poisonivy

Chapter 3:

A few more days passed. It was a Saturday morning and Raya was riding on Sisu over the Heart land, trying to distract herself from the emptiness she’s been feeling over the past couple days since her and Namaari have become even more distant. 

As Raya and Sisu returned back to the ground, she noticed that Namaari appeared to be all packed up and on her way to the stables to get her Serlot. Fang wasn’t supposed to leave until the next morning. 

“You’re leaving so soon?” Raya asked disappointedly, slowly approaching Namaari. 

“Yeah, I should get back to Fang to get the Royal Army prepared, just in case of an ambush.”

“Is that what you want?” Raya asked, her voice breaking.

“Yes? I’ve got to keep Fang’s Royal Army prepared at all times,” Namaari replied, confused.

Raya shook her head. “No, I meant…Is pushing me away and losing our friendship what you want?” Tears were forming in her eyes. The last thing she wanted to happen was to lose Namaari for good, especially after they were finally able to trust each other again.

“I never wanted to push you away, but I just…I just…” Namaari found herself struggling to find the right words to say. She looked down and started fidgeting with her fingers nervously, her palms getting sweaty. She was never like this. She was the princess warrior of Fang, for crying out loud! Why couldn’t she just bring herself to say something, anything?

Raya stepped closer to Namaari, holding both her hands tightly. The feeling of Raya’s soft hands in hers instantly calmed Namaari down. “Tell me what you want,” Raya said boldly, looking back at Namaari.

Namaari was never good with words. Whenever she didn’t know what to say, she would turn to actions to express what she was feeling. However, in that moment, with Raya’s big brown eyes looking into hers, Namaari was frozen. Her heart was racing at Raya’s voice, Raya’s closeness, Raya’s hand gently holding onto hers. Namaari’s throat went dry, and though she kept trying to search for the right words — hell, any words — to say, nothing came to mind. 

“Hmm?” Raya asked, waiting for an answer as she reached up with her free hand to tuck the hair behind Namaari’s ear. 

All Namaari could manage to do was stare back at Raya, entranced by her beauty. Raya eventually figured that Namaari was too lost for words to respond, so the Heart princess pulled the other woman down by her neck and kissed her softly. The kiss ended just as suddenly as it started, leaving Namaari quietly craving for more. Raya pulled away slowly, slightly nervous about what the Fang princess’ reaction would be. 

It didn’t seem like Namaari was upset about the kiss, which Raya was relieved about. “W-What about your girlfriend?” Namaari asked softly once she managed to get her voice back.

Raya shook her head. “I’ve realized that in some ways, I’ve been trying so hard to hold onto some things from the past, that I’ve completely lost sight of the person I want now, in the present moment.”

“I want you too,” Namaari whispered, smiling. She pulled Raya in for another kiss, this time more passionate than the first. 

They pulled away after a few more kisses, both of them with big smiles on their faces. “So will you please stay a few more days?” Raya asked.

“Of course, dep la.”

“Good, so that means that we can go dragon racing! I’ve been wanting to race with you since the dragons returned!” she said excitedly. Before Namaari could speak, Raya added, “Oh yeah, and I have dibs on Sisu, me being the biggest dragon nerd and all.

Namaari rolled her eyes. “I think my necklace that I’m wearing says otherwise,” she responded, looking down at the dragon necklace around her neck.

Raya chuckled. “Whatever you say, dep la. But just know that whatever dragon I’m riding, I’m always going to beat you.”

Namaari got closer to Raya. “Prove it then,” she whispered, which gave Raya chills. Namaari quickly turned and ran toward Sisu to get on her before Raya had the chance.

“Hey! That’s not fair!” a flustered Raya yelled out, chasing Namaari. Raya managed to tackle Namaari down to the sand before she could get on Sisu’s back. “She’s mine!” Raya said laughing, trying to pin Namaari down to the ground. 

Namaari was laughing so hard she didn’t have enough energy to get out from under Raya. After a few minutes, with Raya’s hands holding Namaari’s over her head, the two of them finally managed to stop laughing. “I love you, dep la,” Namaari whispered.

Raya smiled. “I love you too, ‘Maari.”

