After my small breakthrough with my bending I spent every moment I had spare training to try and develop my skills and capabilities. The water didn't fight back as much as it used to though sometimes when it accidentally splashed my face I'd yelp and it would suddenly contort horribly and become unmanageable. I have to learn to control my emotions better, fear seemed to be the key. Soon enough I was able to use larger quantities of water than before and maintain control. It was a start, a very good start and everyone else seemed just as amazed and excited as I was. "This is amazing Kanna, you're really starting to get the hang of it." Mako said to me as I walked in a circle with a large bubble of water, whirling it around in an endless loop around my body and over my head as I laughed.
"I know right?! Just a little more time and I may even conquer my fear of water altogether." I beamed at him as Bolin cheered.
"That's our girl! Who's up for celebrating with some lunch?"
"Food sounds good, I'm starved." Asami agreed just as Korra entered.
"Sorry I'm late guys, I had to escape Tenzin again." Korra informed us all, walking straight past me and went directly to Mako, the two of them smiling lovingly at one another. "Hey you, I missed you."
"I missed you too." Mako answered, his arms going around her waist and I made a vomiting motion the same as Bolin, the two of us blinking at one another before grinning. We both found Mako and Korra's overly lovingness a little too much sometimes. Turning around I concentrated the water into a whip before slicing it forwards, catching Korra on the rear and she shrieked loudly as I roared with laughter to see her face and watch her practically leap out of her skin from the shock.
"Okay you two, that's enough tongue sharing for today, let's go get food! Food!" I chanted, dispelling the water and hurriedly grabbed Asami by the hand as well as Bolin before practically skipping into town. "Where shall we eat?"
"Anywhere is good so long as it's fast and filling." Bolin answered before leading us to one of his favourite food places where we all got a table and sat down. "So Kanna, since you're getting the hang of all that water-bending stuff, how would you feel joining me on my new Fire Ferret team?" He offered me, making me blink and look up from observing the menu. "Since Mako and Korra here are busy going off and doing their own thing, I'm going to need a fire-bender and water-bender to fill the gaps so that the Fire Ferrets can make it in next season. You in?"
"Are you sure you want me to, Bolin? I don't exactly have Korra's experience or skill, it'll be like throwing me in at the deep end and expecting me to swim." I told him then shuddered at my own analogy. Guess I was still a wimp. "Plus if I get thrown into the water below, I'll just probably panic and drown."
"Don't worry! We can notify people so that they know to help you out and if worst comes to the worst, I'll just dive in and rescue you." My cheeks reddened slightly as I thought back to General Iroh and how he'd pulled me from the water and also, kind of kissed me. Even though it was mouth to mouth resuscitation, it was still a little humiliating. We hadn't really been able to see each other to say a final thanks and goodbye after the whole Amon thing and a large part of me hoped I never saw him again because I know I'll just blush. "So what do you say Kanna, help out a friend?" Bolin asked, giving me that simpering and pleading look which I simply could not ignore so I sighed despite the favt that I thought that this was a terrible idea and I was probably going to regret it.
"Okay then, we'll give it a shot." Bolin leaped up and hooted happily before lunging across the table to fist bump me.
"Yes! Thank you! I love you Kanna you're the best!" A while ago something like that would have gotten my heart racing but now, I just laughed and smiled. Bolin was a good friend now, nothing more and I was totally over my crush on him. In fact he and I were really close friends, we had started doing almost everything together including having burping competitions out in public now that the air had cooled between us, in a manner of speaking. Sure, people just loved it when we sat in a restaurant competing against one another, but that was just how we were. Now that I thought about it, perhaps training might be something fun and productive for me, I might suddenly discover a hidden talent within myself and become and awesome Pro-Bender, I've always wanted to give it a try.
"This is great, now I can tell Tenzin that I need to help you train for pro-bending." Korra beamed at me. "I can give you all the best tricks in the book, after all you'll be learning from the best." She jerked her thumb at herself and we all laughed before starting to place our orders. Korra snuggled herself against Mako who had his arm draped affectionately around her and I could not help but sense that Asami felt awkward to be around them so I yawned and stretched, comically placing my arm over her shoulders as I leaned back against the booth, sending her a coy and sidelong look which would have been flirtatious if it weren't for the fact that I was totally mocking the lovebirds, a fact that neither Bolin nor Asami missed as they gave tiny grins and attempted to contain their laughter as I put on a suave tone as I wiggled my eyebrows at Asami.
"Oh sorry Asami, guess I'm pulling moves on you now." I told her with a wink as she stifled a giggle behind her hand. "Guess all those clothes you gave me really won my heart over." This made her giggle all the more, no longer able to hide it as she laughed at my playful behaviour and even leaned back against my arm to get comfortable.
