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“Did you see this?!” The small smile that Lin usually greets Kya with disappears at her tone, the air family’s front door closes softly at her back
“The thing you’re holding an inch from my face?” Lin shoots back, trying to look past the papers blocking her view
“Not the time.”
“Pass it over.” She says instead, sighing as Kya all but flings it into her hand. Lin settles on the couch, grumbling about proper greetings and just arriving, opens- Kya’s still there. Just standing there. It’s more than a little unnerving. “I’m sure Pema has tea in the kitchen.”
“Good for her. Read it.”
“If this is you trying to get me to wear-“
“Lin. This is not about your glasses.” Her voice is strained
Tea would definitely help her throat.
Tea that is conveniently located in the aforementioned kitchen.
Lin’s learned not to say that though. Call it growth, call it maturity, call it whatever you want; Lin knows not to push. Especially with the near boiling Kya in front of her. The days of unhelpfully thrown out ‘calm down’s have long passed. Fiery and painful they left their mark.
Settling further into the couch, Lin props her leg on the other knee. The magazine finding its place on her lap. Seeing the glossy cover, she can’t help but scoff.
“A gossip rag, really, Kya?”
Her silence and stare is disconcerting. Lin refuses to let herself shift in discomfort.
Catching sight of the article that had been oh so kindly dog eared by her love. Her angry love. The love that currently looks like she’s waiting, stalled, frustrated.
“I know for a fact you can read faster than that.”
Lin considers dragging it out. Mouthing the words or spending longer “searching” for the dog eared page.
“Has she seen it yet? Has she seen it yet?” A chorus of children’s voices cut through before Lin can decide
“No.” Kya says, tension at the ready. “She may have forgotten how to read in her old-” “You’re older than me.”
“Which means you should listen to me and read the damn title.”
Another sigh. Children’s antsy gazes. Kya’s searching eyes.
“You’re dragging this out.”
“It was slow at the office,” Lin mumbles with a shrug, “50 Bachelorettes over 50.” Kya’s scoff is loud as if the title proves her point. “They’ve had this for years, dear.”
Kya’s deep breath speaks more of her inner strength than any delight from the tea aroma wafting off of Pema’s now offered cups.
“Guessing we know someone on the list.” Lin grumbles flipping through the pages as she does, “Are you still upset about Officer Lee? If it helps she’s only number 32.”
“Rightfully so. Take a look at who’s first.”
A soft glance. An exasperated look.
Lin flips through the pages, the wafting of crisp glossy sheets the only sound as she does. “Should I be- Flameo!”
There it is.
The magazine flings far, so far, through a window, passed a very lucky monk. It’s chased by the children. Laughter at their impromptu race trailing off as they go.
“My apologies for the language, Pema.” Lin shoots out, gesturing to the still yet to be closed door.
“They’ve been around Bumi enough.” Pema shrugs, sipping her own mug as she settles beside Kya.
Their friendship has become something so nice, so treasured, so unexpected. Pema had always had a respectful relationship with Kya, of course. Small walls between them, all but invisible but present nonetheless.
Sturdy.
Pema has always felt the loyalty between the two. Noticed it in the biting words Kya’d give at any mention of Lin from her husband those first few years. It certainly eased with
time. Thankfully.
She’s not sure what she’d do without these moments with her friends. Talking to adults is almost a rare event these days for Pema. The squabbles and excitement of her children taking most of her time. Loved and cherished time, of course.
If she hears Meelo and Ikki fight over marbles one more time she’s going to lose it. Loved. And. Cherished. Time.
Her headache eases a bit as the tea settles in.
“I don’t know why you’re upset.” She throws out, glancing at her sister in law, “it’s a good picture.”
Kya eyes her. Pema sips.
Lin’s jaw clicks as she grits her teeth, eyes following the trajectory the offending magazine had taken.
Kya glares at her sister in law. Pema averts her gaze.
Lin thinks of jail times and defamation cases.
Kya bites her tongue. Pema sighs.
Lin-
“I’m just saying objectively, Kya.” Pema huffs, leaning her head on the back of the couch, “Clearly the entire city agrees with me.”
