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Asami awoke with a start.
It was the dead of night, the only lights in her bedroom the distant lights of Republic City filtering through a tiny slit in her curtains. Korra was tossing and turning, mumbling something in her sleep. The CEO leaned closer, squinting in the dark. The Avatar was sweating heavily, clearly pained by whatever was going on in her head. It was that nightmare again, Asami could tell with just a look; she reached out her hand, gently running her fingers down one of Korra’s toned arms, hoping the simple act could offer her some solace against whatever demons she was fighting alone. She was cold to the touch, the nightmare sapping her usual warmth.
“No...” She murmured, pain echoing in her voice. “Please...”
Enough was enough. Asami couldn’t bear to watch the love of her life tormented. She gently grips her partner’s bicep, leaning close to her ear.
“Korra...” Asami spoke softly, trying not to jar her fiancé awake. “Korra. It’s okay.”
A gentle shake, and the Avatar’s eyes shot open. She bolted upright in bed, hugging herself tightly; there was no small amount of pain behind her eyes as they darted around the dark room, clearly isolated and alone. Asami grabbed a nearby blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders. She was shivering.
“Bad dream?” The CEO offered as Korra shakily turned to look at her.
She wordlessly nodded slightly, and Asami pulled her into a tender embrace.
She buried her face into Asami’s neck, shuffling a little closer, trying to get as close as possible. Asami hugged her tighter, pulling her in. Her heart bled for her; she’d been through and suffered more than she had ever rightly deserved for reasons far beyond her control. It never felt like enough to just be there for her, but it was all she could offer.
“Sorry.” The Avatar offered after a few moments of quiet closeness. “For waking you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Asami dismissed her lightly. “I’m just glad I was able to help.”
Korra pulled away slightly, enough to look at Asami; her blue eyes were full of adoration, but fragility too.
“You’re too good to me.” Korra said, a tiny smile crossing her lips as she went back to burying her face in her girlfriend’s neck.
“I learned from the best.” Cooed Asami, flattering her, glad that she was able to offer some solace after Korra’s nightmare.
They returned back to comfortable silence, Korra finally beginning to steady her breathing as Asami softly planted kiss after kiss atop her head. Reminding her she was here, she was safe, that Asami would protect her. After a few minutes like this, Korra pulled away again, staring at her fiancé. Her small smile had remained steadfast, the light beginning to come back to her eyes. She leant in slowly, carefully, and Asami moved forward to meet her, softly pressing their lips together in a tender kiss. They briefly broke, and Korra leant up and kissed her again - it was the only way she felt she could express her quiet gratitude for Asami saving her once again. When they broke apart again, they lingered centimeters from each other.
“Thank you.” Korra whispered, heart full of gratitude and affection. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Asami whispered back, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
The CEO’s mind began to wander, her eyes falling on the light from the windows, cradling her love in her arms. They were both awake now. She was probably going to have trouble going back to sleep, and Korra definitely needed some time to decompress. Why not make the most of it?
“Hey.” Asami started, prompting Korra to look at her again. “Want to go and sit on the balcony for a while? It’s a beautiful night.”
Korra nodded, and after enjoying their warm embrace for another few moments, pulled away. Asami turned and clicked her lamp on, before standing up and taking a dressing gown each for both of them out of the enormous wardrobe. The master bedroom of the Sato Estate had always, as long as Asami was concerned anyway, been a little too extravagant. She cast her eyes across the enormous bedroom, dimly lit by lamplight, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and four berth bank of huge wardrobes, centered by a four poster bed so large king size wasn’t the right descriptor. Everything was gilded and carved, with facades of lion-turtles and mythical spirits. What truly mattered to her was groggily pulling on a dressing gown on the far side of the room.
Korra.
Asami smiled, watching as she pulled the fuzzy garment over her beautifully toned figure, over what the Avatar considered to be pajamas - just her underwear, if she was feeling modest. She’d grown her hair back out, her brunette locks far past her shoulders. By day, she wore a single wolf tail, but by night, with just Asami to witness it, she let it down, her long and full hair cascading freely down her back.
