I rewrote this story from the beginning and posted it here, for better or worse:
14391504/1/Homeless-But-Not-Alone-Rewrite
I'll leave this "old" version up a bit.
Korra cracked her eyes open, and saw morning light filtering through the grime-covered grates facing the bay. She stretched, feeling the tension in her muscles ease as she rolled onto her stomach, surveying the ramshackle camp she shared with Naga. The polar bear dog stirred beside her, blinking sleepily and yawning lazily.
But neither felt rested. Last night, two gangs started a skirmish just outside her home. The smell of burnt skin and the glint of ice was still fresh on her mind.
What's worse, Korra had the power to stop them. But she didn't. Fear gnawed at her insides every time she thought about revealing the extent of her bending, especially with elements beyond water. If anyone finds out she is the Avatar, the White Lotus will find her, and she'll end up trapped again.
...Does she even deserve to be the Avatar?
Korra inhaled, and the smell of salty sea air filled her nose. It reminded her of better times, of fishing trips with her dad. She felt a wave of longing wash over her, followed by a familiar pang of guilt. She missed him so much... but she couldn't go back. Not yet. Not without risking what little sanity she had managed to cobble together.
She pushed those thoughts aside as she sat up, wincing slightly as her bruised ribs protested the movement. Another reminder of the week's events.
"Hey there, sunshine," came a cheerful voice from behind her. Gommu shuffled into view, holding a cup of tea in one hand and a piece of fruit in the other. His grizzled face split into a wide grin as he offered them to Korra.
"Thanks, Gommu," Korra said gratefully, accepting the gifts with a small smile. She took a sip of the tea, savoring its warmth and sweetness. It helped chase away some of the coldness that seemed to have settled within her.
"No problem, kiddo," Gommu replied, sitting down beside her. "You look like you could use a pick-me-up this morning."
"Yeah... I guess I do," Korra admitted quietly. She bit into the fruit, enjoying its tartness, the juices running down her chin.
As they ate in silence, Korra couldn't help but notice the way Gommu kept glancing towards the entrance of her makeshift shelter. Something was bothering him, something beyond just concern for her well-being.
"What's going on, Gommu?" she asked, breaking the silence between them.
Gommu hesitated for a moment before answering. "There was another bombing last night," he said slowly. "Here, in the industrial district."
Her heart sank. She wondered if anyone she cared about had been caught up in the destruction.
"Again?" she murmured. "When does it ever stop?"
Gommu sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "I don't know, kiddo. I think our little corner here might not be safe anymore. These Equalists... they're growing bolder every day. They don't care who gets hurt."
"But why?" Korra demanded, frustration leaking into her voice. "Why do they hate benders so much? I haven't done anything!"
"I get where they're coming from," Gommu said gently. "You can fight back. You don't know what its like, standing in front of someone who can burn your skin off with a punch."
Korra flinched, vividly remembering the pain of firebending attacks. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to block it out.
"But that doesn't mean we deserve this," she argued. "We shouldn't have to live in fear because of what we can do."
"I know," Gommu agreed sadly. "People are scared. They're mixing up benders and nonbenders with the bad apples and victims."
Korra swallowed down her emotions. "So what do we do?"
Gommu sighed. "We just keep surviving, I guess. One day at a time."
Korra nodded, knowing there wasn't really any other choice. She finished the rest of her meal quickly, then stood up, brushing dirt off her clothes.
"I'm heading out," she declared to Gommu. "I'll try to find us some cash, or at least food for tonight."
Gommu nodded, watching her leave with a heavy heart. She was so young, so strong... Korra deserved better than this life of hardship and danger. So many others did too.
Korra walked away from their camp, Naga padding alongside her. She ran her usual routine along the beach, checking traps and nets for fish, picking up any spare scraps of food left lying around... there wasn't much of anything today. Certainly not enough for the people who depended on her.
Frustration boiled within her, threatening to spill over as she bit back a scream of rage. But Naga gave her a questioning glance, and then nuzzled affectionately against her leg, reminding her that she wasn't alone.
With a sigh, Korra hugged Naga tightly, burying her face in the polar bear dog's thick fur. "I know, girl. I know." She knelt beside her best friend. "Listen, I have to head into the city. You're just too easy to spot, and I need to blend in. Can you wait back at the camp for me?"
Naga whined softly, clearly wanting to stay with Korra. But she understood, and reluctantly trotted back to the camp.
Korra climbed off the beach and walked down the street, heading towards a richer, safer part of the city. She nearly stepped on a stray copy of the Republic City Times, and bent down to grab it, curious.
The headline read "Equalist Bombings and Kidnappings Continue!" but a smaller article underneath caught her eye. It was yet another piece speculating about the identity of the Avatar.
"Born in the Water Tribes, the Avatar should be around twenty years old..." Korra quietly read aloud. "As per tradition, the Avatar should be revealed to the world when they are sixteen. But where are they? Why do the White Lotus guard the Avatar's location, their identity, keeping them hidden from society? What secrets lie beneath the icy waters of the Water Tribes? Our sources in the White Lotus refuse to comment, saying only that the safety and training of the Avatar is paramount."
Korra crumpled up the paper, tossing it away with disgust. If only people knew what the White Lotus really was, she thought bitterly. To the public, they were war heroes, protectors of the Avatar.
The scars on her back itched as she recalled the 'training accidents' she suffered. Just *thinking* about her old routine made her muscle ache, and brought back flashes of her masters' crushing criticism.
