Hello World! This is my first fic I've dared to let see light, so I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think!

Kya sat comfortably on the grey couch in Lin's apartment, legs propped up on the bare coffee table, waiting to be shoved off by the rule-abiding earth bender. Waiting seemed to be the key word as Lin was behind time. This wouldn't be a problem, if it weren't for Lin's impeccable punctuality, and endearing consideration that if she was staying late in the office, she would at least let Kya know (Lin won't admit it, but Kya has basically moved into her apartment unannounced. Let alone will she admit she's glad to come home to her every night.)

Kya began to get antsy, trying her best to still jittery hands. She was certain Lin was fine, but something felt terribly off. It's only been half an hour. That's fine, probably traffic. At the station. Or on the road. Maybe something came up at work that wouldn't let Lin reach the phone for 2 minutes to call and say she's alive! Caving in to the anxiety, Kya grabbed the nearest distraction Lin's empty apartment could provide. A newspaper, of course. Lin had left it on the table this morning.

She never really understood why the chief liked reading the paper. It was all rumors and depressing news. Robbery here, politics there. The occasional celebrity news that they bought a dog or something (just a rumor. Bolin would never betray his Paco.) She couldn't fathom how that woman could handle so much sadness. She began to read an article about another referee being paid off for the semi final match, and much to her surprise the police department had arrested him, due to changes of law enforcement in professional sports. She smiled, knowing her girlfriend definitely had a hand in that.

Just then, the woman of her thoughts came through the door.

"Lin!" Kya smiled, beaming at the beautiful woman that just came home. But what should have been a warm welcome or an apologetic glance, came only bite.

"Leave" Lin barked, walking passed open arms and into the kitchen, retrieving what looked like a heavy drink, and facing hard against the wall above the counter. After all this time, she still had no clue where Lin kept all her alcohol.

"Well, that was rude." Kya barked back. She knew Lin to have many bad days, but today was different. On most days, Lin would simply greet her and retreat into her room. Kya knew better than to pry, and eventually the woman would return, either with a brief explanation as to her mood, or having simply moved on from the day's events. But today Lin was ruthless, and Kya did not, in any way, desire to be her punching bag.

"I'm sorry. Please, go away." The earth bender's sarcasm dripped as harshly as the liquor she downed, and much to Kya's dismay, she poured another. Lin hadn't drunk in years, only for the consecutive running to end abruptly as Lin downed the deep brown liquid. The site was heartbreaking, but Kya and Lin agreed on keeping the bottle. Lin was an adult, she can make her own decisions. That didn't make watching her any easier. This wasn't what she was hoping they would do with the whiskey.

"Lin, I am not here just so you can vent out all your frustrations on me. I'm here to help, but I can only do so much until you let me in." Gently, Kya reached out her hand to rest on Lin's shoulder, but Lin flinched. Lin flinched. She didn't brush of the touch or welcomed it, she flinched, and both woman noticed. This "sign of weakness" only irked Lin further.

"Let you in? Last time I checked you didn't live here, Kya. No one asked you to help me, and I certainly didn't ask you to be here." Her grip on the glass hardened, Lin was holding back, and Kya could see this.

"Lin. It's just me. You can talk to me-"

"I need you to leave, Kya." Lin practically growled. Kya didn't know what to do, Lin has never been like this. Quickly she retrieved her hand, not realizing she left it hovering above her shoulder. Her hands found themselves clenched hard into fists beside her, mirroring the actions of the woman who wouldn't face her right now. Kya knew Lin wasn't good with words, but this lack of explanation wasn't good enough to justify her attitude or return to alcoholism.

"Oh no you don't. You don't get to start acting like the world is against you. It's not, Lin." Kya's attempt to face Lin was met with a sharp turn and Lin moving further from her, down the counter. The movement was like another punch to her stomach, but Kya was glad that at least she was away from the bottle. "What happened?" Kya's voice was borderline pleading, but with every trace of resolute.

Kya watched as Lin pulled her hand to her eyes, pinching the nose of her bridge. Her every movement felt like dragging cement through air. But the small gesture was all she received in response. When she didn't get a reply, Kya tried again. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I don't deserve this!" Kya watched as her lover froze. Lin's back that was towards her became impossibly more tense, painfully so. Her hand lowered and began to clench the counter. Her knuckle was white, clinging tightly around the glass holding her drink. That's when Kya actually saw the kind of state Lin was in.

She had been over enough to know Lin's routine. She would come home, removing her armor almost immediately and place it neatly into her room, while on the way she would always turn on the radio. The woman wasn't much for art or music, but Kya knew she needed something to keep her mind off work, regardless how mindless the distraction was. Lin would either then return and have dinner or remain in her room for the night, simply listening to whatever filled the air.

Lin had a ritual. It was simple but it was constant. Right now, there was none of that. The armor Lin had left on still had rubble and was damaged quite significantly, though nothing a skilled metal bender could fit. And her hair was far from the typically neat bun the chief of police prided on. Had she just came back from a fight? Kya's heart raced as she tried to explain the situation to herself. That could explain the alcohol, but it's been years since Lin has touched that stuff. And it doesn't make sense, after a situation, Lin always returned to the department to fill in the paper work. What could have possibly – wait, deserve?

"Deserve what?" Kya couldn't move. What would she do? Lin wasn't talking to her, and the questions flooding Kya's mind were deafening. The flinch earlier was a harsh blow to Kya's confidence, and the knowledge that even such a simple gesture as a hand on the shoulder couldn't bring comfort to Lin right now, stung deep. "Lin?"

"Please. Just, go." Lin's voice was barely above a whisper, sounding almost as if it burnt her to speak. Finally, Lin looked up. There were no walls, no defense mechanisms. It was just Lin reaching out for understanding in those beautiful green eyes. But those beautiful green eyes, eyes Kya wanted nothing more but to search, to get lost in, those eyes were painfully empty. Shallow. Whatever Lin was feeling was far past grief. It was unbearably tragic.

She couldn't keep fighting this woman. If Kya wasn't wanted, if this wasn't what Lin needed, then she wouldn't force herself to stay. "Fine. I'm leaving."

Kya waited for a response, hoping Lin would change her mind, ask her not to leave. But the chief didn't move. She just, looked away, as if the dark liquor could somehow save her from the situation. It couldn't, Lin. It never could. Defeated, Kya grabbed her keys and walked towards the door. She grabbed the handle slowly, but stopped, releasing the breath she was holding. Lin wasn't going to ask. She turned to look at her love one last time, one last chance for her to change her mind. Lin didn't look back. "Take care of yourself, chief." And with that, the water bender was gone.