Love is Brightest in the Dark

Chapter 15

They drifted silently closer and closer towards the vegetation as Lin prayed no one would notice yet. "Is it me or does this not look like Republic City?" she heard Korra comment and rolled her eyes. "We're making a quick stop," Lin grumbled. Oogie landed on a large patch of green moss, jolting Kya and Korra to their feet. "Korra, stay here and look after Oogie. Kya, come with me." "Why?" "I thought we could use a little walk to clear our heads." "Wait- you're making us stop because you two need a 'walk?' Seriously, Chief, we'll be home in like 2 hours and you'll have your entire place to yourselves," said Korra. "Stay out of this, Korra. Just watch Oogie. This won't take long." "Fine- but if Asami asks why we got home so late I'll tell her it's because you two wanted to-" "Korra!" "Have fun, you crazy kids," Korra shouted as Lin and Kya slid down Oogie's tale. "We'll be back in about an hour," Lin called to Korra and saw her give her a thumbs up. "Are you going to tell me yet why you're making us take a walk in a swamp or are you giving me the silent treatment?" Kya asked in a harsh tone. "I thought you were the one who wasn't talking to me?" asked Lin. "Wow, answering a question with a question." "Kya," Lin said through gritted teeth. "I am trying to make things right. Just.... Just trust me on this one, okay?" Kya frowned but nodded in agreement. After walking for a few minutes, Lin knelt down and touched one of the large vines encircling a tree. "We're almost there," she said after pressing her palm to it. They came to a large tree (or at least a different large tree) that seemed to stick out amongst the others. Lin led Kya around the side to reveal a small hut made out of earth at the base of it expelling smoke from a chimney. "Wait here," Lin said to Kya who looked equally confused and annoyed. "I'll be right back." Lin took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the door. She looked back one more time at Kya who was passing the time by waterbending the vines, squared her shoulders, and walked inside. "Hello?" Lin called hesitantly into the hut. "Do my feet deceive me or is that my eldest daughter?" "Hi, mom." Toph Beifong appeared from around a corner, hand on her hips. "If you're here to wish me a happy birthday, you're three months too late," Toph grumbled. "I'm not here because of your birthday, mom." "Well I'll be a whole year older by the time you tell me whatever it is you came here to tell me. I can sense the tension in you- it's more than usual." Lin took another deep breath. "Mom, maybe you should sit down for this." Toph earth bended a chair for herself and one for Lin, gesturing her to sit. "Thanks," said Lin, sitting down. "I just got back from Su's," she started, not knowing how she was going to do this. "That's what you wanted to tell me? I'm happy you and Su are finally getting along." "No, I mean yes, I mean-" "No? You're not closer with your sister?" "I am but that's not what I came here to tell you," Lin felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she was getting more tongue tied by the minute. "Spit it out, Lin. I'm not getting any younger." "Mom, I'm seeing someone, okay?!" Lin shouted as her emotions got the best of her. "That's great- but I don't see the need for all the theatrics. It must be serious enough that you came all the way here to tell me about him. Just tell me he isn't like your brother-in-law." Lin got down on her knees in front of Toph, getting to her eye level. "That's the thing, mom. It is serious, or at least it was- I'm just hoping that I didn't mess it up already. My point is-" "Honey, if he got you pregnant it's going to be okay. I raised you and Su by myself and you two turned out great." "That would be impossible mom, for one I'm over fifty and two, he's a she. I'm... dating a she." Lin waited with bated breath as she searched her mother's face for clues of what was to come next. "You're dating a girl?" Toph asked. "I... yeah." "Katara owes me twenty yuan," Toph laughed to herself and smiled. "What?" "When you and Su were little Katara bet me that you and Tenzin would end up together. She thought that you two were soulmates even though I told her from the start I didn't think Twinkle Toes Jr. wasn't your type." "How... how did you know?" "A mother knows," she said with a shrug. "Bullshit. You didn't even know my middle name until you were trying to register me for the academy. How did you know?" "Fine. When you were around Tenzin, I could always feel his heart beat a bit faster for you. I just figured you weren't into him but then I noticed whenever Kya would enter a room it was a different story. Your heart rate increased, your pulse was racing- hell I could practically feel your pupils dilate." Lin leaned back into her chair feeling both relieved and indigent. "So you knew the whole time?" "Pretty much." "And... are you okay? With that?" Toph shrugged, kicking her feet up on a mound of earth she bended. "If you're happy, I'm happy." "Good." Toph sighed. "I can feel your anger from here, Lin. Are you upset I didn't disown you?" "I just- I don't know. I just wanted to have this moment and tell you and then for you to say you already knew-" "Lin, getting tied up in the little details has always been a problem for you. Why can't we just be happy that you've found someone?" Lin nodded, trying to keep her anger at bay. "So? Who's the lucky lady?" "That's also what I wanted to tell you. You know her- it's Kya, mom." "You dragged that poor girl all the way to the swamp just to tell me you're dating?" "Um.... I.... wait how-" Before Lin could finish speaking a small rock collided with her head. "What the hell was that for?" Lin shouted angrily. "If you can't realize by now that I can see with my feet you're dumber than that rock. Why don't you invite her in so I can meet your new girlfriend." Lin rubbed the spot where the rock hit her and without another word, walked outside. "Kya?" Kya, who was still practicing her water bending, turned to face Lin. "Can we go?" "Actually, I was hoping I could introduce my girlfriend to my mom. Provided I still have one." Kya let the water splash around her as she stopped her bending. "What?" "I can explain later but all you need to know right now is my mom is in there and she wants to meet my new girlfriend." "Did you...tell her?" Lin nodded and Kya rushed over to her, throwing her arms around her. "Lin, you didn't have-" Kya started before Lin interrupted her with a kiss. "I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. I wanted to prove to you that I'm not afraid." Lin took Kya's hand in hers and the two entered the mud hut together. They found Toph standing, arms behind her back, in front of them. "Hi, Toph," Kya said. "I hear you're dating my daughter," Toph said sternly. "I am going to be quite frank with you, Kya. I told your mother that if my daughter were to end up with any of Aang's children, I hoped it would be you." Kya's look of confusion quickly melted into a wide grin. "Really?" "You always could give my kids a run for their money with your water bending." Kya gave Lin's hand a little squeeze. "Take care of my girl, okay?" Toph said to Kya, giving her a slap on the back. "I will." "You must be off to Republic City, I sense Korra is getting a bit restless," said Toph gesturing to the door. Before she could leave, Toph grabbed Lin by the arm, holding her back. "She's a good one, Lin. Don't mess this up." Lin nodded and, deciding against her better judgement, pulled her mom into a quick but firm hug. "I love you, mom." "I love you too. Don't tell your sister I'm going soft," she grunted before sending Lin on her way.

