Zaofu shimmered beneath the early afternoon sun, its metallic domes casting soft reflections onto the manicured stone paths and engineered lakes. The air was still, almost unnaturally calm, with a faint breeze of lotus blossoms and hot metal. From a distance, Zaofu seemed to shimmer with its usual gleam. But as the tram drew closer, the quiet spaces between the domes and spires appeared to stretch a little longer, the stillness more pronounced.
Bolin's trip had been long.
He had boarded the first transport out of Republic City at sunrise, eyes still heavy with sleep and arms cradling his ever-worn satchel. From there, it had been a slow and steady glide on interconnected rail lines, combining magnetic lev-trams and traditional steam-engine segments wound through mountains and Earth Kingdom countryside. Six hours in total, just long enough for his nerves to fester.
He wasn't here on official business. Not this time. Just a weekend visit. Opal had encouraged him to come before she returned tomorrow. "Spend some time with the family," she'd said, her tone light but tinged with something more complicated to define. Resignation, maybe. Or reluctance. He didn't push. Their relationship had steadied, but neither was rushing toward rings or ceremonies. Still, it didn't hurt to make a good impression, especially with Suyin, the Opal family member, who seemed the least... accessible.
Not cold. Not distant. Just elusive. Like there was always another layer, another mask.
The magnetic tram hummed quietly beneath him as the city finally came into full view, uncoiling its domes and spires across the plains like a mechanical lotus in bloom. Through the polished windowpane, Bolin caught sight of familiar landmarks—the reflecting pools, the sculpture gardens, the towering walls that once shimmered with innovation and promise. But the city felt different now.
Zaofu, though still structurally magnificent, moved with a more reserved rhythm. The colors were still vibrant, but the pulse energy felt subdued like the city breathed with one lung instead of two.
He adjusted his satchel for the fifth time, knees bouncing nervously. The tram slowed. With a soft hiss, the doors parted, and a wave of warm air met his face. He stepped down onto the polished stone platform, taking a long breath.
His boots tapped softly against the immaculate stonework. In the distance, a pair of guards patrolled lazily, their metal sashes gleaming. No one else stood waiting. Bolin had half-expected a servant or assistant.
Instead—
"Welcome back to Zaofu, Bolin."
He turned, and there she was.
Suyin Beifong.
Regal. Poised. Her silver hair was swept into a tight braid coiled at the nape of her neck, a single strand catching the sun like a filament of light. She wore a forest green tunic with wide, elbow-length sleeves and sharp side slits for movement, matched with fitted green trousers. A black sash cinched her waist, tying the two layers together. Over the tunic, a sleeveless black outer layer with angular shoulder panels gave her frame structure and intent. White segmented metal vambraces graced both forearms and stylized white metallic collar plates fanned elegantly around her neckline like a ceremonial crest. Her black boots made a soft, muted sound as they brushed against the stone.
Metal accents caught the light with every shift of her body, reflecting Zaofu's heritage and her control over it.
"Suyin!" Bolin smiled, genuine. "Wow. I didn't expect - I thought someone might be here to pick me up, but—"
"I thought it best to greet you myself," she said, her voice calm, warm, but measured. "You're our guest, after all."
"Oh. Well, thank you. That's kind of you." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just trying to make a decent impression, y'know?"
"You're doing just fine." She gestured down the path, a subtle inclination of her head. "Come. Walk with me."
They walked side by side through a curated garden, where pale purple lotuses floated in glassy pools and polished sculptures twisted into the sky. Some works looked like movement captured in metal—a dance frozen mid-pose.
But Zaofu was not the utopia it once was.
Since the sentencing of Kuvira and Baatar Jr., the city's faith in Suyin had become strained. The decision to place both of them under house arrest within the walls of Zaofu was controversial. The denizens, once fervently loyal, now watched with quiet skepticism. There were whispers in the markets and silence in the halls where there had once been music. Even the art installations had slowed.
Suyin still carried herself as the city's matriarch; officially, her power remained unchallenged. But the trust wasn't what it used to be. She remembered Hong Li, a young guard no older than her children whose life had been upended during the Aiwei scandal. Her declaration of betrayal. Another moment where her judgment had blurred.
