little 10 year old. “Yea, I am, but again, nothing for you to worry about,” he says. “Come on, hop on my back, I’ll give you a ride back to our rooms. It’s way passed your bedtime.”

Tenzin smiles and climbs onto his big brother’s back, holding on tight to his shoulders, and Bumi starts back towards their rooms in the guest wing of the palace.

“Bumi?” Tenzin asks as they exit the library. “Are you really going to leave for the military academy?”

“Spirits Tenzin, did anyone ever teach you anything about privacy?” Bumi mutters. “But yes, I think I am.”

“I’ll miss you,” Tenzin says, holding on to Bumi a little tighter.

Bumi adjusts Tenzin since he had slipped down his back a bit while they walked along the hallway.

"I’ll miss you too, bud.”

Tenzin rests his head on Bumi’s shoulder. Tenzin cannot see the single tear that rolls down Bumi’s cheek, but he feels it land on his finger. He nuzzles deeper into his brother’s shoulder, and it is silent between them the rest of the walk back.

AN: soft brother Bumi, ugh I’d die for him. Izumi and Bumi’s brother/sister like friendship, *chef’s kiss*

I remember reading once that funny characters often use their humor as a way to deflect from hard emotions and I think Bumi fits that description perfectly.

#izumi #bumi #tenzin #avatarstories #atla fanfic #gaang kids

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the-last-cuddlebender · 3 years

Note

So you just refuse canon and bumi and Kya were lying or were just dumb not to realize what was really happening and perfect dad aang didn’t favor tenzin so much and he wasn’t the special one who got all the trips and time with him and was the favorite and every air nation person didn’t revere him and his mother didn’t adore the baby of the family who gave her grandkids and youre right I had to look it up but pema was o n l y 16 years younger and a man doesn’t leave a long term partner to hook up right away with a girl if there wasn’t something going on before even if maybe they didn’t get close to f#cking or maybe it was the worshiping from her that he liked and it was enough even if he really didn’t have anything going on with her but for you tenzin is this perfect victim who never done anything wrong like aang and who only suffered by everyone else being mean and wasn’t loved enough for your liking but this is your hc and to be fair you can have any you want. Bumi was the oldest and he was a non bender that must have been crushing but he kept being a good person and loving his family. Kya was the middle child who was gay and who probably was a bit confused and a bit lost and still was the most caring person ever to anyone and was always willing to help and who even went to stay with her elderly mother. tenzin was the miracle child who got all his parents attention, an island and grow up to expect to be special and a leader who was rigid on his teaching and rules and was also sort of a shitty teacher who also treated a girlfriend/oldest friend like crap not because of the break up but how he did it. That’s all tenzin not just poor baby defenseless never done anything wrong tenzin but if that’s what you want I’m glad he isn’t as loved as you think he should be because with the bits we got his siblings are much more interesting and even better people

(I assume you’re referring to this post about a previous ask, and I’m happy to discuss)

Hi, anon! There’s considerably more for me to unpack here, so bear with me. I’ll try to keep my response contained to a few points:

some child (< age 12) psychology

Katara and Hakoda’s relationship

some pretty dang neat-o history facts that explain more than you think (because my diploma has to be worth something lmao)

(I’m trying to be concise, so if I sound short, please know that’s not my intention. I just wanna save this from becoming a novel. I also just burnt myself with NaNoWriMo, so it may kindof ramble idk)

To start, I don’t refuse the “canon” of the Kataang family, so take that as you will. I gave my argument completely within the lines of TLOK canon because I figured that was what you were after. And I can make an argument for something while not arguing against the opposition. A good argument should be able to validate itself. I never went after Bumi or Kya, and I never would. I love their characters to bits. I was focusing on Tenzin.

Nowhere in my previous post did I say that Tenzin is a ‘perfect victim’ who never did anything wrong. I’m discussing the reasons why I think his character should be explored and appreciated more. He is an extremely complex character just like the rest of the cast. To box him in as “the favored one” is narrow-sighted at best. He’s human. There’s more to him. He didn’t ask for his lot, but he makes of himself what he can with it, just like Bumi and Kya. He by no means had a cozy time (and he has the stress-lines to show it).

You say that Tenzin was “expect to be special and a leader.” That alone makes me want to know more about him and how he grew up with that weight on his shoulders. That kind of expectation can destroy a person. It’s very a-la the pressures of the first-born in a monarchy crumbling under the stresses of learning to rule. Tbh, I think that’s why Tenzin was written as the youngest, so that the cliché wouldn’t be as obvious.

I have NEVER said that Bumi and Kya were lying or were dumb. I was discussing kid-Tenzin and how/why kid-Bumi and kid-Kya perceived favoritism (all while remaining within the lines of TLOK canon, too). Perception isn’t a bad thing. It’s just someone’s interpretation of the world. Idk if you think there’s a negative connotation to the word, but there’s not. Person A can look at the sky and see the moon and Person B can look at the sky and see a void that makes them feel small and insignificant. It’s just a difference of perception. Just because they’re different doesn’t make one or the other inherently wrong. Different truths are more than capable of co-existing.

FIRSTLY, about Aang passing:

Kya wasn’t the only one to help Katara after Aang passed. Aang left a void in MANY ways, both as a family man and the Avatar. Bumi, being in the military, guarded the world in his stead. Tenzin took up the mantle in the City and on the island. Kya took on the emotional safety-net.

Katara was Aang’s best friend, partner, and second-in-command. She was just as renowned as him. I can imagine the world expecting her to shoulder his burdens in the wake of his passing. She was the Mighty Katara, after all.

ALL of her kids helped her through his passing, in their own way. Being a shoulder to cry on is just one facet, and all three kids helped her beautifully.

Some psychology:

I’ll explain why I think Bumi and Kya perceived favoritism (which every kid does, myself included. It’s natural and somewhat instinctive for siblings) as best as I can. I’m not a psych major by any means, but I can lay down what I know and remember from my classes.

I’m not saying favoritism doesn’t exist in families. I’m talking about family dynamics in situations where favoritism is subjective because it objectively isn’t there. (Others might define favoritism differently, I suppose. But these are my thoughts)

Children (again, I’m talking <12 here) perceive the world differently than adults. They have incredible imaginations and a pretty tame survival instinct. Give a kid one of those mind-bender jigsaw puzzles, and they’ll have a higher chance of success solving it because their minds haven’t grown enough to be constrained by reality. They’re mad geniuses who haven’t been developed enough to be closed off from the possibilities. That’s what makes childhood so precious.

