Chapter Text
Republic City is exhausting. Lin Bei Fong didn’t truly realize how exhausting it is until she finds herself facing it alone. She goes to work, does her job, comes home, tries not to think about how alone she feels. Suyin has gone spirits know where and her mother – well she resigned and now Lin is stuck working under Chief Raiko – the worst kind of police chief. He has political leanings.
Lin sighs as she drops her keys on the table by the door of her rather small by Bei Fong standards apartment, but Lin doesn’t mind. She minds that it’s empty, and clearly very much just for one person. Her job at the police station gives her odd hours and she hasn’t bothered to keep in touch with the flurry of children she grew up alongside. It happens, and she’ll be alright with it.
Still, the apartment is rather empty. Lin shrugs off her uniform coat, folding it briefly before draping it over the chair. She turns to her mail. Nothing too exciting. She’s already seen the evening edition of the Times . The Chief will be pleased his gang bust got mentioned. Lin’s fingers catch on the expensive paper of the last piece of mail.
The scroll is heavy and set with a fancy seal. Lin learned those ages ago. This one is an official one from Air Temple Island, done in their signature orange wax. Lin frowns as she breaks the seal to see what is going on at the island this time.
She almost drops the scroll. She catches it with a quick snap of her metalbending. Lin looks over the writing on the scroll.
“So, Tenzin finally gave in about the birthday party.” Lin says to herself as she reads the details. She pauses for a moment, letting herself think about what that would be like – to actually go to a ball.
Mom talked about them when she was younger, before everything . Maybe once Lin would have wanted to go. There were certainly opportunities before the police academy. But Lin turned her attention to her metalbending and her career, so wanting to be like her mother. Lin reaches up to brush the scars on her cheek. She’s not part of that world anymore.
Lin sighs and tosses the invitation aside. She’s not going to be welcomed at the ball not since the big fight on Air Temple Island. It doesn’t matter. She wouldn’t go anyway. There are more things to worry about than the birthday ball of an old ex.
*~*~*
The main courtyard of Air Temple Island is packed with people moving all over. Tenzin has lost track of what they are all up to. He keeps having to move out of the way of tables and decorations. Tenzin is starting to think this might have been a bad idea – Kya is just very hard to say no to at times. She and Bumi have wanted to throw this party for ages.
“Yasuko? Did Kya put you up to this?” Tenzin asks. Yasuko turns from where she has been directing the operations, clipboard in hand.
“Of course. She wants everything to go well and I’m rather good at parties like this. We throw them regularly.” Yasuko says with a shrug. “Kya! There you are, did you get to go over the guest list?”
Tenzin trails after Yasuko. He’s a bit curious about this. He expected the usual people they’d have to invite being the children of the Avatar and everything. Tenzin wonders if anyone else will be on the list. Kya has a clipboard of her own and is seated behind a makeshift desk – maybe?
“It looks good to me. I’m not sure everyone will come.” Kya says as she passes back the clipboard. Yasuko accepts it.
“Who else would be coming?” Tenzin asks, trying to be subtle about his curiosity for the guest list. Kya raises an eyebrow in question.
“Anyone in particular you think should be invited?” Kya asks, almost teasing. Tenzin shrugs. He knows she knows exactly who he would ask about.
“No one. I was just curious.” Tenzin answers. “It looks like you guys have everything handled. I’ll leave you to it.”
Tenzin backs off, disappearing among the crowd of workers, headed in the direction of the training yards. Kya and Yasuko exchange looks as he goes. Yasuko sighs. Kya rolls her eyes.
“I did send her an invite.” Yasuko offers. Kya nods. “That’s the list of people who have replied. She hasn’t said anything.”
“I’ll talk to her in person.” Kya says. “I might be able to convince her to come. I doubt she will though. She hasn’t been here since the fight.”
“What fight was that?” Yasuko asks turning back from a quick discussion with one of the workers. Kya sighs.
“Their breakup fight. Neither were in a good place and there was a lot going on. I can tell he misses her though.” Kya answers. She smiles softly. “Fantastic bending fight though.”
“I hope you get her to come for Tenzin’s sake.”
“So do I.”
*~*~*
Tenzin settles at the edge of the training grounds. The early morning sun warm on his face. He smiles softly as he breathes deeply. He’s not quite meditating, but rather enjoying the peaceful morning before the next round of workers for the birthday ball descends upon the island. The peace is nice after his morning airbending practice.
“Little brother! I knew I’d find you out here!” Tenzin winces at his older brother’s voice. There goes the peaceful morning.
“ Younger brother.” Tenzin mutters under his breath. “I didn’t know you’d be back so soon. I thought you didn’t have leave for a couple more weeks.”
“You think I would miss my little brother’s birthday ball? The one Kya finally convinced you to let her throw!” Bumi says with a bright smile as he walks into view. He’s dressed in his United Forces uniform but still the same Bumi. “Any interesting ladies you’re thinking of? Interesting gentlemen?”
“Bumi!” Tenzin says a touch exacerbated. Bumi just smiles. “You know I’m not you.”
“So how much has Kya let you have control over this?” Bumi asks as he drops back down to the map Tenzin has been half meditating on.
“She called in Yasuko to help. You know Hiroshi Sato’s wife.” Tenzin explains as he reaches for his water. “It’s apparently the even of the season according to Erdu’s column.”
