Author's notes: Hello all! It's been a while since I've posted anything, but I've got so much of this story already written it doesn't seem right to deny the Korrasami fandom of so much fic. There are just a few things I'd like to say before we begin.
The first thing is that as I said, I have a lot of this fic written already, but it is still a work in progress. I'm going to do my best to finish it as soon as I can. It's hard to tell from a Word document, but I think this fic is pretty freaking long, so settle in. I'll be posting the next couple of chapters pretty soon.
Second, this first chapter is pretty different from the rest of what I have written, so if you read this chapter and hate it, keep going. Maybe the rest of it will grab you. The plot doesn't happen right away.
Third, I'm trying to write this story in the tradition of the show. I wanted it to sound like a natural continuation of the story, without anyone doing anything that seems totally out of character for them. I want it to have the same atmosphere and themes that run through the show. I did this because I loved Legend of Korra, and I loved all the characters, stories, and settings of the show. I hope I've managed to accomplish this.
And finally, I wanted to give a shoutout to /r/korrasami over on Reddit. I don't have a Deviantart account and I don't use Tumblr, so without you guys, I wouldn't have had 25 tabs of korrasami fanart open on my browser to look at for inspiration while I write. You guys rock, upvotes all around.
Without further ado, here's chapter one.
Chosen's Chosen
Chapter one: Avatar Korra and Awesami
The spirit world vacation idea had been a stroke of pure genius, thought Korra with smug satisfaction. Over the last six days, she and Asami had wandered this colorful and bizarre world together having adventures and feeling free. They had spent every minute of every day with each other. Korra had never felt closer to anyone else in her entire life. She had comforted Asami when she cried for her father, shared her own experiences from their three year separation, and, best of all, the two of them had laughed more than she had laughed for the previous three years combined.
Although she was certain that Asami's feelings for her were probably beyond platonic, she had yet to make any move that might scare Asami off. Yes, it was clear that they liked each other that way, but Korra couldn't help worrying about what would happen if she were to pursue a romantic physical gesture. The most she had been able to work herself up to was taking Asami's hand for the crossing, but after that they had maintained a distance, albeit a small distance.
She told herself that she was holding back out of respect for Asami's grief, but the truth was that she was absolutely terrified. Asami may be harboring a crush, but Korra was long past that point. Her feelings had gone from friendship, to crush, to deep, scary love. Intense, all-consuming, heart-pounding, unconditional love. Everything Asami did or said charmed her. It was so different from anything she had ever felt before. Mako had been her first boyfriend, and while there had been things she liked, even loved, about him, she had found him difficult to talk to sometimes and had required time alone occasionally to recharge.
With Asami, it wasn't like that at all. They conversed easily and openly, sharing things they had never shared with anyone else. Asami had opened up to her about her rocky relationship with her father, her somewhat lonely childhood, and her years studying at the university in Ba Sing Se. In return, Korra had confessed her fears about her shortcomings and the responsibilities that came with being the Avatar. And both knew that they could talk without fear or judgment. The past six days had lifted heavy weights off Korra's shoulders that she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying around.
If she'd been in love with Asami before they stepped through that portal, she was totally gone over the moon about her now. She knew it was silly, but when their vacation ended in one day and they had to go back to their own world, Korra wasn't sure how she was going to be able to function as a normal human being without Asami at her side.
Afternoon on the sixth day found them walking through a flower-paved meadow, looking for a nice spot to enjoy their lunch. Asami was talking about her plans to build a new model of her hummingbird invention and Korra was listening with avid interest. She didn't have a clue how such a contraption might work, but she loved hearing Asami talk about her work. She admired how intelligent her friend was.
Up ahead she noticed movement in the grass and put out her arm to stop Asami's walk. "Hold on," she said. "I see something up ahead."
"Where?"
Korra pointed to the area where she could clearly see something big, black and four-legged standing in the shadows of some trees. "There, see it? It looks like some kind of bear dog."
"Now I see it. Do you think it's dangerous?"
"I'm not sure…" But no sooner had she said it did she see a puff of dirt from where the spirit was kicking at the ground in an obvious pre-charge ritual. "Look out!"
The spirit charged and the two women turned and bolted. "Let's head for the forest," said Asami, panting with the exertion of running flat-out.
They broke through the tree line and heard the crashing of the charging spirit just behind them. "He's still after us," shouted Korra, but suddenly, Asami disappeared. "Asami!"