That’s why even Gyatso wanted to wait until Aang was older to learn he was the Avatar. You have to let the mind grow and fall and dust itself off before you fence it in. This doesn’t discredit or underestimate kids, either. They are extremely capable. I’m just talking about their lesser known psychology.

“Developed” is also a word that doesn’t have negative connotation here. I’m speaking clinically. Some cognitive and executive brain functions aren’t developed until 25. It doesn’t devalue ability or understanding. It’s just a word.

Kids internalize things differently than adults, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Perceived favoritism among siblings (in situations where there objectively isn’t favoritism, of course) is a classic example. Kids need only be a few years apart for this to be seen. If a two-year-old gets a younger sibling, they can regress to breastfeeding because of the perceived favoritism they see being given to the youngest. Mom isn’t going to let the other kid starve, but the kid doesn’t know that.

This isn’t just in infants, though. And as it can be seen with the Kataang kids (they were all kids when Tenzin went on the trips with Aang, and kid-Tenzin is my focus here): Bumi and Kya don’t ‘know’ that Aang is saving time for them, too, when he isn’t there. All they see is Dad gone with Tenzin and leaving them behind. And by ‘know’, I don’t mean to insult their intelligence. They comprehend why, but their instincts don’t. Siblings have a lot of strange instincts, not just Cain Instinct. Object permanence is critical until critical and abstract thinking are properly developed. Before then, it’s a “I believe what I can see” mindset (in the simplest terms...I don’t wanna wax eloquent about the nuances of it rn. I can see people taking this as me discrediting kids, but I’m not. I’m just trying to explain the Point B missing between Points A and C presented in the show).

Katara:

Children don’t start developing abstract thinking until about age 12. It’s part of their cognitive development. That’s when they start developing critical thinking (and scientific method and etc.) and the understanding of relationships between verbal and nonverbal ideas. Before then, seeing dad take their youngest sibling on field trips would 100% feel unfair, no matter how the situation would be explained to them. They literally can’t understand it.

***Katara: If you want an example, look no further than when Katara confronts Hakoda in The Awakening. Katara knew Hakoda had to go when he did (2 years before the show, by the way, making her 12). She really, really does understand, even when she’s older. But it still hurts, and she doesn’t know why. That’s because the damage has been done. She perceived his leaving differently when she was younger and it internalized differently as a result. She feels a little abandoned even though she knows Hakoda didn’t and why he had to go. Its affects don’t go away, though (as seen in the invasion).

I never said that Kya’s and Bumi’s feelings would go away or were untrue to begin with. It was real to them, and that’s all that matters, just like Katara’s feelings being real to her is all that matters. Hakoda understands that. Aang would, too.

Is that Aang’s fault? It depends on what your definition of a good dad is and whether or not you give him room to make mistakes. Personally, I think he’s a great dad to all three of his children, even in the canon of TLOK. He just isn’t given a proper analysis in the show.

Time spent together does not equal time spent loved. Otherwise, school teachers would be more of a parent(s) to a kid than their actual parents.

The acolytes:

The acolytes of The Southern Air Temple being all “Avatar Aang had more kids?” and completely side-lining Kya and Bumi is not in any way a testament of Aang’s or Katara’s characters. That’s the acolytes’ characters. Aang and Katara have no control over what the acolytes do/do not want to believe or think, no matter how many times they would have corrected them. They fangirl over the airbenders in the scene you’re referring to. Even the fangirls in the comics completely side-lined Katara as Aang’s “first girlfriend.” Their behavior in TLOK never surprised me.

Teacher!Tenzin:

Tenzin being a poor teacher was a good thing. It meant he could grow with his equally-poor student so they would become something better together, as mentor and pupil. I found that idea for growth to be pretty darn cool.

Devaluing the opposition:

“The bits that we got his siblings are much more interesting and even better people” objectively, sure, I could agree, but if I met an interesting and awesome person for a short window of time, I wouldn’t believe they were interesting and awesome 100% of the time. Bits of a person do not define their character. Every person has a capacity for just as much good as evil—it’s a variable that stretches equally in either direction.

*********************************************************************

History-fun-time with the-last-cuddlebender woohoooooo

(a.k.a. I’ll address my thoughts on the “Tenzin being given the temple” and Tenzin-Pema situations, as you’ve presented them, as delicately and concisely as I can)

Importance of different generations:

If we go on the theory that TLOK mirrors more than just the industrial shifts of the real-world at the turn of the 20th c., then the age difference between Tenzin and Pema isn’t abnormal. (It wouldn’t be abnormal until even the early 1990s.) I have to use some anecdote to explain this, so bear with me:

Their age gap is strange to us because we’re used to things progressing so quickly. History as it’ll be written about the generations from the mid-90s onward will be very, very tricky. Generations now-a-days aren’t as easily defined because of the colossal leaps in technology from the past twenty or so years.

Loosely, a generation is a group of people defined by relatively the same “changes” that happened in their lifetime (or whose effects affected their early development). There have been way too many changes in technology (which we know has a much stronger effect on a person’s early development now than ever before) in recent decades for that formula to hold up anymore, otherwise there would be a new generation every 4 years.

An age gap like Tenzin’s and Pema’s feels so much stranger to us because our generations are so tightly layered. 4 years could mean a world’s difference when, back then (and I explain what I mean by “back then” further down), it didn’t change much on the dating scene. Life was more or less the same as they both grew up. It was far slower to change. And everyone in TLOK was growing up in the void of post-war for several decades. The technology jump didn’t (arguably) happen until just before Asami (if still holding up the comparison to modern day), so an age gap even in-universe wouldn’t be abnormal at the time they were dating.

(Even my parents got married at almost the exact same ages as Tenzin and Pema, the only difference being that my mom was 26 not 25. Most people I know are in the same boat. It’s just a generational disconnect)

Kya, Bumi, and Katara weren’t kicked out so Tenzin could be “given” the island (needs time period explanation):

I know TLOK says it got its inspiration from the 1920′s (the inspirations are there), but, if I were to date it, I would say that it’s moreso set in the mid 40′s-ish. (Kuvira ESPECIALLY reminds me of a not-as-known-as-they-should-be person from that time).

Among others, the size of the radios and Tenzin/Pema sleeping in one bed are some easy hints to me about TLOK being set in the mid-40s (if we’re using New York City as the template for Republic City).

Even in the time of FDR’s earliest Fireside Chats, the radios were monsters that had to be kept in the corner of the living room. Towards the mid-40′s, commercial radios were becoming compact, and the radios in TLOK are pretty darn small.

