Lin had been in a bad mood all week.
Kya was leaving in a few days for the South Pole and she'd be gone for a whole month. She wasn't upset with Kya, they had discussed the expectations of their relationship at length and Lin had said she was okay with the reality that Kya was going to have to be away for various periods of time.
But it didn't mean she had to like it.
She was always in a foul mood right before Kya left… and while she was gone. She tried not to bring it to work with her but it was hard not to. She'd chew out some poor, unsuspecting subordinate before holing herself up in her office. She saw the knowing looks that passed between the select few who were a part of her inner circle.
It had been Mako who had made the connection between her bad moods and Kya's trips away from the city. He had mentioned it to Saikhan who had grown a pair and said something to Lin directly. He had left her office pretty quickly, nobody speaking of it again.
But they knew. And she was honestly glad they knew.
Any friendly chatter in the bullpen died as she walked through the desks to her office, closing the door behind her without a word. She was halfway to her desk when her phone rang and she cursed loudly, crossing to the desk and yanking the phone up to her ear.
"What?!"
"Well that's not a very friendly greeting."
Lin relaxed a bit at the sound of Kya's voice.
"I'm sorry. What is it?"
"I know how upset you are that I'm leaving for so long-"
"I'm not upset. I want you to go."
Lin winced. That didn't come out the way she meant it.
"Just let me finish Lin. Tenzin and Pema have some event tonight and they asked if I would keep an eye on the kids. And I was wondering if you would join me."
"Kya, I"
"This will be one of our last nights together for a while. I know it's not ideal but I just really want to spend as much time with you as possible."
Oh, she was good. Most people had the wrong idea of Kya. She had somehow managed to give herself the image of being some wise and innocent master healer. But Lin knew better. Kya was much more complicated than that. And she had a rap sheet that put Su's to shame. It wasn't anything serious, mostly protests or defacing of property but Lin would wager most people didn't know that about the master waterbender.
"That's a low blow, Master Kya."
"I know, but it's true. And I know the kids would love to see you. Please, Lin."
She didn't know when she had gone so soft but before she could comprehend how it happened, she found herself agreeing to babysit Tenzin's kids and was actively helping Kya put the four of them to bed.
Lin slipped out of Rohan and Meelo's room as Kya quietly followed behind her, closing the door with a soft click.
"What-"
Kya silenced her by covering her mouth with a warm hand, bringing her index finger to her own mouth in a shushing motion. She walked past Lin towards the main living area, waving for her to follow. Once they were in the kitchen Kya spent just a moment listening.
"I think we're safe."
"What do you mean?"
"You always need to give it a few minutes of quiet before trusting the kids are actually asleep. If they hear anything that might indicate they're missing out on something it's all over and we'd have to start the nighttime routine all over again."
Lin perched on the edge of one of the counters as Kya started clearing away dirty dishes. She watched as the waterbender made small movements with her hands, the water literally bending to her will as she made quick work of cleaning off the various bits of food stuck on them. Lin mused to herself that she wouldn't mind cleaning so much if she could make the water do most of the work for her.
"I didn't know you were so good with kids."
Kya laughed and Lin felt her heartrate increase at how beautiful she looked when she smiled. She looked to Lin over a shoulder.
"Lin, I'm the oldest of three siblings. Spirits, I'm the oldest of all of you. Well, except Zumi. But she doesn't count because she didn't live in the city growing up. Listening to you all crying and whining all the time, being a full time, unpaid babysitter… best birth control there is. Well that and being a lesbian."
A decent stack of clean dishes was piling up and Lin hopped down from the counter, grabbing a towel and getting to work drying them.
"You're not so bad with kids yourself, you know."
"Yes well, I practically raised Su when my mother wasn't home. Which was pretty much all the time."
Lin focused intently on the plate she was drying but she could feel Kya watching her. She was working on working through her childhood traumas but it was still a sore subject. And Lin really didn't want to talk about it right now. She hoped Kya would pick up on that and steer the conversation away from Lin's complicated upbringing. With a rare stroke of luck the phone rang, Kya flicking her hands quickly so the water returned to the sink before bolting for the phone.
