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Asami opened the door to her mansion, with Korra now tightly wrapped around her. Their hand holding quickly became more affectionate as Korra felt more exhausted than usual since her confession.
Asami chuckled as she tried to take off her coat, “You’re going to have to let go of me eventually.” She smiled at Korra while playfully trying to free herself.
“No.” Korra objected as she nuzzled herself into Asami’s shoulder and wrapped both arms around her now.
Asami huffed cheekily, but she gently pushed Korra away. Korra’s body moved but she tried to stay in the same position until it was no longer possible. Korra pouted, but was quickly interrupted with a kiss before any more fuss would happen.
Asami smiled softly at Korra, “I’m going to change into something more comfortable. Meet in the kitchen, ok? I’ll cook us something nice and hot.”
“Okay.” Korra took off her coat and headed toward the kitchen. She decided to have a small snack while she waited for dinner.
A short time passed and Asami finally walked into the kitchen, she changed into comfortable, yet still somewhat fashionable, sweats.
“You’re still cold?” Korra raised her eyebrow with an accompanying playful smirk.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.” Asami placed her hands on her hips as she walked up to Korra and gave her a quick peck. Korra’s instant reaction was wrapping her arms around her to hold her. Asami chuckled aloud, “Korra, I gotta make dinner.” She tried to walk away but Korra’s grasp didn’t loosen. ”Korra!” She playfully protested as she tried to step towards the kitchen. She almost stumbled but Korra seemed to let her walk, albeit with some struggle.
Once the clump of lovers made it into the kitchen, Korra let go and Asami gathered the ingredients she needed. Korra leaned against the counter and watched as Asami started prepping their meal.
Korra’s mood changed and gave Asami a concerned look, “Do you want me to make dinner? Didn’t you say we’d talk about what’s bothering you?” She took a step toward Asami.
“It’s ok.” Asami smiled back, “I can do both. I want to make us dinner.” She tried to reassure Korra. “Just give me another second.” Asami went around the kitchen, grabbing a cutting board, a knife, vegetables, and other ingredients she deemed needed. She found her working space and placed all her items neatly in an organized fashion. Once she was content with how her supplies were arranged, she picked up her knife.
Korra watched as Asami took a deep breath and noticed how she was seemingly struggling on where to start. She made her way to Asami and slowly wrapped her arms around Asami’s waist again. Asami wasn’t expecting it this time as she jumped slightly. Korra kissed her cheek slowly and rested her head against Asami’s shoulder.
“I can help.” Korra said softly.
“I know.” Asami quickly retorted back and turned her head and smiled at her concerned girlfriend. “I just need to figure out on what to start with”
"Okay…" Korra was slightly concerned as she watched Asami continually stare at the vegetables. She slowly grabbed one and placed it near the knife. Once again there was an uncomfortable pause. Korra was about to interject once more but her mind went blank as Asami slammed her hands on the table.
She couldn’t fight it. She just wanted to make Korra something to eat. She’s done it hundreds of times before, why is it so difficult now?! Asami squeezed her hands into fists and tightly closed her eyes. She was losing. The only hope she had left was to try with all her might to not cry.
Korra was shocked. Asami rarely showed fits of rage, if ever. Korra let go and moved so she could face Asami. She hated what she saw, Asami clearly struggling with whatever thoughts going through her head. Korra wished she could just take it all away, let her burden all of it instead. “Asami...” she spoke calmly and slowly, “...I’m going to touch you now, okay?” She waited to hear any objections, but when she didn’t see or hear any, she placed her hand on top of Asami’s and slowly wrapped their fingers. “I’m here. We can worry about dinner later, okay?”
Asami shook her head, eyes still locked shut. She couldn’t gather the energy to speak. Staying silent was the only thing keeping her from fully melting down.
Korra spoke again, “Asami, can you do something with me?” She added a little cheer into her voice, hoping it would inject Asami with some hope. “I need you to take deep breaths with me, okay?”
It took a while before Asami started to nod to the idea. Korra smiled. She began to instruct Asami. Breathing in, counting, holding, breathing out. She repeated the process audibly multiple times with her until Asami finally opened her eyes. Asami took a last staggered breath before she was able to look at the smiling Korra.
“I’m sorry.” Asami whispered.
“It’s okay.” Korra whispered back as she went into a hug. She held her tightly as she repeated, “It’s okay.” Korra let go slowly and took both Asami’s hand into hers. “I know you want to make me something good to eat, but it really can wait. I would rather hear what’s bothering you, now, when you’re ready.”
Asami closed her eyes once more to gather her thoughts. She lifted her head towards the ceiling as she exhaled. “I just…really wish you could’ve met her, Korra. She would…” It only took a few words and once again Asami was fighting back the tears. “...she would’ve loved you, Korra.” She returned her gaze to Korra and gave her a pained smile. “We’re getting married soon, and all I’ve been thinking is how involved she would’ve been, instead of actually planning it this entire time. How she would’ve accepted us instantly and made sure nothing went wrong for our wedding….” Asami chuckled, “She would’ve kept you in line during the whole thing too, Avatar or not.” A tear escaped from her eye.
