── 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.

[ 002 ] HAVE PATIENCE, AVATAR
❝Hey, watch your mouth, Avatar!❞

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 THAT EVENING, PEMA INVITED Sanyu to dinner──again. And, as always, Sanyu politely declined. It wasn't that she hated Pema, exactly, but their relationship was... complicated. Pema was the mother of her half-siblings, sure, but to Sanyu, she was also the woman who'd "stolen" her father away from Lin.

 Lin never said that, of course. Her mother was too stoic, too above it all to make such petty accusations. But Sanyu wasn't blind──she'd seen the way her mother's jaw clenched when Pema's name came up, or the way her smile disappeared whenever she saw Tenzin and Pema together.

 Lin always told her to be kind, to treat Pema with respect, to see her as a sort of stepmother. Sanyu tried──well, sort of. But every time she looked at Pema, sweet and gentle and so infuriatingly perfect, it felt like a betrayal. Like forgiving her would somehow erase all the nights she'd spent listening to her mother cry in the next room, muffling her sobs with a pillow.

 So Sanyu avoided Pema whenever possible. Declining dinner was just one of the many little ways she kept her distance.

 As she made her way home that evening, she took a detour past the training grounds and found herself stopping in her tracks. There, standing bruised and battered in front of the wooden gates, was Korra.

 The Avatar was getting absolutely wrecked.

 Sanyu winced as Korra got slammed backward, landing hard on her back. For a moment, Korra just lay there, her hair a tangled mess and her face streaked with dirt. Then, with a growl of irritation, she pushed herself up and charged the gates again, only to get smacked down just as quickly.

 Sanyu couldn't help it──she laughed.

 The sound was soft, almost involuntary, but Korra caught it anyway. Whipping around, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger, Korra jabbed a finger at her. "Oh, you think that's funny?" she snapped. "Why don't you try it? Then we can both laugh at how terrible you are!"

 Sanyu simply shrugged, unfazed by the fire in Korra's eyes (or the literal sparks that seemed to puff from her nostrils when she was mad). Intimidation wasn't something that worked on Sanyu. It never had──not when her mother was Lin Beifong, and certainly not after spending three grueling years with General Iroh in the United Forces.

 She'd joined the Forces at sixteen, mostly because her mom insisted she had the talent for it, convinced it would help Sanyu unlock her potential. And maybe Lin had been right──Sanyu had learned, she had unlocked her potential.

 She'd learned to fight, to strategize, to survive. But she'd also learned something her mother didn't account for: she hated it. She hated the bloodlust that came with battle, hated how easy it would be to lose herself in it. The thought of becoming someone her mother──or worse, her siblings──would fear haunted her. So instead of sailing the open seas, she'd traded warships for Republic City's streets, becoming a police officer where she could still make a difference without losing herself in the process.

 Still, her time in the Forces had left its mark. She knew how to think under pressure, and most importantly, how to stand her ground──even against the Avatar herself.

 Sanyu met Korra's glare with a faint smirk. "You're doing great," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

 Korra groaned, running a hand through her tangled hair. "You're the worst!"

 "Yeah, I've been told," Sanyu replied, slipping one of her hands into her pockets while the other held her staff. But as she started to walk away, she added over her shoulder, "Keep at it, though. You'll get there. Eventually."

 For a moment, Korra just stood there, watching her go. Then, with a huff, she turned back to the gates. "Maybe you're just scared," she muttered, barely loud enough for Sanyu to hear. "Scared you can't handle this training because you don't know airbending techniques."

 The words hit like a jab to the ribs. Sanyu froze, her smirk fading. Her fingers twitched, itching to curl into fists, but she forced herself to stay still.

 Tenzin's sharp intake of breath was audible. "Korra!" he snapped with disapproval. Jinora and Ikki exchanged wide-eyed glances, while Meelo, oblivious as ever, cheered Korra on as if this were some kind of game.

 Something inside Sanyu cracked──not because of Korra's taunt itself, but because of what it represented: the doubt she thought she had buried long ago. Weak. That's what Korra had called her, if not in words, then in meaning. Without airbending, it seemed they all assumed she had nothing to offer.

