Ch. 9: Date
The smell of a dozen unwashed pairs of socks perforated every square inch of the room. The weight racks had sweat coating it like slime. Never having been cleaned for...Oh, let's say since they were first brought in.
Groups of police officers stood around a padded mat. As they all took turns working on their hand to hand combat. Their uproar echoed off the high walls of the training room. Shadows of the pedestrians they strive to protect walk across the walls from the windows high up near the ceiling. The training room being tucked beneath police headquarters.
However, there was one person who didn't mingle with circle of screaming officers. Stuck in the corner. With a couple of disk shaped rocks. Which hovered off the ground and were sent flying through the air. Making thick braids of rope strain under the powerful might of the collision. The patterns were irregular. Sometimes two shoots. Sometimes nine. Never repeating. If one makes patterns then the opponent can learn their rhythm; which could spell ones demise in a fight.
With the clumsy hands of a toddler Lin tilted her body into a cartwheel. One of the stone disks followed the arc of her legs as they twisted through her arms as if on an imaginary pummel horse. Before the disk flew left center of her unseen target. An Airbender move borrowed from her wife. But her wrists weren't as strong as her legs to support her as she rubbed them.
Three more stone disks were sent into the nets. One of the metal nails which held the net in place slipped out of its hole a fraction. And the next person to use it would fully rip it out. Be blamed for causing damage to the equipment and have to pay to have it and the wall they damaged fixed.
As the women settled herself with a single breath. Heart beat returning to normal after barely elevating a few beats anyway. She picked up a blue towel laid folded prim and proper next to her. Unfolded it and wiped the sweat from her face. Slowly bringing it down to her shoulders. Pressing the fabric hard into the point where neck met shoulder. Soft fingers replaced the fabric. The memory of hot breaths and a wet tongue heated Lin up.
Her eye's snapped open. Letting the towel keep its perch on her shoulder Lin made a hasty run for the locker room. Shed her sweat stained pants and shirt. Then dove into the cold irritating spray of the shower. Quelling the heat in her body. Refusing to move a hand till it dissipated. Lest even her own innocent touches awaken a deeper burning.
It has been some time since little penguin and I...
The thoughts finished with a heated flare in her stomach. The excitement she felt was hard to contain. Tonight...
Lin slipped out of the shower. Went to the locker and pulled on her furred tunic yet sloppily left the wooden knobs undone. The moist and transparent wife beater was left exposed. Fellow officers turned their heads as Lin dashed past; and the offenders they were bringing in cat called at her. Until promptly silenced for even to dare do such a thing to their chief. Lin jettisoned a portly man who had a hard time getting through the glass turn style doors at the entrance. Making it out onto the street.
The air did nothing to quell the burning inside. There was only one thing to take care of that. Her feet wobbled in untied shoes. Using her strength Lin pushed past the throngs of people. Who, for only the spirits know, decided today was a good day to be outside and in her way.
Three teens were passing around a cigarette in a dark alley way. Laughing about how they managed to snag it from some unknowing fool. A lucky day indeed. As they heard the shouting of someone telling the boys to get out of the way. They turned to see a women making her way towards them. Their jaws hit the ground. Watching the dark outline of a bra bouncing beneath Lin's damp shirt. It was their lucky day indeed. As one of them straightened up. Rubbing the few hairs he'd been able to grow on his face.
"Hey there..." He received the brunt of the rejection. Taking Lin's foot square to the solar plexus. His friends were on the ground clutching themselves and moaning. The ground beneath them having swelled between their legs. They'd be walking like penguins for a week. Though the pain would scar their minds for the rest of their lives.
"Don't smoke." Lin shouted back as she left the teens to sort themselves out.
The biggest confrontation was when she got back onto the street. The swell of people moving against each other. Pushing against them would of been too much for anyone else to bear. But Lin had lived in this city for too long. Easily knowing who to push and how hard. The man in the cap was moved into the metal fence outside a home. With the grace of a ballerina Lin had twirled about a women taking groceries home.
The light at the corner flashed an angry red. Lin launched herself over the crowd who impatiently waited to cross the street. Soaring through the air. People gapping at the mad women coming at them on the opposite side of the rode quickly formed a wide berth for her landing. As soon as her toes hit the ground they shot her forward. Pumping her fists to fuel her feet. Lin did not pant nor gasp for breath. This 'walk' home was, well...just that.
