Lin walked into Tenzin family's sitting room, trying to hide her exhaustion and melancholy. Korra, Mako and his brother, and Asami sat in there with Jinora, Ikki, and Tenzin, who rose at the sight of her entering the room. "How'd it go?" Tenzin asked.
"How was she?" Korra asked concernedly.
"What'd she say?" Mako furthered the questioning.
"The symbol represents the firebender Min Chang, she said he attacked her village when she was younger and that's how she recognized it." Tenzin gestured to a chair, and she sat down in it.
Lin rested her elbows on her knees. "I know she's stubborn Lin, but sh–"
"She's not the problem," Lin sighed, "Some things from long ago have been troubling me lately, it's nothing you need concern yourself with, old friend." Lin ran her hand over her face. "I'm going to head home," Lin stood.
"Won't you stay for dinner?" Pema offered, walking into the room, baby Rohan in her arms.
"I have a lot of work to attend to, but thank you, Pema." Lin told her and then exited her childhood friend's – ex-boyfriend's – house. No! Lin snapped at herself internally. Not right now. Pema nodded solemnly and watched as Lin walked out the door.
Lin walked down to the docks, her metalbending uniform and thoughts weighing down on her. She stepped onto the ferry and stood at the railing as it sailed across the water. Once the ferry docked, she got off and made her way to her apartment.
"Ahahahaha!" She heard a kid laughing and was soon shoved out of the way by some street kids running down the street.
"Sorry 'bout dem Chief Bei Fong," someone spoke from behind Lin. She turned around to see the boy who hung around Kao and Bolin. "I heard Kai passed out at the Sato Estate this morning." He commented casually.
"Yes, she did, what of it?" Lin snapped.
The kid stopped in his easy going stroll, "I was just going to ask if she was alright," he grumbled.
Lin sighed, "She's awake, but shaken up." The boy nodded, visibly worried for the girl he made a friend in, he went to walk off. "She seemed like she wanted some company, why don't you go visit her." Lin told him.
"Yeah, maybe." The boy muttered and walked off.
Lin sighed and continued to walk into her apartment building. She walked up the stairs and to her apartment door. She unlocked it and made her way inside. She metalbended her uniform off, and collapsed on her couch with a groan.
The upsetting memories that had resurfaced in Lin's head while interrogating Kao had caused the unsettling memory of her failed relationship with the former Avatar's youngest son to come to the surface as well. More specifically, the day he broke up with her –
Back then, it was the beginning of Lin's career, and she could be found at the police station more often than not. Contrarily, though, that specific day, Lin had the day off and was spending it on Air Temple Island with Tenzin.
They were presently walking across the bridge that led to the meditation grounds, and Tenzin was slowing to a stop. Lin furrowed her brow, "What is it?" She asked the airbender.
"We need to talk," he sighed, bracing his hands against the railings of the bridge.
"About what?" she crossed her arms across her chest, shifting her weight to one leg, her eyebrow raised.
"You and I both know we've been growing a part for a while,"
"Excuse me?" Lin demanded.
"And with the way our careers seem to be taking us," Tenzin continued to speak, "I think it'd be better if…" Tenzin took a deep breath.
"If what?" Lin narrowed her eyes.
"If we went our separate ways," Tenzin finished, side glancing at Lin.
Lin filled with anger as the back of her eyes pricked. "Lin I know it'll be hard, and I'm really s–"
"Save it," Lin spat, storming off.
"Lin please," Tenzin hurried after the girl.
"I! SAID! SAVE IT!" Lin flicked her wrist and the bridge rose up and landed on top of Tenzin. After doing that Lin quickly ran for the ferry to get back to town, not realizing the walkway and other pieces of Earth on the island were coming up with the movement of her feet.
"Lin!" she heard her mother demand from behind her. Confused, Lin turned around to face her mother, trying to hide the fact that she was near tears. "I've been meaning to talk to y– What happened?" Her mother demanded angrily.
Lin rubbed at her eyes, "I-It's nothing, what did you need?"
"Qing-Yuan Kao and his son are coming into town and I wanted you to lead the security detail." Her mother told her. "Now what upset you?"
"H-He broke up with me," Lin sniffled. Toph's face fell into one of caring. This was a side that only came out in front of Lin, and it gave Lin permission to wrap herself in her mother's arms in tears.
After standing there for a few moments, Lin pulled away, having realized they were still on Air Temple Island. As she looked forward, she saw something that made her seethe in anger. Tenzin was sitting on a bench with one of the island's air nomads, sliding a flower into her hair while the girl giggled.
"Ugh!" Lin sent a giant rock sailing towards their bench. Tenzin glanced up to where it came from and, unfortunately for him, met Lin's eye, his face visibly paled.
"Let's go to the mainland," Lin spoke softly, "I need to get out of here."
"Of course," her mother replied, throwing an arm over her daughter's shoulder and walking onto the ferry boat with Lin.
It was later that day, while on the job, that she had met the boy who would be the man who ruined relationships for her forever.
Dour Kao was a charming young man, good-looking and skilled with words. He had come with his father to Republic City to try and convince Cabbage Corp. to invest in his family's company. He was able to do that and succeeded in receiving a very hefty investment. It was all those qualities that made Lin immediately despise him.
He had come out of the meeting, and had strolled up to the first girl who seemed good enough for him. Which, apparently, had been Lin. "So, sweetheart, what's got you in such a bad mood?" he inquired with a cocky grin.
"That's none of your business, Mr. Kao, and don't call me sweetheart." She snapped in reply.
"Aw, come on, don't be s–"
"Dour," Qing-Yuan snapped as he walked out of the building the meeting had been held in. "Leave the girl alone, it's obvious she's not interested in your pathetic flirting attempts." Lin raised an eyebrow in shock at the way Qing-Yuan spoke to his son.
Dour sighed angrily at his father's words, "It was nice meeting you…" Dour trailed off as he held out his hand, asking for her name.
"Bei Fong," Lin replied, her first mistake, "Lin Bei Fong."
Lin groaned angrily, "Why now? Why are these memories surfacing after so long? Mother, I wish you were here." Lin sighed, rubbing her hands over her face. She stood, her body aching, and decided it was time for her to go to sleep.