Chapter Text
The clock was past ten when Lin and Tenzin left the presidential building. The sky was overcast at that moment, indicating that rain was brewing. The two, along with other representatives, had spent hours discussing proposals on security and urban reconstruction with President Moon, and fatigue weighed heavily on both their shoulders.
As they walked side-by-side along the nearly deserted sidewalk, Lin noticed the food cart on the corner of the street, steam rising in thick clouds under the orange light of the lamppost. The smell of fried noodles and roasted vegetables made her stomach rumble, causing Tenzin to smile at her.
"Okay, we're having dinner now," he said, before she could say anything, as they walked to the food stall.
The vendor greeted them with a tired smile; after all, they weren't the only ones working late, it seemed.
The two sat at a small side table and placed their orders. It wasn't long before the hot paper containers were delivered to them.
As soon as they both stood up to get their orders, Lin slipped a few yuan to the vendor and paid before Tenzin could protest, and when he raised an eyebrow, she just shrugged.
"Consider it a thank you for not letting me fall asleep or rip someone's head off at the meeting," she said, trying to sound casual.
Tenzin smiled as he took his order.
"I just did my best to keep the collective focus," he replied in his usual "serene" tone, but his gaze was more tender, even amused.
With the food in hand, Lin turned toward the main street. The police station wasn't far away, which would probably be the end of the line for the two of them that day.
"We can eat at my office if you want," Lin found herself offering before she could control her mouth.
But as soon as the words left her lips, regret followed. Her face hardened, and she looked away, feeling an uncomfortable heat rise up her neck.
She had missed the point, she knew. They were friends and all, but everything was meticulously controlled: every interaction, every glance, every rare touch of comfort. Everything had to be calculated, at least that's what she did with him, because she wouldn't know how to be any other way, or she was afraid that her actions would reveal more than they should.
Tenzin, however, didn't notice her inner turmoil. He smiled slightly, that smile that made time seem to rewind years and that she would simply die before admitting she loved.
"I'd love to," he replied, suddenly taking Lin by surprise.
She cleared her throat. "Are you sure? I don't want to be responsible for you coming home late or creating any uncomfortable situation with your family."
He hesitated for a moment, looking at the sky before answering, which made Lin notice and note this behavior in the back of her mind.
"Pema and the girls are on a mother-daughter trip," he sighed. "They went to visit the Northern Air Temple. And Bumi took the boys fishing on Uncle Sokka's boat." His voice was calm, almost indifferent, but Lin knew him well enough to know he was tense for some reason. "Well, they only come back at the beginning of next week, so don't worry."
Lin just nodded, unsure what to say. There was a tight knot in her chest, and she didn't know what had triggered it, whether it was his thoughtless invitation or the fact of sharing a meal with him alone, just like in the old days, after so many years.
The police building was silent when they arrived. They had probably already passed the last shift change of the officers, which always made the station quieter and more peaceful at night, one of the reasons Lin always liked working late. She was able to perform well at work because she was rarely interrupted.
The cold lights reflected off the metal of Lin's armor as she walked down the corridors to her office. For Tenzin, that sight alone was something. Seeing her like that, so imposing in her own environment, was very nostalgic and, even if he wouldn't admit it, it stirred something in him.
As soon as they closed the door after passing through the corridor that led to her office, which was empty that night, Lin sighed and began to remove the pieces of her armor, one by one, until she was only wearing the white tank top and thick fabric pants of her uniform, just as she always did when she was off-duty or could afford to do so. It was so natural that she only noticed Tenzin's presence when she turned and faced him, but it was already a little late to undo everything, and that might make her seem uncomfortable, and she couldn't give that impression.
Tenzin, observing her out of the corner of his eye and mirroring Lin's movements, also removed his upper cloak and carefully folded it over a chair. There was something disconcertingly familiar about that scene: two people who had already shared many silences like that one and much more, right there in that room.
"Would you like to hear something?" Lin asked, trying to fill the space and break the awkward silence. It would give her something to do.
Without waiting for his answer, she just wanted to break the silence. She turned on the radio, and a soft jazz melody began to fill the room.
The sound filled the room, mingling with the smell of hot food they had brought, and Lin's stomach rumbled once more, causing them both to burst into laughter.
"I think we should do something about this," Tenzin said, approaching, opening the food bags, and spreading them on the coffee table in her office's sitting area.
