This fic is also on my tumblr blog where my username is Kuno-chan and my blog name is Dragoness Ramblings.

Disclaimer: Legend of Korra belongs to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

Sometimes it's not the fight, but everything before and after the fight that counts.

The Fight

Now that things with Ikki had been more or less smoothed over, life at home and in general seemed to take a wonderful, monotonous turn. For the first time in two months, Jinora didn't feel as if she were walking on eggshells at home with her sister and family meals could be less awkward. It was small, but being able to happily ask her sister to pass this dish or that was something that she hadn't realized she missed so much.

On top of that, the effect on the rest of her family was immediate. Things with her father had lightened up a little bit due to his happiness over his daughters finally being on good terms again. Even Meelo and Rohan, who had stayed silent about the entire thing, expressed their own happiness that the house seemed to be getting itself back into working order again.

Things at home were so nice, that she even felt comfortable enough to make last minute dinner plans with Kai that Friday when she happened to be craving food from her favorite noodle shop after tutoring that night.

"Are you sure your parents are cool with me taking you out on my big bad motorcycle?" asked Kai as she walked up, leaning against his bike with a grin.

Jinora grinned back.

"Yes, don't worry, my dad isn't going to skewer you," she said, wrapping her arms around his torso and turning her face up to kiss him.

He leaned down in response, meeting her lips with a groan. It was one of those moments where she felt like she was kissing him again for one of the first times. Nothing special in particular had happened that day, but perhaps that's why it felt that way. Even Kai appreciated just how inexplicably normal everything had been the past few days. Simply put, it was lovely.

When he pulled back, she continued.

"I already called and my mom said it was okay. She knows I've been having bad cravings for Jung's and it just hit really bad tonight."

"Well, then," he said, climbing onto his bike and padding the back of his seat. "It's my job to satisfy you, so, have no fear."

Jinora frowned a little at that.

He blinked at her.

"What?"

"You're not going to pay for me, are you?"

"Of course I am, love," he said, smiling at her.

"You know you really don't have to. I can pay for it myself. Really-"

"Jinora?"

She sighed.

"Yes?"

"I want to. Getting you some noodles isn't going to break my bank. Please stop freaking out. I like to buy you food," he chuckled.

"But it's not fair," she said, climbing onto the back of his motorcycle. "You never let me buy you food."

"But that's different."

"How is it different?" she asked as they slipped their helmets on.

He starting revving up the bike.

"Because that's me."

Arguing with him anymore about it wasn't going to do a thing. Part of it she knew was just his pride and a part of it was because, well, that was just how he was. He liked to be the one to pay for things and buy expensive gifts. She knew it had nothing to do with "I'm the man so I pay" but rather that he wanted to give her everything her heart desired... even if his wallet wasn't up for it. Thankfully, she desired little. Everything she wanted of him, he already had. Emotionally and physically. There were times she had to remind him that he didn't have to buy her love and there were times that he had to remind her that he didn't do it to buy her love. Remind her that if he had to buy her love then they probably wouldn't be together.

He drove her a half hour into the city. They came to a brightly lit, busy square where shops lined the sidewalks and the nice, neat criss-crossed paved streets made this part of town feel open and alive. Gaoling Square was one of her favorites places to be where all the shopping and restaurants were just neatly positioned, the fountain in the middle of the entire square pulling it all together in that aesthetic way she couldn't exactly explain. Admittedly, it was rather uptown the way everything was so clean cut, but she couldn't help how drawn she was to the place. With winter arriving she was hoping to come here more often with Kai. The winter solstice decorations and lights were so pretty. Even if it was cold, she found herself daydreaming about a winter stroll among those lights.

Kai parked in a front of a nice spot, chaining his bike up to the nearby provided metal bike rack. Helmet in hand, he dramatically held his arm out to Jinora and bowed as she climbed off the bike.

"Such a gentleman," she said, giggling as she took his arm.

Straightening up, he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"You deserve nothing less," he told her.

She smiled at him.

"Love?"

"Hm?"

"Do you think you'd ever want to come down here? Just because?"

"Sure?" he asked, somewhat confused. "No reason in particular?"

"No," she said, still smiling. "Just... to take a walk? It's so pretty down here in the wintertime and they have all the lights up. I know it's cold but..."

