This spans the time from end of Book 1 through to Episode 4 of Book 3: In Harm's Way.
Apologies if anyone else gets 'Start of Something New' from High School Musical stuck in their heads too from the title. I've had it in mine since I figured out the title, but it fit so well.
Lots of mentions of the lead up to sex, but since I can't write it/not comfortable writing it, this is the closest we are getting folks. Sorry for those wishing for more. I'll leave it up to your imagination ;)
Please let me know what you think!
It was midnight and Lin was seated on a bench overlooking the twinkling lights of Republic City.
Her body was exhausted, the weight of her armour felt like it would pin her to her beloved earth below. The empty feeling was something she had never experienced before. The earth didn't sing to her, and the metal didn't thrum as she moved. It was quiet… so quiet.
A hand on her shoulder caused her to jump, but her movements were too slow to try and send a fist at her attacker. Her wrist was caught in a strong grip, and she could feel the panic spreading through her body.
"Lin… Lin, stop. It's just me, just Bumi." A voice finally got through her panic.
She glanced up and indeed saw Bumi standing in front of her with a look of concern on his face. "Bumi?"
"Hey, Linny." He greeted her softly with a boyish grin. "Sorry to startle you, usually you know when I am approaching."
Lin felt that small comment hit her like a stab to the chest. "Yes, well that won't be the case anymore." She looked away from him as she shrugged out of his grip, stumbling slightly under the weight of the metal armour.
Bumi decided not to apologize, knowing it would just upset her further. "Gotcha. I'll make sure to be super loud as I approach from now on. Can't be sneaking up on the Chief, she's dangerous."
A tiny upturn of her lips was the only response he got, but he'd take it.
"You want to head in?"
As tired as Lin was, the thought of going to sleep and waking in the morning to realize it wasn't a bad dream felt more painful than just living with the reality now. "No. I'll just stay right here."
"Alright." Bumi nodded.
To her surprise he just turned and left without saying goodnight or anything. When he was gone, she sighed and slumped back onto the bench, feeling utterly alone.
'I'm not sure why I'm surprised he left. Everyone leaves. What am I to anyone now? I'm no longer an earthbender. No longer a metalbender. I am no longer Chief, and now will never be again. I can't be a true Beifong anymore; an embarrassment to the family name. I have no friends… no family… no pets.' These thoughts ran rampant through her head.
'Is there even a point in going to the South Pole? What are the chances that Aunt Katara can even reverse what Amon has taken? I suppose if anyone could it would be her… but can I let myself hope about that?' Lin sighed again and ran a tired hand over her face.
She was startled from her thoughts as a warm blanket settled around her shoulders.
"Sorry, I did try and let you know I was here. You seemed a little preoccupied with your thoughts." Bumi said softly as he continued to tuck the blanket around her, before settling in beside her on the bench. He bent and picked up an unopened bottle of baiju and ripped the cork out with his teeth. "Here, drink up." He offered her the bottle first.
After staring at him in shock, she lifted her hand and took the bottle. It felt heavy in her hand, so she used her other one to help lift it to her mouth. She took a few gulps of the burning liquid, before offering it to Bumi.
Bumi took it and took his own swig.
She felt a warmth in her gut where the alcohol settled. She accepted the bottle back and was able to lift it with one hand up to drink more.
They sat in companionable silence for a while, watching the waves and twinkling lights in the city beyond while continuing to drink from their shared bottle.
"You're pretty awesome, you know that?" Lin said, looking up at Bumi through slightly hooded eyes from the exhaustion and alcohol.
Bumi smirked at her. "Oh really? Well you're pretty awesome yourself Linny."
Lin shook her head, and took another sip of the baiju. "No, m'not. But you… you can do whatever you want. You've travelled the world, made stuff with your hands, fought pirates and shit, all the while keeping your good sense of humour and positive outlook on life." She took another swig. "But me? No I stayed here and stupidly decided that I would try and follow my mothers footsteps like it would get her to finally notice me. Lot o'good that did. Here I am, nothing to live for anymore. A bitter, old woman. Y'know… I can't remember the last time I even cooked without using my bending to move the knives or pots. I don't know how to live now… Isn't that pathetic? It shouldn't be the end of the world, but it feels like it." She finished rambling with another swig.
