Chapter 26: Their Bond

***

Korra was running down the corridor while also being cautious, as they knew there were still Equalists around them. Ahead of her was Beifong and behind her were the three teenagers she was unfamiliar with. Running alongside her is Mako, who has been silent since their disagreement earlier. 

Mako and the others wanted her to stay behind and leave Yuze to them, but she refused and insisted on coming along with them. She saw the looks in their eyes. The look that they deem her as powerless, not capable of protecting herself, a weak person now that Amon has removed her bending capabilities. But she will take none of it. She insisted, stubbornly saying that she would come no matter what they said. They argued, mostly with Mako, that she must lower her pride, even just for once, but she denied it, even though she knew deep down inside it was the truth. But in the end, Lin relented and let her come along, sensing the Avatar would be too stubborn to back down.

Although that's not the reason she stands her ground, but because it's Yuze. The woman she looks up to and considers her older sister. And she doesn't want the woman to be hurt, especially if it is done by her own. She doesn't want Yuze to destroy herself.

It had been proven from time to time that Yuze had a tendency to self-destruct. Not the self-destruct where she harms herself physically. Well, close enough. She harms herself emotionally, until it affects her physical being. She always neglected herself. Behind her friendly and free spirit lies a lonely person. Isolating herself from anyone. Thinking it's for the best.

How ironic. The same woman who boasts around, challenging even the person with the highest position with bold words, and always stands in front of her enemy with a taunting smile has the least self-regard of all.

But Korra could see that Yuze is getting better. She watched as her firebending teacher slowly came out of the fort she had built around herself. The first time she met the woman, she wanted to keep to herself. After their training session, she will go back to her room. Back to her solitude and will not come out until it's time to eat or her training session again. Until Korra couldn't handle it anymore, and she came into Yuze's room, more like bargaining at the door and convincing, which really means forcing, the older woman into hanging out with her. It was proven successful as there was a clear bond between them. 

The Avatar will not deny Tenzin's proclamation that she played a role and the reason Yuze started healing. But the person Korra thinks has the most contribution to it all is the person in front of her. She doesn't know what's with Lin that it brought new things to Yuze. The firebender likes to tell stories with a smile on her face, but every time the topic of the Chief came up, the older woman always lit up. 

Like she and Yuze have a bond, a sisterly bond, Korra could see that there's also a bond between Lin and Yuze. She could not exactly point it out, but the first time she saw them teasing and laughing. The way Beifong looked at the younger woman with softness and the way Yuze grinned with child-like happiness, glinting her eyes. 

It shocked her to the core, I mean, who wouldn't when the tough-as-nails Chief suddenly became soft and the woman who always hides behind smirks and smiles was genuinely happy? But at the same time, it's — oddly warms her heart.

That's why she's not surprised at how the former—whatever, she's still the Chief of Police in her eyes— looked concerned about her assistant, but there's also something else beneath it, which she couldn't name. Well, whatever it is, she's sure that the three behind her know whatever it is.

She heard them murmuring under their breaths about something, but she didn't bother to engage with it. She has more pressing concerns than some idle gossip. A lie. She likes gossip— loves it, even— but this is not the time for that.

As she looked at the back of the Chief of the Police, she wondered what was going on in her mind.

Behind Korra, Yuze's students are wondering the same as her.

"I worried about Sifu. I never saw her like that," Luhan stated his concern quietly to his friends.

"I also worry about her, but what I'm also concerned about is Miss Beifong," Jiayi replied, staring at the back of the earthbender's head. "She had barely spoken for a while now."

"But that's Miss Chief—"

Jiayi sent her earthbending friend a look that made the latter shut his mouth. 

"No, Jiayi is right," Zhen cut into the conversation, "While Chief Beifong is usually someone who keeps to herself and is very reserved, I could tell it's different this time."

"I could not fault her," Jiayi looked again at the older woman in front of them all, "Yuze is her daughter. She must be worried to death."

"It's still not registering in my mind," Luhan stated in disbelief and wonder as he tried to process the idea that Yuze and Chief Beifong are related, a mother-daughter, no less. "I mean, I didn't expect Yuze's mother to be Lin Beifong!"

"Shhh!" Jiayi reprimanded her loudmouth friend. Luhan covered his mouth as the three of them looked at the two people— the brooding firebender and the bendless Avatar (What a cruel thought they have)— and sighed in relief as the two didn't seem to have heard what Luhan had accidentally blurted out. Yes, it was a whisper, a loud whisper. But it can't say the same to the woman they spoke of.

The three flinched when they saw Lin's body tensing for a moment before relaxing again. Although it seems like the Chief let it pass for now, it didn't bring any ease to their heart. They know they will hear the song later, after all of it is done. 

"But same," Jiayi said, agreeing with Luhan's words. They were about to continue their talk when they heard Lin grunt, and their body immediately in alert, only to relax again when they saw the earthbender bump with the Airbending Master.

"Lin?" the monk asked, helping the woman stabilize her footing. Tenzin scanned her whole being, checking for any injuries.

The Chief waved her hand dismissively and distanced herself from the Councilman, "I'm okay," then she furrowed as she looked behind him, "Where's your family?"

