"In other news, a tragedy occurred in Zaofu so soon after its own Kuvira attempted to destroy Republic City with a giant mecha suit."
Korra's head jerked up at the name of the city. She turned her head to look at the radio she had turned on after she had went to her room. Korra got up and turned the volume down in case there was someone walking by her door.
"There was an explosion that toppled one of the domes."
Korra's eyes widened in shock. Lin didn't say that one of the domes was destroyed!
"At this time, we have found the bodies of sixty civilians and two of Republic City's officers, but more are expected to be recovered. Suyin Beifong herself was hurt during the blast but it does not appear to be critical. It is unclear if it was an accident or an act of terrorism. Suyin Beifong and Republic City's Chief of Police, Lin Beifong, have not yet commented on the explosion. Some are starting to question whether Lin Beifong, daughter of Toph Beifong, the former Chief of Police for Republic City, is still fit to be Chief of Police or if-"
Korra turned off the radio and was tempted to throw it out the window. She restrained herself to giving the contraption a punch but she put too much power into the blow. The radio flew into the wall and laid destroyed on the table. Korra only gave the broken machinery a huff before unplugging it so it wouldn't start a fire. Maybe if she hurried tomorrow, she could get a new one without anyone realizing that this one was broken. Korra nodded to herself at the course of action and threw the piece of junk away.
She left the room before she could punch something else. Korra took calming breaths as she walked through the temple towards the training grounds. Today she was supposed to teach the airbenders about the Spirit World. Korra had tried to give the responsibility to Tenzin, Jinora, and Bumi but each one turned her down. She even tried to ask Meelo to fill in for her but Tenzin put a stop to that in an instant.
Once again she became a tide of airbenders walking to their studies. Korra had to maneuver around a few of them to reach the doors that led outside. Air Temple Island was getting very crowded since the destruction of the Northern Air Temple forced the rest of the airbenders to move back to the island. Korra considered moving out several times but she knew it wasn't feasible. She may not have to worry about buying food and other things, but being the Avatar also meant she didn't have an actual paycheck. Perhaps she could move into Asami's mansion. Korra dismissed the idea at once. She couldn't ask her friend for something like that, especially considering everything happening between the two of them and Lin. Korra raked a hand through her hair and tried to recall what she meant to tell her class.
Korra walked to the meditation area and saw twenty pairs of eyes train on her. She took another deep breath and smiled at the airbenders. She saw one of them raise a hand to wave at her and she was relieved to see that it belonged to Bumi. His dragonfly bunny spirit friend, Bum-Ju, flew over his head and chirped happily at the sight of Korra. He zoomed over to the Avatar and circled her once before going back to Bumi. Korra almost laughed at the bright pink sweater the spirit was wearing and was grateful that Bumi hadn't attempted to make one for her yet. It did look comfy but Korra did not pull off pink well, especially bubblegum fluffy pink. Asami might though.
"Hello everyone," Korra called out and was greeted in turn by the airbenders. She took a seat in front of the airbenders and assumed the lotus position. The others did the same without prompting and Korra cleared her throat. "Okay, so the Spirit World. It's a world with, well, spirits." Korra felt her cheeks burn as all the points she meant to say refused to come back to her mind. "Currently there's three portals that allows people to directly enter the Spirit World. They're found at the North and South Poles and of course the one in Republic City." Korra trailed off, not sure what else to tell the airbenders. She could list off everything she knew about the Spirit World, but Tenzin likely covered that already which would leave Korra looking like a fool.
"Is it true that you can't bend when you're in the Spirit World?"
Korra didn't see who called out the question but she was glad to have something to talk about. "Yes, but only if you meditate into the Spirit World." Everyone was listening intently and Korra felt a boost in confidence. "You leave your physical body behind so you can't connect with the elements. However, if you physically enter the Spirit World, you can still use the elements but you need to be careful. Spirits don't like it when you try to bend at them." She grinned sheepishly as she explained her trying to bend at several meerkat spirits. The airbenders were laughing by the end of her tale, Bumi loudest of them all. Korra didn't mind the laughter, it actually made her more relaxed and she started to recall the things she wanted to talk about.
