Korra stood on the balcony, of her and Asami's room watching the Kyoshi war ship fly slowly away. After thanking the Kyoshi once again, she instructed them to drop the supplies at the refugee camp. She figured the information about the assassin's weapon could wait till morning. She hefted her armor off her shoulders and dropped it on the balcony, she wanted to return it to the Kyoshi but they refused saying she had earned it. She stretched and rolled her shoulders. The sun wasn't coming up for another few hours but the entire skyline was alight with green and blue lights slowly arcing through the night sky. She turned and opened the doors to the room, the moonlight spilling in highlighting the sleeping Asami. Korra smiled, she hadn't realized it until it been happening for a while, but her heart almost jumped for joy every time she saw her. She crept quietly into the bathroom, silently closing the door and flicking on the lights. She turned the shower on to as hot as she could stand it and began to undress. The bathroom was a small one as this was only a guest room, but it still had enough room for a large sink, toilet, and floor to ceiling mirror. Korra's bare feet traipsed across the cold tile bringing her in front of the mirror, close enough that her breath fogged it slightly. She looked herself in the eyes and took a deep breath. It's okay, it'll all be okay. She thought to herself unsure as to how much of that was a lie.
The condensation from the shower began to fog the room as she noticed her hands. Her heart picked up, in the dim lights of the airship and the night she hadn't noticed the little splotches of dried blood. She thought she had bent it all off but it clearly had stuck around. Underneath her finger nails and in between her fingers, just enough left to make her skin crawl. She rushed over to the sink and scrubbed furiously at the little bits of blood. She scrubbed but kept finding more and more little bits of blood hidden on her hands. She scrubbed more and more. There…all gone. She stepped away from the sink and immediately caught sight of herself in the mirror. The scream caught in her throat before it escaped, she was covered in blood, her heart pounded. She looked at her forearms which were soaked and dripped blood onto the white tile floor. She looked back in the mirror and immediately threw a punch shattering the mirror into a million pieces. GET IT OFF GET IT OFF! GETITOFF! She practically dove for the shower, the warm water hitting her like a firehose she began to hyperventilate as the water flowing into the drain turned dark red. She screamed.
I
Korra sat up immediately, her scream shattering the quiet night. She frantically looked at her forearms and her body expecting to see the thick coating of blood. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"Korra!" Asami grabbed her as she sat up in bed next to her. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
She jumped as she felt Asami grab her almost falling off the bed.
"Korra! Korra! It's okay! It's okay!" Asami consoled "You're safe. You're okay."
Korra inhaled like she had just survived a drowning, her heart was still exploding in her chest. She tried to talk but could only breathe in sharp hard gasps. Tears spilled out of her eyes as she pulled her legs to her chest letting her head rest on her knees.
"Korra, talk to me." Asami wrapped her arms around her. "You're safe. You're here in bed with me."
Korra was no stranger to nightmare's but that one in particular had felt all too real, she could feel the blood running down her skin. She tried to force out a sentence between gasps. "I…" She cried. "Just a dream."
"It's okay Korra, it was just a dream, you're okay."
"I'm okay." Korra repeated. I'm okay. "Asami…"
"I'm here Korra. I'm here." Korra checked her arms for blood again, finally seeing nothing. She took a deep breath and it finally slowed, her heart pounded away in her chest as she let herself lay back down.
"Asami…it was so awful." She ran her hands down her arms still feeling the warm stickiness of being soaked in blood. She breathed in sharply.
"It's okay Korra." Asami embraced her carefully maneuvering her bad hand around her girlfriend's wide awake body. "It's okay."
Its okay…its okay…its…okay. Korra slowed her breathing. "I'm sorry…"
Asami kissed Korra on the jaw. "What for?"
"I…I…"
"Korra, just got back to sleep, you're safe here, you're safe."
I'm safe…I'm safe…I'm safe…Korra thought as she realized just how exhausted she was. I'm with Asami…I'm safe…I'm with Asami…I'm safe…
I
Kya placed the kettle down on the stove and ramped the heat up with a twist of the knob, she had woke up uncharacteristically early but had made the most of it. She had almost immediately headed to the kitchen and begun her work. The Sato household was in for a treat, whole wheat pancakes with apple syrup coupled with an assortment of scrambled egg and sautéed veggies. Lin was the first in, nursing an uncharacteristically light hangover. She selected just the eggs and veggies. "Morning love."
Lin blushed. "Love, eh?"
Kya only winked in return, she flipped her own feast in a frying pan, she only made the dish when she had extra time. Nursing the flavor out of sea prunes required the utmost attention, when the flavor was added to a sea urchin broth in which soba noodles soaked it was possibly the best breakfast Kya knew of. Besides her mother's sea weed and otter penguin bacon omelets of course. She flipped it for the last time as Asami slowly entered the kitchen. "Asami, good morning!"
Asami who was dressed in a dressing gown and robe smiled and hobbled to the kitchen table. "It smells delicious Kya."
"I hope it tastes as good as it smells." Kya Served herself her omelette before assembling a plate of pancakes and scramble eggs for Asami. "Here you go."
Asami used her good hand to take the plate from Kya. "I know it will."