"They are fine," Tenzin reassured her, "Lieutenant Jin and your other officers are with them."

Lin rolled her eyes and didn't bother to correct her old friend. Now that she think of it, why didn't she see any of her— oh screw it— her police officers throughout the chaos? But that was a discussion for later.

Tenzin then looked behind her, and when his eyes met with Korra's, he knew that something had happened.

The Airbending Master felt like his heart had dropped on his stomach, "Did— Did Amon..."

The Avatar diverted her gaze, biting her quivering lower lip to stop herself from being emotional. She will let herself grieve later. But a tear escaped and slid down her cheek when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Korra looked up and saw gray eyes staring at her softly, "I will not tell you it's okay because it's not, but I'm here, Korra. We are here."

Korra didn't reply but nodded. The back of her hand was wiping her eyes. Tenzin gave the young woman a moment to compose herself and let his eyes scan the others. His brows furrowed when he noticed someone was missing.

"Where's Yuze?"

And as if on cue, they heard a loud crash from outside the building. Their heads snapped toward the direction from which the sudden heat was coming.

Tenzin, knowing the answer from his previous question, turned his head once again to the group, face stern, "What happened?"

Korra was the one who answered, "I don't know what truly happened, but I think what Amon did had removed Yuze's seal."

The Airbending Master froze, skin pale at the news. He muttered, "This can't happen," then shook his head, his face turning serious again. "Then let's go, we need to stop her quick."

Then they began running again until they got outside, where they were greeted with the sight of an almost unrecognizable figure of Amon being held on the neck by Yuze, who was about to strike the former with a flame dagger. Tenzin responded quickly and blasted a gust of air on the young woman, which made the latter fly away from the fraud leader.

Once the woman had recovered from the attack and hissed angrily at them, Tenzin stepped forward. Face was hard as stone, "Yuze, stop this in instant!"

The silver-eyed woman seemed to be offended by what the airbender said because the atmosphere grew intensely hot, and the air surrounding the firebender began to dance, "Stop?! On what?! I'm just stopping the man who caused all of this!"

"Do you think what you are doing is just a simple stopping?!" Tenzin bellowed, gesturing with his hand towards Amon, "Look at Amon, he is barely recognizable! He is even barely breathing!"

At his words, Yuze seemed to have a glimpse of reality as she looked at the sham leader. Tenzin's face softened when he saw the realization dawning in the younger woman, "Yuze, purge the anger. It's over. We won."

However, instead of calming down, it seems like it brought the opposite reaction. The airbender saw the telltale sign of the beginning of the panic attack. He saw Yuze's body tremble, her hand clutching her chest.

"Yuze?" he heard Korra's concerned voice.

Then they felt the heat coming from the kneeling woman grow more intense, and sweat began to form on their foreheads. They saw how the erratic up and down of Yuze's chest as if she's having difficulty to breath.

"Yuze?" Tenzin stepped forward, but the moment he did, he hissed in pain as heat licked at his skin. He chose to retreat to the safe ground, "Yuze! Breathe!"

His voice appeared to reach her as Yuze glanced up. As if just realizing something, her eyes drifted past him, stopping at one person. Her already pale skin became paler. Eyes widened in horror, and air caught in her throat. 

He looked behind him to follow her gaze because whoever it was, they clearly had a great effect on Yuze. He expected to see Korra, but he didn't expect Lin.

Lin was staring at the now-unconscious but still breathing, albeit with difficulty. She took in the full extent of what had befallen the man lying on the ground, bruised and wounded. The sight of the bone peeking out of the deep cut on his wrist and the handprint covering his neck had her stomach churning. Who had done this?

You know who.

The former Chief shook her head. As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew her daughter was the one who caused this. Despite knowing what Yuze was capable of, she couldn't bring herself to fear her. Because she's her daughter. That's her bǎo bèi.

For whatever reason, maybe from exhaustion or the whirlwind of events, she suddenly felt tears prick the corner of her eyes.

Then she heard Tenzin's agitated voice, yelling, "Yuze! Calmed down! Breathe!"

The earthbender tore her eyes away from the battered man and met the quivering silver eyes. She watched with great pain as the younger woman clawed her chest, gasping for air. 

Lin felt like someone was holding a dagger and dragging it through her chest. Pain erupted from deep within her at the sight of her daughter in agony. She stepped forward, aching to hold her, desperate to hug the pain away from her baby. Her hands flew to her mouth, attempting to stifle the sob that begged to break free.

Oh, bǎo bèi, what had caused you this pain?

But before she could even step further, a sound of scream tore from Yuze, and a towering wall of white flame erupted, encircling her. Hindering their view of the younger woman.

Luhan, having it predicted to happen, bent the ground beneath Amon to move him beside them, while at the same time moving everyone far away from the flame. 

Lin, fearing for her daughter's well-being, tried to run towards her despite the flame hindering her, but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She whirled around, eyes staring deathly at whoever dared to prevent her from going to her daughter.

"Let go, Tenzin," the earthbender said in a low, cold voice.

The air nomad shook his head, face hard as stone, "What are you doing? Do you want to die?"

