A Dancer's Heart

Chapter Twenty: Spirits

It had been a couple weeks since she moved into her apartment. Snow was falling lightly across Public City. Alessia was on the patio watching the snow fall. A blanket wrapped around her while holding a cup of hot tea. She took a couple sips while watching some of the police officers zip by on the telephone pole cables that connected across the city. Humming softly as she heard the door open.
"Are you coming back inside?" Lin's voice spoke lightly. She smiled and turned to face her lover. Sipping her tea before heading back inside. "It's cold outside. Why do you like watching the snow?" Lin asked as they sat down on her couch and cuddled each other.
"It's peaceful to watch. Reminds me even with the chaos out there, there is also peace." Alessia spoke with a smile. Lin nodded her head before kissing her neck softly.
"Korra said she needs me in the south for the festival." Alessia sighed a little.
"I don't want you to go." Lin spoke softly.
"You're my boss. Tell her no." Alessia whispered as Lin chuckled.
"Even I don't have any say over the avatar. She may be young but what she says goes. Just know that I will be here waiting for you." Lin spoke while holding Alessia's chin.
"You should come with me." Alessia frowned as her eyes locked with Lin's green ones.
"I have to stay here and make sure the city doesn't fall." Lin replied. She sighed and laid her head upon Lin's chest. Listening to the heart beat again. She had grown used to listening to it every night. It was going to be hard not seeing Lin for almost a week.
"What I could do is have you there for police business. That you can stay at the hotel and not with Korra." Lin spoke while pulling Alessia upon her lap.
"Look at you." Alessia smiled as Lin raised a brow. "The great Lin Beifong cares." She chuckled as Lin rolled her eyes. Lin stole the rest of her tea before getting up.
"You should get ready. Ship leaves tonight." Lin spoke while taking the cup to the kitchen. Alessia followed Lin to make sure she gave her lover plenty of attention before she left.

It had been a few days since arriving in the south. Alessia had a few of Lin's favorite clothes to wear. Wearing the famous tank top before metal bending her armor on. She sighed lightly while looking into the mirror. Fixing her hair before heading out. The cold air stung her lungs as she took a couple breaths. She double checked her cables on her uniform before heading towards the festival. Hearing the crunching sound of the snow under her boots. She looked up to see Korra waving at her. Alessia smiled while walking up to her sister.
"Hey! Let's get some food. The twins are getting creepy." Korra spoke as she looked over and saw Eska and Desna. Bolin seemed to be being dragged away by Eska. Alessia chuckled a little before following Korra around to see the games they had this year.
"Shame the south has lost its connection to the spirits." A man spoke that she knew all too well. Unalaq. Alessia turned to see the man smiling at them.
"Ah Alessia. Good to see you." Unalaq spoke.
"Likewise." Alessia replied. She saw Mako join them not too long after.
"What do you mean the south is no longer connected?" Korra asked.
"Look at the sky at night. They don't dance anymore." He spoke.
"How do I fix this?" Korra asked. With that, there was a defending roar. Alessia spun on her feet and saw a large tall dark figure wreaking havoc. She took a gulp. Korra ran first as did Alessia. With no earth under her, she used the water she bent from the ice. Shooting ice shards towards the dark figure. It ate up the ice. It's arm swung forward and hit Alessia. She felt her body go flying in the air. She twisted her middle as she flipped in mid air to use her feet for landing.
"Whoa! Nice one Alessia!" Mako shouted as she nodded before running towards it again.
"Stop!" Unalaq's voice shouted as Alessia and Korra stopped. They were standing side by side as they watched Korra's uncle use fluid movements she had never seen before. The water came up in a rope-like form and went around the dark spirit. Once blue, it turned into gold. Watching the gold light go up to remove the darkness from the spirit.
"Go in peace." Unalaq's voice spoke as he ended with a bow. The spirit turned around and walked away as it disappeared.
"As you can see. The spirits are attacking unless we open the portal." Unalaq spoke. Alessia raised a brow. She had a feeling that something else was up.
"When do I have to do it?" Korra asked.
"By Winter's Solstice." He replied.
"That's so soon!" She shouted.
"Then, let's get going." He spoke.