 Sanyu turned on her heel, her expression hardening into steely resolve as she strode toward the moving wooden gates of the airbender training course. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she tossed her staff to the side. Tenzin and Korra instinctively stepped back, sensing the shift in her demeanor. Ikki and Jinora waited eagerly on the other side, while Meelo cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines.

 At the gates, she paused, adjusting her stance. She didn't say a word. The wooden panels creaked and groaned, swinging in a rhythmic motion that could easily knock her off balance.

 "You can't make it through," Korra said, arms crossed. She fully expected Sanyu to fail miserably──more so than herself, given Sanyu's limited knowledge of airbending techniques.

 Before she could finish, Sanyu darted forward without hesitation.

 The first gate swung toward her with a loud whoosh, but she slid through it with the grace of someone who had spent a lifetime evading danger. The second panel followed, faster and more forceful, but she vaulted over it with practiced ease. She moved like water slipping through cracks, her body bending and twisting to match the unpredictable rhythm of the course.

 Tenzin's stern expression melted away as he watched. This wasn't about technique anymore; it was about willpower──a battle to prove something to herself.

 By the time Sanyu reached the end, she was breathless but standing tall. Straightening, she brushed a strand of hair from her face, the gates still spinning furiously behind her. Korra's mouth hung open in disbelief, watching as the officer went to retrieve her staff.

 "Without getting... hit..." Korra trailed off, her face flushing as the realization struck──she'd underestimated her.

 "Woohoo! You did it, big sis!" Ikki cheered, her voice ringing with excitement as she rushed forward to give Sanyu a high five. "I knew you still had it in you!"

 Jinora smirked, leaning back with her arms crossed. "Never underestimate the Sanyu Beifong," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she glanced at Korra, who was still trying to process what had just happened.

 The mention of the Beifong name hit Korra like a ton of bricks. "Wait... you're a Beifong?" she asked, her voice full of disbelief. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on Sanyu, who was holding her staff firmly while Meelo tugged at it with all his might. "You're Lin Beifong's daughter?"

 Sanyu tilted her head, giving Korra a look that suggested she might be a bit slow. "What tipped you off? The name?"

 Korra shook her head as realization dawned. "No, it's because Chief Beifong was talking about her daughter with Tenzin the other day while I was... detained," she admitted, her voice trailing off. Her eyes widened. "I didn't know she was talking about you."

 Sanyu shrugged, unfazed. "Yeah, well, don't get too excited," she said with a dismissive wave. "I'm just the daughter of a police chief. Nothing special."

 "And you even have her attitude!" Korra pointed out, earning a faint scowl from Sanyu. Then, Korra's gaze shifted toward Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo. A thought struck her, and her brow furrowed. "Wait... so, they're your half-siblings? Does that mean Tenzin has two wives? Lin and Pema?"

 "N-no! Pema is my only wife," Tenzin stammered, his face reddening as he quickly stepped in to correct her. "And Lin... Lin is... well, we should focus on our training, huh?" His voice trailed off awkwardly, a poor attempt at changing the subject.

 Sanyu, however, didn't seem fazed. "Lin is my dad's ex-wife," she said casually, eyeing Korra's reaction. "They divorced when I was five."

 Korra blinked, completely thrown off. "Wait, what?" Her eyes widened as the unexpected tidbit of information sank in.

 Sanyu shrugged again, unconcerned. "Yeah, I don't really care. That was years ago."

 Tenzin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sanyu, please."

 "What?" She scowled at him, as if she couldn't believe he'd question her. As though she hadn't just shared something deeply personal. But the truth was, she didn't care anymore. Not about her past, at least. Maybe just a little──when it came to Tenzin, but that was a different story.

 "I'm just telling the truth... right, Meelo?" She turned to her little brother, a silent plea in her eyes.

 Meelo, with his usual wild enthusiasm, nodded vigorously. "Yeah! It's true!"

 Sanyu's gaze flickered back to him, daring him to argue. She hadn't expected to say it out loud──certainly hadn't planned to──but somehow, it felt right. Even if it stung. Even if it wasn't exactly the whole truth.

 Tenzin sighed, rubbing his temples, muttering something under his breath about "kids these days."