"Why not? You know, if you ever just want to go for a walk anywhere you can just ask, right? I'm not picky. We're with each other," he shrugged. "That's all that matters."

She leaned her head onto his shoulder, content. Sometimes she swore she lived in a fantasy world where the man she loved entertained her every romantic whim. Then, she would realize that she did live in that world. This was one of those times. Though they never talked about it, Kai somehow filled all of her romantic dreams born from years of love stories and romance novels. To this day, people were still telling her that she'd find her perfect romantic without ever acknowledging the notion that perhaps she had already found him. Those who didn't know better or thought they knew way better, like Meng Meng, still had this idea that her relationship with Kai was temporary. Yet, it was simple moments like these which reinforced the opposite idea that this was going to be the man she married someday.

Like Kai had said before: they did not know the future. No, that they did not, but they could and did plan their future together as if it was already here. If that was any indicator of what their lives were going to be like with each other then she was perfectly fine not being able to predict it completely.

They sauntered down the sidewalk, just taking in the shops that they had to make note of to visit one of these days. After a couple blocks, they finally got to Jung's. They entered the shop fully prepared to meet a room full of strangers, but instead, the second they entered they laid eyes on a very familiar couple.

"Korra? Mako?" asked Jinora first, blinking. "What are you guys doing here?"

Mako and Korra looked up from their table where Mako had an empty dish in front of him and Korra was finishing a plate of green, water tribe cuisine styled noodles. Swallowing her bite, Korra waved them over, Mako doing the same.

"Hey!" called Korra, grinning when Kai and Jinora walked over. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Oh, nothing much. I had a craving for noodles and so we decided to go on a dinner date," said Jinora. "You?"

"Well, I have a guest appearance to make somewhere and Mako suggested we grab something to eat first before we go," Korra then leaned in, whispering in a mock-stealth kind of way. "If you asked me, I think he was just having his own cravings."

Korra looked over at Mako, laughing at his crossed arms.

"Hey, you're not the only one who's allowed to have cravings here, dear," said Mako, smiling in spite of his stern tone. "Bolin and Kai overhere decided to bring some Jung's home last week and not leave me any."

"Now, that wasn't my fault," said Kai, holding up a finger. "Bolin'd been working out with the kids down at the rec center and he was starving. Quite frankly, I think he would have eaten everything in the fridge that night if he hadn't passed out on the couch. I tried to save you some food, but in all fairness, him in that state was just a lost cause."

"Yeah, but you should have just done what I do when I make sure to save you food: stash it. If you stash it in the back corner of the freezer he won't find it because he hardly goes up there," said Mako, not impressed or convinced.

"Oh, c'mon, sweetie," said Korra, eyebrows raised. "You got your noodles. Just let it go."

"Yeah, Momko," said Kai, grinning smugly. "Let it go."

Mako grunted a little in response.

"And you don't pick on him," said Jinora, nudging Kai lightly.

"I'm not. I'm just agreeing with Korra."

"Anyway," said Jinora, shaking her head a little bit. "Where's this guest appearance you're supposed to be making?"

Korra turned to Mako.

"You didn't tell them?"

"I did. Well, I told Kai and told him to tell Jinora."

Kai frowned.

"You didn't tell me anything."

"Yes, I did. Three times in the past week, in fact, and when you never gave me an answer I figured that you didn't want to come," said Mako, leaning back in his chair now.

"When?"

"Tuesday, Wedsenday and Thursday. Which was yesterday, remember? I just don't think I should have to fight that hard for your attention when you're on your laptop, y'know," said Mako.

Kai looked up, apparently thinking about it and tossed his head to the side a little bit.

"Okay, you might have mentioned it then. I was probably working on something."

"I know," said Mako, sighing.

"He's just like you," said Korra softly, smiling. Mako looked at her. "You've rubbed off on him Your focused 'I'm in the zone' work like tendencies. You should know that unless you shake him out of it then you're not going to get through. Like the way I have to do with you from time to time on a late night."

"Yeah, well, sometimes I do that on purpose," said Mako, smirking back. "I like when you decide to have fun with it. You've been getting pretty, uh, creative with it too lately."

"Have I?" asked Korra. She raised her eyebrows suggestively. "Maybe you should come over and do some work tonight then, huh? So I can get creative?"

