Chapter Six: The Song
(I do not own the song. Song used for cover for story only.)
It had been over a month since the kidnapping incident. Celeste was sitting on her bedroom floor reading over her notes for her classes. She was getting top marks and was happy about it. She had so many things going on that was keeping her busy. Her friend Korra had fallen into depression and moved out of Mako's place and went to live with Professor Tenzin so she could focus on her air bending more. She could feel her friend's pain and frustration. Celeste herself was frustrated as well. Seeing her friends all happy while dating as she was trying to distract herself with her school work, the pro-bending, and of course the band. She had secretly transferred money from the account her mother made her to a private one just in case. For the band, They hadn't done much practice due to people scheduling dates. It was upsetting Celeste. Kuvira suggested they should start doing mandatory practice if this was something they were going to be doing. It didn't stop there. Equalists have been getting bolder and bolder during recent events. The chief of police had made Haur a public enemy after that night. She wasn't allowed to go out alone anymore because of this. Not that she was complaining. Su hasn't bothered her about learning about her since that night. She didn't blame them. They wanted to get to know her. Celeste was still trying to gather her thoughts and emotions. Maybe it was time to tell them about herself. She at least owed it to them. She gathered her finished notes and homework and placed it upon her desk. She pulled out her phone and texted the group that there was a mandatory band meeting tonight. There was no protest. They agreed.
She walked into the kitchen to see Kuvira and Su leaning against each other while drinking coffee. Celeste grabbed an apple to eat and smiled at both of them before sitting in the living room. Lin was there at the edge of the couch. Celeste smirked and sat right next to her and leaned against her and gave a dramatic sigh.
"What's it to you?" Lin asked while squirming a little. Celeste had found that she enjoyed teasing Lin. Of course, crushing on her didn't help at all.
"Oh nothing. Got a band meeting tonight." Celeste spoke while moving to sit in the arm chair. Su and Kuvira had come into the living room.
"I'll be there." Lin spoke as Kuvira shook her head.
"We'll be fine." Kuvira spoke.
"I understand that but I just feel better with you know." Lin sighed while going back to her book. Lin had been near Celeste nearly all the time since that night. Well, except when she was in classes.
"Lin, you don't have to keep an eye on me." Celeste spoke softly while finishing her coffee.
"I know." Was all Lin said. "Well, I have to head to work. Be safe. Text me where you are at all times please." Lin spoke. Celeste shook her head. Lin had put her number in Celeste's phone not too long ago and Kuvira decided it was best to make a group chat with the four of them.
"I mean it!" Lin snapped.
"And if I don't?" Celeste asked innocently.
"I will find you and handcuff you." Lin warned her.
"Ooh kinky." Celeste teased Lin who was now flustered and smacked the side of Celeste's head. Kuvira was howling with laughter as Su chuckled. Lin however stormed off to work.
"Why do you tease her like that?" Su finally asked when Lin was gone.
"Isn't it oblivious? She likes Lin." Kuvira rolled her eyes while still laughing.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Celeste spoke while taking her cup to the sink.
"Uh huh." Kuvira spoke as Celeste's phone went off. She had gotten a message from Korra. Celeste went silent.
"Everything okay?" Su asked as Celeste dashed out. Putting on her shoes and grabbing her wallet and jacket. "What happened?" Su asked as Celeste was already out the door. She had taken the ferry over as her phone was going off from the chat she was in with Kuvira, Su, and Lin.
Su; Can you tell us what happened?
Lin: Something happen?
Kuv: Yeah she dashed out without saying anything.
Lin: Celeste where are you?
Cel: Something I got to do. Sorry.
Lin: Celeste I swear if you don't tell me where you're going.
Cel: Air Temple Island.
She had known not to push Lin. She knew where the boundaries were. Lin was not a pretty sight when she was angry. Then again, Lin is beautiful in every aspect to Celeste. She blushed at her thoughts before pushing them to the side. She was worried about Korra. The ferry had arrived as she dashed out. She found Korra at their secret place they had found when they first came here.
"Hey. I'm here." Celeste spoke and pulled Korra into a hug.
