Sacrifices of Love || Korra x water!bender (3.0k)
Warning: fighting, angst, reader sacrifices her bending, depression
Synopsis: Amon attacks as he promised he would. The team struggled to hold him and his followers off, chaos erupts and he gets ahold of Korra but you couldn’t let that happen. You take Korra place in the punishment and now have to live with that decision. (there will be a pt2)
It was the night of the pro-bending finals, everyone was on high alert. Lin had her soldiers posted on every possible entrance, including dozen of boats on the bay and in the sky. Tenzin and you also came as back up.
Tensions were high not only because of the fight but because of Amons threat, he wasn’t just making empty threats anymore he promised something disastrous would happen if the game was held tonight. Despite his threats the game was still was happening, Korra and Lin refused to cower and show fear.
Your stomach was uncomfortably heavy like a dozen rocks had settled to the bottom and your chest tightened constricting your breathing. You couldn’t shake the feeling something bad was going to happen tonight. All you could focus on was Korra, she’s strong and resilient but she can be a bit wild when it comes to decision making. She throws herself in front of danger without a second thought to protect others and that scares you.
You sat blended into the crowd eyes scanning at the cheering fans, anyone could be a threat so you stayed on high alert.
Your eyes fall on the arena stage, and a sigh escaped your lips.
The Wolf-bats are demolishing the Fire Ferrets. Korra's team keeps taking hit after hit, and none of it is their fault. Those nasty grimy Wolf-bats are cheating and the ref doesn’t even seem to care. The wolf-bats are fighting out of their zone, throwing disk after disk, and exceeding the water bending time limit yet nothing was said.
“Oh come on! That’s a foul!” one of the fans screamed, while others let out a chorus of "oohs" after seeing Bolin go down. You flinched as you watched him fall off the platform into the water. It was brutal.
As the fight continued, the Fire Ferrets went down after a series of dirty moves, resulting in the Wolf-bats winning. You scoffed and rolled your eyes. What a bunch of dirty cheaters.
You were still mumbling about the unfair treatment when you noticed people throughout the stadium pulling up some sort of masks. At first, you thought it was a celebration for the Wolf-bats' victory, until you realized it was the Equalists' symbol.
You sat up straight as panic surged through you. Jumping to your feet, you searched for Tenzin and Lin, shoving your way through the fans, only to find them already knocked out on the ground.
You had no time to check if they were okay, the crackle of electricity sounded behind you. Your body reacted before your mind could catch up, you spun on your heel, driving your foot straight into the attacker's stomach. The Equalist let out a grunt as the force launched him backward into a row of seats.
You barely had time to breathe before two more rushed forward. One swung an electrified glove toward your face you ducked barely missing as the blue current hissed through the air above your head.
Using the momentum, you slammed your elbow into his ribs. A sharp crack echoed through the stadium and he stumbled sideways, gasping for breath.
The second Equalist lunged you grabbed his wrist and twisted. The shock glove discharged harmlessly into the metal railing beside you, sending sparks exploding into the air.
The crowd screamed as panic spread further through the arena as Equalist emerged from every direction. Fans scrambled over seats, tripping over one another as masked figures flooded the stands.
"Amon! He's here!" someone shouted.
Your heart dropped, You shoved past another Equalist, your eyes immediately finding the arena floor.
The Wolf-Bats, who had been celebrating only moments ago, were now fighting for their lives. Masked Equalist swarmed the stage from every direction. Tahno hurled water whips at them, sending several flying backward, while his teammates fought desperately to keep them away but there were too many.
Then the crowd suddenly went quiet, everyone stopped running. Not because they weren’t scared but they were more terrified to find out what would happen if they did move. The air was so thick you could choke on it, you could almost smell the fear seeping out of everyone.
Amon stepped into the center of the stage. Even from where you stood, you could feel his presence. It was heavy and dark, fear was something he fed off of.
Tahno froze, he couldn’t…was he really about to take his bending? Your inside were a mess, you could feel your heart beating against your chest.
Amon moved terrifyingly calm as he approached the pro-bender. The remaining Equalist held the Wolf-Bats down while Tahno struggled against their grip.
Amon grabbed the hanging mic, “You have used your bending to terrorize and exploit others, you celebrate three bullies who cheated their way to the top” Amon's voice echoed throughout the arena.
“That is what you do, you threaten and abuse your non-bending citizens. Now they will be cleansed of their impurity, this a warning to all…The era of bending supremacy is coming to an end."
Tahno cursed and fought harder, screaming, fighting against their grip but it was useless. Amon placed one hand on his face and another on the back of his head. Your breathing grew rapid, almost hyperventilating.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then Tahno’s body went still almost as if he was paralyzed. Amon’s followers grabbed him threw him and his teammates into the water below.
You couldn’t believe your eyes. You had seen people injured before, you had seen people break bones, hell even nearly die. But nothing to gut reaching as watching someone’s bending being taken away, you could feel their energy deplete, almost as if their soul had been ripped away.
