Korra leads Tenzin and Asami into the spirit world. The ambiance of the chartreuse and viridian earth and the sparkling never-ending blue skies were an enjoyable change of tempo from the drab muddy blue purples and grey asphalt in Republic city.
"I was thinking about how Amon's original story was that he got his ability from a spirit. Sure he was blood bending to take powers, but what if he got his idea from a spirit."
"Like, Vaatu? But didn't you kill him?"
"He did fuse with a person. What if he reincarnated into someone else."
"Please, don't scare me; last time I fought with Equalists, I was 10." It was Jinora, and she had been relaxing in the spirit world.
"Sorry, but it's a big chance, but I think because if all the spiritual energy, that it could all be a person born with Vaatu inside of them, those are the two options here anyways because bending being taken."
"What if somebody else ran into a Lion Turtle," said Asami.
They all looked at each other, getting more disturbed and uncertain. Tenzin looked his age at that moment, and everything had been exhausting. He longed for the simpler days. He now understood why his mother had stepped away from all these crises, weighing down his spirit.
"What is going on, may I ask? I only heard about Equalists and that there was a bombing when my dad contacted me.
Korra gave her a general rundown from the unusual series of confessions to past crimes to further atone for past wrongs. These people have had their bending removed by an unknown assailant. They also, as of now, have only targeted people in the Avatars circle.
"Oh, oh no. That might explain some things."
Tenzin sighed. He felt it, too, the weighted dark energy; maybe they are hunting a dark avatar.
Jinora explained that she had encountered dark spirits and led them to where they were when she last discovered them. The decision to split up, Jinora and Korra to face the dark spirits, Asami and Tenzin we're to interrogate spirits.
Tenzin and Asami. Struggled with their task
"If one more spirit claims they don't know,"
" Maybe they don't, and it's new for them too. We will solve this. We always do. I know you are worried about your family." Asami was gentle, feeling the frustration radiating from the Air bending master.
"I just hate thinking about that day,"
"Hey, I think I might know something," a small pink spirit called out, its voice soft like a cloud.
"He asked me a few questions, a man with four ponytails, and he was with a guy with three ponytails."
" Ah, oh boy. So what did they ask, can I get more of a description." Asami looked at the cute spirit. It made her think of when Jinora was a child. The spirit described people who sounded water tribe but in between traditional and contemporary republic city styling.
"They wanted to know where Vaatus prison was located and asked about the spirit of the avatar how did they learn of Raava's first reincarnation."
" What did you tell them," Tenzin said with a stern look.
"Well, for Raava, it went to the Air temples. For Vaatu, it probably will be someone with water tribe ancestry."
"Oh," they both said.
The pair looked nervous; This would be difficult; Tenzin recalled looking for the Avatar after his father passed, the grief. The mayhem with his love life, his infidelity, getting back together with the person he was close to his whole life, how they lost a child for a second time, and then he returned to Pema again. His indecision mixed with grief and anger, Sokka and his father, then the birth of their deceased child. He didn't know what direction was up, but he knew he was wrong. He hoped this time nobody had to die. He hated this was around the same time of year—the attempted kidnapping of Korra that took his uncle's life.
" You okay, Tenzin? You don't look ok." Asami said softly she placed a hand on his shoulder.
" I was. I just remembered the last time we looked for an avatar." It wasn't a lie.
" Oh, I'm sorry, it must have been so hard." She said softly rubbing his shoulder now. Tenzin had always been there for Asami, like a father. She thought about losing her father, wondering if it was easier Hiroshi was just gone forever.
"As you said, it's all going to be okay." He watched, Jinora and Korra return. Giving them the info if a dark avatar reincarnated, he would be water tribe. And how two men had asked and their descriptions
"Tarlok?" Korra growled, her voice low.
"It could be; we will have to investigate the people that confessed and show pictures."
" Back to the police station?" Asami said while Jinora hugged her dad feeling his poor disposition,
"It would seem so," he said with a sigh as he walked back to the portal.
He looked back, wondering if any of their spirits were there and why it hadn't dawned on him sooner than he should check. He wondered secretly if everything would have been different if he had chosen to stay with his old friend, knowing now that their we're airbenders.
When they returned from the spirit world, a few days had passed, and they had met with Kya, who was with Opal and Su, and Bolin and Mako.
"Su, when did you get in?"
"Just now, Opal told me everything. I want to see my sister," Su looked well-rested a bit to relaxed considering what Opal said.
"Well, I sent Bumi to be with her since she insisted she wanted to be home. I hope he's still alive." Kya grinned, knowing Lin must be annoyed at this moment.
"I would start writing a eulogy, but let's go wait. Where does Lin live?" Su's lips curled into a smirk at Kya's words
" I still remember the way. Let's go." Tenzin sighed, feeling a tad guilty still.
They were at the police station, so it wasn't a long trip. Nobody had been to Lins's house before, so Bolin tried to guess what it may be like. Only he seemed to think it would be ornate and colorful. It was closer to what most would imagine secluded. It was more modest than they expected with her salary and familial wealth. Su wondered why this building was a bit brighter than they thought, but it was pretty humble.
