A/N: I'm putting an author's note in the beginning because I want to deal with this right now.
A couple people are asking about the whole Korrasami thing; if I hate it, why am I writing it? There's a couple reasons: first, I'm not an ignorant ass. I can be an ass, but not an ignorant one. If they say it's canon, I can take said suppository and adapt. I want to use this story to make what doesn't make sense logical in the end. It's difficult to explain without giving it away completely (though I'm sure you can guess easily anyways). I will assure you, though, that those of you who have doubts or dislikes about the current situation, you will be satisfied. It should take three chapters for everything to take shape.
So are we clear as mud on that? Good, enjoy the next chapter!
Chapter Five: Finally Leaving
Mako lied in the dirt, wearing his overcoat. His hair was messy and greasy from sweat and sleeping on the ground. Beside him was the fire pit he had burning the previous night. The shining sunlight struck Mako's closed eyes, causing him to stir. He grunted as he forced himself to sit up.
Sitting up, the firebender felt stiff from the soreness of his muscles, wincing as his abdomen and arms tightened. His hair was a mess from sleeping in the dirt; turning his head, Mako looked to the fire pit, seeing that only embers remained. His legs begrudgingly raised his body to his feet, walking over to the pile of ashes to kick some dirt on it. After a few moments of that, he looked out to the water and to the horizon.
"I need a bath," Mako told himself. He yawned and began his return to the temple.
The Avatar sat by herself in the dining hall. The room was lulled with conversation; the air acolytes were taking their turn to eat since most of the Air Nomads had departed for the city once more.
"Korra!" a woman called.
"Su?" Korra turned her head to see the metal clan matriarch approaching her. Suyin came beside the table, carrying no plate of her own.
"I've been looking for you. How have you been?" Su asked, taking a seat across from the Avatar. She leaned forward a slight bit on the edge of the table, eager to get to what she really wanted to ask.
"I've been good!" Korra answered cheerfully, "I got back yesterday and already President Raiko is at my throat wanting me to fix more of the world's problems."
"I can imagine," Su said passively. "Anyways, I wanted to ask a favor of you. While you were gone, the world leaders decided that I should organize the court proceedings to try Kuvira. I was wondering if you wanted to be on the deciding panel of judges."
"I'm not sure I can do that," Korra answered. "Isn't that a conflict of interest? I dealt with her personally, and besides, I promised King Wu I'd help him."
"That's all fine; the trial won't be held until a month from now anyways," Su replied. "It fits your role as the Avatar perfectly; you've helped the world maintain balance for years now, and I think you'll be able to help keep the court calm and collected."
"Well..." Korra's voice trailed off; the metalbender made a convincing argument. "I mean I guess, but I have other duties too is the thing."
"That's fine. It'll take time to gather evidence and make all the preparations. I'm thinking about having the trial in the Fire Nation. I expect it to have the most neutral atmosphere on these matters since the Fire Nation has really taken a back seat on world affairs for the past few decades," Suyin explained.
"Um, I guess."
"Good! I'll be sure to contact you with more information. I'll be heading back to Zaofu in the meantime. I can give you a ride to Ba Sing Se, if you want," Su offered politely.
"No, it's alright. It'd probably be best if you got to Zaofu as quickly as you can. There's something I have to take care of before I leave Republic City," Korra answered. She picked up her now empty plate and stood, leaving Suyin Beifong behind her.
The Avatar made her way to the kitchen where Air Acolytes were hard at work preparing and packaging food, either serving them to others in the dining hall or putting them in boxes to be shipped to the mainland. Her eyes found Pema, who was watching several pots of food and water on a stove.
"Pema," Korra called, approaching Tenzin's wife, "do you have the two bags of food I asked for?"
"Yeah, they're right behind me," the acolyte answered cheerfully.
"Thanks Pema, you're the best."
Mako got out of the tub and started drying off with a towel. After getting dressed and combing his hair, he made his way out into the hall and began walking to... somewhere. It didn't really matter where.
As he started down the corridor, he saw Korra turn the upcoming corner, coming his way. In each of her hands hung filled canvas sacks tied off at the top. He took a glance at Korra's face but promptly looked ahead with a blank expression; inside he was depressed and tormented, but he didn't want to push Korra more than he already had. Mako passed by the Avatar, who turned to him as he started walking away.
"Hey Mako," Korra said, rather warmly at that. The firebender stopped and gave a rather empty look to his ex.
"Yeah?"
"When do you think you're leaving for the Fire Nation?" she asked. The attempt at a light tone to the conversation took Mako off guard.
"Uh, I'm not going to get a ride until I recover. Or that's what Tenzin said anyways. I'm not sure when that will be because who's gonna get me a boat or an airship out of here?"
"Well," Korra went on uneasily, "I bet the sail boat I used to return to the city from the South Pole is still where I left it. I can give it to you if you want to leave the temple sooner."
"Yeah..." Mako started to perk up; he could leave the temple behind today. "Could you bring it to the city's docks? As soon as you can? I'm going to run to the police station and see if I can get any maps to get to where I'm going."
