Just Like the Good Old Days
I don't own Legend of Korra.
Penguin-Sledding and Hunting Trips
Noatak's POV:
The last thing I expected to be awakened by was a small, furry creature pawing at my leg. My instincts naturally took over, and I shrank away from whatever it was. After I had collected myself, I saw that it was a polar-bear-dog puppy. Of course, this was the Avatar's polar-bear-dog. I had to admit, she was pretty adorable. The polar-bear-dog, I mean. The Avatar was also wide awake.
"Come on!" She shouted. "Penguin-sledding! Let's go!"
Tarrlok mumbled in his state of semi-consciousness. Tarrlok had never been much of a morning person. I, on the other hand, got up without complaint. Seeing that I had awakened, the Avatar grabbed my hand and dragged me out into the main room, where Senna was waiting. She smiled at us and offered us bowls of a warm porridge that I remember is a very popular breakfast in both the Water Tribes. It had been years since I had eaten so much Water Tribe food. I really had missed it. Senna must have realized that Tarrlok was still asleep, because she went into the bedroom to fetch him. Tonraq then emerged from the other room, he clearly was not a morning person either. I really felt bad for the guy when Avatar Korra started to assail him with questions about when we were going penguin-sledding.
"Korra, sweetie," he said with strained calmness, "could you give daddy a little quiet, he has a headache?"
Avatar Korra gave her signature pout, but stopped. We ate our breakfast silently, until Senna reemerged from the bedroom, leading my still very tired brother in and handing him a bowl.
"Glad to see you are all awake, finally." Senna said cheerily, eliciting grumbling from both my brother and Tonraq. "Korra, you're unusually energetic today."
"That's because daddy's taking us penguin-sledding!" She replied.
"Korra, please, five more minutes of quiet is all I ask." Tonraq said.
By the time we had all finished breakfast, Tonraq was fully awake and much more cheerful. Senna apparently had work to do, so she made us all lunch to take with us.
This had to have been the best day of my life. It wasn't about achieving any goals or plotting the end of all Benders, it was about being a kid again. And that's what I was, and that's what Tarrlok was. We weren't Amon and Councilman Tarrlok, we were Noak and Tarro. Two Water Tribe brothers who had been taken in by the Avatar's family. And we were going to ride penguins all day.
I had been nervous at first. Growing up, neither Tarrlok nor I had ever gone penguin-sledding. As of that day, I knew what was missing from my childhood.
Tarrlok's POV:
Noatak was a natural at penguin-sledding. The little creatures came right up to him and Korra. When they didn't come to me at first, I had that fear that had been ingrained into me since childhood that if I ever made a mistake then Yakone would yell at me. But it wasn't the case now. Tonraq clearly noticed the worry on my face, because he started coming towards me. Do you have any idea what it's like to be small and helpless and afraid you've done something wrong, and that years of abuse had taught you that if you messed up you would get shouted at or even hit at times? But Tonraq simply put a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me, then he handed me a fish and instantly a hoard of penguins came after me. I could hear Noatak's laughter again, and Korra's as well.
"I guess they like you best, Tarro!" Korra shouted to me.
And, without even realizing it, I was laughing too.
Korra's POV:
These two are weird. But I like them. We're going to be best friends forever. I admit that I didn't like Noak at first, because he laughed at me. Tarro still smells like a lady though, we'll have to work on that. Today was lots of fun. And I hope we'll still get to have fun, even after the White Lotus finds out I'm the Avatar and I start my training. I like Waterbending, I wonder if Noak and Tarro are Waterbenders, I guess I'll have to ask them later.
Noatak's POV:
We got back late in the afternoon. Senna had returned and was starting on dinner. When she saw us come in she went over to Tonraq and told him that he had been chosen to hunt the wild game for some sort of upcoming festival. He said that it would be an honor. Then came the second part of the news. According to a custom, he was required to bring any children who lived in the house with him on the hunt. An unusual custom indeed. So now, we were off on a hunting trip. How I hated those two words. Hunting trip. So many awful memories. A few days later, we packed up some supplies and headed out. I sensed Tarrlok's unease. We were both thinking the same thing. Please don't let this be like one of Yakone's 'hunting trips'. Even though we both knew it was unlikely that Tonraq would ever teach Bloodbending to anyone, let alone his daughter and the two of us, it just hit too close to home to be comfortable. As we all sat around the campfire that night, I felt as though any moment we would be hearing a story about taking over Republic City and getting revenge and all that. But such a thing never came. This was a for-real hunting trip, and Tonraq was keeping his senses sharp. He seemed to be the one who was afraid.
"Aren't you boys gonna get some sleep?" He asked us.
We shook our heads. He gave a nervous smile.
"I don't know who the idiot was who decided that children should go on this hunting trip. Didn't they have any idea how dangerous this is?" He asked rhetorically. He was genuinely concerned for our safety, that's more than our own father.
Korra was fast asleep, nestled up to her father's side. Wait, I just referred to the Avatar by her first name. Huh, I guess I'm getting used to her already.
Tarrlok's POV:
I had been nervous since this whole hunting trip began. I'm sure by know you know why. But, Tonraq was like the father we never had, he was actually making sure we were safe. We had all been staring into the fire, except for Korra who was asleep, when the polar-leopard attacked. Tonraq had been on-edge all night, so he was ready for when that animal came out of nowhere. I'm surprised that Noatak didn't sense it coming, then again we still weren't sure if we were Waterbenders. Korra had asked us the other day if we were Waterbenders, but we just shrugged and didn't say anything. Tonraq was fighting the polar-leopard head-on, and without using Waterbending. I looked over to where Korra was. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the proud and mighty Avatar shaking like an Autumn leaf. Tonraq told us all to get away, but we couldn't just leave him there. Noatak seemed to have the same idea as me, as he stepped forward and I knew what he was doing. He was going to try and Bloodbend. I rushed over and whispered to him.
"Don't do it. The spirits did not spare our lives to have us Bloodbend again."
He looked at me, and I gave him a hard stare to show that I meant what I said. His expression softened, and instead of trying to Bloodbend, he tried ordinary Waterbending. And it worked. He managed to freeze the polar-leopard's paws, allowing Tonraq to get the upper-hand and use his Waterbending to finish it off. He turned to Noatak, a look of sincere gratitude on his face.
"I told you to run, and instead you save my life. That polar-leopard would have had me if not for you."
He patted Noatak on the shoulder. Then he turned to me. I had that fear again, afraid that he would yell at me for not doing anything, but it faded when he placed his hand on my shoulder too.
"Are you alright? Not too shaken up?"
I told him I was fine, and then we turned to Korra, who was still trembling. Tonraq went over to her and picked her up, rubbing her back reassuringly.
The rest of the hunting trip was actually pretty uneventful. Tonraq told us how to handle certain hunting tools, saying that Waterbending or not, we needed to know how to handle weapons. I really could get used to this life.
Tarrlok and Noatak seem to be getting very comfortable with how their new life is turning out. I haven't decided if this is going to be a Noarra or Korrlok fic yet (maybe even Noarralok. I 'm not using the term Amorra/Amorralok because he's not Amon anymore). I know I'm not going to make it either Makorra or Borra. I don't really like Makorra that much anymore, I don't mind Borra but it's not my favorite. Any suggestions?