Republic City // Lin Beifong x Fem Reader

A Day of Unexpected Encounters

A Day of Unexpected Encounters

The next morning, Lin had already left for work, leaving me on my own. Deciding to spend the day outside, I made myself a sandwich and headed toward the park. The air was crisp, and I found myself enjoying the peaceful atmosphere as I wandered around, exploring the area. People were scattered about—talking, playing, or sharing meals. After a while, I found a quiet bench by the water and sat down, savoring the stillness.

I took out my sandwich and began to eat, watching the ducks paddle along the river's surface. It was a serene moment, broken only when I noticed a rustling in the bushes to my left. I turned slowly, my senses sharpening, sandwich still in hand.

A head poked out from the greenery—a man, older, with brown eyes, a gray beard, and wild hair. He had a thin stick between his teeth, and when he saw me looking, he grinned widely.

"Hello?" I mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

Without missing a beat, he leaped out of the bushes, now standing next to me. His smile never wavered.

"Hello there!" he greeted enthusiastically. "You're new around here, aren't you?"

"Um, well, kind of," I replied, a little caught off guard.

"Thought so. You're not a familiar face."

I nodded, still unsure how to respond. "Yeah... and you are?"

The man practically jumped with excitement, his grin growing impossibly wider. "Toki! I live in that bush—or, well, I like to pretend I do."

"Nice to meet you, Toki," I said, relaxing a bit. "What are you up to?"

Toki plopped down on the bench beside me, crossing his legs and gesturing wildly as he spoke. "Ah, just hunting for some food!"

I raised an eyebrow, a bit startled by his phrasing, but he burst into laughter.

"Ahahaha, don't worry, I'm not really hunting! Just looking for a decent trash can to scavenge a meal."

His easygoing nature put me at ease, and I glanced down at my sandwich. Without hesitation, I handed it to him with a warm smile.

"Here, have mine."

Toki's eyes widened as if he'd just been handed a treasure, and he waved his hands in front of him. "Oh no, no, I can't accept that."

"I insist," I said, placing the sandwich in his hands. "Really, take it. I can make another one later. It would make me happy if you'd have it."

Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked from the sandwich to me and back again, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much!" he exclaimed. "This is... this is delicious!"

We both laughed as he devoured the food, and after that, we spent the entire afternoon talking. Toki, as it turned out, had plenty of stories to share—some strange, others surprisingly profound. It was a pleasant, unexpected way to pass the day.

By the time I returned to Lin's apartment, the sun was setting, casting a soft glow over the city. I cooked dinner, took a quick shower, and settled on the sofa with a book, waiting for Lin to come home. The rhythmic ticking of the clock and the fading light lulled me into a nap.

I wasn't sure how long I had been asleep when I felt the gentle brush of lips against my forehead. I blinked awake to find Lin standing over me, smiling softly.

"Good evening, darling," she said, her voice low and warm. "Sorry for the wait."

I stretched and sat up, taking the hand she offered. "It's okay. Don't worry about it."

She helped me to my feet and led me to the table. "Thanks for making dinner, by the way."

"I hope you like it," I said, sitting down across from her.

As we ate, I noticed her police uniform neatly folded on the bar. "Is that a new one?" I asked, gesturing with my chopsticks toward the cloth.

Lin glanced over and nodded. "Yeah. We've got a new investor—some rich guy. He offered to design new uniforms for the force. At first, I wasn't thrilled about it, but he insisted it would be better for fieldwork."

I nodded, turning my attention back to my food. Lin watched me for a moment before tilting her head slightly.

"How was your day? You didn't get too bored, did you?"

I shook my head, still chewing. "No, I went to the park and met someone totally unexpected. It was actually pretty great."

Her brow arched, and she paused, chopsticks hovering over her plate. "Totally unexpected? And who might that be?"

I grinned, setting my chopsticks down as I leaned back in my chair. "A guy I met in the park. His name's Toki."

Lin hummed quietly, but her focus shifted back to her plate. "A guy, huh?"

I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms as I leaned back in my chair. "Lin?"

"Yeah?" she mumbled, still avoiding my gaze.

"Are you jealous?"

She shrugged, clearly trying to play it off. "I am no such thing."

But she was, and I could tell. Smiling to myself, I stood up and walked around the table, wrapping my arms around her from behind. She put down her chopsticks, sighing as she held onto my arm.

"Fine," she admitted with a huff. "Maybe just a little."

I kissed her hand, leaning close. "I like that you're jealous. It means you care about me."

She turned slightly to look at me, cupping my cheek with her hand. "Of course I care about you. The thought of you with someone else... I can't even imagine it."

I kissed the top of her head. "You don't have to. I only want to be with you. I love you."

She smiled softly and kissed my cheek. "I love you more."

I returned to my seat, and we finished our meal in comfortable silence. Afterward, I cleaned up while Lin showered. When she returned, her hair still damp, she leaned against the doorframe, watching me with narrowed eyes.

"I just had an idea," she said, a playful tone in her voice. "What do you think about coming with me to work tomorrow?"

I tilted my head, surprised. "To the police station? Isn't that against the rules?"

She chuckled, walking closer and tossing the towel on a dryer. "Oh, darling, I'm the boss. Of course, you can come."

Climbing onto the bed beside me, her voice softened with exhaustion. She slipped under the covers and kissed me deeply before pulling me close, wrapping her arms around me.

"Well then," I whispered, "I'd love to keep you company."

"Good," she murmured, her head resting against my chest. "And I'll make sure everyone knows you're mine."

I chuckled, gently stroking her hair as she fell asleep, her breathing slow and steady. I kissed the top of her head one last time, and soon, sleep claimed me too.