The Cathedral Radio used in TLOK wasn’t created in mass in the real world until 1933, and people didn’t have the means or money to replace their massive radios with smaller ones until (arguably) after the New Deal (1933-1939). Thus, I say the 40s.

Tenzin/Pema sleeping in the same bed also supports this time period because it wasn’t uncommon for couples to sleep in separate beds leading up into the “I Love Lucy” era of the 50s (the separate beds were for too many reasons to talk about here because they were a fad--for even medical reasons--for about a century).

^^^setting the time period is needed to prove why I think Kya and Bumi left of their own volition, why they would do it, and why it was actually quite normal

Kya and Bumi weren’t kicked out of the temple. In real life, it was a trend up until the mid-40s for families to stay in the familial home, some even long after marriage. After that, however, multiple factors encouraged the want and fostered the need for young adults to leave their home as soon as 18. Kya and Bumi would be influenced just the same given the parallels with the time period.

Not all families did. The big (mostly industrial) cities were the first to do this. TLOK mirrors this with Bolin and Mako’s family staying together.

Republic City, like New York City, was years ahead of these kinds of changes, so they started the one-bed shift and kids leaving the home just before the 50s. (This isn’t to disregard the cultural influences bellying the four nations. I know that familial homes are a characteristic common to Asian cultures since the US is more oft to sending elderly into nursing homes and such--and I’m having a blast learning about Asian culture since my specialty in college was medicine in Europe and the West--, but, here, I’m working on the assumption that the world in TLOK is migrating towards a Republic City standard, and the comics seemed to be hinting at that from as soon as just after the war, not to mention in TLOK.)

Again, kids leaving the home at the age of 18 is a very new thing that’s pretty specific to the US (in the time the trend first started) because of the new opportunities that were so suddenly afforded to younger people post-war. These opportunities were in all areas of life, not just economic (economic arguably being the least contributing factor imo), but that’s a historical essay for another time.

My point is, kids leaving the familial home began as a choice in a post-war (100-year war, in TLOK’s case) world that encouraged them to do so.

Bumi and Kya were not kicked out so Tenzin could be “given” Air Temple Island. Bumi joined the military, and Kya traveled the world. They CHOSE to leave because there was opportunity to do so (that hadn’t been there for 100 years). They wanted to find their own destinies (and be the nomads they were born as...I always found it to be a great irony that Tenzin, being the poster-child to carry the legacy of the Air Nomads, never really got the chance to be a nomad. It’s sad, really, and potentially another reason why Aang took him on one-on-one trips since he knew Tenzin would be stuck with his legacy?).

Katara (again): As for Katara leaving the island, I believe that, among other reasons, Katara left Republic City because the light pollution made it difficult to see the stars she had grown up with. In real life, the Milky Way used to be visible to the naked eye everywhere in the world, and I think that change would be reflected in TLOK by default. Katara would probably find comfort in something as consistent as the stars and the Aurora lights in her old age. Plus, the city was probably too loud for her, and snow muffles sound pretty darn well.

TO BE CLEAR: This is not a justification. This is an explanation. I’m taking no “side”, here, because I’m not invalidating the opposition to validate my own. These are just my thoughts for how I see Point A becoming Point C in a way that keeps in line with TLOK canon.

*********************************************************************

Final thoughts:

You and I “perceive” Tenzin and his family differently, anon, and that’s okay. That’s just our interpretations of the show. I’m not calling for Bumi and Kya to be torn down so Tenzin can be uplifted. I’m talking about Tenzin (kid-Tenzin) in particular. His character is his character, and his value shouldn’t have to proven by devaluing Kya and Bumi. Likewise, Kya’s and Bumi’s value shouldn’t have to be proven by devaluing Tenzin. Just because they’re “more interesting” than Tenzin doesn’t make them interesting people (meaning that line of logic is flawed. i.e. lesser evil isn’t good because it’s lesser; it’s still evil. They should be interesting if the comparison is taken away, and they absolutely are and for their own reasons). Their characters should able to stand in an isolated argument, and they absolutely do, make no mistake. I love them to pieces, and nothing I’ve said about Bumi and Kya has made them inferior. I love them to death and have written more about them than Tenzin. It wasn’t until I started thinking about Tenzin that I realized his potential.

Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi were never “given” anything, and I doubt they would ever want it to be. They all had it rough, and they all deserve love. Bumi fought for a name in the military. Kya carved out her place in the world. Tenzin dug in his roots and planted the seeds for a garden he thought he wouldn’t be alive to see grow.

Me believing Tenzin should be appreciated more does not mean I believe Kya and Bumi should be appreciated less.

...just like Aang giving Tenzin one-on-one attention does not mean he didn’t give Kya and Bumi one-on-one attention, too:)

Again, this isn’t an attack on any character, person, or fandom! I’m not a psych expert, either, and I apologize if it sounds like I’m delegitimizing kids and their experiences. I’m trying to do the opposite. I can go more into detail about Kya and Bumi, but this post is a novel already and I'm too burnt out to add more.

I’m just trying to give Tenzin as much love as Kya and Bumi🥰 I love all the cloud babies equally (as I should😤), and I wanted to toss out my two cents for discussion because I don’t see the cloud babies being loved equally in fandom (kindof ironic)

If there is some hidden childhood!tenzin content please hmu I beg🥺

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guiltysecretpasttime · 3 years

Text

Homecoming - 2

This is the continuation of this prompt.

Lin/Tenzin, pre-canon AU, 2 of 2, T, completed.

----

“Hello?” Lin’s yelling was paused when the phone rang.

Tenzin’s continued words of apologies and evasion of flying folders and papers were cut short when Lin had to answer (irritably) the ringing phone. He bent over to pick up the scattered things, while listening to the one-sided conversation he could hear.

“Nothing’s wrong here. Of course not – yes, he is here.” Lin rolled her eyes. “There is no domestic disturbance at my address, I don’t know where that report even came from… Well, if they want to arrest someone, why don’t they arrest him?” She threw him an irritated look. “He is trespassing, isn’t he?”

At this, Tenzin frowned at her and dangled the house keys.

Who could she be talking to at this time of the night? Which police officer is responding to the call?

How can he be trespassing when he actually had keys? And as far as he knew, he lived here, didn’t he?

She snapped her fingers, asking him to hand over the keys.

Oh, damn he is screwed.