Kya smiled and joined the two ladies at the table. "Busy day ahead of you Lin?"
Lin was busy closing the lid on her flask. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, actually we're busy with the Zaheer investigation, but the refugee camps still need our attention."
Asami finished a bite of pancake. "Do you think we can head to the R&D department again? I'm, dying to see what progress Jade has made."
"I don't see why not, I'll use it as an excuse to stock up on groceries."
Lin took a drink of her coffee, which was probably about half whisky, and read through the morning paper. Even with half the department stores destroyed the ads for the latest fashions and accessories filled the pages. Lin sighed as she searched for something worth reading, raising and eyebrow at an ad for the Southern Water Tribe festival as she did. She briefly recalled Kya asking her to go but something with the department had taken precedence. The gears began to spin in her head. She folded the paper and flopped it down on the table taking another bite of her food. She looked at the Water Tribe girl across from her and smiled. She deserved a nice night out without cooking or caring for Asami or the other ladies in the house. She was about to speak when the kettle began to whistle. "I'll get it."
Korra crashed into the swinging door and shuffled towards the howling kettle. Swiping it off the stove barely acknowledging the full table.
"Morning Korra" Asami greeted happily.
"Feeling alright?" Lin asked genuinely concerned, she knew Korra wasn't a morning person but she was looking more disheveled than normal.
Kya quietly ate her noodles, she knew that according to the awful aura Korra was putting out she was not feeling alright.
Korra took a swig of her tea and ignored the heat searching for the kick of caffeine. "I'm fine…tea?" She poured one for Asami and Kya who accepted.
"Help yourself to the breakfast." Kya smiled even though Korra's aura was practically threatening.
Korra immediately shoveled a few pancakes onto her plate and doused them in syrup. She sat down at the table next to Asami and dug in wordlessly. She was still shaken from the nightmare, it felt all too real. She even checked before coming down to breakfast for the little specs of blood she'd found in the dream. She tried to concentrate on the tea in her cup, bending it around the cup with a swirl of her fingers, trying not to think of the blood. She took a deep breath and remembered she had to tell Lin about what she'd discovered. "Lin, the weapon Raiko's assassin used, the Kyoshi have the same kind of weapons. They called them long range spears."
"Are you sure?"
Korra's fingers froze as as she remembered the Lava bender's chest exploding. "Yes, I'm sure,"
"I'll have to tell Mako and get a detective down to their HQ to investigate."
"Did you get the supplies back?" Asami asked placing a comforting hand on the Avatar's muscled shoulder.
"Yeah, we kicked ass, the supplies should be landing at the refugee camp soon."
"Did you use it?" Kya asked bluntly "What?" Asami asked.
Korra broke out in goosebumps. "No…of course I didn't." She clenched her hands as she could feel the beat of the Lava bender's heart again. Did i?
Lin nodded as she figured out what Kya had meant. "Look Korra, I know I'm somewhat to blame for you finding out how to blood bend."
"More than somewhat Lin." Asami lashed out defending Korra.
Lin ignored the jab. "It's still illegal Korra, and beyond that its just evil. I know that kinda power must feel addicting but you can't use it."
It feels better than addicting. "Look I didn't use it alright? The last thing I need is you two turning on me!"
"Will everyone chill out!" Asami slammed her tea cup down. "Even if Korra did use blood bending she's not going to turn evil," The trio of arguing ladies shut up like they'd been yelled at by their teacher,
Korra smiled at Asami. At least someone has some faith in me. "I've got it under control."
Kya wasn't convinced but she decided to leave it. "I'm going to get ready for the day, Asami, just let me know when you want to go."
Asami nodded and sipped from her tea. "How was Ren Korra?"
Korra thought back to the armored demon sitting next to her on the bench in the airship. "She seemed great, damn good fighter, couldn't have got the supplies back without her." Korra explained after finishing a bite of pancake.
"She was always a fierce one," Asami reminisced.
"Is there any reason to suspect any Kyoshi?" Lin asked casually.
Korra looked almost insulted, but then realized she was right to suspect them. "I don't think so, Ren said they make the spears in house but how hard could it be to make something like that." Korra countered. "I owe them one Lin, don't go barging in arresting people."
Lin smirked. "Me? Never."
I
Ren rolled over and slammed her hand down on her alarm clock, and debated sleeping the day away instead of getting up. They'd dropped off Avatar Korra at the estate then immediately began the flight towards the refugee camp. After they'd dropped the supplies they headed back to the Kyoshi's airfield. From there it was an hour ride to headquarters where the injured Kyoshi were cared for, and the non injured were debriefed on the battle. Ren hated it but she knew how necessary it was, the after action reports highlighted what their short comings were and how they could improve in battle. They even had Varrick-Li industries mover cameras installed in the airships to film the battle. However at night the film only caught so much, and every so often an enemy bender would get in a lucky shot. The Group relied on intel fresh from the Kyoshi themselves. She hadn't even begun to ride home till the sun was beginning to rise.
