Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She scanned the room again. 

Flipping her phone over, the screen illuminated brightly. Voices drowned and melted into one song around her. Plates clanged loudly and wine glasses clinked between lovers and families, eyes drawn to the other and bodies yearning to become closer. Across her table was an empty wine glass, a fresh set of utensils and plates, and silence. 

Over an hour had passed. 

The only notifications that vibrated in her purse were texts of encouragement from Kya and her mom. 

“Use protection. Don’t break him too hard.”

Lin cringed internally at her mother’s text. When would she ever grow up? 

She reached for the glass of wine, swirling it and raising it to her lips. Lin was never a big fan of the bitter notes in red wine, but for once, she savored it and allowed it to fuel her growing frustration. 

“He’s tall, good looking, and really nice. He’s not looking to just hook up with some girl. He actually wants to be in a long-term relationship with a woman. Just meet him once, Lin. Please?” an old friend begged incessantly, until she agreed. 

Lin scoffed, tongue tracing the edge of her lip. Her arms crossed beneath her chest, leg shaking underneath the table. 

“Miss, would you like another glass of wine?” 

A hand raised. “I’ll buy a bottle. Please give me the check after.” 

“Of course.” 

As soon as the waiter disappeared into the sea of people, Lin unlocked her phone and scrolled through her messages. 

I’ll see you at 7pm :) 

Lin clicked on his contact and pressed several buttons before her phone darkened and locked. 

“I hope we never meet, Tenzin Wang.” 

One week later

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

“Come in.” 

A cheerful smile peeked through the door. “Hi Lin.” 

The loud typing on a keyboard paused and she peered up. A small smile graced her face. “What are you doing here, Principal? You never show up unless it’s an emergency, party invitation, or a tour.” 

Aang chuckled, clasping his hands behind his back. “You know me so well.” 

“So which one is it? Or shall I guess?” 

“Hmm, why don’t you take a guess?” 

Lin rested her chin on her hands, studying her superior intently. The amusement in his eyes were the biggest hints. His posture was relaxed and inviting, weight shifting evenly on both legs. Every passing second extended his grin and Lin lifted her face off her hands. 

“A party invitation.” 

“So close!” 

Lin groaned. “What poor soul are you torturing now with a tour?” 

Aang chuckled. “That poor soul is our new history teacher for the upcoming year. Since it's still summer vacation, I’m showing him around the campus and you happen to be here.” 

Lin sighed, dismissing the comment with a hand wave. “You finally picked one. I’m surprised you found one before the renovations ended.” 

“Do you want to meet him?” 

“Sure.” Lin shrugged, standing up and walking over to Aang. “But hurry up because this is the only time I get any peace before the chaos starts.” 

Following Aang out of her office, Lin froze. All of Aang’s words perished as the familiar heat and rage re-emerged in the pit of her stomach.

“Lin, this is Mr. Tenzin Wang, our new history teacher.”

Chapter Text

“Hi Lin, it’s very nice to meet you.” His voice was soft yet deep with intellect. There was a subtle glint in his eyes as he bowed politely and extended his hand. 

A bitter aftertaste rolled across her palette at his gesture, so Lin decided to center her attention at something else to distract from the phantom sensation. Tenzin is tall. Her eyes have to tilt upward to match his level, almost at the same height as Aang. Lin always had a thing for taller men…and he is better looking than the photo that her friend sent. But no matter how charming he may seem, Lin was no longer swayed. Looks mean nothing. Words mean nothing. 

Actions speak everything.   

Tenzin’s eyes flickered from his extended hand to her eyes. 

Lin frowned, clasping her hands together and not oblivious to how the hopeful glint in his eye disappeared. “So you made it to the interview?” 

“Of course he made it.” Aang tilted his head and blinked innocently, staring between the two. Tenzin slowly lowered his hand and rested it against his side, his hand becoming slick with sweat.

“Do…you two know each other?” 

“Um, well…” Tenzin looked to Lin for an answer. 

“No. We don’t.”

Aang coughed lightly and Lin bit her tongue, extending her hand finally. “I never thought we’d meet, Mr. Wang,” she continued. 

Tenzin shook her hand, lips slightly curled inward. “I hope we can work well together. I look forward to working here.” 

“Hmm.” 

Aang smiled and gently patted Tenzin. “There’s more to see. Shall we?” 

“Sure.” 

The principal sent his thanks to Lin and guided Tenzin down the corridor toward the classrooms. Lin crossed her arms, scowling as her eyes followed the newest member. A low growl bubbled in the back of her throat. How the hell did he find his way into her school? 

“I know you’re trouble, Tenzin Wang.” 

As if reading her thoughts, Tenzin glanced over his shoulder at her. With two fingers, she pointed at her eyes menacingly then back at him. His cheeks reddened for a moment and his eyes scanned around in a mildly frantic way. Then he raised an awkward hand, pointed at his eyes then back at her.  

Her jaw dropped, fists clenching tighter. 

Oh, he is definitely trouble.

In the first month as a teacher at Republic City High School, Tenzin genuinely enjoyed his new role and flourished. Perhaps it was the high of being in a new job, but it didn’t matter. At least now he was working regular daytime hours instead of the 6pm to midnight shifts for years. The transition from working at an after-school academy equally burdened his shoulders as it would for students. His students depended on him to equip them with the knowledge that would secure high scores for their college entrance exams. 

The students were lovely. 

It was their parents that became the final crack in his decision to leave that job. 

They created an unhealthy amount of pressure on their children to get into one of the top universities: Republic City University or United Republic National University. If their child failed to become a student of either, then they were deemed an unofficial failure. The burden to be the “perfect” student didn’t just fall on the child. It also fell on Tenzin. 

He lost count of how many parents berated his more relaxed teaching style and threatened to have him fired. At a certain point, he reached his limit. Enough was enough. Now was the time to move on and work at a place where parents and other teachers might actually appreciate his efforts. 

So he applied for an open position at Republic City High School, and within a couple of weeks, he received a call with an offer.  

Not to mention, the other teachers were also welcoming, friendly, and full of character. He made several friends, or rather, he was pulled into a circle of old friends. Kya and Bumi, the school’s art and physical education instructors, guided him under their protective and friendly wing. They gave a very informal and informative guide to surviving the school from the school cliques and also dynamics of the other faculty. 

1. Don’t trust Tarrlok because he will use any information against another person. 

2. Don’t do any small favors for Raiko. If anyone does anything for him, he will ask for a bigger favor and never repay the person. 

Within the first month, he found Kya and Bumi to be sort of older siblings. He grew up as an only child and always wished to have a sibling to annoy, comfort, play, and grow with. Being with Kya and Bumi, it felt like they had been siblings forever. The only downside was that he was the victim of most of their jokes or pranks. But at least they were nice and always included him on lunch breaks with the rest of their friend group. 

Izumi is the librarian and she fits the role perfectly. Her calm and inquisitive demeanor about literature and poetry gave Tenzin the impression of how intelligent she is. She also admitted that as an introvert, she prefers to be stuck in the library away from chatty teachers or students. Tenzin wondered if she became a member of the group because of Kya and Bumi, too. He shrugged mentally. One day, maybe he’ll find out. 

The last one of their friend group, he did not expect at all. 

Lin Beifong…

How does he begin to explain Lin Beifong? 

“She’s really cool and doesn’t get offended easily. You might think she’s too hardcore, but inside she’s actually a soft person. She has pretty high standards, and I think you’d be such a great match for her.”  

He made numerous attempts to apologize to her about their blind date. But Lin would hear none of it, running off or cutting his sentences short. How long was she going to hold onto a grudge? He had no intention of standing her up that night! No matter how friendly and patient he tried to be with her, Lin refused to soften up to him. According to Aang, this was her version of being less abrasive. 

Every morning without fail, he greeted her in the hallways and she never said a word. 

If she had to drop off a folder at his office, she wouldn’t close the door fully despite his polite request to do so.

If he was eating lunch with Bumi, Kya, or Izumi, then Lin would avoid joining them for lunch. If Lin had already beat him and was enjoying lunch with them, she barely spoke a word.

He had sent her and several other teachers a file that needed signatures. Kya, Izumi, and Raiko signed off. Lin was the last one. Sure, maybe she’s busy dealing with a student. 

But Lin responded to a group email two minutes ago. 

She was acting as if he committed a crime against her. How could a grown woman act this…this…immature and petty?! She doesn’t get offended easily? Then what the hell is this?! He’s been trying to be in her good graces, but all she does is shoot him down. They could not be more opposite to each other. And don’t get him started on her teaching style. 

He left the academy to nurture and support his students’ studies, but what does Lin do? She has the exact nature of the parents he attempted to break away from. Her focus was on results and strict study methods to achieve it. Homework, quizzes, and tests were a common gift from her. Though the students didn’t speak up against her, he could feel their frustration from several classrooms over. With her military-like grip on the class, it’s no secret why her students have been enduring in silence. 

Knock. Knock. 

“Yes?” 

Tenzin held his breath as he walked up into her office. A small shiver trembled through his body, goosebumps raising slightly. The chilliness of the room had nothing to do with the air conditioner. An aged book rested in her hands. Tenzin squinted and recognized it as, The Cave of Two Lovers.  

“Do you have a moment?” 

“No,” Lin answered, eyes not meeting his. She flipped the page casually. 

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Knowing her, she would somehow know if he did that to her. “It’s not about that night.” 

“And?” 

He released a weary sigh. “A couple of my students spoke with me and mentioned that they’re feeling overwhelmed in their classes.” 

“Alright, and what does this have to do with me?” 

“They mentioned that your classes are the hardest for them.” Now he had her attention and she folded the corner of the page, and closed her book. “Maybe if you reduce the workload on them, they—” 

“Who are you to tell me how to teach my class?” LIn rose from her seat, eyes staring evenly into the grey. “We are here to teach. Not comfort and babysit children.” 

“I never said anything about changing your style. All I’m suggesting is to lessen some of their work so they can be in a better mindset to learn.” 

“That’s part of how I teach. Health is not the same as history. There is no room for interpretation,” Lin goaded. “It’s full of facts and that’s what I’m paid to teach. Nothing more, nothing less.”  

“All you’re teaching them is how to take a test!” Tenzin shot back, ears heating up. The initial politeness he attempted to bring into this space was now thrown out the window.  “They could look up all the information online, so what purpose do you serve as a teacher?! We are much more than just their teachers! They look up to us as examples, as models on how to treat others and act in the world!”   

“We’re not their parents! We are here to teach our subjects. If a kid wants to be inspired by how friendly and warm you are to everyone in the world, then whatever. But don’t expect me to follow your touchy-feely philosophy!” 

“So what? All you care about are their grades and whether they get into the top two universities?!” 

“And that they don’t bully or beat the shit out of anyone in my classes,” Lin added in a low voice.

Tenzin swore he felt fire blazing at the top of his head and steam spilling out of his ears the longer he stared into those cruel green eyes. Tension collected in his jaw, hands, and shoulders. By nature, he would describe himself as someone who knew how to keep his cool under pressure and stress. But every time he spoke to Lin Beifong…she brought out a side to him that no one had seen. She raised a passionate fire in his chest and he did not mean that in a good way. 

“Maybe it’s better that we didn’t go on that date,” he hissed. 

Lin’s eye twitched. “You’re only learning that now? You’re so behind.” A sly smirk suddenly appeared on her face. “You would never be able to handle me, anyway.” 

“Don’t underestimate me,” Tenzin growled. “I can handle more than you think.” 

“We’ll see about that.”  

A hurricane roared in his eyes, challenging the earthquakes and molten lava that grounded this woman. School walls disappeared around them, destroyed from the escalating tension and wrath between the two teachers. Fire would burn every document into ashes, and no matter how hard he could try, her heart would be too cold to melt. Not a single flame would touch this icy woman.  

“Run your class however the hell you want,” Lin finally uttered between gritted teeth, “but don’t dictate how I’m supposed to teach.” 

“Fine by me.” He stormed out of her office, door slamming behind him. 

Who could ever look at them and say they were a good match?! She’s nothing but abrasive, cynical, dry, and petty. He silently thanked the universe that their offices and classrooms were far apart from each other. Otherwise, he’d pull his hair out until he becomes bald from the stress.

Attention third-year students, 

Due to ongoing renovations in the school building, we will be making adjustments to our classroom allocations. Beginning next Monday and for the remainder of the academic year, Mr.Tenzin Wang and Ms. Lin Beifong’s courses will be held in Room 170. This arrangement is temporary and we apologize for the inconveniences this may cause, but this is necessary to accommodate the renovation process. 

Please take note of this change and ensure that you arrive promptly to your designated classroom for your respective classes. 

Thank you, 

Principal Aang

Chapter Text

Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. 

What the hell is this?! Why does she have to share a classroom with him?! 

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

Out of all the teachers, it has to be her?! Even Bumi would be a better co-teacher than her! 

The clacking of heels and hard clapping of shoes stopped suddenly. 

Eyes narrowed, lightning and thunder swirling around them. 

They stormed at each other. 

“You.”   

Tenzin scowled. “I know you’re not over date night, but really, Ms. Beifong? Sharing a classroom?” 

“I see you still can’t get a date at all.” Lin crossed her arms. “What else is new?” 

He gestured to the sign on the door. Principal Aang, it read on an aged nameplate. “I’m on my way to fix this mess you got me in.” 

Lin rested her weight on one leg and motioned to the door. “Ladies first.” 

“Uggghh,” Tenzin growled, knuckles whitening around the doorknob and pulling intensely. His eyes never broke away from the infuriatingly smugness on her face. This will be over soon. Aang is a reasonable and empathetic man. He won’t keep us together. He’s on my side. Blood almost swirled on his tongue at the woman’s refusal to move. “You can stop checking me out now.” 

“I said, ladies first,” Lin reiterated in a dark and low growl. 

“You two can come in.” 

Their heads spun in the direction of the calm voice.  Aang gently motioned with his hand, waving his hand downward. “Come inside and close the door. Unless you want a few students to listen in?”

Lin and Tenzin’s complaints dwindled at the back of their throats, never rising fully to life. Neither made the first move, eyes daring the other into crossing the line. 

“Come inside.” 

Finally, Lin surrendered and led the trek into a diplomatic negotiation. It took every muscle in her body to restrain her eyes from rolling to the back of her head in front of Aang. The sunshine from the windows behind Aang always gave him an angelic aura, illuminating the room for anyone who entered.  But today, a dark cloud hovered and trailed above her and the disappearing act next to her. Let’s see how well he can handle a storm. 

A smile graced his lips at the stormy and intense expressions from his employees. Wrinkling hands clasped together on the desk. “Would you like to sit down?” 

“No.” 

“No.” 

He nodded. “What can I do for you two?” 

“Why would you do this to me?” Lin demanded. 

“Do what?” The innocent and oblivious tone held no power in alleviating the fire.  

“Principal Aang, can’t you switch the classes?” 

Lin crossed her arms. “You’re being too cruel to my students. Forcing them to listen to Tenzin’s tangents and storytelling is inhumane.” 

Grey eyes swerved away from their superior and struck jade. A thin vein pulsed at his temple, cheeks warming. “At least my students actually ask questions and have discussions!” 

“Because you let them walk all over you,” Lin shot back, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “You’re the easy teacher.” 

“Better than my students being afraid of me!” 

“It’s called control, Mr. Wang—one of a million things you’re lacking.” 

“That's enough.” 

Lin and Tenzin’s mouths shut tightly and they straightened on the spot. Tenzin clasped his hands in front and lowered his head politely. Lin stretched her arms behind her back, gripping her hands and raising her head in attention.  

Aang rubbed the back of his neck, a slow and heavy sigh crawling out to collect as much of the tension he could gather in one breath. But one deep breath would not solve the problem when the roots of it were standing before him in anticipation. He studied Lin, scanning her from head to toe and moving over to Tenzin to do the same. Without another word, he forced his muscles to curl upward into a convincing smile. But Lin and Tenzin remained unfazed. 

“I know this is not the ideal circumstance for you two,” Aang began slowly, catching the low cough in Tenzin’s throat. His eyes flickered to him for a moment and then he averted his eyes between them. “I’m not unaware that you have your differences, even if it might seem so.”  

“Aang, this is—”

He raised a hand and gently said, “Let me finish, Ms. Beifong.” 

Lin bit her tongue and nodded in compliance. 

“I’m well aware that you two have different views on how to best serve our students, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all have our differences in the world.” A softer smile began to blossom as he observed them. “But this could be an opportunity for you two to smooth things out...maybe become friends.” 

“As if.” 

Tenzin counted with his fingers. “She’s controlling, obsessed with every little detail, holds a grudge—” 

“I’m organized.”  

Tenzin huffed. “So am I.” 

“You’re only organized,” Lin put her fingers in air quotes, “because you have student assistants to keep your brain from falling apart.” 

“Principal, are you hearing this?” 

Lin turned her attention to Aang. “I can’t guarantee this building will still stand by the end of the year if you force him in my classroom. For the sake of peace, can’t you switch Tenzin with Kya?”

“Kya and Izumi agreed with their arrangements.” 

“There has to be another option,” Tenzin pressed. 

Aang averted his eyes downward, tongue swirling against his cheek. “Well…one of you could share a classroom with Tarrlok or Raiko.”

Lin hung her head down, jaw clenched. A low curse slipped under her breath. 

Tenzin rubbed his eyes. 

A bell rang in Aang’s head. Bingo. He got them. As much as he wanted to skip and shout in victory, he grounded himself back to earth. Leaning back in his seat, he swiveled back and forth. “So what’ll it be? You can either stay in this arrangement or switch with Tarrlok or Raiko.” 

“So what happened?” 

Lin opened her mouth, but—

“Lin got set up on a blind date with Tenzin, but he never showed up. Then a week later, he started working here.” 

“Keep it down, Kya!” Green eyes sharpened its glare and settled its claws onto Kya, who simply smirked. Amongst a quick scan of the teachers lounge, Lin identified several enemies that should not hear any precious information. 

Tarrlok.

Raiko. 

Bumi. 

Well, technically, Bumi isn’t an enemy. Over the years, Lin found that Bumi could be an ally when she needed someone to cover her. He’s fiercely loyal and out-of-the box thinking somehow fixes problems, instead of causing more. She stopped questioning his methods after a while. Trying to grasp how his brain worked only raised more questions and confusion and frustration. She doesn’t need that. Plus, there have been a handful of times where he had been a shoulder to cry on. 

His weakness is that he knows almost everything about everyone.

That’s why his hair is so wild. It’s full of juicy and hair-raising secrets. 

One of the best places to collect and store fresh gossip is the teachers lounge. With no dividers between the desks, it’s easy to accidentally overhear how a coworker allegedly got put into a potato sack and forced to join the military. The trio of women gathered in one of the quieter corners of the lounge, hoping to contain their conversation there. But that proves difficult when one of them has a loud mouth at the wrong times. 

“Can’t we talk about this after work at White Lotus?” 

“You’re gonna have one drink, then leave without telling us anything.” 

Lin rolled her eyes, but didn’t protest against the fact thrown back in her face. 

Izumi adjusted her glasses. “So that's it?” 

“She ghosted him, deleted and blocked his number.” 

“Kyaaaaa. Shut the hell up, please.” 

“Oh shush.” 

“No wonder you don’t want him in our group,” Izumi muttered, sipping on her tea. “Looks like you can’t get away from him that easily.” 

“Don’t remind me,” came a low grumble. Any other fiery words died as Lin bit off a piece of beef jerky, chewing tensely. The saltiness and subtle spiciness was a welcomed distraction, however small it may be. Her gaze locked on the orchid plant in the distance. Lin envisioned the soil suffocating the annoyingly bright flower, then burning to ash. Wouldn’t it be so much more fun if she could control the elements?  

“He’s not that bad, Lin.” 

Unimpressed eyes decided to spare the flower and glance at Izumi. 

Her friend continued, “He’s not problematic nor an asshole.” 

Kya inched closer to Lin, lowering her voice. “Didn’t he say he apologized and tried to reschedule with you?” 

“Who apologized?” 

Kya threw a paper clip at the target. “Go away, Bumi. We’re having a girl talk.”

“But I’m one of you gals!” His voice raised several octaves and he combed his fingers through his hair. Settling beside Izumi, he crossed his legs and batted his eyelashes. “Who is he? What did he do? Where are we hiding the body? I’ll bring the car and Lin can come up with the alibi.” 

Lin cringed at the vocal change, but shot a quick glance at Kya who raised her eyelids subtly. The duo shifted so that a small gap divided the two women and their friend, offering as much privacy as they could in an open space. 

“Stop that, we’re not talking about anyone important,” Izumi answered in between soft laughter, pushing the small strands of hair behind her ear. 

“Tell me pleaaaase,” Bumi implored, pouting at the trio of women. “I won’t tell a single soul.” 

“You don’t know who we’re talking about,” Lin answered vaguely. 

“Oh, perfect!” Bumi clapped. “Then you can tell me what happened. I have no connection to them.” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “That’s not how it works.” 

“Just tell me.” 

“Just shut up.” 

Bumi crossed his arms, sulking. “You’re so mean to me.” 

Izumi gently patted his shoulder. “You know how she is.” 

Lin evoked a soft grunt to herself, tugging at another bite of jerky.

Ding! 

Bumi dug into his pocket, extracting his phone and smiling at the screen to unlock it. His eyes widened and he gasped, his brooding mood evaporating completely. “Wait, Lin! I heard that you and Tenzin are sharing a classroom. That’s so exciting.” 

“Gggrrrrgh.” 

“Why? You don’t like him?”

“That’s an understatement,” Izumi whispered.

All sets of eyes amongst the group whirled in her direction. What are they all looking at? What is there to look at? If they think their curious eyes are gonna convince her to spill, they’re clearly wrong. After all the years they’ve worked together, and they don’t know that by now? 

“He’s cool,” Bumi commented. Tilting his head upward for a moment, he rubbed his chin. “A total nerd, but cool. He’s not used to joking around.”

“You mean he’s not used to you and Kya bullying him,” Izumi corrected.  

“It’s not bullying. Just toughening him up into a proper man.” He winked, cackling at Izumi’s eye roll. 

“He’s like a little brother, you know?” Kya added.  

Lin crossed her legs, arms, and shifted her body away from the group. “I don’t have to—” Before she could finish her sentence, the storm within her reappeared again. Smiles spread so easily amongst her friends, yet died with her. Remnants of the morning’s conversation with Aang re-emerged, not fully buried at the back of her mind. 

He waved his hand awkwardly, approaching. “Hey guys.” 

“Hey Tenzin,” Kya greeted warmly. “Did you finish class?” 

“Yeah, I was grading a few quizzes.” 

“Did you eat lunch yet?” 

He shook his head. “I got caught up with other things.” 

A bag of baby carrots appeared in her hands. “Want some carrots?” 

Izumi sent her a puzzled look, peeking around, beside, and behind the art teacher. “Where did you get that from?” 

“Magic!” She shook the bag in front of Tenzin until he accepted it. “Take it all.” 

Bumi extended his hand out to her. “Where’s mine, Mom?” 

Kya’s smile dropped instantly, lips pursed tightly. “I should be asking you that! Do you know how much money you owe me?” 

“Request me for money and I’ll send it,” Bumi replied, waving his phone at her. 

Tenzin chuckled to himself, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. “Thanks Kya for the carrots. I was planning on going to the cafeteria for lunch. Do you want to join me?” 

“Yeah, we’ll come with you.” 

“I brought lunch.” 

There they go again, all looking at her. 

“Save it for tomorrow,” Kya advised. “They have black bean noodles and fried chicken today.” 

“I’m saving money.” 

“I’ll pay for you,” Izumi offered. “Just eat with us.” 

“I already—” 

“It’s okay, guys. It’s alright if she doesn’t want to join us.”  

Her nostrils flared, face set ablaze.

Us? Us?!  

How dare he say that! She was friends with them first. He’s the fresh meat in the hallways! 

Lin uncrossed her legs and threw the rest of the jerky in her mouth. “Fine.” 

Not a single soul in the group uttered a peep as they sat in the middle of the battle. Bumi licked his lips, mischief turning the gears in his head, glossing his eyes and curling his mouth in a grin. In one look, Kya and Izumi concluded a five-minute conversation in silence. Another flickering gaze in Lin and Tenzin’s direction, and a restrained smile almost surfaced.

“Fine,” Tenzin parroted tensely. 

Lin stood, walking past Tenzin and staring directly into his eyes. When silence trailed behind her, she paused, glancing over her shoulder and sending a look. “Well? Let’s go.”      

The couch squeaked, clothes ruffling and footsteps shuffling. It never ends well when a Beifong is angry. Bumi and Kya could attest to that as first hand witnesses when they met Toph Beifong. Conversations revived again—thanks to Bumi—but Lin chose not to contribute her own currency to the dialogue dancing around her. Tenzin stayed at the back of the group and Lin sighed in relief. 

Lunch wasn’t a dramatic affair. They maintained their distance—Tenzin got to bond with the group and Lin sat at the edge in silence with free lunch. But she would prefer to sit in her office in peace instead.  Several students interrupted every once in a while, asking questions or trying to throw something at Bumi to confirm his reaction time. Apparently, Bumi taught the senior boys Aang’s infamous marble trick and the trend spread through all the students like a wildfire. But no one has been able to master it, quite like Principal Aang…yet. 

Lin is halfway done with her noodles, and she raises a bowl of bone broth soup to her lips to wash down the savory flavors. 

“Lin.” 

…

“Lin.” 

…

Pat.

“Lin, Tenzin is talking to you.” 

The bowl rested on the table again. “I know,” Lin answered simply. “I was drinking my soup.” Wiping the corners of her mouth with the pad of her thumb, Lin tossed a bored expression at him. “What is it?” 

“We have to figure out how we’ll organize the class.” 

“Simple.” Chopsticks pointed at him, “You stay on one side, and me on the other side.” 

Tenzin stabbed at his rice roll. “I’ll send you my lesson plan for the year.” 

“Sure.” Lin continued to slurp her noodles and reached for a slice of pickled radish. 

Tenzin tensed, inhaling slowly and deeply. “I got your email,” he added.  

“About time.” 

“But the file won’t open.” 

“I’ll email it again.” 

“You can text it to me.” 

Izumi and Kya froze, sharing a look between each other. The bubble surrounding the group thickened and hardened, threatening to suffocate them with tension. A thousand words were silently exchanged between golden and sapphire eyes. Moving an inch or making a sound might be the last move they make before arriving prematurely into the spirit world. Also, if they just kept their mouths closed, maybe they won't get hit by the bullets of their words.      

Lin’s jaw clenched. 

Tenzin studied her. “You have my number right?” 

Tongue in cheek, Lin continued to eat with her head lowered. “Hmm.” 

“Good. I look forward to seeing your lesson plan.”

Echoes of the keyboard clacked and bounced off the walls while slender fingers filled empty lines with words. Her spine slouched forward, bare legs crossed on green cotton sheets. A bright light reflected off of her porcelain complexion. Heat melted into her skin and she shifted the computer off of her lap and settled it on the duvet.   

Opening a new tab, her recent searches dropped down. 

Tenzin Wang republic city 

Tenzin Wang teacher 

Tenzin Wang contact 

Tenzin Wang cell phone number  

Buzz! Buzz! 

Lin glanced over. 

Kya – Need his number? I’m looking at it rn

Izumi – I found his social media 

Kya – WAIT WHAT IS IT??!! SEND IT TO ME 

Izumi – It’s private 

Kya – Idc 

Izumi – Lin follow him 

Lin unlocked her phone, fingernails tapping against the screen. 

No. 

Kya – Follow his page and DM him the syllabus  

Izumi – Omg I found his other page and it’s public 

Kya – Send pics 

Izumi sent 3 images 

Kya – I mean…he’s okay 

Izumi – That’s bc you get wet for women 

Kya – You right 

Izumi – Lin I’ll send you his number

A headache pulsed in her temple and Lin flipped her phone over, resting it on the bed. 

I don’t want it

Kya – Bc you want him and his 🍆🤪💦😈

SHUT THE FUCK UP 

Izumi laughed at “Bc you want him and his 🍆🤪💦😈”

Kya laughed at “SHUT THE FUCK UP”

Chapter Text

Light yellow sun streaks slipped through the partially-closed windows. A perfect distance separated each desk into organized rows. In the middle of the classroom, a larger gap and room divider established the boundaries between Ms. Beifong’s territory and Mr. Wang’s savage world. Cursive swirls and lines grazed the white paper, dancing in black ink. A small ache pressed into the side of Lin’s neck and she broke her attention from the paper. Closing her eyes and rolling her head in a circle until the pain subsided. 

This was the best way she would separate his unruly students from her disciplined class. 

If Tenzin won't set up boundaries, then she'll have to do it. 

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz. 

The vibrations on the table forced Lin to glance at her phone. 

[Reminder] Classroom Change for World—

Lin scowled, peering downward instead and etching her handwriting into the blank space. Metal twisted and clicked, the wooden door swinging open.

“Why am I not surprised you’re here on a Saturday?” 

She flipped the packet of paper upside down and placed it neatly in the stack beside her. “I’m surprised you showed up at all.” 

A trail of steam danced upwards, the ceramic warming Tenzin’s palm. He settled it on the empty desk opposite to Lin. Metal zipper unlocked binders and books hidden within Tenzin’s leather backpack. “If you paid attention, you’d find that I’m full of surprises.”

At the edge of her peripheral vision and in between folders plopped down, more and more of his presence spread out. It only solidified the reality that she and him were sharing a classroom for an entire year. This was no longer just a nightmare, but a reality. 

“If you paid attention, maybe you’d know how to stop pissing me off.” 

Tenzin took one step to her desk. “It’s not my fault you have anger issues and don’t know how to manage them.” 

Slam! 

His feet remained rooted in its position while Lin stood, breathing heavily.  

“Let’s make one thing clear.” Her eyes travelled to the floor. “You stay on your side. Don’t cross the line.” 

Tenzin peered at his side, then Lin’s area. Finally, his grey eyes met her green ones. 

Without blinking, he took three steps toward her. He could have sworn he heard a growl.  

“You might be able to intimidate some people,” he said in a low voice, “but you infuriate me. Just because you were here first doesn’t mean I’ll let you walk all over me, especially since you don’t know how to listen to people when they try to make amends.” 

Lin stormed up to his face, foot crossing over the line and eyes raging at him. “You think just because you can sway over Aang and the students with a laid-back philosophy makes you a better teacher?! Maybe you can fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me. I see right through you.” 

“Yeah? And what do you see? Because all I see in you is a person who’s hard-headed, rigid, and pessimistic.”

“You’re too soft. You care too much about pleasing other people and can’t stand up for yourself. The only thing that can stand on its own is probably your dick, but even that’s questionable.” 

Tenzin's jaw clenched, face reddening. “I can’t wait until the day you find a man who can bend you in half.” 

Lin smirked. “Well, it definitely isn’t gonna be you.” 

She wished she had her phone to take a picture of his face at that moment. Look at his fragile ego being broken and crushed right there. He’s no different from other guys. Underneath that sympathetic and soft-hearted mask is a guy who wants to hear what he wants and needs to be taken care of. How could anyone look at them and think they were a perfect match? 

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

Lin’s shoulder pushed against his arm as she walked past. “You smell like bananas and onions,” came a murmur over her shoulder. The door clicked and swung open underneath her command. Tenzin’s fists whitened and his jaw tensed. He exhaled softly to avoid exposing any signs of anger. “What are you doing here, Aang?” 

As soon as Aang stepped foot into the classroom, he was greeted with a silent heaviness that filled the room despite the few open windows. “I heard voices and came to check in. How are you two doing?” 

Tenzin cleared his throat and pivoted smoothly with a strained smile. He held his hands behind his back, cracking his knuckles tightly. “Fine. We’re going over how we’ll handle our period 4 and 6 classes.” 

“Very nice,” Aang whispered lightly. From behind his back, he brought out a small pink box. “I also stopped by to give you a little gift. It’s tea from the countryside for you to sit down and enjoy together.”  

“Thank you. We’ll keep that in mind,” Lin answered, accepting the gift. 

Aang shared a look with Tenzin who sighed and avoided eye contact. With a nod, he gave them an encouraging smile before leaving. “Alright, well I wish you both a good day. I know you’ll come out together very strong by the end of this year. And…please don’t kill each other.” 

Echoes of Aang’s footsteps softened and died in the distance down the hallway, far away from the battle within her classroom. The weight of the box grew heavier in Lin’s palm. She knew exactly what this was. A peace offering for the two. No matter how long she studied the tiny box holding peace, she could not grasp its concept with the person it was meant to be shared with. 

Lin placed it on a shelf and walked silently to her desk, reaching into her bag and pulling out a folder. She dropped a crisp packet of papers on Tenzin’s desk. 

Fingers splayed across the paper, sliding it closer. His eyes drank in the words and he let out a wry laugh. “I told you to text it to me.” 

“Why would I text you? An email should have been enough.” 

Tenzin unzipped his own backpack and pulled out his own packet of papers. Sitting down in the chair, he tapped it neatly on the desk to align the pages. “I was right.” 

Lin crossed her arms, eyebrows knitting together. “About what?” 

He slid the two packets side by side, then reached for his mug. His throat bobbed, shoulders released all the tension with every gulp of tea. It clanged gently on the wood surface. Tenzin uncapped a black pen and the tip tattooed fresh lines over the paper. “Let’s figure out how we’re going to run period 4 and 6 in the same classroom.” 

“I asked you a question.” 

“And I’m not obligated to answer all of them, Ms. Beifong.” The pen continued to circle and etch newly minted stars on several points of the paper. “Are we or are we not going to discuss how war won’t happen in period 4 and 6?” 

…

“The faster we do this, the faster we finish. Or are you trying to turn this into a date?” 

Lin scowled, words crumbling in her groans. Snatching her packet away from his possession, the chair grated against the floor. She settled in her seat and clicked a pen. “Take notes. I have a list of rules.”

By some miracle, the building was still standing after two hours of negotiations. But there was still more work that needed to be done. Growling stomachs demanded an intermission and they recessed to seek out lunch. Tenzin didn’t think far ahead to bring food, so he was forced to leave the grounds and find food elsewhere. Lin, ever the long-term planner, had a box of lunch waiting patiently for her in the refrigerator. No one else was in the lounge, so she could enjoy her meal in peace. 

Or so she thought. 

“Hi Lin.” 

Lin peered up from the table, mid-chew on her spicy rice cake. “I thought you went home,” she said, holding the chewy rice cake on one side of her cheek. 

Aang shrugged. “I’m a principal. I have a lot of work, too.” Gesturing to the vacant seat beside her, he asked, “May I sit with you?” 

“Sure.” 

Multiple plastic containers unstacked in a neat row. A curious set of jade eyes observed with curiosity, ready to feed on the mystery contained in each box—glass noodles, pickled radish, and a bowl of fruit. Tapping his chopsticks on the table, then pulling them apart, Aang mixed the noodles. “What was that about?”  

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

Slurp! 

“Why are you so hard on him?” 

Lin huffed, chewing intensely. “He’s the guy who stood me up!” 

“Oh…” 

Her chopsticks stabbed at one of the innocent rice cakes. “Why did you have to hire him?” 

Aang rested his wrist, studying Lin sincerely. He offered her a small smile. “He has an impressive resume. And when I met him, I was struck by his sincerity, compassion, and drive to make a positive impact on students.” 

Lin grunted and took another bite of her food. 

Aang chuckled. “I know that look. Give him some time. First impressions aren’t everything.” 

“They are to me.” 

“Tenzin doesn’t seem like the type of man who would do that to someone.” 

“You never know,” she pointed out. “Plus, let’s say he isn’t that type of person. Then why couldn’t he reach out and tell me he couldn’t make it?” 

Aang’s mouth fell open, but nothing came out. He made an empty motion with his hands and lifted his shoulders. “I can’t answer that. Maybe something happened or his phone got stolen?” 

“Whatever…” 

“You two might get along if you would only give him a chance,” he suggested sympathetically. 

“Hmph.”

“I don’t know how I’m going to survive this year with her!” Tenzin exclaimed, mixing his own spicy cakes aggressively. His rage only churned as his eyes were captivated by the scarlet-orange sauce. Now that he was home again, he could finally unleash everything that was penting up within his chest.  

“It’s hard to work with people you don’t get along with, son,” the voice answered from his phone. “All you can do is your best.” 

“But she makes it impossible for me to do my best, Mom! She just makes me…ughhhh!” Tenzin chewed, stuffing his cheeks with rice cakes. “Do you know how many times I tried to tell her why I was late to the restaurant?” 

“Try not to let her bother you,” his mother advised gently. “I know it’s hard because you’ll be working with her in the same space. But like your boss said, this could be a way to help you two find common ground.”  

He scoffed. “Yeah, right. We could not be more opposites.” 

“Then maybe you can find a way to connect with her. Find something she’s interested in and use that as a way to get on her good side.”

“She probably likes to beat people up.”  

“Tenzin.” 

He destroyed any protests with another rice cake.

“Even if she drives you insane, don’t stop being yourself. You’re a sweet and kind young man.”  

“Sure, Mom…”

“I saw the picture you sent me. She’s very beautiful—”

“Mom, that’s over already! We are never getting together.”  

“Well, you never know.”

Chapter Text

“In metaphase, the chromosomes line up and—” 

Crinkle, crinkle! 

Green eyes averted up from the text, jaw clenched. Students stiffened and held their breath as the line of fire overlooked their fellow classmates. A low exhale of relief released the sudden tension when they found they survived their teacher’s sweep.

Lin cleared her throat. “They line up and what does that mean?” 

A hand shot up. 

“Go ahead, Ms. Sato.” 

“This makes sure that each cell has a complete set of chromosomes.” 

“Correct. Do—” 

Crunch! 

If her students weren’t observing, then a blizzard of fiery words would have exploded from her voice. Who was making such annoying—

Crunch! 

Half-moon imprints carved into her palm. 

Crunch! 

Her ears flickered in the direction and noticed that the grating sound of chips was crackling from enemy territory. Does Tenzin have no control over his students? Is he even paying attention? Lin attempted to lean to the side to catch a glimpse of him, but he managed to evade her. As part of their negotiations, they agreed that she has complete control of her side of the room, and Tenzin has his own set of rules on his side. He assured her that he wouldn’t allow a student to eat something that would distract the class. 

While food and drinks are forbidden in her realm, it seems like Tenzin decided to be merciful on these voracious students.   

Crunch! 

Does the sound of a teenager munching on chips not grate on his eardrums?! Albeit, it’s not as if someone opened a container of pickled radish. But sounds can be distracting, too! 

“Ms. Beifong?” 

That’s right, no time to fixate on petty things right now. She can yell at him when class is over.

Asami pursed her lips in thought. 

Banana milk or chocolate milk? 

It was difficult to hear her own thoughts and make a decision when the entire high school body was speaking over each other in the cafeteria. Metal utensils clanged on counters and tables, shoes squeaked against the floors, laughter and echoes of memes mingled together into one melting pot. Sensing the impatience of the person behind her, Asami quickly reached for the banana milk before someone’s hanger could hit the back of her hair. 

All of the tables seemed occupied and any free seats were already reserved by the myriad of cliques. Did her friends manage to get a table before the crowd? She pressed her lips together mindlessly, savoring the plush touch of gloss. Relief shook off the rising anxiety when she found her circle speaking animatedly.   

“That’s why Ms. Beifong hates Mr. Wang!” Bolin’s voice carried a few tables away. 

Asami blinked in confusion, resting her plate of food on the table beside Korra. “Wait, why don’t they like each other?” 

“I heard it’s because they’re exes!” Bolin exclaimed. “They were engaged before, but then everything got called off. So now, Mr. Wang came here to win her back.” 

“Oh…wow,” Asami remarked lightly, claiming a bite of her croquette. “Where did you hear that from?” 

“Tahno.” 

Mako rolled his eyes. “That dude is such a pick me. How did he find out?” 

“He overheard Mr. Tarrlok.” 

“No offense, but Mr. Tarrlok gives sketchy vibes to me.” 

Korra gasped, hitting her hand on the table. “You guys, shut up! I found it!” 

“Found what?” 

“Mr. Wang’s social media.” The rest of the group gathered around Korra, rearing their heads above one another to catch a glimpse of the golden information in her grasp. Her thumb scrolled through public images, eyes following quickly to drink in hidden information about their teacher. “So he has another page, but it’s private. This one is a mix of professional and personal stuff.” 

“He looks so different with a goatee,” Mako remarked at a photo from five years ago. “It makes him look older.”   

Bolin hummed, tilting his head. “Yeaaaaah. I think he looks better now. He looks more posh and classy.” 

“Does it say how old he is?” Mako asked. 

Korra puckered her lips, clicking her tongue as words scrambled into one large blur. She shook her head. “No, but he’s probably around Ms. Beifong’s age.”

Asami pulled out her phone from her pocket, trimmed fingernails tapping rapidly against the glass screen.

“What are you looking at?” 

“Ms. Beifong’s social media.” 

Bolin glanced at Asami. “You found it?!” 

“I tried before and it’s private. But I think if I look at the other teachers’, then I can find something.” 

“Check Ms. Kya’s page. Most of her stuff is public.” 

“She’s so pretty…” Asami muttered mindlessly. 

“Who? Ms. Kya?” 

“Her and Ms. Beifong. They’re both so gorgeous.” 

Mako took a bite of his food and followed the girls’ habit. “You guys look up Ms. Kya, I’ll check if Ms. Lee has anything.” 

“I found a picture of Ms. Beifong! She looks so hot!” 

“Let me see!”

‘He’s so annoying.’ 

Now that class was over, she could finally dislike Tenzin Wang in peace. From her desk, she could see Tenzin reviewing different stacks of papers and organizing them. A pair of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose and he pushed it back every now and then. Since when did he wear those? He didn’t strike her as the type of person who needed glasses, but the reality didn’t surprise her. It only makes him look more like a nerd.

Lin finally averted her eyes away and redirected her attention to her laptop. Tarrlok sent another annoying mass email asking for a meeting. Why is he like this? Every time he calls a meeting, everything he says can be written into an email! He loves to hear himself talk so much, no wonder he and Raiko are best friends. 

Mark as read. 

A shift in her peripheral vision compelled her to look at the source. 

Tenzin leaned his hands against the desk, spine bowed over. Lin’s breathing slowed once she laid eyes on his exposed forearms, thanks to the rolled sleeves of his shirt. There was nothing particularly special about his fashion ensemble. Simply a white long-sleeve with black slacks. If he added a sleek tie and a fitted blazer, he could pass off as a lawyer, director, or dare she say, a CEO. 

But that’s too generous. The most credit she’ll give him is that he can pose as a lawyer, if she didn’t know his true profession. 

He raked his fingers through his hair, glints of sunlight give the illusion of smooth and soft locks. Who does he think he is? A pop idol trying to seduce her? 

“Unbelievable,” she muttered, unaware that she responded to her own internal thoughts.   

Suddenly, he cast a glance in her direction and Lin froze in her spot. Did he hear her? A part of her brain panicked, but the other half of her brain gained control of the situation. Her eyebrows scrunched and fire blazed in jade pools.

“What are you looking at?” she demanded. 

Tenzin scoffed in disbelief, resting a hand on his hip. “You were looking at me first!” 

“Stop making up lies.” 

“Since you’re blind, I’ll let you borrow my glasses.” He extended it out to her and Lin growled. 

“Speak for yourself!” Lin waved her pen strategically. “You’re breaking the dress code.” 

“What dress code?” 

“Rolling your sleeves up, you idiot. You look unprofessional.” 

“Why? Do I look like a stripper?”

An eye roll. “Yeah.” 

Without breaking eye contact, Tenzin pushed his sleeves higher above his elbows. “Can you afford me?” 

Lin swallowed, but maintained her composure. “You’re not worth my yuans.” 

“It’s okay if you can’t afford a few yuans. I accept coins, too.” 

Lin’s eyes widened, fists curling until her nails carved grooves into her palm. Heat flushed to her face, words unable to flow to her brain fast enough. The amusement on his face only elevated the urge to smack it, the force of her palm hitting him knocking off his glasses too. Also, why the hell is her whole body getting hot?!

“Put the whiteboard markers back in its proper spot, Wang.” 

Tenzin gracefully folded his glasses and slid it down his collar. “You said we’re only responsible for our sides.” 

“Yeah, until your students use my resources.” 

Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz! 

Lin flipped her phone over, swiping the notification away. Her laptop slammed shut and Lin stuffed it into her bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, the chair squeaked along the floor as she rose to her feet. Loud clacks filled the silence between them, traversing closer to the door.  

“Running away, Ms. Beifong?” 

A glare shot over her shoulder and Tenzin didn’t crack against the silent aggression. “This isn’t over.” 

The woman pivoted on her heels, oblivious that grey eyes observed the fierce sway of her hips and how the dark grey skirt shaped her ass. As soon as the door closed, Tenzin’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and his jaw clenched. 

“She’s so annoying.” 

Lin sagged against the window, her body moving with the light bouncing and jerking of the bus. A nothingness filled the forest eyes, her gaze locked on the cityscape but not absorbing a single sight. Wireless earbuds drowned out the beeps and bus announcements for each stop. The Flamey-O’s blasted in her ears, ascending her reality beyond Republic City. Different fantasies danced and flowed in her brain, and Lin wished she could simply teleport to each of those scenarios. Soft hums of the song simmered on her tongue, never leaving beyond her lips.

Securing her bag on her lap, Lin checked the time on her phone. With only several red headlights trailing before the bus, she should be home by dinnertime. She would have taken the car, but Su needed it today for a work event. Fortunately, Republic City’s transportation system is so extensive and convenient, that she could continue living a comfortable life without a car. 

“This stop is Yangchen Avenue…” 

Lin gripped the bar tightly to ground herself before an unexpected stop sent her flying down the aisle. The doors opened on command the moment her transportation card touched the reader. Readjusting the bag on her shoulder, Lin began to short trek home. 

Most days, Lin would drown in her own thoughts and worries on the walks home. If it wasn’t work, then her concerns were rooted in her home life. These earthly worries would steal her away from appreciating the small beauties that she overlooked more often than she would like to admit. But this evening, Lin found her mind empty with small thoughts fizzling. 

It felt strange to be in a different mindset, but the change was welcomed when she noticed the palette of orange and pinks painting the sky. A soft smile grew on her face and her footsteps halted. Raising her phone up, she captured several moments of the sun’s last moments of the day. Lin nodded in satisfaction, slipping her phone back into her bag and resuming her journey. Finally, she came across the front gate to her childhood home.  Lin pressed several buttons and a song rang out to grant her access.

Unlike most people her age who lived with their families in apartments, Lin still lived in a semi-traditional home. Grandpa Lao was a renowned architect and moved to Republic City to create a new life for himself and Grandma Poppy. He managed to buy a small plot of land and build a house for two generations of the family to live and grow in. His sudden passing over a decade ago left a deep impact on her family. Her mother mourned in her own way, which didn’t entail a lot of crying. Or at least, her mom hid it from her too well. Grandma Poppy was never quite the same. Though she was surrounded by her girls, Lin couldn’t help but feel that a cloud of loneliness still hovered around her grandma. 

Suyin was Suyin.

Unlocking the front door with a regular key, Lin called out, “I’m home!” 

“Hi sweetie!” 

Lin neatly placed her heels in the shoe organizer and smiled. She hunched over to wrap her arm loosely around the woman. “Hi Grandma.” 

