Air Temple Island.
Asami fights the queasiness. Korra is alive. The poison is out of her. Zaheer nearly killed her but he didn't. She's stronger than that. Zaheer is a cheat and now he'll spend the rest of his days locked up, like her father. The world will be safe. Until the next crisis arises, anyway. And then Korra will be there to stop it. To save everyone.
Air Temple Island feels different than before. A somber quiet blankets the space. Meelo, Jinora and Ikki sit with the other airbenders. Asami doesn't know where Tenzin is. Or Korra's parents. Maybe they're with Korra. Maybe Asami won't get to see her.
It's been days since they returned. Korra slept the entire way back. Asami sat beside her when she could. Naturally her parents and Tenzin would be closest to her, watch over her. Of course. She took what time she could. She likes to think that Korra would appreciate it.
Korra needs her rest. Everyone kept saying that, even after the poison was out of her. She was so pale. Asami waited a day. She came and they said Korra was still asleep and not up to company. She came the two following days and was told the same. On the third day Tonraq and Senna let her in. Which is good, since she's fairly sure she can't wait any longer.
So much has happened. Asami needs to see her, look at her, be sure she's okay. Korra has to be okay. And if she isn't… Then you'll be there for her.
She makes her way through the home. Pema points her in the right direction. It's the very room Korra led her to when Asami's father turned against her. Korra invited her to Air Temple Island despite the whole Mako situation. She's always been open and giving that way, completely selfless. Even after everything she's been through, she stays that way. She's always the better person.
Asami stands at the door. She's faced down Equalists and her father, the potential loss of Future Industries. Now she's frightened to open a door. It doesn't make sense. Korra is the Avatar. She's not normal. She's more. She can't be hurt. Please don't let her be hurt.
Asami recalls how Zaheer thrashed the Avatar, flinging her from mountain to mountain, as if he were skipping rocks. He stole the air from her lungs. Anyone else would have been shattered but she survived. Asami reminds herself of what Korra survived to assure herself she's okay. Take a deep breath and go in. She needs you.
She's fine.
Then why are the kids so well-behaved?
She slides the door open quietly. Korra is in bed, facing the wall. Asami closes the door carefully behind her and steps in. She considers leaving. She treads closer, kneeling before the bed. Korra is half covered in blankets. What isn't, is hard to see. She's bruised. Reds, purples, blues and greens line her arms. There are cuts everywhere. Asami swallows and forces her eyes to remain dry.
"Go away, Tenzin," Korra says. Her voice is weak, scratchy. "I don't want to talk."
"No, it's…" She doesn't know what to say. "It's me."
"Asami."
"Yes." She speaks quietly, worried that any louder might injure her further. "I wanted to come sooner…" she apologizes, "but everyone kept sending me away," she smiles. "I might have been overeager. But I was worried."
"Everyone's worried." The same flat tone.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I was so scared. Everyone was." She wants to reach out and touch Korra but doesn't want to alarm her, hurt her in some way. "You did it. You saved everyone again." Korra doesn't say anything. "Is there anything I can do? I can bring those steamed dumplings you like from the corner shop." She grimaces. "I might have, already." She sets the small container to the side. "Or tea…" she offers, feeling her face warm. "Or I can go." She doesn't want to offer that but it's only right to. "I bet everyone's been buzzing around you. And you must be so tired."
"Asami." Soft, drained.
Ever since they stopped dating Mako, they've grown so close. She never thought she'd be best friends with the Avatar. Team Avatar has gotten all of them through a lot of things. But what is friendship to an ordeal like this? Asami wants to think being near is a way of being supportive but how can she possibly know what Korra's going through? "I'll go," she says apologetically.
Korra makes a small sound, stopping her. Asami looks at Korra, her shoulders hunching closer together. "I can't stand. I can't walk. I can barely move. The healers…" She sniffles. Asami abandons any notion of leaving. She presses close to the bed, a careful hand to Korra's arm. "I don't know what to do. I can't go into my Avatar state. I'm so scared."
Asami tries to look at Korra's face but can't, it's turned down. Tears trace the curves along Korra's chin. Asami's eyes burn, her chin quivering. She keeps her voice steady through effort. The last thing she needs is Korra hopping out of bed to comfort her. "I can't imagine how scared you must be. But this is only temporary. Zaheer… he was a lot. But you're still here." She presses her forehead to Korra's shoulder, brushes a kiss to it helplessly. "And so am I. You're going to bounce back from this. And I'll help any way I can." A small gasp and Korra begins to cry. She trembles against her. Asami runs her fingers through her hair. "Just let it out."
