Heartbeat Chapter 1: New Old Scars
Summary: Lin Beifong is the Chief of Police of the Republic City Police Department and the eldest daughter of Toph Beifong. On the surface, Lin is tough, unyielding and direct and because of the painful events in her life Lin has put up barriers to protect herself from the pain of unsuccessful personal relationships. Kya is the second child and only daughter of Avatar Aang and Master Katara. Viewed by everyone as a free spirit, she is caring and loving to those close to her. Desperate to become her own person and find herself at age 19, she left home to travel the world and became a renowned healer on her own right. Now she's back to Republic City and has to face the long-buried feelings she has for Lin who happens to be dating her younger brother.
Alternatively known as: all the events that lead us to our beloved Kyalin
so... I decided to write a multichapter fic in the same universe as Heartbeat, it'll take the same name and here's the first chapter (fic under the cut) I used @synne-i art as a refference for Kya's and Tenzin's argument
cw: blood
Chapter 2: She
Chapter 3: Folding Metal
Chapter 4: And it all comes down to you
It was probably the hottest day Republic City had recorded that year. Lin's metal armor only made her feel warmer and more uncomfortable. People walked on the sidewalks in short clothes and crowding in the shadows. City Park was full of families and children running around and playing in the fountain water. She was making her first round of the day and so far nothing had caught the attention of her sharp eyes.
- Calling all units. – Lin listened on the radio – Robbery reported on the corner of Fifith and Harbor. Suspect's vehicle headed south on Hao Boulevard. – she wasn't far, it was probably the closest vehicle to the action – Units responding, identify.
- Unit Three responding. - she replied taking the radio off the console to respond
But before she could receive further instructions, a car which could only belong to the suspect passed her like a bulet against the grain. With a well calculated maneuver she changed the direction of her car and started the chase and turning on the siren and following the car at high speed, skidding around the corner and dodging several cars along the way.
- Ongoing chase. – Lin yelled into her radio and threw it into the passenger seat
When the street cleared of pedestrians and the rest of the cars cleared the way, she got a clear view of the getaway car. Lin reached out with her left arm, cast her cable metal cable from her waist towards the rear wheel of the vehicle, as always the launch was successfully executed and she drew the cable back to her hip, tearing off the wheel. The car lost control and hit the sidewalk lamppost. Lin abruptly braked her vehicle and ran down the street to reach the criminals who started to flee down the street and once again she stretched both arms forward, now staying on her base, wrapping her cables around their legs, throwing them to the ground and began to drag them towards her with the cables retracting them by bringing her closed fists to the sides of her hips.
- Leave them alone. - a very well-known voice asked
Looking to the side, she found none other than her younger sister, Su stepping out of the wrecked car on the sidewalk. Her eyes widened and involuntarily her base weakened making the metal cables fall limp to the floor.
- Su? – she asked in shock
Lin knew Su had been pushing all the limits for the past few months but this was something different, she was driving a getaway car, conspiring with criminals. And those weren't just any group of idiot teenagers like her sister, they were members of the Terra Triad, she recognized them as soon as they ran out of the car.
She have tried to talk to Suyin, show her how brilliant she was and that she didn't need to do the things she had been doing to get Toph's attention. Lin also tried to explain the situation to their mother, exposing the things Su was doing and saying that she needed to put limits on the teenager, but as always Toph dismissed her and said that she needed to relax a little and that not everyone was as booring as her. Lin shook her head trying to push the shock out of her mind, to proceed with the arrest of the robbers. She tied them up and sat them down beside the crashed car. Su followed her trying to get her to look at her and stop cuffing her friends, but Lin refused to look at her younger sister, now Lin was furious. When the younger Beifong realized her attempts were in vain, she stopped beside the car with her arms crossed in front of her chest, waiting until Lin was ready to talk to her. Lin took a deep breath before turning to her, punching the side of the car so hard that the metal column crumpled into the shape of her fist.
