Not Your Hero

Chapter 27

Korra fidgeted with her armbands, mentally preparing herself for what she was going to do soon. It was one of the most nerve-wracking things she'd ever have to do, to say the least. Having Asami close by for support calmed her nerves for the most part, but Korra couldn't help but feel apprehensive.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine," Asami said. "Just say everything as you've practiced. Remember, don't take questions. I fell into that trap long ago when I just started out. You wouldn't want to do the same."

Korra smiled gratefully at her girlfriend. "Thanks," She said. "I love you, you know that?"

"Love you too," Came her response.

--

Around the world, televisions started broadcasting. Bolin shouted at Mako to turn on the TV after messaging Opal. The brothers, after seeing the broadcast, sat on the couch, stunned.

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Korra, whom you may know as the person who sent President Raiko and General Tenzin to prison. I come before you today to bring attention to a problem that has existed for decades but no one thought to solve. Every year, thousands of children are taken from their families to train to become an officer in the United Special Operations Force, the special force designated to keep balance in the world. Such a glorious task, yet such hypocritical doings. Most of those children recruited are kicked out and sentenced to live the rest of their lives in shame and under the title of failure. Those like me who are 'fortunate' survive are bound to a life of service in the force. I wish to ask the founders of USOF, does this sound right to you? We were taught that we were serving the great task of keeping the world in balance. What a great lie that was. We're not peace-keepers, we were just weapons waiting to be used by the government."

--

Kuvira leaned back and chuckled. This was the exact reason she admired Korra. Her best friend always thought of others in her own predicament without ever being selfish. Even when she could've been promoted to the rank of general in two or three years, Korra still carried on doing what she believed was right. Kuvira looked at the television again.

"I sure know that when Aang founded the United Republic, he didn't intend for it to be a dictatorship. And I sure know that Aang wouldn't want this dictatorship to be fueled by officers taken against their will at a young age just because they had a talent for fighting, a talent they never asked for, and a talent they might never wish to harbor!" Korra paused, noticeably taking a deep breath before continuing.

"The United Special Operations Force was wrong in so many ways. That's why I left. I know I wasn't the most high-ranking official in USOF, but speaking as the youngest captain in the entire force, I believe I have earned the right to be taken seriously. USOF should never have existed, and now, after proving its officials are corrupt, there's even more reason to shut it down. I wish for all current recruits to be allowed to return to their families they barely got the chance to know and allowed to live a life where they could finally decide a future for themselves! The world doesn't need an elite task force to keep it in peace, and certainly not a task force that gives one centralized government centralized power. So I say, let USOF be gone." Korra looked at the camera of the reporters, and Kuvira could swear that she was looking through the camera lens right back at her, at everyone, at Tenzin and Raiko whom Kuvira was sure was watching, and most definitely at all the stuck-up officials still working at USOF.

Kuvira grinned. Korra is still the inspiring captain she'd come to know over the years. And like the night when Kuvira watched her friend beat two combat robots at once before informing her of the upcoming officers' meeting, all those months ago, Kuvira clapped. She was never too much of a passionate person, but she was overflowing with emotions currently.

--

Cameras continued flashing at her. Korra didn't know how long she'd be able to stare into them. Keep a calm facade, she reminded herself. Reporters were rattling questions, their sentences expertly tumbling off their tongues as if it was something they'd trained for years to do, jumbling over each other and eventually mixing up in the loud chorus of voices, yells, and background noises no one took care to decipher. Korra raised a hand, telling the reporters, "No questions." Looking at Asami and telling her that she was ready to leave, they both ducked into the sleek red satomobile Asami drove in, raising up the dark glass for privacy.

"That went quite well, I think," Asami murmured when they were a safe distance away from the press and paparazzi. Korra hummed in agreement. "Do you think they'll listen to me?" Korra asked. Asami looked at her intently, then focused on the road again.

"Korra, I might not be an expert on how the minds of government officials work, but I do know that your speech today has triggered something deep inside the minds of a lot of people. I'm sure they'll listen to you."

Korra grinned at this. "What did I ever do to deserve you?" She asked. Asami chucked. "Being you, of course."

Korra thought back to her speech. It did go well, she decided. 

"You know, Amon had half a point. There really is so much that could change for the better in this world, but we don't have to do it Amon's way. I'm going to find a path to make sure that everyone can live their lives in peace in the United Republic." Korra said after a while.

"Then I'll be behind you, every step of the way." Asami answered.

That left one final thing she had to do.

"Hey, Asami?" Korra spoke up after a long silence. It was a lengthy drive from the Four Seasons Hotel, where the press conference was held, to the Sato Mansion. Asami hummed to show she was listening.

"Well, I've been thinking... I know we haven't been dating long, and I've yet to take you out on a proper date yet with the whole stopping the Saviors thing, but I really do love you and I'm rambling again. What I mean to say is, would you like to come to the South Pole with me? It used to be the Southern Water Tribe, and I grew up there. I've tracked down my parents and I want to visit them again. So would you want to come with me?" Korra inhaled deeply after rattling off the jumble of words. "It's totally fine if you don't want to, I just wanted to ask, since... You know..." She trailed off, looking at Asami, who'd been silent so far.

"I'd love to, Korra." She said. Korra could feel her face struggling to envelop the huge grin that was starting to appear.