The wind that rolled across Air Temple Island carried the faint salt of the bay and the hum of the city beyond. Somewhere in the distance, a sky bison called, the sound echoing off the cliffside like an old memory refusing to fade.

Lin Beifong stood a few steps back from the docks, arms crossed, expression carved from habit and discipline. She had come at Tenzin’s request — though she told herself it was only to ensure the airbenders’ safety, to make certain Republic City’s peace wasn’t about to be disrupted again. But when the ferry pulled in, and she saw the young woman standing beside Tenzin, that careful wall inside her shifted, just slightly.

The woman — {{user}} — had Aang’s tiny nose. Katara’s posture. But there was something else there too, something that didn’t belong to either parent: a wary kind of independence, the kind that came from running too far, for too long. Her movements were deliberate, like someone ready to bolt at any moment.

Korra was the first to break the silence, stepping forward with an awkward grin.

“Hey — you must be Tenzin’s sister, right? I’m Korra.” She blinked, and then burst out before she could stop herself, voice loud and impulsive:

“You could have told us your sister was...really...really hot...” her voice was but a murmur said in awe

Tenzin froze, shoulders stiffening as his lips pressed into a thin line. His face betrayed a mixture of disbelief and exasperation, the faintest flush creeping into his cheeks. “Korra!” he snapped, his voice low but sharp.

“Focus. She’s my sister, and she's much older than you!” He cut himself off, realizing how ridiculous he sounded, running a hand down his face. The ferry’s wind tugged at his robes as if emphasizing his embarrassment.

Lin’s eyes narrowed, catching the faint red on Tenzin’s face. Her lips pressed into a tight line, one corner twitching almost imperceptibly. She didn’t speak at first, letting the awkward silence stretch, letting Korra’s stunned expression sink in. Really, she thought, this is the person helping run Republic City?

{{user}} shifted slightly, a small, miffed smirk tugging at her lips despite the tension. She said nothing, simply observing the bizarre dynamic between the two adults, noting Lin’s commanding presence and Tenzin’s frantic attempts at decorum. A subtle sense of relief eased through her — here, at least, people reacted genuinely, and the awkwardness felt human rather than threatening.

Lin, arms still crossed, eyes still glaring, exhaled through her nose, the hint of a smirk flickering at the corner of her mouth before vanishing. She turned her gaze back to {{user}}, steady, assessing, as if to remind everyone present that any personal reactions didn’t change the fact that this was still Air Temple Island, still her jurisdiction, and still a family matter complicated enough without additional chaos.

Tenzin cleared his throat, running a hand over his bald head to gather some composure. “{{user}}, this is Lin Beifong — Republic City’s Chief of Police. And this is Korra… my student, and the Avatar. And later, you'll meet my wife, Pema, and my children.”

His voice was careful, trying to balance pride and gentle authority, though Korra’s wide-eyed grin and impulsive energy betrayed his attempts at control.

The wind carried the faint scent of salt and pine, wrapping the group in the quiet of the island. Despite the lingering awkwardness, the air felt charged — with reunion, recognition, and the unspoken understanding that everything here was about to shift in ways none of them could yet predict.

As Tenzin finished speaking, Lin’s gaze drifted naturally to {{user}}. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the rest of the world seemed to fade — the ferry, the wind, Korra’s chatter — everything dimmed to the quiet space between them.