Moving Day
Lin stood inside her living room. Everything removed and stored. Her life packed inside brown boxes. Most of it being Korra's and Yee-Li's things. Clothes. Toys. Dishes. Very few were Lin's; just trinkets and things from being on the police force. Like awards and her armor neatly put in appropriately marked boxes. Yet, even with everything removed she could still picture what went where.
There were four boxes left. And when they were loaded up on the truck Asami had lent them then...
Lin smiled. A sad but gracious one. This was the closing of a door. But...a better one had already opened up. Had been open for some time. She had just needed a little persuasive kick in the butt on this decision. The leg being a lovely brown with hard toned thighs. Great for gripping in the moment; or whenever really.
Someone squeezed Lin's stomach. Resting their chin in the crook of her neck and slowly kissing the juncture where muscle met bone. "How you holding up, badgermole?" Korra blew on the moist spot she had created.
Any other time it would of made Lin growl in need; but not now.
She rubbed Korra's arms. Closing her eyes and relishing the love radiating into her backside. "I'm fine. As long as you stay close." She answered truthfully. This whole experience had been taxing. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. The whole trifecta. It had only been weeks since they both had seriously begun their search. Many arguments and silent dinners; but in the end the two women had decided-together. Which means today she would have to say goodbye. To this home. To its memories. To her mother; in a way. The times they spent together there. Dinner in the kitchen. Relaxing in the living room. Lin had told Korra her mother had made her move out to give Lin more space from her. However, as Lin kept recalling up the memories. It made her realize it was quite the opposite. Her mother had spent almost just as much time in her apartment as if they had still been living together. Some needs were hard to get rid of.
"No tears-please Lin. You'll make me want to take everything off the truck." Korra asked feeling the dampness dripping off her wife's cheek.
Lin's words wobbled. "Beifong's never turn back. We make our choi-ces a-and stick to them." Swiftly turning around in Korra's arms. She held her still as they came together. Knowing Korra always closed her eyes when they kissed. So that she would only feel the tears rather than having to see them falling. But the kiss turned salty as Lin's tears began to pool into her mouth. Still they kept at it.
Korra wasn't about to back down until she was able to rid her wife of this unhappy feeling.
"Hey you two. Are you gonna make out or are you guys going to help us move 'your' stuff." Came Bolin's chipper voice. As the broad chested man tried to walk normally through the door; but bumped his arms against the frame. Bolin still had that same swirling hair style like a wave moving over his head and still quick to make a joke of anything 'he' thought was joke worthy.
Korra turned to the man. Lin turned away. Trying to wipe something from her face that Bolin couldn't see.
Even for his great size Bolin was easily shoved aside. A women of similar dark complexion to Korra's, and a whole foot shorter than Bolin, walked into the living and picked up the fourth to last box. "Do not disturb my cousin, turtle duck. She is engaging in the lovey dovey."
Korra gagged silently at the use of the word by her flat toned cousin, Eska.
Still as emotional as a statue. The heavy eyeliner hadn't been used for years; or as long as her a Bolin had been together. In exchange Eska had a light dusting of make-up on her cheeks and eye's. No doubt applied by the hand of a professional every morning. At Bolin's willing expense. Because she was the only person left of them who would still listen to him blab about the award he won a month ago for one of his movers.
The man tried to take the heavy box from his girlfriend as any gentlemen would. Eska's glare was made all the less menacing by the blush applied to her cheeks. Or were her cheeks actually flushing? Bolin allowed her to pass before grabbing the third to last box. Pausing at the entrance of the door to let someone come in. Before going out to the truck where he would get a peck for his offered help in a secluded place no one could see the usually unemotional women break character.
"How we looking, Chief?" The tall skinny man asked. Taking in the entire room at a glance; just as he had been trained. After all this time of being the head of police he still called her that. Saying she'll always be his chief. Asking her advice on things from time to time. Which has been becoming less and less now.
Lin should of felt a little upset; but no, she only felt pride at the young man for stepping into the roll. And finally starting to trust his own judgment instead of relying on her.
"Good." Korra replied for her wife. Feeling the warm and firm grip as Lin melded their hands together again. Her face set right.
But Mako noticed the red rimmed eyes. Yet ignoring it he ran a hand through his prematurely graying hair. The result of all his hard work at taking the big seat. "Cool. We have enough room to fit the last of it. Then I guess we'll head out?" He nodded; asking for confirmation. While petting his blossoming goatee. Tiny and not visually catching like some of his men.
"Yeah." Lin said. Voice drooping she turned away and walked into her bedroom.
"Just give us some time." Korra said before following on her trail.
Mako nodded as he picked up the second to last box and left.
