Book 3: Lightning
Chapter 11 – Return to Republic City
"Vaatu!" Kuvira called into the swirling winds in the depths of the desert.
"Great Uniter." His voice came smoothly from behind her. Kuvira turned and the wind ceased. "I can only assume you are here to accept my offer." His smile was knowing, confident. "I feel the chaos rising in the world; the reactions and chain reactions emanating out from your Earth Empire. It is time then." He took a step forward and Kuvira stepped back holding her hands up.
"Questions first," she demanded.
His smile did not falter. "Ask."
"Your rival; when they are defeated what happens then?" Kuvira asked.
"My power becomes yours. I will not go back on my word if that concerns you. I do not lie." Vaatu shrugged. "Manipulation and subterfuge indicate a lack of absolute power. I have little need for either."
Kuvira frowned. "But... It doesn't make sense. How can you just be okay with granting me something like that?"
"Would it horrify you to know how long you have on this planet?" Vaatu asked peering at her. "All things being equal and no accidents befalling you?" Kuvira shook her head. "I cannot see the future but I can see how long you can persist until your body breaks down. You are mortal; dead in less than a century if things go well for you. You measure time with the sun and the moon; mine is measured in the lifetime of the cosmos. When your spirit is reborn, your new self will gain almost the same fraction of eternity. Less than a blink of an eye. I will not miss my powers."
"But... What about when I am gone? Will my new self have the same power?" Kuvira asked. "You said the Avatar was fused with a spirit. Does that mean two Avatars?"
"Not quite. Raava-" His voice hitched slightly as he spoke the name. "-held four elements and thus allowed the Avatar to reincarnate to each tribe. Gaining the three you do not possess will be close to impossible. You hold one element; your new self will be the same."
"I could rule the Empire forever?" Kuvira said in startled revelation. Wait. "But the chaos is temporary. I must have order; I cannot rule chaos."
"For a mortal you remain full of surprises," Vaatu chuckled. "I confess a peaceful world holds no interest for me. Spirits terrorize the far North and South of your world, and I will spread chaos further. To show my sincerity, I offer you a compromise; my influence on the world will never touch your Earth Empire. The other tribes of your world will not be so fortunate." Kuvira was silent. "If you have no more questions; we will begin."
Kuvira jerked awake, her body soaked with sweat. "Kuvira?" Baatar shuffled closer. "Kuvira are you okay?" She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to work through the pain. Her skin still felt as though it was on fire from the burns, and what remained of her knee pulsed with new agony.
"Acupuncture," she grunted through gritted teeth.
Bataar waved to someone out of her eye line. "We could summon a healer too?" he added.
"No." Kuvira sucked in a ragged breath. "More rest." He had barely left her side the past week. Weeks? How long had it been since Omashu burned? His warmth should have been comforting, but she could barely tolerate any heat now. Baatar was at least attentive to every pain she experienced. Why did he persist? Love? Strange; he was not doing this because of her power. How, no, why could he care for her like this? The pain receded a little as she concentrated, forcing her leg still and trying to ignore the other patches of damaged skin. "Bataar?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you here?" No answer. "Why did you choose to align with me when your family remains so opposed?" Some of the painkillers must still be in her system; how could she possibly ask something so direct?
"I love you. But there's more. You changed the kingdom for the better - not in some idealized way; you showed there could be no progress without sacrifice. My family - they don't understand that. I know this project has taken its toll on you, but you remain the strongest person I have ever known. You let go of your past for the sake of the people; how could I not be inspired? How could I follow anyone else?" he asked.
Baatar could lead in her absence. Until she could move unsupported. Until the pain lessened. "Let it be known a fissure opened up beneath Omashu," she said.
"Kuvira?" Baatar asked.
"The city. It was destroyed for a reason. What is more likely? That the earth split and lava destroyed the settlement - or that a probender from the slums is somehow capable of lavabending?" Kuvira smiled. "The destruction of Omashu was a natural disaster. Use the Kenpeis; any who disagree will be dealt with - they know what to do. Tell the world how I tried to save the city - at the cost of half my leg."
Baatar's face broke into a smile. "It will be done."
Time. They needed time. The Empire must remain stable for now. No expansion, just fortifying their defences and the weapons development programs. Propaganda. The first healers said she would need months to fully recover. The world had to be ready for when she was. Vaatu's power squatted in the back of her mind. Weak, so weak, but growing by the day. When the solstice arrived - that was when Vaatu promised she would be at her peak. And that would be when she took Republic City back. The Avatar remained a nuisance stumbling block. Baatar would buy some time, but she needed more. There was another way to keep her at bay.
Opal's freedom came with ill-fitting clothes and after a trip in a laundry cart, crammed in with the dirty uniforms steered out of the camp by one Zhu Li Moon. In a final moment of cunning, Zhu Li tied their old clothes to a couple of baboons at the edge of the nearby forest. "Varrick's," she said by way of explanation as she released them. The platypus bear feet shoes were somewhat more confusing. "Just in case," Zhu Li had said as she tied them to her feet. "They'll have a hard time tracking us now."
"Tracking?" Opal asked fighting back a shiver.
"There are badgermoles in the camp," Zhu Li said as she pushed her glasses up her nose. Opal winced and together they set off into the forest as fast as they could. A little too fast; Opal sprained her ankle at the start of the second day and now every little movement hurt. Zhu Li shook her awake on the fourth day and insisted they get moving earlier than normal. Even she was getting jumpy at every unfamiliar sound. Tired, hungry, effectively lose and terrified of discovery they hurried on.
"Zhu Li. I think you should go on without me," Opal said as they took a breather.
"No," she replied simply.
"But if Kuvira catches us, catches you-" Opal protested.
"I hold little value," Zhu Li shot her a weak smile. "You are far more important. You defied her in public. You saved the prince of the Fire Nation!" Zhu Li grew more animated. "You are so much more; you need to live." She shrugged a shoe off and used it to score scratched into the bark as she had every now and again. Verisimilitude she said.
"I really don't matter all that much," Opal tried.
Zhu Li sighed. "If you insist." She smiled over her shoulder. "Then I simply do not wish any harm to come to you."
Opal blinked at her and smiled. "Thank you." She let the why remain unspoken, oddly happy with the other girl's admission. Sadly it did not change the reality of the situation much. How long could they last without provisions? No other clothes, little food and a tiny tent. A large number of scrolls took up much of Zhu Li's bag. Opal gave into her curiosity when they stopped for the night and huddled inside the tent. "What are those?" she asked.
"I don't know for sure, but they were one of his- One of Varrick's projects. Kuvira had he design them." She scowled at them. "All for profit."
"Is that why you-?"
"Yes. I suppose I owe him some things. But while I was... if not happy, then at least content to assist before, I cannot any longer. Not while his loyalty is to Kuvira," Zhu Li said. "I worry what these were for - so I wish to take them as far from them both as I can. As far as Republic City if possible."
Kurako left just after dawn. A few good dinners out, one really good date last night, but all sadly too late to change anything. Time for her to move on yet again. Packing was at least easy; so much of her stuff was still in boxes, her decisions had made her reluctant to get too comfortable in Crystal Bay. It would have been nice to live here. Comfortable, quiet and safe. But that was no way to live for the rest of her life and hiding from her past; trapped forever on this one island. Korra would face Kuvira eventually - so she would need to face Tarrlok. At least Iroh was willing to help get her back - the risk to her on public transportation was far too great a risk.
Her belongings seemed to amount to almost nothing in the end; packing the car with everything she owned took no time at all. Asami took a last look around what might have been her home and drove away just as Crystal Bay was waking up. No looking back, no stopping, just keep going straight to Zuko's villa. Just under an hour later she pulled up - there were a few other cars outside. Other visitors? It had been a trying time for Iroh, even after he left the hospital. Asami glanced at her watch; she was far too early - would anyone in the family even be up? Asami slumped in the car seat. Sleep had been impossible since Kurako left, and hanging around the apartment left her anxious to get moving. On the other hand now she was here - and if anyone looked out the window they would see her staring at the house. Just a little suspicious.
