Day 01 - Warmth

Cold. She hardly remembered feeling anything else. Cold seeped through her skin, crawled into every cell of her body and made it numb. P'Li never got used to dull pain following even her slightest moves, but what could she do? Just try to keep herself as warm as possible. She was able to spend days doing that. Well, what used to be days. Now they all blended together in everlasting, changeless gloom, without dawn or daylight. She lost track of time long ago and only occasional reminders from her interrogators let her know how long she had been there already. Five months. Two years. Seven. Then it didn't even matter. She felt herself growing old, each day less and less who she had used to be, but during any visit, she remained as cold and impassive as the ice covering walls of her cage.

Sometimes, she wondered why did they bother keeping her alive, it should be pretty obvious by now that she would sooner die than break.

Memories became the only source of her hope, her only delight. Faces of Ming-Hua, Ghazan and Zaheer seemed so distant, as if years she had spent with them belonged to someone else, not her, who barely remembered anything else than cold of this prison. For her own sake, P'Li recalled those precious moments as often as possible.

That fateful night when everything changed. She no longer belonged to the warlord, but was free… whatever that word was supposed to mean. Zaheer, a rogue fighter, offered to show her. No limits, countless choices and the only responsibility to one's self. That was what he dreamed of, and his vision united a group of different people, each one with their fair share of bitterness and hardship, until a stronger bond tied them together for good. They became a family, at least P'Li would call them one.

Ghazan, with laidback attitude, quick remarks and heart warmer than lava he bent, was bound to become her favorite. Their abilities combined well together, as they found out during many practices and sparring matches. He showed her how to loosen up, laugh senselessly, sometimes even through tears.

Ming-Hua, a woman younger and two heads shorter than her, but often made her feel like a tiny child with a single glance. P'Li never saw her broken, no matter what she had been through. She was the very embodiment of her element - adaptive, invincible and merciless. Considered a freak, just like her, but always proud of her abilities and uniqueness.

And then there was Zaheer. Their meeting was far from love at first sight and he had many quirks which irritated her. However, thanks to him, she got a chance to live, taste freedom and choose what to do with her life. His kindness gave her hope to start anew, his acceptance made her feel like she was more than a mindless killing machine, a third-eyed freak meant only to destroy, like the warlord always taught her. A strange warmth flooded her chest every time she had thought of him. She had fallen for him, as she later realized.

Love was what made her feel alive, kept her from going insane and begging the guards to let her die.

Creaking of the iron bridge jerked her from her thoughts.

Another interrogation? I thought they were done with them already.

She recognized the form walking closer to her cell. Traitorous bastard.

"Don't you have anyone else to annoy, Unalaq?" mocking in her voice got lost in the sound of her teeth chattering.

"How cold of you, P'Li. Did years here turn your heart to ice after all?" He laughed to himself. "Of course not. How could you ever forget Zaheer, your precious saviour? You three would follow him into the deepest pit, if he asked you. I was the only one to realize his wisdom was foolish, he refused to recognize the only right way."

She ignored him, as usual.

"As I told you countless times during my visits," he continued, "you have brought this to yourself."

"Then why are you here to remind me, once again?" she spat.

"My time is coming. You can keep hoping, but the truth is, you'll never see him again. Harmonic Convergence is here in few months, and soon, I'm meeting my dear niece Korra. She's grown so much since you last saw her. Luckily, she doesn't remember you."

She didn't even pay attention to his next words. Insults or pointless blabbers, she didn't care. Despite his words, she knew that once Zaheer gets the smallest opportunity to escape, it will be just a matter of time until he comes for her. Unalaq, cold, boredom, she won't let anything ruin her hope, to extinguish that fire burning brightly inside her.

-o-

"Alright, you two, your mushy reunion is over. My stomach can't bear much more," Ghazan's annoyed grumble forced Zaheer and P'Li to break their long-awaited kiss.

"It's been thirteen years," Zaheer replied, amused smile tugging at his lips. "You could be a bit more understanding, Ghazan."

"Trust me, I tried, but I've had enough of playing the third wheel. Ming-Hua, can you please change places so I can drive without interruptions?"

"Having blue balls again, Ghazan?" Ming-Hua smirked as she sat in the passenger seat.

Ghazan probably commented something snarky, as normally when he talked with Ming-Hua. Both Zaheer and P'Li were too familiar with the situation to pay attention.

P'Li stretched herself comfortably over two seats, her muscles painfully coming alive after 13 years of barely moving. Zaheer clasped him arms over her waist from behind and P'Li laid her head on his chest, pressing herself comfortably on him.

"Feels like we've never parted at all," he whispered into her hair.

"Just like good old times," she smiled.

"Sleep. You need to rest and warm up a bit," she felt his chin moving as he spoke.

If she wasn't so tired, P'Li would probably tease him what exactly he meant by "warming up". Besides, her body felt all stiff and rigid. She had withstood 13 years of waiting in deadly cold. She could be patient a bit longer.

It doesn't matter. I'm feeling warmer already.

So, how did you like it? I'm quite satisfied, the end could've been a bit better. But hey, I finished it on time! Hopefully, I'll manage the same with other days, too. If you have something to say, please review.

Thanks for reading!