"The Spirit World is amazing. Every spirit you see here is only a fraction of what they actually are." Almost like he could sense it, Bum-Ju zipped to Korra. The Avatar smiled when he landed in her lap and scratched under his chin. Bum-Ju chirped again and rubbed his head against her hand. "Don't ever think that you're stronger or smarter than them because in their world, they rule. They can sense your emotions and that can literally change their world. If you're good, truly good, they will flock to you." Bum-Ju chirped once more before flying back to Bumi.
The airbenders shot off more questions and Korra answered them with ease. This was way easier than she thought it was going to be. The airbenders were paying attention and were actually interested in what she had to say.
"What about that dark spirit a few years back?" one of the airbenders asked. "He was huge and almost wrecked the city before you stopped him as a giant blue woman."
Korra realized what the airbender was talking about and a hush fell over the crowd. Bum-Ju sensed the change in the atmosphere because he zoomed closer to Bumi and chirped erratically. Bumi managed to calm the spirit down with a few soft words and hugs. "That was Vaatu," Korra answered. She could see Bumi shaking his head. "They deserved to know the truth. It is said that in the beginning of this world there were two spirits: Raava and Vaatu. Raava was the spirit of light and peace while Vaatu was the spirit of darkness and chaos. They fought each other every ten thousand years on the day of Harmonic Convergence to decide the fate of this world."
"Couldn't Raava just destroy Vatuu?" another airbender asked.
"No," Korra said with a shake of her head. "Even if Raava destroyed Vatuu, one cannot exist without the other. Eventually Vaatu would be reborn and the fighting would continue." She saw the concern on some of the airbender's faces and grinned. "It would be the same if Vaatu destroyed Raava. In fact, it actually happened." She told the story of how her uncle had tricked her into opening the Spirit Portal in the South Pole and fused his spirit with Vaatu. She had to answer many questions about it and time slipped away as she continued her story of how Raava was destroyed by Unalaq but she was able to reconnect with the light spirit in the Spirit World. She didn't talk about Zaheer and losing her connection with Raava. They deserved to know some things but others were too personal.
"Now that the Spirit World and the Physical World are reconnected, there is a possibility of another Unalaq," she warned the airbenders. They all took the words seriously, even Bumi. "Power is tempting, believe me, I know. There was a point in my life that I would have given anything to not be hurt again. I might have given up my own humanity. But we can't lose ourselves to those urges. Your job as the new generation of airbenders and mine as the Avatar is to protect the world and teach humans and spirits to coexist with one another." Korra smiled at Bumi and Bum-Ju. "Like them."
Korra continued to talk about the Spirit World and answer questions that the airbenders had. It was a long time before the Avatar dismissed them but it didn't feel like it. She got up to start heading back to her room but Bumi stopped her.
"That was really good, Korra. I don't think I ever got through a lesson without falling asleep," Bumi beamed down at her. Despite having no blood relations, Korra came to look at the man like an estranged uncle. "Maybe you could give Tenzin a few pointers."
"Thanks, Bumi but no," Korra laughed. "The last time someone gave Tenzin a few tips he apparently became like a drill sergeant. I wonder what idiot thought that was a good idea."
Bumi stared at Korra for a few moments before he cleared his throat. "Yeah, that airbender really was stupid," he chuckled weakly. Korra tilted her head at her friend's strange behavior. "Well, anyway I got to go knit a new sweater for Bum-Ju." The spirit zipped around Bumi's head at the mention of a new sweater. "Now, now, you like this one, don't you? I'll use softer thread this time and it'll have a bow!" Bumi walked away from Korra while he talked to the spirit about the sweater he was going to make him.
Korra watched the two for a time before she began to make her way to the stables. She fed the airbison some hay and patted their heads. The Avatar went to the last stall where Naga was napping. Once the airbison had made permanent living quarters in the temple, the polarbeardog had claimed one of the stalls as her own. The polarbeardog lifted her head at the sight of Korra and her tail thumped against the ground.
