"Castaway" Ficlet 1: Baby Talk

(for abnaxus

Spoiler-y but not canon (yet? Idek). 1,082k words. Senseless family fluff. The saccharine level of this one gave me a toothache. Enjoy.)

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"Come on, Nilak, it's easy." Korra insisted, crouching in front of the infant that sat on a fur rug that served as a play corner. "Ma-ma. Mama. Just say MA-MA."

"Ah!" The baby with periwinkle eyes blinked at her, still repeating the little exclamation that was conjured up whenever she detected her mother's voice, even after all those months.

"Not ah. Ma-ma." The Avatar reproached softly but frustrated, waving a finger in front of the baby.

"AH!" Nilak just exclaimed louder.

"Ugh, you're as stubborn as I am, aren't you?" Korra rubbed her temples, rapidly losing any motivation to continue the struggle.

"Aaaaahhh!" The girl drawled, tilting her head in confusion.

"Ma-ma." The Avatar repeated louder, as if volume made a difference. "Ma-ma!"

"Korra, what are you doing?" Someone behind her asked.

"Ma-… Oh, just trying to get her to talk." She looked up from her crouched position and spotted Noatak looking down at her.

"That's not how you do it." He smirked, it was that typical 'I know something you don't' smirk she both loved and was utterly irritated by.

"Yeah, like you're the expert." Korra rolled her eyes and got up, smoothing the pelt at her waist back into place.

"You have to make her want to talk, you have to give her a reason to do it." He explained with ease.

"She's a baby, she doesn't understand anything that complicated!" The Avatar objected, crossing her arms under her full chest.

"Nilak." Noatak called and once the baby was staring up at him he opened his arms towards her but stayed just out of reach. "Want a hug? Want daddy?"

"Uhhh!" Nilak made a frustrated sound and bounced in a silly attempt to reach him.

"No, that's not what you want." He smiled, still waiting patiently out of her reach.

"Uuuuhhhhhhh!" The baby insisted, pouting a little and stretching her arms in a futile plea to be held.

"It's not gonna work, Noatak." Korra chided, arms still crossed and a foot tapping rhythmically.

"Nilaaaaaak." Noatak called in a rumbling deep sing-song voice that he never allowed anyone but these two women to hear. "Want daddy?"

"Uhhh…Da!" The girl's brows scrunched in a similar manner to her mother's as she bounced again.

"Almost." He nodded, moving just a little closer.

"Da! Dada!" The baby called eagerly, noting that the sound drew him closer. "Dada!"

"That's my girl." Noatak finally picked her up in tight comforting embrace.

"Dada! Dada!" Nilak kept repeating excitedly in his arms.

"Yes, baby, daddy's here." He replied with pride and tenderness, nuzzling his nose to the child's sparse dark hair that smelled like jasmine.

"Why do you always have to win?" Korra sulked, shoulders hunched in annoyance.

"It's not a contest, Korra." Noatak chuckled, bouncing the little girl in his arms. "But if it was then the answer would be simple."

"Oh yeah? What answer is that, genius?" The Avatar challenged, lifting her head to look him in the eye.

"Patience." He smirked again.

"Hmph." Korra pouted in rather defensive manner, just like him to bring up the one quality she did NOT have. "Whatever."

"Nilak." He grabbed the baby's attention again and pointed at the Avatar. "Who's that? Is that mama?"

"Aaah." The girl made her usual pleasantly surprised sound.

"No, not ah." He explained, shaking his head and turning the baby to Korra by holding her under the arms. "Who's that?"

"Aaaah!" Nilak repeated more excitedly towards Korra.

"Do you want mama?" He asked, motioning as if he was going to hand the baby to the Avatar but pulling back at the last second.

"Ah! Ah!" Nilak repeated, getting frustrated when her little chubby hands didn't close onto her mother's clothes.

"Say mama and she'll hold you." Noatak offered, pointing at his doubtful-looking lover.

"Uh…" The baby looked confused by the whole situation.

"Great, now she's gone back to uh." Korra shook her head with amused exasperation.

"Nilak." Noatak captured the child's attention again to keep her from losing focus.

"Dada!" Nilak tried, looking at him and kicking in his arms.

"No." He replied firmly but gently.

"You're confusing the girl." Korra stated disapprovingly, already wanting to give up on the matter again.

"Nilak. Who's that?" Noatak made the baby face the disgruntled Avatar once more.

"Ni!" The baby squeaked in reaction to the constant repetition of her own name. "Ni! Ni!"

"No, you're Ni, silly. That's mama." He chuckled, nuzzling her neck before motioning towards the Avatar again.

"Ma?" The kid was confused but as soon as the syllable slipped out both parents were nodding and smiled, that sparked her interest.

"Yes! Mama." Noatak encouraged with exaggerated excitement meant to convey approval before he pushed he baby closer to Korra. "Do you want mama?"

"Ma! Mama!" Nilak called keenly, stretching all her plump tiny limbs towards the woman.

"And there you go." Noatak stated victoriously, plopping the child in Korra's arms.

"Mama! Mama! Mama!" Nilak repeated fervently, snuggling to her mother's bosom.

"Yes, I'm mama. And you're Nini, aren't you, baby?" All traces of bad mood gone, the Avatar lifted the baby in the air above her and rubbed their noses together. "Who's my pretty Nini? Huh? Who's the prettiest?"

"Nini! Mama!" The baby repeated the easy words nonsensically, mostly just because seemed to make her mother happy and amorous.

"Yes, we are and don't you forget it, baby." Korra chuckled, hugging the baby again and acting as if the words were a reply to her question.

"Happy now?" Noatak was still smirking but watching the scene with fondness, wanting to carve it into his memory. He knew repeated condensed syllables shouldn't really count as first words but he was proud anyway and was always glad for an excuse to brag about his daughter's intelligence.

"She'll probably forget it all before lunch but yeah, I'm happy." Korra laughed a little, rumpling the child's soft wispy hair and getting on tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips. "Thank you, Noatak."

"You're welcome, my love." He kissed her back lovingly until there was a tug on the collar of his coat.

"Dada!" The baby repeated, looking at him expectantly from her mother's arms. Hm, well, maybe repeated syllables could count as nouns after all.

"Alright, here's one for you too, little one." He leaned down to kiss Nilak's tiny nose which she wrinkled reflexively before giggling.

"Ah!" The girl said, reverting to the start and inciting Korra to face-palm and, by extension, brought on Noatak's laughter.