Hello! Long time no update! I'm sorry I've been very busy, but I did this as a short to hold you all until the really good stuff comes along! Enjoy my lovelies! R&R!
Last Time on Restoring Balance:
Korra and the Krew are back in the city to find even more destruction than they remembered. Also to find that Amon and Tarrlok are still at large and a body was found.
Oh, and Asami and Bolin are totally screwing around.
She sat staring up at the sky, even after Tenzin had gone back inside.
"Now what Aang? I have a lot of work to do all the time now…It's so much different than being locked in that compound…"
"KOOOOOOORRA!" she turned to find Asami out looking for her.
She ran up to Korra once spotted and sat down next to her. She instantly gave her a hug. "I figured you would want a hug, just someone to really listen."
"Thanks Asami. I'm just so…afraid. And I shouldn't be afraid of anything I'm the Avatar…"
"Everyone, no matter how powerful is scared of something Korra. You just have to keep training and stick with your friends. Eventually that fear with go away." Asami smiled to her and helped her up.
"Come on. You should get some sleep."
They walked slowly to the Girl's Dormitory and Asami left Korra once to her own room. Korra walked in to find her window open, so she made sure to shut and lock it.
"I guess I won't have Mako to sleep with tonight…" She climbed into bed and tried to get comfy and found it nearly impossible.
"Korra!" Someone whispered.
"What? Who's there?" she jumped out of bed and was ready in a stance to bend them down.
She saw a figure walk out of the bathroom and towards her.
"DO NOT COME ANY CLOSER!"
"Korra chill it's just me."
She lowered her arms to her sides. "Mako? What? What are you doing in here? TENZIN WILL KILL YOU! YOU NEED TO GET OUT!"
He grabbed her shoulder. "Calm down, I already cleared it with him for the night…but I came in through your window so I wouldn't wake the girls. You already know how Ikki and Jinora would freak out about me being here right now."
"Yeah, I do." She smiled in the dark and leaned up to find his lips. It turned out slightly messy and misshapen, but soon enough they'd both found each other. They moved as close as they could to deepen the kiss, then quickly jumped away after hearing a door open and close.
"Who's door was that?"
"I don't know…let's go find out…" Mako grabbed Korra's hand and the crept down the hall to Ikki's room. They peeked inside to find her out cold.
"Well it's not her…"
"I don't even think we need to check Jinora…She's a goody goody." Mako said.
Korra glared and headed towards Asami's room.
Before they opened the door they could hear voices.
"Asami don't worry we won't get caught!"
"Is that Bolin?" Mako whispered.
They put their ears up to the door.
"Bolin, we can't keep this up you know. Someone will find out! Mako and I just broke up it's really bad to move on that fast…"
"Oh come on Asami, Mako has Korra…"
"Ugh, just shut up!" After the talking had silenced they opened the door an inch, and saw Asami attack Bolin's face with her own.
"What the FUCK?" Korra said to Mako. "She was just all sad yesterday and now…"
"As long as they're happy…especially Bo."
Clothes began to shed and Mako and Korra made a beeline back to her room as fast as possible.
"I can't believe it, Asami and Bolin? Bolin and Asami? Woah! You don't care that your brother is going after your ex?"
"Nah, because I have the one I love, now if he tried after you again, then I would be very mad."
Korra yawned and they headed back to her bed. She snuggled into Mako and quickly fell asleep. This night however, she did dream.
*DREAM SEQUENCE*
Korra was confused. Where was she? She recognized an extravagant fire nation style, ha, someone got to Katara (wedding planning was another one of her favorite things), and she was wearing a brownish-red silk gown.
"Woah…" Asami stood at the door in pure white with a veil, small fire nation red earrings, and some of the arm wraps and bright red heels. She looked gorgeous.
Korra then noticed she was holding flowers, and strolled down the aisle like the bridesmaids would. She saw Mako standing smiling at her. She took a place standing next to him, and he kissed her cheek.
"You look amazing Korra."
"Hey now, I'm not the bride here."
"No…but you will be."
She looked down to her left hand and noticed a small engagement ring, and also felt a small necklace. It was a carved engagement choker. She was engaged…to Mako.
But wait, who was Asami marrying? That was when she noticed Bolin sitting in the crowd, looking rather depressed. So she's not marrying him? WHAT? Korra then saw someone peek out of the flowers, her jaw dropped when she realized who it was.
"Holy spirits…It's IROH!" She whispered to herself.
Korra then jolted awake.
"Woah. That was…"
"Huh?" Mako turned in his sleepiness. "Korra? What'd you say…?"
"Go back to sleep Mako, I'll tell you in the morning."
He jumped up. "Tell me what? Tell me now."
"I had this dream…and it seemed so real."
