She had always hated when it rained.
The air was cool in republic city as she trekked down the corridor of the police station, metal amour clanking away with every step. She held her composure, trying not to think of the past or the slight uncertainty of Makos's call; he had said it was urgent. Mako was in the interrogation room when she arrived. His arms crossed showing his scarred arm off. Across a senior man water tribe, maybe he was donned in the furs and shades anyway. He had the same aura most criminals underground would have smug and callous.
" Detective," Lin said calmly. Something about the air in the room made her shoulders tense, and the lighting crackled in the background, not helping her spirits
The cold stone his hand over her head, the rain hitting the pavement.
Silence.
The smell of burned flesh and hot ore
The following torture they did for the whereabouts of Avatar Korra.
She blinked, and it seemed Mako had spoken. She missed half of what he said, only catching the water tribe man was turning himself in, she didn't know why this needed her attention, but she trusted her detective. Mako hadn't noticed her lack of awareness. He turned to the older man, Haruk, or so he said that was his name.
"My chief, you still are easy on the eyes even in your old age." He whistled when he spoke
" Cut the crap; what are you turning yourself in for?" harshly pushing a sheet of paper to him to write his statement. While he confessed his crimes in his statement, he let the Chief know why this concerned her.
"In 127, we kidnapped a young girl; she was the daughter of the chief of police. The most beautiful little girl I ever laid my eyes on still is," he smirked, eyeing her every move, realizing he got her off guard when she stiffened, straightening her spine. She had not looked at him. His familiar eyes, like frost, twisted cold and sick. When she did, she felt something twist in her inside her; it was like being blood bent all over again. Is anyone else listening to this?
"Her mother had been on my boss's ass, and we got to pay back; it was a sweet month and a half." Haruk eyed Lin for a response.
Mako slowly processed the information, wondering why now? Lin, on the other hand, gave nothing; she refused to emote anything.
"Her mother lied; she only ever got Yakone and not even since he got away."
"Why wait 47 years to confess to a crime you got away with." Mako stood up and anger-filled him
"I also come with a word of warning; republic city is in for a trip in the coming months. That's all I will say.". He casually slid the paper to Mako. It was the graphic details of a brutal gang assault and torture of a child. His eyes lit up as the pair read it over.
"Best memories I have." He cooed. It made Makos's skin crawl.
People like that never made sense to him to view a child in that way. Lin's amour felt clammy against her skin, and there wasn't enough air anymore; the room felt small. She couldn't breathe. It all came back to her. She covered it all with a stoned expression reading it like a newspaper. She read stuff like this every day, but it was so violating when it was about yourself.
There was a loud crashing sound. Mako jumped and decided to investigate the knock. Lin's legs felt like they weighed as much as a statue as she forced herself up. Arms behind her back poised even like she was a well-adjusted person even.
"There was a radio speech. It's those Equalists again." Said Saikan
After they listened to the speech, Lin had her feet dragged to the office. She told Mako she would call Tenzin to find Korra. In truth, Lin mostly went for her flask. She downed its burning contents as she dialed Air Temple island. She nearly ripped her hair out when Ikki answered instead of Tenzin. After a clear explanation and a refill on the most potent drink she hid in her office, she managed to inform him that there was a chance that Amon or his affiliates had returned to wreak havoc on the city.
He promised to meet them in president Raiko's chambers, and with that, she got up again. Lin decided to take one more drink for the road today, only showing itself as a nightmare of a day.
She didn't want to see the president after the previous night his instance that he and his wife were separating when that gnawing feeling in her heart told her that even though her feet could feel he was being truthful, it wouldn't work out. It didn't work out with the other men in her life, and it was stupid to think a cursed Beifong had a chance. When she was with a man intimately, she felt so empty, but she didn't feel much anymore.
When she returned to Mako, he noted a her demeanor had changed. It was more light .his mind was still focused on what happened in the interrogation room. He felt indignant and concerned the statement was horrific. The Chief had built walls around her emotions clearly and knew she wouldn't want to linger on her feelings or past. She had him drive, which was unusual, but he didn't mind. The silence was suffocating, almost like her cold energy and distance during the drive.
"Don't mention anything said in that room to anyone," Lin ordered
Mako focuses on the wheel, wondering how he should word what he wants to say. It was clear to most Chief Beifong had a soft spot for him, but he knew not to push; however, he was concerned this couldn't be okay. She must have been injured, but she wouldn't say anything.
"Korra said in her flashback-"
"From what I heard from Tenzin, it mainly was the end. Listen, I'm fine. I testified 47 years ago."
Lin cut him off. She was trying not to remember. She wanted to be a rock.
