This is a Korra/Lin Bei Fong one-shot (currently). It takes place shortly after Amon has taken away Lin's ability to earth and metal bend.
Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra. Otherwise Korralin would canon. XD
Night had fallen since everyone had left Air Temple Island earlier that day. Korra and the gang had escaped into the sewer tunnels while Tenzin and his family took to the skies on their sky bison.
Korra and everyone had found a find enough area to stop and rest for the night at least. Whether they'd stay there once morning came was another thing. It was late though, and as such everyone was asleep. Well, almost everyone.
Korra couldn't sleep. She tossed, turned, did everything she could to make herself comfortable. But something kept nagging her in the back of her mind. She knew Tenzin and the others would be safe, so what was there to be worried about? Regardless, she felt like something wasn't right.
Korra got up silently and made her way back to the tunnel entrance where they had first come in. She glanced back momentarily, wondering if just leaving them without so much as note was a good idea. She shrugged it off though, figuring that she'd be back before they would wake up.
Taking a deep breath, Korra leaped into the cold water. Once under the water, she bended it to create a large air bubble around her head while she swam, heading straight back to Air Temple Island.
It took her a good half hour at least to reach the island. When she got to shore, she bent the water off her clothes as to keep herself dry and hopefully make less noise if anyone was here. She quietly walked up the main path to the temple. So far there had been no signs of anyone still there. That is until she reached the clearing right before the temple.
"Chief Bei Fong!" Korra cried out, rushing over to the older woman. She was unconscious. Korra saw that her hands had been tied, and undid the knot. It wasn't hard to figure out what had happened to the chief. Tears welled and in Korra's eyes and falling as she held Lin. "Why do you always have to be the hero?" she cried.
After a few moments, Korra regained her composure and, lifting up the chief in her arms, took her inside the temple. She wanted to take Lin back with to where the others were, but without Naga, there's no way she'd be able to carry Lin and swim there at the same time. So instead she carried Lin up all the up to her bedroom and laid her on the bed. Quickly finding a bowl, she filled it with the water from outside through her window and then heating it with her fire bending. She soaked a rag in the water, wringing it out, and placing it on Lin's forehead before sitting next to the bed.
At least she's still breathing, Korra thought, reaching out and slipping her hand into Lin's. Though I'm a little surprised that Amon left her here since he's kidnapped everyone else… Could be that he left her as a warning for me…
"Don't worry, Lin," Korra said softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "When we find Amon, I'm going to kick his ass."
Korra had always admired Chief Bei Fong since they first met, despite her harshness. She was physically strong and strong-willed. She always seemed to have some sort of plan what to do next, or where to look. But what Korra admired most about her was her courage and the honor that she held. Whenever they went up against the Equalists, the chief had never once froze or held back. Hell, she'd had risked her own life to save Korra at the Pro-Bending Arena when Amon attacked.
Korra looked over the older woman. Despite the armor that she always wore, Korra knew that her body was well-defined underneath. Defined and strong, Korra mentally reminded herself. She couldn't help gazing at her face though. Her face looked so relaxed while she slept. She even appeared to be peaceful.
She really is beautiful, Korra thought, reaching up. I think she partially acts the she does to purposely keep others from getting close to her… She very lightly ran her fingers over the two scars that went across her face, feeling the textures and how the color differed from the rest of Lin's skin. She became so enamored by how it felt to touch the older woman's face, that she failed to notice that Lin had actually awakened. She silently watched the young girl for a few seconds before clearing her throat.
"Chief! You're awake!" Korra exclaimed, cheeks red with embarrassment at being caught. "How do you feel? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she answered. "What I want to know is why you're here. You and your friends were supposed to go into hiding until the United Forces show up to help fight Amon. For all you know, Amon could have been hiding here and waiting for your return!"