Bumi grabbed the bottle from her after she had finished talking. He took his own, before setting the bottle on the ground beside him, away from Lin's reach. It was almost empty anyways.
He turned and turned her as well to face him, while grabbing both her arms in his hands.
"You are Linny. And my Linny is super smart and independent. If anyone can survive this, it's you." He stopped her from interrupting. "You are not old or bitter, you can still travel the world still; and fight pirates if you really want to. You already have made things - you updated the cables your metalbenders use from the old ones your Mom and Uncle Sokka made. I know you made all the prototypes and adjustments yourself. I happen to like your sense of humour. And you've done a hell of alot for this City, more than anyone I can think of. So anyone who tells you otherwise can take that thought and shove it where the sun don't shine.
"You, Linny Beifong can do anything you set your mind to. I can't tell you I understand how it feels to have your bending taken away, but I can help you figure out everything like Uncle Sokka and Aunt Suki helped me. They taught me there is so much more to life than being a bender." He grinned down at her. "You know, I have decided to retire. So if you wanna travel, I could be your guide. I'd much rather show you the world than play happy family with Tenny."
Lin looked up at Bumi, tears filling her eyes - which she will later blame on the alcohol. Her thoughts are swirling again, but one thing that sticks out is 'I have Bumi… I've always had Bumi. He's always been here when I needed him most.'
Before either knows what's happened, they find themselves connected at the lips. Lin had surged forward, boosted in confidence by the alcohol, she decided to hell with it and finally do what she has wanted to do for a long time. After a moment she noticed that Bumi was responding to the kiss with equal fervor.
When they finally broke for air, Lin was practically on Bumi's lap, which caused her already alcohol induced flushed face to get even more rosy. Not that it was super noticeable in the moonlight. They stared at each other while catching their breaths.
"Wow." Was all that came out of Bumi's lips.
"Yeah, wow." Lin said, agreeing.
"Wanna do that again?" Bumi asked with a boyish grin and a twinkle in his eyes. He gave her a second to nod, before slamming his lips to hers.
"Make me forget." She said between kisses.
"You sure?" He asked, pulling away to try and look her in the eyes.
"Bumi." Her voice pleaded breathily as she leant forward to place kisses to his neck. Her hands, meanwhile, were busy trying to undo the buttons on his uniform.
He groaned and stood, her legs wrapping around him to keep herself up, as her hands wrapped around his shoulders. He realized they would not make it to his room, and decided that one of the gazebos would have to do. He made his way to one that was off the beaten path, so they hopefully wouldn't be found. He stumbled a few times as she was very good at distracting him, and her back was slammed into quite a few trees along the way as he gave into the distraction for a moment to place searing kisses to her lips.
When they finally made it, relatively unscathed to the gazebo, they then fumbled with trying to remove her armour. Finally Bumi was able to find the emergency release Lin was trying to tell him about, and he helped her remove the heavy pieces. He couldn't believe how heavy it was, and that she had continued to wear it for days since her bending had been taken.
He had gone to say something to her about it, but she once again distracted him from his thoughts and he gave in quickly.
The next morning, Lin woke first with a shiver. She blinked blearily, before realizing she was cuddled into the side of a man. She sat up quickly and quickly clutched the uniform jacket to her chest before it had slipped off completely. She glanced around quickly, thankful there was no one around, since they were obviously in a public setting. She then looked down and was somewhat not surprised Bumi was the one sleeping beside her.
Seeing him, caused flashbacks of their drunken night. She felt a warmth fill her as she thought about what they did. But after a moment, she felt dread fill her.
'Would he regret this? Of all the people I had to have a drunken one night stand with, it had to be Bumi…'
Her thoughts were interrupted when Bumi groaned and opened his eyes.
"Morning Linny." He said, grinning sleepily up at her. "Last night was pretty great wasn't it?"
