#bendingmuses

While Wu had been to the Republic City Police Station a handful of times — obviously not for nefarious reasons —actually being in the space when everyone wasn't actively ignoring him because of work or otherwise was an entirely different experience. Sure, he was used to being chatted up by a bunch of strangers (and sometimes welcomed it) due to his title, but his mind was truly elsewhere as the back of his mind was a tangled mess of governmental and diplomatic things he left back in Ba Sing Se... yet here he was in Republic City. Even though he found a quiet spot to himself after a few rounds of chats, it didn't quite quell his mind.

He blinked back to attention as he felt a soft kiss pressed to his cheek, his vision refocusing on the sly little smile on Mako's face as a drink was passed into his hand. He followed his boyfriend's gaze up at the hanging sprig above them and immediately felt the tips of his ears start to burn.

ㅤㅤ❝𝓨ou came all this way to see me?❞

"Oh, always. Like, it kinda goes hand-in-hand with the whole, uh, sorry to be a downer immediately but, being orphaned at really young age. I was super young and, to be honest, don't remember too much about them.

"And I know I don't really talk about it much, but being a kid of a mixed background is kinda complicated, I guess? Like, I know that mixed folks aren't a new concept or anything, but I feel like folks really, uh, lean into one Nationality, because it's not like as benders you can really bend more than one element unless you're the Avatar, but even then, we have a whole history of them kinda living and practicing the traditions of the Nation they were born in, right? Like, I know I'm an earthbender, but I have both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation blood in me thanks to my dad and mom respectively.

"And even then it's awkward because I didn't even grow up in the Earth Kingdom, but instead here in Republic City where it's a whole melting pot of different cultures, and it's really cool to be able to celebrate all of them here and everything!" His voice then trailed off as his gaze lowered to the ground. "But since I didn't grow up on like more cultural practices, it's hard to say that I feel like I truly belong to either one?" He then perked up a bit, putting a lopsided grin on his face. "BUT! It's really cool to have our dad's side of the family here in Republic City, and since they've been in the Earth Kingdom all their lives up until now, I'm learning a lot! But, like I said, I'm still part Fire Nation, so I wanna know more. I'm sure Mako does, too."

The 39 year old Airbender drummed his fingers nervously out of frustration. He held his head in his other hand. Thoughts raced about the past few weeks. All the fights they had, attempts to atone for harsh words and hurt feelings, an acolyte he didn't even know confessing her love to him, pretending that everything was ok, -- convincing himself everything was ok...

It's fine. Everything is going to work out.

Tenzin slapped the table, abruptly breaking the drumming pattern. Slumping into his seat, his arms folded and his stomach hurt. He looked down at his lap.

"Where are they?"

"Mako."

She did not mince words around her most prized detective. So the fact that she shot straight and said his first name should have said something within itself. It's arms crossed and lily green eyes scanning the young man as she spoke - - -

"He is hard to deal with," a fact about Tahno that they could both agree on, "But you weren't perfect either when you first started. You needed training like everyone else. Toughen up and teach him."

"Where would you be if I had given up the first time you were arrested with those explosives?

Tahno has as much potential as you have proven you had and still have."

A parental pause.

"Wait–" he pauses, looking between her and back to Wu. "You're... jealous of me?" he raises a hand. "I mean..." he lets out a sigh. "You know what I mean."

Mako And Princess Yua Of The Fire Nation

Based Of The Wonderful Fanfic By @bendingmuses

Called The Princess and The Cop