They sat facing each other, with the metal table between them, and began to eat. At first, to avoid falling into that silence or to maintain some appearance of not being affected by this situation, which was all too familiar to them, they talked about the earlier meeting, about logistics, security, and bureaucracy. Lin also asked about the new benders, how the training was going, and how Tenzin was handling everything and the division of responsibilities with Bumi and Jinora… they talked about everything that was safe. But as time passed, words became less frequent, and silence returned.
For a brief moment, Lin forgot the years that separated them, forgot that there was a tear in time between what they had been and what they were to each other now. It was too easy to be there, to see him relaxed, laughing at something trivial, as if nothing had happened between them, and this was reflected in the look they shared.
...
After they finished their meal, and Lin secretly took some chocolates for them to share from her secret "hiding place," which, as Tenzin noticed, she leaned back in her chair, looking at the radio which was now playing a slow, old piano song.
"Thank you, Lin," Tenzin said suddenly, his voice low. "I… really appreciate this. It's been a long time since I've had such a quiet evening."
She didn't know what to say. She just nodded, her heart heavy.
Even with some reluctance, he finally stood up, and Lin felt a pang of ridiculous disappointment watching him do so. It was obvious he needed to go; it was late, and there was no reason for him to stay. And she had no reason to even try to make him stay, not even for another ten minutes.
But, before reaching the door, Tenzin stopped and turned around.
"Lin…," he said thoughtfully, taking her by surprise. "What's your schedule for tomorrow?"
Lin froze at the question. Tomorrow was Saturday, so this kind of question would be strange anyway.
Since the end of the Tokuga case, she had decided to slow down a bit. She took weekends for herself, no patrols, no reports, nothing. For the first time, she allowed herself to simply exist.
"I… nothing in particular," she replied cautiously.
A soft smile appeared on his lips. "Would you like to, perhaps, I don't know, do something? Have tea… play pai sho… or maybe train a little. It's been a while."
For a moment, she just stared at him, her heart pounding. Was he really inviting her to spend the day with him?
It was insane and dangerous.
Years of discipline, of walls well-built to avoid falling back into that abyss called Tenzin. He was her old wound, healed, but still sensitive.
And yet… she hesitated, for deep down she knew she wanted to.
"One afternoon. That's all," she thought. "Nothing more… We're old friends, aren't we? What's wrong with a friendly afternoon?"
Lin let a brief smile escape, without letting her rational mind dwell on it too much. "Why not? It's been a while since I kicked your arrogant ass, you airhead."
He laughed, and for a moment the office seemed lighter. "Keep convincing yourself of that, Beifong. It's quite likely that the ass that got kicked was yours. I've learned new tricks."
"I'm eager to see that, even so, I can still beat you," she replied, crossing her arms.
"Tomorrow morning, then?"
"I'll be there," she smiled with a sigh.
He shook his head and, before leaving, gave her one last look. There was something there, something Lin couldn't identify, but which made the ground seem a little less firm beneath her feet.
When the door closed, silence returned.
Lin stood still for a while, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. The radio continued playing, the melody now distant, muffled by the sound of her own breathing.
She sat on the edge of the table, looked at the empty food container and whispered to herself, now that reason was beginning to hammer in her mind and she was starting to imagine all the possible scenarios that indicated it hadn't been a good idea to have agreed to it.
"What did I just agree to?"
Outside, the first thunderclap broke through the sky, and the rain began to fall.
Lin woke up before sunrise.
She had slept poorly that night, or rather, she had barely slept at all. The ceiling seemed to mock her during the early morning hours, each shadow of the lightning that illuminated the sky projecting memories she had sworn to bury.
Tenzin's invitation swirled in her mind like a torturous mantra.
Tea, a game, a training session. So simple. So harmless. And yet… so dangerous.
She pushed back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her face with her hands. The air was cold, and she felt the old stiffness in her shoulders, stemming from so many injuries over the years on the field and also aggravated by age. For a moment, she thought about giving up.
Sending a message saying that something had come up, that she needed to stay in the city. But she wasn't that kind of person. She never was. She was Lin Beifong, and Beifongs didn't run from anything out of fear.
With that already decided in her mind, she had no choice. She went to the bathroom, turned on the cold water tap in the shower, and stepped under the water all at once.
The shock of the icy shower coursed through and awakened every muscle in her body, drawing an almost guttural sigh from her. She needed to wake up, control her heart, put each emotion in its proper place if she wanted to survive that day unscathed.
When she got out of the shower, she dried herself calmly. Then, she spread out the towel, opened the small amber glass bottle on the dressing table, near two others like it, and hesitated.