Lin leaned back at the headboard. “Okay, fine.” She placed a hand on her stomach. “I’m sure my blood pressure is fine… Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow… Love you too, Mom.”

Tenzin felt his stomach turn to lead.

If Lin reacted this way to him, Toph Beifong could do much worse.

And all because – at least from what he gathered from Lin’s invectives earlier– Lin’s letter informing him of her pregnancy did not reach him.

When the earthbender had suitably calmed down, Tenzin cautiously approached the bed with her paperwork. She was eying him with distrust.

At least she had stopped shouting or throwing things – so I count that as a win.

To his surprise, Lin offered the phone to him.

“Tenzin!” Toph’s gruff voice greeted him. “I don’t care what your excuse is but for tonight, make sure she relaxes. She’s on bed rest –.”

“Bed rest!”

Toph continued speaking as though he did not just interrupt her. “So, make sure she takes it easy and does not overexert herself.” She sighed. “You know what I mean, Airhead. No bedroom activities for the two of you.”

---

After a relatively painful call with Toph (where he was alternately scolded, reminded, threatened and advised), the airbender finally addressed the earthbender who was sitting in bed, protectively cradling her pregnant stomach.

“So,” Tenzin rubbed the back of his neck. “We’re having a child.” He sat the edge of the bed cautiously.

“Are we?” Lin asked back in challenge. “As far I know, you seemed to have washed your hands off of us the moment you left to fulfill your airbending duties.”

“No – I would never –,” He reached out to hold her hand, tightening when her grasp went limp. “You – the both of you – are my priority. Please don’t doubt that.” He looked straight into her eyes, trying to convey the truth behind his words.

Only their breathing can be heard for the next few moments.

“You never replied – I thought – we thought – you were gone. Then the acolytes responded and said you were there… I thought… you didn’t want it. You didn’t want…” Lin cleared her throat. “You were so pleased about being able to finally go around the temples. Having a child – well – I wouldn’t put it past you to stay behind because of responsibility, even if you didn’t want…”

At that point, her tears fell. This was the side of Lin Beifong that only few managed to see – one that was more human than her public persona allowed her to be. He was one of the few who she allowed to know about her insecurities and her fears.

Both of them had been raised in the public eye and they learned early on that their actions will be dissected by the press. They learned to be guarded – but not with each other.

Her mother had tried to protect her as much as she could but Lin learned the truth anyway. That her father had abandoned only remained with her mother as long as he could only due to a sense of duty to the unborn child. That when the opportunity came for him to jump ship, he did so without a backward glance.

Tenzin knew this was what was going through her mind with their current predicament.

He knew that words at this point would not mean anything to her as he pulled her into an embrace, letting her tears drop on his robes.

Tenzin knew he would do his best to reassure her.

---

The next few days were spent getting up to speed with Lin’s pregnancy. He wanted to know it all – how were her check-ups, what is the gestational age, are there any food or drink that she is not allowed to eat, etc. After that first night, Lin became apprehensive about what Tenzin thinks of fatherhood; she did have several weeks to get used to it but Tenzin, apparently was learning about it just now.

It seemed like she need not have worried, however, as the man reveled in it.

Katara had laughed at that, fondly saying that Aang is the same for each of their children.

To be fair, Toph had snorted, he was like that for all of the children born within their circle of friends, remembering that Aang was over the moon when Toph started showing with Lin.

---

Tenzin did not think the rest of the pregnancy would be spent in peaceful waiting if the succeeding days were a precedent as to what to expect.

It had been embarrassing enough to have his mother extract a promise from him to refrain from intercourse (“Stop cringing, Tenzin. If you’re old enough to be a father, you’re old enough to use the clinical term.”) in the next few months due to Lin’s delicate condition.

It became worse when Lin’s mother dropped by to bring in paperwork from headquarters. The older metalbender could not resist but comment about flighty airbenders doing the cut-and-run. That definitely did not do well to assuage Lin’s doubts.

His own father would likewise come by almost daily, bringing all sorts of food for Lin. Lin would graciously thank him and accept the gifts but would often ask him that he did not need to bring anything over. The Avatar would wave her concern away and say he was bringing over materials that Tenzin would need to work on anyway. Lin subtly implied that he need not stay in Republic City and he could go back to Air Temple Island to do whatever he needs to do for the Air Nation. This made Tenzin all the more adamant to work remotely from the house.

It also seemed like both of the Avatar’s sons took on the same anticipation and excitement in welcoming a child as Tenzin discovered that Bumi had taken to sending a knitted piece to Republic City every few weeks or so. Never mind that there were only so many bibs or bonnets a baby could use.

Their family, however well-meaning, tended to barge into their life – always checking in, always dropping by, always present.

Lin, being the well-mannered lady that she was, took it all in stride. While she would have previously scowled at her mother’s narratives or kept a polite face at his mother’s coddling, Tenzin saw her have a genuine smile at her face at their visits.

It was only one afternoon that Tenzin realized why.

He thought that they were simply falling into a routine when he came back. However, it became apparent to him that he was the one who has not yet assimilated into the established routine. With a pang, he realized their family had done what he should have been doing in the first place in supporting Lin in her pregnancy.

---

It was not quite the same home he had left.

Being away for months made it challenging for the airbender to reintegrate himself but he did manage bit by bit.

---

Lin really disliked being on bedrest. She had never been one for idleness, but she saw the necessity in taking it easy. She was determined to bring the child up to term and Lin Beifong is not anything but determined.

Nonetheless, this did not keep her from occasionally complaining; she did not like being dependent on others after all.

“I’m sorry Lin – but healer’s orders.” Tenzin handed her a book she requested; she was put out when he did not let her get out of bed and she had to wait for him to get it for her.

She thanked him though still with a frown on her face.

Tenzin settled himself beside her in bed as they were wont to do before bedtime, taking out his own book to read. “Mother said you’ll likely be removed from bed rest in a few weeks’ time. Your mother did not have to go on extended bed rest and managed to work at the station back then. So mother is hopeful for you.”

Lin sighed and leaned back, lightly flipping through the pages of her book. “Well, that’s my mother. Unfortunately for me, I inherited the body type of my grandmother.”

They knew how difficult it was for Poppy Beifong to carry a child to term. As much as Lao and she wanted another child as a sibling to Toph, it had not been successful.

She saw Tenzin pause, recognizing the moment he understood what was not being said.

In true (and expected) airbender fashion, he did not address it head on and simply turned to focus on fluffing her pillows.

“Well, if you’re going to stay in bed much longer, we’ll have to make sure it’s a comfortable stay, right?”

