Makorra Week 2015

June 17-23

Author's Note: Gosh darnit, am I lazy or what? Not really, though. I read a book and 1/4 another one all in one day, and wrote Day 4's prompt. Now on Day 6, at 1:17 am, I'mma start Day 5's and hopefully get cracking on 6, too. I'm doing "Portrait" and listening to "Immortal" by Marina and the Diamonds, which captures the mood and meaning to this prompt wonderfully. I might just cry writing this. Maybe. Probably. Go listen to the song and tell me it isn't moving.

Day 5 Portrait

The year was 233 AG precisely. Republic City was dark, clouds hanging low and heavy above the metropolis as it mourned. Even the ever-present yellow light of the spirit portal shining in the middle of the city was less vibrant, now a dull and sickly ray of light. The spirits remaining in the city hovered around the famous statue of the Avatar, especially one small, pear-shaped spirit, who clung silently to the stone structure's leg.

People gathered round the house of the Avatar, some friends, some family, some paparazzi clinging to the hopes of a best-selling headline.

Inside, the Avatar's children, her brother-in-law, and his children, and all their grandchildren, surrounded her bed as they watched her breathe her last breath. Through their tears, they could see the shimmering, hopeful form of Raava leave Korra's body. It was a promise that, while physically, she was not there, she would always be in spirit.

"Oh, Mom," Zhu whispered, tightening her grip on the departed woman's hand. The United Forces General lay her forehead against her mother's and wished her a safe journey to the afterlife.

Katara, Korra's oldest, leaned down to kiss her mother's hair and wrapped an arm around her sister, saying, "It's gonna be okay, she's gonna be fine."

The two hugged their uncle tightly and nodded at their cousins before trudging quietly out of the room, arms wrapped around each other in comfort. Twins Keanu and Kang approached the bed and each bumped their heads against the Avatar's softly. Keanu swallowed a sob in the back of his throat, embarrassed at his own emotions. He was a chief, after all, and they weren't supposed to be emotional. But then he saw his brother crying openly at his mother's side and decided now was not the time to be a stuffy chief.

When the last of the Avatar's children said their goodbyes, Bolin let his own children bid farewell to their aunt, and soon after, he was alone in the room with her.

Slowly, he hobbled towards the bed and sat beside the Avatar, tears freely flowing down his wrinkled cheeks.

"Don't you worry," he started. "I'll take care of them for you. They're gonna be just fine, I promise. I know how you and Mako always worried a lot about them, but I got it. You can trust your ol' buddy Bolin."

He stared at her pale, but peaceful, face and brushed a finger over her cheek. "I'll never forget you, Korra. Not ever. Man, if I hadn't met you, I never would've gotten into the United Forces or learned that I could bend lava. I never would've married Phena if you hadn't forced me into talking to her. I'm forever grateful to you. You're the best friend a guy could have..."

Bolin trailed off, sobbing with abandon, burying his face in his liver-spotted hands. When he could catch his breath, he lifted his head and added, "I...I found an old picture in some stuff from Mako's memory box." He snorted like it was an inside joke. "Yeah, I know. Anyways, he had his old police jacket and inside the breast pocket there was a portrait of you and him from the Glacier Spirits Festival in 171...remember that? That's when I met your nutty cousin Eska and she took me as her slave/boyfriend. I'm pretty sure that made me Desna's boyfriend, too. Huh."

Realizing he was digressing again, the earth bender cleared his throat. "A lot of drama started after we left the South Pole, but this portrait showed how happy you two were together. The smiles on your faces, the way your eyes were shining, the way his face lit up...you were the only person that could make him do that, y'know. Mako never smiled like that until you came into his life. Hah, oh man, you should've seen the way he reacted when you accepted his marriage proposal. He literally ran into my house and picked up the first person he saw, that was Phena, and spun her around yelling, 'She said yes, she said yes!'

I never saw him so happy. Like, Mako opened up so much after you entered our lives. You inspired him, and me. And I know for a fact he's eternally grateful to you. He told me so before he, uh, passed."

Renewed tears formed in his eyes. Bolin cleared his throat and reached into his jacket, pulling out the aforementioned picture. He placed it under the Avatar's arms which were placed in a criss-cross fashion as was custom to her people. The photograph would remain there, Bolin believed, after Korra's body was cast into the sea, to forever testify to the love held between his brother and his best friend.

Author's Note: Please review!