Big brutish men in flimsy orange clothes waved at her franticly. The head pounding sound of machinery. Dust. And fleshly laid asphalt was nothing to her. As she made another pillar of stone to help her get in the air. Not even an arm's length away from the building. Lin would of become road rash if she had miscalculated. Flying above the yelling men's heads as their fists shook at her and their mouths spewed saliva.
They obviously didn't know who they were talking to.
Lin held herself aloft. Still sprinting down the street. But able to see the goings on of a family who lived in a small apartment above a restaurant. The husband and wife blinked at the after image of what must of been a flock of birds that had passed by their window. Not a women.
Left. Right. Left. Right. Each step she took found purchase long enough to propel her to the next step. With mental ease. Lin was able to make footing along her root home. Using the earth material inside the bricks of the buildings. Making them jut out for a step to find purchase. Before quickly sucking themselves back into perfect order before she even made the next step.
Almost home, Lin chanted.
As she landed back on the road. Startling the old women who owned the house at the end of her street. The watering can in her hand landed with a clatter as she grabbed her chest to steady her heart. This was too much. Old age was suppose to calm a person. The old women had reasoned. Not make them more energetic. As she watched Lin book it. And getting married was supposed to have the same effect as well. Thinking on the current state of relationship with her husband. Alas if only she could get him to take out the garbage without throwing a fit.
Clang!
The metal door dented the wall as it collided; the first of two it would receive. Pulling out small chunks of plaster. The door slammed shut with another even harder clang then before. An effort to tell her little penguin she was home. Were ever she was in the small apartment. Not like there were many places she could hide from her.
Lin was a little mad Korra wasn't waiting for her on the couch. Wearing something 'nice.' Or preferably, nothing at all but the necklace Lin had made her. That black unearthly rock against her goddess skin.
Lin had to moisten her lips. "Korra." She called. "I'm home." She added. Stepping over the mess of toys that was ever present. And would be useless to try to clean up anyway. "Ow." Lin hissed. Lifting her foot up to see the lifeless jade eyes of herself staring back. Lin picked up her daughters action figure of herself and tossed it out of the way. "Korra." She called again. Said girl wasn't in the kitchen. Nor the bathroom.
Lin smirked. The door to the bedroom seemed closed more than she remembered leaving it in the morning. And trust her she knew exactly how she left the place when she stepped out. "Koooorrrraaa." She called out. Body flaring as she placed a hand on the door and pushed. Was this a new thrill her little penguin wanted to try or-at least rekindle. Ever since Yee-Li's arrival. Any funny business was off limits in their bed. Because according to her lover it'd be a little weird to sleep in the same sheets with her daughter were they...and she trailed off face a flame. Not able to met with the sleeping face of their child nestled between them.
The door flew open to reveal and empty room. The covers undisturbed on the bed.
So Lin wondered out and laid herself onto the couch that had acted as their second bed in the home. Throwing an arm over her eyes she took deep breaths to quell her hormones. "Where are you?" Lin whined like a kicked puppy to the toys at the foot of the couch. Another deep breath. Which failed to calm the burning in her stomach. Lin groaned. Rubbing her bottom into the fabric of the couch beneath her. Spirits, she was acting like a teenager. It was so childish but she couldn't help it. Their 'alone' time had been spread thin between her own work. Korra hoping around the world to help solve some supposed crisis. And their daughter; unintentionally hogging the bed.
That thought helped to keep her hormones down. Tonight would be the first night Lin wouldn't have that little squirt keeping her from cuddling Korra in their bed. Would Yee-Li have a hard time getting to sleep without them? Lifting her hand from her face Lin looked around the room. Not finding the stuffed badgermole anywhere. Good she remembered it. It'd be easier for her to sleep if she had it with her. Like those nights when Korra had to be away. The furry thing took her spot in the bed. Keeping two warm bodies on either side of the little girl. But would she be alright with just that? Lin shook herself. Ruffling gray locks. Catching one between her teeth. Lin spit it out with a huff. She shouldn't think about that now. It was her and Korra's first night alone in so long. She couldn't ruin it like that. Besides her daughter was in capable hands. Pema would be alright.
So with another calm breath. Lin forced the worrisome thoughts out. Instead begrudgingly shifting back to the war raging inside her own body. The friction of the fabric on her skin tickled as she trailed her hands up her legs. "Sprits." Lin groaned. When the tips of hers thumbs accidentally brushed up her shirt. Touching bare skin.
Creak.
