Book 2: Metal
Chapter 8 - The City of Metal
Suyin was already awake when Kuvira reached the dining room.
"Su?" she asked. "You're up early."
"And good morning to you too Kuvira." Suyin smiled. "This isn't so much out of choice as necessity. I got a report of a large, white dog-like creature spotted in this area." Her finger jabbed down onto the map she had unfurled across the table-top.
"Korra," Kuvira said, stepping closer and checking the region Suyin had indicated.
Suyin nodded. "Unless someone else is roaming the countryside on a polar-bear dog. Want to see if you can find her?"
"With pleasure," Kuvira said, fighting back a grin.
"Oh, and take Wing and Wei with you; they're being restless," Suyin said as she leant back against the table sipping her tea.
"They're always restless," Kuvira said half distractedly as she studied the map.
"Yes, well. This should help." Suyin sighed. "It would be nice to have a more precise location but without air bison I guess we're stuck with what we have. And Tenzin can't spare the time to help either."
"So Republic City is still not in the best of ways?" Kuvira asked as she straightened up. "And that's not even considering the Avatar has seemingly gone missing again. Three times in just under two hundred years..."
"If you find her somehow frozen in a snow drift, you are to bring her back here and thaw her," Suyin said with a frown.
Kuvira chuckled. "Yes, ma'am. Hopefully we'll be back before lunch."
"Have fun," Suyin replied. "I, meanwhile, have to deal with some Equalist recruiters security picked up. Honestly; they tried that here of all places?"
There was no immediate urgency to locating the Avatar; it was not as if the world descended into chaos every-time one vanished. Yes; Aang's disappearance was swiftly followed by the obliteration of the air nomads, but nothing like that had occurred following Korra's absence. The world needed to have more faith in itself; people could stand on their own - provided they had good leadership of course. And unity; something to bring everyone together. The Red Lotus; their whole ethos was so alien to her, so wrong. How could they have hoped to succeed?
In the garden outside Baatar focused his undivided attention on what looked like an over-sized engine. He was fiddling with something, his hands somewhere inside the mechanism. Kuvira walked up behind him, Baatar not reacting in the slightest. She grinned and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Good morning, Baatar!" she said loudly.
Baatar jumped, trying to turn to see how had surprised him. He sagged slightly. "Kuvira! That was... surprising." His heart was racing in his chest.
"Is everyone up so early this morning?" she asked.
"Everyone? I just... A new idea came to me last night so I wanted to get started on this," he replied, patting the hulking form of his project.
Kuvira rested her chin on his shoulder and scrutinized the engine. "It looks very similar to yesterday."
Baatar smiled. "It does. From the outside anyway. However; internally so much has changed. I increased the intake vents and..." Kuvira zoned out a little as Baatar rambled, his pulse fast and excited. It was oddly cute seeing him so impassioned and focused. Kuvira blinked as Baatar repeated his question. "Any reason you're up so early?"
"Me? I'm always up at this time." She sighed. "But, I do have work to do. I have to go find the Avatar. Again. At least this time she shouldn't run or attack me."
Kuvira stamped down hard on the rock and closed her eyes. The vibrations through the mud and rock rebounded on distant objects, their forms and natures becoming clear to her for a flickering moment. Animals scurried in the undergrowth and under the ground. Some observed these strange smelling giants that occasionally intruded into their domain while others fled at their mere scent. There were animals in hollow logs. Animals up in the trees. The sensation of leaves falling to the ground. There. Footsteps. Distant. Not too far.
"They're close," she said, opening her eyes.
Wei peered at the ground. "Good job you can do that. I can't make out anything on the trail."
Wing sighed. "And the broken branches? Those are just coincidental, yeah?"
Wei flushed slightly and looked higher. "Oh." He coughed. "How close are they?"
"Close enough to sense but too far for the polar-bear dog to bark at us, I assume?" Wing replied. He peered into the forest.
"How about a race?" Wei suggested.
"A race to the Avatar?" Kuvira asked.
"Sure, why not?"
"If you want. Ready? Go!" Kuvira was already shooting a wire up to the nearest tree as she said the last word. The other two were just behind her, but she still had the lead. She leapt from tree to tree with well practiced skill, the forest easy to negotiate. Kuvira paused on a branch. Was it worth dropping down to check on her bearing?
"No, we have been here. Look." Korra - and nearby.
"What?" Another voice snapped. Mako.
"The giant mushroom?"
Mako sighed. "Yes, its a giant mushroom. We've seen loads of them."
"No," Korra said forcefully. "We've seen the same one loads of times. We are going in circles!"
"Yeah, but this map. Look, it says..."
Kuvira bit back a smile as she swung towards the speakers. No sooner had she landed on a convenient branch, Naga barked a greeting.
"What is it, girl?" Korra followed Naga's gaze. "Oh, Kuvira! Are we glad to see you!"
"Korra," Kuvira said with a nod as she jumped to the ground. Wing and Wei were a fraction of a moment behind her. "Looks like I won," she said smiling at the brothers.
"Don't see why you're so please; it didn't mean anything," Wing muttered.
"Hey Kuvira," Bolin called. "And Wing and Wei! Hi guys!"
"Korra. Mako. Bolin," Wei greeted them with a nod as he reached the ground.
Korra blinked and frowned, leaning away from Kuvira, flattening herself against Naga's side. "You're not... Are you here to take us back to Republic City? Just to warn you, we have no intention of going back until we find Asami." She raised her hands in a fighting stance.
Kuvira shook her head. "No, no. Relax. We received reports that you might be in the area, but we're not going to try and deliver you home." Kuvira tilted her head to one side. "And like we could make the Avatar do anything?" Korra smiled at that. "But, you should know Lin is worried, the Sato's reputation is beyond ruined and the whole city is upset their Avatar has gone walkabout."
Korra sighed. "I am not their Avatar. And we just want to get Asami back safe and sound. Also, while it's a really tempting notion, I have been repeatedly-" She threw a quick glare at Mako. "- advised that bursting into their base, beating up all the Equalists and flat out killing Amon is a bad plan."
Mako spun around. "Hey, you never mentioned killing him before."
"Mako! It's... a figure of speech?" Korra scratched at her cheek and sighed. "Fine. I'll do the bring him to justice thing."
Wei stepped forward. "What do you know of their bases?"
Mako opened his mouth, but Bolin spoke over him. "Mako got some great information from his... our... um. Former extra-legal acquaintances. We've been to three bases so far but they'd been abandoned already. There's one near the Jing river though."
Suspicious. Extra-legal? A fancy way of saying underworld. Mako seemed to be having some trouble leaving his past behind completely. No matter. "The Jing camp has also been abandoned. We found it yesterday."
Korra's shoulders slumped. "No..."
"That was our last lead," Bolin exclaimed.
"Yep," Mako said scowling.
"Don't worry." Kuvira said quickly. "We've been looking for Asami too; Lin doesn't believe half the stuff being said about Asami right now. Su's had us looking for any trace of the Equalists."
Korra smiled. "Thanks. It... It means a lot to us."
"Also?" Wing added. "If you were heading to the Jing river, you're miles off course."
"If you kept on this trail I figure eventually you three would also need a rescue. Not that I mind rescuing the Avatar. And her friends of course." Did Wei just wink at Bolin?
"But this map..." Mako said flapping the paper.
"Let me see." Kuvira whipped the map out of his hand in one smooth motion. She blinked. Detailed. Far, far too detailed for maps most civilians could get hold of. "Just where did you get these?" And where had that hawk on Mako's shoulder come from?
A hasty exchange of glances between the trio from Republic City. "Bookstore," Mako said with a wince. His response made Bolin giggle.
"Bolin," Mako hissed.
