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Nothing tested Lin Beifong’s patience quite like the RCPD’s annual holiday party.
It was formal, way too crowded, and every officer she’d ever worked with always seemed determined to corner her for small talk. Every year she attended out of obligation, and every year she stood around stiffly with a glass of something sparkling, and left as soon as it was socially acceptable.
And she never brought a date.
No, Agni forbid. That part had always been non-negotiable.
But not this year. Because this year she had Kya, and of course Kya had insisted on coming with her.
“Couples go to parties together, Lin. It’s a thing,” she’d said. Lin had tried to argue that the entire force didn’t need to know her private business, but Kya had smiled, kissed her cheek, and said, “We don’t have to announce anything. I just want to be with you.”
And Lin had lost the argument at exactly that moment.
As she waited in the hallway of her apartment, or rather, their apartment at this point, adjusting her cuffs for the fourth time, nerves buzzed under her skin. She’d dreaded this evening all month, all year if she was honest, and couldn’t wait for it to be over.
Finally, she heard the bedroom door open. She turned around, and froze.
Kya stood in the doorway wearing a deep teal dress that clung to her curves like it had been made by a spirit tailor. Her hair was pinned up, and a soft, elegant fur shawl rested over her shoulders. Stunning did not even begin to describe how she looked.
For a moment, Lin forgot how to breathe. Or blink.
Kya arched her brow. “Something wrong?”
“That dress is…” Lin swallowed. “Wow.”
A slow, delighted smile spread across Kya’s lips. She crossed the room and placed a hand on Lin’s chest, fingers teasing the edge of her collar. “Hm. If you’re lucky,” she murmured, “you might just get to take it off of me later.”
The look in Kya’s eyes told Lin she was serious, and Lin nearly choked on air. Kya grinned knowingly and took Lin’s arm. “Shall we?”
The holiday party venue was a high-rise ballroom overlooking the city. As soon as they stepped inside, several heads turned.
Lin felt the urge to fix her cuffs again, but Kya squeezed her arm gently. “Relax. I’m right here.”
The first fifteen minutes were the usual haze of greetings, now mixed with curious eyes and well-meant questions. Lin braced for it, expecting to spend the entirety of it feeling vaguely cornered. But every time she tensed, Kya would slip a hand onto the small of her back, or brush her fingers against Lin’s wrist, and every time, it would ground her, just enough.
When someone complimented Kya’s dress, Lin felt an unexpected surge of pride. Yes, she’s with me, she thought as she nodded in greeting, even though the words never left her mouth. When an officer tried to engage Lin in a long conversation about precinct policy, Kya stepped in with an effortlessly charming laugh and steered the topic somewhere more harmless. When the Commissioner insisted Lin make a toast, Kya was right there beside her, eyes warm with encouragement as Lin talked.
It was… surprisingly easy.
Lin realized, somewhere between the catered appetizers and the awkward precinct group photo, that she wasn’t dreading the party anymore. She wasn’t counting the minutes until she could escape.
She felt… relaxed. She felt that she was enjoying the evening, even. Enjoying having Kya by her side. Enjoying showing her off.
About halfway through the evening, Kya drifted toward the balcony to admire the snowfall outside, lingering in the doorway. Lin followed her, keeping her hands clasped behind her back in an instinctively formal way, until Kya turned, her soft eyes landing on Lin, and the stiffness melted away immediately.
“You doing alright?” Kya asked.
Lin nodded. “Better than usual.”
“I noticed,” Kya said with a grin. “You’re even smiling.”
Lin scowled automatically, which only made Kya grin wider.
“They’re staring, you know,” Kya said.
Lin glanced over her shoulder. Inside the venue were several of her officers trying very poorly to hide their curiosity. She shook her head. She’d have to have a chat with them about stealth on Monday.
She turned back to face Kya, and after a moment, she smiled.
“Let them,” she said before she could stop herself.
Kya blinked, and her expression quickly softened.
“Gladly,” she murmured, slipping her hand into Lin’s.
Lin felt a warmth settle in her chest, and she squeezed Kya’s hand. “You look amazing tonight.”
Kya chuckled. “Oh, trust me, I know.”
Lin let out a laugh. “And so did everyone else, I believe.”
Kya shrugged smugly, squeezing her hand back. The sight of her, framed by winter lights and snow, wearing that beautiful dress, made Lin forget entirely why she’d ever hesitated to bring her tonight.
“I enjoyed showing you off.”
At that, a light blush appeared on Kya’s face, much to Lin’s surprise. Kya didn’t blush often. “Yeah?” she asked.
Lin nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well then,” Kya whispered, slowly stepping closer, “I suppose this is the part of the evening where I do something terribly scandalous.”
She was biting her lower lip in a way Lin knew meant she wanted to kiss her, as her blue eyes darted all over her face. Lin felt her cheeks warm.
“Kya…” she warned.
“Can I? Please?”
Lin considered it a long moment. She knew she could say no. Kya would respect it. But she found she didn’t want to say no, found she didn’t mind. Kya was hers, and she didn’t care who knew.
Lin gave the smallest nod. “If you must,” she huffed.
Kya shook her head with a smile as she leaned in. “Oh, I must.”
The kiss was brief, a short press of lips. Nothing flashy or dramatic. But Lin felt a warmth shoot through her chest, felt her hands tingle. She didn’t say the words forming at the back of her throat, didn’t dare, not here, not yet, but she held Kya’s hand a little tighter.
For the first time in all the years she’d attended the RCPD holiday party, she realized she didn’t want to leave early. She wanted to stay, right here, with her.