"So, Akemi, what do we say if we get upset?" Korra questioned as she buttoned the girl's cardigan.
"Back off, I'm about to firebend!" this one said seriously, standing upright with a frown, a hand on each hip. Korra smiled approvingly and held her hand up for Akemi.
"Please back off" corrected Asami, zipping up her own jacket. She looked worried, Korra noticed, and she couldn't really blame her. Asami tried keeping a relaxed demeanor for Akemi's sake, the kid was more receptive than one would expect from a four-year-old, but Korra could see right through it.
A few weeks had gone by since Akemi's arrival, and Asami and Korra were now officially her legal guardians. Until they got further news on her family, that was. And by further they meant any news at all, as there hadn't been any so far.
The lack of information came from all fronts. Korra had figured that they would get leads on Akemi's past through learning more about this newtriad, specially their leader, but the situation had reached a plateau after the attack to the portal. For a while the pressure was on finding the abducted kids' families, but once the police managed to place every child, and with no new incidents caused by the triad, priorities soon shifted, and things started to slip through the cracks. Even with the anonymous leader still on the loose, the issue was settled with day-round surveillance on the portal and a few 'wanted' posters. After all, with his army dismembered, the leader didn't pose much of a threat anymore, or so the city officials thought, cause unlike Korra, they hadn't seen his influence over the spirits. Who needed an army when they had evil entities doing their bidding?
The Avatar still made sure to regularly update Lin with whatever bit of information they managed to get from Akemi, but the girl didn't say much. And after telling Lin about the sandbenders Akemi often talked about, Korra got the feeling the chief started doubting the girl's credibility. It probably didn't help that she still wasn't able to question Akemi in a formal setting, an annoyance Lin didn't shy away from rubbing in their faces.
They had tried taking Akemi out of the house right away, but it became clear pretty quickly such thing was not going to happen. As soon as they crossed the front door Akemi wouldn't want to leave Asami's arms and she'd be so terrified and jumpy her hands would ignite at the slightest provocation. The women couldn't bring themselves to force her after the first few tries, and settled with taking things slow.
First, they got her to play in the garden with Naga, then to the park a block away, and after figuring out the Akemi's love for food had no limits: to the ice cream shop.
And as the days passed the women saw Akemi's true personality start to show through. Once she understood Korra and Asami weren't going anywhere she became less clingy and bolder, the initial fear replaced by a fierce curiosity that had them running around after her, making sure she wouldn't hurt herself or make something burst into flames. It was exhausting in the best way possible. And neither of them wanted to see that light disappear over a small set back.
But they couldn't drag it on any further either, Akemi needed to get out in the world eventually, and after a talk about overprotection, they decided that was the day. There were taking Akemi to the station to talk to Lin. Maybe she'd be able to get something out of her that the women couldn't. And not get incinerated in the process.
No, no, we're ready, she's ready.
Korra's hesitation must have reached the surface because Akemi quickly noticed the change, her own features succumbing to worry.
"What's wrong?" Akemi asked, her voice low and squeaky. Asami shot Korra an alarmed look from across the room.
"Nothing… it's just… I thought I heard something…" Korra took her open hand to her ear theatrically and started pacing slowly around Akemi "I thought it may be… the Wind monster!" the shrieks of laughter begun before Korra started airbending, bouncing and twirling the girl in a loop of wind that kept her suspended a few feet from the ground, until landing in Korra's arms.
"Are we ready yet, Wind monster?" Asami asked, approaching them and quickly fixing Akemi's ruffled top knot.
"What do you say Akemi, are you ready to see Lin? That nice lady we talked about?" Korra had to admit 'nice' might have been a bit of a stretch.
"And ice cream afterwards?" The girl asked with a wide smile.
"And ice cream afterwards, if you are good" Asami kissed the girl's hairline and they all walked through the door.
As they approached the police station, Korra could feel the knot that had formed in her chest begin to rise to her throat, threatening to choke her with pure nervousness. And she didn't seem to be the only one: Akemi had entered the precinct on Asami's arms, her face hidden in her clothes, clutching the woman's arm for dear life.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Maybe they should go back.
