☾☾☾
For the next two days, every time we try to practice, Korra will be in the gym and pretend I'm not even there.
She'll immediately try to talk to Mako or Bolin and completely ignore me.
Last night, I tried to get her to talk to me, but she she couldn't bother to give me the time of day.
I wake up the next morning to chattering through the thin walls of my room.
I hear the voices of the two brothers and someone else, whose voice who was a little too familiar.
Korra.
I groan as I kick off my blanket and felt my whole left arm ring in pain as I try to lift myself up.
I winced loudly in pain, scaring Pabu awake.
It's been getting worse since the last match.
"I'm sorry, Pabu. Poor baby. Go back to sleep." I softly pat his head as he curls back into a ball and I pull up the blanket over him.
I don't care what Bolin says. Pabu is and always will be my baby.
I open the door and walk into the kitchen to drink some water.
"Oh, she's awake. Y/N.." Mako says.
I pick up a glass and pour some water from faucet.
I take a sip and turn around to see Korra nervously sitting on the couch with Bolin.
"What's she doing here?" I whispered sourly at to Mako.
"Hey, don't be like that. She wants to help."
"Then why has she ignored me for two days?" I grumbled, taking a sip of water.
He ignores that.
"Look, we talked and she said we can take you to see Master Katara at Air Temple Island. She'll meet us there, so we'll be there for about three to four days. She's gonna do something about your shoulder and these flashbacks you've been having."
"What? I thought I said no doctors, Mako! Why don't you listen?" I slammed the cup down on the counter.
"Master Katara isn't a doctor. She's a healer." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You really wanna correct me right now, smart-ass?" I snapped.
"I just need to make sure you're okay cause, no offense, you've been saying you're fine for the past two years and I don't believe you. These nightmares are not going away, no matter what we try."
I scoffed, annoyed about the fact that he is right.
"We're going to Air Temple Island and that's final." He stated before turning around.
I took another sip before putting the glass down.
"You're not the boss of me." I muttered.
As i walk past him, he slaps the back of my head. "I'm older than you by three months, so technically I am."
I rub the spot where he slapped me and watch him go back to Bolin and Korra.
We made eye contact for a second before I roll my eyes and drink the last of my water before going back to my room to get my clothes.
"Hey, get ready. We're leaving in an hour." He shouts.
"Fuck you!" I yell while getting the things I need to get ready.
Korra's POV:
We rode the ferry ride back to Air Temple Island and the only thing I could think about was apologizing to Y/N.
I feel so bad about ignoring her and storming out. I was just so jealous about her ex and the way she was talking about him.
I bet that bitch was ugly anyway. And no way he messed up with someone as fine as Y/N
But whatever, I guess I don't have a right to be jealous. Seeing as were just friends...
I scoff and Mako looks at me weird.
"You okay?" He asks.
"Yeah. Sorry, I'm just thinking." I told him.
I looked out onto the bay and then back at Y/N on the other side of the ship.
"You should go talk to her. She misses you." He suggests.
"I know but... wait, she said that?"
"Yeah. She says she misses your smile and your laugh and your flirting."
I feel my cheeks grow hot and I smile to myself.
"I didn't know that."
"Yeah. It's getting kind of annoying though, so you should go talk to her. Or at least apologize to her. You owe her that much."
"I don't even know what I would say to her."
"I suggest you start with the words 'I'm sorry.' Does a lot of things."
I side-eyed him. "Smartass." I muttered. He laughs quietly.
"It's easier said than done." I said.
"Why? Y/N and I get into fights all the time, and the same thing with Bolin, but we always make up in the end."
"Well you guys are all siblings, so it comes easy to you." I argued.
He doesn't say anything.
I chuckled and turned around to face her.
"As long as you're honest, you can't go wrong." He says.
I nod and let out a breath.
"Okay fine. I'll go talk to her. Thanks, Mako."
Your POV:
I thought Mako said we were gonna meet Korra there.
Now I have to deal with a two hour ride and her ignoring me even more.
Oh wait..
I think he meant we're meeting Master Katara at the Island. Not Korra.
That's unfortunate.
I look over the edge of the ship and to the dark blue waters below.
