Maya

The metal city of Zaofu was deemed to be paradise for all metal benders. But for some reason, the place felt far from that to Lin Beifong- the very legacy of metal bending.

Obviously, it had less to do with the element and everything to do with estranged, toxic familial relations, but over the years, Lin had to learn to make her peace with it. It helped having Opal living in Republic City to bridge the gap between the two sisters/cities, but physically being in Zaofu always took Lin back to that awful acupuncture experience. Sure, she felt better after the needles, but this place brought back all the memories as to why she had to get acupuncture in the first place.

As if already being disconcerted wasn’t enough, the added social element of five children, a yapper of a sister and an awkward brother-in-law amongst all the staff didn’t help.

After a rather trying dinner, her social energy drained, Lin was happy to be in the quiet of her assigned bedroom. The food was good as always, the kids- rambunctious, Suyin chattering, but the one person who was off that evening was Bataar Senior.

As a more reticent person herself, Lin could easily pinpoint how Bataar wasn’t his usual kind of reserved. He seemed more ill at ease than normal. Lin thought about checking in on him, but decided that his wife will probably notice once she shut that trap of hers she called a mouth.

The second Lin’s head hit the pillow, she realized she was thirsty. Two helpings of a chickpea salad will do that to anyone. She debated sleeping with a parched mouth until she realized everyone was likely in their rooms and she would have to give in to quench her thirst sooner or later.

So she ventured out to the kitchen.

Everyone was indeed in their beds- the lights were out and the silence was deafening. Pure bliss.

The large kitchen doors creaked softly when she stepped inside, but the sound of someone shuffling in there was louder. She felt an erratic heartbeat- her opening the door had definitely spooked whoever was in there- but it was still too dark to identify who it was.

She brisk walked towards the heartbeat and before she knew it, a pair of hands grabbed her waist and pulled her close to their body.

“Hey there,”

It was a man’s voice.

But before she could nail down whom it belonged to, the man’s lips were on hers. It wasn’t until she realized she was kissing him back- which wasn’t too long into the kiss- did she push him away.

“Bataar?” She cried softly.

“Su..?” He said in a meek voice.

Lin scrammed to the side of the room and turned on the light. Thankfully Bataar looked just as aghast as she had hoped.

“I’m so sorry- I- I told Suyin to come to the kitchen and I assumed it was her and- Lin, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ambush—”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” She said, unable to look at his pitiful face. “I mean, it’s not fine but I know you didn’t mean to kiss me.”

“It’s just that- Su’s mad at me and I don’t—”

“— don’t want to know!” Lin said louder.

“Actually I could use your advice- was that a good kiss? Was it the right amount of spontaneous and romantic?”

Lin cringed, pressing the bridge of her nose. “Why are you putting me in this position?”

“We got into a whole fight over this- she thinks I’m a sack of nothing and that really hurt my feelings.”

“Well, being hurtful comes with the Beifong genes. Don’t take it so personally.”

“Sure,” he said. “But that doesn’t help my case. I get that being married can become mundane even when you’re married to someone as extraordinary as Suyin. I can see how she would want some kind of excitement so I told her I had a surprise for her in the kitchen and—”

“And she isn’t going to come in because now you’re doing it because she asked and not because you want to.”

“Oh,” Bataar realized.

“Look, you know my sister better than I do,” Lin said, finally picking up a glass to fill with water. “Just take her out to a show tomorrow. Or a dinner. Or just give her some kind of importance- that woman thrives on attention- especially if it’s coming from someone she loves.”

“That- that’s actually really good advice,” he confessed.

Lin swallowed the last of her water before refilling the glass. “Great. Good luck with that. I’m going to bring this glass to my bedroom in case I need it at night.”

“Lin,” he called, stopping her in her step. “For what it’s worth you’re a great kisser and any man would be lucky to have you.”

The metalbender grimaced.

“And you’re beautiful, strong, independent and smart. You should let more people in and allow them to get to know the wonderful person that you are.”

“That’s all right,” she mumbled. “Save some of that for Suyin.”

“If I wasn’t married, I would have fallen for you in a heartbeat.”

“That’s so good to know,” she retorted sarcastically.

“Really,” he said in earnest. “I'm certain we'd be just as compatible.”

Lin wanted to throw up in her mouth. She could not tolerate another word from him.

“Why are you still going on?”

The architect shrugged awkwardly. He knew he should have stopped talking about eight sentences ago- this was why he preferred staying silent altogether.

“I'm not sure. I should probably go back to bed.”

“Yes!” Finally, Lin thought.

“Sleep well,” Bataar said, moving towards the door.

That night, with her thirst finally quenched, Lin slept surprisingly well. It probably had more to do with the excitement of returning to Republic City the next morning, but even in the deepest crevices of her mind she wouldn't admit that it felt nice to be held and kissed- and if it felt as good coming from someone like Bataar, how much better would it be coming from someone she actually cared for and was attracted to? Maybe there was some potential waiting for her back at Republic City. And maybe that was in part why she was excited to go home.

But it wasn't going to be an easy journey back. Not when Lin woke up to her sister standing over her bed, heaving.

“YOU AND BATAAR!?”

Lin was never making it back to Republic City at this rate. Not if her sister was going to throw her in the dungeons of Zaofu.

“It was an accident—”

“He told me everything!”

Lin gaped at her sister. Clearly, if he told her everything, she wouldn't have smoke piping out her ears.

“But he also told me how you rejected him. Why don't you think my Bataar is hot, Lin? Or do you just like them bald and boring?”