-- 

Epilogue:

While Raya and Namaari were laughing on the sand, Minh was standing in the bushes nearby, watching them intensely. Her heart was beating faster and faster as anger flooded through her veins. She had waited for this moment — the perfect moment to finally seek revenge on Fang for what they did to her parents and her siblings.

Minh had never truly loved Raya. She heard many rumors about how Raya had wrongfully trusted someone from Fang, which then led to the destruction of the dragon gem and the unleashing of the Druun. Minh was desperate for revenge after her siblings were taken — so much so that she managed to track Raya down and “bump” into her in Talon. She smiled a sly smile as she approached the two princesses, sword in hand. She was finally going to get the revenge she so desperately craved.

Laying underneath Raya, Namaari turned her head as she felt eyes boring into her skull. Seeing the sword Minh was holding and the anger in her eyes, Namaari gently pushed Raya off her, standing up. Confused, the Heart princess turned and saw Minh and quickly realized that she probably saw what was happening between her and Namaari.

“Minh, look, I can explain-“

Minh scoffed. “I don’t care for your explanation. Hell, I don’t care about you at all. I came here for one person and one person only,” she said, her voice shaking as she came closer and aimed her sword at Namaari’s chest.

Sisu, who was still standing a few feet away, slowly approached Minh as she sensed the rising tension in the air. Seeing Sisu out of the corner of her eye, Minh quickly drew out an arrow, stabbing the dragon in the stomach. “Sisu!” Raya yelled out, shocked at how fast everything went down. She ran to the dragon, who was now laying unconscious on the sand.

“Relax, it’s just a tranquilizer. I wouldn’t dream of killing a dragon,” Minh responded, rolling her eyes as she kept her sword pointed at Namaari.

Seeing the anger in Minh’s eyes directed at Namaari, Raya began, “I know you’re angry at Namaari for releasing the Druun, but it was partially my fault too-” but was cut off by the sound of Namaari’s dual swords being drawn.

“Not just that!” Minh yelled angrily. “Fang took my family! My parents and my siblings were innocent and you guys took them away from me!” she added, holding the handle of her sword tighter until her knuckles turned white out of anger.

“Minh-”

“Raya, get out of here. I can handle her. It’s the least I deserve for what I’ve done,” Namaari said softly, looking back at the Heart princess.

They gave each other a knowing look, and then Raya finally nodded and quietly left. She ran to get some Heart warriors to help Namaari just in case. She didn’t want to get her father because she didn’t want to risk losing him again. 

After Namaari knew Raya was out of sight, she said, “Let’s get this over with,” standing in a fighting position. 

Minh smirked. “Don’t underestimate me,” she said in a sing-song voice. She’s been so greedy for revenge that she’s just been consumed with the thought ever since she was twelve years old. She suddenly jumped at Namaari, their blades instantly clashing. Namaari was surprised at how forcefully Minh pushed her back, but she still managed to stand her ground. 

Every blow each one made was met by the other’s sword. Though she hated to admit it, Namaari was struggling to land any kind of hit on Minh’s body or to gain somewhat of an advantage on the other woman. Minh was good. 

Eventually, after Namaari, with only one of her swords in hand, got hold of Minh’s sword and tossed it aside, she thought she had found the perfect opportunity to pin Minh to the ground. However, she regretted it just as she threw Minh to the ground, quickly realizing it turned out to be a trap. While Minh was falling, she pulled her opponent’s sword out of her hand and swiftly hit it against Namaari’s shins, causing her to cry out in pain. 

Minh used that moment of weakness to grab Namaari in a chokehold, putting her own sword up hard against the Fang princess’ neck. It cut into Namaari’s neck, causing her to wince in pain. “Everything bad that’s ever happened in my life is because of Fang! You guys-“ she began choking Namaari harder, causing her to taste blood coming up from the back of her throat. “My parents and siblings are dead now because of you, and I will not let their deaths go in vain!”Minh yelled, tears filling her eyes.

“O-On behalf of F-Fang, I’m sorry,” Namaari managed to croak out painfully.

Minh pulled away slightly, thrown off by what Namaari had said. The Fang princess took the opportunity to worm her way out, but Minh quickly pushed Namaari back down. In order to prevent her from running away, Minh stood up and pressed her shoe into Namaari’s ribs. She groaned, too weak to yell or fight back.

Chapter 2:

The leaders of the four other lands decided to stay at Heart in order to come together with a plan for how Kumandra should be ruled, meaning Namaari couldn’t leave for Fang for at least a few days.