Poppy patted her back, gazing into Lin's eyes warmly. “Did you have a good day at school?”

Lin shrugged, walking down the empty hallway. “Hmmm.” 

“Don’t stress too much. It’s not healthy.” 

Lin’s bag dropped into a chair and her shoulders sagged. “I know, Grandma.” Unzipping her bag, she withdrew a small container and gently placed it into Poppy’s hand. “I picked up your medicine, too.” 

Several years ago, Poppy began to show early signs of dementia. The diagnosis raised a fierce debate that divided the women. At first, they adjusted to the best of their abilities and not many changes were needed. But when Poppy wandered away from home and got lost—sending Lin in a frenzy—they came to an agreement to hire a part-time caregiver in the daytime. So far, things were good with the caregiver. It allows Lin and Su to focus on their work with a peace of mind. 

“I took my medicine already.”

"You ran out of it, Grandma," Lin explained exasperatedly. "This is a refill. I'll make a few notes for you, okay?" 

"I don't know, sweetie." 

Lin sighed. “Su and Mom aren’t home yet?” 

“They should be home soo—” 

Clang! 

“We’re back!” 

Toph’s arm linked along Suyin’s as they slipped out of their shoes. Although her mother was born blind and lived a predominantly independent life, the family still pulled through to be an extra pair of eyes for her. 

“Sup?” 

“Toph, for the millionth time, that’s not how you greet people, young lady.” 

Lin’s mother groaned, pulling Su with her impatiently into the house. “I’m not a kid anymore, Ma.”

“Don’t talk back to me, Toph,” Poppy chided gently. “Your father won’t be happy to hear that tone coming from you.” 

Lin rested a hand around Poppy’s shoulder. “I’ll help you with dinner, Grandma. It’s not good to be stressed out, remember?” 

“No need,” Suyin piped up, raising a large yellow and red box. “We bought fried chicken!”

Lin peered at a box in Toph’s free arm. “Then what's Mom holding?” 

“Suyin’s crap.” 

“Toph!” 

“Ma, just accept me as I am already.” 

Suyin wiggled her hips playfully. “Zera sent me a new PR package to review.” 

“Cool,” Lin uttered unimpressed. 

“Let’s all get settled and eat!” Toph exclaimed. “I’m starving.” 

“Wash your hands please,” Poppy prompted kindly.

With the day coming to an end, Lin finally found a bubble of time to spend on herself. Her pajamas for the night were an oversized t-shirt and shorts. Pure comfort from the fitted skirts or slacks and bras. Several loose strands of hair framed the side of her face. A majority of her hair was twisted into a braid to forge smooth curls in the morning, but a few strands escaped confinement. Laying on her bed, she opened her laptop and resumed another episode of a new drama that she had started. 

The door opened and annoyance greeted her visitor. 

“What do you want?” 

Suyin adjusted the white sheet mask on her face, puckering her lips. “Do you want to be in my next video?” she asked in a monotone voice, lips barely moving as essence clung near the corners of her mouth. 

“No.” 

“You’ll like it,” Su insisted. “I’m doing a ‘Get Ready With Me’.” 

Lin sent her a look. “You’ve done like ten of those.” 

“Yeah, but this time, it’s the story about when I went to jail.” 

“Do you ever get embarrassed about some of the things you post?” 

Su hummed in false thought. “Nope! And anyway, some people have worse stories than me and that makes me feel better.” 

“Whatever.” Lin waved a dismissive hand. “Go away so I can watch my show.” 

“Be in my video!” 

“I don’t want to.” 

The bed bounced and Lin scowled as a heavy weight leaned into her. “But a lot of people ask about you in the comments.” 

Lin refused to meet her sister’s pleading eyes. “I don’t care.” 

“You might get a boyfriend because of me. Who knows?” 

“Su, can you just get out of here?”

Chapter Text

He slipped into his running shoes, wiggling his foot until it fit perfectly. 

Soft fur brushed against his leg and Tenzin knelt down, metal clipping in place. “Good boy, Oogi. You’re excited to go for a walk, right?”

The golden retriever panted in excitement, nuzzling his snout affectionately near Tenzin’s face.  

“Alright, let’s go.” 

His skin tingled at the soft chill of the morning breeze and Oogi’s enthusiasm to escape the confines of his apartment pulled him out of the warm comfort. Tapping his phone, several playlists scrolled vertically on the screen. Then, a few more taps to find the right song to initiate a positive morning run. Light footsteps pounded the earth to every beat of the song, fueling the rising adrenaline coursing through his veins.

Most of his old colleagues would shoot him a look of disbelief when he voiced his running hobby. “I hate running!” they would say. “I suffocate after two seconds!”  

Running is freedom and liberation from society. 

It’s one of the few things that allows Tenzin to break away from the cycle of societal expectations. He can run in any direction he likes. He has control of his path. Is it exhausting? Yes. He needs to run as often as he can to maintain his endurance and breath control. But he never pushes beyond what he’s capable of.  People can say whatever they want about running, he understands where they’re coming from. But for him, it’s his temporary escape from the world.

Twenty minutes of jogging down familiar streets and pathways, his heart has guided him to Oogi’s favorite place— President Kyoshi Memorial Park—a gathering place for all in the heart of the city. 

Growing up in Republic City, this was the only park his mother would take him to and he was grateful, since none other compared in aesthetic and memory. After all, the park and persimmon tree witnessed all of his falls when Katara taught him how to ride a bike. As soon as he mastered a two-wheeled bicycle, Katara would take him on a short journey when she had time on the weekends. They would start at the apartment and always end at the park for its vast landscape. No matter where they ended up at the park, there was always a new sight to experience. 

Tenzin spotted the persimmon trees and he guided Oogi beneath its shady protection. Crouching down, Tenzin unclips the leash and Oogi instantly shakes out his fur. “We’ll take a break here, okay buddy?” 

Oogi sat down obediently, tongue hanging out and panting heavily. 

“I know. I know.” A blue thermos appeared from Tenzin’s backpack and then a red water dish with a leaf symbol. Water sloshed and gushed, filling the bowl. Oogi instantly lapped his tongue fervently at the fresh water. Tenzin chuckled in his observation. When Oogi had his fill, he raised his head up at his master. “Refreshing, huh?” 

Lick! Lick! 

Fingers massaged and rubbed the golden retriever’s ears playfully. “Yes, that’s right. Now it’s my turn to drink water.” Metal cap twisted open and an icy rush descended down his throat. 

Scanning Saturday’s view, children ran ahead of their parents on the walking path. Several other joggers darted past elderly couples strolling at their own leisure. A few bell rings echoed in the air to alert someone that a bike rider was behind them.  Tenzin lowered the thermos slowly, the numbing cold merely a fleeting sensation as a new emotion emerged. 

Husbands…wives…children…old lovers…new lovers…

Families. 

What is his place in the world?  How will he find it? Is it here in his hometown—

“Oogi! Come back here!” 

Tenzin sprinted after the canine. 

What the hell?! Oogi has never dashed off away from Tenzin ever. Was he chasing after a cat or another small animal? This wasn’t normal and seeds of concern sprouted plants of anxiety and fear. What if he seriously hurts someone? “Oogi, get back over here!” 

His knees picked up and a cool burn pulsed in his muscles going up a small hill. By the time Tenzin reached the peak, Oogi was already at the bottom of the hill climbing over a poor innocent woman. 

“Oogi! Stop that! Get off!”  

Dozens of worst-case scenarios flashed in Tenzin’s mind as he descended the hill, while his breathing and heartbeat pounded furiously in his ears. The physical sensations marinated in worry drowned out the sound of laughter and excited whining. It wasn’t until he was at the bottom of the hill did he realize that the woman playfully ruffled his ears and scratched behind them. 

Tenzin panted, hands on his hips as his lungs begged him for more oxygen. “Miss, I’m so sorry about that. He normally doesn’t do—” 

The woman turned around and the softness on his face hardened. 

“You?”

“You!” 

Why the hell did Oogi run to her? Of all the people to bump into, does it need to be this woman?! 

His eye twitched, hand on his hip. “Stop assaulting my dog.” 

“Excuse me?” Lin threw back, one hand continuously petting Oogi’s head. She pointed a finger at him. “You’re the one who can’t control your damn dog.” 

“You must be wearing something to make him erratic,” Tenzin assumed, glossing over the black sports bra tightly binding her chest and leggings accentuating hugging curves and toned thighs. 

“Yeah, sweat.”  

Tenzin rolled his eyes, containing his annoyance at the back of his throat. He patted his leg. “Oogi, come here.” 

Innocent blinks responded back to him and Oogi happily savored the newfound attention and adoration from Lin. Slender fingers massaged his head and the back of his ears. 

“Come on, boy. I have to take you home, Oogi.” 

Oogi nuzzled against Lin’s hand and leaned into her. The sight evoked a smug smirk from Lin. “Of course he doesn’t want to go back to you.” 

“Oogi…” Tenzin groaned and he redirected his exasperation back at his colleague.  “What are you doing hanging around my walking route?” 

“Your walking route? First of all, this is a public area. Second, I've been coming here for years. So what are you doing in my running area?” 

“Walking my dog.” 

“Walking?” Lin parroted. “You were chasing after him.”

“You know what I mean.” 

Summer eyes clashed against cloudy sky eyes once again. This time, hers trailed down a loose grey Varrick shirt and black gym shorts, then bounced back up at his face.  Tongue pressed against his cheek, Tenzin asked, “What? Am I dressed too conservative now?” 

“Yeah,” Lin answered flatly. “And look what I have.” A fan of yuans waved around in her hand. “Seems like I could afford two of you, if I wanted to.” 

A hand extended out. “Then give it to me.” 

“For free? As if!” Lin concealed the currency in her bag. “You didn’t even give me a show. You give me stress and premature white hairs.”  She dug into her bag again and extracted a metal coin, continuing, “You can have this for letting me pet your dog.” 

Tenzin’s jaw clenched, arms crossed over his chest. He exhaled deeply and patted the side of his leg again. “Let’s go now, Oogi. We’re going home.” 

“Awrrrr.” 

“Now.” 

Lin patted Oogi again. “I know, how depressing.” 

Clap! Clap! “Come on, Oogi. Let’s go.” 

Rather than remain planted in front of his enemy, Tenzin swiveled and began to walk away. Immediately, Oogi trotted after him and once he found himself walking side by side with his human, Tenzin pulled out the leash to connect them together again. 

Lin might have some power over some of his students, but not his dog. And he will make sure of it. 

“Number 155! One watermelon juice and an omija ade!” 

Peering down at the slightly crumpled receipt in his hand, number 155 was written in bold across the white paper. Raising his hand, Tenzin strided over to the counter with a smile. One glass was a deep red and a watermelon cube decorated on the rim, while the second glass contained a crimson syrup on the bottom and cider. 

The cashier smiled, pushing the tray closer to him. “Enjoy.” 

“Thank you!” Tenzin nodded politely and carried the beverages to his table. Another man sat across from him patiently. The glass of watermelon juice slid in front of the other man, while Tenzin lowered the omija ade in his own territory. 

“So how are things with Lin?” 

The straw spiraled in calm circles, stirring up the scarlet sweetness in a gentle dance with ragged ice cubes clanging lightly. Crossing his legs, Tenzin took a slow sip and savored the sweetness and tartness. “I don’t know what you ever saw in both of us, Uncle. We’re complete opposites.” 

“So it’s not good?” Sokka questioned, taking his own sip of watermelon juice. 

A brow raised. “I’m pretty sure she blocked my number.” 

“Did she tell you that?” 

“No. But none of my calls go through and it’s just…a feeling. I wouldn’t put it past her to do that.” 

“You’re not wrong.” Sokka hummed in thought, tasting the observation with a nod. “But you two are also more alike than you think.” 

Tenzin scoffed, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. His eyes half-heartedly scanned the half-filled cafe. A sudden glint of sunlight blinded him and he shook his face. “I don’t see how.” 

“That’s something Lin would say, too.”  

“I already have to share a classroom with her and it hasn’t gotten better,” Tenzin pointed out.

“Does she know why you didn’t make it to the date?” 

“I tried telling her how many times!” 

“Do you want me to tell her? I can—”

He shook his head. “No, don’t do that. It would just make things worse.” A low sigh. “It’s better if she hears it from me, not someone else.” 

“Yeah, but your phone died in the car while you were at the hospital.”

“If you say something, then she’ll just think I’m using you to fix things between us. I mean, I know I don’t have any excuse on why I couldn’t tell her what happened that night. But as soon as I could, she just assumed the worst of me and shut me out.”

“Aren’t you technically doing the same thing to her?” 

“No! She’s showing me her true colors.” 

“I…” Sokka released a deep exhale, subtly shaking his head. “Never mind…” 

Tenzin allowed the topic of Lin Beifong to fizzle out and dissolve, swallowing down the bitterness with more fruity tartness. Besides, he didn’t want to dump all of his frustrations about a woman on his uncle, who he hardly saw because of his work as a prosecutor. While his mother often had to work night shifts, Uncle Sokka and Aunt Suki would watch him until his mom could pick him up. Those days were so much simpler and filled with less complications, albeit, maybe it was harder for the adults in his life. Now as an adult himself, Tenzin attempted to find balance in his own time to spend it with the people who shaped him into the man he is today. 

“How’s your mom doing?” 

“Much better. Her ankle is healing and I’ve been staying with her to help out.” 

“Good thing she’s a nurse and knows what to do, huh?” 

Tenzin chuckled lightly and shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah…” 

Sokka perked up suddenly, delight beaming on his cheeks. He raised a hand and waved over. Tenzin tilted his head curiously. It must be someone one of his uncle’s old friends. 

“Lin!” 

The color drained from Tenzin’s cheeks, all remnants of a smile plummeting into a frown. Did he hear that name correctly? 

“Hi, Uncle Sokka.” 

That distinct and familiar voice almost clenched around his throat, forcing him to remain silent. Tenzin twisted around in his chair to confirm whether his ears and eyes were lying to him. Lin’s own relaxed smile disappeared. “Why are you calling him that? He’s my uncle.” 

“You're related to him?” Lin addressed Sokka. She placed a hand over her chest. “I’m so sorry.”

“What are you doing here?” Tenzin asked suspiciously. Lin had changed from her workout clothes into something more casual—a light shirt tucked into jeans. Charcoal hair draped loosely around her shoulders and parted to the side. 

Adjusting the bag around her torso, Lin answered, “I’m here for white peach blossom iced tea.” 

“Do you want to sit and join us?” Two pairs of eyes shot electricity at the older gentleman and Sokka coughed lightly. “I’ll take that as a no.” 

Lin surrendered her walls first. “Thanks for the offer, but I have several things to handle at home.”

“I’m sure you do,” Tenzin mumbled under his breath. 

“Ah, I understand,” Sokka replied sympathetically. “Next time we can all meet at the bar instead. How does that sound?” 

“We’ll see.”

“Alright, well tell your mom I said hi.”

“Sure. See you around, Uncle Sokka.” 

“See ya, Lin.” 

“He’s not your uncle!” Tenzin hissed to her and Lin raised a light fist at her side, before walking away from their table. As soon as she was out of earshot, Tenzin sat properly and faced his uncle. “Please don’t invite her out with us.” 

“Why not? You don’t think she’s attractive?” 

“Of course,” Tenzin answered immediately, eyes widening, and he quickly added, “not…that much.”  

“I guess anything I say isn’t gonna convince you otherwise.” 

Tenzin pulled his drink to him and crossed his arms. “Yes.”

His uncle sighed. “Well, you’re gonna learn a lot more about each other since you’re stuck together at work.”

“Can you get me a triangle kimbap?” 

“Sure, Mom. Which one?” 

“The tuna one.”  

One of the greatest things about Republic City is that it’s considered the city that never sleeps. Also, the convenience of everything. If he’s hungry at 11pm or 3am, then he can walk a couple of blocks to the convenience store and pick up late snacks. When he lived in Ba Sing Se for a few years, he couldn’t leave his house after 9pm, or else he could get mugged. Those were fun years, living in another city and country. It expanded his worldview and he learned that there's more to the world than just Republic City, despite having everything you could possibly need. 

Pulling on a sweater and slipping on slides, Tenzin ventured into the night for his mother’s late night craving. On his way, faint echoes of pop songs blasted from the main street. Finally, the bright green and pink lights of the convenience store loomed closely. A small bell chime rang out as he pushed the door open, and a “Welcome!” greeted from the back of the store. 

Reaching for a small basket, Tenzin immediately began stocking it with several cartons of banana milk and strawberry milk. He added a few bags of chips and then walked over to the section of refrigerated foods. But in the middle of the aisle, someone held the door open, blocking him from moving past them. 

The door closed and the basket almost fell from his hand. 

Green eyes narrowed at him. “Are you a stalker?” 

“Who says I’m the stalker? You’re the one who’s been showing up after me!” 

Lin rested her weight on one leg, a basket loosely hanging on her arm. While her shirt from the afternoon stayed the same, Lin switched out her jeans for looser ones. “Then you’re the paparazzi.” 

“Ha! You’re the villain, not the star.” 

“At least I’m not the second male lead who never gets the girl.”

Tenzin’s mouth dropped. “Take that back.” 

“No,” Lin retorted.   

She turned away, footsteps small and short. With the basket and confined space, it was almost impossible for Tenzin to walk around her unless she moved to the side. A few feet away was the open section of triangle kimbap and bentos. Tenzin shuffled on one side, hoping to maneuver around the smaller woman, then the other side. 

“Can you please move?” Tenzin groaned. 

Lin barely peeked over her shoulder, maintaining the sluggish pace. “No.” 

After several unnecessary minutes, he finally, FINALLY, was within reach of the kimbap! From his position, his eyes scanned the shelves for the dark red label that his mother craved. 

Blue, blue, green, blue, green, orange…

Red! 

He reached and instead of a cool wrapper, soft skin warmed his palm.  

Lin rolled her eyes and she pulled the kimbap, but Tenzin refused to let go. “I got it first.” 

“It’s the last one.” 

“Yes, and unfortunately, it’s mine.” 

“It’s not for me. My mom wants it.” 

Lin tugged the kimbap, but it only pulled Tenzin closer to her and she scoffed. “You take over my classroom, my route, and now my neighborhood. Can’t I have anything to myself?”  

“I’ll pay for it, if you give it to me.” 

A tongue stroked the inside of her cheek and a small wave of hope built up within him. “No.” 

“Just let me have it!” 

“If you want it, you have to fight for it.” 

“I’m not hitting a woman!” 

“Not literally!” A mischievous grin curled on her face. “We’ll arm wrestle for it.” 

He took a step closer, determination blazing in his eyes. “Bring it on, Beifong.” 

Lin leaned up and Tenzin held his breath. “Kiss the last tuna kimbap goodbye, Wang,” she murmured, voice almost purring.  

Tenzin swallowed the lump in his throat, his face heating up quickly. Was it turning red? Hopefully not. Heat pulsed in his heart, quickly spreading to his limbs and travelling downward. Tenzin released her hand, concealing it into his pockets. He paid for his own things and the kimbap at the counter. If he paid for it, then he would fulfill his own self-prophecy of winning it from Lin. 

They settled outside at the small tables, dropping their bags on the ground. The lights from the convenience store illuminated the area. Tenzin rolled his shoulders back, while Lin stretched her arms above her head. Rolling her neck in a few circles, she landed back on Tenzin, eyes sharp and fierce. 

“Scared?” she smirked. 

“Why would I be afraid of winning?” Tenzin rested his elbow at the center of the table, curving his palm for hers to grip. 

Lin spread her legs slightly beneath the table, leaning forward and resting her elbow along the surface. Their thumbs brushed against each other, slender fingers wrapping around his. To Lin’s surprise, Tenzin’s palms were smoother than she expected. She thought his skin would either be slick with sweat or somewhat rough with callouses. But neither were true. 

They shifted their palms to secure their grips. 

“Only one round?” Tenzin asked, eyes flickering from their joined hands to the green cat eyes. 

“Of course. I don’t do rematches.” 

Tenzin’s breathing slowed and his chin shifted downward slightly. “On the count of three.” 

“One…two…three!” 

Muscles flexed, jaws clenched, and shallow breaths expanded their lungs. Neither had the dominant hand yet and small beads of sweat traced their hairlines. Tenzin’s foot slid an inch beneath the table and he pushed his weight harder against Lin’s resistance. But she didn’t budge against his strength and a dark cloud hovered around him. Their eyes never broke away for a moment and as the time edged to a full minute, Tenzin knew he would need to gain the upper hand soon.  

His eyes darkened and they trailed down to full rosy lips, then raised back to jade. 

Lin’s grip faltered and Tenzin pushed harder, almost forcing her into submission. But she still held enough strength to hold her ground. 

“What are you doing?!” she demanded. 

“What are you doing?” Tenzin mirrored evenly.  

A low growl vibrated in her throat and voice hot enough to melt metal and copper. “You’re cheating!” 

The corners of his mouth lifted subtly. “How?”

“You gave me ‘kiss me’ eyes!”  

“Why would I do that?” his voice deepened. 

Sweat coated their palms, loosening their grips on each other. Their fingers shifted to reinforce the weakening clasp. A glimpse of Tenzin’s premature victory loomed at the edge of her peripheral vision and Lin’s resolve flared up. “If that’s how you want to play, then let’s play…” she hissed, shifting her weight into her power. 

“Do what you want. You won’t—”

A hot moan danced in his ears. 

Grey eyes instantly averted to Lin’s face, but nothing gave it away that the sensual echo was born from her. 

Then…

“Mmmph…please,” Lin whimpered so softly, no one else’s ears would catch her voice dipping into dangerous territory. Tenzin blinked, leaning forward slightly when pearly teeth bit down on her lips. 

The world just disappeared around them and the only reality that existed was the bubble he shared (against his own will) with Lin. He never imagined hearing her voice escalate an octave and it stroked a fire in him that laid dormant. His hearing heightened and he picked up on the breathless gasps spilling from the woman across the way.   

“I know your game…" he murmured, "just give in to me, Lin,” he breathed huskily, voice almost breathless. 

Lin mewled, tilting her head innocently. “I want it…give it to me please…” 

“Are you begging me?” 

“Don’t make me ask… Tenzin, please…” 

Well, when she says his name like that...

Slam! 

Lin cackled, raising the triangle kimbap in the air. “Finally!” 

The illusion of the bubble disappeared, reality removing him from the small space as the convenience store lights and passersby reminded him of the size of the world. Rage replaced the mysterious emotion that threatened to suffocate him and Lin Beifong. Tenzin swept a hand up toward the kimbap. “Give me that!” 

“I won, asshole,” Lin reasoned, evading him. 

“You cheated!” 

“You cheated first! If you wanted to win, you shouldn’t have started thinking with your dick.” 

Tenzin tilted his head back, hands covering his face. A low groan escaped between his fingers. “You’re so infuriating!” 

The chair slid across the ground and he heard footsteps walking closer to him. Dropping his hands, Lin stood arrogantly by his side and the kimbap in hand. “Since you’re being a sore loser, I might just give this to you.” 

“Forget it!” he snapped, collecting his things and rising. “I don’t want a prize that was cheated out of me.” 

The wrapper crumpled and unfolded, revealing delicious fresh seaweed and a peek of rice at the top. Lin bit into it, moaning in satisfaction in front of his reddening face. She lifted it slightly up to him. “Want a bite?” 

Tenzin ignored her, steam fuming from his ears. His heartbeat raced in his eardrums, footsteps following the intense pounding. How could he be so stupid to fall for her trick?! He was so close to winning that kimbap for his mom! Lin Beifong is simply heartless. She refused to give him the last one out of spite and wasn’t warmed by his motivation. 

When he sees her on Monday, Lin Beifong will pay for playing dirty against him.

Chapter Text

“Su, get out of my room!” 

“Say hi to your fans.” 

“I’m not famous.” 

“Yeah, you are…on OnlyFans.”

“SU, I SWEAR—” 

Loud cackling and running echoed down the hallway.

A small drop of water trickled down the glass, consuming mini pellets of cloud water and expanding into one large teardrop. 

Lin balanced the umbrella steadily between her legs, ensuring it didn’t fall down the aisle. Large grey clouds loomed across the cityscape and spring fields searched for any pockets of sunshine, but none could be found. The soft pelting of water against the bus managed to mingle with her music, but Lin didn’t mind it. As a young girl, she thought that rainy days meant that angels were crying in heaven and watering the earth. 

Listening to angel tears was more peaceful than the superficial blabbering of her sister’s skincare routine and jail story. 

Originally, Lin had no plans to escape the house. She was going to hole herself up on a table near the window grading quizzes and discussion posts. But Su interrupting every ten minutes with her incessant and irksome begging proved that home would be an unproductive environment. Hence, another impromptu commute to work on a Sunday. 

“This stop is Republic City High School…” 

The doors opened and Lin spotted a large puddle of water daring her to dunk her feet in. Spreading the umbrella open, Lin leapt from the safety of the bus onto the wild sidewalk. A few droplets grazed the exposed skin between her socks and pants, and Lin grimaced at the random chill. 

Continuous streams of water flowed against her shoes and Lin glanced upward in the direction of the school. At the top of the hill. Lin’s groans died against the music of heavy rain. She should have taken a damn taxi instead. Just as she was about to take the first step on the incline, a gust of wind pushed down on her, forcing more raindrops to attack her. Lin angled the umbrella to absorb the brunt of nature.

“Fuck my life…” she muttered, the streams splashing softly beneath her footsteps. 

Despite her best efforts, rainwater seeped into her shoes, soaking her shoes. A shudder of disgust trembled in her bones with every squelch inside her shoes and damp socks clinging to her skin. 

Finally, her never-ending journey to the summit and entrance of her workplace came to an end. Lin rested a hand on her hips, head hung as she tried to catch her breath. The swirl of rain and wind surrounding her cut down on her rest time, forcing her indoors. Thankfully, everything in her bag remained untouched by the rain. Lin twisted her umbrella through the umbrella dryer, shaking as much of the wetness that she could manage before tackling the stairs. 

Unfortunately, her classroom is on the third floor and there are no elevators. Well, the elevators are only for people with injuries or disabilities. Puffing her cheeks out and exhaling deeply, Lin charged against the mountain of stairs that awaited her. The subtle sloshing in her shoes only fueled her determination to make it to the top as quickly as possible. That familiar burn encircled her thighs, slowing her down for a moment. 

“It’s making my ass rounder.” 

Indeed. 

Lin adjusted her form and the burn travelled to her hips and butt. Who needs a gym membership? 

Sweet relief was almost within reach as the top drew closer and closer. Yes! Finally! Almost there, just a few more steps and—

“Aghhhh!” 

Pain swelled in her ankle, knees, and elbow, but most of it simmered in her ankle. Lin released a soft cry, tears welling in her eyes as small waves of discomfort coursed through her body. She waited until it waned before she moved her ankle, biting on her lip when the throbbing increased with more weight on it. 

Fuck. 

Hopefully, her laptop isn’t crushed, and neither is her ankle.

Lin leaned against the railing, fingers gripping the metal as she limped up the last few steps. She was  grateful that no one was around to witness her in such a vulnerable state. Reaching into her pocket for the keys, they jangled clumsily into the key slot.  Finally, she can just sit down and take off her shoes. 

Opening the door, her eyes widened. 

A sudden warmth enveloped her body, striking her in the heart and travelling to all of her limbs and upward to her face. Her breath caught in her throat, no matter how she attempted to inhale or exhale. Exposed smooth muscles with fresh droplets hypnotized sharp green eyes, and Lin couldn’t break away from the sight. His chest expanded evenly with each short breath, several beads dancing down the shadows and contours along his abdomen and slipping down the V-line. 

Black ink tattooed into his skin drew her attention away from his muscles, and Lin’s mouth almost fell open. A traditional design stained half of his arm, the light highlighting the shape of a koi fish. Several electric blue scales brought the image to life, balancing the darkness with color and light.    

Lin ran her tongue over her lips without thought. “T-this isn’t a strip club.” 

“This view isn’t free.” He extended a hand out. “Ten yuans.” 

“That’s it? So cheap.” 

His eyes narrowed at her, hand retracting. “I got wet and don’t have any extra clothes.” 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Lin shook her head, stepping as lightly as possible to her desk. “You and your excuses.” 

Grey eyes drifted downward, arms folding across his chest. “What happened to your foot?” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lin managed evenly, but she grimaced when she attempted to lower herself into a chair. She kicked off her shoes, peeling off the soaked socks and wriggling her toes. “What are you doing here anyway?” 

“I was going to gift wrap your entire desk and everything in it.” 

All of her drawers slammed open, hawk eyes peeking inside if anything had gone missing or damaged. 

Tenzin rolled his eyes. “Everything got wet, so I couldn’t do it.” He pursed his lips. “But I guess luck is on my side because it looks like you sprained your ankle.” 

Green eyes narrowed at him, but Tenzin’s facial expression didn’t budge. “Go practice your little strip show in the teachers' lounge and don’t bother me.”

Thumbs resting at the belt loops, Tenzin angled his body strategically so that the light caught his muscles. “Does this count as bothering?” 

“Yes,” she answered, sliding her laptop out of the sleeve and opening it.  

Arms stretched above his head, one hand tracing the other. Lin attempted to sit straight as he gifted her with another view of the tattoo. “What about this?” 

“Yes,” she grumbled, keyboard clacking loudly. 

Tenzin raked his fingers through his hair and flicked the droplets in her direction. 

“Stop bothering me!” 

He’s no better than Suyin. Maybe she should have just stayed at home and put up with her sister. Then her ankle wouldn’t be swollen, her shoes wouldn’t be wet, and she wouldn’t be stuck with a shirtless Tenzin Wang! Lin slipped her wireless earbuds into her ears, sliding the volume up to drown out the world. Scrolling through the discussion posts, Lin cracked her knuckles and set off to work. 

Lin pressed her fingertips into her eyes, rubbing the strain and blurriness out of her vision. She didn’t finish all of the discussion posts for all of her classes, but she finished at least half. Movements in the corner of her eyes caught her attention and she frowned. 

Oh yeah. He’s there, too. What has he been doing this whole time?  

Apparently, he wasn't practicing a Magic Mike choreography. He probably can't even dance. Tenzin also had his own pair of earbuds in, eyes centered on the bright screen. Glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, a white square with blue borders illuminating faintly in the reflection. He sat at the desk with all of his exposed muscles staring back at her. How long does it take for a shirt to dry? Did he walk from his house in the rain? 

Jade pools drifted over to the pitch black lines once again. She never thought of him as the type to have a tattoo at all. Glasses? Sure, since he’s a history nerd. But a half-sleeve tattoo? He must have quite a bit of endurance and patience to suffer for the aesthetic. Lin eyed the blue scales softly. Why did he pick a koi fish? Well, considering his “soft” personality, perhaps a koi fish suits him. 

Tenzin shifted, stretching his legs out and Lin immediately forced her eyes away from his body. The subtle movement flared a painful ache in her ankle. Fuck, she forgot about that. 

Lin raised her foot on another chair, grimacing at the dark purple and red patch coloring her pale complexion. It swelled painfully and her skin was hot to the touch. Against her better judgment, Lin pressed her fingers into the area, biting down on her lip to restrain any sounds of pain. She squeezed her eyes shut, ragged breaths slipping underneath the edge of her desk. 

“Whap hmmm.” 

Lin sat up and pulled the earbud out, forcibly stopping the flow of music. “What?” she groaned. 

Loud keyboard clacking responded back. Finally, grey eyes peered up. “I asked, when are you going to unblock my number?” 

A brow raised. “Who says I blocked you?” 

“Then call me right now,” Tenzin retorted, sliding his phone out of his pocket and raising it up.  

Lin scowled, shifting her body and ankle. “I’m busy,” she hissed. 

If only she had a bag of ice right now. The teachers’ lounge would have some ice in the freezer, but that’s one floor downstairs. A headache began to pound in her temples. The faster she sucks it up and moves, the quicker she can get out of here. Peering down at her shoes, more tension collected in her jaw. How could she forget that her shoes and socks are wet, too? Every second of idleness encouraged her reluctance to move. If only she had an assistant at her beck and call... 

“Here.” 

Lin glanced up to a small bag of ice in her face. “I don’t need your help.”  

Tenzin ignored her and knelt down, angling his face to catch a clear view of her ankle. “Let me see.” 

Her foot almost shot up and made contact with his nose, but Tenzin managed to dodge it in time. He gripped her calf, fingers digging into her flesh.

“Go away,” Lin commanded. 

“Shut up and let me look.” He lowered her ankle slowly onto the chair and with the gentlest care, twisted it to see the full extent of her injury. There was no pain when he touched her ankle and thank goodness he couldn’t feel how fast her heart was racing. After a few moments in silence, he covered the bruise with the ice bag. “Congratulations. You’ve sprained your ankle.” 

“Lovely,” Lin grumbled. 

Tenzin found several notebooks and rested them beneath her ankle. “Keep your foot elevated for the rest of the rest of the day. Ice compresses only, no hot packs. Don’t overexert your ankle.”

“You seem to know a lot about this kind of stuff…” Lin managed, avoiding his eyes and pressing the bag of ice over her ankle. 

“You learn a few things when your mom is a nurse,” he responded casually. A tongue ran along his inner cheek and eventually his lip pushed against his teeth. “Your ankle looks a little concerning though.” 

“I’m not going to the hospital. I’ll just pop a few painkillers and deal with it.” 

“My mom can check you out and tell you what will help.” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “You’re gonna call your mom to come all the way here for nothing? Don’t waste her time.” 

Now, Tenzin rolled his eyes. “No. I’ll take you to my mom.” 

The ice bag almost dropped to the floor. “What?! No! I didn’t even drive here.” 

“Okay," Tenzin said slowly, "then I guess I have to take you home, too.” 

“As if! I’m not going to visit your mom.” 

“Then I’ll drop you off at the hospital and you can pay 800 yuans for the same information my mom will give to you for free.”  

“I can just take a taxi,” Lin reasoned. “Don’t bother wasting your time being my chauffeur.” 

Tenzin scoffed. “I may not like you, but I was raised with manners.” 

Her nostrils flared. “If you had manners, you would have shown up to dinner!” 

“I didn’t show up because my mom broke her leg, damn it!” 

Lin’s blood stilled, mouth agape as the strength and intensity of Tenzin’s voice died instantly. She had no problem listening to him shout at her. Hell, she could shout back louder than him, if she wanted to. But his words settled in her ears and she listened rather than heard. Tenzin’s face softened and he released a sigh. His shoulders hung lower. 

With a softer voice, he continued, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.” 

Lin didn’t speak, out of respect for what was about to come out next. She nodded once for him to finally reveal the truth that she had been blocking and running away from. 

“It happened when I was about to get off work. As soon as I got the call, I rushed over to the hospital. I was so out of it that I left my phone in the car and it died…by the time everything got settled, I forgot about our date. I tried to reach out to you the next morning, but…you know…” 

Lin felt her chest constricting and throat closing. No matter how many deep breaths she attempted, a heaviness continuously hardened in her heart. A part of Lin wanted to reach out to him and pat his arm, but she contained the urge at her side. Faces of her mother and grandmother replaced Tenzin’s mother, and she swore the last of her oxygen disappeared.  

“I didn’t mean to miss the date and I should have found a way to explain the situation,” he continued. 

Lin swallowed the lump in her throat. The bag of ice melted into smaller chunks and a glob of water, and Lin massaged the bag in a new spot. “Alright...I get it. We’ll go see your mom,” she relented wearily.  

She felt his eyes on her. “If you don’t want to go, I’m not forcing you.” 

“Then what was the point of your sob story to soften me up?” 

“I don’t know, it just came out! Do you want to go or not?” 

“I said yes! Are you backing out now?” 

“No!”

“Good!” 

“Fine!” 

Lin sagged against her chair. “Ugh, you’re ridiculous…so how are we going to do this?” 

Tenzin inhaled deeply, lips pursed in thought. “Can you walk or not?” 

“I can probably manage.” 

“I’ll help you downstairs and bring the car to the front.” 

“Fine.”

“You have an umbrella?” 

“Yeah. I’m always prepared, unlike you.” 

“You know what? I’ll just let you walk down by yourself.” 

“Shut up.” 

Lin slipped on her soaked socks and shoes, pouting at the cold and wet sensation enveloping her feet. On the other side of the room, Tenzin found his draped shirt and  pulled it over. Large dark spots clung to his skin, enhancing the faint outline of his muscles.

In between their bickering, the duo managed to scale the stairs in a timely manner. Lin seared the side of his face with a glare when his arm wrapped around her, hand resting at her side underneath her armpit. “The more you work with me, the faster we’ll get this over with,” he reasoned. 

To avoid resting all of her weight on her ankle, Tenzin carried as much of her weight that she would allow. It felt a bit like floating down the stairs, if Lin had to describe it. Her free hand gripped his forearm when she lost the rhythm of their momentum, and her heart skipped several beats. If she lets him go, then she would lose her flow. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, then she’ll bite down any complaints. When her footsteps slowed, Tenzin encouraged her to rest if the pain was too much. 

“I would carry you down. But your complaining will make me fall and break my neck,” he commented, dodging her slap.   

Finally, after what seemed like hours had passed, they made it to the entrance of the high school. Lin leaned against the wall in relief, while Tenzin borrowed her umbrella to swing his car to the front. There were no signs of the rain slowing and Lin did her best to keep the inside of Tenzin’s car clean and dry. 

As soon as Tenzin settled into the driver’s seat and the doors closed, Lin’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. Lin held her bag protectively in her lap, minimizing her movements and taking as little space as possible. She is in her enemy’s car and on her way to meet his mother. How did she let this happen? Was it because of his buff body? 

Impossible. 

Tenzin Wang is not that buff.

He’s…athletic. 

And apparently, very clean. 

Heavenly fragrances of coconut and pineapple greeted her when she entered, instantly relaxing some of the tension in her shoulders. Hardly any specks of dust or crumbs hid in the crevices of the door and seat. Perhaps he vacuumed recently? Peering up into the rear-view mirror, only a navy blue blanket folded neatly sat in the backseat. Her ex-boyfriend had a clutter of shoes, bags, and hiking gear at all times. No matter how many times he cleaned the car, it became a pigsty in two hours.

Tenzin’s hand reached over the gear stick, a few veins flexing when he adjusted the shift. His skin looks very smooth…he doesn’t have many scars or blemishes. Does he use a lotion? ‘You know what he uses lotion for,’ Lin reminded herself, diverting her thoughts to something different. What else is there to look at? She’ll just look at her hometown and watch the route he takes,  in case he kills her.  

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out awkwardly. 

Tenzin glanced at her. “For what?” 

“Just…” Why do apologies have to be hard when you’re wrong? “For not hearing you out about that night.” 

“Are you going to unblock my number?” 

“I don’t even have it.”

“Did you delete it?” He looked over at her, searching for her eyes. “Are you kidding me?” 

“Hmph.” 

Tenzin sighed heavily. “Your ability to cut people off needs to be studied.” 

Finally, Lin turned her head in his direction. “Why would I stay in contact with people who waste my time?” 

“In case you end up working with them!” 

“How was I supposed to know Aang would hire you?!” 

“Alright, whatever! You’re giving me a headache, I don’t want to argue,” Tenzin grumbled, rubbing his temple. “I’ll forgive you on one condition.” 

“What is it?” 

“Buy me two tuna kimbap.” 

Lin shifted in her seat and nodded. “Deal.” 

Tenzin stuck out his pinky. “Promise.” 

“Are you serious?” 

He didn’t drop his hand, attention fully invested on the road. “Pinky promise, Lin Beifong.” 

With an eye roll and a pout, Lin reluctantly hooked her pinky along his and Tenzin shifted their hands so that their thumbs also touched. 

“I can’t believe I just did that with you…” she murmured, hiding her amused smile. Lin sank back into her seat. For a moment, she had forgotten that she was in the car with Tenzin Wang. She rested her forearm on the arm rest, brushing against warm and smooth skin.  

Immediately, Lin retracted her touch and forced her hands in her lap. 

The wheel turned again. “Don’t get too soft. You’ll fall in love with me,” Tenzin warned lightly. 

Smack! 

“I would never fall in love with you.” 

The car slowed down to a complete stop. Somehow, Tenzin’s movements slowed to a dull crawl and the light reflected across grey glass. “Is that a challenge?” he breathed, leaning closer to her. 

A rush of heat filled her veins, travelling to all of her limbs and warming her from the inside-out. Darkness coated the spring of her eyes into autumn, and her tongue traced the edge of her lips. Lin leaned closer, unsure why her body was moving against her own will. What harm could be done if their lips touched? No one would find out. It'll just be their secret to carry for the rest of their lives.

“You can’t handle me…” 

“Watch me,” Tenzin breathed, the gap closing and closing—

Beep! 

The duo jumped back into their seats, fixing their hair and adjusting their clothes. How long was the light green? Tenzin raised a hand to apologize and promptly propelled the car on its original path. Neither uttered a peep or sound for the remainder of the car ride. The awkwardness and tension simmered and festered in the small space they were forced to share. 

Tenzin focused on driving home safely. Lin decided to observe the scenery and neighborhood. 

After another fifteen minutes, they finally made it to the parking lot of his apartment. In fact, Tenzin only lived a couple of blocks away from Lin. What a small fucking world. No wonder he was in the same convenience store last night. 

Ever the gentleman he definitely is (Lin rolled her eyes internally), he assisted her as they made their way up to his apartment. Punching the code on the keypad, a welcoming song rang out in the hallway and the gears shifted. 

“Mom, I brought someone to meet you.”

Chapter Text

“Mom, I brought someone to meet you.”

Oh, fuck. 

How much does his mom know about them? Knowing him, Tenzin’s probably a mama’s boy and tells her everything. She did not think this through. Even though his mom is a nurse, what if she decided not to help her because she had been giving Tenzin a hard time? Fuck. Her vision blurred for a moment and she wished she could push his arm away, but he was the only reason she could remain upright. 

What if she hates her? What if she ruins her ankle? Can nurses do that? Another ache rolled in her joints and one short peek downward, her ankle had swelled twice in size. 

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. 

Delighted eyes, golden fur, and excited paws rounded the corner and zoomed up to her. 

Lin beamed, scratching the top of Oogi’s head and back of his ears. “Hi Oogi. How are you?” 

Suddenly, the pain disappeared as the golden retriever sniffed at her hand and licked at the fresh rain on her skin. 

“Watch out, Oogi,” Tenzin advised, “I have to carry her in.” 

“Wha—?” 

Without warning, her feet swept up from the ground and all of a sudden, she’s in the arms of a stripper. He bounced a little, kicking his own shoes off before crossing the step that separated the house from the front door. Lin held her breath, hoping to lighten her full weight in Tenzin’s arms. He danced through the apartment, almost swinging her left and right slightly to avoid her body from making contact with a wall or shelf. Oogi trailed behind them innocently. 

Squatting, Tenzin lowered Lin onto the couch and she maintained her legs in a lifted position. Shoes in the house are already a no-no, but wet shoes? That’s a crime against humanity and Lin Beifong has some level of respect for her enemy’s territory. Oogi plopped loyally beside Tenzin. 

Her nemesis kneeled as if to worship her, skilled fingers loosening the shoelaces and pulling the shoe off. Damp socks brushed against his hand for a moment and Tenzin’s face contorted, frantically shaking it with the shoes hooked to his fingers. 

“That’s where I draw the line,” Tenzin said, frowning. “I’m not touching your socks.” 

Lin’s foot shot up, narrowly missing his face. Tenzin recoiled on instinct. “Why? What’s wrong with my socks?” 

“Ew, get them out of my face!” 

“But don’t you have a foot fetish?” Lin extended her foot as close to him as she could manage, while Tenzin scooted away from her. “I’m giving you a taste for free because I’m so generous.” 

“Because that’s what you’re worth!” 

“Excuse me?!” 

“Tenzin, do you have someone with you?” a voice called out in the distance. Clanging and running water destroyed the small reality that Lin and Tenzin shared and created for themselves. Their bickering separated them from the world around them, that neither realized that others existed.  

Tenzin’s annoyance diminished a little. “Yes, Mom!” he answered back louder to carry his voice over his mother’s task. “In the living room!” 

They shared a glare, eyes hardened, fierce, and unyielding. Lin lowered her foot away from Tenzin and leaned forward, unrolling the damp socks herself. A grimace etched itself on her face at the soaked texture. Oogi sniffed curiously at her feet and socks, and Lin held it away from him with, “No, Oogi. You don’t want this.” 

She addressed Tenzin. “Do you have a plastic bag I can put this in?” 

“Yeah, hold on.” Tenzin rose from the floor, putting her shoes by the door. He opened a drawer, retrieved a plastic bag and passed it to her. Before she could express thanks or another insult, he left without another word. 

“What an asshole…” Lin muttered under her breath, tying the plastic bag tightly. To her side, Lin extended a hand out to stroke soft fur. 

The anxiety in the absence of Tenzin Wang simmered and festered in her veins. Yet, the loud pattering of angelic tears pouring to the earth offered a great comfort, even if Lin was in Tenzin’s home. Curiosity got the best of her and her eyes trailed to the photographs that decorated the room. The closest picture held the memory of Tenzin standing proudly on his university campus in a yellow and red graduation gown. Hmm, so he graduated from Republic City University—her rival school.

They could not be more opposites. 

Brief flashes of her own graduation flickered across her mind—the rich and velvety greens of United Republic National University robes wrapped around her. Standing around her were the key women in her life to celebrate her accomplishment. Back to Tenzin, pride and joy emanated from his grin and the softness of his eyes. Beside him, an older woman linked her arm within his. Bouquets of flowers rested in the woman’s arms as she grinned at the camera. 

A soft smile crossed Lin’s face. 

‘That must be his mom…she seems pretty nice. Better than him.’     

A big fluff leapt beside her, interrupting the flow of her thoughts. Oogi rested his head in her lap. “More pets, please,” those wholesome brown eyes pleaded. 

Lin raked her fingers across the top of Oogi’s head, scratching gently behind his ears. Soft and satisfied sighs melted from Oogi, warming Lin’s heart. His tail swept across the couch back and forth, kicking up several swirls of dust. Every friendly caress dissolved the buried anxiety until all of Lin’s focus rested on Oogi. “You’re so cute,” she murmured, puckering her lips softly. 

His tail tapped the couch, ears perking up. 

“Yes, you’re a good boy.” 

Loud footsteps echoed in the distance and the pets stopped. Lin swallowed, resting her hands politely in her lap despite Oogi’s quiet whimpers for more. Every slow step and the hard clang that accompanied each delayed footstep was the beating of a war drum. Lin would have to wait and listen to escape this apartment unscathed. 

From around the corner, Lin caught a glimpse of a metal leg brace encircled around an older woman’s leg and a cane for balance. 

His mother seemed shorter than she anticipated. If she stood at her proper height, then her head would end at Tenzin’s chest. How on earth did this tiny woman give birth to the giant that teaches in her classroom? Damn. His father must be as tall as President Kyoshi. 

Then, Lin wondered... 

What does his father look like?  

“Hello.” 

“Hi…” Lin waved her hand awkwardly, “I’m Lin.”

The woman smiled, hobbling slowly. “Katara. It’s nice to meet you, Lin.” 

“Likewise.”

Sapphire eyes trailed down to the swollen ankle. “May I?” 

