I Love You
A couple days later, after much fighting with my doctors, I was released from the hospital. During that time, Korra only left to speak with the Council about the reconstruction of Republic City and to change clothes after taking a shower. After my failed relationship with Mako and my father’s betrayal, to have someone like Korra devote most of their time to being there for me left a weird feeling in my chest, but I enjoyed the feeling.
The nurses rolled me out of the hospital in a wheelchair, which was unnecessary seeing as I could walk perfectly fine on my own. As soon as we exited the hospital, I quickly jumped to my feet, not being able to stand another second in that wheelchair. A slight pain rushed to my side, but I ignored it. Parked in the turnabout was my Satomobile with Opal behind the wheel. I slid into the front seat, pulling her tightly into a hug, which she returned just as tight.
“I missed you,” I told her, leaning back to smile at her.
She returned the smile. “I missed you, too.”
Korra slid into the back, where a patient Naga was waiting for her. She greeted her owner with a bark and a slobbery lick on the cheek. Korra laughed, rubbing the top of Naga’s head, and I couldn’t help but smile wider. Smiling at Korra through the rearview mirror, Opal put the car into drive and began the trip back to the awaiting Air Temple Island ferry.
On the drive over, I was able to see how far they had gotten with the reconstructions. Several buildings had taken hits thanks to the Equalist bombs. Many of the soldiers that had arrived with General Iroh of the United Republic Forces were part of the relief effort for those who were displaced. We could see several of them helping with repairs as we drove through the city. The harbor was still a mess due to the crashed airships and sunken ships. It took the ferry longer to navigate, but we were able to get to the island relatively quickly.
A large ship was waiting for us when the ferry arrived at the dock of the island. There were several bags waiting to be loaded, causing me to look at Korra with a questioning look. Just how many people were coming with us? As if to answer my question, Tenzin and his family, the boys, Chief Beifong, and Korra’s parents, Tonraq and Senna, made their way down the steps towards the ship. Seeing us standing by the bags, Mako and Bolin, the hugest smiles on their faces, ran full force at us. Nearly tackling us to the ground with their hugs, we all began to laugh.
“Careful, careful. I’m still a bit sore,” I told Bolin as he wrapped his arms around me.
He still hugged me tightly, only causing me to flinch slightly. After he released me, Mako gave me a gentler hug. “Welcome back,” he said.
Boarding soon followed after bags were placed onto the ship, and we were on our way to the South Pole and the Southern Water Tribe. It was a long trip, one that allowed for a lot of talking. Nice talking, such as discussing with Senna about what my college plans were after graduation, and awkward talking, such as having the Talk with Tonraq. It was weird for both of us, seeing as he was prepared to give it to a boy instead of me, so it took him a bit to adjust to the new relationship his daughter was in. Frankly, I was just as confused and awkward with it because I wasn’t prepared to have such a conversation directed at me.
We arrived at the Southern Water Tribe late that evening. We were welcomed warmly, though it was slightly warmer than I imagined it would be. Of course, it is getting colder back in Republic City, so it kind of makes sense. After all of the bags were unloaded, we were transported to the Compound, the place where Korra had spent most of her life after she was discovered to be the next Avatar. As we drove up to it, Oogi flying over us towards the Compound, I was amazed at how large it was. White Lotus guards were stationed at every tower, and on the inside it was like a gigantic training ground.
We were dropped off in front of one of the closer huts, an older woman standing at the top of the steps with a smile on her face. By the way that the airbending children towards her, it had to be Katara. A smile on her face, she hugged each of her grandchildren and walked towards Pema so as to great her newest grandchild. After pleasantries were exchanged, Katara turned towards Korra, whose expression and mood dropped. I held her hand as we followed Katara into the healing hut, the large back room with a small bath in the back catching my eye.
Katara motioned towards the bath, and I could feel Korra tense up beside me. I looked at her, the scared expression on her face clenching my heart. I leaned towards her, kissing her cheek. “I’ll be waiting for you right here. Everything’s going to be ok,” I told her, a small smile on my lips.
She looked at me, her eyes locked on mine. A small nod and a small smile followed for a minute before she followed Katara into the backroom. Everyone had since moved into the small hut, and we took our seats, knowing a long wait was coming. Sure enough, it was three hours before the door to the backroom slid open. Katara stepped out, a look of disappointment on her face, and I could see Korra sitting on the floor, her knees pulled to her chest, for a moment before the door was closed.
Letting out a small breath, Katara looked at those who had gathered in the room. “I have tried everything in my power, but I can’t restore her bending. She can still airbend, but the connection to the other elements has been severed.”
Chief Beifong stepped forward. “But you’re the best healer in the world; you have to keep trying,” she pleaded, the desperation in her voice strong.
Katara looked at her sorrowfully, her hand reaching up to rest on Beifong’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else I could do.” Beifong’s shoulders dropped, her gaze dropping to the floor.
The door to the backroom opened, and Korra emerged. Her gaze was to the ground as she closed the door behind her and taking a couple steps before pausing to look at us. I clasped my hands above my heart at she looked at us.
“It’s going to be alright, Korra,” Tenzin spoke, a hint of optimism in his voice.
“No,” Korra replied, looking away from Tenzin. “It’s not.” My heart broke at how defeated she sounded.
We watched as she walked out of the hut, and I could see how hard it was for her to hold back the tears. She slipped her jacket back on, walking out to the snowmobile she had ridden in on. Naga sat beside it, watching her owner and wagging her tail slowly. She gently rubbed Naga’s head, but there was no warmth, no smile when she did. I left the hut, jogging slowly out to her as she grabbed her helmet.