Korra was everything.
Her light, her purpose, her strength.
She gently thumbed the engagement ring on her finger. That was a new addition, so new it still didn’t really feel real. A simple platinum band studded with a single blue sapphire so, to quote her fiancé, ‘No one can ever take it from you, bender or not’. Just the thought of it made Asami misty eyed. She was just so happy, so in love. She felt like she always would be.
Korra had finally got into her dressing gown, and Asami urged her on ahead, giving her a blanket to take with her. Then, she opened up a teak case set on the dresser and produced a bottle of whisky and a pair of crystal tumblers that were stylishly angular. It had been a gift from one of her many visits to Ba Sing Se to help re-establish Kingdom-wide infrastructure, a Zaofu scotch of a fine vintage that she hadn’t found a good reason to pop open.
Now seemed as good a time as any.
Then, a rummage into the well-concealed cooler set into the dresser to grab some ice for their glasses - the architect’s extravagance actually serving a purpose for once - before making her way onto their balcony, the myriad twinkling lights of the city now pouring in through the open curtains. Republic City tumbled out from beneath them, from the foot of the hills the Sato Estate sat on, the lights like stars reaching up towards the sky. Where they ended, the aurora from the Spirit Gate began, a column of gold climbing endlessly skyward as the gentle, indescribable colours of the aurora stretched out from it, blanketing the skies in hues of green and blue.
Setting the scotch down onto a nearby table, Asami poured two rather generous glasses for the two of them, the soft tinkling of the ice in the glasses the only sound interrupting the quiet of the night. She turns to Korra, already huddled amongst the cushions and blankets on the sofa they kept on the balcony, and makes her way over to join her.
Korra gazed out, across the city, into the aurora, a million different lights reflected in her bright blue eyes creating an aurora all of their own. She looked lost in thought, staring at the spirit portal of her making, a slight sadness written across her face as she dwelled upon the things that plagued her dreams.
You’re beautiful.
Asami wanted to say, and sweep her love up in her arms, and make sure nothing ever brought her down ever again. Instead, she quietly sat beside her, offering one of the tumblers of whisky toward her fiancé; in this moment, it was the only thing she could offer. Korra’s attention to the lights in the sky broke, and she turned to Asami, taking the drink from her with a small smile.
The multitudes of lights of the city caught the Avatar’s betrothal necklace, and Asami’s chest filled to bursting with affection. A crimson choker with a deep green pendant, engraved with a cog surrounded by all four elements, the ultimate symbol of their unification. Even though it’s something the inventor made by hand, something she spent months designing, every time she saw it, it sent her reeling. Korra - the Avatar - was going to her daily duties wearing a necklace that showed the whole world she was going to marry her , Asami Sato. Something about it made Asami giddy every time she saw it; unlike the understated modern traditions of engagement rings, the Water Tribe really flaunted their engagement in a way that made her heart flutter.
“Hey there beautiful.” She said flirtatiously, wrapping an arm around Korra’s shoulders.
“Hey.” The lascivious act evoked more of a smile from her fiancé, who leaned into the embrace.
“That’s a real pretty necklace you have there. Where’d you get it?” Asami continued, leaning a little more into the sleazy act after seeing her love’s reaction.
“Oh, this girl I know gave me it.” Korra replied dismissively, sipping her scotch with a smile. “She goes to another school, you wouldn’t know her.”
Her utterly playground reaction elicits a laugh from Asami, which prompts Korra to grin back.
“You should ask this girl out.” The CEO continued, going back to being a - surprisingly supportive - sleazeball. “Sounds like she really likes you.”
This time, Korra laughed. The most beautiful sound in the world, and something Asami was desperately glad to hear after her terrible nightmare earlier. Korra dragged her hand over her fiancé’s, lovingly running her fingers over the engagement ring she’d fashioned for Asami, and took her hand, gently placing it on the pendant of the betrothal necklace Asami had made for her.