“Sure…” Lin conceded quietly, shifting as the older woman sat slowly at the end of the couch, the leg locked in a brace extended out. Katara pulled out a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer, pouring a small chilly glob into the palm of her hands and rubbing together. The distinct smell of rubbing alcohol wafted between the women. “My feet probably smell terrible and with the rain—” 

Katara chuckled and shook her head. “Oh, sweetie. Don’t worry about that. This is nothing.” 

Lin laughed nervously, cautiously observing the nurse’s gentle movements. “Still…” 

“When you’ve worked in the trauma room and ER for decades, this doesn’t compare.” 

“I can only imagine what you’ve seen and heard in the medical field.” 

“Seen it all, heard it all.” 

A silence hovered over the two women, but to Lin’s surprise, it didn’t seem awkward or uncomfortable. She may not know how to act right now, but that’s where waiting and listening comes in handy. Perhaps Katara is in professional mode and in her own element, the last thing Lin wanted to do was distract her from her expertise. Just like Tenzin, Katara knew how to examine her ankle with minimal pain. That’s one thing he’s good at, but Lin will keep that secret to herself. 

“Tenzin is changing out of his wet clothes.”

“Ah…” 

Katara finally stopped and tenderly lowered Lin’s ankle on top of a pillow. “Well, he was right. That’s definitely a sprained ankle.” 

Lin frowned. “Great,” she mumbled. “It’s not serious though, is it?” 

“Doesn’t seem like it to me. It looks like it should heal within a couple of weeks, as long as you don’t overexert yourself and stick to the RICE method.” 

“Oh yeah, Tenzin gave me a refresher.” 

“You can also take a painkiller if you need something to help manage the pain.” She gave Lin more instructions and other advice to accelerate the healing process, which Lin paid attention to vigilantly. If alternating between a hot and cold treatment meant her ankle would be back to normal faster, then she’ll do it. The woman paused and thought for a moment. “I just realized, we don’t have any ice…Tenzin!” 

“Yeah?” 

“I need you to get some ice for Lin!”

“Why?”  

“For her ankle! We don’t have enough!” 

…

“Fine!” 

“Thank you!” 

Lin rubbed her fingers along the inside of her palm as she awkwardly waited for Tenzin Wang to emerge. A minute later, he walked in to the living room with a new set of dry clothes. Good. He looks like a normal person and not a stripper. Oogi hopped off the couch and trotted up to him, rubbing his body against Tenzin’s legs. Keys jangled in his grip and fell into his pockets as he slipped his feet into a pair rubber slippers. “Do you need anything else, Mom?” 

“Some snacks would be nice,” Katara replied. She glanced at Lin. “Do you want anything, Lin?” 

With his mother’s face turned, she failed to see her son’s clenched jaw and silent eye roll. Lin, on the other hand, witnessed his reaction but kept a neutral face.

“I’m fine. Thank you for offering.” 

“Alright. I’ll be back soon. Text me if you need anything else.” 

Slippers slid across the floor, the lock system beeped, and the door closed slowly. Oogi stood loyally near the entrance for a few minutes, tail wagging as his human’s presence grew distant and softer. Lin clicked her tongue and Oogi immediately trotted back to her, leaping into the vacant spot beside her. 

“Good boy.” 

Katara shifted. “Would you like some tea, Lin?” 

“No, I’m fine. Thank you.” 

Oogi turned to look at Katara with a content smile, and she mirrored his expression. “Hi, baby. You like Lin, huh?” 

The golden retriever blinked happily and laid his head in Lin’s lap.

Katara turned her attention back to her guest. “So how is school?” 

Lin’s face softened and she bit her lip. Oogi closed his eyes, ears lowering. “It’s alright. Tenzin and I share a classroom and we’re…” her eyes drifted to the side in thought, “still figuring a few things out. His students seem to enjoy his classes.” 

Her answer evoked an observant hum. “He told me that he's happier at school than the academy.” 

“Ah…he's also making friends. My friends have also taken him under their wing. So he’s in good hands. They act like his older siblings.” 

“That’s wonderful. I'm glad he's getting along with the other teachers.” 

“Mhm.” 

“Lin…” 

Damn.

Here it is.

The moment Lin has dreaded since she stepped foot in the apartment. Katara is about to confront her about how she’s been rude and bitchy to her precious son. She’ll spit out calculated insults on how she’s a heartless bitch who refused to listen to Tenzin’s explanation. Lin’s body stiffened and her hand cupped Oogi’s face—maybe to soften the blow or use this poor and innocent dog as a small shield against Katara. 

“I know Tenzin has a terrible temper, so I understand that you two have your differences,” Katara began softly. “If it helps you, he loves egg tarts and fruit pies. You might not be able to change him, but might be able to buy his obedience.” 

Lin blinked. 

“Oh…that’s not what I expected you to say.”

Katara chuckled. “I know him very well. Flaws and all. He’s a good boy, but he’s far from perfect. His father didn’t want to stick around, so I did my best to raise him on my own. Even with my best, I think his good and bad qualities come from me. And I’m sure you’ve seen first-hand how bad his temper is.” 

Just like that, despite heaven’s tears falling to the earth outside, Lin felt the warmth of the sun sitting in front of her.    

Her shields lowered and the tension in her shoulders fell. “If it’s any comfort, I didn’t grow up with a dad either…my mom and grandparents raised me.”   

Katara reached over and laid a soft hand on her leg. “And you turned out to be a lovely young woman.” 

“You don’t know that,” Lin replied with a rare smile dipped in timidity.  

“I can tell. I’ve seen many types of people in the hospital and I can usually tell from the beginning if I’m going to like or hate a patient. Give yourself more credit, sweetie.” 

Sapphire and jade radiated even brighter, and a rainbow could have arched above the women. Autumn had claimed territory of Republic City, but with the right people, it can feel like a clear spring day or cool summer morning.  

“Thank you, Katara.” 

“Plus, Oogi seems to love you.” 

At the sound of his name, Oogi opened his eyes and raised his head, tilting it curiously at the older woman. 

Katara continued, “If Tenzin stresses you out, you tell me and I’ll scold him.” 

Lin laughed. “You don’t have to do that.” 

“Girls have to stick together and I don’t have a daughter or any girls to bond with.” 

Lin sucked in a breath through her teeth. “My house is all women and it’s chaotic as fuck.” 

“Well, if you need a break, then you come over and I’ll cook you food and take care of you.” 

“You’re too kind. You’ve done more than enough to help with my ankle.” 

“Nonsense. I’ll give you my number. You just tell me when you want to come and what you like to eat.”

A high pitched ringing spiralled in Tenzin’s left ear. 

He pressed near his earlobe as he placed the basket of snacks on the cashier counter. “I bet they’re talking about me,” Tenzin grumbled, fishing for his wallet in his pocket. “Please don’t be talking about anything stupid. Please don’t argue. ” 

The apartment building better not be on fire by the time he leaves the convenience store. 

“Ten yuans.” 

The voice pulled him out of his own thoughts and he tapped his card against the machine. When the green light and beep confirmed his payment, Tenzin grasped the plastic bags and nodded at the cashier. “Thanks Ryu.”

“Bye,” Ryu answered, not breaking his eyes away from the latest webtoon chapter.

Alright, so the building survived Lin Beifong for fifteen minutes. 

Shocker. 

Part of him secretly wished that there was some sort of unnatural disaster caused by Lin Beifong to prove her wicked nature to his mother. But he wasn’t too worried. His mother has always his biggest supporter and she’s highly intuitive. She’ll see right through Lin’s polite act and see her for who she truly is. 

Tenzin’s arm flexed at the weight of two plastic bags on his arm as he lifted the lockpad open. Lin is probably terrorizing his mother and proving every single one of his points to her. He has to save her from Lin Beifong. She’s cruel, heartless, rigid, has no sense of humor, and—

“Hahahaha!” 

Tenzin’s blood froze. 

Was that…the sound of women laughing? 

Not just a woman. 

Women. 

“Hahaha!” 

“Oh, no…” Tenzin closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against the door, “they’re scheming together.”  

His fingers tapped the code quickly and he swung the door open. As long as there’s no bloodshed or some dead body on the floor, he won’t have a heart attack. The bags dropped in a loud thud to the floor as he examined what nightmare lay ahead. 

They were huddled together on the couch. Katara nestled comfortably beside Lin, her phone bridging the two together. 

“Wait, this is my favorite one!” Katara exclaimed, finger frantically scrolling up for a photo and leaning closer to Lin when she was successful. 

“Hahaha! That’s perfect.” 

Tenzin blinked, eye twitching.

“You guys good?” 

Katara waved a hand, refusing to meet his eyes. “Yes, yes. I’m showing Lin some photos.” 

His face began to heat up. “Of what?” 

“Your junior school days,” Lin answered smugly.  

“Mom!” 

“Don’t be shy! You looked adorable back then.” 

Tenzin shuffled out of his slippers as quickly as he could and raced over to the couch. “Mom, don’t show her anything!” 

Katara held her leg up and Tenzin stopped at the silent command. “Calm down, Tenzin. It’s not like I have any embarrassing photos of you.” 

“Yes, you do!” 

“Be nice to your mom, Wang,” Lin cut in, wrapping an arm around Katara. “She loves you and only wants the best for you.” 

“Don’t tell me you got sweet-talked by her, Mom.” He crossed his arms, frowning. 

Katara’s smile faded and she lowered her glasses. “Don’t be rude to Lin. She’s a nice young lady and I taught you how to treat a woman, didn’t I?” 

A vein almost burst in his temple when Lin smirked at him, but he contained the bubbling lava within him and nodded. “Yes, you did,” he replied tightly. 

“Good. Pack the ice for Lin to take home and bring out the snacks.” 

“Alright…” 

What kind of hex or spell did Beifong put his mother under?! His mom is supposed to be on his side no matter what! Yet, Lin Beifong dances in here with a sprained ankle and somehow manipulates his mother into taking care of her. First, she tries to steal his Uncle Sokka and now his mother?! This won’t do. The universe can try as hard as it wants to pair them together, but he won’t give in! Never.

He and Lin Beifong will never end up together or in each other’s arms!  

“That’s a really cute picture,” he hears Lin comment and his fist whitens. Their voices are blurred lyrics as he returns to the raging waters of his mind, mindlessly putting the banana milk cartons away. 

“Katara,” Lin finally said warmly, “I should go home. I’ve overstayed my welcome. Thank you for all the advice and the hilarious photos of Tenzin.” 

The fridge door slammed shut. 

The older woman smiled, noting the temper in the background. “Alright, dear. Tenzin, take her home and make sure she doesn’t get wet. Give her the ice.” 

He released a heavy sigh and turned around with a relaxed expression. “Of course, Mom.” 

Katara grasped Lin’s hand and covered it with her other hand. “You have my phone number, right?” 

“Yes, I have it.”

“Good. You call or text me anytime. If you need anything, let me know and I’ll get it for you.” 

Like her Grandma Poppy, Katara didn’t feel right sending Lin off without a bag of goodies. She packed her some persimmon, figs, pears, cookies, chips (“Those are my chips, Mom!”), and tiger balm. Hanging on Tenzin’s shoulder was a baby pink and blue Hello Kitty bag–courtesy of Katara’s coworker—along with an extra bag of ice in his hands. 

Rubbing Lin’s back gently, she leaned on her cane for balance. “Get home safe, sweetie.” 

“Thank you, Katara. I’m sure I will.” Lin leaned down, scratching Oogi’s chin. “Bye, Oogi. Hopefully I’ll see you again soon.” 

“I’ll be back soon, Mom.”

“Bye Lin!” 

As soon as the door closed behind them, Tenzin immediately took a step away from Lin. They exchanged brief glares and eye rolls at each other in the gap between the apartment and parking lot. Tenzin settled into the driver’s seat and held out his hand. Lin blinked at him, bewildered. 

“Give me your phone,” he demanded.  

“Why?” Lin crossed her arms. “You gonna delete your mom’s number because you’re jealous?” 

Tenzin rolled his eyes. “Give me your phone.” 

Reluctantly, Lin passed her phone and made sure that it was locked before it fell in his hands. He tapped across the screen quickly and passed it back to her. 

“Since you were too stubborn to ask.” 

His phone number lit up the screen and Lin shot a quick glance at him. She pressed two buttons to screenshot the number before locking it again. 

“I didn’t need to ask.” 

“You wouldn’t need to do anything if you hadn’t made stupid assumptions.”

“Whatever.” Lin shifted her legs. She coughed lightly, shifting her eyes in her faint reflection. “Thank you.” 

“A ‘thank you’ is not enough for seeing my bare chest. You owe me a hundred yuans.” 

Lin scowled. “I meant for bringing me to see your mom. She’s very sweet.” 

“I inherited that from her.” 

“You inherited nothing from her.”

“Su, open the front gate for me.”  

“Why?” 

“Just open the gate. I’m pulling up to the front soon. And bring an umbrella. “

“Did you forget—” 

Click. 

Su looked at her phone and scoffed. Her big sister hung up on her again.

“She can’t even say please,” she grumbled, turning off the ring light and cleaning up her makeup station. Bottles of skincare, eyeshadow palettes, skincare, and makeup brushes littered her work station. Su stacked several palettes neatly and wiped leftover setting powder with a wet tissue, until the surface glistened. 

Her phone vibrated and the screen lit up.

Hurry up

“Whatever. She can wait.”  

Su ignored the notification and savored her time to get downstairs. This year, Su Beifong is protecting her peace. No one's gonna overstep their boundaries with her, including Lin. They were definitely karma for each other from a past lifetime, but Su had no idea what it was. This is just what she learned from spiritual TikTok. Maybe Lin’s job is to always boss her around and protect her from bad guys because she’s the baby of the family. 

The downpour of rain slowed down compared to the morning, but large drops still managed to slip past the umbrella and cling to her skin. Su avoided the large puddles claiming part of the lawn and stone walkway. She made a face as she turned the gate handle, the wet metal having an unnatural feeling as she forced the gate open. 

Stepping out, Su leaned her weight on one leg and pursed her lips out. 

“Where the hell is Lin? She said she was in the front!” 

To her left, only an empty street with puddles. 

To her right, parked cars congested the side.

“Does she think I have nothing to do? I need to finish filming and editing my videos!” Su searched back and forth, and suddenly, her head snapped to the side. Green eyes narrowed and head leaned forward. 

In the middle of the empty street, a man carried a young woman in his arms bridal style with the rain pouring over them. 

“Do not tell me that’s Lin.” 

The man continued striding in her direction. With the sun slowly disappearing from Republic City, the streetlights created warm halos to illuminate angel tears falling to earth. No matter how strong the rain drenched the duo, the man’s strength never faltered. 

Su examined her surroundings and returned her gaze on the surprising sight. “Am I in a fucking drama right now?” 

As they approached closer, Su recognized her sister’s shoes. The rain gave Su a free teaser of this hunk of a man—drenched hair dripping wet, thin shirt clinging to his muscles and a subtle hint of a tattoo, raindrops tracing his sharp jawline and falling on her LUCKY sister’s chest. Wait…are Lin’s clothes see-through too?! Can this guy see her sister’s bra? Are they hooking up? Is that why Lin didn’t want to stay home?!       

“Oh, Lin, now you’re finally in the front.” 

“Shut up, Su.” 

Tenzin adjusted Lin in his arms, securing his grip as Suyin gave them a small haven beneath the canopy. “Hi, I’m Tenzin,” he grunted, blinking away the droplets from his eyes. 

“Nice to meet you, Tenzin. I’m Su. Why are you carrying my sister?” 

“I sprained my ankle.” 

“I wasn’t talking to you.” 

“Save the questions for after we get to the front door,” Lin ordered, promptly shutting up Su and Tenzin. 

His strength continued to impress Su as Tenzin continued to carry Lin up the stairs leading to their house. Without a single break. He definitely works out and her sister would never date some wimpy dork. Finally, he lowered her, grasping beneath her arms to keep her steady. Tenzin wiped the water out of his eyes and slicked his hair back with his fingers.

“I have to get your bag and the stuff from my mom in the car.”

The sisters eyed him for a moment, one with curiosity and interest. The other sister with indifference.

Lin waved a hand. “You can just get my regular bag. Give me the stuff from your mom tomorrow.” 

Tenzin rested his hands on his hips. “I’m already going there anyway, I’ll just bring it to you.” 

“Whatever. It’s not like I can stop you anyway.” 

Tenzin didn’t argue against her and hurried away, leaving the sisters alone. Lin rolled her eyes and turned to re-ground herself in her home, but stopped. Suyin raised her eyebrows, a sly smile revealing her thoughts.  

“So…who is he?” 

“Nobody.” 

“Did you two hook up?” 

“Hell no!” 

“Why are you so flustered? Was his dick game really bad? Did you have to fake it? You can tell me.” 

“Su, get out of my face! I'm soaking wet!”

"You're down that bad for him?" 

"Ughhh!" 

Combing her fingers through freshly showered hair, Lin propped her ankle on a pile of pillows and draped a bag of ice atop. A low hiss drifted between pearly teeth at the chilly claws pricking needles into her muscles and skin. Deep breaths and steady exhales helped her overcome the worst of the numbing process and when it finally settled, Lin relaxed on her bed. 

Lin grabbed a jar of body cream, thick cream coating her fingers and streaking white lines against porcelain skin. She applied generous globs all over her arms and thighs, focusing on her joints. She finally had some time for herself. This weekend was supposed to be a break from work, but it ended up busy and filled with annoyances. The past few weeks were a bit rough with work and a few bumps in the family, but nothing she couldn’t handle. 

At the same time, with a sprained ankle, this now hindered her ability to properly care for Poppy and Toph. Everyone tells her to ask Su for help since they all live together. With 2.1 million followers, not a single one knows them as well as she does. Suyin is an excellent manager and multi-tasker when she’s in her element of the social media world and influencer lifestyle. But heaven forbid, Lin asks her to do one thing and Suyin doesn’t even add it to her list of priorities.    

Her phone lit up and vibrated against her leg. 

Izumi - Wow Tenzin is really strong if he can carry u in the rain

Lin made a face.

what are you talking about? 

Kya - Suyi Bei on Instagram: “when life is a drama~ ☔️🥰” 

Izumi - the music is perfect too

…

“SU, I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!”

Chapter Text

secret.tunnelsenpai - Movie name???

peachblossomuwu - drama plzzzz 

cherrysong - Where can i watch? 

suyiiibeiii (Author) - my sister sprained her ankle and her coworker carried her home 🤭😌 

earthbaddieclub - ❗️❗️PERIODT ❗️❗️If he wanted to, he would!!! 

notmycabbages - HOW DOES IT FEEL TO LIVE MY DREAM

yipyip001 - someone tag their @ 

korrararaa - OMG THEYRE MY TEACHERS

phoenixkween - @korrararaa UPDATE?!?!?! ARE THEY MARRIED?! 

melonasoju - Sis i need u to spill the tea

korrararaa - i’m pretty sure they hate each other lmaoo 

avatar_yue - How can they hate each other?! Their kids would be sooo gorgeous 🥺🥺🥺

“Delete it now.”  With the list of comments growing longer and longer, Lin’s frown only deepened as Suyin’s manicured fingernails scrolled endlessly. Lin attempted to turn her face away, but the screen never disappeared.

“But look how many people want to see more of you! Be an influencer with me!” 

Lin swung an arm out, attempting to snatch the phone away but Su evaded her. Her little sister rolled to the corner of Lin’s bed. A devious chuckle only heightened the escalating heat. Su stuck her tongue out and wriggled her body in a happy dance at Lin’s sprained ankle restraining her.

“My private life is no one else’s business, except mine,” Lin continued.  

“We could be famous together!” 

“I don’t want it.” 

“You’ll make so much more money than teaching.”

“Su, this isn’t just about you!” The pink on Lin’s cheeks intensified with every second. “My students follow you and now I’ll have to deal with them asking dumb questions about him!” 

“So what?” 

A pillow hurled intensely toward the corner of the bed and Su ducked in time. Then she raised her phone up. 

“Hi everyone! This is how my sister repays me after I promoted her love story on Instagram. His name is Tenzin and—AHHH!”

Bumi - Looks like you don’t need the gym

            just lift Beifong everyday 😈💪🏼👅

Ding!

Bumi - dont skip leg day and u will look exactly like me 

His face dunked into cold water, large bubbles boiling around his face, ears, and hair. Anger drowned in his ears. Tenzin’s hands clawed the edge of the sink, forcing his rage to churn pure water. The familiar burn crawled in his lungs and he raised his head up, droplets flicking across his reflection. Nails scratched along his scalp, soothing part of his anger.  

“I hate her!” 

Katara leaned against the bathroom door frame, arms crossed. She raised an unimpressed brow. “She is so sweet. I don’t know why you can’t get along with her.” 

He huffed, pulling his soaked shirt off his body. “Lin Beifong is not sweet!” The gap got stuck around his ears, fueling his rage as he fought with the damp fabric. “She’s a scum-sucking road whore, she ruined my life!” 

Smack! Smack! Smack!

“Ow!” 

Midnight blue eyes with the force of a tsunami pierced into his soul and Tenzin submitted to its power. “Don’t you ever call a woman that! Especially not Lin!” 

He flung his wet shirt on the sink. “Look at this!” Tenzin reached for his phone that was in a safe spot in the bathroom. Flipping it over, the screen faced his mother.

A pleased smile lifted her lips and a small part of her mood. “And what about it? You should be carrying her.” 

“Do you know what this will do to my reputation?! It’s all her fault!” 

“Do you hate her that much?” 

“Well, technically it’s her sister who posted this. But yes! I hate her behavior.” 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Katara shook her head. “You need to get your temper checked or else I’m sending you to therapy myself.”

“I DON’T HAVE A TEMPER PROBLEM.” 

The towel whipped at his bare arms again. “Go and shower right now! I don’t want to hear you complaining about her anymore. Am I clear?”

Excited conversations spread across the entire high school faster than an untamed wildfire. Students of all grade levels prattled in tongues and raps over the potential fiery romance unfolding within their classroom walls. Some of them overlooked the windows, searching for Mr. Wang’s car or Ms. Beifong with a limp through the campus. But alas, they had yet to arrive.  

“It has over a million views!” Asami exclaimed as the rest of her friends gathered behind her, eyes hypnotized by the repeated loop on her phone. 

Except for one. 

His jaw clenched, eyes burning with a simmering heat that challenged the joyful and entranced energies of his friends. He figured that the millions of views were all from him, enraged eyes studying all of the details in the video. Asami posted the video in their group chat last night and he wasted no time watching to confirm whether it was Ms. Beifong. Despite the soaked clothes, drenched hair, and heavy droplets creating a hazy filter in the video, the video zoomed in close enough for him to recognize Ms. Beifong’s mesmerizing figure and Mr. Wang’s smooth and airy walk. Every heart-eyed comment sent his eyes rolling to the back of his head. 

They don’t look cute together. 

Ms. Beifong and Mr. Wang hate each other. 

Despite the video leaving a bitter taste on his tongue, the growing teenager found himself hooked on it. After all, this is new content of his health teacher that he could add to his mental collection. With her social media accounts private and only her professional photos and videos available on the internet, his best bet of acquiring new content was through influencer, Suyi Bei. 

But no one would catch him following her. 

Korra bit into her meat bun, chewing mindlessly as she searched through the comments. “Look! My comment got a thousand likes!” 

“So Mr. Wang is definitely trying to win her back!” Bolin squealed, hands folded over his heart. “We need to help him!”

Mako scoffed, crossing his arms and peering away. “He doesn’t need any help.”

“Aww, someone’s a little jealous that he’s not the one holding Ms. Beifong.” 

“Whatever,” Mako grumbled. “I’m not jealous.” 

Korra eyed him. “Suuure. If you don’t have a crush on Ms. Beifong, then I’m dead.” 

“Technically, you said you were dying this morning because you didn’t do the homework and asked to copy As—” 

Punch! 

“Shut up.” 

“Good morning everyone.” 

A spiralling taste of bitterness and acid soured within him. Heads raised up and suspiciously innocent smiles greeted the teacher. A few waved their hands. Mako barely moved his head to address their teacher. “Good morning, Mr. Wang.” 

“Did you have a good weekend?” Tenzin inquired casually, sipping on his coffee and settling his things along his desk.  

“Yes,” came the neutral response. “Did you?” 

He coughed lightly, flipping through his binder and avoiding eye contact. “Yeah, it was fine.” 

“Oh…” Korra drew circles on the inside of her cheek with a devious tongue. She shot a quick glance to her friends, specifically Bolin who nodded in encouragement. The teenager leaned back in her seat, stretching her arms behind her neck. “You didn’t happen to help an injured person, by any chance?” 

Tenzin looked up. “Excuse me?” 

“It’s just that you’re such a cool person and really nice,” Korra explained vaguely. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you went out of your way to help a hurt person.” 

“I did.” 

Low murmurs rippled across the classroom and eyebrows raised, narratives bouncing off the walls in silence. Another page flipped in Mr. Wang’s binder, grey eyes glued to his own materials. The teenagers leaned slightly in his direction, fingers gripping the back of their chairs. 

“My mother broke her leg a few months ago. So I help her around the house.” 

…

He blinked. 

They blinked. 

“...Wow.”  

“You didn’t happen to come across, oh, I don’t know…a woman with a sprained ankle?” 

Bolin held his breath at Korra’s boldness. Asami observed intently as the tension bubbled in the open-classroom. Mako’s jaw tightened, his hand balling into a fist underneath the desk. Several students’ gazes flickered between Tenzin and to the phones concealed in their laps, fingers tapping across the screen with live updates. 

Another page flipped. 

Breathing lowered. 

Heartbeats pounded. 

Slam! 

The whole room flinched and spun around in the direction of the sound. 

Heaven opened its doors and the dark weight in his soul lifted. Mako’s posture relaxed and fist unclenched. But then his eyes trailed down to the slight limp and the memory of the video resurfaced. 

“Sorry,” she apologized. She walked with a slight limp to her desk, purse and materials gathered in her arms. “Didn’t mean to open it that hard.”

By the time Mako garnered enough courage to ask if she needed help, Ms. Beifong had already laid out her things on the desk. The audience of eyes flickered between the teachers, awaiting for any kind of reaction or sign that they were the stars of a viral post.  Despite being on opposite sides of the room, the teachers’ eyes met and their bodies tensed. They must have sensed the anticipation bubbling in the classroom. Lin, ever the polished professional, maintained a neutral expression.

Before she could hide her legs behind the safety of her desk, sharp eyes honed on her right ankle. But dark grey slacks and black boots concealed the true nature of Ms. Beifong’s limp. Mako’s radar heightened. He imagined any opportunities to run to the nurse’s office to collect a small bag of ice for her. Lin shrugged off her coat and draped it over her chair, a chic navy blue blouse exposed her sculpted arms and tucked neatly into her slacks. Golden eyes couldn’t resist quickly trailing and appreciating the neat ensemble perfectly highlighting her hourglass figure. 

“Ms. Beifong.” 

“What’s up, Korra?” 

Asami bit her lip, reaching out to her friend with a hint of hesitation. 

“Did you sprain your ankle?” 

A flat look. “Did you do your homework?” 

Korra smirked. “Actually I did. And the discussion posts.”  

“What a change,” Lin remarked with a slight eye roll, shaking her head. She pulled out her laptop and leaned over her chair. Loud clacking encircled her while fingertips darted expertly across the keyboard. 

“Ms. Beifong.” 

“What do you want, Korra?” 

“Are you related to Suyi Bei?” 

“Nope.”  

“Did you—” 

Sharp eyes bore into the teenager. “Korra, if you don’t have a question about class or the homework, then I’ll gladly assign a pop quiz for the entire class to keep you occupied.” 

She grumbled under her breath and crossed her arms, but surrendered to Lin’s authority. A few annoyed glares shot in Korra’s direction, but it created little damage against the teenager’s ego. Mako stroked his tongue against the inside of cheek thoughtfully. Out of everyone, he is going to be the one who finds out all of the details between Ms. Beifong and Mr. Wang.

Don’t forget to take Grandma to her doctor appt 

Su Su 🐙 - omg relax 

                im literally at her appointment rn

                I don’t have dementia 

You’re so dumb  

Su Su 🐙 - How’s ur bf? 

Lin locked her screen and flipped the phone downward on her lap. Across from her sat Izumi, who so graciously allowed her to rest her aching ankle on her leg. 

“Did I what?” Lin asked. 

Izumi wiped the lens on her glasses and slid them on again. “Did you see the email about the teacher trip?” 

“The one in two weeks?” 

“Yeah.” 

A low groan rumbled at the back of Lin’s throat and she rubbed her temples. “I gotta figure out what I’m going to do about my mom and grandma. I’ve been so busy with other things.” 

“Like…” Kya lowered her voice and mouthed, “hooking up with Wang.”  

“Shut up.” 

For once, the group of friends had the teachers’ lounge to themselves—a rare treat and golden opportunity to spill any juicy gossip before loose lips or large ears could taste it. None of them gave a fuck where Tarrlok or Raiko were. Luckily for Lin, Bumi and Tenzin were heating up their food at the microwaves across the room, somewhat oblivious to the nature of their conversation. 

The enticing aroma of beef noodles and chicken danced in the air, then a loud beeping bounced off the walls. Bumi and Tenzin held the corners of their containers with the edges of their fingertips, and skittered to their table. Wooden chopsticks split apart and tapped on the table lightly. Lin’s mouth watered at the sight of a home-cooked meal. If only she had more time to cook or bake. 

“Thank you for this meal, Mom,” Tenzin muttered to himself, mixing his noodles together. 

“Did you guys see the email?” Izumi directed toward them. 

“What email?” Bumi blew the steam away from the chicken piece, then plopped it into his mouth. 

“The teacher trip.” 

“Nope!” He stirred and picked at the boneless pieces of chicken. “Where are we going?” 

“Harbor Town.”

“Better than Makapu,” Kya remarked. “That place was such a dud. The fortuneteller—Aunt Wu or whatever her name is—is a scam.” 

Tenzin peered at the group. “What do you guys do on the teacher trip?” 

“It’s basically just a big sleepover,” Izumi answered simply. “We do it every year. Aang tries to take us to different places.” 

“I told him we should go to Ember Island and he said it was too expensive,” Bumi piped up, yelping when he bit into a soft potato. “Lin, you should pay for our teacher trip. Your family is loaded.” 

Tenzin glanced in her direction incredulously and Lin rolled her eyes. “My family is not rich. If we were, I would be living on Ember Island.”  

“But you have a house.” 

“No. My grandma has a house,” Lin corrected. “If anyone’s rich, Izumi is. Her dad is a politician.”

“Hey, I also only live in Mom and Dad’s house.”  

Kya nudged Tenzin’s side with her elbow. “You’re coming on the trip, right?” 

“I guess,” was his answer. “I’ve never been on one, so it would be nice to experience it.” 

“Yeah, you definitely have to come! It’s a lot of fun.” Bumi eyed Lin. “You’re coming too, right?” 

“Nope.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because Wang is going.” 

“Even more the reason you need to come. You two can work out your old grievances,” Kya pointed out. “Right, Tenzin?” 

“No.” 

Kya wrapped an arm around him. “Glad we’re all on the same page! So we’re all going and we will have a good time.” 

“That…sounds like a recipe for disaster…” Tenzin commented flatly. 

Lin rolled her neck in a circle, eyes closed. “Because it is. Get with the program.” 

“Also,” Bumi cut in, “you two cannot argue at all during the trip.” 

“Says who?” 

“Me and Kya. You two are so annoying when you argue when it’s so obvious that you two wanna smash and—” 

“Shut up, Bumi!” 

The doorknob turned and their voices died as the hinges creaked. The guest popped their head from behind the wood, and the teachers’ shoulders relaxed. 

“Hi Principal.” 

Aang smiled tightly, scanning the group quickly “Hi.” His eyebrows raised when it landed on Lin. He motioned to her. “Lin, can you come out real quick?” 

“Sure, what is it?” Lin tucked a hand beneath her knee to guide her leg off of Izumi. 

“Your grandma is here.” 

Lin froze, then met his eyes, searching for deception and manipulation. She tilted her head. “What? She should be at her doctor’s appointment with Su.” 

Aang shook his head. “She’s downstairs in the lobby.” 

“Is she—?” 

He closed his eyes and nodded slowly. “Yeah…” 

“Fucking A, Su.” A wince flickered across her face as Lin forced herself on her feet, limping with every determined step. Aang extended an arm, but Lin rejected the gesture. Echoes of footsteps trailed behind Lin, but she failed to catch it against the raging heartbeat pounding in her ears. Heat flared in her cheeks and comforting mantras echoed in the chambers of her mind, attempting to contain the internal rage from burning her.  

“We’ll come with you,” Aang spoke gently.  

“No,” Lin responded, voice tight. “Go eat your lunch.” 

A tender hand rested on her shoulder and another held her other arm. Her somewhat awkward speed walking became more even, and Lin peered to her side. Aang offered a comforting smile. “We’ll help you.” 

Slowly, Lin relaxed and allowed her superior to help her walk to the elevator. 

As the group followed, Tenzin silently observed the tension and concern stringing everyone together, except him. He leaned closer to Kya. “What happened to her grandma?” he whispered. 

Kya bit her lip, face softening. “You’ll find out.”

Tenzin wanted to ask more questions, but the seriousness and perhaps sadness in her tone commanded him to hold back. Like she said, he would find out. While Lin and Aang waited for the creaky elevator, he, Bumi, and Kya cascaded down the stairs together. Sitting on a bench in the lobby was an old woman with white hair pulled back into a loose chignon bun. A light green Pochacco lunch box sat in her lap and a white cane as she waited patiently. 

Upon seeing the trio of teachers, Poppy smiled and stood up. “Hello.” 

Kya waved. “Hello. Are you here to see Lin?” 

“Oh, no! I’m here for my daughter,” Poppy answered. “Her name is Toph Beifong. She left her lunch and mobility cane, so I came to bring it for her.” 

“Well, I can bring it to her, if you’d like.” 

Poppy cradled the lunch box protectively. “No need, dear. My daughter is blind and it would be better if I gave it to her myself. Toph is a first-year student and should be in health class. Do you know what classroom she’s in?” 

“She’s—” 

“Grandma. What are you doing here?” 

Poppy raised a brow and frowned in the direction of the voice. “Young lady, that’s rude. I’m too young to be a grandmother.” 

Aang’s grip on Lin tightened slightly as he felt her footsteps falter. He gently patted her shoulder as they continued to walk closer to her family. Lin’s throat clenched with an ache, but her voice remained even and calm. “Grandma, you’re—”

“No, no, no.” Her lips pursed tightly and she shook her head. Aging jade eyes met identical ones with a glossy light. “I do not know you,” Poppy stated firmly. “Do not call me ‘Grandma.’ I am Poppy.” 

Lin inhaled sharply, lips quivering slightly. She nodded. “Very well…Poppy.” 

Kya, Bumi, and Tenzin exchanged a look with each other, silently debating whether they should leave or not. But before their bodies could move or words could be spoken, Poppy turned her attention to them with a lighter mood. They forced a polite smile at the elder. “Do you know where the health classroom is?” 

“Actually, Lin is your daughter’s health teacher.” Kya jumped in quickly as Lin turned around, a hand pressing near her eyes.  

“Oh, is that so? Well, why didn’t you say that?” The harsh tone instantly dissolving and eyes shining in Lin’s direction. Aang glanced between Lin—a few tears escaping still—and back to their guest. 

“It must have slipped my mind,” Lin replied, gaze forced to the ceiling. She turned from her spot with a calm expression, yet flushed cheeks and the subtle hint of red in her eyes. 

Aang extended his hand and bowed slightly. “My name is Aang and I’m the principal. We have some protocol regarding guests dropping off things for students. I can bring your daughter’s things to her on your behalf.” 

“That’s strange. The last principal didn’t have any rules like that. Are you sure you’re the principal and not tricking me?” 

A small chuckle. “I’m positive.” 

“You can give him Toph’s things and I can take you home, Grandma.” 

“No. No. No. I don’t have any grandchildren, okay?” 

Lin swallowed, emotions trailing down her cheek. 

Poppy’s expression remained hard, but softened a touch. She continued, “Look, sweetie. You seem like a very nice young woman. But it’s just me, my husband, and daughter. Perhaps you’re missing your grandmother too much and that’s a hard reality to accept…but I am not her.” 

“I see…” Lin’s voice cracked, saltiness covering her lips and tongue. “Please excuse me.”  

She walked away as quickly as she could, the physical pain in her ankle a grain compared to the heavy blanket of agony wrapped around her heart. All she cared about at this moment was getting to the bathroom without being seen. The poker-faced mask she mastered was crumbling in every passing second and Lin refused to allow a student or coworker to witness her inner pain. Lin was focused on holding the last of her composure that she didn’t feel the pair of sympathetic grey eyes observing her.

Chapter Text

suyiiibeiii added to her story- 15m 

Suyin Beifong uploaded a selfie of tears running down her face, a hand covering her mouth. 

PLS HELP ME 😭😭😭😭

I LOST MY GRANDMA AND IDK WHAT TO DO 

(ps dont tell my sis 🤫😩thanks babes)

It’s not her fault. It’s not her fault. It is not her fault. 

It’s Su’s fault. 

If she had done her job right, then Grandma wouldn’t have wandered off! What the hell was Su doing that Poppy managed to escape her, go home, and make it to school?! A splitting pain cracked in the middle of her brain. She asked Su for one favor: watch Grandma and take her to the doctor. Of all the tasks that Lin has to worry about, that’s the easiest one. Hence, why Su got assigned it. 

Lin dragged a cool paper towel along her eyes, the chilliness weakening a touch of her emotions. Gazing into the mirror, her makeup still remained intact. But her eyes betrayed the mask she attempted to hold on to. Did she have to let her emotions get the best of her though? In front of her colleagues, and Wang of all people?! 

Lin hiccuped slightly, throwing the crumpled paper into the trash can. “He must be so happy to see me like this…” 

Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz! 

Lin dug into her pocket, retrieving the source of the subtle vibrations. Immediately, her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She cleared her throat and inhaled sharply before tapping at her phone.

“Hello?” Lin responded tightly. 

“What the fuck happened to my food?!” 

“I don’t know, Mom.” 

“I went to use the bathroom and all my shit is gone. Including my cane.”

“Grandma has it.” 

“Why does she have it?” 

“Because Su didn’t pay attention to Grandma and now she’s at my work with your stuff! Honestly, do I have to take care of everything around here?!” 

“Who else will?” 

“Su!” Her voice bounced off the wall. “You know, your other kid? The one six years younger than me? The one you don’t discipline enough?”

“Su is trying. You know she’s not as detail-oriented as you are.”

“Ma, you need to stop making excuses for her incompetence! Su could run her own marketing company on her own and she’d still make millions. She doesn’t put in the effort to take care of the family.” 

“Stop getting so worked up. That’s why you’re always stressed.” 

Lin’s jaw clenched, lips pursed as a vein pulsed in her temple. “I can’t deal with this right now. Tell Su to take care of dinner tonight.” 

Her mother’s voice cut off and the tears stopped flowing. 

Ah yes, why be sad when she can be mad instead? Even arguing with Tenzin Wang would be better than worrying about Grandma. Lin internally cringed. He will never hear that confession from her ever.  With a renewed wave of energy flowing throughout her body, Lin rolled her neck and stared into the reflection again. The jade hardened and sharp clacks echoed into the bathroom, the door creaking and closing behind her. 

Lin managed back to the lobby, the pain of a sprained ankle descending to the bottom of her growing priorities. Her shoulders relaxed at the sight of Aang and Tenzin engaging in a warm conversation with her grandma. And Su. A sour taste rolled on her tongue seeing her sister acting as if nothing had happened in public. Did she have any common sense? 

And about Wang talking to Grandma…well…Tenzin’s distant words evoked a chuckle from her grandmother, and a warmth enveloped Lin’s heart. How long had it been since she’d seen Poppy smile like that? Actually, how long has it been since she has appreciated her grandma’s smile when she wasn’t stressed? If Su stepped up more, then Lin might have more space in her brain to remember these small moments. 

She tilted her head. If Bumi and Kya are gone, why is Wang still there? He could have skittered away with his honorary siblings. But he stood comfortably beside Aang as if tied to the hip. Huh…they’re almost the same height and from certain angles, they look strikingly similar. From the back, they almost look identical by the way they stand with their weight resting more on their left leg. 

“Hello, Suyin.”  

Suyin bit her lip, head shrinking slightly. “Hi, Lin,” she greeted quietly.  

Green eyes narrowed at the young woman. “Glad to see you here.” 

“Thanks. Being at school reminds me of the old days.” 

Knuckles cracked. “I can give you another reminder about our old days.” 

Su linked her arm within Poppy’s and stood closely to her. “You can’t kill me. There are witnesses.” 

“What makes you think I care?” 

Aang waved his hands between them. “Alright, ladies. You know violence isn’t the answer and—” 

“That’s Suyi Bei!” 

Lin groaned.

Suyin beamed. 

The eldest Beifong daughter turned to her superior. “I got this.” 

Aang’s gaze flickered between the duo, then back to Lin. “Are you sure…?” 

“I won’t kill my sister,” Lin reassured him calmly.  

“Good.” 

“Not here, at least.” 

“Lin.” 

Lin patted his arm lightly. “Thanks for covering for me.” She nodded in Tenzin’s direction stiffly. “And you, too Wang.” 

“Me? You’re actually acknowledging me?” 

“Shut up.” 

Aang patted him on the shoulder. “Tenzin, come into my office. I’ll tell you a little bit more about the teacher trip.” 

“Sure....” He swallowed the lump in his throat, gaze flickering between Suyin and Lin with uncertainty. But as Poppy entered his peripheral vision, a polite smile emerged and he bowed slightly. “Thank you for visiting our school.” 

“It was nice talking with you, young man.” 

Both men walked away and before Tenzin retreated into the halls, he peered over his shoulder one last time. Sensing someone’s attention hovering around her, Lin glanced in the direction of the source, and Tenzin looked away. 

“You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?” Poppy asked Su, studying her face intently. The ache and shattering within her heart went completely unnoticed. “Are you a celebrity?” 

Suyin fought to keep her smile even. “Something like that. I’m not that famous.” 

“Should I get a photo with you?” 

“If you want to.” 

Poppy straightened her shoulders and fluffed her curls. “Okay.” 

Su retrieved her phone, angled it horizontally, and extended her arm out. Poppy smiled, unaware that her granddaughter swallowed a painful lump before smiling widely toward the screen. Lin released a heavy sigh on the side, arms crossed over her midsection protectively as they took a selfie. The weight of her anger dwindled for a moment and she forced her gaze to the ground.

“Beautiful,” Su commented, showing Poppy her phone. She turned away for a moment, hand swiping across her face. “You look so beautiful.” 

“I would like that photograph, please.” 

Su nodded. “Of course. Anything for you.”   

“Excuse me,” a kind and somewhat timid voice interrupted, catching Su’s attention. Several girls huddled together with adoring eyes and their phones on hand. “Suyi Bei? Can I get a pic with you?” 

“Awww, you’re so sweet. Of course you can!” Su paused immediately, peering over at Lin’s narrowed eyes. “Buuut probably not today. I’ll come back another time. I promise.” 

“Are you related to Ms. Beifong?”

“Yeah, she’s my big sister.” 

A hot glare seared against her cheek. “Am I?”

Su nodded, grinning. “Mhm, you are.” 

Lin replied with a deadpan expression, “I have no idea who you are.” 

“Me neither,” Poppy piped up. 

The sisters’ made eye contact and Lin mouthed, “Take Grandma home. Now.”  

Su shook her hand in Lin’s direction. “Yeah, yeah. I got it.”  

Lin rolled her eyes.

“Wait, Su!” 

She heard her name in the wind behind her, just as she was about to get into the car. Swiveling, her eyes squinted, spotting a familiar figure approaching her. Su leaned her weight on one leg and raised a brow. Lin is so pissed that she has to send out a watchdog to make sure she can put their grandma into a car? Why can’t Lin trust her more? 

Suyin leaned against the car door. “What do you want?” 

The tall chap glanced around. 

“You giving me drugs or something?” she pressed at his silence. 

“Shut up,” he hissed, rolling his eyes. With not a single soul within distance, he cleared his throat and stood taller. Exhaling gently, the attitude melted away and was replaced with a sincere glow. Why is Lin not interested in him? He’s tall and has a nice jawline. Not to mention the obvious, he is strong enough to carry her in the pouring rain for more than five minutes. What’s not to like? “I wanted to ask you for a favor.” 

“Okay.” 

“I know it went viral and that’s great for you. But would you mind taking down that video of Lin and I?” 

“No.” 

A scowl instantly appeared. “What the fuck?! Why not?”

“Views and likes, duh.”  

Tenzin groaned, tilting his head back. His tongue swirled against his cheek, jaw tensing. 

“Wait!” .

He peered down at her, a glimmer of hope sparkling in his eyes. “Yes?” 

“Look up again and do that jaw thingy.” 

“What jaw thingy?” 

“Just look up and clench your jaw a little.” Tenzin made a face and Su stomped her foot. “I’m not repeating myself. Do it.” 

Low grumbles and agitation simmered in his throat as he reluctantly angled his jaw upward. 

Click! 

“What did you do?!” 

Perfectly manicured nails clicked and clacked against the screen, jade eyes glued to the screen. “Irrelevant, Tenzin Wang.” 

He stared at her, speechless. Then he shook his head and crossed his arms, the white of his shirt stretching against his muscles. “How much money do you want? Name your price.”

“Marry my sister.”

A scoff. “I’d rather die.” 

The screen on her phone darkened and Suyi Bei met his eyes. She dropped her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. “Why won’t you marry her?” 

Tenzin took a step forward, pointing at her. “You’re crazy and she’s crazier.”

“Fair,” Su conceded and added, “but she’s not that bad.”

“Whatever.” 

She smacked his arm and ignored his frown. “Since I have you here, do you wanna be in some videos? Or model?”

“No.” 

“You can make a lot of money from one shoot.” 

His eyebrows raised and a smug grin grew on Su’s face. Tenzin stroked his chin thoughtfully, fingers grazing across his mouth. 

“...how much?”  

“More than you make teaching high school.” 

Grey eyes trailed mindlessly at nothing, the suggestion churning deep thoughts. What is there to think about? An opportunity to show off your body, make good money, spark attention, and lots of likes on social media? Tenzin Wang would be stupid to turn her down. Tenzin readjusted his stance, inhaling deeply and Suyin bit her lip in anticipation. “Fine.” 

“Eeeeeee! You won’t regret this.” 

“I have a feeling I will,” Tenzin remarked flatly. 

“I’ll DM you the details,” Su vowed, pulling out her phone again. “Give me your Instagram.” 

Tenzin’s eyebrows scrunched, hands dipping into his pockets. “Do I have to? Can’t you just email me?” 

“That’s old-fashioned. Social media is the future, grandpa.” 

“I’m not that old.” 

“What’s your Instagram handle?”

“It’s freedomnomad.” 

Clack. Clack. Clack. 

His profile emerged on her phone, and she revealed her screen. 

“Is that you?” 

“Yes.” 

Su’s eyebrows scrunched, head tilting. “What the hell is your profile picture? Is that some cult symbol?”

“No.” 

“Is it the strip club you work at?”

“NO!”

Her voice lowered. “By the way, are you really a stripper?” 

“Ughh, Beifong!” 

“I mean, no judgment. What club do you work at? Is the pay shit because you’re a guy? Or is it because you suck?” 

