The Chief and the Firebender || Tonraq ||
Slow, deliberate, like he was trying to decide if you were serious or if this was just how you were.
“Is there a reason why you’re here?” he asked, voice even, though there was a faint edge of curiosity beneath it now.
You shrugged, completely unbothered, still crouched in the snow while his daughter clung to your sleeve like she’d claimed you.
“Not particularly,” you said lightly. “I mean… I’ve never been here before, so I was curious.”
There was a pause, a very long pause, one that stretched just enough to feel intentional.
Korra babbled happily between you, completely unaware she was the only thing keeping this from turning into a very awkward silence.
You blinked, then your grin slowly spread, a little mischievous, a little too confident for someone who had eaten snow not even a minute ago.
“Careful,” you said, tilting your head slightly, brushing a bit of frost from your sleeve with exaggerated ease. “Don’t watch too long… you might fall in love with me.”
Korra made a small, impatient noise and tugged at your sleeve again like, hello? attention?
Tonraq’s eyes flicked briefly to her, then back to you. “…You just fell into the snow,” he said flatly.
You gasped softly, pressing a hand to your chest in mock offense. “First of all....that was intentional.”
“It didn’t look intentional.”
“It was a demonstration,” you corrected, lifting your chin. “Very advanced Fire Nation technique. You wouldn’t understand.”
Korra giggled again, clearly siding with you regardless of logic.
Tonraq exhaled slowly through his nose, something dangerously close to amusement flickering in his expression before he smothered it. “…Right.”
You pointed at him, narrowing your eyes playfully. “That sounded like disbelief.”
You huffed, shifting slightly in the snow as Korra leaned more into you, her tiny hands now trying to grab at your hair.
“Hey!!! hey....none of that,” you murmured, gently catching her hands. “You’re bold and grabby. A Dangerous combination.”
“She likes you,” Tonraq repeated, but this time there was more weight to it.
You glanced up at him, something softer slipping into your expression before you masked it with a small smile.
“Well,” you said, quieter now, “she’s got good instincts.”
Korra made a pleased sound like she agreed.
Tonraq studied you again.
Not just your words this time but the way you handled her.
Careful. Natural. Like you weren’t trying.
“…You’re not worried?” he asked after a moment.
You shrugged again, easy, almost careless but not foolish.
“I can handle myself,” you said simply, a faint flicker of heat dancing briefly at your fingertips before disappearing just as quickly. “Besides… I’m more worried about slipping again and embarrassing myself in front of her.”
Korra squealed, delighted, as if she understood she was being considered the most important audience.
Tonraq’s gaze dropped to the faint trace of fire that had sparked in your hand then back to you. "So not only are you from the Fire Nation, you are also a …Firebender,”
You smiled, a little sharper this time. “The best.”
“…You’re going to freeze.”
“You’re not dressed for this,” he clarified, nodding toward your clothes, still dusted with snow. “You won’t last long out here.”
You opened your mouth to argue then a breeze cut through, biting and cold, making you visibly shiver as you froze for a moment.
Tonraq raised an eyebrow.
You straightened immediately. “That was a one-time reaction.”
Korra made a soft sound, patting your arm like she was comforting you.
“…Oh no,” you whispered, looking at her. “Don’t you start pitying me too.”
Tonraq exhaled again, this time it was a quiet, unmistakable huff of amusement because he knew his daughter and being the chief of the village he knew he had to do something.
“You should come with us.”
You blinked. “…That sounds like the beginning of a kidnapping.”
“Good, because I don’t think I have the energy to fight you in the snow,” you admitted.
You squinted at him. “…I might.”
Korra laughed again, loud, bright, completely entertained.
Tonraq shook his head slightly, but there was no real dismissal in it anymore, just quiet acceptance.
You sighed dramatically, glancing between him and the tiny human still clinging to you.
“…Alright,” you said finally, pushing yourself up again, brushing off what felt like another layer of snow. “But if I fall again, I’m blaming both of you.”
Korra immediately clapped as Tonraq gestured for you to walk ahead.