"That was the plan after all, I'm glad you finally noticed me Kanna." She replied with an impressive display of seriousness which stopped Bolin in his tracks, all laughter now vacant from his expression as he blinked at the pair of us acting like a loving and overly-cuddly couple, looking completely lost and confused but Asami could only hold it together for so long before we both just burst with laughter. I hope she feels a little better now, I don't like to see her with that sad look in her eyes, especially when she's around us. At first I'd resented Mako a little bit for jumping so quickly from Asami to Korra. We were good friends and we got on well, but sometimes I didn't really understand what was going on in that head of his. He wasn't even trying to hold back to save Asami the embarrassment and hurt of watching her ex with another girl right in front of her eyes, and didn't even tell Korra to tone it down a little out of respect for Asami's feelings. I'll have a word with her tonight about it. I put it to the back of my mind however and instead focused on just having a good time with the gang. The food was excellent and it was great for all of us to be together again, though making any further plans was a nightmare with all our busy schedules so I ended up simply arranging to meet with people individually to spend time with them, focusing on Bolin and Asami at the moment as they needed a friend the most at this present time. Pabu had eaten so much food that his stomach had swelled to four times the size and he had fallen into a food coma on Bolin's shoulder, snoring sweetly as we all said our goodbyes.
"That was fun, we need to meet up more often." Korra sighed happily, blushing slightly from the kiss Mako had left her with. "Hey Kanna, race you back to the island."
"Wait hold up Korra, we need to talk!" I called after her however she was already gone so I chased her down, springing into the ocean with an ice raft forming with a wave of my arms and swiftly catching her up however when I started to overtake, she glanced towards me then slipped into the Avatar state, rushing past me with a large wave which would have soaked me to the bone had I not dodged it and I clenched my jaw. Not again. Korra really did not have any form of restraint.
"Yeah! I'm the winner!" Korra yelled obnoxiously as I raced up the steps after her, hissing with a finger to my lips.
"You'll wake the kids!"
"Oh right, sorry." I smacked a hand to my forehead and exhaled in exasperation. She really did act like a little kid sometimes. "So what was it you wanted to talk about?" Korra questioned as we started to walk towards the temple to head inside. "Can it wait until morning? I'm beat."
"No Korra, it can't wait. I've been meaning to mention something for a while now." I said to her, coming to a stop and she blinked at me and looked back, arms folded behind her head in a lax and carefree manner. "Don't you think you and Mako are being a little insensitive towards Asami? I mean, you two were practically all over each other the entire evening and you didn't even seem to think about how it could have affected Asami's feelings. Can't you see how awkward she feels around you two when you guys practically have each other's tongues down your throats?" I asked her however Korra just looked dumbfounded.
"We were not all over each other! What's wrong with me wanting to be close to my boyfriend? Huh?" Korra demanded, dropping her arms and turning to face me with a glare. "And if it bothers Asami that much then she should just deal with it because Mako and I have a great thing going and it's not going to end just because she's a little uncomfortable! If she doesn't want to see us kissing then she should look away." My jaw dropped in utter shock at the sheer selfishness I was hearing.
"Korra! Just listen to yourself! Asami is our friend, you don't treat your friends this way!" I tried to reason with her but she was already storming off in a temper. "Just because you're the Avatar does not give you the right to act as you please and do whatever you like. You need to start taking this seriously and think about others instead of yourself!" This seemed to strike a nerve with Korra as she whirled around and snarled at me with an angry hiss.
"Are you calling me selfish?"
"Yes I am." Cracking her knuckles Korra took a step closer with the intention to intimidate me but I held my ground and looked at her calmly. "I'm not asking much, all I'm asking is that you just take Asami's feelings into consideration, okay? How would you like it if Mako suddenly dumped you and started getting all cuddly with another girl right in front of you? What if I were that girl and I didn't care how much you saw me and Mako getting cosy together?"
"Simple. I'd knock out her teeth so that he wasn't attracted to her anymore. And if it was you...then I would still knock out your teeth." As Avatar's go, Korra hadn't really gotten the gist of the whole balancing and peace thing. All she wanted to do was fight and that was not her role as Avatar, something that really got on my nerves because my grandfather was the Avatar of the previous cycle and there had been none better than him at maintaining balance and peace. I mean, come on. He defeated Fire Lord Ozai when he was twelve after being trapped in ice for a hundred years with a ragtag team of benders and non-benders from all over the world. For a kid that brave and powerful, he sure had been humble. Maybe my grandfather had used up two lifetimes' worth of humility, because Korra sure didn't have any. "I'm done with this conversation. I've got training with Tenzin tomorrow so I want to sleep." And with that she was gone and I was left somewhat dumbstruck after she had slammed the door shut behind her. That had…not gone to plan. I never knew Korra had such a proud and selfish streak inside her. I knew she was arrogant but this…this went beyond anything I had ever seen before.
"Kanna?" My uncle's gentle voice called out to me as he approached, having been summoned at the sound of arguing so I went towards him as he stood at the end of the hallway. "I heard arguing, is everything alright?"
"Not really Uncle Tenzin. I'm worried that all this success is getting to Korra's head." I admitted to him, hanging my head in exhaustion and annoyance. "She's slowly turning into someone that I don't like. How am I supposed to remain friends with her if she doesn't even care about others anymore?" I asked him and Tenzin sighed before drawing me into an understanding hug, placing one hand on my head.
"It'll all be alright in the end. I promise Kanna." He assured me and I prayed that he was right, otherwise Korra was set for a very bad fall.
