Chapter Text
With Asami’s help they arrived at the oasis. Flying was one thing, but landing turned out to be quite the challenge for Korra. She did it though, and they got out of the airship in one piece. Korra supported her and they got into the bar, where she noticed a few familiar faces.
“Dad!” she shouted when she him. Tonraq was talking to Lin when they entered.
“Korra, you’re here! We’ve been wondering where you’ve got to,” he said, approaching the girls. Originally he intended to great his daughter with a hug, but then he noticed an ill-looking Asami at her side. “Are you alright? What happened?”
“I’m fine, we both are. We just had a little trip to Ba Sing Se.” Asami answered. She didn’t look fine at all to Tonraq, but he decided not to push it.
“Here, sit here.” he went to the chair he previously sat on and Korra helped Asami to sit down.
“What the devil is going on? You ditch me in Zaofu and come back like this?” Lin inquired, her eyes scanning over Asami. She didn’t seem to have many injuries besides a split lip, but the way she walked (or rather they way she couldn’t walk on her own) told the Chief that something must have happened.
Korra’s guilt was back in seconds, but she knew they didn’t have time for that.
“Nice to see you too, Lin,” she greeted the older woman. Korra knew she was just worried, as everybody would be, and that she felt like their safety was her responsibility. “And Lord Zuko.”
Korra bowed, as did the former Fire Lord with his head. She only noticed him now, and she wondered just how distracted she needed to be to not notice someone like him.
“Avatar Korra, it’s been a while,” he smiled, but then he turned his gaze to Asami. “And I’m afraid we haven’t met yet, Miss…”
“Sato,” she finished, smiling at the man she’d heard so much about. “Asami Sato. It’s an honor meeting you.”
“Oh, but the honor’s all mine. I’ve heard what you’ve been doing for Republic City,” he said with genuine warmth in his voice. “Though I would’ve hoped we’d met under different circumstances.”
“So what happened?” Lin asked, growing impatient.
Korra and Asami looked at each other, and then Korra started speaking. She told them about Aiwei, about the Spirit World, Zaheer. She told them how the Earth Queen’s forces captured them and that they thought Bolin and Mako would still be at the oasis. She told them about Ba Sing Se, about the Earth Queen and Dai Li. Reluctantly, but she told them about their methods of getting the information they needed.
All three adults shaked their heads disapprovingly. In their eyes Korra and Asami were still just kids and to think that the Dai Li had no problem beating the information out of them… Zuko remembered how the Dai Li treated him and his friends when they were even younger than the two girls in front of him. They haven’t changed one bit, he thought to himself.
Korra also told them how she lied to the Dai Li and she made Lin promise she would warn the Air Acolytes in the Western Air Temple. She continued her story with their escape and how they got to where they were now.
“I knew there was something about the Earth Queen, but I didn’t think she was this desperate to get back the United Republic’s territories.” Zuko mused.
“She’s dangerous, that’s for sure,” Tonraq joined. “But we have to focus on getting Zaheer now.”
They spent a couple of more minutes discussing the subject, but then everyone turned to the radio. The whole bar listened to it because of the news that were said.
“It’s too late,” Korra gasped, horrified at hearing about the Earth Queen’s death. She might not have liked her, but she felt like she was responsible for the monarch’s death. “Zaheer got to her. Oh Spirits, I could have warned her…”
Korra brought her hand up to her forehead, not knowing how to process the news.
“No, sweetie, this wasn’t on you,” Tonraq reassured her as he put his arms around his daughter. “Zaheer would have done this anyway. Now it’s up to us to stop him before he can get to anyone else.”
“He’s right, Korra,” Asami said. She gathered all her strength, stood up and walked up to Korra. She needed to lean on the table with her left hand, but she made it. “All that’s left is making sure that the Red Lotus is stopped before anyone else can get hurt.”
This time even Asami couldn’t convince Korra that it wasn’t her fault, but she pushed her thoughts away. She opened her palms and felt like her bending powers more or less returned to her.
“I think I could try to heal you now,” she said, changing the subject. She turned to her father. “Have you already asked for a room or should I get a new one?”
“Yeah, we have one, it’s right around the corner. Come one, I’ll walk you there.”
Asami put her arm around Korra once again and they walked over to Tonraq’s room. It wasn’t much, but at least it had a bathroom and a bed. Her father left and Korra went to the sink to fill a bucket she found with water. When she returned to Asami she was already on the bed, taking her jacket off.
“Here, let me help you,” Korra said, helping with Asami’s right ar. She winced a couple of times, her shoulder really didn’t make it easy for her, but eventually the jacket got off. Korra put it at the end of the bed.
The Avatar didn’t know how to feel when she first looked at Asami properly. On the one hand, she was amazed and even a little embarrassed by the sight. Only her bra covered Asami’s upper body, and even that didn’t hide much. Her soft porcelain skin, her curves, the way she gracefully moved her body, even in a situation like this. Even in any other one Korra would have felt embarrassed about the funny feeling she got when she looked at Asami, but now she felt awful. Her friend’s flawless skin was now covered in bruises, the only things worse than the red lines around her wrists was the sickening color of her stomach. Even with these Korra found Asami to be stunning, but that’s exactly why she felt like punching herself. Your best friend is in a state like this and you can only think about how good she looks? Nice one, Korra.
