Stunned
Nobody noticed the Avatar lingering behind, quiet and contemplative, until she spoke up.
"Wait. I'm sorry, but..." Korra looked up resolutely, eyes shining. "…I'm not going with you tomorrow."
Mako whirled around in shock. "What?"
"Why not?" asked Asami.
"I'm sick and tired of hiding from Amon. It's time I face him."
"That's not a good plan. We need to stick together," General Iroh stated decidedly in an authoritative voice that brooked no argument.
"I'm not waiting for him to hunt me down," Korra countered stubbornly. "My gut's telling me it's time to end this… On my terms."
In that moment, her telltale obstinacy reminded everybody just who Korra was. Mako, Bolin, and Asami, after long months in her acquaintance, admittedly had begun to look at Korra as if she was the average bender, the average girl – albeit an impulsive, passionate one who burped like a teenage boy after eating five bowls of noodles.
She wasn't, though. She was the Avatar.
"Korra, this is not a mission you should be handling alone," Iroh replied, a hard edge to his voice.
The others looked on Korra apprehensively; she wasn't one to swallow criticism willingly. Mako gestured in the Avatar's direction as if he were about to protest as well, but he was interrupted by an incensed Korra.
"I'm sorry, General Iroh? I'm not in the United Forces. You have absolutely no jurisdiction over me, so what makes you think you can tell me how I should handle myself as the Avatar when a madman is upheaving the lives of innocents in Republic City?" She waved her hands about, pointing out their current underground hideout. "This is what we want, right? Balance between benders and non-benders. Well, if you recall, I'm the Avatar and my duty is to maintain balance in the world, and I don't care what it takes for me to achieve that. You know as well anybody that this is something I need to do!" Korra cried, her trembling hands clenched so tight that the blood had drained from her knuckles.
"You're right, Korra. I do know that. I also know that it is absolutely foolish for our greatest hope and strongest symbol of resistance to deliberately put herself in such a vulnerable position before a madman who can take away bending," Iroh answered calmly, unfazed by Korra's tirade. "Am I right?" he asked, tone gentler.
The subsequent pause was pregnant with tension. The others watched uneasily as Korra advanced on Iroh, her eyes blazing with anger… and something else.
"General Iroh."
"Avatar Korra."
"You think I can't handle myself out there?"
"I said no such thing." He stepped closer. "I know you can handle yourself out there admirably – I've been a firsthand witness, considering the fact that you saved my life. Even so, we are all on the same side, a team with the exact same goal – to defeat Amon." His harsh gaze had softened slightly, and his golden eyes held something akin to appreciation and determination as he looked at Korra.
"I'm coming with you tomorrow, and you won't say no to that, Avatar or not," Iroh said pleasantly, voice completely bereft of his previous rage, as he placed his calloused hand on Korra's shoulder.
She jerked slightly, as if stunned that the man standing before her, who had seconds ago so vehemently argued with her and angered her and defied her unlike any other, was actual flesh and blood.
"Um… uh, yeah. Alright," she stuttered, cheeks turning a becoming shade of pink.
"Okay then, it's decided. Mako, Bolin, Asami, you three carry out the original plan to take out the Equalists' base tomorrow. Korra and I will go for Amon. Any questions?"
The others shook their heads, though Mako was frowning as he watched Korra suspiciously.
The Avatar looked up at General Iroh and gave a small smile. "No… no questions."
With that, Iroh strode out into the main hall, his carriage straight and regal despite his injured arm and torn United Nations uniform.
Korra's eyes didn't leave him until he turned the corner and disappeared.
A/N:
Opening dialogue belongs to Bryke and Nickelodeon and all that. While I'm at it, I own none of the characters or anything associated with The Legend of Korra or Avatar: The Last Airbender in any of these drabbles. If I did, I'd have a mini-Zuko in my right pocket, a mini-Iroh in my left, and a mini-Sokka perched on my shoulder to whisper funny things in my ear all day.
I want to thank every single person that's following this story, and I'm really honored that some of you are following me as well! As to those of you who've favorited this, I send you my gratitude and a bowl of noodles(:
Please review!
A/N 2: I'm getting the feeling from a couple reviews that some readers are under the impression that this is a chaptered, continuous fic... I'd just like reaffirm the fact that this is a drabble series. I don't want anybody to get disappointed if they suddenly realize that chapters aren't related.
On that subject, though, if anybody wants me to do a sequel to a certain drabble, I'm definitely up for suggestions.