The Rebellion Within

Chapter 22: Welcome to the Rif

It's been a few days since Korra has had a goodnight's sleep. The image of all their hard work collapsing on the ground, the desperate commotion, Asami basically begging for her life, and Katara dying on her hands; all those memories kept replaying on her head every time she closed her eyes. She scanned the horizon that moved up and down because of the bumpy road, then looked over at the rest of the squad in the back of the convoy truck; frowning when she saw how tired they seemed. Most of them were new cadets, so they looked on the verge of death. However, even the oldest of soldiers on this caravan looked close to passing out from exhaustion, Korra being certainly one of them. Her eyes turned the view again and sighed. It's been what? Five days since she left Tetuán? Seemed like so. Once again, her days were merging into one; just as they did before when she spent most of her days on the front lines.

Asami should be awake by now, she assumed. The captain had left her side once she was successfully transported to the main hospital in Tetuán. Raiko had the decency to ask Korra if she wanted to delay her leave to the front until her nurse woke, but she decided not to. She'd never leave if she saw those pleading emerald eyes staring back into her sapphire ones. Asami's intoxicating voice telling her to stay would make it even harder. Worse yet, selfishly, how could she tell Asami that Katara and most of the other nurses didn't make it? That the only ones left were Jinora and Opal, and Kya, who had decided to go back to Spain. That poor Jinora had been left broken and could barely function through the day without Opal calming her down since even Kai had gone MIA after the explosion. She couldn't handle the thought of Asami's heart shattering before her eyes.

So, with a soft kiss to unconscious lips and tears in her eyes, Korra decided to simply take her leave. Kuvira and Mako would take care of her as long as they could, right? She'd want me to do it, though. She knew this all too well.

What a fucking coward.

Asami would never forgive her.

However, being selfless wasn't what kept Korra alive these past three years and wow did she hate herself for this excuse. Yet, that was the truth and she promised herself to be better once this was all over. To be better for both of them. For now, this is how it was supposed to be.

Korra looked over at Bolin, who had his eyes closed and his head leaned back against the drape that covered the truck. Seeing Opal crying while saying goodbye to Bolin broke her heart enough. She felt even more selfish, not being able to spare Bolin from the front lines; the feeling intensified when she was glad to have a familiar face on the squad and for being jealous of his calm state.

The captain opted by mimicking Bolin's pose and tried to get some quick shut-eye. As soon as she closed her eyes, though, the same images covered her mind, making her eyebrows furrow in frustration and open them. She sighed and shook her head, trying to focus on something else and going down a quick memory. Korra chuckled softly, if Kuvira were here she'd be telling some story to embarrass the captain in front of her squad. That thought alone sparked a memory she'd never forget. Closing her eyes and leaning back like Bolin, she tried to focus on that day; quickly falling into a relaxed trance.

The memory played almost like a movie and Korra found herself smiling, thinking of the day she met her best friend.

Morocco, 3 years ago

What a waste of time. Korra thought as her feet dragged her through the streets of the military base, rocks crouching under her close shoes and her small suitcase banging against her leg... She was thankful she had put on the male shoes she used for her father's academic reunions back home. Dressing as a man and having male clothes had their privileges. Still, she couldn't shake off the uncomfortable feeling the light blue dress triggered and all the stares that lingered. Her annoyance was showing. Of course, men were going to stare at the first woman they see that isn't in a nurse's uniform in probably years.