In the doorway Korra stood with wide eyed surprise. Sweat beading down her flush cheeks. It'd taken longer than expected to get back from air temple island. Piloting a boat by wind alone was annoying when one needed to get to important engagements on time. Surprising it was easy to drop her daughter off. Who barely gave her a hug and kiss goodbye before running off with Rohan. Korra left her daughters things with Pema. A spare set of clothes and her stuffed Badgermole. So without having time to draw the planks to land korra had flew off the boat and onto dry land at the dock to the city.
The door was closed shut with a deafening clang by someone else's will.
Hands hovering over her body. Lin looked at Korra with lidded eyes. Biting a pale lip. Lin groaned. "Korra." So much need put into one word. And one word ignited an attraction that drew the other women to her. Their body's colliding in heated bliss. They wiggled against each other on the precarious amount of space they had to use. Lin guided Korra's hands to every inch of her body. From top to bottom then back again. She wanted to feel Korra's hands all over her. Somehow trying to get them to rub out the fire growing inside.
Nipping her lips drew a groan from the water tribe women. Then Lin soothed the ache with kisses.
Lin reversed their positions. But as she laid her little penguin down the women's eye's bulged and her mouth opened up in a large O.
"Ahhaaaa." Korra squirmed. Arching her back up so she could reach underneath it. "Look what you did to me Lin." Admonishing the little replica of her spouse.
"Sorry." The women said while straddling her.
The mood momentarily paused. "When did we become so domestic?" Korra asked. Outstretching the action figure Lin's arm and making it run it's plastic hand down the twin scars on Lin's left cheek.
Lin laughed. "You're the one who wanted to have a kid."
"Do you regret it?"
The action figure was hurled across the room. Smacking the wall and bouncing off. Knocking over a tower built of blocks.
"Shut up." Lin silenced her. Replacing it with the popping sound of their open mouths trying to smother one another. Somewhere along the way between the kissing, the groaning, and the groping they managed to shed their clothes into a pile at the foot of the couch.
And as the sun rose the next morning. The two women were still on the couch. Feet tangled and dangling over the bottom edge. One of the women admiring the porcelain skin of the women she lay atop. It's sheen coming from the beads of sweat still lingering. Tracing every scar she could lazily reach within the range of her parched tongue. Lin thought they were hideous reminders of things long ago. But her counterpart, who despite the situations she had been in, remained pristine. Not a scar. Well, besides the four non-permanent red welts on either side of her shoulder blades. Lin made sure to mind her strength. Unsure whether she would be able to forgive herself if she were ever to scar that beautiful brown flesh during their...activities.
Ring ring.
A deep and frustrating groan rumbled from the chest beneath Korra. Making the women giggle. An upset Lin was never a good thing. But a naked upset Lin was rather cute to watch. The women shielded her eye's with her forearms in hopes to block out the ringing of the telephone. Her breast's giggling with the action. Almost inciting another round as Korra watched the flesh's hypnotic movement. Reaching out her hands they hovered over the other women for a second before wedging between her open armpit's. Pushing herself slowly from the other.
Korra stood onto wobbly legs. But got caught on the wrist before she took a tentative step to test their integrity.
"Please don't answer it Little Penguin." Lin groaned. Putting all that she could into that eye peeping from underneath her forearm.
Korra pulled away. Breast swaying as she leaned over to kiss her forehead. "You know we can't do that Lin. It could be important."
"Or it's just Tenzin telling us he's had enough of our kid and wants' to give her back." Lin had hoped they could have a little more naughty/cuddle time before they had to go back to the tame version. Picking the kid up a little before dinner sounded about the right time.
Korra scoffed. Flipping her tangled bed head over her shoulder. Funny, because they hadn't slept at all. "You know Pema would never let him do that."
Lin laid herself out on her stomach. Chin propped on the armrest. Watching the tight behind of her water tribe women. Grinning at that thought of pinching that butt. "Your right she wouldn't. But that man can be a sneak sometimes. Who's to say he isn't calling us behind her back? Airbender's think there naturally above everything else."
"Hey." Korra laughed disappearing into the kitchen. There came the light click of the phone being lifted off the receiver. "Not all airbender's are like that."
"You are not just an airbender. Half of those kids support my claim. Ikki's very well behaved now. Even if she's still always so hyper like she's on cactus juice. And Rohan I'm not ruling out entirely just yet; he's still young. And I'm pretty sure swiped one of Yee-Li's cookies that one time. The smug brat was lucky I didn't catch him in the act."
"Remember Lin you can't threaten a culture on the cliff of extinction. What would the public think. It's probably the station calling or...Hello, Beifong residence." She said into the receiver. "Oh. Hello Tenzin. What's up?" The sentence hung for seconds that turned into a minute. "Is she alright?" Came the response.