“Just DM me the details and I’ll let you know if I want to go through or not!” 

“Calm down, jeez. You’re just like my sister.” 

“I am nothing like her!”

It was all too much for her. 

She needed to get out and escape it all. Home was collapsing within and all around her, the pressure of the world crumbling on top of her. And everyone watched her suffer as she tried to endure it—while she protected them from its downfall. Squeezing her jacket close and walking against the autumn night breeze was a welcomed sensation against the heat of her emotions. Her silhouette limped down the empty street. 

Usually, Lin would blast music and drown in her emotions and sink away from reality on these night walks. But not tonight. Today’s events pushed beyond her limits and control, and truth be told, Lin had no idea what she needed to feel better. She had a house full of family, yet she had never felt more alone. Life’s ebbs and flows brought people and stole them from her life, teaching lessons and bearing gifts or wounds, but not a single one of them understood her completely. Sympathy came easily, yet no one has truly seen or heard Lin Beifong. 

Truth be told, does such a person exist?

“Are you stalking me?”

Lin stopped, her face warming and softening at the cheerful dog. Then, him. “You’re not worth stalking.” 

“Yet here you are,” Tenzin pointed out. “On my street.” 

“Just get out of my way,” Lin sighed, limping and avoiding his fake pity. 

“You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep putting weight on your ankle.”

“I don’t care,” she called out, partially over her shoulder. “Don’t tell me what to do.” 

She almost stumbled, but continued on her path. Oogi looked so adorable. Maybe she shouldn’t have walked away so fast. Tenzin deserves the cold shoulder, but not Oogi. But turning around would make her look like an idiot and she was not about to lose face in front of —oh!  

Lin forced her arm out to cushion her body’s impact against the ground. Her eyes screwed shut in preparation for the harsh collision. Instead, warmth caught her. A sudden gasp hitched in her throat as large hands gripped her arms and tugged, pulling her away from the asphalt. All of a sudden, her heart hammered erratically in her chest. That must be from the adrenaline.

The hands loosened their grip on her arms and his body heat radiated against her back, beckoning her to face him. Somehow, her reflexes slowed because what lasted seconds felt as if million years passed to look him in the eyes and scream at him for catching her. As soon as she met his gaze, her false ire dwindled and perished. The night lights reflected smoothly against his grey—a sprinkle of stars peeking through the darkening night sky. Her walls crumbled, lips quivering, and before she could protest, Tenzin stepped into her personal space. His arms enveloped her, one hand crawling up to cradle the back of her head as she allowed the world to finally fall from her eyes.     

Lin grasped behind his shoulders, burying her face into his shirt. Small bursts of hiccups rippled through her and Tenzin rubbed up and down her back, until they calmed. 

Soft fur and a wet nose booped against her leg. Lin reached down to pet Oogi’s head. Even without looking, she knew his ears relaxed and hoped that his extra presence would soothe the waves of emotions crashing into her. 

She wasn’t sure how long he held her, but it felt like an eternity too long. Lin pulled away slowly, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. A few strands of hair fell in front of her face and she pushed them back, inhaling deeply to steady her breathing. Tenzin sensed her desire for personal space and took a few steps back, gaze studying her intently. 

Green eyes avoided him, but it was filled with an emotion that Tenzin couldn’t narrowly pinpoint. “This never happened,” she said softly.

“What happened?” 

Lin chuckled, smiling down at Oogi. “Exactly.” 

“Come on.” 

Now he had her attention. “What?” 

He grasped her wrist and guided her down the street. “Don’t ask questions and just hobble next to me.” 

“Don’t treat me like a kid.” Lin pursed her lips. “If you’re gonna kill me, do it right here beneath the CCTV. I don’t feel like dying in an alley.” 

“And I don’t feel like getting my hands bloody tonight.” 

They turned around the corner and a bright sign of modern convenience greeted them. A few empty tables and chairs awaited them, and Tenzin pulled out a seat for Lin. Despite her quiet protests, he lowered her into the chair and raised her leg in another seat. “We can hate each other, but I’m not an asshole,” he threw back at her. Tenzin gave her the leash and Oogi sat obediently by Lin’s side. 

“Watch my dog. Don’t run off with him,” Tenzin warned as he walked away. “Not that you can anyway.” 

“Shut up, Wang.” Lin peered at Oogi who blinked with delight at her attention. He rested his head on her leg, large chocolate eyes melting her heart. Whatever irritation was left in her heart disappeared the moment her fingers combed through the velvety fur. “How do you deal with him all the time? He drives me insane.” 

The golden retriever simply moved closer to Lin, and though he couldn’t speak, Lin found great solace in him. Maybe she doesn’t need someone to understand her. Besides, people misinterpret actions and words all the time. Yes, that’s the solution. She just has to steal Oogi from Tenzin and have him live in her house of women. Oogi would flourish with Poppy and Su. 

Lin’s smile dropped slowly. But Katara…it wouldn’t be fair to steal her other baby for her own selfish reasons. 

The bell chimed out and a door creaked open, footsteps approaching. Oogi perked up, raising his head off of Lin’s lap, paws tapping in excitement. Tenzin rummaged through a plastic bag, pulling out a triangle wrap and presenting his offering to her. Lin accepted it and read the red label. 

“I want the pork kimbap.” 

Tenzin sent her a flat look. “Goddamn it, woman. Take what I got or I’ll eat them both.”

Sighing heavily, the plastic crinkled and unraveled, and Lin took a huge bite of the kimbap, her eyes never breaking away from him. “Fine,” she mumbled. 

They ate in silence and Oogi paced between them, sniffing at their hands and begging quietly for a piece. Lin withheld her kimbap, eyeing Tenzin every so often to follow his lead. Realizing that he would not receive such a gift from Lin Beifong, Oogi shuffled to his owner and huffed loudly at Tenzin. Rolling his eyes, Tenzin gingerly tore off a small section of rice and tuna. He barely brought his hand out and Oogi licked at his fingers aggressively, swiping every grain of rice. Lin concealed her amusement behind another bite of food. 

Sitting with Tenzin Wang and Oogi…was shockingly peaceful. If he had shown up at that date, would she have felt at ease with him? Or were their differences so blatantly obvious that a romantic date was never meant to be? 

Suddenly, Tenzin stood up and walked back into the convenience store. Lin raised a brow. If he forgot anything, it was three bottles of soju. But considering he bought her a meal without being asked or told to, she figured it would be greedy to demand for more. The bell chimed again and the door closed behind him, another plastic bag weighed on his arm. Curiosity guided Lin’s movements, her body leaning forward to catch a glimpse of what he left with. Tenzin placed a Samanco and Melona ice cream bar in front of her. 

“Which one do you want?” 

Lin reached for the fish-shaped waffle ice cream and tore the bag open. “Thank you,” she muttered. 

Tenzin accepted the Melona bar and also gave Lin a mini carton of banana milk. Feeling her inquisitive eyes, Tenzin unraveled his ice cream and licked at the dessert. “This never happened.” 

“What happened?” Lin bit into her ice cream, staring into his eyes knowingly. A smile grew on their faces. 

Tenzin licked the bar and smirked. “Exactly.”

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

“Lin?” a soft voice drifted into the room from the door.

…

The door opened and a head emerged, scanning for a presence. Lin Beifong sat on her bed, a book settled in her lap, and ankle raised on a small stack of pillows. “What do you want?” 

The loudest form of tiptoeing danced across her bedroom and the bed sank slightly beside her. In her peripheral vision, Lin noticed the cloud pajamas that her sister had since high school. Lin heard a laptop settle on her nightstand. Arms wrapped around Lin, cheeks pressed into her shoulder. “I’m sorry about today.” 

“...Hmm.” 

“Really.” Suyin nuzzled her cheek tenderly against Lin. Something hard and large caught Lin’s attention and she turned her cheek. A light yellow curler was in the middle of curling Su’s bangs. “I took Grandma to the bathroom, and she was taking a while. One of my followers saw me and asked for a few pictures. By the time, I, I—” 

Sniff. Sniff. 

Lin leaned away from Su. “What are you doing?” 

Suyin gently fisted Lin’s shirt, sniffing different areas until her older sister pushed her off. Green eyes clashed, but a smug and devious grin curled on one sister’s face. 

“Why are you making that dumb face?” 

“So you saw Tenzin.” 

A rush of heat flared in Lin’s cheeks and she fought to keep every ounce of composure possible. Lin shrugged with nonchalance. “I ran into him while he was walking his dog.” 

“And?” Her sister leaned closer, face looming closely. 

“I pet his dog. That’s it.” 

“You’re such a liar!” 

“Shut up and leave me alone.” Lin shoved Su away, raising her book up again. “I’m still pissed at you.” 

Arms enveloped her waist again, but Su laid her head in her lap. “I’m sorry. I love you,” Su professed sweetly, petting Lin’s thighs.  

“Are you?” 

The cuddles tightened. “Yes, I am. Believe me. I love you.” 

“Alright,” Lin conceded, patting her baby sister’s shoulder and rubbing tenderly. 

“So was he good? Is he big?” 

“I did not hook up with him,” Lin insisted, breaking contact from her book to glare down. “And brush your teeth.” 

“Did you…” Kissy sounds.  

“No.” 

“...hug?” 

…

“Ahhhh! You’re blushing!! That’s so cute!! My big sister has a crush!!!” 

“Shut up and get out of here.” 

Rather than run off, Su’s weight disappeared and reappeared. Her body pressed against Lin’s, flexible legs folded to rest her laptop on. The brightness of the screen blinded Lin for a moment while fingers raced across the keyboard in loud clacks. Multiple tabs opened and Suyin lowered the brightness when she presented the laptop to her sister. 

“Alright, so what wedding dress do you want? Do you want a white dress or a different color? How many bridesmaids will you have? I’m the maid of honor, right?” 

“I’m not getting married!” 

Su pouted. “Come on, imagining your wedding is so much fun. Even if it’s with someone else, what would your ideal wedding look like? If money wasn’t an issue and everything was perfect.” 

Elegant white skirts with chic, dramatic, and sophisticated embellishments tempted her eyes. No matter how compelling The Blue Spirit was and how the female interest was realizing her feelings for her sworn enemy, her attention continuously averted to the side. 

A sigh. “...I want it in a garden, but under the shade.” 

Su grinned, fingers blazing across the keyboard. New tabs opened and images emerged of garden wedding venues. Lin couldn’t keep up at the speed that her sister typed and looked at the pictures. “You wanna get married here or abroad?” 

“I don’t care.”

“Yes, you do.” 

“This is such a waste of time. Plan your own wedding.” 

Su smirked. “I already did. I’m manifesting my dream wedding. Now, it’s time to manifest yours.”   

“I don’t believe in that….but spring time would be nice.” 

“I’ll go away when I finish planning your wedding. What kind of flowers?” 

“Ugggggh.” 

Su blankly stared as Lin attempted to shift away. “I’ll put down lilies, until you tell me what you want.” 

“I want tulips.” 

“Ooooh, that is so chic! It’s giving old money vibes. Oh! And I can totally see you having pink roses and carnations, too.” 

Laughter echoed from Lin’s room, smacks exchanged occasionally. Their imaginations guided them through bridesmaids dresses, food, playlists, reception, wedding favors, and themed colors. They were enjoying themselves too much, neither realized that they had gone well past midnight. 

Lin gathered her hair and tied it into a loose bun. “Go to sleep,” she ordered. “Unlike your influencer lifestyle, I still need to wake up at the crack of dawn for work.” 

“That’s not a way to live. Don’t you want more work-life balance?” 

“You are one of the reasons why I don’t have work-life balance.” 

“Don’t be dramatic.” 

“Get out of here.” 

“Tryna kick me out and fantasize about your big dick husband?” 

Smack! 

Su swiped open the camera and held her finger on the red button. “I’m getting kicked out because I’m planning my sister’s wedding. This is the thanks I get?”

It was truly a miracle that Lin managed to wake up after the second alarm. 

A flurry of strange dreams invaded her mind last night, and she could only remember bits and pieces. But at some point, she was sure that a guy with a tattoo was also—never mind. Not important, it’s time to get ready for work and not look like she died. 

In half an hour, Lin Beifong was ready for work. Her lunch was packed in the Hello Kitty bag. On her way back to pick up her AirPods, Lin passed Poppy’s room and she decided to check on her. Opening the door slowly, Lin peeked and smiled softly at her grandma’s peacefully sleeping form. Tiptoeing with a mastery that Suyin would never achieve, Lin knelt at the bedside and rubbed a soothing hand along Poppy’s arm. 

Lin rose slowly and planted a soft kiss on Poppy's hair.   “I love you, Grandma…even if you don’t remember me.”

“What are you doing?” 

“Trying to take down this broken clock.” 

Tenzin stared incredulously at the wobbly chair supporting Lin’s weight. His heart rate spiked when Lin attempted to stand on her tiptoes. “Get the hell down from there! You’re going to break your neck.” 

“Shut up, I know what I’m doing.” 

“Why are you so damn stubborn, Beifong?” 

Lin’s jaw clenched as her fingertips grazed the edge of the clock. “Can you just shut up or help me take this down?!” Mumbles stewed in the back of her throat. For a moment, she considered hopping once and snatching the damned clock. But that was too risky. 

Lin reached once more on her tiptoes and suddenly, the chair tipped with her weight. A loud yelp was her only cry for help. Her heart and stomach somersaulted at the free-falling sensation surrounding her. Time moved slowly and she could clearly see her surroundings inching farther and farther out of her reach. ‘Just grab something!’ her brain screamed at herself, but her survival instinct failed to kick in. 

Strong arms caught her, hooked beneath her legs and back. 

Lin blinked, a blizzard of thoughts and emotions chaotically rampaged to the beat of her erratic heartbeat. Her hand crawled behind his shoulder to ground herself. Glancing upward, Lin met his intense gaze, mouth agape. Her free hand rested on his chest as he held her under his spell. Hit him, slap him, insult him…all of those options died with every passing second that those dark eyes commanded her submission.  

“Why don’t you ever listen to me?” he murmured, dipping his face closer to her.

Chapter Text

He had no idea what was happening or why he was leaning closer. 

Perhaps it was that intoxicatingly faint scent of seduction that she spritzed behind her ears and on her collarbone. It lured him in and he was a sailor falling under a siren’s spell into disastrous depths. A curtain of darkness covered his sight and Lin’s wispy bangs caressed his forehead. He held his breath to prevent any awkward breaths from disgusting Lin Beifong. 

Her palm loosely tugged at the open-flap of his shirt, the warmth of her skin slowly permeating against the fabric. Fingertips doodled mindlessly and he wondered what she was drawing on him. The tiniest of exhales ghosted across his lips and he secured his grip on her, waiting for the sweet sensation of lust to—

BRRRRRNG!!! 

Lin and Tenzin flinched, heart rates shooting out of their chests and heavy panting drowning out the thunderous pace of their heartbeats. 

“Fucking bell…” Lin grumbled under her breath, casting her gaze aside to the desks. She cleared her throat and wriggled her legs. “Put me down. I didn’t pay for a personal strip show.” 

Tenzin scoffed, lowering her carefully. “You wish you could have a free show.” They sent each other a flat look. “You could have had this every night if you weren’t so uptight.” 

“You’re not a premium package anyway, so why would I waste my money on you?” 

“Just admit you don’t have that kind of money to spend on me,” Tenzin threw back, crossing his arms. 

Lin took a step closer, raising her chin up. Their eyes clashed, unyielding in their power. “I’m not wasting my money on fast food when I prefer to eat A1 wagyu steak,” she hissed. 

His cheeks reddened, jaw clenching. “Did you just compare me to fast food?!” 

She pivoted on her heel, somehow her limp magically disappearing. Her hips swayed slowly side to side with sharp clacking hitting the floors. Lin peered over her shoulder, a glint of mischief in her eye. “I don’t know, did I?” 

Tenzin growled, eyes rolling to the back of his head and returning to smooth curves swaying confidently.

Katara adjusted her glasses, raising the phone closer to her face. 

The workload at the nurse station had finally slowed down. Well, enough for a couple of the nurses to sneak a little bit of phone time before duty calls. A weighted sigh released some of the invisible tension pushing on the nurse’s shoulder, index finger tapping on her text messages. 

A small smile curled on her face as she opened the new photo. Tenzin sent her a group photo from an after-work dinner with his boss and the other teachers. Her boy was smiling contently sitting between a rascal looking man with muscular arms and an artsy type of gal. 

“He looks so handsome,” Katara commented to herself, chuckling. Sapphire eyes drifted over the group and the glimmer in her eye radiating as she settled on another young woman. “Too bad Tenzin didn’t sit next to Lin. They look so good together.” 

Out of curiosity, she studied the rest of Tenzin’s colleagues. Who was the Tarrlok and Raiko that his friends don’t like? All she knew is that one is old and the other is young. That’s not very helpful when they all seem young to her. 

Then, her smile dropped and Katara sat up straight in her chair. She brought the phone closer. 

“He still works there…? Is he Tenzin’s boss?” she murmured to herself. 

Aang and Tenzin sat across from each other in the photo. Katara’s eyes flickered between the two men. Their smiles…their facial structure…that soft look in their eyes…

Katara swallowed the lump in her throat and shook her head, sniffling. No. No. She’s looking too deeply into this. There’s no way…

Her eyes softened as she gazed at him. She zoomed in on the photo and chuckled. “You got older too…”

Subject: Collaboration with House of Varrick 💍✨

Hi Tenzin,

My name is Zhu Li Moon and I am the Assistant Creative Director of House of Varrick.

We recently came across Suyi Bei’s viral social media post showcasing your chivalry, selflessness, and grace. Your actions capture the sophisticated masculinity we honor and uphold at House of Varrick.

We are excited to invite you to collaborate with us and model our first wedding collection, Harmonic Convergence. The theme of our line is “soulmates in the modern era,” and we believe you would be an excellent fit to bring our vision to life.

Here’s a brief description of the benefits included in the collaboration:

• Wedding Collection: Showcase our finely crafted wedding suits, wedding bands, and more in our studio.

• Social Media Features: We will capture behind-the-scenes moments of how we bring our visions to life for you to share with your followers. You will be featured across all of our social media platforms, websites, and marketing campaigns.

• Exclusive Benefits: A glamorous styling session with our team. We will provide a complimentary hotel stay at the upscale Harmony Hotel. You are also eligible to receive a complimentary piece from our collection, and be our guest at our fashion event.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Best,

Zhu Li Moon
Assistant Creative Director
House of Varrick
www.varrick.com
Instagram: houseofvarrick

Tenzin’s jaw dropped, feet firmly rooted to the ground as he absorbed in the luxurious architecture of ocean blue glass and precise angles meeting together to house the up-and-coming designer brand. If this weren’t an office building, it would be a great option for millionaires or foreign investors to snatch the properties. The structure towered close to heaven and all of a sudden, Tenzin could feel the wealth gap between the people who walk within those halls and himself. 

A history teacher. 

What do people in this business wear if they’re not famous or big-shot executives? Are they supposed to dress down to highlight their inferior status? Great, now he felt underdressed. With the gradual wave of autumn rolling over Republic City, Tenzin opted for a black turtleneck and pants with a beige coat. Maybe he should have gone with business casual—an upgraded version of his work clothes. A frustrated groan shook in his throat. It was already too late to go back home. 

Oh, well. 

Hopefully Zhu Li and Varrick like him. 

Based on his research on Varrick, he’s an eccentric character whose fashion philosophy embraces and celebrates individuality and innovation. On YouTube, Tenzin knew immediately that Varrick wasn’t the type of person he’d grant access to his inner circle. His unconventional and rowdy spirit would drain all of his energy. But Varrick built his name from the ground up. If there’s anything he and Tenzin would understand, it’s blood, sweat, and tears. Oh, and Varrick was raised by his mom. 

Tenzin closed his eyes, his chest expanding and deflating. The grey sky opened, clear as day.

“Let’s do this…” and he walked through the sliding doors. 

After bumping into other superficial customers (or employees?), a couple of welcoming receptionists escorted him to the eighth floor. Leaning against the smooth metal, Tenzin raked fingers through his hair, fingernails gently scratching his scalp. He is a total fish out of water in this world. How does anyone survive in such a cold and cut-throat world? It was no different to the crushing pressures in the after-school academies. Be the best or fall behind as a failure. There’s no warmth or compassion or fulfillment here. Where does fame and recognition compare to supporting a student through a hard time? Or witnessing their confidence and self-esteem rise under your tutelage? That’s the true reward in life. 

Tenzin’s cheeks puffed out as he exhaled slowly. His mother’s smile drifted in his mind and he nodded. He couldn’t forget why he decided to take advantage of this opportunity—to take his mom on a vacation to Hira’a.

Ding, ding, ding. 

“Eighth floor.” 

The echoes and vibrations of pop songs rippled beyond the metal doors, and Tenzin moved his body subtly to the rhythm and beats. Distorted lyrics became crystal clear vocals, and Tenzin’s footsteps walked to the song’s beat. An immediate surge of authority, power, and self-confidence blossomed in his swagger as he scanned the floor for Zhu Li Moon. Bright flashes and camera shutters cut through the blasting music, photography equipment consumed a majority of the room, makeup artists and hair stylists prepared their tools for the day. 

The reality hit him all at once. 

Tenzin Wang is a model for a growing designer brand. Take that, Lin Beifong.  

“Hi, are you Tenzin?” a woman approached him, iPad on hand. 

“Yes, that’s me.”

She extended a hand out. “I’m Zhu Li, the Assistant Creative Director. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Zhu Li.” Tenzin accepted the gesture and bowed his head slightly. “I’m very excited to be here and work with you.”  

“We are, too. Follow me. First, we’re going to get started on your hair.” Her voice carried over all the noise surrounding the worksite. Tenzin followed obediently, considering she was the only lifeline he had in this very moment. “Varrick will join us in about an hour.” 

Tenzin’s eyebrows raised. “He’s going to be here for the photoshoot?”

“Yes. Usually he doesn’t join, but he’s really excited about this collection and has a specific vision on how he wants to execute the concept.” 

“I see…” 

“Today we are a little short-staffed and one of our female models couldn’t make it to today’s shoot. So I ask for your understanding on how chaotic things may be today.” 

“Oh, it’s fine. I’ve never done a professional photoshoot, so I hope the photos turn out great.”

“You’ll be fine. Varrick is great at direction. He will tell you exactly what to do if you feel awkward at any point.” 

“Okay…” 

Zhu Li led him toward a semi-blocked off area, the hissing of hairspray and a light mist spritzing beyond the black curtains. Tenzin blinked in surprise at the young woman waving at him, lips casually sipping on an iced americano. “Su?! What are you doing here?” 

She swirled the ice around in her cup, smiling smugly as Tenzin and Zhu Li approached. “I’m here for moral support. For my sister.” 

“Your what?” 

The hairstylist shifted aside, revealing a familiar pair of jade eyes to pierce him. “Thought you would never show up, Wang.”

Chapter Text

Her eyelids fluttered awkwardly against her own will at the repetitive and soft tapping of bristles. Every so often, Lin was sure that a layer of eyeshadow probably got stuck in her eyeball. How do those celebrities and models get used to this weird feeling? She couldn’t lie though. It feels nice to get glammed up and pampered, while she sits back and tries to relax. 

Why can’t she relax?

Because June Cho—one of Republic City’s hottest makeup artists and hairstylists—was also filming content for her social media. Su told her that all Lin has to do is sit in the chair and go on her phone. But no. June Cho decided to use her as a model too for her own business.  

When Zhu Li introduced her, Lin’s poker face did not betray the first impression constructed in her mind. Lips were perfectly lined and filled with a deep berry, eyes sharpened into a fierce look with maroon eyeshadow and intense black eyeliner. The powerful hues were a sharp contrast against her pale skin. Lin almost raised a brow. This is one of the famous makeup artists who will bring to life the bridal look? Was a luxury brand getting scammed? 

Lin bit her tongue and sat back in the chair, hair tied up into a bun. Makeup first, hair second. She was in no position to voice her opinions because she was out of her element in a world of glamour, superficiality, and luxury. Before the cotton pad of makeup remover could swipe off the light layer of makeup, Lin noticed Suyin engaged in a casual conversation with June. Well, if her sister is familiar with her, then that might be a good sign. 

To her surprise, June was a straight shooter and Lin instantly found herself warming up to her. June’s honesty and blunt nature gave Lin a bubble of comfort and familiarity in a completely unfamiliar world. From her observation, in this industry, you need to act, look, and perform in a certain way to attain success. But June shatters that trope. She’s unapologetically authentic and refuses to change her style to fit a standard. 

“Look down.” Slightly wet onyx liner stroked the edge of Lin’s eyelid into an elegant and effortless wing. June stepped back, inspecting her work and nodded in approval. “You have a really nice eye shape.” 

Lin’s eyes peered around for a moment, then returned to June. “Uh, thanks.” 

A shimmery pearly eyeshadow ended up in June’s grasp and she dug around in her makeup bag for the right brush for the job. When she found it, she dipped it generously in the product and warmed it up on the back of her hand. Leaning back in, June gently tapped the shimmer at the center of Lin’s eyelids. 

“So what’s with you and the groom?” 

Lin held in the scoff so that she wouldn’t ruin June’s work. “We work together. We’re high school teachers.” 

“Interesting.” Another layer of shimmer on Lin’s eyelids. “What do you teach?” 

“I teach health and he teaches history.” 

“Hm.” 

“What’s with the hm?” 

“That’s cute. And so is he.” The eyeshadow palette clacked closed, loudly tapping against another palette. A larger brush swirled lightly into the blush and softly swept along Lin’s cheekbones. 

“...” 

“I thought you two were a real couple.” 

Lin smirked. “He wishes.” 

“You wouldn’t go for him?” 

“If you want him, go ahead.” 

“Nah, not my type.” 

“Why not?” 

“Looks too much like a good boy. I like people who can match my freak.” 

“He’s an asshole, so you can add him to your list.”

June chuckled and shook her head. “You get a taste of him. He might taste salty or bitter—”

“Ugh.” 

“But you could be the sugar or chaser to make him taste better. Work things out with your boyfriend first.” 

“He’s not my boyfriend!” 

“Okay, okay, sheesh. I was only teasing.” A new brush swirled against a golden highlighter and June guided it on the bridge of Lin’s nose. “So I heard that you two got brought in because you went viral. How do you feel about this instant fame?” 

Tenzin slipped his arms through the blue vest and worked to clasp the buttons shut. All of the fabric of the clothes layered on him were silky and smooth. Even with his limited experience with luxury, his middle-class hands immediately recognized that the fabrics would never be found in a Muji or Uniqlo store. 

He adjusted the collar in the mirror and smoothed out any wrinkles along the sleeves. Staring at his own reflection, Tenzin tilted his head downward and adjusted until he found the perfect angle for the camera. His mom always said that clothes bring out different personalities. Mama is always right. 

Tenzin Wang felt like the young CEO of a business conglomerate that his mother built from the ground up. He would continue the legacy by keeping the company in the 1% and eventually marry and have children. 

Tenzin dipped his hands in his pockets, leaned his weight on one leg. He pouted and attempted a sultry, seductive smolder that would leave butterflies in a girl’s stomach and—

“Mr. Wang, please try this jacket.” 

Tenzin cleared his throat and he straightened. “Thank you, Aiwei,” he acknowledged politely, stretching out his arms as the older man guided the blue jacket over his shoulders. 

Aiwei instinctively touched his nose ring, tongue in cheek as emerald eyes scrutinized every detail from head to toe. “How does this one feel?” 

Tenzin’s eyes brightened in the mirror, a soft smile growing. He twirled several times in his spot and adjusted the sleeve near his elbows. “Fits like a glove.” 

A hum. “Yes, it looks better than the last one. It fits your frame much more nicely. Nothing is tight, right?” 

“Nope.” 

Aiwei’s eyes averted to Tenzin’s pants and then nodded. “Good.” 

“Tenziiiiin!” 

He rolled his eyes and frowned in the direction of the negative vibes. “Oh, no. What is it, Su?” 

Suyi Bei refused to avert her eyes away from her phone, baby pink fingernails with crystals tapping along the screen. Tenzin raised a brow and made a face at her, hoping that she’d finally speak up and stop wasting his time. The tapping grew louder with every passing second. Finally, Su nodded her head vaguely in the opposite direction. 

“Go help my sister with her dress.” 

“Why can’t you do it?”

“Becaaaaause,” Su closed one app, then opened another, “I’m busy helping you secure the bag. You wanna be poor?”

A scoff. “No!” 

“Then go make yourself useful.” 

“Have some respect for your superiors. I have a Master’s degree and I’m older than you.” 

Green eyes finally looked up at him flatly. She did a full scan of him in seconds. “So does Lin.” 

“That’s not the point.” 

She pivoted on her heels and walked away, playfully tilting her head side to side. “Thank you!” she sang.  

Tenzin’s jaw clenched, teeth grinding together and fist raising above his head in her direction. Silent curses and grumbles slipped through his teeth. “Those sisters drive me insane…” he mumbled under his breath. 

An amused chuckle from behind him caught his attention and Tenzin spun around to face whoever found humor in the Beifong sisters. Aiwei stared into his reflection of a red and gold compact, tapping the cushion foundation near his nostrils and under his eyes. 

“It’s only the beginning for you,”Aiwei remarked casually, angling the mirror to highlight the dewy finish. 

“What is that supposed to mean?” 

His only answer to those ominous words were an innocent huff and the stylist tapping a pearly shimmer over his eyelids. Tenzin’s chest expanded deeply and deflated evenly. The modeling world is so different from school. There’s no structure or clear cut rules, and if there are, it seems to be unspoken. To an outsider like him, he has no idea what those could be. Success is a non-linear path in this industry. You could skip steps and chapters to anchor your way to the top. 

Tenzin swallowed his pride and wandered over to the black curtained area that served as a temporary fitting room. Peering around, he noticed that while there was a fast-paced chaos near the set, not many people lingered near the fitting room. Mentally, he shrugged. To be fair, the set is where most of the action is anyway, right? No one sticks around for the dressing room.

Unless they’re a pervert.  

He was a few steps away and considered how to announce his presence. Without a door, knocking was obviously out. 

“Fucking dress…” he heard that rich coppery voice groan from behind black curtains. 

Grasping it open only for himself to enter, Lin’s bare back and the dress was halfway past her waist. 

“Su, I need your help. It won’t stay up while I close—” 

Tenzin’s eyes widened, his voice dying instantly in the back of his throat. 

Humongous, massive, plump, bouncy melons with perfectly pink buds presented themselves to him… 

Lin immediately covered her chest, spinning around, the fluffy skirts twirling with her movements. Tenzin craned his neck elsewhere and faced the “back” of whatever this makeshift changing tent is. Grey eyes held its gaze on the columns of black curtains surrounding them instead. Sharp heat from his favorite person in the world stabbed him in the back. 

“What the fuck are you doing in here?! Close your eyes and get my sister!” 

“She told me to help you!”

A low growl rumbled from her spot. “I’m going to kill you, Su…” 

Tenzin cleared his throat and swallowed the lump in his throat. Suddenly, a thin and sheer layer of sweat swept across his palms and Tenzin crumpled his fists in his pockets. The walls of reality were closing in on them and it didn’t help with these stupid onyx curtains feeding that illusion. 

“I can help zip you up, while you hold it in place,” he offered. “Without looking at your chest obviously.” 

“Is there anyone else, except you?” 

“Probably not.” 

A low grumble. 

“Guess I’ll just leave you here and I’ll be the star of the show.” Fingers almost curled around the curtain and tugged them aside so he could escape this trap. “I don’t mind getting your paycheck—”   

“Hurry up and zip me up.” 

A bubble of silence descended between them, a high-pitched ringing that only their ears could hear. Their breathing could be heard over the blaring stereos blasting Truthfully in Love’s songs. Tenzin peered over his shoulder and leaned slightly closer, raising a hand to his ear. 

“What was that?” 

Lin’s fist whitened around her skirt. “Zip. Me. Up. Now.” 

“That’ll cost you about fifty yuans.” Tenzin readjusted the cuffs, his back still turned to Lin. “I accept cash, credit cards, even PayPal.

“Wang, we do not have time for this.” 

He hummed. “75 yuans now.”

“For what?!”

“Not having basic manners, Ms. Beifong. Didn’t primary school teach you the magic word?” 

“You’re so pretentious.” Silky black hair swayed elegantly with the slightest head movement. “But I shouldn’t be surprised. You’re a stripper.” 

“My rates only go higher, and I have a photoshoot to be in.” 

Lin rolled her eyes, teeth about to dig into her teeth when her brain screamed “Lipstick!” A lightweight gloss coated the natural pink staining her lips. She could not ruin June’s work over a man. Her shoulders straightened and she released a slow exhale. “Please.” 

“Please what?” 

“Please zip me up.” 

“Now was that so hard?” 

“Shut up.” 

He whirled on his heels, finally turning to face his enemy. Another sassy remark was prepared to roll off his tongue, instead, an invisible force collided against his lungs. That invisible force was long silky black hair curled softly and decorated with several pearls and white butterfly clips. Open flaps of the dress revealed a flawless canvas of smooth skin and Tenzin’s eyes clouded over with a familiar haze. No matter how hard he attempted to allow a full breath of oxygen, his body simply malfunctioned against his better judgment. 

Swallowing, Tenzin resisted against the rising heat in his body and walked closer to Lin Beifong. His eyes flickered between the floor and her, taking note of the full skirt pooled on the ground. He lifted the skirt gently to move it out of the way and Lin pushed the front of the dress closer to her chest. 

Without seeing, Lin felt his presence raising goosebumps along her spine and stirring a warmth in the pit of her belly. Thankfully, her back faced him and Tenzin Wang couldn’t see her thoughts flashing across her face. The rich and intoxicating fragrance of wood mingling harmoniously with hints of citrus beckoned her closer and she didn’t realize that she leaned the slightest inch backwards. She tilted her head to the side, the waterfall of curls and pearls elegantly sweeping to the side and highlighting more bare canvas. 

Warm fingertips caressed the curve of her shoulder and she almost snapped her neck in his direction. But those same fingers collected her hair and swept it in front of her opposite shoulder. 

“It’ll get caught in the zipper.” His voice changed and Lin couldn’t discern why or how his voice had shifted. Was it the fact that it was like a whisper? As if he had a secret to share with her in the confines of this makeshift changing room? 

One hand found the zipper, while the other held the base firmly.  

“Hold your dress up,” he commanded, voice deeper and lower than she had ever heard it. Who was this now? Why was she listening to him so obediently? Did he put her under some sort of spell to follow whatever sick bidding he has? Lin tugged the bodice an inch up to ensure proper coverage. 

Zzzziiiiip. 

The bodice began to tighten and conform to Lin’s torso, and then a gentle tug stopped Tenzin’s path. 

Another gentle tug at the halfway point. 

“Breathe in.” Tenzin ordered and Lin’s breasts expanded, filling the curves of the bodice under his command. 

Zzzziiiiip. 

A low hum vibrated against his lips in satisfaction. “Good girl.”   

Goosebumps raised along her skin when warm breaths ghosted across her skin. You know what? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she asked him to unzip her and fuck her before the photoshoot. How bad could a kiss be? That afterglow and post-orgasm euphoria would bring a heavenly blush on her face. If this damn dress wasn’t so heavy, then she’d spin and sink to her knees to unzip his pants and pull out his dick to suck. 

How much time do they have? Perhaps they can pull a quickie before their call to the set. Lin carried a handful of her skirt and began to rotate. Tenzin Wang will be forced to gaze upon her goddess-like beauty and be so stunned that his pants will immediately tighten and she’ll assist him in unzipping him. His silhouette began to enter her peripheral vision and she parted her lips ever so slightly—

“Ms. Beifong! Mr. Wang! Fifteen minutes to set!” 

“We’ll be right there!” Tenzin bellowed from the curtain. Hushed voices emerged immediately, but neither paid any attention to the murmurs.

Lin finally made her full pivot and Tenzin’s mouth fell. Shimmery peach eyeshadows complemented the gentle jade eyes, soft and perfect winged eyeliner accentuated her natural cat-eye shape. Natural pink lipstick with a touch of gloss only plumped those luscious and devilish lips. What would the gloss taste like? How much of her lipstick could smear on him? Just a thought. The typically fierce and intense aura was muted into a gentle earth princess and Tenzin couldn’t believe that this was Lin Beifong—the same woman who cheated at arm wrestling. Cloudy eyes trailed down. Her dress was an off-the-shoulder with tulle sleeves that draped across her breasts. The skirt was shaped into an A-line and decorated with floral designs and crystals. 

“Stop checking out my boobs.” 

“I’m not.” 

Lin pursed her lips together and nodded toward the curtain. “Move, so I can get out of here.” Her brow raised when Tenzin didn’t throw back another sassy remark. Instead, he extended his hand out. “What?” 

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand, then guided it to loop around his arm. Lin retreated slightly to properly grip him, the satiny fabric gliding underneath her palm. “We need to play our part. Do you think you can act?”

Lin smirked, lifting her chin upward. “I’m good at faking it, Wang,” she purred. 

Tenzin leaned closer, a mischievous grin on his face. “You wouldn’t need to fake it with me.” 

“You don’t have a chance and even if you did, you would never tell if I’m faking it or not.”  

“Or maybe you suck at faking it.” 

“If you want me to play the part of some lovesick girlfriend, at least pretend you’re a gentleman.” 

“I am a gentleman.” 

“Then walk me down the aisle.” 

Tenzin lifted the curtain and held it open for Lin to walk out with him at the same time. It was so easy to joke with him, but a sea of eyes soon laid on them and Lin found herself locking her attention either straight ahead or on the ground. Her beauty garnered attention in her daily life, but never to this degree. Despite wanting to rush over to the set, Lin had to keep her footsteps small and measured to avoid tripping over the dress. Who cares what Tenzin is doing or how he’s handling this overwhelming attention. 

A figure blocked their path with a cell phone concealing their face and a flash blinding their eyes. “Oh my gosh, you two look soooo cute! Smile!” 

Lin averted her face to the side into Tenzin. “I can’t see, Su!” 

“Ooh yes, act shy and timid.” Su’s grin widened as she held her phone evenly and panned up, down, left, and right. “Perfect.” 

“Don’t tell me you’re doing the backstage footage for this company,” Lin uttered flatly. 

Su made a face and shook her head. “No. This is for me so I can post an update on you guys.” 

“You will not—” 

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen! Let’s have ourselves a wedding!” A boisterous voice declared across the room. Immediately everyone straightened and bowed when a man dressed in a navy blue velvet suit ambled into the studio. His eyes lit up. “Suyiiii! Queen, thank you for coming!!”

“Hello darling!” Suyin greeted with the same excitement, sharing an air kiss on both cheeks. “Thank you for having me and my big sissy here.”  

Sapphire eyes caught sight of Lin and Tenzin, and he approached them. “There’s our two lovebirds and soulmates!” 

Lin and Tenzin bowed slightly in respect, but the man extended his hand out instead. The duo shook his hand gently compared to his firm grip. “I’m Lin and this is Tenzin.” 

“Oh, I know. You two went viral for all the right reasons and we’re banking on you two to kickstart this collection.” A sly smile curled on his face, eyes studying them intently. “Iknik Blackstone Varrick. But just call me Varrick.” 

“It’s nice to meet you, and just to let you know,” Tenzin and Lin unlinked arms, “we’re not actually together.”

“Of course not!” Varrick lightly smacked Tenzin’s arm. “It’s all business.” 

“Exactly…” 

“If this goes spectacular—which I have no doubt that it will—we’ll do your hard launch, too.” 

Lin and Tenzin shared a glance with each other. Su laughed to herself in the background and Lin almost shot her a fresh glare. 

“Uh, what’s a hard launch?” 

“When a couple goes official on Instagram.” 

“Oh, we’re definitely not—” 

“Hahaha! Oh, Suyi. They’re so adorable.” Varrick snapped his fingers. “Follow me. I will tell you my vision and what I’d like for you to do.”  

An elaborate arrangement of roses, carnations, lilacs, and poppies across all colors decorated various spaces throughout the studio. Some were arranged around sitting blocks, while others dangled gracefully like butterflies. The best one was the area beside the windows, streaks of sunlight already dancing with the pots of flowers while the humans organized themselves. Nothing could rival the sun, but these people are professionals. They know how to make anything look good (a.k.a. Photoshop). Lin and Tenzin’s eyes brightened at the symphony of nature’s hues, then—

“Ah choo!” Lin squeaked, containing as much of her sneeze to her arm as possible. 

“Is that really what your sneezes sound like?” Tenzin asked incredulously. 

“Yeah, what about it?”

“You sound like a kitten.” 

“And? You thought I roared?”

“Yeah, like Godzilla.” 

Smack! 

“Ow! I think I need to file for worker's compensation now.”

“Shut up, Wang.”  

After thirty minutes of Varrick’s elaborate storytelling, Lin and Tenzin shared stoic eyes with each other every few minutes. It began with how he met Zhu Li, then jumped to buying a yacht, then how they ended up in jail for a weekend, then some story about how no one told him he wasn’t levitating at a large conference? The only useful information they gathered is that they would do solo shots and several couple shots indoors, then finish couple shots outside to take advantage of the sunlight. 

Lin leaned closer to Tenzin and whispered, “Korra and Bolin would get a kick out of this guy.” 

“Tell me about it,” Tenzin grumbled under his breath. 

“Are we even doing a photoshoot at this point?”

He shrugged.

Varrick clapped and grinned. “Alright, lovebirds! Got the vision? Ready to bring it to life?” 

“Yep, let’s do this!” Lin answered with a hint of exasperation, pushing on Tenzin’s leg to help her stand up from the sitting block. He frowned at her and she mouthed a challenging, “What?” back at him. 

“Since you’re standing up, let’s get your shots first, Beifong!” Varrick secured the wrap around his neck and adjusted the settings on the camera. 

Lin observed the beeps that followed every button Varrick pressed. “You’re taking the photos?”

“Of course,” Varrick answered without taking his eyes off the camera. “It’s my vision. I’m the storyteller and you’re the muses.”

“Jargala will also take photos and record behind-the-scenes footage,” Zhu Li added. 

“Which one is Jargala…?” 

“Me!” A woman answered, pink bubblegum popping. Charcoal black hair pulled back into a high ponytail and the most perfect bangs framing her face. Intense but precisely sharp black eyeliner created a dramatic look with a pop of hot pink eyeshadow at her inner corners. Bangles of crystals cusped both of her wrists—a collection of rainbows at her reach. Clicks and clacks followed every movement of her hands. Blue evil eye earrings dangled from her ears. Gold chains and a large amethyst crystal pendant adorned her neck.    

Well, at least it’s easy to spot her.

It took a while for both Lin and Tenzin to get comfortable. 

Lin seemed stiff. Her pose—whether standing or sitting—was graceful and poised, squared shoulders and upright spine. To someone who didn’t know her, they’d probably guess that she was a former dancer. No, it was her grandma’s constant fussing over sitting up straight and rolling the shoulders back, especially for photos. But it was the only pose she could do. 

“Give me innocent eyes and a flirty, but shy smile!” 

“What does that even mean?” 

“Play with the bouquet. Nice, Beifong. Soften your eyes a bit.” 

Varrick’s affirmations of “encouragement” only stirred frustration for her. His directions are too vague. Lean where? What the fuck does flirty eyes look like? She gives it to the camera and he says, “Too fierce! Think of a puppy!” Suyin almost volunteered to get her sister to smile, and Lin almost flung the bouquet of flowers at her face.  

Everything clicked when Zhu Li directed her movements. 

“You’re a princess, Lin. Relax your shoulders a bit. Angle your face upward toward the sunlight. Hold that pose. Beautiful. Now sit down, cross your legs and rest your elbow on your knee. Spread your fingers out a little and softly caress beneath your chin.” 

Zhu Li was clear with her directions and wasn’t demanding. She knew how to choose her words carefully to evoke the correct aura. 

“Hold the flowers to your chest. Pretend you’re smelling them and smile. Gorgeous, Lin! Now hold the pose, but look over your right shoulder. Smile…hold that…Su, go and fix her butterfly clip.” 

Tenzin, on the other hand, had the opposite problem. When he was given too much direction, then his body would stiffen and tense up. Thoughts would race into his head. Could he execute what they were asking of him?

“Lean against the wall, cross your leg over and think about your special lady.” 

His hands would hide in his pocket and his lips would purse out. 

“How about a smile, Tenzin?”  

The corners of his lips curled. 

“Okay, look down and laugh. Do whatever you want, but stay within the frame. Swing your arms. Act like you’re thinking about where to bring her for the honeymoon.” 

Tenzin chuckled, licking his lips and sweeping away a few strands of hair that fell in front of his face. 

“YES, TENZIN! KEEP DOING THAT! Excellent!” 

Lin rolled her eyes as June touched up her blush and swept another light stroke of highlighter on her cheeks. 

“Bite your lip, bad boy. Look to the sid—YES! Show us that immaculate jawline, groom. Damn Lin, you bagged yourself a smoking hot man cake.” 

“I’m not interested in him.” 

Varrick giggled. More bright flashes and camera clicks. “Your panties are gonna be a little uncomfortable after you see these.” 

Lin scowled in his direction. 

They took a ten minute break before continuing the next phase: the couple shots.  For some of the poses, Lin and Tenzin weren’t ripping each other’s throats out. To be fair, they were standard poses: standing side by side or back to back. They needed to add a smile, naturally, and those came easily when they didn't need to look at the other.  

“Now lean your head on his shoulder, Lin.” 

Lin moved an inch. 

“More.” 

Her face remained composed, while a thunderous wildfire raged. 

Varrick lowered the camera. With two fingers, he motioned for Lin to move closer to Tenzin. “Beifong, wrap your arms around Tenzin’s waist.” 

“Why?” 

“No questions. Do it.” 

“Ugh.” 

“You want the money?” 

Lin’s fingers clenched around the flowers and she slipped her arms beneath Tenzin’s. Thankfully, his back was facing her so she didn't need to look at his stupid face while Varrick gave out weird directions. 

“Put the flowers down, too.” 

Su ran up and collected the bouquet from her. 

That husky and woody cologne danced in her nostrils again and Lin thought her eyes rolled to the back of her skull. One of the assistants held on to Tenzin’s jacket after Varrick demanded that it be removed. She held her breath as she pressed herself against Tenzin’s body, feeling him stiffen as she molded her body along his. 

“Tenzin, angle your body a bit. Good, just like that.” Varrick’s head tilted, eyes narrowing slightly. “Actually, both of you sit on the edge of the block. But stay in that pose.” 

The fake newlyweds bit down on their complaints and complied with the command, unified by one common interest. 

Varrick raised the camera. “Tenzin, lean back into Lin and hold her hand. Beifong, rest your face on his shoulder.” 

The corners of their mouths began to curl up, but Varrick held a hand to the sky. 

“Nope! No smiling!” 

“Then what are we supposed to do?” Lin shot back, hovering her cheek with millimeters between her skin and ivory fabric. 

Varrick pointed to himself. “Look at the camera and smolder.”  

“What?” 

“Look at the camera as if you’re judging me!” 

The memory of Korra’s meddling with Mako and Asami’s relationship last year emerged in Lin’s brain, and her body mirrored her thoughts. Lin angled her face slightly downward, yet still offering the illusion of resting her face at the curve of Tenzin’s shoulder and neck. A few wisps of dark brown hair tickled her hairline, but Lin ignored the sensation and focused on the confusion, annoyance, and judgment she gave her student. Jade eyes hardened, the slightest hint of her eyebrow raised, and glossy lips pursed together. 

