Chapter 11: Election Day
The sun slowly rose over Republic City and cast its light upon all those who dwelt there. The radiant beams crept inside one house near the edge of the city park. It wasn't a particularly extravagant house, with only three bedrooms, a kitchen, and two bathrooms.
Naga slept soundly inside the main bedroom, wrapped snugly around a bed. Nearby sat a dresser and nightstand with a series of pictures with Korra and Diago. A few more recent photos showed Korra in a white wedding dress on Air Temple Island with her parents, Asami and Opal, in matching gowns, and finally Korra being in Diago's arms bridal style while he wore his formal military dress uniform.
Korra slept soundly in the bed; her arms wrapped tightly around Diago. Both young adults lay there naked, their warm bodies pressed against each other after a long night of passion. Korra rested her head on Diago's chest, her long hair flowing freely. The two remained in this position for several minutes even after the sunlight reached them until finally, Diago's peaceful expression contorted slightly.
Korra's face turned slightly mischievous as she intentionally moved her big toes against the bottom of Diago's feet, tickling him. Finally, his eyes opened, and the officer looked down at his wife, who still played innocent.
"I know you're awake, Korra."
The Avatar still pretended to be asleep, at least until she felt her husband's hands begin fondling her breasts. Korra let out a soft moaning noise before finally opening her eyes.
"Alright, you've got me." Korra giggled, opening her eyes and meeting Diago's before the two shared a long and passionate kiss. Another few minutes passed, and Korra placed her head back on Diago's chest, savoring his warm presence.
"What day is it again?" She asked, slightly dazed while glancing at a picture of the two on their honeymoon at the North Pole a month earlier.
"Friday." Diago answered, nearly making Korra jump.
"Friday! It is Friday!" As the Avatar sat upright, Naga thought something might be wrong and quickly jumped onto the bed, getting over them in a very protective stance while growling.
"Easy, Naga, we're ok." Korra and Diago quickly stroked the polar bear dog's head, calming her into a gentle whine. Since Korra's kidnapping and apparent death a few months earlier, Naga had become almost obsessed with protecting her partner. At points, even growling at any strangers that they passed.
"You ought to send her to the polling places, she'll scare off anyone voting for Raiko." Korra almost burst into laughter at Diago's suggestion and pulled Naga's head in, wrapping her arms around the polar bear dog's head in a tight embrace.
"I might do just that. You could help save Republic City too, Naga." Korra felt her pet's tongue as Naga licked her face. After a minute, Korra rested back on Diago and took a deep breath.
"Todays the big day then. I don't know why I feel so anxious."
"We all are. This will decide who's leading the Republic." Diago assured Korra as he placed both hands firmly on her naked backside, giving it a tight squeeze. She glanced back at him with a vigorous expression.
"Alright, you asked for it!" Korra threw herself at Diago, passionately kissing him with her arms wrapped tightly around his back. However, both his hands remained in place on the Avatar's butt.
Later that morning, Diago, Korra, and Naga moved to the kitchen for breakfast. Diago wore just a pair of short trousers, while Korra was dressed in just a shirt, only covering her from the belly up. The young man finished their coffee and bent some into Korra's mug as she inhaled its warm steam.
"Ahhh. It's black, right?" Diago nodded with a smirk.
"You don't drink coffee for the taste, baby."
"Too right." Korra laughed, tapping her mug against Diago's before they both took a swig.
"You want some, Naga?" Korra asked. However, the polar bear dog remained fixed on her large bowl of fish, and jerky Korra filled a minute earlier. The Avatar stroked her partner's head as Diago took out a newspaper and chuckled while looking it over.
"What's it say this time?" Korra asked, half expecting the answer.
"Well, the Republic City Press is still convinced you intentionally faked your death a few months ago to get a sympathy vote for Zhu Li."
"Less outlandish than what the Republic Newsletter said." Korra said with a smirk as Diago handed her the paper. She looked at a picture of herself standing by Zhu Li at one of her rallies.
"Raiko better find a day job after the election because he's clearly blowing all his money on keeping the newspapers in his pocket. Still, it's ashamed you, Opal, Bolin, Xinyue, and Iroah can't join in to support her publicly."
