Hello, everyone. This is a little something I've been tinkering with since seeing The Metal Clan from Book 3. I think Huan is one of those characters that just draws me in as soon as I see them. I hate that he is the least used of the Beifong clan, but it does give one room to expand on, headcanon wise or fanfiction wise!

As I said, this is something I had been working on for a while. Some of Himiko's backstory was entirely different, such as that she was an orphan taken in by Suyin. Well, that kind of came out as Kuvira's past, but the only thing I had done was write this down, not show it to anyone, so I kind of felt the need to change Himiko's past just a bit.

Also, to anyone who reads this, I decided just to go with Metal Flowers for a title, though I also debated between Metal Flowers Always Bloom. I'd like input if anyone is interested, and I am open to changing it. I hope people read, and enjoy. I mainly write for me now, but I do like sharing on occasion! Though this is my first 'first person' POV I think. If not first, first in a long time! I have so much trouble with first person and the type of tense I need, but the POV seems right.

Chapter 1: Himiko

Zaofu is an interesting city, as only a city made entirely of metal can be. It feels as though once the protective metal 'petals' open in the morning, the city itself wakes up and immediately comes to life.

My name is Himiko, and I have lived here for as long as I can remember, but I find myself in awe of Zaofu in new ways despite my years here. I probably wouldn't be able to tell you my parents from the Earth Queen. Or perhaps I could, but I really wouldn't like to meet them now. Or ever.

The same goes for the Earth Queen. That woman is a beast, and I'm thrilled I don't have to live under her foot.

I would have, if it wasn't for Suyin Beifong. I guess luck, or perhaps the hands of an unseen spirit, put her in the right place at the right time. My parents, if one can call them such, were ready to turn me away. I've always been different. No, I was not a bender born to a non-bending family. I could stare at a rock, and try my hardest all day, and it would still never move.

I've always been interested in the spirit world, as far as I can remember. I guess it scared my parents. Or they found it wrong. Either way, my talking to things that they could not see and deep meditation even as a child, was not on their Pai Sho board. They would have none of it.

From what I gathered over the years, I guess the plan was to leave me near enough to a group of homeless young benders and hope for the best. Suyin was apparently visiting the city, and happened upon my parents trying to leave me. She would have none of it. All I remember of that day was my parents yelling, Suyin's cold, calm anger, and a ride from what I knew as home to my home now, and falling asleep with my head on her shoulders, feeling safe with a stranger who I didn't even know, well, from the Earth Queen.

I guess Suyin collects the unwanted, the cast offs, the thrown away, the orphans. I wasn't the first, and I wasn't the last.

I grew up, perhaps not directly side-by-side with her children, but close friends to them. I had my own home, of sorts. A home I did share with other children, who I later did learn were taken in by Suyin or orphaned in other ways. We had caretakers, and Suyin herself made sure to spend time with us. It's her city, I overheard her say once, and her place to keep track of us all.

Her twins, Wing and Wei, were constant companions of mine as a child. And constantly getting me into trouble. Every morning, as I walk by their game of Power Disc, they greet me. "Himiko!" Always the same way, breathless and simultaneously. It's the same every day.

I received that greeting as I usually did on my way to the gardens. I leaned over their arena just in time to see Wing scare. "Good morning, you two," I called to them.

"Who do you think will win today?" Wei asked, panting slightly and wiping the sweat from his face.

"Wei," I replied with no hesitantion.

Wei did a little celebration fist pump while Wing groaned. "Why Wei?" he demanded of me.

I could only laugh. Perhaps they haven't learned me yet. "Because I said you would win yesterday, Wing. If I keep alternating, maybe I'll get it right one day."

"You get it right more often than not!" Wei called. I laughed again and waved as I left them to their game.

My destination was the gardens. Once I got old enough, or perhaps even Suyin realized my need for exploration, I was given free reign to go where I pleased, with the orders to behave myself. It took me some time to realize that others were ordered as well. They were not to disturb me if I was meditating.

For several years, the gardens have been my favorite place. It has always been quiet there, unless the twins decided to follow me and wanted to play. That usually resulted in a scolding for messing up the flowers.

But since Harmoinc Convergence, and Avatar Korra's decision to leave the portals open, the gardens have felt more open and spiritual than ever before. And now the twins are old enough to know when I want peace and quiet.

Most of the time.

So, the gardens have become my haunt.

I did say there were more than one reason, and I soon heard my second. I stopped in my tracks at the sound of metal creaking as it was manipulated. I was glad Wing and Wei were not with me. Thankful even. Though I'm sure they must know, but if they did, they left me alone about it.

I think I was twelve, perhaps even younger, when I realized my feelings were changing. My feelings for Suyin's second eldest child had become much more. Even now, standing here and listening to metal being manipulated my heart started to flutter.

Huan...