Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or The Legend of Korra.
A/N: So, episode four, it was something, wasn't it? I think it's very a much a love it or hate it sort of episode with most fans (and even that is likely going to depend on which ship you sail), but personally, I liked it. For three episodes a fair portion of the Korra Kommunity had been bellyaching for some character development on Korra's part, and Agni's teeth, did we ever get it in this episode! From the very beginning to the very end, this episode is about Korra, who she is, who she thinks she is, what she fears, what she wants, and how she feels. For a twentysomething Saturday morning cartoon show, I found this episode incredibly intense. Not only was it dark and had a constant sense of unease, but it literally tore apart our heroine, leaving her a vulnerable, confused, sobbing scared mess. Actually, I think that sentence could describe most of the fandom after having watched this episode.
PS: And yes, I have a lot to say about the makorra uprising after watching this episode and the subsequent shipping community reactions. If you're interested in my thougts, I've left a rather extensive Author's Note at the end of this fic.
Anyway, I hope you like the chapter.
Enjoy!
Episode: The Voice in the Night
Character(s): Korra-centric, but most of our favorites in the Krew make an appearance or a mention.
Summary: Takes place right after Korra announces to the press that she is going to join Tarrlock's task force.
I'm Not Afraid
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"Avatar Korra! Question?"
"Please comment! Avatar Korra!"
"Now, now, ladies and gentlemen," Tarrlok purred in his crisp confident way, arms held out placating, "I think the Avatar has answered enough questions. This soiree is for her. Let's let the young lady enjoy her evening."
The councilman ushered Korra down the stairs, encouraging her to mingle while he charmed the reporters and concluded the impromptu press conference. The moment Korra stepped down onto the marble floor she felt panic clench at her gut. She could feel them all looking at her. Not just the throng of strangers, the elite members of Republic City, but Pema and the kids, Mr. Sato, Bolin, Mako, and Tenzin.
Yes, she could feel Tenzin's disappointed and piercing gaze most of all.
Keeping her head held high and her tumultuous emotions in check, Korra squared her shoulders and sauntered with a proud gait through the party goers, seemingly relaxed with her decision to join Tarrlok's task force. Truthfully, she was looking for a quick exit so she could be alone and clear her head.
"Korra."
Her shoulders slumped when she heard that dreadful even timber, the concern in the way he said her name far more distressing than the disappointment she'd been expecting. Finding her strength, Korra pasted on a cool smile before turning around.
"Hey, Tenzin," she greeted.
"That was…well, quite the announcement," the airbending master began. "I didn't know you'd changed your mind. You'd seemed so set against this task force idea all week."
"Yeah, well, you know," Korra began, rubbing her arm nervously, looking away from the solemn grey eyes of her teacher, "an Avatar's gotta do what an Avatar's gotta do." She was surprised that he wasn't lecturing her and almost wished that he'd start yelling at her for her recklessness and hypocrisy. At least then she'd yell back at him and feel something else besides this awful guilt and accompanying dread.
"But is this what you want to do?"
His question, asked with such calm and worry, cracked some of the seventeen year old's bravado. She dropped her smile, and looked into Tenzin's eyes. Her own mind felt like it was caught up in a storm, like she was in a canoe and treading water, sinking fast, her doom inevitable no matter how much she tried to stay afloat. She was drowning. This city, these politics, the expectations, this revolution, her legacy…her fear. They were all weights around her neck pulling her into the deep, strangling her, and she didn't know what to do.
She didn't even know how to ask for help.
"Tenzin," she sighed, not sure how to do it, not even sure she wanted to do it, but maybe the monk's wisdom could somehow quash her fears. Perhaps he could keep her afloat. "I think, maybe I've –"
"Hey, Korra?"
"Bolin!"
She had never been more relieved to see the earthbender, not even when she and Mako had finally found him at that Equalist rally after almost two days of searching for him.
"Uh, did you wanna –"
"Dance?"
"No, actually I wanted to tal –"
"I'd love to! Let's go!"
"But I didn't – ah, OK!"
Korra practically pulled Bolin towards the stage where the orchestra was set up, situating herself and her friend among the other couples. Without giving the earthbender a chance to catch his breath, Korra placed one of his hands on her waist, took the other in her own, and started leading the frazzled boy in a rather enthusiastic fox-antelope trot.
