Korra tiptoed to the kitchen, having an odd sense of déjà vu.

Of course, Lin was there already, all dressed and prepared for the day. Across her is Lhami, one of the senior acolytes on the island (by senior, Korra meant just possibly a few years shy of Master Katara's age), calmly going through what appeared to be lists of chores and reminders from Lin.

"Good morning, Korra." The metalbender acknowledged her presence, barely looking up from sheets of paper she was perusing. She gestured towards the teapot and Lhami offered to pour her some tea.

"Gmorning." The teenager mumbled back, nodding at the acolyte.

"Your airbending teacher is still…indisposed." Lin finally raised her eyes to look at the Avatar, who was breathing in the warm tea during that cold morning. "You'll use your time this morning to work on your chores." The metalbender waved the papers and handed it to the acolyte.

"What?" Korra coughed, sputtering tea in shock. "But I have a task force meeting today and pro-bending training too!"

"That's too bad," Lin deadpanned. "No completed chores -no task force, no pro-bending."

"I take it, you'll make sure I finish everything?" The Avatar looked all of her seventeen years as she petulantly responded.

The older woman shook her head. "Lhami will be in-charge; I need to go to the Metalbending academy today." Korra vaguely recalled that the chief of police did have a position at the academy her mother founded. "I have a packed schedule, so don't wait up tonight."

Lhami handed Korra her chore list with a kind smile.

Korra thought Lin was playing smartly – the metalbender somehow knew thar Korra would not be able to disobey or disregard the elderly Air Acolyte; she was one of the few acolytes on the island that Korra truly and sincerely respected.

As Lin was about to get up to leave, another acolyte appeared at the doorway pausing and giving a slight bow.

"Lady Lin, there is someone to see Avatar Korra."

Korra vaguely registered Lin standing up.

"Who?"

"It's someone from the -."

But Lin was already walking towards the house's entrance; Korra quickly followed at her heels.

Who could be visiting her this early? Mako?

Korra wished, she snorted.

He's probably busy with Asami.

"Chief Beifong, good morning to you." It was the council page. "Councilman Tarrlok would like to invite Avatar Korra to join him for breakfast today." Seeing the deep frown and glare from the Chief of Police, he added. "He asked me to fetch her and afterwards, they would head on straight to the task force meeting then some training."

"Let me get this straight," Lin placed her hands on her hips; a sign that Korra fully knew by now did not bode too well. "Councilman Tarrlok is asking to have Korra, teenaged Avatar Korra over for breakfast at this ungodly hour that only Firebenders and Airbenders seem to thrive in – where?"

The council page flinched. "At his residence, ma'am."

"At his residence – unsupervised?" There was a dangerous tone to the metalbender's voice. "It does seem odd." They all knew she was implying something else.

"Councilman Tarrlok," The page cleared his throat as he loosened his collar. "Actually wanted to invite you and Councilman Tenzin but he, he thought, ah, you'd be occupied."

There was confusion on Lin's expression. Korra stiffened, realizing that maybe Lady Lin, wife of Master Tenzin, was not made aware of what her husband had been gushing about the night before.

"Well, I will need to leave soon." Lin amended. "But no matter – Korra's busy right now and will not be able to join the task force meeting until later."

To be fair, Korra did not want to spend any more time with the slimy councilman than necessary.

As the council page babbled about Tarrlok's temper and his instructions, Lin snapped her fingers towards the house.

"Give him a call – I'll talk to him." She suggested, looking like she wanted to do anything but that.

The council page scurried quickly inside as one of the acolytes led him to the house phone.

Once they were able to reach Tarrlok's residence, the page had some words with the councilman before handing over the receiver to the metalbender.

Korra, the page, and the two acolytes watched in trepidation as Lin Beifong accepted the phone.

A beat.

"No, Tarrlok, she needs to finish her chores."

Korra could only imagine was being said from the other end of the line. They were only witness to the one side of the conversation after all.

"Yes, I don't care if she's the avatar."

Of course she doesn't.

Said avatar rolled her eyes behind Lin's back, only to pause and suddenly feign dust entering her eye and scrubbing at it when the metalbender suddenly turned to face her.

