[Open]

[alphatar]

Characters: Korra, Finnick, Po, Bean, Dinah, Tony Stark (616), Amon, Sabriel, Jim Kirk, Damian, Toph, Lin, Jack Frost, Raimei, Enjolras, Kyle Rayner, Bruce Banner, Asbel, Aisha, Katniss, Iskierka, Richard, and OPEN (That means YOU.)
Date: Various dates throughout July when not conflicting with Korra’s time during the clueventure.
Location: Korra’s suite, Various locations
Situation: Fish, Training, Flying, and whatever else happens!
Warnings/Rating: Physical violence, PTSD, NPC death, blood, FEELS, maybe even some swearing.

(If you want a thread starter, let me know. If you want to jump in and post your own, go ahead! Actionspam and prose welcome and interchangeable~)






(Seriously. Let me know if you want a thread starter.)

Comments

[dustonmyfeet]

Yeah.

[It's a word of complete understanding, not judgment. After this experience, Toph knows what it is to feel worthless. Hollow. Gnawing, biting fear that she'll be left this way, never be what she was both meant to be and what she's made for herself. She's seen in the past couple weeks a glimpse of the life that could have been and tasted the surge of fear that came with it. And while she hasn't experienced what Korra has experienced, isn't expected to carry the world on her shoulders . . . she knows what it is to not be supposed to fail and realize how easily you could.]

[Her arms tighten a bit, actually holding the Avatar back.]

Korra . . . we weren't supposed to ever be here. You know? You weren't . . . You shouldn't ever have had to face this.

[Korra shouldn't have had to live up to expectations that weren't ever supposed to be hers in the first place.]

[alphatar]

[Those words struck a chord, Korra withdrew so she could look at Toph. She nodded and wiped the tears that had welled together at her nose, about to drop. Her eyes stung and she managed to stem the flow tears, wiping the wetness from her eyes. Her breathing was still erratic, but a lot less so than earlier.]

I’m just so used to having to do something.

[Taking a long, deep breath, Korra put her hands on Toph’s shoulders.]

Thanks. I didn’t mean to wake you Toph. You should go back to bed. I’ll stay here. I think I’ll be okay.

[She was lying and it felt wrong to do so, but Korra didn’t want to worry her friend anymore than she already had. The fact that she chose the meditation room of all places was a sign of that.]

[dustonmyfeet]

[Even without her bending, Toph could sense that one was a lie. No one got over something like that with a few words.]

. . . You know, if you really want me to go, that's fine. [Sometimes people needed their alone space. Toph certainly did. Her own venue of choice was an earth tent, cut off from the rest of the world.]

But if you're just telling me to go because . . . whatever, then . . . don't worry about it. [Korra could probably feel her shoulders lift in a shrug.] You said this place was pretty good for a nap, so scoot over and I'll stay.

[alphatar]

[Korra let out a ghost of a laugh at Toph’s words and caught her breath. The earthbender cut quick and to the point. Nodding, Korra let out a raspy] Okay. And scooted over to make room. Company was what the Avatar needed, especially since there had always been someone for her turn to for it her entire life. Words weren’t working too well for Korra and she was exhausted, but her mind was refusing to let her body to relax.]

I didn’t bring any blankets. [She croaked, warning her so as not to inconvenience Toph anymore than she felt she had already done.]

[dustonmyfeet]

It's fine. [Korra might notice that Toph had turned up the thermostat just a little. As the Avatar scooted over, Toph scooted in on the pillow too, finding a comfortable spot on her side.] Used to outside, remember? But I know where the blankets are if I want one.

Did you want one?

[alphatar]

No, I’m okay.

[Korra’s originally plan was to just pass out and hopefully wake up before Toph did. In her state, she hadn’t even noticed the temperature, but now that Toph brought it up she could feel the difference. Laying on her side as well, Korra looked at her friend and took another deep breath, it was much more even now.]

Thanks Toph.

[Whether or not she understood how much it meant to her to do this, Korra was really grateful. It was a rare time when the young Avatar would need to pour that much of their stress onto someone else.]

[dustonmyfeet]

[Toph wouldn't probably give all she had to everyone, either. But friends -- Korra included -- were important . . . and especially in this place, absolutely vital.]

Sure. [Toph listened to the release of breath and heard what it signified. Without even thinking about it, she echoed it, settling in, smiling faintly into the darkness.]

[alphatar]

[Still feeling a slight knot in her stomach, Korra reached out to put her arm around Toph and pulled her into a hug. Putting her head down so her nose was just shy of being tickled by her hair, Korra closed her eyes. The sound of her breathing calmly lulled her into a sleep she desperately needed.]