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Korra and Asami were walking through desolated streets of Republic City that have since been abandoned. They had to get to Zaofu, it was their and the world’s only hope at this point. It’s been total radio silence for the entire world for months now, but if any place had a chance or the knowhow, it would be Zaofu. They packed only the essentials in their bags; a day or two’s worth of food rations and water for them to drink from and one to use for bending. They sent Naga out to a safe distance outside of the city with more of their provisions for their dangerous expedition.
As they were walking, Korra spotted a familiar sight. It was a little coffee shop on the corner of a street. It was the location of one of their first official dates together from all those years ago. Korra suddenly became super nostalgic and irresponsibly walked towards the shop. She regained her focus when her hand reached the door handle. She cautiously peered through the glass door, making sure no one and nothing was inside.
“Korra…really…now’s not the…” Asami tried to protest as Korra opened the door with ease. Asami sighed, worried about Korra’s current mental state.
Korra carefully walked around inside, slowly looking at all the empty tables and booths. The ghosts of all the past patrons were all that she could see as she went from table to table. Until she came to the familiar booth near the back. She saw the memory in her mind of her and Asami enjoying each other. How they were still timid with their public displays of affection, but yet they yearned to just simply kiss each other. Their shared laughter echoed in her heart. It was so long ago.
Asami grabbed hold of Korra’s shoulder, causing her to jump and snap out of her daydream.
“Korra, we can’t be here, we have to get going.” she warned in a hush.
“S-Sorry…I just…” Korra looked back at the booth, “I just wish everything could go back. Do…do you remember this place?”
“I…I do…” Asami sighed, “...but don’t talk like that. We can figure this out. Everything will be fixed. We can all go back to the way it was. We just need to get to Zaofu.”
“What if it won’t? What if Zaofu fell? Where could we go after that? What if there’s no one to fix my–”
“It wasn’t your fault. Don’t go down that path again. There was nothing anyone could do. That…that thing mutated a spirit and caused it to infect all humans it could. It’s impossible for you to know every single thing happening in the world all at once. Unless you plan on living at all three portals at the same time, it’s literally impossible to ask of you or any Avatar to do so. The only way anyone could have prevented all of this, is if they were extremely lucky. Do not beat yourself over this.” Asami tried to reassure Korra, but she knew it wasn’t really the time to. She had no idea how much time they could risk.
“I know, I’ll try to get better bu–” Korra’s eyes instantly widened in horror, she saw one of them. Instinctively she covered her mouth and nose, all too quickly. She cursed herself knowing she accidentally risked them getting caught. Asami read Korra’s actions and she knew the reason why. She held her breath while excruciatingly slowly raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose.
Korra forgot to breathe as she painstakingly watched the abomination slowly lumbered across just outside the coffee shop they were in. Nothing could stop these monstrosities. All bending attacks were simply absorbed, and they continue to lurch forward until either you successfully get away, or they completely overwhelm you. For when you see one, there are more likely to be several more behind it. These unholy atrocities were humans that were possessed by infected spirits. Causing the bodies to lose all unique features and morph them into humanoid shaped blobs. The skin, if you even can call it that, then turns moldy white with random blotches of browns and purples that disgustingly decorated the body.
After what felt like hours, the accursed entity left Korra’s field of vision. She waited another minute before she let go of the breath she was holding, Asami followed suit.
“We have to get going now. Before Naga gets in trouble.” Asami warned again.
“I know…just let me look for something really quick.”
“Korra.” Asami quietly protested. She watched angrily and confused as Korra walked behind the counter and began to open all the cabinets. “What are you doing?”
“Hold on, this won’t take long.” She continued rummaging through the store for a bit until she found something. She shrugged as she stood up and turned around to walk to Asami. “It isn’t what I was looking for but it’s something.” Korra handed Asami a container holding coffee. “I was looking for some tea, since I know you love it so much, but hopefully this will be an ok substitute. Who knows, maybe it’ll come in handy.” She smiled.
Asami pinched the bridge of her nose, “Korra,” she smiled, “I love you. I appreciate the offer, but this isn’t a necessity.”
“I know. And I love you, too.” She gave Asami a quick peck on the lips. “Sorry, I just wanted to give you something…I know we have to go.”
Asami could never stay angry at Korra, not that she ever really was. She smiled at the sweet gesture and took the container. “Thank you, it’s really sweet of you to still think of me during a time like this.”
“Of course!” Korra beamed, “I’ll do it until the…” She didn’t want to utter the next sentence; she didn’t want to curse anything.
With the moment ruined and the full weight of the situation setting in, they decided to leave the coffee shop, and the city without any further delays. Korra took one last look at the booth that once housed their beginning, saddened by the fact that affectionate, caring, and loving moments like those will now be extremely scarce. With the reality of their situation sinking in and now having to face the cold and harsh present, they had get on with their dire mission to get to Zaofu, to save the world.