DISCLAIMER: Korra ain't mine.
I know this has been done a million times but...oh well. This one is more of a drabble.
Somehow Lin isn't surprised when Korra finds her even though by all rights the young Avatar should have no clue how to do so.
She doesn't open her eyes, remaining in her recumbent position as her back rests against the cool slab of marble. Korra stops in front of her, and Lin can sense the younger woman's trepidation, so she smirks to put her at ease. "You going to say something or stand there gawking like an idiot?"
"What was she like?"
Korra's voice is so soft and unsure—so un-Korra-ish—that Lin actually sits up a little straighter, eyelids lifting opening in surprise. Cyan finds emerald, and in the younger pair there is an odd gleam of yearning. Lin sighs and sinks back against the stone, ignoring her stiff muscles and wondering absently why she doesn't run Korra off. "Well, that depends on what you want to know. What was she like as the Chief? As an earthbending teacher? A mother?"
"Everything," Korra answers quietly, and through her vibrations Lin sees that for some reason this is really important to her. The earthbender sighs again, tipping her head back to rest against her mother's marker and letting her eyes slide shut.
"You know, ever since I met you I couldn't stop thinking about what a kick my mom would have gotten out of you, Avatar." There is still a bite to the title, but it's affectionate now. "Kind of made me realize how stuffy and uptight I was getting. She would have kicked the crap out of me for that."
"Really?" Korra asks curiously, and in spite of the tightness in her chest Lin can't help but smirk.
"Hell yes. Destroying the city on your first damn day? Would've gotten you high points, kid. You're her type of person: Brash, headstrong, powerful, loyal and determined…oh yeah, Mom would've loved you. She always went for the rule-breakers."
"Guess she didn't follow many herself."
"Oh, she behaved when it was necessary, but for the most part the only rules my mother ever followed were her own. A lot of people said she had no respect, but she respected those who really deserved it. Well, most of the time." Lin chuckles slightly. "She had some pretty nasty fights with Aunt Katara. I'm still a bit surprised they didn't smash the whole city to pieces."
"I talked to Sifu Katara about her a little. She sounds really brave." Lin swears she heard the slightest note of envy in Korra's voice, and for some reason it bothers her—not because Korra is jealous of Toph (hell, Lin spent most of her life the same way) but because she thinks she's lacking.
"Yeah, my mom wasn't scared of anything. Except when it came to me. One time I had the misfortune to run into Yakone, and…" Lin trails off, remembering the look of terror on her mother's face. "It was the only time I ever saw her show any fear."
"She sounds like an amazing person. I wish I could have met her."
Lin surprises herself by replying "Yeah, so do I."