braavado | IC CONTACT (FOR HAVEN)

[Korra freezes in place, unsure what Katara's looking for.]

What's...going on?

[ Belatedly, Katara steps back, a little embarrassed as she gestures for Korra to come inside. ]

I guess... I just had a question.

[Korra follows her in, still a little unsettled because of the way Katara had been studying her.]

Okay, shoot. I'll try to answer it.

[It's probably about the future, Korra guesses. And while she is from the future, she doesn't exactly know everything that happens.]

[ She's not hurt, exactly; she doesn't know Korra well enough just yet to be hurt by her withholding information. But still: ]

Why didn't you tell me you're the Avatar?

[Oh. Shit.

Somehow Korra hadn't expected the omission to catch up with her so quickly. Even though it's been a few weeks.]

How--?

[Korra breaks off, shaking her head. It doesn't matter how, really. It was bound to happen eventually, considering her track record with this particular "secret".]

I...guess I wasn't sure if it was the...right time. You were stressing out about Haven and Zuko and a ton of other things, I didn't want to add more to it.

[She pauses. That's not the only reason.]

You're my waterbending teacher later, but...you're also a lot younger than the Katara I know. Aang is your Avatar right now, not me.

[ And that's the crux of the question, isn't it? The real reason she'd asked Korra over? Not that she'd meant to admit it to the other girl, or even to admit it to herself-

But her hand moves up, curls over the pendant on her necklace. It's pure reflex, a self-soothing gesture as she works up the courage to voice this next part: ]

When- if you're- if we-

[ She inhales deeply, holding her breath for just a second, and then - ]

How much younger is a 'lot' younger? Because that could mean so many different things, and I didn't want to ask, because I was scared - I thought maybe I didn't want to know, but I can't piece these things together, and I can't not know, Korra, I'm sorry to ask you to tell me.

[ But how much longer do they have with Aang? Will she be measuring time in months or years? ]

[Korra doesn't get it at first, why Katara looks so worried. And then--it hits her. Aang's not only Katara's Avatar, he's also her husband in the future.

Korra's eyes widen.]

When I say older, I mean a lot older. "Almost a grandmother" kind of old.

Don't worry. Aang still has a long life ahead of him.

[ Her expression crumples with relief before she realizes it, and she ducks her head slightly in an attempt to hide her own embarrassment. ]

Sorry. I know it's not any of my business, but... some things you have to know.

I don't blame you. It's weird seeing me like this when Aang's here, too. Haven's just...messing around with our sense of time on top of everything else.

[Korra looks down, twisting her fingers together.]

I'm...sorry I didn't tell you earlier.

What?

[ It's Katara's turn to glance up, and she shakes her head when she does. ]

No. You barely know me, Korra, I can't expect you to have told me everything. Not this version of me, at least.

So you aren't mad at me?

[Even if she's younger, this is still Sifu Katara. The teacher who had really looked after her while she was training in the compound.

Korra doesn't want there to be anything souring their relationship here.]

[ There's nothing really funny about the situation, but Katara exhales a startled little laugh regardless. ]

Of course not. You're an Avatar, from the Southern Water Tribe. I think you're great, Korra. Maybe I'm kind of embarrassed about how I acted when I first got here.

But I told you already. Everyone acts like that when they first arrive. That's just how Haven makes people feel.

[Korra perches herself on a couch, getting comfortable. She's here, so they might as well catch up, right?]

So how'd you know I was the Avatar?

Um.

[ Katara seats herself on a couch nearby, but her posture is straight, hands folded in her lap. ]

--someone actually let the catrabbit out of the bag right after I got here. I just wasn't sure that I should... say something.

[Darnit. Korra shouldn't even be surprised.]

Yeah...I guess it was kind of pointless to hide it when most of the group from our world already knows who I am anyway.

I bet it's weird - meeting Aang like this, I mean.

[ Her tone is gentle. She's trying to ease Korra into a more comfortable expression. ]

Kind of. I'd sort of expected to see him when he looked...older, you know?

I never thought I could talk to him when he was still just a kid.

Hey! [ Katara's tone is offended, but it's all playful offense. She's trying to lighten the conversation up somehow. ] He's a lot more than just a kid, you know.

I know. [Though she knows Katara’s teasing a little, Korra can’t help but answer seriously.]

I’ve actually seen him in some visions before, but he was always a lot older. And a lot more serious. [She thinks back on that conversation she’d had with Toph before.] I guess I just forgot he was a kid once, too.

That's... still so weird to think about. I hope he kept his sense of humor, at least. [ And she's being serious about that. Aang has gone through so much, and it seems like he's got a lot more in store. That's important. But then, Katara looks a little sheepishly proud. ] I can't tell you how awesome it is that you're from home, though. The Southern Water Tribe, I mean.

Uh...huh. Is this one of those Southern Tribe versus Northern Tribe things?

[If only Korra knew how bad that rivalry would get in the future...]

Huh? [ She seems baffled for a moment, before shaking her head quickly. ] No, not at all. It's just - there isn't really much of us left right now. I'm the only bender in the Southern Water Tribe. So to think that we might actually rebuild so much someday... it's a nice one. That's all.

Oh. [Korra brightens up.]

Yeah, it's...probably a lot bigger than it is in your time. There's plenty of benders around now!

This is still really... surreal, you know? I mean, I bet it is for you, too.

[ She's reaching up, idly fiddling with her necklace. ]

I've always known that we'd win in the end, but having proof of that... [ She tries not to look too obviously proud. ]

Maybe you can show me some of the things I've taught you sometime. Like it's coming full circle, right?

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