“I’m definitely considering it.” Korra said softly, her characteristic lopsided smile written across her face.
The small act filled Asami with a surge of love, and unable to maintain her act any longer she leant forward to kiss her fiancé, eager to share the emotions she was feeling with Korra, words no longer enough to express them. Their lips met again, sharing another moment as the golden lights of the city washed over them both.
The tender moment passes, however, and Korra slowly pulls away, going back to staring out across the cityscape. Something was still eating at her, Asami could see it as clear as day, as her love stared silently into the night; the quiet sadness beginning to settle around her like a cowl. Shuffling her position slightly, Asami rests her head on Korra’s shoulder and wraps her free hand around her waist.
“Want to talk about it?” The CEO offered after a period of comfortable silence. “Your nightmare.”
Korra takes her gaze off the city, casting her eyes down to meet her fiancé. It had been over a year since Asami had seen this kind of torment in her eyes.
“I-” She hitches slightly, before putting her guard up. “... There’s not much I haven’t said before.”
It broke Asami’s heart to see her so guarded; they were always so open and honest with each other, but the actions of one deluded man years ago still had the power to trap the Avatar in her own head, to make her push away the people who loved her most. Asami ran her free hand down Korra’s arm, finding her hand and gently interlocking their fingers, hoping it would remind her that she wasn’t alone any more.
“Even so...” The inventor paused, finding the right words to try and ease Korra into talking about that which haunted her. “I’ll still listen.”
The Avatar sighs, resting her head atop Asami’s. After more quiet contemplation, she begins to speak.
“It’s been so long.” She started, taking a tentative sip of her whisky. “Since I’ve seen her. ”
It was so rare that fear was present in her voice, especially nowadays. Asami squeezed her hand, urging her to continue.
“We were here. On the Sato Estate. She- I...” Korra hitches, trying to find her words. “I was trying to find you before she did.”
This was new, actually. Previously, the nightmares were in the Earth Kingdom, where Zaheer poisoned her. Asami nodded, coaxing her to continue.
“She was taunting me.” Korra clenched her fists, casting her furious gaze out to the city below. “She was always a step behind me like- Like she was letting me think I could get away!”
As she raised her voice, the anguish behind it became unmistakable. After a moment, Korra released the tension and slumped back into the cushions, looking defeated. Asami could see the beginnings of tears in the corners of her eyes.
“Then when I couldn't run any more she chained me down again and-” Her voice cracked, and the tears spilled down her cheeks. “And started to steal the air from my lungs.”
There was finality in the words Korra said, like this was always the unavoidable conclusion. Asami planted a kiss on the Avatar’s jaw, hugging her a little tighter, trying everything to show her that she was here and she wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m so sorry, Korra.” Asami murmured, kissing her cheek. “That sounds terrible.”
Korra hummed in agreement, still focused on the view beyond them - focused on the dread within. Asami squeezed her hand again; this was always the hardest part, watching her suffer while all she could do was be there. It never felt like enough. Finally, Korra spoke.
“... ‘Sami?” She said quietly, turning to look at her fiancé.
Her eyes were so beautiful, the glassy blue of them picking up all the lights in the sky and sparkling, and yet they were so full of heartache and pain. It struck Asami, like it always did, how unfair it was that someone so wonderful, selfless, and perfect could be inflicted such pain by an uncaring universe.
“Yes, my love?” Asami returned, sitting up and wiping Korra’s tears away with her thumb.
“Can you...” Korra looked away again, finding the right words. “Just, hold me?”
Asami was taken aback by the request, but she didn’t show it. She was furious that the shadows that haunted her made her feel so small and powerless that she had to ask the woman she’d promised to spend her life with just to hold her.
“Just for a while?” Korra continued meekly. “Please?”
