Chapter Text
Borra: The Avatar's Guidance
Chapter Two: Huanle
(I do not, nor will I ever own The Legend of Korra. This series belongs to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.)
Haku was pulling on Korra's hand a bit more intently as they came upon two small rocks in the ground.
"...Are these your parents graves?" Korra asked.
"Yeah." Haku answered.
"How come there aren't any proper headstones?" Bolin asked.
"...After they died..." Haku started. "...I couldn't afford to pay for a funeral for them...so, I had to bury them myself."
Bolin shook his head, dolefully. The poor boy had it even worse than him and Mako had.
Korra frowned deeply, imagining how hard it must have been for a little boy to dig two graves all on his own.
"How long have they been gone?" she asked the boy.
"...Three years." Haku answered, albeit more quietly this time.
Bolin blinked curiously, asking, "Have you been living on the streets that whole time?"
Haku shook his head.
"No," he answered. "after mom and dad died, I started living out in the woods."
He motioned for both of them to follow him again and he led them all the way into a large forest. They came upon a small clearing with a few spirits passing through here and there, and Korra could see the remains of a campfire near a large hollow tree. There was a rolled-up bedroll leaning against the tree, and a few clothing items hung on a branch to dry.
"You've been living here?" she asked. "For three years?"
"Yeah." Haku nodded. "It's not so bad, since my parents taught me everything I needed to know about surviving in the wilderness."
He let a passing spirit land on his hand, saying, "I've had to share my meals with these guys lately, though..."
The spirit chirped at the boy. Haku smiled and patted its head, giggling, "I remember you, little guy! That fruit was too high to reach, but it wasn't a problem for you."
The tiny spirit smiled at him and chirped happily.
"You two know each other?" Bolin inquired.
Haku nodded and smiled.
"Yep!" he answered. "Pretty well, actually!"
"How did you two meet?" Korra asked.
"Well," Haku started, "it was dark one night, when I was getting water, and my light went out. I got lost and couldn't find my way back here... and then I heard a little chirping sound. This little guy was on the ground, crying because his wing was broken."
"That's horrible." said Bolin.
Haku nodded in agreement, adding, "So, I went to look for something to help fix him up, and let him ride in my shirt so he'd stay warm."
The spirit chirped contentedly and slid into the boy's collar.
"Once I patched him up, I let him stay with me until he healed." the boy went on. "And we've been helping one another out ever since!"
The spirit gave another happy chirp and nuzzled Haku's cheek; the boy giggled.
"I know, I know," he spoke.
Korra glanced thoughtfully around the camp, back to the boy, and back again a few times. On the one hand, this was a shining example that humans and spirits could truly live in harmony; one she rather wished the president could see right now. On the other hand, this was really no way for a little boy to live.
She glanced back at Bolin, who returned that same glance. They both knew that if given the chance, that gang from earlier would come looking for Haku and beat him up or worse.
"What're you looking at each other like that for?" Haku asked, eyeing them oddly.
Korra glanced back down at the boy and answered, "I was thinking...it isn't safe for you to stay here anymore."
"Those goons from earlier might come looking for you." added Bolin.
"Oh." muttered Haku.
The little spirit chirped inquisitively at what was going on.
"You don't think they'll be able to find their way through the woods?" the boy asked. "Right?"
"You never know," Korra replied.
Haku looked down nervously at his hands and the little spirit chirped worriedly, knowing that his friend was not all right. The boy frowned as he looked up at the spirit.
"I-I'm scared...what if they hurt you?" he asked. "But, if we can't stay here...where will we go?"
"As we said before, you can come along with us." Bolin offered.
Haku's eyes grew wide, asking, "R-really?"
"Yup!" Bolin nodded with a grin.
The little spirit chirped and Haku looked excited.
"Can he come too?" he asked.
"Of course he can." Korra answered.
Haku gave a delighted cheer and did a little jump for joy, and the little spirit jumped excitedly too, giving even happier chirps. The boy made a dash to Korra and hugged her.
"Thank you, Miss Korra!" he exclaimed. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome, Haku." Korra replied.
The tiny spirit flew up to the Avatar's face and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, causing her to giggle. Haku was still smiling up at her, saying, "Let me just grab my stuff before we go, okay?"
"Okay," Korra answered.
The boy quickly packed up his meager possessions in a worn backpack, the little spirit helping him as he went.
"Need any help, Haku?" Bolin asked.
"No, I'm good," replied Haku.