 "Well, it was nice seeing you, Avatar," Sanyu said, pulling herself together as she prepared to leave. She turned to the kids with a wink. "But duty calls! Time to head back to Republic City. See you later, my sweethearts!" She blew a kiss toward Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo, the latter grinning like he'd just won a prize.

 "And Tenzin! Or should I say Scowling Dad," she added as she shot Tenzin a smirk.

 Meelo couldn't hold it in. He burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "Scowling dad!" he repeated through giggles, nearly toppling over from his amusement.

 Tenzin shot him a glare so intense it could have fried a Fire Nation ship. But Sanyu only shook her head. Seriously, that face is going to stick if he keeps making it, she thought, raising an eyebrow as she met his gaze.

 With that, Sanyu launched herself into the air. Her glider opened effortlessly, the wind catching it as she soared upward, leaving the ground behind her. She looked back one last time, calling over her shoulder. "See you later, Avatar!"

 The words barely had time to leave her lips before her voice was swallowed by the wind, the vast sky stretching before her like an endless invitation to freedom.

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 REPUBLIC CITY WAS TEEMING with Equalists now. Their cries could be heard through the streets, demanding equality and blaming benders for oppression. Sanyu paid them little mind. She had heard it all before. In the end, they'd still scream for help from the very benders they condemned. It was a strange, bitter irony──but it was the truth.

 High above the city, Sanyu soared, her eyes scanning the streets below. She spotted her mother, Lin, and a squad of officers in hot pursuit of some thugs in a speeding Sato-mobile. A smirk tugged at her lips. With a burst of speed, she descended, a blur of motion cutting through the air, the wind tugging at her hair.

 Vendors ducked for cover, clutching their hats and aprons, narrowly avoiding the gusts she left behind. Dust swirled, and street trash was sent flying in her wake.

 Without hesitation, Sanyu landed on the roof of the Sato-mobile, her weight causing the driver to jerk the wheel in panic. She didn't flinch, her stance steady as her boots met the metal. With one swift motion, she flipped her staff, blocking a clumsy punch from the driver before delivering a precise strike to his throat. He crumpled instantly, unconscious.

 The other thugs barely had time to react. Sanyu disarmed and subdued them in moments. By the time the Sato-mobile skidded to a stop, they were sprawled unconscious in the back seat, no longer a threat.

 Stepping down from the vehicle, Sanyu dusted off her hands as though she'd just completed a casual chore. Moments later, the officers caught up, some panting from the chase. But Sanyu was already grinning, triumphant.

 Lin, ever the stoic leader, landed beside her, looking over the scene with a nod of approval before her gaze softened. Sanyu stood tall, waiting for her mother, as if she were anticipating the exact moment she'd land. It was a routine, but it never felt any less satisfying.

 "How's your boyfriend?" Lin asked dryly but with an edge of teasing in her voice.

 Sanyu stopped in her tracks, eyes wide in mock offense. "Really, Mom? That's the first thing you say after I've been gone for a whole week?" She placed a hand dramatically over her heart, grinning. "No 'hello'? No 'how are you'? I'm deeply hurt!"

 Lin's only response was a roll of her eyes. She knew her daughter, maybe too well. Sanyu could handle herself just fine, but Lin couldn't help but worry. Not that she'd ever admit it outright. Not in front of her officers, anyway. But Sanyu? She was her world. The reason Lin pushed every day to make Republic City a safer place──for her, and for everyone else who called this place home.

 "Oh, you know what I mean," Lin said, ruffling her daughter's hair with a soft chuckle. Sanyu groaned, but it was the kind of groan that only made Lin do it more. "That man drove you crazy, didn't he? You went all the way to his battleship just to see him. Now that's something..."

 Sanyu's face flushed slightly, though she tried to hide it behind her usual teasing. "I don't know what you're talking about." She crossed her arms, trying to look aloof, but the grin she couldn't suppress gave her away.

 Lin raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "You can fool anyone else, but not me."

 "Well, he's not exactly my boyfriend──I don't know," Sanyu said, her voice trailing off as a blush still lingered on her cheeks. She shrugged, trying to play it off but failing miserably. "We've never really put a label on it. We just... really like each other."