Namaari woke up in one of the guest bedrooms of the palace. She groaned as she remembered what had happened the night before. How could she have been so stupid, thinking she had any chance of being with Raya? Namaari didn’t deserve her after everything she put Raya through. 

Raya woke up to see Minh still sleeping, cuddling next to her. They had spent all night talking about anything and everything they’ve wanted to say to each other since they last saw each other two years ago. 

Minh and her family were originally from Talon. Fang soldiers had killed her parents when she was twelve because they were allegedly involved in a scheme to take down the Fang empire. This wasn’t true, according to Minh, but since her parents were suspected of such a crime, her and her family had to live on the run. However, one day, Fang soldiers eventually caught up to the family, who had been living in an abandoned hut in Tail.

Minh’s parents had hid her and her two younger siblings in a closet when they heard Fang soldiers coming downstairs. To this day, Minh remembers everything so vividly about that day — the loud screams of her mother, the desperate pleadings of her father, begging the soldiers not to kill his wife, and the sound of swords stabbing into flesh. Minh remembered holding her brother and sister close, covering their mouths so that the soldiers wouldn’t hear them scream and cry. 

After the Fang soldiers left, Minh and her two younger siblings fled to Spine, seeking refuge in their parents’ friend’s home. However, one day, while Minh went to the market on the outskirts of town to buy some food, her siblings were captured. She knew Fang soldiers had done it because she found a ripped cloth with the Fang symbol on the ground. She never forgave herself for that day. 

Minh began the long journey to Fang in order to get her siblings back and get revenge for what they had done to her parents. While she stopped by Talon, she met Raya, who had been taking a trip to distract herself from the guilt and sadness she felt after she witnessed her Ba turning to stone. 

They quickly became friends, and eventually started dating while bonding over and helping each other through their depression and on days they were missing their loved ones especially hard. Together, they began making their way to Fang, but their trip ended prematurely when Minh was turned to stone by the Druun. 

While they were fighting off some traveling Spine soldiers they encountered, Raya and Minh got split up in the heat of the fight, and once Raya managed to fight off the two men she was fighting, she eventually found Minh and the rest of the Spine soldiers, all of whom had turned to stone because of the Druun. Once Raya saw Minh’s stone figure, she made it her mission to find Sisu in order to save her Ba and girlfriend. 

However, once Raya was finally able to see her father alive two years later, she forgot about Minh since all that had been on her mind for the past few weeks were her Ba, Sisu, and Namaari. Raya felt bad that she only started thinking of Minh again when they reunited the night before. Raya wasn’t the same person she was when she met Minh a couple years ago, and seeing her ex-girlfriend brought back a lot of the memories she’s had with depression and loneliness that she felt like she was finally able to let go of. Nonetheless, Raya still cared a lot for Minh.

But there was also Namaari. While Raya was giving a quick tour of the palace to Minh the previous night, she was trying to find the Fang princess. Just before Minh came, Raya and Namaari got close for a second. “Did that intimate, slightly awkward moment even mean anything to Namaari? What if she had just read the situation wrong?” Raya thought to herself. She just wanted to find Namaari to make sure everything was okay between them because at the end of the day, she really did miss her best friend (who also happened to be her crush).

Raya’s mind went back to the present moment when she heard Minh yawning awake. “Morning, sleepyhead,” Raya greeted, smiling.

“Hey you,” Minh responded, pulling Raya in for a kiss, which then quickly turned into multiple deep, passionate kisses with Minh on top, sliding her hand underneath Raya’s shirt. 

Raya couldn’t explain it, but kissing Minh felt different now, and though she still felt attracted to Minh, she no longer felt the passion they shared while they were dating a few years ago. She just had this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach as they continued kissing, like she was cheating on Namaari or something. Raya thought it was foolish to think like that since her and Namaari weren’t even together. They had never even spent much time together except for when both of them wanted to kill each other. 

Raya pulled away from the kiss. “Why don’t we get some breakfast? I’m starving,” she said. Minh smiled and nodded. The two of them proceeded to make their way to the dining hall. 

Breakfast was all-you-can-eat style. There were already a lot of people there, people of every different land. Raya was amazed at the fact that they were interacting with each other without instantly breaking into fights. She and Minh had split up, Raya going to the table with food from Heart and Minh going to another table to get food from Talon. 

