Title: "The Cave of Two More Lovers" (T – Makorra romance) Chapter 2
Author/Artist: ayziks (fiction), Deviant Art artist awkwardsauce (editing, illustrations)
Rating: T for strong romantic scenes
Summary/Notes: My close friend and excellent artist awkwardsauce and I have teamed together again for a another "adventure and romance" picture and fiction (pic and fic) collaboration. Korra decides that as the new Avatar she must tour the world since she is "everyone's Avatar". Her boyfriend Mako goes with her, and at the beginning of their journey together they are inexplicably drawn to a side trip to rediscover the Cave of the Two Lovers found by Aang and Katara 70 years before, where they rediscover much more together than a tomb and glowing crystals.
Please go to Deviant Art to find awkwardsauce's great art that accompanies several of the chapters. I will try to post them here.
...
Chapter 1 - Practice
Korra was suspended at an impressive height above the air bending practice field, atop a whirling air vortex. Tenzin had to admit it was as tall as anything he had ever attempted. She eased down to the ground gently, with the finesse of someone who had air bent for years.
She bowed then pumped the air emphatically, "Woo hoo!"
"I am not sure that was the correct closing phrase, Korra," said Tenzin with a fake glum expression, which changed to a broad smile, "But that certainly is the way to describe it."
He praised her further, "You have completely taken to air bending Korra, after both of us wondered if you were ever going to learn it at all."
"Well Tenzin, it's simple. When all seemed lost, I found my air bending to defeat Amon and to see me through a very rough time. I am still convinced that the connection between air bending and Aang allowed me to reach him – as you always said; air bending is the most spiritual discipline. I am forever grateful that air bending came to me at just the time when I needed it most."
"Besides, the scientists say that air and water are both fluids. You know I can do a waterspout, so an air vortex is really no different."
"A wise observation," said Tenzin, who really hadn't thought of it that way before."Well let's see what else you have accomplished today."
She fired off a series of vertical and horizontal air slices. They were intense, and the vertical ones cut flowers off the rose bushes. She also tried several powerful air thrusts, one of which caught an unwary White Lotus sentry off guard and sprawled him to the tiles.
Korra said sheepishly,"Oops...sorry..."
Then she created an air scooter, mounted it, and went a few yards. It quickly disintegrated. She plopped unceremoniously on the practice grounds, and spun splay-legged for a few yards.
She laughed even though she was embarrassed, "Well...I guess I don't have that figured out yet.
"Nice try, though Korra, keep at it. But a caution – remember that air bending is supposed to defensive," chuckled Tenzin.
Korra smirked, "Uh, Tenzin, what about that mech-tank you launched two buildings away, hmm?"
Tenzin turned a bit red and got all flustered, "Well, Korra, that...ah...was different. Technically, it attacked first."
"Um-hmmm. Yeah. Right. OK, next I want you to test me in echo location that Lin has been teaching me."
She removed her boots and socks, and stood barefooted.
She pulled a rag out of her pockets, "Here, Tenzin, tie this blindfold around me...now spin me."
She stopped, rooted her feet on the tile, raised one leg, and stomped her foot on the ground. She listened, and waited. In her mind's eye, the ghostly image of everything on the island appeared to her.
Tenzin then asked Korra for information on directions of the building of the temple, where people were going and doing, and how many guards were in the watch towers. Everything she said was correct.
Korra smiled and asked Tenzin, "And aren't you going to ask me who who just climbed the staircase from the pier?"
She felt the familiar heartbeat of Mako, who just arrived from his shift at the power plant and training class at the police academy. She tore off her blindfold, and ran full speed to him, and in their signature greeting, leaped at him. He caught her and twirled her as they kissed.
"Home for dinner, I see?" as she pecked him again. Pema's cooking is a stronger draw than me, huh, City Boy?"
"As a matter of fact, yes it is, when you're famished."
She jabbed him playfully.
She give him her best little girl look, and said, "before we go to dinner, I want to practice my lighting bending."
"I dunno, Korra, I've been lighting bending most of the day, and I'm tired and hungry."
She batted those blue eyes at her lover.
He could never refuse her when she did that, "Well, OK."
Tenzin observed, "Korra you seem impatient today. I thought you learned that lesson already."
Korra was about to retort when Mako stated, "No Tenzin, It's OK, I can practice with her."
Mako had taught her the new, fast-reaction/no-wind-up style of lightning bending that he used to escape Amon's blood bending grip and to save the Air Family at the Rally. Tenzin was a little reluctant to part with the traditional method of the deliberate wind up, but let it go. That new way had saved him and his family from being debent at Amon's Rally.
So the couple stood in parallel, and she practiced the upward and outward two fingered thrust that was the key movement in this technique. After several dry runs and several subtle corrections, they went for it. Twin bolts of electricity blasted into the late afternoon skies over Yue Bay, with a huge peal of thunder. It was so loud that the dock workers on the other side of the bay turned and looked at the twin discharges.
They could hear a baby's cry from his nursery. "Uh oh," muttered both. What was done was done, so they continued.
"Now, Mako. Let me practice my lighting deflection technique. She stood in the proper defensive stance, "Shoot me!"
Mako stood aghast and looked to Tenzin to do something.
"No! I forbid it! We can't afford to lose you." chastised Tenzin.
"I have to learn this, Tenzin. Would you rather someone who loves me shoot a mild bolt at me to deflect, or take my chances with an enemy at full power and no mercy?"
