TLOK: Metal Couple · Y/n story by @Isax1974

The office smelled of earth and tea, a familiar comfort in the heart of Zaofu. Suyin Beifong sat behind her polished metal desk, a stack of reports fanned out before her like a deck of cards she was trying not to read. Her fingers traced the edge of one particular photograph—grainy, taken from a distance—of two figures walking along the edge of the city's outer ring.

Suyin Beifong

murmuring to herself Again.

She slid the photo aside and pulled another. And another. Twelve in total. All the same pair, different days, different angles. Some in the markets, one at the edge of the training grounds, another near the garden pavilion. Always in conversation. Always… familiar.

Suyin Beifong

not looking up Come in.

The door slid open with a pneumatic hiss, and an aide stepped in, bowing slightly.

Aide

Matriarch, the laboratory reports you requested. On Y/N.

Suyin Beifong

finally looking up, eyebrow raised And?

Aide

They're clean. As far as security is concerned, they've done nothing wrong. No weapons permits, no restricted access requests, no suspicious transmissions. They're just… a scientist. A historian.

Suyin Beifong

leaning back Hm. A historian who spends an awful lot of time with a former dictator.

Aide

hesitating Matriarch… maybe they're just friends.

Suyin Beifong

smirking softly In my experience, people don't sneak around for friends.

She tapped the photo of Kuvira and Y/N walking side by side.

Suyin Beifong

Find them. I want to talk to Y/N myself. Not the security. Me.