“Stunning, Beifong!” 

The memory of Mako staying behind a little later than his friends to stay and help clean Lin’s side of the classroom immediately flashed in Tenzin’s mind. Does this naive boy have a little crush on the head witch? Mako swept around the desks and asked Lin if she needed extra help with anything. She waved him off and kindly sent him on his way to enjoy his break with his friends. Tenzin slightly tilted his head upward, lips parted gently, and he leaned closer into Lin. A distant and unimpressed aura clouded his eyes.

“Hold that Tenzin! Perfect!” 

Click! Click! Click! 

Su and Zhu Li peered over Varrick’s shoulder. Somehow a brown sugar milk tea with boba ended up in Suyin’s hands. She sucked up several pearls, eyes greedily feasting. Suyin pointed at several and noted, “These ones are giiiiving.”

 Zhu Li leaned closer into Varrick’s ear, lips moving but her voice too distant for Lin or Tenzin to catch. 

Varrick smirked and cackled. “You look like that power couple who judges everyone.” 

Tenzin sought clarity from the other employees, but none caught on to his confusion. “...Is that a good thing?” 

Su gave him a thumbs up, chewing on a tapioca pearl. 

Varrick leaned closer to Zhu Li. “They would be good for our Black Sun collection.”  

His assistant director nodded and typed on her iPad. 

“Alright lovebirds! Time to amp up the romance! Let’s move to Block C!”

Lin released Tenzin immediately and his head whipped in her direction, electricity clashing in their eyes. Tenzin dusted off his shoulder and waist, any area where touch warmed the luxurious fabric. Their silent war was interrupted by several female assistants gathering around Lin to support the train of the dress. When Lin spotted Tenzin, she noticed how his smile relaxed and eyes brightened when asked if he wanted water from another assistant. ‘Poor girl getting scammed by a stripper.’   

The floral arrangement in Block C wasn’t much different, except the flowers were variations of pink—baby, deep blush, and a sprinkling of fiery pink. Lin’s footsteps quickened a pace to the new area so she could get a fresh hit of sunlight to warm her face. A large window expanded their lighting options and angles for the perfect photos. There was a small element of trust in the artificial lighting, but Lin always preferred natural sunlight to illuminate and breathe life into photos. But who is she to say? She’s not a professional photographer.  

A large ladder was anchored out of the camera frame, and Lin briefly wondered what that would be needed. 

“I want to throw the petals on them,” her sister’s voice piped up from behind Lin. 

“Girl, you better not fall off the ladder like last time,” Varrick heeded, laughter sneaking into his words and soon infecting Suyin’s voice.

“You have money,” the influencer clapped back. “You can pay for the hospital bill. If you don’t pay for the bill, compensate me with another photoshoot.”

While Varrick spit out instructions to the assistants, June strode over to Lin and inspected her lip gloss. The layer was beginning to lose its glimmer and settle in the wrinkles of Lin’s lips. June gave Lin a tissue to completely remove whatever was on her lip. Rather than touch up the gloss, June reapplied two lip stains and finished with a watermelon lip oil to hold more moisture. Lin gently touched her lips together and her eyebrows lifted in surprise. 

With the bride ready for the next session, June combed out several flyaway hairs on Tenzin’s head. She stood closer to his face to inspect the foundation wear. Several spots seemed to stand out to June because Lin didn’t find any flaw from her spot. June gently tapped a couple dots of concealer on Tenzin’s face and seamlessly blended it out. 

Once Varrick cleared out whatever he needed with Zhu Li and the assistants, his attention honed in on Lin and Tenzin. Unlike the previous pose where Lin held on to Tenzin from behind, they were forced to face each other.

“Put your hand on her waist, Wang!”

A centimeter moved.

There was a considerable gap between the duo, both well within the other’s personal space. But not convincing enough to sell a fake love story to anyone willing to purchase a luxurious Varrick wedding dress. Lin’s hand rested on his forearm that touched her waist to show some intimacy toward her fake fiancé. 

Varrick’s shoe tapped impatiently on the floor. “I need you two to look like you’re in love! Sell me your soulmate energy!” 

Another centimeter. 

Distinctly smooth footsteps marched over to the duo, and both inhaled when the CEO of the company unapologetically stepped into their personal bubble. “Put…your…damn hand,” he forces Tenzin’s hand, “on…” the curve of, “her waist.” 

He pushed on Tenzin’s back until the gap minimized to several inches between him and Lin. Varrick continued to paint the portrait in his mind, adjusting Lin’s arm and tilting her chin ever so gently.  

Satisfied with his work, Varrick skips back to his spot. “Now lean closer!” he commands, raising the camera again. “Remember you get paid to look like you’re in love, even if you hate each other!” 

Lin and Tenzin’s eyes held anything, but love. 

“I hate you,” Lin hissed, lips barely moving. 

“I’m not particularly fond of you either.” 

Lin groaned. “Varrick, I can smell his breath!” 

“Shut up, Beifong. You’re so dramatic.”

“I don’t care! I need you two almost kissing! Do it right or do it again!”  

“It smells like bananas and onions!” 

“And you better look like you love it!” He closed one eye and adjusted the lens. “They look so good…” Varrick muttered, “even if they’re ready to murder each other.” 

Click! Click! Click! 

Tenzin tilted his head. “I thought you said you were good at faking it,” he whispered.  

“I am.” 

Tenzin’s eyes flickered to her lips. “It’s very underwhelming.” 

“You want me to fake it?” 

“Give me your best, Beifong.” 

Slenders fingers firmly slid up his arms, crawling beyond his neck and cupping his face. Lin pushed more weight on the balls of her feet and craned her neck up, lips inches away from his. 

Click! Click! Click! 

“Yes! Now that’s what I’m talking about!” 

Before Lin could brush her lips against his, a sharp gasp collided against Tenzin’s mouth. The hands on her hips gripped her waist tightly and the floor disappeared beneath Lin’s feet. That sudden movement forced her closer to him, the tips of their noses briefly touching and Lin’s smaller hands nearly clutching Tenzin’s face. 

Click! Click! Click! 

“I’m loving this! Tenzin, do a little twirl to add some oomph to her dress! Suyi, toss those flower petals!”  

“Hold on, sweetheart,” was the last thing Lin heard before the world around her began to spin and all she could see was Tenzin Wang’s cloud eyes hypnotizing her. In the distance, the flashes and camera shutters were mere background noises to the intense pounding in her ears. She felt light cool sensations falling from above her and realized that they were freshly picked rose petals delicately descending over her and Tenzin. 

“Faster,” she implored, leaning ever so close to Tenzin. 

He fulfilled her wish, the world a blur and Tenzin the only person grounding her in the moment. 

Effortlessly, he lowered her to the ground. His hand covered hers and he gently raised it to his lips, then turned it to press another to the inside of her wrist. “Tell me what you want,” he whispered on her skin.

Click. Click. 

“Oh hell, yes. They look like they wanna fuck.” 

Every small kiss ignited a fire on her skin and Lin contemplated how she should tip the scale with her one true enemy. “You should feel how much of a mess I am under this dress…” 

“You’re definitely not a good girl anymore.” Tenzin’s free hand caressed the crystals decorating her waist and slid to her back, pulling her until her chest was flush to him. Every inhale enhanced the swell of her breasts and his gaze averted downward to find her cleavage. With all these layers of clothing, would he be able to feel how erratic her heartbeat is going? 

“And what are you going to do about it?” 

“This.” 

The softness of his lips pressed against hers firmly, sending her brain in an internal spiral. Loud cheers and whistles jumbled with shrieks and camera shutters in the background. Chaos released itself as the boundaries between them dissolved. A hand cradled the back of her head and suddenly, a small drop in her stomach forced her to wrap her arms around Tenzin’s neck. Her body now dipped and bent at an angle, Lin surrendered to his dominance. For the sake of the photos, of course. 

They broke apart a few centimeters and Lin pulled him further in, parting her lips and moaning softly when his tongue danced with hers. His teeth dug into hers slowly until a hint of pain began to spring forth. A small mewl escaped from Lin against her own judgment and Tenzin released her. 

“I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk.” 

Chapter Text

“Suyi, throw more petals!!” 

“Bitch, there aren’t anymore!” 

“Zhu Li! Get more bouquets and rip the petals off!”

Suyin rested the basket on the top of the ladder and lowered herself a few steps down. Raising her phone and using the step as support, she had the perfect view of Tenzin twirling. Thank goodness she had enough flower petals to throw over them while he spun her around like a princess. She almost squealed and screamed with excitement when she saw Tenzin sweep Lin off her feet. Though her voice was imprisoned in her body, her face was serving subtitles to anyone paying attention. 

“Oh my god!” her mouth moved, hand clapped over mouth and grin large. 

How is Lin not falling in love with Tenzin? If Bataar did this, Su would have folded immediately and gotten married at that moment. Su scoffed internally. Lin is too serious. She needs to be a little more flexible or else she’ll never get laid for the rest of her life. Suyin giggled mischievously to herself. Maybe that’ll change soon because Tenzin is giving Lin naughty eyes and her sister is playing the same game. 

When the hell are they going to finally just kiss and fuck—OH MY GOD!!! 

“Ahhhhhhh!!! Yaaaaas, sissy!! Give it to him!!” 

If only she could hear what they’re saying to each other. Lin better not be saying something stupid and that’s why Tenzin shut her up with a kiss. The ladder wobbled slightly beneath her and she held it steady, thumb pressed firmly over the red circle. Suyin will mute her screaming when she uploads the video. It doesn’t matter that she has to wait until after Varrick drops the photos to finally post. She’s forever indebted to whatever higher being exists because she caught the perfect moment. 

“We’ve got more, sir.” 

Varrick wagged his finger in some generic direction. “Go and do the thing!” 

Zhu Li scrambled on the opposite side of the set, racing to the top before the couple could pull apart. 

“Wang, Beifong. Keep making out! Don’t stop until I say cut!” 

A flurry of baby pink rose petals rained over Lin and Tenzin, slowly twirling and dancing mid-air. Bright flashes flickered against their false romance to eternally capture this electrifying moment. Their lips broke apart for a moment, foreheads bumping softly together. Tenderly, Lin’s fingertips caressed his cheek and she tilted her head to the side. She stood on the balls of her feet, their lips melting together perfectly. 

Lin’s free arm snakes around his neck, luring him deeper into her kiss. Her other hand delicately trails down his face, slithering down his neck…his shoulder…his heart. 

It took every ounce of self-control to contain the boiling excitement in her chest witnessing a historic moment. After Lin’s bitter breakup with that asshole, her sister closed off her heart to other romantic partners. Of course, she went on several dates, but they all proved why dating was not something that enticed Lin. Uncle Sokka sent a good man toward Lin, but Tenzin fucked up before they could have their first date and now they’re stuck in some endless cycle of sexual tension. But maybe things will change from here now. 

“Cut!” 

Those words broke an invisible bubble and forced Lin and Tenzin out of their own world. Lin and Tenzin barely broke apart when a commotion of noise, chaos, and movement awakened around them. Their movements were slow. Their feet were firmly rooted in the ground, resisting any external noise from uprooting their stances. An unspoken tension brewed between them that no one else witnessed in the moments they shared for the photos. Despite instructions ping-ponged across the room, Lin and Tenzin barely broke their gazes between each other. A light layer of shimmery lip gloss smeared across Tenzin’s lips, while subtle pinks streaked outside of Lin’s natural lip line. He still held her against his body, refusing to release her. 

Suyin descended the stairs and Zhu Li met her at the base, tapping her shoulder. “What was that?” she whispered. 

The youngest Beifong smirked. “Chemistry.” 

“Sexual tension,” Varrick added, and the girls yelped in surprise. They sighed in relief that the origin of the answer held power in this room. Varrick clapped enthusiastically and shot up an OK sign to Lin and Tenzin. “That was smoking hot, you two! That’s a wrap! Someone get these two some water! They need it.” 

Lin and Tenzin shared a look together and nodded, a dazed and cloudy expression in their eyes.

Aged wheels squeaked across the tile floors. Old women tapped the fruits, listening for the right sound to confirm its ripeness. Yellow tags on the strawberry yogurt drinks brightly advertised the 1+1 deal. “Excuse me? Where can I find the pasta?” Katara tightened her sweater as each customer swept the air conditioner’s chill her way as they walked by her.   

The nurse scanned the frozen bags of dumplings and cold noodles. What would Tenzin like for dinner tonight? He hasn’t answered her text, but Katara didn’t take it personally. Photoshoots must take a lot of time and he doesn’t have long breaks to text her. But knowing what he’d prefer for dinner would be convenient since she’s already walking in between the aisles.

Hmmm…what haven’t they eaten in a while?

Mushroom chicken with rice? 

Gyudon? 

Braised short ribs? 

What about steamed ginger fish? 

All of those choices sounded divine, but her heart couldn’t decide at the moment. She pushed the shopping cart forward and decided to let the ingredients call out to her instead. The cute whistle and announcement of the supermarket interrupted one of the modern pop songs that she couldn’t keep up with. Rather than ending up in the bakery or the vegetable section, Katara found herself in the dessert aisle instead. The vibration in her pocket beckoned for her attention and she reached down, pulling out her phone. She slid her glasses on, squinting to properly see the screen. Hopefully Tenzin’s name on the screen. 

Crash!  

Metal collided against metal. Slowly, Katara’s face reddened and her head whipped in the direction of the shopper. Was the person blind?! Didn’t they see her standing here?! If they were paying attention, they would have! Katara shoved her phone in the back of her pocket and adjusted her glasses. 

“Hey, watch where you’re go…” Katara paused, “ you?!” 

A scoff. “Oh, you gotta be kidding me,” the voice grumbled. “I’d recognize that annoying voice from anywhere.” The woman crossed her arms and Katara’s eyes hardened. “It’s been a while… Sugar Queen.” 

Katara almost growled. “Well, if it isn’t the Blind Bandit who burned down the care home.” 

Toph smirked. “You have no proof.” 

“You’re the only one who could convince the residents to riot.” 

“What can I say?” Toph raised her shoulders and hands. “I’m compelling.” 

“You’re trouble.” 

Toph shrugged. “Agree to disagree. You’re just salty because everyone liked me more than you.” 

“No they didn’t. Do you know how many fights you started and I—” 

“Stop acting like you owned the joint. All you did was volunteer there because you had a little crush on Hot Man.” 

“His name was Zuko.” 

“Damn, you’re still hung up on him?” 

Katara’s face reddened. “I didn’t have a crush on him!!” 

“Chill out, Sugar Queen. You’re gonna get high blood pressure and pop a vein.” 

“I’m completely calm!!” 

“Sounds like you need to get laid,” Toph replied, unbothered. “I hear the other Harmony House got some hotties. But what do I know? As long as he’s got some rough hands and doesn't stink, I’ll let him take a shot.” 

Katara rolled her eyes. “So basically your standards are low.” 

“Yours must be impossible if you haven’t gotten laid at this age.” 

“You don’t even—” 

“There you are, Toph.” 

A young employee circled around the corner. A lanyard with several keys jangled with every light footstep, announcing her presence as she approached the woman. She bowed politely to Katara and gently grasped Toph’s arm.

“I’m fine, kid,” Toph insisted, trying to brush off the girl’s hand. “I know my way around town.” 

It took every ounce of wavering composure for Katara to bite her tongue and not snap at Toph in front of an innocent bystander. She simply nodded at the employee, silently sending her condolences to the poor girl forced to guide the Blind Bandit around the market. Katara’s knuckles whitened around the handle, wheels screeching and pleading for oil at the sharp force commanding it to move beyond its capacity. 

“Her family must be insane…” Katara mumbled, eyes distant and locked on nothing. “Good thing Tenzin isn’t like that. He would never have a wife with a crazy mother-in-law…”

“I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk.” 

The desire to peel every layer of clothing off and get fucked until she needed a wheelchair never burned as hard as it did right now. Some assistant pushed her into the makeshift changing room, cutting the ribbon that tied her desire with Tenzin. Lin stretched her arm back to tug the zipper down and loosen around her curves. Curls draped over her shoulders, the force of shaking arms loosening some of them. Thankfully, her bag of clothes sat ready on the chair. 

Finally, the zipper surrendered to her power and smoothly unzipped and unravelled the bridal packaging. A shiver trembled through Lin as a small gust of the air conditioning spiralled past a small gap of the curtains. As desperate as she was to throw the dress into oblivion, Lin handled it with great care knowing wealth and labor was poured into the birth of this bridal gown. The skirt and layers of special tulle pooled and tumbled dramatically at her knees. Clamping her thighs together so that more could release its grip from her, and an uncomfortable wetness dampened her pink underwear. 

‘I don’t like him. I don’t like him. I don’t like him.’ 

One leg slipped out of the dress. 

‘He just has a nice body.’ 

The other leg slipped out. 

‘Hooking up with him does not mean I like him.’

Lin paused as she pulled out her bra from the bag. A debate warred in her mind and Lin returned it in the small pocket. 

‘He better fuck me right.’ 

The faint outline of her nipples pressed against her light blue sweater. Obvious enough to know she’s not wearing a bra, but modest enough to conceal her nipples. 

Lin secretly wished she had opted for a skirt rather than loose jeans. It would have been easier to hook up. Her heart suddenly hammered dramatically, pounding against her bones. Tenzin said something else that was inducing a spontaneous heart attack, and all of the emotions and words threatened to spill all over the floor. Lin shook her head and hyperfocused on the hot desire melting her core. 

What he said meant nothing. 

They came here for a job. And now that things were wrapped up, they could relieve some steam that had been building up for a while. It’s too bad that he was the only decent person her body yearned to learn and discover. 

Dragging the curtain open, Lin waved down an assistant. “Hey. I’m done. The dress can be hung.” 

The heavy weight was freed from burdening Lin’s muscles, and she peered around as she walked out of the makeshift changing room. With no one important (or at least, they didn’t look important), Lin decided she would wait alone until Suyin finished socializing and networking to leave. Or Tenzin would find her first. 

She was wrong. 

They all came out of the woodworks like worms escaping the pouring rains collapsing their homes. Everyone and anyone had the audacity to talk to her. The moment Lin took out her phone to check any notifications, an assistant popped up in her face and asked for any feedback on the photoshoot. This kid, Daw, must have been straight out of college and can’t think for himself, so he’s comfortable with taking directions from people who’ll step on him. 

“Also, for your hotel stay, you’re not eligible to use it until next weekend.” 

“Why do I have to wait a week?” 

“That’s just the rule,” he answered. 

“Does it expire?” 

“Uuummm…” Daw pursed his lips and peered around for someone else with more knowledge. “To be honest, I don’t really know.” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “I’ll ask Zhu Li.” 

Right on cue, from the other side of the room, House of Varrick’s Assistant Creative Director waltzed over to her with that ridiculous iPad on hand. She presented Lin with a detailed breakdown on how she would receive payment, and vaguely suggested that there may be future shoots for Lin to be involved in. Though, this greatly depends on how well the campaign is. Since Zhu Li was the only individual with the most amount of sanity in the room, Lin absorbed every detail as if she were the student. Her weight swayed on both legs—a subtle sign of her impatience. 

“Oh, Tenzin,” Zhu Li perked up, waving her hand downward. “Come. I have info for you, too.” 

Lin coughed, rubbing the back of her neck while his footsteps grew louder. Their eyes met and a wave of electricity jolted their muscles, but both of them possessed poker faces that deceptively concealed the mutual connection from the other. Tenzin stood beside Zhu Li, arms crossed as he patiently listened and studied whatever forms Zhu Li displayed on her iPad.
“I already gave Lin the rundown, but payments will be…”  

Lin drowned out Zhu Li’s words and she crossed her arms, resting her back against the wall. Why does everyone need to bother them when the photoshoot is clearly over? If everyone left her alone, maybe she could have finished getting head in the family bathroom around the corner. Now the mood was slipping away from her fingertips and Lin was sure only a few grains of it remained in the palm of her hand. Maybe this is a sign that she and Tenzin aren’t meant to be together, even as a hookup. 

“That’s it for now.” Zhu Li’s conclusion burst Lin’s private bubble and she straightened. She glanced between the two. “Do you have any questions?” 

Tenzin shook his head. “Nope. Thank you, Zhu Li.” 

“Thanks, Zhu Li.” 

“Let me know if you do. And also, we’re having BBQ for dinner, if you can join us. The company is paying, so don’t worry about the expenses.” 

“Oh, well…I would love to join,” Tenzin answered. 

Lin paused for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll be there.” 

Zhu Li nodded and locked the iPad. “Great. We’ll see you at dinner.” 

“Thanks.” 

Zhu Li’s footsteps grew more distant and distant, and the silence between the two colleagues heightened.   His eyes averted downward to her chest, lingered for a few moments, then flickered back to green eyes. “What?”  

Green eyes scanned downward, lingering near his belt, then returned upward. “Stop looking at me.” 

“You looked at me first!”

“You wish.” Without looking, she could sense his aura shifting with irritation. Gently, she tossed her hair back. The weight of pearls and butterfly clips lightly clanged with the graceful movements. Her voice softened, “About earlier…” 

“It was only for the photos.”

Lin’s jaw tightened and she laughed tightly, crossing her arms. Nails carved new half-moon indents into her palm. “Of course it was…it’s only business for you.” 

Daggers pointed in her direction. “What is that supposed to mean?” 

“Even if it’s just business, how can you just say something like that so easily and then hit back with, “It was only for pictures’?!” 

His ears began to heat up. “Varrick told us to sell the romance! What am I supposed to say, ‘you’re a bitch?’” 

“It’s called show, don’t tell.” 

“I don’t see what’s wrong if it makes us look more convincing! It was only business!” 

“I know it’s only business!” 

“Then why are you making a big deal about it?!” 

“Because it’s misleading!” 

“Did you want me to mean it?” 

“No!” Lin crossed her arms protectively. “I don’t care. At all.”

“You sure?” 

“Yes!” 

“Okay.” 

“Good.”

“Fine.”

“GREAT.” 

“PHENOMENAL.” 

“Yeah, it was only for photos, Wang!” 

“What was only for photos?” 

Their heads turned in the direction of the approaching voice. 

Tenzin coughed, scratching the back of his neck. “Nothing.” 

The woman glanced between the two, waiting for another response. “You can tell me. I’m not five.” 

“I would disagree,” Lin mumbled under her breath. 

Suyin raised a fist and jutted her lips out for a moment, then lowered it. An artificially sweet smile now faced Tenzin. “I thought you two looked so cute.” 

Tenzin nodded awkwardly. “Thanks…” 

“I felt like I was really watching your wedding.” 

“It was just business.” 

A low huff came from Lin’s direction. 

Suyin pretended she didn’t hear anything and linked her arm around Lin’s affectionately. “You’re coming to dinner, right?” 

“Yeah, it’s free.” 

“Good!” Suyin clapped softly. “We’re going to Dragon of the West.”  

Tenzin’s eyes almost bulged. “Wha—that place is pretty expensive!” 

Suyin nodded knowingly, with a playful smile. “Mhm. Varrick is super generous about treating workers to dinner.” 

“Wow…okay,” Tenzin pulled out his phone, the screen illuminating when it caught a brief glimpse of his face. “I gotta call someone. I’ll see you at the restaurant,” he uttered, pivoting on his heels and walking away from the sisters.  

“Alright. Lin will send you the location!” Suyin exclaimed, holding a hand beside her mouth to project her voice. 

“Su!” Lin’s eyes sharpened with nonverbal threats, and her little sister still had the audacity to giggle. 

Su nodded her head in the direction Tenzin walked in. “What was that about?” she lowered her voice. 

Lin lowered her head, stepping more forcefully against the floor to fix her shoe. “Nothing.” 

“Okay, you can tell me when we get home.” 

“Nope.” 

“You have to! I planned your wedding.” 

“Just shut up, Su.”

From the moment Lin stepped out of Varrick’s building, love flowed from all directions.  

“Look at her hair, Mommy! She’s so pretty!” 

“You are stunning.” 

“Queen, you are absolutely glowing! You look so fire.” 

“Oh my goodness, you are beautiful, young lady. Your husband is a very lucky man.” 

“You’re giving Princess Bride vibes.” 

“Thanks! She just did a wedding photoshoot!” 

The admiration and praise was overwhelming and Lin’s brain shut down every time a new compliment graced her ears. Sitting in the Uber, Lin craned her neck inward, well aware that the driver’s eyes flickered between the road and her reflection. Lin hoped her glare would crack the mirror instead. 

Click! 

“Su, can you stop taking selfies?” 

“I’m taking a selfie with you.” 

“I don’t care.” 

Su smiled softly and made a heart with her fingers, panning her phone in different angles.

“Stop recording me, too.” 

“I’m trying to help you make more money and you won’t let me,” Su grumbled. Her foot kicked Lin’s. 

Kick. 

“Stop it.” 

Kick. 

Kick.  

“I’ll stop when you let me make you famous.” 

Kick! 

“I’m already viral and that’s enough for me.” 

Before Lin could lay into her sister again, they finally arrived at their destination. 

The Dragon of the West BBQ restaurant looks no different from a BBQ restaurant one might find in the college areas.

Story goes that the owner was a refugee after the military coup in Ba Sing Se decades ago. With very little skills to work in the city, the man followed what he knew: meat and tea. He brought a special type of grilling experience and smokiness to meat that Republic City natives had never experienced before. Their dessert menu incorporates tea to lighten the palette from ice cream, cake, macarons, and pastries. Jasmine tea is their special blend. Within the first year of its birth, Dragon of the West established roots and a lasting legacy.

But success did not come easy. The man was not immune to discrimination as a refugee, cultural differences, struggling to make ends meet in a foreign society. As the ancient saying goes, the people of the Earth Nation are persistent and enduring. With determination and hard work, the man found success and abundance to support himself and his family. 

Now more than thirty years later, rumor has it the owner is getting ready to retire and preparing his nephew to run the business. 

The enticing and savory aroma of grilled meat greeted Su and Lin before they crossed the threshold. It lured them in without any hesitation. Their bellies growled and screamed, but was fortunately drowned out by loud voices, glasses clanging, and sizzling. 

Heads turned and eyes loyally followed Lin throughout the maze of tables and seats. Several young women smacked their boyfriends for their wandering eyes. Lin refused to give them any satisfaction and trained her angelic eyes forward at nothing. With Suyin at her side, her sister spotted Varrick and Zhu Li at a table and empty seats. They spotted the sisters and beckoned for them to join them. Since their group consisted of over a dozen people, they were all split up at different tables. 

Seeing that provided Lin with a small semblance of familiarity as a high school teacher. Friends sitting with friends, gossiping about other tables.

Suyin patted her arm and Lin knew exactly what that meant. 

Tenzin sat across from Varrick and Zhu Li. With an empty seat beside him. 

Before Lin could bolt to the seat farthest from him, Suyin’s arm tightened into an unbreakable grip. A harsh protest stood ready, but the sudden movement of being hauled clamped Lin’s mouth shut. By the time she could utter a word, she was planted in that empty seat. Suyin slithered to the opposite side of the next table, making kissy lips and holding her hands up in the shape of a heart. 

Lin burned the heart with an intense glare, eyes narrowing when Suyin’s grin only widened. Her arm brushed against Tenzin’s and her head whipped in his direction. Their eyes locked, but the hard tension clashed instead of connected. Considering their current battle was a small piece in a vast public space, Lin and Tenzin silently agreed to repress their animosity for the sake of world peace. 

But Tenzin shifted his seat a few inches away from Lin, evoking a Beifong eye roll on his side. 

“We ordered already, so it’ll come soon,” Zhu Li mentioned. Nodding at Lin’s light jacket, “Do you want to put that under the seat?” 

Lin shrugged it off and passed it to her. “Thank you.” She observed the executive carefully fold her jacket and lower it in a large basket that slid beneath the seat. 

“Don’t be shy and eat as much as you want!” Varrick piped up, resting his chin on his hands. “Order whatever you want, too.” 

Lin settled her hands in her lap, scanning the various side dishes neatly scattered across the table. “Are we allowed to order alcohol too?” 

“Of course!” 

A sly grin curled on Lin’s face, tongue tracing the back of her teeth while she nodded. “Awesome.” Lin raised her hand. “Miss!” 

“Yes?” 

“Four bottles of soju please. Two grape, two grapefruit.” 

“Yes!” 

Varrick’s joy brightened. “Please add watermelon soju and a strawberry makgeolli.” 

“Yes, sir!” 

Within minutes, an old man forged his way along the aisle with trays of meat lined along his arms. A young waitress trailed behind him, green and frosty bottles clenched in her grip.  Trays of pork belly, short rib, skirt steak, beef brisket consumed the empty space on the table. Amber eyes softened and beamed. “Hello Varrick, how are you?” 

Varrick smirked. “How are you? ” 

“Ready to retire,” the old man chuckled, gently laying down the trays of meat. “I only come in three times a week. When I saw your reservation, I decided to come on my day off.” 

“Nonsense! Zuko’s holding it down, isn’t he?” 

“Yes, yes. And he’s doing a great job. But you know, I always come out for you.” 

“You work too hard, Uncle Iroh.” Varrick moved his cup out of the way to accommodate the last plate. “Retire and go on a nice vacation.” 

“Ahh, but I will miss the faces of my customers. It’s too much.” Iroh shared his smile with the rest of the table and bowed his head slightly. Gesturing to the meat, he added, “Please enjoy your meal.” 

A chorus of appreciation and thanks rang out before Iroh left. 

Conversations jumped from topic to topic, but mostly centered on concepts and photoshoots—a distant field from the one Lin and Tenzin faced in their everyday life. Tenzin volunteered to be the master of the grill, grasping the tongs and scissors. Smoke and sparks of embers cackled loudly the moment the meat touched the metal. Tenzin rolled his sleeves and Lin distracted herself with side dishes. Scissors effortlessly sliced through the meat, the pink center browning above the intense heat. 

Lin didn’t need to be asked to handle the alcohol. Her hands still possessed muscle memory from her college era. Thrilled and enraptured rainbow eyes remained mesmerized by the whirlpools in the bottles, and cheered when the seal cracked. Though he remained silent, Lin failed to notice how grey eyes would avert every few seconds to soak in the drinking talent that Ms. Lin Beifong apparently has. When she turned her head, Tenzin returned his attention to the meat and made sure it didn’t burn. 

A glass of soju landed next to his water. Tenzin peered over to Lin. 

She peered back at him. 

What is this? 

Your drink. 

His eyebrows scrunched. Why? 

She glared. You don’t want it? 

Tenzin released the tongs and scissors, and reached for the glass. I do. He raised it to his lips. “Thanks.” 

“Mhm.” 

Varrick leaned back and shot a glance at Suyin. Fortunately, she was on the same wavelength and her eyes lowered to her lap. A centimeter extra to recline and Varrick noticed her phone discreetly recording all evidence of Lin Beifong and Tenzin Wang’s denial romance. 

Half of Lin’s cheek was stuffed with food, and she moved her rice bowl away from Tenzin. “Don’t touch my food.” Chopsticks reached for the same pork belly, touching her metal ones. Lin’s glare hardened. “It’s mine.” 

“Order another round,” Tenzin pointed out. He motioned to the sliced pork belly at the farthest edges. In the center, golden brown meat remained in the spotlight. But the ones at the edge were a darker brown. “You’re letting the meat burn.” 

“I like it crispy!” 

“Beifong, it’s brown! That’s burnt!” Tenzin reached for a lettuce leaf and stuffed a small ball of rice in the center, layering it with kimchi and ssamjang.

“It’s not crispy yet!” 

A pork belly slice on the top, and he folded it neatly. “You wanna get cancer?” 

“Shut up.” 

“Fine, you eat all the burnt ones.” 

“Good, you’re wasting it!” Lin exclaimed and suddenly a large lettuce wrap plopped into her mouth, muffling any future words. She accepted it, the mouthwatering fusion of spicy, smoky, and hints of sweetness melting on her palette. 

Tenzin sighed in relief, hands pressed together as if he were praying. “Finally. Some peace and quiet.” 

Lin raised her fist at him. 

“I have a proposition to make,” a voice interrupted them. 

Lin and Tenzin glanced at the source, then averted their gazes downward at two crisp 50 yuans on the table.  

Varrick tapped his fingers playfully along the money. “50 each for you.” 

“For what?” Tenzin inquired suspiciously. Lin’s mouth was still busy attacking the meat wrap he gave her. Hell, he could shut her up with something even longer, too. If the mood didn’t disappear earlier. “Cooking and drinking for you?” 

A grin. “If you kiss.” 

The bits of rice descended the wrong way down Lin’s throat and a coughing fit shook her body. Her eyes welled up as she pounded on her chest to break up the food. Someone’s hand rhythmically patted her back and Lin resisted the urge to confirm who it was. But logic pointed back to one person. When the worst of it passed, Lin waved her hand at Tenzin and chugged her water. 

She wiped the drops with the back of her hand. “50 each, you say?” her voice coarse. 

A nod. 

“50 each,” Varrick parroted. 

Despite both being very rational individuals who think with their heads and not their hearts, it was a losing battle when money was talking. After all, this was free money for a simple task. It would be stupid not to take up the challenge. Both shifted so that they faced each other better. Tenzin licked his lips, eyes intense suddenly. Butterflies fluttered in Lin’s abdomen, warmth radiating in her body and she briefly wondered if it was from the sips of alcohol. 

They leaned closer and—

Scraaaape! 

Lin instinctively clutched the edge of her seat as it was forcefully heaved away from ehr table. Her knuckles whitened, nails digging into the wood. 

“What the—” 

Warm lips and the smell of booze brushed against her neck, and a wave of disgust coiled in Lin’s body. “Hi princess.” 

Tenzin’s hands curled into an intense fist. “Hey man, get your hands off her.” 

The man growled when Lin shoved him off of her, but his vexation was shot in Tenzin’s direction.“Back off, Microsoft.” 

Lin’s face soured and her nonchalance twisted into a scowl. “Go away, Zolt,” she growled.  

“Come on, Lin,” Zolt implored innocently, taking another step closer. “I know you miss me.” 

Lin pushed his hand away. “Not one bit.” 

“Princess, don’t be like that.” 

“No, you’re—”

Lin gasped when her seat was pulled away from Zolt’s reach and she returned closer to the table. Rather than remain planted in that spot, she was pulled gently onto a man’s lap. A warm arm snaked protectively around her waist, the man’s forearm exposed with rolled sleeves. Another hand rested comfortably on her thigh, fingers digging slightly into her. 

“Who is this asshole?” Tenzin asked, staring deep into Zolt’s soul.

“...He’s my ex.”

Chapter Text

The subtle taste of strawberry melted on his lips and a peaceful exhale tickled his cheek. Their mouths parted for a moment, chasing a much needed breath of oxygen. For a moment, their eyes met and Tenzin leaned forward, the tip of nose tenderly nudging Lin’s. 

“I love you,” he professed quietly.

He swore sparkles made her eyes radiate and Lin’s hand lovingly caressed his chest. 

“I love you, too,” she murmured, closing the distance between their mouths.

Varrick leaned back in his seat, both hands hidden in his lap beneath the table. His thumbs raced across the screen, eyes flickering between the dramatic scene unfolding in front of him and his lap. 

Make sure Wang looks like the hero 

I aint losing money if he starts a fight 

Suyi Bei loved “Make sure Wang looks like the hero”  

Suyi Bei - got u 

Lin has no idea how her arm naturally wrapped around Tenzin. Did she do that on her own? Did her body move without her realizing it? 

Suddenly, his hand which rested so possessively on her thigh grasped her free hand. A flush of warmth rose to her cheeks and the tips of her ears. His thumb drew small circles on the back of her hand, intently learning the grooves and imperfections of her knuckles and skin. Tenzin raised it to his lips, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles. 

She turned to him, her own breath hovering near his temple. “Tenzin, what—” 

Zolt’s face reddened. “Get your hands off of her, nerd!” 

A cocky grin faced the escalating anger, and Tenzin’s arm tightened around Lin’s waist. “Make me.” 

Everyone’s eyes widened, breaths imprisoned in their throats when Zolt charged toward them. 

But Zolt halted. 

A slender leg and pointed boot extended out, killing Zolt’s momentum. Lin rested her hand on Tenzin’s chest and slowly lowered her leg. She frowned, eyes dark.

“Get away from us, Zolt. We’re eating, so stop making a scene.” 

The response did little to de-escalate the anger simmering in his fists. “Stop acting shy, princess. Just get off of the loser’s lap.” 

“I said stop making a scene.” 

“Yeah, douchebag,” Tenzin urged. “Just go. You’re bothering my girl and she wants to eat her meat.” 

The rage threatened to boil over again. “Your girl?” Zolt growled. “Whoever wins the fight outside gets Lin.” 

“Lin isn’t some prize you win, asshole. We’re not in ancient times. Maybe you are, and that's why your whole vibe feels misogynistic and entitled. But we live in the future. You have a long way to go to catch up to us.” 

“Let’s see how much you got to say when—”

Cough! Cough!

Zolt almost heaved, eyes almost bulging. Threats choked against the unexpected garlic clove that was tossed into his mouth. He sucked in a breath of air at the same moment that some nerd attempted murder on him. Zolt pounded against his chest, the painful ache radiating until he spit out the garlic clove. The whites of his eyes turned pink and he narrowed his eyes at the man.  

Lin sent Tenzin a weary look, but he ignored her. 

As Zolt gathered his bearings and steadied his breathing, he pointed menacingly at Lin. "Don't tell me you like that nerd,” he rasped, shifting his finger towards Tenzin. “I thought you had better taste.” 

Lin peered at Tenzin and studied him for a moment. Then, she peered at Zolt, leaning closer to Tenzin Wang. “I like the way he tastes.” 

Zhu Li choked on her water.  

Varrick raised his brow. 

Suyin muttered, “Oh my god.” 

The corner of Tenzin’s lip twitched upward. “And she’ll have a lot more after dinner,” he added. 

“Shut—” 

“Listen, Zolt,” a new voice cut in. 

Zolt turned and rolled his eyes. “Oh, no. Not you, too, influencer.” 

“Yeah, yeah, no one misses you either.” Suyin swiped across her screen and held it up for him. She maintained a reasonable distance so that he didn’t snatch it out of her hand and delete the precious treasure she collected. Satisfaction stroked her ego as Zolt’s frame stiffened, jaw clenched, eyebrows scrunched, and breaths heavy. 

From Tenzin’s angle, he squinted. It’s hard to decipher what the blurs are when he’s just at the edge of his vision limits. But he was close enough to recognize that it was a photo of Lin leaning against Tenzin in her wedding dress. 

Zolt swung his arm suddenly and Suyin retracted instinctively. 

“That’s not real,” he declared.  

“Neither is your relationship with Lin,” Tenzin reiterated. 

“That’s it. You and me outside!” 

Before he could unleash his fury, large arms caught him and restrained him. “Chill out, Zolt. You drank too much.” Several people from his table swooped in to their rescue, subsiding his strength with a swirl of logical words in his ear. His friends glanced at Lin and Tenzin, bowing apologetically and dragging Zolt back to their table. They forced him to sit with his back turned to Lin and Tenzin. 

After a few minutes, Lin shifted in Tenzin’s lap and leaned to raise herself off him, but he curled his arm around her stronger. 

“What are you doing?” she hissed. 

“He’s still watching,” Tenzin whispered, pushing back some of Lin’s hair behind her ear. “Just play along for now.” 

“Tsk, tsk.” 

The duo turned in the direction of the call. Varrick tapped on the yuans in the middle of the table. Lin inhaled through her nose, holding the breath in her chest for a few moments as the debate swirled in the caves of her mind. Her immediate answer was to reject it and give up on this fake romance for money, but the gentle circles Tenzin drew on her waist was quickly crumbling her resolve. 

She released a shaky breath. 

“Money is money,” Tenzin heard. 

She cupped Tenzin’s face softly and he almost beamed up at her with the light affection. Something shifted in her gaze and Tenzin surrendered to it, peacefully submitting to it and melting beneath it. A strand of hair fell across his forehead and she combed it back gently. Grey eyes were locked on her and Lin avoided those pools by studying his eyebrows and cheekbones. Her thumb caressed his cheek, and finally green eyes aligned with his. Lin tilted her head to the side and slowly, both of their eyes closed. The warmth of his lips pressed softly against hers, a blend of smoke and alcohol enticed her for more. Her tongue traced his lips, catching and savoring how that rich flavor tasted on him. 

Tenzin refused to allow her escape, pulling her closer into his embrace. 

“Wooo!” 

“Oooh, look at you lovebirds!”  

Click. Click. Click. 

Seconds later, Lin pulled back slowly. But Tenzin’s solid grip forced her to pause. For some reason, she could feel him pleading with a simple gaze, but all she could do was slide her hand down his cheek tenderly. 

“It’s only business,” she murmured breathlessly. 

The light in his eyes died, a void filling with a mixture of emotions that Lin couldn’t decipher. Perhaps a language she didn’t understand. His arm loosened around her and Lin slipped out of his embrace, sliding back into her seat. The bottom of the chair scraped against the floor and brought Lin back to reality, but Tenzin seemed stuck in a world that she didn’t want to be part of. Slowly, he turned in his seat and pulled his chair inward. 

Pieces of freshly grilled meat were gifted to Lin and Tenzin’s bowl, and both accepted it wordlessly. Varrick slid the yuans in both of their directions, and the teachers took the money with heavy hands. A weight slowed their movements as Lin lightly folded it and slid it in her purse, while Tenzin shoved it in his pocket. Neither snuck any glances to the other while animated conversations resurfaced around them. For the remainder of dinner, Lin and Tenzin didn’t speak much unless spoken to at the dinner table.   

When it finally concluded, the entire party Varrick’s cohort migrated to the entrance and sent their thanks to Uncle Iroh and Zuko. Meanwhile, Su viciously sprayed Lin with the fabric freshener that the restaurant provided. 

“Can you do me, too?” Tenzin asked wearily. 

“Sure!” 

Spritz, spritz, spritz! 

“Ah! Watch my eyes, Su!” 

Suyin ignored his cry and swirled the bottle. “Turn around, Tenzin.” 

He barely pivoted halfway when another attack of the fabric freshener blasted him. “Okay, that’s enough! Thanks!” His irritation was met with an innocent smile as Su placed the bottle back on the table. 

Lin nudged her sister. “When is Baatar coming?” 

“Oh…yeah, about that…” 

A raised brow. “What happened?” 

Suyin ran her tongue along the inside of her cheek, avoiding her sister’s eyes. Her voice lowered. “He doesn’t have space in the car to take you home, too.” 

“What?” 

“The entire backseat has all his engineering and architecture prototypes from midterms.” 

Lin’s eye twitched. “So I have to take the bus then?”

“Or you could grab an Ub—” 

“I could take you home.” 

A pair of identical jade eyes averted to the offer. 

Lin bit her tongue, arms folding across her chest. “Didn’t you drive?” 

Tenzin shook his head, sliding his hands into his pockets. “My mom took the car today, since she’s working late.” 

“That’s perfect!” Suyin exclaimed, grinning at Lin. “Tenzin doesn’t live that far from us either.” 

Lin shifted her weight on both legs, casting her eyes to the ground. “I can take the bus.” 

“I’ll take the bus with you.” 

“Says who? You don’t have to,” Lin huffed. 

“What if that crazy lunatic stalks you? Or kidnaps you?” Tenzin shot back. “Then I have to spend my time helping the police look for you instead of cuddling Oogi.” 

Lin scoffed. “Who says you’re not gonna kill me instead?” 

“If he kills you, then I’ll tell the police it was him.” She glanced at Tenzin. “Do you need our address?” 

He motioned to Lin. “She can just tell me, but I have a pretty good idea how to get there.” 

“Do I even have a say in this?” 

“Nope!” A vibration in Suyin’s palm captured her attention and she searched for a silver car approaching. She spotted it and waved her hand, beckoning the car to follow her signal. Suyin wrapped her arms around Lin, but her older sister tried to push her off. “Baatar’s here. I’ll see you at home!” Su pointed a finger at the man. “Tenzin, don’t kill her!” 

“She might kill me instead.” 

“Shut up, Wang.” 

“Bye guys!” Su scurried to the car, settling the passenger seat and resting her bag on her lap. Watching her sister rush to the car reminded Lin of their childhood days when they’d race to hug their grandparents. Those were good days. Life was less complicated. Baatar peered out the window and waved at Lin, who returned his gesture. Dust kicked up from behind the car and grey and green eyes observed it drive it further and further away, until it became a part of the string of traffic. 

Lin's only hope to avoid Tenzin drove off and now that they were alone (again). Damn it, Su. Lin reached for her phone and opened up the map app. 

“The bus stop is across the street,” he said matter-of-factly. 

Lin frowned. “What did you set as the destination?” 

“My house.” 

A scoff. “As if I’m going to your place.” 

“Fine, then put your address in and see how different it is.” 

“Fine.” 

“Okay.” 

…

“...” 

“Well?” Tenzin leaned over to catch a glimpse of the map, but Lin hid it. 

Lin ventured forward, arms across her midsection to warm herself from the night chill. Tenzin followed her, eyeing her and the illuminated bus stop. Without peering over her shoulder, Lin finally said, “The bus stop is across the street.” 

Tenzin smirked. ‘I told you.” 

“Shut up.”

They sat on opposite sides of the bus. 

By a miracle, they didn’t launch the bus off track or cause the driver to crash with their bickering. Instead, their stomachs were ready to burst from a luxurious dinner. All of their energies melted into the seats the moment they sat down. Neither had a word to say to the other as both distantly observed the city lights passing by as a blur on the speeding bus. Though Lin’s little sister practically drenched them with peach and mango fabric freshener, the smell of smoke lingered in their nostrils and could not be destroyed. Tenzin had an inkling that passengers could figure that both recently had BBQ as a meal. But who cares? It’s not like it affects anyone. 

Tenzin’s bus stop came right before Lin’s. 

But she didn’t push the button to request a stop. 

As the bus propelled forward, then she finally pressed the button. Ah, so she’s getting off at the stop closer to her house. Lin scooched to the aisle seat, gently clutching the metal bar as the bus bounced and shook from unnecessary speed and bumps. 

“This stop is Yangchen Avenue.” 

The vehicle slowed and Lin hopped down, clutching the bar as she stood. Tenzin followed on her trail and she tilted her head over her shoulder, an unimpressed expression bearing into him. 

“Really?” she mouthed. 

“Don’t fall over, Beifong,” he mumbled back. 

Autumn’s fingertips caressed their faces, greeting them with soft kisses while their feet landed on yellow-orange leaves. Republic City’s lights were more than enough to illuminate the road home, at least on the main road. Once they turn on to the neighborhood streets, then the stretch of the city lights would overlook the quieter, narrower, and hidden paths. From there, the streetlights carry the torch to force darkness to yield. 

The summer nights are casting their last breaths against autumn’s birth. Out of all the seasons, fall is Lin’s favorite. It’s symbolic of letting go and releasing old chapters. Also, who doesn’t love watching the leaves change from garden green to sunshine yellow, and ember orange? The days are still warm, but nights are descending into chills. Wrapping up in earthy colors, trench coats, boots, and sweaters…a swell of excitement washed over Lin at the thought. 

“Ah choo!” 

Oh, yeah. 

He’s walking with her, too. 

