An Avatar's True Strength

A/N: this story was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend who told me his preferred interpretation of the ending is that a day or two passes between the talk between Korra and Asami and the actual spirit portal ascent. He said he preferred this particular interpretation because it implied that the two had time to talk about their real feelings and thus continue with this general relationship arc of a blossoming romance from a true friendship. I took this and wrote off of it, and it became this story. Praise be to Bryke, we are not worthy, I don't own anything ever.

It had only been a day since the wedding between Zhu Li and Varrick, and the night before lay fresh in Korra's thoughts. She found her focus not on the actual purpose of the celebration, although she was certainly happy for the newlyweds, but on the people she spoke to at the end.

The wedding night had been magical and thoughtful. It was a moment of clarity for the young Avatar, who understood more and more the strength of her person and the depth of her character through the struggle for balance in the world. In doing so, she had balanced her self, as well. Put into an inward-looking mood, she found herself lying in her bed at Air Temple Island, reflecting and thinking about her relationships with the people around her in the first few years as a true Avatar.

There was first her relationship with the political sphere of the world. It had been a very bumpy ride, as governing cities and states had not been something she had very well prepared for. To deal with people, she learned over and over again, was a fundamentally different experience than to deal with elements. Always she controlled the elements of the world. She was the pinnacle of mastery, for only the Avatar could bend earth, fire, water, and air. But what initially started as frustration and miscommunication ended with her mature understanding of the complexity of nations and of the people who seek to rule them. She knew better how to place herself within this world as a liaison between all nations, someone who could influence and inform, but could not control.

Perhaps more importantly, Korra knew now, more than ever, that it was people who ran nations. It was people who created prosperity and people who brought downfall. Understanding the responsibilities, weights, and pressures that befell Raikoh, Prince Wu, and Kuvira gave her a surface with which she could reflect upon her own life and her own duty as the Avatar. She knew better what drove Kuvira to authoritarianism because she knew better Kuvira as another human being in the world. Knowing this gave her a sense of strength, and she sighed contentedly and pulled the covers over her body.

Next, she thought about her relationship to the men in her life. She thought about the two brothers, Mako and Bolin, both of whom she loved deeply. They had been her first friends in Republic City, her old team, her Fire Ferrets. While Mako as a boyfriend had not worked out the way she might have hoped when it started, she reflected on his words at the end of the wedding. Beyond the romance, which had been frustrating and difficult, had blossomed a true friendship. She didn't blame Mako for the failure of the relationship, either. Both she and he had been confused, unsure, and had made mistakes. She couldn't help but smile, though, knowing that the strength of their connection could move past even an awkward and bad breakup, and she saw in him a true man of honor, worth all her respect.

Korra got out of bed and fished through her closet for something to wear. As she moved through her few clothes, she found her airbender uniform, from when Tenzin had first tried to teach her Airbending. Recalling now their conversation from the previous night, Korra smiled again. Tenzin had been a father figure to her for these critical years in Republic City. It was not an easy relationship. She remembered how frustrated she had been, how anxious and headstrong and impatient she had felt. Back then, her understanding of the role of the Avatar had been limited to the mastery of the elements. If only he would just hurry up and really let me try airbending, she used to think. Now, she understood the way of airbending. Each nation and each element carries a philosophy and a way of living, but the true lesson of airbending had been so foreign and so distant that she struggled.

After defeating Kuvira, however, she thought of the story of how Aang defeated the Fire Lord without killing him. She couldn't go back to Aang now, but she was confident that he would have been proud, knowing that at the end of her greatest conflict, communication, patience, and understanding had won the battle and the war. For this, she was eternally grateful to Tenzin, who had, despite the initial bumpiness, become a true believer in her, even when no one else was. Even when she herself could not see her own strength, Tenzin had been there to support her in the best way he could.

Korra dressed herself in her usual loose, blue uniform. It was near midday now. She had slept in, having been unable to sleep well after the wedding. Her mind had been racing after her last conversation of the night with Asami.

Asami. She knew she was her best friend. She had reached out to her and her alone during those dark years abroad. Asami had fought with her and for her. Asami had carried her physically and emotionally when she needed it most. They had both dealt with Mako, and had come closer to each other because of it. They both knew the pain of deep loss, and she respected Asami as a strong woman who fought through this pain. She respected her genius and her wit, her steadfastness and her diligence. She stopped and looked out her window, and thought about the hug they shared yesterday.

Then she remembered why she couldn't sleep. She remembered the deal they made, the trip they were going to take, by themselves, to the spirit world. She felt her heart start to quicken and felt excited and confused. Asami was her best friend, and she would love to travel with her. But there was a nagging notion in her that her heart had moved past friendship and into something greater. She was scared to verbalize it; it's a scary thing to admit to loving anyone. Korra took a deep breath and said out loud:

"I don't know what's happening to me."