It felt like she was covered in concrete as she moved to get out of the bed. She stumbled into the empty kitchen and put the kettle on, she sighed and opened the fridge. One of these days you'll run out of left overs. She searched, purposely avoiding the container from the Garlon restaurant. She settled on a container of soba noodles, letting the cooled and congealed mass of noodles spill out into a pot which she placed on the stove. She got a glass of water for herself and sat on the kitchen counter in her pajamas. She hated the quietness of mornings like this, last night she'd been in a life or death battle with almost one hundred of her sisters. People who she would've gladly laid down her life for, and they would've in return. Now she sat alone in her kitchen waiting for an inevitably disappointing breakfast.
It was policy to have the day off after a battle, a policy she wanted to ignore but her supervisors frowned upon it. She had an entire day to fill, she sighed and poured her warmed noodles into a bowl. She jumped off the counter and waltzed over to the record player next to the boxing dummy in her small living room. It was a slow number, with a violin and chimes in the background, perfect for a slow morning. She half fell onto the couch and slurped at her noodles. Staring at the wall, every idea she came up with either wasn't feasible or actually all that fun. She sighed slurped the last of her noodles down. Maybe I'll just go to work.
I
Chairman Tsusamo adjusted his tie as he waited for his cue, he was a tall and balding man dressed in a suit. The suit he had bought out of a store to give the effect that while he was professional enough to own a suit, he was not wealthy enough to tailor it. The suit and the act he was about to put on was a lie. He owned a dozen suits that he deemed too nice to wear to a refugee camp. He didn't even live at the camp, however for the past few days he had been visiting enough so that some people would be able to believe it. He had paid a vagabond to pass out flyers for his speech. To his delight there was quite the crowd gathered. He got a nod from one of his hand picked supporters and jumped up on a crate of supplies. "Citizen's of Republic City!" He waited to make sure he had been heard. "DO YOU WANT OUT OF THESE CAMPS?" He smiled as about twenty more heads turned his way. "Do you want to restore Republic City to what it once was?" He waited till the crowd increassed.
"Do you want your old prosperous lives back?" He smiled. "I have been with you from the very beginning!" He paused as more people began to turn and listen. "I have watched as a powerful madman conspired to bring our government to its knees, as a spirit of pure evil attempted to destroy our city. I was there with you on the day of Kuvira's invasion, and I am here with you now!" He smiled and watched the crowd increase. "One thing that remains the same as our city has been attacked, destroyed, and rebuilt is our resolve and our determination. I know our lives in the refugee camp have not been comfortable, but we as Republic City citizens will persevere!"
Chairman Tsusamo let the applause die down, like putty in my hands. "The United Republic has survived, not because of our Army, not because of the actions of any single man or woman. But because of each and every citizen's commitment to the Republic as a whole. You, as a citizen, are the republic! You as a citizen of republic are strong! Us joined together as the Republic are invincible!" The crowd cheered. "We are invincible! We are the Republic! We are strong! We will persevere!" Chairman Tsusamo let the applause die down. "In just one short month an election for the next President of the republic will be held, the other nominees have there own interests at heart. My Interests are solely for the the Republic, my first order of business will be taking care of every single one of us in the refugee camps! Vote Tsusamo! Vote for the Republic! Vote for yourselves!"
I
Mako sat on a long couch in Guru Arjan's office, it was a medium sized office, with a few plants, paintings, and neutral lighting. All of it seemed to be put in place to put the patient at ease, but for Mako it just served to set him further on edge. It was like he was about to be dissected on the couch he sat on. The Guru himself however was genuinely welcoming and calming. Mako hadn't met many gurus but Arjan fit the bill. Almost sickly looking with a long bushy beard and bald head, dressed in flowing robes that made Mako think of the Air Nomads. He waved away a cup of tea the Guru offered.
"So you were referred to me by my good friend Ren?" Arjan spoke with a thick accent, before sipping from his tea.
Mako shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "Yeah, I met her recently through work, she recommended you."
"Tell me about yourself Mako." Arjan lit a stick of incense and gently bent the smoke around the room. "I sense quite the story behind you."
Mako raised his eyes and shrugged. "I grew up with my brother, Bolin, on the streets here in the city. Was a pro-bender for a while, helped the Avatar fight the equalists, joined the police force. Worked as a body guard and fought against Kuvira during her invasion."
"That's little more than what I've read in the papers about you, Mako." Arjan took a sip of tea.
"Well there is not much else to tell." Relax. He's here to help you not incriminate you.
"Mako, you can tell me anything, I am a spiritual healer, that is my purpose in life." Arjan bent the smoke into a spiral around the two of them. "And I sense a purpose in your life."
"You do?" Mako considered the idea, he had always just rolled with the punches, his brother needed food so he became a criminal. He and his brother needed money so they became pro-benders. He was offered a job as a cop, with steady pay and benefits, so he became a cop.
"I do indeed Mako," Arjan took a deep breath and exhaled. "Much like Ren's purpose is the path of the warrior, yours is the path of the protector."
Mako chewed the inside of his lip. "Okay…"
"You mentioned your brother? But not your parents."
"They…were killed when I was younger."
"And who took care of you and your brother."
"I did. Who else would've?" Mako asked slightly indignant.
