Happy Valentines Day!
***3 months ago***
Wan and Yorru stand on the gnarled edge of a great misty canyon. Spires of rocks push out over the ledges and curl like talons.
"This is the fog of lost souls," Yorru says, pointing to the gray cloud below them. "I warn all of my pupils of this place. In addition to it being near impossible to escape, it is in a way a sentient creature, known to possess bodies in the physical world. So you can't assume you know where it is in relation to yourself."
"Tenzin never mentioned that. But he has been trapped in it before. A vision of his father was what helped him escape."
"What kind of vision?" Yorru asks curiously.
"I guess he had some unresolved issues with his father, and by overcoming them the fog lifted enough for him to get away."
"That is interesting." Yorru motions away from the ledge. The two start walking. "I wonder if it was power possessed by Avatar Aang's spirit that let him appear to his son's aid, or was it just a hallucination."
Wan shrugs. "He didn't say. Maybe he's not even sure himself."
"If my father appeared before me like that, I don't know if I could forgive him, even if it meant my escape from the fog. What about you?" Yorru looks down at the boy at his side. "If you're father appeared to you in the fog of lost souls, what would it be like?"
Wan fidgets with his hands as he walks.
"No issues there? How fortunate. Give it time. Father-son dynamics can be tricky."
Wan thought better of saying anything to correct Yorru's assumptions, but he was desperate to talk about it with someone. Maybe someone who knew nothing about who his mothers were would be his best option.
"I don't know my father," Wan confesses quietly.
"So you live with a stepfather?"
Wan shakes his head.
"Just mom."
Wan nods. It's not a total lie.
"Sometimes I wonder if no father is better than a bad one," Yorru says, as they reach a friendly-looking part of the Spirit World. "It's important for a young man to have other men in their life. I imagine that is some of the motivation behind spending so much time with Master Tenzin."
"Yeah, my mothers," Wan stammers, catching himself. "My mother has me privately tutor with him sometimes. But he doesn't get me. He's so old," He fumbles again. "Not to say that being old means you wouldn't-"
Yorru chuckles. "No offense taken."
"You actually listen to me and you're honest with me about things that aren't always pleasant. I just want to know things…"
Yorru puts a hand on Wan's back. "You can ask me anything and I promise I will be straight with you. That is how I treat all my pupils. Knowledge is power. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
Yorru shields his eyes with his free hand to check the sun. "I'm sorry but I do have to attend to some other students."
"May I meet some of your other students someday?"
"Yes," Yorru starts. "You are at a lower level than my other pupils. I don't want to rush the curriculum, but I think it could be helpful for you to engage with other students. I need to consider who would be a good fit, but I promise I will make this happen."
Wan smiles and bows. "Thank you master for today's lesson."
Yorru bows in turn. Both their spirits fade away.
***Present Time***
Asami walks in the door of her home with Ikki trailing behind her. "Guess who is joining us for dinner?"
When no one comes bounding from the kitchen, Asami leads them to the sitting room. Asami pokes her head in to find Korra, Ai, and Kimmi. Wan had excused himself after Zhou Rhen left to do his homework in his room.
"Hi, pardon the intrusion," Ikki says as she appears at the door beside Asami.
"Ikki! Ikki!" Ai squeals with glee, recognizing the girl's voice instantly. She scrambles from her spot on the loveseat and rushes to the foyer.
Korra smiles. "Welcome home Babe."
"Did you prepare anything for dinner? I assume we should have enough?"
Korra shakes her head. "Zhou Rhen was here. Then I just kinda slacked off with the kids. How about we order some takeout?"
"I should have called," Asami says with a sigh. "Then I could have picked it up on the way home."
"I can go," Korra offers. "I'll see if Wan will keep me company."
Korra gets up and joins the girls in the kitchen. Ai is happily seated next to Ikki, bargaining with her with questions.
Korra passes Kimmi to Asami and then goes to the phone. "Any requests or just the usual from Hong's Noodle House?"
"I think Hong's is fine," Asami says, stealing a look at Ikki. Ikki nods her approval.
After placing the order Korra drifts upstairs to Wan's room. She gives the door a couple of knocks, but he doesn't answer. She debates for a moment, is he doing this on purpose or maybe he fell asleep? She didn't want to upset him. That was very easy to do these days.
Korra tries knocking again. Wan still doesn't respond, so she slowly opens the door. She finds Wan on the floor of his room, in the lotus position. His eyes are open by the time she steps into the room. He blinks a few times, looking rather disoriented.
"Sorry, were you meditating?" Korra asks.
"Yeah."
"Want to come for a drive with me to pick up dinner."
Wan debates for a moment.
"We can swing by the spot first if you want. Ikki's downstairs I'm sure talking your mother's ear off. They won't notice if we take a little longer."
"Okay."