"Oh, I plan on it," said Mako, sending it right back.

"This is getting really awkward," announced Kai, seemingly hoping to break the... special tension between Mako and Korra before they got too lost in their own little world. Beside him, Jinora wholeheartedly agreed with her boyfriend. Korra was like her older sister. With Mako basically being Kai's mother figure all rolled into one, it must have been like listening to your parents. Awkward indeed. Very.

"S-so, uh," said Jinora, trying to bring everyone back. "I think my parents might have mentioned it earlier this week, but things have been busy. Dad's been substituting for this professor who teaches overnight classes. Where's this guest appearance at anyway?"

"Oh, yeah," said Korra, snapping her fingers. "He mentioned that and the arena won't allow anybody below sixteen to attend because of the alcohol usage so they had nobody to watch the kids... Well, we're going to this MMA match that one of our friends is fighting in. They asked me to come and promised seats in the VIP box for any of my guests. Bolin and Opal are going to meet us there. Asami's going to show up a little late, but she'll be there too. I really wish your whole family could have come, but there'll be a next time I'm sure. You guys wanna come?"

Jinora looked over to see Kai staring at her.

"You wanna?" he asked.

After weighing it for a second, she nodded. It was a Friday night and, surely, her parents would be okay with her going seeing as they had probably asked her earlier in the week and she just couldn't remember.

"Sure, why not? It sounds like fun," said Jinora.

They looked back at Mako and Korra.

"We're game," said Kai.

"Great!" Korra grinned, but when she looked over at Mako who was suddenly frowning now, it faltered. "Sweetie... I'm going to be fine."

At that, Kai and Jinora looked at each other, confused.

"You're going to be fine?" asked Jinora, turning back to them. "What's wrong?"

"See.." said Korra, sighing. "I'm not just appearing at the match... guys, I'm fighting at the match. I'm going to be a special guest fighter at the end."

Jinora frowned too now, worried. Now, she knew what Mako wasn't happy about. Korra? Fighting again? Was she sure she should be stepping back in the ring after all this time?

"Korra..." began Kai, obviously thinking the same things. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean... don't get us wrong, you're great. You're amazing. Heavyweight champ, yeah, you are. But... you're sure about this?"

Korra sighed heavily again.

"Guys, I've really thought about it. It's been, Raava, about six months since I've been cleared? I don't need to go to any more treatments now and the doctors say that I can work out like I used to again and you know I've been doing that, but... it's still not enough."

"Korra," began Jinora. "You don't need to go back into the ring to prove that you're still a good fighter. We all know you are."

"It's not exactly to prove that I'm still a good fighter though... it's just... like a revisit. Yes, I retired from MMA and fitness modeling on my own free will. I wanted a different path in life after I started to really recover. It was all getting to be too much. The traveling and the stress. It's kind of what caused my car accident in the first place, but... I do miss being in the ring. I don't want to prove that I'm still good. I just want to do it to see if I'm really better. If I can do this then I'll really feel like that fire is still burning. I'll feel it. Not just think about it."

Kai and Jinora said nothing, but only glanced at each other, worried.

"Sweetie..." sighed Mako.

"Mako, I know you're worried, but I really want to do this, no, I need to do this," said Korra simply, but firmly.

"I know," said Mako. " As much as it scares me that something's going to happen to you out there I... I know that you feel the need to risk it. I've told you how I see that fire every day out of you the way you're just out there living the most out of life and trying to make a difference, but I know that you need to see it and feel it for yourself... I'm behind you one hundred percent."

Korra, smiling, reached out to grab his hand across the table.

"I know you are. You always are... thank you, sweetie."

"Just please be careful, okay?" he said as if he couldn't resist blurting it out. "Please don't overdo it."

"I agree with Mako," said Jinora. "Promise you won't overdo it?"

"Yeah, promise?" asked Kai.

Korra looked at them all, then laughed a little.

"I promise," she said sincerely. "I'll do my best to be careful. I mean it. To be honest, I don't want to end up in the hospital anymore than I have to. I've had enough healings for one lifeitme."

"You know..." said Jinora, smiling. "We're always here for you."

Korra looked up at her, smiling back.

"I know you are."