 Lin raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Well, don't end up like me," she warned, surprisingly serious. "I want you to be sure about who you want to spend your whole life with. At least now, I have you, so I don't have to worry about that."

 Sanyu chuckled, a little embarrassed. "I haven't really thought about marriage, to be honest. As long as I have you, I don't have to worry about anything, either."

 Lin's expression softened. "That's sweet... but listen, sweetie, if you really care about him, make sure you're not the only one trying. It can't just be you putting in all the effort," she advised with the wisdom only a mother could have. "And yeah, I get it──he's a general of the United Forces, he can't just drop everything. But you know what I mean."

 Sanyu's smile faded, her fingers unconsciously playing with the hem of her sleeve as she processed her mother's words. Her expression turned serious, and she nodded as her mother's concern settling in her chest. She knew Lin wasn't just trying to tell her what to do. She was trying to protect her, to keep her from experiencing the kind of pain she'd gone through with Tenzin.

 Lin had loved Tenzin deeply, married him with every intention of spending her life with him. But his fear──his constant fear about their children's bending abilities──had cast a shadow over everything. Despite Lin's reassurances that they could have an airbender child if they tried, Tenzin's anxiety never went away. It ultimately led him to walk away from her and their family, leaving Lin and a young Sanyu behind.

 The heartbreak had been unbearable. Lin had spent years resenting Tenzin, feeling like his fear had outweighed the love he'd once claimed to have for her. But, despite it all, she'd never regretted having Sanyu. Her daughter was the greatest gift she'd ever received, and Lin would do anything to protect her from the same heartbreak.

 "I understand, Mom," Sanyu said as she reached out to squeeze Lin's hand. "You don't have to worry about me. I can handle myself. I've learned from what Dad did to us."

 Lin scoffed, a small but genuine chuckle escaping her. "Heh, very funny, kid. Now, enough with the emotional stuff. Get to work. You've neglected your duties for a week, and now you're gonna double your workload to make up for it."

 Sanyu snapped a mock salute, her face brightening with a playful grin. "Aye, aye, Chief Mother!"

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 THE NEXT DAY, AFTER a long patrol through Republic City and rounding up every criminal she could find based on the radio reports, Sanyu's mind kept drifting back to one thought: Air Temple Island. It wasn't just to check in with Tenzin and the kids, though that was always a good reason. No, there was something else. Something about Korra. Something felt... different.

 Sanyu had spoken to Lin earlier, letting her know she'd swing by to visit Tenzin and his family before heading to the island. It had become routine over the past few weeks, but today felt different. Maybe it was the quiet hum in her chest, the feeling that she was being drawn somewhere she didn't fully understand. It was as if Korra had some unspoken purpose beyond her airbending lessons.

 As Sanyu approached Air Temple Island, the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the place in warmth. The gentle breeze kissed her skin as she glided closer, the island's landscape familiar yet always awe-inspiring from above. She passed by her grandfather's statue, the air still with reverence. Sanyu bowed her head, a soft whisper escaping her lips, "Sorry, Grandpa. I'll get it eventually." The wind swirled around her as if in acknowledgment, pushing her forward, urging her to go on.

 And then she saw it.

 Korra, red-faced and clearly irritated, was struggling with the wooden gates. Her arms strained as she tried to maneuver around the spinning obstacles, but it wasn't going well. The others stood nearby, their expressions ranging from concern to amusement.

 "Sanyu's back!" Ikki's voice rang out, bright and full of energy. The little girl bolted toward her, practically launching herself into Sanyu's arms.

 Laughing, Sanyu caught her easily, spinning her around before setting her down.

 "How was work, big sis?" Ikki's eyes sparkled with the kind of innocent curiosity that only a child could have.

 "It was fine," Sanyu replied with a shrug. "Caught a bunch of bad guys. They tried to beat me up," she added, leaning in as if about to tell an epic tale. "But you know me──I punched, kicked, and tossed 'em all into jail. Just another day on the job."

 "Ooh, sounds scary," Jinora said with an amused smile as she joined them.

 "Yeah, I'd be scared if I had to fight you," Meelo added, hopping up next to Sanyu and giving her a mock punch to the arm.