She didn't think about it anymore. She couldn't afford to. The city had to run, and luckily, the new democratic processes with Avatar Korra and Prince Wu's help had taken shape. Suyin had leaned on her council—handpicked, trusted, obedient—to manage the day-to-day affairs. Publicly, she supported progress. Privately, she clung to a structure.
"I remember offering to teach you metalbending," Suyin said almost casually. "You weren't very confident about it."
Bolin laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, well... I didn't think I had the gift. Still not sure I do."
"Maybe. But you lavabend. That's not nothing." Her gaze flicked to him, measured. "You've always had more potential than people realize. Even yourself."
He glanced at the ground, kicking a loose pebble. "That means a lot. Especially coming from you."
They came to the edge of the sculpture garden, where twisted metal forms rose in flame-like shapes. The afternoon light pooled gold over their surfaces.
"It's good that you're here," she said after a pause, eyes still on the sculpture. "It's... been a while since we've had visitors."
"Opal told me a little," Bolin said quietly. "I didn't want to impose. Just thought it might be nice to reconnect. Meet the family again."
"Reconnect," she echoed softly, then finally looked at him. "Yes. That's important."
There was something behind her words. A stillness. It is not loaded, not overly intimate, just present.
The Beifong estate had not changed much architecturally, but the energy was different. The courtyards were less vibrant, and the air was quieter. The metallic flora that once shimmered with embedded lights now sat dormant. Servants moved with practiced quietude. A home reduced to a museum of memories.
They entered through a side corridor. A servant met them and took Bolin's satchel with a bow, disappearing silently into the hall.
"Let's have tea," Suyin offered, her voice soft but sure. "Dinner will be ready in about an hour."
He nodded, following her deeper into the estate.
They arrived in a spacious office, a dome-lined chamber filled with low light and sculptures lining the walls. The air smelled of dried herbs and old parchment. Steam curling gently from the spout, a tea set had already been placed on a lacquered table. Suyin motioned for him to sit, and the two eased onto floor cushions across from one another.
For a moment, neither spoke. The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
Then she asked, "How has life been treating you, Bolin?"
Suyin's question lingered between them, her words measured and poised, but there was a softness behind them. The moment stretched longer than Bolin anticipated, the silence around them pulling them closer and further apart in ways he didn't yet understand.
"How has life been treating you, Bolin?" she repeated softly, her eyes steady as she studied him, not just with curiosity but something else that felt more like evaluation.
Bolin shifted slightly on his cushion, his hands loosely wrapped around the teacup before him, its warm steam curling around his fingers. He'd been asked that question more times than he could count, but for some reason, when Suyin asked, it felt like there was more weight to it. More expectation, though he wasn't sure why.
He cleared his throat, leaning back a little, a smile tugging at his lips, but it was faint. "Well, it's been alright. You know… just trying to figure things out."
"You've always been good at figuring things out," she said, her voice calm but with a sharp edge of knowing as if her eyes had pierced through the layers of his words.
"Yeah?" Bolin chuckled softly, though it lacked his usual vigor. "Not lately, though. It's been a little harder to keep track of everything." He paused, momentarily looking down into his tea, the warm liquid swirling with the faintest touch of steam still rising from it.
Suyin tilted her head, her expression never wavering. "What's been hard?"
Bolin swallowed, shifting his thoughts to his recent experiences, unsure where to start. His life had been a whole of fits and starts. Odd jobs, different places, and sometimes, a lot of wandering. There had been a time when he felt like he had everything figured out, but that was years ago. Since then? It felt like he was spinning wheels. Always moving forward but never really getting anywhere.
"Well," he began, carefully choosing his words, "I've been trying many different things. Some of it's worked out... some of it hasn't. I even tried being a cop for a while, like Mako. You know, to help keep things peaceful."
Suyin's eyes flickered for a moment. She raised an eyebrow, her gaze momentarily distant. A fleeting smile seemed to speak of a different time and life. For just a heartbeat, it was as though she were recalling something far off, something shared with someone she knew well. "You were a cop?"
Bolin nodded slowly, the memory of it feeling distant now. "Yeah. I was in Republic City for a bit, learning from the best." He chuckled, but it was hollow. "But, uh, I wasn't cut out for it. I mean, I tried to do the right thing, you know? Keep the peace, and stop the bad guys. But… I wasn't very good at it."
