Chapter Text
Chains rattled ever so slightly in the large stone prison cell. It had been over 7 years since his re-imprisonment outside of republic city and Zaheer hadn’t touched the ground since the day the avatar had last come to see him. On that day he vowed that he would not touch the ground until he was free. And he would be free again, soon.
He had realized his past mistakes, going after the avatar directly was pointless, she could not be bested physically and she would never surrender to him of her own free will, unless of course he had some motivation. Someone close enough to the avatar and her group of rag tag benders that they would all be upset enough and Korra would feel it her duty to give up raava to save this person. But who? Perhaps her new girlfriend, Asami was it? Ah but the older members of the clan hadn’t enough connection to her. Maybe one of Tenzin’s young air benders? Though even Zaheer wasn’t sure how he felt about taking the life of a young child. Then he had a thought, Tenzins sister, yes this would work, Kya had enough fight to stay alive in his capture and a connection to most of the avatars group, she was sister to the air bending master, aunt to his children, girlfriend of the angry police woman, close with her sister as well, Korra and Asamis’ first confidant about their relationship. Yes this would work.
Xx
Kya sat cross legged on the beach listening to the waves crash on the shore peacefully. She could feel Lin walking up before she heard her. The police officer sat down next to her girlfriend with a soft thump and with much less grace, typical earth bender.
“You missed dinner. We waited for a bit but then Meelo was too hungry and he and Bumi started racing to see who could finish first.” Lin said with absolutely no enthusiasm. Kya laughed lightly and leaned to Lin, resting her head on Lin’s shoulder.
“My mother is coming into town in a couple of days with Jinoras birthday coming up...” Kya said and looked to Lin. Katara and Lin had always gotten along but something about how much of a more attentive mother she was to her children vs Toph made Lin a little... jealous? And she often took it out on Katara growing up.
“Wonderful- is she going to be staying here or with us? I could clean up the guest room for her.” She tried her best to sound genuine but hoped desperately that she would stay on air temple island with Tenzin and Pema.
“She’ll stay here with Tenzin, get to spend time with the kids and we’ll come to see her, don’t worry love.” Kya kissed her cheek and Lin let out a breath she’d been holding.
“Is everything okay?” Lin asked as Kya went back to staring out into the ocean.
Kya hummed, “yeah everything’s fine. It’s going to storm though, we should get going back to republic city if we’re going to beat it.”
Lin smiled at Kya and reached a hand out for the older woman who grabbed it and stood up. They linked arms and together walked back toward the temple to say their goodbyes.
Xx
Thunder rolled in the sky as in downtown Republic city Lin held the door open for Kya as they rushed inside. Meanwhile in an empty park a young man, Huang, walked silently toward a mountains edge, toward a prison, toward Zaheer.
Xx
The next morning the storm had passed and Kya was headed to Air Temple Island once again to babysit Rohan while Tenzin took Pema into the city for their “date day” as he called it “because we never have time for a date night”. Kya laughed to herself thinking about her brother. Far to often he was too serious, she wished he would lighten up a little. Take more risks, have more fun, you only live once she liked to say though she knew it was cliche.
Kya thought about Lin. They’d been together for 2 years now. After the battle with Kuvira and her talk with Asami and Korra, Kya has realized that while she was confident in who she was and her sexuality she had never been brave enough to go after who she truly wanted. So when the city had settled down again and things were almost back to normal Kya went to Lins apartment.
~flashback~
A soft knock sounded from the door and Lin groaned. She’d just worked a double and all she wanted to do was sleep. Maybe if she ignored it they would go away.
The knock came again and Lin rolled her eyes, pushing herself off the couch she made her way to the door in her white tank top and black pants with a huff. She swung the door open ready to rip into whoever it was.
“Kya...” Lin let out at barely a whisper.
“Hi Lin.” Kya said and looked past her into her spacey apartment. “May I come in?”
Lin was in a somewhat shocked state, she hadn’t seen Kya since the fight between Korra and Zaheer, last she heard the woman had headed back to the south pole for a little extra healing from her mother as well. Kya slowly inched past Lin toward the apartment. Looking over her shoulder she asked again, “Mind if I come in?”
“Well considering you’re already inside..” Lin rolled her eyes and followed Kya into her apartment. They both sat down on Lin’s couch, silence hung over them for longer than they were both comfortable with, they both shifted. Kya glanced over at Lin, “Remember when we were kids? And you had a crush on my brother? We used to sit and talk to each other for hours on end... What happened to that?”
“We grew up.” Kya tensed. “We’re not teenagers anymore. What did you come here to say?”
They both knew that they felt something for each other, somewhere deep inside buried under years of resentment and shame. But after all of these years the words remained stuck in their throats.
“I came here Lin, because we’re not teenagers anymore. I want to have a grownup conversation with you about things... I know that I’ve felt things for you—and I want to know if you’ve felt the same things.” Kya said, looking to Lin who blinked while staying silent.