"I'm sorry," Bolin chuckled. "That was so much like when Haruhi got asked where she worked..." He trailed off. "Oh." His eyes widened. "She didn't work in a bookshop did she?"
"No." Kuvira said and eyed Mako. There was no chance he had gotten these from any bookshop either; the change in his pulse confirmed her suspicion.
"So where did she work?" Bolin asked Korra.
"I don't know. She was your girlfriend!" Korra exclaimed. "Wait. I think Asami said she recognised her from somewhere. You should ask her when we find her."
"Bookstore?" Wing asked peering over Kuvira's shoulder. "Huh. Well. Wherever-" The trio were about to protest but Wing kept on talking. "-you got these from, you were reading them all wrong. Also they're out of date; the railroad is missing. And that forest is still there," he said pointing at the paper.
"So what now?" Bolin asked looking between Mako and Korra, oddly nervous.
"We could scout the area? If we were pointed in the right direction?" Mako asked, looking plaintively at Kuvira.
Korra nodded. "Yeah. If you're looking for Equalist camps, we want to come along."
Kuvira refolded the map and held it out. "While you are welcome to assist us. However for now, we recommend and indeed invite you to return to Zaofu with us. We should get an update from the other scouting teams later today. There may be some new information." Mako took the map from Kuvira's hands.
"Yeah, come back with us. We promise you'll love the city." Was Wei staring at Bolin? "I'll... We'll show you around."
"None of you visited us before, right?" Wing asked.
Korra shook her head. "I haven't. And if these two have they've somehow never mentioned it. But..." Korra fidgeted. "We'll lose time. Asami might get moved again."
"It is a risk admittedly. But we risk losing more time if we wander randomly. We offer exquisite food and soft beds. How long since you last had either?" Kuvira said, gesturing towards Zaofu
"Too long," Bolin put in quickly, his stomach rumbling.
Zaofu was beautiful when they arrived a few hours later. Despite their glowing endorsements, neither Opal nor Kuvira had done the city justice. Korra stared around her. The vast metal domes of Zaofu were reminiscent of the flower Kuvira had formed for her months before. The streets were clean, free from both litter and crowds. And despite the metal architecture, Zaofu seemed to have more greenery, more plants, flowers and trees per street than the whole of Republic City. The populace watched them with interest and it was starting to get a little embarassing. Even though Kuvira, Wing and Wei had flecks of mud marring their clothes, it seemed inconsequential next to the mud her own clothing had picked up. She wanted to get out of sight and not muddy up the city simply by walking throught it. Suyin was waiting on the steps of her home when the group arrived.
"Korra! Such a delight for the Avatar to visit our humble city. And these must be Asami's other friends?" she asked looking past Korra.
"Yep!" Bolin said with a bow.
"You did... briefly meet them at the Sato's," Kuvira said a little too quietly.
"Please, come. We have plenty of room, and the chef was already planning something new and exciting for dinner," Suyin said either not hearing or choosing to ignore the comment. The group trailed after her into what was in essense a metallic palace. Baatar greeted them with a wave and a smile, and he introduced them to his father and another child; Huan. Opal did a double-take as she wandered through the hall and then flung herself at Korra who caught the heavy text book Opal had flung into the air. She curled her spare arm around Opal.
"It's good to see you too, Opal," Korra said shifting the book around in her hand.
"You could have told me!" Opal glared over her shoulder.
"I thought you would still be asleep. Or does everyone now get up at the crack of dawn?" Kuvira replied.
"'Earth Studies'?" Korra asked, peering at the book's spine.
Opal stepped back and nodded. "My course at the university. Might not be a metalbender, but I do like all that kind of stuff. Mostly theoretical though." Korra leafed through a few pages, finding herself soon lost in the morass of calculations and unfamiliar terms.
"Hope it goes well," she said as she handed the book back and turned to Suyin. "Kuvira mentioned you might have gotten word from the other scouts?"
"All business this Avatar!" Suyin said with a laugh. "We haven't had all the reports in, but rest assured they are doing everything they can to find the Equalists and Miss Sato. And more importantly trying to ensure they aren't noticed while doing so. If we spook them, well, we have start all over again." Suyin smiled. "So rest up, try and relax until we know anything more."
"We'll... try. Well. Kuvira did offer to teach me metalbending?" Korra said.
"Oh! Yes, of course. Please do. What a delight; my protege a teacher to the Avatar! Kuvira? Would you mind showing Korra and her friends around?" Suyin asked.
"Not at all. Please," Kuvira said gesturing and lead the visitors further into the palace.
"And please join us for dinner tomorrow," Suyin said. "My schedule is a mess today and on top of that I have to go interrogate Equalist recruiters. I'll let you know if they know anything, but they seem to capable of little but spouting that nuisance propaganda."
"We'll arrange something so you can talk to your parents as well. Don't worry about Su; she won't let on that we did find you or that you're here," Kuvira said as they walked on. The spare rooms were more sparse than the Sato mansion, but much more modern than air temple island's facilities. Kuvira pointed out one or two specific landmarks on a vast map of the city. Mako seemed particularly intrigued with the library, while Bolin requested to tag along with Korra's training.
"Metalbending is at it's core very focused earthbending of the form I suspect you are already familiar. But rather then trying to influence the whole form, you need to focus on the earth within the metal; the impurities. Despite the name of the discipline, metal itself remains impossible to bend. The impurities however are not. Move the impurities and the metal must move with them; this is the essential essence of all metalbending; Toph Beifong's greatest discovery." Kuvira smiled and held up a sheet of shimmering metal. "The single limitation with metal bending we have found to date is platinum. No metalbender has ever influenced the metal; we are fortunate then that it is exceptionally rare. Gold and silver are the next trickiest respectively - those can be manipulated but it is awkward and inelegant. The difficultly scales through every known metallic element beneath them; from bronze to..." Kuvira indicated a curious black rock on a nearby pedestal. "For practice and for initial training we use this." Kuvira held the rock up. "This may look unfamiliar, and its origins may sound peculiar; this is a fragment of space rock. Our visitor from space is unlike any other rock on our world. This material has many metallic attributes but is exceptionally close to pure rock. It is perfect for first timers." Kuvira moved her hands, the rock flattening into something almost fluid. A twist of her fingers and the rock looked almost squid-like, tentacles jutting out from a large mass. Kuvira clapped her hands together and held them out to Korra. When she parted her hands a slightly uneven oval rested in her palms. "Now; you try."
"I hope I can do this," Korra said as she took the rock. "It'd be nice to be able to do it. Not convinced I can do lavabending, so this'll be something of a consolation..." She focused on the rock, the rock elements starkly obvious. Okay. Now to move them. The rock quivered on her hand but stayed in the same shape.
"According to Toph's own account, Aang was not capable of metalbending either. Su has speculated that his personality was so far removed from an earthbenders that he simply could not focus as he needed to," Kuvira said.
"Then I want to be the first Avatar to do it," Korra grimaced as she focused on the rock again. With a quiet crack the rock shattered. "Damn."
"No, no. Excellent," Kuvira said. Korra looked up at her in surprise. "You just metalbent. Breaking it still requires the manipulation of the physical structures therein. The rock has broken; it must have been bent. So, in my capacity as a metalbender, I can hereby confirm you have the distinction of being the first metalbending Avatar in the world."
"Woo hoo!" Korra shouted throwing her hands in the air. "Bolin, did you see that? Metalbending!"
Bolin grinned. "I knew you could do it."
"You want to try?" Kuvira asked. She threw a space rock over to him. "You never know Bolin. It helps to start with this and work up."
"I want to try another. How about that one?" Korra pointed at a larger rock set on a pedastal.
"By all means," Kuvira said. "Remember the principles from before, but this time try to move the earth more smoothly. Push it into place rather than wrenching it. It requires more force than earthbending, but if you apply too much, the rock will split again."