Asami sighed. No, she could not just sit here. It would be better to risk waking them up and see if anyone was awake. An oddly familiar older woman opened the door and glared at her after she knocked on the front door. "Yes?" she said, her eyes narrowed. Something clicked; she was standing face to face with possibly the most dangerous woman in the Fire Nation; Princess Azula. She was here on Ember Island?
"Hi, I, um, came to see Iroh?" Asami managed, Azula's gaze making her want to squirm.
"Ah, you must be Miss Sato," Azula replied with an edge of distaste. "Yes, he was expecting you. However-" She turned at approaching footsteps.
"Auntie," Iroh said by way of greeting. "Asami." He nodded at her.
"Hi," Asami replied sagging with relief.
"Your guest is here and impatient," Azula said dismissively and stalked away.
"I didn't think you'd be back so soon?" Iroh asked. Azula stopped keeping her back to him. "I thought you were visiting Ty Lee?"
"I did. I have only just returned," she said over her shoulder without a trace of emotion and vanished deeper into the house.
Asami let out a held breath as Azula rounded a corner. "Sorry I'm so early..."
Iroh shook his head. "It's fine. You're always welcome here. And don't mind Auntie, she's harmless."
"'Harmless'?" Asami asked.
"Mostly," Iroh replied. "Had breakfast?" Asami shook her head and followed Iroh into the main room. "We should try and keep quiet. You might think Auntie's scary now, but you should see if you dare wake her up." Iroh shook his head. Despite his warnings, no one seemed to have mentioned them to his daughter. Yuzu shouted excitedly when she saw Asami and ran up to hug her an hour or two later. She at least pushed worries of Azula out of her mind - Iroh's aunt did not storm into the room lightning crackling from her hands and demand silence. Yuzu was more important. This might well be the last time she would see Iroh's daughter; now or indeed ever. She had to make the most of it.
Yuzu was chattering animatedly to Asami about the various activities she had been up to in the last few weeks when Zuko and Mai arrived shortly after. They smiled and her and sat at the table. Odd. Once she might have felt out of place here, but there was a curious sense of belonging now; the family fely almost like her own. She was going to miss this. "We can delay going back," Iroh said abruptly. "If you want?"
Asami shook her head. "I should go now rather than later. Sooner I get control of the company back, the sooner I can try and help with the Earth Kingdom."
"Today then," Iroh said nodding.
"Please do not forget; you have our support," Zuko commented and Mai nodded her agreement.
"We will help as much as we are able; while direct intervention is a recipe for an international incident, we can be... subtle," Mai added.
"Thank you. Both- no, all of you. I just hope your faith isn't misplaced," Asami said.
"The truth will come out eventually," Iroh said. "We will do everything we can to ensure it is sooner rather than later." Ironic given the number of lies this next stage required both Iroh and her to tell anyone who asked. Anyone outside Team Avatar perhaps - if she was still a member. If Korra was remotely prepared to talk to her. Still, Iroh insisted it would be unwise to admit to her extended stay on Ember island nor how much Iroh, Zuko and Mai had helped her during her time in the Fire Nation. Admitting anything to do with Azula would make for headline news; she might be old and barred from ruling, but a new scandal involving the princess was impossible for the tabloids to resist. Several prior discussions with Iroh made clear that the actual events of her arrival in the Fire Nation would be at least a good basis for her claimed story - with a slight distortion to claim she had successfully obtained asylum there.
Breakfast was over too quickly and there were hours before they needed to get moving. How best to spend the last of her time here? Yuzu; of them all, she would miss Yuzu the most and so she deserved all Asami's attention. Yuzu's first request was a trip to the beach, Yuzu holding a doll and a train in each hand as Asami carried a selection of her other toys in a basket. They played together on the beach and when Yuzu grew bored with that game, splashed in the shallows and out a little deeper to swim. With every moment the temptation grew greater. It was always possible to delay going back one more day. No point returning to Crystal Bay - as tempting as that was - but Iroh might not need much persuading to let her crash at the house and leave tomorrow. No. The more she delayed the harder it would become; best to get moving as quickly as possible. And if everything went wrong; she would hang onto his image of Yuzu as a child - no hope of her seeing her in prison. Not that she would want her too.
Asami took Yuzu into the baths and they cleaned off the clinging salt from the sea water. Yuzu asked Asami to braid her hair and she willingly obliged. If not for Iroh's plan, she would not have minded staying here to to look after his daughter. Even if it did mean a lifetime of exile here. Failing to win against Tarrlok risked other potential losses too. She would not see much of Zuko or Mai either given their age. Taking care of them for the rest of her days would have been not what she dreamed of, but she would have been happy enough with just that. Her fingers moved mechanically through Yuzu's hair as she patiently braided it.
"Asami?" Yuzu asked suddenly.
"Yes?"
"When can you visit again?" the girl asked still staring away from her.
"I'm not sure," Asami replied.
"Maybe... maybe when Daddy next comes home?"
Asami smiled and exhaled. "I hope so." Yuzu sat quietly afer her answer and time seemed to evaporate. All too soon it was time to leave. Two days and they would be back in Republic City; it was hard to believe it was so close now. Asami carried the bulk of the luggage to the boat herself, turning down both Iroh and Zuko's offers of assistance - especially with Iroh still hampered by his arm and leg. Azula predictably did not appear to join the others on the beach as they bid her goodbye. Asami bowed carefully to both Zuko and Mai in turn - and Mai broke protocol and hugged her. "Good luck," she murmured. Asami smiled as she stepped back.
Yuzu instead simply stared up at her, eyes blinking rapidly, seemingly on the verge of crying. Just like Asami felt. "Yuzu, I need to go for now." She crouched down beside the young girl.
"Can... can you stay one more day? Please?" Yuzu implored.
"Sorry." Asami tried to keep her face neutral even as a tear slid down Yuzu's cheek. "Oh, Yuzu," she said and hugged her. "Thank you for being my friend," she said in a quiet voice and kissed her cheek. There was more, so much more to say, but now was not the time. Next time. She silently promised Yuzu they would meet again and gently extracted herself from her grip. It was vital she not cry; not now, not where Yuzu could see her. Iroh shared his own goodbyes; too personal for her to intrude on so Asami clambered into the boat and waited for him to finish with her back to the beach. She started the motor as she heard him clamber aboard and forced herself to resist the urge to look back.
The temptation to know became too great a few minutes after she guided them out into open water. Asami glanced back. Ember island was already receding into the distance, the beach indistinguishable from the land this far out. Was Yuzu still waiting there, watching, waving, hoping? "Sorry Yuzu," Asami said under her breath. Her safe haven was behind her, her best shot at a simple, happy, uncomplicated life rejected in favour of the more difficult path ahead.
"Reckon it's deep enough out here?" Korra stared down into the water from Naga's back. Bolin had suggested they get back into the city underwater; an idea that pleased Korra no end. Riding through the city on Naga, while workable would draw a lot of unwanted attention to themselves - not least now people knew full well who she was. Add to that it would be first sighting in public after a long absence and the fact she was missing an arm was going to feed the rumour mill and lead to a lot of speculation before she got to a place she could make some kind of statement.
"Should be. If not, we get out and follow it until it is," Bolin replied.
"Let's try. Ready?" she asked.
"As I'll ever be," Bolin replied. His arm tightened around her waist, and Korra flexed her fingers. Bending with one arm was still a little odd; easier with practice but she still missed her arm.
"Okay, girl," Korra said and urged Naga forward. She bent the water away from them and enclosed them in a sphere of air the moment Naga hit the water. The three of them sank to the bottom quickly and the current battered against their bubble of air pushing them forward. The riverbed rushed below them as they sped forwards and towards Republic City. So many people to see there; Pema and the kids. Lin. Asami? No. Best not to get her hopes up. At least she had a surprise for everyone: Bolin, alive and well against all the odds. "They're going to be so pleased to see you," Korra said breaking the comfortable silence inside the bubble.