From outside, they could hear music, and it was impressive whoever was playing and singing as they were. As they got closer, they realized it was coming from the same apartment they were looking for. They heard the boom in Bumi's deep voice and a light laugh the older adults thought died 47 years ago. Su felt nervous as she metal bent her sister's door. She knew how Lin was with the law but hoped she and Bumi hadn't gotten too friendly. It was too much for the first day back in republic city in a few months.
Instead, they walked into an olive green room that reeked of booze. The floors littered Bijou, Scotch, and more. If you could name it, it was an empty bottle on the floor; it was almost shocking nobody was sick. Then they found where Lin and Bumi were, Bumi attempting to play one of the ten different instruments in the room, and Lin, who was masterfully playing the beautiful piano they, were playing the songs on the radio. The pair were obvious while Bumi and Lin continued to play and sing loudly, Lin fooling around drunkenly, her singing notes as flawless as her piano playing. The melisma in her vocals, her ability to ricochet from rich, sultry lows to highs, opera-like ones, including whistle notes that nobody had ever heard before . She finished a growly note before taking Bumi's flute to show off; further. Kya noting her breath control was like an air-benders.
They were so shocked it took a minute to realize Lin wasn't wearing a tank top and loose pants or her uniform. She was in a pale green camisole top with a square neckline and some bloomers. Scandalized, Kya decided to let the duo know they had broken in on their drunken party.
"I just told you to keep an eye on her, not take her clothes off, Bumi." Kya had no humor in her voice, unsure what was going on.
"And you, Chief Beifong, are supposed to be resting from an injury. Not poisoning yourself with ten times the amount of alcohol a person is supposed to drink in a month, not to mention hooking up with my other brother, was not present in my list of home care instructions." The fervor in her voice stopped Tenzin from lashing out, knowing his older sister, and hearing the scathing rage in her voice. He instead focused on breathing, not the chief's proportions or that Bumi was laughing. Besides that, the happy jazz instrumentals blared in the background.
Lin defiantly sat on top of her piano and reached for the most potent drink on a nearby table, and gulped before saying.
"I learned the hard way not to date your brother, thanks, and I would appreciate it if you don't yell in my house. Theirs people recovering from wounds in this room" She drank again as nonchalant as can be before adding, "If you asked, I would have told you I'm dressed in this because my injuries are infected. Everything you gave me in that list wasn't working, and you didn't answer either of our calls." She finished the glass unashamed. At least she wasn't feeling the pain of her wounds or emotions. She thought she sounded fine, but Su said
"Maybe you should eat some food your drunk," Lin rolled her eyes, slowly getting down and sitting on her couch. Mood killed. She reached for a bottle.
"I'm good. I have a bottle. Now all of you can get out." Lin felt sober, angry at Kya for accusing her of that right off the bat. To think she was laughing only a bit ago.
"Lin, don't be difficult. You really should be relaxing, especially if your injury is infected. You should let Kya look at you."
Lin stood up, glaring at Tenzin, who struggled to hide. He couldn't keep his eyes where a married man should keep them. Lin only shook her head, saying "Nope, I'll be in my house doing what I feel like. If you don't like it, I'm sure you know how to take the ferry. Besides, shouldn't you be home singing Pema her air bender nursery song." Lin spat aggressively. Tenzin's face red with irritation.
Korra looked at Mako, Bolin, Opal, Asami, and poor Jinora. Unsure what they should do, Mako did what he did best.
" Okay, that is enough for tonight. We have more important things to do than to fight all night, and we found more information on what may be happening, so we're all going to be adults." Mako looks to all the adults In the room. Bumi stumbles towards what he thinks may be Lins's bathroom but only makes it to Su before emptying the contents of his stomach onto her and stumbling back to Lins's couch when he passes out
"I guess, that was to hard for Bumi" Bolin cringed at the smell.
"Bumi!" Su looks disgusted. Kya simply water bends it off her.
"I don't think we will be getting down to business tonight, kid," Lin indeed was inebriated. Her toothy grin was so weird on her face. She wouldn't sit with her back to anything, but now she refused to let Kya at her pus-filled wound. Su and Opal noticed, however, that it looked awful and decided to try and reason with a drunk, angry beifong.
Lin eventually caved and pushed Bumi off her couch before laying flat on her stomach, Kya gasped, " why didn't you go to a healer?"
" Because putting anything on it hurt, and we assumed you would be coming soon." Lin bit back the urge to lie and say she was rocking her brother's world. She was angry but with how much they drank she knows she would have slept with Bumi if she didn't show.
"So getting trashed was a better solution Lin." Kya sighed
She regretted laying down because suddenly her eyes felt so heavy and being healed felt amazing. The water on her back said back wasn't the same as the first time Hiroshi's mecha tank hurled her into the ground that night they found out he was an equalist.
"Did she, yep she's asleep," Kya finds something to cover her since nobody could keep their eyes off her she understood why, but this was bit much for her. Su busied herself cleaning. She was used to this behavior, she had to deal with people crushing on her sister and ignoring her Su's whole youth.
Opal poked at the piano, " so, we should gather all the information since it may take a while for them to wake up."
