Disclaimer: The Legend of Korra, all characters and settings, and anything else you would recognize as pertaining to this cartoon does not belong to me. I do not intend to make any money off the writing of this fan fiction; it is merely for entertainment purposes.


Title: The Caress of Water.

Summary: The Avatar battles both the powerful Equalist activists and her own feelings for their mysterious leader—a tale of unbreakable family ties, tolerance, and self-exploration.

Pairings: Amon/Korra, unrequited Tarrlok/Korra, slight Mako/Asami, slight Mako/Korra, slight unrequited Bolin/Korra.

This chapter was totally revamped for your enjoyment on March 19, 2018.


Chapter XI: Lull of the Waves


A cloaked figure hid in wait amongst the shadows, peering out from under his cowl. Behind a midnight-black veil, a determined scowl twisted his lips. With the sparkling Yue as his only witness, he scaled the perimeter of the courtyard of the police headquarters, darting from crevice to alley while remaining alert for possible bystanders. Entirely swathed in black cloth, he was invisible.

It was early in the morning, much earlier than civilians were expected to start their day, so his only obstacles were the roaming police patrols. Closing his eyes, he allowed his fine-tuned senses to wander. Above him, he could feel the rapid heartbeats of the owl squirrels atop the metalbenders' wire transport system as they scurried along the cables. Apart from that, he was met with a blind silence.

He deemed it safe enough to progress beneath the elongated shadow of the headquarters, and he slunk along the front until he reached the staircase leading to the entrance. His footfalls were inaudible, carefully controlled. When he reached the top, he held his breath as he paused at the double doors. Again, he reached through the thick wood with his experienced bending and immediately became aware of two officers lingering in the lobby. Dropping to one knee and placing both hands against the door, he monitored their movements with growing impatience.

The officers appeared to be exchanging pleasantries, but the arrival of a third officer startled them out of their discussion—the sudden, telltale pounding of their hearts pulsated. They quickly split ways, disappearing from the bloodbender's range. The third officer hesitated for several moments before he, too, departed. Finally, he was free to enter the headquarters and continue his mission.

Barely pushing the doors open, he slipped between them and made a beeline to his left, where a helpful sign proclaimed, "Prisoner Affairs." He could sense the patrols as they moved from offices and interrogation rooms, but he ignored them and ghosted past cracked doorways. The lights above him cast dramatic shadows along the floor, dark masses that ran alongside him.

Reaching a stairwell, he vaulted himself over the railing and climbed down the side. He dropped to the ground with only a soft slap against the tile and a flutter of his cloak. Straightening back up, he considered the two choices presented to him.

There was a door to his left and one to his right. Going to the left-hand door, he concentrated on the contents. He didn't bother to count the number of heartbeats that greeted him, for it was immense. However, behind the right-hand door, there were only two. The decision was obvious, and he entered the prison.

Empty cells lined the walls, and he tugged his cowl low over his face as he drifted across the floor. Coming across the first occupied cell, he didn't need to look at the person within it to know that he was fast asleep, as was the second person a few cells ahead and to his right. He peered underneath his hood at the prisoner. Greasy hair drooped down the man's face like a tangle of washed-up seaweed. With gaunt skin and heavily soiled clothing, the Water Tribe man made for a pitiful sight, though it brought a cruel tilt to the cloaked man's lips.

Taking a step back, he bent his wrists and splayed his fingers. He directed his attention to the captured faction leader's blood flow, following its hypnotizing journey through veins and arteries. Then, lifting his left hand and squeezing it into a tight fist, he watched as his victim flew from his drooped position against the far wall and dropped to his hands and knees.

Suinnak's eyes and mouth shot open, a scream ready on the tip of his tongue, but his lips clamped shut, muffling it. Helpless, he could only watch as his hands pushed himself upright before going straight for his neck, wrapping around the column of flesh with an unforgiving grip. His nails dug into the sensitive skin as he began to strangle himself.

His bulging eyes darted upward to find the person responsible for his predicament poised in utter concentration in front of his cell. The man, a human shape of black and charcoal gray, was the most terrifying thing he had ever beheld.

