
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/459109.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Fandom:
      Avatar:_The_Last_Airbender, Avatar:_Legend_of_Korra
  Relationship:
      Various_Relationships
  Character:
      Aang_(Avatar), Korra_(Avatar), Katara_(Avatar), Mako_(Avatar), Sokka_
      (Avatar), Kuruk_(Avatar), Ummi_(Avatar), Bolin_(Avatar), Roku_(Avatar),
      Sozin_(Avatar), Ta_Min_(Avatar), Toph_Bei_Fong, Kyoshi_(Avatar), Kyoshi
      Warriors_(Avatar), Asami_Sato, Zuko_(Avatar), Mai_(Avatar)
  Additional Tags:
      Polyamory, Prompt_Fic, Angst
  Series:
      Part 3 of Ficbending_LJ_prompt_fics
  Stats:
      Published: 2012-07-14 Updated: 2012-07-17 Chapters: 2/3 Words: 2186
****** Love, Duty, Balance ******
by Amy_Raine_(amyraine)
Summary
     Avatars must keep balance in every aspect of their lives. Sometimes
     their loved ones can handle it. Sometimes they can't.
Notes
     This_prompt
      
     felt tailor-made to my multi-shipper heart. It said:
     "It's traditional for Avatars to be Poly-amorous. It isn't quite a
     Harem, in that it is more like a group marriage, based on mutual
     affection/love between all involved (because being the Avatar is
     about ~balance~). Though this may not happen all at once, and the
     groups can shift and change over time. Like all normal relationships,
     these relationships have to grow into themselves. This is why, if
     there is any official "ceremony", it usually happens later in life,
     when the group has settled down, though it is common for young
     Avatars to search for and create looser groups early.
     "The Krew is at the beginning stages of this, all of them trying to
     find where they fit into the group as their friendship transforms
     into something new."
     "I would also not be averse to seeing stories with the other
     Avatars."
     I think OP wanted something fluffy, whereas I took the idea of "the
     Avatar is about balance" more literally and ended up with something
     more angsty. Still, I enjoy exploring the ups and downs and ins and
     outs of polyamorous relationships.
     Fun fact: This is the first time I have written a Taang. I am a
     multi-shipper, but I find some ships easier and more compelling to
     write than others. Taang usually doesn't hit the right buttons for
     me, but it worked here.
***** main story *****
The night before they returned to Republic City, Mako found he couldn't sleep.
He wandered the compound, imagining a small Korra running around the place.
Probably spent most of the time causing havoc and mayhem, he thought with a
smile.
He was surprised to find the dining hall occupied. Master Katara sat in the
corner, staring off into space. A cup of tea was on the table in front of her
and the lack of steam told Mako that it had long since gone cold.
“Want me to warm that up for you?” he asked, sitting across from her.
Katara started and blinked at him. “Oh, Mako. Yes, that would be nice, thank
you.”
He cradled the cup in his hands and concentrated until the brown liquid
bubbled, then handed it back. She sipped and gave him an appreciative nod.
“Can't sleep either?”
“A consequence of getting old.” She smiled. “You have no such excuse.”
“Yeah. Too jumpy from everything that happened, I guess.”
“Understandable.” Master Katara studied him. “So you're the young man who has
won the Avatar's heart.”
This was a conversation that could quickly enter weird territory, but Mako
decided to be polite. “Yes.”
“It's hard, loving the Avatar.” Katara lifted her teacup again.
“I know, she has to put her duty first. But whatever happens, we can work
through it together.”
She patted his hand. Sympathy and a little sadness flickered across her face.
“That's what I said, too.”
 
*
 
At the touch on his shoulder, Sokka jerked awake, his limbs flailing out every
which way. “Who? Wha? Aang? 
Aang dodged Sokka's arm as it swung in his direction and knelt by the bed.
“Yeah, it's me. Sorry to wake you.”
“S'fine.” Sokka sat up and rubbed his eyes. “What d'you need?”
“Um...there's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. I need you
to fuck me.”
Sokka blinked again. “What?”
“Or I can fuck you.”
He drew closer, and Sokka inched away. “Aang...”
“Or if you're not comfortable with that, a blow job will do. Giving, receiving,
doesn't matter.”
“Aang, I'm engaged to Suki. We're getting married in less than a month.”
“I know. That's why I'm asking you now. I already ran it by her and she said it
was okay. She's a Kyoshi warrior. They know all about the needs of Avatars.”
“The needs of...” Sokka smacked his forehead. “Oh, right. This is that thing
Katara was talking about. I don't know why she puts up with you, Aang. You're
so high maintenance. Okay, your mouth, my dick, and we don't talk about it in
the morning. Deal?"
Aang was already tugging on the waistband of his shorts. Sokka took that as
agreement.
 