"Well, formally, we can't endorse a candidate as representatives of the United Forces."
"Well, luckily, I don't have those problems. The Avatar publicly supports whoever she pleases." Korra boldly proclaimed as Diago nodded, raising his mug.
"As it should be." However, he noticed a somewhat wary expression creep into the corner of Korra's face.
"Diago, I know I shouldn't believe the paper when it says there's no way Zhu Li will win, but what are people in the United Forces saying?"
Diago put his hand on Korra's shoulder with a reassuring look.
"By now, most of the United Forces has seen action in the city. We all know which of the two candidates has put themselves out there to help those in need."
Diago's words gave Korra the boost she wanted. After breakfast, she joined Asami, Hiroshi, Mako, Lin, Kya, Pema, and Tenzin at the nearest polling place, where each cast their vote before returning to Air Temple Island.
"And with twenty percent of the precincts reporting, Zhu Li has now taken the lead, folks!" A radio host reported as Korra, her companions, and many of the air-bending students listened somewhat intensely at each update.
"Yes! This is wonderful!" Verrick announced, signaling his new assistant, Asari, to ready one of his fireworks.
"Varrick, I haven't won." Zhu Li tried to sound optimistic for her vast crowd of supporters who'd now gathered on Air Temple Island, but also cautious.
"Don't talk like that, honey. You've got this election in the bag!" Varrick placed his arm around Zhu Li's shoulder while Korra, Mako, and Asami did their best to remain calm as they sat beside the radio speaker.
"Come on, Raiko cannot win this!" Asami tightened her fists and felt Mako place a hand on her shoulder. However, before he or Korra could say anything, the three saw Hiroshi offer his daughter a glass of brandy.
"Really? Now, I thought we'd save that for if Zhu Li wins."
"I find it helps ease the nerves." Hiroshi chuckled, Deng Jing pouring two more glasses as Asami's father handed them to Mako and Korra. However, he didn't toast. Instead, the businessman simply drank his, encouraging the others to do the same.
"I don't know why you're so anxious, Asami? I'm just glad neither of the candidates are benders." Deng commented. By now, Korra, Mako, and Asami simply ignored her snide comments about benders and focused more so on the election results.
"Drinking already! That's bad luck!" Korra was the first who turned to see Diago approaching with Sergeant Xinyue, her husband Kato, Opal, Bolin, Iroh, and Kido. The four soldiers still wore their uniforms, and each took their place near the radio as Lu Ten rushed to his parents.
"You ordered all your soldiers to vote for Zhu Li?" Kya asked, half joking.
"That would be an unlawful order." Iroh answered while sitting near Tenzin.
"He's right. The servicemen and women of the Republic do not abuse our authority!" Lin proclaimed proudly.
"But speaking out of uniform?" Korra smirked at Lin with Kya.
"Raiko is going down for the good of the Republic." Kya kissed Lin's cheek.
"So you all voted then?" Asami asked.
"Oh yeah, Diago here made sure everyone in the platoon had a chance to vote." Xinyue said, smiling at her Lieutenant.
"Just making sure everyone fulfills their civic duty." Diago said, wrapping his arm around Korra's shoulder as she anxiously waited for the next report.
"With forty percent of precincts reporting. Zhu Li still has the lead."
"Yeah! You've got this Zhu Li! A bright future for the United Republic!" Bolin shouted, his hands raised.
"This has been quite a turbulent year, to say the least. However, I, for one, am actually looking forward to some changes. Not to say you've done a bad job, Tenzin." Hiroshi quickly corrected himself while turning to the air bending master, his wife, and their infant son.
"It's fine. To be perfectly honest, I'm actually looking forward to being off the council. I can focus on my family and my students. Who knows, maybe Raiko's scheming will actually work in our favor. Maybe when you have the executive power, Zhu Li, you and Korra can put an end to this conflict soon."
"Imagine Republic City being as Aang and my grandma envisioned it." Opal said with gleaming eyes. Korra's angst changed a bit as she thought about what Opal said. For almost two years, she'd committed to ending the conflict in Republic City. So far, it was everything she'd done genuinely acting as the Avatar outside of just training.
