A/N: It's a pretty short chapter, all of my creative juices have run dry. I have a little left for chapter ten. After that, I have to start talking to myself and see what kind of argument I get out of myself. I bring the best out of me, if I just start saying some type of random saying or notion. Enough about me. Let's get to the chapter shall we? Don't own LoK, nor do I own said song. Enjoy. - Diana
'Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
I told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember...'
Tenzin was surprised when he bumped into Lin. He had taken the family out. How small the world was into pushing them to see each other, almost as if it was a way to get them to rekindle their friendship. Which to no effect helped when Pema would be trying to provoke Lin. Nonetheless, that "friend" of hers made an appearance. Making him feel rather confused. To Pema it meant that she had moved on, that never again would there be a need to rekindle a friendship however, Tenzin did feel the need to argue about that. He had his children and that was that. He saw how Lin pulled Jung away. It felt like he was looking at a different person. Not the young girl that he had grown up with, not the teenaged girl that played pranks with his siblings, not the young woman who had become an officer, and not the lover that he had come to care and love for. Even if it was from afar that he did most of his caring. He sighed. He had a family. He would love his wife and his children but he would never want Lin to get hurt.
That was rather a fit for him since he had been the first to hurt her. He tried his best to make it seem like he didn't want to pry into her personal life. However, Pema was rather enthusiastic.
"It's lovely to see that Lin has moved on." Pema said cheerfully.
Tenzin looked at Pema. "They are only friends Pema. Besides, we aren't ones to pry into her private life. She can do as she pleases. Now let's make ways to what we were going to do, shall we?"
...
Tenzin had seen Lin the next day. She looked rather lost in thought. Almost as if not wanting to encounter anyone at the moment. He didn't bother to approach her. He already predicted the outcome. Either she would ignore him or lash out on him. Tenzin tried his best to walk casually past her but without the effort she noticed him.
He cleared his throat before saying a word to her. "Good morning, Lin,"
She looked at him long and hard.
'Something's different about Lin today... She's not steely nor is she cold and approachable at this hour of day'
Lin ignored him. Making her way.
'Of course, she won't acknowledge you Tenzin. Leave her be, there will be a day when you both will regain your friendship. For the time being, preoccupy yourself with your family and with making the city how your father would have wanted it to be. '
Upon arriving in his office, his mind started to drift off.
...
Tenzin watched Lin very closely. Waiting for her to release her sorrow upon losing her mother. They were together in her apartment. He waited and waited. Nothing. The ever so euphoric and beautiful Lin wasn't there. She was a complete mess. Yet to him, she was beautiful and didn't want to pity her. All he wanted was to embrace her and tell her soothing words. He reached out for her only for her to not respond in anyway. It was like she became cold and emotionless. Tenzin had tried everything to get the woman he loved to be her old self, just to see a little tint of it. Lin never reacted to him but eventually gave in.
"She's gone Tenzin... Gone." Lin buried her face in her hands.
"Yes... She is." He responded softly. Pulling her in to embrace her and plant a kiss on her forehead.
They stayed like that for a long time. He never let her go. That was the day he no longer knew her the way he had as a child.
...
Tenzin's face was sombre. Remembering that dark day in Lin's life was hard. She had lost her mother. Her only blood related relative. To think that she was alone made Tenzin stir in his sit. Here he was years later, trying to mend a friendship. When she wouldn't allow it.' Could she still have feelings for me? Or are they being replaced?'
Tenzin sighed. It disturbed him to great lengths as to why he wanted to place himself in her life. He wanted to regain that friendship back. The matter was that he needed to fine a way to get it back. 'Trying to talk to her won't do... Any other form in general wouldn't work.'
Tenzin took out a blank piece of paper and a pen and started to conjure what his possibilities were in trying to regain his friendship with Lin. To his distraught, nothing had been written on the paper. He had been fighting a mental challenge with himself. Whatever he had conjured only brought a rebuttal against his plan. What he did was waste time. Time that was valuable to many and to him too.
Once arriving home, he encountered a rather cheerful Pema. He looked around, questioning the rather cheerful mood that she was in. After his little inquisition, he cleared his throat so that his wife would notice his presence.
"Oh, Tenzin, how was your day?" She asked him sweetly as she approached him to plant a chaste kiss on his lips.
"Unproductive," He blandly replied.
'Very unproductive to that matter.'
'You can get addicted to a certain kinda sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over...'
