Chapter Text
I opened my eyes, trying to adjust to my surroundings. My body ached, and I knew I would hear a lecture from Kya as soon as I was in acceptable condition for the healer.
I felt a weight on my right side and turned my head to find Mako sleeping with his head resting on my arm. He looked much younger as he slept so relaxed, and my heart ached knowing that the boy demanded too much of himself, so much like me for his own good.
I took a moment to watch the sleeping boy. To think that it had been so long since he had joined the police force, and that little by little he had infiltrated not only the force but my own life. Taking care of Mako became part of my routine, and little by little he became what Shaikan and Song teased me about so much, my boy.
I moved slightly, trying unsuccessfully not to wake him.
“Mom?” I heard his sleepy voice and my heart skipped a beat. It was the first time he had called me that.
“I'm here,” I said, raising my hand and resting it on his head.
As if startled, he sat up straight in his chair, somewhat awkwardly.
“Should I wake Kya?” he asked, already standing up.
“I'm fine, relax.” I patted the seat next to me so he would sit down again.
Mako sat back down in the chair next to me. I took the opportunity to look around. Kya was sleeping on the small sofa in the corner of the room, accompanied by Bolin and Asami.
“They didn't want to leave before you woke up,” Mako said when he saw where I was looking.
“At least they seem comfortable.” The children were sleeping on mats at the foot of the sofa. “Why aren't you comfortable too?”
“I didn't want to leave you alone,” he replied shyly.
“Thank you, kid,” I said.
I sat up and saw Mako out of the corner of my eye, ready to catch me if I made a mistake. We remained in comfortable silence until I noticed Mako's gaze shifting between Kya and me.
"Ask," I said.
"I don't..." he began, but stopped when he saw my gaze. "I didn't know you two were so close."
"You didn't see the painting, did you?" I asked.
"What painting?" Mako seemed to stiffen, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Kya and I were once married, kid." He looked so surprised that I feared he would fall off his chair. "You kids really don't know the history of your own city," I added, laughing.
"When?" he blurted out.
"The City Republic was created to be a home for everyone after the 100-year war," I began, starting a little history lesson. "And yet, many prejudices were brought along with the citizens who populated it. Including those who were against same-sex relationships.”
"I've heard that story before," Mako said quietly.
"When Kya came out to her parents, Ang almost set off fireworks for his daughter. He took it upon himself to legalize gay marriage in the city," I said with a nostalgic sigh. Man, how I missed Uncle Ang, even after all these years.
"How does that have anything to do with you and Kya?" he asked anxiously. His detective instincts made him want to know everything quickly, which made me smile.
"How about you come closer so you can hear better, Asami?" I asked, looking ahead.
"I didn't even move," she complained softly, trying not to wake the others. "How did you know I was awake?"
"The bed is metal," I replied, looking at her curiously. "Are you okay?"
"No," she replied, her eyes filling with tears.
"Asami." I tried to move toward her, even though my body protested the movement.
"You almost died," she said accusingly. She tried to wipe away her tears. I had a strange sense of déjà vu, remembering another chief lying in a hospital bed.
Toph had dismissed my concern, and I knew she thought I was weak for crying.
I would never do that to my children. I had never wanted to be a mother because I was afraid of becoming like my own mother, but Raava thought it would be good for me to take in those three parentless children. Over the years, they had found their way into my heart. I might not be their actual mother, but I would certainly do my best to be the mother they deserved.
"Come here, child," I called, reaching out my hand.
When Asami approached, still trying to dry her tears. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her down. She came without a hint of resistance and lay down with her head resting on my chest. It wasn't a very comfortable position, but it was what my girl needed. “Can you hear it?”
I asked when she adjusted herself to put her ear over my heart.
“I'm alive, sweetheart,” I said when she nodded.
Asami clung to me and cried like she did the day her father died and I found her sitting on the curb.
I remembered the panic I felt until I saw the three children who had become mine.
I looked over at Mako, still sitting next to me, holding my hand. He was also crying softly. After a few maneuvers and new positions, I had them both lying on my chest, one on each side, and I wondered where the cold and bitter woman from a few years ago had gone.