- So you are robbing stores with the Terra Triad now? - she questioned furious
- I'm didn't steal anything. I just drove the car. I owe my friends a favor, it's not a big deal. - Su defended herself calmly, there was a considerable distance separating the two sisters
- Such great friends. - Lin mocked - They fled and left you behind the first opportunity they had. – she knew that teasing Su was not the right decision to make, but the anger she felt prevented her from thinking of her words before they came out of her mouth – I'm not leting you get away with this. – she replied firmly making Su laugh
- Oh. And what are you going to do Ofecer, arrest me? - Su waved her of laughing and calmly turned to leave
- Don't even think about taking another step! You'll go to the Station with me. – Lin exclaimed angrily, making Su stop for a moment and then take a defiant step, wanting to test her older sister's limits
Without hesitation Lin returned to her base, intermittently moving her arms back and forth and winding her cable around her younger sister's wrist in a flawless launch. Filled with hatred Su bent a dagger out of her metal bracelet, slicing the cable that held her imprisoned. Lin watched in slow motion as the cable was cut and ricocheted through the air, she tried to control the metal coming towards her at high speed but encountered enormous resistance in doing so, only to realise the cable was already being bended, with a quick look at her younger sister's face Lin knew it was Su who was controlling it. She watched the metal writhe abnormally in the air feeling helpless, the wire was faster than her reflexes to dodge, hitting the right side of her face causing a mind-blowing pain, she felt her skin tearing apart and hot liquid running down her hand and neck and filling her mouth., she brought both hands to her face howling in pain. After a few seconds paralyzed by the shock of hurting her sister, Su ran towards her. She wanted to hit Lin, but not like that, her initial intention was just to scare Lin, but the anger she felt towards her older sister at that moment made her lose control of her bending.
- Lin! - She put a hand on her sister's shoulder
- Do not touch me! - Lin yelled as best she could through the pain and mangled cheek, jerking her touch away with a bloody hand. - Get in the fucking car! Now! - she stormed towards her viature in trobling legs
What happened next Lin couldn't say exactly, the pain throbbing in her face was such that she wasn't sure how she managed to drive back to Headquarters. The next thing Lin was able to concentrate was that she was sitting on a gurney in the small infirmary where lightly injured officers were attended.
- Get her out of here! – Lin screamed still in pain when she realized that her sister was sitting next to her
- Call Master Katara! – Lin's partner, Detective Saikhan, ordered a Officer beside him kneeling on the floor so he could look Lin in the eye
- No. – Toph exclaimed emerging in the small infirmary – Saikhan, go get a rescuer to stitch the wound, and take Su to my office. – Saikhan hesitated looking worriedly at Lin before saluting and leaving the room being followed slowly by Su – I'll talk to both of you later. - she said coldly to her daughters leaving the room again
Less than five minutes later Saikhan was returning to the infirmary followed by a rescuer who Lin thought looked very nervous in the shadow of her partner, and even more so after he saw her sitting in the chair covered in blood. The little man arranged all his equipment on a small table and sat down behind it facing Lin, he dampened a gauze and took Lin's hand slightly away from her face, and began to clean the wound using dozens of gauze and discarding them completely red with blood into a metal basin. After being conformed that this was the best he could do, he applied a paste solution all over the right side of the face of the Chief's of Police daughter.
- I'll start doing the suture now. – the rescuer informed in a surprisingly calm voice and approaching the needle to Lin's face – I applied an ointment with anesthetic properties, but it will still hurt a lot. - he informed almost with pity
- Shall I send someone to get Tenzin? - Saikhan asked worried leaning against the door frame holding his chin with his hand, he hadn't left her side since he returned with the rescuer
- No, he'll freak out if he sees me like this. – she replied as firmly as she could – Get it over with. - he said turning her face to the man so he could work
The pain of the first stitch was bearable, the pain of the fifth was a little less, by the time the rescuer started to give the last stitches of the first cut her nails were digging into her thighs and Saikhan was holding her still in the chair holding her by the shoulders. When the rescuer gave the last stitch Lin could still taste blood in her mouth and the side of her tongue could feel the stitches on the inside of her cheek. The man covered the two cuts now properly sutured with gauze, Lin thanked him with a murmur as he headed out of the infirmary.
