Crazy, Blind Love

This was a terrible idea. It's very clear to her now as she sits on a bench in God knows what corner of Republic City, completely lost, and utterly terrified as she anxiously wrings her hands together in her lap.

Nervously, she fiddles with her sunglasses, and moves her head back and forth as if searching for somewhere to go, some path to take that would lead her home. I really should've at least brought Naga with me, she thinks to herself. Her guide dog would have been very helpful in this situation. Also storming out of the house after fighting with Mom and Dad was probably not helpful, she mused, annoyed at herself.

She sighed and felt warmth on her face as the sun came out from behind the clouds. She raised her face to the sun, wishing, not for the first time, that she could actually see the great big ball of light in the sky. Indeed, if she could see, she probably wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. Mom and Dad must be worried sick, she thought guiltily. When I get home I'm gonna apologize…IF I get home that is. She dropped her head in to her hands and let out an exasperated sigh. I could really use some help right now.

"Miss, are you ok?" The sudden voice startled Korra and her head came up.

"W-who…m-me?" she asked shyly. She wasn't used to people willingly talking to her. There was a light-hearted chuckle, and the woman, (it was definitely a woman) spoke again.

"Yes you silly. You looked like something was bothering you. Are you lost maybe? Cause I could help you get where you're trying to go if you don't mind."

Korra couldn't think for a moment, too lost in listening to this woman's beautiful voice. Light and airy, it was positively enchanting.

"Umm…miss?" the woman spoke again. Korra shook herself, breaking out of her musings.

"Uhhh, yeah actually," Korra began, awkwardly scratching the back of her neck. "I…am pretty lost." She could feel a blush creeping over her. What am I doing? She thought to herself. I don't even know this person, and I know how people react to me. I should just end this now before I get hurt again.

The woman laughed again. "Well where are you trying to go? I'll take you there. I know this city pretty well after all."

Korra couldn't help but feel that she'd heard this woman's voice somewhere before. It seemed so familiar, and she was very good at distinguishing voices. She had to be. To her, a voice was like a face. It shaped who a person was in her world along with the pattern of their footsteps, their scent, and if she was close enough to them, the way their face and hands felt. She wasn't close enough to many people to be on "touching terms" as she thought of it. "I umm…I'm uhhh…trying to get home." She told the woman hesitantly, her voice timid and small. "But I don't really know where that is." She finished hopelessly, her shoulders sinking.

Asami looked down on the dark skinned girl in front of her. She had been taking a walk, just enjoying the nice weather, when she noticed this woman, clearly in some form of distress and she was glad that she hadn't taken one of her cars or bikes today. Not least because the woman in front of her was absolutely gorgeous, but also because it was clear, when she spoke to her, so shyly and scared that she was obviously in need of help.

The large dark sunglasses she wore made it impossible for Asami to see her eyes, and she found herself imagining what color they could be. Mentally she shook herself from her thoughts and tried to focus on helping this person. She had just said she was trying to get home, and from the way her voice was shaking, she seemed on the verge of tears.

Asami took a chance, sitting next to the woman and putting her arm around the darker girl's shoulders. Bold Asami, very bold, she thought to herself as she felt the woman stiffen at her touch. She breathed out to calm herself, and shifted her hand to the woman's back, rubbing soothing circles in to it as she grasped her shoulder with her other hand. What am I doing? I don't even know this person, and here I am with my hands on her like I've known her my whole life. Yet even as Asami questioned her sanity, to her amazement she could feel the woman beneath her begin to relax in to her touch. "Hey now," she spoke soothingly. "Just tell me where you live and I'll get you there. Everything's gonna be fine, I promise."

Korra felt the woman sit next to her, and stiffened when she felt an arm curl around her. Her skin felt amazing where it connected with Korra's own and for a moment Korra was left breathless. Then she began rubbing circles in to Korra's back and the blind girl couldn't help but relax in to the touch. Who is this woman and how is she doing this to me? She wondered. She wasn't sure what prompted her to give this total stranger her address but she felt different around her than when she was around most other people. There was something there. Something that Korra had yet to understand, but she felt as if this woman was different than the vast majority of people she had encountered. For one she's actually talking to me, and not just insulting me, Korra thought to herself. And two, she's touching me…a little strange but at least she doesn't seem disgusted with me, and she's not beating me up or throwing things. She froze, as a realization hit her. Oh my God. She doesn't know. She must not, otherwise she wouldn't be being so nice to me…she doesn't know I'm blind. How can I keep it this way?

