Chapter Text
Fridays were almost always relaxed days for Tenzin. He would drop the kids to school, work from city hall in the mornings, then if Lin was free he would take her to lunch before going back to pick the kids up from school and spending the rest of the afternoon with them. When Kazu began school and Hakoda began his training at the hospital Fridays became a bit more hectic for everyone. The academy's kindergarten ended two hours earlier on a Friday so Kazu had to be picked up before his sisters ended school. Sometimes they would go to the park, other times they would head back to city hall if Tenzin had a later meeting or proposal to work on. Today his plan was to take Kazu to the shopping district to get a new pair of school shoes but a last minute council meeting meant he was unable to pick up and Lin had to fill in .
One of the perks of being Chief meant Lin was most times able to juggle her schedule when things came up with her children. A call from Tenzin today meant she would have to do just that. The drive to the school was a nice way to clear her head after back to back interrogations. She parks near the school gates and makes her way to the junior block. As she walks through the school she notices the guards, fellow parents and even some teachers whispering as she passes. She thinks nothing of it until she notices some of them are sending her looks of disapproval. The first thing going through her mind is that one of her children is hurt or in trouble and she quickens her pace accordingly. When she arrives at Kazu's classroom Sifu Yun is standing by the door seeing students off, nothing out of the ordinary but still not enough to allay her concerns.
"Chief Beifong, I hope you are well," Yun greets the metalbender nervously. It was rare for her to pick up Kazu but not rare enough to explain his unease.
"I am thank you," Lin nods ,"is Kazu okay?"
"Uh yes he's fine," Yun responds uneasily , "Kazu yo-your mother is here."
"Mommy look," Kazu runs to his mother with his palm turned up and Lin notices Yun glancing at her uncomfortably. When he finally reaches the door he creates a small flame and shocks his mother in the process.
"Did you just…?" Lin gapes at her son. There's no way he just firebent .
"Isn't it cool? I can't wait to show daddy," Kazu grins at his new-found ability.
"Very cool Kaz. Daddy has a meeting so you can show him when he comes to get you from the station," Lin suggests while taking Kazu's backpack.
"Ok," Kazu nods.
"Bye Sifu Yun," Lin waves to the teacher and Kazu follows suit.
The entire ride is spent quietly for Lin who is wrapped up in her thoughts. She and Tenzin were planners through and through but they had no plans for a firebender's training. Who would train him outside of school? What do they need to do differently? Kazu was just beginning his training with the gates and seemed to enjoy it so far, would he still be interested or would he feel like he was being forced to do it instead of learning more about his new abilities? And what kind of messes would happen as he learned to control his bending? Hakoda flooded the house a few times, Aditi got herself stuck in trees and Jinora split open the courtyard more times than Lin would like to remember. Did they have to worry about Kazu burning anything in the house? What do they need to have fireproofed?
They walk into the station receiving a few odd looks but at least Lin knows why this time. Her with a tiny school bag on her shoulder and a four-year old by her side was definitely not a regular occurrence at the station especially not since she became Chief. Sometimes she thinks people forget she has a child in kindergarten but she doesn't mind because that hopefully meant fewer people trying to hurt him. Spirits know her eldest three went through a lot. When they get to the floor the officers notice Kazu and stop to greet him.
"Kaz II"
"Hey little man"
"Kazu!"
They walk into Lin's office and Kazu automatically goes to the corner of Lin's office where she kept a small box with a few toys and books for the rare occasions Kazu or Jinora had to stay with her at the station. When he is satisfied with his choice he climbs into her lap and plays on the empty corner of her desk while Lin continues the paperwork she left there. They sit in a comfortable silence that is eventually interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Lin?" Tenzin calls from the other side of the door.
"You can come T," Lin calls back.
"Daddy!" Kazu jumps out of Lin's lap and runs to the door.
"How's my big boy doing?" Tenzin lifts him into the air.
"I'm great, today was fun," Kazu grins, "I have a surprise. Tell him mommy."
"Kazu is a firebender," Lin shares.
"A what?" Tenzin checks to see if she is joking.
"Look dad," Kazu holds out his hand and to Tenzin's surprise, a small flame flickers.
"That's great Zu," Tenzin smiles. He had a soft spot for his children's firsts no matter what they were.
"I'm gonna show Koda and Di and Jinny," Kazu decides before returning to his perch on Lin's lap, "and gran gran and Uncle Bumi and Aunty Kya and grandma Toph."
"Of course," Lin agrees while watching Tenzin gather his thoughts.
"Uh Chief….you have a call," Shun knocks on the door.
"I'm a little busy Shun," Lin responds, "is it an emergency?"
"It's fine, we aren't going anywhere," Tenzin leans against her desk and signals for Kazu to climb out of her lap so she can work but the four year old doesn't move.
"He can stay T. Shun, you can put it through," Lin picks up the phone, "Chief Beifong speaking... I don't see how that is any of their business….How do they even know?...What is he insinuating?... Thanks for the heads up Lu."
"Honey?" Tenzin frowns at her sudden mood change.
"Shun," Lin calls.
"Yes Chief?" Shun cracks the door.
"Do you mind taking Kazu for a bit?" Lin asks.
"No problem, come on Kaz II I have another paper crane we can make," Shun points outside.
"Okay," Kazu climbs out of Lin's lap and walks towards the cubicle.
