My Fire Was Fate With You

I swear I will murder this idiot spirits help me, Lin thought bitterly, glaring at Raiko as she walked off stage. The president had been harassing Korra after her decision caused the spirit vines to take over part of Republic City. Obviously it made Lin irritated, but she trusted Korra’s judgement. She wouldn’t have done it unless she had a good reason, something Raiko couldn’t seem to get through his thick skull. She had also seen how his words had hurt the girl, making her heart ache for the Avatar.

She let out a relieved sigh, when she saw Asami come up to reassure Korra. She would have comforted the girl herself, but Lin and emotions did not mix well. She glared at the press one more time for overwhelming the poor girl before turning to head back to the station.

Lin opened the door to the station, the buzz of activity soothing her stress. At times, her mind raced so fast that the hectic thoughts were overwhelming. One of the few things that calmed her was the familiar presence of her officers, the clank of armor, and general hum of activity. She walked up to her office, internally screaming at the mountain of paperwork on her desk. Lin sat down, deciding to start on the giant stack.

Lin quickly lost track of time, frustration growing by the minute. She knew the city was still reeling from the effects of the spirit vines but why the fuck was so much paperwork involved?? She looked up with surprise when Mako slammed her door open, his face red and breathing heavily. 

“Chief,” he said, hands on his knees. He took a deep breath and stood up to give a salute before panting slightly again. 

“What the fuck is going on?” she asked, voice laced with concern. Her officers rarely opened her door without knocking, especially Mako. The last time someone had opened her door without knocking, Song had bled out on her floor from a particularly nasty cut. 

“I...I just saw an airbender,” he said.

“What? You saw Tenzin or something?” she asked, confused and irritated he would come to her unannounced about something so mundane like that.

“No. I got a call from a shopkeeper about his brother making things fly. The brother had locked himself in the back room, so I knocked on the door when it flew open. He then airbent himself away,” Mako said, pacing in circles.

“Spirits,” she said, not knowing what to say. “I...I can’t believe it. Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. I couldn’t believe it either but I figured you would want to know immediately,” the firebender said.

The police chief nodded in approval. “You’d be right. Come on, let’s go to the island, Tenzin needs to know,” she said, walking out and hearing Mako’s footsteps follow her. 

The two stepped onto the ferry. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“What do you mean Chief?” he asked.

“You’ve been living in the station. It’s not healthy, kid. I get that your apartment was fucked with by the vines, but I’m sure Tenzin would be happy to host you at the island. Hell, Kya and I have a spare room if you want to stay with us for a while,” she said. Mako had been making her concerned and she hated to admit it, but she was close with the kid. It’s almost like he’s your kid. Nope, that’s something we will not unpack right now but with Li Meiza. 

He let out an awkward chuckle. “I’m good, thank you for offering. I uh...I don’t want to stay at the island with Korra there. I mean, we’re still friends and all but it feels so awkward to me.”

She nodded. “I know how you feel. Uncle Aang offered for me to stay with them while my apartment was undergoing repairs, but I couldn’t stay there with Tenzin on the island. Our apartment is always open to you Mako. You are going to at least come by for dinner tonight, no arguments,” she said, holding a hand up to cut off his argument.

He sighed but nodded, the two stepping off the ferry. She looked up to see Bumi wildly waving his arms around, the rest of his family gathered around him.

She raised an eyebrow as she walked towards the group, heart fluttering at the sight of her fiancée. “Invisible spirit monster attack?” she asked with amusement. 

Tenzin looked at her with joy. “Lin, you won’t believe this. Bumi just started airbending!”

Her eyes widened in shock. “I’m afraid he’s not the only one.”

“You mean there’s another one? Where is he now?” Tenzin asked.

Mako sighed. “He...blew a door down on me and got away. We got an all-points bulletin out on him right now.”

Lin turned to walk away, first shooting a quick smile to Kya, heart warming at the grin she got in response. She walked off, determined to find this airbender. This was an absolute miracle and she hated to think of what would happen if the wrong people got their hands on the new airbender.

She chuckled at Mako’s flustered appearance when he caught up to her. “I’m guessing you talked with Asami and Korra,” she said dryly.

