DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from LOK. They belong to Brike.
Enjoy!
A/N: I want to thank my friend, Heather, for helping me with this story! I hope everyone likes it!
"You Can Always Come Home"
Chapter 1
Korra stared out at the horizon as Pepper flew closer and closer to air Temple Island. A part of her was relieved to be going home. She had really missed her parents, as well as Asami, the boys and Tenzin while she had been away. But another part was scared. She knew she owed her parents an explanation. She just prayed they would let her give them one. She knew she didn't have to worry about her mother. Senna had always listened to her and given her the benefit of the doubt. It was just her father she was worried about. While Korra knew he loved her and would do anything to help her, he had to at least be a little angry with her. Korra understood, but she still hoped he let her explain herself. And most of all, apologize. Jinora's concerned voice broke the Avatar out of her thoughts a minute later.
'Korra, are you okay?"
Korra glanced over at her younger sister and nodded. The sound of Ikki joining in the line of questioning made the twenty-one-year-old glance her way.
"I thought you were happy to see us," the eleven-year-old frowned, causing Korra to do the same.
"I am," she assured her. She reached out and ruffled Ikki's hair.
"Then what's wrong?" Jinora furrowed her eyebrows.
Meelo suddenly broke into the conversation.
"Can we stop? I'm hungry!"
Jinora glared at him.
"That's your fault. You're the one who dumped our food in the river! And if you ask me that one more time, I swear I'm gonna…" her voice trailed off as she felt Korra place a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, calm down. I was actually wondering that too," she said in an effort to smooth things over between her siblings.
Jinora nodded. She stopped shortly afterwards so that Meelo could go to the bathroom and Korra could get something to eat. Once they were back in the air, all attention was focused on Korra.
"Ikki, I am happy to see you guys," Korra assured her as she bit into a salmon roll.
"Then why do you look so sad?" Ikki asked.
"I'm not sad," Korra sighed. "I'm scared."
"Why?" Ikki moved closer to her eldest sister and wrapped her arms around her neck.
Korra hugged back, resting her chin on top of the pre-teen's head.
"I'm not sure what my Dad's gonna say when we get back," Korra admitted.
Ikki brightened.
"Uncle TOnraq's going to be so happy to see you!" She assured her.
"I'm not so sure," Korra frowned as her gaze landed on the horizon once again.
"Just say you're sorry," Ikki suggested.
Jinora frowned in confusion.
"What does Korra have to be sorry for?" Her older sister asked.
"She ran away," Ikki clarified as though it were obvious.
"Ikki, she didn't exactly…" Jinora's voice trailed off and she shook her head.
Ikki turned her attention back to Korra.
"You are sorry, right?" she asked.
Korra thought about it for a few minutes before she said, "Yes."
"Then tell him that. I'm sure he'll forgive you," Ikki rested her head against Korra's chest and closed her eyes.
"Ikki really missed you," Jinora told Korra.
"I missed you guys too," Korra reiterated.
"Ikki doesn't do that with most people anymore," Jinora informed the twenty-one-year-old.
"Well, she's getting older," Korra observed. The three lapsed into silence after that.
*****
Korra opened her eyes an hour later to see familiar landmarks coming into view. She smiled ,despite the nervousness she felt in her stomach. She soon felt Ikki starting to stir.
"Wha-what did I miss?" the pre-teen asked through a yawn.
"Not much," Korra laughed softly, "we're almost there."
Ikki smiled as she too spotted the familiar landmarks of her home.
"I see it! I see it!" she shouted, bouncing slightly in Korra's lap.
Korra shook her head. Ikki might have been eleven, but she hadn't changed much. And for that, the Avatar was grateful. Sooner than Korra liked, Pepper landed. Ikki practically flew out of her lap and into her father's arms.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Korra smiled, even as her own chest tightened at the prospect of reuniting with her own father.
"I'm so glad you're safe," Tenzin hugged Ikki and kissed the top of her head. He then embraced Jinora and whispered, "Well done," in her right ear. He was then bowled over by Meelo. The young boy gave him a hug before starting to tell him all about their adventure with Ikki chiming in where she thought he had messed up.
Taking a breath, Ikki declared, "Dad, we brought Korra back home!"
"I can see that," Tenzin smiled at his middle daughter. Turning his attention to the Avatar, he approached her slowly and held out his arms.
Korra hesitated for a minute before letting her old mentor hug her. She hugged back, truly happy to see him.
"I'm so glad you're home safe and sound," Tenzin told her.
"Tenzin, I'm so sorry I worried you and Pema," Korra apologized sincerely, "that was the last thing I wanted to do."