Lin managed to not blush, but it was a close call. "We should get dressed before anyone comes down looking for us." She said, ignoring his question.
"But I'm enjoying the view. Best view I've ever seen."
This time Lin couldn't help the little flush that graced her face. She cleared her throat and grabbed her clothes. She slipped on her underwear and tank top, before allowing the jacket to fall from her front. She then quickly slipped her uniform pants on. It was then that she realized she still had her metal shoes on, as there really wasn't a way to take them off without metalbending. Sighing, she stood, wincing a little at the way her body ached - she still hadn't healed fully from the attack in Hiroshi Sato's secret warehouse, especially with the added electrocutions and carrying around heavy armour without being able to metalbend it.
She struggled slightly in lifting her breastplate off the ground. She started slightly when it was lifted from her hands by Bumi, who had managed to put on his pants and undershirt. She allowed him to help place the armour over her shoulders, and helped her do up the sides. He then handed her both of her arm pieces, which she slipped on and he locked into place from behind her.
Lin cleared her throat again, the awkwardness of the situation getting to her. "Well, uh, thank you. I suppose I will see you when we return."
"You bet you will." He said into her ear from where he was standing behind her.
Lin just offered him a sharp nod before leaving towards the house, hoping he couldn't tell that her legs felt like she was walking on jelly.
Lin's return to Air Temple Island was very different to her last one. She felt once again whole. The earth sung below her and the metal of her armour thrummed, filling her with comfort.
The only hesitancy that she had now was what had happened almost a week before with Bumi. She was nervous about both seeing him, and not seeing him.
When he wasn't around to greet them back from the South Pole, she was both relieved and had felt a pang of disappointment. So Lin bid everyone goodbye and left on the next ferry to the City and decided to walk to her little house. It gave her time to clear her head from the swirling emotions and thoughts.
When she made it home, she locked the door behind her and bent off her armour into a pile near the front door. She quickly went upstairs and started a hot shower, wanting to erase the last month from her body - as if it was that easy.
Afterwards she dressed in light grey pajama bottoms and a light green tank top, wrapping a floral robe around herself. Her damp hair was swept up into a ponytail.
She trudged downstairs and put her kettle on the stove, her first priority being starting some tea. As she opened her cold box, her second priority being food, she realized it had been almost a month since she had been home and all her food had spoiled. She quickly shut the door, deciding to deal with it in the morning. She went over to her phone and dialed the number to Narook's Noodelry and ordered a couple different noodle dishes, figuring she would have the leftovers in the morning.
After 20 minutes, there was a knock at her door, and she went to answer it with her wallet in order to pay the delivery boy.
"Thank you for coming so quickly. I've got your yuans right here, plus a tip." Lin started to say as she opened the door, looking down as she pulled out the appropriate bills and coins.
"I didn't think we had that kind of arrangement."
Lin looked up from the yuans in her hand and up to see that it was not the delivery boy, but Bumi who was smirking back at her.
"Bumi, what are you doing here?" Lin asked, tucking the money back before crossing her arms over her chest.
"Tenny told me Korra finally spoke to Dad and through that she was able to give you back your bending. Just wanted to come check on you."
"I'm fine. But come in, I ordered some noodles if you would like to stay?"
"Sure."
"Go ahead and take a seat." She said motioning to the living room. "Want a drink?"
"Whatever you're having is fine with me."
Lin went into her kitchen and pulled out a bottle of soju as well as a couple of glasses. As she set them on the table in her living room, another knock came at her front door.
After a moment, she returned with the food to find Bumi pouring them both a glass of the clear drink.
"I ordered roasted komodo chicken seaweed noodles and spicy smoked squid seaweed noodles. So feel free to take whatever one you prefer and I will eat the other." Lin said as she took them out of the bag and set a pair of take out chopsticks in front of him.
"I'll take the roasted komodo chicken one, thanks. Otherwise, who knows how long I will be in the washroom later with fire coming out of my ass." He snickered.
Lin rolled her eyes at him, but smirked as she took the box of the spicy noodles.
