REDEMPTION

SWIMMING IN MIRAGE

Two days after their fateful encounter, Korra adjusted to the lifestyle of both brothers. She was assigned in cleaning and preparing meals, two brothers were designated to hunt and work as hunters. It was a moment of peace as three of them acted nonchalant of the war brewing in the north part of the earth kingdom. Ignorance was-is a bliss.

She was bought a few womanly clothes, earth kingdom had a more practical approach to their wardrobe, she thought. In tones of grassy green and dried leaves, she wore dark green robes and a pale earthy toned fabric belt to fasten it. Underneath was a black tank top and her loose pantaloons hugging her thighs then the boots that covered up to her knees. Korra thought that the two brothers enjoyed dressing her up--a weird behaviour--even Noatak seemed too curious about what she wore the first time. Like a sister, they think.

The hut was quaint. She never noticed before, but the bedroom did not have a huge enormous bed but three futons on top of stilted wood on separate sides of the room. Rather conservative, Noatak found it more and more personal for them to share in a single room, so he built a room divider. She gathers that they probably built everything here from scratch.

As she swiftly grabbed the dirty dishes from the table, Noatak headed out, "I'll be home late, don't wait for me." he says as he glanced warmly at both. He stares a moment at Korra, not trusting her story that she didn't have any memory... but maybe she wanted to start over like them. Truth will out soon enough.

Left alone with Tarrlok, he helped Korra clean the table. "Go ahead Tarrlok, I can handle this." She says. When he gave her the remaining dishes, their skin touched. He felt a slight tingle. This again. Why was it like this. The pumping excitement that pushes him to the edge.

And this isn't the only thing on his mind. For days, he still couldn't believe he could bend again. Korra was drawing him in. She captivates him, he thinks, that he may accept the fact that she is this woman now. She was not going anywhere. It was like they were reborn and designed to make peace with this settlement.

He remembers the memories back then when he planned that Gala for her, he planned to coerce her into his task force. While he manipulated his way to her nerves, she responded with a fiery backtalk--a childlike response--but it was enough to tell that she was confident in her abilities. Spending time with her made him feel invulnerable yet at the same time, vulnerable. Despite the age difference, she was a force of nature. It got his attention from the start. 'How could she act so irresponsible? Acting high and mighty and not minding the consequences!'

But now, she was this cheerful girl with no strings attached. Had the moon spirit intended this to happen, maybe this was her way of making him and his brother serve the avatar. Maybe this was hell. But why doesn't it feel like it? It felt like an illusion.

"Hey I really need to ask you something..." Korra sat at the chair facing him. She was done cleaning the dishes and he was sipping his tea. "Can you help me piece together my past?"

He spit back his tea into the cup. Looking dumber than a bird, he looked at Korra with a restrained eye. How can he help her without sharing the story of their past? The sole reason she's staying here is because she thought they were acquaintances before. Not hot blooded enemies that bloodbent her to the bone in the name of self preservation.

With his pursed lips and closed eyes, he thought the very best way to avoid the topics. He put down the cup and cleared his throat. "You're Korra, from the Southern Water Tribe." He started... and ended.

"And? You told me I was a bender of sorts... come on, I've behaved enough to earn a little more truth haven't I?" She continued getting all invested in his story. Earning their trust came by a load of compromise too, she wasn't allowed to be seen, spirits know why. Sadly, Tarrlok did not know whether to lie or manipulate her. He remained silent with his hands fidgeting the cup on the table.