Chapter 9: Sifu Lin
It was a crisp spring morning, one of Jinora's favorite times of the year, when Lin decided to stop by the island. The airbending children and Korra were having a training session with Tenzin about the importance of balance. Korra inhaled deeply before stepping forward thrice and throwing her arms out forcefully, a gust of wind toppling the other three children over. After checking to see if his children were unharmed, he happily clapped Korra on the back and grinned proudly. "You've come a long way, Korra."
She smiled sheepishly. "It's all thanks to my great airbending teacher."
"Not to purposefully ruin the sappy moment I'm witnessing right now..."
The two looked up and gave a startled jump. Jinora chuckled. Their identical movements proved how close they had grown in their relationship. Tenzin straightened himself and cleared his throat. "Good morning, Lin."
She crossed her arms, looking around curtly. "Where is he?"
Ikki crossed her legs and peered up at her father. "Daddy, why is Miss Lin here?"
"Because I believe the boys ought to have some sense of education. Especially if they wish to defend themselves."
"For Korra?" Meelo asked, gnawing on a sugarcane branch Pema had absentmindedly given him.
Tenzin chuckled, rubbing Meelo's head affectionately. "Against Korra, son."
Jinora was watching with avid interest as Lin countered all of Bolin's moves with relative ease. In less than a minute, he was bound like an animal and writhing on the floor. "NOT FAIR!" he whined. "You're OLD!"
Lin growled, poking her bare toe against his forehead to spite him. "Age should be on your side, Bolin. You're right, I AM old. I shouldn't be having to deal with ruffians like you."
Tenzin extended his arm warningly. "Lin, please-"
"I never said I'm giving up on him," she barked back, switching her gaze to glare at him before returning her attention to Bolin. "You've been taught wrong. 'Being light on your feet.' Ha! When I'm through with you, you'll wish-"
Bolin whimpered, stopping the ex-chief of police in her tracks. She huffed, undoing the metal ropes and helping him to his feet. "Let's start with the basics."
Jinora tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowed as she studied the proper way of earthbending. It was resolute. Strong. Firm. She couldn't help but notice the way Bolin's arms moved under his shirt. The way the cloth tightened under some areas as his biceps flexed. The way she swore his muscles shuddered in frustration as Lin made him repeat a stance. She helped herself to her feet and dusted off the backside of her clothes.
"You're not going to continue watching?" Tenzin asked curiously as his daughter breezed past him.
She shook her head. "I've got something to do."
"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow!" Bolin hissed as he slid down into a massive rock tub.
Mako chuckled, bending the fires built around the tub to heat the pool Korra had helped set up. "Hot water helps your muscles relax."
Bolin pouted and scooped up some water and scrubbed his face. "Whatever."
There was a long silence as both boys simply sat there and stared at the steam rising to the heavens. Only a few stars twinkled due to the amount of pollution and light in Republic City, but the two boys didn't mind. As long as a few stars glistened to greet them good night. Mako ran a hand through his mussed up hair and blew some fire from his mouth in the shape of an 'o'. It was a habit he did when he was letting some stress ebb away. After all the years of caring for his younger brother, it was almost instinct to go into 'killer rage mode' whenever Bolin was in pain. Asami reprimanded Mako for his way of doting on him, but he couldn't help it. He was his brother! He had to hide away when Lin grew excessively (in Mako's opinion) rough on Bolin but no one was able to stop her. Jinora was right when she said Lin would turn sweet Bolin into an ox brute. He rolled his neck and looked at Bolin once more. But he was happy. Through all the pain he endured that day, he seemed to glow with pride. He noticed his faint smile as he scrubbed down his arm and noticed several bruises dotting along it. It was most likely Lin's too harsh grip as she repitiously corrected him. And then it clicked. Bolin was learning to become something of himself without his brother's help. Mako swallowed. He was growing up.
The next morning, Lin was waiting for him in the practice ring. Bolin gawked at her appearance, circling her in confusion. "What are you wearing?"
"What? Never seen traditional Earth Nation clothing before?" she snapped, her brownish green clothing flapping in her walk filled with gusto. Bolin chuckled, stretching his sore arms. No matter who she was, there was no doubt Lin was a diehard earthbender, which meant she would have national pride toward her country.
"Bo!"
The two earthbenders looked up to see Jinora taking long leaps (thanks to airbending) toward them, clutching something against her chest. Her hair was down and she was in what Bolin assumed were her pajamas. He placed his hand on his hip, lip pouting. Well, that was a first. She slowed down and stumbled in front of them.
"Sifu Lin," she huffed, bowing her head furiously. "I'm sorry to interrupt your lesson."
"What's up, Jin?" Bolin asked curiously. She straightened her posture as if suddenly remembering her purpose. "I-I made you these because your shirt was too tight."
"Tight?" She simply stared at him and handed him his new training uniform. "I saw your muscles moving."
A twitch of pride welled up in his heart and he accepted the gift gratefully. He gripped his new uniform in one arm as he flexed pompously. "They were that large, huh..."
She nodded. "It was disturbing."
Lin barked a laugh and slapped Bolin's shoulder as Jinora sheepishly apologized to Lin again and bounded off toward the meditation area. "Go get changed."
He nodded and made his way to a corner he could change in. "Wait...Jinora made these for me. Who made those for you?"
The question seemed to fly over her head as Lin practiced some warm up exercises, and Bolin continued to walk away.
"Tenzin's wife."
I had this one before the last episode, but sweet spirits, Lin you make me feel things I shouldn't be feeling. I feel as though she ought to play a bigger role in everyone's life-okay, it's just an excuse for me to want Lin more involved in the story. I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading.
