Chapter Text
If you asked Lin what her ideal Thursday afternoon was, it wouldn’t be heading to an elementary school but here she was driving to pick up her niece, Opal. Suyin had called her, begging her to pick up the 1st grader for her.
“My meeting is running behind. Please, Lin!”
“What about the other ones?” Lin groaned.
“The twins have a playdate, Jr. has soccer practice, and Huan only goes for half the day because he's in pre-k.” Su rushed, adding one more drawn out “please” after a second of silence.
“Fine.” Lin huffed, hanging up before Su even had a chance to thank her.
She didn’t actually mind picking up her niece, she actually enjoyed hanging out with Opal and the adoration was mutual. Opal always clung to her when she was around, telling her some crazy story that her brothers did in her absence or asking her to read to her (Lin’s favorite as an avid reader herself).
No, the problem was school itself with its children whose hands have probably been anywhere but in soap and its hallways that always had some weird lingering smell.
Lin didn’t have kids herself and for that she thanked herself. Yes, she loved her nieces and nephews but she liked her independence and her job. Republic City was more than enough of a handful that even a child couldn't compare to.
She decided to wait for Opal right outside the front doors where she knew Su waited, leaning against a pillar as she checked her watch for the bell. It took a few seconds for the kids to make their way out, most sprinting out of the building but she could always pinpoint the girl in a crowd without fail. She wore her uniform, her knee high socks adorned with little turtlenecks and her short hair pinned was back on the sides with small clips and Lin smiled. Spirits, the kid is cute.
The little girl calmly walked alone until she saw Lin outside the door and began sprinting in excitement, yelling for her aunt. Lin braced herself for impact despite having the metal protection of her uniform but quickly lurched forward, eyes wide, when she saw Opal begin to fall forward all of a sudden. She had caught her toe in a crack in the cement that sent the girl flying.
Lin had just missed the Opal's flailing arms and she hit the ground on her hands and knees. Lin quickly picked up the now crying girl and began to soothe her, rubbing her arms and pushing her hair out of face. “Are you okay, Opal? Let me see. Where does it hurt?”
Opal was crying too much to say anything audible but Lin couldn’t miss the bleeding scrapes on her tiny palms and legs, sighing as she stood straight and walked inside the school. There had to be a nurse still here.
She saw the nurse’s office and knocked before opening the door anyways. “Excuse me? Is there a nurse here?”
A woman popped out from a separate office in the room, catching Lin by surprise by how…pretty she was. She had to be around Lin’s own age, she thought, maybe a few years older. Her long grey hair was loosely tied in a ponytail, silver strands framing her face. She wore light blue scrubs that had small polar bears adorning her top, the color matching her blue eyes and beautiful against her warm brown skin.
“Hi—Oh!" The woman's polite smile quickly faded as she rushed over. "Opal, sweetie are you okay?” She put an arm out towards one of the small medical bed for Lin to sit her down. Opal only gave a small shake of her head as she continued to sniffle, tears still glistening in her big green eyes.
Lin’s brows furrowed. “You know her already?” She wasn’t too surprised. Opal wasn’t exactly…the most coordinated child. Lin smirked internally, flashing images of all the other times Opal hurt herself one way or another, many times from simply tripping on air.
The nurse chuckled. “Opal’s one of my best patients…Well, best and one of my most frequent.” She added with a small smile, Lin noticing the mole under her eye as it moved with her cheeks. Lin swallowed when she felt herself stare a second too long, focusing back on Opal when the little girl reached for her hand as she answered the nurse’s questions about her injuries.
“I’m Kya.” The woman reached out a hand to Lin who hesitated before finally shaking it.
“Lin Beifong.”
“Ah, you must be Suyin’s sister!” Lin gave a tight smile and nod at the recognition. “I’ve heard a bit about you from this little one. She just adores you.” Lin felt a rush of warmth run through her. It was always a nice feeling to be reminded her niece loved her as much as she did.
"That's a relief since I like her as well." Both women chuckled, Kya biting her lip almost shyly as she gave Lin one more look then turning her attention back to her niece. Okay, that was too attractive, Lin thought.
Kya continued to carefully clean up Opal’s wounds with some alcohol wipes, the child wincing at the sting but not moving other than squeezing her aunt's hand who in turn rubbed her tiny knuckles in return. Lin watched, a little in awe —fine, very much in awe— as she saw Kya's attentiveness, the woman making jokes and small talk with Opal to distract her. She could tell the girl was completely comfortable with Kya, and it gave her a warmth at how good the woman seemed to be with children. Something that was not one of her own strong suits.
