Into the Night
Korra had attempted a clean and smooth break in into Tenzin’s house after Naga and her swam across the bay to reach the island. The time was already too late when they stumbled upon the ferry that went to the island but that was no problem for her anyways. Back to the current situation at hand, she was sneaking in through a window without almost making a sound. Almost.
Of course her jacket snagged onto something and she took quite a loud tumble to the floor, “fuck,” she sucked her teeth as she heard someone come from down the hallway and hoped it was Tenzin. As the lights turned on she realized she was in what appeared to be Tenzin’s study and was met with a pretty confused and tired looking Tenzin.
She got up from her tumble and mustered up a pretty convincing smile while rubbing the back of her neck, “Oh hey there Tenzin, this does not seem to be the front door?” Smooth Korra, real smooth. Tenzin seemed to finally grasp the situation once he blinked his tiredness away, “I don’t think you gave thought to trying the front door- wait Korra what are you doing here in the first place?” He now had a puzzled look on his face that she was hoping would turn into a more welcoming one once she explained why she was in fact here.
“Did you run away from the compound?” Yeah running away, you could put it like that she thought. “Yeah well I don’t think it’s a secret that I pretty much hated it there,” she turned her head away. Just thinking about the way she was regarded there brought feelings of hate into her mind until Tenzin spoke up. “We can discuss your training and you staying here in the morning,” a yawn interrupted him before he continued, “right now I’d like to go back to bed if that’s okay?”
It seemed to her that she was being welcomed with open arms and hopefully the discussion in the morning would go well. She’d also get to finally meet the kids so there was no reason to keep Tenzin up till then. As he retreated back to his room, Korra decided that she’d just look at some of the scrolls in his study till morning.
Morning came by fast and she was now sat at the table with both Tenzin and his wife Pema, the kids nowhere in sight yet but something in her made her feel like this wasn’t going to be that pleasant of a conversation.
Tenzin smoothed down his robes and cleared his throat before he spoke, “I believe we should set some ground rules first before we get onto the topic of your training.” Oh of course there were rules , she was looking so forward to that. If she could roll her eyes right now she definitely would. “As you know we are a vegetarian family and I understood that back at the compound they allowed you to hunt so I of course will let you do the same here. The surrounding waters around the island are for you to satiate your hunger.” Okay not so bad, Korra can work with this so far.
“You may do what you want in the house during the day of course and night time will be your time for training.” There really wasn’t much for Korra to really do in the day besides pass time but at least she had more company around like Pema and the kids. “Now about your training,” she took a deep breath preparing for what her training would entail, “we will work on your spiritual side and teach you the basics of airbending before we move onto the advanced techniques.” Okay things were going smooth, she knew she had a real difficult time with her spiritual side so that would be a challenge but she loved a good challenge. Maybe it would finally help her reach Raava. However, Tenzin’s next words had Korra baring her teeth at him and gripping the wooden table that it had cracked.
“You will remain on this island until you have mastered the art of airbending.” The word remain felt like a chain to her just like at the compound. “Are you kidding me?!” She was angry, she thought she would finally be able to live freely but she was wrong unfortunately.
Pema decided to step in and to Korra’s rescue, “Hun, don’t you think that’s a bit much?” She even looked upset for her, it was a weird feeling to her but she was grateful that she was coming to her aid.
And to even add more fuel to the already growing fire, “It is also standard protocol that there are some White Lotus Guards.” At least Tenzin winced at his own words this time which didn’t really help simmer down her growing anger. Definitely wasn’t a secret that the White Lotus didn’t care for her but even here she still had to see them. Tenzin offered an apology for that one but it hardly helped.
Tenzin then excused himself to bring the kids in to meet her but man she was fuming already. Her hands were still pierced into the wooden table and she flinched a bit when she felt Pema reach for her hand in an attempt to soothe her.
“Tenzin can sometimes be a little much but he does the things he does because he cares about you,” she offered Korra a sympathetic smile which she tried to return, “but just between us,” she leaned a little across the table for only Korra to hear as the sounds of multiple footsteps were approaching, “you’re more than free to go into the city to explore.” She then released her hand and gave her a smile which she returned gratefully. A secret just for the both of them.
And then suddenly she was bombarded by three kids on each side of her. The young boy looking at her in curiosity about her eyes being Meelo, the one asking her questions left and right being the middle child Ikki, and last but not least, the oldest Jinora who waited for her siblings to get off Korra so she could give her a welcoming hug. Nonetheless, Korra could see how excited she looked too.
“Wow, your eyes are like so cool! And wow you have such big muscles, I bet I'm stronger than you!” Meelo raised his eyebrows and tried to flex his so-called muscles for a 5-year old.
“How’d you get here? Did you go by boat? How come your eyes are different from ours? Can we play with Naga?” Ikki with the many questions which made Korra a bit surprised at how someone can have this much energy in the morning. She really wasn’t used to this.
“I think what the three of us are trying to say is that we are very excited to have you here.” Jinora the oldest spoke for her and her siblings. She received a hug from all three of them all at once and it took her a moment to reciprocate the best she could in her position. This will be nice, she thought, different but she was going to look forward to it.
Pema and Ikki showed her to her room after everything was said and done. The room was plain really, not much to it besides a bed, nightstand, a closet and a window that was closed.
As she turned around to thank them both, she noticed that Pema was rubbing her stomach. It was now that she noticed her small baby bump. Ikki noticed where her gaze was and spoke up, “Me and Jinora hope it’s another girl!” Pema was quick to agree and laughed. Korra congratulated her and at that Pema let her get comfy in her new home.
Home.
It was a bit weird. She doesn’t know if she could call Republic City her new home but it surely was her new place of residence. But for right now all she could do was wait till it hit dark for her first night of training.