"What was it? A nightmare?"
"No…it was a wedding."
"Between?"
"Asami…and General Iroh."
"Woah. Weird, where was Bolin?"
"In…the crowd…nearly was crying his eyes out…"
The room became silent, as they both pondered what she had said.
"That's…somehow not surprising." Mako spoke up.
"That is exactly what I thought too."
"Anything else?"
"Well, we were there, I was maid of honor…and you were a groomsman."
"We, were together in your dream right?"
"Yeah…engaged to be exact."
She could see Mako smile, and he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Good, because I'm never leaving you."
They kissed once, before they lay back down and passed out.
Korra and Mako woke up to Ikki screaming in their ears.
"Korra, Korra, Korra! Korra and Mako! Mako! Get up! BREAKFAST!"
Korra lightly shoved her off them and rubbed her eyes.
"Ikki? Why are you in here."
"Daddy says you two need to come out there, now."
"Come on Korra…" Mako slowly got up and dragged Korra along with him.
"Now I gotta go get Asami!"
Korra and Mako looked to each other nervously, but calmed down when Ikki opened the door to just Asami.
They each sighed in relief.
"Asami! GET UP!"
Ikki jumped on her.
"Good morning to you too Ikki."
Ikki ran out and back to the main house. Bolin walked out of the bathroom brushing his teeth.
"Ashamee, do you shink Ikki shaw meh?"
"Ahem."
Bolin looked to the door and his mouth gaped open, making the brush fall to the floor.
"Oh heyyyy, what are you guys doing here?"
"We should ask you the same question."
"I…uh…"
"Bolin comes to see me in the morning sometimes…when Meelo takes over the bathroom…" She bit her lip, realizing how dumb that sounded.
"Uhuh. Sure."
Korra turned and Mako gave Bolin the "You're an idiot" look, then followed right after.
Asami got up and smacked Bolin on the arm.
"Oww…"
"Man up! Idiot…" She stormed out.
"Awe my brush!"
"Oh Korra good, we have great news! The city is throwing you a gala tonight." Pema said enthusiastically.
"What about repairing the city, and people's lives isn't that more important?"
"I know you don't much like these things but you have to go." Tenzin said.
Korra sighed. She remembered the last gala she was forced to attend. She had her heart broken, and the paid-off paparazzi pressured her into Tarrlok's task force. It wasn't the best hoo-rah she's ever been to.
"What ELSE do I get to do today?"
"We're taking you to the council building, the part that isn't destroyed…so you can give people their bending back. On the terms that they did not use it wrongfully."
"Great…I'm gonna go shower now…"
"Be ready in an hour to leave! Will you find Bolin and Asami as well?"
She started giggling and headed off.
After her shower Korra placed her hair in the three plates she used daily and put on her water-tribe gear. She left the bathroom to find the gang already waiting for her, minus Asami.
"Korra we're going to be late, will you please go fetch Asami?" Tenzin said, losing patience.
Korra walked towards Asami's bedroom and found her sitting on her bed, staring at a picture.
"Hey, Asami we gotta…" Asami shoved the picture in her jacket and stood to face Korra.
"Alright, I'm ready, let's go…"
Asami walked past her and towards the main house. They all left on Oogi and headed towards the council building. The whole ride was silent in awkwardness. Mainly between Bolin and Asami, which Korra and Mako had noticed right away.
"Hey Mako…" Korra whispered in his ear once landed. "I think they have some…sexual tension going on right now." She giggled and Mako chuckled along with her.
"What's so funny over there you two?" Bolin asked.
"Nothing…Nothing." They said between laughs.
Korra looked towards the door to find at least 300 civilians waiting to gain their bending back from the Avatar.
"Wow. That's…A lot of people Tenzin."
"Well there are many more than that who have gotten their bending taken Korra."
She stood on a small stage brought in for this occasion, and the first person walked up to her.
"Hello Miss Avatar!" It was a young blue eyed water tribe girl, much like Korra. "Can I have my bending back please?"
Korra looked to Tenzin and he nodded, Korra then reached her hand to the young girls face, eyes turning a bright glowing blue for a small moment as she gave back the bending to that young girl.
"Thank you so much Korra." The girl smiled and waved to her mother and father outside, waiting for her.
"Do you think her parents lost their bending too?"
"There's no way of knowing for sure…" Mako answered. He had been standing beside her.
Hours passed and the bending was given back to nearly all of those who had shown up, all but one young man.
"Hello…Uhvatar."
She lifted her head to see the one and only Tahno.
"Tahno."
He knelt down before her.
"It's great that I can finally get my bending back, and everyone else too…"
"You're mad if you think you're getting your bending back!"
The civilians behind him gasped in shock.
"Korra?"