Lin looked out the window the rest of the way. Mako was defeated, unsure if he even was sure what to say when he was a boy. Even now, he still feels the pain from abusers. When they got to city hall, Raiko, Tenzin, Asami, Bolin, and Korra were already there.
"They threatened to bomb air temple island, but why?" Bolin spoke before a breath could be taken.
Lin looked to Raiko and Tenzin, suddenly feeling nausea despite not eating. Her headache would get worst with these three.
" How about we discuss this inside" Lins's tone was dreary
Lin struggled to keep up as the kids talked when they sat at the table. They discussed for hours the plans of action, and the chief offered her officers protection while they figured out if this thing was even real. It wouldn't be taken lightly. Amon's grip could still be felt even with the lackluster president they had elected.
One way or another, the kids decided they would check Air Temple island and have dinner if everything went smooth. Lin felt there should be more, but the lamebrain president didn't feel it was necessary, and of course, Tenzin was against anything too aggressive.
Lin excused herself to the bathroom, unable to tolerate it anymore. This wasn't a game. She felt the plan they had was too light, but she was too tired to bother anymore. She sat on the toilet for a bit dragging a piece of metal across her absentmindedly, thinking about Raiko and how stupid he was. Amon took the bending of the Avatar and herself. But he was more concerned over the budget in place for the Republic City Police. She stared at the ruddy marks on her arm, thinking about how stupid red tape is .Why she was so attracted to political types, she would never know. Maybe it was because of how empty it all is. Her words didn't matter. Why should it be different now? She wasn't half the chief her mom had been.
She didn't notice how much time had passed until she heard Asami knock. Lin blinked, and the next thing she knew, she was on Air Temple Island. Far away from her paperwork and officers, Haruk too, she thought darkly. She avoided thinking about him all day, regretting not picking his brains. He knows more about the situation, but he made her feel sick like he would use it to torture her, but maybe that's why he exposed her past. It was Amon and possibly that rat-snake Tarlok the orchestrated the first wave of terroism perfectly they must be found out. She thought about it until they all sat around on Air Temple Island, eating a meal awkwardly as they thought about the day's events.
Usually, Lin would be moving food around her plate, making small talk, glaring at people until everyone stopped eating and she could leave the table. She was a professional in that. Isn't that dreadful? Was she not so awful? Lin knew she was Because she isn't even a complete person anymore, but isn't even sure she ever was. She's fragmented and fractions, scattered around close enough that she comes across whole on the exterior but separated just enough so that she could not make out the figure of who she is. She loses all the control, everything smells good she felt her mouth water and she couldn't stop it she couldn't remember the last meal she had had the nostalgic feeling of better times when she was on the island, she ate a full plate more then anyone had seen her eat.
"Do you want extras to take home, Lin?" Tenzin smiled at her oblivious to her many secrets
"Pass, I'll be heading home now." Lin's tone was curt, but she was so ashamed and embarrassed.
Losing control like that. All day she had been so weak, as if she were drowning even in her second she got home she was on her knees, feeling empty again. it all came crashing down she got rid of all of the day all in the toilet now .food could have been a better way to feel whole rather then cigarette booze and terrible relationships but nothing ever did make her feel whole she decided to wash up in the hottest water cursing herself. she wasn't sure if she was washing away the food the blood on her arms or just the whole day, she couldn't even cry anymore as soon as she got close the phone rang, always did and she was back at work. She thought about it on the drive it stewed up and couldn't let it was so stupid but she couldn't let it go.
She thought of Tarrlok his aroma the hurricane it was being involved how it was a flame she craved its heat even though she hated being burned and she still felt his scorch when he betrayed her by blood bending her like Yakone and Haruk did. It led her to think about how her mother didn't come when she lost her bending; she's sure she knew, then again, she never liked Lin. she always abandoned her after she tore her apart and claimed it was training. She didn't notice what was happening at home or that she had been missing for two weeks.
If it wasn't for Katara checking and finding fifthly abandoned Su; who knows what would've happened. When she got home, her mom couldn't even speak to Lin. Her mother got angry when she couldn't describe any of the men, just that they had hurt her for a month and dumped her body in a dumpster to be found. She couldn't even tell Katara the magnitude of the abuse and how they hurt her in the parts people aren't suppose to touch despite Katara and her mother's asking. Toph told Katara she couldn't know if she was lying or not because her heart had been frantic the whole time, even if she didn't emote visibly. They had to take her word even if they knew, the way they posed her screamed it. Lin never cried or broke somthing Toph had taught her at a young age, she built the wall Lin had. She made her curse Lin's she thought was better this way, until it became impossible to deal with the kids ice.
Her lack of praise led to Lins's desperation for her approval. Her need for perfection.
It all lead her to the station somehow. It all made sense in a way.