Asami noticed her lingering look, but didn’t say anything about it. She just hoped it wasn’t because she looked that bad.
“Okay, tell me where it hurts and I’ll do my best.” Korra finally said, bending some water around her hands. Her power still hasn’t come fully back, but she had to help Asami.
“I guess my left side is kind of obvious.” Asami sighed.
Korra touched her bruises, careful not to cause any more pain. Asami still felt it at first, but it soon transformed into something much better as the water started glowing.
“As far as I can tell no ribs are broken, but two are bruised,” Korra told her, feeling relieved that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. “This will take a week to heal even with a little help, but after that you should be alright.”
Asami turned to the side a little bit and pulled her hair away so Korra could take a look at her shoulder.
“This one isn’t as nasty. Fortunately your shoulder’s not dislocated, I could heal it in a couple of days.”
“Have I mentioned how amazing it is that you can heal?” Asami asked as she turned back.
Korra looked at her split lower lip while answering.
“Luckily you didn’t have to,” she said as she gently took Asami’s face in her hands and tilted her head a bit to get a better view at her lip. “I was hoping I’d never have to heal you.” Korra added absent mindedly.
“There’s not much I can do about your lip, but it will heal nicely in a couple of days.” Korra said, pulling her hands away. Before she could, Asami gently grabbed her right hand with her left one.
“Korra,” she whispered, keeping the other girl’s hand under her own. “You can’t keep doing this.”
“Can’t keep doing what?” she asked, looking away. She knew the effect Asami’s eyes would have on her and she didn’t want that.
But the older girl lifted her right hand to Korra’s face, despite her injured shoulder. Asami’s touch was soft, gentle, peaceful, everything Korra yearned for but didn’t think she deserved at that moment.
“You can’t keep blaming yourself. I know that you’re the Avatar and that you feel responsible, but everything’s not your fault. And thinking that everyone’s pain is on your soul isn’t doing any good to anyone.”
Korra managed to nod before pulling away. She felt close to tears, but not because she was said. She was incredibly grateful to have a friend like Asami, but she didn’t know what to say. So she asked her to remove her boots, she needed to check her ankles and see if there were any other injuries.
Asami just sighed and took off her shoes. As Korra supposed her ankles were almost as bad as her wrists, but they would heal, in time. Asami’s legs still hurt but there weren’t much Korra could do about that, and she hated that feeling.
“I’m worried I might have concussion,” Asami admitted when Korra was done with her legs. “I mean, it might be nothing, but they did kick me in the head.”
“Let’s see.” Korra said and Asami turned her back to her and faced the wall. Korra bent some fresh water around her hands and carefully touched Asami’s temples.
“Asami, can I ask you something?” Korra wondered after a minute of silence.
“Of course, anything.” Asami answered immediately.
“Why did you do it?” Korra asked, but then she realized she’d probably have to be a bit more specific than that. “Why did you tell the Dai Li to hurt you instead of me?”
Asami didn’t reply as fast as she did last time, she took her time to think.
“Because you’re not the only one who’s blaming herself,” she finally said. “I was so sure that my escape plan would work on the airship. When it didn’t, I felt like I needed to do everything I could to keep you and the airbenders safe.”
“Asami…” Korra began, lowering her hands.
“What can I say,” Asami continued, turning back to her friend standing behind her. “I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you while I was just standing by, doing nothing. This was my way of protecting you. Besides, you’ll need your strength to defeat Zaheer and his band.”
Korra sat down beside her, shaking her head. Asami turned towards her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She’s still the one comforting me, Korra thought. Unbelievable.
“You shouldn’t have.” Korra said, looking at Asami. She just smiled at her, with her split lip and green eyes.
“But I did. And I’m still here, and you’re still here. We’re both alive and safe, and that’s all that matters.”
“Can I hug you if I promise to be careful with your shoulder and ribs?” Korra asked suddenly, and Asami couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s sweet request.
“Sure. Come here, you.”
They stayed like that for a minute, but it still felt like it was over too soon. Even though she had to be careful not to hurt Asami, Korra still thought this was the most relaxed she’s been in the past couple of hours, maybe even days. With Asami’s arms around her, the smell of her hair in her nose, the echo of her words still in her ears, it kind of felt like home. Not like the South Pole of course, but she thought this was what people meant when they said that home is not a place, it’s a person.
The only thing making it slightly awkward was the fact that Asami was still half naked. So Korra got out of the embrace and wiped away the few tears that escaped her eyes in her happiness.
“Come, on, I think you deserve some rest now,” she said and stood up. “And put on some clothes. I know this is the desert, but still.” she teased.
Asami laughed and put her jacket back on.
“Okay, okay. Just tell me, do I have a head injury? Anything serious”
“Oh. Oh, no. No, it’s nothing serious, the headache's probably just because of the force of the kick, but that's it. I expect you can sleep it off.”
Asami laid down on the bed. It was more than difficult, considering that she had injuries on all her sides, even on the front and back, but in the she decided to lay on her left side.
“But promise to wake me up when you find Mako and Bolin.” she said to Korra before closing her eyes.
“I promise,” Korra smiled back, relieved now that she knew Asami would be alright. “Have some sweet dreams.”
She left, but only to talk to her father and the others for a bit, then she returned to Asami’s side. She was already asleep, and Korra watched over her, making sure everything was alright. And it was. Only in that exact moment, but that was all Korra needed then and there.