She merely tilted her head in agreement, thankful that he did not push the issue.

---

Lin did not know what to expect from Tenzin when he said they will make the extended bed rest comfortable.

He arrived home one day with a lot of paper bags.

She had thought Bumi was ridiculous in sending a lot of baby clothes, but this did not even compare. Lin found Tenzin guilty of a shopping spree – his were of a complement to Bumi’s bibs and bonnets in the form of onesies, mittens and booties.

No matter, she thought, as she lightly fingered the texture of one of the green onesies, it pleased her to see Tenzin excited about the child.

---

As the weeks passed, Lin was able to finally convince Tenzin that she would be fine at home during the day with the staff and that he need not curtail his own activities.

During the day, after all, the household staff that Toph hired for them to clean and cook was around and could easily assist Lin with her needs.

The airbender still spent most of his time at home, working and keeping her company. But at least, his company was no longer limited to her and their family. Hopefully, Lin thought, it would keep him from being bored and restless.

She was pleasantly surprised when he arrived home on that first day.

He had been listening to her when they talked about food she missed and likely craved for. She was thankful for the food that Aang brings over and the food the chef cooks, however, there is only so much she could take of healthy and bordering on bland food.

Tenzin had gone out of his way to the other side of the city to bring home her favorite steamed buns. Steamed meat buns, that is. None of the vegetarian mush he enjoyed himself.

---

It became their ritual – whenever Tenzin goes out, they were sure to have a dinner that consists of Lin’s favorite foods.

---

“You keep eating more of that and we’re calling our baby Bao.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Doesn’t Bao Beifong sound nice?”

A pillow hit Tenzin in the face.

---

“Thanks, kid. Excellent paperwork as per usual, loved your penmanship.”

Lin rolled her eyes at her mother’s odd humor. She took the folder her mother brought in exchange for the reports she had completed. Before her mother leaves, Lin usually makes sure she had scanned through quickly the paperwork so she could ask questions if she has clarifications.

“There was a meeting earlier at City Hall.” Toph often shared with her about her workday. “I suppose you were the catalyst for this.”

“What? I don’t even get to leave the house, never mind the bedroom,” Lin felt defensive, thinking that Toph was about to blame her for something. “How can I have caused it?” She continued to go through the paperwork.

Toph clicked her tongue. “They’ve selected an air acolyte as the representative to the Air Temples.”

That got her full attention. “But Tenzin’s the current representative.” She put down the folder on her lap and turned to her mother. “He did not mention he was quitting.”

“He was not quitting per se, he would be still part of the Air Nation’s council staff – just not the one who would need to frequently travel around the temples.”

---

She was floored.

She never asked that of him.

The airbender had been talking about air temples and all things air nomad from they were kids.

Giving up this particular role – this is huge.

And if it was because of her – them – she corrected, rubbing her stomach, it was significant.

---

He did not bring it up that night.

She thought he would have done so the first thing he got home.

But he did not.

---

She brought it up two nights later, unable to keep the curiosity out of her voice.

The why hung between them.

He simply smiled back at her, his hand joining hers as their baby kicked.

“I know my priorities.”

---

The next day, she hands him back his keys.

Then maybe, he feels hopeful as he tightens his fist around it, maybe this is what it really feels like the beginning of a true homecoming.

-----

Note: And that’s that. Thoughts around it? Thanks for reading :)

#linzin #linzin fanfic #writing prompts maybe #toccatina's fanfics #toccatina completed #toccatina homecoming #lin beifong #tenzin

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frooopsen · 4 years

Text

Kyalin - part 4

thanks to @linguini17 for beta-reading again. :)

Communication

"Kya.“ It was dark outside and the moon shone into their bedroom through a gap in the blinds. They had both drifted in and out of sleep and the sun would rise in a few hours. "Kya,“ she whispered once more.

"What is it?“ Kya didn’t sound sleepy at all, which confirmed Lin’s suspicion.

"You can’t sleep,“ she sighed.

"Very perceptive, Chief.“ Her smile was audible the next time she spoke. "Are you going to let me in on why you felt the need to tell me that?“

"I‘m having trouble sleeping.“ The moonlight accentuated Lin’s smooth skin and Kya let her eyes wander, taking it all in.

"You know this is hard for me, too,“ she said smirking, her fingers stroking along Lin’s arm, "No teasing you for a whole day.“

"I know. You’re doing so great,“ Lin sighed with a smile making its way onto her lips. "By the way, if you tell Bumi that you got me all mushy and analyzing stupid nightmares, there will be consequences.“ She tried to sound at least vaguely threatening but that notion was discredited by the grin that travelled between their faces.

"Well don’t tempt me.“ Kya gasped leaning in for a kiss. Before letting go, she captured Lin’s lower lip between her teeth, as the metalbender took the opportunity to pull her in by the hip.

"Speaking of tempting,“ Lin hummed, searching for another kiss. Their lips met again, as they started feeling down each other’s backs. "Maybe,“ she said while trailing kisses along Kya's tan skin, "And I’m only throwing ideas around – we could have a different kind of communication for a change.“

Kya felt desire kicking in and this time knowing that the talk was not going to be avoided, she didn’t care how much time passed until said talk came around. "Oh, I love this non-verbal communication,“ she smiled before placing a long-lasting kiss on the side of Lin's throat.

"Maybe you’ll get a taste for it after all,“ Lin answered jokingly.

"You are a smooth one,“ Kya admitted before sliding her hand down Lin’s stomach, a clear goal in mind. "However, my tongue is just fine, tasting different things for now.“

Lin arched her back as Kya made her way down her body. Kya did have the best comebacks, no matter how good Lin's ideas were, Kya had never lost a teasing match. Lin didn’t really mind. She did like it, most of the time. She was quickly ripped away from her thoughts as her focus was drawn in by lips wandering the invisible trail that Kya had already left with her fingers.

------

"I‘d almost forgotten how fun this is,“ Kya joked as she took the cup of coffee Lin had just made for herself.

"It hasn’t been that long,“ Lin said, turning around just to find the empty spot on the counter. That had been her coffee. She sent a piercing look Kya’s way.

"Well I’ll be needing that if you keep me up when I’m supposed to be sleeping,“ the waterbender murmured while sipping her coffee with a knowing look on her face.

"It’s not like I woke you. And if memory serves me well, you enjoyed yourself,“ Lin answered, making herself another cup.

