The Quiet Days

(A/N: I am trying out something new here, inspired by those super annoying "sub for sub" channels on YouTube. It works like this: you give me a review; I pick out one of your fics and give you an appraisal the same length or longer. If that sounds like a good deal to you, feel free to take me up on it. As the Joker would say, "I'm a man of my worrrrd… YEAHAHAHAHA!")

The necklace slid through her fingers and gently down onto the cloth. She folded it over and tucked it into a corner of her bag. The rest of her belongings were in a larger pack on the floor.

It was not a whole lot, she realized. A few sets of clothes, a few pictures, and the necklace her mother had given to her on her last birthday. Her whole life packed into two bags, and somehow that didn't bother her in the least. It was strange, how she could only truly appreciate peace now, after she had known war. There was plenty of time now that the world as they knew it wasn't about to end tomorrow. There were loose ends, yes. Amon had disappeared, doubtless nursing a grudge, and there were other dangers sure to emerge, but for now her mind was at rest.

Well, not entirely.

If Mako had held a central place in her thoughts before, now she could hardly think of anything else. Her mind kept replaying those three little words over and over. "I love you". It had been some weeks ago, but the memory still caused an unearthly tingle to run up her spine. It felt as though a new chapter in her life had just begun, and nothing now could cause her more distress then the satisfaction she felt at knowing it.

She heard the door to the hut slide open, and she saw Katara, briefly framed against sun's reflection off the ice before she shut the portal against the chilly wind.

"Do you have everything?"

"Yes," Korra replied, "I think so."

Katara came and sat down beside her in silence for a time, both of them simply sharing the quiet moment, their last before Korra would travel to the docks and board a United Forces warship for Republic City. Mako had been keeping his ear out for news the whole time they had been here, and had informed her that the city was already eagerly anticipating her return, in particular those whose bending had been removed by Amon.

"You looked beautiful last night, in your mother's dress." Katara said.

"The chief didn't have to go to all that trouble."

"No, but he did. The water tribe has precious few moments to cherish these days, and you are one of them. I am very proud of you Korra."

"Thank you."

There was another long pause before Katara spoke again.

"He couldn't take his eyes off of you."

"Who?" Korra said, but part of her knew already.

"Mako. I recognize the look. It's the same one Aang gave me all those years ago, although I was too young to see it at first."

Korra blushed and looked down.

"I suppose everyone knows now."

Katara laughed deeply, a wonderful, joyous sound.

"How could they not? My dear Korra, it is abundantly obvious to anyone who has a single eyeball left in their head!"

Korra smiled, despite herself.

"But enough, I have tortured you long enough. Know that I am happy for you Korra. He is a fine young man."

"Yes. Yes he is." Korra said.

They both stood, and Katara embraced Korra.

"Stay safe, Korra, wherever your travels take you. And come back soon, the chief needs more excuses to party." She said, before leaving her alone with her luggage once more.

Mako had never seen a sunset quite like it. Down in this frigid hinterland the sun never really set or rose with any permanence, rather the light shifted direction and intensity, gradually waxing and waning throughout the "day". He liked being here, but he liked it mostly because Korra liked it. He would be glad when they got back to Republic City, and a normal sleep schedule. As it was his circadian rhythm was shot to hell, making him feel groggy most of the day.

He leaned against the railing of the command tower, watching the brilliant orange ball gleam off of the ships cannons, and off the ice floating around them like polished facets on a gem. In the city the evening sky was often blood red or pink from the haze of industrial smog, but here it was softer and yet stronger at the same time.

His eyes cast down at the gangplank, which Tenzin and his family were now attempting to coax a reluctant sky bison to ascend. Korra was standing a little ways back. Even from this distance, Mako could see the smile lighting up her features. She had been happier than he'd seen her in a long time since her bending had returned. The whole ordeal had caused Mako to have a newfound respect for his power, now that he knew how easily it could be taken away.

"Hey Mako, there's a telegraph coming in from General Iroh. It's for you."

Mako turned and followed the ships captain into the bridge, where a radio operator was frantically scribbling a message down. The dots and dashes ceased, and a short time later so did the operator's scribbling. He held up the piece of paper and read aloud.

Message from Twisting Hammer, eyes-only, priority one, begin message, break.

Situation continues to stabilize. Attitudes toward bending have been more relaxed, break.

Equalist remnants still fighting an insurgent bombing campaign in some areas, break.

Former councilman Tarlock has vanished without a trace. He was not in the attic when UFS forces retook the air bending temple, investigation ongoing; no leads so far, break.

Streets are still clogged with rubble, cleanup is well underway but there are still many wounded to be tended to, not to mention bodies left unburied, break.

Hope this finds you well, and on your way back to help, would be major propaganda victory, break.

End message.

The three of them stood silent a moment, all of them thinking about the lives that had been lost.

"What a waste," Mako said. "All that energy expended fighting over nothing."

"Well, I wouldn't say nothing. My sailors knew what they fought for. They fought for unity, and peace in our time."

"Still… things will never be the same. Not anywhere."

"That's true on any day of the week, Equalist revolution or no. I wager they're still out there, biding their time, but now that Amon's gone their backbone has been broken."

"He'll be back. As long as he still has a breath in his body he'll be back." Mako said.

He didn't know why he was being so pessimistic, but it felt like the right thing to say. They couldn't all sit back and bask in victory now. I didn't seem right, when so many hadn't made it.

"Maybe you're right, but as long as my men have breath in their bodies, they'll fight to defend our way of life." The captain said. "Speaking of which, you should give some thought to joining up."

