Chapter Text
Korra awoke three days after her near deathly encounter. Her mind struggled to focus as a fog dominated to pull her back into unconsciousness. Her physical and spiritual strength had been diminished and she almost let the fog enclose her once more.
“She’s stirring! Korra!”
That voice. Asami’s voice. Korra latched on to the resonance of her voice and dragged her eyelids open as far as she could. That was the only part of her body that would currently respond to her. Her mother, Senna, was at her side. Her father, Tonraq, stood strong behind her,placing a hand of support on Senna’s shoulder. Tenzin stood near the doors as if he was guarding them. Asami stood at the foot of Korra’s bed.
“Oh, thank the spirits you are awake,” her father sighed. Korra could feel the tension the past three days of uncertainty caused. It hung like thick venom that reached out and poisoned her loved ones.
“Honey, can you hear me?” Senna tenderly grabbed Korra’s hand.
Korra blinked, scanned the room once more and focused on each face, saying their name in her head once more. Mom. Dad. Tenzin. Asami. She tensed the muscles in her neck, released, and allowed her head to bob slightly, forming what she could of a nod.
“Tenzin, I know she is recovering as well, but when she feels up to it, may I ask Kya to heal what she can of Korra?” Senna turned toward Tenzin without letting go of Korra’s hand. Tenzin nodded and his eyes softened as he shifted toward Korra. Tenzin felt the guilt of not being able to protect the nation he led and more importantly his own student. He was thankful for all Korra did, yet he regrets how costly the repercussions were.
“Korra, I promise to assist you in your recovery process as much as I possibly can.” Tenzin bowed and left the room, shutting the door silently behind him. All eyes drifted back on to Korra and smiles began to warm the room.
Asami bit her lip and gripped the footboard. She wanted to stay by Korra’s side for as long as she could, but she realized this moment should belong to her parents and her presence might suffocate her. “I’ll go fetch us some lunch and some fresh water for Korra.”
“Yes, thank you, Asami,” Tonraq said.
Senna stood from her stool and handed Tonraq Korra’s hand. Asami left the room to Korra and her parents, while Tonraq placed his chin on their clasped hands.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you still here with me,” he gulped as if preparing what he had to say, “Seeing you in pain like that… It was unbearable. My little girl should never have to had experience such a thing. I felt so helpless, holding you in my arms, watching you suffer… Your mother and I learned very early on that you are a fully capable and strong individual, but in that moment… I felt like I had failed you as a father, Korra. I wasn’t able to do the one job I was meant to. I couldn’t protect you… I’m so sorry.”
Korra closed her eyes as tears began to fall down her cheeks. Her father followed suit, and collapsed on her stomach. He repeated apologies until Korra called what strength she could and squeezed his hands.
It’s okay, dad. It’s okay. Please don’t cry.
Tonraq filled his lungs with air as he attempted to compose himself. He let out a shallow laugh, “If only we could have kept you back home your whole life! That would’ve kept you safe, huh?”
Senna wiped away her fallen tears as well and joined in with the laughter, trying to do her part to lighten the room. “Your father and I wouldn’t have to worry about boys, too! I’d just be the family.”
Korra cracked what she could of a smile. She almost wished it had been that way too.
---
Asami slid the wooden doors shut behind her and leaned on them. She could hear Tonraq’s speech to Korra and knew she left at the right time. Feeling the growing intimacy of their conversation, she pushed off the door and headed toward the kitchens of Air Temple Island.
Korra…
Asami’s thoughts, whether in a public or private setting, constantly gravitated toward the avatar. It had not always been this way, but Korra became a pivotal part of her life and soon became what Asami would pour her heart, energy, and time into. Though initially admiring her as just the avatar, Asami grew fond of the girl behind the title. This fondness continued to blossom the more time she spent with Korra, the more they grew to learn how the other thinks, moves, and speaks. Their synchronization was natural as their styles complimented each other and their ability to anticipate the other and respond accordingly had become impeccable.
Asami’s feelings, however, were nothing like she had ever felt before. It started as a spontaneous flicker of interest whenever she saw Korra or heard of her name. The flicker would subside as soon as it had sprung once the static of her life snapped her back to reality. Slowly it grew into a continual burn that would cause her stomach to flutter when Korra smiled and cause her chest to ache when Korra was away or with another. Soon, it became undeniable and uncontrollable for Asami. She had suspected this when recalling the immense protectiveness she felt when whisking away Korra from Ming-Hua and Ghazan. Asami dared them to attempt to take Korra from her arms. Her feelings were confirmed when she saw the poison draining Korra’s strength by each passing moment. Asami Sato was in love with Korra and she could not bear to see her struggling to stay alive.
She reached the kitchens and found them to be empty. Without hesitation, she rummaged through the shelves and began to prepare simple boxes of southern water tribe-style squid stew over rice. The extent of her cooking was limited to the recipes she learned from her family’s chef, but she figured that she should at least attempt to replicate a basic meal for Korra and her family. She was slightly relieved that she had to prepare the meal herself, as it gave her time to think of what she would in turn say to Korra when the time was right. She certainly wasn’t as forward as Korra, but Asami was not ashamed of her feelings either.
