Chapter Text
Start of book one.
Tenzin and family are travelling to the south pole, where Korra has been training with Katara, along with the Chief of Police, Lin Beifong. They arrive and are greeted warmly by Katara and Kya, and hugs are exchanged between each family member as Lin stands awkwardly to the side. She crosses her arms and looks towards the village, when suddenly Kya throws her arms around her and squeezes her tightly.
"It's so good to see you Lin!" Kya exclaims, her arms still wrapped around Lin.
"Uh, you too Kya. You can stop hugging me now," Lin replies, starting to get uncomfortable having someone in such close proximity to her.
Kya drops her arms and steps back to look at her old friend, surprised to see her get flustered and turn red when their eyes meet. Just like when we were kids. Kya smirks, feeling smug with the knowledge that she still has that effect on Lin.
"We should catch up with the group," Lin says, looking away and intensely aware of the red colour of her cheeks.
"If you say so, Chief," Kya glances towards the village, only then realizing that everyone else had already gone on to see Korra.
Before Lin could start walking to meet the others, Kya grabs her hand and pulls herself in close to Lin's face. Lin's eyes open wide in shock, glancing to see if anyone could see them. Suddenly a sheet of snow lifts from the ground, creating a barrier between them and the village, and Kya closes the small gap between their lips. Lin kisses her back but quickly breaks it off, pushing the older woman away and gasping slightly.
"Kya, I- I can't- nobody can know I..."
"Shh I know, I know. Don't worry, I won't say anything, and I promise I won't slip up around them. Trust me, please?"
"I- " Lin sighs, "alright, I trust you. But don't you dare do something as reckless as that again."
"You liked it though, didn't you? Ha! You did, you're blushing again!" Kya punches Lin lightly, earning a scowl from the Chief.
"I didn't- oh just shut up. Come on, lets go," Kya watched as Lin briskly walked away to catch up with the group, starting to walk after her at a more leisurely pace. She couldn't help thinking how much she had missed Lin, and how badly she wished they could be together openly. They hadn't seen each other in years, and had lost touch entirely when Kya had gone on her travels around the world, but had been exchanging letters when Kya had moved in with her mother after Aang's death. It was at her father's funeral that Lin finally forgave Kya for leaving her without saying goodbye, something Kya still hadn't forgiven herself for. That was her biggest regret.
The rest of the day went by in a blur, with many stolen glances between the two women, and far too much longing without any reward. Kya and Lin both knew that Tenzin was planning on leaving the next day, leaving Korra behind to wait still longer to get her airbending training. Just before she was about to leave to go sleep for the night, Katara steps in front of Kya, putting her hand gently on her arm.
"Go," she says softly.
"What? Go where? What do you mean?" Kya asks her mother, confused by her out of the blue comment.
"Go back to republic city, with Tenzin. And Lin," Kya looked down at Katara, her eyes widening as she tried to remain nonchalant.
"B-but mom you need me here. I need to stay, to take care of you, and plus there's nothing- "
"I can take care of myself, Kya. I've seen the way you look at her, and she at you. You love her. Go."
"Mom I- "
"Go."
Kya looks back into the room where she sees Lin hiding in a corner, waiting for her to leave before leaving herself, and looks back at her mother. The determined look on Katara's face made Kya realize there was no negotiating anymore.
She sighs.
"Fine, I'll go. But promise me you won't say anything? She's not quite ready to be open about us yet."
Katara grabs Kya's hands, looking at her softly.
"Of course. Enjoy yourselves for me, would you? And write, but don't come back unless you absolutely must."
"I love you, mom," Kya says, bringing her in for a hug.
"I love you too."