Just like that his bending was gone. A strange energy seemed to pulse around them, it made you look at him completely different now, you thought he was dangerous but this—this is significantly worse, he’s a monster.
You spun around to find Tenzin and Lin already back on their feet.
“Go find Korra and the rest of them, we’ll deal with Amon.” You nodded before you could run off someone grabbed your forearm, “and be careful” Lin added on. You gave her a reassuring smile before running off.
You ran through the arena spending forever looking in every room and every corner but you found nothing. Not until you heard grunting and struggling coming from a back training room. You kicked down the door and to see Korra and Mako fighting for their lives against Amon, they weren’t wining.
You immediately jumped into action, not wasting any time. Throwing ice knives and whipping water toward Amon, you struck relentlessly, trying to create space between him, Korra, and Mako. The attack was working, he was strong but you all could walk out of this safely if you kept fighting. For the first time since entering the room, Amon was forced to step back. But of course he didn’t stay down for long.
“Korra, watch out!” you shouted. Korra didn’t hesitate she launched herself forward with a blast of fire while Mako followed with a bolt of lightning. The three of you pressed the advantage, forcing Amon onto the defensive. Ice crashed into the walls, fire illuminated the room, and chunks of concrete shattered beneath your attacks. For a brief moment, it felt like you might actually win this. Amon began to stagger after one of Korra’s kicks connected with his chest.
“We gotta get outta here! More are coming!” Mako warned. As soon as you and Korra began to pull back for an escape everything went wrong.
Multiple Equalist suddenly dropped from one of the upper walkways.
“Mako behind you!” The masked man slammed into him from behind. Mako stumbled hitting the ground hard, his head striking the floor before he could react.
“Mako!” Korra cried, mako injuries distracting her. She turned toward him for only a second and that’s all he needed. Amon lunged forward before anyone could stop him, wrapping his hand around Korra’s arms yanking her back.
“Korra!” you screamed trying your hardest to fight off the equalist. Korra struggled violently, trying to break free, but Amon’s grip was like iron.
Your blood ran cold. No. Please, no. Not Korra. She couldn't lose her bending, the world needed her.
You knew exactly what was about to happen. Your stomach dropped, your chest tightening with every passing second. The same sick feeling you'd felt watching Tahno lose his bending came rushing back, settling heavily in your gut.
Amon's free hand began to rise toward Korra's face, and everything around you seemed to move in slow motion. You could hear Korra struggling. Behind you, Mako was fighting to get back up. The deafening sound of your heartbeat pounded in your ears.
This cannot be happening. You knocked the last Equalist unconscious and, without thinking, threw yourself forward.
You slammed into Korra's side with all your strength. The force knocked her out of Amon's grasp, and for a split second, relief flooded through you. Then Amon's gloved hand clamped onto your face. Your entire body froze in fear.
Before either Korra or Mako could react, Amon pressed his thumb against your forehead.
No…this can’t be happening. You stuck frozen from fear in his iron grip.
“You interfered with destiny, and now you are cleansed of your impurities.”
He let you go, and your knees crashed against the ground. Your body pitched forward, barely catching itself on your hands. The world felt hollow—you felt hollow.
You couldn't feel anything. The pure energy that had once flowed through you was gone. The feeling of being connected to the spirits and your ancestors was gone... just like that.
Nothing felt real. This couldn’t be real.
Your vision began to blur as your eyes swelled with tears. Memories of your older sister and mother teaching you how to waterbend came flooding back. The smile on your mother's face flashed across your mind as she proudly watched you bend the tiniest ball of water.
A screaming sob erupted from deep within you, echoing off the walls of the empty room. Your bending was gone...forever.
Korra rushed to your side immediately.
Amon remained standing, staring down at you. “This changes nothing.” His gaze locked onto Korra. “I will have another opportunity to cleanse you, Avatar.”
Korra glared at him through tears. “YOU MONSTER!” she screamed, her voice raspy with anger and sorrow.
Amon ignored the insult. With a sweep of his arm, the Equalists began retreating. Within seconds, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving only silence behind. Mako finally stumbled to his feet and rushed over. Korra was still kneeling beside you, her hands gripping your shoulders.
“Y/N... look at me, please. I'm so, so sorry. I—I should've done something.”
You didn't look up at her. Her apologies fell on deaf ears. There was only silence, a loud terrible silence. An aching emptiness where your bending used to be.
The only thing that brought you any comfort was knowing Korra was okay and that you won't have to suffer in vain. Even if it had cost you everything.
It's been a few weeks since the Amon catastrophe happened. You've spent most of that time at home, sulking and feeling pitiful about yourself. The feeling you've been experiencing is indescribable—an awful mixture of being a soulless statue and an endless, aching void.
Korra and the others have come by to check on you, but you'd rather not deal with all the company and the thousand different ways people reword the same question. "Are you okay?"
No! You're not okay...How could you be?