Lin’s laugh is as astonished as it is enamored. Love hidden as best she can. Not hidden at all.
So what, she’d defend herself, these are her people. If she’s going to be soft anywhere this is the place, the time, the
Dust from the air each child rides alerts the adults to their incoming.
“No dirt in the house. Brush off in the mud room.” Pema’s mom voice is its own power, as they grumble on their way, she is quick to lean forward, urgency increased tenfold. “That’ll buy us about three minutes, five if they let Rohan help. What’s the plan?”
“I think I can get them on defamation.” Lin says, calmer now, “A few nights in jail and maybe they’ll think twice about doing some secret exposé.”
“I don’t think this counts as defamation. They’re saying you’re innovative and successful.“ Pema adds an entirely too genuine, “and hot,” which earns her a nudge from Kya in offense.
“Regardless of what they say, this should have been cleared by me first.”
“I take it, you've seen the magazine?” Tenzin’s voice precedes his entrance, a surely less dirt covered magazine curled in his own hand
Lin grants him a curt nod before zoning back into the calculations in her head. Defamation may be too shaky of a defense. Stalking, however…
Kya doesn’t even try to hide her huff as she watches the crease on Lin’s brow. She knows what that look means. What the rhythm of Lin’s jaw clenching and unclenching means. What her unwavering stare out the window means. Lin is lost to her thoughts. Will be for who knows how long. With a sigh she settles back into the couch wishing the tea had had a little kick to it.
Where’s Bumi when you need him?
“Tenzin, you know I’m not good at charades.” Pema pulls them both from their thoughts, “Say what you want to say.”
Tenzin’s cheeks redden instantly. Kya can do nothing but imagine him as a toddler, caught and nervous. He shifts just as he did them, one foot to the other, fingers whirling the air almost unnoticeable around them.
“I just,” Spiraling in that bald head of his, he lets himself nearly slump to sit beside Lin, “How are you doing with all this, Kya?”
“That’s what I thought you were saying!” Pema says a little too loudly, “Still makes no sense, Hun. Why would Kya be upset? Lin just got first place in-“
“A bachelorette contest.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.” Kya grumbles
“No one…reads these things anyway.” Pema tries to lie but they all know the truth. Kya knows the truth.
If the magazine made it to the monks it’ll no doubt be spread throughout the city by sundown.
“While I appreciate the lies, Pem. I’ve been fielding interested healers all day wanting to know about my friend, Lin. The friend I go to dinner with. The friend who picks me up sometimes. The friend they’d like nothing more than to pull into some on-call room and-“
“Little ears!” Tenzin’s cheeks burn as he shouts, hearing the incoming flurry of his children
An annoyed glance from Kya and she’s flipping her words but certainly not her tone. It still drips of disdain and false calm.
“Retrain her on CPR.”
Tenzin releases a tension filled breath. His sister, while many things, has never been one to mince words. He has caught the tail end of far too many admiring looks, far too many innuendos, and -unfortunately- one very long reunion kiss. Lord knows it took him days to look either of them in the eyes after the letter debacle last year. Who knew letters could
be so… descriptive.
“Oh, well-” Lin’s rubbing the back of her neck now, cheeks pinking as she does, “I-”
“She can arrest me any day.” Kya throws out in a high pitched mocking voice, adding a more gruff, “Do you think she’ll use those cables on me?”
“Good Raava, Kya!” Tenzin.
“What? That was tame compared to the whispers I heard.” Kya.
“It was?” Pema.
“It flameo was!”
“Kya!” Lin.
“I already explained the word to them once. They know not to say it.” She shrugs, not removing her eyes from Lin’s
“That,” a pause to search for words and Lin’s continuing, “must’ve been incredibly uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, hun. Just,” she lets out another annoyed breath complete with a frustrated waving hand, “not the most ideal way to spend a shift.”
Before the kids can barrel onto the couches-risking life, limb, and ire to sit closest to their visiting aunts- she throws out a “we’ll talk later” which sounds more ominous than intended, but Kya also cussed. So. The jury’s still out on her anger’s range.