Their stroll was drenched in silence, but a comfortable silence. Was it because every step was a step closer to home? Could it be that it’s easier to live her life peacefully when Tenzin keeps his damn mouth shut? Actually, if people weren’t so loud in general, life would be much more relaxing. 

But a restless urge to crack the silence bubbled within Lin, and she fought to find the right words. 

“So…” Her eyes casted downward, “thanks for escorting me home...stripper.” 

Tenzin laughed lightly, walking at her side. “Wow, I thought I’d get a better nickname from my wife.” 

Lin’s face warmed instantly and she coughed. “Shut up…Mr. Beifong.” 

A heat struck her cheek. “I’m not your bitch.” 

She smirked. “Yes you are.” 

“Shut up.” 

“You two are a fraud!” 

Lin and Tenzin froze in their spots, squinting at a figure wobbly standing up from the ground. They pointed an accusatory finger in their direction and Tenzin took a step forward, ensuring that Lin was behind him. Night shadows concealed most of the person’s face and when they approached closer, the slivers of lamplight casted diagonally along their features. 

Lin frowned deeply, stepping forward so that she was even with Tenzin. “Zolt? Did you wait outside of my house to tell me that?” 

Zolt stumbled clumsily, the stench of booze travelling far and causing the duo to grimace. “I knew it,” he snarled, jaw clenching.  

“Go home,” Tenzin ordered diplomatically.  

“This loser ain’t your boyfriend.” 

Tenzin opens his mouth and freezes when the overwhelming scent of peach and mango hovers on his side. His body flinched as a hand gently grasps his arm and a smaller frame presses close to his side. The hand lightly squeezes his arm and a surge of protective dominance activates within him. Lin trails her hand down his forearm and lingers at his wrist. 

"Yes, he is,” Lin asserts confidently. “I love him." 

Tenzin almost fainted right there, his ears going blind and eyes becoming deaf. 

A vein pulsed in Zolt’s temple, cheeks reddening from a dangerous mix of alcohol and wrath. “Bullshit.” 

Tenzin stepped forward and kept Lin as far out of Zolt’s reach as he could. “Stay away from her, asshole.” 

"Don't try to lie to me,” Zolt spat. “There’s no way you’re going out with some bookworm."

“So what if she is?” 

"You flinched the second she touched you. Pussy."

Tenzin licked his lips. “Maybe I’m sensitive after the blowjob she just gave me.”

He didn’t see anything coming. Suddenly, he was on the ground with a hot ache throbbing in his eye and a mammoth shadow looming closer. 

“Zolt, get away from him! Do you want to get the police involved again?! ”  

Rocks crunched beneath frantic footsteps, grinding aggressively within Tenzin’s earshot. He cracked an eye and a curtain of blurriness still lingered in his vision, but he managed to catch Lin grappling with this loser. Though he couldn’t see completely clearly and he felt a warm liquid slowly trickling down his cheek, his attention was locked on Lin and how she struggled to restrain Zolt.  

“Get off!” was the last thing that was heard before a loud smack echoed around them. 

Lin touched the side of her face, releasing Zolt. 

That was all Tenzin needed to break him from his dazed state, pupils dilating and a dangerously powerful energy surging in his body. 

“Sorry, princess. I—” 

Punch! 

“Tenzin, fuck! Don’t—” 

“How dare you hit a woman!” 

Before Tenzin could land another perfect punch, a fist gripped the back of his jacket and pulled him. As the gap between him and Zolt grew, arms wrapped around his waist and drew him further away from the drunken man. Her body stepped in front of him, pressed flush against his chest. 

“Don’t fight him, Wang,” she implored breathlessly. “Don’t.” 

Logic was failing, but with Lin practically clinging to him, her plea slowly bled into his “fight or flight” instinct. He could only see her through one eye—the other swelling painfully. His breathing eventually matched the steadier rhythm of Lin’s and the anger wavered slowly. Lin peered over her shoulder, scowling in Zolt’s direction. Rather than meet her disappointment, amber daggers and grey lightning clashed. Zolt massaged his jaw, raising a finger at Tenzin.

“She will never love you the way she loves me!” 

“I hate you, Zolt!” 

“No, you don’t, princess!” 

“Get out of here before I call the police!” 

Low growls vibrated in his throat and Tenzin’s fists clenched, eyes narrowing in preparation for another attack. Neither surrendered to the other, and Tenzin knew the battle could last for an eternity if they let it. He refused to lose against a man who hit a woman. An eternal battle would have begun, until Zolt caught Lin grasp Tenzin’s arm. His lip shook and he was the first to look away. 

Adjusting his shirt, Zolt rolled his shoulders. “You’re dead the next time I see you, Microsoft,” he hissed, walking in the opposite direction. 

Tenzin inhaled sharply. His muscles remained tight until he finally lost sight of Zolt in the shadows. It took a few moments until he realized that Lin studied his face carefully. Self-consciousness briefly possessed him and he reach up to touch his brow and eye—

“Don’t touch it,” she uttered.

Light blood streaks marred his fingertips. 

“This is bad…” Lin bit her lip, concern softening and escalating in her eyes. 

“Look, Lin. Don’t worry about it,” he brushed off softly, avoiding eye contact. “I have a few things at my place for stuff like this.”  

Lin’s eyes widened for a moment. “Your mom isn’t home, is she?” 

“Probably not.” 

A nod. “Let’s go to your place and get it cleaned up.” 

He couldn’t resist the chuckle that came out. “We haven’t even gone on a proper date and you’re already coming to my house for a second time.” 

“Shut up before I smack your eye.” 

“You just want to see my dog.” 

“Yeah, because he’s not annoying.” She pushed a few strands out of her face, swallowing the lump in her throat. Lin reached for her phone, swiping for their location.

“Is...your face okay, too?” 

Why did her face suddenly get warm as if she were the one with a black eye? “What?” 

“I asked if your face is okay,” Tenzin repeated gently. 

Lin coughed lightly, touching her own cheek where the sting of Zolt’s backhand struck. “Yeah…I’m good…” An awkward silence followed immediately after and she cleared her throat, raising her phone up. “Do you know how to get to your place from here?” 

“Yeah, it’s not that far.”

Before Tenzin could press the password in the keypad, a smile crossed her face. The excited patter of paws and toe beans clacked loudly from the other side of the door, along with high whines and then clawing. 

“Calm down, Oogi. I’m home,” Tenzin spoke loudly, every button evoking a loud beep. The door opened a crack and Lin could see a snoot peeking through the gap. “Hey buddy, I’m home.” 

It took some effort to make it past the front step once inside with Oogi weaving between Tenzin and Lin as they slid their shoes off. Lin bent over to keep her socks on, and Oogi immediately took that as a sign to boop her face and lick her cheek. A flurry of giggles danced into the hallway and Tenzin glanced over his shoulder (with his good eye), expression softening. Seeing that most of the major lights were off, it could only mean one thing. 

Lin finally made it into the house and Oogi continued to brush his body against her legs. She continued to pet his head and scratch behind his ears.

“My mom isn’t home yet.” 

With two hands, Lin massages Oogi’s face and the golden retriever’s face melts. “That’s good. Just tell me where the first-aid kit is and sit down.” 

“You don’t have to be here to do it. Just play with Oogi.” 

Her smile never faltered as she booped Oogi’s nose. “Get the fucking first-aid kit, stripper.” 

She heard a huff, but no further complaint as his form disappeared from her peripheral vision. When her massage slowed to gentle pats, Oogi sniffed at her wrists…arms…legs…

Ah, he can smell the meat on her. Probably also her breath, too. 

Lin straightened up, her purse dangling from her middle and falling beside her hip. She ventured further inside, pulling her purse off and setting it on the dining table. Oogi loyally followed, nudging her legs for more pats and attention. For a few minutes, Lin worked her magic and she gifted him with all of her attention. It had been too long since she last saw Oogi, and who knows when the next time would be? Tenzin definitely doesn’t bring his dog to work to make her job more tolerable. 

Mid-scratches, Lin’s fingers slowed down. 

Why didn’t Tenzin come out yet? 

It doesn’t take ten minutes to grab a little box and come out. 

There was no telling when Katara would come home and find out that it’s all her fault Tenzin got a black eye. To be fair, his eye would still be puffy and bruised. But at least he wouldn’t look bloody. She didn’t want to be around if rage overpowered his mother. 

Lin squinted slightly and followed her suspicions. There was a light on around the corner and her best guess was that it’s a bathroom. Walking on the balls of her feet, Lin managed to slither close. She heard the sound of water lightly running and low hisses from the half-closed door. With one swift motion, Lin opened the door, narrowly hitting Tenzin on the arm. 

“Fuck!!” 

There he was. Caught red-handed. 

Subtle streaks of blood on his hand and stained tissues crumpled in his palms. 

Lin pursed her lips and she leaned against the doorframe. “I fucking knew it.” 

“Go away and play with my dog!” 

The first-aid kit was left on the top of the toilet. Close to the door. Their eyes flickered to the box, then to each other. 

...

Lin and Tenzin darted. 

“Damn it!” 

She smiled smugly and hid the kit behind her back. “Get your ass out here. And if you try something, I will give you a matching black eye.” 

“Ughhh.” 

Lin slipped out of the bathroom, crooking a finger behind her. A louder groan followed and she rolled her eyes. Why is he so dramatic? At least she could hear his footsteps on the move behind her, albeit slowly. Passing the dining room, Lin chose to wrap things up in the living room. For all that he went through tonight, Tenzin deserved to be comfortable. 

Lin pointed to the couch. 

“I told you—”

“Shut up and sit down.” 

“You—” 

Lin’s jaw clenched, eyes narrowing slightly. 

He glared and pouted.

He crossed his arms. 

He sat down. 

Lin stood in front of him, blocking one path of escape. She tapped the side of her leg and Oogi trotted over to her, and then she gestured to the couch. Oogi jumped on the couch, laying beside Tenzin’s side. 

Now what kind of work did Tenzin Wang do to his face? 

The swelling almost forced his entire eye closed. Only a few crumbs of dried blood remained on his face, revealing a small cut near his brow. Plum and blackberry purples already surfaced on his skin, uneven edges matching Zolt’s imprint. Fortunately, he cleaned all of the blood near his cut. Paper ripped, unleashing that sterile scent that floats around the hospital. Lin wrapped the soaked alcohol tissue around her finger and lightly traced it over the last of the dried blood.

Tenzin was quiet the entire time, but she could feel the slightest wince under her fingertip and she did her best to not press hard. Every flinch stung and dug the guilt deeper into her chest. She shouldn’t have rubbed salt in the wound in front of Zolt, then Tenzin’s eye could still open and close. 

Lin froze. 

“What is it?” he asked. 

Green eyes averted and Lin dropped the tissue on the table, reaching for a dry tissue. “Nothing…can you still see?” she asked quietly. 

“Yeah.” 

Lin nodded, swallowing the painful lump in her throat. “I can get some ice in the kitchen, if that’s alright with you?” 

“Of course.” 

“Stay right here,” she warned lightly. “Oogi, don’t let him leave.” 

Oogi rested his head on Tenzin’s lap. 

“Good boy.” 

For once, Tenzin listened to her. She was only gone for a few minutes, but every second seemed like an eternity. The echo of ice crumbling reached his ears, then a few drawers opening and closing. His eyes rolled and immediately, he winced. He should have gone to get the ice instead of her. Oogi sighed in his lap and Tenzin lowered his eyes down to the soft fur. Lin returned with a Ziploc bag full of ice and several paper towels. Oogi raised his head, sniffing at the makeshift ice pack. 

A fresh curl of warmth rose to his face when Lin spread his legs slightly and stood in the gap. That sudden rush of blood amplified the throbbing pain in his eye. Chilly fingertips gently tilted his chin upward, forcing him to stare into Lin’s face. His throat bobbed slightly. A split of Lin was all he could see as he sat completely at her mercy. Lin stood at the perfect angle where a halo of light radiated from behind her head, the subtle shadows softening her face. 

Without warning, that lumpy bag of ice shielded his eye, forcing his toes to curl in his socks. 

Large drops raced against each other down the canvas of his cheek, cooling his warm skin. Lin traced the ice slowly around his eye, holding it for several seconds over each inch. The chunks of ice shrunk, condensation soaking the paper towels and trailing down Lin’s wrist and dripping on Tenzin’s knee. With only half an eye cracked, he began to notice how Lin drifted closer to him. But what made it worse is that his body was pulled into her spell, and he wasn’t fighting it! 

What should he do? 

Lin is right in his face. He should avoid looking at her. 

That should work. 

Wow, has that one lightbulb always been dimmer than the others? Also, is the ceiling that dirty? 

Then, right as he attempted to look in another direction, his eyes crossed paths with hers, and he swore the entire universe shifted. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was, but reality morphed into something new in this very moment. All of the noise in the world suddenly died, and all he could hear was his heartbeat thundering in his ears. Lin’s hand lowered slightly, the shadow of the ice pack disappearing. Tenzin inched forward and Lin’s eyes abandoned his.

“You shouldn’t come to school on Monday…” she said tightly. “Just rest and let Aang figure out a sub.”

“It’s not like I broke a bone.” 

A sigh. “If you want a lot of attention and questions about why you have a black eye, then go ahead.” 

“You can’t stop me.” He paused, lightly pressing the edge of the ice pack to a neglected area. “I can just say I protected my girlfriend.” Even with one eye open, his vision sharpened and caught the tense expression flickering across her face. 

“I’m only a pretend girlfriend...” Lin pressed the ice pack lower with a little more pressure than she wanted, and Tenzin winced. Instantly, she released all pressure and used enough to hold it up. Her throat clenched and she attempted to swallow the pain down, but it only remained lodged in her neck and dragged that pain further into her heart.

“I’m sorry about all of this…" she continued quietly, "I didn’t know he would get violent…”  

Tenzin’s face softened. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. It was all him.” He reached up to guide the ice pack into another throbbing spot. Rather than clutch drenched paper towels, he grasped a silky hand. 

Both froze and averted their eyes. Tenzin dropped his hand and occupied it on Oogi’s head.  

Lin cleared her throat and reached for a dry paper towel to replace the soaked ones. Wrapping it tightly, she covered Tenzin’s eye completely. 

“Your ex definitely knows how to land a punch,” he remarked lightly.  

“He’s a boxer.” 

His mouth fell open. “And my face is still intact?” 

Lin rolled her eyes. 

Another wave of silence washed over them, but it lacked any of the awkwardness that often weaved itself between them. New streams of false waterfalls trailed down Tenzin’s face, and Lin moved the ice pack to absorb some of the runaway tears. 

“Has…” his voice was unusually quiet, uncertain, “has he ever hit you?” 

Her hand froze, and Lin blinked a few times. She shook her head. “No…thankfully, no. I’ve only seen him hit people in a regular match.” 

“I guess I pissed him off pretty badly?” Tenzin remarked, hoping that it would coax an amused smile on her face. 

Lin didn’t smile. She continued to lightly press the ice over his eye. “That’s his problem,” she muttered wearily.  

The hope of dispelling any darkness dimmed within him, and he slouched slightly. “I’m glad to hear he didn’t hit you.” 

Then, the ghost of a smile appeared. Of course, it’s after he stops trying. “Thanks for being my pretend boyfriend.” 

“Thanks for the pretend blowjob.” 

Lin frowned and shook her head in disappointment. Lifting the ice pack from his eye, she hummed in approval. “Well, the swelling went down a bit.” 

“Think I’ll still have my eye?” 

“Shut up, Wang,” she hissed.  

“Alright,” he raised his hands in defeat, “I won’t joke about it.” 

Collecting any paper towels to throw away, Lin studied his face. “I guess your mom will know what to do if something is wrong…” 

“Of course.” 

Lin inhaled shakily. “I hope she won’t be too angry with me…” 

“Don’t worry about it. She’ll probably be happy I got the black eye instead of you.” 

“But it’s my fault that you ended up with one in the first place.” 

Tenzin waved his hand dismissively. “Stop worrying about it. Just give that to me and I’ll walk you home.” 

“No.” Lin hid the ice pack behind her back. “I’ll see myself out. You did more than enough. I can find my way home.” 

“No, I should—” 

A hand raised up and his mouth clamped shut. “I’m heading out.” 

“What if he comes out again?” 

“I’ll punch him.” 

“Lin, be serious.” 

“You don’t think I can handle him myself? He wouldn’t hit me.” 

“I still don’t want you walking alone.” 

Tenzin stared into her eyes, and he already knew that she would not back down. It churned wrathful waves within him that this stubborn woman wasn’t listening to him. He stood up and Oogi crawled off the couch, peering between Lin and Tenzin curiously. As soon as he walked over to Lin, smelling at her hand, a relaxed smile graced her face. Her nails brushed through soft fur and Oogi smiled in appreciation. 

“I’m gonna go now, Oogi. Hope I see you again.” 

Oogi smiled and pressed himself closer to Lin. 

Lin giggled and Tenzin tried not to smile at the sound. 

“Be a good boy and make sure Tenzin doesn’t get a matching eye from pole dancing.” 

“You’re so fucking—” 

“I’m out!” Lin spun on her heels and wasted no time darting to the front door, slipping on her shoes. 

Tenzin crossed his arms. “You better text me when you get home!” 

“Yeah, yeah!” 

“Don’t ‘yeah, yeah’ me, Beifong! If you don’t text me, I’m going to walk to your place and—” 

Slam! 

Tenzin scoffed, staring at the door that cut him off and walking in circles, hands on his hip. “I can’t believe her…”

Stripper 

I’m home so don’t worry about me anymore

Tenzin liked your message, “I’m home so don’t worry about me anymore” 

Tenzin - did you see your ex? 

No 

Tenzin - good 

Thanks again 

Tenzin - Of course 

Lin’s thumb hovered over the emoji reaction, but the blizzard of notifications blowing up her phone interrupted her. 

“Su, what did you just post?!”

Chapter Text

Suyi Bei - when he protects you 🥰🥺

earthbaddieclub - ME N WHO??  

thejunecho ✅ - infinite aura 

notmycabbages - Real (never held hands before)

otterpengwin - this man is a whole green forest  

secret.tunnelsenpai - are we interrupting? 

melonasoju - DID THEY KISS!?!? WHY DID YOU CUT IT OFF AT THE GOOD PART 

yipyip001 - sjksdkjlsd the hand placements around her 😭😭 

phoenixkween - the way she stopped the guy with her foot 😮‍💨😮‍💨 

avatar_yue - is no one gonna talk about how he shoved the lettuce wrap in her mouth? 

“So tell me what happened exactly.” 

Tenzin’s hand lazily stroked the top of Oogi’s head as they both lay together on the couch. “Her ex punched me in the face.” 

“Why did he hit you?” 

“We were having dinner and he saw Lin. Then he starts feeling her up in front of us, so I got her away from him and that pissed him off. On the way home, he jumps out from the bushes and says more stupid stuff. One thing led to another and his boxer fist almost breaks my face.” 

“What did you tell him?” 

“You know…” Oogi rested his head onto Tenzin’s lap and large fingers played with the fluffy ears. His eyes were locked on the golden fur that got caught under his fingernails. “Just acted like Lin’s my girlfriend and he should back off.” 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is what happens when you don’t keep your temper in check,” Katara reiterated, pointing at him with the towel.  

“Was I supposed to let him hit her? He slapped her!” 

“He did what?!” 

Tenzin sank in his seat. “Okay, he accidentally slapped her. But still.” 

“I’m proud of you for protecting her. But let this be a lesson not to just run your mouth.” 

“Yes, Mom...” 

“Can I see the photos?” 

“I can’t show you them really…” He reached for his phone on the table, thumb swiping across the screen and the bright light illuminating his face. “But I can show you some backstage photos.” 

“If you’re not in them, I don’t want to see it.”

He sent her a flat look. “Of course I’m in them.” Tenzin extended his hand out for his mother, and she sat beside him. 

Katara folded her legs, snatching the phone out of her son’s hand and scrolling through his gallery. “Why do you have so many selfies? And your phone is covering your face!” 

“Are you even looking at the outfit?” 

“Yes. But your face is not in it.” 

An eye roll. “You’re scrolling the wrong way, Mom.” The phone disappeared from his mother’s hand and his thumb swiped in multiple directions. 

“You use it so fast.” 

A hum. “Okay, here you go.” 

“Wait, I need my glasses.” 

“Oh my gosh, Mom…” 

Katara ignored him, wiping her glasses with her shirt and sliding them in place. With both hands, she steals the phone out of Tenzin’s hands. “Okay, let me see…” She held it as far away as she could as her vision adjusted, then brought it closer. Two fingers zoomed in. “Oh, you look so handsome, honey! You look like you make a lot of money.”

“Wowww, thanks.” 

“The fitting suits you so much. It’s not too tight or loose. Did they do any alterations?” 

“A little bit. But not much.” 

“Your skin looks so clear too.” 

“They put some makeup on.” 

“Yeah, you had a zit on your forehead for a while.” 

Tenzin leaned his head. “Mom, just look at the photos.” 

“I am.” Her eyebrows raised and her face leaned forward. “Is that Lin?” 

Tenzin peered over and groaned. “Yeah.” 

“She looks so beautiful. Looks like a goddess." A pause. "You two look good together.”

A bitter and sour taste suddenly rolled on his tongue, and Tenzin concealed his exaggerated eye roll. He crossed his arms and continued petting Oogi.

“Eh…only idiots would worship her.” 

“You have been pretty idiotic ever since you met her, so maybe you’re a good fit for her.”

“As if!”

By the morning, Tenzin could at least open his eye. Though blinking still created small ripples of subtle pain. His entire eye socket was plum purple. He asked Katara for some makeup, but none of it matched his skin tone. Releasing a low sigh, Tenzin accepted his fate for the week. He would have to be the target of attention for saving Lin Beifong. What a tragic reality. 

If he said he saved Lin, then the dating rumors would explode and people would accuse him of liking Lin Beifong. 

Ew. 

If he gave another story, he might not have enough details to keep it straight. 

Ugh. 

“Whoa, Tenzin. What happened to your eye?” 

“I got punched by a boxer.” 

“Are you okay?!” 

“Mostly, yes.” 

“How did that happen?”  

Thankfully, the first person he ran into at work was none other than one of the nicest people in the world: his boss. Another plus was that he didn’t have any class during his first period, so the entire morning was spent burning steam in his superior’s office about the recent event that unfolded on his personal time. Hands swirled around his face, voice escalating as his confidant listened with great intent and concern. 

“And that’s what happened,” Tenzin concluded with a mix of a huff and groan, slumping in his seat and crossing his arms. Behind his boss’s silence processing this, Tenzin allowed his eyes to wander around the world that Aang brought to his space. 

He truly turned his own office into a globe.The entire world mingled with knowledge, photos, and books. Several pairs of eclipse glasses with each of the nation’s symbols neatly laid out on a shelf. A metal fan from Kyoshi Island. A Southern Water Tribe boomerang immediately caught his attention, which displayed itself proudly beside a jar of marbles. How on earth did he manage to collect so many interesting artifacts? Aang must have travelled to every country on earth and stored all of its treasures in his office and home. 

“Wow…” Aang commented with a grimace.

A raised brow. “Exactly.” 

“Not saying you should resort to violence like he does but…just punch him.” 

“You know him?” 

Aang weighed his palms in the air, shoulder slightly hunched. “Sorta yeah…” 

“I saved her and she didn’t do anything for me!” Tenzin exclaimed, straightening with renewed vigor and energy. “I took a punch for her! I could lose half my eyesight.” 

“She doesn’t hate you.” 

“I just look at her and can feel it.” 

Knock. Knock. 

Their voices stopped. Tenzin turned in his seat as the door creaked open, and a scowl instantly weighed on his face. The light in the jade eyes dulled as soon as it hovered over to his direction. 

“Beifong,” he mouthed. 

Her lips pursed together, eyes scanning head to toe. “ Wang,” she mouthed in return. Lin sighed and gave Aang an exasperated look. “I’ll come back later.” Her words slid over her shoulder as the door closed and silenced the noise of the outside world.  

Tenzin swiveled in his seat, staring at Aang intently. Pointing to the door, he asked, “Did you see that?” 

“Yes.” 

“I told you she hates me.” 

“Lin does not hate you. She doesn’t hate anyone.” Aang peered up for a moment, then added, “Except Zolt.” 

“I’m probably in second place.” 

“Didn’t you see your desk?” 

“What about it?” 

Aang shrugged. “I saw a box on your desk when I passed by your classroom.” 

“Well…I didn’t see it.” A pause. “You don’t think she made a bomb or something, do you?” 

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Tenzin. Lin may be a force to reckon with, but she has a heart of gold.” 

“I just don’t understand why you had to put me and her in the same room.” 

Ah choo! 

Tenzin flinched, peering around. “What was that?” He ducked under the desk at the source of the sudden noise, scanning and spotting something behind Aang’s chair. “Do you…is that a dog?” 

“Yeah.” A chuckle. Aang swiveled his chair out of the way, revealing a large white cloud with two dark eyes and one dark nose. Large hands gently patted his lap and the fluff followed the light clapping and brushed against Aang’s pants. “Come, Appa. Say hi.” 

Tenzin’s mouth fell agape. “Oh my god. You have a Samoyed!” 

“Yep. He’s old though.” Affection blossoms in his own aging eyes as Appa follows the sound of soft tapping from Tenzin. His employee crouches closer to the dog, extending the back of his hand to the Samoyed. The joy amplifies when Appa lowers his head and allows Tenzin to pet him. “Poor boy is starting to lose his eyesight.” 

“Awww.” Appa panted happily as Tenzin’s hands combed his ears back, then his thumb stroked his snoot. This sweet senior dog would have so much fun with Oogi. If Aang brings his dog to work, maybe he could convince him to bring Oogi and the two can become best friends. “You said his name is Appa?” 

“Yeah. He’s the only reason Lin comes to my office all the time.”  

Instantly, the glee soured. 

Both hands scratching and massaging the fluffy ears, Tenzin pressed his face close to Appa’s before he stood up carefully. “I’m going to head to my classroom. You know, get ready for class and make sure Lin hasn’t blown it up out of pettiness.” 

“Don’t be so hard on her. You never know what kind of treasure Lin holds.” 

“Hmph,” was all Tenzin could manage as closed the door on that chapter. “Treasure and Lin in the same sentence? Not a very funny joke, Principal.” 

Now, how does he sneak over to his classroom without getting spotted by the entire school? To his left, no one. To his right, no soul in sight. Class is probably still in session, but Lin is teaching now and his presence might cause a distraction…unless he just sneaks in and runs off to the lounge. Yeah, that’s a good idea. 

He took one step. 

“Hey, Mr. Wang!” 

Fuck! 

Footsteps speed up towards him and Tenzin refuses to turn around and acknowledge their presence. When she realizes that he’s stubbornly rooted in his spot, she circles around and sapphire blue eyes widen. “Whoa, what happened to your eye?” 

Tenzin releases a sigh. “I got it…protecting my girlfriend.” 

“So Ms. Beifong is your girlfriend?!” 

His face reddened, nostrils flared. “No! She’s not! Where’d you get that idea, Korra?!” 

“Ha!” The teenager sneered with a growing smug grin. “Her sister.” 

“Criminy, Su,” Tenzin grumbles. “I’ll have to have a word with her.” 

“Sooo," Korra crossed her arms and studied his face with a smug expression, "you and Ms. Beifong went on a bbq date and ran into some guy?” 

“First of all, we weren’t on a date. Lin and I were working on a projec—why am I even telling you this?! You don’t need to know anything.” 

Ugh, that mischievous look is still in her eye. “Well, apparently Ms. Beifong felt some type of way about it.”

His glare disappears for a minute and his eyes narrow with curiosity. “What does that mean?” 

“She left you a little gift on your desk.” 

“Oh, well, I guess Aang was right,” he mumbles, then shakes his head. “Whatever! This is none of your business. Shouldn’t you be in class?” 

“Yeah, that’s why I’m on my way there.” A snicker from the cocky teenager aggravates the irritation rumbling in his bones. She almost skips away and Tenzin knows he’ll have to go hide somewhere else. “See you later, Mr. Beifong!”  

“Get to class, Korra!”

Why the hell did you post that video?! 

Tenzin stared at the DM, waiting for the "Seen now" message to show up. There's no way Su isn't on Instagram right now. Half of her career is on Instagram, and the other half is on TikTok. 

Ding!  

Suyi Bei - do u wanna be rich and famous or poor?

I wanna have a peaceful life! 

You made it look like Lin and I are together!!

Suyi Bei reacted 🤣 to a message

Suyi Bei - is this the thanks I get for making you a model? 

Seriously?! Does she not get the message?! She and her older sister are ruining his life!!!!  

MY STUDENTS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY 

EVERYONE THINKS IM DATING YOUR SISTER

Suyi Bei - but you have 900k views rn 

               take advantage of this HOE 

               you could get so many opportunities if you tap into this on social media

🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Tenzin locked the screen and muted his notifications. He buried his face into his hands, massaging some of the tension that collected in his muscles. Bowing his head slightly encouraged more blood flow to his eye, so he maintained an upright posture. Why does Lin’s sister have to be an influencer? They’re both trouble. Beifongs are a line of women that cause chaos. Why would his mother or Uncle Sokka think that he and Lin are compatible? Why would they want those girls to join the family? 

Giggle, giggle. 

If another social media post wasn’t bad enough, the universe just had to rub salt into the wound. Despite his best efforts to avoid any students (or teachers) from seeing his black eye, whispers and giggles and hushed voices surrounded him no matter where he walked. Even with one good eye, he could feel their eyes and phones secretly recording him. Tenzin heard his name and “Beifong” used in the same sentence as he passed the halls, and it took every ounce of self-control to not make a public announcement that he is totally not dating Lin Beifong. 

Is this what it’s like to be famous? If it is, then this sucks. No privacy and everyone believes falsehood over truths! 

Game plan. What is he going to do so that the rumors don’t get spun into some romantic comedy movie by the students? Avoiding Lin would be the ideal choice, but that might raise suspicions amongst the adolescents. Maybe Lin can just yell at them and set the record straight herself. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Then he doesn’t need to do anything, except keep to himself and let the dragon breathe fire. 

Tenzin opened the door and peeked inside, relief pouring into his chest that no one was in the classroom. Grey eyes averted toward his desk and his eyebrows raised. In the center was a small stack of boxes wrapped meticulously in light spring green silk. He immediately recognized it as bojagi and closed the door behind him, curiosity luring him toward the potential trap. 

As he approached closer, he noticed the finer details embroidered on the fabric. Orchids and lotus flowers danced across the fabric, telling a story that may never be truly appreciated or fully understood. Fingertips caressed the silk and the raised bumps of the flowers. 

“This is a bit extravagant for getting a black eye,” he commented to himself, inspecting all angles. “It’s almost too pretty to open…” 

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and stood back, angling it so that the light struck at the right…

Click!  

He brought the phone to his face and nodded, diverting his attention back to the bojagi. Well, at least the room is empty so he can discover what kind of trap Lin Beifong laid out for him. Delicately, he pulled at the arrangement and it unfolded with little effort, revealing two Tupperware containers. 

Eyebrows raised. 

Through the slightly clear material, Tenzin instantly recognized the golden custard whispering words of love to him. Studying the next box, another dozen of mini fruit pies filled the container.  

Did Lin make this?

No. 

No way. 

There's no way Lin would do that. 

Lin would never go through the efforts of baking for him. She’d rather put something horrible in it to give him food poisoning than offer her best cooking skills. She must have got it at some store and placed them into separate containers to throw him off. But…it’s the thought that counts, right? Anyway, there’s only one way to find out if Lin Beifong planned his murder through his weakness. 

The sweet, enticing aroma slipped through the cracks as he unleashed the precious tarts. Let’s see, how many did she stuff in here? 1, 2, 3, 4…12. Tenzin hummed to himself. Well, at least Beifong isn’t stingy. He scooped one into the palm of his hand, cherishing it as if he held a baby chick. Several buttery flakes crumbled in his hands. Must be dry as hell. 

“I’m sure it’s only going to be okay.” 

Tenzin held his other hand beneath his chin as he took his first bite. His eyes almost glowed blue as if he were possessed by some higher being. Colors that he didn’t know existed suddenly came to life and an explosion of buttery and subtle sweetness exploded on his tongue. 

“Holy shit…” 

Another bite. 

Then, another. 

It was gone. 

Tenzin snatched another and stuffed it into his mouth. 

What the fuck did Lin put in this? Crack? Heroin? Meth? Whatever. If he becomes an addict, he can still pin the blame on her anyway. He’s eaten an egg tart from every single bakery in this city, and none of them taste like this. Why is Lin Beifong a teacher and not a bakery owner? He wouldn’t have space in his heart to hate her if she owned her own cafe. 

Damn it, Beifong. 

Peering down, his dozen reduced to half. 

Tenzin inspected another tart. “How did she know that this is my favorite dessert?”

“Ms. Beifong and Mr. Wang are totally going out.” 

The reel of his older teacher sitting in Mr. Wang’s lap and kicking off a drunk guy repeated on a loop. His finger pressed the center of the screen to pause and look closer at Mr. Wang’s arms around her waist. Heat rose to the tips of his ears and he swore eveything would be on fire if he could make it happen. School is already hell, and seeing this video solidifies his place on earth. 

“I think they’re just exes,” he responded tightly.  

“No, Mr. Wang said that he protected his girlfriend. Why do you think he has a black eye?” 

Asami double tapped the screen. “They look so cute together.” 

“Hmmm.” 

“Mako’s jealous that his woman crush is taken,” his own brother announced. 

“Shut up!” Amber eyes pierced and stabbed his own flesh and blood. “I don’t have a woman crush.” 

“Sorry,” Bolin raised his hands up, “then you have a man crush.” 

“Ugh, no, I don’t.” 

Korra sucked on her konjac jelly, the plastic crushed within her fist. An ocean of comments reflected in the deep pools of blue. “I wonder if they hooked up.” 

“I mean, they kissed,” Asami pointed out. 

Mako rolled his eyes. “It cut off. We don’t know if they kissed.” 

“Well, Instagram thinks they kissed.” 

“Nah. They hate each other,” Mako argued with conviction. “Do you really think they know how to pretend and act like they’re into each other?” 

“Mako’s in his delulu era.” 

“You’re the delulu one!” Mako crossed his arms and huffed dramatically. At the edge of his peripheral vision, he noticed a phone angled toward him. A grumble. The girl with the silkiest hair in the entire school giggled at his vexation, and the heat of his emotions cooled one degree. 

Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. 

Bolin nudged his brother’s shoulder. “Your woman crush is coming!”

“Shut up.” 

Turning his head, all of the raging fire dissolved completely and Mako could hear heaven’s choir dancing in his ears. He noticed the smooth complexion of her shins and the fading bruise around her ankle. Trailing his eyes up, a classic white button down tucked neatly into a dark green pencil skirt. Every intimidating step left her hips swaying with confidence. No matter what she wore, everything always accentuated her curves. Mako’s heart raced more as she slithered her way down the halls and closer to him and his friends. 

Whispers and gossip rippled behind her trail and Lin only raised her head higher. 

“On your way to thank your boyfriend, Ms. Beifong?” 

“Watch your mouth, Korra, or you got yourself detention time,” Lin replied, refusing to allow the comment to turn her neck. With no further comments, their health teacher continued to walk away. Whether she knew and didn’t care, multiple sets of eyes still lingered on her form until she turned around the corner toward her office.  

Asami sighed dreamily. “She’s so pretty.” 

“I can never stop staring at her ass.” 

“I’m jealous of her boobs,” Korra pouted, then cast a glance at Mako. “You need to rizz her up, Mako. Ask Mr. Wang to teach you.” 

“I don't need him. I can rizz her up beter than he ever could.”

Tenzin thought the teachers’ lounge would be a safe space. 

The universe proved him wrong. 

Bumi handed him an ice pack. “So you got it from some weird sex position with her.” 

“NO.” 

“69 went wrong, huh?” Another voice spoke from the other side of him.  

“Shut up, Kya! I did not hook up with Lin!”

“Look at him, he’s getting red. Must be true.” 

Tenzin lowered his head and stabbed at his food with his chopsticks. At least fried tofu with sweet-sour sauce doesn’t disappoint him. He shook his head as he munched on his food which his work-friends laughed. “You two are so annoying.” 

“Hey look, Kya.” Bumi pointed to his face. “If his whole face turns red, then you don’t notice the black eye.” 

“Oh my god, you’re right!” 

“Ughhh.” 

A hot, cooking instant ramen settled next to Tenzin and his head spun in their direction. He sighed in relief. 

“Are they teasing you again?” the new voice asked, sitting on Tenzin’s other side. 

A nod. “They’re being irritating and acting like high school students.” 

“Well, we’re surrounded by them. What do you expect?” 

“Wow, Izumi. I thought you loved us!” Bumi exclaimed, sending her a hurtful look that left her stoic expression unwavered.  

“I’m guessing this is about your relationship with Lin.” 

“We are not together!” 

Bumi pointed a finger at him. “You can’t lie to us. There’s proof of you basically kissing Lin.” 

“We are not a thing! How many times do I have to tell you that?!” 

Chopsticks split in half and rubbed together vigorously. Izumi lifted the cover of her bowl, revealing a crimson red broth and softened noodles decorated with green onions, tiny beef chunks, and fish cake slices.

“Don’t take it personally, Wang,” Izumi advised. The block of noodles separated and mixed under the churning chopsticks, absorbing broth with each swirl. She blew gently at the steam. “They’re just teasing because they like you.” 

“Yeah, Tenz,” Kya agreed sing-songy. She poked his arm, but the sugary sweet tone didn’t sweeten his demeanor. “We like you. That’s why we bully you.” 

“That doesn’t make any sense.” 

Bumi looked him in the eye with a flat expression. “You don’t have any siblings, do you?” 

Tenzin shook his head. 

“We can tell.” 

“Really?” 

Kya lightly smacked his arm. “So tell us what went down with Zolt. Why was he there?” 

“You know him?” 

“Know him? I would have beaten the shit out of him.” 

“Why? What happened? Aang basically said the same thing.”

Clouds rolled over the city line and the smell of rain permeated throughout Republic City. Across the east, heavy drops of rainfall descended on the city and slowly encroached closer and closer to where a young woman power-walked along the main street. Her heart slammed against her chest as she circled around the park for the thirtieth time. Jade eyes scanned through the dark for a tiny woman sitting on a bench. With only shadows and some of the street lamps illuminating the path, Lin took out her phone and speed dialed her number one. 

Riiing. Riiing. Riiing. 

“Come on, Grandma…pick up your phone please,” Lin pleaded quietly, licking her lips and swallowing the hardening lip in her throat. Her vision began to blur and Lin sniffled. 

Riiing. Riiing. Riiing. 

“The person you are trying to call is not available right now. Please leave a message, after the—“ 

“Damn it!” Her fingers slid and tapped against the screen again. 

Any sign of her? 

Bumi - not yet

            is it raining by you? 

No but it might 

Bumi - lmk if u need me to come pick you up 

She liked his message. 

A new text dropped down at the top of her screen. 

Kya - where ya at 

         I checked the big Donki by kyoshi park and she’s not there

Lin bit her lip. 

Roku Park 

Kya - kk i’ll meet you there 

Ok i’ll send you my location if you need it 

Kya liked your message 

Lin ran her fingers through her hair, a heavy and shaky sigh weighing her head down. Her eyebrows knitted together and thumbs pressed down harder than in the last three minutes. 

Where are you? We can’t find her

Zolt 💕 - gym, can’t leave 

Why not? 

…

Zolt 💕- I got a big match coming up, I’m pretty tired babe  

             Call the cops and tell em your grandma is missing 

She wandered off 

I can’t get a hold of her and the cops say it has to be 24 hours for her to be considered missing 

Lin scoffed. Tears fell on the screen, distorting some of the pixels. “You fucking asshole…” 

“Lin!” 

She swiveled in her spot and wiped her eyes before rushing over to her friend. A small drop of coolness fell on her cheek and Lin averted her gaze to the sky. Dark gray clouds introduced itself with several more sprinkles of tears. 

“Hey!” Kya waved her hand and opened the umbrella, holding it over them both. “I got us one at the convenience store.” 

Lin tried to smile. “Thanks.” “

“Where’s Zolt?” 

“He’s not coming.” 

Kya made a face. “Why not?” 

“Because he has a fucking match coming up.” 

“Oh my god…” Kya scoffed, tongue swirling against her cheek and then she nodded in defeat. “it’s okay, Lin. We’ll find your grandma and bring her home. I saw Su’s post. She posted on her insta, so I think that’s gonna help a lot too.”

The tear finally fell from Lin’s cheek. “I hope so...” 

Tenzin’s jaw dropped and he scanned the table, hoping to see that the story was completely false. But the seriousness and disappointment in their eyes couldn’t be faked. The air was heavy around them and not once had their playful bickering ever made this turn. He blew out a breath of air, hoping to dispel some of that weight.

“Wow, what a dick.” 

“The other fucked up part is,” Kya began, “that was the first time her grandma wandered off. So no one knew where she would have gone.” 

“Shit. How did they even end up together?” 

Izumi shrugged. “We don’t know. She never told us.”  

“We always told her she could do better,” Bumi added. “I mean, they had a bunch of other problems, too but that,” he shook his head, “Lin was done.” 

“Good. He’s an asshole.” 

“Yep. So next time you see him, kick his ass.”

Chapter Text

How did he end up on top of her? 

Naked. Hair wet. Electric blue tattoo begging for her tongue to taste it. 

Larger hands pinned her wrists above her head. Lin glanced down and realized that her clothes had disappeared also. Each unsteady breath raised her breasts centimeters closer to his chest. Something long and hard brushed against her slick folds, raising a ripple of shivers up her body. Against her better judgment, Lin arched her body to feel the heat of his skin on her own body. 

Breaking the intense gaze and peering down, her mouth fell open and eyes widened. 

Is he…how will that log fit inside of her?! 

Is she even wet enough or will that pipe split her in half? 

He has to get the fuck off of her. Yeah, all she has to do is say…

“You better fuck me raw and hard.” 

What?! No, no! 

Tenzin Wang needs to get the hell out of her room and stop seducing her with his irresistible tattoo! That infuriating smirk curls on his face and the tip of his cock enters an inch. 

Lin gasps and Wang chuckles darkly in her ear, causing the room to spin. Shit, why was that so hot? Hot breaths tickle her skin and Lin tilts her neck to grant him access to her neck. 

“I hardly did anything and you’re already soaking wet…” His hips grind slowly, stroking his cock up and down her clit. Lowering his face into the curve of her shoulder, the heat of his tongue traced her skin and glided up to her jaw. “Let’s see how well you can handle me, Ms. Beifong.” 

Lin’s legs spread more to accept his body into her. 

Slowly, Tenzin pushes forward. 

A gasp. 

“Every inch…good girl…you’re taking me so good.” 

In one final motion, the words dissolve in her throat as stars blind her vision. She’s filled to the brim with a fullness that she’s never felt before. No way this is Tenzin Wang, the stripper of Republic City High School. 

He should not be here, but he feels so good when he thrusts into her and strokes her from within. Of course she could handle him! It’s he who can’t handle her. Just because she’s on her back with her legs spread wide and letting him bust his balls against her ass doesn’t mean that Tenzin has the upper hand. 

Her nails scratch down his back and she grips his arms. “More…fuck, Tenzin, make me cum!” 

Tenzin bit her shoulder. “I’ve finally tamed you, Beifong.”

“As soon as you’re done with your exam, you can hand it in and leave.” 

Test packets flipped over in unison. Half of the room grimaced, jaws dropped, and mouthed, “What the fuck?” The other half of the room picked up their pens, tips scratching and tattooing black ink onto the white canvas. Grading these midterm exams should be interesting and insightful into who needs extra credit. 

The halfway point of the semester already arrived and Lin couldn’t believe they reached this point. It felt as if two years of life was condensed and squeezed into the last few months. A year-long vacation would probably purge all of her stress. Lin sighed internally. All she was getting was a weekend trip with her colleagues. On that note, she didn’t even start packing and they leave tomorrow at six in the morning. Her sister would be taking the reins and the thought of it sent Lin spiraling in every single direction. When would her sister take more responsibility and be accountable for her actions?

Maybe that day won’t come at all. 

Lin leaned back in her chair, arms crossed protectively over her midsection. At least Wang isn’t doing something disruptively loud with his class. He gave his students some sort of activity and organized them into teams of two. When she noticed one with long black hair and the other with styled black hair, Lin studied them more closely. 

Again? 

Asami and Mako teamed up again? 

This has to be the third or fourth time in the semester now that they’ve been partners in his class. Glancing over at her sworn enemy, Tenzin also had his attention briefly on the same duo. He hid his smile by looking down and taking notes on his computer.   

Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. 

He’s not getting away with this. 

When the last of their students finally trickled out of the room, Lin rose from her seat and marched over to his desk. Her stride still had a slight hobble with her ankle still recovering. But the sharp clacking of her heels opened the gates to her inner confidence, overriding any discomfort in her body. Lin stood in front of his desk and slowly, he met her gaze. 

Just when she was ready to throw her argument in his face, she made a mistake. She should have stayed focused. But he shifted at the last second to distract her with his forearms, sleeves rolled up to reveal bluish veins and contours of muscles. Her mouth dried when she noticed that the faint sapphire ink embedded on his skin was subtly swimming beneath white fabric. 

Fuck. 

She must be ovulating right now. This is the only explanation. That dream isn’t only messing with her mind, but also her body. Sure, he has a nice tattoo. But he definitely has a micropenis, not a long rod like she saw in her dream.    

“You crossed on to my side,” he pointed out matter-of-factly after a minute of silence. 

Lin cleared her throat and hardened her gaze. “Don’t mess with them.” 

Confusion instantly emerged. “What are you talking about?” 

“Stop playing Cupid.” A small wave of heat rose to her cheeks and she prayed that her blush was natural, yet bright enough to hide her true thoughts. Glaring into his soul until he turns into stone should do the trick. “You have no qualifications.” 

“I’m not playing Cupid. It’s fate.”  

“How can it be fate if you’re the one pulling strings?” Before Tenzin could answer, Lin continued, “Also, have you even paid attention to who likes who?” 

“Of course I have.”

“Okay, then who likes who?” 

“Mako has a crush on Asami.” One finger up. “Onji and Kuzon like each other.” Another finger. “Then, there’s Shoji and Jin. But I think he likes her more than she does.” 

Lin rubbed her temple. “You got most of them, except Mako and Asami.” 

“What are you talking about? They’re the most obvious ones!” 

Lin leaned closer. “They’re exes, Stripper.” 

“What?!” 

“You need to pay better attention to who Asami checks out in class.” 

“It’s Mako.” 

Lin shook her head slowly, eyes never leaving his. “You’re blinder than my mom,” she commented flatly. She pointed a finger at him. “Stop playing matchmaker. How do you like the matchmaking everyone does on us?”

Tenzin rolled his eyes and huffed dramatically. “That’s different,” he countered. “We are grown adults and they’re high school students. Matchmaking for adults is meant to be long-term. High school matchmaking is letting crushes sit together and get partnered in class.”

A brow raised. "So one night stands don't exist?"

“They’re teenagers! Why would they have one?” 

“Look. I don’t need heartbroken students coming to me and bothering me because your matchmaking failed.”

“Then send them to me. No one asked you to deal with them.” 