"Who?" Bolin asked, looking up from the view below them.
"Everyone!" she replied grinning. "I want to see the moment they find out you're okay."
Bolin chuckled. "I'm looking forward to seeing them too." He was silent for a moment. "How... how did the children take the news?"
The truth of the situation stung a little. "I didn't get to see them," Korra replied after a pause. "I never made it back here after what happened - went straight from Ba Sing Se to Zaofu to the South pole. I wouldn't have been able to tell them back then. And... I didn't want to see them. That sounds terrible."
"Korra-" Bolin began.
"I know. I just didn't want to disappoint them. I felt like the worst Avatar ever. What good was I without my bending?"
"Korra, there's more to you than bending," Bolin said quickly.
"I know," she said softly. "And so many people showed me that. Including you. And I want them to know that too." She smiled. "So, I want to see them now."
Bolin opened his mouth to reply and stopped as the river banks widened beyond visibility and the riverbed sank to an uncertain murky depth. They were in the city. Korra caught glimpses of streets and people just about visible through the increasingly murky water. Every time she felt sure they must be in the bay, they raced under another bridge. How much further?
A few minutes late and they must have entered the bay. Sunken boats and other detritus littered the increasingly vastness all around them. Tiny shapes zipped across the water with similar larger ones making their way ponderously in the distance. Two spires thrust up from the sea floor ahead of them. "If I remember right..." Korra said, peering through the water. "Air Temple island is that one," she said pointing to the shape on vague shape on the right. "Ready?" Korra asked as the bubble skimmed just below the surface.
"As much as I can be," Bolin said and clambered to his feet, swaying on the bubble's surface. The dock appeared ahead of them, an unnatural straight edge jutting out from the tapering shape of the island. Korra headed for it and as they broke the surface she could not resist the urge to look at Republic City from the water. Just like the first time she had seen it. Aang's statue loomed high above the bay. Just beside them was the towering pagoda of air temple island, and far across the water was the packed mass of buildings that made up the water-front.
Korra lifted Naga's feet and the polar-bear dog padded easily onto the dock and her passengers slid from her back. The sun was warm, a gentle breeze wafting around them as the surf crashed against the rocks. Too long. Korra opened her eyes and fumbled a cloak from the saddle-bags and draped it around her shoulders. Bolin looked at her curiously.
"Don't want to shock them," she said by way of explanation. "I mean, I don't know how would be best to tell them about my arm, but I don't want to scare them." Bolin nodded. The cloak helped, but not by much. Both he and Korra attracted plenty of stares, double-takes and whispers as they walked through the temple grounds. Korra waved and murmured hello to the first few, who either waved back on reflex or stared at the two of them in bewilderment. Best to keep moving. At least no one had run on ahead and ruined the surprise. In the end their timing could not have been much better; it was only just breakfast time, and everyone was still eating. Korra's grin grew no matter how hard she tried to stop it as she gazed around the assembled people. How best to announce them? Before she could say a word, Jinora glanced up and stared right at her.
"Korra!" she yelled and bolted from her seat racing right towards her. The others looked up in surprise, twisting or turning to stare at where Jinora had been, their attention drawn by her running feet and inexorably to her. Tenzin, Pema, Meelo, Ikki, Rohan all gaped at her. And was-? Yes, even Lin was here and rising to her feet. Mom and Dad too. By now breakfast was well and truly disrupted and everyone was on their feet and crowding towards her, all smiles and excitement. Jinora frowned, seeming to only now realize there was someone else here. She gasped a moment later as she stared at her companion. "Bolin?" she asked.
"Hi," Bolin said and flushed instantly.. "Looks like I'm alive." The kids stopped on their race to Korra and instead rushed to fling their arms around him and bowled him over onto his back. Bolin was laughing all the while as they barraged him with questions, accusations, and demanded to know why they thought he would not be coming back. Pema smiled to her, and hefted Rohan into her arms whispering something to him.
"Korra!" Her mother cried and struggled through the mass of well wishers and held her arms out. Korra shrank back a bit, turning her a fraction to her right as she tried to keep her body in front of where her arm should be. Senna's face fell as she moved. "Korra?" she tried again and stepped forward. Korra shivered. "What's wrong?" Her arms closed around her and Korra swallowed hastily. Her mother tensed and stared up at her.
"Mom... I..." Korra sighed and shifted the cloak to one side. Her mother's strangled gasp quietened the excitement of the others and now all attention was back on hers. Senna blinked and stared at the empty shirt sleeve as her father tore his gaze away to stare at her questioningly.
"Korra, what happened?" Lin asked quietly in the silence.
"I... lost my arm." It sounded too blunt, too unconcerned, but what more could she say? The attention, the hurt and shocked looks were too much to suffer through again. Played over and over in her head. If not for Bolin-. "I lost my arm. But I found Bolin."
Explanations and recent events ate away every minute an suddenly everyone was hungry and they stopped asking questions to have lunch. As much as Korra's stomach gurgled and she begged to eat something, Senna refused until Korra was in clean clothes and she had personally checked Doctor Song's handiwork. Her wound was clean, re-bandaged and slightly frustratingly she was now dressed in an air acolyte robe. It had to go - and at first opportunity. At least Naga still carried some of her clothes - they just needed washing. Everyone looked up when she entered the dining hall flanked by her parents, and then tried and failed to not stare at her or her right shoulder. "Hi," she said ignoring their curious looks to Bolin. There was an empty seat beside him and he was industriously chomping through a plate piled high with food. "Hey?" she said again as she sat beside him. Her parents sat nearby, Pema was opposite Bolin and placed a bowl in front of Korra.
"Hi," he grinned with his mouth full and winced as he swallowed a little too fast.
"More rice?" Pema asked.
"Please!" Bolin said and held his bowl out. "This is all so great. This is the best food I've had... ever" He paused. "I should slow down. I'm eating way too much."
Lin sighed from his other side. "If you hadn't been through so much I'm make some comment about your appetite." Her expression turned stern. "Right now you should eat as much as you can and get well."
"Exactly," Tenzin said smiling. "We're celebrating you and Korra's return home."
"And we'll hold another when you're recovered." Something caught Pema's eye; she was staring at the mottled welts and discoloured skin on his arms. Korra reached for his hand and stopped. He had not noticed.
"With your cooking it won't take long," Bolin said, completely unfazed. "I think I'll be even bigger after all this." Korra smiled and tried to pick up her chopsticks. For some reason she just could not pick them up- Wrong arm. She sighed and fumbled them into her left hand nudging them against the table as she tried to get them to sit right in her hand. The wooden implements just felt wrong somehow. Or was it her hand? It felt clumsy, stiff and useless. She scowled as she tried to pick at even a grain of rice, the chopsticks neither coming together properly. How did she ever do this before? "Korra? Do you need any help?" Bolin asked.
"No," she said through gritted teeth. Angrier than she intended; he shrank back and looked a little shaken. Bolin turned a little away to take a few more mouthfuls of rice before placing the bowl and the chopsticks on the table. He hunched over but he was still staring at her she was sure. He was trying to be helpful - she knew that. But if she kept letting him, then she might never figure out how to use her left hand to eat or ever be able to cope without him. Korra glanced up, startled as nearly everyone else in the room looked away from her a fraction of a second too late. But it was not as if any of them could help her with this. Her stomach gurgled painfully and she lowered her mouth closer to the bowl and tried to scoop some rice into it. Sitting up quickly she gave up on the idea. She could not let everyone watch her struggle to just eat rice. "Sorry, Bolin," she said after a pause. "I'm just... getting used to it. Still."
Bolin shook his head his whole body still tense. "It's fine."
"No. I'm sorry."
Tenzin exchanged a glance with Tonraq and Senna and cleared his throat. "If the subject is not too sore, I was wondering if we might know what happened to you?" Tenzin asked Bolin. "We are most curious as to what became of you..." He trailed off. Likely not sure how to even allude to Mako's death. Bolin glanced at Korra and began his long story, relating almost everything that had happened. Certain parts he toned down or eliminated - especially where they related to the camps and the torments he suffered there.