"Sure! I'll see you there, and take this," Korra replied cheerfully. "I got Pema to put together food for a few days for you." She lifted one of the canvas sacks up to Mako.
"Thanks... I'll see you at the docks!" Mako ran off down the hall he came to his room. He was leaving, today.
Korra watched as he burst with energy; it was enlightening to see Mako so enthusiastic about something after his depressing tangent last night.
The sun was setting. Mako had made it to the understaffed police station with his food sack and clothes bag in one hand. He held up his ID with his scarred hand to the clerk out front and proceeded on into the offices. Rummaging through cabinets, he eventually found the maps he needed to navigate on his trip to the Fire Nation.
Korra had found the sailboat she used to land on the continent only a few months ago. It was still in the marsh, with only a couple of vines and some moss growing onto its hull; the sail was still intact, too. It was easy enough to wash away with some simple waterbending and send it afloat.
The former royal guard waited at the docks, watching as the water tribe's watercraft drifted towards him, too slowly it seemed. A general sense of anxiety washed over Mako as he was going to be visiting an entirely new place. The boat finally made it to the dock, and the Avatar stepped off to tie the boat down for the moment. While she was busy, Mako tossed his bag onto the boat's small deck, and looked out to the horizon.
Korra finished tying the rope and stood up, looking at her ex. The former pro-bender, determined as ever, looked back to Korra, ready to head off on a new adventure. But in the moment he looked at her face, Korra could see Mako struggle with something inside himself.
"Thanks, Korra," he said with sincerity. He took a few steps, passing Korra, and turned to embark.
"Hey Mako," she called, "um..." Nothing about the situation was particularly comfortable. "I hope last night doesn't change anything between us."
"How? It's impossible for it to not have," Mako replied bluntly; Korra looked down with disappointment at the remark. "Something I learned being around you," Mako went on, putting his hand on her shoulder, "is that every moment we spend together, or that we don't spend together, with anyone, changes things. But... that's okay."
Looking up at him, Korra could see how painfully forced those last words were; Mako's brow furrowed as if he were eating a swamp's mud. Mako was about to let his arm drop, but Korra grabbed his hand and held his arm out in front of herself.
"I hate to see you like this. I hate to see you with this horrible scar and to see you struggling with everything that's happened in your life. I feel like if I had done better as an Avatar, as a person-"
"Korra, at some point things are out of your control and in someone else's," Mako interrupted. "There's a lot of things I wish I had done too."
Mako started to turn away again and step into the boat, but Korra latched onto his torso in an abrupt, warm embrace. The firebender took it in stride, hugging her back. They stayed as they were for a long moment, before the two finally let go of each other and Mako prepared to sail. Mako sliced the tie to the dock with fire, looking back to the dock as he drifted away.
"Until the next threat to the world pops up!" Mako bid cheerfully, diffusing what tension there was. He watched as Korra smiled the grin of an angel, sailing into the sunset.
Korra returned to the island; as she walked towards the center, an inexplicably monstrous shadow was cast over her and her surrounding. Looking up to the sky, she saw an airship looking to land on the island. It could only be one person.
Running back towards the docks to the aircraft, the Avatar found Asami shambling like a zombie down a ramp. The two's eyes met and soon enough, Asami found herself falling into her girlfriend, caught by a warm embrace.
"I was up all night trying to get things straightened out with Raiko," Asami told Korra.
"You can rest now," Korra said comfortingly. The two found each other side by side with one arm around the other as the Avatar dragged the Future Industries chief executive officer up to the air temple's dwelling space. "Did you get everything you need to accomplish done?"
"Well, enough of it anyways. A bunch of billing stuff has to be figured out in the next week and we basically have to rebuild the whole city," Asami answered dismally in lieu of the dauntingly titanic task.
"We'll get through it. It'll be easier than dealing with the mess after Vaatu because we have the spirit vine situation already figured out. It may be more work, but it will be simpler work," Korra offered optimistically.
The two finally came to an empty bedroom where Korra had stayed the previous night. Asami broke away from her and rolled into bed. Korra sat next to the sleep deprived woman whose eyes were hardly open.
"Won't you lay with me?" Asami asked softly.
"Sure," the Avatar replied, laying back in bed with her girlfriend. Asami clung to Korra's side and rested her head on the bender's shoulder. Opening her eyes just for a moment, she observed Korra staring at the blank ceiling.
"What are you thinking about?" Asami's soft voice spoke.
"I saw Mako off; I got him a boat to leave Republic City and go to the Fire Nation," Korra answered.
"Oh? I would've been there if I could."
"Yeah... well, it was probably better that you weren't."
A/N: Honestly, I stalled on this chapter for a long time because I didn't know what to do after the second to last scene. It hit me literally just now. Good news: first, you have a new chapter, and second, the next is going to be long. There's plenty of places to go now.
Oh, and for all of those out there that agree with me on the Korrasami stuff, read the last line (in context). Read it.
Until next time, which will be before I leave for Christmas (I hope).