“My point is you idiot,” her voice lowered into a hiss, “you could avoid it all, if you DON'T matchmake them!”

"All I’m doing is helping one of them make a move. Nobody is forced to do anything."

“Then they can do it after class.”

“What teenager is bold enough to ask a girl out?”

"This is ridiculous, Wang." 

"It's not." 

"Just leave them alone."

“I’m not bothering them” 

“Yes, you are. Don’t distract them with love. They need to focus on school.” 

“Love can be a great break from school. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, I suppose.” 

Green eyes narrowed. “You want to see Asami turn into Wu or Chan because she’s busy with a boyfriend? What are you going to do or say if she gets heartbroken and her grades drop?” 

“She’s smarter than that.” 

“I know she is. Are you?”  

“Yes, I’m smarter than that! I never let girls interrupt my studies.”

Lin scoffed. "Then guess what Zolt was to me." 

He stared at her blankly, then after a minute, his eyes widened and he covered his mouth. "Eww! What?!"

“Mhm, exactly.” 

“Who was dumb enough to set him up with you?” 

“Our boss.” 

His eyes almost bulged out of his head. “Aang set you two up?! Why?!” 

“I don’t know.”

“Why would he set up someone as idiotic as him with you? Was the class president not cute?” 

“Our class president was a girl.” 

“Oh…” Tenzin scratched the back of his head.

“And she was a bitch.”

“Hmm.”

Lin crossed her arms, tongue briefly darting across her lips as she busied her eyesight with the knick-knacks on his desk. "We were together for 8 years." 

"How?" 

"He was nicer back then..."

“Nicer? You mean the guy actually smiles?” Tenzin still couldn’t believe his eyes witness Lin Beifong nodding at his question. "Oh my god…" 

"He can be a softie." 

"If he’s a softie, then I can walk on water." 

Lin sighed in exasperation. "Just do us all a favor, and spare the kids the Zolt experience."

“Fine.” 

"Wow, you're finally listening to me." 

“I’m listening to reason. Don’t get it twisted.”

Dear Lin, 

I hope this email finds you well. I want to send another thank you for dedicating a part of your precious time to modeling with us. We truly enjoyed having you and hope to collaborate with you again in the future. 

I’m reaching out to let you know that we anticipate the campaign drop to be in a few weeks. In the meantime, Wan, one of our loyalty managers, will be in contact with you regarding your hotel stay as listed in the contract. 

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. 

Thank you.

Best, 

Zhu Li Moon  

Lin nodded and closed out her email. Flipping open her AirPods, she inserted the white buds into both of her ears and slid through her playlists for the perfect song. Her head bobbed lightly when the loud and powerful beats vibrated through her body. She was one of the early ones to show up at school, so that means she gets a tiny pocket of peace time to herself before the chaos begins. 

She managed to enjoy five songs before her colleagues trickled in, waving to her as they settled in different areas at the front of school. Izumi and Kya stepped out of a car together, and Lin finally popped her AirPods out of her ear. Kya’s hair was tied in a bun, curls sticking out and several dangling at the back of her neck. Izumi adjusted her glasses, but Lin still noticed the small swells beneath her amber eyes. 

“Good morning,” Lin greeted as they dropped their bags beside her. 

“It’s too fucking early for this,” Kya groaned, pulling the hair tie out and gathering her hair back. 

Scanning between her two friends, Lin remarked, “You look vibrant and alive.” 

“Couldn’t Aang make us meet at 8?” Long, wavy curls pulled and pulled into a casually clean ponytail. Moving to her shirt, Kya tied the bottom hem into a knot and elevated her oversized t-shirt into a cinched crop top. “And he expects us to work the farm too?” 

“It’s a temple,” Izumi corrected. 

“Whatever. They still have a farm or garden.” 

Lin shifted her weight from one leg to another, and the motion caught Izumi’s attention. “How’s your ankle?” 

Lin hummed, rotating her ankle in a circular motion. “It’s fine.” Her eyes suddenly averted to the ground and she crushed a small clump of rock beneath her shoes. “You guys don’t happen to have uh…” 

“What? You need a pad?”

“No.” 

“Okay, then what?” 

A cough and Lin pushed some hair behind her ears. Her cheeks flared up in heat. “A guy that you could hook me up with.” 

“Why are you so quiet?” Kya laughed. “Yeah, I do actually.” 

The casual and comforting tone in Kya’s voice melted the awkwardness in Lin’s throat. She snapped her gaze up at her, blinking innocently. “You do?” 

“Yeah.” Kya nods and looks over her shoulder. She points at the distance at an approaching figure. “It’s him.” 

Jade eyes follow her friend’s direction and the hopeful halo dulls. Lin shoots a hot glare at her instead. “Shut the fuck up.” 

“Hahaha! You know you want his dick.” 

“I do not want him!” Lin seethed through clenched teeth. 

Izumi leaned closer to Kya. “Do you think we can just lock them in a room and slip them an aphrodisiac?"

“I’m right here, you know.” 

Both women ignored her grumbling. Kya shrugged, crossing her arms in thought. “I think they’re more than horny enough already. The longer they’re apart, the hornier they get. So we just need to lock them in a janitor's closet, throw them some condoms, and let them go wild."

“Eugh, you guys are so annoying.” 

“Good morning.” 

“Morning Tenzin,” Kya and Izumi parroted in unison, smiling warmly at the newest arrival. 

Lin uttered a “morning,” under her breath as an aged backpack settled against light green and blue duffel bags. 

More and more warmth repelled the blanket of autumn mornings as more of their colleagues grouped together and joined their waiting game. This year’s group would be larger since it also consisted of administrative employees and individuals that most of the teachers didn’t interact with on a constant basis. Aang included them to expand and unify this divide between faculty and educators. 

Finally, right on the dot of 6 a.m., a large bus pulled into the parking lot and the driver slid the door open. There was an organized system of loading their bags into the storage space and boarding the bus. But just as high school students have personal preferences on seating arrangements, that mentality hasn’t left grown adults. Bumi lured all of them to the back of the bus, waving and beckoning for them to sit around him in the last few rows. Kya, Izumi, and Lin settled together in the last row, while Bumi and Tenzin shared a seat in front of the girls. 

Turning in his seat, Bumi rested his arm on the top of the chair. “Too bad your sister isn’t here,” he noted to Lin. “She could film our trip for the memories.” 

Lin sent him a look. “What are we, reality stars? Be thankful she isn’t. She’ll have something to blackmail all of us.” 

“That’s the fun of it.” 

An eye roll. 

“How long is this bus ride gonna be?” 

“Three hours to Makapu.” 

“I still can’t believe we’re stopping there,” Kya sighed. “We should have just done the seven hours to Harbor Town.” 

Tenzin shrugged. “But we get to check out the temple in Makapu.” 

“You mean work the farm.” 

“Sounds like fun.” 

Kya and Bumi exchanged glances. “Your definition of fun is different from ours.” 

“Hey, I also like to have a drink every once in a while.” 

“You bar hop?” 

Tenzin made a face. “Eh, not really. I just stick to one bar and that’s it.” 

“What about clubbing?” 

“Too loud.” 

Bumi shook his head. “He wouldn’t survive with us.” 

Tenzin scoffed. “I could definitely survive whatever clubbing you guys do.” 

Izumi crossed her ankles and slowly slouched in her seat, closing her eyes. “You wouldn't survive, Wang.” 

“I’ll show you.” 

“Don’t feel like you have to prove yourself.” Bumi patted his shoulder. “You know who else can’t handle our weekends?” 

“Who?” 

“Lin.” 

Tenzin frowned. 

“You two can hang out together at the same bar and wait for us.” 

“Shut up!” both voices exclaimed in unison.

The bus jerked to a complete stop, shaking all of the sleeping employees awake from the sudden movement. Through slightly blurred visions and crusty eyes, a peaceful and serene landscape greeted Republic City High School outside their windows. Golden sunlight beamed across the emerald green leaves and illuminated the smooth surface of the small lake. Groups of lotus flowers and leaves scattered across the water. Their footsteps were sluggishly heavy and all they could manage were soft groans or grunts at Principal Aang’s reminder: 

“Make sure you all have a change of clothes on the bus!” 

Whatever history lesson Abbott Gyatso was spewing at nine in the morning, the only people who absorbed in the knowledge were two men of the same height. Tenzin raised his hand and vocalized several questions, much to the chagrin of the group. Aang chuckled to himself and followed in Tenzin’s lead, adding to the conversation while everyone else lived in their own fantasies and daydreams around them. 

According to the monk, their task for the day: harvest rice. In their developed world, this temple is one of the handful in the country that still harvests rice by hand—not machinery. 

“I hate getting dirty,” Tarrlok muttered under his breath. 

Bumi tilted his head. “Weren’t you raised on a farm?” 

“Yes, and I hated every minute of it. I paid my brother to do yard work.” 

Abbott Gyatso spoke again to silence their mutterings and divided them into several groups to cover as much ground as possible. Two groups would be responsible for cutting the long stalks while two other groups thresh the grains by smacking it against a wooden board. Most people zoned out during the instruction phase and just waited to be told where they needed to go. 

Lin and Tenzin glared at each other when they discovered they stood on the same side. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg, judgment bearing into his soul. To their left, they heard snickering, giggles, and kissy sounds from Bumi and Kya. They held a sickle, while Lin and Tenzin were given a pair of gloves to protect their hands. 

Why did they have to be teamed together? 

Again. 

Exhaustion stirred in their bones still and neither had any energy to waste it on their hatred. Both waited until several bunches of rice stalks were thrown their way, and they began their task of threshing. 

Whack! Whack! Whack! 

A few dust particles flew into Tenzin’s eye and he rubbed it until a few tears washed it out. He blinked several times, waiting for any sign of discomfort. When it failed to return, he turned his head and was met with a familiar annoyed glare. Tenzin frowned and he beat his bundle against the wooden board hard. 

“What the fuck is your problem now?” he hissed. 

Lin’s eyes narrowed. “How dare you show up in my dream last night.” 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” 

She remained silent and walked past him, smacking him lightly with her bundle of rice stalks. Daggers stabbed in her direction. 

“Ugh!”

After a couple of hours passed, dull cramps curled in their spines and arms. Layers of sweat glued their shirts to their skin, large patches of darkened fabric revealing the intensity of their volunteer work. Their faces were flushed with the afternoon hours beaming down on them. They gathered under the shade, greedily devouring icy water as if their blood boiled their bodies.

A few of them were immersed in light conversations. 

Too peaceful. 

Aang smirked and muttered some words to the elderly man, who nodded in agreement with a smile. 

“Okay, everyone! Circle up over here!” Aang exclaimed, waving his hand over to the pond. Several sighs and groans rippled amongst the group, but his group eventually flocked over. The ground was softer, dampened from the pond waters compared to the dry field they cleared. 

Aang clapped his hand, rubbing them together. “Now, for the next part—” he paused, glancing down at their shoes and then at Abbott Gyatso. “Should they do this with or without shoes?” 

Gyatso stroked his beard in thought. “Without shoes might be more convenient for them.” 

“You heard him. Please remove your shoes and place them far away.” 

“Are we going in the water?” Tarrlok frowned, neatly placing his new Nike shoes away from everyone else’s. He crept back to them on his tip toes, wincing when his weight pushed down on uneven pebbles. 

“You’ll find out.” 

“What if there are parasites?” 

“There aren’t any parasites,” Gyatso reassured him. “Aang, would you like to demonstrate what they’ll be doing?” 

“I’d be happy to.” 

Lin crossed her arms and raised her brow at the excitement in her boss’s tone. She shot a look at Izumi and felt her friend’s thoughts telepathically. 

Crouching down, Aang dipped his feet into the pond and scooped a large handful of mud. Peering over his shoulder, confusion ping-ponged amongst the teachers. Grey eyes scanned his line-up and locked on Raiko. The man stared back at him with boredom. 

A grin curled on his face. 

Aang molded the mud in his palms—not too tight and not too loose. Swiftly, he pivoted and hurled the mud ball at Raiko. 

“Aah! What the hell?!” 

Swoosh! 

Bumi yelped as the next mud ball landed on his leg. 

“It’s a mud fight,” Aang answered, molding his ammo. 

A mischievous grin curled on Bumi and Kya’s faces, and the duo bolted toward Aang. Their hands scooped heaps of mud, eyeing the group. Lin muttered, “Oh hell no,” and Kya flung a hard ball of mud in her direction. 

Splat! 

Unfortunately, that fresh splatter of mud smeared across a broad, chiseled chest instead of on the springtime green shirt Lin Beifong was wearing. Lin remained frozen behind her shield, holding her breath. Her human shield slowly turned, mouth agape and jaw clenched, until he laid eyes on his arch nemesis.

“Look, Wang. I didn’t mean to…you were just in the way.” 

He ran toward the pond, water splashing against his legs. With both arms, he sunk them into the water and returned with a thick pile of mud. Lin shook her head as he walked in her direction. 

“No, no, no, don’t you dare!” 

Hurl! 

“Waaaang! This is war!” she bellowed, one eye open as mud trailed from the top of her head and down her face. 

Indeed, war was waged. 

It was a fierce battle with no souls spared.

Once Tarrlok was hit, he infected the rest of the teachers with his reckless and impulsive mud-throwing. Lin grit her teeth, scooping a slightly drier mud and managing to drop it inside Tenzin’s shirt. Screeches of wounded pride mingled with victorious laughter. The war expanded into the pond with a few unfortunate souls pulled into the depths. Raiko reached out his hand for a kind soul to rescue him, but none heard him in the midst of the war zone. Izumi, Bumi, and Kya ganged up against the instigator and pelted Aang with machine gun mudballs, before tackling him into the pond. 

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! 

The war only ended when the rhythmic tapping of the wooden moktak cut through their laughter and war cries. Gyatso giggled and chuckled at the sight of grown adults panting from the high. What was once a rainbow of shirts that began this journey had now been drenched in earthen mud. Toes wiggled in the dirt, earth clinging to their skin lovingly.  

“There are a couple of hoses on the side of the temple. You can rinse off there and change into your clothes.” 

“Don’t worry about laundry. We’ll do it at the hotel,” Aang added. 

Tarrlok and Raiko wove in between the bodies impatiently. Their feet stomped against the ground to keep their grip, but one small slip almost had Raiko tumbling flat on his face. Not wanting to be the last, everyone followed. That squelching sound echoed with each footstep. 

An uncomfortable shiver rippled in Tenzin’s limbs with every step closer to cleanliness. Abbott Gyatso was right about not doing this with shoes on. This would have been worse with wet, muddy socks soaking his good hiking shoes. If only they could take a shower here and then finish the bus ride to Harbor Town. But frankly, this spontaneous mud fight reminded him of the Ba Sing Se mud festival he went to in his college days. 

Now that was pure fun. 

Apparently, the annual mud festival originated somewhere in the western part of the Earth Kingdom. But Ba Sing Se picked up the tradition and holds their own version of it. Hence, why it’s a summer hot spot for college students and recent graduates. His friend suggested they go together as a celebration for finishing their military service. It was the highlight of his summer vacation that year. Maybe he could convince Bumi to go with him next year as a boys trip. If Aang is up for it, he could come along too and bring Appa. 

Hey, that’s not a bad idea. The new year is coming up in a few months and he hasn’t figured out his travel plans yet. It’s been too long since he had his last international trip—it was three weeks before he started his job at RCHS. The travel bug twisted and curled in his stomach, begging for him to consider a new country or city to visit. 

Splatter! 

Tenzin’s jaw tightened at the sudden spray of water in his face. Slowly, he wiped the beads of water out of his eyes. 

Tenzin glared.  

“You’re doing that on purpose, Beifong!” 

“No, I’m not!” Lin bent her knees and continuously sprayed until her natural complexion finally emerged from the layers of stubborn mud. She sent him a look. “You’re always in the way!” 

“Then say ‘excuse me.’ I thought you had manners.” 

Green eyes narrowed and with a flick of the wrist, the water pressure shifted from her thighs to Tenzin’s chest. 

“Beifong!” 

“Get him, Lin!” 

Lin Beifong smirked, tongue tracing the bottom of her teeth as Tenzin Wang attempted to escape her attack. When she decided to show mercy, her breath hitched in her throat. A fragment of the porcelain art painted on his skin began to peek through the layer of mud. Drifting her eyes several inches to her right, they locked on the defined contours of firm muscle. Every rise and fall of his chest faltered her own breathing, the thin fabric stretching thin across those manly muscles. 

Her moment’s distraction was enough for Tenzin to snag his own hose. His movements were slow, but her peripheral vision caught it. When Lin realized what Tenzin Wang was about to do, a blast of water propelled into her own chest. 

“Agghh, Wang!” Lin turned her face and tried to walk out of his line of sight. But the powerful blast of water followed her every step. “You’re insufferable!” 

“Get her, Wang!” Tarrlok cheered from his spot, squeezing out the water from his hair. He revelled in the glee of witnessing the health teacher getting attacked.

When the satisfaction filled his chest, the gush of water stopped and Tenzin loosened his grip on the hose. Lin swished her drenched hair back and hands on her hips. 

Tenzin almost dropped the hose. 

Those ginormous melons stared back at him again. Flashbacks to the photoshoot flickered in his brain, alternating his vision between reality and memory. Albeit, they were concealed and wrapped up in whatever bra and her shirt. But they were definitely looking at him. Lin’s whatever color shirt clung to her skin, accentuating the curves in a way that the wedding dress couldn’t. He swallowed. Was his face turning pink? Maybe no one can tell because his face is dirty. 

He cleared his throat and crossed his leg, turning away from her. His body was tingling internally and with wet clothes, certain effects might be more noticeable. The last thing he needs is to get teased for being hard for Lin Beifong. He’s only hard because it’s a random boner. 

It finally made sense why Aang told them to have a change of clothes ready for their short volunteer trip. They gave their goodbyes to Abbott Gyatso and the other monks before boarding the bus. Slippers in every color of the rainbow walked down the narrow aisle. Lin sank into her seat and Kya rested her head on her shoulder, closing her eyes immediately. Izumi scooched closer to her friends and Kya reached over, holding her hand. 

Bumi held his phone up at them. 

Click. 

“Hahaha.” 

Lin lazily pointed at him, eyes fluttering heavily. “Delete that.”  

Tenzin leaned over. “Are you posting it?” 

Bumi’s fingers pressed along the screen. “Yeah, on my story.”  

So mindful, so demure, he captioned it and positioned one phrase beneath Kya’s hand holding Izumi’s, and the other near Lin’s exhausted expression.

Bumi nudged Tenzin and handed him his phone, the search bar open on Instagram. Tenzin glanced at the phone, then his coworker. “What?” 

“What do you mean, what? I wanna follow you.” 

“Oh, oh!” Tenzin accepted the phone. “Sure.” 

“Freedomnomad? That's your handle?” 

“Yeah.”

“Huh, interesting choice. Is your profile pic a cult?”

A huff. “No!” Tenzin rolled his eyes and opened his notifications. “You’re _kingbumi?” 

“Hell yeah.” 

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. 

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. 

Dun, dun! 

Tenzin turned in the direction of the noises and realized that it was the girls’ phones, and that they had already fallen asleep. Bumi followed his gaze and grinned once more. Silently, he leaned closer to Tenzin and raised the phone in the air. Their faces stared back at them, along with the trio of women sleeping in the backseat. Tenzin put up two fingers and gave a half smile. Bumi pointed his finger up towards the girls and made duck lips. 

Click. 

The duo checked the selfie, both stifling their laughter. They nodded in unison. 

Within moments, Tenzin saw an Instagram notification slide down at the top of his screen. King Bumi tagged you in their story.  

It probably meant nothing to Bumi, but Tenzin’s body felt lighter than air. As if he was being raised to heaven and hugged by angels in comfort.

Unlike his own high school experience being the kid who often got teased or ignored, his coworkers accepted him into their friend group and treated him like family. Being an only child didn’t help to alleviate the burden of loneliness either. If only he had a sibling to hang out with and talk to when he ran into issues. Fifteen-year old Tenzin would be so proud and over the moon that he finally has friends. 

“Holy shit, dude. You traveled the entire world!” Bumi commented, eyes bright and thumb scrolling down to reveal a mosaic of cultures that Tenzin had experienced. “You’ve been to every continent…daaaamn, that’s so cool. Your photos are fire.” 

If Tenzin was a girl, he’d be blushing. Actually, was he blushing now? Him, cool? Tenzin never thought that he’d hear that from a cool kid himself. “Oh, uh, thanks. Yeah, I love to travel. I go whenever I can.” 

“What’s it like at the Northern Water Tribe? Best time to go? Food recs?” 

Wonder blossomed in Bumi’s eyes. The same desire and curiosity in his coworker is what fills Tenzin’s heart when he wonders where to travel next. Briefly skimming through all of his memories, the only other person who gifted him that presence and attention and interest in his travel stories was his mom. Usually, his exes would join him on travels, so they had the same memories to share. People often got tired of hearing about his travels and would offer half an eye and ear absorbing his excitement at watching the Northern Lights in Agna Qel’a or witnessing the Obon Festival in the Fire Nation. 

In the next several hours, their friendship deepened into a brotherly bond. He shockingly found out that Bumi is five years older than him. His youthful energy and ambition to live life sliced years off of his face. Once Bumi learned that he was younger than him, he declared himself his “older brother”. No arguments. Tenzin pretended like it was an overwhelming and insufferable title, but he couldn’t stop his inner child from leaping for joy inside.

Bumi never seemed like the type of person he’d consider a close friend or a brother. Yet, here they were. Bumi was now one of his ride or dies. 

Life is certainly interesting. 

Time slipped through their hands and they didn’t realize that their conversation flowed for hours, until the bus halted to a stop in front of their hotel—the Mo Ce Hotel.

Not a five star hotel, but it was located in the middle of the town with restaurants and cafes sprawled in every direction. At least they have a lot of options for food. But the priority on everyone’s mind remained the same—shower first, explore later. It didn’t take much effort to round all employees off the bus to gather their belongings and congregate in the hotel lobby. Bumi rotated his phone to capture specific angles and a few selfies mixed in, while they waited for Aang and the hotel staff to provide them with their hotel rooms. 

The front desk gave them a reminder that the showers and toilets were shared on each floor. Several groaned and mumbled complaints over to Aang, and he quietly gave them an explanation. In small bunches, everyone was assigned their own room on different floors. If any one still had issues with the arrangement, they stayed behind to speak with the front desk. 

Lin and Izumi’s rooms were on the third floor. 

Kya, Bumi, and Tenzin stayed on the fifth floor. The trio high-fived at the prospect that they were staying on the highest floor of the hotel. But Lin shrugged. “At least I’m closer to the ground in case there’s an emergency,” she pointed out. 

Her logic was laughed off and she rolled her eyes. All of her energy was spent on the bus ride and their time at the temple. She ignored their teasing in the elevator, while Izumi stepped up to their game and swung back with her own teasing. Fortunately, it did not last and the elevator stopped on the third floor. 

As soon as they all settled into their rooms, their phones vibrated. 

Aang - Hi everyone! 😊 let’s meet in the lobby at 6pm for dinner! See you later!” 

Chapter Text

“Mmmmmmm.” 

Her eyes rolled back in pleasure at the stinging heat cascading down her spine. Suffocating puffs of steam surrounded her and ascended to the ceiling, while hints of shampoo mingled with the water. Who knew even taking a shower away from home could be so relaxing? A small hint of guilt still rippled in her core. But being so far away from home meant it was far away in her mind.  White foam of strawberry lychee trailed down her body while Lin squeezed a glob of fruity, floral conditioner in her palm.

It spread so easily in her hair and Lin surrendered to the heat and water as it washed away the day from her body. Fortunately, each shower stall has their own body wash dispenser. She squirted a few pumps and thoroughly washed any stubborn traces of mud from her skin. 

Once her body was clean, Lin reached for her razor and travel size shaving cream. Lin smoothed it over her legs, a thick layer of white cream completely concealing her skin from the knees down. Her grandma always taught her never to shave her thighs—just below the knees. And she was right. The hair on her thighs are so light and thin that she can barely feel them. 

In sections, Lin glided the razor up and down her shins and calves. Globs of shaving cream collected around the razor and Lin rinsed it beneath the water. She took her sweet time to ensure that every inch of skin was touched by the blades. Lin can use as much water as she wants because she’s not paying the water bill. Glossing her fingertips over her calves, her eyes closed in pleasure at her own silky smooth skin. 

Next, Lin addressed her underarms. She didn’t have time to work on that before the trip. Since tomorrow they would be having some beach activities, it would be best not to expose any monkey hairs.  

She stood beneath the shower head, caressing the shaved areas to wash all residue from her skin. Shaking the shaving cream can, it remained half-full and she wouldn’t be using it any time soon. 

Lin peered below at wild bush and pursed her lips. 

“Should I shave down there?” The drenched bush stared back at her practically screaming at her for attention. Lin nodded. A fresh swirl of cream frothed in her palm. “Yeah, I better…don’t want anyone seeing it peeking out of my swimsuit…” 

Another thirty minutes passed, and Lin Beifong emerged from the showers a new woman. 

A thick white towel wrapped around her body and Lin grabbed her belongings. Her room is only a few doors down, so she can walk fast enough to finish her self-care in privacy. Lin shivered upon opening the door, goosebumps raising along her arms. Large water drops trailed down her hair and sprawled down her spine with every speedy footstep. Her slippers flopped loudly down the hallway.

Standing in front of her door, Lin tightened her grip around the towel as she searched for her hotel card. 

Beep, beep! 

Lin pushed it open and the heavy weight of it slammed shut behind her. 

She flipped her head upside down and wrapped her hair into a twist with the towel. Another shiver rolled through Lin’s nude body. At a hotel like this, the air conditioner could not be turned on or off. Well, better to be cold than hot. 

All of her skincare was laid out neatly on the bed. Well, technically, these were all of Suyin’s skincare products. But she receives so many every week from brand collaborations that she just gives them to her. At least, she doesn’t have to worry about getting a new bottle of toner or essence or sheet masks. Drops of luxurious elixirs melted in Lin’s palms and gently, she tapped them into her face. 

A peaceful sigh escaped her lips and every second of the beauty melting into her skin destroyed the stressful weight on her shoulders. 

Next, Lin pumped squirts of body cream down her thighs and massaged it into her supple flesh. With most of her body shaved from her neck down, Lin felt her inner femininity emerging as she caressed her legs. Peering at her reflection in the mirror, a sly smile grew on her face as she admired herself. Several more pumps of lotion and Lin explored her toned thighs, bubble butt, then her hourglass hips and flat, defined abdomen.

Sprawling her fingers, they snaked upward and massaged her breasts. Her nipples nestled between her fingers and Lin flicked them softly for a subtle taste of pleasure that she hadn’t felt in some time. Lin's head tilted back, teeth digging into her lips. 

“I am pretty hot,” Lin murmured to her reflection, bending one leg inward and exaggerating her curves. 

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. 

Her self-appreciation was dismissed in favor of her phone. 

Lin frowned and shook her head. “Korra asking for another extension…tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Her eyes drifted to the time and the phone locked. 

Lin gently tossed it on the bed. It’s already 5:3opm. She has about 30 minutes until she has to go downstairs and meet her colleagues for dinner.

Tenzin’s shower only took about twenty minutes. 

He threw on an old university shirt and grey sweatpants for comfort. The rest of his time was spent on FaceTime with his mother. She laughed at the photos and overview he shared with her. “Lin used me as a human shield,” he revealed, hoping to revel in some maternal protection and support.

But what did she do instead? 

Mama got heart eyes that he protected his archnemesis! How could she be on Lin's side?! He's her son! She's supposed to be on his side, no matter what! 

Before his face could redden, Katara shifted the phone to reveal Oogi and a grin replaced the frown.  “Hi Oogi! How are you, boy? I miss you so much!” 

Oogi panted and smiled at him, tilting his head with curiosity. His ears perked back and he attempted to boop and lick the camera. He can hear and see Tenzin, so why no feel? 

“I’ll buy you a whole bag of dried fish.” 

Oogi smiled. 

Tenzin chuckled. “You like that?” 

The angle adjusted and revealed his mother again. “Okay, Tenzin. I’ll let you go now so you can go to dinner with your friends.” 

Tenzin sighed. “Mom, I still have twenty minutes until I have to go downstairs.” 

“No, no. You relax and have fun. Enjoy dinner.” 

“But—” 

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

“Oh, that must be your friends. I’m hanging up now,” Katara said. 

Tenzin nodded in defeat. “Alright. I’ll talk to you later, Mom. I love you.” 

“I love you, sweetie.” Several kissy sounds. 

Tenzin puckered his lips and hovered his finger over the red button, closing out his nightly phone call with the most important woman in his life. 

Knock. Knock. Knock. 

“Come on, Tenz!” a familiar boisterous voice beckoned from the other side of the door. “Let’s go eat!” 

“Coming!” he replied, slipping his phone in his pocket and grabbing his hotel card. Tenzin adjusted his socks and decided to wear his slides, since his shoes were still wet and slightly muddy. 

The door opened, revealing his honorary older brother and sister. 

“Ready?” 

“I’ve been ready since we got off the bus,” Kya answered, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Bumi winced at the flicker of water in his face. “We gotta get Lin and Izumi.” 

A low grumble came from Tenzin’s direction, but the duo ignored him as they walked towards the elevators. The button illuminated and the trio waited patiently. 

Bumi rubbed his eyes. “Do you know where we’re eating?” 

“No.” 

“I wouldn’t mind fried chicken,” Tenzin piped up. 

Kya melted. “Oooooh, that sounds good.” 

“Right? Sweet chili sauce and maybe a soy sauce one.” 

Ding! 

They ventured to the elevator with an illuminated button and the doors opened. Tenzin straightened his arm against the side and motioned for Kya to enter first. 

“I like women, but thanks,” Kya teased, patting Tenzin’s shoulder as she walked in first. Bumi followed and Tenzin was the last to join them. She pressed the button to the third floor. 

Tenzin rolled his eyes and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Do they have to pick up Lin? They’re all going to the same place anyway. This is probably the one potential downside of being in this friend group—they go and leave as one. But if Tenzin were the last one, he’d want them to wait for him…but still. Lin is closer to the lobby. What if she’s already there? This would be a complete waste of time. 

Ding! 

The doors opened and jade eyes locked on him. 

Tenzin frowned. 

Lin raised a brow. 

Izumi contained her chuckle.  

“Oh, perfect!” Kya beamed, holding the elevator doors open. “Get in losers. We’re going to dinner.” 

Izumi joined them in the elevator, but Lin remained planted in her spot. Tenzin’s eyes narrowed. What is she looking at? Can’t she tell that they’re all hungry and not in the mood for petty games? Lin crossed her arms, inhaling deeply as she scanned Tenzin from head to toe. Her eyes lingered for a few seconds longer near his waistband, then quickly averted back up to the group. 

“Come on, Lin. I’m hungry,” Izumi urged. 

Lin sighed and stepped inside, standing beside Tenzin.

Finally, Beifong is so…sweet?!  

A harmonious symphony of fruits and flowers danced around him, spinning the reality around him into a rosy fantasy. Tenzin inhaled and his neck instinctively followed the trail of heaven’s fragrance, finding his path led him to Lin Beifong. He cleared his throat and crossed his arms protectively to defend against this witch’s spell. But no matter how hard he tried to focus his attention on dinner, the soft hints of lychee and strawberries coaxed him back to her. Damn it, Beifong.

Use your cheap sex potions on someone else! As if, he’d follow after her despite his body already leaning closer to her. 

The elevator bounced slightly, disrupting all of their balance. Everything moved in slow-motion and Tenzin could already see Lin’s body ready to stumble against him. Actually, the first thing that caught his attention was the way her boobs bounced and jiggled from the movement. If she was on top of him, that's what they'd—snap out of it, Tenzin! If he has to be the hero yet again and catch her, he could. She would fall for him in no time. Tenzin angled his body so that he could cushion Lin’s fall and then he’d—the skin of an angel?! 

Tenzin shot a look at the source, eyes wide that the baby soft skin came from the source of his anger. Her? Lin has soft skin?! She doesn’t have scaly skin like some serpent? The sensation of skin on skin triggered an immediate reaction and Tenzin felt his senses overriding his logic and demanding that he follow Lin. 

Lin scoffed and pushed herself away from him, eyes rolling around the earth. “I thought strippers aren’t supposed to touch customers.” 

It was his turn to scoff. “You haven’t even paid me with money, and how many times have I caught you ogling me?” 

All eyes and ears turned on them, and Lin’s face turned pink. She huffed to herself and sent him one final glare. The elevator shook a bit before coming to a complete halt and releasing them from their temporary prison. 

Izumi nudged Tenzin’s arm as they walked out. “What was that about?” she whispered to him. 

“Nothing,” he answered tightly. “She’s just being difficult. As usual.” 

Izumi hummed with doubt. 

It came at no surprise that one of the people waiting in the lobby were Tarrlok and Raiko. Some of the other admin employees were scattered in their own groups near the benches, but the crew didn’t pay much attention to them. There has been some tension in the past between educators and the admin, and neither parties were in the mood to really engage with each other. This was where Aang’s diplomatic efforts stepped in—the trip was meant to be for team bonding and bridge all gaps. 

At the center of the lobby stood their boss, and…

Lin and Tenzin grinned. “Appa!” 

The fluffy cloud’s ears perked up at his name and he bolted towards the voices. Lin and Tenzin knelt down, arms extended out. Appa bolted for Lin, rubbing his body against her and leaping up to boop her on the face. Tenzin’s mouth dropped, and Lin smirked at him. 

“Hi Appa, you missed me, right?” Lin cooed, scratching and kissing the top of his head. 

Tenzin sent the dog a flat look as Appa stared at him, while enjoying the affection. “Why her?” 

Kya knelt beside Lin, petting and stroking Appa’s ears. The onset of affection forced Appa to submit and roll on his back, revealing his belly for more pets and rubs. Lin rubbed his chest and Appa leaned up to lick her cheek. 

Tarrlok cringed. “Ew, he licks his balls and then you let him lick your face?” 

Lin glared at Tarrlok. “Oh, shut up. You touch everything after you jerk off, so what’s the difference?” 

Clap! Clap! 

“Everyone, round up!” Aang scanned the group as they circled closer to him. “Is this all of us?” 

“Ty Lee’s not here.” 

“Can someone please text her? Make sure she’s coming down or not,” Aang instructed. 

“She wants to know where we’re going for dinner.” 

Their principal smiled. “It’s a place that specializes in seafood stew.” 

A subtle wave of disappointment ebbed and flowed between Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin. Seafood stew makes sense—Harbor Town is known for their seafood specialties. 

“I have a seafood allergy.” Raiko raised his hand. “I’ll probably go pick up some fried chicken some place.” 

Several other voices rallied in support of fried chicken, almost evenly splitting the group into two. Bumi raised his hand. “We’ll go, too,” he added, gesturing to the entire friend group. 

Lin shook her head. “No, I’m going with Aang.” 

“Me too,” Izumi piped up. 

“Whaat?” 

“Don’t feel pressured to come with us, if you don’t want to. Everyone is free to eat where they’d like. But if you want to come with me, we’re going to one of the best seafood stew spots here,” Aang warmly joined in. “Now can I just get a raise of hands of who’s joining us, and we’ll head over.”

Maybe it would have been a better idea if they had gone with Aang instead. 

Kya sent a glare at Bumi and he avoided her gaze, stuffing his mouth with another boneless piece of chicken. Tenzin grasped another slice of pickled radish with his chopsticks, biting into the refreshingly crunchy and vinegary side dish. 

“Buttercup just got asked to judge next year’s Miss Universe contest. Why wouldn’t they since she was the iconic 1984 Miss Universe?” 

At least if they were with Aang, dinner would be an enjoyable experience. He’d crack jokes, make the introverts feel included, ask the silent one about their thoughts and genuinely listen to what they have to say. They might not have been craving seafood stew, but the connection the trio of them have to him would more than compensate for the meal. Sitting with Raiko felt like they were sitting through ten hours of him boasting about how "perfect" his marriage is. 

“Buttercup doesn’t even look her age. She looks decades younger and she doesn’t have any Botox. Look.” 

Bumi and Kya exchanged a glance. 

‘She got a facelift that’s why,’ they thought. 

They peered over at Tenzin. 

He continued to eat and mind his own business, blocking out the conversation and hoping that he wouldn’t need to speak more than necessary. 

Raiko licked his fingers and gestured to the bottle half-full of dark orangy red sauce. "Pass me the chili sauce please, Mr. Beifong."  

Tenzin sent him a flat look. “I’m not with her.” 

“So were you exes?”

“No,” he answered tightly, holding his breath as his blood boiled. His fingers gripped the bottle, almost squeezing the sweet-spicy chili straight into Raiko’s face. Tenzin took a deep steady breath to contain the escalating temper from escaping. 

Raiko smirked and snatched it out of his hand. “But you two seem to have so much chemistry together. You don’t know each other from before?” 

“No.” 

“The students are shipping you two. Do you know what that means?” 

Tenzin inhaled, staring hard into Raiko’s smug expression. “Of course I do and I already said, Lin and I are not together.”

Ding, dong! 

Kya waved down a waiter. “Excuse me, could we have a half order of cheese fries for our table?” Her eyes flickered between the two men, praying that her loud suggestion would weaken the awkwardness between Tenzin and Raiko. 

Within the few months of bringing Tenzin into their friend group, she could see that Tenzin had a temper. And the topic of him and Lin seemed to get his face red faster than liquor. To be fair, Tenzin wasn’t completely wrong to be frustrated with Lin’s stubbornness, quick assumptions to validate her own feelings, and instant cut-off game before hearing the entire story. But if he would just see beyond all of Lin’s flaws, he could see how much of a great woman Lin is. 

He can deny it all he wants, but Tenzin is still a man. And Kya knows that his dick gets hard when he sees Lin. Call it a woman's intuition, if you will. 

Bumi leaned back in his chair, thumbs carefully tapping along the screen. A slight sticky residue made it difficult to text. He reached for a wet tissue and wiped the thin layer off of his phone.  

Raiko is so fucking annoying

Lin laughed at “Raiko is so fucking annoying” 

Lin - That’s what you get for going with him

        Tarrlok is with us 

Wanna meet up at a cafe after? 

Bumi waited until his phone vibrated, drowning out whatever babble Raiko was spewing off. 

Bzz. Bzz. 

Lin - Yeah ok

         Izumi is looking up cafes 

Bumi put a thumbs up on Lin’s text. 

“Listen Tenzin, if you ever need any advice, feel free to ask me. My wife and I have been together since we were in high school. I’ve seen it, heard it all, went through it all.” 

Bumi sighed. Dinner couldn’t end fast enough.

Kya glanced at the alleyway, littered with empty beer and soju bottles and shrouded in darkness. She held her bag closer to her body and took a step closer to Bumi and Tenzin. “Do you even know where we’re going?” 

“Of course I do! I’m following the map!” Bumi exclaimed, revealing his phone and the pinned location that Izumi sent. 

Kya snatched it from him. “Give me that. You’re reading it wrong, I bet,” she argued, examining the blue dot of their current location and its distance to the red dot. 

The girls sent them photos of a cafe called, Blue Spirit, which was halfway between the fried chicken restaurant and the seafood stew restaurant. According to Bumi’s phone, they should be facing the entrance of the cafe. But instead, they were surrounded by hookah bars in decaying buildings.

“We’re walking in circles!” Tenzin rolled his eyes. “I’ve seen that spirit mushroom bar five times!” 

“That’s not the same hookah bar!” 

“Yes, it is,” a gruff voice piped up from the sidelines. 

The trio huddled closer together away from the mysterious voice.  

“See? Even they know we’re lost!” Tenzin hissed.  

“Shut up, Tenzin. I know what I’m doing here.” 

Kya eyed the bright lights from the main road. “Look, why don’t we figure ourselves out on the main road where there’s actual civilization? If we stay here, no one’s gonna know we got murdered or trafficked!” 

“Good point,” Bumi conceded. 

Without hesitation, they shuffled out of the shadowy realm and reemerged into the light. They heaved a sigh of relief that humanity would know that they are walking amongst the living and not hidden in some dark alleyway with the underworld. 

“Okay, so if we’re here, then…” 

“Hey losers! We’re over here!”  

The three of them perked up at the source of the familiar voice. Half a block away, they spotted their friends waving an arm. 

Izumi crossed her arms at her approaching friends and raised a brow. “So how was dinner with Raiko?”

A collective groan. 

“All he ever talks about is how perfect his marriage is and how they’re so in love and how obsessed he is with her.” 

She rolled her eyes. “Suuure. He only cheated on her like five times.” 

Tenzin’s mouth fell open. “He cheated on his wife?” 

“There’s a reason Aang had to talk to us,” Bumi answered and Tenzin winced at the thought. 

Kya examined the neon blue lights illuminated Blue Spirit to the night life. Warm lights beckoned for them to enter from the autumn night with less people than she anticipated on a weekend. She hummed to herself. “This place looks nice.” 

“It has really good reviews,” Lin supplied. “Let’s get inside. I’m getting cold.” 

“Hey Wang, Lin is getting cold. Give her your jacket.” 

“You’re so damn annoying.” 

Lin groaned, eyes rolling to the back of her head as she ventured into the cafe without her friends. 

Despite the small appearance from outside, once they walked inside, the space opened up almost double the size. Turquoise and sapphire waves decorated the walls, and the furniture were a creamy beige to replicate the sands. Seashells were scattered in the middle of the tables as weights or stands for the menus. In the center of the room was a large light shaped as a sun.

“Oh, wow…” Izumi’s eyes brightened and glowed. 

Tenzin immediately noticed two tables pushed together that would accommodate their group, and pointed. He walked over without waiting. “I found us a table,” he explained, voice carrying over his shoulder as he placed his phone down on the clean surface to claim their territory. 

“I’ll get us some water,” Lin offered, breaking away from the group as they gathered at the table Tenzin reserved. 

Izumi grabbed a menu from the front and they leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the exotic and creative desserts offered. Their specialty drinks for the season were mulled wine and toffee nut lattes, and for desserts, most of their bingsu. Kya decided on an iced toffee nut latte. Bumi and Izumi opted to share the Oreo bingsu. Tenzin was torn between a hot americano or mulled wine. 

Lin returned with a handful of paper cups, carefully clasping them altogether with both hands. Izumi grabbed the riskiest cups and slid them to each person. In Lin’s other hand was a stack of napkins, partially wet from the water fountain. Just as she reached for a menu, her arm accidentally tipped over Tenzin’s cup into his lap. 

“Beifong!” A large wet spot drenched the front of his groin and Lin momentarily saw the outline of what rested peacefully beneath grey cotton. Tenzin snatched a few napkins, dabbing at the soaked fabric. Stormy grey eyes struck lightning toward Lin. 

Lin broke from her daze and gasped with a false sympathy. “Oopsie." 

His eyes narrowed. "Are you serious?"

“Oh, don’t be dramatic. It’s just water. At least it wasn’t hot coffee!” Lin passed him a slightly used napkin. “Here.” 

Tenzin glared at her and stood from his seat, marching to the counter to grab a set of napkins. He returned and shifted his seat further away from Lin, establishing a greater divide between them. A handful of napkins absorbed tiny bits of water from his pants. 

"Look, lovebirds,” Kya passed the menu to Lin, “just kiss and make up."

“As if.” 

Lin glossed over the menu, expression stoic and voice flat. Jade eyes travelled up and down the slightly faded paper, and lingered on several photos. "Then he would have to feel sorry for himself." 

"What?" 

"He said he feels sorry for any poor soul who is interested in me."

“He's a sorry soul because he hasn’t kissed you yet," Bumi teased, raising his eyebrows suggestively at them.  

Tenzin paused his drying to comment, "Shut up." 

"Maybe he's a virgin and hasn't gotten any kisses or head—" 

"Kya, shut up!"  

Lin laughed. "That explains why he doesn't know how to act around woman. So don't be too hard on him. He hasn't lost his virginity."

"I am NOT a virgin." 

She turned on her heels and cast a smug gaze at Tenzin Wang. "That's exactly what a virgin would say," she purred. 

Tenzin’s face reddened, napkins clenched in his hand. His nostrils flared, but then a large hand patted his shoulder. He peered up at the person and raised a brow at Bumi.

“Let’s go to the bathroom. You can dry off with the hand dryer,” Bumi suggested, patting his back to urge Tenzin to follow. 

“But—” 

Bumi squeezed his shoulders and tugged Tenzin’s collar. “Come on!” 

A string of mumbles and complaints bubbled from the younger man as he trailed behind Bumi with napkins over his pants. In the safety of the bathroom, Tenzin relaxed for a moment at the sight of an electric hand dryer. 

While Tenzin waved his hands beneath the dryer and raised his hips up to the blast of air, Bumi stifled a chuckle. He waited until the blaring echo of the wind died down to speak up. 

“Did you wear that on purpose?” 

Tenzin shook his pants to dry them manually. “Wear what?” 

Bumi’s tongue stroked the inside of his cheek. “Grey sweatpants.” 

“Uh, no. I’m wearing them because they’re comfortable.” 

“You sure about that? You not trying to get some action?” 

“What are you going on about?” 

“Don’t you know what grey sweatpants do to women?” 

“...No.” 

“It makes them wet.” 

Tenzin made a face. “What? That’s cap.” As soon as those words left his mouth, a wave of embarrassment overwhelmed him. 

“Cap?” Bumi cringed. “You sound so weird when you try to sound like the kids.” 

“Whatever! You know what I mean.” 

“I do know what I mean. And grey sweatpants turns women on. Hard.” Bumi nudged Tenzin’s arm playfully. “Why do you think Lin keeps looking at your dick?” 

“What—she’s not looking at my dick!” 

“Yeah, she is. Why do you think she spilled her water on you? Probably wants to know what you’re packing down there.” 

“Bumi, she is not into me, and I’m not into her!” 

“Sure, is that why you were checking out her boobs at the temple?”

Tenzin’s face flushed, mouth almost quivering. “I-I-I was not checking out her boobs!” 

A raised brow. “Does your face turn red when you lie?” 

“No—” 

Swing. 

Both men nodded in acknowledgment at the stranger who entered. Their intrusion effectively murdered the conversation and Tenzin glanced down at his pants, pleased that the dark grey had finally lightened to match the remainder of the dry fabric. He ignored Bumi’s teasing expression and walked out of the bathroom, with his older brother hot on his heels. 

“Ugh, Bumi. Why’d you post those pictures of us?” 

Both men took their seats with the rest. Bumi slid his phone out of his pocket. “Tenzin took it.” 

Kya’s eyebrows scrunched and she raised the phone closer to her face. “Wait…you tagged Tenzin.” 

“Yeah.” 

Her attention shifted to Tenzin. “You have an insta?” 

“No, I lived under a rock my whole life and never heard of it.” 

“You follow Bumi, but not me? Rude!” Kya glared at him, and changed pages on her phone. “Give me your IG.” 

Izumi gave her phone to Tenzin. “Add yours after.” 

For a moment, all of Tenzin’s anger dissipated completely that more members of his found family willingly desired to include him in the fabric of their friendship. First it was Bumi. Now, Izumi and Kya—his honorary sisters—followed in Bumi’s footsteps without being asked. He didn’t need to ask, they immediately took the initiative to include him. After years of reaching out to different friend groups and always feeling like he was the last pick, this was the first time he never had to seek out and prove himself worthy of belonging. 

Then, his gaze fell on Lin and his smile disappeared. 