The "spot" is a steamed bun vendor in Avatar Korra Park. The same one Korra and Asami ordered from on their first date and then occasionally frequented, but after they moved out of the apartment downtown and into the house they forgot about the place.
One day when Wan was around five, Korra and him were tasked to run an errand for Asami. They went through the park and Wan spotted the vendor. Even though they had already eaten lunch, Wan insisted on a steamed bun. Korra caved but made sure he promised it was their little secret.
Korra purchased a bun for each of them. As soon as she took a bite she was overcome with the good taste and memories of coming to the park with Asami.
Now it was a fondness for both her time with her wife when they were dating and a special moment with her son. Something Korra really hoped he wouldn't grow out of wanting with her. She knew Wan was almost a teenager, she wasn't oblivious. In Wan's especially sulking moments, she would close her eyes and think back to how she was when she was his age. And she would remember having these feelings, often brought on by nothing, and when she was in those moments it wasn't anything her parents, or in her special case, the White Lotus, did specifically.
Korra braced herself for a long period of angst with her children. She didn't get over that until she was eighteen. She privately hoped they'd take after Asami. She knew her wife had her moments as a teen, but she was never as messy.
Korra turns off the Satomobile when they reach the park. She and Wan step out of the vehicle and take the sidewalk path that will lead them near the turtleduck pond. That was usually where the steam bun vendor parked.
"So how's the meditating going? You seem to be into more since your long stay with the temple," Korra asks, breaking the silence.
"I find it centering," Wan replies.
"That's why your mother likes it. Helped her through a particularly difficult time in her life once."
They both spot the steam bun cart at the same time and head toward it. The man spies them and gives a wave. He was a short older man. His big balled head didn't look not unlike a steam bun. It was usually dewy with the steam vapors.
"Just in time," He calls out. "I was about to pack up and go."
"Thank you for waiting." Korra jogs up to the cart. She looks back at Wan who is still walking. "What kind do you want?"
"Moo-sow!" Wan calls back.
"Two Moo-sow."
The steam bun man nods and opens his woven bamboo steamer. "I just got the one Moo-sow. Picken okay for the second."
Korra nods. She fishes out a few coins from her pocket and pays. "Have a good night."
"You too," the vendor says with a little bow.
Korra passes Wan the moo-sow bun and takes the picken for herself. "Guess we got to get here earlier for the moo-sows, they are the best."
"I can eat the picken," Wan offers.
Korra shakes her head. "I like the picken just fine." She checks her wristwatch. Something Asami forced on her after the children were born. Korra was just not good at keeping track of her time without it. "We have a little bit more time before food is ready for pick up. Let's go check on the turtleducks."
They walk the small ways to the pond. Only a few of the little creatures are padding around in the water.
"What was Mom going through?"
Korra quirked her head, forgetting the conversation they had before getting the buns. "Oh, well there was someone who hurt your mother very much, and the stress of it was becoming too consuming. It helped your mother forgive this person. And once she did, she felt so much better."
"Who hurt her?"
Korra wrinkles her nose. She takes a few quick bites of her bun to decide how best to answer.
"Only tell me if you're going to tell the truth," Wan sighs, sensing his mother's hesitation to answer. He breaks off a piece of the dough and chucks it at the turtleducks. They spy the food right away and swim towards it.
"Do you feel that I am not honest with you, Buddy?" Korra asks.
Wan looks down at his bun. He tears off another bit and chucks it in the water. "Sometimes, when it's serious stuff. It's not just you. It feels like a lot of people aren't telling me the whole story."
Korra contemplatively takes the last couple of bites of her bun. She crumples up the square of parchment paper it came with and shoves it into her pocket. "Your mother and I, and a lot of our friends, had to deal with a lot of complicated people when I first came to the city. Some of these people were really bad," Korra shakes her head. "They weren't all bad, but their ideologies were extreme. Do you know what that word means?"
Wan nods. He intensely watches his mother's face as she speaks. He can see how difficult this is for her.
"Kuvria was one of them. I know you know about the attack she launched on the city, they teach it at school and we've spoken about it before. And you know it was during that attack that your grandfather Hiroshi was killed." Korra crouches to be face level with Wan. Picks up a stick off the ground to fuss with in her hand.
Wan nods. "I brought it up to mom the other day and she cried. She never talks about him."
"That's a really hard one for her. You see, your mother was very angry with your grandfather for a long time right before he died. His grief over losing his wife caused him to believe that all benders were to blame and he joined up with some extreme people. Your grandfather went to prison after and your mom didn't want anything to do with him for a while because she was still so angry. She was able to forgive him before he died. He helped save the city."
"How did grandpa die?"
"Kuvira's mech crushed him while he was soldering a way for all of us to get inside it and stop it." Unconsciously Korra draws an "X" in the dirt with her stick." Your mom saw it happen."
Wan feels the wave of guilt he had the other day when he brought it up.
