Note: Whoa! First shorter chapter in a while. Not nearly as action packed as the prior chapters. This is more sweet. Hope you guys love it. Feel free to review. I will answer most of your questions. I heart all of the reviews and follows.
"You're certainly young," Nigaq said.
Korra lifted a heavy pot of sea prune stew and carefully followed Nigaq into her dining room.
"Uh… I guess so," Korra said.
Nigaq pointed to a spot on the table for Korra to unceremoniously drop the pot of stew onto. Noatak brought out the bowls, and Nanuq made finishing touches on the tiger seal roast.
"You sure you're not pregnant?" Nigaq said.
"I'm pretty sure I'm not," Korra said.
Nigaq did a once over on Korra and shook her head.
"Yeah, I guess not. It'll happen soon enough. You'll have a couple of runts running around and driving you crazy," Nigaq said.
"Nigaq, stop teasing our guests. They'll never want to come back if you continue like that," Nanuq said.
Nigaq stuck her tongue out at Nanuq and proceeded to the set the table with seaweed salad and plum juice that she cut with the fire ice Noatak brought.
"I can handle it," Korra said.
"She's just as stubborn as you anyway," Noatak said.
Korra rolled her eyes and settled down in her spot next to Noatak. She wiggled in her seat and grabbed Noatak's hand to squeeze it. Nigaq and Nanuq sat down and started to dish out the food.
"So how did you two meet?" Nigaq asked.
"In Republic City," Korra said.
"I asked how not where. I knew you two met in Republic City. Nanuq told me that," Nigaq said.
"We met at Avatar Aang's Memorial Island," Noatak said.
"Yeah…. Exactly," Korra said.
"So… you two just bumped into each other?" Nigaq said.
"Something like that. Just love at first sight," Korra said.
Noatak snorted before he took a bite of his tiger seal roast.
"I mean… not automatically… I mean he was sort of… imposing?" Korra said.
"So he was more into you?" Nigaq said.
Nigaq pointed a spoon at Noatak.
"You're a dirty old man," Nigaq said.
"No! Not like that! No. Actually… I was the one who came on a bit too strong…" Korra said.
"Korra was… well… still is very headstrong," Noatak said.
"That's a good thing. You don't need anyone pushing you around. Look at Nanuq and I! I'm about as bullheaded as it gets, but it keeps this guy in check. As long as you got Noatak here in check, things will be good," Nigaq said.
"I'll try and keep that in mind," Korra said.
"So what do you do Korra?" Nigaq asked.
"Um… well nothing at the moment," Korra said.
"So just waiting until you two have some babies?" Nigaq said.
Korra spat out her drink. Noatak laughed as Korra wiped her mouth.
"Korra is actually involved with politics right now. She works with Councilmen Ingyu and Qilaq," Noatak said.
Korra forgot how good Noatak was at speaking. His response was so quick and well formulated- almost as if the words were already there.
"That was what Korra was doing in Republic City as well, but Korra has family here. So we moved here to be closer to them," Noatak said.
"Yeah, Noatak and I like it that we're close to them now," Korra said.
"Your parents?" Nigaq said.
"Oh… no. They live in the Southern Water Tribe. My family is actually from the city," Korra said.
"From this side of town?" Nigaq said.
"The south east district. That's why we settled down there," Korra said.
Korra could see the smile form at the corners of Noatak's mouth. She could play this game too- making up their whirlwind romance. Then again, their romance was just that- a whirlwind even without the made-up story. Two seemingly opposite people meet, hate each other at first, find out that they're more similar than not, and then they fall in love. If all of the things that happened between them before then didn't happen, Korra wasn't sure if they would have fallen in love. Would Noatak have been married with children? Would Korra be in Republic City still? Or would they have still met and argued until they came to the same conclusion? Korra liked how things still ended up for them even though it was far from perfect.
"Well I'm certainly glad you two are here. Noatak has saved my ass a couple of times," Nanuq said.
"You have to stop letting him be so reckless out there. I swear he does it on purpose," Nigaq said.
"I do not! I'm just a little…"
"I believe the word you're looking for is careless," Noatak said.
Korra laughed loudly.
"I see which side you're taking. Korra, certainly you can see what I mean?" Nanuq said.
"Well… if Noatak is taking Nigaq's side, I'm sure he has a good reason for it. He doesn't take sides without a good reason for it," Korra said.
"Good thinking. I like you Korra. So Noatak, what initially attracted you to Korra? I hope it seriously isn't what Sirmiq says it is," Nigaq said.
"She beat me in a fight," Noatak said.
"That's the best reason," Nigaq said.
"What about you Korra? What made you like Noatak so much at first?" Nanuq said.
"Oh… well I guess it must have been how much he was willing to help me," Korra said.
"You must have that in your nature, Noatak. You're always so helpful around the ship. He won't admit it, but he really is," Nanuq said.
"Speaking of helping out, Noatak, are you helping me out with dish duty?" Nigaq said.
"Of course," Noatak said.
Korra and Nanuq cleared the dining table as Nigaq started to wash the dishes. Korra watched Nigaq carefully wash the dishes in the sink and then not so carefully toss them in the air for Noatak to catch and dry. Nanuq placed the leftover food in the icebox and then lead Korra to the parlor. Nigaq and Nanuq had many pictures hung on the walls of their parlor. Some of them were of Nigaq and Nanuq when they were younger, but others featured their children.
"That's my son and daughter," Nanuq said.
"They look like you," Korra said.