 Sanyu chuckled before turning her attention to Korra, who was still struggling with the wooden gates. The Avatar was huffing, exasperated, and her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to navigate the spinning panels.

 "Still fighting with those?" Sanyu teased, raising an eyebrow as she sidled up next to Tenzin.

 Korra shot her a glare, but it was more flustered than anything. "I'm trying to focus here, okay?"

 "Come on," Sanyu said, nudging her. "I thought the mighty Avatar would've mastered this by now."

 "Ugh, just shut up!" Korra growled, though a faint blush crept up her neck. She took a deep breath and refocused, muttering, "I'm getting it this time. I swear."

 Determination replaced the irritation on her face as she sprinted toward the spinning gates. For a moment, it looked like she might succeed──until a spinning panel caught her off guard, sending her tumbling to the ground.

 "Patience, Korra," Tenzin advised firmly.

 Sanyu winced, the sound of Korra's body slamming against the ground almost painful to hear. It wasn't that Korra didn't have the strength; it was that she lacked the patience.

 "Oof. That had to hurt," Sanyu muttered, shaking her head. Louder, she added, "Yeah, patience, Avatar! You won't get anywhere without it!"

 Korra barely registered them as her anger was boiling over. She was done with patience.

 With a growl, she charged forward and slammed into the gates again. The force sent them rattling, some falling off their hinges, others splitting in two as the Avatar's firebending roared to life. She was beyond reason, her anger transforming into a violent tantrum as flames roared from her hands. The gates crumbled under the heat, sparks flying as the intense flames surged through the ancient structure.

 Gates were torn from their sockets, shattered in half, and some were simply burned to the ground. The scent of scorched wood filled the air as smoke curled up from the debris, lingering in the afternoon breeze.

 Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo, along with Tenzin, stood frozen, wide-eyed at Korra's explosive outburst.

 Sanyu could barely keep her gaze on the scene as it unfolded, but her eyes flickered to Tenzin, watching for his reaction. The destruction was too much, even for her. She could feel her heart racing as the remnants of the gates smoldered around them.

 Korra, panting and spent, was standing in the midst of the smoke and debris, her rage still crackling in the air.

 Tenzin appeared as if he were going through the five stages of grief, one by one. Sanyu, knowing him as well as she did, could see the emotional shift in him──first shock, then disbelief, and finally, his own controlled anger started to pour out.

 She stepped back, pulling her siblings closer to her instinctively, bracing for what she knew was coming.

 "That... that was a two-thousand-year-old historical treasure," Tenzin murmured. His eyes swept over the shattered and burnt gates, stress etching lines into his forehead. He closed his eyes briefly, releasing a deep sigh before his composure broke. Anger surged through his voice as he turned on the Avatar. "What... what is wrong with you?!" His cape billowed behind him as he glared at her.

 Korra bristled at the words, her anger flaring up again. "There's nothing wrong with me!" she snapped. She threw her hands out in exasperation, glaring at him as if he'd personally betrayed her. "I've been practicing! Just like you said! But it's not sinking in, okay! It hasn't clicked like you said it would!"

 For a moment, Tenzin's stern expression eased. His voice took on a gentler tone, as though he believed she could be reasoned with. "Korra, this isn't something you can force. If you would only listen to me──"

 But Korra was having none of it. Her eyes narrowed, and the anger in her gaze deepened into something darker. "I have been listening!" she yelled, cutting him off like a blade. "But maybe the problem isn't me! Maybe the reason I'm not getting it is because..." She thrust a finger at Tenzin, her glare intensifying before delivering the blow. "You're a terrible teacher!"

 The words hit like a thunderclap. Sanyu's breath caught in her throat, disbelief crashing over her like a cold wave. She stared at Korra, fists clenched at her sides as her blood boiled──not for the Avatar, but for her father. Whatever grudges she had with him, she couldn't stand by and watch someone tear him down when all he was doing was genuinely trying to help.

 "Hey! Watch your mouth, Avatar!" Sanyu snapped, stepping between Korra and Tenzin. "He's doing his best for you, but you just won't give him a chance to teach you airbending properly!"

