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“Guys come on, I can’t miss the last train,” Lin rushes her co-workers/ friends to finish their paper work for her sign off.
“What’s with the rush this evening Beifong?” Himari prods.
“I bet Lin has a hot date!” Jin, Lin’s academy roommate, answers.
“Does she?” Himari smirks, “and who is the lucky guy?”
“Master Tenzin,” Saikhan pipes in.
“Really now?” Himari checks.
“I thought they broke up,” Ty frowns
“They are still together,” Jin confirms.
“Does it matter why I am in a rush?” Lin rolls her eyes as she signs off the last paper and heads out to the lobby.
“Well, no,” Himari figures, grabbing her bag.
“But it looks like Lin won’t be needing the train,” Jin smiles.
“What does that even mean?” Lin looks up from where she was digging around in her work bag.
“Well, there is a sky bison in the middle of the courtyard and his owner is grinning in our direction,” Himari points ahead of them where Tenzin is waiting.
“Of course he is,” Lin mumbles to herself, fighting a small smile.
“Is Lin blushing?” Saikhan looks at her in surprise.
“You should see the way she smiles whenever she gets letters from her boyfriend. Our girl is happy,” Jin shares.
“Guess this is bye guys, see you in two weeks,” Lin waves to her friends before approaching Tenzin.
“Uh, hi Lin,” Tenzin shifts nervously.
“Master Tenzin, you're back early,” Lin drops her bags and moves to hug him, though Tenzin has different ideas so he pulls her in for a kiss which Lin happily accepts, forgetting where they are. A shout of “yeah Beifong!” causes them to break the kiss. Lin turns to glare at her classmates before pecking Tenzin’s lips again.
“Let’s get out of here,” he suggests as he scoops up Lin's bag.
“Where to?” Lin wonders.
“You always wanted to visit that town about three hours south of here so I was thinking we could spend two days there and probably camp out nearby before meeting everybody at the South Pole,” Tenzin smiles nervously
“Oh?” Lin smiles at him.
“Bumi helped me with the camping stuff and I already took up your bag for the trip,” he gestures to the extra bags in the saddle. They fly towards the spot he found while checking out the town. They set up the area which mostly means Lin creating an earth tent while Tenzin lays out the sleeping mats.
“If you think I’m going to need my own mat, you’re mistaken,” Lin turns to him.
“I know they are slightly bigger than usual and would love to sleep as close to you as possible, but uh, you used to mention you didn’t like how cramped the beds were in the dorm and the bed at your apartment is bigger than these,” Tenzin explains his motive.
“I never feel cramped when I’m with you,” Lin clarifies.
“Okay,” Tenzin packs up the second mat, not needing to be told twice.
“Good,” Lin pecks his lips, “did you pack food?”
“Just snacks, I was advised not to cook and I didn’t want you to worry about cooking this weekend,” Tenzin shares, “I was thinking we could eat in town. Based on my research the best place this time of night is a bar near the outskirts.”
“Sounds good. I’m hungry,” Lin digs through her thigh pouch.
“Maybe I can offer you something else first,” Tenzin attempts to remove his shirt as he walks towards her, desire filling his gaze.
“You wish,” Lin chuckles, “sustenance first.”
“I need to change first,” Tenzin supplies.
“Tez,” Lin looks at him unconvinced.
“Really, like on Ember Island,” Tenzin explains while removing his shirt, “no funny business I promise.”
“Okay,” Lin glances at him before continuing her dig through her backpack.
“Alright, ready,” Tenzin announces.
“You look great,” Lin pecks his lips.
Tenzin smiles as he wraps his arm around her waist and shows her to the bar. When they enter, it's not very busy but still a few tables are occupied. They pick a relatively secluded table towards the back of the bar. When they decide on their meals, Lin goes to place the order, leaving Tenzin alone at the table.
“Hey handsome,” A young woman slides into Lin’s seat but Tenzin assumes she isn’t talking to him, “hello?”
“Um hello,” Tenzin finally looks at her.
“What brings you to town?” she asks.
“My girlfriend wanted to visit,” Tenzin shrugs.
“Of course you have a girlfriend,” she frowns briefly.
“Huh?” Tenzin looks at her in confusion.
“An attractive man like you wouldn’t be single if he didn’t want to be,” she smirks, “I’m Xiuying.”
“Tez,” Tenzin supplies.
“Well, Tezzz. If you ever get bored of her I’d like to buy you a drink,” Xiuying offers.
“I don't think so,” Tenzin shakes his head.
“She’s not around now is she?” the woman smirks
“Doesn’t matter,” Tenzin frowns.
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” Xiuying inches closer.
“Hey T, got us something I think you’ll like,” Lin returns, not noticing the young lady speaking to Tenzin.
“Thanks babe,” Tenzin pulls her into his lap.
