Republic City // Lin Beifong x Fem Reader

The Weight of the Heart

The Weight ofthe Heart

Y/n's POV

I stood frozen, unable to move as the reality of what had just happened settled in. Lin had left, and I hadn't tried to stop her. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—shock, regret, confusion. I frowned, feeling the weight of my actions pressing down on me. Without thinking, I leaped out the window, grabbing my glider as I flew high and fast towards Memorial Island.

As the cool air whipped past me, I realized that tears were streaming down my cheeks. I hadn't even noticed them until now. My chest tightened with an overwhelming sense of loss, and as soon as I landed on the island, my knees gave way beneath me. I collapsed onto the ground, burying my face in my hands.

"What have I done?" I whispered to the empty air, my voice trembling. Had I just ruined everything? I should have known better. How could I have ever thought that someone like Lin would feel the same way? I was delusional to think that a relationship with her was even possible. The Chief was right—I was just talking nonsense.

I reached for a small rock beside me and hurled it into the water with all the strength I could muster. It made a soft plop as it disappeared beneath the surface, much like my hopes had sunk. I took a deep, shaky breath and began to walk along the shoreline, trying to clear my mind.

Being twenty was nothing like what people said it would be. Instead of excitement and freedom, it felt like a confusing maze with no clear direction. Finding friends, let alone a partner, seemed impossible. And now, with everything that had just happened, I felt even more alone.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered the sound of another glider approaching. Tenzin's voice called out to me, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"Y/n! Wait, please!"

I stopped in my tracks, turning to face him as he caught up to me. His expression was one of deep concern.

"Are you okay? What happened?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I shook my head, unable to find the words. "Nothing..."

Tenzin smiled warmly, not pressing further but offering a safe space for me to speak. "I saw Lin rush out of the temple earlier. I know something happened, but she didn't want to talk."

His words broke the dam I had been holding up, and tears welled up in my eyes again. My voice shook as I tried to explain. "She said some really sweet things, and for a moment, I thought maybe... maybe I had a chance. So... I kissed her. But she ran away."

Tenzin immediately pulled me into a tight embrace, holding me as I sobbed into his chest. His presence was comforting, grounding me in the midst of my turmoil.

"It's okay, Y/n. You haven't done anything wrong. Trust me," he whispered, his voice steady.

"But what if I have, Tenzin? What if I ruined everything?" I choked out, the fear of losing whatever connection I had with Lin gnawing at me.

Tenzin pulled back slightly, looking me in the eyes. "I've known Lin for a long time now. Trust me, just give her some time. She's not someone who opens up easily, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care."

His words offered a glimmer of hope, and I managed a small smile, grateful for his reassurance. But before I could say anything, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through my left arm.

Tenzin's POV

"Y/n!" Y/n gasped in pain, her eyes squeezed shut as she gritted her teeth. Panic gripped me as I held her, watching helplessly as she clutched her left arm.

"What's happening?!" I asked, my voice filled with urgency.

"My... my arm..." she muttered weakly before her body went limp in my arms. She had passed out, and fear surged through me.

"Spirits, no!" I cried, frantically trying to wake her, but she remained unresponsive. Brushing the back of my hand over her forehead, I noticed her skin was burning up with a fever.

Gently, I lifted the fabric covering her arm, revealing the wound from the morning's attack. A long, wavy mark circled her entire arm, the deep blue color sending chills down my spine. This was no ordinary injury.

Without wasting another moment, I lifted her into my arms, grabbing her glider as I flew us back to Air Temple Island as quickly as I could.

Once we arrived, I called out for Pema and the children, my voice echoing through the temple grounds. "Pema! Jinora!"

They rushed out of the house, their faces etched with worry.

"What happened?" Pema asked, her voice trembling as she saw Y/n unconscious in my arms.

"She was in pain and then suddenly passed out," I explained, my heart heavy with fear.

Pema quickly took Y/n from me, with Jinora's help, while Ikki and Meelo hovered nearby, their young faces filled with concern and confusion. The tension in the air was thick, almost suffocating.

"Take her to her room. I'll call for a healer," I instructed, my voice firm despite the panic threatening to take over.

They nodded, and I rushed to my office, grabbing the old radio and contacting Republic City. The healer would be on their way soon, but every moment felt like an eternity.

When I returned to Y/n's room, Pema was at her bedside, gently placing a wet towel on her forehead. I could see the worry etched deeply into her features.

"How is she?" I asked, dreading the answer.

Pema sighed, her voice heavy with concern. "Not very good, I'm afraid."

I took her hands in mine, trying to offer some comfort as I pulled her closer. "Don't worry. She'll be fine. She's strong—she'll pull through this."

"Will she wake up soon?" Jinora's small voice broke through the tense silence. She stood by the bed, her eyes locked on her sister's pale face.

"I feel... something unusual," Jinora added, her tone uncertain.

Pema and I exchanged worried glances. "What do you mean by that, Jinora?" I asked, my voice gentle.

Jinora shrugged, clearly struggling to articulate what she was sensing. "I don't know... it just feels different. Like something's not right."

Before I could probe further, a knock on the door interrupted us, and the healer entered the room. We all stepped back, giving him space to work. He knelt beside the bed, his hands glowing with a soft blue light as he began to use waterbending to heal Y/n.

The room fell silent, the only sound the gentle hum of the healer's bending. I stood there, watching anxiously as the healer worked, praying to the spirits that Y/n would be okay. She had to be. She was strong, brave, and had so much life ahead of her.

But as the minutes ticked by, I couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was happening to her was beyond our control, something dark and sinister that none of us could fully understand.