Chapter Text

"Alright Bo, I'll be back, you stay right here."

The little boy looked around from his spot behind a bush. He could see into a school yard across the road where other children were playing and eating lunch. His stomach roared at the sight. "'Kay."

Lin looked at the small parcel on her desk. It had been opened at the security desk in the lobby and now it sat open on her desk. It contained a glass figurine of a farmer and two letters. One addressed to Lin and the other to Kuvira.

Lin sighed but opened it none the less.

Dear Lin,

I hope this letter finds you well. I'm sorry if this is hard to read, all I have is a piece of charcoal to write with.

Lin looked at the black ash substance that now coated her hands and scowled.

I don't think I'll get the chance to send many of these, I just wanted to let you know I'm still alive, and I'm sorry if my leaving had any repercussions.

Kya.

There was no 'I love you' or anything and it didn't go unnoticed.

She grabbed the little glass figure and looked it over. It was of a woman with long hair, a straw hat on her head and a hoe in her hands. It was very well crafted, Lin had to admit, and she knew that Kuvira would love it.

Looking at the clock, it was now five minutes to four and Kuvira's school had well and truly finished for the week. Lin stood from her desk and locked her office. "Thanks for covering for me Sayo."

Sayo looked up from her desk just outside Lin's office. "What are Captains for?"

"I owe you one." Lin gave a lazy wave to her fellow officers and drove the ten minutes to Kuvira's school, where she and a few other kids, whose parents worked a tad later than the norm, were playing on the playground equipment. Ducking out of her car, she was quickly met with children surrounding the vehicle, awing at how 'cool' it was.

To Lin, it was just another vehicle with a few added extras and a different paint job, but it always managed to get children's attention.

"Hey Lin!"

The children all gawked at Asami, calling the officer by her name.

"Hello Asami, hello Kuvira."

Asami gave her a small bow and hugged Kuvira goodbye before running to where her caretaker was waiting. "Can I stay outside and play?"

"Alright, but as soon as everyone goes home, you come straight to me."

Kuvira ran off to play, leaving Lin to walk to the classroom where the meeting was well underway.

"Chief Beifong, it's good to have you with us this evening."

Lin gave Kenai a nod. Then took a seat next to a woman with a skin-tight bun.

"Just to quickly recap, we're here to discuss Founder's Day, a day celebrating the creation of our city, and bringing together the four nations. The school is asking that students bring a small amount of food from their parent's backgrounds. Li Na, you offered to make amazake pudding?"

"Yes, it's my Lo's favourite. Her father and I use to have it all the time in the Fire Nation."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

One by one, parents listed things they could make, it was either one or two dishes, and then it was Lin's turn. For Kuvira, just suck it up. "I can make a fruit pie?"

"A fruit pie?" Li Na queried. "Is that an Earth Kingdom dish?"

"Air Nation, actually." Lin corrected, already feeling uncomfortable at the prospect of sharing a small aspect of her life.

"Air Nation?"

"Aang, my father in-law, was from the Air Nation, I was told it was their main dessert."

At the name drop, Li Na stopped asking questions, allowing parents to flush out the details.

Kuvira waved to the last kid to go home when something caught her eye, a small boy was wondering the school grounds, picking up broken biscuits and crusts from sandwiches. Kuvira thought she would throw up when he got down on his knees to lick a chocolate pudding someone had dropped. "What are you doing?"

The boy looked up in surprise. "I'm 'ungry."

Kuvira reached into her bag and pulled out the leftovers from her lunch, half a sandwich and an apple, then gave it to him "I couldn't finish it all."

The boy stuffed the sandwich into his mouth then bit into the apple.

"I'm Kuvira."

He stopped for a split second and gave her a grin. "I'm Bolin. Mako calls me Bo."

"Who's Mako?"

"My big 'rother."

"Hey Bolin, do you wanna play mums and dads?"

"Damn Mako, any later and I would have worried." Zolt placed his hat back on his head and put the cash Mako had handed him into his vest pocket, then pulled out ten small bags containing dried up green leaves.