“Do you want to continue listening to the story?” I asked after the sobbing had stopped.
“Yes,” they replied softly without moving.
“It took a while for the marriage law to be accepted, and our wedding was one of the first to be held.” They both raised their heads in surprise. “We got married at the Temple of Air, in one of the biggest ceremonies this city has ever seen. I don't think I've ever seen Ang so happy to give his little girl away in marriage.”
“How old were you?” Asami asked as she sat cross-legged, her hand reaching for mine.
“22 and 25, if I'm not mistaken. We had already been together for three years,” I replied, running the fingers of my free hand through Mako's hair as he lay there.
“How was it?” she asked excitedly.
“The ceremony?” She nodded. “It was a mix of cultures, from all four nations, actually. Although the Water Tribe and Earth Kingdom were predominant.”
“You were already in the police force, weren't you?” Mako asked.
“Yes, I was already a lieutenant,” I replied.
“Lieutenant at 22?” Mako looked surprised.
“I was very good, kid,” I said with a smirk.
“You still are,” he said, hugging me.
“Can you tell me more about it?” Asami fired off several questions in a row, and I ended up smiling at the memories. “How did he propose, where did you live?”
“What are you doing?” I asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“You're hiding something from me, and I want to know what it is,” replied the healer, still rummaging through the wardrobe.
“Are you familiar with the concept of surprise, dear?” I asked with a smile in my voice, which made the other woman look up.
“You're in a good mood, Lieutenant,” Kya said, walking toward me.
“It was an acceptable day,” I replied, following Kya's every step until she was within reach. “Are you going to stop rummaging through the wardrobe?”
“Not until you tell me what you're hiding,” she replied, putting her arms around my shoulders and resting her forehead against mine. “Hello, love.”
“It's not in the wardrobe. Did you really think I'd be that predictable?” I asked after she pulled away from the kiss.
“It didn't hurt to try,” she said with a pout.
“How about we go out for dinner?” I asked. “I reserved a table at that new Water Tribe restaurant.”
“You're up to something, Beifong,” she said, pulling away and crossing her arms.
“Can't I take my beautiful girl out to dinner?” I asked, pulling her back.
“You know we'll be on the front page tomorrow,” Kya said, hugging me. “I don't want your promotion to be ruined. We should have dinner at home.” Despite her selflessness, I knew it bothered her.
“It won't be the first time we're in the papers, Kya,” I said, stepping back so I could look into her eyes. “And if being the chief eans I can't show you off, then I don't want the promotion.”
“Don't say that,” she scolded, stepping out of my arms. “You've worked so hard to be the chief.
“My career won't be more important to me than you, Kya.” She looked at me as if I had just made the greatest declaration of love in the world. “Can we go to dinner?”
“If you're so sure,” she finally replied.
“Great, wear something nice,” I said, kissing her lips and stepping back.
After a well-deserved shower and putting on some nice clothes, I was in the kitchen drinking a glass of water while looking at the box in my hand. It had turned out really well.
Satisfied, I put the box back in my jacket's inside pocket and the glass back in the sink, when I heard footsteps in the hallway.
I left the kitchen to find Kya looking absolutely stunning. A dress as blue as the night covered her body, and I could see it shimmering as she moved. What made my mouth go dry was the slit that went almost halfway up her thigh, revealing her satiny skin. Her traditional ponytail had given way to a low bun, and her light makeup highlighted her eyes.
“Beautiful,” I blurted out, mesmerized.
“You dress well too, Lieutenant,” Kya said with a smile and a slight pink hue on her cheeks that I knew wasn't from the makeup.
“Ready to go?” I asked.
Kya was still analyzing my outfit when I approached her. I had opted for a forest green suit, replacing the blazer with a jacket over it.
“Yes,” she replied as she closed the distance between us and stole a kiss.