"I hope they're okay..." Lin said as Bolin mentioned Wing and Wei leaving the train near Omashu to look for Opal.
"There's something else for you specifically..." Korra said to Lin with a glance around at the listeners. "But maybe it would be better in private?"
"Kid, with everything the two of you have been through, I don't think you need to worry about sparing anyone else's feelings," Lin replied gruffly.
"Okay; if you're sure." She licked her lips. "I met Toph."
"My mother?" Lin frowned. Tenzin leant forward. "Where was she?"
"In the spirit world..." Korra trailed off as both their faces fell..
Lin tensed and slowly relaxed, nodding as she did. "Guess that was kind of inevitable. We wondered..." She smiled - just about. "Too late for me to try spiritual training?" she asked.
"Nothing is too late," Tenzin said quickly. "If you wish, when events are calmer, I can try and guide you - if you do indeed wish to visit her."
"Thank you," Lin said and sniffed quietly. "I should... I should talk to Iroh. Find out when Kya's next in the city. And if they found Su or Opal and the twins yet," she muttered and walked away stiffly.
"And I guess you need to hear the rest of my story..." Korra added. "But we need to tell the world that it wasn't Amon or the Equalists who killed the Earth Queen. It was Kuvira - the one they've started calling the Great Uniter."
Sleep was beyond her. Reading failed to hold her concentration. It was not too hot, nor too cold. She did not need to use the bathroom, her teeth did not hurt, she could breath fine. But despite how tired she felt, she was just lying in bed, bored. Korra growled softly. Maybe exercise? Or hot milk or something? Korra stalked from her room, padding quietly along the wooden floors of the pagoda and to the kitchen. She stopped as she caught sight of the radio in the corner of the dining room. Reading felt like far too much effort,but how about a radio play? It would be something else she could talk to Bolin about and she always had wanted to join in his conversations with Asami about them.
Korra clicked the device on and kept the volume as low as possible. She almost paused on the pro-bender game she found, but resisted the temptation. That would just get her worked up and make sleep even less plausible. News, some argument between politicians or something. That really weird play with the narrator in the desert town where everything was just peculiar. Well. Maybe she could come back to that if there was nothing else. Ah! This at least sounded like a radio play. Korra fidgeted closer trying to make out what was going on - and what was happening. There was something about a winged creature guiding an acolyte to destruction and something about giant crystals? And some kind of nuisance guy persisting on drooling over every girl he saw but insisting this other girl was his one true love? How far through was this? Korra listened and tried to puzzle out the characters. How had either Bolin or Asami ever gotten interesting in this? Well; maybe it was easier if they listened from the beginning. But then how did they know to listen in the first place and-?
Footsteps made her look up and she reached out to switch off the radio. Bolin. She smiled at him and settled back beside the speaker. "Sorry. Did I wake you?" she asked. He shook his head. "Can't sleep either?" Bolin nodded. "Want to listen to the radio with me?" she asked, patting the floor beside him. There was a flicker of interest on Bolin's face but he winced and shook his head with a touch of panic.
"Just need something to drink," he muttered and hurried past her. She forgot all about the play, descriptions of some armoured enemy destroying the cast's boat barely reaching her. Bolin hurried back towards bed clutching a cup of water and trying not to glance at her. "Night," he muttered as he disappeared off to his room. Korra stared after him long after his footsteps faded. She was not listening to the broadcast at all now. So much for that. Maybe Bolin was just tired. She clicked the radio off and headed back to bed to try sleeping again.
Bolin stared at the grave-marker with Tenzin, Pema and Korra. "'In memory of Mako and Bolin - children of San and Naoki, founding members of Team Avatar, remembered with love by Avatar Korra and all their friends'," he read. "Thank you," he said and squeezed Korra's slightly.
"When we first learned about the events in Ba Sing Se, we placed an obituary in the paper - and whenever we were asked we attributed Amon's defeat to Mako. Korra..." Tenzin sighed. "I am sorry, but she was the only one who believed you had survived so we said nothing. But we could only hold out hope so long and we wanted to do something. This memorial was Pema's idea..."
"Aang and his friends all got memorials. So should both of you. It was just going to be for Mako, but..." Pema trailed off.
"It's perfect. It's very beautiful," Bolin said smiling at her.
"There was a funeral too," Pema blurted.
"Oh?" Bolin asked.
"All you and Mako's friends from Future Industries came. And Hasook brought a load of actual pro-bending stars. More than a hundred people turned up in the end!" Pema said.
"Even the Wolfbats," Tenzin added. He glanced around in worry. "That was a big thing wasn't it? Your arch-nemeses?" He sighed. "I don't get sports."
"That was them," Bolin said smiling. "But I can't believe they would come to my funeral."
"You were important to a lot of people," Pema said.
"And I'm sorry I couldn't be there," Korra said, hanging her head.
"Korra, you..." Bolin shook his head.
"There's a letter of condolence from Haruhi," Pema added hurriedly. "I forgot. Sorry. I still have it - if you'd like to see it or reply to her?"
"Thank you." He crouched and stroked his fingers across the lettering of the grave marker.
"No one will object if you remove your name," Tenzin said.
"It's fine," Bolin said. "I like this as it is. We just need to add the date when it's my time."
"We'll... give you both some time," Pema said and ushered her husband away.
"I've never been to a funeral," Korra said after a pause. "I know what they are and what they're like - paying tribute to the departed and gather together in sorrow." Bolin nodded slowly. "I just wish I could have been there to do that for Mako."
"Korra..." Bolin said.
"I don't think I would have coped very well though. In the end, Tenzin was right to keep it from me," she continued.
"Mako knew how much he meant to you," Bolin said. "He wouldn't have minded you not being there. We can all remember him in our own different ways. Would- Could- We should come back and visit. Once a year." Mako would have been just twenty this year.
"Sounds good," Korra said and reached for his hand again as he stood. "I wonder what he would think of all this?"
Bolin sighed. "When we were younger he was really cynical. I think he might have just said that problems come and go. Ever since he met you though-" he smiled. "Mako found something to start believing in."
"I know." Korra smiled and warmth rushed through him, her hand squeezing his. "It's a little embarrassing. I mean, being told he believed in me. But he did say he wanted to help. And now I want to honour his memory by carrying on with his wishes. I want the world to know about him. But..." She grimaced. "I'm nervous too. Long time since I did anything like talking to the press."
"Don't push yourself," Bolin said carefully. "If you need more time to rest..." Tenzin had already offered to be her spokesperson for this very purpose.
She shook her head. "I can do this. I need to do this. And I need to tell people what we saw. What Kuvira did."
"I know. And I'll be with you every step of the way." Somehow it kept surprising him that he was with Korra again. And despite every dream and every fantasy, it was hard to imagine feeling more content or happier than he felt right now. Nothing needed to change; something as disruptive as dating and romance seemed somehow unappealing.
"Bolin? Just so you know; I'll make sure nothing happens to you. I promise" She stared at the grave marker and turned to hug him tight against her.
"Same. I promise you the same. So, we'll protect each other," he replied as he squeezed her close.
"Thanks," she said as a shiver wracked her body. "But I mean it; I don't want to see you get hurt." He nodded. But there was no way he could just stay safe while she risked herself for him. He could not let anyone injure her in place of him. He could not let her die in place of him.
A week had passed since Asami lay on the back-seat of Iroh's car under a pile of coats and he drove her from the United Forces base to his apartment. Three more days had passed since Iroh went to handle a sudden influx of refugees arriving in the city by rail.
"You seem... happy?" Asami ventured the same morning as she wandered from the bedroom and found Iroh lacing his boots. She hitched his shirt back onto her shoulder after it slipped down again. Really they were too big, but she had to wear something even if they were on their own here.
"The Fire Nation prisoners have been freed." Iroh shot her a grin. "They found a United Forces patrol."
Asami smiled. "That's great news."