As his fingers crushed tighter around his neck, he could only inhale, strained, through his nose, and his starving lungs begged for air. The agony of the bloodbender's rough ministrations began to take their toll on his body: his nose began to leak blood, which dribbled down his lips and chin, further staining his filthy garments; and his vision blackened at the edges. Through the cacophony of dying thoughts—rambling, incoherent, and desperate nothingness—he pleaded for someone to save him. Regret was his last emotion; he was flooded with it as he recalled what he'd done in his short life, what he had yet to accomplish. His hopes and dreams… No. His vision was fading…

Just as his fellow prisoner was giving up on surviving the wrath of the mysterious bender, Lau Gan-Lan was stirred to consciousness by the rumbling of his hungry stomach. He blearily hoisted himself up from his prone position, sitting up on his sleeping mat. It took him far too long to realize what was happening when he habitually glanced out from between the bars of his cell. When Lau's mind finally shouted, 'Do something!' he jumped into action and snatched up his temporary toilet, an empty bucket. He rattled it against his bars, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Help!"

The onslaught of commotion startled the bloodbender, breaking his focus, and his invisible tendrils withdrew from Suinnak, relinquishing control. Enraged, he snarled low in his throat and whirled on Lau. As he turned away, Suinnak slumped face-first to the ground, barely alive, and blood pooled below him.

"The Equalist leader's a bloodbender—he'll kill us!" Lau yelped desperately. "Help, somebody! Please!"

The cloaked man wanted to finish what he'd started, but, at the back of his mind, he knew it was too risky. Should he spend more than a few more moments at the scene of the attempted murder, a flimsy cowl and veil would do nothing to keep his identity a secret. Lau, as a sound witness, could testify about what he just did. It would be disastrous. Pride be damned, he needed to leave—fast.

He could already sense metalbenders charging through the hallway above, and it spurred him into motion. Without a second more of hesitation, he escaped from the prison and flung himself under the stairwell, molding with the shadows, while a stampede of footfalls pounded their way downstairs. Slowing his heartbeat to mere murmurs while they passed overhead ensured that he remained completely undetectable. His ears rang with the echoing shouts.

With the metalbenders occupied and out of sight, Tarrlok loosened his grip on his own blood and retreated the way he'd come. It pained him to leave loose ends, but perhaps it wouldn't matter.

He was confident that Suinnak wasn't going to be speaking much about anything for a long time.


The morning sun streamed through Korra's window in greeting, providing bars of warmth against the chill of the autumn air. With a shiver, the Avatar cracked her eyes, her mouth falling open in a loud groan. She squinted against the sunlight, reluctant to pull herself out of the comfortable bed. As much as she wanted to continue lounging, she knew she had work to do. With another groan, she rolled out of her blankets and landed in an undignified heap on the floor. Dragging herself over to her closet, she flung the doors open.

The shock of not seeing that familiar blue smile ripped her from her haze of drowsiness. Her eyes narrowed at the empty shelf, and she gritted her teeth, remembering that her mask had been destroyed. The splintered mess was still discarded in Republic City Park; she'd walked right past it after Amon kissed her.

Slamming the closet doors closed with far more force than necessary, she pressed her forehead and hands against the smooth surface. Her heart jumped with a sharp pang of nervous excitement as she clung to the memory of his arms encompassing her, his lips sliding over hers. Visions of what could come next in their increasingly complicated relationship tortured her and brought a hot flush to her face. When would she see him again? She was both dreading and awaiting it.

Suddenly invigorated, Korra left her room with a bundle of clean clothing and bathed. With her damp hair tied back, she returned to her room fully dressed and darted over her bed and heaved herself onto the windowsill. Seeing no White Lotus guards patrolling outside her window, she propelled herself forward—

—only to be grabbed by the ankle in midair. With a yelp, she fell to the grass a few feet from her window. Twisting around, she instinctively struck her other leg out at her captor and summoned a ball of swirling flames to her palm. Her foot was deflected with a familiar masculine grunt of pain.