Korra looked down. "I know that there was a possibility that he'd be here, waiting to see if I would return," Korra said softly. "But something kept bugging me. It was telling me to come back here and make sure everything was how it should be." She paused, looking up and into Lin's pale green eyes. "And I'm glad that I did because I found you laying on the ground, tied up and out cold."
Lin sighed. "Very well, Avatar. You've done your job though; now go back with your friends. I'm sure they'll be worried when they find you missing."
"I won't go." Korra stated. "I know Amon took your bending away… I can't just leave you here by yourself."
"My well-being is no concern of yours," Lin told her sternly, almost glaring at the girl. "Now go."
"I won't," Korra replied simply. "Everyone here has been taking care of me ever since I came to Republic City, including you. You saved my life. On top of that, you've always taken care of Republic City. Maybe not individually, but you were the Chief of Police." Korra smiled at her softly. "Let someone else take care of you for once."
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much," Lin stated. As she attempted to sit up in the bed, she groaned and winced in pain. She was hoping Korra wouldn't notice all that much, but she was wrong.
"See, you do need my help. You're hurt," she pointed out. "I can heal you with my water bending, but first we need to take this armor off you. How do you take it off?"
Lin looked away, avoiding Korra's eyes. "The only way to get it off is to use metal bending," she murmured.
Korra looked down as well, feeling bad for the older woman. "I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I know how much your bending meant to both you and the city." She interlaced her fingers with the older woman's. "But I believe we can get your bending back. And until than, you can teach me metal bending. I'll even take on the Bei Fong name."
Lin looked at her with wide eyes. "What are you saying?" She wasn't sure why, but her heart was pounding in her chest. Just what was Korra offering her? What was she asking for?
"I'm saying that you could teach me metal bending," Korra replied. "And….and if by some chance we aren't able to get your bending back, I'd like to take on the Bei Fong name and continue its legacy." Korra's cheeks turned pink at the thought of being known as Korra Bei Fong. "If that's okay with you."
Lin looked at her suspiciously, not sure if whether Korra really meant that as she said, or if she meant it as something more. "We'll see," she said, trying to sit up more, which only caused her more pain.
"Well you'd have to start teaching me soon if we're going to get this armor off you," Korra said.
"Fine." Lin rolled her eyes. She took hold of Korra's wrists and placed them on her armor. "Listen carefully and follow my instructions, Avatar."
"Call me Korra," she said quietly. "Please."
"Very well…Korra," Lin said. "Now than, close your eyes. Feel the metal underneath your hands, feel the earth that is the metal."
Korra nodded, having had already closed her eyes.
"Metal is refined earth, and impurities remain in the metal. It is the impurities you will be bending. There is earth in there, no matter how small. Feel the pull, and be able to push it," she went on to explain. After a few moments, she felt a tug around her waist.
"I did it! I felt it!" Korra smiled big. Even if was only a small accomplishment, it was still better than her air bending skills. Lin felt a small smile tug at her lips.
"Good. Now, keep doing what you just did a bit more. Get comfortable with the feel of the metal, how it bends under you," Lin instructed. "Than, once you're ready, I want you to bend the uniform off me. Just make sure you give me fair warning."
Korra let out a small chuckle. "I'll make sure I do."
Korra continued feeling for the earth impurities in the metal, pulling and pushing them, for about another half hour. She looked up at the woman. "I think I'm ready to try bending the uniform," Korra said softly. "I'm going to use my hands to grip the metal, I think it'll be easier that way for my first time." Lin nodded at her silently in approval, although she felt her heart racing again at the thought of Korra ripping off her uniform as if they were her actual clothes.
Concentrating and inhaling a deep breath, Korra bent the armor with her hands and started peeling it off. She had started at the shoulders and pulled down from there. It took a few tries here and there, but overall, she got it all off and discarded the armor in the corner of the room.
"Now," Korra said, smiling and standing proudly at her achievement, "let's get you healed."
