Wake Up
Everyone was a bit on edge after they landed in the south pole at the Southern Water Tribe compound. Tonraq had rushed Korra inside and met Katara’s eyes with worry and panic. She had quickly guided him to a room that had a built-in tub on the floor filled with spirit water and instructed him to submerge her fully inside it.
Korra’s body had been submerged in the spirit water for a week now. Katara would do her ministrations to keep energy flowing through Korra’s body until she woke up because there was nothing else that she could do. On the first night she had tried but concluded that this was mainly on Korra.
She had been filled in with events that happened and led them here. Katara was in fact proud of her pupil, conquering the sun and defeating Muzan, it had eased her worries. She knew Korra would wake up and until then they would wait.
Asami would accompany Katara on her sessions with Korra hoping that she would wake up and then staying behind to hold her hand in the water for a few moments before leaving the room. It had only been a week, but it felt like ages to her. She just wanted her to wake up already and tell her all the unspoken words between them.
Tonraq and Senna would talk to their daughter and never get any response back but that was fine because she would eventually.
Mako and Bolin would tell her jokes, well, mostly Bolin but nonetheless they kept her company.
Kya sometimes even assisted her mother with Korra’s sessions. The air bending kids watching and hoping that the person who was like their big sister would come to soon. Tenzin and Pema would come in with Rohan and would talk, even introducing Rohan to Korra.
Lin would stay by the door and grunt but felt worried for the girl.
Tamayo and Yushiro could do nothing but wait for Korra to wake up. Tamayo had fulfilled her promise to Aang and she had even managed to create the medicine to turn all 3 of them back into human. Though only her and Yushiro had knowledge of this. When Korra finally wakes up she would offer her the choice because in the end it is her life.
All of these people cared for her, they were all waiting for her.
When Korra had opened her eyes though, she came to face with a beautiful scenery in front of her. The sky was like a gradient of pinks and bright. There were big trees out in the distance from what she can see as she moved to sit up. She moved her hand across the ground to get a sense of her surroundings and found that she was on soft grass as it passed between her fingertips. She expected to find herself in the dark with everyone else, so she was a bit confused on where she was.
Where am I?
She thought surely, she was dead. She remembered succumbing to the darkness as the sun had burned her while hitting the ground. She had to be dead, that was the only answer in her head but that seemed wrong with what was in front of her.
She looked down to her hands in the grass and the claws were still there. She moved her tongue across her teeth and felt the fangs. She brought her hand up to where her horn should be, but it was not there. Retracted, she thought. A searing hotness spread across her back, the mark of Raava pulsing. It did not hurt her but brought her instead a form of comfort in this place she was in.
Am I in a state of limbo?
She pushed the palm of her hand into her head trying to rack her brain for ideas until she heard a familiar voice from behind.
“You’re thinking too hard, ya know? After defeating Muzan and conquering the sun, a little break is needed with your past lives.” Aang sat down next to Korra as she was processing everything. “But maybe you need to talk, isn’t that right?”
She felt frozen on the spot. She willed herself to look at Aang though and spoke softly, “Is this...”
“The spirit world? Yeah...I know you had trouble getting here.”
Yeah, apparently even her past life knew she struggled in this part of her training. But how was she here.
“Why am I here? I was supposed to die Aang.” Her eyes boring into him, waiting for an answer but instead he pointed at her.
“Me?” She questioned, even more confused.
“You and Raava.” He smiled softly at her.
So, she hadn’t died then like she thought she did or should have.
There was a part of her that wanted to make it out of that fight alive. That wanted to conquer the sun and be with everyone. To be the Avatar and continue bringing peace to the world but all of that got overshadowed by everything else. She didn’t want to bring everyone with her in case they all got hurt because that would be on her and she would never be able to forgive herself if that had happened. She didn’t tell them because she cared about them. In the end though they all got involved and honestly, she wasn’t sure if she should be mad at Tamayo.
And maybe even a part of her also wanted to prove herself to the white lotus.
She still also felt that she just didn’t belong.
“I suppose you’re right,” she then looked up into the sky and feeling a bit more comfort.
“You’ve been through so much and the others and I have watched it all. You struggled with freedom your whole life and for that I am sorry,” he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder that brought Korra’s gaze from the sky to Aang. “But you’re free now and I want you to tell me all that has troubled you.”
A silent tear rolled down her cheek as Aang spoke with earnest. Honestly, she couldn’t believe she was her and that she was talking to him. That she even finally became free. But he was right though, she really did need to talk to someone after being alone for a year or just the entirety of her life.
She let out a breath before speaking.
