Chapter Text
Atlanta, a city full of people whose loneliness fills up more space than they do.
A time where those who are different are living the same exact life and sharing the same amount of loneliness
Owning your own identity is akin to luxury and acceptance from others…is right out of reach.
A shift is trying to happen, a shift for the right to be accepted and acknowledged, in a city stricken with judgment.
Though some look for answers, in less helpful ways…
Coffee is always the best solution right?
“You never tire of that view?”
“Seems to be the only thing that's been normal in my life lately, Uncle.” Blue eyes continued to look over the city below her. Her arm raised over head as she leaned into the window. She looked past her reflection and watched as the people below were pelted by the freezing rain. The city felt like it was closing in, suffocating, to say the least. Or was that just Korra projecting? She wasn’t one for deep reflections but could the city be feeling the same as her? The city, known for the fast pace and buzzing of Midtown, paralleled by the slow, and steady of Old Fourth Ward. Yet beneath the facade, it was fighting it’s on contradictions of growth and tradition
Nothing seemed to excite Korra, she’d do what she was always told but somehow this request seemed too much. She’d given her life, her dreams for them but her heart? How could she? Was this for the sake of the company, or just a power move for her father?
She closed her eyes and released a frustrated sigh.
“Korra,” Though his voice wasn't as deep as her fathers it was gruff and had a cutting edge to it. As if he always had something better to do. But, he was here, and he was a mentor to her. Though the coldness from him seeped into her she found little comfort in what she could call family right now.
Her relationship with her parents wasn’t always bad. She loved her mother dearly and she was the sweetest woman known to the spirits and her confidant when growing up.
Her father…
He wasn’t always this way. He prided himself on making a successful name for himself, and turning his family into a power house. Korra respected him for that and always would. But to see how much power could change a man, how much it could isolate and turn them, shook Korra to her core.
She never had a choice did she?
She opened her eyes and blinked a few times before looking down at the people who surrounded the streets. She could see the breath she released fogged the wet glass. The cacophony of the car horns, and sirens wrapped around her ears and played in the background of her mind. Her uncle's voice mixing awfully with the sounds of the city, brought her back to the conversation. It felt like a business meeting she desperately needed to get away from.
“Think about what this would mean for the family, the company,-”
“What about me?” She turned to finally face him. She placed her hand on her hip, and rubbed the bottom of her face.
“The company is bigger than-”
“It’s bigger than what’s right and my own happiness?” She said cutting him off once more. She could feel the frustration rise in her. She loosened up the tie around her neck. She felt like she was suffocating. She pulled it off full and threw it on the ground as she undid the top button of her shirt.
“Korra, let me finish.” She could hear the irritation rising in his voice, he wasn’t much for being interrupted.
“Finish what? Finish telling me how it's better to fall in line and let the business take over my heart? Am I running the business or is it running me?” She scoffed and she glared at him.
“This isn’t just about you, this is about the legacy of this company, your family name and what the future holds for both parties at stake.”
“So that’s it? I have no choice, in the matter?”
“You let me know if you find another way, if not, you’ll be waiting at the altar for your beautiful bride to be.” He said as he walked away to leave her apartment.
Korra walked down the familiar alleyway. Breathing in the crisp January air. It always made her laugh how most of December it was in the mid sixties and seventies but as soon as January hits, the temperature changes drastically. The walk wasn’t too far from her apartment so she never minded, even in the colder days. Her breath only a few inches before her lit up in the restaurant lights before her. Waffle House, a staple. She’d definitely have to swing by there later on.
She walked with her hand tucked into her hoodie pockets until she was standing in front of the warehouse. She slid by the guard as he greeted her.
“Avatar.”
“Wassup Lee.” She said as she walked towards the edge of the crowd. Lee followed and stood next to her as they watched the fight taking place.
“Fighting tonight?” He asked as he folded his arms.
“Yeah, if there’s anyone worth it.” She said, eyes never leaving the platform.
“It's always someone worth it, and as long as you’re here I’m always going to make money.”
“Glad I can keep your pockets lined.” She said dryly.
“Me too, but I always wondered…” He dragged off.
“What?”
“You never take your earnings, so what are you fighting for?
“I don’t need money, I just like to hit.”
“That’s actually insane- are you, do you need therapy?” He asked, finally looking over to her.
“This is my therapy.” She said as she walked away from him. She moved through the crowd trying to get closer to the match. Once she caught sight of who she was looking for she went to stand next to him. Pulling down her hoodie, she called to him over the loudness of the crowd
“Anyone for me Randy?” He looked over at her a couple times and back to the match. Which was barely one because that fight was very one-sided. Blood was spilled across the mat already, and the poor fellas face was already blue and black. She was surprised he was still conscious because he for damn sure couldn’t see. You could hear the rhythmic thump of his opponents fist landing on him in a barrage.
“Actually you’re up next if you want it, a fighter dropped out.” He said.
She looked over at the fighters again, “Are you going to call it?” she gestured toward the bloodied person.
“You know the rules, they call it.”
“Yeah buddy over there can’t even tell you his ABC’s if you asked him, you may wanna call it for you have a dead body on your hands.” She said with her arms crossed.
Randy looked over at her for a moment as he hesitated. He contemplated her words and ended up calling the fight. The crowd erupted into boos and shouts.
“Yeah, yeah, well would any of y’all like to explain how someone died here or would y'all like to have a peaceful night?” The crowd went quiet, “Yeah I thought so.” He motioned over for the paramedics to come and clear the badly beaten fighter up. Though the paramedics might not look it, they were actually certified. Most of them did this as a means for extra money, others just wanted to make sure these people didn’t get badly injured.