"Korra, there's no need to apologize. We're just glad you're back home. Pema made your favorite meal. You'll stay here for a few days and then you and I will journey to Zaofu to try and stop Kuvira."
Korra frowned.
"I'm not sure what I can do," she admitted.
"We'll talk about that later. Right now, there's someone whose been waiting anxiously for you to arrive."
Korra took a deep breath. It was now or never. And never wasn't an option.
"Where's my Dad?" she asked, matching her mother's tone exactly.
"In the house," Tenzin replied. "He was in the living room the last time I checked."
"Okay," with that, Korra turned in that direction. She hadn't gotten very far when she heard Ikki ask, "Dad, doesn't Korra's hair look pretty?" Korra smiled a little. Ikki was truly adorable. With one last glance over her shoulder, she headed in the direction of the house. Halfway there, she felt a smaller hand come to rest on her left arm. Glancing down, she saw Ikki standing next to her.
"Do you want me to come with you?" she offered.
Korra shook her head.
"I appreciate it, kiddo. But this is something I have to do on my own," with that, she patted Ikki's shoulder and continued into the house. The sound of Ikki's voice addressing her once again made the twenty-one-year-old turn around.
"Korra, wait."
"Yeah?" Korra stopped in her tracks.
"It's gonna be okay. You can do this. When I ran away, my parents forgave me. Well then again, I ran away because I was being teased, but I wasn't in a lot of trouble. Uncle TOnraq will forgive you. Just talk to him. Tell him the truth," with that, she gave Korra a small hug and left.
Korra pondered over her little sister's words as she made her way into the living room. She didn't know when Ikki had become so wise, but she was grateful. Entering the living room, Korra took a deep breath before making her presence known. "Dad?"
Tonraq glanced up at the familiar voice and jumped to his feet. He was in front of Korra in seconds. Reaching his arms out, he pulled his daughter into a tight hug.
Korra wrapped her arms around her father's neck as the tears came. She buried her face in his shoulder and clung on for all it was worth. As she felt him comb a hand through her now shorter hair, she managed to calm down a little.
"Daddy, I'm so sorry!" Korra tearfully apologized. Her tears had lessened, but she was still crying.
"Sweetheart, I've known you as long as your mother has. And I know you had a good reason for doing what you did," TOnraq combed a hand through her hair as he continued to hold her. Pulling away slightly, he examined his daughter at arm's length. As he locked eyes with her, he saw the fear and regret in the young adult's cyan depths, identical in color and shape to her mother's. Hugging her close once again, he pulled away a second time and led her over to two chairs in the corner. Sitting down in one, he motioned for Korra to do the same.
Korra did so. Taking another deep breath, she started to explain.
"Dad, I did come here. I was at the docks when something inside of me told me there was something else I Had to do. So, I left. I had to find someone who could truly help me heal. And I did. I found Toph in the swamp, or she found me after I passed out. She gave me some food and then she helped me put things into prospective. She truly helped me to heal. For the first time in years, I'm really okay," Korra smiled sincerely for the first time in months.
TOnraq could tell Korra was telling the truth. HE had no doubt when he saw the smile reach her eyes.
"How did Toph help you?" he asked. He was truly interested in what his daughter had to do to finally heal from the trauma Zaheer had put her through.
"Well first of all, Toph's not exactly the most affectionate person in the world," Korra laughed a little.
TOnraq shook his head in agreement.
"No, from what I can remember, she definitely isn't. So what happened?"
"First she gave me some food for thought. Then she took me to a tree and I meditated under it. After that, she explained that there was a little more poison in my body. She instructed me on how to bend it out myself. It wasn't pleasant, but I did it. And now, for the first time in years, I'm okay. I feel stronger and more like my old self."
Tonraq stood and pulled Korra` in for another hug.
"I'm so proud of you, princess," he kissed the top of her head.
Father and daughter stayed that way for the next few minutes.
Korra pulled out of the embrace and dug into her pocket. Pulling her hand out, she extended the object to her father. "I believe this belongs to you. I'm sorry for taking it without asking."
Tonraq accepted the knife and pocketed it.
"I forgive you. I'm glad you had a weapon in case you needed to defend yourself."
Korra nodded. She was about to say something when a yawn escaped her lips instead.
"I'm gonna go lie down," she informed him. At the concerned look that crossed his face, Korra hastened to assure her father. "I'm honestly okay. I'm just really tired."
"Okay. I love you," Tonraq gave her a small hug before letting her go.
"I love you too, " Korra replied. With that, she left the room. Entering her old bedroom, she fell upon the bed and was asleep within minutes…
