Linai - Love is in the air in Republic City

Chapter 3

Morning came gently with the light that fell through the curtains of her small flat. Linai blinked wearily as she stretched in bed, remembering the events of the previous day. A feeling of determination spread through her. Today would be a new day full of possibilities. She jumped out of bed with renewed vigour and quickly freshened up. The aroma of coffee wafted through the small kitchen as she put the kettle on. It was time to get ready for work. Waiting tables in the small café around the corner wasn't the most exciting thing, but this second job during the day was the money she needed to pay for her small flat.

After getting dressed, she took one last look in the mirror. She looked good - strong, but also a little dishevelled. A smile flitted across her face. 'New day, new luck,' she muttered and reached for her bag. The café was only a few blocks away. As she set off, she breathed in the fresh morning air. The neighbourhood was still quiet, the streets were just beginning to fill up. The young non-tamer enjoyed the silence and let her thoughts run free. She thought about the training she had with the Equalists tonight and what they were going to discuss with Amon. Perhaps they could come up with a new plan to mobilise the people and reduce the violence at the same time.

When she reached the café, the door was already open and the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries greeted her. Her boss was standing behind the counter preparing the first orders. 'Good morning, Linai!' Mr Tanaka called her cheerfully. 'Ready for a new day?' 'Good morning! Yes, I'm ready,' she replied with a smile that lit up her face. The work here was sometimes monotonous, but interacting with customers always gave her a little boost of energy.

As she tied her apron, she thought about the people who came into the café every day - some were benders, some were non-benders. Linai wanted to make sure that everyone who came in felt welcome. She treated every customer the same. That was hugely important to her. The café was a little retreat in the hectic city and she wanted to preserve that. The first customers streamed in and Linai took their orders with a smile. 'Good morning! What can I do for you?' She enjoyed the conversations, even if they often just consisted of small talk. Sometimes it could get a bit monotonous, but many of the customers met her with joy.

The morning passed quickly and as the break approached, Linai was grateful for the short break. She sat down in the little corner of the café that was her favourite spot, took a sip of her coffee and ate a slice of cake. Her thoughts drifted back to the Equalists and what she was going to learn tonight. The chi block. She was already excited.

Suddenly she heard the doorbell ring. When she looked up, she saw a friend entering the shop. 'Hey, Linai!' he called out with a broad smile. It was Jun, a waterbender she knew from the café. 'It's been a long time! How are you?' 'Jun! I'm fine and you?' She stood up and hugged him. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other. He hadn't come round that often recently. 'Good, good! I'm just in town to visit some old friends,' he explained. 'I was going to get a coffee and thought I'd pop in here.' 'Have you moved away from Republica? When?' She looked questioningly at the waterbender. 'A few weeks ago. The rent was just too high. I now live with the northern water tribe again and help my brother with the fishing. It's more my thing and the air is so much better there.'

They talked for a while and Linai realised how much she missed talking to the waterbender. They talked about many different topics until Jun asked her about the current situation in Republica: 'I've heard about the Equalists,' he finally said. His face became serious. 'What do you think of them?' Linai hesitated for a moment. She didn't really like expressing her political opinion in public. But she answered him anyway. 'I think they have noble thoughts. Let's be honest. The relationship between non-benders and benders has become worse and worse in recent years. The original idea of Avatar Aang, that everyone should live together in peace and not be discriminated against, has unfortunately been forgotten.'