A/N Oh my god. Is this actually... a story? Yes, it is! Looks like I'm not really dead. But we all know I'll disappear after this little one shot.
Enjoy!
Disclameirs: I don't own Legend of Korra, nor it's characters (if I did, Makorra would be canon. Like, Korrasami is cute as frick BUT Makorra is my otp. Was. *sobs*)
She's the Avatar - she's their savior - and she has duties towards them. The world has been on her shoulders since she was four.
They call it the hero complex.
The first time she bends water it's normal - she know she's special, she can feel it - and her parents are enthusiastic. "That's my girl!" it's her dad's exclamation, followed shortly after by a booming laugh. Her mom is smiling and Korra thinks that making her parents proud it's the best thing in the world. So when it's the earth she starts bending, she's joyful like never before. "Mom! Dad! Look!". Tonraq and Senna think it's a trick of the light (she's their little girl, she can't be-) but soon the little Avatar get a grip of her powers and rocks swirl around her. She doesn't look away from her hands until she manages to flick a small flame in her palm; only then her gaze shoots up to her parents.
There aren't smiles on their faces like she believed there would be - it's not joy what they are feeling right now. Korra is only four, but she recognise fear when she sees it.
Fear of me? Fear of the Avatar's power?
It doesn't matter anymore, because the two things are now one; in her hearth takes place a new weight, one that will accompany her for the rest of her life. Tucked in a small corner of her mind there's a sentence repeated over and over: 'from now on you're the Avatar, for the rest of your life. From now on you must protect us'.
They call it the hero complex.
It's stronger than her: she sees troubles, she dives head first in it. Truly, she's not trouble she's searching; when someone calls for help she runs in their aid. She must do it.
They call it the hero complex.
Sometimes it's big things (a gang oppressing some civilians, someone being attacked), sometimes are small. Bolin and Mako are one breath away from finals, their waterbender is missing, she's a waterbender: in Korra mind they are pieces of a puzzle which fits perfectly together and she's in the game before one of the two brothers can stop her. She doesn't know the rules and every time she messes up everything she puffs and snarls.
She has to help them, because that's what she was born for.
When all hope is lost and she's certain Mako hates her, she tries her last resort and suddenly she's dancing between water, fire and earth disks. Her breath finally return to normal because she's winning. It means she has done her job.
They call it the hero complex.
Her life revolves around being the Avatar, how couldn't it be? She is the Avatar.
She's always saving everyone.
Everyone apart from herself, because she's the Avatar, indestructible and strong, infinite and powerful.
But sometimes in the midst of the battle, blood pumping loud in her ears and muscles sore from exertion, her mind voices a truth she can't deny.
She's perennially avoiding it, never voicing it because it's dangerous and distraction isn't a option.
She knows who she is.
The Avatar, it will live forever.
Korra won't.
They call it the hero complex.