"So she knew the whole time?" "That's what I'm told," Lin grunted as she took a great stride over a tangle of vines. "You got yourself all nervous to tell your mom and she just says, 'I know,'" Kya smirked. "How pissed are you right now?" "I'm not upset that she wasn't upset- I just felt like that moment I've been thinking about and building up in my head was a bit anticlimactic," said Lin. "It's better than the alternative." Kya reached out and grabbed Lin's hand, pulling her close to her. "Hey," she said cupping Lin's face. "I hope you know how much that means to me- what you did back there. You really didn't have to tell your mom and I feel like I pushed you to do something you weren't ready for." "Kya, I've been ready a lot longer than I thought. You pushed me, but it was the push that I needed to get me to finally do it. I wanted to prove to you that I am proud to be with you." Lin placed a gentle kiss on Kya's forehead. "You don't have to prove anything," Kya whispered in her ear before giving Lin a passionate kiss. Lin deepened their kiss until Kya began to pull at Lin's shirt in an attempt to strip her of it. "Kya," Lin said in a warning voice, but Kya pretended to not hear her. "Kya, seriously, we have to get back to Korra." Kya pulled away looking disappointed. "Trust me, if we weren't on a time crunch or in a swamp where my mother can see everything with her feet, I wouldn't object." "Fair point," Kya said dejectedly. "You can still come by my apartment later, if you'd like," Lin offered, blushing slightly. "Well what are we doing here?" Kya said, grabbing Lin's hand and pulling her through the swamp. They were all but running by the time they arrived back at Oogie. "Okay, Korra. Now we can go," Kya panted as she tried to catch her breath. "You guys were gone for a while," Korra remarked as the two women climbed back onto Oogie. "Korra- it's not what it looks like," Lin puffed. "I'm sure you had an excellent reason to both disappear into the swamp leaving me behind and then return completely out of breath and sweating." "Yip Yip!" Lin yelled, ignoring the Avatar's comment.