“Aren’t you going to say something? I just bared my soul to you and you have nothing?”
Lin sighed and rested her head in her hands, finally whispering, “Kya...I just worked for eighteen hours and you showed up at my apartment, asking me to what? Profess my love?” Lin looked up at Kya, whose eyes were misting over.
“..Wow. Okay.” Kya whispered. She stood, and headed for the door again.
Lin stood up after her, “Wait—Kya I’m sorry! I’m so tired. I need a minute to..to think and process. You know I’ve never been good with spur of the moment things.” Kya looked over her shoulder from the doorway, shaking her head as she finally walked down the hallway.
~flashback end~
It was about six o’clock when Kya entered the Republic City Police Department headquarters. In her hands two paper bags and two mugs juggled in the corner of her elbow, pressed against her chest. Mako rushed to open the second set of doors for her and she laughed.
“Thank you Mako I wasn’t sure if I would make it through food intact and you came to my rescue.” She said with a smile.
“No problem. Lin is in her office.”
Kya thanked him before heading through the bullpen and into her girlfriends office.
Lin looked up from a large stack of paperwork and smiled.
“Kya- what are you doing here?” She said and stood to help with the bags.
“I brought you dinner, I just knew you would be late and I though you still need to eat so— here food.”
Lin smiled at her, “Well that’s very sweet of you. I appreciate it. Let’s eat.”
X
The food containers were left abandoned on the desk as Lin helped Kya into her coat.
“I’d really rather you waited here for me and let me take you home. I’ll be done in another 45 minutes.” Lin asked.
“Lin, I’m a big girl and I can’t handle myself. I don’t need you there to protect me. Though I don’t mind sometimes.” She winked at her and Lin sighed shaking her head.
“I’ll be home in an hour okay?” Lin said and Kya nodded before kissing Lin on the cheek and heading out.
Xx
The streets of republic city were quieter than normal, it was late, probably around 9 or so and it was dark. The street lights had since disappeared from her path but she knew it well and she wasn’t worried about getting lost at all.
A can rolled somewhere behind her and she spun around, hand at hip ready to snap open her water pouch. She settled again when nothing jumped out at her. Continuing on her walk home she couldn’t help but feel like someone was following her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and the weight of being watched settled over her. She picked up the pace toward the apartment and rounded a corner quickly.
She could see the building door now and she nearly began running toward the light and safety of the apartment. Frantically she pulled her key out and unlocked the door nearly tripping over the lip before slamming the door shut behind her. She waited a long silent moment to see if someone would try to get in but no one did.
“It was all in your head Kya. Relax.” She said to herself before making her way up the stairs and into her and Lins apartment.
She thought about telling Lin what had happened but really - what had happened? Nothing. Certainly nothing worth worrying her over protective girlfriend about.
When Lin arrived home about an hour later just as she had said, the anxiety and tension were still rolling off of Kya.
“Are you okay?” Lin asked she could tell something had upset her.
“Yeah I’m fine, just uh- getting ready for bed you know- moms coming into town tomorrow and I don’t want to be miserable so... goodnight.” She said awkwardly and walked to the bedroom closing the door and getting into bed.
Xx
In the Air Temple dining tall, Tenzin and Pema sat at the head of the table. To their right, Katara sat with Jinora and Kai. To their left, sat Ikki, Meelo, and Rohan. At the opposite end of the table, Korra and Asami sat with Mako, Bumi, Bolin and Opal. To their left sat Lin and Kya. They all shared memories from when Jinora was younger, laughing along to the embarrassing moments. Having already finished dinner and cake, the night continued on with idle chatter. Korra stood up and lightly tapped the side of her glass. “Excuse me everyone, Jinora, first I want to say happy birthday, I can’t believe what an amazing young woman you’ve grown into and I’m so proud to call you my friend and my family, happy birthday.” They all cheered and Korra smiled. “But I do have to steal the spotlight for just one minute okay?” Korra asked and Jinora laughed and nodded to her.
“Asami and I have some news.... we’re getting married!!”
Shocked faced and laughs erupted from the table with cheers and hugs.
“Congratulations Korra, Asami. I’m so happy for you both.” Said Kya.
Asami looked to Kya and pulled her in for a hug. “We do have one more thing to ask. Kya... would you like to officiate the ceremony?” Kya looked stunned.
“I’m not — I don’t know—“
“Please Kya, you were the first person who knew about us and it would mean so much if you would marry us too.” Korra pleaded.
Kya laughed nervously before nodding her head and smiling at them as they hugged her.
Xx
As Zaheer floated in his chains just returning from the spirit would he heard a click and the sound of the first set of doors to his prison opening. Then the next set of doors opened and a young man walked in.
He dropped to one knee in front of Zaheer and bowed his head.