Chapter 9 : Doubts and Making up

Sipping my tea I think about the previous few days. Rumors started spreading that Amon can take people's bending away. In response, the Republic council voted to make Amon public enemy number one confirming the rumors.

In addition, councilman Tarrlok created a task force to combat equalists and is quite adamant about getting the Avatar on it. He is even throwing a gala in Korra's honor this evening.

All of the city's movers and shakers will be there. Or so the guy giving me the invitation said. And of course, I'm invited!

But enough about that. More importantly, I still haven't talked with Korra. The fight itself is meaningless, a simple sorry will suffice. The real problem is how will our relationship proceed further? I can't keep flirting with her and expect nothing to happen.

I wouldn't mind getting romantically involved with Korra, she is an amazing girl but there is one problem. My ex. But why would that matter you might ask?

Well, my ex is Asami Sato.

Long story short. I met her when I was still doing massages myself, we quickly hit it off, then sometime later we compared our card decks and traded our v-cards if you know what I mean. Then sometime later she introduced me to her father Hiroshi Sato, he didn't show it, but he was pissed I was a bender.

So not long after, Hiroshi gave Asami forged documents with the 'proof' of me cheating on her with multiple female customers. No need to say what happened afterwards. Clearly, she trusted her father more than me. I understood why, but that probably hurt the most. It has been over two months since the breakup.

All up to date? Good.

So this leads me to the main problem. If I become part of the new team Avatar, eventually I'll meet Asami again. Who by now should have met Mako. Are you seeing the problem here?

I don't know how I will react to seeing her with another man. I think I moved on, but you can never know how these things go.

Then there's Korra. I really do like her but if team Avatar breaks up because of me the plot goes out the window. Unforeseen consequences follow. And as much as I'd like to say fuck you to the plot it's hard.

It would be so much easier if I was like those protagonists from the fanfics I so much liked to read back on earth. Selfish, lustful, power-hungry, hypocritical, apathetic. The sad reality is I'm not most of those things.

When I first arrived in this world I treated it more like a game. But as my time passed here I grew to love this world, its people, and its culture.

I'm just a human with a bit more power than most. All I want is an interesting and happy life I can look upon as I draw my last breath.

Sigh…

Well no use worrying over it now. The butterfly already flapped its wings. And I'm already part of the plot, all I can do is try my best.

"Time to go and make up with Korra."

*Air temple island*

I walk up to a newly wrapped car being pretend driven by a boy and a girl.

"Hi kids! Do you know where I can find Korra?"

"We sure do stranger. But who are you?" Asks the boy.

"Oh! How forgetful of me!" I slap my forehead in an exaggerated manner. "I'm Hanzo. Korra broke into my place and then we beat up some baddies."

The girl's eyes light up after hearing my name. "Hello! My name is Ikki, this is Meelo. Are you the guy That is driving Korra crazy? She keeps grumbling about some boy. Is that you? Is it?" She fires off barely taking any breaths.

I smile at the energetic girl. "Nice to meet you, Ikki and Meelo. And I don't know anything about driving her crazy, but I am here to talk to her."

Meelo points towards one of the many paths. "Just follow that path and you will reach Korra."

"Thank you, kids. Now back to work! The car is not going to drive itself."

""Yeah!""

Walking down the path I reach a courtyard made in the shape of a tai chi symbol. It seems Korra is having a talk with Tenzin. They don't notice me and continue their conversation.

"I'm glad you turned down Tarlok but I wanted to make sure your decision was for the right reason." Tenzin comments on what I guess is the task force.

"I'm just really focused on airbending right now is all." Via my seismic sense, I tell it's a lie.

"Right, that's what you said." He pauses before continuing.

"You know it's alright to be scared. The whole city is frightened by what's been going on." I can feel Korra getting anxious.

"The important thing is we talk about our fears. Because if we don't they can throw us out of balance."

"I'm always here for you if you want to talk." He stands up and turns to leave.

I approach him and give a slight bow afforded for each master bender. "Master Tenzin. I hope I'm not intruding?"

"No. But who are you?" He asks.

"My name is Hanzo. Chief Beifong might have mentioned me."

"Ah, Yes! The special consultant Lin herself vouched for. I've heard you helped put some tricky people behind bars." Recognition dawns on his face.

"Still. Why are you here? I hope Korra is not in trouble again." He glances at her back while she is still lost in thought.

"Nothing like that sir. But with her track record, I wouldn't be surprised. She has a knack for finding trouble. Oh, and I'm just here to talk to her." I assure him.

Tenzin nods and leaves.

"Excuse me? I was searching for the Avatar Korra. Can you help?" I call out to the distracted Korra.

"I'm the Avatar. What do… Hanzo?"

I ignore the last part and continue. "You sure? Chief Beifong described her as many things and I mean many but gloomy was not one of them."

"What did that woman say?!" She demands with a sharp tone.

"There you are Korra! But how did you appear here and where did that cute girl go?" I look around.

"Hanzo!"

I put my hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine… I just wanted to say I'm sorry for not consulting you first before executing my plan. Even if it did work." I try to sneak in the last part but the beast in human skin just growls at me. "The plan was still reckless. Happy now!"

"Yes. Now was that so hard to say?" She smirks in victory.

Korra you may have won the battle but not the war. Just you wait, woman!

"Anyway, how are your preparations for the gala going?"

"What gala?"

"The one councilman Tarrlok is throwing in your name."

"Him again! Can't he understand I don't want to join his stupid task force!"

She turns to me for advice. "I really don't want to go. Do I need to go?"

"I dunno. Do what you like." I said dismissively while clearing my nails of any dirt.

"Really! That's your advice?!"

"What do you want from me woman!? You're the Avatar! If you can't even decide if you should go to some party then quit!"

"I can't quit being the Avatar!"

"Then get to thinking!"

We look at each other stubbornly for a minute before bursting out laughing. This is the second time we end up like this.

"Thanks, I needed that. But seriously what should I do?" She asks again.

"Well if it helps I'm going."

"Would you like to come together?" Korra asks with a hint of hope and worry in her voice.

"I get to go on a date with a pretty girl and I don't need to pay for the food? Sign me up!"

"Great!" She jumps up. "I mean… cool..."

"Smooth."

"Shut up! Anyway, aren't you like a successful business owner or something? Why do you care if the food is free?" She diverts the subject.

"And how do you think I became that? By wasting money?!"

"So how is your airbending going?"

Korra responds by slumping her shoulders in defeat.

"That bad?"

"I've tried everything I can think of. But I can't produce even a single puff of air! It's so frustrating… Maybe you can help me with that?"

"Sorry, but that is not my area of expertise. Earth is the opposite of air. Those two elements work on fundamentally different concepts. Earth is... well for the lack of a better word grounded and rigid while air is free and formless."

"Airbending requires you to choose the path of least resistance. And you are a more… direct person."

"You were going to say stupid weren't you?!"

"Me?! Never." I replied with righteous indignation.

"So even you can't help me with airbending." She sighs.

"Listen, if the earth is about holding on firmly then, the air is about letting go. So until you learn to let go of the idea that you can't airbend, you won't."

We chat for a while longer and then go our separate ways to get ready for the ball.