“Korra, wait!” I said, picking up my speed a little.
She stopped at the sound of my voice, her eyes still on her helmet. I slowed my pace to a walk, stopping to where I was standing beside her and the snowmobile. She didn’t look up at me, only continued to staring at her helmet, when she finally spoke up. “Go away,” she said softy.
I looked at her for a moment, knowing that she wanted some space. “I will, but Korra…I want you to know that I’m here for you. That everyone is here for you.”
Angrily slamming her helmet down on the seat of the snowmobile, Korra turned to me, trying her hardest not to cry. “No. I mean go back to Republic City, and move on. Forget about me.”
I looked at her confused. “Korra, what are you talking about?”
She looked away bitterly. “I’m not the Avatar anymore, Asami. You don’t need to-“
“I don’t care if you’re the Avatar or not, Korra. That’s not the reason why I fell in love with you!” I shouted. She looked at me with surprise as my hands found her cheeks. “I love how you laugh, how you put others before yourself. How you look at me and make me feel like I’m on top of the world. I knew…I knew deep down that I loved you even before I wanted to admit it to myself.”
She looked me, tears threatening to spill over, before she pulled away and jumped onto her snowmobile. “I’m sorry, but I…I just can’t,” she said as Naga jumped on beside her. She pulled back on the throttle and rocketed out of the Compound, leaving me behind holding my hand out to her as if to hold her back with me.
My hand dropped as I watched her get farther and farther away. When she was out of sight, I realized the tears that were running down my cheeks. A hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned to find Tenzin had joined me outside. He smiled gently, looking out towards the direction that Korra had gone.
“We just have to be patient with her,” he said softly before turning to head back inside.
I stood outside for a few minutes before turning to head back inside when my eyes focused in on the second snowmobile parked by the hut. Tonraq had driven it out with Korra while Senna had ridden with us in the cars, and the keys were still the ignition. Looking up at the hut, I ran over to the snowmobile. Luckily, Korra had given me my goggles before the ride out with the intention of driving us out to one of her favorite places after she was supposed to get her bending back. I slid my goggles on over my eyes and started the snowmobile. The noise drew the attention of everyone in the hut, but I had already driven off by the time they had exited the hut.
It wasn’t hard to follow the tracks left behind by Korra’s snowmobile. The drive itself was a bit long, and I could see that we were getting closer to the edge of the continent. Looking around, I found Naga’s familiar silhouette, and I could see Korra farther off in the distance. She sat with her knees up to her chest, not hearing as I approached. Slowly the snowmobile down, I parked next to the one she had ridden out on and turned it off. It was then that I noticed we weren’t the only ones out here.
A tall man, dressed in similar clothes to those that Tenzin and the other Air Nomads wore, appeared close to Korra. He looked over at my direction and I swore he could have been Tenzin before the airbending children were born. Sensing my surprise, the man rose his finger to his lips as if to tell me not to spoil the surprise. I watched as he walked over to where Korra was sitting.
“Not now, Tenzin. I just want to be alone,” I heard her say, her head not turning towards the new arrival.
It was then that I heard his voice. “But you called me.” Definitely not Tenzin.
Korra spun around fast, her eyes lighting up in surprise and awe. “Aang.”
My eyes widened as she stood up and continued to speak with him. Aang? But…but he died. That’s…that’s why Korra was here…she was his reincarnation. How can he…? The light began to peek through the clouds, as if shining down on Aang and Korra as they spoke. My mind, too confused as to how Aang could be here in front of us, wasn’t registering the words to their conversation. He smiled as he raised his hands, placing one on her shoulder and the other on the side of her head with his thumb resting on her forehead. They began to glow a silver aura around them as Korra closed her eyes with a small smile on her mouth. Then, as quick as it began, it ended, and Aang disappeared.
When Korra opened her eyes, it was like a whole new person emerged. Her eyes glowing white, she began to lift in the air with an airbending tunnel beneath her. Wind blew out in a circle around her, followed by fire, then earth. The sea below the cliff in front of her rose with such force that it shook the surrounding earth. I couldn’t believe it; Korra had her bending back! She slowly lowered back to the ground as I began to walk towards her in amazement. So this was the power of the Avatar.
As if sensing my walk, she began to turn, her eyes back to that wonderful blue that I loved. I smiled softly at her, the pride swelling in my chest at what this meant. She ran over to me, knocking me to the ground as she launched herself into my arms. I laughed as we landed back into the snow, her lips capturing mine to silence my laughter.
“I love you too,” she said as she leaned back, a smile wide on her face.
I smiled back. Spirits did I love her. “I know.”
We quickly made our way back to the Compound, Korra’s energy renewed with excitement. She knew how to bring back a bender’s energy, energybending as she called it, and she was eager to bring Chief Beifong’s back to show that she could. To see her this happy, to smile as wide as she was, was a long time coming. Even I couldn’t help but smile with her as we pulled into the Compound.
Quickly getting everyone out to the Southern Water Tribe temples, where several large rocks surrounded them, we watched as Korra restored Chief Beifong’s bending. After exiting Korra exited the Avatar State, which I was told her eyes went silver because of, Beifong rose to her feet, earthbending the surrounding rocks into the air. Setting them back down, she thanked Korra for the miracle, and I couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride in my heart for Korra.
Look out world. The Avatar is here to stay.