"Yeah. Hopefully Opal will be with them too. Now I just need to get them closer to Republic City. Mother can help there. And..." He looked at her significantly. "Korra's the one who freed them."
"Is she here?" Asami blurted. "I mean, I hope it all goes smoothly." She fiddled with the hem of her shirt.
"She's not here yet," Iroh said gently. "She stayed behind to let the others escape. I'm sure she's okay."
Asami nodded vaguely as Iroh set out and left her alone. She jumped at every noise the first day alone, certain Tarrlok had figured out she was in the city, or someone had noticed her panicked dash into Iroh's apartment the moment she arrived. At least no one would look for her here. No one would look for her in her own home either, but while she would normally have trusted her staff without question, it was impossible to ignore the risk of an offhand comment ensuring the whole city knew she was here. Same for Air Temple island. At least here there was no one to worry about here save Iroh - and currently not even him.
Iroh who she now missed. His shirts made good nightwear while he was gone and the bed was colder. The sheets still smelt of him despite his absence for days. Maybe she could have gone with him? No. Of course she could not. Not into something attracting so much attention. She flung the cool sheets back with a huff and stared at the ceiling. This increasingly seemed like a mistake; she had traded an open comfortable prison in the form of Ember Island, for Iroh's admittedly spacious if still limiting apartment. Far from fighting her own battles, she was just hiding from it. At least when Iroh was here there were plenty of pleasurable distractions. Now she was alone and increasingly at a loss of what to do.
Food first. She padded out of Iroh's room and ventured into the kitchen. Instant noodled felt about right. She took her scavenged meal back to the living room and idly glanced at the paper. A variation on the same story Iroh had mentioned; former Fire Natrion prisoners in Republic City rescued by Avatar Korra. And some mystery lavabender. Current whereabouts: unknown. Asami sighed. Of course. If Iroh did not know, the papers would not either. Wait. There was an odd addition to the story; a detail she had not caught before. Some mention of an injury Korra sustained while she was at Omashu. Asami glanced at the phone. The only people who might know something more were Tenzin and his family. Would they recognise her voice? And even if they did could they hope to figure out where she called from? And if they did recognise her, would they could they even stand to talk to her? Asami stared at the phone. She was never going to wait patiently if she did not ask. She dialed the number for Air Temple island, her heart thundering in her chest as phone rang and she waited.
"Hello?" A familiar voice. Asami gasped.
"Pema?" Already too late. She could not pretend to be a stranger like this.
"Asami? Is that you?" Pema asked breathlessly.
"...yes," Asami replied after a moment. "Please keep this a secret," she added hastily.
"I will," Pema replied hastily. "Of course I will. Are you okay? We've wondered where you were..."
"It's a long story," Asami breathed and smiled. "One day I'm sure I can tell you all of it, but... The newspapers are saying Korra's been injured and..." Pema tried to say something and Asami talked over her. "If you have any news about here, please, just let me know."
"She arrived yesterday," Pema repeated.
Asami almost dropped the phone. "She... she did?" she whispered.
"You're always welcome to come visit," Pema said. "I think Korra misses you."
Asami squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth. "Can't sorry. I'm in the city, but... I don't want to risk being seen."
"Ah. Ah of course. I'm sorry," Pema said. "I can ask her to call, or go get her now?"
"No!" Asami said. "I mean, not over the phone." What was she doing? "We need to talk privately." Why not just talk over the phone and be able to halt the conversation as necessary?
"Then, since you're in the city, how about she comes and meets you?"
"I-" No running. She had to face her again. "Yes. That would work." Deep breath. What was she letting herself in for? Asami gave Pema the address for Iroh's apartment, all the while wondering if this was remotely a good idea.
"I'll let her know when I next see her. Was there anything else?" Pema asked.
"No," Asami whispered. "Thank you. I hope I can see the rest of you. Soon," she added as she put the phone down. Her stomach was hollow with fear, but it was hard to sit still. Korra was here. In the city. And possibly coming to see her. Asami stared down at herself and Iroh's rumpled shirt. She was a mess. Korra was coming. Asami flung the shirt towards Iroh's bedroom and ran for the bathroom. She stopped. She was being silly - it was not as if Korra would come straight over. Still, better to get cleaned up.
"Korra? I have some news..." Pema said surprising her. Korra stepped away from Bolin. "I just got off the phone-" Pema lowered her voice, looking around warily. "-with Asami," she added in a near whisper.
Korra almost blurted her name out but clamped her hand over her mouth. "She's in the city?" she managed eventually.
Pema nodded. "At Iroh's apartment. It's too risky for her to come here, but she wants to talk to you. I have the address..." She sighed. "I didn't tell her about Bolin though. I didn't know if you wanted her to know too?"
"I want to see her," Bolin said.
Korra nodded. "So do I." But how would this meeting go? She needed to apologize. She needed to tell Asami how lonely she had become when her friend vanished from Zaofu. That she wanted things bakc how they used to be. But things were not the same and never could be; back then she thought Bolin lost and here he was right beside her. Maybe she should focus on that; that what she feared might never be as bad as she thought. "I just... Don't know what I'm going to say."
"We can figure it out on the way. You two want, no, need to see each other," Bolin said firmly.
"Yeah." Korra nodded. "So, I guess we need to take the stealth approach?" She glanced at Pema. "Where is the apartment?"
"Near the United Forces base," Pema replied handing a scribbled note.
"Ready to do this again?" Korra asked Bolin.
"Travel by Naga? Always," he nodded.
Korra whistled and Naga came bounding over to them. Korra patter her flank. "Sorry girl. I know I promised you a rest, but we're going to go see-" She lowered her voice and whispered in the polar-bear dog's ear. "-Asami. Do you want to see her too?"
Naga barked in reply and after one last thank you to Pema, Korra and Bolin plummeted with Naga into the ocean and across to the United Forces base. Their arrival naturally drew some surprised looks as Naga hauled herself up out of the sea just beside the main fortress, but they darted away before anyone could say anything and soon found themselves trying to make sense of the address. After an eternity seemingly wandering in circles they found what had to be the right building. A four-story block stood a little apart from the other buildings, each floor containing just one single apartment - and Iroh's was at the top. They climbed to the top floor, Korra's pulse speeding up as they walked - it almost felt like it would explode when she finally stood in front of the apartmnet and banged on the door. "Hi. It's K-Korra," she called, the words catching in her throat.
She waited a few seconds. No one came and there were no sounds of movement from inside. "Maybe no one's home?" Bolin suggested.
"But she only just called Pema." Korra pounded on the door. "Hello? Iroh? Iroh are you here?" Or was Asami there and had changed her mind in the intervening time and no longer wanted to see her? She tried the door and the lock clicked open. "She must be in if the door's unlocked." She stared at the door handle. "I'm going in."
"This is a bad plan," Bolin said. "What if they're-" His eyes widened as Korra glanced at him. "Sleeping?" he offered awkwardly, his face flushing. Korra pulled at the door and he caught her arm. "Wait. Just let me-" He stamped his foot and closed his eyes as he held his breathe. "There's no one here."
Korra sighed. "Yeah... I figured. I just..." Something drew her attention just inside the door. Slippers. Two pairs; one larger - Iroh's presumbly. The other a lot smaller. "She's here. Or was. Maybe she's nearby?" She wandered back outside and stared down from the open walkway. "Naga should be able to sniff her out. She might be in trouble?"
"You go look," Bolin said. "I'll wait here in case she comes back."
"Thanks," Korra replied. "If she comes back first... Just... come find me. Okay?" Bolin nodded and she skittered back down the steps to Naga. "Hey girl. I think Asami's somewhere nearby. Any chance you can help me find her?" Naga barked and sniffed at the ground. She barked again in confirmation. "Good girl!" Korra leapt onto her back and urged her forward. The polar bear dog raced past the apartments and houses in the area and towards the ocean. The sun was low in the sky by this time; the ocean water shifting from blue to pink. Naga sniffed the ground and padded along the quayside to the point where a dock jutted out into the water. There was one other person in sight facing away from them and wearing a straw hat. The figure held a fishing rod and unhooked a fish to deposit into the basket beside them as Korra and Naga approached. Naga barked and the figure looked around in surprise.