"In this household, she's a valuable member too – she needs to pull her weight – no, Tarrlok – yes –how could I forget, yes – she's part of your task force but no chores, no meeting."

The observers saw a smirk form on the Beifong's face. The acolytes shared a look, Korra did not miss it.

"Well, yes, after she finishes the chores, Korra can head on straight there. Unless…" Lin deliberately trailed off as though in thought. "You'd be willing to help her out personally – no, not a maid, you yourself. If you'd like to come over to Air Temple Island and help Korra wash Councilman Tenzin's underpants -."

Korra blanched at this and immediately went through the list she held. There were no mentions of the airbender's unmentionables.

"You're very much welcome to do so. Then maybe you can also help her mend and darn the holes in his socks and underclothes – no? Well – thank you, Councilman. Good-bye."

On the other side of the call, Tarrlok frowned. He expected the conversation to be a little bit more acerbic, bordering on explosive. The conclusion he drew was that Chief Beifong had yet to see the papers.

He would be right.

After Lin headed towards the ferry, Korra decided to go back indoors to finish her tea and grab a bite.

Lhami had opted to wait for her at the grounds while she finished her breakfast; the acolyte went about to check on the other tasks in Lin's very detailed list (she mentioned something about a celebration?).

Korra noticed that today's newspaper was delivered at the stoop of the house and picked it up. If there were updates on other pro-bending teams, she would gladly welcome them to prepare her for their qualifying rounds.

From the kitchen, juggling a loaf of bread and some preserves in one arm, she made her way to the dining room.

She settled herself and went on to slice the bread and spread some fruit on it. She bit into her sandwich as she unfolded the paper.

A sticky dollop of the fruit fell from her mouth and dripped on the front page as she stared in shock at the paper.

"Good morning, Korra."

It was the airbending master, not looking worse for wear but looking entirely too gleeful for a morning, carrying a tea pot.

She mumbled a response, dabbing on the paper with tissue.

"Let me see the paper when you're done." Tenzin started to prepare his own breakfast, grabbing the loaf of bread across Korra.

"I think you'd like to see this first."

He saw the front page and almost spit out his tea.

"What!" He reached for the newspaper.

There on the front page, in all of its black and white glory, was a large photo of him and Lin. Tenzin's head was bent towards Lin, right hand holding her wrist and left hand across her shoulder having drawn her close to him.

There were several photos of them across page. There was another one where Korra was conversing with Lin animatedly while he looked on, hands still on Lin's person. Another one was when he was talking to Tarrlok, both hands on Lin's shoulders as Lin looked up at him.

He took a closer look at the article.

"I didn't say half these things!" Tenzin's head reddened violently as he read. "Or did I?" He eyed the avatar.

"Unfortunately for you – you actually did."

"It's all out of context!"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Why didn't you stop me?" The airbender accepted that he did say all of those mentioned on the article.

"What – why should I?" Korra retorted. "I'm not your mother or anything."

They looked at each other; Tenzin pursed his lips.

"Well, technically, spiritually your dad but -."

"Do you think Lin has seen this?"

Ah, finally he gets to the main concern.

Korra fidgeted and crumbed her toast. "I don't think so. I got the paper from outside…"

They felt the ground rattling.

Suffice to say, Lin found out.

And she's coming back.

"Lhami – please call the academy – I'm postponing my visit – please send my apologies, there's another urgent matter that I'll need to attend to."

Tenzin met Korra's eyes when they heard the metalbender's clear voice instructing the air acolyte.

Korra stared back.

They pointed to each other, feeling the panic.

Korra tossed the paper to her teacher.

"TENZIN!"

He cleared his throat.

"Yes, dear?"

'What. Were. You. Thinking?" Lin showed up at the doorway of the dining room, arms akimbo, pale skin flushed.

"No, Lin, Sweetie –"

"I thought it was bad enough that Korra had to join Tarrlok's taskforce but – this!" Lin grabbed the periodical from her husband. "This is - I don't know!" She threw up one hand in the air.

"Now, Lin – we haven't been on the paper in this manner for a while…"

Her pitch raised dangerously. "So you thought to rectify it by doing this? Isn't it a good thing that we weren't on the front page?!"

