[art & fic] » the songs of surrender [atla & osr fusion AU]

[rhodanum]

(Art commissioned from the lovely rebekahs_art)

Molly’s blown past everyone else before her, breathing hard and swaying in place, well over three hours since the test began. But Rick can see that she’s reaching the limits of her endurance. Flames sometimes sputter out completely and she lets at least two discs hit her right in the visor. Her movements are sluggish and uncoordinated, body swaying when she should be firmly rooted in place.

By the fortieth attempt, a blow to the left side of the abdomen makes her crumble in on herself and fall face-first to the floor with a muffled sound, showing no signs of getting up again.

“She’s out cold,” Jordan murmurs, now all but hanging off the edge of the seat-row itself. Given that the safety barriers aren’t up, he stands a very good chance of landing right in the water. Rick can’t disagree with the assessment, even as much as he wants to. Molly has lasted so long that he himself can scarcely believe it, but everyone has a limit.

Don seems to have reached the same conclusion. He turns on his heel and moves to the edge of the arena, motioning for the two Waterbender healers on standby.

“We’re done here.”

“… No. No we’re not.”

Read on AO3.