For @flashfictionfridayofficial FFF217 portal fiction
It was a mistake, you see. The first time Aziraphale stepped into the portal at his bookshop, he didn't put too much of a thought to it. A letter from Heaven appeared on his table, demanding his immediate presence in the conference room, and he hurried to comply.
Carpet moved aside, candles stationed properly, ancient words whispered, all was ready. That was only one thing that neither Heaven nor he took into a consideration – the portal had a mind of its own. Which, really, shouldn't have as a surprise to anyone. Being at the bookshop of an angel have funny effects, even on non-sentient objects.
And yet, somehow Aziraphale neglected to notice his influence – the dust accumulated just the way he liked it, the foal smell lingered only at the entrance, and the computer did all the taxes by itself.
So, imagine his astonishment when, instead of setting foot in the cold offices of Heaven, he found himself on a sandy beach, warm sun glimpsing between white clouds. Something about the scenery was familiar – it was a scene from the book he was just reading, about the adventures of Phileas Fogg.
Being the good angel that he was, Aziraphale immediately passed the portal again, this time with a clear intention to reach Heaven. The portal obeyed and conjured him to the designated destination without further deviations, just in time for the meeting.
It was only after the ordeal was over, and Aziraphale was allowed to return to Earth, that he had time to think about what happened. And more importantly, how to use it.
With a kiss, Lin stepped through the door, closing it behind her.
Kya rested her hand against the panel, wishing she could just stand here, waiting for it to open again and let Lin walk back inside.
She sighed and let her forehead tilt against the door.
Another few hours won’t kill me, she told herself. She took a bracing breath and turned back inside to face a day of cleaning.
[Image ID: A dark brown or black rectangle with an amber glow in the middle. The text '#FFF217 Portal Fiction' is centered, in white.]
For no specific reason, her eyes lighted on a small red book she didn’t recognize, peeking out from the couch cushions where Lin had been sitting the night before.
Kya wrinkled her face in a mix of curiosity and confusion, wondering what manner of book Lin, of all people, would be stuffing in the couch cushions.
I know where she keeps her smut, after all, she smirked to herself.
She bent her knee under herself, fished the little book out, and settled in comfortably for a little light reading.
But there was no title page. No author. No publication information. Frowning in bemusement, Kya fanned the pages gently, only to realize that the pages were stiff and thick.
She closed the book again and examined the cover.
It felt old. The spine felt loose and flexible. There were a few stains from handling, but again, no indication of a title or author. She lifted the front cover gently, but only found a blank endpaper. Not even “Property of Lin Beifong” in her stylized, blocky script.
Kya flipped the first page over and was confronted by a door she’d recognize in any circumstance. It was the family’s own door to the one private residence on Air Temple Island. Aang’s personal mark was etched at eye level, just the way she, Bumi, and Tenzin had added it the night he had died. As if they would need it to remember him. Kya knew she wasn’t the only one to touch it before entering the residence.
The tears swam in her eyes as she started looking through the book. Plain brown doors were paired with decorative red-framed doors. She recognized the door to Katara’s home in the South and Izumi’s private quarters in the Fire Palace. But most of the doors were unfamiliar.
Some were photographs while others were cut from magazines. A few looked like Lin had sketched them from memory or imagination.
She laughed at the sketch of a person she suspected was Su, standing in a Zaofu doorway, but cut off at the shoulders.
“Head wouldn’t fit,” was scratched into the gutter of the page.
And then she came to a small, plain door with the number 524 on a plate drilled into the frame.
Unlike the others, this door was slightly ajar.
Her tears were back.
Hanging from the plate was the small red tassel Kya had added on a whim the first day she came home. The day after, well, after everything the day - and night - before had been.
And that was the smile Lin saw when she opened that door from the hallway.
“What’s got you so happy?” Lin asked with a smile.
Kya just turned the book to face her, watching for a reaction.
She got several. Surprise, embarrassment, and amused resignation were the three she’d remember.
“You found my ‘book of doors.’”
Kya wiggled a little to make more room as Lin divested herself of her boots and other small items. Kya stretched a leg along the back of the couch and lifted her arms.
Lin just shook her head and settled down inside Kya’s embrace.
Kya brought her arms down and closed the book back, but held it where they could both see it. “Would you tell me about this?”
Lin took a deep breath and relaxed a little more.
“I started this a little while after Tenzin.” As always, she paused before moving ahead with her story. She brushed her hand against Kya’s, and together, they opened the book to the temple residence door.
“I imagined what it would be like to open this door, except this time, I stayed with him. Did I give in and have children with him? Did we run away to get married and let Bumi have the airbender kids?” She snorted softly.
She paged through the book, touching some of the doors, but brushing right by others. “I started writing stories in my head about different lives I might have lived.” She pointed to one and explained, “In this one, your mother made friends with a spirit dragon.” She snorted again. “There’s even one where Pema divorces Tenzin and moves in with me.”
Kya couldn’t stifle her surprised laugh. “I don’t think I could tell her that, even if I wanted you to kill me.”
Lin shrugged against her. “She knows.”
Kya choked. “What?”
Lin shrugged again. “She caught me doodling one afternoon and just wouldn’t let it go. I thought she’d punch me or kick me out.”
Kya could barely feel her eyebrows anymore.
“But?”
Lin chuckled. “She kissed me on the cheek, said I would be her first choice, and left me there.”
Even from behind, Kya knew Lin was smirking.
They turned a few more pages in silence, until they came to the door Lin had just entered.
Kya rested her cheek against Lin’s head and hummed softly.
“This one is different,” she whispered.
Lin flexed so she could twist and face Kya.
“It’s the one where you really are here, with me, for as long as you want to stay.” Her face was still, and Kya couldn’t quite tell if she was serious or nervous.
In a small voice that managed to be both timid and confident, Lin continued, “I left the door open for you.”
Kya’s heart melted.
She set the book down in Lin’s lap so that she could bring both hands to caress Lin’s face. She kissed her.
“The only reason I’ll ever leave that door again is so I can come back to you.”
Special shout-outs to @slowdissolve and @frooopsen !