- Lin? - Saikhan asked after a few minutes of silence on her part, she was close eyed and resting her head against the wall
- I need a blank report. – she asked turning to Saikhan, ignoring her throbbing face and moving her mouth as little as possible when speaking
- You won't make an arrest report now. - he tried to dissuade her, but the sharp look he received in response made him realize that nothing good would come out of it if he didn't do as she said
Without another word he left the infirmary and as soon as he returned he handed the folder accompanied by a pen to Lin's icy hands, Lin straightened up on the chair to start writing her report, but as soon as she opened the folder she noticed that her right eye sight was very blurry, the metalbender blinked several times trying to focus her sight, but realized that the effort was futile.
- You'll have to write for me. - she snorted handing the pen and the folder to her partner
Saikhan wrote down every word Lin dictated and then walked her silently to Toph's office. Lin could feel Saikhan's anxious and worried gaze on her all the way, avoiding it at all costs. As soon as they approached the double doors that read Chief Toph Beifong on the metal plate the Chief's assistant opened the door for Lin to enter, separating her from her partner as the doors closed again. Toph was facing the window behind her desk with her hands on her back, she turned her face slightly as she felt Lin enter the room. Su was sitting cross-legged on the other side of the table. She approached with light steps and sat down in the free chair beside her younger sister, Toph took a deep breath before turning to her daughters.
- What were you thinking? – She asked pointing to Su – And where were you thinking? – she pointed to Lin – You two put me in an impossible position.
- You're mad at me? She's the one who was running around with criminals. - Lin defended herself looking furious at Su
- It's all your fault! - Su exclaimed leaning towards her
- I was doing my job! – Lin imitated the movement
- Ugh, all right, enough! – Toph yelled massaging her temples – Here's what we're going to do. Su, you need to leave city as soon as possible.
- What? Where am I supposed to go? – she asked alarmed
- You'll go to Gaoling to stay with your grandparents. – Su dropped in the chair – Lin, give me the arrest report. - reluctantly Lin handed the report to Toph and watched bewildered as she ripped the document in half
- Mom, what are you doing? You can't cover this up. There were witnesses.
- I'm the Chief of Police, I can't have a daughter in jail. - She answered
- So, once again, Su gets to do whatever she wants, and there are no consequences. - Lin argued indignant
- This is our only option. - Toph leaned her elbows on the table holding her head and sighed deeply - Su, your Father is coming to the Station to pick you up and take you home go home to start packing your bags.
As if it were planed Toph's assistant stuck his head in the door crack and said:
- Chief, Councilman Sokka is here to pick up your daughter.
- Go. - Toph waved Su off - We meet you home.
Snorting Su got up from her chair and left the office with furious steps, Lin also got up and started pacing her Mother's office, her mind processing a million things at once.
- Lin, your angry breathing and heavy steps are almost leaving me deaf. – Toph turned to her. – Spit it out.
- I can't believe you're going to send Su to vacation at grandma and grandpa's house. She was acting with criminals! – "She disfigured me" her mind screamed, but she decided not to voice that thought
- And you didn't need to interfere. - Toph retorts – Lin, we could have dealt with this ourselves, you didn't need to arrest her.
- She was driving for the Triad! What should I have done? - she defended herself in a almost scream
- She's an idiot teenager, not a criminal! – Toph replied in the same tone
- She was acting like a criminal, she helped steal things!
- Please... the things were returned immediately and no one was hurt. - Lin laughed in disbelief, feeling her cheek throb with the movement
- What if someone had gotten hurt? Would you still have destroyed the report?