This was a side of Korra so very few people had seen. She was always so strong for the sake of all the people who looked up to her, few were the moments she let herself be vulnerable. Asami had been partial to most of them, witnessing Avatar Korra melt away so only Korra the girl remained, so often scared and scarred and lost.
“Of course I can.” Asami smiled, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead as she took her drink from her, placing it to one side.
Then, she shuffled to lie across the sofa, nesting deep into the blankets, creating a Korra-sized gap for her fiancé to cuddle up into. Cuddle up Korra did, wrapping her arms tightly around the taller girl’s waist, intertwining their legs, resting her head under Asami’s chin. When she was done, Asami gently pulled a blanket over her, resting one hand reassuringly on Korra’s back while she ran the other through her hair, tracing idle patterns as she went. Despite the circumstances, she loved this kind of closeness, something beyond the closeness of whenever they embraced or slept together; the kind of closeness where it felt like maybe they were the only two people in the whole world.
Asami gently kissed the top of Korra’s head.
Most importantly, she loved it because she knew it was where Korra felt safest.
So there they lay, the inventor wasn’t sure for how long. It was so easy to lose track of time when they held each other tightly like this; Asami would stroke her hair and gently hum aimless tunes while Korra disentangled her thoughts. It didn’t matter how long it took, Asami would be there. In the past, she had cradled Korra like this all through the night - not because Korra had insisted, but because she’d fallen asleep and Asami had been so caught up in it all that she simply continued to comfort her until the sun rose.
She stared out across the cityscape, at the myriad lives splayed out beyond her as she embraced her wife-to-be. It always surprised her how many people were out living their lives in the dead of night. Headlights from automobiles driving around, navigation lights from ships in Republic Harbour and from airships entering and leaving the city. Lights on in apartments and house; It made her mind wander to what each of them were doing - their own lives, their dreams and loves and ambitions. Were they people she knew? People she’d met in the past? Or people she’d meet in the future? It fascinated her to think about.
Korra stirred, and her attention snapped away from the distant to the close. She slowly sat up, and Asami did the same, not making any moves and letting Korra have whatever space she needed. She turned to look at Asami, softly taking her hand and interlocking their fingers again.
“I feel better now.” Her smile was back, but more importantly so was the light in her sapphire eyes. “Thank you.”
Asami squeezed her hand back, returning the smile.
“Anything for you.”
Her gaze shifted from Asami to something on the other side of her, and the inventor followed her gaze quizzically.
Oh, right .
With a coy smile, she reached out and grabbed the whisky she'd poured from them both from the side table, offering one of them toward Korra once again. She accepted it, sipping it gingerly.
“It's good.” The avatar uttered quietly, her gaze now remaining on her fiancé.
“Isn't it?” Asami responded, having some of her own. “We can thank Su for it next time we see her.”
It was smokey, but a little sweet after the bitterness. As far as whisky went - though Asami was no expert - it was some of the best she’d had. She swirled the liquid around the tumbler idly, watching as the whiskey and ice caught all the lights from the city and shimmered.
“When did you first realise you wanted to kiss me?” Asami said, uttering the thought without much deliberation.
Korra chuckled, cocking an eyebrow playfully.
“Where did that come from?” She inquired, slightly taken off guard.
“Doesn’t this just feel like the sort of atmosphere to ask mushy romantic questions?” Asami gestured widely to the balcony and the astounding view with her tumbler.
Partially she was just asking to fill the silence, hoping to further draw her fiancé’s mind from the shadows of the past.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t genuinely curious, though.
“Okay, I see what you mean.” The Avatar smiled, taking another swig of scotch in a brief moment of contemplation. “Probably... The first time we met?”
Asami burst out laughing, nearly spitting out her mouthful of whisky.
“ Really? ” She sat up, staring at Korra in astoundment. “But we hated each other for weeks !”