This was all so much. It shouldn't of been. She could handle anything. She was a Beifong for spirits sake. What would her mother say if she saw her blubbering. Lin stood in the middle of her bedroom; she guessed it should be considered her old bedroom now. Scrunching her face at the ceiling and hoping gravity would make the tears drip back into her head. Not out. Not again. She didn't like showing Korra how much this was affecting her.
"It's ok to cry, Badgermole." Korra tried to say soothingly from the door. Her hand resting on the grain of the wood. Feeling it for the last time and hoping the memory would stick.
"I shouldn't be though." Lin said keeping her head tilted.
"Why not?" Korra questioned.
Lin could tell by the tone of her wife's voice the women probably had her hands on her hips. Those very nice hips she loved to touch and kiss so much. "Because it's not fair to you two."
Korra snorted. "Fair." Now Lin imagined that cute pout. Her lower lip protruding. While a hand batted the air like a cat. "Lin, this is your home-our home-you should be sad that we're leaving."
"But everyone else is so happy." Lin's neck was starting to grow stiff. A sharp pain at the back of her skull.
"I'm sad to go too."
Lin finally looked down. The wonderful release of pressure was a joy.
Korra had her arms crossed over her stomach. Head bowed but she was peeking at Lin through her hair which flopped down over her face. "I know, I didn't live here as long as you, but I'll miss this place just as much."
Lin motioned at Korra to take her hands, she did, and Lin pulled her close. Keeping them enclosed around each other while resting their elbows against each other to create a little space between them; just enough if someone else had not currently in school. Lin was still sad. So she leaned in and planted a kiss between Korra's eyebrows. Just knowing that Korra was going through the same thing was enough to give Lin her strength back. So that she could be strong for Korra like what she was being for her.
"I love you." She kissed her again. This time a little lower; between the eyes. "I love you." Lower still; right on the bridge. "I love you." This time she kissed the tip of her bubble nose. "I love you." The last words were whispered against lips before they were taken.
None of the emotions had left her; but put on a shelf to collect dust and one day be forgotten altogether. Soon the buffer was gone. As they continued to get more and more into the moment. Hands all over. Korra groped Lin's rear; such a perfect behind for an earthbender. The women growled at the clawed fingers digging in for a meal. While Lin made Korra moan blissfully as one hand pressed into her back. The other Busy with snaking under her shirt. Up-and up...
A loud feminine throat cleared.
The two only pulled apart to confront the unwanted intruder. Both clearly irritated. As hands were left in un appropriate places in hopes to contimue.
"Save it for tonight you two." Asami; ever the beauty with her terrifying eyes. And fiery red lips curled into a Cheshire grin. Hair tied back. With nothing designer being worn at the moment. Only simple loose fitting clothes; which they suspected were Mako's. Since Asami probably didn't have a leisurely piece of clothing in her entire three room closet. The Sato heiress shifted what was the last box needed to be loaded.
"We need a few more minutes." Korra panted. Tongue lolling out like a dog in the summer heat.
"The moods over." Lin said. Pushing away. But taking Korra's hand she placed a kiss on her knuckles. Then leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Till tonight." A rough tongue swiping the lobe quickly. The gesture going unnoticed by the intruder.
Asami watched her friend swoon. Her friend grinning like an idiot was lead like a stray out of the bedroom.
Bolin, Eska, and Mako were waiting for them in the empty living room. Not a trace of them had been left behind. Well, except for one thing. Since the time that she could stand on two legs. Yee-Li's parents have had the same fascination that most do when watching there children grow. Which was to keep a visual account of how far their child had grown each year. Though there weren't many pencil lines on the trim of wood. They could still tally her growth over their short time together as a family.
Crouched on the floor at the doorway to the kitchen. Lin's calloused finger ran over the very first line they made on the height chart. Did she mean to write a two or a five, Lin pondered. Her little penguins archaic script could baffle scholars.
"Let's get this show on the road." Bolin shouted.
Lin held them up for but a moment more."Just one more thing."
"What'd we miss?" Korra asked. Looking around the room. Confused that there was still something not yet packed.
Lin's fingers gripped the wood trim. Digging in hard. Splinters pierced her skin. The pain was easy to bare as she felt the board loosen. Nails popping free. Her wife and guests looking on at the odd site as Lin attempted to pull the house apart. Everyone thinking maybe she'd come undone from the stress. Gritting her teeth in frustration when the length of wood began to split in some places Lin switched tactics by taking a gentler approach. Prying the strip off a short length at a time. Till-with a tug-the top end of the wood twisted and broke off creating a jagged edge.
A triumphant smirk. Lin turned to Korra. Switching the treasure to one hand while she took her wife's in the other. She lead them out of the old house. Though Lin would be leaving most of her memories of her mother behind in the foundation of that home. It'd be a shame to leave anything of her current life behind.