"Okay." Korra took a deep breath. The rock molded under her fingers, each movement accompanied by a metallic creak. There was no crack of destruction this time; instead the metal moved where she wanted it. Mostly. It was like handling thick clay. A few moments later and she had a very large, very malformed flower resting on her hand. "What do you think?"
Kuvira whistled. "I'm impressed. That's the fastest I've ever seen anyone pick up metalbending."
Korra scratched at her cheek. "Thanks." She turned to check on Bolin who looked less than enthused. "Hey, Bolin? Are you okay?"
"Fine! Totally fine!" he said as he squeezed his own rock even tighter. The tension went out of his arms and he sighed. "I'm... I'm not sure I'm cut out for metalbending."
"Don't sell yourself short," Kuvira said. "Other metalbenders had no idea they were capable for years. Practice as much as you like." She sidled closer to him and side-eyed Korra. "Between you and me, I think our Avatar here has it easier since she's got centuries of earthbending experience to draw on."
"Hey! I can hear you you know?" Korra protested.
Bolin offered a weak smile and refocused on his rock. Still nothing. He looked disappointed. Ah. No wonder; he had told her he admired Toph the most out of Aang's group. Korra bit back her smile. Did he realize that with his personality and interests, he was the most like Aang himself? Wrong element, but he had all the traits of an air nomad; art appreciation, animal-lover, friendly, cheerful. Would that make him happy? Before she could speak, Bolin sighed and thumped the rock down on the nearest pedestal. "Might as well face it; I'm never going to be able to do it."
"Don't loose help Bolin. We'll practice together. If I can figure it out, so can you," Korra insisted.
"It'd be... nice. But what if I just can't? Like lavabending? Metalbending would have been so useful against the Red Lotus. And the Equalists."
"Equalists..." Korra sighed. "Asami."
"I hope I'm not speaking out of turn and I know I only met her a few times," Kuvira said, shuffling her feet. "But I... we are all worried about her. And not simply for the business angle; though that has not been fun when things started going wrong for Future Industries. But at her birthday..." Kuvira shook her head. "No one had a bad thing to say about her, and I can't see her being so close to the Avatar and not being a good person. And now..." She trailed off.
"Her life is kinda wrecked," Korra finished, nodding. "She didn't deserve any of this."
"No. And I appreciate once again that it's difficult to not worry. And that even the scout's reports might not help with that depending on what they say." Kuvira grinned. "However; I can offer to help you release some stress and tension - if you want to."
"It... it might help. What did you have in mind?" Korra asked.
"Sparring; you did accept the idea a while back," Kuvira said.
"I did. And... Yeah. Sounds interesting." She glanced at Bolin. "You want to come too?"
"You'd be more than welcome; we can take turns," Kuvira offered.
"Thanks for the offer, but... I'm happy to just watch," Bolin replied.
The gym was empty except for the three of them. Perfect. Korra pulled her boots off and bounced on her feet, limbering herself up. Kuvira removed the bulkier parts of her uniform and took her place opposite. "I'll give you the choice; which element should I use?" Korra asked.
"Which is your favorite?" Kuvira replied.
"None. Avatar," Korra said pointing at herself. "Balance and impartiality is my thing."
Kuvira studied her, eyes sweeping across her to focus on her arms. "You used fire and earth against me last time. I've fought so many waterbenders..." Kuvira grinned. "Air. I pick air. I have never had the chance to fight against an airbender. Maybe I should have asked Tenzin..." she shook her head.
Korra smirked. "Good choice. I'm still newest at that one. Not gotten into a real fight with it either. All I do is drills and breathing exercises with Tenzin." Korra raised her fists. "Bring it on."
"First some rules; the one who brings down her opponent scores," Kuvira said as she dropped into a ready stance
"And remember ladies," Bolin called from the scoreboard. "Fair and clean fight; referee Bolin is keeping a close eye."
"Feels like a real match. With scores, referees and everything," Korra said. "What's the limit?" she asked.
"Five falls?" Kuvira suggested.
"How about five pins?" Korra offered.
"Make it ten."
"Deal."
"No holding back, okay?" Kuvira asked.
"Should be fun."
"Go!" Bolin called. Korra blasted a funnel of air at Kuvira, but she ducked under the jet in the same moment and hurtled forwards on a wave of rock. One arm around Korra's waist and she was on the floor with Kuvira pinning her.
"You... have gotten a lot better than last time," Korra said, too stunned to move for a moment.
"Been training just to beat you, Avatar," Kuvira replied with a sly grin.
"Good to see your fighting spirit. You haven't seen mine though."
"Then show me," Kuvira said.
Kuvira was not an opponent to underestimate. As Bolin called for them to start she punched a rock from the floor and shot it forwards. Korra was ready this time and dropped to the floor. The rock whistled over her head, and it was a simple matter to whip Kuvira's feet out from under her and push herself forward to pin her this time. It seemed only sporting to help Kuvira to her feet afterward. "Enough of a warm up do you reckon?"
"Yeah. I think I'm ready to go all out. How about you try a different element this time?" Kuvira asked.
"This is so intense!" Bolin yelled from the distance. "I love it!"
Blasts of water, fire, earth and air shot around the arena. With each round, Korra cycled to a new element. Water and fire gave Kuvira the greatest issues when Korra pressed them into use, and she was exceptionally hard to keep up with even one on one utilizing rock. Air felt like the weakest of her skill-set, and Kuvira seemed to have no trouble pushing through her attacks and defences.
"And that's victory for Kuvira!" Bolin called out.
"I won this time, Avatar. Guess that makes us even," Kuvira sounded close to taunting her.
"Another round. You only won one more of these than I did. Bolin! Reset the score!" Korra huffed.
"You want to start from scratch? Fine!"
Korra had a feel for Kuvira now, how she thought, how she used the earth. Where her strengths were and where her weaknesses. Earth remained the trickiest to use against her, but even she was not insurmountable; a few of Ghazan's more complex and exotic moves surprised her. The other three elements were easier to use against Kuvira. Korra was breathing hard but grinning as she stood back up after her tenth win. "Had enough? She asked.
Kuvira clambered to her feet. "You still only won by one point. How about..." Kuvira stared at her arms again. "How about no bending?"
"Oh," Korra grinned. "Now this ought to be interesting. No elements, just one-on-one between two women." She glanced over to Bolin. "One more time!"
It was surprising how easily this training came back. How to incapacitate an opponent, disarm them, trip them, throw them. All part of her training. It had seemed futile at the time; she was the Avatar - she could use bending against her opponents. Now it was unexpectedly coming in handy. But it was not quite enough. Kuvira was police trained and much more recently than her. Towards the end of her days in the North the Red Lotus had been solely focused on bending. All her skills and techniques were at least two decades out of step with her opponent's. It was difficult to know how to deal with a few of Kuvira's more unexpected attacks.
After many victories on both sides, Kuvira flopped side-ways after one particularly challenging victory and just lay beside Korra as they both panted. Even the air felt warm now. "One more!" Korra said.
"If you can still stand up."
"I can totally..." Korra tried to sit up, winced and flopped back. "Maybe this is enough for today."
"We can do it again tomorrow if you want?" Kuvira offered.
"Deal." Korra tilted her head back. "Thanks for keeping score, Bolin."
"No problem! It was great watching you too. I'll let you get cleaned up - I'm going to catch up with Mako." Korra stared at the ceiling as the echo of Bolin's footsteps died away.
"I... I'm getting sleepy. If I'm not careful I'm just going to doze off here."
Kuvira hummed agreement. "Me too." Neither of them made any attempt at moving.
"Kuvira?"
"Korra?"
"This is the first time I ever got to spar like this. I... well, it was part of my training. But just for fun like this... Never had that before."
