Hiya! This is my fourth round submission for the Probending Circuit!
Position: Manager
Prompts: (word) falling (1 point), (dialogue) "If I could take it all back, I would" (2 point), (quote) "A real friend is one who walks in when everyone walks out" - Walter Winchell (3 points).
Round element: Metal
This fic takes places roughly in the middle of Book 3, where the Krew has set out to pursue the Order of the Red Lotus. I would have loved for Aang and Korra to have communicated more throughout the series! Although, just to clarify, this really isn't Aang's spirit talking with Korra here, but a subconscious part of herself that is remembering the events that happened to Aang in his previous life. It's a bit complicated... sorry!
Anyway, hope everyone likes it! Reviews and favorites are appreciated!
The Earth Kingdom tavern is stuffy, crowded, and dimly lit. Korra sits, her arms sprawled out against the counter in front of her. Luckily, her sobs cannot be heard over the noise of the rowdy drinkers surrounding her.
She's glad. An Avatar isn't supposed to be weak.
An Avatar isn't supposed to cry.
And yet –
Her mind flashes, and suddenly she is reliving the horror that she had witnessed only an hour earlier; their Satomobile flipping into the air – Zaheer's sneering face – explosions and rocks and fire – and Naga.
Korra lets out another strangled sob, her head hitting the rough wooden counter underneath her arms.
"Korra!"
"Get out of the way!"
"I can't! Wha – NAGA! NO!"
The image is forever embedded into her memories… Naga, bloodied and bruised, lying atop her owner, having taken the brunt of the tall firebender's explosion.
After that… nothing. She was aware of the glowing that had consumed her eyes and spirit, and after she came to her friends told her what she had done and how she'd driven off the Order of the Red Lotus… but…
"We need to heal her, NOW!"
"Korra – there's no water for miles –"
"I DON'T CARE!"
"Let's move her into the car, hurry!"
A red glass slides across the counter and Korra flinches – reminded of the stark red blood that coated Naga's fur.
"How did I let it happen?" Korra grunts to herself, wiping at her tears. I'm the Avatar. Why couldn't I protect her?
What kind of Avatar was she if she couldn't even look out for her best friend? This entire mission – hunting the Red Lotus, putting a stop to their terroristic activities – it all seemed so pointless now. Why fight if it meant risking others?
Why? Why? Why?
The simple question rings around in Korra's ears, and she squints her eyes shut and buries her head into her arms.
"I'm a failure," Korra mutters to herself.
"Do I get a say in this matter?"
Korra's blood runs cold, and her eyes snap open. Slowly, she unravels herself from her arms and peeks up to the side.
She feels herself falling out of her seat, but she catches herself with a steadying hand on the counter and gazes up at the man in a trance.
"Are you… are you real?"
"I could be. It all depends on what you believe in, Korra."
"But I… you shouldn't be able to –"
Aang laughs and pats Korra on the back, but his light blue skin is only a soft breeze against her side. "Maybe you're just going crazy!"
The joke escapes Korra – she is still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Aang – her past life – is sitting here in front of her. Her hands clench against the rims of the stool she is sitting on, and she unconsciously makes deep impressions with her fingers into the sturdy metal of the seat.
"I saw Vaatu destroy my connection to you," Korra says slowly, her mind working furiously. "You're just a figment of my imagination… that's gotta be it."
"Maybe I am," Aang shrugs, leaning back in his seat and sizing the young Avatar up. "But wouldn't you like to have a chat, regardless?"
Korra inhales sharply, looking down at her tightly balled fist.
Did she want to talk…?
"Yes," Korra sighs. "Yes, I want to talk. I… need to talk… you'll understand… you're me after all."
"That's right," Aang nods. "I am you, but we're also two completely different people." He leans down on the counter and smiles at her. "Funny how that works, huh?"
"More like frustrating... and confusing…"
"But you know what? There's something that we do have in common." Korra perks up, glancing doubtfully at his easy grin.
"And what's that?" She asks quietly.
"We both care a lot about the people we love, and when we let them down… it's unbearable, isn't it?"
"I…" Korra shuts her eyes, Naga's injured body floating unbidden into her mind. She winces, feeling the tears prick at the edges of her eyes.