They discussed how the Southern Water Tribe was doing, including Lin seeing his mother and sister for the first time in a while. They also talked about the progress already started in the city, and how the United Forces were helping organize the situation while the Police got back on their feet with so many of their officers being among those who lost their bending.
Throughout dinner, they made a really good dent into her soju bottle.
"You know Linny, I had a really good time the other night. Would you consider a repeat performance?"
Lin sat there, slightly shocked at his forwardness though she shouldn't be - this was Bumi. Did she want a repeat? "Okay, but maybe we should lay down some ground rules."
Bumi took another sip of his drink, watching her with a smile curled on his lips while his eyes smouldered at her. His normally light blue eyes, growing to a darker stormy blue. "Go ahead, lay it on me."
Lin squirmed under his intense gaze that made her feel warm. She cleared her throat. "First off, we are not in a relationship. So no public appearances, no dates, no flowers, no gifts. No strings attached. Especially no feelings." Though she wasn't sure her feelings weren't already in that direction. But she would rather have him any way she could and she highly doubted he would want a relationship with the likes of her.
"So friends with benefits?" He asked, waggling his eyebrows at her.
"Exactly." This would work. She locked the part of her that had no doubt she would get hurt away to the back of her head. "We can only do this here at my house. No one will know about this."
"Anything else?" He asked in amusement.
"I'm sure anything else can be addressed as it comes up."
Bumi stood then and walked over to her, before pulling her up. He smashed his lips to hers, and she instantly melted into the all encompassing intensity. She quickly helped guide him to her bedroom, clothes being thrown haphazardly around as they made their way upstairs.
The arrangement was going well, until they started making exceptions to their rules. It first started a couple weeks after she had returned when he stayed the night. The next time, he stayed for breakfast too. Another time, he even made breakfast.
Then there was the time he convinced her on Air Temple Island behind the greenhouse late at night. She did manage to make it back to the woman's dormitory where she was staying that evening without being caught, but it was a close call a couple times.
Now it was over 5 months later, and Lin was sitting in her office going over reports. She had been reinstated fairly soon after her return, Saikhan approached her and wanted her to take back her place. He explained what Tarrlok had used against him and that eventually he would be happy to take over, he knew it was not the time yet. Lin and Saikhan were able to repair their friendship, and she had agreed as she wasn't truly ready to retire yet.
When Lin had told Bumi she was returning, she noticed that he seemed somewhat disappointed that he wasn't going to get to show her an adventure like they had briefly discussed that first night. He was good at hiding it, she gave him that, but she wasn't a trained detective for nothing.
She ran a hand over her face before taking a sip of ginger tea Jin had prepared for her as she had been feeling nauseous off and on all day. Lin chalked these latest bouts of nausea, headaches, and tiredness to adjusting to the spiritual shift her body had gone through only a few months ago as well as then throwing herself right back into work. Not to mention the new president was a piece of work, and anyones stomach would get upset. She would be surprised if she ends up with an ulcer from his bullshit.
A knock came from her door before it was opened with a bang.
"Good evening Chief Beifong! How are you on this lovely evening?" Came the boisterous voice of Bumi in her doorway.
Lin could feel her headache throb in her skull. "Damn it Bumi, be quiet and shut the door behind you." When the door closed, she looked up and saw him still standing there. "I meant with you on the other side."
"You sure you wanna kick me out, when I brought dinner?" He grinned at her as he held up a paper bag stamped with Narook's Noodlery symbol stamped onto it.
Lin's stomach growled when she caught the smell of the food. Narook's had been their go to food since that first night in her house.
Bumi smirked wider at hearing her stomach, which caused her to blush a little. "I even got you your spicy squid noodles you like." He said as he stepped closer to her desk and tauntingly moved the bag.
"Fine, sit." Lin motioned to the chairs across from her desk.
Bumi however decided they should sit on the couch in her office instead. "Come on Linny, take a break. Armour off, it's just us."