Lin was up in a flash throwing on any pair of clothes that looked like a shirt and pants. Foregoing underwear to speed up the process.
The phone collided with its cradle in an audible crunch. A naked Korra ran into the room. Blinded by the clothes thrown into her face. She blinked at them. Shaking her head to clear the confusion from the assualy before putting them on.
Bang.
Lin waited by the open door letting the world see the Avatar get changed.
They were out the door in their bare feet. Down to the docks and on the boat. The Avatar tapped into all her power to make them reach the shores of air temple in record time.
They were greeted by the pied piper of beards at the docks. "Don't destroy a precious piece of my people's history because your daughter has a broken arm." Tenzin shouted at the women as they hurried to him. His raving red face brought them to a stop. But he soon averted his gaze as he noticed the state they were in. A twinge of ripe peach colored his cheeks.
Korra had gone free of any undergarments. Coupled with Lin's wife beater that she wore her girls were a little exposed, and bouncing all over the place.
Were as Lin had trouble keeping Korra's untied pants on. Which slipped down passed her hips. Revealing that creamy skin her lover admired so much. Unfortunately, she was doing so at the moment in front of Tenzin. The man she used to date. The women reached out and forcibly torque the Korra's head back to look at her airbending master.
While gripping the waist band of her pants Lin walked past Tenzin to the house. "What happened?" Her voice harsh. Narrowed. Like she were once again in that big chair.
Tenzin swooped to her right side. Korra taking up the other crossing her arms and trying to hold 'herself' in place.
"It was a little fall, Lin. Her and Rohan were playing in the garden, and she said she tripped and landed on it wrong. Don't worry I already had Kai look at it..."
"I want Korra to double check just to make sure she didn't miss anything." Lin butted in. Face forward and not even a glance to her old friend.
"Lin I'm sure Kai did a better job than I could. I'm not much of a healer."
"I just want a second opinion. Don't you?" Lin questioned.
Korra bowed her head under her wife's hard stare.
Tenzin laid a hand on Lin's shoulder. Stopping her for a moment. The gesture was meant to sooth her. But it only made the muscles tense underneath his fingers. "She's alright, Lin. Before I left to meet you two at the docks Kai had just put the cast on. The bone was set with no problem. And Yee-Li shouldn't be feeling anymore pain."
"I'm sure she is." Lin shook his arm off. Before starting to move again.
Lin decided to let herself into the airbender's home. The chime on the door clanked horribly as the door made contact. Echoing in the hallway and signaling the groups hasty entrance. Lin stood in the foyer waiting for her daughter to come running to her. For a horrible reason she imagined seeing her in a wheel chair.
"Where is she?" Lin asked with her jaw barely moving.
Tenzin motioned ahead of them. "She's out on the veranda with the rest of the family."
Tenzin and Korra's footsteps echoed behind Lin as they struggled to catch up.
The beaded curtain which shielded the open back door clanked as it was spread open.
Pema was reclining back in her seat. Kai next to her looking just as beat up. Hair disheveled even though the sun had barely reached its noon time mark in the sky. While two of the airbender siblings were absent, Jinora however sat on the ground with someone pressed into her lap. The girl had her father's black hair and thick eyebrows. But they never soured nor brooded like his. They held only the kindness of her mother. The book was held close. So that Jinora, who rested her chin in the crook of Mai's neck, could read along.
No one stirred with the commotion, it was all just another normal day to them.
"Lin how are you?" Kai asked cracking a tired smile. Brushing a stray knot in her head.
Lin moved further out onto the veranda. The beaded curtain clinked again.
"Momma!" Came a shout.
Springing out from behind Pema's chair came her daughter. Waving her inflated arm in the air. The cast had a few scribbled names and well wishes on its already dirt stained white surface.
Lin fell onto her rear opening her arms wide. Her absentminded daughter smacked her in the chest with her cast. Bruising the women's already tender breasts.
"Momma." Yee-Li spoke her lip trembling and eye's beginning to mist.
Tenzin recoiled at a fist slugging him in the arm. Confused by the gesture as Korra rolled her eyes at him because of the scene her daughter was making for Lin.
Tears running fresh. Yee-Li held up her hurt arm and showed off her cast. Telling her momma what had happened in inflated detail. While Lin sat with her arms wrapped around her waist. Listening with rapt attention. That rarest of smiles for no one but her daughter. The love of a parent.