"Still got my coffee, didn’t I?“

They sat down at the kitchen table. Kya watched the spirits floating by the window. They usually came by during the early morning hours and she was always mesmerized by their ease. Lin read through the newspaper and sipped her coffee. The weekends were when she spent a little more time on the things she usually did in a hurry. Showering, getting ready, making coffee – weekend coffee was always better. She even flipped through the news, since she didn’t spend a lot of time doing that during the week. The most important news travelled fast – especially at the station – and she spent enough time reading police reports already. At some point reading had turned into a chore, rather than a relaxing activity. The occasional article sparked her interest, nonetheless.

"I can’t believe it,“ she gasped in suprise. "Look at this!“

Kya leaned over the table and tried to decipher the headline. "Would you look at that! It’s about Uncle Sokka!“

"Not him. His sword. Some kids found it when playing hide and seek. It says here that it was stuck in some tree,“ Lin elaborated.

"I did always wonder where it ended up. It’s been forever since he lost it. Did Toph ever tell you that story?“ Kya asked, remembering how Sokka had never been able to shut up about his space-sword – as he called it.

Lin shrugged her shoulders, "She didn’t, but Tenzin did. It sounded rather boring until Bumi took over. I always wanted to see a sword like that.“

"Tenzin never was a good story-teller. Another point to me.“

Lin glared at her. "I hate when you do that.“

"Too bad,“ she smiled as they both resumed drinking their coffee.

--------

After a quiet lunch, Lin cleared her throat. "Can we finish that conversation?“

Kya looked around the room as though looking for something.

"You alright?“, Lin asked.

"Did you hear that?“ she giggled. "I think I heard someone volunteer to get touchy-feely.“

Lin sighed as she rubbed her forehead. "You are taking it too far, too soon.“

"You’re just rubbing your face now, so I won’t see that smile,“ Kya complained.

Lin let out a unappreciative growl. "Fine. Then we don’t talk about it.“

"Oh, come on!“ Kya said. "Don’t shut off now, I’ll promise to be nice from here on,“ she paused, then added, "For the duration of the conversation, of course.“

"Well, now I don’t even know how to start,“ Lin growled, "Not that I did before.“

Kya lead them to the couch, where she gestured for Lin to sit down. She joined her, pulling the muscular legs onto the cushion, planting herself in between and leaning her back against one of the armrests. "That’s not a very serious position,“ the earthbender noted as she leaned against the armrest behind her back, like Kya had done.

They sat across from each other, legs slightly tugged towards themselves, shins touching lightly. Lin fumbled on the leg of her pants.

"We’re just talking, not having a meeting,“ Kya laughed. "Also, talking about your feelings doesn’t have to be organized. People just…ease into that and don’t declare the beginning.“

Lin opened her mouth to interject, but Kya didn’t give her the chance.

"I’ll let it slide, since you claim to be new to this. I mean we have talked about our feelings together before. Otherwise I don’t think our relationship would have gotten to this point.“

Lin looked straight ahead to meet Kya’s eyes. "You being nice didn’t last very long. Besides the talks you’re referring to were us talking about us or sometimes you. That’s different.“

Kya leaned forward, just enough to cup Lin’s cheek and smiled, "Well, how is that different? They‘re still your feelings.“

"Yeah, the nice ones and I like talking about us and especially you,“ she explained kissing Kya’s hand before she withdrew it from her face again.

"You know, Kya,“ Lin said softly, her gaze still holding the waterbender’s eyes captive, "When you smile at me like that, I am so happy to have you. Your’re so full of love and I get to feel it wrapped around me.“

They stayed quiet for a while. Kya had heard the words come out of Lin’s mouth clear and warm. Yet it felt like the woman‘s soul had spoken instead. Lin’s voice sounded different, when she said things like these and Kya couldn’t explain why. It didn’t happen a lot. She thought it must have been that it felt so surreal to hear Lin – the woman she adored to an extent, which sometimes scared even the passionate waterbender – talk about her in that way. Yet she wanted to hear it from no one else. "Spirits,“ she sighed finally breaking the silence as she lowered her head a little, "I only want to make you feel, like you just made me feel.“

"And what was that?“

"I can’t tell you. I wish I could, but I don’t think the words exist.“

Lin smiled into the room as she remembered a poem. "You know, some poet once said that if lovers were ever able to express their feelings in words, they would be too full of energy for everyone who heard them. He called it the lovers‘ curse.“

"Well, it’s not hard to believe him. Especially when I see you looking at me like that.“

Now it was Lin’s turn to sigh. The past week had been filled with so many emotions, that she could feel the exhaustion flare up any time she took a little time to sit down and rest. The time she spent with Kya had been spent in silence; except for that one afternoon after the panic attack. Her skin still reacted with goosebumps when she recalled the immense fear she had felt; first in the nightmare, then during the panic attack. Now anytime she went to bed, she had to convince herself that she wouldn’t dream like that again. It still lingered around and she knew Kya could feel it too. She had always been more perceptive when it came to that. Even though Lin had noticed that her tension somehow affected both of their sleeprythms, she still didn’t know if Kya saw the residue of fear, that Lin saw anytime she looked in the mirror.

"Can you see it in my eyes?“ she mastered up the courage to ask, "The fear.“

Kya swallowed, because she knew that it would be easier if she couldn’t.

"As clear as the love you claim to see in mine,“ she paused then added. "Not just your eyes, though. You move differently. You have for a while now.“

Lin shifted, drawing her knees even closer to rest under her chin. "I really wish you couldn’t.“

"I know.“

"What if it breaks me? My strength is all I have.“

They both knew that she had more, but Kya understood what she meant. She couldn’t imagine Lin without the powerful elegance she carried herself with. It had been the constant in her life.

"You won’t break.“

"How can you be so sure?“

Kya wasn’t. "Because I’ve seen broken people.“ It didn’t make a lot of sense, but it seemed to help.

"I don’t feel like myself since we’ve talked and I don’t know how to get back to that.“

She hardly remembered the time she had spent at work that week. Like she hadn’t been there but watched her body work on reports and arrests. Her mind had been busy thinking about the panic attack and the helplessness she had felt at the lack of control.

She slightly raised her voice again, "I have always had control until I met you. They aren’t joking when they call it 'falling in love‘. I don’t mind that anymore. But this…this feels like loosing a different kind of control.“

Kya was surprised. Even though it still felt like Lin carefully assembled her sentences before saying something, so as to not disclose it in the wrong way – whatever that meant – she was talking freely, nonetheless.

