It wasn’t coldness or even harshness; it was a dedication to duty and Lin recognized that. For as much grief as she gave him, Tenzin was a good leader, but it was the General’s understanding, his fast, internal prioritization that Lin considered the mark of a capable leader. Someone who deserved the power he had and one that his people respected without consciously realizing it.
She kept pace with him almost easily, the tactical necessities and strategies distracting her from the physical. “The problem is that there won’t be time to train your men against these moves. Perhaps a lesson in dodging from the Avatar will suffice.” It had to, but Lin didn’t mention that. She did not want to put this war in the hands of children, but Spirits knew that children had triumphed before. And besides that, Korra and her friends (more her friends than herself) had witnessed chi-blocking in the position best for learning: on the streets with their lives and bending at stake.
“It isn’t just chi-blocking. They’ve outfitted themselves with electricity- gauntlets that do the work of electrocuting and chi-blocking in one. The effects last for a significantly shorter amount of time, but the pain and unfamiliarity are difficult to contend with without proper preparation. Those with the ability to bend lightning might be able to redirect the energy, but it should be avoided at all cost.”
Lin paused, shifting her weight back to make sure not too much pressure was put on any one spot of her form. “They won’t hesitate where civilians are concerned. You’ll need to let your people know to keep the fighting away from any citizens. The Equalists give no heed to anyone caught in the crossfire.”
“Can’t say I expected much else. The equalists wouldn’t have mounted such a furious offensive without the artillery to back it up. Sato turned out to be a more useful asset than Amon could have hoped for.”
He exhaled slow, and for a moment, Iroh looked older than his years, worrisome lines at his mouth and a heavy creases deepening the shadows cast on his face. It wasn’t his first time quelling insurrection, and it certainly wasn’t his first time on the battlefield, but now he entered the stage as General Iroh, not the captain that could slip on a mask and do his work as a spirit in the night. There would be no more of that now.
He needed to lead, and he knew that there would be losses.
“Typical cowards,” he muttered, an uncharacteristic slip of disgust making his jaw clench. “Tenzin warned me that Amon had managed too tight a hold on the skies for us to make any progress there. But has he no love for his countrymen? He claims he fights for the people, but he destroys their home as we speak. There has to be a way to force Amon from the city and have him come to us. Or at least drive him toward the mountains.”
“Unfortunately.” His cover had been good, too. A philanthropist who used his funds to support a rag-tag pro-bending team. Without ever stating it aloud, he’d affiliated with benders and drew suspicion away. Even if it hadn’t been smart- which it had- it had worked. “They have air-ships and tanks that are far more mobile than we could create in the time allotted.”
She raised an eyebrow at him, lips remaining flush against each other in a neutral line. He’d taken the burden of responsibility well, but it aged him. As it should, of course, but it stood as just another reminder that no matter how many times evil was faced down and forced away; it would never be defeated. Not entirely.
At least they had their best men fighting the good fight.
The corner of her mouth twiched slightly at his unveiled disgust. It was no less than what she felt, but it took a younger man to express the anger she tried to avoid. The show was refreshing, reminding her that they had the fuel to overcome this. “That would be the wisest move, though part of me believes he will suspect that. His goal has changed, though- at least, to the best of my knowledge. We have what he wants- which is the Avatar.” Pausing for a moment, her gaze fixated on a spot in the distance.
“He’s getting desperate, and we’ll use it against him. No longer does he simply want to cleanse, as they tout, the benders.” Her tone was edged with a heavy, biting anger for a moment. “This is his final move- he offered me my bending in exchange for the Avatar’s location.” She found his gaze, meeting it strong and fast. “I cannot urge caution enough. His weakness will be our greatest strenght and secret weapon.”
Where Iroh was stubborn, Lin Bei Fong was an immovable ballast, asserting indifference to her wounds with a hard gaze and flat refusal. The urge to insist dead at his lips, Iroh had the grace to let Lin take the lead as she saw fit.
“Very well.”
Iroh observed the woman with a measure of concern but gestured for her to walk with him. He kept his pace even; there was no need to coddle her, and Iroh wouldn’t insult her with pity. She might’ve been hurt, but her pride was intact, and that was what mattered most.
“Chi-blocking isn’t something these men have actively faced before. And we’re in unfamiliar territory. The faster they can situate their minds, the better chances we have at gaining ground.”
It wasn’t coldness or even harshness; it was a dedication to duty and Lin recognized that. For as much grief as she gave him, Tenzin was a good leader, but it was the General’s understanding, his fast, internal prioritization that Lin considered the mark of a capable leader. Someone who deserved the power he had and one that his people respected without consciously realizing it.