Korra shook her head sharply, clearing those thoughts. At this moment, she was free. And she was going to stay that way. She was done letting others warp her thoughts, poison her mind.
She passed a few prostitutes on the street. When she first came to Republic City, she had no idea what prostitution even was. But the streets were a fast teacher.
An older woman looked Korra up and down. "Hey sweetie, looking for some Yuans?" she purred. "We have some customers that love blue eyes and a strong body. How about you give them a visit?"
"No, thank you," Korra said firmly, ignoring the way her cheeks burned. She hurried past the women, hearing laughter and jeers as she went.
She continued walking, weaving through crowded coastal markets and noisy taverns. The smells of cooking meat wafted towards her, making her mouth water hungrily. Korra spotted a job listing, someone looking for a dishwasher... she was desperate, but a nasty memory of a previous job made her shudder.
"Pass," Korra muttered, turning away. She kept walking, searching for something, anything. And she found her mark.
Across the street, a richly dressed man was exiting a butcher shop, carrying a bag full of fresh meat and bread. Korra watched him carefully, noting the way he moved, the path he took, completely unaware of his surroundings.
He was perfect.
Korra loitered patiently, waiting for him to walk further down the road. With a sly flick of her wrist, she sent a nearby manhole cover flying into the air with a blast of steam. The man jumped in surprise, dropping his bag and turning to see what happened.
With a burst of speed, Korra darted forward, snatching up the fallen bag and sprinting down the busy street.
"Stop! Thief!" the man yelled, chasing after her desperately. Korra ignored him, pumping her legs harder. She heard footsteps echoing behind her, and turned to see a metalbending cop giving chase.
Oh spirits, not today, Korra thought frantically, increasing her pace. She darted into an ally, a gap between the coastal market and a warehouse. She could see the ocean like a light at the end of a tunnel.
With a smirk on her face, Korra waved her free arm and summoned a surge of water from the under the pier. She clenched her fist, and froze it solid, creating wall of ice behind her, just as she exited the alley. Between heavy breaths, Korra let out a chuckle as she heard the cop's metal armor slam into the ice.
Korra sprinted cross the wooden planks of the pier. She leaped off the end of the dock, landing lightly on the sand, careful not to spill one precious drop of stolen food. The waves lapped at her boots as she jogged down the beach.
Before long, she was walking up to her drainage tunnel, with conflicting emotions roiling in her gut. She took no pride in stealing, but the smell of that meat was already making her mouth water.
A small figure standing in front of the grate snapped her back to reality. It was a girl no older than eight, with ragged clothing and dirt caking her face. She had a dark Water Tribe complexion and bright blue eyes like Korra, displaying a mix of hope and happiness.
"Phoebe," Korra smiled, kneeling down to meet the girl's level. "How's my favorite little scavenger?"
Phoebe giggled nervously, reaching out to pet Naga. "Good!" she chirped brightly. "I got you something today!"
She reached into her bag, struggling as if she was lifting something heavy. Finally, she triumphantly pulled out a small pot, with a single flower blooming from the black soil.
It was a Blue Panda Lily, found only around the rim of volcanoes in colder climates. The flower was a striking shade of blue, with big yellow thorns lining the stem and a brilliant red center.
"It made me think of you," Phoebe explained shyly. "Its special. Pointy, but pretty! Just like you."
Korra gasped in surprise, reaching out to take the rare flower. "Where did you find this?" she whispered.
"I didn't steal it!" Phoebe assured her hastily. "I... I bought it for you. With all the stuff I had saved."
Korra's eyes watered. Phoebe had almost nothing, and she'd given what little she had to Korra. "Thank you, Phoebe," she choked out, wrapping the girl in a fierce hug as tears spilled down her cheeks. "This means more to me than you could ever imagine."
"You're welcome, Miss Korra," Phoebe said softly, returning the warm embrace. "I'm glad you liked it."
Once Korra wasn't a blubbering mess, she broke apart from Phoebe and carefully placed the pot on the ground, like it was precious treasure. She started a fire, preparing to sear some fish and smoke the rest for later. Phoebe busied herself collecting driftwood and helping Korra prepare the meal.
Phoebe and Korra bit hungrily into slices of fresh bread and tender meat, washed down with cups of water. To them, it was a feast.
"How is the Orphan's Guild treating you?" Korra asked casually. "Are they giving you books to read, games to play?"
Phoebe shrugged. "They're okay," she answered vaguely. "But a mean man keeps coming by. He says some kids have to come with him, or he'll do bad things to the orphanage."
Korra's hand stiffened around her cup. The thought of anyone laying a finger on those poor children, much less Phoebe, made her blood boil. "Who is this guy?" she growled lowly. "I want a name."
"His name is Zei," Phoebe told her. "He's scary. He always wears gloves, even in the summer. Sometimes he comes with a policeman."
Korra narrowed her eyes. "Phoebe, if he ever tries to take you, I want you to run. Do you understand? Come and find me, okay?"
"Okay," Phoebe promised gravely, looking serious for her age. "If he comes, I'll run straight to you."
"Good," Korra said, wrapping Phoebe in a tight hug. "Just hang in there, Phoebe. Things will get better. I promise."
Phoebe nodded, closing her eyes. "I believe you, Miss Korra," she murmured sleepily.
Phoebe fell asleep on Naga's belly shortly afterward, her breathing slow and steady as Korra watched over her. If Korra couldn't protect the world, at least she could protect those closest to her. At least she could keep them safe. Korra's own eyes fluttered shut, and just a bit of the pain gripping her heart loosened and fell away.