Korra skidded to a halt, swinging around just in time to see Asami use a tree branch to launch herself in the air. Her long, elegant body twisted in to a graceful backflip, and then she landed with a grunt on to the spirit's back. "Woah there!" she called to it, leaning forward to keep her center of gravity stable. The great beast bucked and roared beneath her and for a few tense seconds, Korra worried she might be thrown off its back. She stood at the ready to catch Asami with airbending if necessary. But faster than she possibly expected, the spirit calmed and Asami slid casually off its back, scratching it behind its ears. "Good spirit," she said softly. "Just take it easy. You're actually kind of cute, aren't you?" She glanced over her shoulder at Korra. "Close your mouth, Korra, you're catching flies."
Korra did snap her mouth shut, but she couldn't stop staring at Asami. "Asami, that was so…" she searched her mind for the right word, "awesome! You are so unbelievably awesome!"
Laughing modestly, Asami shrugged and stepped back as the spirit turned and meandered off back the way it had come. She turned to face Korra, her face turning the lightest shade of pink at the goofy, adoring luck on her face. "Thanks," she said.
"I mean it," said Korra enthusiastically. She stepped forward to take Asami's hands, just as she had when they had crossed through the spirit portal. Suddenly she couldn't stop herself from saying all the things she wanted to say, her fears dissolved in the face of Asami's bravery against the spirit. "And I'm not just talking about that raging bear dog spirit. You're always awesome. You kick butt even without bending, you invent crazy awesome machine things, you're the best driver in both worlds, you're generous and resourceful, and you make it all look easy."
Stunned, Asami looked down at their joined hands. It was the first time Korra had ever seen her blush. "I don't know what to say, Korra. I'm flattered."
"Look, Asami, I know you're going through a rough time because of your father and everything, but I want you to know that I think you're the greatest person I've ever met, and I'm crazy about you. I understand if you don't…"
She was cut off when Asami draped her arms around her shoulders and ducked down for a kiss. It was short and sweet, and it left Korra feeling lightheaded. Before Asami could pull away, Korra wrapped her arms around her slim waist and urged her in to a second, much longer kiss. Asami's body against hers was warm and soft, so different from any other kiss she'd ever felt. When they finally broke apart, they stood with their foreheads leaning against each other. "You're even an amazing kisser," said Korra with a smile, her stomach doing a happy flip when she received one in return.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," admitted Asami. "Since before you left for the south pole." She brought a hand up to Korra's face, holding her close as she brought their lips together again. "Korra, what happened with my father doesn't change how I feel about you. I loved you then and I love you even more now."
"You love me?"
"Oh yes. It's kind of disturbing how much, actually," she chuckled, and Korra tightened her grip.
"Trust me, I know exactly what you mean. I'm so in love with you, Asami. This past week with you has been like a dream. I've honestly never been happier."
"Good," said Asami. "I'm so glad to hear that. After everything you've been through, you deserve to be happy. And for the record, I think you're awesome too. You're the most selfless, brave, and strong person I've ever known. You make me feel safe, no matter where we are."
"If there's one thing you can count on, it's that I'll always keep you safe. Even though you clearly don't need my protection."
"Maybe not all the time," said Asami, and she grinned at Korra as she closed the tiny gap between them in another kiss.
After that, their last day in the spirit passed in a happy haze. In later years Korra would look back and remember Asami flipping over that tree branch, and the memory would invoke the same feeling of awe and adoration she had felt at that moment. On that last day she went swimming with Asami in a warm, blue lake. The two got in to a splash battle, and Korra teased her with waterbending. Asami's irritated cry of: "Hey, no fair! No bending, you cheater," was undermined by her laughter.
"But Asami, I'm the Avatar. I am the bending."
"Not to me, you're not," Asami said warmly, again draping her arms over Korra's shoulder in an embrace that was quickly becoming the most important thing in her life. "To me, you're just Korra, the best friend I've ever had."
Korra allowed one kiss before tossing Asami away and bending a huge wave over her. "Got you!" she laughed, diving under to avoid the smaller return splash from Asami.
It was a testament to how awesome Asami was that she felt a hand clamp around her ankle, and then she was pulled to the surface by a surprising strength, and the two of them continued to splash and laugh until the sun began to set and the spirits around them began to glow with their nightly light shows.
That night the two young women laid a little closer to each other in their bedrolls, talking until the moon rose high above them, and in a moment of quiet courage, Korra said, "Do you… Do you want to sleep with me?"
Asami gave her a searching look, and Korra quickly added, "Just sleep. You can say no. I just… I want to know what it would feel like to fall asleep with you, and to wake up with you in the morning." She knew she was blushing, but she didn't let her nervousness deter her. After a moment, her efforts were rewarded when Asami crawled out of her bedroll. Korra lifted the corner of her own blanket and shifted over to give her more room. Even so, it was a tight fit and after a bit of shuffling around, Korra found herself laying on her back with Asami's head resting on her shoulder. She sighed happily when Asami put her arm around her midriff and settled in comfortably.
