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“Lin, I can come home if you need me,” Kya looked out the window of her office, watching the rain fall from the sky without reprieve, “you know that right?”
“No, don’t. People need you.”
“You need me.”
“I can handle this. I have fought harder fights, and this will be no different.”
Kya could smash her own forehead into the wall out of frustration at her wife’s pig-headedness. “Lin, we’ve had this argument many times before. When it rains and it pours like this, you don’t do well on your own.”
“Until then, I will survive.”
Kya sighed. “Look, when your heart can’t take anymore, because let’s face it, your brain is far too stubborn to admit when it needs help, call me. Please?”
“…I’ll consider it.”
“Lin.” Kya’s tone was unappreciative of her wife’s attempt to dodge her plea.
“I’ll call, promise.”
“Alright. Good night, I love you.”
“I love you too, and please don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Not at all convinced, Kya reluctantly hung up the phone and reached for her white coat.
As much as she tried, Kya couldn’t fight that pit in her stomach that was telling her to go home. It was made worse when thunder managed to make itself heard through the thick layers of earth that sheltered those inside the hospital and now that she was home, she was glad she listened to her stomach.
She found Lin in the home study, sitting in the office chair in her pyjamas, knees brought to her chest and head buried between them with hands clutching a glass of fire whiskey.
“I told you not to come home.” Lin’s voice broke the silence.
Kya came forward to delicately remove the glass from cold hands. “When you’re down, I’ll always be around, you know that.” She stroked deft fingers through sweat damp hair. “You promised you’d call.”
“I thought I could handle it.” Lin finally raised her head at her wife’s touch to her chin. “I thought I could fight the worst in me.”
Kya gently tugged at a hand that was resting atop Lin’s bare knees. “Come on, this room is cold.”
Lin allowed herself to be led to the living room where a few embers remained in a mostly soot filled fireplace. “I’m sorry you felt the need to come home.”
“Stop apologising.” The waterbender added a few more logs to the fireplace and stoked it until it roared to life once more.
Lin watched as Kya removed her outer dress, leaving her in underwear and a t-shirt that reached down to mid-thigh before lying down on the couch. Kya parted her legs and gestured for Lin to lay between them. “We haven’t done this in a long time.” Lin said, getting comfortable against the waterbender’s chest.
“It hasn’t rained in a long time.” She pressed a kiss atop metal coloured hair, taking a moment to inhale the scent of whisky mixed with the jasmine soap they used.
“I tried to sleep through it.”
“It didn’t go well I take it?”
“I can’t get them out of my head.” Lin’s fingers ran over the arm wraps of Kya’s forearms, finding comfort in the action. “There’s monsters in the closet, monsters overhead, monsters lying next to me right before I rest. They’re going to haunt me, they’re going to twist me into knots, and I don’t want my fears to haunt you,” Lin’s voice was barely above a whisper, “don’t let me haunt you.”
“You never could.”
Lin swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m fighting to be the best I can, but it’s like I’m dying, Kya and there’s only going to be more trouble up ahead. Mother was right when said I’m all I am. I can’t do this anymore. I need a change.”
Kya reached for the blanket draped over the back of the couch and pulled it to cover them both. “Whatever you decide, I’m with you. I’ll always be here so you can rest upon my chest.” She reached up once more to stroke her fingers through thick locks. “Always.”
Lin closed her eyes, body finally releasing the tension it held as rain continued to fall outside.