"Yeah, imagine it." Diago and the others noticed Korra's tone with concern.
"Korra, is everything alright?" Diago asked, pulling her slightly closer.
"...I guess I just haven't thought about it. What I'd do if things did get better here."
"Oh, come on, Korra, you're the Avatar. There's a world worth of chaos out there for you to balance." Bolin assured her while Opal, Mako, and Asami nodded in reassurance.
"Plus, everything you've done here, you're clearly ready to handle anything this crazy world throws at you." Asami said.
"You're an Avatar in your own right now, Korra, and that's the truth." Mako said warmly. However, Diago and Kya noticed this only seemed to make things worse, as Korra almost went pale.
"What about you guys? If I have to travel around the world for years at a time, it will be without you." The harsh reality set in as Opal, Mako, Bolin, and Asami's expressions began to mirror Korra's.
"That would mean an end to Team Avatar..." Bolin trembled, he and Opal holding each other tightly as they shook. Mako and Asami took a deep breath and seemed to brace themselves.
However, Diago didn't seem disconcerted. He smiled and pulled Korra in for a tight embrace.
"Well, whatever happens, I'll be there with you. I'm your husband, now."
"But, Diago, that could mean leaving the United Forces. Your military career."
"Is nothing to helping my wife and the Avatar." He said, kissing Korra's cheek. Hearing this eased Korra's angst, knowing Diago would always be with her.
"You know, we don't have to stay in the United Forces forever. Once our enlistment ends, we could travel the world. My mom always said how much she loved traveling in her youth." Opal tightened her grip around Bolin in excitement, and the earth bender lifted her up as he stood up.
"Yeah! Team Avatar travels the world! I love it!" Bolin proclaimed.
"Well, future Industries could expand its partnerships more globally, right, dad?" Asami asked, smiling towards her father, who sighed but then nodded as Deng shook her head.
"Absolutely not!" The nanny cried in horror.
"Hmm, they might need a police escort." Lin chuckled while pushing Mako's shoulder.
"You two would join us then?" Korra asked, turning to Kya and Lin hopefully. However, the two women shook their heads.
"I'm afraid not, Korra. We have duties here to this city. You're pressing your luck that I'd give up Mako. He's the best damn cop I've seen in years."
"Master-" Korra started, turning to Kya.
"Korra, you don't need me anymore. You've learned all you can from my training. All that's left is refining. Whatever happens, you and your Team Avatar will be ready. After all, you've got water, earth, fire, air, and non-bendering. What could the world throw at you lot?" Kya pointed to Diago, Bolin, Mako, Opal, and Asami, respectively.
"What about us?! Fourth Platoon is just as much part of Team Avatar!" Sergeant Xinyue shouted.
"I think we could make an arrangement." Iroh said.
"And that's it! All of the votes are in. We have our first President of the United Republic, Zhu Li Varrick!"
The entire island went silent for a moment, Zhu Li trembling worse than ever.
"I, I'm the President." She muttered. Varrick finally broke the tension by lifting his wife up in bridal style and kissing her.
"Asari, do the thing!" Varrick's new assistant tried to shoot off the firework but struggled.
"Oh, give it to me!" Zhu Li got giddish with excitement and shot off the firework herself as cheers lit up the entire island. Korra felt Diago lift her up in his arms before they kissed. Mako and Asami, Bolin and Opal, Lin and Kya, Xyinue and Kato, Iroh and Kida, and Tenzin and Pema seemed to follow their example. Jinora lost all sense of restraint in her excitement, grabbing and kissing an unsuspecting Kai whose face shot red.
Elsewhere, Raiko held his head with a frantic expression while staring out at Republic City.
"It's over, everything! You promised me this would work! You promised me I'd be president!" Raiko roared at another man behind him. However, as the figure approached, the politician all but crumbled. Yet the man merely placed a hand on Raiko's shoulder with a reassuring expression.
"Fear not, my dear Raiko. This is but a minor setback, I assure you, I have everything under control." Tarrlock said, glancing up at the nearly full moon.
"You will have everything I promised, and I will have everything you guaranteed."
"Of, of course."
"Good." Tarrlock kissed Raiko, savoring the moonlight as it filled him with power.