"Hold on, Korra," Bolin pleaded, staring at his feet as he tried to keep up with her. He liked dancing. He wasn't the lightest on his feet when it came to the dance floor, but he was competent, if given the chance to find the rhythm. "You know, I'm pretty sure it's the guy who's supposed to take the lead," he joked.
"Oh. Sorry."
She went a bit slack in his arms, her earlier energy gone as Bolin collected his bearings and started to lead them, if a bit clumsily.
"Sorry," he cringed charmingly when he stepped on her toes. "I don't really dance much."
"You're doing fine," Korra said reassuringly, granting him a small smile and a rub on the shoulder as he continued to lead them along the dance floor.
"This is a pretty dress," he noted, taking the opportunity to run his palm along her side and pull her in just a little bit closer. "Traditional robes?"
"Yeah, all the way from the South Pole," she stated, the usual tone of pride she carried whenever she spoke of her home somewhat lacking.
"It's really nice," he said, taking the chance to ogle her from head to toe. "You don't see traditional clothes much in Republic City. It's refreshing. You look pretty tonight."
"Thanks," Korra said, her voice somewhat distracted and detached. "You look pretty snazzy yourself." She patted the boy on the chest, her thumb slipping under the lapel of his suit jacket, noting the quality of the olive colored cotton and the gold leaf trim.
"Isn't it great?" he beamed. "Asami gave it to me."
"Asami, huh?" she muttered, unable to help her eyes from darting out and seeking the beautiful heiress. She was speaking with her father, her hands still circled around Mako's arm, snug and comfortable, like she belonged there.
Another wave of discomfort washed over Korra and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from retching. Her anxiousness was starting to make her sick.
"You're a really good dancer, Korra," Bolin complimented as they continued to sashay and spin. "I didn't expect it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked quietly.
"Nothing! Just that, uh…um, ahem…I just never really pegged you for much of a dancer." He cringed again, his usual charm and flare dwindling under the strain of trying very hard to impress the girl he liked.
"My mother and Master Katara insisted I learn dancing," Korra explained, her features softening as she thought of those two women, missing their warmth and their smiles, wondering if they could possibly help her sort out everything she was feeling. "I didn't want to learn at first – dancing isn't as much fun as bending – but I actually caught on to it pretty easily."
"You're a natural," Bolin complimented.
"Master Katara said Avatar Aang loved dancing."
"Right, Avatar Aang," Bolin echoed, his lips curling into an adorable pout, his green eyes narrowing with resolve. "Korra, about this task force, all this Avatar business…are you really OK with it?"
"Sure," she answered quickly, turning her eyes away from his to stare at her feet.
"Really?"
"Bolin, I'm fine."
The music had stopped and so did the dancing couples, turning their attention to the orchestra to applaud their music.
"I'm going to just step out for a minute," Korra excused, slipping out of Bolin's grasp like she was made of water. "I need some air."
"Did you want me –"
"I'll be fine!" she snapped as she walked away, her steps hurried, almost desperate. Bolin didn't pursue her, but he did keep an eye on her as she made her way towards one of the darkened hallways that jutted out from the ballroom. It was almost like she was running away, but that couldn't be. Although he'd only known her a little less than a month, Bolin knew that Korra didn't run away from anything.
"So?" Mako asked, jolting Bolin out of his thoughts as he and Asami came to stand beside him. "What did she say?"
"She says she's fine," he answered. "But she's not. Mako, I'm worried."
Mako saw the trepidation in his little brother's eyes and immediately kicked into protective mode. He hated seeing Bolin worried, and it was naturally instinctive for him to put his brother at ease. And besides, as much as Bolin was a charmer and a lady's man, Korra was far too stubborn to fall for his compliments and passive interrogation techniques. What that girl needed was blunt, honest, perhaps even harsh words to get through her practically impenetrable defenses. Korra clutched at her insecurities greedily, refusing to acknowledge her own vulnerabilities. Mako understood because he did the same thing.
"I'll go talk to her," he decided. He turned towards Asami, his features softening as he gripped one of her hands. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he promised.
"Go ahead," Asami nodded kindly, her startlingly pale green eyes alighting with empathy. "I'll be fine, that is, if some sweet gentleman would ask me to dance." She threw Bolin a smirk and sideways glance.