"It's Avatar Korra to you. Tahno, you used your bending to harass and use people to win the pro-bending matches each year. What makes you think that you deserve your bending back?"
"Korra..I…I mean Avatar I'll do anything please!"
Korra looked to Tenzin, who pulled her aside.
"Korra, although I agree with your decision I think you should figure something for that boy to do that is helpful, then maybe he can receive his bending back."
She turned to Tahno.
"Alright, one exception. If you want to earn back your bending, you must help me and my friends repair the city, and help those who have lost their bending, jobs and homes. If you do this unselfishly, then MAYBE you can get back your bending, on the condition that the Wolfbats no longer compete in Pro-Bending."
"I…I'll do it." He stood up and bowed. "Just let me know when I need to help."
She nodded and he left.
Korra spent the rest of the day restoring bending until there were no more people waiting in line.
"Korra, it's time to get ready for the gala."
She sighed, "If I must…" and headed back to the island. Once there Asami followed her to fix up her hair and make-up. Asami had curled Korra's hair in little ringlets that flowed down her face. Korra's dress was a bright blue, and she had black low heels on, with very little make-up. Asami then left to go change.
Korra heard a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Mako entered in a black suit with a blue tie and accents to match Korra's dress.
"Wow." They both said at the same time. "Korra, you look beautiful."
"Hey you too city boy."
He held out his arm for Korra to grab and they headed off to the Ferry, Bolin and Asami, and the family trailing along behind them.
Asami's hair was up in a bun, and she was wearing a burgundy frilly dress with large brown heels. Bolin had on an earth benders tux, with his hair slicked back, and Tenzin and his family were wearing traditional Air Benders formal wear.
The gala was held at the main community building, which thankfully had not been destroyed. Korra entered after everyone else, and watched as the room bowed to her.
"Please everyone…You don't need to bow for me."
"Where is her escort? Surely she has one." Someone said from the back.
Mako heard this remark and jumped up to grab Korra's arm and lead her to the center of the dancefloor. Music had started and they began to twirl in circles to the slow tune.
Korra looked around to find Asami and Bolin dancing awkwardly among the guests, but a shiny badge had caught her eye.
"General Iroh!" Korra kissed Mako on the cheek and walked to Iroh.
"What are you doing still in the city?"
"I am leaving tomorrow, and I heard there was going to be a gala held in your honor, I had to come. But, I actually have to talk to some people here as well, if you don't mind?"
"Of course not."
He headed towards Asami and poked Bolin on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, may I steal her away for just a moment?"
"Uh, sure bro."
Iroh grasped Asami in his arms and they swayed slowly.
"I came over to speak with you about visiting your father."
She looked away.
"I'm really sorry Asami but I can't allow anyone to see him, surely you understand this?"
"Yeah, whatever. It's not like I wanted to see him anyway General." She held back the tears forming in her eyes.
"Please, call me Iroh. I am very sorry." The song ended and they parted.
"When are you heading home?"
"Around noontime tomorrow? Why?"
"Just wondering."
He wandered off to find another civilian he needed to speak with.
Korra walked over to Mako and Bolin whom were talking amongst themselves.
"I could really use some air…I'm going to go outside, let anyone know who was looking for me okay?"
"Sure thing Korra." They smiled and she walked outside and sat on the steps.
"Jeez Korra. Pull yourself together. It's just a gala…The whole city will be fixed and everything will be alright."
"Talking to yourself are you?"
A figure appeared through the shadows.
"What do you want Tahno?"
"Well I originally came here to ask when you want my assistance, but I see here a girl in need of cheering up."
"I'm fine. Really."
"Look, it's a lot to have on your shoulders…The city, your friends, the people here. I wouldn't myself be able to handle all of that crazy."
"But I get through."
He smiled and sat down next to her.
"Why are you being so nice? Nice isn't going to bring back your bending, commitment and work will."
"I'm not heartless you know, losing my bending changed me Korra. I'm a different person. I really wish you would give that person a chance."
"I'm with Mako."
"Not a date silly girl, just dinner, we can talk about my duties to please the Avatar."
"Ugh…Fine. I don't see why not."
"Good. Now come inside, it's freezing out here."
She got up and walked back in to find everyone getting along and conversing.
She sighed in relief and was motioned to come on stage and speak by Tenzin.
"Ahem…um. Hello and thank you for coming tonight. Korra here, uh, look Republic City is in rough shape but, I promise I will be here to help rebuild and recover lives. We will all get through this, and everything will be alright."
There had not been any press aloud into the gala that night so she ended her speech and stepped down. The night was still young and there was a lot of dancing and socializing left to accomplish before she was able to leave.
Next time on Restoring Balance:
"Asami? What the hell are you doing here?"
"I will see my father...No matter what!"