Asami all but moves to Air Temple Island. She arrives early in the morning and leaves late at night. On the nights Korra has nightmares, she stays. Korra's always embarrassed and says nothing is wrong but she talks in her sleep. She says things like 'no' before waking up in a sweat.
The first night after Korra's had her nightmare, Asami returns with a wheelchair.
Tenzin frets. We don't want her to think she won't get better.
But she will get better. She just needs to get out of that room.
Korra looks at the wheelchair as if it were a dark spirit. Why'd you bring that here? I don't need it. Asami sets it aside in a corner of the room and they ignore it. But on a late night, with another nightmare startling Korra awake, Asami suggests they go out. How? Korra snaps. In case you haven't noticed, I can't walk.
Asami smiles and nods at the wheelchair, sitting up from the floor groggily and rolling it over beside the bed. Korra's face is sad and defiant in the pale moonlight that streams into the room. Asami sits beside her on the bed. "Hey. We don't have to use it. We can just sit here and talk. Or we can just sit here and not say a word. We can try to get some sleep. Whatever you want. I thought it might be good to get some fresh air. The stars are bright. It might be nice."
Korra glowers another moment longer. "Fine," she says resigned. They both look at the wheelchair. "I'm going to need help."
"All right." Asami lifts Korra's arm gingerly, wrapping it around her shoulder while securing her arm around Korra's waist. Korra looks unsure. "I'm stronger than you think, you know. And so are you. I won't let you fall." Korra looks at her. Asami smiles. "Trust me."
Seconds pass. Asami is still unused to seeing Korra with her hair loosed. She looks like another person. She's not another person. She's Korra. She's the same. "Okay," Asami says, "one. Two. Three." They lift. For a frightening moment, Asami fears she's lied to Korra, that she'll drop her, that they'll crash to the floor and Korra will look at her, betrayed and resentful, hurt at her own weakness, that she will need someone else to help get her up. Push through it. She does. Another few seconds later and Korra's in the chair. Asami's heart strains from exertion. "What'd I tell you?"
"I was pretty sure you were going to drop me."
Asami laughs. "Shows what you know. But you confirmed what I suspected: you're all muscle." Korra manages a weak smile. Asami steps back. "Is it comfortable?" Korra gives a small nod. She grabs her jacket and slips into it. "Okay. Let's head out." She's not used to pushing anyone around in a wheelchair. She nearly slams Korra into the door before running ahead to open it.
The wheelchair is greased and runs well. Korra is calm on the chair, unmoving, missing her usual bold energy. They both breathe deeply when they make it outside, as if having made it through some divine trial. In a way, Asami supposes they have.
The night air is cool and fresh. The stars are dazzling. Korra looks up at them. Asami keeps behind her, hands on the handlebars of the wheelchair. "Do you want to try?" she asks and shows her the handles on the wheels. "I bet you can outrace any one of my cars on this thing."
Another long silence passes. "I don't think my arms are strong enough to push it," Korra finally says.
Asami bites her lip. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking—"
"It's okay." She inhales slowly but folds over, a hand moving delicately to her ribs. Asami narrows her eyes. She never thought she could ever hate anybody. She disappointed her father that way, for not hating benders, but she hates Zaheer. Abhors what he did to Korra. "Asami…"
"Yes?"
"The stars are bright tonight." Asami stoops, flicks the locks on the wheels and looks up at them. She notices Korra shivering and slips out of her jacket, wrapping it carefully around Korra's shoulders. "You don't have to do that," Korra protests.
"I want to." She sits beside Korra, pressing her palms to the ground behind her and staring up at the stars. "Otherwise you might get cold and go inside. Who else will I have for company?" The wind blows lightly. The wind chimes ring softly, as if in a song.
An hour passes, spent in comfortable silence. Korra breaks it, her voice unsure. "Asami?"
"Mh?" Korra's eyes are shadowed and listless. Asami can't remember the last time she saw them as they were, soothing blue, oceans with unfathomable depths. She seems so depleted. She must be thinking so much, feeling so much that she just isn't saying. Asami hopes she'll be able to confide in her, in anyone. Anything, as long as it helps her.
Korra stares down at her hands. "Nothing."
Korra leans down from the bed, gently shaking Asami awake. Panic brings her to full alertness. She looks around and sees nothing wrong. She sits up from the sleeping mat. "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" She usually hears when she does and wonders why she hadn't this time.
"I'm going home."
"Home?"
"To the Southern Water Tribe."
