A World Of Grey (Legend of Korra)

Chapter 43

"This is her doing."

"You were asking for it."

"I don't recall making such a request."

"You did, when you decided to go all hands-on the way you did."

"Would you like a towel, Mako?" a bemused mother of four interrupted their banter.

"That would be great, Pema. Thanks," he replied, droplets of water falling intermittently from his hair onto the living room floor. "Korra obviously wants me to catch a cold, or worse."

Korra dug her elbow into his ribs as Pema called out for her eldest, earning herself a delightful yelp as he folded away from her.

"Hi, Jin," she greeted the girl fondly when she appeared in the doorway.

"Hey," Jinora said. She visibly took pause as her eyes fell on Korra. "Wow, you look so different!"

Korra felt her cheeks warm. "I don't look that different."

"Oh, I'd disagree," Pema chimed in.

Mako gave her a sidelong, I-told-you-so glance. Korra pouted.

"I've never imagined seeing you in red," Jinora said, stepping forward and lightly pinching the fabric of Korra's sarong between her thumb and forefinger. "I really like it. It feels so light."

"Thanks, Jin."

The girl flashed a smile up at her, though a frown wrinkled her brow when she saw Mako.

"What happened to you?"

"We took a walk and went down to the lagoon," Korra said. "Unfortunately, Mako went and embarrassed himself by falling in."

"Yes, that's exactly what happened," he tonelessly confirmed, rolling his eyes in the process.

Pema sighed. "Jinora, get a towel for Mako please, before he drips all over the floor."

She beckoned to him and he followed her out of the room, but not before she took another look at Korra and smirked. In their absence, like her daughter, Pema shook her head with a smile on her face.

"I thought I told you two to get along this morning."

"We are," Korra said evenly.

"Hm. Well, I certainly remember leaving towels in the cabin for you both, so what brings you here? I don't imagine you're tired of each other's company already."

Korra patted her stomach, though when Pema's eyes dropped and her expression began to change she spoke quickly to clarify the gesture. "We were hoping you'd made enough lunch for two more?"

"Oh, isn't Mako eating?"

Korra stared blankly at the smiling woman. "I'm sure he'll want to."

"No honey, I meant…" Pema began, but then waved her hand in the air. "I always make more than enough. The kids are a ravenous bunch, bellies as big as their eyes. You and Mako are more than welcome to eat here."

"I hope we're not inconveniencing you."

"Nonsense," the mother said over her shoulder as Korra followed her to the kitchen. "You're family, you should know that."

Korra sat down at the table, eyeing the wicker fruit basket as Pema moved over to the counter and set her hands to work. It felt inexplicably good to take the load off her feet and she leaned back against the chair, wondering how her body had interpreted an hour or so of walking as a full day of physical work. She considered the spontaneous idea of resting her head on her arms and closing her eyes for a minute or two.