- You know what, Lin? Let's arrest Su, what would happen next? Have you even thought about it? One less Triad wandering around the city? - Toph put her fists on her hips. - A few months or a year in jail? Do you think the Chief's daughter would be welcomed with open arms in prison? How would this help Su? Or me? What would that do besides put another gold star on your resume? – Lin was immediately offended by what her Mother was suggesting
- This isn't about… - she broke off - Su can't just do what she wants! I'm trying to protect innocent people! You know our job!
- How about protecting your sister? That's our job too.
- Mom, you can't make exceptions for certain people.
- I will always make exceptions for my family! – Toph yelled – Spirits, Lin. At least Su knows what she did was wrong.
- How... how can you say that? – she was taken by the feeling of betrayal, she wanted to scream for everyone in the building to hear that Su had hurt her on purpose but her pride wouldn't allow her
- I will not arrest my daughter! – she yelled again and leaned back against the table once more taking a few deep breaths before turning to her eldest daughter – Hmmm… If you really have a problem with that why don't you arrest me, Lin? – she asked more calmly, opening her arms – Abuse of power? – she suggested – You saw me destroy the report. I even confess. – Lin was static in her place, fighting the hatred tears that gathered in her eyes – What is it? - she cupped her ear with her hands waiting for an answer from Lin that didn't come - No?
- Great, you won! – Lin shouted unable to hold back the tears anymore – I'm sorry I didn't do anything wrong – she turned to leave her Mother's office
- Where do you think you're going? – Toph demanded
- As if you cared. – she replied sarcastically
- Lin Beifong do not turn your back on me! - Toph yelled, showing her daughter that she could shout as well as she could. Lin turned slowly to face her Mother once more – Sign this. – she said coldly throwing a folder identical to the one Lin had given her moments ago, only this folder had a huge red stamp written "SUSPENSION" on the cover
- Are you suspending me? – Lin asked staring at the folder in disbelief
- Pack your shit and get out of here. You're suspended until further notice.
Lin took the folder, signed the indicated lines with a trembling hand, and threw the papers and pen with more force than necessary on her Mother's desk.
– This is Suyin's fault! – she screamed one last time before storming out of the office, slamming the metal doors so hard that the building shuddered
Lin threw all belongings from her desk into a cardboard box trying to ignore the look everyone was giving her and left Headquarters as fast as she could. Passing the precinct walkway she stopped and looked up to see her Mother's statue on top of the building. She was standing in the shadow of the metal sculpture being watched by her Mother's watchful, judging gaze. She laughed to herself, wondering how a blind woman could judge someone with her eyes as much as Toph Beifong.
The ferry's driver to Air Temple Island was startled to see her stepping into the boat with gauze covering half her face and smears of dried blood on the metal of her armor. As soon as she settled in the ferry started to pull away from the dock, Lin knew the ferry was leaving early but she decided not to comment. Within minutes she was getting off the boat and climbing the stairs leading to the Avatar family's house, as she approached the kitchen door she could hear raised voices arguing, it was Tenzin and Kya. The waterbender had returned home to visit her older brother as soon as she knew that the United Forces ship was docked in Republic City. It wasn't unusual for the airbender and the waterbender to argue, but the way their voices were altered told Lin there was something different this time.
- The least you could do is pretend. – Tenzin said gesturing openly to Kya
- I am pretending. - she argued crossing her arms
- Well, do it better then. - he insisted imitating his sister's gesture
Lin tried to concentrate on the words to try to understand the reason for the argument, but the throbbing pain in her face didn't allow her to make much sense of the words.
- OK! What do you say I, uh... Go over there and tell her how much I like her? It would be great! I can tell her how much I've been thinking about her! That I haven't stopped thinking about her, that I can't stop thinking about her, since the moment we met. – Kya was getting more agitated by seconds and her words were gwtting louder, she was dangerously close to Tenzin now and the tears she had fought so hard started to run down her face – That I'm so fantastically over the top, wanna slit my own throat, in love with her, that every minute of every hour of every day… - she grabbed Tenzin by the collar of his robes as the tears run unnoticed -… I CAN'T BELIEVE MY OWN DAMN SELF THAT SHE CHOSE YOU!