"It's hard for me to talk about Buddy. My mother died when I was very young, so I don't have a lot of memories of her and Dad... He died in the Earth Empire invasion. Both of them gave their lives to save mine." Asami began to tear up.
Korra's knees were getting a little cranky so she stood back up. She moves to toss the stick into the pond but sees the turtleducks are still there. She pivots and throws into a small patch of bushes. "After things settled, there was a big trial for Kuvira. The death penalty was proposed. Your mother and I had a moral dilemma. I did not think Kuvira should be executed, but if your mother did, I didn't want to impose my beliefs on her, especially because of what happened to her father. She also felt guilty about the time she spent being mad at her father. Asa-Mom, had to sort through all those complicated feelings. Your mom is the strongest and bravest person I've ever met."
Wan looks up at Korra. He can see the admiration on her face. There was a strange notion inside him that this was selfish of his mother. But that didn't feel right. One of his parents loving and admiring the other this much was a good thing.
Wan wonders, since his mother is being so frank with him if now was a good possible moment to ask what he really wanted to know.
Yorru's deep voice whispers in his mind. "You want to know who your father is? You have every right to."
"Looks like it's time we swung by Hongs. Ready, Buddy?" Korra asks, checking her watch again.
Wan nods and trails a little behind his mother. His nerve, lost.
While Korra and Wan are out picking up the food, Ikki, Ai, and Kimmi in her high chair sit around the kitchen table, while Asami puts out place settings.
Normally Asami would entertain Ikki's girl troubles over lunch, but she was absolutely swamped with the new Satomobile model launch. Inspired by her growing family, a vehicle with more seating was becoming a necessity. Kimmi could be stowed between her siblings in her special seat, but eventually, three teenagers were going to be cramped in the back. Already there was a lot of fighting for personal space on their family road trips.
Thus the idea for the Satowagon was born. Three rows of bench seating. A vehicle that could take you and your whole family or a smaller family and luggage. It's not at the price point for lower-income families yet, but this was the first step in making a car for a family that was affordable to the average United Republic citizen.
So when Ikki showed up this afternoon while she and Ming were pouring over the final markups for the promotional campaign, in near tears, Asami softened and promised she'd make time for her that evening. She would have met up with Ikki for a drink in the city, somewhere adult where Ikki could be more frank, but Korra was going out that night with Mako to do their stake out.
Asami knew her nights out playing detective was keeping her wife out of real trouble, so she did not want to make her cancel. Fortunately, Ai adores Ikki and loves chatting like 'one of the girls.'
"So now Yanmei is accusing me of cheating," Ikki laments. She slaps the table with her palms. "Which is a gross mischaracterization of what she even thinks is going on."
"You're playing my Mommy and Mumma, of course, you two got creamery."
"Chemistry dear," Asami corrects, placing a pitcher of water in the center of the table.
Ai giggles. "What does that mean?"
"Ai, remember we talked about not pretending to understand if we don't?" Asami lowers her voice as she moves to Ikki's side, putting a glass at her place setting.
"She keeps doing this at school and then when the tests come around, she flunks."
"The way I'm using it means when two people get along really well," Ikki explains, lacing her fingers together for emphasis.
"Ah, see, I kinda knew that," Ai says proudly.
"So," Asami starts, taking a free seat. The table is prepped for the food. "Are you flirting with your co-star?"
"No! Maybe she's flirting with me, but she just seems like the kind of person that flirts with everyone." Ikki blushes. "Yanmei wants me to choose between her and the mover, which is ridiculous."
"You can't quit the mover!" Ai gasps. "But I don't want you two to break up either."
Ikki lets out a long groan. "Asami, you were married and thinking about having your first kid at my age. Why can't I get it together and settle down?"
Asami pours herself some water from the pitcher. She hesitated on how to answer that. There was some brutal honesty she could give the younger girl, but this question was likely rhetorical. Asami adores Ikki and knows one day she'll find the right one and that person will be so lucky to have her. But she couldn't deny the girl was not great a lot of the time in her relationships. "You might just not be ready and you shouldn't compare yourself with others. There is no true time when you should be with the right person. Korra and I? We got lucky. And you know how long at the time it felt like I had to wait for her to be ready. If Yanmei isn't the right one, you can't force it. If she's making you choose between her and your aspirations, I don't think she's someone you should be with."
"Yeah," Ikki sighs, nodding her head. "Now she's going to read the break up as me choosing that other girl. And it's not like that."
"You can't control how she's going to think about it, so best not to worry too much."
Ai releases a long sigh. "Dating sounds hard."
Asami and Ikki giggle.
"Lucky for you, it's nothing you have to worry about anytime soon," Ikki says, patting Ai's arm. "And when you do, you got a really good Mom to talk to about dating with."
"Oh goodness. I'm going to blink and that day is going to come," Asami sighs.