Korra watched them volley back and forth with wide eyes. Her parents were never this argumentative (impassioned?), for lack of better word.

"Dear, it's not that bad." Tenzin placed an arm around his wife's shoulder.

Lin rolled the newspaper and hit his arm. He took the paper from her and unrolled it.

It was remarkable how pink the usually pale metalbender's skin tone could be.

"See here," The airbender pointed at the article. "I didn't mention you were rough just in bed, I -."

Lin gave a strangled scream.

"I'll show you rough!" The usually stoic Beifong suddenly lunged at her husband at the same time the Avatar yelled, "I don't want to see it!"

Korra pulled back quickly, carrying the porcelain tea pot away from the line of fire.

Tenzin rose to the opposite side of the room, jumping quickly.

That's it run, airbender, run.

Lin easily caught up with him, and just before she was about to…do what, Korra never found out.

She was about to get in between them when there was the sound of a throat being cleared from the doorway.

Three pairs of eyes swiveled to meet Lhami's serene face; the acolyte bowed slightly.

Tenzin dropped to the ground while Lin let go of the front of the airbender's robes.

"I've made the call to the academy, Lady Lin. Is there anything else you'll need?"

The two benders looked strangely chastened.

Lin shook her head, thanking her. Turning to her husband, she gritted out, moving close to him until they were chest to chest. "Training grounds in 10 minutes."

Tenzin gave a nod and she abruptly about faced and thrust her arms and shoulders.

Korra thought she was going to hit the airbender but she simply dropped off her metal uniform.

Without any glance to the rest of the people in the room, the couple sped to leave the house, a gust of wind and trembling ground following in their wake.

The elderly acolyte beckoned Korra to follow; she had the presence of mind to gather her chore list.

"What's going on?"

Upon exiting the house, she noticed nervous and thrilled excitement rippling from the acolytes and White Lotus guards.

"It's not everyday you see Lady Lin and Master Tenzin spar." Was the smiling response."

"Spar?" Korra thought Lin could take down Tenzin anytime. She figured it would be no contest, given the stodgy airbender.

One of the lotus guards approached them, as others were going to one direction, leaving just enough to stay and man their security posts.

"Ah, Yao."

The senior guard grinned toothily to the air acolyte.

"What is it now – care to wager the same?"

"Same."

The teenager watched with amazement as the two shook hands.

There were acolytes hurrying as well, whispering to each other and she saw strips papers pass from hands.

"Are you betting on them?" Korra asked with incredulity.

The guard laughed. "Well, why not?"

"Nothing extravagant." Lhami expounded. "Not money definitely – food, chores, tasks or assignments, free time, things like that."

"Keeps things exciting as well." Yao rubbed his hands together.

"I'll say, I expected them to come to blows earlier."

"Maybe they're becoming mellow…" But as the words came out of his mouth, the senior guard's face contorted to a disbelieving expression.

The ground continued to rumble.

"So who did you bet on?" The Avatar turned to the White Lotus guard and Air Acolyte with her.

"Tenzin." Said Yao.

"Lin." Lhami said at the same time.

This surprised Korra as she supposed it would have been the other way around.

"I think before anything else – you should remember Lin Beifong is an earthbender." The air acolyte said. "And Tenzin is a master airbender and the son of the avatar and a master waterbender."

"So, would you like to head on to the training grounds?" The guard offered helpfully.

Korra looked down at where the training grounds and back again to the chore list.

"As much as I'd want to, I think I need to finish my chores instead." She thought Lin meant business (that and she did not want to cross paths with a currently exasperated metalbender) and she did have to go to the task force meeting and train with the Fire Ferrets.

The kindly acolyte smiled. "You've chosen well."

Korra arrived that night, all tuckered out and in a mildly bad mood. She found Tenzin and Lin in the study. Tenzin was reading on the couch. Lin might have been reading earlier, judging by the book on her chest, but she was now lightly dozing off, feet up on her husband's lap and head on the opposite arm rest.

The airbender looked up as the teen plopped into the stuffed chair across him. "You look –."

"Terrible?" Korra volunteered, running her fingers through her hair.