I think about it and considering how many times I've been thrown into the pool during a Pro-Bending match, I'd definitely survive jumping off the ship.
But I mean... it wouldn't hurt to try.
Someone taps me on the shoulder and I turn to see Korra's stupid cute face smiling nervously at me.
"Did you need something?" I say blankly.
"Yeah. Could we talk for a minute?"
"I don't think I'm in the mood to talk to you." I turn my head back to look at the water.
"Please? I want to apologize."
Hmmm...
"Fine. Go ahead then, I'm listening."
I didn't move from my position as Korra stood next to me.
We both looked onto the bay before she started talking.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have walked out of the attic the way I did."
"Mhm."
"And ignoring you for the past two days."
"Why'd you even do all that? I mean, we were just talking-"
"No, I know. I was just umm... I was jealous. Because you were talking about having a boyfriend and I've never had one."
She's lying.
It's clear as day on her face.
"Okay.."
"And I was ignoring you because as soon as I left the attic, I knew I screwed up. I was embarrassed and I didn't know how to apologize."
"So... you're not mad at me or anything?" I asked her.
"No. Of course not. I'm sorry for treating you so badly. Can you forgive me?"
I looked at her. I don't know what I'm feeling right now but I really think I'm falling for this girl.
I can tell she's a stubborn and headstrong person but she was able to come to me and talk about what happened.
"Yeah. I forgive you." I smiled.
She let out a breath of relief and I laughed.
"So.. I talked to Mako." She says.
"Okay.."
"You missed me a lot, didn't you?"
"What.. What did he tell you?" I turn so my body's facing her. She laughs while not even looking at me.
"Korra, what did he say to you?" I pushed her shoulder as she laughs even harder.
Spirits, how I've missed her.
☾☾☾
We arrive at Air Temple Island and we're greeted by an air nomad family, only one of them having blue air bender tattoos on their head.
I look over and see a giant polar bear dog with a saddle on it.
I immediately fell in love with it.
"Whoa! Is that your polar bear dog?" I eagerly ask them.
"No actually. This is Naga, she's mine." Korra says, petting her on the head.
"Can I?.." Korra nodded and she let me pet Naga.
She got more comfortable with me and I pet her behind her ears. I saw her tail as it wagged.
"Oh my god, You are just the cutest!" I cooed.
"I didn't know you could have these as pets." I said to Korra while Naga smiled at me.
"No, polar-bear dogs are wild animals. But I found Naga in a storm when I was little and she just followed me around since." She said.
"Ohh.. you're too cute." I smiled, hugging Naga's giant head next to my small one.
I turn to look and see an air nomad family walking toward us.
"Welcome to Air Temple Island. I'm Tenzin and this is my wife, Pema. Kids, introduce yourselves." The man says.
His kids were two girls and a little boy.
"I'm Jinora." The oldest girl started. She had short hair and I assume she was the oldest.
"My name's Ikki." The other girl said excitedly. She had longer hair and had these big yellow hairpieces on the top of her head.
"And I'm Meelo." The little boy said, making his way to me. He had a shaven head and some of his front teeth were missing.
He was obviously still pretty little, like five or six years old.
He takes my hand and raises it up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.
"But you can call me yours." He smiled.
HELLO?? HES LIKE FIVE YEARS OLD
When I tell you I had the hardest time trying not to laugh, I meant it.
Mako and Bolin's stiffed laughter did not help one bit.
"Uh- thanks but I'll just stick to Meelo." I said, gently pulling my hand away.
"You are so embarrassing." Jinora says, shaking her head.
"It's alright. I'm Y/N. These are my brothers, Mako and Bolin." I smiled.
Ikki stepped forward. "And now for the grand tour! The flying bison sleep in those caves down there. And that's the temple grandpa Aang built. And that's the greenhouse where we grow the vegetables we eat." She smiled.
She pointed in different directions of the island and I whipped my head too many times that I got dizzy.
"I have a couple questions. Is this an all-vegetarian island?" Bolin starts.
I roll my eyes, knowing he's gonna ask a lot of unnecessary questions.
Once he asks all his questions, Ikki looks up and then answers them with no hesitation.