"The desire to protect is as strong as your desire for life Mako, I can sense it, please join me in the lotus position." Arjan closed his eyes and bent more incense smoke around them.
Mako rolled his eyes, 'He can at least help you sleep.' Ren's advice echoed in his head and he pulled his legs in and adjusted himself into the Lotus position with his hands resting on his knees. "Okay…what now?"
"You protected your brother, who else have you protected?"
Mako shrugged. "I guess Korra, but she can handle herself, I guarded Prince Wu for a few years, and I was on President Raiko's personal security detail for a while…"
Arjan raised an eyebrow as Mako's aura tensed. "The late President was a great man."
"Yeah…"
He ventured further. "One you protected?"
"If I did he wouldn't be the late president, now would he?"
"Mako I can feel that for you a great deal of stress and sorrow stems from what happened to President Raiko."
No shit.
"This same sorrow exists elsewhere in your past and even in your present. This is what is causing your, as the Kyoshi call it, battle fatigue." Arjan didn't open his eyes as he bent another circle of smoke around Mako. "The thing about fatigue is it can be overcome, but in order to overcome fatigue healing and rest must take place." Arjan took a deep breath. "The healing process will be difficult Mako, it will require that you revisit memories and days that cause you the pain you seek to eliminate. Are you ready?"
I've already lived them all once, how bad could it be? "I'm ready."
I
Tenzin took a long look down his nose at the corpse of Zaheer on a metal table, he was in the basement of police headquarters, "the cooler" as Lin called it. It lived up to its nick name, the fridge air and walls filled with square holes holding the bodies of deceased criminals gave even Tenzin the chills. "No evidence of foul play at all?"
Lin shook her head and grabbed a chart hanging off the end of the table. "Everything normal…for a dead guy anyway."
Where have I seen this before… He shrugged, while he needed to find out who killed Zaheer, he did briefly recall the battle between the Red Lotus and himself. They'd nearly killed him, and tried to destroy the Air Nation. One can only muster up so much sympathy for a terrorist. "Lin, you've been watching over Korra haven't you?"
"Yes," Lin bent her flask out of her armor. "She ain't doing too hot."
"Where was she the night Zaheer was killed?"
"Probably at home," Lin shrugged capping her flask. "I saw her at dinner and she went to bed."
"Probably?" Tenzin hated to consider it but Korra had the most motivation of anyone to want Zaheer dead. Especially with the way she's been acting lately… "She could've snuck out."
"I doubt it, Asami can confirm her alibi, either way I don't think she killed him. It would've been pretty brutal if she had, there's not a mark on him."
Tenzin raised an eyebrow but shook the thought away. "So we have zero leads?"
"Not necessarily, Mako is supposed to be heading up this investigation but he's at some doctor or guru or whatever. He said he might have a name on the Assassin thanks to your daughter's info. As well as a dead member of the hit squad they sent after Asami, an Airbender, should be easy enough to track down. We also have lead on the weapon the Assassin used, its a Kyoshi Warrior Group special, which raises all the red flags." No leads my ass.
Tenzin mulled this over as he looked at the corpse in front of him. "I'll look into the air bender, I still have nomads going after reports and sightings of new air benders." Tenzin looked at Zaheer, 'it would've been pretty brutal if she had' not a mark on you, a fighter and spiritual master like you taken out with out a fight… "Lin there was nothing to indicate foul play at all?"
"Not so much as a burn mark."
It hit Tenzin like a ton of bricks, no marks, no signs of foul play, in the physical world. "Lin, he didn't die from a physical wound, his soul left his body." Tenzin explained.
Shit. "So he's in the spirit world? Free?"
I
Mako was sweating bullets, Arjan had led him into another room, this one much different from the office before it. The whole room was a wood material floor to ceiling, a platform of stone provided enough room for the two of them to sit. Surrounding the platform were metal boxes filled with scalding hot coal making the room glow an ominous red. They sat in the lotus position surrounded by a swirling cloud of incense smoke. "The first time I ever felt scared?"
"Yes, Mako, clear your mind, and think back,"
Mako clenched his teeth as his parents came to mind. "I…"
"Mako, to overcome your stress you must see what causes it, I promise you are safe to do so here."
Mako wasn't feeling so sure about the whole idea anymore. He gritted his teeth and breathed deep. "The first time I ever felt scared was when…" Mako swallowed. "When Mom and Dad were killed…"
"I want you to take me through that event, it's painful I know, but try."
Mako closed his eyes, the heat felt made it feel like he was being cooked alive. "I was in my room with my brother. We were told to go play for a while when this strange man came to the door…" Mako could feel the tears starting to build.
"Mako, whatcha reading?"
"A story about Avatar Aang," Mako returned to the pages sitting on his bunk bed.
"Who's that?"
"Go play Bo." Mako shooed his brother away, he continued to read till a plastic block sailed across the room and hit him square in the head. "OW!" Mako clenched his teeth. "Bolinnnn! stop!" After a stifled giggle another block flew towards Mako. He brought his book and cocked his arm back ready to throw but stopped as he heard a crash coming from the living room.
"SAN!"
