A/N: Might seem a little OOC for Lin for some of you but I think it's not out of the scope for her complex character. I personally love writing her being all soft when no one else is looking
Lin glanced over her shoulder for what felt like the fifteenth time as she quietly perused the narrow aisles of the small shop she had found herself in. There were many shops in Zaofu but she was having difficulty finding what she needed. She could ask for help, of course. The citizens of her sister's city were almost annoyingly kind and she had no doubts they'd be able to help if she asked but she didn't have the patience to deal with their niceties today. And she didn't need her movements to get back to Su. This wasn't her sister's business.
She had to make something right and it was nobody's business but her own that she was doing it.
If only she could find what she was looking for…
Lin let out a low groan when she finished walking the last aisle with no luck. She was just about to leave the shop when she noticed a small basket near the shopkeeper's counter.
Finally.
She placed the item on the counter and rang the small bell that indicated she was ready to pay. A short man appeared, looking surprised for just a moment before taking her coins in exchange for the object. She grabbed it from the counter and quickly made to leave.
"Have a good day, Chief Beifong."
Lin paused, looking around before spinning on her heel to look at the man.
"I was never here, got it?"
"Whatever you say, ma'am."
He smiled at her and Lin decided to just cut her losses and finish her mission. She got back to Suyin's estate and stalked around to the expansive gardens and grounds in search of her target.
Where was she?
Lin heard a small sound, somewhere between a whimper and whine and let out a long sigh.
"It's okay. You can come out."
A great white and fuzzy head peaked out from behind a large rock wall. Her ears were drooped and Naga was looking at Lin with apprehensive curiosity. Normally the beast would excitedly maul anyone who visited her with disgusting and slobbering kisses but now she was reserved and didn't dare approach Lin.
She sighed again.
"I'm sorry I popped your ball. But, here. I got you a new one."
Lin pulled the ball from behind her back and Naga lifted her head up, her ears perking up as Lin held it out in front of her. Rolling her eyes, Lin pulled her arm back and threw the ball as far from her as she could. It hadn't even fully left her hand before Naga was in quick pursuit. Her oversized paws lumbering clumsily as she ran. She overshot the ball, running into what looked like one of Huan's sculptures before scooping it up in her mouth and bounding back to where Lin stood.
"Naga! Slow down! You're going to- Aruuggghh!"
The giant furball didn't let up with her final bound and knocked Lin over so she was lying flat on her back. Naga loomed over her, dropped the slimey ball to the side and licking Lin's face with great exuberance.
"Naga! Stop! Get off you oversized beast! That's enough!"
The polar bear dog ceased her kisses and sat back onto her behind, her tail wagging non-stop in the grass. Lin sat up, wiping her face with the sleeve of her tunic. She couldn't help a smile as she watched Naga try to be patient as she waited for Lin to get up and throw the ball again.
"I take it you forgive me for the other one?"
She let out a pitiful whine and Lin rolled her eyes again, making a face as she picked up the now disgusting ball and got back to her feet.
"I'm throwing this one more time and then you'll have to go bother Korra if you want to keep playing."
Naga's ears drooped slightly but perked right back up as Lin wrapped the end of one her cables around the ball and used her bending to launch it clear across the estate grounds. She let out a chuckle as she watched until Naga was nearly out of site. Her hands were disgusting and her clothes were covered in fur but she surprised herself when she realized she didn't even care. She had managed to make one thing right.
If only people were as easy to read as giant polar bear dogs…