"Korra, that's enough!" Tenzin scolded, releasing her with a stern look. His clothing was in slight disarray from their brief scuffle. After adjusting his robes, he refolded himself into the Lotus position. It was clear that he'd been meditating outside of her window while waiting for her to try to sneak by; he knew her far too well now. "Just where do you think you're going? Again?"

"Out." She sighed, extinguishing her fire with a stretch of her fingers. She pushed herself upright to face her airbending master. "You know I have a lot of things to do now."

"I allowed you some space to make the right decisions, but I'm at my limit. I shouldn't have to remind you that airbending is in that list of things you 'have to do.' I know you're engaged in various projects and teams throughout the city, but your role as the Avatar comes first. It will always come first."

"I know, I know. I must unlock my spirituality to bring balance within myself before I can hope to bring balance to the world. I've heard all of it before, Tenzin. But, when I sit in a silent gazebo for hours listening to nature, I don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything. When I'm out there," she threw out her hand at the bustling activity of Republic City, "I'm so alive! I'm making a difference, improving the lives of lower-class citizens. I'm assisting the police force, and I'm catching Equalists."

I'm locking lips with my greatest enemy. The thought was unbidden, and she coughed into her fist.

Tenzin eyed her in contemplation. "Indeed, you are accomplishing many things in such a short period of time. But, as you just said, you lack the balance within yourself. You should learn to juggle your numerous tasks; it's best you learn early on that your role is not one of relaxation. You will never find yourself without things to occupy yourself with. While you are bringing about peace to this troubled world, you are also expected to improve yourself. Improving yourself includes staying up-to-date with bending stances and styles, becoming one with the Spirit World, and applying the guidance of the past Avatars to each and every action you take."

Korra's attention wandered disinterestedly from Tenzin's steely gaze to the city she yearned to be exploring. She wondered what Amon was doing—meditating? Probably not. It seemed like such a waste of time to her when she could be helping people or figuring out a way to stop the Equalists.

"Korra." Tenzin's voice brought her back to him. "I don't want to force you, but I'm your master—you're under my guidance and protection for the time being. You were accepted here for one reason, and the sooner you overcome this obstacle, the sooner you can become acquainted with the freedom you wish to have. After all, freedom and air are synonymous."

She frowned and tucked a fist under her chin. Reluctantly, she admitted that he had a point. Republic City would have to wait a few hours. "Fine. What's on the training schedule for today?"

"Once you've changed, we'll practice circular movements and breathing, since you showed some progress on meditation during our last session. But don't assume we won't return to mediation regularly. It's very important that you learn how to put aside your worldly concerns and focus only on the energy of life around you."

With that, Korra trudged away to change into her Air Nomad attire. When she returned, Tenzin led her to the training fields, where the airbending children were already practicing.

"Great, she's here! Let's get started!" Ikki squealed, dismounting her air scooter. She and her siblings formed a triangle formation.

"What's going on?"

"The kids would like to try a new technique on you, if you wouldn't mind," Tenzin explained, crossing his arms. Nodding toward his children, he prompted, "Take the position in the middle."

Curious, Korra did as he instructed. She glanced from Meelo to Ikki to Jinora.

"We're going to assist you with your circular movements, since you destroyed our training equipment last time," Jinora said. Keeping her limbs loose, she reared her arms back and shoved a gust of air toward Korra. It clung to her clothing and spun her around a few times, but she wobbled and nearly collided with Ikki, who twirled out of the way before she could.

"You need to let the wind guide you. If you try to force against it, you will fall," Ikki advised, helping her up and pushing her back into the center of their formation. She repeated Jinora's movements and sent a spiral of air.

This time, Korra allowed herself to be guided. The world spun in a blur of colors around her, making her sick. Puffing out her cheeks, she pressed a panicked hand to her lips as her stomach quivered in nausea.

"Close your eyes!" Meelo ordered. That was all the warning he gave before he, too, forced her to twirl. "We don't want you throwing up on us."