"I wanted to but I didn't. I hate this." Korra was crying as Celeste rubbed her back. "She tells me everything. I know so much about her and it kills me seeing her with him." Korra spoke as she laid her head upon Celeste's lap. All she could do was rub Korra's arm or back if she could reach. She could feel the pain that was coming from Korra. A pain she knew all too well. Korra had finally calmed down and sat back up.
"Thank you Celeste. I couldn't ask for a better best friend." Korra spoke softly while rubbing her eyes. Celeste seemed to be there for everyone when they were having a hard time. Korra especially.
"Maybe that's why I can't airbend. I'm too caught up with wanting Asami to be happy." Korra spoke as Celeste nodded her head.
"It's a possibility but also, air is completely different from your personality." Celeste added. Korra is always hot headed and head strong. Very stubborn as well. She did wear her heart on her sleeve due to her water tribe roots.
"Hey, come meditate with me?" Celeste asked as Korra rolled her eyes.
"Sure. Make me think about things." She shook her head as they got up.
"No, you're supposed to clear your mind." Celeste chuckled as she dragged Korra over to the ferry. Celeste had led Korra to the park. It seemed empty today for some reason. Shrugging at the thought, she found her usual spot by the tree and sat down in front of Korra. They were both in the lotus position. Inhaling deeply, holding her breath and then exhaling. Repeating the process a few times as Celeste felt herself drift off into calmness. She could feel Korra calming down as well. She smiled at this. She was good at helping Korra talk through her emotions even though she couldn't do it herself.
The sun was over half way in the sky when Celeste felt her phone go off. Korra was still meditating.
"Hello?" Celeste asked.
"Where are you? Haven't heard from you for hours." It was Lin's voice.
"I..I'm at the park with Korra." Celeste replied.
"Alright. Thank you. Sorry, I was worried. I'll be there when you guys practice." With that, Lin had hung up. 'Weird.' Celeste thought. Well, it was only natural to be worried about someone right? She gently touched Korra's arm. Korra had opened her eyes and smiled.
"Hey. Thank you. Should we get going?" Korra asked as Celeste nodded. She texted the group that she was on her way to the studio they had rented out for practice. For the heck of it, she texted the other chat so in case Lin wanted to know. It has become a habit now. Telling them where she was. 'Maybe they don't trust me to be on my own?' Celeste thought. She had arrived to see the others already there. Su and Lin were sitting at the corner table while drinking their tea.
"Hey everyone!" Celeste smiled as they entered. Opal was sitting with Asami in the other corner chatting and gossiping away. Korra frowned and went to the bathroom. Celeste quickly followed her. Closing the door behind her.
"Hey, you're okay. You're not alone." Celeste spoke softly while reassuring Korra who was leaning against the wall.
"Yeah, you're right." Korra spoke while taking a deep breath. Korra had finally left the bathroom as Celeste followed. Su gave her a questioning look. She shook her head at her professor. Seeing Su text the group chat asking her questions. Celeste walked over to her.
"I'll tell you later." She whispered as She nodded her head. She gave Su a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Hearing a chuckle from her as Lin glared while crossing her arms. Kuvira nudged Celeste with a smile.
"Making her jealous?" Her friend asked.
"Who?" Celeste raised a brow.
"Right. Anyways! I booked us a show!" Kuvira spoke up once Korra and Bolin were there with her.
"Oh my gosh!" Celeste shouted while hopping with Bolin.
"Where at?" Korra asked as Kuvira smiled.
"The club we went to that one night." Celeste gasped and clapped her hands once.
"I'm very excited!" She spoke while watching Korra tune her guitar.
"Yes, they want us to play a few songs. I suggested two songs, so Celeste, you have a job to do." Kuvira spoke as Celeste nodded. They were supposed to do cover songs.
"What are we in the mood for?" She asked them.
"Anger." Korra suggested.
"Love." Kuvira crossed her arms.
"How about we just party?" Bolin suggested as Celeste chuckled. "Or. We could do both?" He then suggested.