Mako had never heard such a shrill scream before in his life, instantly his blood ran cold. "Bolin…stay. Here." Mako dropped the book and walked across his shared room, he reached for the door handle like it would bite him. He took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping out into the hallway he closed the door. Hoping Bolin would listen for a change. 'Arms up, slow but steady strides, be ready to strike' Dad's lesson echoed in his head. Their apartment was a small one, there was a short hallway connecting his room with his parents' and the living room. As he approached the living room he could sense something bad had happened. The smell hit him first, something was on fire. The living room was laid out with the couch at the end of the hallway facing their radio and the kitchen to the left of that. Mako was only just getting old enough to be able to see over the tall old fashioned couch. He rushed over to the other side of the couch in his fighting stance. Only then did he see the pair of feet sticking out. "DAD!" Mako felt like he'd been hit with a bucket of cold water, instantly snapping out of his trance and springing to his feet. Tears burned down his face. "I…"
"Mako, please continue, we were making good progress."
The tears still choked Mako's voice down, he felt his chest tighten, I have to get out of here! He burst through the door, the cooler air of the office hitting him like a wave. He rushed through practically running and burst out the door. He ran down the flight of steps two at a time and didn't stop till he exploded out of the door onto the streets. The sobs hit him first, that wrenching suffocating cry that comes from your stomach. He collapsed falling back onto the concrete, sobbing like he hadn't in years.
I
Korra had returned early from the refugee camp which had calmed down since they had food and medicine again. She sat on the balcony of her and Asami's room, relaxing in a rocking chair, her feet up on the railing. Naga was already fast asleep next to the chair. She was practically nodding off, her bruises from the battle with the bandits were still healing, and the day had dragged on. She stared off the balcony looking out at republic city, the orange sun setting against the green of the spirit portal with skeletons of skyscrapers in front of it all. She smiled, she could just about see Future Industries tower where her girlfriend was no doubt hard at work. She imagined her with that cute scowl on her face that she made when a bolt was stuck or a she scraped her knuckles against a piece of metal. Her head drooped to one side and her eyes lids began to close. She was snoring loudly within a matter of seconds.
I
Korra sat down at her place at the table, next to Asami, opposite Kya who sat next to Lin. The dinner had been something special, a feast to celebrate the Southern Water Tribe festival down town. Kya had gotten a slow cooked arctic hen from the festival, but cooked the rest of the fixings herself. Vegetarian dumplings, sea weed chips, soup and soba noodles, Korra was in paradise. "Thanks—" She chewed and swallowed a whole dumpling. "Kya!"
Kya smiled as she scooped more noodles onto her plate. "Glad you like it."
Asami slurped down some noodles. "I need to get your recipe for these, they're addicting."
Lin finished a dumpling. "Sorry we couldn't go to the festival Kya,"
"Maybe next year, once you're retired." Kya winked and cut a slice of hen.
"When are you officially retiring Lin?" Korra asked momentarily without a bite of food in her mouth.
"Should be this next week, Detective Barzoon's change of command ceremony is set for friday." Lin plunged a seaweed chip into the bowl of dip.
Asami smiled and cut a piece of hen for Korra. "We better have front row seats."
Lin nodded between bites. "Of course."
Kya got up from the table and moved quickly over to the freezer, she pulled out a bottle and brought it over to the table. "I think that calls for a toast." She quickly poured four shot glasses.
"To a happy retirement!" Asami raised her glass first.
Korra gulped down the last of a dumpling and raised her glass clinking it together with the three other ladies. She threw it back and swallowed with one gulp, immediately coughing. "Phew," She caught her breath and looked in the glass. Her heart skipped a beat, a silvery liquid residue dripped down the side of the glass. Immediately Asami began coughing, followed quickly by Lin and Kya. Korra's heart exploded. "What's wrong?" She reached out to help Asami who was clutching at her throat unable to breath.
"Korra." She choked out.
Korra stood motionless, helpless, as the three women began to fall out of their chairs unable to breathe. "Asami!"
Asami looked up through tear filled eyes her lungs ready to burst in her chest. "Help."
WHAT DO I DO? Korra screamed inside her head unable to do anything but watch Asami choke to death. "Asami…I don't know what to do…"
Asami began to shake on the floor, unable to breath and slowly dying.
Korra was crying now, her tears coming in giant drops down onto the floor. "Asami NO!" As Asami's shaking and fighting for breath began to slow, Korra could hear it, a sinister laughing. She turned and saw Zaheer standing in the doorway. Immediately she launched a ball of fire. Then another, which Zaheer dodged easily, it was like fighting a gust of wind. She adjusted her aim as he vaulted over the stove onto the other side of the kitchen. DO IT NOW! She reached out with her hands open, instantly she could feel the heart beat of the man who had caused her so much pain. Immediately she grabbed a hold of it, and watched as Zaheer tensed and froze, like a puppet on a string. She held onto him like a poisonous snake, feeling his pulse in her hands she brought him closer to her, bringing him to his knees on the tile of the kitchen. Finally.
Zaheer fought back against the blood bending letting out a laugh. "You can't fight me, and the poison!"