-:-:-:-

"Do you think Korra's really going to be okay?" asked Jinora worriedly. "I know she wants to do this, but she was really torn up after the accident. I'm just afraid her body isn't as strong as it used to be. Or at least not strong enough to withstand a fight against another professional fighter."

"Especially since it's been three years?" asked Kai, adding his own worry.

"Yeah... I'm just... Honestly, Mako's got to be going crazy on the inside."

"Oh, he is," sighed Kai. "He kind of always is to be honest, but you can really see it all over his face this time. You can't blame him though."

"No kidding. I know we kind of feel the same. Although... we really should at least trust her more. I mean, she'd never go in this if she didn't feel up for it."

"True. I probably feel like Mako and just don't want anyone to get hurt. We both know the reason why we can't stop worrying about it is because everybody knows her body can't stand another bad beating so soon. It's been six months since she stopped treatments, but still..."

Jinora sighed.

"We have to believe in her. Her knowing we believe she can do it will give her that fighting spirit she needs."

Smiling, Kai nodded.

"Agreed."

After grabbing a quick bite to eat, they'd gone back to Kai's motorcycle. Making sure they knew which stadium to go to, Mako and Korra left ahead of them and said they'd wait for them to arrive so they could vouch them in. The stadium was hardly an issue to find once they got close enough to it. Lights shot up in the sky, loud music could be heard playing from the stadium and it was jam-packed with cars and people on foot. How had they not have heard that Korra would be fighting tonight? Surely, everyone else seemed to have heard about it.

They finally go to the stadium and, although it took a little convincing on Jinora's part, Kai handed his bike over for valet parking.

"I know you don't like it, but there are a ton of people here tonight," she said. "I'd rather it be watched by valets who'll be responsible for it than for somebody to find a way to take it and you're lucked out. Wouldn't you?"

"Yeah..." he said reluctantly, holding her close to him as they navigated the crowd. "I guess..."

"Your bike is going to be fine," she said soothingly, patting his arm as they got closer to the door. Mako, taller than most, was easily seen as they neared the entrance. When he spotted them, he waved them over.

"Good, you guys made it, the show starts in about a half hour. Korra's already gone inside to get herself ready," said Mako. "Kai, where'd you park your bike?"

Kai sighed.

"It's in valet."

"Oh, good," said Mako, guiding them in. "And here I thought I'd have to argue with you about doing that."

Jinora hid a smile as Kai grunted.

-:-:-:-

Jinora ended up being more into the fights than her father probably would have thought was seemly. Knowing him he would have disapproved of how excited she would get over a sport he considered violent, but, then again, it was hard not to get into it. More than once, she caught Kai biting his lip trying to suppress his outright laughter when she jumped out of her seat.

"You're so cute when you're excited," he told her, his arm around her in their seats.

Jinora felt her cheeks going hot.

"I can't help it," she said, half-pouting.

"Aah, you were always a bit more into these things then you tried to lead on," said Asami, winking in her seat beside Jinora. She'd arrived shortly after the first match began. "Kai's right. It's cute of you. Besides, we could probably use it with poor Mako biting his fingernails the entire time."

Beside Kai, Mako leaned forward.

"I am not biting my fingernails!"

"It's just a figure of speech, Mako," said Asami, trying to hide her amusement. "Just goes to show how nervous you are. Relax a bit before you actually do start biting them."

"I know, I know..." he sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. "I just can't stop thinking about what'll happen if something goes wrong."

"Me too..." said Asami softly. "But we can't resort to worst case scenarios. It'll be okay."

Bolin also leaned forward to put in his two cents.

"Yeah, Asami's right. Relax, bro. Remember how much butt Korra kicks too. It's not like she's a rookie or anything," said Bolin, clapping his brother on the shoulder. "Deep breaths."

Mako inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm his nerves. Jinora felt bad for him. They were all worried for Korra, but Mako, just being the way he was, looked like he was going to age prematurely at this rate. Just like everyone else, he wanted Korra to not get seriously hurt, but it was hard on him watching his girlfriend walk into the ring so someone could start throwing punches and kicks at her.

Down the row, Opal suddenly flagged their attention.

"Guys! I think Korra's match is finally up! Here comes the announcer!"