“Have you read it yet? Did we miss it?” Meelo all but bounces off Tenzin as he climbs to settle beside Lin
“Auntie, your aura.” Jinora says at the same time, calling Kya out. Red is not her color. It’s not great on her cheeks either.
Kya takes a sip of tea. The warm liquid blocking her disgruntled words. She sees the dust stained zine gripped in Meelo’s hand. She sips more.
“Yes, Meelo?” Lin sighs with a loving lilt that gives away her affection
His mouth is scrunched up. Rocking side to side as he fights between his childhood excitement and the manners he has had all but ingrained in him. He tries. He really does.
Lin quirks an eyebrow and he’s spilling. Voice quick, voice excited, voice a little too loud to be this close to the recipient’s ears.
“I didn’t know you invented the cables. What did the force use before that? Did you get to pick the colors? Can we invent something for air? Is-”
“Meelo. Breathe.”
He sinks back, spine hitting the side of his father as he stares at his aunt. He forces himself to calm himself so he can better hear the answers…and ask more questions, of course.
“What the-,” a pause, “What is this a biography?”
“Interesting. Seems like reading the article would help. Who would have thought.” Kya throws out, putting a calming arm around Jinora’s shoulders with a whisper that she’s okay.
“Don’t be too mean to me, dear,” Lin says with an air that should have warned of a ridiculous comment. Kya’s eyebrow raise that punctuates it? Well, that is a warning all on its own. She finishes the sentence in such a foolish way. Finishes it with a joke ten years too soon. Finishes it with an absentminded, “it would seem I have plenty of options.”
Tenzin drops his mug, hand scorched from the tea boiling inside it. It doesn’t hit the ground. Instead, Lin bends it to safety without pageantry; All the while, searching through Tenzin’s non-dogeared copy as if she hadn’t just casually averted disaster.
Kya wishes she’d look up. Wishes she’d be able to glare directly into Lin’s eyes to tell her exactly how dumb that comment was. If looks could kill, well, nevermind. Kya wouldn’t go that far. But still. She’s all but sure her stare is noticed and thoroughly
ignored by her partner.
Pema wishes Ikki would stop fiddling with the marbles. The incoming argument is surely minutes away.
Tenzin would like to be anywhere else. Potentially near an aloe treatment.
“Lin.” A commiserating shake of the head, “poor timing.” Tenzin shoots a bit of wind to ruffle the pages she’s searching through for her attention
“I swear if you make me lose my place-” When she looks up she’s met with his darting glances, “What’s wrong with the airhead?” Lin has the words out, turning to look at Kya before it clicks.
The boiling.
The sharp drop.
The redness of Tenzin’s flapping hand.
The danger in Kya’s eyes.
She pauses. She stares. She calculates.
“Too soon?” The cringe is contagious; Only the children and the woman of ire are spared.
“Would you like some information on what desserts they mentioned today?” She throws out, finding comfort in the discomfort her words breed, “I’m sure I can remember one involving chocolate sau-”
“What kind of dessert? Is it the one at the party? Can you bring some home? Can-” “Meelo. What did I say about breathing?”
Lin offers him a commiserating glance as he tries to settle.
“What party-” Lin cuts herself off with a glance at her partner, “I know, I know, I’m reading, I’m reading.”
A few huffs while she reads the page. She’s sure to avert her gaze from the photos, not quite wanting to have that confusing experience in front of the family. Her people or not.
The envelope is fancy, embossed with gold, ripped across the edge. The invitation is just as fancy, just as hated.
“There’s no way in-”
Kya’s smirk returns.
“Now you know why I wanted you to read it.”
“Save the I told you so.” Lin says it as an order, but it comes out a plea. The invite and its ripped envelope crinkling in her hand, “They give invites to everyone who buys this trash?”
“They have a celebration for the winners of that trash.” Kya corrects, “It came in the mail today.”
The pause is lengthy. Lengthy enough for Lin to finish reading, long enough for the children to be sent away. Meelo and Ikki’s marble truce only standing so long.
“There’s no way the council is going to let me out of this.” Resolute. Annoyed. Lin.
“Not a chance, I’m afraid.” Tenzin confirms, “You know how they are about good publicity.”
