Korra remembered when she had heard the news about Akashi dying. It came as a shock to her, and she almost broke down.
He was the one she spent most of her time with in Republic City. He was her mentor, friend, and she went to him when she needed comfort.She had almost gotten him when she had been drinking.
To say that she had snapped at that moment was an understatement. After hearing that he had been eaten by a shark after the Equalists put him down in the water, she went to search for his remains, only to find nothing. Nothing was left of him except memories and the blood that dispersed through the sea.
Just as they were getting somewhere, he had left the world, just like that, leaving her with emptiness.
And all she had left to do was to vent her anger on the Equalists and bring Amon to justice, since he was the main reason why Akashi had to die.
When she jumped off the plane, blinded by emotions, she headed to the island.
It's worth mentioning that Akashi had left that island location before his death. It was his last work, and she was determined to finish it.
Currently, she arrived at the island as she was lifted by a spinning sphere that surrounded her like a barrier. As she arrived at the island, something didn't make sense.
Even through lenses blinded by rage, it was too big to ignore.
Black smoke filled the air. Unconscious people lay down on the island.
And there, at the highest building, Akashi was lying down with a straw in his mouth. He played with the straw, moving it up and down, as if he had no other way to kill the boredom. Although her eyes glowed blue, she had to rub them, thinking that some dust had gotten into them.
"You're not a spirit, are you?" she asked as she approached, the glow in her eyes vanishing, revealing her natural blue eyes.
"Do you believe your eyes, or do you believe the media?" he asked, in the same voice.
He then moved his hand, hitting her face with gentle wind.
"Spirits can't bend, in case you're still wondering," he added.
Akashi didn't expect much of a reaction from her other than shock, confusion, or anger. But she flew to him and held him, hugging him, her strength almost choking him.
"It's not a dream…" she said, her tone relieved and sad at the same time.
Akashi patted her on the back. "Hey, I just almost died, not diet. Stop being dramatic."
He didn't expect to get a reaction like that from her. Maybe from Lin, since they had a relatively close relationship. Man. If Korra acted like this, the chief would bury him under the ground for going up with that plan. Well, he had told her that he wouldn't die, so if she couldn't figure it out despite giving her the leads, it's on her.
Just for his comment, Korra pinched him on his back.
"Ouch." He winced.
She pulled back, and she looked at him in the face.
"What happened? I've heard that a shark has eaten you?" she asked, her eyes cloudy. All of the regrets she had, all of the thoughts of 'What if…' had been thrown out of her mind the moment Akashi was revealed to be alive.
"Long story short." Akashi pointed to the two unconscious people, who had been beaten up by him.
Well, most of the island was unconscious.
"Yes." Korra nodded, as if urging him to talk.
Korra didn't need to know the truth.
As much as good-hearted and naive as she was, naive people weren't the ones to be trusted with secrets.
She may even get that Avatar's self-entitlement later, and if she thought it was wrong, he didn't want to risk it.
She was still a late teenager on hormones, and even he, with all of his experience in the field, couldn't predict what she may do.
"I was kidnapped by Tarrlok through a bloodbent shark, and got taken to this island. The blood that everyone had seen belonged to the shark. Fortunately, I had that radio device on me that I asked the chief to track just in case… Well, I knew that they wanted to kidnap me and wouldn't give up. So I deliberately let myself go." he said, giving her a story with a plot hole despite the story being one sentence.
But Korra didn't say anything and just nodded.
"And you could beat them up, all on your own? Even these two bloodbenders?" Korra said, looking at these two.
It felt unreal and so real at the same time that she had to pinch herself to confirm that she wasn't dreaming.
Akashi sat up and spat the straw. He then turned to Korra and looked at her intensively. She jerked her head back as the stare caught her off guard.
Akashi put his hands on her shoulders. "Korra. I need something from you."
Sudden uncomfort hit her stomach as her heart rate increased.
"Yes?" she asked.
Was he about to confess? Korra couldn't help but think about the names of the first kid at that moment.
"I need you…" he said.
Her cheeks almost turned red.
"To take the credit for defeating the Equalists. It would do me a huge favor," he asked.
Korra's face slowly drew a pout. "I thought you were about to confess your feelings!" She said, her voice getting a bit aggressive.
"In an island with people almost dead?" Akashi turned his head, "And why?"
"I don't know. Someone said I have to tell you something. And then I need you… before pausing." She lurched her head left and right, as if angry.
"Good point." Akashi bit his bottom lip as he turned his head to the sea.
He then looked at her, "Did you want me to confess."
"Didn't I make it obvious at your bar?" she argued.
Akashi shrugged, "You were drunk, and vulnerable. I wouldn't want to take advantage of you."
"What if I wanted you to take advantage of me," she crossed her arms. "Better than clinging to a woman who says that you are both dating in denial."
Akashi analyzed her words. Wanting him to take advantage, to say that when she's sober wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Are you… asking me out?" he asked.
"Yes," she stood on her toes and kissed him on the lips. Akashi opened his eyes widely. But he couldn't resist the heat of the moment, and he kissed her back.
And by then, the clouds and the raging storms that were around earlier calmed.
The sky revealed a dark gray airship that belonged to the police force of Republic City.