"Yes. Yes. No. No. 10,552."
We all look at her like she's crazy.
"I have heard a lot about you three. Mostly about you, Y/N. From Korra." Tenzin starts.
"Really? Like what?" I asked, eyeing Korra, who was blushing uncontrollably.
"Ahahah- We don't have to talk about that right now. Let's just get these guys to their room." She checked nervously before rushing us hurriedly past the family.
They follow us until Korra asks Meelo to show the brothers to the men's dormitory while Korra shows me to the women's.
"We'll meet back in the dining hall after you all get settled in. Let me just say that it's an honor to have the Fire Ferrets staying in our home." Tenzin says.
His face makes the statement seem anticlimactic.
"Thank you, Tenzin. We appreciate it." I smiled.
"Tell me, who do you think is the better bender in the ring?" Bolin asks him.
"Definitely Y/N!" Meelo answered almost immediately.
"Y/N for sure." Ikki followed.
"Y/N was amazing in the match against the Tiger-Dillos! When she fought them all off 3 to 1? Incredible!" Jinora says, blushing.
"aww." I touched my heart and then looked at the boys, who had bored looks on their faces.
"I have to admit, you were very impressive in that match." Tenzin adds.
"I didn't know someone as serious as you liked to watch Pro-Bending, Tenzin." Korra chuckled.
"I um- I've been catching up." He says. Korra and I look at each other and laugh to ourselves.
"We'll see each other at dinner. Enjoy your stay, guys." Pema takes Tenzin and leads him away, their kids following them.
"I'll show you guys to your dorm and then I'll show you to yours." Korra says, smiling at me.
We walk to the men's dormitory and then to the women's.
We walk down a ball and she stops at one of the doors, sliding it open.
"Here it is." She says.
I look inside. There's a bed, a dresser, a little nightstand, a desk, and a window facing the bay.
"So.. what do you think?"
"It's so nice! It's more than I've ever had in my whole life." I excitedly look around and going through the dresser and the desk.
"I'm glad you like it." I hear Korra laugh.
"So, I'll let you unpack and I'll come back to show you to the dining hall. If you need anything, I'm right next door." She says.
"Okay cool. I'll see you in a bit, Korra." I smiled.
I watched her leave and then I looked around the room some more.
☾☾☾
The next day, Korra comes over to my room in the afternoon saying that Master Katara is almost here and she should arrive tonight.
"Oh. Okay... great."
No. Actually not great.
"You don't sound so excited. What's the matter?" She asked.
She slides the door closed and sits down next to me on the bed.
"I'm just a little nervous. It's nothing."
"What are you nervous about? Katara is the best healer around. You'll be fine." She says.
"I know she is. But that's not exactly what I'm worried about."
"Okay so, what's wrong?"
"I just don't want her to say anything is wrong with me. That the flashback's I've been having are nothing to worry about." I sighed.
"It's gonna be okay. I'm sure they're just harmless nightmares." She places her hand on top of mine.
"Everything is gonna be just fine."
I look at it and smile. "Thanks, Korra." I say.
I pull my hand away and sit cross cross on my bed.
"Let's just talk about something else. So, how long have you known her?" I sighed out.
"Ever since I was little. She's helped me master water bending and taught me how to heal." She says, getting in the same position and sitting across from me.
"Huh. I don't know how to do that. Could you teach me? It could come in handy. Bolin trips over his own feet and gets hurt all the time." I joked.
"What? Seriously? That's like the easiest skill for a water bender to learn." She laughs.
"Hey, I was self-taught! And I've tried, I just was never able to..."
"Alright, I'll teach you. Follow me. I know a place where we can do it." She grabs my hand and pulls me off the bed and out of the room.
"Whoa- I knew you were strong but damn Korra." I laugh as she drags me through the halls of the dormitory.
We went to the kitchen to pick up a bucket and she filled it up halfway with water.
I follow her to a pavilion located on top of a cliff, looking over Yue Bay. It's a gazebo-type place and the patterns and colors of it are similar to the design of the Southern Air Temple.
"This place is supposed to be a meditation pavilion but we can practice healing here." She says.