"My darling Miss Sato," Bolin began gallantly, bowing regally at the heiress while offering her an upturned palm, "would you do me the greatest honor of my life and join me in a dance?"
"Well, when you ask that way," Asami said, smiling as she placed her hand in Bolin's, "how could a girl refuse?"
Mako chuckled softly to himself as he walked away from the pair, glad that Bolin and Asami were getting along so well. It thrilled him that Asami fit so snuggly into their dynamic, almost like there had been a place for her all this time and it was only now that he had found her and completed the puzzle. She wasn't like Korra at all. She wasn't loud, or disruptive, or selfish. She didn't clash with him at every turn, or force him to relinquish the control and security he was desperate for.
She didn't make him worry.
With Asami, everything was just easy.
Korra walked along the dark hallway for a few moments before finally stopping to lean against a thick marble column. She pressed her cheek to the smooth rock, letting its hard, cold surface sooth her flushed skin, willing the stone's detachment to soak into her like a virus. She was tired of feeling so much. She wanted to be like the marble and feel nothing.
"Nice party."
Korra almost screamed.
He was the last person she wanted to talk to, the last person she even wanted to think about, but he was there with her in the hallway. She could feel him like a shadow.
Inhaling deeply, Korra steeled her tenacity, trying to find herself, that sassy, confident, tough girl that called him nicknames and didn't put up with his nagging, control-freak shit. She needed to be that girl now more than ever.
"Well, fancy running into you here, Mr. Hat Trick," she started, turning to face him with her arms crossed over her chest, leaning her side against the column in a casual manner, no different than when they spoke in the gym. She smiled at him carelessly, struggling to maintain her grin when she noticed the thin grim line of his mouth and the hardened amber intensity of his eyes. Even in the darkness they seemed to glow like a flame.
"Korra, what's going on?" he asked, no pleasantries, no teasing, no compliments, just a direct question to the heart of the matter. It made Korra wonder why she'd been expecting anything less from the firebender.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't do that," he commanded darkly. "Don't be coy. You're no good at it. You've got Bolin worried, and me too. Tell me what's wrong."
"You're worried about me?" Korra asked, inwardly flinching at how ridiculously hopeful she sounded and hating how much she really did care about his answer.
"Sure I am," he said, moving a step closer. "Korra, this Tarrlock guy, he just seems like bad news. Bolin told me he's been trying to bribe you to join this task force for the last week, heard he even bought you a satomobile."
"Bolin told you that?"
"Well, you didn't." There was a hint of bitterness to Mako's words, like he was angry that he'd had to hear so much about what had been happening second hand. "You know, if you'd shown up for our practices you could have told me all of this yourself."
"Mako…" she sighed, trying to find the words, any words at all, to tell him what was really troubling her. A week ago, he'd confided in her, whispering the story of his past, of his struggle on the streets, of his desperation to keep his little brother protected and happy at all costs. That night in the park snuggled against Naga, Mako had revealed a bit of his wounded and vulnerable heart, trusting her to not harm it further. She wanted to trust him, too. She wanted to tell him everything she was feeling. How much Amon's power scared her, how lost she felt in this political whirlpool that Tarrlock was casting her in, how frustrated she was with her continued lack of airbending progress…
How small and pathetic she felt in Avatar Aang's shadow.
"I'm sorry. About the practices," she started, taking a calming breath, about to tell her friend everything that had been bothering her since they'd stumbled upon Amon's revelation.
"You should be," Mako snapped. "While you've been hiding out on Air Temple Island, Bolin and I were killing ourselves trying to think of ways to get money for the tournament. Were you even thinking about that at all?"
She had been, but the lack of sleep from her nightmares and the pressure to protect the city hadn't left her much time to give thought to the tournament. She hadn't forgotten about it, merely pushed it to the side. She lowered her head, chagrined.
"I don't even know where we'd be right now if I hadn't met Asami. It's thanks to her that her dad is sponsoring us."
"I know," Korra muttered, remembering the svelte woman in the scarlet dress who had been attached to Mako's arm most of the evening.