Lin forcefully tagged her arm, freed from her old friend's clutches, "I don't care whatever happen to me because I will be damned if something happened to my—" she paused, shaking her head.

"No, Lin," Tenzin said firmly, eyes looking at her sternly, "It's too dangerous."

The earthbender's face became murderous, "I'm not asking for your approval, Tenzin."

"Lin—"

"No, Tenzin. You can't stop me from going to her."

"Lin, listen," the airbender looked straight at her emerald eyes, "Yuze is too dangerous to approach now. If we attempted to go there, something might happen to us or worse."

Lin laughed, but without any humor with it, "So what? We will just leave her there? I thought you cared for her?" 

"I do care for her—"

"Well, it seems to me that you are not!" the earthbender yelled. She noticed the surprise on everyone's faces at her losing her usual composure, excluding Tenzin, who looked moments away from snapping himself. Lin forced herself to calm down and turned her back on him, "If you don't want to do anything, then don't," she glanced at her daughter's student, "Luhan, make a tunnel leading inside. Zhen, you're with me. Your ability may not match Yuze's, but I know you can at least reduce the heat. Luhan, once Zhen and I are in, come back here and close the hole. Jiayi, I want you to stop Tenzin or anyone else from getting in our way."

She saw the three teenagers tense their bodies at the command, faces stern, including the ever-smiling earthbender. They nodded and immediately went to work.

"You can't do this, Lin."

Lin looked at the airbender from her shoulder, "You know damn well, I can."

"Miss Chief, it's ready," she heard Luhan say.

Tenzin was about to use his bending to stop his old friend when something cold restrained his feet, and a flash of water forced his hands to go behind his back, then froze solid.

Lin turned around and gestured to Luhan and Zhen to follow her, then she jumped into the hole.

"Do you think a single young waterbender with no experience could stop me?" the airbender asked as he took a deep breath, inhaling the hot air around him. Then let it out at his feet, which made the ice melt at a great pace. Once his sure it's fragile enough, he forces himself out of the caging. 

His guard, Jiayi, if he remembered correctly, looked at him in shock and was about to use her bending when the airbender suddenly leapt, tucking his legs in his clasped hands in the process while also launching a gust of wind mid-kick.

Thank spirits for all the stretching he had done to make his body flexible.

Tenzin ran towards the hole only to be stopped by a gust of wind hitting him. As the attack was unexpected, he didn't have time to prepare to land himself in a graceful manner, but instead he crashed into the railing of the bridge.

He looked where the attack came from with astonishment. At the same time, Korra was also looking down at her hands, eyes wide open. Behind her, Mako was helping Jiayi to stand on her feet.

"I can airbend," the waterbender muttered under her breath. While she still felt empty because of the other element being taken to her, their still a feeling of relief coursing through her.

Tenzin shook his head. They will deal later with their newfound discovery, but for now, there is one stubborn Beifong he still needs to stop before she can let herself be killed. He's sure that if that ever happens, the guilt Yuze's carrying will be added, and he doesn't know what he will do to console her.

"Korra, you are stopping the wrong person," Tenzin stated as he stood on his feet with a groan.

At her name, the Avatar lifted her head and stared at her Airbending Master, "No. I may be wrong about many things, but I had a feeling this is not one of them."

"Korra, you know well what will happen when Yuze realizes she hurt someone close to her heart."

The Avatar's eyes became unfocused as her mind played a scenario where her former teacher would be left broken for life. She shook her head, "That will not happen."

"Why is there no one else siding with me?!" Tenzin yelled in frustration. If he just had hair, he probably would have already ripped it out of his head. Sadly, he doesn't have.

"Tenzin, you need to believe in me. I have a feeling Lin can calm Yuze down."

"You didn't see Yuze had this episode when she still didn't have a seal, Korra. And no one, I mean no one, was able to calm her down. How sure are you Lin will succeed in something no one has ever done before?"

"You need to trust in me with this one, Tenzin," Korra said almost pleadingly, "There's a bond between them and I know that can help Yuze."

"Bond?" Tenzin asked with confusion.

"Oh, don't tell me you didn't notice the relationship between Yuze and Beifong?" Korra rolled her eyes."It transcends the boss-employee relationship, and it is also not friendship," she saw the accusation on Tenzin's face, making her groan, "Not like what you are thinking, Tenzin! I don't know what it is, but it's there."

Tenzin noticed one of the three teenagers tensed up at Korra's words. He narrowed his eyes, and Jiayi must have realized she looked suspicious because she diverted her eyes while whistling. He shook his head, looked at the wall of white flame, and took a deep breath. "Very well, I will trust you with this one."

On the other side of the wall, Lin and the others had just arrived. If the outside is already hot, it is doubled inside. Zhen immediately let his bending accommodate the change of environment. Luhan, on the other hand, went back to the tunnel, closing the hole in the process. 

The air around them shimmered from the heat, blurring everything in sight. The blinding light coming from the flame also didn't help. Yet despite that, they could still make out Yuze's silhouette in the distance. 

"There." Lin pointed at where her daughter is. Zhen nodded, and the two of them began moving.

***