"Why do you say that?" Suyin asked, her voice gentle but with a probing quality to it. Her gaze didn't leave him.
Bolin rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to explain it. "I guess… it just wasn't the right fit. I mean, I'm not built like Mako, right? He's sharp and serious. He's got this thing, this presence about him. Me? I'm— I'm just Bolin. I know how to make people laugh, and I know how to get a little dirt on my hands, but being a cop... I don't know. It felt like I was trying to pretend to be something I wasn't."
Bolin took a breath, his gaze drifting to the tea again, his voice quieter now. "I was good at taking down bad guys, sure. But... it always felt like I was cleaning up messes someone else made. I never felt like I was making anything better. It's hard, you know? To figure out what you're supposed to do when unsure if you're even... good at anything."
There was a long silence between them, and Bolin started to feel the weight of the conversation sinking in. He hadn't planned to open up like this, not to someone like Suyin, whose sharpness could cut through any semblance of bravado. He wasn't sure if he liked this feeling, this openness. Suyin was still looking at him, her gaze as steady as the stone walls around them. She didn't seem to be judging him, but something deeper felt like she was weighing his words with an understanding that only someone like her could possess.
"You've always been more than just your strength, Bolin," Suyin said after a moment. Her voice was soft, but there was a weight behind it. "You're a good person. And strength doesn't just come from your bending. It comes from how you hold yourself, choose to fight, and the people you protect. You have to trust that."
Bolin blinked, his heart a little heavier than before. It wasn't that he didn't believe her. He knew she was right. But trusting himself had never been easy. He'd always been the goofy one, more likely to make a joke than take a serious stance. But was that who he was? Was that enough?
"I don't know," Bolin muttered under his breath. "I've been trying to figure out what I want to be. I'm just not sure where I fit anymore."
Suyin's expression softened just the slightest bit. There was a pause, and she let the words sit between them. Her lips parted as if she was about to speak, but she hesitated momentarily. And when she said it, it was with a careful tone that wasn't quite comforting but understanding.
"Sometimes," she began, "we think we need to be someone else. We think we must wear a different face and play a different part because that's what others expect. But the truth is, the only person you need to answer to is yourself, Bolin."
He looked up at her then, surprised by the insight in her words, though the subtle, calculating edge to her voice made him wonder if she was speaking from a place of experience.
"Don't rush to define yourself," Suyin continued. "The world is messy. You don't have to clean it all up. You have to find the right place for you."
Bolin nodded slowly, absorbing her words, though something in the back of his mind nagged at him. What was Suyin trying to say? Was she trying to direct him? Shape him in some way?
The quiet stretched between them, both sitting in the room's soft light, the tea cooling in front of them. Bolin was lost in thought, the weight of his insecurities pressing in harder than before. But somewhere, beneath it all, something in Suyin's voice lingered an almost maternal undertone, the way she spoke to him like she had the answers to his questions before he even asked them. He wasn't sure if he liked that, but at the same time, he couldn't deny the pull of it.
"Dinner will be ready shortly," Suyin said, her voice breaking the silence. She stood, smoothing the front of her tunic, and as she did, a sudden metallic chime echoed through the room, clear, deliberate, and resonant. It was the signal, one of Zaofu's signature bells, a soft but unmistakable call for the evening meal. Bolin had heard it before, but now, its sharp tone seemed to cut through the stillness with more force than he remembered.
"Let's get you settled in before the meal," Suyin continued, her tone casual yet purposeful, as if the sound itself had a way of guiding them both toward the next stage of the evening. Bolin blinked, still lost in thought. He hadn't realized how much time had passed until the chime sliced through the moment. An hour? It had felt like minutes, but they were on the verge of dinner. Zaofu's rhythm made time slip by unnoticed, like the ticking of a clock that carried you forward without asking.
He blinked again and stood, though he wasn't sure if he was more unsettled or comforted by their conversation. Suyin had a way of making him feel both at ease and slightly uncomfortable simultaneously. But the tension still hung in the air, thick and undeniable. As he followed her out of the office, the weight of her presence lingered over him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was a puzzle, and she was slowly trying to piece it together. Whether he liked it or not.
Dinner was coming, but the night had only just begun.