*
 
History never tells the whole truth.
Complacency was Kuruk's downfall, but not in the way most people think. He had
believed that, just this once, the Avatar could be monogamous. Ummi would not
agree to be his wife otherwise. Surely, the spirits wouldn't mind.
Koh minded.
The Avatar must maintain balance.
 
*
 
“You're sure this is okay with Mako?”
“He understands that I have to do this,” Korra said between kisses along
Bolin's jaw. “Unless he wants his face added to Koh's collection.”
“Ugh. Not a sexy thought.”
“Hey, you brought it up.” Korra lifted herself up on her arms and gazed down at
him. “Look, I have to have sex with an earthbender. I would rather it was you,
but if you can't do it, then I'll go find someone else.”
“No, no, it's fine.” Bolin pulled her back down. “Please continue with the
kissing and the touching...yeah, especially with the touching right there...oh
fuck, Korra.”
 
*
 
After Roku came back from his twelve year absence, the three of them tried
again. But they weren't sixteen anymore, riding high on passion and emotion,
the thrill of novelty and the feel of skin on skin. Even with Roku thrusting
inside him and Ta Min writhing underneath him, all Sozin could think about was
that his friend, his lover, his Avatar had used those same hands and that same
cock on who knew how many others.
Because he had to, he said. Because the spirits were cruel to Avatars who
didn't.
That was the moment when Sozin first thought that a world where spirits ruled
human hearts with arbitrary divisions and bizarre rules was a world that needed
to be changed.
 
*
 
“I have to get up for work, Twinkletoes.”
A muffled “Don't call me that” came from under the covers.
“Too bad. I'm going to call you that until you die. Which might happen this
morning if you don't get out of my bed. Besides, Katara and the kids are
waiting for you on the island.”
Toph felt a hand on her thigh as Aang mumbled, “Only take a second.”
She erupted in laughter. “That's just too easy. But you should give yourself
some credit, Twinkles. Sometimes you last two seconds.”
Aang grunted. His fingers dipped down between her legs and parted the folds,
stroking until he drew a moan from Toph's lips.
As he was sliding into her, he whispered, “Say my name.”
Between gasps and pants she managed to get out, “Aang.”
“No.” He pushed into her harder. “My other name.”
“Avatar.”
 
*
 
“Kyoshi!” screamed the girl in the next room. “Avatar!”
“Hey!” one of the other girls shouted. “Put a sock in it!”
They all giggled and snuggled down under their blankets. Tomorrow night another
one of them would be screaming Kyoshi's name and becoming the subject of
affectionate teasing from her fellow warriors. It was all in good fun.
The warriors knew that other people shared Kyoshi's bed when she went
traveling, as part of her Avatar duties. Sometimes she even slept with men, as
evidenced by little Koko, asleep in her grandparents' hut up the road. But
Kyoshi always came back to them.
They were her girls.
 
*
 
Asami was very cute when she was flustered.
“Don't get me wrong, I'm flattered. Truly.”
Korra sighed. “You're just not into women.”
“That's not it.” Asami let out a nervous laugh. “That's definitely not it. I do
like you, and you're very attractive, but you're sleeping with my ex-boyfriend.
Isn't that just a little awkward?”
“Yeah, a little.” It was Korra's turn to be flustered. “But I don't like the
idea of having sex with strangers. I would rather be with people I trust. Like
you, Asami.”
Asami rose from her chair, twined her arms around Korra's waist, and kissed
her, soft and gentle.
“I trust you too.”
 
*
 
Zuko traveled regularly to Republic City, leaving Mai to handle the day to day
affairs of running the Fire Nation. Of course he stayed on Air Temple Island
during his visits. He'd return relaxed and in unusually good spirits, but
otherwise the same as far as anyone else knew. Only Mai ever saw the bruises on
his neck and chest, the scratches on his back and the marks of teeth on his
inner thighs.
It could be anyone, but Mai knew it was Aang.
Late at night when they were making love, she'd picture Aang in her place,
fitting himself onto Zuko like a sheath on a blade. Her climaxes would hit her
hard, tinged with shame and jealousy.
One time, when they were on one of their rare incognito visits to Uncle Iroh's
tea shop, they happened to run into Aang and Katara. The waterbender's dress
swelled outward, her first pregnancy. Iroh ooed and aahed, then insinuated that
Mai would not be long behind. She snorted in response. Children were not part
of her plans at this stage of her life.
Zuko clapped Aang on the shoulder and congratulated him. It seemed that his
hand lingered on Aang's shoulder a second longer than was normal.
She perched on a nearby bench and watched them act as if they had nothing to
hide, as if under his green robes Zuko didn't have the marks of their affair
all over his body. Mai didn't know whether to chuckle in cynical amusement or
seethe in rage.
Katara sat down next to her, but she didn't look up until she felt the
waterbender's hand rest on top of hers.
“It's hard, sometimes.”
Mai considered removing her hand, but didn't. “You know, huh?”
“Yes, of course.” Katara sounded surprised. “He did tell you, right?”
At Mai's look, she gave the Firelord an angry glare. “Dammit, Zuko. You told us
it was okay. Mai, I'm so sorry. Please try to understand. Aang has to be,” she
dropped her voice, “intimate with a firebender every so often.”
“There are other firebenders.”
“I know, but Aang trusts Zuko.”
“And you?”
“I trust him too.” Then her eyes went big. “Oh. You meant...Um, yes, a few
times, the three of us. But the baby is Aang's. I was very careful.”
“So I'm the one left out.”
Katara turned red and hung her head. “I'll ask Aang to end it. We'll find
someone else.”
“You could do that,” Mai said, “or...you could let me join you.”
She turned her hand palm up and entwined her fingers with Katara's.
 