She had never been one for much grooming or makeup, but she always valued the feeling of smelling good and clean, of wearing a good perfume. And that one… that one she had kept forever. She replaced it over the years as soon as each bottle expired, simply because she had it there even if she didn't use it.
In her daily life, she usually wore something more floral or herbal, but she also appreciated richer, sweeter, and woodier scents, and the perfume in her hand summed it all up.
It was the same perfume Tenzin had given her so many years ago, when they traveled to the Fire Nation one summer. He had gifted it to her, saying it enhanced her presence even more. In the years that followed, she never stopped using it, because he loved kissing her neck and complimenting her on how good she smelled, how much he loved that scent on her.
She never used it again because of the memories, but she always renewed bottle after bottle when they expired, until that moment.
For a second, she thought about putting it back. But then she shook her head.
"It's not for him. It's for me. I like this scent too."
Without room to think again, she broke the seal and sprayed the perfume on her wrists, behind her ears, and on her neck and chest between her breasts. The soft scent of vanilla and cedar filled the air, causing her olfactory memory to flood her senses, clouding her mind with images of lips on her collarbone and warm hands caressing her waist.
No… This is self-care, Lin… she thought, scolding herself for those thoughts.
Lin could be tough, practical, disciplined. But there was a side of her that never denied herself small vanities: long baths, vanilla cream on her calloused hands, the silent ritual of nightly skincare.
She could face criminals and earthquakes, but she still loved the warm touch of femininity on her skin.
When she finished, she packed a small bag: brush, towel, soap, a change of clothes, a set of underwear, and that perfume. "Just in case" she thought. If they were going to train, she would sweat, and she didn't want to look… sloppy. That was it. Just a precaution.
She was lying to herself, and deep down, she was fully aware of it.
...
Already on the ferry en route, Lin stood near the bow, watching the ferry cut through the calm waters toward Air Temple Island.
She divided her attention between the sea and the horizon, while the breeze ruffled her loose hair. She felt her perfume mingling with the salty smell of the sea, and it made her more nervous than she cared to admit. She wasn't used to this, to this kind of vulnerability, this lightness in her rigid schedule and routine.
As the ferry approached the dock, she saw him waiting, and their eyes met.
Tenzin stood with his arms crossed, the wind stirring his cloak. He was still the same man as always in posture and appearance, and yet… different, she perceived. More serene, perhaps, after the last few years. Or perhaps it was she who saw him, after so long, with different eyes.
"Lin," he greeted her with a slight smile.
"Tenzin," she nodded.
It was an awkward greeting, but the whole situation was, in fact…
The two walked together along the stone path that led to the top of the temple. Lin noticed how silent the island was that day. Few acolytes were in sight, no sound of children running, no distant laughter.
"The island seems… empty," she commented, breaking the silence.
Tenzin nodded. "Most of the acolytes have new assignments. Many are on missions or reconnaissance of other temples with the new benders, or assisting in the training of the bison. Only I and a few other acolytes remain on the island, just the essential personnel for maintaining the tasks."
Lin almost wished she hadn't asked. The information wasn't anything special, but it struck her as a confirmation of information she'd rather not have; regardless, they were practically alone there. Not that it meant anything, far from it actually, but somehow it made her even more nervous and uneasy.
"Great. That's all I needed," she thought, annoyed with herself.
But there was nothing to consider. Nothing would happen. They were two mature, civilized adults. That's all. Two friends, on a day full of "friendly" activities.
When they arrived at the main house, Tenzin noticed the small backpack Lin was carrying and smiled.
"Always prepared, aren't you?"
She raised an eyebrow, amused. "Old habits die hard."
"Of course." He chuckled, clearing his throat. "So… I thought… maybe, before we do anything… well, what I mean…"
"Just spit it out," Lin snapped, impatient with his rambling.
"I have a surprise for you… what do you think about starting with that?"
He led her into the living room and picked up a small wooden box. Lin looked at it suspiciously, but curiously, before opening it.
The air seemed to leave her chest when she saw what it was.
Inside, there were photographs. Old, yellowed with age. Children and teenagers smiling under the island sun. Her, Tenzin, Kya, Bumi, Su, and even Izumi. Their entire past there, between her fingers.
"I… what is this?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"Mom sent me some boxes with mementos from Uncle Sokka," he explained. "I had copies of these photos made for you. They're part of your story too, I thought you'd like to have them."
Lin was speechless. She ran her fingers along the edges of a photo where she and Tenzin were still teenagers. She was sitting on his lap, and Kya was gesturing something, clearly mocking them.