He let out a sad sigh and her heart twisted. “Hey, it’s okay kid. You’re doing really well considering all the shit that’s been thrown at you. It’s normal to feel out of balance or off around them for a while.”

“Thank you for saying that,” he said, eyes watering slightly. 

“Okay, that’s it. You’re staying with us tonight. No arguments,” she said with a soft glare. 

He nodded sheepishly. “Okay,” he said. “Do you need help preparing dinner?”

“Honestly I feel lazy today, so unless Kya decides to cook it’ll be takeout. It just depends on what time she comes home tonight, if she comes home,” she said. 

“If you don’t mind me asking, why wouldn’t she come home?” he asked, following her as they stepped off the ferry. 

“After Unalaq nearly killed her and her family, she’s been extra protective. She’s especially protective over Jinora after Unalaq nearly killed her and got her niece stuck in the Fog of Lost Souls. I understand and I don’t mind, it just gets lonely sometimes,” she said with a shrug, opening the apartment door for him.

“There are spare clothes in the guest room, same place as last time,” she said, bending off her armor. She placed the armor in her closet, hearing Mako go into the guest room and change. She decided to start on some tea, walking to the kitchen and reaching up to grab Uncle Iroh’s blend. She cursed when she realized Kya placed it out of her reach, grabbing a stool. 

She opened the lion turtle container, scooping out the tea and letting it steep. She put the stool back under the counter, placing the container of tea in one of the drawers. She looked up at the sound of the guest room opening. “Hey, I’m making some tea. Do you want any?” she asked.

“I’d love some, thank you,” Mako said. 

“How have you been holding up after Unalaq and Varrick?” she asked with concern. “I hated seeing you jailed but I couldn’t do shit.”

“I’m...I’m doing okay. Thank you for watching over me while I was stuck in there,” he said. 

“Of course kid. I’m always here, don’t hesitate to ask if you need me or Kya,” she said, taking the kettle off the heat. She poured the tea into two cups, handing one to Mako. 

“How are you dealing with all of this shit that’s going on?” Mako asked. “I saw a shit ton of paperwork on your desk today.”

She let out a dry laugh. “It’s just stressful. I mean, the city is still reeling from the change and struggling to figure out what to do next. Something like this is unprecedented and we aren’t prepared. Lately, it’s just been constant paperwork,” she said, sipping on her tea. 

“It could be worse though. I have support from Kya and Li Meiza,” she said.

“Who’s Li Meiza?” he asked.

“She’s my therapist. She’s damn good and is used to dealing with high profile clients and shit. Actually let me write this down,” she said, turning to grab a sheet of paper and some ink. 

“I think you would do well with her,” Lin said, handing him the sheet of paper. “She signs an NDA with you. She’s used to getting sensitive information from her clients, so this agreement reassures that the information you talk about won’t be used against her or you.”

Mako read the information with interest. “I’ll give her a call,” he said, folding the paper up neatly and walking to the guest room to place it with his uniform. He walked back into the main room and picked up his tea again. 

The two looked up as the door opened, Kya walking in with a sigh. “Hey Mako, hey babe,” she said. 

“Hey,” Lin said with a smile. “Do you want to cook or just do takeout?”

“I don’t think I have the energy to cook,” Kya said, flopping onto the couch. 

Lin chuckled. “Does Narook’s sound good to you two?” she asked. At two nods of confirmation, she called the restaurant and quickly placed their order. 

“They should get here in about forty minutes or so,” she said, sitting next to Kya on the couch. Mako sat on the adjacent couch, sipping on his tea still. 

“So anything interesting going on in your life?” Kya asked Mako, leaning into Lin. 

“Nope. Just work and sleeping at the station,” he replied.

“Feel free to crash in our guest room if you need to for a few weeks. You will be staying with us tonight at least,” Kya said, voice giving off an air of finality. 

“Don’t worry, I already told him he’s staying tonight,” Lin said with a smirk, pressing a kiss to Kya’s forehead. The waterbender chuckled and smiled at her fiancée.

He let out a small sigh, knowing neither woman would let him protest. “Okay,” he said with a slight smile. Mako wasn’t used to having people genuinely care about him besides Bolin and it was a weird adjustment for him. 