As Raya was grabbing her food, she noticed that Namaari was at the Fang table, scooping up her own food. Raya quickly walked over to Namaari. “Hey dep la, I’ve been searching all over the place! You okay?” the Heart princess asked, concerned.

Namaari simply nodded. “I’m fine,” she replied, quickly walking past Raya and making her way to the table where her mom and General Atitaya were sitting.

Raya figured she shouldn’t keep pushing Namaari about it, but she knew she was definitely not fine. Throughout the rest of the day, Namaari tried her best to avoid Raya. She wanted so badly to return back to Fang so that she wouldn’t have to see the Heart princess being close with that girlfriend of hers, but her mother forbade it. 

“Mother, please let me go back to Fang! Someone needs to protect it!” Namaari pleaded. She didn’t want to tell her mother the true reason why she wanted to leave Heart because she was worried her mother would hate her and the idea of her liking another woman. 

Chief Virana sighed. “I’ve already told you — we are staying here until we and the leaders of the four other lands come up with a plan to lead Kumandra! Speaking of which, I’ve got to go to a meeting,” she said, straightening up her dress. “If you keep talking all this nonsense about leaving early, I’ll get one of the soldiers to make sure you don’t leave,” Namaari’s mother added, sighing. With that, she left, leaving Namaari groaning in frustration.

After dinner, Namaari went down to the lake and sat on the shore, watching some of the dragons dancing in the sky. A little while later, Raya came down to sit next to her. “Hey…I’ve noticed that you’ve been distant lately…Did I happen to say or do anything wrong? Because if I did-“

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Namaari said quickly.

“Then why does it feel like you’ve been pushing me away?” Raya asked, her voice breaking. Hearing her close to tears made Namaari feel horrible, but she knew it was for the best. This way, Raya won’t inevitably get hurt when Namaari manages to mess everything up  and hurt her again.

Chapter 1:

It had been a week since the Druun was finally extinguished, the dragons returned, and the people of the five different lands came together to form Kumandra once again.

Raya has been spending the past week reconnecting with her father, making sure only to tell him all the good things she’s experienced in the past six years traveling with Tuk Tuk. They took long walks outside the palace in the evening and enjoyed the peaceful silence between them. Occasionally, they would also go out in the courtyard and practice sparring together. It felt like the good old days for Raya, and she couldn’t have been any happier.

That night, at Heart, there was going to be a festival for all to come and celebrate the era of peace that had come upon the newly reunited Kumandra.

While Raya was waiting for the other leaders to arrive, she decided to take a ride on Sisu through Heart. She smiled as the warm sun hit her face and a group of dragons passed by.

As she looked down, she noticed some of the leaders of the different lands arriving by boat. One of them was Fang. At the front of the boat was Namaari. Raya smiled. She was glad that they had finally regained their trust in each other. She missed the friend she had met six years ago. However, she was also a bit nervous to see the Fang princess again. She always seemed to get butterflies whenever they were together, even when they had been sparring in Spine or in Fang’s Royal Palace.

Raya returned home and got dressed for the festival. She tried on several outfits and asked Sisu for her professional opinion many times before settling for one both she and Sisu approved of. “Why are you even stressing out about what you’re going to wear for this festival? It’s not even like anyone will care much. They’ll be too busy fawning over how you literally helped save the world,” Sisu said, rolling her eyes.

“I-I just want to dress my best, that’s all.” In reality, Raya was stressing out that Namaari would be there at the festival that night.

Sisu squinted her eyes. “Really? You sure it’s not to…impress a certain someone?” she asked, winking.

Raya chuckled nervously. “W-What? I’m not trying to impress Namaari, I just want to-“ Her eyes widened when she realized her mistake. Sisu never even mentioned Namaari’s name.

“You said it, not me,” Sisu said, laughing. Raya groaned, face-palming. “If you ever need a wing woman, just holler at me, okay?” she added.

Raya rolled her eyes. “Never in a million years,” she replied, playfully throwing a pillow at Sisu.