Kya used the next silence to speak. "I don’t think you lost control. It was rather taken away from you. By your feelings. I don’t know…to me that’s different.“

Lin’s brow furrowed. She didn’t understand what Kya had meant.

"I couldn’t even bend my armor away,“ she exclaimed, changing the course of the conversation. "When I had nothing else, I always had my bending.“ Almost always. As she heard herself say those words it felt as though they had come from Kya. It sounded like something she would suggest.

"Well, fear is a powerful mind blocker. Your qi must have been affected. You once told me how your breathing influences your bending and how you breathe deeply before swinging the bigger rocks,“ she thought out loud, recalling the conversation they‘d had a long time ago about their differences in bending-style. "I was a good listener. Even back then.“

Lin smiled, thankful for the light comment, keeping her from tearing up. "I know. I can only repeat myself: quite the catch I landed with you.“

Kya smiled in response but didn’t want to change the topic. "It only makes sense that you loose the connection to the bending, when your other senses are overflowed as well.“ And back was the tension.

"How do you know what it’s like?“ Lin marveled. "You haven’t had one, have you?“

Kya shook her head slowly. "No, but I’ve read about them. The mind convinces the body that you’re in immediate danger, so your senses are more alert, causing you to feel and perceive things more vividly and unfortunately overstimulating your nervous system.“

Lin nodded as she thought back. "Everything was so bright all of a sudden…and the room started spinning so badly. And time passed so slowly, while it felt…like…like something was wrapped around my neck.“ She put her hand to rest underneath her throat.

"I can’t imagine how scary that has to have been.“

"I hope you never experience that. I sure don’t want it happening again. Imagine if that happens at work. I wouldn’t be able to bend.“

Kya interrupted the train of thought. "How about we don’t imagine that for now. I don’t think it will happen again.“

"But what if it does?“

"Remember when Ammon had taken you bending away,“ Kya began. "You still got all the criminals you set out for. You weren’t helpless. Your strength exceeds your bending ability. And if you find a way to reconnect to yourself you won’t even have to think about that again.“

Lin scoffed, "So you do think it might happen. How am I supposed to 'reconnect to myself‘ when I don’t even know how to express what feels off?“

Kya tried to stay calm. She had no idea either and it wasn’t fair of Lin to keep coming at her like that, but she reminded herself that it was in fact new to Lin and the pain she had accumulated over the years would in consequence spill out of her as soon as she opened up.

"I can’t see the future, but I’m trying to tell you that you’re already stronger than you think. We can all be. Sometimes we don’t even find out how strong, until we’re faced with a stupid situation like this one.“ Her frustration was clear, yet Lin stayed put, not lashing out.

She continued, "I can only rely on the experiences I’ve had, just like you. I’m not all-knowing.“

"I don’t ask you to be. You’re just... So in touch with your feelings. You probably don’t even have to think that hard before saying those smart things and analyzing.“

Kya felt embarrassed at the underlying jealousy in Lin’s tone. People had always told her to be less emotional and that it was overwhelming when she rambled on about her feelings. Lin seemed to come from a different angle. Kya hadn’t thought that the trait she had found to be a strength, rather than a weakness, could also be seen as such from someone else – Lin of all people.

"You have to give yourself a break. You’re trying so hard to overcome the uncomfortable feelings that you don’t give them enough room to exist for a while,“ Kya muttered.

Lin’s face let go of some of the tension that had built up throughout the past minute. "But I don’t want that. The more fear I feel, the less I can bare.“

"Well, you can’t shut them off. You see how that turns out. I don’t want you to increase that distance inside yourself. You feel it, too, you said. Just give it time. It will fall into place.“

She didn’t know what else to tell her.

"The way people praise 'talking about feelings‘, it just seems like a pill you have to swallow and afterwards everything’s fine,“ Lin growled. "But it’s not. It just leaves you confused and angry at yourself.“

"Talking isn’t the easy way out,“ Kya agreed, closing her eyes. "It’s the hard way through.“

"I’m going for a walk,“ Lin announced, getting up. When Kya stood up as well, she signaled her to stay. "I need to be alone for some time. I’ll be back before dinner.“

Kya swallowed but knew she had to give Lin more space – even more. She didn’t want to.

"See you then,“ she said while making her way to the kitchen.

#wlw #avatar: tlok #tlok #lin beifong #kyalin #kya ii #fanfic #part4

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poisonivy7 · 3 years

Text

Kyalin #1: Izumi’s Genius Plan

Here’s a prompt I got from @/anonymous: Izumi being frustrated with her besties not confessing their love with each other so she basically locks them up in a closet until they talk about their feelings.

I know it’s a bit long, but I really enjoyed writing it and I hope you guys like it! Feel free to comment some more kyalin fanfic prompts (or any other ships from my previous post).

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24-year-old Kya and 29-year-old Izumi were sitting by the pond, eating lunch together while watching the turtle ducks swim around. They met every Sunday to catch up — it was their tradition going three years strong. Lately, Izumi noticed that Kya would not shut up about her big fat crush on Lin. She was all Kya would talk about.

“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Izumi finally asked her best friend.

“Are you crazy? Lin is dating my younger brother, and she is probably the straightest person I’ve ever met. And anyway, I don’t want to ruin our friendship just because I caught feelings,” Kya responded, chuckling. Just the thought of asking Lin Beifong out on a date was ridiculous.

Izumi sighed disappointedly. Little did Kya know, Lin had confessed her feelings for the older water bender drunkenly a few days ago at the bar. It was the last place anyone would expect to find the Fire Nation princess, but it was Lin’s birthday, and having a break from the regular servants serving upper-class food in the palace was refreshing.

Izumi could remember that night at the bar with Lin with relative ease (considering Izumi was a bit drunk herself):

“You know what it feels like to be in love with someone you’re not supposed to?…Hurts like a bitch.” Lin winced as she downed the rest of the whiskey in her glass. She motioned to the bartender to get her fifth refill of the night.

“I thought Tenzin’s parents and your mom approve of your guys’ relationship,” Izumi asked, confused.

Lin chuckled drunkenly. “I can’t believe I tried to convince myself that I loved Tenzin when his sister was there the whole time.” Izumi just got even more perplexed.

Seeing the look of confusion on her friend’s face, Lin clarified, “I have a little crush on Kya, but there’s no way she likes me back. I mean, yes, she’s gorgeous, and whenever she’s water bending or laughing or breathing, it’s the hottest thing ever. But she’s also totally out of my league, and she probably picks up so many girls everywhere she goes. Anyway, it’s nothing I can’t get over. So it’s not even a big deal, right?” she rambled as she drank her whiskey, pain searing down her throat. Lin was surprisingly transparent when she was drunk.

