The Reset

“Behind you.” Korra said as she tried to bend fire out of her hands to make the spirit move, sensing it might harm the girl standing in front of her.

Before she could do anything, the fire went out of control as her fire bending skills were not top notch yet. The feeble fire going directly toward Asami, thank spirits tenzin was fast enough to bend some air in another direction.

Before Korra realised and was brought back into the moment, Asami was already on ground holding her hand with Kya and Jinora running toward her and the spirit nowhere to be seen. Startled, she could only stare at Tenzin who now stood between her and the fallen girl. She couldn’t believe her eyes but now streams of tears were already making their way down her face. “I am sorry” phrase that repeatedly found itself coming out through her mouth. Tenzin signaled Tonraq to take her away and he gently picked her up and from his shoulder she could see the scenery of the fallen girl’s face in pain and slowly fading and getting blurred in distance.

She couldn’t believe she harmed someone, when her parents tried to calm her down, it just pushed her to shut in. She would not say a word to anyone. Scared, Startled, feeling overwhelmed trying to take in all the events of the day. Her instinct being so wrong. Tonraq and Senna realised that the best they could do now was to give her some space. So even when they knew that their daughter put an act to look like she was sleeping they played along and left her alone in the room. The tense atmosphere of the Island was back. Asami’s injuries were minor thanks to Tenzin, Kya healed her in no time. And they were back to the main area with everyone.

“Man, what’s happening. Can this day be any more weird?” Bolin sighed, “What was that about?”

“Are you fine? Did you get hurt a lot?” Mako asks as he sees Asami enter the room.

“I am fine, thanks to Tenzin I didn’t get hurt.” She says with a half smile looking toward him. “Kya has already healed me up.” gesturing toward the bandage on her left hand.

“But why would she hug you and attack you all of a sudden.” Mako continues.

“I do not think she was attacking her.” Jinora said from behind her, everyone’s eyes now searching for her in the  room “I felt a spirit energy though only for like a second.”

“Are you certain?” Tenzin asked to which he got a nod in return.

“I think whatever is happening is due to something related to spirits. I can’t pinpoint it but it seems very restless.” Jinora now with a look that was increasingly getting concerned.

“You said something similar before Korra came here.” Her father looked toward her.

“Yes, her spirit energy seems to be blocked somehow. I can sense but I can’t really say what is happening to her.” With her hand on her chin trying hard to make the words make sense.

With a pause, she continued “But all I can say is we need to be really careful, somehow it seems… it seems that her Avatar state is at a very vulnerable point.”

Tonraq and Senna were now in the room, looking distraught. “How is Korra doing?” greeted by the question as they made their way in

“She would not talk to us at all, it would take time. This somehow truly reminds of time when she was growing up, she would get frustrated and not be able to express.”

“Giving her time would be the best, if we are finding it so hard, imagine her being 12 and waking up all alone in a new world.” Kya said, breaking her silence.

They talked some more about the next course of action before deciding that they should level up the security of the island taking in consideration what Jinora had said. Mako, Bolin, Tenzin, Tonraq, Lin, Suyin left to draw plans about the same. Everyone took some kind of duty as thinking was making them exhausted.

As evening approached, Asami found herself in the booth overlooking the ocean. Korra had not come out of her room, it was making her worry, she just had too many questions about everything. Looking at the ocean somehow pulled in her and she found a bit of her worries getting eased up.

“It must be hard for you.” Kya came around and stood by her side keeping her hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know what I should do for her.” Asami sighed, “I mean I want to help her, but I  just don't know. It feels that she is scared of me.”

“You’re very observant” patting her shoulder now facing directly toward her.

“That’s why I am confused about what action I have to take now. I mean it’s not like I can just go directly to her and ask what happened. Now she’s just a kid who has no idea who I am. Or what I was to her.” She could feel tears building up in her eyes as she found her face getting buried toward the ground.

“But you were not observant enough.” Earning a very confused and curious look from Asami.

“Huh, What do you mean?”

“She may not know who you are, but I guess your connection to her is strong that even with all this she’s somehow getting pulled toward that connection.”

Asami was now looking intently at her. “From where I was standing it looked like she was worried about you. She wanted to save you, though her actions did the opposite. Her face was giving more than one clue.”

“Maybe.”

“She needs a friend Asami. You should go and talk to her, I am sure she will open up to you. You are her friend first, and now your friend could really use a friend.” She smiled at her as she turned back to go into the house. “Let me know if you want to talk about it. I am here.”

“Thanks Kya.” Her eyes now back to the ocean as she went back to her thoughts. Taking some time to prepare, she decided to go talk to Korra.

She picked some seaweed noodles from the kitchen for her as she knew she was in her room all day not seeing anyone. And made her way to Korra’s room. Somehow her childhood self was similar to her adult self in this. Easy to read and predictable in actions. It’s time.

Knock. Knock. Korra shuffled from under the sheet moving further into the corner of the bed. She absolutely did not want to talk to anyone. Silence. That was all she fathom. Knock. Knock.

“Korra, it’s me. Asami.” Her face now out of the sheets with her mind feeling like it was about to blast. “Can I come in?” Her voice was gentle but she did not have the courage to answer as the images of the morning came to her mind. But it was enough to bring back the tears back to her eyes. I hurt her. I hurt someone innocent. The phrase not helping with the guilt building inside her. She felt relieved as the knocks died down. Silence felt comforting.

“I am coming in.” 

Korra was taken aback as she saw the door slide open and shut and an image of a tall girl with green eyes found her.

“I am sorry for coming in without permission.” No words were spoken for the answer. But since she was not rebelled against she took a seat at the end of the bed away from Korra and kept the bed table filled with food on the bed. “I thought you might be hungry.”

