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“Truth covered insecurity
I can't let you smother me
I'd like to but it couldn't work
Trading off and taking turns
I don't regret a thing”
-Nirvana “Lounge Act”
She had been asked if she was sure about doing this. The ten year old knew her two mothers were worried about what she wanted to do, what parent wouldn’t?
But the daughter of both Avatar Korra and Asami Sato knew she wasn’t in danger, she hadn’t earned her arrows for nothing, even knowing who she wanted to talk to.
At this moment, Yasuko Sato II, named after the grandmother she only met through her beautiful spirit, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and readied herself. She had heard about all that this man had done to her Anaana, and by extension, her mother.
She was determined to face this... monster who had hurt those closest to her before she was born. Had both physically and mentally damaged the cautious Water Tribe woman speaking to her.
“So you know, in case anything goes wrong, we’ll be rushing in. And we will know.” Korra had assured her daughter, having held her tightly as she was afraid of her going in to meet the man who had violated her body with mercury and almost killed her.
“Just say the word.” Asami’s caring voice followed as she joined in, to which the young girl just nodded.
“I’ll be fine, I know he won’t hurt me. But thank you mommy, Anaana...”
Assuring her mother and Anaana, which was the Water Tribe word for “Mother”, something Korra had taught to differentiate her and Asami, Yasuko was ready, turning to the guard as her parents let go and left her be alone with two guards.
“I’m ready, please open the door.”
The two guards nodded without a word and held their hands out to seemingly the metal wall she stood at, which moved like nothing, opening to reveal a figure in the middle of a small enough room.
Giving a quick breath, there Yasuko saw him, chained and handcuffed from all sides, yet still retained use of his hands and feet…
… Feet which were not touching the ground at all.
If she was being honest, Yasuko had not expected the man floating in the middle of the room cross-legged to look so calm with his eyes closed. Steeling herself, the airbender cleared her throat to announce her presence.
An eye cracked open. When they betrayed the shock, it was not unnoticed by the intelligent airbending master who saw the young child clad in the robes of the old air nomads, her head, formerly full of flowing black locks, was cleanly shaved, revealing to him her blue arrow tattoos.
And the now focused cyan eyes were looking right at his as Yasuko gave the hand signal for the guards to metalbend the door shut, leaving them be.
“Zaheer....”
“You know, you look a lot like your mother, Mrs. Sato… except you have the Avatar’s eyes,” He replied calmly, his long, greying hair billowing, his stern face having a few wrinkles since his incarceration. “But I suppose you aren’t here for that.”
“No, I’m not,” she shot back. “You’re right about that.”
“I heard much about you in the spirit world, Ms. Sato.” Zaheer spoke, stretching his arms as much as he could, a joint heard popping a bit. “The human girl born from a spirit.”
“I’m aware of my conception, Zaheer.”
“No ‘Mr.’? You won't show me any politeness?”
“You have to give respect to earn it, and I don’t think you’ve earned it.”
Hearing the words speak from the young airbender’s mouth did get the Red Lotus zealot’s attention, moving himself forward, a little closer towards Yasuko, who didn’t flinch.
“Quite serious minded, knowing who helped conceive you, you know.”
“Oh, I can be happy, nice, fun to be around. My friends Toph and Ryoko tells me I’m awesome to be around.” Yasuko admitted before sitting cross legged, the lotus position, on the metal ground, keeping her eyes on her fellow airbender.
“But even I know when to focus and be on my best behavior. And right now is one of them.”
“You don’t know anyth-”
The young master airbender wasn’t having any of Zaheer’s attitude. Before she could stop herself, she growled. Loudly. Hoping he didn’t notice, even though it was impossible not to, Yasuko took a breath, a breeze seeming to flow through the encased room.
Especially for one as astute as Zaheer, it was easily something which got the detained man’s attention, in which the smile that he had was bordering on smug.
“You think you understand, Ms. Sato. But I assure you, you’re wasting your time.” he mocked her with his calm tone, “You think by coming here to confront me, just because I was close to killing the Avatar, your mother, you have the moral high ground… but you’re just a child.”
Listening to his words, all Yasuko could do was just close her eyes and mentally think of relaxing thoughts.
