I DO NOT OWN THE LEDGEND OF KORRA OR ANY CHARACTERS OR IDEAS FROM THE SHOW!
Chapter 1
Korra pushed a small girl behind her as she turned to face the large group of men who had been chasing her. She was the avatar, she should not be running but she had to get the girl safe before she could fight them all off. They were stuck; she was going to have to stop them men if she wanted the girl safe. "Meili." She said looking at the girl. "Go over there and hide." Meili looked up sadly before nodding and going to do what she had been told. Korra turned back and got into her stance to fight. It had been two years since she had reinstated all bender's bending and returned to the South Pole until she was needed again. Two years since she and Mako admitted their feelings and Two years since she forced the lines closed between them. She narrowed her light blue eyes as she started spinning the ice and snow to her bidding, taking out several men before others came too close and she switched over to her fire bending.
Using fire made her think of Mako. She never stopped missing him, it was things like flames that sent her head reeling, and her heart hurting from unbidden memories Korra shook her head just as a large fireball came towards her head. There were more and more attacks on Korra as group after group of people claimed they were the best for the world. Korra shifted out of the way and saw another going for Meili. Charging she ignored all danger to herself to block it but in the mist of blocking the fire one of the benders shot lightning. Korra dropped to the ground with a cry of pain as electricity coursed through her body.
"NO!" She heard Meili scream before there was a large commotion. She forced her eyes open she needed to protect the little girl. She saw someone standing in front of them as he punched, kicked and threw the opponents away.
"A large group of benders were seen attacking the southern water tribe." Tenzin said. "We have reports that they overwhelmed Korra before they were beaten back, but they escaped with almost all of the non-benders including Korra's mother."
"Is she okay?" Bolin asked before glancing at his brother who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He loved Korra still but he could feel his heart break and shatter every time he heard about her.
"From the reports that I've received she was saved by someone who took her to my mother to be taken care of. The reports are all over. We can expect more to come knowing she is in a weakened state." Tenzin explained. "I think it's best if several go down to help protect her and the tribe while she recovers." He saw everyone in the room glance at Mako before he left.
Mako walked out to lean on a railing looking out at the bay leading to the reconstructed Republic City. After a few minutes, he glanced over seeing Tenzin walking over to stand beside him. "Bolin and Asami will be able to handle things there." He told the older man.
"I want to send all three of you." Mako looked at him. "I know what happened. Its time things between you two are settled." Mako turned away. "Let her explain why she has acted this way. Give her a chance. Korra can be….. Painful to handle but she has reasons." Mako paused listening. "One of the sky bison will take you when the three of you are packed." Mako walked away without another word as he made his way to his and Bolin's room.
As he opened the door, he found Bolin packing quickly. As soon as he caught sight of Mako, he stopped and looked at him. "Make sure you bring plenty of heavy clothes. You'll freeze there and you're not taking any of mine." Bolin grinned as he continued packing. Three hours later the three young adults stood in the courtyard where a sky bison was waiting to take them to the South Pole.
Mako could not sleep the entire way, he could only think of Korra and how much he loved her as the pain squeezed his heart. As they set down on the frozen land Asami shook Bolin awake and they landed in the snow. Katara smiled at them as they walked over to her.
"Tenzin sent us to help out around here while Korra gets better." Asami told the old woman.
"Come in side." She nodded before leading the three into the house she occupied. As they walked in they say a little girl look up startled before she took off running to hide behind the nearest piece of furniture. "Meili, these are our guests. They are here to help." The girl peeked around the corner looking over each of them with her honey colored eyes. "Come here, dear. It's alright." The girl slowly walked out from behind the furniture but quickly ran to hide behind Katara. "Why don't you go sit with your mother while I talk to them?" Meili nodded before running off into the other room.
"Who's that?" Bolin asked as Katara smiled after the girl.
"The is Meili. She will be here with us as well." Katara said before leading them over to sit. "Korra is still weak. The charge that the man sent through her was immense. If she hadn't stepped in front of it, Meili would have been killed. The jolt was enough to take down a sky bison."