And spirits was it kicking her ass.
You’d think that a week into training it would get easier or better even. During the day she’d try to meditate but even that proved to be harder than she thought. Half the time she’d give up on that and just spend time with the kids around the house. They were a nice distraction and even helped Pema around the house. But oh when it came to trying to “be like the leaf” when it came to this ancient relic Tenzin liked to call, it was absolute hell.
She’d get frustrated beyond end and that is where she currently was as well. She was on her tenth try (honestly it was probably more than that since she stopped counting a while ago) attempting to pass through these gates gracefully but instead was getting whacked left and right once again. She could hear voices of encouragement from the kids and even Tenzin but all she could do was let out a low growl and exhale fire from her nose in frustration. She was in fact so over it today. She needed a break honestly.
She trudged on over to Tenzin and let herself fall on her back against the ground.
“Why don’t we take a break and catch a pro-bending game, huh Tenzin?” For the past week she’d looked for some entertainment around the island and found herself listening in on the radio the guards would listen to, in secret of course. She wanted to see what it was really about and wondered if it was even better in person.
Tenzin’s reply was right on the nose of what she figured he would say.
“Absolutely not! It is a mockery of noble traditional bending.” It wouldn’t hurt if she tried asking again even if he wasn’t going to budge. “C’mon Tenzin, it’s like only 9? If we leave now we can catch the later matches!” His face doesn’t change and he is so adamant about it that it’s kind of funny to her.
She gets up then and stares out across the bay to the arena that is lit up with bright lights. Even from afar she could tell how a place like that could be so welcoming and fun. It looked flashy too and flashy is fun. How could that not be tempting? But, she’s brought out of her thoughts when Tenzin speaks.
“You will remain on this island until you master airbending, Korra.”
Her eye twitches at the word remain . Hasn’t she done that all her life? She’s sick of it.
Airbending was to be free but spirits did it feel so suffocating.
She sighs dejectedly instead and bids Tenzin a goodnight but little does he know that once he’s out of sight she’s going to the arena. Like Pema said, their little secret. Even if Pema didn’t tell her that, she was still going to go into the city. She was going to live her life and nobody could stop her whether they liked it or not.
She stopped by her room before she left just so it made the illusion that she was retiring for the night but once the coast was clear, she was gone. She stealthily made her way out and was now swimming across the bay in excitement. It didn’t take too long for her to arrive but when she did she had the eyes of a child who had just seen a group of otter penguins. With her head popped out the water, looking up at the arena which was even bigger in person, she was ecstatic with that crooked grin on her face.
She bent the water around her into a waterspout lifting her up and landing on solid ground.
Now, where to watch the match?
She had no ticket, no money of course for one to legally get inside but that was no problem. She’d get the best seat in the house that nobody could get. She was going to watch from the top of the arena. Making sure nobody was around, she launched herself upwards with enough momentum and landed quite gracefully. It sure wasn't “like the leaf” graceful, but she landed softly since it was a glass dome.
Right beneath her was the very arena these matches she’d heard on the radio took place. Maybe next time she’d sneak inside to get an even better view but for now this was perfect. She could hear the announcer perfectly and listened to him announce that the Fire Ferrets were up in this match, Korra definitely made it in time. With a big grin on her face she watched on and felt lighter than she did earlier. A break was definitely needed.
What a match it was between the Fire Ferrets and the Golden Temple Tigerdillos. She had a blast watching the game and although it was intense, she couldn’t help but find the faults in her favorite team. The Fire Ferrets waterbender was possibly the worst waterbender she has ever seen, he had no drive and was easily pushed by the other team. Their earthbender however, was light on his feet despite him being stockier than the other two and was inventive. Their firebender, their captain, was agile and somehow pulled off a hat trick that won them the match but he could be a bit stiff. Their techniques were all very different from what she was taught.
Since that was the last match of the night, she watched everyone trickle out of the arena from her spot above. She stayed till everyone was gone and the streets had become empty. Looking around from where she was, the city was just so big, much bigger than the south and more advanced. Far different from home but it was still nice.
As the streets appeared empty, she was about to leap off the building and head towards somewhere else and explore but something caught her attention before doing so. The sound of a temari bouncing in the distance and it was getting closer. She looked down and surveyed the area in front of her but what she saw instead was what appeared to be the firebender and earthbender from the Fire Ferrets walking along with some girl that looked familiar…
It was the girl on the moped from that night.
Interesting , she thought. Korra didn’t think she’d see her again.
She observed the three of them and noticed that they were being chummy with one another while they were heading to a car. She also took note that the firebender was trying to hit on her based on his movements.
There it was again, the sound of the temari coming even closer to the group. She knew who the sound came from but the question was, where was she?
Susamaru, where are you?
The trio reacted to the sound and slowed their pace. They began to be cautious of their surroundings and then that's when it happened. A temari being thrown at full speed aiming at the car. Such a ball destroyed that poor poor car. She couldn't help but laugh as the trio looked shocked. It was fun to see the expressions humans made.
It was now that Susamaru made her presence known. She bounced one temari as she approached them which caused them to take steps back every time she inched closer.
She saw her raising the ball in her hand getting ready for another attack. Korra figured this would be as good a time as any to finally make herself known to her.
She vanished from her place from atop the arena and appeared right behind Susamaru in the blink of an eye.
Snaking her right hand around the arm holding the temari and her left resting on her left shoulder, she sunk her sharp claws into the skin of her wrist, Susamaru froze on the spot before Korra spoke right into her ear.
“There you are Susamaru,” she gave the now frightened demon a mischievous grin before continuing on, “playing with your food again I see.”