A small, reluctant smile escaped her.
"I didn't even know this existed."
"I figured." He watched her tenderly. "I thought you should have these memories with you too. I took the liberty of sending some to Su as well."
She closed the lid carefully, feeling the weight of the memory pulsing in her hands. She didn't want him to see the vulnerability in her face, nor to realize how sensitive, affectionate, and worthy of him that gesture had been, and how much it had touched her.
So she opted for action, as she always did to ground herself. "So, after all this mushiness… what comes next, according to your script?" she asked, changing the subject.
Tenzin hesitated for a moment before answering. He knew her behavior so well that he would give anything to make her more comfortable, and that's what he would do, even if his own body protested afterward.
"How about some sparring? Afterwards we can cool off and eat something."
Lin nodded, grateful for the emotional escape.
"Perfect."
...
The training began in the inner courtyard. The sun was already high, reflecting off the stone floor, and the sea breeze carried the scent of salt and sea air.
Lin tied her hair back and took off her jacket, leaving only her sports bra and shorts. That's when she realized her beginner's mistake.
Tenzin stood in front of her, his face completely red as he looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her abdomen for too long before forcing himself to look down at the ground.
She raised an eyebrow. As strange as it seemed, she felt compelled to tease him, as if they were still the teenagers in the photos, when nothing seemed so complicated. Maybe it wasn't such a big mistake after all.
"What's wrong, airhead? Is something distracting you here?"
He coughed, straightening up. "No… just… admiring the courage of someone who thinks they're going to win," he said, trying to push away the thoughts floating in his mind.
"Oh, really?" A mischievous smile formed on her lips. "I think we'll see about that."
The first move came from him: a gust of air that sent her two steps back. Lin responded by raising a wall of earth before them, the impact reverberating across the ground.
It was good to know they were still in shape, even after so long without a duel between them.
The air and earth danced as the fight intensified with each passing minute.
Lin unleashed some attacks with more force, without holding back, because she knew he could withstand anything. After all, this was Tenzin, son of Avatar Aang and the greatest Airbending Master of his generation.
Tenzin practically only dodged and defended, as she was the one who actually attacked.
"Stop holding back," Lin growled, irritated by his habit of always dodging.
Tenzin smiled, knowing he had gotten under her skin by repeating past mannerisms, aware that it destabilized her in the fight. He might be a monk, but when they trained together, he never failed to reciprocate, even if he always started by dodging just to tease her.
Some habits were truly hard to change, even after so many years.
When he realized he had achieved his goal and was preparing to attack, something unexpected happened. Although they had been close since Lin arrived, he had not yet invaded her personal space, but when she turned and faced the wind, the breeze that passed by her brought more than just the freshness of the sea.
Her perfume hit him like a punch from his own element.
It was an instant. An olfactory blow that paralyzed him. The scent of vanilla and wood. The scent of old nights, of promises never fulfilled. The scent he carried with him every morning, when he left her sleeping with a kiss and departed for the island to fulfill his duties.
Lin noticed the moment he froze, but didn't analyze his behavior or what had made him stop. She would take advantage of the distraction to attack.
A pillar of rock rose from the ground, passing close to his shoulder. Tenzin regained his posture, narrowly dodging, but lost his balance.
"I think you're a little rusty, Tenzin," she smiled, satisfied.
He responded with a blast of air that made her stumble, but Lin spun and landed firmly, her gaze flashing.
They both smiled menacingly. The clash became more personal with each passing second, and the idea of winning lost importance.
They got too close. Hand-to-hand combat began to replace ranged strikes, each attack becoming a touch, a block, a brush of skin against skin.
They were advancing into dangerous territory. The worst part was that both were fully aware of what was happening in the easy and risky proximity between them. Their bodies said what their mouths couldn't.
In an impulse, Lin spun, grabbed his wrist, and threw him down. In a second, she was on top of him, her hip pressed against his, her hair falling over her face, while Tenzin offered no resistance.
Both were panting and smiling at the same time. Time seemed to stop, as if a film were playing between them, moved by the nostalgia of the photos seen earlier and the familiarity of that proximity.
Tenzin's eyes got lost in her green ones. Desire and confusion mixed in equal parts. Lin felt the warm air between them, his chest rising and falling too quickly, the faint scent of incense, sweat, and Tenzin…
His gaze dropped to her lips. Hers did the same.
And then… he pulled her closer, sealing his lips to hers forcefully.