"Why would they overkill?" Asami wondered.
"They want to be the ones to end the avatar, to try being able to get to the non-benders. They want to have a world where benders rule." They heard making them look at the doorway to the other room and saw Korra standing against the door jam. "They want to be the ones to be called all-powerful for taking down the Avatar."
"Korra. You should be resting." Katara said standing up with the others as they all moved closer to her.
"I'm fine. I think I've rested enough." She said but winced as she pushed from the doorjamb almost falling. Mako reached out and catch her before she could fall. Their eyes met and the two froze. Mako could feel his heart squeeze and Korra felt the guilt rise in her chest making her look away sadly.
"Korra the electricity affected you more than you think. You need more rest." Katara looked at Mako as he held his love up. "Would you mind helping her back to bed? I will take the others out and introduce them to the tribe." Mako paused before nodding and helping Korra back into the room. He laid her on the bed and she pushed herself to sit up.
"Korra…" Mako started but he couldn't look at her.
"Mako, I -." She was cut off as they both heard a thud from the corner. Looking over they saw Meili by the door with a little doll in one hand and a paper in the other. "Meili, it's alright. Come here." The girl looked up at Mako. "He's not going to hurt us." She glanced at him a moment more before running over and climbing up onto the bed.
"Katara said you were trying to protect her." Mako said looking at the little girl as she crawled over to Korra. Meili sat on her feet and held the paper out in front of her.
"Pitter, mommy." She said with a smile. Korra smiled and took the paper to see scribbled of colors. She glanced at Mako who sat stunned as the pain settled over his features.
"This is very pretty." Korra told her daughter. Mako stood from the bed and was walking out when she stopped him. "Mako, wait." He turned and looked at her seeing her giving a pledging look. He watched as she looked at Meili again. "Why don't you go draw another one while we talk?"
"Kay." Meili smiled before running from the room holding her doll in one hand. Mako watched her leave before looking back at Korra waiting.
"Mako, I never meant to hurt you." She started.
"So you just stop talking to me. Never tell me you found someone else, that you have a kid. I have to come all the way down here because of an attack on you to find this out." Mako felt his temper flaring.
"Would you listen to me?" She asked but saw the defiant look on his face as he turned away. He could not do this. "Mako!" She called before throwing her legs over the bed and trying to walk only to stumble and fall. Mako swung around and jumped to her side. No matter how hurt he was, he would be there. "Please listen." She said softly as he bent to help her up. "It's not what you think."
"Then what is it Korra? What is it really because the way I see it-."
"She's yours!" Korra called over him making him freeze and look at her. Her blue eyes glazed over with tears as she looked at him and whispered. "Meili is your daughter."
"Korra…" Mako shook his head as he pulled away.
"I didn't know what to do. You and Bolin were working on helping to get the city fixed and in order. You didn't need this onto of the duties Lin put on you and then with Bolin… I'm so sorry, Mako."
"She's my…" Mako looked towards the other room where Meili sat drawing another picture for her mother. "Why didn't you tell me? Even if you had waited why didn't you tell me when you knew the city had been fixed, when you knew I had less things going on?"
"I meant to, I really did but I was worried you would be mad, I was worried about what you would say. I was so afraid when I found out. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to protect everyone. I wanted to keep her safe from people who were after me." A tear fell down her cheek. "I'm so sorry." She looked down. Mako looked at her a minute before gently whipping away the tear making her look up into his amber eyes.
"Were you ever going to tell me?"
"I was trying. I've never been so worried about anything in my life." She said softly. "I could never find anyone better than you and you know I wouldn't settle for anyone less than you." She said with a small smile. Mako could not help the slight smirk that crossed his face. "Can you forgive me?"
"I love you Korra. I never stopped thinking about you even when you stopped talking to me." He leaned closer and kissed her. Korra wrapped her arms around his neck before they pulled apart.
"I love you to city-boy."
Mako shifted and pulled her up into his arms. "You need to get some rest." He told her as he set her on the bed as Meili ran into the room.