"I think they look like Nigaq, but that's just me. Especially my daughter, I see my wife in her. They're older than you by about ten years, my kids," Nanuq said.
"Do they still live here in the North Pole?" Korra asked.
"My son does, but I hardly would call it living here," Nanuq said.
Nanuq pointed to a picture of a young man in a naval officer uniform.
"My son is in the navy, and he spends most of his time on different bases. My daughter-in-law sometimes comes here with our grandchildren, but she's usually with her family," Nanuq said.
"Which one is of your grandchildren?" Korra said.
Nanuq pointed to a different picture- one of two little boys playing in snow.
"What about your daughter?" Korra asked.
"She lives in a village east of this city with her husband and her three little ones. They try to come here often… Usually during the festivals," Nanuq said.
"It sounds like you see your daughter's family more than you do your son's."
"You wouldn't be far from the truth."
"Does that make you and Nigaq lonely?"
Nanuq stroked his beard and combed his fingers through his hair.
"We have each other, so no. It does make us feel… a bit unwanted at times. For Nigaq, I think she feels a bit bitter. Not at my daughter. She understands that situation fairly well. She doesn't care for my daughter-in-law at all. I think she thinks that woman took her son and grandchildren away from her. I don't blame her though. I feel the same, but I also know there's nothing I can do about that," Nanuq said.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Korra said.
"That's why she has been asking you if you're pregnant. She wants some grandkids to dote on," Nanuq said.
Korra's hand drifted from her side to below her stomach. She knew that part of her was empty, but somehow it felt even more hallow when she heard Nanuq's words.
"Besides, I think Noatak reminds her of her younger brother. He would be about the same age if he had lived. I'm sure your parents have told you about it- the fever that was here in this city. Lots of people died here then," Nanuq said.
"Just a little. I didn't know anyone that died of it," Korra said.
"You're lucky. Very lucky," Nanuq said.
Just as Korra turned, the telephone rang.
"Excuse me Korra," Nanuq said.
Nanuq went to the phone and picked it up. Korra heard the "mhm"s from Nanuq and some of the muffled end. Nanuq gently placed the earpiece back down.
"Korra, would you turn on the radio by you? It should already be on the right station," Nanuq said.
Korra nodded and found the radio on the mantle next to her. She turned on the switch and heard the little bit of static pop from the speaker before she heard the station. From the other room, she heard the water stop and footsteps run their way.
"Can't that damn thing wait?" Nigaq said.
Nanuq placed a hand up to Nigaq and pointed to the radio. Nigaq nodded and sat down in one of the chairs. Noatak followed behind and sat on sofa where Korra joined him. He stroked Korra's hair and clutched her shoulder. Nanuq just stood there in the middle of the parlor while the broadcast started.
"This is an alert for all those who live in Districts E and F. Do not leave your homes or shelter until morning. Recent activity on the border of Districts E and F has claimed the lives of three individuals and has injured six individuals. Repeat, do not leave your homes until morning," the broadcaster said.
Nanuq paced back as the broadcaster announced the upcoming song. He turned the radio off and then plopped onto a chair. He sighed and rubbed his closed eyes.
"Noatak, Korra. You're staying here for the night. I can't have you two possibly getting hurt," Nanuq said.
"I'll get a room ready," Nigaq said.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Noatak said.
That was all Noatak said- to Korra's surprise. No "we're fine on our own" or "we're sure that we'll be safe". The idea to refuse Nigaq and Nanuq's offer was never a response that Noatak was going to offer.
"Does that happen often?" Korra said.
"Not really… I wouldn't have known if it weren't for Sirmiq calling. Though Noatak, you've stayed here once," Nanuq said.
"It was before you left the South, Korra," Noatak said.
Nigaq came down with a bundle of clothes and shoved them into Korra's face.
"These are for you two to wear for the night. You're a bit tricky because I had to see if my daughter had any clothes that fit you," Nigaq said.
"It's all fine, thank you," Korra said.
Korra and Noatak followed Nigaq upstairs into a small bedroom with a futon and furs rolled out. A few blankets were folded on top.
"If you two need any more blankets, let me know," Nigaq said.
Nigaq shut the door and left the two alone. Korra quickly got out of her clothes and put on the long nightshirt that hit right at mid-thigh. Noatak slowly took off his clothes and tossed on what probably was Nanuq's nightshirt judging be the way it hung past Noatak's knees. Korra unfolded blankets while Noatak went to turn the light off. Korra tugged on Noatak's nightshirt and pulled him down to meet her underneath the blankets. They huddled closely in the cold room and blankets.
"Noa, why did you fall in love with me? Was it seriously because I beat you?" Korra said.
"No. I fell in love with you because... I thought you were the only person who made me feel whole again," Noatak said.
"Is that true?" Korra said.
Noatak gripped Korra close to him. Korra rested her head on his chest. They clasped their hands together. Noatak kissed her fingertips and rested them on his cheek.
"Always. So why did you fall in love with me?" Noatak said.
"Well... I don't know. I think for the same reasons. You just understand me better than anyone else. Plus, you don't really expect me to be the Avatar. I'm just a woman you're in love with," Korra said.
Korra kissed Noatak lightly- a soft touch that lingered as their foreheads touched. Korra skimmed Noatak's arm and buried her head into Noatak'a chest. She tapped her fingers in fluttering passes on his arm. He rubbed the small of her back and tangled his legs between hers as sleep came to him.
"I love you, Korra."
"I love you too."