A tall, swanky black haired man walked into the center, holding a microphone in his hand. He grinned at the crowd and boomed into the microphone.

"We have a real treat for you coming up here, folks! Tonight, we have a special match lined up! Two old names, both of whom have dominated the ring and one of whom still dominates though she's no longer even in the business! First off, we have the rallied rage of the cage, the unstoppable commander, the pillar herself, put your hands together for Kuvira The Uniter!"

The crowd cheered and whistled as Kuvira walked out, calm and battle-ready. Opal clapped her hands and whistled along with them, cheering for her old family friend. From what Jinora knew, Opal's parents had taken in Kuvira and it was through them that she was able to get involved in MMA fighting in the first place. Kuvira had proven herself and Jinora remembered how she and Korra were often pit against each other in the prime of Korra's fighting days. Though Jinora had never officially met her, apparently, Kuvira and Korra were of the friendly rival type.

"Now, folks," said the announcer almost gravely. The crowd hushed n response. "The other half of this match hasn't been seen for three years and we here at the Golden City Stadium were lucky enough to get her participation... Make no mistake about it, folks, this one is a doozy! She's one of the only waterbenders in the entire world, she's the titanness of the ring, the bad mamma jamma herself! She may have retired three years ago, but she is still your undefeated heavyweight champion!"

At this point, the crowd was already getting on it's feet, cheering at who they all knew the announcer was talking about. Jinora realized that it'd been such a long time since a crowd had cheered for Korra like this. It felt... it felt good to know that so many people were welcoming her back so enthusiastically. She could only imagine how Korra herself felt as she and the rest of their group got up with the crowd.

"...give it up for Korra "The Queen" Iluak!"

The crowd exploded and Korra came out, face split in that grin that Jinora missed seeing when Korra was out there. Whatever doubts Jinora thad ook a back burner not only at the sight of Korra's happiness, but at the sight Jinora caught when she turned her head and saw Mako whistling for her.

He was seeing what Jinora was seeing and, in that moment, that was all that mattered.

-:-:-:-

"Korra!"

It seemed as if their whole group was in a half jog to get to Korra after the match, but nobody was faster at getting to her than Mako.

Mako ran at Korra, picking her up off her feet and swinging her around in a circle. Korra laughed at his antics, but happily accepted his kiss when he put her on the ground again.

"Youwere amazing out there," he told her when they pulled back.

"I-It felt amazing... I mean, I don't even know how to explain it," she said, almost breathless. "I feel so alive again."

"You looked alive out there," said Kai, grinning. "Kuvira put up a good fight, but you had her on the ropes pretty much the the entire time."

They all nodded, chiming in their agreements.

"We're so proud of you Korra," said Jinora, reaching out to squeeze her hand.

Korra squeezed it back, her face probably hurting from how big she was smiling.

"We're all proud," said Mako, sighing happily. "And I can't believe I doubted you. Even for a second. I'm sorry about all that."

Korra shook her head at him, amused.

"You didn't doubt me. You were worried about me. There's a difference and I appreciate it. You're here, aren't you? I'm pretty sure I heard your voice over anybody's."

"Yeah, well, tonight I just got another reminder at how awesome you are," he brought his hands to rest on her upper arms. "Not that I needed it."

They went in for another kiss.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Jinora turned her head. Walking towards them, Kuvira's hair was back in it's low bun after it'd been knocked out during the match. When she got to them, she clasped forearms with Korra.

"You okay?" asked Korra. "You really almost had me there."

"Obviously not enough," said Kuvira, a grim smile on her face. "But, yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking. The match is yours today, but I'm sure there will be another time. In the meantime, I take it Mako here is still your boyfriend?"

Korra raised an eyebrow, trading confused looks with Mako.

"Yeah? Why wouldn't he be?"

"No offense, I just thought somebody told me that you guys had eloped or something in Omashu, but when I didn't see any betrothal necklaces or rings or anything I wasn't sure. Of course, it could have just been a rumor. Not everybody who once had to fight you likes you I suppose."

"Oh, that," laughed Mako. "No, total rumor. Korra met one of her old rivals a couple months ago and they're still bitter and all that."

"Somebody who just wanted to start a lie is all," said Korra, laughing as well. "No one eloped. I don't think my parents would be very happy with me if I didn't invite them to my wedding.."