"I have to check on my brother."

"Hey, you remember what happened last time you were late, right?" Zolt sucked in a breath of smoke from his cigarette.

Mako watched as the end of the tobacco glowed and nodded.

"This is your first week kid, you want to make a good impression, otherwise, say goodbye to your wage. So if you think you can get to your brother, sell Ma's herbs, and get back here before six, then by all means, go check on your baby brother, if you don't, then he pays the price, again."

Mako watched as the man fixed his suit and walked away.

Maybe I could sell it near the school. Mako thought to himself then started to run.

Lin was stuck in conversation with a few parents who had no intentions of talking about their children, they were more interested in Air Nation culture. She wanted to yell at them that she only married into the culture but thankfully, she was saved by mister Kenai who had to lock up the classroom.

"Thanks for coming Chief Beifong."

"Not a problem. Kuvira hasn't stopped talking about Founder's Day since you mentioned it."

"Well, I look forward to tasting your fruit pie, perhaps on the day you can talk about how your mother and her friends founded the city."

"I'll think about it." Bidding her farewell, Lin stalked out onto the yard, where she found her daughter was playing with a small boy. "Kuvira, I told you to come to me after everyone went home."

Bolin looked up at the officer and attempted to run, only to fall over and graze his knee, making him cry. He looked up when two, surprisingly warm hands were placed on his leg. "You'll live."

"Go 'way." He attempted to bend a rock at her but it bounced off her armour.

"Where are your parents?" He didn't answer her, instead he tried to kick her in the face. "Do that again and you'll get in trouble. What's your name?"

"His name is Bolin." Kuvira answered on his behalf when it was clear he wasn't going to say anything.

Lin stood up, held tightly onto his scruff, and began marching him to her car, when an older boy burst out from a bush, with flames in his hands. "Let him go!"

"Mako!"

The fire extinguished each time it connected with her uniform, not containing enough power to do any real damage, other than making Lin raise an arm to protect her face.

He got close to her personal space and managed to land a kick on her shin, but quickly fell over from the impact with the steel.

With eyes belonging to a few parents from the earlier meeting on her, Lin quickly grabbed Mako by the scruff of his shirt. "Kuvira, grab your bag and get in the front seat." Lin snarled through gritted teeth

Kuvira didn't hesitate and did as she was told.

Lin growled and threw both boys in the back seat, where the doors locked from the outside, then got into the driver's seat and rounded on them. "Where are your damn parents?!"

The two boys shrunk back into the bench seat.

Lin could have kicked herself. Kids were scarred enough of her as is, yelling at them would only make it harder. Lin lowered her voice, using the same tone she used with Kuvira. "I want to help you get home, perhaps you can give me their names or a pho-"

"They're dead!" Mako yelled, using his scarf to wipe away his tears.

Without missing a beat, Lin continued. "An aunt?"

They shook their heads.

"Uncle, grandparents, cousins, a distant half older sibling, anything?"

Again, they shook their heads.

Lin sat forward in her chair and rubbed her forehead. All she wanted to do was go home, shower and listen to the radio damnit. Starting up the car, she pulled out onto the road.

"Are we going home Chief?"

"No."

"Where are we going?"

"Kuvira, please." A few minutes later, Lin pulled up outside one of the few orphanages in the city and dragged the boys with her, Kuvira hot on her heels.

A man at the desk saw her coming and shook his head. "We're at capacity."

"What?!" Lin practically yelled.

"We can't take anymore Chief Beifong. All orphanages are full this time of year. Winter is coming and children are in need of shelter. There's nothing I can do."

"You have to make an exception!"

"Chief Beifong, we do that and we're at risk of being fined for a fire hazard. There is nothing we can do. I'm sorry."

Lin looked the man over as though she was sizing him up for an argument, but thought better of it. "You call me if a spot opens up." She pushed them back into the car. Maybe I can stuff them in a cell for the night. No, the council would have my head if word got out.

"Chief?"

Maybe put them on a train bound for the next town over, it could be their problem.