“Murder would definitely be bad publicity.” Kya grumbles with a roll of her eyes
“I’m not going to kill anyone.” She volleys back, tossing the magazine on the coffee table with a suffering sigh
“You won’t, darling, but I might.” Danger. Anger. Kya.
Dinner is a bit tense.
Meelo and Ikki bring marbles to the table.
Pema’s going to lose it. Kya’s not far behind.
The trip home is a bit tense.
“Put your keys in the dish.”
Lin throws an eye roll back at her partner as they enter their home. The condo providing its cherished comfort from the outside world.
It’s not much, but it’s everything.
“Done.” Keys clink in the bowl as she tosses them before finishing removing her shoes, “Wait.”
“What?”
Lin’s eyes scan the entry table, the bag and coat thrown and forgotten on the couch, the mail half sorted and spread over the kitchen counter.
“Someone forgot a few things.” Lin smirks, pieces falling into place “Dear.” A warning unheeded.
“You know,” Lin says, moving to the counter to go through the scattered envelopes, “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were in a rush.”
“Lin.” Terse, tense, Kya picks up her flung coat and bag
“I’m just saying, you always tell me to use the dish and here you are,” She says flippantly, a smile on her face as she watches Kya huff through the room, “gallivanting around-”
“Gallivanting?” Astonishment coats Kya’s tone, dripping green as it does
“Throwing things left and right. I’m surprised your work shoes made it to the rack in this state.” She says it loud enough to be heard but is clearly more focused on filing junk mail directly to the trash
Kya decides then and there not to mention the sock clad rush she had been in this afternoon. The swift u-turn she had had to make when she hit the front porch, cold permeating her from the ground up, it had shocked her back to her body. She’d had to return for shoes, for her wallet, for a breath. The imprinted line of a clinched envelope had stung her palm. Kya had rubbed it absentmindedly once she was settled on the ferry. The indent disappeared slowly as she sat, mesmerized by her partner on the page.
Pride.
Jealousy.
Admiration.
Protectiveness.
She had felt them all in turn. The waves of emotion almost in tune with the waves crashing against the ferry.
While they had docked, she’d been sure to mark the paper’s edge. Been sure to take a moment to look at Lin’s picture, to appreciate that the world saw what she did. To seethe that the world sees Lin like she does.
The envelope had found its way shoved forcefully between the quickly closed pages. The slapping sound of it had startled a baby. Kya had shot their parents an apologetic look she didn’t quite feel.
Still doesn’t feel.
The slap of the magazine in their garbage startles Kya out of her thoughts. Maybe she should feel bad for that baby.
She still doesn’t.
There are bigger fish to fry.
Kya takes the bathroom first, as usual. Lin puttering around on the night shift for their home, surfaces wiped, travel mugs in place, doors checked.
They don’t reconvene until they’re settled under the covers. Sheets crisp and clean. The smell of lavender mixing with Kya’s shampoo relaxes Lin as the day weighs in.
The silence isn’t uncomfortable, but Kya’s spinning mind is clear. Lin settles in, running her hands through Kya’s hair as she waits. Knows Kya will return to her once it settles, once a side wins, once-
“How do you feel about wearing your ring?”
Lin can’t help the up-tick of her lips as she feels Kya fidget in her arms.
“Not that you need to. Obviously.” She rambles, picking at the blanket as she does, “I’m not crazy. I understand if you're not comfortable with that. I just, I guess, I just-” She punctuates it with a huff, leaning closer into Lin’s carding hand
With a quick pull the ring and its long-used chain find their way to Lin’s other hand. She plays with the cool metal as Kya searches for her words.
“I just don’t think we have a reason to keep things quiet anymore. And, I’ve wanted to ask about it for a while. Before the bet was done even, but this whole thing just kind of-”
“Forced your hand?”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Beifong,” The words somehow feel different with the ring in Kya’s eye sight, “I believe I’m the one who asked you.”
Lin’s blush tells of her memory of that moment. Of the joy of it.
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” Lin tries to seem aloof, her hummingbird heart telling Kya otherwise, “The connection works better when it’s on.”
“Oh hush,” Kya laughs, grabbing the ring to free it from the chain, “I remember when I gave this to you. You didn’t take it off for a week.”