It was her. Even with the sunglasses and the hat. And the surprisingly short hair. Why had Adami cut her hair? Suddenly Korra was all nerves. This moment has replayed in her head every day for the last few months. So many variations, settings, times and outcomes. Sometimes they both cried their eyes out and had an emotional reunion like the night the Red Lotus attacked the Sato mansion. In others they played at being forgiving and civil but both soon lost their tempers and started yelling at each other. Some happy situations were happy, some sad, some ended with kissing - a lot of kissing and a desire to find a bed. And others just them going their separate ways, the past impossible to recapture and the gulf between them impossible to repair. None of it seemed to fit fully in her imagination. And none of them came close to this moment of seeing her again and knowing. Asami was - above all else - dear to her.
The bark made her look up, the familiarity of the sound already ringing alarms in the back of her head, but somehow she was not conciously aware of it yet even as she stared at the huge white animal. Polar-bear dog. Someone was on the animal's back and stared at her as she slid down - something wrong with the movement but she could not fathom what. The figure spoke. "Asami." Her name. The stranger was saying her name, the sound intoxicating and arresting and familiar. Korra. It was Korra's voice. She had come to find her. Come so much faster than she dared hope.
"Korra?" Asami gasped staring at the other girl. There was still something wrong, something off about her every movement. Something changed and different but it was impossible to tear her gaze away from the other girl's face. What to say. What could she say?
"Pema said you called," Korra said slowly. Asami nodded fearful of saying the wrong thing - something that make her turn and vanish. "She gave me the address and we went there and you weren't so..." A step forward. "I had Naga track you and..." She took another step closer. "I wanted to... talk to you. Again." Another step. This was too much; her eyes were prickling with tears and her vision filled with Korra. "It's nice to see you again."
"It's nice to see you too," Asami choked out, her heart about ready to burst.
"Are you okay?" Korra asked. "I mean, health-wise and..." Her gaze flicked to either side of Asami's head. Looking at her shorter hair. "I like your new hair."
Asami reached out a trembling hand, fingers sifting through the too short hair, missing when it was longer. Missing Korra's hands tangled in it. Too much. The tears started spilling out of her eyes. "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I left you..." she mumbled and raked at her face with her hands, but the tears kept on coming. Korra was right beside her.
"Don't be sorry. I'm sorry." Korra took a deep breath. "I was a jerk to you too."
Asami shook her head. "No. You were the best friend I ever had and I just... left you."
"Asami," Korra said fiercely. "I regret what I said to you in Ba Sing Se. Every single day. I never thought I would get to see you again. But you're... you're here. And you're okay!" Asami glanced up. Tears stained Korra's cheeks but she was smiling. "Please don't blame yourself." She reached out and it took all Asami's strength to not let her knees buckle as Korra's fingers traced across her face. "We were lost back then. We both needed to find our own way back. And now we have. And I need to make so much up to you."
Asami resisted for a moment, but let Korra's arm slide around her waist, the other girl's chest crushing against her own. The hug tightened and Asami rested her chin on Korra's shoulder, her head swimming. How long since they had last been like this? Too long. She needed this. "I need to do the same," she muttered after a moment. Was something wrong with Korra's other arm? The embrace felt odd like this. "I will never leave you again. I promise."
"And I promise not to be a jerk like that. If I can." Korra leaned back a bit and grinned. Asami responded, her left hand making a grab for Korra's right. The empty sleeve crumpled under her hand. Asami stared down at the billowing sleeve. Had Korra broken her arm? No; she would have felt it. But then?
"Korra?" Asami gasped as everything clicked. "You- Your arm?" she said panicking. Her companion winced.
"A battle scar of sorts." Korra shook her head.
"Korra, I-" Asami tried and failed to form a coherent sentence. She could not simply overlook that Korra was now missing a limb.
"We can worry about that later. Right now there's someone else who wants to see you too. They're back at the apartment," Korra interrupted. Avoiding the subject. Asami let her brush it off; no doubt the subject was still sensitive to her friend.
"Someone? Is Iroh home already?" Asami asked.
Korra shook her head and grinned. "No. Someone else. C'mon, we should go say hi." She took Asami's hand, barely giving her time to grab the wicker basket as she leapt up onto Naga, Asami scrambling behind her. And just like that it was like no time had passed. Naga warm and soft beneath her, her arm around Korra's waist to prevent her from falling. The thrilling rush as Naga started running- Over too soon this time; Naga skidded to a halt mere moments later. Asami gave the polar bear dog a spare fish from her catch and murmured a thank you. Korra was stepping from one foot to another as she waited; whoever was waiting up there had her beside herself with excitement. Just who was here? Tonraq? Senna? Surely not Kuvira? Had everything just been some misunderstanding- She gasped as she stepped into the apartment.
"Bolin!" she yelled in startlement and flung at him. He barely had a chance to hold his arms out before she crashed into him and clung on tight.
"It's me," he grinned.
"You... She... You..." More tears. "You're alive. I never... I'm sorry we left you," she sobbed into his shoulder.
"It's okay," he said his hands rubbing her back gently. "You kept Korra safe - that was the important thing back then. So; thank you." Asami sniffed and pulled away, her gaze catching on his scarf. She reached out a tentative hand to touch it.
"This... Is it...?" she trailed off.
"Yeah." Bolin seemed a little more sombre. "Does it look okay on me?"
"Yeah," Asami nodded. She paused. "Wait. You were with Korra before? When she saved those prisoners?" Bolin grinned and nodded. "Then you...? You're the lavabender!"
Bolin flushed and looked at the floor. "Guess I am. I just helped out as best I could."
"More than that," Korra added smiling at him. "We couldn't have done it without you."
"He would have been so proud," Asami said softly. She hugged Bolin again and glanced over her shoulder. "Care to join us?" Korra smiled and pressed into them both, Bolin shifting so his arms were around both girls. "Welcome home. Both of you."
"I'm just glad I'm back with two of my favorite ladies," Bolin replied.
"Team Avatar's back!" Korra said.
Asami squeezed them both; she had made the right choice to return to Republic City.
Asami hurried to the door at the knock and she could not help the grin as Iroh wandered inside. "...to the prisoners and they mentioned the Avatar and someone with a red scarf and-" His gaze met Korra's and he trailed off staring at her and Bolin. "I... um..." He blinked.
"Welcome home," Korra said as she and Bolin got to their feet and bowed. Iroh was still staring at them as Asami tugged the bags of take-out from his hands. Korra frowned at the containers. Asami caught the look and shook her head.
"More than enough for four of us," she said. "I made up something else too." She glanced at Iroh. "Your stove needs modifying though," she said as she disappeared towards the kitchen.
"Welcome back to Republic City," Iroh managed after a pause but was recovering fast. "You got here a lot faster than I anticipated." He held his out to Bolin. "And you. I hate to say it but we never thought you'd make it. I don't know how you managed it..." he trailed off. "You are a man of many surprises." Bolin flushed and Korra smiled.
Korra eyed his injured arm. "Is it going to be okay?"
"Given time." His gaze drifted to her loose sleeve. "Were you injured too?"
"Didn't feel a thing," she replied and lifted her empty sleeve. Iroh's expression fell. "I am okay you know," she said as Iroh looked pale.
"Kuvira?" She nodded. "Same." He cleared his throat. "Well, as crown prince and on behalf of the Fire Nation, I thank you for freeing those prisoners." He bowed.
"We couldn't just leave them behind," Korra replied.
"Of course," Iroh said.
"Dinner!" Asami called interrupting the moment.
"If you would like to join us...?" Iroh blinked. "Of course, I suspect Asami already invited you?" Iroh said, shaking his head. "Sorry, just... It's good to see you both." He gestured for them to go ahead of him into the dining room.