“You know nothing of this world, the unbalance it has because of those in power, the governments, your mother. What needs to be done to achieve perfect balance” he continued, making sure his words rang. “Just because Anka helped you come into existence by her spiritual power, doesn’t mean you know everything. You are exactly what you are compared to me, a child who knows nothing.”
Once he finished speaking, it was then Zaheer took notice once more of the child’s face, rather, the smile Yasuko was giving back as she opened her blue eyes.
“You are right, I am a child… A child who knows how to do this.”
Then with as much ease as eating a veggie dumpling her mother made, Master Yasuko Sato II felt herself begin to float above the ground, exactly like Zaheer.
It was definitely something which the imprisoned man didn’t see coming, as for a fleeting second, his heart skipped a beat, his eyes unblinking.
“WHAT?!?” he exclaimed, “How the fuck is that possible?”
“My mother and Anaana say it’s not polite to swear.”
Now it was Yasuko’s turn to be smug, seeing the shock plastered all over Zaheer’s face as it was very much clear to the hovering man that, like himself, she had unlocked the ability of flight.
“How is this possible?! ANSWER ME!!”
“I’m not following, Mr. Zaheer,” Yasuko asked calmly, making sure he heard her add the ‘Mr.’ in to mock him. “What do you mean?”
“HOW ARE YOU FUCKING FLYING?!?!?”
Yasuko, responding coolly, answered in her own mocking way. “I believe I asked you to not swear, Zaheer. I could just...not tell you, you know. I can ignore it for now, but next time, I will not be so kind.”
Sensing the child was now actively messing with him, trying to get him to crack, Zaheer knew he couldn’t show weakness once more, most certainly in front of this child.
“I apologize little one, but to see a bender achieve such a extremely rare ability of bending air with ease, it’s unheard of, let alone a child doing it.” he explained as softly as he could, trying to regain his composure.
“But you managed to do so.”
Hearing those words, it wasn’t lost on the older airbender where Yasuko was getting at, having to give a deep breath, if to prevent him from growling in annoyance.
“ANYWAY… The ability of flight isn’t easily learned.” Zaheer spoke of, glancing down at the floor below him, the chains being held up due to constantly flying in the air since his incarceration more than fifteen years before.
“You must let go of all that ties you down to this world, from the physical, mental and spiritual. Only then, being untethered by everything holding you down, can you truly fly in the skies. Be wind.”
“Wasn’t that said by some airbending Guru? Laghima, yes?” Yasuko asked politely, sincerely trying to remember the man’s name, “And still, who even said he was right?”
If Zaheer was dumbfounded before, he definitely was now.
“Wait, w-what?”
He tried to keep himself relaxed, but to hear the questioning tone from the young girl, he felt almost insulted.
“For starters, everything Guru Laghima stated is true, you’re looking at living proof. The same exact thing happened to me, I disconnected myself from everything holding me down and am now able to fly.”
“I mean, that’s what I heard.” Yasuko said back, to which something didn’t click right with the older man.
“How did you unlock the ability of flight, young one?”
Hearing the question, Yasuko thought back to three weeks before.
“Through a... different way. One that made me realize Laghima was wrong...”
Yasuko Sato II sat in the lotus position on the grounds of Air Temple Island, meditating as her long black hair was proudly tied up in a wolftail. She took another deep breath.
Thinking about her family, the airbender smiled to herself. Lately, thinking of those close to her while she meditated helped her focus, it always felt like a gust of air was going through her entire body and spirit.
She thought nothing of it, choosing to focus on meditation, thoughts of those close to her making Yasuko happy filling her mind.
She saw her funny Anaana with her brilliant mother, laughing. Uncle Bo’s stupid jokes that never failed to cheer anyone up. Uncle Mako and his ‘broody’ demeanor, when he was really sweet. Aunt Opal always being so sweet and friendly. The naughty words that slipped out Aunt Thuy’s mouth, while also showing how nice she was. Aunty Kuvira, who always was so nice.
