Republic City // Lin Beifong x Fem Reader

A Glance That Lingers

A Glance That Lingers

"Ah, Jinora, where's your sister?" Tenzin's voice carried through the dining room as I stepped inside.

"Right here, Dad," Jinora replied, pointing in my direction.

I walked into the room, greeted by the familiar warmth of my family's presence. But my attention quickly shifted to the tall, imposing woman standing beside Tenzin. She wore a police uniform with a stern expression that commanded respect. Her eyes, a piercing green, scanned the room, taking in the three little ones with a no-nonsense glare before resting on me. Her gaze lingered, studying me from head to toe before she moved on, surveying the rest of the room. Her aura radiated authority, and I could tell immediately that this was a woman who was used to being in charge.

Tenzin's voice broke through my thoughts. "Now that we're all here, I want you to meet Chief Beifong, a close friend of mine."

Chief Beifong... The name suited her. She had short, steel-gray hair that framed her face at shoulder length, complementing the resolute expression she wore. As I took in her presence, I didn't notice Pema until she gently guided me to my seat.

"Nice to meet you, Chief," I said as I passed by her, trying to keep my voice steady.

Her eyes locked with mine, just for a moment, but it felt like she was seeing right through me. "Likewise," she replied, her tone clipped but not unkind.

I sat next to Ikki, who was already fidgeting in her seat. Tenzin cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him.

"Chief Beifong is staying with us for the night due to an ongoing case. I'll be discussing some important matters with her, so I expect everyone to be polite and respectful," Tenzin instructed, his voice calm but firm.

"Yes, Dad," we all chimed in unison.

Chief Beifong took the seat at Tenzin's right, with Pema on his left. The meal began in a quiet, almost formal silence, the adults conversing in low tones about matters beyond our understanding. Meelo, of course, found it impossible to resist playing with his food, much to Jinora's annoyance.

"Psst, Y/n!" Ikki whispered, her eyes wide with mischief.

"Yes, Ikki?" I leaned in, curious.

"I think Chief Beifong likes you..." she said with a sly grin.

I nearly choked on my food, quickly covering my mouth as I glanced over at Pema, who gave me a curious look. "What? Ikki, you can't just say things like that!" I whispered back, mortified.

"But I'm not making it up! She was totally checking you out," Ikki insisted, her arms crossed as she pouted.

Before I could respond, Tenzin's voice cut through the table's quiet hum. "Ikki, is everything alright?"

Ikki didn't miss a beat. "Y/n doesn't believe me when I say that Chief Beifong might like her."

The room fell silent, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as all eyes turned towards me. I desperately wanted to sink into my chair and disappear. Pema was visibly holding back laughter, Tenzin looked utterly bewildered, and the Chief—of all things—seemed completely unphased. In fact, there was the slightest hint of amusement at the corner of her lips, quickly masked by her usual stern expression.

"Indeed, I was looking at your sister," Chief Beifong said, her voice even.

Ikki stuck out her tongue at me, victorious.

"And why is that?" Ikki pressed, her curiosity unbridled.

Pema interjected before things could get any more embarrassing. "That's enough, Ikki. Eat your food and let the adults talk."

But the Chief raised a hand, allowing herself a small, almost imperceptible smile. "It's fine. I'll answer her. I was looking at Y/n because I do, in fact, find her quite beautiful. That's all."

The room seemed to freeze. Could this possibly get any worse? Just as I thought the moment couldn't become more awkward, one of the household staff entered the room, holding a bouquet of flowers and a card.

"Miss Y/n? These just arrived for you."

I sighed inwardly. Another one? This was the third time this week.

"Thanks, but no thanks. You can keep the flowers," I said, barely hiding my frustration.

"Don't you want to read the card?" Pema asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

I looked at her, resigned. "Fine... Just the card, then."

As I opened the card, I noticed Chief Beifong watching me closely. Tenzin's voice broke the silence again. "What's that all about?"

"Marriage proposals," I said flatly. "This one says, 'My sweet little dove.'"

Tenzin shook his head, clearly unimpressed. "Again?"

"Unfortunately," I replied with a sigh. Unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, I excused myself and left the room.

Once back in my room, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out the window at the stars. The night was clear, and the sky seemed endless. I lost track of time as I mulled over the events of the evening, trying to shake off the awkwardness. Ikki's comment, though playful, had thrown me completely off balance. And then there was the Chief's unexpected remark... What did she mean by it?

After what felt like an hour, I decided to head to the bathroom, hoping a shower might help me clear my mind. As I walked through the quiet halls, I heard voices coming from Tenzin's room. They were probably discussing the case. I continued on, letting the warm water wash away the tension of the day. "Ikki, you really know how to make a girl blush," I muttered to myself as I dried off.

Leaving the bathroom, my wet hair clinging to my back, I sensed someone approaching. Thanks to my vibrational senses, I was rarely surprised. When I turned the corner, I found myself face to face with Chief Beifong, now dressed in a sleeveless white shirt and her uniform pants. She looked different, more relaxed but still exuding that same commanding presence.

"Oh! Sorry, I wasn't expecting to see anyone at this time of night," I said, my voice softer than usual.

"It's fine. My apologies if I startled you," she replied, her voice surprisingly gentle.

I nodded, about to continue on my way, but she spoke again, stopping me in my tracks.

"And if you felt uncomfortable earlier... about what Ikki said..." She took a deep breath, her green eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. "I'm sorry, but I'll be honest—you really are beautiful."

I felt my face heat up again, and I let out a small, nervous laugh. "Chief, you're going to make me blush again."

We chuckled together, the tension easing a little. I decided to be bold. "You know, I don't want to sound like I'm just saying this, but you're quite the sight yourself."

Chief Beifong shrugged with a modest smile. It was a rare, fleeting expression, but it made her seem more human, more approachable.

"Oh, and if you're tired of those marriage proposals," she added, her tone shifting slightly, "I could easily issue a warning about harassment. And if they persist, I wouldn't mind showing up at their doors myself."

I blinked, surprised by the offer. "Really? You'd do that?"

"For you, I would," she said simply, her expression serious but with a hint of something softer in her eyes.

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with embarrassment. "Thank you, Chief."

She nodded, returning the smile with a small one of her own. "Please, just call me Lin. And you're welcome, Y/n. Have a good night."

"You too, Lin. Sleep well."

We parted ways, and as I walked back to my room, I couldn't help but feel that something had shifted between us—something unspoken but significant.