This looks really good," Korra said as she took her seat. "When did you learn to cook?" Asami blinked and hastily turned to a cupboard and handed Korra a serving spoon. She was on the verge of protesting when she noticed Iroh also had a spoon. She shrugged and picked it up. A lot easier this way. "Thanks," she said.
"You're welcome. I've seen what happens when someone tries to use their other hand with chopsticks." She grinned at Iroh. "And I had good teachers for my cooking; Zuko and Mai taught me." She stared at the plates. "But a good part of this is the take-out."
Bolin stopped part way through chomping down on a serving of rice and fish. "Zuko and Mai really taught you how to cook?" Asami nodded. "That's just... Really cool Asami! And this is really good! Steamed to perfection and the flavors are nicely mixed."
The group's conversation was mostly relaxed chatter and relating the recent events in both Korra and Bolin's lives to Iroh. "I think Ineed to speak to the public tomorrow," Korra said as they four of them washed up after. "I've been in hiding too long, and I need to face up to everything. Just... not sure what to say."
"I'm sure we can help you with the notes. In fact..." He glanced around. "Leave the rest- I'll sort it. I want Korra to see the machine."
"The machine?" Korra asked. "Sounds somehow scary..."
"He's been obsessing over it ever since he bought it," Asami said rolling her eyes. "It's neat, but noisy."
"Noisy?" Korra asked. "Just what is it?"
Iroh chuckled and lead them through to another room. A squat metal device stood on the table with various glyphs inscribed on metal discs. Each disc connected by a metal arm into the internals of the device. "I've taken to calling it a type-writer," he said.
Korra peered at it. "Okay, but, what does it do?" Iroh pressed down on a disc and with a heavy clunk the same letter appeared on a sheet of paper caught inside the mechanism. "Woah! That is amazing! But yeah, does it have to be that loud?"
"Can I try?" Bolin asked. Iroh nodded and he and Korra jabbed at the discs in turn.
"Okay, this is fun but I think we're getting side-tracked," Korra said. She prodded a key and the type-writer did not make a sound. "Um. Did we break it?"
"No, you just ran out of room." Iroh leant past them and pulled the sheet of paper caught inside it out, replacing it with a clean sheet. "We should write the speech out by hand first. Better to get it right before typing. Useful but tiring." He handed Korra another blank page and a pen. "Start with an introduction."
"How about something like... I am Avatar Korra. The successor of Avatar Aang. I was born in the Southern Water Tribe and-"
"No," Iroh shook his head. "More than enough people already know that. Telling them that is just going to bore them. Engaging your audience is the most important thing. You need to start by telling the people listening you're making the speech for them and why this is your first."
Writing was hard. Every sentence, every word, every pause seemed to carry meaning according to Iroh. It was bad to reveal too much, but also bad to reveal too little. Above all she needed to make herself look good, but avoid personal stuff and focus on Avatar aspects. Make a big thing about defeating Amon, but avoid political comments. Make the revelations about Kuvira about her crimes and truth; not a grudge. Speech writing seemed to be a mass of contradictory rules with weird exceptions. This was just infuriating. Maybe she should just leave all this kind of thing to Tenzin.
By the time of the fifth draft, Bolin was flat on his back and snoring on the couch, while Asami was very nearly asleep sat on the floor with her back to the sofa. "Is that okay?" Korra asked in exasperation. Sleep was sounding so good right now.
Iroh took a sip of coffee. "Seems to be. Nothing too risky. There is a little-"
"Not everything has to be perfect!" Asami said sharply from the floor. She was glaring at Iroh and he returned her gaze coolly as Bolin startled sat up in a panic.
"What? Something wrong?" he asked frantically. His eyes focused on Korra at the table. "Oh. Still writing?" he yawned, Korra yawning sympathetically.
"Sorry, Bolin," Asami said stretching. "I think I'm going to doze while you finish up. Want to come too?" she asked Bolin. He nodded. "See you when you're done," Asami said smiling at Korra as she lead Bolin out of the room. It would be nice to join, so tempting to just curl up between the two of them, but realistically the speech had to come first.
Another draft and now her hand really did ache. Iroh nodded as he read it. "Yes, that'll work."
"Okay. Thanks Iroh-" Korra said, her gaze on the door Asami and Bolin had vanished through.
"After your speech people are going to ask questions," he interrupted her.
"-you really helped and-" Korra blinked and sat back down heavily. "What questions? I told them everything in the speech!"
Iroh sighed. "Yes. But even with that they will ask questions - some you will have covered for which they will want more detail, and some which have little relevance to what you said. The important thing is that you should try and be prepared for them - whatever they are. It's frustrating, but some people don't so much care about the truth as controversy. The speech ultimately won't matter if your subsequent answers negatively tarnish your public image."
Korra growled. "Okay. So what kind of questions?"
"You want to start easy?" Iroh asked.
"No. Hit me with something I'm not expecting," she said. "Let's get this done as quick as we can."
"Okay. Was Asami Sato your romantic partner?" he asked.
"What?!" Korra spluttered. "Y- I mean, N-, I mean Y-... It's complicated!" Was someone really likely to ask that or was he asking for himself? He had admitted to liking her before, and until their reuniting hours before Korra had not thought much about Asami. But the hug had been so good, and she had missed her more than she realized and- "Asami is very dear to me, and she always will be."
"Wrong answer," Iroh sighed.
"How? It's the truth!" Korra protested. Not the entire truth, or rather not her completely honest version of the truth.
"The tabloids and gossip columns are very interested in your relationships," Iroh said.
"Why would they-"
"You're a celebrity," Iroh interrupted. "People like to read about this kind of thing. There's a whole school of thought on this matter, but we don't have time for that. The important thing is that your relationships can be twisted and used against you. Kuvira's supporters might accuse you of abandoning your duty for emotional attachments with an Equalist," Iroh said smoothly.
"Asami is not an Equalist," Korra huffed.
"But the public doesn't know for sure."
"Which is why I'm telling them the truth," Korra said through clenched teeth.
"And you should. But at the right time and in the right context. And doing so for the moment when presenting the truth is of the most beneficial and least harmful to you." Korra glowered at him and he rattled off more awkward questions and picked apart her answers savagely. Nothing too safe and nothing too blunt. Short but meaningful answers. Her head was began pounding and her responses became increasingly short and snappy.
"I'm not sure I should have ever asked you about this," she muttered an hour later.
"Hate me all you want now, but you'll thank me later," Iroh insisted.
"Good luck," Asami said as Korra, Bolin and Iroh got ready. "I'd like to be there, but..."
"I know," Korra said and hugged her. Another hug after accidentally on purpose disturbing her when Korra went to collapse in Asami's room in the early hours of the morning. The initial plan had been to squeeze between her slumbering friends, but they looked too comfortable. Korra settled for laying on the edge of the bed and shuffling close enough that Asami rolled over and curled up around her. Too comfortable and content to even worry about the implications of sleeping like that.
"I'll listen out for the radio," Asami said as she waved them from the doorway.
Korra read and re-read her speech as Iroh drove her and Bolin to the city hall. Time seemed to disappear and far too quickly it was the appointed time. Korra stared out into the crowd as they waited; a lot of journalists and other onlookers were out there. Bolin asked her a new question and she barely heard him. "Sorry?" she said.
"Should the Earth Kingdom monarchy be restored?" Bolin repeated.
"I think it best we first establish what the people of the Earth Kingdom want in terms of a return to a traditional system or the creation of a new one. I am dedicated to restoring balance no matter what the outcome." Hopefully something like how Iroh would want her to answer the question. Korra snuck a look at her cheat-sheet. "That was completely wrong!"
"It was a good answer though," Bolin replied. "So..." He studied the sheet of paper. "Who is the most gorgeous probending player?"
"I think-" Korra blinked. "Wait, what?"
Bolin chuckled. "Just kidding. I figured you needed a distraction. Don't worry; you can do this."
Korra sighed. "Thanks. Oh, and to answer your question-"
"Korra!" Tenzin shouted from nearby. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," she called back as he walked over. "I've just never talked in front of so many people before. Been practicing though."