"Mommy!" She smiled as she climbed up onto the bed and handed her another picture. Korra smiled as she turned it to show Mako.
"She's very talented." Korra laughed.
"In a…Bolin kind of way." He said tilting his head looking at the picture.
"She's super smart too." Korra said wrapping her arm around her daughter and ruffling her hair. "Meili." She looked at the girl. "This is your dad." Korra looked at Mako who was looking a bit uncomfortable. He did not know what to say or do. "He's here to keep everyone safe now."
"He strong?" Meili asked cocking her head to the side as she looked at Mako.
"Yes. He's very strong." Korra smiled at Mako as he flicked his eyes at her. He could not believe this was happening. He was sitting with Korra and meeting his daughter. He watched as Meili yawned and looked at Korra. "Why don't you take a nap with me for a little while?" Meili nodded and scooted down on the bed to fall asleep. "Mako, are you okay?"
Mako looked at her before looking back at the girl. "Yeah, I just… it's a lot to take in." He said softly. "I mean…. She's my….daughter." He said watching the girl drift off into her dreams.
"I know. I'm sorry to just throw it at you."
"Don't worry about it for now. You sleep and then we can figure things out when your better." He told her before watching as she winced, lying down and quickly falling asleep. Mako stood up and left the house. He needed fresh air. He sat on the balcony, slipping his feet through the rungs and resting his head on them as he closed his eyes to think. He and Korra still loved each other. He had a daughter. he and Korra were parents.
"Looks like you and Korra have talked." He heard before seeing Katara, Bolin and Asami walking up the stairs towards him. he climbed to his feet.
"Yeah." He mumbled.
"Mako, what's wrong?" Asami asked confused.
"It's nothing." He said before walking away leaving his brother and Asami confused.
"What's wrong? What did he and Korra talk about?" Asami asked Katara.
"It seems she finally told him." Katara nodded before looking at the young woman. "Meili is Korra's daughter." Asami and Bolin looked at Katara shocked before Bolin turned and started after his brother. "Let him-." She stopped herself. It was too late; Bolin was already running after his brother.
"Korra has a daughter?" Asami asked and saw Katara nod. "Is that why she stopped talking to Mako and everyone?"
"Yes and no." Katara smiled. "She was worried about how the news would affect Mako and his duties in the city and she couldn't continue to talk to him without feeling the guilt so she decided to cut ties and hope one day she had the strength to tell him."
"What? That she decided to move on and have a kid with someone else?" Asami was angry knowing how much Mako had felt for Korra and to have the Avatar hurt him so badly.
"To tell him that he had a daughter." Asami stared at Katara. "Meili is his and Korra's daughter."
"You can't be serious." Katara smiled as she led Asami back into the house. "You're saying Korra had Mako's baby and never told him about her? Why would she do something like that?" Asami was getting louder as she tried to think of reasons.
"As I said, she didn't want to burden him more than he already was." Katara told her before they heard the door slide open and saw a little face peeking out. "Meili, come here." The little girl ran over to stand beside Katara's seat. "Take a good look at her. She has very little of her mother's looks." Asami looked at the girl a minute before it all clicked. She had honey eyes, nearly the exact same color as Mako's, an eye color not seen in water tribes.
"Oh, wow. I can't believe I didn't see that before." Asami watched as Meili turned back to Katara.
"Mommy up?" Meili asked, looking at Katara worried.
"She is still healing. She will be up and running around with you in no time." Katara assured her. "Why don't you draw a picture? I'm sure that will make her feel much better." Meili nodded before walking over to the site where she had colors and paper sitting. "Korra has tried to keep her secret for so long. No one knows about Meili except for a few guards in the Avatar convent and myself. Korra has been trying to get her to play with the other children but the older ones only seem to pick on her for not looking like she was from the water tribe. Some of the parents have gone as far as accusing her to be a spy."
"Why doesn't Korra do something?"