"What day?" Korra asks, food and Wan in tow.
"Me dating!" Ai chirps.
Korra's eyebrows shoot up. "You're not dating now are you?"
Ai shakes her head.
"No we're just talking about how that day will be here before we know it," Ikki says mischievously. She turns her focus to Wan. "You're getting to that age. Is there anyone you're sweet on?"
Wan blushes. "No!"
Ai stands up in her seat excitedly. She holds to the table with one hand and raises another like she's in class. "I see Wan blush every time he talks to the girl who works at the library! She's older!"
"I do not!" Wan protests. He puts the takeout bag he's carrying on the table.
Asami puts a hand on her daughter, encouraging her to sit back down. "Don't tease your brother."
"Nothing wrong with liking them older," Korra says, stealing a look at her wife. She gives her a wink. Korra puts her bag next to Wans and starts pulling out containers. She passes them to Asami. "So what'd we miss? Ikki you staying with Yanmei or breaking up?"
Zhou Rhen arrives at the temple just as the sun sets. By his estimation, dinner had either started or was just about to. He nervously debates his next action. Does he go to his room unseen and camp out there for the night, sneaking a snack after everyone's gone to sleep and seeking out Jinora in the morning? Or does he desperately try to act normal and eat a meal, then try and get her alone after?
His decision was made for him, as he catches Pema's eye in the courtyard. She rings the dinner bell and waves Zhou Rhen toward her.
"Perfect timing!" She chirps.
Zhou Rhen tries not to grimace. "Perfect."
"Jinora should be in there already, I'm sure you're eager to catch up."
Zhou Rhen follows Pema to the dining hall and privately debates if she knows anything. He had little idea how much of her private life Jinora discussed with her mother or anyone for that matter. Shouldn't he know this about the woman he's supposedly in love with? His stomach contracts at the thought.
To Zhou Rhen's relief, any spots near Jinora are occupied. He gives her a wave and then takes a seat at the far end of the table she's at. To his left is Rohan and he couldn't be more relieved. The youngest sibling was a very bright and interesting young man. Zhou Rhen could comfortably get lost in a conversation with him for the duration of the meal.
That is exactly what Zhou Rhen did. He learned of the boys' new intense interest in Pai Sho, so he shared the game's rich history and association with the White Lotus. Zhou Rhen did make sure to steal the occasional glance Jinora's way. To make sure she was still at the table.
People were starting to get up, so he dared a look. Jinora was looking his way as if waiting for him to. She motions to the door with her head and gets up. Zhou Rhen has to wait a few moments to find a pause in the conversation to politely excuse himself.
Jinora is waiting outside the dining hall. Her arms wrapped around herself. Zhou Rhen at that moment wished to warm her, but he still didn't know where they stood.
"Let's go to the beach," Jinora says quietly. She starts in that direction. "I've been drawn to it more since I came back."
Zhou Rhen follows. They walk in silence. As they move further and further a knot begins to work and form in Zhou Rhen's guts. If it was a happy yes, she'd eagerly say something, right? The hesitancy is not a good sign.
Jinora stops before the steps to the shore. They can see the beach and ocean from the vantage. She decides to not take them any further.
Zhou Rhen takes one look back at the temple. It emits a soft glow that casts a little light on their faces even from where they are.
"I read your letter," Jinora starts.
Zhou Rhen bows his head slightly. He looks to his feet, but they are obscured by his robes.
"I'm at a bit of a loss here. I'm not having strong feelings either way. No doesn't feel right, but yes doesn't either."
"Is it the age gap?" Zhou Rhen asks quietly.
"No, I think it's just me." Jinora shakes her head. "I haven't had any romantic feelings for anyone since Kai. And don't think I'm hung up on him, I'm not. When I learned he got married, I was genuinely happy for him."
Zhou Rhen shuffles from side to side. He wants to ask questions but thinks better of it.
"I guess what I am trying to say is I can't return your level of affection at this time, but that doesn't mean I never will. I am open to the possibility." Jinora tries to see Zhou Rhen's reaction, but his eyes are still locked on the ground. "Hopefully that doesn't make things too weird for you. If you need some space I understand."
Zhou Rhen nods a few times. He was rejected. Not wholly, but these weren't the words he was hoping to hear. "Thank you for letting me know. I think we can just interact as we have moving forward. Avatar Korra should be around sometime tomorrow to speak with me. There are some," Zhou Rhen pauses to sort out how he should phrase his uncle's warning. "White Lotus updates I'd like to discuss with you as well."
"No problem. I'll be around, just find me when Korra gets here."
"Well, it's been a long day for me. I think I'll head to my room," Zhou Rhen says, gesturing to the temple.
"I'll walk with you."
The two quietly walk back towards the temple. Zhou Rhen wishes he could think of something to say to lighten the mood. Let Jinora know it was okay.