Korra screamed as, from out of no where, chains whipped through the air wrenching her arms and legs out from her control. The kitchen began to fall away until she could feel immense heat, she blinked and she saw she was surrounded by the Red Lotus once again. She struggled against the chains as Ghazan and Min-Hua readied deadly strikes. "When I get out of here, none of you will survive!" She screamed fire as they launched their strikes.
I
Korra screamed, scaring Naga who immediately jumped up ready to protect her, she caught her breath as she realized she was still on the balcony of Asami's Estate. Her heart pounded in her chest as a cold sweat still dripped down her forehead. Okay, relax, you're safe…you are safe…you are safe. She reclined in the chair and breathed deep, and smirked as Naga licked her hand in reassurance. "I'm okay girl,"
"Are you?" Korra turned to see Asami walking towards the balcony, with a noticeable limp but still walking unaided.
"Asami!" She rushed to hug her being careful to not hurt her. "I had the worst dream." She wrapped her arms around her holding her close with her face in her neck.
"It was just a dream," Asami nuzzled into Korra's embrace. "You're safe with me now."
I
Lin sat back at her desk and flopped another report onto the pile on her desk, she'd been at it all day, she had only a few more reports to go. She reclined back in her chair and stretched, she looked at the clock on her desk, the Southern Water Tribe festival was about to kick off. She sighed and took out her flask, she surveyed the office she had called hers for the past twenty years. For her it felt like sixty, she fondly remembered the days when she was just a beat cop and didn't have to worry about massive amounts of paperwork or meetings. She reached out and touched the gash in the desk top she had made by slamming her armored wrist down onto it one day. She looked out onto the office through the glass and slits in the blinds, only Mako and the radio operator remained. She'd spent many nights in the office, helped by tea and whisky, she looked down at the piles of reports. What are they gonna do? Force me to retire? Lin laughed out loud and stood up with a new mission in mind. She locked the door to her office and headed across the office. "Night you two, Mako, give Korra and Tenzin a call to keep them updated."
Mako stared at the file he was reading.
Lin paused. "Mako?"
Mako snapped out of it, his eyes still red from crying earlier that day. "Roger that Chief."
"You okay kid?"
Mako's voice caught in his throat for a second. "I'm fine, thanks Chief."
Lin shrugged, she'd had enough bad days to know what Mako wanted was some privacy, she quickly made her way down the stairs to the main floor of the police station. She smiled, there was something fun about skipping out on work to have some fun instead. I can't wait to see the look on her face. She threw open the doors and waltzed onto the side walk with a certain joy in her stride. The Southern Water Tribe festival was only a few blocks away. They were opening the new cultural center and in celebration partying like only the Southern Water Tribe could. She walked quickly and soon she could hear the band playing, a slightly slow but happy tune. She turned the corner, the festival was set up in a large intersection, food on one street, games, vendors, and seating on the others. In the center was a large throng of people dancing happily.
Where is that old hag? She smiled and rolled her eyes, she was a detective after all, she began to search. The music playing in the background, she weaved her way through the crowd looking for the woman she was retiring for. She sifted further through the crowd, she paused and scoped out a flower stall. Perfect. She quickly made her way through the moving crowd to the flower stand. "One moon flower, please." She paid and left without waiting for change, guarding the delicate flower from the crowd. She stepped through a break in the crowd, the break separated the dance floor from the festival itself. She gave the area a quick scan, and smiled as she saw her.
The dance floor was lined with small paper lanterns hanging from the light posts on either corner. The whole crowd was lit with a dim glow, leaning up against a light pole in the corner was Kya. Lin smiled and watched for a moment, the old water bender leaned against the pole and sipped on a undoubtably strong but tasty drink. Her gray hair flowing down onto her shoulders, dressed in an unusually formal dress. Lin moved in for the kill, she sneaked her way around making sure not to be seen. She moved into position behind Kya and tapped her on the shoulder. "I'm not really looking for a dance—Lin?" Lin smiled and held up the moon flower which soaked in the moonlight quite nicely. "Hey."
"I thought you couldn't make it?" Kya asked clearly happy.
Lin shrugged. "I'm retiring."
Kya rushed in and kissed Lin making the earth bender blush. "I love you."
Lin smiled and tied the moon flower to Kya's wrist. "I love you too."
Kya smiled as a deep blush came over her. "May I have this dance?"
Lin went rigid. "I don't dance Kya. You know that."
Kya rolled her eyes. "Tonight you do, just follow my lead,"
Before Lin could object she was pulled onto the dance floor just as the music turned to a slower water tribe classic. She took a deep breath and relaxed, she was in good hands. She gently held Kya's hands in hers moving slowly but purposefully following Kya's every turn and twirl. They moved in a slow orbit on the dance floor, letting the flow guide them where it may, as they looked into each others eyes. Don't step on her feet. Don't step on her feet.
I never could've guessed I'd be this lucky. "Lin,"
Lin leaned in gently kissing Kya. "Yes?"
Kya smiled. "Nevermind." Lin moved into Kya's embrace, the two still moving slowly on the dance floor as the music continued. She gently rested her head on Kya's shoulder and smiled. Just like that, the stress of the day, all the frustration, it all floated away. A tear of happiness rolled down her cheek.