We sit in the window with the bucket in between us.
"Okay first.. uhh... take off your shirt." She said.
"Well, damn. buy me dinner first, Miss Avatar."I smirked.
She rolled her eyes at me.
"I just need to see your shoulder.."
"Shoulder, I know." I laughed, taking it off like she asked me to.
I quickly took off my shirt and I was left in my undershirt and the bandages covering my shoulder and my chest.
"Go ahead and take some." She muttered.
I raised some water from the bucket between us. I turn it to a big bubble and hold it in my hand. I look at Korra, who's watching in awe.
"Okay so create a glove with the water like you did just now..." She instructs.
I let the water surround my hand. I show her.
"Is this good?" I asked.
"Yeah. Perfect. Now
"So, the way healing works is your looking for the energy in your body. It's kind of hard to explain so just try to sense some energy in this general area.."
She gestured to my shoulder.
"And wait for the water to start glowing."
"Um... okay. Sure. Sounds easy, I guess." I chuckled.
I started to let my hand hover over my shoulder and start to "look for energy" even though I don't know what the hell she meant by that.
"Is this some kind of... spiritual practice?"
"No. Just wait a little longer."
"I feel like I look like such an idiot right now."
"You don't! You look like a professional healer."
I laughed sarcastically and continued to hover my hand over my shoulder.
After five minutes of this, I sighed and took my hand away.
"Yeah I don't think this is gonna work."
"Yeah me neither. I was sitting here hoping something would glow but.. nothing." She answered truthfully.
I faked an offended look and slapped her shoulder with the water. She yelps in pain.
"So you just left me there looking stupid?"
She laughs hysterically and I couldn't help but laugh with her.
I laugh and laugh until I put my head on her shoulder to quiet myself down. She puts her hand on my good shoulder.
We both slowly stop laughing and I looked up at her smiling face.
Mine wasn't even three inches away from hers. She was so close.
I looked down from her bright eyes to her lips. And it looked like she was doing the same. Korra started to lean in slowly and I couldn't help but lean in too.
Just before our lips could touch, I suddenly realized what we were doing and I awkwardly backed up away from her.
I chuckled quietly and she backed up from me too.
There was a pause of awkward silence and we both avoided looking at each other in the eye.
"I think um- Katara should be here any minute. We should go so we can say hi." She stammers, getting up.
"Sure. Yeah, let's go." I muttered, putting my shirt back on and standing up to follow her out the pavilion.
We walk back to the docks and I couldn't stop my heart from beating so fast.
My eyes didn't leave my shoes as I walked alongside to Korra.
I tried to spit out something to say but nothing would come out.
I stopped walking when I bumped into Mako.
"oh, Y/N. You good?" He said.
"What? Oh yeah. I'm fine." I answered dismissively. He shared a look with Bolin but he shrugged his shoulders.
I looked over at Korra, who's attention was turned to the water tribe ship heading toward the dock.
I can't believe we almost kissed. We just made up today! Were moving way too fast into our relationship. Friendship? I don't know anymore.
I look up and see an elderly woman in water tribe clothes come down from the ship and onto the dock with air nomads helping her down.
She has her grey hair pulled into a bun and two hair loops on the sides of her face.
"GRAN-GRAN!!" Meelo and Ikki call out and start running toward the woman with their arms out.
She smiled and pulled them both in for hugs. "Aw hi kids." She said sweetly.
Jinora made her way to the woman and gave her a hug. "Hi, gran-gran!"
"Gran-Gran, there's someone you need to meet." Meelo starts. "Yeah! She's over here! Come on." Ikki takes her hand and drags her to where everyone else was standing.
"Ikki, please." Tenzin says in his usual cold tone.
"Hi, Katara. How was the trip? I hope you didn't have too much trouble getting here." Pema starts, giving her mother-in-law a hug.
"It was just fine. I was too excited on the destination to focus on the ship ride." She says, pulling away from Pema and giving Tenzin a hug.
"I'm glad, mother. Now, there are some people here we would like you to meet." He starts.
He holds his hand out to me standing awkwardly in between Mako and Bolin.
We all smiled at her as she walked over. She stood in front of me and examined my face. We all bowed our heads out of respect.