Korra squeezed her eyes shut and lifted her heels so she could twist smoothly in her slippers. It helped to quell the nausea somewhat, but it lingered. The siblings dutifully kept the air moving around her.

Tenzin's voice floated toward her. "Just as I instructed during our mediation, clear your mind. Don't let your daily worries impede your freedom. Concentrate only on breathing and allowing the wind to carry you. Place your trust in its guidance. Maintain your body's equilibrium to flawlessly execute the form."

She inhaled, then exhaled. The cool air whipped around her, unchanging and constant. It fluttered her tunic and tangled through her dark hair. It caressed her exposed skin and whispered all around her. In her mind, it was Amon, wrapping around her possessively and murmuring darkly into her ears.

Her eyes snapped open, and she careened from the wind tunnel, landing at Meelo's feet with a pained groan. She dug the heels of her hands into her eyes and growled. She was hopelessly distracted, unable to concentrate without thinking of the Equalist leader in some way. Why did her mind have to torture her so? Spirits, she wanted more.

"Well, that was decent for your second try," Tenzin said. "You placed your trust in the wind, but something obviously caused you to falter. You must learn to let this hindrance go. If it impedes your sense of freedom, it'll only continue to cause trouble for you."

"Don't I know it," Korra muttered distastefully under her breath.

"Don't let it discourage you." Ikki pouted at her, squatting in front of her fallen form. "Just keep trying. We can come up with other methods if this isn't working for you."

"No, you shouldn't have to go out of your way for me. This technique is fine," she dismissed, returning to her position in the center of the triangle. "I'm ready again."

The cycle began again.

Amon still drifted through her mind, but she found it easier to remain on her feet when she didn't fight against him. Her mind raged at the thought of allowing him to control her and keep her from mastering her bending, so she didn't let him. She refused to let him. With calm, gentle breaths, she tilted her head back and accepted the invisible guidance. Her trust grew, as did her balance. Her nausea faded, and she didn't falter.

The Avatar hardly realized when the airbending siblings stopped manipulating the air around her, for she was lost to the world. She never knew she could feel so relaxed, like she was part of the air.

Once again, Tenzin's voice jerked her back to the present. "Well done, Korra."

Korra snapped out of it and stared, wide-eyed. "What? Did I airbend?!" She immediately threw out her hands and unsuccessfully tried to produce gusts of wind across the grassy field. The trio of children snickered at her dramatic attempts.

"No, you didn't airbend, but you were able to continue the circular movements on your own. You appeared to be in a meditative state. Did you let go of your hindrance?"

Her arms dropped to her sides, and, sheepish, she glanced at him. "No. I find that trying to force something from my mind makes it stronger. It keeps coming back to me, striking again and again. But, if I accept it, it's like… like the wind around me, you know? It can touch and redirect me, but it can't stop me."

Tenzin nodded. "Accepting that something simply is. There are more paths than clearing your thoughts. I should've known it wouldn't work with you."

"He means you're too stubborn to let go," Jinora supplied helpfully. "You stress and obsess over your problems until they go away—if they ever do."

Korra shot her a bland look, reminiscent of the one Amon had given her the day before. She hardly realized she was mimicking him.

"It's not a terrible thing; it's just different from what I teach my children," Tenzin said. "This simply means you're attached to the world, which is why you excel at earthbending. But, you know, waterbending isn't much different from airbending. In both, there's spirituality and flowing with the movements of your element."

"I should've been reincarnated as the next Earth Kingdom Avatar," Korra agreed, "or Fire Nation. They just connect better with my personality. I have trouble falling back to defense; I'm all offensive."

"This is a large part of why airbending eludes you. Airbending, like waterbending, is almost completely defensive. The only major difference is that water can be used to redirect an attack back at its source. With the air, you evade and avoid. You allow your opponent to use up his strength while you preserve yours."

"That kind of sounds like my next lesson," she said, uneasy. "Avoiding while you guys attack."

The children grinned toothily at her.

"That does sound like something they would enjoy," Tenzin responded with an amused shake of his head. "But, for now, let's continue. We'll work up to the point where you can hold your form without any assistance."