"Chief?"

Maybe I could stuff them in air acolyte apparel and shove them on Air Temple Island. That could work.

"Mum!"

"What is it Kuvira?!" Lin yelled back, making her daughter recoil in fear. Lin sighed. "Sorry, I was thinking."

"Could they stay with us?" Kuvira mumbled out, looking at her school bag.

Lin would rather claw her eyes out, but what choice did she have? She couldn't dump them back on the streets, not with the temperature falling.

Lin still had a firm grip on their shirts when she got home, much to the older boy's annoyance who was trying to get out of her grip, which she did allow after she locked the door behind her. She picked up Bolin and placed him on the kitchen counter. "Don't move."

He gave her a small nod, and watched as she went to a high cupboard and pulled out a white bag with a big green plus on the side.

"Kuvira, go start the bath, I'll be up there in a minute."

Not wanting to argue with the visibly upset adult, Kuvira did as she was asked.

Lin removed her harsh armour and set it on the kitchen table, leaving her clad in a white tank top and black pants. It relaxed the boys a tad at seeing her in less than formal clothing. Grabbing a bottle with brown liquid, Lin dabbed some onto a white cloth and held Bolin's leg firmly. He tried to pull away when the liquid met his knee. "Stop it. It's either this or a possible infection later."

Bolin calmed down when he got used to the pain and saw the dirt and blood being removed from his knee. Lin looked to the clock and groaned internally. "I'm ordering takeout, what do you want?"

Mako turned around, not realising she was talking to him, he pointed to his face.

"Yes you, what do you want to eat?"

"I don't have any money."

"It's on me kid. I personally feel like roast duck."

"What's that?"

Lin cocked her eyebrow. "You're kidding, right?"

Mako rubbed his arm nervously. "Our parents couldn't afford takeout."

Lin placed Bolin back down on the ground then grabbed the phone. After placing the order, she addressed the brothers. "Look, you're not in trouble. Mako, was it?"

He nodded his head.

"I'd appreciate it if you relaxed and stopped looking for an exit."

Mako, stopped his eyes darting around the home and focused them on the woman kneeling down to their level. It reminded him of his mother when she would speak to them.

"Until the orphanage calls me, you two will be safe here. I have a spare room with two warm beds, plenty of food, and it's a roof over your heads. I don't want payment, just respect my home and me while you're both here."

Mako and Bolin gave her a nod. "Good men." Lin picked up Bolin and placed him on her hip. "I'm going to give Bolin a bath first, then you. You can have a piece of fruit before dinner if you'd like."

Mako looked to the fruit on offer, and his mouth began to salivate.

Entering the bathroom, Kuvira had just turned off the tap and touched the water to make sure it was warm.

"Thank you, Kuvira."

"Can I have some fruit before dinner?"

"Yes, but not too much, dinner will be here in twenty minutes." She waited for Kuvira to leave then placed Bolin down and helped him to undress. With every layer removed, scratches were revealed, and the extent of his starvation was revealed. Each of her sister's kids at this age had a nice portly belly, but the child who stood in front of her was lean and the small circular burns in his forearm didn't go unnoticed. Lin frowned at the sight. She placed him in the tub and he sat there paralysed.

Lin grabbed a plush washcloth and lathered it with soap then rubbed it over Bolin's body in slow, soothing circles, making sure to get the dirt around his ears and back. Experience from bathing her own daughter made it quick work and she was soon working shampoo into his long hair. She sat down on the ground and leaned against the tub, giving the shampoo time to work. "How old are you?"

He held up four fingers.

"Four huh. Do you like probending?"

He nodded his head enthusiastically.

"My team is the Black Quarry Boar-q-pines. Their earthbender is quite tough. Who do you like?"

Bolin was about to talk but remembered that his brother told him not to talk to cops.

"It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you, but I get it. You're not the first orphan I've crossed paths with." Lin continued to talk, seeing that the boy was happily listening to her. "We have children turn up at the station all the time looking for a hot meal and somewhere safe to sleep, we do what we can but the city doesn't make things easy for you lot."

