The tall, muscular Airbender walked into Republic City's Metalbending Police Force's headquarters. He was looking for a certain Metalbender. He needed to see her, because, well, he just needed someone to listen. Being on the Council was a tasking job, and he knew he couldn't vent his frustrations to Pema. She had enough problems with their fourth child on the way.
A flurry of gray hair caught his eye. "Lin!" he called, raising a hand in greeting. The Police Chief whirled around suddenly, as if she expected someone to attack her. Her facial features softened when she realized it was just Tenzin come for their daily chat. As quick they appeared, she shoved the emotions away and continued on with her work. Tenzin, clothes flowing out behind him, followed her into her office. He strode in only seconds before Lin slammed the door shut.
"For the Avatar's sake, you'd think these people were born purely to annoy me!" she said angrily. Tenzin found his usual seat in front of her desk. He folded his hands in his lap and waited patiently for her to simmer down. "I mean, how many idiots does it take to arrest one suspect! It should take one, two at the very most. Not five and have the hooligan get away. And the papers will report this as my fault. Chief Bei Fong has let yet another criminal escape the clutches of justice; I can see the headlines now! As if last week's screw up wasn't bad enough." The Chief stood facing the wall. She couldn't allow Tenzin to see her face looking like this.
The Airbender got up and put his arm on her shoulder. She tensed a little before she slumped again. The job had really begun to age her. Her hair was black a few months ago, Tenzin realized. He patted her shoulder gently. "Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?" he asked gently.
"No, I don't need tea!" she said furiously. "What I need is a better police force!" Suddenly Tenzin pulled her into an embrace, her face against his chest. His strong arms held firm as she tried to wriggle free. Eventually she calmed down and let him hold her for a while. Lin was perfectly aware that this was no simple friend hug. Tenzin still felt something more, she was sure of it. Hastily she pulled away from his embrace. Chief Bei Fong stood firm before the Airbender. Her face was twisted into an angry scowl.
"Better?" Tenzin asked. Lin shrugged off his concern. She had always recovered from everything that had been thrown at her. She wasn't about to stop now.
"I am fine," she said evenly. "Why did you come here? Certainly not to hear me rant about my life."
He smiled sheepishly, watching Lin's eyes. "I came here to, well, complain about my life. But now I don't want to pile anything more onto your load. I apologize. I should have called in advance." He got up suddenly and walked away, robes flowing around him.
"Tenzin!" Lin yelled.
He turned and looked back, a strange expression on his face. "Yes?"
"Thank you for listening," she said, not quite meeting his eyes.
"Anytime, old friend," Tenzin said softly.