The woman next to her stood up then. "Alright," she said. "How bout we get going?" The two set off, Korra attempting to keep, as close to the woman as possible without letting on that she couldn't actually see her. Her ears strained to follow the sound of the woman's footsteps in front of her, hands itching to reach out and confirm her presence, place a hand on her shoulder, hold her hand, do something to calm her nerves. "By the way," the woman says, and Korra has the distinct feeling she's turned to look at her by the way her steps have changed their rhythm. "My name's Asami."

Asami…it makes sense now. That's why her voice sounded so familiar. Asami Sato, daughter of Hiroshi Sato of Future Industries. The girl I spend so much time listening to on the radio…my hero. "I…I'm Korra." Korra says, if possible her voice is even quieter than before. "It's…it's nice to meet you Asami. You have a beautiful voice." She mentally smacked herself for that one. Nice going Korra, she thought to herself. Way to sound like an idiot.

She wanted to say more. Wanted to wax poetic about how much of an inspiration Asami was to her, and how much of an honor it was to meet her in person but instead, like always, she said nothing, too frightened of the possible consequences to open her mouth. Besides, she had a feeling that this would not go over well.

From what she knew of the young woman, Asami seemed like the type of person that would appreciate being treated like a normal, average person, despite her fame and fortune. Normal. That was something Korra understood: the desire to be treated like everyone else, just a normal person. Yes she was blind, but she was also a person with dreams and hopes and ambitions same as everyone else. She wondered sometimes, why people couldn't see that.

"Oh," Asami says, sounding a bit surprised. "Thank you. I don't think anyone's ever complimented me on my voice before. It's always my looks or my smarts or…you know it really doesn't matter. It's nice to meet you too." I told her my name, Asami mused. I wonder if she knows who I am. If she does, she's hiding it well, and isn't fawning all over me. Maybe she could be a good friend, someone who likes me for me, and not my lineage or money, like Mako and Bolin. The Heiress smiled at the thought.

"So I'm guessing you're new to the city?" Asami asks her, voice friendly and chipper.

Korra's stomach is doing flip-flops at the fact that she's actually talking to Asami Sato and her mind is blank in the face of Asami's question. She can feel her face heating up and has no doubt that a blush is forming on her cheeks.

She must have been silent for quite a while because Asami spoke again, slight concern in her voice. "Korra, you ok? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

She mentally slaps herself for her mistake and forces her tongue to move. "Uh, umm…yes," she begins, still quiet and shy as ever. "My…my parents and I just moved here a week ago."

Asami chuckled, and Korra feared for a moment that she was laughing at her. "Well no wonder you're lost." Asami told her. "Even locals have trouble finding their way around here sometimes. It can get a bit confusing."

Korra felt the heat in her cheeks then and had no doubt that her face was covered in a huge blush. "Th…thank you for helping me," she stuttered. "Y…you're being pretty nice to someone you just met." Korra wasn't sure but she could swear that she could feel Asami shrug.

"You looked like you needed help, so I'm helping."

Korra smiled at that. To think, there were people out there like Asami who would help someone like her just because she seemed like she needed it. If only there were more people like you, and less like Tahno and his gang, she thought bitterly. She shook her head, trying to dispel thoughts of Tahno, and her life in the South. She tried to focus on the here and now. And in the here and now, she was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on Asami's footsteps. Instinctively, she reached out and brushed her hand against the other woman's upper arm, feeling the leather of a nice jacket against her fingertips. She jumped a bit when Asami spoke.

"What's up?"

Korra was confused. "Uhhh…" was all she managed to say.

"You touched my shoulder," Asami said, laughing lightly. "I assumed you wanted to get my attention. Did you need something?"