She tried again to hide her misery. She closed her eyes, but it didn’t stop the pain from resonating itself all over her body. Brows furrowed, fists clenched, mouth clenching, she couldn’t fight her body. “And I know…, even my father would’ve accepted you eventually. After seeing how truly in love we are together, how you make me so incredibly… happy all the time. He would of have to.…” She fought back a sob as she took a sharp breath. Once again fighting everything in her being to not break down totally. “I have no one left, Korra.” She took an involuntary shuddered breath. she only had the energy to let out one final sentence. She was at the precipice. She felt the tear flow down her cheek.
With another shuddered inhale, she continued, “It’s all I’ve been thinking about lately. There’s been nights where I can’t sleep because of this. How every time I see a fire, I get kicked in the gut.” Her voice broke, she couldn’t keep it all together now. “I go to work, and I smell the oil and machinery and all I can hear is that damn sound of my father being crushed. The sight of the destroyed hummingbird burning wreck. I…I…I have nightmares most nights about his or her death. I have to relive those moments over and over. I stand helplessly as they die…I hear her screams, Korra…do you know what that’s like?! I hear her die almost every night and I'm powerless to help them.”
Asami pushed through her cries to reveal everything she could. She openly wept as she went to cling to Korra for life, to support her suddenly too heavy body. Korra held on tight and let Asami release all the stress she kept bubbling inside. Korra took the moment to repeatedly reassure Asami as much as she could, telling her that she got her, that she’s going to be okay, that she was there for her. Once Asami calmed down a bit, Korra slowly pushed her away and took a look at her puffy reddened eyes, she offered her a sincere smile.
Korra’s heart broke, it hurt to hear all this. These were the one in a very few things that she couldn't outright fix. But, Asami had her, and that’s what she is going to do for her. “I know it’s not the same, but you have all of us. You have Mako … Bolin … their entire family … Tenzin … Pema … my mom … my dad… me … and you can’t forget the most important one, Naga.”
Asami laughed, how dare Korra be this absurd at this moment. She sniffled as she opened her eyes and looked again at the forever spirit, that is Korra. Her brain didn’t want to, but she couldn’t help but smile at her. She laughed cried as she tried to get over Korra’s adorableness.
“I know it’s not the same,” Korra began to rub her thumbs on Asami’s hands, “but everyone I mentioned definitely loves you, and will do anything to protect you. All of us are a part of your family now.” She squeezed Asami’s hands, “I know we can’t fill the hole your parents left behind but let all of us make new happy memories with you. And…” Korra exhaled, “…if it makes you feel any better, we don’t need to do a whole ceremony or anything. We can just get Tenzin to be our witness and then we won’t have to worry about all these details that go into a wedding.”
Korra paused once more, she seemed to stare at something that wasn’t there for a while before nodding to herself. She gripped Asami’s hands tighter, “I mean, we don’t have to even do a wedding. It’s mostly just for the title, we can just be…wives…” she blushed, “and we don’t need a ceremony to suddenly mark us as official. I can just call you…I... I can just call you my wife. My…wife.” She hesitated once more, the mere thought of them calling each other ‘wives’ seemed like pure fantasy. Korra’s heart beated faster than before, she couldn’t really hold on to her composure so she wouldn’t go full giddy. “Whatever you want to do, Asami, whatever you’re comfortable in doing, I’ll fully accept and support. Okay?”
Asami dove into Korra. Her heart instantly melted at Korra’s pure soul. She couldn't fight the residual tears any longer. She let them flow as she sniffled several times in Korra’s shoulder. “You’re so sweet.” she spoke softly into Korra’s ear. They just held each in silence, with gentle caressing and slow swaying.
Asami was the one who pulled away while giving another sniffle. She placed her hands on Korra’s shoulders and gave her a weak smile, she could feel the tears returning as she thought of the words she was going to speak. “Korra, you’re so…amazing and kindhearted. You’re willing to sacrifice so much just to make sure I’m happy. Just in the last few minutes you’ve turned the attention away from your depression and made it your sole mission to make me feel better. And I can’t stop thinking of all the other times you’ve done this. You go out of your way, every single time, to make sure I’m okay. You’re so kind and sweet and attentive. And that’s why I don’t think I deserve you.”
Korra's eyes widened in horror, and she was going to quickly interject until a finger was quickly pressed against her mouth. “I mean, I don’t know what I’ve done in my entire life, that gave me the privilege to have you in my life.” Her smile strengthened, “What I do know is that I love you, so much, with all of my heart. And I know you do as well. I thank the spirits regularly that I have you. And that’s why, I honestly want to do what you want to do with the wedding. I know the water tribes are more traditional, and I also want to do anything to make you happy. If you want the traditional wedding, then I want it too. But…” she chuckled, “I would need you to do the planning. I’m sorry.”
Korra’s eyes darted between the two elegant emeralds as Asami spoke. Korra was tremendously moved at everything Asami admitted, she didn’t really know if she should laugh in bliss or cry. “I’ll be more than happy to do it.”
“I…just have one request.”
“Anything.”
“Before the whole thing starts…before we say our vows…I want a moment of silence for my parents.”
“Absolutely.”
Korra leaned and kissed Asami, ever so softly and so tenderly. Asami pulled away after a moment and laughed to herself.
“I’m sorry…I know I said I wanted to make you dinner, but I don’t have the energy anymore. I know this whole thing started because you were feeling down but…can I be selfish tonight and have you by my side tonight? I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, I promise.” Asami sheepishly asked.
Korra nodded, “Of course, but you don’t need to promise anything. We have our entire lives to take care of each other now.”