Work Text:
This story is set when Lin is 41 and Izumi 46*
It has been 21 years since the incident with Su, and I have yet to contact her. I have little to no interest in what she is doing with her life now.
It has been 21 years since I smoked my first cigarette, and I have yet to quit. Perhaps this isn't the greatest coping method but it works.
It's late at night in the Fire nation. My sleep is interrupted by many thoughts. I watch my wife Izumi peacefully sleep, her light snores fills the air around us. I decide to carefully get out of bed and grab my cigarettes and lighter that I hide in the bottom of my bag. Carefully walking to the balcony with light footsteps.
As soon as I walk out the balcony door warm air surrounds me. I look down at the pack of cigarettes and I light one up. As risky as it is right now, I need it.
The warm air that still surrounds me fills with the smell of fresh tobacco. Suddenly all my problems is in one little puff. Lost in thought, I drown out the sound of the quacking turtleducks from the pond below me.
Looking out at the brightly lit city lights in the far distance.
A sudden sound interrupts my thoughts. I look back and see Izumi standing in the balcony door frame with a frown.
This is it, this is where I get caught.
"Lin what are you doing? " Izumi says sharply
"Zumi why are you up?" I sigh out.
"I should be asking you that same question. Lin what is that a cigarette?"
"Yes" I say hesitantly, looking down in shame.
"How long?"
"How long what" I ask with furrowed brows.
"How long have you been smoking"
"Since the incident, you know 21 years ago" I say a frown.
With a frustrated look Izumi all but yells out "And you didn't think to tell me?"
Now how am I going to explain this I think silently.
"Look I'm sorry I just needed a coping method and I didn't think you would be very fond of this one" I say turning back towards the city.
I hear Izumi sigh and feel her move to sit in the balcony chair slightly behind me.
"Lin come here"
I turn around and see her gesture to the other chair beside her.
"Look I'm not mad just very disappointed so calm down" Izumi says with a little look of relief.
"I'm sorry" Is all I manage to say with a hint of sadness in my voice.
"Have you tried to quit" Is all Izumi says.
"Yes a few years ago" I answered
"Maybe we can try to get you to quit again" Izumi says plainly
"We" I ask dumbly.
"Yes we, as in you and me. Your my wife I wanna help you in anyway I can" Izumi says with a smile.
I look back at Izumi and the corners of my lips quirk upwards "Ok, so what's the plan" I ask with my eyes narrowed.
With the same smile on her face Izumi says "Well I think talking to me first is a good start" Izumi let's out a yawn "But I think that can wait until the morning. Come on let's go to bed"
Izumi gets up and holds her hand out for me to take it. I gladly followed her to bed with the feeling of my own restlessness taking over me.
When they get back in the room Izumi suddenly stops.
"Go brush your teeth first, you stink" Izumi says with a grin.
I roll my eyes playfully with a groan and a smile.
When I finished brushing my teeth I came back to Izumi sitting up against the headboard reading a book. I go to my side of the bed and Izumi puts her book away and settles down next to me.
She looks over at me and I poke my bottom lip out. Izumi sighs and takes me into her arms.
"You big baby" Izumi says with a grin
"But im your big baby" I say with a big dumb smile.
Izumi sighs once again "Yes you are, I love you idiot".
With a smile I say "I love you too four eyes"
The last thing I hear is Izumi breath out a laugh before I fall into a deep peaceful sleep.