“Yeah, for like 45 seconds I was like ‘wow, she’s gorgeous!’ Then you were all over Mako and I immediately wanted you to be banished.” With a massive grin, she continued. “I grew up around Kya, I’ve known about kissing pretty girls since I was like fourteen. ”
“I don’t think your surrogate aunt being gay is an excuse for you wanting to kiss the first pretty girl you see!” Asami exclaimed, utterly in hysterics.
That was just like Korra, despite the situation her instincts were always the first thing to kick in. She loved it now, though all those years ago then it definitely caused some friction between them.
Fortunately her laughter was infectious, and before they knew it they were both in fits over the thought.
“Alright then, when did you first want to kiss me ?” Her fiancé finally eked out after their giggles had died down.
“I’m sorry to say it wasn’t love at first sight like you experienced.” Asami finished the last of her drink, setting the glass down and shuffling closer to her wife-to-be. “I think it was... When we were off in my airship to rally the airbenders.”
Korra finished off her whisky as well and set it to one side, wrapping her arms around her fiancé as she continued.
“At some point during that trip, I realised I kept finding myself stealing glances at you and feeling bashful whenever we’d make eye contact.” She smiled, staring off into the city as she reminisced. “When we got to Zaofu, I had to admit to myself I found you very attractive. And that I wanted to kiss you. More whisky?”
Once things got violent with Zaheer’s involvement, she was forced to put that to one side, but she left that tidbit out.
Korra nodded in response to her query, handing Asami her tumbler. Though reluctant to break the embrace, after stealing a quick kiss she made a quick trip back inside for some more ice, fixing up two more generous glasses of scotch for them both. On her return, they toasted the two glasses together with a satisfying ‘clink’ that rang out into the night before resuming their close embrace.
“Hey, ‘Sami?” Korra started, after a short period of deliberation. “When did you realise you were in love with me?”
The CEO chuckled, the beginnings of a blush tingeing her cheeks at the question as she took a big swig from her drink. It was incredibly rare that anything made her embarrassed, especially nowadays, but this was something she’d never thought she’d admit out loud.
“It was when you were... Away, for those three years.” The inventor elaborated. “I remember when I was young, just after my mother passed away, I asked my father how he knew he loved her.”
She smiled sadly at the fond memories of her father. Korra sat in attentive silence save for an occasional sip of her drink, her eyes fixed on the love of her life and brimming with an inquisitive sparkle.
“He said ‘when you’re in love with someone, they become the lighthouse of your universe’.” She continued, staring wistfully at the aurora above them. “‘Nothing means as much without that person’. I didn’t really get it at the time; I asked him ‘so you couldn't have fun on vacation without someone if you loved them?’”
What a silly question, in hindsight. It would take over a decade, but Asami would eventually see her father was absolutely right. She sighed, prompting Korra to squeeze her reassuringly with the arm she had wrapped around Asami’s waist.
“And he said to me ‘of course not. You see beauty, but it means less when they aren’t there. You see something amazing, and your first thought is that they should be there with you. They illuminate.’” She turns to look at her fiancé, who is visibly enraptured by her nostalgic rambling.
At her beautiful blue eyes, that betrayed everything she felt. At her lips, that had been toughened by endless fighting and managed to be so soft. At her , Korra. The woman who despite everything the universe had thrown at her, was so kind, and caring, and would go to endless lengths to help anyone.
“‘They make everything more.’”
Korra looked stunned from the heartfelt story that had come from her fiancé, prompted by her errant question. Asami smiled, glad that her father’s wise words had moved her love the way they had moved her. She reached up with her free hand, tucking a stray lock of Korra’s hair behind her ear before continuing.
“When you were gone, I started to see more and more things and think ‘Korra would love that’ or ‘I wish Korra could see this’. I realised,” She paused, enjoying how utterly lovestruck her fiancé looked. “ You were the lighthouse of my universe.”
“‘Sami, I...” Korra started, but quickly stopped, speechless.