"Hello. Yes, this is Kya. Right now? I'm kind of busy at the moment. Yes, I understand. No, it's okay. Just give me a little time. Yes. Thank you."
Kya hung up the receiver and turned slowly to Lin with a look Lin did not like at all.
"Kya…"
"Lin, I'm sorry but I have to go. One of my mother's old students is very ill and asked for her personally. Obviously mom isn't coming to the city right now so I'm the next best thing."
"Kya, you can't leave me alone with the kids."
"They're asleep. It'll be fine."
"And if they wake up?"
"Lin, I'm sorry but I have to go. If they wake up you'll have to figure something out. Just think of what your mother used to do if you or Su got up after being put to bed."
Lin snorted. Her and Su wouldn't even make it to their bedroom door before Toph would bend a piece of earth in their path that would not so gently push them back towards the bed until they got the picture and accepted defeat. Once Lin had gotten a handle on earthbending it had become more of a game. For both her and Su. Trying to see who could get the closest to outsmarting their mother. The only time Lin had gotten the upper hand before the age of 12 was when Tenzin had helped her "float" above the floor with his airbending so Toph couldn't sense her. It was one of the few times her mother had actually said she was proud of Lin, at least out loud.
Kya walked to Lin and took her hands, planting a gentle kissing on her cheek.
"I promise you'll be fine."
"Don't make promises you can't guarantee."
Kya rolled her eyes, moving to the door to slip on her shoes. Lin helped her with her bag and crossed her arms as Kya opened the door to leave.
"I'll be back before the sun rises."
"Be careful."
"Always am, chief."
She gave her a lazy salute and Lin rolled her eyes, watching her descend the stairs. Once she was out of visual sight Lin stomped her foot to the ground and used her seismic sense to follow Kya until she was completely out of range.
Lin let out a long sigh making to close the door. She froze as bright light flashed across the sky followed a few seconds later by a low rumble off in the distance. Her mouth got dry as she closed the door with a quiet click. Of course there would be a thunderstorm while she was on Air Temple Island alone.
She felt her chest tighten and tried to control her breathing, willing her thoughts to stop spiraling. But she couldn't stop the memories that hit her. A darkening sky. The sound of rain as it pinged against her scorched armor. A masked face. A cold thumb pressed against her forehead…
Another loud boom of thunder sounded, close enough to make the house shudder and Lin jumped, closing her eyes tight. She felt something then. Light, barely there, footsteps running down the hall towards her.
Lin wiped her eyes quickly, just in time to relax her face as Rohan came running into the room. His heartbeat was pounding and his eyes wide with fear. At least she wasn't the only one who didn't care for the storm.
She softened her face into a smile and walked to him, holding her arms out. He didn't hesitate at all before running to her and she picked him up easily, his tiny legs wrapping around her waist.
"It's all right. It's just a storm. I've got you."
He buried his face in her chest and Lin smiled. She didn't know why she had been so worried. She could handle this.
"Let's get you back into bed."
"No!"
"I'll sit with you until the storm is gone, okay?"
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay."
Lin carried him quietly down the hall to the room he shared with Meelo.
"Now we have to be quiet so we don't wake up your brother, okay?"
Rohan lifted his head from her chest and nodded quickly. She pushed open the door and moved to the small bed in the farthest corner of the room. She glanced over at Meelo who was completely covered by his blankets but thankfully still sleeping. Lin sat on the edge of Rohan's bed and he jumped from her arms, immediately pulling his own blanket over his head. Just as she started to coax him into laying down lightning flashed again and Lin closed her eyes in anticipation of what was to come.
The storm must be right over them now because the next boom of thunder shook the house so badly that the windows rattled. Lin heard a shrill scream from one of the rooms down the hall and she watched as Meelo shot 4 feet into the air on a gust of wind, startling awake.
Perfect.
Lin carefully uncovered Rohan, the young airbender not waiting for an invitation before jumping back into Lin's arms. They stood and turned to where Meelo now sat with his eyes wide and staring.