Good thing the sight that welcomed her as she stepped into the precinct made her change her mind, the knot disappearing.
"Dad!" Korra approached his father and threw his arms around him, surprised by the sudden visit "What are you doing here? Where's mom?"
"Hi sweety, actually I was here to see yo-" he interrupted himself when he noticed the two figures approaching behind Korra.
"Hi Tonraq, nice to see you! it's been a while" Asami greeted, but Tonraq didn't quite hear her, his attention hoarded by the girl in Asami's arms.
"Is there anything I need to know?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. Korra gave a few steps back and stood next to Asami, a hand on her waist.
"Dad, this is Akemi" the girl's curiosity won over her fear, and begun shifting in Asami's arms, trying to get a better look at the man "Akemi, this is Tonraq, my father" Korra explained "Would you like to say hi?" The girl turned around to fully face the chieftain.
"Hi" she said waving her hand shyly. Tonraq smiled, noticing the girl had Korra's gloves on.
"Hi there, Akemi" Tonraq responded "And hello to you too, Asami, sorry, I got a little distracted"
"Understandably so" Asami laughed nervously.
"So, a water tribe girl" Tonraq followed "How did you two…" he was looking at her daughter inquisitively.
"She is actually a firebender" a door flew open, Lin coming through, cutting Korra short. Asami felt Akemi's hands heat up against her clothing, the sudden noise startling her.
"Oh, there you all are, you are late!" if looks could kill, Lin would have been laying on the floor right then, Asami's eyes flaring bright green. Asami put the girl down and kneel to her height, holding her hands.
"Now Akemi, remember what we talked about?" The girl nodded "She is Lin, she is our friend, she is gonna ask you the questions" Asami pointed to the chief "I'll be right here if you need anything"
"Korra too?" She asked looking up at the Avatar.
"Me too, tiny, promise" the words encouraged Akemi, who nodded decisively and put a brave face, walking towards Lin followed closely by Asami.
"I'd stay away from mentioning the family" this one said to Lin in a whisper "Also, don't ask her about the scars"
"What's with you two and telling me how to do my job?" Lin complained under her breath before disappearing with Akemi into the interrogation room. Asami was left staring at the closed door wishing she could be there with Akemi, but the conversation happening behind her brought her back to earth.
"What was that about?" Tonraq asked, still puzzled.
"I'll explain later" Korra dismissed him "What brings you to Republic City?"
"I got news about the attack on the Spirit Portal, and grew concerned"
"You are about the only one" Korra scoffed "Considering a maniac made a bunch of spirits go berserk, the whole deal blew over pretty quickly" she rolled her eyes "Damn bureaucracy"
"So it's true, then" Tonraq didn't seem pleased about the confirmation. "He controls the spirits"
"He doesn't control them, but he certainly has some kind of influence over them" Korra corrected. "But it doesn't seem to matter anymore, after the attack we manage to disband most of the triad, and we haven't heard from the Leader since"
"So, this Leader..."
"Big guy, black markings, non-bender" Korra finished.
"I knew this would come back to bite us" Tonraq whispered to himself.
"What do you mean?" Asami intervened, alarmed.
"I think I know who your Leader is" Tonraq paused "His name is Nilak, from the southern water tribe"
"Nilak, I don't like this!" Nuniq shouted at her brother ahead of her.
"Nuniq, don't be such a coward!" Nilak's words were lost in the storm around them. He held on to his parca for dear life, eyes stuck to the ground not really seeing where he was going, snowflakes threatening to freeze his eyes over if he dare look up. But he was not going back "It's gonna be okay"
"Easy for you to say" At twelve Nuniq had not yet mastered waterbending, but was doing her best at keeping her brother out of harm's way, blocking and deflecting the sharp icicles and mounds of snow that kept appearing out of nowhere. She had lived around snow her entire life, but had never seen it behave like this, it was as if the storm had a life of its own, and was out to get them.
"We are almost there!" Nilak reassured her. But were they really? Their sled had broken down a few miles ago and they had been walking towards the gray mist ahead ever since, hardly making any progress. She got lost in her thoughts and almost missed the icicle going straight towards her brother's head.