Bolin shook his head and lifted his arm for her to see.

It broke Lin's heart. It reminded her of the burn that had now scarred on the bottom of her daughter's foot "Kuvira, my daughter, had something similar happen to her before my wife and I took her in."

Lin never thought that cases like these would get to her. They never did in her early years on the force but since having a daughter of her own, empathy was now finding a home in her heart and she had no intentions of denying these emotions.

"Do you like toys?"

"She's your mum?"

Kuvira nodded, taking another bite of her orange. "Yeah."

"She's so mean!"

"No she's not!" Kuvira yelled back. So many kids at school had that assumption of her mother because of her profession and it annoyed Kuvira to no end. "She's really cool!"

"She's a cop. They're all mean."

Kuvira regretted suggesting to the Chief of police that they stay here. She quickly snatched the half-eaten pear from his hand. "Hey!"

"Mean people don't share their food!"

"Give it back."

"Say sorry."

Mako remembered what the officer had told him, to respect her and her home and right now, a roof over his head and the prospect of a full belly and warm bed was very appealing. "Sorry."

Kuvira gave him his fruit back. "What happened to your parents?"

"I don't wanna talk about it."

"Bu-"

"I don't, want to, talk about it."

Kuvira eared on the side of caution, not wanting to upset the firebender who tried to use his abilities against a seasoned officer just hours prior. "I'm adopted." Kuvira whispered after a few moments of silence.

Mako's eyes widened in surprise. "But your mu-"

"Mako!" Lin's voice shouted from upstairs.

"Your turn." Kuvira stuck her tongue out at him

Lin allowed Bolin to play with the toys, a few ships, until the bath had drained and then she started to refill it while she dressed him. Mako appeared behind her.

"Mako, I think you're old enough to undress yourself."

Mako looked at his body, then at Lin and blushed. "I don't want you to see me naked."

"Kid, I have four nephews, and three brother in-laws, you haven't got anything I haven't seen before."

Mako turned around, and quickly took off his clothes then plopped down into the quickly rising water.

"Was that so hard?"

Mako shook his head.

Lin dressed Bolin in left over pyjamas that Huan had left behind, grateful that they were roughly the same size, then towel dried Bolin's long hair. She threw a plush washcloth to Mako. "Start scrubbing, I'll wash your back for you when you're done."

She grabbed a comb and ran it through the youngest brother's hair. "All done. Spirits kid, you are one handsome little man."

The compliment made him blush. "Do you want to go wait downstairs with Kuvira or stay here?"

Bolin ran out of the bathroom.

"I'll take that as 'I want to play with Kuvira.'" Lin mumbled. She lathered some shampoo into Mako's hair while he continued to scrub at his now white body. "Let it sit for a couple of minutes. I'm going to wash your clothes." She picked the garments up to survey them. The attire had holes and various stains that made Lin want to burn the skin from her hands. "On second thought, I'm just going to throw these out."

"My scarf!"

Lin looked at the red fabric which was covered in ash and dirt. "What about it?"

"It was my dads. Please don't throw it out."

"Can I at least wash it?"

Mako gave her a nod. "Be careful."

"I promise. I'll be right back." She quickly descended the stairs and entered the laundry where she dumped Mako's scarf into the sink with some soap and let it soak, then threw the other clothes into the bin. She was about to head upstairs when something red caught her eye. She grabbed Mako's old pants from the bin and reached into the pocket. She growled at what she found. Enough yuans to act as change for whatever people paid with to buy the greenery in Mako's other pocket. There was enough for ten sales.

Lin shoved the substance and cash into her pocket.

Quickly poking her head around the corner, Lin observed Kuvira and Bolin in the loungeroom, playing with a few stuffed toys. "Hey kiddo, when the food arrives, grab some yuans from my work pouch and pay the delivery driver."

"'Kay mum!"

Re-entering the bathroom, Lin grabbed a small container full of water and rinsed Mako's hair then scrubbed his back rather roughly, making him flinch. She held out a towel for him and he dried himself, with the exception of his hair, which Lin dried for him when he began to struggle with the towel size. He got dressed into the fresh clothing, and Lin ran a comb through his hair.

