chap 1
Time: Korra and Lin both have their bending back. Everyone has left the Southern Water Tribe and is on Air Temple Island.
Author's note: Yes I know that Pema and the kids went to the southern water tribe too, but this is my story damn it!
The trip from the Southern Water Tribe back to Air Temple Island had been long and exhausting. The boat finally met its destination in the middle of the night. Pema and the Air-bender kids were waiting by the port. The kids waited patiently to be reunited with their father. Bolin, with Pabu asleep in his jacket, were the first to step off the boat. He yawned while stretching his arms toward the sky, going to where Pema stood. Mako and Asami followed, she had obviously been alseep prior to their arrival. The air-bender girls raced toward Tenzin as he made his way down the exit ramp. His eyes were tired, but his smile at the sight of his family was warm and grateful. Meelo had been asleep in Pema's arms. She passed him to Tenzin, the child waking only enough to realize he was in his father's arms. Korra was not far behind. She walked alongside Naga, stroking her shoulder as they went. Lin remained at the top of the ramp, watching the group exchange hugs and oragnize that night's sleeping arrangements. She had stood and looked on for several minutes before her absence had been noticed. Tenzin called to her.
" Lin, please, come and join us." She said nothing as she walked down the ramp, and gathered with them. " Lin, a room has been prepared for you. The air acolytes are drawing hot baths and preparing warm meals."
" Thank you, but I won't be staying. I will be returning to Republic City". She started towards the ship when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back and was actually quite surprised to see that it was Pema who had stopped her.
" Please, stay. It would mean a lot to all of us. Asami and the boys will be going back on the ferry tomorrow, you could travel together. Surely you can stay and rest one night". It was still strange to Lin that Pema of all people was asking her to stay. Truth was that Lin was very tired, and she couldn't remember the last meal she had eaten. Normally her mind would have been made up, but today had pushed her resolve to a breaking point.
" Alright". Her response was without explanation. Pema smiled, letting go of the stern woman's shoulder.
" I'm so glad, I'll show you where your room is." Pema escorted the her away, saying nothing to the rest of the group as they too began to disperse. The two women walked along a flag stone path lined with small lamps. The infant Rohan was soundly asleep against Pema's chest. Their pace was slow, Lin could tell that Pema was stalling.
"Why did you ask me to stay, Pema?" Lin's questions were direct, as if she was always in an interrogation room. Pema was quiet a moment longer, leading her to the edge of a large koi pond. The fish swirled and nibbled the water's surface, expecting a treat to be dropped in.
" I wanted to... thank you. Thank you for everything that you have done. I have never told you how much I appreciate the sacrifices you have made for me, and for my family."
" It's my job to protec-"
" No, when you went back for those airships it was not your job. You were not acting as Chief of Police. You were Lin Bei Fong," she looked directly in to the woman's eyes, " I owe my children's lives to you". The infant began to wriggle and whimper.
" You owe me nothing. I was glad to do it, and I would do it again". She watched the child grow more and more restless. Catching her off guard once again, Pema placed Rohan in to Lin's arms. She held him at first as though he would break if she weren't especially careful, she slowly brought the child close and rocked him instinctively. The baby calmed and fell easily back to sleep.
" I was right". Pema said quietly.
" You were right about what?" Lin didn't dare take her eyes of the baby, afraid of what might happen if she changed her pattern of rocking even slightly.
" You would have made a wonderful mother." Lin went momentarily rigid at the woman's statement. She quickly returned the child to it's mother and turned to look down to the end of the path.
" Ah, well", she trailed uncharacteristically, " I can see the lamp in the room, I can go the rest of the way on my own". Pema, realizing how uncomfortable she had unintentionally made the older woman, did not push the matter further.
" Goodnight, Lin."
Lin stood in front of the door to her room, tilting her head back and taking a deep breath. When she entered one of the acolytes was pouring the last bits of hot water into a large tub. She bowed to Lin and informed her that a meal would be brought to her in 30 minutes before politely leaving. Lin still had her armour on, she must have been wearing it for the last 3 days at least. The weight of wearing it for so long had made her joints stiff and painful. She removed it slowly, piece by piece. The night air in the room was cool and as she unlatched her boots she could see the steam pouring off her feet and felt chilled by the shock of the sensation. She carefully hung her armour up to dry before continuing to undress. She slowly unraveled her breast bindings, which had left impressions on her skin for being left on far longer than could be recommended. She placed her bindings and undergarments on top of a small dresser. She stood in the center of the dimly lit room running her hands over her naked body and appreciating the feeling of air on her skin.
She sank in to the large tub, her back to the door, until the water was nearly to her chin. She became aware of her muscles finally relaxing. She was half asleep where she was when she was startled by the door creaking open. She snapped her head around to see who was coming in the door behind her. She was expecting that she had lost track of time and that she would merely see one of the air acolytes bringing in her supper, she was confused by who was actually standing there.
" Korra?" Lin's eyes were bleary from her half-sleep state and she struggled for a moment to focus them. Korra stood just inside the door. She held a tray in her hands. A small tea kettle, two cups, and two covered wooden bowls were on the tray.