“Hmm,” Xiuying tuts, “find me if you change your mind.”
“I won’t,” Tenzin doesn’t even glance up from Lin, “so what did you get me to drink?”
“Try it,” Lin nudges his hand towards the drink.
“Lychee?” Tenzin checks.
“Yep,” Lin nods before moving to get out of his lap though Tenzin stops her.
“I wanted to taste your drink too,” he presses his lips to hers, taking the opportunity to explore her as he hadn't done in months before today, “I like that one better.”
“Dinner should be ready soon,” Lin pants, giving herself a few moments to gather herself before returning to the counter. Tenzin watches her and the bartender chat while she waits on their meal, taking the opportunity to appreciate his girlfriend.
“Did the vegetarian meal hold things up?” Tenzin asks when Lin returns.
“No, the lady at the bar was giving me some advice,” Lin shares with a small smile.
“What did she say?” Tenzin wonders.
“ ‘Make sure he loves you night and day’,” Lin supplies.
“Good thing I already do,” Tenzin presses a kiss to her lips.
“I love you,” Lin whispers against his lips.
“I love you too,” Tenzin sighs back, only having a few weeks before he had to go off on another extended trip as a part of his training. Lin slides into the chair beside him and the two spend the night catching up on their week before eventually making it back to their tent.
Tenzin wakes up early the next morning with his girlfriend fast asleep beside him. He figures a few more minutes wouldn't hurt so he intertwines their fingers knowing this would be the last time for almost two years and allows himself to sleep a little longer. The next thing he knows, his girlfriend is trying to wake him .
"Good morning," Lin sits up beside Tenzin before looking for her bag.
"Morning babe. Looking for this?" Tenzin grins, handing her the bag they tossed to the other side of the room.
"Thanks. Here you go," Lin hands him a box. When he opens it there's a framed picture of them during the most recent holiday and a metal sky bison.
"Happy birthday and happy anniversary when they come ," Lin explains.
"Lin, you didn't have to," Tenzin rolls to her side resting his head in her lap, "I really appreciate this."
"I'm glad you do. Not having to doesn’t stop me from wanting you to have these ahead of time since we won’t be together," Lin smiles, stroking his cheek, "now we need to get ready."
"Not yet, we have another few hours before everyone should reach in. We can leave at midday and reach around the same time," Tenzin informs her, “how was your sleep?”
"It's not too bad this morning," Lin gives him a small smile, "this bed is much more comfortable than I thought."
"Yeah it's just the bed," Tenzin rolls his eyes.
"You being there is a nice addition. Just like it would be nice if you kiss me," Lin leans against his side. Tenzin shifts to her side and cups her cheek before leaning in to kiss her.
"Spirits I love you," Tenzin whispers when they break the kiss, “I can’t wait until I can wake up to you every morning.”
"Tenzin," Lin looks anywhere but at him.
"This is not an ultimatum, it's not a marriage proposal. I just want you to know that I'm so in love with you Lin Beifong that I turn into an idiot thinking about you. I want to be able to love you night and day," Tenzin professes lacing his fingers through hers, “ I just feel like I need to be more clear with you about how I feel about you. I need you to know how much you mean to me and that I want this for the long run.”
“You know I love you…" Lin trails off though nothing follows.
"Let's eat breakfast," Tenzin changes the topic after a beat. He wore his heart on his sleeve but his girlfriend was the opposite and he knew that well. He had always been the one to make the first move when it came to talking about feelings with the exception of their first ‘I love yous’. He already knew he would spend the rest of his life with Lin Beifong. He hadn't planned to tell her this morning but it just came out.
"Okay," Lin nods, removing her hand from his.
"Lin," Tenzin sighs.
"I'm not running but I need your help getting my tunic on which requires your hands," Lin explains.
"I have some experience in the area," Tenzin smirks while helping her into the tunic.
They eat breakfast before getting ready for the day ahead of them and don’t address the topic of the future again though Lin considers it for the rest of the morning. This wasn’t the first time it came up but definitely the first time Lin felt this confusing feeling. They are well on their way before Lin begins to realise what the feeling really is. As she sits at the reins, ensconced in his arms, Lin knows this is it. He is it. Her confidant, her love, her best friend, everything. The only person she wants to be with night and day. And she realises that a future with him, kids and all doesn't terrify her as much as it used to so long as it wasn’t right away. Before he went off for his two years of travel Lin knows she wants to let him know. When they get to Sokka’s hut in the South Pole she steels herself to tell him.
“Tenzin,” Lin stops him from entering the hut.
“Everything okay?” he checks, worried he scared her off.
“I just want you to know that I love you, in the night and day kind of way,” Lin shares nervously.
“Night and day?” Tenzin smiles as he rests his hands on her waist and tugs towards him.
“Night and day,” Lin presses her lips to his.