Then there were her friends. Mako II and Mochi, goodnaturedly pranking everyone. Ryoko, never afraid of what people said about her being blind, ready to kick their butts. There was also her Sifu and godmother Jinora with her entire family who always enjoyed her company as with the awesome Toph Beifong.
And, then… There was the girl named after the elder earthbender who was her best friend, aside from Ryoko, despite the five year age gap. Someone who would stick up for you, no matter what. Always cracking jokes, like her father, the sweetness from her mother and the buttkicking that came from both… complete with a smile that never failed to brighten up Yasuko and many other’s day.
Something about it always got the cyan-eyed girl’s attention as she smiled to herself. As she thought of everyone close to her, the thoughts made her feel like her heart was soaring in the sky.
“Hey, Yasuko!”
Her best friend’s voice called out to her, to which the Avatar’s daughter opened her eyes suddenly and seeing among their mothers and Uncle Bolin was their daughter, Toph II coming over, her twin brothers following not far from behind.
And of course, that wide smile of Toph’s was in full view, even with missing a front baby tooth from earthbending training.
The second she saw that, something in Yasuko's heart just made it flip around in joy.
And as that happened, the young airbender felt herself rise up, which confused Yasuko as she had been sitting cross legged and they still were like that. But before she could take full notice of that, she saw the looks of shock and surprise from the seven in front of her.
“What?”
“Yasuko… you’re… you’re…” Korra could only blubber out her words as the young girl could see how both her parents were practically mouth agape, wondering why they were like this…
… until she looked down and realized she had been hovering over the ground the entire time. No small gust of wind or mini-air spout holding her up. Just her, up in the air.
“AAHH!!!” she yelled out, realizing what was happening, breaking out of the lotus position as she began waving her arms and legs around, eyes wide as she still stayed in the air as those close to her ran up to her to get a closer look.
“Mother, Anaana!” she called out, trying to get a grasp as Korra and Asami both reached out to their daughter and took her by the hands, keeping her in place, Asami placing her hand on the cheek of her little dumpling.
“It’s okay, we got you, sweetie!”
“We’re here, baby.” Korra too assured as others within the temple came around to see what was happening, most importantly Master Jinora who had been holding a small newborn baby in her arms, wondering what was up.
“I was feeding Yuria, what’s-WOAH!”
“MASTER JINORA! What’s happening?! Why am I floating?!?” Yasuko asked out, unable to feel herself come back to the ground, growing more scared as her teacher stepped closer, realizing instantly what was happening, as did Korra, Asami, and the others.
The Avatar was the one to confirm the truth to her daughter.
“Yasuko… you’re flying, you can actually fly!”
“How? How do I get down, Anaana?!”
To the child’s surprise, it seemed that not even her mother nor her teacher knew how to help, worrying her more…
… until a hand took hers belonging to neither of them, Yasuko looking to see Toph reaching up and grabbing her best friend’s hand.
“Relax, Yasuko…” the earthbender-in-training said, trying to help her older friend, not liking to see her scared as she gave a kind smile.
“It’s okay, you’ll figure it out. You’re smart.”
Seeing the emerald eyes of her friend look up at her, Yasuko gave a gulp and tried to take deep breaths, feeling her own body float down onto the ground, landing on her feet as both Korra and Asami quickly took hold and held her daughter.
“What… how did I… do that?” she asked, to which it was Jinora, her daughter in her arms, who answered.
“Well, guess we’ll have to figure that out before the ceremony.”
Hearing the last word confused the family as Yasuko tilted her head curiously.
“Ceremony?”
The curious repeat of the word made the master airbender smile as she gave Yuria over to Opal to hold while she went and kneeled in front of Yasuko, pressing her hand against her forehead.
“For you to get the arrows you just earned, Master Yasuko.”
The daughter of the two most powerful women in the world realized what the words of her teacher and friend meant, as did her mothers, who burst out in tears of happiness at the news. All the while Toph, her parents, twin brothers and the others cheered for her.
“... It took at least a week for me to get flying down, as I finally figured out how I was able to unlock it. That’s how I became an airbending master, as well.”
Now, Yasuko wasn’t trying to insult the criminal in front of her, feeling like if someone had the right to know how she achieved the rare form of airbending, it was Zaheer, who had been listening closely to the child’s story.