"Yeah, it'd be a pretty short-lived marriage because I know my grandma would kill me."

Jinora involuntarily yawned and checked the time as a result.

"You ready to go?" asked Kai quietly, as if reading her thoughts.

"I think so," she said just as quietly, nodding.

With the gang still talking to Kuvira, Kai and Jinora bid them a quiet goodbye. Although, that didn't stop Mako from taking a minute to ensure they'd drive the safest routes possible and informing Kai that Bolin would be home shortly and Mako himself would be late.

Holding her by his side as they left to find the stadium, Kai yawned as well. All that cheering and excitement had taken it out of the both of them. Honestly, she was pretty sure all either of them wanted was to go home and end this fun Friday night with a peaceful night's sleep.

"If I wanted to start fighting MMA you would be at the matches, wouldn't you?" asked Jinora suddenly.

Kai just made a face at her, confused and a little startled.

"Seriously!" she laughed.

"Jinora... uh, yeah, I mean... babe, I really don't want to see you fighting in an MMA ring. Or at all really. Don't get me wrong-" he began, seemingly trying to find the right words. "It's not that I don't think you could do it. You can do anything if you set your mind to it because that's how great you are at basically everything, but you'd kill me from the stress of worrying... please tell me Korra didn't inspire you to do MMA. If she did, great, and I'll support you and all, but please... Raava, I'm trying to say this in a way that makes some sort of sense."

Jinora chuckled at him.

"I know what you're trying to say."

"You do, right? Like... if you really wanted to do it then I'd be completely for it and I'd be there for you one thousand percent. Watch you train. Help you train. Watch your matches. All that. Be one of your biggest fans aside from maybe your family, but if at all possible I'd like you to reconsider. MMA's pretty dangerous. You've seen some of the brutal matches Korra's gotten into. I don't think I can stand the idea of you coming out with your head bleeding like that one match she had a few years ago. Remember? They had to take her to the hospital after that."

"Oh, yeah, that one was pretty bad."

"Yeah... you see where I'm getting at?"

Stopping where they were at, Jinora turned to him and took his hands in hers.

"I know what you're getting and. I'm not getting into MMA. So, you can relax," she said, smiling. "I just used it as an example... I don't know. It's just super nice to hear that you'd worry about me, but still believe in me..."

"You mean like Mako and Korra?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Mako was so worried about her, but the minute she came out he was just beside himself. You heard him. The way he was just cheering her on out there. I'd think he was the loudest one in the stadium to be honest."

"Believe me, I heard," laughed Kai, rubbing his ear for effect.

Jinora felt her cheeks go hot a little.

"It's just I'd feel the same way about you... I don't know. It all seems pointless for me to say this, but it's nice. It just makes me feel so lucky to hear that."

Kai shrugged, but smiled.

"It's not pointless. I like to hear it too. Talk about the hypothetical things just because we can. I don't think that's pointless. I think that means we love each other. Feels like I'm kind of daydreaming with you."

"Yeah..." she said, smiling back at him now. "Not every couple gets to do that I hear."

"Exactly. Besides, anything we have to say to each other isn't pointless," he said, leaning into to kiss her nose.

She giggled, moving her face up to catch his lips.

They pulled back, squeezing each others hands a little.

He turned to pull her with him.

"C'mon, let's get you home. I don't like being out when it's gets dark like this."

First off, a thousand thank yous to each and every one of you who'e reviewed, favorited and liked this story! What's Done in the Dark, by far, is my most popular piece of writing ever and it gives me this great sense of confidence. For that, I am eternally grateful to you all. :)

So, this chapter is a tad different in a way some of you may have noticed. I don't want to talk about it too much, but it'll be abundantly clear in a few chapters.

Because of that difference, this chapter was a little bit longer than the last few chapters. Overall, this chapter was more transitionary than anything. It has a purpose, but part of it's purpose is also in simply "passing the time", but I like to use these transitionary chapters to their fullest extent. Show what needs to be shown besides just pure plot. Not to say this chapter isn't a part of the plot because it is, but watching other things grow around that is also something I strive to show.

All things will become clear in time.

As always, I love it when you guys drop those reviews! They keep me motivated to write the story and keep me writing the story.

Thanks for reading! Tune in for next chapter!