“I was so angry and alone at the compound. Feeling so stuck whether I was there or in Muzan’s fortress. Never feeling I belonged when it happened and then I just lost all memories I had up to that point in my life,” Her hands had clawed into the soft grass beneath her and the sky changing its pink color to a melancholy blue. “And then I left for Republic City after saying goodbye to Katara and my parents. I just couldn’t take it anymore with the white lotus and feeling stuck.”
Aang hummed in acknowledgment. “Running away?”
“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” She let a little smirk grace her lips before it quickly left. “I really hated humans except for your family and mine but then I met three people that quickly became important to me even with quite the hurdle with a certain fire bender.”
“Ah yes Mako, we all saw that,” Aang winced at remembering the outburst. “Though he came to understand who you were.”
“I’d say they all did after that and at that point I had more than already accepted this fate of mine and then I hunted down Tamayo and everything changed.”
Aang smiled at the name of his old friend.
“You know you should really handle things before you pass,” she playfully punched his arm and they both laughed a little.
“I also fell in love Aang, with Asami. She was in arm’s length, but I always stayed there because I was so afraid. When I was around her it felt like home and I don’t think I had ever had that feeling. She felt like home and I had this family around me, but it hurt because I never felt like I belonged. I would outlive them all and then things just happened with Tamayo and I couldn’t bring them with me. I had to let them all go, including Asami even though it pained me.”
An arm had wrapped around Korra’s shoulder bringing her close and into Aang’s side.
“I tried to get them to hate me so forgetting about them would be easier and that they could forget about me. I wouldn’t bring them with me because I cared about their safety and if anything bad had happened I would never forgive myself. It was something I thought I had to do alone but according to Tamayo that was proven wrong.”
“You did what you thought was best and for that I can understand. Being the Avatar is hard but the choices you make are yours. You listen to what is best, and I want you to know that I am very proud of you Korra.”
“The white lotus always said that I could never be like you and would always compare us and make me to be the bad guy because of who I am so hearing you say that means a lot.”
Aang then looked down at Korra, “They’re wrong about a lot of things but that may be the one thing they’re right about.”
She pulled back from his side and stared questioningly at him while he had a smile on his face.
“You could never be like me because you’re Korra, not me. We are both different and the world in my time was different than yours. In their context it was rude but you’re you. Korra is who you are.”
Korra suddenly remembered that Asami had said something similar when she had asked her what she sees when she looks at her. Aang was right, she wasn’t him. She was Korra, Korra from the Southern Water Tribe, the Avatar.
“Also,” Aang turned his head to the side nonchalantly while scratching the back of his neck, “the white lotus had what was coming to them.”
She blinked once, twice. Did I hear him correctly??
Eyes going wide and then they both burst into laughter until they were clutching their sides. After their laughter died down Aang spoke again. “Korra, I want you to live your life. Avatar duties and all of course but I want you to live it. Tell Asami you love her, tell your friends and family you love them. Keep doing what you think is best. You may be a stubborn and headstrong kid but that’s who you are.” He ruffled the top of her head before continuing. “Keep the people who you hold dearly in your heart close and don’t be afraid to also ask for help.”
Aang was right. She was going to live her life even if it meant that she would outlive everyone, but she was going to do it. However, that inkling of fear still stuck in her chest of what would happen once she actually woke up. Would they be upset? Mad? Could she even face them after everything?
“If you’re still feeling afraid once you leave here, let it all out once you wake up. Let all your emotions out, the good ones and even the bad ones. You’ve held it all in for too long.”
They both stood up then, Aang looking down at here and smiling earnestly. “Tell them the truth.”
As he begun to vanish from her sight, he spoke one last thing, “If you ever need anything, you know where to find us.” And then he was gone, leaving Korra in the beautiful scenery alone yet again. The talk was good, just being able to actually speak to her past life was great. She knew she had to wake up now even if she was afraid.
She laid back down on the grass now looking at the blue sky just wondering. She wanted to scream and shout. To just let out all of her emotions. She wanted to cry.
Though maybe that could wait because there were people waiting for her and maybe a certain someone, she needed to have a word with. Cough cough, Tamayo and Yushiro.
She closed her eyes and with the help of Raava, willed herself to finally wake up. She couldn’t delay it any longer even if she wanted to.
Korra jolted out of the water like someone coming up for air. Her hands gripped the sides of the tub causing it to crack at the amount of force she was exerting. Her mouth open, fangs bared, letting out a silent gasp. She was sitting upright and lifted a little from the water she was in. Her muscles were tense, and her grip became a bit harsher until she started to look at her surroundings.
She was in a tub filled with what seemed to be spirit water which made the room have a faint blue glow that seemed almost ethereal. There were water scrolls on the walls, a bench on one side of the room and it all screamed water tribe to her. It dawned on her where she was, and she didn’t want to come back here after she had left. She never thought she would end up back in the compound. Right behind those doors she figured was where everyone was...waiting for her.