“It’s nice to know you’re safe.” Is the answer Kya’s been getting for years. The answer she herself has given many times. Hand on her necklace, checking Lin’s safety from even half a world away. Her hand mimics this now, holds each piece that were once one. Feels the energy from the turquoise, feels Lin in the platinum.
“I never wanted to.” Lin says instead, letting out a false groan as Kya pulls her hand in, shifting her from her very comfortable position, thank you very much.
“Me either.”
The ring slips on easier than the first time. No shaky hands, no misty eyes; Kya slides the ring on easier. Pulls the hand to her chest, the ring and necklace almost magnetic in their draw. It’s as indescribable as the feeling of bending. As right as the feeling of bending.
Their hands tangle soon after. Kya basking in the new feeling of the familiar hold. She runs her hands over the ring, twisting it lightly as she watches the metal gleam in the light.
Silence reigns until Lin breaks it, faux professionalism in her voice, “You know, Mrs. Beifong, opening other people’s mail is a criminal offense.”
Kya’s smirk is dangerous. Hungry. Focused.
“What’re you going to do about it, Chief?”
A lot.
The answer is: A lot.
“Twelve, Kya? Really?” Lin complains in front of the mirror the next morning, late morning, early afternoon. Twelve small bruises scattered over her body in a pleasurable
map
She catches Kya’s smile in the reflection, lips quirked around her toothbrush as she pauses her routine.
“Problem, my dear?”
“No.” Relenting is easy with the slight burn lingering in Lin’s muscles. “At least the suit will cover them.”
Kya lets out an audible hum before returning to her morning routine. The hum that usually starts a monologue. Time to settle in. Lin settles on the edge of their bed, running through a few stretches as she waits.
A flush. Washing hands. Lin can nearly count down the seconds until the bathroom door opens once again.
“You know, I’m in a bit of a conundrum here.” Kya says, drying her hair as she walks into the room, “I can’t say I want them to see you in that suit. It covers all my hard work.” At Lin’s blush she continues, “However, if I talk you into that dress from our last anniversary, well, I’d rather them not see that either.”
“You act as if-“
“As if my wife is about to walk into the lion’s den with a fire score of ten?” A quirked eyebrow. “Because if so, yes, that’s exactly how I’m acting.”
Raised hands of surrender.
“You heard Tenzin yesterday, dear.” Lin’s hand cards through Kya’s wet locks as she speaks, “The council is definitely going to be in favor of this. Sometimes it’s easier to just go along with these things.”
“Maybe for you.” Kya’s pout is pointed and up-played
A shared kiss and Lin’s morning routine begins. Another shared kiss, Kya acting fast with a quick pull in as Lin had been on the path for the bathroom.
By the time she’s out, warmed by the hot water, now chilled by the crisp air. Kya’s sweater hangs off her shoulder, well loved and perfectly oversized. It’s the sweater nearly as old as their relationship. With over twenty years stitched into the blue and green stripes, she can’t help but feel the comfort it brings. Years of love somehow encompassed in the strands. She tries to remind herself, feet padding from their bedroom, that nothing will really change with the ring steady on her hand. Steady and public.
The smell of cooking eggs, the sound of pans and Kya’s voice? They all permeate the air
as she makes her way to the kitchen.
“I’m just saying she could be sick. Colds run rampant this time of year. Healer’s orders.” Mumbles that can only be the pause and stutter of Tenzin’s voice come through the phone, “Why would we come all the way there just to come- You…might have a point.” A sigh, the rake and clink of pan and spatula.
Lin quickly takes over, ushering Kya and her phone across the kitchen island.
A more feminine mumble takes over the phone leading to Kya’s, “I know, Pema. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
A few more words and the line is dead.
“I take it the island is well.” Lin offers in greeting, sliding their plates across the counter as she moves to grab their drinks
Kya’s exasperated look stalls on her face as she catches sight of the well loved sweater. The striped green and blue that has accompanied them throughout the years. The months early on when distance would separate them more than it didn’t. The times since the distance closed, when duty and work kept them late, had them traveling, had them missing each other. She feels the comfort of many days just looking at it. Feels even more when she takes in Lin in it.
