Linorra/Korralin

The love within us

The ferry ride over to Republic City had been mostly quiet and uneventful. Asami, Mako, and Bolin did not make the bell for the early ride over from Air Temple Island. Lin was somewhat grateful for this. Korra had decided to join her, they had made plans to go to lunch and discuss her training after stopping by Lin's house to grab a few things. They walked together, making light discussion of Lin's plans to rejoin the police force and Korra's plans to travel back home for the Spirit Festival.
Lin unlocked the door as she had a million times. Korra bumped in to her, not expecting for her to stop right in the doorway. Lin finally walked far enough in for Korra to come inside as well. The reason for her momentary hesitation was now obvious: the house had been completely decimated. Lin said nothing as she scanned the remains. Knowing she would never find the right words for this situation, Korra chose not to say anything either. She had never been to the chief's house before, she was stunned at the level of destruction. Through the rubble, Korra could tell that Lin had taken great pride in her home. An antique curio cabinet which lay on its side, glass shattered, was filled with plaques and pictures of Lin with many of Republic City's public figures. A large stone-carved family crest laid on the floor in front of a fireplace with a heavily adorned mantle. Several vases of different sizes had been shattered, their bouquets wilted and scattered amongst them. Lin departed down a long hallway, debris crunching with every step. The house had a very open floor plan, making it easy to see the treasures through out it. Korra began exploring as if she were visiting a museum, and not in the wrecked remains of her friend's home. Korra had to choose her footing carefully as she walked from room to room. Walking across the floor kicked up the smell of smoke which had settled in the remnants of burnt ornate rugs. A smashed clock here, a toppled table there, accumulated fragments of Lin's life lay strewn around her without consideration. Even in it's current condition Korra could tell that most of her furniture had been hand made, and before having been littered with holes, her walls hand been adorned with bright murals. A small bonsai tree which had been meticulously pruned and shaped remained on Lin's work desk, it's pot no where to be seen. She felt guilty to continue probing, but she could not help herself. Lin was the most fascinating person she knew, and this was a chance to scan her secrets and history.

Korra turned around, fists ready, when she heard a few dozen books slapping the floor behind her. Lin was pushing a toppled bookcase out of the way of a door. Korra ran over and picked a few of the books up, stacking them gently on a solid sideboard. She knew it was pointless to do this, but she wanted Lin to know she was in fact here to help. The door had a hole splintered through the middle, certainly large enough for a person to fit in and out of. Not acknowledging of this fact, Lin took out her key. She unlocked the door and forced it open against the debris piled behind it.

Korra was now witness to the worst tragedy she had yet seen in this home. The room was filled with gorgeous paintings, not an inch of wall was devoid of framed artwork. All of which had been cut and maimed, left on the wall as a mockery. Whole stacks of paintings were on the floor, mostly having been crushed or kicked by heavy boots. One very large painting caught Korra's eye. It was a floor-length painting which had been cut in such a way that the canvas had folded over on it's self. Standing on a chair, she lifted the canvas back in to place. It was a full body portrait of Toph Bei Fong. The level of detail was like none Korra had ever seen in her life.

"It's your mother! This must have been so expensive to have made." She ran her fingers lightly over the portrait, the texture of the brushstrokes confirming it's authenticity.

" It cost me nothing but time." Lin spoke for the first time since they had entered the house, her voice unshaken by the circumstances.

" You mean.. YOU painted this? Spirits, Lin, I had no idea! Though, she looks kind of... angry in this one". She continued to hold the corner up and admire it.
" She looks angry in all of them. She despised having her portrait made. She would tell me that it reminded her of when she was a kid, it was something that her parents felt was important to have done. My mother thought that it was completely asinine for her to pose for a painting that she would never see. Occasionally she would agree to it for the sake of myself and my art, but she never did pretend to enjoy doing it".