"One, two, punch!" Bolin muttered to himself, lifting earth discs into the air and sending them sailing into the net across the room. With a rigid stance, he was unmovable and fierce, and his discs struck their target with crippling precision.

Behind him, Mako tossed fiery punches in Korra's direction, sending arches of fire, which she countered with knife-like slashes of water. They danced around each other, brows furrowed in concentration. Asami, perched on the couch with a newspaper in her lap, was content to observe.

Having trained for most of the day, the Avatar was struggling against the weariness settling over her tense form. While airbending wasn't particularly stressful on the body, it drained her mentally and emotionally. Coupled with the rigorous dodging and attacking she was perfecting against Mako's firebending, she was beginning to reach her limit. Still, she fought through her exhaustion, narrowing her eyes in determination.

Mako inhaled deeply to produce a particularly vicious jet of flames, and she spotted her opening. She leaped over his onslaught, arms outstretched, with trails of water following in her wake. The fire harmlessly dissipated below her, though the heat was intense at her feet, and she landed, flinging one watery attack after another.

The spray of water connected with Mako's center, sending him teetering backward. The second quickly followed, knocking him from his feet. He landed on his back with a choked gasp.

Both Korra and Asami rushed to his side. "Are you okay?" they demanded simultaneously before glancing at each other with quirked brows.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he dismissed, laughing. He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "Nice hit, Korra. Our training is really paying off, huh?"

She nodded tiredly, helping him to his feet. "We'll win the championship, for sure."

"Well, we can safely say that losing won't be a question of our skill," Bolin added cheerfully. "We know how to operate like a team, we've got the moves, and we're Team Avatar! We can almost infiltrate an Equalist rally without being caught, so this should be nothing."

"My father has already paid the ante for you guys, and he's having the uniforms embroidered with the logo of his company. They'll be ready within the next day," Asami said, returning to her spot on the couch after moving her newspaper aside. When Mako joined her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, she wrinkled her nose at the scent of his sweat. Nonetheless, she leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Things are really moving along now."

"Speaking of things moving along, I met a carpenter in the prison, and he agreed to get a team of people who can fix the Midnight Abode." Korra paused to chug her cup of water and wipe the sweat from her brow. "As soon as they get out, we'll do some work to make it habitable again."

"That's good news. Where are the supplies coming from?" Mako asked.

"And I'm sure they'll want to be paid, right?" Bolin chimed in.

Hesitant, Korra glanced from brother to brother. "Err… I guess I hadn't thought that through. I really wish I had a budget to work with. I mean, I'd love to be able to pay them for their work, but I don't even have money to buy everything to do the repairs."

"I hope you didn't forget what I said," Asami interjected, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "My father would be happy to contribute to your projects if they directly benefit the nonbenders. I can ask him for a donation."

Korra groaned. "I know… but I feel uncomfortable asking him for so much money. He already paid for our pro-bending entry, which is more money than I could ever hope to earn."

"Well, how else are you supposed to get it?" she asked. "You need a benefactor for all those big ideas you have, and I'm sure he's more than willing. With all that money, he should be able to put it to good use improving the city."

"That's true," she conceded gruffly. "But I'm still going to find another way to fund my team as soon as possible. I don't want to bother him with it."

Especially if he's an Equalist. I don't know if I should trust him… Korra fretted.

"Okay, if you want to. I'll ask him tonight."

"Thanks, Asami."

"It's not a problem. Besides, I'm part of the team, too. I want to do something to help."


Korra was seated in a meadow, looking down into a glittering stream that snaked past the grassy precipice she was perched on. It lapped at the dry earth, and the sound blended with the mutterings of the nature encircling her. The moon hung impossibly large in the sky, illuminating the dew on every blade of the lush grass around her in a breathtaking display. She could see her own reflection as clearly as if the water were smooth glass. Mako's crimson scarf was laying loosely around her neck. She reached up to touch its soft fabric and smiled at herself in the water, noting that she was dressed in her Equalist disguise. Her boots were curled up behind her, and she rested on her hip. She kept herself upright with one hand.

