A/N: Oh wow, the response to the last chapter was the best yet! Thank you so much to Auren02, SailorPrende, AsahixMe, Tertius711, Sharpe, Black Dragon Master, BrightWatcher, and IrishDreamer4 for reviewing chapter 12!
Also, special HUGE thank you to devilfiredog18 who just found this story and proceeded to read everything and leave thorough, in-depth reviews on EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER. I can't tell you how AMAZING it was to receive that flood of notifications! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Short chapter today, because it's a small moment.
*Time check: slightly over 7 months post-finale.
13. Is it okay if I laugh until my chest hurts?
Avatar Korra Park is peaceful.
He has some time still before he has to meet Asami for lunch — only the second such lunch since they decided to make it a weekly thing — so he decides, on a whim, to take a stroll through the park.
It's a crisp, cold day. The winter chill is starting to let up, and the park is covered with a soft layer of some of the last snow they'll see this season. He uses internal firebending to keep himself toasty and warm inside his long coat as he treads the paths easily, content to let his feet take him where they will.
Before he knows it, he's arrived at a very familiar tree.
The Speaker's Corner is empty today — no one is set up there with a table and a soapbox to preach a campaign or protest — but the shade of the tree across from it is occupied by two young teenagers, a boy and a girl. They are sitting on a mat on the snow-dusted ground, playing a game of cards. Each of them holds between five and seven cards in their hand, and several pairs or trios of cards already lie face-up on the mat. The girl has her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth as she frowns intently at the spread of cards. After some deliberation, she selects a card from her hand and places it on the mat. The boy quickly follows up with his own card, grinning, smug and mischievous. The girl gapes at the card, stares at her friend, and then chucks a handful of snow at him.
"Cheater!" her clear voice rings — and a memory materialises in the forefront of his mind.
"Cheater!" Korra accuses over their pai sho board.
"I did not cheat," he argues, keeping his tile firmly where it is. "This is how I was taught to play."
"Well, it's not how I learned it," she insists.
"That isn't my fault."
Bolin, observing, comments, "Actually, you both aren't playing correctly. Pai sho is supposed to be fast and furious — you're both taking ages for each move!"
As one, the squabbling duo turn to him, unimpressed. With a conspiratorial wink and a nudge of earthbending, Korra smacks the pai sho board into Bolin's unsuspecting face.
At the time, he'd been slightly annoyed that Korra had so unceremoniously ended their game (he'd thought she was just trying to avoid acknowledging his contentious move) — but now he finds the memory of Bolin's startled expression hilarious. Mirth bubbles up within him and he laughs, bright and loud and with more carefree cheer than he's felt since his relationship with Korra ended.
The teenagers turn to stare at him; he turns away, still laughing, but not at them.
His laughter is neither sardonic, self-deprecating, nor sullen. It is genuine, wholehearted, heartwarming. He isn't trying to cover an awkward reaction or put on an act. There is no one to watch him and no one to judge him — and he laughs, full and hearty, like hasn't for too many years now.
He laughs because he remembers camaraderie, fun, and joy. It is freeing and it lightens his soul.
He laughs because — despite the issues he hasn't dealt with yet, despite the journey he still hasn't completed, despite the peace that is not yet whole — right now, in this moment, life is good.
He needs no other reason. He laughs because he can.
A/N: Next one will be longer. It'll be up this Saturday.
Lyric today is from 'Happy Now' by Pentatonix.