Lin sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose for a minute. She used her bending to lock her door to the bullpen before standing. She walked to the door leading to Jin's office and quickly spoke with them letting them know she was taking her dinner now, and that Jin could leave early. She then closed and locked that door too, before bending her armour off leaving her in a black long sleeved shirt and a matching pair of uniform pants.
Lin sat next to Bumi and accepted her carton of food. She dug in, suddenly starving even though she had been feeling unwell less than an hour ago. They sat there in companionable silence, which no one would believe Bumi capable of. While Lin had known this side of Bumi before, it was nice seeing it again after so long. She was getting concerned though. The rules that they had set for themselves at the beginning of their agreement kept being bent, emotions - at least on her end - were starting to deepen and she felt like it was going to come to a head soon. But she threw that behind a wall in her mind, not wanting to dwell on that. She was going to enjoy this however long it lasted.
"Oh, are you coming to the Glacier Spirits Festival? Mom invited the lot of us to join her and Kya. We're leaving in just over a week."
"I wish I could, Bumi, but someone needs to keep the President in line. Plus it would be too risky."
"Yeah spirits forbid anyone think we are together." He mumbled.
Lin turned to him, having heard what he said. "Well we aren't together, we agreed this is a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"A way for us to both let off steam, I know." He offered her a small smile, though there was something in his eyes that had Lin thinking for a moment that he also wanted something more from this. She mentally shook her thoughts, to clear those images away.
Lin set her empty carton on the coffee table and grabbed his almost empty one from his hands to set beside hers. She then straddled his lap. "How about we make use of my dinner break? We have to be quiet, but most of the bullpen is clear at this time of evening." She said, her eyes flashing a dark green with need. She was not sure where her newfound confidence came from, but decided to go with the flow and leant forward to kiss his neck as she fiddled with the buttons of his shirt.
Bumi grasped her hips, not used to Lin being so forward, but who was he to look a gift-ostrich horse in the mouth? He lifted one hand to pull her lips to his, but she pulled back.
"Ah ah ah, Commander. You're in my domain, we play by my rules tonight. No touching." She then flicked her fingers and a pair of handcuffs flew from the pouch of her utility belt. She then raised both of his hands above his head and placed the handcuffs on before bending the handcuffs into the metal wall, holding him in place.
Bumi's eyes were blown wide with an intense look as he gazed up at her. "That might've been the hottest thing you've ever done."
"Oh it's about to get hotter." She smirked at him.
The night before he left for the Southern Water Tribe, Bumi found his way to Lin's house late at night.
She answered the door looking quite unwell.
"Sorry Bumi, I'm not up to anything tonight."
"That's okay Linny, could I make you some tea or something? You know, I've been told I give rather good massages."
Lin was feeling too sick and tired to deny him. So she held the door open for him to slip through before closing it. She watched him take off to the kitchen for a moment before she went and laid back down on her couch.
Bumi entered a little while later carrying a metal tray with a teapot and teacups. "I made some jasmine tea, I know it's your favourite. Sorry if it isn't as good as you usually make it, but I remember some of the lessons from Uncle Iroh."
Lin sat up, with a wide yawn stretching over her face. "Thanks Boom." She said quietly, accepting the tea cup he handed her not even noticing she used his old nickname.
Bumi placed his hand on her forehead and was relieved that it was not hot. "Looks like you aren't running a fever. Maybe you should take some time off work Lin, you seem to be running yourself ragged. We're not that young anymore, you know."
Lin narrowed her eyes at him as she took a sip of her tea after blowing on it. "Speak for yourself, I haven't even turned 51 yet. I'm not planning on retiring anytime soon, unlike you."
"Age is just a number anyways." He said winking at her. "I may be closer to 60 than you, but mentally I'm still 20."
"Try 8." Lin said teasingly.
"Pretty sure you can confirm I don't act 8." Bumi replied, twinkle in his eyes. "At least most of the time."
Bumi refilled her cup with tea and added a little honey. Lin accepted it gratefully, the tea seeming to help - though internally she briefly acknowledged that his presence may also have a factor.
They continued to talk until Lin's yawns came too frequently to ignore.