A man knelt at her side, but her eyes never left the water. She didn't flinch when he placed his hand over hers, stilling her movement across the scarf. He unwrapped it from her shoulders and tossed it into the stream. Korra's half-lidded gaze followed the gentle ripples of its impact, and she raised her hand in farewell as it sank to the riverbed.

Turning her head, she smiled up at the familiar white mask that greeted her. She lifted her hand and ran her fingers over its ivory features while Amon threaded a hand through her hair. They were frozen like that, silently contemplative of each other—strangers slowly becoming more.


Pinned beneath his possessive form, Korra's lips parted in a silent gasp when his teeth nipped at the curve of her neck. The sensation raised a smattering of goosebumps, and she shivered. His fingers wandered over the generous swell of her hips, dipping with her narrow waist. He snagged her wrists, guiding them into place above her head. With them captured in one fist, his other hand was free to grasp her chin and lift her face to his.

Through hazy eyes, she watched as his lips lifted into a handsome smile. His skin was pale, unmarred, and a few unruly strands of hair hung in front of his glacial gaze. His nose, long and thin, brushed against her cheek when he leaned down to press kisses to her ear and take her earlobe between his lips. He squeezed her wrists tighter together and slid a knee between hers.

Amon bombarded her senses with a combination of tenderness and domination, leaving her teetering at the brink of the abyss. He refused to let her touch him, teasing her growing feelings into a whirlwind that threatened to toss her over the edge. She was helpless beneath him, and the vulnerability stirred something within her that caused her heart to race and her limbs to squirm against his unrelenting straddle.

But she didn't want to be free.


Several days passed by in a blur. Korra, under the strain of constant training, found it harder than usual to wake up in the mornings. It wasn't only because she was tired and wanted to continue sleeping; she also wanted to enjoy the last few moments of her increasingly frequent dreams. Every night, she was visited by the Equalist leader, and the fantasies became more passionate the more she yearned for his presence. She hadn't heard from or seen him in four days.

As much as she hated to admit it, she needed to see him, but she didn't know how to find him without taking a huge risk. She couldn't simply walk into Equalist territory and demand that they take her to him. She faintly smiled in amusement at the thought of how they would react—how he would react.

Korra often wondered what he thought of her. Was she really just a grand spectacle to end his glorious revolution on—or begin on, rather, when he took his plans outside of Republic City? Or did he sit in his own bedroom, as conflicted as she, dreaming about encounters that could never happen?

No, she gruffly told herself. That's stupid. A man like that wouldn't waste his time with daydreaming. If he really wanted something, he would take it.

Not the first time, she recalled their first kiss, and it invoked an anxious flutter within her. She wanted him to kiss her again, to touch her, to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. She wanted him to show that she wasn't just an object in his eyes.

What did he really think of her? She was haunted by the what ifs, stuck in a loop of obsessing over it, though she already knew what his answer would be.

You're a mere child, Avatar, he'd say. Furthermore, you're the icon of benders. You are nothing more than a pawn in my scheme—one that will be crushed on the way to victory.

Korra was prepared to accept it. She had no other choice, but it was a bitter resignation. The idea of him never returning her tentative feelings sent a sharp pang through her heart. She sighed, long and suffering. Her feelings for Mako hadn't been nearly as complex as her feelings for Amon. Why did this have to happen?


The sudden arrival of taxis had Korra looking up from the supplies she was busy unloading. She raised her hand in greeting when nonbenders piled out from the Satomobiles and gathered at the entrance to the Midnight Abode.

"I've got this!" Asami announced, sauntering up to the waiting taxis and withdrawing yuans from her pocket.

"Well, well, well, look who's out and ready to get to work!" Korra called to the group, dropping an armful of planks in her messy pile and walking toward them. They stared in awe at the abandoned homes; the damage and litter hardly seemed to faze them when they were faced with the opportunity to move into real homes.

"We'll go ahead and take stock of the repairs needed in each apartment," Qiang said. "Do you have anything the women and children can do in the meantime?"