"This feels really nice," whispered Asami, and Korra felt her breath tickle her neck.
"Yes it does." She inhaled deeply, a goofy smile stretching over her lips. "You smell really good."
"So do you."
Korra couldn't help herself. She pulled Asami closer with both arms, putting one hand on the back of her head to hold her as close as possible. "Your hair is tickling me though. You have a lot of hair."
"I'll shave it off tomorrow if it means we can lay here like this," said Asami.
"No!" said Korra a bit too assertively. "Don't do that. I love your hair."
Asami propped herself up on one elbow to look down at Korra and smile. "You do?"
Nodding enthusiastically, she reached up to touch the soft strands in question, pushing a lock behind Asami's ear. "Yes, I do. It's beautiful. You're beautiful. I've always thought so."
She knew she was treading a thin line, knew it would be difficult to stop herself because they were so close, but Asami couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her, her dark hair forming a curtain around them. Korra was an irresistible combination of hard and soft. When she placed her hand on Korra's arm she could feel the muscles there just under the surface, but when she slid her hand down to Korra's hip, she felt soft, feminine curves. She was surprised by just how much she wanted Korra. She'd never looked at women that way before, but now it seemed impossible to imagine any other lover than this woman under her.
She forced herself to pull away before they did anything they might regret later. When she met Korra's deep blue eyes, she almost reconsidered her decision. "I love you, Asami," Korra whispered.
"I love you, too." She placed a soft kiss on Korra's forehead. "But we should stop. This is still really new for us, and I don't want to do anything that might scare you away."
"Funny, I've been thinking the same thing about you this entire vacation." Gently, Korra urged Asami back down to their previous position, tucking her head against her shoulder. "But I know you're right. There's no rush."
No rush, except that tomorrow they'd be heading back to their own world, where they would have to face their friends and the rest of the world and go back to their separate homes. But Asami didn't say any of that because she knew it was irrational. The two of them would always find time for one another. They had been doing so for years.
"Can I ask you a really personal question?" said Korra after a bit.
"After everything we've talked about this week, I think you can ask me one more really personal question."
"Did you and Mako ever… you know?"
Asami pulled back a little so she could look at Korra's face. "Yes," she admitted. "Only a few times, and it was before I really got to know you very well."
"It's ok," said Korra quickly. "I don't mind. I knew you two were pretty serious for a while there."
"Yeah, I guess we were. I liked him. He was very kind and understanding." She smirked at Korra. "But once you started giving him the time of day, I didn't stand a chance."
"I can't imagine why not. We had fun together but you're way more awesome than I am. Plus, you're loaded!"
"Maybe so, but you're the Avatar, Korra. A person would have to be crazy to pick me over you."
"We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one, I think. There's no way you'll ever be able to convince me that I'm more awesome than you. In fact I ought to start calling you Awesami!"
Cringing, Asami quipped, "You can start calling me that, but you would also be single."
"Ouch," laughed Korra, and stretched up for a quick kiss. "Fine, I won't call you that… In public."
Asami pretended to be mad, but in reality she loved Korra's mischievous side. It was part of what made them such good friends. Korra could always make her laugh. Once Korra had resettled beneath her, she brought the conversation back to the previous topic. "So what about you? Did you ever sleep with Mako?"
"No," said Korra, and Asami was a little ashamed at the feeling of relief that shot through her. "After we officially got together and started spending a lot of one-on-one time together, I just couldn't get myself to go through with it, and it wasn't for a lack of interest on his part." She stared up at the stars and rubbed Asami's back as she spoke, thinking back on that confusing time in her life. "I told myself that it was because I was too busy with training or fighting some battle or another, but the truth was that I just didn't feel that way about him. I love having him as a friend, but when we were together for long periods of time, I found him a little… overbearing."
"I know exactly what you mean. He never believed me when I said I could take care of myself, not even after he saw it with his own two eyes."
Korra laughed the same laugh she had way back on the day when Asami had attempted to teach her to drive. "He's a nice guy, but he really can be an oaf," she chuckled. "After we broke it off, I was more relieved than anything else. So no, I never did sleep with him."
"But didn't you say that he was your first boyfriend?" Korra nodded at that, and watched as Asami came to the obvious conclusion. "So you've never…"
"Nope. You're looking at a 21-year-old virgin. Still think I'm awesome?" The joking tone was undermined by the way Korra dropped her gaze, and Asami reached out to cup her chin to bring it back up, maintaining steady eye contact.