Asami could see it written all over her face, as she fumbled around mentally for the right words to express the immense emotion she was feeling. There was no mistaking the adoration in her shining blue eyes; it was always there when she looked at the love of her life, and always made Asami’s heart leap a little.
“‘Sami, that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.” The Avatar finally managed to produce. “It’s so... Accurate . It sums it all up so well. Your dad... He was a very wise man.”
Asami smiled, but she couldn’t stop the melancholy feeling in her chest. It meant so much to her to hear Korra praise her dad; she takes a deep breath, trying to prevent the tears that were trying to fight their way out of her composed exterior.
“Yeah. He was.” She eked out, sipping her drink as she shifted her gaze out towards the sea. “I’ve never known anyone to love someone the way my father loved my mother.”
It still hurt her a little to think about. Everything he did, he did for love; even when it led him astray. It was his love for Asami that drove him to make the ultimate sacrifice, too.
“I think that- If things had been different,” Asami’s voice hitched a little as she continued. “You two would have got on well.”
“I think so, too.” Korra agreed, planting a kiss on her fiancé’s shoulder.
She set her glass to one side, and gently pulled Asami into her until her head was resting on the Avatar’s shoulder. They sat quietly, watching the very first light of the sun caress the highest clouds with pink hues, twilight beginning to crest over Republic City. They stayed there in silence, Korra running her fingers softly through her fiancé’s long, dark hair when Asami, unprompted, brushed her lips along her neck sending sparks down her spine.
For Asami, she realised that her two generous glasses of scotch had gone straight to her head at this early hour. As she sat, resting her head against Korra’s strong shoulders while she caressed her hair, her face started to feel hot and she realised she wanted nothing more than to feel the warm, soft tan skin of Korra’s neck under her lips. So she kissed her neck, and again, and again. The way Korra shuddered from the contact just encouraged her more, and she began to work her way up her neck, kissing along her jaw until their lips made contact, softer and warmer again. Before she knew it, Asami was straddling the Avatar with her arms wrapped around her neck, still clutching her whisky tumbler; their noses were touching, and she could feel Korra’s breath on her lips as she stared deeply into her striking blue eyes. There was a fog in her brain that was rising with the heat in her cheeks as she held the love of her life so closely.
“Korra?” She murmured, barely audibly.
“Yeah?” Korra whispered back.
Korra’s hands wandered, one resting in the small of her fiancé’s back whilst the other had slipped down Asami’s pajama bottoms, resting on the supple skin at the top of her thigh. Asami’s hand found Korra’s neck and she pulled herself closer, leaning in to whisper into her love’s ear.
“Am I your lighthouse, too?” She whispered, one arm wrapped around her fiancé’s neck.
It was horrendously cringey, and mushy, and all the things that Asami would inevitably regret when Korra teased her about in the days to come. Right here and right now though, with love and alcohol addling her conscience, it was all she wanted to know.
“Yeah.” She breathed. “You are.”
Within an instant, her lips were back on Korra’s, pressing deeply and desperately. There was an urgency behind her kisses Asami couldn’t explain; she so desperately wanted to be close to Korra in a way cuddling her simply couldn’t sate. Their tongues met, and Korra pressed her desperation back in equal measure, digging her nails into Asami’s lower back. She tasted like the whisky they’d been drinking, bitter yet sweet. She couldn’t get enough, pushing deeper and deeper. Korra pushed back, not one to be outdone, matching her fiancé’s intensity with a fire of her own.
Finally, they broke, resting centimeters apart. Their shared intensity had burned bright, and they were both left panting, staring into each other’s eyes again.
“I love you.” Korra uttered after an eternity of silent beholding.
“I love you too.” Asami responded, gently touching their noses together. “So, so much.”