- Tenzin… - Lin called out to her boyfriend weakly as She reached the door of the kitchen of the house. He lowered his arms and turned to her, as soon as his gray eyes landed on his girlfriend the startled expression on his face was taken by one of shock
Kya still grabbed him by the collar and pierced him with a look that would make a grown man pee in his pants as tears drenched her thin face. As soon as the two realized that they were no longer alone, the waterbender released her younger brother and dried her eyes, trying to compose herself as much as possible, she looked alarmed by the way she let herself get lost in her emotions.
- Lin! – Tenzin jumped away from Kya and ran towards her putting one hand on her waist and the other lightly on the intact side of her face – Your face… What happened? – he dropped his hand to her back and guided her to sit on the cushion – Kya, go get Mom! - he shouted urgently
Kya was still frozen in place in the middle of the kitchen, her eyes wide and wet.
- Spirits! Linny, what happened? - she asked finally getting out of her state of shock and drying her face with the back of her hands, her voice was a little hoarse from yelling at Tenzin just moments ago
- Not now Kya, go get Mom! – Tenzin replied firmly to Kya without taking his eyes off of Lin
The waterbender went into action and less than a minute later Kya returned to the kitchen accompanied by Katara and Bumi. The elder waterbender approached Lin sitting beside her and asked quietly:
- Sweetheart, what happened?
- Suyin got involved with the Terra Triad members in a robbery and was driving the getaway car for them. I tried to stop her with my cables but she cut it and… - she finished the reduced story pointing to the bruised side of her face, she had done a decent job of keeping her voice at a level considered adequate and all shocked eyes were on her
- Can I take a look!? - she asked pointing to the bandage
Tenzin was crouched beside her one hand on her shoulder as Kya and Bumi watched silently behind Katara. Lin nodded and Katara slowly removed the now red gauze, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she saw the stitches, Tenzin paled beside her.
- Spirits. – Kya blurted out covering her mouth with her hands and receiving a reprimanding look from Bumi
Lin still hadn't seen herself in the mirror, so she didn't know what her face looked like, but from the pain she felt and the expression on everyone's faces as Katara removed the gauze she could imagine.
- Why didn't they bring you straight to me? – Katara asked more to herself than to Lin
- My Mother didn't let them. – Lin replied in a mixture of shame and fury
- Lin... - Katara placed the gauze on the table and Lin noticed that it was completley covered with blood - I can remove the stitches and help to close the wound but unfortunately, as they didn't bring you to me immediately... you will get scars. - she placed a loving hand on Lin's forearm
Lin didn't answer her head was too busy analyzing a thousand and one possibilities to formulate an answer so Katara asked Kya for a large bowl of water and as soon as it was placed beside them on the table, Katara pinned Lin's hair with a clip so it wouldn't get in her face. She bended the water on her hand and immediately it started to glow blue, the healer brought her hand up to the wound on Lin's face, it hurt at first but as Katara moved her hands the pain lessened, a few minutes of silence passed as Katara waterbended the stitches out of the cuts. Lin remembered the look she had received from Saikhan and her other colleagues and how uncomfortable she had felt with it, she was the only female officer at the station besides her Mother and had to work at least twice as much as anyone else inside that place to receive the same recognition as any of the male detectives, and to step away from the judgment of just being there for being the Chief's daughter and for getting out of her suffocating shadow. She began to wonder if it was with that look everyone would look at her after that day, the Chief's daughter who was disfigured by her 16 year old sister and then she remembered the determined look saw on Suyin's thin face as she bended her own cables against her. Katara noticed Lin twisting her face to try to avoid tears and asked worriedly:
- Sweetheart, I'm not hurting you, am I?