“…If I slip again,” you muttered under your breath, “I’m actually leaving the nation.”
Tonraq’s voice came a second too late, calm, but with that quiet weight behind it.
“You’re not…” he started, watching the way you steadied yourself in the snow like it had personally offended you. “…you do realize she’s the Avatar.”
You paused mid-step, blinked then slowly turned your head then looked down at the tiny girl still clutching your sleeve then back up at him.
“…And?” you said, completely unimpressed. “She’s still a baby.”
Korra let out a proud little noise, like she agreed with you, and promptly tried to shove her entire mittened hand into your mouth.
You caught it just in time. “Absolutely not,” you muttered, gently pushing her hand away. “We are not eating strangers today. That’s where I draw the line.”
Tonraq stared at you, not shocked, not offended, just processing what you just said because most people reacted to that information with awe, with reverence, with hesitation.
You were arguing with his daughter about putting her hand in your mouth.
“…She’s the Avatar,” he repeated, slower this time.
You waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, chosen one, balance of the world, all that....very impressive.” You crouched slightly again, adjusting the little bundle of furs around her so she didn’t topple forward.
“Still a baby,” you added, softer now, brushing a bit of frost off her cheek. “Still gonna drool. Still gonna grab things she shouldn’t. Still gonna need someone making sure she doesn’t faceplant into snow like I did.”
Korra giggled at that, clearly thinking the faceplant part was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
Tonraq’s gaze shifted as something in his shoulders eased, just a fraction. “…Most people don’t talk about her like that,” he said.
You glanced up at him again, brows lifting slightly then scoffed.“What, like she’s some untouchable spirit figure?” you snorted. “She’s got chubby cheeks and just tried to eat my hand. I think we can keep things realistic.”
Korra squealed again, clearly thrilled to be included in the conversation about herself.
You grinned at her. “Yeah, I’m talking about you, tiny menace.”
She reached for you again.
You sighed like it was a burden, but didn’t move away.
Tonraq watched the way you adjusted automatically so she wouldn’t lose her grip, the way you didn’t even hesitate.The way you didn’t treat her like something fragile or something sacred.
“…You’re strange,” he said after a moment.
You gasped softly, placing a hand over your heart again. “Wow. First you doubt my very real snow technique, now you insult me? This is how you treat guests?”
Korra babbled between you again, completely content, her tiny hand now patting your cheek like she was approving of you.
You blinked, then softened immediately. “…Okay, that’s actually kind of cute,” you admitted.
Tonraq’s gaze lingered on you again, longer this time. “…You’re not afraid of her,” he said.
You looked up at him like that was the most ridiculous thing he’d said yet. “Why would I be?”
“So?” you shrugged. “So am I.”
There was no arrogance in it, just a simple fact.
Tonraq’s eyes flicked briefly to your hands again, like he could still feel the trace of heat you’d shown earlier. “…Power like hers isn’t something to take lightly.”
Your expression softened, just a little. “I’m not taking it lightly,” you said. “I’m just not going to treat her like she’s already carrying the whole world on her shoulders.”
You looked down at Korra again, brushing your thumb gently over her mitten. "She's got time for that later and then, she still won't be alone."
Korra leaned into the touch, content, trusting.
Tonraq went still, because that wasn’t something most people understood.
You stood back up carefully, still adjusting to the snow under your feet, and glanced at him again with a small, crooked smile. “Relax,” you added lightly. “I’m not going to start training her or anything....…Unless you ask nicely.”
Tonraq huffed, quiet, almost a breath of a laugh before he caught it. “You talk a lot.”
You grinned instantly. “You noticed.”
Korra squealed again like she was encouraging you.
You pointed at her. “See? She gets me.”
Tonraq shook his head slightly, but this time there was no resistance left in it.
Just a quiet acceptance of the chaos you brought with you. “…Come on,” he said finally, turning slightly. “If you’re staying, you’ll need somewhere warm.”
You lit up immediately. “See? I knew falling into the snow would pay off.”
“You’re not doing that again.”
Korra laughed, and just like that, you were already part of their world.