*
 
Mako had spent most of his life learning how to accept things.
When his parents died, he forced himself to confront the truth of it. They were
alone. Bolin was his responsibility. With all that had happened to them, he had
come to terms with the fact that life was unfair.
Now that he was with Korra, he had to accept that he couldn't stop her from
putting herself in danger, no matter how much he loved her and wanted her to be
safe.
But this?
Korra slipped into bed next to him, someone else's scent on her skin. Not
Asami, he knew her perfume. Not Bolin either; Mako washed enough sweaty tanks
to know what his brother smelled like.
She was running into a problem with this aspect of her duty. The children were
not even on the list for consideration, and getting into bed with Tenzin was,
in her words, “spiritual incest.”
So she found a willing Acolyte. She didn't mention which one, and he didn't
ask.
But he could see in her eyes that she was scared it wasn't enough, scared that
someone she cared about was going to end up a spirit's victim because of it.
Korra lived in fear of beings Mako had never seen and had a hard time even
believing in.
The absurdity of this did not escape him.
Mako pushed her down into the mattress and buried himself in her, desperate to
rid her of that smell, of the reminder that her duty would always take
precedence over him. She was slick, warm, accepting. As he thrust in she
wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck, and whispered in
his ear, “I love you.”
He closed his eyes and told himself it was enough.
***** Bonus Scenes *****
Chapter Summary
     Stuff I thought up while I was writing the main fic that didn't fit
     but amused me enough to publish as extra scenes. They're really
     silly. I have a juvenile sense of humor.
“Hey, Zuko! Aang says you firebend when you cum! Does this mean we can call you
Great Balls of Fire?”
“Toph, I will challenge you to an Agni Kai if you ever say that outside of this
room.”
“But I'm not a firebender.”
“I will make an exception for you.”
 
*
 
“Korra, what are you doing here?
“Hi, Chief Beifong. Can I come in? I need to ask you a favor.”
“You can come in when you tell me what the favor is.”
“Uh...well, you know about my duties as Avatar, right?”
“Yes.”
“All of them?”
“Yes. My mother was Aang's teacher in more ways than one.”
“O...kay. Anyway, I had a thing with an earthbender but it's starting to get
weird.”
“Because he's your boyfriend's brother, right? Oh, don't give me that look. I'm
a cop. I notice things.”
“Right. Point is, I need a back up.”
“...Are you propositioning me?”
“That depends. Is it working?”
 
*
 
“Hey Zuko! Aang says...”
“Sorry, Sokka. Toph said it first.”
“Dammit!”
 
*
 
The glow faded from Korra's eyes and she dropped her hands. Tahno looked to the
nearest source of water and moved his hand in a slight gesture. The water leapt
to him like a lover who had just returned from a journey.

Tears sprang to his eyes. Embarrassed, he wiped at them. “I don't know how to
thank you.”

“I do.” The look on Korra's face was almost predatory. She pushed him down on
the carpet and straddled him.

“Is this an Uh-vatar thing?” he asked as she worked on the clasps holding his
shirt closed.

“Yes.” Exposing his chest, she ran her hands over his skin. His nipples
hardened as her palms brushed over them. “I'm reconnecting with my native
element.”
 
*
 
Aang shook off his blissed-out state long enough to lift his head and murmur,
“Zuko?”
“Mmm?”
“Why didn't you bring Mai before now?”
“Because he's an idiot,” Katara said affectionately.
Zuko smiled. “I just wanted to keep her amazing skills all to myself.”
Mai leaned over Aang and dropped a kiss on Zuko's nose. “That was the right
answer.”
 
*
 
“Hey Mako, Korra says you...”
“Save it, Bolin, that joke was old before you were born.”
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