- No, it's just... it's so embarrassing, geting hit by my own gear! It'lll be a miracle if the other officers still respect me after that. - a stubborn tear ran down her face
- Lin, I'm sure that's not true, you're extremely respected, of course they'll understand. – Tenzin said sweetly, his loving hand returning to her shoulder
- Oh psh! – Kya waved a hand in the air pouting finally returning to her fun and playful state of being – You don't have to tell them anything! Have fun with them.
- Oooh yeah! – Bumi exclaimed behind Katara – Tell'em you tracked a mob boss back to his hideout but he had a giant tiger- monkey waiting for you. Which you killed with your bare hands, but not before he took a piece of you with it. – Bumi made a face, closing his hand in a fist and choking the air, Katara remained concentrated already used to the chaotic energy of her older children
- Tell them you had to save your sweet fragile boyfriend from a hoard of rabid badgermoles! – Kya brought her hands together to her face with her eyes shining
- Those are the most absurd things... - Tenzin snorted - That doesn't even make any sense. Why are you two even here? You are bothering Lin and distracting Mom! – Tenzin thundered, his face turning red, Lin thought it was very cute when Tenzin got angry and his face turned red and she couldn't help but smile quietly as she looked at him
- Ha! She is smiling! – Kya exclaimed, raising her arms in celebration – We won!
- Look at his angry little bald head. – Bumi teased – It looks like someone drew an arrow on a tomato.
After a few more minutes Katara returned the water to the bowl Kya had brought and stepped back from Lin, analyzing the final result of her work and trying to hide a sad smile.
- I managed to close the wound, but it's still very hurt internally, you'll still need a few more sessions with me. I did everything I could to make the scar as small as possible. There's been nerve damage, so you'll feel pain occasionally. You will still feel uncomfortable to move the right side of your face and eat for a few days, but if it starts to hurt to badly you need to let me know. – Katara said while preparing the gauze and bandage to dress the wound once more, Lin nodded – Do you want to look in the mirror before I close it? – Lin confirmed insecurely – Then Kya will teach you to change the bandages. – Lin looked at the younger waterbender who smiled minimally at her
- I'll go with you. – Tenzin said standing before her
- No… – Lin said gently placing a hand on his chest – Kya, can you come with me? - she asked trying to sound as firm as possible turning to the waterbender who nodded and held out her hand for her to hold
- Why Kya? – Tenzin asked indignantly to his Mother, who responded with a slap with the back of her hand on her son's chest, who was watching his sister and girlfriend leaving the kitchen.
In front of the mirror Lin studied her face in silence, two pink scars crossed her right cheek reaching her cheekbone, they weren't completely closed and a few drops of blood started to accumulate in some spots. She realized she was seeing much better with her right eye now and wondered if she should tell Katara about her blurry vision later. The metalbender tried to run her fingers gently over them, but as soon as her fingertips touched the first inch of skin, she let out a shudder of pain and took her hand away from her face. She turned her attention to Kya's reflection behind her shoulder and smiled sadly at her.
- Do you want me to teach you how to make the bandages? – Kya asked briefly raising her busy hand with packages of gauze and bandage, once again Lin nodded
Kya explained in detail how Lin should clean the wound every morning and before bedtime and what ointment she had to apply, how she should remove some of the glue from the adhesive before putting it on her face so as not to hurt the skin when taking it off and how to put it on the gauze so that the dressing was firm. Lin listened to everything Kya had to say to her intently. The waterbender's eyes strayed from her explanations occasionally to look into Lin's eyes, but her attention was regained as soon as she realized she was starting to lose herself in their green.
- I think it's a good thing I never cared much about my appearance – Lin commented as soon as Kya finished helping her to put the new gauze over the wound and the older woman placed both hands on her shoulders
- You look tough. – Kya said looking into Lin's eyes and allowing herself to take a few seconds there – And scars are very sexy. – she gave Lin a wink and smiled, then she turned to left the bathroom without saying anything else