He was about to leave the room when a hand grabbed his wrist, pulling him back to stand in front of the Chief of Police. He was about to protest when he witnessed her reach into her pocket and pull out 'Ma's Herbs' and money. "What can you tell me about this?"

"They're herbs?" Mako shrugged.

"A smart boy like you, I think you know better than whatever you were told." He kept silent. "Working for whoever it is you work for isn't worth it. How much do they pay you?"

"Five yuans, a day."

"That's not even enough for a hot meal for both of you." Lin sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Mako, the people who ask you to do this, they don't carry the risk you take. If it were one of my other officers who found this, you would be in a lot of trouble."

Mako swallowed the lump in his throat. He had heard stories from other runners where kids they knew got caught and were sent to detention centres, but he'd rather that than what Zolt would do if he didn't get his money back to him. He had enough drugs for a thousand yuans in sales.

Mako wanted to hide, he was caught between a rock and a hard place. He either chose to hideout with the Chief of Police where the Triple Threats could still get their hands on him, or try and make it up to the Threats and pray to the spirits they didn't break his ankle like they did with another kid, or worse, hurt his brother again. Tears started to brim in his eyes at the anxiety the situation had put him in, but he looked up to the ceiling, successfully keeping them at bay. "I'm sorry."

Lin gave him a small nod. "It's okay. I'm going to get rid of this."

He watched on in horror as he saw the drugs get washed down the drain.

"Mako, I can't tell you to trust me, that's a decision you have to make for yourself, however, I will make sure you and your brother are safe. I swore an oath to protect and serve, and I think I've lived up to that oath so far, I'm not about to break it."

A 'thanks' was mumbled under his breath.

"Don't mention it kid." With a hand on his back, Lin pushed him towards the stairs and into the loungeroom where their meal waited. "Feel better boys?"

Bolin nodded, though he didn't take his eyes off the food.

"Yeah, thank you… Chief Beifong." Mako said, acting as though nothing had transpired between them.

Lin gave him a nod.

Kuvira had already begun by digging into her noodles. Lin made sure the boys had their own containers before she threw a few logs into the fireplace and lit it.

"Can I turn on the radio mum?"

"Yeah. We might be able to catch the last of the probending match."

Kuvira switched on the device.

"This is Shiro Shinobi, tonight's matches were brought to you by Cabbage Corp, and now, story time with, Shu Pang."

"Awww!"

"Sorry kiddo. Maybe tomorrow night." Lin sat down on the couch and started to dig into her roast turtle-duck, though she had to stop when she saw Bolin struggling with his meal. She picked him up and placed him on her lap, she would take a bite of her food then feed him a bite of his until the containers were empty.

Given it was the weekend, Lin allowed them to stay up and listen to the last of the programming. By the time it had finished, it was nine, Bolin had fallen asleep against her chest and Kuvira and Mako nearly looked like they were ready to doze off. "Alright, bed."

They followed Lin up the stairs while she carried Bolin. Kuvira went to her room, and Mako followed Lin into the room down the hall. Inside, it was white, it reminded him of a hospital room. She placed Bolin in a spare bed and pulled the sheets to his chin.

"Do you need me to tuck you in?"

"No." Mako pulled back the sheets of the bed he guessed was his and crawled in.

Lin was about to leave the room when Mako called out for her.

"Chief!"

"Yes Mako?"

"Umm, thank you, again. And sorry."

"Anytime kid. My room is across from yours. If you need something, let me know."

Lin closed the door and went to her daughter's room. She flopped onto the empty spot next to Kuvira and sighed. "Spirits, what a day."

"I finally have brothers!"

Lin cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

"Mako and Bolin! They're staying with us, that means they can be my brothers."

Lin sat up and crossed her legs. "Kuvira, that's not how it works. Mako and Bolin aren't staying. When a spot opens at the orphanage, they will go."

"No! They're my brothers."