"We're in the tournament, Korra. We gotta be on top of our game. I know you have a lot on your plate with airbending training and your Avatar duties, but now you go and thrown on this task force stuff? Are you even going to have time for the Fire Ferrets?"
"I get it!" she screamed, locking eyes with the tall boy, feeling the disgraceful burn of tears in the corner of her eyes and biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. She wouldn't let the jerk see her cry, not when it wasn't her he was really worried about. "I promise I won't miss anymore practices."
"Good," he sighed, frowning. "And about all this task force stuff...be careful."
Korra was surprised at the sincerity of his words.
"I haven't forgotten what Amon can do. I haven't forgotten how scary this whole revolution is," he stated, moving to place a large, warm hand on her shoulder. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm the Avatar," Korra shrugged, doing her best to be brave. "I'll be fine."
Mako nodded, not really believing her words but not knowing what else there was to say. He moved his hand from her shoulder, his palm tingling at the loss of contact, making him flex his fingers before balling them into a fist at his side, as if he was trying to hold onto the warmth she'd left there.
"So," he began.
"So," she echoed, looking away a bit bashfully. "Are you really OK?"
"Me?" he wondered.
"That hit you took from Asami's moped," she clarified. "You're really OK?"
"It happened five days ago," Mako said, rubbing unconsciously at his lower back and the nearly healed bruise from his lucky collision. "You would have known that if you'd come to practice." Korra flashed him a look that clearly communicated that he'd better not start on the training lecture again. For once, he headed her silent warning. "And anyway, I told you I was."
"I know," Korra shrugged, "but, I thought, maybe you were just putting on a show. You know, so Bolin and Asami wouldn't worry."
Mako cracked a grin at Korra's genuine distress, shaking his head ruefully. "I didn't know you cared so much," he said lightly.
"Of course I care about you!" she exclaimed, her words so ferocious and passionate that they echoed off the marble walls, the jumbled chorus of 'care' and 'you' haunting the two teenagers like poltergeists. Korra wished she could swallow her words and bury them deeply back into her throat along with the damning blush she could feel staining her cheeks and nose. Mako looked just as surprised as she felt, his mouth hanging open a tad, his eyes wide and his stance stiff.
He wasn't ready for this confession, and neither was she.
"And Bolin, too!" Korra followed up clumsily. "You guys are my friends, and my teammates. I care about both of you…a lot."
It was the closest she'd come to saying, out loud, what she felt for the firebending pro-bender. She wasn't sure she could properly articulate what it was she felt even if she wanted to.
Mako had taken a few steps away from her, his posture still taut and defensive, and it looked like he was about to say something, something that could change everything, something that could destroy the last bits of pride she had left, and she didn't want to hear it.
"Look, you better get back in there. Your girlfriend," Korra paused, stubbornly fighting the unfamiliar and unwanted ache that swelled within her heart, "she's probably missing you."
And as swiftly as an airbender, Korra sidestepped Mako and walked away from him, leaving the now claustrophobic darkness of the abandoned hall for the glitzy, cacophonous atmosphere of her stupid party. She didn't look back to see if he was following her.
Korra weaved in and out of the people, willing the crowd to swallow her up, searching for Tenzin's bald and arrow covered head so she could ask him if they could go home. She'd claim fatigue or an upset belly, even the urgency for more training, anything to leave this place.
'I'm not running away,' she insisted silently as she looked for her teacher. Korra was resolute in her decision. She wasn't running away, not from Tarrlok, not from Mako, and not from Amon.
She wasn't afraid.
She was Korra, Avatar Korra, and she had a duty to the people of the world, one that she was going to fulfill wholeheartedly. She wasn't afraid of her responsibilities. She wasn't afraid of getting her hands dirty. She wasn't afraid of taking on the Equalist Revolution.
She wasn't afraid of how Mako made her feel, either.
And she wasn't afraid, not even the slightest, when he hadn't denied her words.
The End.
OK, here's that overblown Author's Note I promised.
So yes, episode four has thrown a lot of makorra shippers for a loop. Let me just say here and now that I support makorra and that I do believe that it will happen...eventually. As much as I would have liked to see a show where the guy and girl get together right away and have to deal with actually being together when one of them is the freakin' Avatar, I understand why the creators have chosen to take the more dramatic, angsty, will-they/won't-they, teenage love triangle ala Dawson's Creek and all the other teen romantic dramedies that we secretly watch but will deny until our dying breaths, route (wow, that was an incredible run-on sentence if I do say so myself).
