"How long has it been?" Her voice was soft and cautious, her hand gently placed on a stiff shoulder in hopes of soothing the worried woman in front of her. Her eyes lit with worry and something close to anticipation. She knew that this had been in the making for many years, but she also thought that it wasn't going to happen so soon after what they had just gone through, but time had a funny way of having things go against you just to show you who the true master of your fate was.
Trembling fingers combed through silver hair and the voice that spoke was filled with emotions that didn't fit their character. Even the way that her body had just seemed to sag with the weight of the world seemed unnatural.
"It's been around fifteen years Suyin. Not one day has gone by that I haven't thought about it." Lin turned around to face her sister and her eyes begged for some form of comfort. The way that her bright green eyes were dimmed with fear had Su holding her breath in shock. Lin was out of her depth, her mind becoming a jumble of thoughts, memories, and emotions that she had suppressed for the past fifteen years. Hoping against all odds that her world would go back to some sort of normal. Yet every night since then, she had thought of all the 'what if's and 'could have been's.
"Have you ever told him?" The younger of the two whispered. Her eyes narrowing in worry making the wrinkles around her green eyes deepen with worry.
"Of course I never told him! Do you know what would have happened. I'm not sure why Lord Zuko agreed to it. I never should have done it in the first place! I lost everything that day. I didn't have you or mother and then when I..." She couldn't finish the sentence, her throat was becoming thick with something Lin didn't was to confess to. Lin broke free from her little sister's grasp and started to pace the room that was her's while on the airship. Thinking back to that fateful night she could still feel the bone numbing desperation that creeped into her soul and made a home there for weeks after. The way that she wouldn't let herself cry when she gave away the most important thing in her life to her Uncle Zuko.
"You are doing the right thing…" He had told her as he pressed a fleeting kiss against the crown of her head.
"This is for the best…" Was what Lin had told herself for hours after. Never truly believing those words.
Before Su could even speak, the door to their cabin opened and one of the crew members bowed his head and spoke. "In the next hour we will be reaching the Fire Nation. We recommend that you take a seat in the main deck for a safer landing." The boy left leaving the door open.
Lin had scolded her features the moment the door had open, worried that she would cause some sort of worry within the others if they even had an inkling that she was in any way distress. The less everyone around her knew the better and smoother this trip was going to go. The less Lin had to worry about confronting her past mistake.
Suyin moved closer and wrapped her arms around her sister's neck (at that point her body acting on instinct and on a deep need to help her older sister through such a hard time) burying her face in soft hair and taking a deep breath of the familiar earthy scent, one that never failed to remind her of their mother. Her nerves calmed down for a moment.
Soon after, Lin's strong arms surrounded Suyin and pulled her closer. The tight embrace reminded Lin of when they were both carefree and young, when they were happy together and there was no fighting. The feeling of nostalgia starting to creep up on her. If only it had been like this and lasted far longer than it did. Maybe Lin wouldn't find herself in a situation where her very being felt like it was being torn in two.
"We should start heading to the main deck." Suyin whispered into Lin's ear.
"I don't think I can face what I did Su...It's been so long." Lin confessed. Her voice soft and small compare to when she would order her officers into the field. The savior of the Avatar didn't want to let go of her little sister afraid that she would be unable to control the fear that was starting to build up within her. Again she felt hopeless, just like when Amon had taken away her bending, just like when she had watched Korra lying unconscious on her father's lap after her fight with Zaheer.
"It's going to be okay." Her sister promised. They let go of each other. One was smiling while the other was staring at the floor. For a moment they just stood there, basking in the other's presence. Trying to make sense of everything around them.
Slowly Lin rose her head, her eyes harden for a moment. Her shoulders were pulled back and she stood up straighter. She was a fighter and she was not going to let this knock her down. If Lin had power to face the wrath of a man that was on the verge of destroying the entire world and kill the Avatar, then she could find enough strength within herself to face what was to come.
Without another word they left the small cabin and walked through the metal hall. As they made their way to the main deck another cabin door opened to their right. Tenzin walked out in his typical robes. A solemn look on his face, the worry in his eyes never leaving since Korra had fought Zaheer.
"Tenzin, hello. It seems that we've made it to the Fire Nation." Suyin smiled. Her voice light and her demeanor nothing like what it had been back in Lin's cabin. Once again she was the confident woman that was able to keep Lin from having to deal with annoying human interaction.
"Lin, Su. You are both looking as beautiful as ever. And yes it seems we are almost to our destination. I find that rather a relief seeing as I was very much hoping this would help Korra." At the mention of the young woman any light greetings had turned to something heavier.
For a moment Lin pushed down her own problems and her mind was flooded with thoughts of the young and broken water tribe member. It's been a month and Zuko had proposed that Korra go through a different type of healing. She had agreed with a simple okay and that was how they had ended up in a flying piece of metal. Even with the prospect of going to the Fire Nation and how it unnerved Lin, she also held hope that this was what Korra needed to come back from the depression that she has fallen into.
"I'm sure she will get better with time. She went through a lot and now we must give her the support that she needs." The youngest gave a sad smile and turned to Lin.
The Chief of Police looked back and crossed her arms over her armored chest. She nodded in agreement.
"She's a strong kid and I think if she survived Amon then she can overcome this." Lin said matter of factly. Her voice strong and booming in the small hallway.
Tenzin's eyes widen slightly and then soften at the way that Lin had such faith in his Korra.
"I agree Lin, but not all of us can be strong as you can." Tenzin spoke in a soft voice.
She looked up at the taller man for a moment. The reality of the situation dawning over her far quicker than she had wanted too.
The sooner she got through this trip the better it would be for everyone involved.
"I'm not strong, I'm adaptable." She said with a dismissive look as she walked pass both Tenzin and Suyin. In the back of her mind she just hope her words stayed true.