"Kuvira, you don't even know them."

Kuvira turned away from her mother. "I can get to know them."

Lin sighed. "I'm sorry, but it's not that simple." Lin leaned over to kiss Kuvira on the cheek but she just pulled the covers up higher. "Alright, I'll talk to you in the morning. I love you."

Lin went back downstairs, sat at the kitchen counter, and picked up the phone. The phone rang a few times.

"Yasuko Sato speaking."

"Yasuko, it's Lin."

"Hey Lin, to what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night phone call? Another nightmare?"

Since Kya had gone, Yasuko had acted as in impromptu confidant and while it helped Lin to get through the sleepless nights, it was not the reason for tonight's call. "No, I- I, I have some guests staying with me."

"Scandalous. Guests? More than one? How very kinky of you."

"Not like that. Spirits, you remind me of Izumi. No, I picked up two orphans off the street."

"And?"

"I don't know what to do with them. The orphanage will call if a spot opens but-"

"But since everyone has left and it's just you and Kuvira, your home feels a bit empty?"

Lin sighed. "Yeah. Kya and I had discussed, before we got Kuvira, that we wanted more than one kid, but the timing was never right and the process to get Kuvira was long fought."

"Yes, but you were trying to adopt a baby. How old are these kids?"

"Bolin is four and Mako is seven."

"It's a lot easier to adopt older children."

"Yasuko, I need a favour, can you watch Kuvira tomorrow? I have some things I need to get done."

"Not a problem. I bet Kuvira is loving having kids her age staying with you."

"Mm, she's already married to the idea. I'm just not too sure. Mako, the older one, I found drugs and money in his pockets, I don't want that in my home."

"That's more of a reason to get involved. If he is headed down a bad path, hopefully you can get in early to stop it."

"I just, isn't the timing off? Kya only left a month ago and it feels like I'm rep-"

"Lin, you can't punish yourself for something Kya did. She's off finding herself in who knows where, maybe this is the universe's way of telling you that you're still needed."

"Hold on Yasuko." Lin looked over the kitchen counter to the table where a bowl of fruit sat and watched as a small hand grabbed a banana. "Look, I'll see you tomorrow."

Lin watched in amusement as Bolin realised he had attracted her attention. He walked over to her and held out the banana. "Do you need me to peel it?"

He gave her a nod.

She took the fruit and he climbed up onto her lap. He took a section of the peeled banana and shoved as much of it as he could into his mouth. "Can I ask you something kid?"

He took another piece of peeled banana from her.

"Do you like it here?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"You don't talk much, do you."

He shrugged.

He finished the last of his banana and burped.

"Are you still hungry?"

He shook his head again. "Alright, well I want to get some sleep, and I think you need some rest too."

She carried him back up the stairs and put him back in his bed, then went to her room, brushed her teeth, and got dressed in her white pyjamas. She had just climbed into bed when she felt something small curl into her side. She pulled back the covers to find that Bolin had snuck into her bed. "Only for tonight."

He gave her a nod.

Kuvira nearly drifted off to sleep when she felt something poke her in her arm and her name being called. "Mm." She cracked open an eye. "Mako?"

"What happened to your parents?"

Kuvira sat up in her bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "What?"

"You said you were adopted."

"Yeah."

"So, what happened to your mum and dad?"

"I don't know. My mums told me they died."

Mako looked away. "Do you know how?"

"My mums won't tell me."

"I saw my parents die." Mako shed a few silent tears. "I miss them a lot."

Kuvira held his hand. He flinched slightly at the contact but relaxed. "I miss my other mum. She's travelling."

"Is the Chief nice?"

"Really nice. We go to probending matches, and she teaches me to bend and she cooks and she reads me bedtime stories and we listen to the radio and she takes me on her motorbike."

"Does she stop bad guys?"

"All the time!"

"Do bad people hurt you?"

Kuvira shook her head. "Why?"

"Don't worry. I'm going to bed. Thanks Kuvira."

"Mhm." Kuvira laid back down, but the question Mako asked left her awake