"What happened?" Tenzin reaches for her hand when the door is closed.
"A journalist called to ask about Kazu's bending ," Lin finally responds.
"That happened today. How do they know already?" Tenzin sighs.
"Only things that happen on the island are kept quiet in our lives and that's sometimes," Lin reminds him.
"We have another bender so what? Why does a journalist want to question anyone? They didn't do it for Jinora," Tenzin considers.
"Because he's a firebender T. Some hotshot journalist really thought they would snoop around and get enough to run a seemingly credible story about me allegedly cheating on you," Lin rolls her eyes.
"What?" Tenzin doesn't try to contain his anger , "why would he think that?"
"I got pregnant just before turning 40 yeah it was a surprise but 'hey, maybe they are trying for another airbender'. You're half Air Nomad half Water Tribe and as far as everyone is concerned I'm only of Earth Kingdom descent. So now people are thinking maybe there's another side to the story they made up in their heads ," Lin points out and the looks she received at the school are beginning to make some kind of sense.
"So instead of giving you the benefit of the doubt they assume the worst," Tenzin grumbles.
"Benefit of the doubt doesn't sell newspapers," Lin shrugs.
"What if this gets to the kids?" Tenzin groans.
"You know it will T," Lin sighs .
"Do you mind?" Tenzin points to her armour but Lin shakes her head.There was no point in getting comfortable here.
"Let's pick up the girls and head home. Today is a special day for Kazu," Lin breaks her own rule and leans in to kiss him softly, "we will figure out the other things together."
"Sounds good," Tenzin nods and moves to pack up the toys Kazu used while Lin packs her satchel. They walk to Shun's desk where they find Kazu surrounded by Lin's officers who are cheering him on while he shows off his new ability.
"Looks like you've got your probending team Chief," Saikhan chuckles.
"Whatever Sai," Lin rolls her eyes, "I'm going home so you're in charge. Only call me if there's a warning six or higher."
"Got it," Saikhan nods.
"Come on Kaz," Tenzin calls the four year old.
"Bye," Kazu waves to the group and receives a chorus of 'bye Kaz II' in return.
...
"You wouldn't believe what I heard at the hospital today," Hakoda fumes.
"Join the club," Jinora rolls her eyes , "some of its true by the way."
"Mom?" Hakoda's face morphs into a look of shock.
"Calm down, the only part that's true is that Kazu can firebend," Aditi clarifies.
"Look Koda," Kazu holds out his hand to show off the small flame.
"What's going on? How is this possible?" Hakoda accepts a plate of rice and vegetables from his father before going back to his questioning.
"I'm guessing my father is from the Fire Nation," Lin shrugs.
"You've never met him?" Jinora wonders.
"No," Lin sighs.
"Why?" Kazu asks the question Aditi and Hakoda want to but know better. Asking about that side of the family was a non starter.
"What's important for you four to know is that the papers and people will probably have some nasty things to say that aren't true and you should ignore them," Tenzin deflects.
"If this one anyone else they wouldn't care," Aditi rolls her eyes.
"It will blow over in a few weeks. We can't change who we are," Jinora points out and goes back to eating her dinner.
"Yeah yeah," Aditi mumbles.
"You're still upset that you got caught breaking curfew because someone recognized you," Hakoda smirks.
"It would be nice if I didn't look so much like someone apparently," Aditi looks at her mother who simply shrugs.
"Is that why you tried that haircut? " Hakoda frowns.
"It was cute," Aditi insists.
"The last one?" Jinora considers , "disagree."
"We can debate Aditi's hairstyles later. It's dinner time," Tenzin tries to prevent them from bickering.
The evening is fairly normal after that. Homework for the kids and paperwork for their parents. Hakoda didn't really have homework anymore but he typically caught up on his reading while his siblings did theirs. As he got older his siblings would ask him for help with homework when he had the time and he didn't mind hanging around some evenings. Lin focuses on the report she packed up earlier while Tenzin prepares his presentation before making sure Kazu gets to bed. Neither has the time to talk about the day's events until later that night when the kids are fast asleep and work finished.
"You know everything will work out right?" Tenzin breaks his silence when he notices Lin doesn't reach for him when she lies down in bed.
"Hmm? Yeah I know T," Lin moves towards him , "I'm just a little in my head."
"About Kazu?" Tenzin wonders while pulling her into his arms.
"How do we make sure he doesn't feel out of place?" Lin rests her head on his chest.
"We will figure it out," Tenzin brushes her cheek with his knuckle, "I have some books on Fire Nation history we could read and I'm sure Uncle Zuko and Iz would love to teach us."
"Huh?" Lin looks at him slightly confused.
"Of course, we need to learn if we're going to help him," Tenzin kisses her temple.
"That's true," Lin nods, "and he's at that stage where most things from the press will go over his head so he will just see everything else we're doing as a chance to learn."
"They are going to be a nightmare," Tenzin frowns.
"Well yes. I'll probably get the brunt of it so less attention on the kids. I hope," Lin sighs.
"I don't like what they are insinuating," Tenzin strokes her hair.
"There's always something T," Lin yawns ,"it's just another 9 day wonder."
"I hope so," Tenzin sighs, "you should get some sleep. You haven't been home this early in two weeks. Like you said things will work out."
Work out was relative and actually dealing with everything would be a different story.