After Sisu left laughing, Raya looked outside to see Fang approaching the entrance of the palace. Seeing Namaari made Raya’s throat go dry and sent butterflies in her stomach. The Fang princess was so beautiful with her hairdo and fresh, white outfit. Raya sighed. As much as she hated to admit it, she’s had a crush on Namaari since they first met six years ago, which has only gotten stronger since. However, she figured that there was no way that the Fang princess would ever like her back.

The festival officially began an hour later. Little kids came running in to hug Raya. “Thank you for saving my Ma and Pa,” a little boy said, a big smile on his face.

Raya smiled. “Of course, buddy,” she said, kneeling to his level. She continued interacting with the other kids who were eager to see her. While part of her definitely enjoyed being with the kids, another part of her wanted to distract herself from the fact that she was freaking out that Namaari was in the same room as her.

While Raya was spending time with the kids, Namaari was off in some corner of the room, intently watching Raya. Namaari wasn’t one for parties. Honestly, if her mother hadn’t forced her to go, she would’ve chosen to camp out in the woods because that was the life she was used to living for the past six years.

After a few minutes, Namaari began feeling especially claustrophobic about the increasing amount of people coming in. She decided to sneak out of the room and go down a flight of stairs, finally reaching the balcony to get some fresh air. She had hoped she successfully left without her mother noticing.

Looking over the balcony, she saw the beautiful greenery and the lake. A few dragons were playing with the kids, and more people were entering the palace, eager to meet Raya. Raya. Namaari didn’t know how to explain it, but she got butterflies in her stomach whenever she was with Raya or just thinking about her. She’s never felt like that about anyone else, but it was different with Raya. It always has been different with her. And as much as Namaari was confused about her feelings towards the Heart princess, she knew that she could never be with her. She had betrayed Raya’s trust time and time again; she didn’t deserve her. And anyway, Namaari figured there was no way Raya felt whatever weird feelings she was feeling.

Back in the room, Raya noticed that Namaari was now gone. “Raya! Raya!” a few kids shouted excitedly, running over to her.

“Sorry, kids, I’ll be right back, I promise,” Raya said, getting up. She felt bad as she heard the kids sighing disappointedly, but she needed to find Namaari again. After searching throughout the palace for a while, she finally found Namaari leaning over the balcony. Raya’s heart started beating faster as she came closer to the Fang princess. She was so beautiful, and Raya couldn’t stop staring at Namaari’s strong back muscles.

“It’s beautiful outside tonight, isn’t it?” Raya asked softly from behind Namaari, walking over and standing next to her. Turning to face Raya, Namaari nodded, smiling softly.

“You okay?” Raya asked, noting the quiet, sad look on Namaari’s face. No one had ever asked her about how she was feeling these past few days.

Namaari nodded. “Yeah…it’s just that so much has changed now.”

“Come with me,” Raya replied, gently grabbing Namaari’s arm and leading her to a wooded area a few blocks away from the palace.

“What are we doing here?” Namaari asked, looking around in the woods for any sign of what Raya could have been up to. As Namaari was looking up at the trees and the bright full moon in the sky, she heard Raya drawing out her sword.

“I challenge you to a rematch,” Raya declared confidently with a big grin on her face. The only way she knew how to cheer Namaari up was to have a duel with her.

The princess of Fang smirked. “Okay, but you’re going to lose, dep la.” She drew out her dual swords and stood at a fighting stance across from Raya. They began to clash head-on, each one delivering strong blows. They soon got into a graceful rhythm, and unlike in the past, there were no bloodthirsty, angry feelings from either Raya or Namaari. This time, they were fighting as friends who were finally able to trust one another.

Namaari eventually managed to flick Raya’s sword out of her hand and advanced, ready to pin her opponent down with her dual swords. Just as she was about to do so, she suddenly dropped her swords as a wave of bad memories and guilt came over her. Seeing Raya lying on the ground defenseless gave Namaari flashbacks to when they had fought back in Spine.

Tears filled Namaari’s eyes as she stepped back. “I-I’m so sorry, Raya. I’ve hurt you so much over the past six years. I-“

Raya got up, shaking her head. “I forgive you, you know?” she said softly.

Namaari shook her head. “How can you forgive me, after everything I’ve put you and the world through?” she asked, her voice breaking.

Raya smiled, slowly stepping closer and closer to Namaari until they were only a few inches apart. “Because I know you’ve changed. You’re a better person now; I know it. I mean, you literally helped save the world, dep la.” Raya looked into the Fang princess’ eyes and wiped the tears off her face. Being so close to Raya made Namaari’s heart beat out of her chest. It was at that moment that she realized that all she wanted was Raya.

