A knock on the door roused Kya from her drowsy state.
"Come in." She called weakly, never opening her eyes. A solid presence was at her side, and she couldn't contain the more rapid beating of her heart – even after their fight on the airship. Really any time she got to see Lin was a blessing in her opinion, even if she was a stubborn block-head.
After they had fought, Kya's injuries had taken a turn for the worst, with her breathing becoming much more difficult. What they later discovered to be a punctured lung from the flailing pieces of broken rib. The limping around must have set it off. She had remembered Lin rushing to her cabin when she'd heard, and feeling the warmth of her hand placed over her own even in her unconscious state. And neither had she forgotten the silent but solid figure sitting at her bedside, guarding her, protecting her from death's soft kiss with one of her own upon her brow.
"How are you feeling? Any better?" Kya sighed, looking up to meet Lin's gaze. There was concern and tenderness muddled in the metalbender's eyes.
"As good as the next guy who fell off a mountainside."
"Really? Because Bumi has been looking a lot better than you have the past few days."
"Know it all." Kya snorted. Lin however, had a frown on her face. One that Kya couldn't miss even if she got knocked out by a boulder. The worry lines on her forehead buried something, and Kya just didn't have the energy to dig for it. "Lin, can we just, talk about something else?" The waterbender asked tiredly.
"Kya I..." Lin seemed to be mustering her confidence, which piqued Kya's curiosity. Lin walked closer to her, grasping the frame at the foot of the bed. The way she was gripping the wooden board gave away her nervous state. Kya was moving to a sitting position when she felt a tight, pinching pain in her side. She released a groan, unable to deal with the crushing, overwhelming agony.
Lin was standing next to the bed in an instant, one hand pushing her down gently, the other reaching for Kya's hand. Kya squeezed Lin's hand tightly for a few heartbeats before releasing it herself, the throbbing subsided. She let out a shaky breath, trying to recover from the hurt. The ache in her leg was a different story entirely. Unlike the fractured ribs on her right side, which would strike suddenly with a fury, her femur was constantly twinging. She hated feeling this way, weakened and fragile. It made her very impatient. It also made her less likely to be an audience to Lin's stuttering, emotional aloofness.
"Lin, why are you here?" She asked, somewhat irritated.
The metalbender simply stared down into Kya's eyes, never looking away. Within them Kya saw a desperation, a loss. Just like all those years ago, in the South Pole when it was the two of them and barren ground stretching for miles around.
"Kya – I…" She gulped, "I…" Her face was contorted with frustration, and Kya could see her fighting to get…something out. This was probably the first time she'd seen Lin in such a mumbling mess. She just couldn't see her suffer.
"Lin, why don't you take a few deep breaths?" Kya suggested, feebly reaching out to take Lin's hand. The metalbender's posture visibly relaxed, her nostrils flaring slightly as she took Kya's advice. The waterbender's grip was failing her, but to her pleasure, Lin tightened her own hold. The younger woman's hand was still callused and harsh, as it was before. But there was a tender fashion at which she held onto Kya's hand. It seemed as if she was reluctant to let go, afraid of her disappearing out of thin air, yet did not dare to injure her further lest she adopt a more vice-like grip.
"You can be so stupid sometimes." Kya's astonishment was written all over her face when Lin spoke. Enraged, she sat up, despite Lin's protests and the pain she felt in her side. Was she really going to start another argument?
"You nearly died! You came this close, you were basically toeing the line!" Lin gestured with her thumb and index finger. "And you would have left m – the family that loves and needs you." She sighed in frustration before she added her next words. "Why can't you leave the fighting to the people who can protect you, instead of jumping into every conflict you see?"
"Are you blind? Did you not notice that no one else was there to leave the fighting to? Bumi and Tenzin couldn't have fought the Red Lotus by themselves!" Kya yelled. She winced, instantly regretting raising her voice as she clutched her side. She saw Lin move to help her, but she put a hand out to stop her. "No, don't help me. I'm mad at you right now."
Lin's face contorted with annoyance. "See this is what I'm talking about! You just let your emotions rule your actions!"
"And you block out your own!" Kya snapped. She thought about regretting the release of those words, but she realized in hindsight, it was finally time for the talk. Kya steeled herself before she spoke again. "You talk about emotions like it's a bad thing, when it's what separates us from inanimate objects! And are you forgetting the numerous times you've sacrificed yourself for others? Why are my actions any different?"
Lin flinched like Kya had slapped her, but didn't respond. She knew what Kya was getting at, and she knew that this time, she wouldn't be getting out of this conversation. After long years of avoiding it, they were going to talk about it. But this was different. Too many times in her life had she lost loved ones. No longer. She was ready now.
"Because I had nothing to lose!" Kya was absorbing Lin's words, but then frowned.
"Had?" The waterbender repeated. "You had nothing to lose?"