I knew Kya was dying to ask what was going on. I was an excellent detective, but somehow I couldn't lie very well to the woman next to me. I had spent the last two weeks hiding where I was going after work, always with an excuse of last-minute work or too much paperwork. At first she accepted it without many questions, just telling me to be careful. But things changed a little when she caught me on the island without a good excuse for why I was there.
I got out of the car in front of the new restaurant and walked around to open the door for Kya. I could feel my nerves starting to show.
“Full service tonight, huh?” she asked mischievously, taking my hand.
“Always,” I replied with a wink, earning an eye roll.
I handed the keys to the valet and walked toward the restaurant, already feeling my hands shaking. As soon as we passed through the restaurant doors, I felt Kya stop.
“What's going on?” she asked as she observed the scene in front of us.
The restaurant had not yet opened its doors to the public, but they were serving dinner to important figures in the city in order to gain fame and attention. It was a spacious environment with warm, comfortable colors. For that night, it had light green and blue decorations, scattered flowers, and a single table set for two with small candles. “How?”
“You'll see,” I said simply and held out my hand to her.
“You're putting the Beifong fortune on the line, huh,” she joked.
“You know I have more than enough,” I replied, watching the restaurant manager approach.
“I know, but you don't usually use it to show off,” Kya said as she looked around the room.
“Good evening, ladies, welcome to Kwong's,” the man said as he presented a little of the restaurant's history, as well as that night's menu.
We sat down at the table and our glasses were filled with water and a wine I had already chosen for the occasion.
“You organized all this in advance,” Kya said, looking at me suspiciously.
“I don't know what you're talking about.” My smile was permanent that night.
“You look beautiful when you smile,” Kya complimented me, and I felt my cheeks burn.
“Tell me about your day,” I asked, placing my wine glass on the table.
Kya happily recounted her day at the hospital and how happy she was to be able to help all those people. She also told me how she had visited a poorer area of the city and was thinking of talking to her parents about the possibility of opening a clinic there.
The conversation continued to flow as the dishes were brought out and cleared away. She told me how the training of a new group of waterbenders she was supervising was going and how excited she was for her new trip to the Fire Nation, where she intended to learn some more healing techniques to convert them to waterbending.
By the end of dinner, Kya was smiling from ear to ear.
“Now are you going to tell me what this is all about?” she asked as soon as the waiter cleared away her favorite dessert.
“It's funny that you think there's some ulterior motive for me making you happy.” I deflected the question with a slight smile.
“Lin,” Kya scolded. “Tenzin told me you've been on the island every day.”
“That big mouth,” I muttered, getting up. “Will you walk with me?” I asked, extending my hand to her.
“Aren't we going to pay the bill?” she asked worriedly, but she got up too.
“It's already paid for.” I smiled and we walked to a side door.
The restaurant had a private deck where they planned to put some tables on warmer days. Or on mine, completely decorated with candles and flowers. The candles formed a corridor to the end of the deck, where some flower arrangements completed the already romantic decor.
Yue rose on the horizon, majestic as always, but with an even stronger glow. I think she approved of what was to come.
The moment Kya saw the deck's decoration, she froze in place and gave me a surprised look.
I just smiled as we walked down the path of candles. When we reached the protective wall, I leaned back and just watched the woman next to me.
The word beautiful didn't even begin to describe Kya, especially there, with her long hair loose from its bun and flowing in the night breeze. The moonlight bathed her skin, making it shine as brightly as the star in the sky.
“You are so beautiful,” I whispered, mesmerized, and was rewarded with the most beautiful sound of Kya's laughter.
“Are you going to tell me what this is all about, chief? ” she asked as she approached and put her arms around my shoulders.
“I’ve always thought you were so beautiful,” I said as I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I love it when you wear your hair down.”
“I know,” she replied as she pressed her lips to mine.
“You are the most beautiful and kind woman I know, Kya.” I began the speech I had rehearsed so many times. “And I am sure you will be the best healer in the world.”
Kya seemed to sense that I needed to talk, and remained silent in my arms. And I continued.
