Lin had exercised her privilege as Chief to close the training arena at headquarters for a session with the Avatar.
She was glad there wasn't an audience as she was currently locked in a dead draw with the girl.
Two impossibly large pieces of metal hovered in the space between them, shivering and rippling under the opposing forces driving them together.
Korra's blue eyes flicked to a spot behind Lin.
Faltering concentration or a plan? Lin wondered.
"What's Kya doing here?"
And for a split second Lin let her own attention falter, her eyes cut to the place Korra was staring.
And found herself knocked unceremoniously to her ass.
Korra offered her a hand and Lin took it. It was her own damned fault for being distracted.
She brushed herself off as Kya—who really had been standing there—joined them down on the floor.
"I told you, I'm working late tonight—"
"Budget reports were due two weeks ago," Kya finished for her. "I'm not here for you."
"Yeah." Korra slung an arm around Kya's shoulder. "I'm the one with the hot date tonight."
Lin raised an eyebrow. The corner of her mouth twitched, threatening a smile.
"You could join us if you want," Kya offered.
Lin shook her head. "I've heard more than enough about the waning crescent, thank you. . . besides, I don't eat with cheaters."
Korra crossed her arms over her chest, narrowed her eyes and said gruffly, "Know your opponent's weaknesses, Avatar. Don't be afraid to take advantage of them."
Lin's mouth opened. She dropped her arms from her chest, planting her fists at her hips.
Korra grinned.
"Go get cleaned up."
The Avatar took a small bow—and Kya clapped—but she still did as Lin said, disappearing down into the locker rooms.
Lin pulled Kya to her as soon as Korra was out of sight.
"Don't encourage insubordination," she mumbled between kisses.
Kya's hand dropped lower from its spot on her waist and she grimaced.
"Put ice on that."
"Ahh . . ."
The fingers released their pressure.
"No. Don't stop."
They dug into the base of her neck again before the heel of a palm ground under her shoulder blade and hit just the right-wrong spot-"Stop."—more pressure—"Stop!"
"Maybe I should tell Korra to take it easier on you."
Lin laughed into the crook of her elbow. Kya's hands were stroking down her back now, soothing the muscles she'd just worried.
Lin didn't think she could do without these nights now that she'd gotten used to them, the nights when Kya coaxes her onto her stomach and peels off her shirt, when Kya straddles the back of her thighs and works all the day's knots out of her back.
"Looked like the metal bending lessons have been going well."
"Remarkably," Lin admitted. "She wants to learn to use the cables next week. Seems like a waste of time for an airbender."
The hands paused.
"I think I know what that's about."
"What?"
"Long, dark hair, bright green eyes, and an interest in mechanics."
Lin raised her head to look over her shoulder at Kya.
"The Sato-girl?"
Kya nodded and went back to walking her fingers down Lin's spine.
"Korra mentioned Asami had some ideas for improving the spool."
Kya felt the muscles tense in Lin's back again, didn't have to see her face to know that she was frowning, her pride wounded at the very suggestion.
"Nothing wrong with the design now."
"No," Kya agreed. She leaned forward, closer to Lin's ear. "Some other girl with dark hair, green eyes, and an interest in mechanics already did a pretty good job with that."
Lin smiled smugly at the compliment and Kya couldn't stop herself from adding: "Aunt Toph was smart and beautiful."
She braced her hands on Lin's shoulders to keep from falling as Lin squirmed, trying to knock her off.
"Get off me."
Kya tilted her head forward to trail the ends of her hair slowly across Lin's naked skin. She watched the goose bumps raise across the small of Lin's back and felt another, different squirm beneath her.
She knew she was forgiven.
Kya moved her hands lower and Lin grunted.
"Still sore?"
"What do you think?"
Lin felt Kya's fingers tugging at the band of her pajamas and raised her hips to let Kya pull them down and assess the damage.
She'd already seen the bruises in the mirror. They were just bruises and not particularly bad ones at that. She'd had much, much worse.
Fingers trailed lightly over the fevered skin. Lin bit her lower lip. But who was she to stop Kya from seeing for herself?
Kya carefully ran her fingers over the purple and blue splotches. The bruises were livid—but they were just bruises—and against Lin's lovely, pale skin and accentuating such a perfect curve—they were strangely beautiful.
"Isn't it a bit perverse for a healer to be turned on by bruises?"
"Only yours." Kya dropped her head, nipped at a bit of creamy, unbruised skin. "And only when they're on my favorite bits."