" I'm sorry if I am bothering you. I, uh, brought your supper and,uh, wanted to know if you would like eat with me?" Korra set the platter down on a table at the corner of the room opposite the tub. Several moments of silence passed as she stood, waiting for acknowledgment. It was as if Lin had not heard her at all. Insecure in the silence, Korra continued. " I'll, uh, actually I'll just leave". She began backing towards the door when Lin stopped her.
"No, you can stay. I would enjoy having supper with you, provided you didn't cook it." She disarmed the tension with her joke. Korra smiled, though Lin did not see it. " I hoped I could stay in the bath a few more minutes, but I suppose I should get out. The water is cooling off". Korra finally took a few steps closer, stopping at the foot of the bed in the middle of the room.
" I could use my firebending to heat the water back up!" Korra was audibly excited for an oppurtunity to use her bending again, even for such a mundane task. " I mean," she said more collectedly, " if you want me to."
Sensing the girl's enthusiasm, Lin felt obliged to allow her the friendly gesture.
" It would certainly be appreciated." Korra finally came up close to the tub, but careful not to invade Lin's personal space. She gently conjured a flame around the base of the tub, the steam began to roll and dance on the water's surface again. " I don't mean to be rude to you, Korra, but having worn my armour so long has made my muscles tense. This has been the only relief I have had from it." Lin reached up and rubbed her own shoulders before leaning forward to stretch the muscles along her back. Korra admired the visible power in her arms and back. She had nearly forgotten how nervous the former police chief made her when she was overcome by a desire to know what her strength would feel like. Korra's hands made a shaking path towards Lin's shoulders before finally making contact. She began to massage with her thumbs between the shoulder blades, kneading her way up to the base of her neck. Korra was mesmerized by the touch, completely transfixed on the level of definition the woman had. Lin did not pull away from her, and did not resist her. A small groan of gratitude escaped her, which only added to Korra's confidence. Her curiousity was piqued and she began to slide her hands forward, rubbing the woman's chest. Aside from the occasional scarring, her skin was smooth and taut. The tips of Korra's fingers wandered barely sliding across the top of her breasts. The spell was broken. Lin stood abruptly, Korra watching the water run off her body. Lin reached for a towel, keeping her back to Korra the whole time. This did not deter her from continuing to admire the mature physique. Lin, without excuse, went behind a folding partition wall and emerged in a clean,Earthen coloured, night outfit. "I'll pour your tea for you". Korra was expecting Lin to say something about how what she had just done was inappropriate, but she didn't. She went on like nothing had happened.
The table in the room was set against the corner. Lin, always in formal fashion, gestured for Korra to come and sit on one of the cushions on the floor. Lin poured the tea evenly and smoothly, not a single drop dared run astray. Attempting to match the level of etiquette, Korra grabbed for the wooden bowls, placing them both and revealing their contents of rice and vegetables. She was hoping she would find the right words to say during the time it took her to do so, they did not come. Why was it so hard to talk to Lin?
Desperately unable to think of anything else to say, Korra resorted to small talk. "You know, I didn't think I would like vegetarian food at first, but it's actually very good."
"Why did you really come here?" Lin despised small talk, seeing it as a waste of time. Korra could not figure out how she could say what she wanted, afraid of the likely answer. She managed a shrug.
"I just didn't want to eat alone." Lin lowered her eyebrows, she wasn't going to sit and play guessing games with Korra about what her actual motives for being here were. She clinked the tea cup on to the saucer in her lap, waiting for the girl to say what she was really thinking. Korra could feel her quiet irritation towards her avoidance."... and I was wondering if you would stay on Air Temple Island and train me to metalbend?" Unfortunately Lin's face softened only slightly and Korra knew the answer before it was spoken.
" You know I can't do that. I am leaving tomorrow to return to Republic City. Even if my title has changed, my priorities haven't. My duty is to serve and protect Republic City in any way I can. If you want to learn from me, you will have to come to the city. I will be training the elite officers there, and I would be willing to go as far as to make the exception of training you alongside them." Korra's disappointment was more than a little evident. Her eyes were locked to the ground where she kicked around a small rock with her foot.
" I understand. It was selfish of me to ask you to stay. I... uh" she started, unable to bring herself to finish the sentence. "... Anyway, thanks for having supper with me, I'll miss spending time with you when you go back". She managed to look up and smile.
" Indeed, we've learned quite a bit about each other over the last several weeks haven't we?" Lin returned her smile. Her voice was steady and seductive, every syllable accentuating the perfection of her lips. Korra once again caught herself admiring. Her bold streak ran through her as intensely as her fear of rejection.
" I'd like to know you better". Korra found it hard to read Lin, but she knew that this instant was going to be her only chance. She leaned forward, looking directly into Lin's eyes. Their lips had nearly met when Lin once again stood and moved to the door, opening it.
" There will be plenty of time to get to know each other better. I'm glad you came by, Korra, I will see you tomorrow before I leave." Korra tried not to act phased by the denial,smiling and walking out the door casually.
" Yeah, definitely, see you then!" Upon closing the door Lin went to the table to clean it up before going to bed. She took a complete pause when she could hear the young avatar, thinking she was out of earshot, yelling at herself as she stomped off to her sleeping quarters. " UGH! Why am I so stupid!?" Lin smiled to herself, and went to bed.