I
Korra held a moan down in her throat as Asami moved between her legs. She slammed her arm down on the bed and let a shivering moan escape. Her legs clenched around Asami's shoulders and she began to shake. Her whole body convulsed in an almost unbearable burst of pleasure. She collapsed onto the bed in a pool of her own sweat, breathing heavily. She was still in a haze when Asami laid down next to her and continued to kiss gently on her neck. "Asami…That was…" She needed to catch her breath.
Asami smiled and nipped Korra's neck with her teeth. "I love you too."
Korra shivered and rolled on top, kissing Asami's mouth and neck, she carefully grabbed Asami's wrists and held them above her head kissing down her neck. Further and further. She just gently brushed her lips against Asami's hip when the phone rang. Korra's shoulders fell. "Let it ring?"
Asami really wanted to, but with assassins on the loose and the city in turmoil it probably wasn't the best idea. "If its an emergency we can't let it ring. Besides Lin is working late and Kya's at the festival. We've got time." Asami reached for the phone with her good hand.
Humph. Korra laid on Asami's hips, gently kissing where she pleased.
"Sato estate, Asami speaking." Asami answered as she had for years. "Hey Mako, what's up?"
Korra smiled deviously and bit Asami's hip making her blush.
Asami glared but smiled. "Uh, yeah Korra's here."
Korra sighed and rolled on to her back reaching up for the phone. This better be good Mako. "Whats up?"
Mako sat back in his chair and checked his watch, it was almost ten, do they usually hang out this late? Mako shrugged. "Chief wanted me to keep you updated on the situation, her and Tenzin think Zaheer escaped into the spirit world,"
Korra sprang up nearly dragging the phone off the nightstand. "What?"
"No signs of foul play, the doc says he died of natural causes, it makes sense if you think about it."
He escaped. Again. "Damn it!"
"We're also looking into a water bender named Lok, and finally have name for the air bender who attacked Asami."
"Mako…I—I gotta go." She hung the phone up, all of the sudden she felt uncomfortably vulnerable.
"What is it Korra?"
Korra pulled the sheets around her covering herself. "They think Zaheer escaped."
Asami wrapped her arms around Korra. "You're safe here."
Korra thought back to the dream she had, three people she cared about convulsing on the floor poisoned. I can't lose her. "Asami…" She leaned into her embrace.
Asami just hugged Korra tightly, absorbing the gentle sobs, consoling her. "I won't let him hurt you." She kissed Korra's head. "I won't."
I
Korra stared out of the balcony, the portal to the spirit world staring back at her. I'm going to end this. Once and for all. She leapt off the balcony and deployed her glider, she waited till she was a suitable distance away from the estate to boost herself with fire from her feet. She accelerated, the ground blurring beneath her as she did, quickly the city came underneath. She spotted the festival going on beneath her, amazed it was still going on. She'd left Asami asleep, more successful at sneaking out than the last time. She boosted herself through the air once more, the spirit portal growing larger and more menacing. She flew over the crater surrounding it and banked her glider into a long spiral. She neared the portal and turned into it, enveloping herself in a bright flash of light.
Instantly she was in a whole other world, the dark night of the city turning into a too blue to be real night of the spirit world. She flew low and retracted her glider, rolling on to the ground and coming to a stop in one fluid move. She let her glider fall to the ground and bent fire into both her hands ready for a fight. "COME OUT YOU BASTARD!" She screamed like an injured wolf out for blood. The whole valley around her warping into a dark nightmarish landscape with red eyes everywhere. The fire in her hands erupted. "YOU THINK YOU CAN HIDE FROM ME!" Korra snatched her glider up off the ground and shot into the air on a pilar of earth, the nightmarish valley of the spirit world following underneath her. She surveyed the land, the spirit world was subject to change, but locations like The Library and Xai Bau's grove seemed to stick around.
She flew over fast, the different landscapes all warping into dark and evil versions of themselves. She hit the ground in Xai Bau's grove like a meteorite. "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU COWARD!" She slammed her fire ball into the nearest tree. Where is that bastard! I know he's here somewhere. She screamed and blew holes through three other trees. 'You've got to see it from multiple points of view, consider all the options' Her inner Lin offered. If I was him, and I escaped, I wouldn't be hiding I would've set up an ambush or something. Korra got ready to leave as the grove turned into a dark forrest in a storm, she watched as she was surrounded by a dozen evil looking eyes. She shot off on her glider again, it wasn't the spirits she was after. She saw the Tree of Time looming in the distance, the great barren desert around it stretching for miles. I'm going about this all wrong… She turned into a dive, and landed coming to a stop just before the barren plain surrounding the Tree of Time. She took a deep breath, bringing her fists together and closed her eyes. Raava? I need to find Zaheer, he's here somewhere I know it.
Korra, I am a part of you, I feel your rage and your pain. I will help you find him, but he will not end your pain, he cannot end your suffering.
Raava I've got to do this, put an end to his evil.
I will not stop you Korra, He has caused imbalance and discord everywhere, go and do what you must. But know you will not find solace in it.