"I overheard Rohan talking your ear off about Pai Sho," Jinora starts. "You know he wants to go to a university in the Fire Nation to join their professional team?"
"Oh really?" Zhou Rhen breathes, relieved. "We didn't get to that."
"Different island than where you're stationed, but it might help give my parents comfort if I remind them he'd be close-ish to the White Lotus."
"I think that's great that he wants to study abroad."
Jinora chuckles. "Of course you do. That's all I heard from you for years until I finally caved."
In the run-down building across from the mysterious red hand-print cellar door, Korra and Mako have set up their stakeout spot. There was a good-sized window facing the cellar door. They put up some boxes to cover most of the window, save a small slot they could easily peer through while seated. So far, they had gone undetected.
"Man, I should have brought a snack," Korra groans as she gets up from her chair. She walks around a little, stretching her arms over her head. She then moves to lunges.
"Well we can't have a delivery guy coming by, so you're going to have to tough it out," Mako grumbles.
"Maybe we should try going undercover and selling to them or something. They barely come and go and when they do, it's so inconspicuous."
"I don't even know what they're buying."
"Religious cult was thrown around, why don't we talk to the Creeping Crystals? Their front is sage and healing gems."
"That's not a terrible idea."
"Let's go to their shop."
"Now? It's late."
"They're a shady front, I'm sure they are still open."
Mako and Korra have an easy exit out of the building to Mako's Satomobile, with little chance of anyone seeing them. They make the short drive to Dragon Alley, where a lot of 'healing' shops were located. Sprinkled among new age massage pallors and stores owned by recent immigrants, because the rents were cheaper if you were looking to get your start in Republic City.
The Creeping Crystals's "Healing Herbs and Crystals" shop was located at the very end of the strip. Korra and Mako walk Dragon Alley, keeping an eye out for anyone who looked out of place. Most of the stores were closed and shuttered for the night, but there was still a good amount of activity on the street.
They see the purplish glow of the lit window, of the place they are looking for. Korra marches right in, with Mako trailing closely behind.
"Avatar Korra, what an honor," A woman from behind the front counter calls out. She has olive skin and long dark hair with several woven braids mixed in her tresses. "What are you in the market for?"
"Information," Korra says bluntly. "The new group in town, with the red hand print, are they buying from you?"
Mako covers his face with a palm. "You're just going straight for it." He mutters.
"Red hand print?" The shopkeep asks, cocking her head to the side.
"Yeah, got their base on Eighth Street, not too far from the docks. Seems a little religious."
"Have you had anyone new frequenting that maybe stood out to you in any way?" Mako adds.
The woman smirks. "You know nothing in the shop is free, including information."
Korra frowns. She looks around the shop and haphazardly grabs a couple of bundles of sage, and an amethyst pyramid. She puts them on the counter.
The woman asses the pile and looks back at Korra, unmoved.
Korra snorts and moves toward the back of the shop. She eyes bottles of tinctures. She grabs a couple of bottles of rose oil. Something maybe Asami could use. "Mako pick out something nice for your girlfriend."
"You know I don't have one," Mako grunts.
"Then a future girlfriend."
Mako looks at the rack of necklaces, each having a different gemstone. "What's a lucky one?"
The woman smirks. "The citrine."
Mako's fingers waver between the two he thinks could possibly be the stone she's talking about.
"The yellowish-green one."
Korra and Mako meet each other back at the counter with their additions to the purchase pile.
The shopkeeper starts to tally the items. Her register bings and Korra looks at the total. She grumbles as she fishes around her pocket for her coin purse.
"There has been a man who started frequenting me a little over a year ago. Really knows his stuff, which to be honest, unusual for this city. Never interested in anything from the back, if you know what I mean."
Korra and Mako exchange a look.
"Can we get a description of this guy?" Mako asks, leaning on the counter. "Or a name? Anything we can do to find him."
The woman ungulates her shoulders a bit and then crosses her arms. "He usually comes on Friday afternoons. Not always, you can't hold me to it. Dark hair, long goatee, and these funny little round glasses."
"Understood, thank you," Mako says with a little bow.
"Jargala."
Mako nods. Thank you, Jargala."
"You want a bag for all this?" Jargala gestures to their random purchases.
Korra smiles overly sweetly. "Yes please."
***Two Months Ago***
Wan appears in the Xai Bao's Grove as scheduled, and to his surprise, Yorru is not alone. A man, around his parents' age, sits in the Seiza position near Yorru, who is under his tree.
"This is Nimol," Yorru says, motioning to the man.
Nimol bows, his hands lowering to the ground. "Pleased to meet you, Wan."
"He is one of my best students, but he is often burdened by traumatic memories. This can make it difficult for him to meditate in the Spirit World. While meditating he can get caught in one of these memories instead."
Nimol adjusts into the lotus position. "My father was abusive. I often go back to moments of him hurting my mother."