Kya reaches out, hooking her finger in the hole she had picked in the edge last hospital visit and draws Lin closer. Fingers fiddling with the snag, she can’t help but notice the tension in her partner’s shoulders. Resting her forehead on Lin’s chest, she breathes in her scent. Lets it soothe her.
“We’ll have to get ready at the island. Tenzin needs all the help he can get.” She mumbles into the yarn
Lin’s quirked eyebrow shows her knowledge of the attempted deceit. Why does Kya even try?
“All our things are here? The hall is only a ten minute drive from here.” Lin tries to reason, settling beside Kya with a mouthful of egg
“It may have been noted that the chances of us going to this thing decreases with every second I have time to think about it.”
Lin continues chewing. Kya continues her frustration.
“They want to make sure you show.” She throws out, taking a bite of her own meal “You know,” Pensive. Thoughtful. Lin. “You don’t have to come if it’ll be too-”
“And then she had the nerve to say I don’t have to come.” Kya grumbles a few hours later, glaring at the tea in her hands.
Pema gasps. Tenzin nods. Pema glares at him. Tenzin retracts into himself, joins Lin in getting ready. Hightails it away from the twin glares he doesn’t quite understand.
“A ten fire score and she thinks I’m letting her in the vulture dome alone?” Hands and eyes meeting the ceiling as if hoping for cosmic aid, “It’s bad enough Officer Lee is going to be there. More like Lin Bae-fong.” She finishes with a high pitched voice, words from the article nearly burned into her eyelids
“You’re still going on about the fire score, I see.” Lin’s deadpan tone proceeds her as she comes in fiddling with the cuff of her blazer
“Fuck.” Kya breathes out, eyes focused on the cut of the suit on Lin
“What?” Pema almost shrieks. The memory of the rat Meelo had brought in last night still lives in her. The memory alone had disturbed her sleep for hours.
A flailed hand wave in Lin’s direction, and Pema’s heart calms. No rats in sight then. Thankfully.
“I’m guessing they didn’t have a higher score than 10.” Pema can’t keep the words in her mouth. The fall out like Meelo’s in excitement.
“That or they just never saw her in that suit.” Kya reasons, her glare has Pema backtracking swiftly, “I mean-” A quick glance at Tenzin as he comes back, a quick glance begging for help
Tenzin tries. He really does. But complimenting Lin on her outfit was definitely not the right move. Not now, potentially not ever if his sister’s glare is anything to go by.
A dismissive look to her brother and his wife, she makes her way to her rightful place at Lin’s side. Fixing the cuff as she does, she can’t help but catch the empty finger in front of her.
“Forgetting something, dear?”
Kya puts Lin’s ring on her with a softness that her heart will always feel. The irritation no match for the joy at seeing it in its rightful place. The joy of slipping it on her just as she had so many years ago permeates her mind. It’s a lightness Lin has been missing in Kya’s eyes, a softness Lin loves more than life.
“It’s about time I take you off the market.” She shoots out with a huff, kissing the back of Lin’s hand, ring cool to the touch.
“Dear, I haven’t been on the market for years.”
“Not that the populace of thirsty people know.” Is Kya’s reply, it sticks in her mind. Green and prickly. Uncomfortable and nauseating.
Their trip on the ferry is quiet.
That’s a lie.
But it is empty.
Kya has turned from mumbling to playing with the waves as they go. More like crashing the waves, freezing droplets, expelling the itchy energy building within her.
Lin settles in for the ride. Right foot on her left knee, she watches Kya’s waving hand. Grasps it with her own. Kisses the back of it just as Kya had earlier. It’s a comfort Kya needs, a steadying Lin does too.
It doesn’t last in the light of flashing cameras and ogling looks.
Dinner is good. If you ask anyone but Kya. Lin’s favorite is the wine, it goes down smooth. Pema awkwardly laments on the flavor of the noodles, anxious as she watches her sister-in-law glare around the room. The arm she had placed protectively over Lin’s chair is so tense it makes Tenzin’s arm tire just by watching.