"Time for bed Linny." Bumi said, taking her empty tea cup from her hand.
Lin sighed at having to move, but allowed him to take her hand and pull her up. He ended up having to make sure she didn't stumble the whole way to her bedroom, as her exhaustion was clearly affecting her ability to walk on her own. Thankfully she was already in her pajamas, so he easily helped her into bed and tucked her under the covers. Her eyes closed as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Bumi placed a kiss on her head and went to leave, but he was stopped by a hand on his wrist.
"Stay." Came a soft voice.
Bumi didn't even debate it for a second. He removed his clothes down to his boxers and slid onto the other side of the bed. He spooned up to her back and watched as she drifted off into a deep sleep. He slipped his arm over her waist, holding her to him.
When he was sure she was asleep, he whispered to her. "I love you Linny. I hope one day we can be together for real. I'll not give up until I can hold you in my arms every night, unless you send me away. Please don't send me away love." He was quiet for a moment, before adding. "When I get back from seeing Mom, I'm going to ask you to dinner." He placed a kiss behind her ear, and then laid back and let himself fall into sleep.
Lin snuggled further into his arms. Her unconscious hearing his words and playing them out in her dreams. She would be disappointed that they were only dreams come morning.
Bumi didn't end up returning for almost a month even though the trip South was supposed to only be a week. Upon his and his families return, they found Republic City in chaos. Spirit vines were growing through streets and buildings, and there were spirits flying around everywhere. It was both beautiful and a nightmare - at least according to the resident Chief of Police.
They didn't even have a chance to meet up in the three weeks he was back on Air Temple Island. Lin was busy working many long hours, barely even seeing her own bed. Bumi took her lunch a couple times, but either she was out at some disturbance, dealing with President Raiko, or trying to use what little free time she had to take a nap.
Bumi would just leave the food - which he learned to make sure it was food that would not spoil right away in case she was not in - on her desk with a note reminding her to take care of herself.
The food and notes made Lin's heart grow warm every time she saw them.
Lin walked into the precinct early one morning after only getting a few hours sleep in her own bed for once.
"Chief!"
Lin looked up to see Mako standing up quickly from his desk and making his way towards him.
"Detective. This better be good, I haven't had any coffee yet." She warned as she led the way to her office. "Close the door behind you."
Mako did as he was bid and then stood near her desk instead of sitting on one of the seats. "Chief, I don't really know how to say this, but a call came in in the middle of the night -"
"What were you doing here? I do not recall you being on the night shift yesterday."
Mako blushed slightly and fidgeted, trying to control his need to rub the back of his neck. "Well - I uh… may have been sleeping under my desk. It's just really awkward to be at Air Temple Island with you know… Korra…"
Lin raised a brow at him. "We'll discuss this later. What was the call about?"
Mako swallowed. "I got a call that a shop owners brother had lost it and when I arrived, the man said that his brother airbent."
"That's impossible." Lin said, ire showing in her tone that Mako had dared to bring this bullshit to her this early in the morning or at all for that matter.
"I know!" Mako said, hoping to finish speaking before she started to reprimand him. "But when I went to knock on the back room door, the door flew off its hinges and threw me into a shelf. He then ran past apologising. I swear I am not making this up, Chief. I saw this guy airbend."
Lin stared up at the young man in shock. 'A new airbender? After all this time?'
Finally she spoke up. "I suppose coffee will have to wait longer. Get ready, we are heading out to see Tenzin. You are going to share every detail of what happened with us."
Within an hour they had made it through the busy downtown morning traffic and onto Air Temple Island.
They arrive to see Bumi making exaggerated arm movements and Kya standing beside him. The rest of the family, as well as Korra and Asami, are watching close by.
Lin approached Tenzin and quipped, "Invisible spirit monster attack?"
Tenzin spoke from his spot on the covered walkway above. "Lin, you won't believe this. Bumi just started airbending."
Lin and Mako widened their eyes in surprise, quickly shooting each other a glance before Lin turned and looked up at Tenzin. "I'm afraid he's not the only one."
"What?" Korra and Tenzin responded at the same time.