Asami looks at her. Today Jinora became an air master. The ceremony had been moving but Asami sensed how uncomfortable Korra was. The politicians were out in full force. She doesn't look well. How long has she been in that wheelchair? The world needs her and she's useless. Tactless. Asami hopes Korra didn't hear but doubts it. It worries Asami that she might think any of it is true.
As soon as the ceremony finished, Asami pulled her outside. Korra had little to say. I'm just so tired. She rubbed her palm over her eyes. Asami saw but didn't comment on the tears streaking down Korra's wrist. And everyone's so happy for Jinora and I'm selfish because all I keep thinking about is how I can't walk.
You're the most selfless person I know. She put her hands on Korra's shoulders. You can't help how you feel. I know it doesn't feel that way, but you'll bounce back from this.
They hadn't stayed at the ceremony too much longer. Korra claiming she was tired and everyone knowing how likely it was to be true. Asami wheeled her to Korra's room, that had become something like their room. She helped her into bed. Korra doesn't ever meet her eyes when Asami helps her. There are other times, when Senna comes, that Korra wants Asami gone entirely. Asami leaves and chews on her lower lip. She can't imagine how frustrated Korra must feel.
"Did you hear me?" Korra asks.
Asami blinks and stares at her. "I… yes." She flicks her eyes away and they settle on the things she's brought: a record player and a collection of records Korra likes, fashion magazines and a box of engineering books that Asami reads when Korra's resting or having other visitors. She tries to bring what she can in, given Korra's exhaustion and limited mobility. She wonders if she was excessive. She can get that way sometimes. "Your parents will be so happy to have you all to themselves again." Asami feels Korra's gaze but can't meet it right away. She parts her lips but can't speak. "… I didn't even know they were planning on going back yet."
"It was sort of my idea." She goes on more quickly. "I've just been thinking about it. Mom and Dad keep going on about the Southern Water Tribe healers and… maybe it'll speed this whole thing up. Everyone can stop fussing over me."
"We want you to get recover at your own pace." Asami hopes Korra doesn't think she's been a burden. Nothing could be further from the truth. She can't stop fixating on the wrinkles in Korra's flat sheets. Korra's been thinking about leaving. For how long? Why didn't she say anything? It makes perfect sense. So why does she feel so… "Anyway… that's a great idea. … Do you want me to go with you?" Korra stares at her and Asami feels her face heat. "I know I've been spending a lot of time here. And maybe you need a rest from me."
"No, that's not it."
"So why don't I go? I can…" She can't say 'help'. She knows that. And looking at Korra's face, she knows that Korra knows she's thinking it. "It'll be fun. Like a vacation. The two of us. And your family." She takes Korra's hand. "What do you say?"
Korra slides her hand away hesitantly. "I'm sorry, but no." Korra doesn't look at her. "I know what I said about the healers but… I think… I just need a little time for myself. A change of scenery, I don't know." Asami nods. "Please understand."
"I do."
Korra talks to the blankets on the bed. "You're not mad?"
Asami kneels beside the bed and smiles warmly up at her. "No, of course not. You've had enough of us trying to take care of you. You probably know how to take care of yourself better than any of us. We all care. So maybe we're a little overbearing. Sorry. I can see how you'd need a break."
"Everyone's been so great. You've been so great. You haven't been overbearing. Not you."
Asami bites her tongue. She considers. "You know… you could have told me you were thinking about this. You and your parents have been so occupied. I'll set everything up, if you'd like."
"No. It's okay. I told Tenzin," she says apologetically, "he's taken care of all the travel arrangements."
"Oh, of course." She doesn't know why she sounds dazed.
"It's only for a couple of weeks. I mean, it's the Southern Water Tribe. Not a lot for a girl to do. Especially one like me." She smiles weakly. "I'll be back before you know it. I just… I've only told Tenzin. I wanted to tell you first. I know I should have said something sooner but… I don't know," she says quietly.
Asami covers Korra's hand again. "It's okay." This time Korra doesn't pull it away. "You'll be back before we know it." She wraps her arms around Korra carefully, feels Korra's chin on the crook of her shoulder, her warm breath tickling her hair. "I'm sorry if I was pushy. I guess… I'll just miss you. What's important is you taking time for what you need. The rest of us won't be going anywhere. We'll be here, waiting, when you return."
Korra's hand lifts, touching weakly along Asami's back, her fingers digging lightly. Asami doesn't know why she's filled with so much sorrow. It's only for a couple of weeks.
A/N: So now with Korra finished and my SHIP canonized (what!) I'm back to writing Korra fanfiction with a passion. Forgive any Air Temple Island layout weirdness.