He slung the backpack over his shoulder with ease and he walked over to Korra and Bolin with his spirit friend following close behind.
***Later***
The little spirit was flying around the airship, curiously poking around at everything. Haku was staying close to his friend as it explored and he ended up bumping into Bolin.
"Oof!" Haku cried, falling back. "Sorry!"
Bolin smiled sheepishly and moved to help Haku to his feet.
"I wasn't looking where I was going either..." he told him.
Haku glanced up at the earthbender, curiously.
"So, how's everything going for you, so far?" Bolin asked.
"It feels strange," the boy answered, blinking. "Just this morning, it was just me and my friend...and now we're going to faraway places...and we're not alone anymore..."
"Tell me about it," Bolin agreed. "months ago, I never dreamed that I would later on meet and eventually start dating the Avatar."
Haku straightened up suddenly, his eyes wide.
"So, the baby she's having..." he started.
"Yup," Bolin nodded. "I'm the father of her child."
The little spirit chirped as it landed on Haku's shoulder and the boy blinked again.
"Where are you guys all gonna live when it's born?" he asked.
"We're still thinking about that," Bolin answered.
"Got any ideas yet?" Haku asked, the spirit twittering as if to second the question.
"We can't exactly live at Republic City, because President Raiko banned us," Bolin explained.
"Don't remind me," Korra chimed in, groaning as she sat down nearby.
"Why'd he ban you?" Haku inquired.
Korra sighed and looked down at her stomach.
"Long story short, it was because of the whole Harmonic Convergence thing..." she answered. "The spirits have made a lot of sudden changes, not all of them easy to handle..."
"Oh..." Haku muttered.
"The people have been making complaints about the spirits," Bolin added.
The little spirit crawled into Haku's collar and the boy tilted his head in confusion.
"Why would they complain?" he questioned.
"They believed that the spirits are a nuisance and they wanted me to try and make them leave," Korra explained.
Haku shook his head, petting his spirit friend.
"Oh, I don't want to meet people like that..." he said.
The little spirit chirped in agreement.
"There's Air Temple Island," Bolin pointed out.
Korra looked thoughtful.
"Do you think Tenzin will be able to manage, on top of the new airbenders?" she asked. "If we can get them to come, anyway..."
"I'm sure he'll find a way," Bolin assured with a hopeful smile.
Korra still looked skeptical.
"Are you sure we won't be putting too much unnecessary pressure on him?" she inquired.
"Unless he tells us otherwise," Bolin answered. "then yes, I'm sure."
Haku smiled and patted Korra on the shoulder.
"Don't feel so down!" he told her. "You helped me when I thought nobody would."
Korra smiled back at the boy.
"Thanks, Haku," she spoke.
The spirit fluttered over to her, nuzzling her cheek and she giggled as she held the little one in the palm of her hand.
"You're rather peppy, aren't ya?" Korra asked.
The spirit twittered and nodded, fluttering its wings rapidly and Korra gently pet the little critter. It responded by flying over to her belly and lightly perched itself on the swollen abdominal area.
She smiled softly, placing her hand on her stomach near where the spirit rested.
"Looks like you have another new friend, little one..." Korra spoke.
Haku and Bolin grinned at the heartwarming scene.
"Haku," Korra started. "does your friend have a name?"
"No," Haku answered, shaking his head. "I never really thought of one for him."
The little spirit hung his tiny head dejectedly, as if forlorn at his lack of a name.
"Hm..." Korra pondered. "it has to be a fitting name."
The tiny spirit's ears perked up upon hearing Korra utter those words.
"He's very cheerful," Bolin added.
The spirit bounced about excitedly in anticipation and at that moment, Haku thought of a name.
"I know what we can call him!" he said. "Huanle!"
"Huanle?" Korra repeated.
"Yeah," Haku nodded. "it means 'joy', because he's very joyful."
Fittingly, the little spirit--now known as Huanle--bounced around joyfully on the boy's shoulders, chirping with excitement.
"All right, settle down!" Haku giggled.
Huanle nuzzled his face, affectionately, earning a gentle pat from the boy. Korra and Bolin smiled at the scene before them. A sudden stomach growl broke the peaceful silence.
"Hm?" Korra hummed.
Haku smiled sheepishly as he held his stomach.
"Sorry," he apologized. "that one was me."
Huanle gave a loud chirp, as if to say he was getting hungry too.
"I'll see what we've got," Korra spoke up as she stood up and held Haku's hand. "come with me."
Haku nodded as he followed Korra, along with Huanle.