"Exhausted." Tenzin sympathetically added.

Korra stretched her sore limbs, legs extending. "Tarrlok wasn't too happy about his thunder being stolen."

"Did you tell him we weren't happy about that development as well?" Lin muttered without opening her eyes.

The Avatar pouted while Tenzin put down his book and opted to massage Lin's calves and feet.

"There were several raids today and strategy planning," Korra slumped into her seat. "I wasn't able to go to the arena to train with Bolin and Mako."

"I know you did choose to work with Tarrlok's task force but," Tenzin looked pensive. He tapped Lin's legs. "Lin, can you do something about it?"

"Me?" She cracked an eye open. "You're the councilman." Lin crossed her arms. "And Korra made a commitment to be part of the task force."

"But - airbending!" Korra moved her arms, mimicking airbending forms that Tenzin taught her a few days back.

Lin shrugged. "Manage your time and energy wisely."

Tenzin knew Lin was trying to teach the Avatar a lesson as well on responsibility and accountability so he made no further comment.

Seeing no further discussion was to be had, Korra conceded, scratching the back of her neck. "Well, I suppose, pro-bending will be the one that will be left out."

The metalbender made a noise of acknowledgment and Tenzin inclined his head.

He could see the avatar being stressed, as though tightly wound up. Korra had not been as forthcoming as he expected. He knew she had been taking it hard that she has not shown any signs of airbending yet. With the looming threat of the Equalists and the increasing presence of Amon (he had intercepted radio signals to deliver a message to the city after all), the pressure was on the Avatar to make a difference in Republic City.

Tenzin was worried that she might break any time soon.

Spirits knew he saw his wife in similar situations all too often when they were younger, with the pressure of rising through the ranks in the police force alongside, well, being with the last airbender. He had admitted long ago that he did contribute some baggage to Lin's already heavy load of responsibilities.

"Teach me metalbending!" Korra poked at Lin's side.

Lin turned her back and swatted at Korra's hand. "No, kid."

"Why not," Korra continued to poke her finger at the metalbender. "I'm pretty good with earthbending. Please – I'll focus, I promise."

Lin stretched as she sat up, lifting her legs from Tenzin's lap. "We were just discussing about how you're worrying yourself to the bone with all your extracurriculars and you want to add metalbending lessons?"

"Please – it just might be what I need to defeat Amon!"

"No, Korra, you're here to learn airbending." Lin shared a look with the airbending master. "If you go through with learning metalbending, you'll be diverting your energies farther and farther from airbending."

"Lin's right," Tenzin interjected. "It will be more difficult for you to learn airbending since they're opposites."

"You're opposites." Korra sulked.

Lin rolled her eyes as she leaned at Tenzin's side, handing over her book to him. "You can't combine learning the two at the same time."

"Maybe you just don't want to teach me," The teenaged Avatar bit out. "And it's fine, but just tell me straight."

"It's still a no, maybe after you learn airbending," Lin stood her ground. "But teaching you Metalbending right now – that's a no-go." Lin rose, tapping Tenzin's shoulder, letting him know she would go to bed.

Tenzin squeezed Lin's hand before she left then frowned at Korra.

"I'm sorry," Korra slumped back into her seat, deflated.

"Long day?"

Korra waved it off and changed the topic; she recalled the sparring session that morning. "So, who won?"

"Lin did." Tenzin felt the ghost of a smile lift his lips.

"What did she get out of it?" Korra asked but saw Tenzin's smile. "On second thought, maybe I don't want to know." She pretended to gag.

Tenzin rolled his eyes but adjusted his robes' collar (an action which did not escape Korra's widened eyes). "She left with Oogi for a day to herself. Then I had to sit and answer every phone call that came in."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"It is when the Fire Lord is involved." Tenzin stood up to put away the books that they have been reading that night.

Korra perked up. "What's the Fire Lord got to do with it?"

