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“The new Avatar’s been found,” Sokka says without preamble, striding into Zuko’s office absent of any a knock. He walks with an air of being expected, comfortably settling himself in the seat before Zuko’s desk, leaning back in the chair and resting one leg over the arm, fingers steepled near his chin.
“North or South?” Zuko asks, dropping the documents he had been looking at on his desk casually, like he’d just seen Sokka five minutes ago, instead of the five months it has been. He glances up to witness his friend’s small but impish grin.
“South,” Sokka answers, tilting his head. “Well, I suppose you could say both, technically. Her father emigrated from the North Pole. You remember the young Northern general from a few years ago, got banished for knocking down the spirit forest?”
As if Zuko could ever forget a banished prince. “Tonraq?
Sokka nods. “He married a Southern water bender named Senna. Their daughter, Korra, is, well, she’s--,”
“Aang.” Zuko surmises. Sokka nods his head again, eyes wide with disbelief, and an old grief made fresh. He runs a hand down his face and sighs.
“Some days I still can’t believe he’s gone. To be honest, I figured I’d be dead long before Aang ever was. And now--,” Sokka wipes a hasty tear from his cheek with his palm.
“Now, he has a new life,” Zuko finishes sadly. “How do you know it’s her?”
At that, Sokka smiles once again, laughing a little. “Her bending. Korra can already bend water, earth and fire.”
Zuko’s eyes widen in shock, quickly doing the math in his head. “She’s only four! I couldn’t even make a flame until I was six!”
“Yeah, it’s crazy. She’s crazy. She’s this hilarious little spitfire, nothing like Aang at all on the surface, but then you get to know her, and she’s so fierce and stubborn and sweet and I—I see it. I see him. Katara’s moving back south to be her water bending master. We’re throwing a bit of a party before the lessons start to introduce Korra to everybody next week. Would you like to meet her?”
“I’ll be a very old man by the time Korra needs a fire bending master,” Zuko says evenly. Sokka scoffs.
“Coming to the party doesn’t mean you have to be her teacher. Katara’s just being Katara, as usual. I’m pretty sure Korra will be desperately sad if you don’t come, though. Fire bending is already her favorite.”
Zuko snorts. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m completely serious. And she’s pretty excited to meet you.”
Zuko laughs. “Why me? I’m not even Fire Lord anymore.”
Sokka just shrugs. “Who am I to explain fanatics? Kid adores you. If you come it’ll make her day.”
“Well, who am I to deny the Avatar?”
Sokka grins.
***
“Chief Sokka, welcome once again to our home,” the young woman says, clasping her hands together and bowing her head.
Sokka smiles. “Hello, Senna. Please allow me to introduce my dear friend, Fire Lord Zuko.”
Senna’s mouth gapes. “F-fire Lord?”
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am,” Zuko responds with his own bow. Senna’s eyes widen.
“Oh my--,”
“HE’S HERE!” a young voice shrieks, as a tiny ball of energy zips into the room, dust gathering in her wake. “hesherehesherehesheresheshere--,”
“Korra!” Senna yelps, and the ball of energy stops in her tracks. Zuko takes a moment to study the child. She is wearing the traditional blue of the water tribe, her hair held back in two pigtails, with one long ponytail on the top of her head. Her face is round and cherubic, her blue eyes wide and fierce.
The girl parks herself at Zuko’s feet and raises both hands, palms up, and the ground rises beneath her feet. She halts her ascent when her eyes are level with the Fire Lord.
A soft, tiny hand immediately reaches out and gently strokes his scarred cheek. “You’re here. The boy with two faces. You teached me fire bending.” Korra says softly. Behind her, Senna and Sokka both gasp.
“Sweetheart--,” Senna says gently, but Korra interrupts, her eyes locked with Zuko’s.
“You teached me fire bending in my dreams at the upside-down houses in the sky. You’re my Sifu Hotman!”
Zuko cannot help the old and gnarled hand that reaches out to brush back Korra’s hair, unable to believe this child is truly real; unwilling tears are already gathering in his eyes. “Yes, my dear. I was, once upon a time.”
At that, Korra huffs, grabbing Zuko’s hand from her head and holding it in her own. “You still are, Sifu Hotman.”
Zuko plucks Korra off the slab of stone and settles her against his hip. “I have heard fire bending is your favorite.”
“Of course, it is!” Korra says brightly. “I love it because the fire comes from me! From right here!” She points at her heart. “Fire is life.” Then she breathes fire like a dragon, the yellow flames settling merrily in her open palm. She presents them to him like a gift.
He scoops the flames in the hand not holding her upright and smiles. “Yes. Fire is life.” He blows out the flames and taps her fondly on the nose. Korra giggles, her answering smile brighter than the sun.
Aang is gone. His student, his dear friend, once the last air bender in the world, has passed on.
But his life, his good deeds, his legacy still lives. Aang’s legacy lives in the gift of Zuko’s own reign, of his daughter’s and grandson’s reigns to follow. It lives in Katara, in their children, in the air temples and Tenzin’s continued teachings.
And Aang’s power, his strength, his life continues in the sweet child now in Zuko’s arms. In Korra, who now holds the balance of the world in the palm of her tiny, tiny hands.
“Since we knew each other back then, Sifu Hotman,” little Korra whispers in his ear, “Do you think we can be friends now, too?”
"Of course, my dear,” Zuko says softly, holding the child closer still, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Friendships can last more than one lifetime.”
***