"Today I am going to walk him through techniques to bring up these memories and then how to deal with them." Yorru motions for Wan to sit beside Nimol. The boy obeys. "I want to teach these skills to you too."
Wan looks over to Nimol. He has his eyes closed. Patiently he waits for further instructions.
"I want to show you Wan that you can have difficulties at any age. Just because you are an adult, does not mean you have dealt with all of your problems as a whole. This is a trap many fall into."
Wan nods and closes his eyes.
"I want you both to take a deep breath in," Yorru breathes in and the two others mirror him. "And then out. Now think back to when you were small. A moment of hurt or frustration. Perhaps all you can remember is the feeling."
Wan absorbs Yorru's words, falling into a bit of a trance. It's dark with his eyes closed until suddenly there is a flash. He finds himself in a very sterile environment. It looks like a hospital. He tries to piece together why he is there but he finds his conscious thoughts slipping away.
Three-year-old Wan wasn't sure what was happening, except that something was going on with his mom and all the adults were upset. Atta, Anaana, and he took a taxi from the docs to the hospital and were now in the waiting room, where they had been for several hours.
Wan was camped out on the floor with Anaana, there were some blocks for him to play with, but he had gotten bored of them. He was now flipping through the few picture books they had. Anaana pointed out different things they saw and said their names.
A door bursts open and Korra dashes through it. She immediately sees her parents and son, and nearly doubles over in relief.
"Korra!" Tonraq says, shooting up from his chair.
"Is she? Are they?" Korra asks between breaths, as she jogs toward the next set of doors.
"Yes, the doctor will-" Senna starts, but her daughter isn't paying attention.
Wan at the sight of his other mother drops the book from his hand and starts to toddle after Korra. Senna fumbled for a moment to get off the floor to stop the boy. Wan feels tears start to burn the corner of his eyes and he cries out for Korra. He watches her disappear, she never looks back.
Tonraq is able to hold out a large hand and catch him before he gets too far. He lifts Wan and brings him on his lap.
"Come sit with Atta," Tonraq says gently, bouncing the boy on his knee.
"She didn't care about you." Yorru's voice whispers to younger Wan. He turns his little body around and it his Atta still, but the voice is Yorru's. "Your mothers don't care about you like they should. They only care about each other."
Wan fusses in his seat. Find the words and the mismatched voices all very upsetting.
"Korra never came back for you. She took your mom and Ai home and they left you at the hospital with me and your Anaana. They completely forgot about you."
Anaana returns to the waiting room. "Yup, they're gone," She says, but it's not her voice. It's a deeper voice, but they're talking in a higher pitch. "Guess we better leave too."
"Let's just take Wan back with us. Best to not bother the new family," Atta says, rising from his seat. He scoops up Wan like he weighs nothing in his massive arms.
Wan's eyes flutter open, but instead of sitting in Xai Bao Grove, he's on the floor of his room. He looks at his clock, he still has time before someone knocks telling him it's dinner time. Wan closes his eyes and tries to get back to the Spirit World, but his thoughts keep going back to the hospital. But nothing concrete came to mind, just fleeting images of a dream after you've woken up and mostly forgotten it.
It was no use, he couldn't get the focus to return. Wan rises from the floor and goes over to his desk. He pulls out his notebook and notes the time he went into the Spirit World and for how long. It was getting easier to return to the Spirit World, but he still wanted to make notes of any patterns.
**A few days later***
After school, Wan goes up to his room claiming to have a lot of homework. He sits down on his floor, puts his palms together, and makes the transition to the Spirit World and into Xai Bao's Grove.
Yorru is waiting for him. "Welcome back, Wan. I was worried about you when you didn't return the other day."
Wan normally would go and sit in front of Yorru, but he stayed standing where he appeared. "I was trapped in a memory, I think. When I came to, I was back in my room."
Yorru bows his head. "It's as I expected, you have troubling memories that can and will cause you difficulties connecting with the Spirit World."
"There was something kind of off about it. I was really young, so I don't fully remember what happened. But it felt like you were in it."
"Hmm," Yorru ponders. "That is interesting. Tell me more."
"Like your voice was coming out of my Ah-grandfather. And then someone else's out of my grandmother."
"I was guiding you and Nimol, probably my guiding voice got mixed with the memory. Tell me, what was the memory you had?"
Wan looks down at his hands.
"Nimol and I discussed this during the rest of the session. I wish you could have been there. I wanted to give you the full experience my advanced pupils have," Yorru urges.
Wan debates how much to say. Up until this moment, he hasn't told Yorru the truth about who he was. His parents were so prominent, that once people knew he was their child, it changed how they interacted with him. Yorru seemed to be a very worldly person, he would know who Korra was and likely his mother Asami too.
"Was your memory about your father?"
"No, I've never met him." Wan shakes his head. "The vision I had was about when my sister was born…"
"So it was about her father?"