"I got a call last night. About a guy who just started airbending out of nowhere." Mako said, shock still in his voice.
Tenzin looked at Mako with his own shocked expression. "You mean there's another one? Where is he now?"
Mako looked away from the air master and glanced quickly at his Chief before looking away, hands on his hips to cover his embarrassment. "He... blew a door down on me and got away. We got an all-points bulletin out on him right now."
As Mako and Lin started to walk away, Korra called out to them. "Wait, we'll help you look for him. Where should we start?"
Lin left Mako to deal with his previous girlfriends, as she approached Bumi. He was still throwing his arms around, even though nothing was happening. Kya had moved away to speak with Pema and the kids, so Lin felt okay approaching to have a quick word.
"Well Mr. Airbender. How does it feel?"
"Lin! It's… I can't describe it… Not that it wants to show itself when I'm not in danger." He said with frustration at the end as he once again flung his arms around.
"Well, careful where you throw your arms there Commander. Don't want you hurting yourself." She stepped closer. "Come see me in an hour at my house. We'll have to be quick, but…" She quickly glanced a subtle gaze around, before lowering her voice. "It's been a while and I think this calls for a celebration."
Bumi gave Lin a wide grin, his voice also low. "Oooh a celebration for becoming an airbender… I could live with that. I'll be there."
And he was there on time. In fact he was early. Lin made it on time to find him casually leaned against the wall beside her front door. She barely closed the door behind them before his lips were crashing onto hers and she was against the door.
They didn't end up making it much further from the door, their clothes and her armour scattered through the hallway and living room. They laid on the couch panting when they were finished. Lin pulled the afghan she kept on the back of the couch on top of them, as they allowed themselves to come down from their high.
As they laid there Bumi felt like everything was changing. He had very mixed emotions on being an airbender so late in life, when as a child that is all he ever wanted. In some ways it felt like the universe was playing a sick joke on him. But maybe now was the time to take chances he never got to take before.
"Hey Lin…" This was it, he was going to ask her out.
Lin propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at him.
"Wou-"
A shrill ring echoed through the living room. Lin sighed and heaved herself up and over Bumi, before walking over to the telephone in her living room. As much as he hated being interrupted, Bumi had to admit he was enjoying the view of a naked Lin's backside.
"What?" She growled into the telephone. Her expression changed quickly. "Kyoshi Bridge?! I'll be there shortly. I want as many teams as possible. Who knows what this guy will do. He is scared and that makes him dangerous." Lin slammed the phone down and dropped her head for a moment. "Sorry Bumi, I need to go."
"It's okay Linny, I'm assuming they found the other new airbender?"
She started rushing around getting dressed. "Yes. He's on top of Kyoshi Bridge. I'm worried he is either going to hurt himself or others. Hopefully we can talk him down."
Bumi offered her a smile. "Well with Chief Linny Beifong on the job, the City is safe." He winked. "Go get 'em tigerdillo."
Lin rolled her eyes at him. She dug into the drawer under the telephone and threw a piece of metal at him. He looked down to find a key.
"Lock up behind yourself, I don't have time to stay. Bye Bumi," and with that she was gone.
Bumi smirked and sat up. He took his time getting redressed and then folded the blanket back up. He decided to walk back to the docks today as it was a nice day and he was in a good mood.
When he arrived back to the Island, Tenzin and the other's were arriving back with a new man who Bumi assumes is the new airbender.
"Bumi there you are. Where did you run off to for a couple hours?" Kya said from where she was exiting the garden.
"Just took a walk through the City. Beautiful this time of year." He said, which was a half-truth.
"Hmm… This has nothing to do with that lady friend you have?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow at him with a teasing smirk on her face.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure and I'm as oblivious as Tenzin."
"Well now that you mention it… Hey!" He said, spluttering as water dripped down his face from where Kya had hit him with a facefull.
"Knock it out you two!" Tenzin said as he walked over. "We have so much to do! We are heading to Ba Sing Se to find new airbenders. Reports have come in that there were sightings in the City. Who knows how many others are out there all over the world! We leave in the morning!"