As their faces were slowly and awkwardly getting closer, Namaari and Raya heard someone behind them ask, “Raya, is that you?”

Raya pulled away and turned around, smiling at who she saw. “Minh?”

They ran into a tight, joyous embrace, both crying of happiness and relief. “I’ve missed you so much, Raya.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Raya replied. Minh proceeded to pull the Heart princess into a passionate kiss.

24-year-old Kya and 29-year-old Izumi were sitting by the pond, eating lunch together while watching the turtle ducks swim around. They met every Sunday to catch up — it was their tradition going three years strong. Lately, Izumi noticed that Kya would not shut up about her big fat crush on Lin. She was all Kya would talk about. 

“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Izumi finally asked her best friend. 

“Are you crazy? Lin is dating my younger brother, and she is probably the straightest person I’ve ever met. And anyway, I don’t want to ruin our friendship just because I caught feelings,” Kya responded, chuckling. Just the thought of asking Lin Beifong out on a date was ridiculous. 

Izumi sighed disappointedly. Little did Kya know, Lin had confessed her feelings for the older water bender drunkenly a few days ago at the bar. It was the last place anyone would expect to find the Fire Nation princess, but it was Lin’s birthday, and having a break from the regular servants serving upper-class food in the palace was refreshing. 

Izumi could remember that night at the bar with Lin with relative ease (considering Izumi was a bit drunk herself):

“You know what it feels like to be in love with someone you’re not supposed to?…Hurts like a bitch.” Lin winced as she downed the rest of the whiskey in her glass. She motioned to the bartender to get her fifth refill of the night.

“I thought Tenzin’s parents and your mom approve of your guys’ relationship,” Izumi asked, confused.

Lin chuckled drunkenly. “I can’t believe I tried to convince myself that I loved Tenzin when his sister was there the whole time.” Izumi just got even more perplexed.

Seeing the look of confusion on her friend’s face, Lin clarified, “I have a little crush on Kya, but there’s no way she likes me back. I mean, yes, she’s gorgeous, and whenever she’s water bending or laughing or breathing, it’s the hottest thing ever. But she’s also totally out of my league, and she probably picks up so many girls everywhere she goes. Anyway, it’s nothing I can’t get over. So it’s not even a big deal, right?” she rambled as she drank her whiskey, pain searing down her throat. Lin was surprisingly transparent when she was drunk.

The idea of playing matchmaker to her two best friends was so exciting to Izumi. It was a nice break from her regular princess duties. So as she was walking through the halls of the palace for a late-night snack, she came up with the perfect idea. 

Izumi’s birthday party was a week later. She invited her childhood friends every year — Bumi, Kya, Tenzin, Lin, and Su. This year was no exception, even if she was turning the big 3-0. Izumi noticed how Lin would steal small looks at Kya when she wasn’t paying attention. Kya tried getting closer to Lin whenever she could, but it made the situation more awkward, especially because Tenzin was sitting next to Lin. Izumi just wanted to see her friends happy, and witnessing the interactions between them, or lack thereof, was just depressing.

After eating dinner, everyone made their way to the big theatre room to watch a movie. After Bumi and Tenzin managed to stop arguing over what movie they should watch, everyone settled down in the comfortable chairs as the film began playing. Izumi was sitting in between Lin and Kya, but Lin had left to use the bathroom. This was Izumi’s chance to get her best friends to finally confess their feelings for each other.

The Fire Nation princess turned to Kya. “Hey, can you go down to the basement with me to get some blankets? It’s a bit cold here.” 

Kya sighed. She never understood how people got cold so easily. “Yeah, sure thing,” she said.

Izumi led Kya out of the movie theatre room. Once they arrived at the basement door, Izumi noticed that Lin had just left the bathroom that was a few doors down. The timing could not have been any more perfect.

As Kya was going down the stairs, Izumi ran down the hall and found Lin making her way back to the movie theatre. “Hey, Lin! Can you help me get some blankets from the basement?” The metal bender nodded in response and followed Izumi. 

