Winding Legacies: A 'The Legend of Korra' Rewrite

Episode 8: Remembrances Part 2

Continuing on the momentum of her night, Korra turned down the wrong hallway and planted her feet firmly in front of Lemaya's door. She waited a moment, took another swig of her tea, and then knocked.

After the singular second of no response, Korra's resolve started to fade. She questioned whether or not she was doing the right thing and about a million other worries flooded her mind. When the door opened and Lemaya appeared looking like moonlight on a late winter's night, all of those thoughts disappeared and she felt at ease once more.

"Hi."

Lemaya leaned her head against the door. "Hi," she replied smoothly. She noticed the cup in Korra's hands and her forehead creased in response. "Out for a late-night stroll?"

Korra didn't like how reminiscent she was getting from Lemaya's posture. It was distracting. "No, actually. I was hoping you could help me with something."

"And is this a bribe?" she asked, pointing to the drink.

"A pick-me-up from Asami. Somehow she knew I needed something to calm my nerves."

That made Lemaya infinitely more interested which Korra knew would happen. She stepped aside, opening the door wider for Korra to come in. The room was dark like Lemaya had been sleeping before Korra had arrived. She didn't look tired, though, so maybe she was experiencing a sleepless night.

The thought made Korra frown.

"You nervous about seeing me or about what you're going to ask me to do?"

"A little bit of both." She spun the almost empty cup in her hands and debated on downing the rest of it. As the door closed behind her and the soft patter of Lemaya walking further into the room registered in her mind, she realized that this was the closest she'd been to Lemaya in a year. A sudden flush of awkwardness ran over her and Korra juted her hand out to Lemaya, offering her the tea. "It's yellow."

Lemaya stared at the cup in silence and Korra felt like she was about to spontaneously combust. "Thanks," was all she said as she took the drink and finished it in one sip. When she brought the cup down, she smacked her lips and mulled over the taste. Then, she said, "So what can I help you with?"

Korra hadn't even really noticed how dark the room was until Lemaya struck a match and lit a singular candle lamp near her bed. It bathed the room in a soft, ambient light that reminded Korra of their stolen moment on a boat way back when.

Slowly, Korra pulled her gloves down her forearm. Lemaya seemed to tense up, as if she was imagining Korra was doing something else entirely, but she didn't stop her. When Korra had finally gotten the blue wraps off and stepped closer to light, Lemaya understood what she was asking.

She glanced up at Korra for permission. Korra nodded her head silently and Lemaya stepped closer. She ran her fingers loosely over the burned and lacerated skin, the deep wells and the rough ridges alike. It was a maze of pain and suffering that Korra had left unattended and hidden away from the world for too long.

With each touch, Lemaya's eyes grew heavier, and by the time she stepped away to fill the empty to-go cup with water from the bathroom sink, she looked like she was about to cry.

She settled Korra onto her bed, instructing her to lean against the headboard for support in case it started to her. It shouldn't, she said, but she had also never seen anything like that. There was a first time for everything.

"Why didn't you just heal this yourself?" Lemaya asked quietly as she pulled the water from the cup and twirled it through her fingers.

"Because my bending is what did this in the first place."