Bumi and Kya both shared amused glances with each other as they took in their usually stoic younger brother's enthusiasm.
Unfortunately with them leaving so quickly and there was so much to do, especially once it was decided Bumi would join the others on their trip, that Bumi was unable to check in with Lin in person. He was able to let her know briefly over the phone that he would be taking off again for an unforeseeable time.
He sighed before going to bed late that night. He still hadn't had a chance to ask her out, and now it would have to wait.
"I can't believe Miss Queeny Smug Face had them right under our noses the whole time!" Korra said in exasperation, hands on her hips. She was standing around with Asami, Tenzin, Jinora, Mako, Bolin, and Bumi.
"We have to get into that compound tonight and get those airbenders out." Tenzin said, concern for the airbenders showing in his voice.
Bumi, who was seated on the stairs, spoke up. This was his area of expertise. "All right. We go in under the cover of darkness: two small insertion teams and a third on the outside. Then all we'll need is twelve tons of blasting jelly, a medium-sized bulldozer and... does anyone have a badgermole that knows Morse code?"
He tried not to let his younger brother's loud sigh get to him. Tenzin never did understand him anyways.
They were interrupted by a knock at the door.
Asami spoke up, irritation showing in her voice. "Oh great, not the Queen again."
"Everyone, act natural. And Bolin-" Korra started.
Bolin interrupted her. "I'm on it!" He opened his outer shirt, and Pabu chittered in protest. "What? Hey, I'm not sweaty this time!" Pabu finally jumped in and after a moment of wriggling, settled down making it look like Bolin had a bit of a gut like Bumi currently did.
Tenzin glanced at others and opened the door. Bumi looked up in surprise to see Lin walk in.
Tenzin and everyone else were surprised too. "Lin? What are you doing here?" Tenzin asked after he closed the door.
Lin turned around to face Tenzin, crossing her arms over her chest. "We need to get Korra out of here immediately. Her life's in danger."
"What?!" Korra exclaims. She moved to stand so that she faced both Lin and Tenzin. "What's going on?"
Lin continued to speak directly to Tenzin. "I just got word from Lord Zuko and Tonraq."
Korra looked surprised again. "Why is Lord Zuko with my dad?"
Lin continued as if not hearing the young Avatar. "Zaheer and the others have escaped."
Tenzin raised his brows. "How is that possible?"
"Because Zaheer is an airbender now." She finished.
Tenzin's eyes got wide in disbelief. "No…"
After Tenzin and Lin explained about Zaheer to Korra and her friends, they made the plans for the rescue mission.
As it was still a few hours away, Lin had gone to a spare room needing to be away from the others for a while to cool down her ire at the frustrating way that Korra didn't take her safety seriously.
Bumi found her pacing the room with her armour off, muttering curses at the Avatar.
He closed the door behind him.
"Teenagers, huh?" He asked, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes, even though he was concerned at the bags under her eyes. It was obvious that the stress was getting to her.
"Why can't she ever listen to what I tell her. She is insufferably stubborn." Lin grouched, facing away from him.
He came up behind her and started massaging her shoulders. "Sometimes she reminds me of a younger you. It's probably why you two clash so much. Both independent, strong willed women who are powerful benders."
Lin hung her head with a sigh, the massage easing some of her tension. "You know, Tenzin said a similar thing last year. Maybe you two are more similar than you think."
"Oh? Please tell me at least I can satisfy you better. On second thought, don't tell me."
Lin turned in his arms. "He's got nothing on you in that department." She said, before pulling him into a kiss. She flicked her hand at the metal lock in the door and locked it.
Unfortunately they had to be quick so that no one found them, but they both still felt like this would be the last time for a while. Especially with the newly added danger of Zaheer and his crazy friends. They each cemented the moment in their memories to tide them over till the next time.
When they parted, they each felt their hearts ache, but they both were unsure of how the other felt.
Little did they know that the next time they would see each other, their lives would be changed forever. In fact, they were already changing even if they were unaware of it.