She chuckled. She was not one to talk to herself, but it had been a particularly introspective morning. She reimagined the scene from the night before. Asami wore a beautiful red dress. Korra thought she always looked great in red. But more than that, she remembered how easy it was to ask her to sit with her. She remembered not feeling anything at all except for the need to speak with her. She remembered just how simply her words had come out, and how natural the hug felt, and now that she was re-imagining the whole exchange, she could feel her stomach tighten and her heart beat faster. Maybe the nerves that should have been there were catching up to her. She felt confused at her own feelings, and she would might have spent more time thinking about them save for the fact that she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She said she was up and Bolin's voice responded,

"Can I come in?"

Korra opened the door to see Bolin standing there.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting anything. Could we talk?"

"Of course," Korra said, wondering what this could be about. She motioned Bolin into the room and the two sat down.

After exchanging pleasantries, Bolin looked at Korra with a serious face. He had a reputation for being a jokester, which made his current demeanor so alarming to Korra.

"I never got to talk to you at the wedding, so I thought I would drop in today. If you have time, I want to tell you a story", he started. Korra, curious, nodded silently, and Bolin cleared his throat before beginning.

"When Mako and I took down the spirit vines, I was scared when he told me his plan. There was a part of me, a real part that I could hear, that was worried he wasn't going to make it out of there. And I know everything's good and fine now, but that feeling hasn't been something I've forgotten about. I realized something…" Bolin paused for a moment before continuing,

"When I ran away from Kuvira's army, I realized how huge of a mistake I made. But more importantly, I was afraid no one would take me back. I knew Opal was going to be a tough sell, but I hadn't ever stopped to consider how much I needed you and Mako and everyone else. Like, really needed you all. And thinking about how scary it was when I decided to let Mako take on those vines, and that uncertainty, I didn't want to continue living as a person who never expressed this kind of gratitude until it was too late."

Korra tried to respond, "Bolin, you know you're someone very close to me, you don't have to do this".

Immediately, Bolin interrupted, and he was clearly getting more emotional,

"No, I do have to do this. Maybe you don't think I need to do it for you, but I need to do this…for me. I made a huge mistake and then I had a real chance of losing my brother. I was so close, I bought Kuvira's message the whole time, and not once did I stop to think if I was really, truly doing the right thing. What if I never came back? I was perfectly fine running around the Earth Kingdom doing what I mistakenly thought was best, not once did I think about what used to really matter to me. Opal tried to warn me but in the end, I had to see it myself before I realized how delusional I was being.

So I want to tell you something important, face to face, out loud, so that I can know that although I made a mistake, I will never fail my friends like this again. I want you to know that I do not take you for granted. My whole life has been better, more meaningful, and just…better, because of you. I met Opal because of you, I got to meet my family for the first time because of you. Everyone always says the Avatar changes the world and balances things and elements and blah blah blah, but Korra, you changed my life.

I want you to know that if there's anything the Avatar ever needs from me, I'll be there. One hundred thousand percent, I'll be there. I will always be thankful that I met you and that we became friends, even that day we spent together when I was totally crushing on you, which, by the way, please don't tell Opal."

The two of them laughed a bit, but Bolin once again put on his serious face.

"Does what I'm saying make sense to you? I don't know how to phrase this in words correctly, I don't know if you get it. All I'm trying to say is…

Thank you, Korra."

In stunned silence, Korra took in the words of her friend. The two of them got up, and she wrapped her arms around him. She was crying a little bit now, and she managed to say, "Thank you Bolin. These last few years have been the hardest of my life, and I am so glad you were there for them. You will always be welcome in my life, and I will always be thankful for you."

The two pulled away, and Korra and Bolin looked at each other.

"It means a lot to hear you say those words. I'm glad you found me today."

Bolin smiled and the two hugged one last time. Finally, Bolin looked up quizzically. He suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, I almost totally forgot, Asami's downstairs and she's waiting for you! I ran into her on the way here!"

Korra felt her heart race a bit again, briefly, and collected herself. "Thanks for letting me know, Bolin, I'll be right down in a second. Where are you headed now?"

He chuckled and said, "Opal and I are going on a picnic today. She wants to make up for the less-good one I tried to have when I first came back. I'll leave you alone now. Thanks for hearing me out, Korra. Have fun with Asami!"

With that, Bolin walked back downstairs and out of the Temple. Korra swore he heard an almost sing-songy undertone as Bolin left, but shook it off. She checked herself one last time before leaving the room and walking down to meet Asami.