"Sure. Why not." Kuvira suggested as she started playing. Celeste shrugged her shoulders.
"I have a song. For my mother. Kuvira, chorus with me?" Celeste asked as they looked at her as she nodded. They knew which song. She cleared her throat as they started. She was nervous but pushed through it.
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you
Can't you see that you're smothering me
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control?
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart right in front of you
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
And every second I waste is more than I can take
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
be more like me
And be less like you
And I know
I may end up failing too
But I know
You were just like me with someone disappointed in you
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired
So much more aware
I'm becoming this
All I want to do
Is be more like me
And be less like you
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
(I'm tired of being what you want me to be)
I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
(I'm tired of being what you want me to be)
She took a deep breath after finishing.
"Whoa." Was all Korra said. Celeste was standing next to Kuvira when she sang the chorus with her. She could feel Asami, Mako, Su, and Lin staring at them.
"Is that how you feel?" Bolin asked as Celeste nodded her head lightly.
"Maybe you should sing how you feel?" Korra suggested.
"You wanna give that a shot?" Celeste challenged Korra who quickly shook her head.
"No. I'm fine." Korra responded quickly. Celeste knew Korra all too well.
"Well, call it a night?" Bolin suggested as they put their instruments up as Celeste shrugged.
"Sure." They all said. Watching Bolin leave with Opal, Mako and Asami following. Celeste kept her eyes upon Korra who was frowning.
"Hey, let's go to dinner." Kuvira suggested to them.
"I thought you two hate each other?" Korra raised a brow.
"We've come to acknowledge each other." Kuvira replied.
"Right. Well, let's go! I'm craving the water nation diner across the street." Korra spoke as she put her guitar in her case and locked it up. Celeste was humming slightly while smiling.
"Are the professors joining us?" Korra asked as they nodded. "Sweet." Korra added.
Kuvira and Celeste eyed each other before leaving the studio. She was the last one out as she locked up before following the others across the street.
"So, why are they here?" Korra asked.
"Well, Lin is my bodyguard, didn't you know?" Celeste chuckled as Lin rolled her eyes. Su laughed lightly.
"I have to make sure my dancers are safe. Besides, they are my captains and we need to discuss an upcoming performance." Su explained. Korra gasped.
"Celeste! You never told me that you joined" Korra gasped as Celeste only smiled at her before holding the door open for them. They had picked a table in the corner from the others. Celeste sat between Korra and Lin as Su and Kuvira across from them. Celeste decided to try sea prunes.
"I don't know why I bothered." Celeste grumbled as Korra was laughing at her. She moved her plate towards Korra who happily accepted them.
"It's an acquired taste for most people not from the water nation." Korra explained as Celeste nodded.
"Well, I'll eat at home." Celeste smiled while drinking her tea instead.
"You never told me. Where do you live?" Korra asked. Celeste side eyed Kuvira who cleared her throat.
"With me. We share an apartment. It was a logical thing to do." Kuvira spoke as Korra raised a brow.
"Don't worry. We don't try to kill each other. Plus. We are both very private people." Celeste added.
"You? Private? As if." Korra laughed. Celeste frowned a little before finishing her tea.
"Oh. Sorry." Korra added. They had finished as Celeste secretly paid for everyone's.
"Sneaky." Su nudged Celeste with a smile before leaving.
"See you in class?" Celeste asked as Korra nodded.
"I'll text you later." Korra spoke. Giving Celeste a hug before leaving towards the island.
They made it back to the apartment as Celeste put her jacket up as her shoes went to the shoe holder. Going to her room to put her wallet up and change into her silk pants and shirt for night wear. She headed back out.
"Don't you look cute." Su smiled as Celeste smiled and shrugged a single shoulder while turning to her side before going to make some tea. Once done, she handed everyone a cup.
"What's this?" Kuvira asked.
"Jasmine tea." Celeste smiled while putting the tea pot up and sat down at the edge of the couch.
"So, what happened earlier with Korra?" Kuvira asked as Celeste took a sip.
"She's depressed about something and did not want to be alone at the time." Celeste replied.