Randy came back to her and looked down at her. “You ready kid?”
“Let's do it.” She said as she climbed up. The only bad part about this is that there was no wall or ropes to hold you in, if you fall or your opponents slam you, you pretty much lost the fight.
This was also a bare knuckle fight, though you could get away with just wearing your wraps. Which Korra did, she didn’t want to but how could she explain to her workers why her knuckles were bloody and beaten. At least this gave some form of protection. She stood on her side of the ring as she pulled her hoodie off leaving her only in her sports bra and shorts. She stretched a bit and rolled her neck waiting for her opponent.
She saw a man about her height and slightly more built than her enter the ring. She quickly turned to Randy in confusion.
“I’m fighting a man? What is this?” She asked, throwing her hands up.
“I told you it was yours if you wanted it. Also, no woman fighter wants to fight you.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“As a heart attack. You know the deal, once you accept, you take the fight.” He said back to her.
She faced her opponent who seemed not to mind fighting her. She raised her guard.
“Fuck it.”
“Wake up.” A stern voice yelled out. It was accompanied by the sound of curtains purposefully being pushed open. She groaned as the light hit her eyes forcing her to squeeze them shut. She rolled over and put the pillow on her head.
“Get up!” She could hear her uncle’s voice closer now as she felt the covers being snatched off of her.
Her knees drew to her chest as the unexpected coldness touched her skin.
“Are you fucking serious?”
Korra’s stomach and legs were a shade of purple and blue. The fight last night took a toll on her body and her mentally. She was so lost and feeling trapped after the conversation with her uncle that she forgot about today.
“As a heart attack.” She weakly smiled. He let out a frustrated breath as she put his hand on his forehead.
“Do you really think this little secret of yours will keep going on?” He asked, visibly upset. “Do you not understand what your secret may do to our company?”
She looked at him defiantly, “This is my company, and are we sure I’m the only one with secrets?” She said, narrowing her eyes at him.
He faltered a bit, as she stood up. “What?”
“Don’t worry about it.” She said as she walked into her bathroom. “And next time don’t walk into my house.” She slammed the door and Unalaq quickly straightened his jacket out and he left her room.
“What do you mean you’re seeing someone?!” Her father’s voice boomed.
She sat on the chair that looked out through the window. They decided to have this meeting in her office. Her arm was splayed across the back of the chair as her right leg was crossed over her left thigh. She straightened her button up and she pressed down her tie. She bounced her foot impatiently as she tried to calm herself. She looked over to her father's enraged brown eyes. She tried not to shrink under his gaze as much as she used to but, seeing him so angry always made her feel small.
“Tonraq-”
“No Senna- Korra this is no time for games. We’ve got this company to think about, the future, the next best thing.” He said trying to straighten out his shirt.
“Sweetie, we just think it's for the best interest of the company.” Senna touched Tonraq’s motioning that she thought this was a beneficial idea too but also to try and calm him down.
“Of course! The fucking company. What about my best interest?” Korra said voice growing louder, pointing at herself.
“Watch your mouth!” Her father yelled out. Of course she didn’t mean to cuss at her mom, but they weren’t understanding.
“Am I just some pawn in your greed, dad? Does my happiness not equate to the amount of money you want?” She said leaning up, exasperated, gesturing the size of money he wanted.
“Will you grow up?” He yelled back, “Duty comes before happiness, and with that comes sacrifice.”
“I have sacrificed! I’ve been the dutiful daughter, I’ve never had a choice in this predestined life until now and you want to take that away from me? I have never asked you for anything in my life, I did as I was told. Let me have this one thing. We can merge the companies another way.” Her eyes began to brim with tears and she felt like she was begging and it was falling on deaf ears.
“You've sacrificed?! We gave you everything, do you even know the meaning of struggle? Huh!?” Her father said getting up. “Did you move your family somewhere to start fresh and give your only child the best life she can have?”
“I’ve sacrificed…” She said in a trembling voice. Tears streamed down her face now as her fist balled.
“Ha!” Her father laughed as he paced back and forth. “Okay I see, I see. This is just a rebellion. You never had one as a child so here it is.” He laughed
“This isn't-”
“I'll give you three months.”
“What?” She asked brows furrowed.
“To get it out of your system, you and this girl, or whatever it is. Fuck her and let her go-”
“Tonraq. Enough!” Seena said, getting up. “You have gone too far.”
Tonraq huffed and looked over to Korra. “Three months.” He pointed at Korra.
“Are you serious? This is my company! I shouldn't be getting forced into marriage over my own company.”
“I gave you this company Korra. I can take it, you may be the face but I'm the backbone.” He said as he put his coat on to leave.
He stopped by the door on his way out. “Senna, let's go.” He walked out of the office but stopped again. “And since you've lost your mind already. Let me remind you that in your culture, you bring your significant other to meet your mother. We’ll see you next Friday, for dinner.” He didn't wait for her response as he continued down the hallway.
Korra stood there, stunned. Her mother picked up her purse and sighed as she walked up to Korra. She grabbed Korra's forearms and looked at her. “Listen, your father needs time to calm down. I will try and talk to him. I’m happy you found someone but please remember who you are and remember the family legacy.” She kissed Korra's cheek and gave her a hug.
Korra slightly hugged her back as she stared at the door behind her. “Listen, your fathers right about us meeting your girlfriend. Just push this conversation behind you for right now and just get ready for that. I love you sweetheart.”
“Yeah…I love you too,” Korra responded. Senna gave her one more look before she left and followed after Tonraq.
She slumped down back into her chair as she thought about what just transpired. She quickly leaned forward.
“Shit I gotta find a girlfriend.”