When she finished, with the scrapes on Opal's legs, she held out an array of stickers from polar bears like the ones on her scrubs to air bisons, Opal's eyes brightening as she skimmed her options. “Look, Auntie Lin!” Lin raised her eyebrows in fake interest, giving Kya a quick glance and receiving a knowing smirk.
“Sometimes I think you just want to come in here for my bandaids, Opal.” Kya giggled, raising her brow at the young girl before turning back to Lin with a shrug.
“No,” Opal whined, “I’m just clumsy. Ask my aunt!”
Lin’s eyes widened a little at being put on the spot. “Yes, accidents are a normal occurrence for this one at home as well.”
“My aunt is clumsy too.”
“What?” Lin scoffed. “No, I’m not.”
“Then why are you always full of cuts and bruises?” The girl said pointedly, pointing her chin up towards the older woman.
“Opal,” Lin admonished with a small eye roll. “I’m the Chief of Police. My job makes me get hurt sometimes when I have to put bad guys in jail. You know that.”
“Wow, Chief, huh? Explains the uniform.” Kya interrupted, her tone playful. “You must get some really heavy injuries then. Right, Opal?”
The young girl nodded and held out her hands for Kya to begin treating. “Big ones! She broke her arm a few months ago and hurt her head before that and--”
"Okay!" Lin interrupted. “She got it, Opal. And it was only a small fracture. I was fine.” She felt the heat rising up her chest, willing it to stop before reaching the end of her uniform and visibly up her face.
“And do make sure to see a healer when you get hurt, Chief Beifong?” Kya’s tone was even but Lin could hear the challenging undertone, a slight playfulness as well. Lin couldn’t help but feel that same heat finally break onto her cheeks, knowing she rarely did.
She always brushed her injuries off if she could. She was Chief of Police after all. If she went for every bump and scratch, she’d never be anywhere but the hospital. It wasn’t that Lin didn’t value her body, it was a priority to stay in top shape, but she felt it was dramatic to make a fuss. She knew when the pain was worse than others but the rest? It was nothing she couldn’t deal with at home.
“When absolutely necessary.” She hoped it came out as nonchalant as she planned but she felt herself waver under the blue orbs currently staring her down. Lin knew those eyes were dangerous waters, ones she wouldn't mind getting swept up by if she were anywhere else other than in a school with her hurt niece. Focus.
“And how often is that?” The woman prodded further, her brow arched, her beauty mark seeming even more on display, making Lin’s heart race a little. Lin looked away shamefully and Kya only laughed at her lack of response. It was a pretty sound, Lin admitted, even if it was at her expense. “Thought so. Maybe you should pick a bandaid as well...for any future injuries, that is."
"I don't think these would look as appropriate for someone my age as your usual patients." Lin huffed.
Kya smirked, "I don't know, Chief. I think they'd look pretty cute on you."
Cute. Not a word used to describe Lin often, if ever, but she found it endearing coming from Kya. "Maybe another time." She offered, happy her voice stayed unchanged.
Kya nodded with a small, almost triumphant looking smile and finished up healing Opal’s injuries, the girl choosing mismatching bandages of various animals for each cut, making Lin biting a smile back, before going to her desk and getting her a lollipop. The girl hugged the nurse tightly and promised she’ll try not to come back soon. The two women looked at each other over the girl's shoulder with knowing glances. Opal would probably be in as early as tomorrow morning with her luck.
As aunt and niece made their way to the door, Kya called Lin’s name. She turned to see the woman slightly rushing to meet her at the entryway, a sort of nervousness tracing Kya's features all of a sudden. Was she blushing?
“I know you may not like healers and you may look tough—” She squeezed Lin’s bicep before letting go with an unreadable expression, raking her eyes quickly down Lin’s body. Lin could definitely see the pink on her cheeks now. Now that's cute. “Okay, definitely tough. But if you ever need anything, I’m always happy to help.” Kya cleared her throat as she handed Lin a card with her information on it, their fingers brushing a little longer than normal. Lin wondered if Kya felt the spark on her fingertips as well.
“Th-thanks.” Lin mentally cursed herself for the stutter. “I’ll be sure to take you up on that.”
Kya gave a dazzling smile and Lin’s knees weakened a little. “Good, I'll be sure to save some bandaids just for you." She winked and it sent a shiver down Lin's spine. "Have a nice rest of your day then, you two!”
Lin watched her walk away for a second, a deeper sway in Kya’s hips catching her attention, then continued to walk out with Opal to her car. The little girl was already onto a new subject, her latest accident forgotten, but Lin was barely listening.
Maybe I won’t mind seeing a nurse after all, she thought as she pocketed Kya’s number.