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Honestly, if anyone had told Lin that being Chief of Police obliges her to such boring events, she might have questioned her choice of career more thoroughly. She loves her work, she truly does, but having to dress up way fancier than she ever would voluntarily and pretending to not dread every single second was exhausting. More exhausting than chasing and catching criminals all day, for Lin at least. She would much rather be at home, in her cozy little flat with her little cat, which she had found maybe a month ago and just couldn’t leave out in the rain. And eventually the Tabby grew on her more than Lin would like to admit out loud, she named him Captain Whiskers. If she were home right now, she would finish her book and try this new tea she got from Pema.
But, alas, she was not at home. Lin was, as well as many other important people in high positions, in the city hall of Republic City. The city hall was beautifully decorated with fairy lights everywhere and colourful flowers on each table. There were golden banners, bustling ballgowns and a pyramid of crystal glasses. Violins were softly playing in the background, but the sound of people talking all over the room was too drowning for Lin to make out the song they chose. Man, what she wouldn’t give for her woollen slippers right now, instead of those torturous shoes they call Heels. At least, she thought, she chose to wear a suit tonight, to regain some of her comfort. People always assume that Lin is a miserable woman, who has succumbed to the bitterness in her heart because of her cold demeanour towards people, but can they blame her when they make her attend one tedious event after the other. They are just sooo draining.
Lucky for Lin though, her knight in shining armour – or rather her waterbender in an extravagant gown – was right there to save her from even more wrinkles making their way on her ever-frowning face. Kya, the waterbender in question, has known Lin since they were just little kids, playing in the fields and tormenting Kyas little siblings together. So, to say she knows Lin very well would be an understatement. Kya pushed through the rustling crowd with two champagne glasses in her hands making her way to save her friend. She smiled widely when she spots Lin leaning against a wall. And if Kya blushed just a little bit thinking about how cool and effortless Lin looked like this, she certainly wouldn’t admit it out loud. Of course, having crushes on women was nothing new to the waterbender, she knew of her infatuations from a young age. Kya had her fair share of girlfriends and lovers in the past, but none had ever made her feel like her childhood friend does. She tried to swallow the rising butterflies in her stomach, she did, but as soon as there is even a trace of a smile on Lins face, Kya feels all warm and fuzzy and she wants nothing more than to hide in her room like she would in her teen-years.
Lin, unaware of her friend’s current situation, gratefully accepted a glass of champagne and took a few sips. While she normally wouldn’t drink because of her job, she is now more than happy to have some alcohol in her system to cool her nerves and loosen her up. Kya took the empty spot next to Lin and began to scan the room. Asami was teaching Korra how to waltz, Ikki and Meelo were running around people, almost knocking off Vases from various tables, and Mako, Lin’s trusty subordinate, could be seen with an irked expression, which was more than likely thanks to Prince Wu. The prince was talking once again animatedly with all his limbs and a smug look, only to make Mako loose all the light in his eyes and wonder why he even bothers to put up with Wu. Those two couldn’t be more different even if they tried. Kind of like Lin and Kya, the later thought. They never had much in common, but that never bothered them. Where Lin likes autumn, reading complicated books with complicated plots that hurt Kyas’s head and staying in, Kya is the kind of person to bloom in summer, listen to a pro-bending game and spend her evenings in prestigious bars. And even though she could name a myriad of differences between her and Lin, Kya would never have it any other way. Because, truth be told, the thought of Lin being this completely peculiar person, is what drew Kya in in the first place. Lin is the kind of person Kya can’t help but want to learn everything about. However, she can’t tell Lin that. Not when their decade-long friendship is at risk. So, they just stand there, leaning against the wall, unassuming to the rest of the attendees.
Lin sighed heavily out of the blue and almost gave Kya, who was still deep in thoughts, a heart attack. “Can’t we just leave?” Lin asked glancing over at the waterbender with a desperate look in her eyes. Kya turned her head to the side, a small smile gracing her lips. “And go where?”, she asked. Lin sighed again and Kya understood. She took Lins glass from her clasping hands, placed both glasses on a waiter’s tray and took Lins arm to lead her out of the ballroom and into the chilly night air. They found themselves on a balcony, overlooking the bright and busy city that is their home. From the huge window Kya and Lin still had the opportunity to stalk others and laugh at some horrendous dance moves - mainly from the Avatar herself, who, despite having a marvellous teacher, can’t seem to move her feet right. “You know”, Lin starts, “It does get to me sometimes. Watching Korra and the bunch growing up. Makes me feel old.” Kya burst out laughing. Sure, she won’t lie and say they were both as young as they used to be, but hearing Lin of all people, who seemed more than fine with aging, say that she feels old, that’s hilarious. It’s just another little thing that Kya didn’t know about Lin that draws her in. “I never thought I’d hear those words out of your mouth. I mean, honestly, look at you.” Kya gestures over to Lin, “You’re super fit and fight criminals on the daily, you barely have any wrinkles and, personally, I think grey really suits you.”
In order to hide her smile and teeny tiny blush, Lin rolls her eyes and switches her position to look down on the streets instead. She sighs once again. She never really considered throwing herself out in the open again after the whole Tenzin thing had happened. He hurt her pretty good and being hurt one too many times made Lin this stand-off-ish and wary person she is today. Of course, Lin had to develop a crush on her best friend – and exes’ sister of all people - like a silly little schoolgirl. Also, as she said earlier, they’re getting old now and Lin is very dedicated to her career and even if she tried telling Kya about her feelings, she wasn’t sure their friendship could survive this. She’s afraid it will become awkward and weird. Lin just can’t risk losing the one person she still has by her side, even if it means living a life with only friendly love and nothing more. The wind was rustling through the leaves around them. The music from inside could still be heard, now even clearer that nobody is talking. It’s nice, this peaceful atmosphere between them, as if the world was revolving only around them. It gave Kya the encouraging nudge she definitely needed tonight and made the waterbender extend her hand for Lin to take and offered her a dance. It took some convincing and a promise to not tell anyone about this – to not ruin Lins precious reputation as a hardass, but those two did eventually waltz the evening away giggling and smiling like idiots. Any spectators to this scene would have surely known those two have been pining over the other for a long time. However, tonight Kya and Lin just enjoyed their time together away from everyone’s prying eyes in their peaceful little bubble filled with unspoken love.