My name is Zhu Beifong and I'm 18 years old.

Not that my last name matters much. Nobody in Republic City knows that I am the Chief of Police, Lin Beifong's daughter. Maybe some do, I haven't the vaguest idea. It's just that I've never bothered to tell people who my mother is and mum never bothered to introduce me as her daughter.

I didn't mind that because in a way, it keeps us both safe.

You see, just like mum, I work with the Police and I've had my fair share of busting the Agni Kai and Red Monsoon and Triple Threat Triads' members. Obviously, there are many who'd be more than happy snapping my neck or burning me or impaling me with icicles. So, by keeping my family background a secret, we protect each other from our enemies.

Now, Lin Beifong is not the best mother to begin with. We've never had the ''loving mother and loving daughter" relationship. It was more like the "Boss and employee'' type-ish.

I've always felt that it was because I was firebender like my birth father, who my mother rarely mentions, and not an earthbender which caused a rift between us.

Mum gave me freedom where it was necessary and controlled my life like a tyrant when she thought I was going down the wrong road. We'd have fights that would include hours of yelling and blaming each other for the most stupid things. And the next day, we would act as if nothing were wrong. I'd always refer to her as 'Chief' and she'd call me 'Officer' or 'Darn brat'. She let me make my own decisions up until a limit. Like the time I wanted to join the United Forces but she 'pulled rank' and made me stay in Republic City.

Sometimes, I'd feel like running away when she became extremely controlling. I'd feel like not talking to her. But she is my mother and I love her and I wouldn't ask for anyone else. Because we did have our 'Mother-daughter' moments like when she would be reading her reports, sitting on the sofa, and I'd be lying down with my head on her lap, telling her about my day.

Thank the Spirits, though, that I didn't inherit her blunt and uptight attitude.

I don't mean to brag, but I am pretty fun to hang out with.

Just ask Bolin!

Oh, right. Bolin. I met him a year ago while tracking down the Triple Threats. It was a false lead because by that time, Bolin and his jerk of a brother, Mako, were training for Pro-Bending. We ended up being great friends, the three of us. They are pretty much the only people that I stay around during most of my free time. One, they are bearable and two, they're the only ones I know who are my age. Sort of.

Bolin is one of the best people I've ever known. He is the comic relief of my life and my sometimes dinner partner. Unlike his elder brother, he is more cheery and spontaneous.

Mako, to be honest, seemed like a douche to me at first. He grumbled and mumbled and threw glares at me during first few months. I, eventually, wormed my way into his heart and became his self-proclaimed best friend.

Speaking of which, I'm not much of a fan of Pro-Bending as Councilman Tenzin had drilled his words into my brain.

"That rowdy game is a mockery of the beautiful art of bending."

While I was stationed at Air Temple Island for a short while, I had mentioned to him that I had friends who were into Pro-Bending once. Once.

And there's not a day when he doesn't remind me that the game is a mockery. He won't even substitute the 'mockery'. Every time he berates the game, he uses the same damn word.

Sheesh.

Life wasn't that exciting, here in the city. It was the same, every day. I'd wake up with the sun, go to work, come back for lunch, patrol in the evening and on some days, chase around thugs. Life went by slowly.

It was during the arrival of Avatar Korra that things began to change.