Kuvira chuckled. "I've never sparred quite like that either. Most fun I've had since... Well. Most fun in ages I think it's safe to say."
Korra looked to her side to find Kuvira smiling at her and smiled back. "But who won the third round?" Korra asked, peering at the scoreboard. 0-0. Bolin must have reset it.
"Can't... remember," Kuvira said.
"Okay. We can't leave it like this. Arm-wrestling! One final round, sudden death!" Korra said.
"Urgh," Kuvira groaned as she rolled onto her stomach, but smiled as she clasped Korra's hand. "Okay. On three? One, two, three!"
The match was nothing severe and despite some half-hearted straining, they both quickly found themselves laughing too hard to carry on. "Okay. We'll settle this tomorrow then."
"Deal," Kuvira said, dropping her head onto the floor.
"Tomorrow," Korra muttered, her eyes widening. "Oh. Hey. Can you help me with something?"
Kuvira peered at her. "Sure. But I need a shower first."
Bolin glanced around cautiously before taking a step back to stare at the huge metal statue of Toph. Whoever had created it had made her look so beautiful, so amazing. This whole city was so cool. Just like how Kuvira fought. Simply amazing. Since Toph's daughter trained Kuvira then that must be something close to how skilled the first metalbender had been. The sparring had been nothing like Bolin had seen before. Probending was nothing like as tactile and close as that had been. She was almost... Huh. She was almost like a upcoming rival in a radio series; like the sports dramas where the girls from two different schools fight it out in the championships - and it comes down to one final game; their last chance to do so until graduation. And whole sections would be the flashbacks and how the rivals used to be friends and their journey to reach the current point.
Maybe best not to think like that; he would likely end up in the overlooked friend, hoping the object of his affections noticed him and getting so upset when Korra got injured in the final. And sobbing like fury when she soldiered on to victory. Though; in some stories he would be able to confess his feelings right at the end regardless of victory or failure with about a fifty-fifty chance of reciprocation. Hopefully the happy ending where the complexities of graduation and getting to the same university was not impossible. No. He was not just a character in a radio drama; Korra seemed happy to have him around. She always seemed to enjoy their little games on the way here. Bolin blinked. He had been wandering and not paying any attention to where he was going. Where was he now? Ah. The library.
"Hey Mako," Bolin whispered once he located his brother.
"Yeah...?" Mako asked not looking away from his book.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
"Your day been fun?" Bolin asked.
"Pretty good," Mako replied stiffling a yawn. "How about yours?"
"Also good. I got to see Kuvira and Korra spar for hours. That was just... you have to see them do it all over again tomorrow," Bolin exclaimed.
Mako's lips curled into a thin smile. "I'll consider it."
"So," Bolin said looking around. "How are you and Baatar doing?"
Mako blinked and finally looked up from his book. "Me and Baatar? What are you talking about?"
"You have been in the library with him for some hours, Mako."
"I have?" Mako glanced around. "He's here?" Bolin pointed towards a tall stack of books nearby. "Bolin? That's a pile of books."
"And he's behind it," Bolin said. "You didn't know?"
"Nope!" Mako said as he stared at his book again. Okay, Mako was being no fun at all. Bolin stared at the bookshelves for a few moments. Better to leave him to it, maybe wait for Korra and Kuvira to get cleaned up.
"Hey Bolin!"
Bolin stopped stroking Pabu's head and turned to find one of Suyin's sons jogging towards him. "Oh, hi, Wing?" he tried.
"It's Wei," the teenager corrected with a chuckle.
"Oh. I'm sorry..." Bolin said as he scratched his head.
"It's fine," Wei said, waving his hand. "Happens all the time."
"That must get weird. Me and Mako never get that. Some people have a hard time believing we're related," Bolin admitted.
Wei tilted his head to one side. "There's times when I wish me and Wing were like that, but: twins." He glanced around. "Where is your brother? And Korra and Kuvira for that matter?"
Bolin nodded to the library. "Mako's there. Korra and Kuvira just finished this amazing session in the gym."
Wei smirked. "The two of them seem to get on really well. Even more so if Opal's with them from what I heard."
"Yep!" Bolin said. "They scrapped to ten pins three times! I guess Korra found her destined rival."
"What like in a radio show?" Wei asked.
"Well, hopefully not quite like that." Bolin said quickly. "They seem to get on so well," Bolin said, trying not to think of the darker plotlines than sports rivals.
"Yeah," Wei nodded. "Kuvira always gets so bored with sparring. No one can match her."
"Just as well she met Korra." Bolin grinned. "Earth's the trickiest element for her, but Korra can do really well with the other three elements. Then they just started wrestling. I..." No. It was a good thing. "I feel like it's really the start of something between them. Of course they've got on wonderfully well ever since we met her." Pabu squeaked. "That's right Pabu! They are such good friends."
"I..." Wei swallowed. "I really like your... pet. Is he a fire ferret?" Bolin nodded. "Like your team!" Wei said grinning.
"Yep. He's my best animal friend."
"He looks... fluffy. Um. Bolin? Can I touch your ferret?" Wei asked, a trace of nervousness in his voice.
"Um, oh sure," he replied, lifting Pabu from his shoulder and holding him out to Wei.
"Oh he is soft," Wei said, running his fingers through Pabu's fur. "This is amazing. Where did you get him?"
"Ah, er." Bolin coughed. "Okay, I'm not proud of this and I'm going to be honest because I left all this behind and its my past and I'm not terribly proud of it." Bolin took a deep breath. "Me and Mako might have stolen him from a pet shop. It... It was quite an adventure." Bolin broke into a grin and Wei smiled back.
"You know," he murmured. "You look... gorgeous when you smile." Wei said, still stroking Pabu but staring into Bolin's eyes.
"Oh, thanks..." Bolin said. "You have a nice smile too."
Wei hummed appreciatively. "Hey; want to go somewhere this evening?"
"Mako?" Bolin said as he closed the door to their room and leant back against it.
"Yeah?"
"I think I just went on a date."
"Congrats. I'm surprised you plucked up the courage to ask Korra at this point. How'd it go?" Mako said not looking up from his book.
"It wasn't Korra. Why do you always assume it's Korra?" Bolin asked.
Mako looked up and smiled at him. "No reason what so ever. So," he said turning a page. "Who was the lucky lady this time?"
"Wei."
Mako looked up again. "Wei? As in Wei Beifong?" Bolin nodded. "You went on a date with Wei Beifong?"
"Yeah."
"Cool." Mako turned back to his book. "Did you have fun?"
"Well. Yeah. But... I didn't really know it was a date when I agreed to it, and... He just wanted to know everything about me, and kept asking how long I would stay in the city and was there anywhere I wanted to go, and could he show me around..."
"Well, surprise date or no, sounds like you have a good time," Mako observed.
"I... I think I need your advice though." Mako looked up again.
"This is really not my field, I'm sorry brother. But I assume you're not rushing into things, so dating will be pretty similar to Haruhi. After that... Not sure who you'd ask," Mako said, shrugging.
"Ah, well, you see, that's it. How... How do I tell him I'm not interested?" Bolin asked.
"So not that great a date?" Mako asked.
"Well. I gotta say, I hadn't thought about it before, and I did when I was talking to him at dinner, and on the way home, and I don't think I'm into guys. I just don't want to run away and hide and not talk to him anymore. I did have fun," Bolin said as he fidgeted.
"Well, I think you should just tell him. Basic relationship advice whoever you're dating or not dating. Be upfront and honest about your feelings. Don't try to spare their feelings by lying about being attracted or not attracted to someone," Mako looked back down at his book.