Korra shook her head in embarrassment. "Uhh, no. Sorry," she said quietly.

Asami shrugged. "Alright." she said nonchalantly.

As they walked, Korra couldn't help but reach out occasionally and brush Asami's shoulder as she had the first time, needing to keep her bearings in relation to the other woman. Each time Asami would ask her if she needed something, and each time Korra would reply in the negative. Asami, for her part, was understandably becoming a bit annoyed. She wasn't sure whether the darker girl was doing this as some sort of joke, or for some sort of comfort and was too proud to admit to it, but as Korra reached out to brush her hand against her shoulder again, the heiress snapped.

"Stop that," Asami barked irritably, smacking the other woman's hand away. "I don't know what game you're playing here but it's starting to get on my nerves. Either tell me why you're doing that, or keep your hands to yourself."

The two had stopped walking now, and Korra could feel Asami's gaze on her, hear her impatient, irritated breathing. Asami began tapping her foot, as Korra failed to answer, standing there, awkwardly holding her elbows in her hands, and looking miserable.

"Well?" Asami prompted. When Korra still said nothing, Asami snorted in irritation, turned and started to walk away.

Korra sighed in defeat. Well, she mused. It was bound to happen eventually. Time to spill the beans. It was nice having someone to talk to that didn't hate me besides Mom, Dad and Naga for a while.

"I can't see," she said quietly. "

Asami stopped in her tracks, turned and looked the darker woman over in confusion. "What did you say?" she asked, wanting to make sure she had heard right.

"I can't see," Korra repeated, voice timid and trembling, wishing she didn't have to do this. "I…I'm blind. It's sorta the reason I'm lost, and it's why I kept brushing your shoulder. I needed to make sure of where you were." She was hanging her head now, ashamed. "I'm sorry." She practically whispered.

Asami was stunned, standing there staring at the darker woman, mouth open in shock. Way to go Asami, she reprimanded her self. Way to be an ass. "I…" she ventured. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Korra smiled sadly, saying, "I know you didn't. It was nice…for a bit." She laughed, only a little bitterly. "You know, you're pretty easy to talk to. I don't think I've ever talked to anyone this much besides my parents…or Naga. Most people want nothing to do with me, usually cause of this." She pointed at her eyes, covered by her sunglasses.

When Asami took her hand, she could feel Korra jump in surprise at the contact. Asami had to pause for a moment. She liked the feel of Korra's hand in hers. She blushed, shaking herself out of her momentary stupor. Now was not the time. Squeezing her hand reassuringly, the heiress spoke. "You're easy to talk to as well Korra. I'm sure people just don't give you enough of a chance. They don't get to know the real you." Asami smiled, knowing now it would be lost on the other woman, but still contemplating. She wondered at this chance meeting, Korra, so easy to talk to, yet so timid, so shy. It would make sense though, the heiress reasoned, if people avoided her, and perhaps even gave her grief over her blindness, a condition, which she could do nothing about. The heiress could see the blush on the other woman's face quite clearly, and smiled at it.

"I…uhhh," Korra stammered. "I don't…really know what to say to that. Thank you."

Asami squeezed her hand again in reassurance, and turned, pulling Korra with her. "Come on then." She said cheerily. Let's get you home." Korra followed along in a daze, thoughts whirring. She's still helping me, she thought in wonder. She knows I'm blind, and she's still here. She hasn't yelled at me, or thrown things at me, or hit me, or anything, most people would've done. Wow.

The walk through the city was a pleasant one. Asami led Korra along the busy streets, heading for the less crowded edge of the city, where the skyscrapers began giving way to suburbs. Asami could tell Korra was still nervous, and so tried keeping the conversation topics light, telling her about the city, its attractions, its people, etc. Korra proved an avid listener, not interrupting even once. It made sense if you asked the heiress.

"So," Asami said cheerily, as they drew up in front of a single-family home that was rather picturesque. It could even be considered cliché. A single level home, with a white picket fence, garden, painted blue. "Here we are." Asami turned Korra till she was facing the gate. The heiress swung the gate open and led Korra forward, and before the pair had taken ten steps, the front door burst open, admitting a short, dark skinned woman with her short hair in a bun. She looked so much like Korra, Asami naturally assumed this must be Korra's mother.