For a moment, the Avatar peered past her, and immediately gestured with her head over Asami’s shoulder. She turned to glance over her shoulder, and quickly saw the sun was beginning to rise over the bay, pink tinted clouds turning orange and the skies turned from orange to blue. A little reluctantly, Asami disentangles herself from her wife-to-be, dropping herself down next to her after setting her empty glass down on the side table, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Korra returns the gesture, wrapping a comforting arm around her waist, and interlocking their fingers on the hands that remained. This comfortable closeness was to die for, too, as they watched the stunning sunrise over Republic City.
They sit in comfortable silence again, taking in the scenery as they enjoy each other's company. Asami mulled over the circumstances, trying to find something to say. Nothing needed to be said, but there were things she wanted to say. Saying she’d “always protect” Korra was pretty cliche; did it suggest she didn’t trust her to look after herself? Saying she’d “always look after” her felt like the opposite, it felt like Asami wasn’t willing to go the distance.
“What are you so deep in thought about?” Korra nudged her gently, jolting her back to reality.
“Hmm? What do you mean?” Asami responded, trying to sidestep the question.
“I know that look, ‘Sami.” Korra smiled, leaning closer. “You’re getting really snarled up about something in your head.”
“And what look is that, oh insightful Avatar?” She shot back with false airs of reverence
“You stare off into the distance really hard,” Korra elaborated. “And scrunch up your nose a little bit. It’s cute.”
Asami giggles in response to the cute comment, shaking her head.
“You got me.” She raises her free hand in defeat. “I was thinking very hard indeed.”
She pauses, taking a breath before continuing, Korra’s azure eyes on her expectantly.
“I was trying to find the best way to say...” She still hadn’t decided the best way to say this, but she was committed now. “I’m always here for you. Always . It doesn’t matter where, or when, or why, I’ll be there.”
Korra sat quietly, letting her fiancé talk, but with every moment more of impassioned rambling, her smile grew warmer. Asami took her hand, holding it close to her chest.
“I know it’s your duty to protect this world and the Spirit Wilds and everything in between, but it’s not written anywhere that anyone is bound to protect the Avatar.” She rested her head on Korra’s shoulder, continuing quietly. “I swear, I’m always here.”
“I know, ‘Sami.” Korra replied reassuringly, planting a kiss on the crown of her fiancé’s head.
They sat comfortably, quietly, for a while, watching the twilight turn into morning over the city. Lights went out, and more and more automobiles, ships, and airships began to appear as the day well and truly started. Even by day, the golden shimmer of the spirit portal was beautiful, the aurora taking on a whole new aspect when illuminated by the low morning sun. The sunlight shimmered off the gentle waves in the bay, the waters in the harbour turning from the deep black of night to beautiful hues of teal as the morning light caught them.
Suddenly, Asami sat up.
“ Spirits. ” She uttered, turning to Korra.
“What’s wrong?” Her fiancé immediately responded, sitting up as well.
“It’s dawn , Korra. I have to go to work in two hours .” There was genuine distress in her voice.
Her worry was accentuated by the half a bottle of whisky they’d just drunk sat behind her, and the faint smell of scotch on her breath as she began to panic. The Avatar gently ran her hand down her back, trying to soothe her.
“I’m sure it’s fine, ‘Sami.” She said, a calming smile on her face. “You can just take a sick day or something, right? Let’s go back to bed.”
“Absolutely not .” Asami immediately shot back, to her lover’s dismay. “I’ve got a big board meeting today about fixed wing air transport, I have to be there.”
Korra was out of ideas. Mornings were bad enough as it was, let alone her fiancé’s unavoidable 8am commitments. Asami leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, before standing up from the couch on the balcony, Republic City spilling out behind her.
“I can’t avoid my obligations to Future Industries, but...” She leans forward, placing her fingers under Korra’s chin. “I could use a hand in the shower before I go.”
The utterly loaded statement caused the Avatar to leap to her feet without delay, eliciting a chuckle from Asami. She was as predictable as ever. As she took the love of her life’s hand, leading her back inside, all that really crossed her mind was how lucky she truly was.
How she would protect Korra. No matter what.