Water and Earth

Chapter 9

"This feels familiar," Kya said as the two strolled down Lin's street. "What? Oh. Haha, very funny," Lin said dryly, recalling the last time Kya was at her apartment. She fingered her keys in her pocket nervously as they approached the building and stopped suddenly in her tracks. "Kya," Lin started. "What?" "What does this mean? You coming back to my place?" Lin asked. Kya put a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. "What do you want it to mean?" "God, you're insufferable." "Are you always this charming when a woman wants to go home with you?" A look of understanding washed over Kya's face, and she quickly tried to backtrack. "Look, Lin, I didn't mean...." "I know what you meant." They stood there in silence, neither one of them knowing how their date had gone so far south so quickly. "We don't have to go inside, but I still want to spend time with you, if that's okay," Kya said gently. "What do you have in mind?" "Do you trust me?" "Against my better judgment," Lin grumbled. Kya extended her hand, and Lin hesitantly took it. "Come with me."

"What are you doing?" Kya had taken Lin down the winding streets of Republic City to the docks. Lin watched the various boats bob up and down with the gentle waves as Kya began untying a small wooden dingy. "What does it look like I'm doing?" Kya responded as she worked on the last knot that secured the boat to the dock. "If I answer that question, I feel like I have to arrest you because it looks a hell of a lot like stealing." Kya giggled and tossed the rope into the boat. She gracefully hopped down into the dingy and looked expectantly at Lin. "Kya, I can't be part of a crime." "Relax, it's just Tenzin's. It's more of borrowing than stealing." Lin rolled her eyes and climbed down next to Kya. Using her water-bending, Kya guided them safely away from the other boats out into the open water. "Hold on," she said with a mischievous grin. Before she could protest, Kya propelled them forward, gaining speed with each passing second. Lin gripped the sides of the boat with all her strength and felt her forearms begin to burn. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she knew she must look terrorized by how Kya laughed. "Is this necessary?" Lin shouted. With the wind in her face, she had to squint to make out Air Temple Island growing closer and closer. Suddenly the wind let up, and Lin felt the boat begin to lose speed. She opened her eyes fully and was struck by how beautifully the lanterns glowed on the island. Kya guided their boat towards a small sandy cove and hopped out to bring it to shore. "Allow me," Lin said as she joined Kya on the beach and used her earth-bending to secure it on land. "Do you remember this beach?" Kya asked as she walked towards a cluster of rocks. Lin looked around, and her dream came flooding back to her. "I do," she said softly, joining Kya. "Remember when we used to race down that path?" Kya said, pointing to a nearby trail. "I distinctly remember you cheated," Lin chuckled. "You say cheating. I say competitive advantage." They both laughed. "Where did all the time go?" Kya mused to herself. "Do you ever wonder how things might have turned out if we had made different choices?" she asked, turning to Lin. "Sometimes. I used to wonder what my life would have been like if Tenzin and I had stayed together. Then again, I know exactly what my life would have been like if we stayed together. He wanted a big family; I would have had to be a mother and give up my life to raising the next generation of air-benders." Kya giggled, and Lin shot her a hurtful look. "I'm sorry, Lin. It's just... well,, I just could never see you with that life." "Which is exactly why I knew we would never work." "Did you love him?" Lin sighed. "I used to think so. I thought I loved him more than anything in the whole world. We were so young, and I think what we had is the closest thing I've had to love. We both knew what it was like to grow up with responsibilities. He knew he had to carry on the air nation's lineage, and I knew I would take over for the police department. It was like we were born into lives we hadn't picked out for ourselves, although looking back on it, I had more of a choice than he did." "But you never loved him?" Kya pressed. "I don't suppose so. We never had passion- it was more a tight bond. He was my family." "I'm sorry, by the way," Kya said suddenly. "For what?" "That day on the beach all those years ago." "It's okay; we both said things we didn't mean. Looking back on it, I know that you had a point, but I was too bullheaded to realize it. All I wanted to do was please my mother, and I thought being chief one day would fix my issues with her. But It didn't. You also had a point that Tenzin and I were a bit stuck up." "I think back on those horrible things I said to you, and I wish I could take it all back," Kya said, looking out over the water. "It's all behind us," Lin sighed. "Best to focus on what's in front of us now." She gave Kya a tight smile. "I rather like what's in front of me," Kya said with a smile as she turned to face Lin. Lin's heart raced as Kya moved closer and closer to her. Kya reached a hand up to