"So you're the girl Korra told me about. She cares very much about you, you know." She smiled.
"That's funny. Both you and Tenzin have already told me that about her." I smiled as I raised my head up.
I looked over at Korra, who was covering her face with both hands behind Tenzin. I smirked and then looked back at Katara.
"And you two. Mako and Bolin. You all are siblings yes?" She looks at the boys next to me.
"Yes ma'am. And we are very excited to meet you." Bolin states, literally bouncing up and down in place.
She looks him up and down. "I can see that. Now tell me. Which one of you has been having flashbacks for the past two years?" She asks.
I raise my hand nervously and her eyes fall on me again.
"Alright then. Walk with me, darling. We'll meet up with the rest do you later for dinner. I want to get to know Y/N here a little." She links her arm with mine and we start to walk away from everyone.
Confused, I look back at Korra for her reaction.
"What?" I mouthed. "Just go." She mouths back, giving me two thumbs up.
I turn back to Katara and we continue to keep walking until we end up in the temple her husband had built years ago when he was alive.
"So, we've talked about how you've felt during theses nightmares and how often you've been having them. Now, I'd like to know what exactly they are. What have you been seeing? What might have caused them?"
I feel like I'm about to stop breathing. I hate thinking about that evening.
"It's uh- um. When I was a kid, my house caught fire and all I can remember now is flames all around me and the house coming down with me still inside." I started.
"It's also how I lost my family. My parents and older sister died in that fire and after that, I was left on my own." I explained.
"Oh wow. I'm very sorry that happened to you. And as a child, too.."
She placed a comforting hand on mine. "I'm very sorry to hear that. Let me just say that you are very strong to have gotten where you are now." She patted my hand softly.
"Thank you, ma'am." I smiled gratefully.
She continued to talk to me about what the nightmares could mean, and a bunch of mental health stuff that was starting to overwhelm me.
We had been talking for almost two hours now and I hadn't realized until I looked out a window and saw the sun beginning to set.
"Oh shoot, don't we have to get to dinner?" I said.
"Oh, yes. You're right. Come on, let's get going."
We both walk back to the dining hall and she tells me all sorts of stories of when she was younger, helping Avatar Aang master the elements and stopping the hundred year war against the Fire Nation.
At the dining table, Bolin couldn't stop asking her questions.
"What ever happened to Zuko's mom? Did you ever get your own sky-bison? How many villages have you visited in your life time?"
It didn't bother me until Bolin asked a super inappropriate question in front of everyone.
"Did you and Zuko ever have a thing?" He asked casually.
I choked on my food and everyone stopped moving immediately.
Embarrassed, I covered my face with my hand and looked to ground.
"oh my god you did not just ask that.." I whispered to the boy next to me.
"It's just a question!" He whispered.
Mako and I both glared at him before we both slapped the back of his head.
I gathered my confidence to look up at everyone. This was very literally the most embarrassing moment of my life and I didn't even do shit.
"Please excuse him. He's..." I looked at Bolin's idiotic smile.
"Special." Mako said sourly.
I heard the air bender kids snickering under their breaths.
I then looked to my other side to see Korra dying of laughter, covering her face with her elbow.
I rolled my eyes and continued to look down for the rest of dinner.
I was way too embarrassed to look anyone in the eye.
spirits, take me now. please?
I thought as I looked up at the ceiling.
After another grueling hour of awkward and dull conversations, props to Bolin, I helped clean up before heading out.
I walked in between Mako and Bolin and once we were out of the hall, I immediately smacked the back of his head.
"Ow! What the hell is wrong with you?" He complained.
"What's wrong with me?? The fuck's wrong with you?!" I scolded.
He grumbled. "It was just a question!"
"You're a dumbass, you know that?" I said. He makes a face and stomped away from me. Mako and I look at each other before going to bed for the night.
Master Katara said that we'd begin the healing process tomorrow morning.
She hoped that i'd have another flashback or nightmare and it'd be easier to identify what's been happening.
I walked by myself to my dorm after saying goodnight to everyone.
I was about to walk past Korra's dorm before I remembered what happened between us before Katara arrived.