Kya let out a yawn, curling further into Lin. “I love my family but fuck they are exhausting,” she said. 

Lin and Mako chuckled. “The kids are nice but they are energetic to say the least,” the firebender said. 

“Mako have you ever played Pai Sho?” Lin asked.

“Once. I don’t remember how to play though,” he admitted with an embarrassed look on his face. 

“If you want I can teach you,” she offered. 

He nodded. “Yeah, that would be nice,” he said with a smile. 

Lin stood up off the couch and walked over to the bookshelf, opening the drawer where they kept games. She set the board down in front of him and began explaining the game. Time quickly flew by as Mako soaked in the information she was giving him, studying the board with rapt attention.

They both looked up in shock when Kya tapped their shoulders, holding the food. “Come on, you two need to eat,” she said, handing them an order of seaweed noodles. 

The trio ate quickly, quiet and easy conversation flowing. Before long, they finished eating and returned to the Pai Sho board. As expected, Lin beat Mako in the first game. He surprised both Kya and Lin by coming close to winning the second, but made a rookie mistake. 

Mako let out a yawn, causing both women to look at the time. “Okay, we all need to head to bed. Mako, if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask,” Kya said with a soft smile. 

He nodded in appreciation. “Thank you two so much for everything tonight.”

“It’s no problem kid. We like having you over,” Lin said softly, surprising everyone in the room by pulling him into a hug. He froze but quickly melted in her arms, hugging back tightly. “Goodnight kid,” she said, squeezing him one last time. 

He smiled and nodded, walking to the guest room. Lin followed her fiancée into the bedroom, quickly changing into her sleep shorts and taking off her bindings. She snuggled up next to Kya, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. The two just cuddled and softly murmured reassurances while kissing, both content to just relax in each other’s presence. Lin closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, content knowing that her kid was safe in the other room. 

She woke up with a start, immediately feeling that something was wrong. She got out of bed, walking to the main room of the apartment. She stopped when she heard a small whimper come from the guest room and opened the door. 

Her heart broke in two when she saw Mako huddled in the corner of the room. “Please, please don’t take him too,” he sobbed, slightly shaking. “Don’t take Bo.”

She walked over to him and sat in front of him. “Hey kid, can you hear me?” she asked softly. 

He gave a jerky nod. “Okay, I think you’re having a panic attack. Is it okay if I touch you?”

At the second nod she received, she immediately scooped him up and nestled her head on top of his. “Okay buddy, focus on my breathing,” she said, taking deep and slow breaths. 

She continued this for a few minutes, noting with pride that Mako did his best to follow her. “Good job Mako. I’m going to guide you through a method Li Meiza taught me to deal with panic attacks. Now, if you can, tell me five things you see,” she said gently, running her fingers through his hair. 

“I see the bed, your tank top, my hands, moonlight on the floor and the bed covers,” he said, voice hoarse from his crying. 

“Nicely done. Now can you tell me four things you can touch or feel?”

“I feel your hands, my shirt, the floor, and tears on my face,” he said, letting out a small sob again. 

“I’m proud of you kid. Let’s try three things you can hear,” she said, wiping the tears off his face. 

“I can hear the late night traffic, your breathing, and my heartbeat in my ears.”

“Good job Mako. Can you tell me two things you can smell?”

“I smell those scented washes you use and incense from earlier.”

“Nice job kid. There’s just one more step and you’ll be done. Tell me one thing you taste.”

“I taste blood from where I bit my lip,” he said, shakily taking in a deep breath. 

She smiled, pride filling her. “You did so good Mako. I’m proud of you,” she said, hugging him. “Do you want to go through the technique again?”

“I don’t think I need to,” he said, tucking himself further into her. 

“Do you want me to make us some tea? You can still hold onto me if you need to,” she said kindly. “Sometimes when I wake up after a panic attack I can’t let go of Kya.”

“Tea sounds nice,” he said, standing up with her. She walked into the kitchen, Mako not letting go of her arm. She quickly prepared some chamomile tea to help him relax and slipped her hand through his, squeezing to offer silent support. 