"Come on, Meelo. You can ride on my back."
Lin suspected that Meelo wasn't actually all that frightened of the storm but wasn't going to waste the opportunity to take full advantage of Lin's offer. He jumped on her back and she felt it in her knees. When did the kid get so heavy? He got into a more comfortable position and Lin lead them all into the and down the hall towards Ikki's room.
"Ikki?"
A small head popped out from under her blankets. Lin walked to the edge of the bed and started to sit, Meelo jumping from her back and perching on the corner of his sister's bed while Rohan curled up against her chest. The rain was coming down hard now and the thunder and lightning was going off at regular intervals.
Rohan was still holding tightly to Lin and as she looked at Ikki's nervous face she knew there was only one thing to do.
"Ikki, move over so I can lay down next to you."
The young girl's face lit up in apparent surprise but she moved over without a word. Lin pried Rohan from her arms and laid him on the bed next to Ikki before shuffling herself into the position next to him.
"Can, can you be in the middle? Just so I know you're really here."
Lin refrained from letting out a sigh before she shifted Rohan to her other side, inching herself closer to Ikki. She immediately nestled into Lin's side and she could feel her heartbeat slow. Meelo was already asleep sitting up against the wall and Lin was hopeful she would be able to sneak away before long.
Of course, the universe had other plans as the loudest crack of thunder yet rang out across the sky. Even Lin herself jumped at the sound and Ikki let out another shriek. Meelo seemed a bit more concerned now as he moved closer to Lin, taking up the spot between the wall and Ikki.
"Are you guys okay?"
Lin started as she looked up to see Jinora standing in the doorway. That girl really was twinkletoes the third, she hadn't even heard her approach.
"Everything is fine. It appears not everyone is a fan of the storm."
"Oh, okay. I'm glad everyone is okay."
Lin raised an eyebrow as Jinora still lingered in the doorway.
"Maybe you can come join us and help me keep an eye on these three?"
The teenager's face relaxed as she climbed up to join them, curling up at the foot of the bed with her head against Lin's legs. There was another flash of lightning and Lin decided she had had enough. Before the thunder could disturb them she wriggled her right hand free from under Ikki and made a quick, violent movement with her hand. Thick slabs of earth shot up from the floor to the ceiling, soundproofing their little room against the raging storm outside. She had left a small opening by the doorway so she could make her escape once they were asleep again.
It didn't take long for the four tiny heartbeats to slow to a resting pace but it was then that Lin realized she was in the unfortunate situation of not being able to move without risking waking everyone up again. She took in a deep breath and weighed her options. She could move in one quick motion and hope for the best. But she was already so tired and didn't want to deal with any more bedtime routines. She supposed she could just close her eyes for a bit, at least until the storm had passed. She shifted slightly, getting as comfortable as she could with the gaggle of airbenders she was surrounded by. She'd just close her eyes for a few minutes…
/
/
It had taken Kya longer than she expected to return to the island, the thunderstorm making it impossible for the ferry to make the trip across the bay. She hoped Lin was doing okay, last she knew Tenzin's kids weren't overly fond of storms.
What Kya didn't expect was to find Lin completely passed out in a bed with her nieces and nephews draped all over her. Rohan had his head on Lin's chest, her arm wrapped around him protectively as an impressive drool stain spread across Lin's shirt. Ikki and Meelo were back to back on Lin's other side, Ikki hugging Lin's arm close to her as she rested her head on Lin's shoulder. Jinora was curled on her side at the foot of the bed, her head resting in between Lin's sprawled legs.
Lin's face was more relaxed than Kya had seen it in a long while. Even in sleep, her partner was full of tension but right now she looked peaceful. Kya smiled as she backed out of the room, avoiding the large stone slabs Lin must have used to shelter the room from the loud sounds of the storm.
The house was quiet and Kya dragged herself to Tenzin and Pema's empty bed, determined to get a little bit of sleep before the sun began to rise. She smiled again as the image of Lin and the kids snuggled together flashed in her mind. She laid her head down, sleep overtaking her as soon as her eyes had closed.