My heart gives a flutter and I felt butterflies swarm in my stomach.
I laughed quietly to myself before quickly going into my dorm and plopping down on the bed.
Letting out a long held breath, I hugged the pillow against my chest.
It's been a while since I've felt like this. The feeling of having a crush on someone.
Last time I had a crush was on Tahno and it only lasted a few months.
But the feeling of butterflies in your stomach and thinking about your crush all the time is such a good feeling.
knock, knock.
"Who is it?" I called out.
"It's Korra. Can I come in?" I heard her voice ring through the door.
I immediately shot up from my laying down position once I heard her voice and felt my head spin around.
"Whoa- got up too fast. Come in!" I chuckled.
I watched her slide open the door and didn't waste any time to address what Bolin did at the table.
"Oh my god- what was Bolin thinking? Asking Katara a question like that?!" She says immediately.
"The LOOK on Tenzin's face was priceless! AND YOUR FACE WAS EVEN BETTER!" She starts laughing uncontrollably and falls back on my bed.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to show my face in front of that woman again." I sighed.
I couldn't help but laugh lightly at Korra's reactions.
Her laugh is definitely contagious.
"Oh my god..." she covers her face with her hand, her laughter finally dying down.
"Having you around is such a blast." She sighs.
I smile and cross my legs on the bed. "Me or Bolin?" I joked.
"Bolin." She chuckled. "But you especially." She smiles, sitting up.
I feel my cheeks glow pink and I look down in attempt to hide it.
There's a small pause between us before she speaks up.
"Hey um..." She starts. "Yes?" I say.
We look at each other.
I never noticed how blue her eyes were. Especially with the moonlight spilling from the window and shining onto her face.
"I uh- nevermind." She says shamefully.
"Oh. Okay." I said sounding disappointed.
She pats my knee and gets up off the bed awkwardly.
She walks toward the door before turning around again. "You've gotta get up early tomorrow, so I'll let you get some rest."
"Alright.." I watch her walk toward the door.
"Goodnight, Y/N." She says quietly.
"Goodnight, Korra." I said, sweetly.
She slid the door open, walked out and slid the door back closed.
I sighed happily while laying back on my bed.
i have a fat crush on korra.
☾☾☾
I couldn't stop fidgeting with my fingers in nervousness while staring at the seemingly glowing pool of water.
I was waiting for Katara to come back with towels for me.
I don't know why I'm so nervous. All I have to do is lie in a tub of water while she figures out what has been happening to me.
Not that big a deal. Right?
I let out a sigh and sit on a bench, burying my head in my hands.
"Please let there be nothing wrong with me." I whispered to myself.
I hear the door slide across the ground two times and I assumed it was Katara.
Until I felt a familiar touch on my shoulder. I look up and i could very much feel all my anxiety fade away as I laid eyes on her.
"Hi."
"Hey. Just wanted to check in. How are you so doing?" Korra asked.
"Really nervous, if I'm being honest." I chuckled.
We were being rather quiet given the atmosphere.
The room we were in was kind of a spa-type room.
There was just a cool bath tub and the windows were pretty big.
Like, they took up one whole wall and the view was of the rest of the island and the water, facing away from the city.
I would feel so calm and collected in this room if I wasn't in this specific situation.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" I started.
"Sure. Anything."
"Can you stay while I'm in here?" I said as I placed my hand gently on top of hers.
She looked down at my hand and smiled. "Of course. But Y/N, you're gonna be fine, I promise."
"I'm not doubting Katara at all. I'm just worried she'll say I'm sick or that I need help-"
Before I could say anything else, she took my hand and my other and held them both in hers while looking into my eyes.
"Did you know you ramble when you get nervous?" She said cooly.
"What? No I don't."
"Yeah, you do."
"No I- "
"Okay whatever. I'll stay here for you but you have to calm your nerves a bit. It's not gonna work if your mind is elsewhere."
"Okay then. I'll try." I said.
I noticed she hadn't let go of my hands or loosened her grip on them for the whole time we've been talking.
"Hey, Korra?"
"Yeah?"
"You're stopping the blood flow to my hands. You wanna let go now?" I chuckled.