She could see that Lin had a few bruises on her arms and figured that she probably had some other injuries. Sitting back down near the bed, she moved the water from the bowl she'd used earlier to the older woman's skin, where it faintly glowed silver.
"You've definitely got some bruises," she said, being able to feel for any injuries through the water. "Looks like you've also got a few fractured ribs." She frowned at that.
"You'll be able to heal all of those?" Lin asked quietly, silently observing her.
"Sure will. Katara taught me herself."
Lin nodded without saying anything else. She leaned back and closed her eyes while Korra did what she had to. Whatever she was doing, it sure felt good.
It wasn't long before Korra had finished up. Having noticed Lin's change of position while she was water bending, she didn't let the woman know she had finished. In fact, she though maybe Lin fell back asleep.
Another chance to explore, I suppose, Korra thought. Under her uniform, all Lin had been wearing was a tank top and a pair of shorts. Korra very lightly ran her fingertips over Lin's legs. Moving up with her eyes, Korra could see that the older woman was indeed very strong looking. She became brave and slowly ran her hand up Lin's arm, feeling the strong muscles beneath the skin. When she reached the shoulder, she didn't stop. She moved along and up her neck, to cradle the side of her face in her hand.
She's beautiful, Korra thought, admiring her and brushing her thumb against the woman's cheek without thinking about it.
"So, do you do this to all your friends when you think they're asleep?" Lin asked suddenly, looking right at her.
Korra became wide-eyed and tried to pull back, but she couldn't pull herself away from the former earth bender.
"I-I… No, I don't," Korra managed to spit out, her cheeks becoming red from being caught.
"Is that right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You and that Mako boy seem pretty close even though he's with that Sato girl. He was pretty protective over you when we finally found you."
"I used to like him, yes," Korra sighed. "But he was with Asami already, so I backed off and got over it. We did kiss once though… It was after we won the semi-finals at the pro-bending tournament. I had a victory high, thought maybe I could suddenly win him over." She shrugged. "It's his loss now."
"What made you come after me?" Lin asked softly, searching Korra's eyes.
"What didn't?" Korra smiled a little. "You have so much honor and courage; you're strong-willed… What isn't there to like?"
"The fact that I'm twice your age is what should have stopped you."
Korra leaned in a little closer. "Yes, age can make a difference, but in the age it's just a number." She reached for Lin's hands and brought them together, holding them. "I know losing Tenzin hurt. But you deserve someone who won't just up and leave you for someone else. Someone that's more than willing to take care of you and help you," she said softly.
Lin blushed at the confession. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. But what she saw in Korra's eyes was telling Lin that she wasn't lying. "And you think that someone is you?"
"Given the chance, yes," Korra said. "Think about it, we'd be an unstoppable force. No one would even want to mess with us." She laughed a little.
Lin gave Korra's hands a gentle squeeze. "Why don't we eat first," Lin suggested, a small smile on her lips.
Korra opened her mouth to say something when her stomach rumbled rather loudly. "Food it is," Korra laughed. "You stay here while I go make us something to eat. I'll bring it up when it's done." And with that, she left to prep them some food.
Lin sank back into her bed with a sigh after Korra left. Go out with the Ava- Korra? As in be a couple? Lin thought to herself. It sounds crazy… Yet, after getting to know her and spending time with her... It could be rather nice…
Korra returned shortly after with a tray of food. She brought each of them a bowl of rice, some fish, and a pot of tea with cups for them both. Lin had given her a nod in thanks as they sat there and ate in silence, Lin in bed, and Korra seated right next to her.
When they were finished, Korra stood up to clean everything up. Lin had noticed a grain of rice that had stuck to the corner of Korra's mouth.
"Come here," Lin said softly, tugging on Korra's shirt so she would bend down. Leaning up, Lin softly pressed her lips to Korra's own. The younger of the two froze for a second, having been caught off guard before relaxing into the kiss and responding. When they both pulled back, Lin looked up into her eyes. "My answer is yes."