Korra would sometimes come over alone and sit with you in silence. You could tell she felt awful. She blamed herself, even though it wasn't her fault. She believed she was supposed to protect you and everyone else, not the other way around.
You've spent most days like today lying in bed, tossing and turning while staring out the window. The weather was the definition of perfect. Bright sunshine poured across Republic City as birds chirped and flew past your window. It felt like the universe was mocking you.
With an irritated groan, you threw off the covers and slammed the window shut. Asami had opened it earlier, insisting you needed fresh air. Right now, you'd rather suffocate in your own grief.
You crawled back beneath the blankets, finally enjoying the darkness. Slowly, you began drifting off to sleep until a firm knock sounded at your door.
You sighed, you already knew who it was.
Lin wasn't exactly your mother—more of a mentor. But she never corrected you when you called her that growing up. She'd taken you in after catching you robbing some rich old man with your bending when you were eight years old. A kid covered in dirt, wearing clothes too small and looking like they might collapse from starvation at any moment.
She'd said you had grit. Then she'd spent years shaping you into who you were today...Or who you used to be.
But right now, you really didn't want to be bothered by her. You were exhausted from people trying to comfort you. And Lin didn't do comforting. If you fell, you got back up. If life knocked you down, you dealt with it.
She wasn't the type to coddle someone over a scraped knee. You'd learned that the hard way. Besides, Lin was terrible at comforting people. Sometimes you were convinced she didn't even try.
A moment later, you heard her clear her throat outside your room.
"Hey, kid. You up?" You didn't answer.
"Katara's here to try healing—"
"I don't want to try anymore. Please just leave me alone."
Silence followed. No argument, no lecture, no telling you to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Just the sound of Lin's footsteps retreating down the hall and the gentle slide of your bedroom door closing.
If you didn't feel so miserable, you'd probably be shocked that she hadn't fought back.
It was a few days after Lin attempted to get you to do a healing session. Mako and Bolin came over leaving some food they picked up from across town, you ate some but couldn’t stomach the rest. Hours later you found yourself outside for the first time in what seemed like years staring up at the full moon. It was absolutely beautiful, you closed your eyes basking in the moonlight.
It almost felt like a warm hug. Tears began to spill down your cheeks yet you didn’t bother wiping them away you just let them flow.
“Y/n?” You didn’t have to turn around to know who it was, the way she said your name gave her away every time.
You quickly wiped at your eyes, though it was pointless Korra had already seen the tears. The grass shifted beneath her feet as she slowly approached, she stood next to you and followed your eyes to the moon.
For a moment neither of you spoke. The silence wasn’t suffocating just awkward. “You haven’t been answering my letters.”
Your eyes immediately shifted to the ground in shame, the words came out harsher than you intended. Korra lowered her head in shame, guilt instantly twisted in your stomach. You knew she hadn’t done anything wrong but she felt like she did.
You stared back up at the moon.
“No It’s okay,” Korra interrupted softly. Silence settled between you again, you wanted to say something but nothing felt right. Nothing felt like it would fix this.
The moonlight reflected across the water nearby, making it shimmer like liquid silver. Once upon a time you would’ve reached out and bent it without a second thought. Now it just sat there… untouchable. Just a horrible reminder of something you can no longer do.
Your throat tightened as you looked away.
“You know,” she finally said, “I keep replaying it.” You looked over at her, her eyes were puffy and red. Like she was crying, your heart clenched at the sight of her appearance.
Her eyes were fixed on the ground.
“I should’ve been faster.” Her voice cracked. Shame of not being able to save you, embarrassment of holding the title of the avatar yet failing to protect others…she couldn’t handle it.
“I should’ve broken free. I should’ve stopped him.”
“Korra—” she wouldn't even let you get a word in...
“I was supposed to protect you.” The words came out charged full of angry, but not at you at herself. She looked up and you were startled by how exhausted she looked. Dark circles sat beneath her eyes. Her shoulders were tense and her fists clenched at her sides. She looked like she hadn’t slept in weeks.
“I let him take your bending.” The confession seemed to physically hurt her. “And every day I wake up and you’re still—”
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Still what? Still broken, still grieving, still suffering because of her? At least that’s what she believed, but it wasn’t true.
You looked away blinking fresh tears away. The anger you’d been carrying for weeks suddenly felt heavy, not because it was gone because you realized Korra had been carrying her own version of it the entire time.
She swallowed hard. “I am going to fix this.”
There was no hesitation in her voice, no uncertainty only anger and determination.
“If I have to search every corner of the world, “If I have to fight Amon myself…Even If it’s the last thing I do as the Avatar, I will restore your bending.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “I swear it.” She lifted your hand and kissed the back of it.
That night you and Korra stayed up until the sun began to rise. Not much talking just enjoying each other’s presence, finally seeing each other for once since the incident. You two found yourself back in your room wrapped in each other’s arms, as you dozed off to sleep she kept reassuring you that you will get your bending back no matter what she has to do. Even if she has to travel to the spirit world to look far and wide.
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