After a lingering but comfortable silence Lin spoke, her tone sombre.
"So, now that the sieges are over, what are you planning on doing with yourself? Will you stay in the city?"
Lin stood arms folded leaning back on the wall. Facing her Kya sat on the edge of Lin's desk. They were dimly lit by the gas lamps and fireplace.
"The fighting is barely over, how about a bit of a breather first, hmm?"
"I guess you're asking if I could put you up for awhile." Lin crooked her brow.
Kya leaned forward propping herself up on her knees.
"Lin, may I please stay at yours for bit?"
Lin leaned forward meeting Kya in a soft kiss.
"Hmm, maybe." Lin said with a small grin. "You might be a distraction to me."
Kya stood, placing her hands on Lin's hips. Lin grasped Kya's arms.
"I promise I will be very distracting." She smiled mischievously.
Kisses began to flow, peppered with deep and quiet breaths. Kya bound her arms firmly around Lin's back and pushed her against the wall. Lin wrapped her arms around the taller woman's shoulders. Moments passed and as like a dream she felt herself fading into the taste of Kya's lips and the smell of her neck and bare shoulders. Suddenly something from with her mind grabbed her bringing her back into the moment. She brought her hands round onto Kya's chest and pulled away from her lips.
"Stay with me." Lin pleaded. Kya took a deep breath to recompose herself.
"I already am, aren't I?"
"No, I mean live with me-for good."
"Well.." Kya moved her hands to Lin's forearms.
"What?... What is it?"
"Well, when we were travelling in the wilderness and I was tending your burnt eyes, I couldn't stop thinking about the Visionaries. They're a group of healers who travel from village to village treating people's eye problems." Kya felt bad, she felt she was betraying Lin. "After helping you and learning how to do it, I feel like I can do a lot of good joining them."
Lin smiled, reaching up and caressing Kya's chin and jaw. "You're a noble spirit. And you're right: there's so much good you can do in the world."
"I don't want to leave. I don't want to hurt you again. It doesn't have to be like last time, we can stay in contact and I'll return to the city a lot to see you." Kya searched Lin's eyes for panic but she seemed unusually content.
Lin interlocked her fingers with Kya's and smiled. "No, I have a better idea. People have been badgering me to take a long vacation for years. So how about an extended vacation together?" Kya lit up at the suggestion and hugged Lin tightly.
"That's perfect. I'd love that so much."
"And while we're away I could think about whether I even want to come back." Kya moved back to meet eyes with Lin.
"But the police is your life! Republic City is your baby."
"That's true, although I haven't found a life for myself outside of the job, not until now anyway. The past few weeks has only made it more clear to me just how tired and sore I feel."
"Are you sure?"
Lin smiled contentedly. "No. But I'm taking a month off to think about it, a month off with the woman I love. I've earned that much." She took Kya's face in her hands and gave her a long, satiating kiss.
Kya broke off to speak. "That's a wonderful idea."
Then Lin let go, walking to her desk drawers and took out her station keys.
"It's late and I'm tired. Let's go home." She reached out and took Kya's hand in her own. They walked together hand in hand out the office and to the station front doors. "Oh no. I forgot there's only one bed in my home."
Kya giggled. "That's ok. I think I can cope with sharing."