"I feel like there is more to the story." Su raised a brow. Celeste sighed and nodded her head.
"Korra has feelings for someone she can't have." Celeste spoke. She frowned at this and sipped her cup.
"That must be hard." Su frowned.
"It is." Celeste spoke.
"What do you mean?" Su asked while touching Celeste's shoulder.
"Nothing. Forget I said anything. I have a report to finish." Celeste spoke as she quickly left the bedroom after dropping off her cup. She wasn't wrong. Professor Tenzin gave them assignments to write a report. She was flipping through the pages while setting her text book down. Humming softly while taking a piece of a small metal ball into her hand to change the shapes. She was slowly getting better. The shapes weren't perfect but it was something. Hearing a knock on her door as she turned to see Su standing in her door.
"Everything alright?" Su asked as she let herself in and shut the door.
"Yeah. I will be." Celeste smiled lightly. She watched as Su stood behind her. Gently touching her hair. She winced a little.
"Sorry." Her professor spoke.
"No. It's okay. Just not used to people touching it." Celeste explained. Su went back to her hair. Brushing it before braiding it. Celeste smiled as she loved the braid that she did.
"I think sweetie. It's time you've told me." Su spoke as she sat on Celeste's bed. Celeste nodded her head and sat next to the older woman. Feeling an arm around her.
"I suppose you're right." Celeste spoke. Where would she start? She stood up and led Su out of her bedroom and back into the living room where Lin and Kuvira where. She looked at them and took a deep breath as she sat down between them as Su sat on the other side of Kuvira. Then, Celeste decided to tell them her story.
"I can remember as long as I started walking. My mother always had this dire need to be the best. Ever since she was little. I know you've met her before Su. She lived in Zaofu when it was just a small town before it bloomed into a city. She then moved to Gaoling and met my father. I was born not long after of course. " Celeste started. She could feel the eyes on her. Kuvira linked their arms and she gave a soft smile.
"For long as I can remember, my mother wanted nothing but the best. She kept telling me that she was ashamed for having me as her daughter since I was always carefree and never took her teachings seriously. She can't have anymore children. Father didn't want anymore. He was barely around. This rival thing my mother is obsessed with, she made it out that our families have been at it for a very long time. If I wasn't perfect, I was beaten. Not just by her hand but other things as well. I would go days without eating until I perfected my stance or forms. She would go far as having me outside for days on end practicing. We sparred one time and I remember waking up in the hospital from broken bones. She brags about me in public but behind closed doors, it was another story. There was no love or affection from her nor my father. It was considered weak. Then one day, she hired a personal earth bending master to teach me metal bending. I don't remember what happened but my emotions got the best of me and I lost control. It never happened before. My mother was angry. For years on end, she would have me suppress my emotions because it meant weakness. This had gone on for years and years. I didn't have friends growing up. My mother was strict on the dating thing. Men never seemed to catch my attention. I went to public school like anyone else. Then, I heard about this University and applied first chance I got. I never thought I'd get accepted. Now, I finally have the freedom I longed for and it's a lot. So, as I have said. It's hard for me to know that I have people that care about me and what not. Especially Beifongs to be specific. I always thought you'd all dislike me and what not. Never did I think I would care so deeply for three of you." Celeste spoke softly. She knew they were listening to every word she said. Lin had her arm around Celeste's shoulder and gently squeezed her.
"I assume your mother is not as welcoming as we have been?" Su asked as Celeste nodded her head.
"You ladies have been the most welcoming souls I have ever met. Everyone that I have met has been. Except for one person. My mother adores him. I'd rather marry a woman." Celeste huffed. She felt another squeeze as Su chuckled.
"As long as you are true to yourself." Su spoke softly. Celeste nodded her head in agreement.
"I agree and did I ever tell you two, that you both make a beautiful couple?" Celeste smiled.
"I can name another one." Kuvira smirked. Celeste blushed.
"Anyways, it's late. Got an early day tomorrow." Celeste spoke as she stood up and hugged all three of them. Some reason, She hugged Lin a little longer. Then taking her leave to her bedroom.