Not Your Hero

Chapter 8

A/N: A good song to play during this chapter is Hide and Seek, by Kodaline. Play whenever you want, it's not exactly fitting but kind of good to listen to while you hear Korra fume.

"So what's our next move?" Bolin was asking.

They were in the Republic City USOF compound, having just briefed the brothers on what happened at the Saviors' gathering.

"That's the problem. Amon wasn't specific in his next steps. The gathering was more focused on fund-raising than strategy-discussing. I'm guessing that part's left to a meeting specific to the Saviors, rather than the elite." Korra explained.

"Well, what if we stakeout at one water distributor and then wait for the Saviors to show up? The water system is purely machine-run, only a few repair workers enter to check the system every six months." Mako proposed.

"But which one?" Bolin asked. "Besides," Asami said, "there's a fat chance we don't catch them. Water distributors are huge, remember? They could dig a hole into the factory, disguise themselves as workers... There are a million ways to get in there!"

"So we're stuck?" Bolin asked tentatively. "Seems so." Korra sighed. "I'm going to spar a bit, take my mind off things. Maybe a solution will come to me. Try relaxing a bit, but let's hope we come up with a plan by tonight. Time's wasting fast, and we can't let the Saviors get to the water supply first."

--

The combat robots at Republic City weren't as flexible nor as smart as the ones back at the compound in Ba Sing Se, which was where the team first started out. But Korra just couldn't put her mind to the fighting. Every jab and every swing just felt pointless. She didn't know what she was doing this for. Sure, she was training to help keep people safe. But what about after those missions? Even after they manage to beat Amon and his Saviors, if they manage to do that, what next? Would Korra forever be a Captain, and maybe be promoted to colonel, and continue those missions, until she goes MIA? For once, the thought didn't sound so intriguing. As she reflected, Korra found that, though she always enjoyed her tasks, she never knew what she wanted to do. She was thrust into the academy at a young age, no one asked her what she wanted to do.

As if on cue, Asami stepped in. She was the one to first uncover Korra's hidden secret, showing her the bizarre truth that Korra is angry about something, but just didn't know why.

"Something bothering you again?" Asami asked.

Korra sighed. She read through her mind so easily. "Of course I'm bothered. We don't have a lead. How am I supposed to relax?" Asami softly shook her head. "I read your reports, Captain. I know you get a lot of solo missions, and I know you often succeed without any help. I've looked at reports your fellow officers filed about you. Their accounts differ, but 'cocky' is a similarity. I'd say you're still confident that you can finish the mission, and Amon definitely hasn't bothered you enough to distract you from sparring."

"Have you been stalking me, Sato?" Korra mused. Met with no response, she laughed. "Damn you and your cleverness, Asami. But you're right. I'm bothered about something else. Remember that conversation we had on the airship? I get why I'm frustrated now. Tell me, Asami. Who am I? What's my purpose? I certainly have no idea. I was recruited to the academy at the age of four. My path has been set out for me. Tell me, am I going to stay in USOF for the rest of my life? I never chose that path! Grand Lotus Zaheer whisked me away before I could even think about the question. Is fighting and completing missions really who I am?" Korra broke down into sobs. She felt herself drawn into Asami's strong embrace, with comforting hands tracing patterns on her back. So Korra wept. She cried out her fourteen years of frustration. Fourteen years it took for her to finally release all the pent-up pain and anger.

Korra didn't know how long they remained that way, but eventually, her sobs died down but she was still kept in Asami's embrace. Korra looked up into Asami's eyes, and for the millionth time, found herself drawing in those jade-green eyes, now so full of concern and compassion. Her gaze slowly fell down to Asami's lips, how they must be so soft and sweet.

Catching herself from leaning forward, and reminding herself that they were on a mission, Korra leaned against the wall and smiled. "Thank you." She said softly. Following Asami's quizzical look, she continued, "For helping me realize all that. I never knew it myself." Asami smiled and didn't say anything more. There wasn't any more she could say, but both women were content to let matters rest for a while and indulge in comfortable silence, without any distractions.

--

It turned out that they weren't entirely without a lead. Asami, being the brilliant engineer she is, programmed a drone to take to the skies and scan the city for centered heat signals. The drone would constantly be on the alert, so they'd know of any gatherings. Asami had explained that rich people don't tend to gather a lot, and when they did, there was no way Asami or the press wouldn't know about it. Unless it was secret, of course.

In the meantime, Mako decided to go around checking the water distributors for any glitches in their defense system. He and Korra were already putting together a report slash request for General Tenzin to approve, mainly to fortify security in the water system.

Now, they were just waiting.

Then, out of the blue, Bolin shouted "Hey, what's that?" He was pointing to a quickly assembling mass of red dots. A gathering.

"Guess it's our cue to go. Gear up, team." Korra said.