"Yes, Korra, I still think you're awesome. I don't care about that. I love you, and nothing will change that. If anything, I'm proud of you for staying true to yourself. You didn't feel that way about Mako, and you stuck to your guns about it."
Reaching out to push that strand of hair behind Asami's ear again, Korra blushed as she admitted, "Well, in case I haven't made it clear, that's not how it is with you. I feel that way about you, Asami."
"The feeling is mutual. But like you said, there's no rush, okay? We can go at whatever pace you're comfortable with. It's new for me too, you know. It's not like I've ever been with a woman before."
"Yeah," said Korra. "Is it weird for you?"
"Honestly? No, it isn't. I thought it would be, but it's not." Asami settled her head back on Korra's shoulder, breathing in her scent and soaking in her warmth. "You're a girl, but you're also Korra. Maybe it would be different if I didn't love you so much. Or maybe it's because I've had such a long time to get used to the idea."
"What?" Korra resumed her gentle rubbing of Asami's back. "What long time?"
Sighing, Asami decided it would be silly to hold on to this particular secret. "Korra, I've felt this way about you for years. I realized it right after you broke it off with Mako for good."
"Why didn't you say anything?" She felt Asami shrug her shoulders.
"Same reason we didn't say anything this whole trip. I was scared. At first I was scared of what I was feeling and what it could mean, then I was scared that you didn't feel the same way. Then I was scared that I would lose you if I told you."
Korra couldn't help but laugh at how similar their thoughts had been over the last four years. "You know, for the Avatar and a super badass engineer inventor chick, we really are big old cowards."
"You're right about that," agreed Asami with a chuckle.
Silence settled between them like a comfortable blanket, and just a few minutes later, Korra got to find out what it felt like to fall asleep with Asami in her arms.
And in the morning, she awoke to warm lips on her forehead, and a soft voice saying her name. "Wake up, Korra."
"You're still here," said Korra with an adorable smile.
"Darn right I am."
"Yay." Korra used her strong arms to wrap Asami in full-body hug, and Asami's toes curled in the pleasure of the moment. "Did you sleep OK?"
"I think anyone would sleep great with their own Avatar pillow." She kissed Korra good morning, pulling away only after several long minutes. "We have to go, though," she said with disappointment. "If we wait too much longer, people will start to worry."
They had left very little information for everyone back home, only a note that said they were going to the spirit world for a week and would be back before midday on the seventh day. They hadn't wanted anyone to worry about them, so they had always intended to return on schedule. Korra was grateful that none of their friends had tried to come after them. She guessed that they understood their need for a vacation, and also had their own lives to sort through post-Kuvira.
After they had disassembled their campsite, they walked back to the new portal which would lead them right back to the center of Republic City. This time Korra didn't hesitate to take Asami's hand as they walked. "What will happen when we get back?" she asked, bumping her shoulder against Asami's.
"Well, I guess I'll start drawing up new plans for the restoration and get to work on that, and you can help the Earth Kingdom get their new government up and running."
"I meant with us," said Korra, pulling her to a stop. "Will we be together there, too?"
"Of course," answered Asami, putting her free hand on Korra's cheek. "How can you even ask me that after everything we talked about?"
Immediately, Korra realized her mistake and said, "You're right, I'm sorry. I don't know what got in to me. I really meant to ask what we'll do about us. Where do we go from here? Should we tell everyone?"
"We can if you want to," said Asami. "I think I'd like for them to know, just because it will be hard to hide how much I love you. And I don't know if I really have the energy to try after everything I've been through."
"Then it's settled. We'll tell them." Korra's smile was easy and sure, and Asami couldn't help but respond in kind. "I think they'll be supportive, don't you?"
"Yeah, I think so. And if they're not, you can go in to the Avatar state and kick their butts. You'd do that for me, right?"
"That and more." Korra lightly tugged her closer, and their arms wrapped around each other in a long, leisurely kiss. When they pulled away, Korra rubbed her nose against Asami's and said, "Thank you for this week, Asami."
"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you. It was your idea, after all."
"It was both our ideas." She reached up to run her hand through Asami's hair. "Being here with you has been so special. And the best part is that it's only the beginning."
Asami's heart fluttered at the words. It filled her with warmth to hear Korra talk about their future. She didn't want to assume anything about what Korra was feeling, but she was certain that she would never love anyone else the way she loved Korra. "Whatever happens when we step through this portal, I want you to know that I think you're awesome," she said, grinning at the laugh it provoked.
"I think you're awesome too, Awesami."
After one last lingering kiss, they walked together through the portal back to their own world.