Tenzin tried to say something more, but she interrupted. She turned back to Mako, took her deflection stance, narrowed her eyes at him, and ordered, "I said, shoot me."
Mako fretted again, "Korra, I love you. I can't shoot lightning at you. No one here can heal you. Besides, there is really no such thing as a mild bolt."
"No one will need to heal me. I will get this. I've done all the practice. And I know you are one of the few who can throttle your intensity."
Mako looked to Tenzin, who just shrugged, and knew it was a lost cause to change her mind.
"O...K...well let's try this. Don't come crying to me when you're dead, Korra," scolded Mako.
Korra mocked him back, "Hey, then you will go down in history as the person who killed the new Avatar. Maybe you can get a date with the next Avatar."
Mako shook his head, "Oh great, just what I wanted to hear. I can see the newspaper headlines, 'Avatar's boyfriend kills Avatar in lovers' quarrel.' Oh, and with my luck, your successor will be a big burly bald Earth Bender."
But both men knew there was no deterring this Avatar. So Korra and Mako faced each other a hundred feet apart. Mako said a rare prayer to the spirits that he would not kill the love of his life.
"Ready?"
"I am." She ground her feet into the tiles deeper.
"OK, here goes."
He performed the bolt-generating move as conservatively as he could, but still a big bolt issued forth, and headed straight for Korra. She caught it, and he could see her process it through her stomach just like she should, and then she shot it straight out over the ocean. There was more thunder, but not as loud. Tenzin and Mako both started to breathe again.
He rushed to her and hugged her, "You did it!" then he scolded, "But don't ever ask me to do that ever again."
They all headed to the house, still hearing the baby cry even louder, and knowing the angry housewife they would soon face was going to be more deadly than any lightning bolt either could generate.
...
As they entered the Air Family's household, a stern look came from Pema, clutching and comforting the still crying baby. Her eyes were narrowed and lip jutted forward, as she growled, "And who...exactly...was lightning bending out there just after I got Rohan to take nap?"
The pair gave Pema an embarrassed look, "Um...we were." As if Pema didn't know. None of the fire bending White Lotus guards were lightning benders.
And shot a meaner glance to Tenzin, "And who let them lightning bend in the first place?"
Tenzin blushed and rolled his eyes.
With the dressing down over, Pema's look softened, "That's all right dears, dinner is served. Here Tenzin, you comfort your son," and she handed the screaming child to her husband who started to settle him down, which he did with great care as always.
Despite the ragged start, dinner was happy and very animated. Korra seemed so very chipper, and didn't sit even an inch away from Mako. Bolin and Tenzin's kids filled out the table with Tenzin and Pema.
Then Korra got very serious, and held Mako's hand.
She announced, "I love all of you, but now that I am a fully realized Avatar, I know I have a lot of very important things to do. I can never forget Tarrlok threatening all those innocent non-benders who turned to me for help and said, 'You're our Avatar too'. Well I am their Avatar. I am the whole World's Avatar, not just Republic City's."
Korra continued, "So I've made a decision. I need to travel the world and meet people as the new Avatar, like Aang did. And soon."
Ikki and Bolin burst into tears, and Jinora became sullen. Mako was taken aback, and everyone was surprised except Tenzin. There were instantly six simultaneous arguments for her not to leave. She silenced them all.
Korra asked Tenzin, "What do you think?"
In the classic style of the Air Nation Sifu, he said softly, "You need to go and do what you think is best."
Mako got up from the dinner table and took her by the hand, "We need to talk. Privately."
They walked quickly and silently to a bench just outside the meditation garden, and Mako said somewhat angrily, "Korra, why didn't you talk to me about this first? This...this is such a surprise. I have a job, and training for another..."
"I'm sorry, Mako. This just came to me today like a ton of bricks after meditating. I am not so sure that leaving is totally my idea. My spiritual connections are still not what they should be."
"You're not going without me. I can put things on hold for you."
They hugged realizing the sacrifice he was making just for her. He asked gently, "So...where are we going?"
"Well, first we cross over the United Republic southern border and into the Earth Kingdom, starting at Omashu, then we go on to see the Earth King at Ba Sing Se. Next we travel south to Kyoshi Island, and go home to the Southern Water Tribe for awhile, for their annual festival. I hope our New Team Avatar can visit us there at the Festival. After that, I need to see the Southern Air Temple to visit the Air Acolytes restoring the Temple there, and then go to the Fire Nation and Northern Water tribe."
"That could take months, and what about Bolin? I am not sure I can leave him that long. We've never really been apart."
"We could bring him with us. I know how close you are."
"That's really nice of you, Korra. I love both of you. I'll talk with him, but I think he'll understand this is a journey only you and I can make together. He wants to try his way without me for awhile anyway. Bolin is part of a great family now. Tenzin's kids love him to death. And this way I would see the world with you."
She ran her hands through his hair and played with his scarf, "Then it's decided, we go together."
He said happily and with purpose, gripping Korra by both shoulders, "Yes, my dear. When do we leave?
"How about tomorrow?"
"Wow. Well OK. What to pack then?"
"We have to pack light since we'll take Naga. I will tell you this one thing for sure City Boy, just pack one tent and one sleeping bag. The big one."
"Oh," he unexpectedly blushed.
She then laced her arms around his waist and pulled him tight up against her lower body, tight enough to elicit a response from him that she felt grow stronger, "Let's go out to the garden for awhile. You know the place."
"All too well," but before they strolled to their private place, he took a long drink of her full lips, and let his hands slide gently along the front of her tunic, stopping along the way, and she leaned into those touches.