She kept pace with him almost easily, the tactical necessities and strategies distracting her from the physical. “The problem is that there won’t be time to train your men against these moves. Perhaps a lesson in dodging from the Avatar will suffice.” It had to, but Lin didn’t mention that. She did not want to put this war in the hands of children, but Spirits knew that children had triumphed before. And besides that, Korra and her friends (more her friends than herself) had witnessed chi-blocking in the position best for learning: on the streets with their lives and bending at stake.
“It isn’t just chi-blocking. They’ve outfitted themselves with electricity- gauntlets that do the work of electrocuting and chi-blocking in one. The effects last for a significantly shorter amount of time, but the pain and unfamiliarity are difficult to contend with without proper preparation. Those with the ability to bend lightning might be able to redirect the energy, but it should be avoided at all cost.”
Lin paused, shifting her weight back to make sure not too much pressure was put on any one spot of her form. “They won’t hesitate where civilians are concerned. You’ll need to let your people know to keep the fighting away from any citizens. The Equalists give no heed to anyone caught in the crossfire.”
Bolin couldn’t help but stare at the pro-bending arena for the thousandth time, just as he always did when he took walks around Air Temple Island. He and Mako had so many memories there; it was their first home off the streets, and now it was gone. They’d moved on to a new phase in their lives now that they’d met Korra. It was interesting just how influential she could be in such a short amount of time.
Rarely did he run into anyone on these evening walks, but this time he found Lin Beifong, standing outside, alone. Normally, he probably wouldn’t approach her. She was more than a little bit intimidating to him, but he had been seeing more and more what a great person she was. Ever since the attack on the arena, she had looked out for all of them except herself.
It had been a rough night for all of them when Korra finally returned to them, but Bolin had seen the look on her face when she led her former metalbenders out of the Equalist hideout. Lin Beifong was having regrets, maybe even blaming herself, but Bolin knew she wouldn’t ask anyone for any help. It was a feeling he knew all too well. For that, he decided to walk up next to her. She possibly wouldn’t want to be comforted or even talked to, but Bolin wanted her to be okay.
“Ms. Beifong? How are you doing?” The last question was meant as much more than a greeting.
Lin Beifong was never concerned with the sky. She didn’t stargaze at nights, and when she felt the world’s vibrations they always came from what she could feel. Could hold. Could recognize and manipulate and hear. She could hear the earth from the time she was a little girl and when she sough solace, rarely as it was, it was where she could find her roots.
There were always exceptions, though, and once the Avatar was safely delivered to her room on Air Temple Island, she had remained for the time being; the location offered every element- the water lapping at the stone cliffs, and the breeze made the fire in the lamps dance and flicker. If she was going to find somewhere to meditate, it was here where everything came together.
She could only fault herself, if she was to fault anyone. Perhaps Amon could share that blame, but she had some measure of it. Those men- brave and selfless- had done their job. And the price they paid was their bending. Part of themselves. Lin had asked much of them, but would never ask that. Not the sacred foundation of their being.
Her head bowed as she sat against the stone ringing the pavilion. Not in defeat, though it may have appeared that way. No; her feet were flat against the earth, hands pressed to the rough hewn bench as she breathed. In, out- matching the motion of the distant waves and the rolling of the vibrations beneath her.
It would not do to dwell in self-loathing. The best thing she could do was to move forward- and under the massive canvas of the sky, seeing how small she was compared to the soul of the universe easily facilitated that.
The voice didn’t startle her, but she made sure to school her features into an expression of stern neutrality. The Avatar’s good natured earth bender friend- Bolin if she remembered correctly. She liked him- he needed some training, of course. Too light, too soft, and he didn’t seem to understand the fundamentals of his art, but all that would come in time, come with age. She nodded at him.
“As well as can be,” was the noncommittal response. A child would not hear the woes of her burden- not even her closest associates would know. Raising an eyebrow and setting her jaw, she ventured, “I hope you are well, as are your friends and Korra.” They’d all been worried, all tread a difficult path.
“I can fill you in on the intelligence I’ve collected,” she informed him evenly. It was easy to see what was wrong- certain districts were still smoldering, citizens were running for their lives. The harbors could barely handle the demands for ferries to the main lands of the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. But he needed to know exactly what he was getting himself into.
Her neutral expresion dropped a fraction into something resembling exasperation. “Unnecessary,” was the clipped reply, “I’m fine.” There were things that ached, and worse, but what hurt the most couldn’t be fixed nor dwelled upon. She couldn’t afford to lose herself in dark thoughts when the city needed every fighter it could get. “It’s more important that you and your men are prepared and briefed in case time runs out faster than we anticipated.”