Maybe this isn’t the right time to even bring this up. It’d be selfish… She’s recovering and who knows how much damage the poison actually did to her. I just hope that she’ll be okay. I know she’ll be. Korra’s strong.
Asami finished making the lunch boxes, grabbed a pail of fresh water, and began walking back toward Korra’s room.
I’m going to just be there for her. What ever she needs. Doctors, medicine, a caretaker, a friend… I’ll be that for her.
Asami knocked lightly on the door before entering and handed Tonraq and Senna their boxes. Korra had fallen back asleep and Senna sat next to her, patting her fore head with a damp cloth.
“Squid stew? That’s my favorite, Asami! I didn’t know you knew how to cook water tribe food!” Tonraq whispered to her, as he began to stuff his face.
“Yeah, Korra mentioned it was her favorite as well, so I learned, in case she ever got homesick in Republic City.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Asami,” Senna took her lunch and began to eat as well, “Thank you, this is lovely.”
“Definitely not as good as yours though, eh, Senna?” Tonraq nudged her with his elbow.
“Asami’s is plenty fine!” Senna said, shooting Tonraq a warning look.
“No! I’m sure he’s right. I would love to learn how to cook it authentically some day,” Asami smiled and took a seat next to Tonraq.
“I’d love to teach you,” Senna offered.
“Thank you, I’d like that.”
“Bring Korra with you too. Girl can’t cook to save her life,” Tonraq laughed, causing Korra to stir and exhaustedly open her eyes.
Asami quickly placed her lunch box on the table, and grabbed the fresh water. She poured Korra a small cup and placed it gently to her lips. With her other hand, she raised Korra’s head slightly as the water began to trickle down her throat. Once Korra was finished drinking, Asami placed the cup down and proceeded to pat Korra’s fore head and neck with the damp cloth.
“…Thank…you.” Korra rasped and glanced up at her.
Asami looked at her with astonishment and simply smiled.
---
“Why don’t you two head to bed? My room’s right next to Korra’s, so I’ll be able to check up on her throughout the night,” Asami offered. Night had fallen and the air became crisp. The lights around the island began to illuminate the buildings and pathways and a blanket of quietness rested itself upon the earth. “After what you’ve been though, you deserve your rest.”
“Thank you, Asami, for all your help. I know you don’t have to do all this for us… For Korra.” Tonraq said, giving her a nod.
“Well, Korra is a good friend and means a lot to me.”
“We certainly can see that. She’s very lucky to have you,” Senna hugged Asami. “Well if anything happens, you know where we’ll be. ” Senna and Tonraq departed Korra’s room and traveled down the hall to their guest room.
Asami sat next to the resting Korra. She pulled the blanket up to Korra’s shoulders and brushed the stray hair from her face. Her fingertips skimmed Korra’s jawline ever so lightly and Asami buried her hands in her lap.
“I’m sorry…” She stuttered aloud.
“It’s okay.” Korra whispered, as the corners of her lips perked a little.
“Korra! Are you okay? Do you need water?”
Korra nodded and Asami grabbed the water cup. She held Korra’s head as she drank the full contents of the cup.
“Do you want more?”
“No, that’s fine. Thanks.”
Asami placed Korra’s head down gently on the pillow and placed the empty cup back onto the nightstand.
“You should get some rest too, you know,” Korra said.
“I will. I just… wanted to make sure you’d be alright for the night,” Asami glanced down to her hands.
“I will be.” Korra’s voice was flat. It wasn’t as vivid as before, and it was much more quiet and submissive. Asami placed a hand on Korra’s shoulder.
“I have no doubt about it. Kya’s coming in tomorrow to begin healing sessions with you, and I can bring in other doctors if you’d like?”
“No. I don’t need anymore people seeing me like this.” Korra averted her gaze from Asami. Asami gave Korra’s shoulder a delicate squeeze.
“That’s fine, just take as much time and space as you need to heal.”
Korra nodded and let her eyes sink back closed. She was soon fast asleep again and Asami let her hand slip from Korra. She took a moment to examine the being before her. Korra was the Avatar, the most powerful bender alive, and yet she was in such a fragile state right now. Asami had seen Korra at her prime and it took her aback to see her at the contrasting extreme. In that moment, however, Asami merely saw Korra as a victim of fate. She saw firsthand the danger Korra was constantly put under and tried to empathize the pressure she faced being the ‘world’s savior.’
Asami stood silently from the stool and headed toward the door. She looked back to check on Korra one last time.
Korra, don’t worry about the rest of the world right now. Just worry about you and your recovery. Being the Avatar can wait.
Asami shut the doors and saw a patrol guard making his usual rounds.
“Good evening, ma’am,” the patrol guard bowed.
“Good evening. Please see to it that Avatar Korra has a guard at this post throughout the night. If they hear anything, please come get me in the next room immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am.”