Wan scrunches his face. "No, we have the same dad."
Wan can feel how confused Yorru must be. That, and turning himself into a pretzel to not explain everything was becoming too stressful.
"It's complicated," the boy laments. "And my moms won't talk about it and I have a lot of questions."
"Do you have same-sex parents?"
"Yes."
"Does that bother you?"
"No," Wan thinks about the early months of sixth grade. After that one science class about the reproductive system, it seemed to cement in all his peers' minds that there was something weird about him. It's not like they didn't know he had two moms until that moment. He supposed they never thought about how that came to be until that class. "But one day at school it seemed to bother everyone else."
"Do you wish to know your father?"
Wan considers the question. His first thought was yes, but a part of him knew that meeting this person wouldn't mean he suddenly had a father. They don't know each other at all. He could have walked by this person in the streets a hundred times and been none the wiser.
It wasn't until this year did he consider the man who helped create him much thought. How could he feel an absence of something he never had? His mothers were very attentive and loving, he knew that. They, if pretty obviously, made sure there were adult men in his life. Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, and Atta are fine, but they felt like uncles and didn't especially connect with them. Mako was always a little stiff and formal. Bolin was fun, but he was very physical and so were his sons. Tenzin, as he's lamented before, is just really old. Same with Atta, but it was more he just didn't see him as often. There was something comforting about Atta, he was a bear of a man, but gentle.
He knew Atta and Anaana were his major like to his Watertribe heritage. Living in Republic City, he felt pretty removed from it. Not that he minded. Trips there were very cold and involved a lot of outdoor activities. Some were fun, but after a few hours, Wan was ready to go warm up inside with a good book.
Wan wondered if he felt like he could ask his mothers about his father, or maybe if there had been a more open dialogue from the beginning, he wouldn't feel so weird about it now. They didn't withhold, but if Wan or Ai didn't ask, they didn't bring it up.
"I would," Wan finally answers. "But I don't want to upset my mothers."
"Upsetting them shouldn't be a concern of yours. You have every right to know where you come from. It's very selfish of them to keep something like that from you."
Wan looks to the ground. The reddish blades of grass he's been stepping on are pressed down flat by his shuffling feet.
"If they cared about you, you wouldn't even have to ask about such a thing. They would have introduced you to him by now. Or you could have even grown up seeing him." Yorru lets out a long breath. "Let's try revisiting that memory. I want you to be able to return to the Spirit World from memories."
"I think I'm a little too tired for that today," Wan says hesitantly. "Can we save it for next time?"
Yurro lowers his gaze. Wan can feel his eyes searching his face.
"Yes, it will be much harder for you to combat the difficult memories if you are tired. Return to your body, and work on your grounding meditations. We'll meet again next week."
Wan bows. "Yes, master."
*** Present Time***
Korra was in the air. She knew that because the rocky pillars below were going by so fast she could barely make them out. She cocks her head to the sky and in the distance, she can see Zaheer zipping into a whiff of cloud.
It locks into Korra's mind what she needs to do. She must stop Zaheer. No matter what it takes. She adjusts her body to best propel herself with her fire jets when a voice whispers, "Let go."
Korra falls slightly. She's not sure how she's moving through the air without the occasional fire blast from her feet or touching down. Her body continues to thrust forward with little control.
"The world doesn't need you anymore," another voice calls out.
Again, Korra's body falters, bringing her closer to the rock pillars below. She spies Zaheer standing on one a few yards ahead.
"Give up," he shouts at her as she flies by him. Korra turns her head to try and get a look at him. He's gone. She looks back ahead and he's on the next pillar. And the next.
"Let go!" Zaheer and a chorus of other voices holler at her. Each call drags her closer to earth until finally, she's at a nighty degree angle straight towards the earth. As she gets closer she picks up speed.
"Let go!"
"Give up!"
Korra covers her face as she braces for impact. Her world goes dark for a moment until she feels a hand on the back of her neck. Her limp body is easily tossed, flipping her over.
Zaheer saunters Korra's way until he is standing over her body. He's holding the ceremonial bowl from the cave. "The world doesn't need you anymore." He tips it over and lets the metallic goop wash over Korra's face. Her world goes dark again.
"Korra!" The last time gets Korra's eyes to open. Her pupils are wild and full, blocking out most of the icy blue. They settle on Asami's concerned face and begin to relax.
"It was just a nightmare," Asami says softly, brushing a few sweaty strands of hair from Korra's face.
"What the heck?" Korra moans, dragging her body to sit upright. The light on Asami's bedside table is on and feels very bright to her. Korra squints for a while as she moves. She sees her hands are clenched tightly on the sheets. She releases them and her now free hands run over her face, pushing her hair back. "I haven't had a dream like that in so long."
Asami seeks out Korra's leg under the covers and rests a hand there."Want to talk about it?"