She poured tea for both of them, walking to the couch holding both. She placed the cups on the table before sitting down on the couch. Mako sat right next to her, pressed up tightly against her body. She handed him his cup of tea, the boy thanking her with a small smile. 

She took a sip of her tea. “I know I like to talk about my panic attacks most of the time. Sometimes, I just can’t get words out. If you want to talk, I’ll listen. If you can’t, that’s okay too,” she said softly. 

He sipped on his tea. The two sat in silence for a few minutes before he decided to speak. “When I was eight my parents were killed in front of me,” he said. “Bolin was six. I’m still not sure what they wanted, but whatever it was it was enough for them to kill. This scarf is all I have left of my dad, I don’t have anything from my mom. The firebender didn’t leave anything left behind. I couldn’t even take her wedding ring or any of her jewelry, it was all melted.”

“That’s when Bo and I went onto the streets. I got involved with the Triads to make some money because my baby brother needed me, fuck whatever morals I had left,” he said, pausing to take a long drink of the chamomile tea.  

Her heart broke for the poor kid. He had been through so much in his life and he never showed it. Lin still remembers the first time someone died in front of her, the experience traumatized her even though she was eighteen. She couldn’t imagine being ten years younger and seeing that, much less witnessing her own mother die. She just wanted to wrap him up in a tight hug and ease his pain away, but for now she remained silent and let him continue talking.

“I...I was so afraid that they were going to kill Bolin that night. When Unalaq attacked us I got so terrified. Bolin is the only family I have left and if something happened to him I couldn’t live with myself,” he said, words tumbling out in a rush. 

“I’m sorry Mako,” she said, wrapping him in a hug. She decided to reveal a secret she held close to her chest for years. “I...I have a half sister. We haven’t spoken in years and it’s probably for the best. While her and my mom are alive still, it felt like they died that day. Our family was broken beyond repair and things will never be normal. You shouldn’t have had to go through all you have, kid.”

He sniffed, looking at her with raw emotion in his eyes. “Thank you for trusting me,” he said, taking another long drink of tea. 

She placed a hand on his face, the boy instinctively turning into her hand. “Thank you for trusting me. I...I know I can be cold and bitchy but I do care about you Mako. If you need me at all, no matter how stupid it seems, let me know and I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

“I...I think I’ll go see that therapist you recommended,” the firebender said. “I need to talk with someone who can help me cope.”

She smiled at him with pride. “It’s always hard to realize when you need help. Even just admitting this is the first step. I’m so proud of you Mako.” 

“You...you didn’t have to check on me but you did. That means a lot to me,” Mako said. 

“I did have to check on you though. You mean a lot to me kid,” she said, ruffling his hair. 

The two sat in comfortable silence, finishing their tea. Lin took the empty cup from Mako and washed the dishes. Mako walked up beside her, drying the dishes off when she was done washing. 

“I’m going to try and head back to sleep,” Mako said. 

“Okay. If you need me for anything, wake me up. In the morning I’ll have Kya look at your lip, I remembered you said you tasted blood,” Lin said, placing the cups back where they belonged. 

He nodded and gave her one last tight hug before heading to the guest room. She smiled and walked back into the bedroom. She crawled back under the covers, pressing a kiss to Kya’s forehead. 

“Hey, is everything okay?” Kya asked. 

“Hey babe, I thought you were asleep,” Lin said softly. 

“I was but then I woke up and you were gone. I heard you and Mako talking but I couldn’t make out the words. Is everything alright?” she asked, concerned for both her kid and her fiancée. 

“He had a panic attack,” she said sadly, Kya wrapping her arms around her. “He told me about some of the shit he’s been through. He’s...he’s been through too much for his age.”

Kya pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thankfully he has you. You mean so much to him.”

Lin sighed, leaning into Kya’s embrace. “I know. It just...it kills me to not be able to say what I want.”

“What do you mean babe?” Kya asked.

“I...I see him almost like a son? I don’t see him as a colleague and he’s not a friend. I...I think he’s family but I don’t know. I just need to talk with Li Meiza,” the police chief said.

Kya hummed. “We’ll talk more after you can articulate what you’re feeling,” she said softly. “Goodnight my love.”

“Goodnight my dear,” Lin replied, closing her eyes and letting sleep overtake her.