Disclaimer: I do not own "The Legend of Korra." I did, however, record it onto the DVR until it was mysteriously deleted yesterday. Hm.
It's not your fault, the older man said to the older woman with a straight face, He tricked us all. And the older woman would have believed him. Had wanted to believe him. But it would have been against her judgment and principles to believe it. It didn't matter what he said. It didn't matter what he thought. It certainly didn't matter what anyone else thought and said because she knew that the opinions varied greatly when it concerned the public. The blame had been sent to her, and righteously so. The older woman had agreed to it, had proposed the idea, and the idea had nastily blown up in her face.
As the older woman sat on the concrete ground that held the remaining construction of the pro-bending from collapsing into the bay, she thought of where she had gone wrong. Perhaps, she had not been reasonable enough. Perhaps, she had not been observant enough. Damn Amon, she thought back to the disguises the attackers had used to usurp control, No one would expect. And no one had. The Equalists had concealed their intent with their civilian clothing. Even then, she continued to reprimand her thoughtless actions. It was impossible to think that no one would have suspected that move.
"You're still here," her tone was drained as she addressed the figure that had approached her from behind.
"I'm sorry." For the first time the words weren't outwardly confident, "At least, I'll get most of the heat because of this.
The older woman shook her head, "I doubt it. You're still a child, but I'm an adult and have been in this business for a long time."
And she turned around to the face the young woman who stood with uncertain cerulean blue eyes, "It's politics, and someone has to take the blame."
"Then, we'll take it equally," the young woman said with resolution, "the entire Council will. Me too. It wouldn't be fair for you to get it all."
To laugh at the young woman's naivety and idealism was what she wanted to do, but instead, she smirked at the girl and stood to her full height, "The first rule to learn about politics is that nothing is fair in politics."
The older woman decided that it was time leave, and but as she began to depart in the opposite direction, she stopped. With one hand raised, the older woman placed it compassionately on the young woman's shoulder. For a short moment their eyes connected, and the young woman, the first time, saw that the older woman's eyes weren't filled with animosity, "This isn't your fault either, Avatar Korra; remember that."
And the young woman turned around, too stunned to speak that the older woman had uttered her name. The older woman's voice was not soft, but it was surprisingly tranquil. But as she turned around, she saw that a steel chord had made its way up to a hovering airship from above, and the young woman hadn't gotten the chance to express the happiness that the older woman had referred to her by her name. Of course, she hadn't removed the title, but it was fine considering their beginning point.
The older woman vanished into the night and the walls of the air ship. She had wanted to shout a loud, "Thanks," but knew that the appreciation would go on untouched. Instead, she settled with a silent one, creating the words with a gentle smile on her lips, Thanks.
But it managed, somehow, to make its presence known to the older woman, and as she approached the police department where she worked, her pale-green orbs descended upon the city she vowed protect, Don't mention it.
A/N: This is what happens when you try to write a tragic Linzin story, but it comes out to be a Lin-Korra friendship one. I am not sorry.