Korra shakes her head. "It'd be silly too. It was the battle with Zaheer. Ancient history."
"That was a very traumatic moment in your life." Asami leans against their headboard and opens her arms. "Come here."
Korra makes the short crawl into her wife's arms. She drapes her body on top of Asami's. Nestling her head in the crook of Asami's armpit, her arm across her middle. "I'm sweaty."
"I like you sweaty," Asami murmurs, clutching Korra. They both relax once their bodies are close.
"Is there ever just a day when you feel like an adult?" Korra sighs. "I feel like I'm still waiting for that day when I'll feel all grown up."
"I think that's an illusion given to us as children. By people who don't even feel grown up themselves."
"We got kids. That must count for some grown-up points."
Asami chuckles. "They bring me so much joy, but sometimes it feels like my heart is walking outside of my body. First in two pieces, now three."
"I know." Korra clutches Asami's waist a little tighter. "My greatest fear is losing you all. And it will be my fault. My choice."
Asami tries to angle her head to see Korra, but she's looking away. "You're choice?"
"That one day my Avatar duties will force me to choose between saving you and the world. It's an impossible choice many Avatars are faced with. I faced it with you and that building during the badgermole attack. I failed the test. I refused to choose and got lucky. But it haunts me, Asami. That moment has brought more sleepless nights than Zaheer could ever wish upon me."
Asami sits up, forcing Korra to rise with her. Asami puts a hand on Korra's cheek to turn her head to face her. "You didn't fail, you saved everyone."
Korra leans into Asami's touch. Tears force their way from the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks.
"This is why you act so strange about the movers about the badgermole attack?"
Korra nods.
"Why didn't you just say so? I would have understood. Ikki will understand."
"I'm ashamed, Asami," Korra whimpers.
"There is no shame in what you did. Or even what you thought." Asami moves so she is sitting face to face with Korra. "I know who you are and what that means. I went into this fully accepting your duty will come first. I wish I had said this to you sooner; but after all we had been through together, I just assumed you knew that I understood having been by your side."
"No, I know. You've never made me feel like you don't or wouldn't understand." Korra covers her face with one of her hands. Sloppily wiping away some of the tear streams. "I wish I could give you and the kids a normal life."
"There is no such thing as a normal life, Korra."
"You know what I mean."
Asami looks up at their ceiling and lets out a long breath. "Sure, would some days be easier if you weren't the Avatar? But there is only one person I want to share my life with and that's you and you are the Avatar. We've made it work so far. I don't see that changing."
Korra cracks a small smile through her tears. "Why did it take me so long to see you?"
Asami's face scrunches, confused. "What?"
"I should have proposed to you the very moment I met you. I was so stupid being jealous of you being with Mako."
"It never would have worked then, Babe. We got together at the right moment in our lives. We weren't ready for this when we first met. And now we've been together longer than we haven't been."
"I've known you more than half my life now. It was half my life two years ago."
Korra squints one of her eyes doing the math in her head. "It was half of yours a year ago."
"Hey," Asami pats Korra's leg, bringing her back to focus. "Thank you for telling me about the badgermole attack. I figured it was the scare of being kidnapped while pregnant, but now I understand it was so much more than that. And Ikki knows to keep the mover talk to a minimum."
Korra shakes her head. "She shouldn't, she's just excited about getting a big role. I know that."
"Ikki's not a child anymore and she's got plenty of people to be excited about it for her."
"So did she end up breaking up with another girlfriend?"
Asami flops her body back down onto the bed. An arm casually drifts over her head and rests on the pillow. "That girl! I keep telling her, and myself that she will find the right one one day. But man, she just keeps burning through them."
Korra lies back down as well, resting her head on her own pillow. She turns to the side to face Asami.
"It's Shey's influence. Ikki was at a very impressionable age around Shey during a very promiscuous time. And she was so enamored by Shey, probably even a little crush."
"Maybe they'll end up together," Korra says with a snort.
"Don't even joke about that!" Asami squeals. "Knowing how the universe works she totally will and it will be so weird when we have to go to their wedding!"
"Maybe they'll double up with Jinora and Zhou Rhen. Apparently, he's got a thing for Jinora. Wrote her a confession of love."
Asami rolls over to be on her side and faces her wife. "Really?"
"Serious," Korra says with a nod. "But Jinora kinda turned him down. Not a full no, more I guess she just doesn't know. She mentioned she hasn't had any romantic feelings in years."
"There are people who are like that. It would be very befitting of her station if that's the case."
"It's hard to imagine, as a fool of love myself."
Asami scoots a little closer. Their mouths are now only a few inches apart. "I'm just as much a fool for you."
Korra closes the distance and presses her lips to her wife's. She had no idea what time it was, probably stupid late, but Korra didn't care. Feeling Asami's body on her was more important than sleeping right now.
To be continued…