cup Lin's cheek gently and pulled her face towards her own. All sense of time seemed to fade away as their lips met and they melted into one another. It felt as if an eternity had passed before they broke apart, both breathless and flushed. "Well?" Kya asked nervously, studying Lin's face. Lin sat in stunned silence before smiling at Kya. "I want to say that's the best first kiss I've ever had, but I would be lying." Kya's face fell, but before she could pull away, Lin grabbed her hand. "I would be lying because I don't remember our first kiss," she said before pulling Kya in for another kiss. "That was mean," Kya said as she swatted Lin's arm playfully. "I told you, I'm full of surprises." Lin leaned forward to give Kya another kiss when she felt Kya pull away. "Everything alright?" Lin asked. "Yes, everything is wonderful. It's just that maybe we should take this slow," Kya ran a finger over the back of Lin's hand. "Slow?" "I've been known to move a bit too quickly in the past. I just want to make sure we take out time." Kya noticed Lin's face fall and was quick to squeeze her hand. "I like you, Lin. I just think it's best if we let things unfold naturally and don't rush anything." "I understand." They sat there in silence, listening to the waves lap against the shore. "Are you going back to your place tonight?" Kya asked, finally breaking the silence. "What other option do I have?" "Well, you could always crash here." Lin's face went pink. "What happened to take it slow?" "Relax, Tenzin has tons of extra rooms since the new airbenders left, and he knows that I like to spend the night from time to time. He won't even notice." Despite everything in her telling her to go home, Lin felt her eyelids already beginning to grow heavy. She hadn't stayed up outside of work hours this late in a very long time. "One night, and I'm gone in the morning at dawn, understood?" said Lin. Kya beamed and grabbed Lin's wrist. "Follow me!" She whispered. Kya pulled Lin up the winding path towards the house, which was entirely dark. "See that window right there? That's my room. If you can get us up there, no one will know," Kya whispered. "And how am I supposed to do that?" Lin replied in a hushed voice. Kya motioned for Lin to shoot a metal cable from her wrist. "That's all well and good, Kya, but what metal will I bend to get us up there?" "From your... oh." Lin gestured to her suit. "The one time you don't wear your armor...." Kya grumbled. "Sorry to inconvenience you, I had a date," Lin mumbled. Kya tapped her foot in thought. "Can you just earth bend us up there?" "I can, but it'll be loud." "Just launch us." Lin a hand through her hair. "Launch us? And then what? Breakthrough the window?" Lin began pacing back and forth, wondering what exactly she got herself into when she heard a whistle from above. It was Ikki, peering out from a neighboring window. "Aunt Kya!" She yelled and was met with hushes from Lin and Kya. "Ikki! What are you doing up?" Kya said in a harsh whisper. "I heard someone outside. What are you doing here? And why is Chief Beifong here?" She whispered back. "Ikki, can you throw down the ladder from my room?" Kya said, ignoring her niece's questions. Ikki nodded, and within minutes a small wooden ladder tumbled out of the window. Kya and Lin climbed up quickly and pulled the ladder in behind them. "Are you having a sleepover?" Ikki asked excitedly. "Shh, Ikki. The Chief was just checking on something for your dad, and I was...helping her with that, so we thought we would stay here tonight." Lin rolled her eyes at Kya's feeble attempt at a lie. "But it's a surprise, so don't tell your dad," Kya added, and Ikki nodded. "Goodnight, aunt Kya! Goodnight, Chief!" and with that, Ikki disappeared without a sound into the house. "That wasn't so bad," Kya whispered. "If Tenzin," Lin started. "Tenzin won't know anything. Besides, it's not like we're doing anything, you know," Kya said, raising her eyebrows. "You're such a child," Lin said as she sat down on the bed behind her. "Relax, Lin. It's all going to be okay." Kya sat down next to her. "I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted," said Kya as she stifled a yawn. "Better get to bed now to get a few hours of sleep before you make your hasty getaway tomorrow morning," Kya said with a wink. Kya smiled and began to pull off her dress when Lin hastily turned her back to her. "What are you doing?!" Lin asked, her face burning. "I'm taking my clothes off to go to sleep?" "Why?" "Because I overheat in my sleep, what's with the interrogation?" "Kya, first you tell me you want to take things slow, and now you're taking your clothes off so we can sleep together." Kya chuckled. "Relax, I don't sleep in the nude. You can turn around now." Lin carefully turned to face Kya to see her standing in front of her, hands-on-hips, clad in a white bra and bikini bottom. "Is this acceptable?" Lin's face still flushed, she nodded. "What about you? Don't tell me you're sleeping in a full suit." Lin shrugged her blazer off and kicked off her boots but kept her pants and shirt on. "Have it your way," Kya said as she climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her. Lin carefully scooted next to Kya, trying her best not to touch, and tried to relax. How did her first date in years devolve into her sleeping in the same bed as Kya? In Tenzin's home, no less. There was no way she was going to mention this to Asami. Lin kept replaying her evening in her head until, before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