"Me? In the service?" Mako asked, startled.

The old sailor laughed.

"Yeah you! If half the pro-bending reels are right you're a top notch fire bender, and if General Iroh is bothering to keep you personally in the loop, it means you're on his shortlist. You could make officer in your first week and admiral in your second."

"Thanks for the offer, I'll consider it." Mako replied, only half joking.

The captain flicked the small loop of gold braid on his shoulder with a devilish grin.

"You should. The ladies melt for a man in uniform."

Mako chuckled.

"I bet they do, but I have one lady in mind, and one lady only."

"Of course you do, you sly dog, which brings me to my last point-" the captain said, clapping Mako hard on the back. "There's a room that'll have a great view when we swing into port, and it's off the main hall so you and the avatar won't be disturbed by Tenzin or any other old fogeys like me. Second deck, last door on the right before you hit the boilers."

"Hey, thanks." Mako said, turning to leave. "That will come in handy. But don't you have your own men bunked up there?"

"No. It's just me, Clancy here, and the boiler attendants. We lost everyone else in the first attack on Republic City."

Mako stopped in the doorway a moment, struck by this statement.

"I- I'm sorry."

The captain shrugged, his genial demeanor bouncing back in leaps and bounds.

"Ah well, cost of doing business. Run along now lad, she's waiting for you, I reckon."

Another silence fell after the boy was gone, filled only with the sound of the water lapping at the hull. A great melancholy threatened to eat at the captain, a devouring darkness that he impatiently swatted away.

They had known the risks, just as he did. It could just as easily have been him in the water, with all those exploding mines.

The radio operator watched stared at the empty doorway that Mako had just vacated. One eyebrow was cocked a full three inches higher than its compatriot.

"A little vicarious living sir?"

"Shut up, Clancy."

"Aye, Captain, shutting up."

Mako sat on top of the sheets of the bed with his head resting upright against the rough-spun pillows. He had kicked his shoes off, but otherwise he was still fully clothed, the eerie light from outside the porthole next to him playing off of his red scarf. He had heard Korra call them "Aurora Borealis" or something similar. The green and pink apparitions danced in the sky. From his angle they looked completely alone on a desert of water, not even a floating chunk of ice to break up the monotony of the water's surface. Just a tiny metal tub, cutting through the gentle chop. The stars provided a startlingly bright tapestry of dots behind it, each one gleaming down at them from on high.

His mood was contemplative, yet he felt deeply at peace now. He had avoided everyone else until they were underway and it was dark, not quite knowing why. The images of conflict, forever etched on his brain replayed themselves, but they couldn't hurt him now. The captain had been right. They shouldn't mourn the dead; they should thank the spirits that such men had lived in the first place.

Whether it was the setting, or his train of thought, or the slightly charged atmosphere that night, Mako's hands began to spark.

It was mostly involuntary, like a twitch. Little bands of forked lightning twisted briefly up his palm and onto his fingers before dissipating. Normally lightning bending required intense concentration, but at this moment it seemed to come of its own accord. He stuck out two fingers, and discharged the energy into the metal bulkhead.

"Playing with fire?"

He turned to see Korra staring at him from the oval doorway.

"You know I can't help myself." Mako replied.

"I've been looking for you all day, but you disappeared. Why did you pick this room?" She said, carefully stepping over the tall threshold.

Mako gestured to the double-wide porthole.

"Captain said it had a good view. He wasn't lying."

Korra hopped onto the bed and sprawled out next to him, stretching and yawning like some sort of jungle cat. They both stared up at the pipe and rivets that covered the ceiling.

"Tarlock is gone." Mako said, at length. "UFS infantry scoured the air temple, top to bottom. Nothing. The cell was empty."

Korra propped herself up on one elbow looking down at him with those ice blue eyes.

"That's a shame, but you know something? I'm not really worried."

"You're not?" Mako said.

"No. I'm not worried about Tarlock, or Tenzin, or even Noatak." She said, getting progressively closer with each name until he could feel her warm, sweet breath on his face.

"All I can think about right now is you."

"Likewise." Mako said, or would have said had Korra not kissed him fiercely.

He felt electrified, as though someone had just hooked him up to Republic City's power grid. The kiss went on and on and on. That was just fine with him. There was time now, at last, time for them. Time for each other. These were the quiet days.

Tenzin was woken by the sound of Rohan's squalling. The rest of the brood was thankfully bunked in other rooms, but if he had thought he was going to get some rest tonight, he was sorely mistaken.

"Could you-?" Pema began groggily.

"Of course dear, I'll take care of it, you get your sleep."

Tenzin swung his legs reluctantly out of bed, donned his night robe and picked Rohan up, nestling him in his arms and rocking him gently back and forth. The child quieted almost instantly, but Tenzin kept walking. Normally the back and forth roll of the ship as it crested each surge made him queasy, but tonight it felt like a calm, pendulous motion. He was where he liked to be, focused, in control of his environment.

He looked up as his feet scuffed the threshold to the boiler rooms, and he turned back towards the main hallway. Something made him stop, and look through the door to his left, however.

The light of the moon beamed in through the porthole and alight upon two figures. Korra's arm was draped over Mako's chest, and they were both snoring gently. Tenzin's blood pressure rose by a factor of ten, but he maintained his perfectly calm demeanor. There was nothing he could do, or really wanted to do about it. Korra was her own woman now, loathe as he was to admit it.

He smiled, despite himself.

"So much for focus and control." He muttered beneath his breath as he turned back.

His own bed was calling to him, and it was a summons he could not ignore.