The next night, already feeling a little nostalgic, Korra sat in front of the grate she used to call home, watching the moonlight glimmer on the waves. Gommu sat beside her, nursing a bottle of cheap wine.

Korra told him about the boy, and he didn't seem to think any less of her either.

Gommu sighed. "You know, I remember when I first came to Republic City. I was just a kid, fresh off the boat from the Earth Kingdom, full of dreams and ambition."

Korra chuckled. "Sounds familiar."

"It was great!" Gommu reminisced fondly. "I got a job as telegraph operator right off the bat. I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself, helping people connect across the world. I met a girl, got married, had a kid. I was the happiest man alive."

Korra nodded. "You've told me. The company went bankrupt, your wife died..."

"Yeah," Gommu sighed. "And right around when Avatar Aang died, the gangs got big and recruited my son. Next thing I knew, he had an icicle sticking out of his gut, courtesy of a pro-bending star turned gangster."

Korra winced. "I'm so sorry Gommu."

"Don't be," Gommu waved it off. "I'm just saying, life can suck. Sometimes it feels like the universe wants to kick you while you're down. But you gotta keep pushing through. Its worth it, trust me."

She paused. "You think the city started going downhill when Avatar Aang died?"

"Yeah," Gommu confirmed. "Things were different. People looked out for each other... but then the crime bosses, the politicians, businesses, everyone just started these schemes to protect themselves, at the expense of others. Before anyone knew it, the whole city was rotten."

Korra gripped the edge of the grate, her knuckles turning white. "Do you blame the new Avatar, whoever it is, for not showing up? For not fixing things?"

Gommu laughed. "I remember Avatar Aang, and he worked wonders. But we built Republic City. What happened to this city is our fault, and nobody else's. We let the rot creep in." Gommu took the last sip of his wine. "You know, if I ever meet the new Avatar, I would tell them to focus on protecting people. Do that, make the common folk feel safe again, and their spirits would come back out. The messes would clean themselves up."

Korra pondered this for a moment, before nodding slowly. "I'll remember that."

"Anyway, enough about me," Gommu changed the subject. "I'm glad to see you're settling into your new digs. You deserve it, kiddo."

Korra wrapped Gommu in a hug. "Don't think I'll stop coming down to chat just because I'm living indoors," she promised.

"Course not," Gommu agreed easily. "We're pals, aren't we?"

"Best buddies," Korra agreed, breaking away from Gommu. "I'll never forget what you and the others have done for me. Not for as long as I live."

Gommu waved it off. "You've done plenty for us too, kiddo. Don't sell yourself short."

Korra gave him a playful push. "Alright, alright. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Count on it," Gommu assured her.

Korra snuck some cash under Gommu's cup before he could protest, and slipped away into the darkness.