Staying Warm
"Today, I will be teaching you a technique that may save not only your life but also the life of someone you care about."
Korra kept her expression as serene as possible. Inwardly, however, she was wondering what fresh new horror Azula would inflict upon her. People always said that it was hard to argue with results – and Azula got plenty of results – but clearly those people had never met the firebender.
Quite frankly, Korra considered herself lucky to still be alive.
"As you know," Azula said. "Firebenders of sufficient skill are capable of controlling the temperature of their body. This has obvious implications in survival situations."
"You mean I don't have to worry about freezing to death," Korra replied. "Although I am also a waterbender, so I don't know how much freezing to death really applies to me."
"It is true that waterbenders do not typically suffer unduly from the cold, but it is always better to have more weapons at your disposal." Azula's golden eyes swept over the harsh, desolate landscape of the South Pole. "And have you considered the fact that although your waterbending might protect you from the cold, it will do very little to protect any companions you might have."
Korra's brows furrowed, and she folded her arms across her chest. That wasn't something she had considered. She had spent almost her entire life at the compound, so she wasn't used to worrying about other people. Sure, she spent a lot of time around Katara and Azula, but those two were the last people who had to worry about the cold.
"That's a good point," Korra said at last. "So, what is this technique you're going to teach me?"
"I've already taught you how to channel heat to and from your surroundings, and you've already learned how to regulate your own temperature."
Korra twitched involuntarily. To make sure that Korra really could control the temperature of her own body, Azula had come up with a new and innovative training technique: she had procured a large tub of ice-cold water and shoved Korra into it. Any attempt to get out of the tub was met with a painful – but not fatal – jolt of electricity.
The Avatar had learned how to control her own temperature with remarkable speed.
"Today, I will be showing you how to regulate the temperature of other people." Azula clapped her hands. "Ty Lee."
The other woman flipped into the training area. Korra shook her head. She sincerely hoped she was that energetic in her old age.
"If you would be so kind as to disrobe, Ty Lee."
"Right here? I mean… Korra is sitting over there and…"
Azula took a deep breath, and Korra could have sworn she saw the old woman's cheeks flush ever so slightly. "I didn't mean it that way. I meant could you please take off your coat?"
"Ah, I get it." Ty Lee slipped her coat off. It wasn't more than a few seconds before she began to shiver in the bitter cold. "Wow. It's really cold today."
"It's the South Pole, Ty Lee. It's always cold." Azula reached out with one hand and touched Ty Lee's shoulder. Almost immediately, the other woman began to stop shivering.
"Oh, are you teaching Korra how to do that today?" Ty Lee asked.
"Yes."
Korra moved closer and walked in a slow circle around Ty Lee and Azula. "How did you do that?"
"It's a highly advanced form of heatbending. Essentially, you are either bending heat into or out of the other person."
"I didn't know you could heatbend living things." Korra cupped her chin in contemplation.
"In general, it is much more difficult to heatbend another living thing. The chi of another living thing will naturally resist such an intrusion. Of course, if they allow you to heatbend them, it won't be a problem. It is also possible to simply overpower the resistance their chi provides and heatbend them against their will."
"That sounds really horrible." Korra made a disgusted face. "It sounds a lot like bloodbending."
"Has Katara told you about that already? Interesting. I hope, for your sake, that you have some proficiency in that particular art. It is very powerful. And, yes, in a manner of speaking, it is quite similar. However, it can be even more powerful."
"More powerful than bloodbending?"
"Korra, what do you think would happen if I used heatbending to boil all of the blood in your body."
Korra paled.
"I wouldn't even have to go that far. You would be either unconscious or dead long before your blood actually boiled."
"You can do that?" Korra's gut clenched. She was going to be sick.
"Yes, I can. The only reason I don't use that sort of attack more frequently against my opponents is that it's consumes a great deal of energy and attention. It is simply much easier to burn or electrocute the people I want to disable or kill." Azula smiled. "Oh, don't worry. I'll teach you when I think you're ready."
"I'm not sure I want to know."
"Whether you want to know or not is irrelevant, Korra. You are the Avatar. I trust your judgement, and I know that you would never use a technique like that carelessly." Azula's voice softened. "Now, come over here. Because you are learning how to heatbend someone else for the first time, I will be your practice subject. The last thing I want is for you to accidentally set Ty Lee on fire. If you make a mistake, I will be able to compensate."
"Uh, okay." Korra shrugged. "What do I do?"
"This is what you do…"
X X X
"Korra, it's cold."
Korra pulled Asami closer. The heating in their apartment had failed, and it was the middle of winter. As the Avatar, Korra had not had any problems handling the cold, but Asami was a different story. She could feel the other woman shivering.
"Hey, do you mind if I do something?" Korra asked.
"Will it make me warmer?" Asami said. "And will it involve me getting naked again because I'm not sure I can go another round. You were pretty thorough earlier."
Korra smirked. She had been very thorough indeed. "No, but it will definitely help. Just relax, okay?"
"Go for it."
Korra put one hand on Asami's shoulder and concentrated. A moment later, Asami gasped.
"What did you do? I feel much warmer."
"Heatbending," Korra replied before she yawned.
"I didn't know you could heatbend other people?"
"It's kind of a secret, so don't tell anyone." Korra laughed softly. "Although Ty Lee did mention that Azula was always doing this for her when they were in the South Pole."
X X X
Author's Notes
As always, I do not own Legend of Korra. I am not making any money off of this either.
Azula always has a trick up her sleeve, and Korra is going to learn as many of them as she can. Plus, a portable Korra heater sounds nice.
As always, I appreciate feedback. Reviews and comments are welcome.