"She does, but she tries to shelter Meili from all the problems and evils like any good mother would do for their child." Katara and Asami looked over at Meili coloring
Bolin found his brother standing at the outskirts of the village. "Bro?" He asked cautiously as he walked up to him. "Maybe you should head back to the city. I mean Asami and I can take core of things while Korra gets better." Mako did not respond. "I know you've been hurting. I've seen it since she came back here after the benders got their bending back." Mako looked at his brother. "I know you really had feelings for Korra but maybe it's a good thing that she had a kid with some guy. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. You know."
"Bo." Mako shook his head,
"Maybe it was just a sign that you're not meant to be together."
"Bo." Mako tried again.
"You know there are plenty more girls out there who-"
"Bolin." Mako said a bit louder making his brother look at him confused.
"Mako, you've always taken care of me. Let me help. I know it hurts but-"
"She's mine." Mako cut in successfully stopping Bolin from talking. "Korra didn't want me to have to worry about the city along with her and the baby. Meili is mine." He said softly before looking back out at the vast, open tundra.
Bolin was silent. He could not believe what he had just heard. "So you mean….?" Mako nodded. "She's….?" Again Mako nodded. "So you're…"
"Yes, Bo. I'm her father." Mako said as he felt his heart jump and the sound. He was the father of a little girl, of Korra's daughter. He felt his heart beat a little faster as he rolled the meaning around in his head. "She's my daughter." He half-whispered Bolin stared at his brother.
"But I… how… you and Korra…" Bolin did not know what thought to process first. He saw Mako look at him slightly amused as his stammering.
"Before she came back here. She didn't want to put even more on me with what Lin was having me do in the city so she never told me. When you guys went out Korra and I talked. She wanted to say something but she was worried. She didn't want me to be upset with her and she wanted to make sure word never got out about her having a kid. All the enemies of the Avatar would come running."
"So you're a dad?" Mako nodded as the word echoed in his head. "So then… I'm an uncle!" He grinned happily making Mako smirk at his younger brother. "Does she know?" He asked the sudden thought.
"Yeah, Korra told her when we were talking." Mako took a slow breath. This would be different, something he had never thought would happen but he knew that he and Korra could get through anything. Even if they had hurt each other, he knew they could work this out like anything else. They could band back together and take care of their daughter. He smiled as the word rolled in his head. His daughter. "Come on. I'll introduce you to your niece." Mako told Bolin who all but jumped for joy as they started walking back towards the house.
"So what are you going to do?" Bolin asked.
"What I should have done before." Mako glanced at his brother as they walked closer to the house. "Take care of Korra and our daughter." Bolin smiled before they heard yelling and screaming from around the corner of the house. The two ran over as Asami ran out of the house after them. They saw a group of children laughing as they pushed a crying Meili around in the center of a circle.
"No!" They heard her cry before she was shoved making her fall into the snow. The kids laughed more before she looked up and her amber eyes seemed to glow before the snow around her melted. She stood up with flames surrounding her fists before she glared at the kids. "NO!" She screamed as she went to hit one of them.
Suddenly Mako was in front of her as he grabbed her hand. The other kids looked shocked before running off afraid. "That's right your better run!" Bolin called after them as he and Asami walked over to Mako who was kneeling in front of a shocked Meili.
"No burn?" She questioned as she looked at her hand with blue flames still burning over it. She seemed to be curious as to the flames on her hand but she was not worried.
"No, it's fire bending." He told her and watched as she looked at her hand then looked back at Mako who gave a small smile and let go of her hand. He held out his palm and let a flame spark to life in the center. She stared amazed as the flame danced. She looked up at him as curiosity seemed to swim into her face and she grinned. Mako could not help a soft smile seeing a grin he had gotten used to seeing on Korra.
"Is she okay?" Asami asked making Mako glance at her before extinguishing his flame and nodding.
"Just a few scrapes and bruises but she'll be fine." Mako said as he looked back at his daughter. "Better than those kids would have been if she had connected." He commented before Meili leaned forward hugging him. Mako froze a minute. He did not know the first thing about kids. Then his brain started filtering through and he remembered taking care of Bolin and other kids on the streets. He remembered helping with the air bending kids. He could do this. He bent a bit and pulled her into his arms as he stood up, letting his, instincts take over.
