dear_mun | dropped at adstringendum

What? No. No, that's not your fault - you couldn't help that. [ Her fingers twitch unhappily. ] I don't think I was me anymore, anyway. I was about to do some... really bad things. I'm glad you weren't there.

I don't believe that you would do anything that's really bad. Or that you'd ever stop being you. But if you were going through something where you thought that... I'd want to be there for you.

I was practicing bloodbending on Mako.

[ Softly. She's ashamed, but she's not running from the admission. ]

I had just started.

[It's something Aang's more prepare for than she knows. But part of it still shocks him.]

You... you were practicing that? [He speaks quietly, blankly, in disbelief.] On a... person?

Animals can't give consent. But Mako- he wanted it. He said I could be our secret weapon in case Amon or Tarrlok came back.

[ And then- right, he probably doesn't know. ]

There are two moons in Adstringendum. Mine and Korra's waterbending was stronger than it ever was at home. So was Amon's.

That's why you're learning it in Luceti, too. Because of... them. Even though that Amon guy, he never showed up here. But you haven't been practicing on people...

[A chill runs down his spine, and he shakes his head. Clearly upset, but not letting any judgement enter his tone.]

Two moons? That must make it even worse. At least here, we thought... if he came, he'd be weaker from the power limit, while you were stronger from all the time you trained here. That we'd... have a chance.

I wasn't afraid of him!

[ She blurts it before she realizes it, then backs up, pressing her hand to her mouth and starting again. ]

It wasn't Amon that I was afraid of. Between all of the benders in the city, and the fact that there were people stronger than all of us combined-- it was people like Lucifer.

[He blinks in surprise.]

I didn't say you were afraid. [I'm the one who's afraid.] But... Lucifer? I never heard of anyone like that.

He's.. bad. And powerful. He hasn't really done anything in a long time, but when I first showed up-

[ She inhales. ]

But if there was something that I could do to protect the people I care about, isn't it my obligation to do just that?

[And he looks on uncertainly. There's something she's not telling him about what this guy's done... but Aang's also afraid to know the answer.]

It is. I've come to understand that. Here at Luceti, you decided to use that - that bending again... only because we had to make sure we could protect her. Our granddaughter. Ikki. No matter what.

[ Do you see that, Aang? The way she's flushing and sort of looking away? ]

I met Jinora, but she was only there for a visitor's event. Tenzin, too. He really looked a lot like you.

[He's going to catch it a bit, with some light blushing of his own.]

You really think so? [He says with some surprise but some pride, too.] They were both here for a while, too. But it was like we didn't get any time with them before they were back home. At least they're safe now. And... It was nice. Getting to meet them.

[ She won't go into how Tenzin walked in on her and Jet mackin' because that just seems unnecessarily cruel. ]

Have you met Asami?

[Ouch. He'd have to wonder how bad it would be for Tenzin to come back if Katara wound up smooching with Masaomi Kida.]

Yeah. She was here for longer! She was real nice and pretty. But now the only people here from that time are Ikki and Bolin.

[ Yiiikes. ]

-- it's like we've got the other half! We have Mako and Asami. And Lin, too. She's great.

Oh! I haven't met Mako. But... Lin's there? She was here, too, but she was gone even quicker than the others. [~~SOB SHE DISAPPEARED AFTER JUST A FEW TAGS~~] I know it's safer back home, but I think I really would've liked to get to know her. [And ask her what her intentions were with his son!]

She and Toph get along really well! [ She's brightening quite a bit now that she's not talking about the bad things in that place, the bloodbending and the trauma-- ]

I think it's helped Toph a lot. She's a lot more mature now.

They did? That's great! I'm really glad for them there.

I just wish things had gone as well here. Lin was gone so quickly, that Toph didn't really know what to make of it. She was really down and confused about it for a while. She probably still is, a little. But... I'm glad to know they'd get along so well.

They really look after each other. It's good to see.

[ So awkward. What does she even say to you, Aang. ;; ]

It must be. And it's good that it sounds like she's... made peace with her future in a way. Because... some things I've heard about it were bad, but a lot of the things I've heard... They sound beautiful. And Korra beat the bad guys.

So I - we... [He swallows a lump in his throat and just gets it out.] At home, we have a lot to look forward to, don't we?

[ And she actually relaxes at that, of all things. ]

Did you know that I'm going to be the best healer in the world?

[He blinks.]

You mean you aren't already?

Aang!

[ Oh no she might preen a little.. ]

Of course not.

[He rubs his head nervously.]

Really? I guess I've never really been healed by anyone else, but I don't see how anyone could be better than you. Either way, I'm proud of you.

...Not to mention we're all gonna make a great city! But after that Yu Dao thing, I think that one might be starting sooner than I thought.

I guess I had kind of figured we had our adventure out of the way, you know? But things never stop for the Avatar, do they?

[ She's smiling about that. ]

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