Tenzin lay in bed, letting himself drift off into sleep. It never came to him. He was wide-awake, without disturbing Pema from her sleep he got out of bed. Perhaps if he meditated he'd be able to sleep. As he arrived to the pavilion, he took notice of how beautiful the moon was. It made him remember a night that was rather dark and unforgivable. He pushed the memory back and began to meditate. To little effect it didn't do what it needed him to do. It only brought that dark memory back and makes him face it.
...
"Lin, your mother told you that she could handle it. Why must you disobey her?"
"For your information airhead, I'm not disobeying her... I'm improvising; besides, this lead is just what we needed." Replied Lin and turned to face him.
Tenzin gave her a pleading look not to go, to wait for her mother.
Lin sighed.
"You do know I won't let you go Lin."
Lin bit her lower lip at him and only looked around Tenzin.
He walked up to her and cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to look at him.
"I'll do one thing for you... and that's to make sure I come back safe, I promise." She said to him giving him a quick peck on the lips and wiggling her way out of him.
As he watched her go he couldn't help but feel that something wrong was going to happen and that it did. Only merely hours later did he find out that she was hospitalized with a wound that had been rather not well deserved. He had gotten a good glimpse of her only to lose the entire colour that he had. He had very little to begin with. He stayed with her until she woke up. Not a word was shared between the two. Tenzin knew better than to rub it in her face that she didn't keep her promise.
...
Tenzin opened his eyes. His eyes were fixed upon the moon now.
'I never did mention that you never kept your promise. Our relationship became rather stiff. Our different wants and needs. If only you'd just speak to me. Are you still hurting or are you just not interested in forming a friendship again? One day we might be able to speak to each other in peace. I'm very much hopeful for that day.' he told himself.
'But you didn't have to cut me off
Make it like it never happened and that we were nothing
I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger
And that feels so rough...'
Another five years passed. At this very moment Tenzin and his family were making their way to the South Pole. Tenzin and his family were supposed to be staying there to train the young avatar to air bend. However, Tenzin had to break the news to the young avatar that he wouldn't be able to teach her just yet. Hence him and his family going.
Through out the whole ride to the South Pole, Ikki kept asking questions while Meelo chewed on his head. The only one who had not bothered him through out the trip was Jinora. He thanked the spirits that she hadn't been as energetic as her younger siblings. Once they landed it was as if they just found everything to their excitement. Meelo was still hovering on top of him.
"Hello Mother, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you. Please, help me." He said to his mother.
His mother laughs warmly, while he bows so he can allow his mother to take Meelo in her care.
"Unhand me, strange woman." Meelo frantically said while waving his arms in the air.
"That's your grandmother, Meelo."
His son pushes off of his mother's hand and somersaults above her head landing on the ground behind her causing her to be surprised but made her smile.
"It's good to see you all." She said smiling.
"Gran-gran, I've been reading all about your old adventures. I've been dying to ask you, what happens to Zuko's mom?
Again his mother gave a genuine smile.
"Well, Jinora, it's an incredible tale!"
Only to be interrupted by Ikki.
"Gran-gran, you look old. How old are you? And why is it so cold in the South Pole? Can we make a campfire, and all hurdle around it, and tell scary stories and make snowmen? And then can you make the snowmen move with waterbending and chase us? Wouldn't that be fuun? Huh? Wouldn't it?"
Tenzin noticed that Pema needed assistance to get down from Oogi, he extended his hand to reach her.
"Pema, let me help you. Careful now, careful," He said softly to her.
"Stop dotting me, I'm not helpless, I'm just pregnant."
Both place their hands on her protruding belly. Once firmly on the ground, Katara approached and gave Pema a hug.
Tenzin zoned out of the conversation.
All the other times he had visited his mother or his mother visiting him, she'd always ask if Lin had told him anything important. Whenever he'd say no. The hope in his mother's eyes seemed to have disappeared. It was always the same questions; however, in his most recent visits she wouldn't ask him anymore. It was as if the answer she wanted would never come. Perhaps fate will change that. As he returned his mind back to the conversation.
"...Rather serious," were his mother's last words.
Tenzin pouted. "Mother, please."
His mother only gave a smile.
Tenzin noticed Korra a few feet away.
"Korra? Look at you, so big and strong. You've grown into quite the young avatar." He stated proudly.