Asami walked closer looking at the little cuts before seeing her bright red little hands. "Mako." She said making him shift Meili in his arms so he could hold her with one arm. "Her hands are burnt." He took the hand in his and looked at it.
"It's just red from the heat. She's fine." He told her as Bolin walked closer to look.
"Mako's hands used to get like that when he was a kid too." Bolin nodded, agreeing with his brother. He looked at the girl as she turned and buried her head in Mako's neck. "So she's a fire bender." He smiled.
"What happened?" They heard before seeing Korra slowly making her way over to them. Mako walked over and wrapped his free arm around her to keep her from falling. "Li, what happened?" She asked as the girl looked at her sadly. "What were you doing out here? You know you're not supposed to go out without someone with you." Korra scolded gently. She sighed before looking over Meili.
"The other kids were picking on her." Bolin said as he walked over. Korra narrowed her eyes.
"One of these days I'm going to freeze them in place." She said angrily.
"Well one of these days they might wind up with a few scars." Bolin told her making her look at him confused. "She was fire bending when we came around the corner. Nearly hit another kid. He would have had a messed up face if Mako hadn't stopped her." Korra looked at Mako.
"She fire bent?" Korra asked surprised.
"You didn't know she could do that?" Asami asked and saw Korra shake her head. "Well it makes sense. I mean you're the avatar and her father is a fire bender." Mako and Korra looked at her quickly. "Katara told me. She told me how mean the kids have been too." Korra looked back at Meili sadly before the girl started reaching for her. Korra took her from Mako's arms and held her tight.
"They do this a lot?" Bolin asked. Korra nodded seeing how Bolin did not look happy.
"Uncle Bolin to the rescue." Asami smirked making Bolin look at her as the title sunk in.
"Ungl Bo-in?" Meili asked making Korra and Mako smirk.
"Uncle Bo." Mako told her as she looked over at Bolin.
"I don't understand why you don't just tell everyone she's yours. I mean the adults and the kids wouldn't mess with her then." Asami shrugged as she went back to their conversation.
"She would become a target for everyone who wants to get to Korra." Mako said, understanding why word was never spread. "If the others got word about Korra having a kid they would go after the weaker opponent to win."
"They may already know." They turned seeing a man walking over to them. Mako pulled fire to his fists as he took a step forward, Bolin was ready to attack with a chunk of the ground and Asami was ready to help Korra escape.
"It's okay, Mako." Korra said reaching out to grab his arm. "He's the one who helped me and Meili to Katara's." Mako slowly extinguished the flames as the man walked closer.
"How are you feeling now, Korra?" He asked watching as Korra shifted Meili onto her hip.
"I'm healing. What did you mean they might already know about Meili?" Korra asked worried.
"I have connections who say the groups of benders has found out about her connection to you." Korra held Meili tighter, looking even more worried. "It didn't help when she screamed for you in front of those guys the other day." Korra nodded trying to think. "If my connections are right then it is too dangerous for everyone if you stay in a little place like this. They will find you and use her to their advantage."
"Where can she go where she's safe? People will find out anywhere she goes." Asami said stepping forward.
"The best place is Republic City. Enough places to quickly disappear and she'll be safer surrounded by an island of benders than in the middle of the South Pole where kids pick on her and adults don't trust her. especially now that they've rounded up non-benders, they will come back to try to recruit and if they see you and her here, they will only continue to try to hurt you." He explained. "That's my opinion any way. She's your daughter." He shrugged as he looked from Korra to Mako. "And you should be careful to. You've made quite a name for yourself in the city. There are plenty of people who would like to see you hurt." He warned making Mako look over at Korra and Meili.
Korra looked at Mako as if she was trying to run through scenarios in her head. "We'll go back to Air Temple Island. We'll tell Tenzin and the others and she'll be safe there." Mako said making the decision but looked at Korra as if asking if that was all right.