As has been reiterated over and over again on forums and blogs and tumblr, we are only on the fourth episode, so chill. Also, for those who think that things are progressing between Mako and Asami too fast, I'm not going to argue that Aang got an instant crush on Katara the moment he awoke from his iceberg (although that did happen), or that Zuko and Mai started dating the minute they were reunited in season three after something like a four year seperation (but that happened, too), or that Korra seemed to have fallen for Mako the moment she saw him pro-bending (which can be debateable, but the arguement is strong). Nope, my argument is that we are on episode FOUR in a TWELVE episode season. As of this moment, we are one-third through this series. It's not the relationships that are moving fast, it's the pace of the show itself!
Things have to happen quickly. Even the timeline is moving along rather steadily. If you listen to characters talk about time passing, I figure Korra's been in Republic City close to, or perhaps just over, one month. I think that's a sufficient amount of time for teenagers to develop crushes. Even during the taxi ride scene, Asami mentioned that she bought a scarf for Mako a week ago (I am assuming she is meaning their first date when she bought him that whole new outfit, but then I could be wrong). So for argument's sake, I'd say Mako's known Asami for a week, ample time for anyone to start dating.
And hey, sometimes, people do fall head over heels hard and fast. It doesn't just happen in the movies, or in books, or on TV, it happens in real life all the time.
Another thing I noticed about this episode that gave me some cues that the makorra relationship (whether deeply platonic or romantic) is an important aspect of the show, was that it focused, mostly, on Korra and Mako. Yes, it looked at their relationships with different people (Mako with Asami and Mr. Sato and Korra with Tenzin and Tarrlock specifically), but it was about the two of them. Episode three gave us an entire twentysomething minutes to watch these two when they're together and the focus is on their interactions towards each other. Episode four gave us the chance to see how they operate individually. But think about it. Yes, Korra's character development (which was SUPER intense and just so well done!) was the focus, but we got a bunch of of Mako moments, too. Since these two characters got a majority of screen time, I'm going to just assume that Bryke want me to pay attention to them, and so I shall.
As for Mako and Bolin's seemingly unsupportive attitude towards Korra's struggles in the episode, I'm gonna call the time card on that. If the season were longer, we might have been able to have little moments with the brothers worrying over Korra (and not just being bummed out/angry that she was missing practice), but for pacing's sake, we couldn't. And I'm not going to say that the writers/animators/Bryke/whoever could have afforded a few seconds to show Mako and Bolin talking to Korra or each other about their concerns as her friends. I'm not an animator, I'm not in the business, so I don't know what is and isn't possible given the confines of the narrative and other factors. I trust that Bryan and Mike know what they're doing. And anyway, that's why we have fanfiction, so we can fill in these gaps.
Also, and I don't want to tred on anyone's toes, so I'm sorry, but the show is called LEGEND OF KORRA, not LEGEND OF MAKORRA. Yes, the makorra relationship may be important in its relation to Korra herself, but the show is about her: Korra's struggles, Korra's fights, Korra's Avatar training, Korra's understanding and discovery of herself, and yes, Korra's love life, too. I thought this episode was a fantastic look at who Korra is. Once we stripped away her bravado, her temper and even some of her attitude, what we got was a seventeen year old kid - not quite unlike the one I and many others used to be and many more others are - who doesn't wan't to let those she loves down, who is confused about what is the right thing to do, and who is realizing for the first time that there are things to be afraid of in this world. I mean, did you see her nightmare? She dreams that Amon tells her that without her bending she'll be nothing. This is what Korra fears the most, having her identity stripped away from her, because who is she if she's not Avatar Korra?
And this is why the Legend of Korra rocks!
The romance is a bonus, and whatever will be will be (and of course I want it to be makorra in the end), but what really makes this show great is the questions it asks its heroine and the ethical/moral/political/personal situations she is put in.
Bring it on Episode Five.
Bring it!
So, if you actually read through my rant, thank you. If you didn't, I don't blame you, it is long.
If you liked this fic, please leave a comment, question or review. It's always nice to hear from anyone in the community.
Keep calm, and be the leaf.