“Event of the season? Wow I’m impressed, little brother. Didn’t know you had it in you.” Bumi says with a slap to Tenzin’s back. “So anyone you’re planning to dance the night away with?”
Tenzin sighs. He wants to tell Bumi exactly who he hopes will come to the ball but he also knows Lin won’t and Bumi will never let him live it down. He’ll tell Kya and then Kya will get involved in a way she thinks is helpful.
“Who knows who will come?” Tenzin says, his voice perhaps a little too controlled. Bumi raises an eyebrow.
“Sure little brother, whatever you say.”
“Younger brother.” Tenzin snaps back. Bumi just chuckles at his younger brother’s antics. Tenzin rolls his eyes.
“I’ve missed you, younger brother.”
*~*~*
Kya swears to the spirits themselves, Tenzin and Lin have to be two of the most bor-q-pine headed people she knows. She has done everything necessary for this event, everything she could possibly do to get them both to see sense. At least she’s not alone in this plot.
“Did you talk to him?” Kya asks as Bumi walks into the planned meeting spot under the old oak tree on Air Temple Island.
“Hello Sis, how nice to see you.” Bumi starts with a cheerful voice. Kya gives him a withering look. “Yes I spoke to our little brother. As pig-mule headed as ever. It’s definitely Lin.”
“We know that.” Yasuko answers. Kya nods. “He’ll go to the ball?”
“I still can’t believe he agreed. Tenzin will if for no other reason than the slim chance the one that got away will be there.” Kya answers. The other two conspirators nod in agreement. Bumi sighs.
“She’s not going to come?”
“Leave that to us.” Kya says, a knowing look passing between her and Yasuko. Bumi is briefly reminded of Uncle Sokka’s fear of girl talk.
“I hope this works.”
“Big brother, when has it not?”
*~*~*
There’s a brisk knock at the door. Three quick taps with a pause that seems to say meters of words. Lin doesn’t want to shift from her warm pot of tea and the novel she’s been settling into enjoy. She has a suspicion whoever is on the other side of the door will not rest until they’re handled. Lin stands with a sigh. She always has to handle one thing or another. Apparently even at her own door.
“Cheers darling, I thought we’d be out here all night.” Yasuko Sato says with a perky smile. She brushes past a shocked Lin followed by no less than three maids. Lin looks out to the empty hall before turning back to the socialite. “I thought you’d be ready by now. No matter. I’m certain we can handle this.”
“If this is about the ball, I’m not going. Tenzin and I – we’re not something that works.” Lin says, trying to placate the women before her. Yasuko looks shocked. She raises a fashionably arched eyebrow in question.
“Are you? I’ve seen the pining on his part. You’re not exactly much better.” Yasuko says. She gestures to Lin’s tiny apartment. “I know this isn’t you. Lin, we want you guys to be happy. Kya and Bumi can see it as well as me. You both work better together.”
Lin sighs as she moves further into the apartment, closing the door following Yasuko’s dramatic entrance. The two have been friends for some time now. Noble daughters of respected, ranking families. They understand each other.
“I’m not someone who can exist in that world.” Lin says. Her expression turning downward. Her hand brushes the scars on her face. Yasuko’s face softens.
“Lin, it’s not the world that matters but the person.” Yasuko says, resting a hand on Lin’s shoulder. Lin turns back to her. “I know you’re the strong one all the time, you’re allowed to enjoy things. You’re allowed to want. Agni don’t fall into that stupid idea of wanting making one weak.”
“Do you really think?” Lin asks, allowing herself to fall into that moment of wanting. She’s never thought herself weak for it. Just Tenzin seems like the remains of a childhood dream. Her hand brushes her scars. “I’m not who he knew.”
Yasuko sighs as she reaches for Lin. She knows how much her friend tries her best to ignore how bad the past has hurt her. It doesn’t help how the papers and gossip rags like to elevate Tenzin. She knows Lin holds a touch for him even after all these years.
“It’s a masked ball.” Yasuko says with a wave of her hand. “You do not even have to dance with him. I’ll point him out so you know. He won’t know you. So that’s your choice. Think of it as a night out just for the fun of it.”
Lin raises her hand to her face where the matched pair of scars rests then she looks over to the maids who have companied Yasuko. They carry various boxes likely bearing what is the proper wardrobe and accessories to attire Lin for the ball. Lin looks back at Yasuko. She shrugs.
“You’re not going to let this go…” Lin says, raising an eyebrow in question. Yasuko smiles. “Did Kya put you up to this?”
“Whatever makes you say that?” Yasuko asks as she settles on one of Lin’s chairs, crossing her legs daintily at the ankles. Lin gives her a look. “Well I see the police academy didn’t have to teach you intimidation, Bei Fong.”
Lin sighs. She can feel the conflict inside her. Part of her wants to go to the ball. She wants to see her old friends. She remembers when they were close. She remembers when she was close with Tenzin. He was her first kiss. Lin sighs. Yasuko is here on the day of the ball for a reason. If Kya is involved, Lin knows she’s not going to find a way out of this. She rolls her eyes.
“Alright Sato. Get me ready for the ball.” Lin finally says. She’s only slightly concerned with the bright smile that breaks across Yasuko’s face.
“Excellent! To the tub!”
*~*~*