"Mako... How did you get so good at relationships? You spent so much of last year heartbroken when-"
"Bolin! I have read this page ten times now. I'm trying to read." Mako flexed the spine of his book. "And you asked me for advice. I do not particularly want to discuss my somewhat checkered past."
Bolin sighed as he rolled over in bed. He needed to at least try or he was never going to sleep. He gripped the metal frame of his bed and concentrated. Even just making the frame break, or bend a little would be enough. Then he could sleep secure in the knowledge that he could metalbend. Nothing. He gritted his teeth and pushed with all his might. Still nothing. Bolin sighed. Maybe he just could not do it. But if not, what was he doing here? Looking for Asami, yes. But beyond that? Mako had the library. Korra had Kuvira and their fighting to keep them occupied. Even Opal had her studies. What did he have? Well. He could have had Wei, but it had been nothing like with Haruhi and nothing like Korra. He was nothing close to as smart as Asami or Mako. His strength did not come close to Korra or Kuvira. He loved so much to call them Team Avatar, but what could he possibly bring to the group?
In the past; well. Aang was obviously the hero. Katara was the mother, the healer, the spirit of vengeance and justice and possessor of one of the most powerful and awful waterbending techniques known. Toph was the toughest and originator of a whole new technique. Zuko was the mature older brother-type and drama prince. And Sokka was funny, Suki was the eleventh hour helper. He was nothing like any of them; just a mediocre earthbender. Not great and not terrible. Not as funny as Sokka, not as tough as Toph. Nowhere close to as mature as any of them. No talent like Katara or Suki. Appa carried them and Uncle Iroh gave them advice. Was he Momo? No, surely that was Pabu. Bolin rolled over and sighed again, waiting for sleep to overtake him.
Bolin flopped onto his back again. Sleep was not happening. Maybe now would be a good time to respond to Iroh's letter? It was still a little unbelievable; General Iroh of the United Forces, son of Fire Lord Izumi and grandson of former Fire Lord Zuko was his penpal. It had been nerve-wracking to pen the first letter, unsure of just what to say as an opener. And before he knew what he was scribbling, he had described their meeting with Wu and her fortunes. The response arrived the day before meeting Kuvira and he had read it more than ten times already. Iroh's handwriting was so neat. And that was before he got to the actual content. He pulled the rumpled paper from his bag and read it all over again.
Bolin, I must say I am flattered by your request, and oddly, I think you may be the first person to ask for such a thing. So, I am very new at this and please excuse any mistakes I might make. It will be a pleasure to converse with you.
Success! And Iroh even made sure to answer his question:
I did once have my fortune told when I was much younger. They even used the same method which should make the comparison in fortunes easier! The oracle bones indicated that I was a turtleduck - not quite what I had hoped for. I was then forced to endure some tense embarassment with my friends. They could not openly mock me thanks to social standings, but neither could I let on that the answer was so disappointing. Ultimately I never asked why I was represented by that kind of animal. Also: please don't tell anyone else about this (No, not even Asami when you find her). It will be our secret!
There went that theory. Bolin glanced over at Mako. It could still be Asami and Mako as a couple then. What would or even could change things so much to allow that to happen? If Iroh had had the phoenix that would have settled things. He turned back to the letter. His day at the base and how busy it kept him, their preparedness to guard the city against... Well, Iroh could not really point to a specific threat, but they remained ready. Bolin was to assure Korra things were still fine in her absence if she was aware of the letters and Iroh was oddly interested in a description of their journey to date - especially the scenery. Bolin still did not feel tired. Time to reply then!
Dear Iroh, thank you so much for replying! I promise to take your turtleduck secret to the grave. In fact you can destroy this letter once you've read it to protect the knowledge. I will burn it from your letter as well! Though; I think it's a great animal - it's so gentle normally but if you hurt it's flock it comes over all vicious and vengeful. Not that I wanted to imply you're like that!
Once he started writing it seemed hard to stop. Words flowed out of him and he scrawled across the paper, covering their route from the city, across the plains and via Wu's town. He mentioned the day in Zaofu, the sparring match, his unexpected date, everything. He was yawning every other moment towards the end and his eyes were drooping despite his best efforts. At least he now felt tired. Bolin carefully folded both letters away, intent on sending his as soon as Azula returned. Contentedly he flopped back onto his pillow.
It seemed no more than a moment later when his eyes flew open again. Sunlight streamed through the window and someone was knocking at the door. Korra, Kuvira and Opal were on the other side, grinning at him.
"Morning!" Korra said.
"Morning Korra. You... seem in a good mood today?" Bolin said, confused.
"We are making some progress on the Equalist camps," Kuvira put in. "Nothing solid yet though."
"If it goes well we can go check them out once the reports are in," Korra said. "But... That's not why we're here."
"So much noise," Mako muttered as he staggered to the door.
"Ah good. You're up too," Korra seemed a little giddy. "You know what today is, right?"
"Tuesday?" Mako asked he glanced at Bolin who shrugged.
"Well, yes. It is Tuesday. It's also the start of the year! So happy birthday to both of you!" Korra said throwing her arms around the two of them and Opal hugged them both as Korra stepped back.
Kuvira simply nodded and waved one hand. "Happy birthday," she said.
"Mako!" Bolin stared at his brother with huge eyes. "I can't believe we forgot our birthday. I'm... finally seventeen! Happy birthday to us!"
"Happy birthday to us," Mako more or less said as he stifled another yawn and forced his eyes wider.
"And..." Korra started to sing off-key. "It's a happy, happy birthday to Mako. It's a jolly, jolly birthday to Bolin."
"Kuvira," Opal glowered as she shook a tambourine in time to the song. "You promised to sing too."
Kuvira rolled her eyes but began singing. She was at least in-tune, but with little enthusiasm in her voice. "Another year, hooray..."
"Another year away!" Korra sang louder, her voice slipping off-pitch.
They came together on the last line. "It's your special day so be gay! Be gay!" Korra and Opal shook their hands as they concluded, Kuvira, limply waving behind them.
"Okay, so, let's get breakfast. Then I have a surprise for both of you." She studied them both critically. "And change into something comfortable; we're heading to the gym afterward." She smiled. "Kuvira and I have prepared something for you both."
They sat in a smaller room than the usual dining hall while Kuvira and Opal went off elsewhere. Closer, more intimate than that huge room. Korra vanished off once the brothers sat down and came back with a large bowl on a tray. "I wasn't sure what you'd like best so... Opal and Kuvira helped me cook some noodles. First time I cooked anything without mom's help, so I apologize right now if they're not great."
"Smells good," Mako said, reaching for the noodles.
"Hey. Special day. I'll do that," Korra said as she slapped his hand and scooped a good amount of noodles into his bowl.
"Thanks."
"And for Bolin," she said as she repeated the action and sat back to watch them both. A moment of nervousness swept over Bolin. No. He should not be nervous about Korra's cooking. Not when she had gone to all this effort. He slurped a first mouthful of noodles and glanced at Mako. It was good. Really good.
"Korra; thank you. This is delicious," Mako said. Korra's smile widened.
"This is the bestest, most delicious, most good-smelling noodles I've ever had. Thank you! You're the best," Bolin added. "Shitake mushrooms are my favorite!"
"It's kind of in honor of the first meal you ever cooked me. You had nothing but were still willing to make me food. I... I never forgot that. You were so different to what I was expecting; everyone was supposed to be cold and hostile and scary - or that was what I kept getting told. I needed to repay it somehow; so I did this. Happy birthday again." She leant forward and kissed Mako's cheek. Bolin tried to play it cool when Korra repeated the action on him, but the sensation crumbled his nerves. The warmth of her lips, her body so close to his, her scent. His cheeks felt like they were on fire. He hastily ate more noodles and they seemed to taste even better somehow.
