Throwback: ages: Lin 33 | Tenzin 34 | Pema 18
Tenzin was telling the acolytes legends about gurus as he was leading them through the halls of the Air Temple. When they left, they sat down before the entrance of dormitories where Tenzin told the ending of the legend. Lin got out and leaned against the doorframe watching her boyfriend engaging in conversation with a few of the young acolytes. Especially with one girl that was in her late teens who kept on asking him a ton of questions and was looking at the airbender with an amount of adoration that made it clear she most likely had a crush on her teacher. When Tenzin looked away Lin took an opportunity and threw a small rock at the girl what caused her to look at the earthbender. Beifong motioned her hand from her eyes to the girl with a gesture that meant 'I'm watching you'. The young girl immediately looked down and stopped asking questions about what made Tenzin end the lecture.
„I thought you were never going to finish,” Lin said walking up to Tenzin.
„This group just happens to be particularly talkative”. Airbender pulled Lin into a quick kiss. „You should meet them. They are my most promising students” he offered.
„I think I'll pass”
„One dinner. If you don't like it, I'll never make you do it again”
„Fine” Lin rolled her eyes. „But you'll have to make up for it anyway” she teased and grabbed Tenzin's hand leading them back inside.
When they were upstairs in the dining room of the dormitories Tenzin led Lin to the table where a few teenagers were sitting. „Do you mind if we join you?” Tenzin asked.
„It would be a pleasure, master Tenzin” the oldest looking guy answered. Lin and Tenzin sat down next to him and on the other side, there were three girls, one of them being the girl that Lin hit with the rock before.
„As you could figure out by the armor this is Lin Beifong, Republic City's Chief of Police that I have a luck to call my partner, and Lin, those are my best students Pema, Mori, Ju, and Tao” Airbender introduced them.
„It's a pleasure, Chief Beifong” Pema said bowing slightly.
„Yeah, it is,” Lin said unbothered.
For the rest of the dinner, Lin was mainly quiet because every time she was about to say something Tenzin could sense it was going to be some sort of sarcastic comment so he kept her quiet by squeezing her thigh. Later, they made their way to Tenzin's room, finally being left alone.
„You didn't seem particularly fond of my students...” Tenzin sighed.
„I won't lie when I say that sitting there listening to you talk with a teenager that makes puppy eyes every time you open your mouth isn't my dream come true” metalbender rolled her eyes.
„Puppy eyes? Lin, are you jealous of one of my students?” airbender frowned.
„No, not jealous” she protested. „It's just an observation. Annoying one”
„I don't even know which one you are talking about”
„This Pema girl... I mean, I don't blame her but you're like twice her age”
Tenzin chuckled and walked up to Lin. „You should stop worrying about this,” he said placing a kiss on her forehead.
„I already told you I'm not worried” Beifong rolled her eyes.
——————————
„And the moral of the story is: don't trust men when they tell you not to worry about someone” Kya chuckled. „Or don't trust men in general. No offense, Kai” she added.
„Not taken” the boy chuckled.
„Seriously, women are so much less trouble...” Kya sighed.
„Have you ever dated a man?” Lin asked jokingly.
„Nope, but I've got two brothers so I know how it works” waterbender scoffed.
„Fair enough,” the earthbender admitted.
„Anyway, we should go get food, right?” Kya asked the airbenders.
„Yeah, we can take care of that” Jinora said standing up from a couch.
„Ok, just don't get lost on the way there,” Kya said as the airbenders left the room.
„They're making a cute couple,” Lin said.
„Agreed” Kya grinned looking up at Lin. She stood up and went to the kitchen with Beifong behind her. Waterbender opened the drawer to get silverware out and when she turned back her lips met Lin's. „Not afraid someone's going to see us?” Kya chuckled before kissing the metalbender again.
„Haven't seen you since yesterday's morning. It was way too long” Lin said between another few kisses.
Their small exchange became a quick make-out session that stopped when Lin heard footsteps approaching. Both women almost ran to the table placing the silverware and trying to act like nothing happened. The airbenders came in with their dinner and placed it on the table. Everyone ate making a nice conversation with others truly enjoying the company. Lin was even comfortable enough to crack a joke what not only surprised Kya but also made her happy. When they were done eating Jinora and Kai went to their separate rooms respecting that Kya already broke some rules for them.
„I'm going to smoke, coming with me?” waterbender offered.
„Yeah” Lin agreed and they went outside.
Almost immediately after they were outside Kya took a cigarette out of her pocket and lit it up with a lighter. They made their way to the tree they used to hang out underneath when they were young. Waterbender laid down supporting her head on Lin's thigh who was sitting, leaned back on the tree. They sat there in silence, watching the moonlight and lights of the City reflect on the ocean.
„I don't know if it's a fact that I'm tired or you but this City wasn't this gorgeous before...” Kya broke the silence.
„What would it have to do with me?” Lin asked placing her hand over the waterbender's.
„Maybe it looks this good because you're looking at it with me...” the older woman looked up at Beifong.
„Maybe...” Lin smirked looking down at Kya.
„Do you know uncle Sokka's first girlfriend turned into the moon?” waterbender asked.
„What are you talking about?”
„Oh, he didn't tell you this story? There was this bad fire nation guy that killed the moon spirit and Sokka's girlfriend turned into the moon because she was somehow connected with her” Kya explained.
„I'm starting to think that weed isn't the best for you” metalbender chuckled.
„I'm serious!” the healer protested. „He used to come here every full moon and talk to her”
„Yeah, probably after drinking too much cactus juice,” the metalbender said ironically. Kya scoffed and rolled her eyes.
Silence filled the air once again. Kya sat up next to Lin and put her head on earthbender's shoulder. „Lin?” she said quietly breaking the silence once again.
„Yes?”
„What are we?” waterbender sighed.
Lin panicked and didn't answer for a few seconds. She knew she felt something towards Kya but she was afraid to name it love. It was some kind of attraction but she couldn't explain it even if she wanted to.
„Lin, I need you to answer that. I know we're not sex buddies since we don't have sex but I feel like we're also not just friends...” Kya lifted her head to look at the earthbender whose sight was still on the ocean.
„What do you want us to be?” Beifong finally choked out.
„I- I don't exactly know what I want. That's why I'm asking you” Kya sighed.
Lin looked around and took her time before coming up with an answer. „Last week you said that you don't like feeling tied down... And I'm afraid that if we put a name on whatever it is between us, you might feel that way” Lin explained.
„You need stability...”
„I'm afraid so” Beifong sighed.
The silence was loud again... Louder than ever. Thoughts were running through both women's heads, they were calculating if they had any chances of working although their needs were at least different.
Finally, Kya took a deep breath. „Look at me,” she said and Lin turned to her. „I know I'm the last person one should go to when looking for stability but... You said you're afraid of making me feel tied down and honestly, even though we weren't doing anything... Crazy for the last week I have never felt more alive before. You don't make me feel tied down, Lin, you make me feel like I'm floating every time I see your face, every time you touch me, and every time you're around me. If that's the only thing you're worried abo-” she was cut off by Lin's lips connecting with hers in an impossibly passionate kiss filled with emotions even more than their first one.
„Is it clear now?” Beifong asked after they parted.
„Mhm,” Kya mumbled approvingly. Their lips connected once again in another intense kiss. After they parted they snuggled into each other and kept on staring into the ocean once again. „Can I call you my girlfriend now?” Kya whispered.
„Yes,” Lin chuckled at the shyness of her girlfriend.
„How do you feel about going for a date tomorrow?” waterbender asked.
„Sure, where?”
„You'll find out” Kya teased. „I'll be at your place at seven”.