Korra’s eyes now beamed a little as she caught the sight of food. Some habits never change, Asami thought to herself. “It’s your favourite seaweed noodles.”

She opened the lid, but Korra’s face lost color as soon as she saw the bandage on her hands.

“I am sorry.” She said looking at her lap now with guilt. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I am not hurt. Look.” Swinging her hand in the air. “And I know you did not do it intentionally, You were protecting me.”

“How.. how did you know, can you see spirits?” Korra was shocked but she was curious as well.

“Yes and no.” The little girl was now confused. “Actually you opened the spirit portals, we have one in here in Republic city as well. Humans and Spirits now live in harmony. I mean it's a work in progress but it is the new normal. And No, because I did not see the one in the morning but I trust you.” 

Though half of what this girl is saying was going over her head but hearing how she trusts her, puts Korra’s heart a bit at ease.

“But it was my fault, if only I knew how to control my fire bending.”

“Hey, don’t worry. I am sure Mako would be happy to help you with that.” Korra’s cheek turned a bit red as she remembered the guy from morning. Asami chuckled a bit, Mako still has an advantage over her. But that just made Korra aware and more embarrassed. “But for now I want all your attention to the food. I could hear your stomach growl from the hallway you know.”

“No, you didn’t.” Korra shot her a look with her eyebrows arched. “I mean you didn’t right.” Her face turned more embarrassed as Asami let out a laugh. It was easy to talk to her. She was understanding a bit as to what might lead to them becoming best friends. It was silly but. She was still feeling guilty about the morning but this could be a good start.

Asami slides the table toward her and gestures to her to eat. She finally gives in after some drama and starts eating. Asami could only stare at her, thanking Kya for the push she gave her to talk. Asami often wondered what it would have been like if she met Korra when she was still a kid. Well, now it’s her opportunity it seems. She still has her cute grin as well as those rowdy eating habits. Now that she is alone with her, she contrasts how different they look. Korra in front of her is nothing like the one she knows. She can see that Korra had a sudden growth sprout as she was quite small for an average 12 year old, especially her height. That reminds her of how sometimes Korra complaints that it’s unfair that Asami is taller than her. What would she say now. She is lost in thought remembering their conversation from last night, how it seemed impossible for Avatar to truly rest. One thing after another. And now this. Her train of thoughts going deep only to be interrupted when she hears a loud burp, looks at a red face in front of her. And that earns a laugh. Well at least she has her next course of actions sorted for her - To help this Korra and be a friend to her while she figures out what is happening and if Korra is safe.

“I suppose that growl would rest for a while.”

“Don’t be mean.” with the funniest expression on her face. “But thanks” Asami’s expression somehow makes her self aware. “I… I mean for the food and … ummm….talking to me. I was feeling so out of it… I was so..” Desperately trying to find the right words.

“Overwhelmed.” 

“Yes, overwhelmed. I don’t know I thought I understood in the afternoon when Tenzin and Tonraq explained to me but when I saw you on the ground” Korra’s eyes would not leave the sight of her hands on her lap. “I was so scared, I did not know what to do..”

Before she continued she felt a poke on her forehead. “Don’t worry. I’m here. Though you may not know me but I know you. I am your friend you know. I can understand.” Giving her the softest smile she could. “You’re safe here, safe with me.”

The little girl was so full of emotions upon hearing it that she just jumped and hugged the taller girl in front of her. A friend. That’s all she needed right now. She could talk to her parents but she needed to have a friend. And her hug was reciprocated, she closed her eyes and let a long sigh out like she was finally catching up with what had happened. “Thank you, thank you so much.” The silence that followed was appreciated.

“Oh before I forget, do you want to see Naga?”

Korra’s eye lit up as she pulled back from the hug to look at Asami. “You know Naga, She’s here? I want to see her.”

“Let’s go, I am sure she would be happy to see you too.” Asami held her hand as they made their way out of the room.“Don’t be surprised when you see her though, she might not be like how you remembered her.” Korra was confused, she was sure Naga would still be cute.

Mako and Bolin were in the front area of the house where Naga and Pabu were. They were talking as Mako caught the sight of Asami and Korra coming. His face relaxed and his mouth slid into a smile. ‘I knew you will get through her Asami’ he thought to himself. As they made their way down the stairs, Korra saw a huge animal run toward her and before she could run back into the house the animal was already on top of her sniffing and licking her face, jumping around with excitement.

“Naga?” She looked at Asami who just nodded and laughed. Her attention back to the huge polar bear dog on her “Wow, you have grown so much Naga. I missed you girl.” She could not help but laugh as she tried to calm Naga down and threw her arms around her head and felt a smaller ferret jumping on top of her head. Asami left the three to play and made her way toward Mako and Bolin.

“You’re amazing Asami.” Bolin maintained his streak being the first one to break the silence.”Look at her. She looks so cute and happy. I want to play too” And he ran to join Korra, who when she saw ferret jump on him knew that he came was their to accompany her

“I have to agree but I kinda knew that it would be you who will be able to do this somehow.” Mako said while moving a bit closer to Asami.

“I have to thank Kya for this. It was her idea.” She turned her eyes from Korra to Mako. “I was so confused about what I could do for her.”

“And you did it. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.” Taking a pause. “I am here if you need help with your babysitting.” He joked and instantly earned a punch on his arm and a laugh.

“I have some work for you though. Help her with fire bending. I kinda told her that you would do it and thank you”

“I can do that, but would she let me?”

“She will. It pains me to say but I think she likes you. She blushed when I mentioned the idea in the conversation.” Giving him an icy look.

“Really?” Teasing her “Seems like it’s the start all over again.”  Another punch.

The sun went down as the team enjoyed a relative reunion.