"You... you didn't have to repay us," Bolin said after a slightly too long pause. "What matters is we're friends. Thank you." Korra's smile was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. This was the most amazing birthday ever. The first time since he was six that anyone celebrated it other than Mako. And on top of that, Korra had given him a present. It was sort of a pity that it had been food and there would be nothing to hang onto. Almost nothing. Bolin resolved to never forget this moment ever.
Opal and Kuvira were waiting for them in the gym, Kuvira in work-out gear.
"So. Just what is this surprise?" Mako asked eyeing the others.
"A team grappling match!" Korra exclaimed. "We... we'll start with Team Korra and Bolin versus Team Kuvira and Mako!"
"How about Opal?" Bolin asked.
"I'm just keep score," Opal replied as she hurried out of the ring. "No way am I going to be any good at this. I'll just watch. And referee I suppose."
"Opal!" Kuvira called. "We'll go easy on you!"
"No chance! I remember the last time you went easy on me. That bruise didn't heal for two weeks!" Opal called back.
Kuvira smirked. "Well, I guess it goes without saying that I'll fight Korra," Kuvira said to Mako. "You and can take care of your brother."
"Sorry, no," Bolin shook his head, his body tensed.
Kuvira blinked. "I'm sorry? Did I miss something?"
"Mako and me... We... can't hurt each other," Bolin said.
"Yeah," Mako said, hands clenching at his side.
"It's friendly you know? It's not like you're going to actually hurt each other. Right?" Korra asked.
Bolin shuffled his feet. "We... It just might go too far."
Kuvira raised an eyebrow. "You two..." She gestured between them. "You don't do the sibling thing?"
"Sibling thing?" Korra asked.
"Yeah; like Wing and Wei. They get annoyed at each other and start scrapping. Had to break them up loads of times. They fight over the silliest things. So... you two don't?" Kuvira asked.
"I'd appreciate not being stereotyped; not all brothers are like that," Mako said.
Korra looked downcast. "So we can't do it then?"
"Well. Easiest solution would be to let them go on the same team. So guys versus the ladies," Kuvira said with another smirk. Bolin could feel his cheeks reddening. Fighting against a woman with bending was one thing. This... Well. If it was anything like the grappling yesterday there remained a huge, huge risk of hands winding up somewhere awkward, being very, very close to the other person. And if he wound up anything like how Kuvira and Korra ended most of their matches with one on top of the other, well... His body was going to betray him and that would be embarrassing as both Kuvira and Opal were here. And Korra as well, but maybe she would be okay with that. Bolin shook his head hurriedly. He could not just be so blatant when they had not even talked first. Mako seemed impossibly blase about this.
"Sounds fine. I'll take Bolin, if you're okay with Mako?" Korra asked. As far as he could tell no one saw him jump when she said that. "And remember; this is all friendly, guys." Korra held out her hand, Kuvira placing hers on top. Then Mako and finally Bolin. "Let's settle this," Korra said.
Korra was overwhelmingly strong. Even if he had been at full capacity and not aware of just how intimate these stances were getting, how good Korra's hand felt when it was doing nothing but press -aggressively - into his back, she would have still won without a problem. Breathing was becoming a chore. As was ensuring to check just where he was grabbing at Korra to not touch somewhere massively too intimate for how things currently stood between them. Was this simultaneously the best and worst thing ever? Best; Korra's body was literally pressed against his. She was trying to throw him to the ground, yes, but it still felt... On the other-hand, there was a hard line of how things stood. And if he accidentally touched her- No. He needed help. Bolin caught Mako's eye.
"Hey, Korra? Korra!" Mako said stepping back from Kuvira.
"Yeah?" Korra asked, still focused.
"Ease up on him," he was trying not to chuckle, Bolin could tell. "Let me fight you and Bolin can take on Kuvira." For a moment Bolin felt relief. He tensed right back up when Kuvira stifled a smirk. She had a look on her face that said she knew exactly what was going on.
"Oh. Oh, I'm sorry Bolin. Did I hurt you?" Korra asked, leaning in far too close.
"N-no!" he replied. "I'm fine.
"Sorry I was so rough. Next time I'll be gentler." Bolin's knees almost gave out. Head out of gutter, Bolin.
"Okay, Korra," Mako said, grinning. "Come on. I'm your opponent now."
The fight with Kuvira was easier. Still the close proximity, still the worry of a hand winding up in the wrong place. But; less risky. Less world destroying if an accident did happen. She was still overwhelmingly stronger than him though. Kuvira won in seconds.
Kuvira remained ambivalent on long hair. Getting it cut was never fun - hair-styles were the least of her concerns, but no one really seemed to like the seemingly easy directive of just make it shorter. So she had to walk in with some idea of how she wanted it to fit some mysterious aesthetic she cared little for. Skipping that was at least something. But agonisingly drying all this hair was tedious and eating up a lot of time. And waking up in the morning with it stuck to her face was unpleasant. And when it seemed to be some kind of super-insulator on hot days and would catch on everything as she tried to keep it away from her neck. But in the cold it let in the chill without hindrance. She could get it all cut off. That would be so much easier. The knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She peered out the peep-hole. Korra and Naga. Korra was dressed in a white top and baggy blue pants was grinning, her teeth huge with the distortion. Kuvira opened the door.
"Korra?"
"Hey Kuvira."
"What brings you here?"
"Ah, I was kind of hoping to see where you lived. Opal - oh she'll be dropping by after she's done with homework - mentioned you lived here. Unless I'm intriuding?"
"No, not at all. Come in. I managed to miss showing you my home yesterday."
"It's fine. Can Naga...?"
Kuvira eyed the polar-bear dog for a moment. "Sure," she said, stepping back to let them both inside.
Korra peered around the sparsely furnished house. "I can't imagine living alone," she said. "Always had someone nearby."
"I think I'm far too used to it," Kuvira replied. "It's good for peace and quiet. Plus no one to bother you when you want to to focus on your hobbies and personal stuff."
"Oh, I hope I'm not-"
"It's still fine, Korra," Kuvira insisted with a smile. "I'm happy for you to visit."
"So..." Korra said gazing around the room. "If you don't mind me asking; where are your parents?"
"Not in Zaofu. I was... adopted shall we say. Don't actually remember them; I was given away when I was very young," Kuvira said.
"Oh!" Korra span. "Sorry. I didn't mean to ask something like that."
"It's fine. Don't be so jumpy. Here, sit down." Kuvira perched on her chair and started drying her hair again as Korra slumped on the opposite chair. "If I objected to the question I wouldn't answer. And I don't know why it happened, but I've always been happy here. Su took me in, took care of me, taught me metalbending. She's something like a mother and I'm grateful to have her."
Korra nodded a little awkwardly, glancing around the room again. "Is it okay to look at your stuff?"
"Feel free."
Korra darted from her chair and studied the picture frames on the wall. "Diploma of the Arts, University of Zaofu. Master of Dance and History. First class with honors. Wow... Wait. How old are you?"
"Eighteen as of three months back."
Korra laughed. "We were born in the same month then. But wow - you already finished university already? I thought people did that when they were twenty-one or older?"
"Differs from place to place," Kuvira said with a shrug. "Education varies wildly the world over and it depends on the subject too." She smiled. "Though honestly? I skipped some grades in school so I was over and done with it all well before the typical age." She rubbed at her hair. "I know you never got the chance, and the brothers didn't either. But Asami; did she study engineering? She seemed... well, brilliant. Just wondering if she'd done similar."
"She didn't," Korra said. "Her dad-" She winced. "-had her home-schooled for years. Never got to go to university either; all that stuff she knows she never learnt from the classroom."
"Remarkable," Kuvira said. "Do you ever think about it?"
"About what? Oh. University?" Korra smiled over her shoulder. "Don't really have the free time to worry about it."