"Master Tenzin, I'm so glad you're here. I can't wait to get started." Korra said enthusiastically.
Tenzin's expression changed drastically.
"Yes, well..." He began only to stop mid way.
"You're going to have to tell her sooner or later." Pema told him.
Korra's enthusiasm disappeared with a sad expression.
"Tell me what?"
"You're not staying, are you?" Katara interjected sadly.
Tenzin sighed.
"I'm afraid not. We're only visiting for the night. Then I have to return to Republic City."
"But... No, you're supposed to move here. You're supposed to teach me." Korra stated.
"I'm sorry, Korra. Your airbending training is going to have to wait."
'No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records
And then change your number
Guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know...'
It had been very tense since his last conversation with the young avatar. He knew very much that he needed to teach her but his priority right now was to take care of the city. His family and him had said their goodbyes to his mother. Even his mother reassured that the young avatar would be fine and that she needed some time.
And so he left a disappointed Korra in the South Pole while he was newly traveling back to the city with his family. His mind betraying him once again, it wandered back to that night where his mother asked him about Lin.
...
"Tenzin," His mother called him out.
"Yes mother?" He replied.
"I must ask you something... Important, if you do not mind." Katara asked him seriously.
Both were standing in the kitchen at the temple. His mother cooking who knows what.
"Ask away mother." He said with a chuckle.
"Well... Has Lin said a word to you about anything that is... Hmm... Extremely important." She said while she continued to cook.
Tenzin pursed his lips into a thin line and narrowed his eyes.
"No, she has not said a word to me. Well..."
His mother tensed, awaiting for what he was going to say but continued her deeds.
"Asides from the normal insults that she throws, her sarcastic manner towards me, not a word of whatever you want me to know. Why can't you tell me?"
His mother tensed again and shook her head.
"That is something that I am not entitled to say. It is her job to do it. Well... At least she says something to you, now, why don't you go and take a seat the food is almost done." She said nonchalantly.
...
'What could be so important that my mother would like me to know so much that she can't tell me? Why must it come from Lin?'
His pondering would have to wait. First came the city, then it was his family, lastly it would be Korra's training and whatever else came around.
'Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believin it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know-oh-oh
But you didn't have cut me off
Make it like it never happened and that we were nothing (oh)
I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger
and that feels so rough...'
Not once has he seen Lin, she must have been avoiding him or either she was extremely busy with all of the criminal activity in the city. Not once had she been at to one of the open meetings. It was always her second in command or any other officer. Did he really miss seeing her that much? He could just freely walk into the station and just say he was a visitor. Knowing her temper, she'd kick him out without even a glance. He so desperately wanted to know what it was that his mother wanted him to know but he no longer saw the Lin he had grew up with. He was at fault, he broke her heart, and then he broke it some more in trying to mend it.
He had not gotten any kind of sleep the night before and here he was trying to mend things in the city. Not to mention how ignorant Tarrlock was. Always trying to butt his nose in what he didn't belong to.
Tenzin sighed.
He wasn't the only one who thought that. He very well knew that Lin hated the man. Always trying to counter her sense of power, which wasn't a wise thing to do. He even infuriated her so much that Lin would have beaten him to a pulp and arrest him for no apparent reason. However, she must have done something else to get him to back off of her in no time.
Tenzin chuckled.
'Typical Lin for you, always getting her way.'
His secretary interrupted him.
"Councilman Tenzin... Umm, you might want to head down to the station."
"Why is that?" He asked calmly as he rose from his seat.
"Umm... Apparently they have the avatar under arrest."
"WHAT! I can't believe..." He yelled as he stormed out of his office with his face as crimson as can ever be.
'Korra... I especially told you to stay put in the South Pole. Unbelievable. Oh spirits, Lin must be upset through her chaos. How on earth did Korra get herself into for her to be arrested? I can only hope that Lin isn't too harsh on her.'
Firstly he needed to calm himself. If he were calm, he'd be able to get through Lin's abrasive behavior maybe even bargain with her. Something that would please her in the sense of letting the young avatar go. Hopefully it wasn't too late for him to stop her from doing something irrational to Korra.
'(oh)
No, you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect you records
And then change your number (oh)
Guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody that I used to know
Somebody (now your just somebody that I used to know)
That I used to know
Somebody that I used to know
Somebody (somebody) (now your just somebody that I used to know)
That I used to know
I used to know
That I used to know
I used to know
Somebody...'