"Hey, Naga," Korra whispered, kissing the crown of Naga's head. It didn't matter that the animal easily dwarfed Korra, she would always be her baby. Korra scratched behind Naga's right ear and laughed as a hind leg thudded against the ground. "Wanna go for a quick run?" Naga perked up at the word and whined. Korra smiled and went about securing her saddle. Once it was done, the two walked out of the stalls to the outskirts of Air Temple Island. The island didn't offer nearly as much room as the base in the South Pole but it was enough for the two to run for some time. Korra mounted Naga and pushed her heels into the polarbeardog's sides as she gave the command to run. They dashed along the trails on the edges of the island where the grass first meets the beaches. Korra laughed as Naga ran faster, the polarbeardog sensing the Avatar's excitement and it was feeding her own. It was too long since they had a good run just for the fun of it. The Avatar leaned down as they ran under a low hanging tree. It took more times than Korra would like to admit for her to learn to press her body against Naga's back when they neared the tree. Korra spotted a hill fast approaching them and she squeezed her thighs to spur Naga to run faster. "Ready, girl?" The polarbeardog huffed as they raced up the hill and leapt off the crest. Unfortunately for the two, Pema was on the other side, carrying vegetable from the garden.
Both Korra and Pema yelled out in alarm at the sight of one another. Pema managed to dive out of the way as Naga landed right where she was standing a second before. Korra jumped off Naga to make sure the older woman was okay, apologizing profusely all the while.
"Oh spirits, are you okay Pema!? Naga and I didn't see you!" Korra helped Pema back to her feet and grabbed what vegetables that weren't squished in the fall.
"I'm fine, Korra, really!" Pema said, brushing off the dirt from her clothes. "I raised Meelo, I'm used to being knocked down every once in awhile." She grabbed the remaining vegetables and looked up at Naga. "Do you think you could give me ride back to the temple though?"
Korra helped the nonbender up on Naga and the three set off back to the temple. Korra talked about her first teaching experience and Pema listened attentively. Once the two were back to the temple, several airbender acolytes came to take Naga back to the stables. Korra made them promise to give the polerbeardog a treat for being a good girl and Korra made her own promise of bringing some food for the animal after dinner. Naga licked Korra's face and followed the acolytes as Korra followed Pema into the kitchens.
The two women set about cleaning the vegetables and cutting them. Even though the cooking duties went to the acolytes, Pema liked to help, especially since Rohan refused to eat anything that Pema didn't prepare. Korra was cutting away the skin of the carrots as she remembered that the older woman helped her with her conflicting feelings about Mako.
"Hey, Pema?" Korra began, keeping her hands busy so it didn't seem that she was desperate for help, which she was.
"Who is it this time?" Pema asked without looking up from the potatoes she was washing.
Korra startled at the question and almost cut her finger but she let go of the peeler in time. She managed to keep the utensil from falling to the ground with metalbending. "What are you talking about, Pema? Who's this who person?"
Pema did look up from her vegetables long enough to give Korra a knowing look. "Every time someone talks to me while I'm cooking or cleaning it's for relationship advice."
"Oh," Korra said. She looked back to the half peeled carrot. "Can I ask for some or should I just get back to peeling?"
"Of course you can ask," Pema said smiling softly. "I like helping. It's why I became an acolyte in the first place, after all."
Korra nodded and took a deep breath before she launched into her problem. "Okay, so I like this person who's with another person. Well, I mean they aren't together publicly but they're still together. Anyway I still have feelings for the first person even though I know that person is off limits but then I started to be around the person the first person is dating and I think I'm starting to have feelings for that person. But I know I shouldn't because that person is with the first person but I have feelings for that person too and I don't know what to do and I could really use some advice right now," Korra finished, her chest burning from her hasty talking.
Pema was fully facing Korra, the knife in her hand and the vegetables in front of her completely forgotten. "What?"
Korra repeated what she said, still not naming Lin and Asami.
"Okay, let me get this straight," Pema had put the knife down as she tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together. "You like two people who are in a relationship together."
"Yeah but they have to keep it a secret because if word gets out it could seriously jeopardize their careers."
"Because they work together," Pema was starting to get the picture.
Korra shook her head and gestured with the peeler and carrot still in her hands. "No, they work two completely separate jobs. It's just that if it came out that they were seeing each other, it would make one of them look seriously bad and right now she doesn't need that." Korra snapped her mouth shut when she realized she had said "she" but the damage was already done. Now Pema would know that she liked a woman.