"When are we leaving?" Bolin asked seeing Korra give a quick nod.
"As soon as Korra's packed." Mako said before helping her into the house again. Asami and Bolin looked at the man.
"I don't know you but you hurt Korra, my brother or my niece and there's nothing that will stop me from finishing you off." Bolin threatened.
"My name is Katsu. I am a high council member here in the South Pole. I understand you will take care of them." He nodded. "Protective over your niece so quickly." He smiled.
"May be strange having a niece all of a sudden but she's the daughter of my brother and my friend. Nothing's going to happen to her." Katsu nodded before they walked into the house to find Mako sitting with Katara talking while Meili was running from a pile of toys to Mako, handing him one toy at a time. Asami smiled seeing Mako take each toy making the little girl smile brightly. She knew he had a soft side but she had never seen him quite like he was now.
"Why don't we only take a couple and get brand new ones for you?" Mako asked Meili who furrowed her brows at him. "How about this? What toys are your favorite?" He asked. He smiled at himself. He was fitting right into the role. Meili smiled before she started handing him all the toys again making him sigh but as she ran back and forth, he noticed the doll she held the arm to, dragging behind her. Looking at it, he noticed the fire nation dress and the red scarf around its neck. Korra must have put it together for her.
"Okay, I have what we need. I might need to get more stuff once we get there though." She said softly before Meili ran over to hand her the doll.
"Hold Mommy." She said before running off to continue handing the toys to Mako.
"You know she'll do that until you're buried under everything she can get her hands on." Korra smiled as she walked over to Mako who did not look amused. "Meili. You can bring two things." Meili looked at her with a pout but Korra shook her head. "Put the rest back." Meili stomped her foot and glared at her mother. "You can glare all you want. You can't get your way every time." Meili stomped her foot and fisted her little hands. Korra watched as Mako moved quickly to grab her hands and un-fisted them.
"Pick your two things." He said. "We can get more later." She blinked at him before she ran into the other room to grab a thick blanket and then she took her doll from Korra angrily.
"She's got quite a temper." Asami smiled as Korra sighed, rolling her eyes. "I guess you can't expect anything less of a child from you and Mako." She laughed as Mako shook his head.
"Let's go." Mako said as he reached out picking Meili up into his arms. Bolin reached down pulling Korra's bag onto his shoulder and the group was off to the sky bison, saying goodbye to Katara on the way.
Korra whistled and waited before Naga came running. "Hey girl you want to go back to Republic City?" Korra asked and saw Naga looking at the others before rubbing her head against her. "Alright, let's go." Korra smiled before Naga walked over to Bolin and sniffed him. Bolin smiled and patted her head only to have her lick his face. He heard Meili laugh as Korra smiled. He looked at Mako holding the giggling girl and found his brother looking at the girl with a soft smile.
"You not only have adults laughing at you but now you have a child laughing hysterically at you." Asami said with a smirk as she looked at Mako and Meili. "Don't you feel special?" Bolin grumbled before he jumped up into the saddle with Naga and Asami as Korra and Mako made their way up. Once everyone was seated, the sky bison was off. Korra smiled as Meili turned from between her parents to grab onto Mako's shirt tightly. Korra reached over picking up the doll and handing it to Meili.
"It's alright. You're safe." Meili took the doll and looked at her mother, still afraid. "It's called a sky bison. It flies." Meili looked around curious but still obviously afraid. "Hold Yue."
"Red safe." Meili said softly making Korra smile and nod.
"That's right. Her red scarf will keep you safe." Korra glanced at Mako, curious as to his reaction. She felt her cheeks tint as he smiled at her. She had taught their daughter about the scarf without actually telling her. Meili pulled the doll to her chest and then turned to bury her face in Mako's chest.
"The red scarf huh?" He asked making Korra look away as her cheeks tinted a little more.
"Well it's true isn't it?" She asked looking back at him as he smirked and nodded. The group was silent the rest of the way to the temple.
