Chapter Text
Kya sat cross-legged on the floor of her new house with a wooden box in front of her—the last of her things to be unpacked. After four years of living in the Southern Water Tribe, she had finally moved out from her mother Katara’s house to one next door. If anyone asked, she would tell them she had moved because she felt her mother would finally be able to live alone. The truth however was that Katara had been the one to push the move out. After a few minutes, Kya opened the box. Inside were dozens of newspapers and even more newspaper clippings. Over the past few years, Kya had been getting several Republic City newspapers shipped to the Southern Water Tribe. Each one in the box had a story involving Lin, and some even had pictures.
Kya had not heard from the metalbender since the breakup after their short-lived attempt at a relationship three years prior. The waterbender had written a few times in the months after, but Lin had never replied. Kya sighed and shuffled through the box. She picked up her favorite of the papers: Beifong Busts Bison Bandits. She chuckled as she thought of how the glib title would have irked Lin. As Kya dug through the box more, she came across the small stack of letters she had received from Lin while they had been together. She tossed them back in the box and glanced at her fireplace. “Guess there’s no point in keeping all this shit anymore,” she muttered. She took a deep breath and dumped the box of papers into the fire. Her eyes grew wet as she watched the papers crinkle and burn until nothing remained but black bits at the bottom of the logs.
As the waterbender continued to stare at the fire, there was a quick tap on the door.
“Kya! Open up, you old lady! I’ve got your birthday present!”
“Fuck. It’s my birthday.” Kya put the lid back on the now empty box and opened the door to her small house. “Hey Nuniq,” she said flatly.
At 25, Nuniq was 15 years younger than Kya and carried a youthful energy with her wherever she went. She removed her boots and pulled the hood of her parka down, revealing she had let her long dark brown hair down from the braid it was normally tied back in. “Why the face?” she asked, pushing Kya’s shoulder.
Kya rolled her eyes and nudged the bag under the younger woman’s arm. “What’d you bring for me?”
Nuniq set the bag on the floor then put her arms around Kya’s neck and kissed her. As they kissed, Nuniq pushed her toward the bedroom. Right as Kya’s tongue began to feel at her lips, she pulled away and sat on the bed. “Here’s the first part of your present.”
Kya laughed. “What’s so special about that? I get you in my bed all the time without turning 40.”
Nuniq got back up and reached in her bag, pulling out a carved phallic object in a leather harness. “I got this from a new shop in town.” She tossed it to Kya then took off her heavy coat and sat back down on the bed. “You’ve never gotten me in bed like this before.”
Kya eyed the object in her hand and cracked a smile. “Damn. Are you sure this isn’t just a present for you?”
“I think you’ll find something you enjoy doing with it.” The younger woman slid down the pants under her own skirt. “You can do anything you want to me. Anything.”
Kya raised an eyebrow. “You up for smoking a bowl first?”
“I did pick up a special strain as another part of your gift,” replied Nuniq. She dug into her bag and pulled out a smaller bag full of lilyweed then tossed it to Kya, who dropped the sex toy to catch it.
Kya brought it to her nose. “Fuck yes. I needed this.” She went over to a cabinet and pulled out her favorite pipe then loaded it, lit it with a match, and took a deep breath.
“Hey save some for me,” whined Nuniq.
Kya smiled and passed her pipe to the younger woman then took it back after Nuniq had taken her hit. She set the pipe on a nearby table and picked up the leather harness. “I hope you’re ready for this.”
Kya lay naked across the furs on her bed, running her hand through Nuniq’s dark brown hair. The air around them was thick with the smells of sex and lilyweed, and Nuniq reached over to fill her pipe once again. Kya smiled as she watched her. “Don’t forget mine.”
Nuniq lit her pipe. “What?” she asked, blowing smoke Kya’s direction. “Did my lithe young body tire you out?”
Kya sat up and pushed her gently. “Fine. I’ll do it myself, brat.”
The haze of smoke soon filled Kya’s small bedroom as the two women continued to indulge themselves.
“So what’re you gonna do now that you’re 40? Any wild plans?”
“No. Thanks for the sex and drugs, but let’s forget the birthday thing.”
Nuniq took another long hit on her pipe. “Sure. How about that Avatar thing then? Tonraq and Senna’s girl?”
Kya exhaled smoke. “Korra? Yeah. It’s been pretty obvious for the past few months. The kid’s been running around blasting fire and rocks for anyone who’ll watch.”
“But those White Lotus guys confirmed it!”
Kya set her pipe down and leaned back. “Yeah.”
Nuniq set hers down as well and moved behind Kya to massage her shoulders with some water. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just really fucking weird,” Kya sighed. “That little girl has Dad’s spirit.”
The younger woman laughed. “Well yeah. That’s how the whole Avatar thing works.”
Kya put her arms behind her head. “It’s different when it was your own dad.”
Nuniq continued to massage Kya’s back. “Of course.”
The world around Kya began to blur slightly as she began to feel the effects of the potent strain of lilyweed. “There’s just so much shit going on, and of course I had to open that fucking box right before you came in.”
“What box?”
Kya felt tears in her eyes. “Just a box with a bunch of Lin stuff. It’s like, I really didn’t need that shit today. Spirits.” She picked up the pipe once more. “I fucking loved her. I loved her for fucking years, Nuniq. But I couldn’t stay with her after I saw her treat the criminals like that.” Tears fell on her cheeks. “She was like one of those fucking evil cops, Nuniq. Fucking evil. But she’s not. That’s not her. I know that’s not her,” she whispered.
Nuniq bent the water she was using for the massage back into its pouch then took the pipe away from Kya and wrapped her arms around her. “I think you’ve had enough for tonight. It’ll be okay.” She kissed the top of Kya’s head.
Kya’s tears flowed uncontrollably now. “I thought I could spend my life with her. When Mom was my age, she and Dad had all three of us and had already changed the world tons of times,” she sniffled. “I’m just a fuck up. Can’t even keep a damn relationship. And most of the world doesn’t even know I exist.”
Nuniq squeezed her hand. “You’re not a fuck up. Think of all the people you’ve helped here.”
“You and Mom could have run the hut without me. You’re a great healer,” Kya grumbled.
“Maybe. But it’s not just that. You’ve taught the people here so much about the world. Most of the people don’t know shit outside of the Southern Water Tribe, but you’ve helped all of us to learn and grow. And your mom loves having you here…and I love having you here.”
“Fine,” Kya sighed. She wiped off her face and closed her eyes. “Sorry for being a whiny jerk. You’re really great. Thanks for the presents.”
Nuniq kissed her cheek. “I have more if you’re up for it.”
Kya yawned. “I’m too tired to fuck or smoke again now.”
Nuniq laughed and went over to her bag once again. “It’s something else.” She lifted the bag onto the bed. “I know betrothal necklaces are a Northern thing, but my family’s from the North and—”
Kya’s eyes shot open. “Nuniq I like you a lot—I really do! But we can’t get married. I can’t do that. I can’t—”
“Just listen.” Nuniq touched Kya’s hand and removed the items from her bag: some uncarved stones, a leather strap, and some small metal tools. “I brought this so you could make your own necklace. You are independent and strong but also compassionate and sweet. You are your own person. I thought maybe you’d want to…”
Kya brought her lips to Nuniq’s. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.”
Nuniq smiled. “I’m glad you like it. Maybe you should wait till you’re sober to carve it though…”
Kya laughed. “Good idea. I’m pretty fucking high.” She gathered up the supplies, set them on the table next to her bed, and lay back with Nuniq in her arms. Even with the world still slightly fuzzy from her high, the younger woman’s words made her feel calm. You are your own person.