"I just sat there," Korra shudders, wrapping her arms around her torso tightly. "She jumped in front of me and I – all I could do was watch, I couldn't - If I could take it all back, I would," she cries. "I need to take it all back… Naga, she…"
"She's not dead," Aang observes.
Korra shakes her head. "No, she's not… but the healers weren't sure if they could… she might... I… I ran out of there and came here before I knew what I was doing."
"Ahh, so you ran away," Aang notes. Korra glares up at him.
"No! I didn't run away from anything!"
"You ran away from your friends because you feel like you need to shoulder this grief alone, am I right?"
"No!" Korra protests, her hand slamming down on the counter. The bartender glances up in shock, but otherwise does not say anything.
"Korra, look at me."
She does so hesitantly, her eyes bright and vulnerable. Aang's face is blue and hazy – with one sweep of the hand she could probably dispel the image or… spirit or whatever this strange mirage was. But she doesn't. She can't. Aang… she could never do that to someone she respects so much, figment of her imagination or not.
"Korra, have I ever told you about Appa before?" Aang asks, his voice calm and level.
"This is only the second time we've ever talked before, Aang," Korra reminds him, and Aang scratches his bald head.
"You're right. Huh. I swear we were closer than that," he pouts, and Korra can't help but smile slightly. "Well – Appa was my flying bison. We went everywhere together. He was my best friend."
Korra says nothing, her eyes downcast, and he continues.
"One time – out in the nearby desert, actually – I… lost him."
"What do you mean?" Korra questions, her eyes flashing to Aang's solemn face.
"He was kidnapped by sandbenders," Aang explains. "We searched the entire desert for him… but he was gone." His eyes darken. "I was distraught, and I took out my anger and depression onto my friends… I felt that I was alone, and that none of them could possibly understand what I was going through."
Korra looks away, understanding where her past life is going with this story.
"We traveled to Ba Sing Se, but I was distant the whole way. I was angry at the world, at my friends... I felt that everything was stacked up against me, and I started to drown in all the hatred I was feeling." He sighs, his eyes faraway as if reliving a distant memory. "I didn't accept their help - I didn't let them grieve with me..."
"It sounds similar, doesn't it?" Aang asks her, leaning forward to get a good look at her face. "Running away from your friends?"
"They don't understand–"
"They do, Korra," Aang stresses. "Seeing someone you love in pain is a really scary experience… Katara told me that once." He places a feather-light hand on her shoulder. "All Avatars make mistakes. What counts is how we learn and grow from them."
"And did you...?" Korra asks. Aang smiles.
"I believe that I did, yes. Once I started to let my friends in again, dealing with Appa's loss become... a bit more bearable. It still hurt, but I had friends to lean on. When we finally found him at Lake Laogai... I had my friends to share that with, too. And Korra - it was the best feeling in the world.
Korra wipes at her cheek, nodding. "I... I understand," she says, nodding. "Thank you, Aang… I'm glad I was able to see you again…"
"We no longer have a connection," Aang says, "but it doesn't mean that I'm not still here – we're the same spirit, after all."
Korra smiles and nods, closing her eyes to wipe away stray tears.
"And Korra…"
She opens her eyes. Aang is gone, but his voice resonates in her head.
"A real friend is one who walks in when everyone walks out… remember that."
"Korra!"
The door to the tavern slides open. Bolin, Mako, and Asami run to the counter – the three are clearly out of breath.
"We were so worried!" Bolin yells frantically, his hands waving wildly.
"You left so suddenly, and we couldn't just let you be by yourself…" Asami whispers.
"Naga is fine! She's going to be just fine, Korra!" Mako says, his amber eyes adamant.
Korrs stares up at her three friends, her cerulean eyes bright as she takes them in... They came and looked for me, Korra thinks. They ran to me...
"Guys…" she says softly, tears pooling down her cheeks once again.
"Korra…" Mako mutters, concern flashing through his features. "Are you…?"
Korra grabs the three of them by their sleeves and pulls them into a fierce hug. The others exchange glances over the Avatar's head before smiling and returning the embrace.
"I love you guys," she mutters, clutching tightly.
"We love you too, Korra."