Lin felt the familiar sensation of the sun washing over her as she began to stir. She blinked her eyes open and quickly remembered she wasn't at home. She looked over her shoulder at Kya, who was peacefully dreaming and sighed relief. One less factor to deal with that morning. She gently peeled back the blankets, but before she could move, Kya rolled over and draped an arm over Lin's chest. Lin felt a flutter in her chest but knew she couldn't stay. She slowly but steadily slid out of Kya's grasp and was relieved when Kya snuggled up to a pillow, still fast asleep. Lin smiled as she put her boots on, glancing over at Kya. She pulled her blazer on and leaned over Kya to give her a quick peck on the forehead. She was about to reach for the door handle when she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. "Shit," she mouthed, once again realizing her escape wasn't going to be as easy as she had hoped. She peered out the window and remembered the ladder they had used the previous night. She carefully let it fall down the side of the building and was halfway down when she felt a strong gust of air knock her off the ladder and onto the ground. She fell on her back and felt the wind get knocked out of her. "Lin?" A familiar voice said, and Lin wished more than anything she could evaporate. "I'm so sorry I didn't realize it was you," Tenzin said, helping Lin to her feet. "I'm fine," she gasped, shrugging off his attempts to help her. She dusted herself off and scrambled to come up with an explanation. "What are you doing here?" Tenzin asked, both suspicious and concerned. "Uhhh," she started, her mind going blank. "Hey, Chief! What are you doing here?" Another voice called. "Of course," Lin moaned under her breath. "What brings you to Air Temple Island?" Korra asked excitedly. "She was with Aunt Kya!" another voice chirped from behind Tenzin. Lin bit the inside of her cheek and suppressed the urge to send Ikki flying through the air. "You were with Kya?" Korra said, connecting the invisible dots in her head. "Kya and I... well we were, you see, we were catching up. Yes, we were catching up, and it got late, so she suggested I spend the night. I just didn't want to wake anyone," Lin scrambled. "Those are some very nice 'catching up' clothes, Chief," Korra said with a smirk. Lin flashed her an angry look, hoping to scare her enough to shut up. "Is that why you were climbing out of her room?" Korra pressed. Lin made a mental note to go extra tough on her the next time they trained. "Well, well, well. Chief Beifong and Kya. What do you think about your sister dating your ex?" Korra asked Tenzin, who had turned redder than Lin. "Lin, I mean, Chief Beifong is free to do what she likes with her own time, and my sister is also free to do what she likes in her own time," he sputtered. "I'm sure nothing untoward happened as the Chief is a professional and respectable woman, I mean person." "I'm leaving," Lin said abruptly. Just as she was about to walk away, she heard her name being called. "Lin! You're leaving already?" Kya was hanging half out of the open window, still in her underwear. Lin's eyes widened, and she felt her entire body burn with embarrassment. "I'll call you!" Kya called to Lin as she began to make her way silently towards the dock. "Lin, let me give you a ride home," Tenzin said as he followed Lin. "I've suffered enough embarrassment for a lifetime; please let me leave with the last shred of dignity I have," said Lin as she began to shove the dingy back into the water. "Lin, you think you're going to be able to row back to Republic City by yourself?" Lin ignored him and kept shoving her weight against the boat, pushing off using her earth bending. "Have it your way," Tenzin said, turning his back to Lin as she clamored into the boat. "Good luck rowing with no oars." Lin looked down and found to her dismay, that Tenzin was right. "Why the hell did she leave the oars," Lin muttered as she climbed out of the boat and trudged over past Tenzin. "Bring Oogie down here and make sure no one follows you," Lin ordered. "A please would help," said Tenzin. Lin sighed. "Please." Within minutes Tenzin and Lin were both soaring over Air Temple Island towards the city. "Lin," Tenzin started. "We're not talking about it." The remainder of their journey was in silence, and Lin let out a sigh of relief when Tenzin brought Oogie hovering next to her apartment balcony. "Do you need any help?" Tenzin extended his hand out, but Lin had already lept off Oogie onto the balcony. "I got it." "Lin?" Lin begrudgingly turned to face Tenzin, bracing herself for the next wave of embarrassment. "I haven't seen my sister that happy in a long time. I hope we'll be seeing more of you around the island." Lin stiffened and nodded. "Oogie, yip yip!" Lin watched Tenzin and Oogie sail into the sky before turning to open her door.