She took a second to look down at her body noticing that her chest was rebandaged and so were her legs including the cloth that covered her. If she was brought to Katara at the compound she assumed there would be some clothes laying around for her somewhere but that would come after she got up. Her muscles had started to ease, and her grip loosened as she slowly got out of the water and now standing. Water droplets were dripping down her form, her hair slicked back from the water, she wondered how long she was out for and whether it was night or day since the window in the room was closed.
If it were day, she would be able to step into the bright sun for the first time since she was a child. Would it feel warm or hot on her skin? How would it kiss the skin on her body compared to how the dark skies would? She took tentative steps to the window and laid her hand on the opening. But would I run again if I opened this window? The window was also like an escape leading to the outside and as much as she was afraid, she wasn’t going to do that because everyone has been without her for long enough.
She brought her hand down and instead made her way towards the door slowly sliding it open. It was dark and quiet. Everyone must be asleep. She padded her way through the familiar building quietly looking for anyone. She was leaving a trail of dripping water as she made her way around the place.
However, in one of the rooms, Asami was restless and could hardly sleep so she had left her room to make some tea and maybe even drop by to check in on Korra. As she had rounded the hallway to check on Korra first, she saw the door open as she approached. Concern rose in her immediately. With hurried footsteps she made her way but as she got to the door, she realized she stepped into a small puddle of water. She snapped her head up and peered into the room. Korra was no longer in the tub anymore. She’s awake?!
Asami followed the trail of water leading to Korra. The tea could wait.
As she made her way down the hallway, the drops of water on the floor led her into the living room, though they didn’t stop there. They trailed into an open room to the side of the living room which seemed to be where the trail ended. If Asami recalled, Tamayo and Yushiro would retire at the end of the night there sometimes and if they didn’t it would be in one of the other spare rooms.
Asami made her way to the open entrance hoping that once she got there Korra would be too. Maybe she was selfish for not waking up the others after she found out Korra was awake but in that moment, she had needed to find her. To be there for her even.
Korra found nobody in the living room and nobody in the room she was in but then she heard footsteps coming closer from behind. The fear creeped back up in her. She had wanted to find someone, not be found but maybe it was easier this way. Maybe she would’ve ran if it instead had been the former.
She had finally stepped into the open entryway of the room and was met with the sight of Korra’s back. She was standing before her, alive and awake and Asami couldn’t be happier.
Tears almost pooling into her eyes she spoke. “You’re awake.”
She turned her head at the sound of the voice she had so dearly missed. For it to be Asami who had found her lit a patch of warmness in her chest.
Dull blue then met shining green.
To Asami, Korra looked afraid, unsure and tired. She wanted to wrap her arms around the woman before her. She stepped closer to her and before she knew it, Korra crashed forward wrapping her arms around Asami which she reciprocated back. She buried her face into Asami’s neck as she tightened her embrace around her. Asami could feel her trembling and felt a pang of hurt in her chest. She lowered them both onto the ground as Korra continued to tremble in her arms. She didn’t mind that Korra’s body was wet and that she was getting water onto her nightrobe, all she was concerned about was the girl in her arms. She rubbed comforting circles on her back, giving her time to speak.
Korra grit her teeth trying to stop the tears but it was no use. In a silent scream, she cried in the arms of the woman she loved. Her gripped tightened as if afraid that she would leave her after everything that she had done even if it was for their sake. She wondered if she was angry at her for hurting them. She sobbed a little louder into Asami’s neck as said girl kept comforting her.
As the tears calmed a bit, she curled her hand into a fist and weakly laid it against her chest. “I’m so sorry Asami.” She buried herself more into Asami’s body, the tears taking a lot out of her. She whispered weakly. “Why don’t you hate me?”
Asami’s reply was simple.
“I could never hate you.”
She held her tighter in her arms, expressing her love and care for her through the simple action.
“I’ve missed you so much and you don’t know how happy I am now that you’re home.” She laid a kiss to the top of Korra’s head as she started to wipe her tears from her cheeks.
Home?
That’s right, if she were to describe the meaning of the word home, she would describe Asami.
“Home?” She echoed her thoughts out loud as she peered into those loving eyes.
“Yeah, home.” Asami probably looked like a lovestruck fool but she didn’t care.
This is home they both thought.
Korra let out a sigh and rested her forehead onto Asami’s shoulder. She didn’t hate her and welcomed her with open arms. A part of her fear had crumbled away but still stayed because of everyone that she’d have to face in the morning and tell them the truth. But that was later, for now she’d let Asami comfort her till then.