With only the top ten in attendance, Kya tries to relax, tries to reason that at least Xia isn’t there, at least the other forty bachelorettes aren’t there. It works until it doesn’t. It works until she comes back from the bathroom. Works until she sees Lin across the room propping up the bar as she does. Works until her eyes zero in on the moving bodies, three to be precise. Her wife as their goal. Call it a second sense, call it personal experience, call it whatever you want, but Kya knows she’s right. Their rush to her side seals it.
No fighting, sure. But no one can blame her for the spill she causes. Red wine all but exploding over the closest one’s face, confusion comical as the fire bender had stared, dripping, at her wine. Serves her right.
Kya readies herself for another discreet bend as she makes her way closer. Thanks god
for her long legs, they make crossing the hall far quicker. Still not quick enough, but that’s neither here nor there.
Before she can cause another debacle, she sees Pema lead Lin back to the table. Words and steps shared between them as they returned to their seats. Kya (and her protective arm) following quickly behind.
She barely manages to sling that arm over Lin’s shoulders before the fumbling of a microphone earns the room’s attention.
As far as speeches go, it’s not the worst those in attendance have heard. For all her annoyance, Kya does her best to keep up with her personal drinking game:
One sip for every:
- Wandering gaze that scanned Lin’s oblivious form
- Cringes from Pema (even she can see the hungry look leveled from the brunette announcer to Lin).
Kya stops at two rules. She’s dancing with alcohol poisoning as it is.
“And now, a word from our winner.” Voice saccharine, the announcer’s body language speaking of more than Kya is willing to let transpire.
“No one said I was going to have to talk.” Lin glares at Tenzin, voice sharp as she keeps herself in her seat.
Before her brother can speak, before he can attempt to have Lin go up, Kya is moving.
Kya is flowing through the tables and chairs, body moving through the room like her element.
Smooth. Steady. Fierce.
“Are you- What is she-” Tenzin sputters, barely calmed by Pema’s hand on his shoulder
“Looks like she’s taking one for the team.” Lin shrugs, watching as her wife ascends the stairs to the stage
A bit of a fumbled struggle occurs at the podium. The brunette is clearly trying to keep the microphone from the interloper. Eyes nervously moving from the stage hands, to Kya, to the audience, to Lin herself.
“I’ll take that.” Kya says once she gets a hold on the mic, “Thank you.” The insincerity is blunt within Kya’s tone, blunt with the dismissing hand she waves as she moves to the podium.
A quick glance to their table has Kya buoyed. Lin’s smirk doing nothing but egg her on, as her brother’s own discomfort does much the same. A quick meditation, a quick breath, a quick glare, and she’s off.
“Hello, everyone. I had a quick few notes for the room.” A wink to Lin. Tenzin slinks down in his chair, tries to hide in the folds of the table cloth. “Yes, my wife is sexy; Yes, she's the most beautiful woman on Earth, and most importantly, she's my wife.” A glare directly at the announcer behind her, back to the room, catch of the pride in Lin’s eye, and Kya finishes with a dangerous, “I know what you’re thinking: can I fight? I want to answer this here and now, yes. I can and will fight.”
“No, no.” Tenzin sputters out, trying to speak over Kya’s scanning glare, “She’s a peaceful woman. She’s joking.”
His words are swallowed by Kya’s voice as she rolls her eyes at his outburst.
“No. No, I will fight. I have fought. Find me on the street, I’m telling you.” A pause, the air going cold, “Any other questions? No? Good.”
“The most beautiful woman on Earth. You say?” Lin can’t help but tease later that night, Kya curled in her embrace. The drinking game and adrenalin taking its toll on the heaviness of her eyelids
“Don’t get cocky, my love.”
“Hard not to when I have a ten on the-”
Lin doesn’t even hesitate to lick Kya’s hand that had quickly covered her mouth. A squeak and Kya’s pulling her hand back, wiping the moisture on the sheets.
“Too soon.”
If Kya pulls her in instead? If she makes sure Lin is settled safe and loved in her arms? If she smiles at the ring settled on Lin’s finger, the dim moonlight causing its metal to shine, the turquoise barely noticeable but present all the same?
Well.
Can you blame her?