a day in the life

Paper thin walls

After the night they spent at the watering hole, Lin had been coming to Air Temple Island quite often. Tenzin and his kids had not noticed the sudden uptick in her visits, or how she always managed to slip into another room with Kya to share a few stolen kisses. Pema, on the other hand, had noticed Lin was around more often. She had also noticed how uncharacteristically cheery the chief was. It took her about a week to put two and two together and realize that every time Lin would disappear, so would her sister-in-law. One day, Pema caught Kya alone in the kitchen. "So... Any lucky ladies in your life, Kya?"

Kya's eyes widened with the forwardness of the question. Pema wasn't typically so upfront, "Uhh, no, not at the moment."

"Really? You seem to be in an especially good mood lately..."

Kya thanked the spirits Pema didn't have seismic sense, because if she did, she would feel the waterbenders heart beating at an incredibly fast rate, "I've just been... very relaxed."

Pema turned toward Kya now, offended by how bad the lie was, "I don't need to be a truth seer to know that that was a load of sky bison dung."

Kya cringed, she was going to have to give Pema something, "Fine... I have been seeing someone, but she's very new to this, and she still isn't out, so I would appreciate it if you kept this quiet."

Pema turned back to the dishes, satisfied with that answer, "Of course, but I just want to remind you, these walls are paper thin and my husband and kids have a bad habit of not knocking..."

Kya gulped at the idea of the kids walking in on her in Lin... and Tenzin. So far it hadn't been anything other than kissing, but still... "Right. Thanks, Pema," Kya said curtly. She put her glass in the sink and fled the kitchen. 

From the phone in her room, Kya called Lin at work. She knew Lin was busy and that she hated personal calls on duty, but Kya had to talk to her. 

"This is the Republic City Police Force, Officer Mako speaking, how may I help you?"

"Mako, hi, it's Kya. Is Lin available? I need to speak with her."

"Is everything alright?"

Spirits, Mako, just let me talk to Lin. "Everything's fine, just need to talk to Lin, is all."

"Alright, I'll patch you through." 

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"Chief Beifong."

"Lin, hey, it's me, Kya."

Lin's eyes widened with alarm, "Kya? Are you alright? What's going on?"

"I'm fine Lin. Everything's fine," Kya smiled softly when she heard the tinge of worry in the Chief's voice. This bimbo really does care about me. "I just needed to talk to you about tonight."

"Tonight? What, you don't want me to come anymore?"

"No! No, I want to spend time with you, just not here."

"What do you mean? Did something happen at the island?"

"Well, no... wait, yes. I don't know. Pema's catching on to us, and she so graciously reminded me that the walls are thin and her kids have a tendency to bust in without knocking."

Lin paused for a moment. How could I be so stupid? Of course Pema's catching on... And spirits! If one of the kids had walked in on us, or even Tenzin!  She regained her composure, "My place then. It's not much, but no kids, or ex-boyfriends slash brothers to worry about."

Kya grinned, "That sounds great. What time should I get be there?"

"Hmmm..." Lin thought about when she would get out of the precinct, "Be there at 8, I'm cooking."

"Cooking? I didn't know you could cook."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Kya," she paused for dramatic effect. She heard Kya's breath catch in her throat on the other end of the line, "Don't be late," and she hung up the receiver and got back to her paperwork.