"I know. I mean, if you weren't the Avatar? If you were just another waterbender, or maybe not even that?" Kuvir asked. "Would you go? And if you did, what would you do?"
Korra stayed silent for a long moment. "I... I don't know. I... I have to admit that outside of pro-bending and being the Avatar I'm not sure I actually have interests. Certainly not any academic ones I can think of. I know I don't get on well with geography, even if I remember it. Politics I think I'm too volatile for. I can't even conceive of what I would be doing for the rest of my life without bending. But..." She gestured to the diploma. "You knew. Or figured it out. History and dance; sounds unusual. Was it?"
"Not unheard of, but an odd combination," Kuvira admitted.
Korra smiled. "I still have never seen anyone dance half as well as you. Hope I do get to see another one of your performances."
"Thank you. I will always appreciate your attendance if you are able. And with that..." Kuvira nodded towards the diploma. "I was just fortunate I could pursue my passion like that."
Korra moved on and studied the framed traditional prints. "There are antiques I guess?" Kuvira nodded. "Do you love this kind of art too?"
"Well, I like those more for their meanings. That's why my degree had the history aspect; I love the kingdom's culture and history. Each of those pieces has a story to tell. It's... odd I find. One hundred years ago someone can make a pot. And to them its just a pot, not worth that much, they make loads everyday. But this one pot, it survives - or rather, it endures. All the other pots break or crack or get lost, but this one in particular survives the world and everything it throws at it. And a century later someone recognizes it for what it is, who made it and where it came from. And now it's not just a pot. Now it's a priceless artefact; irreplaceable and even if someone made an identical pot, it would be no kind of replacement."
Korra was nodding. "A very weighty concept. Never thought of it like that."
"Sorry," Kuvira smiled. "I get too caught up in history really easily."
Korra shook her head. "It's fine. I love hearing about this. How about this one?"
Korra seemed to listen intently to everything Kuvira said. At her request she elaborated with increasing detail about sections of history and how they intersected with others. Korra asked only a few questions, often seeming to be using Kuvira's knowledge to fill in missing sections of her own. Kuvira bit her tongue when she touched on the founding of Republic City and the Fire Nation royal family. Korra had more than one friend in the family line. Unfortunate, and her predecessor had much to answer for in that regard. But she Korra; not Aang. Kuvira could not blame her for his actions.
Korra pulled the door open at the knock while Kuvira fetched a drink from the kitchen. A surprised but pleased Opal was waiting outside. She was wearing a blue camisole and leggings. Instead of a polar-bear dog, she had brought a badgermole plushie with her. "Opal! We've been waiting. Homework all done?"
"Yep! Free for the rest of the evening," she said as she flopped onto the sofa.
"Well, what's left of it," Kuvira commented leaning against the kitchen door with two glasses of water in her hands. "Wait. You two were planning on sleeping here weren't you?"
Korra grinned and nodded. "Sleep over with Korra!" Opal exclaimed.
Kuvira sighed. "I have precisely one bed. And we can barely both fit in that," she said pointedly to Opal. "Not sure why you're so keen for a third. And that plushie."
"Aw, come on, Kuvira! Where's your sense of adventure? Korra could totally fit in too," Opal said.
Korra held up her hand. "I promise I can take up almost no space."
Kuvira was fighting to keep the grin from her face. She sighed even as she smiled. "Fine. We'll try!"
"Woo!" Korra said.
"But if we can't, someone has to go on the sofa."
"Not me!" Korra shouted. "I'm claiming my space." She hefted Opal up. "And I'm taking her with me. Bed time!"
Opal giggled as Korra skipped towards the bedroom and dropped her onto the bed. The impact of a high-speed plushie was just enough to push her off balance so she fell on top of Opal. Not that Korra really could not recover; it was just more fun this way. Opal squirmed underneath her, flinching as Korra started tickling.
"Korra! S-stop!" Opal gasped out between breaths.
"How do you get to be so cute?" Korra asked as Opal tried to curl away from Korra's fingers.
"I'll... I'll get you for this," she tried to say. "Kuvira! Rescue me! Please!"
Something strong, almost like steel bars pinned Korra's arms back. "Hey!" Kuvira was behind her.
"She did ask," Kuvira murmured.
"Now; revenge!" Opal said with a gleam in her eyes.
"Hey, this is unfair!" Korra exclaimed as she tried to twist away from Opal's fingers. After far too long she was able to wrench from Kuvira's grasp and managed to trip her onto the bed. "Okay. Now my revenge!" Kuvira tried to wriggle away, also laughing, but her expression was not quite as fun as Opal's had been. Korra soon tired and flopped onto the bed beside Kuvira. "That was fun."
"Yeah..." Opal said, hugging her plushie.
Kuvira sighed. "If we've finished with the tickling?"
"Fine," Opal glared.
"I'll get the light. Oh. Korra?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you give me something to see by?" Kuvira asked.
"Oh sure." Korra sparked a small ball of flame in the palm of her hand as Kuvira switched the lights off and made her way back to the bed.
"Okay; Korra you go in the middle. I'll take this side," Kuvira pointed. "Opal can sleep that side. Tadakichi will have to sleep on the floor."
"No way!" Opal said hugging the plushie tighter.
"Well then move over a little more." With a lot of fidgeting and pressing against one another, they all managed to settle onto the bed. It was warm under the blanket, the girl either side of Korra so warm against her side.
"You really love that plushie don't you?" Korra asked after a moment.
"Of course. Kuvira gave me it when I was seven," Opal replied.
"You did?" Korra said half over her shoulder.
"She really wanted it. It was the top prize at the darts booth. She tried ten times and didn't come close. She was sobbing her eyes out and-"
"Every-time," Opal huffed. "Every-time you find a way to pick on me. You don't have to tell Korra all that."
Kuvira ignored her. "And she said 'Kuvira; I want that badgermole. Please help me get it'. So I did."
"That's really sweet," Korra said.
"It was," Opal said, curling away from Korra a little. She fidgeted and flipped over to face Korra, curling an arm beneath her neck and a leg up over her hips. "This okay?" she muttered.
Korra hummed an affirmative. "Different. Hey; I wonder how it would be if Asami were here too."
"I doubt we could manage. The bed would be extremely crowded," Kuvira said with a dead-pan tone. "I'd need a whole second bed for us."
"More cuddling though," Opal said, her embrace tightening against Korra for a moment.
"And would you really want other people around if you were in bed with Asami?" Kuvira asked.
"Yes," Korra said without a pause.
Kuvira chuckled. "You're cute too."
"You know; I've slept beside Mako and Bolin, but never like this. Not this close. Do... does it feel different doing this with boys?" Korra asked.
"Couldn't say; never tried," Kuvira replied.
"Oh, you're also a virgin- Oh. Wait, I just assumed you only liked boys. Maybe girls too- No, wait, you were on a date with Baatar right? So..." Korra trailed off.
"Korra, it's fine. And I'm a virgin too," Kuvira said.
Korra nodded. "Then we're very similar. I thought... Well. I thought I was unusual compared to everyone else. Opal?"
Opal twitched against her. "Same again; virgin."
"I don't think there's anything particularly noteworthy about the age of one's first experience," Kuvira said. "I know of some people who never tried and are fine with it."
"I suppose... Oh!" Korra smacked her head with her spare hand, the other curled under Opal's shoulders. "I bet it would be something like when we were grappling earlier!"
"With less trying to throw each other to the ground. Or is this some sex thing my innocent mind has missed?" Opal asked. "If it's that much like wrestling I really have misunderstood the principles of sex."
"No, I think there's less of that," Kuvira said. "But if you're really so curious, why not just ask Mako or Bolin to share the bed with you?"