Tenzin nodded. "I know how you feel. I am a terrible public speaker. Confident but I feel I rather lack charisma." He coughed. "But as far as I know people listen to me and what I have to say all the same. And I have managed to earn some respect. But none of my accomplishments hold a candle to what you have managed this past year. No matter others say or think, the odds are in your favor."
"Thank you," she said. "Okay. I think I should get this over with."
"I'm going to watch from the audience," Bolin said. "And don't forget, Asami is listening in too. If it helps, imagine you're just talking to us. You're at your best when speaking from the heart."
"Thanks," Korra smiled. Taking one final breath she walked towards the podium. Flash bulbs popped and flashed around her, the flashes of light leaving purple sports in her vision for long moments afterward. The crowd was noisy and many held placards and signs she could not make our despite squinting. Tarrlok glared at her from near the front and she ignored him, pleased to see Tenzin and Bolin taking their seats. Iroh smiled encouragingly from within a group of other United Forces generals. "G-good morning." The crowed quieted as her first words echoed in the resulting stillness. Her voice sounded weird amplified like this. Okay, think of it like a probending match. She glanced at her speech, the words already burned into her memory.
"I am Avatar Korra, and it is my pleasure to be standing here today. For the past one and half years my focus has been on my training to become a fully realized Avatar. Today marks the first time I have addressed the public directly." She recited a condensed and brief version of her life before coming to Republic City. Asami's name riled the crowd up and Lin had to twice call for quiet as some sections of the audience made jeering threats at her friend. It was a frustrating reaction, but undeterred Korra stressed that Asami was not an Equalist and commented on her role within Team Avatar. "During my first year as the Avatar I faced three enemies; The Red Lotus, the Equalist leader Amon, and most recently The Great Uniter. I defeated Amon in public, but the one neutralized him as a threat is my friend Mako. Some of you may know him as my substitute in the Fire Ferrets. And some will be aware that defeating Amon tragically lost cost him his life." Her gaze found Bolin in the crowd who smiled sadly. A movement nearby. Tarrlok fidgeted at her words. Korra ignored him.
"Mako died protecting me, and in addition to taking my friend, Amon also robbed me of my ability to bend." That got a reaction from the crowd and a buzz of conversation. "I can at least assure you that the effect has been reversed and I am well on my way to gaining control of all four elements. It is for this reason I have been absent from public for so long. I needed to undertake a spiritual journey to regain my connection to my lost elements. I have had the opportunity to commune with the spirits; my predecessors Avatar Aang and Avatar Kyoshi. The spirit of the Moon; Princess Yue. And last but not least, Toph Beifong - founder of the Republic City police force." The names impressed many in the crowd. "My journey has not been without cost - I am aware that my defeat in Omashu is well documented and as you can see the Great Uniter took my arm. But I survived that encounter thanks to my probending teammate and hero of the Earth Kingdom; Bolin. It is thanks to him that several Earth Kingdom camps were liberated - not least the largest the United Forces was aware of." Several members of the audience began to applaud.
She had strayed from her speech significantly now. "A great number of things were lost in Ba Sing Se; the Queen, Amon, the Equalist's cause, my friend Mako..." She sighed. "I lost another friend in the city; my metalbending teacher from Zaofu; Kuvira." The name sent ripples of agitation through the crowd. "Unlike Mako she still lives; but many will likely now know her as the Great Uniter. There's more. The Equalist leader Amon has been repeatedly accused of the murder of the Earth Queen but today I have come to tell you that this is incorrect. My companion Bolin was an eye-witness to events at the royal palace before the city fell; the queen and her family were murdered by Kuvira herself." The crowd roared in fury, but Korra kept on going. "She used my mission as a cover to further her own ends and deceived us all. I vow to defeat her once my training is complete and bring balance to the world once more." The crowd applauded again. Korra took a deep breath. "That is all. Thank you for listening."
"Avatar Korra!" a journalist yelled out.
"Yes?" she asked, still catching her breath, her heart racing.
"Is it not true that despite some overly aggressive methods the Earth Empire has stabilized the territory it has taken over? Is it wise to oust the leader on one single eye-witness's testimony?" he asked.
Korra opened her mouth to reply and a second journalist interrupted. "Avatar Korra; how can you be sure this Bolin's account is accurate?"
"He wouldn't lie to me," she snapped. No. Calm. Just like they practiced. "I don't expect everyone to just believe me with regards to the queen's death and proving it will be difficult. However, it cannot be ignored that the Great Uniter is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in addition to my new accusations. More than sufficient reason to stop her."
Other questions followed; politics, poverty, immigration. It became swiftly tiring to endlessly repeat she was neither a ruler nor a lawmaker. She repeatedly insisted they would be better served to interview those in charge of their respective tribes. Tenzin was smiling before long and Iroh nodded approvingly.
"Avatar Korra, what do you think of Asami Sato's involvement with the Equalists? Many believe she aided them and used her friendship with you as cover. Your response?" Inevitable. At least Iroh had the foresight to prepare her for this.
"Asami Sato is my friend. She lost her company, her father and the people's trust, but I still have faith in her. Will always have faith in her. I am certain the charges against her will be exposed as incorrect when she is ready to return home." Hopefully Asami would be smiling at that.
"And what do you say to rumours that the two of you were intimate?" another journalist asked leering up at her.
"I would say there are far more pressing issues in the world today than my love life," Korra replied bluntly. The journalist blinked and his smiled faded.
"Avatar Korra; what legacy do you want to leave in history?" another journalist asked. Not something they practiced.
"I want to bring peace and happiness." Too vague. "I suppose that's what everyone really wants in the end. I guess I don't have an answer for this just yet. But if nothing else I want to make the future a better place for every one of us. And to do that we all need to work hard and work together. Thank you." She bowed and walked away from the podium as the crowd erupted into applause. People were smiling and cheering her; it seemed to have gone well. But even if they did not believe her about Kuvira or Asami it was at least a start - and she was one step closer to being a true Avatar.
"Does she convince you?" Kuvira asked Baatar as the metalbender fussed at her knee joint, the leather straps of the prosthetic creaking as the woman tightened the brace. "Do her lies have weight?" He had been silent through the Avatar's broadcast.
"Of course not." Earnest. But not suspicious. Sadly not typical of the general population. But he would be there for her; should everything fail, should she lose every advantage he would be there. A final trump card? A final sacrifice? How odd to have someone so devoted and to never ask anything in return. Perhaps he hoped but could not say? If there was another woman; someone who could give him the love he secretly craved - would his loyalty falter then?
"Thank you," she said after a pause.
"I'm glad I please you," he smiled.
Kuvira tapped the metalbender on the shoulder. "Leave us for now." Kuvira patted the seat beside her as the woman hurried away. "Sit with me." He perched on the seat, his expression shifting from shock to delight as she pulled him towards her and kissed him. How had the Avatar done it again? Ah. Lips and tongue. How long should she leave this? Baatar seemed giddy as Kuvira eventually pulled away and he squirmed on his chair. "I have a favor to ask."
"Anything," he murmured trying to fight his smile.
"It is something only you can do. You command a certain respect in this world because of your family-" She shook her head as Baatar's expression turned serious. "No. It is true however much you distance yourself. But I think we must now make use of that, and you are the one to do so. You believe in our cause do you not?"
"Of course," he said. "To the bitter end."
"Good. I need you to go to Republic City..."
w
w
w
Thank you for the reviews, Dreadking73,Tbone511, Shadowman20, Curiosmaq, AJ, and Kradeiz
AJ: I know a lot of people have abandoned this fic for different reasons. Losing readers or not being to see some people comment make me sad, but your supportive message really made me happy when I read it last week. I will do my best to finish this fic without significant delays for all of you.
Bolin's earthbending: yes, he didn't earthbend since Bolin Alone
Toph and Uncle Iroh: Yes they chat for eternity, but sadly we didn't write a scene for them.
Next chapter
The Trial
