CHAPTER 2
"Sometimes we find our destiny and other times, our destiny finds us," Katara had said, reassuringly, when she had stopped off at the Southern Water Tribe to let her parents and the Order know of her decision.
Somehow Korra could find no comfort in the words. She had believed that she would find her destiny in Republic City. She had allowed her gut instincts to lead her to a boy with black hair and ember eyes. Knowing that he was meant to be hers; knowing it with the certainty and streak of confidence that lined all of her early, youthful, decisions.
She missed that girl, now. The girl who at three knew that she was the Avatar. Who was unafraid of any of the opponents thrown her way by the Order at the compound. Who was unafraid to seize her fate in the palms of her hands. Who ran away at seventeen, to find her destiny, with only her Polar Bear Dog for company.
The girl who met a boy and made him hers.
Even after her confidence had faded away, burning to ash and rubble, matching the picture of a war torn city.
They had picked up the pieces, then, deciding that nothing could separate them. It was slow going. Arguments, stubbornness, and anger getting in the way of something that otherwise felt so right.
It took them another year, after admitting their feelings to finally make a go at it. Not just starts and stops but a real attempt at a relationship.
Traveling the world together, sharing her pilgrimage to the major nations as the Avatar, had only solidified their bond as they grew closer the more time they spent together. As they had adventures and shared new experiences. Sleeping under the scented canopy of trees and beside crackling camp fires. Resting their weary bodies in various hotel rooms and expansive guest quarters at fancy estates. Going to bed by each other's side and waking up tangled together, in sheets and skin.
How she missed it now. How she ached, only three weeks after saying their goodbyes, for his presence.
She sighed, looking out at the ocean. Salt air was whipping at her skin and tugging at her hair. Wind burn painting her face red as salt crystals glistened against her lashes.
In her younger days, before the war, Korra had been so sure of everything.
Now, at nearly twenty-one, she wasn't sure of anything at all. Certainly not of her destiny, although as they inched closer to the Fire Nation she could feel it wrapping around her neck like a noose.
Her destiny and duty, choking her.
Her destiny as the avatar had always been overwhelming but she had been trained from a young age, from books and scrolls. From oral traditions and past spiritual self-knowledge to know what that road entailed.
In this, she was lost.
In this she had no guide, not her past lives, not the constellations that she had learned how to read as a girl- Had learned how to make a map of the stars so that she could always find her way home.
But home was behind her now and she was so, so lost. So out of her depth of experience, her guides from the spirit realm remained tight lipped and silent.
This was her personal journey and it was understood that they would not interfere. It was a blow, to discover their absence in this time. She could use the wisdom of Yangchen and Aang right now. The strength of Kyoshi and the determination of Kuruk. The experience of Roku and his knowledge of the Fire Nation.
Instead they expected her to learn her own way, and learn she was.
Growing up she had always believed the world to be black and white but out here surrounded by grey waters and grey storm clouds she knew the truth.
No one ever truly knew in what direction their life would take them.
The world was so much more complex and the people so much more greedy and sinister than she had ever imagined. She didn't know how the Avatar had managed generation after generation.
But maybe that was just the bitterness talking.
Bitterness that she wouldn't have her happy ending. That she would be swallowed up by anger and loneliness and depression.
Fear that she would live out the rest of her days like Avatar Kuruk. Constantly longing for a love that was stolen away from her, before it ever truly had a chance to bloom.
No amount of time with Mako would have been enough.
The storm was beginning to pick up in the distance, black streaks dripping through the clouds, indicating that a wall of rain was steadily approaching.
She wanted to stay on deck, feel the water soak into her clothing and stare unblinking into the distance, rivulets of rain seeping between her lashes and over her eyes, her skin, her lips. Let it plaster her hair to her scalp and seep into her flesh until the coldness poured into her bones and she ached, down to the marrow. She wanted to watch the lightning flash against the water as the ocean broke against the ship in lurches and sways. Feel the pull of the maelstrom and see if she could resist the urge to meet it head on. As a woman, as a water bender, as the Avatar.
But she knew that they wouldn't let her. The Order of the White Lotus guards who had the duty of delivering her safely onto the banks of her new home would arrive soon to shuffle her below deck.
They would hide her away in her quarters to keep her safe, so that they could deliver her into the arms of a man she barely knew.
Her fiancée.
The Prince of the Fire Nation and General to the United Forces.
…
She scratched at her thighs through the strange material. It was slinky, revealing, and way too red.
It was a disaster to walk in and completely confining. She couldn't even perform a proper side kick in it (She knows, she'd tried). But the worst part was that amidst all of this horrible HEAT, with sweat slicking down her back and behind her knees, the material was horribly itchy.
She hated it. She hated everything about this city. The volcanoes and nearby islands, the strange trees with their long trunks and palm fronds. The strange technology, buses, and street cars (Asami would have a field day). The immodest clothing styles and the food that was so spicy that it could burn through your tongue.
It was different, this time around. When she had visited the Palace over a year ago it was as a guest. This time the palace was being presented as her new home.
There was no wonderment of feeling. None of the touristy "Ooh, and Aaah!" that she had experienced on her previous visit.
Now she saw it for what it was. A cold, unfeeling, rigid Palace surrounded by barren scorched earth. It was a prison, walled off from the remainder of the city and defended by the elite Royal Procession.
It was the Fire Nation version of the frozen tundra's White Lotus Compound.
And she was only now wizening up to the truth of her imprisonment.
"What do you mean I can't leave?" she stood, her chair scraping against the floor and her fist beating against the thick wooden table top.
"Your every need will be taken care of in the palace. Your staff will—"
"I don't want a staff! I want to be able to dress myself and draw my own damned bath," she yelled petulantly. Ever since her arrival she had been followed around by three servants and it was absolutely frustrating, aggravating to not be trusted to do anything on her own.
She was the Avatar for Agni's sake! She could take care of herself.
"As the future Fire Lady it is expected that you be taken care of."
"As the Avatar, you can shove all of that 'care' up your ass."
"Charming. That brings us to the other issue. Etiquette. As the Avatar your brash and rude behavior may have aided you in battle but as the Fire Lady you are expected to act-"
She rolled her eyes, resting her cheek on the heel of her palm until her cheek was smushed into her eye and her upper lip was pulled up in a mock snarl. She ignored the clucking of tongue of the other council members and stared out the window glumly. This was the third meeting, in as many days, between her and the Advisory Council and she was already exhausted with their badgering.
She just wanted to go outside and explore. Feel the wind in her hair and sand between her toes. She wanted to go for a ride on Naga and find some angry idiot and start a fight. Gods how she could use a good fight, blow off some steam. She desperately needed to hit something and if this old man didn't stop wheezing at her to embrace her new duties he was going to catch a fireball to the teeth.
"…The Fire Nation is heavily steeped in tradition and it is crucial that—"
"Look, as far as I am concerned, my future husband hasn't even arrived yet. The announcements haven't been made yet, and I am Not the Fire Lady yet," she spat, "I will do all the acting you want later but for now I just want to get the hell out of here."
"Avatar Korra, you must be reasonable—"
"UGH!" she shouted, throwing her hands up in the air. "I am not a child and I will not be a slave to my duty."
"Neither will I," a deep, melodious voice floated over from the door and Korra stopped, her head swiveling to its source.
….
A/N: I may have to give this a slight Gigi/My Fair Lady flare in later chapters. Perhaps even a bit Taming of the Shrew haha
I just can't help myself with Iroh he's positively Austen-ian!