“Lin, give him your insta.” 

She pursed her lips and avoided his stare. Crossing her arms, she muttered, “It’s originalbeifong.” 

Not wishing to disturb and ruin his own happiness over a woman, Tenzin typed in Lin’s Instagram in the search and found the profile picture of a woman wearing a light green dress. Only the back of her was revealed and a partial side profile. He flipped his phone to Lin for confirmation and she nodded.

He pressed, “Follow” and waited for his request to show up on Lin’s phone. 

Lin glanced at her phone. “Freedomnomad?” 

“Yeah.” 

A sigh. Lin’s thumb tapped several times. 

originalbeifong has accepted your request. 

originalbeifong has requested to follow you. 

Tenzin pressed, “Follow back”. 

In front of their friends, they appeared cordial. 

In the back of their minds, they would unfollow each other as soon as they return to the hotel.

“I fucking hate him,” Lin murmured, tying her hair into a loose bun. Several strands stuck out from the hair tie, but she didn’t care. 

She lay back on her hotel bed, adjusting her neck so that she wasn’t lying on her bun. Her phone was connected to the wall outlet. Lin inspected her battery percentage. 95%. Perfect. The brightness of her screen illuminated her clear and smooth skin, courtesy of Su giving her all the luxury skincare products. 

Lin pressed on Instagram and navigated to the search bar, eyeing the latest username at the top. An annoyed huff blew between her lips and she pressed. Her thumb scrolled up, manipulating through the rows of rainbow photos. 

Her jaw clenched, eyebrows scrunched. So Wang has been to the South Pole, the Fire Nation, all over the Earth Kingdom…

He spends all his money on travelling. Lin rolled her eyes. Not a surprise he gallivants around the world because he absolutely has no sense of responsibilities. How could Uncle Sokka possibly think they were a match? If they got into an argument or a fight, Tenzin would probably book his next flight to run away and leave all his problems on her. 

Also, when does he even find the time to travel? Oh, that’s right. He doesn’t have to take care of a grandma with dementia or deal with a younger sibling who doesn’t pull her weight around the house. Lin almost snarled. No wonder Wang is so selfish. He spends all his time and money on himself. Does he not care about his mother, working and slaving herself away at home while he’s probably doing strip shows to earn money for these spontaneous vacations. 

Upon inspecting the dates, Lin’s eyes widened. Two months?! He’s gone on trips for at least two months and visited six different states?! He’s so irresponsible! 

Lin’s eyes softened as she swiped through the photos of the Fire Nation food and landscape. If only she could escape once in her life and spend it on enjoying another country…

She moved back to the main page and a grin suddenly brightened her face. 

“Oh my gosh, he’s soooooo cute!” 

At the top of a mountain together in a set of photos tagged, “Somewhere in the Earth Kingdom,” Oogi beamed happily like a good boy. Lin covered half the photo with her hand—Wang completely concealed from ruining the photograph—and sent spirit kisses to the bestest boy in the whole entire world. Now this is content worth seeing on Wang’s page. 

When was this posted? 

Ah, last year. 

Lin tilted her head. How long has Wang had this sweet, adorable, perfect dog? 

She skipped over the thirst traps of shirtless Wang on his summer travels, but paused on a few to study his tattoo. Yes, she’s simply observing like the scientist that she is. After all, Tenzin Wang is a specimen that needs to be studied since he’s such an outlier to the laws of nature—a freak amongst the normals. 

Finally, Lin discovered the answer in a photo of Tenzin cradling a golden retriever puppy two years ago. 

“Awww, so my baby is about two or three years old…” Lin cooed. And luckily for her, the post was a slideshow. Lin’s heart expanded twentyfold with each photo of baby Oogi showing his teeth, sleeping, sitting, rolling on his back, and a precious video of him sneaking up to the camera.  

“He’s so precious…” 

Lin scrolled deeper into the depths. 

She landed on a 2020 photo of Tenzin. Shirtless at the beach. Him combing his hair back. Water dripping down his chiseled and defined abs. The outline of a slight bulge in his blue swim shorts. Sapphire tattoo glistening beneath the sun.

She zoomed in.

Her finger accidentally double tapped that 2020 photo.

“Fuck!!!”

Chapter Text

“I fucking hate her.” 

Tenzin tugged his shirt off his body and launched it across the bed. His body collapsed against clean sheets and a soft mattress, long legs instantly burrowing beneath the blankets. He reached for the charger in the wall and plugged his phone in, laying on his side. The screen brightened and illuminated against his uneven skin, while preoccupied eyes scrolled through the day’s photos. 

That’s a nice one of the temple. The sunlight is hitting the greenery with a perfect warmth. A heart on that one, so he can edit and post to his IG later. 

The selfie with Bumi and Kya turned out nice. Another heart. Maybe that will look good on his story? Or as a slideshow? Hmmm, he’ll figure it out when the trip is over. 

His mouth almost salivated at the photos of fried chicken and refreshing cider. The crispy sweet and saltiness became a core memory, and he craved another round already. There was no oiliness or greasiness like chicken restaurants in the city. If only he knew the local secret to achieve such a light, yet flavorful batter for fried chicken. 

“I’ll Google it…” 

His phone vibrated.

originalbeifong liked your post

Tenzin’s eyes expanded tenfold and he almost leapt up on his bed, 

“What the hell?!” His jaw dropped, pressing on the pink and orange icon. “Did she just fucking like one of my posts?” 

Though he checked the notifications immediately, it seemed to conveniently and magically disappear by the time Instagram loaded. That means she probably unliked it at the speed of lightning. 

Tenzin guffawed. “What a stalker! ” Another cackle. “But that doesn’t surprise me. Nor can I blame her. I do have a pretty awesome page,” he goaded smugly to himself. 

The seeds of curiosity finally sprouted and Tenzin pressed on originalbeifong’s profile. 

The glee melted immediately and Tenzin hummed flatly. 

Her profile isn’t very impressive or extensive, but that tracks with Lin’s character. She only has 26 posts, which consist of nature photos, one or two faceless selfies, a graduation photo from uni, and—

His heart leapt out of his chest. 

“Oh my god, she was so cute and pretty!”

Is that Lin in high school?! 

Her slim cheekbones and defined jawline were rounder and softer—age only accentuating her features. Deep eyeliner highlighted and sharpened her natural cat eyes, subtle blush at the apple of her cheeks, and a rosy tint on her lips. Rather than the middle part she has nowadays, onyx hair was swept into side bangs and pulled back into a high ponytail. Everything about her style screamed early 2010s. Instead of the intense and infuriating energy in jade eyes, stars glimmered in her gaze as she beamed beside a cheerful Labrador dog.  

Tenzin gazed down at the caption: missing you a little extra, Melon Lord ❤️

His thumb and index fingers moved in a diagonal movement along the screen. “Was she in high school?”

A hundred emotions flickered across Tenzin’s face.

“How the hell did Zolt manage to lock her in?”  

Tenzin paused and broke his attention away from his phone. Wait, is it weird if he thinks teen Lin is cute and pretty? They’re the same age, so this isn’t predatory, right? 

Nah, it should be fine. And anyway, maybe if they knew each other back in high school, they would have dated.  His neck craned down and he stared at her photo.

“I guess she never had an awkward phase.” Tenzin’s face softened. “Cute dog, too.” 

Tenzin attempted to swipe left out of the post, but his finger glitched and apparently double tapped instead.

“Fuck!!!”

Where the hell did she come from? 

Why is she in his room? Laying on top of him with those bazooka breasts hovering in front of his face. 

“I don’t have money, but I can give you this,” she purrs, pushing those melons into his mouth. 

By instinct, he anchors Lin to him so he can suffocate himself in those plush pillows and suck on those rosy pink nipples until he takes his last breath on earth. Heavenly whimpers dance around him—now that sounds hot, Beifong. Warmth surrounds his head and hot, wet pleasure grinds against his dick. Oh, shit. Is she naked too? 

Is he naked? 

Lin moans louder and presses her breasts even deeper into him. 

Whatever. He’ll figure it out after he reaches heaven, after his trip through hell with his work nemesis.

Then, she suddenly pulls away and leans back, grinding her pussy against his dick. “I thought you said you were gonna fuck me until I can’t walk?” 

So he is naked. 

His eyes lock on Lin’s, breaths dying on his tongue when a wicked tongue licks her lips. “Oh, I’m definitely going to do that,” he groans, lifting his hips several inches to caress Lin’s core.  

Lin raises her hips too and aligns herself over him. “Then fuck me, Wang.” 

“Let’s see if you can handle me, Beifong.” He drags her down onto him, the slick, wet, tight heat surrounding him so easily. Tenzin sees every single dimension known to mankind flash in his eyes when Lin sinks completely on him, the tip of his dick hitting deep inside her body. Deep, guttural moans cascade off his lips and Tenzin inhales shakily. “Feels like you can.” 

Lin leans over him.

“I told you,” she purrs. “Now bend me in half.”

What kind of fucking dream was that? 

Tenzin sat in the middle of the hotel restaurant, sipping on his coffee. He had shown up almost the moment the restaurant opened for breakfast at 6am. By nature, he was always an early riser. His peaceful time was the morning before the world awakens and the hustle of the day claims everyone’s time. Most choose to sleep in as late as they can, so a majority of the tables are unclaimed—except for several people, some elderly and others are professionals.

At least he doesn’t need to fight anyone for a chair. 

While the morning is typically his time to ground himself and prepare himself for the day, Tenzin Wang swore he woke up stressed, frustrated, and annoyed. 

His grip tightened around the mug, steam clouding his vision. How dare Lin Beifong show up in his dream last night. As if being forced to be with her constantly isn’t enough. A growl vibrated in the back of his throat. 

‘I should just fuck all the annoying parts out of her…’ Another scoff, then a sly smirk curled on his face. ‘Then I’d be the one bending her in half. She could never handle me.’  

“Your head is somewhere else, huh?” 

Tenzin blinked and searched for the voice, turning to the side and realizing that his boss had his own plate of breakfast on hand. 

“Good morning,” Tenzin cleared his throat, attempting to delete his true emotions in the face of someone worth a smile.

“Morning,” Aang parroted cheerfully. He motioned to the table. “Do you mind if I join you?” 

“Not at all! Have a seat.” 

“Thank you.” Instantly, the clouds of frustration dissipated in the presence of respect, authority, and kindness. Loud scraping of the chair sliding against the floor momentarily filled the silence between both men. Aang adjusted his plate and shifted his cup of tea, and directed his gaze toward the emptiness before Tenzin. “Did you eat breakfast?” 

“I will. I wanted some coffee first.” 

Aang leaned closer. “You should try the hot milk tea. It tastes similar to one in Hujiang.” Tenzin tilted his head. “Are you talking about teh tarik?”  

“Yes! You’ve had it?” 

A widening grin. “Yes! I had it in Hujiang and it’s so good!” 

“I’m surprised you’ve been there! It’s an incredibly underrated city to visit!” Aang remarked, mirroring the growing glee in Tenzin. 

“Right? Such a beautiful place. I would love to go back someday.” 

Aang cut into his omelette. “Do you travel often?” 

A nod. “Whenever I can. It’s what keeps me going—freedom, new cultures, the food, and history.” 

Aang chuckled to himself. “You’re just like me.” Suddenly, his smile faltered and eyes dimmed as he avoided Tenzin’s gaze. His voice lowered, “Just be careful not to get caught up in it all…” 

The sudden shift from excitement to dejection heightened Tenzin’s sense, and he leaned closer to his boss. He rested a hand on Aang’s shoulder, who offered his own sad smile. Twin cloud eyes stared into each other. “You okay?” 

Aang opened his mouth, but silence returned to Tenzin. “I lost a future with my forever girl because I cared a little too much about seeing the world.” 

“Oh…” Tenzin’s lips lightly pursed together and he gently squeezed Aang’s shoulder before patting. 

“Enjoy your life and see the world,” Aang advised tenderly as the memories of the past flickered in his eyes, “but don’t neglect or take your relationships for granted, too.” 

Tenzin nodded slowly. “I won’t." 

Aang smiled and patted Tenzin’s arm. “I know you won’t. So while you’re on this trip with us, have a good time with everyone.” 

“I’ll try…” 

“Is that why you were so deep in thought before?” 

“Nah, I was just…” Tenzin peered to the ceiling for a moment,” waking up still.” 

A chuckle. “Well, if you need anything, just let me know.” 

Tenzin was tempted to retort with, “A box of XL condoms would be great.” But he forced his jaw shut to protect his reputation and job. 

“Ayyye! Good morning, Universe!” 

Tenzin and Aang spun their heads in the direction of the booming voice. The younger man rolled his eyes and laughed to himself. “Bumi, please, cover yourself.” 

A hand clutched at his chest, jaw opened. Bumi glanced down at his grey shirt and black shorts. “I am covered!” Then his eyes studied below his waistband and a smug grin emerged. “What are you looking at?” 

“Are you ready for today’s hike?” Aang asked. 

“I am built ready.” Bumi flexed his muscles and shimmied in his spot. “That’s why I’m gonna hit a big breakfast.”  

“Good plan. Just make sure to meet in the lobby at 8.”

“You got it, boss.” 

Aang reached for his plate and cup of teh tarik. “You two enjoy breakfast.” 

“You don’t have to leave,” Tenzin urged kindly. 

A dismissive hand. “You two speak freely without your boss hovering around.” Aang rose with his breakfast. “Bumi, take care of Tenzin since this is his first trip with us.” 

Bumi sent Tenzin a mischievous look. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?” 

“Exactly.” 

Suspicion and hints of terror began to poison Tenzin’s brain, and he peered between his boss and honorary brother. “Wait, are you sure, Principal? Bumi is unpredictable and—” 

“Have a great breakfast! I’ll see you at 8!” Aang’s voice sang from over his shoulder. 

Bumi crossed his arms and grinned, tongue tracing the bottom of his teeth. 

Tenzin deflated, rolling his eyes and lowering his mug of coffee. “Ughhh!” 

“Oh, don’t be dramatic. I’m not that bad, Tenzin.” 

Tenzin frowned. “Not you.” He tilted his head and gestured at something else. “Her.” 

“Who?” 

Now, Tenzin crossed his arms and bounced his knee beneath the table. “No, no, no. Don’t come here…” he uttered under his breath. 

Bumi raised a brow. “What’s the big deal now?” 

Tenzin rolled his eyes and avoided looking in Lin’s direction. “She’s gonna ruin the vibes,” he answered just loud enough to contain the conversation between themselves. 

“She’s grumpy, but you are too. So I don’t see the problem.” 

“Good morning.” 

Bumi grinned. “Morniiiing,” he sang. 

They were doing so well avoiding eye contact, but then just when Tenzin thought it was safe, his timing could not have been more wrong. Their eyes met and both swallowed the lump in their throats. Tenzin shifted in his seat. Lin inhaled deeply and stroked the inside of her cheek with her tongue.

Lin opened her mouth, but was interrupted with, “Your dreams are contagious. Don’t talk to me.” 

Lin glared at him. “What are you talking about?” 

“Shhh.” Tenzin held a hand up and closed his eyes. He shook his head slowly. “Now I need to clear my head again.” 

“You’re so fucking weird,” Lin grumbled. “I’m gonna grab breakfast.” 

“I’ll go with you!” Bumi offered, walking beside Lin toward the small buffet of savory, sweet, and spicy aromas wafting throughout the open-space. 

Tenzin raised his mug of cooled coffee to his lips, savoring the milky bitterness on his tongue. He released a sigh. Yeah…all they need to do is pretend nothing happened with the whole Instagram thing. 

Because that’s exactly what happened. 

Nothing.

Despite it being the middle of autumn, the mountains of Harbor Town continued to enjoy a comfortable warmth. Slightly crisp breezes cooled the group of Republic City High School employees during their morning hike. There was a scenic lookout that Aang wanted them to hike to, and fortunately, it wasn’t an extremely challenging hike. 

“Are we there yet?” Raiko asked every five minutes since they stepped foot on the trail. About a three hour hike in total, the incline was gradual and the group travelled at their own pace. As long as no one was alone on the trail, everyone was free to trudge at a speed comfortable to themselves. 

Tarrlok and Tenzin found that they were matching each other’s pace.

Except one’s complexion was flushed red and beads of sweat trailed down his temples. 

“Out of breath already, Wang?” Tarrlok asked with no sign of sweat, redness, or exhaustion on his face as if he were some majestic god that is unfazed by the struggles of humanity! He pointed a finger behind him. “You don’t need to push yourself to keep up with me. I’m in a league of my own.” 

Tenzin laughed to himself, but withheld his temper as best as he could. Physical exhaustion paired with his temper wasn’t always the ideal combination, and Tenzin did not wish to get fired before the year finished.

“What, this? This is nothing,” Tenzin almost gasped, quickly wiping dripping sweat across his brow. 

“Please, Grandpa. You look like you’re about to have a heart attack and a stroke at the same time. If you pass out, you’ll make it look like it’s my fault. So do yourself a favor and just go to the back of the line.” 

Heat rose to Tenzin’s ears and steam almost radiated out of them. 

Tarrlok flipped his ponytail back. “You look a bit winded. SWT people never sweat. Or smell.” 

“I’m literally half SWT.” 

Tarrlok almost stopped in his tracks. “Wait, you’re half SWT?” 

“Yes.” 

Searing judgment glossed over Tenzin’s entire body and not an ounce of impressiveness or pride softened Tarrlok. “Well, guess that explains why you can’t keep up with me.”

Tenzin was shocked that his fists weren’t cracking Tarrlok’s skull. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, tension coiling in his jaw. A vein almost popped in his temple. “First one to the viewpoint gets a free dinner.” 

Tarrlok leaned closer. “Loser shaves their head.” 

“You’re on.” 

Dust kicked behind them as they bolted, rocks crunching beneath their sprint. 

Lin grimaced and turned to Izumi. “What are they doing?” 

“Being stupid.” 

“Tell me about it.” 

In the midst of their sprint, Tarrlok and Tenzin would occasionally peek over at each other. Chests heaved, eyes narrowed, breathing quickened, muscles flexed. Harsh breathing mingled with hisses and the occasional grunt when the incline added extra pressure and aches on their thighs. Tarrlok found enough energy to laugh while staring down Tenzin. 

“Can’t wait to see you bald.” 

“Can’t wait for free steak,” Tenzin huffed back, refusing to meet Tarrlok’s infuriating and provoking face.  

They ran. 

The sunlight beat down on their faces. 

Their hair danced in the wind. 

They ignored the pain when they saw the viewpoint. 

Arms raised above his head, fingers pointed to heaven. “Yes!” 

Fists clenched. “Grrrrr!” 

Tenzin clasped his hands behind his head, lungs hungrily gasping for air. He wobbled slightly over to Tarrlok’s hunched form, smiling down at the suffering clutching his colleague. “What was that…” ten breaths, “about not—” a cough, “keeping up?” 

“Shut up, Wang.” 

A hand miming an electric shaver hovered around Tarrlok’s hair. “Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzzzzzz!”

Tarrlok swatted it away. “Get the hell away from me!” 

“I like my steak medium-rare.” 

From the bottom of the last hill, Kya and Bumi caught a glimpse of the duo. Eyes squinted against the approaching afternoon sunlight. Every step grew heavier and heavier as their feet curved to the incline. Bumi’s stomach grumbled loudly, and Kya swirled the large ice chunks in her Hydro Flask. Icy water with hints of peach quenched the never ending thirst.

“Do you think they hooked up already, and that’s why they act like they hate each other?” Kya piped up randomly. 

Bumi shook his head. “No way. Unless his dick game is so bad and that’s why Lin hates him even more.” 

“Are you guys talking about Lin and Tenzin?" 

“Oh shit!” Kya and Bumi yelped, eyes bulging out of their sockets and necks almost snapping at the speed they turned. That random and creepy voice appeared right behind their ears and evicted their souls out of their bodies. Their footsteps faltered and the world almost spun in every direction all at once. “Don’t sneak up on us like that, Dad!” 

Aang hunched inward, wincing. “Sorry,” he whispered. “But you’re talking about Lin and Tenzin, right?” 

Both coughed loudly and adjusted their backpacks. Suspicious gazes stared back at him. “...Maybe." 

"Are they dating?" 

Brows raised. “Why you wanna know?” 

“Because they look good together.” 

“You ship them, too?” 

“...Maybe.” 

“Oh my god, is that why you put them in the same classroom?! I knew it!” 

“Well, no. That just kinda happened…ish.” 

“Okay, so this is how we’re gonna get them together! Wait, is this going to be an HR problem?” 

Aang paused, glancing up in thought as the answers from decades of history and experience flashed in his memories. Then, he replied, “As long as they don’t make it obvious and keep it private, it should be okay.” 

Bumi grinned. “Perfect.”

Thirty minutes later, the rest of the group finally made it to the viewpoint and Aang asked a few other hikers to take a photo. “I look like shit,” Raiko muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes as other hot, sweaty bodies stood closer to him. Everyone else resisted their own eye rolls to avoid it being captured forever in the camera as the hiker counted down. 

The hike back down was the easiest part and almost no one took a break, since it was entirely downhill. Except one. 

If the faculty and educators thought the day was complete with a morning hike and stunning views, they were very wrong. 

“Wear your swimsuits and meet at the beach in an hour!” Aang announced to the class once they returned to the hotel. Behind their lodging was a small strip of somewhat private beachline for guests to enjoy. Though they just finished lunch, at least he gave them an hour to rest and prepare for whatever shenanigans awaited them.

Kya braided her hair. 

Bumi clipped on a puka shell necklace. 

Lin rubbed sunscreen lotion all over her body. 

Tenzin unpacked his aged beach slippers. 

Izumi tied a crimson sarong around her hips to match her black swimsuit top.

Lin and Kya were the first of their friend group to arrive at the beach. Kya opted for a sky blue one-piece swimsuit, while Lin wore a green two-piece swimsuit that wouldn’t be considered too provocative or inappropriate. Both noticed a few work nemeses already lingering around, and walked in the opposite direction of the beach. Palm trees protected the women from the sunlight and they leaned against its foundation while continuing their conversation. 

Suddenly, Kya’s eyes perked up and she giggled. 

Lin frowned. “What is it?” 

Kya pointed her hand in a general direction. “It’s your husband. Go climb him.” 

“Ugh, now you’re just slandering my name,” Lin groaned. “Thank goodness, we don’t change our surnames when we get married.” 

“Yeah, but your kids would have his name.” 

Lin grimaced. “No, their last name will be Beifong. It has more prestige. I wouldn’t let my kids have Wang as their surname. Imagine a punishment worse than that.” 

“Oh, you’re just acting like you hate it.” Kya slapped Lin on the arm lightly. 

“No, I’m not.” 

“Hey Tenzin, look! It’s your wife.” 

“Shut up, Bumi.” 

Kya nudged Lin. “See? Even Tenzin considers you his wife.” 

“Then I’ll just divorce him.” 

Smack! 

“How could Lin Beifong consider divorcing the love of her life?!” Kya paused, eyes locking on the slender bodyline of another dear friend. A sparkly glint beamed in her eye with appreciation at the black and red ensemble. “Now you’ve definitely got my attention, Ms. Lee.” 

“Good. Because you never pay attention,” Izumi responded lightly, adjusting her sunglasses. 

More familiar faces poured onto the scene, their footprints stepping over old ones. Though they all shared the same space, there was still an invisible divide that separated the group. Aang scanned them and counted the top of their heads, murmuring the increasing number to himself. He clapped and nodded. 

“Alrighty, everyone! Circle up!” With his back to the sunlight, everyone else was forced to cover their eyes or protect their eyesight with sunglasses. “Perfect, we have an even number of people.” 

“What are we doing?” Bumi blurted out. 

“Raise your hand.” 

Bumi raised his hand. “What are we doing?” 

“The squat challenge.” 

“I knew it,” Tarrlok muttered smugly. 

Tenzin side-eyed him. “You thought we were going to vote people off, Total Drama Island style.” 

“Wow, you actually know that show? I’m surprised an ancient relic knows about pop culture.” A smirk. “Besides, why else does Bumi have a bag of marshmallows?” 

“Hey, these are for me.” Bumi held the bag of marshmallows protectively and stepped away from people to avoid any grimy hands from snatching it. 

Izumi gave him a look. “Where’d you get them from?” 

“The convenience store.” 

“Let’s focus,” Aang gently reminded them, waiting patiently for their attention to divert back to him. He continued, “You’ll do this in the water. To make it more challenging, you’ll be doing it with a buddy. One will piggy back carry their partner and do the squat. Whoever’s partner touches the water, that team is out. The last pair standing is the winner.” 

Kya raised her hand. 

“Yes, Kya?” 

“Wasn’t this a couple challenge from Single’s Inferno ?” 

All eyes zoomed in on Aang. 

Aang’s eyes blanked for a moment. He blinked. “Well, I wouldn’t know honestly because I’ve never heard of that show. But anyway,” he raised a large bag with protruding round shapes, “your partner will be the person who grabs the same color ball as you.” 

One by one, Aang stood before each employee and each person extended their arm into the bag. Kya reached inside, dug around and grabbed the one that felt as if it were calling her name. Extracting her prize, a blue ball emerged in her hand. 

Izumi was next. She grabbed an orange ball and was partnered with P’li. 

Bumi got yellow. “Damn, I got Kong.” 

Tenzin reached in and grabbed the first ball he felt. It was blue.

“Ayyyyye! Let’s do this, Tenz!” Kya exclaimed, raising both hands up for a high five. 

Lin chuckled. “You got the color that matches your balls.” 

“Shut it, Beifong. We’re gonna smoke you,” Tenzin retorted. “Just be happy I didn’t pick you.”  

“Whatever.” Then, the mysterious bag was within view and Aang stood in front of Lin. Without wasting time, Lin dug around and prayed to the heavens that her partner would be someone decent. As soon as she saw the color, her face almost paled. 

Green. 

Aang tried to restrain the grimace on his face. “You got Raiko…” 

Lin’s eyes raised to Aang’s. “Can’t you change this?” she implored quietly. 

Similar thoughts flashed in his mind, but he gently shook his head. “I have to be fair…I’m sorry, Lin.” 

“Fuck.” 

Maybe this is the one situation where being partnered with Tenzin isn’t the absolutely the worst outcome ever. At least Wang would keep his hands to himself or have the decency not to check her out…that much. The serial cheater? Seriously? Now she has to figure out ways to make her and Raiko lose, but against Tenzin?! Almost as if reading her mind, Raiko approached her and Lin frowned. Who told him he could come by her? 

“Now that everyone is paired up, whoever will be doing the lifting, you will piggy back carry them,” Aang informed them, sending Lin a brief glance. 

Raiko raised his hand. “What if I have back issues?” 

“Then just do your best.” 

Behind Aang’s back, Raiko scowled and Lin resisted punching him in the face for daring to complain against the best boss ever. He should be thanking his lucky stars that Aang didn’t force him to sit out on this challenge for no reason. How could her luck turn so bitter and sour so quickly?  

The chill of the water crawling up her ankles failed to distract Lin from the torture of being Raiko’s partner for this challenge. A heavy weight rolled in the pit of her stomach and threatened to disturb the peace within her body. As she circled behind Raiko’s low squat, Lin’s eyes rolled back to her head and she swallowed all of her complaints. She leaned closer and then he picked her up with ease, large hands grasping behind her thighs. 

“Don’t drop me,” she hissed in his ears.  

A grunt. “Don’t break my back.” 

Once the other teams were all in position, Aang raised his hand and slammed it down. 

And so it began. 

Lin gripped across Raiko’s chest tightly so that she didn’t slip off, but she made sure not to press her chest too firmly against his back. Studying the landscape, her view steadily bobbed up and down. Considering that Raiko was much older than their other male colleagues, he probably won’t have as much stamina as Tarrlok, Bumi, and dare she say, Tenzin Wang. Maybe she can tire him out so that she can get out of his grip more quickly. 

Glancing at the competition, P’li and Izumi seemed to be doing well. But then again, P’li is a fucking giant. She’s got legs for days, so she has a great chance against everyone else. If Raiko loses, then Lin is cheering for Izumi and P’li.

Then, Lin caught sight of Kya and Tenzin. Lin almost choked on her own gasp at the perfect angle of the koi fish tattoo and how every flex of his muscles breathed life into the ink. With his arm curved and tense, Tenzin’s biceps and triceps were simply…huge as hell. Then, Lin’s gaze travelled downward. He does have great form. If she just leaned back a bit, she could see if he has a rounder ass than her. But of course, he wouldn’t because she hates him. 

It’s simple logic. 

Kya’s eyes locked with hers, and Lin’s cheeks suddenly reddened. A sly smirk curled on her friend’s face. “Look how strong he is,” Kya mouthed, poking a finger against Tenzin’s arm. 

“Ow. What are you doing, Kya?” 

“Oh, nothing, Tenzin. Just showing Lin how much stronger you are than her and Raiko.” 

A chuckle and Tenzin shot an arrogant look at Lin. “Really? Well, in that case, keep demonstrating.” When he straightened from the squat, he angled his body so that Lin could see his chiseled chest and defined abdomen. Inhaling slowly, Tenzin held his breath to highlight every single muscle he carved. 

Lin glared. “Whore,” she mouthed.  

Suddenly, Lin’s head snapped in another direction, evoking curiosity in Tenzin, and he studied the scenario from his standpoint. Something must be wrong if Lin found herself distracted from hating him. What was it? Perhaps, she can tell that they’re losing.  A light smack from Kya reminded him that they were still in a competition and Lin Beifong shall not win against them. Tenzin secured his hold on Kya and lowered into a squat.

Finally, he noticed. Tenzin’s face burned with a new heat, and it was not from the hike or benching Kya. Raiko’s hands were getting closer to Lin’s ass.  

A vein pulsed from his temple. “What a fucking creep…” 

Lin dug her nails into Raiko’s shoulder. “Hey, keep your hands to yourself.” 

“I am,” Raiko grunted, legs wobbling and quivering in the sand. “You’re heavy as hell. You should have done this instead.” 

“Yeah, right.” 

Raiko winced as he lowered into a squat, his face almost swelling from gathering all of his strength with every passing second. He held it for a few seconds, then shook his head. “Yeah, I’m done…” he muttered, straightening up one last time before releasing Lin. “You’re too damn heavy.” 

“You’re just old and weak,” she retorted, separating herself from him. Lin knelt in the water and submerged herself beneath the surface. Relief swelled in Lin’s heart that the agony and punishment was finally over. The gentle current pushed and pulled, retrieving and sucking all of the negativity out of her body. Lin allowed nature to take what she didn’t need as the sweet chill tingles surrounded her. 

She re-emerged, hair slick back. For a moment, she felt like a mermaid ready to explore an unfamiliar world above the sea. Lin wiped the salt water from her eyes and walked toward the beach, giving a thumbs up to the remaining pairs. Raiko already bolted back to the luxury of modern conveniences and an iced americano at the nearest cafe.  

“Good job,” Aang commended gently, patting Lin’s shoulder. 

Her expression remained flat. “I didn’t do anything except tell Raiko not to drop me.” 

“Ah, but still. You two were a team.” 

Lin rolled her eyes. “Sure.” She rested her weight on her ankle and winced. 

“Are you okay? Is your ankle bothering you?” 

A low hiss slipped between Lin’s teeth. She added more weight to the affected ankle and instantly shifted to the other one. “I think the hike might have aggravated it a little…” 

“Sit down and rest at the tables.” Aang offered an arm for support, and Lin accepted. Her footsteps faltered, the sand making it difficult for her to have steady footing. There was no rush and Aang matched her speed, guiding her to one of the vacant tables nearby. Kneeling down, he raised her ankle and rested it along the bench. “I’ll get Ty Lee to come check it out.” 

“You don’t have to,” Lin insisted, gazing down at her ankle. “I think I just need to take a break.” 

Aang simply waved a dismissive hand in her direction and walked away.

Lin crossed her arms, pouting. At least she can still see the challenge from the tables. Seems like P’li and Izumi are dominating everyone. Thank goodness. Watching the challenge unfold from the distance, the tension in Lin’s shoulders melted slowly until her posture curved slightly. Even if she didn’t have the best partner, Lin still couldn’t shake the ghostly residue of defeat and disappointment in her heart at the premature departure.  

“Hi Lin!” 

Despite the disappointment, Lin couldn’t resist a small smile at the merry voice. “Hey Ty Lee.” 

The older woman approached with a first-aid kit and an ice pack. She settled beside Lin’s foot, resting the kit on the table. “I heard your ankle is acting up? What happened?” 

“Not much.” Lin adjusted her body so that Ty Lee could get a better view. But the woman simply scooted closer and guided Lin’s ankle to rest in her lap. “I sprained it a few weeks ago, and the hike from earlier might have made it act up a little. No big deal.” 

“Let me see.” With the gentlest touch, Ty Lee tenderly dusted off the remnants of sand from Lin’s ankle. Slowly, she slightly turned Lin’s ankle side to side, searching for any signs of concern. 

Lin bit her lip. She had known Ty Lee ever since her first day as a teacher at the school. Her visits to the school nurse were extremely rare, so Lin never had a strong connection to Ty Lee. But if she closed her eyes, Lin could imagine that this was Katara. The care and affection reminded her of Wang’s mother, and Lin briefly wondered why something random like this would trigger that memory. 

Ty Lee placed the ice pack over Lin’s ankle, but kept Lin positioned in her lap. “It is a little swollen, but icing it should help. Along with some reflexology.” 

Lin made a face. “Reflexology? You do stuff like that?” 

Chestnut brown eyes warmed and sparkled. “Yes, darling! It works magic! Just sit back and relax.” 

“Uh…okay…?” Lin’s eyes flickered between Ty Lee and the challengers. She flinched as knuckles firmly pressed into the sole of her foot. 

“Sorry.” Ty Lee’s touch softened. “Let me know if it’s too hard.” 

“Hmmm.” 

Ty Lee followed Lin’s stare in the distance toward the end of the beach. “Who’s winning?” 

“I think P’li and Izumi.” By now, the icy pain dug its nails deeper into Lin’s flesh. Two more minutes and her ankle should be numb. But the biggest hurdle is overcoming the initial pain.

Tenzin’s legs began to wobble slightly, and Kya smacked his arm. She almost wriggled against his back, an arm waving around as she drowned Tenzin’s ears with affirmations of encouragement and motivation. Occasionally, he nodded as if momentarily believing that he was a god and would conquer everyone else at the beach. 

Lin licked her lips. 

Those abs do look delicious, uh, defined. Yup, defined. Like hers. 

Dear Raava, and those huge pec muscles and shoulders…Damn, that is a man right there…

Wait, no! A man-whore. 

That’s a man -whore. Because Tenzin Wang is a stripper. 

“So how is it working with Teo?”

Lin continued her devoted study of the whore. “His name is Tenzin.” 

“Ohhh. Tenzin.”  

“He’s unbearable. He’s selfish, unorganized, irresponsible, hot-tempered, stubborn, unprofessional—” 

“You have a lot to say for someone you hate.” 

Lin paused and sent Ty Lee an annoyed look. “I have opinions. A lot of them.” She leaned back against the table, wriggling her toes at the comforting sensations of pressure releasing tension in her foot.  

“What if you two just kiss?” 

"Now why would I do that?!"

A shrug. “It would look cute.”

Bitterness rolled on Lin’s tongue.”There’s nothing cute about Wang.”

“Oh, come on, Entertain me, Lin.” 

“Watch the challenge then.” 

“I don’t want to watch them.”  

Lin attempted to cross her legs, but realized that she would accidentally kick Ty Lee in the face. So she settled with a stubborn pout. "I don't like him." 

"If you say so." 

"He gets shoved in my face all the time."

“Kiss him then. Might as well since he’s in your face all the time,” Ty Lee giggled. 

Lin tilted her head back. "Why can't I get a break…?" 

"We watched you being single for long enough. Try to get a real boyfriend."

Lin pointed a finger at Ty Lee. “Don’t get involved.”

"If he asks you to be his girlfriend, you will say yes." 

A shrug. “Depends if he’s a good boy.”

“He’s not a dog, Lin.”

"Hmph. His dog is the only good thing about him."

Ty Lee tilted her head curiously. “Tell him to bring his dog to work.” 

“Then no one will pay attention to our class.” 

In the distance, the echoes of water splashing reached their ears. The women averted their attention to the challenge, smiles growing on their faces. Izumi cheered with both of her arms raised above her head, while P’li bounced her gently on her back. They stuck their tongues playfully at Kya, Bumi, and Tenzin. Kya kicked some water at P’li’s legs and pointed an accusatory finger at Tenzin.  

Lin laughed at the sight, clapping to herself that her chosen team won. 

Tenzin, despite his disappointment at losing, happened to shoot a glance towards the table and softened internally.

With the winners formally declared, Aang finally released them all from any other commitments for the remainder of the day. Several went back to the hotel to rest, others ventured into the town, and a few remained on the beach.  

Lin had no idea what Ty Lee did to her foot, but that reflexology shit that she pulled off worked magic. After thirty minutes of rest, she could walk without any pain and the swelling calmed significantly—as if there was no inflammation to begin with. Maybe Ty Lee was on to something with that massage therapy. Actually, that might be a good way to help Grandma relax.   

Lin closed her eyes, laying completely on her back in the water. The saltwater drowned out most of the voices from reality. Namely Bumi’s boisterous voice and Tenzin’s annoying ass. Gentle currents cradled her body and swayed her to a secret lullaby. 

“Lin.” Light taps slapped the surface of the water, and Lin cracked her eyes open finally. 

She stood in the water and shook the water out of her ears. “What?” 

“Ty Lee fixed your ankle?” Kya repeated. 

“Pretty much.” Lin held her breath and sank beneath the crystal clear waters, emerging seconds later. Slender fingers combed through silky hair. “It’s practically brand new,” she revealed to her friends. 

“Hey, you guys, guess what I heard.” Bumi swam closer to them, gathering them into a tight circle. 

“What?” 

He pointed to the tiny and almost run-down shack on the beach.  “I heard that the dressing room is haunted,” Bumi revealed eerily. 

The group looked at the tiny hut. 

“I don’t believe you,” Lin said. 

“Neither do I,” Tenzin agreed, crossing his arms. 

“Well, prove me wrong then. Both of you.”  

“Fine,” Lin and Tenzin accepted in unison. 

Behind their backs, Bumi winked at Kya and Izumi, and they held their chuckles in. Lin followed Tenzin, somehow mesmerized by the contours, dips, and valleys of muscles dancing across his back. No matter how small of a movement he did, the ripples of muscles seduced Lin and silently begged for her tongue to lick the saltwater off his skin. Then, her gaze trailed down to Tenzin’s waistband and fairly round glute muscles.

Well, his ass isn't flat. 

But Wang skips leg days, and that’s why he lost to P’li and Izumi.

Tenzin’s head peered over his shoulder at her. “Are you staring at my ass?” 

Lin’s eyes widened. and she immediately retreated into a mode that could protect her true feelings. She glared at him. “What ass? There’s nothing to look at!” 

“I can feel you staring!” 

“Staring at your stick legs! It’s obvious why you lost the squat challenge!”  

Tenzin scoffed. “That’s because I kicked Tarrlok’s ass on the hike! You should be congratulating me because he agreed that the loser would shave his head. So you’re welcome in advance!” 

“Who cares?” 

“You are so—” 

Bumi wrapped his arms around Lin and Tenzin’s shoulders. “Okay, you guys. Let’s not chase away the ghosts with your yelling. Otherwise, there’s nothing to prove. Right?” 

Grey and jade eyes rolled to the back of their heads. 

“Whatever.” 

A gentle pat on their shoulders. “That’s the spirit!” Bumi tugged them toward the aged shack. “Now, go prove that there’s no such thing as ghosts.” 

Lin and Tenzin untangled themselves from Bumi’s grasp and scowled at him. It was nothing impressive. Simply an old wooden shack with faded and peeling light blue paint. If Bumi didn't call it a dressing room, then first impression would be that it's an outhouse. But it lacked the unpleasant smell that would chase off everyone. 

Tenzin pushed on the door, the hinge creaking loudly with every centimeter. He bowed his head down to avoid hitting his forehead against the entrance, and stepped inside.

It was a suffocating little corner. Tenzin’s head almost reached the ceiling and the walls nearly touched his arms. There was nothing except aging and eroding wood from the salt water and air. A few boards had tiny gaps to allow peeping toms to look through, and that was creepy on its own. Tenzin shuffled in tiny steps to turn himself around. 

Before Tenzin could attempt to escape, Lin stepped inside.

“What could possibly be—” 

Slam! 

The force of the door slammed Lin into rock hard muscles, murdering her words. A loud click forced their ears to perk up. But with little to no room to maneuver around each other, Tenzin leaned forward, pressing and locking Lin’s body between his own and the door.  

“Bumi!” Tenzin’s fist banged against the wood, while the other frantically twisted the doorknob. “Let us out right now!!” 

“Hahaha! That was a good one!” 

"Bumi!” Lin bellowed, kicking her heel into the door. It wobbled slightly, but remained closed. “Get us out now!!!" 

"Nope."

Knock! Knock! Slam! Slam!

“Damn, they’re really going at it hard,” Kya commented.  

“Kya, shut the fuck up and get us out now!!!” 

“Hey Bumi, let’s go check out that cafe.” 

“Yes!” 

“No, no, no! Izumi, please!” 

Footsteps drifted further and further away, increasing the thunderous echoes of heartbeats racing in Lin and Tenzin’s ears. As his temper simmered, Tenzin suddenly became aware of two pillowy and plush mounds completely pressed right below his chest. The initial cold from the ocean dulled and was replaced by a new roll of warmth that began in his chest, then glided down to his abdomen, and lower…

And it certainly doesn’t help when Lin’s bikini bottoms align perfectly with his groin.

“I’m going to kill them…” Tenzin hissed in an attempt to keep Lin distracted. 

Seconds felt like hours, months, years. Is this what happens when you’re locked and pressed up against your enemy in a shack? Beads of sweat mingled with the saltwater, trickling down Tenzin’s hair and slithering past the nape of his neck. Tenzin’s breathing faltered in response to the rising heat building in his body. The muscles in his forearm rippled again, more and more pressure pushing against the door. 

Peering down past Lin’s wet hair, he caught a perfect view of Lin’s cleavage. His mouth instantly dried and he coughed to wet his palette, averting his gaze elsewhere. Thoughts of ancient civilizations, house hunting, and his most embarrassing moments whirled in his mind to weaken a growing urge. Maybe if he stays frozen and doesn’t move, then Lin won’t feel him.   

Tenzin groaned.

Lin tilted her head up, meeting his eyes. “Stop making weird noises.”  

Tenzin frowned and opened his mouth, but was interrupted again, “Don’t look at me, you’ll fall in love.”

An eye roll. 

Lin shifted, inhaling deeper, not realizing that it only expanded her breasts and pushed them further into Tenzin. “And stop getting hard, ugh. Disgusting.” 

“Well, I can’t exactly help it here!” 

“Shut up.” Lin glared at him. She pushed against his chest and shuffled with the tiniest steps in a circle, until she faced the door. 

Her ass pressed against Tenzin’s groin, and Tenzin’s eyes almost fluttered back. 

Heat rushed to Lin’s face at the hard bulge poking right in between her cheeks. 

Well, shit. 

This is a lose-lose situation. 

Facing Tenzin? Boobs touching him, and her pussy too. 

Facing the door? Back shots. 

Lin leaned her forehead against the wood, releasing all of her frustration in a groan. She knocked her head over and over…Her ass pushed harder into Tenzin and Lin immediately straightened. Over her shoulder, she muttered, “Can you stop getting hard?” 

Tenzin suddenly held her hip firmly and tightly, and the motion instantly shut Lin up. Electricity ran through her veins from his fingertips.

“I’m trying, woman,” he hissed against her ears. 

The rich deepness and authority in his voice sent pools of honey to spiral in her core. No, no, no. Not the time to get horny. Not with Wang! Lin couldn’t cross her legs, so she clamped her thighs tightly together. 

Tenzin’s thumb stroked her hip, and Lin almost moaned out loud. Gathering all of her crumbling resolve, she managed a weak, “Stop that.” 

The moment his touch disappeared, Lin almost screeched at him to put his hands back on her waist and just ram his boner against her ass. Lin inhaled deeply.

No.

A Beifong does not beg. 

A Beifong commands and demands.  

Lin shuffled again in a circle, her breasts caressing Tenzin’s body until she faced him again. Tenzin’s eyes were already clouded with a myriad of conflicting emotions, jaw clenched to keep him grounded in reality. 

Lin narrowed her eyes. "Why are you so useless? Can't you knock the door down?"

“There’s no space for me to knock it down!” 

“You’re hopeless! Why did I have to get stuck in here with you?!”

Tenzin clenched his eyes tightly. He growled, "Can't you just shut up for once?" 

"Make me." 

Lin’s breath hitched in her throat when hot large hands gripped her hips and tugged her body completely flush to his. Heartbeats raced erratically, pounding in harmony and screaming out for each other. Grey and green eyes locked together, but the sky dominated the earth and she submitted to the thunder. Their bodies grinded together, swaying and pushing beyond the barrier of fabric. Did Tenzin start the dance, or was it her? 

Tenzin moaned softly when Lin pressed hard against the bulge. His fingers snaked up her spine, sliding beneath the tight knot of her bikini top. 

“Do it,” Lin breathed, standing on her tiptoes. Her own hands finally grasped and trailed up Tenzin’s forearms and shoulders. She allowed a few fingers to sprawl across his tattoo with appreciation. 

Tenzin tugged at the knot and began to pull the string—

Creak! 

“So how’d your quickie go?” 

“Fuck!” 

“Bumi!” 

Bumi cackled, narrowly avoiding a hard smack from Lin Beifong and a mouthful of sand. Lin darted past him and slapped him on his back, searing her name in fire over and over every inch of Bumi’s face. Tenzin, meanwhile, adjusted his swim shorts. 

A smug and infuriating grin hovered in front of Tenzin. “Feel better?” Bumi asked sweetly.  

Tenzin growled, turning around and scowling. 

“Didn’t last long?” 

Tenzin attempted to kick sand at him.

Notice for 3rd floor guests: 

5th floor showers are not working, so showers/toilet stalls may become more crowded. We hope to fix this as soon as possible. Apologies for any inconveniences this may cause.

Thank you for understanding.

Lin’s jaw dropped. “Are you fucking kidding me?” she asked no one, holding the towel firmly around her body and pushing the door open. 

Steam almost suffocated Lin upon entering. Hints of spearmint and lemon wafted in the air, soothing all of Lin’s worries. Echoes of her slippers bounced off the walls. A pleased smile grew on her face. Bubbles and soap suds slid along the bathroom tiles, flowing toward the shower drains. No one here? What immaculately perfect timing. Though a navy blue towel rested neatly on the bench. 

Lin raised a brow, then shrugged. Maybe the last person forgot to take their towel. 

She unravelled the emerald towel from her body and hung it neatly on the hook outside the stall. 

Lin turned the knob, fully prepared for another relaxing shower and—

Wang’s huge dick?!

Both covered themselves out of instinct, but neither moved. Hungry eyes darkened and traced up and down. Lin bit her lip and slowly lowered her hands, Tenzin matching her movements until both were completely exposed. Lin’s eyes widened at the full sight of him and her mind completely blanked. 

Before she could regain control over herself and hop on top of him, Tenzin pulled her into his stall and closed the door.