"Of course. Thanks to Hiroshi Sato's donations, there's a lot that needs to be done. We've got plants and trees that need to be arranged and planted. If you wouldn't mind," she said, nodding at the fairer gender.

"We would love to work with the plants," Lihua said warmly. She and the rest of the women, along with their fussing children, surrounded a cart spilling with potted foliage and immediately began sorting through the selection.

"The rest of you… Well, I won't pretend to know what I'm doing with all of this, but an inspector already came out and calculated the damage. This is apparently what you need," Korra said, leading the men to the piles she had made. At their disposal were also sets of tools, easily enough for the large group to delegate. "Since you're the experts, I'll let you get started, and my friends and I can jump in wherever we're needed."

Satisfied with what they were given to work with, the men distributed the tools and split into small groups.

"Each of you will receive payment for your effort. Work hard, and let's get this done so you have a place to live!" Mako called out. He picked up an armload of roofing tiles and followed some men into the first apartment.

"High energy, people! Double time!" Bolin bellowed encouragingly, transporting the copper pipes needed for the second apartment.

The workers threw themselves into their respective tasks, working hard. As hour after hour flew by, the borough transformed before their eyes.

"Excellent work, team! It's time to start wrapping this up so we can get some rest!" Korra yelled to be heard over the noise. As she swept the buildings with a critical eye, she noted with pleasure the dramatic change that had taken place.

The plants were attractively packed into the ground, and the gardens had been cleared of glass fragments and discarded trash. The roofs gleamed with fresh tiles, the windows were no longer shattered or cracked, and the staircases were sturdy and gleaming under a fresh layer of wood gloss. A new sense of life had been breathed into the sector.

The men and women assembled at the southwestern gate to stand back and admire what they had done. Their faces, smudged with dirt and grime, beamed wearily at their new home. Although it was somewhat chilly with the encroaching evening, sweat poured from their foreheads. Couples embraced tightly, and eyes swam with tears of happiness. Everyone was abuzz with the realization that they would be able to sleep in real beds, to have privacy after so long of none.

"Enjoy the fruits of your hard work, guys. First thing tomorrow morning, we'll be out and about looking for jobs so we can get that rent paid!" Bolin cheerfully told them, scratching at Pabu's silky fur.

"With the yuans I'm handing out, you'll be able to hire a taxi to help you look for jobs," Asami said, working her way around the group. "It should also be enough to pay for food and necessities for a few weeks as long as you're conservative with it."

While the people filtered by Team Avatar, thanking them and exchanging pleasantries, Korra noticed that a young couple hung back, appearing remarkably guilty. She approached them. "What's wrong? Don't you want to get some sleep? You guys must be tired after all that work."

The man looked up at her, frowning. "Avatar Korra, my wife and I appreciate the opportunity to move off the streets, but we must respectfully decline."

Korra stared uncomprehendingly. "Huh? Why?"

"You see… we're benders," the frail-looking woman mumbled. "We hardly belong here."

Mako, Bolin, and Asami overheard the conversation and drifted over.

"What difference does that make?" Mako asked. "You worked on the borough just like everyone else, so you have every right to live here."

"We were under the impression that, if they ever found out that we can bend, they wouldn't want us in their family," the green-eyed man continued hesitantly. "We hid our abilities so we could make allies. We can't, in good conscience, live here without revealing our secret."

"But it just doesn't seem right to bring it up after hiding it for so long," the woman quickly added. "They trusted us, and we were dishonest."

"They'll understand. They no longer fear benders, and I know they'll be able to accept that some of their friends have been benders since the beginning," Asami encouraged warmly. "If anything, the bond is strengthened because you were suffering right along with them the whole time. You helped to rebuild what you lost."

"C'mon, tell them," Korra added with a smile. "Then get some rest for tomorrow."

"Yes, you're right. We've shared our lowest point with these people, and we consider them our brothers and sisters. Thank you for everything." The earthbending couple bowed to Team Avatar and joined their friends.

Korra's smile grew as she watched the nonbenders welcome them with open arms.