Pema could see the beginnings of fear in Korra's eyes and was quick to stop it. "Korra, it's okay if one of them is a woman." She shrugged and resumed cutting the potatoes. "Love is love, right? The airbenders believed that and so should the rest of the world." Pema looked back at the Avatar who was still staring at her. "Do you think either of them like you back?"
"Well, no, maybe, I don't know." Korra almost rubbed the back of her neck before she remembered she was holding a carrot. She put it and the peeler down and was glad that the two of them had the kitchen to themselves at that moment so she could speak openly. "I mean there is something between me and one of them but then I found out she was dating, well, another woman."
This did shock Pema and it was clear in her voice. "I didn't know Asami liked other women."
Korra jumped at the name like Pema had shocked her with an equalist weapon. First Lin, then Bolin, and now Pema! Did everyone knew that she fell for the mechanic!?
The older woman rolled her eyes at the reaction and smiled at her. "It is obvious, you know. You stare at her when you don't think she'll notice." A blush spread on Korra's face and it deepened at Pema's next words. "I wouldn't be surprised if Asami liked you too. She stared back at times." Her face sobered as her hands stilled on the vegetables, giving Korra her full attention once more. "But this other woman, what about her? Do you think she likes you too?"
Korra thought about the question for a while. "We're okay now, I think? I know we're at a lot better standing now than when we first met." Korra remembered first meeting Lin through her arrest and back talking her. That was really stupid, Korra realized. "She knows about my feelings for Asami and she gets jealous." The Avatar felt like her entire face was on fire as she admitted. "And it might be more physical than anything else."
Pema nodded and she was quiet for a bit as she thought of what to say. Korra was in a very… interesting situation. "Have you considered telling them?"
"What!? No way!" Korra balked immediately. The two women were only now dating in earnest and Korra didn't want to mess it up with her feelings. "I can't just, you know, tell them I like them. I don't even know if I really like Li-Lizy," Korra was able to change the Chief's name at the last moment.
If Pema knew who Korra was really talking about, she didn't show it. "Korra, you fought Amon, Unalaq when he fused with Vaatu, Zaheer, and Kuvira." She gave Korra's arm an affectionate and comforting squeeze. "You can be open about your feelings."
"But they were all things I could punch," Korra argued. "And what if they say no?" That was her greatest fear. She was terrified that she wasn't enough for the two women. She might be the Avatar but she was also Korra.
Pema gave Korra a motherly smile. "Isn't it better for you to get a definite answer instead of wondering 'what if?' I've been in your shoes, Korra, and it hurts too much to be left wondering."
Korra sighed and nodded. "You're right."
"Then do what you did with Mako, just without the fighting and breaking up at the end."
Korra hugged Pema and thanked the older woman for her advice. The two finished cutting up the vegetables and Korra left Pema to go to her room. She had about half an hour to kill before dinner was served. She grabbed her phone before she could rethink things and dialed Asami's number.
"Hello, this is Ms. Sato of Future Industries," Asami answered on the second ring.
"Hello Ms. Sato, this is Avatar Korra," Korra chuckled back. "Listen, I was wondering if you were free anytime soon."
There was sounds of paper being moved around from Asami's end and Korra guessed that the mechanic was looking for her schedule. "I'll be free tomorrow. Why? Do you want to invite the boys over to have another race?"
Korra grinned at the competitive tone Asami used. She could feel her belly bend into a knot but she got the words out. "Tomorrow is great. Actually I was wondering if you could invite Lin over."
Asami didn't say anything and Korra's knot tightened. "Did something happen?" Asami finally asked. Korra could hear the concern in her voice. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Korra said, not sure if she was lying or not. "I just need to get some stuff off of my chest."
"Oh," now there was apprehension in Asami's voice. "I can have Lin over tomorrow. Let's say around five?"
"Five sounds good." Korra said. The two said goodbye and Korra hung up. She looked down at the phone and realized that her knuckles were white from clutching the phone too tight. She set it back to its stand and got on her bed. Korra grabbed her pillow and hugged it to her chest. She could feel her heart pound and wasn't sure if it was from excitement or fear for her talk with the two women tomorrow.