 She wasn't sure where the outburst came from, but it felt right──Korra was crossing a line, and someone had to step in. She had her own grievances with her father, sure, but disrespecting him like this? That was too far.

 "You're so caught up in being angry at the world," she went on, her furious gaze locking onto Korra's. "You can't even see that he's trying to help you! Maybe if you'd stop fighting him at every turn, you'd actually learn something!"

 But as the words left her mouth, they echoed back inside her, cutting just as deeply. The anger she hurled at Korra felt like it was meant for herself. It struck at the hollow ache in her chest, at the truth she hadn't wanted to face. She'd been so wrapped up in her own resentment──so unwilling to let her father mend the fractures between them──that she hadn't stopped to wonder if it was still possible.

 Or if she even wanted it to be.

 The thought left her hollow. Chasing reconciliation felt like chasing a ghost. She didn't know who her father was anymore, and, in some ways, she felt like she'd never known him. They were strangers now, connected by blood but nothing else. She didn't look like him. She didn't feel like him. And no matter how hard she tried, she never would.

 "Says the one who can't even airbend!" Korra shot back, igniting Sanyu's fury like sparks landing on dry tinder.

 Sanyu's jaw tightened, and her fists clenched at her sides. "Maybe if you'd stop whining and actually listened to my dad, you'd have mastered the basics of airbending by now!"

 Korra let out a sharp scoff, spinning on her heel. "Whatever! Like I'm going to take advice from someone who doesn't even know any airbending techniques!"

 That was the last straw. Sanyu's face turned a deep shade of red as she exploded, the wind around her roaring intensely. "FUCK YOU!"

 Korra whirled around, her eyes blazing. "FUCK YOU!" she yelled back, louder and angrier. Then, as if twisting the knife, she added, "And for the record, Tenzin's still a terrible teacher!" She stomped off, her rage trailing behind her like a storm cloud.

 From the sidelines, Meelo lit up, grinning like he'd just witnessed the event of the year. Pointing at Tenzin, he shouted, "Yeah! You are a terrible teacher, Daddy!"

 "Meelo..." Tenzin sighed, his voice heavy with exhaustion. Ikki and Jinora exchanged a look that spoke volumes──this was far from the first time they'd seen Tenzin's patience tested.

 Unfazed, Meelo decided to fully enjoy the moment, stomping around and tossing small debris into the air as he imitated Korra. Meanwhile, Sanyu stood with rage as she fixed her gaze on Korra's retreating figure. Her face burned, her chest heaving as if she'd just finished a sparring session.

 Ikki stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Sanyu's waist, her voice sweet and soothing. "It's okay, Sanyu," she said, trying to ground her sister's storm.

 But Sanyu wasn't ready to be calmed. She gently peeled Ikki's arms away then turned toward Tenzin with barely restrained anger. "I'm leaving," she said flatly, her voice clipped.

 Tenzin blinked, taken aback. "Sanyu, won't you stay for dinner? Your siblings would love to have you here." His tone was soft, almost pleading, as he glanced at Jinora for support.

 Jinora gave Sanyu a small, encouraging smile, but Sanyu shook her head. "No. Mom's making dinner tonight," she said curtly, stepping back to unfurl her glider.

 She gave Ikki and Jinora a quick hug, waved briefly to Meelo──who was still playing around with destroyed spinning panels──and then turned to her father. He was her last goodbye.

 Tenzin opened his mouth, perhaps to apologize or say something meaningful, but Sanyu was already stepping away, her glider snapping open. The sting in her chest grew sharper as she remembered how content he seemed with his new family.

 Was she and Lin not enough? Had they ever been enough?

 Sanyu hated herself for thinking that way, for letting her bitterness bubble to the surface. She didn't want to ruin things for him or seem ungrateful. But the hurt never really went away, no matter how hard she tried to bury it.

 As the wind carried her away, her thoughts drifted to Korra. That thick-headed, arrogant Avatar. Sanyu's grip on her glider tightened until her knuckles turned white. She wasn't done with Korra──not by a long shot. Until the Avatar finally listened to her, there was no way they'd be on speaking terms again.

 For now, though, she needed to clear her head.

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RULER OF HER HEART | ❝You don't like me
the way I like you, don't you?❞