Prologue
She was home… safe. Her body too weak to move from the position Mako had set her in when he laid her down on her bed. Her crystal blue eyes scanned the room in almost disbelief that she was here. That she had escaped not only Tarrlok, but Amon as well. Her body was sore from where she had hit the tree and though she was wrapped in three blankets and there was a small fire going in the fireplace, thanks to Mako, she was shivering from the cold her body seemed to have absorbed from the snow. Through this shiver though she could feel where Mako's arms had held her, the warmth from him burning deep into her whole being.
Her body wanted rest, but her mind was fully alert now that she had gotten the slightest amount of rest. Both Mako and Bolin had coaxed her into a half sleep state while they were still on Oggie coming home. She wanted to be with them right now, out in the main hall of the air bending home. She could just see the two of them rough housing while Asami watched sitting on the couch, maybe egging them on. She bet Tenzin would be running around the city getting everything set straight and letting the council know of what had gone down between her and Tarrlok. Pema and the kids might be preparing dinner by now. And she was lying in bed with little nothing more to do than stare out the open window.
Her mind began to wander. She knew that everything that happened before meant nothing. That the war was just starting. Amon was out there and probably searching for her. She knew deep in her heart and soul that everything was going to change now. Too much has happened for it not to have. After far too long of being alone with her thoughts she heard a slight knock at the door and a sliding sound from it opening just a bit. Mako peeked in to make sure she was awake before opening the door fully and coming in, a trey of food balanced in his left hand. He gingerly set the trey on her lap and pulled the desk chair over to the bed side and took a seat.
"How are you feeling?" His golden eyes searched her entire being. Trying to determine for himself if she was hurting or feeling better or depressed or happy. His brows furrowed and his lips pulled back in a thin line.
"I'm fine." Her voice cloaked the fact she was still sore and unable to support her own weight fully. "Just a little bruised." She picked at the food carefully placed on the plates and plopped a piece of bread in her mouth. She didn't want him to look like that any longer. Didn't want him to worry. If she had to she'd force herself to stand and dance around to prove to him she was fine. In the end it didn't matter if she was in pain, bleeding, or even on the verge of death. She had to be the avatar everyone expected her to be. She had to stand until her final breath to protect this city and the people who called it home. Her fingers traced a line done the chopsticks sitting to the side of the trey before she turned to him again. "Has everyone eaten then?" She expected that they had sent him with food for him after they had all eaten at the dining table. She hoped that's what they had done.
"They're probably still eating."
She eyed him. "Have you eaten."
He didn't meet her gaze. He hadn't. He was too worried about her to think of his own needs. He hadn't even thought of Asami until she confronted him on his way here. She had called him out on his feeling for Korra and had questioned him about his feelings for her. Now he just felt defeated. He couldn't possibly look either of them in the eyes now. Feeling like such a bastard for how he treated both of them. He knew Korra liked him and held Asami over her head whenever they all where together. And knew Asami liked him and yet held feelings for another girl.
"Here." He looked up to see the chopsticks inches from him, being held there by nibble fingers. "We can share. I'm not so fat I'd eat all this by myself anyways." She laughed. It was only half way forced. Mako made her feel safer. More at ease with the world around her.
As he reached out to grab them a loud voice entered the room. "Party in Korra's room!" Bolin's excited voice rung out as he entered the room, his plate balanced on his head and a chair in his hands. He set the chair next to Mako's and took and seat, grabbing the plate off his head. Following him was Asami, Ikki, Jinora, Meelo, Tenzin, Pema, and Pabu. Tenzin carried a two chair while Asami carried one for herself and Pema and Jinora carried treys of food in. The kids sat on the floor and chomped on the food. "This isn't an everyday thing. It's only this once." Tenzin explained to them a bit flustered at the break of tradition. But none the less he smiled at Korra.
The scene was interesting as it played out. The strange family eating and telling stories. Almost as if nothing was out of normal. Like things had fallen back into place. All very much aware that it was actually about to fall even more into dismay soon.