“I know your dreams, I know how much you love to travel, and don't think I want to tie you down here. I want you to keep traveling and exploring the world, going to places our parents never dreamed of going. Helping people who have no one else to turn to." Kya frowned, not knowing where I was going with all this. ”But I want you to remember something."
“What?” she asked as she felt my hands release her waist.
“That no matter where you go or what you're doing, no matter how far those eager feet carry you.” I knelt in front of her.
Kya's eyes widened when she saw me take the little box out of my jacket.
“Remember that you will always have a home waiting for you here.” I opened the box and Kya let out a surprised sigh.
“Lin...” Her voice trailed off.
“Kya, my beautiful and courageous healer, you are everything I have ever dreamed of. You are the one who brightens my darkest days, who makes me whole, and even though you are dying of worry, you never asked me to give up on my dream.” I held the box out to her, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Your eyes have always reminded me of the ocean, you know? Every time you leave, I find myself looking at the sea, just to try to ease the longing a little. Every night I ask Yue to take care of you, because I know that if anything happens to you, I will lose my whole world. Because that's what you mean to me, Kya, my world, my home.” I felt my own tears running down my face. “Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes,” Kya replied, throwing herself into my arms, causing us both to fall to the floor with the impact. “I love you so much.”
“Will you let me put this on you?” I asked, holding her waist with my free hand.
Smiling, Kya stood up and held out her hand to me. Her smile was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Unable to contain myself, I pulled Kya in for a kiss.
Her soft lips were the greatest invitation I could receive. I slid my tongue across her lower lip, asking for passage, which Kya seemed happy to grant. The kiss didn't seem to last long enough when I pulled away. I needed to know how beautiful she would look with the necklace.
“So that's what you were doing on the island?” she asked as she reached out to run her fingers over the carved stone. “It's so delicate.”
“Your parents helped me,” I said, unable to take my eyes off her face.
“How did you find this stone?” she asked.
“Remember that trip we took last year?” I asked, smiling.
“Yes,” she replied, looking up from the necklace and staring at me. “Have you had that with you this whole time?”
“Yes,” I said, stealing a peck on the lips. “That trip I took with your father wasn't just to get to know the area. We went to a remote cave where your mother said we would find the best and most unique stones.”
“So my own parents were conspiring against me this whole time?” she feigned indignation.
“Maybe,” I replied with a mischievous smile, and this time it was Kya who broke the distance by stealing a kiss from me.
“Do you know what kind of stone this is?” Kya asked.
“Of course I do,” I replied confidently. “Moonstone.”
“And do you know why almost no necklaces are made from this material?” Her fingers were still sliding over the carved designs.
“Your mother told me that it's almost impossible to carve, unless you're an earth bender,” I said proudly, not only of my work, but also of knowing the culture of my future wife.
“I didn't know you could do that kind of folding,” she said softly, and I knew it wasn't a criticism.
“Neither did I, but I wanted to be the one to carve your necklace,” I replied. “Now can I put it on you?”
“Just let me see it up close,” she asked, taking the necklace out of the box.
The moonstone was a blue-green color, carved with great care. On one side was Tui and La circling each other, with waves at the edges that seemed to move depending on how the stone was turned. On the other side was the Beifong family crest.
The stone was tied with deep blue ribbons, the same color as Katara's necklace.
“It's so perfect, my love,” Kya said as she handed me the necklace and turned her back to me.
I carefully fastened the necklace, and as soon as Kya turned around, I felt like I had collided with a brick wall.
I wasn't prepared for the sight of Kya wearing it; she was simply perfect.
“When are we getting married?” she asked, smiling and wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Tomorrow, if it were up to me,” I replied, pulling her closer. “But your father would kill me, which reminds me, you organize it.”
Unable to contain myself, I kissed her lips again. *My fiancée.*
Kya laughed out loud, she knew I wasn't good at these things.
“As long as you're waiting for me at the altar,” she replied.
“There's no other place in the world I'd rather be.”
And there, illuminated by Yue's light, we knew that our lives were just beginning, and that it would be a chapter that would go down in history.
And I made a vow as I held Kya in my arms, I would move mountains to make my wife happy.