"Korra!" the woman called out, rushing up to the blind girl, and taking her up in her arms in a crushing hug. Asami stepped out of the way just in time. "We were so worried! Your father was about to call the police and head up a search party! Are you ok?! You aren't hurt are you?"

Korra wrapped her arms around her mother in return, the guilt of how she had left them surfacing again. Her parents had clearly been out of their minds with worry for her. "I'm fine mom. I'm sorry for running off." She told her mother. "Where's…" she began only for the sound of the door bursting open again to admit a large, dark skinned man, his long hair bound up in the back in a partial ponytail.

"Korra!" The gruff voice of her father calling out answered the question that had been on the tip of her tongue. In an instant, she felt herself wrapped up in the familiar strong arms of her father, the large powerfully built man holding her close, showing the typical gentle nature he displayed with his family. "Are you alright sweetheart?"

Korra smiled. Her parents really did love her. "I'm ok dad. I'm sorry for leaving like that." She felt her father step back, and she knew he and her mother would still be scanning her for injuries, despite her reassurances. "You guys were right." Korra conceded, "I can't just go off and do things on my own, as much as I'd like to, especially in a city like this, and especially without Naga. I tried…and well…you saw how well that went." She hung her head, and soon felt herself sandwiched in between her mother and father.

"It's alright sweetie," her mother assured her. "We're just glad you're safe."

Asami smiled as she watched Korra and her parents interact, glad that the dark-skinned girl had people that cared so deeply for her. She felt a momentary pang of loss as she remembered her own mother, and a flare of annoyance, at her distant father. She shook her head, pushing her own familial issues aside, just trying to be happy for Korra. With a last smile, she turned and started walking towards the gate, intending to leave the family to their happiness.

"Wait," the gruff voice from behind her making the raven-haired beauty pause. Turning, Asami was met with the kindly face of the large man she knew to be Korra's father. "Are you the young lady that brought my daughter home safely?" he asked her.

"Yes sir," Asami responded politely. "I found her in the city, and she looked like she needed help, so I helped. It was really no trouble." Asami could feel a slight blush coming on, which surprised her. Something about Korra and her family just seemed so genuine. She supposed it was affecting her. She extended her hand out to the intimidating man, remembering her manners. "I'm Asami Sato. It's a pleasure to meet you and your family Mr…"

"Tonraq," the man said, ignoring Asami's hand and instead wrapping her in a bone-breaking hug, catching the engineer off-guard as he squeezed hard enough to make her back pop. "This is my wife Senna," releasing Asami and gesturing towards the woman, who was still fawning over Korra. The woman came over, bringing Korra with her, and Asami found her self wrapped in another hug. "And of course you've already met Korra."

Luckily, Asami had much practice recovering from flustering experiences due to her time in the business world and was able to bounce back almost immediately. "It's lovely to meet you all," She told them genuinely. There was something very appealing about Korra and her whole family. It made her wish she could stay and spend more time with them. She chuckled inwardly at this. You hardly know them, she reminded herself. You helped Korra get home, but now it's time to leave them to their family time. "Well," she said with a certain finality. "I'd hate to impose myself on your time any further, so I'll just…"

"Nonsense!" Tonraq interrupted her, making her jump. "You brought our baby girl home safe. The least we can do is treat you to a nice lunch in thanks. Right Senna?" He turned to his wife.

"Absolutely," the woman agreed with a sharp nod, and a determined expression on her face. "We insist!" She took Asami's hand and began pulling her towards the house, and Asami had no choice but to follow along, not that she minded all that much.
"Alright, if you insist," Asami managed to get out quickly as she was dragged along. "I hope I'm not intruding."