The idea of playing matchmaker to her two best friends was so exciting to Izumi. It was a nice break from her regular princess duties. So as she was walking through the halls of the palace for a late-night snack, she came up with the perfect idea.

Izumi’s birthday party was a week later. She invited her childhood friends every year — Bumi, Kya, Tenzin, Lin, and Su. This year was no exception, even if she was turning the big 3-0. Izumi noticed how Lin would steal small looks at Kya when she wasn’t paying attention. Kya tried getting closer to Lin whenever she could, but it made the situation more awkward, especially because Tenzin was sitting next to Lin. Izumi just wanted to see her friends happy, and witnessing the interactions between them, or lack thereof, was just depressing.

After eating dinner, everyone made their way to the big theatre room to watch a movie. After Bumi and Tenzin managed to stop arguing over what movie they should watch, everyone settled down in the comfortable chairs as the film began playing. Izumi was sitting in between Lin and Kya, but Lin had left to use the bathroom. This was Izumi’s chance to get her best friends to finally confess their feelings for each other.

The Fire Nation princess turned to Kya. “Hey, can you go down to the basement with me to get some blankets? It’s a bit cold here.”

Kya sighed. She never understood how people got cold so easily. “Yeah, sure thing,” she said.

Izumi led Kya out of the movie theatre room. Once they arrived at the basement door, Izumi noticed that Lin had just left the bathroom that was a few doors down. The timing could not have been any more perfect.

As Kya was going down the stairs, Izumi ran down the hall and found Lin making her way back to the movie theatre. “Hey, Lin! Can you help me get some blankets from the basement?” The metal bender nodded in response and followed Izumi.

As soon as Lin went down the stairs and saw Kya, Izumi shut the door and locked it. Both Kya and Lin ran back up the stairs, frantically. “Izumi! I don’t know what prank you’re pulling, but this isn’t funny! Unlock the door now!” they demanded.

Izumi laughed. “Not until you guys figure things out!”

Lin tried metal bending the door to unlock it, but it failed since the doorknob was made of platinum. Kya tried freezing the doorknob off, but there was barely any water in the basement to use. “Spirits, I’m going to kill Izumi,” Lin groaned. The last thing she wanted to do was be stuck in a room with Kya. Lin had wondered how Izumi knew that she liked Kya, but she would not have been surprised if she let it slip drunkenly some night. This is why she preferred drinking alone.

They eventually gave up trying to open the door and sat across from each other on the carpeted floor. After a few awkward minutes of silence, Kya started, “So…How are you and Tenzin?”

“Fine,” Lin replied curtly. She hated this so much. She was dating Tenzin, and she did not need their relationship to get messed up just because of a little crush on her boyfriend’s sister.

“You know…if we’re going to have to be stuck in a room together until Izumi lets us out, we might as well make the best of it,” Kya said slyly, sliding herself closer to Lin. The metal bender was sitting rigidly and cross-legged, her arms folded tightly in front of her. She was determined not to give in to her no matter what.

But the moment Kya got close enough to Lin to touch her knee, she almost immediately loosened up, but she caught herself before she could show it. She remained stubbornly rigid sitting against the wall, but inside, all Lin wanted was to feel more of Kya’s touch.

“Is this okay?” Kya asked softly as her delicate hands stayed on the metal bender’s knee, rubbing the scar that had formed there. She looked at Lin innocently, waiting for a response.

Lin didn’t say a word — she was conflicted. On one hand, she had been with Tenzin for years, and both his parents and her mom were all too happy that they had gotten together. And although her boyfriend was getting uncomfortably close to that air acolyte, Pema, Lin was not going to mess their relationship up.

But on the other hand, there was Kya. Though she hated to admit it, Lin liked everything about her childhood friend. She loved Kya’s goofy, bold personality and her laugh that could light up the whole room in an instant. She loved how soft and caring she was and how badass and powerful she was as a water bender. She loved her long brown hair and bright blue eyes. Spirits, Lin loved every little part of Kya.

So Lin remained seated, back against the wall, conflicted. Kya made her love living, even if it just meant being in the same room as her and sneaking looks every now and then.

But her relationship with Tenzin was decades in the making, and their parents could not be any happier that they were together. Being with Kya was most definitely scandalous, and the press would eat them alive. Lin could already imagine it: “Lin Beifong, daughter of the Chief of Police, caught kissing Kya, daughter of the Avatar.” The last thing Lin wanted was to be on the front cover of the daily news and to drag Kya, her mom, and the Avatar into it.

Lin had been thinking so much that she barely noticed Kya had moved her hand up to Lin’s face and the scars on her cheek. The older water bender was being unusually bold tonight, but she had been crushing on Lin since they were teenagers, and she could not hold back at this point.

Lin never let anyone touch her newly-acquired scars, but she felt safe with Kya, and she felt like she could finally let her guard down. Lin’s face was burning red under Kya’s soft touch, and the water bender smirked at how flustered the stubborn metal bender was getting.

“Hmm?” Kya asked softly, still waiting on Lin’s answer to her previous question. She continued gently rubbing Lin’s cheek and making circles with her thumb on Lin’s scars.

“I-“ Lin managed to say, her face getting increasingly warm. Kya smiled and slowly kissed Lin, who, surprisingly, did not immediately push back.

As Kya was pulling back, Lin pulled Kya’s face closer with her calloused right hand and kissed the water bender again, this time deepening this kiss, smiling as Kya moaned softly. After kissing for a few minutes, Kya straddled around Lin’s legs, the two of them pulled back, breathless. “Damn Beifong, now I really understand why Tenzin likes you so much,” Kya said, smirking. Lin rolled her eyes in response.

It was then that Lin realized that being with Kya was worth it. She was worth breaking up with Tenzin for and disappointing Lin’s mom and Kya’s parents. She was worth being deemed “deviant” and “scandalous” on the front cover of the daily news for. She was worth risking her position in the police academy for. Kya was worth all the pain and hurt in the world.

“So um…I kinda like you,” Kya said, blushing.

Lin chuckled. “Yeah, I could tell, you dork.” She smiled and added, “I kinda like you too.” She moved forward to kiss Kya again, her muscular arms wrapped around the water bender’s waist. Leave it to Izumi to play matchmaker and concoct such a genius plan.

#kyalin #legendofkorra #kya #linbeifong #fanfiction #soft

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