As soon as Lin went down the stairs and saw Kya, Izumi shut the door and locked it. Both Kya and Lin ran back up the stairs, frantically. “Izumi! I don’t know what prank you’re pulling, but this isn’t funny! Unlock the door now!” they demanded.

Izumi laughed. “Not until you guys figure things out!”

Lin tried metal bending the door to unlock it, but it failed since the doorknob was made of platinum. Kya tried freezing the doorknob off, but there was barely any water in the basement to use. “Spirits, I’m going to kill Izumi,” Lin groaned. The last thing she wanted to do was be stuck in a room with Kya. Lin had wondered how Izumi knew that she liked Kya, but she would not have been surprised if she let it slip drunkenly some night. This is why she preferred drinking alone.

They eventually gave up trying to open the door and sat across from each other on the carpeted floor. After a few awkward minutes of silence, Kya started, “So…How are you and Tenzin?”

“Fine,” Lin replied curtly. She hated this so much. She was dating Tenzin, and she did not need their relationship to get messed up just because of a little crush on her boyfriend’s sister.

“You know…if we’re going to have to be stuck in a room together until Izumi lets us out, we might as well make the best of it,” Kya said slyly, sliding herself closer to Lin. The metal bender was sitting rigidly and cross-legged, her arms folded tightly in front of her. She was determined not to give in to her no matter what.

But the moment Kya got close enough to Lin to touch her knee, she almost immediately loosened up, but she caught herself before she could show it. She remained stubbornly rigid sitting against the wall, but inside, all Lin wanted was to feel more of Kya’s touch.

“Is this okay?” Kya asked softly as her delicate hands stayed on the metal bender’s knee, rubbing the scar that had formed there. She looked at Lin innocently, waiting for a response. 

Lin didn’t say a word — she was conflicted. On one hand, she had been with Tenzin for years, and both his parents and her mom were all too happy that they had gotten together. And although her boyfriend was getting uncomfortably close to that air acolyte, Pema, Lin was not going to mess their relationship up.

But on the other hand, there was Kya. Though she hated to admit it, Lin liked everything about her childhood friend. She loved Kya’s goofy, bold personality and her laugh that could light up the whole room in an instant. She loved how soft and caring she was and how badass and powerful she was as a water bender. She loved her long brown hair and bright blue eyes. Spirits, Lin loved every little part of Kya.

So Lin remained seated, back against the wall, conflicted. Kya made her love living, even if it just meant being in the same room as her and sneaking looks every now and then. 

But her relationship with Tenzin was decades in the making, and their parents could not be any happier that they were together. Being with Kya was most definitely scandalous, and the press would eat them alive. Lin could already imagine it: “Lin Beifong, daughter of the Chief of Police, caught kissing Kya, daughter of the Avatar.” The last thing Lin wanted was to be on the front cover of the daily news and to drag Kya, her mom, and the Avatar into it.

Lin had been thinking so much that she barely noticed Kya had moved her hand up to Lin’s face and the scars on her cheek. The older water bender was being unusually bold tonight, but she had been crushing on Lin since they were teenagers, and she could not hold back at this point. 

Lin never let anyone touch her newly-acquired scars, but she felt safe with Kya, and she felt like she could finally let her guard down. Lin’s face was burning red under Kya’s soft touch, and the water bender smirked at how flustered the stubborn metal bender was getting.

“Hmm?” Kya asked softly, still waiting on Lin’s answer to her previous question. She continued gently rubbing Lin’s cheek and making circles with her thumb on Lin’s scars.

“I-“ Lin managed to say, her face getting increasingly warm. Kya smiled and slowly kissed Lin, who, surprisingly, did not immediately push back. 

As Kya was pulling back, Lin pulled Kya’s face closer with her calloused right hand and kissed the water bender again, this time deepening this kiss, smiling as Kya moaned softly. After kissing for a few minutes, Kya straddled around Lin’s legs, the two of them pulled back, breathless. “Damn Beifong, now I really understand why Tenzin likes you so much,” Kya said, smirking. Lin rolled her eyes in response. 

It was then that Lin realized that being with Kya was worth it. She was worth breaking up with Tenzin for and disappointing Lin’s mom and Kya’s parents. She was worth being deemed “deviant” and “scandalous” on the front cover of the daily news for. She was worth risking her position in the police academy for. Kya was worth all the pain and hurt in the world.

“So um…I kinda like you,” Kya said, blushing.