Hi everyone, new story from me. This is a murder mystery/romance between Lin and Tenzin, set a few weeks after the events of Season 1. I'll probably change the rating to M later on, but if people would like me to mark out when the Mature scenes are in later chapters, just drop me a review or a private message so I know before it gets to that point.

So, I'm really enjoying this idea and I hope it's enjoyable too. Lin and Tenzin are by far my favourite pairing and I hope I can do them justice!

The first chapter is pretty short, but the rest will definitely be much longer; probably around triple the size. So don't let the length put you off!

Murder on Air Temple Island

Chapter One:

The slabs were a deep red, brown in some places, where they'd always been a scrubbed white. Lin had seen many a dead body, but this one made her especially sick to the stomach. Her face was a professional mask of indifference, but the entire scene sat very wrong with her.

Lin had seen a lot of things, but this wasn't just a murder.

He was an air acolyte, barely a man, and one Lin recognised, even though her time on the island was particularly limited. No doubt Tenzin knew all the details of his life; he was good with people like that. He took a genuine interest in everyone who came to learn his discipline.

Lin had only looked at Tenzin once since appearing on the scene, and his gaze had been unwavering; staring at the young boy as if it could bring him back. He was too distracted even to notice his children watching the scene in their own horror.

Jinora had been more alert, shielding Ikki and Meelo's eyes and dragging them back inside. Pema had looked tempted to join them, but remained curled into Tenzin's side.

Lin tried to ignore the familiar family and stick to doing her job. She bent down, getting closer to the man's open throat. "Earth bender," she informed Tenzin, who was stood with an arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders. He'd already know this, but following a routine worked best in these situations. She shifted her feet and summoned a disk with jagged teeth, moving it over to the body in a slicing motion. "Like this."

Tenzin nodded, his own face stony. He'd been the one to ring her, saying nothing more than that there'd been a murder. This wasn't what she'd been expecting at all.

Murders were gang-related, the majority of the time, but Lin knew the gangs of republic city inside and out and this wasn't their work.

Because the gruesome cause of death wasn't even the worst part. There were letters scratched into the man's chest, in a jagged handwriting. They'd been done with earth bending, too, and Lin didn't want to know what kind of person had the composure for this.

The man had been alive when he'd been branded, and killed afterwards.

This whole island will die.

Lin swallowed and for the second time met Tenzin's gaze, just as hesitantly. Lin didn't want to accept that he was in direct danger, but the evidence was right there in front of her. "You can't stay on the Island." The routine kicked in once more; the police had suggestions for this kind of situation, even if they were rarely used. This one was common sense: he was in danger, his wife was in danger and his children were in danger.

He shook his head once. "This is my home and I won't be scared off it. The air acolytes can leave, should leave, but I will stay. I can protect my family."

Lin narrowed her eyes, teeth already grinding. "You cannot stay on this island, Tenzin."

Lin didn't know who would want to hurt Tenzin – he was widely respected, always fair, he had a good nature. The only enemies he'd made were the council members that disagreed with him, but that had only ever been mild dislike.

This was going to be a difficult case and a personal case.

Tenzin and his wife shared a determined look and Lin knew she had lost. She threw her hands up, scowl becoming ever more prominent. She was the chief of police, not them, and she knew what she was talking about. Tenzin was being an idiot and he was putting his family in danger.

"Whatever, it's your choice. Just know I'm strongly advising against it." And she wasn't going to attempt to make conversation with him again. She'd do her job, and that was all, trying desperately to ignore the worry that would flood her every night.

Lin couldn't tell Tenzin what to do anymore, even in a professional capacity. He wouldn't listen to her.

She just wanted to do her job and stay out of the personal side of things. Getting caught up in emotions was never the right thing when it came to police work and if there'd been anyone else, she would have re-assigned the case.

At least, that's what Lin told herself, as if she could abandon a case where Tenzin was in mortal danger.

She bent down by the side of the body and gestured for the photographer to come forwards. "I want you to get this from every angle, especially the writing," Lin avoided touching before the photos had been taken. Her skin crawled, but her face remained composed.

It's nothing I haven't seen before, was her mantra, even as thoughts of Tenzin lying in this man's place addled her brain.

This was Lin's job and she was good at it, but if she failed to protect Tenzin then she'd never forgive herself.

Lin couldn't be bothered to sit and watch Tenzin be stubborn; it was more that than having to observe the intimate way he and his wife were communicating, she told herself.

The best thing she could do was go and try and find this maniac.