Korra opened her eyes and found herself on a sharp rock spire over looking a valley of fog. She had never personally been there, but she had read stories of it, the Fog of Lost Souls lay out in front of her. The thick fog seemed to move with a breath of its own, she felt her skin break out in goosebumps. She breathed deep, there was no way she was going to find Zaheer by simply searching for him through the fog. She readied herself, and jumped from the rock spire, coming down fast into the fog. As soon as she landed she breathed deep and felt Raava's power flow through her, Korra bent a sphere of air around her. She held it between her arms bringing it in with a deep breath, she shot her arms out sending a giant sphere of air out in all directions. The fog moved back obediently, she looked around quickly searching for Zaheer. She walked forward, eyes still ablaze with Raava's power. She bent another ball of air around her and let it burst sending the fog reeling. She counted at least fifty people, all either walking around in circles or sitting down rocking back and forth. Where is he hiding! She continued walking, seeing more and more lost souls.
"Excuse me."
Korra froze, her eyes still glowing and another orb of air ready in her arms. She turned, letting Raava's power leave her. A short boy with spiked hair, dressed in tattered robes that looked like they had come from Ba Sing Se tugged on Korra's coat. "Uh, hello,"
The boy rubbed a tear from his eye, it was clear he was trying to be brave. "Can you help me? I'm looking for my friend, she might be in a lot of trouble."
I do not have time for this. "Look, I really have to—" Korra stopped as the fog tried to envelop them both. She let loose the burst of air keeping the fog at bay.
"Please! You have to help me find her!" The boy was near tears. Korra inwardly sighed.
"Hold on to me." She lifted the boy up and deployed her glider, shooting out of the fog, and gliding towards the nearest rock spire. The pair landed quickly. She turned and looked at the whole she had left in the fog which was quickly closing. "Now who are you looking for?"
"My friend." The boy fought a tear escaping. "P'li, a warlord took her"
Korra's blood ran cold. "Who?"
"P'li, she's my friend, she's in danger!"
Korra's skin crawled as the boy not taller than her waist slowly morphed into the man she had come to destroy. She immediately went into a fighting stance. "Zaheer!"
Zaheer looked around at first. "Where am I? Avatar Korra?" Korra sprang into action bending the rock beneath Zaheer up and trapping him.
"Like you don't know! You escaped from prison!"
Zaheer stifled a cry of pain. "I didn't escape. I know what it looks like,"
"It looks like you escaped and are trying to kill me, my friends, and everyone I care about!" Korra screamed clasping Zaheer's throat in her hand.
"No, not me, a man called" Zaheer fought to speak through Korra's grip. "A man called Koju, he's taken over as the Red Lotus' leader."
Korra took her hand off Zaheer's throat but didn't let her guard drop. "What?"
"I spent a lot of time in the spirit world, one day a man came to me, said he wanted to continue on the path I started."
"And you helped him!" Korra's blood began to boil.
"I did at first Korra, eventually I began to think maybe he was doing more harm than I would've. My cause was about freeing the world from tyranny, not becoming a tyrant."
Korra grabbed his throat again. "Freeing the world just involved trying to kill me."
"Korra, please, let me help now, I tried to confront Koju and tell him to stop his plans, he threw me into the fog when I wasn't prepared." Zaheer stared out into the fog remembering glimpses of his never-ending search for P'li. "Koju is from the metal clan, he moved to Republic City after you stopped Kuvira."
Korra held back her rage. "Anything else?"
"He kept most information to himself, only coming to me for guidance,"
"That's it?" Korra yelled, a little surprised when Zaheer looked genuinely frightened.
"There's a Red Lotus safe house, on the outskirts of the city, not far from my prison. There could be evidence there. I don't know Korra, I've been in prison for the past four years. I'm trying to help, what Koju is doing is wrong. I know that." Zaheer pleaded.
"Oh. Now you know its wrong. Great." Korra replied.
Zaheer looked her in the eyes. "I'll help you, I'll try and make up for what I did to you, from now on. You have my promise."
He's trying to apologize? "Do you think that helps me? Do you think that changes anything? You destroyed me, hurt my friends, and because of you the Red Lotus is still trying to destroy the world!"
Zaheer's head fell. "I've made some mistakes Korra, I can only try now to make up for them."
No. "You can't even do that." Korra bent the earth away from him, before he could even hit the ground she reached out with both hands, feeling the blood pulsing through his body she squeezed. She raised him into the air as he struggled against her hold on every muscle and bone in his body. "No…please!"
Korra had waited years for this, the feeling of his pounding heart beat at her command. She let him hover in the air, she moved her hands out along side each other, his body contorted in accordance. She brought him closer to her, she gave her wrist a turn and watched as his body began to wrap around itself. "The pain you're feeling now…is just a taste of what you did to me," Korra breathed deep and let Raava's energy flow through her, her arms moved out, she could feel Zaheer's joints and limbs starting to tear and pop. She waited for him to scream. Then she brought both hands down as hard as she could, sending him flying towards the fog. As Raava's energy dissipated, she began to shake, Zaheer was finished. Once and for all.
Well, that's it for this week folks, hope you enjoy and review I need feedback! Thanks for reading!