“I didn’t need to disconnect myself from everything around me, especially my family and friends. Or sever my ties to the world...” Yasuko explained before moving herself out of her position and standing once more with ease, her feet on the ground.
“Quite the opposite. I just think of all of those who make my heart feel like it’s soaring and flying through the sky, all my happiest emotions and thoughts. That’s what compels me to fly.”
She paused before continuing, “You know, to some extent, I don’t believe you.”
“About what?” Zaheer finally spoke, having been staying quiet out of respect for the girl’s story.
“I don’t believe you truly let go of your ‘earthly tethers’, as you so put it.” Yasuko answered truthfully, tilting her head as she looked at the chains holding him in place, knowing if he wanted to, he’d find a way to escape.
“Aside from you yelling earlier, I find it hard to believe you’d really see yourself as untethered just because of you achieving something through what you learned from Laghima, who, if my homework is correct, has had some of his teachings be disproven in recent years… by my own Anaana in fact.”
Feeling his emotions begin to rise up slowly at the mocking of Guru Laghima, the one person outside of anyone in the Red Lotus he felt any respect to, Zaheer managed to hold it in, choosing to ask another question.
“Why do you refer to your mother, the Avatar, by that name?”
“It’s the Water Tribe word for ‘mother’, for she had used part of her own spirit along with that of my other mother to be used by the fertility spirit’s power to create me. So technically, I have three mommies.” Yasuko explained before continuing. “And clearly you still hold some devotion to the Red Lotus, correct?”
Seeing Zaheer try to not give a response, the ten year old continued, “I mean, if you didn’t, I’d be surprised. You had someone you loved, who you met through them, one who is certainly burning in the Flames of the Spirit World, along with your other friends, forced to see all the suffering they caused forever…”
Now it looked like Yasuko was getting somewhere, stepping closer to the older man who tried to keep his emotions in check. “And yet, you were so willing to be disconnected away from her after Mrs. Beifong killed-”
“Don’t you FUCKING DARE talk about her!” was Zaheer’s response, letting out whatever anger that had been built up, coming closer as the chains just held him back, but not his anger as he looked down at Yasuko,
“You have no right to talk about P’Li, you little bitch!”
His words filled with venom, the Red Lotus member was almost tempted to murder this child there and then if it wasn’t for all the security and her parents nearby.
“... Look down.”
That was Yasuko’s only response, able to keep herself cool, if caught off guard for a split second. Words that confused Zaheer until he did as she said and looked down…
… his right foot was just half an inch away from touching the metal floor, his eyes surprised at what he almost had done.
“My Anaana told me that you vowed as long as you’re imprisoned, your feet would never touch the ground.” he heard Yasuko bring up, making sure his foot kept from touching the ground as he rose up to be three inches high off the ground, looking back up from the ground...
... only to see Yasuko shake her head as she kept talking.
“It makes me wonder, if I hadn’t said anything, what would have happened?” she asked, stepping closer up to the floating man, making sure to do the same and hovered upwards, Yasuko making sure she and Zaheer were eye level.
“Personally speaking, and I’m just a ten year old saying this, but if you’re clearly not as untethered despite your claims… what else are you wrong about?”
And for a fleeting second, the daughter of Avatar Korra and Asami Sato saw Zaheer’s eyes shake, just enough to prove her point as she landed back on the ground.
“Well, I have to leave, as me, my mothers, Master Jinora and Yuria are going to the shops…” she trailed off before continuing, “You know... I’m glad we had this talk.”
Words spoken like a normal ten year old would say, Yasuko turned her back on the man who almost murdered her Anaana and knocked on the metal wall. “We’re good, I’m ready to leave!”
The metal moved apart, showing the two guards as Yasuko knew the others were waiting for her in the next room, stepping out before seeing Zaheer go back to his meditating form, yet trying to keep eye contact from being made.
This day was the first and only time Yasuko Sato II met Zaheer, skipping down the hallway alone, humming a tune before seeing who she was looking for, giving a smile at her parents, teacher, and new friend.
All the while knowing she made sure the monster was chained down, both physically and mentally.
Perhaps spiritually as well...