Chapter Text
The entire world was in mourning. It had been a week since Avatar Aang had passed peacefully in his sleep. While many events commemorating the Avatar had been held throughout the week, a private funeral for family and friends had been held earlier in the day. Kya sat on the end of a pier on Air Temple Island with her feet kicking in the warm summer water. Tears filled her eyes, but she wiped them away as a shadow fell over her.
“Mind if I join you?” asked Lin, sliding off her dress shoes.
Kya smiled slightly. “Please.”
Lin sat down next to her and lowered her feet into the water. “How’re you holding up?”
“Do you have any cigarettes?” the waterbender sighed.
Lin shook her head. “Sorry, I quit.”
“Damn,” Kya sighed. She leaned onto Lin’s shoulder and was surprised when the woman wrapped her arms around her. “Please don’t tell me I told you so,” she sniffled.
The metalbender rubbed her back. “What’re you talking about?”
“You kept telling me to visit my family more, but I never listened. The last time I saw Dad alive was a year ago after that scare. And now he’s gone. Maybe if I had been there with Mom…with both of us there…we could have saved him.”
Lin pulled her tighter. “It doesn’t matter now. The cycle goes on when it’s meant to. We can’t stop it.”
Kya pulled away from Lin’s arms and sat up. She began to bend the water in front of her into various spirals, twisting them around as she took deep breaths. “I know you’re right.”
Lin nodded hen looked around behind them. The outside of the island was nearly empty other than for the few Acolytes strolling around. “Are you gonna go to dinner? Everybody’s probably wondering where we are.”
Kya pushed a wave of water away. “You maybe. They probably assume I’ve just run off again.”
Lin covered the waterbender’s hand with her own. “Well, are you going to?”
Kya looked up with wet eyes. “Lin,” she breathed, “I don’t think I can anymore.”
The metalbender squeezed her hand. “Then don’t.”
A warm hint of a smile appeared on Kya’s face. “Well hot damn. Has becoming the Chief of Police made you soft? You’d think the opposite would happen.”
Lin scoffed and pulled her hand away. “I’m not the Chief of Police.”
Kya leaned her head on the woman’s shoulder once again. “Everyone knows it’s a done deal, Chief. No one else even dared try for the position. And don’t worry. I didn’t bring anything illegal into the city this time.”
“What an upstanding citizen you are.”
“That’s me.” Kya snaked her arm underneath Lin’s. “You know…I really missed you. This is nice.”
Lin looked down at the woman. “It is nice,” she admitted. “I know things ended strangely between us after that night because things happened so fast, but I—”
Kya leaned up, wrapped her arms around Lin’s neck, and brought her into a gentle kiss.
The metalbender’s lips tensed, but she eased into the kiss, caressing the side of Kya’s face with her hand.
“Woooo-wee!” shouted Bumi from where the pier met the land. “Will you get a load of that?!”
Lin brashly jerked away and tumbled into the water before quickly pulling herself back up.
Kya’s eyes were wide, and she pulled the water from Lin’s suit.
“Bumi, come here!” Lin growled.
Bumi walked down the pier to join them. “So when’s my turn with you, Lin?” he asked, grinning and raising an eyebrow.
Kya stood and crossed her arms in front of her older brother. “What you saw was private, and if you tell anyone, I swear to spirits, the entire United Republic will know all about your little weekend romp in Omashu!”
Bumi gulped and nodded. “Understood!” He glanced down at Lin who remained seated, not making eye contact. “So are you two coming to dinner? Uncle Sokka’s gonna tell the story about when he, Aunt Suki, and your mom were on those airships!”
Lin smiled nervously. Despite the difficulties with her mother, hearing tales of her prowess never failed to amaze her. “Give us a few minutes okay. We’ll be there.”
Bumi grinned. “Don’t take too long, ladies.”
Kya held a large sphere of water her brother’s direction, and he ran.
“We’re gonna have to talk about that kiss, Kya,” Lin muttered.
Kya shrugged. “There’s just a lot going on, and it happened. Try not to overthink it.”
“If you say so.” Lin stood and straightened her suit and slid her shoes back on. “You think Bumi will keep his mouth shut?”
“Oh yeah. I have enough dirt on him to bury him for three lifetimes.”
Lin chuckled. “Well are you coming to dinner?”
Kya took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”