"Watch out!" She reflexively lifted her hands up and a wobbly wall of snow rose with them, blocking the missile by a hair's breadth. There was no way that blow wasn't on purpose. "I'm going back"! she stopped walking, but Nilak kept marching forwards, either because he didn't hear her or because he didn't care. Nuniq leaned towards the latter. "I SAID I AM GOING BACK!" She screamed and to make sure her brother would notice, made a pull motion with her hands, the snow shifting beneath his feet, making Nilak stumble. He stood up, finally turning around, and Nuniq knew she had made her brother mad. His moves were controlled as he approached her, even despite the snowstorm, as if actively restraining himself from punching her.
"IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME WITH YOU!" he screamed even though he didn't need to, only a few feet away from Nuniq. "YOU PROMISE YOU'D HELP AND TO THEN BACK DOWN AT THE LAST SECOND!"
"Last second?!" Nuniq said, outraged "I've been out here freezing my butt off for the last two weeks" she tried calming herself down, she still had trouble controlling her waterbending when under distress. "And for what? I don't even get what has you obsessing over this place!"
"You wouldn't understand" Nilak said "You cannot feel its pull, it's like its calling me" he had lowered his voice and closed his eyes as if to focus on said call.
"You are insane" Nuniq was stunned at his brother's delusions "if anything, this place wants us dead! But you wouldn't know, cause I'm the waterbender here, I'm the one making sure you don't get impaled by a freaking flying icicle!" Nuniq knew where to hit her brother so it'd hurt.
"I DON'T NEED YOUR STUPID BENDING" Nilak shoved his sister, making her lose her ground, landing on the snow. She crawled away from his brother unable to stand up with the wind pinning her down "I BET IS YOU THE SPIRITS DON'T WANT AROUND" Nuniq quitted paying attention to his brother's fit, and instead looked up over his head " I SHOULD'VE LEFT YOU BEHIND" A black spirit over fifty feet tall appeared from behind the mist, now suddenly much closer to them, the storm seemingly invigorated by the presence "YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BURDEN" Nuniq couldn't speak, the terror paralyzing her vocal cords. Nilak's rage was blinding him from the Spirit behind them, now so close that Nuniq could clearly see its features, like the ones from a buzzard wasp painted in sloppy strokes of red and white against the pure black of his body.
"NILAK!" Nuniq shrieked as the Spirit raised his claw, ready to strike her brother. Nilak turned around, finally catching on to his sister's terror, just in time to see the pillar of snow freezing over his head, Nuniq's last attempt at protecting his brother. But she had read the Spirit's intentions wrong. It wasn't going after her brother; it was going after her.
She realized a moment too late, the three-fingered claw striking her fully on the chest, sending her flying back. She opened her mouth in a silent cry that didn't leave her throat, her breath caught on her lungs. The last thing she saw before blacking out was the horror painted in her brother's face, and the mighty Spirit above, its features mimicking Nilak's distraught expression.
"NUNIQ!" the brother fought against the wind and ran to his sister, tears freezing before reaching his cheeks as he cradled his sister's head. Only then he faced the Spirit for the first time. "NOO!" he howled, although it was less like a cry and more of an order. The Spirit stopped on its tracks and shrunk half its size, its features softening and changing color from red to light blue, its eyes like teardrops.
Nuniq groaned, slowly coming back to her senses, and Nilak's attention eased off the spirit. When she opened her eyes again, her brother hugged her, relieved "I'm sorry" he whimpered into her ear, and when he looked up again, the Spirit was gone.
A/N: This chapter is a little different, cause sometimes a girl needs flashbacks to get her point across.
For real tho, I thought it would be more interesting to see the events unfold in real time instead of learning about them through dialog.
I'd love to hear opinions about it, cause I have mixed feelings about flashbacks myself.
See you next week!
To the guest review: I hate it too. I hate writing about it, and hate the logistics behind it haha. But I need it for later, trust me haha.
To lolo765: Thank you for your review! I will keep writing the story, don't worry, as of now I'm a couple chapters ahead and still going strong haha.
Thank you for reviewing, it really helps keeping me motivated!