"Well. I could. But, I just... It's different? I mean. When we asked to sleepover and share your bed; you didn't think we wanted to come here to... you know, have sex or anything right?" Korra asked.
Kuvira chuckled. "Quite so; if you had I'm not entirely sure what I would have said. I doubt we would have wound up like this though."
"But..." Korra said. "If Asami had said that to me. Well, I would have known what she was thinking."
"And you would have said...?" Opal prompted.
"I would have felt very conflicted. I would have... wanted to but at the same time not wanted to. Right now, I don't think I would feel ready if that makes any sense? Still, that's academic now." Korra paused to regather her thoughts. "But if Mako or Bolin were here... They would feel different." Kuvira seemed to tense against her side. "I... if I was in bed with Asami, and we... we wanted to have sex..." She licked her lips considering her next words. "I would have some idea of what it would be like. I mean; I've seen Asami naked."
"Oh?" Opal asked. "But you just said you hadn't slept with her. In any sense of the word."
"I haven't," Korra said as she grinned. "We... We... The day before her birthday we wound up kissing in her room, and she kept touching under my top and that felt good, so I touched her the same way, then she took her shirt off and she helped take mine off and... Then it was dinner time and we had to get dressed really quickly.. But I just meant there was this one time we shared a bath when I was living with her. She wasn't shy at all when she got undressed, and I kept staring at her and she didn't shy away of anything. I'd... never seen anyone like that before. She was... beautiful. And she was always hugging me, so I know what it would be like to be that intimate with her arms around me. I just... don't know what sex would be like with her. I know what it would be like before we started but..."
"I... I can see what you're getting at," Opal said in a slightly tense voice.
"But with Mako and Bolin. That's... it's all uncharted territory, you know? I've seen men without their tops, so I know what their chests looks like. And I've read they're not as soft there. Not like me or Asami. Or either of you I guess. But lower then that. I've read stuff about a guy's... you know."
"The word you are looking for is penis," Kuvira said with a sigh.
"Yeah," Korra said. "I've read that their-" Hasty swallow. "-penis is usually soft. But when they have sex it gets hard. Really hard. But I can't imagine that at all. I don't know what it looks like. Well, I've seen animal ones. But I don't know if they look that similar to human ones. I guess they must be a bit like them but..."
"I don't know how they look either," Kuvira said.
"Me neither," said Opal.
"Asami does," Korra said. "And I was going to ask her at some point. What it looked like. How it... feels. You know to touch? Is it different when it's soft and when it's hard? And..." She squirmed a little, blood flow making her aware of her own body and it's reaction to her thoughts. "And what it's like when they're lying on top of you or you're on top of them. Or however! Asami has all these books I read and they... They were really graphic about what you do when you have sex. And it tried to describe it. But... I could never quite imagine what it felt like - I wondered if they were written thinking you did know." Korra fidgeted. "I know he gets all hard and... you do some stuff to him and he does other stuff to you. Then you're ready and it's time and you're going to have sex with him. But I don't know what it feels like when he goes inside you-" Kuvira twisted away from her. Korra fell silent. "Are you okay?" she asked after a pause.
"Fine," Kuvira replied. "Just... Not a conversation I particularly wanted to have."
"Oh. Oh! I'm sorry," Korra said.
"It's fine. How would you know? Just... It's all my university friends ever seemed to talk about," Kuvira replied.
"I don't mind," Opal said, sounding a little breathless.
"Yeah, but we have to be fair to our host for invading her bed," Korra said. Opal made a quiet annoyed noise in her throat. "Maybe we should just sleep."
Kuvira sighed. "Please. Don't worry about me. I've been through all this before."
"I'm not stopping just for that." Korra squirmed. "Shouldn't have talked about it so much. Any more and... yeah. Genuinely tired now! Sleep is sounding good." She leant over to kiss Opal's cheek. A shock ran right through her from her lips to her stomach and further down. Their lips had touched. Not properly; just the corner of Opal's mouth, but the sensation had been incredible. Reminiscent. How good that had felt when Asami did it. And suddenly stopping seemed like a less than sensible plan. Why had she given up that? She jerked back, unsure of how Opal would react and sat up. "Sorry! Sorry; I just wanted to give you a goodnight... kiss..." Korra trailed off.
"Well..." Opal looked flushed in the dim light as she sat up as well. "You certainly did that. And... and... it's okay." Opal's gaze kept flicking up to meet her own.
"Hey, Opal? Can I... can I try again?" Opal turned her cheek to Korra. "No. I meant... a proper kiss. On the lips." Korra bit her lip.
"Lips?" Opal echoed, her mouth dropping open. Behind her Kuvira rolled over.
"I'd... like to try kissing you," Korra said.
"O-okay," Opal said. Korra leant towards her, one hand on Opal's cheek to guide her. Opal tensed as their lips met, but her eyes soon slid shut and her body seemed to melt against Korra's. Korra shut her own eyes, trying to remember everything Asami had done with her, to replicate it now for Opal. She felt different to Asami, and where Asami had seemed to guide these moments, Opal seemed happy to let Korra set the pace. She sat back after a breathless, passionate moment, Opal's face darkly flushed. "That... that was nice," she said, trembling fingers touching her lips. Korra tried to not chuckle at the similarity. "You... you kiss differently," Opal noted.
"Still good though?" Opal nodded vigorously and Korra grinned.
"I had no idea you'd kissed anyone Opal," Kuvira commented. "Still, this is unexpected. Hope you can both cope with long-distance relationships. Unless you plan on moving here, Korra?"
"It's just a kiss," Korra said, Opal's vigorous nod visible out the corner of her eye. "Now your turn," she said as she turned to Kuvira.
"Me? Why?"
"I... I want to see what it's like. I want to kiss all my friends." Korra blinked. "But if you're uncomfortable, it's fine."
Kuvira sighed. "It's not so much I'm uncomfortable, it's more I haven't done it before and I really don't know what I'm doing."
"Not even on your date?" Korra asked.
"No. I haven't even kissed Baatar," Kuvira answered.
Korra frowned. "Oh, I thought... Nevermind. You saw me and Opal right?" Kuvira nodded. "And while I am admittedly new to this, I have had quite a bit of experience."
"And you are very, very good," Opal said hugging Tadakichi tight.
"Unless... Is this going to cause a problem for you?" Korra asked.
"For me? Why?" Kuvira looked puzzled.
"You're with Baatar right?"
Kuvira rolled her eyes. "As you said mere moments ago, it's just a kiss. I'm not about to let it derail everything I have with him." Korra smiled as she leant down. "Okay, just when you're-" Korra's lips cut Kuvira off.
Like Opal, Kuvira tensed as their lips met. Unlike Opal, the tension never quite left Kuvira, though she did at least relax after a moment. Korra lifted her head to find Kuvira breathing heavier. "Okay?"
Kuvira licked her lips, considering. "It was enjoyable. Not to dismiss your skills," she added hastily. "It's just... new."
"As long as you did like it," Korra said.
"I did."
Korra grinned. "My second and third kisses; Opal and Kuvira. So, having kissed you goodnight; night!"
Opal smiled. "Good night Korra," she said, arm and leg now embracing Korra again.
"First Asami, now you two. I wonder what it would be like with Mako and Bolin?" Korra asked.
Kuvira sighed. "Why don't you just ask to try with them? I doubt they'd object too much."
"Yeah, but they're always together. And the times when I'm with Bolin? We always wind up having too much fun for me to be in anything like the right mood. I want to try with him, but I just don't want to stop what we're doing to ask. I'll figure something out eventually. I want to try kissing all of Team Avatar."
Thanks for the reviews last chapter! To be honest I I know we lost readers because of some of our writing decisions, so it means a lot to know the people still reading this fanfic. We would any review no matter how long or short they are! I get motivated by usernames appearing on the review page.