Both parents scoffed simultaneously. "Of course not," Tonraq insisted. "You're our guest! Now make yourself comfortable, Senna's making arctic hen and five flavor soup today, so you're in for a real treat." He rubbed his stomach and licked his lips in anticipation, laughing warmly. "If you've never had Southern Tribe food before, you'd better prepare your taste-buds. There's no meal quite like a Southern Tribe meal!" With that pronouncement, and another of his full body laughs, he patted Asami on the back, nearly knocking the woman over, and made his way in to the kitchen, where the sounds of cooking could already be heard.

Standing in the middle of Korra's living room, Asami took a moment to gather her self, shaking off her stupor and smiling widely. She chuckled a bit as she walked around the room, examining the furniture and interesting knickknacks scattered around. There was a definite theme to the house, focused on furs, and the color blue. It made sense, considering Tonraq's comments about Southern Tribe food, and the easy hospitality they showed her. They're from the South Pole, Asami thought to herself. That explained the blue clothing theme that Korra and her parents seemed to share, all of them dressed in blue shirts, jeans, even their shoes were blue.

Following behind her father and Asami, Korra smiled as she listened to her parents bombard Asami with their usual hospitable attitudes. Asami seemed fairly flustered, which Korra found endearing, and also somewhat comforting. Her parents had that effect on people, their genuine friendliness and willingness to treat complete strangers to lunch, both prime examples of the typical attitude of South Pole natives.

She could hear Asami moving around in the living room, and smiled to herself, slipping quietly past and up the stairs to her room, where she was met with the wet nose and wagging tail of her guide dog Naga. "Hi girl." Korra greeted her warmly, sitting down on the bed, proceeding to scratch behind the dog's ears just the way she liked. "Sorry I left you behind today but that won't happen again. I had some stuff to figure out but it's all good now." She felt the breeze and heard the hum as her dog wagged her tail.

"Guess what Naga?" Korra asked the canine excitedly, we have our first guest in our new house. She's downstairs right now." Naga whined excitedly, pressing her nose in to Korra's hands more firmly. "Well," Korra amended, still happily. "Technically she's mom and dad's guest, but she did bring me home safe. And you know what else? She knows I'm blind and she didn't freak out, or treat me different for it! Isn't that great girl?" Naga let out a quiet bark in agreement and Korra laughed. "Now I don't have any illusions," the girl continued, only slightly more subdued. "She brought me home. She's gonna have lunch with us today, and then we'll probably never hear from her again, but still…just to know that people like Asami are out there. Well it makes me think maybe one day I could even make a friend, maybe even two! Ha, wouldn't that be something girl?" Naga's tail thumped on the floor excitedly. "Oh!" Korra chuckled. "I didn't even mention the best part. She's Asami Sato! THE Asami Sato! And I met her, like in real life and everything!"

The dark skinned girl became more somber as she flopped backwards on to her bed. "If only I wasn't so bad at talking to people." Korra let loose a long sigh. "I have so many questions I want to ask her." Naga licked her large tongue up Korra's arm in support, making the Southern woman giggle. "Typical," she scoffed. "I meet my lifelong hero, and I'm too scared to even ask her even the simplest question." She sat up, going back to petting her dog's head, reflectively. "Hmmph," she snorted. "Korra the coward, that's what they should call me." She stood up, pacing back and forth in an irritated manner. "I mean, it's not like I could just go up to her and ask 'Oh hey Asami, are you a fan of the Fire Ferrets? Do you like music? Have you ever tried to burp the alphabet in it's entirety, do you think I'm an absolute idiot for asking all these questions, and, final question, how many trees, are on Airtemple Island?'" She let out an annoyed huff. "Yeah," she muttered. "Like that'd ever happen."

"Yes, yes, no, no, ten thousand five hundred fifty two." Came Asami's voice from the door. She sounded amused.

"Waah!" Korra exclaimed, as she was sure she jumped at least ten feet in the air in shock, falling unceremoniously on to her back, in a heap. She could hear Asami stifle a giggle and felt her face heat up, sure she was blushing like a tomato…whatever a tomato looked like, she never was sure on that expression. A soft hand encircled hers, helping her back to her feet, and Asami spoke again.

"Are you ok?" she asked, still chuckling lightly.

"Uhhhhhh," was all Korra managed to get out. Asami giggled again. Oh she was so totally screwed.