The airbender proceeded to share about their childhood relationship with the Fire Lord Izumi, which had likely carried over to their adult lives. "Izumi loves to say that she lives vicariously." Tenzin chose his words carefully. "As a world leader, she makes sure she's on top of everything – all the news as well. How? I can't explain if I tried." He took it for granted that the Fire Lord would have enough intelligence funds to use ("How did I get hold of the paper at the same day as you do? Please." Izumi had scoffed at him when he almost burst a nerve as she brought up the article and asked whether he did give as good as he gets.).

"She, as per usual, then decided that it would be a good idea to call our respective sisters to get them caught up about the paper. Unlike her, Su and Kya would experience a day or two delay with the papers." Tenzin shuddered recalling the phone calls that bordered on obscene. "I'd expect to get a call from Bumi any day now."

Not for the first time, the Avatar was thankful that she did not have siblings.

Lin held the reins of the sky bison loosely as she recognized that they were getting nearer Air Temple Island. Oogi had sped up, knowing the area as well and needing less guidance.

Her visit to the Metalbending Academy (which had finally pushed through several days later) was uneventful. She ensured that the tenets on which the institution was built. The current Beifong academy directress felt that with the political climate as of late, it was becoming more and more relevant to stay true to what Metalbending stood for.

The past days had been a whirlwind of activity. With Tarrlok making noise with his task force activities and the non-benders rallying, crying injustice, the police force had been busier than ever. As Chief Beifong, Lin had to make sure that all her officers are well-equipped in different forms of combat as she prepared for the worst case scenario (oh but she hoped it would not have to come to that, to being stripped off of their bending). Nonetheless, despite pushback from some factions in the force, Chief Beifong put her foot down and required all her direct reports to enforce maximum tolerance during non-bender rallies and caution in dealing with crime in bending neighborhoods.

Lin sat up straight, hearing a whirring in the night that she was well-acquainted with.

There were airships near the island.

But why?

She guided Oogi towards Air Temple Island but the sky bison reared back and nodded his head towards Aang's Memorial.

Lin reached over to run her fingers through the bison's fur. "What is it Oogi?"

She saw a flash of red and orange with blue at the memorial. She headed towards the memorial and coaxed the sky bison to move faster.

She immediately recognized the figures huddled at the bottom of the previous Avatar's statue as she alighted the saddle.

"Tenzin? Korra?" The metalbender's tone was laced with confusion and concern. "What's going on? Why are there airships?" As Lin got closer to the pair, she made out the tear tracks on the teenager's face. "Korra!" She rushed towards them and placed a tentative hand on the Avatar's shoulder. "Are you alright?" To Tenzin, she asked as Korra turned to throw her arms around Lin. "Is she hurt?" She felt Korra shake her head as she buried her face at the metalbender's neck.

Tenzin mouthed to his wife that he will explain later.

"You're both right," Korra mumbled, tears restarting.

Lin fought the urge to create distance between her and the teen, still somewhat uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," The Avatar murmured with uncharacteristic uncertainty. "I should have listened to you, I should have not rushed into this - I'm not ready." Korra swallowed thickly. "I'm afraid, still afraid - Amon was there, I was so scared - he could have killed me or taken my bending and then what? I'm a useless Avatar. I don't know what to do..." Her voice trailed off, overcome with emotion.

Lin met Tenzin's eyes above Korra's head. The last airbender nodded at her.

She hugged the Avatar tighter as Tenzin enveloped them both in his arms.

It was time that they remind the city (Amon) that the Avatar was not alone.

It was high time that they show Republic City what they, the metalbending heir and the last airbender, were capable of.

Author notes:

As a side note – I haven't read any of the comics/graphic novels so if there's anything that does not align with those…consider this non-canon 😊.

Thanks for continuing to read! The past weeks have been really really tough (personal, health, family, even in the country, etc) so I've been taking some time to take care a little bit more.

This chapter has been percolating for some time but I figured to get it out now and chop it before the action part starts.

As always – thanks for your sharing your thoughts about the story; I've enjoyed reading them 😊 For this chapter, I'm a little bit iffy about the pacing. Is the pacing currently okay? How about the length? I've been pretty irregular about the length of the chapters; usually cutting it off when I think it's of a different theme or plot line already. Does it work for you? If you have time to leave a little message, please do so and let me know 😊

Up next: Amon makes his move.

(cross-posted in AO3)