She looked down at my hands and saw that my fingers were visibly turning white.
She yelped as she let go, patting my knuckles as if she had accidentally stepped on a small puppy's tail.
"Sorry, sorry! Jeez, don't know my own strength." She laughed.
Soon, Katara came back with towels and told me to lie down in the water with my head above the surface.
I stepped into the cool water and did what she told me to do.
"Now just relax and close your eyes. I want you to empty your mind of all other things." She says in a calming voice.
I looked up and let my eyelids fall, thinking about the recurring flashbacks.
"Just think about the nightmares you've been having. Nothing else. This will help me determine something but I won't say it until we've finished. Your job for right now is to try and relax."
I did as she wanted. I let my thoughts go to those horrible memories.
The screams, the yelling, the fire, the pain.
I felt my body give a slight shiver, making the water around me create movement.
The glowing water felt really nice. Like a relaxing spa that smelled like mint and eucalyptus.
I didn't think I was in the water for that long until I finally got out and saw that my fingertips had wrinkles on them.
Korra hugged me in a towel once I got out of the tub and rubbed my shoulders trying to create warmth.
"You're alright?" She asks.
"Yeah. I didn't think that was all I'd be doing.." I answer honestly.
"Oh and look."
I move my left shoulder with ease and without pain.
"Oh nice! It's healed, I can play again." I smiled.
"I took the liberty of healing that for you."
Katara says, as she made her way toward us.
"Korra, if I could speak to Y/N alone for a moment?"
"Sure. I'll wait for you outside, okay?" She gets up and I nod, watching her walk out.
Once the door closes, I turn my attention back to the old woman.
"So, were you able to figure something out?" I asked.
She nods and sits down next to me.
"Yes, I was. Y/N, I'm afraid you have a mental disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder. Or PTSD."
I felt my heart drop to my stomach and shivers run down my spine. That sounds serious.
"Oh.."
"It's mental disorder where a person has difficulty after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event."
"Oh. So in my case, it was the house fire." I said.
"Exactly."
"Alright, how do I get rid of it? It's affecting my sleep, my performance.." I asked.
She sighs uncomfortably. "I have to be honest with you, it will take a while before it completely goes away. It might take months or even years."
"Oh.."
"But I know you're a very strong girl. And you will be able to get better and recover from this."
I nodded but I was doubtful that I would get better. She stands up and walk over to a bag on a bench on the side of the room,
She takes out a little pouch and walks back over to me. I stand up before she puts them in my hand.
"This is herbal medicine I want you to take every day. It should help with the nightmares. Take some every night before you go to bed." She instructed.
She also told me to participate in things that make me happy or feel at peace.
Talking to friends, journaling, and exercise are all things that can treat the effects of PTSD
Like I don't do enough of exercise already.
Walking out of the room, I'm immediately bombarded by my brothers and Korra.
I close the door and look up at them. I didn't say anything and neither did they.
"So?" Bolin asks quietly.
"Uhm, apparently she says I have something called post-traumatic stress disorder." I felt my voice quiver as I finished.
"Spirits.." I heard Korra mumble under her breath.
"Is it something we can heal?" Mako asked.
It felt like a lump was forming in my throat.
"Yeah but it's gonna take a few months. She said maybe even years." I said blankly.
At this point, I could fell tears stinging in my eyes. I couldn't let them, especially Korra, see my like this.
"Is there anything we can do to make you feel better?" Bolin asks sweetly.
"Uhm.. I think I just wanna be alone for a little bit. I'll find you guys later." I said quickly before walking away from them.
I didn't put attention to where I was going at all. I just let my feet wander around the island.
My head was filled to the brim of "what if's" and just a million more questions.
I ended up back at the mediation pavilion at around sundown.
I leaned over the railing as I looked out into the island and the bay.
This was one of the few times in my life where I was genuinely scared.
I had a scary childhood but I was able to work through it. But this was different.
I bury my head in my hands and feel myself start to cry.
A cry that slowly starts to turn into a quiet sob.
I've never been the one to have something to fix. Now that there is something I need to fix, I have no idea what to do.
I just feel so helpless.
☾☾☾